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Dell 8200 vs Sager

post #1 of 17
1/18/03 at 8:33pm
Thread Starter 
Hello everyone.... I am desperate for a notebook... and am a little impatient so i filled out the forms @ dell to buy an inspiron 8200.

That is the begining of this story. Thank GOD I had a bill I forgot about and my VISA transaction was declined... So off to the phones I go... only to be put on hold for about 30 min even BEFORE i got to talk to someone... then because thier automated phone system is sooo confusing.... I needed to get transfered, then hold, then transfered to a reps Voice mail... so i left a message... Now that I have involved a rep in this matter... when i called back the second time... I was told that I need to wait to hear from the rep I left a message with... and another 1/2 hour wait...and more voice mail....AAAARRRGGG!!! I never thought it would be so HARD to give someone $4000 !!!!

Now that I am waiting to hear from Dell... I found you guys.... and just in time too... because now I am reconsidering my purchase. I priced two systems...as close a comparison as i could........

SAGER 5660-V UXGA (carbon black) 2.8GHz, 9000, dvd/cd-rw, 56K modem, NIC, Win XP PRO, Second Batt. TOTAL $2548 (CAN$3921)

Dell 8200 UXGA-ultra, 2.2GHz( fast as I could customise!) Ati9000, dvd/cd-rw, 56K, NIC, Win XP Pro, NO SECOND BATT, TOTAL Can$4982

Thats enough to decide...Dell with slower CPU , SLOWER USB 1.1, NO SECOND BAT is $1000 more in CAN dollars. Go figure. Glad I did not buy my laptop yet!

Now my problem, hopefully someone can answer... can I order fro PCTORQUE and ship to CANADA.... EUROCOM is WAY overpriced!, and by the time I pay taxes etc , am I back to comparing the sager to the Dell again.......PLEASE help! Perhaps someone here lives near the ontario border... and I can come and pick my laptop @ thier place!
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post #2 of 17
1/18/03 at 8:56pm
Hey man,
I'm in the same boat as you, I too am from Ontario and want a Sager, but, ive figured out a few things. First off you don't have to pay duty on computers over the us/can border(Thank you NAFTA ). I too am ordering from pctorque and i think the only extra charges i have to pay is the gst/pst (15%) for me about 450$ and no duty so i hope this helps a bit.
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post #3 of 17
1/18/03 at 9:00pm
Thread Starter 
I know Its not nice to reply to your own messages but I forgot to ask if anyone can tell me the type of controller the cardbus uses on the Sager 5660!

I am afraid if it uses the "RICOH" cardbus controller I may have to seriously consider the dell again due to compatability issues with the MAGMA Cardbus to PCI expanders. I am thinking about picking one up to add two extra full size PCI slots to the laptop. unfortunatly they have an issue with the RICOH controller!

Thanks again.
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post #4 of 17
1/18/03 at 9:16pm

Re: Dell 8200 vs Sager

Well, from the DELL web site over here, the 2.4 GHz mobile processor is available in the DELL inspirons. I just ordered my own 5660 yesterday, and for comparative purposes, took a look at the equivalent DELL rig - and strangely, for the specs you've listed below, it'll cost S$4109, or US$2348 / CN$3573.

Still, price differences not withstanding, the Sager 5660 is a pound for pound better machine than the DELL in most respects, with the sole exceptions of battery life and possibly the screen.


Rob



Quote:
Originally posted by Locksmith
Dell 8200 UXGA-ultra, 2.2GHz( fast as I could customise!) Ati9000, dvd/cd-rw, 56K, NIC, Win XP Pro, NO SECOND BATT, TOTAL Can$4982
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post #5 of 17
1/18/03 at 9:24pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies, the battery issue is not that important to me , although I am wondering if I shoud hang in there for SAGER to bring out an Ultrasharp equal screen....

