Dell Studio 15 Special Edition... anyone ordered one? I did!!!

Hello ladies and gents, this is my first post!

I just wanted to see if anyone has gotten the chance to check out the new SE Studio 15 from Dell.

Link is here!
http://www.dell.com/content/product...-15-edge-to-edge?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn

My mom wanted to get me a Dell Mini for my b-day and I was like mom, let me configure one and you can tell me I can or can't have it. I just about tapped it out and came in a little over $1,700 with all the goodies, a travel ac/dc charger, and blue tooth wireless remote.

The laptop itself is not found on the site when you go to setup a Studio 15/17 but it is in the gray drop down menu towards the top it says special edition.

I really like the Studio 15/17 line but it has always looked plain to me even with the top and side accent colors... I was looking for something different but my mom did not approve the $2,400 configuration of the Studio XPS 16.

Spec's are as follows... (From the Dell Order Status Page)

Studio 1537, Intel Core 2 Duo P8600, 2.4GHz, 1066Mhz, 3M L2 Cache
Back-lit Keyboard
15.4 inch ETE Panel with WXGA+TL (WLED), W/ CAMERA
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450
320GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with Free Fall Sensor, Seagate Casey
Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 Home Premium Edition, English
Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11AGNHalf Mini Card
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, 3 Year Limited Warranty
Blue tooth
Fingerprint reader

All of the software to go along that comes standard, no MS Office package. I have a 07 version that will be used when I get this, and I opted to get the microtrend internet security over the norton/macafee counterparts.

The thing that sucks is it will not be here until 04-14-09, so I will have to wait. But with every laptop I customized on Dell's site it was maybe 6-8 days sooner but it was not "everything" that I wanted. And it was the "blah" colors and the configuration was not as good as I wanted. I wanted a XPS 15 but the hard drive choices where meager, a 500gb 5400rpm drive, a 128gb SSD, and a 256gb SSD, "COMMON DELL WHATS UP WITH THAT?". I had to have a eSata port and this one has it, the top usb port on the left side is a usb port but it doubles as a eSata port, sweet! I have a 1tb WD triple interface usb/firewire400/eSata drive and I wanted the speed of internal sata drive with an external use.

The only thing I may have problems with later down the line or in the days/years to come is getting newer games to play on it. Before my old desktop's videocard crashed I was playing TF2:Source, DOD:Source, CS:Source, and a sweet racing game called ToCa Race Driver 3... best racing SIM I have played, I love it. From what I have read this laptop should blaze through all of these games without a hitch but if I wanted to installed like COD4, Fear2 or something newer alone those lines I would have to run far lower settings than standard/default.

I spent three days during my spare time trying to get the right configuration and stay below $1,800. I kept going back to the SE Studio 15 and I think I will enjoy it. It's got about everything I need other than maybe a better video card I could want or ask for, and from what I hear the nine cell battery not only helps it run cooler because it is raised up higher in the back for air flow, but it gives you at least a 1/3rd longer battery life over the standard six cell.

Thanks for your time... this site and of course youtube was my main resources when checking into laptops. Thanks for the information it has helped a lot... I will be hanging around too, and try to be a active member of the site and forums area as much as I can.

And now... the questions, comments and you know the rest!

Peace,

 

I'm sorry, I had to stop reading there on account of laughing so hard.

 

LOL "genital" d@mn spell checker on firefox!

EDITED!

- -

Peace,

 

I ordered the studio 15, but decided to cancel my order and upgrade (for $39) to the Studio 17 model with a better GPU.

Did you use the coupon for $250 off systems $1099 and over? This made my system around $950 after tax.

There is also a coupon for 25% off xps laptops at 1,599 and over. If you didn't previously use these coupons I would consider cancelling and reordering, but caution because I think today or tomorrow is the last day the coupons are valid.

 

I did not want the 17" due to size and weight. Also the black and red finish is a sweet touch too!

It took like $300 off with the instant savings. My configured laptop was more than the coupon was for, so it wouldn't work.

