More info on Dell Studio laptops

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/15/even-more-on-dells-studio-1536-1536-and-the-studio-brand/

 

I don't see the point of Studio line, it looks same and has specs same or better than XPS series. Isn't it supposed to be better than Inspiron but worse than XPS?

 

if they make it better than the XPS line I'd be offended lol

 

looks nice, i cant wait untill they release it. What do you think the starting price will be?

 

Any info about the release date?

 

their no dates yet but many think july or august

 

Looks great, can't wait for it to come out.

 

That keyboard... ew. No matter how nice the rest of the system is those kind of keys are a dealbreaker for me.

 

I dont have any experience with these kind of keyboards. Whats so bad about it?

 

Everything looks great. I like the styles they have posted on engadgets site. They are like hp's. I wonder what kind of graphics card options they will bring to the table.

 

ATI 3450 and 3650, and NVIDIA 8600M GT graphics plus ATI and Intel integrated.

 

Opps...i missed that part. That is really interesting that they are bringing the 8600gt to the laptop. Will they promptly make a new xps and release it with a better card?

 

I just find them very uncomfortable to use for an extended period of time. There's nothing WRONG with them, though, it's just personal preference.

 

Two possible thoughts. First, the XPS line might be significantly upgraded...or maybe the XPS line at the 15.4 inch size is being replaced by this.

 

I thought about those also, but it doesn't make sense.

It would be pretty stupid to replace XPS brand with Studio. Companies spend millions of dollars on advertisements for brand recognition, it would be a mistake if Dell replaces its high end brand.

XPS can't get a significant upgrade, because there is nothing to upgrade to. It seems that Studio line will have same looks, HDMI output, and more graphics choices, and it will add eSATA support and possibly backlit keyboard on top of XPS. I am sure both XPS and Studio will be upgraded to Montevina and 9M series when its available.

 

I dunno. It'll be interesting to see if there's a new 15.4 inch XPS. I could see the XPS line being restricted to the 17 inch gaming laptops, and the studio line taking over the 15.4 multimedia laptop spot. I guess we'll all find out together.

 

i've read elsewhere that this will replace the XPS series in order to push people to Alienware. Hope this is just a rumor though.

any info if these new Studio models will have LED backlit screen options?

 

Possibly

 

will it be the good 8600m GT or the bad one?

 

Which one is the bad one?

 

Nice So you guys really think July or August release date???

 

I think Mr ONLY meant the ddr3 n ddr2 8600GT version that dell currently offers :O

 

yes that...

 

it looks better than the first set of pictures but i still think it looks uglo. and if by "They are like hp's" you mean they're grey and have keys then i guess you're right.

but you're not.

 

hmm I personally like the keyboard in the early pics

 

still reminds me of an electric typewriter and junked office equipment from 1987. the colour scheme from the new photo is slightly better tho. but i hate black keyboards in general

 

do you think the new studio line will have an option to go with an Integrated graphic card, for those who dont play games and wanna save money?

 

Yes, both Intel and ATI integrated solutions.

 

More good news!

 

The keyboard still looks like crap.

 

I would love to see the keyboard the same style as the XPS line

 

a better keyboard would be nice IMO

 

I somehow don't see the Studio line replacing the XPS. The XPS may be removed in favor of the Studio, but to say that the Studio will actually be the same class laptop is a little far-fetched. The Studio will probably replace the XPS so Dell can put it's gaming focus into Alienware as stated previously.

 

Well, it looks to me like it is replacing the old XPS line as the statistics we know are almost identical. I think it's a good idea. These look nice. I really hope they have a 13.3" one again, though.

XPS will almost surely be pretty high-end now.

 

Are the specs confirmed or rumored? My guess is if they are identical with the XPS, the XPS will just be dropped in favor of the Alienware. In any case, even if the XPS is virtually identical to the Studio (with the exception of Monteniva and 9-series graphics), the performance difference probably won't be worth the price increase or visual appearance loss. At least, that's how I feel. Call me biased because I just bought one but XPS's seem to be the best value for their price right now (when factoring in both specifications with appearance). Yes, you can go buy an asus for $1,349 that competes with the $1,500 XPS...but the build quality will be much different, as will the warranty.

Again, I'm sure the Studio line will be almost if not equal or better than the XPS...but it's not worth me cancelling my order on the XPS to wait for this. I like what I have on the XPS and the price I paid for it.

 

i agree...

 

Seeing as how Engadget revealed the Dell Mini E series and seems to have a contact at Dell, I don't consider it a rumor.

I don't think the XPS is getting dropped. Dell officially denied that many times.

