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Questions about m1330.

post #1 of 4
2/26/08 at 1:00am
Thread Starter 
This is the config I'm looking to purchase, with some selections having specific questions. Major concerns of mine have been bolded. Please comment on any option you disagree/feel I need warned about:

Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5GHZ 800mhzFSB 6MB Cache
-I feel the 2.6 isn't worth the +$275 for 0.1ghz more, and this is the cheapest model with the 6mb cache which probably won't help incredibly but it's something I'm willing to stretch for. I hear these new chips are good on battery life, as well.

Windows Vista Home Premium
-I think I might want to 'downgrade' to XP later, but I heard there was issues with that in regards to the MediaDirect button or something? I'm still willing to give Vista a shot however... but I'm getting Home Premium because I'm unsure about it. Any drawbacks to home premium?

Standard Display 2.0MP Webcam
-Should I get this for the Slim and light LED? I realize the web camera in the LED is much 'worse' than this 2.0MP one, rendering it useless almost. But, other than a minor size and weight difference, does the LED offer anything?

1GB RAM
-Will upgrade to 3gb-4gb buying my own RAM. Dell is insane on price.

200GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
-Fast, lots of space. I might look into a solid state drive when they are cheaper. I really don't want to pay hundreds more then feel limited on space.

128MB Nvidia 8400M GS
-I'm not really looking for crazy gaming on this guy. I used to be a laptop gamer (XPS Gen2) but now with my 360 I don't see a point. Still, if anyone wants to tell me how WoW would run should I play it again...

Wireless Intel A/G
-I don't know much about N. If I get N, can I still connect to A/B/G?

Mobile Broadband
-Is this decent priced? Which service? Is it any good at all? If I don't get it now 'internal', can I get it later?

Built-In Bluetooth
-Yup.

85Whr 9cell battery
-Ok, I read some stuff about batteries making laptops heavier, but is the battery somehow physically larger? Making the laptop bigger? (as crazy as that sounds) I have no problem taking on some weight for the longer battery life but what is the draw backs?

Integrated SoundBlast Audigy
-I guess it's better than the 'high def audio 2.0' listed.

Fingerprint reader
-$0? Why not.

TV Tuner
-I don't know how these work. Will these let me capture video from my xbox 360?

3 yr warrenty/3 year oops damage
-Yup.



also, any good discount coupons or anything I might be overlooking, or do you suggest not buying a m1330 right now for any reason? lastly, what other features does this laptop have I might be overlooking? I heard about a remote, how does that work? Dell's website doesn't say anything about it that I can see.

Thanks so much!
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post #2 of 4
2/26/08 at 1:49am
My amateur musings in Blue

Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayerPawn View Post
This is the config I'm looking to purchase, with some selections having specific questions. Major concerns of mine have been bolded. Please comment on any option you disagree/feel I need warned about:

Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5GHZ 800mhzFSB 6MB Cache
-I feel the 2.6 isn't worth the +$275 for 0.1ghz more, and this is the cheapest model with the 6mb cache which probably won't help incredibly but it's something I'm willing to stretch for. I hear these new chips are good on battery life, as well.

$300 upgrade from stock 1.66 is a hard pill to swallow. I just blew $100 to upgrade to a nice round number, the 2.0 Penyrn is good if you wanna wait it out for battery life from what I hear

Windows Vista Home Premium
-I think I might want to 'downgrade' to XP later, but I heard there was issues with that in regards to the MediaDirect button or something? I'm still willing to give Vista a shot however... but I'm getting Home Premium because I'm unsure about it. Any drawbacks to home premium?

I'm gonna try to live w/ Vista, will downgrade to XP if necessary, I hear the thing to do is get a DELL XP cd, it won't ask for a key, here's a thread on how to go XP route if you decide: http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...cending&page=1

Standard Display 2.0MP Webcam
-Should I get this for the Slim and light LED? I realize the web camera in the LED is much 'worse' than this 2.0MP one, rendering it useless almost. But, other than a minor size and weight difference, does the LED offer anything?

