Dell to replace my m1330 with ?????????

And all this happened last week??? In the past several days I've been fending offers for a Studio 14 as the only possible replacement for my M1330 (originally T5250 @1.50GHz, 1GB RAM, 120 GB HDD, 128M NVIDIA 8400 GS, LED 13.3 WXGA, bluetooth, etc) . All my attempts to get a 1340 were answered with 'not available any more'. Here's the system the tech rep I talked with last night is trying to put through the mysterious 'back office' which supposedly deals with the replacement system:

Studio 1458

i5-520M 2.40GHz (2.93Ghz Turbo Mode, 3M cache)
6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
500GB 7200 RPM
3 year warranty
14.0” High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™ and Camera
8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4530 512MB
56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (+ additional 9 cell Battery)
Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Internal (2.1)
Back-lit Keyboard
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi MB
Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N 6200
MS 2007 Office

I was also offered the possibility of an about 90% refund which would take 30 to 45 days or longer to be processed of the time they receive my M1330. And while I have still not discarded this options it seems more of a prolonged agony.

And now here's my dilemma:

should I continue the asymmetrical warfare with Dell for a 1340 which will not have an i5 any time soon but will necessarily be with a discrete GPU or settle on the bird in hand etc., and take the aforementioned 1458.

Hm, I does feel like comparing apples and oranges no wonder I can't make up my mind.

 

Those are some nice spec's they are offering considering what you came from. T5250 @1.50GHz, 1GB RAM, 120 GB HDD, 128M NVIDIA 8400 GS
I have yet to call dell about our M1330 with the T9500, 2.6, 6MB, Core Penryn.
I guess i could call today and start the process.

 

the system i received was refurbished, the only thing i don't like I wish i would of got the nvidia g210m over 9500m. So i called in they told me they couldnt switch the motherboard/video card into my system with the g210m said its a whole different build all they can do is set me up for another sytem exchange. & they told me they cant guarentee another 1340 that i might get inspiron 1458 but i don't have to accept the system they send me. & they soppost to call me before the system ships out to be sure I ok the specs I was on the phone with them last night for almost 2 hrs asking just t switch the motherboard with the video card but they rather do a system exchange. Dell is weird. But i came from a m1210 and i always extend my warranty everything been notated even the rep laughed and said every couple of yrs. You seem to get lucky with an upgrade you got good timing.

 

Hey,
I've experienced similar problems to you all and I've been following this thread for a while so I thought I'd chip in what I've been through so far.

I purchased my XPS M1330 near the middle of 2008 for about $2000. The basic specs were Penryn T8300 2.4 ghz, 200 GB HHD @ 7200 RPM, and some other things which were mostly top of the line. When I got it, the system was great for about the first year. But the problems began around August of last year from which point I've been through 4 motherboards, 2 LED screens, 2 bluetooth cards, 1 fan, and an AC adapter in addition to those parts that originally came with the laptop (and who knows what I've forgotten). This took about 4 visits, one of which they sent me broken/bad parts.

Now my computer is consistently running at over 80 degrees Celsius (occasionally topping out at 102) and I have a feeling its just a matter of time until something stops working. The fan is working (or at least it sounds like its working) so I don't really feel any need to contact support yet. Unfortunately, being a student who will be spending a semester in Spain next year, I cannot afford to have my laptop stop working on me while I am still in the good ol' US and especially while I'm in Spain as I have a feeling my warranty won't be quite as useful there (although I'm not entirely sure). I still have almost 2 years (733 days to be exact) left in my warranty, so if i don't get a replacement system or a refund, I'm certain to go through many future lunch breaks/skipped classes with the repair techie while getting my laptop fixed.

I've had mostly good help from the dell online support team with the exception of being transferred around a lot and one support guy having absolutely no idea what I meant when I told him my AC adapter wouldn't charge my computer and the Green light wasn't on and just wouldn't believe me when I told him that my AC adapter didn't have a blue ring on the plug that goes into the computer.

When it does stop working, I am thinking of pushing for a refund and possibly buying a Lenovo in hope that it will not be plagued with problems similar to those that my M1330 has. If my computer breaks in the next couple days I'll let you guys know and let you know how things go with the online dell support since I've had mostly good experiences chatting with them online (from a laptop borrowed from my college tech of course).

