Thinking About a New Dell for My Birthday

jvickers · Sep 3, 2024

jeffbeish said:
My son has a Dell Inspiron 5620, 16" screen with all the bells and hoops. I'm sure all the model numbers are not important. You have a 5620 and it is most likely nearly the same as these. This one is $550. I may get one for my birthday. What do you think?

Dell 16 inch Inspiron Laptop with Nvidia MX Discrete | Dell USA

Dell 16 inch Inspiron Laptop AMD | Dell USA

Understanding your situation and limited amount you can spend on a system, I can see going with the $550 Intel Inspiron. If you can spare $150 more, you can get the AMD Ryzen 5 Inspiron with Radeon Graphics. Like @bobkn indicated, the Radeon graphics is better than the Intel graphics.

Both those systems I mention come with 512GB SSDs. Depending on what you do with your system, you might not need more than that. It really boils down to the CPU and GPU.

There are better systems out there, as some have pointed out, but they are more expensive, and you have a budget to consider.

Hope this helps.

Dru2 · Sep 3, 2024

jvickers said:
Understanding your situation and limited amount you can spend on a system, I can see going with the $550 Intel Inspiron. If you can spare $150 more, you can get the AMD Ryzen 5 Inspiron with Radeon Graphics. Like @bobkn indicated, the Radeon graphics is better than the Intel graphics.

If you don't game on laptops as I don't, no need to pay extra for a dedicated graphics card.

I'm a huge gamer, but I don't game on laptops. Anyway, I bought a 14 Inch Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon X1 as listed in my specs. It just has the Intel graphics solution as again, don't game on laptops.

It is thin and light laptop, and exactly what I wanted. I've always had a thing for what used to be called "Ultrabooks" - small thin and light powerful laptops - example the ThinkPad Cabon X1.

All that said, wish the OP luck in their choosing. And best wishes on cancer treatment. Been there, done that. Very fortunate.

jeffbeish said:
but now I have to with cancer treatments since October and those sneaky expenditures my reserve is low.

Peace

bobkn · Sep 3, 2024

Interesting. The $550 AMD laptop is now listed at $630.

jeffbeish · Sep 3, 2024

Well, I have used Intel CPU's for years and have been happy with them for that I do with a laptop, so I just ordered the: Dell 16 inch Inspiron Laptop with Nvidia MX Discrete | Dell USA. I will find some replacement hinges that someone, somewhere told me that are special made so not to shatter the plastic again and fox this one for my backup. I still have an old Inspiron 3552 with the lousy Windows 10. It works okay but is as slow as Job's turkey right before Thanksgiving. Thanks all for the advice; I'm sure this one will be okay.

rambomhtri · Sep 4, 2024

jeffbeish said:
Well, I love my Dell Inspiron 3510 laptop but the case sucks. The screen hinges easily break and mine broke 8 months after I bought it, so they fixed it. A year later they broke again so I taped it up with really sticky silver duct tape and that does okay but I have to re-tape it occasionally. I like Dell so am looking at the 3550 Latitude that runs around $640. Do you have any opinions?

Laptop Computers | Dell USA

View attachment 106753

Wow, a Celeron CPU... don't buy that again, I really don't know how can you love that PC, it is painfully slow, not compared to today's "kids gaming $3000" PCs, but compared to 15 years ago standards... If you are happy with that, you are happy with any laptop.

I love Dell, and if you go for the Latitude series, you will probably love them way more than your Inspiron. I have a Latitude from 2018, 7940 model, 14", built like a compact thin amazing machine. As long as you have an SSD (I would recommend minimum 256GB, and higher than that ONLY if it's necessary), a good Intel i5, even from 8th gen they perform and move Windows 11 perfectly, and 16GB of RAM, you are good to go. You don't need something as new as 2022 or 2024. You can totally save a lot of money by buying a 2018-2020 Latitude model.

