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

I did give my initial impressions a few messages ago

I just got it this evening so a more detailed review might come up later based on what you guys ask for... I'm not a gamer and will be using it mostly for editig...but i must say this is way faster than my previous laptop...(well, I shouldnt be comparing a Latitude D620 and an HP dv6000, this is totally different league...) I like it

Feel free to ask me anything...
I dont know if some of these features are already on laptops but this one has a toggle key for dual monitors, backlight keyboard settings, etc..

Read my earlier message on my first impressions...

 

Oh yeah I forgot about that; the display switch button is a great feature actually. I know Ubuntu has a dedicated keyboard shortcut to do the same thing, but I've never seen that built into a function key combo before.

 

Oh my god!

I ordered only on Tuesday (3rd) and already my laptop is being delivered !!

:|

 

Some of you are very lucky. I've been waiting almost three weeks and are supposed to wait additional three weeks before delivery.

It's wierd, but i think it's because the logitech mouse i ordered with my XPS 13

 

Well I was realy looking forward to this laptop but now it looks like imimporting an LG p310 with english keyboard. The hype was fun while it lasted and it does look pretty but these are just not enough to make up for the 9600gt in the lg

 

I ordered late night on Monday 2nd and mine has been shipped too, with very similar config to yours.

Looks like we're lucky in England =D

Walsh Western (Dell's shipping partner in the UK for those who don't know) have scheduled delivery for Tuesday!

 

I imagine they'll call my house at some point today to organise that, I'm at college at the moment. Can't wait to get back.

 

I ordered mine on the 28th of Jan and it was delivered on the 3rd of Feb.

I'm really pleased with it and have installed the beta of Windows 7 x64 on it and it works like a dream. With the Hybrid SLI turned off I don't see any heat problems and battery seems to last nearly 3 hours.

The only problem I've had so far is the Print Screen key has come off but a Dell engineer is due to visit today and replace the keyboard assembly. [EDIT] No he isnt, no stock of the keyboard in the UK [/EDIT]

I had an alert email from Dell today about an new BIOS available for download but when I went to download it it looks like its actually the previous version (A02) and the newer BIOS (A03) has been removed. Anyone got any thoughts on this? I installed the A03 version when I installed Windows 7.

 

Blargo, use the included driver disk and install the Vista 64 Nvidia drivers. That will take care of the display issue.

As far as the facial recognition software, I have not found it either, but I'm still looking....

 

did i kill dell's father or something?

i ordered a 1340 on jan 8th and mine STILL has not shipped

 

Made my review about my 1340, hope you like it (It's obviously not 100% finished, need more things to test it with + much larger pics, need to fix that)

http://www.reviews.t3chline.com/

Hope you like!

Cheers!

Zoneout

 

Thanks you guys, I appreciate it.

Some questions I have though...
I bought a model with the base graphics card, 9400M. Does this have the dedicated and discrete option? Probably not right? And is it the Hybrid SLI I have been hearing about?
Is the keyboard as crappy as someone said it was? Or was that just an isolated problem?

Blacklit Keyboard: Is there a way to turn off the blacklight? Or is it like an auto sensing type of thing?

How is the CCFL compared the the WXGA? Whats like the main differences?

Do you guys like the lappy in general?

wall of text...I know. ily

 

Can anyone get a weight of adapter? It's not important to most of people, but if you wear your notebook with an adapter so you care about weight, because caring 2.2Kg + 0.2Kg wouldn't be nice

 

No, your model will only have the 9400M and will not have a dedicated graphics card. It will not be Hybrid SLI capable.

The keyboard isnt great. I have already broken one of the keys off and was expecting an engineer onsite today to replace it. However, I've been told they dont have any stock in the UK of the keyboard and it will be abother 3 days before they can fix it.

Yes, FN+ right arrow key will allow you to Dim or turn off the keyboard backlit. It can also be done in software. As far as I can tell there is no auto sensing like on the Apple MacBooks

I think its a fantastic screen and for a laptop of its size is one of the best screens I've seen.

I'm loving everything else about this laptop and I'm loving it even more now I have taken off the Dell installed Vista and installed the Windows 7 x64 beta.

