Another XPS or Latitude E6520?

I bought a Dell Outlet XPS M1530 on 8/1/08. On 12/1/11, it wouldn't boot, and when I took it in I was told the GPU had fried and fused to the motherboard. Toast. For five weeks now, I have been without a notebook and trying ineffectively to share data between desktops at work and at home.

Now, here's the situation. Through my work, I can get a XPS 15, i5-2410M, 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory, 640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive, NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M 1GB graphics with Optimus, 15.6 in HD WLED TL (1366x768), JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3. $734.99

Through the Outlet, Latitude E6520, i5-2410M, Windows 7 Professional, 250 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM), 4 GB RAM, Nvidia NVS 4200M 512MB DDR3 Discrete Graphics, 3 years basic warranty, $709

I don't game, and my old XPS screen at WXGA was just fine for my eyes. I will be editing HD video, audio, photos, and 3D CAD. The old XPS (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T830 @2.48GHz) did SD video, but not HD, and handled the others just fine.

Do I risk being burned again by the XPS? Is that still an issue with them? I know I am comparing a new entertainment computer with a refurbished business computer. But the specs are nicer. The warranty (at this price) is not nicer. Or is the Latitude so much more durable and able to be thrown around (because it's a business, airport travel type of notebook) that it's a better choice?

What say you, of the XPS owners forum? (also cross-posted with my on-going thread of 'What Notebook Should I buy?')

 

At the very least, the new XPS doesn't have the GPU issues so common with M1330/M1530, but I'd still strongly recommend the Latitude unless the XPS has some specific feature you really need that the Latitude does not offer. If anything, do it for the 3-year warranty. You can always upgrade the hard drive or RAM yourself along the way if you need it.

 

I'd also say the latitude if you don't game just for the availability of a proper dock. The latitude notebooks also tend to be built like tanks.

 

Do you know the screen resolution of the E6520? I'd stick with the E6520 on the grounds it has a standard 3 year depot warranty included in the base price vs 1 year XPS warranty which it is $$$ to get any kind of extension.

 

Thanks everybody! I ended up purchasing the e6420. While an inch smaller in diagonal screen measurement, it's got the same resolution (XWGA), but around a pound lighter. It's still pretty hefty for 14", but I've read no bad reviews for the mil spec frame and spill-resistant backlit keyboard. It's only the i5, and while I may yearn for the i7 when processing DVR videos to put on the iTunes server, it will still be much faster than my old core 2 duo.

The real deal clincher though is the current 15% of any outlet e6420. That brought it down to $585. Free 3-5 day shipping, and I may have it in hand this week. Three year warranty, and used my AmEx which extends that warranty by a year (I think certified refurbished is covered, really hope I don't need it).

Thanks for your input everyone. Anyone want some parts from a XPS M1530?