Ordering a Dell XPS

I have been driving myself crazy trying to come up with reasonable cost unit. I don't do gaming, but I want to be able to stream video easily, use PushTV, etc. Watch Netflix on laptop.

Here is config. I have settled on. One thing I left out on upgrade was upgrading the graphics card to 3 g. That was a $150 upgrade, and I was trying to keep my costs down. Don't know how important that is for me for movie streaming.

Also, don't know if the 3D screen resolution is much better than the reg 1080 hd. It added a $99 pair of 3D glasses I could have done without, but can't take out. Please any comments or suggestions on this config. OK?

XPS 17 XPS 17 SMX17HN [225-0587]
Operating System Genuine Windows® Home Premium, 64-Bit, English
Processor 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz I72630Q [317-6210]
Memory 6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3
Keyboard Standard Keyboard - English
LCD 17.3" FHD (1080p) 3D Display with 2.0MP HD Webcam 10803D
Video Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 550M 1GB graphics 550M3DU [320-1979]
Hard Drive 750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard
Color Elemental Silver Aluminum ALUM3D [318-0432]
Integrated Network Adapter Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card INTNIC [
CD ROM/DVD ROM Tray Load Blu-ray® Triple Writer (reads and writes CDs, DVDs, BDs)
Sound JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3 + Creative SoundBlaster X-FI MB 1.2
Wireless Plus Bluetooth Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N 6230 and Bluetooth 3.0
Battery 90 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary
Hardware Support Services 1 Year Premium

 

Stick with 1GB 550m if are doing zero gaming. Movie streaming is barely CPU/GPU intensive.

Don't forget Backlit Keyboard

 

1GB is more than enough for laptop users. The 3GB option is really just there so Dell can make an extra profit off people who don't know better (ex. someone who thinks 555m > 460m)

 

Step down in size to the XPS 15, the (1080p) screen is much better.

 

You know I would step down to 15" in a flash, but the same config. I gave above in the 15" is only $150 less, and the 17" comes with blue ray writer (as opposed to just player) and 3 D glasses. So I guess I drifted off to 17" cause it was a better deal. Can't find any really good discounts for the 15" Have you seen the screen difference between the 15" and 17" 1080p 3D? I thought the 3D versiion had a very good screen as well. A good screen for viewing movies is most important to me.

 

The 3D screen is solid from what I have read. (btw, the resolution between the 3D FHD and the non-3D FHD is the same...FHD=1920x1080 no matter what)

For movies and such, the 3D is a nice option. For the extra couple bucks you get the writer and 3D and a better GPU than the XPS 15? Sounds like a good move to me!

The 555m is good if you game, not necessary for only movies and maybe light gaming. The 3GB is a marketing gimmick, but the 555m is a bit stronger overall too (~15%). 2GB would be a reasonable RAM for it, but anyway...