OFFICIAL: Studio 17 Owner's Thread

i used to have a clevo D900K... compared to that 747, this is a glider... i dont hear anything...

maybe it's because my ears are already damaged from the craptacular speakers... lol...

but so far, so good... loving it...
not a powerhouse, forsure... but aside from gaming... definitely an improvement over my old laptop... and costs me way.... er... waaaaaaaaaay less.

 

I've got 2 x 200gb 7200rpm harddrives in my Dell Studio so its not something reserved for the xps line, on a side note though whenever I use the second harddrive which is setup for storage it makes a little clicking sound when im transferring data but it works fine, the main harddrive doesn't do this otherwise it would send me nuts, anyway is that normal??

 

I just for a Studio 17... Vista pissed me off so many times in the first 2 hours that I wiped it and installed XP SP3 on it. Runs like atop, now... the only things that aren't working are the fingerprint reader and the IR port... they are both detected by Windows, but the software for the reader won't install (Vista only), and I've never had any desire to use either it or the remote, other than the "gimmick factor".

I'm kinda annoyed that the CD eject touch point is so hard to find on the black panel. If I want to eject a disc in less than stellar lighting I fumble all over the **** thing. LOL

Here's my specs:
Studio 17 (basic black)
Proc: Intel C2D T5750 (2.00GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Screen: WXGA+ 1440 x 900
Video: Radeon HD 3650 256MB (DXDiag reads it as 512MB, for some reason...)
RAM: 4GB (in 2 2GB sticks)
HDD: 320GB SATA 5400rpm
1510 Wireless NIC (Draft N)
Backlit KB
Fingerprint reader
Windows XP Pro SP3 (came loaded w/ Vista Home Premium)

 

I received my Studio 17 yesterday with the same specs as listed above except one step up on the processor. Loaded x64 Vista Business and it is pretty amazing how fast everything runs. Firefox 64, Lightroom 2 x64, iTunes 64 as working pretty sweet as well.

Yeah I would like to find a way to permanently light those function buttons on top up. Would also like the backlit keyboard to stay lit for 5 minutes before turning off.

Also, what is everyone using to overclock the HD3650? I read Dell undervolts the gpu by 50 mghz. What clock settings has everyone been able to get.

Love this laptop, speakers are the only weakness. But they are not as bad as what I have read here. Guess I am lucky.

 

Sad to say, I'm not going to be getting a Studio 17. I dead set that it was the one I was going to get, but then the Mike Ming designs suddenly disappeared from the Dell Australia website and I was like "aw, poopy!" So I'm getting a VAIO FW instead. The specs are a little bit lower in comparison but it's still wicked.

 

I started a separate thread about this, short answer is that I used ATiTool to reclock the 450/500 (core/memory) card at 600/500 without issue. Taking it past this crashes the laptop almost instantly.

 

Hi There

Are you guys getting issues where the graphics driver recovers randomily?

 

's fine here.

 

hi guys

has anyone experienced that the on and wireless buttom are quite flimsy. like they push in rather then act as a button. on my 17, the button can be pushed in a little and then you gotta push it in furthur to click it.

is this just on mine or is it meant to be like that?


help

 

Well after spending much time on Dell chat with my sales rep I finally got my laptop. Sharp looking machine. Have not really put it through it's paces yet. So far the backlit keys work and no prob with the fingerprint reader. Played aroud with cam and its feature seems to be working ok. The only problem I have is trying to get Datasafe to log on and set up. Keep getting a Unexpected server error when I click on the icon to set it up. Spend over an hour or so with a Dell Tech rep in chat and Dell connect. We tabled it until Tues when he will call me after he does some research on the issue and try to get it working. My free 7 day trial for Verizon is not showing on my packing list of with the disc I rec'd but that should be an easy fix. So far I am liking this system. It looks great and I do not find any issues with using Vista Ultimate. This is my first time using Vista and so far so good...Knock on wood. I did not look at the manual but was able to find my way around the OS. I have not installed the Xifi Sound Blaster Card yet and I waiting for my Pinnacle Tv Tuner to arrive sometime today. Hopeful all goes well. A lot of the post are correct about the speakers do not sound as good as the one on my 1520 but not a big deal. Seems pretty solid, keys work well as does the pad after a few minor adjustments suited to my preference. Monitor is tight and I do not feel any flex, funny is seems lighter than my 1520 but I know thats not possible.Will keep ya posted as to how things work out. Thanks for all the info posted to the site it has helped out quite a bit.

