1330 or 1530? I cant decide :(

im stuck between getting a 1530 or 1330.... I need a new laptop which is portable for school, but still allows me to do some casual gaming.

Here are the specs which I'm choosing from:

1330:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache), English
Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium Edition SP1
Tuxedo Black
Slim and Light LED Display with VGA Webcam
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Speed: 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8400M GS
8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
6 Cell Battery
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition

1530:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB, 6MB Cache)
Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium Edition SP1
Tuxedo Black
High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2.0 M
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8600M GT
8X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate), for XPSM1530
6 Cell Battery
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition

they cost basically the same.

1) Is the extra weight really noticeable?
2) Is the extra size and weight worth it for the higher rez & 8600gt?
3) If I choose the 1530, I'm still stuck between the LED 1440x900 or the standard CCFL LCD 1920x1200, what do you think is better?
4) seeing as how they both have 6 cell batteries, is the battery life on the 1530 noticeably shorter?

any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

What games are you going to play? If you're going to play games like css or any Source game, the m1330 will be fine.
1) Depends on how much you're going to carry the laptop each day.
2) Again, that would depend on how much you're going to carry the laptop around school. If you're only going to carry it somewhere else every once in a while, I'd get the m1530. You will notice the difference after walking a while with a heavier laptop on your back.
3) Definitely LED 1440x900, I think 1920x1200 is overkill for a 15" screen. I saw both and thought that the 1440x900 looked perfect for the m1530.
4) This I'm not sure about, but most likely yeah.

I find the smaller size and weight of the m1330 very nice since I have it in my backpack most of the day at school.

 

Hey there just got my 1530 yesterday and I really think you should go with that instead of the 1330

1) Nope......def. portable I dont mind carrying it at all
2)Yes....get the LED or full hi def.....and the 8600gt is much better than the gs....especially since the gs would be more likely to be faulty
3) I got the 1920x1200 and I love all the room on the desktop and movies look amazing.....but I have also heard the LED is great too so choose according to your budget
4)Hmmm......not sure as I have never used a 1330 long enough to be able to tell


Hope I helped in making your decision

 

The XPS M1530 is perfect.The size is great- the footprint isn't bad and compared to the M1330 is a better unit- remember the M1330 has HUGE heating issues...and I have a 9 and 6 cell for my M1530- yet I use the 9 cell all the time and the weight into bad at all. Plus if you use it as a "laptop" it keeps the fan away from your legs and breathing. Also GET the LED 1400x900 screen. It really does blow every other screen out of the water. MBP users will envy you and although the 1920x1200 is a huge resolution there really isn't a purpose in my opinion to get a huge resolution- plus LED is the "newer" technology... and besides HD 1080 movies and the fact you dont have a blu-ray player (meaning 1920x1200 is sorta pointless besides desktop real estate (even though 1400x900 is huge), the 1400x900 covers everything perfectly. Plus the LED brightness is better then most external monitors I find - zero chance for graininess and from what I have heard, almost not get bright spots- it also helps with battery life as well as basically making your computer look bad@ss.
*just look at my sig- the unit is amazing, runs fast, looks good, has an incredible screen, and has no heating issues. Dell really did make a good unit.
but then again its just my 2 cents

 

M1530 for gaming. M1330 for more portability. The M1530 is also portable, but it depends on how much portability you need. I have no problem carrying around a M1530, it's very thin for a 15.4" laptop and very light.

 

I'd base the decision on how much of a resolution junkie you are. Nothing beats the estate of a gigantic resolution of 1920x1200px -- especially if you're more into serious work than into gaming and just favor the XPS series over a corporate notebook for it's multimedia features like the mic and the webcam for occasional usage at home.

Otherwise you should probably go with the LED screen of the 1530.

 

on that note- the 1920x1200 screen is good, but the newer 1400x900 LED screen is amazing on the XPS M1530. The colors, brightness and real estate fits the machine perfectly. I mean if you really need 1920x1200 go get an external monitor etc.

 

Hey...1530 FTW

I looked at both the 1330 and 1530 when I was trying to decide..I really liked them both..I went with the 1530 because it seemed to work out for my uses and needs

The 1530 hasn't been a problem with *portability* for myself. It may be a tad heavier than the 1330, but like I said..it just works

The ultimate decision, is yours..however

Good luck!

Cin

 

The Nvidia GPU problem seems to be much worse with the M1330 than with the M1530 due to a poor thermal design on the M1330, which is something to consider.

 

Both are good machines so it is a tough choice. The M1330 would be good for mobility and lighter gaming. The M1530 would be better for more intense gaming and less mobility. Otherwise the specs are about the same.

 

we have one of each in the family.

the 1330 is good because it is really light and thin, especially if you get the LED screen, but the 8400gs that is built in is pretty weak. hooked it up to a 46in tv, played a movie and it was choppy.

the 1530 is pretty light and does not feel bulky like other computers. 8600gt is really powerful and you can play most new games at a high resolution and high detail. you can also overclock it pretty nicely. i overclocked mine to 625/1250/800 and it is really stable and does not overheat.


if you game, or if you will connect the computer to a big screen tv, get the 1530. if all you do is office work etc, then get the 1330 since it is really light.

hope this helps...

 

i returned my 1530 since it was too big for me. Im a student and commute on the train as well as ride my bike everyday. I concluded that the smaller size and weight was a top priority for me, and thus ordered (and waiting) for the 1330. However if I were driving to school or work everyday, I think I would have kept the 1530.