YEAH!!! Get 20% back from MSN at DELL

[SSGTi]

Braxus, do you know if I can overclock the i4000 to 112mhz bus speed ?

 

[apologetic]

A big thank you to everyone who warned me about buying Dell ram. I cancelled my last order and placed another one with less memory (the minimum was 64megs for a i4000, and no they don't ship it without memory, hehe) Saved me $100.

 

[peeps]

I ordered a Dimension PC during the last promotion with the minimum configurable load of 32Mb RAM. The next day a Dell CSR called and breathlessly informed me the minimum amount of RAM Dell would sell is 64Mb because, get this: They can't TEST(!) the PC without 64Mb RAM to load Windows. And, of course, they have to charge me for the RAM--they can't just grab a stick off the shelf for testing.

God almighty, what a joke.

BTW: I am returning the aforementioned PC and ordering one at 20% off!

 

[ybingo]

Hi Zeppelin if you go through AMEX Offerzone link it doesn't have inspiron 4000 though. Do you know how to get the free scanner and still getting the 20% MSN deal?
Thanks

 

[okok]

Maybe I should have mentioned it before. I am living in campus and connected by the campus LAN so I need an Ethernet PC card for the I4K. Also I want to upgrade the 64MB memory to 128MB. The best deal I found is to order a Crucial 128MB RAM ($109 or so) and a D-Link/Linksys 10/100 PC card ($40 or so) from Buy.com which is about $150 in total and take advantage of the 30 off 50 coupon and free shipping. For me, it is:

10243089 16X64-8 128MB SYNC PC100 144PIN 3.3V 100MHZ SODIMM 1 $109.95
10265793 10/100 MBS PCMCIA CARDBUS FAST ETHERNET NETWORK ADAPTER (NIC) 1 $46.88
80448317 $30 off $150 coupon or more 1 ($30.00)

Total $126.83

Then flea bay the 64MB RAM from Dell for about $50, then $70 or so for a PC card and 128MB RAM. That's the best combination of PC card and 128MB RAM (if you don't want to a Generic one) I can find. The free shipping ended at Buy.com but a few bucks more for shipping seem not ruin the deal.

I am also thinking of upgrading it to 256MB eventually. I am to install Win2K on I4K. Since the HD in the I4K is quite slow, the 10GB HD I ordered is 4200 rpm only, substancially lower than the Maxtor 7200 rpm one I curretly using in my desktop (still remember the free $371 PC?). I think if the RAM is larger then the swap between RAM and HD could be fewer and thus speed the laptop up. Anyone knows whether or not it will substantially increase the performance if the memory goes from 128MB to 256MB? I ordered a Celeron 600 + 10GB HD.

 

[Pete]

Will the integrated 56K + 10/100 NIC work in W2K? Where are the drivers for that available?

 

[okok]

I think it should work fine -- if the model of the PC card is old, then Win2K should have a driver for the PC card; if the model is new, the card should come with a driver fro Win2K.

 

[Braxus]

Pete,

you can get the Drivers for the Internal mini PCI 56K + 10/100 NIC here:

http://www.support.dell.com/us/en/filelib/download/index.asp?fileid=R18322

 

[Braxus]

SSGTi,

You will have to open up the notebook and check the clock generator IC it uses and compare it to the manufacturer datasheet or SoftSFBs database.

 

[peaceout]

How would you swap ram in a Dell laptop (Inspiron or Latitude)? Is there a diagram I could follow somewhere? And what the the specifications for the RAM you would have to buy? I'm so clueless when it comes to laptops. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Braxus]

okok,

I would suggest getting the bundled mini PCI 56K = 10/100 NIC on the I4K. It's only 50 bucks (30 on the I8K) and will save you a PC Card slot down the road.

Gonna have to find something else to reach the 150 limit if you do that though. Crucial sells the RAM for cheaper as well if you can't find something to get yourself to the 150 mark.

For W2K, on average use it usually takes around 130-160MB to operate. Adding anymore RAM than that won't give you any noticable performance increase. But down the road... say when new bloatware MS OSes come out, that may be a different story. I say just get 128MB for now and by the time you need to get anthother upgrade for memory, 256MB SODIMM modules should become affordable and 128MB ones even cheaper. You can make a keychain out of the 64MB SODIMM if ya want.

 

[Braxus]

peaceout,

Swapping/Installing RAM on the Inspiron notebooks are easy. The RAM upgrade modules are located under a easily accessable cover under the lappy. Just unscrew the cover and you'll see two slots for memory. The SODIMMs are held down by retention clips that somewhat work like 72pin SIMM modules. Just push the two clips to the side and the memory should pop out. Since SODIMMs are keyed as well, installing them should be cinch if not fool proof. Just don't be stupid and zap the memory module with ESD.

 

[okok]

Thanks Braxus. My Buy.com suggestion is for those who also connect via campus LAN AND need 128MB. If you order seperately from Dell and Crucial for NIC PC card and 128MB ram and sell the Dell 64MB ram for $50, then your total is:

$50 + $93.49 - $50 = $93.49

Hoho, much higher than my suggestion. And I don't think it is our hot-deal-spritit to trade $20 for a PCMCIA slot )) However, it is for those who have the same need as me.