 

I see you got the same graphite grey/gloss case that I did - I love mine it's very cool! What LCD/CPU/HD config. did you get with your's? and what are you going to use it for?

 

I actually asked this in another, much longer "new owner" thread, but I wanted to post it in the thread more regularly checked by Studio 17 owners.

I recently purchased two new Studio 17s through the Dell Outlet, and they are both in fantastic condition. My only major concern is one of them makes a plastic "click" from the rear left hand hinge when I close the laptop. It's a single click that occurs in the same spot, and it doesn't happen when I open it. I've only opened the laptop a total of 7 or 8 times so far, so it might just be a hinge tightened a little too much that will loosen up.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

EDIT: After closer examination, it's not that it happens in one spot, it happens anytime I have it opened past a certain point and go to close it - it sounds\feels like maybe the hinge is screwed just SLIGHTLY too tight...?

SECOND EDIT: Another question, has anyone else noticed a very slight flex along the frontside of the laptop, along the right hand side? Just a very slight flex in the plastic if you push inward on it, or if you push down along the bottom right hand corner? My unit was a refurb and I just want to make sure the prior owner wasn't fiddling around with it (looking along the front it looks like this MAY have been opened before, or there may just be a few tiny plastic marks from the manufacturing process).

Thanks in advance for any comments!

 

Hi FotoFreak - I'm attempting to resolve the SAME problem right now - same screen etc. I do extensive photo editing and this caused an embarrassing argument between myself and someone who works with me.

ATI Catalyst has settings to change R, G, and B gamma, but this doesn't really get it right... I want color temperature settings... any luck on your end?

 

Sorry for my English, I'm Spanish.

I have a problem when low screen resolution of 1920x1200 to 1440 for example, the display is reduced and is not full screen, it is very annoying Anyone else with him?.
And another problem, the games I go wrong, it was believed by the system that brought the studio but by default it is not, I installed the operating system again and is still the same thing.
Swat4 games like Doom3 or I can not put them in very high, because I go a few frames, even in low I still go wrong. (at least 60 fps and sometimes even lower at 15 without knowing why.
Crysis me wrong, and I have to download it to 800x600 and put everything at low, and so I will not fluid either.
Another problem is that the vertical sync I was not active in the games, although it places on the panel of ATI is not active, and always off by default.

Is there some more appropriate drivers for this card? Which achieve more stability in the games and a little more performance. Thank you.

 

First off I've tediously (and I mean tediously!) compared the 1920 and 1440 screens side by side (both 1735 laptops) and the 1440 screen is of course brighter (WLED vs CCFL) but the 1920 LCD has a MUCH better viewing angle. The 1920 LCD is also (unfortunately) much more vibrant/saturated (and also slightly sharper) - keep this in mind if photo editing because the noise in photos will appear more pronounced on the 1920 LCD due to higher sharpness. The 1920 LCD MUST be calibrated to get correct 'un-cooked' colors. It is still a work in progress but all I did was tweak the 1920 screens settings until it matched (or came close to) the 1440's colors. The 1440 LCD is actually more accurate at the default settings and needs little if any tweaking of colors for photo editing/viewing. Here's the settings I've come up with that work fairly well at getting skin tones correct and still keeping skies blue and grass green (these areas were where I had the most problems at default ATI settings) It's funny I've also spent a lot of time calibrating my 37" LG 1080p LCD TV as well and guess what? - the Dell Studio 1735's 1920x1200 LCD is made by LG!
Open ATI Catalyst (right click anywhere on the open desktop and it's the first option) and try these settings:
Hue: -2
Sat: 72
Red: Gamma .95
Bright 25
Contr. 80
Green: Gamma .95
Bright 8
Contr. 54
Blue: Gamma .95
Bright 5
Contr. 82

 

On my E1705 it would stretch and make it edge to edge but It won't show full screen on the Studio 1735 (if you drop the 1920 LCD down to 1440) and it won't stretch it either - it keeps the aspect ratio on the screen - sort of like when you watch a wide screen DVD on a 4:3 ratio TV you get the blank areas over the top and bottom because it's preserving the original aspect ratio of the size being viewed. Sorry I'm not sure about the other issues you are having as I don't due much gaming

