# you think this is a decent deal for $549?...... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007 "2014-05-08T20:41:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Natural](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@Mr.Natural](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Natural)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/1 "2014-05-08T20:41:05Z")
my wife wants a new laptop and she only uses it to check email, facebook, recipes, very little surfing around. She doesn’t really want Windows 8, and this has Windows 7… [http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17-5748-laptop/pd?oc=dncwh2402bw7&model\_id=inspiron-17-5748-laptop](http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17-5748-laptop/pd?oc=dncwh2402bw7&model_id=inspiron-17-5748-laptop) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/2 "2014-05-08T20:48:56Z")
A system like that with a 17" screen and a full keyboard (including numeric keypad) is really big and wide. If that’s what you want, it’s fine, but I’d prefer something smaller. Also, you can get systems for less money that will do what you want even if you want Windows 7. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/3 "2014-05-08T20:51:23Z")
[Here](http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-15-3537/pd?oc=fncwc2405sw7&model_id=inspiron-15-3537), for instance is an Inspiron 15, the 15" version (more or less) of what you looked at, “starting at $450”. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/4 "2014-05-08T21:34:39Z")
Seems expensive for the functions she wants. Has she considered a tablet? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Natural](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@Mr.Natural](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Natural)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/5 "2014-05-08T21:41:39Z")
Well, she does also work some on her laptop. She has a nearly 6 yr old HP, running Vista, that is actually still working fine most times, though once in a while it will just not boot up, and then it will. So she’s going to buy a new one at some point, but has heard too many friends dis on Windows 8, so she doesn’t want that. I’ve had good luck with Dell desktops, but neither of us have ever had a Dell laptop. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/6 "2014-05-09T01:02:44Z")
Does she only use the internet? Does she need Microsoft Word or any other installed programs? If not, a Chromebook would do the job just fine for less than half the price, and no annoying Windows changes to deal with. Better battery life, too, usually. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/7 "2014-05-09T02:47:21Z")
17" is really big, especially if she’s not a big person. I have one that size. I’ve regretted not getting a 14" instead since the day it arrived in the mail. It’s not sit on the couch and check your e-mail size, that’s for damn sure. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/8 "2014-05-09T07:02:31Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [Here](http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-15-3537/pd?oc=fncwc2405sw7&model_id=inspiron-15-3537), for instance is an Inspiron 15, the 15" version (more or less) of what you looked at, “starting at $450”. That’s what I have and I love it. I highly reccomend it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/9 "2014-05-09T10:57:31Z")
For just the minimal stuff you’re talking about, she should be able to get a reliable laptop with Windows 7 for about $300. That’s what I paid for my Lenovo ThinkPad x130e a year or so ago, and I’m very happy with it. It’s got about a 13" screen, I guess; anyhow, it’s big enough to do middlin’ but not extensive work on (which I did after I ruptured my Achilles tendon shortly after I got the ThinkPad), and small enough to be easy to take along when going somewhere. It’s also got pretty good battery life - about 5 hours - but that also adds weight, which is its one disadvantage. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/10 "2014-05-09T13:11:04Z")
Just as a data point, I’ve had two Inspiron laptops, one I paid almost a grand for and it lasted me throughout all of college and a year and a half beyond. It survived being carted around in a book bag. I spilled so many things in it that we joked if we ever baked it in the oven, it would be an amazing cookie, but the point is it took the hits and kept on trucking. The other laptop I paid 300 bucks for and I’ve had it for about 2 years now and it also is in great shape. I was very pleased with the longevity and capability of my laptops as far as facebooking, emailing and youtubing went. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Natural](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@Mr.Natural](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Natural)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/11 "2014-05-09T20:46:24Z")
Thanks for the feedback ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/12 "2014-05-11T18:12:42Z")
Oh, one thing – if you do get it, do NOT use Dell Backup and Recovery – uninstall it. I used it once and it left these ugly little clock icons on all my old files and you can’t get rid of it. (They went away when I uninstalled the program) Just upload your files to another source (online, external hard drive, disc, whatever) like you usually do, but do NOT use Back up and Recovery. Ugh! That was really the only issue I had with my computer. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-think-this-is-a-decent-deal-for-549/688007/13 "2014-05-11T18:32:59Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Oh, one thing – if you do get it, do NOT use Dell Backup and Recovery – uninstall it. I used it once and it left these ugly little clock icons on all my old files and you can’t get rid of it. (They went away when I uninstalled the program) Just upload your files to another source (online, external hard drive, disc, whatever) like you usually do, but do NOT use Back up and Recovery. Ugh! > > That was really the only issue I had with my computer. If you do need backup, just use the built in one. System Restore will also keep old versions of your files, so Dell Backup is just completely useless.