Dell XPS M1330 User Review

hey guys,

my boyfriend has this notebook and he still places the thin piece of foam on the keyboard before he flips down the lid, he does this because he has heard that the keyboard scratches the screen.

i would like to get him something to protect his screen for Christmas so if anyone has suggestions or solutions, please let me know!

thanks.

 

thetenaciousone: boyfriend has the LED screen and i know he loves the brightness, very worth it.

 

ShaggyMac

 

thanks for the suggestions!

 

What an impressive review. The only problem with it, is that it showed me how little I know about computers..

 

Does anyone know whether the Intel X7900 processor will work in the 1330? It is a FCPGA processor.

 

Anyone else having the keyboard bulge issue? it's very slight, and it seems to effect just the right side area of the keyboard -- but either way, it bugged me enough to look into it and found that it's mostly due to the wifi cable being encased in a black (heat shrink like) tubing -- cut it off and the bulge goes down -- http://www.jrin.net/2008_02_01/how-to-fix-the-dell-xps-m1330-keyboard-bulge

 

first of all, thank you for a very good review

two quick questions:

1. are the m1330s sold at best buy okay? if you check out their website, one interesting omission is under "video memory". what is written is "unspecified". that makes me a bit nervous about purchasing through best buy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=product&tab=2&id=1195597792615#productdetail

2. is there anything beyond the color and therefore marketing behind the "product red" vs the "plain" m1330?

thanks again and i look forward to reading more comments regarding this laptop from you and others.

 

I wish, I really really wish that the 1330 had a WSXGA+ screen option.
Is there no love for hi-res screens these days ??

 

Thanks!

1. BestBuy often times doesn't have the most accurate details for its products. In this case, it could have something to do with the fact that the integrated Intel X3100 graphics dynamically changes the amount of shared memory it uses, depending on the situation. As far as I know, it can use up to 224MB.

2. Yeah, (Product) RED is mainly a marketing effort, although as you know, $50 goes to AIDS work in Africa. I won't comment on the whole (Product) RED thing, but many others have pretty strong feelings about it, both positive and negative.

Yeah, it's unfortunate, but is mostly a product of LCD panel makers' decision. WSXGA+ may be pushing it a bit, but even WXGA+ would be a big step up in the 13.3" form factor. The X300 should be nice with its 13.3" WXGA+.

 

My experience with XPS M1330:
Dell Computer Corporation
1 Dell Way
Round Rock, TX 78682-0001

Re: XPS M1330 Order # xxx

Dear Sir:
On 05/Feb/2008 I placed an order via your website for a XPS M1330. I used the build process to have a “best” XPS built. The experience to date has been less then desirable. And I am very close to invoking my right to return the computer, ET all within my 21 day window. Let me try to be concise in the two issues.

Issue Number One:
Customer Care: Case Number xxx
• Order was received on 12/February/2008. As part of my build process for the XPS M1330 I ordered a Small AC adaptor for a cost of $30. Up on opening the box I saw two adaptors both of the same size (part # 310-9242). I called Customer care (Ottawa, Canada), explained the situation and they sent out a replacement
• The replacement was received but it was the same as the two received in the original order.
• I called XPS technical support (Salt Lake, Utah) and they identified that the correct part # for the small AC Adaptor is 310-9249 but they could not send a proper replacement due to the order showing the adaptor ordered was 310-9242. They generated the case # 187787819.
• I emailed and spoke to Customer Care (outsourced to India). I gave them the case # but they were stuck on a script and could not do anything. They offered to refund me $17.71 but I tried to explain that the cost was $30. They could not understand that the order generated by Dell was incorrect and not the fact as they insisted that I ordered the wrong adaptor.
• Visually on your Dell Web Site; XPS Build process the small AC adaptor visually matches that shown on the Dell website for part # 310-9249.


Resolution requested:
I would like to be sent the small AC adaptor 310-9249 as shown in the XPS Build process. If that is not possible then to be refunded the full amount I paid for which was $30.00

Issue Number 2:
Technical Support: Case Number xxx
• The XPS was received in a timely manner on 12/February/2008. Upon opening the box, reading the material for setup I started to use the XPS.
• When using the XPS with a USB flash or inserting or ejecting a DVD the XPS will turn its self off. This did not happen every time but frequently enough to know there was a problem
• XPS Technical Support (Salt Lake City, Utah) was called a number of times. The situation continues to detoriate for now if one just taps on the palm rest the XPS will shutdown or turns its self on automatically. If one picks up the XPS or one taps the bottom of the XPS it turns its self off or on. If one does a normal shutdown and then close the lid the XPS will turn on automatically.
• A motherboard is being sent to your local contractor to come out and do a replacement. Whether this solves the situation I do not know.

