XPS 1530...Please Analyze this order....

Earlier this week I ordered and XPS 1530. Because of the delay, I am using a borrowed machine(an HP) that had 1.5Ghz processor and 2gb of ram. Because i've found that this machine runs fine, I thought what I had originally ordered was overkill.

I changed my order to the one below...

My Changes:

-4gb ram down to 2gb
-From the 2.2 GHZ processor to the 2.0 GHZ
-From the 256mb video card to the 128
-Dropped the Office Software(realized I have a license here)

Price is now $1510 inclusive of a $75 discount and free overnight shipping.

I am a heavy MS office user, sometimes editing some very large Word Docs and Excel sheets. Also I have a lot of music and pictures(I don't do any editing). I surf the web a great deal. I ALWAYS have Outlook open and running. That's 95% of what I do.

Will I be good with set up or did I make an error cutting it down? Can somebody put my mind at ease?

1 223-3529 XPS M1530, Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB 2M L2 Cache)
1 313-5814 Tuxedo Black Casing XPS M1530
1 311-7821 2GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm, for XPS M1530
1 320-6077 15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA TrueLife LCD with 2.0 MP Camera for XPS M1530
1 420-7715 Camera Software XPS M1530 2.0MP
1 320-6081 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M G
1 341-5634 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive for XPS M1530
1 420-6813 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, English
1 420-7590 Media Direct 3.3
1 420-6995 DELL SUPPORT 3.4,DIM/INSP
1 420-5769 Internet Search and Portal
1 420-5924 Icon Consolidation Application
1 420-6436 Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
1 310-9764 DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP, XPSM1530
1 412-0946 Dell Travel ExpressCard Remote Control, IR
1 310-9246 Creative Earbud EP630
1 412-0917 Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0, for Inspiron
1 313-5820 8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive for XPSM1530
1 420-6464 Roxio Creator Basic
1 313-5014 Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy
1 430-2449 Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini-card
1 410-1174 Trend Micro PC-cillin InternetSecurity, English, 15-Month Subscription
1 312-0638 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion P Primary Battery, for XPS M1530
1 412-0148 No Internet Service Provider Requested
1 412-1397 No Productivity Software requested
1 412-0360 Soft Contracts - Banctec
1 950-3337 1 Year Limited Warranty
1 950-9797 No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
1 960-8710 Warranty Support,Initial Year
1 986-5859 Thank you for choosing a Limited Warranty and Service Contract
1 988-5607 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year
1 984-2350 Type 3- Third Party At HomeService, 24x7 TechnicalSupport, Initial Year
1 986-3557 LoJack Theft Recovery Service - 1 Year
1 430-2566 Dell Wirless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0+EDR)
1 310-8628 You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System
1 310-8319 Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
1 420-7091 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS
1 420-7285 Datasafe Online 10GB,1 Year Free
1 987-7449 XPS,Datasafe 10GB,1YR(Incl w/price)
1 988-0099 To activate your online backupaccount, go to Start, Programs, DataSafe Online
1 330-0171 S and P Drop-in-Box Marcom forDHS Notebooks

 

i wouldnt have downgraded the video card
but your other downgrades are good, I would of gone a step under the 2.0ghz, and i would of downgraded the memory to 1gb and upgraded it myself

 

If thats all you will be doing with your laptop, then i think your modifications are justifiable.

On a side note, if that all you plan to be doing with your new laptop, you may want to consider looking at other alternatives which might be more cost-effective than investing in a premium notebook. Some examples that come to my mind are Inspiron, Vostro and Latitude lines.

 

I would not downgrade the graphics card if i where you.

 

And, although I have no problems with the screen res, you might. Working with excel and word documents all the time (like you stated) might not be that great with a 15.4" WXGA screen....

 

For something that will always be on my desk or next to my bed...those other options I find to be hideously ugly...So I don't mind going up to the XPS...

 

Why is that?

 

First of all it is not much of a price difference and in the future you might need better graphics and you will not have it there also it is one of the only parts on a notebook you cannot upgrade. In fact I think it is the only one that has a crucial part in running the notebook, where it cannot be upgraded.

 

I'd take off the trend micro software and download AVG free instead. Don't let Dell install any trial software or bloatware onto your computer. I'd kill Roxio, too.

Don't listen to the people about the graphics card. 128 is fine for everyday use and basic editing, dvd watching, etc. if you aren't a gamer, you're fine. if you REALLY want to drop the extra hundred bucks go for it, but it's really not necessary and is not a "crucial part" of the computer unless you're a gamer.

i would lower the RAM and just upgrade it yourself to 2gb by yourself for 70 bucks or 4gb for 140. Also, the core 2 duo 1.8ghz is just fine..its the first one that supports virtualization technology and is pretty damn fast (no REAL difference between 1.8 and 2.0)

AVG and Comodo Firewall are all you need. For online backup, use Google.


Also, Vostro -1500 looks like it has everything you want minus some of the bling bling for much cheaper.

 

Any integrated graphics would even be fine.

But this laptop seems really overpriced for what it has in though...

For what you seem to be doing, a WSXGA+ (1680x1050) resolution would be better IMO. I'm really wondering why Dell doesn't offer it on the 1530...

I would also drop another $100 by going with a 5400RPM 160GB drive. The difference is minimal and you usually put a laptop under hibernation rather than shut down so you won't see a great difference. My C90S has the same boot time as my desktop on a 250GB 7200RPM SATA2

 

Is the res not a little low. You may end up doing lot of scrolling?

 

Yeah its definitely not twice as good as my 699 vostro... but the 8400 gs is just fine for what your doing, if even overkill. Don't listen to those people who tell you otherwise. I really would like extra resolution on that lcd if i were getting it, but if you have an external lcd, you may be ok.

 

get 1GB RAM, lowest hard drive and cheapest wireless card, those parts could be upgraded later at lower cost than from Dell. if you could DIY, CPU is also much cheaper from aftermarket if you don't mind switch back original CPU when warranty demands.

 

128MB graphics should be fine... Screen res is the concern.. you really don't have an option there yet...

 

I believe there would be a sticker on the CPU panel

 

Please note the price is inclusive of 8.75 percent tax & shipping.

 

imo the xps line is wayyyyyyyyyy overpriced especially the 13 and 15 series so much more can be had from other companies for soooo much less money

 

Honestly, if you're downgrading from 8600 to 8400, just get the XPS M1330. Heck, get it with integrated graphics and save even more $$$! Oh wait, XPS only comes with Vista, right? Scratch that, don't go integrated.

 

I don't think he would save any money to go down to the T7100, the T7250 has the same OEM cost, and here in New Zealand you didn't pay extra to upgrade to it (back before it was made the default in higher models).

All of the downgrades seem well picked. Going lower to the integrated video wouldn't be wise with all of Vista's "aesthetics" running eating up memory bandwidth.