Webcam? Who needs a webcam, screw it. I got the LED because of the advertised better brightness, and well, I'm a sucker for "new sexy tech like this" Also, this thread that shows the differences in size was a nice selling point for me: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166419

1GB RAM
-Will upgrade to 3gb-4gb buying my own RAM. Dell is insane on price.
Word

200GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
-Fast, lots of space. I might look into a solid state drive when they are cheaper. I really don't want to pay hundreds more then feel limited on space.
Retarded upgrade, get the cheapest HD they sell, then upgrade via ebay or whatever to the 200gb, there was a Front Page Slick Deal on the 200s, so there will be a flood in a bit (I picked up 5 myself )

128MB Nvidia 8400M GS
-I'm not really looking for crazy gaming on this guy. I used to be a laptop gamer (XPS Gen2) but now with my 360 I don't see a point. Still, if anyone wants to tell me how WoW would run should I play it again...

kent1146 love's his 1330 and WoW, can play high detail @ 30-50fps http://www.notebookforums.com/showth...light=warcraft

Wireless Intel A/G
-I don't know much about N. If I get N, can I still connect to A/B/G?
I believe it's Backwards Compatible

Mobile Broadband
-Is this decent priced? Which service? Is it any good at all? If I don't get it now 'internal', can I get it later?
No idea

Built-In Bluetooth
-Yup.

85Whr 9cell battery
-Ok, I read some stuff about batteries making laptops heavier, but is the battery somehow physically larger? Making the laptop bigger? (as crazy as that sounds) I have no problem taking on some weight for the longer battery life but what is the draw backs?
9 cell, nothing really other than it sticks out a bit more, but it offers A) better typing position according to someone on here B) better air flow C) 1-2 more hours (3hr 6cell vs 5hr 9cell).

I was really REALLY gonna get the 6 cell, but in the end caved to the 9 cell because of A + B from above, pics of both can be seen here: http://www.notebookforums.com/thread211043.html

Integrated SoundBlast Audigy
-I guess it's better than the 'high def audio 2.0' listed.
Dunno, don't care

Fingerprint reader
-$0? Why not.
I've heard it can be fickle, I opted to not get one

TV Tuner
-I don't know how these work. Will these let me capture video from my xbox 360?
That's a whole other can of worms, search AVSforums or what not

3 yr warrenty/3 year oops damage
-Yup.
Complete and utter waste.. IMO though!!! 1 year for the win, you'll know pretty darn soon if you've got a lemon or not

also, any good discount coupons or anything I might be overlooking, or do you suggest not buying a m1330 right now for any reason? lastly, what other features does this laptop have I might be overlooking? I heard about a remote, how does that work? Dell's website doesn't say anything about it that I can see.
Check ebay for 20% off Small Biz coupons, also Small Biz 2% off w/ their internal credit card.

The remote controls the media functions, guess it could be used w/ power points as well, I dunno, nor do I care. Search Youtube for reviews/clips

Thanks so much!
Here's the link to the M1330 I pulled the trigger on Sunday evening
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread212979.html
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post #3 of 4
2/26/08 at 2:41am
the webcam on the LED version of this laptop crushes the quality of my old webcam on my M1210, it is VERY usable and i would not call it "useless" at all. I've seen both the regular screen and the LED screen and the LED screen has much better brightness and everything seems much sharper as well.
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post #4 of 4
2/26/08 at 10:48pm
Ill chime in on the wireless card.
You can't buy the integrated wireless from the providers (sprint, verizon, etc.).
You *can* find these on ebay, but then you're running into a potential nightmare re: whether they can be registered.

If you need mobile broadband, go with the CDMA-- either Sprint or verizon. EVDO Rev-A CRUSHES edge and anything gprs offers in both speed (I'm getting well over 1 mbit/sec download) and availability. Sprint offers an unlimited plan for about $50/month. Verizon offers something simialr, but they're a bit anal about it... if you start downloading gigs and gigs a month, they'll pull the plug on you (as they are allowed to per their agreement).

IMHO, wireless broadband is AWESOME. I'm on it right now, on a train from manhattan to Long island, a 1.5 hour commute. I have no dead spots, and can barely tell the differnece between this and wi-fi. The only time you'll notice that's it's not as fast as wi-fi is if you're downloading stuff--- downloading a 100 meg file will still take a lot longer on evdo-rev a than on wi-fi.
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