->The official POST ABOUT YOUR NEW DELL NOTEBOOK thread. <-

[a1mint]

15.4 SXGA+ screen
Core Duo 2 2.13 ghx
2 gb ram
100gb 7200rpm HDD
Radeon 256mb X1400
DVD+RW
9 cell battery
Intel PRO/Wireless w/ Bluetooth
$1800 Canadian after tax (approx 1630 USD)

I just ran your config through the CA website. Came to 1559 + tax. x 1.14 = 1777.26. Close enough.

I really like my $1473 + tax 17" 9400 with the 17" wuxga and the C1D 2GHz.
The 5400 rpm drive is just fine. I think with the 120GB size, I think the drive has to rotate a lot less than my previous 40GB drive from my old 8200 laptop, so I'm expecting a big HD speed boost. Except for booting the OS, most stuff stays cached in memory anyway, and the small amount of writing can happen in the background anyway.

I like your pick too, kind of. I would have shaved off a few things, like take the slower but larger harddrive. It is possible that because the drive has to rotate less to read the same amount of data, that the 7200 rpm thing doesn't buy you anything (this *has* to be somewhat shocking...?) - but get the facts before drawing conclusions (goes for me too).
Perhaps the cpu one notch down to save more. Probably would not have done the bluetooth thing - although - I guess you can use a wireless mouse without a thing sticking out your usb port. I think some cell phones do bluetooth as well - how does that work?
Other than that - definitely 2 thumb way up on the wsxga+ choice over the lame wxga screen.
I actually think that my wuxga is going to be a tad too fine...

I really think though, that people are way to easily taken with the hysteria - and hype.
7200 rpm vs 5400 rpm. Core 2 Duo vs Core Duo.
The industry just loves it. They tinker, and we gather and pick up their crums...

[saggyb]

Everywhere I read said to expect a 20-30% increase in seek times for the 7200 compared to 5400, probably only noticeable when dealing with large files, but I figured I was buying the best I could for every other part. As for the processor, the 2.0ghz was only 10 dollars cheaper than the 2.16 for some reason! (Only on the 6400 series on Dell Canada)
And the reviews on Core 2 have seemed pretty positive, I read figures anywhere from 10-20% performance increases with similar decreases in power consumption.
I don't even have anything that uses bluetooth right now, but for 30 bucks I figured why not plan for the future.
Overall I'm pretty satisfied, I spent a little extra, but I want it to last me as long as possible.

[a1mint]

Everywhere I read said to expect a 20-30% increase in seek times for the 7200 compared to 5400, probably only noticeable when dealing with large files, but I figured I was buying the best I could for every other part. As for the processor, the 2.0ghz was only 10 dollars cheaper than the 2.16 for some reason! (Only on the 6400 series on Dell Canada)
And the reviews on Core 2 have seemed pretty positive, I read figures anywhere from 10-20% performance increases with similar decreases in power consumption.
I don't even have anything that uses bluetooth right now, but for 30 bucks I figured why not plan for the future.
Overall I'm pretty satisfied, I spent a little extra, but I want it to last me as long as possible.

I thought the bluetooth thing was a 50 buck increase - ah, doesn't matter.

I've seen an almost 0 to 23% increase with the C2D, but more like 10% most of the time. I don't know if this 10% power improvement is true. I've read the power consumption is the same.

One last thing about the harddrive disagreement. The small increase in seek times won't mean anything, if the larger harddrive needs to seek less. Imagine if a track on the larger drive is more dense. That means more data per track, meaning less seeking. I don't think the head moves any faster physically.
So, I think it's a matter of rotation speed AND the number of platters (which means data density).

Ah, the industry just feeds us lines, and we suckers sit there and the world for things we *think* is worth something.

[dudeimgonnagetadell]

saggy...and the other people posting their prices...especially for the xps m1210....does your price include a warranty? everyone's prices seem to be a little better than mine, but i have a 4 year warrantly/compelte care...so maybe thats it?

[Greg]

take a look at my sig...i had to call in to get the price though...and my warranty includes 3 Yr-At Home, 90 Day PC training (okay...i don't care), 30 Dell-On-call (okay...i don't care), and a $100 (i do care).

what did you pay?

[a1mint]

but i have a 4 year warrantly/compelte care...

In the US you can take advantage of these "special sector" deal (eg. Health). They're slapping a 4 yr warranty on laptop like it costs them nothing.

In the meantime, others, that overlook this "special sector section", and also in Canada, where this isn't offered at all (Canada usually is just an afterthought), must shell out $300+ to get that kind of warranty. In Canada you can't even get 4 years, 3 year max.

[jeffffd]

In the US you can take advantage of these "special sector" deal (eg. Health). They're slapping a 4 yr warranty on laptop like it costs them nothing.

I've never heard of a special sector deal, can you explain what that means?

[a1mint]

I've never heard of a special sector deal, can you explain what that means?

http://www.dell.com/epp/

[jeffffd]

http://www.dell.com/epp/

Ah, ok I have heard of that. The problem with that is the 20% coupon doesn't work so, for my needs, the Dell Home deal was better.

-Jeff

[Minger]

Yeah, too bad they don't combine. Otherwise, the price would come out about equal if you got the warrentee wtih the 20%