Studio 15 Owner's Thread

HARD DRIVE
Unless you use programs that must frequently access the hard drive, you won't notice much difference in 5400 vs. 7200rpm. Most applications will load a bit quicker, but the differences in routine use are minimal. On the Studio 15, the sole 7200rpm option is 200GB. Personally, the additional space of the 250GB or 320GB 5400rpm version is preferable.

The Outlet systems are awesome deals, but since they're already built/configured DON'T limit your choices based on a 7200rpm drive. You can always upgrade it yourself later. FYI- 7200rpm drives generate more heat than their 5400rpm counterparts! I learned that one the hard way...

PROCESSOR
The base processor is a 1.86GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2390- skip it! There are four Intel Core 2 Duo processors available- 2.0GHz T5750, 2.16GHz T5850, 2.1GHz T8100 and 2.5GHz T9300. The T9300 is the fastest, but also the most expensive ($350 more than the base T2390 on a new model). The T5750 and T5850 are more-than-adequate for the majority of users. However, the T8100 is the best value/performance (bang for the buck) choice. Along with the T9300, the T8100 is based on a newer Intel architecture than the T5750 and T5850- the benefits being better performance, improved battery life and they run cooler than the older processors, too.

OTHER Considerations
Intel's GMA X3100 integrated graphics is standard, but most Studio 15 models have a 256mb ATI Radeon Mobility HD 3450 dedicated graphics card. Along with the LED display, the ATI graphics card is a MUST HAVE!

While looking for a system with the specs you want, don't let the wireless adapter or lack of Bluetooth capability deter you from an otherwise good find! Both the Dell 1510-N wireless adapter and the Dell 370 Bluetooth Module can be ordered from Dell and installed in less than 10 minutes....even by me, a guy who can't figure out how to put a new roll of toilet paper in the dispenser!

For faxing, since there is no integrated modem, a service such as MyFax would be my recommendation. It's easy and cheap. The other simple solution is an external USB modem.

Good luck and don't hesitate to reply or send a PM if you have any other questions!

 

I think you're asking which panel manufacturer you're getting? If so, the answer is, unfortunately, no.

And, it's even difficult to choose a LED display model since you cannot sort through all the hundreds of them and filter out only the LED backlit models.

It's basically luck of the draw if you get LG or AUO...

 

The LED isn't THAT important IMHO, I'd much rather a 9-cell over the LED, but good luck with that in outlet

 

The LED screens can be challenging to track down, but it can be done. I think it is worth it if you can find one with about the specs that you want.

 

If you get a refurb you know right away because it says on the spec sheet. I got an AUO and i love it. its crystal clear and really bright.

 

Incorrect! I received 5 Studio 15's from the Outlet, and 4 of them had LED backlit panels. Of the four, ALL of them listed on the packing list that they were LG Phillips. Guess what? Two of them were actually AUO, not LG Phillips. So, you cannot always believe the packing list.

I think Dell has a particular SKU for the LED backlit panel, and that description says LG Phillips, but they really have two panel manufacturers.

 

Probably true if you like the uneven, dim lighting of a traditional CCFL LCD panel! Have you ever compared a LED to a non-LED panel? The difference is astounding.

Care to use your notebook in daylight (outdoors or next to a window)? Good luck with a traditional screen. You'll need that 9-cell just to get anything done because you'll be spending all your time trying to see the screen! But a LED backlit panel is bright as day in the outdoors or direct sunlight.

Go with LED...

 

Maybe because I'm used to using old CRT monitors up until less than a month ago, but I find this screen almost too bright at times. I currently have it at zero brightness, as I have all day. If I could turn it down another few notches I would.

 

You like Zero brightness? Do you only go out at night?

 

Well to be perfectly honest I'm indoors, outside I usually turn it up to 1 or 2....




Seriously though, outside 3/4ish brightness usually suffices. If only it ever stopped raining

 

Rain?? What is that? It sounds familiar, but I just can't place it!

