New Dell XPS L521X (Ivy Bridge)

Did he mention whether this method was here to stay? Will we be given that customization freedom again sometime in the future?

 

What school gets the 2% discount?

 

Hmmm, that's interesting I too bought the one with a 7200rpm HDD but it doesn't say the memory configuration just "8GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz"...

 

The told me every school gets the 2% discount and than some schools have a member ID that gets them something very small off. All I know is i called them got the discount and the $200 gift card. (Also had the choice to pick an Xbox)

Where does it say the 1x8 for that model on the US site, I don't see it :/

 

Also is it worth it to get the GT640M instead of the GT630M?

 

Yup pretty much so. Apparently all the regions are giving a list of configs to choose from. Once it has be overviewed, they choose the best one's based on their market demands. He hinted that there may be an extended range of pre-baked builds.

 

Ok, but so they loose people that have read of orangegate in many reviews.

 

100% yes. The 630M is a rebadged and die shrinked Fermi 540M which was in the previous generation. The 640M is Kepler, faster and more power efficient.

 

yeah the word should get around especially when the bigger sites get around to reviewing it. Btw ehre they are



eh idk why the others are so big how do u resize again?

 

Cool How much did you end up paying and what model did you choose? I think i'm going with the 1699 model. Looks like my gift cards aren't going to cover it

 

Pakii, edit those HUGE PICS!

 

Yep, but if we are pricing mainly the design and form factor than we should consider not only weight but also thicknes. As far i see, new MPB are 0.75 inch, they crashed all thickness record in their laptop category/family/segment.

Generally speaking, if Dell is aiming to grab MPB users from Apple conducting the battle on the same ground of Apple (wow factor, design, form factor, etc) then Dell is still a double step behind, imho. If Dell is triyng a second battle round on the pure hardware field, then Dell is still one step behind Apple. You can look hardware configuration, and i'm not considering still retina display.
Also we should not forget that one of the strong factor for Apple toys is the proprietary OS, perfectly tailored on proprietary hardware.
When we buy a DELL we buy a Windows OS too, where, if you are a demi-geek, you can install a linux OS. Both are not tailored perfectly for the machine, anyway.

Apple is on a strong position now and she can permit herself to conduct this abnormal and strange marketing/pricing policy: new product are ever more and more expensive, despite general economic condition in the world should force company to produce much more affordable toys.
Is Dell in this strong position ? We will see if the market strategy of DELL will be a success or a disaster.


PS: i'm not an APPLE funboy, never got an apple toys, i only like to watch them in store when it happens

 

Francesco it is not going up against the MBP Retina

Anyway, I am sleeping then ordering in the morning.

 

I have been following and eagerly awaiting this laptop to replace my XPS m1530. The last XPS variant I didn't like and was trying to hold off.

The Inspiron should have filled the spot the XPS has as a Mac book pro killer.

This is utter fail from dell. Alienware and XPS need to be similar in specs with aw having the top of the line equipment. XPS should be the high mid end and low high end laptop with gaming and auto cad abilities.

They tried so hard to mimic the envy and the macbookpro and FAILed utterly with performance and customization. I bought two dells because I loved what they offered but not anymore. Sorry it's off to boutique shops for real laptops tht can preform as the panicle of style performance and reliability. Sorry dell I'm out.

 

I really like the 1699 model, don't need to bluray player though. I'm hoping a coupon code gets released soon. Otherwise I guess I could just resell the xbox and make 100-150 bucks....

 

would you be able to replace the msata that comes with it with something like

MyDigitalSSD SMART 256GB mSATA SSD Review - Top Performance Unmatched Capacity Killer Price - The SSD Review

???

 

Seems to be about 25-40% better performance (gaming wise anyway) from what I can see on notebookcheck.

GT 630M

GT 640M

 

Put you link between
IMAGE=500 /IMAGE with []

 

1. 
   This is BS, because there are competitors with more powerful, cheaper, all-aluminum laptops.

 

You guys are proof why a company like Apple can make trillions off the, shall we call it gullibility of people, by selling a mediocre product in a perfect and shiny package. Like children attracted to a shiny, beautiful candy wrapping.

It's just greed and psychology and exactly what now Dell is trying to profit from. They didn't tap into some great technological novelty. They are tapping into the human psyche.

 

Can anyone give me an idea how performance of the •750GB 7200 HDD with 32GB mSATA compares to installing a real SSD

 

All three of the UK models come with 1 x 8GB.

 

i agree but not with that much malice . xps13sam i could say the same thing about a mbp

 

That doesn't make sense. Maybe it hasn't been released in Europe yet. I don't believe that a company like HP would neglect a whole continent. Be patient.

 

Even I have to admit Dell is treading on a perilous path here. It's funny how all of us spent the past few weeks and hundreds of pages on this thread eagerly awaiting the 15, and scrutinizing every photo we could get our hands on, and now that it's out, the one thing we never counted on was how Dell would out-price itself and fail to provide a reasonable number of personalization options.

