OFFICIAL: Studio 17 Owner's Thread

Dell seems to be a crap company.

 

There's an educated and informative statement!!!

 

They may be, but i adore my studio 17!

 

seriously, the effect is minimal. The fix should be buy a portable usb speakers.

I mean the laptop is like 4kg... and some portable usb speakers are very light. I got the creative sound 250 and the low end for that speaker is very bad.

Later I got the yamaha NX-U10 and that is very good. It powers off the USB so all u need to carry is ONE Speaker and a usb cable. And your sound goes from like craptastic to fantastic.

Especially if your studio 17 has bluray and full HD screen. U REALLY need some good speakers.

 

Come on, a subwoofer and brand name good speakers would've been nice.

If HP and lenovo can do it, then surely can DELL!

 

Any chance we'll see a Studio 1555 equivalent named 1755/1777 before we near the release of Calpella? (I don't know if the current model is on a clear out sell yet though) With the following items removed:

* IR Receiver and remote control
* Wi-fi Catcher
* Touch Sensitive media control buttons
* Fingerprint Reader
* Designs on the palmrest

And the following improvements made:

* 16:9 WLED HD Truelife screen as standard (720p, 900p, 1080p)
* Physical media control buttons
* Improved speakers w/ Subwoofer
* 4000 series ATI gpu (256MB 3650 -> 512MB 4650)
* Superior touchpad (Alps -> Synaptics)

 

If you want true HD screen, why would you want the remote and IR receiver removed?

Also, I don't think the touch media controls need to be removed, they just need to be slightly lit. Or maybe a different color that changes when you touch them.

The speakers DEFINITELY need to be improved. A 17" laptop has PLENTY of room for good speakers.

 

i just contacted dell tech support, studio 17 doesnt support mobile quad or 8gb ram, it supports cpu max to t9600 2.8 only, even t9800 doesnt work on it.

 

The 1737 should work with 8GB of RAM courtesy of the Intel 45 chipset, but the 1735 (older 965 chipset) can only do 4GB.

 

I am considering a new Dell Studio 1737. Does the Software Enabled X-Fi audio play 5.1 Surround Sound through the HDMI into a Surround Sound receiver?

 

With an HDMI port, the soundcard doesn't matter. The audio portion of HDMI is driven by the video card, so you'd have to check what the ATI HD3650 supports.

I'd test it, but I don't have an HDMI and I don't have 5.1.

 

Any chance of a refresh? I'm really looking into it, but the only real thing going for it is the RGB LED screen, which I think is the only laptop to carry one. All other manufacturers seem to only carry regular LEDs.

I'm hoping they add some or all of the following:
-Intel Core 2 QUAD support
-Fingerprint Reader
-Better speakers (maybe with subwoofer like most 17"+ inch)

Any plans on Dell refreshing it? I can't find anything online.

 

The Studio 17 is not the only one. The Studio XPS 16 has an RGB LED screen, and so do several Sony laptops. I'm sure there are others too.

They already do have a fingerprint reader on the studio 17 as an option.

They could use better speakers, however as for a subwoofer, any laptop sub is crap anyways so Dell probably just figured they'd be better off leaving it out. It's only for sales and gimmicks, if they stuck speakers as good as the M1730's in there they'd have no problem sounding good and have good bass reproduction as well.

 

both dell studio 17 & 16 have better sound system than m1730, their speakers just not as loud as m1730s.

 

My Studio 1737 has a T9800 in it.

 

dell support probably messed up again.

 

That's what I would assume. They've told some outright lies in the past.

 

lol! I'm sure the Studio 16 speakers are good, but the M1730's are some of the better speakers I've heard in laptops. I had the Studio 17 and sold it last year, but those speakers in NO WAY compared to the M1730's laptop speakers. The Studio 17's just sound really tinny, it was the first think I noticed and was disappointed about when I got it.

I'm just saying if there's one area I think they really need to improve on in the next Studio 17 refresh is speaker quality.

 

RGB LED is used on Sony's most expensive and Best rated LCD HDTV its like over $5,000

My 1737 with RGB LED is the best thing I have ever bought, BluRays look Amazing.

someone at the Airport was like Holy cray!!!


right now the 1737 both in Features an dPrice is blowing away Apple

- best possible rich bright accurate colors RGB LED 105% NTSC color gamut show me an HDTV that can do that?
- built in Bluray Drive
- $1,400
- 80GB SSD My own addition

 

I put in my order for a 1737 last Thursday and I'm so freaking stoked to get it. Est. Ship date is June 16.

Here's the specs.


Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8700 (2.53GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1 64 Bit
(PRODUCT) RED ™ Edition – Bruce Mau Design's “Healing Patterns“
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
Back-lit Keyboard
Bright, Hi Resolution, glossy widescreen 17.0 inch RGB LED display (1920x1200)
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
Intel®WiFi Link 5100 802.11agn Half Mini-Card
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
85 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)

$200 savings with your online purchase. - $200.00
Subtotal: $1,747.00
Shipping and Handling: $0.00
Environmental Disposal Fee: $5.00
PST: $122.29
GST/HST: $87.35
Total: $1,956.64

This is in canadian by the way, so don't freak out about the price. it was pretty much the addition of custom art, finger print, better wifi, RGB LED, and backlit keyboard that drove the price up. +$400 or 500...

Kinda disappointed that I didn't get the option for facial recognition. Would have liked to see that in action but oh well. Finger print is good enough.

Also, I was gonna opt for the 8gb ram, but they wouldn't offer anything faster than 800mhz for this machine. So I thought forget it, just wait till the DDR3's go down in price for that.

Coming from a Inspiron 9400 owner with nvidia 7900gs, I hope to get way better performance playing Last Remnant.

