My Mumbai Visit: The stay and the returning flight

So, finally the journey got the end today. Three days and only a little more than 48 hours in hand practically, I was in no mood to do anything official and went for entertaining my sis and her friends only.

The first night was in the name of movie in a nearby newly made Mall called BroadWay, which allowed us to return back to home by 11:00 PM or later and then in next morning, we were planned to Essel World as it was my sis’s best friend’s dream wish from Santa Claz and here I was to play the role of Santa

Something about Essel World as per their official website

This is Mumbai’s only international-style theme park and amusement centre situated close to Gorai Beach. Special ferries get you across to the park and the entrance fee normally takes care of a fixed number of rides. These include the standard roller coaster and adventure themes, plus a water world section where kids can literally run amok. Summer is usually crowded, but the place also offers low budget monsoon packages and special deals on weekends. Check these out before you go.

For more information, visit their web-site at http://www.esselworld.com

Although there is mention of low budget packages, but I must tell you, like any other Theme park, the place is nowhere cheaper. Rs. 480/- INR per head for Essel World on weekends and in normal days Rs. 350/- INR, its sure not the place to go, if you just wished to visit the same all of a sudden. You should be well prepared and planned about the same, if you want to get full value for your money. Unfortunately, the same was not our case. It was planned but I was not familiar with the place and things, so we reached there by 12:00 AM or later, I guess and only then our day started with Essel World, which ideally should have been started by 10:00 AM and only then we were able to take all the rides and lots of fun. Anyway, we did our share of fun for sure.

First, we were needed to reach Boriwali Station and then to take Auto from there to reach Gorai Beach, I guess. Then a boat costing 35/- each was here to provide a round trip to Essel world. The ride on boat is costs around 30 mins, if I remember right, but the water there is just a mess I should say, very polluted and sure a must see for the authorities there. One should do something about it.

After reaching on other side, first we went for some early snapping and then in small queue of tickets as we were already late. We finally entered in Essel World by 12:00 PM. There were also combined tickets for Essel World and Water Kingdom and in cheaper prices means 680/- for both, but if you look intelligently, then it’s nowhere a cheaper option as in no way, you could enjoy even one in single day and you are thinking about two,… no way.

Anyway, few Roller Coaster rides and some vertical rides, it was sure fun to hang up in air with yours heads down. The name of the event was “Thunder”. I have made a full video of the same, which I will upload sometime later.

We also enjoyed Hunted Hotel and some Mirror World. Although Hunted Hotel was quite a let-down, but anyway, we were out to enjoy and left the place only when it was closed only and then returned back to home by 11:00 PM. No!! No!! It didn’t took that much time to reach our way, but we were to drop of the friend at her place and then it took a while there to convince her dad for next day visit to Jeevdayini Temple. It didn’t took harder and he was easily agreed.

For the same visit, one more friend of my sis was to be joined as she missed Essel World, but this visit was planned from long at her wish. Anyway, got a call from their side in early morning from their side to wake us up and then we left the home by 8:00 AM this time. More than 1000 steps of stairs and then it was Jeevdayini Temple. Look like it’s been a tradition to visit the same i my each Mumbai visit as I visited the same place both the times, I visited earlier. We came back from the same place by 2 PM.

A little rest and conversations with relatives and then I was off to Airport.

The return flight details:

The return flight was booked as per cheapest option provided according to my date\time schedules and the same was again a GoAir. Got a message from their side on 27^th December that my flight is delayed and now expected to depart at 9:50 PM in place of earlier schedule of 8:20 PM due to some unavoidable reasons. Such a delay was preferable for me in a way, but I am not sure that every passenger might like such delays, neither do I, if it was something important. The flight was GoAir G8-375: Mumbai-Delhi. Our Car took around one and half hour to reach there. Don’t know how much distance exactly was in between. It was a trip from Vasai to Santacruz Domestic Airport. I left the place by 6:00 PM and reached by 7:30 PM means much before time and then it was a long wait for me.

