I want a 13" I5-I7/330M GT

My small business has been outfitted with Dell Desktops and Laptops for the past 10 years. My last Laptop was a Vostro 1500 Core2Duo/8600M GT. It served me well.

I need a replacement for it. My dream machine would be an I5/I7 w/a 330M GT or better graphics card, Optimus or switchable graphics, a 7200 rpm HD or SSD and decent resolution on a 13.3" screen. What are the odds?

Bronsky

BTW: I am really tempted to just order an Alienware M11x on my business account. The problem is that it has a giant Alien's head on it, making it hard to pass off as a "business computer". If Dell simply made the same specs in a 13.3", I would be so there. Still, I would prefer an I3/I5/I7 over the SU7300.

 

Wait for studio xps 13 refresh

 

I was thinking that. The Studio 13 is so outdated at this point, I was hoping that when all the excitement around the M11x died down, that there would be a significant redesign/refresh of the Studio 13. I hope they loose the leather this time.

Anybody want to venture a guess as to how long I'll have to wait for it. I have been pleased with Dell over the years and would like to continue using them. Our laptops/desktops have been virtually trouble free over the years and the few problems we have had with them have been handled by Dell without too much difficulty on our part.

Bronsky

PS: I just noticed that the Studio 13 is no longer listed on the consumer portion of Dell's website. I'm hoping this means that a refresh will be anounced soon. Would really like a bit of a redesign of the case, without the leather if possible.

 

Your dream machine is called Sony Z. It costs $2k and is about to be released . Your less dreamy machine with 14" screen is called Sony CW, it costs under $1K with blu-ray and you can get it at BestBuy.

Huh, good catch on Studio XPS 13, it was still available through EPP site as of yesterday.

 

LOL. I like the Z. It is a technological marvel and it clearly has the portability I am looking for in my next laptop. I am concerned that the Z may actually be a bit too cutting edge for my business machine. The quad ssd and the higher risk of HD failure are real concerns for me (I would prefer a 7200 rpm HD over an SSD). So is the price. We are a small office but if we replaced 5 laptops, the Sonys would cost over $10.3K. If I can save a couple of thousand, I can take my wife to South Beach for a long weekend. The CW looks good too and I have also been looking at the refreshed Asus N82 but they are 14" units and much heavier. I am also awaiting the release of the specs for the UL30JT to see which GPU Asus puts in it. Weight and size are important to me. I am looking for the smallest and lightest "affordable" footprint I can find that can meet our needs.

I have a real need for graphics capability as well as processing power. In its Day, the Vostro 1500 served me well. I have been able to keep it current by OC'ing the GPU and upgrading the Ram and HD over time. Having access to NVIDIA driver updates also helped to increase performance (Dox Optimized have been great). Our computers are used to display and manipulate ever larger graphics files and video. They also do double duty as data crunchers. In addition, I am trying to impliment 3G/4G accessibility and video conferencing capability.

My DuoCore/8600M GT in the Vostro has been struggling to keep up with our growing CPU/GPU demands for some time. I am looking for an I5/I7 with a GPU in the GT 330M range to make sure our new laptops are not obsolete before they are shipped. The more power I can squeeze into them, the better. Ideally, we would occasionally be able to put our laptops into a briefcase and dispense with an extra bag to sling on our shoulders. That would require at least some significant battery power too. That is why I would like to see NVIDIA with its Optimus power saving technology or some form of manual GPU switching like the Sony has.

I have been impressed with the durability of our Vostros. So much so, that I gave my old unit to my bookeeper and kept it in service. They have taken a beating and kept on ticking. That is one reason I would like a Dell solution. The other is Dell's service. I must say that it has been more than adequate over the years. Not stellar mind you, but up to the task. I am somewhat concerned about changing manufacturers. If it ain't broke ...

I have watched the release of Dells recent "business" machines but Dell's selection of integrated graphics over dedicated GPU's has left me wondering if we can stay with the company's products. I guess the Studio 13 refresh will answer that question. I hope it is released soon and without the ugly leather on the case.

Bronsky