And so, like I have been reading in all the other forums, the dilema begins...to buy now or wait for the next best offer that sits right around the corner... I think I have read enough to get out my wallet... I wonder how long it will take to get to Ontario with the custom color?
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post #6 of 17
1/18/03 at 9:41pm
Well, I was facing the same dilemna as you are right now - I am moving to a different country in mid-February, and only needed the 5660 then, and was thinking whether to buy it now or later and closer to my departure date.

However, what finally made me decide to buy it now was:

1) The antipicated video upgrades - e.g. the M10 - aren't as "around" the corner as I'd hope. It seems that we'll have to wait for at least several more months before it shows up.

2) Adam advised that the latest price revisions were made only just, and they typically come at the second week of the month, if at all. While this may not be always the case, this pseudo-schedule for price revisions did help me decide when to buy.

All things taken into account, I decided to pick it up yestesterday.



Rob
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post #7 of 17
1/18/03 at 11:29pm
OT, but just FYI if you ever get an automated system and just want to talk to someone, hit 0. It works for any automated system as long as there exists the ability to actually talk to a real person.
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post #8 of 17
1/19/03 at 12:22am

Comparison 8200 - 5660 - 8886

Though I am not facing the same obstacle like you with shipping it over the border, I am trying to find out which one I prefer.

I put together an excel sheet with the specifications of the I8200, the 5660 and the 8886. Then I gave every option on the dell 5 points and added them up. Then I compared the options from the 5660 to the I8200 and everywhere where the 5660 was better or worse I deviated up or down from the 5 points. To make things more equal I tried to keep the price between the three notebooks and the options as close as possible.

For example I gave the 5660 seven points for the 2.4GHz P4 instead of the 5 for the Dell. And so on. The 5660 got for example less points on the PC card slot do to the lack of a Type III and only one Type II. Also took weight and size into consideration.

At the end, and I am sure people will flame me now, I found the I8200 to be a better value than the 5660, but the 8886 was better then the I8200.

A note to the above: My main concern is not raw power, thus if that would be my only consideration I would most definitely opt for either the 5660 or the 8886.

Hope this helps some of you to make a decision of what you need. It is the logical approach, even though the surrounding issues like warranty, customer support and so on is important too, it will give you some kind of guide.

Thanks,
Anosis
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post #9 of 17
1/19/03 at 12:56am
Between the I8200 and the 5660, the system with the most value will depend on the person and their priorities. If you're up to some reading here's some good debate on the subject


inspiron 8200 vs sager 5660
http://sagerforums.com/forums/showth...=&threadid=364
http://sagerforums.com/forums/showth...=&threadid=323
http://sagerforums.com/forums/showth...=&threadid=341
http://sagerforums.com/forums/showth...=&threadid=157

from the dell perspective (a pretty good read...18 pgs long and possibly one of the longest and most controversial thread on the dell boards )
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfor...ssage.id=57735
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post #10 of 17
1/19/03 at 1:08am
Can you bring computers into Canada. Yes. How? You need to find out how PCTORQUE ships into Canada. UPS, Fedex, US Mail. Thay may have all your answers.

What to watch out for? PST/GST, don't think that there is any duty as long as Sagers are manufactured in the US, or substantially in the US. You need to watch out for brokerage fees which is why you need to find out shipping method. This is a fee that you must pay a shipper that actually brings the goods into Canada.

here is a number to try:
For more information about importing by mail, call 1-800-461-9999 (toll free in Canada). (from www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca).

If that does not help I am sure that I have other ideas.
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post #11 of 17
1/19/03 at 2:24am
Heh, everyone at dell forums is a dell supporter. no surprise. "noise is an issue" "an extra pound" "dells been in the game longer"...yeah.
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post #12 of 17
1/19/03 at 8:50am
anosis,
I think your system is great, it would work for anyone. The biggest thing about it is your numbering and such is taylored to you. I did similar lists for myself, and found the 5660 to be a greater value, it would all depend on how much number value you give to things, and what things get that value. The 15.7 screen could be a +5 or a -5 (too big a box for me) depending on the person. Same with UXGA screen or other considerations. I guess the thing about a computer is that whatever is best for you individually is better. For me processor was crucial, and I could get a 5660 at 2.8 or the Dell at 2.0 at the time. A pretty measurable difference. Now, with dell up to 2.4, the difference is much more minimal. Lastly, the net value of the Dell only makes sense if you have near 3000 to spend, when you are in the low 2000 range, it is not a possibility anymore. Anyway, best of luck with whatever you get. I liked that post on the Dell forum, by the way. Good to see people at least commenting on the area51 and the Sager issue, as well as giving positive feedback to both machines. It is a dell forum, so of course dell had the most supporters, but really they are both going to be good considering how much you pay.
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post #13 of 17
1/19/03 at 2:23pm
Hi

