DELL Inspiron 600m - 4/3/05

This is actually not the cheapest laptop that DELL makes, but it is possibly the best value of all laptops. DELL has Inspiron 1200 and 2200 models, which are billed as the affordable laptops, but they have several shortcomings. One is the limited upgradeability of their RAM. Another is their limited cache memory, which cannot be upgraded.

Let's look at the reasons we like the Inspiron 600m and why it is really a hidden powerhouse.

DELL Inspiron 600m

The most laptop for the money

1. Processor - All Inspiron 600m models have Pentium-M processors with 2MB cache. The base model has a 1.6GHz processor which provides more than enough power to run all of the most common applications.

2. Memory - The Inspiron 600m has two DIMMs and can be upgraded to 2GB or RAM. That gives you a lot of room for the future. The base model comes with 256MB RAM, which is not really enough for today's applications. You should try to get at least 512MB. DELL frequently has special sales where they give you a free RAM upgrade. When that is the case, you are often given the option to pay an extra $30 to get the 512MB on one DIMM. That is a wise upgrade option. If the RAM is not on sale at DELL, then it is always cheaper to buy the RAM later from somewhere else, such as Crucial, or during one of the Sunday Specials that we list in the Tech Deals section.

   Always use Crucial's memory advisor to see what kind of RAM you'll need before upgrading from a place other than Crucial. Notice that laptop RAM is called soDIMM whereas desktop RAM is called DIMM.

3. Graphics Card - Not that we care much for a strong graphics card on a laptop, but at least the Inspiron 600m has a separate video graphics card. Other value priced laptops usually have shared graphics memory, which reduces the amount of power available for your applications.

4. Screen - This computer has a medium size screen of 14.1 inches. The base model has XGA resolution which looks quite good, and the screen is bright. One of the reasons DELL has all the other value-priced laptops beat is that their screens have a good reputation for reliability.

5. Drives - The base model has 30GB hard drive, which should be more than enough. As for the optical drive, the base model only has a DVD-ROM and it is smart to upgrade to a CDRW/DVD combo drive for only $29. Optical drives can be upgraded later, but the price involved is not worth the hassle.

6. Networking - Ethernet connection is available, but that's nothing special. This laptop also has a built-in wireless card standard, and it is 802.11 b/g compliant which is is the fastest available. The wireless card is made by Intel, and since the processor is a Pentium, then this laptop qualifies as a Centrino laptop.

7. Input/Output Ports -

   1. Two USB 2.0 connectors

   2. VGA output to connect to a projector

   3. S-Video output, great to connect to TVs and watch DVDs

   4. Infrared port

   5. 9-pin serial connector, hardly ever needed but may be used to connect to older peripherals.

8. Chassis - Compared to other value-priced laptops, this is one of the smallest. It is only 1.2-inches thick and is 4.9 pounds. The case is the recognizable DELL grey and feels well-built.

The official price is $1,199, but it is usually listed at $899. That is a good price, but using one of the codes that DELL releases about once a week, you can usually get this incredible machine for about $699 to $750, with free shipping. Tax is charged to most states. You can either join our DELL Newsletter to get the codes emailed to you when they are released, or you can check our Tech Deals section regularly because we list the 600m every time it goes on sale.

Next we look at what we think is the next best contender in our quest for good value-priced laptops, the HP dv1000 series.