Hestitation on getting a Dell XPS 1530

hey guys i'm looking at these 1530's.

-after having a toshiba (which was good.)
-a dell inspiron E1505 (i hated that computer with a passion, and promised to never buy a dell again...however here i am.)
-a dv9000 which is amazing, however it's too big to bring to class in the fall.

1. how much has dell improved over the past year. inspiron blows. sorry if i offend any dell fanboys, but it just does. but how much better are the dell XPS 1530's compared to that inspiron E1505 i used to have?

2. and why has dell been so quiet about montevina? i really hope they put in a nvidia 9600m gt like HP plans to do... then the XPS will be just as tempting.

3. also, while messing with the configs. on the dell, site, if you choose 4gb of memory, do they give you the 64 bit version of windows? also too, when you choose certain configs, they throw in a subscription to mcafee "security center" what is that exactly, i don't see it on mcafee's site anywhere. thanks!

 

Dell hasnt gotten any better. They still suck, and i wouldnt buy one. The Inspiron line are built Semi-good at least (Dont mistake me for Dell Fanboy, IM NOT), but it is an ok Build compared to the 1530. A close family member has one...

The Casing around the LCD screen constantly pops off and needs to be popped back together with a powerful squeze which horribly warps the screen. It seems like the keyboard has almost no flex, the case some, but if you push on the back of the lid, the screen warps. The touch controlled buttons for sound control are horrible: you have to touch the +/- button litterally at least 15 times before there is any real volume difference. The touch controls HP have are far better. The slot load DVD-RW doesnt handle mini DVD's (last i checked)- which matters to me because of my camcorder uses them, but not for most...

If you like the dv9000, but the 17" is too large, why not get a dv6000t series or the new dv5z?

 

just looking at all the options. every single one. there was a week where i almost wanted to switch to mac. decided against that. Lenovo laptops look like ****, and i love my HP but it isn't very mobile. although the new DV5 series will be the same weight as the XPS 1530, it will be really thick. so idk. just looking at diff. stuff.

 

What about the dv6700t?

 

those weigh like 6.3 lbs. and the video card is like an nvidia 8400m Gs? POS, especially when the 9600gt will be out next week.

 

Good Decision...

Now there your wrong... Lenovo/IBM makes just about the most durable laptops, beside Toughbook, over any brand. They have good quality and if you need a durable NB, a Lenovo may be good for you. I am a huge fan of HP, obviosly, but Lenovo is another good brand.


I actually dont know the Dimensions of the dv5z, but i wouldnt thibk it would be... Since the dv6000/9000 are on the thin side.

Oh, i didnt realize about the GPU...

lol, i see that as light, mine is 8.1lbs.

 

heh, yea my dv9000 is whatever it weighes like 7.7 or perhaps a solid 8lbs. not cool. i hope those DV5's actually weigh the 5.8lbs. on some site i saw them at 6.4 lbs? wtf.

 

The new HP DV5t would beat out XPS 1530..not sure if the 9600GT is DDR2 or DDR3

 

yes, but i do wonder what tricks dell has up their sleeves for montevina?

 

I actually own xps 1530, t9300, 4gb ram, 8600gt ddr3,320gbhdd. Your close family member must have been very unlucky. I don't say that because I own it but I really don't experience any of the problems you mentioned.

1. The build quality is good, decent materials. No LCD popping off or any stuff like that.
2. The Keyboard is very comfortable to type.
3. Touch buttons are responsive I touch them ONCE not 15 times. You touch and hold them gently, effortlesly and they work beautifully.
4. True. Slot drive is louder then others and does not support mini discs but personally I don't mind. Having said that, the drive is louder on the load only and then the actual reading is very quiet. I own Optiarc which is reported to be louder but mine is not really.

