How heavy is this Inspiron 9400?

Hi,

This notebook seems to be an excellent multimedia machine. I don't plan on taking it around much, apart from short journeys to a lecture hall and back. For the most part, it will be a desktop replacement for 75% of the time, but will also tag along for long train journeys.

Components
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.0 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB)
17" UltraSharp™ Wide Screen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display with TrueLife™
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024)
160GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive
256MB DDR3 nVidia® GeForce™ Go 7900 graphics card
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software
9 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (80 Whr)
90Hwr AC Adapter

There are the main components listed above. How heavy will it be? I dont want it to be back-breaking, but I can take some weight.

I know the "base" model weighs 3.6kg, but since I've customised it a bit, what would the theoretical maximum weight be? If you could post weight with and without AC adapter, that would be excellent.

In addition, I was wondering why notebooks heavier than 3.0kg are seen as non portable? Currently, the bag I carry to school (filled with books and ringbinder) is not exactly heavy, but I weighed it on some digital scales, and it came to 4.7kg. Perhaps bulkiness of a notebook makes it feel heavier than they are?
I thought I wanted an ultra-portable notebook, under 2.5kg, but since performance matters to me more than weight, I might as well get the best spec regardless of weight.

 

1.) The only thing which would affect weight would be your 9 cell battery. The adapter and battery will add weight. Everything else will be negligible. I am not sure of weight with/without, i'm sure someone who owns a 9400 will chime in.

2.) a 17" is not portable, it's big (dimesion-wise), bulky, and heavy. If you are going to take it to school/in classes I would SERIOUSLY reconsider. Depending on what kind of games you are playing you might be OK with a x1600/1700 or go7600/7700 which can be found in a 14" package.

3.) I hope you didn't pay to upgrade the 2GB to 667MHz, that money is wasted if it wasn't a free upgrade.

 

2) Okay, I might reconsider the size. But I can't really find this performance, with sub speakers, multimedia controls, processor, for the same price. Any suggestions? Games I play are guild wars, HL2, Doom 3, but these are essentially games that work on my current desktop which is old, (P4 2.6, Geforce 4 ti4600, 512mb ram). The games Im likely to play are pretty much adapted to what my machine can cope with. Future-proofing is important to me though, as I dont want to upgrade for another 4 years.

3) Why, can I do this myself for free, or does it not give much of a performance boost?

 

Ram is overpriced at any manufacturers site. Take a 1 GB option and you can buy a separate 1GB module at another store for 50% less.

Or wait till Dell refreshes their Inspiron Line up.. should happen in a month or so.

 

Any speakers will be crummy in a notebook, you should plan on using externals or headphones if you are serious about sound.

You may want to look into the Compal HEL80, HGL30; Asus G1, a8js; HP NC8430...I'm not sure on pricing as I've not been in the market for a long time.

The difference between 533 and 667 MHz memory is *non-existent* because although 667 is faster, clockspeed-wise, it has a higher CAS latency (which is the time it takes to "recycle". 533 is slower but has a CAS of 4 usually while 667 has a CAS of 5.

I'd price out on newegg and such before buying 2GB from Dell. It may be cheaper to upgrade aftermarket, or it may not.

 

The machine is great to take from desk to desk, but not very good to keep in the lap.

Of course, to future-proof for 4 years.... you need something pretty close to the top-of-the-line. A smaller laptop wouldn't do that as you wouldn't get the top graphics.

 

I have an E1705.

They are more portable than people say. Especially if you have the backpack style carrying case.

They fir on your lap okay, but they're still a little too big. And yes, they are sorta heavy, and the battery life at best is 3.5 to 4 hours.

On the plus side the 7900GS overclocks hella nicely.

 

Hmm... yeah, I wasn't thinking of putting 4.6 bags of sugar on my lap, I was thinking more of taking the machine from table to coffee table, to a range other other tables.

About this notebook, the default RAM configuration is 2gb, it can't be changed. The same goes for processor, but since they are my ideal core components, I don't mind.

I read the review, and was really impressed with the high resolution screen and feature set, but the weight it definitely offputting. I have looked at the G1 and been impressed at the specs, but not the price tag in the UK, as for the other models, they are all but non existent in the UK. The selection here is poor.

Low spec Toshibas and HP flood the market here. And I dont like either.

I just wish there was a way to have a feel of the notebook before I buy it. Dell wouldn't happen to do a 30 day money-back guarantee would they ?

You comment gives me confidence Prototelis. I really do like the card. I think I might take the dive after Dell refresh their lineup. I'll be buying in July sometime, so hopefully I dont change my mind till then.

I was actually thinking of getting this, and upgrading to 2gb,
http://www.nexus13.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=306&idproduct=990

Is it a better deal? the X1700 is off putting though. If it was an X1800, I would be leaning towards it more.

 

I think it is 20 days return or something

 

Hey, you seem like a business person so I would go with dell. I guess you will probably end up getting a warranty, so I am not sure if replacing/swapping RAM voids your warranty. All I have to say is that I have a 15" laptop, and carrying it around isn't nearly as hard as I expected, including the power brick and all. Hey, on the positive side, if it is too heavy, just work out until you get all nice and buff and you can throw your laptop 300 feet when your mad. lol

 

If you swap your ram it is considered an upgrade. They will do nothing more than not cover your ram. They would and should cover the rest of the computer.

Oh and if you opt for the 1GB option then be ready to buy 2GB of ram. They put 2x512MB in the slots.