Dell Lappy - Good deal or no deal???

TriggerX

Hi all, again!

Spoke to Dell again and reduced a couple of small things, increased one big thing and got another freebie. The deal is looking better but still not sure whether to take the plunge. What does anyone think?

Inspiron 6400

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Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Core 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.00ghz 667mhz 4mb L2 cache)
15.4" WXGA (1280x800) std screen (Truelife one is too shiny!)
2048MB 667mhz DDR2 Memory (2x1024)
160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400rpm)
8x DVD+/-RW Drive
256MB Radeon X1400 Hypermemory (Lots of people say better than the Nvidia)
Wireless 3945 Card
6 cell battery
Basic 2YR AT HOME Service Warranty
Cherry Burlwood Snap-on cover

All the other bits and bobs, as well as:
Free deluxe nylon carrycase
Free Corel Snapfire Plus - Full Version

All for £716.75 inc vat & delivery.

I think I've pushed about as hard as I can push. Even tried to get the £16.75 knocked off but the guy wouldn't budge any further! Does anyone think the 2YR AT HOME warranty is good to have or a waste of money? Any of your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

:beer:

Kilty_2

You'd probably be better keeping it unless you are either making a substantial saving or are not afraid to use the accidental damage cover on your home contents insurance.

Remember the warranty will only cover faults, not accidental damage though.(which is usually what kills a laptop).

mjr600

Wow, thats a pricey laptop, powerful yes, why do you need a laptop with all that power and storage, what are you going to use it for ?

You can get the same model Dell, lesser spec of course but still capable of doing everything most people need for £386 direct from Dell. You can add the bright screen and fancy cover and its still hundreds less.

mjr600

Truly it is.

When will people learn to search and study the forums I wonder before posting ' is this any good' questions.

TriggerX

Thanks for the input guys. I guess in answer to your questions concerning power, I want something that's gonna be pretty future-proof for a while. Processor wise I don't think it's THAT huge, is it? Memory is obviously an issue for Vista and 2GB seems to be the going rate for it to run really well. 160gb HD doesn't seem that big either when most people say a budget system needs 80Gb+. besides, it's a free upgrade from 120GB one anyway. I do a lot of photography and image editing and the smaller systems just don't seem to cut the mustard by most people's standards (that I've spoken to.)

I know I could buy a lesser spec but then I wonder if I would always be thinking, "why didn't I just get that when I started?"

I don't know......

TriggerX

Oh, and just as a side note - I did search the forums for information. That's how I found out about the 'Truelife' screens being a waste of money because they are TOO reflective and the cheaper Radeon graphics cards being better than the more expensive NVidia one. Scores higher on 3DMark too.

Didn't think I'd annoy anyone by asking their opinion on the value of the system. Not the size of the system - just the value of it measured against the specification.

sorry. :mad:

mjr600

But by the time you're thinking you wish you'd bought something better, maybe two to three years away, you could buy the next low priced laptop and keep at the cutting edge. Sell the first for maybe £150, quids in.

I have thousands of digital photos going back six years, there is no way I would store a collection on a PC, if it bombs, is stolen or lost then you're screwed.

Photos should be properly backed up on an external HD thereby making the need for a large HD redundant.

My opinion but I believe your purchase is a nutcracker to crack a nut, if you're intent on spending put the remainder towards a new camera or lense.

Remember this is a money saving site !

TriggerX

Youre absolutely right. This is a moneysaving site. This lappy is well over £1000+ retail. Iv'e got £150 off, a free case, double memory upgrade, HD upgrade and some free software.

You realise of course, there are even bigger systems out there than this one! I didn't honestly think this was that big a system. Maybe I should downgrade it some more then? Smaller processor? Less memory? Surely then it would be like buying a Mercedes Benz or BMW and dropping a lawnmower engine in it!!! What's the point? I suppose you could say to your friends as they laugh at you - "well, I saved quite a bit of money."

LOL!!!

mjr600

Don't ask for advice if you don't like the advice you get.

Penny wise, pound foolish as my Gran used to say.

TriggerX

You misunderstand me. I love advice. In fact I welcome it. All I'm saying is if someone thinks I might be paying over the odds for this spec system, great. Not asking me why I need (or in fact want) such a system. If you could show me a cheaper system with exactly the same spec, fine. I'm no fool. I know I could lower the spec and save money but that's not the exercise here. I wanted this spec. In fact, no. I wanted a lesser spec but if they (Dell) want to upgrade it for nowt then I aint gonna argue.

another point is the future value. The lesser spec machines in; I don't know; six months would be worth diddly squat. This machine might still be worth a few hundred pounds as it might still pack a punch. Same again with cars. Buy a new VW. In a year it will still have over 70% of it's original value. Buy a Proton and it will be worth about 40-45%!

Anyway, as I said - Advice is greatly received. Criticism is not. I wouldn't criticise anyone for buying a Proton. It might be all they can afford!

Cheers :beer: