Laptop choice.. WHICH ONE!?

Greek · 28th September 2006, 2:13 PM

To start with, i am from AUSTRALIA, so the prices look expensive if they were USD

but they are in AUD.

Okay here are the options i have come down to, after weeks of researching...

Laptop #1 - Dell Inspiron 9400 (e1705)
Windows XP Pro
Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz
2048 (2 x 1024) DDR2 667MHz
256MB Geforce 7900GS
120GB HDD
9-Cell Battery (instead of 6-cell)
Dell Bluetooth Module
DVDRW 16x
17" WUXGA Screen

TOTAL: $4216.30

Laptop #2 - Dell XPS 1710

Windows XP Pro
Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz
2048 (2 x 1024) DDR2 667MHz
512MB Geforce 7900 GTX
120GB HDD
Dell Bluetooth Module
DVDRW 16x
17" WUXGA Screen

TOTAL: $4719.00

Laptop #3 - ITC Metabox 735 (Sager 5760 i think in America)
Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz
120GB HDD
512MB Geforce 7900GTX
Internal Bluetooth
2048 (2 x 1024) DDR2 667MHz
DVDRW 16x
17" WUXGA Screen

This laptop does NOT include Windows XP Pro

TOTAL: $4456.00

Now what i guess it comes down to is, is it worth to get the XPS at around $500 extra for the 512 GTX in it? Is the build better in the XPS as appose to the 9400 (e1705)?

Also i have read that the ITC Metabox 735 (Sager 5760) has had some issues with build quality and noise, and i havent really heard of them here in australia. Are they a decent brand?

Prices i got from:

Dell Australia
p4laptops

ice_cool · 28th September 2006, 7:06 PM

I dont know mate. The dell 9400 is probably better value, but the XPS looks a damn lot better. The way i look at it, ask urself if ur already spending ~$4k whats an extra $500?

SLATYE · 28th September 2006, 7:19 PM

I'm inclined to agree. If it was $1500 versus $2000 (33% difference) I'd stick with the $1500 one - but since it's $4200 vs $4700 (12% difference) I'd go for the XPS.

If you get the 9400, I think that when the 7900GS gets too slow you'll be wishing that you'd spent $500 extra on it. If you get the XPS, then when the 7900GTX gets too slow you'll know that there was no faster option available (so it's not so disappointing). That's how I'd feel, anyway.

Also, Dell customer service can give significant discounts. Call them up and ask. The last I heard was that they were allowed to give an immediate 8% discount (before any bargaining or things like that). 8% of $4700 is $376 - quite a significant amount.

Finally, consider cutting down other specs. $300 for an upgrade to the T7400 (8% higher CPU speed) is a lot; $230 for an upgrade to 2GB of RAM is also expensive (cheaper to buy more RAM separately). It might be worth changing to the lower spec parts, then calling Dell and trying to persuade them to give you a free upgrade to higher-end ones (rather than starting high-end and asking for discounts).

josh81 · 29th September 2006, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greek

To start with, i am from AUSTRALIA, so the prices look expensive if they were USD

but they are in AUD.

This is an Australian website.

Unlike the XPS 1210 where it looks and feels nothing like the inspirons, the XPS 1710 looks a lot like the 9400, which is less attractive, has a cheaper build, it's not as sturdy. So my intial thoughts were that the XPS 1710 was a much nicer laptop than the 9400, but it's hard to tell with out seeing them together in the flesh if the XPS 1710 is higher quality.
I would probably go for the XPS 1710 if your spending $4000+, you are not going to want to use it every day or couple times a week for next few years and it not look good, or feel good, or last the test of time, and you're getting the better graphics card for your $500 extra as well.

Kelvin · 30th September 2006, 10:49 PM

You are about.. 3 weeks too late for the Dell specials unfornutately..

Laptop #1 with a T7200, were basically $2600 at that time.
or $2800 with T7400.. both had Office SBE thorwn if...

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...4&page=1&pp=15

I currently have a 9400 with a T7200.. and there's no way its worth close to $4000..

I suggest trying to wait for a dell special and then pounce on a fully equiped 9400...

