XPS-2!!! Best Gaming Laptop Evah!

[ericboo]

What's all the hoopla with the XPS2? I ordered a 9300 with a 1.73ghz, 512RAM, UXGA, 60GB drive and Geforce 6800 for $1275. The XPS2 has slightly better stats, but do you know how many bags of crack you can buy for a grand? I just could not justify the price difference considering I could have my 9300 and a nice desktop for the same price.

 

[StealthPants]

I look forward to you posting a review when you receive your nice new notebook

Im also looking at getting the 9300 over the xps 2. Is the lcd screen the same in both models?

 

[ericboo]

I believe it is with the UXGA

 

[trikster2]

It looks like both the 9300 and XPS-2 have the same screen. The WUXGA is an upgrade on the 9300, on the XPS-2 it's the only option.

ericboo. The 9300 is a great buy right now with the $750 or 35% off. You can't go wrong at that price plus you should have it nearly 3 weeks sooner than if you ordered the XPS-2.

Enjoy!

 

[thunderroller]

del is mush better

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: ericboo
What's all the hoopla with the XPS2? I ordered a 9300 with a 1.73ghz, 512RAM, UXGA, 60GB drive and Geforce 6800 for $1275. The XPS2 has slightly better stats, but do you know how many bags of crack you can buy for a grand? I just could not justify the price difference considering I could have my 9300 and a nice desktop for the same price.

The hoopla is that since Dell has an exclusive lock on the 6800go Ultra the Inspiron XPS-2 is benchmarking as the fastest laptop in exisitence, and even beating desktops with fairly high end graphics cards.

I'll believe it when dell actually ships the laptop and we get some nice reviews here and on the other forums.

But for some it is worth it to have the latest and greatest, and fastest and bestest. Even if that joy only lasts a few weeks until the next great thing comes out.

With the current discounts the 9300 definitely gives you much more bang for your buck, it looks like you have agreat laptop on the way ericboo, I look forward to hearing what you think of it..

 

[AE Drifter]

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Well i decided to get the iXPS2 anyways... ETA is March 15 for me, much sooner than the US it looks like!

Did you get it yet? How is it?

 

[rogerhewett]

The 9300 is a multi-media notebook. It can do neat things like play CD's w/out turning on the O/S.

XPS 2 is for gaming. I believe the screens are actually different on the notebooks? Doesn't the XPS-2 have one of those newer "clear" LCD's ? Much like the small Sony Vaio and the Dell 700m screens.

 

[trikster2]

XPS-2 has a Dell "truebright" screen. Also called a glare monster by those who don't like that style. The same style of screen is available on the 9300. www.notebookforums.com have some very negative reviews on the glary WUXGA screen, as they did for the WUXGA screen on the 9200. It seems there are several models of WUXGA glary screen on the 9300 and they vary widely in quality.

There is some talk that the XPS-2 will have a better screen but who knows, it still won't be in users hands for almost a month.

Both computers are more alike than they are different. If the 9300 can play CDs without turning on the OS I'm sure the XPS-2 can too.

 

[imported_dopplex]

The reason why NY and FL can't get the premium service packages(Copied from the email response I got from Dell):

"New York & Florida states do not allow Complete Care coverage as these
states consider it a form of insurance. As you may already know, Dell,
Inc. is not a licensed insurance carrier, therefore the Complete Care
Accidental Damage & Protection may not be offered by Dell, Inc to any
Home with a billing or shipping address those states."

 

[imported_Woody]

If I can sell my M6805 I may go for one of these Dells. Still can't decide if the cost of the XPS-2 is the way to go over the 9300. I do a lot of gaming and I think either one of these would do well with current games. A few months ago the 9300 would have cost a crapload more as the XPS(-1) and is still a very high end laptop for gaming.

What do you folks think about an extra $100 for a 7200 rpm drive over the 5400 rpm drive (both 60GB)? I think it would be a lot faster and may be worth the extra money.

I think 1GB RAM is a minimum if you plan to do gaming these days. Looks like the RAM is PC2700....does that sound right? There is no details on the web site about the RAM configurations. If the 512MB option ships with a pair of 256MB sticks that would be a waste but if it ships with a single 512MB stick with an empty user upgradable slot to add another 512MB at your leisure that would be much better. My M6805 shipped with a pair of 256MB sticks so I had to remove one of them to add 512MB and bring the total up to 768MB. One wasted and relatively worthless 256MB PC2700 stick laying around now unless I could swap it back when I sell this thing and drop my 512MB stick into the Dell.

 

[WyteWatt]

Can you upgrade these laptops? What can you upgrade from them and is it easy to do ?

Also whats the maximum amount of hard drives you can put in this laptop ? I hate such small space on laptops. Its not enough.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: AE Drifter

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Well i decided to get the iXPS2 anyways... ETA is March 15 for me, much sooner than the US it looks like!

Did you get it yet? How is it?

