Did I get a good deal on an Inspiron 1520?

I saw a special savings checking the Inspiron 1520 out on the Dell store through my school's Dell page.

This is essentially what I got:

Inspiron 1520
C2D T7300 2.0GHz
Ruby Red
2GB RAM
1440x900 15.4" screen
256MB 8600M GT
160GB 5400RPM Drive
Vista Home Premium
DVD+/-RW Drive
Audigy HD Software Edition
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
No Security Subscription
85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)

3 Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day
Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 3Yr Warranty
Bluetooth 2.0 EDR

Dell EPP/FSS Customers: Save $289 off select Inspiron systems
Dell program members receive 12% off systems priced $1600 and up with 3/4 yr At-Home service. - $193.03

Total Price including tax of $69.79 and free shipping: $1485.71 (total original price of the laptop was $1,898.00 without tax)

I was thinking this seemed like a pretty nice price, especially with the three year warranty and accident protection.

I tried configuring something close to this with the regular educational savings (not using the special offer) and got the same thing, but with DellCare Premium and it was around $1679 total.

But I'm wondering if I'm missing something, or if anyone seens any problems with this.

Thanks!

-Zadillo

 

thats not the best deal you can find
Refer to the details in this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=139264

 

Hrmm, I can't seem to get the coupon - tried using my school e-mail address and it said it wasn't an approved company e-mail address.

Anything I can do? How much of a better deal could I get on the config above?

EDIT: Also, that thread seems to make it say it refers to some older Inspiron models, and I'm interested in the 1520.

 

I just used that thread to order a 1420. Try a different email address and It might work. I just used my aol address and it worked fine

 

Hrmm, I don't have an AOL address. Tried using a gmail address and same error though.

Can you enlighten me though, how much of a better price could I get on the config above with that whole method? I mean, are we talking about being able to get the exact same deal but for like $100 or $200 less, or something less? Trying to decide if its even worth worrying about.

EDIT: NM, just realized I can use my AIM username as an e-mail address. I'll play around and see just what kind of savings I can get.

 

Hrmm, not bad. Doing the same config, and using that $200 off coupon, it brought my total price down to $1361 (including tax).

I think that seems like the best deal I can get - I tried doing something similar with the regular Inspiron deals, and it is like $1510.

So, does $1361 including tax sound pretty good?

 

I think is fair....

This is what I ordered today:

Inspiron 1520
C2D T7500 2.2GHz
Jet Black
2GB RAM
1440x900 15.4" screen
256MB 8600M GT
160GB 5400RPM Drive
Vista Home Premium
DVD+/-RW Drive
Audigy HD Software Edition
INTEL 3945 802.11A/G
INTEL 355 BLUETOOTH WRLESS
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
Complete Care 1 yr
56 WHR,6-CELL,LION,PRIM BATT
$1520 Total price after everything !!! No coupons no nothing

Regards.
GMora

 

Is there any specific reason why you guys didn't go for the 7200 RPM HD?

 

I don't know, I don't personally care that much about the difference in performance, especially with PMR drives. If I replace my order I might go ahead and choose it though (I originally had been trying to keep my order below $1500).

 

In my case price!!! Just price ... I know is not much difference, but I was already pushing the cords to the Dell Rep. to get a decent price with the T7500. I'm in LatinAmerica and prices here can get very high in comparison with US., due to TAX!!..

GMora

 

I was looking at it again when reconfiguring - at least on the deal I am getting, it costs an additional $175 to upgrade to the 160GB 7200RPM drive.

I guess its because of the particular deal (the 160GB 5400RPM drive is listed as a free upgrade). Either way, I'd just as soon spend that money and upgrade the hard drive later.

 

In my deal it was only US$50 more for the 7200 RPM, but as I said, I was saving my budget for the processor. I did configure the same system in US Dell page, and the price is almost the same of what I got, only 7 dollars less. And here we don't have those $350 coupons!!!! But hey, she gave me $250 discount.... I hope I won't look to Dell's web pages for some time

GMora

 

OK, so just to verify..... this is what I'm getting using those other coupons:

With $289 off, plus $200 off from the special coupon, plus an additional 8% off, this comes out to a total of $1361 including tax.

