Core Duo Price cut; buy now or wait?

Intel is going to cut core Duo in May 28 as the followings:

T2600 - from $632 to $423
T2500 - from $423 to $294
T2400 - from $294 to $241

I got two options:

1- Buy E1705 now using the current $750 discount coupon.
2- Or wait until May for the cpu price cut and hopfully Dell offer $750 discount coupon again in May.

the option 2 is better if Dell offer the $750 discount coupon, plus cpu price cut. but Dell might not offer this in May.

What option should I go with?

Thanks,

 

Well, there might not be a $750 coupon out then. Just take that into thought

 

that was why it make my decision harder.
but from what I observed, the $750 coupon has been around since March.
if Dell can offer this coupon now, why not in May? Intel price cut won't make any difference for Dell profit. if Dell won't offer this coupon, they make more profit with Intel cut

 

If you want a computer right now, then get one for the best possible price right now. It's pointless trying to figure out if Dell will have a better deal in a few months. Take advantage of the current great deal.

 

The constant of the computer universe is that there will ALWAYS be lower priced and/or more powerful components just a few weeks away. The real question is... do you need a machine now or in a couple months...

For example, lets extend the wait and see approach...

Wait until May/June for Turion 64 x2 core duos...
Wait until May/June for Intel core-duos price cuts to maybe effect machine prices.
Wait until Q4 2006 for Intel 64bit core-duos
Wait until Q4 2006 / Q1 2007 for Windows Vista Notebooks to appear

See... theres always something, and each product along the way will drive down costs of competing products. Dell will always have deals... but they go in spurts... last fall they were big into rebates... now they have the excellent $250/$300/$450/$750 coupons... no telling how long they will be around... and its uncharacteristic for them to run deals like this as long as they have.

So, if you need/want a computer now... jump on the dell deal... if you want to wait there will always be something better/cheaper just over the horizon.

 

$750 coupon has been around since forever almost.. at least before January. There was once a $800 coupon too, but that didn't come back. Maybe this info will help your decision.

Neb

 

Dell won't release as many big coupons as they used to - they're trying to slowly cut back on them, or at least the big discount ones (35%/30% off coupons, etc).

 

I should feel lucky then for my 35% coupon from a couple of weeks ago! But I bet there will be others at least once a quarter.

 

I just ordered an e1705 with the $750 off, and the pre-tax price was $1251 for the T2500, 100 GB HD, 1 GB RAM, bluetooth, ATI x1400 and upgraded wireless. So it was 37.5% discount. It would have been costlier if I'd wanted WUXGA, but I didn't. One of my main requirements was DVI, which really restricts the choices right now in the sub-$2000 range. Nonetheless, I probably could have gotten something a little better had I waited till late May, June or July. Possibly a better video card, or maybe a similarly priced Turion X2 from HP or Acer. During one of their financial conference calls, maybe six months ago, I think Dell said they were going to cut back on the big discounts, but the past couple of months show otherwise, though they did offer fewer and lesser online coupons for a while.
The thing about all this is, I wouldn't have minded waiting till late May for a better Dell deal or a similarly priced Turion X2, but realistically I might have had to wait till August or September for everything to settle down and the right coupon to come along.
As for the Core Duo price reductions, I doubt these will have too much effect on Dell pricing because, from what I can tell, Dell's pricing seems to depend on all kinds of mysterious factors, compared to other laptop makers and sellers, where there's more clearly a direct correlation between cost of components and price. At least it seems that way to me.

 

Really??? There's a new Dell 40% off $999 & above coupon, starting from Apr 18 to May 3.

 

When DELL cut the Core Duo price you will be asking "Merom Price Cut, buy now or wait?"

 

I guarantee they will cut prices. I've been following Dell deals since last summer, and that offer has popped up many times before.

 

I haven't seen any 40% coupons for quite a while. Make the best out of the upcomming one.

 

If Dell offers an e1705 with better graphics than the x1400, the 40% off will look pretty good. Otherwise the $750 coupon amounts to about the same thing, at least for me. Also, if the XPS M1710 becomes available with a good discount and can be had for under $1600 or $1700, I'll probably feel some buyer's remorse.

 

Are you serious? Where did you get his info?

if this is true, I'll wait 2 more days then.

 

A few days ago you could have gotten a M170 with the 7800GTX for $1600 something including shipping.


