Bought my new XPS 15, some questions..

Hi guys,

Long time reader, first time poster..

The first day the XPS 15 was released in Canada, Oct 22, I put in my order for the following:

XPS 15 (L501X)
Intel® Core™ i7-840QM (1.86GHz, 8 threads, turbo boost up to 3.2Ghz, 8M cache)
Silver Anodized Aluminum 15.6" FHD (1080p) B+RGLED Display with Facial Recognition
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 435M 2GB graphics
Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000
JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
Backlit Keyboard - English
Dell Bluetooth 3.0
92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
4 Year Advanced Service Plan


Questions:
1) Site says it should be delivered on Nov. 17, shall I hold my breath?
2) Is this simply too much of a laptop? lol.. That's what I was told, but I always like to get the latest and greatest.
3) For the B+RGLED, is that the same display that they had on the XPS 16 for a while and everyone loved and was going nuts for then they discontinued?
4) Whats the general consensus on the NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 435M 2GB graphics card?
5) I decided to go with the Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000 because it doesnt seem like the 6000 or whatever upgrades there were had any advantage.. Did I mess up?
6) JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3, is it really as good as Dell make it "sound"?
7) Dell Bluetooth 3.0 <- umm, since when is Bluetooth 3.0 out?

Thanks guys!

Yes, I know these were supposed to be questions I ask before buying but couldn't wait.. had a 15% EPP coupon that I was itching to use..

 

Nope. It's a different panel. There is 0 information on the entire (entire!!= the whole thing) internet about this new panel. The only information about it is the B+RG name, which was used in Dell's Studio 17's highest end panel-- that panel was excellent. This new one is a giant question mark.

Once you get it, you should like, buy a colorimeter and do us a favor: measure and calibrate the display. That is, if the display doesn't find itself into a review in the meantime.

 

Will do

I think I was the first in Canada to buy this.. lol. Literally bought it the hour it was posted online..

 

the specs are really nice!

 

Congratulation for your buy.
Do not forget to ping us when you receive it and we are waiting for your initial review

 

Don't get your hopes up on WavesMaxx/JBL.

As for GT 435M it is supposed to be powerful but no actual useful usage reviews yet.

 

As for the B+RG LED display, I have seen some articles claiming that its a WLED display with higher color gamut, instead of RGB LED display found on Studio XPS 16. Performance wise, RGB LED should be better but you should wait for a proper review if it is important to you.

 

Got mine ordered today.

Same config basically as yours except for:
8GB Ram
Intel Ultimate-N 6300 wireless

This will replace my Studio XPS-16. I got one of the ones that has a RGBLED screen on it so I'll be able to compare the new B+RGLED screen to it.

 

Stormwerks, if you could also compare them with the M1730's LCD too it would be great.

 

@Timewriter I'll see what I can do. Keep in mind that the WUXGA on the 1730 isn't an HD screen and the other two are. Subjectively (apart from HD vs non-HD) between the RGBLED on my SXPS and the WUXGA on the 1730 the colors are far richer on the RGBLED but thats about the only difference. Both are really excellent screens and I use them for gaming as well as production stuff.

The 1730 even with the dual 8800M's in SLI mode can't hold a candle in graphic performance to she SXPS sadly.

 

What did your come up to and when's the shipping date?

 

I think the shipping date is Nov 22 and the total was $1900 and change.

 

Gonna let your SXPS 16 go to ebay?

 

Yeah mine is Nov 11th and costed me about $CA2300 after 15% EPP c oupon..

 

Just ordered one as well. Shipping date is Nov 22nd.

XPS 15
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-460M (2.53GHz, 4 threads, turbo boost up to 2.8Ghz, 3M cache)
Memory: 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard - English
Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 420M 1GB graphics with Optimus
Hard Drive: 640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
System Color and LCD: Silver Anodized Aluminum 15.6" FHD (1080p) B+RGLED Display with Facial Recognition
Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Integrated Network Adapter: Integrated 10/100 Network Card
Adobe Reader: Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0
CD ROM/DVDROM: 8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
Sound: JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
Wireless: Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed): No Option Selected
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed): McAfee Security Center with VirusScan, Firewall, Spyware Removal, 15-Months
Battery: 92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Hardware Support Services: 1 Year Limited Warranty w/1 Year Return To Depot Service

I never really thought warranties are worth the cost.
I'll post my thoughts once I get it

 

I've bought mine yesterday too.
Unfortunately it takes a little longer for them in germany to ship. Shipment date is the 3rd of December

 

I think its worth to wait for couple of months with SB refresh

CPU improvement: 20-30%
GPU improvement: 100%

compared to current i-series processors. means no need for dedicated graphics card if you are not a hardcore gamer.

