XPS 15 (L521X) Owner's Lounge

Exactly. 10MBps over wireless I can deal with until a fix is found, 3MBps over a gigabit wired connection while plugged into same gigabit (line speed) switch, not so much.

 

I had no problems transferring 400GB from my old m6400 and an HP desktop to my L521x using a crossover cat5 cable. Very fast.

 

I just tested Mine. Here are the Results

Wired -
PING - 5 MS | Download - 52.92 Mbps | Upload - 10.71 Mbps

-----------------------------------------

Wireless
Ping - 5 MS | Download - 7.85 Mbps | Upload - 9.25 Mbps

 

It is interesting to see the upload speed is very close between wired and wireless. This is using the built-in Wireless card which came with the system

 

When I have tested I have seen reasonable and fast uploads (Wireless) and poor downloads. Since my cable modem is asymetrical - the other way - I would not have expected this, making me think that reception is the issue.

 

Oops, didn't track that. Too early I guess.

My wifi comes in about 5 MBps down, 10 MBps up, optimally

My wired comes in dramatically faster.

Could be his router has poor LAN I/o?


Sent from my brain using neurons fueled by glucose

 

I use a Bluetooth mouse and notice that it lags at times. Has anybody else notice this?

This is on the new XPS15 L521X laptop I have now had for 2 weeks.

 

You can specify which one you want. I just picked the most expensive one I saw on a basic search on Dell.com. After the fact, my friends on the services side checked inventory levels and said we'd have to bring in procurement folks if we kept pounding away at the one part. So, now we're spreading it around and picking like 5 at a time from different N model adapters. At this point, it's actually more preferable if you tell us which one you prefer.

You sure can, and no, it's not a privilege. It's more like the right thing to do.

Normally, this would be exactly right, but this is an exceptional situation. Caveat: this is not Dell policy. It's a policy exception, and not one that has been globally discussed and approved. For customers in the US and Canada who reach out to us in social media (NBR is an example), we will waive the restocking fee for WLAN complaint based returns. For any other contact center (phones, chat, email) in any other regions, this will be on a case by case basis with the discussion starting at policy. Exceptions can be made from there depending on the regional management. I just want to be clear that I'm not a global policy maker for Dell.

Having said all that, I think it's reasonably safe to assume that a rational conversation with a decision maker in a contact center should result in an equitable outcome. If you run into any conflict with returning based on WLAN issues with restocking fees waived, feel free to send me a PM. I'll take it up with you in email and get someone in your region to review the facts.

I think that's an unfair characterization of my communications on this situation. Can you cite a comment from me where I imparted that sentiment?

 

Questions: Is there a separate thread for the LCD grid issue? If not, can someone start one?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/677227-xps-15-l521x-display-thread.html

 

Duh. Man, I need coffee. Totally got a PM about that one already. Sheesh. Starbucks, I'm on my way.

Thanks for the link.

 

Your PoV is completely valid and true, yet I noticed the WiFi issue in the first 10 minutes of issue siting at a little less than 9 meters from router. About the grid screem I've seen it widely documented, but I still don't see nothing. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones or not very demanding? I don't know, but I have really good sight.

 

Has anyone already received their network adapter from dell yet?

 

My experience with L521X so far:

WIFI: I have seen the same issues that most have with WIFI. If i test further away from router I get a significant drop in performance compared to any other WIFI devices tested at same location. I have received the USB adapter (Netgear Dual band N) as a temporary solution.

Screen: I do not see any issues with my screen. If there is a grid effect I do not notice it. No dead pixels and overall the screen looks pretty nice.

BD/DVD drive: I did notice that the drive makes noise seemingly at random. I noticed it even when the computer is just sitting and I am not trying to access anything. What I did find, is that if I leave a disk in the drive it seems to stop a lot of the random accessing and noise from the drive. I hope they will resolve this issue in a future bios update.

Throttling: I have not done any testing on this issue. I am not a gamer and have not done any stress testing on the machine so far. I did update to A06 and have not had any issues with the machine with heat or shutdowns during normal operations. I have not done any battery testing yet and did not do any before updating to A06.

Wired 1GB Ethernet: I had not noticed any issues with the wired connection like i saw someone reporting. I did a test copying a 4gb file to and from another desktop computer. They were both connected via 1GB Ethernet and a 1GB switch. I saw speeds of 90-100 MBps (around 800mbps) while copying the file each way. This is on par with what i would expect to see on a 1GB Ethernet connection.

