I9300 extras

Yay, laptop newbie with questions! Anyway, I'm thinking of getting a 9300 with the :750:for college, and I need help with some things. Did anyone get a case from Dell? Which did you get, and how is it working for you? Would a lock cable ($36) be a good investment? I will be staying in a dorm, so there shouldn't be a problem with theft, but just to be sure? Also, is Dell's free *cough$25* printer worth getting? I don't print much, but is it a good deal for a printer? Does it have overpriced refills, because I think I'll print more in the future. Thanks a bunch!

 

Hey Mog,

Welcome to the forums...

First I don't think I would get the lock, only due to the fact that you will need something solid to anchor is to.

The printer...hey...it is free and comes with cartridges...not a great printer, but at least it is free...at least if you have the cable for it.

Hope this helps...and the I9300 is one of the better lappys that i have seen.

 

I didn't get a case from dell, although I did get the printer. Still haven't set it up or used it, but I'm a bit limited on space.

I haven't checked Dell's bags lately, but there are several good options outside of dell. Booq.com has the Powersleeve XXL, which is what I'm using. It works greats, but is limited on extra storage space. I'm still able to fit my powerbrick and several accessories in it. Targus and Kensington both have good bags. I would probably stay away from backpacks, but the 9300 is just too big for a packback in my opinion. It added to much weight to mine and the bags are always big and bulky.

SG

 

I'm gonna have to disagree about the backpack and the i9300. I find it's the only way to carry it around for any period of time. If you have a bag with only one strap it tends to dig into your shoulder. At least with a backpack you have the two straps and if it's a comfortable backpack you won't even notice the weight of the laptop. I got me a decent targus backpack and I find it to be a lot more comfortable than my single strap Dell bag.

Is the free printer a good deal? Hmm, it's FREE. Use it till the ink runs out and then junk it if you don't like it. If you find it does the job for you and ink cartridges aren't too expensive than buy more refills. Otherwise, just junk it. Or since you say you're going to college . . . get drunk, gather your friends and then beat the living S*^% out of the thing in a reenactment of that Office Space scene.

 

A lock cable really isnt gonna stop anyone, especially if its keningston one. A good pair of cable cutters can slice right through that. However, it can't hurt to have one, and its only worth getting one if you're gonna have parties in your dorm room all the time or something, if not I dont think your roommate would take it.

 

hey, i thought i should offer my two cents on the issue. i just ordered a 9300 myself on sunday and decided to go with the kensigton key lock and $39 backpack. i have a BS from ohio state and am working on my masters now, and the key lock is a good idea to buy. yes, a pair of decent cablecutters could cut through the cord and your laptop is gone, but the lock will act as a deterrant for the average dorm theif. the average theif in a dorm is, unfortunatly, probably going to be someone else who lives in the building and probably isnt going to have cablecutters sitting around. i think most theives would see the lock, decide it isnt worth the time or effort, and go for your roomate's comp instead. from my experience (4 years in dorms), there were plenty of thefts, but absolutly everything stolen was not locked or tied down somehow. also, the9300 is supposedly not as heavy as it looks, but when carrying books and everything as well as a notebook i strongly suggest the backpack over the traditional carrying case. just my two cents.

 

I use a cable lock from Belkin $8 Plus shipping
Buy.com

info

I used it at Lanwar, no issues.

I bough a shoulder bad from Overstock, but it's hard to find one that fits without dropping major $$'s. If I could do it again, I'd order the bag from Dell.

 

Thanks everyone! I ended up getting the backpack. Here's the whole order:
Inspiron 9300
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 750 (1.86 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB), Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 Qty: 1
Unit Price: $2,000.00
Inspiron 9300 Intel® Pentium® M Processor 750 (1.86 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)
Display 17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife™
Memory 512MB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz 2 Dimm
Video Card 256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 6800
Hard Drive 60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
Operating System (Office software not included) Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
CD/DVD Drives 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Wireless Networking Card Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915 Internal Wireless (802.11 a/b/g, 54Mbps)
Office Software (not included in Windows XP) No productivity suite- Corel WordPerfect word processor only
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) No Security Subscription
Primary Battery 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (53 WHr)
Carrying Cases Large Backpack Carrying Case
Hardware Warranty 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support

Dell Home Customers: Select Inspiron affiliate offer save $750 off $1999 or more (before tax and shipping)! (affiliate only online offer)
Expires on 2005-12-08 11:59:59 - $750.00

Dell 720 Color Printer
Free Dell Color Printer 720 Qty: 1
Unit Price: $0.00
Dell Color Printer 720 Free Dell Color Printer 720
Hardware Warranty 1Yr Ltd. Warranty, 1 yr HW Warranty Support, 1 yr Advance Exchange

Free 720 printer with purchase of select Dell Systems.
Expires on 2006-01-01 11:59:59 - $0.00

ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AND COUPONS

Dell Home Customers: Free Ground Shipping on Dell Inspiron orders greater than $849! $24 handling charge applies.
Expires on 2005-12-08 12:59:59 - $25.00

Dell Home Customers: Save $100 off Systems over $1499!
Expires on 2005-12-22 05:59:59 - $100.00
Sub-Total $1,150.00
Shipping Discount -$25.00
Shipping $24.00
Estimated Tax $76.31
Total $1,250.31

I want to stick with the 512MB, I've spent quite a bit already, I don't think 2GB would be worth it, but I'll try it with 512MB and see if I want to go up to 1.25GB. If I end up wanting more RAM, this is what I should get, right?
Is Ebay a reliable source for batteries, what would be a good minimum rating to buy from?
@Pure_Evil Thanks for the link, looks great, I can get a printer cable cheap to get free shipping too.
Edit: That is, if this is the cable I need.