Resolution Requested:
To protect my 21 day ability to be able to return everything for a full refund if XPS technical support cannot resolve the issue with their local in-home support person

 

Ummm.... why don't you search and read this thread? You are entitled to a replacement system being built and sent.

Its no big deal; just call XPS Support and tell them you want that.

 

Not quite true anymore. They will NOT do a replacement until three (3) parts on your XPS have been replaced and the XPS still does not work. I have verified this via more than one XPS Tech rep and supervisor.

 

If you are having problems and think it is worth it. Just return the whole system within the 21 day period and re-order. You do not have to have a reason to return within 21 days.

 

Absolutely NOT true whatsoever.

If you were told that WRITE a letter to the Round Rock office.

I advise people on this process via pm and posts almost daily; what you have been told is blatantly untrue and wrong to post.

If you have had that experience, please start a new post and watch all jump in to assist you. They are simply trying to suck you into getting a repair off of a newly received item.

Your right is a replacement within 30 days for new items received defective.

I will bet you NEVER got the name or employee number of the csr or supervisor that advised you of such did you.

EDIT: You may be have been totally misadvised because, once you have them repair your system, your chances of now getting a replacement system are one in a million. If you receive a defective unit brand new, DO NOT allow service to repair it, demand a replacement. It appears that you were not told that a new system can be exchanged within 30 days for defective parts with another NEW SYSTEM. After that period, its refurb.

Think of the logic here. Why would I pay for a brand new system, an item that is received and then repaired immediately. Thats not very new now is it.

jgm005.. you may come out of this response thinking I am being combative but I am not. I am trying to help you in your predicament. I get very upset when people are told something other than the truth about a policy by a CSR. It is commonplace. I remember coming here last August and explaining to people the Total Satisfaction Commitment and this replacement program. So many laughed at me initially it wasn't funny. There are hundreds now, including one that I assisted last week, that have successfully either gotten their money back or a new replacement. I know a few that had 5 replacements before getting an acceptable system.

 

I probably should of started a new thread and what I wrote was what I was told. And I do not think you are combative. I appreciate the advice.

 

Just wanted to followup that Dell agreed today (21/Feb) to replace my system. Thank you for your help.

 

why should one buy the xps 1330 instead of the 1525?

 

Hi Chuck,
I read your review with great pleasure n attention.are you still happy with your 1330?

 

Rachuk,

is the 1330 keyboard not too small? did it take long for you to get used to it?

 

I'd like to know the main differences in terms of build and keyboard quality respect to the "new" vostro 1310.

 

No i didn't find the keyboard to small and i got used to it in no time.
I don't own this computer anymore.

I would be interested in reading an updated user review of this notebook with the Penryn processor.

 

But the keyboard is well firm or is there an average amount of flex ?
How the display quality is ?

 

no flex, almost as solid as the Vostro. imo , the build and finish of this particular XPS is as good as most of business models out there.

the palm rest area is true metal Ithink and lcd and hinges are quite well designed.

what I did not like about it was the noise of HD drive.

 

And what about the 1310 ?
Is it really too thin and not sturdy as other Vostro serie notebooks ?

 

I didn't see this addressed. Is this laptop appropriate for photo-editing?

 

i am wondering actual battery life of this xps m1330

 

The October '08 update provides an excellent picture of the problems many have had with Dell on the 1330. I too ended up being without my 1330 four more than four weeks after my original 1330 died. I had to go through numerous online and phone conversations before Dell finally approved a replacement. Most frustrating was Dell's assumption that the customer should be able to perform such tasks as memory module and hard drive replacements. Although I am an advanced PC user and could easily do those things, that should not be a presumption that Dell should make. See the Dell forum for my final statements on this particular 1330 matter. . . my new 1330 has been working flawlessly since I received it as replacement and I am still quite satisfied with it -- it's fast and looks great. But my view of Dell has definitely been colored by my experience dealing with the company.

