Bought a laptop - good deal?

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:42 pm

nspiron 1520 Laptop: Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/1MB cache) Genuine Windows XP Home 1 $589.00
Inspiron 1520 Laptop: Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/1MB cache)
Certified Refurbished
Shipping Material
Windows Media Player
90W AC Adapter
MEDIADIRECT 3.3 Software
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
Dell 1395 802.11G Wireless Mini Card
Shipping Material
MEDIA DIRECT 3.5
Resource DVD
Power DVD Software
15.4 inch WXGA Anti-Glare Laptop Screen
Operating System CD
Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable
160 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
6 Cell Primary Battery
Microsoft Works Plus 2008
Image Restore Software
Processor Label
128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Midnight Blue
MEDIADIRECT 3.3 Software
Software
Genuine Windows XP Home
Base Assembly
Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
Service Software
Documentation
Keyboard On Notebook
Processor Label
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
Roxio Creator LE
Get 15% off any refurbished Inspiron or XPS Desktops and Laptops with this coupon! - $88.35

Insp 1520 STD: 1 Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service $0.00 1 $0.00 Subtotal: $500.65 Shipping and Handling: $19.99
Sales Tax: $32.54 Total: $553.1

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:46 pm

brand new from Dell?

Did you get Complete care with it?

If not thats a bad choice.. complete care covers anything accidental for 3 or 4 years.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:47 pm

Complete care is a ripoff.

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:49 pm

Sava700 wrote:brand new from Dell?

Did you get Complete care with it?

If not thats a bad choice.. complete care covers anything accidental for 3 or 4 years.

refurb from dell, and no there is no need to pay for complete care. 1 year warranty is good enough. if the refurb is a dud, i will know as soon as i start using it.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:51 pm

Comtrad wrote:refurb from dell, and no there is no need to pay for complete care. 1 year warranty is good enough. if the refurb is a dud, i will know as soon as i start using it.

No.. 1 year warranty covers defects of parts that fail.. complete care covers the sucker if you run over it with your car, spill water on it, drop it, it the LCD with a ball etc etc.

Complete care Coverage is only about 150$..well worth it for a laptop!

I am Dell Certified.. I know exactly how the warranties work.

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:53 pm

Sava700 wrote:No.. 1 year warranty covers defects of parts that fail.. complete care covers the sucker if you run over it with your car, spill water on it, drop it, it the LCD with a ball etc etc.

Complete care Coverage is only about 150$..well worth it for a laptop!

I am Dell Certified.. I know exactly how the warranties work.

That's 1/4 the cost of it though. Doesn't make much sense to me. I could see on a brand new $1.5k+ laptop.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:53 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:Complete care is a ripoff.

really??

for a laptop it pays for itself from accidental damage and I've done so many warranty part replacements and whole system replacements the last several months it isn't even funny.

You have a few months to go on the warranty complete care coverage...you spill water on it therefore it no longer works..you send in for the coverage and they replace the laptop with a BRAND new updated laptop free of charge.. ripoff huh.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:54 pm

Comtrad wrote:That's 1/4 the cost of it though. Doesn't make much sense to me. I could see on a brand new $1.5k+ laptop.

trust me on this.. its well worth the extra cost. a few months from now and you spill something on it or by accident you hit the screen and break the LCD I'm sure you will be wishing you had it.

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:56 pm

Sava700 wrote:trust me on this.. its well worth the extra cost. a few months from now and you spill something on it or by accident you hit the screen and break the LCD I'm sure you will be wishing you had it.

Or a year or two when i haven't I will be saying, glad I didn't spend another 25% on a refurbed laptop.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:58 pm

Comtrad wrote:Or a year or two when i haven't I will be saying, glad I didn't spend another 25% on a refurbed laptop.

thats fine I respect your choice..but you do know what I'm saying right?

Here is a example of warranty I just checked on this girls laptop I'm working on now:

Initial Next Business Day ... 982-7620 8/29/2007 8/28/2008 179

Extended Next Business Day ... 970-9533 8/28/2008 8/28/2011 1274

Initial Complete Care ... 960-0399 8/29/2007 8/28/2011 1274

She has 1274days of Complete care coverage...covers ANYTHING till 8/28/2011.... so on 8/27/2011 she spills water on it by accident, she calls it in and they send her a brand new model for free. Get what I'm saying?

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:00 pm

Sava700 wrote:thats fine I respect your choice..but you do know what I'm saying right?

Here is a example of warranty I just checked on this girls laptop I'm working on now:

Initial Next Business Day ... 982-7620 8/29/2007 8/28/2008 179

Extended Next Business Day ... 970-9533 8/28/2008 8/28/2011 1274

Initial Complete Care ... 960-0399 8/29/2007 8/28/2011 1274

She has 1274days of Complete care coverage...covers ANYTHING till 8/28/2011.... so on 8/27/2011 she spills water on it by accident, she calls it in and they send her a brand new model for free. Get what I'm saying?