 

Heh, its goin to the wife.

 

Dude, I upgraded my config from yours and it came in at about $400 less ... mine was in $CDN as well. Mebbe you want to call them back and see ?

 

Yesterday I've ordered the XPS 15 with the Full HD B+RG screen and I think everything is all fine but now I am noticing that my order confirmation doesn't say that the Display is the B+RG LED panel.
Instead it says: Display : 15,6Zoll FHD TLF LCD L501X

Is this the normal description? Or did Dell mess up my order?

 

Are you sure he didn't get a warranty?

 

I ordered the same screen and it says:
Display: 320-1673 15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X

But the email confirmation says:
Silver Anodized Aluminum 15.6" FHD (1080p) B+RGLED Display with Facial Recognition

So I'm sure yours is correct...

 

No idea if he did or not but I got a full warranty with mine.

 

Should be okay, Im pretty sure that "FHD" means Full HD.

 

it's LG as well. 945p , And i can say it's still excellent.

 

oops duplicate post

 

oops duplicate post

 

^ I have the complete care for 4 years..+ the whole HST thing in Ontario.. You have the complete care too?


Here's the breakdown:

Total: $2,748.00
- Instant savings with Online purchase. Offer Expires 10/29 at 6 am EDT: $389.00
- You have qualified for a 15% Discount through the Dell Employee Purchase Program - $353.85

Subtotal: $2,010.65
Shipping and Handling: $0.00
Environmental Disposal Fee: $5.50
PST: $0.00
GST/HST: $261.38

Total: $2,272.04


I just rebuilt the system online.. same thing.

 

My order acknowledgement says: 15.6 Full HD B+RGLED TL (1920x1080) 1080p
My order confirmation says: 230-11716 Display : 15.6in FHD TLF LCD L501X

Seems ok to me.

 

Ok thank you

 

stormwerks..?

 

I've ordered my XPS 15 with just 4 GB of Ram becuase I wanted to Upgrade it myself. Is there anything I have to consider and which RAM can I use?

 

Ah .. ok it could be the four year cost then, I didn't go 4 years. Mines in Ontario as well.

 

@TSxer: You want weird? I just went and rebuilt my same exact system and now my total price (including a $488.99 discount that I didn't have before) is $2,343.99. I dunno why my order is so low but I'm not going to complain, thats for damn sure.

 

Apparently our buddies over in the UK had the system for ridiculously cheap for a few hours. Dell had made a mistake in pricing over there, maybe the same thing happened here?

 

I reckon they allocated a given amount of XPS's as a 'loss leader' to stimulate publicity- knowing full well that the hotdeals sites would go beserk. Doubt it was an error

Upgrading to the 1080p screen costs £170 here (compared to $140) and we don't get the backlit keyboard

Looking forward to the anandtech review

 

I have had it confirmed in writing that we do get the backlit keyboard as standard in the UK.
If mine doesnt arrive with BL Keyboard, I will be making quite a stink.

 

yes I've got that confirmed for us in germany too but it will be available next year in january at the earliest. so it won't come equipped with notebooks ordered now! but you can upgrade it afterwards if you need to (i need to )

 

Yep same here, looks like the first couple of days there ws a massive sale.. my system now comes up to 2700 as apposed to 2400..

Cant complain for sure

 

I had the same problem, my order also said its a 15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X, not a B+RGLED like the one in the email confirmation. I did some research about this issue and found that current LED monitors are still LCD's, they just use an LED backlight instead of a CCFL.
I hope that to be truth.

 

It is. LCD is LCD whether it is backlit with LED's or CCFL lamp(s)

 

I think that is the truth. I've talk to my sales rep and she told me that this is the full HD B+RG LED panel.
Even in my order confirmation it said 15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X and therefore I asked them but everything is fine if it's called like that...

 

Is there any chance you can forward that email onto me? I know its asking alot but I also had the same but due to tech problems (my own stupidity) I lost alot of emails, including that one! I really want to use it to kick up a stink and hopefully get something out of it. My email is [email protected] Cheers!

 

will do mate.

Edit - mail sent

 

Specs look good... but the UK prices suck.

Seriously Dell are charging £170 for the R+BG 1080p screen that they charge $130 for