 

Since you can't do private messages yet, send me an email at mastershroom[at]gmail.com, or AIM me at Brendon Owns You. I might have a suggestion for you.

 

you go on about how the speakers are rubbish (yes they are)

but removing the driver dell install, and letting vista install its own.

how do you do that ? I'm a vista n00b btw

 

I really hope they will refresh it soon because I don't know what to do .

 

Open Control Panel, and the Device Manager. Look at the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers section. Right click and uninstall the IDT audio driver, and make sure to tick the box that asks you if you want to delete the driver after uninstallation. Reboot, and Vista will install its own HD audio driver.

 

They need a refresh but I won't expect one until fall.

Needs better battery life, lose some weight, and most of all (for me) better heat dissipation so the palm rests are not blazing hot.

 

Thanks, I'll be sure to email you when mine arrives.

 

Done, there is minor improvment, its worth doing.

 

Weird issue my NUM LOCK LED the little white light next to the Num Lock has died, now thats poor quality on my 1737

 

That's a keyboard issue. You can talk to Dell and have them replace the keyboard.

 

You're not alone. Mine died once (original non-backlit keyboard). And as I recall, there were many others also. As Mastershroom said, call them and they'll replace with a whole new keyboard.

 

Mine died once too. Dell replaced a new keyboard for me. Since then, I've kept my num lock light off at all times.

 

Haha, I have my Num Lock always on. Hasn't died on me yet.

 

will it get a update anytime soon to a 4XXX gpu and a rgbled in the uk?
cus thn its a good buy.

 

Hey guys recently I've been having a whining noise coming from my studio 17...located in the middle.

Whine noise only occurs when power cord is plugged in, with the battery intact, and ONLY happens between the charge percentage of 85% - 95%. This whine noise happens if the laptop is on or off. If I take out the battery while the power cord is connected, the whine stops, and the second I place the battery back in it starts again.

Talked to dell, they said it might need a motherboard replacement...

any ideas?

 

this is extreme rare, never heard of switching power source can cause whining.

 

I get the same every now & then. I cant replicate it and it seems to do it totally at random (but i have ll your symptoms) so i don't know what i could do in terms of contacting Dell.

 

two questions.


One

I have noticed the sim card slot under the battery

is it possible to retro fit a 3G unit?


Two

Graphics have just been bumped from 256mb to 512mb, is it possible to upgrade ala XPS M1730 ?

 

It's easy to add 3G into Studio 17. Beside the SIM card slot, a mini PCI-Express slot & a pair of antennas for the 3G module are already installed inside Studio 17. All you need is to add the internal 3G module.

I use Sierrra Wireless MC8781 3G module inside my Studio 17 and it works like a charm.

Nope. Studio 17 doesn't have necessary slot for additional/upgrading graphic adapter. Even if you buy the one with discrete ATI graphic adapter, it still embedded in the mainboard.

 

As a 1737 owner from here in the U.S. New York I have been having some trouble, updating the Drivers on my 3650 ever since I bought it in December 2008. I don't want anything fancy only the Official DELL ATI drivers from Dell, can anyone help.

oddly enough it was easier adding in an 80GB SSD that it has been accomplishing a driver update.

 

I have T8100- cool like ice...
But, I can not under volt less then 1V with rmclock...
Any idea? Thanks...

 

Less than 1.000v is just probably not enough power to run the T8100 and keep it stable.

 

Well I just placed my order for the Midnight Blue Studio 17! I spotted what seems to be a pretty good deal on Staples.com

Here are the specs:

Processor Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0GHz/800 FSB/ 2MB Cache)
Memory (RAM) 3GB
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Expandable to 3GB <--- isn't this wrong?
Hard Drive Size 320GB
Hard Drive Type SATA
Optical Drive Blu-ray/CD/DVD Combo Drive <-- Bluray? Really?
Display Size 17"
Display Type WXGA TrueLife Wide Display
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64 bit OS) <-- 64bit!
Battery Type 6-cell battery
Network Card Dell 1510N Wireless-N Mini-Card
Video Graphics Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Other ports Built-in 2.0MP webcam
Bluetooth Enabled No
Dimensions 1.18"H x 15.46"W x 11.36"D
Weight 7.9lbs
Warranty 1 year limited warranty

$699.90 with free two day shipping.


I wonder, has anyone purchased one of these from Staples? Does it really have a Bluray in it? On the Dell website, you can't upgrade to the BD unless you upgrade the video or processor. I'm guessing that is a typo, but I think it is a good deal even without it.

Arrives on the 18th!

 

Certainly that's a typo. It can definitely take 4GB, possibly 8GB if it's the 1737 model.

It's an option on that Studio 17. I wouldn't think it would come included at a low price like that, but if it does, that's an awesome deal.

Ouch, WXGA...that's only a 1280x800 resolution on a 17" display. 17" are made for at least WXGA+ (1440x900), or WUXGA (1920x1200).

 

Hi Mastershroom,

It is a 1737.. per Staples.

I'm thinking this is another typo - would Dell even put a 1280x800 display on their studio 17?

 

I certainly hope it's a typo - configuring a Studio 17 on the Dell site only gives the options of WXGA+ or WUXGA, in CCFL and LED variants.

 

I just had a heart stopping moment.

while surfing, the display went all micro checkered patterned, red blue n green.

totally unusable.

restarted all all seems well.


any idea's?

 

Best case, it's a simple driver hiccup. Fixable by installing updated drivers.

Worst case scenario, your graphics card is dying. Update your video driver and see if it happens again.

 

274 days of warrenty left

 

thats the gpu melting down, ati's do the same thing on the xbox 360 right before they die.

 

its only 90 days old !!!