I said I did earlier...but not on a cheap refurb.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:01 pm

Comtrad wrote:I said I did earlier...but not on a cheap refurb.

ok just checking..but yeah it is a very good deal on a refurb either way.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:08 pm

Sava700 wrote:really??

for a laptop it pays for itself from accidental damage and I've done so many warranty part replacements and whole system replacements the last several months it isn't even funny.

You have a few months to go on the warranty complete care coverage...you spill water on it therefore it no longer works..you send in for the coverage and they replace the laptop with a BRAND new updated laptop free of charge.. ripoff huh.

Ya cuz I see them for 200-450 bucks depending on the setup, you can get a higher model product for the price, and if you treat your items with care its not needed.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:12 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote: and if you treat your items with care its not needed.

accidents happen

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:17 pm

Sava700 wrote:accidents happen

Ya but for the price they should cover fire, and theft damage, I can understand no hammer damage.

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:27 pm

Good lord.....from a question about if Comtrad got a decent deal on a laptop.

LOL

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:06 pm

i don't think it's a stellar deal comtrad; probably an ok deal. i agree that it isn't worth it to get the warranty at 25% the cost. Sorry, but i'd prefer to keep my cash and put it toward a new laptop later. i know all about the warranties and their profit margins. they are _not_ worth it.

knightmare · Post by **knightmare** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:08 pm

Sorry bro-- you got burned..!!!!!

You should have bought my Alienware laptop I have for sale in the marketplace......

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:12 pm

knightmare wrote:Sorry bro-- you got burned..!!!!!

You should have bought my Alienware laptop I have for sale in the marketplace......

meh, $100 more for a newer, faster, bigger screened laptop with more space and better graphics.

JC · Post by JC » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:23 pm

Should of just stepped up and got a mac

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:28 pm

Amro wrote:i don't think it's a stellar deal comtrad; probably an ok deal. i agree that it isn't worth it to get the warranty at 25% the cost. Sorry, but i'd prefer to keep my cash and put it toward a new laptop later. i know all about the warranties and their profit margins. they are _not_ worth it.

If you have a laptop thats fairly new or new..for 150$ your covered under anything and everything. When you can get the full system replaced for a accident no questions asked a few years into ownership its well worth it as 9times out of 10 you get a newer updated system anyway..and its Free.

I've prob had over 20 different system replacements this year alone for accidents not to mention countless amounts of keyboard replacements for breaking keys off, LCD replacements for getting knocked off a table and breaking it or something else, motherboard replacements for someone trying to stick the power cord into the ethernet slot and bending the tabs, DVD/cd drive replacements for breaking the tray off etc... Although I agree on alot of things warranty is a mark up and may not be worth it but for a laptop and for that cost its well worth it. In Comtrads case maybe not for the cost he put into a refurb unit anyway..but if you buy a new laptop through Dell Its a MUST!

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:29 pm

JC wrote:Should of just stepped up and got a mac

qft

JC · Post by JC » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:31 pm

Amro wrote:qft

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:34 pm

Sava700 wrote:If you have a laptop thats fairly new or new..for 150$ your covered under anything and everything. When you can get the full system replaced for a accident no questions asked a few years into ownership its well worth it as 9times out of 10 you get a newer updated system anyway..and its Free.

I've prob had over 20 different system replacements this year alone for accidents not to mention countless amounts of keyboard replacements for breaking keys off, LCD replacements for getting knocked off a table and breaking it or something else, motherboard replacements for someone trying to stick the power cord into the ethernet slot and bending the tabs, DVD/cd drive replacements for breaking the tray off etc... Although I agree on alot of things warranty is a mark up and may not be worth it but for a laptop and for that cost its well worth it. In Comtrads case maybe not for the cost he put into a refurb unit anyway..but if you buy a new laptop through Dell Its a MUST!

that's great, if you break your **** all the time. fact is, i don't and the same is true of most people.. also, it's never "no questions asked, any thing's covered" -- that's not a smart business move on any company's part as every jackass would be breaking their laptop and asking for a new one after a few months..doesn't make any sense.

the way this crud works is a company takes out an insurance policy to cover the service agreement so they take less of a hit. the part that they don't tell you is that most of the time they make a 65% profit margin (in the case of a very large big box here in the states). it's makes better financial sense to take 100% of that warranty money and put it in a pool, then replace your own items. also, you can put it in some sort of short-term investment (cd, money market, high yield savings acct) and make money on it. also, if i break my laptop..if i can't fix it my self, it's time for a new one. laptops aren't hard to fix, they just have a lot of small screws -- scotch tape and a piece of paper take care of that..it's not rocket science. as usual, there'll be no convincing you because you have your mind made up, and that's fine..just getting the details out there for the rest of the world so they can make their own minds up.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:42 pm

Amro wrote:that's great, if you break your **** all the time. fact is, i don't and the same is true of most people.. also, it's never "no questions asked, any thing's covered" -- that's not a smart business move on any company's part as every jackass would be breaking their laptop and asking for a new one after a few months..doesn't make any sense.