28th September 2006, 2:13 PM	#1
Greek Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 45	Laptop choice.. WHICH ONE!? To start with, i am from AUSTRALIA, so the prices look expensive if they were USD but they are in AUD. Okay here are the options i have come down to, after weeks of researching... Laptop #1 - Dell Inspiron 9400 (e1705) Windows XP Pro Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz 2048 (2 x 1024) DDR2 667MHz 256MB Geforce 7900GS 120GB HDD 9-Cell Battery (instead of 6-cell) Dell Bluetooth Module DVDRW 16x 17" WUXGA Screen TOTAL: $4216.30 Laptop #2 - Dell XPS 1710 Windows XP Pro Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz 2048 (2 x 1024) DDR2 667MHz 512MB Geforce 7900 GTX 120GB HDD Dell Bluetooth Module DVDRW 16x 17" WUXGA Screen TOTAL: $4719.00 Laptop #3 - ITC Metabox 735 (Sager 5760 i think in America) Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz 120GB HDD 512MB Geforce 7900GTX Internal Bluetooth 2048 (2 x 1024) DDR2 667MHz DVDRW 16x 17" WUXGA Screen This laptop does NOT include Windows XP Pro TOTAL: $4456.00 Now what i guess it comes down to is, is it worth to get the XPS at around $500 extra for the 512 GTX in it? Is the build better in the XPS as appose to the 9400 (e1705)? Also i have read that the ITC Metabox 735 (Sager 5760) has had some issues with build quality and noise, and i havent really heard of them here in australia. Are they a decent brand? Prices i got from: Dell Australia p4laptops

28th September 2006, 7:06 PM	#2
ice_cool Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,303	I dont know mate. The dell 9400 is probably better value, but the XPS looks a damn lot better. The way i look at it, ask urself if ur already spending ~$4k whats an extra $500? __________________ w3520, dfi ut x58, corsair dominator gt 6gb, HIS HD 4850, 2x250gb seagtes raid 0 DS-Lite.NINTENDO™ DS Lite Owners Club Member #0049 Successful trades: butters OC'd, Rolan, Borgod, bazadilligaf, skyline34, decksla, cracka. + many more

28th September 2006, 7:19 PM	#3
SLATYE SLATYE, not SLAYTE Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 21,040	I'm inclined to agree. If it was $1500 versus $2000 (33% difference) I'd stick with the $1500 one - but since it's $4200 vs $4700 (12% difference) I'd go for the XPS. If you get the 9400, I think that when the 7900GS gets too slow you'll be wishing that you'd spent $500 extra on it. If you get the XPS, then when the 7900GTX gets too slow you'll know that there was no faster option available (so it's not so disappointing). That's how I'd feel, anyway. Also, Dell customer service can give significant discounts. Call them up and ask. The last I heard was that they were allowed to give an immediate 8% discount (before any bargaining or things like that). 8% of $4700 is $376 - quite a significant amount. Finally, consider cutting down other specs. $300 for an upgrade to the T7400 (8% higher CPU speed) is a lot; $230 for an upgrade to 2GB of RAM is also expensive (cheaper to buy more RAM separately). It might be worth changing to the lower spec parts, then calling Dell and trying to persuade them to give you a free upgrade to higher-end ones (rather than starting high-end and asking for discounts). __________________ Main system: Pentium-D 805 \| 1GB (2x 512MB) PQI DDR400 \| Gigabyte 8I865GMK-775 \| Xtreama Radeon 9800Pro with Zalman ZM-80HP-D \| 320GB WD SATA HDD \| Antec SmartPower 2.0 500w Laptop: Compal EL80 \| C2D T7200 \| 320GB Fujistu HDD \| 2GB DDR2-667 \| GF Go 7600

30th September 2006, 10:49 PM	#5
Kelvin Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,668	You are about.. 3 weeks too late for the Dell specials unfornutately.. Laptop #1 with a T7200, were basically $2600 at that time. or $2800 with T7400.. both had Office SBE thorwn if... http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...4&page=1&pp=15 I currently have a 9400 with a T7200.. and there's no way its worth close to $4000.. I suggest trying to wait for a dell special and then pounce on a fully equiped 9400...