Studio XPS 16 the way to go?

I have been searching for a new laptop for sometime, but I have yet to find a laptop that has really interested me. The Studio XPS 16 caught my attention, but I am not sure that it will provide me with everything I am looking for. I know that you guys probably see a lot of post like these, so I do apologize for posting yet another noob "omg, what laptop?!?!?111" question.

Any new laptop would be a great leap above what I am currently using(HP dv8110us, look it up and laugh), but I want something that is going to last me for at least two to three years. I mostly play World of Warcraft, but I do play some FPS and other, newer MMOs. I also need someone that is going to get me through college, but that does not require much. I am looking to get out for $2,000.00 USD or less, if possible.

The only downside to the Studio XPS 16 is the video card. Dell has put some great hardware with a rather "meh" video card, but I cannot understand why Dell would not give options for video card on this laptop series. Yeah, they have the Alienware line, but they are overpriced and look like crap. I am 29 years old, not 15, so the Alienware case does not really appeal to me. Yes, it is rather picky of me, but I am the one that is paying for it and I will be as picky as I want to be.

I have heard that Asus and Clevo both have good lines, so I am looking into those manufacturers. Are there any other manufacturer suggestions that I should look into? Should I wait another month before purchasing a new laptop?

I know that hardware changes all the time and something "new and improved" will always be around the bend, I just want to make sure I do not needlessly short-change myself if I can help it. If Dell would simply offer better video cards in their Studio XPS line, then my search would be over.

So, any suggestions?

 

what's wrong with the ati mobility 4670?

 

Based on your Post, I would suggest, and it would be helpful if you made a thread here: What Notebook Should I Buy

First, you will need to complete this form: What Should I Buy Form
And, then paste it into the What Notebook Should I Buy Thread..

That way all the questions, etc. you have entailed above...you can get great answers by all the wonderful forum members (since you are also asking about other Brand manufacturers)


Cin...

 

the xps 1600 can be had with the ati 4670, which should be good enough from the demands you are asking for...i don,t like the xps 16, the 2 support brackets on the inside that support the lcd panel,,...looks like dell was too cheap to cover up the 2 stainless steal supports. makes it look cheap. the piano finish it legacy,,,attracts fingerprints, and hard to clean. has the plastic look.

its does get good reviews...

for $2000, you should be able to get something a lot nicer than the xps16.

take a look at digital storm,,,,they get great comments from those that i know that have bought one,,,and united states support, you don,t have to talk to someone in india,,,,i just hate that....big turn off...buy someones product in the us, and then they make you talk to someone in another country...out to be laws against that....anti-consumer

http://www.digitalstormonline.com/gaminglaptops.asp

and look at sager-
i like this one..15.4 inch-
http://www.sagernotebook.com/product_customed.php?pid=160092

 

Err..that's called a hinge.

Disagree totally. The 1640 has a very modern contemporary look, the aluminum accents look great and the overall look is very modern. Really nice keyboard, great screen. Love the hinge design, very strong and functional.

Build quality is excellent compared to most of the creaky, plasticky machines out there. (Go hold an HP 18HXD, talk about creaky). And most people agree, since they are selling tons of them.

Shiny black finish does attract fingerprints..but hard to clean? All of a few seconds with microfiber cloth....hard....not.

 

First, Cin': Thank you for the suggestion. I will certainly looking into the links you posted.

Secondly: Part of the reason I posted on this board is because I am looking seriously at the Studio XPS 16. I am sure that laptop will do everything I need currently, but I am also trying to prepare for what I might need in the next two to three years.

The DH 4670 1GB video card is certainly not the worst card ever, I just wonder how well it will stand up over the lifetime of the product. From the reviews I have read and watched, it seems like the Studio XPS will be the product I go with. I just wondered if there was any talk of Dell improving the video card option(s) in the near future.

No matter what, I plan to wait until Windows 7 is released. I would rather purchase my laptop ready to go and not have to install another operating system after my purchase. It is not difficult to install an OS, I am just strained on time as it is.

