3 Questions...

Ok, so I'm 90% sure that I will be getting a Dell XPS M1530 with the following configuration (using paper_wastage's deal):

T9300 (2.5 GHz)
Vista Home Premium
LED LCD Screen
4GB Memory
320GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
DVD+/-RW Drive
256MB NVIDIA 8600M GT
Intel Wireless-N
6-cell battery (possibly getting 9-cell also)
Integrated Sound Blaster

1) Should I ask for 64 bit edition of Vista HP? Is it worth it? What are the advantages?

2) Any suggestions or warnings for this configuration? Anything I should know about to make a better purchase?

3) What's Dell's return policy? I'm wondering in case I change my mind on the laptop, or Dell releases their new Studio XPS line, or some other laptop comes out I may want. Will I be able to get all my money back? How long do I have?

 

1) Doesn't hurt to ask. If you don't get it you could always try to get the 64-bit DVD later from Dell, but you may be charged for it.

2) Can't honestly recommend the NVidia GPU at this time since there is a chance it may be defective. Integrated Intel GPU if it were an option would be a safer bet...

3) 21-days from the date it was shipped (not the day you receive it)

 

It is worth it if you have 4GB of ram. It's faster than 32bit Vista, and can utilize all 4GB of the system RAM.

2. Get the LED LCD and 9-Cell battery. Worth it. Also, get a good warranty (2+ years).

3. 21 days.

 

1) You can only request a 64 bit version of Vista if you purchase Ultimate or Business.
2) Is integrated sound blaster the default(too lazy to check) cause if its not than don't bother with an upgrade, its just software.
3) You get 21 days to return your purchase for a full refund. When do the 21 days start? I assume when you receive it, but thats up to debate with Dell.

 

So I can't get a 64-bit version of Home Premium?

And I've heard of some problems with drivers and stuff with 64-bit versions of Windows...is that the case?

 

64bit home premium... dell's not obligated to send you a copy of x64 if u have home premium.... no fuss... ask a friend for his x64 (and use the cdkey on ur lapotp base to activate)

theres SOME problems with drivers and stuff with x64... its like upgrading from XP to Vista and finding some programs just odnt work...
if u dont want any problems at all, stick to 32bit.... the performance increase is like 10-20%

i recommend NOT getting the integrated soudnblaster... its a software upgrade, kinda useless IMO

 

I dunno. I've had zero driver or application incompatibilities with x64 on the M1530. About the only application incompatibility that I've heard about is the Cisco VPN client. Obviously I can't speak about every oddball app someone might be using, but I've not personally run acrosss a single mainstream commercial app that won't run under x64. Vista x64 isn't nearly the bother that 64-bit XP was.

 

i have 2 driver incompatabilities:
i8kfanGUI driver (only works for m1330, not m1530)
PeerGuardian driver

requires DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS.... i tried using EasyBCD to flag that(dual booting)... EasyBCD reported its flagged, but i guess Vista bootup doesnt see it or something... need me to press F8 every time to manually disable integrity checks

 

the rep i talked to said it was from the day u accept it