New Dell XPS L521X (Ivy Bridge)

I agree Muffin. I don't think they will sell that much at these prices. In good economic times they might have pulled it off on beautiful design only but maybe not even then. Times aren't good and competition is pretty fierce.

They mangled the whole Inspiron SE and XPS lines and concepts. The Inspiron SE might turn out to be a big seller if it gets good reviews from professionals and users but I don't see this one being as big a hit as the previous XPS' were, not at these prices. Even if it had better specs, I'm not sure it would still sell as well as they are hoping.

I think it's so annoying to many both because of what I said in my previous post and because what they are doing is so transparent (practically downgrading specs while doubling the price while courting the Apple fans). In the process they might lose both their own customers and not gain Apple customers.

They bit more than they could chew.

 

Like it or not, HP is more of a direct competitor. Not Apple. Thats where some of the issues like in the current XPS I think.

 

DRCOOL, oh, ITA. I think HP is going to benefit from this blunder greatly!!! All in all. the Envy got and gets great reviews and the price is still sane and they seem to have figured out the red thing (don't know about Violet/bluegate although it doesn't seem like a big issue yet if at all). The XPS is prettier than the Envy but the Envy isn't a dog either and has better specs.

I think the HP ppl are laughing their asses off right about now.

 

I agree 100%. I think the thermals will mark the success or failure of this notebook

 

It is not always about volume, it is about profit as well. Dell have made a decision to make a clear distinction between their lines. You have the Inspiron line which ranges from extreme budget all the way up to capable gamer / multimedia machine. You then have the XPS which although not necessarily top end specs, it is aesthetically pleasing, more durable, offering BEST in class battery life while also being a very capable multimedia and gaming machine.

The Inspiron SE line is for all intents and purposes the successor to the old XPS. It has 2.1 sound, 1080p and blu-ray along with a considerably faster gpu / cpu/. Whereas the new XPS is really an entirely new line, and considering the price of the XPS 13 then nobody should be surprised at the price they launched at. If Dell had slapped XPS on the Inspiron SE then I doubt many would have batted an eyelid!

Where I do think Dell have made a major mistake on is not giving the same config and enough options across all territory as well as differing warranties. I am of the opinion that this laptop should come with a 2 year in home warranty and a 1 year Accidental Damage Protection, again across ALL territories. My reasoning is simply a premium laptop, should come with premium support. Adding those would go a great way to justifying the cost.

 

I actually like the Envy's design more, even if it's a whole .2 inches thicker. When it's closed, maybe it's not as nice-looking, but when it's open, I like it a lot more. Also, that volume button looks really cool. Way better than an F key. And a removable battery, right? I mean...if you ask me, the Envy's design has it all over the XPS.

 

Which particular Envy is everyone considering to be the equal or superior to the XPS 15? I keep looking at the Envy line, but direct correlations between the brands is a little iffy.

 

The Envy 15 specifically, with IPS 1080p display and non-low voltage i7 with superior AMD 7750m graphics. For $1359.99 and options for coupons it's hard to beat.

 

I would have to agree: As good as Dell's support is, 2 year standard warranty with ADP would be very justifiable.

 

I figured it was the ENVY 15t-3000. I've been pricing it out lately. And you're right -- it's hard to pass up the configuration possibilities. I just priced out a system with awesome specs for a decent tag. My only concern would be support afterwards. I have no point of reference or personal experience when it comes to HP warranty coverage.

 

i agree dell does not know what they want or who they want to compete with

XPS 14/15 are nice if they were the XPS 15z and 14z with a lower price tag ....
inspirons are nice but they are thicker than the previous versions like the 15" they had number-pad in the 15 they remove it now and im sure later down a number-pad will reappear its like what hp used to do with the DV and customers complained they keep adding and removing features so they added back a number pad and some other stuff to the DV line

the studio and the XPS are supposed to be high end machines in terms of looks / performance if dell wants to set mobility as the driver for delivering new systems they need to think like apple and do proprietary parts to fit more in a slim chassis and offer higher end components or just make slimmer lighter products that meets every ones needs
so the product line should be like this

Inspiron --- every day with ok to decent specs
Studio --- true successor to the L502/702 x XPS laptops (no inspiron se crap like hp dv se)
XPS -- slim / mac book like systems (need better specs to beat apple @ any price point sorry)
AW true gaming machines

im sorry now i did not buy the old XPS i was expecting a slightly slimmer machine that kept the screen sound performance and customization ... saw this an was like wow sexi just hope it has gr8 specs too
got heart broken ..... i dont know much about the computer business thermal engineering or pc designing but i sure the engineers @ dell could have worked in better specs and sound even @ 0.91" thick
i cant keep waiting for the perfect system

 

I have only heard negative reports on their DV line, mostly good things for the ENVY. I think an extended service plan would be a suitable option.