 

I concur - Dell tech support (at least of the warranty variety) has been consistently great in my experience of over 5 years and 2 laptops.

The problems arise when one tries to get something beyond repairs like replacement or refund. Then you start getting the runaround since you continue to communicate with tech support (still very polite and apologetic) but entirely disconnected from the "back office" where all final decisions are made.

Anyway, good luck tackling the refund and let us know how things go.

 

Thanks for all the information on this thread. I too need a replacement and see the 1340 is not available. I have been offered two options. 1458 same config as mmmm23 or an i5 sxps16. i'm not sure which to go for. any opinions? My rep said an alienware or adamo are not even options. Dell really should have had a 13" replacement before they stopped production.

 

Depends on the specs (of the SXPS 16) but I would probably go with the SXPS 16. If it turns out to be two big you could always sell it and get something smaller. Studio 14 is not a bad laptop, but it is not a SXPS which is what you payed for.

 

Just out of curiosity and because I'd like to get some idea of what to expect when my M1330 dies, what were the specs on your M1330?

Also, what are the specs on the SXPS 16? Personally (although it depends on the specs of the SXPS) I would either try to get a refund (depending on the offered refund) or sell the SXPS and get something that you actually want. However, if you think that the SXPS 16 will be to big I would think that you would probably just want to go with the 1458 since it will already be bigger than the M1330 although it most likely won't be quite as nice depending on the specs of the M1330.

 

Yes, or you might push a little harder for a Adamo/M11x. Based what I read on the forums while it may not be easy, it is not as impossible as they are claiming.

 

hi..
this replacement only be done in UK/US?
not the rest of the world?

 

I'm curious as to what Dell number/service you guys are calling and also what you are saying to get them to consider replacing the laptop.

i'm interested in upgrading my processor and made a thread about it but was advised not to do so because of the "ticking time bomb" that is the m1330's GeForce 8400 graphics card. this restricts me from upgrading my processor which is extremely frustrating especially since all video games now seem to require a much faster processor.

*************start rant***********
my graphics card or motherboard (whatever it is that keeps failing) has failed 3 times since I purchased the computer in August 2007. the first time, they sent a tech to my house to repair it after waiting for a week. He put in a new motherboard. I went on to play a game and it was running like **** so I check the vid card and turns out he put in the lesser graphics card the m1330 can use. i had to wait 2 weeks for him to come back to fix his error. it crashed again, sent it in, got it back 2 weeks later. same "mistake", they put in the lesser graphics card so i had to send it in and wait another 2 weeks. third time it crashed, sent it in with a note clearly stating my graphics card so they dont make the same mistake. 3 weeks later i get it back.

all of this happened while ive been at college and i take all of my notes on my laptop and i had.....3 months of time in the past 2 and half years when theyve been fixing my flawed "top of the line" $2000 laptop.
**********end rant*************

soooo i cant really replace my processor because i know this computer will fail because of Dell's error. just curious as to what # you guys called to try to get a replacement.

 

I called tech support, if you have been having issues that's the only way. People with legitimate issues will be accommodated. Specs wise it was the same computer as mmm was offered, the studio xps 16 would have 4gb of ram. Opinions?

 

From what I have read the general consensus on the forums is use the online tech support chat. But as your situation at present seems to be more of a complaint than a technical issue you might want to consider doing what Cin' advised doing in another thread:

I think what it really is going to boil down to is what you use your laptop for. If gaming is the most important thing then the SXPS 16 is the way to go. (Assuming your replacement config has a decent GPU anyway.) If portability is your main concern, then you had better go with the Studio 14 sense it is smaller/lighter. Basically you got a question of power or portability on your hands. You should also take into consideration build quality/design/style/etc. If that stuff is important the SXPS is probably the way to go. If neither suits your needs then I would tell them so and ask for a refund and/or push for a model that does.

 

Thank you for your reply. I was leading towards the xps 16, i'll go that way do to the video card, screen, and quality.

 

Bought Aug 07 and my complete care ends in Aug, but still have that 1 added year "rapid depot" if my mobo fails again.

