[elrao]

Following on from a previous thread, I am considering buying a Dell laptop. The two I am looking at are the M1330 and the XPS 13, with the latter basically being the updated version of the former. Both (I think) meet my 'requirements' which were:

2Ghz + Dual Core Processor
3Gb + Ram
250GB+ HDD
HDMI (with 1920x1080p output)
Better than 1280x800 screen resolution, any size considered
Good battery life and not too heavy (3kg Max)

There are various pros and cons of each, the ones I have noted from various reviews and my own personal opinions are:

XPS 13 Pros (over M1330)

Integrated nvidia graphics on the XPS 13 is superior to that on the M1330, the M1330 discrete GFX option has associated issues being the nvidia chipset, although there are Bios updates to try to help with this.

XPS 13 comes with DDR3 Ram and uses P series 1066 FSB CPUs, M1330 is 667Mhz DDR2 and T series chips with 800 FSB.

XPS 13 has marginally better battery life.

Cons

XPS13 has had reported build quality issues and a noisy and 'fussy' DVD drive (not reading burnt discs well)

XPS 13 is bigger and slightly heavier than the M1330 I believe

XPS 13 keyboard is reportedly not as good as the M1330

Prefer the look of the 1330, not a fan of the leather on the XPS 13

M1330 comes with the remote, XPS 13 doesn't (will use it as a media center PC upstairs so is a nice option!).

Most other options are available with both, LED screen, 7200 rpm HDDs etc.

Obviously the XPS 13 is taking advantage of newer technologies, the 1067 FSB and DDR3 Ram and the nvidia integrated graphics, if it wasn't for this then I think I would definitely be going with the 1330.

My main concerns about the 1330 are the graphics being up to my needs. I am not talking about gaming, but being able to play and output 1080p mkv files from the HDD out over the HDMI port to my TV.

I would imagine this is comfortably within range of the discrete nvidia 128 mb graphics card, but the issues around these failing is putting me off. With a 2.4 Ghz processor and 3-4gb RAM, would the onboard Intel GPU be up to the task?

Would there be much noticeable difference between a 2.4 Ghz CPU with 800 FSB and 4Gb of 667 Mhz DDR2 Ram when compared to a 2.4 Ghx CPU with 1067 FSB and DDR3 RAM?

There are some deals on the M1330 at the moment as Dell are obvioulsy trying to use up the stock of parts they have, so makes them slightly cheaper than a similar spec XPS 13 (allowing for the 'slower' parts and the difference in graphics options).

[elrao]

Typical Dell - it is actually over £100 cheaper to get an M1330 with the nVidia gfx than to get one without it once you add in a better CPU, more memory and a bigger HDD etc. to the equation!

M1330:

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 3 MB L2 cache)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1- English
• 1Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
• Crimson Red & 0.3 mega pixel Camera for White-LED Display
• 13.3" UltraSharp™ WXGA (1280x800) White-LED Display (300 nits) with TrueLife™
• Biometric Fingerprint Reader
• 4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
• 320GB (5,400rpm) Hard Drive
• 128MB nVidia® GeForce® 8400M GS
• Fixed 8x DVD+/-RW Slim Slot Load Drive, including SW
• Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)

Cost £859. Upgrading to a 500Gb 7,200 rpm HDD and 2 years warranty (3 years on the gfx chip, as they are extending any warranty for 12 months just for this component), costs £70 more at £929.

XPS 13:

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40Ghz, 1066MHz, 3MB)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 - English
• 1Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
• 13.3" WXGA (1280x800) White-LED Display with TrueLife (thinner & brighter)
• 4096MB 1067MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2x2048]
• 320GB (7,200rpm) Free Fall Sensor Hard Drive
• nVidia® GeForce 9400M G Graphics card
• Internal DVD+/-RW (DVD & CD read and write) Slot Load Drive including Software
• Primary 6-cell 56 WHr Lithium Ion battery

The above comes in at £899. The 320Gb 5,400 rpm drive is not an option here, so that includes a better HDD as well as the fast bus speeds of the CPU and RAM, upgrading to the 500Gb drive in this model is £90 and the 256Mb graphics upgrade would put it up £50 to £1,039 for the full whammy.

So comparing the costs of the above specs, you are paying £40 more for the XPS 13 and getting a faster HDD, faster Ram and a newer CPU, but using the integrated nVidia graphics - I am assuming the integrated nVidia GeForce 9400M is on a par with the 128Gb nVidia 8400 on the M1330 (is that fair?).

If you add the 500Gb HDD upgrade in to the equation then the XPS 13 costs £60 more (£20 more to upgrade from a better HDD to start with seems strange!), but you also get an extra year warranty on the M1330 in this configuration, which is worth another £100 or so.

