What is the best place to buy a dell precision laptop today?

[C.A.R25]

Been looking up information on workstation class laptops, such as the dell precision M models etc... and even though notebooks are more expensive than desktops... the future is mobile, and I rather have some freedom when running my MCAD programs.

But I never owned a notebook before and have little idea about what places offers the best deal... the prices seem to be all over the place at times.

For example, on Dell's site... the listed the Precision M70 for $1900 and up:

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/precn_m70?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd#tabtop


Yet PC Mall has the same workstation notebook listed for over $500 less

http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detail~dpno~611608.asp

That is significant... hell, I fell it's a typo or something. I would get it now, but don't feel like going crazy with the credit card... will wait until X-mas (probably will pick up a holiday sale or something

 

[N2x]

Are you sure that the notebook on the Dell site doesn't have higher system specs? That could be the reason for the price difference.

 

[Mawdsley]

Dell has high prices. They counter this with weekly offers and coupon codes. I got my xps with double memory (2gb), £200 off and free delivery.

For US ppl, its worth keeping an eye on this site. Its all inspirons and xps atm, but it changes weekly.

 

[C.A.R25]

Are you sure that the notebook on the Dell site doesn't have higher system specs? That could be the reason for the price difference.

Now that you mentioned it, Dell's "base" price is $1900 and that does not even include 1GB RAM and it has a slightly slower CPU too... so the other site actually has better specs, but for over $500 cheaper!

That sounds fucked up though...

 

[aria]

Dell has high prices. They counter this with weekly offers and coupon codes. I got my xps with double memory (2gb), £200 off and free delivery.

For US ppl, its worth keeping an eye on this site. Its all inspirons and xps atm, but it changes weekly.

Yeah, my friend uses a similar site for Dells.

 

[C.A.R25]

I just purchased the dell precision M70

A little voice in my head was telling me to wait until Christmas… but then again, with my POS E-machines being so unreliable and crashing so often (and the CD-RW drive has stopped working for some reason)… I decided to just get a new notebook now. Ordered the M70 with FedEx priority shipping… so it should be here before friday.

Also read a few reviews on the M70 (especially from the site linked here)... my only objection to the review from notebookreview is that they did not have a side by side comparision of the notebooks running CAD programs like pro E etc... but did not mind the game play report (not that it was ever in my mind really... but it's good to know I can take a break and play some HL2 or something :chimp: )

Bye Bye you POS E-machines! If you were mine… I would have taken a sledge hammer and released some pent up rage a long time ago

 

[eek]

Don't bother with Dell laptops, they suck and don't last long. Their quality has gone down a lot. The only thing worth buying from them are their lcd monitors, but even that is questionable as their new 24inch widescreen lcd (2407) is having issues (1 pixel blur around all text. color not as good as previous model.)

I would suggest getting either an IBM/Lenovo or HP's business line stuff. HP's business notebooks are a lot better than their consumer stuff. Used one at my previous job and the build quality is awesome. Take a look at the HP nw8440. Sure it's more expensive than Dell's workstation notebooks, but I'm sure it's worth it in the long run.

 

[C.A.R25]

Don't bother with Dell laptops, they suck and don't last long. Their quality has gone down a lot. The only thing worth buying from them are their lcd monitors, but even that is questionable as their new 24inch widescreen lcd (2407) is having issues (1 pixel blur around all text. color not as good as previous model.)

I would suggest getting either an IBM/Lenovo or HP's business line stuff. HP's business notebooks are a lot better than their consumer stuff. Used one at my previous job and the build quality is awesome. Take a look at the HP nw8440. Sure it's more expensive than Dell's workstation notebooks, but I'm sure it's worth it in the long run.

Yea, one guy suggested an extended warranty over the typical 3 year one. Never owned a notebook before... but from my observations on their workstations used at my school... they seem to be very dependable. If anything were to happen within the 3years... can't they just replace it?

Originally though, I was thinking about something from apple... but they don't have any workstation type video cards... so I rather not take a risk running something only to see error messages due to driver problems.

 

[eek]

Yea, one guy suggested an extended warranty over the typical 3 year one. Never owned a notebook before... but from my observations on their workstations used at my school... they seem to be very dependable. If anything were to happen within the 3years... can't they just replace it?

Originally though, I was thinking about something from apple... but they don't have any workstation type video cards... so I rather not take a risk running something only to see error messages due to driver problems.

Yeah they'll replace anything in 3 years, but dealing with customer service is a bitch. Like other places, it'll take a while (30mins+) before they approve anythign. I rather get somethign that have less chances of that happening.

Apple would be nice but like you said, no workstation level video card. If you dual boot with it, you might need a Windows usb keyboard. I remember hearing that the keyboard on the Macbook Pro lacks certain Window functions, like Delete...

But seriously though, take a look at the HP stuff. I think they all come with legacy ports like serial and parallel, in case you need it. The plastic on the HP is really stiff, stiffer than IBM. Dell's notebooks use shitty plastic that flex easy.

 

[C.A.R25]

Are you sure that the notebook on the Dell site doesn't have higher system specs? That could be the reason for the price difference.

It seems that dell had included a flat panel monitor in their price range...

FREE! Dell 19 inch UltraSharp™ 1907FP Flat Panel [Included in Price]

But even without this, they were asking for more. I can't take all those promos though.

 

[Neo Ash]

Don't bother with Dell laptops, they suck and don't last long. Their quality has gone down a lot. The only thing worth buying from them are their lcd monitors, but even that is questionable as their new 24inch widescreen lcd (2407) is having issues (1 pixel blur around all text. color not as good as previous model.)

I would suggest getting either an IBM/Lenovo or HP's business line stuff. HP's business notebooks are a lot better than their consumer stuff. Used one at my previous job and the build quality is awesome. Take a look at the HP nw8440. Sure it's more expensive than Dell's workstation notebooks, but I'm sure it's worth it in the long run.

My thoughts exactly. Get the additional warranty; their quality isn't what it once was.

 

[Mawdsley]

Dell's notebooks use shitty plastic that flex easy.

My Dell XPS is built like a tank.











































It also weighs the same as one.