E4200 and E4300 available NOW!

For sure!

 

I can get a student discount from my school (UofM) and get about $250 off on the base e4300 model. not bad, but still too much. let's wait

 

Went to the Sony Store today and spent 20 minutes typing up my school notes on the Z. I don't get how anybody can like that keyboard compared to a Latitude or a Thinkpad. It feels awkward - calculator button keys.

It was better than the SZ or other keyboards, which seemed really flimsy and cheap.

No regrets with the E4300 (although X200/300 would have been preferred - but Canada is more expensive) when typing comprises 90% of what you do on the computer. Maybe for a graphics professional or gamer it makes sense.

 

when will color options be available? I was told 2 weeks, then someone else told me this week...

 

That's what almost everyone experiences. And then after a couple of days they start loving it. I had the same with the TZ.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=300192

 

Hi Guys, I didn't knew that I was rich.
No, seriously, I ordered a Dell E4300 a few days ago for about 1.572,00 Euros (2 145,9 US-Dollar). I waited for nearly a month, so I thought I had to get it. From the pics it really looked so pretty. Now I have to wait one more (should arrive on October 21 or earlier).

Here's what i bought:

Greets from Austria

 

I guess I should make myself clear. Yes, the Z is smallish for a 13-incher and in a different class from the 12-inchers, but I had the E4200's 2.2lbs weight in mind when I said it's a bit hefty. Also the Z is quite a bit thick as it maxes out at 1.3 inches at the rear. I prefer the look of the x300 but may end up with Z590 sooner or later. The search continues as the E4200 has disappointed.

I do have access to Premier, so let me check that, as well...

Edit: Alright, I checked out Premier (it's not there yet so I tried the MPP). A couple of things stand out. First the configurations, which are limited even on the B2B site, are even MORE limited on the MPP. I don't see, for example the exorbitant ability to upgrade to 5GB of RAM. 3GB is the max. Also, where the eff is the much-touted back-lit keyboard? Is that standard because I don't see it. Also the VPro Technology option is grayed out. What, we need the infrastructure in place to become worthy of the hardware being available? Anyway, here's the config:

Latitude E4200
Date & Time: September 18,2008 11:56 PM CST

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Latitude E4200 Qty 1
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo ULV SU9400 (1.40GHz) WWAN-ready, fingerprint reader, Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate SP1, With media Unit Price $2,704.00
Catalog Number: 23 A1100
Module Description
Latitude E4200 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo ULV SU9400 (1.40GHz) WWAN-ready, fingerprint reader
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate SP1, With media
Memory 3.0GB, DDR3-1066 SDRAM, 1 GB integrated + 2GB DIMM
Internal Keyboard Internal English Keyboard
Graphics Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Primary Storage 64GB Dell Ultra Performance Solid State Drive
Bluetooth Dell Wireless® 365 Bluetooth Module
Latitude ON™ – Enhanced Communications Module-ECM Dell Latitude On Reader Software
AC Adapter Dell Slim 65W Auto/Air/AC Adapter
Primary External Optical Drive Options E-Module w/ 8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink PowerDVD™
Wireless LAN (802.11) Intel® WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/g/n Mini Card
Systems Management No Intel® vPro™ Secure Advanced Hardware Enabled Systems Management
System Documentation Resource DVD - Contains Diagnostics and Drivers
Primary Battery 4 Cell Battery
Hardware Support Services CS 2.0 3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD Onsite Service
Installation Services No Onsite System Setup
Miscellaneous Cables DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter
Processor Branding Intel Centrino 2 Core Duo Processor
OS Labels Vista Premium Label

Sub total:$2,704.00

Additional Discounts and Coupons
12% off systems priced $1600 and up with 3/4 yr At-Home service.
Thank you for taking advantage of your Member Purchase Program discount!
-$311.50
Save 4% when you buy online and pay with Dell Preferred Account!
Thank you for using the Dell Account!
-$108.16
Sub Total $2,284.34
Shipping & Handling $19.99
Shipping Discount --
Tax $192.97
State Environmental Fee --
Total $2,497.30

This config with my MPP and DPA discount and NY tax was exactly around $2500 delivered. This is not THAT bad. It has the ultra-performance SSD (Is that the 2nd Gen Samsung?) If you add one of the $8 eBay 6% off MPP coupons, it will come down another $125 or so. So $2375 delivered is alright! You can take off another $150 for a similarly configured E4300 and voila, you are back in competitive territory with the likes of the Sony Z and the X301. And with great warranty service (3 year NBD/International) to boot. I think this is now a contenda

 

Any E4300 reviews up yet?

 

The laptop JUST came out. Dell business is very reluctant to prove review companies with Latitude samples, as all it takes is a single poor review to crash the party.

 

isn't that true for every manufacturer?