I have the mid model with I7 750gb HD 32gb MSATA and 8gb RAM. I did buy my own MSATA and have installed it (MyDigitalSSD 128GB Smart Series SATA III (6G) SandForce mSATA SSD - MDMS-SFIII-128). I had no issues installing the MSATA to replace the 32gb one. I created the Dell recovery USB from the Backup program. I was able to restore the Dell Factory OS to the 128GB MSATA using the trick someone had previously mentioned. I unplugged the Hard drive and the Bootable USB was able to do a recovery to the MSATA. I am very happy with that configuration now having the OS and programs installed on the 128 MSATA.

Overall I am happy with the computer minus the issues with the WIFI. I am hopeful they will come up with an acceptable resolution to the WIFI issue. If so then I will be very happy with the notebook.

 

I received mine today. It came via FEDEX priority overnight. Netgear WNDA3100 Dual band N adapter.

 

I was about to look further into this thread, but it appears you have saved me the trouble.
I have bolded some sentences you wrote in your last reply. Now clearly, upon reading these sentences, how can you not call cost-free returning a privilege?

It is only available to people who contact you through social media, meaning, people who are aware that their product is faulty. Moreover so, who are aware that they are not alone in this situation.

It is not available to people who contact you with the same problem, through any other type of communication. Be it phone, e-mail, etc.

Unless you explain to them the exact problem you are having, and have enough proof of it actually being a problem.
Of course they will first try to convince you of allowing them to replace the hardware, even though they know it is of no use.
If that did not help, you could always go for the refund.
In which case maybe, just maybe, it will be without any cost, if you tell them you contacted a Dell representative on a forum filled with unhappy users suffering from the same problem.

So in short, Dell will not admit they actually made a mistake. They do not know of any mistake, to them, their laptop was perfectly built.
In fact they WILL charge you for wanting to return their perfect laptop, unless you tell them you know a Dell representative named Bill and you contacted this person on a forum.

You call us the 'exception'. I call us 'privileged'.
The lucky few who visit this forum, know this thread and more importantly know you.
Any other person suffering from this hidden defect, is basically 'screwed' into paying the return-cost. Because Dell sure as hell will not admit that their product is anything but perfect.

It's a policy exception, and not one that has been globally discussed and approved.
Exceptions can be made from there depending on the regional management.

Replace the word 'exception' with 'privilege'.

I rest my case.

 

Hi, will the Dell xps 15 l521x be available in the dell outlet?
Thanks.

 

I've just requested a return of my laptop.

Maybe I would have accepted the grid issue if it would have been the only flaw. But honestly: it seems as if Dell just put an unfinished product on the market. I don't want to be the beta tester and I don't have much hope that the screen with be fixed eventually.

That's a real shame because I LOVE the looks and the feel of the laptop.

 

If you look at it that way, there's no disputing your "case." However, I was looking at your use of "privilege" as more like I was acting like I didn't owe anyone anything, and I was begrudgingly granting refunds. I'll stick with these facts:

The return policy is 21 days with a restocking fee.
Granting any return without a restocking fee, by definition, is a policy exception, and not a policy privilege.

If you are unhappy with Dell's conduct here, you are free to get a refund with restocking fee waived, and I'm happy to connect you with the contact to make it happen. If you want to express your feelings about Dell's conduct, there is plenty of space on the internet to do so, and we will read it.

 

It is fairly easy to only aim your attention to my first and last sentences.
Yet I still wonder why Dell simply CANNOT admit publically that they made a faulty product.

You can avoid the subject all you want, but everyone here knows better.

 

I have been in Discussion with the Dutch Dell support centre but they are NOT willing refund the restocking fee's. they keep telling me I had to request a repair so they could repair the laptop onsite instead of returing the laptop.

I will send you a PM

 

I didn't focus on any 2 sentences. I just cut the quote down to save screen real estate. I used ellipses to signify omitted text rather than ignored text. If I'm not replying to any portion of a post, I don't use the ellipses. I just whack that portion of the text.

Obviously I have admitted it, and I work for Dell, so technically....but I get your point.

Stay tuned for more to come on this.

When you say "you can avoid..." it's only natural I think you're talking about me instead of Dell. I'm not avoiding anything that I don't explicitly state I'm avoiding.

I'm on it.

 

Hi everyone,

I've been chatting with a Dell "expert" and he claimed that they updated the Wifi drivers for the XPS 15 and that now, there is no longer issues and that current owners can download this driver.
Do they have really the right to share false information like that in order to make people buy a 2000$ disfunctional product ?