 

Just ordered my Studio 17 with mike ming sea sky cover. will get it on early novemeber, a long wiat .
i was just wondering at how heavy this thing is. my first laptop since i just started uni. mainly im getting it because i have 3 other brothers and only one computer in the house.

my main question is, how portable is this thing. i know its a 17inch and is bound to be bigger than most, but i would most likely only take the laptop into uni a few days a semester if i really needed it. is it really that much of a nuisance to carry around even if it is for half a day??

one other question: whats dells returns policy like?? i was thinking that if the studio 17 is too big then i may just return it to get an xps m1530, because it is the only 15 inch laptop from dell that i really like for the price they are offering. do dell have a returns fee or anything?? will they only replace the laptop for the pirce i bought it???

alot of text, thanks for reading
any help is appreciated.

 

Its in the battery compartment. Remove your battery and BINGO.. thar she blows.

 

Evancg:

I have noticed the same problem with my 1735. This is my second unit (for other problems), but i don't remember this problem with the first unit.

Please let me know if you find anything.

Thanks,

 

I think I posted several concerns, so which one were you referring to? The "click" when closing the laptop? I'm convinced it's just a hinge or somethign that is a tiny bit too tight, but there's no cracks and the click has gotten a little quieter, so I assume as it's being opened and closed it's loosening a little. I did contact Dell and they said it was nothing to be concerned about on a brand new laptop (of course they would say that). Oh well.

 

Check out this deal, tell me what you think:

Description

Studio 1735:
Intel Core 2 Duo T9300, 2.5GHz, 800Mhz, 6M L2 Cache
Midnight Blue
4GB, DDR2, 2 Dimm
Back-lit Keyboard
Hi Resolution, glossy widescreen 17.0 inch display ( 1920x1200)
ATI MOBILITY RADEON HD 3650
250G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 Home Premium Edition, English
8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner ( Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
Roxio Creator DE 10
MEDIA DIRECT 4.0 For DVD RW
Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini Card
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
McAfee SecurityCenter 15-month
56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition
2 Year Limited Warranty

Type 3- Third Party At Home Service, 24x7 Technical Support, 1 Year Extended
Type 3- Third Party At Home Service, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year

Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year
Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year(s)

Warranty Support, 1 Year Extended
Warranty Support, Initial Year

Integrated Finger Print Reader
Finger Print Software

FREE 3 day shipping and FLIP CAMERA!

$1,263.00 (sub)
$105.79 (tax)
$1,368.79 (total)

 

Here is what mine was I just received:


Studio 1735, Intel Core 2 Duo T9300, 2.5GHz, 800Mhz, 6M L2 Cache
Midnight Blue $0.00
4GB, DDR2, 2 Dimm $0.00
Back-lit Keyboard $0.00
Hi Resolution, glossy widescreen 17.0 inch WLED display (1440x900) $0.00
ATI MOBILITY RADEON HD 3650 $0.00
250G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive $0.00
Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 Ultimate 32-bit Edition English $0.00
DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP INSP1735 $0.00
Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp $0.00
ADOBE READER 9.0 MULTI- LANGUAGE $0.00
8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) $0.00
Roxio Creator DE 10 $0.00
MEDIA DIRECT 4.0 For DVD RW $0.00
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD Software Edition $0.00
Dell Wireless 1510 802.11n Half Mini Card $0.00
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam $0.00
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery $0.00
3 Year Limited Warranty $0.00
Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Week ends, 24x7 Technical Support, 2 Year Extended $0.00
Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Week ends, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year $0.00
Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year $0.00
Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year(s) $0.00
Warranty Support,2 Year Extended $0.00
Warranty Support,Initial Year $0.00
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.0) $20
Dell Bluetooth Travel mouse $25
Bluetooth Headphone $79
Integrated Finger Print Reader $25
Finger Print Software $0.00
Hi-Res. TL widescreen 17.0 inch WLED display (1440x900) w/ 2.0M Pixel Camera

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Order shipped email signup

Invoices

Request a Return

Sub-Total : $1657.26
Tax : $136.71
Order Total : $1793.97

 

Ugh, DHL says my studio 17 is supposed to arrive today, yet still not here. Cannot wait to get it!

