9300 opinions

geelen · 26th June 2005, 12:27 PM

Hi, Dell's having a $1200-off deal with the 9300 again, which has put it firmly in my price range

Just wondering if anyone knows of any good reviews of them, or has one and can answer a few questions. First, battery life. I'd get the 9-cell upgraded battery, any idea how long I can expect it to last? I'd be getting the 6800 video card, which may be pretty power hungry. Second, weight. I think I read that they are 3.5kgs on the Dell site. Can anyone confirm that? Are they comfortable enough on your back for a half-hour walk (I walk to uni)?

jas_essendon · 26th June 2005, 12:45 PM

I don't know about the Dell but just thought I'd say I have a 15.4" widescreen and it isn't the most ideal thing to take to uni. I get to drive to uni but I think a 30 min walk with it on your back along with whatever other textbooks and stuff you have to carry might be a bit too much weight and space taken up.

geelen · 26th June 2005, 1:33 PM

Well if I buy this, I won't be able to afford textbooks, so it should be ok

jas_essendon · 26th June 2005, 2:04 PM

lol good point. With all that hard drive space you should be able to copy all the stuff from the textbook into your laptop

I have 100gb and it's goooood

But 17" would be a bit big and bulky IMO.

keenie · 26th June 2005, 3:15 PM

While I can't answer your question RE: weight

But during my research I noticed this thread over @ Notebook Forums about battery life on the 9300. Hope it helps!
I'm also looking @ getting a 9300 with the $1200 off deal

PharCyde · 26th June 2005, 5:09 PM

my workmate just purchased the 9300 yesterday. I'll ask her about the weight etc and give you her opinions on it

Willski · 26th June 2005, 6:53 PM

I recieved my 9300 yesturday and so far im pretty impressed, only problem i had so far was when trying to create partition i couldnt get rid of my c drive so i just installed windows into my c: and then i used partition magic to create new partitions.

Also, i have a bit of light leakage but i dont know if you would call it bad or not but it is noticable on black screens and soemtimes on colour screens because i know its there. Other then taht i tried to get 60gig 7200rpm but i couldnt and i got a 100gig and when loading hl2 the loading is SLOW very slow, but other then that it great.
got WUXGA and dont think i have any dead pixels havnt seen any yet.

geelen · 26th June 2005, 10:14 PM

Hmm that link doesnt seem to be working. I'll try again in the morning. I did find a reasonable review that puts the battery life at around 3 hours, which is fine for me. Especially considering that I could probably extend that by underclocking... Anyway, review link here.

edit: link working now.

geelen · 27th June 2005, 7:36 AM

Argh! My system comes to $3400 but with the 100gb 4200rpm drive, and I really want to: a) not spend any more, b) get a faster hard drive. Normally Dell offer both the 60gb 7200rpm drive and the 100gb at around the same price, so why can't I swap them? If I start with the lower-spec model and work up, it comes to $3800

Apocalypse · 27th June 2005, 9:15 AM

Curiously, optioning the 9300 up to a 6800go over an x300 decreases the price by $24.20...does Dell have an E&OE policy? Or would they honour the quote due to ignorance?

I bought a 9300 with the last bug cash off deal. It is very nice - and it is also very big - portability is certainly not its main aim. With default settings it generally says there is about 3 hours battery life - but you can further tweak settings to improve that.

Willski · 27th June 2005, 10:00 AM

Geelen i have to say the 4200rpm hard drive, is what i go i think is not taht good, takes along time to run hl2, load it up.

I got $1000 discount + free upgrade to 6800go and also a $200 coupon which they all have no besides the free upgrade in gpu.

Mine came out to about $3039. I asked for a 60gig hd drive at 7200rpm but they said there was a worldwide shortage so i would have to get the 100gig, they wouldn't let me wait for 60gig and they said they will give the 100gig at 60gig price so i got another $100 discount around. I wasted another $111 on the extra speakers and subwoofers, i gotta call my sales rep see if i can get it refunded, without it, my comp would have cost $2928, which is pretty good as i got 2.0, 512ram gotta upgrade that, 6800go.

It may be more expensive then 2928 without subwoofers, becasue i think i just qualified for the $200 discount, maybe without the sub i would had to get the $150 discount, i don't know.

DJ Fusion · 27th June 2005, 11:05 AM

Best laptop ever.

Although I wouldn't want to carry it anywhere daily, even with the great laptop bag I got for mine it's still a damn heavy bit of kit. It's meant to be a desktop replacement, not a portable laptop.

Willski · 27th June 2005, 10:36 PM

when i got mine, i got the deluxe nylon case not the backpack, and boy the nylon case is bloody heavy i dont know how heavy it would be if i put the actual laptop in it.

It isnt a light laptop i can say that.

Tasty_Vito · 28th June 2005, 8:05 AM

Where do you get one of these laptops from.... and what are the conditions of this "deal"

keenie · 28th June 2005, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tasty_Vito

Where do you get one of these laptops from.... and what are the conditions of this "deal"

Well concidering it's a Dell laptop, the Dell Australia website would be the logical place to start looking.

it's listed under the "Latest Special Offers" heading at the top of the page

No real conditions other than you have to order before the specified date (once again available from the Dell Au w/s)

26th June 2005, 12:27 PM	#1
geelen Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 29	9300 opinions Hi, Dell's having a $1200-off deal with the 9300 again, which has put it firmly in my price range Just wondering if anyone knows of any good reviews of them, or has one and can answer a few questions. First, battery life. I'd get the 9-cell upgraded battery, any idea how long I can expect it to last? I'd be getting the 6800 video card, which may be pretty power hungry. Second, weight. I think I read that they are 3.5kgs on the Dell site. Can anyone confirm that? Are they comfortable enough on your back for a half-hour walk (I walk to uni)?

