--->The Official Studio XPS 1340 Owner's Thread<---

rejox, just some minor corrections, so that everybody else doesn't get confused:
Core 2 Duo is the processor (CPU) and not a chipset.
Core 2 Duo is also Intel's, not nVidia's.
Not only in Australia, but everywhere else in the world, Studio XPS 13 is available ONLY with nVidia chipset. There's no Centrino 2 for 1340, only for 1640.

 

Thanks Lexus. Key clarification.

Guac - How very interesting that mine is stuffing up with such a similar set up to yours. I wonder if its got anything do with the 64bit version of Vista? Anyone have any views on this?

Also would you be able to check what version of the nVidia chipset driver you have?
The one available on the Dell website is v4.69. I'm at work so I'll be checking this tonight.

Thanks for your help on this one - it's been driving me nuts!

 

After reading through random pages in this thread, and one about problems with the 1340, I can't help but ask:

Is anyone happy with their purchase?

 

I'll agree with this... It's similar size to the power adapter I got with my 1210 2 years ago, just thinner.

Key's are actually bigger than I had expected. Seem closer to a normal keyboard, maybe even a little bigger.

I've had two processes fail so far... The host process failed when I clicked the Dell Webcam Central button and the Java upgrade failed for whatever reason. Not too worried about it as later tonight I will be clearing it off and installing Windows 7.

Mine is 5.2.. lowest was from Gaming Graphics.

 

Did you find the touchpad to be too small? I think the touchpad and the keyboard are the most irritating parts of the computer. The keyboard just doesn't type as smoothly as I like. Sometimes you have to press hard to get keys to register.

 

Thanks for sharing this here, Jay!
That's a nice, detailed long vid' on the 1340...but still good!

NP! It's a fairly quick read!

Cin

 

Except for the guy sniffling, that annoyed me.

 

I heard that...but I was watching the vid' and lost my focus on that! LOL

And, usually that stuff annoys me..


Cin

 

I think mine is 4.6.9 but not sure if I'm looking at the right thing.

 

I was just at Best Buy and was playing around with the Sony Z series and now I'm torn. That computer's keyboard and touchpad seem so much better and since I'll be typing a lot on it, that is important. It's also a pound lighter. Only problem is it is expensive, has worse specs than the 1340, and its screen feels like it's going to snap off. I'm not experiencing heat issues with the 1340 and it hasn't frozen yet but the touchpad seems too small for my taste and since the keyboard is bigger than usual, it's harder to type on since your fingers have to move farther distances to get to specific keys. I don't know...it comes down to technology vs. utility I suppose.

 

hey your esd had been pushed back to the 9th right?

mine still hasn't shipped. :/

 

Hey all!

I have created a new thread:

The Official Studio XPS 1340 Order Thread, and it's Located Here
This thread is for Order Status, to post when you ordered, updates, etc.

Please follow the format, makes a easy read!

If you have any q's about it, let me know!


Cin

 

My 1340 is coming the 10th! Excitement yay!

I'll go post on Cins' new thread...

 

Not so much... but it's hard for me to say. I'm coming from using a Dell XPS M1210 which has almost the exact same size touchpad and I'm definitely used to it.

Typing wise... I agree, feels like sometimes I'm hitting the keys again. I'll try and pay more attention to it (but then might stray the results). Will be one of those things I'll notice once I actually use it for work.

Only other issue.... Darn the thing gets hot! With it sitting on my lap, I feel like my left leg is going to burn off! Blah!

 

Is that when both cards are on, or is it only with 9400 (the power savings mode), or any?

 

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

I know everybody is excited about their orders coming or getting delayed but hopefully all that can get moved into the other thread as it really clutters this thread. It's hard to find the reviews, first impressions, problems and solutions when you have to sift through a bunch of ordering stuff.

 

Your welcome!!!
I understand, and..the Order Status thread has a nice setup..making it an easy view!


Cin

 

Studio XPS 13, weight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbicl8DrWfc

Studio XPS 13, HDMI 1080i:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3llYrUGCL-o

Studio XPS 13, HDMI 720p:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ESiv7HeVM

 

So all in all, out of those who have received their 1340 - are you going to keep it?

I'm trying to decide if I should cancel my order before it ships to not have to deal with the shipping back to dell issue.

