M1330 ? Need help choosing one

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › M1330 ? Need help choosing one

thinkingtrex8848

533 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#20210 16-Mar-2008 22:31

I'm so close to getting a dell m1330, i basically use it for uni purposes, not into gaming, just occasional dvds. My current configuration :

Processor : T9300 2.5ghz 6mb cache,
OS          : Vista Ultimate
Display    : Tuxedo Black WLED slim Display ( I couldn't see the PRODUCT RED)
Memory    : 4gb 667mhz RAM (2 x 2gb)
HDD         : 320gb 5400rpm SATA hdd
Optical D   : DVD-RW
Video Card : gforce 8400m GS 128mb dedicated gddr3
Audio Card : Sound blaster Audio advanced hd sound software
WLAN         : Intel Wireless N mini card
Bluetooth    :Dell 355 bluetooth module
Warranty     : 1 Year warranty ( I need advice, is it really worth it to pay 200 more for 2 yrs??)
Battery       : 6 cell battery
Power         : 65W light weight power adapter
Softwares: Microsoft works 9.0
                McAfee 15 months OEM
Nylon sleeve bag

Total: 2582.25

Is that too much? I need a portable practical laptop. I was considering a macbook air or any stylish light weight ones. I'm looking for the cheapest yet most value for money configuration. Please help :)

That processor upgrade deal (from 8300 to 9300) and Mcafee 15 months is only till Monday 17 March. Or else it would come up to somewhere around $380 more.

Cheers

scottjpalmer

5973 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#117019 16-Mar-2008 22:43

Yeah highly recommend it. Mine came to $2800 but that was with the 3 year everything covered everywhere warranty and bonus speakers and some other unnecessary stuff :-)

I'm looking for the cheapest yet most value for money configuration.

I believe it to be good value for money if you want high spec, if midrange would do the job then you should get something as equally good value for money for under $2000.

thinkingtrex8848

533 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#117021 16-Mar-2008 22:48

Sweet...I don't know for some reason T9300 looks better than 2.0ghz versions...I use a lil bit of video editing, dvd ripping etc...Ok so 2800 including 3 years warranty....but you're one is product red right? That should cost more isnt it? Hmm mine is just a black one and it costs the same...hmm?

scottjpalmer

5973 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#117022 16-Mar-2008 22:51

Mine was some sort of package deal they had advertised on NZHerald online. Product RED shouldn't be that much more, all it is is a logo by the keyboard, a red lid and a few red wallpapers and Vista gadgets (and the most important bit, the donation to the project). I didn't add anything to the advertised, default configuration and the promo expired the day after I ordered.

thinkingtrex8848

533 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#117023 16-Mar-2008 22:58

Sweet. I was also considering an Apple macbook, being a student I could get a 2.4ghz 13.3inch for 2000 shipped. Are they any good? Which one would be more practically portably stylishly powerful option?

scottjpalmer

5973 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#117026 16-Mar-2008 23:05

Stylish is a matter of opinion, practical depends on your use - if you have to use OS specific applications then that should form a large part of your decision (unless you want to install Windows on the Mac as well etc). Which OS do you prefer? I looked at Macs but a) didn't like the look of them and b) it just wasn't "familiar" feeling like windows is (for obvious reasons)

thinkingtrex8848

533 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#117027 16-Mar-2008 23:09

I use it basically for internet, watching movies, converting some avis to dvds, connecting to uni network via wlan etc etc. If its really overkill specs, i'll probably downgrade to 2.0ghz...but will that run vista ultimate flawlessy on an m1330? Or in case of macbook, obvioulsy i'm not at all familiar with it, but i can learn, is there any programs for mac where i can convert avis to dvds etc pretty quick? i think vista ultimate will be too much sophisticated for my daily use??

CYaBro

4582 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#117028 16-Mar-2008 23:09

Don't worry about the extended warranty. They are a con!
You are protected under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

thinkingtrex8848

533 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#117029 16-Mar-2008 23:12

Sweet. I've heard heaps about this consumer guarantee act but never actually been in a situation where I needed to use it....

scottjpalmer

5973 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#117031 16-Mar-2008 23:13

Consumer Guarantees Act isn't going to get you sorted when you are out of NZ or when you drop your machine or spill something on it like my warranty is.

When you have an issue 2 years down the track good luck with the Consumer Guarantees Act, sure it should work in theory but the bunfight to get satisfactory action could be a pain in the a$$.

thinkingtrex8848

533 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#117032 16-Mar-2008 23:18

haha thats what i thought!! i mean i wont be using the same laptop for 1 year anyway...i'll probably change it like 6 months maxx or maybe 8...the reason i cant decide on a macbook is..its all white and i can't really see why people call it white and sexy...it just looks like a whitewashed normal boxy laptop, with apple logo, i mean come on...macbook air loooks way cooler but macbook is just looks boxy...i might be wrong...

scottjpalmer

5973 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#117034 16-Mar-2008 23:21

I've heard heaps about this consumer guarantee act but never actually been in a situation where I needed to use it....

It isn't the magic get out of jail free card that the people that bandy it around think it is. Sure it is nice to have a legislative backup (even though it is airy fairy at times) but the company you buy from should have a customer service policy in place to stop it getting to that stage. This is where Dell COULD be an issue, I don't know but at least with a local retailer you can hit them up face to face if need be, someone in Malaysia isn't going to care so much and the battle may not be worth the end result other than the principle of the matter.