Dell XPS 17: Intel Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz (Sandy Bridge), 17.3" HD+ 900p LED, 6GB DDR3, 640GB HD, 1GB GT550M, DVD+/-R-DL, WiFi-N, 9-Cell, Win 7 Prem $830

Hmm.. Another 60 bucks for bluetooth and a backlit keyboard.

Resolution: 1600×900
Or so it seems after doing a little research.

Quote from Schemer : Resolution: 1600×900 Or so it seems after doing a little research.

Yep, the older xps had 1920x1200. Even Chinese products are getting junkier.

Can someone point me to a better deal for these specs? I want to buy this; it has better specs AND is $100 less than the one posted a few days ago (to a good amount of buzz). Identical specs can be had on the already strong sale-priced XPS 15 already on dell.com.

The current HP Pavilion on FP is $5 less and is an i7 instead of i5. The XPS's build quality, bigger screen (17.3" vs. 15.6"), 2.0 HD/Skype-certified webcam, and MUCH better sound system seem to make this a better buy than the HP. Does the i5 vs. i7 (both Sandy Bridge) performance difference mean more than these things?

Advice is welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!

For a Quad Core, this [dell.com] would be cheaper = $970 (with the same above spec) instead of $1005 from the OP link

Quad Core Processor - i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz

Quote from jayz27 : For a Quad Core, this [dell.com] would be cheaper = $970 (with the same above spec) instead of $1005 from the OP link Quad Core Processor - i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz

jay27,

I am the OP; the one you posted is $100 more than what I posted. I referenced it in my post--my OP is NOT $1005 and is $899. Plus, it has a 9 cell battery over the link you have here. I truly want advice here because, although I'm a "professional" frugal man, I'm not a mega-techie.

Thoughts on this machine vs the HP?

Thanks!
pGG

Quote from profgentlegiant : Can someone point me to a better deal for these specs? I want to buy this; it has better specs AND is $100 less than the one posted a few days ago (to a good amount of buzz). Identical specs can be had on the already strong sale-priced XPS 15 already on dell.com. The current HP Pavilion on FP is $5 less and is an i7 instead of i5. The XPS's build quality, bigger screen (17.3" vs. 15.6"), 2.0 HD/Skype-certified webcam, and MUCH better sound system seem to make this a better buy than the HP. Does the i5 vs. i7 (both Sandy Bridge) performance difference mean more than these things? Advice is welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!

I am by no means an expert but I have done my research: I just purchased an almost identical system (4GB RAM instead of 6 and 500GB HD instead of 640 and an added backlit keyboard) - purchased from AAFES (restricted military catalogue) for about $175 less. The important point here is not the price but I thought this was the perfect system for me since I don't play games but do use my computer for photography and financial programs. I also wanted a computer that wouldn't be that outdated three/four years from now. With that scenerio, the I5 2nd generation - the video card - 900p resolution and 4gb RAM seemed sufficient for my needs.

Quote from profgentlegiant : jay27, I am the OP; the one you posted is $100 more than what I posted. I referenced it in my post--my OP is NOT $1005 and is $899. Plus, it has a 9 cell battery over the link you have here. I truly want advice here because, although I'm a "professional" frugal man, I'm not a mega-techie. Thoughts on this machine vs the HP? Thanks! pGG

hey pGG,
I was referring to people who might want to go for a Quad core i7 instead of the dual core i5 mentioned in your post.

If you take your link and configure that to have a Quad core i7-2630QM the cost would come upto $1005.

But if you configure for the same spec as deal from the link i posted, it comes upto $970.

I am also planning to buy a 17" laptop within this month but my only difference is I have a Dell EPP coupon which gives me 17% off.

If i didnt have that I would go for the HP deal instead

Thanks,
Happy shopping and keep posting any good deals you come across

EDIT: Even though this is an XPS compared to the HP Pavilion deals, the XPS 17 has got some bad reviews for the display from all reviews I have read, that is what keeps me goin back and forth b/w HP and Dell deals.

Decisions Decision!!!

I'm a little confused. This gives you the option to add 3d glasses, but I thought all 3d xps 17's were 1080p and not 900p.

Quote from profgentlegiant : Can someone point me to a better deal for these specs? I want to buy this; it has better specs AND is $100 less than the one posted a few days ago (to a good amount of buzz). Identical specs can be had on the already strong sale-priced XPS 15 already on dell.com. The current HP Pavilion on FP is $5 less and is an i7 instead of i5. The XPS's build quality, bigger screen (17.3" vs. 15.6"), 2.0 HD/Skype-certified webcam, and MUCH better sound system seem to make this a better buy than the HP. Does the i5 vs. i7 (both Sandy Bridge) performance difference mean more than these things? Advice is welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!

Comparing i7 to i7 HP vs Dell:
HP dv7tqe [hp.com] - $955 (coupon NB6515) or $925 with 6-cell and this matches the FP post with $100 for the Bluray + 17.3"
* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* 2nd generation Intel(R) Quad Core(TM) i7-2630QM (2.0 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) w/Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz
* 1GB Radeon(TM) HD 6770M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
* FREE Upgrade to 6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* 640GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery (over-sized) - Up to 9.5 hours of battery life +++
* 17.3" diagonal HD+ HP BrightView LED Display (1600 x 900)
* FREE Upgrade to Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner
* HP TrueVision HD Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone and HP SimplePass Fingerprint Reader
* Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN
* Standard Keyboard
* Beats(TM) audio + HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer

Dell XPS 17 [dell.com] - $1070 (coupon 932N$0ZCCHWZB9)
* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz
* NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 550M 1GB graphics with Optimus
* 6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
* 640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
* 92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
* 17.3" HD+ (900p) LED Display with 2.0MP HD Webcam
* Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
* Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000
* Standard Keyboard
* Sound - JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3

Differences highlighted. Hope this helps

If gaming is a concern I would verify that their GT550 is in fact DDR5 and not DDR3. They don't specifically mention either in the spec line, which makes me wonder.

I know the GT555 is DDR5, but that's a steep upgrade.

Edit: Found this on the NVidia site. Appears to be DDR3. http://www.nvidia.com/object/prod...0m-us.html

We need some Big Dick Techy guy to tell us, which one is the better deal. I SUMMON YOU!!!

any desktop deals in the foreseeable future?