Just went nuts and bought a sub $400 Inspiron 1525

OK, this was truly an impulse buy using the 20% off coupon Dell Outlet sent me earlier in the week. This is a Scratch & Dent model that I'll likely give to my kids.
After coupon, free shipping, and tax, it was $397.

What do you think?

• Inspiron 1525 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
• Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
• Memory: 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz (2 DIMMs)
• Hard Disk Drive: 250 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
• Video: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
• Modem: 56K DataFax Modem
• Web Camera: Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
• Network Interface Card: Dell 1395 802.11G Wireless Mini Card
• 6 Cell Primary Battery
• Laptop Screen: 15.4 WXGA Laptop Screen Display with TrueLife
• Media Bay: 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capabilitySystem Color
• Jet Black

 

For $400 can't really go wrong. X3100 not so great for games but it's $400!

 

DAM. That is a great laptop for the price, especially for kids. Congrats!

 

Pretty solid for an impulse buy!

 

Hopefully it's not too scratched or dented, hehe.... very nice specs for the price though.

 

Yeah, if there's a big gouge on the lid, it's going back.

 

Seriously, if you found a "scratch or dent" too objectionable, can you send it back without being charged a restock fee? I've stayed away from scratch and dent because you don't know if you'll get a "good" one or not. I wouldn't want to pay 15% because their definition was different than mine.

 

This recent thread indicates that most people don't pay restocking fees...:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=309847&page=2

 

I just got a Return Authorization earlier this evening for a Scratch & Dent DELL Latitude E6400- no restocking fee and they now email you a pre-paid UPS return label. That's how HP does it, pretty painless returns process. Glad that Dell is following suit.

FYI- the Dell Return Policy gives you 21-days from the Invoice Date (usually the ship date) to call for the Return Authorization. Then you have five days to drop it off at UPS. But for $400, it'd have to be in rough shape before I'd return it...a SWEET DEAL!

BTW- I've ordered several Scratch/Dent desktops and laptops from the Dell Outlet over the last two years or so. At worst, the cosmetic damage was very minor. On the E6400 I'm sending back, the scratch is on the bottom cover (as in the underside, never seen) of it! And I had to look for five minutes to find it initially. S/D items from the Outlet are awesome deals!

FYI- the only reason I'm returning this E6400 is because it has the standard WXGA 1280x800 and I want the WXGA+ 1440x900 LED. Or I may even go for a Precision M2400 with the same WXGA+ LED!

 

For an *impulse buy* you got a really good deal~!

Kudos!

Cin

 

I asked the question earlier about the restocking fee because I recently sent back a 1537 that had problems with a wavy keyboard and a stuck eject key. When I called Dell to set up the return they said I would be charged a restocking fee. I objected and told them to set up the return anyway, I'd argue later if need be. They did email me a prepaid label. (Actually it came from UPS and the link to the label didn't work, but UPS told me how to fix the link.)

Thanks, POH, for the link to the "restocking fee" thread. It was encouraging to learn that Dell doesn't routinely charge the fee. We'll see what happens. I'm awaiting my refund, but it can be a while before I see the credit on my charge card statement.

 

Yeah, it's already shipped!

 

NICE You'll have that lappy by Tuesday, I bet!

Cin

 

I ordered an Inspiron 1525 also! Check out my specs...

Operating System Genuine Windows Vista Home
BasicMemory 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive 160 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Video Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100Modem
56K DataFax Modem
Web Camera Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
Network Interface Card Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini Card
Hardware Upgrade 6 Cell Primary Battery
Software Upgrade Microsoft Works 9.0
Base Inspiron 1525 Laptop: Intel Pentium Dual Core T3200 (2.0GHz/667Mhz FSB/1MB cache
)Media Bay 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
Certified Refurbished Certified Refurbished
Laptop Screen 15.4 WXGA Laptop Screen Display with TrueLife
Bluetooth Wireless Bluetooth Wireless Card 355
System Color Jet Black

for a total of $364.65 after tax

 

Very nice! The only weakness is the processor. I wish mine had the bluetooth card.

 

Actually, benchmark ratings have shown there is little to no difference between the t3200 and t5800. The t5800 has a slight advantage when doing photoshopping, video encoding, etc...which is stuff I will do on my desktop.

I hope this laptop turns out good. I've heard a few problems such as a loud fan, i'm hoping both of ours don't turn out like that, otherwise it's going right back to Dell.

 

The Outlet is awesome.

 

Good to know. Yes, the fan noise on my XPS 1530 is annoyingly loud. I don't want another grinder.

Man, wireless N, too. Very nice. Did you use the same 20% off coupon? Very good price.

 

Yeah, that's the only reason I bought it.

Actually, I received this laptop today! I love it. The only problem I found is the fan turns on more than it needs to. It's not really loud but turns on more frequently.

Did you get yours?