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

Mine arrived on Tuesday (shipped Sunday) and I've waited a bit to report what I think about it because I wanted to use it for what I intended it for - geeking out and writing code while watching tv in the living room (don't tell QA! Shh)

It arrived on Tuesday, no dings or scratches that I can see. There seems to be a slightly annoying loose area on the top cover wrist rest area - kind of pops in when I put pressure on it to type. Still, not bad though.

I got a P8700, 500 GB 7200 RPM drive, 5100 wireless, and the 720p WLED screen. Vista x64 Ultimate - for running IIS, MSMQ, etc.

To me, for my use - the 720p is just what I wanted. The text is a good size for me since I'll be looking at code a lot and I have tried it on a 15" screen at 1920x1200 and it strained my eyes. The screen is beautiful!!

The Xps 16 does run hot at times but not all of the time. Last night it seemed quite cool. The first night it was much hotter.

Love it so far! I hope it continues to work out so well. The keyboard takes getting used to but it boots visual studio 2008 up in seconds!

My biggest complaint - battery life with the 6 cell and the fact that it needs a longer power cord (at least for me).

 

I've returned several and never paid the fee, nor return shipping. In at least 2 cases, including about a week ago, I was returning to purchase a newer model or to get an upgraded feature. This is a pretty easy argument. I've never even had to have a discussion about it. (I bought an SXPS 16 at the beginning of Feb, then they came out with the 256GB SSD, so I immediately ordered another one. I kept the original one until the new one arrived then returned it.) As long as you have some reason like "it was too hot" or you were buying a replacement from Dell, I've never heard of anyone paying the 15%.

 

The text is pretty small. I would say most people wouldn't like it. I'd prefer it a little larger like in the WSXGA range (1680x1050). I agree, the 1280x720 is way to low a resolution, though.

 

You can have much bigger text size with 1080p just by adjusting the font DPI.

Why have you not done that with your 15" screen?

 

I did. I didn't like it

 

You did not like it because?

 

It's not like lowering the whole resolution. It can cause the text to look unclear and it has the effect of skewing images and application page layouts. It's a lot like a video that has the aspect ratio wrong. Everyone looks short and fat, or tall and skinny.

 

I have been using my 17" inch screen with res at 1600x1200, and it looks fine to me. But on my new xps 16, the resolution at 720p is just way to small, when using firefox, the web area is just too small and require u to scroll alot.

 

crap, im am torn to death with this computer!!! now there are rumors that an ATI M 4670 may possibly come into place. Arrrg!!!! I wish rumors didnt exist, because my life would be alot easier. I was an alienware m15x fan. It would have been the perfect laptop for me, but it has a cheap plastic chasis that breaks easier than a sheet of paper when wet. Then i opted for the xps 16, as a compromise to what i wanted. NOW im indecisive if i should buy now cuz there might be a better vid card coming OUT


sorry for the rant.... needed to release my emotional stress.....

anyways...as you were..please continue.

 

I found the same problem with Chrome, but not as bad as Firefox. I guess you kind of have to take the good with the bad. I am waiting on my replacement PC to be made, but I'm not even going to attempt to change the order after everything I've been through with Dell already.

 

I concur...

 

That describes it very well.
Menu spacing was off, etc. I did attempt to increase the font size inside of text editors and IDEs but that still didn't help. I liked having the extra real estate but it hurt my eyes after 8 hours or so of looking at it.

 

I'm running the 1080p screen with the standard 96 size on fonts... I have no issue with it at all. Yes, it's a bit small, but I have no problem with it.

I did kick it up to 120 as well, and that should be perfect for most people... I just like cramming the most on the screen I can...

I love this laptop...

 

Do you mean Chrome is better than Firefox for page zooming or scrolling?

 

Yikes. The 1368x768 screen was one of the things I liked best about the 1640. Just about perfect. My current laptop is 1280x800 on a 14" screen, which is just too small, but STILL better than that 1920x1080. I mean this is all personal preference, but there are a lot of people who do not want crazy high resolutions.

And there should be no horizontal scrolling on webpages at something like 1368x768-in fact you should have plenty of room left over if you wanted to stick something to the side.

 

Seeing as my laptop only worked for 3 days and I only used Firefox once because of a plugin issue, I can't say for sure. From what I remember, Firefox's text seemed much larger then Chromes. I also noticed that I kept fatfingering some type of hotkey combination that would make the text even larger.

 

You can adjust the text size, and I turn off image zooming (can't stand that-didn't used to exist on Firefox, but it's the default in 3, to mimic IE, which is pretty broken IMO in its rendering)

 

I won't use IE unless I have no other choice. As far as Firefox, I used to love it but it seems like it takes forever to load anymore with the latest release. Chrome, for me, is perfect it loads immediately and I think it's very well thought out. The only issue is with the 64bit OS I wanted to use the 64bit browser, but half the sites I tried to visit weren't compatible.