 

It's when they build tall buildings that break the sky.
All this "whet" stuff falls out, it's rotten.
It's like the sky's answer to tree sap - except without the cool fossilised form.

 

Hi Allfiredup - Thanks so much for such a gracious and very useful education and please check the PM I just sent you as after reading your kind and OJT comments please disregard the 7200rpm HD must have as I'm very naive with those kind of things and I need expertise guidance in the processor, video card, wireless card & HD categories.
Thanks,
SD

 

Hi lancorp – Thank you and Yes you are exactly right in your assumption of what I was asking, yet I think that it truly isn’t fair how one could pay a good amount for a unit and then have pot-luck on what they will get for the display, which is one of the main components in the unit.
SD

 

Hi atbnet – Thank you kindly.
Yes I agree with you, yet for what I have heard about the major difference in the LG display over the inferior one I believe I should be able to choose what I want, especially when a bright and crystal clear display is my top want and priority.
SD

 

Hi nizzy1115 – Thanks a bunch and that’s really great to know, as it seemed from what I’ve read and heard that the LG display is far superior then the AUO one.
SD

 

Hi Guys – I sent this as a PM and I really need to make a decision as this whole laptop buying ordeal was way more complicated then I would’ve ever imagined, as I just want to be able to view photo’s at the best possible clarity for my 50year old eyes , browse the internet, write emails & documents and watch an occasional educational DVD from time to time so what do you think of the below deal after applying a coupon and would you buy a certified refurbish unit?
Thanks,
SD



Studio 15 (1535) Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache) · Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
System Price : $1,119.00
With Coupon & Shipping $973.38
Operating SystemGenuine Windows Vista Home Premium Memory3 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz (2 DIMMs) Hard Disk Drive320 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM) Video256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 Web CameraIntegrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera Network Interface CardDell 1510 Wireless-N Card Software UpgradeMicrosoft Works 9.0 Hardware Upgrade90W AC AdapterDell Travel Remote Control9 Cell Primary BatteryBack-lit KeyboardDell Bluetooth 5 Button Travel MouseIntegrated Finger Print Reader Certified RefurbishedCertified Refurbished Laptop Screen15.4 inch WXGA+ LED Laptop Screen with TrueLife Media Bay8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) BaseStudio 15 (1535) Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache) Bluetooth WirelessDell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module System ColorGraphite Grey with Black Trim

 

Any news on this eject light problem? I thought I was the only person with this problem but I have not checked the forums in a few weeks. I also heard that if you replace a dvd drive or any other component on your laptop, they use refurbished parts.

Also I have a small squeaky noise coming from the wrist rest located bottom right below finger print scanner. It happens when I place some weight on it. It gets really annoying. Any thing I can do to fix it? Does anyone else have this problem?

 

actually.....i had this problem......i had some issues with my laptop media buttons:

first......they only worked sometimes
then......the play button would stay illuminated but none would work
then......i reformatted thinking this might help......it didn't right away...(though my computer was much faster w/o all the bloatware)
finally.....i did what was suggested by one of the posters above (Pepperhead) exactly as he/she described it.....it worked perfectly and i have had no issues with my media buttons since.

Overall, one thing i noticed is that when you turn on your laptop, if the flicker from left to right and back of those media buttons works as it should, with no flaws......then the mediabuttons work fine....however if it doesn't work at all, or doesn't work properly, i had issues with my media-buttons.

about the squeaky sound, i have no problem like that so can't help there

 

Anyway, the screen configuration lists only two types, 1280x800 and 1920x1200, where did you guys find the LED version (I assume 1280x900?)

 

Assuming what you've listed there is all you'll be doing, you do NOT need the T9300. I do a bit more strenuous stuff and I only have a T5750, which is adequate.
Unless it's a refurb system and it works out cheaper to get it, that processor is way more powerful than you need.

