Time for a new laptop

[Synaesthesia]

Go for it. Nothing wrong with a 14".

 

[dryburn.macbook]

get a macbook pro, you wont look back

 

[mh348]

Dammit. Now I saw the XPS 14. Will cost me about R500 more but might be worth it. Quad core and 2GB video card.

But it doesn't have USB 3.0 - Is that such a big deal?

14.0 in HD WLED 720p (1366 x 768)
Intel Core i7-740QM 1.73Ghz( 2.93GHz Turbo mode, L2 cache 6 MB cache)
4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
500 GB SATA 7200 RPM
Windows 7 Home Premium
8x CD/DVD burner (dual layer DVD+/-R drive)
9-in-1 memory card reader
JBL 2.0 w/Waves Maxx Audio 3
NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M
Ports
2 USB 2.0
HDMI
eSATA
LAN (RJ-45)
Headphone output
Microphone input
DisplayPort
6-cell lithium-ion, 56 WHr (5.23 hours)
Built-in 2.0-megapixel HD Webcam

Looks Good, but wont you end up paying over 10k after paying customs?

I was going to take the XPS 15 i5-460, but my supplier is out of stock, now I'm looking at the Vostro V3500

Vostro 3500, Silver, Core i5-560M(2.66GHz), 4096MB (2x2048) 1333MHz DDR3, 500GB Serial ATA (7,200 Rpm), 8X DVD+/-RW, 9-cell battery, NVIDIA® Geforce™ 310M 512MB Graphics, Bluetooth, 802.11n, integrated 3G, backlit keyboard, 15.6in Widescreen High Definition (1366x768) WLED Anti-Glare, Windows 7 Pro 32-bit (Includes MS Office Starter)

Pros: Compared to the XPS 15 This 1 has a better CPU, 9 cell battery,

Cons: Lower graphics 330M 512mb compared to the 420m 1GB , usb 2 wheras the xps has usb 3and doesn't have JBL stereo...

It's more of a business Notebook, compared to the XPS, also the price is slightly lower... If I take it, I'll probably up the RAM to 6GB

Estimated Retail Price of around 11k Edit: Landmark has it for R10511
Specs

 

[mh348]

The XPS 15 - i7-2630 (L502X) is going to be available in ZA next month, its an upgrade of the current version L501x.

I don't have the full specs,
XPS15 I7.2630
6GB RAM
640GB HDD
2GB GT Graphics (not sure on model)
BT
3G
USB 3.0
JBL Stereo
Windows 7 PRO
3-YR Warranty
15.6" Display
Here's more info http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/dell-xps-15-sandy-bridge.aspx

http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-l502x/pd.aspx

Pricing is expected to be around 15.5k... It's quite high, but I'm might go with this instead of the vostro, but if I find something better priced i might choose that..

 

[APoc184]

That looks very nice.

I'm actually in a bit of bother right now because the Sony is starting to give me more and more problems. Screen has lines all over. Keyboard buttons are acting up and now the DVD-Rom won't open at all. One of the fans also stopped working so I have to keep it on the cooling pad all the time.

Might have to make a drastic decision before Monday as I need to be at Loftus and Affies for rugby next weekend. Can't do anything without the laptop.

 

[APoc184]

Okay.

Sony finally lost the battle and packed up completely last night. Sitting with a bit of a problem now and hoping the new Laptop will arrive before next weekend's matches.
Ordered the Dell XPS 15 at 11h00 this morning and got unbelievable service from the seller. Laptop has already been shipped and I have the tracking number. Just got the confirmation email now from the Seller, Fedex and also Paypal.

Holding thumbs now that it gets delivered on time and there is no problems at Customs. Fedex says estimated time of delivery is next Thursday. Asked the seller nicely to declare the full value and not to mark it as a gift. I don't want any surprises from customs.

 

[mh348]

Okay.

Sony finally lost the battle and packed up completely last night. Sitting with a bit of a problem now and hoping the new Laptop will arrive before next weekend's matches.

