Welcome to our ninth InfoHQ Tech Watch Newsletter - Review of $699 Laptop Deals. In this newsletter we review the latest $699 laptop deals from Dell and Toshiba.
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Related InfoHQ Articles Shopping for a Low Cost, Full Featured Notebook, Toshiba Satellite 1135-S155/ A15-S127 Notebook Review - Shopping for the low cost, full featured $1,000 notebook demonstrated with the Toshiba Satellite 1135-S155, A15-S127 notebooks. Includes a full review of the Satellite's features and specifications. |
Introduction
Just a a short month ago, our InfoHQ Newsletter No. 9 featured $499
desktop deals from Dell and HP. Apparently, discount fever has now percolated
into the laptop market as Dell and Toshiba are both offering a $699
laptop.
We decided to do a head to head comparison of their systems to see if
these laptops were truly good deals.
The Comparison
Dell and Toshiba were both offering a 2 GHz Celeron system with a CD-RW
drive for $699, but there were many differences between the two systems.
To help highlight their differences, we detailed the main features of
both systems in the table below. Features that we considered substandard
are highlighted in red. Features
that are different, but not necessarily substandard, are highlighted
in purple.
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Review of $699 Laptop System Features
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Company
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Dell
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Toshiba
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Model
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Inspiron™ 1100
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Satellite A15-S127
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Processors
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2 GHz Celeron
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2 GHz Celeron
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Video Chip
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Intel Extreme Graphics
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Intel Integrated
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Screen
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14.1 inch XGA TFT
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15 inch XGA TFT
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Main System RAM
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256 MB Shared DDR SDRAM
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256 MB Shared DDR SDRAM
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Maximum RAM
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512 MB (but not offered)
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1 GB
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Hard Disk Drive
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30 GB
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30 GB
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Floppy Drive
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No
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No
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DVD/CD-RW combo drive
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Yes
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Yes
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Sound
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Integrated Chip
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Integrated Chip
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Speakers
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Yes
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Yes
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Modem
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Yes
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Yes
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Network Interface
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Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
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Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
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USB 2.0 Ports
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2
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2
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Application Software
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WordPerfect® Productivity
Pack
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Microsoft Works
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Operating Software
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Windows XP Home
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Windows XP Home
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Weight
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7.22 lbs.
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6.1 lbs.
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Warranty
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1 Year Limited Warranty
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1
Year Limited Warranty
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Free Shipping
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No ($50+ to ship)
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No (can be avoided by
buying in retail stores)
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Online Service
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Free 6 Months of America
Online Membership Included
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Depends where you buy
it
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Price before Taxes and Rebates
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$949
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$949
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Rebates
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$250 (8-10 weeks to
process)
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$250 (8-10 weeks to
process)
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Net Price
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$699 + shipping + taxes
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$699 + taxes
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Manufacturer's Web Site
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Recommended Place to Buy
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Go to Dell's web site above and type E-value
code 18440-D80809d
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Can be purchased at Best Buy for $699, or for $749 at CompUSA and Circuit City |
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Offer Expires
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8-20-03
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8-23-03
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Reviewer's Conclusions
Dell Inspiron™ 1100
The Dell Inspiron has two advantages over the Toshiba Satellite, it has a faster 3D graphics chipset (Intel Extreme Graphics) and it comes with 6 months of free AOL.
Toshiba Satellite A15-S127
The Toshiba Satellite A15-S127 has many advantages over Dell's featured system, it has a larger screen, its system RAM can be upgraded to 1 GB, it comes with Microsoft works, it weighs a whole pound less than Dell's inspiron, and it should cost at least $50 less as you don't have to pay shipping charges.
And the winner is...
While both laptops are very good entry level computers, the Toshiba
Satellite has better features combined in a laptop than weighs a whole
pound less than the Dell Inspiron. While Dell's faster 3D chipset is
nice to have, it is not significantly faster than the chipset Toshiba
uses.
These are both very good entry level laptops that can be used for school
and office computing chores like; using the Internet, burning CDs, and
watching DVD movies. These are not good laptops for 3D graphics tasks,
or for high use computer applications.
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