Bought a XPS M1530... How could this happen

Well my XPS M1530 finally arrived today. I had high hopes of this machine, but when I first opened the box to see the notebook, it has gone down the drain. Here is a list of all the hardware/cosmetic problems with the notebook. From the first 5 mins of inspecting it. I didn't even look at the software yet.

1. KEYBOARD!!! There is a huge bump in the middle of the keyboard and the spacebar sticks up on one side (Morphed!!!). This is totally unacceptable.
2. Wireless switch on the side. Feels very loose and is very hard to switch on and off.
3. Barrel hinge on both sides have a noticeable gap and can see the wires and left side the "DELL" logo on the hinge sticks out (not glued on properly).
3. Left button on touchpad is not flush and dips down.
4. My Microsoft sticker on the back is faded ( suspect that they have given me a refurbished one)

I am really disappointed at the built quality. I phoned them right away today and got an exchange.
On a side note.. I did get the LG Screen for my 1440x900.

 

hm, sorry to hear about your bad experience with dell, I'm sure it was some sort of mix up, enjoy your new m1530 anyways :] I love my inspiron :]

 

sorry 2 hear that bro. I got a 1530 from the outlet in I swear brand new condition. not a scratch. I'm sure yours was just the 1/10 or something like that.

 

I think they shipped you a bad ( in repair ) one by mistake....

 

looks fine to me, except for #4! I cannot believe they gave you faded sticker! These bastards at Dell, always try to screw you over!

 

I have heard this a few times now. I am tempted to go for the 1440x900 just because my chances of an LG screen seem better.

Sorry to hear about your troubles, that totally bites. I am in the Vancouver area too so I hope I don't get one in the same shape as yours

 

Actually, the faded microsoft sticker is standard on all NEW laptops.. it's like a piracy/protection "feature". They all look that ugly.

 

people say thier products are pretty solid. but yet they always make stupid mistakes, ive heard about people getting shipped a dead laptop...

btw how do u know if its an LG screen or not?

 

I live in Vancouver too and my 1530 came with a perfect build.( And believe me, I've exchanged my M1330 twice)

Don't hesitate to buy one

 

Mine's not faded

 

yeah i live in vancouver too , glad the dell service there is better cause im about to get a xps1530 too

 

What do you guys mean by 'faded' ?

My Microsoft sticker appears to be 'melted' to the laptop chassis. Not sure if this is a security feature or if the laptop got hot enough to 'melt' it. But, my Acer laptop has the same 'melted' area on the sticker.

 

Watch out. The 1530 has some serious defects, not the least of which are grainy screens and shocking you when you touch it. While not all appear to have the problems, many do.

 

Faded as in the letters on the sticker and colour. Yours would probably be faded since you have been using it. Mine is faded upon arrival. I didn't even turn the notebook on yet.

 

Except for #4?! My spacdebar is "BANANA SHAPED"!! the ends bend up. I see all these pictures of all the M1530 people have purchased on this site, but mine is not even close to the quality of any of them.

 

Wow u love microsoft sticker too much??? I wont even care about the sticker. I expect it to come off and I want the stickers to come off... But the other thing is important.

 

One more thing.. When I close the lid, only one side touches. There is a noticeable gap on the left side.

My past experience with Dell wasn't to great also. I also purchased a 24 inch LCD back in the day and the first one I got was horrible. several dead pixels everywhere on the panel. I exchanged it it and received a flawless one. In my opinion, it seems that they try to ship out the crappy ones first to customers in hoping that they will be too lazy to exchange for another one. I am quite picky at the products I receive. It's just a waste of time having to haggle and hassle with Dell.

 

So what if you purchased ur "Brand New" notebook with a faded microsoft sticker you woudlnt' care? Even if the product key is faded as well?

 

Assuming your LG screen is good I wouldn't bother to ask for a replacement.

Most barrel hinges from Dell have a slight gap particularly on the left side. I had my m1330 for 6 months and it does not affect the integrity of the hinge.

I agree the wireless switch is loose. Doesn't bother me and I think 99% of them are like that.

Keyboard bulge can be address by re-seating the wires underneath. A tech can come and fix it.

Touchpad buttons should be flush.

Microsoft sticker?

 

Does your faded sticker look like one of these?

If so, the fading is a security measure.

 

My Inspron 1720 had a fan problem from the get go. First time when the graphics card fan turned on it sounded like a vacuum cleaner. It's currently in the repair shop. I'm a little disappointed with also... However, I haven't heard of too many problems with dell builds. Most of them result from getting refurbished laptops when they ordered new.

 

similar to the first one, but the colour between the two lines and around it is completely white.

 

This is what probably happened to me.

 

You should see the palm rest that they replaced for me a day after I got the freaking thing.. It's warped to hell! Currently waiting on a replacement..

 

Dell faded the sticker on purpose, to show that it is real. There should be a small area where there is a hole that exposes the strips. My sticker is like that.
(At first i thought that you were talking about the sticker on the palm rest...)

 

without pictures it's hard to believe what you say about "banana shaped keyboard"

 

I just ordered mine this week. After spending a little over two grand, I expect dell to send me a top quality notebook(plus an LG LCD ofcourse) without any warps or gaps.

 

Is it even legal for Dell to send a customer a refurbished product if the product was purchased new (IE, not a warranty replacement part)?

 

Quick question. Should the "F" keys be aligned evenly from F1 - F12 or are they divded into 3 sections of 4 (little spacing between a group of 4).

 

Here are a couple pictures that i took of my notebook.

 

Mine is 3 sections of 4, and I believe that is the way it is supposed to be.

 

My 1330 spacebar is slightly banana shaped, but it isn't enough to ask for a replacement.

EDIT: Yours is worse than mine, but the F-keys look fine. Mine are in three groups of 4 as well.

 

Pictures have been posted

 

The keyboard 'wave' is indeed due to the wires underneath the keyboard not properly seated. A tech came to fix mine and was only partly successful. There was so much electrical tape on the wires where they pass under the guides, it was not possible to make them entirely flat. So, the function keys from F8 to F12 still go downhill. It's very noticeable and looks shabby to me. I've had enough other issues that I've made arrangements to have it returned and exchanged with a comparably equipped D630. Nothing ventured nothing gained I guess.

 

Watch out for a grainy on the D630! My friend has a D630, and the screen is so grainy that text is almost unreadable.

 

Just want your opiniongs guy. Exchange or keep?

 

Exchange, or refund and go with a different brand.

 

Hmm... Exchange.
And make damn sure they give you a new one.