New Dell XPS L521X (Ivy Bridge)

Agreed.

Look at this image:

http://www.b1.ro/pictures/2012/05/31/46448.JPG

Clearly, below the aluminum rim around the sides is another few millimeters. I'm betting on the sides/rear is where the vents are and in the front, beneath the palm rests, are where the speakers are -- same as on the new Inspirons.

This is the 15 closed:

http://www.b1.ro/pictures/2012/05/31/46443.JPG

I thought the same about the directional keys. However in W8 you will be able to use multi-touch gestures on the trackpad as on a MBP -- two finger scrolling, etc. Using Page Up and Down may be a thing of the past.

Again, for W8 there is photo, code, password and facial recog software included. Dell was probably just offloading as much of the hardware needs as possible to make way for what the new OS can do.

 

That's considered a "business laptop" feature. It's pretty darn neat, and one of the two things I miss after getting rid of my stoneage HP NC6400. But on consumer laptops, pretty much noone is asking for fingerprint readers and smartcard readers. Unfortunately.

 

really you're gonna have to press fn + f5? i hope not...

 

The Muffin Man: I saw the rear image of the open XPS15 and the closed one but I would be curious to see the rear-closed one to see if we can see speakers or if it's the now-typical fan setting we'll see as on the MBP.

 

It's possible they arranged the fan that way, but the speakers would have to be in the front. When the lid is opened, it would block anything pointing straight back, so either the fan and speakers are both built into the hinge-gap area (which would be very odd) or only the fan is there and the speakers are up front.

Look at this image, but look at the 14, not the 15, and you can see the gap in the hinge which would be perfect for expelling 2x the heat as normal. But JBL speakers would be wasted in there.

http://www.b1.ro/pictures/2012/05/31/46447.JPG

 

Thanks for the input and reply. I'm not a gamer, so I'm fine with integrated graphics.

I've read the review, but I'm not really sure about the thermals seeing as I've always just used my ancient desktop (this will be my first laptop).

Battery life, keyboard, and trackpad are my most important factors. So I guess we'll see the tests/review of the XPS when it comes out.

Thanks for the reply. I'm not really sure how much 5.73 pounds is (never carried a laptop before), but it doesn't sound like it'll be too heavy.

Decisions decisions lol.

Like The Muffin Man, I can't seem to find any indication of the JBL speakers anywhere. If it's not on the sides of the keyboard, then why for the love of god would there be gigantic spaces there?

And I completely support the motion for dedicated Home/End/Pg Up/Pg Down buttons. I use them A LOT especially in word processing.
Num pad would be nice too ....

Bill is going to come back tomorrow and be completely flabbergasted at what's happened here in 2 days. I expect one HUGE post from him lol.

 

That is how it is on the l502x. It is an easy setting to change though. I have mine set to work without the fn key.

I'm really really really excited about this new xps15. I absolutely love my l502x, but as I started to carry it with me everywhere I wished it was lighter and a bit prettier. I'm fairly certain the new one will be just as much of a powerhouse, but in a better package.

I really do hope that the screen compares to the current xps15 in terms of color gamut.

Even though the l502x screen is a bit blue compared to the u2410 it's plugged into, i still love the crap out of it and might be a little put off if the new screen is worse by a good margin.

But, I am definitely sitting here waiting for dell to hurry up and shut up and take my money.

 

5.7 lbs really? This is very bad news. That means there is no way the 14 will come in at 3lbs. Probably 4-4.5. I was already suspicious since the original amazon post had the XPS 13's dimensions incorrectly listed. Must have used its weight as well. Looks like I'm back to square one, again.

 

yeah as much as the envy i was hoping for lower

 

Hope that is the same system as Adamo XPS has had, that would be the ultimate feature.

Adamo XPS

 

I was only gone a day and had the pleasure to catch up on the news on about 20 pages - good luck Bill

 

Loved the Adamo XPS - best laptop design ever

 

the design was awesome...the performance sucked.....

 

I think it's similar to the Samsung Series7 Chronos... SpeakerL-fan exaust-SpeakerR-fan exaust.. there's plenty of room in there...

Per the Function... IIRC, in the previous studio/xps the effect of the F-keys was selectable in the bios and/or in some software (I don't recall in this moment the name, sorry), to be Multimedia-Function with FN or the opposite (Fkey default, multimedia with FN+Fkey)... Hope I was clear enough...

By the way, I subscribed this thread... the new XPS looks great! Let's hope that in Europe it won't cost really too much...

