What do you think about XPS m1330's price?

I have seen some ppl here and around this big world complaining from xps m1330 price, now what do think about this???!

 

We'll it's definitely expensive if you're looking at performance and components alone. But there is a price premium to be paid for a well designed and light laptop. Whether that price premium is worth it is up to you.

 

I dont believe its as expensive as they could have fetched...considering this is most probably right now the most powerful and only 13 inch ultraportable that Im aware of.

It stayed in line with exactly what the m1210 was last year when it could have moved up into the area of its sisters, the 17 and 2110.

 

Its the new and hottest product by Dell, just look at the production wait times and anticipation on this forum alone. Imagine what it is like world wide.

Dell typically discounts their Inspiron series notebooks with special offers and coupons, and bonuses. That is pretty rare to see on any XPS laptops, and I dont really expect anything like that for the new 1330 since its selling so well and in demand.

Even the Dell kiosks all over Houston dont have a single XPS 1330 to display to potential customers. I ordered one anyways then decided to cancel because of the quirky system and service I was getting. I now have a direct number to a good rep when I do decide to order.

Pricing a similar spec HP it comes out nearly the same. Finding an ultra portable Sony is a little less than the 1330. Im not complaining about the price, just waiting for production time to catch up and the first user reviews on the board first before I reorder.

 

For what you get I think it's about right to be honest.

For what I paid...its a friggin' steal!

 

I don't like the fact that I can stack enough coupons and discounts to get a Thinkpad T61P with extra warranty and docking station for $1-300 less than an ultraportable Dell, but I can't help but feel drawn to the thin profile and bright screen on the XPS. They're polar opposites. I'd go for the XPS in a heartbeat if it were ~$1600 fully loaded rather than $2k.

 

I would buy it if it was cheaper.

 

I got in on the drake deal and I paid 1550 after taxes and shipping w/ these specs:

2ghz T7300 Processor
2GB RAM
160GB 7200RPM HDD
LED screen w/ VGA webcam
128mb nvidia gfx card
Bluetooth
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
Nylon case
3yr warranty

 

the fully loaded xps reaches ~$2500 which expensive but it worths its price for LED and its portability.

 

but u pay for the build quality and style don't forget ThinkPad is good as latitude in business class.

 

For me is quite cheaper: 7100
2Gb Ram
Led screen
x3100

In Spain I can get this about 1250€ (which in $ use to be the same 1250$). Try to find a 13.3" good laptop that costs the same. For me is the best 13.3" right now, and the cheaper. How could some people say that it is expensive? I know that if you add a lot of upgrades it can be very expensive, but a basic configuration like I wrote is quite cheap.

 

here in us. the base model is starting from $1300 for 1.5GHz, 1GB ram, x3100, CCFL screen

 

I paid a little over $1400 for great specs so I think it is great. At $2k it is expensive, but it is comparable to the Sony SZ so I guess the price is good even though it is expensive.

 

No doubt the thinkpads are good - that's what I have now. With current deals I can get equip a T61p w/ WUXGA screen, Quadro 570M 256MB, UWB wireless, etc., and including a $200 dock, for under $1700. That's for the bar-none top of the line workstation.

Stacking on Delluniversity and gift registry + EPP 12% off and service deals, the closest I can get on the M1330 is ~1900, and for my needs I'd be giving up a lot important features (high resolution screen and dock, for instance).

But I understand it's an ultraportable, and 13" with 8400M GS and a 300nit LED-lit screen is really compelling. I just wish it were a bit less

I think I'm just sour about missing that whole Drake deal. If I was faster, I'd have jumped on that in a heartbeat and never looked back. But now I'm hemming and hawing, and it's just because of the price differential.

 

I saw someone using what looked like an SZ in a cafe (definitely a 12-13" vaio). It had an incredible transflective display similar to that on my Cingular 3125 and Nokia E61, making it completely readable in full sunlight. Pretty cool, but not enough to swing me to the Sony camp. I just wish other makers would start using those screens.

