Studio 15 deal/options

After passing on the Best Buy sale on the preconfigured Studio 15, I saw the deal posted on this forum and configured one for approx $1000. I'd really like to keep it under 1K with tax/shipping and was looking for advice on what to cut. (Unfortunately, I couldn't find any Studio coupons. )


Studio 15 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
Midnight Blue
3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2
Back-lit Keyboard
Hi Resolution/Bright, glossy widescreen 15.4 WLED display (1440x900)
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450
250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
High Definition Audio 2.0
Dell 1510 Wireless-N Card
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
Battery Options 56 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
1Yr Ltd HW WRTY, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis, 24x7 Phone Support
No ISP requested
Integrated Finger Print Reader
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Internal (2.0)
Recycling Kit and Plant a Tree for Me

TOTAL:1,113.79 (with tax and free shipping)

I thought about cutting the bluetooth, and downgrading to Wireless G, but that only saves me about $45. I don't have a wireless N router yet, but I thought it would be easier/cheaper to add wireless N now for when I do upgrade my router. I would buy this with a credit card that would xtend my warranty by a year.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

If your a student you can get one similar to that with a 320gb hdd for 899. Same main components, without a few of the extra options.

 

I'm not a student. (at least not one who is formally in school) ;-)

I really want the LED screen since I take my laptop outside sometimes. I also thought it would be nice to upgrade to the discrete graphics card instead of the x3100, though I suppose that's one area I could cut if I had to. I'm not a gamer, but I like to create scrapbook pages on the pc, using Photoshop Elements. So, I figured discrete graphics would be a plus.

As far as bluetooth, what would I really use it for? I could sinc my iPhone, but I could do that via USB too. Bluetooth is something I could buy later, right? I could upgrade the hard drive if I needed the space, and just buy a wireless N card later too. What's the purpose of a backlit keyboard, other than looks? Is that something I could cut?

 

go here: http://coupons.smarter.com/Dell/index.html
use the coupon to get the free timbuk2 messenger bag, it shud also knock of around 25 bucks due to free shipping or something.
also check out this site: http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/128689
use those 2 offers together and u shud easily get ur laptop around 1k
oh, i think if uw ant to save money u can get a poorer processor~

 

I went for wireless N because I figure one day I will upgrade my router. At the moment no where I will use mine has wireless N

I got bluetooth only for my phone. I have a NOKIA and I use bluetooth to sync my contacts, calender and transfer files.

you have almost the same studio i built except I went for 4 gig ram and have a two year warranty

 

Thanks, anyway, but those deals have expired.

 

You would use the backlit keyboard for using your laptop in low lit places. While in bed watching TV. I use DAILYEDEALS.COM for my coupon codes for Dell. Once there look on the left side of the webpage for "electronics" click that, then scroll down to Dell. Right now I don't see anything offered for Studio laptops. I'm also waiting for a coupon code to come out so I can order my Studio 15.