Does this sound good?

-Zadillo

 

Lucky you !!! Yes, I think the price is getting great!!.. Those coupons you all use make a huge difference...

GMora

 

8% off is from including a warranty plan, yes? shouldn't you also have a 10% or a 7% off too? p.s. if you bump the price up to $1600, the 8% off will become 12% off.

 

OK, yeah, playing around with the coupons a bit more......... this is what I have now:

Inspiron 1520
C2D T7300 2.2GHz
Vista Home Premium
Ruby Red
2GB RAM
1440x900 15.4 screen
256MB 8600M GT
160GB 7200RPM drive
DVD+/-RW Drive
Audigy HD
Wireless-N
2.0M Pixel Webcam
Security with Value/Plus/Premium Warranty Bundle
85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
DellCare Plus
2.0 EDR Bluetooth

----

Unit Price: $2310

15% off coupon from eBay: -$346.50
Save $200 off Inspiron notebooks priced $999 and above: -$200
Dell EPP/FSS Customers: 7% off systems with PC-Care Premium Bundle: -$123.45
No interest for 6 Months on Inspiron systems with DellCare Protection Plan

Subtotal: $1640.05

Additional Discounts and Coupons:

12% off systems priced $1600 and up with 3/4 yr At-Home service: -$188.93
Save 4% when you buy online and pay with Dell Preferred Account: -$65.60

Sub-total: $1385.52
Tax: $69.29

Total Price: $1454.81

So actually a little lower (although also a bit higher than the $1361 deal I configured), but with a faster hard drive, faster CPU and the full DellCare Plus warranty instead of the just 3 year warranty and accident coverage.

What do you all think?

(thanks to pragun's thread for the advice on configuring things).

 

Actually, I just noticed that if I do drop down to a 2.0GHz C2D and a 5400RPM 160GB drive, my total cost goes down to $1319 total, including tax. I think I might just go ahead and do that (I don't think I really need the slightly faster CPU or hard drive, frankly).

 

To convince us...:

If I build a $1800-2000 system online and ANYBODY can make it $1200-1400 with coupons - and if I receive it, I will pay HIM OR HER $150 ...

Show me you can do it

 

C2D T7100 1.8GHz
Vista Home Premium
1280x800 15.4" Display
128MB GeForce 8400M GS
2GB RAM
160GB 5400RPM drive
DVD+/-RW Drive
Wireless-N Card
Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Webcam
85Whr LiIon Battery (9 cell)
Audigy HD
DellCare Plus

Unit Price: $1810

15% off inspiron systems priced $899 and above ($1.50 on eBay): -$271.50
Dell EPP/FSS Customers: 7% off systems with PC-Care Plus Bundle: -$107.70

Sub-total: $1430.80

Receive 8% off systems priced $800 to $1600 with 3/4 yr At-Home Service: -$114.46

Subtotal: $1316.34

With tax (in my case, 5% VA tax): $1382.16

So, there you go. A system that was originally between $1800-2000, priced between $1200-1400 including tax, with coupons.

There's probably all sorts of variations here - I tried to go with the lowest priced possibility just above $1800. You could balance things out though and get much better specs though if you didn't mind going a bit above $1400 though (better CPU, better GPU, etc.).

-Zadillo

 

Too bad you live in virginia, I would love to see you so we could build some good rig together, I'd pay

 

How did you get the 15% off to stack with a coupon of $200, and what's that coupon?

 

It no longer does. It was stacking yesterday, but it seems like Dell fixed it this morning, so they no longer stack.

The 15% off coupon is an EPP coupon I bought on eBay for $1.50. The $200 off coupon was from signing up at delluniversity.com.

 

Darn it, because I have all of those coupons!