New laptop - Techies' advice, please
 

I'm replacing my laptop and am considering the Dell Latitude E6330, with options including 8GB, 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM and 750GB 7200rpm HD.

And I'd appreciate your advice, please.

I only use laptops for my business, and will plug in a 24" screen to complement the 13.3" screen of the smaller, lighter, alternative to my 5yo Compaq6710b's 15.6".

I don't play games, use is for for emails, spreadsheets, some graphs, internet, skype, photos, dvds. Don't currently use it very much for videos or music - but I may if it's a good option. Main requirement is a sturdy, light, workhorse with plenty of grunt & storage.

I need USB plugs, internal DVD player/writer.

Why the Dell? Friend has put them into her business and their travelling people like them. They seem to be a good price for the options & inclusions They've only had them 6 months, so issues of reliability and service haven't arisen yet.

I have bluetooth on my iphone, so probably don't need it on the new laptop. Currently have a 3G modem that I use when travelling locally without free wifi.

Very open to suggestions, comments from our IT gurus.
Many thanks
Bokhara

Buy a Mac.

I haven't had a Dell for several years but the Dell desktops and laptops I've had over the years all eventually had issues (hard drive failures, screen failures). Over time, the construction seemed to get cheaper and cheaper (more and more plastic). I gave up on Windows in general and Dell in particular several years ago.

Thanks tt7
They're a frustrating group to deal with at this stage, so may well walk.

I agree with tt7, they don't hold up. I have had two screens die, keyboards malfunction, keys fall off. The plastic is cracking on my current Dell laptop. The last time a Dell service person came over to fix it, he mentioned that the plastic on my model might start to crack. And it did. It is more than three years old and it's gotten a lot of use.

I have had several Dell Laptops and I learned to buy a three year warranty after the first one started having problems immediately after its two-year warranty ran out. My current Dell laptop has a four year warranty. This was for the US, and within two or three days, they would come to my house if the computer needed fixing or if parts need replacing.

Now that I live in New Zealand I am not sure the warranty would work in the same way. I think I will soon find out, though.

I also have a MacBook Air, which drive me nuts, I've used Macs a lot.

By the way, I am not a techie, just a frequently flustered Dell user.