I've had 2 replacement mobo for GPU heat failures (March 08, July 09).
So far it's been ok, but I've been getting the 100% CPU usage a couple times, some excessive fan noise (although, I heard that's how they're dealing with the heat issue).

My question is why the M11x isn't an available replacement? It's actually cheaper than the typical m1330 set up right? I got mine not long after release and it was mostly top of the line (~$2000 CDN).
Anyways, hopefully when mine fails again, and it will, they'll have something in the 13" range. That's as big as I want to go.

 

I bought a refurbished xps m1330 in May 09. With all the discounts on the refurb it came out to $700 shipped.
XPS m1330
a core 2 duo t7500 2.2ghz with 4mb cache
3gb ddr2 ram
nvidia 128mb 8400m gs
160gb harddrive (7200rpm)
Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini Card
9 cell battery
bluetooth /w bluetooth mouse
Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio Software Edition
windows vista ultimate
-------------------
Well they replaced my battery/power adapter/ motherboard/ control keys the first time i had problems with the computer not charging.

Then a few months later my laptop would not boot, this time i told them the control panel they replaced would not clip in and that the computer had a wobble. So they sent me the motherboard/ hinges/ the plastic chasis/ and a new dvd rom the next day. I was super happy bc the computer would have almost all newer parts now.

Then the technician came out installed all the new parts but now the computer would not even power on.

The technician called to get me a new mother board and wanted them to replace the heatsink bc he said he thought he smelt burning. Which caused them to just scrap my beautiful laptop and told me they would exchange it. I was furious because i didnt want another refurbed xps 1330 esp. since mine was so clean looking now with allnew plastics.

2 weeks go by and i complained on dell chat 6 or 7 times that im a student and need a computer asap and for them just to send me new parts. they refused and i waited. One of the chat agents upgraded my shipping to next business day. and another said the lead time was 4 weeks and one of the agents even guaranteed i would have a laptop at my door in 4 weeks.

I get a call a few days later saying they will exchange my computer for a brand new comparable laptop the studio 1458, and to expect it in ONE WEEK. I get on chat just to yell at them for giving me a less expensive base laptop, but they assured me i would be happy. At first i was like yippie bc its brand new right and I'll check it out. Then I read on the forums its not comparable. But, my initial investment was $700 so i'll take a new laptop for sure. Well one week passes no laptop so i get back on dell and i see the specifications for my laptop.

Studio 1458
Intel i5-520m 2.4 (2.93 ghz turbo)
3gb ddr3 ram (later upgraded to 6gb bc of my rants)
led hd monitor with facial recognition software
ATI HD 4530 512mb
9 cell battery
Windows 7 ULTIMATE
Back-lit keyboard
250gb hd 7200 rpm
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi MB
Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module
Intel WiFi Link 6200 N

I build it and it comes out to like $1300 if i was to order one.
I wait a week nothing happens. Now im furious again its been 3.5 weeks no laptop. I get on dell chat to rant a few times. Threatened to file a small claims complaint. I request to speak with a supervisor but was denied. Then when the 4 week mark hit. I chatted again, this time i threw in some California statutes into my rant. Then they said a supervisor would call me in 30 minutes. 2hrs goes by and i finally get a call. The guy says it will ship in one week. I said no sir! no thank you! i have been lied to far enough i am very mad and i am filing my complaint with the court unless i get a new warranty or a memory upgrade. My warranty was to expire in 90 days and they killed off 31 days of it already. I told him to just upgrade my memory bc they couldn't give me a new warranty. I said i have been greatly inconvenienced. He agreed and said he'll upgrade it to 6gb. so he sent me a 4gb stick of ram and told me my computer will arrive this week. so if i get my computer by this week it will have been a long 5 week ordeal for a new laptop but in my eyes still worth it. the 6gb ram adds $210 to the system so very well worth the wait.

 

@ byeung

sounds like things might work out ok for ya then. Now i'm really hoping my laptop lasts till the end of the semester (if it doesn't burn a hole through my desk first). I can't imagine trying to last 5 weeks much less 5 days w/o my laptop seeing as how I have to use it for homework almost every day.