The machine is a really powerful t9300 does the job and remains luke warm at idle - 45-47 degrees celsius on full load - 65 - 70 degrees.
That's not bad at all. I tested different notebooks and they go hotter sometimes with lower specs, believe me.
Lastly, the GPU is very potent. Games are flying at 1280x800. It doesn't get so hot either at max load I had 65-70 degrees.

On the negative side I would say that the latop loooks fragile and I wouldnt try to drop it. Craftmanship is ok but HP is better - although they don't have the comparable specs/size laptops so...not much choice..

The reason I am saying that is that I think people should have reliable reviews. If you had so many problems you should have asked CS to fix them or send a new latop.

 

+1

i've own Toshiba R100 and ASUS G1s.....but XPS1530 rocks!!

this is base on my experience, not by others review.

you won't go wrong with XPS1530.

 

Agreed! The 1530 is an awesome notebook...If you go with the 1530, you will have made the right choice...

Based on my own experience, also!

 

The Dell XPS M1530 is EASILY the best computer I've ever owned. I do website design and computer repair in my spare time, and I've not had a lick of trouble with this beast. The extended battery is AWESOME, the graphics capabilities are the best in any reasonably priced laptop that I've seen, and the construction is superb.

My only complaint is that Dell is Microsoft's kitten. They don't support Windows XP. Of course with all of the information available on this website, it isn't really an issue. I'm running XP without a hitch. Just takes a little patience.

(I HATE VISTA)

If you're considering a new laptop, this is a great choice!

Don't be afraid of Dell. I was due to horror stories I've heard, but they've been wonderful, and this computer is fantastic.

Plus I love the Slot DVD drive.

 

Sometimes I wonder if the people that bash on Dell have ever actually owned one. A few things to note about the XPS:

• They are built better than the Inspiron with better/more durable materials than a lot PC-competitors (magnesium alloy and brushed aluminum)
• They are thinner, lighter and all-around smaller than their similar competitors
• Yes, they have an 8600GT (GDDR3), but that'll change to a 9-series card with the release of Montevina. (Read as: Don't say HP is better in this regard because they're not sportin any 9-series cards in their competing laptops)
• XPS has (more likely than not) the best tech support you'll use (next day parts/labor, 24x7 phone support, under $200 to add Accidental Damage to ANY warranty)
• While some people have problems, keep in mind that Dell sells a *large* amount of computers online (arguably more than any other PC competitor sells online simply because Dell is rarely found in stores). You can't judge quality simply by these forums because Dell tends to have more active users than any other manufacturer. Given that, there are going to be more people with problems just as there will be more people without (the ones who don't post)

I have personally owned and used Dells and HPs and as far as a performance to price ratio goes, I have to say Dell takes the cake. Especially given that there are sales every week.

 

My father has a Dell Inspiron 1720 which is a rock solid laptop. The materials are excellent and the whole thing feels really solid. He ordered it on the day it came out last summer, and he has now had it for a year. It's been a great laptop and despite being a 17" it has traveled thousands of miles.

My XPS M1530 has also been great, I have had it for probably 2 weeks now. The materials are far superior the materials used in most other laptops. I looked at many laptops at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. and very few of them feel as well built as the XPS M1530. The MacBook Pro is also built very well. The Toshiba and Gateways seemed really junky to me. I did think the HPs where well built, but they didnt have a 15.4" or smaller with anything better then an 8400GS.

 

I have had two Dells, a many year old Insipron and an more recent X1. They are both still working flawlessly.

We did get some minor issues with the inspiron last year but luckily it was still the last month of the 3 year on-site warranty. Service was next day and fantastic.

There will always be problems with hardware for some unlucky souls. I have been in that boat a few times myself. I had a Fujitsu AMD lappy in between the two Dells which was an overheating nightmare and now is sat retired due to the third or fourth power supply expiring. Service was not a patch on Dells.

Sometimes you pays your money and takes your choice and sometimes you just get hit with the bad luck hammer.

