Here we go with the add-ons....

[captpackrat]

I called Dell the other day to get a quote on some laptops. We need about 12 absolute utter bottom of the line as-cheap-as-possible laptops. We just need to run Windows and ONE program.

We don't need Office, we don't need Acrobat, we don't need XP Pro, we don't need a CD-ROM or floppy, we don't need more than a 2 Gig hard drive, and we don't need more than about 256 Megs of RAM, and we don't need a full-blown Pentium. Heck, we really don't even need batteries! If I could get a thin client that was compatible with a Verizon cellular modem, that would be perfect.

Dell's quote? $1222.67 each! WTF???

They started with their bottom of the line system, and started adding everything but the kitchen sink. Pentium M 740, 1 Gig of RAM, 80 Gig hard drive, XP Pro, CD-ROM, WiFi, Office, Acrobat. Gah! No, no, no, no!

Comments

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That's just like calling for tech support. The people you get are trained to switch you up to more than you want. Use their web site, configure it yourself.

You won't be able to get a HD smaller than 40 GB is my guess. They just don't sell them any more. If you want XP Home rather than Pro, go to the Home systems page rather than the small business option. Frankly, I don't recommend running XP without the Gig of RAM and a P4 or equivalent. A simple CDROM is a good idea just to allow for software installations or upgrades in the future. But if you don't need the application software or wifi, configure it out. Should come in at $500 or so per unit.

What's the application you need to run? I prefer Linux over XP for dedicated machines.

[captpackrat.livejournal.com]

It's a service dispatch program called Servicom Mobile. Unfortunately it only runs under Palm, CE or Windows.

Personally I'd rather go with the Audiovox 6700, which runs Windows Mobile and has a phone built in. They would only cost about $250 each, and have a decent-sized keyboard. But the Service Manager had a bad experience with the (crappy used) Palm Treo 600's that we'd used in the past, so he wants laptops.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Laptops. Yuck. Well, I take back my $500 estimate. $900 apiece is probably closer.

[captpackrat.livejournal.com]

I went through Dell's web site and speced things out exactly, and managed to get a much more reasonable quote, $711 each, including an auto/air power adaptor.

Still a heck of a lot more than the $250 Pocket PC's.