[OT]Purchased Laptop

[chuckury]

I didn't have a lot of money to spend, this actually exceeded my "budget", but have any of you had a similar laptop or do you have any experience with any inspirons or dell?
This is my first laptop and is going to be used at College for Computer Engineering this fall.
Main Info:
DELL Inspiron 6400(Customized)
256MB ATI MOB RADEON X1400,I6400/E1505
I6400,CORE DUO T2500(2GHZ)(667MHZ FSB)(2MB)
1GB,DDR2,533MHZ,2 DIMM,I6400/E1505
100GB HARD DRIVE,I6400/E1505

Complete List:

Item Number  	Quantity  	 	Item Description
465-5212 	1 		I6400,CORE DUO T2500(2GHZ)
310-6293 	1 		BPACK,CRY CASE,NYLON,INSP,TIED
311-5776 	1 		1GB,DDR2,533MHZ,2 DIMM,I6400/E1505
312-0403 	1 		85 WHR,9-CELL,LION,PRIM BATT,I6400/E1505
313-3959 	1 		8X DVD+/-RW DRIVE,I6400/E1505
320-4257 	1 		TV TUNER,W/REMOTE,TVT-2,USB, MCE,INSP
320-4651 	1 		15.4 INCH TRUELIFE,WXGA,I6400/E1505
341-3109 	1 		100GB HARD DRIVE,I6400/E1505
412-0689 	1 		IMAGE RESTORE, INSP
412-0850 	1 		MCAFEE 7.0,OEM,ENG,90DAY,DIM/INSP
420-4830 	1 		DELL SUPPORT 3.0,INSP
420-4928 	1 		WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER 10,INSP
420-5590 	1 		WINXP MCE 2005,ENG,INSP,NM,U,FACT
420-5775 	1 		DECODING SW,CYBRLNK PDVD,V5.7,INSP
420-5901 	1 		SONIC DM V7.0,MYDVDINSP
430-0493 	1 		INTEGRATED NIC AND MODEM
430-1048 	1 		ADOBE ACROBAT READER,V6.0,INSP
430-1626 	1 		INTEL PRO/WRLS 3945,A/G,DC,I6400/E1505
463-2282 	1 		THANKS FOR PURCHASING YOUR DELL
465-2668 	1 		256MB ATI MOB RADEON X1400,I6400/E1505
412-0674 	1 		AOL 9.0 ,FI,ENGLISH CANADA
412-0803 	1 		WORDPERFECT OFFICE 12 + TRIAL,DIM/INSP
950-3610 	1 		RTD,INSP,SOL,INIT YR, REL/PAI (HIGH-2)
950-3612 	1 		RTD,INSP,SOL,2YR EXT, REL/PAI (HIGH-2)
960-2780 	1 		WARRANTY SPRT,INSP,INIT YR
983-2207 	1 		INFO, SERVICES DELL
007-1195 	1 		INFO, SERVICES DELL
950-5442 	1 		WARRANTY SPRT,INSP,2YR EXT
009-6800 	1 		SHIPPING FEE
960-1937 	1 		CC ACC DAM SVC,INSP,3YR,REP/BSD
	
Subtotal: 	$1578.00
Shipping & Handling: 	$0.00
GST/HST: 	$94.68
PST: 	$126.24
Total: 	$1798.92

[tonypa]

Sorry, but I dont see this thread fit in Games forum so I am gonna move it to CL.

[JWin]

Did you use a coupon? I swear you could have gotten that for less than 1500. Anyway, I wrote up a review of the 6400 (E1505) in my blog in my footer if you feel like reading.

[chuckury]

Did you use a coupon? I swear you could have gotten that for less than 1500. Anyway, I wrote up a review of the 6400 (E1505) in my blog in my footer if you feel like reading.

Ya, apparently I saved 395$.
I'll definitly read the review.
Thanks.

[zakp0]

I bought my fiance the i6400.

I've got the i9400.

So...what exactly do you want to know?

[jAQUAN]

long time no post chuck.

[chuckury]

long time no post chuck.

Ya, I've been busy making money for College next year, 10,300$ not including books for 1 year .

Well I have my laptop now, I just wanted to know if anyone had experienced problems because the few reviews there had been on the web seemed to be posted by people who didn't know much about computers and I was looking to see what type of problems I might expect or try to avoid with this laptop because almost all laptops have at least 1 flaw.

