Just ordered m1210 - Good deal or not?

Hello everyone, I noticed last night that the m1210 has been put up on the Dell outlet so I searched around and found this one that I just ordered for about $1300. Anyway, I just wanted to get people's opinions and see whether or not I should keep this one or cancel my order in favor of one of the configs at Costco. Anwyay, let me know what you think about what I got! Also, I don't do any gaming really so I am not too sure how much I'd need a dedicated video card.

Below are the details of what I got for right around $1300.

Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Media Center 2005

Memory
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)

Hard Disk Drive
100 GB EIDE Hard Drive (5400 RPM)

Video
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950

Sound Card
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio

Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished

Base
XPS M1210 Notebook: Intel Core Duo Processor T2300E (1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)

Media Bay
8x DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability

Network Interface Card
Bluetooth Wireless Card
3945 802.11a/g Wireless Mini Card

NoteBook Screen
12.1 in Notebook Screen (Intg. web cam, Mobile Broadband Antenna, ear buds)

Battery
9 Cell Primary Battery

Software to note
Paint Shop Pro Standard
Microsoft Office 2003 Basic Edition

The main differences I can see are as follows:

• Costco has dedicated graphics (not sure how much of a difference this is)
• Costco has only 6 cell battery
• Costco does not come with bluetooth
• Costco does not come with as good of software

Anyway, you're input is appreciated. Thanks!

 

well if you dont game and want portability you made the right choice, you will get better battery life with the loger battery and integrated graphics, and if you dont game then integrated should be fine espically with the 12" Screen, if it was like a 17" then I'd say it would be worth it but its not so it'll be fine.

 

Thanks, yeah the most I'd be doing on this is maybe a little graphics in photoshop and watching DVD's and movies. Using integrated graphics should be ok with this stuff right?

Also, can anyone comment on the processor? I got the 1.66GHZ chip and want to be sure that it'll be okay for at least 3-4 years down the road.

One more thing I forgot to ask about. Does anyone know what memory cards the 5-in-one card reader accepts?

 

I know it accepts SD, XD and either MS or MS pro duo I forget.

 

The 1.66Ghz processor is pretty good, should last you awhile... but to point out that the 1.66Ghz T2300 on my now-for-sale E1405 is noticably slower than the 1.83Ghz T2400 on my new M1210.

Considering that Core 2 Duo is around the corner and pin compatible with the current Core Duo systems, buying a Core 2 Duo in a year or 2 at a nice price will suffice to extend the life of your system... that is what I plan on doing, I took the 1.83Ghz since it was a $75 upgrade ($40.75) after last month's combo of EPP coupons and DPA discounts, so to me it was worth it, but the 1.66Ghz is a good processor on it's own.

 

can he upgrade to the geforce 7400 later or is he stuck with integrated graphics?

 

The GeForce 7400 Go is "integrated" to the motherboard, so if you get the GMA 950 option you're stuck with it short of replacing the motherboard.

 

I would say that is a good price for a 12" notebook.

For these tasks:

...Integrated graphics will be fine. They will also produce less heat than a dedicated card and offer longer battery life.

The T2300 is a fast chip, should be good for a while.

 

Great, thanks for the input guys. Feel much better about my purchase now! Also, so you guys know, there seemed to be a ton of great deals in the outlet section of Dell for the m1210 (just have to search around a bit).

As for changing the processor, how hard is that? I've had lots of experience in building desktop PC's but never with laptops. Is it pretty easy or do you have to completely disassemble the laptop? TIA.

 

you should have got the geforce 7400..you wasted your money otherwise.

 

Do you know how to read? He doesnt play any games. Plus with the 9 cell battery and integrated graphics he will get better battery life, which is much more important than getting a graphics card he doesnt need.

 

So I just got my m1210 and so far I love it. I did have one question, though, I took off the battery and noticed a slot where it appears that you can put something in there. Does anyone know what it is?

 

just guessing, but i think it might be a place to put in a bluetooth device.

 

my brother had a good point... if you're going to get the extended battery for the m1210, you might as well buy it as the secondary battery. You end up paying $130 for the default batter plus a 9 cell, instead of $100 for just a 9cell...

 

there is actually another place to put something that's not the bluetooth. it's a bit longer and looks like it could be for some kind of thing that looks like an sd card.

 

That is the SIM card slot tangfj.