Dead Men Walking

So the old laptop is pretty much dead in the dust.

The battery no longer works its slower than a bank queue and i simply need a new one.

Preferably by Wednesday as i am going on holiday.

I would like to buy it from a place like pc world staples or currys simply because for the first year if it breaks i can just take it back and they can fix it without the hassle of sending it off anywhere.

I am torn between several options.

It needs to be of a decent spec hopefully this time good enough to play games not at the highest but a good all round perfomer that can play hd movies and the like.

Had a brief look and wondered whether a m1730 xps by dell brand new on ebay for around Ã,£800 is worth it?

Yes its old kit (has a 2x8800gtx sli, 6gb ram, 640gb hdd i think) or should I go for a more up to date lower speced model rather than this.

I think Gandy and TL have these not sure on the battery life but usually I have a power socket where ever i go and i can't remember the last time I used my laptop off the mains anyway.

Budget of Ã,£700-Ã,£800 at a push Ã,£500 preferably.

Personnaly I wouldn't get one from PC Hell but it your choice!

I wouldn't buy from pcworld i used to work there as a tech, and if its a hardware fault in the first year of warranty they will sent it back to the manufacturers. And you will have to wait for its return do yourself a favour buy online and save the difference.

Maybe something like this (http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Product/id/734003)?

Others:

2) (http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_7736G_Laptop_LX.PHU02.095/version.asp)

Quote from: DarkAngel;3040012) (http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_7736G_Laptop_LX.PHU02.095/version.asp)

FYI - It is my experience that the touchpad on the models in that series is really poor

I guess he will be using a mouse?

Buying in a hurry? John Lewis (http://www.johnlewis.com/Electricals/Laptops+and+Netbooks/Laptops+and+Netbooks/SubCategory.aspx) - 2 year warranty as standard and not a great deal dearer than other outlets.

Following OldBlokes link This (http://www.johnlewis.com/230676450/Product.aspx) would be your dream laptop by the looks of things...though it's a tad expensive.

I think you'll be hard pushed to find something on the highstreet to play games sensibly within your budget. Even if you do you'll be hard pushed to play them for long without the charger. Could be asking a lot from the thing.

Where are you going on holiday that will be so boring that you'll need a laptops worth of entertaining?

Didn't you buy an iPhone to keep yourself amused?

I know a few people who have bought some of the new Sony Vaio laptops - they look really nice.

Quote from: GhostMjr;303998Had a brief look and wondered whether a m1730 xps by dell brand new on ebay for around Ã,£800 is worth it?

Yes its old kit (has a 2x8800gtx sli, 6gb ram, 640gb hdd i think) or should I go for a more up to date lower speced model rather than this.

I think Gandy and TL have these not sure on the battery life but usually I have a power socket where ever i go and i can't remember the last time I used my laptop off the mains anyway.

They are indeed powerful laptops and cope with games very very well.  The screen is excellent too.  In terms of portability though, it is like a desktop in the shape of a laptop.  Pretty heavy and battery life when you turn everything on to full power is about 1 hour tops.  However, as you said, I tend to plug mine in anywhere that I go, so it has yet to be a problem to me.  It's performed flawlessly at LANs and done a sterling job over the 2 years I have had mine.  And it still plays all the games we play at LANs with zero problems.

I recently bought a Dell XPS M1730 with the SLI graphics etc. It was 2nd hand, (from Gandy no less), but given it's a couple of years old, it's as sweet as.

I bought mine for the LAN's as, like others, I'm wearying of unpacking and repacking my desktop everytime. I've tried it with all the games we currently play and it copes incredibly well - far better than my desktop it has to be said.

As TL says, it ain't the lightest of things to carry and you WILL need the AC Adapter (mine's about the size of my netbook :blink:).

There's a place on Ebay which sells them and where TL and Gandy bought theirs. That may be worth a look.

GL

Well i took the plunge.

I have always been tempted by tl's laptop and gandy's to say the least.

So i looked around still quite expensive but i am happy with what i got.

Pretty much what i think you have pen.

For around Ã,£800 all pcworld and alienware could provide was a geforce 240. I wanted more bang for buck and this is perfect.


Dell XPS M1730 Laptop T9300  2.5GHz 4.0GB RAM 320GB HDD  GREY/BLACK

            (http://www.uklaptops.co.uk/shop/XPS%201730%20GREY_200.jpg) (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ShowPopUp%28%27info%5f00915%2ehtml%27,450,450%29;)
Dell XPS M1730 Laptop T9300 2.5GHz 4.0GB RAM GREY/BLACK     Serial: 00915
[SIZE=-2] The LCD top cover is GREY/  BLACK [/SIZE][SIZE=-2] Laptop Key Features[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=-2] Unit has a  True-life (glossy) style LCD screen [/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2] Keyboard: QWERTZ  (GERMAN) [/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2] Operating System:  Vista Home Premium 32Bit[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]4.0GB RAM &  320 GB  Hard Disk [/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]1GB (2 x 512MB) NVIDIA  GeForce  8800M GTX Graphics Card SLI Enabled[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Built-in  Webcam[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Illuminated  Keyboard[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Bluetooth[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Intel  Wireless  WiFi Link 4965 AGN[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Standard  battery[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]12 Month  Warranty[/SIZE]
  

