Just ordered my 1520!! how did I do?

I've been browsing/shopping for a laptop for a few weeks now. For most of my search I had focused on HP because I heard they had the best customer satisfaction, although who knows how that could've been skewed. Dell was the only other manufacturer I considered.

I switched over to Dell in a day. Heard about the coupons for $500 off the Inspirons this week, read some reviews, and went for it. My budget was only about $900. I was waffling between 15" and 17" for a long time. I'm not crazy about the size and weight of the 17", but maybe wanted the extra screen space for coding. Primary use will be coding for me, probably some gaming but not a ton (at least until Starcraft 2, long ways away). It won't be moving around a lot, mostly plugged in downstairs at home.

So compared the 1520, 1720, and the HP I was looking at and am so stoked about what I could get with the 1520 with the coupon. Here it is:

Inspiron 1520, Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, 2.2GHz, 800Mhz, 4M L2 Cache
2GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
80G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
basic 6-cell battery
Midnight Blue
Windows XP

We're not big multimedia users so I decided to go with the minimum harddrive because I figured I could upgrade that later. Same with memory. 2g was minimum for me, although I went back and forth between upgrading to 3g memory and downsizing to 128MB graphics card.

What is the memory configuration on 3GB? Is it not a Dimm then, and it's 2GB and 1 GB, or do they make 1.5 GB memory sticks and its got 2 of those in it? Just wondering if it's 1 and 2 if that makes it easier to upgrade later.

Is the accident protection worth it?

The coupon expires today. Does that mean today is the last day if I want to change the order? I'm reconsidering the small harddrive, although I'm not sure what other component I might downgrade to make room for that in the budget.

 

whats the final price on it

 

Did you place that order already? AFAIK the $500 coupon is dead, replaced with something smaller ($400 IIRC). You probably don't need accident coverage if the laptop isn't going to move.

 

If you got that all for 900 dollars I'm gonna be upset, I paid 1300+ tax for mine.. LOL, and you got a few pluses over my rig.

 

haha with no price how are you going to ask "how did I do"?

you could have done very well or very crappy.

But either way horsepower wise thats a great laptop!

 

i just paid $1159 for mine(tax and shipping included). I got a black 1520 with the following specs.

Core 2 Duo T7500
1 Gig RAM ( Dell charges $125 for a second Gig when I can get 4GB from newegg for $120). I will upgrade the RAM myself.
160 GB 7200rpm HD
256MB Geforce 8600M GT
15.4 1660x1050 High Res. Screen
Windows Vista Home Premium
Bluetooth
Intel Wireless Minicard
2.0 MP webcam
CD/DVD Burner
6 Cell Battery
1 yr. at home warranty

 

I paid $1004 last week deal is still alive

Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz T7500
1 Gig RAM <-- upgrading to 3 gigs for an extra 40 bucks
120 GB 5400rpm HD
256MB Geforce 8600M GT
15.4 1680x1050 High Res. Screen
Windows Vista Home Premium
Bluetooth 360
Intel Wireless Minicard
2.0 MP webcam
DVD Burner
9 Cell Battery
6 Cell Battery
4 yr. warranty with complete accidental damage EVERYTHING

 

You made a good decision. When building a computer, if you want the best bang-for-buck and a computer that can be upgraded down the line, I always recommend bumping the CPU, GPU, and LCD specs. A hard drive and RAM can always be upgraded down the line for an affordable price. I purchased my machine the night the $500 deal was released for an incredible $914.00. I had to select the 2.0MP Integrated webcam, as I was a few dollars shy of the $1399.00 mark lol. I think I made out like a bandit. I've posted the specs below. The first thing I'll be doing when I get it is formatting the drive and installing XP Pro, then bump the memory up to 2/4GB in the next few weeks, as soon as I find some Samsung DIMMs on sale.

Inspiron 1520, Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, 2.2GHz, 800Mhz, 4M L2 Cache
1GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1680x1050)
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
Intel 3945 WLAN (802.11a/g) Mini Card
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 1520
Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 2
Type 12- Mail-InService, 24x7 TechnicalSupport, Initial Year

 

Use this deal - no offense to those of the 500 dollar deal but if you like warranties (I love accidental coverage for 4 years) this will save you about 900-1000 dollars and SPANKS the 500 dollar deal.

Mind you, this is only good if you like warranties.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=142483&t=641677&highlight=udel

 

Wow. Thanks for the heads up, Jimmyk. I just canceled my order and order the same computer w/ the 4 year warranty for about $100 more, sadly losing the 7200RPM drive for a 5400RPM, but I was gonna replace it anyway.

 

Great Answers! How about your suggestions here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=188404 Thanks!

 

wow that university deal is smoking

 

JimmyK... Thanks for the heads up. I canceled my order as well. I placed a new order that came out to about 100 more than I paid before but this time I got the 9 cell battery and the 4 years of complete warranty. That deal is insane. I saved about $800 plus I got a $75 gift card. Can't beat this deal, even w/ the $500 coupon and $200 gift card I got yesterday this deal is even better.

 

My total was $961 including $53 in tax. My only regret now is that I wish I had paid the little bit more for the 120GB harddrive. I called them today to see if I could change it, and the lady said it was already done and on the way! I'm a bit skeptical of that. Yea, I think the $500 coupon expired today, I saw the $400 one. I'll have to check out this warranty deal because that is very important to me, although I can't really afford it. We can't afford to buy a new laptop every couple years, so I need this one to last a long time.

