Dell :: Full Review Of Studio 1640: How A Perfect System Ends Up On Ebay
Apr 24, 2009full review of studio 1640: how a perfect system ends up on ebay
View 4 Repliesfull review of studio 1640: how a perfect system ends up on ebay
View 4 RepliesI use to own one with my XPS M1530 too..
I didnt think the Studio XPS 16 would fit but its an actual PERFECT fit.
it's the best case on the market in my opinion. And it retails for $99.00 but I got it through amazon for $55.00 brand new. It's awesome!
So I need to order my sleeve by tomorrow night. I need to find a sleeve that perfectly fits the Dell Studio XPS 16. I dont want one that fits it big
View 10 Replies View RelatedI've been watching for a studio remote for a while on eBay (they only seem to every have the older grey style available) and I see there's a guy on there selling a bunch of them new for $19 shipped free.
Use microsoft cashback for 14% off, or it looks like he takes offers.
I guess Dell dumped a bunch of them now that the 1555 can't use a remote.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=180347424369
dell comes with alot of crapware? And that they ussualy always do this when they get their machines, should I do it? How much of a difference does it make?
If so anyone kind enough to do a step-by-step guide how to for dumbies like myself?
I know a few people are experiencing this, not sure if it's the same with the E series, but the entire M4400 will fully lock up and die, requiring a hardboot. As in, a super-freeze: lights, keyboard, mouse, applications, display, everything. No chance to remove the freeze besides doing a hardboot. I've left it on for hours after the freeze, and still no luck.
This is a ridiculous problem. Imagine typing pages of documents, presentations, creating image files, working on CAD files and then it freezes completely. No ctrl+alt+del to save you here, no "quick-save".
Why is this happening? I've had 3-4 lockups every 10 minutes at a time. Using Dell memory, and default Dell hardware.
Weird situation: It has -never- locked up while watching episodes of fresh prince of bel-air on freshprincetv.com, and has -never- locked up while playing half-life 2 for four hours straight...this is worse than a defective GPU. More like a defective motherboard here...
I received my 1640 yesterday. Big props to Dell, since I bought it on Friday around 3pm (outlet "previously ordered new") and Fed-Ex attempted to deliver it on Monday at 10am (picked it up at the distribution center at night).
I also received my 9-cell battery, but haven't had a chance to use it or review it, so this will focus on the 6-cell.
First - Boxing: Non-fancy tan cardboard box. The laptop was encased in foam and a foamy-sleeve.
No bags were included with this laptop. I got a slim AC adapter (probably about 1/3rd weight of the previous bricks), some cds, and the laptop. Nothing else. Should I have gotten a sleeve of some sort .....
If I create a backup, Is the OS backed up?
Or It justs backs up the files that I've installed and my documents and stuff?
I have a Acer Aspire 2920, and I'd like to back up my Vista Home Premium incase that I need it back because I want to install Ubuntu 9.10 on it.
Ubuntu is great for documents and internet since I dont want anything else in the way like viruses and malware or other bugs and worms.
And yes, my Vista Home Premium is LICENSED.
So, What do I need to do to back up my OS?
Updating the BIOS for my laptop, full system crashes whenever I try running games [even low end].
Currently running A01, there are only two BIOS drivers up for download on the Dell site and both say I need to upgrade to A02 first.
While another thread may be currently in the heat of discussion of the choice of pre-built version of V13, i have been surfing around to see if there are other reviews on other makes not from DELL that may have the same/close configuration specs...
This is what i have found, base on my focus of Screen Size:Processor:Battery factor(in this case, 13.3incher:Celeron m743:4cells batt).
http://www.eprice.com.hk/nb/talk/?prod_id=766&tid=820
I'm going to buy the M1730 tomm... if I get a one year warranty with the laptop. can I extend my warranty a few weeks before it ends?
View 10 Replies View RelatedWhat I found quite interesting in the cnet review is that their performance testing of the Dell 1569 was second place just behind the Toshiba E205-S1904 (the other Best Buy Blue Label). I do not understand why, the specs are basically the exact same specs, EXCEPT our Dell has a 500gb 7,200rpm hard drive while the Toshiba has a 500gb 5,400 rpm hard drive. I would think, if anything our performance would be slightly better than the Toshiba because of our 7,200rpm hard drive. All the other specs are the same.
So, with that being said, why did the Toshiba have slightly better performance numbers than ours, since as I keep stating all the specs are the same except we have a faster hard drive?
I just got the xps 1640 today and I'm very distracted by the loud system fan. It's audible all the time even when the computer is idle. I haven't been doing anything intensive on my computer either. The fan starts as soon as windows loads and never stops. I know this laptop has heat issues but I checked the core temp and it is only between 38-45degrees C. I know the fan can get louder under load, this is what I would describe as idle but still, it seems way too loud. It was raining earlier and I could hear the fan over the sound of raindrops hitting my roof. It's getting unbearable!!