 

Well, if not dropped then it seems as if it'll need to be dramatically repositioned given that the specs announced by engadget place the Studio right on top of the current XPS M1530.

My guess is that the Studio line is taking over the slot now occupied by the XPS, and the XPS (if it's to be continued) will drift higher up to the dedicated gaming level, possibly even merging with the Alienware line. Alienware XPS anyone?

 

Well then I'm happy I got mine now. I don't want a dedicated gaming computer. I also don't want the studio line based on its looks. But given how new the XPS line is and how well they're selling right now...why doesn't Dell just put off the release of the studio until USB 3.0 in 2009 or 2010

 

how can this compete with the geforce 9600GT that comes with the new HP laptops?

 

8600 and 9600 aren't that different. The main advantage of the 9 series card is the efficiency it provides. IIRC they offer close to the same performance (slightly better) than the competing 8 series, but use less power and generate less heat.

 

Why? You'd have a line of old designs that most people would get tired of. People don't want the same looking laptop when every other manufacturer updates their designs every couple of years or so. HP just redid their design, and most manufacturers are doing the same. Why would they wait for USB 3.0 when they can just insert it later? It doesn't make sense to wait on a new spec, especially USB 3.0, which isn't even close to final.

 

You can redesign a computer without having to make an entire new line of them. Call it the XPS m1540, setup a new look, and put off the studio line. Just seems like a lot of hype for...what? Monteniva? If they were going to do something big like add 8800/9800 graphics solutions in a 15.4" laptop on top of monteniva, then that'd be a pretty substantial release. But to create an entire new line of computers with a new (and apparently to most people, less attractive) look just seems like a waste of money. It's got the same specs as the XPS...who wants to pay more money for similar performance? For the record, HP hasn't redone the design yet...they have in their release notes for the next line of computers, but their current laptops are the same designs they have been for what, 2 years?

 

looks worse than xps. the black on silver is terrible.reminds me of sony.

 

seriously, it looks like excrement.

why Dell decided to regress back into their crappy design rut is beyond me. the inspiron/studio design in particular already looks incredibly conservative and dated that its really just a few scuff marks and a thin layer of dust away from looking completely at home on a thrift store electronics shelf next to a dot matrix printer.

i'm still shopping for a laptop and it's a tossup between the outgoing 1720 or waiting for the HP dv7t series that's equipped with an albeit slightly better video card. on top of its mediocre specs, there's no way i'd ever consider the new studio/inspiron and spending money on such an ugly pig.

 

Again: Dell have not canned the XPS line.

That line is likely being repositioned to a different segment of the market, whereas the Studio line will take its place for people wanting more than a cheap notebook (the base Inspiron line). I think it's a smart idea, because the Inspiron line has more name-recognition than XPS with the average consumer. I could talk to people who know nothing about computers, and more would know the Inspiron name than the XPS name.

And when did anyone say this will cost more?

FYI: HP has redone their notebooks. They launch in a week or two, I believe. They had a big press announcement with it; it was during the same time the Voodoo Envy 133 was announced, which overshadowed that here. The XPS line was in need of a new makeover as well. Why on earth would they have waited for USB 3.0 when they can just implement it later? They would've been getting their rear kicked by all the lines other companies would have redesigned.

And notebookreviews.com isn't exactly the best place to consider what the average consumer thinks of the looks. People here are probably looking for something a little different than many consumers, I'd wager to say. More upscale stuff.

 

New tech always costs more because of the sales on the old tech before the new stuff comes out. And point proven, HP does not have any redesigned computers on the market...yet. A week or two is not today. However, the XPS still isn't that old, and HP has had their current designs for a while now. Not trying to argue, just making a point. In any case, it really doesn't matter. Dell can redesign without creating a whole new line, but it's not up to me anyway. Dell is coming out with the studio...but it won't be for a couple of months at least.

 

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I don't get it.

If the Inspiron is for the consumer, and the XPS is for the 'prosumer'... whose demographic is this intended for?

There simply isn't a big enough pricing/parts differential between the Inspiron and the XPS lines to warrant the existence of a third tier.

...

I still don't get it.

 

this might be a stupid question, but when these new inspirons come out, will we not be able to get the current ones anymore?

 

Come on man, quit playing coy. Now you're just arguing to argue. The whole point in me bringing up HP's new designs was to show that notebook manufacturers are updating their designs. Voodoo, another HP brand, is too. I believe Toshiba recently unveiled their new laptops. Dell is prepping the Studio line now. Do you not notice a trend here? What is the point of even saying they're not on the market yet when it's a fact that they'll be on the market shortly?

As I said: Dell is likely repositioning the XPS line. What is wrong with diversifying your product lines to give consumers more choice? You make it sound like they killed off their only child.