This decision is killing me, help me NBR.

I've been planning to get a small laptop for a while now (no bigger then 14.1") and have pretty much settled on Dell. The M1330 easily topped my most wanted list and I was close to making the purchase. However, I configured an Inspiron 1420 with the exact same specs and it came out to $510CDN cheaper. Here are the specs for both, they are pretty much the same, any differences in the M1330 will be in italics:

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (4MB cache/2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB), English
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium Edition, English
SYSTEM COLOUR Jet Black Color for the 1420 and Tuxedo Black for M1330
LCD DISPLAY High Resolution, glossy widescreen 14.1 inch display (1440 x 900)
Slim and Light White LED Display (1280 x 800)
INTEGRATED WEBCAM Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
VGA Webcam
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 Dimm
HARD DRIVE 120G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
GRAPHICS CARD 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 8400M GS
OPTICAL DRIVE 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability


So, my question is: Is the smaller and thinner shape of the M1330 worth $510, given that it's only .8" smaller? What other things, other then size, good looks, and a fingerprint reader, does it have over the 1420? Has anyone here been able to get a feel of both laptops? How do they compare?

While I can afford both, I don't exactly have money to throw around, so I just want to make sure I'm going to make the right decision.

Thanks!

 

While the m1330 is thinner and more compact, the 1420 feels exceptionally compact and robust, even if its quite a bit thicker. The m1330's plastic areas often feel hollow and fragile though its thinner(and assumed to be more....packed in?). However, both are solid machines, its really up to you in the end. What are the prices of both?

If getting it soon is reason enough, perhaps that may effect your decision.

 

Well, my Vostro 1400 had no problems with the 1280x800.

And if you really want to, you could cut that TL7500 to the one that's 2.0 ghz to "make the price" not so steep.

 

The 1420 came out to $1549 CDN while the M1330 was $2059 CDN.

Also: I don't really care much for how long it takes to ship, I'm a patient person. As long as it ships in good condition.

 

the 1330 is a very nice machine, it just screams gaming but if you want a lower price go for the 1420.

what your doing by purchasing the m1330 is buying the "xps" nametag.

 

Yeah, most likely its just the name your buying in that....

 

if u want to OC your video card

forget the 1420, the video card heatsink barely gets any fanned air, in the 1330 there is a heat pipe across the video card that goes to the fanned heatsink

 

do yourself a favour and only order it 1GB, 1 DIMM ram. dell absolutely rapes you for the memory upgrade. buy the second 1GB dimm yourself at a computer shop and save ~$100.

$500 difference? i would go for the inspiron/vostro myself. what's the difference in weight?

also the T7300 would probably be just fine and save quite a bit of money.

 

For some reason Dell Canada doesnt offer the T7300 for the M1330... its either the T7100 or a $230 jump to a T7500.

 

Dell has a shortage of the T7300 chips right now.

 

If you wanted a better looking laptop and good customer support, go for the XPS system.

 

I've still never been able to see the M1330 in person (no kiosks within 90 miles of me have them) but I've seen the 1420. If you're even considering the 1420 and you don't care too much about looks, I'd look into the Lenovo T61 or T61p.

I got tired of the M1330 wait and huge price premium so I got a T61p. I got a faaster CPU (2.2 ghz T7500 vs. 2 ghz T7300), faster video (Quadro 570m vs. 8400M GS) for almost US $700 less. My M1330 config was $1971.53 w/tax vs. $1,294.60 for the T61p.

It was not totally apples to apples though because the largest 7200 rpm drive available on the T61p was 100 gig vs. 160 on the M1330, I didn't order a 2nd batt on the T61p, and the T61 series doesn't have LED backlit screens available. Also, the T61p is larger and heavier than the M1330.

The T61p is a lot thinner than the 1420. The price ended up being so good because of the now over deal + coupon at http://www.hot-deals.org/ (see August 29, 2007).

I ended up ruling out the 1420 because of its thickness, weight and my slight concern about the durability of the finish of the top cover. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2385073 has some other alternatives suggested by others

FYI, here are the dimensions of the 14.1" T61 widescreen and non-WS versions:
WS: 13.2" x 9.3" x 1.09" – 1.26"
non-WS: 12.3" x 10" x 1.1" - 1.3"

 

Choose the configuration with $1370 as the base price. The T7300 is still an option.

 

I think I'm gonna go with the 1420. Reason being is using a coupon I can save even more by going with the 1420, and Dell never has any coupons for the XPS systems.

Just one more thing I want to ask, how's the screen on the M1330? I often hear the 1440 x 900 screen on the 1420 is awesome, but I never hear anyone talking about the M1330's screen.

 

BTW, have you seen a 1420 in person? It's rather thick if you ask me. I would check it out in person before puling the trigger. http://www.reviewpub.net/2007/07/inspiron-1420.html had some size shots and dimensions compared to the T61. BTW, not that this necessarily means that much, but more folks here picked the T61 in a poll vs. the D630 and 1420 at http://forum.notebookreview.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=1529.

Unfortunately, seeing a T61 laptop in person can be challenge. I can't speak for Canada, but Lenovo's retail presence in the SF Bay area is piss poor and I had to buy it sight unseen.

Yep to the coupons for XPSes. They are rather rare.