Question about new laptop config... need advice

[DouglasMcc]

Okay, I have decided to get a new Dell laptop. Here are my choices:

Inspiron 5150 with 3.06 P4-M 15inch UXGA TFT, 40 GB HD, 64 meg GeforceFX 5200, 512 (333) MEGS MEM, DVD/CD (CDR burner) -- 1780 after tax

Inspiron 8600 with 1.4 Centrino, 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT, 60 GB HD, 128 meg GeforceFX 5600, 512 (333) MEM, CD/DVD burner 1890 after tax

Once you go above 1.4 Centrino, the 8600 price skyrockets. I really would like the video card from the 8600, but I figure its wasted with only a 1.4 Centrino (the only good it would be for is gaming and from what I read a 1.4 Centrino is like a 1.9 P4-- wouldnt have the horsepower to push the extra textures added by the extra memory). Im not much on Widescreen-- I can take it or leave it. Got a DVD burner at home I could always use (external) so that ones not that important. I would like your opinions though. Which system would you choose and why? I dont plan on gaming a whole lot, but I would like the option if I have to travel a great distance (hotel room, etc.). Which would be best for gaming? (relative to laptops which are behind the times in gaming). I welcome any advice.

[Ioman]

Douglas, let me ask you this. Will you be traveling a lot? The Inspiron 5150 really is a desktop replacement judging by the specs, and the battery will probably not last a little over an hour based on my experience reviewing laptops.

The Centrino chipset is designed for longer battery life (assuming the laptop manufacturer includes a decent battery) so if you do travel that would be my recommendation. The Inspiron 8600 you listed has a killer video card AND a Centrino chipset so you should be able to game and get decent battery performance.

[DouglasMcc]

I do not travel a whole lot now, but possible in the future. My friend has a Inspiron 5100 (the cases look identical so Im assuming similar weight) and its fine for me. I used to lug around 20 pounds of books in high school (school did away with lockers my sophomore year) so thats not a problem. The battery is suppose to be a 12 cell battery. C-Net says the machine gets 254 minutes. Maybe not as much as a Centrino, but I could live with that (most of the places I will use this -- work and college have convient outlets to use). My concern is overall performance. If I could afford the 1.7 centrino, I would probably take it in a minute. But that increases the price 500 dollars. I wish I could get the 3.06 P4-M with the 128 meg video... dont understant Dell's "modular" fixation. How would these two compare performance wise when "plug up." Would the extra memory on the 8600 be wasted by such a low processor speed? Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[techfreak]

Sounds like you already made up your mind. I would go with the Centrino system because you are getting the best of both worlds. With a good video card and lots of memory, the CPU will not make a significant enough of a difference. Just my .02