Latitude D630 vs. E6400

I still can't decide! Help me decide.

I found a D630 on Dell Outlet for $799. It's a scratch-and-dent.

Specs below:
6 Cell Primary Battery
PN413
Fingerprint Reader Touchpad
XD831
90W AC Adapter
K1551
No Floppy Drive
HM450
Latitude D630 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.00GHz) 4M L2 Cache, 800MHz Dual Core
TC714
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
MR309
120 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
RP229
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
PN345
128MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 135M
YY222
Intel 4965 802.11a/g/n Dual-Band Mini Card
DX476
Processor Label
NP583
Keyboard On Notebook
HY692
Shipping Material
NP751
Quick Reference Guide
NP526
Operating System Label
8U724
Shipping Material
HX012
Resource DVD
NP418
Power DVD Software CD
JP323
Power DVD Software
YW740
Service Software
XM894
Roxio Creator DE
PN511
14.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA+ Laptop Screen
NP470
Genuine Windows Vista Business

Even with a new D port replicator, Pro Support, sleeve, extended battery service, the total comes to $1335.

I am looking at around $1870 for a similarly configured E6400.

Hmm...$500 seems a big savings to me, but maybe I'm wrong? Will I be happy with the D630?

I'm also thinking about buying a refurbished D port, dropping the extended battery service and getting one off ebay. That would widen the price difference gap even more...

Do you know if Dell Outlet ever takes back laptops without a restocking fee?

 

I forgot to ask how the Intel Platforms compare (Santa Rosa vs. Montevina)? Is the new one on the E6400 really that much better?

 

The new chipset is more power efficient and has numerous performance improvements, for example ~25% higher memory bandwidth.

If you are buying now for the next year or so then the D630 should be fine and you put money aside for the next purchase. If you are buying for the next 3 years then the E6400 might be better.

John

 

Further thoughts:

I should also add that the LED backlit WXGA+ display of the E6400 is a major advance on the D630 display. The display was one of the non-negotiable features when I was considering what to buy since the visual quality is excellent and it is more power efficient.

With that display and Intel graphics I think the E6400 with 6 cell gives a battery run time in the same range as with the D630 with 9 cell battery.

John