Dell Inspiron 15-7559 Review: The Dark Side Awakens

The latest iteration of the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series is perhaps Dell's best multi-purpose 15-inch notebook designed to meet the needs of the widest possible variety of customers. This is a true desktop replacement or primary computer thanks to a 6th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M graphics with 4GB of GDDR5, and a massive 1TB hard drive and 8GB M.2 SSD cache for storing all your files. Combine those impressive specs with a price of just $799 and it's hard not to recommend this laptop. Sure, you can find cheaper 15-inch laptops with weaker specs but, when you can buy this much hardware for $800 or less, the Inspiron 15-7559 proves to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Read the full content of this Article: http://www.notebookreview.com/notebookreview/dell-inspiron-15-7559-review-the-dark-side-awakens/

 

Thanks for the review.

Which display panel did you get? The default BOE that I got was awful - dim (200 nits) and very poor colour reproduction (50% NTSC, 70% sRGB). Given you stated this had good colours, I'm assuming you go the LG panel?

 

Nice review. I agree, this Inspiron is one of the best values from a price/performance standpoint right now. It can play basically all modern titles with respectable detail settings - for $800.

Charles

 

I am loving the understated look of this laptop. Great review!

 

Even as I type this on my 7559 - I mutter to myself- This computer is unusable. It has already registered 5 errant mouse clicks, and i have only typed not even 2 full sentences. I am only going through the literal agony of typing this to save others from the same experience.

A lot to like from the snappy Intel 6700HQ CPU, but nothing to like from DELL. I am A+ certified... sadly dell certified too. Don't buy this computer what ever you do. Sound issues, Graphics driver issues, Ships with Single channel memory requiring an upgrade to get performance. Some of these systems ship with a slow hdd, get the ssd version. But it is the touch-pad that makes it completely unusable.

I give up, I can't even type. I give up with 3 or more errant clicks. It would be one thing if I was brushing on the touch-pad, but my hands are nearly a half inch above it and it still registered errant clicks. Stops when you cover the touch-pad with cardboard. But the touch-pad can't be disabled. Spent 2.5 hours on the phone with dell... touch pad can't be disabled in windows 7

The following paragraph details what I have to (where did windows media player come from) do to actually type something. If it is unreadable it is because t(why did start just pop up) this computer is unusable.

So rather than fix each error, I am typing in (click back to bottom) what I have to do to type this. If this is unreadable (close chrome, where did that chrome window come from?) after (close st(close device manager)art) (click back to (close system manage(Close start) I ty(close notepad)(So after losing ty(how did my courser get here)(close start bar)pe (wait how did my courser get here? ) it is not because I suck at typing but because this computer is unusable!

(how did my curser get in a different place again?) After losing this three times and retyping it or as close as I can. I now opening a window that isn't web based and won't delete every thing with a single errant click, and when it does delete (close start)(close device manger)(would this computer please stop opening windows due to errant clicks?) I w(missing letter here due to errant - close start twice) ll have to copy and paist it in. So the touch-pad registered errant clicks and moves things on you. Deletes things on you. Opens windows on you. Things you type while th(how did that window open get selected I am just) The keyboard d(put cursor back)es not register keys while the touch-pad is registering the errant (close start bar) (3) (retype) (clos(how did my curer get g here?) )e start twice) clicks(2now i am here ).(how did I get (switch back to window) here)

-- Sorry this is the best I can do, I completely give up using this. Probably going to have to sue dell to recover my loses. This is simply unacceptable.

 

All your problems appear to relate to the touchpad operation.

I presume you have checked for any newer driver. Have you tried disabling the touchpad and using a mouse to confirm that the problem is the touchpad? The next step is to ask Dell to replace the touchpad.

John

 

From my original: "Spent 2.5 hours on the phone with dell... touch pad can't be disabled in windows 7" Also from my original post : " I am A+ certified... sadly dell certified too."

I have a dual boot with windows 10 home on one drive and windows 7 pro on another. So this can't be disabled in windows 7, even when you disable all HID types (these are under several heading in device manager) and all other input is disabled the touch-pad continues to work. Under windows 10 the driver can be disabled, however after a system restart the touch-pad re-enables; it shows disabled, but it still functions. You have to enable it and then disabled it again to temporarily disable it again. Unfortunately all my drafting/ 3d modeling / video editing software runs best under 7.

The problem is not a faulty touch-pad, but the lack of ability to disable it combined with the fact that it is so sensitive that you can be nearly half an inch away it still functions. So when you press space bar the touch-pad picks up your thumb as a click even though you only got near it, and never touched it. And even though your are typing with your hands raised.

Last night I finally tore into the computer again (third time for a machine that is less than 3 months old) and physical disconnected the cable. It is like a totally different computer. The difference in usability can not be overstated. I have a 4k touch screen on mine, so the touch-pad is unneeded. This should not ship with anything but an SSD, HDD hurts the performance so bad. Also It should ship with 2 memory, the single channel memory this ships with sucks. I don't really need 16 GB memory, but I had to add 8 GB to get dual channel for the performance. Dell should not be shipping machines like this.

