Stop me before I press the button

[Airshark]

I've been thinking about buying a new laptop for quite a while now, and I like the looks of the Dell XPS 1530, because it can play games comfortably as well as being modestly sized, reasonably portable, and a good value. I was already pretty close to ordering one. But today, Dell is driving in the stake. They've just announced their new Inspiron Mini, with an incredible promo deal - if you buy one of their laptops (including the Studio and XPS lines), they'll give you an Inspiron Mini to go with it for just $99 more.

The thing is fanless, excellent battery life, has a built-in SSD, and is of course, ultra-light.



It comes with Ubuntu pre-installed, or you can get it with XP. And here's the clincher: IT COMES IN A KID'S EDITION. My wife is all over the idea of me getting my notebook and giving this one to the kid.

It costs $349 by itself online. The top-of-the-line XPS 1530 costs $1649. So I can get two laptops, one awesome, one ultra-portable, for $1750.

I'm trying hard not to just dig out my credit card right now. Tell me why I shouldn't buy - and don't use Vista as an excuse, because this box doesn't run it.

EDIT: Here's a link to the Anandtech review. http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3399

[Ohio Blues]

Um, because you have 24 other computers already?

[Airshark]

Um, because you have 24 other computers already?

Actually, right at the moment I have only three working machines, and none of them is a laptop. Between us, my wife and I do have four laptops, but they're all work computers.

[backstop]

I don't know...personally I'd look for something with a bigger UXK port, or at the very least, a PUQU-25 chip. But that's just me.

[Airshark]

I don't know...personally I'd look for something with a bigger UXK port, or at the very least, a PUQU-25 chip. But that's just me.

It has as many UXK ports as a MacBook Air, and all the PUQU chips you can possibly need.

What's really amazing is that if you trick it out to the maximum possible, you still can't get the price about $479 full list. It is limited to a gig of RAM, though.

[bcruise]

That was about the cost of my XPS 630 desktop, and about all I got was the tower, keyboard and mouse.

Similar specs too, except that mine is a quad-core and yours has 1 GB more RAM.

Edit: Obviously I'm referring to the XPS laptop here, not the Inspiron in the pic.

[backstop]

It has as many UXK ports as a MacBook Air, and all the PUQU chips you can possibly need.

What's really amazing is that if you trick it out to the maximum possible, you still can't get the price about $479 full list. It is limited to a gig of RAM, though.

Well then I don't see what you're waiting for.

[Blues Fan in TX]

I would consider getting a Mac.

[Airshark]

That was about the cost of my XPS 630 desktop, and about all I got was the tower, keyboard and mouse.

Similar specs too, except that mine is a quad-core and yours has 1 GB more RAM.

Edit: Obviously I'm referring to the XPS laptop here, not the Inspiron in the pic.

The XPS 1530 is clearly Dell's best consumer notebook - the 1730 is just too big and heavy. It's got a great video chip. And it has more and better ports than a MacBook Pro, and it costs $500 less on top of it. It's actually kinda hard to get good graphics performance in a notebook of 15" or less - the XPS 1330 has the huge drawback that there's no way to get it to drive a DVI-based monitor, since there's no DVI port and no way to dock it.

The only reason I haven't already bought a 1530 is that Dell is hinting, a LOT, about new notebooks about to be released. The last thing they let out was the Studio line, which were about style, not power. I'm thinking I'll be buying myself a present for Christmas.

Incidentally, they're talking about an Inspiron Mini with the new Poulsbo chipset. That has the potential to double battery life. Might see that right around the new year.

[Airshark]

I would consider getting a Mac.

Apple has nothing to compete with these notebooks, certainly nothing in the price range. Anand takes the time to compare it to the Macbook Air, but you can buy four of these Inspirons for the cost of the Air. Apple's just not a player in the value market.

And I'm saying that typing this on a MacBook Pro.

[Blues Fan in TX]

Apple has nothing to compete with these notebooks, certainly nothing in the price range. Anand takes the time to compare it to the Macbook Air, but you can buy four of these Inspirons for the cost of the Air. Apple's just not a player in the value market.

Can't argue with any of that. Apple does quite well in their lead position in the overpriced, "hype" gadget market for now, though

And I'm saying that typing as an employee of that company.

[007]

BF: get me a discount...

Shark: stop being an attention whore and push the button already...everyone loves new confabulating machines on their desks...

[Blues Fan in TX]

BF: get me a discount...

Shark: stop being an attention whore and push the button already...everyone loves new confabulating machines on their desks...

007 - what are you looking for?

[Airshark]

007 - what are you looking for?

You know, I was going to post a wisecrack about getting a discount for me instead - but I can't think of any Apple product that even a 30% discount would get me to buy - seriously. I already have the highest-end MacBook. Even reduced by a third, it's easy to beat the 30" display in value. I don't want an iPod. Maybe some software. Do you get discounts on Mac software?

What is the best product your company makes, BF? In your opinion?

[007]

007 - what are you looking for?

I'd like to get my gal an iMac in the next few months...

For me: I wouldn't mind a small-capacity iPod for the gym...