Best Way to Spend a 20% Off Coupon I Just Got?

Woah, I just received a legit one-time use 20% off Dell coupon (and no, you can't have it) that expires at the end of the month and I'm trying to figure out how to spend it since I shouldn't let it go to waste. Firstly, ugh why didn't Alienware drop the R2 price pre-discount? It's too high compared to the R3. Any ideas on how to get a good R2 price? It's not worth $949 since the R3 is only $50 more. Ideally, I'd only want to spend $600 post-discount since it's only a complementary device to my MacBook Pro. Of course, I could just go the easy route of getting a cheap R1, but I want the soft-touch finish and an i5. The best price I've seen a new R2 go for from Dell was $550 with 8GB RAM, so it would be great to match that deal.

Of course I'm just posting random purchasing thoughts since I only have a few days to decide how to use the coupon. Hmm I could also get a M14x for $960. Or... I could forget about the coupon since I got rid of my first M11x R1 due to its mediocre screen. Sorry for the mess of a post .

Edit: Alienware's current pricing may be more messy than this post. The M11x R2 looks to be EoL'd, but the M15x starts with a solid $1,000 config now - the same price as the M11x R3 and $200 cheaper than the M14x

 

ok and... what is your point here?? 20% great! waste it on m14x

 

The point is I turned here for help on not letting a 20% off coupon go to waste! Do you think my friends could even name an Alienware system? Too bad the M11x R3 didn't feature an improved screen and maintain the $800 price, I would have ordered it by now if it did. Maybe I'd even order two for $1000 - 20% if it had a better screen.

 

I think the m14x is worth if you can use the 20%

 

if its the same coupon i just got, then its only good on the Dell outlet (refurbs) so i doubt you will see any M11x R3s or M14x in there just yet.

 

The reviews so far have only criticized the reflectivity of the display.

Image quality, saturation, contrast and color profile have been praised in both reviews I read in which the display was mentioned. I'm holding out hope that they've decided to use different panels this go round. Nothing has been confirmed, as far as I know.

Anyway, if I had your budget I would burn that coupon on an outlet model. You might be able to snag a nice r2 or an m15x about that.

The smart thing to do is probably to decide what you would need a second laptop for and then buy accordingly.

My mbp is a pain in the to lug around all day.

 

If you really want an R2, buy it from the Dell outlet. Ive bought plenty of machines from there and had no issues with quality. They look brand new and have the 1 year in home warranty as well.

i5's are going for $749.99 plus you could get 20% off with N06H0?R17M35SB to make it a little less than $600. Yesterday when the coupon came out, i5s were around $650-680 so it was even cheaper. But once coupons come out, dell is known to bump the prices up a bit.

Also about the m15x, they only come with the 5730 now and you cant upgrade it on the website. Plus the $999 config only has a i3 370.

p.s.

Now you could give me your 20% coupon so I could buy a m14x

 

Too bad it expires at the end of the month. First batch of R3s will be delivered in May so we wouldn't be able to see the benchmarks. You can probably gauge R2 vs R3 in the other thread and decide from there.

If the difference between the R2 and R3 is not that great, get a refurbished R2 from the outlet. 20% will bring a $749 refurb R2 down to $599.

Try if your coupon stacks with N06H0?R17M35SB for 40% discount.

By the way, how did you guys get those personal coupons?

 

It's an EPP coupon, and yup, it's for any Dell system! I already realized that the R3 is at least 20% faster depending on the game/app and up to twice as fast in some situations based on all of the benchmarks I've seen.

Sure, there have been reviewers that like the R3 screen, but test results I've seen on Notebook Test, Laptop Test und News - Notebookcheck.com put the R3 as having a screen with almost double the black level (higher is worse), so it lost a lot of pop unless NotebookCheck got a "defective" screen.

The best justification I could come up with for a second laptop would be to have an always-on smaller gaming laptop since my 2008 MacBook Pro is showing its age in games (though still speedy otherwise). I sort of want to have a cloud computer that I can always access from my iPhone and iPad, there are some apps with high remote desktop frame-rates these days.

Hopefully more reviews pop up before the coupon expires, I'd like more opinions on the M11x R3 display. The M14x's display seems to be superior, but I'm not sure I want to spend $160 more unless I get two and sell a M14x preorder on eBay.

 

I agree, spend it on a good m14 build.

 

Hmm, I don't exactly have a thousand dollars to burn right now. If I don't make up my mind by April 27, I'll give someone else the coupon that night so it doesn't go to waste. Keep in mind that it expires April 28 so be prepared to use it that night if you want it. I'll choose based on which configuration and games anybody who wants it is going to get.

To be responsible, I only have enough for a M11x R1, though I'm still kicking myself over the $550 R2 deal. If somebody wants to sell me a system at a good price in exchange for the coupon, I'm open to offers like that. I'd rather somebody get a discount 2-3 times bigger than what I would get if I use the coupon for the R1 as long as I get a discount as well. Preferably, I'd like an R2.