I also don't think you'll need a 320GB harddrive. I have 1100 songs ripped at quite high quality and it's only 6.7GB. Pictures on my 3.2megapixel camera come in at less than 1mb each - and theres > 1000 MB in each GB. Do you have more than 100,000 pictures?
Again, if it's a refurbed system and therefore doesn't make much difference price wise fire away, if you're just configuring it off dell and loading it with everything then don't bother.

And yes, I'd buy an outlet system if there was one there that suited me.

 

Hi purplegreendave – Very interesting username
Thank you so much for your feedback & opinion as it’s so greatly appreciated.
FYI – I bought what Dell calls a Certified Refurbish unit so what I saw is what I’m going to get.
I really liked the T9300 processor on the 17” HP laptop I recently sold, hated the display, yet that would be a whole other thread so that’s what made me search for it, yet I probably would agree with you greatly that it’s definitely probably over-kill for what I do & need, yet I rather have better and not use it then have lesser and need it if you follow me.
In answer to your question; I have many pictures, yet I wouldn’t use a huge figure like 100, 000 wow , yet I was only wanting the 7200rpm HD for data transfer speed when multiple windows were opened, yet after having some super guys like you explain that I wouldn’t really notice any difference between the 7200rpm HD and 5400rpm one and that the 5400 would in fact run cooler I now feel pretty good with my choice, yet I only wish I could’ve got 4gb of ram instead of 3gb as I heard it’s real expensive through Dell, yet I also don’t know if I would really need to upgrade it as well.
I realize that the system I bought is probably more powerful then I would ever need, yet I really wanted the 1400x900 LCD LED display for bright clear viewing and the rest just came with the unit.
I used a 1680x1050 display on my previous HP 17” laptop and I struggled greatly with my aging farsighted eyes, yet I just hope I made the right decision with going with a 1400x900 display on a 15” unit, yet I guess I soon will see and find out.
Thanks,
SD

 

A username made all the more unusual when you take into account my profound colourblindness

I wouldn't worry about font sizes, you can change them easily
3GB RAM is more than enough too, no need to worry.

Enjoy your laptop!

 

Hi purplegreendave – Thanks and please know that my username comment was not intended for any mocking whatsoever, as I just found it to be different.
I just received my unit yesterday and I have yet to open it up as I first needed to clear and transfer the data I had on my buddies computer which he so graciously & kindly let me use, yet as soon as I get some chores done I will open up the box of Dell Cracker-Jacks and see what great hopeful surprise lies inside and then report back. J
Thanks for the info on the display, yet I’m really hoping that the 1400x900 will be the Happy medium for me, as I don’t want to change the native display if at all possible and hearing that 3gb is more then I would need to run Vista Home Premium fine makes me feel even better on my decision and purchase, now I’m just hoping that there’s no unwanted surprises inside such as physical damage, blown pixels and etc.
Thanks man,
SD

 

^^I wouldnt have waited so long to open it up...

 

Hi REY619 – Well believe it or not the box still hasn’t been opened, as I’ve just been running around doing things & errands and when I finally do decide to open it up I want to be able to have some good free time then.
I guess as you get older the little child instincts of Hurry up & I want it now starts to leave you and hopefully patience plays a greater role, at least for me that is , yet I promise just as soon as I get everything done and do open it up I will let everyone, who has in fact been so Super to me, know what I think.
All the best,
SD

 

You should at least open the box to make a quick inspection and confirm there isn't major damage or defects.
Not sure how refurbs are treated but the clock on returns starts ticking from the time Dell ships the computer for new orders and you only have 21 days to return and not suffer a possible restocking fee...

