General Laptop Questions

I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a high
resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
office. I did really like the keyboard.


I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy

What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA, etc.

Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay away
from it?

Thanks

> -----Original Message-----
> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:08 PM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
> Subject: General Laptop Questions
>
> I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a high
> resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
> office. I did really like the keyboard.
>
>
> I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
> The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy
>
> What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA, etc.
>
> Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay away
> from it?
>
> Thanks

Pretty sure Dell calls it WXGA.

I buy everything from the outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) Great deals
can be found but you have to be patient.

On Sat, 17 May 2008 02:33:21 GMT, "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
>> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:08 PM
>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
>> Subject: General Laptop Questions
>>
>> I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a high
>> resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
>> office. I did really like the keyboard.
>>
>>
>> I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
>> The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy
>>
>> What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA, etc.
>>
>> Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay away
>> from it?
>>
>> Thanks
>
>Pretty sure Dell calls it WXGA.
>
>I buy everything from the outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) Great deals
>can be found but you have to be patient.

Is refurbished just as good as scratch and dent?

On Sat, 17 May 2008 02:33:21 GMT, "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com>
wrote:

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
>> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:08 PM
>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
>> Subject: General Laptop Questions
>>
>> I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a high
>> resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
>> office. I did really like the keyboard.
>>
>>
>> I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
>> The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy
>>
>> What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA, etc.
>>
>> Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay away
>> from it?
>>
>> Thanks
>
>Pretty sure Dell calls it WXGA.
>
>I buy everything from the outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) Great deals
>can be found but you have to be patient.

I'll second what Tom said. It is indeed WXGA.

My XPS 410 came from the outlet and it was a very good deal. Before
buying anything from Dell I'd check the discount price (with coupon
codes if Dells still has them) vs. the outlet price.

My computer was a "scratch and dent" but there wasn't a scratch or
dent on it. I have never heard of anyone being dissatisfied with an
outlet purchase.

On Fri, 16 May 2008 22:54:53 -0400, WaIIy <WaIIy@(nft).invalid> wrote:

>On Sat, 17 May 2008 02:33:21 GMT, "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com>
>wrote:
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
>>> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:08 PM
>>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>>> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
>>> Subject: General Laptop Questions
>>>
>>> I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a high
>>> resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
>>> office. I did really like the keyboard.
>>>
>>>
>>> I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
>>> The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy
>>>
>>> What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA, etc.
>>>
>>> Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay away
>>> from it?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>
>>Pretty sure Dell calls it WXGA.
>>
>>I buy everything from the outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) Great deals
>>can be found but you have to be patient.
>
>Is refurbished just as good as scratch and dent?

Hi Wally, Dell probably has the definitions of what "refurbished"
means on the outlet site. Personally, I think both are equally good,
although if refurbished includes PCs that were returned, they may have
been in another person's hands for a while, and may have travelled
back and forth.

I would go with either though; it would only be a factor for me if two
equally spec'd PCs are on the outlet at the same price. If so, I'd
choose scratch and dent.

On Fri, 16 May 2008 22:08:58 -0500, journey <journey@merr.com> wrote:

>On Sat, 17 May 2008 02:33:21 GMT, "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
>>> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:08 PM
>>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>>> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
>>> Subject: General Laptop Questions
>>>
>>> I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a high
>>> resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
>>> office. I did really like the keyboard.
>>>
>>>
>>> I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
>>> The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy
>>>
>>> What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA, etc.
>>>
>>> Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay away
>>> from it?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>
>>Pretty sure Dell calls it WXGA.
>>
>>I buy everything from the outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) Great deals
>>can be found but you have to be patient.
>
>I'll second what Tom said. It is indeed WXGA.
>
>My XPS 410 came from the outlet and it was a very good deal. Before
>buying anything from Dell I'd check the discount price (with coupon
>codes if Dells still has them) vs. the outlet price.
>
>My computer was a "scratch and dent" but there wasn't a scratch or
>dent on it. I have never heard of anyone being dissatisfied with an
>outlet purchase.

Thanks, you guys are a big help. I was sorely disappointed in having to
sell the 1520 I bought for only $400.00 in as new condition.

The resolution just made things a bit too fine for me and I won't make
the same mistake.

Okay, while I'm on the subject, is the 1525 just as good and the 1520
for all intents and purposes?