 

Thanks a lot my love. In regards to the graphics card I have...Can anyone tell me if it will be completely useless? And in addition does this integrated card avoid the hanging sleep mode the other card is facing?

And all the users who bought from bestbuys, is there any confirmation on whether the screen is CFFL, or WXGA? I think its the CFFL because it comes with the 2.0MP webcam, but BB posts it as a WXGA.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9150624&st=XPS&lp=7&type=product&cp=1&id=1218036666917

Btw...how did you manage to break off one of the keys? That makes me very nervous...

 

You're confusing the properties screen resolution and the backlight. Both displays are WXGA, the CFFL and LED differ in how the LCD screens are illuminated.

EDIT: Ouch, post 666, hope this isn't a signal for how the rest of my day goes.

 

Ahhh I see, Thanks.

 

I'd assume that the Best Buy model is the cheaper CFFL version.

I think that the Best Buy model is a bargain: I essential paid $400 more than that to get 1) LED and 2) 2.5, and 3) DELL support. While I hate Best Buy support, and prefer DELL's in-home support, for only $999, I think it's worth getting it. Even if it lasts only a year.

Actually, when I think about it, I pad $600 more, because $200 if a gift certificate. I wonder what else could be different?

 

My delivery is scheduled for Tuesday 8am-1pm! This means that it took a week from picking up the phone and talking to a rep for the first time, to actually having the laptop in my possession! Incredible from my point of view, it's a shame it's not the case for everyone though.

I'll get to work on a review as soon as I get it.

 

I managed to somehow get my little finger of my right hand under it when I went to press the backspace and it snapped the plastic clip under the key. I'm a little worried about it now as well but hopefully it will survive a bit better once the keyboard has been replaced

 

Thank you so much for your review!

 

Hey Kennaay, you are confusing 2 totally different things.
WXGA is the resolution of the screen, and equals 1280x800 pixels.
CCFL is the (older, more power hungry) way to light the screen, with other options being WLED (brighter, uses less power, so battery lasts longer), OLED (terribly expensive and not yet available on any notebooks), etc.

So, with Studio XPS 13 we have only 2 options:
WXGA + CCFL (older, cheaper)
WXGA + WLED (newer, more expensive)

Hope that helps.

 

Those are just awesome photo's Thanks for sharing!

Great photography!

What you have so far, looks good!

Cin

 

Thanks from me too Looks good so far, but could be more detailed.
As far as I see it there are more positive comments on the XPS 13, in comparison to the launch of the M1330
It is just funny that BAD reviews cause people to panic, and GOOD reviews raise suspicion...

 

Well, I personally think that there's such a type of people that will complain always, no matter what. Therefore, I can not just believe all the bad things that were said about this notebook, until i hear the good things too, so that i can form a more balanced opinion. It will only help us all as more reviews are posted.

 

Well there are too german reviews, that are kind of well done... But I would not believe everything (good or bad) that I read just on some homepage or some magazine...
Soon I shall know for sure

 

I'm looking forward to seeing if one of the NBR Reviewer's does one

Those, are always good reviews


Cin

 

I am waiting for the review of a german magazine called "c't" ^^

 

I second the desire to see an NBR review of the 1340. I've been in the market for a new notebook since my Nvidia card ruined my dv2500t and this certainly looks promising. And since it's new, it won't be cancelled soon (was going to get a dv5t then cancelled. Then an Asus N50vnB1-B, then the B1-B was cancelled.) I've always liked the size of a 13" notebook and the look of anything with the XPS badge on it. Just depends on function meeting form, and that's where the review comes in.

 

Beware, that unlike the 9400M chipset (on Studio XPS 13) that uses eutectic solder (newer and better technology), the 9600M (on LG) uses a high-lead solder, which is associated with the "old process" responsible for the failures. Don't be fooled that higher numbers (9600 vs 9400) means better GPU, far from it. Yes, you'll get a faster GPU, but less reliable system.

 

I just learned something fascinating on what it means when DELL marks your order as SHIPPED.

Anyway, I was curious because it's been 2 days since they said my order was shipped and gave it a FedEx #. But the FedEx site doesn't have any updates on it other than expected delivery day and that Fed Ex picked it up in Nashville. So, I called FedEx -- who says it's supposed to be delivered by tomorrow, and I was getting nervous because I've had shipments get lost before.