Sorry to hear bout that..

Ordered the Dell XPS 15 at 11h00 this morning and got unbelievable service from the seller. Laptop has already been shipped and I have the tracking number. Just got the confirmation email now from the Seller, Fedex and also Paypal.

Holding thumbs now that it gets delivered on time and there is no problems at Customs. Fedex says estimated time of delivery is next Thursday. Asked the seller nicely to declare the full value and not to mark it as a gift. I don't want any surprises from customs.

Which Model did you go for? i5 or i7... can you post a link to the ebay page..

 

[APoc184]

Which Model did you go for? i5 or i7... can you post a link to the ebay page..

I went for the 15", i5 model in the end. Didn't have enough time to think through the option of the 14" i7 model.

In the end I also had to settle for the i5-460 (2.53GHZ) processor instead of the i5-480 (2.66GHZ). All the sellers that had the XPS 15 with the i5-480 just refused to ship internationally, even after I asked. And I wasn't exactly in a position where I could negotiate for a few days.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250786628798#ht_4631wt_1139

There is the link for the exact item including the seller I bought it from. $898 for everything. Now I just have to pay VAT on the $798 when it arrives at the post office.
This is the fastest a seller has ever shipped a package and that includes local online stores.

 

[mh348]

I went for the 15", i5 model in the end. Didn't have enough time to think through the option of the 14" i7 model.

In the end I also had to settle for the i5-460 (2.53GHZ) processor instead of the i5-480 (2.66GHZ). All the sellers that had the XPS 15 with the i5-480 just refused to ship internationally, even after I asked. And I wasn't exactly in a position where I could negotiate for a few days.

Still quite good specs..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250786628798#ht_4631wt_1139

There is the link for the exact item including the seller I bought it from. $898 for everything. Now I just have to pay VAT on the $798 when it arrives at the post office.
This is the fastest a seller has ever shipped a package and that includes local online stores.

Cool.. Thx.. for the link..Thats very cheap compared to what you would have paid, had you bought it locally.. What other charges do customs charge? is it just vat (14%), or are there other duties payable..

 

[APoc184]

Cool.. Thx.. for the link..Thats very cheap compared to what you would have paid, had you bought it locally.. What other charges do customs charge? is it just vat (14%), or are there other duties payable..

Only fees still outstanding are the 14% VAT on 110% of the value of the laptop and about R200 for courier and clearing charges.
I have never paid any other duties except for the VAT on anything computer related. Not even the diamonds. No Customs duty on it. Just the VAT.

So if my calculations are correct I should pay about R7250.00 all inclusive.

 

[Shads]

Let us know how you find the laptop. I'm also getting one month end.

Don't talk about the customs surprise - I didn't know some Chinese companies don't declare and say it's a gift. Got stopped by customs! Long story short - my friend ordered another apad as it was cheaper thn the customs penalty!!! We just made sure to tell them not to declare as a gift, even though it now technically is a gift - they gave her one very cheap.

Sent from my GTablet-TnT-Lite using Tapatalk

 

[APoc184]

Walked into Dion Wired store this morning and was surprised to see they have the exact same Dell XPS 15 I just ordered on "Special"

Salesman, as they always are, was adamant that this is the best price I'm going to get it at for some time to come.
Told him that I just ordered and bought one for R7000.00. He said that I was mistaken and that I probably ordered the Dell Studio because the XPS cost price is R12'000 and they are not really making a lot of money on this "Special".
I laughed, turned up the volume on the JBL speakers(awesome sound by the way) and continued watching a pirate copy of A-Team on their laptop.

 

[LoneGunman]

Thought I'd help out a bit. Discovered this place in the US, where you can customize your laptops almost entirely - here's a linky to where they explain 'who really makes laptops' - ( http://www.xoticpc.com/who-really-makes-laptops-the-industries-best-kept-secret-a-47.html )

As you'll see, they sell the pc's BEFORE Dell or Alienware (or whoever) put their own brand on the laptops. Same powerful laptops, but without the 'name' brand.

