Good deal on a new Inspiron E1705??

I'm looking to purchase a 17" Dell Inspiron by the fall semester. I realize that there are new lines being released in 2 weeks, so I'm not about to do anything too soon. However, I'm curious what you all think of this deal. I'm not a serious gamer, but I want a decent notebook that will perform at a high level for a few years. I'll be using it for school purposes, as well as basic internet browsing and various other multimedia purposes. I called in and had a Dell representative help build me a quote, using the $500 deal combined with my EPP (Employee Purchase Plan) - which can't be done online. Here are the specs:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5300 (2MB Cache/1.73GHz/533MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium with 1GB of memory
17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ TFT Display with TrueLife™(glossy)
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory
Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™HD Software Edition
Dell Wireless 1390b/g (54Mbps)
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 - Word, Excel + PowerPoint
Warranty: 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day

The base price comes to $1,886 - $500 (Inspiron coupon) - $40 (video card coupon) = $1,346. 10% off (EPP coupon) = $1,211.40. Additional 4% off (EPP) = Grand Total of $1,162.94

Any comments/suggestions/recommendations???

 

Do you plan to take this laptop with when you travel or go to class?

Even though its a personal preference, a 17inch laptop is big and heavy(8 lb) for daily travel. A 15.4 or 14.1 will be more suitable and yet still have gaming power.

What kind/types of games do you play and wish to play in the future?

the x1400 is consider a Mid-range Video Card and there are more laptop that have stronger video cards that might be around your price range(around 1200? hopefully higher)


Also, Fill out the FAQ so that we can help you better.

 

1) What is your budget? < $1,500

2) What size notebook would you prefer? Desktop Replacement - 17"+ screen

3) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in. USA

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like? I'd prefer to purchase a Dell.

5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook? As stated above, I'll be using it for school purposes, as well as basic internet browsing and various other multimedia purposes.

6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk? Both - I do commute to school, so I'll be using it there a lot.

7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games? Perhaps...? Not a big gamer, but I like having that option. Even if I did, nothing too graphic-intensive.

8) How many hours of battery life do you need? 2 hrs, give or take.

9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person? Not really, but I'll definately pay a visit to the Dell dealer near my home before I make the purchase.

10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc. Windows - I've never owned a Vista system, strictly XP until now.

11) Would you prefer standard or widescreen? Widescreen.

12) What screen resolutions would you prefer? WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900 will be fine for me.

13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen? Glossy.

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you? Not tremendously - I don't mind how the current 1705 looks.

15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last? By the end of the summer, and I'd like it to be around a few years if possible ;-).

16) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 200GB? 100GB+

17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive? Yes - CD/DVD burner is preferred.

 

Are the new inspirons coming out in 2 weeks? If you're not going to be doing much graphic intensive gaming, imo get a lappy now then, because those huge $300-680ish deals will probably be gone when the new ones are released.

 

Won't the base prices of the old Inspirons be coming down, at least theoretically? I'll still have the EPP percentage discounts, and Dell always has different deals going on for their notebooks...what do you think of this specific deal? Good notebook for the price?

 

$40 (video card coupon) = $1,346. 10% off (EPP coupon) = $1,211.40. Additional 4% off (EPP)

Might I ask where do you get these discounts?

 

The $40 video card coupon is being offered right now, as is the $500 Inspiron coupon for any Inspiron purchase of $1,399. The 10% EPP coupon is a special EPP June deal that is sent to my email account, available (by signing up) to anyone involved in the EPP. The same goes for the 4% EPP discount, for any Inspiron purchase between $800 and $1,600. Although you can't get the total by building your own quote online, the service rep was pretty easily persuaded to combine the offers.

 

What's an EPP? and How can I get one? I tell you the truth i was thinking of getting one of the new i17" but after seeing the cd drive on the right side. I'm not going to deal with that..my mouse is on the right side, so it's going to be too cumbersome to play around remove the mouse> eject> move it back scenerio. And since The $500 coupon, it sounds real sweet..

 

EPP = Employee Purchase Plan. The company I work for is a very large corporation that offers a discount on Dell systems. It's basically the same plan that universities offer their students (which I also benefit from, as a college student...although I can't combine those two, it's one or the other). But you can't do anything to be a part of it unless your employer or university offers it. Pays to work for a giant!

 

I've been signed up for the EPP newsletter for years, but I've never gotten a 10% off coupon like that. Anyone know how I can get it? If I can really combine the $500 coupon plus 10% plus whatever else my normal EPP discount it, I'll go for it.

They really let you combine that stuff?!? You think I could really do that? I qualify for the educational store.

Anyway, regarding that config, if you want to game at all, get the Geforce 7900GS. It's a decent mid-range card that will run anything out there right now (if not at max settings). The x1400 is low end. You'll be getting several times more computer for just the price up that upgrade (and of course you'll get the percentage off of it too).

 

You cannot combine most discounts, so just take the best deal you can find. Some % off deals can be stacked with $$$ off, but some cannot. No harm in trying and seeing.

 

Thanks the info DAJOIP!

 

There's a link for employees at my workplace that takes us to our company's EPP site. On that page, there's a link you can follow that takes you to additional EPP coupons. You have to register your name and work e-mail account, and the coupons are sent to you there. This month (June), they offer separate 10% and 5% off coupons.

Like I said in the original quote, the online site doesn't allow you to combine those offers. But I called in and talked with a Dell EPP rep who didn't present much hindrance in combining all those offers together, which was a pleasant surprise. Maybe it's luck of the draw in what rep you speak with.

If I'm not a big gamer, will the x1400 work alright? I'm somewhat on a limited budget and I don't know if I want to fork out $150 extra for a card I don't really need. What's the general consensus on my offer? Worth taking?

 

Darn. There's a link through from my work too, but I haven't seen anywhere to register a work account-just the sign up for newsletters, which don't seem to send me coupons anymore

If you're ever going to game at all, go for the 7900GS. For basic office work, web browsing, etc., the x1400 should be fine.

 

If you are getting the X1400 then why go for a bulky 17" ? carrying it to school will be a burden.