 

Hi somms - Thank you kindly.
Well I just opened it up and I would like to tell you that I’m real impressed, yet unfortunately I already have some very disheartening and discouraging issues.
Cons:
First; the grill for the speakers is severely pushed in and dented and I just don‘t know how they could ‘ve never seen something so very obvious.
Next; I think I got the inferior display from the LG, as I immediately opened up a high quality photo to view it and I must say the grainy result I got by just zooming in on it slightly was very disheartening & discouraging to say the least.
Next; Here I thought I was really making the right decision with going with the 1400x900 LED display, yet the text & icon size looks on the 15” Studio exactly like it did on the 17” 1680x1050 HP I sold and it means me changing the native resolution, which I just didn’t want to do.
Honestly unless I’m missing something other then the great brightness, which this definitely has the C510 TFT display which my buddy made me borrow while waiting for the Studio 15 shows a cleaner crisper picture in viewing my photo’s then this.
Next; in only using the unit for setup and browsing the internet for a few minutes, the wrist pad definitely gets much warmer then the HP ever did.
HP’s webcam was definitely sharper.
Pro’s:
The lighted keyboard is just fabulous and every laptop should definitely have it.
The overall keyboard and touchpad blows HP’s home line in the ever living water.
Fingerprint reader is a great feature and asset.
I don’t know what I’m going to do, as the dented grill really disheartened me greatly and I wish there was someway I could know what manufacturer display I got.
I’m hitting the sack now and I’ll tackle this tomorrow.
SD

 

Confirm that you did infact receive the LED display by Fn+adjust the brightness levels up and down...you should have 15 individual levels of brightness. If you only have 7 then they stuck you with the CCFL display...

 

Hi somms - Thank you so kindly.
Upon your gracious instructions I checked it and I do in fact have 15 levels of up & down on the brightness adjustment, yet I’d still like to know what manufacturer I got it and if it’s LG or AUO?
Thanks,
SD

 

I've ordered many, many Studio 15's for clients, and the overwhelming majority have "dimples", two of them, in the control/speaker area. Is this what you are talking about? If so, there is a fix.

Although it might be subjective, the LG is the superior display, and the AUO is the inferior display. Side-by-side, a Studio15 with LG will look brighter, more colorful and a bit sharper. There are many, many threads on many forums that tell you how to check what panel you have. But, to summarize, go into device manager, and expand MONITORS. You should have a "Plug and Play" item listed. Right-click that and choose PROPERTIES. Go to the DETAILS tab, and drop down the chooser box and choose "Hardware Ids". Let us know what the data field is.

Don't know what to tell you here. The 1400x900 LED display is not that high res, and if you find yourself having to lower the resolution because the text & icons are too small, then (and I mean no disrespect), you need glasses! There is only one resolution lower (the standard WXGA 1280x800), and that panel is just ugly. EDIT: I just read your FIRST post and you commented on your aging, farsighted eyes. Personally, I think a 15" display is too small for you then. A standard res 17 or even an external 20" might be in order.

Maybe you need to confirm your screen resolution under display properties and make sure you are at 1440x900?

Again, subjective, but I have a Studio 15 and an HP HDX16t and an HP HDX20 Dragon. HP's keyboards and touchpads are higher quality with less flexing and bouncing. HP's also don't have that little "hump" in them caused by the cabling underneath.

Consider yourself very lucky that yours works! A great many are flakey and show "reader not detected" at login.

Let us know if the dents are just the "dimples" and what you find out about the display id.

 