For those who say its "hot" is this when you are only running on the 9200? or when you have hybrid sli turned on? My hope is that for daily use, it won't get so hot as to burn your legs with just the 9200 on...

Ugh, I find myself thinking about the sony z more and more...but I hate that it has that flimsy screen that can get scratched by the keyboard when its folded down......



Arg.....

 

I'm undecided at the moment. I really like the technology in the Dell laptop and I'd definitely keep it if I was using it casually rather than in school every day. The keyboard is slippery but it isn't too bad to type on; the Z's keyboard feels better though. The computer as a whole feels heavy to carry around every day in my backpack but I can live. It's actually not very warm at all unless there are intense processes going on in the background. If it was hot AND the keyboard/touchpad sucked, I would not hesitate to return it, but it isn't hot at all. It can get hot in extreme performance mode though. The hinge changing color for battery status notifications doesn't work on my computer for some reason--it's always white. I might take it to school with me tomorrow and try to type out notes on it. If I can't, it's going back since the main purpose of this is school.

By the way, I really like the SSD. It's faster than the 7200 rpm drive in my desktop!

Side note, it's 14F/-10C degrees outside and consequently not very warm in my apartment, so that might contribute to the lack of unbearable heat in the notebook.

 

Awesome, thanks for the input man - one question, when using the laptop on your lap, with the graphics set to endurance (ie: only using the 9200m) does the laptop get too hot to use? I guess what I'm asking is, can the laptop actually be used as a laptop?

 

Hi all,
I'm hopefully getting mine next week (and want to be prepared). Do you, who have had this system for a while, recommend doing a clean install of Windows? Dell always includes bloat ware which I could remove easily but I am wondering if a complete reinstall would help avoid some of the issues that I have read about here.
If anyone has done one, anything special to look out for or do differently? Drivers and the like? I've read about people with the 1640 having issues with drivers and really don't want to waste too much time the first night with my 1340!

 

Hi all. I got my 1340 yesterday. I didn't have a lot of time to sit down with it, but I'll give you my first knee-jerk impressions.

What I like:
- Very aesthetically pleasing. Beautiful laptop.
- I do like the keyboard and back-lit keys. Not too mushy.
- Love the glass edge to edge screen.
- I can play WoW maxed out with shadows low.
- Face recognition is too cool.


What I don't like:
- Top left of laptop gets HOT HOT HOT when in performance mode.
- Power plug is on the right side. I'm right handed. I hate that.
- Be prepared to keep it wiped down. Lots of finger prints.
- I wish the resolution was a tad bit better, but it's doable.
- Lots of bloat-ware.
- No extras. When I bought my 1530, it came with a remote, nice case for the manuals and software, ear buds and polish cloth. This laptop cost more. It's the little things that add the polishing touches.

I'm going to install Windows 7 Beta on it tonight. I live by clean installs.

 

Yes, wasn't supposed to ship until next Tuesday. But now it's en route from Nashville via FedEx ground.

 

Hi guys, I'll be getting mine anytime today. I just want to know if there are any recommended things I should do when u get the laptop first. Like

• removing bloatware
• re-installing the OS
• creating a back up CD of the OS (if it doesnt come with it)

If any of you have a check list of the stuff one needs to do when you get the lappie, it would be great!!

 

Here are the few things I did when I first received my lappy last year:
Dell Vista Laptop Reformat and Bloatware Removal Guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838

and,
NBR Vista Tips and Tweaks Guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166532

This is also a good thread:
New Notebook? Make it Secure and Boost Performance for Free!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=38092

Are you going to be keeping the Anti Virus program that comes with the 1340..It's probably McAffe? I use Avira AV! It's awesome Also, SuperAntiSpyware is good, as is CCleaner, and RevoUninstaller! (all Freeware, and in the links below)

There are some great freeware programs you can use!
The best free antivirus/firewall/anti spyware programs
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=190538

and,
The Ever-Growing Free Windows Software List
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=337890

I bet your way excited!


Cin

 

Thanks a lot, Cin! You are helpful as ever!

 

i am checking for the AHCI driver but yet to find it on the Dell site

 

Mine arrived last night. Originally ordered Jan 16. It's a Brick. Returning and going with something else.

 

No problem. The notebook doesn't get too warm when you're using the 9200m. You could definitely use it as a laptop if you use that graphics card all the time. It is a heavy computer for its size though so it might not be comfortable for long periods of time.