 

HP Envy 15 3200 (Ivy Bridge)

EDIT: Still available for $400 off with a coupon if you're shopping for a laptop you want to order this week. Ends Saturday.

 

But that was exactly my point! They didn't succeed in making the distinction.
In everything else you're saying in your post you're actually saying they failed in doing so which is exactly what I said. The machine as it is either should have been a lot cheaper OR should have had explosive specs to justify the price tag.

They wanted the big bucks and prestige without delivering. Had the price been similar or just somewhat higher than previous generations, ppl would still grumble a little about the GPU, lack of SSD and maybe bluray but it wouldn't have been anything close to what is happening now. People would have felt they at least got a beautiful design in a slim chassis and with great building materials. They could justify to themselves spending 1300-1400 $ on it as getting some "extra value". But, without all of these and at these prices, I just don't see too many willing customers. Those who can buy will simply buy a Mac anyway and those who can't or can but won't spend this much on it, will buy alternatives.

I really don't think they thought seriously what their potential market is. I think they just thought "how do we make something similar to a Mac, with a similar allure and get those Apple/Apple like customers" and they misfired.
Right now it's all about whether people are willing to pay this much for design.
If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how this develops.

I think the Envy is a beautiful lap. No argument here although I don't like the red rim around the KB.

 

Yep, found it. Now that's a great deal.

 

I actually love it. Is it flashy? Yes. But it's understated at the same time. It's not like it's a red keyboard tray...just a little red line.

 

dell should have brought back the Studio to succeed the XPS and leave customization both in looks and components and leave the Inspiron like as the every day machine

while i agree they need to make profits ...... but for aesthetics you turned to machined aluminum (btw from the sound of it the company doing that level of detailing of the machined aluminum is only 1 so they are exploiting there monopoly with high cost) which raised the cost so much seriously and then you want people to pay for better looks / durability for sub par components ...

truth be told i like the new dell design language alot but the xps idk
although i have a strong feeling they pulled an apple and fine tuned the hardware to give better performance but the price is still ....

as for the inspiron SE only the 17" has a 2.1 system the 15 has 2 x 2W speakers and the only system with RBG led screens will be precision systems maybe alien ware
I havent given up on dell yet i just have to see how prices go because dell warranty and support is unparalleled and in the Caribbean they are one of the few that have support no matter where the system was ordered from
if i order the hp envy 15 warranty does not extend here unless it was bought from the hp store here. and the envy 14 spectra is $10,149 here if i ordered it online it would be cheaper so dell will always have my preference

 

I might have said this before, but if I hadn't just bought a laptop, I would have snapped up one of those Envys last week, when there was a coupon for $450.

 

i agree if im spending close to 10.000 and more TTD dollars i would buy a mac if i wanted super slim and still powerful

but its still to bee seen if dell will offer coupons or of the price may drop some

 

I'm not willing to give up on Dell entirely either. However, at this point what they're doing is an experiment in terror, and like any good train wreck I want to see how it turns out. Either they open up and give in to us, or play like Apple and stick it to their customers. It's too soon to know either way.

 

Thats very dramatic.

 

Yup. They completely miscalculated the market. They didn't exactly want to be a competitor to Apple as much as they wanted to BE Apple. You don't offer the same price as a Mac and with more inferior specs, to Apple customers. You offer something similar as possible to that, at a competitive price, to all the people that can't buy a Mac or think it's silly to pay as much as Apple is charging for that machine. That's their market. Alternately, if they really wanted to challenge the Mac, they had to offer similar specs or better than what the Mac is offering now. As it is, they tried to eat the cake and have it too.

HP is one of the companies that will benefit from this.

 

i am looking @ hp although i know hp has quality issues and no support in TRINIDAD unless bought from one of the two hp stores here and trust me those hp machines are seriously over priced for the specs here

i think what dell needed to do was talk to is customers more and get info we wanted slimmer not a gimped sexy and expensive ultra book .... .... the inspiron se is not the successor the the XPS because screen and sound will be no where up to the level of the XPS and the 15" does not have a powerful card or sub woofer of the old XPS or even the magnesium body parts

dell please fix this i dont wanna give up on you

BTW if dell followed apple they could have tucked in a mini sub woofer on the space between the disk drive an screen where they placed the cmost battery
img below DELL hope you read this for the windows 8 ir 2013 refresh

 

And I want to add another thing. They also missed a great part of the market that AREN"T gamers at all, like me. That includes men but especially women. With the lack of customization, they also aren't giving the option to "downgrade" and someone here mentioned it in this thread. Many people (and many women) who would LOVE this amazing design and don't need very strong specs but still want a multimedia machine that looks great, has a great screen and sound and is reliable enough, is mobile and has a reasonable price. That's a HUGE market.

