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

i noticed he/she posted from the uk, so it probably doesnt work for me here in the us. i also saw they offered the 9cell battery there, that makes me even more jealous!

 

I hope that when the battery is added to the u.s. site it will also come with an upgrade to the 256gb ssd.

 

I would like to get the 256GB SSD, but the price & reliability is holding me back (actually the price isn't too bad, but I've read that some SSDs are not ready for prime-time).

 

im sure i can manage just fine with a 320 7200 until ssd prices drop later in the year

 

SSDs are fine.. ive been using one (a 32gb Samsung unit) for over 1.5 years. I ordered my 1640 with the 128gb SSD with absolutely no hesitation.

 

Maybe a 256GB Samsung SSD will be in my future...as well as Windows 7.

 

I got a BSOD again twice so I gave up and called tech support. He did a few things and gave up since I had already done them all myself numerous times. He thinks it is the video card so I'm getting a new motherboard, new ram (just in case), and a new keyboard.

He also said to do an install from disk instead of the factory restore in case the restore is corrupted.

So we'll see if any of that fixes the issues.

 

OMG, I ordered my 1640 on 1/27 and now its in TESTING STAGE OMG OMG

 

Just wait until boxing robs you of all your excitement and keeps you waiting.

 

I checked out the UK site to see about the 9-volt battery. There is also an integrated TV tuner available! Any one have an idea why these appealing components are not made available to the US crowd?

 

what do you mean? don't ruin my excitement like that...

 

HAHA. LMAO. I was waiting for someone to mention that. And yes, it did rob me of my excitement when I was waiting for my laptop. But it's all worth it at the end especially when I still got the laptop 2 weeks early.

 

A good thing. Soon. Very soon. My Netbook only stayed in the boxing stage for 1 day. I hope yours doesnt' take long at all!


Cin

 

Don't worry. Yours may not be as long. It all depends on whether your laptop is one of the last ones to be built and added to the plane. Or if yours is near the beginning. My boxing stage lasted about 4-5 days. However, when I ordered an XPS m1530 last year, it was about 1 day. So it can vary. Hope that brings a little excitement back What are the specs of your system anyway?

 

vishark: my configuration is P8600/ RGBLED screen/4GB ram/ATI/320GB HDD/intel wifi 5100/8x DVD/ ...I once had to wait for boxing (mini 9) for about 3 days or so so 4-5 days shouldnt bother me that much. However, I don't know how long it'll take to change its status to boxing though since its still in testing stage now. Thanks for the encouragement.

Cin': I was the same as you!

 

Yep's you were!

I know you want this new 1640 like NOW...but it will get to you!
Things change daily and even hourly with the build process of the Dell notebooks..so who knows, what tomorrow will bring for you


Cin

 

Just got mine today ran windows update and restarted now this junk crashes.

 

uhm...what?

 

You know, what would help to see if the problem could be corrected is if you told us more than that.

 

I hate vista and windows 7 so much now, i need xp back, please find a fix, please, i have my reasons.

I think I might return this crap if theres not xp soon!

 

with some exceptions, it sounds like most every problem with this machine can be traced back to vista.

 

No it doesn't. I don't remember hearing one problem yet that had anything to do with Vista. My biggest issue with Vista so far is that you can't drag and drop files or directories into the console (which was super handy). It's a weird omission, but that's seriously the worst I can find so far. (Well...and I like having search in the same window like in XP, but that's pretty nitpicky.)

Why do you hate Vista/7?

 

Cuz it has to many restrictions, xp has beneficial glitches

XP FOR LIFE!

 

I agree. As long as you know how to use the OS correctly and don't install crap programs that were poorly written, Vista and 7 run fine for me.

I think the problem here is drivers and possibly hardware.

 

No trust me, for what I do I need an OS that's not such a tight a s s when it comes to tweaks, hacks...

 

While I agree that XP is great, I don't think one will want to stay with XP forever. Things must progress, and even though 7 doesn't bring anything that will blow your mind, it does add a couple things that a neat as well as being much more modern.

What restrictions are you referring to?

 

Ya vista and w7 look great and all, but they are just way to premature, plus that 64bit crap

 

If there's one functionality that Vista/W7 handles MUCH better than XP is when it comes to HTPC.

Vista/W7 handles HDMI (for both audio/video) pretty much of the fly while the EVR rendering (also available in .Net3.0 for XP but not on the same scope) is a step up compared to XP.

I skipped on Vista for my HTPC originally (stuck with XPSP3) and after installing W7 on another partition and doing a dual boot, the whole HTPC experience is on another level. Hardware acceleration with full H.264 support in W7 Media Center+My Movies Plug-In plus EVR rendering are alone some reason's why the new Media Center is a complete package. Not to mention the text/colors are more vibrant on W7/Vista than WinXP.