Well guys like I said in my previous reply - I just love the lighted keyboard and the great brightness of the display, yet the lack of sharpness & clarity in viewing photos, especially when just zooming up a few levels is a BIG turnoff for me and what solidified my recent request for return is the very shameful & very sad dented top console grill as how anyone could let this go out defined as Certified Refurbished, which check their definition out at their outlet site and not scratch & dent, which this definitely what it should have been is just truly beyond me.
OK; now that I’ve had a chance to view a 17” HP 1680x1050 display and now this 15” Dell 1400x900 one as opposed to the 14.1 1024x768 I used for so long, it definitely shows me that I need guidance through sheer confusion and a definite change from the top 2 mentioned ones, as I’m now totally and once again very confused and lost. J
Believe it or not I just booted back up the 14.1 Dell C510 that my buddy lent me for comparison and I’m saying to myself;
What’s the matter with me, I should be ecstatic in what I have, as it’s just so much better of a unit, yet bear with me here for a moment and just hear me out OK. J
Yes the Studio 15 blows the C510 in the water in regards to specs & features that’s a give me, yet let’s just concentrate on the display only and what is my main major want.
The 1024x768 resolution on the 14.1 size C510 TFT unit puts icons and text at the range & size which I definitely need and want, yet the brightness and true vivid colors on Studio 15 far supersedes it by unquestionable leaps & bounds, so I say to myself; If I could just merge the 2 somehow I would have my ultimate laptop, yet who makes it? J
Well I can tell you certainly not HP from my last recent rendezvous with them, as in the Brightness & vivid true colors department this Dell display as opposed to HP’s WSXGA one, just blows it in the ever living water.
Now because text, icons and images are too small for me on the Studio 15 display; I changed the native resolution to the 1024x768 one and now the icons and text and images are just the way I need them to be, yet the colors and what little sharpness the unit had has dramatically changed for the worst.
So; if anyone and I mean can figure out my mind boggling dilemma and offer up suggestions and recommendations I would be just BIG time truly grateful, because I know I’m definitely missing something here or expecting the impossible, as I would of never believed that going from a 14.1 Compaq Armada 7800 unit with a TFT display and supposedly upgrading to a larger and more quality display would have been such a ultimately confusing experience. J
Thanks everyone for the past help and hopefully now ones. J
All the best,
SD

 

Hi lancorp - Thank you so much.
In answer to your questions: The severely recessed dent is in the middle of the laptop running from the grill section straight down to touch media controls on the whole black studio panel.
The monitor properties reads Generic PnP Monitor and the display settings reads 1400x900 Highest (32bit)
Yes I know what you said sounds to be true, yet it just seems to me the opposite, as the smaller I go in screen size the more clearer and more detailed everything becomes and that just seems to be opposite of what I was thinking when I originally went with a 17” unit.
Now I get the 15” Dell Studio 1400x900 one ,believing that it will make me see things (text, icons and photo’s) bigger without having to increase its size and it unbelievably looks just like the 1680x1050 HP which I just sold and something just tells me that I probably need the 1280x800 native one, yet I got the 1400x900 for the LED feature, which is just Super & Bright and believing it would be the happy medium between the 2, yet something also tells me that I got the inferior display as well.
For experiment I changed the native 1400x900 native resolution to 1280x800 and everything sized up like I definitely need it, yet what little sharpness & clarity I once had with the unit at 1400x900 has all but disappeared.
I don’t know if I’m display burnt out, yet I look at other peoples units and their photos look like the image is just going to come out of the screen and touch you in real life size and I would give anything to get that.
SD

 

Lancorp - Do you have the LG display and if so what does your read in the Device manager properties?
If I do wind up having the LG display which I doubt is there an easy way to remove the studio black speaker and control grill so I can try to straighten it out?
Thanks,
SD

 

Yes, I have the LG display in mine. Your previous reply did not fully answer the question of which panel you have. If you follow the instructions I gave earlier, go into the PROPERTIES of the Generic PnP Monitor, and choose details, then drop down the box to choose Hardware Ids. The data in that field will ID the panel manufacturer.

Yes, you can remove the control grill, as you call it. Remove the battery and you'll see two screws. Remove those. Open your Studio 15 lid all the way back. Grip the back of the metal control grill (where the grill would meet the battery normally), and start gently pulling up. Sometimes it takes a little force, but you should be able to unlock the grill from the tabs and completely remove it. BEWARE! there is a small, thin ribbon cable attached. You can choose to remove it so you can completely remove the panel assy or leave the cable attached, and try to unbend or remove the dent with it still attached. It's up to you.

Regarding the display--think about what you are saying. Of course a 17" panel with one step higher resolution is going to look the same as a 15.4" panel with one step lower resolution. Your dropping the screen size and dropping resolution one step for both, so relatively, you've changed nothing when going to a 15.4 from a 17". In any case, there isn't a good answer for you, other than a bigger display. You want sharp? You need pixels for that. The more pixels you have, the smaller things become. You need big things? That means less pixels which equals not as sharp (slight jaggies, etc.).