From a marketing pov, this really is a fascinating case.

 

true im gonna be taking up photography would have been nice to have the RBG led screen the 640m should handle photo editing well if dell gives me 640 m and and i5 at a cheaper price im good

 

I don't know if you guys have been paying attention to Bill's posts or not but he's making it more and more clear that later on whether it's a couple months or longer the XPS will most likely have more customization options. Along with that there will most likely be higher end components and the price will slowly fall.

If you don't like the first outing of this generation XPS than wait for the update with better hardware and more customization. I feel like I'm sitting here reading the same posts worded differently over and over and over...

 

Since I don't NEED a new laptop now this is reassuring and gives me hope for the future. All I hope is that my hopes won't be crushed with the next updates.

 

sorry man was not here for a bit and aint reading 20 + pages i knw now thanks

 

Yeah, many months and many Envy's from now

Well, we've been saying similar stuff for the past 300 pages, lol.

If they indeed offer more options and at lower prices a few months from now, just watch the buyer remorse expressed here by those who bought/are buying it now, rofl.

All the same, it's a fascinating case.

 

But in your case, did you need a new laptop right now for school or some other reason? Is that why you already ordered it? I also took from the live event and Bill's comments that new options may become available, but no one at Dell is being definitive about it, and that's not good enough. Will it bother you if in 2-3 months they come out with a new display, CPU options etc. and you can't take advantage of it? They should have had it all from the get-go.

 

I agree with that and yes I have a fairly strict deadline for school but I have accepted the fact that it is a first gen product and obviously there will be repercussions such as what you named. The thing is this is my first new laptop in a long time and I'm sure they configuration I have purchased will suit me fine for many years. Than kudos to everyone that waited it out for the better configs

 

Still don't understand why they didn't put an b-rg screen on it, or at least make it optional.

The only difference is the backlight, it´s not that expensive either, and if the power is the concern they could have put a 270nits like last model and consume approximately the same, or a bigger battery.
65whr is pretty low.

Did they really thought we would all be impressed by 350 nits?
and since when does the Corning Gorilla Glass limits the gamut?

 

I'd rather not have a laptop that isn't distinguishable from a MBP while open.

 

the battery capacity is what they could have fit in the case ..... and 65whr is good maybe for they refresh they can go up to a 72 whr 8cell ..... in time to come new battery technologies will make battery life better

but as i see it i think dell needs to take the apple route and do proprietary parts for wifi sound and battery watch the dell internals vs a 15" MBP it might be less up-gradable but they can fit more stuff into the system have 2 bm options on with 8gb soldered on and one normal ram port and a 4gb soldered with and open dim for up to 8 ........wifi card should be special connector with Bluetooth one msata port ... mini sub woofer some where in the case just saying but .......... they have reason for no RBG led and dell said with windows 8 IPS and resolutions higher than 1080p will become available maybe even better battery tech

 

With the technology there is nowadays, everything you said is already possible, and if they didn't do it because it was to expensive, then why did they price the computer so expensive, it doesn´t make sense.

Just a bit disappointed with dell..

 

Bill,

may I ask, is the accidental damage cover only available in the US? I asked one of the sales rep here and she said they don't have that here (Australia). In fact, in customization, there's no option to select completecover...only the limited cover.

 

well dell trinidad Site updated
for 1500 USD or 9675 TTD there is a XPS with i5 8gb ram 1tb 5400rpm + 32gb ssd 640m gt2gb ddr 5 the rest is the usual but oddly @ that price it is saying standard warranty



wish i could get a 750gbor 500gb 7200 rpm drive in place of the 1 tb already got an external and would be slightly cheaper other than that spec seems good

 

I went ahead and ordered the XPS15 after being dissapointed with the quality of the new HP DV6T's. For what it's worth, I think the new XPS are priced pretty fairly, but that's just me.

I do have one question for anybody that ordered online in the US on launch day (06/26). Have your orders shipped yet?

I spoke with a sales rep who assured me it would ship to me on 06/27 and arrive by 06/29, and I haven't received any shipping notifications from Dell yet. So, I'm getting a little concerned...

