Struggle for a decision (Studio 1535 or 1555?)

I am a bit stuck in a decision I want to make. For sure, very soon, I will be buying a Dell Studio from the US store. However, I really don't know what to choose. Here are the things I will be doing with the notebook (in college), and some features I am looking into.

For one, I will be doing all the college things (essays, projects, etc). Might get into a little music production, and will be rendering video with After Effects. Not much gaming, maybe Left 4 Dead at the most. Also want strong battery life, looking into the 9 cell.

Now, my choices are broad. I can get the Studio 1555 with the newest ATI 4570, but I will be lacking some little features (fingerprint reader, extra USB, etc). Those I might want to use, especially the fingerprint reader (to help protect some stuff, I guess.)

Or I could get the 1535, now since the 1555 is out in the US, this notebook has to be cheaper, right? Maybe the Outlet. I could fulfill all those little features, with the lack of a slightly weaker ATI card.

Also, what about build quality between the two? And will the ATI suffice for the things I will be doing?

Should I get the 1535, despite some little problems, or should I sacrifice some little features for the new 1555? I can pay up to $1200 for one, and I like to see spending as little as possible.

Help wanted for this choice. Thanks.

 

You should fill out the FAQ

 

I play Left 4 Dead on my Studio 1535. I have to turn down some settings, but frame rates are very playable once I do, well over 40.

If you're not too bothered about your eject button not working for 5 minutes or so after you boot up, then I would get the 1535/1537 since it would have the features you want.

 

I don't see this necessary, as I am asking questions solely on one of two Dell Studio models, and a recommendation.

Hm. How much of a price decrease can I see in the 1535/1537 models? Will they be in the outlet?

 

You can find the 1535 and 1537 in the Outlet, starting around $500 for refurbs.

 

Is that an already low price because of the 1555's, or will they get even cheaper?

 

They're that low because they're refurbished models from the Outlet. I don't think new models have any effect on Outlet prices.

 

Hm alright. I was only wondering because if 1555's become available in the outlet sometime in the near future, won't 1535/1537 prices drop, or does Dell rid them from the store?

The only thing that keeps me toward the 1535/1537 is the fingerprint reader. I hope to save some money with the older model too, but I dunno.

 

The 1555 will start appearing in the Outlet as soon as people start ordering them and canceling them, or sending them back.

 

Hm. I wonder if I should save some bucks and get the older studio. However, my other concern is the build quality.

 

The 1555 is not really structurally different from the 1535/1537. It's a little wider overall to allow for the 16:9 resolution, but the materials and structure are more or less identical.

 

It's almost a pound lighter.

 

Well of course, they removed all the good stuff.

 

Should I get the 1535 or 1537 for the extra goodies, for a cheaper price? I'm really concerned if the keyboard and stuff is less secure than the 1555.

 

I'm sure the keyboards are basically identical. I've had two different keyboards in my 1535, and they've both been very secure and sturdy.

 

Don't worry about the fingerprint reader, you wanted to use it to protect stuff? It's alright, but there's no software to protect files with your fingerprint or anything like that. You could use encryption software and use the fingerprint reader to save your long password, so you can just swipe your finger to put in the password. But really, it's not as great as you'll think. If you use firefox, it won't even save passwords on firefox pages, because you'll have to disable it in order to be able to download things properly. Honestly, just get the 1555 and I'll give you the facial recognition software from my girlfriend's 1545 so you can login with your face instead. It replaces the main feature of a fingerpint reader. I mean, I only usually use the fingerprint reader on my Studio 1535 to log in since it doesn't even come with file protection software, so I'd just login with my face. Normally you'd have to pay extra for the face scanning software, but I just ripped my girlfriend's disk from the 1545 I bought her.

 

Haha...you want to send me a copy of that software too? I've tried using Lenovo's VeriFace software, but it won't interface with Vista properly, so I can't actually use it to log in.

 

Haha, sure. Lemme upload it to mediafire or something first. It won't work with older Dell laptops, but I do know that it does indeed work with Studio 15. It probably works with all the laptops that offer it.

Edit: Here's the download link for anyone who may want it. http://www.mediafire.com/file/qgcqjnxdzjz/Dell

 

No way, facial recognition login? That's way cooler than a fingerprint reader.

Thanks for the tip. I am confident in the 1555. Now about the coupons... I'm waiting for one to come out! Or should I just not bother and order one as is?

Update:
If anyone was curious on what build I'm looking into, here it is. I got the "Best" category with the $100 promo Dell gift card free with this. Tell me if I should buy it now or sacrifice a wait for coupons in the future.

