Dell XPS M1530

[Stokes]

So, I am looking to buy a laptop that has SSD and BluRay together in one laptop. Sony has the options for both on the same, but will not allow you to put them together. I can configure the XPS with the following for around 2.1k

2.5 Ghz 6MB Cache
4GB RAM
15.4 Hi Def (1900x1200 or something similiar) 15.4"
128 GB SSD
Blu-Ray read drive
256MB nVidia 8600 (GT?)
1 Yr Warranty

Thats just the basics of it. I kind of want something that will primarily be used at home for some gaming and online poker. Secondary will be traveling and possibly getting a mobile broadband card installed. Thoughts?

 

[xSauronx]

my thoughts are that if youre going to drop 2k on a laptop you should get a longer warranty or at least have accident coverage. if something happens and the blue ray drive or ssd go bad its going to hurt. your wallet big time.

and arent the 8 series nvidia cards at risk of problems due to overheating?

maybe if you want it primarilyfor home you should get a good desktop, and a cheap notebook with enough storage to store some ripped movies? with that kind of money i think it might be an option as well

 

[TheStu]

Why get the SSD? I don't think that they have matured yet to the point where they are actually offering significant battery life increases, especially not in a system with an 8 series graphics card. Also, if you insist on having 4GB RAM, then I suggest you get the minimum that Dell offers and then buying the RAM from an etailer since they will be cheaper, and replacing the RAM does not void the warranty. Furthermore, if you do insist on 4GB RAM, make sure you have a 64bit OS installed on there, or it will not be able to take full advantage of it. And looking at Dell's website, there does not appear to be an immediately obvious way to make sure you get the 64bit OS, so you would just be throwing away money if you get 4GB RAM.

That screen is actually 1920*1200, and although that is actually higher than bluray (1920*1080) on a 15.4" screen, I think you will be hard pressed to see the difference than if you had a lower res screen such as a 1680*1050 or 1440*900.

After looking at the prices, I am amazed at how much Dell nickels and dimes their customers. I mean, I always knew that was how it worked with most everyone. But jeebus... $190 for a free fall sensor upgrade for a platter drive? My $999 MacBook has that, heck, the iBook that came out about 1.5-2 years before it had it included as well. $71 for the LED backlight on the 1440*900 display, $119 for the step up in processor, from 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz (you do get double the cache, but I am not sure how valuable that is, given your stated uses for the system), $380 for the BluRay drive... that is actually more or less right I think.

xSauronx is correct though that basically all the 8 series cards are borked and in danger of dying a premature death.

 

[Stokes]

Well, my reason for the SSD was simply speed, with battery life as a secondary bonus. In my opinion that time saved in loading applications and even windows is a nice little bonus to have. Would you say the only reason to wait on SSD to mature would be on the battery life end?

And you make a good point on the RAM, I should have thought that myself and will do that actually.

I think I might wait a little bit and just watch the price of this laptop and compare with what Sony will have to offer in the near future. I'm not sure though if anytime soon they will offer a suitable replacement in the video card department.

So besides the Dell, do you think I should be watching any other companies for this kind of combination?

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Stokes
Well, my reason for the SSD was simply speed, with battery life as a secondary bonus. In my opinion that time saved in loading applications and even windows is a nice little bonus to have. Would you say the only reason to wait on SSD to mature would be on the battery life end?

it will also have to come down in price over time at some point.

 

[TheStu]

Sony is not the company to watch. I have never really like either using or repairing Sony laptops, and you are definitely paying a price premium for the name.

 

[corkyg]

And Blu-Ray on a laptop? I don't think the screen is big enough to show the difference. SSD is still in its infancy - faster, yes - less power consumed, yes. But, way too expensive and insufficient storage space.

I have always been amused by the incessant quest for speed. As it is right now, my laptop waits on me. I almost never have to wait on it. I just can't type that fast on a small keyboard.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: corkyg
And Blu-Ray on a laptop? I don't think the screen is big enough to show the difference. SSD is still in its infancy - faster, yes - less power consumed, yes. But, way too expensive and insufficient storage space.

I have always been amused by the incessant quest for speed. As it is right now, my laptop waits on me. I almost never have to wait on it. I just can't type that fast on a small keyboard.

im very happy with my t60, and its not top of the line. i dont think id take a much smaller keyboard though, else id go nuts.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: corkyg
And Blu-Ray on a laptop? I don't think the screen is big enough to show the difference. SSD is still in its infancy - faster, yes - less power consumed, yes. But, way too expensive and insufficient storage space.

I have always been amused by the incessant quest for speed. As it is right now, my laptop waits on me. I almost never have to wait on it. I just can't type that fast on a small keyboard.

im very happy with my t60, and its not top of the line. i dont think id take a much smaller keyboard though, else id go nuts.

Heck, my 2 year old MacBook is anything but speedy by today's standards, but even with 1GB of RAM, I do not have that many complaints with regards to slow downs and lag. It's great bragging rights to have the latest and greatest, the fastest of all things... but it only lasts for a couple of weeks, maybe a month and a half.