New Dell XPS L521X (Ivy Bridge)

XPS - Xtremely Profitable System

 

lol!!
Shhh, don’t give these idea to Dell!!

Btw, because of the price I expect people will prefer XPS 14 and it will kill XPS 15 sale. Even M14x price/spec looks more attractive than XPS 15.

 

Not everyone will connect those dots though. There are people that just don't know that the 640M should have been a 650M. They will also have no opinion about different screen technologies. You have to admit that aesthetics mater, even more so when someone does not understand what all these specs mean.

 

Yeah I only went through three envy 15 replacements before I called it quits. Go to the 15 thread so many quality control issues, screens poppping out, dented usb ports, optical drives that wont eject...

 

This could happen, and just to be objective, also a test unit that Dell sent to the Verge I think (I'm not sure) will put the CPU @600MHz instead of jumping it to the full-throttle state... That's much more embarrassing, because if a faulty unit was sold to a customer only him will be disappointed (supposing that the seller will exchange it), but if a faulty unit is going to be reviewed by a site, thousands and thousands of persons will notice that!

In every case, I won't consider the Envy thread just for two reasons, in inverse order of priority:

1. It has an AMD GPU, and I like running Linux, so bunch of problems at the horizon, not considering that AMD hybrid graphics won't work on Linux...
2. It's not available in Italy

 

I miss the 2008/09 XPS/Studio XPS...every review I've read so far was very "meh" on the new XPS. For this price tag we should see reviewers raving about how great it is.

 

The Studio XPS was a great model, but not flawless. I've had my screen replaced 3 times and it is still bleeding more than anything I have ever seen thus making the good colors irrelevant. Apart from that, the hard drive have died 3 times, but I guess that is not dells fault.

 

Been lurking in this forum for several months now and getting ready to pull the trigger this morning.........

Does anyone know if there are any discount codes associated with this deal?
Is it better to call a Dell rep for better deals and if so, what is the best number to call?

There is a friend of mine who will be puchasing the identical system so I wonder if they will do a package deal, especially since he is more interested in the $200 student cash back and my son needs a new Xbox 360 (his launch one died a few weeks ago)?

Everyone's help and feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us ensure we are getting the best deal soon!

 

I believe the best way to get a deal is to call Dell about it and speak with a phone sales rep. That said, I don't know the number cause I haven't bought one, but there's probably a sales sign somewhere on their website.

 

You're right but... was kinda hoping that someone here might have a "contact" at Dell that gave the best deal

I also just finished chatting with a Dell rep and they told me the 360 deal is ONLY for Dell Home but Dell Biz has the $200 gift card..... checked Dell site and the Xbox 360 is $199. I asked if I could use the card for that purchase and they did not know. Kinda confusing using chat as they were not sure on a lot of issues.

 

If they are selling the Xbox on their website you have every right to use the $200 gift card to buy the Xbox.

 

What such as the overheating, light bleeding and throttling to name but a few?

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but GT640M is just a GT650 a bit underclocked, but it's the same chip. So I think that people who need all that video performance maybe could just overclock GPU a bit, letting all the others enjoy a cooler and more durable system... No?

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Dell Chat Reps really suck 95% of the time.

Also people dont forget if you buy from BB and dell lowers the price soon, bb has the price match garuantee

 

Yeap!! And I'm sure someone here will try to overclock the GPU! Once it's done, if the system is stable and the temps are acceptable then the laptop will outperform almost every contender in the category.

 

this was a good looking system i must admit but the heat issues kept me away lol and the track pad was small ... but good system

its not an environmental thing ..... the screen is to save power as the battery is internal ..... and RBG led would use more power , price is high because of the materials used its very mac book pro quality and when a system has an internal battery they need to squeeze as much battery life out of it especially where customers want all day battery and still a slim light system that can go to the moon an back in terms of performance sacrifices have to be made

 

Thanks to this forum (and Bill) I am going to PM Rev to see what deal he can do for me. I have to post this (apologies again) so that I can get 5 posts.

