Please help me config a new XPS16

Hi,

First time post and admittedly, compared to you all - I'm an idiot, so please be gentle

On my way from replacing a 9 year old Dell Desktop with a laptop and have it down to the XPS16 (though the Studio 15 / 17 may be a contender based on price).

I'm looking for a decently well built all around multi-media machine (no gaming at all) doing some home video editing, general office type / personal finance work along with general internet browsing/email. Again - no gaming (not even solitaire). Hopefully can get several years from it. Want a laptop to take around the house - probably not out (at least not very much).

Willing to spend up to 1500.00 and have config'd the Xps16 in that range.

Here's what I'm able to config and am wondering if you experts foresee any of the heating issues or any other "known" issues with this machine.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 (6MB cache/2.8GHz/1066Mhz FSB)

Display: Edge-to-Edge FHD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD (1920x1080) W/2.0 MP

RAM: 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1067MHz (2 Dimms)

HD: 320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive

Video Card: ATI Mobility RADEON™ HD 4670 – 1GB (do I really need this or is the 512 ok?)

Other facts which may or may not matter:
- It's going to pretty turned on for 8-10 hours / day
- I want to hook it to some port replicator (knowing it won't charge my battery) - Thinking Toshiba dynadock at this point.
- Won't watch movies on it other than the home videos that I'm editing at that time

Any user opinions on this would be most appreciated and grateful.

Thanks!

 

CES will be running 7th-10th January, there are expected to be new announcements regarding Intel CPU's, ATI graphics and similar for notebooks. Manufacturers (such as Dell) will hopefully be releasing new models based on the new technology - there's been a Studio XPS 1647 model number appearing in various places, suggesting some sort of revision is planned!

I would wait until then as what is available could change quite significantly Older tech at lower prices / newer and better tech for the same price.

 

Thanks! Since I'm in no rush, I shall wait.

 

The Core i7 version of the notebook is much faster when editing and converting videos. The throtteling issues should be gone in a few weeks or with the next XPS graphics card refresh.

You should wait and see what happens. If you consider buying the Core2Duo version the P8xxx or P9xxx model is an alternative to the T9xxx models, since the power consumption and heat dissipation is lower.