Has anyone had the same experience? Or more importantly does anyone have a way to reduce the speed of the fan slighty? Speedfan doesn't seem to support my motherboard so I can't do it there.
System:
P8600 2.4ghz
4gb ram
320GB (7,200rpm) WD HD
Dell XPS 1640 System BIOS A10
Changelog states:
1) Enhance graphic function.
I've noticed that it adds display dimming and brightness levels to Power Options:
However, I haven't noticed any changes to the RGBLED screen calibration as was reported by KSMB in the RGBLED thread.
I bought the studio 15 with full HD screen and blu-ray, I have read about some people saying at full 1080 resolution, the writing is wayyyyy too small.
Is this true, and is there no way to decrease the resolution.
I thought if I am getting blu-ray I might as well get full HD screen but I don't want to get my laptop and find that the writing is tiny, and I have to use a magnifying glass to do anything.
I'm putting this in this forum because of the difficulty many have had finding a good case for the SXPS 16..
But I figured more SXPS 16 users would see this here .....
Has anyone got Full HD on the studio 15, and when you put it to full HD, how does everything look?
Does it look too small?
My laptop is scheduled for tomorrow AM delivery
 It seems as if my computer is caught in a loop. On boot up it is constantly configuring the computer for up date but don't get any further than that.  On startup it configures my computer for up date. But it never ends
View 2 Replies View RelatedI just got my Studio 17, and there's little things that really bother me:
1) My F keys act as a function+F in games and not the actual F key, so I can't cast spells that are bound to my F keys. Anyone know how to disable it so that if I want to see my battery status or Wifi status, it requires the function key to be held down?
2) Some of the games I play such as warcraft 3 have 2 black lines on the right/left of my screen. They won't let me go full screen no matter what I try
im looking for a new laptop for my girlfriend.
The studio 15 caught my eye mainly because of the backlit keyboard and full hd screen option.
Do anbody have any experiences with this combination or atleast with the 4500 intel gfx card ?
She are mainly or only gonna use it for schoolwork, big excel sheets and movies so i guess its sufficient?
And whats the battery time with my choice, any info on that?
I have a Studio 1555 and keep getting the message that my drive "D" is almost full. Can I delete all these files and and let the system start backing everything up again? I'm also running Norton 360 which has a backup file on the same drive, is this double redundancy or what?
View 1 Replies View Relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSw_d...e=channel_page
Just wanted to let everyone know that Digital Home Thoughts just uploaded their 23 minute review of the 14z.
Pros
* Excellent Storage Options
* Hybrid Graphics Provides Good 3D Graphics
* Wide Range of Peripheral Ports
Cons
* Very Heavy for 13.3-inch Laptop
* System Runs Quite Hot
Description
* Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 4GB PC3-8500 DDR2 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 13.3-inch WXGA (1280x800) Wide LCD With 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
* NVIDIA GeForce 9500M Graphics With 256MB Memory and GeForce 9400M Integrated Graphics
* Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless
* Two USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire, HDMI, Display Port, ExpressCard/54, 8-in-1 Card Reader
* 12.6" x 9.3" x 1.4" @ 4.9 lbs.
* Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, Works 9, McAfee Internet Security
Guide Review - Dell Studio XPS 13 13.3-inch Ultraportable Laptop PC
Mar 13 2009 - Dell's Studio XPS 13 is much more of a replacement for the XPS M1330 because of its improved features. Most notable of these is the hybrid graphics that combines a GeForce 9400M integrated graphics for light desktop work and a dedicated GeForce 9500M with 256MB when accelerated 3D graphics are needed. This gives it some good 3D performance that was lacking from other Dell 13.3-inch laptops.
Another surprise in the Studio XPS 13 is the storage options. The standard 320GB hard drive is spacious, but the 7200rpm spin rate provides it with a high level of performance. Those needing more space can always upgrade to the 500GB drive option. Solid state drives are also offered but are quite expensive. It would have been nice to see Dell offer a Blu-ray option as well.
Performance is very high thanks to the use of the Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 mobile processor and the 4GB of PC3-8500 DDR3 memory. This combined with the graphics actually gives it some performance levels that are equal to or at times higher than the XPS M1330. The problem is that all of these parts generate a lot of heat.
In what can only be considered a major design accident, Dell put one of the primary cooling ducts on the back side of the laptop. This duct can be blocked when the LCD panel is folded beyond a straight perpendicular position, something that many users do with laptops. Combine this with the aluminum bottom panel and this system can get very hot on the bottom where it should not be used on one's actual lap without some sort of cooling device.
The other downside is that the Studio XPS 13 is quite large and heavy for a 13.3-inch laptop. At nearly five pounds in weight, this is a system that is much more comparable to a 14.1-inch for portability.
Would it ever be possible for Sony to make a Vaio that is close to the macbook air.
I love the macbook air but it still lacks features. With Sony's brains can't they make something which combines features from the Vaio Z and Macbook Air,
i wouldnt mind something like a thinner Z series with a backlight keyboard and better graphics with a better trackpad and better battery life
So this is a review on my new (Scratch and Dent) Dell Studio 1536..