With the success of W7 beta, even a 'Vista' hater like me will be spending another $199 for this OS. I've been running W7 since release date WITHOUT a single issue.

 

See that's not my scene, hdmi, I just dwnld, and delete lol

 

Here's my story.

I ordered my XPS 1640 on 1/8/09, cancelled it and re-ordered on 1/18
( I needed 10 days to think about it again) I recieved mine today on 1/29.

I kept calling and told the Dell Reps that I was leaving the country for business on 2/3 and needed it before I left., i guess it helped.

I was undecided on this multimedia work horse, but I must say it is a beauty and very compact for a 16 inch notebook.

 

For all those crashing after windows update maybe try reinstalling the system update download from Dell's site. I bet there is a conflict between it and the windows update downloads.

I installed mine from scratch today and did a windows update and it perfectly fine.

I installed.

Intel chipset software (latest direct from intel)
Installed ATI drivers from dell site
Intel Wireless software (latest direct from intel)
Ethernet drivers (latest direct from broadcom)
Completed Windows Update
Newest camera drivers came from windows update
No audio drivers, I'm using the built in drivers with Vista.
Installed latest touch pad drivers from dell site
Installed latest ricoh multimedia port driver from dell site
Installed IR drivers from dell site
Installed Dell Quickset
Installed Dell suggest power management settings.

I did not install the system update from Dells site, don't know what's in it.

 

respectfully, i was not trying to make this a competition of operating systems. the machine only comes with vista, it didnt sell with xp or linux. most the problems people are stating are vista first time startup bsod, windows update bsod, finicky bluetooth drivers, unprovided software for the bluray, etc etc. so i'll restate it: most every problem can be traced back to software -- and i could care less about software problems, they can and will be ironed out.

 

Received mine a few days ago. Big thumbs up. RGB LED backlit display is a step above other screens, even other LED backlits. Colors shades are more subtle and richer. Size and weight is as spec -- near desktop replacement category. Faster than my other two P8600 notebooks. Seems like it's faster than just a 7200RPM drive bump. Love the lighted keyboard. Fingerprint magnet. Blu-Ray rips play 1080p24 really smoothly through the HDMI port. Seems to play Blu-Ray advanced audio codecs. Less than 2 hours on 6-cell so buy the 9-cell.

 

Yeah, that's a good overview. That's why I'm not canceling my order. I'm glad these aren't hardware issues and can be ironed out.

 

Even I felt the speaker balance issue, but corrected it by shifting the balance a wee bit to the left. I guess its just a driver glitch which will/should be taken care of..

 

None of those things are Vista though, and most are probably either hardware issue, or flaws with a specific driver. Mine's been totally stable so far, though I haven't actually been able to do much with it until they either ship me Blu Ray software or I give up (though I've been pushing both CPUs to 100% most of the time).

 

Can anyone recommend a notebook cooler, or something that can at least raise the back of the unit up?

As mentioned, the vent is totally blocked during normal operation. Just hanging the left side of the system off the edge of the counter a few inches is enough to drop my CPU temps from 84 degrees down to 65 degrees (Celsius), and have the fan run a bit slower.

That's pretty major obviously, so if I actually can get Dell to send me the correct discs and decide to keep this thing, I think I need a cooler or something to raise up the back end. (What a DUMB design! Did nobody notice the screen blocks the vent?)

EDIT: Temps updated as they kept falling-that's nearly TWENTY DEGREES Celsius (or over THIRTY Fahrenheit) just by sticking the left edge of the notebook two or three inches off the edge. It's MUCH cooler there now too (hopefully didn't damage it running it like that for all those hours...).

I'm telling you, that design is messed up. You can't have your main vent get blocked by the screen when it's open!

 

Lets get this in perspective - if the laptop was working and the CPU was within its specification temperature (and it sounds like it was) then that the design isn't particular great at cooling isn't a fundamental design problem. The average public (as opposed to the enthusiast who checks CPU temperatures) doesn't care in the slightest whether their processor is a bit warm as long as it works.

 

I guess that's a valid way of looking at it, but I don't think I'm any less valid in saying it's a horrible design having your system's vent covered over when the system is in use. I can't believe they actually designed it like that. It would be like shoving your desktop system up against a wall so the rear just vents against itself.

At any rate, if I end up keeping this, I'm going to need something to either raise up the rear of it, or else some kind of laptop cooler. If anyone can suggest something...

 

New Youtube hands-on video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gmgs-Z6Qg0

(WARNING: in German)

Dell's Studio line has a similar design, but based on pics of Studio laptops that I've seen, there's a considerable gap between the vents and the screen when the laptop is open. On the Studio XPS's case though, there's barely a gap in-between when the notebook is open.

I guess the Studio XPS designers really missed this one.

