Serious decision: Precision M4400 or stick w/ XPS M1530

My M1530 is still "in production" and it's not too late to cancel is it? University requires laptops by September 2nd and Dell says ESD is September 15th. I'm in big trouble for my engineering courses.

Anyways, I'm really starting to like the feel of the new M4400. Here's a few questions on it:

1. Am I allowed to buy it? It's in the business section and I'm a student trying to buy this for "home". Although, I do work at a web design studio (I doubt Dell knows about us though). What should I do as far as discounts (student, business, etc.) and purchasing it?

2. If I use the gov't discount, do I get in trouble for lying? I'd rather not but someone said you can get up to 20% off + another 5% off using http://instantwin.dellsavings.com/ + maybe I can call in for that 4% student discount.

Pros:

M4400:
NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M, 512MB
8GB max RAM
Backlit keyboard (I work in the dark, a lot!)

M1530:
2 Headphone ports (lol? I don't share music that way)
4GB max ram

Please help me learn what's my best choice here. I like the way both of them looks (even though I saw someone in uni with the M1330 today and it was fugly).

 

Yes, you can buy it.

Yes, you might get in trouble for lying. It's called fraud.

I'd say go for it though. The M4400.

 

If you need your laptop by September 2, then I doubt that a newly ordered M4400 will get there on time. People who placed orders last week were given shipping dates for September 9. Regarding your question about buying a business computer, I think that's fine. You can just provide a business name or, I think, even your own name if you prefer. I wouldn't lie to get the government discount.

Also, I don't think the Precision laptops are included under the EPP. At least my university's EPP site does not have them.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hey...if you do not work for the govt. or are truly applicable to the govt. discount...Then, really why chance it? It's just not right..You said the words *lying* and are already questioning doing this..If I were you...I just wouldn't do that.

And, yes...you can get into some good trouble, if you did this and were caught

You may want to edit your post, so that it appears in a *positive* manner )

That's just my opinion!

Cin

 

Well I'm only saying it in that way because in some other thread a guy said his father chose a gov't member ID but they did not question his eligibility...

Most of that discount talk refers to this post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3828352&postcount=5

 

but why does ur college require laptops?

 

Its an engineering university w/ 100% math & engineering courses. Other than that, hell if I know...

Anyone have any plans on getting the M4400 for as cheap as possible? Any ideas are appreciated. I know it's a new computer so its going to be almost impossible to find a good deal on it...

 

I don't think there would be many deals on the M4400 as it's part of the newer line and sometimes it's hard to come across a coupon. You might get lucky before school starts though but then you'd also have to wait for it to come in.

If you can still cancel the XPS I'd get a Sager. If you're looking for deals because the base price right now is 899. Upgrade it with T9400 2.53GHz Montevina and Intel WiFi Link 5300 and with a 1-DIMM 2GB RAM (1 stick of RAM with 2GB) it'll be $1059. If I had more time to return my XPS I would do it to get a Sager.

 

At this point, unless you order from the Outlet, you aren't going to get a CTO system by September 2nd. Definitely not a Precision M4400. You can order from the Small Business section, I do it for servers.

 

I have a vostro that I didn't need anything business wise to order. But the precision's are "corporate" models. Depending on your budget and what size and power you need the sager is very nice but pricey compared to the deals you can get on a xps1530. But then again at this point you may need to cancel and head to a store and buy retail since sept 2nd is right around the corner.

 

i think u shud stick with the m1530 and don't u have labs at ur college?

 

Why should I stick with the m1530? I'm in love with it already but Im just wondering what your reasons are. Yes I have labs but this is still required for me. It's my first laptop ever, I need it to be a good investment.

Reasons to order the M4400 over the M1530:

-T9400 (2.53GHz) over the m1530 T9300 (not a big diff tho)
-Support for XP 64 + drivers
-3 year warranty rather than the 1 year with the M1530
-NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M, 512MB over the 8600GT 256MB
-160GB Hard Drive, 7200RPM with Free Fall Sensor rather than the 80GB 5400RPM on my M1530
-Backlit keyboard
-Free 19" UltraSharp™ 1908FPW Widescreen

Sounds like a hell of a deal to me. At $1650 its tempting...my m1530 is still delayed. I have the money, I can probably spend a day or two trying to hassle my way into a 20-25% discount (maybe, but I doubt Ill beat their persistency).

Any more advice from you pros are appreciated.

 

Is the M1530 you ordered the same price as the M4400? Judging by the specs, it would appear that the M1530 cost you a lot less (did you use coupons?). I mean, you can probably get the same config options on the M1530 for a lot less with coupons.

 

Pretty much the same pricing without coupons. Except M1530 doesnt offer the Quadro, backlit keyboard or a free 19" screen (which I dont need, but its nice to come home and hook the laptop up to when I need some more screen space).

I had a 30% coupon on the M1530, which is why it was so cheap.

*oh and sagers...dont feel its for me.

 

Ah-ha! If you really care about the Quadro, backlit keyboard, and the free display, then by all means go for it. The external monitor has the same resolution as the LED panel on the M4400 (1440x900) and you can probably do a dual-monitor setup with the laptop display and the external monitor to double (quadruple?) the effective screen real estate. I believe that some of the Precisions ordered in the past 6-10 days have started shipping, but I still doubt if you'll have one by September 2.

 

Ive accepted this already. I think the M4400 will arrive here faster than the M1530's date, which is to be shipped at Sept. 19. Oh Dell...