Buying first laptop

I'm looking to buy my first laptop and I'm looking at a Dell E1505 and a HP 6000t ($800 to $1000). Can someone answer some questions:

1. Should I plan on buying a 2 or 3 year warranty?

2. Anything wrong with Dell refurbished?

3. New Dells or HP's come with Vista and refurbished ones come with an XP version, is this a plus or minus at this point in time?

4. I'm planning on getting a Intel Dual Core processor (1.6GHz), and 1GB of Ram . If I go the Vista Premium route I think the above will handle it but most Intel laptops come standard with a Intel Graphics 950 integrated card without upgrading, can this run Aero Glass sucessfully?

5. Any difference in quality between the Dell E1505 and HP 6000t? How about tech support?

 

1. My own personal take is to get the max warranty available. Laptops are not known for their longevity. I bought a three-year warranty on my stepdaughter's laptop and it's already paid off. The LCD went on it.

2. I can't answer that except for saying that I would not consider one. I, personally, would go new with a long warranty.

3. That's a call you'll have to make yourself based on your desires. The nickel story on Vista is really that there isn't enough reason to upgrade.

4. I would doubt it very much.

5. I can't answer that. The support I've gotten from Dell has been adequate.

 

Hello mccoady,

According to the linked article, the 950 Graphics card can run Aero:

http://www.tweakvista.com/article38988.aspx

Enable Vista Glass on Intel GMA 950 Graphics Cards

You should also google the card for further info.

Since the article was written, the driver situation should be better.

I just got an HP Laptop with a Nvidia 7600 and I needed to download a driver for it as well in order to run Aero.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks guys! I ended up getting a Dell E1505 (with a 4 year warranty) with an upgraded video card 128 MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1300, not the best card but an upgrade over the Intel 950. Charles don't you think though that with any new laptop purchased with Vista Home Premium installed, all the drivers would be already updated and ready to run Aero?

 

Yes I do

My purchase was in early January and did not want Vista to come preinstalled, hence the timing of the puchase; wanted to dual boot Vista which I ended up doing with XP MCE.

Regards - Charles