 

dude if you not using it give me pls, my dad wont pay more than 500 for a laptop if you give me the code if your not using it i could get a refurbished i5 by Tuesday, i really need it man or an i7 with the two coupons

 

The coupon doesn't work for refurbs, however the Dell Outlet Twitter has quite a few Outlet coupons:

Twitter

There is a 20% off coupon for the outlet that expires on 4/29 or after the first 10,000 redemptions at that link.

 

damn didnt know that all my plans shattered, il go for the i5 refurb if i have enough money

 

Just use the 20% off coupon in Dell's Twitter and grab an i5 for $600. Or a R1 for ~ $480.

 

Hmm If I can get a R1 for $450, I might have to go with that and keep it for a while. Until I have enough cash to sell it then blow it on a M14X. Used M11x systems go higher than that on eBay so I'd be stupid to pass up the deal. Wish the R2 was still available but I'll get over it .

 

Can I have your coupon?

 

I'll give it away if I decide not to go with a M11x R1. I'm not really sure I should pass up such a good deal. Plus it'll be a good sell later if I decide I want to upgrade.

 

Can I please have your coupon if you're not going to use it?

 

Since people keep asking, if I don't use it then I'll give people the chance to post which config they're looking to get on April 26 and choose someone on April 27. The coupon has to be used on the 27 since it expires the next day. Figure that's more interesting than just having the first person to see it get it. Though I am considering using it, so don't expect it to given away.

 

Ok heres my config...

BRAND NEW ALIENWARE M11X R3
Intel Core i5 2537M Processor (1.4GHz/3MB cache)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2X2G)
500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
11.6" (29.5cm) WLED HD (720p) display (WXGA 1366X768)
Dual graphics with Intel HD Graphics 3000 and 1.0GB DDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
TOTAL PRICE = $1,473.69 AUD

 

It's only valid in the U.S. store, sorry. I just got a second coupon so I'll give it out now to one of the three next posters that will use the coupon today.

 

I'm ready to purchase my new m14x RIGHT NOW!

This is what I'm going for ...

• Intel® Core™ i7 2630QM 2.0GHz (2.9GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
• 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
• 1.5GB DDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus™
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s edit
• LCD PANEL 14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
• Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6205 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO
• 8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Slot Load Optical Drive
• Soundblaster® X-Fi™ Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
• Internal Bluetooth 3.0

Oh, and it's Nebula Red!

 

Alright, I'm gonna PM you the coupon R.T once you confirm you're in the U.S. I'm not sure picking between three people is a good idea, so I'll go with the first who is going for a great config.

 

I'll take the coupon if for any reason RT is not in the US. If he is, good timing there bro!

Congratulations.

And thanks Michael. That's a pretty awesome thing to do.

 

Yep, I definitely live in the U.S.

I go to college at American River College and live in Citrus Heights, CA 95610. And I agree with WaR, this is a very generous thing to do . Thank you!

 

R.T., I don't see an option to PM you. I think that's because you don't have enough posts for PM privileges yet. How else can I send it?

 

You could shoot an email to [email protected]. No worries about it being on an open forum, it's just one of those junk emails

 

I sent you the coupon! Let me know when you get it. By the way, I forgot to mention that the coupon only works through the EPP number provide and not online.

I do have one more, but I may use it myself.

 

that was nice MICHAELS01 GOOD BLESS YOU, iam happy for you RT

 

I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a R1, but I'll admit I do want somebody to say that the screen on the R3 is better (rather than noticeably worse, as some reviewed) so I can go for that instead. I'm only getting a 10-30% performance boost in GPU-dependent games compared to my MacBook Pro with the R1, but significantly better performance with an R3. I don't want to spend the extra $300 unless I get a superior screen at the least, though.

By the way, I can get a few more coupons tomorrow. Watch this thread tomorrow and be ready to call in to buy one ASAP since they expire Friday night. No requests in advance.

 

That's very generous of you
(I'm looking to get an M11xR3 myself, so if you feel like throwing a coupon my way, then I would really appreciate it - I know I know, no request in advance )
As for your inquiry, I would suggest sticking to the R1. Since R1, R2, and R3 use the same chassis, I doubt that Dell would pick different screens to put into these laptops. You still have a lottery between AUO, Samsung, and LG. So the chance of getting a good screen with R1 is as good as getting a good screen with R3. Save your money is what I would suggest. Plus most games aren't CPU-dependent, so you don't need the latest and greatest from Intel.

 

zephir, just be here tomorrow when I announce a coupon! First person to post their config after each post about a coupon tomorrow will receive one via PM.

The R3 screen may actually be significantly worse than the R1/R2, according to NotebookCheck:
Review Alienware M11x R3 Gaming Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

 

kk thanks
actually i think the panel they got for r3 is just the crappy panel in the lottery.

 

Damn, I made a mistake. The coupon actually expired Thursday, not Friday. No M11x for me this time.

 

Oh man. Sorry bro. Can't you get your company to hook you up with another one? 20% unrestricted discount coupons don't come often.

 

Fail Michael..

 

It wasn't from a company, it was through a rewards program. Unfortunately I probably won't get another anytime soon. Ha I made a bad mistake .