OFFICIAL: Inspiron 1720 Owner's Thread

Hey guys, I need to ask you something. Please help me.

• Will I get the Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium DVD with the laptop (I've opted the Home Premium)? Or I'll have to press their magic button whenever things go wrong and I'll have to download the OS and write it on a DVD and then do the complete format, using it?
• Will they give me a DVD or CDs of the drivers for the hardware, in case I format and start from the scratch to remove their ****?
• If I downgrade to Windows XP (I probably won't, but who knows?), what won't work? NSS? Sound?
• How many partitions does DELL give by default? How can we increase or decrease the size of a partition and/or make a new one, without re-formatting?? Can we in the first place??

Thank you.

 

I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can. Mind you, this is from what I have read on these forums and may not be 100% correct.

1. You were given the option to purchase the disk when you placed your order. If you haven't, call Dell and they can probably add it to the order for the $10.

2. Yes. They also have the drivers online

3. Yes. From what I have read, they are available from the Dell website. You might want to get these before formatting, just so you have everything readily available.

4. I believe 4. One main, one for Media Direct, one for restoring the computer to factory load, and one for some diagnostics or something like that.

To those who know better than I, please feel free to correct me. Like I said, I just found this stuff out by browsing this forum, so I can't be certain of its accuracy

 

Wow. Sorry.. Just an honest question. I read the article. Did not see how it related and asked the question.

You could have answered without being rude.

 

Well, I got mine today and am typing on it as we speak. I gotta say that this is a well built machine. The keyboard feels great. it's a little taller than the one I was using before so it'll take some time to get used to it, but it feels better than the one on my gateway. No light leakage at all. Screen is brilliant. I got the high resolution screen and the reflection can be a distraction in the light, but its manageable.

I'll post a full review with pictures as soon as I can. I'm just starting class right now.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase

 

The drivers you get from Dell are general drivers. You get every drivers there is to know for 1720. so if you dont have a webcam or tv tuner, the drivers will be there for those. this leads to confusion on what you need and what you dont need. Contact Dell rep to request the drivers that you really need. The Drivers and Utilities CD will not tell you what you have successfully installed. Everyone has the same CD, so there isn't a drivers cd that's just made for your PC.

 

I disabled Flash Cache Module and switched to ATA in the BIOS in order to complete the OS installation and I cannot revert back to the default settings. help?

 

received my 1720 yesterday late evening 8:00 PM. didn't work much but i am really happy with design and quality DELL simply rocks man

 

I cancelled my order. I don't want to go through this delay stuff with a reorder.
I'm getting the Toshiba x205 instead. No building, just in stock and ready to go. I could have reordered, but it would add that additional time, so I'll try getting a Dell next time.

Good luck everyone!!

 

I'm sorry Bukket, I really didn't mean to be rude to you, and I realize the way I answered that WAS a bit rude to you... I'm just a bit fed up with Dell's tech support, as well, at this point, and I see their problems as COMPANY-WIDE, i.e. SYSTEMIC...

I guess the real reason I came back with the reply the way I did is partly because I sort of thought your reply was a bit brusque (but now I realize it was a serious question, that you didn't quite GET the point I was making), and ALSO because I'm actually frustrated FOR people just like YOU, who are waiting INTERMINABLY LONG for your systems just BECAUSE you ordered them with a certain COLOR CASE or something (people who in basic black well after you already have THEIRS)... It just IRKS ME that Dell has the NERVE to advertise all those colors if they don't have adequate SUPPLY in all those colors (or whatever OTHER configurations they're advertising)... The LEAST they could do is when you order a specific color, put up a little note that says your system may be delayed if you order that color, or something to that effect, but they're NOT, they're just NOT BEING HONEST with their customers.

I JUST started yet ANOTHER round of email Tech Support with them on my continual problems with Media Center not working with my TV Tuner, except THIS TIME, after my first email (which has to be sent via an INTERNAL FORM), they sent me a regular email back, which didn't really help, so I sent an email back telling them what I did and what happened and that they OBVIOUSLY didn't reference all my PRIOR tech support history on this issue prior to the email they sent me or they would have KNOWN this and referenced it in the email they sent me, and I sent a CC to [email protected]!

