DELL Laptop Dealio **UPDATED** Now hotter! [DEAL DEAD NOW]

[statetech]

Let me say that I've been in the market for a laptop for about 3 months.. LOL. Been wasting a lot of time looking at various laptops.

Here is a dell laptop deal I found.
Here's the breakdown:

*Dell Home
*Notebook
*Inspiron 4000
*choose the cheapest for customization.
HERE IS THE KEY: Opt for the 32MB nVIDIA GeForce2 Go Video Card, NOT the 16mb card !!
You'll see that the price for the 16mb card configuration is higher..
*minimize everything and IMPORTANT: In the Services and Support Options area choose the 2nd option (1Yr Ltd. Warranty- 1Yr Mail-In Service + CompleteCare + 1Yr Phone Support). which will DECREASE your cost. Get better warranty at a lower cost!

There you have it folks: $1089 before shipping. Add $25 off coupon (Don't ask, search for it u lazies )

No tax but shipping though (~$35)

Try it with the 16mb card and it'll cost more..


update: seems even hotter if you live in certain states, CA for example, due to the dell's warrenty policy.

 

[troglodytis]

hope you get it!

but it looks like a nice pricing error.

if you go that route but the change the options to Pentium®III Processor,866 MHz-M 14.1 SXGA+ TFT Display NV 11 w/32MB Video [add $80] instead of adding $80 when you update the price it jumps up to $1408.



i'd try the deal, but i just bought one.



hmmm...as i was typing i decided to try other price changes. as long as you don't change the xga to anything else the price change is accurate. so it may work.


good luck!
and i'd recomend uping to the 58whr battery

 

[Tonymil]

Or you could get a refurb from Dell. Take a look at this thread for more information, but there are over a dozen Dell Insprion 4000's for under $1089...

 

[cneo]

looks like a pretty hot deal. If you want you can just put this e-value code in and then it will take you directly to the customization page.

e-value code: 6V944 - 41NVCD

And from there, follow the steps above to get this deal. Anyone know what the difference between the screens are? xga, uxga, and sxga. I am guessing quality, but does this change the resolution? What is the default (from what i understand, lcds have defaulted native resolutions in which they look better in... because unlike crts they are not just projected images) resolution on these various screen? I was going to pay a bit more and buy the ibm, but now you guys are tempting me.... ahhhh the dilemma!

 

[ahwei]

hmm...best i could do after that E-value code was 1259...
how to get to 1089? hmm...and what is E-Value code?

 

[ahwei]

hmm, my bad, should've read more carefully... it comes out to 1089 following statetech's method...
If this is a pricing mistake, then I'm toast...don't have the $$ to jump on this deal now...

 

[hoomza444]

Anyone know what the difference between the screens are? xga, uxga, and sxga. I am guessing quality, but does this change the resolution? What is the default (from what i understand, lcds have defaulted native resolutions in which they look better in... because unlike crts they are not just projected images) resolution on these various screen?

you are right, it does have to do with quality. i am not sure about the uxga, but i believe the sxga has higher resolution capabilities up to 1600x1200. that is for the 15.1 inch screen though. i think the default resolutions for xga screens is 1024x768, but it might be higher on the sxga screens. hope that helps. sounds like a pretty good deal,good luck.

 

[Lizardman]

The resolutions for the lab tops is 1024x768 for xga and sxga. The uxga can go higher. here is a site which explains it. lcd

 

[FunkmasterT]

is deal dead?

i can't get it to that price?

-FMT

 

[GregFish]

I just priced this deal and it is not dead, so I purchased the laptop, seems like a great deal.

 

[trikster2]

This looks like a HOT deal.

Can the 32MB geforce2go play modern 3D games such as:

Max Payne
Return to castle wolfenstien
Dark ages of camelot
The new improved everquest

and so on?

Also: Same deal works with the DVD drive for on-the-road entertainment

 

[thetaz]

<< This looks like a HOT deal.

Can the 32MB geforce2go play modern 3D games such as:

Max Payne
Return to castle wolfenstien
Dark ages of camelot
The new improved everquest

and so on? >>



Of Course! That's the whole point of having the geforce2go in your laptop. It would be great to monitor out that baby with a keyboard and mouse..it'd be like having a desktop too.

 

[trikster2]

thetaz

so the geforce2go can handle the games but how do these fast moving games look on a flatpanel screen. I remember playing quake one on a dell latitude (166mhz) ages ago and it looked like garbage even though the framerate was ok.

 

[DonBlack]

Hmmm... so is this deal hot? It looks like it but then again who knows where prices will go after Xmas. Also, what's a better value the free CD-RW or DVD drive?

I think I would bump up the HD to 20Gigs and the battery to a 59 WHr. Bad idea?

 

[PsYwhY]

I cannot replicate the deal at all.
How???

Then again, I could. Would have been great if works for sxga.

 

[grimreaper19]

There might be some problem with the geforce2go with xp. A lot of people on dell's forum complained of problems on their 8100's. I don't think the detanator's are compatible with the geforce2go. Also remember to get the weight saver module, so that u can use the system with out a cd or floppy that'll keep the weight of the notebook to 5.2 lbs. Its a great notebook, i just got mine 2 weeks ago, but i got it with a radeon since geforce wasn't availabe. Teamexcess has really good deals on dell carrying cases. The dell leather case is $29.99 at teamexcess vs. $99 at dell. Also it takes a while for dell to ship it out so be patient. It took dell 1 week before they even started building my notebook.

