Dell Studio15 + Dell Mini 9..

So, In a desperate attempt to get my hands on the Mini-9 whilst ALSO spoiling my wife so she could not refuse, I offered to get her a Dell Studio 15 and grab a hold of the Mini 9 for the $99 addon fee but upgrade it a little.

Total price: less than 1k. That, In my opinion is a very good price for 2 2008 notebooks.

My question is: The Dell Mini 9 comes with Ubuntu, Atleast when you get it in this package deal you cannot change it to windows. So, Will this Mini-9 be a headache free port to Windows once it arrives with Ubuntu? Or should I just shell out the extra cash and get it outright with Windows installed?

Thanks.

 

Headache or not, the mini-9 for $99 is more than worth it. I am sure there will be guides online in no time to converting to XP. Not to mention the xp drivers are already out because they make the thing with xp.

I would go for the deal.

 

it should be fairly easy to switch it to XP, so don't worry. It's all the same hardware.

OP, do you already have a link to the config page of a studio 15, xps 1330, or xps 1530 with the option to add a $99 mini? Or did you talk to them on the phone or something?

According to the blog it should be available early tomorrow, but just wondering if you have found a way to get it earlier.

 

Sahaskatta, I read the review and saw the tidbit about it being $99. We were looking into getting my wife a new XPS or Studio anyway so I went to go see what one brand new would cost, and Boom, There was the Mini-9.

I live in the US and it is available on dell.com whilst configuring a Studio 15. It's like the 6th-8th configuration option. It will obviously ship later than your original laptop but it seems worth it.

Tshroom, I kinda thought the same thing, But with all the headache that went around with porting other Dell's from Vista to XP, I didn't want to go through the same thing. Also, $99 for linux on a laptop like that is useless for me..Now if it came pre-installed with slackware, I may have made an exception

Ninja edit: I think my only beef is that its coming with Linux to offer a cheaper option, and Windows costing extra is just for Dell's licensing. I have several unused Windows XP Retail keys..Why wouldn't EVERYONE get it with linux to save the $50 is beyond me I guess..

 

Hey B0r,
I just checked and I don't see that option anywhere!!! Could you please send me a link?

Thanks in advance.

 

you click on the tab at the top that says add my software and accesories

 

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...n&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=features~laptops_great_deals

If that works for you. If not, Configure a Studio 15, Then click Tab #2 "Add my software and accessories" and the mini9 is the first option.

 

looks like they removed the option at the moment, must have been a mistake since it is supposed to happen tomorrow

 

Still nothing up, and I'd rather have the option to config it, since I assume it won't take a normal notebook drive, and I'd like the 16GB SSD if that's the largest available.

Should this thing be able to boot off any external CD drive to install Windows?

Dell's one configuration with Windows actually seems cheaper than the same config without, because of discounts.

 

i posted this already from another thread.

Just got off chat with dell. this deal is not at all final, they have no direction yet from the marketing department. the rep told me it should be finalized sometime today but as of now there is no deal. 10:00am EST.
so from dell sales, they do not know how the $99 mini deal works yet.

 

Yeah, it's definitely not showing up on the order page. It was supposed to start at 6am today.

 

Mini deal can be found at http://www.dell.com/content/products...=19&l=en&s=dhs
Not really that great of a deal as it only works with those configs right now. The 30% coupons for the 1530/1330 worked with it, but the overall price after the coupon was still $350-400 more then what I paid for my 1530 this past weekend through my EPP.

 

There's a 30% off coupon for the 1530? I thought there was only a 20% off, and a 30% for the 1330?

There's an add up in the EPP store (sort of, you have to click on a blank area of the page at the right time), but it dosen't actually have the Mini on the configuration screen yet.

I'm also disappointed that it dosen't come with the Studio 17, and that you can't configure the Mini. I'd at least want a 16GB drive, since that's probably not very replaceable compared with RAM or the OS (which I assume can be replaced by booting off an external USB CD drive).

I tried the regular store with the 1530 and the 20% off coupon, but it was easily the same price as the EPP store and just buying a Mini separately.

 

That 30% coupon that is listed for the 1330 was working with the 1530 too. It looks like dell took that link I provided for the mini for $99 deal down, well when it was working earlier today, I was able to customize the mini. I was able to upgrade to 1 gig ram and could chose between the 4, 8, and 16 gig hard drives and there were some other options I was able to select too.

 

The deal is back. It sucks, but its back. You cant choose just any model. See for yourself.

System model: Discount: E-value code:
Studio 15 $234 Off Instantly 6V620-DNDOUM2
Studio 15 $309 Off Instantly 6V620-DNDOUM3
XPSTM M1330 $347 Off Instantly 6V620-DYDOTU6
XPSTM M1530 $268 Off Instantly 6V620-DYDOHU6

 

Thanks! That does indeed work, both the coupon, and the configuration for that Mini. With it, it really does make the Mini more or less $100 compared to the EPP store 1530 (today's prices at least).

I found the configuration option you mentioned, and bumped the Mini up to a 16GB SSD (seems like a must have choice!). You can't configure the OS there, but I assume the Mini will boot off an old external USB CD-RW drive to install another OS and programs. It also apparently has a standard DIMM slot, and a modern chipset, so I don't see any reason to not just bump the RAM to 2GB instead of 1 through Dell.

I...have no reason to get a Mini, but this cheap one is tempting me. I have visions of using it with iTunes as a mini-podcast station to sync with my iPod, and to have it just sitting there Folding 24/7. Maybe even have it take over Tivo media conversion duties. The drive space might get tight, but I've got a spare USB drive I could hook up. The thing would barely draw any power just running all the time Folding and doing that stuff.
I don't know, that's goofy since the new 1530 would serve the purpose just as well, but I love new gadgets!

I don't understand why only the Studio 15 qualifies for this. Oh well.

EDIT: It's up on the EPP site now too, comparing prices...hmm...it's close but kind of works out to be cheaper on the Home site. The EPP site the Mini's config is actually cheaper, but the system is more...yeah, but at least $100ish, I guess. EDIT2: No, more than that because I had added an X-Fi to the home config. Closer to $150-200 more probably.