Need advice on M4400 specs

Hi all! I'm really keen on buying DELL's M4400 but a bit confused on which specs would suit my usage and price. I'm doing a lot of CAD and 3D and my budget is around $1800. Here is my options from DELL Malaysia website are below:

-Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8600
2.4GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB or
-Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T9400
2.53GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB

-Genuine Windows Vista(R) Business 32 bit (AERO Experience) (English) or
-Genuine Windows(R) XP Pro SP2 (Eng) -Downgrade Vista Business Premium

-iAMT Client Systems Management Disabled - Centrino Duo Label (don't know what this means..under Remote Management Options)

-3Yr ProSupport for IT: NBD Onsite Service

-15.4”UltraSharp(TM) WUXGA (1920x1200) Display with Wide Viewing Angle or
-15.4" Widescreen WXGA+ (1440x900) LED Display with Wide Viewing Angle

-Integrated Webcam with Digital Microphone

-Internal Backlit Keyboard (English) (is this necessary?)

-NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M, 512MB dedicated memory

-4GB (2x2GB) 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM

-250GB SATA (7200RPM) Free Fall Sensor Hard Drive

-24X CD-RW/DVD Combination Drive

-6-Cell Li-Ion Primary Battery

Hope you guys can help me out on these specs...
by the way I don't know if i should wait few months for the price to go down or just buy now...(would it go down??..)

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

I would suggest you order the T9400 processor, get 64bit vista business + downgrade to xp 64bit. since ur doing CAD I think the UXGA would be helpful if you don't use a external monitor but if you do than get the WXGA+ LED. blacklit keyboard is really a fad to me and completely unneccesarry but its personal preference. As for the 4GB ram, I suggest you buy and install em ur self it would be much cheaper.

 

t9400+ xp pro + WUXGA is the way to go. backlit key board is unnecessary if you ask me.

 

Thanks guys for the advice...about the 4GB RAM I don't think I have much choice though as that was the minimum spec for the memory offered...as for the screen is it good to have WUXGA 1920x1200 on a 15.4" screen?

 

If you have bad eyes or get headaches or have eye strains after a few minutes of reading very small text, then no, it's not good.

You really want the price to go down? Buy the HD yourself. At the price you pay for a 250GB HD NewEgg will give you one a lot better and cheaper.

The backlit keyboard is necessary if you work in lowlight conditions or at nighttime in the dark.

 

OK thanks RAM..is it possible to not opt for certain parts in DELL's website? Like HD or RAM etc? That would lower the cost down I think...I can't go to NewEgg as it doesn't ship overseas..sigh

 

Where you live might be the problem as Dell tends to force options upon overseas buyers. And you don't need to necessarily go to NewEgg, they are not the only website on Earth who sells computer parts. Find a HD you like, and buy it else where. eBay it if you have to.

Sucks =/

 

ya....I live in new zealand,and even I could find a 320gb 7.2k hard drive for half the price of what dell was wanting

 

Yes Australia and NZ get pretty high prices... reckon if there was an option to build in the US and ship it over it would still be much cheaper, even after cash conversions, import tax, etc.

 

You got that right Enduct......I did actually consider doing as you say using relatives in Texas or NY but I don't know them that well,and it would have been quite a worrisome experience to go through I think.