My Christmas Gift...

Well, I got my m1530 for Christmas today and so far I'm digging it. It seems to do everything it is suppose to do and doesn't seem to have any manufacturing flaws. Hell, I even like the 1280x800 resolution but then again I have nothing to compare it too. Thus, I'll take a trip to Best Buy in the morning and check out some higher resolution displays to see what I'm missing out on. However, I do have some questions I was hoping fellow 1530 owners could help answer. I'll try calling Dell tech support tommorow if needed.
First off, what should I be looking for as far as checking to make sure my laptop does not have any physical flaws? Is the TV tuner card sold as an option with the 1530 able to record HD prrogramming? Also, as far as dvd writing goes, so I need additional software to burn movies? If so, what would you reccomend and where could I get the best deal on it?
Ok. Now the important things. I ordered a 7200rpm 160gb HDD and Vista is telling my I have two hard drives. A 9.99GB recovery HDD and a 136GB hard drive that had 116GB when I opened the box. I'm thinking this loss of HDD capacity is due to formatting. Am I correct or is something wrong here? Also, If I so desire would it be mechanically possible and would Dell be willing to allow me to upgrade my display in the future? (beyond the 30 day grace period) In fact would I even be able to upgrade within the 30 day period, or would I have to return and re-buy? MOST IMPORTANTLY, I was suppose to recieve a $200 gift card with my laptop but it was not in the box? Do those promotional gift cards ship seperately?
Thanks a lot everyone and Merry Christmas!

 

lucky you,.....
I went to Bestbuy last week to do the same thing. they had 30 diffrent laptop only two that are 17 " that have a higher resolution than 800X 1280.... you will see a diffrence though.. but not to kill your self over it... if want my advice just don't go...
the 200$ gift will come in 6-8 weeks later...

check the frame around the LCD... that what was wrong with mine..
you have only one hard disk they did Fdisk 10 GB for backup... the rest is 150 - the data that is already on it... Vista take lots of space..


you only have 21 days from order day to return....

 

Gift card takes 4-6 weeks.

Doesn't matter as far as time frame - you would have to either return the laptop, or purcahse a new screen to upgrade the resolution. Dell will not just do it for free

The 10GB partition is the Dell recovery partition. It is up to you whether or not you want to keep it. It will restore your system back to the state when you first turned it on today. Could be useful if you need a quick (10 minute) way to restore without the need to reformat, install windows, then drivers (takes a while). Or maybe if you sell your system later on you can have it back to factory spec.

Enjoy your new toy - I have been enjoying mine!

 

Wow sleey0, you just repeated what dvmxps1530 said, and to your main question e-bayer1277, your'll never be able to upgrade the screen unless you return this laptop & reorder a new one within the 30days.

 

You can upgrade the screen - you'll have to buy a screen and do the installation process yourself. Dell will not do this free at all. You'll have to return the machine before the 30 days and reorder. But honestly higher resolution screens are pointless if you're doing gaming and such. Just added strain on the machine to play at native resolution. You only need higher resolution if you need the extra 'space' on screen.

You cannot record HD tv at all. Especially over HDMI because it's all encrypted and scrampled. You can record analog signals though and unscrambled HD/Digital signals - if any exist.. lol...

If you're looking for defects, just punch, tap, apply pressure, pull on things to see if they have play or show signs of cracking or any damage. As far as I've seen the 1530's are near flawless

 

B2TheEYo you can't easily buy a new screen & install it yourself that easy. You would have to find a screen at some odd place, such as ebay, and your'll have to custom install it, too much work if you ask me & it won't be easy at all.

 

lol yes it's actually really easy.. I've done it 30 million times the last few weeks playing games with Dell. Installing screens is nothing but a few cables and screws..

Buying a screen is easy too.. Call Dell and order a screen.. If they ask why just say "it's for my warranty expired machine"...

It's actually so easy, a grade 6 student could do it..

 

You cant record HD tv? Oh really, u sure about that? Ever hear of HD TUNERS. You can record in hd.

 

WTF, yeah right. That doesn't/wouldn't make any sense.

I ordered on Dec 19, and my computer is still in production. They said it will ship on January 20. If what you say is true, I can't return my laptop once I get it b/c the 21 days would be up.

I heard it was 21 days from SHIP date.

 

lol yes I have. I'm speaking of using the HDMI as the source to record from. Not gonna happen, it's scrambled. That's it's 'key' feature that all the movie studios made sure was implemented. Why do all the 360's have HDMI now since the HD-DVD addon was released? Meanwhile, from the start Microsoft claimed it was 'unnecessary'.

Using a analog signal it's easy to record from.

Like I stated very clearly. If it's a scrambled single - IT WON'T work. Running on Vista doesn't help the situation thanks to good old DRM, again pushed on Microsoft by the Movie Studios (greedy bastards).

Plus, once you get that HD shot through a analog hole, it ain't HD no more is it?

To record HD you need unscrambling software/hardware or be recording a unscrambled signal. Simple as that.

 

Yes. Analog may not be 'HD' but it can still be in the high resolution, which is the main feature from most consumers' perspective.
In the UK freeview will start broadcasting HD content in the next few years, and you can connect the freeview box to your tv via the ariel socket. RF is also analog which carries HD cable channels.

 

this is what it says on Dell's website (copy)
Dell Return Policy:

For New/Refurbished Product: 21 days from invoice date

NOTE: For more details on Dell's Return Policy and returning product(s) for credit, please visit the Dell Return Policy.

link : http://support.dell.com/support/top...care/returns_entry?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1

 

So, I'm getting confused. Can I record HD quality programming with the TV tuner from Dell? (sorry I can't elaborate on what type of tuner it is. Dell did not provide much information about it) Also, I bought my 1530 with the DVD RW drive, but that can be upgraded to the 1530's blu-ray drive in the future correct? and that BD drive is capable of burning DL Blu-ray discs, correct? Thanks again.

 

bump for the night