There seem to be an awful lot of complaints re the M1530

I'm planning to get an M1530 to replace my Sony VAIO (see sig), after researching the Sony FZ, the Sager 2090 and Dell (I posted this thread in the "Which Notebook" forum. I got some positive feedback there on the M1530 which helped me make my decision.

I've since spent today checking this subforum, reading the threads, and there seem to be a hell of a lot of complaints about the M1530, related mainly to:

- screen quality
- notebook won't turn on
- poor QC
- poor customer service
- transmitting of electrical energy from the notebook to user's palm
- overheating issue
- loud hard drive
- loud CD/DVD drive
- component whining sound

And so on. Then I noticed this poll suggesting that over 30% of users are unhappy with their notebook due to major hardware issues. Now I realise that in any forum there will always be a disproportionate segment of dissatisfied users looking for solutions to problems they are experiencing - when your item is working fine the average user doesn't generally trawl forums posting about how great their machine is (regulars of forum communities including this one excepted). And this is a support forum after all, for people to post about their issues. So I'm keeping what I'm reading in context. But when I checked the first two pages of this forum I saw numerous threads on the above and you can't help but think "gee this is a bit much".

I'm getting a bit worried now. I'd pretty much decided to go with a Dell, but some of those threads have made me reconsider. It almost sounds, based on the feedback in this forum, that many users are unhappy with the quality of their M1530s. I haven't really had any issues with my Sony VAIO, didn't have many issues with my Dell desktop from 2001 and didn't have any issues with my IBM Thinkpad before that. I don't want to spend $1700 on a lappy and have to deal with all those issues. Should I be worried or am I overreacting?

I'm most concerned with threads talking about poor customer service - I don't want to have to put up with any of that. Don't care how good the machine is, if the company treats its customers like crap I won't deal with them.

Comments?

 

You left out loud harddrive, loud CD drive and component whining sound. I don't have any of those, but I've seen them posted more than once.

Edit: Well now you've included them!

 

To me, if you're going to pay $1400 - $2000 on a laptop (that usually costs around $2000 - $2500) it should be a pretty good laptop without much issues. The one that scares me most is all the reports of grainy monitors. Reading people's attempts to get a good monitor sounds like it's a lot of work and time that shouldn't have to be spent.

 

i have one, and loving it. no issues whatsoever.

my old laptop was a sony vaio, which was 2.5 years old, and decided one day not to turn on. motherboard was shot. so no more sony for me.

 

The screen seems to be the only real issue. The QC is more from the assemblers and not the materials. They just don't know how to fit and finish parts that will actually fit seamlessly but this should improve with experience.
There is also separate XPS North American support which I actually think is the best I have seen from Dell.
All those other issues you mentioned seem like non-events IMO.
I think it is wonderful machine and great for the price.

 

Well in these forums I would much rather see things of concern than overwhelming praise over and over. I know it may seem like more bad than good but this is a new line for Dell, so there are bound to be some issues. I had a disk drive issue and a touchpad issue, but the disk drive issue was a compatibility issue with my DVD+R's and the touchpad issue was nothing major. Other than that I'm doing ok with my 1530. I wish I was more of an expert on computer tech and the ins and outs of computer performance, but I'm learning and this forum has definitely helped. Also as far as the issues with screens is I don't think my screen is having issues, but like I said I'm still learning how to spot issues involving laptops. I think every laptop will have issues and especially with the popularity of this laptop at the moment you are bound to see lots of topics of concern or issues people are having. I had no issues with customer service, but that's as of yet.

 

You need to consider that this site is where 90% of people come when they have a problem with their system. You will get a very small minority that come to brag.

I have attached a thread regarding the M1330...You will have your answer after reading my post. Guaranteed to make you laugh as well.

It pertains to the M1330 but fits here...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=170498

 

Yes, I mentioned that in my post. It's kind of like visiting a depression forum and saying "geez there's a hell of a lot of unhappy people here". I'm making sure I keep perspective on the comments. There just seemed to be a hell of a lot of them, that's all - more so than the other subforums here (eg. Sony, Acer, etc). And quite a few relate to hardware issues, which is what concerns me.

Still leaning towards getting it, mind you - I realise it's just recently come out, and maybe these are teething issues, but if you're planning to spend $1700-$1800 on a lappy you don't want any cognitive dissonance after your purchase, let alone before. It's not that I won't have access to a machine if for some reason I get shipped a defective one as I can still use my VAIO fine as well as a work Thinkpad, but I just don't have the time to deal with exchanging/shipping/returning/staying at home waiting for a technician and all that.

