A Good, Affordable Laptop for Average Users
Written: Aug 19 '06
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Pros: A lightweight, durable laptop that performs better than expected.
Cons: No, I do not want to buy a TV.
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this laptop to someone looking for a basic computer.
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| fyvel's Full Review: Dell Inspiron 2200 PC Notebook |
Sometime around May/June 2005, I realized that a laptop would be a really convenient thing to have. I had just started my summer internship, and after 4 weeks of not having access to a computer at work, hand-writing my assignments during the day and spending the evening typing them up, I realized I had to do something. So I looked into buying a laptop. I was very pleased with my Dell Dimension 4300 that I had had for a few years, so I decided to look into another Dell. (For the record, the Dimension still works just fine, but it is currently sitting on my desk, unused.)
After comparing specs and prices between Dell laptops and other brands, I realized that Dell was my best option, cost wise. Comparable laptops were running at about $500 to $700 more than the Dells. At the time I just wanted something simple in a laptop, to use in addition to my current desktop. All I really wanted was something to use for word processing, so I wasn't overly picky about the specs. I went to the Dell website, and ordered the second-cheapest laptop they had available at the time. That happened to be the Inspiron 2200.
At the time, I paid $899 plus taxes (for a total of $1058). Shipping and handling was free.
The computer came with the following:
Intel Celeron M 360 processor
1.40 GHz
65 WHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (and this was not one that was recalled)
256 MB, 2 DIMMS, DDR, Totalling 512 MB
24X Combo CD-RW/DVD
40GB hard drive
Microsoft Windows XP
Integrated network card
Dell 1370 internal wireless (802.11b/g, 54Mbps)
15 inch display
..along with miscellaneous software (much of which I deleted)
What I like about my Dell Inspiron 2200
Like I said, at the time I was just looking for something very basic. This little laptop surprised me. Even though I just bought it for doing assignments for university, I started using it for much more. I liked it so much that I neglected my desktop, and stopped using it altogether. I had fully expected to not be able to do things like play games on this laptop. In order to be able to run the Sims 2 on my desktop, it needed some upgrades (more ram and a new video card). I tried installing it on my Dell Inspiron 2200 and was quite pleased to see how well it runs. I have since installed two of the expansion packs on it (University and Nightlife) and it has slowed down a bit but is still quite playable.
I like how portable this laptop is. I haven't actually weighed it, but I would put it at between 5 and 7 pounds. It's much lighter than many other laptops I have lifted.
The appearance is quite simple: plain black. The exterior has kept up quite nicely for the past year that I have had it. There is no obvious damage or scratches, and I have not been exactly gentle with it at times.
I had good experience with Dell customer support, contrary to what many other reviews report. Early on, I noticed that the laptop would sometimes not come out of hibernation, and would require restarting. A month or two after I first got it, it was getting worse. Not a serious issue, but annoying nonetheless. So I called Dell customer support. I talked to a very friendly man who was quite eager to help me out. He walked me through a few steps, and when nothing obvious was causing the problem, he looked into it farther. He placed me on hold for a few minutes, and came back to report that it seemed to be a problem with the version of Windows XP that I was running, and that a fix had not been released as of that time. He then proceeded to tell me how to avoid the problem (by setting the computer to never go into hibernation). The fix has since been released, and my computer comes out of hibernation quite nicely now.
Another thing I liked when I first got this laptop was the battery life: 4 hours. That was more than I ever needed. The battery is over a year old now, though, and it's life seems to have decreased to 3 hours. That's still more than I need.
Another review mentioned that the screen never seemed to be of the proper brightness. I'm not sure if the other reviewer is aware, but you can control how bright the screen is quite easily. Just hold the Fn key and then press the up or down arrows to adjust the brightness. I find this to be very helpful. One thing I did notice about the screen is that it is never bright enough to be able to see while outside on a sunny day, but I am not sure if this is common to all laptops or not.
What I don't like about my Dell Inspiron 2200
One of the first things I noticed upon opening the box my laptop came in was the prominent sticker stating that it was Made in Malaysia. Being a somewhat conscious consumer, that concerned me a bit. I wouldn't like to think that my inexpensive laptop came at a high price for someone else, working for very low wages. If I recall correctly, my Dell Dimension 4300 was made in the USA (Texas I think?).
A few months ago, one of my cats decided that the power cord for my laptop was a pretty tasty treat. He chewed it through so that the wire was showing underneath. I put some black electrical tape on it and it worked quite well until one day it just decided to quit. I noticed the battery symbol was on, despite the fact that it was plugged in. The electrical tape was half melted, and there were scorch marks on the cord underneath. Not good. Even worse, it was the weekend, and I was in the middle of working on a massive project due that Monday. I needed Powerpoint. My laptop had it, my desktop did not. I panicked a bit, but then managed to find a knowledgeable friend online who walked me through the process of splicing the wires for a temporary fix until I could order a new one. This is where the fun starts. I called Dell to order a new cord. It was the absolutely strangest phone call I have ever had in my entire life. Throughout the entire phone call, he proceeded to tell me, over and over and over again, that the information I was providing him was completely confidential and that it would not be sold, etc etc. It was annoying. And if that wasn't enough, at the end of the phone call he tried to sell me a TV. What the heck is that all about anyways?
Overall Impressions
I like this laptop. It was better than I expected and it continues to work well over a year later. It's lightweight, convenient, reliable, and it holds up well to light to moderate wear and tear.
Would I buy a Dell again? Probably not, despite liking this laptop. Why? Well, the "Made in Malaysia" thing concerns me. And there was something about that phone call that just rubbed me completely the wrong way. I called to order a new power cord and they tried to sell me a TV. Getting pitches like that from people who call me is bad enough. I don't want that when I'm calling to order something - and am already spending money. But still, I can't say that I would never buy a Dell again, because quite frankly, I've had two good computers from them. I'd just seriously consider others first next time.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 899
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Celeron
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 15 inches
Hard Drive (GB): 21-30
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Epinions.com ID:
fyvel
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Member: Mandy
Reviews written: 90
Trusted by: 80 members
About Me:
Doubt everything. Find your own light.
-- Buddha
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