BTW, could I send the M$ Win ME back to Dell when I receive the laptop for refund for teh reason I-do-not-agree-with-EULA, though we cannot decline it when we place the order?

 

[ElFenix]

i think dell will claim they provide windows "free of charge" so you won't get a damned thing back, althought thats a crock of sh!t and would be known as dumping or tieing. i bet if you take them to small claims you can get your $10 or whatever M$ charges them.

 

[Braxus]

Here is memory deal I found for crucial direct!

Webpromo 15% off go here... Don't worry about the code. Just click through and you'll get it. They base the 15% off the list price not the cheaper direct web price.

http://www.crucial.com/webpromo/

eBates also has 5% for Crucial. Find the links in the store section. You can combine both the 15% and the 5% ebates by using the two window trick... keep a ebates window open and then open a new window for the webpromo 15%. add your item in the webpromo window and checkout using the ebates window.

128MB PC100 SODIMM CAS2

List Price - $109.99
15% web promo - $93.49
5% ebates - $88.82 w/free UPS 2nd day (Final Price)

 

[Braxus]

FYI... Although the MSN 20% off deal lasts until 12/20, the free DVD-ROM, Free shipping, and $100 off deal with Dell ends Tomorrow 11/28.

 

[okok]

Braxus, you are the man!!! Thanks so much.

 

[John]

Braxus, nice job helping the guys out in here. I am really looking forward to my loaded i8000 !

 

[gb]

What do they mean "in subsequent purchases" ?

Deja News

 

[manly]

I'm not going to jump in this deal because I don't have the cash to drop for a new notebook, but the original MSN deal had 3 flavors:

1. 20% instant rebate
2. 20% gift certificate from the merchant to be mailed to you
3. free shipping (should be instant)

Now if you're an optimist, you would believe that because a 20% rebate check fits into none of these categories, it was arbitarily lumped into the second group: 20% GC. However, all the language & fine print at the Dell site (and in the popup window) strongly suggests a cash rebate. While I agree it's a minor risk to jump in if you don't actually need a new notebook, I would feel it's definitely bait-and-switch if MSN reneges on the deal and sends you a 20% GC. I am not a lawyer, but since all the rebate language comes up after the original MSN promo page, any rational consumer would be led to believe that those are the damn terms.

They promised a rebate; they should cut a real check. If I hopped in on this deal, I would start working the phones overtime 7-ish weeks from the purchase date to Dell & MSN. They claim 8-10 weeks on the rebate check, and you'd like to have a number of people try to confirm their good faith on that claim. If not then by all means formally dispute the claim with your CC within the 8 weeks period (by law). Make sure you print out 2 copies of all paperwork NOW.

 

[LuZeR]

i still dont understand why anyone would get a 4000 instead of the 3800. the latter is a much better value.

also, i tried to order a 3800 with ME and they told me 32 megs was too little. $100 more. that is garbage!

 

[Braxus]

Well... 4000 is lighter than the 3800... and on long trips... weight is everything.

 

[John]

Screw the 3800, 4000, and 5000...get an 8000 !

 

[hanybanoub]

I agree with the WISE Braxus

All that weight will bother you believe me. I used to own an Inspiron 7000, and my god was that heavy to carry around. After a while I mostly left it at home since it was sooooo damn heavy. Defeats the purpose of being portable doesn't it??

I'd go for the lightest one available-that's my recommendation. The 4000 model looks pretty nice and it's awfully tempting. Too bad it doesn't come with the (better) 16 mb video, as you'll want to game eventually

 

[Pete]

Couple of questions. I'd be grateful if someone could help me out here:

Does anyone know if Dell charges tax to NY or NJ? I can have it shipped to either place, so I'd like to know which would be easier on my wallet. BTW, what's the tax in NJ? Seriously--haven't been there in a while, forgot .

How's the nylon case that Dell offers? Is it significantly better/worse than other offerings? And is $50 reasonable, or can I find a better deal elsewhere? Should I also buy one of those APC surge protectors from Dell, or elsewhere?

What color snap-on should I go for, yellow or blue or grey? Some have said the blue looks more like purple, in which case I'd probably prefer the yellow. But if the yellow is less golden than it is fluorescent, I'd have to go with grey. Those who actually have seen them--opinions?

Is the 3-yr warranty worth $150 more?

Any chance of that internal v.90 + 10/100 combo being supported in Linux? I'm just interested in the NIC part.

Finally, how's the battery life with a P3-600 (power save ON) on the 5000 w/15" XGA vs the 4000? I'm debating between the two, as there's a $150 difference with almost all other features equal (16MB on the 5000, int. NIC on the 4000). Is 15" XGA worth $150 over 14" XGA? Actually, make that $200, as I'll need a NIC.

If you can be bothered enough to answer some of these questions, thanks.