1420, 1520, or XPS M1330

So I'm going into college soon and at first I was set on a gaming laptop but now I'm having second thoughts. I really want to play games like Company of Heroes and Oblivion like I play now but a light weight laptop is really intriguing. I don't think that the 8400GS on the 1420 could handle to many games that well but the 8600GT only has 256MB but still would be better. As a college student, what would you guys recommend?

 

1330 ftw Light and fairly powerful. Tweak the settings and you should be able to play most games. Being light, you can take it anywhere with you and carry it along with all the books and stuff. 1420 is slightly heavier, and 1520 is heavier still. The difference maybe a pound or 2 but if you log it around all day, every pound counts

 

You can get the 8600 GT 512MB with an Asus c90s or IFL90

 

people seem to be commenting on how big the 1520 really is. The 1420 looks ok and will be cheaper than the xps..but i'd still be drawn to the xps.

I'm biased though..im getting an M1330

 

Well when I configure both the same (1420 and M1330) the M1330 is 2k and the 1420 is less then 1500, is it really worth 500 bucks getting a lower resolution and shorter warranty (2 year accidental for 1420 and 1 year for the M1330)?

 

The 1420 is a great laptop for general use at school, but it's hefty. it's not heavy or even weighty, but it's not lightweight. I'm a decent sized guy and I can pretty comfortably carry it on a shoulder strap for about 45 minutes - how big is your campus?

 

Pretty small, everythings within about 5 minutes.

 

If that;'s the case, go for the 1420 (as long as it meets all your needs). I think its the perfect balance of affordability, size and performance.

 

Then I just have one last question, as far as gaming goes, how will the 8400GS 128MB par up. Will it play Company of Heroes at acceptable settings?

BTW thanks for your help

 

I dunno a damn thing about gaming, so I'll leave that to someone else. Check out phobos' review - he talks about some various games and their performance there.

 

I'm no longer a gamer, but you should really check out a 1520 and 1420 at a kiosk. 15" laptops for me are way too big. The kiosks around me have non-working shells of 1420s but don't seem to have them for the M1330 yet.

I'm still debating between the M1330 (is on order, won't show up until at least 9/11), 1420, M1210 or some non-Dell (Thinkpad T61?, some Asus "white box" laptops or the Sony SZ6 series).

The M1330 is just SO EXPENSIVE compared to a similarly equipped 1420.