1. Advertising
    y u no do it?

    Advertising (learn more)

    Advertise virtually anything here, with CPM banner ads, CPM email ads and CPC contextual links. You can target relevant areas of the site and show ads based on geographical location of the user if you wish.

    Starts at just $1 per CPM or $0.10 per CPC.

I Seriously Need some Input ASAP

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by ImTznu62, Feb 23, 2013.

  1. #1
    PLEASE help!! I need to make a choice very soon and a bit confused now!

    I am going to purchase a new laptop. I have been researching my brains out for a while now and have narrowed it down, I think* to a couple options. What I would like opinion on is which one below might be the better way to go... better specs and price, refurbished OR less specs same price, new?

    It seems the big difference is between processor and hard drive. It is hard for me to know for sure if the differences are worth going with the refurb??

    Any thoughts on this would be GREATLY appreciated, Hec maybe neither is a very good deal? Thank you!!!


    #1 OPTION
    REFURB W/1YR DIRECT WARR
    $813.99 (new appox $1000)

    Inspiron 17R Special Edition Palmrest Label
    Inspiron 17R Notebook (Inspiron 7720)
    Windows 8, 64-bit, English
    3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3630QM (6MB cache, up to 3.4Ghz)
    17.3" Full High Definition (1080p) LED Display with Anti-Glare
    8GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
    1TB 5400RPM SATA HDD + 32GB mSATA SSD w/ Intel Smart Response
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GDDR5 2GB
    8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
    Stealth Black Anodized Aluminum
    48 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery
    Intel® Centrino® Wireless 2230, 2x2 bgn + Bluetooth
    Skullcandy Speakers with WaveMaxx 4.0
    Integrated 10/100 Network Card
    English Backlit Keyboard with Multi-touch Touchpad
    Power cord, 125V, 3.2 Feet, US
    Digital Delivery Enablement
    Intel® Centrino® Wireless 2230, 2x2 bgn + Bluetooth
    Shipping Material, Direct & Retail
    NB & DT w/Webcam
    Cyberlink Media Suite Essentials DVD
    Wireless Display Application
    PocketCloud Companion, Standard, Digital Delivery
    No Adobe Reader Selected
    Win8 Documentation, English
    PCmover Home - Free
    Retail Software - All WIN8


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    #2 OPTION

    NEW FROM DELL
    $768.00

    My Software & Accessories
    Microsoft Office Trial
    90 days Premium Phone Support + 1 Year In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis
    McAfee Security Center, 30 Day Subscription
    Also Includes
    Inspiron 17R Special Edition Palmrest Label
    Inspiron 17R Notebook (Inspiron 7720)
    Windows 8, 64-bit, English
    3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-3230M processor (3M Cache, up to 3.2 GHz)
    17.3" Full High Definition (1080p) LED Display with Anti-Glare
    8GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
    750GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GDDR5 2GB
    8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
    Stealth Black Anodized Aluminum
    48 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery
    Intel® Centrino® Wireless 2230, 2x2 bgn + Bluetooth
    Skullcandy Speakers with WaveMaxx 4.0
    Integrated 10/100 Network Card
    English Backlit Keyboard with Multi-touch Touchpad
    Power cord, 125V, 3.2 Feet, US
    Digital Delivery Enablement
    Intel® Centrino® Wireless 2230, 2x2 bgn + Bluetooth
    Shipping Material, Direct & Retail
    NB & DT w/Webcam
    Cyberlink Media Suite Essentials DVD
    Wireless Display Application
    PocketCloud Companion, Standard, Digital Delivery
    No Adobe Reader Selected
    Win8 Documentation, English
    PCmover Home - Free
    Retail Software - All WIN8
     
    ImTznu62, Feb 23, 2013 IP
  2. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

    Messages:
    38,333
    Likes Received:
    2,613
    Best Answers:
    462
    Trophy Points:
    710
    Digital Goods:
    29
    #2
    Are there any local stores you can actually go in to look at them? The biggest reason you probably want to do that is raw specs don't really measure hardware build quality (like is it cheaply made out of plastic and feel like it's going to break easily?). Or other things like a screen might be the same size/resolution, but you should see how it's lit, how accurate does it represent colors, and just what is the quality of the screen (like is it sharp or do pixels bleed a little)...

    At the very least, you probably want to read some reviews of the products from people who have actually used them.
     
    digitalpoint, Feb 23, 2013 IP
  3. ImTznu62

    ImTznu62 Greenhorn

    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    23
    #3

    Oh yes, I have pretty much done all of that. My biggest concern I guess is.... 1. I have never purchased refurb items before. This refurb laptop above does come with the "same" warranty as the new one from dell. The price is very close on the 2.... so is the one with the better* specs (i7quad processor VS the i5 and
    the 1TB 5400RPM SATA HDD + 32GB mSATA SSD w/ Intel Smart Response VS just 1TB 5400RPM SATA HDD

    Better enough that it would warrant taking risk on refurb compared to the new one?

    Also... I know that these particular laptops are not necessarily of Great quality construction. I am pretty easy on them in the physical sense. It does seem as though the mix of components are pretty good for the $$. I for the most part will keep whatever I buy until it either dies OR what has so far always been the case is that I want to upgrade, which pattern for me seems to be about every 3 to 4 years.

    The one that I really WANT lol is the refurb as far as specs... but brand new it would be really pushing outside of what I want to spend.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2013
    ImTznu62, Feb 23, 2013 IP
    Karen May Jones likes this.
  4. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

    Messages:
    38,333
    Likes Received:
    2,613
    Best Answers:
    462
    Trophy Points:
    710
    Digital Goods:
    29
    #4
    Mmmm... I'd probably go with the refurb myself assuming the warranty is the same. When it comes down to it, you shouldn't be able to tell the difference between a refurb and new since anything with any sort of smudge/scratch is replaced. Like if you had a new one and a refurb sitting in front of you, I doubt you could figure out which is which.

    And whatever reason it was a refurb (like a failed motherboard or CPU, etc.) is obviously going to have been replaced. So it's all a mental thing really... does it make you feel better to know it's "new" or do you feel better with a little extra money in your pocket?
     
    digitalpoint, Feb 23, 2013 IP
    Karen May Jones likes this.
  5. ImTznu62

    ImTznu62 Greenhorn

    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    23
    #5
    Well I am not at all worried about feeling that it is "new" LOL I am okay with just the mental. My concern is more with the security in knowing it will work as well. I just as I said never had any experience with anything being refurb. LOL I will ALWAYS take the extra money in my pocket! HAHA But also want to be sure what I get has a good chance of working properly. I really appreciate the time you are taking to talk to me about this.
     
    ImTznu62, Feb 23, 2013 IP
  6. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

    Messages:
    38,333
    Likes Received:
    2,613
    Best Answers:
    462
    Trophy Points:
    710
    Digital Goods:
    29
    #6
    Well like I said, it has a warranty... and generally with electronics they either work or they don't. If you get it dead on arrival, you have the warranty (that can even happen with new stuff though on occasion, so...)
     
    digitalpoint, Feb 23, 2013 IP
  7. ImTznu62

    ImTznu62 Greenhorn

    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    23
    #7
    Well and I suppose if one were to be thinking with logic, it would make sense that as much effort would go into making sure it works properly as a new one, considering it is backed by the same warranty.

    EXACTLY!! Thank you! Guess I just needed that reassurance!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2013
    ImTznu62, Feb 23, 2013 IP
    digitalpoint likes this.
  8. vol

    vol Greenhorn

    Messages:
    94
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    23
    #8
    option # 2 is more fruitful
     
    vol, Mar 12, 2013 IP