who here owned an xps1645 and then got a L501x?

I am eligible for a replacement. They offered me an xps 17 a few months ago but i turned it down because it looks soo ugly and i love my studio xps 16 which i get complements on all the time and LOOKS AWESOME.

I was also offered a 1647 but i turned that down too because i felt like i deserved similar specs (quad core vs dual core).

Anyways, im thinking of taking them up on the offer and asking for an L501x (still hesitant because the xps looks soo much more modern and slick). But i guess what i need to know is: what is the screen quality of the l501 (or l502 for that matter) like? Does it look as nice as the xps 16 1080p (non-RGB)?

Should I just suck it up and ask for a decked out 1647? I occaisonally play video games so, I would need the performance to remain high.

 

I'm waiting on an XPS 15 as a replacement for my SXPS 1645 (still "in production"), so I can't compare the two... yet.

I'll say this, though... At first, Dell insisted that I get an XPS 17 as a replacement, saying their "system" wouldn't allow a downgrade. It took a while, but I finally got them to see that the XPS 15 wasn't a downgrade to me. It came down to the screen. From what I can tell, the 17 doesn't have an option for a 1080p res., while the 15 does.

Here's a link to my specs for the replacement XPS 15...

Once I actually have the new laptop I'll offer my thoughts on the screens.

 

ok perfect, ill be waiting to hear your thoughts.

 

went from sxps to xps 15.... now im going back. Nuff said. XPS 15 is crap, huge, bulky, ugly. Heat issues are better, screen is a gimme for the same to me, but the pop out media drawer, the lack of VGA, 1394, etc is just too far.

 

They offered me a 1647 too but I turned it down for the same reason. Of the 2, i would have preferred a XPS 17 ( for the RAM slots and 2nd HHD bay) but I was told I could only get a XPS 15.

I have had mine for about 2 weeks now. Besides not looking as sexy as the SXPS and little things like the different touch pad, I am not too disappointed. I don't use VGA or the 1394 port, so those are non-issues for me. I do like that it doesn't get too hot when I game and they did throw in some nice upgrade specs.

 

hows the screen compared to the sxps?

 

Previous System:
Studio XPS 16 Notebook (SXPS 1645)
Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
6GB, DDR3, 1333MHz 2 Dimm
15.6 inch Wide Screen 16:9 1080p Full HD WLED LCD, W/2.0 MP, XPS 1645
ATI Mobility RADEON HD 4670 1GB
Obsidian Black High Gloss Finish with Leather XPS 1645
320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1+EDR)
MOD,CRD,NTWK,6200,CNB

Replacement:
XPS L501X
92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Intel Core i7-740QM 1.73GHz / up to SC 2.93GHz / 6M
6GB,DDR3,2 DIMM
JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
Metalloid Aluminum (WLAN) L501X
NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M 2GB graphics
15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X
Backlit Keyboard (Internal) – English
640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
Dell Bluetooth 3.0

On my SXPS 1645 I had 1080p Full HD WLED LCD and my replacement has a 1080p B+RG screen. At first I found the screen really bright and the text a little small but after a few days I got used to it. The screen is pretty nice. Blu-ray content looks pretty good on the laptop and I'm really satisfied. The aesthetics of the system aren't the best especially coming from the SXPS 1645 but the XPS 15 is definitely a better all around system. The build quality definitely feels better to me. In addition the speakers on the XPS 15 are amazing for a laptop.

Here is a more detailed review:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/540339-dell-xps-l501x-pics-review-benchmark-result.html

 

I have a SXPS 16 atm, and plan to get the XPS 15 when the SB problem is fixed and out. As for your text problem, you can change the text size quite easily. Open Control Panel, choose Appearance and Personalization, first link under Display (Make text and other items larger or smaller). If you click that then it shows options to have the text size 100%, 125%, or 150%. The picture beside it shows as if its gonna change your res or something, but its not, just text size. And you didn't mention if you had BR on your previous system, did they upgrade that aswell? Also, as you would know, the speakers on the SXPS are quite amazing aswell, how much difference is there between the two?


I haven't come across anyone doing a comparison of the two yet, maybe someone who has both or could get hold of both could make a video to show us? And I can only speak for myself here but It would be really helpful and appreciated.

EDIT:

I haven't used the XPS 15 so i dont know and no one has mentioned it anywhere, but this is what they have done on Inspirons and such, so I assume the same here, correct me if i am wrong. Have they defaulted the Media and other shortcuts on the F Keys, instead of the actual F key?
I sometimes fix my Uncle's Inspiron and it annoys the fudge out of me, whenever i use those keys i just wanna throw the (can't use bad words here) laptop at a wall or something.

 

I get my new sxps 16 in the mail later today. What kind of comparo would you want? I can take video showing whatever anybody wants to see.

 

I want to see a video of a comparison between the speakers of a SXPS 16 and a XPS 15, because the speakers on my SXPS 16 are quite amazing, and owners of the SXPS 16 are saying that XPS 15 speakers are even more amazing. So I just want to see the difference. Of course i wouldn't get the proper experience though a video, but its something.

 

I can do that. Not hard. The xps 15's are definitely better. Much clearer in the base/mid ranges

 

The Blu-Ray was a free upgrade for some inconveniences I was dealing with one of them was the dell chat representatives kept insisting I take the XPS 17 as a replacement. I never compared the speakers side by side but I believe the XPS 15 speakers were definitely louder and clearer.

Here is a HD comparison I found on YouTube:
YouTube - Dell XPS 15 L501x vs Studio XPS 1645 comparing HD video, sound & battery

I did mess around with the text sizes when I first got it and found that the default 100% was my favorite. The Fn keys are used as media keys, you can easily switch back and forth between multimedia keys and function keys by going into the windows mobility center that can be accessed by clicking the touch sensitive gear button.

 

Thanks!

And is it just, choose the whole set, Media or F keys as default, or can you choose for individual keys?

I'm really gonna miss my touch Media keys , im just so accustomed to them and they are so easy to use, and its just such a clean interface. *sigh*

Thanks again.

 

You have to choose the whole set, either function or media. I had the touch media keys on my m1330, SXPS 1340 and SXPS 1645. I hardly use the function buttons so the lose of the touch keys didn't really bother me.

 

i saw the comparison video and it just brought it home about how ugly the xps 15 is it even has a little thing that sticks out the of it (not like the sxps which is flat on the back due to the screen design).

I think I'm gonna ask for another 1645. maybe ask them to upgrade my screen because of all the trouble.

 

And just to clarify, does the whole set includes ALL the F keys or just the specific media keys (orange backlit).

My main concern is the F5 key, I use it quite often. If its just the orange ones, then I'm fine.

 

All the F keys are used as media keys. F5 is used to increase the screens brightness

 

That's how I felt at first but I grew to love the system. Their is so much more to the XPS 15 than the aesthetics and once you get used to it, its really not that ugly, just a little different.

 

I found a Dell IdeaStorm post about this issue, it takes a sec to make an ID, no confirmation or anything, please promote it guys, all you have to do is click a button, the link is in my sig