[Steeltwo]

Originally Posted by DSMStyle

Processor: One of these two - if you've got the $ go for the 1.83, but if you do not, at least get the T5500 processor. Mainly for the bus speed increase.

Intel® Core™ Duo Proc T2400 (1.83GHz/667MHz/2 X 1MB L2 Cache) [add $150 or $4/month1]

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB) [add $100 or $3/month1]



OP: I've never used Media Center Edition. But if it isn't going to be connected to a big network, then I do not see a reason why you would need to get another OS. I would opt for the reinstalliation CD for the 10 bones.


Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition with re-installation CD [add $10]



Memory: One of these two - Once again if you have the money go for the single DIMM. I'm surprised they do not have faster RAM available.


1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm [add $65 or $2/month1]
Dell Recommended
1GB Shared Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHZ, 1 DIMM [add $175 or $5/month1]



Hard Drive: No doubt, go with a 7200rpm drive at the MINIMUM. It'll just make life easier. The hardrive is the slowest part of the computer, might as well help it as much as you can by adding a few RPM's. However, you can get cheaper add-on drives than what they are asking for here. So i'd go with the 60 for now. You might not even need that much space. If you do you can just add a big fatty drive later for cheap.


60GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive [add $65 or $2/month1]



Video Card: If you plan on using the laptop for gaming at all or video editing.
up this to the X1300 and if you have the money, the maybe look at the other two. For 50 bones, it would be worth the X1300 just to have an option for later if you want to play some games on the road or whenever.

128MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1300 HyperMemory™ [add $49 or $1/month1]

hope this helps.