Our Wonderful Ruby Red Dell 1720

hello everyone:

just thought i'd drop a quick post with a 4-Day old Dell 1720. I don't have any pics for you, but just a few points for future purchasers:

1) I was expected my laptop to arrive in a month...but it came in two weeks! Awesome

2) We opted for the highest resolution screen despite the fact that fonts are way too small for my parents. Several here on this forum suggested I scale down the screen for my aging parents. Oh well, it shipped and I couldn't change anything now. And true to the regulars here, when I got the laptop the screen was just gorgeous but alas my parents couldn't see a lick!! So I changed the resolution to 1280x960 or something and all is well. They can see it just fine. Under my account in Vista, it automatically switchs to the highest resolution...then when they click in...it adjusts to their resolution. That is awesome!!! So we have everything great.

3) Graininess. Okay, I have read my fair share of the grainy issue. I don't really know if we have it or we don't. For us, the screen is absolutely beautiful even if it is grainy for others who may look at it. So vibratant (Glossy by the way)...sometimes I just stare at my wallpaper!! Vista is stunning! I love it.

4) I'm glad I was there for my parents during Vista bootup...way too many things popped up that would have surely confused my parents. They are all done now...McAfee updated, Vista Updated, Roxio or something update, I don't know then Dell Support did some things...good grief. Well all things in the past...If I could have a wish in the future I wish Dell would realize all these pop-ups will surely confuse some users.

5) Packaging, nothing against laptop...but honestly our box the laptop came in had the books and CD's all over the place on the inside. The Laptop was just fine so no worries...but everything else just a mess inside. No biggie though.

6) Ruby Red...awesome...matching mouse...cute!! Mom loves that...mission accomplished. But the outside our laptop has like weird white dusty fingers prints on it. I stress this is our doing not Dell's. An unfortunate result of keeping the laptop in the kitchen. Sometimes dirty hands may be touching.

7) Again, not a Dell issue, but honestly I cannot believe Vista cannot share Recorded TV. We have a Windows Media Edition 2005 with Tuner upstairs that records TV. Yet, it is almost impossible to show those recorded Shows in the new laptop's Windows Media Center. That is horrible!!! Not a Dell issue though...Dell is doing its thing just fine!! Microsoft...for shame!! You should have made this a default. I am not buying an Xbox 360 for that reason...my Vista Home Premium should be enough!!

8) We connected our Laptop to our Sony Bravia via VGA (that is much lower than HDMI from what I understand). But guess what?? TV was gorgeous...it was so cool to show the laptop on the Sony Bravia...looked so crisp and clean...and plus our Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard and Mouse worked awesome!!! Alas, we don't use it that (wasted $60.00 or so). It was just too uncomfortable and too hard to see the TV so far away. Beside the beautiful 17" laptop screen works great so we just us it as is.

9) I had long since debated on getting a better graphics card with the laptop...but I kept the X3100 in there. Actually the card is just fine...even the Performance Index shows a number higher than the 7300SE I have at my house in my Dell E510. I'm not so much a gamer anymore so this is fine...I believe I have enough muscle to eventually play Warcraft III on it. I'm happy.


Okay, everyone...that's it. No regrets whatsoever on our purchase. All is well 4 days in!!

Have to go to gym so sorry I cannot proof read the post.