 

Holy crap, thanks. It works pretty well, too! I managed to get it to recognize my face after one manual login!

 

BlackHawk7: Was wondering the same thing, myself. Decided to go ahead and order the system (Studio 15 almost identical to yours. Different color and 6 cell battery, but other than that, identical). Ship date is over 3 weeks from now, so if a better deal comes along by then, can always cancel. If not, current price is still pretty competitive.

Instead of going with the $100 gift card, which expires 60-90 days after being issued, and which Dell promises to deliver at some random point in the next 3 months or so, I used my EPP discount and started with the Studio 15 base config with $204 at the "Laptop Deals" section, as the $274 off version switched to $224 off, and only has Vista 32 when you use the EPP discount. Anyways, final system was $60 less with the EPP, but without the $100 gift card, which keeps thing simple. You might want to consider doing the same, if you can get the discount.

 

It's 10% off, right?

That sounds alright. I will do that, and post the price of the machine. (Is this the education store?)

 

Seven percent, actually. Dell changed it at some point. Used to be 8%, I believe.

Edit: If your college has a discount for buying Dells, yea. Might vary by school, but for mine, I go to the page that has the "recommended systems", which are all pretty nice deals (Too bad I don't want a latitude), and then there's a "Read More" button. Pressing that takes me to a page with a link to the "full catalog", which is just like Dell's normal page, only with the EPP discount, and some configs are different in random and often annoying ways.

 

I'm configuring the discount now, will update the price in a moment.

Update: It comes out at $1204.00, which is more expensive than the deal I can get with the $100 gift card. I'll go with the original plan.

 

You don't see the EPP discount until you add it to your cart. You did add it to your cart, right? And you did see a "7% EPP discount" line on the order page, right? Should see it between the instant discount line and above the shipping stuff. Can't remember if there's a subtotal either above or below it.

 

Okay so with tax, the edu discount brings it at $1,223.87, while the non-discount with the $100 gift card comes out at $1299.58 with tax. Which one should I get?

I get the blue color (over black in the edu discount), 2 yr warranty (over 1 year on the edu), and the $100 gift card over the $84 off with the edu. I think I'm still going for the original plan with the $100 card. Obviously looks like a better deal.

What do you think?

 

Up to you. The $100 card must be spent at Dell, and expires in 60-90 days after being issued, and Dell won't even tell you when within a 3 month time frame the card will actually be issued. The $76 is actual cash.

If you're going to be buying something at Dell at some point that can be any time within the next 6 months, the card is the better deal. If you aren't going to be shopping at Dell, you "lose" $24 that you'll have to spend at Dell in a given time frame, and gain real cash instead. I opted for the real cash, as Dell isn't a great place to spend small amounts of money unless you really shop the deals. Their hard drives, for example, were grossly overpriced last I checked. If what you have to buy at Dell is $24 more than the alternative, you're actually losing money over the EPP discount.

That having been said, you might want the company scrip...err... Dell card. Up to you. If you're planning on getting a monitor any time soon, Dell often has nice deals on those. Otherwise, the extra $24 basically forces you to spend $76 that you weren't planning on spending at Dell, in a fairly short time frame. Or you might be able to sell it on ebay for $80+, but that's more effort than I care to bother with.

 

I am using the facial recognition software on the 1555 and it is really cool. U don't really need 2 manually login.

The only downside is that it works only if the room is properly lit up.

 

No problem man. Glad it works for ya.

 

Has he bought his laptop yet? Sorry abit lazy to read all the posts, just adding my two cents.

Had my Dell Studio 1535 for 11 months, and yes it is a good laptop but in terms of build quality, nearly rubbish (if you chose the grey version like I did). The grey or "topographical" design on this laptop is made of a very cheap, terribly painted plastic that I have had never ending issues with.. Mostly regarding cracking laptop hinges. It also scratches easily and the paint starts to come off simply from every day usage. The eject button is also extremely frustrating if you use discs often (4 touch pads later and it still isn't fixed).

Also had some overheating issues (once had to get fans replaced) which is probably very rare really and just bad luck, but also had audio jack issues which has meant 3 motherboard replacements for me (bad quality sound jack as broken for me 3 times.. Also a result of a loose bottom laptop casing which has been replaced also fixing it. Haven't had a sound issue in three months, again probably just my fault or bad luck.. Most likely my fault ha.)

If these issues wouldn't bother you (but did severely bother me) get the 1535, 36, or 37.. But I can only assume Dell rushed the 1555 out so soon after the 1535 to fix all these issues as they mostly likely copped on that they had released a faulty product in most cases.

 

I gotta say, I'm pretty happy with my 1555. It does feel more sturdy and solid than my 1535.