The LAST TIME I sent an email to [email protected] was when I ordered my system, which was also a REAL CLUSTERF*CK I won't go into in detail, but involved their system kicking out my internet order without telling me, and then me going through half a dozen TOTALLY INCOMPETENT PEOPLE on the phone before I FINALLY found someone who actually handled my sale and got me my system... In the process, I wasn't sure if I was going to get my system in the time frame I'd been promised, and as I wasn't getting responses to my inquiries to THAT quickly enough, I compiled copies of SEVERAL of my emails back and forth to their incomptent staff and sent them to a supervisor whose email I had been given, and then just GUESSED on a "higher up" email address and sent a CC to [email protected]... It ended up with me getting an apology email and my bluetooth keyboard and mouse I had ordered at an extra $150 taken off my bill by the lady from Mr. Dell's office who responded (I didn't ask, she automatically offered).

I don't want anything that drastic this time (but if they're offering, I won't turn it down). I just want my problems solved, and I REALLY THINK Dell needs to RETHINK its corporate structure and HIRE MORE STAFF!
Jeff

 

I just don't think it is a staff problem. The color delays have been going on for too long for that. I can't help feeling that there is a serious design problem that they can't figure out. I'm picturing all these laptops being built and tested... and failing. The few that do pass get mailed out.

There just isn't any other scenario that makes sense. Anybody else got the same feeling?

 

And it's just coincidence that the few that DO get passed and shipped out within like a WEEK of being ordered almost ALL happen to have BLACK cases, Bukket???

Dell has a "just-in-time" inventory system, for one thing, something once considered revolutionary because it virtually eliminated the need for parts warehouses. The way just-in-time inventory works is that they don't get the parts they need for the computers they're making until JUST before they need them (within 2 hours, according to someone who posted pics and a commentary about their Ireland factory somewhere)... BUT if they're doing this everywhere and they ran into serious production or shipping problems with, say, the FLAMINGO PINK cases, well, "just-in-time" turns into "a-very-long-time."

I say I believe their issues are "systemic" because no matter whether it's sales, tech support, or even their financial department, according to the article I linked, they seem to be RIFE with incompetence. My feeling is that they cut their DOMESTIC employee base to the bone to try to increase profitability and at the same time went "offshore" with as many positions as they could in manufacturing, sales and tech support... Originally, I think they really concentrated on making sure they had the "best of the best" in India, Malaysia, Ireland, Mexico, or wherever their "offshore" employees were based, but as competition continued to get tougher and the need to show increasing profitability did, as well, my guess is the emphasis even with the "offshore" sites and employees started to drift more towards cutting costs there, as well, and I fear when you start cutting costs in the "third world," you REALLY get what you've paid for.

This is all just conjecture on my part, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the other big computer manufacturers are doing the same thing. I just think at the moment Dell is really doing a poor job with it... Right now the entire market seems to be Dell, HP, Gateway, Toshiba and Acer (and I believe Acer is a subdivision of one of the others). From what I can tell, Gateway is struggling and may be on the way out (or to being BOUGHT OUT). Toshiba is HUGE, and computers are only a small part of what they do, so they'll be around, even if they decide to get out of computers... Not sure about Acer (I'm talking about the desktop & laptop market -- there are OTHERS in just the laptop market, like ASUS, that seem to be firmly established, as well).

This is a REALLY cutthroat business, and to make things worse, some of these companies make decisions based NOT on what's best for the customers, or even for the product, but on what will have the best effect on their quarterly STOCK prices... So when they can find a way to "increase profitability" by a few hundred million dollars (by maybe cutting a few thousand jobs and having fewer people do more work), well, it looks good on paper, makes their stock look better, but what does it do to the CUSTOMER?

My guess is people like YOU, Bukket, are seeing what it does right now.
Jeff

 

Post on 8/03/2007:

Couldn't find the door? Its that way. I'll be expecting a multi-paragraph reply with PLENTY OF CAPS to make your arguments even more poignant and valid.

In any case to say on topic... received this email today from a Dell rep (nothing new to most of you, but thought I'd share):

I've been reading that some with the green cases ordered on 7/14 are being shipped, so I'm hoping for some good news soon.

 

this is great!i just talked to a csr and he said that the parts on backorder should come in 8 or 9 days, no later! if it doesnt come , i will use this statement to get a concession out of dell, for having an assured ship date, and not have it shipped.edit:he did assure it should ship in 8 or 9 days.

