Dell XPS 1330! Few questions

Getting the Dell XPS 1330.. Here is the config

• Crimson Red Slim & Light WLED display with VGA webcam 13.3" UltraSharp Widescreen WXGA (1280x800) Display with TrueLife(0.3MP webcam)
• Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T8100 2.1GHz, 3MB Cache, 800 MHz FSB
• Genuine Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium - with AERO experience
• 3GB (1x2GB+1x1GB) 667MHz SDRAM
• 250GB SATA Hard Drive
• Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with dual layer write capabilities
• NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 8400M GS with 128MB GDDR3 dedicated graphic memory
• Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945 Dual Band 802.11a/g 54Mbps Wireless Mini Card
• Integrated Stereo Sound
• Dell(TM) Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module
• 6-cell 56Whr Lithium Ion Primary Battery

Few Questions

1) Should i upgrade the processor? T8300 costs 50$ more and T9300 costs $150 more than T8100..
2) I have opted for the LED display. 100$ more worth it?
3) Will 7200 RPM HDD make a big difference? 160 GB 7200rpm HDD would cost me 25$ lesser than 250 GB 5400 one.. and 200 GB 7200 would cost more $50 more than 250GB 5400..
4) Whats this "Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio software? Is it worth adding? Costs 10$
5) Hows the Dell Bluetooth Travel Mouse ($25)? Or is the Optical Premium Mouse (15$) better?

Any other suggestions are welcome Thanks a lot in advance

 

1) i'd go with the T8300 but it really depends on what you'll be using this for...?

2) YES definitely.

3) it will make a slight difference but i've never really absolutely NEEDED it. i'd stick with the 250 purely for the space.

4) NO. AVOID. it's more software, more complication, and doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. it's just a codec pack. it doesn't change the speaker hardware at all.

5) One's bluetooth, one's USB. not a huge amount of difference, although the Bluetooth one does have two customisable buttons on the side, by default assigned to forwards/backwards for apps like Internet Explorer.

I'd go with Bluetooth since it works just as well and the 1330 only has 2 USBs.




ps. you know if you upgrade to Vista Ultimate DELL will let you download the PRODUCT (RED) add-ons for free? kind of defeats the point of fighting aids. stupid dell.. grr dell. go buy a mac.

 

Thanks. Basically am gonna use it for browsing, office applications and a bit of gaming..

I just upgraded the config to T8300 and it says "The Intel T8300 Processor that you selected must be ordered With 90W AC Adapter. Please select 90W AC Adapter."

If i select T8100 i get to choose 65W light weight adapter. Any idea what the difference is? Will it charge quicker with the 90W Adapter? Or does it mean the battery consumption is much more?

 

1) Yes, if i had this option i would go for it...
2) Please make this favour to yourself GET IT
3) It depends on your needs actually, i have a external HDD with 500GB which i leave everything i need so for me 200gb 7200 was the best deal... but you have to see if you would use all this 250gb to get it.. otherwise get a 7200rpms...
4) If you hate use touchpad (be aware this one are annoying small)... then get a bluetooth because the laptop has only 2 USBs but a bluetooth built in. HOWEVER i think you can get a better bluetooth mouse on your one cheaper then through Dell just google for it...

Another thing is you can save some ££ asking then to come on with 2gb of RAM (1 module) then you can get 2gb more far cheaper then through Dell and install by yourself, DEFINITELY a good deal here...

Cheers

 

I just bought a Dell m1330, so here are my thoughts on the subject.

1) Go with the T8300 because the $50 gives you the speed of course and lower voltage operation. I just made the decision when I bought a couple weeks ago. If you have the cash, go for the higher processor because you'll never be able to upgrade this, but you don't get as much performance enhancement going from the T8300 to the T9300 as you get jumping to the T8300.

2) The non-led screen is nice, but I've read that the LED screen is much brighter and consumes less power. It wasn't worth the $150 to me, so I didn't upgrade, but if you feel like spending the cash, its a good option.

3) The 7200 rpm 200 GB works great The speed helps if you are doing multimedia encoding/decoding. If you just want to be able to carry as much of your music/video files with you as possible or want to dual or triple boot the machine, the extra 50 GB would be a better choice.

4) My m1330 didn't come with the option to opt out of this choice, but I don't see anything exceptional about the sound software. If you are going to upgrade to the 64-bit version of vista, you'll lose this anyways.

5) The bluetooth mouse is a great deal. If the mouse buttons are customizable, it is one of the best deals out there right now. I bought a Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 for $30 because it was so cheap for a bluetooth mouse, but you can't customize the buttons. This makes me wish I would have bought the Dell one

 

In that case I'd definitely go with the T8100.

The 90W adapter will charge slightly faster but the catch is it's a lot bigger, and heavier. I have the 65W one and it's suprisingly small:

http://www.jrin.net/review_files/dellm1330/charger.jpg

So, if you're gonna be keeping this thing in one place as a desktop replacement and prefer performance, go with the T8300/90W. But if you need portability (like me) go with T8100/65W

 

Surprisingly T9300 works with 65W adapter.. wonder why

 

that's strange..
um.. ask Dell?

 

I just got my m1330 and opted to get the non-LED screen and have no regrets.

It is brighter than my former HP DV2422CA, and colour saturation is good. (8400m gs, with digital vibrance @ 30%)

I couldn't justify the extra $150.

In regards to the HDD, get the 250gb 5400rpm one. The significantly higher data density compensates for the 5400 rpm. My w.e.i. hard disk score is 5.3!

 

I just ordered a XPS1330 with a T9300 CPU and ot came with a 90W adapter,

i was a little annoyed with this, but dell has told me that this CPU requires this more powerful adapter. Is it possible to use a 65 W one with this CPU because i really do need this laptop for traveling and high end video editing.

Is there anywhere i can buy this small adapter

many thanks everyone

Jamie