Cancelled XPS 1330, ordered 1420, saved over 900$

Wow is all I can say. I am super impressed. I payed 1,117$ with shipping and tax. I really happy with my purchase. There is nothing that can touch this dell in price, preformace, and battery life. 5 hours on a 9 cell is fantastic with a 8400GS. 3.5 hours when watching a DVD is also very good for a consumer notebook. Dell did a fantastic job the new refresh. I had an XPS 1330 on order with less specs for 1950$. I am saving over 1000$ as I was gonna spend another 250$ to add the 250GB HD, and the extra ram. I just can't understand how Dell can charge so much for the XPS. besides the sleek look and the machine being 1lbs lighter, its a complete rip off.

1420
T7300 Core 2 Duo 2.0GHZ 4MB L2 cache
2GB
160GB 7200RPM
8400GS
WXGA+ 1440x900 14.1 WS LCD
Intel Draft N hardware
2.0 Bluetooth
2.0MP Camera
9 cell battery + 6 cell battery
10GB online of backup space 1 year Free

 

Yeah, XPS has always been alot more money. But I guess it does have its advantages, like the stronger chassis, and the XPS support. Only XPS I'd get is the 17" though, and I'd use it as a desktop replacement, and I'd only do that with the more recent ones, since they put the docking port on it.

 

I am impressed. My total came to $1441 with the same exact specs as yours. This is with the free upgrade to 2gb, the free upgrade to the 160 gb 5400 rpm DD, and $350 off.

Teach me the way!

Josh

 

You see, Dell offeres the so called "Free 2 GB RAM upgrade!" and the "Free 160 HD upgrade!" but then they increased the prices for the processor by a whole lot.

 

Not sure but my config is a whole 6$ cheaper and I got 2GB ram vs 1.5GB, and the big upgrade was the 160GB 7200RPM vs the stock 80GB 5400RPM. I also grabbed an extra 6 cell to go with my 9 cell. I did nothing special. I would cancel your order and re-order. I did stay with the defult 1 year warrenty. If I need to, I can add on more later down the road.

 

does this say $1,117?

Not sure if you are talking to me but...

What 1.5GB config are you talking about? Which discount code did you use?

 

You did not "save" $1000 you spent $1000 less. The 1420 is a fine laptop, but it is only comparable to the XPS in regard to it's components. The XPS is far better looking, smaller, and will most likely be made of better materials.

Yes you pay a premium for the design, size, style, etc. There is a lot of design and engineering that goes into making a new laptop line, especially one as small as the M1330. But you do get something for your money. It just depends what's important to you.

Where as the general size and shape of the 1420 is not much different than the last bunch of inspirons. So not an awful lot of redesign had to be done.

When I look at the M1330 it make me excited to own one, and that is worth it to me.

Anyway, if you are happy with your purchase then that's all that matters. Just don't dog laptops that other people are buying to justify your choices.

 

I disagree. I think the 1420 will be just as durable. You are right in its looks better, but not worth the price difference. I should re-phrase my sentence to read IMO the XPS 1330 is just not worth the price you pay.

 

I realize this isn't going to be popular to say....but....

The 1330 does seem to be a rip off. The 1420 is almost equal in components. How is the 1330 a gaming machine even worthy of the XPS logo when it's fueled by the lowest possible 8 series Nvidia card? The 1420 is capable of the same card.

Design? I actually like the design and colors of the new Inspirons better anyway. But you argue price? 1420 by far! Performance: 1420 is equivalent.

And when you get into the 1520/1720, I think they easily surprass the 1330 in both categories.

If you don't have price or performance, you don't have much. I wanted to like it though. I'll wait and see what the new 1710 looks like when it arrives toward the end of summer. I just don't see what the excitement regarding the 1330 is all about.

 

to me, an additional $1000 dollars for virtually the same laptop except with better looks and build is not worth it at all. if it were only a couple hundred bucks more expensive, i'd definitely consider it though. but you are right, it really depends on whats important to you and what youre looking for.

 

The smaller size and weight also add to the price of the xps. Not too many of us can argue durability until we have the laptops in our hands.

The 1420 is a good deal but i feel dell made a mistake with it by not offering an 8600gt or gs with it. It is also the most bland looking 14" notebook on the market.

Nobody should pay full price for any xps notebook. If you dont have a decent coupon or discount i wouldnt buy an xps.

@the_darcy

Theres nothing virtually the same with these two laptops but the manufacturer. It may seem ridiculous that many pay this premium but they are that concerned with the look.

 

Did you get any type of warranty with the 1420?

 

Just the standard. I can eval the machine then add more It I think I will need too. My last insprion, a 9300 was very solid and I never had any issues with it.

 

Yup your right. I admit the 1330 looks down right sexy, but I have always been about best bang for my buck, and the 1420 is a much better deal in my eyes.

 

Look it's like comparing Toyota and Lexus. You will pay a premium for the better looking car, with the name, and extra features. Toyota's are fine cars like the 1420 is a great versatile laptop. But people do not stop you in the street and say "ohh what is that the new Toyota?" Because you see them all over.

