Studio 15 vs M1530

I am going to college next year, and I have some questions about these two.

First of all, there are two deals going on. They are taking $224 off of the Studio 15, bringing it down to $899. There is also a 20% off coupon on the m1530, bringing it down to around $999. Is it worth it paying the extra 100 to go from Studio 15 to the XPS?

Also, should I wait for the new centrino 2 chip? I am leaving for college like August 25/26/27, and I would like my laptop by then. Is it worth waiting for the new chip or no?

Thanks

 

Jump to the XPS, its a better built laptop with better service!

 

The new Montevina chip is supposed to have better battery life. That might be useful if you're taking your laptop to class. I don't know how it will be priced or whether it will be available to order before you leave for college.

The M1530 weighs a little less than the Studio 15. According to Dell's site...
5.78 pounds for the M1530
6.11 pounds for the Studio 15

Are you going to be gaming on it? Do you need the discrete graphics? Some people think the Nvidia 8600GT card in the M1530 may be among the ones that have a design flaw. The Studio 15 has an ATI card as an option. Both have X3100 Intel graphics as an option, but you probably don't want that if you're doing any gaming.

 

I'd say go for the xps but it really depends on your budget (XPS is the better deal I think)

 

It mainly depends on whether you need the more powerful GPU in the XPS or not. Are you going to be doing much gaming? It may also depend on which design you like better. And as mentioned, the XPS should be a few ounces lighter. Not sure how battery life compares.

 

I find gaming on a laptop to be extremely clumsy. I am bringing my desktop with me, so I highly doubt I will be gaming on my laptop. Although I do wonder how Diablo III will run on the Studio 15

I want to mainly use it for class, email, web surfing, etc... This is why I am partially leaning toward the Studio more than the XPS.

 

After checking out the Studio at Staples recently, go with the XPS. Quality is so much better.

 

So, the initial reports are that the Dell Studio's aren't as well made as the XPS?

I love the build quality of my XPS ... it's not as good as a Thinkpad - but overall, it's made very well. Virtually no flex with its magnesium-alloy casing; they keyboard is excellent as well not as good as my mom's E1405 (which as no flex at all ... but very good.

I can't wait to see one of these Dell Studios in person. Hopefully Best Buy will start carrying them so I can judge for myself. Also, XPS uses aluminum (as mentioned above) while the Inspiron and Studio lines still utilize plastic in their palm rests and bottom areas. Just things you should keep in mind.

I really like the design of the Studios; they're really sharp looking notebooks. Dell's design keeps getting better and better, it'll be interesting what the 2nd generation of the M1330 will look like.

 

Hmm I have been hearing quite the opposite. I thought I heard the Studio had good quality?!

Can someone that owns a Studio comment on this?

 

For your needs I think you should go look at an XPS1330 before you decide... 15.4 is just on the edge of being too large!

 

Since your not gonna game on it, I'd agree with this comment.

 

I thought XPS was kind of geared toward gamers?! Also, isn't 13 in kind of small? It won't be used exclusively in class. I will need to bring something home seeing that my desktop will stay in my dorm.

 

They do the XPS gamer range which is 17" but the XPS line in general is geared towards those who demand better performance overall and want better build quality for a slight premium.

The 1530 also gets the free media remote (£10 add on for the studio) and the Biometric Fingerprint Reader (£60 add on for the studio) - I know the fingerprint reader isn't anything important but its still there, also you get "XPS Premium Support" instead of the standard support which includes on site support so you don't have to send the laptop back to them, they come to you!

 

i also agree with the m1330 being the best option. But all these posts about heat problems are abit bothering me.

 

i agree wtih heat issues.... the GPU is idling at 72C on my laptop, and i can kind feel the heat on the wrist-areas..... though the m1330 feels like a feather in my hand

and i dont see any montevina m1330 refresh coming....

XPS line is now more for ultraportability+style+some gaming...

 

If he sticks with the integrated graphics he should be fine with heat... Like I said, the best thing you can do is go someplace and look at these different laptops, pick them up and play on the keyboard. Open and shut the lid, really feel the quality differences, then make up your mind!

 

Really depends on your needs. I initially ordered the 1330 but I found it was too small for me. The 15.4 m1530 isn't big at all, and it's thin and light. I was impressed with the build quality, it's a great laptop.

 

Don't know what kind of hands you have but I own an XPS and my friend just got his studio 17 and I am impressed.

On noes?!? No brushed metalz!? The plastic is doing the job fine and after using it for two hours intensively I felt barely any heat. It also looks great. The 15.4" is a little too much to carry around but I plan on doing it anyways. I ain't weak like some foo's here.

P.S The only thing I don't like about it's studio is is the size =/

Lastly, you can't compare the Studio with the Xps. The XPS is meant to be a more luxurious model. But after changing the stats of both with a x3100 rather than their own dedicated card the price difference was over 300$. So it all comes down to how much money you want to dish out.

 

I agree, I also saw the Studio at Staples last Friday and it looked cheap and flimsy. I didn't like it at all.

 

i've had previous generation xps laptops (17") and my m1530 feels just so much better ergonomically. from the feel of everythin to the build quality. one of the best finishes i have had the pleasure of experiencing. i haven't found a thing i haven't liked yet (crossing fingers). for me, a person that started out with earlier generation laptops, i dont see how anyone can complain about portability with the m1530.

$900 and $1000 is a TINY difference for what u'r gettin. just think of it as a car...if u'r payin that much of a premium ALREADY...why not get top of the line model?

 

XPS M1530 = Hot running (palm rests very warm just being idle for a few hours) and a lovely HUMP in the middle of the keyboard (I think all M1530's and M1330's have that issue). The heat I can deal with, but for asthetics, when you open the M1530, the first thing I notice is the bulge in the keyboard, especially since the M1530 was designed to be completely flat.

Oh, forgot to mention, lack of GIGABIT ethernet. High-end laptop with low-end networking that I'll have to live with for the life of the laptop.

 

Mine doesnt have the hump in it , then again maybe it was becasue it was made in Ireland not SE Asia.

Having see the studio 15 review , I would take the XPS 1530 personally mine has been awsome . Its probably less bulky - performance is probably slightly better (though studio 15 with newer chipset has better power consumption) . I love the metel palm top.