 

There is no space for a fan, with the odd and power cable.
that place would be perfect for the speaker but pointing downward, if you notice the zone is slightly rized, possible for the sound bounce back and escape.
the fans almost certainly will be at the middle pointing to the hinge just like macbook, envy, Samsung, and almost all other ultrabook.
im a bit concern with emission, bill said, in other words, that last model was better, and we know it wasn't that great, lest see what happens.

 

Okay so now everyone has seen the photo's, what is everyone's predictions for the RRP of both models? I'm looking at getting the 14 Inch and hoping for a sub $1000 price, that likely? It's GOT to be to have a chance to compete with others.

 

ROTFL... Vey smart folks...
It IS the same hardware as in any other part of the world. The specs (particularly the processor specs) in those XPS pics are either a joke or incompentence at its best.
FWIW, the laptop in my sig was purchased in Romania.

 

After studying the pictures some more, I'm not seeing indicator lights anywhere. Battery, WiFi, HD usage, etc. I really value those and neither the 14 nor 15 seem to have them. The only light is the one on the front aluminum rim below the trackpad which is likely for indicating the machine is in sleep mode.

 

Ok I've been gone for a while so can someone fill me in I don't haqve enough time to read through it all. Are there any new developments with the XPS 15/14?

 

the design is nice ......
hate the sace at the side ...
hate dell not having number pads on 15" models i mean there is enough space to put a number pad
as for speakers i think is to the front ... not where the fans are by the hindge the inspiron has them in from the vostro's have them in from XPS speakers will be in front on the bottom as for a subwoffer i doubt it .......
i am like the 17" chronos series 7 and it has JbL speakers almost the same as the last gen XPS speakers

if dell makes a 17" to this with a number pad backlit keyboard and Jbl speakers with sub woofer same thickness and is light ill take that ne day
but for now lenovo Y580 still at the top of my list

 

Notebook manufacturers don't usually put numpads on laptops any more. When they do, it shifts the other keys to the left making them off center from the rest of the laptop and that makes the most-used keys more cumbersome to use.

Not many people use the number pads and even if they did I think they'd rather have the letters centered(I'd agree), so that's why they leave them out. If you really need a number pad you can always buy a little external one.

 

I hate having a numpad. It offsets the entire keyboard in relation to the screen, and the numpad too. I've disqualified the Samsung Chronos-series for putting a numpad on the 15" - maybe looking at the 14" but the 630m seems a bit weak.

Most users will never use their numpad, the ones who really need it can get a usb-numpad for $25. Is it worth ruining looks and general ergonomics to accomodate the few that regularly use their numpad? Wouldn't have thought so..

 

About design, it's very sexy but to be honest i don't like keyboard. Buttons/keys are old fashioned styled, i don't know how to explain.

Also, a lot of space onboth sides of the keyboard but it seems it is not smart used. No dissipation grid, not speakers, nothing.

 

Another question: did you understood where are located the grid for airflow OUTPUT ? I hope not on the bottom.

 

aw man, just got an email saying that the belgian guy sold the laptop already

 

Yeah, and I want my cut of the loot. Wouldn't it be funny if Bill bought it just to keep the whole thing under wraps for another week?

 

Good question! Seems like the backside is blocked by the display and no grids on the left and right side :-/ Looks like bottom is the only option.

Edit: Sorry I was wrong, the XPS 15 has at least a heat vent on the left side: http://www.b1.ro/thumbs/int/2012/05...-urile-xps-14-carrera-i-xps-15-foto-46453.JPG

Edit2:
@ nicob ... oh sorry! thx!

 

That's the Inspiron, not the XPS.

 

I think it will have MacBook style cooling system. Ventless intake and the hot air will exit through vent/slot near bottom of the LCD panel. I don’t know whether this solution is effective to cool down the internal hardwares.

 

wow...30 pages about 2 photos, I worry the moment it will finally be released! XD

 

Click the link in my Sig. Many more pics.

 

Yeah, actually i've seen them all, but they are all very similar BTW, nice look confirmed from what I see! What about new MBP? Any news?

 

Being announced today, keep an eye out.

 

Slimmer profile, no ODD, retina display... MBPs already had greater heat problems than any other notebook on the market. I can't even imagine what nightmares await when that completely unnecessary display resolution begins taxing the 650m GPU. A lot of Starbucks tables are going to have burn marks on them.