Although that technically sounding long wait, didn’t seem to be much longer for me. I was online and got one of my colleague online, who was telling me the procedure to avail the WiFi available at Airports and a few other things, which kept me busy and when the time got an end, I didn’t got to know. It was such shortened in a way that I forgot that I should disconnect my cell from my Laptop and should put it on the available charging point there. Although it was again not an issue as I forgot my earphones into the luggage on board.

Anyway, later on, I found this flight a way quicker than the last one. The flight was on time at this occasion, I mean with newly scheduled one. Although I mismanaged it a bit by not leaving my internet connection before time, which left my cell sufficiently discharged, just when the announcement to board on the same started at 9:30 PM. Anyway, the proceedings were quicker than the last time and were in exact way, one expects. Within 15 mins of our reaching to Jet, we were in Air, I guess.

This time my choice was a Window Seat, although was not that fruitful in night, but its sure a view to see Mumbai from top of it. So many lights scattered all over really make out some view. Although I was tired enough due to continuous rides and was wishing to fall asleep, but that was not favourable to me in a way as just two hours were not enough.

All the staff at flight was male this time. I don’t remember that what was the case, when I visited last time or its been practice to keep girls away from night flight or not? But it might be the directive from Government for not keeping the female staff working after 8:00 PM. Anyway, I am not kind-of missing them…. I given up the rest of the time to my sleep and when got woke up, then I was at New Delhi Airport by 11:50 PM, I guess. Quicker luggage recovery as well this time and then back to home.

So, this was the journey. I talk too much na…

Writing Blogs: Why? How?

I many times have asked many of my friends to write upon something in their blogs, but wasn’t lucky enough to find them really into it. Sometimes, I really think that is this really that hard to write? I mean it’s just expressing your thoughts into words!!!! Isn’t it?

What is Blog? The million dollar question and why to write one? If you go into the details then it was an abbreviation for the word “Weblog”, which later shortened up into the word “Blog“.

Purpose? Some find it as an online diary, some as a medium of expressing thoughts to get a greater audience without much efforts, some as providing news information without any official approval from any authority and some as even commercial purpose advertising in cost-free ways (Yes!!! I know that cost may be involved in blogging, if you move over higher scales, but I will come to that later place). There might be as many reasons as one finds for connecting internet. Fame, networking, serving community etc.

What it serves to society? It offers really really a lot. You get to know many untold details about products including appliances, movies, shows, company and any commercial brand. You get to know inner and un-censored observations of many over almost any of the issue. I could admit freely that before going for any big decisions and I always seek inputs from these sources and never got disappointed. Many campaigns has been successfully ran over blog and affected even governments. Many issues got lightened up by the blogs first and only then media got notice of the same. No news of now days got an early off in air before the blogs themselves. It’s sure has becoming a real world phenomenon as Googling.

Word of caution: Yes!! It’s not completely free as it seems to be. Many writers have been nailed down by concerned government, if the material went illegal or offensive. In fact, other countries have started keeping effective checks on any material going on air. India still has much to do in the way. But a blogger also needs to keep as much caution as he could and should cross check all the things before publishing to web.

Similarly, it goes to viewers as well that to believe on lines of Blogs only as much as they believe on words of any neighbour passenger over issues. Always keep your mind even after reading and always take a second opinion.

How to start? Taking a start with blogging is as easy as creating an email ID and also free in the similar ways. The big names are WordPress, Blogspot, TypePad, Windows Live Spaces and Rediffland etc. Even Google has introduced their services in the same way, but I haven’t used them neither aware of them much, but sure will get to know about them very soon.

First thing is to take up a free account from any of them with a proper distinguished name in connection of your theme of blogging and then it comes to core theme, writing. Although exposure and reach matters sometimes more, but powerful writing makes blog attractive. Powerful doesn’t mean it to be complicated and nearly perfect of literature standards, but powerful meant to its being affective, smooth and as natural as it can be (Except you are writing over something very technical or have professional motives, which better suited with any other way). For writing purposes, all the blog services provide their web applications means you could write online easily without knowledge of HTML etc, just if you know routine word processor things. But I suggest you to choose some offline medium as well, because it goes comfortable and cost effective for sure. Obviously, one could always save a .Doc file and then copy paste the same, but I meant with something else.

