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

To those that have performed a clean install of Vista:

When doing the clean install, did anyone install any Dell-specific software from the drivers site, like the "Dell System Software" utility and "QuickSet"? I ask this because the "Dell System Software" is listed as 'Urgent' and it also notes "If you are reinstalling the operating system it is important that this software be installed first."

 

i did install both..but i did them later in the updates not right away lol

 

Yeah, I'd like to know that too
Also, how much space does one get after deleting the recovery partition? I am getting only 295 GB out of the 320 GB I dont see any other partitions either.

 

load your dell driver cd.. the win vista driver should work for 7.. u need the dell 1515 driver

 

on a full format i have 297gb out of the 320

 

Its optional. The Quickset is good for the onscreen display of volume and screen brightness.

 

hmm.. it just doesn't work, are you sure its the 1515? i even tried reinstalling it.

 

mine is the 1515.. my dell is from bestbuy..

 

The indicator lights up ONLY when wireless is ON, regardless of whether the driver is installed or not. So, after installing the drivers, make sure you actually activate your wireless connectivity, and the light on the front will show that.

 

Clarification: the Ir is just a reciver, not both ways

 

If you are looking for a keyboard/mouse combo to go with your 1340, I'd recommend the Microsoft Laser Desktop 7000 (review here). Matches the laptop well and has a load of useful features. Only slight drawback is the it doesn't use bluetooth, just standard 2.4Ghz RF, so you need to use their dongle, taking up one USB port. On the other hand, this shouldn't drain your battery as much as BT.

I've got one though, and I'm very happy with it. Together with my Samsung 24" monitor, it makes for quite a formidable set up...

 

let me know as soon as u get it how it looks and feels - stable on the desk? Could u post pictures?
And how long the battery life with that battery is
thanx!!!

Also to the guy with the 9 cell battery pic who replied to my question , is this you 9 cell? - can you answer the qustions above + post some more pictures?

 

I went for the Logitech MX Revolution

Not decided if I'm going to get a keyboard. I'll probably get a 22"-24" monitor for it at some point in the future, I'll pick up a keyboard then.

 

A new review:

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review/notebooks/dell/studio_xps_13/276789

It says something about an audio driver eating half of the CPU processing always.

 

If u go for Logitech MX5500, u get an MX revolution bluetooth mice.

 

Hola guys,

this notebook is ideal for home music with firewire M-audio?

the latency of system is low?


thanks

harry

 

This brings me to another question. My system has pretty low volume compared to my previous laptops (HP DV 6000 and Latitude 620). I dont know if everyone has the same issue.

 

Thank you, mooseymoose. I guess you have 2 GB more than I do

 

Good find - thanks. Maybe they had a dodgy system though, because I have no problems with the audio driver... anyone else?

 

i also had same issue. the sound was too low. you need to go to audio devices / configure.. and there are 3 options.. you need to raise sound for PC Speakers which is by default set to very low value..
wonder why this setting is buried under so many levels.. !!

 

It is not mine, I found it on the Studio XPS 1640 thread and re-posted here, but the form-factor is the same: sticking down, raising the back of the laptop.

 

Ugh I'm getting so frustrated right now. In Canada they have a new sale where the 1340 with these specs:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8600 @ 2.4GHz
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1067MHz
320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Edge-to-Edge 13.3" HD WXGA LCD with 2.0 Megapixel Camera
NVIDIA® GeForce® 9400M G

This setup is now $1299.00 CDN, which is $50.00 cheaper than the base configuration. I ordered this same config for $1349.00 on Wednesday, do you guys think I should bother to cancel and reorder again, for the third time??

My situation:
1)Ordered base configuration 1340 plus a gig of ram on January 22nd, paid $1415.00 CDN after taxes
2)Waited
3)Ordered new 1340 with specs mentioned above on February 18th and paid $1421.00 CDN after taxes.
4)Feb 19th, received first 1340, plan on returning it.
5)Feb 20th, see the price has dropped again, for the 1340 mentioned above.

Why do you think they would be offering a config for $50.00 cheaper then the base config. This sale goes on until March 5, so they're clearly trying to push it, but why? and do you think it could drop any more? Sorry for freaking out, but it is money, and I do like to get the most bang for my buck, I don't care as much this time because the specs are the same as what I ordered, its just fifty dollars cheaper. However, it REALLY frustrates me that I waited for nearly a month for my laptop to arrive, and then RIGHT when it ships and arrives, the price drops. Anyone care to comment?

 

I have to wait unitl my original order is cancelled. Once I receive my refund I will then go back to haggling for the original price I paid for my first 1340. As of today the same Laptop is about $120 more.

 

Yeah, I noticed that price drop as well. I will be ordering mine today, not the base configuration though, but that most expensive one, with P9500 CPU, which has $330 off. Why Dell does that, I have no idea. I think you can always call them and say that it's now $50 cheaper, maybe they could throw in some accessories for that amount. Doesn't hurt to try.

 

I also noticed that on Dell Canada, they now offer 4, 6, and 8 GB of RAM, although I think it's better to buy only 4GB and upgrade later.

I also think that it's best to buy the old good HDD, instead of SSD. My thinking is this: I will buy a 500GB HDD (for $50 extra) and in 6 months to 1 year replace it with a SSD, when the prices go down and the tech improves. Currently, I still don't trust SSD, because if the best of the best is having such problems, other models will wear out even faster:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/19/intel-x25-m-ssds-slowing-down-with-extensive-use/

 

I almost ordered a 1340 last week but held off because I really wanted to see one in person before I did.

I do have some questions though if anyone can answer.

