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    New XPS 15z

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by booboo12, May 23, 2011.

  1. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    booboo12, May 23, 2011
    #1
  2. Macpod

    Macpod Connoisseur

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    the keys looks like something out of an acer laptop. anyone still buy those?
     
    Macpod, May 23, 2011
    #2
  3. The Rooster

    The Rooster Notebook Enthusiast

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    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 6, 2015
    The Rooster, May 23, 2011
    #3
  4. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    [-Mac-], May 23, 2011
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  5. Asdamine

    Asdamine Notebook Consultant

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    One thing I'm absolutely fussy about when it comes to laptop design, is the screen bezels. Every single decent laptop I've set my eyes on has had someone making the unfortunate decision of including at least an inch of wasted space that serves no purpose other than being there just for the hell of it. In the case of this XPS 15z, they could well have shaved half that space at the bottom of the screen but now it's just damn ugly to look at what would've been a perfectly neat laptop...
     
    Asdamine, May 23, 2011
    #5
  6. Risco

    Risco Notebook Deity

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    Risco, May 23, 2011
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  7. CTM Audi

    CTM Audi Notebook Guru

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    Anyone know if the 1080P screen is the same one found in the XPS 15 L502X? I was just about to order one last night when I found out about the new Z. The other worry is I planned to remove the disc drive to store the HDD and put in an SSD. Doesnt seem like that will be doable with the Z.

    Also, only dual cores are available on the Malysia site, think it will be the same here?
     
    CTM Audi, May 23, 2011
    #7
  8. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    What a riced out keyboard!

    Still like my Latitude 13 better.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, May 23, 2011
    #8
  9. somato

    somato Notebook Enthusiast

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    somato, May 23, 2011
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  10. Homeboy

    Homeboy Notebook Consultant

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    The beast is live then. Have spent the previous 5min checking it out on the Malysian site. It's darn pretty I can say and the specs are awesome. Can't wait to read the first review or hands-on. The only potential drawback is the NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M 2GB graphics. Can anyone utter any words about it's gaming capabilities?
     
    Homeboy, May 23, 2011
    #10
  11. CTM Audi

    CTM Audi Notebook Guru

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    Its not that bad if you keep the res down to 1366x768 or so. Especially OCed.
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M - Notebookcheck.net Tech
     
    CTM Audi, May 23, 2011
    #11
  12. TotalLamer

    TotalLamer Notebook Consultant

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    TotalLamer, May 23, 2011
    #12
  13. TotalLamer

    TotalLamer Notebook Consultant

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    Core i7 2620M
    4GB DDR3
    Nvidia GT 525M
    1920x1080

    AND a free Xbox 360 for good measure.

    YOU WILL BE MINE
     
    TotalLamer, May 23, 2011
    #13
  14. VivienM

    VivienM Notebook Enthusiast

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    Argh, I just ordered a L502x yesterday. Time to cancel? :(
     
    VivienM, May 23, 2011
    #14
  15. weapon

    weapon Notebook Guru

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    i hope it doesn't have the heat issues as the similarly sized MBP
     
    weapon, May 23, 2011
    #15
  16. Dekabal

    Dekabal Notebook Evangelist

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    I'd be wary of the pc mag review. The one they feature doesn't look like the one one the dell page. However, 5.54 lbs? Sure its thinner but it only weighs a pound less the L502 and about the same as the DV6t. It seems if you can handle an extra pound of weight the latter two laptops would be a better buy.
     
    Dekabal, May 23, 2011
    #16
  17. Gazzajagman

    Gazzajagman Notebook Guru

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    Hmm Dell sure are designing some ugly laptops at the moment. The old XPS range were stunning, the XPS studio 16 is a real statement...the new laptops seem to have gone back several steps to the point of bland ugliness.
     
    Gazzajagman, May 23, 2011
    #17
  18. ichime

    ichime Notebook Elder

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    They seemed to have drawn their inspiration from this:

    [​IMG]

    Their Vostro line looks sexier and more deserving of the XPS moniker...
     
    ichime, May 23, 2011
    #18
  19. daskog

    daskog Newbie

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    I really am not sure what to make of this design! I somewhat have to agree with "ichime" on this one.
     
    daskog, May 23, 2011
    #19
  20. edit1754

    edit1754 Notebook Prophet

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    If only there were a Vostro equivalent that could muster up a 15.6" 1600x900 or 1920x1080 screen and possibly a discrete graphics card
     
    edit1754, May 23, 2011
    #20
  21. CTM Audi

    CTM Audi Notebook Guru

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    I decided to stick with the L502X. I really want to have an SSD for OS and HDD for storage, which you wont be able to do on the Z because of the slot loading disc drive. Plus I prefer to have a quad core. Got whats in my sig for under $1200 after tax.
     
