Looking to buy a new laptop and wanted your thoughts...

[Phillip Dyson]

I've been doing to comparison shopping and I think I've gotten myself down to two laptops. A customized Dell and a customized HP. The information and pricing came straight from their respective sites. The prices reflect a approximately 15% discount that I get from my company.

Just wondering what other may think of my contenders.
They both have pluses and minuses, but overall I'm leaning towards the HP. Probably because of the faster processor and faster HD.

HP G62t<o></o>
Laptop Magazine Review (http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/hp-g62t.aspx?page=1)
$659.49<o></o>
Components<o></o>
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-460M Dual Core Processor (2.53 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz
• 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5470 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
• FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery> (standard) - Up to 5.5 hours of battery life
• 15.6" diagonal High Definition HP LED Brightview Display (1366x768)
• SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
• 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader
• Wireless-N Card
• Standard Keyboard

Dell Inspiron 15R<o></o>
Customized to $636.99 -
CNET Review (http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell-inspiron-15r/4505-3121_7-34122503.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody;1r#reviewPage1)
<o></o>
Components<o></o>
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit w/No Office Software
4GB DDR3 Shared Dual Channel Memory + 500GB 5400RPM HDD
ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD550v, 64-Bit, 1GB, DDR3
1 Year Basic Service Plan
McAfee SecurityCenter, 15-Months
Mars Black
My Software
Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year
Also Includes
Dell Wireless 365 Internal Bluetooth (V2.1 + EDR)
Inspiron 15R
New 2010 Intel® Core™ i3-370M (2.4GHz, 4Threads, 3M cache)
Lithium Ion Battery (6-Cell) – Up to 4 hours, 2 minutes of battery life*
15.6" High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™
HD Audio 2.2 Support SRS™ Premium Sound
8X CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) - w/ Roxio Burn 1.0
Dell Wireless DW1501, 802.11 g/n 1x1 Half Mini Card
Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam
Integrated 10/100 Network Card
1 year LoJack for Laptops Standard Theft Protection

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

The HP does look better on paper.

[Phillip Dyson]

Thanks Lee,
I checked out Toshiba, Lenovo and Asus and couldn't get even close to these specs for a similar price.

[Sven Johannsen]

Irrespective of the particular models you are looking at, I've never been as pleased with the HP laptops I've owned as the Dells I've owned. My wife would say the same and she comes from an IT pro perspective, supporting end users with both plarforms.

[Phillip Dyson]

Thanks Sven, my last few have been HP plus one Compaq that I accidentally purchased. I haven't had any particular problems with them.
Of course the first HP I encouraged my mother to get started having problems with its USB controller a few weeks ago. Just outside of the 1 year manufacturers warranty. Very frustrating. I will probably have to pay money to have someone look at it.

Its got me thinking that maybe extended manufacterer's warranties make a little sense if you're going to have a machine for 3 years. At least for my mother who isn't always looking for the latest like I am.

The Dells to me always seem to lack something spec wise as you can see by the listing in my original post. But I can't say what they're like build wise as I've never owned one.