Dell Inspiron 1501 $499 + Tax

[TwiceOver]

Excellent Bang for buck lappy.

NOTE: Original deal changed. Post was edited to reflect this
Inspiron 1501
Vista Home Basic
Turion TL-50 X2 (1.6ghz)
15.4" Wide Screen "TrueLife" (Glossy)
1gb DDR (2x512)
60gb Hard Drive
CD/DVD Writer DL+R
6cell Battery

This is one of the ones that doesn't have the media buttons on the front. Only has a 3-in-1 reader on the side rather than the 5-in-1.

Link

Looks pretty Linux friendly also: Link

 

[ghart999]

I want this so bad, but I will not have the funds in my paypal account for another 24 hours. Damn. Hopefully a deal this hot will come up in the next week or so.

 

[TwiceOver]

To cheat the system you can call Dell as a "Small Business Owner" and have them send you a quote. That ensures the price for a few days.

 

[walrus]

Is this a good deal? Is it a good laptop? I need a laptop for my daughter who starts her freshman year at college this September. I want to get it as a graduation present when she graduates from high school next month.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

That looks like a smokin deal on that laptop. Grah, I wish I could justify it, and afford it.

 

[TwiceOver]

This morning they relreleased the same deal with an 80gb drive rather than the original 60. Everything else seems to have remained the same!

 

[ghart999]

Yes..... I am so glad this is still around. Will order tomorrow.

 

[walrus]

OK I bought one. Total with tax $613.10
Only upgrade I bought was the $10... 1490 802.11a/g WiFi card

They also upgraded the screen to glossy, was a $10 option before.



Thanks!

 

[ghart999]

What would you all consider to be a hotter deal. This one or the Acer Aspire from CompUSA for $449AR. Link here: http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=344633

Acer uses the Pentium Dual Code T2060 processor but with 512MB Ram. I am debating between these two. For the Acer I would upgrade to 2GB RAM, making the price between the two machine almost the same.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: ghart999
What would you all consider to be a hotter deal. This one or the Acer Aspire from CompUSA for $449AR. Link here: http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=344633

Acer uses the Pentium Dual Code T2060 processor but with 512MB Ram. I am debating between these two. For the Acer I would upgrade to 2GB RAM, making the price between the two machine almost the same.

The T2060 is absolutely a faster processor. Otherwise pretty close. The dell might win out in battery life with the 9-cell and also the integrated Radeon video card over the Acer's Intel GMA.

Also Crucial has a 2x1gb kit for the Dell 1501 for ~$93 (depending on tax). I already ordered that memory. All-in I'm at ~$675 for a fairly decked out laptop. I have probably seen better deals out there, but not too much better.

To each his own really. For your basic office needs, email, web surfing, I honestly don't believe I will notice the difference between the Intel and the AMD proc. Maybe during DVD encoding or something, but usually I just walk away from that anyway.

I'm going from a Celeron laptop with 512mb ram and a 30gb hd to this, my desktop is still an Athlon XP 1800+ This is really a fairly big step up for me.

 

[ghart999]

Thanks TwiceOver. From the Vista Aero point of view, which would be better (assuming 2GB RAM for either machine)? The better processor and worse graphics of the Acer or the worse processor and better graphics of the Dell? I'd like to have all the eye candy on if possible.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: ghart999
Thanks TwiceOver. From the Vista Aero point of view, which would be better (assuming 2GB RAM for either machine)? The better processor and worse graphics of the Acer or the worse processor and better graphics of the Dell? I'd like to have all the eye candy on if possible.

Both the Acer and the Dell only have Vista home basic which doesn't have the Aero desktop environment. You would need an OS upgrade. Otherwise, its a toss up. I have Vista Business on one of my work PCs and after about 2 months I had to turn Aero off because it wasn't very stable (This is on a Dell AMD Dual Core Desktop).

It's a toss up. Do you really want to deal with a rebate? Warranty options? No idea...

 

[walrus]

How long after an order is placed does it take Dell to assemble and ship one of these? I ordered one this morning, with the free 3-5 day shipping.

 

[walrus]

Looks like they have downgraded the battery and the hard drive since I ordered one this morning.
EDIT
Or maybe not, when I went through the ordering steps it still listed the 80GB hard Drive and the 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

 

[TwiceOver]

Yeah something tells me they were running low on parts. Still not a bad price $500 for basically the same system -20gb and ~1/2 of the battery capacity.