 

Sorry about the use of all caps, giantone... It's a habit I developed in a forum that had no option for creating bold text, and is sort of a holdover... Still a lot quicker than making text bold the way you have to do it in forums (rather than using keyboard shortcuts).

One person's "pompous crap" is another's "righteous indignation" at a company continuing to give its customers the runaround... If there truly is an "industry wide glass shortage affecting computer manufacturers that offer build-to-order notebooks" then why did I get the HP dv9500t I custom-ordered shipped to me just 6 days after placing the order -- actually 5 days ahead of their promised shipping date? In fact I received the laptop a day before it was originally scheduled to ship.

And if this shortage truly exists, why are people who custom-order Inspiron 1720s with the black cases getting theirs in a week or so, as well? I'm sorry, but again, this just reeks of hogwash to me. Since I elected to not buy a Dell (largely based on what I was reading about delays in this thread), I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does, because I don't like to see anyone done like that... The fact that some of you seem willing to sit and take it still doesn't make it right.

I have noticed that at least Dell has quit advertising that particular model for now, focusing on the 14" and 15" models, instead (although it's still prominently highlighted in the expensive, glossy catalogs they're sending out -- I've gotten two in the last month).

As for where the door is, I really did unsubscribe from this thread, but then curiosity got the best of me, so I resubscribed, but only on the Daily Digest sort of format, so I get an email once a day with updates. After all, I am a Dell customer, with an XPS 410 still under original manufacturer's warranty, so I feel I have "something" of a vested interest in Dell.

Well, I guess this is enough "pompous crap" for one post (and no all-caps)!

I hope everyone gets his or her system soon.
Jeff

 

Mine just shipped yesterday. Yeah!
***********************************************
Ordered 8-12-07 - tentative shipping date 8-31-07
Inspiron 1720
*Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz\800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
*Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
*Jet Black
*Memory 3GB, DDR2 SDRAM at 667Mhz (1GB x 2GB)
*High Resolution, glossy widescreen 17.0" (1920 x 1200)
*256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
*250 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
*CD/DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
*Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-Card
*Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
*85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
*Dellcare Plus

 

Well, it's just shipped. Mine shipped on 21st of this month. It would take a further 3 weeks AT LEAST for it to reach me. So, I wouldn't be that happy!

 

3 weeks!mine only takes 3 days, and i am in canada.

 

Has you Notebook been shipped from the factory, or from the customs etc?

 

Hopefully then mine arrives faster than yours. Will post as soon as I get it. The email I received said 3-5 working days

 

Just curious, is anyone else having trouble accessing the order status hotline? Usually I get the recording right away but the past couple days I've listened to the music indefinitely.

 

I agree. I'm probably just bitter for being at the receiving end of that runaround and taking out my frustration. I also agree that this "industry-wide shortage" is apparently only affecting Dell in the laptop arena .....

 

Can anyone list the softwares that comes installed on Inspirons (I ordered 1720). Do they give MS Office? If yes, then which version? Which anti-virus/firewall/bloatware etc?

Thank you.

 

they're just trials but ms works 8.5 is free...

 

Thank you, and thank God for the private trackers!!

Also, can you (or anyone who has it) please post some print-screens of your computer, with various applications open, at 1920*1200 resolution, and at 1440*900? Please? I wanted to see the difference and how the text etc looks on the 1920*1200 one.

Thank you very much!

 

heres the screen shot for the 1920*1200 one

 

Thank you so much, I've repped you (does your system show who repped, automatically, like some others'?).

Boy, I can't read for life in this pic! Did you shorten/edit/etc the pic???? If not, then this is useless.

 

ok the pics set to 1920*1200 now

 

ZOMFG!!!! I should've gotten this one instead of 1440*900!

You can't change and get this resolution after it has been shipped, can you (ofcourse I'll pay)?

 

Arrived today about lunchtime. Just now playing around. I really like it so far.
******************************************
Ordered 8-12-07 - tentative shipping date 8-31-07
Inspiron 1720
*Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz\800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
*Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
*Jet Black
*Memory 3GB, DDR2 SDRAM at 667Mhz (1GB x 2GB)
*High Resolution, glossy widescreen 17.0" (1920 x 1200)
*256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
*250 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
*CD/DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
*Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-Card
*Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
*85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
*Dellcare Plus

 

Went into boxing today. Not sure what time as I didn't check until 4pm. I'm a little worried that it was still building last night though ... I seem to have skipped the testing phase! :-o

 

Order date?

