===> The Official Studio XPS 1640 Owner's Thread<===

I hope it works.My fingers crossed too
You Post that its working fine and its me next doing the same

Hey Joker,Thanks,I appreciate u to bell the cat
Waiting for results
SXPS 16,ATI 1gigs gpu.........Man,Life..z gonna Rock!!

 

I agree. That's not fair. In my case, I cancelled the order before it even moved to the "Laptop being built" stage but if I did receive the laptop, used it and then returned it within 3 weeks, I would be prepared to pay a 15% re-stocking fee. I would also factor that 15% loss into whether it would be worth it going ahead with the refund and waiting for the updated spec system, or keeping my existing system. But as you said, as Dell don't seem to enforce the restocking fee, people are given the oppurtunity to abuse the system.

One thing that has really confused me though is Dell's reasoning behing listing the compatibility of the 4670 in the BIOS update information. Surely, as no SXPS 16 has this configuration worldwide, there is no benefit in releasing this information to the public? Should they not have kept this information internal for the time being?

 

No, I don't have any personal stake in Dell, and Yes, I do have a very nice career and a very fulfilling life. I care about what other people do because I am a decent human being and a responsible citizen. Therefore, I try to do my part to stop people from abusing the system. Of course, you can disagree and you can still do whatever you want, but I would like to believe that there are people understand my position.

 

We operated within the rules, your claim that we didn't has no factual basis at all. What you are doing is trying to impose your nonsensical beliefs on other people. If Dell felt their system was being abused, they'd have imposed a 15% restocking fee on everyone. I returned my laptop within the first week I owned it, why should I have to pay a penalty on something I tried to refuse shipment on before it even arrived?

 

I am someone that frowns upon systems being abused as well, but see, Dell has what it calls a Total Satisfaction Return Policy.

Before I ordered the pc i chatted for a long time with a Dell Rep, and i saved the convo on a txt file just in case i would have any trouble returning the PC. This was about 2 months ago and i asked him if he had any info concerning the rumours about a 4670 gpu that might be included in the studio xps 1640. After verifying for a while he told me:

"well, we dont have any info on that at the moment but since it is a dedicated card, you could just upgrade it afterwards if you want to"

so, i bought the pc thinking that if it was going to be released later with a new video card id be able to upgrade it on my own.

Others on this thread (quite a few pages back) called and asked the same question and they got the same answer, until somebody eventually opened the laptop up and we then found out, it wasnt possible to change the card, as it was soldered.

So I just decided to return it and wait for the new GPU. And, even if this wasn't a valid reason, the return policy is there. Why should we not use it. If someone's intention is buying the same PC but with the upgraded GPU, why should they have to stick to the worse specs if they're still within the period where they can return it?

I'm sure Dell has their policies, and their reasons for them. But im sure that if they just up front told us "the 4670 gpu will be released on X date" then it would save both them and us, time and money.

Then again, maybe its only us who know about this... Probably the majority of people that buy these pcs are not aware that a new gpu "might" be coming out soon and are perfectly happy with their purchase.

I'm just glad that this forum is around, so that I at least feal that I'm making an informed purchase. Once i have this pretty laptop in my hands again, with a better video card, i will be a very, very happy man.

 

No, you're the one who needs to get a life and stop being so selfish. YOU'RE the one wasting your own time by obsessing over the laptop to the point of ordering it and returning it weeks later. The reason that people are against brats like you is because you're taking valuable resources away from others. Have you ever thought that your antics could've caused someone else's order to be backordered, with the person having every intention to keep the laptop, and genuinely needed a new laptop asap? If not that, do you not realize that your used laptop is probably going to end up as a "refurbished" laptop when it otherwise could've been sold as new? Even worse, what if Dell had a policy where a laptop returned within a week is still considered new, and someone else unknowingly ends up buying YOUR used laptop for full price? If that had happend to you, wouldn't you be pissed?

You are the one who needs to get off your horse. Just because Dell doesn't enforce their restocking fee policy doesn't mean that it is okay to abuse the system.

 

Here's my theory. Dell will annouce the upgraded GPU with tomorrows' studio xps 1640 (Dell 10 days of Deals) promotion. we should keep an eye on it.

