I AM TEH WINNAH!!!! I'M GETTING A LAPTOP!!!!

[digitalwanderer]

Well, sort of....I'm getting a wife a laptop for our upcoming birthdays. (Mine is the 6th, hers is the 12th)

I was joking with her about how I was going to pull an April Fool's Day joke on her about how I stayed up late last night and charged $2,500 worth of parts to build a new system with, but decided against it after being annoyed by all the rampant silliness online.

She said, "Well if you would have said you bought me a laptop I would have been alright with it".

So after I picked my jaw up and squeaked out a, "Really?", I turned and saw her looking at a Dell catalog. I quickly turned the page to the XPS2 or whatever and said, "THAT ONE!" and she sort of blanched at the $3,500 price tag and decided we shouldn't get one since she wants to get pergo floors.

Anywho, it looks like if I can find something good for $1,000 we can nab it....anyone have any recomends on a $1,000 laptop?

 

[mustrum]

Since i'm not from the US i can't help you with a linkt to a special model but if your wife is no gamer (wich is most likely) you should've no problem to get a decent laptop. The graphics cards make them expensive.
For 1000 bucks you should be able to buy a decent Centrino Notebook.
Just don't by any means buy a P4 mobile or the like. Too hot, too loud and too crappy.

 

[Guden Oden]

Yeah, centrino seems to be the way to go currently for mobile x86, though not sure what gfx you'll be able to get in a $1K lap - not that it really matters probably if it's your wife that'll use it. Just get enough RAM in it, that's prolly the best tip I can give, but you know this already...

 

[digitalwanderer]

Since i'm not from the US i can't help you with a linkt to a special model but if your wife is no gamer (wich is most likely) you should've no problem to get a decent laptop.

Well, 'cept for the fact that this laptop will be used by me and my wife and I am a gamer....


....and so is she!

A pretty good one too, we're about evenly matched in UT so I'd have to say she's good. She can kick my ass in NFSU, but I generally have the upper-hand in FPS so it balances out.

I might be kicking up the budget to $2k and just financing it, there's some sweet looking Alienware's for about $64/mos....

 

[Tim Murray]

Diggy:

http://slickdeals.net/#p5924

See? I do actually do things besides totally fuck with you on April 1.

 

[MuFu]

Careful Dig, he might have rigged that entire site to steal your credit card details.

 

[Tim Murray]

:O

He saw through my brilliant scheme!

 

[Zaphod]

I might be kicking up the budget to $2k and just financing it, there's some sweet looking Alienware's for about $64/mos....

The 9300 then, if you like Dell. The same PC as the XPS2, sans the styling and missing some of the higher end options. More bang for the buck, though.

Intel® Pentium® M 740 Processor (1.73GHz/533MHz FSB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
17 inch UltraSharpâ„¢ Wide Screen UXGA Display
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 6800 (300/700)
80GB Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG
6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (53 WHr)
All basic software and support options.

$1965,-

Had to choose between the DVD burner and the best screen to keep it under 2K.

 

[Tim Murray]

1920x1200 is the bestest thing EVER.

 

[digitalwanderer]

I might be kicking up the budget to $2k and just financing it, there's some sweet looking Alienware's for about $64/mos....

The 9300 then, if you like Dell. The same PC as the XPS2, sans the styling and missing some of the higher end options. More bang for the buck, though.

Intel® Pentium® M 740 Processor (1.73GHz/533MHz FSB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
17 inch UltraSharpâ„¢ Wide Screen UXGA Display
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 6800 (300/700)
80GB Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG
6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (53 WHr)
All basic software and support options.

$1965,-

Had to choose between the DVD burner and the best screen to keep it under 2K.

I'd go best screen, I got burners on the home units.

Thanks for that, looks nice....but isn't the X800 a better card? (Not fanboying, really curious.)

Also, how much memory....I'm gonna be needing at least 512Mb and 1Gb be betterer.

EDITED BITS: Just saw it had a gig, I have no clue how I missed that!

1920x1200 is the bestest thing EVER.

Does the above have that? I'm sort of clueless and this is the first time I'll be getting my feet wet on a laptop.

 

[digitalwanderer]

yeah - here you go:

--------------------------------------------------
Dell Home Notebook Coupon Codes 30%-35% Off
--------------------------------------------------
(Posted: 3/31/05 9:00 AM, Expires: 4/7/05 5:00 AM)

Offer: 30% Off Select Inspiron Online Notebook Computer Purchases $999+
Code: "FZ1QGJBJ6QHL0H"

Offer: 35% Off Select Inspiron Online Notebook Computer Purchases $1499+
Code: "K6PHJCLJJL8299"

Codes may not be stackable with Outrageous Deals, Recommended Solutions, dollars off, percentage off, XPS series systems, and select other site promotions. Each code expires after 4000 uses! All prices are before shipping and tax where applicable. This is a limited time offer through 4/7/05 5:59AM CST, though Dell coupons are subject to change or expiration at anytime. Limit one coupon per cart during checkout.

