Dell 6400 replaced by Inspiron 15.....TBD

So Ive had my 6400 for almost 3 years. Been struggling with the BSOD for over 2 years. Dell finally agreed to replace my system.

My original computer had this:

T2400 Processor (2mb Cache/1.83ghz/667FSB)
15.4 inch WSXGA+ display
1gb ram
120gb HD
XP Home
DVD burner
Intel Pro Wireless
9 Cell Battery
X1400 256mb graphics


What Dell offered me...

Inspiron 1545
T4200 Processor (1mb Cache/2.0ghz/ 800FSB)
15.6 WXGA Screen
2gb ram
160gb HD
Vista Basic
DVD Burner
Dell 1515 wireless
6 cell battery
HD4330 256mb graphics


I basically told them to reconfigure it. I told them I wanted a 2mb cache, a WSXGA+ (or 900p/1080p) screen, and I need a firewire port (which the 1545 doesn't have). The tech also told me he was going to inquire about the 9 cell battery (I didn't even ask about it) I also stated that all the new computers have 4gb of ram and XP home premium, which made me feel uneasy about going from XP to Vista. He told me he will see what he can do. Personally, I think they need to get me a Studio 15 so I can get my screen upgrade. Thoughts? Am I right to ask for these things?

I also paid about $130 to extend my warranty another year.

 

Dell guarantees a system of equivalent or better components in the event that an identical system is not an option. That means a replacement should have everything your 6400 had, at the very least.

I think you are well within your rights to ask for a Studio 15, since it seems to be the least expensive model that still satisfies all your needs. And you'd think paying that $130 warranty extension would convince them to be a bit more generous.

 

I hate to say I told you so........

My prediction on what will happen next; let's see if I have a future as a fortune teller...

You will get offered 4GB of RAM. You will get an upgraded processor but only to a T6400. You may get a 9 cell battery. That is all.

You see the problem stems from their contract, in particular this bit:

Statutory Rights, Warranties, Repairs, Replacements & Provision of Services
All Customers:
8.1 Dell will fulfil its legal obligations to repair &/or replace Products. These obligations are dependent upon proper use of Products & do not cover any parts of Products which have been modified or repaired without Dell's prior written consent. Dell may ask third party Software licensors to fulfil Dell's and/or licensor's legal obligations relating to the supply of that licensor's software.

Now, it depends on what the terms and conditions of your extended warranty were, but I expect that you simply extended the above rather than bought additional cover. In which case, statuatory rights do vary country by country, but as a general rule these tend to be quite vague as to what you can be provided with as a replacement, as opposed to the fact that they tend to be quite specific as to when you are entitled to a replacement. Weird, I know.

If you get no joy, it may be worthwhile discussing with the Dell representative (only after all other avenues have been travelled) the fact that the replacement product does not feature firewire which is essential for your use. Therefore, this makes the product not fit for purpose, which may leave you with more wriggle room. Now I'm not a legal boffin, so I don't know whether the onus would be upon you to prove that the lack of a firewire port makes the product unfit for purpose. I would seriously suggest this only as a last resort though, as quoting legal regulations at companies can equally have a strong positive or negative response; but once said it can never be taken back, if you understand what I'm saying.

Hope your next encounter goes better than you;ve had so far.

 

quick off topic: If I had a future as a fortune teller, shouldn't I already know that?

 

Haha. As soon as they told me what the initial specs would be I thought to myself "hey... Fragilexx was right...."

Firewire is pretty important for me. My video camera connects that way, and I use it a fair bit for school. The screen upgrade is probably the thing I like most about my computer and it's probably the one thing I don't want to be without. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you posted

 

i think like shroom, ask for a studio 15, the inspiron 15 doesn have 900p/1080p screen nor firewire. so the just gonna give you 4gb of ram, 9cell bat and t6400 processor. or even look for a latitude or vostro!!!

 

4 days now... Still no new configuration. Talked to the guy who I've been dealing with from Bangalore. He said that they reconfigured it but he wasn't even happy with it.... bah... haha.... oh well?
Just keep waiting I guess... how long is this supposed to take

Edit: So i just got an e-mail from the Dell rep in Bangalore.... Apparently they just changed my battery from a 6 cell to a 9 cell....... great..... haha the rep is hoping to get the other specs fixed.

 

so far my crystal gazing skills have remain accurate......

 

Haha. Yea.... stop cursing me! AHH!

But no... i just think it's funny. *although I didn't get the processor upgrade or the ram upgrade....*
I'm sure it will all work out in the end.... haha Just give it time.... Seems thats what you need to do with Dell... just give it time.

 

Yes, and I predict that in time they will give you a processor and ram upgrade.. ;o)

To be honest, I hope they give you a studio; and it's possible that in the end they may. I think that I should highlight the word possible, because whilst I don't want to curse you, I don't think it's likely. More often than not, they replace the same product line with the same product line, therefore Vostro = Vostro, Studio = Studio, Inspiron = Inspiron. There have been times though that people have got another product line; so there is hope yet!

 

Yea... that is true.
The studio line didn't even exist back when i got my computer. I would be sad if I don't get a high res screen. It's so hard to go back to a normal screen. I cringe when I look at my friend's computers with normal screens. High res is just so nice to have.

Oh well.. time will tell

 

Alright.. Big update here

Dell Studio 15
3gb Ram
T6400 Processor
Vista Home Premium 32bit
15.6" 900p screen
250gb HD
256mb ATI 4570
DVD Burner
9 Cell Battery
Intel Link 5100 Half Mini Card Wireless


Originally they still had the 720p screen on there... I convinced them to get me at least the 900p.
I'm not shocked about the 3gb instead of 4... It should be fine with 3gb.
My only question was about the 32 vs 64bit Vista. Is there any real difference? The tech told me 32bit was more stable and compatible with the existing software, where as 64bit was iffy.

Yay!

 

Congratulations - that was well done - you clearly had a good rep!

The old argument about 32bit being more stable than 64bit is really not as true now as it once was. However, with less than 4GB of RAM, you'd be better off with 32bit.

For once I am happy to be proven wrong!

 

There's nothing wrong with using 64-bit Vista on less than 4GB of memory. 64-bit has the capability of addressing more than 4GB, but it's not a requirement.

 

My logic:

Although most programs run fine on 64bit, you will have problems with programs that make use of unsigned drivers; plus, you get a little extra bloat with 64bit. Therefore unless you need it so you can address more than 4GB of RAM, then my original statement still stands - you'd be better off with 32bit.

Now, if you wanted to upgrade your RAM at a later stage, then it's a different story.

Basically, I don't think you'll have much of a choice anyway, seeing that the machine you'll be given will be from their outlet stock - so you are stuck with whatever was installed in the first place.

 

I ordered the 64-bit disk to install on my 1535 back when I had 2GB of memory, and I still thought it was snappier than 32-bit. I have not had a single issue with unsigned drivers except for RMClock, and they include a fix for that.

 

Well according to the rep, it's not from the outlet. It's a brand new computer.
I figure I wouldn't upgrade the ram to more than 4gb anyways, so it's not a huge deal to me. So with 32 bit, you can have up to 4gb of ram?

Eitherway, 3 is better than 2! which is better than 1!

So now i'll just wait... Once I get the computer, I'll take some side by side pictures with my 6400. the 900p and 1080p screens are supposed to be nice upgrades to the 720p. I'm quite curious to see the LED screens.

 

They will probably ask you to send the other one back to them, so about taking those pictures, make it snappy......

OK, that was terrible.

Most laptops in the outlet are new - they are simply machines that were configured but sent back for whatever reason. Could be they weren't liked, could have been something wrong that Dell has now fixed, could have been a cancelled order. Sure there is something else. So technically, yes it's a new machine.

Mastershroom; it all depends on what you use the machine for as to whether or not you'd have probs with unsigned drivers. For most things you wont, but if you like trying out open source software, there are a few out there that need low level drivers and as they are open source nobody wants to pay for the driver signing. If you use mainstream apps and games you'd be fine.

As for 64bit being faster than 32bit; that might have possibly been true, but it's also possible that it was simply your perception of it.

Meh, I dunno. Things are a lot more complicated nowadays. I still remember having to put ramdrive.sys in my config file for DOS to convince it I had more than 640k base memory......people talk about pagefiles being slow, try fooling your operating system into thinking some space on a 5.25" floppy is memory )

 

Haha. I remember my dads computer... I played the original Duke Nukem game.... There was a TURBO button on the computer!!! it was like... in Hz....

On another note... is there any difference in the wireless cards?

 

Oh yes, I was chuffed when I built my 386 with a turbo button - that pushed it from 33MHz to er probably 34MHz. Can't quite remember what it did now, except I remember it was a 386 DX 33MHz and it had a huge 40MB HDD. Holy cow! To tell you the truth, it was a million times better than the machine I had built before; which only had a monochrome monitor and no HDD.

Anyway, I digress.

I believe the card you had before was a 3945, so with the 5100 you will notice vastly improved range and speed (assuming your router is up for it).

 

Yea I had the 3945. But compared to the other Dell cards you can get on the Studio 1555, is there any real difference?

 

Well the Dell 1510 and the Intel 5100 should be about the same I would have thought. When you get the Intel 5100 though, it means you get a shiny sticker for the notebook that says Centrino 2

Honestly, between those two I don't know.

After searching, I found this thread where it seems it comes down to preference:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=375395

Regards

 

Here's something we can laugh about... Got "A" computer today.... it was a Inspiron 1545 not the Studio 15. It's the old configuration..... Strange. Anyways.... HOW DO PEOPLE DEAL WITH THIS GLOSSY BLACK FINISH! SO MANY FINGERPRINTS. I can't even believe it. It bugs me already haha. I'll be sending this one back, but i'll check it out a bit first...Gotta contact Dell ASAP.

But anyways... i took a few pictures.... I have a good comparison of the two screens... my WSXGA+ vs the 1545 15.6" screen. I can say that the new screen is definitely brighter. The new computer is lighter but does not feel as well built the top case is flimsy and the plastics don't feel as nice. I'll do a short review once i get the studio 15. I'll be able to compare 3 screens... (using constant aperture and shutter speed on the camera we should be able to tell which is the brightest...)

 

lol.....I did say. Send it back.

The glossy palmrest is a pain. I dismantled mine, sanded it down and re-applied a coat of matt paint (well several layers of course). It was bothering me that much

 

Owie...my brain hurts now

 

Haha. it will be a good comparison....

You guys should have convinced me not to call..... Dell didn't even realize I had the computer. haha. My Studio is still in production but will be here by the 9th of July.... I almost had 2 computers... haha