 

[Tonymil]

Regarding the screen resolutions described above - the terms all deal with the native resolution of the screen. They are used as follows:

VGA = 640 x 480
SVGA = 800 x 600
XGA = 1024 x 768
SXGA = 1280 x 1024
SXGA+ = 1400 x 1050
UXGA = 1600 x 1200

Hope this helps...

 

[exorr]

Seems like an OK deal. It is most definetly a pricing error, because the second you change any of the options (such as HD to 20GB) it erases the deal. I just got one a few weeks ago with the 16MB ATI, I haven't tried many games on it yet but it probably won't be too bad. I got a 20GB HD, 1 Gig processor, 3 year warantee, and an SXGA+ screen for $1450. I'd take what I got over this one anyday. 3 year warantee is a big plus for me and the SXGA+ screen is almost a must have with a screen smaller than 15.1.

Just my opinion though. I used 2 different coupon codes and ebates to get my price this low, if anyone's interested let me know.

 

[flight23]

I keep getting $1238.. what am I doing wrong?
I set it to 866mhz, free dvd drive upgrade, works suite, 14.1" xga tft display, 32mb video, and the 2nd option on service...

 

[flight23]

ok nevermind, i got it..
but is this really a hot deal?

 

[carmat4]

second that.
Is this a really good deal?

Im there, and is so tempting. I been looking for a laptop for a while.

 

[carmat4]

Great post
I just wish you had explained it a little better. Im there now, thanks for the post, im still debating.

 

[manly]

Okay, $1089 is definitely possible but in my opinion, you've stripped the machine down too much.

The config I like is $1218 and includes:

P3-1 GHz
128MB, 2 DIMMs
20 GB
59 WHr LiIon battery

The other options are pretty much self-explanatory.

It looks like besides choosing the GeForce2-Go 32 MB option (I didn't bother pricing 16 MB video), the tricks are choosing the 2nd warranty plan (as mentioned).

And also XGA for video. In the "Base" option pricing, SXGA+ video is supposed to be only $80 more, but it actually shoots the price up over $300. Whether this is a pricing error or they're just trying to clear out XGA displays is beyond me.

This is a shame since for most of us, paying $80 for the extra display quality would definitely be worth it.

As far as the other options I priced, the 1 GHz processor is only $30 more than 866 MHz (so why not?). The 2 64 MB DIMMs save a nice chunk of change, and you can buy cheaper modules in the aftermarket anyway and give these two away.

As for the HD, it's not as easy to upgrade this component and 10 GB is puny by today's standards. Finally, the higher capacity battery is definitely worth the extra cost and weight.

I'm not in the market for a notebook, and won't be buying but this definitely seems like a solid deal for those who are interested in a relatively portable gaming notebook.

 

[exorr]

manly,

The reason that the SXGA+ screen raises it so much is not because there trying to clear out the XGA screens, its because once any screen but the XGA screen is selected it erases the pricing error. If this we're intended to be a deal they would advertise it and these things would sell out extremely fast. If you look it actually says upgrading to SXGA+ will only cost $50, but when you do it, it increases the price by over $200, this is because of the pricing error.

Personally, this could be a good deal if your looking for a laptop. You can upgrade to the better battery, and 20GB HD (which is a must with a laptop these days), but the warantee is unchangeable and personally I like the 3 year warantee. Also, dell is spectacular with supporting thier warantees. Friend of mine had a laptop, one of the older ones, and it dies after 2 years, he had the 3 year warantee, and they replaced the laptop, free of charge, with one of the better and newer models. Now that's spectacular. The 32MB GeForce 2 is nice, but if your looking for a laptop to game on, go with the 8100. IMHO.

Of course I got a free Fuji FinePix 1300 Digital Camera with my order also, so I like my deal ::grins::

 

[manly]

exorr,

Like I said, whether it's a pricing error or intentional clearance for XGA screens is beyond me. I don't manage components inventory at Dell, and couldn't possibly say what pricing models they use.

As far as the warranty, 1-year is definitely part of the deal. As the original post says, choosing the second 1-year warranty option trims $140 from the price. This may or may not be a pricing error.

My personal opinion is to buy the unit w/ a Gold or Platinum credit card, which will double the warranty coverage to 2 years (at no cost to you). Computers are obsolete in 3 years anyway (esp. at these prices) so paying hundreds more for a longer warranty is just giving money away (for some of us). On the other hand, if you know your treatment of a notebook runs the risk of breaking the screen, you should definitely look into the screen-replacement policy some manufacturer's offer. In fact, it looks like Dell's "CompleteCare" warranty service does provide this extra level of protection! Like statetech says in the original post, pay $140 less for better coverage! In short, CompleteCare covers accidental, unintentional damage. It's not offered in CA, NY or FL though.

While you're right that even with the GeForce2 Go video, this isn't an awesome gaming rig, I find all the "desktop replacement" notebooks are ridiculously oversized and heavy. Personally, I'd rather not carry 8 lbs + the bag on one shoulder.