More Ambivalence: e1705: T2300 versus T2500

I recently posted in the "what to buy" forum, but thanks to another post I'm about a mouse click away from finally buying the e1705 here described. The total price, with tax, OS disk and CA environmetal fee, is $1214.05, which seems like a superb deal.

My main question concerns the T2300. Will this perform appreciably worse than the T2500 (or the T2400, for that matter)? I really don't know. I also figured I'd just stick with the 6-cell battery and no bluetooth to keep the cost down, figuring I can address these things later if they become issues.

Thanks for whatever insight you can provide.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Inspiron E1705 Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2300 (1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
Operating System (Office software not included) Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
LCD Panel 17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display
Memory 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
Video Card 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory
Hard Drive 80GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
Combo/DVD+RW Drives 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Wireless Networking Cards Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Office Software (not included in Windows XP) No productivity suite- Corel WordPerfect word processor only
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) No Security Subscription
Primary Battery 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Hardware Warranty 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support
Dial-Up Internet Access 6 Months of America Online Membership Included
Operating System Re-Installation CD Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition re-installation CD
Dell Digital Entertainment Starter Entertainment Pack - Basic digital Music, Photo and Game experience

 

I'd still appreciate input, but I found an Intel PDF that compares the T2600 (which I'm definitely not getting) and the T2300:
http://www.intel.com/performance/resources/briefs/mobiletechnology.pdf
There are significant differences in performance, but based on the numbers, I'd guess there's not that much real-world difference between the T2300 and the T2500, which I was considering (albeit very reluctantly because of the huge price increase over the T2300).

 

I'm not sure on this but there is something like a 20% difference between the 1.66ghz core duo and the 2.0ghz core duo. The price difference (in dell at least) is $200...so you can decide if it is worth it or not.

 

Thanks for the reply, cheesecake. I couldn't contain my impatience and went ahead and ordered exactly as above, with the T2300.
I also saw the following in the review of the Acer 5672WLMI here at notebookreview:
Acer Aspire 5670 (1.66GHz Core Duo) 1m 22s
Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi (2.0GHz Core Duo) 1m 15s
I'm not sure how much to read into this, but that's about a 9% difference, which I can certainly live with.
I've never owned a Dell before, but really wanted DVI, dual core and decent dedicated graphics, as well as 1GB RAM. I've had some concerns about Inspiron build quality, based on others' opinions and my own limited experience, but the e1705 is supposedly "road ready" and the reviews I've seen have been fairly favorable in this regard, so I'm hopeful. The only other laptop that really had everything I wanted was the Acer 8200, but at double the cost, more or less, I couldn't rationalize it.
Once I get the e1705 (three weeks or so, I'm hoping) I'll write more. I invariably clear out the software I don't want (and I'm guessing there will be a lot of that), run SuperPi, 3DMark05, Prime95, etc.

 

I just ordered the e1705 myself 2 days ago and have been second guessing myself as well. I've had a lot of Dell Laptops and have always been happy with them for quality and price so I'm not too concerned about that.

My plans though and the reason I retired my old laptop to buy a new one was in anticipation of the soon to be released new Microsfot Windows Vista Operating System.

I went with...

Inspiron E1505, Intel Core Duoprocessor T2400 (2MB/1.83GHz/667MHz)

15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+, for Inspiron 6400/E1505

1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm for Inspiron 6400/E1505

256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory, for Inspiron 6400/E1505

60GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive for Inspiron 6400/E1505

Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem, for Inspiron

8X DVD+/-RW Drive for Inspiron 6400/E1505

Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps), for for Inspiron 6400/E1505

Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth Module (2.0+EDR) for Inspiron 6400/E1505

85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 6400/E1505

Remote Control for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition,English,for Inspiron

Sub-Total $1,570.00
Shipping $0.00
Tax $115.80
Total Price $1,685.80

I'm second guessing if I should have spent another $200 and upgrade up one more step to the T2500 processor (actually to go from the T2300 to the T2500 it would have been another $350 in upgrades I believe). I was a little concerned about only having the 1.83GHz Processor, but in everything I researched on this The Duo Processor should far out perform the faster rated Pentium M type and even larger desktop processors. I didn't think there would be a noticable difference going from a 1.83 GHz to a 2GHz.

Everything I'm reading though on early reports of the Windows Vista Operating System sounds like I'm going to just barely squeek through the door on what I ordered actually being able to run it. I almost went with the smaller XPS system, which was the case I wanted, but with it only having the Pentium M's as options and only the Intel 900 Video chipset in it I knew that wouldn't have a chance running the new Operating System (and the cost was more while having worse upgrade options to choose from). Actually, some reports I read said it would run it, but several of the new features wouldn't be available mainly because of the Intel 900 Graphics Chipset.

After searching everywhere, I couldn't find another laptop available anywhere out there with the same upgrade options I ordered for even within $500 of what I'm paying for this one. That certainly made me happy there. I just still think I probably should have gave up the additional $200 and upgraded the processor up to the T2500 though.

I noticed while looking at Sony's website they list all their laptops as specificly being "Windows Vista Compatable", they don't tell you though that the majority of their systems are not going to be able to take advantage of all the new features either because of the slower processor they have or underpowered graphics system. I thought that was kind of deceptive on their part, so it was a no brainer to click the little X up in the top corner of the page I was looking at their web site on. I'm sure, you could probably just about install it on an old 486, but it sure isn't going to run very well.

I wasn't too big on the idea of only having the ATI Graphics as an option though, I've had bad experiences with poorly written ATI drivers in the past and it kind of turned me off about their products ever since.

I've had great experience with all the NVIDIA Graphics I've bought in the past, they look great when running games, but then it's at a sacrafice for how normal things you use the computer for come out looking like windows, images and video. Even if you screw with all the settings, these things still don't come out looking right. So I'm hoping the ATI problems with the drivers I've experienced in the past have been long since resolved by them.

 

I messed up...it is $200 from 1.86 to 2.0ghz. Esoterica, I ordered about the same thing as you did except a different hard drive. I think you made the right choice in sticking with the 1.86ghz because you are right, there won't be that much "noticable" difference between the two. I also agree with you on the upgradability of other laptops. I searched around the net to find a different company, but they didn't offer anything anywhere near the amount of upgrades Dell offered. With Dell you will for sure get a great deal for budget to midrange laptops, it is just hit and miss with the tech support.

 

Okay, I'm on a roll now, meaning obsessed and agonizing over every little detail. Not long after I placed the above order, I configured using the $750 off coupon (instead of the "dare to compare" deal) and discovered I could go to a T2500, 100 GB HD and bluetooth for an additional $150 or so. So, after countless attempts to get through to Dell (email, chat and phone), I reached someone in sales who transferred me to cancellations, and I cancelled. I'm about to hit the order submit button, as soon as I've printed out and looked over the order. Done.
I still think the T2300 will perform very well, and I doubt there's much difference at all between the T2400 and the T2500. I also would have preferred nvidia graphics, but since I'm not much of a gamer, I figure the ATI x1400 will be okay
So the only change to this order is the inclusion of bluetooth (necessary to hit $2001, pre-coupon), the move from an 80GB to a 100GB HD, and the change from the T2300 to the T2500. The price difference is $154.
This is my first purchase from Dell, though I once picked up a 600M from Costco as a gift for someone, and I think it's been trouble free for 2 years. The whole experience has been difficult simply because of the abundance of possibilities and coupons, the changing options on the Dell website, etc. I hope all three of us have a good experience.

 

esoterica, be sure to check out the inspiron coupons... it's not too late to cancel and reorder with the coupons! That's what hazel did!