What do I do now? what other laptops should I get (15"!)

I am at a bit of a major impass. I got a Red 1530 last tuesday and like it overall, but it turns out the audio chipset is defective. I diddnt go for the creative version because it said "software edition" on the dell site so I passed on it. As it stands now, dell will only replace the part and will not let me pay the difference to have another part put in. They wont even honor the price I paid for this machine if I return and re-order it! The same spec right now will cost me almost $300 more as some of the options arent even available anymore!
I have literally looked everywhere on the internet to see what other mid range premium laptops (15" is the only size I want) and I cant find ANYTHING else I like, not even slightly! The only other one I like is the new macbookpro, but I cant afford that. I need something between $1000-$2000 Canadian, and I dont know where to look. The asus g1's dont suit my needs and my only place to buy it is currently overcharging for an older model of it, I dont like the thinkpads, toshibas, LG's, acers, hp's or sony's so where does that leave me? (lol!)

This dell really is the best option in its price range imo, but dell wont play ball!

Any help or suggestions are appreciated!
Obsidian

 

How is the audio chipset defective?

 

That leaves you pretty much dealing with Dell. Perseverance, my friend.

 

There is a simply disgusting ammount of popping and static that comes out of the speakers of this thing. Its not the speakers themselves but the way the audio i generated by this sigma tel garbage chipset. I cant listen to any form of audio or video without getting tons of blips and pauses and static every few seconds. I have tried reinstalling the drivers, changing power settings plugged in and on battery, and a multitude of other things. Drivers are up to date as well. The majority of what I use this thing for is watching video and listening to music so I dont know what to say. Also, its pretty much useless for any kind of gaming so I might as well look elsewhere if I want to do any of that. Why is the 8600 the only video card available on this model now, and why can you not choose less than 2gb of memory?

 

Why don't you let them replace the part then?
The "Audigy" is software.
The X-Fi card is an Express card (plugs into the Express slot) that you can order yourself.
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...etail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1164635

 

I use a usb soundcard personally. But the audigy is nice.

 

you can go to bestbuy and buy the X-Fi card

 

If you come to trading out, try sager?

 

I was not aware of that xfi card, it is a very interesting option. It seems like something I can not use and be happy with, however, as it will only effect speakers attached through it and not effect the internal speakers or headphone jacks. Also, it would mean I woould have to do away with the remote that currently resides in that bay.
The audio option I skipped over now reads "integrated soundblaster audigy software edition", and as explained by the XPS tech, is in fact a different chipset on the logicboard and cant be installed as it is hardmounted to the board. It seems like my only option is to re-order with that option and go through all of these steps again.

Also, is there any particular reason why the exact same specs with a tuxedo black model is more than $200 more expensive than the red model ?

 

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Blaster_Audigy
"Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
Also known as Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB, it is similar to Audigy 2 SE, but the software supports EAX 3.0, which supports 64-channel software wavetable with DirectSound acceleration, but without hardware accelerated wavetable synthesis. DAC is rated 95dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio.

It is available as an integrated option for Dell Inspiron and Inspiron XPS notebooks.

Of note is that Creative hardware is not necessary for this device. It is entirely a software solution that is adaptable to various DACs."

If you want the software you can buy it from dell
download this, install and pay them $25
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=168986

or go with this
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...etail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1164635

 

I'm pretty sure the Xi-Fi card has its own headphone jack, for what that's worth.