Help! E1705 or E1505 for college?

I've been trying to figure out all day which would be better for me as a college freshmen this fall - I don't plan on doing any gaming but my mom insisted that I get the 17 in screen (less strain on the eyes?). I placed my order already for the 1705 as follows:

-Inspiron E1705, Intel Core DuoProcessor T2400 (1.83GHz/667MHz FSB)
-17 inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WUXGA, for Inspiron 9400/E1705
-1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm, for Inspiron 9400/E1705
-256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X 1400 HyperMemory, for Inspiron9400/E1705
-100GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive for Inspiron 9400/E1705
-Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 2, English, for Inspiron
-8X DVD+/-RW Drive, for Inspiron 9400/E1705
-Integrated High Definition Audio, for XPS M1710
-Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps) for Inspiron 9400/E1705
-80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 9400/E1705
Microsoft Office 2003 Basic Edition,Inspiron
-4 Year Limited Warranty

Anyways I'm having second thoughts and after looking through the reviews and forum comparing the two models I'm still not sure what would be really suited to my needs. Personally a 17in screen seems a bit excessive, not to mention the fact that the laptop itself is abou 2 lbs heavier than the 15.4in? My main concern is heating (my current laptop's fan is so noisy) - how long before the laptop heats up; obviously speed and avoiding crashes; weight and how feasable it will be for me to lugg my laptop around campus; durability? I admit I can be clumsy; and I guess lifetime since I hope that this laptop will last me through college + grad school.

Should I make a call to Dell and ask them to just downgrade the model to the E1505 and keep the specs or leave it the way it is?

ANY help will be greatly appreciated..I'm honestly a novice at this and it's hard for me to understand the nuances of these notebooks.

 

This is the first time i've heard of this - most parents say you need to get the E1505.

I would strongly disagree with getting an E1705. I have the 9300, and I can tell you that it is a pain to carry that much weight everyday to school. Plus the desks at school are not very big, so you won't be able to fit a laptop+books+anything else you need for class. The bags for E1705 are also bulky and very big. If you end up getting the E1705, I would get a simple messenger bag like this:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm

If you need a 17in, you can get an external monitor and go that route, but I wouldn't get an E1505 to take to school everyday.

Another option is to go with the D820 of the latitude series. I know you can't use the coupons, but you might get a discount through your school. The latitude series is better built for everyday travel and is more durable.

I ended up taking mine to school everyday only because I had a break in between classes and used it at the library. I never took it out in school unless I absolutely needed it, but that was a rare case.

 

Thanks so much...would you recommend the e1505 or another inspiron model?

 

I edited my post to put in the latitude. From my experience, if you are wanting a laptop to last you through grad school, I would look at the latitude series if you can afford it. Most schools have a deal with Dell so that you can get a certain percentage off. You'll have to contact dell for more info and what the exact percentage off is, but if I had the choice between the inspiron and latitude, I would have gotten a latitude.

Also, check out our tech bargains forum. There are ways to save on laptops that are bought through the EPP program (which is what your school discount would qualify as), and those are applicable towards the XPS/Latitude/Inspiron/Precision.

 

Quite true; the Latitude line has all the same core components as the Inspiron line does, but has a better quality build for business/school use. However, as a result, the price goes up. The saying, "You get what you pay for" comes to mind. However, ask yourself this before you purchase the notebook. How long are you willing to use this very system? Four years down the road, will you still want to keep this? If not, I don't see a reason for buying a Latitude in place of an Inspiron. But to each his own; it's for this aforementioned reason I purchased the E1505.

 

Those are really good points..ahh I'm so torn now. I *thought* I would be using the notebook through grad school but in all honesty..it seems more likely that I might just get a new one after college? So in that case I should go for the E1505 then?

 

Yeah, if you are planning on getting a new one in a year or two, it might best to go with E1505.

 

e1505.

I cannot imagine carrying a 17in laptop around. I'm having some difficulty with my e1505 and it's only 6 pounds. Wouldn't want it anymore cumbersome.

 

I'm in the same position and I just ordered a Latitude D820, its a 15" widescreen and its got more power than the E1705, plus its only 6lbs, and gets over 5 hours of better life with the 9-cell, and its got a much better build quality than the E1505

 

If you can afford it I'd go with the Latitude. But if thats to much then go for the E1505. If you don't game then there isn't really any reason to get the E1705. And if your reallly worried about your eyes... then get some glasses lol.

 

but the E1505 inspirion would probably game better than the latitude.

 

The D280 has the Nvidia Quatro GPU (120M), which is about on par with a X1400.

 

o really? You can play all the games on the nvidia quatro gpu as the x1400? I may now consider the latitude...is the quadra nvs 120 much better than the 110?

 

is there a comparison chart that shows the quatro 120?

 

Here's our review of the D280 with the NVS 120 ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=59579). The D280 got about the same score as the X1400/7400 did in 3DMark06 and PCMark05 - upping the amount of RAM in the notebook will help gaming performance. Mind you, this is no super-gaming machine, so don't expect miracles from it.

 

yea of course. Now my decision is between the E1505 or the Dell D820.

Of course I can get a little higher specs and extras with the E1505.

 

I think the difference between 7400 and quadro 120 is that
quadro is design to better rendering capability in 3D (D820 for business) as
7400 or X1400 is for gaming (E1505 for entertainment)
that is why the X1400 score better than quadro 120 in 3Dmark