 

The deals were a lot better a month ago. I got the same as RobAtPace except for the processor was one step down, no worthless finger printer reader and I had a 320GB hard drive, Wireless N, and a 9 cell battery included for $1045. However, I did not get any additional warranty coverage, so the price difference could be due to that. But right now I just put together an identical system to mine and it came out $300 more expensive than when I purchased it at the time.

 

Typing from my new studio 17! Thus far, seems pretty perfect. If I'm not mistaken (it's the middle of the day, so as bright as can be), it even has the backlit keyboard, which is something I didn't think it would - I ordered via dell outlet ($699 for Intel Core 2 Duo T5850 (2.16GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)/3 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz (2 DIMMs)/256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 was such a steal, to me).

 

yeppers, the Studio is a very nicely packaged laptop... very happy with mine..

 

I'm getting impatient.

My computer has been "in-production" since wednesday last week. Estimated delivery is on or before the 5th of November. A Dell representative phoned me up last week and when asked about delivery she told me that I will receive it this week!! So how long does the computer stay "in-production"??? I badly need my Studio.

 

You're not the only one Homeboy. I ordered my Studio 17 last Wednesday aswell, to be told that it would be delivered on or before Novemeber 5th. I have heard that dell are needing in more stock for the touchpads and the Mike Ming covers though. They are expecting to get them at the end of October.

Studio 17 ordered
Sea Sky Cover
Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz
3072GB RAM
ATI HD 3650 256MB
320GB
Backlit Keyboard
Bluetooth
9-Cell battery

 

Soooooo, I had to get warranty work on my Studio 17 already. Fan was rattling. The guy came out after 2 days, replaced the fan (guy was a jerk, not nice at all), and didn't test anything and left. He had to disassembly my whole laptop to replace that fan. Well, my speakers stopped working after he did that. Checked everything and it seems they are not connected inside the laptop. I was pissed. Called Dell, and told them if they have to send out a tech again, that I don't want that person out. Well they said we are going to replace your laptop with another one. So they are shipping me a replacement machine. And they sent me to customer relations where I got into it with them because of the poor service, and the problems I have been having. They gave me a 100 credit to use on another purchase.

Ugg this sucks.

 

unlucky man. hopefully mine wont have any major problems when it arrives.

 

Really????????? That doesn't sound to promising. Let's hope it's sorted out becaue I need a computer ASAP, preferably next week.

 

Same here. I am really going to be needing the laptop in November so I hope they don't start delaying the orders.

edit: just checked the dell website and it seems that there isn't any more delays on the studio 17. Last time I checked it said that there would be a delay of 3 weeks when an order for the studio 17 was placed. Now that seems to have gone. The studio 15, on the other hand, is having delays of 2-5 weeks.

 

I was just spec'ing out a Studio 17 myself and there is no longer a discrete video card option. I selectd the blu-ray drive and get a build error because it requires the ATI card, but when you go to the video card page there is no ATI selction any longer. I'm assuming they don't have them available and won't let you congifure a system with one at the moment. I'm really in the need for a new computer and this may have me looking elsewhere.....

 

Anyone runnin Vista SP1 x64 on their Studio 17 successfully install today's Microsoft security patch: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958644?

The autoupdate ran earlier and prompted for a reboot, got the BSOD. Went into safe mode and uninstalled the patch...still blue screen after reboot

Reimaging from a backup drive now...looks like I'll be turning off Vista autoupdates

 

Yeah it looks like they ran out of the HD 3650

 

That sucks. My update installed and gave me no problems after a reboot. I guess I better stop being lazy and image my drive sometime soon.

 

I read about that dely last week. Thank god it's gone now. It means that the production will be steaming in full swing now and that we might receive our babies next week!

 

I've been checking the status of the order the past 2 hours and a few minutes ago it went into delivery preparation. Dell will probably dispatch it later today or tomorrow. So I'll finally have a computer again on wednesday or thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thats good to hear Homeboy!! Mine is still in production with an EDD of 5th November. Probably like that because I ordered a Mike Ming cover. I really need this laptop aswell!!! Alot of my assignments from uni are to be done online. With only one PC and 3 other brothers it gets quite hard when 3 of us need to use the **** PC for work!!!!

 

I have a studio 17 with the slot-loading DVD burner on the way.

I'm interested to know if anyone has information about getting the Blu-Ray option as a post-purchase upgrade.

I know I could go for an extenal drive, but I'm hoping it's possible to upgrade through Dell. Guessing that if there is a third-party option it would void the warranty....