Microsoft recently introduced two prominent ways to support blogging; One is in-built in their latest Office Suit: Microsoft Office 2007 (Costly one) and another free way is Microsoft Live Writer (I personally found the same very handy and cost effective solution against Microsoft Office 2007).

How to make it accessible well known? The next and most important thing is how to present the things in a way that they get noticed on web otherwise your blog will be an unknown address, which is known to only a few one. Obviously, it’s not possible that you may tell each and every known one about the web address or everyone might be searching with your name for some relevant content.

Only sometimes after starting with Blogs, one get to know that he she is not getting enough visitors on way and only then one realises that there are other things one should consider and it’s no more about writing only. There are other ways, through which any blog gets traffic its way. Commonly used term is Tags. Tags are the keyword, which might be most important in your blog or in the particular article written by you, some word, on searching for which, you wish to get your link appeared on the Google results.

There are other paid services, which do the entire advertising etc for you on a little cost and I have seen that they are much effective. But this is only for people, who are using it for commercial purposes. Anyway, so these were a few things, which one should know about blogging.

Have you started using one? Not yet? Why? Start with one. The world is waiting for you.

My flight to Mumbai-The journey

Finally it was much awaited journey for my side, as even after lots of planning many times in past, I was not able to visit Mumbai to meet my cutie pie sis and relatives. I guess only two visits in last three years. I am really a rare visitor for them.

Lots of friends there, my classmates, my buddies, my colleagues, but like last times, I don’t know that whether even this time, I would be able to visit any of them. Although earlier it was planned that I will go to my friend Amit first and then will stay and meet others from there, but now as sis wants me to be with her, so …..

The flight is Go Air 373 – Delhi-to-Mumbai and the timings were 10:00 AM-12:10 PM. A bit slower than last times, when the travel was taking only 1 hour and 45 mins. As I read in newspapers, it was subjected to reach there before two hours of boarding, so I decided to wake up early to take safer side. My sweety friend helped me out in waking up and later after little things, I was ready to leave room by 6:20, I guess. I was keeping two hours in my hands to reach out Airport, but it came out to be a surprise to me as without traffic, it took only a matter of 35 mins. Yeah!! One of the reason was Driver’s jumping red lights, which was truly unnecessary for me.

After reaching Delhi Domestic Airport, my fear was “Should I let go the laptop under X-ray or not?” As I earlier heard that one should avoid that. But I guess, Airport authorities always get all the goods checked, so I didn’t tried to resist the same. I was told that I have came early and the counter for my flight will obviously open by 8:00 AM. I said I don’t mind waiting at the lounge. Taken a sip of coffee and taken a sit to open my Lappy to post this early one to avoid boredom. Tried to search WLAN by my Nokia N82 first, but was able to find only two IndigoDelhi and some other of Jet, I guess. But both of them were protected network and I don’t really know that whether do they provide the same to their visitors for free or not?

             
 

Continued …..

Ok! So, by now I am done with security checks. It was a long queue of 40-50 people at least. Now days, they ask for even your jackets off and Laptop out of bag. Heard announcement from SpiceJet side that they even need that passenger should identify their luggage before taking the flight, otherwise, it won’t be allowed due to security reasons. Don’t know whether these security reasons are new or just as were older. I visited in summer most of the time and earlier Laptop wasn’t with me, so don’t really know about this Laptop/ Jacket thing.

Anyway, my flight is on 10:00 AM, as I wrote earlier and I think at 9:30 AM, we will be allowed to take the cab from here.

The trip continued. Cab left me on board in time, but there was unexpected delays in take off for don’t know what reasons. At earlier times, when it was AirDeccan both the times, I remember there were no delays. This time, I guess the reasons behind the late were the late passenger than any technical glitch. Anyway, it went late by half an hour, I guess. Later it was announced as apology for the delay and also was told that it would take one hour and fifty mins more to reach at my destination Mumbai.

