Dell has only marginally higher malfunction rate than Apple according to the report that can be downloaded at ComputerWorld.

Given that Apple is significantly more expensive than Dell, I would say Dell gives greater value for money.

I am a long time Dell customer (my last 4 laptops were Dell) and I am super happy with the convenient on-site service.

What do I use pywin32 for ?

I use it for:

.COM programming – Excel automation. There are alternatives for building Excel files without .COM but if you need to invoke Excel macros within your python program, you need .COM.

This is yet another reason to stick to Windows 32 bit for now.

Recently, Dell added some Windows 7 upgrade choices for the consumer series too.

Key features :

1. 4 GB RAM

2. 500 GB hard disk – 7200 rpm

3. Intel P8700 (2.53GHz/ 1066 FSB/ 3MB Cache)

4. 3 year XPS Premier Service with 3-year CompleteCover

5. 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670

Bonus: Merlot Red display with 2.0MP webcam

The price : RM6,067 with E-Value code S540604MY.

Read my previous guide to buying a laptop on why I choose the above features.

Interestingly, if I configured with E-Value code S540604MY, the price is RM6,099.

This is the deal advertised on The Star today (29-Jun-09).

Click on picture on the left to view larger version.

It might be too good to be true. When I looked the E-Value coupon up on Dell, the price is RM 2,999 with only 3GB RAM. (Click on picture below to view larger version).

And take note that this model is not eligible for the Windows 7 free upgrade.

However, as of now, the selected systems are:

Latitude

Vostro

Precision

Source: Dell

Should you use 64 bit Windows?

The key thing for most users is be keenly aware of is that :

1. 64 bit Windows require 64 bit drivers, 32 bit drivers do not work.

2. Some 32-bit programs do not function in 64-bit Windows (Microsoft mentioned in particular that some antivirus programs might not work).

Dell for example does not allow purchase of Office Professional with Vista 64 bit.

I am going to purchase a new laptop when Windows 7 arrives and I will buy the 32 bit Windows.

Washington Post published a guide on how to buy an all-purpose laptop.
I would add that you should also buy after-sales support/warranty, like Dell’s 3 year complete cover.
Your laptop is likely to work as hard or harder than you, if you’re the kind that leaves your laptop on all the time to peer-download.
It’s very likely to wear and tear after the first year and the after sales support/warranty protects your investment.

How to Buy an All-Purpose Laptop – washingtonpost.com

Looking for good value in a notebook? Here’s our all-purpose laptop buying guide for the average Joe.

If you buy more than 3GB of RAM, 25% of it will be wasted.

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

However, to avoid potential driver compatibility issues, the 32-bit versions of Windows Vista limit the total available memory to 3.12 GB

I have been using PCs/notebook for a pretty long time.

When I was in school (in the 1980s), to transfer files between two PCs, I had to copy the file onto a floppy drive, then use the other PC to read the floppy drive.

That was obviously a major pain if there are a lot of files and the files are too big to fit onto a floppy.

Luckily, later in the workplace (around 1990s), we could use laplink cables to connect between 2 PCs and transfer files between them. Networking in the office at that time was still not common and the laplink cables were connected to some port (I forgot whether they were serial or parallel port)

Then networking became more common and we can just share filles between computer over a network. And if we were somewhere without a network, we had several alternatives:
1. the USB thumb drive which though smaller than the floppy had bigger capacity.
2. infra red – my notebook in the early 2000s had a infra red port that I could point to another notebook also with an infra red port and both of us could transfer files. It was slow and there must be a direct line of sight between the 2 infra red points.

My next notebook after the infra red notebook came with Bluetooth but not infra red.
With Bluetooth, it was slightly faster and I could share with several Bluetooth notebooks at once.

The next evolution in sharing files ? Intel just came up with My WiFi technology.

Direct2Dell – Direct2Dell – DELL COMMUNITY

Last week, we introduced My WiFi technology as an option on the Dell Studio 15, Studio 17 and the Studio XPS 16 laptops to customers around the world.