Might actually buy the vostro 1400 soon - Questions

Hey guys,
I've been spending lots of time in these forums trying to figure out the best configuration for my laptop and I think I may actually be set. The things I worried about where:

1.6 / 1.8 ghz
&
what wireless card to get intel/dell

People have suggested that I call dell while I buy it to get better deals/configure it better

My setup came to be: anti-glare screen, 1.8 ghz [open to change still], 8400gs, 2gb ram, webcam, intel a/g card, 120 gb hd
for about 900$

The only worries I have are:

[

• 
  

if theres going to be any other sales before september 27 when I go to college[free shipping right now, and 2gb ram and 8400gs are default settings @ value package]

• earphone jack issues, whiny processor, any build issues that are coming in that might make me feel 'bad' hahahhaha. sorry can't think of better phrasing atm.
  
  Thanks for your guy's imput or suggestions

 

Not everyone has gotten the earphone issue, and it seems to only create a slight noise with CERTAIN headphones. I've had my 1420 and for the most part its been wonderful. I do get slight noise w/ the stock headphones they gave me but using other pairs I have it works just fine.

I'd suggest you order soon... because Dell prices remain relatively stable. If you have the current best deal possible, the price change probably will be around 50$ at worst unless Dell somehow messes up. About what features etc, what is your budget? and what do you plan to use the laptop for?

 

Either go for the 2.0 Ghz or stay with the 1.6 ghz one. Wireless card, your choice, though N is probably premature but you could it if you like the ability to leech of MANY networks .

I haven't heard of any processor problems on the Vostro or Inspiron, only on the M1330s

 

its good to know there aren't too many issues w/ the headphones but I don't want me to be some odd ball.

I like it being 900$. I would like to spend as little as possible obviously, but I really like my configuration and was wondering if it was possible to get something like that for cheaper within the year. The highest I'll go up to is around 1000 but 900 is kinda cutting it already.

I'll be using for school work and some gaming.
my desktop is c2d 2.4ghz, 7950gtko, 2gb ram so I'm used to something thats pretty fast, I don't want it to be such a blowback.

 

so are you saying that the jump between the 1.8 and 1.6 is ignorable? I haven't heard too much about both sides and would like more before I actually buy because its like 100 bucks.

I've thought about the N card, If i do get 1.6 I probably would get the N but I think i'll be ok w/ just an intel upgrade


@ processor thing. thats good to know. I just want more people backing up info before I make my purchase

 

Well I'm sorry to say that the Graphics card WILL Be a lot slower as the 8400 GS is the highest that the Vostro 1400 can be configured with (at least compared to your 7950gtko) Build issues...I don't see any.

 

lol, yea I'll deal w/ that ahahha. I understand that the 8400 isn't a graphical power house but I've read that it will run the games that i want to run well since I don't plan to use it too much for gaming but like having the power available.

One of my primary concerns is also the pricing. I'm worried there will be a price drop or something after I buy it, a few months later on....

 

The 1.6 to 1.8...yeah not that much of a difference, like you said you won't be gaming a ton with it, but for the average user, not very noticeable.

The main issue is having 2 gigs of RAM. You have that, and you have a speedy computer

 

ic, how snappy would you say program loading is on your 1400? IC you have the 1.6, are you happy w/ it? what do you do w/ yours and how much did you end up paying?

alright thats cool. I like how its the 'default' setting. I hope that doesn't go away too soon

 

o btw, is bluetooth necessary? I don't have a bluetooth device and have like no idea what they really do yet I'm too lazy to look it up really.

 

I haven't tried very many games on it besides Halo. Runs smoothly at max EXCEPT when it loads for like...3 seconds. I used to have a Emachines with an Athlon 2000+.
Then in June I got a 3600+ X2 Processor with XP. This runs CIRCLES around that.
Considering I only spend 460 with tax on the Dell desktop, I say that's fine.
I have not had any issues that would make me want to return it. The hissing sound..is a tad annoying but turn up the volume a tad and it's gone.


Edit: I don't know about Bluetooth, I don't use it nor will I in the near future

 

how many ghz is the 3600+?
how much did you end up paying for your vostro?

What hissing sound are you talking about? the phone jack?

 

In real terms, I don't know, I can check in a little bit later. Hissing sound = headphone jack

 

Oh and I paid...800 dollars with the basic stuff.

Then I got a 9 cell battery for 60 bucks and a warranty.

Looked up my 3600+ X2, it's 1.9 Ghz

 

o thats cool. I think mines would turn out to be 800 bucks too if I did 1.6
i would still like more feedback from other users though.

o thats cool, does the 9 cell really stick out? do you think its worth it?

dude, thanks so much for spending your time to just look that up. much appreciated. I'm surprised the 1.6 c2d outperforms it lol. does your 3600+ comp have vista though?

 

You kidding me? Core 2 Duos are FAR better than Athlon's chips at the moment. Reason I like that one is that it runs very cool. No, it does. I got it with XP since I didn't want to have to have issues with programs that my brother and I use.

9 cell: I actually haven't used it yet. I will tomorrow. Considering you can stretch 3 hours with the 6 cell...I'd say it's worth it. And you can also search the forums, you may find that people have asked the same many times before

 

If your looking for Vostro 1400 deals here are two links that can help. One starts out at $599 with 1gb ram which i think is fine cause its cheaper to upgrade yourself and the second link is 699 with 2 gb ram. HOpe it helps

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&kc=65023&oc=bqpcjba

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&oc=bqdwj7a

 

thanks billy for the link but I have it all configured already.
I'm just wondering about other things

 

bump,

how do you bargain w/ csr's. do I call during the weekdays?

 

Bargain? Hah. You probably won't get anything since nothing has happened to warrant it. Seriously.

 

there has been many users who have bargained as they purchased their laptop.

 

Take the 1.6(not much of a difference, I can't even tell the difference between my 1.6 and my desktop's X24400+ which should perform similar to a Santa Rosa 2.0)
Take the cheapest wireless card(your college will be on b or g, and when you move into an apartment i doubt you can afford a 74mbit/s connection anyways)

Mine don't have noisy headphone jack or whiny CPU. Other than a slightly "wobbly" battery which is a minor annoyance at its worst, the laptop is very solid and very portable(for me at least)

 

hlcc, how did you spend so little for yours?