Please review my potential Dell E1505 purchase

Inspiron E1505 Dual Core:

Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 (1.83GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
15.4 inch UltraSharp Wide Screen WXGA+ Display with TrueLife
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory
Integrated Audio

85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Dell Wireless 1390b/g (54Mbps)

for $1,092

 

I would upgrade to the Intel Pro/wireless 3945a/g more than anything other upgrades that are suggested

Upgrade to T7200 for $75 (faster plus the 4MB of L2 cache vs the 2MB)
Intergrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software $25

Besides that it rules and nice price too!

 

have you used the 20% off $999 or more inspiron purchases
coupon?
8JVC1R9N6V8VC9

copy and paste that into the apply coupon box when your in the checkout

 

Yeah I saw that thread, which is awesome, but it didn't work. I copy, pasted, and nothing happened. Have you tired it? Cuz with that 20% off, I would like to do a little more upgrade. and also, upgrading to Intel Pro/wireless 3945a/g, what will that improve?

 

try again. every once in a while you get rejected or nothing happens.

 

Oh ok, so this happens? You just gotta keep trying till you get lucky? cuz I've been trying for a while...

 

personally I like something like this...

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...stemId=0GCMLG6X&~lt=popup&c=us&l=en&s=dfh&cs=

 

How would the Dell Wireless 1390 b/g compare with the Intel Pro/wireless 3945a/g? Thanks

 

Try this link and the one inside of it.

 

Thats a excellent deal

 

The Intel card will also be able to "talk" with 'A" networks, but generally all wireless now is "G". Intel has made a big deal about their wireless cards by creating the "centrino platform" which is simply an intel cpu, mobo and wireless card. The main benefit is a cool looking sticker. Don't let either card be a deciding factor. I like the Intel one because it has extra connectivity. If you will be running Linux, some say that the Dell card has better compatibility. You can change out wireless cards pretty easily, so don't stress about it.

 

really what would i have to do to change out mine in my e1705 if i wanted to [ when it gets here ]

 

1.) Order new card
2.) Wait anxiously for UPS truck
3.) remove old card, carefully removing old leads. (directions on Dell's site)
4.) put new card in
5.) connect antenna leads
6.) possibly install drivers
7.) rejoice.

 

8.) sell old card
9.) make some money back

 

I had a similar setup when I bought mine back in august, just I had a core duo, instead of core duo 2.

I would recommend switching to 1GB on 1 DIMM so you can upgrade later with ram @667mhz; however I have the same as your right now and it runs flawlessly, can burn a DVD, watch a movie and be converting music in itunes all at once.

Bigger harddrive depending on what you are doing, I have a 120gb on mine (not SATA unfortunately, no opt for that before). But without my external I'd be tight for space.

If you willing to spare the extra money, I would say go for the complete care warranty, if your in university like me, stupid random stuff can happen. Like me spilling liquid on my E1505 a week ago. I think theres a promo for get 4yrs for the price of 3yrs of complete care...

Anyways best Luck

2.0Ghz Intel Core Duo T2500
1GB 557mhz
120GB 5400rpm HD
256 Radeon X1400

I also ordered mine on the phone and got the rep to throw in a Carbon Fiber Quicksnap for free, which looks good cause it distinguishes my comp from the ton of other e1505 I see on campus. Your Dell E-Code may be a better deal, but check into it.

 

Cool, nice to know you have something veryy similar and works great so far. It'll be first Dell so yeah. The thing is I havent purchased it yet and right now, they don't have XP anymore. Imma have to get Vista Home Premium, which I must say, iI'm unsure about. I didn't really pay attention to it when news of it came out cuz I didn't think I'd ever use it.

I was planning on getting the acidental coverage thing, but quite a lot of money and to get more years on accidental coverage, gotta get matching years on limited warranty/at-home service, which would be even more money. I figured I had my old laptop for about 2 years, and one of those years was my first year in college and I didnt have acar or anything and I'd take the train and bus with it, w/o anything happening to it and I never had a case or anything for it either, (which I will have for this one). But it does sond good to have it... maybe I can try to get the rep to get me like a year or something haha.

Also, what you say to the rep and how you say it? Sounds like a good idea cuz tons of people at my school have Dells

 

LOL, I basically asked if there are any special offers for my laptop that I can take advantage of. Then he proceeded to tell me I can get a crappy printer for 50 bucks extra thats 100+ value. Then I told him, I was really interested in the Carbon Fibre quicksnap and how about you throw that in for free. He went to confirm with his manager etc, came back told me about the printer again. Then I said I can probably buy this from online for cheaper (which I knew I couldnt cause I calculated it out), then he went and talked to his manager again, and viola my quicksnap was added on top of my purchase for free.

My extra coverage for 3 years costed me 300 Cdn., I guess dell has figured a smart way to make you pay more for it. However the one that the US offers covers theft, and has GPS tracking. Which is cool, but im usually sure I dont let me laptop out of my sight, or let my friends look after it if im heading away for more than a min.

And if your getting Vista Premium, I would recommend you get 2GB of ram, because Vista Premium has all that Aero style stuff in it, which is probably a resource grabber since its still in its early stages. I have just XP Home on mine, but im running other applications like Windows Blinds (The same thing as skinning your desktop with Aero) and Yahoo Widgets all the time, but the computer is still flawless as far as ive seen so far. Just saying 2GB, cuz 1GB is the minimum for Premium, and not sure how it would run.

And on my accident of spilling coke all over my computer, They replaced the palmrest assembly,touchpad, LED board, switch board, LCD suspend switch, multi-media board.The entire palm rest and keyboard assembly as well. They recieved it wednesday, shipped it out to me by friday. Pretty Quick, so if your worried about dell, they are pretty good with you, but I dont know if thats because I have the warranty, If I didnt, it would have been a whole hassle for sure.

Anyways goodluck with it.

 

Thanks alot! I heard about the 2GB being best for Vista but its $185 more, and I'm at $1,121 right now. Upgrading to 2GB would be $1,306. What's your opinion on this:
downgrade my processor to from 1.83GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB to 1.60GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB, and get the 2GB? the price owuld be $1,181.

Downgrading to 1.66GHz would be $1,256.

Upgrading processor to 2GHz and keeping 1GB ram wouldn't help would it?

Man I wish they still had the XP. Vista causing so much dilemas

I can't seem to get the coupon working cuz Iif I get that 20%, it, then the $1,306 would be workable.

 

Not to sure about downgrading your processor, since it is downgrading your FSB as well. Although it is only a 200mhz drop, I guess its amplified, cause most of the time your working with 1 core, and then the 2nd core kicks in with extra work. I would probably ask another person on downgrading the processor, but im sure most will recommend a processor with 4mb Cache,

As for the coupons, Ive heard that if u just try repeatedly, it will sooner or later work.

The 2GB ram is not a necessity right off the bat either. You could try working with 1GB for now, then add another 1GB Dimm later. I would just try to ask one of the dell personnel if its possible to get a 1GB on 1 Dimm with your system compared to 2 Dimm so u can upgrade it later.

I would say post another thread about your new "problem" so others will give attention to it...Some guys usually know where to find cheap ram, so u could upgrade it cheaper than Dell.

Hope this helps.

---You could also risk it with the coupons and wait until new coupons are issued. Im pretty sure they will, after Feb 1st. Because right now, the maximum usage of the coupons could already be met, so that may be why it isnt working for u.