I have to admit it is pretty nice ordering a $700 refurbished laptop and getting a new laptop worth over twice that. Good luck with it and hopefully you will eventually get your laptop.

 

Finally after 5 weeks, studio 1458 arrived as a replacement for my studio xps 1340, but unfortunately I will have to go through another replacement. Once again, the same story has to be repeated. The studio 1458 is not bad as i thought, but I used by 1340 for light gaming too. I used to play COD4:MW2 with nice speed and very acceptable level of graphics. However, every time I launch the game on studio 1458, laptop reboots automatically. As if , the game launch icon is the shortcut key to restart the laptop

I contacted dell tech, dell software solutions, the game support, but none of these support resources were able to provide me a solution. So, after 3 system exchanges I am still unable to have a working system. I GUESS THE ONLY POSITIVE PART OF THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE : IF THERE IS ANY CATEGORY ON WORLD RECORD TO HAVE MOST NO OF SYSTEM REPLACEMENTS BY A DELL CUSTOMER DURING 9 MONTHS.

At this point, dell is offering me a studio xps 16 ( refurbished) as a replacement or buy a new alienware for better gaming experience. DO THEY STILL EXPECT ME TO BUY ANYMORE SYSTEM FROM DELL? At least not at this point. Well, the studio xps 16 will be a refurbished....After having all that unpleasant time that i spent with dell support..they are offering me another refurbished so I will wait for another issue to contact dell and go through this again. DURING PAST 5 MONTHS DELL CHAT AND DELL PHONE SUPPORT IS ALMOST LIKE MY PART-TIME JOB. IF I HAVE ANY TIME LEFT BESIDES MY COLLEGE AND WORK, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH DELL.

JUST BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE ACCEPTING STUDIO 1458 AS A REPLACEMENT.

 

I didnt really use my 1330 for gaming besides like diablo 2, but i do want to try a little bit of gaming so i will install cod mw2 on my computer too to see how it goes. Tomorrow is the 5 week mark. And i bought a 128gb solid state drive today to put into the laptop when it comes.

 

I just saw the specs on your 1458 and it sounded pretty top notch thats just unfortunate it didn't work out. Do you know what kind of specs are going into your XPS 16?

 

@ byeung12

I also really don't know besides all those high config why i could not play the game..if the game would not start.. i would consider it as problems in settings..but every time I launch the game .. the whole system reboots...the only possible reason i was given was compatibility between the components or a power supply issue ( just guess) ..if it was so why dell build a system with components that are not compatible with each other. For xps 16, i was offered the refurbished.. i just denied it.. and send email to the supervisor with the configuration for a new system.. but i have not heard back from him yet..probably its gonna take a while

thanks for the response

 

Hey, I was offered a refurbed xps 16 but the specs were a p8700 processor and 4gb ram. I stuck with a brand new 1458 i5 520m 6gb ram. I choose hardware over aesthetics, i'm glad it's not as bad as many people believe the 1458 to be!

 

So i got my laptop in today and guess what!!?!?! this brand spankin new studio 1458 will not charge my battery. So they're already sending out a new motherboard battery and a/c adapter. I hateeeeee dell so much im never buying another dell again just bc of all the grief! However, they did let me keep my xps 1330 so i might fix it up or sell the parts i duno yet i think it just needs a new motherboard, maybe heatsink. Anyways the 1458 is not as sleek and i hate the sheer bulkiness and weight of the laptop. On top of that i got the black chainlink one so finger prints every time i touch the thing, tried to argue them to send out a blue lid with the tech but it was a no go. And my McAfee 2009 is not compatible with windows 7 so i tried to get them to send me a new subscription but that was also a no go.

 

Congratulations on the new 1458 and sorry you're having more trouble. Mine arrived yesterday after 5 weeks of negotiations and waiting and I am currently living through a moment of indecision - to keep or not to keep - I wanted an XPS, obviously didn't get one. So I haven't opened it yet.

By the way, am I correct to assume that they'll allow you to keep the 1330 because their brand new replacement 1458 failed out of the box? I realize that after all the frustration I've had with mine in the past couple of years I am very reluctant to part with it.