 

I wouldn't necessarily call it a brick but yes, it is pretty large. It is also not that heavy if you're used to computers that weigh 4.5 pounds or more. My computer right now is 3.5 pounds and I like that weight.

 

Not sure.. sorry, may sound stupid here, but how would I know or turn one on/off? It was while it was plugged in, probably no power-saving anything going on.

 

Surely this can't be right..

Order Date: 03/02/2009 ...

Delivery Preparation: 04/02/2009 Phase: 4. Delivery Preparation


Your order is being prepared for delivery.

 

Did a clean install of Windows 7 last night... got it mostly working, except I'm dealing with one exception in the device manager for the Display Adapter. It says the driver for the NVIDA GeForce 9200M GS (Prerelease - WDDM 1.1) is failing for some reason. You have the same problem?

Face recognition was cool while I had it... but can't find the install or what not for Windows 7 to make it work.

 

That's pretty sweet if they've fully ramped up on production and are now able to turn around computers immediately -- like they do after the products been around awhile.

Since mine was on hold for a month and was shipped yesterday, it's totally possible that the backlog of parts had finally arrived -- or whatever.

 

I meant brick as in a paper weight. Completely does not function. Dead.

 

ha. so are you going to get another one or something else?

 

Oh wow thats pretty bad...

 

I needed it because I'm a developer and willl be working from overseas for the next month.....oh and i'm LEAVING TOMORROW. Though I swore I never would again. I'm probably going to get a MacBook. Really unfortunate to have to make this kind of a purchase in a hurry, but it's really the only option I have at this point. I'll be running Ubuntu on it though.

 

Caligator: better luck next time! Hope that doesn't ever happen to anyone but it inevitably does, even to macs (*gasp*, oh no's, O_O, unthinkable!). At least apple has quicker shipping! (although their parts are mostly manufactured by asus)

 

Lol, to the guy who called it a brick, I was about to respond and say "I mean sure, its a little heavy, but the new macbook weighs practically the same, surely 4.5lbs isn't *that* bad"


Then I keep reading, only to find you meant it was DOA.

Wow. Nothing like dell's great quality control....

 

When I bought a Lenovo T400 last September, it arrived DOA. There's lots a bad things that can happen after a computer leaves the manufacturer.

Edit: Actually it arrived, then booted, then died.

 

w00t,
well - my studio 1340 just went into the boxing stage

ESD is still 2/13/09 - hopefully it'll ship before then, as I got a free upgrade to next business day shipping, but due to the ESD of feb 13th it falls on a friday, meaning if it ships on the 13th, I wont get it till the 16th if it ships on the 12th, I get it on the 13th

wish me luck! hopefully this comp is acceptable, else I'll be returning it and ordering a sony z


also, is the 1340 shipping out of nashville? I live about 20 miles north of there, uber fast shipping hopefully

 

Has anyone tried out WoW or TF2 on the 1340 yet?

 

Your welcome I can't wait to hear about the arrival!


Cin

 

How long are you guys with a 1340 finding the battery life lasts with that 6 cell battery as I have read it only lasts 2 hours? If thats true that is dire!

 

Heard from someone in a different forum, 3 hours with miduse (WiFi on, chatting, browsing etc)
Sounds like the M1330...

 

Thanks!

Hmmm even 3 isn't good. I'm looking for a portable lap top, not a desktop replacement as I have a high end spec Dell XPS desktop with 24" widescreen but what I need is a portable laptop for when abroad and I'm looking between the 13 and 16.

 

Well then you need to buy something else, or get the 9-cell battery Yes it exists...

 

I had a minor problem in Win 7 similar to the sleep mode issues other people have got in Vista. If I left the laptop for a while it'd freeze up. I actually went back to Vista but I did manage to get all the drivers sorted out first.

Installing just the prerelease drivers that Windows Update gave me only enabled one video card for me. This is what I did to fix everything:

- installed the motherboard drivers off the Dell driver CD
- then installed the graphics drivers off the Dell driver CD

That got everything working, then windows update instaled the pre-release drivers anyway and everything seemed to keep working.

And if you have an unknown device left in Device Manager after installing everything else, it's probably the infra-red. Driver is again on the Dell CD.

Also sorry to keep asking this, but you don't have an eSATA drive you can test do you? The eSATA not working is really the only problem I have with mine.