 

Here was my other option:

Sony Vaio $1849.99 on sale (reg $2099.99) VGN-SZ430N/B

Intel® Centrino® Duo mobile T7200
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945AGB network connection (802.11a/b/g)
2GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz frontside bus
4MB L2 cache and 2GHz processor speed
13.3" WXGA LCD widescreen with XBRITE 1280 x 800 resolution
160GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm); G-sensor shock protection
Built-in biometric fingerprint sensor for secure access to personal data
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 graphics and Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 VGA-out with Smart Display
Built-in Web camera with microphone
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
Built-in wireless WAN accessing Cingular Wireless National EDGE Network
Bluetooth technology
Multimedia card reader
10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet LAN; V.90/V.92 high-speed modem

Weighs 4.1 lbs. and measures just 1.5" thin for lightweight portability; lithium-ion battery and AC adapter

Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition operating system preinstalled; software package included with Sony Click to DVD, Microsoft Works 8.5 and more


A similar Dell XPS 1330 runs about the same price, and you can choose color options and configure things a little more.

 

Yeah I saw the SZ at best buy and it looked really nice. I hope the m1330 looks just as nice.

 

I keep going back and forth with myself on this issue also.

I know i can build an asus s37s with the same exact specs except the led screen for about $400 less than the dell. But it is the screen thats one of my main reasons for getting the dell and nobody can deny its an attractive notebook.

I would be a little happier with the notebook if it was $400 less than what it is now and they could have added an esata port for how much we're paying.

 

m1330 looks better

 

I hope so....

but you can engrave the Sony's! I didn't know this until I was shopping on their site... lol.

 

it tried it last month and tried to engrave my name on the laptop

 

Yeah and the 1330 has a better graphics card and santa rosa.

 

of course m1330 is the best in 13.3" class

 

think its great.. .bit expensive but really worth it...

 

price is reasonable for the style/features, got free overnight..
$1560 shipped
t7300
LED
8400 video
2gb ram
120gb HD
bluetooth
wireless N
2x 9 cell
3 yr warrenty + accidental care

 

I like spending a lot for mystery notebooks that take months to actually appear

EDIT: Post 100 yay!

 

Congrats! I feel old now... post wise.

 

I spent a lot of time looking at the Sony SZ series here in Beijing - actually went out to buy at Chinese New Year but the ones with a LED screen were out of stock and allegedly a new model was coming - though later I did not see anything more than a trickle of machines with existing specs (actually they thinned the lineup and removed top spec machines) - no idea of when the Santa Rosa chipset will make it. So let's compare the high specced Dell M1330 I ordered against a similarly priced Sony SZ (the budget model with LED backlit screen):

Dell M1330 price: 16,790 RMB (US$ 2,218 at today's rate)
Sony SZ VGN-SZ43CN: 16,988 RMB (now called VGN-SZ432N)

Dell screen: 13.3" LED WXGA backlit
Sony screen: 13.3" LED WXGA backlit

Dell: Fingerprint reader
Sony: Fingerprint reader

Dell: 1.9 Kg estimated (6-cell battery)
Sony: 1.69 Kg

Dell cpu: 2.2 GHz
Sony cpu: 1.83 GHz

Dell: CPU bus 800 MHz, memory bus 667 Mhz (Santa Rosa chipset)
Sony: CPU bus 667 MHz, memory bus 533 MHz (pre-Santa Rosa Intel 945GM Express)

Dell HDD: 160 GB / 7200 rpm
Sony HDD: 100 GB / 5400 rpm (Active shock protection)

Dell Graphics: Go 8400M GS (DirextX 10) 128 MB
Sony Graphics: Go 7400 (DirectX 9) 128 MB / switchable to Intel GMA 950

Dell: 3DMark05 score 3116
Sony: 3DMark05 score 1851
(These figures come from the lower specced 2 GHz Dell CPU vs higher specced 2.16 GHz Sony cpu so the Dell advantage may be greater than this. I think the Dell 3DMark06 score is probably double that of the Sony)

