Dell Inspiron 8200 Laptop - Buy now?

[JonBz]

I've been agonizing over one of these babies (or the Compaq 2800) for months now. Today Dell started offering a $200 MIR which brings the price of my preferred configuration down really close to my $1500 joy zone. Any thoughts on whether now is the time to buy? Will prices come down even more next month after Back-To-School time?
I would appreciate any input.

BTW - This is what I'm looking at getting:
P4 1.6Ghz
SXVGA+
Geforce4Go 64Mb
8x DVD-ROM
Minimum memory/hardrive (can upgrade cheaper elsewhere)
$1548 after rebate

Purpose: Gaming, movies, etc.

 

[John]

Buy now so it will be 20.00 cheaper next week.

 

[apoppin]

It will likely get cheaper right after you buy it. No matter WHEN you buy it.

However, if you have the money, then it is a good time to buy.

Be careful on a extra high resolution on a 15" screen - the icons are tiny and your GeForce needs to do extra work to push a reasonable FPS.

The best time to buy is 1) when you need it and 2) when you have the money.

I have no regrets that I bought my 866Mhz/ATI Mobility Radeon Inspiron 4100 last November for $1,000 (even though I could get a higher speed grade for about the same money 2 weeks later). My timing was perfect (I went to Hawaii for 3 months) and it is still my workhorse for everything but gaming.

 

[MWink]

Yes buy it now! I got mine 3 months ago and I love it. Though IIRC the price dropped the week after I bought it.

 

[JonBz]

OK, how about this then?

I'll eventually want an 802.11b wireless network at home. Should I spend the extra $99 to get the internal mini-PCI TruMobile wireless card or just get an external card from Linksys or someone?

Thanks for the help!

 

[vec]

Isn't there a 30 day price adjustment policy at Dell? I remember seeing posts on it in Dells Forums (excellent forums by the way) with people asking a Dell Rep for price adjustments.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: vec
Isn't there a 30 day price adjustment policy at Dell? I remember seeing posts on it in Dells Forums (excellent forums by the way) with people asking a Dell Rep for price adjustments.

Yep. There sure is.

 

[GizmoFreak]

Would anyone happen to know when Dell plans to update the Inspiron 8200? To the 8250 or the 8300 possibly?

I'm considering an 8200, but I'm more afraid that they will update the line than about the price dropping.

I'd hate to pick one up only to see the next model in the line introduced shortly thereafter with a nice new chassis and usb 2.0 ports or something like that

 

[Keego]

I don't see why they would come out with an 8300 anytime soon, only reason the 8200 came out was because of the P4 mobile chip.

 

[Tripleshot]

I bought that laptop and it is really nice. I paid 1500 for it. If anything,they will go up in price. I think it is the best bang for the buck out there. It is heavy compaired to lighter,more expensive models,but so what.Its practically a desktop PC, only portable. It has everything built in,modem and nic and it works just great. I have to adjust my eyes when I use it because of the default resolution, but I can live with it. I use it for presentations on financial planning and mortgage investing. Its a work horse.

Dell should be selling these for twice the amount. Not long ago(2 years) they did.

 

[Dudd]

Originally posted by: JonBz
OK, how about this then?

I'll eventually want an 802.11b wireless network at home. Should I spend the extra $99 to get the internal mini-PCI TruMobile wireless card or just get an external card from Linksys or someone?

Thanks for the help!

Don't. I have the internal PCI card, and the range is horrible. It really only works well on the same floor, and even then it is prone to losing the connection from time to time.

 

[Amused]

Here's my suggestion:

Spend a little extra and get the 5400RPM 40GB HDD. The most annoying thing about laptops these days is the HDD speed and the time it takes for stuff to load. A lot of people I know skimp on the HDD and get the 4200RPM POS drives. It takes an otherwise fast laptop and makes it sluggish as all hell.

 

[MWink]

I'd hate to pick one up only to see the next model in the line introduced shortly thereafter with a nice new chassis and usb 2.0 ports or something like that

New case??? Dell has used the EXACT same case since at least the Inspiron 8000. (I know because I had one) I doubt they will change the case anytime soon.

As for them introducing a new model, I doubt it will happen anytime soon. To my knowledge the Inspiron 8200 is only 4 or 5 months old. I'm pretty sure it came out just before I started looking at laptops. All the magazines still had the Inspiron 8100 as the high end model. Just remember, there is ALWAYS something better on the horizon (if you wait, you will be waiting forever)!


EDIT: I forgot to mention, you can add the internal Mini-PCI Wireless card later. The Mini-PCI slot on mine is empty and has a connector for the antenna taped to the cover.

 

[JonBz]

Good advice all around. Thanks everyone!

It looks like I'll be ordering one of these on monday!

 

[JonBz]

Forgot about Ebates. They're currently offering 3% rebates at Dell Home. That's an additional $52.44 off, bringing me just under my magic number! Woot!!