I've had my E1705 for several years running XP Professional, and have had constant issues with heat -- I have literally gone through 5 motherboards, 7 video cards, and 2 memory replacements, all covered under my original warranty (4 year complete care). My computer recently started overheating again and appeared to be on the brink of another failure. This time when I called Dell, they offered a replacement machine, a M1730. I have liked the E1705 -- the factors that are important to me are screen resolution (WUXGA 1920x1200), decent processing/graphics to run Adobe Creative Suite, and ability to run an external monitor as an extended desktop. Here were my original specs:
They are offering to replace it with a refurbished M1730 with the following specs:
The M1730 appears to be an upgrade in terms of processor and graphics card, but my biggest issues are the bulky size and weight, as I use my laptop on airplanes. It also doesn't have a VGA port, which I actually used quite a bit along with the DVI one. It also will come with Vista Ultimate, which if I am going to switch from XP, I'd rather go to Windows 7 at this point. So, I believe my choices are the following: 1) Keep the M1730. My warranty would transfer (it has 5 months left), and I would probably want to shell out an upgrade to Windows 7 instead of struggling with Vista. I'm not a gamer, are these good specs? Is this a machine I would want? 2) Try to get Dell to change the replacement to another model. I haven't kept up with all the Dell models/lines. Is there one that would offer decent resolution and graphics capabilities that wouldn't be so bulky? At a quick glance, it doesn't seem like Dell has any 17" laptops with WUXGA anymore?? 3) Keep the M1730 and sell it on Ebay, and then use that towards a brand new machine with Windows 7 and the specs I want. Any recommendations? I only found a few examples of an E1705 replacment, one being another M1730 and someone else who got a 1745. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Code:
MJ450 Processor, MEROM, T7200, 2.0, 4MB Direct Current, Burn 2 1 NC929 Keyboard, 87, United States ENG, SINGLE POINTING..., D Plus Series 1 DF771 CORD..., Power, 125, 1M, C7, 2P Dual, United States 1 MN331 KIT..., SOFTWARE..., DELL MEDIA DIRECT..., 3, DIGITAL VIDEO DISK DRIVE... 1 DF266 Assembly, Adapter, Alternating Current, 90W, MOBILE 2007..., Lead Free Liteon 2 W5966 Dual In-line Memory Module 1GB, 533, 128X64, 8K, 200 1 RJ421 Card, Wireless, Lead Free, Internal, Bluetooth, 355 1 T1613 Kit Software, OFCBSC-2K3 Original Equipment Manufacturer, English 1 D5551 Battery, Primary, 11.1V, 9C Lithium, SIMPLO 1 UT879 Kit, Software, Overpack, WXPPSP2 Compact Diskette W/documentation, English 1 NJ449 Card, Wireless, Minicard, DW1500 Multiple Output 1 PY470 Hard Drive, 160G, Serial ATA 9.5, 5.4, H080 1 HH258 Liquid Crystal Display, 17, WU Video Elec. Stds. Assoc., GlareWide Viewing Angle, LG PHILIPS LCD..., V2 1 XU670 Assembly, Cable, Coaxial, Liquid Crystal Display, 17 Zanzibar/rikers/suva, V2 1 KJ485 Kit, Compact Diskette, MTG3, M3 1 UJ368 Assembly, DVD+/-RW..., 8X, TOSHIBA SAMSUNG STORAGE TECHNOLOGY..., SULLIVAN/TOBAGO... 1 UF650 Kit, Software, Trend Micro, 12 English, Dell Americas Organization 1 DG008 Card, Graphics, 256MB, I9400 G71 1 YD479 ASSEMBLY..., BASE (ASSEMBLY OR GROUP)..., 10/100, 9400, DISCRETE... 0 1322 INFORMATION..., FLYER, DELL HOME SYSTEMS..., INSPIRON 0 1322 INFORMATION..., FLYER, DELL HOME SYSTEMS..., INSPIRON 1 DF050 Assembly, Cover, Liquid Crystal Display, 17, Notebook, 9400 1 X4474 Guide, Product, Information Portable, AMF/BCC 1 X9535 TECHNICAL SHEET..., REMOVE..., COMPACT DISKETTE..., MEDIA REDUCTION INITIATIVE..., ENGLAND/ENGLISH... 1 CT739 TECHNICAL SHEET..., REBATE..., VISTA 1 DF031 Heatsink, Central Processor Unit, Notebook Zanzibar/rikers/suva 1 WG516 Assembly, Cover, Hinge, Plastic E1705 1 RD112 PLACEMAT..., GETTING STARTED..., I9400, DAO/EMEA 1 CF199 Assembly, Bezel, Liquid Crystal Display, Notebook, 9400/M1710
Code:
1 H097C Base,Notebook,CPEN,X9000,M1730 1 0293D Module,Cord,Power,120V,6 Ft 1 CW774 Service Install Module Software,Inspiron,M1730 1 CY416 Module,Software,Dell Media Direct,3.5,Operating System 1 CY419 Module,Software,Dell Media Direct,3.5,SIBERIA 1 D662C Module,Label,Intel,Notebook Santa Rosa Merom,Core Penryn External 1 FK244 Module,Software,DT-ICLNR Dell Americas Organization 1 FT348 Module,Assembly,Base,M1730 1 GT655 Module,Liquid Crystal Display 17WU,W/CMRA,M1730,SHAR 1 H084D Module,Software,Quick Fix Engineering,VU64SP1,Consumer Notebook 1 J206C Module,Software,Dell Connect 2.1,Dell Americas OrganizationEMEA,Brazil Customer Center 1 J597F Module,Software,VU64SP1 Digital Video Disk Drive,MUL5 Dao/bcc 1 JN197 Ship Group,Notebook,United States,M1730,DAO-MDS 1 JN197 Ship Group,Notebook,United States,M1730,DAO-MDS 1 JN514 Module,Software,VU32/64 Certificate Of Authenticity 1 KC433 Module,Label,MSLOGO WINDOWS XP64,Combo Large 1 NW220 Module,Dvd+/-rw,8X,Ide (integrated Drive Electronics),M1730,TSST 1 P350D Module,Software,Dell Media Direct,3.5,Kit,M1730 1 RR009 Module,Insert,Plastic,Blue Liquid Crystal Display,M1730 1 RW346 Module,Card,Graphics,IUPGA5A G84 1 T013C Module,Software,Works,9 English 1 TC714 Module,Dual In-line Memory Module,4G,667,DDR2,2X2G,200 1 TN642 Module,Card Circuit,Network Bluetooth,355,Storage Processor,Siberia 1 UW429 Module,Keyboard,101,United States,M1730,Dell Americas Organization 1 UY392 Module,Information,Liquid Crystal Display,Cover,WCMRA Corsica/Gilligan/Sapporo/Yebis 1 W001F Module,Hard Drive,320,7.2,FreeFall Sensor,SGT-CAS,INS 1 W807C Module,Software,VU64SP1 Consumer Notebook,English DAO/BCC 1 WJ380 Module,Information,NO RAID Inspiron 1 WP008 Module,Accessory,Binder,M1730 England/english,Dell Americas Organization 1 WX695 Module,Adapter,Alternating Current,230W,Delta - Ac Adapt World Wide 1 XG509 Module,Battery,Primary,85WHR 9C,Simplo 1 XM544 Module,Software,PC-RESTORE Transactional Line Of Business 1 Y573C Module,Software,Roxio,10.2 Dell Edition 1 YY220 Module,Card,Network,4965 Inspiron,Most Of World 1
They have room to improve in the support department though.
