My Studio 15 just arrived and its...

...crap!!!

Well my Dell Studio 15 UK just arrived. Ordered 1/7/08, arrived 16/7/08. First impressions are not good. Upon unboxing its clear the Studio 15 is not only poorly built but also been, how shall I put it, in the UK, ‘altered’. Let me explain. From an earlier post you will have learnt that a backlit keyboard in the UK is NOT standard unless ordered via phone. I had ordered one with mine. Well by the looks of it Dell have recivied my notebook via the normal China to UK delivery, prized it apart (badly) and fitted the backlit keyboard. The casing is totally uneven and bulging where they grey palm rests meant the black under carriage. There are also visible spaces/indents as if a screw driver has been used to prise it open. There is also a large ‘chip’ out of the edge of the grey palm rest area. The CD Rom area also has a large ‘dent’, again as if a screw driver has been wedged here. This may be why it keeps activating as if a CD is being inserted.
Even if these visible cosmetic faults where not present I would still be disappointed. The whole thing feels very cheap and poorly constructed. They keyboard is terrible and feels like your typing on a sponge. The amount of travel the keyboard produces when struck is just unbearable and makes it unusable.

Leaving my problems aside, its clear that the new Studio 15 is a much cheaper produced product than the Inspirion 1525, even thought the Studio sells for more. Another indication that Dell is cutting costs further and losing all that that was once great about it.

My advice to you is that if you really want a budget to mid range Dell is for heavens sake buy an Inspiron 1525, it’s a much better constructed machine. Avoid the Studio 15!

 

I would send it back immediately!!!

 

oh fear not...its going back ASAP!!

 

yikes thats terrible..

I had heard of Studio's build quality was like plastic but wow thats just pure negligence..

Get your full refund, and hunt for a laptop once again!

 

Yes it is terrible. Combine that with a delivery time of 2 weeks plus and with customer service provided by persons who can bearly understand me I fear this is not the Dell I ordered from several years ago. I am not being raciest in any way but several of the Indian persons I spoke to just made me more frustrated due do their limited use of the English language. It didn’t help also that they sounded like they where located Pluto judging the low volume and noise on the line.

The Dell of old just seems to have died a death

 

Can you post pictures of it before you send it back? Thanks

 

I don't get this at all. Yeah, the Studios lack the brushed metal of XPS, but the build quality is very good in my estimation. The review on this site even affirms that.

 

To be honest the thing is already back in the box, taped up and sitting at the front door ready for collection. I am gutted. And really annoyed with Dell. I should have realised when placing my order with Dell that things there had changed. The Indian telephonist’s grasp of English was weak at best. He also sounded like he was on Pluto judging by the low volume and interference on the line. The experience was similar when trying to arrange collection and a refund. I spoke to no less than 5 Indian persons who I could barely hear or understand.
It shows that you can only cut costs so far until all that was good about your company is lost and customers go elsewhere. That’s me and Dell done with.!!

 

This thread is useless without pics!

 

Redshovel, I am shocked to read about the condition your laptop has been delivered to you in. That is really bad. After reading it I had a closer inspection of mine, looking for signs of damage, shoddy workmanship and general poor quality.

Fortunately, my laptop doesn't possess these attributes that yours does. It's in perfect condition and the build quality is very good. There is no creaking or play on any of the surfaces or joins. All parts of the casing are even and tightly fitted. Keyboard flex is not a problem either, I can't see any and if there is then it's minimal and only noticeable when pressing very hard when trying to look for it. My only complaint is the quality of the speakers - they really are crap! But I think I can live with it considering the high spec I got for the low price. In general, I'm very pleased with my Studio 15 although I'm disappointed for others, I wish everyone was happy with theirs too.

As you mentioned about the backlit keyboard, I think that's where your laptop encountered problems. Not being an option in the UK they have obviously fitted it to meet your requirement but made a complete mess of it. This must explain why your keyboard has flex.

I hope you have better luck with your next machine, whether from Dell or another manufacturer.

 

Oh well, that's too bad that it's back inside the box. Not that I don't trust your words, but I would have liked to have seen the "defects/damage" with my own eyes instead of reading it from your description (everyone has their own opinion). My cousin is thinking about buying one and with mainly positive reviews, I don't see any reason why he should look elsewhere if he likes the Studio style (I like the looks even though I don't think it is that much of a difference from the m1530/m1330 style).

 

Oish. Sorry to hear of your troubles..

I hope that your next laptop purchase (whatever it may be), is better than what you had with your S15!

Good luck!

Cin

 

oh that's terrible.... I'm expecting mine, and I hope it doesn't get "violated" like yours....
good luck with it!!

 

LOL reminds me of this:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/simpsons-call-centre-outsourcing/3923261841

But Dell, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, LISTEN!!:

"Gartner suggests seven ways to improve the customer experience"

http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid11_gci1303534,00.html

 

its whats in the inside that counts!

 

You say that a lot do you?

 

Yes.. and the crappy exterior will sure be strong enough to protect the inside, right? lol.

. I used a desktop from them 7 years ago and it was great. No quality issues at all. Laptop from them lasted 6 years of abuse. great...

Anyway, DELL is crap now I order an insprion 1520 last year... POS. Headphone jack noise was a joke. the fact they failed to fix it within months is worse.

Thank goodness I switched to other brands for my current purchases..

 

Let us know how this turns out for you. Hopefully the customer service people will treat you right, which is what I have recently read in a magazine.