is this a fair replacement?

Okay, specs below, but basically when I contacted support for my latest AC adapter replacement (I think 4th or 5th time on that, plus mobo/heatsink/etc. has been replaced twice, keyboard/screen once, BD-RE drive once [and software upgraded so the thing would work]) I was told I was getting a brand new XPS 15 as a replacement for my m1530.

I was promised a "like or better" replacement, per my warranty, and sure, there are several things that are WAY better (larger HD, newer OS, faster processor [I think?], better memory [again, I think?] and it looks like a 1080p screen)

HOWEVER... here's where I think this falls short.
1. BD-RE (old) vs. BD-ROM (new) - this is HUGE. I went with Dell over HP/Gateway/IBM because they were the only ones that had a BD-RE drive instead of a BD-ROM drive. I keep getting the explanation that a BD-RE isn't offered on the XPS 15. I keep telling them that it's not a "like or better" replacement if my optical drive is downgraded, and since they offer a BD-RE on the XPS 14, I asked if I could get an XPS 14 instead, or if the part from an XPS 14 could be put into my replacement machine, or if I could be shipped a replacement after-market part to install myself, or... thus far, no solution to this problem.

2. no firewire (but 2 USB 3.0 ports and one USB eSATA PowerShare [there are 3 USB ports on the m1530 in ADDITION to the firewire])
3. no express card slot (I was told it's been replaced by a SIM card socket)
4. no remote (no explanation for this - maybe it DOES come with a remote?)
5. no s-video (I was told it was obsolete and has been replaced by mini-display port - but my m1530 has mini-display AND s-video)
6. no roxio creator premiere blu-ray (I am told it will come with, but it's not on the list)
7. no fingerprint reader (I am told it is obsolete, but facial recognition is enabled... meh?)

so, do I fight for my blu-ray burner (that I barely use, but it WAS an important part of my decision to buy the m1530 vs. a different machine, and I DID pay a premium for it) and whatever else I can get, or do I just let it go?
If I could get a refund of my purchase price, I'd probably do that and buy something else, but I'm not entirely sure that's a possibility.

Thanks for the help!


Original specs:
XPS M1530 - Intel® Core蒂 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache), Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate Edition SP1
Quantity: 1

-- XPS M1530 --
-- Intel® Core蒂 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
-- [223-5880]
-----------------------
-- System Color --
-- Tuxedo Black
-- [313-6439]
-----------------------
-- Memory --
-- 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
-- [311-7823]
-----------------------
-- LCD, Color and camera --
-- High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2.0 M
-- [320-6693]
-----------------------
-- Video Card --
-- 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
-- [320-6082]
-----------------------
-- Hard Drives --
-- Size: 320GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
-- [341-5865]
-----------------------
-- Operating System --
-- Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate Edition SP1
-- [310-9764]
-- [420-5769]
-- [420-5924]
-- [420-6436]
-- [420-8585]
-- [420-6995]
-- [420-7590]
-- [463-2282]
-----------------------
-- Software - Adobe --
-- Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1
-- [420-7468]
-----------------------
-- Combo or DVD+RW Drive --
-- Slot Load Blu-ray Disc (BD/DVD/CD read/write)
-- [467-4814]
-- [420-7759]
-- [420-8164]
-----------------------
-- Sound Card --
-- Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
-- [313-5014]
-----------------------
-- Wireless Networking Cards --
-- Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
-- [430-2449]
-----------------------
-- Productivity --
-- No Microsoft Office
-- [412-1397]
-----------------------
-- Software - Antivirus --
-- McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 36-months
-- [410-1839]
-----------------------
-- Primary Battery --
-- 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
-- [312-0639]
-----------------------
-- Warranty & Service --
-- 3Yr In-Home Service, Parts Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
-- [412-0359]
-- [950-3339]
-- [960-3652]
-- [960-8710]
-- [988-5618]
-- [983-5942]
-- [988-5617]
-- [984-2360]
-----------------------
-- Accident and Theft Protection --
-- Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 3Yr Warr.
-- [412-0358]
-- [960-9188]
-- [991-1159]
-- [420-8653]
-----------------------
-- Dial-Up Internet Access --
-- No ISP requested
-- [412-0148]
-----------------------
-- SECURITY --
-- Finger Print Reader XPS M1530
-- [467-2337]
-----------------------
-- Bluetooth and Wireless USB --
-- Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
-- [430-2566]
-----------------------
-- Environmental Options --
-- Recycling Kit and Plant a Tree for Me
-- [310-5408]
-----------------------
-- Media Center Enhancements --
-- AVerTV Hybrid NanoExpress ATSC TV Tuner w/ Media Center Remote Control
-- [320-6260]
-- [412-0948]
-----------------------
-- Doms Camera and Color --
-- High Res, Black glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2MP Ca
-- [320-6797]
-- [420-7715]
-----------------------
-- Processor Branding --
-- Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor
-- [310-9348]
-----------------------
-- Dell Printer Driver --
-- Windows Vista蒂 Premium
-- [310-8628]
-----------------------
-- DataSafe Online Backup --
-- Included 3 GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Yr
-- [987-4817]
-- [420-7092]
-- [420-7091]
-- [988-0099]
-----------------------


