Studio 1558 Buy or no?

Hello everyone. I've been on the forum here the past few days trying to finalize a decision on what Dell Laptop to buy. While I would love to be able to go with the Studio XPS 16 (16470) it is just out of my price range. Here is what I'm trying to decide to pull the trigger on:

Dell Studio 15 (1558)
INTEL® CORE™ i5-520M (2,4 GHZ, 4 THREAD, TURBO BOOST FINO A 2,93 GHZ, CACHE 3 MB)
Memoria SDRAM DDR3 a doppio canale da 4.096 MB [2x2.048 MB], 1333 MHz
ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4570 Graphics Card
Disco rigido SATA da 500 GB (5.400 rpm)
Schermo widescreen Full HD da 15,6" (1.920 x 1.080) WLED con TrueLife
DVD +/- RW Drive (read/write CD & DVD) with DVD Burn software
Intel® Wireless LAN 6200 2x2 802.11a/b/g/n card (EUR)
Garanzia limitata di 1 anno: Ritiro e restituzione
1 anno di supporto garanzia a domicilio, inclusi sabato e orari serali
Batteria principale agli ioni di litio a 6 celle da 56 Wh
Webcam integrata da 2,0 megapixel
Colore Blu notte con finitura satinata
Nessun supporto per danni accidentali
Backup online DataSafe 2 GB, 1 anno
McAfee® SecurityCentre, abbonamento per 15 mesi, Italiano
Alimentatore CA da 90 W
Total Cost with IVA (value tax) and Delivery is €829,36

I will have to try to call them and order rather than order via the website directly as I want the Windows 7 Home Premium install and all the accompanying software to be in English (I live in Italy and that's the reason for the italian info in the configurations).

Opinions are greatly appreciated. I have read about the throttling issues associated with the i5s and i7s and I should not fall into those areas as I am not a gamer. What are everyone's thoughts? Go ahead and pull the trigger?

 

36 views but no one wants to offer an opinion? oh well......

 

I have a very similarly spec'd machine and am simply loving it! BTW, there are no throttling or heat issues on the 1558 - these are particular to the 1557 with 45nm clarksfield processors.

 

Pull the triger, if you are not a gamer you will have a great deal on it. Only competitor I can imagine would be Sony F11. I have a studio 15 with other configuration and i love the build quality etc, great series!

 

I say go for it. I'm on the phone with Dell right now switching my order from a Studio XPS 16 to a Studio 15 with the same specs. The Studio 15 is perfect for day-to-day use and some lite gaming.

 

Well my question is now completely irrelevant. I logged into my account area this morning (Italian time) and went to my saved articles (wish list) area to see that my Studio configuration was highlighted with the message to the effect that one of the items in my configuration is no longer available.....yadda yadda yadda......

So when I go to check the configs for what's no longer available, BOOM!!!! the only configurable options for the studio 15 via the italian site is the i7 Mobile 720QM or the 820QM (for an additional €480 euros no less)!!! Also changed is the Intel 6200 no longer avail (now either the Dell 1397 or hte half mini Intel WiFi link 5300 at €45).

So back to the drawing board. I think I may just be waiting another few months before buying at this point.

 

Surprise of all surprises! Dell Rep CALLED me back on my cell after being unable to send me the quote I asked for yesterday afternoon (Italy Dell, the had my email wrong). So I am told by the rep they WILL honor the 5% online discount coupon and I can get the laptop I wanted. Now a quick note. I made changed to the config posted above when I called in on the phone. I basically dropped the Midnight Blue cover for the base Black Chainlink and switched to a 9 cell battery. Dropped €39 euro then added €70 euro. All said the total - and she repeated it back to me! - would be €904.01 without the 5% and €858,80 with the 5%.

Fastforward to finishing lunch and getting back to my desk. There's the email with the quote, received today, Feb 3, 2010 about 2:55PM Milan time. Quick once over looks good, there's the €858,80 price (5% included) and then upon closer inspection I see it. Charging for the 9cell battery but the quote shows the 6 cell.

I reply to the email asking about the 9 cell and the same price and get the response, she re-did the quote but when entering it into the system she gets an incompatibility error with the 9 cell battery?!?!?!?!

I say I want the system, but dont want to pay 9 cell money for a 6 cell battery. She says she has to wait for "approval from parts that the battery will actually work with the computer" and she'll send me the revision.

