Inspiron 1520 - Is it that bad?

[JPRT]

I swear NAFTA can screw itself, it's ridiculous buying a computer from the states being a Canadian. Anyway, I was about to order my Sager NP2090 but decided to research and found out that I'm looking at around $60 shipping, $100 in brokerage, and an additional 15-20% duties which could all be sprung on my at the door. I can't take that risk because it puts me over my budget so, I need to look at in-Canada options. Which lead me to rebuild my Dell that I was looking at before.

However, having read a couple user opinions, it seems the general consensus is disappointment? Headphone jacks, messed up screens, I don't know what to think now.

Can anyone who has received theirs give me the low-down on it? The model I built is around $1500, the usual T7300, 2gb ram, 8600m gt, etc. I'll miss the fingerprint login of the Sager but I guess the remote sort of counterbalances that.

Also, if anyone knows about other Canadian based suppliers of Sager/Compal or any comparable machines PLEASE let me know. I'm willing to buy from a smaller site without the outstanding support that Xotic and PNB offer, as long as it's a good price. (And not Gateway please).

EDIT: I just built a real nice Inspiron 1520.
T7300 2.0ghz
2gb ram
8600m gt 256mb
160gb 7200rpm hd
Integrated Webcam
Upgraded Wireless Card
Cool White Colour
Bluetooth
9-cell Battery
AND it qualified for the $300 off so it comes to:
$1224

Is that a steal or what?

EDIT2: The frustration continues, that was built on the US website. An equivalent on the Canadian site (where the damn coupons AREN'T valid!) is about $1700, and the dollars are almost equal (within 5% of each other atm). !!!!!

[publichealthkid]

I don't know, I'm buying a Vostro (same thing as 1520) and I'm doing so partially because of all the _good_ reviews I had seen. I think what's hard about reading things online is figuring out whether people's anecdotal problems are rare or the norm. I'm banking on these being really rather solid computers. If you wanted something that's definitely solid, and offers the fingerprint ID, you can look at the Latitude 830, it's great, but costs a few hundred more.

[2000BAMAGT-S]

Wow yeah that is actually a really good deal. I would jump on that before the coupon becomes invalid. If I am correct I believe they expire after a set number of people use it even if that happens before the expiration date... Read the reviews on here, they are very informative.

[JPRT]

Yeah, the problem is I realized that I can't order off the Dell US website and have it shipped to Canada, to get that PC off the Canadian website is $1700. It's like they're using the dollar conversion from 10 years ago. Arrrrrgh.

[Ackeron]

If you build a Vostro on the Canadian site it will be cheaper. But yeah, I'm looking at ways to get a Sager into Canada right now too... :\

[hitman047]

JPRT, i can totally understand your frustration.
Just yesterday, i compared a Vostro 1500 on Dell US and Dell Canada. The difference was a staggering $300. After the currency conversion, the difference turns out to be $254 CDN.
In other words, to buy the exact same Vostro 1500 in Canada, it'll cost $254 more. That's absolutely insane.

[Qfragger]

Hey JPRT. I'm in the same boat as you, but looking for a 1720. Let us now what you decide, i'm heading down the Dell route at the mo but their site changes every fecking day...

[JPRT]

If you build a Vostro on the Canadian site it will be cheaper. But yeah, I'm looking at ways to get a Sager into Canada right now too... :\

Yeah, have you heard anything about duties/brokerage fees and perhaps which courier is the best?

Also, building a Vostro was about $200 more on the Canadian site... and it doesn't come with a remote and coupons aren't available for it.

[hitman047]

I have relatives who live in US. What I am planning on doing is ordering it on Dell.com (Dell US) and have it shipped to my relative's place. I'll get hold of the laptop when I visit US next month.
So far, that's the only viable solution.
But, I'm not sure if I'll be eligible for Customer Service in Canada, simply because it was not bought here. Any thoughts?

[JPRT]

Hey JPRT. I'm in the same boat as you, but looking for a 1720. Let us now what you decide, i'm heading down the Dell route at the mo but their site changes every fecking day...

Yeah I know it's terrible. Not to mention, depending on the customization model you choose (before building it) I could build the EXACT SAME 1520 for $150 less. Still, it was high $1600's and that's just ridiculous. Basically, I'm trying to find a computer site which offers the Sager but in Canada, anyone know of one? I know there are more than just PNB and Xotic (such as Ahtec for the Netherlands), so I hope I can find one here.