 

Hi,

I have installed Windows 7 on my 1640. I am one of those people who was worried about the high-def resolution. My eyes are not as good as they use to be. Anyway, for some reason, Windows 7 does a great job of enlarging the DPI as a default setting. I did not have to change any DPI settings (compared to when I was viewing the screen in Vista). It must detect the resolution and adjust accordingly. Firefox looks a little small (default setting) but Chrome and Explorer look fine.

Question: My fan appears to be running quite a bit since installing Windows 7. Is there a specific Dell driver that controls this? Anyone using a utility so that fan does not kick in so early? What should be the "normal" temp?

Any help would be appreciated.

John

 

I'm sure if it's kicking in you want it to. Windows 7 is beta of course, and may not do power management as well as Vista, which would explain why the fan has to kick in sooner. But you wouldn't want to change that.

Normal temps...I listed them earlier in the thread, but they were pretty high. I sort of want to say in the 60s at idle, but I don't remember for sure. I think it idles hotter than my new laptop is under full load.

 

Hi everyone, on the XPS 16, which wireless card do you all suggest purchasing ?
At the moment they have 3 choices:
the default Dell "included" wireless card,

or the Intel 5100 ( $10 ) , or the Intel 5300 ( $50 ) ?

thanks everyone.

 

I got the 5300 just because it's supposed to have a little better range and signal strength.

 

Can you explain to new people what a "4670" is ? Is this a video card ?

I did a google and can't find out what it is .

thanks

 

It's an ATI video card

 

My new replacement just came! It bsod'd on the update of Fast Access. :/

Other than that, it actually plays BluRays and I'm not going to update PowerDVD since it works. I have to say, even the 720p screen is absolutely amazing with the BluRay in it. Transferring all my data......again.

 

your replacement ?

what was wrong with it ?

and what was the time between sending it off and getting it back today ?

 

My original would never play BluRays, when they sent me a new disk for PowerDVD and I tried to update it after it still not playing, it crashed my HDD. I was supposed to have a tech sent out to fix it, but after 8 days no one had called. I told them I was sending it back and wanted my money back. I finally reached someone that spoke English, predominantly, and he resolved my issues. He sent me a new computer and found my $744 that they were unable to find for the 2 weeks I had the computer. If you ever have problems, call and ask for the Sales Resolution team, they are where it's at.

 

thanks for the info N2. cool. glad you got a working laptop.

I didn't realize that Dell had such bad service, however I hate talking to them as everyone is in India, I just don't believe in that, keep jobs in our own country. I also don't like the fact that they are often rude on the live chat, and never answer a question directly.

 

7 also has a setting in the advanced properties of the power scheme to use active or passive cooling. Active says it will run the fan before downclocking and passive says it will downclock before running the fan. Might want to look and see where they are set.

 

Hello all, going to be a 1640 owner soon...if I ever get it in the mail.

Ordered it on February 9th through a friend's business at, apparently, cost price...specs from the invoice are:

- XPS 1640, Intel Core 2 Duo P9400 (2.80GHz/1066Mhz FSB/6M L2 Cache) (says P9400 but I think that's a typo)
- 4GB, DDR3 SDRAM, 1067 MHz 2 Dimm for XPS 1640
- 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion P Primary Battery
- Microsoft Windows Vista with SP1 Home Premium Edition 64-bit Edition English
- Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
- 8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive
- ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 - 512MB
- 320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
- Intel 5100 Wireless-N (1x2) Half Mini-Card

Grand Total: $1,805.06

Didn't spend the extra cash on the Full-HD RGB-LED LCD...

I do have some inquiries though...

I read the review on notebookcheck.com:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Studio-XPS-16-Notebook.14431.0.html

...and it looks like this notebook has heating issues, particularly on the bottom. Can these temperatures (ranging from 39 to 50 degrees Celsius) potentially damage the components of the computer?

Also, does anyone know if it's possible to purchase the 9-cell battery for the 1640 in Canada? (Canadian resident here...) Would like to take more advantage of the portability of this thing. I don't care about the added weight.

I was initially under the impression that this notebook would be suitable for gaming, but after reading some recent reviews it has received some heavy criticism. I'm sure it can still run most recent games moderately well - I'm not really a hardcore gamer anymore, and I'm not too much of a stickler for always having maximum graphical settings on games, but I do love my Half Life 2/Counterstrike Source/TF2 sessions. Hoping to try some newer but not as visually demanding games as well, like Fallout 3...

Anyway, any feedback/suggestions/general comments would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

Hi Dasiliva, there is no option for a 2.8 ghz processor for the Studio 16 model, I'm on their page right now, the highest cpu is a 2.53 ghz ( T9400 chip )

I also wonder why you didn't opt for the 500 gb hard drive which is only $50 more over the 320 gb you ordered ? ( for me personally, the $50 is worth getting a whopping 180 gigs more of hard drive )

I did a mock purchase and got a price of $1809, that includes the Dell Bluethooth.

