I think I'm going for it! 1420! :)

Hi All! Well, I think I am finally going to finally order the 1420 with these great pricings out w/the $500 coupon + the $200 Gift Card going on now.

I was wondering if you all could take a look at my hopefully final config on the 1420 (I am still a little torn between the 1520), won't matter though - I will order either or w/these prices!

I did find out that my music library is approx. 6gb - (will this config be able to hold this amount of music, and more in the future)? I am going to be getting an external hard drive, I guess! I don't think you can get "thumb drives" that high to transfer??? And to keep, as extra?

Here goes: If anyone think's I should tweak it a little or a lot just let me know, and if you think I would be better off w/the 1520 for the music reasons, let me know!

**I am not going to add memory on my own - as technically - I'm not that *wise*

Inspiron 1420 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
System Color Midnight Blue
Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz ~ Is this enough?LCD Panel High Resolution, glossy widescreen 14.1 inch display (1440x900)
Video Card 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GS ** is this a good screen?
Hard Drive Speed: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) Is this enough?
Integrated NIC and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1
Optical Drive CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Sound Card High Definition Audio 2.0
Wireless Networking Cards Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card
Camera Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
Misc Productivity Software Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD
Anti-Virus/ Security suite (pre-install) No Subscription (30-day trial)
Battery Options 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
Warranty & Service DellCare Value
Accident and Theft Protection 1Yr LoJack for Laptops Theft Protection (CD Shipped Separately)
Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested
Digital Media Editing Software Yahoo! Music Jukebox - Music Player
Bluetooth Options Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
Processor Branding Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor
Labels Windows Vista™ Premium
DataSafe Online Backup DataSafe included with DellCare Service bundle

$1,928.00 - $500.00 - $42.84 val carepackage- $1,385.16 = $1,464.10 out the door inc. taxes - this was online before ordering or calling a rep for better pricing

How did I do on my choice of the screen?

Please let me know and thanks so much! Yeah, I know - I was supposed to do this last Monday, but then the new coupon came out ~ (so it's sorta of my fault) laugh laught, spit spit!!!!!

 

To answer a few of your questions, yes, there are usb flash drives that holds up to 16gb.
The screen resolution would be great for watching dvds or even gaming
The graphics card may be a little weak - not enough to play graphic intensive games such as crysis and bioshock, but is alright for older games such as WoW.
Your chosen 160gb HDD should be plenty. Worse comes to worse, buy an external HDD or usb thumb drive.
2GB ram is enough to run Vista unless you plan on heavy gaming or multitasking. I'd suggest buying the Ram from newegg and install it yourself to save money (saves about 80-100 bucks). I know you said you rather just get the 2gb ram from Dell, but it really is very simple and takes less than 30 seconds to do so. There are also step by step guides from Dell that can help you.

 

I just got my 1420 in yellow and I love it. I have everything you just mentioned except the graphics card and my processor is a little slower. But since I dont play games on it it works for me. I watch my dvds on it and it looks good. The screen tends to be a little grainy but I really dont mind. Overall great computer and small and portable so I would have to say good choice.

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Dell 1420 in yellow
Intel core 2 duo T5450 1.66 GHz
160 Gb HD
2 GB DDR2 Ram
Wireless Card
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera

 

Everything looks good to me. The video card will be great for everything, except for the most hard-core games.

 

what type of ram would you recommend? it only has 1 extra slot, right?
i've seen a few on tigerdirect but i can't tell whats worth it and what isn't

by the way, does it have to match the 667Mhz?

 

After overclocking the GPU, I've been able to play the Crysis demo, but on 1024 x 768 and all effects on low. I can get decent FPS then.

 

Hey all, First ~ thanks for the feed back, and I would love to get this! However, I would love to bring the price down just a tad...If I could save maybe $75 - $100 that would be great...I really don't want to lose any speed in the processor - maybe I don't even know what I am talking about - I am so used to my lousy Compaq Presario Desktop being on the verge of the destiny of a "desolate death" right now!!!
Should I tweak the battery from a 9c to a 56C? Lessen the Hard Drive? I am excited about being able to take the notebook remote w/me to places WIFI capable, etc. Otherwise, it would stay contained w/in the house.

Should I switch over and take a look at my spec's on the 1520 again, and see if I can go lower on that? Realistically, staying w/in $1300 would be perfect, but I don't want to lose the speed of the processor. I do believe I will need at least the 2 year warranty on it.

*Remember, I don't do any gaming, mainly burn/download music, internet usage, pic's, multi-tasking, etc..

Thanks!

 

hard drive is easier to do things with then processor
i'm personally gonna go for the lowest hard drive space and either get an aftermarket one for the second slot (if possible) or get this 250gb external hdd someone suggested to me. also plan on upgrading the memory by myself
you may find some deals on an aftermarket battery too

 

Get the crappyiest hdd and lowest amount of ram.. Then with the $200 gift card buy a way better hdd from the dell website and but ram from ebay... that save some bucks... Unless your gonna spend the giftcard on other stuff?

 

Stick with what you've got for the 1420. Switch over to the 6-cell 56 whr battery, or just go for a 160gb Hard Drive with the basic 5400rpm.

 

I'm thinking I may stay w/it and lower the battery - (but if these changes really aren't going be noticable $$wise, I may just leave it stet).

@Gunner - Do you like your Midnight Blue Wireless Mouse?? Don't mean to be intrusive but I was checking those out.

(So, if I get is ordered before the 16th, all I have to work on is getting a new printer & finding a Wireless Router)! Which will be a chore ~ look @ how long it's taken me to find a notebook! sigh.