Design Studio Dell XPS 15

I am all set to buy Dell XPS 15. I want your opinion guys. The XPS 15 comes with silver anodized aluminium lid. I have been thinking of upgrading the lid to Amira Design.

The upgrade would cost around Rs. 3.5 k. Just need ur opinions whether to go for it or not? Does the lids from design studio look cool and will it be really worth it?

Check out the lid here:
DELL Inspiron 15″ Switchable Laptop Lid – Amira


Thanks.

Pankaj

 

The XPS does not have switchable lids, only the Inspiron 15R does...your link even says Inspiron...

 

First, if you're getting the XPS 15, you have to make sure you get the 1920x1080 B+RGLED display upgrade. Don't buy the XPS 15 with the 1366x768 display, the 1366x768 display is awful and the display is the first thing you need to upgrade.

1366x768 is a low resolution for a 15.6" screen because it makes things onscreen big and limits you to about one window onscreen at a time. The reason it makes things so large is because 1366x768 is the same resolution used in 12-inch laptops. Aside from the low resolution itself, 1366x768 screens generally have terrible image quality (low contrast), especially in the case of the Dell XPS 15. However, the 1920x1080 B+RGLED display in the XPS 15 is one of the best quality 15-inch displays currently available.

The screen makes more of a difference than any other spec because it's the only upgrade you notice all the time. The processor never makes a difference for general tasks, the RAM never makes a difference for general tasks, the 525M->540M GPU upgrade makes little difference at all since it's only a 12% boost in clock speed, and the lid style still doesn't make as much of a difference as the screen because you spend more time looking at the screen than you spend looking at the top.

The upgrade page looks like this:
Make sure you get this upgrade. Don't buy the XPS 15 until you get this upgrade secured in your configuration, or you're wasting your money on the XPS. This is the most important upgrade, and needs to come before any other upgrades.


So, in my opinion, if you really don't like the silver look of the lid and/or you really like the design you're upgrading to, then go for it, but what I'm saying is: make sure that, whatever you do, you're getting the 1920x1080 display upgrade regardless. If it's a decision between getting the Amira lid or getting the 1920x1080 display, get the 1920x1080 display because it's a much more important upgrade. The screen is a necessary upgrade, but the design lid is just aesthetics.

This is probably a more accurate image to demonstrate what the OP is looking at:
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5774/xps15indiamira.png

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@edit1754 Thank you so much. I have already added the Full HD and 6 GB RAM upgrade.

I am just confused whether to increase the RAM to 8 GB or go for the Amira design.

Will upgrading the RAM from 6 GB to 8 GB make a difference in performance? If I upgrade the RAM and don't go for Amira, I still save a couple of grands.

 

Depends on your usage. It's likely you won't even need more than 4GB of RAM. What are your primary usage requirements?

 

Office apps, Web surfing, using photoshop sometimes for editing pics, listening to music and watching movies..

I do not use the laptop for gaming..

 

For your needs stick with the 4GB.However if those needs change later down the road its cheaper to get 4GB of ram and upgrade it outside of dell. Amazon and Newegg have 8GB kits around $50.

 

+1. Dell RAM upgrades are where they make money, they massively overcharge. If you want the skin, get it. For your usage, 4GB is PLENTY @OP.

 

Yep, but the Studio 15z has a nice coffee color lid.

Oh and the XPS lid is not aluminum...its plastic, the only aluminum is the deck around the keyboard and the chassis under all the plastic

edit: just looked at the link ( http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5774/xps15indiamira.png ) for the lid, weird it says anodized aluminum...maybe us Canadians are getting screwed out of the aluminum lid?