 

The Envy 15 has QC problems. If you like the Envy so much then go get it, instead of filling up this thread with crap. You don't see people buying the xps going on the envy thread to spout nonsense.

You could import the Envy from the US or you could wait till it becomes available in the UK and purchase it. Give it a rest.

 

I can't speak for Dell, but HP packs their computers with tons of bloatware. Company's pay for their software to be included. This way, HP can price their laptops to be less.

Someone else with the XPS can speak for Dell, but that is my experience with buying HP

 

That's almost every company nowadays. Carriers pack mad bloat and computer manufacturers pack bloat too.
Dell should have less bloat than HP though. I believe Asus packs the least bloatware?

 

Vizio does with zero bloatware. Also Sony has a "Fresh Start" option which installs a fresh copy with no bloatware.

 

My $.02 worth...... Dell's amount of bloatware is MUCH less than most other manufacturers out there. In fact, I have purchase numerous Vostros and there is been zero bloatware on them. Dell desktops also have less bloatware.

In the fwiw category..... I usually keep a copy of OS upgrades (Win95, 98, 2000, Vista, and 7) so I can install a fresh copy on a system which is your best route if you have such knowledge on how to do so.

If anyone is going to be purchasing a new Dell soon, I have a great suggestion for you... buy your new Dell Win7 machine and send Dell another $14.99 to get the Win8 upgrade right away. Link: Windows upgrade offer | Dell

I would bet that that disc will be a bare bonesversion of Windows 8 since it is not bundled

 

Are you referring to me? If so, you must be confusing me with someone else as I never said anything about it being a 'flop' or that sales were 'tanking.' Less than a week into a product launch is a little early to be calling something a flop. I haven't seen anything yet that would make me think Dell isn't going to sell a decent amount of them. However, Cowboy's criticism regarding branding/imaging seems reasonable to me.

 

Not so much at criticism regarding branding & marketing position, more a case of me trying to justify the higher prices (and better build quality).

I think Dell will lose a lot of the mainstream market with these, but will gain some of the market who would otherwise buy a Mac and install Windows on it.

I think they're banking on previous XPS buyers to go for the Inspiron SE, but they're more likely to go elsewhere.

For me, coming from a Latitude I hope it's durability and longevity don't disappoint. Time will tell.


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Aesthetics mater, but I think that a DELL buyer has technical knowledge superior than the average, there is a problem for who is struck from the aesthetic factor besides they haven't the possibility of live seeing the product how it happens instead for Apple.

I would mean a thing on the build quality.
I do not understand as many people give it for sure without have it.
We only know that there are materials of better quality of the previous series.
There aren't still serious reviews (Anandtech or Notebookcheck )

 

You can't see people buying the xps going on the envy thread to spout nonsense, because simply they would be ridicules.

 

Can't wait for an Anandtech review as well. Hopefully Dell sent Anand a sample XPS 15 w/ GT640m... don't care for any of the other XPS packages.

 

agreed i aint buying nothing unless its been review by notebookcheck or Anandtech) need to know im spending my money on sum thing worth it ....

and i agree most people shopping for dell are more than just tech savy but the new XPS will attract people who buy based on looks and dont care about specs

 

I don't know if it's been posted but... Best Buy now has the new XPS 15's on their website: Dell - 15.6" XPS Laptop - 8GB Memory - 750GB Hard Drive + 32GB Solid State Drive - Aluminum Silver - XPS15-2045

 

And the base XPS 15 is also at Best Buy here: Dell - 15.6" XPS Laptop - 6GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive + 32GB Solid State Drive - Aluminum Silver - XPS15-1591

One small caveate..... "Coming Soon"

 

Me too. Besides, to me it's a nonsense to send to reviewers laptops with base configuration: we want to know how the beast behaves during heaviest loads, not just surfing web

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I'm sure it's been said before (like many other things in this thread), but others and I think even Bill said that this is not supposed to be top of the line specs.... It's a compromise between specs and style--weighted more towards the style.If you are looking for something with specs and not as much style, they are now directing people to the Inspiron SE or even Alienware.

