E1505I6400 Comments Please

Hi all,

I'm planning to buy the Inspiron 6400 shortly and would appreciate feedback on some of my decisions and questions.

Journey, I know you have an E1505. Are you still happy with it? Any regrets or things you'd do differently if you started over?

My uses: - internet-email, word processing, photo editing using Paint Shop Pro. I may watch an occasional movie on DVD and listen to music CDs. I have a good-sounding set of external Altec Lansing speakers currently attached to my old computer - I plan to plug these into the new I6400. I have no interest in a TV Tuner just now but may decide to add one later. I want to be sure the configuration I've chosen won't prevent me from this addition.

Here's the configuration I've selected: - Intel Core Duo T2300 processor - Windows XP Home Edition - XGA display with Truelife - Memory - 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHZ 1 DIMM - Video Card - Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 - Hard Drive - 100GB 5400rpm SATA - Network Card - 10-100 Card and Modem - CD-DVD Burner - 8X (DVD+--RW) with double layer DVD+R write capability - Sound Card - Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio - Wireless - Intel PRO-Wireless 3945 802.11a-g Mini Card (54Mbps) - Battery - 80WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

Some questions: - Would an upgrade to Win XP MCE be an advantage to me? What does it get me over the Home edition? - I selected 1 Dimm memory since it will allow me to upgrade to 1GB later if needed - is this correct? - Would upgrading the video card to the 128MB ATI Mobility at $100 be worthwhile? - I've chosen the Sound Blaster sound card - a $30 upgrade. Is it much of an improvement over the Integrated Audio? - Is the Intel PRO-Wireless 3945 card adequate? - I've chosen the 9-cell battery over the 6-cell battery. How many hours of use does each provide?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Clark Martin