If there was one reason why Dell achieved any modicum of success over the past decade it was as a reliable stalwart with fantastic CS, a plethora of customizations, and competitive pricing. I wouldn't even mind it so much if the pre-baked builds came with what we've come to know as "XPS-level" features or were at least logically priced with alternatives from their marketplace rivals. But they're not. At the same time, this is the first day of the launch, and just as with the L502x, more options became available months later, and I'm in no hurry.

Nevertheless, Dell is playing with fire. I have no doubt they've done their homework and they "believe" what they're doing will work. But those on this thread know what they had in the L502x with display and sound and myriad other interchangeable options, and we're not seeing any of that now in an even more expensive device. Dell may be moving forward in reshaping its monetization of a very difficult business model, but their progress in terms of product offerings seems to have just taken one big step to the lateral left. Here's hoping they listen to, not merely their customers, but their biggest fans -- us.

 

No malice at all. It's exactly the way their intent (the companies) and method works and it works because ppl want beautiful things.

They highly overprice something, make you feel special that you have such a luxury item and manage to convince you they are doing you a favor in the process.

 

So, I feel like a bunch of options are missing: in the flyer that was posted earlier it was shown the XPS 15 in black, in the parts list there's a 256 and 512GB msata...WHERE ARE THESE OPTIONS?

 

No, he isn't.

Now that I've had the time to confirm specs, pricing, available configs, screen quality, and performance.... I also agree that Dell really screwed things up. The lack of configurable options to tailor the laptop to your personal needs and the price point being on par with the Macbook Pro (if you get the slower 640m)... i've concluded that you'd have to have a mindset similar to the millions of Apple zombies who just buy anything cuz it says apple in order to think the new XPS is a smart purchase.

I also found it curious how so many people here are claiming they ordered this new XPS yet none of them posted up their invoice as requested by quite a few members. Not a single invoice...

Anyone who will rush out to spend this kind of money before even having 100% confirmation of the specs would typically be the type who would plaster their invoice for all to see.

 

I have a gut feeling that there will be a coupon code coming out soon.

Since so many people are unhappy, what are your alternatives? I'm curious since the price point is a bit high for me too.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here. I see the xps15 as a little highly priced, but I bought one. The envy 15 I had was $1250 for the 1920x1080. I was able to get Dell down to $1600 + a 5% Dell Advantage gift card, so a net price of $1520 (pre-tax).

Now, thats a price difference of $270. To my mind, here is what I get for that $270:

- A blu ray player - this is big to me - why have a 1920x1080 with a DVD player and not blu ray?
- Accidental damage protection for the first year
- Dell's fabulous (in my experience) next business day tech support.
- Dell has company rep actively engaged here on NBR - that is too cool and a fantastic resource
- Smaller computer - 0.91" vs 1.11" in height
- Better styling - subjective, I know, but this is my opinion
- msata slot - if my 512GB runs low, I can add more space via the msata - even better, dual drives, for backup, whatever
- I have a strong preference for nvidia - I like Optimus.
- Li-Polymer vs Li-Ion battery - I understand the Li-Poly batteries last longer (in terms of needing replacement)
- Better Quality Control. I had an ivy bridge envy 15 until I returned for several Quality Control issues (stuck discs, loose bottom panels). I've rarely had these sort of issues on a Dell. If I did, they were fixed next business day; none of this exchange business - by the way, estimated delivery on my replacement envy - July 12 (!)

To be fair, I have a couple of negatives
- I like the envy's keyboard layout better
- the 7750m is a bit faster than the 640M (but see driver preference above)
- Envy has an IPS screen, but I'll withhold judgement on Dell's screen until I see it. We know there are good TN screens - the question is, is this one of them?
- Envy is easier to upgrade RAM/HDD. But really, once I stick in my 16GB and 512GB SSD, I won't be changing that for a long time (if ever)

Anyway, for those reasons, I think $270 is well worth it. Thats just my thought process. A lot people seem to think these prices are crazy. I respectfully disagree and wanted to discuss why.

N

 

I find your tone and statements inflammatory. After reading about 30 pages of whining I don't recall seeing a single request for an invoice. Not only that, you are implying that people should post their invoices and in the same breath negatively characterize anyone who posts one. On the other hand, perhaps you are right since invoices are not generated until product has shipped...with the first ship date being Wednesday 6/27, anyone who posts an invoice on Tuesday 6/26 - the first day of sale - should be suspect.

It feels like you're baiting us

 

hope the coupon code comes out soon, prices here in nz are really expensive...

 

Just thrown together from my confirmation email. I get 5% cash-back plus $200 GC so the total I spend will be around $1635.00.
Not an invoice but whatever proof enough
There ya go

 

You just proved my point better than I ever could.

 

I'm looking at this.
http://www.amazon.com/Vizio-CN15-A1-VIZIO-15-6-Inch-Laptop/dp/B0088L18E0

 

Yeah, I was looking at that and Sony S series.

Also, how are you getting the price down to 1600? Is it by ordering by phone?

