New Years treat

[slycat]

To celebrate my recent raise, I've decided to purchase my first ever laptop. I wanted something fairly futureproofed and so ended up going for an Alienware system. I was gonna go for a Dell, but their New Years Sale offers sucked compared with Alienware's. Anyway, here's the rundown of what I'm getting:

Area-51® m5550

Display: 15.4" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology - Saucer Silver
Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Professional UK with SP2 - English
Warranty: AlienCare Free Phone 1-Year 24/7 Warranty
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 2.0GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 512MB
Video Card: 256MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go 7600
System Drive: 160GB 5400 RPM SATA
CD/DVD/RW: DVD-Burner: 8x Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24x CD-RW Combo w/Software
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio (24-bit, 192Khz) with surround sound
Keypad: Mobile Keypad - English
Communications: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet & 56K V.92 Modem
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Ultimate Holiday Mobility Bundle: Ultimate Mobility Bundle
Includes Alienware Odyssey Backpack and Logitech MX 518 Gaming-Grade Optical Mouse. Get 50% off!!
Security Software: Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal Professional - Included!
Alienware Extras: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - £50 Value - FREE!
Alienware Extras: Alienware® T-Shirt - FREE!
Alienware Extras: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager - FREE!

I should get it by the 12th January. I'm quite looking forward to it!

Comments

[moshiicake.livejournal.com]

Alienware is made by Dell anyway, so I'm sure they don't care :P

[kyyanno.livejournal.com]

Heehee, I was gonna say that too ^.^

[moshiicake.livejournal.com]

that is because GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE or something, and because we are well cool

[slycat.livejournal.com]

But you were both going to tell me something I already knew anyway so it's a moot point ;)

[moshiicake.livejournal.com]

Oh. Bugger.

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Alienware are owned by Dell yeah. But they're doing different offers and sell different products. Alienware still operate as they did pre Dell with handbuilding and stuff according to their blurb on their site :)

[moshiicake.livejournal.com]

No! Bad Sly! You sell your soul to devil! Don't make me get out the leather again!

[andreuswolf.livejournal.com]

How much does it cost? :P

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Go to the site and reproduce the spec i built ;)

[sphelx.livejournal.com]

And how much did that set you back?

[kasyx.livejournal.com]

If it was more than about 900 quid, you were screwed.

The only difference between your laptop and the one I have is a bigger screen resolution (although a smaller screen) and a lightly faster chip (I got the T5600, 1.83). All for 800 quid.

[kasyx.livejournal.com]

No, I'm an arse. The one _you_ have is a bigger (19something x somethingelse compare to my 1440x900) but my screen is bigger (17", full keyboard).

[kasyx.livejournal.com]

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/cgi-bin/ToshibaCSG/jsp/productPage.do?PRODUCT_ID=123838 (http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/cgi-bin/ToshibaCSG/jsp/productPage.do?PRODUCT_ID=123838)

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Well a more comparable model would be the P100-347 as it's got the same processor, twice the ram (at 2gb) but slower (at 533mhz), bigger hard drive (200gb), bigger screen (17") but lower res (at 1440x900), lower grade of Windows (being MCE) and a faster graphics card GeForce Go 7900. It sells for £1399 from looking at a quick net search.

I wanted a smaller laptop. In fact I was gonna go for a 12.1" laptop, but decided it wouldn't be much good for video so looked about for 15" models. this system has the best 15.4" screen I've ever heard of which already got me interested. In all, I think I've got a good deal at £1200 for a portable system which is future-proofed for a good couple of years, and I don't mind paying a little extra for a built to order system. Dell and Alienware are the only sites that actually offer customisation of the spec, rather than set models they think you want.

[kasyx.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's annoying - and it only happens in Britain. There are a number of very, very good models of barebones over the pond that are relatively cheap - in fact, the specs you have there except on a 17" screen (I know you didn't want it, but just for comparison) at about a grand. The only problem is import tax et al. I couldn't find a single UK site (apart from Dell and Alienware) that did customization of specs. Alas, I think that feature is reflected in their prices.

Hmm, maybe I should start a company that does that....