XPS 16 people, please guide my sword

Hi there, thanks for reading. I'm looking to replace my long-serving Inspiron 9300, and have basically settled on the XPS 16 (the Envy just doesn't do it for me...looks-wise, price-wise, etc.). I have been ready to pull the trigger on the XPS for weeks, but there are a few things that hold me back-

1. The battery that sticks out the bottom. I know that it improves cooling, but it just seems...stupid...like it takes away from the overall thin design and would make it uncomfortable on the lap. Mine would be plugged in most of the time anyway. I tried to get a configuration set up with the 6-cell, but Dell wouldn't do it.

2. Are the speakers good enough? One of the main reasons I'm looking at the XPS over something cheaper is the sound/speakers for music, hopefully good enough to match my Inspiron 9300 (which crackles at the highest volume, but I never really notice or turn it up that high).

3. Should I wait until USB 3/improved GPU/other improvements I'm not thinking of? Any guesses on refresh dates?


So, any thoughts? Wait or buy?

 

1. The battery raises the laptop so if you have any sort of ergonomic keyboard it'll make typing on the laptop a bit easier since it's raised a bit. I personally HATED using the laptop with a 6cell battery it overheated a lot, the 9cell raises the bottom enough to drop the temps on my 1640, 8-10C which is huge when the damn system usually idles at 60c to begin with.

2. Speakers are hit and miss. On very loud audio files or audio with certain frequencies it'll crackle but for the most part it doesn't happen, at least for me.

3. If you''re going to be waiting for USB3.0 and other improvements you're going to be waiting a long time. The new graphics boards are already being shipped out acording to a corperate manager that I talked to so that should be heading out soon on the website.

We can't tell you to wait or buy, thats ultimately up to you. Shop around, find all the pros and cons of the laptop, compare with different laptops from other companies. The Envy is a POS, imo, I used one for about a week before I returned it, didn't really like it's feel either.

 

Sure my guess for the refresh date is later today or tomorrow morning. Also I feel you should wait for 10 years and then buy a laptop with an intel i99 and usb 5 ;-)

Seriously, how many of these threads do we need...

EPIC FAIL.

 

1. Battery does bug me sometimes, I have a 6-cell as well though and I rarely use the 9-cell. However, the battery does improve cooling.
2. Speakers are very good. There is a basic setup guide for speakers somewhere on this forum (set to 24-bit or something) and it sounds spectacular. 7 W sub too
3. It's always a good idea to wait. If you need the comp now, get it. Otherwise wait.

 

OP...if you want to get the lappy now, get it.

The speakers are very nice Produces the Sound quality I need.

Battery - I have both the 6C and 9C and will swap between both...6C for when more "out and about" and 9C for when at home. The 9C is nice, does not bother me.

If you want to purchase now..by all means do it! Technology is "ever changing" daily. If you find a good deal, grab it now..It may not be there "tomorrow". That final choice is yours, always!

Wow! If OP wan'ts to create a thread asking questions/for suggestions that is entirely up to him, or whoever. This thread is not a "epic fail".... *sigh*

We are here on the forum to provide help & answer questions, etc, etc..............


Cin...

 

I would hold out a bit as the new 5730 will be coming soon to theses laptops and i mean soon

 

I think the 16 will get the 5770?

 

Cin you are absolutely correct. I was having a bad morning and I was trying to go for a more commical post bringing light to fact people ask these same questions all the time. But honestly reading back through this, I came off as a huge jerk! OP, my appoligzes

 

Ha sorry but when i read the topic i lolled at the topic name, "guide my sword" hahaha.

But yea the XPS isnt bad, other than its problems that keep arising, I would rather go with an Asus or something of that. HP, or toshiba maybe.

 

Nope its the 5730 at this point no more speculation

1 320-1308 ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 - 1GB $0.00

 

How does the 5730 stack up to the 5830?

