Check out my E1505 before I buy it, please...

Core 2 Duo @ 2.00GHz
15.4 WXGA w/TrueLife
1 GB memory (2 DIMM)
Basic Video and Sound Cards
60 GB HD
24X CD Burner/DVD
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g
9-Cell Battery

$947.00 before tax, free shipping

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Is there anything you guys recommened I change? My plan is a nice setup for college. I still have my desktop and will use that to store most of my music (so HD size is more than fine) and also will use it to backup my CDs/DVDs (so the lack of a DVD burner is okay). I won't be playing any games on this notebook (maybe Madden '07 if I get bored).

So, with that, is the price worth it? Do you think I should wait until Christmas when there might be a better deal?

Thank you!!

 

that is a great price for that notebook and you would enjoy it I think you should get a DVD burner since you want to backup DVDS

 

No, I was trying to say that my desktop already has a DVD burner, so I won't need one on my notebook.

Thanks for the reply!

 

Thoughts on waiting until Christmas?

 

if you want to watch DVDs the quality will be like 60 percent better with an X1400. No kidding.

 

If you have the money for it now, why wait? With the coupons and everything you would get about the same price now as waiting.

 

The only thing i'll add will be a videocard, if you're not gaming get the x1300 you'll get better dvd quality and for that only time you'll play madden you wont regret it. If you wait 'till christmas by that tiem there will be something new on the horizon so you'll think to wait even more. My advice is to get it now.

 

If I was you then I'd get the x1300 or the x1400. Its not really all that much more, but it will make a difference in performace for sure. You might not notice it while running DVD's(some do claim that you will though) but when atempting to run dual monitor then you will feel it. I have the GMA 950 and I wish I had a better card, and I don't do any gaming at all.

 

it depends on what you want to do with your laptop.
in my case, i usually avoid high end graphics card.
those intel graphics chips provide just what i need and produces
much less heat. i do programming and work with laptop
long hours so the heat issue is very important for me.

from your configuration, i would suggest..
(1) it seems like your laptop should be easy to carry around
because you are in college and have another desktop.
how about going with e1405?

(2) if you are comfortable with installing memory by yourself, you
could go with less memory and upgrade by yourself.
you can purchase additional memory from 3rd party vendor such as
newegg.com

 

I did a little bit of tinkering...

Intel® Core™ Duo Proc T2050 (1.60GHz/533MHz/2 X 1MB L2 Cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition with re-installation CD
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife™
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Integrated Audio
Hi-Speed Wireless Bundle: Dell Draft N Wireless and Bluetooth
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

Total shipped, with tax: $975.55

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I decided to reduce the CPU power since I my intentions for this notebook are mostly for school. I don't play many games and when I do, I mainly play sports games (which I'm sure this CPU can handle Madden/NBA Live/Etc if I ever find the time!).

I opted for the video card, since I will be watching DVDs from time to time.

I am comfortable installing memory myself. But for $65, is it worth it just to have Dell add the 1GB from 512MB or can I find that cheaper?

And I chose the Draft N and Bluetooth to try to future proof this as much as possible.



What does everyone think?

 

i think overall its a pretty good system for a good price. only thing i would change is if if you want to "future proof" this is as much as possible i'd probably go got the 1.66GHz core 2 duo processor....also i think the 60 GB is good enough if you are planning on storing most of the stuff on your desktop.

 

you might want to look at dell outlet, a few months back I got an e1505 with a core duo1.66, 1gig of ram,wsxga+,x1300,60gig 7200rpm hd,dvdrw,intel pro wireless, blutetooth,audigy,media center remote kit, and the 9cell battery for $809 shipped, the unit was in excellent condition, and runs like a champ, and you have all the warranty options of ordering a new one, you just cant configure the hardware, last week I found a few xps m1210's with the gf 7400,gig of ram,dvdrw, and 100gig hd for $999, wich is a hell of a price

 

More tinkering...

ntel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition with re-installation CD
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife™
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
60GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Integrated Audio
Hi-Speed Wireless Bundle: Dell Draft N Wireless and Bluetooth
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

Total $981.00 plus tax

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Again, I am comfortable installing memory myself. But for $65, is it worth it just to have Dell add the 1GB from 512MB or can I find that cheaper (and where would that be)?


What does everyone think?