LOL yeah it is like that.. no questions asked.
But accidents do happen regardless if you don't think you ever do anything bad...that one time might be all it takes.

Caller " I spilled water on my laptop and it dont' cut on no more"

Dell " Ok your covered under complete care, we will process you a replacement"

Caller "Thanks, how long till I get it?

Dell " about a week if we have a similar model, two weeks if we send a new model"

Caller "Hell yeah! thanks!"

Dell "no problem! bye!"

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:03 pm

Sava700 wrote:LOL yeah it is like that.. no questions asked.
But accidents do happen regardless if you don't think you ever do anything bad...that one time might be all it takes.

Caller " I spilled water on my laptop and it dont' cut on no more"

Dell " Ok your covered under complete care, we will process you a replacement"

Caller "Thanks, how long till I get it?

Dell " about a week if we have a similar model, two weeks if we send a new model"

Caller "Hell yeah! thanks!"

Dell "no problem! bye!"

Maybe dell's covers accidental stuff but the majority of extended warranties don't.

edit: also, doesn't matter, it's still unlikely to be needed unless you just abuse your stuff

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:19 pm

Amro wrote:Maybe dell's covers accidental stuff but the majority of extended warranties don't.

edit: also, doesn't matter, it's still unlikely to be needed unless you just abuse your stuff

2 different types of warranty here..

one covers part failure

another (extra 150$) covers ANYTHING for 4 years.

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:31 pm

Sava700 wrote:2 different types of warranty here..

one covers part failure

another (extra 150$) covers ANYTHING for 4 years.

my point is put the money toward another laptop...that's what you aren't getting

knightmare · Post by **knightmare** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:38 pm

Comtrad wrote:meh, $100 more for a newer, faster, bigger screened laptop with more space and better graphics.

meh, if you say so.. did you know the smaller screens cost ??? Plus it has a cool alien head that lights up on the top of it....

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:45 pm

knightmare wrote:Plus it has a cool alien head that lights up on the top of it....

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:47 pm

Amro wrote:my point is put the money toward another laptop...that's what you aren't getting

if it some how " has a accident" in 3 years 11months it would be

thechemgeek · Post by **thechemgeek** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:50 pm

i think you got a good deal. i too have been watching the dell outlet, just picked this up for my wife. very similar to yours, but i was looking for the 17 inch lcd and 256 MB video card. mainly for web/email, but i may install a game or two...

1 Inspiron 1720 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 (1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
1 Certified Refurbished
1 90W AC Adapter
1 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
1 Operating System Label
1 Dell 1505 Wireless-N
1 Shipping Material
1 Microsoft Works 8.5 with MS Office Trial Version Software
1 160 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
1 6 Cell Primary Battery
1 Midnight Blue
1 Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
1 Software
1 Resource DVD
1 Notebook Keyboard
1 Processor Label
1 17 inch WXGA+ TrueLife Glossy Laptop Screen
1 Base Assembly
1 Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
1 Documentation
1 Operating System DVD
1 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
1 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
1 Image Restore Software
1 MEDIADIRECT 3.3 Software

$750

also, my company will give us a $300 reimbursement on any "new" computer...so..it will cost me all of $450.

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:08 pm

Sava700 wrote:if it some how " has a accident" in 3 years 11months it would be

yea, i suppose so; except i'd call that insurance fraud

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:18 pm

Amro wrote:yea, i suppose so; except i'd call that insurance fraud

lol it happens dude.. I had a student walk in a few weeks ago and ask to check to see how much Complete care warranty they had left. I told them 3 months, the kid was back in my office a week later with water dripping out the sucker.

"Sir, I spilled water on my laptop and it won't work no more" He had a D600

he got a D830 to replace it.... you do the math

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:21 pm

Sava700 wrote:I just checked on this girls laptop I'm working on now

Is she cute?

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:27 pm

CableDude wrote:Is she cute?

HOT!

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:35 pm

Sava700 wrote:HOT!

JawZ · Post by **JawZ** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:11 am

My god you people are thick...

For $150 you get a new laptop......when you decide to break your current one....do you people understand that or not??????

I guess the big thing is to figure out when a specific product life cycle is going to end, thus ensuring any new replacement will be next gen.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:17 am

Sava700 wrote:another (extra 150$) covers ANYTHING for 4 years.

ANYTHING except fire damage, theft, or something that looks intentional.

So not ANYTHING.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:51 am

I have a dell d830 that I dual boot:
http://members.cox.net/tonyt/d830

If you can, try to grab a 9 cell battery for your laptop because the 6 cell batteries don't last as long. I get about 5-6 hrs use off of the 9 cell while using wifi too.