Oh and the quote I received today (2/3) is actually dated 2/2 and is valid for only 2 business days. What are the odds I'll get an email tomorrow about 4pm (an hour before they close) saying the 9 cell is officially INCOMPATIBLE and if I want the computer Ill have to go with the quote as it stands.

 

Well I guess maybe because I am in Italy - although Italian Customer Service will probably not garner any awards - I got a call fro the Sales Rep as I was on the train home saying she'll send me the new quote with the 9 cell battery in the morning. I arrived in my office, checked my email and sure enough, she had sent it last night about 730pm. Same specs, now WITH the 9 cell battery and price with 5% discount.

On the quote it states if accepted today the probable delivery/shipping date will be 03/02/2010. I'll have to wait for the credit card processing and all to receive my actual EDD from Dell itself.

My fingers are crossed and all but I just might get my system spec'd out just as I wanted it:
Studio 1558: Intel i5-520M, 15.6" widescreen Full HD(1920x1080)WLED w/TruLife, Chainlink Black, 4GB DDR3 1333mhz RAM, 500GB(5.400rpm) SATA HDD, 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570, Europa Intel Wireless 6200(802.11a/b/g/n 2x2) LAN card, 9 cell battery w/90W adaptor, Windows 7 Home Premium(64 bit)

 

Wow, nice deal man! Im from Holland, I want this laptop too I guess Just not sure about which screen i'll get. Maybe ill just get the 1366*768 screen and use my external monitor when i need some higher resolution...it just sucks we can't see 15,6 @ 1080P anywhere, here in the stores they dont sell that combination, not from one single brand. Some people love 1080P, some people do say it is very small...

 

Received my order confirmation from Dell a few minutes ago.

Informazioni ordine
Codice cliente: xxxxxxxxx
Numero ordine: xxxxxxxxx
Data ordine: 04/02/2010
Stato ordine: In lavorazione

Informazioni sulla consegna
Data di consegna prevista: 03/03/2010
Vettore: Non spedito
Numero di registrazione: Non spedito

Of course I just sit on my hands watching to see how fast it moves from Pre-Production to shipped.

 

Status is now In Produzione

Informazioni ordine
Codice cliente: IT2591892
Numero ordine: 92041932
Data ordine: 04/02/2010
Stato ordine: In produzione

Informazioni sulla consegna
Data di consegna prevista: 03/03/2010
Vettore: Non spedito
Numero di registrazione: Non spedito

 

Great decision to buy this machine. However - the estimated delivery date is quite late at 3/3. My 1558 only took 2 weeks from order to delivery - and others' 1558s on here only took 1 week. Maybe the EDDs are longer for Italy or something...

 

Maybe, but I also think it may just be a bit of CYA. My brother in law ordered a Studio 16 XPS a couple of weeks back and he expects his today or tomorrow. I think the turn around time from order, to payment received, to parts pull, parts assembly then shipping is more along the lines of 2 weeks.

Only thing I can see that would cause a delay - based on my readings here the past week or so - would be not enought i5-520m's available. Although, Dell offers it in other models so I should be alright. I figure, if it moves well enough, I should have it around the 19th or 20th.

 

Ordered myself a studip 15 through Dell too. Still in order processing status though, EDD of 2/22/2010. Can't wait to get it.

 

Yeah I am really quite excited to get ahold of it. If my BrthrInLaw's gets here this weekend Im gonna have to satisfy myself by fawning over his XPS 16. LOL

 

So my Dell status is now "Spedito"which would be "Shipped"!!!

Of course the tracking number doesnt show anything yet - Dell prolly just printed up their own bill of lading with the number but it hasnt actually been picked up by UPS yet.....

waiting waiting waiting

 

Emailed my Dell sales rep this morning (Mon 9:45am Feb 8 GMT+1) and she confirmed the laptop has been shipped and should arrive some time this week.

Woo HOOOOOO

Will note when it does arrive.

 

Status is "In Transit" with a scheduled delivery of TOMORROW!!!!!!!

*doing the happy dance wooo hooo!!!*

Ordered 2/4 and could quite possibly have it IN MY HANDS 6 days later!!!!

 

Damn, Nice. I ordered 2/4 too (US) and won't get it until 2/22

 

DELIVERED!!!!!! It's 10:36AM GMT+1 here in Milan and my Studio 1558 was delivered to me about 20 minutes ago!!!!

Of course I am am work at the moment and therefore have no REAL time to start playing with my new PC!!!