 

you can get 1 gig sticks from newegg,zipzoomfly,tiger direct, etc for around 80 bucks a piece, you'd be better off saving that 65 and applying it to a 1 gig aftermarket, you can run mismatched pairs with dual channel support on the notebook your ordering, so you can get just one 1 gig stick, and go with 1.5, or get two 1 gig sticks

 

Ok. Dropping the ram back down to 512MB, with the intention of at least adding a 1GB stick once I get it brings the price to $916 plus tax.

Well spent? Or should I look elsewhere?

 

Im probably sure you are already applying the coupon but once you go over $999, you can take an additional $200 off with the current coupon deals.


Also, I am in the market for a new Dell e1505 but, if I were to wait until Christmas, how much are we looking at saving then instead of now?

 

I'll personally add a DVD burner.

If you're waiting till Christmas, it's just as well for you to wait a bit more than as it'll have been real close to the release date of both Vista & the new Santa Rosa platform... My opinion will be to either buy now or buy the laptop in Jan/Feb next year.

 

My honest opinion would be to drop the video card back to the x1300 since you're not doing any gaming. Then bump the processor up to a 1.83 Core 2 Duo. The x1300 is still a dedicated card and will give you all the power you will be using watching DVDs, and the processor is more important since you're not gaming. The processor is a $50 upgrade, but the x1300 is $49 less than the x1400, so you'll even it out. Personally, I don't think that getting 1 GB from Dell is a bad idea. The minimum most people should run these days is 1GB, and who knows when you'll get around to upgrading? I've had my laptop for almost 3 months now, and still haven't upgraded the RAM like I said I was going to.

 

Would I gain much from 1.83 to 2.00?

 

Probably not much for your needs, but it would definitely allow your comp to be more future proof. It is better for it to be faster than you need than slower. Keep that in mind.

 

I'll probably stick with the 1.83 and save the $75

 

heres something I found after a quick browse through the outlet

Inspiron 6400 / E1505
(System Identifier: EEAL3P06)


Inspiron 6400/E1505 Notebook: Intel Core Duo processor T2400 (2MB Cache/1.83GHz/667MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows XP Pro

System Price : $779.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Pro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz (2 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
100 GB EIDE Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scratch & Dent
Scratch & Dent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Inspiron 6400/E1505 Notebook: Intel Core Duo processor T2400 (2MB Cache/1.83GHz/667MHz FSB)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Interface Card
Intel Pro Wireless 3945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NoteBook Screen
15.4 WXGA Notebook Screen
Software
Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Reader
Power DVD Software
McAfee Security Center, 90 Day
Software
Image Restore Software
Microsoft Works 8.5
Support Software
AOL ISP Software
Operating System Software CD
Dell Media Experience
MEDIADIRECT Two Software
DVD Software
AOL 9.0 ISP Software
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misc
Keyboard On Notebook
Base Assembly
Hinge Cover
Shipping Material
6 Cell Primary Battery
Processor Label
Processor Label
AOL Software Documentation
65W Adapter
Shipping Material

 

I'm looking, can't find that good of a deal right now...

 

they change all the time, literally within minutes, I missed two that I was going to buy, wich turned out to be good in the end,cause I ended up getting much more machine and still within my original budget, when your browsing through, go on and put the ones you like in your cart, cause if its a really good deal, it'll go quickly, also you can only keep items in your cart for 15 minutes, keeps all the ebay resellers from locking up all the good ones

 

$789.00

Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Home
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz (2 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
120 GB EIDE Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Inspiron 6400/E1505 Notebook: Intel Core Duo processor T2400 (2MB Cache/1.83GHz/667MHz FSB)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Interface Card
Intel Pro Wireless 3945
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NoteBook Screen
15.4 WXGA Notebook Screen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software
Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Reader
Power DVD Software
McAfee Security Center, 90 Day
Music Match 10.1 Software
ISP Search Assist
Software
Image Restore Software
Support Software
Operating System CD
AOL ISP Software
Photo Album 6.0 Starter
No Productivity Suite - Corel WordPerfect word processor only
Dell Media Experience
MEDIADIRECT Two Software
DVD Software
Windows Media Player
AOL 9.0 ISP SoftwareMisc
Keyboard On Notebook
Base Assembly
Hinge Cover
Shipping Material
6 Cell Primary Battery
Processor Label
AOL Software Documentation
Processor Label
65W Adapter
Shipping Material

 

thats not bad at all, and you can find 9 cell batteries on ebay for around 70 bucks, just use the cash you were going to use for more ram towards that, and you'll wind up with both, wich can be very conveinent and it looks like your set