Which should I get???

Ok it really doesn't help looking at this forum and seeing all the issues and problems but which should I get?

I'm looking at either a Dell Studio XPS 13 or Dell Studio XPS 16.

I know exactly which configurations to go for on both, that's not the problem it's which to go for.

As a few know it's performance and portability that I'm looking for as I intend on having the laptop with me when going abroad.

A few couple questions I would like to ask

1. is the 1640 really a desktop replacement and not like the XPS 1530 as that's portable and basically a multi-media laptop? it's just I have seen quite a few people say they purchased theres as a desktop replacement and also that it's too heavy to be portable?.

2. What's the 1340 like with regards to multi-media? I see it struggles a bit with games but what about overall multi-media say viewing video's and say a little bit of photo editing?

I must say I have physically seen a 1330 and did think it's a bit on the small side and the 1340 is kind of a sucessor I suppose.

I must say the Adamo looks nice but what a price and the 1340 is probably the next best in Dells recent line up.

I'm really not sure which out of the two to go for either the 1340 or 1640. It is basically general use and some multi-media that I'm looking for but is the 1640 too big to be classed as portable?

 

The 1640 weighs 6.5 pounds. It can fit in a 15.4" bag.

I don't consider the 1640 to be classified as portable. If you take it with you and you have no problem doing so...well...

For the record, I have a Swiss Army bag for my Inspiron 1521. It fits well, and it's not heavy at all. I'm going to use the same bag for the 1640. I expect it to feel the same. And I take it everywhere with me.

So...yeah. Rambling again. But I'd go with the 1640. More real estate and you can take full advantage of Blu-Ray (if you go down that road).

 

I'd second the 1640 [but I've ordered one so that is pretty biased]. On the 1640 thread someone said the weight of it isn't bad at all because it is spread out nicely. Might be different when carrying for long distances though. The 1640 would offer better options too.

 

Do you think the 1640 is the sucessor of the M1530? I've heard the M1530 and M1330 will be discountinued but at the moment they are still being sold with no new of any new versions.

I was looking at a Sony FW-series the other day, thats kind of the closest laptop to the 1640 I think and thats 16.4". I know what you mean by "real estate" it's nice and a better view although maybe not the sort of thing to get out at an airport or on a plane or in Starbucks

 

dont worry to much about travelling with the xps16 its fine, i also have a swiss notebook bag and it fits snug and a bug in a rug, i carry it whenever i travel and it doesnt become combursome at all, battery life is decent at around 3hrs on power saver mode, and its actually smaller than my friends 15.4" asus so although its a 16" screen is quite resonable in size.
Bottom line you get more and dont really comprimise to much for the upgrade in screensize.........perfect for starbucks lol.

 

When saw this video on You Tube the first thing I thought was "Look at the size of it!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuKWEHU_Rig

That guy must be a midget comparing the size of that screen to the desktop screens behind him lol the 16 looks massive hmmm.

But yeah traveling with it is a concern, just purely with a bigger one it might be the kind of laptop you can only really get out at your destination, just going by that video that is.

It would be good if Dell sold both in a store here in the UK like they do in America, that would be easy to decide then

 

I don't know if this helps or not...

I have the 1530, and I use it for portability..I love my 1530, being a 15.4" it's the right size! Tis a fantastic lappy, also!

Now, if I had a choice between the 1340 or the 1640, I would go with the 1340! Because to me it seems like it would be better portability/size wise. And, I really would never want to go larger than a 15.4" lappy!

Cin

 

I know what you mean Cin 15.4" is regarded as "main stream" and this 16" is a bit unusual, a new form factor.

The pluses to me about the 1340 is nVidia graphics, I think like others an nVidia card should of been put inside the 16 or have the option of choice in the configuration.

Another plus to me about the 1340 is the looks, it hasn't got the grill speakers on the sides which I think do spoil the 1640 a bit but having said that I have heard from reviews that the 1340 speakers are a bit tin sounding and not very loud but that I'm unsure of as I've only seen reviews of that from videos like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6z_GrdbNw

The laptop having a Blue Screen Of Death when hes trying to run Crysis is a little off putting about the 1340 though lol

I think these 13.3" laptops are better than net books though which are the trend at the moment as you have more performance with something like a Studio XPS 13 than say something like this Sony Vaio P Series here in the videos http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/gb/en/vaiopseries/page.jsp

I had a little dabble on one of them and I must say the Sony Vaio P-series is slow as hell with that Atom processor and pretty useless for doing anything on but then net books are just a browser really and small at that.

The new Dell Adamo looks ok, pricey though and really aimed at business people to show off to colleagues.

All are in a totally different league and for different uses I know.

In the UK I can only seem to be able to get a 9 cell for a 1640 and not the 1340 yet, theres something else that comes into deciding between the 1640 and 1340 for me

 

I just picked up the 1340 - I came from a 1530 which was the perfect size but it was a bit heavy. The 1640 isn't overly big, but don't kid yourself, it's a full size desktop replacement.

I always tell people the same thing, you know if you travel. If you're "thinking" about portability, you don't really travel. If you really do tote a laptop around from place to place, the 1340 is perfect. If you don't, then the 1640 is a good choice.

 

Hi thanks.

Thing is it's not for business that I'm looking for. I see laptops like the Sony SZ series at 13.3" which they are for business users really and most business people use this 13.3" size some also saying anything smaller than 15.4" is too small.

After reading all the issues with the Dell Studio XPS 13 on this forum it is very off putting but it is the more portable one perhaps.

How are the graphics on the 13? I see it's only got 256MB where the 16 has 512MB which maybe would be better for anything multi-media which is really what I do mostly from watching stuff to photo editing and on my 24" Dell XPS widescreen desktop I game and watch stuff so I'm unsure how I would get on with a smaller screen, perhaps theres not too much performance on the smaller one?

At least being able to watch stuff well and do some photo editing is important, gaming on the laptop isn't as important.

I'm open to further advice on which to go for.

 

With the 13 you have a 1366x768 screen... is that enough for you? If not, then the 13 is not an option. For the 16, there is the 1080p RGBLED upgrade.

Also, take a look at the Sony FW series; it is very good (the 1080p versions.. dont bother with the ones with the 1600x900).

 

I had a look at a Sony FW-series, it was 16.4", it is almost like my 24" desktop really resolution wise that is, it looked quite nice.