Thanks in advance

 

I feel the post-purchase Blu-ray from Dell would be VERY expensive. I thought about this also. Until the format becomes cheaper, the external option may be the cheaper way to go.

 

The Status of my order just changed to Delivery. It's officially on the way now!!!!!!!

There's nothing more expensive than buying a new optical drive for your laptop. Manufacturers charge ridicilous sums of money for spareparts. There are external Blu-Ray players but some of them are USB only which will hog the performance of your CPU. IMO you should have opted for blu-ray when you made your order. I did it at the cost of £100 which is less than an external bluray player, PS3 or a standalone bluray player. Not only that but a bluray player in a laptop will use the harddrive and RAM as buffer limiting jutter and such.

So now I'll don't have to worry about buying a bluray player. The only drawback so far is the price of the actual media. Many movies cost £20-35 which is almost as much as a game for Xbox360 or PS3. Renting a bluray movie cost £5 which is exactly the same movie the DVD version retail for. I guess I'll have to download bluray films instead.


Edit: Called the carrier and they want to deliver it on thursday but I'm busy then so I'lll receive it on friday instead. 2 weeks is not a long wait so I'm pretty happy so far.

 

No way!!!! My order is still stuck in production!! Called Dell yesterday only to get the same crap about it will be delivered on or before the 5th of November. I really need this laptop!!!!
I was checking out other forums and it seems yours isn't the only one out for delivery. Guess I will still have to be patient, although I don't have alot of patience left.

 

Yeah, I agree but I was limited in my ability to tweak the thing out.

I finally convinced Dell support UK to swap out another machine I had after it needed to be serviced four times. It wasn't easy but I'm getting a new machine with slightly better specs. It's the base studio 17 config except for the 1900 screen which matches what I had before.

Going to put an Intel SSD and 4 gigs of RAM into it. Love the 2 hard drive bay option here. Also, my last one didn't support 64 bit (gonna put 64 ultimate on it - avoided Vista all this time till I built my new workstation and surprise.. it's great!)

If I could have customized it fully I would have gone up a bit on the processor and gone for blu-ray. Since the ATI supports decode that's a pretty sweet setup for 1080. I've got a drive in my desktop so I might just live without it on the mobile. Don't fly that much these days anyways

 

I ordered my Studio 17 on the 6th of October and was a bit disappointed to be given a delivery date of the 29th.

But im a bit puzzled as i received an email from Dell last Saturday saying the delivery was being put back to the 10th of November! But then yesterday morning I received an automated phone call asking at what time on the 29/10 i wanted my laptop delivered (I chose the morning - i have a few days off work!), so when is it turning up? Can I expect it tomorrow, or on 10/11??

 

Just ordered my Studio 17 after a few hours of sweating over the specs.
Called Dell but wasn't able to get any additional discounts (I'm in Canada) that couldn't have been found on the website. I tried to save money and opted out of the back-lit keyboard and the bigger screen so am left with the basics. Any tips on where to buy affordable wireless modems?

Oh and I see this for shipping

Order Number Product Description Estimated Ship Date
243334505 10/31/2008
243334588 11/07/2008


Anyone else get 2 ship dates and order #?

 

i ordered mine back in early august it came on my birthday sept 5 a month later. it depends on parts, since i got it when it was still very new a lot of parts were outta stock. you can check that through dell...the backlight keyboard delayed mine 16 days alone...lol i had to have it tho =D

 

I think its being delayed because of the Mike Ming cover I ordered, but the website says it doesn't have any delays on the cover anymore. If only they could give a straight answer. I'm a first time buyer from dell. The one thing that annoys me is that thye never seem to give a proper answer online or on the phone. I don't mind waiting until the 5th of November for the laptop but it will really **** me off if they leave it till last second to tell me its been delayed!!!

 

Jpzsports: Can you please add a edit in your first post?

That the solution to the wierd keyboard issue where the keys seems to "stick" is turning your Num Lk on. This works on BOTH the 15 and 17 model.

Could be alot of help for those who are searching for a solution, since your thread would be a excellent place to put it

 

Oh, so yours is still stuck in production. That sucks, it might have to do with your colour option. I went for straight black and now it's even ready to be delivered tomorrow. But hold out though. The delays are over so your order should go into delivery preparation anytime soon.