Now to figure out what moron would order the first one in my link for $500 (good) compared to the (better) $500 model.

Kinda suprised at the almost 700 post views (in less than 24hrs) and only 3 actual posters participating.

EDIT: For now at lease when you configure, the battery and drive are still the original 80gb and 9-cell

 

[auggiedawg]

Just curious, when you call DELL, how do you approach them in terms of ordering since this is for small business? What exactly should you say to them when you call in to order the lappy? Any specific? thanks all

 

[cify1964]

Dell has one of the worst customer satisfaction ratings out there. I wouldn?t take a Dell computer if they gave it to me for free. Buyers beware

 

[auggiedawg]

Originally posted by: cify1964
Dell has one of the worst customer satisfaction ratings out there. I wouldn?t take a Dell computer if they gave it to me for free. Buyers beware

wtf? I have had a dell 700m and am very happy with it. To each his own i guess....

can anyone answer my question about ordering this lappy since its supposed to be small business.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: auggiedawg

Originally posted by: cify1964
Dell has one of the worst customer satisfaction ratings out there. I wouldn?t take a Dell computer if they gave it to me for free. Buyers beware

wtf? I have had a dell 700m and am very happy with it. To each his own i guess....

can anyone answer my question about ordering this lappy since its supposed to be small business.

Nothing special. Just make up a fake business name. Give them your information. Good to go. Or just order online and fill out fake information but use your name and address.

As for customer service.... I have a Dell rep, he replies to my emails and phone calls promptly, he even once expedited a Latitude laptop for me and we received it in 1 day configured perfectly (I had originally told him I needed it within 5 business days). He has always satisfied my requests. For technical support, I use the Dell Chat, somewhat impersonal, however it allows you to skip over the basic troubleshooting steps that they ask you every time you call in.

The best company out there? Probably not. However bang for buck, I doubt you will find any other company that can compare. Priced this exact same lappy over at HP for $850 w/o tax. Gateway? Havn't purchased one in 10 years. Hrm... Who else is there really. Acer? Toshiba?

 

[auggiedawg]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver

Originally posted by: auggiedawg

Originally posted by: cify1964
Dell has one of the worst customer satisfaction ratings out there. I wouldn?t take a Dell computer if they gave it to me for free. Buyers beware

wtf? I have had a dell 700m and am very happy with it. To each his own i guess....

can anyone answer my question about ordering this lappy since its supposed to be small business.

Nothing special. Just make up a fake business name. Give them your information. Good to go. Or just order online and fill out fake information but use your name and address.

I know i sound like a tard, but when i went online to order, i couldnt find the "order now" button or "purchase" button to click....maybe i am just overlooking it...

thanks

 

[auggiedawg]

Originally posted by: auggiedawg

Originally posted by: TwiceOver

Originally posted by: auggiedawg

Originally posted by: cify1964
Dell has one of the worst customer satisfaction ratings out there. I wouldn?t take a Dell computer if they gave it to me for free. Buyers beware

wtf? I have had a dell 700m and am very happy with it. To each his own i guess....

can anyone answer my question about ordering this lappy since its supposed to be small business.

Nothing special. Just make up a fake business name. Give them your information. Good to go. Or just order online and fill out fake information but use your name and address.

I know i sound like a tard, but when i went online to order, i couldnt find the "order now" button or "purchase" button to click....maybe i am just overlooking it...

thanks

nevermind...i figured it out. You have to customize it....basically just click all the way through the components just like they are and bam, its $549.

awesome deal.

 

[walrus]

Sorry to ask again, but does anybody know how long after an order is placed does Dell ship a laptop?

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: walrus
Sorry to ask again, but does anybody know how long after an order is placed does Dell ship a laptop?

my 1701E took about 2 weeks from order to arrival.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: walrus
Sorry to ask again, but does anybody know how long after an order is placed does Dell ship a laptop?

It varies but on average I would say from order to delivery of laptop is 10 -14 days.

Of course if they run out of your 6 cell battery, DVD Burner, etc. that will delay your laptop.

 

[walrus]

I got an email yesterday that my laptop shipped, a lot faster than I'd expected!
The Airborne webpage says it will be delivered tomorrow.