 

Norton has been legit since 2010. It's a pleasure to use.

I got well over 600Mbps over wired with a decently cheap consumer grade router. So the wired issue is most likely being caused by something else in your test setup.

 

Sounds great to me, but I feel as if it is false information due to the fact that Bill would most likely be the first one to tell us about updated drivers fixing the problem.

@BILL: Is Lorna swamped with PMs? I messaged her 2-3 days ago and haven't received an answer as of yet. Thanks for the help.

 

Hi, does anyone know when will the Dell xps 15 l521x be available in the dell outlet?
Thanks

 

I have a theory on the wireless and I hope at some point Dell does disclose the problem. Unfortunately, I don't think there's much to be done about it.

The antennas for the Wi-fi in the 521x are, like most laptops, in the lid and run up the side of the LCD panel. The lid on L521x is machined from a single piece of aluminum which is very effective at blocking Wi-Fi signals.


The part that didn't make sense is why is this occuring with the L521x when my XPS 15z has always had great reception and also has an aluminum lid. A bit more time on websurfing provided the answer: Gorilla Glass is made of alkali-aluminosilicate which also interferes with electromagnetic signals.

Theory: In building the perfect lid for the L521x I'm guessing Dell also created a perfect Faraday cage.

While the XPS 15 has had the most vocal concerns about Wi-fi, the XPS 13 and XPS 14 have also had a fair number of complaints about reception. What's interesting is that the complaints seem to get louder as the screen gets bigger. My guess is that the machined aluminum and Gorilla Glass also gets thicker to prevent increased torsion and the Faraday cage just gets stronger.

The easiest way to test this theory would be for somebody with a Torx driver to dismantle their XPS lid, remove the antennas and see what happens to the reception.

So, assuming I'm on the right track here, what options does Dell have for repairing the L521X? I can only think of one 'right' way to do it and it's not pleasant.

Replace the lid of the L521X with a new design that provides 'holes' through the cage for the antennas.

Anybody who's ever been inside a late-gen XPS knows that removing the screen is comparable to pulling a head gasket on the engine. If you want to see what I mean check out the service manual:

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsL521x/en/om/en_om.pdf

There could well be other options (use the sd card slot to mount an antenna?) but, regardless, they're all going to be expensive.

In the meantime, Dell should probably pull the system from or provide a warning that it does not include wireless which would be like selling a car without wheels. Considering an online CSR told me about 72 hours ago that the problem had been solved completely it doesn't appear either of these have happened.

I have an XPS 14 on the way and the most common concern about it is a poor viewing angle. Again, I suspect Gorilla Glass isn't doing anything for that problem.

Looking forward to see how this gets solved. I hope I'm wrong otherwise this is going to cost Dell millions.

 

When was the last time you saw Lenovo, Samsung, Toshiba, HP directly communicate and reach out to customers? All of these industry heavy-weights charges a restocking fee, buying at a retail location you would be charged a restocking fee. Restocking fees on an opened and used computer are the norm and expected these days...

We are lucky enough to have direct insight into the inner workings at Dell and have been provided options. Most other laptops on the market have issues like this, some worse, some not so...either way almost all have issues and I actually commend Bill for putting them front and center.

I am a huge Apple fan and love their products, I also happen to have an Apple GSX account. If only you could see the internal service advisories they put out, most of which read 'deny deny deny until customer continues to complain, then try to void warranty, if not possibly replace system'.

 

You've got to love iFans. They admit they like a product and in the very same breath admit an appallingly fatal fault in the company that if in a family would have spouses divorcing and if in a country would have citizens defecting. But not iFans. Nope. Ever loyal to a fault.

 

I am pretty sure that somewhere in this long thread that someone actually removed the antennae with the help of a dell on-site tech. When they were removed I believe that he reported reception and download speeds that were what they should be.

 

Actually, HP doesn't have a restocking fee. It's basically a 21 day return policy - no questions asked and they pay for return shipping. They go so far as sending you a return box.

Just thought I'd make that little minor correction.

But as you say, none of those companies have reps as active in the forum as DELL (except for the SAGER/Clevo resellers/builders). It's a shame that they have to take such abuse from some posters. Especially non-owners. But it comes with the territory.

 

I'm not an owner of this computer or anything (yet.)
But..can someone at least post an in-depth review of what's nice about the L521X?
I know, people are frustrated about the wifi-issue and the apparent grid screen and all these other problems, but people make it seem like the computer is really bad. Honestly, I found this place by looking for a review or some detailed information from a community that owns the computer, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one who was scared off with all the negativity.