I believe that Dell really did a great job on the Studio XPS line. I would probably just pick up an Alienware and be done with it all, but the look really turns me off. If I could get the Alienware hardware in the Studio XPS enclosure, then I be satisfied.

Again, thank you for the suggestions and comments.

 

The next generation of video cards will be out soon. If you can wait ~3 months, then you may want to wait for those.

 

How is the graphic card be XPS 16 Achilles heel ?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4670.13881.0.html

 

If what you're going to play is WoW then you'll be just fine with the 4670. We just got my wife a SXPS 16 with that video card and everything is max'd out minus shadows and AA and it runs great. The SXPS 16 is very likely going to be the replacement for my current ASUS 17" laptop from a couple years ago...when I can finally convince my wife into letting me order one. Either that or another ASUS with the 260m card in it. Either way I'll be more than happy.

 

The Studio XPS already has a relatively thin design and you can only pack so much power in it before it becomes problematic cooling wise(some are arguing it already is somewhat problematic).

So really, the only option I'd see is a 40nm GPU and even then, it'd have ot have decent cooling.

Since the ATI HD5xx have just been released on the desktop market, I'd expect mobile versions to start coming out Q1 of 2010 and to be fully available and implemented by the beginning of summer 2010.

 

Yeah Q2 2010 somewhere in there is when we'll see DX11 cards in notebooks. It took forever for DX10 cards to become available..

 

.the piano finish is a finger-print maganet,,the lid and palm rests has it too..i have had 2 notebooks with the fingerprint finish...don,t like it , you are cleaning it all the time...after you get it and see all the finger-prints, don,t blame me...but if you can live with it...then maybe not an issue..it is with me.

its has 4 feet on the bottom,,,its for heat...i don,t like that...i want my laptop to sit totally flat on the surface.

okay..with the 2 hinges,,i see what dell was trying to do,,,try to match it with the sides ,,they are silver too...but dell should not have had the screws on the front...looks cheap.

otherthing i don,t like..is the massive panel on the back....got to take all the screws off just to change ram..

another reason i would not buy it,,,NO NVIDA VIDEO CARD OPTION- i want nvidia because i run linux at times.....ati drivers is a pain to configure with linux,,,allmost impossible.

one big postiive on the laptop...is the led lcd,,,its gets just great comments....outstanding.

thought i would just point some things out,,,if you are dead set on a dell..then its probably one of the better laptops dell has , unless you go with the alienware. i suggest you look at the fw series sony has...i sort of like them....but i realize lots of folks are stuck with dell financing,,might be easier to get than sony. if you get the dell..let us know how my like it..

i like this one...black with silver
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...Id=8198552921644570896&parentCategoryId=16154

 

) Ok, in the end, you don't like SXPS, so go for FW since no matter what they say, you still don't like SXPS. Yep, go for another one, and not SXPS.

 

sorry if i rubbed ya wrong...i am not saying its a bad laptop, i do like it better than the studio 15,s, and for a dell, its actually nice looking.....i would have to see it in person first before i would flip open my wallet...maybe i was bit to critical....here is pretty good review on it...this guy really gets down to the nuts and bolts on the studio xps 16...the third video ,he shows ya the inside, very informative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX1v4D7JQ3k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlt2263ZUW0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bw_hfQ0NvM&feature=related

 

Well lets see...

You don't like the four rubbery feet on the bottom. You would prefer the bottom be flat so it can slideeeeeeeeeeeeeee around on the desktop and not get any air ventilation. Check.

You don't like having access to the whole laptop components with removal of some screws, you prefer they all have their own litle access door. This you find is a fault. Check.

You prefer a Sony over this machine which is not as powerful, not nearly as good as a display and costs more. Check.

You don't own one, but watch YouTube videos. Check.

Credibility level. Zero.

 

i know quite a lot about computers..and have had 4 delll laptops...i spend a lot of time working on computers, mine and others, i feel like i can give some advice that points things out...what i have said about the studio xps 16 is true,, otherwise point out what i stated is wrong. but as i stated, the big turn off is the lack of nvidia video....that has a lot of linux users running fast away for this notebook, and dell is not smart enought to realize that....two thumbs down for dell