XPS 15 720p Regrets -- Advice?

Any advice on my situation would be much appreciated!

On February 3 I ordered a new XPS 15 on the Dell website (using the Home route). I selected the best starting configuration, which included the i7 processor, Nvidia 2GB video, backlit keyboard, etc. However, as I merrily clicked through the various screens (no, no, nothing, no I don't want tax software...), I foolishly missed the option for the 1080p lcd. Of course, that might be because it appears under the heading "Color". Color?? Really? Why not, oh, "Display"? I remember seeing that screen and thinking, "There's no way I'm paying almost $200 for a better chassis color. I'll just take plain." Of course, if I had paid a bit more attention, all would be well... The final cost of the laptop was almost $1200.

On February 11 I received my new XPS 15. As soon as I started it up I realized my mistake. It has the 720p screen! I double-checked my invoice... yep, sure enough. That's what I ordered. Why do they even offer a low res display like this for such a fantastic computer? OK, OK. I decided to call Dell and see what they could do. After several hours and numerous transfers I finally spoke to someone in Customer Care who said that he would waive the restocking fee for the return (I'm still in the 21-day return period) if I called him later with an order number for a replacement. Sounds good, I thought. I'll just order again, this time paying more attention.

That's where the problem comes in -- and my need for some advice. When I went to the Dell site it was no longer possible to select my current configuration. The high end base configuration in the Home section now has the i5 chip and the 1GB Nvidia video and no option at all for a backlit keyboard. On the Business pages there is no option for the 1080p lcd! All I want is what I have but with the 1080p lcd! Finally, I called Dell and worked with a nice sales person who was able to recreate my current configuration, but the final cost was well over $1600! He spoke to several managers but could not get the price down. He suggested that I must have purchased mine on a sale of some kind.

So, what would you do? I think I'm alright with an i5 and the Nvidia 1GB video, but I really do not want to give up the backlit keyboard. I guess it's just galling to have to send back a machine that is this tricked out just to get a display that is good. (Trust me, I'm watching the XPS 15 display swap thread with much interest.)

My current plan is to watch the Dell website for the next week or so and see if the old (Feb. 3) configuration becomes available again and perhaps at the old price too. But I don't want to run past my return period.

Thanks for reading my saga! Any advice?

 

Do what we are trying to accomplish:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/554402-dell-xps-l501x-lcd-display-swap.html

If it works, you can get a new screen and cable for $75 less than the upgrade option was, and still have a spare screen.

 

Consider buying a refurb xps 15 with the specs you want.

Call outlet sales.

Don't try finding it online by yourself.
They are grabbed almost immediately online by the eBayers.

There is even a 15% discount "30?R6RK3QL?SLL" which expires today (2/16)

 

Thanks, guys! I will hang tight for a week or so see what develops...

Grumble: I still don't understand why a lcd resolution is a "color"...

 

I did almost exactly what you did. I meant to order the 1080p screen but only realized I didn't the next day. So I called Dell to change it, and they said it was already being built, so my only option was to return it. So then I went through the whole struggle of whether I should just keep the 720p or send it back for the 1080p.

I mainly use a MacBook Pro with 1440 x 900, but I wanted to get a PC because it's been a decade since I got a PC laptop, and I wanted to consolidate all my pictures, music and files on it and use it for my writing. So I wanted a fast computer with a lot of memory, which I got. I love how fine my MacBook's resolution is. But at times the type really does seem small. When I'm working for extended times on my MacBook, I felt like I was having eyestrain (I'm 43 and do not wear glasses). I was blinking a lot to see the screen, and I could tell a difference. So I got concerned that the 1080p is just TOO much. I want to keep my good eyesight and not have more eyestrain, so I decided I would stick with the 720p.

I did a LOT of reading on it trying to figure out what the right decision was, and at times I had buyer's remorse, but I love this computer. And I use it in my home office where I keep my treadmill, etc., so I can use it while standing up and at a distance and not have an issue with tiny fonts. Would I rather the text be crisper/sharper? Sure. But not so I have tiny fonts where I have to jack up the resolution for everything. In a few years I think I might upgrade to a 17 inch laptop with higher resolution. But I may not. For what I'm using it for, I'm pleased. I have plenty of desktop room. I don't understand those complaints. My only issue is that I wish the type face could be sharper -- but not at the expense of size. And I definitely prefer to stick with the native resolution on a laptop.

I'm the type of person who is always looking for a way something can be improved, and I haven't used a 720p screen in a while, so, at first, I was disappointed. But I've never seen a 1080p on a 15.6 inch screen and I knew I didn't want to go above 900p on a screen this size. Sadly, Dell doesn't offer the 900p for this size anymore. But, as someone who does quite a bit of writing, I just do not think a 1080p on this size is wise for me or for my eyes (and for headaches prevention. I realized this computer has exceeded my expectations in every way BUT the screen, but I also realize that if I got the 1080p the font size would be smaller than is desirable. So I'm glad I got the 720p. I just think 1080p is TOO much for me on a 15. I do wonder why Dell ditched the 900p, however, but if my options are 720p or 1080p on a 15, I'm glad I stuck with what I got.

 

In my opinion options should be 900p as default and 1080 as a upgrade.

 

Happy 720P owner here.