I will wait for a fix, since the XPS Series has been extremely kind to me for nearly half my life, but aside from it's fault.

What does the L521X have to offer? I see that most people have a hard choice choosing an alternative..which has to mean something?

 

Same here no response from my PM to Lorna.

 

hey guys and or Bill. I have my xps15 (ordered first day) and yes it has this horrible Wifi issue.

My question is I am in Australia and am happy to hold onto the laptop until the fix/new unit is released.

Bill/anyone else is there any easy way of getting the USB wireless adapter for Australia?

I tried calling technical support yesterday but after 30 minutes on hold I gave up.

Appreciate your help and heres to a fix/new model for windows 8

 

Erm... If it's not fixed by the release of Windows 8 then so much for a quick fix from Dell

 

Yep, almost a week and no wifi adapter for me.


Sent from my New iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

I can't speak for everyone but I love everything about this laptop from the keyboard,aluminum body,screen,speed and for me its very comfortable. Now i am just an average user who uses it for internet,minor gaming and some photo editing so i'm not really pushing it like some people are. But the wifi is a big killer for me because I don't have access to plug it in for internet so if the wifi is unreliable then it makes the simple things I use it for very difficult. But I am very happy with it and just hope that there is a fix for the wifi.

 

A USB wifi dongle arrived this week (Netgear WNDA 3100), I assume from Lorna, but no PM or emails from her or from Dell related to it. Bill suggested checking junk mail folders - but none there, either.

Maybe Lorna is swamped or maybe the process to support Canadian owners is different (and involves no communications?).

 

I just got my Netgear WIFI USB adapter from Dell.. Attached is a picture of Speedtests.. I did a few and got similar speeds so I just picked one to show. The top is using the XPS's internal card.. The bottom is using the Netgear USB adapter. I tested in the farthest corner of my bedroom which is a floor above from where the router is. The router is located in the center of my house on the first floor.

My max speeds from my provider are 30 and 3 up. I disabled the internal card when testing with the USB adapter.

 

I received a correspondence from Dell Support mentioning a service call. It didn't indicate any relation to this forum or Lorna. If you sent Lorna a PM I would recommend jumping on the Dell Support page, enter your service tag and look at the service requests / tickets for your system. If the USB has been processed it will show on there!

 

I'm pretty sure my usb wifi arrived at my mailbox today, but I'm on vacation mountain biking so exercising the internal wifi to see how it works out of home.

connecting solidly, but data rates are not incredible.

 

AHHHHH! got to love Dell quality phone service. Rang XPS support in Australia. After explaining the situation to the lady on the phone and her putting me on hold for 45 minutes on various occasions, i even pointed her to Bill's post on this forum she explained she was unable to help and just hung up lol.

Looks like I might have to go and buy my own USB adapter before I head off on holiday so my wifi will work in hotels etc

 

I'm in Canada (Ottawa, ON) and received mine today!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

No problem With BT Dell travel mouse. Use the Microsoft drivers.

 

Do you mean your wifi works fine ??

 

It's not a Faraday cage. A Faraday cage is pretty much an absolute thing. Since some systems are unaffected, and all systems seem to get full or close to rated ISP upload speeds, it's not an absolute problem, and therein lies the complication. Besides, the antenna on the 15 is in the plastic center hinge cover. On the 14 it is routed up the sides to the top of the LCD. I had actually thought along the same lines you are here until more about what we are looking at was explained to me.

You can just send the same requested information to Lorna. She will forward the information along with a request to send the adapter. We can't guarantee we can get them to do it, but we've had pretty good luck explaining things to our friends in the other regions so far.

Regarding PM responses from Lorna, she got a ton of them over the first 4 days. I'll chat with her tomorrow and see if we can come up with something that scales a little better.

 

I am also currently having a Wifi issue and will be contacting Dell-LornaM after posting five replies. I currently have not encountered the optical drive issue or screen defect.

 

I hadn't taken the time yet to get good stats, but in my limited testing I was surprised that the upload rates far outweighed the download rates.

I was so far assuming it was something in my test set, but it's nice to hear it's "not just me" - thanks.

 

Hello

Has anybody had any joy with UK tech support and the WiFi dongle.

 

Where did I say it works fine? LOL.

I said "ALMOST A WEEK AND NO WIFI ADAPTER for me".

In other words I haven't received my replacement.