Would this apply to the 9300? What type is it?

(Please be an Inspiron, please be an Inspiron, please be an Inspiron, please be an Inspiron, please be an Inspiron, please be an Inspiron...)

 

[digitalwanderer]

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=i9300F1&s=dhs

It's an Inspiron!!!! 8)

 

[digitalwanderer]

The 35% coupon code worked, I have the system posted above in my shopping cart for $1,400us!

Catalog Number / Description	 	Product Code	 	SKU	 	Id
	Inspiron 9300:
Intel® Pentium® M 740 Processor (1.73GHz/533MHz FSB)	 	SM17HN	 	[221-7307]	 	1
	Operating System:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition	 	WHXP	 	[420-4766][463-2282][412-0689][420-4928][412-0706][420-4830]	 	11
	Display:
17 inch UltraSharpâ„¢ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLifeâ„¢	 	17UXGAS	 	[320-4256]	 	2
	Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options:
No Extended Service, Support or Ltd Warranty	 	NW111N	 	[950-9057][950-3337][950-3550][412-0361][960-2780]	 	29
	Memory:
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz 2 Dimm	 	1GB2D	 	[311-3732]	 	3
	Hard Drive:
80GB Hard Drive	 	80GB	 	[341-1808]	 	8
	CD/DVD Drives:
8X Max DVD ROM Drive	 	8XDVD	 	[313-2579][420-5111]	 	16
	Primary Battery:
6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (53 WHr)	 	6BAT	 	[312-0285]	 	27
	Video Card:
256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 6800	 	256NV	 	[320-4185]	 	6
	Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed):
WordPerfect® 12 - Word processor only	 	ICORELM	 	[412-0714]	 	22
	Security Software:
No Security Subscription	 	NS	 	[412-0755]	 	25
	Internet Access: Dial-Up:
6 Months EarthLink Internet Access Included	 	ERTHLNK	 	[412-0584][412-0625][412-0687][420-3224]	 	37
	Wireless Networking Cards:
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)	 	IP2200	 	[430-0996]	 	19
	Special Offer:
Thank you for choosing Dell!	 	OL178	 	[463-9525]	 	120
	Network Card:
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem	 	INTNIC	 	[430-0493]	 	13
	Digital Music:
Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software	 	MMBASE	 	[412-0741]	 	26
	Digital Imaging:
Photo Albumâ„¢ SE Basic	 	DPS	 	[412-0744]	 	38
	Financial Software:
No QuickBooks package selected- Includes limited use trial	 	QBSSP	 	[420-5139]	 	83
	Adobe Software:
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0	 	ADOBER	 	[430-1048]	 	15

 

[Zaphod]

The 35% coupon code worked, I have the system posted above in my shopping cart for $1,400us!

Damn! The rebate must even have stacked with some of the 'default' promotions. Don't think you'll find any gamer laptop cheaper than that. I'd go for it. The P-M is a great gaming CPU, and the 9300 is much more manageble in size and weight than the P4 17 inch competition. Also: That screen is gorgeous.

That's what Dell is all about: Great deals for those among us who can be bothered to find the right promotions, whil still raking in money from the masses.

 

[digitalwanderer]

I'm still sort of boggled, my summary list out has it listed at $2,332 marked down to $1,939.....THEN the coupon brought it down to $1,400.

I just gotta sell me wife on the idea. We got hit with about $1,800 in state taxes due in June so now I got a bit of an uphill battle ahead of me.

But with this kind of deal, I can sell her on it. 8)

I saved my cart, it's good until May 1st.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!

 

[Zaphod]

But with this kind of deal, I can sell her on it. 8)

Good luck!

I saved my cart, it's good until May 1st.

Won't the extra rebate still expire in a week though? (Don't know how Dell deal with saved carts and time limited offers in the US.)

 

[digitalwanderer]

I don't know, I figure I'll order it in a day or two...mebbe even tonight.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Ok, I changed it to the "9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (80 WHr)" which bumped the pricetag up to $1,480.70...think it's worth it and do you think there is anything I should add/change?

(BTW-Will this have a sound system on it even though I didn't choose an external soundcard and will I regret that? )

 

[Zaphod]

I'd take the 9-cell in addition to the 6-cell. I'ts only $30 more and give you both way more battery life for the money along with the choice of portability versus power on the road. I didn't pick that upgrade in my original setup due to the outrageous price for the exchange. Strangely enough there's no premium for the big battery in Europe.

As far as the sound goes it uses a Sigmatel C-Major codec. Decent enough, I guess, as most integrated sound these days. (Perhaps there are someone else on this board who might be more helpful with that... ) Anyways: You could probably get an USB/PC-Card sound setup cheaper somewhere else later if you so desire.

 

[Tim Murray]

order ASAP, because the coupon will probably be gone tomorrow.