Dell 17"

zpos

zpos

zpos

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11 Jan 2004
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Need some advice from you regarding this laptop from the states.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+...ategoryId=pcmcat196200050015&id=1218158730573

A friend of mine is thinking about buying it as he's in States at the moment. As far as I can tell, it's got good spec. It's over 17" and I've found out the screen res is 1366x768. He won't be playing games on it but I was wondering if that res is low for a 17".

Anyway let me know especially if you find anything else suspect as I'm not hot on laptops.
 
Confusing. Dell don't list a 17'' Core i7 Studio 17; it only seems to be available in the 15'' model. Also, the lowest screen res I can find on their site for that model is 1440x900; that's the lowest I've seen on any 17'' laptop in fact.
 
Thanks. I've talked him out of it. He'll be messed up for any warranty when he brings it back. He's better getting something over here.

Looked like a good bargain tho but maybe a bit too short sighted. Plus, he'll grow biceps if he starts to lug that thing around!
 
The i7 was available on the Studio 17 till recently, it *may* have been pulled due to the fact that they keep throttling, this may not be the case on the 15" as the screen would likely draw less power.

That 768 screen was standard but a 1080 screen was an available upgrade.
(I've been keeping an eye on the Studio 17 for a while, it's insane the amount the spec has been changing)

It's not a bad deal overall, and it says it has a Bluray drive, though without a 1080 screen it seems an odd oversight.

As you've said though, the warranty will be a sticking point and I'm not sure the extra hassle is worth the potential savings.
 
Especially as he'll be knocking on my door when it doesn't work quite right! Sometimes I wish I was a butcher to save all this free pc support hassle!
 
DON'T BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously. My Studio 1747 is RUBBISH

There's so many issues with these it's untrue.

1. You can't add a second HDD as dell refuse you sell you the required metal bracket. They are £40 off the auction sites

2. The CPU keeps throttling like you wouldn't believe. CPU FAN cuts out, then goes 100% and sounds like an aircraft taking off, then quiet, then loud, then quiet!!!!!!! GRRRR. It's REALLY annoying

3. The build quality IS AWFUL!!!! Keyboard raised in the middle, cheap plastics, screws made out of butter

4. Unknown device in device manager. Installed all drivers off CD and website but can't get rid. Dell tech haven't got a clue!

5. TFT is soft and almost blurry. Not a patch on my Samsung TN panel :-O

6. IMGBURN and Nero fails on burning DVD-Rs. The optical drive is really picky on media and trying to get the damn thing to eject is a nightmare

7. Dell UK refuse to sell you Wireless-N or Bluetooth as it is incompatible with i7. I guess the US i7 is different than the UK i7 ROFL

Theres loads more but I can't be bothered anymore as I'm getting angry. Dell know the problems as...........oh look, two months later and they've released the 1749 LOL
No doubt Studio 17 owners will tell you there's is great as they won't admit to spent £1,000 on a piece of cr@p. We'll I call a spade a spade so here it is. Actually, that's not true. Check the dell forums and you'll find loads of unhappy customers.

oh, almost forgot about the packaging it came in from china......or rather it didn't!!!! NO PACKAGING! Just a flimsy box with a HUGH photo of the laptop on the side. Yeah, like that's a good idea.
 
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Just like to say, that the one I have, isn't suffering fom any problems, apart from the ps, which admitedly goes get rarther warm, lol. But judging by the Dell forum, there looking into replacing the 90w one for 130w.

As for thottling, I havn't noticed that, all the games I play are acceptable when playing. But then I didn't get this for just playing games, and am no gamer, so maybe thats why I don't see it The fan doesn't seem to cut in/out umpteen times, but only when needed. I have been able to play quite a few Full HD (1080p) movies, without any problems, unlike others who seemed to have had issues.

The build quality is about right for this mid-end laptop. The keyboard isn't the best, but perfectly acceptable for typing on. Do like the illuminated option.

Have nothing untoward listed in Device Manager, havn't had to update anything, just yet.

The screen is as good as the Asus laptop I have, again no complaints. Would have liked to have had the option to upgrade to the Full HD panel, but they seemed to have been in short supply when ordering.

I've installed Nero, as I've always used it in the past, and manages to burn discs as per normal. would have been nice to have had an eject button near to the drive slot, but guess there wasn't the room. But again not a bigee for me.

Its not a perfect laptop, by any means, but no worse than any that I've had over the years. And for what I paid for it, £780 ain't too bad for a fairly high spec machine. I could have spent double that on say a Sony, and still ended up with a laptop with various problems. It seems as with any laptop, you'll get ones that work out-of-box with hardly any problems, and others that simply won't, as seen by reading the Dell forums. As they say "Go figure".

My 2p's worth.
 
Apparently Dell's warranty is only valid internationally if you get Next Business day warranty which costs an arm and a leg.
 
Yeah I held off the 1747 due to all the throttling and heat isues. I ordered a 1749 hoping a lot of the issues will have been ironed out.

It has the new 5650 which runs cooler and less wattage and the i5 should run a good 10w less than the i7. Sill no option of the 1080p screen so hoping the 900p screen will be good quality.

I have been through a lot of dell laptops and had a few lemons so this 1749 will be tested thoroughly and if there are any problems its going back in the 7 day return window.

I can put up with a few small nagging issues (ie keyboard flex, fan noise) but I cannot put up with any throttling, poor screen or external heat
 
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