[JWin]

First college tip, don't buy books. If it actually is necessary that you use the books, find a couple cute girls and ask to study with them. I bought books for my first semester and realized quickly the assload of money blown was useless.

The only issue I've heard is the backlight bleed on the truelife displays, if it's bad within a week or two demand a new one.

[silverx2]

you bought the laptop, and now your looking for info on possible flaws?

[chuckury]

you bought the laptop, and now your looking for info on possible flaws?

Geez, nothing gets by you silver.

I have to buy the books, for some reason, because I'll be living on residence they force you to buy the books and also force you to buy a meal plan.

[silverx2]

no it just seems like you did it backwards, a laptop is a big chunk of change so i would think to get as much info on it prior to buying it. as for the food plan, thats just silly ramen noodles is all you need for collage. want a sandwhich? break teh brick in two and smother peanut butter. want spagehtti? add some maranara sauce.

[zakp0]

Chuck, there's a fair bit you have to learn about Dell. I bought my Dell, it had a few software related issues (relating to Bluetooth and WiFi), I demanded a replacement. You just gotta know how to press their buttons right, get pissed, demand that they do something about it, explain how you've been waiting hours to get on the line with them (you wont be lying there), and how the last person you spoke to was rude and didnt help at all.

They gave me $450 worth of upgrades free of charge. And then, recently, I moaned about my GPU getting really hot - UPGRADED from 7800GO to 7900GS free of charge. So you gotta learn how to push their buttons, dont be worried about getting angry at em, it's not like they live down the road from you, or even in US for that matter.

Look out for light leakage, as JWin said, and if there's too much - complain. Note that it goes away a little in a few weeks, so if it's really minimal then dont bother. See if you can find out if the DVD Drive is an NEC or not, if it isnt - you might wanna start moaning about it making a lotta noise, it has been known that the Samsungs and Sonys that you find in the i6400 arent great performance-wise, and a lot of them have issues relating to noise and rattling. The NEC doesnt seem to have those problems. WiFi card - make SURE that you're getting full signal, that's another common issue in the Inspiron/XPS laptops, they drop connection a lot, my fiance had her 3945 card replaced.

Oh and, buy complete care warranty, and maybe even complete cover guard (if they have that up there in US), trust me, you'll kick yourself later if you dont.

[chuckury]

Chuck, there's a fair bit you have to learn about Dell. I bought my Dell, it had a few software related issues (relating to Bluetooth and WiFi), I demanded a replacement. You just gotta know how to press their buttons right, get pissed, demand that they do something about it, explain how you've been waiting hours to get on the line with them (you wont be lying there), and how the last person you spoke to was rude and didnt help at all.

They gave me $450 worth of upgrades free of charge. And then, recently, I moaned about my GPU getting really hot - UPGRADED from 7800GO to 7900GS free of charge. So you gotta learn how to push their buttons, dont be worried about getting angry at em, it's not like they live down the road from you, or even in US for that matter.

Look out for light leakage, as JWin said, and if there's too much - complain. Note that it goes away a little in a few weeks, so if it's really minimal then dont bother. See if you can find out if the DVD Drive is an NEC or not, if it isnt - you might wanna start moaning about it making a lotta noise, it has been known that the Samsungs and Sonys that you find in the i6400 arent great performance-wise, and a lot of them have issues relating to noise and rattling. The NEC doesnt seem to have those problems. WiFi card - make SURE that you're getting full signal, that's another common issue in the Inspiron/XPS laptops, they drop connection a lot, my fiance had her 3945 card replaced.

Oh and, buy complete care warranty, and maybe even complete cover guard (if they have that up there in US), trust me, you'll kick yourself later if you dont.

Ya I have noticed some connection problems with the wireless. My DVD Drive was upgraded free off charge because of the promotion I don't see any problems with it yet. And the bleeding is hardly noticeable in the far right bottom corner. But I have a 3 year no questions asked free laptop replacement warranty.

Silver: Well I had read a bit up on the laptop. And I have 3 months to change the laptop and either pay the difference or get some money back depending on the price of the new laptop should I change it.

[zakp0]

You wont be very happy with video performance, unless you overclock.

[chuckury]

You wont be very happy with video performance, unless you overclock.

Why? Is the 256mb Radion x1400 a bad card?