A doubt regarding buying a 1520

Hi all...

I 've planned to buy a Dell Inspiron 1520 with the following config :

Intel(R) Core(TM)2Duo Processor T5250
1.5 GHz, 2MB Cache, 667 MHz FSB

Genuine Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium - with AERO experience

15.4" Widescreen WXGA+ (1440x900) Display with TrueLife(TM)

2GB (2 X 1024MB) 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM

NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR2 dedicated graphic memory

160GB SATA Hard Drive

Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with dual layer write capabilitiesÂ

Dell(TM) Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module

Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945 Dual Band 802.11a/g 54Mbps Wireless Mini Card

Ruby Red Color with Microsatin Finish and camera

6-cell 53Whr Lithium Ion Primary BatteryÂ

DELL Large Nylon Case

This amounts to 58401 INR

But I have the following doubts on which I would be glad if someone could clarify them :

Since I pay for Windows Vista Home Premium will I get the original DVD of the same with the product key ?

The DELL Large Nylon Case (which was the cheapest option among the cases) - will it be enough for carrying the laptop around ?

Since I read a lot of grainy LCD issues in this forum - is it really true ?

Are there any other specific issues with the Inspiron 1520 model or with the configuration I've choosen ?

I have'nt placed the order yet and so all your suggestions would be welcome.

 

haven't received mine yet. but i believe i got the XP CD with the product key, so i'm assuming yes.

has been in quite a few cases. fewer problems with the other screens, and many w/ graininess don't notice it.

CPU interference creating noise in the headphone jack when used. easily fixable with the RMclock program or by avoiding the problem and using a bluetooth headset.

I'd say your build looks good, although i'd be hesitant to go w/ the truelife screen at this time. i ordered the anti-glare, and the other users seem to be satisfied with that. Good Luck!

 

1440x900 users, including myself, seems to report graininess issues most. Also, the first batches of 1520 are reported have had terrible headphone jack - its not just "whining" - every noises were so loud on my 1520. However, reports suggest this headphone jack thing improved with the second batch, so I assume you have less to worry if you order now. These are all just impressions, not supported by conclusive evidences, though.

 

Yes it is enough to carry it around. I'd suggest upgrading or buying a backpack if you plan on carrying around alot in it, but for my casual use of it, its enough. I'd get a leather one if i had to carry it around on a daily basis though.

Or get a backpack, which i prefer when i have to go on a plane.

 

As for the graininess issue, you can find a comparison of grainy/nongrainy at
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=145681

 

um... that's not a good example of what the grainy screens look like dell1520.

i know what a bad grainy screen looks like, and the pictures in that thread don't do them justice. mind you, as i've said before, i think the entire issue is overblown, so that people are seeing graininess everywhere.

 

Sorry, I didnt see the `1520 screen yet. And, are the pictures in the thread making it look worse or better?

 

i personally haven't seen a 1520 grainy screen. i'm still waiting on mine and since i like anti-glare (WXGA ftw), mine will not have the graininess in all likelihood.

however, i did have one really grainy screen on a gateway in the past, and it was horrible. someone had pictures on a thread that looked like what i had.

i'll try to find it, and post a link here.

 

Actually since I use the Indian website of Dell to customize my laptop I have only 4 screen choices :

15.4" Widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display
15.4" Widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with Truelife
15.4" Widescreen WXGA+ (1440 x 900) Display with Truelife [+Rs. 1815]
15.4" Widescreen WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) Display with Truelife [+Rs. 5446]

And I had opted for the third one.... So I do not see the Anti-glare screen here at all

And can anyone else confirm about the Vista DVD - whether it is given along with the lappy or not since the cost of the laptop includes the cost of the license too....

 

The one without Truelife is the matte screen.

 

And so the other one with TrueLife is the Glossy one is it ? Hmm....

And does anyone have a photo taken of the RubyRed version of the 1520 ?

 

I was checking the RAM Upgrade prices every day of this week. On Monday the upgrade from 1 GB RAM to 2 GB costed around 9800 bucks.... But on Tuesday it got reduced to mere 3100 bucks...

I asked a friend of mine who works in DELL and he said the price revision will take place daily too at times and most of the time it keeps reducing only.... I was really surprised when they reduced the upgrade price by 6000 bucks too...

 

well then gud luck to you... btw u can ask ur friend who works in dell to give you a coupon. in india only the employees have them. might get a further discount on your system..

 

Yeah I had already been asking him about this.... It seems in India they dont follow coupon based orders (although they have that option in their site).... For employess they give around 10 - 15% discount I presume..... That will be more than helpful discount I suppose.... Also I suppose the baseline prices for DELL laptops in India would reduce drastically at the end of August (the reason I wish not to tell in open).... So I m planning to order my laptop only at that time....

 

well its always like this.. the longer you wait the better is the deal you can get. i ts all 'bout buying when you need one rather than waiting for the "right time". i guess with dell's proposed production unit to be set in india, prices will drop for sure!!

 

@Ash_Hi_Fi_Zone
by baseline prices, do you mean starting prices for the basic configuration or will there be a reduction in cost for the high end configurations also ?

 

I mean the base starting price of all models and not the upgrade cost.....