Great $803 Vostro 1500?

So, I have $700-800 to spend on a new laptop, and so far this is the best I can come up with, $803 with free S&H until 4/02

PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
LCD PANEL: 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display with TrueLife™
MEMORY: 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
OPTICAL DRIVE: 8X CD/DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability
VIDEO CARD: 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8600M GT
HARD DRIVE: 80GB 5400RPM Hard Drive edit
WI-FI WIRELESS CARD: Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Wi-Fi Internal Card

A few notes:
*I hate vista, but in case somebody else wants this same setup, vista home or basic can be substituted for $0.00 :|
*I was thinking about going for the 2.1 GHz Process that cost $250 less and using that money to bump up the RAM and ATT mobile wireless card, but, RAM is dropping in price and I already have a broadband wireless USB dongle.
Basicly what I am trying to say is that you can put $250 into other stuff at the cost of .4GHz from each core.
*As I mentioned, *FREE 3-5 DAY SHIPPING AND HANDLING* too bad I live in Alaska and they only offer Next Day... which cost 70 dollars I don't have... but I'll get that in some way or another


So, any thought on better computer deals around right now for the same price are appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Tip: Upgrade your RAM later (see RAM Deals thread). Dell charges too much.

Otherwise, upgrade the WiFi card to the Intel one (you'll thank me later). If you can get a 3-6MB Cache CPU for less, go ahead and do it as you'll probably never need the extra power. $250 is way too much for a marginal performance increase unless that's the lowest 9000 series processor available.

Check NewEgg for hard drive prices, and upgrade your Dell hard drive to something higher using the CPU money saved. Usually Dell is fair with drive prices, but usually its better go get the right drive with Dell unless NewEgg is much cheaper.

In any event though, that is a GREAT STEAL of a laptop.

 

nevermind found the deal you were talking about

 

Yep, it is a great deal, That is the lowest T9000 series Penryn (there is the T8100 that is still Penryn, still 800MHZ, just 2.0 Ghz and 3MB instead of 2.4 and 6MB). Here is how I would do it with that budget(I went to $840 extending warranty to 2 years and going to onsite support (totally worth it to me), it is $800 exactly doing 1 year onsite I think, my biggest change is lowering the proc for a bigger HDD, and WSXGA+, Intel Wireless with N, bluetooth, all of that worth more than the 400MHz, to me anyway, you can get a single 2GB RAM chip for $30, sell that HDD and get a better 7200 for around the same price, etc.), also I added Vista OEM for Bluetooth and resale calue, I already have an XP license and if u don't you can pick it up pretty cheap (XP home is almost free ):

Module Description Show Details
Vostro 1500 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
LCD Panel 15.4 in Wide Screen SXGA+LCD Display w/TrueLife™
Memory 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
Video Cards 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8600M GT
Hard Drive 120GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
Integrated NIC and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Optical Drive 8X CD/DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability, w/ Roxio Creator
Wireless Cards Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Internal-card
Camera Integrated 2.0 mega pixel Web Camera
Primary Battery 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Limited Warranty, Services and Support 2 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 2 Year NBD On-Site Service
Bluetooth Wireless Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate), Vista

 

WHAT THE ^@#*?? If you can get a $1400 +- M1530 like gaming laptop for just $800 why would someone not do it? What's the catch? Why is it so cheap? I'm really confused right now...

 

See, but I *need* to get the price to at least 1,299.99 to get it for 800.
The deal from dell is until 4/02, $500 off Vostro 1500s costing $1,299.99+
Along with free 3-5 day shipping.

Does anybody know if you get the accidental coverage (dropping, water spills, etc. if it still counts to the ~$1300 minimum for the $500 savings?

 

Yep, I got my config above to $1300 by adding warranty to two years. That and adding all of the other stuff in my post after removing the T9300. Was $1340 before the $500 discount.

 

Thats a really good deal.

 

It's a pretty sweet deal. You pretty much get top of the line stuff for a pretty reasonable price.

 

Is this available in canada? Because I am making one of the canada site, and I see nothing about this promo, and the processors you can select are very limited.

 

I wish I was 18 and had a job haha, I'd take out a decent 200-300 dollar loan and make this the cream de' la coup..
All well.
I hope many people can find this and make a great laptop purchase.

 

Wow, with in 24 hours of posting it, Dell ended their $500 dollar off sale 3 days early.. shows what to expect from their asses..

 

Sounds like you got a good deal. I took advantage of the same sale and got a similar system to yours, except I opted for the T7250, WSXGA+, the Intel 4965AGN wireless card and a 2 year NBD onsite warranty, for about $820 with tax. It's supposed to get here Wednesday... I can hardly wait!

 

Yeah, my check aint coming for another week unfortunatly...
Oh any to everybody.. I found out they didnt take the deal away, it was the Vostro *1700* not *1500* haha..

I feel uberly smart..