Very important too, I would try to aim for a 1920x1080 display, the experience is much better than with a 768 screen. Also, try to think if you want a compact size laptop, like 14" which for me is the absolute perfect balance between big enough so it's easy on the eyes and don't feel small, and small enough to be a laptop you can save or put anywhere, or 15.6" which is the standard, or if you want even a bigger screen like 16-17".

rambomhtri · Sep 4, 2024

jeffbeish said:
Well, I have used Intel CPU's for years and have been happy with them for that I do with a laptop, so I just ordered the: Dell 16 inch Inspiron Laptop with Nvidia MX Discrete | Dell USA. I will find some replacement hinges that someone, somewhere told me that are special made so not to shatter the plastic again and fox this one for my backup. I still have an old Inspiron 3552 with the lousy Windows 10. It works okay but is as slow as Job's turkey right before Thanksgiving. Thanks all for the advice; I'm sure this one will be okay.

That one is perfectly fine, although, honestly, I would have go for a Latitude because they are more reliable than XPS or Inspiron.

jeffbeish · Sep 4, 2024

rambomhtri said:
That one is perfectly fine, although, honestly, I would have go for a Latitude because they are more reliable than XPS or Inspiron.

I really don't need a high-end PC since I am just a retir4d engineer and astronomer, so most of what I do is keep my bank info and do some programming but little else. I would go big time if I had to have a PC for something.

jeffbeish · Sep 7, 2024

The only problem, one not the result of this PC, but Quicken and Windows 11 again. It is acting just like Quicken did in my other Win-11 PC; it will not run. I fixed the Dell 3510 eaisly by deleteing Local\Intuit then replacin it with my Windows 10 PC Intuit.

XxXxX · Sep 8, 2024

i have an old Dell which is still going strong. it is running ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS.
Dell 13" Latitude from 2017, built like a brick out house. Intel i5 7200U. 16GB DDR4. 250GB SSD.
i had to buy a new a battery for it this year, about £40, but its still running just fine as my backup.

best of luck in your Laptop search. Steve

Winuser · Sep 8, 2024

jeffbeish said:
The only problem, one not the result of this PC, but Quicken and Windows 11 again. It is acting just like Quicken did in my other Win-11 PC; it will not run. I fixed the Dell 3510 eaisly by deleteing Local\Intuit then replacin it with my Windows 10 PC Intuit.

I used Quicken years ago. I had to stop using it when I went from Windows Vista to Mandrake Linux. I hated Vista so bad that I did do the switch. Because there was no Linux version I had to find another program. I found a program named Moneydance that had versions for Windows, Mac and Linux. When I finally left Linux for Windows 7 I staid with Moneydance. If you ever have any problems with Quicken that you can't fix, give Moneydance a try. Another thing I like about it is it's not a subscription program although they do offer a subscription version. Buy it once and use it forever. They only charge for major updates that are optional.

jeffbeish · Sep 8, 2024

Winuser said:
I used Quicken years ago. I had to stop using it when I went from Windows Vista to Mandrake Linux. I hated Vista so bad that I did do the switch. Because there was no Linux version I had to find another program. I found a program named Moneydance that had versions for Windows, Mac and Linux. When I finally left Linux for Windows 7 I staid with Moneydance. If you ever have any problems with Quicken that you can't fix, give Moneydance a try. Another thing I like about it is it's not a subscription program although they do offer a subscription version. Buy it once and use it forever. They only charge for major updates that are optional.

Will do, thanks.

jeffbeish · Sep 8, 2024

I am trying to find the ID number for my new Dell. Every Dell laptop I have bought over the years came with a number in the name, but this one did not. I have looked all over for that ID. The only ID is see is my Tag and I am not goi to make that visible. Any suggestions?

Spunk · Sep 8, 2024

That should be listed on the bottom panel of the laptop.
Boot into Setup (Bios) under System Information it will list all that info.
Your Dell Service Tag is just to identify this laptop and the specific hardware and drivers required for it. It would be useless to anyone else who didn't own the same laptop.