Anyway, DELL loads as truck at their dock and doesn't hand it off to FedEx until it's full. The FedEx guy says it can take a few days for Dell to load up the truck. Once Dell loads the truck, then they pass it off to FedEx and then FedEx will start the proper tracking process.

So when Dell says Shipped, they really mean put in a temporary storage at their facility.

My dreams of having this for the weekend have been dashed...but who'se up for a little smash and grab of a FedEx truck in Nashville. Probably has 1000s of nice laptops on it? OK, I'm going to go off and watch the movie Heat again.

 

To the owners of 1340, does your wrists leave prints after typing for lets say 10min ? Are you keeping your 1340 fingerprint clean and does it bother you ?

Also any 3Dmark06 of 9500m ?

Cheers

 

Did anyone find out yet how to reinstall the Facial Recognition software? On my order it says "No Media" oO

@bydus:
Just do a search and you will find those scores

 

I have recently been looking for a new, more portable laptop and am most likely going to get this. I saw your problems with fingerprints and can shed some light on the subject. I fixed it on a different computer by a very careful coat of clear plastic finish (I believe it was acryllic, but not spray paint!) that you can get at any hobby or hardware store. Make sure you get a more expensive brand because if it clumps, you are screwed and can't do anything about it. It will dull the gloss on the surface, but only because you know that it's there. Hope this helps. I can give you pictures of my c90s if you guys are worried about the gloss.

 

Yes, please!

Why did you have to do it on c90s, isn't it simply silver plastic on the palm rests? or are you talking about the cover?

 

Well, I can't fight now since I am at work, but when I get home I will. And yes, it was the cover and the left and right touchpad buttons (made of come kind of metal) that I put the coat on. In hind sight there was a slight discoloration of the metal buttons, but I am immensely impressed with the coat on the cover, no change except a slight dull in the gloss. I hate ruining the good look of a laptop with fingerprints.

Edit:



This was taken from my cell's 3.2 megapixels camera. I made sure I wiped my hands all over it before I took this picture. It may be dirty (guilty of laptop abuse), but there isn't a single fingerprint on it.

 

Sort of. Not badly unless your hands are particularly greasy.

3550 @ 1280x800.

 

i have had a love hate relationship wiv my first dell laptop. it hasn't worked from the moment i switched it on. had issue after issue, and dell are bamboozle'd. changed the motherboard twice, now the cpu needs replacing.

stop code : 0x00000101.

if anyone gets this BSOD in windows, don't waste your time with nvidia drivers or service pack updates. don't bother sivving threw minidump files for a clue, its hardware.

... i now have grey hair, thanks dell

 

fox1, I see the hate. doesn't sound like much room for the love though.

 

Is it permanent, or can you remove it later without damaging the surface?

 

Hmm there was a video on youtube of some guy who put some plastic/protection film on his M1330...
That was impressive, for he was not able to scratch it even with a fork ^^ I think a handyman always finds a way, its just a question about warranty...

 

But why would anyone spoil m1330 surface by putting some plastic on it? I really think that 1330 cover is absolutely perfect, i wish 1340 had the same, ehhhhh...

 

Yup! I bet someone does one fairly soon!
I've always liked the reviews, and how they are formatted! Nice and easy to read, and understand! + Great pics'!


Cin

 

Some news for Canadian buyers, I noticed just now:
- a larger capacity and faster hard disk is available now (500GB 7200rpm)

 

Also available on the US site now - I'm still sticking with the SSD

 

Any one has played COD4 on it? What specs ?

Battery life seriously disappoints on 1340

 

How so? Going through this thread, some have said just over 2 hours others have said closer to or over 3. There doesn't seem to be anything conclusive.

 

That's actually possible. The first couple of times you use a battery, its charge normally lasts less (so in this case 2 hours), after that it starts utilizing its full capacity and can last longer. I'd say 2-2.5 hours for this battery is very realistic, remember it's 6 cell only. A 9 cell would last 3-4 hours.

 

It's a shame then that the 9 cell is only available as a secondary battery and not the primary one.

 

Not sure if this was posted:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Studio-XPS-13-XPS-16-Hands-On-Test.14064.0.html