Replacement specs:
1 224-9506 XPS L501X
1 310-0173 Airborne Documentation, System Exchanges,Factory Install
1 312-1114 92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1 317-5422 4GB,DDR3,2 DIMM
1 317-5722 Intel Core i5-560M 2.66GHz / up to SC 3.2GHz / 3M
1 318-0138 JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
1 318-0151 Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
1 318-0152 Metalloid Aluminum (WLAN) L501X
1 318-0237 Power DVD 9.6 with 3D, Factory Install
1 320-1659 NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M 1GB graphics with Optimus and TV Tuner
1 320-1673 15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X
1 330-6222 Windows 7 Label
1 331-0481 Backlit Keyboard (Internal) - English
1 331-0483 Resource DVD L501X
1 342-1682 500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
1 410-0487 No full-featured Office 2010 software selected
1 410-1883 Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 Multi-Language
1 410-2464 MCAFEE PEARL MUI,36MTH,Without Media
1 412-0361 Soft Contracts - DHS Home Sales
1 420-6436 PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 420-6576 DELL WELCOME,Software Dimension/Inspiron
1 420-7938 Dell Connect 2.1
1 420-9100 Dell Dock Consumer
1 420-9691 DataSafe Local BackUp
1 420-9876 Cozi-Calendar
1 421-0092 DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
1 421-0187 Dell Support Center Software 64 Bit 2.0
1 421-0356 Windows Live Search,Consumer Notebooks
1 421-0757 Skype VOIP Application
1 421-1193 Download Store Links
1 421-1362 Dell Software,Roxio 1.0
1 421-1365 Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit, English
1 421-2086 eBay Webslice
1 421-3874 Camera Software 2.X, Factory Install
1 421-4060 Fast Access Facial Recognition 3.0 SW Application
1 421-4118 WHITEPAGES.COM,Webslice
1 430-3891 Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
1 430-3893 No Mobile Broadband L501X
1 430-3894 Dell Bluetooth 3.0
1 430-4038 Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card
1 464-7384 Exchange

 

I'd try to haggle a bit, get better specs because it doesn't hurt to try.
If they don't budge, I'd still take it as is in your position.

 

I think it is a fair replacement. The things you mentioned are not available on the XPS series, so there's not much they can do about that. You are getting a brand new system with updated technology, and a lot of the specs are much better than your old system. I doubt they would refund you the purchase price, as you have had use of your system for a while now. I'd take the replacement in a second! But you could always try to haggle a little more out of them! And I would stick with a XPS 15, the 14 is inferior in several aspects.

 

Dell kept asking me if I wanted a refund on my S-XPS 1645, even after 6 months of use. They really didn't wanna send me another replacement, but I refused. Try your luck..

 

I know that a lot of those features are no longer available on the XPS series (the blu-ray burner is, just not on the 15), that doesn't mean I'm not upset about losing them.
USB 3.0 ports and eSATA PowerShare are nice, but it's still a reduction in the number of total ports, and I don't have any peripherals that can take advantage of the 3.0 or eSATA, so it doesn't SEEM like an upgrade to me (perception is everything, I suppose).

