Last few questions re: DV5t

OK. I've been reading these boards for well over a month, and I just can't decide a) whether to buy a new notebook at all or b) which one. I thought I was going to get a Dell Studio because the XPS is just out of my price range, and I don't want to deal with the NVidia issue. But, the reviews for the DV5s were so good, I decided it was a much better deal to go with HP. Better specs for less money. Even if I do need to get used to the glossy screens and shiny touchpad.

I have a 4.5 yr old Dell Inspiron 8600. Runs great. Maxed out the ram at 2GB, processor is an M, 1.4 ghz. Almost no room on my HD. I have an external HD, but still ...

So, do I just wait until my Dell actually dies?? I'm afraid when it does, there will be no great deals at the time. The free upgrades on the HD, ram, etc., plus the 30% make it hard to pass up. My Dell would go to my son.

I know everyone says to get more ram from Newegg, but in this case, wouldn't it be better to spend the $50 to upgrade to 3 GB, since it'll be 30% off? Then if I ever want to upgrade to 4 GB, I'll throw out the 1 GB chip.

Also, I was just going to keep the standard 1-yr warranty, then get an extra year by using my credit card. Should that suffice or do I really need an extended warranty?

Thanks, much, for your help.

 

i have 2 gb and as of now it is plenty...
i did a clean install which open a chunk of memory but i am working at around 54 percent usage...
I was tight when I bought my lappy and decided to just get 2 gb and upgrade later...if you have the money...then just go for it...
but...when you upgrade memory...it is okay to mix them...but if you aren't careful and mismatch some specs...it will make it slower than it should be...
I like to match all my memory so i don't have to worry about speeds or timings or anything...
Why spend 50 on 3 gb when 2 gb is free and for 57 you can get 4gb all matched at 800 mhz...just saying

2gb is enough for me...and i've been gaming a little on my lovely dv5t...
i've been able to play bioshock with everything on and gears of war and high for everything...very enjoyable i might add...

 

I was going to just take the two 1-gig chips since the upgrade is free, but to make one of those chips 2-gig at a cost of $35 (30% off the 50), it seemed worth it.

I'm still a little apprehensive about the warranty, whether 1 year with HP and the 2nd year through the cc company is enough.

 

who is your credit card company?

 

I'd use Amex for this purchase.

 

Agree with everything Vivere said above. I run 2GB RAM with PS CS3, daily,
and find it more than capable. Take the 2-gig standard RAM - you can always
throw in $57, later, when you need more reserve.

BTW, I did a complete clean-out of my dv5t, via Revo, etc. and have my
idle RAM down to 750MB, so it *is* possible to take advantage of Vista's
preloading, and still have plenty left over.

Rob

 

So, do you think I'm "safe" with just keeping the std. 1-yr warranty from HP, then the additional year from Amex? Or should I increase the warranty time from HP? (also, after reading another of your posts, I'm thinking about downgrading the graphics card to the integrated, too, to save $100)

 

Since I was able to get such a low price on my dv5t, I decided to take
some of the money saved and get the 3-year Pickup & Return Hp warranty.
I would have preferred to have the Accidental Damage coverage, but felt
it was a little pricey.

Re: graphics card. You have to assess your needs, here. For my usage,
it just didn't make sense to go with a dedicated card, since I wanted to
decrease heat and increase battery life.

Rob

 

i went with the standard one year and my cc (citi) i don't think offers an extended warranty deal...

If i save up and feel the need to get a warranty you can always add it later...

Chicago...what is revo? how does it clean out the programs?
I am idling at .98 gb...but i think that will be lower since i have rocketdock and daemon running all the time...

 

You can get Revo here: http://www.revouninstaller.com/

It's a very good app. It removes and cleans out all the program remnants.
Check out the site for more details.

Rob

 

Memory- I am a big proponent of going the DIY route (via Newegg) if upgrading to 4GB of RAM, but 3GB isn't as clear cut. In your case, the upgrade would net to $35 (after 30% off) if you upgrade when ordering from HP. If you go with the standard 2GB and upgrade it yourself to 3GB, you'll end up removing one of 1GB modules already installed. DIY would actually cost at least $40 to buy a new 2GB module and you'd be stuck with the 1GB removed (worth $15 or so)....

So, in this case where 2GB is standard and the upgrade to 3GB is $35 (or even if it was $50), it's cheaper AND easier to just upgrade it when you order your system!

***FYI- I just took a look at the dv5t over at HP.com and it's showing a FREE upgrade to 3GB! A no-brainer! =)

Warranty- I worked for Circuit City's credit card bank for two years after college. Selling ESP (their version of extended warranty) was pure profit and we were even allowed to authorize for ESP over a customer's credit limit because of that!

Purchasing an extended warranty directly form a manufacturer is usually better coverage than the various retailer-issued ones (e.g. ESP). Obviously, they wouldn't offer these warranties if they weren't making money on them, though. If they sell 100 warranty upgrades and only five of those require repair during the extended warranty coverage, it's an easy source of profit for them. For the consumer, it's a game of odds- will you be one of those five out of 100 that will have a problem after your standard warranty expires???

Personally, I choose to take the small risk and avoid any type of extended warranty (on computers, cars, and pretty much anything else). I do my research before buying, helping me make an educated decision and minimizing the risk of problems. I haven't regretted it yet.

My advice, take the standard HP warranty and, if your credit card covers the 2nd year- that's great!

 

Great. Thanks for the tip. Yesterday, it was still a free upgrade to 2 GB. The offer for MS Office Home/Student also changed from $100 off to 50% off. And the TV Tuner option is available again.