With the XPS 13 you also only get the option for the 6 cell battery not the 9 cell which is a free 'upgrade' on the M1330 (I can live with it sticking out an inch!), I am not counting the finger print reader as at the moment I can see no use for it!

[ducattigezzer]

to be honest you could compare them all day each have their own advantages and disadvantages

here's thing i think

the xps 13 is newer tech where the m is older

all rests on a flip of a coin.

just one thing if you do go for the m don't buy from dell unless it's the outlet
or you could try these

cheap laptops, refurbished laptops, dell xps, cheap dell laptops

Dell XPS M1330 Laptop 2.50,4GB 200HD,RED,WLED,e249 on eBay, also, Laptops, Computing (end time 21-Mar-09 12:52:03 GMT)

your'll get a bit more for your money while still getting the same support as if you bought from dell

and you wont have to wait 2 to 3 week for delivery

also i've bought from both companys and never had any problems

[planetse]

M1330 best out of the two.

[gillbee]

If budget has got anything to do with your decision there doing a good deal on the M1530. Works out at £616 with Blue-Ray(Blagged from hot deals so credit to the OP).

15.4" Widescreen WXGA (1280x800) TFT Display (220nits) with TrueLife
Intel® Core 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 3 MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1- English
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
NVIDIA® GeForce Go 8600M GT with 256MB dedicated graphic memory
500GB Serial ATA (5400RPM) Hard Drive
Internal Blu-Ray RW (Blu-Ray, DVD and CD read & WRITE) Slot Load Drive with Software
Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-Card - Europe - Core 2 Duo Processors
Microsoft® Works 9.0 / English - (Does not include Microsoft® Word)
1Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
2Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
McAfee® Security Centre - 24 Month Protection - English
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 Module (up to 3Mbps) with Enhanced Data rate - Eur
Primary 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (56 WHr)
Biometric Fingerprint Reader with BLACK accent
2.0 mega pixel Camera & Tuxedo Black for CCFL Display
DataSafe Online Backup 2GB 1 year
Dell Travel Remote Control

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/34913...=349133&page=6

[ducattigezzer]

second that gillbee

thats a good deal

[elrao]

Have looked at some other places other than Dell direct. Can get 4% cashback by buying direct from Dell (quico) and theres a 10% discount coupon available online, plus can then get the VAT back if bought through the company, so need to buy it from somewhere I can get a VAT receipt.

Think I prefer the 1330 over the 1530 due to size & weight as screen is the same resolution, no need for a bigger screen (IMO).

Will look around and see if I can find the same spec as above (320 or 500 GB HDD, WLED, 9 cell battery etc.)

[elrao]

Just seen the 1530 can be configured with an HD screen

[elrao]

Now I can't decide between the 1530 and the 1330. You get more for your money with the 1530, but it is obviously bigger and heavier and the offer only comes in black, blue and pink! No red

Processor and RAM are the same, HDD on the 1530 is only a 5,400 rpm as opposed to the 7,200 in the 1330. 1330 comes with the WLED screen, but the 1530 has 1920x1200 resolution. Decisions decisions!!

M1530: £842 all in (should be able to claim the VAT back...)

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 3 MB L2 cache)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1(64 BIT) - English
• 3Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
• 2.0 mega pixel Camera & Midnight Blue for CCFL Display
• 15.4" Widescreen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display with TrueLife™
• 4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
• 500GB Serial ATA (5400RPM) Hard Drive
• NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 8600M GT with 256MB dedicated graphic memory
• Internal Blu-Ray RW (Blu-Ray, DVD and CD read & WRITE) Slot Load Drive with Software
• Primary 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (56 WHr)
• Dell™ Travel Remote Control
• Dell™ Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 Module (up to 3Mbps) with Enhanced Data rate - Eur
• Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-Card - Europe - Core 2 Duo Processors
• Biometric Fingerprint Reader with BLACK accent

or

M1330: £836 all in

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 3 MB L2 cache)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1- English
• 2Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
• Crimson Red & 0.3 mega pixel Camera for White-LED Display
• 13.3" UltraSharp™ WXGA (1280x800) White-LED Display (300 nits) with TrueLife™
• Biometric Fingerprint Reader
• 4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
• 500GB (7,200rpm) Hard Drive
• 128MB nVidia® GeForce® 8400M GS
• Fixed 8x DVD+/-RW Slim Slot Load Drive, including SW
• Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)

[elrao]

Absolute ar$e!

Had decided on the M1530 deal, got it all specced up, went to buy it and it disappeared out of my trolley.

Went to add it again and they had put the price up £280!! They obviously spotted their mistake, I was just too slow, should have ordered it last night, grrrrrrrrrr!!!!