Justification for price on new E1720 system

I just configured the likely E1720 notebook configuration that I will be purchasing at some point before the end of the summer. I'll be performing basic school functions: word processing, internet browsing, and some multimedia applications. I'm not a gamer, so i don't need a top-of-the-line graphics card, just something to get by. Here are the specs:

SYSTEM COLOR: Jet Black
PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium Edition
DISPLAY: Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 17.0 inch display (1440 x 900it)
VIDEO CARD: 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8400M GS
MEMORY: 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
HARD DRIVE Size: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
OPTICAL DRIVE: CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
BATTERY OPTIONS: 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
SOUND OPTIONS: Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
WIRELESS NETWORKING: Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
INTEGRATED WEBCAM: No Webcam Option

Initial Base Price: $1,733 - ($313 Coupon) - ($200 Student Coupon) - (4% EPP Discount) - (Free Shipping)

= Final Price: $1,171.20

Is this a fair price for the system I'll be getting? Thanks in advance!

 

I'd go higher on the resolution if you can. Also, if you want to game, go with the 8600GT video card.

Don't bother with the Audigy stuff, it's just software to fake surround sound...not worth it.

I think the price is decent for what you are getting.

 

It's not a "fair" price, I believe it's a great price for what you want.

If you don't game, the 8400M GS will be perfect, but you may want to look at the X3100 and save $90.

Also, drop the "Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition". All that is...is software that they include that does not affect the sound quality much. Save your money.

I have a question, though. Did you get the $200 through delluniversity.com or something else? Please let me know.

 

I don't claim to know very much about notebooks at all, but a few friends who claim to know quite a bit regarding notebooks (I know, it's a dangerous route to go!) have advised me to go with a dedicated graphics card, regardless of my applications. This explains my selection of the 8400M GS, instead of the X3100. Is this correct, or won't it affect me too much?

Will the display be good with this current resolution, or should I really pay another $150 to upgrade it to the HD 1920 x 1200?

Thanks all for your input!

 

I'd like to know where you got your coupon codes too! I'm on the dell site and a college student as well and can't find anything like that!

 

1. Don't pay $150 to upgrade from 1440x900 to 1920x1200. If that was to upgraded from like 1280x900, I'd say do it in a heartbeat. However, the 1440x900 resolution is very nice. My friend has a wide screen with that resolution and I love it. You should save that money. It will be good with the original one. Just make sure you pick what you want, Glossy or Matte.

2. The only reason I tell you not to pay $90 for the 8400M GS is because the X3100 is the best integrated card out there. If you won't be gaming, it's not really worth it. Of course, if I am missing some features you get with the 8400M GS, then this might be worth it...like High-Def or something.

3. Did you get the student discount through delluniversity.com? When I configure my 1720, it comes out to $1646 with a discount of $747. I am ordering through the EPP program as well, but I'd like to know how I can do that AND get the $200 off.

 

All but the $200 Student coupon are available when selecting your standard base configuration. Refer to this post to receive a $200 Student Coupon: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=127503&page=65 , starting at post #644. I'd already registered my school e-mail address, but to receive the coupon, you need to re-register the account and then you'll receive the coupon code in your mail.

 

I don't see the $313 off coupon. Where is that?

 

Iro, the $313 off isn't really a coupon. It's instant savings. When you choose your base configuration it will say below it $313.

 

*Update: I see the coupon, but it's not letting my apply the student discount when I use it.

 

It's a featured system under the E1720 section. You're offered 3 systems: Inspiron 1720 w/ $70 off, Inspiron 1721 w/ $289 off, and Inspiron 1720 w/ $313 off. Choose the last option!

 

Iro, u can only use the coupon in the catalog on the education discount page. It doesnt work with the pre-configured systems

 

BTW I suggest getting at least a 2 year on-site warranty. Accident coverage maybe...if you will be carrying it around a lot, have careless friends/family/roommates, or are just nervous.

 

dajoip, this is my configuration:

SYSTEM COLOR Midnight Blue
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache) OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium Edition
DISPLAY Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 17.0 inch display (1440 x 900)
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8600M GT
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
HARD DRIVE Size: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
OPTICAL DRIVE CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
BATTERY OPTIONS 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)

Start: $2,404.00
-$313.00 (instant savings)
-$209.10 (10% EPP Discount)
-$225.83 (12% off systems above $1600)
Final: $1,656.07

 

So the only difference is your upgraded video card and your protection plan? I'm a pretty careful person with most of my stuff, so I'm not terribly worried about purchasing any warranties/protection plans. So seeing as I also have the extra $200 coupon, I think I'm satisfied with this configuration - the only question is whether more/better coupons will be released in the near future, as is customary Dell...

 

illmatic, where do you get the -10% epp discount? I can see the others, but not that one.

 

I don't know Iro. They appear in the cart for me.

 

Well, I heard rumors that in a few months Dell may add the 8700M GT to the 1720. However, I'm not really worried because I am ordering my laptop in October.

We are ordering my bro's 1520 this weekend.

 

Yeah, I'm not too worried about upgrading the GPU, since I'm not a gamer. I just need the notebook by the end of August, and I don't want to make the purchase only to find out better deals are on the way-

 

Update: In the past 2 hours, the site has been updated, possibly to correct some glitches in the pricing of the configurations. The exact same configuration that I started this thread with (Final price of $1,171.20) is now available for $1,415.04. I should have snagged it when I had the price...

 

I think they've updated the price yet again. ALso there is a $350 off coupon. The system is way cheaper than it was on the first day. Alas, no DVI is a deal breaker for me.

TSD1$NG00WFD4N

 

Yea, but this coupon doesn't help me, as it doesn't stack with anything else. The updated system is WAY more expensive than it was when I started this thread yesterday.