Vostro 1500 Options

Hi folks! Thanks to all your help, I've almost settled on getting a Vostro 1500 when the time comes. However I need your help with choosing some options.

I would love to save some $$ and order my own memory and hard drive. However choosing the least-expensive base build from Dell's website, and the least-expensive memory and hard drive options (2x512 MB, 80GB@5400rpm) ends up costing me MORE than if I chose the mid-level base build with the hardware I was planning on buying separately. Illustrated (better, I hope) below:

Option 1: Base $499
T7250 CPU
-2x512MB RAM
XGA+ screen
-80GB 5400RPM
256MB GeForce 8600M GT
8X CD/DVD+RW
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945
Final Cost: $1007

Option 2: Base $599
T7250 CPU
-2x1GB RAM
XGA+ screen
-160GB 5400RPM
256MB GeForce 8600M GT
8X CD/DVD+RW
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945
Final Cost: $908

Do they price their options like that to discourage people from doing exactly what I planned on doing?

Also, does this laptop support SATA II (3GB/sec) drives? Good to know if I'm going to replace the hard drive at a later date.

Thanks a lot!

 

I think it supports SATA II, it might even support the 16.0GB/s, im not entirely sure
if you upg your hdd then you will need cloning software, it is a must
whichever biggest HDD they give is probably the best one that it supports
I personally ordered a SAger NP5792 w/ 2.5GHz penryn but with a crap hard drive, but i am going to upg to a 200GB 16GB/s later it is $1764.43, that might be a bit out of your price range

and yes, that makes you buy it from them, although i don't see why thats a bad thing in this situation

 

I was considering a Sager NP2090, but found I could get almost the same capability from the Vostro for $300 less. I'm really going for the best bang for the buck, for no more than $1.250, and the Vostro seems to fit that bill quite nicely for under $1,000. Too bad it doesn't have a native docking station (like the D-series) or a DVI port, but I suppose you can't have everything!