bunch of questions re: the new studio 17

Hey guys, appreciate your help. I just ordered a new HP dv7t (with the 720 i7), and customer service has been a nightmare so far. I've only ever owned dells, and I'm considering returning the HP and getting a Dell.

Questions:

1. How in the world do I configure the studio 17 with the 720 i7, and a multitouch monitor? I googled the terms and it seems like it should be an option, but I can't configure it.

2. How does the studio 17 compare with the studio xps 16, and the laptop that I got? The studio xps seems overpriced, all of the spex are nearly identical except for the graphics card (I am not a huge gamer, but I would like to play some of the newer games for the next few years, doesn't have to be max settings at 60 fps).

3. How does the graphics card in the studio 17 compare with the nvidia 230 (in the hp)

Thanks!

 

1. This configuration is not offered by Dell. Maybe some time next year.
2. Studio XPS 16 is a bit lighter and smaller. It can only house 1 internal drive (unless you pull out DVD and use a caddy, but then Studio can potentially have 3 drives). The XPS has a better screen option in it's 1080P RGB then Studio with 1080p B+RG. Both are a lot better then your machine's. XPS also has better build quality then Studio or your HP.
3. XPS has a bit better video card then Studio 17 (think 5%) and it runs quite a bit hotter. Both have better video cards then your machine.
4. Dont' expect too much from customer service at Dell either.

Edit: Forgot to add that I got Studio 17 myself and I am quite happy with it, it's a very nice machine and cost me about $500-600 less then XPS for similar specs. It runs pretty cool as well. Make sure to get 1080p screen on the Studio if you go that route, people are having issues with 1600x900 screen it seems.

 

thanks for your response! I'll add to your rep

Yeah, I've had a dell laptop the past 5 years, and the CS isn't great, however the few times the mobo had to be replaced, Dell came right to my house.

I think my plan is - my HP will be here in a few days. I can return it up until I think Jan 1st (maybe that'll be extended since it took so long to get here). If I don't like it, I'll return it and stick with ol' faithful (dell inspiron 9300, 5 years old) until the multitouch + i7 comes out. Maybe they'll offer a SSD too.

Thanks again for your help.

 

Have you seen both Studio and HP in the store? Best Buy and Microcenter carry both, probably Fry's too I imagine. Your plan sounds pretty good, can always return either one. Heck, I would have loved Studio XPS 17 or HP Envy 17, alas, that's not made .

 

I agree, getting help, or at least getting customer service or tech support to understand you can be hard. That problem is easily resolved by asking to speak to a manager or supervisor.

What problems have you heard that screen having? I just got mine today and you're scaring me, lol.

 

My problem with the screen was the viewing angle. Couldn't get a clear picture of the whole screen no matter how I angled it. Didn't notice it on the desktop or web browsing but watching a movie or playing a game was terrible. Had to choose between darkening the top or washing out the bottom. It also had no view from the side at all. I had no idea until trying to show my husband something in a game and he couldn't see a thing until he was directly in front of the screen.

I'm hoping mine was defective and others don't have the same issue. The casing around my screen was loose so it could have been a problem with the way it was put together.

 

Yeah I noticed that the casing is loose last night when I opened it from the middle, I found that you have to do it from one of the sides. Might be one of the things that leads to another return .

 

Don't forget the xps 16 overheating problem. I rather have a less stronger laptop which will last longer , so i'd go with the studio.

 

I am just wondering if the "Throttling Issue" involves this model as well as the XPS 16. Granted the configs are different with the vid cards and I believe the 1080P screens are different. Man... last time I bought the 1530 and it was screen issues and the faulty GPU and now this.

 

After chatting with a rep he gave me this link ...... http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?cs=19&kc=ref&oc=DNDOTT1&x=7&y=7


I can not find it myself unless i click the link that was given to me !! click the " HD display" option and it is there !

There is no quad i7 720 / 820 option ... who knows I can't find the touch screen on my own.... If anyone finds the touch screen with 1080 i7 core option please post.... This is what I'm waiting for but, I don't know how long I can wait !!!

 

I happened to find a Studio 15 touch the other day, too, but I can't seem to find it again now.

 

on the main screen, periodically there's an advertisement for the touch screens, you have to click on that to actually get to the touch screen laptops.

i haven't found a way to navigate to the i7 studios without doing a search for i7.

 

Yeap, this laptop is going to have same throttling issues, IMO. There is a tool called ThrottleStop floating around XPS16 throttling issues threat that will bypass the problem (along with 130w-150w psu).

 

Dell's service kicks compared to HP's pathetic attempt at customer service. I returned my HP DV7T and got the Studio 17 I'm typing on right now. Build quality is miles better, and support is top notch. this thing runs at least 10degC cooler than the HP did too. Much better machine. get it and don't look back. Only thing with Dell is the often have shipping delays. the rest of your time with the laptop / warranty will make up for it.

 

My laptop should be here tomorrow or Tuesday (after ordering it on the 9th). I have 21 days to try it out (I think)...and I think at this point I'll give it two weeks and then probably return it. I hope by then that the i7 + touchscreen comes out. There's no ETA at all for this?

 

IIRC, HP's return window starts the day you order it, not the day you receive it. I ordered an CTO HP laptop last year and with manufacturing delays in China, I think it was almost 2 weeks before I received the laptop, giving me about 10 days to evaluate and return it. HP gave me a bit of a hard time about being past the return deadline, but I kept escalating it until they took it back. Threatened to file a complaint with the FTC and BBB if they had not taken it back. It's crazy that the customer should be punished for their delays in manufacturing and shipping, but if they think they can get away with it, they will.

 

Take it from me....Dell gives you 21 days from the DAY IT WAS SHIPPED from their facilities. Look at your invoice, and calculate 21 days from that. Ohhhh, and yes...they cheat you out of the days it took for shipping. Soooo,...in reality, you only get like 17-18 days. You must have the return in process BEFORE the 21 days from the shipment date expires. After that, you can forget returning it.

 

Hey guys,

I would not get the 1747 it has a problem with the motherboard and there is no fix until earliest next year. Ask your Dell rep if he is decent he will tell you the same thing I just have. They will also put you on a list to notify you when it is repaired.

 

To be fair, I am not 100% sure this is happening to everyone. Yes, there are people who get the dreaded 7 beeps, but quite a few others don't. On the other hand, would you want to be involved in this crapshoot, I don't know.

 

So I got my dv7t, no issues with it so far. I'm hoping within the next two weeks the Studio 17 gets a refresh with either the touchscreen/i7 option, or at least the blu ray ROM drive, which didn't seem to be an option last time I checked. However, again, no issues with the dv7t, the build quality seems fine (although QA is lacking; one of the panels in the back was sticking out, but that was an easy fix...)

 

Well I cannot talk for everyone but if this is a motherboard issue (which I have been told by Dell it is) I do not see how this is not effecting everyone. When Dell tells you something is wrong that is because it is a serious issue. Furthermore not everyone has had this happen yet, it is only a matter of time. Maybe if you get one with the Dual core you will have better results.

 

Could have been defective batch of boards, could have been Dell support tech who did not know what was going on, could be special hardware config, don't know. But clearly it's not happening to only a subset of people out there.

I have i7 q820, 1080p screen model and it's not happening to me. Am I happy with everything concerning the system? No. Am I having motherboard/proc issues? No.