Dell not Allowing an Intel 4965 AGN configuration?

Can anyone tell me why you can configure the XPS and Vostro lines of laptops with an Intel next gen wireless card, yet for the Inspiron line you can not? It is clearly advertised on their website that the Inspiron, specifically the 1520, can be configured with an Intel Next Gen card, yet you cannot select it. Anyone find this odd? Dell is pushing their crappy card onto the consumers?

 

Buy without the Intel card and buy the card outside? I think the card costs about the same as Dell's upgrade cost... I think they have supply issues with the card... just like the LED screen on the M1330..

 

Might want to just try calling. I had the same problem ordering to D630 units last week. The 'Smart Value' D630 didn't allow for the Intel card, only the Dell, whereas the other D630 base configs did. I signed in w/ my sm biz account, built my cart the way I wanted it, then called in and had someone pull my cart up and manually change it.

Chris

 

Maybe this is a location specific issue, when I configured my laptop the only choice offered for wireless cards were the Intel ones. The same Inspiron configuration was also possible at the time.

 

I tried changing it twice. Got rejected both times. I asked why they couldn't put the Intel card in my laptop and they said that it wasn't compatible. I told the customer service rep that she was lying, and she didn't deny it.

If it's location specific, then the entire United States can't get an Inspiron with the Intel card. I even asked the Dell rep that speaking theoretically, if I were to build a new Inspiron system through her, if I would be able to get an Intel card, and she said no. I might cancel my order just because this is BS, and they put me through a lot of hassle just to tell me lies.

I don't know about antennas, but I could configure the laptop with their Dell wireless N card, which I have not heard good things about, but not the Intel card. If it's relevant i'll post the chat with the Dell rep. I find it quite ridiculous. Took her 10 minutes each response. She tried to get rid of me and told me to chat with customer care, yet I was directed to her from customer care in the first place.

 

FearTheTerp, I went through the same hassles as you, and after an hour and a half I just said screw it. I ended up just going with the Dell N card, it wasn’t worth wasting anymore of my time and going nowhere with the reps.

 

I had to buy some Dell a/g cards b/c I used a specific config on some M1330s. If the config saves you hundreds of dollars, it's worth spending the $30 later on the Intel card, if it proves necessary. The Broadcom Dell ones have been for me, so far, though I have not done any "N" wireless, yet.

 

So were the Dell cards satisfactory? Still contemplating canceling my order just because of my spite for dell.

 

I had a horrible experience with the Dell wireless stuff on my old D610. Said "never again", and couldn't possibly be happier with my Intel solution.

The actual 4965 cards are ~$30 on eBay, so buying one isn't the end of the world though.

 

Sorry I wasn't clearer in my post; yes, the Dell cards work fine in my experience using various SoHo routers. They're made by Broadcom, as I mentioned, which is one of the biggest players in that market.

I prefer Intel's cards, but the Dell cards have done just fine by me.