I didn't. One of the Dell reps cancelled my order because he said they didn't receive a payment, even though i had sent the cheque, and infact it was cashed 2 days before he had cancelled it. So when the clown recreated my order, my ETA was obviously moved. Infact, i just checked the order status, and even though the order was recreated on Monday, it's not there. I need to call that idiot and get this straighten out.

 

[CptTripps]

Hey all, I'm just curious if anyone who ordered XPS2 has recieved it yet or has updated info on the order status.

My dell order reads as below. From this info it seems as if mine is in the beginning of the actuall assembly process. In the past, I have had the 8100, the 8200, the 9100. On every single order the laptop has come before the projected date. I sure hope this one will be the same way.

Order Processing: Friday, March 04, 2005 (Done)
Pre-production: Friday, March 04, 2005 (Done)
In Production: Thursday, March 10, 2005 (In progess)
Kitting
Build
Testing
Boxing
Shipping Prep: Friday, April 08, 2005
Estimated Ship Date: Friday, April 08, 2005

Cpt (I want my laptop) Tripps

 

[RamIt]

Originally posted by: CptTripps
Hey all, I'm just curious if anyone who ordered XPS2 has recieved it yet or has updated info on the order status.

My dell order reads as below. From this info it seems as if mine is in the beginning of the actuall assembly process. In the past, I have had the 8100, the 8200, the 9100. On every single order the laptop has come before the projected date. I sure hope this one will be the same way.

Order Processing: Friday, March 04, 2005 (Done)
Pre-production: Friday, March 04, 2005 (Done)
In Production: Thursday, March 10, 2005 (In progess)
Kitting
Build
Testing
Boxing
Shipping Prep: Friday, April 08, 2005
Estimated Ship Date: Friday, April 08, 2005

Cpt (I want my laptop) Tripps

I ordered mine yesterday. Here is the info:

Delivery Estimate: Friday, April 15, 2005
This information is current as of Monday, March 21, 2005.

*Order Processing: Sunday, March 20, 2005
*Pre-production: Sunday, March 20, 2005
*In Production:
*Kitting
*Build
Testing
Boxing
Shipping Prep: Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Estimated Ship Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2005

You can call the automated line to get more acurate build info:
1-800-915-3355 - Press 2 - Press 1 - enter your order #

 

[CptTripps]

Cool, thanks for the info, I ordered mine at the beginning of march and it just hit this phase. Therefore I am guessing they just recieved the needed parts and are starting to build them all. Checking update now.... Cool I am now in build phase also, thanks for the number, was handy. Beings my ship date is the 8th, and I live in Alaska which means I had to get one day air, I should get it in less than 20 days. Woot!!

*Order Processing: Friday, March 04, 2005
*Pre-production: Friday, March 04, 2005
*In Production: Thursday, March 10, 2005
*Kitting
*Build
Testing
Boxing
Shipping Prep: Friday, April 08, 2005
Estimated Ship Date: Friday, April 08, 2005

 

[CptTripps]

Build is now done and I'm on to testing, after that, it goes in a box and comes to my door, mua ha ha ha ha. Looks like it should probably show up before the estimated date (this will be the 4th time).

*Order Processing: Friday, March 04, 2005
*Pre-production: Friday, March 04, 2005
*In Production: Thursday, March 10, 2005
*Kitting
*Build
*Testing
Boxing
Shipping Prep: Friday, April 08, 2005
Estimated Ship Date: Friday, April 08, 2005

 

[imported_dopplex]

Mine is shipped and should arrive tomorrow!

Am very excited, not least of which because I had expected it to ship on April 13th...

Will try to get some pictures and comments up when it gets here!

 

[CptTripps]

Damn, mine should ship today but hasn't yet. Beings yalls are shipped perhaps they put priority to personal purchases as mine was EPP and placed on March 8th. Oh well, is in boxing, should be out today or tomorrow.

Let us know.

 

[kbdrand]

Mine shipped today and should be at my house tomorrow. Unfortunately I'm out of town this week so I won't see it until Friday.

 

[CptTripps]

Mines in town on the truck being delivered, should have info (maybe pics) tonight for yall.

 

[imported_dopplex]

Mine is supposedly out for delivery, but it's 8:32pm and UPS has already come with no luck. Am probably paranoid, but am envisioning it haven gotten stolen or something. Argh.

 

[CptTripps]

Woot, got it.

No time for pics or anything, but I will say this. I installed HL2 and Brothers In Arms. Jacked both to 1920x1200 high everything at 4xAA & 8AF, no problems. Will post a 3dmark asap.

 

[kingnick]

Hey CptTripps i got a question for you. How do you remove the top panel of the laptop to insert a picture in?

 

[lazytiger]

hey dopplex, CptTripps,
Do you get the xps2 backpack included with the order? I see that option in the small business section...
but not in the home/home off section. I heard that it should come with the system in the home section.
is that true?