 

So then....how do you like your 1458 so far compared to the 1330? How is the build quality and how does it just feel and whatnot? I always thought the m1330 felt pretty nice. I'd like to get your opinion on it so I can know whether or not I should push for the XPS 16 or just settle for the 1458 (or push for a refund of course).

 

I don't get how they can say the Studio 1458 is a replacement for a XPS 1300. Are they not suppose to replace it with something compatible or better?

Specs wise it'll be better (right?) since it's newer, but then again, most thing will be by now. Or do they replace based on price?

I'm wonder what I can push for when my 1330 fails. Paid ~$2000 in Aug 07.

 

well i only paid $700 and this new system comes out to $1514. However, i think the 1458 does not compare. I already tried to get them to send me a new screen like the blue one bc the chainlink black lid leaves a million fingerprints. The 1458 with the 9 cell battery is a lot bulkier and makes me not even want to bring this laptop to class anymore bc its wider and thicker. It deffinitely feels like a 15" laptop and nothing close to a 13". I also liked how the xps had metal palm rests and this one has all plastic which feels cheap and like my hp that i use to have. The sound on my studio once i tweaked the creative sound thing sounds amazing compared to my xps. The back lit keys are also amazing. I can't believe I've gone so long without it. And then with all the new technology in this machine esp windows 7 ultimate I can't help but not learn to like it.

 

Oh and I got to keep my xps bc the dell guy told them he smelt burning from my machine. And, they did not send me a box to send it back in. And, tech support told me i didn't have to bc the laptop was burnt. I took the xps apart and pieced it back together and it miraculously turns on again, however it turns off after a minute. I think its bc the heatsink/fan does not work and/or the processor is fried (and i didnt have any thermal grease to reapply on to it just the old stuff. The last thing the tech guy did was put in a new mother board but the computer didn't even fire up. Im hoping the motherboard is still good and all i'll have to do is replace the heatsink and maybe the processor because thats what he said was the problem but dell decided to replace it anyways. So just the fact that i got it to fire up has to mean something right?

 

looks like a good deal. they're taking forever to get my laptop out to me. can you tell me a little more about the studio 14 you received? The only reviews are on the dell site and from out of this country. thanks!

 

what else do you want to know? i havent played any games on it yet so not much input on that yet.

 

yes as in screen quality, keyboard quality, and how the video quality is...ie HD video if you have checked. thanks.

 

I would say Studio 1458 is really good in itself. One of my friends had an older version of studio15. Referring to that I was scared of the built. The plastic around the screen was so bad, when I tried to change the elevation of the screen it make noise as if its going to break. While the new version of 15 and studio 1458 built is lot better, firm and strong. The i-5 processor and upgraded ram makes the performance blazing fast. The picture quality is decent, sound is good as most of these replaced 1458 come with sound blaster.

In terms of the video quality, if you are going to use it for movies the quality is decent for a 14 inch screen ( based on the 720p hd videos on youtube). However, If you are using it for even light gaming, 1458 might not do the job. As in my case, I played COD 4:MW2 on studio xps 1340 with nvidia sli 512 graphics(do not remember the exact name of the card), but the current studio 1458 having ati mobility radeon 512 could not even start the game. Laptop reboots every time I click the game icon. The game support said, a m r 512 is a low end graphics card so I might not be able to play the game. I understand, I cannot expect the right fps from studio 1458 but at least 1458 should be able to run the game. Not even, dell tech have any answer, I even contacted dell software solutions( paid support) to fix the issue, but they do not have answer)

On my part ( just a guess), it is power failure issue which could be fixed with changes in bios or with more power supply, and definitely its gonna take a while for dell to do so. ( this power failure issue is just mine or anyone else has faced the problem...or if it just the game. we don't know the answer unless anyone with studio 1458 could try COD4:MW2 and posty the reply..it would be helpful for all studio 1458 users....obviously I would be really thankful)...I am skeptical this might create further issues in future.

Coming from studio xps 1340, we all loved sleek design and style of the system( that's why we bought studio xps 1340, didn't we?) and definitely gonna miss that on studio 1458. It is bulky, big, and heavy.

