New M1330... how'd I do?

Well, I was all prepared to wait for the EEE 900 or the next iteration of the HP Mini-Note 2133 to replace my gargantuan 15.4" laptop, but today I pulled the trigger on my very first Dell.

I first saw the M1330 on Dell Outlet today morning, and kept checking throughout the day. Then just before going to bed I saw a deal I couldn't miss. I had to get it.

Check out what I got.

-- XPS M1330 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 (2MB cache/1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB) Tuxedo Black
-- Windows Vista Home Premium
-- No Fingerprint Reader
-- 3945 802.11a/g Wireless Mini Card
-- Scratch & Dent
-- Dell Travel Remote Control
-- Bluetooth Wireless Card 355
-- 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
-- 120 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
-- 9 Cell Primary Battery
-- Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 3000
-- 13.3 inch WXGA Standard Display
-- Tuxedo Black
-- 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz (2 DIMMs)

All for $579, or a total of $651 with the shipping and everything. From what I've read, the Scratch & Dent specials aren't that bad, but I'm praying that it doesn't come too banged up anyways.

Most of the M1330's I've seen in the forums and reviews are really expensive, like above $1000 or $1500, so I'm very happy with the deal I got. I'm going to upgrade it to 2GB RAM and maybe a 7200rpm drive.

I'll be putting up unboxing pics when I get it. How long does it take to ship them out? They say Estimated Ship Date of May 7th, but that's really far away... here's to hoping I get it before the 8th.

 

Yes, very good deal. Get one more memory stick for 20$ and you'll have great portable laptop for everyday using.

 

Its a good deal. You cannot get a 13" anywhere else.

I also got an M1330, arrived today for $150 more ($804 delivered) but I get T5550 1.83 GHz CPU, 128MB Nvidia 8400 display, 2GB memeory, camera, and finger print. The rest I think is same as yours except I get a 6 cell battery. I also bought a 320GB Toshiba SATA 300 HDD at a special price ($139 to be delivered) on the date I ordered my XPS.

 

Lol, your 9-cell battery (thanks to the LG fire) is worth a third of your notebook; that was a very lucky find.

 

Yeah it was an exceptional deal. I had already turned down an m1330 for $649 just a half hour before after almost going through with payment, but decided I didn't need it for that price. But $579? Hellz yeah!

I bought 2GB laptop RAM from newegg for $30AR as well, looking for a deal on a 7200rpm drive.

Does the standard screen include a webcam?

EDIT: Does the M1330 have three memory slots?

 

Yes it does.

 

Hi!

Nice deal you got!!! Congrat's on your new 1330 purchase, and you will enjoy it when it arrives, I'm sure

 

I just picked up a midnight blue M1530 for 900 last night -

1 XPS M1530 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
1 Shipping Material
1 Certified Refurbished
1 Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
1 MEDIADIRECT 3.3 Software
1 MEDIA DIRECT 3.5
1 Documentation
1 Keyboard On Notebook
1 Operating System Label
1 Service Software
1 200 GB Free Fall Sensor Hard Drive 9.5MM (7200)
1 Dell 1505 Wireless-N
1 Software
1 Software
1 Software
1 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
1 Midnight Blue
1 Software CD
1 Microsoft Works 8.5 with MS Office Trial Version Software
1 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz (2 DIMMs)
1 Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
1 Support Software
1 Processor Label
1 Dell Travel Remote Control
1 Lord Of The Rings Online
1 90W AC Adapter
1 Bluetooth Wireless Card 355
1 Shipping Material
1 6 Cell Primary Battery
1 MEDIA DIRECT 3.5
1 Reference Guide
1 ISP Search Assist
1 Operating System DVD
1 Image Restore Software
1 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
1 Standard Palmrest
1 Resource DVD
1 Service Software
1 15.4 WSXGA+ Laptop Screen
1 Roxio Creator 10

 

That looks like a sweet deal iFalcon. Portability was more important than power to me, so I didn't even look at the bigger laptops and the D430 and M1210 weren't as nice.

 

iFalcon you might want to be carful with the WSXGA+ screen. Might be a grainy Samsung.

 

Nope

 

Ya I know...I'm a little nervous about that part. We'll see.

 

Nothing to be nervous about. Dell provides exceptional tech support with XPS line, going out of the way to keep you happy. if you dont like the screen for any reason, you can always talk them into a replacement screen, maybe even a full system replacement. (Dammit, where's Flamenko? he is the one usually spouting out speeches like this )

 

We'll see. I did notice the invoice reads - XR859 Module,Liquid Crystal Display 15.4WSXGA+,Lg Philips Lcd M1530.

Who know though if that is what will actually be installed.

 

You Americans are so lucky. Dell Canada does not have an outlet like you do.

But then again you Americans also have G.W. Bush, so that makes us more than even!

 

NICE. That's a sweet deal right there. :smile:

 

Yeah, I've been browsing the outlet ever since and they never dip below $700 or so and even that's rare. More likely to find one in the $739 and up range. I did see one with the 8400M for $769 though. Which is still $200 more than mine.