Peace,

 

I ordered one. And it just shipped today! It should be here by Monday. By the way I have almost exactly the same specs and I got mine for $1173 with tax...just saying.

 

Yeah, it's cheaper if you start at the base config and customize with a coupon because $150+ of the discount doesn't go to warranty and antivirus software that way...

 

FYI I just checked the base model and did the coupon and it is cheaper with the discount it already has.

"Discount Details Close
Save $294 off this Dell Studio 15!
Expires Thursday, July 09, 2009 Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers. Taxes, shipping, handling and other fees apply. U.S. Dell Home and Home Office new purchases only. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors."

When I was configuring one, the discount price seemed to get higher the more I added unto the discount said above. When I configured it, the laptop would have been almost $2,100 before the discounts. The laptop with the blue tooth remote and the home/car/air charger was $1,715 and some change... that's a pretty good discount if you ask me!

Peace,

 

Grat's on your order! I crave to see pics of it when you receive, if you don't mind

It looks so sweet & sleek! :yes:


Cin

 

Well, Spyda Kat will have the SE before me. But from the looks of it, I spent a little more cheese a got a few extra upgrades over his/her's. Mainly hard drive, warrenty, and battery. But these are things I need, Spyda Kat may be on a budget or just doesn't need them but I do.

Can anyone give me there windows experience scores with a studio 15/17 with the same spec's or near the same spec's as mine?

Peace,

 

Yea I didn't really those stuff to be honest. It's so good to finally see "shipped" on the webpage after waiting for so long.

 

Yeah that's awesome, you need to give us the skinny when you get it.

Peace,

 

Congrats on your order! Please post pics when you get your new laptop, that new Special Edition finish looks super sweet!
I have a "Regular" Edition Studio 1537. It is a very nice computer, you will not be disappointed! The only major difference (aside from the awesome look) is that I have a T9400 Core 2 Duo: 2.53 gHz/1066 mHz/6 MB L2.
How much RAM did you order yours with? I have 4GB
Here are my Windows Scores Though:
Overall: 4.0
Processor: 5.4
Memory: 5.9
Graphics: 4.0
Gaming Graphics: 4.0
HDD: 5.6

 

I got the Intel Core 2 Duo P8600, 2.4GHz, 1066Mhz, 3M L2 Cache, 4gig's of ram. What hard drive and videocard do you have in yours?

I have the Intel Centrino 2, will that make a difference with the scores high, low, or about the same?

Peace,

 

Most def. Just a few more days.

 

Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450 (256MB)
HDD: 250 GB, 7200 RPM (Made By Hitatchi)

You know, I really don't know if having Centrino 2 or not would increase or not. I don't think it will, a T9400 running without an Intel WiFi Card probably runs the same. Now Centrino/Centrino 2 there may be a difference there, since the Processor/Chipsets are newer.
P8600 is a good processor, runs at only 25 watts, compared to the Txxx that run at 35 watts.
The reason I picked the T9400 was the 6MB of L2 Cache it comes with, I think that gives a really big performance boost.
PS, did Dell put the proper Centrino 2 sticker on yours?

 

Dell said it was the Centrino 2. I looked at Intel's site and from what I am gathering it becomes a Centrino 2 mobile tech. when you combine the cpu I have and the intel 5100a/b/g/n card to the laptop.

"Correct me if I am wrong here folks"

Peace,

 

Yeah, thats correct.
Dell just needed to get rid of all of the old "Centrino" labels before they could start getting the new "Centrino 2" labels applied to their machines =p

 

the special edition looks awesome .. when are you guys expecting your order to arrive?

 

Spyda's shipped on the 25th. Mine should be at the door by 4-14 from Dell's site. Hopefully mine will be here sooner.

Peace,

 

Thanks mommy!

 

Indeed, she's a great mom!

Peace,

 

I ordered mine less than a week ago, but according to my estimated ship date my computer might ship 2000 years into the past? 01/01/0001 to be exact....

Oh Well

Edit: FML

 

Odd and kinda creepy!

Peace,

 

It's obviously a plot to stop global warming.