Thanks for all the responses

 

I think she was pulling your chain. I had ordered my computer two nights ago and was able to cancel without a hitch. If you want to change to the alternate offer Briforge, call them and tell them that you want to cancel the order and place a reorder. They'll be happy to cancel it for you knowing that you're placing another machine on order. I had told the rep that I was going to place the order with him using an e-quote that I generated from the warranty deal Jimmyk posted, but the guy on the phone couldn't look it up at the time and I ended up getting disconnected. No worries, though. Cancel went through like a breeze.

 

You can cancel any number of times till it ships!

 

Hey, don't you have to be a student to get the university deal? Or, am I wrong!! I thought I had checked this out b4, and thought I couldn't do it because I wasn't a student! Also if anyone did this, can you finance this w/the Dell account?

 

You are supposed to be a student, thus needing an .edu address.

 

yeah that deal is nuts i may end up trying another dell for that price... hmmm maybe even sell my sager we'll see..

 

I don't get it. A student at any university or a student at THAT university?

 

Well, I am not a student so I don't have .edu addy ~ so I can scrap that idea! Oh well!

 

Glad I could help fellas Im typing on it right now its an AMAZING setup.

My neighbor dropped his dell from the third story balcony by mistake and they gave him a brand new machine.. complete care is amazing. I priced a computer out at dell home with the exact same specs and it came to 2289 with tax... and then 500 off that still isnt remotely close to it...

cheers

 

Dell isnt losing any money trust me, they are a business, you should see their Q3 PL statement, it's in their 10k that they filed with the SEC amazing results and they surpassed their forecast.

You can be anybody from anywhere to get that deal, I used a gmail account 6 months ago and got the xps 1330 with the LED screen bluetooth 3 yr warranty for $980...

 

check storagereview.com just because its a 7200 rpm doesnt mean it's marginaly faster.

After they tested a LARGE sum of laptop drives a top end 5400 rpm drive was as good as 80% of the 7200 RPM drives with lower power consumption. Of the 20% that performed better then the 5400 rpm they were only 10% better - which to me isnt worth the cost and energy usage.. food for though bud.... its not the same difference as the 3.5 inch drives...

 

I don't have an edu address and I got the deal from the slickdeals post

 

I couldn't get through the Dell Premier whatever login in that www.dell.com/udel link. How are people getting through that?

 

The question is, how did you do this.

I just ordered and paid 1361 (tax and shipping included):

Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz T7500
1 Gig RAM (will hit new egg for better Ram)
160 GB 5400rpm HD
256MB Geforce 8600M GT
15.4 1680x1050 High Res. Screen
Windows Vista Home BasicBluetooth 360
2.0 MP webcam
CD/DVD double layer Burner
6 Cell Battery
4 yr. warranty
200 Gift card
75 Gift Card
One planted tree

Are people taking the gift card prices off the final price and using that as a quote? Because than I could say my system cost me $1085, which seems in the price range of others. Any thoughts? I think I got a good deal but sometimes when you see what people others on these forums got, I wonder if I didn't pressure enough (I did get the 400 coupon).

Anthony

 

do u guyz call dell to get discounts or just use online coupons?

 

You can also order via chat!

 

In a way, both. I called a CSR and configured the notebook. I had to verbally give them the coupon code found on this website to get the discount. Due to that code, the CSR said she couldn't do me any better. She said she was trying to, but the computer would not allow her to stack any more deals into the configuration (I almost get the idea they are filling out the same form I would if I were online).

Anthony

 

No gift cards I got another 100 gift card for this order so I guess my total comes down to 900 then? Price may have gone up since I ordered oh well still a great deal, glad I could help, cheers!

Order Number: 908801163 Estimated Ship Date: 11/13/2007



Item Number Quantity Item Description

222-9009 1 Inspiron 1520, Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, 2.2GHz, 800Mhz, 4M L2 Cache
313-5395 1 Jet Black Color with Matte Finish
311-7213 1 1GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
320-5462 1 High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1680x1050)
320-5639 1 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
341-4768 1 120G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
420-6556 1 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, English
310-9093 1 DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP INSP 1520
463-2282 1 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
313-5197 1 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
313-4783 1 Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
430-2334 1 Intel 3945 WLAN (802.11a/g) Mini Card
320-5691 1 Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
412-0968 1 Creative Earbud EP630
312-0525 1 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Prim
312-0528 1 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Additional Battery, for Inspiron 1520
950-7447 1 4 Year Limited Warranty
960-9189 1 CompleteCare Accidental DamageProtection, Inspiron, 4 Year
412-0358 1 Soft Contracts - Consumer Complete Care
986-4359 1 Bundle LoJack Theft Recovery Service - 4Year
430-2348 1 Dell Wirless 355 Bluetooth Mod
320-5806 1 Jet Black color w/ 2.0M pixel Camera
310-8628 1 You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System

987-4817 1 Insp Datasafe 3GB,1YR(Incl in price),DHS

Subtotal: $958.01
Shipping and Handling: $0.00

Sales Tax: $46.90
Total: $1,004.91

 

Okay, so you got a notebook msrp 1833, discounted by roughly 870 dollars. So I was wondering how. Are we talking canadian dollars?

Anthony