Just curious what makes the 14 so inferior to the 15? I almost prefer the smaller screen size (I don't have 1080p on my XPS m1530, so I wasn't expecting it on a replacement, and don't care THAT much about it, plus there wouldn't be an issue of a larger-than-current screen trying to fit in my existing bags) - the starting price of the XPS14 is higher, and it has a blu-ray burner, so if I build one "like or better" - it's much closer to my original XPS m1530 specs (minus 1.4" of screen size, but the resolution is comparable).

The more I think about it, the more I think the BD-RE is a deal breaker.
The latest tech support guy I talked to said his supervisor was looking into getting the blu-ray burner from an XPS 14 or an after-market (dell sanctioned) part for me. (I suppose I'd even take an external BD-RE if I had to), and he said he felt bad about the fact that I'd purchased firewire cables a week before my computer crapped out, so he'd see if there was anything he could do about that (definitely not holding my breath on the firewire solution).
We'll see if this support request actually gets anything done... I'm trying to be positive and hopeful

 

full refund of what you paid? or partial refund?
and was it going to be a credit to your dell account, or an actual check/cash/credit card credit?

If I got a full refund of the price I paid, I could buy this exact replacement machine and have plenty leftover to buy an external blu-ray and a bunch of other goodies...

 

In 2008 I got a full refund for an inspiron 9100 three years after purchase, so it certainly is possible. I was in a very similar situation where the system offered as a replacement did not have all the features of the old system.

old machine -> new machine
xp -> vista
sub-woofer -> no sub-woofer
128bit graphics card -> 64 bit graphics card
1680 x 1050 -> 1400x900
loads of ports -> 2 usb and a couple of others

I explained the issues I had and they said they could offer a full refund or that system... so I took the refund

It was a full refund paid back into my bank account (not credit with dell or anything like that).

Saying that, if you would be happy with an XPS 14 with the BD-RE just reiterate that to them and see how it goes.

Don't push for too much, I was just honest with them saying that the system they were offering did not meet my needs for the above reasons, I never asked for a refund.

Like you I had suggested a different system which would meet my needs and at their retail prices actually cost less than the one they were offering me. They came back saying that the system I suggested (which they were selling for around £800) would not be possible, but I could have a full refund of £1400. I was very confused how they figured a refund would be better for them but I was very happy to accept the refund.

They will of course want to have your old laptop back if they issue you a refund =p

 

I don't think the replacement they are offering is bad at all. Some things, like the S-Video are really becoming obsolete, your m1530 had both because at that time one technology was being phased out in favor of the other. Just like now we're seeing Display Port/HDMI/DVI/VGA on some models. I doubt DVI or VGA will stick around much longer as the newer tech takes it's place.

The BD-RE drive issue is weird. They offer it on the XPS 14 but not the 15 or 17. They also want $450 to upgrade to a BD-RE drive, which is insane. I suggest taking the upgrade if they won't offer you the drive, it's still a good deal, and if you really want the RE drive, you can purchase one on eBay for about $130 new, and upgrade it yourself. Your BD-ROM drive would sell on the forum here for at least $60, depending on speed.

Matt

 

Dude when I got my M1330 replaced by SXPS 1647, I was upset about the fingerprint reader as well...Then I just bought a UPEK eikon and move on. Except the blu-ray burner, everything else is ok to me. i5 vs T8300 is a big plus already, as well as DDR3 ram, a more powerful display card, 500GB 7200rpm HDD vs 320GB 5400rpm...

 

A full refund back to my credit card.

 

Yes it's a fair replacement, probably even beyond fair. The list of upgrades seems to far outweigh what doesn't carry over to the new machine.

 

If I could get my machine fixed or a replacement machine with the same HD/OS/GPU/RAM/Screen as my current, I would... I didn't initiate the system replacement, nor did I really want it, but I suppose I can't complain TOO much about a brand new computer.

Thanks EVERYone for the input - I'm going to hear what dell has to say when they contact me today or tomorrow (or when I contact them and say "um, someone was supposed to contact me?!")... I still think the BD-RE is a big deal and worth fighting for... and I see no reason why, if the part exists, they can't somehow make it happen, even though it's not normally on that model. I'd settle for an external blu-ray burner, but the ability to burn blu-rays is something that made my decision to get a dell, and I think I'm not really willing to give it up.