Need new Studio 15, 1537 or 1555?

I have a Studio 1537 I ordered early last December and love the machine! So much is it loved around my house that another family member wants one! I read the forums every once in a while and have been reading of the updated Studio 1555 coming out (soon hopefully?), my first question is does anybody know when, or even if, the studio 1555 will be hitting Dell USA?

Also I am not so sure I want the 1555, as I do not need the discrete graphics which I understand will be the major upgrade over the 1537. The 1555 will have a 16:9 screen, which I am not so sure I'm crazy about yet. Is that the trend in all LCD screens? Am I going to have to get used to it because it's going to be standard soon?

I have posted the specs of my S1537 below. I've been playing around on the Dell site and I can't seem to get a deal that was just too good to pass up, I'm waiting for better configurations. If the 1555 comes out will they still ship the 1537?

Heres my current specs:
Studio 1537 (Orange)
15.4" LED 1280*800
P8400
3GB Ram
320GB HDD
9 Cell Battery
Bluetooth
Intel Wifi 5100
Fingerprint Reader
Backlit Keyboard
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Paid $964.25 after EPP discount & tax/shipping

For my next one I am flexible in saving money on the processor, smaller battery. But everything else must be there =) . Anybody know of any deals going on that I could snag what I'm looking for around $650? I am buying this computer for my mother and I have told her we could find a deal on dell outlet but she wasn't interested, and since shes paying she decides lol.

 

only $619. it will be under $600 with 15% off coupon.
just removed the refurbished sticker on teh bottom so your mom wouldnt know, tell her you have saved $360 on a BRand NEW Dell.
Studio 15 - 1537
(System Identifier: Z2D8A9V5)


Studio 15 (1537) Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 (2.20GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

System Price : $619.00

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Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
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Memory
3 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)
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Hard Disk Drive
320 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
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Video
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450
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Software Upgrade
Windows Live
Microsoft Works 9.0
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Media Bay
8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
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Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
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Base
Studio 15 (1537) Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 (2.20GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
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Web Camera
Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
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Network Interface Card
Dell 1397 802.11B/G Wireless Mini Card
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Hardware Upgrade
90W AC Adapter
6 Cell Primary Battery
125V Power Cord
Fingerprint Reader Touchpad
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System Color
Jet Black
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Laptop Screen
15.4 WXGA LED Laptop Screen Display with TrueLife

 

Just keep your 1537, and recommend another one to your relative, or perhaps an XPS M1530. The Studio 1555 doesn't have a release date scheduled in the U.S. yet as far as I know.

The 1555, as you mentioned, has a 16:9 display, which I object to because these are computer displays, not HDTV's. I don't want to lose 10% of my vertical viewing space for the sake of a universal TV aspect ratio. That's not why I bought a computer.

Also, the 1555 doesn't have the touch-sensitive media buttons above the keyboard, and instead re-assigns all their functions to the F1 through F12 keys, to be used with the Fn key. Granted, the existing media panel is not without its share of glitches, but I'd rather have it than not have it. Simply scrapping the entire concept and putting everything on keys, and making it out to be a fancy new model is not a substitute for fixing the issue.

And if you don't need discrete graphics, then don't bother with the 1555, as the only graphics option is the Radeon 4570, which drives up the cost of the machine and drives down the life of your battery.

 

I couldn't agree more. You would be happier with the 1537. I hated having to press FN + another key for the media controls. With them being right above the keyboard, it makes the task much easier and faster.

 

Haha I wish, but I've already tried convincing her of that, to her refurbished means crap and shes stubborn, whatever shes buying...

Also that system was missing wireless N and theres no mention of bluetooth, backlit keyboard. Also it must be pink, its what she wants.

Again she wants the Studio, believe me for what she would be doing (email and websurf about once a week for an hour...) she could use any one of the three other computers I have laying around that aren't currently in use, or even a base model Inspiron 15.. but you know how girls can be, she just wants it.

As far as screen size goes I personally agree, I like the 16:10 and I don't understand the movement to the smaller 16:9 just to accomodate HD content.

I didn't hear that they were eliminating the touch sensitive buttons I haven't had any problems with mine, they definately are a neat feature and turn me off to the 1555.

Anybody know if when the 1555 comes out the prices will drop on the 1537?

 

Yeah...I don't know where Dell got the idea that ditching the whole capacitive media panel was a good idea...since they redesigned the entire laptop anyway, what stopped them from coming up with a better media panel design while they were at it? Heck, they could have just been lazy and ganked their own design from the XPS M1530. It has touch-sensitive media controls, but I've never heard of any problems with them on that series.

EDIT - you posted while I was typing, basnet2.

Here's a picture of the 1555's keyboard with no media buttons:



If she insists on a Studio 15, get her a 1535 or 1537, or perhaps the Studio 15 Special Edition, which is based off the 1537 and still has the media panel.

 

Got her to agree to a previously ordered new Studio 1537 from the outlet, had to emphasize that its a brand new computer and has never been opened lol. Heres what I ordered:

Studio 15 (1537) Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 (2.00GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Fingerprint Reader Touchpad
Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card
320 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module
Previously Ordered New
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)
Back-lit Keyboard
Operating System CD
6 Cell Primary Battery
Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
15.4 WXGA LED Laptop Screen Display with TrueLife
8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
Flamingo Pink
Resource CD
64BIT Operating System DVD

Paid $715.83
No coupons but still a pretty good deal, for a brand new system

 

That's not a bad price at all, including the backlit keyboard (which I can't live without), and the color she wants. And it's a Centrino 2 platform as well, with the GM45 chipset, Penryn processor and Intel Wifi Link 5-series card!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=231526&page=97

 

Those coupons are for Studio XPS notebooks, or Studio desktops, not Studio notebooks.