XPS M1330 config/price - How is it?

I've got this setup in my cart about ready to order it, but wondered how I did. Appreciate any feedback.

XPS M1330 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
Midnight Blue
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Slim and Light LED Display with VGA Webcam
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1
CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
High Definition Audio 2.0
Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card
85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
1Yr Ltd HW WRTY, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis, 24x7 Phone Support
Biometric Fingerprint Reader
Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)

I've been torn between this setup and the M1530, but the long delays on the M1530 with LED display are making me consider this unit.

Includes free Timbuktu case, total price is $1209.75 before tax.

 

Nice choice in picking the Penryn T8300 processor. You will be very impressed by the LED display. GFX card is also a nice choice.

Only two things that you might want to consider:

1) The hard drive you chose is 5400RPM, if you want faster startup, file transfer times, you will want a 7200RPM hard drive.

2) I highly recommend the Intel Wireless over the Dell Wireless simply because Intel has much better overall support for everything and fewer dropped connections. Though the Dell card may have improved so rarely any problems, the Intel card has better support than Dell.

Regardless of comments above, the pricing looks pretty good and the free case it comes with sounds pretty nice so, I'd say as long as you are happy with it, go for it!

 

Thanks for the quick reply. My thoughts on the hard drive were that I would pick up one aftermarket from newegg at a later time, 7200 rpm, cheaper than the upgrade cost from Dell. Same goes for the RAM, probably load it with 4GB. I'm just so torn on the M1330 vs. M1530, i just dont want to wait til Sept. 3rd or later (thats Dells date) for the M1530 LED display.

 

Yeah, the best things come to those who wait. *and have the patience*

The M1530 is great since it does come with a better graphics card, though the M1330 is no slouch by all means. The LED display does make a world of a difference, if the M1530 did not come with LED display since I have a new tablet with an LED display... I would have probably edged more towards the M1330.

Rest assured, if you can't wait anymore, that price for the M1330 is a very good one for what you get.

 

I can sell you a M1530 T9300, 4GB RAM, 250GB 7200rpm, 8600m GT, and yeah LED LCD for around that price.
Since this isn't buy, sell, trade forum, PM me if you are interested and I'll give you the spec details. No waiting time.

 

@Kirby Baker, do u have access to Dell EPP? (college student or worker in a company that participates in Dell EPP?)

cause i have a similar config as urs plus 4GB ram plus 250GB 5400rpm plus 4 yr warranty for $1268+Tax, which is a great deal.... no free Timbuktu case though, but u get a $70 GC for the warranty, go buy ur own case

 

I just ordered an M1530 and they quoted me September 5 delivery but they just said it was because of all the back to school orders. I didn't realize it was because of the LED display. On their site it said the LED display would only cause a one day order delay. Oh well I want the LED display and a Blu-ray drive so I guess I have to wait.

 

glad i ordered my laptop earlier, before the mass rush of college freshmen try to order a customized one..... though i could have saved $60 by waiting a week...


hint: most of the time, dell is conservative with their shipping dates, meaning u'll probably get them before that date... of course, stuff like parts delay and shipping delays could mean worse, but if u really want the m1530.... you can try...

 

try this its my white list one its will cost 1250 $ all

 

^ try mine.... $1205 without tax... but in Dell EPP.. better specs ftw

the timbak2 bag is like $100?....$70 GC to offset it....

 

I actually kind of wanted the m1330 but they don't offer it with a Blu-ray drive currently.

 

unfortunately no access to EPP. The Timbuktu case was $149. I guess I can always return the M1330 within the 21 day window, or cancel it before its shipped if the M1530 has another great deal surface and lead times get better.

 

It doesn't matter. The M1530 screenshot he posted was an older offer, it does not come with a BD Burner anymore and just a standard CD/DVD Drive. For $1,200 dollars, what you get with the EPP discount is worse than with the 25% off discount. Just posting the differences:

XPS M1330
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5850 (2.16GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
Slim and Light LED Display with VGA Webcam
CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Size: 250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card
Tuxedo Black
37Whr Lithium Ion Battery (4 cell)

So, you still have the better offer. EPP does not have anything good except for the increase in hard drive capacity at 250GB.. though the processor is horrible. This is how much it costs with your configuration, except with the 250GB hard drive, which is the lowest you can go.

Starting Price $2,191
Instant Savings $742
Subtotal $1,449

Oh, and a useless plus with the EPP that you also get:

Hot Deal!Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess Built-inCard Included,$150 Value!

So all in all, you got the better deal.

 

Boy, gutsy move getting the Nvidia GPU, I would have thought most people would be put off by the lack of assurance by Dell or Nvidia that the issue has been solved, not just band aid with the Bios. Good luck. Get a looong warranty...

 

M1330 in dell epp: no 9-cell, but bigger HDD, more RAM, intel n card and warranty.... upgrade to 9-cell brings it to $1213 after all discounts before tax




long warranty for any problems.. $80 for extension to 4th year+$70 GC.

is the bag worth 2-3 more years of warranty? for the m1330, i think warranty is more important

 

but in the end it makes no difference, as I have no access to EPP, whether its a better deal or not.

The only thing I left on the table was a 3% discount for using my DPA account, but I couldnt get it to show up. Was it? Thats another $36.30, I wonder if I could call in and get that discount applied as well?

 

true...

for the DPA discount.... theres a trick to it

a) on the first page where u choose payment type, choose one OTHER than DPA
b) on the next page, u can choose DPA and the 3% discount would apply...

i guess call in and try to get a credit of $36.30... if not, it might be worth to cancel+rebuy, but over $30?..... up to u

oh well, too bad you dont have access to EPP ..... join the local community college for a semester and get accesss?

 

Yeah I tried to do that trick, picked credit card, and the next page had nothing about the DPA discount. Even tried paypal. I doubt I will cancel it over $36. But the thought of signing up for a class at the community college crossed my mind!