Me, I'm currently saving up in order to afford a serious equivalent to a mid-to-high range Alienware-level pc. Eying a Clevo... (http://www.xoticpc.com/custom-gaming-latops-tablets-clevo-sager-laptops-ct-95_51_162.html ) I'm a little wary of Asus - mainly coz I want a serious gaming laptop with XP rather than win7 - and Asus tend to put their OS's on in the factory, so can't order a barebones laptop with some of their range.

Sounds like SA is still a mix of ripoff prices and dumping ground for older pc ranges... I'm reckoning on about $1500 to get something state of the art in gaming laptop, whereas judging from SA prices, the Rand equiv still isn't going to get one a 'real' dedicated gaming laptop...

 

[APoc184]

<snip>

Thanks LoneGunman. Interesting read.

Yes, we are still being ripped off in SA(by some companies, distributors) and I'm sure it will continue for a very long time.
The sad part is that the majority off people will buy that Dell XPS for between R11'500.00 and R14'000.00(Kalahari.net and Dion Wired prices) because they believe that is the going rate, while I am going to have it on my lap for just over R7000.00. And I believe the guy who sold it to me still made a substantial profit.

 

[RaptorSA]

Thanks LoneGunman. Interesting read.

Yes, we are still being ripped off in SA(by some companies, distributors) and I'm sure it will continue for a very long time.
The sad part is that the majority off people will buy that Dell XPS for between R11'500.00 and R14'000.00(Kalahari.net and Dion Wired prices) because they believe that is the going rate, while I am going to have it on my lap for just over R7000.00. And I believe the guy who sold it to me still made a substantial profit.

Yeah, definitely. Best price I could find here for my G73 was something like R22K. Got it in the end for R16K, couriers, taxes etc. all included.

 

[LoneGunman]

when I was SA side, was lucky enough to have geek buddies who'd (for a price obviously) build up a desktop gaming machine for me and help out when I had issues. Always eyed the laptops but had heard too many horror stories about how long it took to fix when things went wrong with them. At least a desktop machine you can crack open easily and swap parts. Sitting here in the US its the other extreme (I'm aware that one little credit card wave can get me something serious, laptop-wise, and for a couple of extra bucks, I can have it 'next day posting.') So I'm sitting gritting teeth and saving up bucks to buy something cash rather. At the rate the IT biz moves here, by the time I've saved up enough, there'll be some other sh*t-hot laptop. These Americans like their stuff new, bigger and powerful

 

[Stevie G]

i prefer the Dell brand above any other. have my XPS M1730 for over 2 years now. bought it from a guy who got it brand new in the UK. only upgrade for me was that i bought 2x 500GB Hitachi 7200rpm drives on ebay. they run in raid 0. its a c2d 2.4Ghz, 4GB Ram, dual 8800GTX 1GB in SLi, 17'' WS 1920x1200. i'm happy with it and keeping it for another 2-3 years. looking at putting in an SSD for OS and a 1TB for storage.

 

[APoc184]

This will be my first Dell but I've only heard good things about them and from the little bit that I have experienced by playing with demo models in stores and my mother-in-law's Dell I am confident that I'll be happy with the purchase.

First time I'm receiving something via Fedex but their tracking is quite impressive. They scan the item at least once a day and I see it has already landed in South Africa. Now just to get it cleared and pick it up from the post office.

 

[mh348]

First time I'm receiving something via Fedex but their tracking is quite impressive. They scan the item at least once a day and I see it has already landed in South Africa. Now just to get it cleared and pick it up from the post office.

They'll probably deliver to your door, so you wont have to go pick it up..

 

[mh348]

I'm looking for an i7 model, but most of the sellers don't ship to ZA. I sent the sellers messages but only 1 replied asking if I have a verified paypal address, the rest haven't replied and it has been several days..