 

Please add your data to the following.
I am trying to make an overview on which countries have had the XPS16/14 actually delivered. My own order has been in "Production" for 17 days now and everytime I call my Dell rep, he has NO news to report. I am wondering if Dell is waiting to ship due to problems found in the first batch of laptops.


COUNTRY, ORDER DATE, PHASE

Denmark, 13 jan 2009, production.

 

I´m in the same situation, 14 days in production, i still no have news...my EDD: is 10 February

 

Hello, I recieved my Studio XPS 16 2 Days ago.

Had the BSOD, following Windows Updates. Re-Installed Vista and Drivers, Updated and had no further issues with the system. Did a Full Hardware Diagnostic Check (On Dell Driver DVD done at Boot) and Every Hardware Component Checked out Great.

One Issue I encountered following Re-Installation of OS. I had Purchased a 36 Month McAfee Subscription. MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PRIOR TO CLEAN INSTALL.
The Re-Install CD for McAfee is only a Trial Version and you HAVE to Register your purchased Subscription Before wiping the system.

Took me 4 Hours on the phone and live chat to have the subscription added. After dealing with various dell support for 3.5 Hours, I went directly to McAfee Support and they were much more helpful and had it added in 20-30 min.

I love the Laptop.

Just one minor issue. Sound was a little louder on the Right, so went into the audio control and set the balance slightly more left and evened it out quite well.

So, Over all - Very Pleased with the Laptop itself. Just a little Software fix and mine was ready to go.

P.S. Ordered on Jan 11th. In Canada.

 

COUNTRY, ORDER DATE, PHASE

Canada, 11 jan 2009, delivered
Denmark, 13 jan 2009, production
Spain, 16 jan 2009, production

 

COUNTRY, ORDER DATE, PHASE

Canada, 11 jan 2009, delivered
Denmark, 13 jan 2009, production
Spain, 16 jan 2009, production
UK, 24 Jan 2009, production

 

Any modern laptop will run Vista fine. My current system has a measly Core 2 U7600 running at a whopping 1.2 GHz.. yet it boots Vista in 20-40 seconds and i can leave it on for days on end. Im also running full Aero with CPU and RAM to spare.

Most of the hate is coming from evangelical OSx fanboys who are willing to pay 2x as much for the same specs. just because.

 

Okay, it's official. I'm sending the laptop back, as on top of everything else, I discovered last night that it came to me with some physical damage on the bottom of the unit. It's like a vent is physically smushed in. (I hadn't really inspected the system that closely on Tuesday, as I assumed I was just going to boot it, do some quick tests, then swap hard drives...only that didn't work out.)

So now I have to pick out a new system
Macbook Pro? Gateway FX with florescent screen but otherwise nifty? Sony AW290 that seems nifty, but isn't officially supported by Nvidia's new mobile drivers?

Response to ImakE...
Yeah, I'm just not getting the Vista bashing. It's like there's always growing pains with a major new OS. XP was far from perfect and took a few years to sort out, but because it was on the market for so long, it's like people forgot that.

Overall after using it for a while Vista seems as nice as I thought. The annoyances I've had are just minor things (like control panel items being randomly moved around and renamed, and the aforementioned loss of a command line feature). But it's also spiffed up and modernized in other ways.

And then it's funny when people bash Vista and go on about Windows 7, because it's like the only reason we're having to deal with Windows 7 or pay for the upgrade is all the Vista bashing. It's basically Vista, which is a GOOD THING. Even from the version numbering Microsoft considers Vista -> Windows 7 the same thing as 2000 -> XP.

(Oh, I do miss my blue task bar though from XP. I like blue! )

 

Wolfpup:
I'd go with the Gateway, but since consumer conception of its customer support seems to be worse than dell's, go with the Sony.

On the subject of Vista, I was really won over by it as soon as I got everything functioning and tweaked some, it really is a rather nice OS. I just bought into the pre SP 1 hype over it, and since my old laptop didn't support it on paper I never bothered.

 

Now this is weird. As I have said before, my order is in testing stage since yesterday, and I assume testing stage is when they load all the softwares on and check to see if the system is running fine. Since testing stage is supposed to last for 1-3 hours, mine lasted a day, so I decided to call in. I then was told that some components of my system is currently being backordered. I think this is misleading and doesnt even make sense, why are the components still being backorder if the system is under testing stage? I assume that testing stage is when the system is completely assembled and now under testing. *Crossin' my fingaz*

 

Thats too bad you are going to send it back. I would personally get Dell to replace it once, and then see if you had any problems with the damage after that.

I have had a Dell system come to me damaged before (at work), I promptly called them up with the problem and sent it back to get a new one sent to me. They even upgraded me from the 2 year warranty that I had on the system to 3 years with 3 years of accidental coverage as well for my troubles.

With the physical damage, is that damage possible from the building/shipping process or from the heat coming from the vent?