Lets say...

[cmick29]

Hi, folks!
I've been eyeing up Optimus 2 and Voyager 17.3" versions... Now, all is great; the options, the available hardware configurations, etc... I just have one small gripe and it is regarding the scenario where I pick Momentus XT 750GB (I believe it is the second iteration???) for my primary hard drive. It is a great hybrid drive and all, but I seem to pay around 74 quid more than I would for 750gb WD Scorpio Blue (5400rpm). Now, I know the prices of drives are still up there, after Thailand got wet, and I have checked the average prices of both drives on the UK market, and it really is around 50-70/80 pounds difference between the two... And, I understand that Pcspecialist can't go below the price for which they got...
BUT, say I was able to get the (brand new) Momentus XT 750GB (2nd gen) for around 119 £. Would I be able to send it to Pcspecialist, thus supplying the hard drive myself and reducing the final price for the amount of the lowest priced option of hard drive on these particular laptops?
I understand that you buy these bits and pieces in hundreds, pay certain amount of money for it, and can't be bothered, nor really expected to go and check what is the lowest price of any particular component on the market at any given date in the UK...
But, on the customer's side, 40-50 quid isn't a joke these days, esp. if it mean I can get more RAM, or better CPU for the difference...
So, say I was looking into buying one of these beauties, but wanted to supply my own, brand new hard drive... Would it do me any good?
Keep up the good work, guys!
Mike

 

[Rakk]

As long as you then ring up PCS so they know about the HDD you should indeed be able to supply your own stuff like harddrives and send them in (quite a few have done so for desktops, I presume the same applies to laptops) - I'd ring up before just to check what you're getting will fit though.

 

[El Wayneo]

Why not just upgrade the standard 250GB that comes with it for a 500GB, only £10 more, then buy your own 750gb hybrid.

Although with proper SSD's going very cheap now, 120GB available for under £100 or close to £100 now i would get one of those as boot and keep the 500GB 5400rpm as storage.

 

[cmick29]

Oh, that seems to be the answer I'd expect from the reasonable people.

 

[cmick29]

Why not just upgrade the standard 250GB that comes with it for a 500GB, only £10 more, then buy your own 750gb hybrid.

Although with proper SSD's going very cheap now, 120GB available for under £100 or close to £100 now i would get one of those as boot and keep the 500GB 5400rpm as storage.

And do what with the 500GB drive?! Too much work around that way... I'd have to reinstall the whole thing from 500gb to 120gb ssd, or 750gb momentus, and fiddle with the sensitive internals... It would be easier for me to just order the 750gb momentus to their address, but on my name... They'd take it, check it, install it, not charge me for HD and send me a laptop ready to fly.

But, it is not that I am just waiting with my card on the table next to my laptop ready to order... I just keep the eye on the site, and as I was going through the configurator, the price difference gave a bit of a cold shower.

 

[El Wayneo]

Keep the 500gb for storage and use the 120gb ssd for operating system, programs games.

It would actually cost you less and be better.

You could post them the 120GB SSD to use instead of the hybrid XT.


You do know that both the 17.3" can take 2 x hard drives?

 

[cmick29]

Yes, I am aware of that, but having them install only one drive (bought and sent to them by me) seems the least complicated option. Plus, I am not that big a fan of SSDs, as I write and erase a lot from my primary drive(s).
How would it cost me less??? 500GB at 5400rpm (whatever the price) + the 120GB SSD for (your words) close, or under £100 can never be cheaper than £119 750GB Momentus XT drive...

 

[El Wayneo]

Although if you read the first post i put, the 250gb is included in the price, add £10 on for the 500GB, then add £105 on for a 120GB SSD thats £115 which last time i checked is cheaper than £119.

I still don't see how its any different to sending them the SSD they will only install on that.

But do what you want its your money.

 

[cmick29]

Well, in options in the configurator, the first option DOESN'T HAVE THE PRICE STATED, while every subsequent upgrade has amount of the upgrade's cost stated, in regard to the first option, which is a bare minimum with which the company will sell/ship the unit. You can't order a laptop/PC without a CPU, RAM, hard disk, or any component which is essential to basic functionality. Every component is included in price, and that doesn't mean 250GB hard disk is something they throw in for free. In other words, it would only make sense that, if (just talking theory here and drawing parallels! ) I supply my 250GB hard disk, I make a certain dent in the price of the ordered item, because they get to keep their drive. Lets put it this way: you go out usually and order a doner kebab (with all the salad, sauces and non payable stuff) and you pay £4. One special night you go there to your kebab man and say "Look, I've got some lamb left over after today's lunch, give me all the usual without the doner meat..." I don't believer that the cost will still be £4, since it has to be reduced for the amount of money the doner meat in the usual kebab order costs. So, no matter how much something is included in the price, once you supply your own component, you should make a dent in price, since everything that is included in the total price, has its individual price and for that amount the total price should be reduced, if that component isn't supplied by the Pcspecialist for that order.
If you check DA INTERNET , you'll see that price of 250GB 5400rpm drives for laptops goes from 40-ish something pounds minimum, even to £80/90 territory. So, since I believe that Pcspecialist don't put the cheapest crap in their unit my math would the following 250GB (£55) + £105 120GB SSD = £160, which is more than £119 Momentus XT.
Yeah, it's my money, but it is also my responsibility to make the best and most economic (not cheapest! ) choice...
Oh, how I cherish the times when you'd just go and buy Walkman in the store once you collected the money... Or, even better, a brand new horse plough from your local blacksmith!
Thanks for the input, guys...

 

[El Wayneo]

You can pretty much ignore what i put anyway.

when i ordered my optimus guy i spoke to said it could take two hard drives and keep the dvd.

found out earlier its not true.

apologies.

 

[cmick29]

So, Optimus can't take 2 hard drives without putting away DVD? Well, it's a trade-off. I use DVD drive maybe 4, 5 times a year tops... USB stick rules!
I don't ignore what you write. If I were, I wouldn't be replying to it. Anyhow, it wasn't that big a deal, I just wanted to know if the option from my original post was viable and available...