 

Wow talk about making a lot of ASSumptions. I bought my system via Dell Outlet (it was a refurb..oh the irony) and before I even received shipment, I asked Dell to cancel my order. They told me to go ahead and accept it and then ask for a return once it got here which I did. I don't view that as an abuse of a return policy. And your hypothetical scenario doesn't exist, so why make such an inane argument? Even if I had bought the system brand new, used it for two weeks and returned it, I would have been within my right to do so under Dell's policy. Who the hell are you to tell anyone what to do?

 

Don't bother arguing with 5150Joker, he knows it all.

He has it all, and his stuff is better than yours.

He has nothing but time on his hands to argue with people on the 'net, so just ignore him, someday he will get a job, move out of his parents basement, and just go away.....

 

That's funny, I'd be willing to bet I've got a much better career than you. And yes, I am right.

 

Yes, I would like an apple pie with that. Thank you.

That's all, you aren't worth my time. Good luck with life cupcake...

 

and some 4 piece nuggets from the dollar menu ;-)

 

well. i just say stop fckn bullsh*ting here, let's just love each other and wait for that new fckn gpu..
peace, brothers

 

Tell your wife to get me a piece while she's back there. I'll remind her to give you the donepezil and ex-lax I prescribed after you eat that apple pie. Now go mutter in the corner about those no good Dell policy abusers.

 

Dell better release that new GPU soon... Before people here start killing each other.

 

stop fighting u guys >_> . we might be getting exciting news soon =p

 

does anyone know the difference between a 7200rpm drive and a 128gb ssd in the studio xps?
im thinking if its really worththe extra £190?
if i like halves the start up time, its a good buy

 

i bet i have a better career than any of you

 

You can discuss that in OT if you really want to talk about it. This is the ===> The Official Studio XPS 1640 Owner's Thread<===

 

of all the comments on the past page, you felt like mine was the one that deserved reprimand? laughable.

 

Joker I thought that you are charged a 15% restocking fee even if you return the laptop unopened w/ in the 21 days? Am I wrong?

 

In most cases you are but I called Dell before the laptop had reached me and spoke with a supervisor and explained I wanted to cancel the order. Since it was a refurb, outlet orders ship out fairly quickly so the supervisor wasn't able to stop it in time and told me to take receipt of the order rather than refuse it to speed up the refund. I asked if it would be ok to test the laptop and they didn't care. It's funny, Dell has no problems with it but the moral squad here apparently does.

 

Hi Folks,

This is my first post and just wanted to say HI to all!

I ordered my Studio XPS 16 on Tuesday with the following config:

- XPS 1640 Black
- Core 2 Duo P8700
- 4GB RAM
- 1920 x 1080 RGBLED screen
- 320 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
- 6 Cell and 9 Cell batteries
- Blu-Ray reader
- Intel 5300 WiFi card
- Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth
- 1 YR RTD warranty + CompleteCare
- Bluetooth headphones with mic (primarily for Skype)
- Iomega 500GB eGo II external hard drive

I've received the Iomega drive today (1 day after ordering!) and the 9 cell battery shipped today. The notebook is supposed to arrive on the 26th (10 days from date of order).

I'm very excited and can't wait for it to arrive!

 

I'm going to have to side with you Joker on this whole debate. It's ultimately Dell's fault for releasing the BIOS update with the 4670 support and then not giving a definitive date for its release.

Although I could return my SXPS16 when I get in (in a couple of weeks) I think I'm just going to keep it because I got $419 instant savings + 7% off w/ the EPP site (a deal that won't come again) and the most intense games that I'm going to play are COD4/MW2 and the Orange Box, which the 3670 will run fine. I'm using a 3650 w/ 256mb of RAM in my desktop and it runs all my games fine

Anyway, I can't wait for it to get here! The 9 cell battery and mouse are already here but the 500gb 7200rpm HD delayed it a week or so...

 

That deal has been tempting me for a while, but i keep telling myself to wait for the windows 7 free upgrade at least.......