I was in the same situation a few weeks ago.

I had narowed down my choices to either the 8200 or the 5660.

I did a lot of shoping and one day Dell had a very good deal and I ended up buying this:

8200
1.8 GHz P4M (It's the only compromise I made, I can always upgrade later)
15 Ultrasharp UXGA
Radeon 9000 Mobility
1 GB RAM
60 GB HD
2 Battery
DVD - CD-RW
Internal Truemobile 1180 WiFi
Win XP + MS Works. Encarta.....
3 year warranty + complete care

Got all this for 3400 $ (Canadian) or $ 2215 USD

I think I got a good deal.

My other option was to buy an eurocom branded 5660. (eurocom.ca). For this I would have become a reseller and got it a a good price.

The 5660 looks good but I really like the 5 hours of battery life and the 3 years warrante+ completecare offered by Dell. I was a little worried about the third party warrantee extension on the 5660.

ST
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post #14 of 17
1/19/03 at 3:43pm
we should all go into other people's forums (dell, gateway, alienware forums if sumbuddy can find them, etc..) and bombard (well... maybe not bombard) them with props to sagers... particularly this forum and pctorque.... but just sagers in general. I think a lot of popularity could be gained from that... tho i think its kinda cool that there are so few people that know about these.. it makes it more unique that i have one but it would be great for the sager business and maybe they could expand/upgrade more... heh thatd be awesome.

the kreep
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post #15 of 17
1/19/03 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally posted by kreeper
we should all go into other people's forums (dell, gateway, alienware forums if sumbuddy can find them, etc..) and bombard (well... maybe not bombard) them with props to sagers... particularly this forum and pctorque.... but just sagers in general. I think a lot of popularity could be gained from that... tho i think its kinda cool that there are so few people that know about these.. it makes it more unique that i have one but it would be great for the sager business and maybe they could expand/upgrade more... heh thatd be awesome.

the kreep
For the most part most of the major tech boards are already aware of the sager model. Mentioning it as option is fine I suppose but I think shoving it in their faces will just create animosity and not interest.
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post #16 of 17
1/19/03 at 4:34pm
I agree with vanfanel. If you start dropping threads in other notebook manufacturer notebooks forums, you most likely will find resistance than acceptance.

I found sager because I did a thorough search on the net and kept my options open, meaning I was aware there is NB's out there that are not made by Dell, Tohsiba, Compaq, IBM, Sony, Gateway.
I used to have a ChemBook which is anything close to a major brand NB manufacturer, but I was very happy with the options and power that NB had. This thing is now 4 years old and still usefull for some of the work I am doing.

Something on a different note: I just read Tom's Hardware review about the M9 and was a little surprised about the performace. Even though this is the only DX8 card out the GF460 is cabable of matching or even surpassing the M9. Wished ATI would have added faster memory (2ns instead of 4.6) which would allow to overclock the M9 to close to GF460 spec.
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post #17 of 17
1/19/03 at 4:56pm
Agreed about the forum thing. And about the fact that people with different priorities will assign value to different components.

As far as the Geforce... yeah, the 460 did outperform the 9000 in some of the tests, although the battery life was less. The 460 came out after the 9000, but many companies still went with the 9000 because ATI universalized their graphics chips so motherboards didn't have to be changed to go from one to another. Hopefully the M10 will come out soon, too.
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