Dell adds 256GB SSD option to XPS M1330 and M1730 laptops

Oh, how the times change! In August of last year we were talking up a 128GB SSD drive for Dell's XPS laptops like it was some kind of hotness -- and only $450! Now that same drive is a mere $200 upgrade, while a new 256GB SSD has been introduced to Dell's XPS M1330 and M1730 laptops for "only" $400. Sure, six months from now we're gonna be chatting up a slightly cheaper 512GB SSD and laughing at our January selves, but we just can't help ourselves and this pesky linear of progression of time we're so beholden to. Dell's also now offering a 7200RPM 500GB HDD as well, and plans to introduce both of these upgrades to additional laptops in the next few weeks.

Read - Dell XPS M1330
Read - Dell XPS M1730

[jakem @ Jan 17th 2009 9:32PM]

You can't choose any SSD in the UK.

[tobz1000 @ Jan 17th 2009 10:07PM]

I lol'd.

[Wiizer @ Jan 17th 2009 10:52PM]

So, they're still not going to fix the NVIDIA cards in them?

[urandom @ Jan 18th 2009 6:04AM]

@Wiizer,

Apparently not. And mine is starting to overheat constantly again, after half a year with a new motherboard.

[JohnTitor @ Jan 17th 2009 9:32PM]

its worth a mention that it just skips everything in between, the m1530 and surprising the new 13 and 16

[Jinx @ Jan 17th 2009 9:39PM]

Good to see SSDs come down to a feasible upgrade option. I remember seeing the Macbook Air come with a $800 upgrade for an 128GB SSD

[stevied @ Jan 17th 2009 9:57PM]

If I remember correctly, the MBA SSD was $1000 for 64GB. OUCH! How many of those people are kicking themselves right now?

[radiodejaylee @ Jan 18th 2009 11:36AM]

There's always people dumb enough to spend insane amounts of money for something they know will come down in price 6+ months later.

[Bob @ Jan 17th 2009 11:11PM]

The same amount of people that will be kicking themselves in 6 months when a 256GB SSD is only $200. If you don't buy a 256GB SSD now for $400, you can buy it for $200 in 6 months, but then 6 months after that you'll be able to get it for $100. The computer industry is so fast paced that you can't sit around kicking yourself because what's awesome today is lame tomorrow. Of course, you could have the privilege of kicking yourself even more if you buy this same option [ 256 GB SSD ] from Apple for a bargain price of only [ drumroll please ]... $900!

[Bob @ Jan 17th 2009 11:21PM]

The same amount of people that will be kicking themselves in 6 months for buying this option for $400. There is no "kicking yourself" when it comes to the technology industry. If you buy it for $400 today, it will be $200 in 6 months, but then it'll be $100 6 months after that. It's so fast paced that what was awesome yesterday is lame and old news today, I think most of us know that. But hey, you could have the privilege of kicking yourself even more if you head on over to Apple's site and pay over twice as much - $900 - for the same option. Mmmmmm.

[Bob @ Jan 17th 2009 11:23PM]

Yes, because EVERYTHING Apple is far superior to anything in the entire world. We should all buy everything Apple. Come on Steve, where is the iCar? You could put the big 3 out of business! Get on the ball Steve!

[Bob @ Jan 17th 2009 11:27PM]

@ Eeiy

Yes, because everything Apple designs is superior. Apple fanboy.

[msalivar @ Jan 17th 2009 11:43PM]

"Apple tech is so cool that it is worth the same if not more as each model is upgraded... explain that Jack!"

Interestingly, that phenomenon is due to an increasingly common occurrence of a unique alignment of stars at birth, and failed upbringing, leading to your being full of it.

[dagamer34 @ Jan 18th 2009 1:14AM]

And Apple is offering the same 256GB SSD upgrade for $900. Isn't that a rip?

[Knee to the Groin @ Jan 18th 2009 2:45AM]

"The apple one is superior"

uhm, Apple doesn't make the SSDs...

and the $1,000 Air 64GB SSD was slow as crap...

