Buy Dell XPS M1530 or wait for Studio???

Okay so I decided to open the box. I'm glad I did, the rig was completely unmarked and even the nice sticky plastic that covers the touch sensitive keys was still left on. No scratches no dents, there weren't supposed to be anyway. And all this talk about the friggin Slot Load noises is a joke, if only you guys could see my old Toshiba 17" rig, the XPS sounds like an ant screaming in comparison. I'm going to keep the XPS 1530 I could care less about the studio or alienware lines. Maybe 1.5 years from now I'll consider it when we all gotta upgrade again.

 

Enjoy your machine. If it fits your needs, then you should definitely keep it. Who knows when the Studio line is going to be out or what all it entails.

 

I thought about waiting for a montivina one but I noticed this:
1- The price of the xps line is cheaper than before.
2- Dell is offering several discounts, rebates and promotions.
3- The performance of montevina over santa rosa is not a big deal.
4- Who the hell knows exactly when montevina is comming out.
5- Who knows when Dell will be offering montevina laptops.
6- Montevina will be more expensive.
7- Maybe the first montevina laptops could have problems.
8- Finally I dont want to wait more...

Of course this is the way I think, I could be wrong .

 

Those were the same questions that I asked myself too. I decided to wait because I've been waiting for over a year now since I heard about Centrino 2 and I'm not giving up now. The XPS 1530 is an awesome laptop, but I'd rather get a 17" anyways and the XPS 1730 is too expensive. So for me, the Studio line along with Centrino 2 should be perfect.
I just hope that it'll be available around July 14 with Centrino 2...


BTW - how do you think the new Dell Studio laptops will compare with HP's new HP Pavilion dv7t (and dv5t,dv4t) ??

 

Im not really sure but as far I know Dell used to have/ has better graphics card on its consumer and gaming lines than HP.

All I know is that the graphics card of the new dv series pairs the 8600gt on the current dell m1530.

 

The model numbers and the word "inspiron" on the casing hints that this will replace the current 1525...

 

this might be a pretty good time to get one then- price low before it shoots up with new laptops. Anyway, i never heard about any laptops called studio... You've got the Inspiron 1535 coming out soon- looks ok, but I prefer the M1530.

 

I have to agree, at least with the part about the Studio line taking over the spot the the XPS currently occupies. For those waiting for an XPS M1530 refresh, I'm guessing that the Studio is it.

The only way the XPS line continues (at least in the 15.4 inch size) is if it's significantly repositioned away from the spot it currently occupies...probably more towards (or integrated with) the Alienware line.

 

xps has been there for years and sells well, i dont think studio laptops will take there place

i believe its a steppinf stone between the inspiron and xps.
for people who dont want a **** inspiron and dont need a gaming laptop or a high performance one

 

I don't think the gap between the Inspiron and XPS (at least at this 15.4 inch size) is larger enough for a stepping stone between them. The specs on this Studio show the option for an 8600M-GT, same as the XPS M1530. How is the Studio any less of a gaming machine than the M1530?

I just don't see the need for 3 levels of notebooks, Inspiron-->Studio-->XPS. The Studio photos look an awful lot like the current XPS, and are spec'd an awful lot like the XPS. Unless the XPS is getting an extreme makeover and will be repositioned much higher, I'm not seeing the market for both.

 

I agree...

One thing that I want to point out is that in many articles talking about the new rumored Studio line, the picture of the laptop that they show has the word inspiron on it...Why?

 

That's interesting. I hadn't noticed that.

How about this? The "Studio" line won't be an independent line so much as a subset of the Inspiron. The Inspiron Studio series. Basically, a higher end Inspiron notebook with beefier graphics and multimedia capabilities, but short of the gaming XPS line. So you'll have regular Inspirons at the basic level, Inspiron Studios with better multimedia, then the XPS for gaming.

OK, now I'm just grasping at straws.

 

That seems to be the most practical reasoning for now and I wouldn't be surprised if you're right.

 

This is what I think would be the ideal situation. Kind of like Apple where you have a Macbook, then you have the Macbook Pro. Dell would have Inspiron then Inspiron Studio.

 

I agree. So do you think that the XPS line will be removed? Maybe they'll put Alienware as their top-tier brand...?

 

mmm to all those who are now not sure about getting the xps m1530 this is my opinion. I mean technology will keep advancing so you really cannot say i will wait for the next one cuz there will be a next one after the next one. The Dell XPS m1530 is a excellent laptop and nothing will change that. We dont even know for sure that this thing will be good.