 

I'm torn about the monitor. On the one hand, it looks great. I think the term "grainy" is probably misleading to people who haven't seen it. They are thinking broadcast TV in the 60s or something. The screen is actually quite sharp. However there is some kind of coating, or some effect caused by the manufacturing that locks in a sort of sheen on the screen, it's slightly reflective. Really most LCD screens I see, laptop or desktop have some element of this. Perhaps it's the actual surface of the individual light emiting diodes. However on some of the Dell screens it is more pronounced, enough to be distracting, lower contrast and make whites grayish. I'm getting mine changed, only because others have mentioned that the LG is better, and if I'm paying the same thing for something that someone else got something better, then I deserve that too. But if that option were not available, I'd have kept my laptop and been very happy with it.

 

M1330 problems were 20 fold what the M1530 seem to be. I have had 7 come through me, none with any problems.

Love this system...

 

Now this is a very informative post. Thank you mate. When people were talking "grainy", I was thinking about something that was "so obviously flawed that it shouldn't have passed inspection, so why did it?" Your explanation provided useful perspective on the issue.

 

I received mine on 12/31 and I don't have any issues (I'm pretty picky too). I've had a Vaio and two HP notebooks in the past. The one my 1530 is replacing is a Dell 1505 that I have had no problems with either. After owning two HP's that I had a lot of issues with, I'm sticking with Dell. I have never had any problems with their CS either.

I think one reason there are so many posts about the 1530 is because it basically just came out.

I read alot of negative posts before I ordered mine but I figured I would just go ahead and order. If there was a problem I had 21 days to return it or do an exchange.

I did get the "dreaded" samsung WSXGA+ screen but it's beautiful. Bright with no graininess, dead pixels or noticeable light leakage. I do have a direct comparison with my WSXGA+ 1505 that is 14 mos old which has a very nice screen.

 

I've never had a problem with Dells customer service. Asus's on the other hand sucks. There I said it! I may move back to the Dell side when I get the chance.

 

Likewise...I have never been less than impressed with XPS Service. I have had alot of contact with Dell and must say, much of the reason I stay is because of customer service.

Eg. I read an article about someone getting alot better battery life than me from their XPS M1210. I had had my system for about 9 months and called to talk about this. Within minutes they had reordered me a new battery and explained that, with the XPS service, battery exchange for any reason is acceptable up to a year.

Thats why I enjoy Dell.

 

If you try to call Dell straight from the root number, you will go through hell. If you use dell chat and then use the number specified, then the experience is a million times easier. Can't really comment on asus, but they are inefficient with driver releases.

I loathe BFG for video cards because they are not very efficient and worse, their forum consist of rabid fanboys.

Edit: I have a question, is there a different help experience associated with the XPS than the other product lines?

 

And also, do you get treated differently if you don't pay for Premium Care (which costs $500 more I think).

 

Yes, you get XPS specific support (which is better).

 

Dell Premium Care is new and apparently the best but XPS Support is a separate number where the technical support people and customer care deal specifically with XPS systems. I find them better trained, for the most part and have experienced the motto that many have lost, this being that the customer is the most important part of the transaction.

 

Can you check your hardware specs and tell us what part # you have for your panel?

 

mine just says "generic pnp monitor" and then "default monitor" in the hardware id page.

so i have no idea what brand it is, but it's irrelevant since it works fine - it's the 1280x800 resolution screen.

 

I agree. Good post and explanation.

You know, these screens are probably OK, just the screen part. But the protective layer on mine looks like someone swiped it with some fine grit sandpaper on the inside of it and sandwiched it back together. I imagine since there are so many returns and complaints, Dell will not be shipping out any more "SEC" screens.

 

I second what Flamenko said above, I also stay w/Dell
because of Customer Service.

Seems when I check myself and practice a little patience (i'm speaking about myself here), I have a very productive experience w/Dell reps.

 

I just got my m1530 two days ago, after reading this forum for about two or three weeks.

When I opened it I was inspecting every little detail... WAY more than I would have otherwise.
I noticed some backlight bleed when it powered on with a black screen... but to be honest, I would have thought nothing of it if it wasn't for this forum.
I immediately thought... "well, I know I can return it and try to get an LG".

Once it booted up and I started playing with it, I didn't think it looked bad at all. I looked really close at some white areas... and thought... "Yeah... I think I see some graininess", and again had thoughts of having to call for a new display.

Then I looked at the hardware ID... and it was an LG.
Suddenly... I was feeling more content. I started dismissing any problems I thought I had.
Again... I've only had it for two days... and only have used it about 3 hours total.

My point is... these forums DO have the effect of creating hypersensitivity.... I am living proof.
(Not to belittle the very real problems some people have had)

 

I wouldn't expect that. Dell first started selling glossy screens about 3 years ago. The same exact thing happened then, except it seemed even more common. SEC screens were seen as the worst then, too. You can browse the Dell forum at notebookforums.com during the period, I think March/April 2005 to see the commotion. I still think the vast majority of users don't mind them, and probably they are the cheapest for Dell, including our occasional screen swaps and returns.