Studio 14 vs Studio 15

After plenty of views I got 0 replies in the "What laptop should I buy?" section and since I want to buy a Dell I thought I'd try my luck here.
I want to buy a new laptop and I have seen two good options, a Studio 14 and Studio 15. Both the exact same price. But with two differences (and all that are related to those off course).

Both have:

Windows 7 64-bit
Intel i7 720QM
4GB DDR3
500GB 7200rpm
1366x768 resolution
Wireless a/b/g/n
6-cell battery

Studio 14:
14" and a HD4530 512MB card.

Studio 15:
15,6" and a HD4570 512MB card.

What I do on daily basis:

• work with 3D CAD software.
• create 2D technical drawings.
• do 3D rendering of products.
• write reports.
• create presentations.
• do some programming in php(for MySQL databases).
• like to play games from time to time, mostly MMORPG or RTS. Currently Guild Wars, Eve Online and Plants vs Zombies. In the future probably Guild Wars 2.
• Watch some series; streaming or from DVD.
• I move a lot with my laptop, to show stuff to people in the office or factory and every day up and down 6 floors twice + a 15 minute walk from my apartment to the office and back. (Few elevators in China.)
• And I admit I got a personal preference for small and efficient things. My current 15,4" seems a bit bulky at times.

But I have a bit of trouble deciding based on the following two questions that I can't seem to find a good answer to:

Video card:
Is the performance difference between the two video cards noticeable? Guild Wars 2 isn't to be release for quite some time, but would a HD4530 be future-proof (~3 years) for the kind of games I play? Or is the HD4570 a better choice? Benchmarking show the HD4570 to be better obviously, but what is the real world difference?

Screen:
My other question would be if anyone has experience using CAD or programming or just working on 14 and 15,6" laptops. Both have the same resolution, so they have the same content on the screen.

I haven't worked with any 14" other than just quick web browsing and don't want to end up regretting having a small screen.

On the other hand a smaller, lighter laptop would be nice as it takes up less space and is easier to move around. (Perhaps the battery life also increases with a slower graphics card and smaller screen?)


Well this is my dilemma, I have trouble choosing between the two. So I anyone here hope anyone here can provide their knowledge and experience. Thanks in advance.

 

My advice is to go for the 14. It looks like they're almost the same, so the "bulkiness" issue tips the scale towards the smaller one. I work with E6400s at work (also a 14 inch screen) and find that screen size pretty nice.

 

Thanks for the reply, I don't think I would really have much problems working on a smaller screen either, especially since the resolution is the same anyway. Still it's good to hear from someone who actually used it for work.

I guess only the video card makes a difference then that would favour the 15,6".

 

You could always go to a local computer store to get "hands-on" time with both sizes if you're still unsure (although I don't think they'd let you install graphics tests on the display models, lol).

 

Are you sure that they are the same price? Usually 14z is $100-200 more expensive than the 15". If I had the chance, I would go with the 14z too. Its practicaly the same as a 15", but smaller and w/o a optical drive, which I personally don't care for.
Btw. Since you work with GFX like I do, you should really concider getting 1920x1080 resolution. It's not that small as you might think. Go check it out in your local PC store.

 

Thanks for the replies, but my situation is a bit more complicated. I'm Dutch, working in China, for a South-African company and I'm getting a notebook in Hong Kong because there I can at least get an English OS.

Laptop shopping in Hong Kong is a nightmare as I have been told. There probably is a dedicated Dell store somewhere, but the chances they have the same new models and configurations available is slim at best.

My only real option is to order online, get it delivered at a friend of a friend and pick it up. I happen to go to Hong Kong for a renewal of my visa so I hope it will arrive when I'm there or before. I'd rather not have to extend my stay to wait for a laptop to arrive. This is why I order it in advance before I go.

I just ordered the Studio 15 version after a friend recommended the larger screen for working for long hours because a smaller screen can more easily lead to eye-strain regardless of how good your eyes may be. She also travels a lot with her 15,x" Dell XPS. It is comfortable to work with (maybe a little overpowered) and the weight isn't too much of a problem. Her only two problems are that the 9-cell battery is to bulky and heavy and that the video card, an nvidia one, keeps overheating without additional cooling. And even with cooling sometimes.

As for Esseti's response: yes they are exactly the same price, HK$9,999 and HK$10,152.00 with 3 years warranty + accidental damage coverage and HK$1000 online discount.
But as far as I know the Studio 14 is just a Studio 14 here, not a z version. And it does have an optical drive apparently. Apart from port layout, screen size, gpu, a sub woofer for the 15,6" and general size and weight they are exactly the same. Maybe there is a difference between Asia and the US.

I hope I have a reason to update my signature soon.

 

hi, degine, glad to know you are getting a laptop in hong kong.
i would go for the S15 unless you know you will be moving around alot. also, since the gpu is usually the bottleneck for games just get as good a gpu as you can, ie the S15.

yes you are right there are only 1 or 2 dell stores in hk, and they dont do anything other then other it for you online at the same price, but with faster delivery (or so they say).

i did abit of research while i was still in hk while buying a new laptop for college, and buying from dell in hk seems to cost more then a same spec dell from US. If you are in hk, go to the 'golden stone' computer center in shum shui po, its actually alot cheaper then anything online! but i suggest you bring a frd who speaks cantonese if you dont

 

Thanks for your reply, but I don't actually live in Hong Kong. I'm in Shenzhen P.R.C. I order in Hong Kong because I can't get an English operating system in China. I already ordered the laptop online and it will be delivered at a friend of a friend in Hong Kong. I'll come and pick it up when it arrives. I hoped combining that trip with getting a visa, but now I've heard that it can take up to two weeks before it is delivered, as it has to be assembled in Shanghai and then shipped to Hong Kong. Patience is a virtue they say.