 

Bill, please take this feedback to heart. I've purchased a L502x several months ago with the 256 GB SSD only option. I was happy to pay the price and am willing to pay it again since I need to buy another XPS for the wife. Whether it's 256 GB or preferrably 512 GB SSD, I need this badly. Kindly pass this on to whomever: Put that darn option back in there. The 1 TB + 128 GB SSD option is not appealing. A laptop of this quality should also boast higher SSD space. C'mon, look at the market you're going after. People in this market would be open to paying more. And if they're not, then by all means enjoy the Inspiron. Your feedback here is greatly needed and appreciated!

 

How did you get the 200 GC!? now I really wish I waited to buy my gtx 670 off of them. =(

 

Just called on phone and asked and at first they said they couldn't than 2 minutes later she asked me if I wanted an xbox or gift card, haha.

 

Awesome! now I gotta cancel this gtx 670. It can wait a few weeks.

 

Vizio notebook for me. In the experience I've had, their sales reps are infinitely nicer than HP's. They have a thinner, and (imo) prettier design than the Envy, and if you can live without the connectivity losses (I can), it is a fantastic pick. I'm getting the 1050$ option with a dual core, 1200$ gets you a quad core and 640M LE and a 1080P IPS display like the Envy. The Envy might give you a bit more for your money with the current coupon, but AMD graphics switching sucks.

I think Vizio gives a bit higher battery life too, but I'm not sure. Plus, I dislike HP with a passion, so that helps. I would consider Sony, but they don't allow you to install fresh drivers.

Also, Microsoft signature is nice. No bloatware and stickers are nice in my opinion. And Vizio has aluminum unibody which also looks nice. People might say its a macbook clone but I think there are a few differences.

 

I bought the Dell XPS 15 R2 - L502x a little while ago. I have had problems with the keyboard flexing and while playing games the computer freezing up and constantly playing a noise when it does so. This new xps 15 look really cool. Do you think dell would let me send this laptop back and upgrade to the new one, paying the difference. Or maybe they would just give me the new one since I have problems with this one. Worth a shot

 

I sadly decided to go with the Samsung Series 7 15" because the XPS 15 was just too expensive for me.

Here are the pros and cons as they pertain to me
Pros for the Samsung:

*Core i7-3615QM - slightly faster CPU
*Same 640m GPU w/ GDDR5
*Keyboard has numberpad and dedicated page up/dn/end - somewhat important for me as a programmer
*Slightly longer battery life
*Lighter weight
*Slightly smaller
*Slightly larger glass touchpad that allows you to click *almost* anywhere rather than being limited to the bottom
*$600 cheaper
*Was able to order it today and will be here tomorrow​

Cons

*No Blu Ray - not a big deal for me as I will replace the optical drive with an SSD and use a slim external Blu Ray writer(only $80) for the few times I need it
*Display - I don't mind 1600x900, I actually think its the perfect resolution for a 15.6" screen. However, it will almost certainly not be as good as the panel in the Dell when it comes to viewing angles and color. This is the biggest con for the Series 7 versus the XPS 15, imo.​

Neither a pro or con

Overall I like the aesthetics of both models equally. Both are largely aluminum or a magnesium alloy. The Samsung has a very good build quality that I've been able to test in person. Meanwhile, I am sure the Dell will have as good or better build quality. The Samsung's dual fan setup seemingly has no issues with overheating, but I seriously doubt the XPS will have trouble here either.​

This is the model I purchased:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Serie...qid=1340767971&sr=8-1&keywords=np700z5c-s01us

I wanted to support Dell as I've always preferred them. I even worked for Dell in sales for a short time years ago. I also really love their Sputnik project for a Linux developer laptop. Unfortunately, I am working on my master's degree and simply shouldn't spend $1700+ on a notebook at this point. It is what it is, I don't blame Dell for going after something other than minuscule margins.

 

If they can afford to give a random caller $200 off just because they asked, doesn't that kind of confirm that they are being overpriced? Or am I not understanding your situation?

 

Where do you live? I have yet to find the Samsung S7 in the US. (15 inch)

Edit: Lol its in your post.

Hmm. Versus the Vizio, you get a quad core CPU, 20% more graphics, and a worse screen, (and bigger I guess but not really) and more connectivity. Will have to consider. XPS why you so expensive???

(disappointed but understanding )

I also imagine the Vizio will feature better input devices. The previous SS7 had bad keyboard and trackpad AND screen, I don't know if they will have them all fixed. The S7 17" though looks real good on notebookcheck, if the 15" mimics the noise and improves on the thermals, I'd be impressed. (Unlikely though given smaller size.)

 

That's on the list of questions I sent over when I left the office at 5:30. Hopefully I hear back soon.

 

Considering a Vizio....

 

The current deal going is either a free xbox with a laptop purchase of $699 or more OR a Dell $200 gift card.

 

Think you can ask about coupon codes too please

It is the student discount deal. As someone else stated, either a $200 Dell gift card or a Xbox 360 (the $200 4gb slim).

 

Its always the ones who are upset that are the most vocal. I have been looking for laptops the past 3 months and this finally ticks all the boxes, I think its a well specified laptop and I am happy to pay the price. No doubt it will become cheaper over the following months.