My opinion: don't buy Dell.

[hockeymass]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess the thing I can't get over is this thought that laptops are more prone to failure. Or, I guess, I could live with that if I could replace the parts by myself, like I could with desktops. Perhaps it's unfair for me to lash out at Dell, but I bought both of my laptops from them and they both failed, so ...it's sort of hard to not think Dell sucks, to be quite frank.

I'm still thinking about getting a laptop, but at this point I'm sort of changing my purchasing angle. In the past, I'd always get the most upgraded components with the knowledge that, even doing that, the system would be obsolete virtually on delivery. But now I'm like, hey, why even do that? Why spend like $1500 on the best screen, the best processor, the best GPU? I could spend like $500 on a rock-bottom system and it might stink but I'm not banking on it lasting too long anyways. Like, if I ever bought another Dell, it would be with that strategy. But at this point I'm sort of looking towards getting a Macbook and running Windows on it. Which disgusts me because a) they're way overpriced and b) I've always thought Macbook elitists were snobby losers. So it kills me that Dell has driven me to that.

There are myriad issues that accompany the choice of laptops over desktops. At the end of the day, though, you can't really pick up your desktop and bring it over to the couch.

In my experience, Dell has been pretty good, even as far as replacing the mainboard of my 1530 out of warranty despite the fact that the issue was really Nvidia's fault. Whereas Apple refused to honor my ex-girlfriend's Applecare plan because she didn't know she had to activate it within a window (even though she paid for it).

[dave-p]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess the thing I can't get over is this thought that laptops are more prone to failure. Or, I guess, I could live with that if I could replace the parts by myself, like I could with desktops. Perhaps it's unfair for me to lash out at Dell, but I bought both of my laptops from them and they both failed, so ...it's sort of hard to not think Dell sucks, to be quite frank.

I'm still thinking about getting a laptop, but at this point I'm sort of changing my purchasing angle. In the past, I'd always get the most upgraded components with the knowledge that, even doing that, the system would be obsolete virtually on delivery. But now I'm like, hey, why even do that? Why spend like $1500 on the best screen, the best processor, the best GPU? I could spend like $500 on a rock-bottom system and it might stink but I'm not banking on it lasting too long anyways. Like, if I ever bought another Dell, it would be with that strategy. But at this point I'm sort of looking towards getting a Macbook and running Windows on it. Which disgusts me because a) they're way overpriced and b) I've always thought Macbook elitists were snobby losers. So it kills me that Dell has driven me to that.

Working on laptops is not that hard, Dell has the complete tear down service manuals on the web site for free.

If you can find a reasonably priced motherboard you could always try replacing it yourself I am sure many people here would be willing to help along with the dell service manuals.

Good luck.

[kamehame]

Working on laptops is not that hard, Dell has the complete tear down service manuals on the web site for free.

If you can find a reasonably priced motherboard you could always try replacing it yourself I am sure many people here would be willing to help along with the dell service manuals.

Good luck.

No, lol, it's not that. I asked Dell if I could purchase a replacement motherboard from them and they said no. So I could buy a used XPS 1530 and use its motherboard, but the odds are that it would be a defective one. And even if it wasn't, I'd be paying for the whole laptop, not just a motherboard. So it's quite different than a desktop, in my opinion.

[dave-p]

there are places that will repair the motherboiard for around 100 dollars i believe,

chances are the solder around the GPU chip and memory is bad, reflowing it may fix the issue and one could use a heat gun to do that at this point its not going to make things worse.

You maybe able to find a motherboard on ebay just make sure its a repuable seller.

last you could always sell the dead laptop on ebay, you maybe surprised how much some people will pay for one.

[outersquare]

dell mostly cruises off their business lines, their consumer products are basically an afterthought at this point.

[timfountain]

For every person who had a bad experience with Dell, you get 10 people who've had nothing but good things to say about Dell.

Depending on when you bought your M1530/M1330, the reviews were already bad.

My parents have been buying Dell since 1995, and me personally since 2005. I've never had an issue with a Dell, or moreso a major issue. A bad hard drive here and there. But all way out of warranty.

I would avoid the XPS line entirely. They've always had GPU issues (melting Nvidia GPU's, throttling ATi GPU's). They've also had shoddy build quality. And yes I have serviced XPS laptops ranging from 2006 (M1710/M1210) to current ones (current XPS line). And that is exactly the reason why I buy business oriented laptops.

Oh really? That's news to me.... I've owned an XPS-1330 and an XPS-1210, both with integrated graphics and both were absolutely rock solid. Not all the XPS line had flawed NVIDIA or ATI graphics and your broad statement is factually incorrect. And on the flip side, the XPS line was not the only one to use flawed graphics chips - D620, D630, D830 (all business oriented laptops BTW), for example, all use the same crappy NVIDIA chipset that self destructs.

Broad brush strokes rarely paint an accurate picture.

- Tim

[Tsunade_Hime]

Oh really? That's news to me.... I've owned an XPS-1330 and an XPS-1210, both with integrated graphics and both were absolutely rock solid. Not all the XPS line had flawed NVIDIA or ATI graphics and your broad statement is factually incorrect. And on the flip side, the XPS line was not the only one to use flawed graphics chips - D620, D630, D830 (all business oriented laptops BTW), for example, all use the same crappy NVIDIA chipset that self destructs.

Broad brush strokes rarely paint an accurate picture.

- Tim

Not all the XPS line, but MOST XPS are shipped with discreet graphics, and that is where all the problems lie. Have you ever replaced parts on your M1330? The bezel is paper thin and lined with double sided tape. You can easily crack the bezel if you are not careful/expecting it. Just overall servicing XPS laptops are a major pain compared to business grade laptops.

True the business line used the faulty Nvidia chips, but I would say half were sold with integrated graphics. Going back to my 1st part, most XPS were sold with discreet graphics, some "configurations" only came with Nvidia. And to this day XPS still has issues with GPU's, while business models do not.

[grimreefer1967]

What issues with XPS 15 and 17 GPU's?


(...and even my old XPS M1530 with the nVidia is still going strong with no issues.)

[Goren]

I've a Dell Precision M4400 work station, it wasn't perfect.. i had a keyboard issue, and over the years fans becoming much much louder.. but they gave me a three year warranty when i bought it.. everything replaced for free including paid shipping. very good support.

[Mihael Keehl]

What issues with XPS 15 and 17 GPU's?


(...and even my old XPS M1530 with the nVidia is still going strong with no issues.)

It doesn't really live up to it's name, because in the recent years, it's becoming more of a multimedia system when compared to it's predecessors, which were a very solid piece of machinery, (e.g. Dell XPS 1530/1730) but none of the current Dell line offers the Extreme-core processors as they did in the past.

What Dell really is lacking is a performance laptop, their current one, even it's best available trim of the XPS model, the XPS 17, is using a GPU that is barely average, perhaps if it had a dual video card it might make a difference but I doubt that they'll ever do that, at least with the current XPS-line.

The really cool thing about the XPS in the past was that it was a really good mid-range to advanced gaming laptop, it didn't have all the perks that the high-end Alienware laptop did , but then again the Alienware's cost that much more, so it really appealed to the budgeted gamer as well as the graphic designers/web developers (e.g. those using it for work and play).