 

proshan thanks for the info. Yeah, i was sad about having to give up the beautiful 1340 but i thought the power of the new computer would make up for it. I appreciate your input. I am dissapointed about the computer not even being able to play COD MW2. hmm maybe i can just keep the old adapter from the 1340 and send them the one from the studio 14 back? Dell really messed up, however atleast they're trying to help us out. I do agree i did get a better processor and a lot more ram. However, if i'm not able to even do some light gaming then I guess it's just a waste. I was just afraid that the new system would look very ugly compared to the 1340 i'm replacing. I guess that's inevitable. I appreciate the info, thanks for your time in the write up.

 

I just put in an SSD hard drive and reinstalled windows. The computer like said above is blazing fast now. I love the keyboard and i love windows 7. The screen is deffinitely better then my m1330 but i can't attest to better screen resolutions that are out there. I called dell today to try and get them to send me a additional 6cell battery because this system is ridiculously bulky. They said i had to exchange the 9 cell for it so i declined. Then i asked them to change my laptop color bc the black chainlink bugs the crap out of me you cant touch without leaving a print. So they agreed to exchange my system again for a blue 1448 refurbished i declined bc i wasn't sure if the refurbished was going to be crap or not. Even though my laptop already has issues not charging the battery. If i had any games with me i would try them out so im not sure about the gaming aspects yet.

 

Sounds awesome, i'm excited now. I know it won't compare asthetically to my old computer but i can't wait to see the performance. Thanks for the info on the computer. Have any of you found a site or thread with more 1458 users?

 

What temps where you guys hitting when your 1330 died?
It feels like mine's getting hotter and hotter (on average) with slow downs now and then.
While surfing, my CPUs are at 70ish, and the GPU is sitting at 86. Average? Or on the high side? With "load" (watching some 720P movies), GPS shoots to 95.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I asked for a refund in December. My Studio XPS13 is down for the 3rd time now. I purchased it the end of August. What do you have to do to get a refund?

I told them they ought to recall this product because it has problems, and they know it.

Thank you,
Nina

 

it may come up as a disappointment but according to the benchmarks the cod:mw2 probably won't play.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html

this is ridiculous. they say they're going to be giving us an equivalent model and it's obviously not. I was going to game on this computer lightly but apparently not anymore. I haven't received it yet so I can't even check for myself but this is quite disappointing. Let me know if you find out anything else. thanks

 

koberulz909,

Thanks for the research. I really appreciate your time and effort to provide your research results to us. It is clear from the source that ati mobility radeon 4530 is unable to run any of the popular game, and dell to provide 1458 as an replacement for xps studio 1340 is just adding more frustration to xps studio 1340 consumers. As soon as I read your post, I emailed the link to the escalate manager who is handling my case at the moment. I hope this is gonna help dell to consider finding a customer's use of xps studio 1340 before purposing 1458 as a replacement and an equivalent product.

 

Yeah i'll be hoping to get my system tomorrow. I'll try it out, hopefully they'll be able to get an equivalent system out to us. Keep me posted if they offer you anything else. thanks!

 

hi koberulz909,

Did you get your system yet? If yes, did you get any chance to test COD:MW2 yet? I am not trying to rush you, but I am just getting curious. On my part, they offered me a xps 16. Guess what, I have been going through forums related to xps 16, it is also having problem called throttling, and dell is unable to provide a complete solution. Even though dell has realized the problem and working on it. I hope they come up with solid resolution on the issue. I do not want to go through another exchang.

Thanks

 

hey i haven't got it at school yet. They delievered it to my house on friday. I'll have it on monday. I'll download the demo and get back to you. I was going to take the xps 16 but it had lower specs so i stuck with the studio 14. good luck.

 

What do you think of this system and should i just keep it or what. I have a 1330 that the motherboard went so they sent me and studio xps 1340 which I am happy with but it came with 256mb 9500m video card. So i asked if i could be upgraded to the 512mb 210m they told me that motherboard/video card would fit into my 1340 they would have to do another system exchange if i would like. So I agreed just look under the support site instead there sending me a studio 1458. Because honestly i always had xps the only inspiron ive ever had was E1705. So I am thinking should i just keep my 1340 and refuse the studio 1458 or keep the 1458 sendback the xps 1340 and possiable sell the 1458 and just and just buy what I want because am not a fan of ati video cards. here are the specs below:

