Buying an external monitor months before buying a laptop to support it -- crazy?

So I have had other threads here about the Dell UltraSharp 3008 WFP

I do not currently own a laptop to support it.

Based on my readings by Beta testers of the pros and cons of Windows 7 -- I have decided to wait until it is officially released and buy a new laptop then.

I believe that will be sometime in June.

In the meantime the Dell Monitor has dropped significantly in price over the last two months. It started out at $2000 and had a sale price of $1700 when I first started considering buying it.

In the last few weeks the price has dropped like a stone.

Now they have lowered the list to $1800 with a $660 discount to bring it to $1140. I get an academic discount on top of that bringing it down to $1050.

I can't imagine it getting much lower -- that is half of its original price.

But if I buy it now -- it will just sit around for months until I get a new laptop that can power it.

I have looked into other ways to beef up my current laptop -- but there are no workable options.

Do people have any suggestions?

 

The question you should be asking is whether it will go UP in price (I dont expect it to).
Even if the price remains the same, waiting and buying it later is better.

Remember that the warranty period starts as soon as you buy it. If you buy it now, you'll "waste" some warranty time.

 

You'd be surprised. Back about four years ago when I was looking for a monitor and ended up getting the Dell 2001FP, 24" monitors were the hot LCDs and were priced much as the 30" are now. Of course now you can get one new for $250 if you can get a deal, even less if you go refurbished. It's sort of the nature of technology. Yesteryear's $3,000 penultimate notebook is now going on eBay for $500.

If you've not bought it already, I'd suggest waiting until you've got your notebook. The price, given the economy, is much more likely to down than up, my opinion of course.

Supposedly Microsoft will offer a free upgrade to anyone purchasing a PC/Notebook after July 1. Supposedly the program runs until January of 2010. The scuttlebutt for Windows 7 release is September, but who knows really.

 

If it were me, I'd hold off till you know exactly what you'll be getting notebook wise. Your preferences could change in the next few months, plus tech has a habit of getting cheaper over time

 

Thanks everyone ... I pretty much decided to wait.

But I am disappointed to hear that windows 7 isn't expected out for 6 more months.... I had read in some places 2 more months -- but like everything else about MS that was way overly optimistic.

 

Wow, I hadn't heard that! That's terrific!

 

Well, the monitor price did go up $200 bucks -- but I still think it was the right choice to wait for reasons so many of you gave above.

 

New technology comes out regularly, no point in buying something that is going to sit there for months! If I was going to spend $1000+, it better be used every single day of my life lol. Just wait it out, new models, new sales, maybe you might even change your mind.

 

By the time windows 7 is out and you get that laptop, who knows where prices will be. One thing we do know though is that 'generally' monitors will be cheaper or you will get a new model with sharper definition and better specs.

 

WHAT?! Plus rep +

I guess Microsoft realizes the economy is tough right now. Props to them.

 

Basically if you buy a desktop/laptop on or after July 1st 2009, that comes with Vista, you will get free Windows 7 copy. But the thing is not any copy, if you got Ultimate, you will get equivalent version, Home=Home, etc...

 

If it makes ya feel any better, I bought the engine for my car before I had even planned on getting a car.

 

lol now that's not the best example is it!

 

Thats fine its just good to know they are doing something

 

Its always been like this to prevent people from waiting on a specific OS release. The PC manufacturers gets screwed in the time up to the release as a lot of people will be holding on to their money instead of spending it.

 

Well, based on the leak, I'm waiting until July 1st, when I'll buy. So I think their plan failed right there.

 

The monitor is now back up to $1700

But it was still right not to buy it.

BTW CNET is saying that Windows 7 is really ready now to come out. I;ve been reading that elsewhere as well...So the Windows 7 official release may be sooner than anticipated.

 

dont worry about the monitor. think about this there was a chance that one could have had a defect or maybe dead pixels etc.. you never know but if you buy it with no way to test it then you will be far outside any return window if it had to go back. with tech items imo never buy to let then just sit unless you are 100% sure you wqnt it but even then dont buy it unless you have a way to test it when you get it. just my thoughts

there is also better stuff coming... super thin led panels are just around the corner