Similar Much?

So the new Studio 17 is *too* much like the SXPS 16...for a few hundred dollars less. Is it worth checking out?


---Dell Studio 17---
COLORS: Black Chainlink
PROCESSOR: Intel Core i7 820QM 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit, English
OFFICE SOFTWARE: No Productivity software pre-installed
WARRANTY AND SERVICE: 2 yr In-home Service after remote diagnosis + Complete Care
SECURITY SOFTWARE: No Security
HD DISPLAY: 17.3” Full HD (1080p) B+RG LED Display with TrueLife™ and Camera/Facial Recognition SW
MEMORY: 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz
HARD DRIVE: 320GB SATA HDD (7200rpm)
OPTICAL DRIVE: Slot Load Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
SOUND OPTIONS: Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
KEYBOARD: Back-lit Keyboard
VIDEO CARD: 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
BATTERY OPTIONS: 85 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
WIRELESS CARDS: Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini-Card
TOTAL (NO TAX): $2313
---Dell Studio XPS 16---
SYSTEM COLOR: Obsidian Black High Gloss Finish with Leather
PROCESSOR: Intel ® Core ™ i7 820QM 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit, English
OFFICE SOFTWARE: No Microsoft Office
WARRANTY AND SERVICE: 2 yr In-home Service after remote diagnosis + Complete Care
SECURITY SOFTWARE: McAfee SecurityCenter, 15-Months
HD DISPLAY: Full HD Widescreen 16.0 inch RGBLED LCD (1920x1080) W/2.0 MP
MEMORY: 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz
HARD DRIVE: 256GB Solid State Drive
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE: Slot Load Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
SOUND OPTIONS: Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi MB
BLUETOOTH: Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1+EDR)
VIDEO CARD: ATI Mobility RADEON® HD 4670 – 1GB
WIRELESS CARDS: Intel® 5300 WLAN Wireless-N (3x3) Mini Card
BATTERY OPTIONS: 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
NETWORK CARD: Integrated 10/100 Network Card
ACCIDENT AND THEFT PROTECTION: 1Yr LoJack for Laptops Theft Protection
TOTAL (NO TAX): $2743

 

SXPS 16 has better GPU, wireless card, bluetooth, and build quality + just plain old looks better

 

I find that the SXPS has a much more upscale feel to it. It feels worth the money. I looked at the studio 17 but I wanted something more professional lol

 

Does anyone know if the Studio 17 uses the same RGBLED screen that the SXPS is known for? Because they are both 1080p, but the S17 has a "B+RG" LED screen, which is confusing me...

 

I'm not sure about the screen, but also if you are doing the configuration, the 256 SSD in the SXPS 16 is giving it quite the bump in price as well, take that out and they would be about the same.

Also, the wireless card is quite the jump between the two, g vs n. Its all up to you though, personal preference and what not.

SXPS also has lojack theft which could be beneficial

 

I was sent the Studio 1737 as a replacement before the XPS m1730 I'm currently using, admittedly not the XPS you are looking at but I'm sure the following applies:

1. The touchpad on the Studio was *AWFUL* in both response and design. I believe they use some "Alps" branded touchpad for it, as opposed to the superior Synaptics touchpad. Its really, really that much worse, so if you don't use an external mouse, take that into serious consideration.

2. The build quality of the Studio 1737 was worse than the E1705 it was sent as a replacement for. (a) The body creaked and the base on the right side of the touchpade would be squeezed it and often would creak from the weight of the palm resting upon it. (b) The keyboard had marked flex to it, as if there was simply nothing under the keyboard. (c) The area to the right of the touchpad heated up quite a bit, not to the point of burning you, but it was noticeable and annoying. (d) the Media "keys" above the keyboard suffer from a significant flex like the keyboard did. I really wonder where the parts of the computer lie with so much "give" in so many areas of the assembly.

I complained to Dell about these issues as well as the primary concern which was that I wasn't given a truelife screen, and was given this XPS M1730. The build quality is *much, much* better. They keyboard is beautiful and robust and the computer is quite solid. I imagine the XPS you'll be getting will/should have the same quality.

Hope that helps!

 

I forgot how crappy the touchpads are in the studio line my touchpad on my SXPS 16's are like a dream compared to the jerky rediculousy unresponsive touchpad on my 1535 which i believe was Alps

 

aye. the touchpad works really well on the xps16, and i can glide my fingers over it quite smoothly b/c of the surface on the xps16

 

Synaptics > Alps by infinity.

 

SXPS 16 touchpad supports multitouch also.

 

SInce the studios have the same magnesium frame, how else is the Build quality on the XPS different? I like my studio 15 build.

funny thing is between the Inspiron and the studio, price difference is almost 0 and I think the studio is much better build.

 

well first i'd like to say that when i said that i was comparing it to my 1535 however i see there are some changes in the new 1555
Where to start the outside of the SXPS seems like its more plastic but when you actually take it apart you see that:

there is metal lining the bottom of the palmrest panel plastic which gives it more strength

there is also a metal plate that lines the keyboard from underneath giving it more sturdiness( why there is no drastic flex like the studio line i feel none)

the back of the screen also is stronger i can press on the back and not see my fingerprint on the LCD screen unless i press really hard (couldn't even press lightly on my 1535)

the hinges are also stronger dont flex or creek and sturdier(on my 1535 they would creek and flex and would move if i shook my laptop slightly)

the overall feel of this lappy compared to again my 1535 is leaps and bounds stronger havent found one creek yet on either of my SXPS 16's where as i couldn't grab my 1535 by the corners or the front while it was open or it would creek there is slightly less plastic than in the studio line on the SXPS's even tho there appears to be alot its all reinforced giving again better build quality i wish i wouldve taken pics when i took it apart to show you guys

Love my SXPS's

 

What does it mean that multi-touch thing? Can I use multiple fingers on my touchpad for example to tab amongst my open programs?

 

you can scroll with two fingers/or use chiral motion (in a circle with one finger)

Pinch zoom

go back and forth through songs in wmp and pics with photo gallery with three fingers swipe left/right and open a program by placing three fingers down (how i open Chrome)

 

Oh sweetness!! Are we talking about the same function that macbooks have? Where you can use the touchpad with multiple fingers?

 

In some instances yes as the ones i've listed also i forgot momentum which is like a trackball type setting helps the cursor glide across the screen but you have to use the drivers that were posted in another forum http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=407994

and i will verify that they work well in both Vista 64 bit/Win 7 64 bit and are just plain cool i use them all the time

 

I wish I could see a current XPS in person.

I have compared the Inspirons to the the Studios and found the better build quality Srudio.

We just abought an Acer for my Sister and I still the build and keyboard of the dell studio much better, To me the high gloss may show finger prints but looks better over all, and I culd not stand typing on the Acer keyboard, it felt cheap.

Over all I think Dell makes a good product still.

On my studio 1555 there is no creaking at all (yet)