[luzzio @ Jan 18th 2009 3:55AM]

am I the only one sensing eeiy's heavy sarcasm?

[nikster @ Jan 18th 2009 5:32AM]

yep. sarcasm is a foreign concept to Apple-fanboy-haters. why there are more Apple-fanboy-haters than actual Apple-fanboys is something of a riddle to me.

more on topic, I would like to know why the Dell SSD is only $400 while the same size in the new MacBook Pro costs $900. unfortunately the type and make of SSD used seems to be a closely guarded secret at all these companies. we'll have to wait for the reviews.

[alex1jam @ Jan 17th 2009 9:39PM]

I got a XPS with Ubuntu wich is the best maybe secont to Mac osX but better than M$.

[Kris120890 @ Jan 18th 2009 2:28AM]

You stay deluded.

[alex1jam @ Jan 17th 2009 9:40PM]

I got an XPS with Ubuntu wich is secont to MAc osX. M$ sucks!

[zMastaa @ Jan 17th 2009 9:56PM]

Because your comment is relevant to the post

[Dave P @ Jan 17th 2009 9:53PM]

Thanks.

[Zach @ Jan 17th 2009 9:56PM]

That was worthwhile. But yes, is apple still charging $800 for that 64 gig SSD? I tremble to look, considering the prices they're still asking for a mac mini. (Disclaimer: I'm a mac user, do I need to put that in there?)

[Gamer-X @ Jan 17th 2009 9:59PM]

$3200?

[engadget @ Jan 17th 2009 10:29PM]

zach, the MBA now offers a 128gb drive for $500. so better, but not exactly good...

[finnith @ Jan 17th 2009 10:17PM]

@Zach
Yes, you do need to be put that in there, lest you be declared a fanboy.

[Mitch @ Jan 17th 2009 10:42PM]

@engadget, that sounds about right, since its $200 from Dell plus Apple Tax (150%) because Apple made it therefore it's better, so yup $500 sounds right. This makes me sad, 2 1/2 years ago when I bought my laptop I think I payed extra to get the 50GB hard drive I have in my laptop.

[nikster @ Jan 18th 2009 5:39AM]

have you ever considered that the price of SSDs of the same size varies dramatically between different makes, models, and technologies. I know, it's shocking.

[Rob Conway @ Jan 18th 2009 8:17AM]

@Nikster
i'm quite the apple fanboy, but this is Engadget, we know better. Apple outrageously inflates the upgrade price on everything. Look at their ram prices, then go to crucial.com. it's absurd.

[Erb @ Jan 17th 2009 10:01PM]

It's official, SSD's are going to pass up platter HDDs in the next 12 months in Laptops and Desktops soon to follow suit.

[lawyer bird @ Jan 17th 2009 11:38PM]

I don't know about desktops, they don't really make a lot of sense, cost vs benefits.

[SeanC @ Jan 19th 2009 5:47PM]

lawyer bird - I can't wait to get some RAIDed SSDs on my desktop. the value of ssds isn't really about power, its about speed. media storage doesn't need anything over 7200 rpm, but for the main boot and application drive, ssds are awesome.

[fostware @ Jan 17th 2009 10:04PM]

Ha, of only the 1730 itself would last longer than a year...

Mine's on the second video card replacement :S

[JohnTitor @ Jan 17th 2009 11:04PM]

how do you get it replaced and what does it cost you?

[Richard @ Jan 18th 2009 3:46AM]

You call Dell, they send a tech, the tech puts the card in, and if you have a warranty it costs nothing.

3 Year extended warranty ftw. I've had mine replaced once already. Speakers too.

[Matt @ Jan 17th 2009 10:04PM]

Sweet, half price in half a year? Moore's law x3? Awesome.