Although I am not aware of neither they prefer to tell, but there were some after flight issues, I guess as it took really a lot of time, when official instruction to open the seat belt were issued. Anyway, I found GoAir equally comfortable as AirDeccan was used to be and was also impressed with their business class fare, which they mention in their booklet with comparison with other flight services. Around 5k INR for Business seat @flight from Delhi-Mumbai is not that big deal I guess, when others might be offering the same @15k INR or more.

I was little bit annoyed with one person sitting behind me using cellfone, when it is already prohibited using any radio device in flight. (Although technically I know that technical the radio frequencies of cellfones don’t match with that of flight operating frequencies and these instructions are traditional cautious measures only).

Later on, I kept on using my cell for Music (in offline mode of course) and taken out my Laptop for typing all this as was getting bored after being done with magazines provided on seat. Taken sips of coffee and was waiting to get this flight reach to destination, where my little sis must be waiting for me on Airport.

One thing, I personally want to add about the flights. I always feel it scary the way luggage get taken care of. I mean you get a slip of your luggage, that’s ok, but when the luggage come on open trolley, then there is no check over it that who is taking whose luggage. Moreover, sometimes, one takes time to reach on the right trolley.

Anyway , finally flight ended by 12:25 PM (15 mins late than its schedule) means they made it up for the delay 45 mins. I was writing something over my lappy, when it was told that now you all should fasten your seat belts as the flight is going to land in Mumbai within minutes.

Later, it was almost 15 mins or more longer wait for the luggage. Passengers reach on Airport immediately and it takes time in case of luggage to get carried into a trolley and then on the wheels. Anyway, I got the same and then moved out. Choti and Mama were there to wait for me on Airport and after that it was a long long journey (credit goes to Mumbai traffic) to home, where I really by 3:00 PM finally.

So, this was my trip.

My Dell XPS: Finally everything fine with it

As I told you all that it was all heart breaking to see it in hands of technician before even I could have tried my hands well over it. The Dell Executive Mr. Harpal arrived by 1:00 PM of the day next, better in time. But the wrong part of it was that he came here without new LCD and it was to be delivered separately by someone else. Although he came here after assuring that it must have been delivered already, but it was not. Even he was frustrated over it as it was disturbing his next call schedule. Meanwhile he went on talking with me and also diagnosing the piece. Conclusions were of course the same and even a bit further that no loose connection, but actually faulty screen.

After confirming that the parts might be reaching here by 2:00 PM, he went on opening the whole Laptop and detaching the screen. It was sure heartening to see as LCD is not at screws only and rather than being soft and cautious, he was just professional and I was scared if it could lead some scratches at some side (although nothing happened like that). In conversation, even he said that it was better that if I would have asked for a Unit replacement in place of being agreed for a part replacement. I was not able to do so as my flight was scheduled at 26^th December and I was willing to keep the laptop by then anyhow. I’ll sure suggest others to never settled for anything less than perfect in case of delivery, but in my case, even now I was not with any complaints as there is no sign that anything might have been replaced, but still….. it will be a pain… just take a look, how was it over me?

Yes!! This is my newly came Laptop in pieces. But sure I got a better view of my laptop for sure before getting into any trouble and as being a Server administrator and experienced with hardware so much, it was not that bad with me as it might have been with any novice, who might be just willing to get the laptop working as soon as possible. But I wish to say to Dell that its really not good impression for the first timer. Beware of such incidents and keep the final check unit more tight and controlled.

Anyway, in the first look, like others, I am also annoyed with Windows Vista. Its really a Hogg when it comes to memory utilization, although as mine case is of 4GB and 2.4 GHz, so its not an issue, but I was really sure able to imagine that how divine it was, if I was getting it installed with Windows XP. I could have tried, but I was already warned that it would void the software support warranty. So, I have to live with it.

I was also troubled a bit with finger print scanner as it was giving me results like bad quality image etc. I told the same to Mr. Harpal. He tried once and it worked well. In fact the problem was with my finger. There were a few cuts over it, so it was not getting the perfect image. I tried with my thumb and it worked. I registered both of my thumb as only one finger was not allowed. After the same, I never tried with the passwords and always used the thumb only. Angutha Chhap

Speakers, I was really never demanding about it with a Laptop, but it really does a decent job. I could give it very good marks. I am happy with its loudness for sure. Being a 2.1, its fine at its limits.