[SIZE=-2] Laptop Condition[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] The Laptop  is in 'As New' condition.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] Screen, screen bezel,  keyboard and outer plastics are in excellent condition.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] The unit  comes with a brand new original Dell power supply.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=1?]
 Technical Specification [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] CPU Type:[/SIZE][SIZE=1?]Intel  Core 2 Duo 2.5Ghz[/SIZE][SIZE=-2] Hard  Drive Capacity:[/SIZE]320GB[SIZE=-2]RAM:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]4.0 GB[/SIZE][SIZE=-2] Optical  Drive:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]BluRay / DVD+/-RW[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Video Type:[/SIZE][SIZE=1?] NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Video  Memory:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]1GB (2  x 512MB)[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]LCD Max  Resolution:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]1920 X  1200 [/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Screen Size:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]17" Truelife[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Display  Technology:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]WUXGA[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Firewire:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Bluetooth:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]WiFi Enabled:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE][SIZE=-2] SD Card  Reader:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE] What is  Refurbished - Click Here (http://www.uklaptops.co.uk/shop/refurbished.html) |More (http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250)
     
 Price: Ã,£723.40 (Ã,£849.99 Including VAT at  17.5%)

Umm have fun typing on that keyboard mate :eyebrow:

I noticed the same...? I dunno if you can relabel...

Forgot to say they're fitting the uk qwerty for free :D

Then I approve :D

Quote from: Penfold;304068Then I approve :D

Cheers, Pen i did pick up on it and no one else could match this price, he was going to do a simple keyboard swap.

Have you been able to find all the drivers ok for windows 7 or did you stick with vista?

Nice find with that site mate, you'll have to keep us all posted on how they are.
Also on how the laptop is for gaming etc

Enjoy :)

I'm thinking of buying one too, same price range really (800 euros). But what would be better, a small pc (shuttle like) or a laptop??

The onboard Creative Soundcard seemed to be the hardest. I did find a solution online for it.

AFAIK it's running windows 7 64-bit fine. I've only turned it on twice though in the last few months or whenever I bought it..... It's really just waiting for the LAN :).

IF you get stuck on drivers give me a shout and I'll try to find the link.

I know im too late, but this laptop is a steal at this price. Hopefully it will come back into stock soon :)

Toshiba A500 (http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/613355/TOSHIBA-A500-1GL?cm_ven=AFFILIATEWINDOW&cm_mmc=AW-_-HotUKDeals-_-links-_-generic)

Quote from: DarkAngel;304100I know im too late, but this laptop is a steal at this price. Hopefully it will come back into stock soon :)

Toshiba A500 (http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/613355/TOSHIBA-A500-1GL?cm_ven=AFFILIATEWINDOW&cm_mmc=AW-_-HotUKDeals-_-links-_-generic)

Might have to snap that one up, this summer definitely requires an upgrade but until then a s****y lap top would help me out with my work quite a bit.

Well, this is proving more challenging than i hoped.

The laptop from uk laptops from opening the box rarely got into windows and kept blue screening.

So under distance of selling i sent it back and got the money back.

I then bought another from a different company and the front speakers and leds were dead.

Couldn't work out from the bios any settings to do anything about it.

I did find a setting to change the front speaker led colour but that didn't seem to work either.

The issue seems to be hardware related as the sound works perfectly via headphones.

So, its going to have to go back unless anyone who has a 1730 on here has had this issue before?

I rang paypal and have submitted a claim back for the monies.

I have now given up and am rather upset :(

Which OS were you using?

Quote from: Penfold;305097Which OS were you using?

Its windows vista 32 bit ultimate.

Tried 3 different sigmatel drivers but still no luck.

The lights aren't coming on even out of windows and they are definitely set to a colour in bios.

The speakers are still not working despite sound coming from the headphones from the external socket.

I am my wits end :(

The ones Gandalf and I bought came with a 3 yr on-site warranty and the OS pre-installed, I'll try and dig out the name of the Ebay ship we used GM as it sounds like you're having a rough time with it atm.  Dell sometimes use 'very' custom drivers, so it is not surprising you've met some issues.

Sorry mate.

I have Gandy's receipt with the people's name which I can dig out tonight for you if TL can't find his.

I know Gandy had my one working perfectly with Vista 64-bit when he game it to me (as only he would!) but then I buggered about with it, crashed it and subsequently installed Windows 7 64-bit on it as I still have several unused licenses.

The migration to windows 7 went fine bar a couple of issues. I managed to resolve them by doing a google for xpsM1730 and windows 7. If I can find the forum, I'll post it up.

(edit: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=425158)

Stick with it, it's a cracking machine and worth it in the end.