xps 1530 v 1330 same prices?

After hours and hours of research on this site (thanks everyone!) I bought an XPS 1530. Just got it yesterday and everything works great. However I came to the conclusion that it's too big for me and that I want to downgrade to a 1330. (I'm a student and will be commuting with it everyday)

Problem is, as Im shopping for a 1330 with mostly the same specs, I find that I'm going to have to pay a few hundred bucks MORE then what I paid for the 1530. I had a great 1530 EPP deal from a month ago, but thats gone, and even with the current 20-25% coupons (which I cant seem to combine with the EPP discount), I still cant get a 1330 as close to what i paid ($~1150). What gives?

Any suggestions? How can I justify paying more for less? Navigating the Dell site trying to create the best deal is driving me crazy! Any advice?

Now im thinking about a macbook, but prefer the xps.

 

The Macbook isn't remotely in the same league as the 1330, let alone the 1530. It's only got a standard CCFL backlight, and no GPU. If you play games, you'll want to stick with the 1530's 8600GT anyway.

 

I've owned the Macbook and M1330 and they are two totally different laptops. It all depends what you are going to use it for.

I would suggest trying the Outlet store.

 

http://slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=862663

should still work

direct to dell epp

$1268, same thing as the m1330 in my sig

(m1330 feels really light, i like it, though 13.3" seems just a little too small)

 

You pay a premium for the 13" dude.

Also you can only get the 128mb 8400M GS in the 13" XPS, which is behind the 256mb 8600M GT by quite a lot.

If you go for the 13" expect to take a drop in specs to get the size. I was torn between the two but couldn't justify spending the extra money for less specs because I don't travel with my laptop every day. If I do it goes in the back of my car until I get to my destination! lol.

 

The 8400 is virtually exactly an 8600GT chopped in half.

 

exactly

 

portability costs money. The 1330 will be just as good as the 1530 in windows and all 2d-based applications. However, playing 3d-accellerated games, the 1330 will be quite a few notches behind the 1530 in terms of performance.

The 8400M GS is good enough for HL2, BF2, Rome:Total War and Need For Speed: Underground 2. Playing Crysis, you'll probably need the 8600GT card of the 1530 to have a satisfactory playing experience.

 

HL2 and BF2 are IMO better than Crysis anyway.

If portability is important to you get the 1330 w/ 8400GS

I am tempted by the 1330 over the 1530 but as I don't take it out and about as much these days i'm guna go for the 1530. Hence why i'm guna get the 8600GT. You'd be fine with 8400GS i'd say.

 

I guess you'll be fine with the 1330 and 8400GS.

Portability is more important to you, because you are a college student & I feel that the 1330 is perfect for that.

An out of the box suggestion - instead of returning the 1530 to Dell, why dont you post it here for sale? Since you got it under EPP, I am sure it will be atleast 20% cheaper than the cheapest deal anywhere (correct me if I am wrong).

You might help someone else with a good deal, and get your money back immediately, instead of giving 3 weeks time for Dell to return your money.