Please help me make a decision...

Hello all...long time lurker, first time poster.

My XPS M1330 is still less than 21 days old, and I'm seriously considering returning the system. I've been able to solve a lot of its problems with a little bit of research (most of which has lead me to this site). Here is a quick rundown:

Four BSOD's in under 2 weeks (unresolved)
CPU/Southbridge whine (mostly resolved with bluetooth power management turned off)
Audio stuttering/skipping (resolved by disabling 802.11a in the 1505 mini-card device manager properties)

Here is the kicker that really makes me want to send this thing back: The constant hiss through the two headphone jacks. I listen to a ton of music on my computer, and any headphones that are closed-back or in-ear just sound terrible on my M1330. I already had the MOBO swapped, and the XPS rep I just spoke with (probably the fourth or fifth), told me that he could get it swapped again, but it probably isn't going to change anything. From what I understand, some people have this problem, some don't. I have it ALL THE TIME, regardless of which jack I plug into, if the AC adapter is plugged in or not, if I'm in Vista or not...)

So here is my question to the fine members of notebookreview.com: should I return this system and look at a similar 13.3" notebook? For the 2100 dollars I just coughed up on this thing, I expected a lot...am I being too nit-picky?

edit: Forgot to mention...its the typical dell integrated with the Audigy HD SE (yay)

Also, Is it likely that a future driver would resolve this issue, or is it a permanent annoyance?

I really appreciate your input on this one. If one good thing came from this problem, it was a reason to join the forums!

 

Well me being an audiophile, I'd return if the only for the hissing issue. But since according to your post, the BSODs have also been unsolved, I would definitely return it if I was in your position.

 

Thanks warrior...thats kinda what I'm leaning towards :/

 

Especially since a motherboard swap hasn't fixed anything, you should definitely return it. Cases like this are why they have that return policy to begin with. You might be able to live with and/or fix both problems in due time, but I doubt it's worth the effort and definitely not over just returning the system and buying a new one.

 

Thanks Wolf, I am in all likeliness going to return it today

I contacted support again this morning to see if they wanted to offer me a replacement, but they told me only customer service is allowed to do so. I am about to give them a call (just opened for business). I'll let you know what they say.

 

get a Creative X-fi Xpresscard.

 

sh1v, that'll probably be my next step

Dell has just issued a replacement system. I am pretty confident that it will still have the sucky audio hum/hiss. They really should have just offered me the xi-fi and I would have been satisfied. I still think its ridiculous that I would have to have the express card sticking out of my notebook all the time just to have decent audio.

Also, I've heard the xi-fi stinks in vista. Is this true? Driver-wise, I've heard creative is worse than nvidia.

On another note, customer care told me only technical support could issue replacements...the EXACT opposite of what the tech rep told me this morning...so I sat on hold for thirty minutes while they contacted customer care and explained the issue (as I refused to explain yet again). The woman tech rep who I spoke with told me that in the case "blog" it said that I was "UNWILLING TO TROUBLESHOOT FURTHER" all in capital letters. She was making it sound like I was completely uncooperative. I'm sorry, but when they ask me to reformat my computer for the second time in its short two week life, I get a little upset. Suddenly, I'm wasting Dell's time. If this replacement isn't flawless, i'm likely to cough up some extra money for a VAIO.

Thanks for all your feedback so far!

 

Well i wouldn't be certain about the replacement system having the same issue, because i listen to music/videogames on my M1330 thru headphones all the time and i do not hear this issue. I mostly use headphones from an Ipod, but i have also used the creative headphones that come with the system and the hissing u talk about is definitely not there. Also the BSOD, i have never seen that on my system. You might want to check out some of the software you are running and make sure its not conflicting with something.

 

Return Return Return!

 

Over 2 grand and you`re having this much trouble.....send it back! You should be satisfied with your purchase.

 

u sure its not the headphone itself?...i have 2 pairs of headphones, an Ipod one and a creative one...the ipod one tends to give off hisses sometimes or not as great sound as the creative one....it could be the case where they've given u a bad pair of headphones