m1210 - 12 inch WXGA or 12 inch WXGA Wide Screen with TrueLife and A/V Communications Pack?

Hello,

My first post to this great site.

I just ordered my first laptop from Dell Canada -

XPS M1210
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2GHz/667MHz/4MB), Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
XPS M1210 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2GHz/667MHz/4MB)
A/V Communications Package: 12 inch WXGA
Memory: 2GB Dual Shared Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7400 TurboCache™
Hard Drive: 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005

I really don't care about the webcam and earbuds, but I'm not sure if I'm missing out on the Truelife screen or not. The Canadian Dell site does not explain if there is a difference in the screens. I'm not sure if the base model includes Truelife screen or not.

The options are:
12 inch WXGA ($0), or
Wide Screen with TrueLife and A/V Communications Pack instead of the regular 12 inch WXGA (for CAD$100)

Did anybody order without A/V pack, and does it still come with Truelife screen? If not, how is the base screen?

Chrisd999

 

The difference in screens would probably the quality of the colours. I'm unsure if they use different quality screens for people who get the A/V package but I wouldn't rule that out.

 

Can you actually get an M1210 without teh glossy [trulife] screen? I was pretty sure that all M1210 screens were the same....
The difference is the A/V package: a rotating digital video camera with a hypercardioid microphone, plus the 3g data card capability [i think, might have to check on taht one], and a set of nice earbuds.
Mainly its there just for the camera and mic.
I would have paid for it, because spending so much on a computer anyways, those are pretty nice features to have for just 100 dollars. If those things arent important, then you could probably save that $100.

 

If it were me, $100 for the upgraded screen and webcam w/mic alone is worth it. If you are considering to upgrade then you would have to cancel your current order and place a new one which would mean a later shipment date.

 

Sometimes it can be difficult to find some Canadian pricing on this website, so I was just wondering, how much did you laptop altogether come to (before taxes)?

And personally, I'd be happy with the AV Communications Pack. I'm going to try to record lectures, if possible. I ordered an extra battery, so in case I happen to run out of battery power mid-lecture, there's a bit of a backup plan there. (Though many of my lecture halls have plugs on the desks.) I also hear that with the AV Communications Pack, you actually have a "higher" chance of getting an AUO branded LCD panel, which apparently of the several that may come with the XPS M1210, has the least problems.

 

I paid around CAD$1,750 plus taxes last week during the 2GB RAM give-away. That's about US$1,575.

I hear that the AUO screen comes with A/V package but not without it (Toshiba or LG instead), so there is a difference.

However, I am still not sure if it is Truelife (glossy) or not (matte).

Chrisd999

 

I'm not sure if they'll let you keep the 2GB ram upgrade because there's a different promotion now which just seems completely useless cause its a upgrade to the cd/dvd burner which was already offered anyways?. So if you are upgrading then you would probably have to hag the csr a bit.

 

No, I haven't decided to upgrade to the A/V pack yet, but good point - thanks.

Whether or not I decide to upgrade depends on what I can find out about if Truelife comes with the non-A/V option (in Canada at least).

It's amazing that Dell's own sales people aren't really sure.

Chrisd999

 

I'm sure there are people out there who didn't get the a/v package, so common people help him out! It's probably just late so wait til tomorrow.

 

nx6288, can you clarify for me what you meant? I just ordered a laptop from Dell Canada during the free 2 GB RAM promotion and I was just off the phone trying to get my CSR to change the HDD from the 120 GB 5400 RPM -> 80 GB 7200 RPM. I understand that to do this, I'll have to cancel my previous order and put out a new one. But in doing this, are you saying my stake in the free 2 GB RAM will be forfeit as with all offers that were active at my previous ordering time, but are no longer? Eep. Now I'm starting to regret my, so I thought, *slight* change to my config.

To my knowledge, even the basic model of the M1210 has the glossy coating. I've not heard anything to prove otherwise. I've heard people complaining in threads because of the gloss, which if getting the AV Pack were an option to forgo the glossy for a matte screen, I'm sure that would have come up in conversation.

As for you, Chris, how did you manage to get your laptop for so cheap? Calculating your price minus a 6% GST, I get $1645 CAD. That's amazing. How'd you manage to pull that off?

 

I'm not positive but it could very well be the case because you're cancelling a previous order and placing a new order when the promotion has ended. There's a chance dell would allow you to keep your 2GB ram upgrade because you just want to change the configuration but I'm very unsure about that.

 

I paid about CAD$1,750 plus taxes. It was CAD$2,008 incl. taxes.

 

Oh man, my bad, Chris. I totally can't read today, sorry ! Haha.

 

Just a quick note from page 1:

My NON A/V package 1210 has the AUO screen.