On Sat, 17 May 2008 00:28:24 -0400, WaIIy <WaIIy@(nft).invalid> wrote:

>Thanks, you guys are a big help. I was sorely disappointed in having to
>sell the 1520 I bought for only $400.00 in as new condition.
>
>The resolution just made things a bit too fine for me and I won't make
>the same mistake.

Resolution is a very important consideration in choosing a laptop. I
personally am fine with a "fuzzy" appearance if I change resolution so
that everything is bigger.

Dell used to have specials on some computers with "ultra" resolution.
I can't help but think that many who bought that resolution without
knowing how small things would be were sorely disappointed.

Someone once commented that it's not a problem because the font size
can be increased in the display settings. It is a problem because
that change doesn't affect everything.

I wish I could help regarding your Inspiron question, but my knowledge
of Inspirons is now obsolete because I haven't had one for a long
time.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:55 PM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
> Subject: Re: General Laptop Questions
>
> On Sat, 17 May 2008 02:33:21 GMT, "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
> >> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:08 PM
> >> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> >> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
> >> Subject: General Laptop Questions
> >>
> >> I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a
> high
> >> resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
> >> office. I did really like the keyboard.
> >>
> >>
> >> I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
> >> The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy
> >>
> >> What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA,
etc.
> >>
> >> Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay
> away
> >> from it?
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >
> >Pretty sure Dell calls it WXGA.
> >
> >I buy everything from the outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) Great
> deals
> >can be found but you have to be patient.
>
> Is refurbished just as good as scratch and dent?


Honestly, I'll take anything from the outlet. I couldn't even tell you
what category they were in.

On Sat, 17 May 2008 00:53:02 -0500, journey <journey@merr.com> wrote:

>On Sat, 17 May 2008 00:28:24 -0400, WaIIy <WaIIy@(nft).invalid> wrote:
>
>>Thanks, you guys are a big help. I was sorely disappointed in having to
>>sell the 1520 I bought for only $400.00 in as new condition.
>>
>>The resolution just made things a bit too fine for me and I won't make
>>the same mistake.
>
>Resolution is a very important consideration in choosing a laptop. I
>personally am fine with a "fuzzy" appearance if I change resolution so
>that everything is bigger.

I personally don't care for the appearance outside the native
resolution. I was unfamiliar with the differences and learned the hard
way. Not too hard, I just lost some time, but it ws a learning
experience.


>Dell used to have specials on some computers with "ultra" resolution.
>I can't help but think that many who bought that resolution without
>knowing how small things would be were sorely disappointed.
>
>Someone once commented that it's not a problem because the font size
>can be increased in the display settings. It is a problem because
>that change doesn't affect everything.

That's the ticket, a few things lok good, but not everything.

>I wish I could help regarding your Inspiron question, but my knowledge
>of Inspirons is now obsolete because I haven't had one for a long
>time.

You've been helpful, thanks.

"WaIIy" <WaIIy@(nft).invalid> wrote in message
news:17is24h1b046uj4vkhck48mun3lnh6atcv@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 May 2008 02:33:21 GMT, "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: WaIIy [mailto:WaIIy@(nft).invalid]
>>> Posted At: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:08 PM
>>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>>> Conversation: General Laptop Questions
>>> Subject: General Laptop Questions
>>>
>>> I bought a used (as new) 1520 the other day, but the screen had a high
>>> resolution and I didn't care for it, so I sold it to a lady in the
>>> office. I did really like the keyboard.
>>>
>>>
>>> I currently have an E1501, that's very nice.
>>> The screen I like in a 15.4 is the 1280 x 800, glossy
>>>
>>> What does Dell call that screen? I get mixed up with the WXGA, etc.
>>>
>>> Also, is a Dell refurbished a good thing to buy, or should i stay away
>>> from it?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>
>>Pretty sure Dell calls it WXGA.
>>
>>I buy everything from the outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) Great deals
>>can be found but you have to be patient.
>
> Is refurbished just as good as scratch and dent?



As a general rule, I purchase only/either systems in the "certified
refurbished" or "previously purchased new" categories at the Outlet.

Even then, my XPS420 arrived with a considerable cosmetic gouge on the
optical drive bezel. While it didn't affect functionality, I did speak with
Dell and they credited me for the amount of a replacement bezel from Dell
spare parts ( as I had told them I planned to return the entire system).

It's my belief that the Outlet's policy on cosmetic damages has become
considerably more liberal.

Base warranties are the same regardless of cosmetic classifications.


Stew