 

I still really like the XPS, also

But, have been eyeballing the new models coming out esp. the *mini*

For now, the XPS works for me

 

Yeah that would be my guess, we already know it will be the gaming lineup for both laptops and desktops.

 

So if the picture is correct, the new Studio line seems to have a backlight on the keyboard - correct??
That's pretty slick!

 

It's about time is what it is.

 

I already mentioned the fact that the case says "inspiron" on the last page. But I agree that it will probably be a subset of the current inspiron line. I doubt the XPS will be dropped, probably downsized to the m1330 after the cooling problems are fixed. The m1330 will retain its place as the mobile, mild-gaming computer...and alienware will take over the rest.

 

Sounds like a plan.

Dell should be announcing more details about it's Studio line soon because Centrino 2 is due out July 14 and I would expect the new Studio line to be available right about that launch...

 

@jpz: That's very hopeful thinking. The Centrino 2 (aka montevina) platform will be out July 14th, but consumer products won't be hitting the market "right about" that launch date (at least, I highly doubt it). It probably be a couple of months before the Studio line actually shows up from dell.

 

hmmm...true. It's gonna be hard for me to wait especially with all these great deals right now. But I've come a long ways waiting since I first heard about Centrino 2 so I mine as well wait just a little longer.

BTW, Dell should be pretty much set with Studio because if Centrino 2 hadn't been delayed, wouldn't they have had Studio out by now?

 

any updates/thoughts?

 

Montevina was supposed to be released earlier this month. Just FYI guys, any of you curious folk can find the everyday deal on the m1530 (with $599 off whatever it is) that brings it down to $1499 for the highest standard model. Add that to your cart, and look at the information about the sale. The $599 off (or whatever it is) lasts until October 22nd. If this is the case, I'm thinking we won't be seeing Studio before then.

 

That picture of the inspiron studio looks like a cheaper buillt laptop, like they stuffed the guts of a 1530 into a cheaper housing so they could sell it for less with the same specs... My guess is that you wont get all the extras with it (remote, ear phones, cleaning cloth, driver disk notebook) nor the exclusive service that buying an XPS supposedly gets you!

 

hmmm... true. I didn't notice that October expiration date before...
Any chance of some XPS coupon codes coming out soon? Even with the $599 off, it doesn't seem as cheap as it was with the coupon that was available a few weeks ago.
I'm facing a tough dilemma....
Should I wait.....????
HP has a $500 off coupon too which is nice.
I really wanted a 17" notebook so I suppose I'll wait for Studio.

Just wondering, when does Nehalem come out for notebooks? Does it get pushed back since Montevina was?

 

nehalem comes out next year.

 

and calpella comes out next year and it ditches the FSB!!

 

Yes, it ditches the FSB for a different interface with twice the theoretical bandwidth. That's all fine and great until 2 years from now the bandwidth of QuickPath Interconnect (Intel's FSB replacement) is doubled and there's another topic of the guy asking if he should buy his computer or wait for the new tech. Point is: there's always going to be new tech. If you always wait for the new stuff you'll never get a computer. It's like used cars...you're frequently better off getting the last model year of a certain body style or engine type than the first year of the new one. The new one will have problems and will be quickly changed to something better.

 

Supposed to be Q2 2009 for notebook chips. There are some chips coming out late this year, mostly high end stuff for desktops.

 

atbnet, I just noticed your location. I'll be down there this fall!

 

See the thing is, theoretically I can wait til next Summer to get a new laptop. I don't need a new notebook til next September. But, my current laptop is about 6 years old and who knows how much longer it can go. I'd love to buy a notebook now, but I plan to keep my next notebook for a good 5 years so I'm trying to buy at the right time. Yes, I know, there is never a right time, but there are better times than others.
My options:
1. Buy now; get a great deal; miss out on some of the new stuff around the corner
2. Wait for Studio and Centrino 2 and get a new model notebook and new processor/platform; possibilities for problems
3. Wait til Nehalem; faster, etc and no more FSB; drawback is waiting and waiting and waiting..... Plus I'd probably get caught up waiting for Windows 9 if I wait that long.

I'd really like to get a 17" notebook and I'd like to stay < $1800

I think my best option is #2. - The improvements in Nehalem are not ground-breaking, right?

Advice?

Thanks!

 

Awesome, good choice in schools! You'll like it here.

