How does the Studio compare to the XPS?

I am curious.
How would a top of the line studio compare to a XPS 1530? What are the pros and cons of going either way now?

Thanks so much

 

The Studio line is slightly more mainstream compared to the XPS, which is targeted at the higher-end/gamer market.

The XPS is slightly thinner and lighter compared to the equivalent Studio 15 since it's made of aluminium not plastic, may have slightly better build quality.

In the end the most important factors are purpose and price; what you want the system to do and how much you want to pay for it.

The biggest internal difference between the Studio and XPS laptops is the videocard, which will mainly affect gaming and 3D performance. If this is of little concern then the Studio is your best bet.

 

I use the computer for heavy webdesigning, photoshop use, dvd burning, video streaming, heavy browsing. I always have at least 10 things running. With my current Inspiron 6000 I do reach 100% CPU quite often.

I mostly use it at home sitting ont he couch, or take it with me when I travel.

Thanks

 

Based on reviews and seeing them in person, the quality of the Studio models is very good. The quality of the M1530 is better mainly because of the aluminum used for that model instead of the high-grade plastic on the Studio 15. Now if aluminum or magnesium alloy (used by Sony) is used on the new high-end Studio XPS 13 and Studio XPS 16 models coming soon, then there should be no difference, at least in build quality. I just wish Dell would release them soon with reviews following right after. I'm tired of waiting and don't want a M1530 with an old Nvidia video card making me wonder how many weeks/months I have until it fails.

 

have u ever tried a WUGXA (1920 x 1200 resolution) screen for all the multitaskin u do? the extra screen real estate is very nice. u'r not doin anythin very graphic intensive. if u'r tryin to save some money then i would config the studio with the best processor u can afford and then go from there. the xps line would have more (higher) processor options and a much better GPU.

 

One significant difference in available hardware is the various graphics cards available. The Studio 15's optional GPU is the 256mb ATI Radeon Mobility HD 3450. The XPS M1530 has a 128mb nVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS as standard and 256mb nVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT optional.

The ATI is their newest generation of GPU while the XPS has not yet updated to the nVIDIA's newest models. The standard integrated graphicson the Studio 15 also hasn't been updated yet (still uses the mediocre Intel X3100 rather than the new X4500).

Dell seems to lag behind HP and Toshiba in updated their line up with some hardware updates.....it's a little frustrating to some of us who like Dell overall but don't want to wait for months on new processors or graphics cards when they've been available thru HP for over a month now!!!

 

Basically the 8600GT in the 1530 is twice as powerful (at least) as the 3450 in the Studio 15. Otherwise they're pretty comparable, and both seem nice (and both offer LED backlights, and Blu Ray!)

The Studio 17's 3650 is basically the ATi equivalent of the 1530's 8600GT. Not AS powerful but in the same league. (For myself personally I'd rather have a 17" screen anyway, and the more than twice as good GPU means I'd only consider the Studio 17, between the two Studio models).

 

I don't think the 1530 has led backlight.

 

Yes the 1530 has an LED backlight display.

It just doesn't have a LED backlit keyboard... for now.

 

An LED backlight is approximately 100,000,000 times more important to me than a keyboard that lights up