You can go with a higher res display and up the dpi to 120 and choose large icons, as a workaround, but sometimes program windows don't display right with those settings.

Good luck!

 

Hi lancorp - Thanks so much and I’m sorry I guess I missed something on your instructions it reads: MONITOR\LPLB80A
I would attempt to try and fix the dent myself with your gracious and detailed instructions and then ask Dell for a replacement grill anyway, if they would in fact send it separately, yet I first want to see what display I have because if it’s not a LG, which everyone claims is the best, then I don’t want to even bother.
You know I guess I really don’t know what I’m saying and your great comparison certainly showed me that, as it now makes total sense that going from a 17” with one step higher resolution to a 15” with one step lower resolution shouldn’t be any different and I guess I’m just baffled and frustrated with the correct display & resolution concept.

You know with your great and gracious display and pixels explanation I’m beginning to see my problem and dilemma more clearly now.
I think in using the 14.1 screen size when I view photo’s I only need to zoom in maybe once, max twice and possibly sometimes not at all to see the picture at the size and clarity that I want, yet when going to a BIG jump 17” and now a 15” in order to get the image to the same comfortable fill in screen size I need to zoom in allot more levels and that in turn takes the photo out of it’s original clarity & photo if you in fact follow me.
In other words I want to you a photo at the comfortable size I like without having to zoom many levels and losing any quality, so maybe a 14” would be my answer, yet I just don’t know?
Thanks for the panel cable heads-up and for everything, you’re truly a GREAT guy and Thank you so much for your precious time & expertise along with all the other GREAT forum members.
Thanks,
SD

 

I meant view a photo not "you a photo"

 

This seems like it just gets greater and greater and I'm really starting to question this purchase BIG time.
I put a DVD in the drive and now it wont eject so what great suggestions does anyone kindly have for me out there?
Thanks,
SD

 

I have the same problem and made the changes you refer to and it seemed better but then did it again. Was in standby/sleep mode over night and in the morning, it was sitting there "on" with the screen closed. So, doesn't seem like a physical issue (e.g. getting bumped) and I'm wondering if it is waking up to go into hibernate and not making it?

Anyway - just posting to keep this seemingly still-not-fixed issue alive.

 

Eww, sounds like you aren't having fun at all!

In relation to the text/font size:
Click an empty region of the desktop, press & hold Ctrl and use the vertical scroll section of your touchpad to make shortcuts bigger.
Right click desktop, personalize, adjust font size.

That should make that much bigger.

For the DVD drive try Fn + F10 perhaps...


EDIT: @ Chismarts:
I solved the problem by changing some seemingly unrelated options, the power buttons

 

You're welcome. I hope I helped at least a little!

In any case, generally for what you are describing, I would recommend a BIGGER screen at a higher resolution. The higher resolution gets you more detail and increasing the screen size keeps object (icons, fonts, etc.) at a relatively perfect ratio. Going smaller won't (I wouldn't think) help, only because smaller displays are limited in resolution.

Another possibility...what resolution are the photos you are working with now? Regardless of the resolution of the panel, zooming in on a photo should maintain sharpness as long as your photos have enough "megapixels" to handle it. The highest resolution monitor in the world isn't going to be sharp at 200% zoom if you're photos are low res....something else to look at.

Unfortunately, there isn't ONE answer for your dilemma. I wish I was there to look at all the factors and come up with a reason, but you have to take all I've suggested and apply it yourself.

BTW, your panel "LPLxxx" is an LG (the better one). If you're not happy with it, I cannot suggest anything better other than a larger screen and higher resolution.

 

Umm mine has 15 and its a ccfl auo.