Keyboard is sure divine and I really never had seen anything better than it. I have seen many of HP/ Compaq and even the other products of Dell, but it really something superb. The material also gives you a feel of its robustness. Although in first impression, you might say that it was better, if it was total black in place of being silver, but sometimes later, you get used of it.

Camera is also nice. I have a 2 MP camera with my Desktop as well, so I was already aware that what it could be offering and I found it on the same scale.

People, who might be willing to get a full review here, would be feel little disappointed as I am writing only my experience and not exploring it completely. Of course due to the constraints of my job requirements now days, which are really keeping me on toe.

Few more good things to say about my deal were, it was including a Bluetooth Mouse, which is being very very handy to me and the case, which came as bundled even if you opt for none, if very nice looking and comfortable enough.

Anyway, ending here. Feeling really tired enough.

Finally recieved my sweeet heart, Dell XPS, but still :(

I was waiting for the same very egarly and you all could understand the same very well. Got call from Security of my office that Sir! your consignment has arrived. I almost ran to the same. Checked the packet from all the sides to make sure that its in perfect shape and then signed the delivery reciept. Got the import paper, Tax Invoice and BlueDart receipt. Taken the laptop inside the office and then it was the time to open it.

Everything seems to be fine and I was already aware, it was not very pleasant to look at its screen under daylight. But my aim was to check out all the configurations, so I went for that only. All the items seem to be inside the box except the dusting cloth, which I was expecting to be there as I recieved the same with last LattitudeVostro consignment for office, but the same was not there. Don’t know whether they ship it with XPS or not. They should, I guess. In next part, I went for checking the index as my home PC gives a ranking of 4.8 and I was expecting it to produce. I got 5.1, in which lowest score was from memory. I think one somehow should arrange a memory at 800 MHz at least.

Anyway, later the nightmare came in. Don’t know it was from start or just start. I felt the display is too dull, so I taken the laptop inside the room and found that its redish and somewhere look like one might be using 16 bit colours. I double checked but it was not the same case. I called up Service Center obviously. I never thought that I would be doing by very first day, but it was … after diagnosis of one and half hour, me and the executive on other side reached over the conclusion that my LCD panel must be culprit as external display was working just as fine as it should be. So, the conclusion was: one executive will visit my office tommorow with new LCD and connecting cables to diagnose and change accordingly.

I am not happy. I am really really not happy. Being an experiennced user, no complaints from Dell or their service, but they were supposed to double check the build before shipping, at least they themselves claim so, but I found the claim false in my case. Although I am happy over one thing that their promise of delivering the piece in time was right in place. I booked at after noon of 9th December 2008 and got it delivered by 15th December 2008.

Although funny part is that Dell Order Stats is still showing me “In Transit”. Although I will consider it delivered completely, when it will start working perfectly means after the visit of executive tommorow. I hope that there will be no repeated visits as I was to leave the city after next week, so I really pray to god to get this mess over before that

Dell XPS: Today is the big final day

Just dialed to Bluedart myself to know the status of the shipment and got to know that its out to be delivered and must be delivered before 5 PM in any case. I am really going impatient. Let’s see, when it will reach to my own hands

Dell XPS: Just one more day remained

It’s waiting of one more day, if everything goes fine. The Bluedart website showing the status as “In Transit, Await for Delivery Information”. I really have no idea that what does it means, but can’t do anything than waiting for tomorrow. Let’s wait for tomorrow …

Dell XPS: Wait continues

No Luck yet. No updates. Wait continues… This was the status till tomorrow.

After waiting till today, an impatient me went further to check the status on Bluedart itself, if it has started showing there as well as per instructions on Dell’s site. I am happy to see that my order status is showing there and its “In Transit” means must be on Airport. It is written to be booked on 12th December 2008 from Chennai and expected to reach here by 15th December 2008 as I reported earlier.

