Older precision laptops for older people
Do any Dell Precision workstations work with the Dell Latitude PW380 docking station? I build computers for older individuals who don't have much money. I get used Latitudes and hook them up to PW380s. They don't move around with their laptops and docks make them easier to use. Can you suggest older Precision models that in your experience last a long time and stand up under wear? Are there any models I should avoid? What docks do these attach to if not the PW380?
Thanks,
Alan
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Hello Jazz Marie and rindi and thank you for commenting.
I've always bought refurbished Latitudes. The older E6500 series are real workhorses. Recently I've gotten mostly E7400 series laptops for my clients. They are lighter and still very robust. It's my understanding is that Precisions are built even better, so I'm expanding my idea of what models I can set up cheaply, since everyone needs a computer these days and for older individuals they can be a lifeline. If I have a suitable dock I can also hook up a large monitor cheaply. That's good for old eyes.
I was thinking of one client who lives in a dusty environment on another continent. I got her an e6410 and a dock years ago. It's still running but I was wondering if any newer Precisions would work with that Latitude dock? If she still lived here I'd just get her a cheap new laptop. If it fails in a year, just get another.
Thanks for your help,
Alan
I've always bought refurbished Latitudes. The older E6500 series are real workhorses. Recently I've gotten mostly E7400 series laptops for my clients. They are lighter and still very robust. It's my understanding is that Precisions are built even better, so I'm expanding my idea of what models I can set up cheaply, since everyone needs a computer these days and for older individuals they can be a lifeline. If I have a suitable dock I can also hook up a large monitor cheaply. That's good for old eyes.
I was thinking of one client who lives in a dusty environment on another continent. I got her an e6410 and a dock years ago. It's still running but I was wondering if any newer Precisions would work with that Latitude dock? If she still lived here I'd just get her a cheap new laptop. If it fails in a year, just get another.
Thanks for your help,
Alan
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A lot of colleagues in the past no matter their age struggled with docks that looked like the PW380's too in terms of undocking and redocking, but as you said they won't move around much. I don't think a Dell Precision M4800 would be the most user-friendly weight-wise for older ages. It may be best if it were a large-screen model, touch screen friendly, and light overall with over 8GB of RAM, but the cost is a factor.