Sorry to rain on your parade

 

1349 actually.

 

I actually saw that, and though it was one of the best deals I've ever seen, I really wanted the Core Duo. So, if the M1710 comes out in the next little while and there's some deal that keeps it under $1850 all in (about $500 more than the e1705 I just ordered), I'll cry or try to convince Dell to let me cancel and order the M1710.

 

Click the following link:

Dell Extreme Deals

 

Hey guys,

I've been reading this thead about buying a new notebook with Intel Core Duo since you've found out that Intel is going to cut Core Duo prices down within a month.

Based on an article published by xbitlabs.com on april 13th, 2006 where they were reviewing the actual Intel Core Duo platform I'd say that you should be a little bit cautious before ordering this technology right away.
Unless you're the kind of person that have money to burn and you can replace your notebook every 6 months, I'd suggest to hold off your purchases until the forth quarter of this year ( about 6 or 7 months from now) cause Core Duo will become obsolete and you'll be left behind with this "old" technology. All this, of course is only valid unless you really need your notebook right away.

I'm quoting the last paragraphs of the xbitlabs article:

.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mobile/display/centrino-duo_16.html


That's why I'm holding off myself from pulling the trigger on a E1505.
I'd rather keep my I6000d which I bought last November and wait until next October-Nov. to buy a new Dell notebook with Intel Merom Duo 64 bit.


Carlos


I6000d entium M760 2.0GHz, 1GB RAM dual channel 533MHz, ATI X300 128MB, 80GB HD 5400, 8X DVD+RW, Intel wireless 2915abg, bluetooth 350, win XP pro (notebook was reformatted the same day I got it).

 

do you think they will revoke some of the current deals like the free upgrade to 1 gig etc...??

I just ordered a e1505 for $910 shipped which is all base model except the 256 meg video card and the Truebright monitor (not the wsxga). I used the $300 off and also recieved free shipping. Do you think I can do better with the 40% off and also will they let me cancel my order and use the new coupon instead?

 

Thanks for the link. Where can I get the code? they mentioned about the postcard which I don't have. does 40% include accessories such as carrying case?

Hopefully,they don't remove some current freebies (1GB RAM) to make up for this 40%.

 

wow, with your current machine, you still want to upgrade? you are the kind of people who want the latest and greatest at a premium. you might as well wait until 2007 for vista release.

I'd rather pay for the second best to get the most value, even I have budget for it.

 

Hey foxnews,

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say in my previous post.
I'm not looking forward to upgrade to the current Core-Duo. I can live perfectly happy with the notebook I got last year (I6000d) because it can perform every task I throw at it without any problems.

I'm just trying to advise the guy who is asking if he should upgrade to Core Duo right now or if he can pass this opportunity on and wait until latter this year to upgrade.
If you or the other guys want to upgrade as often as you can, that is up to you guys, I'm just trying to say that a newer technology is underway and will be available 6 or 7 months from now. By the time this new technology is out, my laptop will be about a year old.

Just ask yourself the following before buying Core Duo:"If I buy Core Duo right now, when Merom comes out in Oct-Nov. this year, will I want to upgrade to Merom?"

I'm just trying to advise you about holding off buying now just because Dell is going to offer 40% off on SELECTED notebooks (the E1705 and the E1505 couldn't be among those that will be offered).
But as I said before, buying now or not is up to you guys.

I'll buy a new notebook with Merom but, for now I can pass Core Duo on.

Just my two cents.

Thanks and I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Carlos


I6000d entium M760 2.0GHz, 1GB RAM dual channel 533MHz, ATI X300 128MB, 80GB HD 5400, 8X DVD+RW, Intel wireless 2915abg, bluetooth 350, win XP pro (notebook was reformatted the same day I got it).

 

I agree with Carlos' recommendations. If you don't need to upgrade, holding off until the next generation chips are released would be a good idea. You know that Dell will have some sweet deals for the holidays with the new Merom processors.

If you absolutely need a laptop (that's the boat I'm in right now) then a Duo Core is a good choice. Even with 64 bit Vista, it will be a while before there are 64 bit applications for the consumer market, so Duo Core machines will run Vista just fine and, quite frankly, most consumers probably wouldn't notice any real speed increases anyway.