 

Chuck232,

Don't know if this helps somewhat but check to see which BIOS you currently have on your repaired laptop:

from Wikipedia-
"After Dell saw the problem was with the Nvidia chip production G84- and G86-GPU's, they updated the BIOS to A12, the problem is that Nvidia used a chip material that can't stand high temperatures, so the new BIOS update improves cooling. [12]"

I can't post the direct link, since I'm a newbie here and need at least 15 posts b4 being able to post urls, so go to Wiki and after the http, use en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_XPS

regards,
Rickk


Originally posted by chuck232:

 

Hi Everybody,
Indeed great review alas I should have read it before my pb
Here what is happening to me. I own an XPS 1330 since May 2008 still under warranty, about 2 weeks ago my screen had the same pb as you, after a quick check up to see if I didn't do anything wrong I chatted then talked with a Dell technician in India very friendly and somehow competent but with a strong accent difficult to understand at time. After some exchange he told me he was sending somebody over in Santa Fe NM (where I live), I told him I was travelling in the Caribbean he said he will (somebody) will send me some parts. I asked him to send parts to Caribbean, after consulting with a supervisor he said no way “we don't have service there”, I tried to explain that FedEx could do it, no way. So parts were FedEx to Santa Fe the same box was given back (same day) by somebody in my house to the same FedEx and FedEx delivered it overnight to the Caribbean! So my first remark was: back in Ohio Dell could have put the Caribbean address on box gave it to FedEx and send it there, there being a French island called St Barts, they have here agents for FedEx, UPS, DHL the local post office, electricity, banks, color TV, high speed internet you name it.
When I open box I was surprised to find not only new RAM my error screen used to read “parity check/ Memory parity error” but a complete mother board, I took it to a reputable technician that did the exchange but my first remark was to say I should never never have been sent a mother board but Dell should have asked me to send back computer so they could fix it, in my mind it was a major error.
After Board was changed computer worked…until Bios was upgraded (to A14) then after reboot it worked but after shutting down it refused to boot, power LED don’t even light, I told the Dell contact in India a few days ago and no answer so far. By then I had checked the Net to find some answers or info and I was shocked to find indeed there is a major problem with Nvidia, during my chatting and talking it was never mentioned by technician.
To Sum up no answer from Dell since my last mail and I want a brand new XPS 1330 shipped to me.
I bought for me or my family 8 Dell computers Desktop an Laptop I had even one desktop for 7 years with only one change of HDD for it, so far I have been very happy with them no I am an unhappy owner of a 3000+$ XPS 1330.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Toiny 971

 

Thank goodness for Google and your updated review! With that information, I was able to confirm that my video problem wasn't just a fluke and went straight to Dell chat. The agent immediately recognized the problem and set up a service call for a tech to come in a couple days to replace the motherboard.

Let's hope it all works out as smoothly the chat.

 

Came across this review while checking out the laptop via Google.

Saw this line "...With the T7100, the FSB can be overclocked by 15MHz, or 7.5%, to give a final CPU frequency of around 1.93GHz."

And I immediately stopped reading the rest of the review.

'Nuff said.

 

Great. I've been canvassing sub-$1000 ultraportables for a few days now, going back-&-forth among models, and I'd just fallen in love with the M1330 when I read your 1-year-later review.

I live in Manila, but I'll be going to the States for the summer (my summer anyway, which is April-May), and I was planning to buy a laptop there because of the cheaper prices. Now I'm assuming the 1-year warranty (I was planning on getting the $750 unit) has international coverage, but if my GPU fails more than a year later, will I be covered by the warranty extension do you think? Even if I'm in Manila?

 

P.S. Also, if they're going to ship a replacement unit to me, do you think I'll have to pay for shipping seeing as I live outside the States?

 

unless they offer outside us shipping which you should check for then you would have to pay for it. call them and ask or check with the online chat and see what they say

 

Does anyone have extra information about the free 1 year extension warranty that was mentioned in the followup? Mine ran out in February and my GPU crapped out today in April, fine luck.

 

I strongly disagree with this review. I have owed a Dell XPS M1330 for a year now. It is true that it was nice and shiny in the box when it arrived. But then, in the last 6 months it underwent 3 major crashes. As a result, motherboard, screen and hard disk were replaced. It is also false to say that the heat is reasonable because it is not. The computer would better serve for cooking then for computing. When in trouble, service is lousy: one needs to spend hours on the phone with some specialist in India or Philippines. I bought the “next business day” warranty pack, but Dell has a funny way to count the days (probably with some overheating computers of their own harvest…). I was just told that it is normal to have problems from time to time. How come then that this is not in their advertisement? This is by far the lousiest computer I have ever bought. As an example its predecessor, a Dell Inspiron, was much better and is still alive. The present XPS will go now to the trash. Unless somebody knows of any legal issues that could teach Dell a lesson.

 

Tell Dell that your video card died. If they run the diagnostics and find it to be true, they will replace the mobo and whetever else they find wrong whether it is under warranty or not. I was rather surprised. Once again this only applies if the diagnostics show the video fried. When they ask you what you see, just tell them the screen is blank other than the back light and some beeping.

 

This machine is famous for it's high heat emission