 

Hi purplegreendave – Thanks so much for the great tips, especially the eject shortcut, which I just hope isn’t a downfall characteristic with the slot type drives.
SD

 

I received my Studio 15 on October 1, a week ahead of schedule. I must say that after dealing with my daughter's Pink Studio 15 and all the problems, I was real hesitant about ordering yet another one of these but I'm a gambler at heart. The system arrived without a blemish, no bends in the media strip, lights working properly, keyboard and pad functional. I had one run in with the slot drive not ejecting but it hasn't occured again. This was definetly a better build all around, had none of the problems I experienced with our first one built in June/July. When I opened it up to check the wiring and ribbon cables, it was all as it should be except for one small wire that wasn't tucked inside it's tray. Not bad compared to what I found when opening the first lappy.

For SD, I adjusted the DPI to 120, made some changes in the font sizes for menu text, active screen etc., set the icons in the notification tray bar back to a smaller size ( they get too large when you change to 120 and also pixillated ) and set the overall display options using the ATI Catalyst Contol. I have things big enough to read easily without changing the native display resolution, and although it took about an hour or so to get it just right, it was well worth the effort. None of these displays look good when you take them out of their native res. My Inspiron 6000 has an 1980 display and it was much harder to get it readable, but it does display photos/graphics a tad better...lol. I don't mind the 1440 'cause the LED technology has really improved these panels.

So far no glitches that are not directly related to the Vista OS, and that's another story......I'm real pleased with this Purple Plum..........

 

Hi lancorp – So I did in fact luck out and get the better display in the LG hey, well about that something went right for me here for once.
Who knows maybe now it might be worth it for me to try and tackle the dented control panel, yet I must be honest and say that I really am a bit ticked off on getting their Certified Refurbish unit, as it definitely didn’t live up to it’s description at the outlet, as this fell more into the scratch & dent category, which I purposely avoided yet shamefully got and because of it I still am uncertain on what I will eventually do.
I did bring it to their attention via a email, so we’ll see just how they respond.
Tell me this maybe a stupid question, as probably many of mine are, yet is there a way to tell what display card I got as I see everyone putting in their signature 256mb ATI 3450
Yet in device manager under display mine reads ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series, so is that the same as these things and descriptions sure get confusing?
I really see where your coming from with your great display explanation and I can also see the great validity in viewing photo’s of not great quality from the onset as opposed to great ones, yet what I believe is happening to me and causing my major problem and dilemma is my stinking 50 year old farsighted eyes, as I need things right up on top of me in order to see it clearly and I think that’s why I seem to do better with the smaller size screens opposed to the larger ones, as when I bring up a particular photo on the 14.1 screen I don’t have to do any zooming to see it clearly and right up front, yet when I bring up the same photo on a 15.4 screen I then must zoom in at least a few times to bring it to where I can clearly see it and with it comes the fuzziness and loss of clarity which I don’t see on 14.1 screen.
I don’t know, yet I guess if Dell did make a studio 14 with the same exact great features I would definitely want to give a try to see if in fact what I just said holds true or not.
Thanks,
SD

 

oops (reposting in main forum)

 

Yes, you have the ATI Radeon 3450 in yours. Not to worry.

I agree with you on the problem with the dent and your unit being a Certified Refurbished and not a Scratch and Dent. I, too, have had that happen, when I got something from the Outlet that has such an obvious physical defect, one has to wonder how it didn't get labeled Scratch & Dent!

In any case, I would CALL Dell Customer support, and complain that it should have been a Scratch & Dent. Tell them you either want a replacement unit (usually, they wind up sending you a better unit in some way), or they'll give you a credit of some amount to make up for the fact it's dented. I'd go for the credit...especially if you can make it look right yourself! If they give you a hard time, tell 'em you just want to return it (while you're still within your 21 days).

Good luck!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4028375

15 steps of brightness adjustment means you've got an AUO LED screen...unless the inverters in the Studio15 support more than the ususal 7 steps...can anyone else confirm?

 

I have 15 levels of brightness.

 

Thanks. Was hoping someone else with a non-LED display would confirm that they also have 15 steps of brightness adj. The couple of CCFL LCD notebooks I played w/only have 7 steps...was trying to figure if the Studios are the same but I may be incorrect...