Returned my xps m1530

The computer was not bad, but all in all it was a disappointing experience.

1)Delivery took over two weeks, which I find pretty unacceptable, since the system was preconfigured by my universitiy's bookstore.

2)Got it and the webcam barely worked. I still have a video that I filmed with it in which video lags a good second behind the audio. How could it work that badly?

3)System got way too hot. This is a personal peeve of mine--using hwmonitor it doesn't seem to me that my system got hotter than anybody else's. But after the fan woudl go off, the graphics card would climb back up to 70 degrees within a couple of minutes. The wrist-rest and keyboard got uncomfortably hot for me. And keeping it on my lap was out of the question.

4). When the wifi signal was low or poor, the 802.11 n antenna would stop functioning altogether and I had to reboot. Maybe I could have resolved this problem with a tech support call, but at this point I was already fed up by 1,2 and 3 and had pretty much decided to return the system.

5)Hardrive was always whirring into action and making an intermittent plasticky "click". Very distracting when you're trying to work.

6. The first time I turned the computer on I got a BSOD--though only for a moment before it rebooted. Not a good sign.

Positives of the computer: superb screen, great keyboard, though I long for a macbook-style keyboard with discreet individual holes. The standard pc keyboard always makes me feel like I'm gong to hook a fingernail under they key and dislodge it. The wifi was incredibly fast when I was in close proximity to the router (but, see 4 above). Vista seemed to run fairly well, especially after installing service pack 1. It just seems so cumbersome and to be a resource hog. Also, my experience with tech support was totally positive. I communicated with them via chat and email. The email agent especially was very understanding, offered to exchange the computer, and was gracious when I decided to return it.

Anyway, maybe I'm neurotic. I've bought and returned three different PCs in the last month. The last laptop I got was 2 years ago (a gateway that I'm typing on now) and I supposed I was expecting PCs to have evolved more than they have. Perhaps they have, but vista makes too many hardware and resource demands. The thing is, I really expected the XPS, at $1530, to be heads and shoulders above the $900 HP I had tried before, and it wasn't.

Also I admit to making an error in thinking that I would like having a 15" or 17" laptop (the HP was 17). They are great when you are sitting at home working on them, but not practical for traveling. that being the case, plus the fact that heat from the system bothers me, perhaps I should be thinking about going back to a desktop (I've been desktop-free for about two years).

Anyway, I think I'm ready to try a macbook. The plastic case is less conducive of heat than the brushed aluminum, and I've already pointed out how much I like their keyboard. Plus the only game I play is chess (on the dell the chess game seemed to make the cooling fan whilrl into action). My ITS folks are trying to get me to get a 3-lb lenovo with a docking station, but I'm not fond of that pointer device.

Anyway, I enjoyed posting on this forum and receiving feedback from folks. I'll be hanging over at the mac forum.

 

OK, thanks for letting us know.

 

Which screen did you get? That would explain the poor web cam since the LED has a lower resolution web cam. The hard drive always running could be the search index which can be turned off. As for the Lenovo, you can get them with trackpads, I'm not sure which model you are looking at. I'd say the Macbook is a good choice though if you don't want heat. The MBP will pretty much burn you.

 

It was the least expensive screen, but I really lilked it. I doubt that was the problem with the webcam. The webcam's problem wasn't resolution, it was smooth operation. The tech support agent blamed the poor webcam performance on Vista, fwiw, lol.

 

On a M1530, the webcams are ALL 2.0 megapixels..

I think you probably got a manufacture defect M1530 and you should of called dell and get a replacement or something.. But I just ordered mine and ill love it..

BTW, a M1530 kills a mac book and a Mac book pro.. You're gonna spend more money on a mac.. The only thing that the mac book pro is better at is the 512mb of nvidia 8600m gt, but since you dont play games, that does no good for you..

 

I thought I was going to love mine too. I've owned a m1530 for two weeks, using it every day, and I was fooling around with the macbook for hours yesterday. The macbook seems better for my needs.

 

I will never buy a mac, windows and dell for me all the way. Sure the macbook may have 512MB 8600GT, but dell still beats out the macbook in other ways including price, resolution availability, and so much more.

 

Well any of these threads could turn into a PC vs. Mac thread... and there's already plenty of those. I hope that whatever you choose the capabilities are worth the price and that you can find a notebook that works for you.

Edit: Though I agree, I'll never buy a Mac either. Maybe not ALWAYS Dell, but definitely always PC.

 

Oh man that sucks to hear your situation like this.... I once almost return my Inspiron 1720 due to its lackluster performance but somehow my family was against me returning it. (You know, Asian families) So I went ahead and kept the machine till today. So far so good, was able to play crysis at medium settings with 20 - 30 FPS overclocked at just 59 degrees Celsius. Now that I have 2 Harddisks, (200GB 7200 rpm & the original 320GB 5400rpm) and I can see an decrease in loading times and an increase in performance. I'm carrying this 1720 to school 5 days a week day in and out. I have no gripes about weight whatsoever.

Anyway, getting a Mac book is like a huge step from the things you can and can't do... One of the gripes of Macbook is that they have an underclocked 8600M GT DDR3 card as compared to 1530. Seriously, go and check it out in the reviews. But overall, I would say it depends on what you need, and what really caters to you most. As I remembered what Walt Mossberg said, "...buy what you need and not more what you need."

P.S, if you mention that you don't really play games at all, the XPS series is quite an overkill for yourself. If you don't game that much, Vostros and Inspirons are good enough to cater your needs as these are multimedia and entertainment companions. The webcam works perfectly out of the box for my 1720. Just my observation.

 

Asian families are opposed to returning Inspirons?

 

Returning inspirons? What are you saying?

What I meant was that I had a strict family background and money spent, well I should put it like this: "It still works, keep it." Let's get back to the topic of thread instead.

 

lolz, I was just kidding around.

 

Oh my ..I am really sorry about your experience and that your 1530 didn't work for you. .

But, I am glad that you are sticking around on the forums!!! NBR is the best place to be, as far as I am concerned This site has been so helpful to me in the past, and current. Everyday I gain new knowledge from the wonderful peers on this forum.

Best of luck to you, and see you around, I'm sure.

 

Yeah get whatever you want, I do like the way the mac books look but I hate mac os..