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    Finally pulled the trigger on 9400

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by doberman8u, Feb 12, 2006.

  1. doberman8u

    doberman8u Newbie

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    Oh boy! It's been a looonnnngg time coming for this one!

    I have researched all the way back to October looking at 9300's and I spent the last month and a half kicking myself for not pulling the trigger on it right before Christmas when I could have got the 9300 almost fully loaded with the $750 coupon and the $100 gift game coupon and the additional 6% off.

    But alas, the 9400/1705's came out and I simply had to do it on a core duo that while it does not have certain things that I had lined up for the 9300 (7200rpm drive, maximum memory, bluetooth, etc), it does have a better graphics card with the 7800 and the core duo even if it is the bare bottom 1.66 version. My thoughts are that as long as I get the video card, I can upgrade what I want later this way.

    In addition, my thoughts are that Dell may do this mail in coupon crap for a few more weeks (or not) and for business reasons I needed a laptop sometime within the next two - three weeks. Could I wait another month or two and get a better deal? I am sure I could, but I have been playing this game in my mind for so friggin long now that it is TIME and if I lose out on one or two hundred dollars later, who cares at this point. Heck, I could have worked a second job and already paid for this thing twice over with the number of hours I have spent researching/changing my mind back and forth.

    So my budget has always been between $900-$1400. If I was going to miss out on the video card, I was going to go more the $900 end and get a good processor and only use it for work........but......I knew that I would want to play some games on it from time to time so when I go the opportunity to get such a bad ass laptop just under my high end of $1400, I could not resist. Here are the details of the order:
    _________________________
    Order Details:
    Order detail - order placed 2006-02-12 21:48:40

    Inspiron 9400
    Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300 (1.66GHz/667MHz FSB), Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition Qty: 1
    Unit Price: $1,733.00
    Inspiron 9400 Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300 (1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)

    LCD Panel 17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display
    17XGAL

    Memory FREE UPGRADE to 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
    1GB2Z

    Graphics Card 256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 7800
    256NV

    Hard Drive 60GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
    60GB

    Operating System (Office software not included) Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
    WHXP

    Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
    INTNIC

    Combo/DVD+RW Drives 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
    24COMBO

    Wireless Networking Cards Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
    IP3945

    Primary Battery 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
    6BAT

    Dell Service & Support Plans 1 Year Mail-in Economy Plan
    T111DNO

    Operating System Backup & Recovery Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition backup CD
    XPHMED
    [310-6841]

    Save $425 on select Inspiron 9400 systems through the Small Business division.
    Expires on 2006-02-23 12:30:00 - $425.00

    ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AND COUPONS

    Small Business customers receive FREE 3-5 day Shipping & Handling on all Dell™ Notebooks!
    Expires on 2006-02-16 12:30:00 - $39.00

    Save an additional 5% off orders $500+ (before tax, shipping and handling)
    Expires on 2006-02-16 05:59:59 - $65.40

    Sub-Total $1,242.60
    Shipping Discount -$39.00

    Shipping $0.00

    Estimated Tax $102.52
    Total $1,345.12
    ________________________

    I have only one nagging issue in the back of my mind and that would be the fact that I did not get a true-life screen. There are a few reasons why I can live without it: I have never used one and I can easily trick myself into the idea that I will never miss what I never had. In addition, I plan to have this puppy hooked up to a normal lcd screen about half the time.

    The concern is regarding the one or two horror stories/pictures I have seen of users who must have got a defective non-truelife screen as it was far darker around the edges than I would consider normal for any laptop.

    Now I just have to wait as the est. ship date is 2/20/06 so maybe it will get here on my birthday (the 22nd)

    Thanks to everyone in this forum for the reviews, benchmarks, comments, etc as it was the foremost spot for me making my decision to FINALLY pull the trigger :D
     
    doberman8u, Feb 12, 2006
    #1
  2. SeaSlorg

    SeaSlorg Notebook Geek

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    It looks fine to me. I'm still waiting for a better deal on the i9400. I hope they'll release a better coupon in the near future or a good outlet deal. I've been waiting since the 9100 line and I still haven't pulled the trigger. Good luck.

    I don't think skipping the trulife screen is a problem. Is it really worth 100 bucks for a nicer picture? Anyway, for gaming, performance is better with a lower resolution. And on the internet and in word processors, text can be easier to read.
     
    SeaSlorg, Feb 12, 2006
    #2