 

i almost bought a scratch and dent with a blu-ray drive priced at $949, but my 15% discount expired like 2 hrs ago

 

are the prices likely to go up because of the 4670?

or will they use the 3670 as a base model gpu and the 4670 will be a upgrade?
as both are listed on the site:
ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670-512MB
ATI Mobility RADEON HD 4670-1GB

is a 128gb SSD worth an extra £220 and would it make a great speed difference? i cant seem to find any Samsung 128gb's cheaper elsewhere.
also, which company is the dell SSD?

 

Sad day... I cancelled my order with Dell. I purchased this early may, and they kept delaying it by sometime 5 days, sometime 10 or 15 days. After 6 delays, the last one was the last drop needed for me to cancel. Too bad, because I still have yet to find another laptop with 8GB DDR3, SSD 256, RGB1080 screen, blue ray and so on, all for just about 3K. It might be for the better if Dell upgrade its DDR3 memory with 1133 rather 1066, and if it adds a new video card... Meanwhile if you know of another brand with similar specs for 3K, let me know.

 

Hi Guys,I need to buy the lap immediately for my brother,So was going through dell website India again,Now I am getting confused between SXPS 1640 and studio 15.I want you guys assistance to decide,which one is best for him.
Below is the specs of Studio 15:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53GHz/ 1066 FSB/ 3MB Cache)
Windows Vista(R) Home Premium SP1 64 bit (English)
Warranty & Service 3 Yrs Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
Display 15.6” 720p WLED (1366x768) Display with TrueLife™ and Built-in 2.0MP Web Cam
4GB (2X2GB) DDR2 SDRAM Memory
500GB SATA Hard Drive
Optical Drive Slot Load 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with DVD+R double layer write capability
512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
Integrated Stereo Sound with Subwoofer
Wireless Network Card Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 (802.11a/g/n) Half Mini-card
Bluetooth Module Dell(TM) Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module

Please compare it with SXPS 16 and lemme knw the better among these.
I also checked that both these laps use same mobo,So can I later add DDR3 RAM for Studio 15?

 

I presume you mean 1333Mhz DDR3. I very much doubt Dell will change the chipset in the SXPS 16 only six months after release. The PM45 chipset in the SXPS 16 will only support up to a maximum of 1033Mhz DDR3. Also, if Dell want to retain the "Centrino" technology offered in the SXPS 16, they'll have to stick with an Intel chipset and I'm fairly sure Intel haven't even released a mobile chipset capable of running 1333Mhz DDR3.

Even putting that information aside, 80% of other PC manufacturers are still using 800Mhz DDR2 in their current ranges so Dell are one step ahead anyway with the 1066Mhz DDR3.

I think the most we can hope for in a revised SXPS 16 would be slightly faster processors (maybe T9800/T9900), a Blu-Ray writer and the change we've all been waiting for, the HD 4670.

 

Not a bad idea, but I'm going to get Windows 7 for free anyway so it's not that big of a deal.

To the person who asked about the prices, because they list both graphic cards (thus not replacing the 3670 w/ the 4670) it looks like you can still get the 3670 as the base model. I guess we have no clue as to how much getting the new GFX card will cost.

 

Oh and rpg-XPS the Studio XPS 16 already has a 4x slot loading Blu-Ray burner that costs $125 extra

 

Unfortunately, that's not an option available here in Ireland, yet! But, thanks for the information all the same.

 

6 Pages of 1640's on the Outlet right now for anyone interested.

 

The T9800 is also available in the US on the EPP page. I know because I ordered one, and am using it to type this out now.

 

You're gonna love that 1080p RGELED screen!

 

No you are not. The display makes everything really small, the text, menus, everything. And if you increase the font size, some windows become out of shape/distorted. The resolution can be lowered, but you may not "love" it.

Secondly, the screen saturates certain colors too much: red and green.
Red has a tinge of pink to it and all Reds and up looking false, not pure red.
And green also looks washed out. You can always edit these settings in Display Settings to tweak the colors, but it is a drawback when you consider how much money you spend on something you need to tweak.

 

Boy, you really are a negative lil fella.

Of course you may have to tweak the screen. Last time I checked these things are mass produced. They have a stock setting and not all are created equal. Last time I checked Intel does the same with their chips, hence the reason undervolting is even a possibility.

You will love the RGBLED, that's another reason I sold my SXPS16 was so I could upgrade to the RGBLED after having the WLED.

