Dell XPS M1530 First Look and Video

Does dell include an actual OS with Key? Or just their bundled Bloatware Backup B/S.

If they include a key can it be used with a different installation?

DB Comparison

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html
Whisper Quiet Library 30dB
Normal conversation (3-5') 60-70dB

So its not all that loud, when the CPU is working that hard you will either have music/game or a video playing, the sound will overcome the Fan.

Keep in mind the Vent is on the back, And it will be shooting against a wall & away from you. With the speakers bouncing sound off the screen and to you, you will barley hear the fan.

 

Could you include a brief comparison between the Lenovo T61 and the MacBook Pro in the review?

 

Dell includes an OEM copy of Vista and the COA label (w/key) on the bottom of the computer.

From my experience, Dell Windows discs can install on any Dell system (there is no activation when installed on a Dell system).

 

would i be able to format & install a retail (hot) copy of Vista & use that key?

 

Of course. You can install whatever you want - it's just a blank hard drive after you format it (just like any other computer).

 

The GPU temperatures and fan noise aren't bad at all, I really like the look of this laptop.

If I went to staples would they have it on display?

 

Doubt it, but it's worth a try if you live close to one....

 

quick question; if i buy it with 1 gig ram, can i upgrade it easily later by just unscrewing sth.. and not taking out the keyboard, b/c $125 for 2 gig is so expensive...

 

yeh u can get at the ram easily.

I went for 3GB so i can take out the 1 GB ram chip & put in another 2GB to have 4GB Dual Channel.
I shoulda just went with 1G ram and bought my ram on my own (54 bucks each for 2GB here)

**For dual channel u must have 2 IDENTICAL DIMMS with IDENTICAL Capacities Example 2GB X2)

1GB ram for sale........

 

I thought the drop in performance of no longer having dual channel negated the extra gig of ram...

Personally, i'm planning on getting 2 sticks of 2gig ram(NCIX has a pair for ~100cnd) and putting the old ram in my current laptop, which i'll then sell to my brother.

 

dual channel doesn't boast your performance THAT much.

 

lol dual channel =5% increase in performance...more RAM is ALWAYS better than dual channel

 

ill do some benchmarks & let ya know

then again ill have 4GB of dual channel instead of 3GB non dual channel

 

Well you guys have the courage to open your laptop and replace its parts. I wouldn't dare to do this. I would do this only with my pc

 

Well changing the ram has very little risk associated with it, and is incredibly easy. Doing what I did takes some experience, and I would not really recommend doing it if you have never ripped apart a complex device before.

 

I was just wondering, what happens if something goes wrong while testing for the review. Does Dell just send in a brand new unit?

 

Oh okay! So you're telling me that if I changed RAM on a pc motherboard before, it will be as easy for the laptop?

 

Yes, its just as easy, if not easier.

Actually, I think the Dual Channel increase in performance for notebooks is even less than that, more like 2% or so. Certainly not worth it over extra RAM.

 

lol furthur proving my point of how much it blows

 

like anything - just remember how you took it apart!!

Ram in PC can be hard as there is ALOT of force needed to seat the ram & make it click in the Slots, you can easily push the card over if you are not careful.

You also cant just flip a PC case sideways easy if your desk is full of papers.

Also make sure you the slot lined up with the indent on the card or your efforts will be futile & confusing.

Ive never done ram in a Laptop myself but im sure it is very easy as everything is more modular than PC's.

Oh ya turn it off & unplug battery to be sure. & touch metal on the Case to make sure you are grounded. Do not do anything hardware related with laptop on carpet or your feet on carpet in socks. Static+computers= $$$$$$$

Ill be going from 3GB non dual to 4GB Dual. I guesstimate 12.3%!

 

Nitpicky but important question for the review: How's the touchpad? The one on the 1330 was crap...so small and with sharp corners. How's the one on the 1530 compare?

Also, does anyone other than me care about the length of the power cord? Probably not, right. But still, my desk is not near my outlet and Dell ships its notebooks with such short flimsy cords. Annoying to always have to get an extension cord.

 

That's what I would be afraid of - damaging the hardware , because as you said, on a pc , you need A LOT of force to make it clip.

Well maybe someday I'll try that

 

Hi All,

I noticed that the profile images of the laptop have a white background. Does anyone know how the white background and shadow was added?

Apologies for this off-topic question, but I am curious on how this is done.

TIA

 

shot on a white table/backdrop and the flash & light produce the soft shadow...

 

Anybody know what the screen is like on this, mainly what's the reflective glare like?

 

The setup is perfect. I thought the shadow and reflection was photoshopped.

 

Does anybody know if the BD drive is a BD ROM or a read/write drive?

 

In the format dell has on their website it is a WRITER:

Slot Load Blu -ray Disc (BD/DVD/CD read/write) [add $300 or $7/month1]

I would hold off on that until the new year there will be some 5 1/2"'s you can buy and just throw it in an external drive and for ALOT cheaper.

My dvd burner with lightscribe was 70 bucks.

 

Thank you Canadianiceman. I wasn't sure how to interpret the "(BD/DVD/CD read/write)". (For English is not my mother tongue.)
/me feels stupid because his s-video and remote questions were actually on the Dell website answered...too much information in too many places.

But I think you are wrong regarding chosing the DVD drive now and then putting in a BD drive later. The slot (as far as I have read in a lot of articles on the internet) needs to be prepared for HD/BD drives. I guess the connector is slightly different.

 

You'll be able to put a slot load in the 1530 later on, but it will be a major pain in the arss! You have to disassemble the entire chassis to get to the drive.

