Just ordered a XPS M1210...did I do okay?

These boards have really helped.

I was trying to decide between 80GB HD 5400RPM (what my hubby wanted basic for cost), 80GB HD 7200RPM, or 120GB HD 5400RPM...we didn't need the extra capacity since we plan on using an external HD as well has having another system, but I read that the 7200 can run more hot & eat the battery time, plus it cost a bit more...seemed like there was a worthwhile jump according to some online specs to pay $55 to 120GB HD 5400 vs the 80GB...8MB cache vs 2MB I think or something like that...which was like the 8MB cache on the 80GB 7200RPM. Hope I ordered okay (he's on deployment...will be back in a month, I hope).

Anyway, it will be used primarily for heavy surfing, some work (money management...some office docs, not often), music, & occassional gaming (not often) around the house (while watching little munchkins), as well as on the road (husband is a pilot), cross country trips, and family Jeeping trips. He wanted something mobile and really liked the XPS vs Lenovo or HP. He preferred the size of the 12" to the 14" too.

I also couldn't decide on the warranty...he was leaning for a standard 1 yr, I opted for a 3 yr deciding 4 yr to be overkill, but did get the 3 yr accident protection too for $99....as I am a bit of a clutz and use it at the table near our 6 & 4 yr olds (plus have one on the way due in Sept).

The specs and price are below....did I do okay? No tax or shipping either at that price (it's included...free shipping and tax free...as I shopped on aaefs.com). Did I miss anything? Want it to last a while. Thanks!

$1,819.00
XPS M1210;Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo T7200 (2.00GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 667 MHz FSB)
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows VistaTM Home Premium
A/V Communications Package: Integrated Webcam and Mobile Broadband Antenna
Memory: 2GB Dual Shared Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
Combo or DVD+RW Drive: 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA® GeForceTM Go 7400 TurboCacheTM
Hard Drive: Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Network Card: Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Primary Battery: 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Office Software (not included in Windows XP): No Productivity software pre-installed
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed): PC-cillin Internet Security with AntiVirus and Spyware removal 15-months
Dell Digital Entertainment: No Entertainment software pre-installed
Dial-Up Internet Access: 6 Months of America Online Membership Included
Adobe Software: Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0
Wireless Networking Cards: Dell 1505 Wireless-N
XPS Specialized Support: Inspiron XPS, Specialized Support
CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service: Add CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service to 3Yr Lim Warranty
Sound Options: Integrated Sound Blaster® AudigyTMHD Software Edition
Wireless Personal Networking Card: Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
Limited Warranty, Services and Support: 3Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Day

 

If it has 3 year complete care (accident cover) + warranty, then I guess the deal is not that bad. But I feel you could have done better, considering recent price drops and arrival of santa rosa etc.

 

Should I have tried to call Dell direct and haggle...can you even do that? I could technically still cancel this order....Compared to the Dell online (and kiosk) price, it looked pretty good. But don't know if I'm missing coupons or something, they seem to all be for the Inspirons.

I wanted to go with Lenovo T61, or Dell D620 or 630...but my husband didn't like any of those...and he didn't like the other 12" screen by HP due to the swivel (or Lenovo in general...as well as he hates their keyboards). We would've waited to see if there was a Santa Rosa offering soon for the XPS, but wasn't sure if it'd be all summer and our current Inspiron 9200 is on it's last legs...Dell is gonna fix the vertical line problem we've had (even though it is no longer under warranty), but we really need something in the meantime since we do all our banking and correspondence on it. Plus, we've gotten to the point that when the 9200 is fixed, 2 machines wouldn't be bad to have. When it does finally die, we'll probably replace it with a desktop...or go a different direction if we still want two portables and go with a 14 or 15". We just know this 17" wasn't nearly as portable as we needed, was a huge pain to travel with...

 

Seems like a good deal to me unless you wanted to try the outlet for refurbished.

 

I’m not from U.S. therefore can’t help you much with coupons n stuff (besides, I don’t think they have any ongoing coupons for the XPS, cos they are very hard to come by, and one such offer just ended), and I don’t know whether you could talk down the price either (probably not).

I bought a similar configuration (T7200/2GB/120GB/Go7400/3Yr warranty, but 1 Yr CompleteCare) for $1500 in February from DELL Japan. I know prices here cannot be directly compared to prices over there, but that the reason I felt that your price is not the best of the deals I’ve come across. However as I said before, since it includes 3Yr CC (which alone costs like $200+), your deal certainly is not bad.

I wouldn’t worry about it. Besides, the M1210 is a wonderful machine . I’m sure you’ll love it.

 

In the US, Complete Care has a base cost and that covers you for the entire term of the regular warranty you buy. In other words, you pay $69 for full term Complete Care whether you have a 2 yr warranty or a 4 yr warranty. I'm not sure how it works in Japan. Just for the warranty difference between the system you have and the one she quoted would be about $300.

When I bought my system, I was able to get free overnight shipping by calling, but was told that they can't really knock much off the prices of XPS systems like they do for Inspirons.