Bunny's New M1530

I finally took the plunge and ordered a new XPS M1530 at a kiosk yesterday.

General Specs: Windows Vista Ultimate (32 bit), Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7800 (2.6GHz/800MHzFSB, 4M L2 Cache), 15.4 inch Wide Screen WSXGA+ TrueLife for XPS M1530, 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT, 200G 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor, 8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive for XPSM1530, Microsoft Office 2007 Small Business Edition, 3 year warranty/accident coverage, Expresscard Sound Blaster X-FI XTREME Audio, etc...

got a -$150, -5% for first time purchase stacked with the $619 off.
Total Cost: (after taxes - 8.88% in Seattle) $2851.50.

My regrets? I wish I had realised that the ultimate was 64bit (though the person working the kiosk told me it was 64 rather than 32) and that Dell ships 2x1.5 RAM sticks rather than 1x2, 1x1. i understand that 2x1.5 runs faster than the 2/1, but if i had gotten the 64bit + the 2/1, i could have just swapped the 1 for a 2.... .

Another issue: I'm currently on dial up, so the fact that the 1530 doesnt have a 56k modem and that dell doesnt offers one like they do for the 1330 really annoys me. Any suggestions? I really need something more or less portable but fairly cheap - pref. $0-30.

On the bright side of life, I'm currently on the phone with dell and the person helping me is rather helpful, though the call is taking a touch long & I'm calling from my cell phone. UPDATE (because i dont want to go back and restructure what I have already typed to make sense): Apparently it's 2/1 instead of 1.5/1.5. YAY-ish!

The modem thing still holds, though....

And I apologize if I dont make too much sense - my cold medication is rather strong

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...61-1100&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&CMP=OTC-GOOGLEBASE

theres a usb modem

we both have bunny in our name.. hehe

 

That is one expensive laptop!!! I wish I can afford that

 

Thank You! Two extra question tho, my fellow Bunny, I usually get ~48kb's on
my dial up connection (on my desktop) - will this modem lower that substantially? Also, Is it Vista Compatable?

-Merlin : I wish i could have gotten a smaller harddrive and saved some money... =( How much was your configuration?

 

first question, i dont think it would, i mean its a 56k modem and usb works at a theoretical 480 mbs so no it shouldnt, it might even speed you up possibly, and for vista im not sure but tiger direct is usually good about returns so really no loss

 

hey dell sells usb modems too if you want one from them, they offer one fore 20 dollars more online with your computer.

 

$1550 with taxed. I got 4 years warranty and free printer. I also got $270 giftcard. Don't forget that I have WXGA screen because WSXGA+ is too small for my taste. I got free Vista Ultimate and Office 2007 from my work. I have smaller hard drive and no fancy audio card.

I don't justify $1300 different on just a little faster processor and software. This is just my opinion. I use my laptop to run SQL, virtual machine, software deployment testing, and debugging software. I never really max out the CPU. I would say that T7250 would be more than enough for my job.

 

<eye twitches> You got a far better deal than I did.... the only reason i maxed out the CPU & Got the audiocard was that my budget was ~ that much and I didnt really want bluray w/out getting full 1080p. I'm a prospective college student (2 year early entrance for the win - now let's just cross our fingers and hope i get accepted [not accepted = ftl]) so i dont really have access to freebies. =(

 

You are going to U of Washinton by any chance? If you are, it is a great school I can tell you that If you want to display full HD 1080P, it is your graphic card capability. The screen will be fine. Yes, WXGA is only 720P, but if you want to watch HD movie, you still need HD TV though. I always project the movie through HD TV. Watching movie on laptop is just for a casual ocassion, but if you want full HD. You still need the big screen.

WSXGA+ is way too small for 15.4" screen. Well, it is just a personal preference I guess.

 

You can get the modem from Dell item number 530-11735 56K V92 Modem USB 2

 

^.^ Indeed, I'm applying to the Academy Program at UW.

 

I will look into it - thank you for telling me!

 

That's a bit too high for the system. (... actually more than my M1730)

Try online prices.

 

Yes, i considered the M1730, but a similar configuration on the 1730 brings it way beyond $2850. In any case, i will (hopefully) need something portable, which the 1730 isnt.

 

<looks back at Achille's configuration> .... huh... how did you get your config to cost less? i tried that config. and it came out higher...

 

I had dial-up until a few weeks ago. I bought an Express card which gves me EVDO cellular internet access. I get between 400kbs to 2.1 gigs /sec... WAYYYYYY better than my annoying dial up. See if you can pick one up from your local cellular provider. I'm in Canada, so I use Bell Mobility. There are lots of different cards available from Novatel. 54mm and 34mm.. Good luck!!!

 

I didn't buy from Dell.

 

did you use the dell epp program? or the $594 off configuration?

I believe it still would have came out cheaper than that.

BTW...you will never use all of your cpu. My brother who is an architect and uses cpu intensive programs at the same time doesn't even experience lags of any kind and he only has a 2.0 ghz core 2 duo. He actually TRIES to max it out and see how much he can do before it gets slow....and believe me...it took A LOT of programs to get it to max out.

You may want to downgrade to 2.2..if not 2.2 at least 2.4. It will save you some money.

 

Thats a nice lappy! ;D
hurray for college students...
I remember when I started college..
was 16 yrs old T_T.

Now i'm a IT Engineer

 

Very very expensive I think. Last time Dell shipped me 3GB they did send 2GB + 1GB (not 1.5gb X 2).....