 

The trick to making sure your computer will last, is do thorough testing in the beginning to make sure everything works in the first place. If you notice something like the bottom RAM cover was not screwed shut properly, notebook is not level when put on a flat surface, chances are something else will be wrong with it or is likely to break. (Yes, I had those and more happen to the first XPS M1530 I got.)

All around it is a great notebook to get, but at the prices they are currently selling for, I highly recommend that you wait for the Montevina refreshes if you can, since costs are up.

Or if you are looking to buy two computers since there is a deal buy one get other with 50% off for US. Chances now are the prices of the new XPS refresh will be around the same as the current M1530s once it comes out. I suggest holding out till the last minute.

 

i guess ill have to wait until montevina comes out next week. then it'll be between the HP dv5 and the Dell XPS 1530.... but dang.. dell, do i want to go back?

 

What is it with this misconception that the day Intel releases montevina it'll magically be in every notebook in the market. It won't. It'll take time before you see it in a computer.

 

that's not a misconception. that's the truth. dell is the only company to not say anything about it. the chips have been out since june. they've just been waiting for the FCC or something for the wireless before they can be released. Both Lenovo and HP have their stuff ready to go and it should be released the same week as montevina.

also, when you order a XPS 1530, when you choose 4 GB memory, do they give you the 64bit version of windows?

 

No, they don't give you 64 bit.

 

Won't the prices jump back up to 2,000+ again?
Is that why they've been so "cheap" lately?

 

well then why do they even offer the 4gb.
also, how would one go about getting the 64 bit version then? are you entitled to it through MS or Dell?

 

They weren't $2000 ever.

You can contact Dell and see if they will give you the 64bit discs. Otherwise, you will have to find them yourself.

 

Hi thepreacha619,
It is possible to get x64 version of Vista by contacting technical support and only if you order Business or Ultimate edition. There's a few threads on the forum dealing with this.

 

oh ok, thank you. ill make a note of that when ordering.

 

@thepreacha: your MS license entitles you to both 32 and 64-bit copies, provided they are supplied by the OEM (Dell) I believe. Of course, you could d/l a torrent, use your 32-bit DVD key on your computer and it'll install without a problem.

 

I completely agree. I love my M1530 and never have any problems with it. I have never had a part pop off, and I am quite satisfied with the build and durability, although I do baby it, but that's just me. I love typing on the keyboard and wish they manufactured a desktop keyboard that felt the same. Other than the speakers not being loud enough, I have zero complaints about mine and would recommend it to anyone (who is willing to pay for it, and needs the performance, that is). Also, the touch buttons do work great - like gregozo said - you just have to hold down the volume one and it responds just fine.

 

1. hey, what is mcafee security center? is that a product mcafee even sells?? or is it some thing they just give to dell?
2. and when i order too, which option gets you the best deal. i want just about all the highest parts, so if i pick the farthest right option it gets me the most hardware for my dollar. (and some free software too i see.)

3. also why do they bundle in Adobe software? i find that odd.
4. and verizon too, they put that in, but i don't have to actually get that activaed to i?

 

lol, i never thought of holding it down...

I guess they just got an unlucky model... with the popping off case problem.

 

This thread turned into a big XPS love fest. I love it.

 

I work with hundreds of Dell laptops at work, and have had several Dell XPS machines at home. I must say, Ive had no problems with build quality etc. Customer service has been good, but that may be because I am a business customer.....
Remember, forums are biased as a lot of people come on to request help with their problems. They represent a small percentage of the actual number of Dell owners. If Dell systems were really so bad all the time, they wouldnt be where they are now.

Saying that, I am very tempted to try another manufacturer, just to see what the quality is like etc.....

 

Yay XPS haha

 

check out Sony's FZ VAIO

 

Is there any reason for the thread to not turn out that way ?

 

Its been discontinued.....no more custom orders on the FZ...just whats left of the preconfigured models

 

i guess ill wait till next week and see what everyone does before i buy one of these guys.