The M1330 has an LED screen, which was a big feature for me. I was looking at the Macbook Pro and the T61 before this mainly for that feature.

Weight: the 1420 is nearly 1.5lbs heavier stock, and you added a 9cell battery. So the ultra mobile part is lacking a little there, 6-7lbs is pretty heavy.

@Undsputed
Gaming: I could be wrong, but I do not think the XPS M1330 is aimed at hard core gamers. It is aimed at the mobile power user. When looking at the features I do not see gaming mentioned anywhere. I bought mine for mobility, and I would not want to play any serious games on a 13.3in screen.

When you are talking mobility the 15in and 17in are should not be considered in the same league.

But like I said if you are happy that's all that matters. Because we obviously are looking for different things. My Dad though I was crazy for paying extra for a sun roof, leather, and seat warmers in my car. But I wanted them and I could afford them so I got them. I have never regretted it.

As soon as I saw the first pictures and specs of the M1330 I new I wanted one of the those too. The regular looking laptops just were not doing it for me.

 

I agree with CoreMonkeyX. XPS is mainly gamer oriented, but laptops like the 1220 or 1330 are not for recent games. To me, it's more "high end oriented". And usually high end means powerful, and powerful means that it can run games. Of course on a small laptops, it means more very light, nice design, good built quality.

But Vengeance_01 choice seems also very interesting. We don't have the 1420 in France, so I cannot compare the prices here. But I still think I would have gone for the XPS, because it's not just about the figures. Or about the performances, as I find the XPS figures much sexier than the 1420 . When you compare a mid-end to a high-end machine, usually performances are more or less the same, as you have the same processor, memory, hard drive, etc... The difference will not be there. There are already some difference, with the weight, size (1420 and 1520 are quite thick), LED screen (that's one big diff...), HDMI output. Then there should be differences you can't see in the specs. Like materials (aluminium palm rest on the XPS, right?), build quality (Inspiron were never great laptops when it comes to build quality. I don't say they are bad, but just mid range), accessories (seems that the XPS could come with the tiny remote controler and a headset? Maybe also an XPS protection sleeve?), and if the appearance is important for you. To me, all put together, that makes a difference. Some will think it's worth the difference, some will not. With a 1000$ diff, I don't think it's worth it. But you seem to have a hell of a great deal there!

Sorry about my frenglish...

 

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

THe thing about best bang for the buck is that everyone has different view about what actually constitutes the best "bang" So for some, 1330 is a better bang for the buck for some features that 1420 does not have. It's a matter of preference. The main thing here is not push YOUR preferences on others. I mean, yeah, it's great to save money but there's really no need to go around yelling at everyone to follow your example So let's not turn this thread into another war of 1330 vs something else and let us all enjoy the anticipation of getting one sooner or later

 

MrDeeds, by "virtually the same laptop" i was referring to their specifications. and you really cant argue that.

 

darcy, weight and dimensions are also part of the specifications and 1420 and 1330 are nothing alike in that department, so you really CAN "argue that"

 

my xps with a t7300 and LED screen ran me $1550..thats with a current promotion, and im working on getting another $200 off that

 

I was going to order the 1420 but decided against it since it wouldn't be that much of a difference from the 15.4 in Toshiba I own now.
I ordered the m1330 with:
1.8 GHZ
2GB RAM
120 GB HDD
LED w/camera
9-cell battery
3 year in home parts and labor warranty
3 year Accidental Damage
3 year of McAfee antivirus

All this for $1730. I think that was a pretty good deal. What do you guys think? Also d94 let me know if you end up getting the $200 applied or the rep you talked to to get it because I have been trying to figure out some way to get the discount.

 

Guys don't get me wrong, I like the 1330, but to have the gamer tag and it cost quite a bit of money for what it comes with, I just don't agree. Mabey if it had an 8600GS/GT then I would have been all over that machine.

 

I don't think the XPS M1330 is overpriced or a bad value for what it comes with. Some people are looking for more value in a laptop, and that's what the Inspiron line is all about. I knew that I could get a killer 1420, but I'd be tired of it's looks and styling right out of the box. To me, money was better spent on the 1330. Plus the 1330 is a whole lot cheaper than a comporable Sony SZ I was looking at.

 

I haven't seen the M1330 to be marketed as a gaming laptop at all. The focus is more on power in a small package, which it seems to deliver in spades.

 

Thanks that's what I was trying to say.

 

Losing the HDMI port and the LED screen are big. It comes down to what you want. There's a significant build quality difference that reviewers have been talking about. Inspiron is not bad but it's not that different from old inspirons. Just an evolution rather than a big change like the XPS.
The weight, HDMI port, LED screen, the little design things like the touch sensitive media buttons and the slot loading DVD burner, make it at least $500 more value than the Inspiron to me. Also the support on XPS is great, and you have a notebook that isn't going to look like what everyone else has.

This is really not a comparison we should be making in the first place. I don't think they are comparable.