 

Sounds like a sequel to "Back to the Future"

 

Spyda... did you get your 1537 SE in yet?

Peace,

 

if i had the $, i would get a new sony or asus....but i realize that this is a dell forum, and conditons warrant many here to order dells...

after looking at the pics,,,looks like an improvement over previous models....maybe a fingerprint magnet,,,though it looks better.

 

I'm going to go check for it on Monday and it should be there.

 

Nice...remember, pics and a nice mini-review!


Cin

 

Ohh don't worry, I plan on doing a unboxing video, pic's, reviews and all as I have time.

Peace,

 

Double Sweet(ness) I can't wait to see them from both of you
Unboxing vid's are fun to watch!

Cin

 

Indeed they are. I am going to call Dell later today and see if I can get it shipped to me a little faster. I do not want to have to wait for it all day on my day off when it is supposed to get here on the 14th. I would rather enjoy it and already had it setup and running games and app's.

Peace,

 

woow...$1700 for a studio 15?..I know..special edition huh...
I don't know, I just bought my studio xps from dell outlet for 600+tax.....

 

If they tell me check back tomorrow again today I'm gonna go insane.

Oops. Wrong link

 

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/pro.../laptop-studio-1555?c=cn&cs=cndhs1&l=zh&s=dhs

The site's in Chinese, but the specs are self explantory.

I say wait for the new 15.6" Studio 15. For the same price, you can get a Mobility Radeon HD 4570 (roughly twice as fast as the 3450).

Remember, "special edition" is akin to "must get rid of stock" in the PC market.

 

But you get a loss in resolution and the edge to edge display, and the loss of media buttons too. So it's a trade off that may not be worth it for some people.

 

Indeed, I just checked out my local best buy and checked out the sound on a studio laptop, it sounded loud and clear in that loud of a place. The sound was my main worry point. The videocard if it doesn't play my games then I will just deal with it. It's a gift, I am not complaining... I will enjoy it to it's fullest. A buddy of mine has a studio 15 with a slower CPU and half of the ram than this one is going to have and his plays wow and hl2 just fine!

Peace,

 

I suppose you're right, but I'd rather have a faster GPU than media buttons I barely use. 1280x800 and 1366x768 isn't that much of a difference to me. Then again as you said earlier, everyone have their own preferences.

 

Why didnt you get the precision M4400 ???

 

What is your order delivery status? I know you were hoping it would arrive today, perhaps!


Cin

 

Got it yesterday. Uploading to youtube as we speak.

Update: See here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4695020#post4695020

 

Very nice

The rooster was a little out of control though...

 

Rooster... It's what's for dinner! LOL

Peace,

 

Actually, you don't lose the the media buttons on the 1555. They are integrated into the function (F) keys. Media is primary and F1, F2, etc are secondary by using the Fn key. They finally figured out that touch sensitive keys, although cool, aren't very practical. As for the screen, I'm sure they'll offer higher resolutions soon enough.

 

Lol Yea I know eh.

 

What makes the special edition worth the extra $ over the standard studio 15?

Also, what exactly does the "edge-to-edge" display mean?

 

The screen and its looks. Edge to edge means that the display is behind a sheet of glass, meaning that there are no plastic bumpers around the screen. It prevents dust from getting lodged and it looks better.

 

Laptop was delayed a week due to adding some addtional discounts to my order. The Dell sales rep. messed the order up twice and I ended up reporting her and the rep's manager called me the next day to replace the order. I got the same spec'ed laptop with 4yr's of coverage for a bit less than $1,450 before taxes. I got an additional discount on the laptop and the extra goodies I ordered and they even gave me 2nd day shipped at no extra cost! The goodies other than the bluetooth media remote have already been shipped. My laptop should be here on the 21st "hopefully sooner!".

I will keep everyone updated and do the usual unboxing video. I hope to get the chance to do some gaming reviews/videos as well. Video's and pic's will be taken when it gets here. "I said gooday!" For now, over and out.

Peace,

 

Wow that's one hell of a deal! You need to advertise your services as a negotiator.