Dell.ca: X2 4000+ Inspiron 531 Desktop $309, X2-TK55 Vostro 1000 15.4” Laptop $499 &

[购物指南]

Here's are some new system offers from Dell.ca, including a desktop computer, and two laptop systems.

First up, the Inspiron 531 desktop system rings up at $309 after you manually remove the 19" LCD and comes with the following:

• AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4000+
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2DIMMs
• 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics
• 16x DVD+/-RW Drive
• Dell keyboard and mouse
• Microsoft Works 8 (does not include MS Word)

Overall, this is quite a nice system for $309. It'll handle all of your productivity needs with some horsepower to spare. Upgrades to consider include Microsoft Works Plus 8.5 for $30 and upgrading from integrated graphics to a 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8300GS or a 128MB Radeon ATI HD 2400 PRO for $60. You can also add a PCI 56k modem for a whopping $0.

If you're shopping for a laptop instead of a desktop computer, Dell has a Vostro 1000 system for $499 that comes with the following:

• 15.4" Wide Screen XGA LCD Display
• AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core processor TK-55 (1.8GHz, 512KB cache)
• Windows XP Home Edition
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2 Dimm
• 80G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• 8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+R write capability
• ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 graphics
• Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Wi-Fi Mini Card
• Integrated Audio
• 29 WHr 4-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
• 1 Year Return to Depot Service and Technical Support

At $499, you're getting a very functional basic laptop. Some potentially worthwhile upgrades are the $30 upgrade for a Turion processor (which consumes less power), and moving up to a 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery for an additional $20. Bear in mind that since this is a Vostro 1000, you're not getting some of the fancier Vostro features like magnesium case and spill-proof keyboard, but it's still a good value given the price. If you're looking for a more robust laptop, check out the Core 2 Duo Vostro 1700 for $799. You can read more about it after the break (click the "more" link).

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