e6400 backlit keyboard

I recently spent a good amount of time in looking into the SSD market, so I will share some important things that you may or may not know of yet. As far as I can remember, Dell uses Samsung SSDs. They're not bad (they don't have stuttering, like the early JMicron drives from other manufacturers), but I'm pretty sure that Dell wants way too much money for them (as with traditional HDDs and also RAM). And paying too much for an SSD is not particularly funny, the SSD technology is still evolving pretty fast, while the prices are sinking pretty fast.

Considering that the Intel SSDs are still the SSDs of choice for enthusiasts and aren't too overpriced anymore, I'd pick the X25-M, because you can be pretty sure that you won't regret it. If you look at my signature, you can see that I actually did that. My Intel X25 -M arrived yesterday, so I have not yet been able to put some real stress on it yet.

You could have a look at the new Runcore Pro IV SSD. Everything I saw about it yet is this video, where it seems like it's better than the Intel drive. I wouldn't rely on that yet, though, and wait for some more real-world experiences - I guess you know that measuring SSD performance is a tricky thing.

If anyone of the SSD makers has the knowledge of how the "ecosystem" of a computer works (and what can be done to improve it) that'd be Intel, so it's safe to assume that they know what they have to optimize their SSDs for. For example, the OCZ Vertex (Indilix drives, like the Runcore Pro IV) have a cache that is being used to buffer writes, whereas the Intel drives do also have a cache, but don't use it for user data - these small things are actually what made me pick the X25-M: It's also designed to last for at least five years, it's firmware is flashable without wiping all data (even more important: Intel did actually release a new firmware which addresses possible slowdowns of the drive after it's been used for some time), and it's designed so that when it fails it will fail in a way that your data won't get lost (you just won't be able to write to it anymore). It's those small things that made me think that Intel knows what they're doing, whereas it's the complete opposite with some other SSD makers (JMicron disaster).

If you want a fast SSD that isn't tiny, you should pick either an Intel X25-M or the Runcore Pro IV, but in the case of the Runcore Pro IV, I would strongly suggest you to wait some more weeks for some more real world experiences from other users. The Runcore should cost less per GB than the Intel drive.
The OCZ Vertex' quality is like that of an imaginary, slower Intel drive, but you may be able to get more GB per Dollar (but the Vertex' prices are going up). Anyways, remember that SSDs are evolving fast.
Don't buy an overly cheap SSD just because it's cheap and you're planning to upgrade it anyways - you will definitely regret that. Especially, avoid all JMicron based drives.


Well, I hope this will at least be a tiny bit helpful for anyone, took me half an hour to write because I'm pretty tired. So I'm sorry for potential bad English caused by tiredness, it's not my native language.

 

Thanks a lot! It was actually very helpful (rep points coming your way). I also read those two long articles at anandtech to understand SSD technology a little more deeply.

So, this is what I am going to do:
My budget is about $1000. So, I am going to purchase Dell E6400 for about $700 (outlet). Save this extra $300 to buy SSD in few months from now (August). By that time Intel X-25M (80GB) should be under $300 (it's already under $400). Or something else (similar to Intel X25M) might be out. I'd like to get a 120GB+ hard drive but if for $300 all I can afford is Intel X25M 80GB, then that's what I'd get.

 

I deposited a check in my account. By the time, check was cleared and money deposited, Dell's coupon had expired. Does anyone know if a new Dell Outlet coupon will be coming out soon? I'd like to purchase a Dell Latitude E6400 and my budget is $700. Here are must have features:
1. Integrated mic/webcam
2. nvidia card with express card (pc-card will do too)
3. Bluetooth module
4. WLED screen
5. backlit keyboard
6. any core 2 duo processor that has 6M cache (so, I guess, 2.53ghz or higher)
7. brushed metal black color
8. wifi a/g/n
9. DVD-RW
Nice to have:
1. 9 cell battery
2. 56k modem

 

You could call Dell and ask if they would put in the upgrades you want for an overall price of $700, tell them that you would have to wait for a Dell Coupon to come out otherwise. If that doesn't do the trick... well, I have no clue when a coupon will be coming out.

 

The 20% off unlimited-use coupons come out about once every two months. In between, people sometimes get 15% or 20% single-use coupons. You should register with Dell to receive those coupons.

The wifi card and the BT module can be added easily later.

 

I called them and asked about the coupon, they said it's expired. So, I said "is there any way you can give me a discount or give me upgrades on a system I like" and she said "no".
I called again, and this time a guy answered the call and he said "no" too!

Aren't these internal? I mean, I know a usb or express card based module can be easily added later. But isn't BT and WiFI module internal? I don't want to have external (usb/express) card because I dislike carrying items with me. Which is why I am also stuck on an integrated "webcam" because I never carry that external webcam and I find myself helpless when (once in a blue moon) I find myself in need of a webcam.

20% coupon: the agent said, they come in 3-4 months. But I'd be happy with a 15% coupon. You think one should come out in a month or so?

Actually, the agent said something strange: he said, once you've made a purchase, you'd get coupons all the time. Before making a purchase, you've to get them from someone who made a purchase before. I am guessing that he didn't know you could sign-up for coupon/special-offer email without making a purchase.

 

Another question: Is there a model in Precision series that is equivalent to E6400. From what I gather, Precision series and Latitude series are identical except that Precision comes with "software" support and slightly better build quality. So, if I don't find what I am looking for in E6400, I can scour Precision results as well.

 

The BT and Wifi cards are internal. They are very easy to replace or add. They are also cheap. If you are not sure, go to Dell support and look up the service manual for the E6400.

I don't understand why you think Dell would give you a coupon just for the asking. They have a business, not a charity, to run.

The two sales reps that you talked to are giving you the right info. Once you are a Dell outlet customer, you are on their mailing list, and will most likely receive coupons when they are available. That's how I got mine.

I don't know if there are any coupons coming out in a month. I do know that unlimited 20% off coupons are not that common. We just got one in the second half of April. The previous one came in the second half of February. In between there was a one-time-use coupon.

 

Thanks! Ok. This is great. I can remove "BT" as must have then, if I can easily add it myself later.

I will wait and watch for few weeks. I know they are a business (not charity) but I've read in forums that agents have power to give additional discounts (and they often do). I am just not very smooth/persuasive. Other people have managed to get a discount. But I call up and ask for it straight away, and they refuse.

Another question: Is there a model in Precision series that is equivalent to E6400. From what I gather, Precision series and Latitude series are identical except that Precision comes with "software" support and slightly better build quality. So, if I don't find what I am looking for in E6400, I can scour Precision results as well.

 

It's sometimes better to make a bad deal instead of a good one to avoid the possibility of not getting a deal at all. But it has to be worth it, in this case it seems like it wasn't.