Dell Inspiron 5100 Laptop (Intel Pentium 4 CPU, Blue and Silver)

Even though it is an old computer (made in 2002) it is great for someone who is new to computers

-pros:

Windows Xp Pro

Wifi enabled

faster than some modern day computers

-Cons:

A bit heavy about 8 pounds

Original dosn't come with DVD drive only cd

So overall it would be great gift for someone who would want a decent laptop, just for web, and emails

My family bought a Dell Inspiron 5100 for my sister in 2003 (a decade ago), and made sure to get the best available at the time: 2.6Ghz CPU, 32MB video, 512MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, Windows XP. She loved it. She completed her Master's degree on it, took it everywhere when traveling, and even named it. But then, five years ago, she set it aside (out of necessity) for a newer Mac laptop. The Inspiron was slowing down, making a terrible rattling noise, and overheating to the point of shutting down.

So, with her blessing, I decided to clean it up and see what I could do to get it back up to speed. I upgraded the HD to 100GB, upgraded the RAM to 2x1GB (2GB total, requires a two-step BIOS upgrade), and replaced the monitor and hood. I also added an internal wireless card and a 2-USB slim PCI express card, replaced the fan and heat sink (and thermal grease), and super-glued a fine mesh screen (normally added to case fans) to the fan intake on the underside of the laptop to prevent further dust accumulation on the heat grill and CPU fan. As an added touch, I replaced the DVD drive with a second HD, and installed a temperature monitoring program, which keeps the CPU below 100F by adjusting the CPU fan speed accordingly.

All in all...? $150-$200 tops over 2 years, and it still runs like new. It's been my traveling laptop, my emergency computer when the main one goes kaput, and is the ONLY computer in the family which is still going strong after a full decade of technological updates, advances, and changes.

I love my Dell Inspiron 5100, and will keep it even after I get a new one. Excluding the fan issue, this has been a excellent laptop.

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