[Christopher K. @ Jan 17th 2009 10:07PM]

"a new 256GB SSD has been introduced to Dell's XPS M1330 and M1730 laptops for "only" $400"


Uhhh, Engadget, you realize that it doesn't say "only $400" anywhere? You can't make stuff up to make your news sound better. Sure, it might still be a lot of money for 256GB worth of space, but Dell doesn't try to pass it off as if you're getting a deal.

[Tom @ Jan 18th 2009 3:02AM]

Dude... what? Paul would be making stuff up if he said that the new hard drives were made of ambergris, but he did not. He included the word "only" in sarcastic jest, poking fun at the fact that the price has more than halved in six months, and will do so again. He was not making material up to make his news sensational - he was making a passing joke at the industry and it's prices.

It's the writer's opinion and writing style on a blog. It adds another reason why you pick one source over another. If you don't like the opinion being presented, that's fine and all and you can have those feelings. But don't try to say that a little inclusion of humor and opinion is making up information that doesn't exist, because that just makes you wrong.

[Jacob @ Jan 17th 2009 10:13PM]

I reported to engadget months ago that Sony was selling 256 GB SSD's. I figured at the time they didn't care. Now this happens. What gives?

[lowkey @ Jan 17th 2009 10:20PM]

Perhaps because Sony is still charging $1400 to upgrade to a 256gb SSD on the Z-Series VAIOs.

[Jacob @ Jan 17th 2009 10:27PM]

I know. But it was newsworthy at the time. I think it was the first 256 GB SSD on sale.

[rita hainsworth @ Jan 17th 2009 10:49PM]

because they dont like you?

[Anthony @ Jan 17th 2009 10:31PM]

You can get SSD from Dell UK . 128GB SSD m1330 for around £650


Full specs;
Intel® Core 2 Duo T6400 (2.0GHz,2MB,800MHz FSB) (select this cpu)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1- English (Free 64bit upgrade)
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
128GB Solid State Drive Ultra Performance
128MB nVidia® GeForce®8400M GS
Microsoft® Works 9.0 / English - (Does not include Microsoft® Word)
AC Adapter 90W - 3 Pin
Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-Card - Europe - Core 2 Duo Processors
Dell TrueMobile 355 internal Bluetooth Module - European
Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers)
Primary 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (56 WHr) (9 cell battery at no extra charge)
Fixed 8x DVD+/-RW Slim Slot Load Drive, including SW
Biometric Fingerprint Reader (free lid colour upgrade)
13.3" UltraSharp WXGA (1280x800) White-LED Display (300 nits) with TrueLife
1Yr XPS Premium Warranty Support - Priority Call In and Onsite Support
DataSafe Online Backup 2GB

[rita hainsworth @ Jan 17th 2009 10:41PM]

ohhhhh, i love selecting a hard drive.

[Kevin K @ Jan 17th 2009 10:46PM]

I was going to give Paul a lashing for calling 128-256-512 "linear", but it seems he was referring to the fact that he cannot experience TIME in a non-linear fashion. Now I have to settle for the typo "linear of progression of time".

Phooey.

[MRLN @ Jan 17th 2009 11:05PM]

I'm telling you, just put yourself in a cryogenic sleep for 200 years and you'll be able to experience 256 petabytes for a measly $100, INCLUDING inflation!

[Kevin M. @ Jan 17th 2009 11:08PM]

I guess they are using the Seagate 7200.4? Can't buy those in retail yet...

[SR @ Jan 17th 2009 11:15PM]

Yeah sure I'll take a cheap low performing stuttering POS MLC SSD. How exciting. Wonder why nobody talks about that. "Ultra perfomance" my ass.

[ethana2 @ Jan 18th 2009 12:17AM]

128GB SSD for $200 confirmed on the XPS 1520n

They're using Intel or one of the decent ones, right, and not those crappy SSDs? 'cause as 'magic' as SSDs are, if you pick the wrong vendor, you'd be better off with a frigging 5400 rpm hard drive.

[superhobo @ Jan 18th 2009 12:55AM]

Nice...I guess I'll be buying one after 6 months.