Other than that, there is no problem in waiting. What I think the other poster was saying is that you can (eventually) get an external BD drive for cheap(er) next year.

 

The way i was talking was not even touching the laptop for BD. Just get an external Enclosure and carry your BD Drive with you.

I use external for my hard drives & DVD burner and it works wonders when i have to goto PC's that do not have DVD burners or External HDDS for backing up or transfering large sums of data.

Keep in mind how expensive BD Media is. 1 Single 25GB disc where i am is $20
And how many devices actually use BD right now.

Back when i got my first dvd player it was 600 dollars. They are divx supported now with HDMI for 200... So i say wait until the craze calms down and prices follow.

 

They will have higher resolutions in the beginning of 2008 my friend. 1440 x 900 and 1680 x 1050 along with LED backlight option. Not only that, but in the beginning of the year they will also introduce these puppies with the new intel chips, penryn. up to 2.8Ghz, 1066 front side bus!!, these chips are amazing also because of the 45nm vs. the 65nm. So they are smaller, faster/smoother performing, and consume much less resources and batter life.

I say to all looking into buying this laptop, you would be fools to buy now and later when LED option comes about, because you need to take full advantage of the new chip offering as well. Also there will be some more software options and more options on colored lids so if you have the patience please give it two months or so then visit the Dell site and you will see what I'm talking about!!!

 

So the 3Dmark06 test was done at 1280x800 and not 1280x1024 right?

 

Meh ill just sell this laptop & get the new one if i reallly need it.

I need a laptop ASAP as mine goes back soon and i rely on laptop on hour to hour basis.

If it ant broke, Overclock it!

 

Kanadianiceman,

you are right and wrong.
External is nice when needed but for I can get all-in-one I opted for that.
I also agree there is not too much BD out there yet but I am one of those guys who just buy a new laptop if REALLY !!!! necessary. Until then BD will be everywhere. BD RULEZ

 

Well for the higher resolutions, they are due for the beginning of next year, but in CCFL.
I guess we'll have to wait to at least Q2 to get LED backlit screens.

But you might also be right, and if it's the case, then it's just awesome!

 

That is correct.

 

The performance would go down with a higher resolution screen in the M1530 im sure for games nothing too outta control,

But i for one have been on a 1024X768 intel shared ram laptop for 3 years and ive been happy with MoHAA & CS..... I cant wait until I get this beast my eyes are going to pop out of my head.

I happen to have 3 19" CRT's sitting around from when my desktop blew up..
Might get me one of http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/products/th2go/digital/home.php

 

... Not to be mean or anything, but did you have a stroke half-way through writing this message?

And i'm with Kanadianiceman here... If you arnt going to get the internal blu-ray drive now, dont even think about upgrading to an internal one later on. A standard 5.25" blu ray burner would be considerably cheaper(you pay a premium for laptop drives, and a premium on THAT for slot-loading laptop drives)

Best to keep it external if you can. Esp. if you own a stronger desktop computer, that would be better for authoring Blu-ray disc's.

 

But all in all, with this screen, would this laptop still be a good buy?

 

External DVDR Drives are sweet cause you can just hook them up to your USB when u want to burn 3 copies of whatever at the same time. save 300 bucks & buy a BD external & DVD external and you have 3 drives you can make your own pirate shop.

you can get the the inspiron 1720 almost exactly spec but with DDR2 video memory & 17" screen, regular CD for less.. I JUST about got it, but I spent the extra dough cause im an enthusiast at heart, not a bargain finder.

15" inspiron is even cheaper. & lighter.

XPS M1530 is 2+ week wait. i ordered mine on 2nd, it was canceled for some stupid reason , had to reorder on 4th, ships on the 21st, maybe.

Bonus on XPS's:
GDDR3 (wicked for gaming)
slot load dvd (big whoop, noisy, more chance of getting dust inside)
Finger reader (who cares, most of time you wont use, new gimmick)
HDMI out (kickass for high quality out to your 50" LCD HD TV)
Looks friggin sweet. Barrel hinge - No latch

 

the XPS coupons blow though so dont get ur hopes up...there was a $200 off $999 a while back..now its $200 off $1399...GAY

 

A notebook memory slot is typically very different than the memory slot on a desktop. Notebook memory you typically place in at an angle and it rotates into the slot. It takes a fraction of the force required in a typical install in a PC motherboard.

 

In the video, the M1530 screen seems much brighter than the M1330. Are brightness levels at max on both machines?

 

I noticed that, but I highly doubt it. The regular M1330 screen isn't nearly that dark, and definitely the LED model is one of the brightest screens on the market right now.

 

So true. Its incredibly easy......except for the internal ram bay. The one under the keyboard. That one still makes me a bit antsy. The one under the laptop is incredibly easy.

 

I think it may have something to do with viewing angles? That, or the 1330 is CCFL.

 

Some dell deals are going on for 1530, nothing to write home about.
US only I think
http://www.dell.com/content/product...b_m1530?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=bundlestab
-Includes $100 Promotional Gift Card
-Free 2nd Day Business Shipping

Best 1499 setup gets $200 Promotional Gift Card

Canadian Configured $1409
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8600M GT
8X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+r
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

 

To those in the US who can get a XPS M1530 for less than a similar spec Inspiron 1520 - lucky *******! lol.

On the UK site (using coupons) the XPS is £200 ($400) more expensive than the Inspiron with same specs (T7500 2.2Ghz, 8600GT, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 9 cell battery).

 

yeh the inspiron & XPS in canada were almost identical pricing if you went 2GHZ.
There was a deal on inspirons for 200 less but it ended on the 6th.

and no HDMI out tho on that inspiron! or GDDR3 Memory. So HUGE advantage there.