    CTM Audi, May 23, 2011
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  22. Bwoody2016

    Bwoody2016 Notebook Guru

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    I was soo stoked for this laptop after seeing it on engadget. Then I came here and after further review, WHY!! WHY!!. Someone had a good idea, but then they just nerfed the idea with all the bezel and the plastic.
     
    Bwoody2016, May 23, 2011
    #22
  23. yun

    yun Notebook Deity

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    do want.
    I personally think this xps 15z is way better than my xps 14.
    Color, design, thinnes, etc.

    My XPS is way too bulky and super thick with least power in the planet...GT 425.....serisouly?
    The most odd factor i figured out why I hate this so much because the screen shift 1.5 inch closer to me.

    It's just so weird....
     
    yun, May 23, 2011
    #23
  24. TheFirst&Last

    TheFirst&Last Notebook Guru

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    TheFirst&Last, May 23, 2011
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  25. Dekabal

    Dekabal Notebook Evangelist

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    Based on that Engadget review taht does not look like a very good laptop. The thiness and the design kinda killed it for me. I would almost be embarassed to take it out in public because it looks like its trying too hard (but failing) to look like a macbook.
     
    Dekabal, May 23, 2011
    #25
  26. yun

    yun Notebook Deity

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    all reviews mention it has loud fan.......ahhhh
     
    yun, May 23, 2011
    #26
  27. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    This, I'd feel like a loser haha. Granted it is cheaper, but it's trying to hard, and isn't as solid as the Latitude machines I'm used to, at least according to the Engadget review. Battery life is also disappointing.
     
    booboo12, May 23, 2011
    #27
  28. kingp1ng

    kingp1ng Notebook Evangelist

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    Why can't Dell put a good design?! I mean, the exterior materials, paint, etc don't affect the innards. Who at Dell approves this!?!?

    This is obviously a MBP competitor (based on looks). But it fails so much. White keyboard doesn't fit. Keys should be gray or black. Why are the keys rounded? Too much whiteeeeee and silverrrrrr.
     
    kingp1ng, May 23, 2011
    #28
  29. URPradhan

    URPradhan Notebook Deity

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    This will be a flop show for sure.
     
    URPradhan, May 23, 2011
    #29
  30. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

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    errr, the gpu is the same, nvidia just rebranded the whole gt line up, only the gtx line have new cards.

    and that is one fugly laptop
     
    Karamazovmm, May 23, 2011
    #30
  31. funkmasterta

    funkmasterta Notebook Evangelist

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    I love how Engadget sounds totally biased against anything not made by Apple. The 15z is "chunkier"? I'd say that most people wouldn't use "chunkier" to describe a difference of 0.02 inches, it's more like a hair thicker.

    I also love how they skew the benchmarks by using a 5400 rpm hard drive in the MBP so it can have longer battery time. While the 15z is running a 7200rpm hard drive.

    I wouldn't be surprised if they rigged the brightness and bluetooth settings as well to make the MBP benchmarks look as good as possible.
     
    funkmasterta, May 24, 2011
    #31
  32. yun

    yun Notebook Deity

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    Plus, endaget didn't menetion how loud is MBP
    MBP is like 2 turbo engines when it's stress :eek: :eek:
     
    yun, May 24, 2011
    #32
  33. CTM Audi

    CTM Audi Notebook Guru

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    The other review said 7+ hour battery life.
    I wonder if Engadget had something running that kept the 525M running and not using the IGP.
     
    CTM Audi, May 24, 2011
    #33
  34. funkmasterta

    funkmasterta Notebook Evangelist

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    Engadget makes anything not made by Apple look bad. Try other sites:

    Dell XPS 15z Review - Watch CNET's Video Review
     
    funkmasterta, May 24, 2011
    #34
  35. funkmasterta

    funkmasterta Notebook Evangelist

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    That's true, there's no way a dual core Intel with IGP is gonna run half as long as a quad core running IGP. They rigged their benchmarks. I don't trust them anymore.

    The thermal envelope of the dual core is a full 10W less than the quad core, even Intel will tell you it's impossible!

    http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html
     
    funkmasterta, May 24, 2011
    #35
  36. yun

    yun Notebook Deity

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    It's totally different.
    XPS 14 is about .5 inch thicker.
    XPS 15z is about 1inch thin, limited space and weight is much +++harder to design.

    It's simple idea, lots of ppl got A for their homeworks because they have load of times to figure how to do it. but they fail in test because time is limited. (of course, they can discuss HW with friends)

    when something is limited, it's way harder than unlimited
     
    yun, May 24, 2011
    #36
  37. funkmasterta

    funkmasterta Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't know about the new Sandy Bridge MBP, but my coworker's gen 1 i5 MBP could cook eggs on it if we turned it upside down.
     
    funkmasterta, May 24, 2011
    #37
  38. dalamchops

    dalamchops Notebook Evangelist

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    Engadget tests battery by video looping iirc. And the fact they gave the laptop 8/10 is actually real fair
     
    dalamchops, May 24, 2011
    #38
  39. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

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    what are you talking about? All I said is that the gpu that you have in your xps is the same that equips the xps of now, including the upcoming 15z.

    on side note I said that its a fugly laptop.