Has anyone seen any comparrison shots of the differences in thickness of the LCD between the CCFL and the LED lit screens? I've looked at a lot of shots but I can't quite tell if the CCFL 1340 is that much chunkier. I'm looking for a small machine for travelling so size matters a lot. I've got a 1530 with LED and I know I love the screen but I'm torn as to whether or not its worth it for the 1340.

Is there really any point with the SLI graphics if you're not out to game? I know its easier on battery life but its also a pretty spendy option. I'm looking for light photo processing work, a better GPU isn't going to help me much.

Thanks!

 

There are no comparison shots of the screen thickness yet, but unlike the previous generation models where CCFL was visibly thicker and heavier, now the differences will be minimal. Also, if you liked the LED screen on your 1530 (which frankly was considered to be very low quality) then you will just love the LED screen of 1340, which is excellent
For photo editing, 9400M is more than enough.

 

Good to know, the LED is definitely on the shopping list, I just have to swallow the $150 cost. Seems like its worth the premium though.

Now I just need Dell.ca to drop the price again!

 

Other people did have the problem, but you can fix it by just reinstalling the audio driver.

 

So I initially reported that I had no trouble reading burned media with this drive. That's been true for dvd+r, dvd+rw, and cd-rw media. But now, with cd-r media I'm having serious trouble reading mitsui sliver disks. Memorex cd-r disks work OK. Ironically the mitsui are supposed to be a lot higher quality disks than the cmc disks that memorex sells.

These mitsui disks are in great condition and work fine in other machines (always have), but only 1 out of 3 read on my hl-dt-st gs20n drive. The drive spins up and you can hear it repeatedly seeking at some position before it fails to mount the iso9660 filesystem.

I have version a106 firmware in my drive, and I notice that there is newer firmware out already:

http://support.us.dell.com/support/...eid=R210365&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=295900

Not that the release notes say anything about fixing media read strategies.

Anybody else have different firmware than a106?

 

Are you talking specifically about CD-R (as opposed to CD+R) or do you mean CD recordable in general?

 

There's no such thing as CD+R. Pretty sure he just means normal CD-R (not CD-RW).

 

Oops, right, i confused with DVD.

 

I wrote cd-r and meant cd-r, as in recordable write once cds.

Oh and I meant only 1 out of 3 would read not 1 out of 3 won't read. Ie most mitsui disks fail.

 

Ok I got mine, I had ordered with the LED screen. I can easily tell the difference , its much much brighter and better compared to my Vostro 1400 (i compared side by side). The brand of the LCD says "Seiko" when I see it in Nvidia settings under Linux. And compared to the Vostro, the display looks thinner than the Vostro when seen from the side.

Also it seems to run quite warm/hot. The cpu temps are aroung 52-55 C. GPU temp around 60 C, all this under Linux (Fedora 10).

 

I'm a little concerned about the temperatures people are reporting since I use my laptops on my lap a lot. I've never really had any heat problems with my 1530 though but the 13"s seem to have heftier cooling requirements.

 

Yes..that's one of the problems with Dell...they upcharge..and the prices change on a daily basis, it seem's

I think if they know you want to reorder, but are hesitant if you don't get your original pricing...they might be more inclined to *deal*


Cin

 

mine was free! no better deal then that! love bank of america's visa purchase policy! wobbley feet and dust under screen + no stock @ bestbuys around me = free laptop!

 

Man, you guys think $120 more is bad. If I bought my 1340 again today it'd cost around USD$500 more for exactly the same configuration. Obviously I'm glad I got it when I did.

 

Wow! I have Bank of America..I need to look at my CC term's

$120 vs. $500...I would take the $120 easily....Yeah thats a bit of a price jump


Cin

 

Cin, its all about buyers remorse and upset customer, i used my BOA debit card to purchase for 999.99+tax and after going thru 2 of them BB would no longer return it without a restocking fee or exchange it unless i wanted to have geeksquad work on it and seeing as they cant fix the rubber feet issue or the duster under screen i said sure they told me it had to be sent out i said nope.. so i called up BOA told them the story and instant credit.

 

now granted, i do have small issues, no dust under screen thank god! but i do need a new case cover (you know the bottom peice with rubber feet) because i had to hack the out of one of them to make it not wobble anymore and it looks horrible..but eh its free! cant

 

Very nice work there! And, 2 returns would be depictive of getting a refund on it


Cin

 

Hey all, relatively new 1340 owner here. Actually the wife is the owner of this one, mine is still in production.

Anyway, I flattened the Dell image and installed Vista Ultimate x64 on her machine. Everything seems to be fine except I cannot find the Dell Webcam Manager software for the 1340. I've tried some from other models but they all complain that the driver is not installed, which it is.

Ideas?

 

sorry guys..i'm asking this question again...!!!
Dell says that the laptop is GPS ready..
so did any one of you try the GPS ?

 

Been lurking around for a while now and ordered one last week.

2.66ghz 6mb cache
128 gb ssd
Hybrid SLI graphics card
BT
slim WLED LCD

I would like to thank Cin for posting the 5% w/150 gift card. It was the dealbreaker for me . ESD is 2/24, hopefully i get a good one and not a lemon.

 

The only GPS it comes with is the one in the Dell 5720 mobile broadband card which is a $150 USD option.

I have one, I bought it on eBay for $40, works great. You just have to pop the bottom off the laptop, pop it into the mini-pcie slot, connect the antennas and install the software.

If you get one, do not believe the junk about GPS usage requiring a contract with a mobile phone provider or it being an additional charge. It works perfectly fine without service.

 

check the driver cd for the dell webcam software

 

nevermind my comment, i tried to load some stuff didnt work guess its build into the vista ver on the dell cd maybe someone will rip it apart?

 

Dell are coming on monday to replace my motherboard, processor and ram. The laptop wont run for more than 2 mins without freezing up. It even shuts down when running the CPU diag.

Seems like there may be a design fault if others are having heating issues?