 

I'm thinking of writing a review when I figure out how and gather all my thoughts into one free flowing post.
But I felt compelled to defend the keyboard.
The only problem I have had with the touch pad so far is its not as precise, quick to respond or move as I would like or am used to on my Thinkpad.
Also it often has trouble registering a two finger right click or scroll from a 3 finger click and that's where the complaints stop.

I have yet to have a single issue with the touch pad getting in my way when typing. I have spent hours in office and the web today and have yet to the have the touch pad interfere with my writing or do anything I DIDN"T want it to do. Not once did it interrupt what I was doing.

 

Last time I checked you can buy it with an SSD and Dual Channel Ram.

 

I have spent more time fixing this computer than using it, and it is barley usable now. At least it is usable now, I only had to disassemble my computer multiple times, spend many hours on the phone with Dell for them to install the wrong drivers and blue screen my computer, unplug internal cables, add hardware, make multiple configuration changes, and then set up the numpad to be the mouse when I hit numlock... And after all this I still have a computer that freezes when I try to do things a 300$ computer should be able to do. I have a real hard time with this since I know dell knew about the i530 GPU problems when they sold it, and these issues are still not resolved.

You start by minimizing the issues saying the only problem you have is X, but then you go onto list problem Y, and Problem Z too. This is a cheap crap track-pad used in many Inspiron models; you can find complaints all over the internet about it. Trouble is they forgot to add a way to disable it on this 7559. That in and of itself is an issue, as I took a number of calls were customers had this exact issue, and disabling the touch-pad was the resolution. 7 years ago when I worked for Dell for 2 years, we did not ship computers like this (I lost my job when they transferred their call centers oversea's). This is a Dell hardware issue that's being exaggerated by software issues and belong to both Microsoft and Dell.

Yes, you can if you order it from dell. Dell no longer operates on a buy only from Dell distribution model that they had when I worked for them (2 years support for Dell XPS). This is the way Dell shipped it to a redistributor, so no I didn't have a choice, and no dell should not have shipped it like this. When I worked for Dell you had to order your system with a single memory channel, dual channel was standard, because it is cheaper/MB and faster.

Since when is a more expensive lower performance single channel memory solution the standard for Dell? (Hint: since their quality fell)

Then there is the Intel 530 graphics card that keeps freezing my high end 3d modeling and UHD editing programs. I have several of them, and all these software makers know of the issue and tell you to get new drivers from the computer manufacture. Note: You might not have this GPU if you got a lower ended processor. I am on my third set of updated GPU drivers. Each driver release has made the computer a bit better, and freeze less. Still working on this... this issue lies firmly in Intel and Dells hands, this is a design issue, and since the GPU is built into the CPU replacement is not an option.

This really is unacceptable from a large company with a good reputation like dell. I build systems, I only bought this one because the sale was so good I could not buy the parts for what I paid for this. I have never had this many issues debugging a system I built. I expect to have to make some configuration changes to a system (like hacking windows registries so updates can't restart without permission), but I do not expect to have these kind of design problems that the builder knew about before they sold it. I have never sold or even built a computer with this many problems.

 

Ok you got me, with your clearly superior knowledge, I must have somehow have a defective touchpad that doesn't open a million things or click on things when I'm typing. I will have to order a new touch pad immediately that does open programs when I'm typing.

 

On another note, after installing the 3rd set of video drivers and unplugging the cable, yesterday was my first day of error free operation. After nearly 4 months they have finally released new drivers that appear to work, and I can finally use my computer for what I bought it for.

It looks like you have 'similar' specs as me, except that you didn't say what size of SSD you had, I have a 256GB SSD and the 1TB Hybrid too. I got the 4 k touchscreen too! By the way the 1tb - 8gb dell sells is not an SSD but a hybrid HDD with an 8 GB cache. I got windows PRO too, Home is standard. I know I got a good deal, since finding anything with a 4k touchscreen under 1400 is rare. I paid 980$ for mine (including the SSD, Windows Pro, and 16 GB memory upgrades) from new egg, how much did you pay for yours? Yes, I am trying to rub it in.

If replacing the track-pad would fix the issue I would have done that. If Dell thought that replacing the track-pad would fix the issue they would have done that too, seeing the number of times I have contacted them.. But based on your sarcasm you must think you know so much more than us... Us and our certifications what do we know...

Based on you post, anyone has superior knowledge because you start out by saying your defending the keyboard, and then talk about the touch-pad. Apparently you don't know the difference, just like you don't know the difference between a design flaw, and a factory defect.. Your computer doesn't have issues because your thumbs don't get as close to it when you type... You probably type with 2 fingers peck, like most lame's do, as apposed to 50-60 words per minute like I do. Regardless the difference in my computer is not a faulty track-pad, but the way I type and the design flaw that makes so you can't turn it off like every other computer.