It shipped 04/30, and I ordered early morning 04/29 so I'm happy. I called customer support and the Indian girl told me the tracking #. According to DHL it should get here on May 6. A full day before I leave. I also asked if it comes with the XPS sleeve and she said it does. Can't wait!

 

Man. Next time I buy a laptop, I'm gonna do it the smart way: wait for a deal.

 

You don't want to do it the way I do, its too time-consuming. My last laptop was $300, I bought it on close-out and it was marked down from like $800.

I'm constantly looking, so if I see something on sale, I already know about it and whether its a good buy or not. If you have a set idea of what you want or you need something quick, you're better off just buying.

I don't have any ideas about the deals on cameras, so for this trip I'm just going to go to Costco and get one that I researched that has decent picture quality and zoom.

 

Yeah, but I could have saved hundreds. :cry:

 

OP,

Great price! Congrats on the new system.

 

Got it today guys. I picked the slow shipping and kinda regret it since I would've had it before the weekend if I'd picked 2-day but I'm still happy.

The machine is beautiful. It says scratch & dent on the invoice but the only marks on it are fingerprints from whoever handled it before me which were easily wiped off (and replaced with my own ).

All the accessories were included and I even got two MediaDirect remote controls somehow - one in the laptop and one in the box. The sleeve was in brand new condition and overall I couldn't be happier. I'm burning in the 2.25GB of RAM right now and the 9-cell battery is a beast in more ways than one.

The Dell Outlet is a great great thing.

 

M. Larson, did you get headsets? I heard that the XPS came w/ headsets. My 2.6 GHz that I ordered from the outlet just arrived yesterday. The machine (xps m1330) is in great shape. I was just surprised not to see the ear buds or keyboard cover to protect the keys. Trying to decide if I want to do a clean install. Any suggestions anybody?

Thanks....

 

I may end up installing XP on it but I'm leaving Vista for the time being. But Vista definitely feels slow, even with 2GB RAM. I want snappy! I wish I could install Luunix and have it be actually useful

Mine didn't come with the earbuds either.

 

Give Vista a chance to optimize itself for the programs you run. (superfetch)

I find Vista quite fast with 'only' 2 gigs! e.g. Firefox launches instantaneously for me under Vista, even after a full re-boot.

 

Hi Mark,

I've been on kind of a same boat. Here is my the best deal I could make:

XPS M1330 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 (2MB cache/1.66GHz/667Mhz FSB)
Shipping Material
Resource DVD
6 Cell Primary Battery
Operating System Label
Processor Label
Service Software
Shipping Material
Software
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
65W Adapter
Software CD
Scratch & Dent
160 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Dell Support Software 1.0
Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Support Software
Documentation
Alpine White
Microsoft Works 8.5
Bluetooth Wireless Card 355
Notebook Keyboard
13.3 inch WXGA Standard Display
Reference Guide
MEDIADIRECT 3.3 Software
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 3000
Operating System DVD
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
Fingerprint Reader Touchpad
Roxio Creator LE
Image Restore Software
Service Software
Intel 4965 802.11a/g/n Dual-Band Mini Card

$ 751

 

They said no sleeve or earbud, i want the sleeve any sugestions?

Expecting it within a week

 

Sleeve and earbud don't come standard with M1330? i thought they came with all XPS laptops by default.

 

Forte, I thought the same. May be we need to complaint?
where?

 

Vista is slow because it riddled with junk and your processor is pretty low-spec no offense, you did get a good deal.

Go tweak it with Les' guide, get it down to at least or under 45 processes running in the background. Make sure NOTHING you don't need is started on boot. Then Vista will fly.

 

I picked the 1.83GHz CPU fast enough for me with all Dell's standard bloatwares intact. If it ever get slow down, I will try Les (Flemingo's) tweak in NBR forums.

 

Mine came with both sleeve and ear buds. Ear buds came low grade and I threw it back to the box and off it went to my attic for good.

 

Like I said, I got the sleeve...

rajeeja, that looks like a decent deal, but I would wait (not a choice right now anyway since systems refresh so fast in the outlet). You can get specs similar to that in the $650-700 range. I'm very happy with the 1.5Ghz, its faster than the Pentium Dual-Core I had in my last laptop.

 

Does the M1330 have three memory slots?

 

I guess fingerprint reader added up my cost...anyways i still havent got it. It's on its way....keeping my fingers crosses will post as soon ..as i get it

 

No, but it does have a webcam in the standard screen.

 

no scratch and dents....i paid 751 with tax and shipping...i got the sleeve but no ear bud..

its makes some noise when idle
and cd drive also makes noise
dell technician will replace some parts :!!

the system looks gr8 though

_________________________________________---
may be i need to do Les (Flemingo's) --have seen it so far

 

any accessories from dell outlet is a hit or miss.... but if u go to chat and keep arguing, maybe they'll send the missing accessories... but why would u need a pari of headphones(buy urself), or a remote(too lazy ? )

 

oh yes i did this was just for public knowledge as to how the transation went..