Spec me (~£700)

Russinating

Russinating

Russinating

Soldato
Joined
27 Dec 2005
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Location
Bristol
Apologies for the high probability of this being a more than common topic!

I've always been a desktop person but now with work needs and hardly using my PC for anything but web browsing and media I'm looking at getting a laptop. The 3 choices I've been looking at so far are:

Dell XPS M1530 - £684 (outlet)
2ghz C2D, 15.4" 1280x800, 250GB hdd, 4GB 667mhz, 256gfx, bluray

Dell Studio 15 - £699 (brand new)
2ghz C2D, 15.4" 1440x900, 160GB hdd, 4GB 667mhz, 256gfx

Sony Vaio FW11E - £699 (brand new)
2.26ghz C2D, 16.4" 1600x900, 250GB hdd, 3GB 800mhz, 256gfx

They're all so similarly priced around my budget of about £700, although the looks and ws of the Sony are tipping me in favour of the Vaio but I know how well recommended Dell's are. How easy are Sony to haggle with (as I've heard promising stories about Dell)? Also, XPS vs Studio - which? Any other advice appreciated :)
 
The XPS will have the DDR3 8600MGT with is a good performer in a laptop, the studio's GFX is below that of the XPS, and I don't know about the Sony's.

If you intend to do any gaming then that will be a deciding factor, but if it is just as you say media/internet then it wouldn't make too much difference.
 
No I barely do any gaming anymore. Main desktop PC use is internet\work, media (HD films and TV) and video editing (although I don't intend a laptop to be used for this mainly due to heating and hdd space).

Within a few months the laptops main use will be using at work and streaming films via HDMI.
 
Well then it's really down to which one you like the looks of most, which provides best battery life, and extra features you may want/dislike.

Personally I'm baised towards the XPS M1530. I picked one up off the outlet yesterday for £700 all including which was;
2.5Ghz processor
4Gb Ram
144x900 15.4" screen (love the higher resolution myself)
9 cell battery (another bonus)
No blu ray thoughm, but I doubt I'd use it anyway.

For me that was exactly what I was looking for, and cracking deal.
 
1400x900+ is a requirement really, just hard to trundle through the outlet trying to find one (and can't be bothered when I don't even know if I'll be buying it).

Blu-ray would be a bonus, and I'd be willing to pay extra for a a Blu-ray writer as I need to buy one for my PC if not anyway (which'll come in at ~£150).

Battery life on the Vaio doesn't seem that great (2hr 10m), although I can't find a spec for the others on the manufacturers websites.

I think my order of looks goes Vaio -> Studio -> XPS although I haven't seen any in the flesh. The 16.4" 1600x900 is def. a huge bonus for the Vaio.
 
The xps m1530 do look very nice in the flesh tbh, here's the one i received on friday:

IMG_0576.jpg


IMG_0558.jpg


IMG_0563.jpg


IMG_0578.jpg
 
Took a look at all 3 in a PCWorld the other night, and I think I can safely say I rate them all fairly even aesthetically. I think it'll just come down to whichever I can get for the best deal at the time.

On that note, PCWorld had a HUGE amoung of ex-display and last in stock offers on (all of the above laptops were available for lower than their RRP). Anyone any idea why?
 
btw just managed to get a second laptop for my other half's parents, Studio 17 with the 1920x1200 screen, bluray, 2.5ghz T9300, 4gb ram, 320gb hard drive, radeon 3650....for £650 delivered! Just a bit good....
 
rG-tom said:
btw just managed to get a second laptop for my other half's parents, Studio 17 with the 1920x1200 screen, bluray, 2.5ghz T9300, 4gb ram, 320gb hard drive, radeon 3650....for £650 delivered! Just a bit good....
Click to expand...

From the outlet? Is that card faster than the 8600M GT?
 
tweakinfreak said:
So your saying it must have been the outlet in that case?
Click to expand...

Yup. Just checked on the Dell site and spec that Tom listed (without things like finger print reader, illuminated keyboard, coloured cover etc) is £959!!

I got my Studio 17 from the outlet for £480 when the main site price was £868 (now £750ish)
 
MTA99 said:
Yup. Just checked on the Dell site and spec that Tom listed (without things like finger print reader, illuminated keyboard, coloured cover etc) is £959!!

I got my Studio 17 from the outlet for £480 when the main site price was £868 (now £750ish)
Click to expand...

I'd like to know the best times to snipe something off there so I can be ready to add 5 to my cart and take it from there
 
tweakinfreak said:
I'd like to know the best times to snipe something off there so I can be ready to add 5 to my cart and take it from there
Click to expand...

I've read on other forums that the stock goes on there at 9am and 3pm but I ordered mine at 11:30pm :) I was in no rush to order so I took a more laid back approach, waiting until something with the right spec and within budget turned up then ordered it.
 
What about a HP DV7 1020ea?
Just got one for 750 quid
Everything the dell has but looks better imho plus blu ray and a 9600gt
 
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