Current system
Studio XPS 1340
2.66ghz P8800
13.3 LED
Nvidia 9500m 256mb
4gb DDR3 1066 ram (Sent 8gb Ram after I called)
500gb free fall HDD
DW1520
Bluetooth 370
TOTAL PRICE: $1,428.63

Soon to ship system:
Studio 1458
i5 2.66ghz
14 High Def 720p
ATI HD 4530 512MB
4gb DDR3 1066ghz Ram
500gb free fall HDD
DW1520
Bluetooth 365
TOTAL PRICE: $1,415.61

 

proshan, i just tested cod mw2. it plays it on the highest settings. I have the i5 520m with 6gb ram (5.86 available, does this happen on yours?). I'm impressed with this computer. I like it a lot better than the problem plagued 1340. I was worried about the quality, but the computer is nice, it feels just as nice as the 1340, but i love the lid (midnight blue) on this one compared to the other one which was prone to get many fingerprints. Although, i do miss the keyboard on the xps 13. Overall, the 1458 is nice in my opinion. I suggest those with issues to ask for the i5 1458, the computers faster and even lighter than the 1340. Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions about the 1458.

 

Congratulations! for having a functioning system. My system has 8 gb ram and shows 7.86gb available. Thanks a lot for testing the game. Hmmmm, so it was just my system which has a faulty component or may be components. To my surprise, why dell tech and dell software solutions was not able to figure out defect in the machine. Anyways, I am waiting for studio xps 16.

 

m1330 owner here who just received a SXPS 1340 today as a replacement. I never got to see what the specs or model that they were going to replace mine with. First thing I noticed was how inferior the screen looked on the 1340 compared to the LED screen on my m1330. Dell downgraded me on the screen ... the 1340 has a CCFL screen! Although the screen is bright, it looks washed out, grainy, and the blacks are terrible. I can see grayish lines/artifacts when viewing a dark background in some videos. Viewing angles are pretty bad as well. So I contacted dell through chat and at they agreed to replace the system. What are my chances of them replacing it with a SXPS 16 with RGB screen? From reading the previous posts, it seems like people are getting Studio 1458s as their replacements now.

 

Yeah, apparently the 4gb ram upgrade is on it's way...yet it shows out of stock. Either way the computer runs great on 6gb's so I guess i can wait. Just make sure that they give you an I5 xps 16, when i tried to get it they were giving me a p8700. The i5 benchmark scores are a lot higher. Also, they tried to send me a refurbished xps 16. Overall, i'm honestly happier with the studio 14. It's lighter, better battery life, faster, and the screen resolution is better at 1368x768 compared to the xps 13 it replaced. What i suggest to you is that you wait to see the specs on the xps 16 they send out and then figure out what's better for you. BTW, the price on the xps is always going to be higher. Never look at the price, you can get a similar spec'd computer for about half of what the price they show you on your order status. Hope everything works out for you.

If anyone has any questions about the 1458 i'll be glad to answer them for you. I know I was wondering about the system as there's not much info out there.

 

koberulz909,

I have received the specs. It looks pretty good. They are sending me the 1645 with following specs: i-7 720qm, full hd wled, 1gb ati radeon mobility, 8 gb ram 1333hz, 9 cell battery, intel 6250 Wireless-N w/WiMAX, 500gb hard drive, and the rest is stock. This will be a new system. I hope they ship mine with a 130w adapter so i don't have to deal with the throttling. What do you suggest on this?

Thanks

 

Wow how'd you get them to do this maybe i should do the same. That sounds like a great system. I'd go for it if you can handle the weight and possibly the decrease in battery life. Also if you play a lot of games then throttling is a big issue, make sure that you won't have that issue. If i were in your shoes and it was a NEW system, i'd get it. If it were refurbished i'd stay away. I mean just take a look at all the xps threads. I don't know i think i'm going to stay away from the xps line till they get fixed. good luck let me know what happens.

 

Hi koberulz909. I just bought a Studio 1458 and it should arrive within two weeks.

I'm wondering how hot is running the system under regular conditions (surfing, writing a word document). Is it light enough to carry it everywhere ? How long is the battery life ?

Cheers