Personally I would have never considered the previous XPS 15... way too thick and IMO pretty ugly. I think the Inpsirons look like a vast improvement in design over the previous XPS and a nice bump up in specs; they simply changed the naming scheme. Bill said previously-- way back-- about how these new systems were reshaping the way Dell's lines were presented.

 

I personally like more the l502x looks, I hate the new "mac" look of the XPS, and Alienware's prices are too high for a pimp looking and exclusive gaming machine, and about the Inspiron SE, this model is not available in all regions (at least in my country it isn't).

In my opinion people who buy a laptop or any other product by its looks and not by its specs, specially if looks like apple, are people who doesn't know much about tech and only want to show brag/boast their laptop to others.

I would remotely consider an Alienware if dell changes its look for something more elegant or simple, and if I had the money for it. even if someone give me an Alienware for free I think I would sell it.

Finally I think Dell is going to learn a good lesson for the bad ways with this laptop and I hope they re-relase a new model with better specs.

 

unfortunately, new Ispiron have some lack respect L502X, not killer screen, and maybe not same audio level of L502X, so it's not correct to say Isprion R SE replace old XPS L502X.

This new XPS generation is better respect L502X only in few fileds.
L502X can uses 2860QM that have better performances than 3612QM.
L502X JBL speakers surely better than new L512X speakers.
L502X FHD screen looks has better specs than new L512X screen.
RAM same level for both.
Harddisk: L512X has mSATA connector, L502X hasn't it, but can use 3G wireless card or TV card instead L521X can't uses, in L502X you can easily replace ODD with a second HDD, maybe is a little advantage for L521X, but it loose something in multimedia.
GPUs surely better L521X.
Battery surely better L521X, but in L502X is replaceable so you can use more than one.
Thermal, no sure data for L521X, but L502X is enough good in this point and looks from first reviews of L521X there are some doubts on this sector.
L502X can mounts Blu-Ray burner, L521X can't, because there isn't in market blu-ray burner slot-in.
Aesthetics better for L521X
Launch prices much better for L502X.

We attend in a new generation of product an improvement in almost all the fields, specially above previous generation for new XPS not seems happened...

 

I understand and agree with that completely. The problem is no matter how Dell excuses their reasoning or reshapes their product line, they're offering up a sub-par device spec-wise for a premium price-tag that cannot be justified no matter what materials they've used. They're trying to sell a Honda at Acura prices.

From the XPS Studio 16 to the L501x to the L502x to the now L521x, the specs have gone down in quality, relatively speaking (I know tech always gets better, but the overall level of those specs have gone down) with each respective release with regards to CPU, GPU, display, sound, etc. They have now reached the point wherein the XPS line is no longer relevant. It's attractive to be sure, but the Inspiron line actually matches the XPS in many specs and certainly beats it in price. People who are buying the new XPS will never admit this openly, but they are secretly convincing themselves to like it, and to like it for that price. It's not what they were hoping for and they know it. It's not bad, mind you, but it ain't worth the price, no matter what coupon, code or discount they can muster. It should have had a 650m, a 3720, a R+GBLED, JBL speakers with a SW, etc. Anyone who knows anything about laptop tech knows those are the specs it should have had, particularly in the absence of an XPS 17. Said specs would have been the next logical advancement given the price Dell is asking. Instead, it's just a disappointing release.

But what do I know? It will probably be their best-seller yet. Right?

 

Totally agree with you.
If Dell had proposed the same design, but with a greater chassis for being able to use 3720QM, GT650m and a screen to the level of the B+RG it would sure hits the target.
15.6" Ultrabook is a nonsense

 

Panasonic UJ-267

 

Sorry the xps 17 did not functionally work. It was a good effort, but things are what they are.