 

Nice system for a great price...congrats on your order I am sure you will be happy with it.

 

I know
My first preference was an AMD, but I couldn't find a better deal than this, they either had not enough VPU (under an X700) or they were more expensive (with an X700, which isn't even as good as the 6800).

 

Mog,

Sorry I didn't read the rest of your post...yes, that link you have on the post is for the cable you need. Sorry for the late reply

 

you'll love that system! And that's a incredible price!

I'm also a AMD fan, but I use this laptop 95% of the time just for gaming and have no complaints about it's power whatsoever, I'm impressed with the Intel CPU

 

Wow, the battery must get the living heck sucked out of it. lol

Good deal.

Yeah AMD is hardcore, now Dell is FINALLY picking up AMD for their products, dunno when it will start being available but when it does, you can be sure the next dell product I purchase will contain an AMD processor.

I know this is Biased opinion but AMD on desktop platform (they are making great strides so far on notebook division) has been slapping intel is the face for a while now. Don't believe me check out the benchmarks.

 

@USAFdude02
I edited that in actually don't worry about it.
@Pure_Evil
Thanks, I sure hope so! It's good to have a vote of confidience.
@xbandaidx
I know, K8 rules, if I was getting a desktop I'd have one.
Reasons I ordered a 9300 now:
1) best deal I've seen on any lappy over the 6 months I've been looking
2) worries about increased prices due to new tech, I read Dell doesn't keep the old models online alongside the new
3) WUXGA and 6800 GPU

 

Glad to hear that....I think you made a really good choice...I almost ordered from Alienware, but they were a little too pricey and didn't have any good deals.

 

Eh, cancelled it due to the free DVD burner, I can get a 9 cell battery with it for the same price when I change the hard drive to the 100GB. I'm going to reorder, I don't mind getting mine a few days later for free upgrades.
Edit: Now I just need one of those $100 off coupons... ah, tomorrow.

 

I did the same thing the first time,...cancelled my order to get extra money off....I would love to get the free dvd burner, but I don't do much burning like that...I am going to by an external harddrive and network it...and I will be able to watch the movies from my computer/network through my XBOX 360 when I get it LOL...

 

I just wish they didn't charge for the XP CD, I'll probably use my uncle's though. That's legal, isn't it? Well, good night, here's hoping you see your lappy tomorrow USAFDude!

 

Sure, as long as you have your own key for Windows it really doesn't matter which CD you use to install Windows.

 

In all actuallity, if you use your uncle's key I think it works as the same as all other licenses for PC software, as long as you can prove you have the licensse thank you can use it.

In most software licenses you can install onto upto 10 PCs as long as they are licensed to you. I am not by any means saying to pirate it, but if your uncle will let you that is your choice

On the otherhand if he as the OEM version of Windows XPMCE then you can use your license and just use his disc...because that is not illegal because it is registered to you and are just using a different media to install it.

 

Wicked, congrats.

 

Too excited to sleep... At least I don't need the Windows disc then, I think.
On second thought, I should probably get the TV tuner instead of another battery. The 6-cell should be sufficient, at least 3 hours, isn't it? I can't see myself needing more than that.
How does Dell's tuner compare to ATI's, or others? I haven't seen anything about it... This should be the last decision, other than USPS pickup / 2-day shipping... who does Dell use for 2-day delivery, can you have them hold the package for pickup because there won't be anyone to sign for it?
$850 off, anyway, very nice. More than I expected to get for my budget of ~$1250, I like how Dell put it right on the price I targeted.
Shame I'm going to need more RAM eventually, if not right away, maybe it will end up closer to $1400... what about RAM? It would be this RAM, correct? Would you guys recommend a immediate upgrade to 2GB, 1.25 GB, or should I try to get along with the 512MB to start?

 

Recommendations on ram.....well it depends on what you are going to doing... the best bet is get what you think you will need now and then worry about it later....I would get 1GB of Ram, especially if you are gaming and stuff...if you are serious about gaming, get 2GB..if you are just using for miscellanious stuff 512MB will do...remember to pair the sticks to get the DDR2 performance

 

When I mentioned you having your own key earlier I meant that you could use your uncle's copy of window for the install only. For the registration you would need to use your key. Microsoft recently (couple of months ago) started checking if you had a legit copy of windows before you can use Windows Update.

If you want to be shady, you could install windows on your computer with your Uncles' CD and his key then never update windows to avoid the checks. This is not really kosher though.

What would be OK though would be burning a copy of windows from your uncles' copy for your own use(provided you have your own key). When you bought your laptop you bought the OS w/ it. Dell just charges you $10 for the actual disc, but you already own a single user license, so feel free to just bum a copy from your uncle instead of paying $10.

 

All i9300s come with a key though, don't they?
Edit: I guess if you wanted a different version like Pro you could do that.
So yeah, I meant getting a physical copy from my uncle instead of Dell. I'm not sure if he has one, but the CD is still $10 after the order, isn't it? I'll ask him before I place the order either way.

 

If he has a CD from Dell and it is the same version of Windows it would work.

On the other hand if he bought it from say Best Buy it is a retail version it will not work with your CD code.

 

None of the reviews I've found say a thing about the tuner, I want to see the thing before I decide.