Just received 1520: I have questions!!!

I just recieved my new inspiron 1520. Everything seems ok, (I guess), besides the fact I didn't recieve any "earphone" although I ordered a WebCam ...

I also have a huge question (first time Vista user): I ordered it with 160GB HDD, but under "Equipment" I see 60% Free Recovery (D), 6,26 GB available of 9,99 and 90% free OS (C) 123 available of 136GB. What is this suppose to mean? I got only 146GB total? Where are the "other" 14GB?

I've read something about "4 partition", don't know where to find that or if it's related to the above.

Thanks in advance.
GMora

 

part of that relates to the difference between manufacturer claims to 160 GB size vs. Software claims to 160 GB size. There is a considerable difference that gets much larger as the size goes up. I remember my 120 gig showed up at about 114 I think it was on my desktop. I got the 80 gig on my lappy so it's not quite as significant.

On the headphones issue, I would definitely contact dell about it. They are great headphones if you ask me, and I am quite pleased with them. Although they are in a little black felt-ish bag, so you may not have realized that was them. Kinda cool little carrying case I think.

 

yes there are 4 partitions. there is a media direct partition which will take up some space. also the vista os I belive is 12gb or something like that.

 

Were the headphones in your order? I received my 1520 last night with no headphones either. I looked up my order and saw they never actually said on the list anywhere that I was getting them. So perhaps that was a temporary deal. I'll look into it, and let us know how you do.

 

for hard drives displaying less space, remember computer memory doesn't go up in base 10

1 kilobyte = 1024 byte, not 1000 byte

 

the reason for the "absence" of 14gigs is because Hard drive mfg's count bits and bytes like this: 1KB = 1000B, whereas computers define 1KB = 1024B. Obviously when you're dealing with larger "B's" you'll "lose" more.

Here's the explanation Dell offers on their site:
Hard drive manufacturers define 1 Gigabyte (GB) to mean 1,000,000,000 bytes in powers of 10 (109 bytes). The computer operating system (OS), however, defines 1 GB as 1,073,741,824 bytes in powers of 2 (230 bytes). Because a Gigabyte as defined by the OS is larger than a Gigabyte as defined by the hard drive manufacturers, the OS will show the same hard drive to have fewer Gigabytes of storage capacity than that given by the hard drive manufacturer. In fact, the hard drive has the same storage capacity under either definition.

 

Thanks everyone. Regarding the HDD space, I guess there is no problem with my system after reading your answers and explanations, altough I can't find any "partition" anywhere, nor any small Media Direct partition (remember, i started using vista for the 1st time 1 hour ago!!!).

bob_blawblaw:
The headphone issue: no, I didn't order either, but I got the impression no one actually did. So, I´m feeling sad for it, because I was tempted to order the $79 wireless headphones Dell is offering, and decided to see if the ones everyone were receiving were ok.... (also the remote: didn't receive any!!!! I'm in latinamerica .... no comments )....

 

Gmora congrats with your new Inspiron! Enjoy it! Which screen did u get?

 

Thanks !!! I am happy so far.... I got WSXGA (1680x1050), and yes, I do see some "grainess" or what ever is called, but doesn't really bother me. In fact, if no one else would have post this issue, I guess I wouldn't have think of it. The fact is I've been obssesed with it for the past 2 weeks .

 

The earbud item number is:
412-0968 Creative Earbud EP630

That's how it shows up on my order (which hasn't shipped yet)

 

Gmora: Which optical drive did you order? Is it dual-layer?

 

Well.... not really sure if it is Dual Layer, altough in my order it says 313-5197 8X DVD+RW DL ... Don't know how to phisically check either

 

I am sure it is the dual layer. Like I said earlier, I would call dell and ask about the headphones. I personally feel they are highly worth the trouble. I am most impressed with them. As for the not being able to see partitions, go into, control panel, administrative tools, computer management, then under the storage link on the left side- disk management. You will see them there. oddly you don't see them from within windows, and if you have readyboost setup you might see five partitions which I did, and kinda freaked me out at first...lol. Then I realized what was up.

 

Thanks Liquidx, I saw the partitions!!!
I'll call Dell and ask them about the headphones ... altough I'm still waiting for an answer related to the $100 compensation (ddr2), which has been denied by latinamerican CS... My case is now in Dell's "Headquarters" at Austin....
Regards ...

 

I just received my $100 credit tonight, so good luck. I actually got fairly lucky, dealt with a chat guy, a tech guy, and finally a phone call to customer support, all linked under the same case number and was not given much hassle. Hard to refute when even the Nvidia website says it should be 700MHz and I showed the chat guy through this weird program he had me install that showed him my screen the 400 MHz

 

Yeah, the "DL" at the end of that stands for Dual-Layer.

 

If you didn't get the integrated webcam, then you're not supposed to get the Creative EP630's.

 

I have the integrated camera but do not see the headphones on my invoice.

What is this about the ddr2 problem with the videocards? Was it said to be ddr3?

 

congrats buddy!!!! Can u tell me how much color depth it supports. coz I have been reading all around that the new inspirons support only 262k and not 16.7 million colors. so whats the exact color depth??

 

the earphones should come if you included the webcam... its a pretty decent set actually.. with 3 adjustment fitters...

 

Well guys, I did ordered and recieved the integrated webcam, but no ear/head phones.... I´m starting to think there is some sort of Dell's discrimination, depending the region or country you are in. I'm seeing all over people complaining for the DDR2/3 and receiving $100 credit. I too based my decision to buy Dell's 1520 on the "help me choose" page, where clearly said the Bandwith Mem. of 22.4. My case is "on hold", while they decide.

And, also, I've been seeing everyone getting the headphones and .... Hey: the remote !!! (not to say I didn't get it either ). My specs are, on the other hand, respectful, Intel Core2Duo T7500, 2gb Ram, WSXGA ... and so on..... And the money I paid for it has the same value as others: aprox. US $1,516.

I'm just waiting for an official answer from Dell at Austin, because LatinAmerica support replied with a short note saying they were sorry but can't do anything for "this segment" of the world... See what I mean?

On the positive side I just think this is a GREAT computer. I'm happy with it, it's really fast, altough have not tried yet any games (Flight Simulator X, in my case). Ah, and delivery time was fast, only took 16 days to arrive!!!