 

I agree 100%. Not only will it take a year or two for 64 bit to mature, the MAJORITY of the market will more than likely be 32 bit based and I don't doubt it will be pretty easy to assign new or old applications to take advantage of the DUO CORE 32 bit. 64 bit like I said, imo is a good 2 years away for it to really mature, and by then I will probably be looking to upgrade.

 

What makes you think that the 40% off coupon doesn't apply to the E1505 & E1705??? Doesn't Dell also specify that the regular $750, $450 off coupons apply to SELECTED notebooks as well???

 

Well it does STATE

"Save 40% on Select InspironTM Notebooks and DimensionTM desktops over $999"

SELECT INSPIRION

I inquired with Dell but it was a standard auto reply about coupons etc.. anyone know if it will include the 1505? If I can beat my price I'm going to cancel but I don't know how much time I have to cancel or if I will get hit with some surcharge. I just ordered on Sunday I think.

 

I plan to buy E1705. anyone has 40% coupon code that is not used, Please send it to me.

thanks,

 

I would like one for a 1505 if someone has one they don't need.

 

Hi, folks

Please, tell me, how to find this 40% off coupon code? Where is it printed?

 

the 40% coupon came in the snail mail for me. and it does apply to the e1705's as i tried to use it on one, and permitted it. im pretty set on getting the 1.8 duo. i think the 40% is a great deal, plus, im sold on the 1705, my only gripes that i have are the no number pad.... HPs got one. and i also hear these 1705's dont have PCMCIA slot? but i can live with no num. pad i suppose, and since its got integrated wireless, probably wouldnt need the pcmcia. it was the e1705 or HP's dv8000t. tough choice.

 

Personally I would go for the E1705 is great man. My cousin just got one and it is awesome!

 

Hi all,

Could anybody give me this 40% off coupon? I'm not a DELL customer yet, so I haven't it. I will very appreciate it! My e-mail [email protected]

Thanks,
Jess

 

Hi everyone, getting back to the original Post I'll drop my 2 cents worth. I purchased the e1705 back in Jan. 2.16 processor, 2 gig ram, etc, fully loaded with all options for $2500. got the 7800 video card to.

Looking back you can always say if i waited i could have saved money. Just when the price points drop to a level where you'd bit, the next generation of stuff comes out. Simple supply and demand.

All this talk about Vista kinda gets me going......so i will be brief about this fact.
1. most users will not notice a HUGE difference
2. WE are ALL assuming that Vista will make it to market (it's been something like 5 years delayed.......
3. there are still no major apps compiled to run
4. New OS - i promise you there will be issues and you'd be best to wait until the first service pack comes out before adopting it.

DON'T get like a deer in headlights about Vista - ouuuhhhhh must have. Look at what you want, and what you will use the laptop for. Yes, i like everyone else would like to have the biggest, badest laptop, but financially - for most of us - it is not practical.

The e1705 has been an awesome pc. Using Super Pi it beats the Dell Optiplex GX520 with the 3GHz P4. what more do you want..........It's simple the first time a laptop can keep pace with a desktop.

I say buy it and be happy

 

Piggybacking on my original post: most likely Intel will release a bios update for the 945 motherboard which will add Merom support. That means you would be able to replace the Duo Core with a Merom.

Don't wait for the holidays. Take advantage of great prices on the e1705!

 

Another thing about Dell's Deals...............

Do you really think you are getting 40% off, 1/3rd off, $750 off?

Case in point, i have been researching Dell's site and taking notes for a little experiment i am doing. The Deminsion desktop (510 series) has been around the same $500~600 mark now for the past few months, yet they have offered 40% off, 1/3 off, etc promotions. If you watch closely, the price for each upgrade changes a bit. sometimes it goes up, and sometimes it goes down. the more important number however, is the MSRP number from which they are offering the discounts from..... that 40% off the 510 - is based on a $999 purchase price. Guess what, Dell has probably NEVER sould that model at that price. Just 2 weeks ago the $999 was actually $799. So how can that be?

Be weary, DELLs mega "Sales/Marketing" team knows how to play the game.


While the savings are nice, and they are real, they are not fully "true" is all i am meaning to say.

If an item is normally selling for $1000 a true savings of $750 would mean i pay only $250 for something.....this is NOT the way Dell runs it.

I figure all of you know this, just putting it into words.......