Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
I'll first provide a bit of history ...
For the past 2 years I've been using a Compaq 2568CL my company gave me (P4 2.66ghz, 512mb RAM, 80GB 4200RPM, 15", built in 802.11g wireless). To be quite honest, I was perfectly satisfied with it (mostly productivity/programming work - not a gamer in the least). The only downsides were that the battery life was around 1 hour, it was heavy, it had an issue with the AC adapter constantly coming unplugged from the laptop, etc. etc., so I decided, for the hell of it, that it was time to upgrade. I sold it to an uneducated shmuck who didn't do any research and gave me $800.00 for it because he "really liked" his previous Compaq (I disclosed exactly what he was getting, and even informed him of the annoying AC adapter issue ... no trickery required, he just didn't shop around).
So, at this point I had $800 to spend on an upgrade.
I began with an E1705 for around $1300, which when it arrived I realized just how huge it was, and quite frankly, in retrospect, I didn't configure it the way I should have. I sold it 2 days later on Craigslist for $10 more than I paid for it, so luckily did not incur a loss for the learning experience.
$810 in pocket at this point.
I then configured an E1505 _exactly_ how I wanted it and paid $1200.00 shipped (I believe I used a $450 off coupon). For the hell of it, I listed it on Craigslist for $1500.00 to see if anyone would bite ... sure enough, the same day, it was sold.
$1110 in pocket at this point.
I skip coupon weeks if they require a mail-in-rebate. If the rebate isn't instant, I simply wait for the next Thursday's coupons to roll around. The next week would've been $1165 shipped for the same machine, but I decided to wait and see how the "10 Days of Deals" panned out. This past week, it jumped to $1260 using the same coupon, so I said forget it, and went with an XPS m140 with the 10% discount.
For $754.47 shipped:
Pentium M 1.73ghz
14.1" + Truelife
2x256mb ram
60gb 5400rpm
Intel Wireless
Disadvantages: 5400RPM HD. Looking at around $120 to replace with 7200RPM. Additionally, to upgrade to 1GB of RAM (2x512 dual channel configuration), looking at > $100 + requiring disassembling the **** thing to get to the RAM module underneath the keyboard. At least $200 for the RAM and HD upgrades.
Sure enough, the very next day (today), I see a fabulous deal on the E1505 ($600+ off coupon). I immediately cancelled the XPS m140 order (which was in "testing" phase), and ordered this puppy.
For $937.45 shipped (only $183 more)
1.83 Core Duo
15.4" Truelife
1x512mb RAM
60gb 7200rpm
Intel wireless
9cell battery
Previously, the E1505 either shipped with 2x256, or for $100 you could upgrade to 2x512 (1GB) or 1x512 (which for the same price, who would do this when you could have 1gb anyways?). In today's configuration, the ram is 1x512mb, which means for $40 more on Newegg (not $100), we can easily upgrade to 1GB. The HD is already 7200RPM. Additionally, I did not have to pad the price with things like a DVD burner in order to use the coupon as I did previously - if I need to burn a DVD I'll use my PC). So for $183 more, I got exactly what I originally wanted (which would've cost > $200 to upgrade the m140 to ... plus I have dual core now and a larger screen which better suits me).
So if we add $50 for a RAM upgrade (newegg) to the $937.45, we have $987.45.
... but alas, I have $1110 in pocket.
So, all in all, to upgrade from my 3 yr old laptop, to this brand new loaded E1505 configured exactly how I wanted it, not only did I not have to spend a penny of my own money, I actually EARNED $122.55.
I would say the upgrade was worth the effort.
:=)
Finally got a great deal on the E1505! Forget the XPS m140!
Discussion in 'Dell' started by DJSlakoR, Apr 7, 2006.