 

Differing opinions are fine, but leave the personal commentary off these boards.

Charles

 

Something I would like to mention is the unexpected (great) quality of the sound through headphones.

I must have read 15-20 reviews and not a single one talked about headphones
.
I really love the sound whether its watching a HD i-Tunes movie such as the Last Samurai, listening to music or playing COD. I fully expected to be dragging my Asus Xonar U7 around with me. I can't talk about the accuracy of the sound as my ears are not good enough to know what that is.

I haven't once felt the need to hook up my U7, I've found myself ducking behind a corner in COD when someone is trying to shoot me from behind. I also haven't found the need to install my Creative MBR Xi-Fi 3 software or Razor sound software.

When I'm not gaming or movie watching I'm usually listening to Dub-Step which is a extremely bass heavy and this laptop has not disappointed....

In short its VERY loud, there's lots of bass as well as Treble, the feedback (The sound, or lack of, Nosie coming through your headphones when you are not playing audio) is very low. Not as good as my Xonar U7 but better then my Thinkpad or any Creative Products I've owned.

There's a whole sound package called MAXX Audio Pro which is buried away and has a ton of cool options. One I noticed, haven't had the chance to use yet- if understand correctly, monitors external sound (I'm assuming through the Web Cam Mics) and then performs noise cancelations to your headphones?! Can Anyone comment on this?

For anyone who has this laptop and does a lot of headphone listening I recommended you dig up MAXX Audio Pro and play around with the many many settings.

And on a final and slightly off topic note... I'm just getting into "gaming" headphones. It seems ( one Turtle Beach, and two Polk) all of the sound cables' coming on the right and laptop ahs the input wire on the left?

On what side is it that the headphone wire is normally on gaming headphones? I see on Dell's website they have moved this laptop to its own section called gaming.

 

How is the 4k screen? brightness / clarity, etc. and how are you doing on battery? I've been looking at this same config. 256gb/1tb drives, 16gb memory 960m 4gb gpu, 4k touchscreen 6700hq cpu.

 

I was wrong about the Noise Reduction. It's for things like VoIP


MaxxNR adapts to and eliminates background noise throughout online communications such as VoIP based conversations as well as user-generated content such as homemade videos. Based on the Waves WNS Noise Suppressor plugin originally engineered for professional audio post production facilities, MaxxNR uses adaptive multi-band dynamics with zero latency and no phase distortion, resulting in transparent, natural sound.



By automatically analyzing the input signal, MaxxNR determines which frequency ranges contain undesirable background noise, and dynamically processes these ranges alone, effectively reducing ambiance and environment sounds.

http://www.maxx.com/technologies/maxxaudio/

 

I just got my 7559 Friday and its fantastic. I immediatly upgraded to a 256gb M.2 and a 512gb Samsung Pro for data. I also had a brand new Killer 1525ac M.2 wifi card laying around since it didnt fit my A18 Alienware. Mine came with a Samsung UHD TOUCH and its stunning. This little laptop is amazing. Dell doesnt provide a way to make a restore disk, but expects you to download a 6gb file from there website. The connection was terrible and it only allows 1 hour so unless you have a good ISP you may not make the deadline. I had to try a couple times with a 30mbps line speed. I made a usb flash drive with the iso file and did a clean instal on the new m.2 ssd. It wouldnt boot after i was done. I had to use my usb drive from my alienware with win 10 i got right from microst. Its a challenge with the uhd monitor as some of the menu boxes are so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read them. I have installed windows many times so i know what to expect.
Also you need to change some bios settings to get it to boot from the usb drive since the 7559 uses a pure UEFI environment..
I have yet to use the touch screen other than to verify it works. I hate fingerprints on my monitors.

 

I have a Harmon Kardon Onyx 2 Bluetooth speaker and it belts out the audio from this laptop. Never had a sigle issue with the bluetooth, but since its on the Killer 1525 i installed its got nothing to do with the laptop.
I lost the ability to used WIDI to stream to my Samsung tv because Killer wifi cards dont support WIDI. Hopefully they will in the near future.
Also i am happy with the speakers and overall udio on the laptop. Switching from the mighty harmon kardon reduces the booming bass a ton, but it still sounds decent and wont be waking the neighbors during intence gaming sessions.
This laptop is nothing short of amazing in my opinion. I am thinking of selling my Alienware 18 and just using this.

 

some things I've learned owning this for awhile now. First
1) When You get this there's an item in the start called "Image Writer" It will make a system back up. I just put an SSD in mine and used the USB drive to reload windows and all the dell software and drivers.
2) There's an update for Intel drivers which the Dell tool will pull down for you and install which gets rid of the intel video driver crashing
3)If you go in to mouse setting and turn mouse delay to off, the touch pad becomes very responsive.
4) if you are going to use a mouse and the touchpad gets in your way for typing right click on the battery and choose windows mobile settings, then you CAN turn OFF the touch pad, you can 5lso change the light setting son the keyboard to stay on for up 15 minutes before turning off if not being used.