    And I hardly see any of those reviewers as any kind of reliable, engadget? cnet? laptopmag?
     
    Karamazovmm, May 24, 2011
    #39
  40. Esseti

    Esseti Notebook Geek

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    Does anyone have a link to the Stage UI software seen on this laptop?
     
    Esseti, May 24, 2011
    #40
  41. Homeboy

    Homeboy Notebook Consultant

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    Hmmm the reviews are somewhat mixed. The laptop is kind of in the middle between of the Inspiron 15R and a Macbook pro. If I buy one under the pretence that it's a Macbook Pro but for less then I suspect that build quality will let me down. Further more the UK pricing is £999 for the 2GB GPU, 4GB RAM with HD display version. It's certainly not a cheap computer and not just a few bills shy of an entry level 15 inch Macbook pro with student discount + an iPod touch included in a back to school deal OR a slightly used Macbook Pro.

    Disappointingly the 15z is not what I want it to be so I'll probably just buy the Macbook pro next month and load windows 7 on it.
     
    Homeboy, May 24, 2011
    #41
  42. Asdamine

    Asdamine Notebook Consultant

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    Tell that to HP. Their Envy line has excellent specs but is a disgrace on looks. And who had the brilliant idea of placing the touchpad centre to the laptop instead of to the keyboard?! Dell had never done that. It's such a bad habit among notebook manufacturers and now even Dell is not immune....
     
    Asdamine, May 24, 2011
    #42
  43. daskog

    daskog Newbie

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    I am all for freedom of choice and a laptop/PC that sets you free from any restrictions and all that, but this is really ugly Dell! I was so hyped by the small preview the past days but ugh.

    DELL if you are reading... The first Dell Adamo you guys designed was stunning and if you had sticked to those forms it would be a interesting product.

    What most manufacturer don't get is that once a design work why change it beyond recognition?

    Many of the big hardware companies don't learn much from others mistake i guess.

    Everyone should have learned from Voodoo PC and the Vision they had, the "Envy 133" is a masterpiece. I guess Voodoo PC got a offer they could not refuse from HP.

    Anyway, Dell you have the money and the technology and this is IT?! haha

    History repeats itself over and over again... Bah

    If i wanted style id take Apple any day over this, but i always was for power & then style so i stick to Pc for now, not just this laptop...sorry.
     
    daskog, May 24, 2011
    #43
  44. Harry1994

    Harry1994 Notebook Guru

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    at first look it looked bad but from the pics on their website it looks really good, just hope they bring out a 17" model that I can apply a 10% discount on
     
    Harry1994, May 24, 2011
    #44
  45. funkmasterta

    funkmasterta Notebook Evangelist

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    Maybe they put it center because not everyone is right-handed?
     
    funkmasterta, May 24, 2011
    #45
  46. altecX

    altecX Notebook Deity

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    really? I avoid computers with it NOT centered. I find it annoying when they are off to the side.
     
    altecX, May 24, 2011
    #46
  47. TotalLamer

    TotalLamer Notebook Consultant

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    Agreed.

    Also Windows just isn't as good at power management as OS X.

    Install Windows in Boot Camp on a MBP and the battery doesn't last nearly as long.
     
    TotalLamer, May 24, 2011
    #47
  48. TotalLamer

    TotalLamer Notebook Consultant

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    Are you kidding? I absolutely HATE it when the touchpad is centered on the spacebar and not the laptop itself. It's completely unattractive.
     
    TotalLamer, May 24, 2011
    #48
  49. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    That's the truth!! After the Studio line was dumped, and the XPS line was demoted to mainstream specs instead of bleeding edge "gotta have it" hardware it used to have (thanks to Alienware and their gimmicky teen-inspired design), I think Dell fired the entire high-end design team and hired a bunch of just-out-of-college grads at half the price, and these boring, dull, and ugly designs are the product.

    There isn't anything Dell puts out anymore that is attractive or sexy. What happened to the styling of Adamo, Studio, Latitude Z, etc?

    This 15z shows some attempt to get back the styling, but falls way short with the hokey keyboard and ugly panel.
     
    lancorp, May 24, 2011
    #49
  50. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

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    huh, basically they tried to imitate the macbook pro with the added butt of the adamo line, and that was it.

    They have done a poor job at cooling the current xps line.

    they have done a poor job at designing the xps line, ranging from weight, battery life, keyboard....

    well its from hell, what do we expect?
     
    Karamazovmm, May 24, 2011
    #50
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