 

HAHAHA ROTFL

 

Totally agree with you. Why the hell they use the same stand (or similar ) of the monitor of All in One. Dell uses to have many original designs which are very good. I am disappointed with that. I think Dell should really think about that, input some original ideas instead of just design based on Mac. What I like is ppl. see that as a DELL itself, not a MAC copy. Dont think what are Dells designer doing. Anyway, I still love your computer.

 

There are so many sites now reporting what we uncovered yesterday, no doubt because we posted the info:

More Details Surface for Upcoming Dell XPS 15 (L521X)

More Details Surface for Upcoming Dell XPS 15 (L521X)

 

Come on Bill, come back! We need you to divulge the last remaining details on the XPS!!

 

nice laptop, anyway a curious feeling that a new XPS 15 comes without a new XPS 17... really no (0.0%) idea what Dell expects of this strategy

 

i dont mind the offset keys because im accustomed to it .... i wont buy an external number pad cuz ill be wasting a usb port and it wont be on the same level as the laptop keyboard .....
guess my only option is the lenovo it as it all so far ...... + i use my numpad in some games

but the dell is nice in design if i have to lose my number pad i better be getting best in class sound and display in that XPS

 

The Y580 you mentioned is also looks very good, might just get that one instead

 

17" laptops usually make up <3% of sales for any and all manufacturers. They're considered portable tombstones. It's most likely even Apple will drop their 17" when they announce their new products today, and as Apple does, so does the industry.

I have no doubt you and others who post on these forums are the die-hard fanatics who would love a 17", but you're in the minority. There simply aren't enough sales to warrant it. Besides, Dell does have an Inspiron 17", and it may be no XPS, but at least they haven't abandoned the form factor entirely.

 

You don't need to use an USB port. Microsoft (and probably others) have a BT numpad. But I'd also much prefer an proper numpad, but I'm not interested in a >15" laptop.

 

i agree if u dont need a number pad go to a 14" accountants, programmers, business ppl would prefer a number pad like myself. and yes the Y580 is @ the top of my list but i like my dell.

now with a laptop between 0.90 and 0.95 " dell should have made an xps 17 that way we get a number pad , subwoffer, dual HDD bays all in a lighter package and i wonder if dell used carbon fiber in the new XPS base since that would have made it even lighter

 

One of the things I have learned on technology forums is that people who are really enthusiastic about a particular feature tend to think everyone else should be, as well, and they tend to let you know too! On the other hand, sometimes people have good reason for being enthusiastic about a feature, and it can be good for more people to hear about it. So, I tend not to have a knee-jerk negative reaction to such behavior, and just be circumspect about it.

With regard to numpads, as near as I can tell, most people don't use them regularly and the offset keyboard presents a greater inconvenience than lack of a numpad. So, it's a niche feature, more or less. As a niche feature, there is a relatively small market for the feature and thus limited room for products with such a feature. There are some laptops out there which will accommodate this preference of some users, so they are taken care of. I don't think it's reasonable to demand that all laptops carry such a feature, though, even if one really likes a particular model. Most of us won't benefit and may even be harmed by that feature's inclusion, and despite protestations to the contrary (e.g. numpad-users claiming they adjusted), that isn't likely to change.

 

I'm an accountant turned financer and I would never buy a machine that had a num pad for work or for personal use.

Can you imagine doing Excel number crunching for 14 hours a day with an off-center laptop, shoulders raised on the right and dropped on the left? I can't.

 

yea true i agree but even so i think there should be 2 chassis options one for the minority who want certain features and the mainstream one if number pads are phasing out i guess ill have to get accustomed to that....

i like the new hp's but i don't wanna go trough their quality issues and poor webcam ..... and they do not have warranty in TRINIDAD so Dell or Lenovo are my options .... dont like toshiba much but the P850 also on my list

 

Ugh why are the keyboards in the new XPS laptops so ugly. I love the XPS 15 and 17 keyboard designs.

 

the problem is that the "minority" is not big enough to pay back for the increase in design, manufacturing and assembly cost of a solution like the one you described...

 

well guess im alone here ........ but i usually do spread sheets an stuff on my Optiplex on work programming usually on my laptop along with gaming .... im not here to start any wars cuz its just a feature not life an death its just a preference .... the XPS has never had a number pad so y would it get one now i just don't like the big space on the sides ..... if i have to have a gripe with dell is the inspiron line getting and losing is number pad ... hope they just leave it out manufacturers need to stop adding and removing features when they feel and make some features like a black-lite keyboard standard or optional on all systems

that said the xps is still on my list - number pad