 

well the 5730 would be an equvialent or a bit better than a 4670 and a 5830 would be the equivalent of a 4850 I believe might be wrong about the 5830 but am sure about the 5730

 

You can still get the 6-cell battery if you look hard enough. E-Value Code ' 6F993-DYPCFQ2' lets you choose between 6-cell or 9-cell. Plus, you could always order a 6-cell battery separately as well.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys (and no worries chidlebaugh, your post made me laugh). Yeah, the only thing I would consider waiting for is the new GPU, so if that will be soon, I'd wait. On the other hand, I'm not a hardcore gamer...I'd probably be playing an older COD title, and maybe the new one when it comes out, and the new Medal of Honor when it comes out. So, I'm not sure I'd notice a big difference (I don't know much about graphics cards).

Anyway, yeah, the feeling I get from the website is that they're trying to push out a bunch of models with the older graphics card, and that's why there are some good deals. Also, agreed, if I wait for USB3, I will be waiting a loooonng time...

 

Yup, I was given a config with a 5730 as a replacement so it really shouldn't be to long till it's on the site, but the 5730 is more future proof than the 4670 so if you plan on getting new games id wait for the 5730

 

I too requested my replacement to get a 57xx card and the case manager said he'd include that.

 

OP...do you have access to Dell's EPP program thru your Employer; Uni? Etc?
You can get some nice $$ saving thru that at times, also on a lappy! : )

It's ok I think we've all had days like that!



Cin...

 

hmmmm. Wonder what that will do to the prices. The config I'm looking at is as follows, fyi- I think I'll play the waiting game for a few more days, or as long as I can stand it-

No, unfortunately not Cin', they just went Apple...yes, I'm jealous of the cinema displays...

Intel® Core™ i7-720QM Quad Core Processor 1.6GHz (2.8GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Full HD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD (1920x1080) W/2.0 MP
8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
4GB2 Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz
500GB3 7200 RPM4 SATA Hard Drive
ATI Mobility RADEON® HD 4670 – 1GB5
Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
Intel® 5300 WLAN Wireless-N (3x3) Mini Card
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
McAfee SecurityCenter, 15-Months
1 Year Basic Service Plan

 

I'll also comment on the speakers...like EGM92 said...depends.
On good quality sound files, the quality is fantastic. However, in some instances, usually lower quality sound files (e.g., I get this a lot with YouTube vids), you get the 'buzzing' sound on the speaker, which my old HP dv5000 never did (the HP had Altec Lansing speakers).
I usually use external speakers or headphones, so it's not a big issue. Most of the time the sound is fine, just not perfect 100% of the time.

I actually like that my 9-cell battery lifts the laptop up, keeps the laptop cool and more ergonomic for typing.

...you can never wait long enough to get a laptop. You can always keep waiting for the next new thing...in which case you'll never buy one.

 

Good point. However, if these get refreshed in the next week or so (even if the only change is the new GPU) I will be kicking myself...

 

That is certainly interesting news to see. maybe my replacement will come with one

 

Would these 57xx gpus fix (at least partially) the gpu throttling? Just speculate if we can't know for sure.

 

It should as it consumes less power 9 watts i believe so that should help cool things down

 

Go for it in my opinion. The speakers are really good. Mine doesn't crackle at all. The raised battery is the 9 cell. It might look bad but consider the added life and the cooling effects. If you still think it's n-aesthetic, you have two options; one, bug a dell sales rep till he agrees to give a 6 cell one .... or, order a six cell battery seperately!

As for the updates, as someone rightly said, you can wait for ten years and get, maybe, a processor with 1 gb cache, and a gddr 30 gpu.... lol ( i think i got over excited there). But in my honest opinion, the 4670, with 6 gb ram and an 2.66ghz will have enough firepower for most people! trust me... mine can seriously game.... and I play mostly graphic intensive stuff like age of conan( medium details) and crisis (full details)....

so, go for it, i say...

 

Right of course There is always something better, but the 5730 refresh is literally around the corner I mean whats a couple of weeks, just be patient either way you can get the laptop you want the 4670 is Awesome but the 5730 is better and we aren't speculating whether its happening my replacement system is shipping with it here soon. So , it will be up on the sites soon. Personally I would wait as I am the kind of person who would kick himself if I took the plunge and only a week or two and a newer better GPU was implemented.

 

sad.... I don't think they have got it in India yet... mine is to be replaced too....