 

Studio seems to be the replacment for the Inspiron 1520/1525/1720, NOT the XPS line. Presumably we'll either see the 1530 bumped, or replaced in the next few months when the new chipset comes out.

Intel's next-gen CPU is going to be a long wait for notebooks. If you're looking now, I don't think it's realistic to keep waiting that long. Waiting for a new version of Windows (which would be 7, not 9) makes no sense as that's most likely YEARS away. Heck, I hope it is as I like how infrequent the updates have become compared to the bad old days.

The new chipset brings with it a faster FSB, but that's about it. Intel might also release faster CPUs at the same time, but if so, that doesn't have anything to do with the new chipset. Studio's rumored specs don't even use the new chipset, although it's delay might mean that it does now-but it's rumored specs only put it at the level of the year old XPS models.

 

ok, thanks for the detailed response. So, with that said, I definitely won't wait for Nehalem and Windows 7.
So it's pretty much buy now or wait for Centrino 2 (with Dell Studio notebooks hopefully).
I think I'll keep an eye out for any awesome deals in the coming weeks, and unless I see something perfect, then I'll just wait for Centrino 2 around July and hopefully Studio will have more details revealed soon.

BTW, regarding the notebooks that have great deals right now - what would you recommend for me? I really like the XPS 1530 but I'd prefer 17". And HP has the $500 off coupon which I could use towards the 17" Presario but the graphics card in it is rather weak and HP already unveiled it's new line of notebooks so I'd feel I'd be buying an obsolete notebook if I bought now. Any other companies offering great deals (other than the Thinkpads) ?

 

The Studio will not be replacing the entry level Inspiron.

 

Everything we've seen of the Studio makes it appear to be the successor to the Inspiron 1520/1525/1720, though we haven't really seen THAT much info about it and it could turn out to be wrong. But even based on the numbering it would appear to just be the next Inspirons, renamed (again).

 

Straight from Dell

"The Studio line is a more feature rich version of the existing Inspiron line. This series of computers features more multimedia functionality, better processor offerings, and more personalization options than the Inspiron series. Dell continues to sell Inspiron systems, but these are now considered our value series computers for customers who prioritize cost above features. ... Being able to choose from a series of color options and a wide range of hardware offerings helps personalize each system to the buyer. The Studio series is expected to be the best selling line of notebooks for the Consumer segment."

 

Nothing about that goes against what I just said above. It appears to be the replacement for the Inspiron 1520/1525/1720. They're apparently renaming those to "Studio", and might keep selling lower end notebooks as "Inspiron".

 

It isn't a replacement, it is an entire new series.

 

It's not a new series, it's a subseries. Look at the leaked pictures, the studios are still branded with the "inspiron" text. It will, more likely than not, become the Media Center Inspirons, while the rest of the inspirons will drop to entry-level computers.

 

It would make no sense to offer 4 levels of consumer notebooks. Five if you count the Mini Inspiron. You would have models competing with each other and that would be a total waste of R&D money.

 

First of all, the XPS and Alienware lines currently do that. Second of all, nobody said there would be 4 lines. My guess is it would look like this:

Entry-Level: inspiron, inspiron mini
Moderate Media: inspiron studio
Gaming: Dell XPS/Alienware (whichever they decide to brand their gaming computers as)

This leaves 3 (4 if you count the inspiron mini as its own "line") lines of consumer notebooks which isn't bad at all.

I have a feeling, however, that the current XPS will be rebranded as Alienware, or the current Alienwares will be rebranded as XPS. They won't "get rid" of the m1330 (though maybe the m1530)...it'll probably just be called something else, and get a new design, but with the same "mobile media" concept in mind.

 

I agree...except this contradicts what you said a few posts back about the Studio not being a new name for the successor to those Inspiron notebooks.

 

That's what I think it will be too. I think some expect the Studio to be in between Inspiron and XPS.

 

If anything the Studio will be the successor to the XPS line.

Inspiron - Sub $1000 notebooks
Studio - Mid range
Alienware - gaming/high performance

 

No, I think the m1530 will be dropped in favor of the m15x, and the m1330 will be renamed as an Alienware m13x or something along those lines. It will stand as a mobile "gaming" laptop.

 

Ya, I agree too. It'll be the middle laptop between the low end inspirons and the high end XPS/Alienware.
And like Dell said: "The Studio series is expected to be the best selling line of notebooks for the Consumer segment."

BTW, any thoughts about this: