>>Hi Erik,
>>
>>>theory- I think that the different pricing structures of the Latitude and Inspiron are the result of a huge Bureaucracy at Dell, and their official policy of not supporting NT on the Inspiron is an effort to sell the more expensive Latitude to big businesses who can't afford to risk an 'I told you so'. A close friend is a corporate sales rep for Dell (I live in Round Rock, TX, Dell's home base). I'll ask him when I next talk to him.
>>
>>Any news to report from your friend over at Dell? I'm hoping to make a decision soon.....
>>
>>Thanks!
>
>Yeah, I talked to him this afternoon. Although he's not privy to the inner workings of the Dell marketing machines he agrees with me. Both machines use industry standard parts and architecture, but the Latitude is aimed at corporations, the Inspiron at the individual.
>
>Don't take this as my personal guarantee on an Inspiron, but I _would_ buy one again.


I've been looking at both the Dell and the Gateway...I'm much more impressed with Gateway.