Dell XPS: The wait continues

Poor me!! My wait for my Laptop still continued. I guess, I am being impatient as the big date is expected to be 15^th December 2008 and today is 12^th, but… the status on site is still “Ship from Factory”. I guess tomorrow, it must be changed to “With Local Carrier”, if it’s not then I will be worried as 14^th is Sunday and I don’t know that BlueDart works on Sunday or not.

Am I going to get it on Monday as expected?

Lots of questions running in my mind like what to check into it for the first time before signing the delivery? Then which software will do benchmark testing and in which manner have to verify all the configurations… and all and all… etc… Lets see… will update

Buying a Dell XPS M1530

Buying something is always been tough for someone like me, who wants to be optimistic and keeping the requirements sometimes even hyper. It was even long ride than my buying Nokia N82. I mean even with that I was sure that it will serve me properly, but even then confirming from reviews and reading specifications and capabilities etc.

Anyway, let me to come to the point. Buying a Laptop, when it was decided to be one of Dell, then choices were Inspiration, Lattitude, Studio, Vostro and XPS. People knowing me were too sure that only configuration of Dell XPS M1530 or M1730 could interest me. Somewhere I decided to keep my budget restricted by Rs. 60,000/- INR as I already have a Desktop with configuration given below:

Processor: 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2 GB DDR2
HDD: 1000 GB
Graphics Card: 512 MB nVIDIA 8600 GTS
Display: 22′ LCD Screen

But that was a price XPS starts with. Now, the another thing to trouble me was that I had lost my credit card in a theft one month back and I didn’t really went to apply again. My bank account has the Internet Banking enabled and I thought to get a Go Ahead with the same. I was to get my salary by first week of the month and I made the customized configuration online on 3^rd November 2008, I guess. It wasn’t the first time, I might have did that (it was a joke for my colleagues), but for the first time, I completed all the things and posted it.

Then I was supposed to get a call by the day next or the same day and I guess I got the call at the same day. I really don’t remember what happened then, but I guess, I went ahead with the base configuration and asked for the discounts, which might be possible and I got a discount of 4% VAT only as I already was guessing. I was even then reluctant as I was not getting what I wished for. Like 7200 RPM drive, Sound Blaster or Carry Case, while for me at least the first two were a must. The base configuration for Dell XPS M1530 then, was:

Processor: 2.1 GHz Core 2 Duo
RAM: 3 GB DDR2 (2×1)
HDD: 320 GB
Graphics Card: 256 MB nVIDIA 8600 GT
Display: 15′ Screen

and other usual accessories.

The price quoted was Rs. 58,378/- INR. It was sure a big thought to me being a medium class buyer as this purchase was behind the back of my parents & room partner and they were sure going to be angry over me for this ‘useless purchase’. I was always thinking like any usual Indian Medium class buyer and I asked the Dell Executive Mr. Girish that could I make the payment with NEFT through my internet banking enabled IDBI account. He said sure I could go for that and provided me B’glore CitiBank Account details as well, in which I was supposed to transfer the money, if I buy and as per the proceedings as the amount will take one day to get transferred, so order will be supposed to be received by the day next. Honestly speaking, for me it was a bad idea to drop in around 60,000/- into an unknown account, just on basis of few telephonic conversations and just because it’s in name of a big Company. I was sure reluctant big time.

In many reviews, I read about the bargaining on Dell’s prices, Dell Coupons and big time Thursday Deals. I got my offer by Thursday as well. The offer was that if I pay by the same day by credit card, then I will get a well customized configuration including 7200 RPM drive, Carry Case, Sound Blaster etc and still in budget means 59,397/-. I was sure going to happy, if there was not a catch, Internet Banking was not supported for this offer. L

Meanwhile another thing was going on at my side. My company made a purchase from Dell for more than a dozen Lattitude and Vostro Laptops. My Infrastructure Head (My Boss) said that a good deal might be arranged, if I follow the company links. I thought to give it a try and it was worth it. But the same also come to delay everything. I replied to Girish that I will go through my business links and the conversation broken later on.