Bree · Sep 8, 2024

jeffbeish said:
I am trying to find the ID number for my new Dell. Every Dell laptop I have bought over the years came with a number in the name, but this one did not. I have looked all over for that ID. The only ID is see is my Tag and I am not goi to make that visible. Any suggestions?

go to Dell Support and type in your service tag. You'll get a support page for your specific PC. Click 'View product specs' in the Quick links on the right to see the exact configuration as supplied.

Support | Dell US

www.dell.com

jeffbeish · Sep 8, 2024

Bree said:
go to Dell Support and type in your service tag. You'll get a support page for your specific PC. Click 'View product specs' in the Quick links on the right to see the exact configuration as supplied.

Support | Dell US

www.dell.com

I did and my new Dell doesn't have that info, but I have to find out where to plug in a 48-digit code, but that is not easy due to all; the 2-step security codes and such. I have to use my wife's cell and then my PC and by the time I get that done I forgot why I wanted to long in somewhere! Getting old does that. Not sure why all the delayed sign on stuff since hackers get around it anyway, A few hacker attackes by pissed off PC users will work better.

Bree · Sep 8, 2024

jeffbeish said:
I did and my new Dell doesn't have that info, but I have to find out where to plug in a 48-digit code

I'm not sure what this 48-digit code you talk about could be (maybe the serial number) but it's not the service tag. That is always a 7 alphanumeric characters. Or you could use the express service code (they're interchangeable) that's 10 or 11 digits.

Dell said:
Dell uses product identifiers such as Service Tag, Express Service Code, or Serial Number to access product information like technical specifications, documentation, warranty. Get personalized support options by identifying your Dell product using the Service Tag, Express Service Code, or Serial Number.

Service Tag is a seven alphanumeric code.

Express Service Code is a 10 to 11 digit, numeric version of a Service Tag.

Find the Service Tag of Your Dell Laptop | Dell US

www.dell.com

jeffbeish · Sep 8, 2024

Bree, I know what the tag number is, I have that, but it's another letter-number that I see on my past Dells and I forget where it is on my new PC. I think it was on the bottom of the case, I would look on my older one, in my lap, but I'm afraid my tape will come off the screen that holds it to the base.

Yup, it is on the bottom of this one but not my new one, maybe in Chinese on the new one.

Bree · Sep 8, 2024

jeffbeish said:
Bree, I know what the tag number is, I have that, but it's another letter-number that I see on my past Dells and I forget where it is on my new PC. I think it was on the bottom of the case, I would look on my older one, in my lap, but I'm afraid my tape will come off the screen that holds it to the base. Yup, it is on the bottom of this one but not my new one, maybe in Chinese on the new one.

In addition to any labels all my Dells have their service tag in their BIOS in the System Information > Maintenance section. From the link I gave above...

Dell said:
The Service Tag is available in the BIOS or UEFI of Dell computers.

Turn on or restart the computer.

At the Dell logo screen, press the F2 key several times to access the BIOS or UEFI interface.

The Service Tag is available under the System Information or Overview section.

jeffbeish · Sep 10, 2024

I have tried everything found on Internet to get Quicken 2017 (New Dell 5640, Win-11) to start correctly and it will just not work. I am learning GnuCash that seems to be a neat program and also HomeBank. Both are extensive and will take time to get use to. Quicken will work with the proper screen setting, but I tried 640x480 and my 1920x1200 resolution went into UFO mode and I had to manually reset back normal. So I completely erased Quicken 2017 and will not pay them another red cent.

Spunk · Sep 10, 2024

It seems like you solved your problem with new financial apps.
Older versions of Quicken will not work on Windows 11. As you found out, it installs, but doesn't act properly.
If you were to use them again, you would need to upgrade to a newer version which would also allow you support for Quicken.

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