26th June 2005, 3:15 PM	#5
keenie Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: North Melbourne Posts: 2,380	While I can't answer your question RE: weight But during my research I noticed this thread over @ Notebook Forums about battery life on the 9300. Hope it helps! I'm also looking @ getting a 9300 with the $1200 off deal __________________ .:. Folding@Home 10000 Club .:. Folding@Home 600000 Points Milestone .:. keenie's Folding Farm .:. BF2 nick: [OCAU] keenie BF2142 nick: [OCAU] keenie Notebook: Dell i9300, Intel Pentium M 2Ghz, 7800Go GTX, 2Gb DDR2, 100Gb HDD, Bluetooth, 1920x1200 Widescreen LCD Last edited by keenie; 28th June 2005 at 11:03 AM.

26th June 2005, 5:09 PM	#6
PharCyde Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Canberra Posts: 999	my workmate just purchased the 9300 yesterday. I'll ask her about the weight etc and give you her opinions on it Last edited by PharCyde; 26th June 2005 at 6:21 PM.

26th June 2005, 10:14 PM	#8
geelen Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 29	Hmm that link doesnt seem to be working. I'll try again in the morning. I did find a reasonable review that puts the battery life at around 3 hours, which is fine for me. Especially considering that I could probably extend that by underclocking... Anyway, review link here. edit: link working now. Last edited by geelen; 26th June 2005 at 10:15 PM.

27th June 2005, 9:15 AM	#10
Apocalypse Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Country SA Posts: 1,307	Curiously, optioning the 9300 up to a 6800go over an x300 decreases the price by $24.20...does Dell have an E&OE policy? Or would they honour the quote due to ignorance? I bought a 9300 with the last bug cash off deal. It is very nice - and it is also very big - portability is certainly not its main aim. With default settings it generally says there is about 3 hours battery life - but you can further tweak settings to improve that. __________________ Jesus said to them, "Who do you say that I am? They replied, "You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being, the kerygma of which we find the ultimate meaning in our interpersonal relationships." And Jesus said, "What?" Most people are either stupid, fckwits, or stupid fckwits...

26th June 2005, 12:45 PM	#2
jas_essendon Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 128	I don't know about the Dell but just thought I'd say I have a 15.4" widescreen and it isn't the most ideal thing to take to uni. I get to drive to uni but I think a 30 min walk with it on your back along with whatever other textbooks and stuff you have to carry might be a bit too much weight and space taken up.

26th June 2005, 1:33 PM	#3
geelen Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 29	Well if I buy this, I won't be able to afford textbooks, so it should be ok

26th June 2005, 2:04 PM	#4
jas_essendon Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 128	lol good point. With all that hard drive space you should be able to copy all the stuff from the textbook into your laptop I have 100gb and it's goooood But 17" would be a bit big and bulky IMO.

26th June 2005, 6:53 PM	#7
Willski Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 145	I recieved my 9300 yesturday and so far im pretty impressed, only problem i had so far was when trying to create partition i couldnt get rid of my c drive so i just installed windows into my c: and then i used partition magic to create new partitions. Also, i have a bit of light leakage but i dont know if you would call it bad or not but it is noticable on black screens and soemtimes on colour screens because i know its there. Other then taht i tried to get 60gig 7200rpm but i couldnt and i got a 100gig and when loading hl2 the loading is SLOW very slow, but other then that it great. got WUXGA and dont think i have any dead pixels havnt seen any yet.

27th June 2005, 7:36 AM	#9
geelen Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 29	Argh! My system comes to $3400 but with the 100gb 4200rpm drive, and I really want to: a) not spend any more, b) get a faster hard drive. Normally Dell offer both the 60gb 7200rpm drive and the 100gb at around the same price, so why can't I swap them? If I start with the lower-spec model and work up, it comes to $3800

27th June 2005, 10:00 AM	#11
Willski Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 145	Geelen i have to say the 4200rpm hard drive, is what i go i think is not taht good, takes along time to run hl2, load it up. I got $1000 discount + free upgrade to 6800go and also a $200 coupon which they all have no besides the free upgrade in gpu. Mine came out to about $3039. I asked for a 60gig hd drive at 7200rpm but they said there was a worldwide shortage so i would have to get the 100gig, they wouldn't let me wait for 60gig and they said they will give the 100gig at 60gig price so i got another $100 discount around. I wasted another $111 on the extra speakers and subwoofers, i gotta call my sales rep see if i can get it refunded, without it, my comp would have cost $2928, which is pretty good as i got 2.0, 512ram gotta upgrade that, 6800go. It may be more expensive then 2928 without subwoofers, becasue i think i just qualified for the $200 discount, maybe without the sub i would had to get the $150 discount, i don't know. Last edited by Willski; 27th June 2005 at 10:03 AM.

27th June 2005, 11:05 AM	#12
DJ Fusion Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,970	Best laptop ever. Although I wouldn't want to carry it anywhere daily, even with the great laptop bag I got for mine it's still a damn heavy bit of kit. It's meant to be a desktop replacement, not a portable laptop.

27th June 2005, 10:36 PM	#13
Willski Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 145	when i got mine, i got the deluxe nylon case not the backpack, and boy the nylon case is bloody heavy i dont know how heavy it would be if i put the actual laptop in it. It isnt a light laptop i can say that.

28th June 2005, 8:05 AM	#14
Tasty_Vito Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tasmania Posts: 943	Where do you get one of these laptops from.... and what are the conditions of this "deal" __________________ Q9550 Asus P5Q Deluxe Gigabyte 4890 2x2GB G.Skill PI PC2-8800 2x320GB WD3200AAKS RAID 0