 

Mine hasn't shipped yet either despite being told it would ship no later than the 27th. I'm sure Dell will ship them asap. I wouldn't be concerned about this, perhaps the rep was wrong about stock that was available to ship immediately in the configurations we choose. Bill mentioned a couple posts back that there may be a slight delay in getting the orders fulfilled http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ell-xps-l521x-ivy-bridge-478.html#post8659838

 

I also ordered the first day but when I ordered I did not see the quick ship date, although I had the 2 business day shipping they haven't shipped yet.

 

Dell tried proprietary parts before with their desktops, they got into a bit of trouble for that and have since gone back to regular parts. Plus replacing and repairing with whatever you want is what makes a PC a PC. Sure they may have been able to do a bit more with proprietary parts, but that was going to be a big turn off of the laptop. People in this forum were hoping for things NOT to be soldered.

Like people said before, Dell is experimenting in a new market; they're not gonna get it perfect the first time. Thats what updated models are for, adapting to feedback and getting a more competitive product out on the market. Hopefully they take some of this negative feedback and learn from it.

Now said a few pages back, I agree, dell should bring back the studio line. Keep a multimedia centered laptop, cause when I think insprion, i think of entry level.
Like stated before--
Inspiron- Entry level for everyday easy use
Studio- Multimedia
XPS- Looks and portability
Alienware- Gaming and Extreme

Now possibly the studio and XPS could be flipped, where XPS is back to multimedia cause XPS does not stand for multimedia, its stands for Xtreme Performance System. Studio sounds more portable and sounds like it would look nice.

 

I agree. The XPS needs to be more extreme. They really should lower the price on this one soon if it's a multimedia system. It's definitely not the sexy extreme XPS laptops in The Big Bang Theory. I think those were gaming rigs

 

Some nice pictures of the XPS 14 & 15 from The Verge:

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

 

yes but the xps has gone into mac territory ie it can do with proprietary parts
wifi & Bluetooth card like apples own smaller and uses a ribbon to connect to MB mini sub woofer like the pic i posted in the space the optical drive has
8gb soldered on standard with a regular ram port to upgrade further not as much proprietary stuff apple but enough to make room for some other things

i agree the studio should have been this XPS
and the XPS should have been a similar design but thicker maybe 1.1" or 1.01" with 10w or 12w JBL sound, RBG led screen, 650M or 660m graphics card and be made of magnesium alloy .... with a 72whr sealed battery but keep the gorilla glass

 

This is your final warning.

• Do not start flamewars

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• Do not respond to posts containing the above with more of the above, report them instead.

Now might be a good time to read the forum rules.

We've had to delete more posts from a few members again, this is the final warning given in this thread. If you cannot respect the forum rules, we'll close this thread for good and give infractions to anyone participating in the flamewars, trolling or insulting other members for good measure.

 

I'm not mistakenly confusing laptops with desktops. I know that there IS sound quality differences, no doubt! But to max the capacity of these speakers nothing more than a 96 kbps mp3 soundtrack is needed. All I'm trying to say with this, is that you'll never hear more than little procentages of what the musicians wanted you too.

I would really like a 1080p screen, but that is only to make more real estate on my screen. I'm using the dobbelt mirror-side-by-side-thing a lot when taking notes.
About the sound. I'll give in a bit a say that it is better to have better sound, but to me, it isn't a crucial criteria anyway. Would always use better quality headphones anyway.
I'll buy a XPS or MBP bevause of the exterior quality and the reliability of the computer and for the extra service. I would surely not downgrade to much from my studio XPS in terms of style, so has to find something really nice

Well, that's tremendously good news! First laptop that I have geard about which supports this. Really thank you, Bill.
Would you also try to answer my question about student discount in Denmark?
Edit: little extra question for Bill (OT): will the XPS 13 be upgraded to ivy bridge any time soon? That's my third alternative if the 15-inch dream comes crashing down.

 

I don't see this on the Canadian website. I also called in to speak with a sales rep about the possibility of an SSD only option and after putting me on hold for several minutes, he said no. I'm terribly confused about this. The only thing holding me back from this purchase is an SSD only option, whether it's 256 GB or 512 GB...Muffin Man or Dell Bill, how can I get this option guaranteed without calling in only to be told something different?

Thanks in advance!

 

I'd rather shy away from HP for a bit, thats the only reason I'm not jumping onto the Envy.

Those pictures make me want one even more, but I'm still holding out for some coupon codes in the coming weeks. I have until august really, so I have some time. I don't doubt that the build quality on this machine is good. I personally think it looks really good.

 

From my experience, Dell is slow at updating the canadian website with the same offerings as the US site. I'd give them a call, it's happened before that the option was actually available, but not show in the online configurator. The 6970m in the previous gen of m17x is a prime example of that, it took weeks before it even appeared on the canadian site, but you could order one if you called.

The US also gets access to some of the good stuff before we do.