Just ordered a new laptop

[trmiv]

I've been needing a new laptop because reading on my current 14" XGA display at 1024x768 is slowly killing my eyes, the display is far to pixelated for me. I've had a Dell preferred account that has been unused for a few years, so I decided to put it to use. So this is what I ordered today:

Inspiron E1505

Intel® Core2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB Cache/2.00GHz/667MHz FSB)
15.4 inch UltraSharp Wide Screen WXGA+ Display with TrueLife
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz (I'm going to end up replacing this with the 667MHz ram from Newegg for cheaper than Dell wants for it. I needed to get the price to $1399 for the coupon and this was the best option)
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7300 TurboCache
100GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Ubuntu Edition version 7.04
CD ROM/DVD ROM 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Integrated Audio
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

$1,418.00

then I had a $500 off coupon to bring the total to:

$998.34 with tax and shipping.

I'll be removing Ubuntu and putting PCLinuxOS on though, which I use currently on my old HP. Even though I'm wiping it clean I bought the Ubuntu based one instead of the Windows based one because I wanted to show support for Dell's decision to sell Linux based machines so they continue to do so.


So did I do well? This machine will be for strictly web browsing, watching a few videos, managing my music and syncing with my Creative Zen Vision, pictures, etc. No games at all.

I went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth on the display. I was considering the SXGA+ display, but ended up with the WXGA+ one because I think the text on the SXGA+ would be just too tiny for me. I think the WXGA+ at 1440 x 900 is a good compromise to the 1680 x 1050 of the SXGA+. I hope I made the right decision.

BTW, how good is Dell on their estimate shipping dates? Mine says it's due to ship 6/12/07

 

[xSauronx]

i dont know about pricing....

but are you gonna boot into their ubuntu install for the hell of it?
take some screenies if they happened to brand the bejesus out of it, or see if everything *works* out of the box like it ought to

/just curious

 

[trmiv]

I'll probably boot into it once to check it out, I don't expect more than standard Ubuntu. I've heard there is no branding or anything. I doubt everything "just works" since a standard Ubuntu install doesn't include any multimedia codecs, and I don't think Dell is including them.

I ended up making a change to my order. I swapped the 100 gb 7200 rpm drive for a 160 gb 5400 rpm drive, and just swapped the 533 mhz ram for the 667. Ends up the same price.

 

[mercanucaribe]

You can do better for that price, or a little more.

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
You can do better for that price, or a little more.

At Dell? I used my Dell preferred account.

And don't just tell me I can do better, post some links.

 

[kmmatney]

I think you did well. I just purchased a Dell for my computer that I use at work, and mine was quite a bit more (although its a 17"):

Inspiron 9400, Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
17 inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WUXGA
2GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X 1400 HyperMemory
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2
Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem, for Inspiron
8X DVD+/-RW Drive for Inspiron 6400/E1505
Integrated High Definition Audio, Inspiron
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card (54Mbps)

80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 9400/E1705

Sub-Total : $1551.00

Tax : $63.62

Order Total :
$1614.62

I received it 2 days ago, and so far really like the 1920 x 1200 true-life screen.

 

[happyhelper]

I think you'd be happier with the smaller faster hard drive, but it just depends, maybe not for your needs. I have an e1505 that's about a year old and IIRC it has the same screen you got and it was and still is very crisp and nice (and my eyes aren't too great either). Since it is a year old, the CPU isn't as good (T2300 instead of T7200) and that's my biggest curiosity, how much difference does that CPU make? I've been thinking of popping the T7200 into mine, but not sure if it's worth it. Everything else on mine is about the same as yours (with the exception of smaller/faster hard drive, and I don't care about the graphics or remember what it has), and IIRC I paid a bit more than you did, but that was, again, just over a year ago. I don't think they were offering Linux at the time, or if they were I didn't notice; never tried Linux on it, but know of people who have done it without much difficulty. I'd be surprised if Dell (or any major manufacturer) shipped a laptop with an OS on it that wasn't configured and generally ready to go, though, not that that matters to you. Mine had a crappy battery, but yours shouldn't. Ship dates were reliable/accurate in my experience. I'm pretty sure you will be very happy with it.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
You can do better for that price, or a little more.

At Dell? I used my Dell preferred account.

And don't just tell me I can do better, post some links.

http://powernotebooks.com/product.php?itemId=1850

Dell's discounts are just a marketing scheme. I've bought a Dell laptop and at the time I thought I was saving a decent amount of money. Thank goodness I returned the E1505 because the screen was crappy (conversely the used 700m 12.1" I got has an amazing screen). . Right after I returned it, I found that I could get a much more capable Asus laptop for the same price, with a twice as powerful videocard. I didn't, but I could have.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: happyhelper
I think you'd be happier with the smaller faster hard drive, but it just depends, maybe not for your needs.

A smaller hard drive would not be faster as it would have less platter density.

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
You can do better for that price, or a little more.

At Dell? I used my Dell preferred account.

And don't just tell me I can do better, post some links.

http://powernotebooks.com/product.php?itemId=1850

Dell's discounts are just a marketing scheme. I've bought a Dell laptop and at the time I thought I was saving a decent amount of money. Thank goodness I returned the E1505 because the screen was crappy (conversely the used 700m 12.1" I got has an amazing screen). . Right after I returned it, I found that I could get a much more capable Asus laptop for the same price, with a twice as powerful videocard. I didn't, but I could have.

Yea those are nice laptops, I've looked at them. A little over $200 more for about the same config I got from Dell though (they have better video card, but I really don't care about that). But I didn't exactly have a grand right now so I used my long dormant preferred account for this, but I'm going to pay it off over the next three or four months. Honestly I probably wouldn't have even bought a new laptop if I didn't have the account.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: trmiv
I've been needing a new laptop because reading on my current 14" XGA display at 1024x768 is slowly killing my eyes, the display is far to pixelated for me. I've had a Dell preferred account that has been unused for a few years, so I decided to put it to use. So this is what I ordered today:

Inspiron E1505

Intel® Core2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB Cache/2.00GHz/667MHz FSB)
15.4 inch UltraSharp Wide Screen WXGA+ Display with TrueLife
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz (I'm going to end up replacing this with the 667MHz ram from Newegg for cheaper than Dell wants for it. I needed to get the price to $1399 for the coupon and this was the best option)
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7300 TurboCache
100GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Ubuntu Edition version 7.04
CD ROM/DVD ROM 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Integrated Audio
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

$1,418.00

then I had a $500 off coupon to bring the total to:

$998.34 with tax and shipping.

I'll be removing Ubuntu and putting PCLinuxOS on though, which I use currently on my old HP. Even though I'm wiping it clean I bought the Ubuntu based one instead of the Windows based one because I wanted to show support for Dell's decision to sell Linux based machines so they continue to do so.


So did I do well? This machine will be for strictly web browsing, watching a few videos, managing my music and syncing with my Creative Zen Vision, pictures, etc. No games at all.

I went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth on the display. I was considering the SXGA+ display, but ended up with the WXGA+ one because I think the text on the SXGA+ would be just too tiny for me. I think the WXGA+ at 1440 x 900 is a good compromise to the 1680 x 1050 of the SXGA+. I hope I made the right decision.

BTW, how good is Dell on their estimate shipping dates? Mine says it's due to ship 6/12/07

:thumbsup: Nice deal, the coupon really makes it a steal.

I love my WSXGA display; more so than my 1440 x 900 19-inch monitor, but that's just me.

I remember getting my laptop a good 3-4 days before the estimated ship date, so perhaps you'll find an early gift as well. Hope you enjoy your purchase