 

I have no idea how to read these charts! They all look the same to me. Can you post your CCC settings to the detail so I can try your profile and see if Reds & Greens can look perfect?

 

Did he ever post his calibrated profile? I have spent over 5 hours now trying to tweak the display settings. I'd rather shovel coal.

 

Don't be a Dell-apologist! When you shell out $$$ for a laptop, you want the basic colors to register without having to "tweak" anything. Red shouldn't look like pink/red and green shouldn't look like turtles.

Even after you tweak the settings, other colors become washed out.

 

Anyway, not apologizing for Dell, they don't make the screen. Unfortunately every post you've made, has made you look like an a$$, so no one really wants to hear your drivel. Thanks, drive through.

 

Ok so I got carried away. I'll calm down. Here is the thing, I bought this computer 2 months ago and I really do like it. But there are minor annoyances that make using it..hell!

The colors are off, that is a fact. Yes you can tweak it, yes you can change things to make it work, but it still feels off. My gripe is that the user is not in the business of calibrating high end lcd screens. These things are so new and so powerful that a common user such as myself will fail to make the proper adjustments no matter how much time we spend. So dell should of preloaded some profiles in there instead of just the standard it has in already. I can try to overlook this, but red is such a primary color on so many websites, to see it displayed as pink-ish ruins it for me.

2nd is the fact that it is such a fingerprint magnet. It isn't just fingerprints, but it is like the residue leftover from resting your palms on it or whatnot. Just from everyday use, the laptop ends up looking messy. Since it is so damn reflective everywhere, you tend to feel the need to wipe it down often to keep that polished look. I like the shinyness, but it's distracting.

Heat: it's hot.com, nothing else to add to that, just the basic fact of the matter. It get's hot after about 30minutes of web browsing, itunes...but forget trying to watch any 1080p mkv files on it... it get's annoyingly hot.

The laptop has a ton of great features..so much so that it makes the cons look minuscule, but they are there nonetheless, and need to be mentioned. I mean, it's a forum, that's the whole point!

 

We understand it's a forum, but there are good and bad ways to get help around here. You have chosen the latter.

 

Great!! I do not seem to be having the same heat problems as you. It is a fingerprint magnet, but, I knew that going in. I am using Windows 7 and have not ran into any problems with it at all.

 

I had to edit and delete several posts in here. The instigator(s) have been warned.

Grow up and stay on topic. If you can't control yourselves, there are many other forums you can trash, but not this one. Thank you.

 

Thank you Chaz for cleaning up trash talk that has gone too far. I wanted to post a question to all the SXPS 16 owners. What are your settings for your color profile in CCC? What is your exact saturation, hue? I want to post some comparison pictures of my macbook display red and green, vs SXPS to show the difference, but first I want to properly calibrate the settings. Any suggestions? Chaz took out the trash!

 

It's been fun here folks, but after getting an "infraction" for defending other members that Tim was attacking, my time is done here. Enjoy.

 

I've just received my XPS 16 as well, here are my thoughts:

This thing is fast! I'm running the T9800, and it blazes through just about anything I can put through it. Vista loads up nice and there wasn't much in the way of crapware to remove that I found. This is my first Vista machine btw, still getting used to it.

The screen is amazing, albeit there is a problem with the color right out of the box. I have no idea why people complain so much, it's easily fixable by calibration, and if you want professional calibration results, easy solutions are available for as low as 50-75 dollars. But Blu Rays looks better on this than on my Samsung 40 inch 1080p.

I have little to no heat problems so far. Under heavy processor load, the two cores only managed to hit 68 C or so before throttling down to 40-50 via fan. I am using the 9-cell right out of the box though, so I can't tell you if the 6-cell runs any hotter. I am using the hottest possible config, the T9800 with the 7200 rpm 500 GB drive and nothing.

Finger prints? I own a PS3, a PSP, Samsung tv, and Zune, all in glossy piano black. I'm used to it. Don't really care.

Slot load drive, I still need to get used to.

 

sad to see you go . usually your posts are pretty informative, and as far as I know you tend to be respectul even when debating.

hope you keep having fun wherever your online roads take ya. *salutes*