I can't believe you guy actually think the xps line is still a gaming line. Sorry it is not and they have moved away from this. I for one am happy they moved to a more business line up. Time for someone to do it. Just like apple and jobs stated, if it works copy it. Yes I do not like apple, but that is because of their business practices. But they do have a beautiful product

 

People don't buy Apple because they like the styling but because of OSX and they don't have much choice.
You can't sell Windows PC that looks like Apple but is not Apple but has price of Apple

It's like from VW commercial

 

i agree and dell could have kept the design and still have better specs if they made the system 1" or 1.1" then the CPU & GPU options could have been better 1 the thicker design would have better cooling (bigger fan)
better sound more room for a sub-woofer and better speakers
bigger battery ie longer run times and still have out RBG L.E.D screen .... but dell wants to turn the XPS line into an ultra book line which is a fail

if dell wanted to go into the ultra-book business so bad then they could have revive the studio line which is known for looks over function and make that over priced good looking ultra-books and bring the XPS back to its glory .....
but you have to admit dell did make a clear distinction XPS is no longer a CAPABLE GAMING MACHINE .... buy alien ware or inspiron se

dells reasoning
you want gaming buy a big heavy brick called alien wear it ugly but its got the power

XPS ... thin an light ultra-book that is not even a shadow of the former XPS model and its price is high because it has superior build quality but average specs

Inspiron SE the true successor to the old XPS but the hardware is still not as powerful the screen is poorer and no JBL sound take skull candy its cheaper

Inspiron every day user system which is an improvement over the outgoing insprion (good job on that one even though it lost the old gens numpad)

 

Did he get a deal for you? Think he can get a deal for me too?

 

I'm not sure why people believe a 650m must be for gaming only. There are myriad other uses for having a better GPU. I get that Dell wants to differentiate the AW line from the XPS, but once again I'll point out that Dell is charging just as much if not more for the XPS 15 with a 640m as it is for the M14x with a 650m, so the specs don't warrant the price. And irrespective of the GPU, there's no justification for dropping the quality of the display. You, yourself, stated the screen was fantastic, but it's still neither IPS nor R+GBLED, and yet it's still carrying an exorbitantly high price tag. Any way you slice it, it's a sub-par offering from Dell.

 

Maybe because the gt560m is is basically the equivalent of the gtx560m

 

Eh...no. You can praise the new XPS all you want for having good looks or whatever, but even with a 650m it still has a weaker CPU, no main SSD (in US) and an average screen that is worse than XPS screen from 2 years ago

 

The M14x is looking pretty good now. Though I'm hoping that the XPS keeps the design but improves on specs and price.

 

Rofl, are you serious? OSX has the worst file system ever, it might be bling but it is not even a patch on Windows 7.

 

I agree with some points but there are a couple that are just wrong.

You can't claim people are secretly convincing themselves to like it for the price. Like they're morons who can't understand what their purchasing.

Some people are happy to pay the extra money for a smaller footprint and better build quality with better looks.

Some people just aren't restricted by money so they just buy what they want. I'm very careful with my money though and that's why I'm still undecided. I'll have to wait for reviews and also deals to at least match the 16% off I could have got on release day.

The problem I have is I would potentially carry mine around a lot and also on flights / abroad so the smaller footprint would be appreciated along with the sturdier build quality. If I didn't care about that, I'd just straight up buy the Y580.

As it is though, there is nothing else that compares for thickness / build quality at that price point. Only other options are the Envy and Vizio but they aren't available in the UK.

Also, with regards to the spec you posted above, we would all love it in an ideal laptop, but in this particular model, it would probably get too hot or very loud with those specs. When the reviews come out, if the new XPS just about keeps on top of thermals and fan noise, then you know they are at the limit of what the chassis can handle at its size. Therefore more poewrful hardware wouldn't be feasible.

 

@ Bungral
Yea, I fully agree. That is why I will not get the new XPS until I find a coupon code which helps me to save at least 10%. There is already a serious review which tells you what to expect in terms of thermals and fan noise:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ell-xps-l521x-ivy-bridge-495.html#post8664301

...+ other problems which they have found.

 

Yeah I saw that and the Norwegian one but I'm waiting for a full comprehensive review from one of the big sites that covers everything with lots of benchmarks.

Wouldn't have thought it would be long now before more reviews surfaced.

 

Me too, I'm looking forward to hear what Anandtech and Notebookcheck have to say about it

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