Dell: 2 GB RAM
Sony: 1 GB RAM

Dell: Windows Vista Ultimate (English)
Sony: Windows Vista Business (no english available, Anytime upgrade to Ultimate with switchable user interface not available in China)

Dell: DVD burner (I think/hope DL)
Sony: DVD burner (DL and also supports DVD-RAM)

Dell: Bluetooth
Sony: Bluetooth

Dell: 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n
Sony: 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g

Dell: Nil
Sony: Modem

Dell: VGA camera & microphone
Sony: VGA camera & microphone
(I think Dell is a two element array microphone with noise cancellation - not sure about Sony)

Dell: Sigmatel Audio with Creative Audigy HD software
Sony: Audio capability probably basically similar to Dell (?)
(Not yet clear to what extent Dell HDMI port will allow digital out - but Sony has no S/PDIF - so Dell may have the edge here)

Dell: Media Direct with media controls
Sony: Nil

Dell: In-ear headphones
Sony: Bluetooth headphones

Dell: Express card slot (with remote control)
Sony: Express card and PCMCIA card slots (Express occupied?)

Dell: 2xUSB, Firewire, VGA, multicard reader, 2 headphones, microphone, HDMI out
Sony: 2xUSB, Firewire, VGA, multicard reader*, 1 headphone, microphone
(* may be inferior to Dell one and I believe part occupies the express card slot)

Dell: Wi-Fi catcher, wireless switch, WLAN option, Computrace (is it also in BIOS?)
Sony: Nil

Dell: Roxio creator and some other software
Sony: A lot of software including Roxio - often criticized as unwanted bloatware in reviews

Dell: I hope it has a TPM module but doubt it as it is not mentioned
Sony: TPM module was available instead of Bluetooth headphones on other SZ models but not current lineup.

Dell: 1-year Consumer XPS Premier Service with CompleteCover, 2 years 24/7 phone support, 1 yr on-site
Sony: Not clear to me but I think less support

Dell: Est. 2.5 hours battery life playing DVD (6-cell battery, my other options)
Sony: Est. 4 hrs with graphics card switched off
(Battery life is very hard to compare so don't trust these figures - but Sony almost certainly has the edge).


Summary:
So really it is no contest. Sony has slight edge in weight, presumably battery life, it can have a docking station, build quality may be better. Dell is probably easier to open up and self-maintain and probably cheaper for repairs. I think only the Dell can be upgraded to 4GB RAM.
Overall the Dell thrashes the Sony for the same price in the China market.
To upgrade Sony cpu to 2GHz (still not 2.2 GHz), and HDD to 160 GB (still not 7400 rpm) costs 2,000 RMB more (US$ 264)
Perhaps it is not fair to compare a ~one year old Sony model with the new Dell but as Sony don't seem to have dropped the price of the older tech I think they can't avoid the comparison.

It is not quite clear what Sony are going to do for their Santa Rosa 13.3" model to differentiate it.
Presumably they will keep the switchable graphics (I wonder if that is what is delaying their Santa Rosa upgrade and I wonder whether the battery life benefit is degrading over time as graphics and motherboard chipsets improve - they may end up with a rather hollow selling point there).
They could go to a higher resolution screen and add Bluray (though I expect Dell may do the same).
Many of the new Chinese middle class go for premium brands (it is us westerners thrilled by cheap knock-offs) but on the other hand there is some residual anti-Japanese prejudice. So I think Dell's expectations of making significant gains in the Asian markets are justified.

I wonder if Dell are also going to take on the sexy Sony TZ model.

 

time will tell, for now dell is preparing to enter tablet pc and umpc portal.

 

no HDMI in new SZ6 so sony should decrease their price.

 

The port's not really that expensive to put in

 

1330 is way overpriced imho... However, Dell happens to be generous with various discounts, so here's to hoping for getting one valid on XPS systems

 

but it's expensive to my heart

 

overpriced things are always have better support and build quality and more distinct than others so don't worry