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    Durability of XPS M1330

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by tenacior, Jun 2, 2008.

  1. tenacior

    tenacior Newbie

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    I'm looking to buy a laptop that'll last me for 4 years of college. Despite all the build quality issues I've read about, do you guys think that the XPS M1330 will hold together for at least four years? Or should I just get a T61 instead? Thanks in advance for any input.
     
    tenacior, Jun 2, 2008
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  2. lordnikon

    lordnikon Notebook Evangelist

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    Normally, this would be an easy "yes" but now I have my doubts. The laptop would probably last but until Dell fixes the cooling problem to prevent the GPU from overheating, I'm not so sure whether it will be running after 6-7 months.
     
    lordnikon, Jun 2, 2008
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  3. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    It depends on how you take care of your system. If you are rough with them, then you will probably want to go with the Thinkpad. However, if you take care of it, it's not going to just fall apart.
     
    atbnet, Jun 2, 2008
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  4. tenacior

    tenacior Newbie

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    Yeah, I'll take reasonably good care of it (if that's possible in a college setting), but I'm just worried that some problems (like the GPU overheating lordnikon mentioned) will be out of my control.
     
    tenacior, Jun 2, 2008
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  5. Shonak

    Shonak Notebook Geek

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    No.

    You will be lucky if it lasts you a year. I have had 4 motherboard 2 screen replacements and 3 batteries. Buy a Vostro for durability. Buy an XPS M1330 if you want to get decent features and want to look good. Overheating is out of control. It will be another year before these issues get sorted.

    Shonak
     
    Shonak, Jun 2, 2008
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  6. Lucanesti

    Lucanesti Notebook Deity

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    Just get 3 year care plan, and by the time it runs out you should have enough new parts in it to make it another year. Just take CARE of it. Dont let it sit in your lap and not breath with it overclocked. Dont make it run 24/7.

    What you put in is what you get out.
     
    Lucanesti, Jun 2, 2008
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  7. NOS

    NOS Notebook Geek

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    College will keep you busy enough so go with something reliable that you don't have to fix all the time.
     
    NOS, Jun 2, 2008
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  8. mgslegrand

    mgslegrand Notebook Geek

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    That 6-7 month claim is very exaggerated. My girlfriend bought her 1330 (with dedicated gpu) the week it came out and games relatively frequently. Her laptop has yet to show any signs of wear and tear. Get a longer warranty if you are worried about the system's longevity. XPS support is generally above average.
     
    mgslegrand, Jun 2, 2008
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  9. mattocs

    mattocs Notebook Deity

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    Are you set on a small system like the 1330?
     
    mattocs, Jun 2, 2008
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  10. chelet

    chelet Notebook Deity

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    You could always order the M1330 with the X3100 graphics if you don't need the Nvidia card. The M1330 with the X3100 graphics doesn't seem to have the heat problem. If you're going to carry it to class with you, The M1330 would weigh less, but the Thinkpad would probably be more durable (less prone to visible scratches). I like the battery life I'm getting with the M1330, but I don't have a Thinkpad so can't do a direct comparison.
     
    chelet, Jun 2, 2008
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  11. tenacior

    tenacior Newbie

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    I'm looking for 13" to 14" and have basically narrowed it down between the 1330 and the Thinkpad. Also, if I did get the 1330, I'm probably getting the Nvidia card for some light gaming.
     
    tenacior, Jun 2, 2008
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  12. kevinf

    kevinf Notebook Evangelist

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    what about the inspiron 1420.
     
    kevinf, Jun 2, 2008
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