Need help choosing between the XPS 15 and DV6T

My use case: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver and some Premiere almost always open with multiple files. I barely game and when I do, it's on my 360.

My budget: I was gong to get a 17" Macbook so obviously I have the money to spend. I'm half expecting Apple to do a complete refresh on their design within a year so I didn't want to feel like a fool getting the build right before that. So spending around half for a great PC is cool with me.

Options: XPS 15 ($1300) or DV6T ($1000).

XPS Pros: better quality display (++), backlit keyboard for when I'm coding (+), better speakers (eh), somewhat better details in designs (eh).

DV6T Pros: Cheaper by about $300 (++), matte display (+), thinner (eh), better GPU (eh, since I don't game), a little thinner and minimalistic in steel gray (eh).

Only thing I'd add is that the DV6T's superior GPU wont even be used in CS5.5 because of the current switching problem/bug.

That said both systems are 8GB, 1080P, good enough discrete GPU, and i7 quad cores. Want to hear a vote between these two since I'm having a hard time choosing and want to order by tonite.

 

All those programs you mentioned won't use the 6770M GPU because of OpenGL. The 555M is more powerful than the 6770M, the 540M is not. Not sure which one comes with the XPS 15 I think you have the option for both. The 6770M is slightly better at gaming but the 555M is better with programs. Plus you can't OC the 6770M because of how the switching graphics. I'm not a gamer either but I'd like OC it a little just for some extra graphics horsepower.

If you were thinking of getting a 17" Macbook then why not get an XPS 17? You can get $500 off in coupons if you config a $1600 system. Which is what I did with the XPS spec'd in my sig. My XPS came to $1,159.99 from a config'd price of $1679.99. Best deal and coupon Dell XPS 17 17.3-inch Laptop with 2nd gen Intel Core i7, 3D 1080p | XPS 17 Coupon, Deals, Reviews - LogicBUY

 

If I were to get a 17"er I'd want a thin one like the MBP17 but even then I was only going to get that over the 15" because of the high resolution option. Not a problem with the XPS15/DV6T.

 

Sounds like the screen quality is absolutely paramount to what you plan on doing on your computer. The RGBLED pretty much is as good as you're going to get unless you step into the IPS class of screens and those are on only a handful of machines (that cost a FORTUNE).

 

I mean if you have the money, I would avoid all consumer grade notebooks and skip onto Dell's business line. You can take a look at the Precision M6500 or the M6600. Doing PS stuff, you will benefit from RGBLED screens which are superior to the one offered in the XPS. You could also consider a last generation 8470W from HP, which still has a 16:10, RGBLED + IPS screen, the holy grail of screens, Dreamcolor 2.