 

Soooooo excited!! 1720 to be delivered tomorrow!! Basically configured almost as high-end as possible... check sig!

 

just got mine today and i'm typing on it right now! i was afraid it would be bulky, but it's perfect! i love the screen too...

 

any issues yet?

 

July 18th.

 

Congrats! I wish I could say the same.

 

I'm getting mine tomorrow , after 2 months of waiting

 

Hello, I've ordered mine, actually ordered on 8/24 with an estimated ship date of 10/2...which I think is just nuts. Does anyone know what docking station should be used with this? When I asked Dell they suggested the SD 100 Docking Station which is not a docking station at all but more an external USB hub, which I sent back for a full refund. I'm looking for an actual docking station that offers audio/visual ports as well as power. Thanks!

 

Just got mine today! I am soo in love with this computer!!!!!!!

 

Anyone know if the 1720 (1920x1200) display uses LED for its backlighting or does it use CCF? I couldn't get a straight answer from the Dell reps I talked to.

 

its CCF.
Wish it was LED....

 

I ordered my 1720 on the 22nd August and it's due to arrive on the 24th September. It's now the 18th and I'm starting to think they're not gonna get it to me on time as it's still in "Pre-production", anyone else ordered in the EU and had it come on time in a situation like this. I need my laptop for University so I'll be rather annoyed if it doesn't arrive on time.

Thanks

 

I got mine 2 days before the esd. and that was with 3-5 day shipping. went into shipping Friday got it Monday.

on line it showed in production.
on the phone it was in pre production. it stayed that way until it shipped, I never saw boxing or anything else.

Order Date: 08/27/2007
Delivery Date: 09/17/2007

 

I live in New Zealand and I just ordered a Black 1720. I only went for the 1440*900 screen though. Should be alright though, my girlfriend's laptop is running at a lower resolution than that and it looks sweet.

Should be able to post some pics of it soon!

 

This is my first post on this forum, so howdy everyone.
I finally bit the bullet and ordered one of these babies on the 18/9. It was built and being shipped out of the factory on the 19/9 and today (21/9) it has arrived in Australia and should be on my doorstep on Tuesday. How cool is that? It's one of those rare times I wish there was no weekend!

T7500, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 1920x1200 screen, 8600M GT, Ruby red. All up cost just over $2100 AUD. Cheapest I can get today on Dell's site for same rig is around $2500 so I'm fairly stoked!

 

That's just wrong, I ordered mine in the UK on the 22/08 with an estimated delivery date of 24/09, 3 days before I'm due to get it, it's still in pre-production and I'm just waiting on the pre-written sorry e-mail from Dell saying it'll be delayed. I think it would have been faster if I'd ordered it down under and shipped it myself.

 

Hi, this is my first time here!
I live in Italy and my Vostro 1700 hopefully should be in my hands next week! since I'm an LCD maniac, I'm wondering which is the best brand of 1920x1200 LCD among those carried by the vostro 1700. I knew this fact for the my six years old Inspiron 8100!
Does anyone can help me?

Do you think the vostro 1700 is 100% compatible with ubuntu 7.04?

many thanks

 

Probably would have been!

I was really surprised myself that is has been so quick to be processed, as many people, even in Oz have had long wait times. I'm pretty sure they come out of a factory in Malaysia for us, so it's just amazing that a computer can be built and delivered from there in the space of a week.

Hope yours arrives soon.

 

I got the e-mail I was expecting, the normal run of the mill "sorry your laptop is delayed" until 25th October no less! I'm thinking of cancelling my order and getting a HP pavilion , £49 extra with a slightly lower res screen but more HD space and a few nice extras not on my 1720.

Any advice would be appreciated. I heard alot of people got some vouchers and things when theirs were delayed, any advice on how to get those.

Thanks

 

I don't understand that if one factory is overloaded with orders, why they don't distribute the load to other factories with less orders. It's ridiculous that I can order and receive a computer in the space of a week and people in other parts of the world have been waiting for months for their machines.

Hopefully I'm not speaking too soon! (Supposed to be with local carrier now)