View 9 Replies View RelatedOn first look i found that the build quality was better than expected, I had read a fiew reviews by owners that thebase was flimsy and so was the keyboard. I have found this to be quite solid and i can see no flex at all.
The keyboard is very responsive and a pleasure to use, although i find that some of the keys give a slight squeeking noise when pressed. I intend to get a backlit keyboard sometime soon so that should fix the squeeking problem.
I bought this from the outlet as refurbished but it looks brand new and i saved nearly £300 this way instead of self configuring the system.
What's in the Box:
Dell Windows Vista Home Premium 64 Bit installation dvd, Works 9, Driver and Resource Disk, 90w Power Supply
Design
Nice design and a sturdy construction, has a kind of wedge shape.
Screen:
This WLED 720p screen is far brighter than anything else i have ever seen, the picture is nice and crisp and colours are very vibrant. There is no ghosting at all and HD movies are a pleasure to watch on this, its a 15.6" 16:9. There is an option for a 1080p screen but i did not have that option getting this from the Outlet. Under sunny conditions the screen is quite reflective but i plan to use it indoors 95% of the time so it will not be an issue.
Keyboard
The keyboard is a pleasure to use, I did not get a backlit version but i intend to as soon as I can get dell on the phone, I find the keys very responsive and well laid out.
The multimedia keys are on the top of the keyboard along with the F Keys, to use the F1 Keys ect you have to press the Fn key.
Touchpad
At first i did not like the touch pad as it has a textured feeling and not a smooth finish like im used to , after a while i have got used to it and its not as bad as i first thought, there is a scroll pad on the side although the touch pad has no indication of this, when playing games this area gets quite hot.
Features:
Multimedia Keys
The keys are on the main keyboard and shared with the "F" Keys.
LEDS
One of my main complaints abot this machine is there are no LEDS for hard drive activity or wireless ect. The only light is on the power button on the side of the screen hinge.
Wifi –
My system has the Intel WiFi Link 5300 AGN card and the signals are strong and i have not suffered any drop outs or interference. Just a pity this laptop has no Wireless LED.
Speakers
The speakers are of a decent quality, i had read about the previous Studio 15 which had poor sound quality but this is more than acceptable and a subwoofer is included.
Input and Output Ports
Front
There are no ports on the front of the machine
Webcam Pictures
The screen has a 2.0mp camera in and the quality is very good, the best i have seen in a laptop. Pictures are good with no noise or distortion.
Right Side:
1 x USB 2.0, Slot loading DVD-RW Drive
8 in 1 media card reader, ExpressCard 34 and Power Adaptor
Left Side:
VGA, HDMI 2x USB 2.0 (1x USB/E-SATA combo, 2x standard) IEEE 1394a/Gigabit NIC (no RJ11 – via dongle for USB External Modem) 1x Stereo in, 2x headphone speaker out.
Rear:
There are no ports on the back.
Bottom:
There are 3 ventilation grills and the usual opening for the memory and Hard drive access.
Benchmarks
I have had time to do 2 benchmarks, 3dmark06 and Super PI
3dmark Vantage would not run with the resolution on this laptop.
3DMark06 Scored 4193
and Super PI took 48 seconds to do 2 million count.
Size and Weight
The laptop is light about 2.61 kg and is easily carried around so its very portable.
Heat and Noise
Under general use the laptop does get warm but nothing to worry about, when gaming it gets quite hot so it will be uncomfortable on your lap if you game alot. The fans are quite quiet i have found and do not cause any disturbance when on.
Battery Life
Under general use with a 6 cell battery i get around 3 hours 30 mins, I do not feel that a 9 cell would of been benefical to me.
Software
The software that came pre-installed was Roxio CD Creator and Windows Live.
Accessories
All that came was the power supply (it has a nice blue led on the power jack)
Pros:
Great Screen
Fast Processor
Light and Portable
Long Battery Life
Cons:
No Activity LEDS
Gets quite hot under Gaming
Backlit keyboard not standard.
Conclusion:
A great all rounder laptop that should full-fill the needs of most, Not to over priced and has some good choices when configuring to buy.
So I got it and let me tell you, what a machine. couldn't be any happier. seriously fast and very nice and stable so far.
a few positive and negative points to those shopping for one.
A. RGB LED screen is unfreaking real, colors like I've never seen before from a computer. well worth the premium but there are 2 drawbacks.
1.whites are not really that pure in comparison to other screens (you get used to it, as the trade off is well worth it)
2.the resolution is a little high for 16". Catch myself squinting a little from a slight distance. (the 2 finger pinch zoom gesture completely fixes this slight nuisance)
Does anyone know of a good in-depth review of the new Studio 15XX with i7 setup?
View 3 Replies View RelatedIt's been 1 month since I got my studio so I published a review of it on my site, Towards the optimal laptop.
Maybe you'll find it useful: Dell
Studio 15 review.
...courtesy of Laptop Mag.
I know some of you have been waiting to see one of these