Well after several hard discussions (including hearing that I'm stupid and don't know how to build a computer) my dad decided that he might give me a new computer.

But the computer he's looking at is an Dell Inspiron 1545 (I'm the computer wiz in the family when it comes to building computers.)

Elgiganten (translated to English)

with the following specs

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core
Model Name: Dell 1545 (1545/9985)
Directory: T4500
Cores: 2
Speed: 2.3 GHZ
CPU Cache: 1 MB
Chipset: Intel Cantiga GM45
Memory: 3 GB
Speed: 800 MHZ
Max Memory: 4 GB
Hard Drive: 320 GB (SATA)
Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330
Memory: 512 MB
Battery Time: 3 hours
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

and it would cost 5000 SEK (711.89 USD)

How good would this computer be compared to an laptop with the i5 core CPU?
(I already figured out that I wouldn't be able to play any heavy games on it.)

Edit: I wouldn't have much use for an laptop either.

My opinion is that I'm very "underwhelmed" by this laptop. THe graphics is a particularly weak component.

I don't know if the Dell XPS 15 is available where you are, but for $850 US, this is a much better laptop.

I'm sure you will get more opinons!

You pay a lot more for a laptop than you would for an equivalently powered desktop. I'm not sure what you intend to do with the laptop, but except for $$$ gaming laptops, laptops are designed more for saving power than for performance. You are also stuck with whatever graphics came with the laptop. Unless you need the mobility, I wouldn't recommend a laptop unless all you need to do is check email or similar.

Regarding the Dell 1545 in particular, neither ***Notebookreview*** nor ***CNet*** is particularly enthusiastic about the Dell 1545. Reviews of the 1545 at Amazon ***here*** and ***here*** are not too flattering either.

My opinion was actually the same when I saw what kind of computer my dad was looking at. Considering the prices over here, an Dell XPS 15 would cost about 7800 SEK (1110.54 USD).

And knowing my dad that's something unacceptable for him (being a real uncle scrooge towards his own children.)

But you're correct about the Dell XPS 15 being a much better option and computer Draclvr.

Edit: I think my dad only wants me to surf the internet and check email. But I don't have any use for a laptop, since I never travel long distances, plus I play a lot of heavy computer games. So for the 5000 he (my dad) wants to spend on the laptop, I could easily upgrade my stationary to modern standard.

The problem is that my dad knows nothing about how a computer work.

But thanks for the review links Jenny, I'll check them out

Edit again: I was actually checking out the cnet review a few hours ago.

Good luck convincing your Dad.
There are some websites like ***this*** that say straight out that
Maybe sites like that would help convince him that an inexpensive laptop isn't exactly a bargain -- especially if you don't need the portability.

Thanks for the good luck wishes, I'm going to need it And I'll be sending him the link as well.

Not really laptop related, but I was thinking about doing this upgrade for my stationary computer.

Motherboard: Asus P5P43TD Pro (bought two months ago)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66 GHZ
Memory: Crucial DDR3 BallistiX 1600MHz 4GB (over clocked)
Chassis: Cooler Master HAF 932

Which would cost 5021 SEK (714.88 USD)

What would the pros and cons be, if I got to do this upgrade?

What would you get for a video card?

I actually got a ATI Radeon HD 5750 with 1GB GDDR5 from a friend for my birthday, so I'm not worried

Nice friend!!

How about the power supply?

I have a Cooler Master GX 550W power supply (replaced my old 420W power supply a few months ago.) As for sound card, I'll go with the Asus Xonar DS, but I can always buy the sound card at a later time.

Edit: I was talking to my friend yesterday about buying two hard drives so that I could use them in Raid mode. He said that if I did that I should get one smaller and one larger hard drive.

So should I go by his advice or would it be better to buy two identical ones?

Some interesting comments on laptops vs. desktop computers for gaming. I have both. Last year I bought a Dell laptop with Windows 7. I didn't need one, I don't take it anyplace, I just like gadgets. I use it downstairs for casual games, surfing the Web, e-mail, Peter's Jigsaw Puzzles, and of course, Solitaire etc.

But when I want to get into some serious Adventure gaming, I go upstairs to my "Computer Room" and boot up my desktop with Vista. I find the desktop to be much more comfortable to work with for longer periods of time. With laptop, if the monitor was high enough to see properly, the keyboard was too high for comfortable typing. And if I placed it lower I had to hunch over it to read the screen. Maybe I just need better glasses. Hummmm....

I know very little about RAID, although I have 3 500 GB hard drives I still haven't managed with some form of RAID - there are several. Jenny100 pointed me to some info about the different levels of RAID. I don't remember that any of them recommended identical or different drive sizes.

I run a Raid-0 configuration on my XPS (rarely used for gaming) - Problem is, now I want to dual boot it, and I've got to back up the entire drive to undo it

I decided to only buy one hard drive this time, so I got enough money over for the sound card

Edit: I got my new hard drive yesterday a Seagate Barracuda 1TB and I've spent the most of the day installing everything from my old Samsung SpinPoint 250 GB onto the new one

Edit again: Well.... my current mouse has been acting up since the last computer crash (one click becoming two or three) Am I right in guessing that I need to buy a new one?

As for getting money for new computer parts, I'm starting to rule that out. Since there hasn't been any update from my dad (still 13 days left before the deadline is up)