But you know office side things, it went rather complicated as due to work, sometimes I was not getting time to talk over it and sometimes … so it didn’t went ahead and when it went ahead by end of November, then probably the Dell person dealing the business with us was changed and I got a general deal. Although it was profitable as there was an option of paying by Cash\ Cheque and the Dell office was in Gurgaon* (I am in Delhi). But the lady dealing with me was not ready to give any special offer or extra discount than standard 4%. I really said to her that whatever you are offering me, anyone anonymous could get by just filling order on your site. Why should I choose Dell, when even BDM’s of HP are almost regularly following me, if I go ahead for a deal with them? She was only replying that if any offer came then she could provide me, but right now she doesn’t have.

Honestly speaking, I was irritated. Irritated that why our company went ahead to have a business relationship with Dell, when they have nothing special to offer? But later I thought that I might be being little selfish, it was just an individual deal. In the moments of confusion, I called ABN Amro for my credit card, if it could be delivered back to me and for my surprised; it was delivered in just two days. Probably, it was the breakthrough that made me deciding to go ahead with Mr. Girish, the first Dell executive, I talked with. If I was to go with the same price, then why not with the person, who was sure nice to me and given attractive offers in place of being reluctant to give any.

I wrote an email to him mentioning the configurations I required. And he replied very soon with lesser prices than were being quoted to me right then. I made up my mind then and then it was time to say yes to the deal. But as my other friends bought Dell and a few online buddies suggesting me, it was the time to ask for discounts as one of online buddy got a 10% deal depending on his configuration. I talked with Girish over this matter and he said he can’t give this much offer, but will sure provide me the best deal at the moment, when I would be buying.

Finally the day came, 9^th December 2008, when I was to buy and I was working in my office ready with two credit cards to pay with them. I got a call from his side asking me for my opinion. I said I am ready to buy, have to payments ready, but want to be assured of the best deal. He asked me for some time, he could arrange a good deal for me. I said ok and went for Lunch. While Lunch, I got a call from his side telling me about the offer. He asked me to be in front of computer. I was at Lunch and signals over my cell weren’t strong enough to get it online right then, so I said him to go ahead with telling me as I have worked out much over customization of Dell Configurations.

He given me the offer of a configuration in Rs. 69,000/- INR, which was including almost everything means 2.5 GHz Processor with 6 MB L2 Cache, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB 7200 RPM drive, Carry Case etc. I said Buddy!!! It’s really out of my budget as I really don’t need to spend this much over a Laptop. What he could do more to keep it under 63,000/- limit at least. Later after a few exercises, I was offered with a configuration (offer valid for sometime only), which finally became my final configuration as given below:

Processor: 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo 3MB L2 Cache
RAM: 4 GB DDR2 (2×2)
HDD: 320 GB 7200 RPM
Graphics Card: 256 MB nVIDIA 8600 GT
Display: 15′ Screen (1280×1024)
Sound: Blaster
Extra: Bluetooth Optical Mouse and rest is common in all XPS accessories* (check online).
Carry Case: No. As it was exceeding my cash limits.

Price was Rs. 63,125/- INR… Thanks to Girish.

He guided me to IVR and I made the payment, although later I was left with the thinking that should I disclose my credit card numbers and code to anyone online? Yes! I really went ahead to change the codes later on. Cautious you know.

In minutes, he replied by mail while keeping me on call and I confirmed over mail. I also made a double check on Dell’s site and my order was being shown there. I was relaxed a bit. Finally the payment was made. I was promised that my consignment will arrive in five working days and I really needed that as by the last week of December, I was to fly outside the city.

At the same night, it started showing Order Received, Released to Manufacturing and I was happy that the things are proceeding in right manners. At the day next, whole day there was no change in status while I keep on checking. I tried to keep patience and it was fruitful as in the morning of the day next means at 11^th December 2008, I got an expected delivery date, which was 15^th December 2008 in my case and the status shown was Ship from Factory. So, everything seems to be good enough till now and moving in time. I am waiting to get my hands on the same machine and then I will update you all guys about the same. Till then keep checking out my articles.