 

By the way, I'm not questioning you in a bad way, I'm just curious why you didn't go with the 500 gb ... perhaps you know something I don't about the larger drive, however it's a 7200 rpm drive so it should have no problems.

 

dasilva000,

I just went to the website you mentioned in your first post,
and they indicate that the XPS 16 has a TV tuner in it, this is not correct.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Studio-XPS-16-Notebook.14431.0.html
Quote from their article:

"Furthermore, also a fully digital HDMI port, a display port, and also the well-known analogue VGA port, which is still often used with beamers, are available. The connectivity is completed by audio ports (microphone, 2x headphones), an antenna for the built-in TV card, and a FireWire port. "

I do not have the XPS 16 yet, but nowhere on the Dell site do they say there is an integrated TV tuner, so I have no clue where this website got this info
from.

 

He probably ordered in a different country. I ordered the following in Sweden:

- XPS 1640, Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 (2.40GHz)
- 4GB, DDR3 SDRAM
- 9-cell (+6-cell) Lithium Ion P Primary Battery
- Microsoft Windows Vista with SP1 Home Premium Edition 64-bit Edition Swedish
- 1080p RGBLED screen
- Blu-Ray drive
- ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 - 512MB
- 320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
- Intel 5300 Wireless-N

And the reason to why I didn't get the 500 gb drive is simply because they haven't got it on the Swedish site.

zippo: you can add a tv tuner but it's not included by default

 

On the Danish dell site the tv tuner is added by default

I've tried getting my tv tuner to work but it's being a tricksy little child born out of wedlock. (seriously, this censor thing is lame)

 

zippo2009 - Keep in mind that this grand total of mine is in CAD.

If you go to this link:

http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/pro...aptop-studio-xps-16?c=ca&cs=cadhs1&l=en&s=dhs

...and click on the first system on the left, you can upgrade to an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9600 (6MB cache/2.80GHz/1066Mhz FSB) , which, I'm assuming, is the processor I got, even though my invoice said P9400...

As for the HDD, I guess I wasn't concerned about the extra 180GB at the time...d'oh!

Running my specs through the website, I get a total of $1859 CAD, and that's probably before taxes...

Yeah...

 

HOWEVER...

I would like to hear some responses re: the heating issues and the 9-cell battery availability in Canada...

Anyone?

 

I just got my 1640 a week ago (with the 256 GB SSD). I've gotten a BSOD about 1-2 times per day. No luck fixing it yet. I just disabled the webcam, so we'll see what happens. Thanks for the tip.

 

Is there anyone here who has a 85 WHr 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery for Dell Studio XPS 16 Laptop?

According to the Dell Home website, you can now order it for $79.99USD.

Update: 25% off select notebook accessories [B0FP12N2JW5L2L] Now only $59.99USD before tax + shipping.

Anyone else thinking about jumping on this deal expect me?

 

I just talked to a dell tech because my 2 days old xps 16 ac adapter makes static noise when charging the battery. After half an hour of explaining to him that it's a hardware issue and I think it needs to be replaced, he insisted on using the dell connect to fix the issue by upgrading the bios . I let him do it, and when he had finished downloading the new bios and tried to install in on my system. It showed that the two bios were the same. But he kept doing and then my system cannot log in to windows anymore. It got pass the dell's logo but then stuck at a blank screen. For another 15 -20 minutes of restarting and shutting down the system, the rep finally decided to send me a new ac adapter . Now I have to wait for the new adapter and wait for my system to reinstall the windows
But overall, the experience with dell support has been positive. When my dv9000 broke, the rep didn't do anything to check it remotely nor did they have the tools to do so.

 

I don't know if anyone has noticed but dell just reported their '09 Fiscal year earnings, and they're down. The sock is trading down 60% compared to this time last year. Lets hope this means greater savings for customers, but not at the expense of the quality of the product.

 

That sucks! Hey at least they are replacing the adapter.

 

2000, WooHoo! This forum is growing quickly

 

So, for those who own the 1640...

Are the heating issues irritating? Do you think the high temperatures of the 1640 can potentially damage the hardware?

 

Mine came yesterday.So far no blsd with any updates.I have two issues though.Can anyone help?

1.Red appears too intense.I reduced saturation to 85 in color.Is there any thing else we can do to reduce color
2.Sometimes when scrolling on sidebar suddenly text in chrome browser changes to too small.If i close and open browser again it becomes normal.What is causing this and how to get rid of this?

My configuration:

2.93 ghz processor
8gb ram
256 gb ssd
5300 N wireless card
blu ray
1080p screen
bluetooth

 

Just did, thanks!

 

The 85 WHr 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery ain't available in Canada...

What a drag...

 

People have been talking about all the 1080p screens having this problem.

BTW, nice setup. Hows it feel?

 

the trackpad is multi-touch so if you have another finger touching it while scrolling it will either zoom in or out...

Try pinching the trackpad and see what happens

 

Any1 successfully running W7 x64 on this system yet?

Also, has anyone in had this system for a month without problems?

Thx