Dell's Studio XPS 1340 and Studio XPS 1640 sneak onto the scene

In all-too-familiar fashion, Dell's new Studio XPS laptops have snuck onto the company's store with nary a press release to keep them company. The 1340 is obviously the Studio XPS 13 we saw last month, while the 1640 is naturally the 16-inch version of the leather accented system. Both machines are (oddly) hitting at the same $1,199 pricepoint, with Core 2 Duo processors and the typical smorgasbord of options. The base model of the 1340 includes a P8400 processor, Vista Home Premium, a 13.3-inch WXGA LCD, 2 megapixel webcam, 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM, 320GB 7200rpm SATA drive, slot-loading DVD burner and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M G graphics, while the 1640 is similar, but with ATI Mobility RADEON M86XT graphics.

[Via NotebookReview.com; thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Dell Studio XPS 1340
Read - Dell Studio XPS 1640

[Matt @ Jan 7th 2009 3:09AM]

Wow, that looks nice. Think im gonna grab one when it comes out... the first laptop ive seen that caught my eye and isnt a apple or some ridiculously overpriced product ! =)

[nerdtalker @ Jan 7th 2009 3:48AM]

I'm impressed, Dell is shipping these with 64-bit Vista (the only two options are both 64-bit). Finally, a good, forward-thinking decision. Vista Ultimate 64-bit seems much more stable than Ultimate 32-bit.

[SkateNY @ Jan 7th 2009 5:37AM]

Go for it! Tell us how it works out when it starts breaking down, as all Dell products reliably do.

[Level 5 @ Jan 7th 2009 6:01AM]

I love Dell's notebooks, but these badboys are hovering dangerously close to overpriced for me my friend.

[Neha @ Jan 7th 2009 8:52AM]

Hear, hear. Wasn't taken with the m1330's and have been on my m1210 for what it seems like an eternity. Once they drop in price, I'm treating myself to the 1340.

Might have to hold out till for the Win7 upgrade programs kicks in as well.

[cg0def @ Jan 7th 2009 10:05AM]

WTF the LED screen is an upgrade and it cost $125? It should have been standard along with bluetooth. XPS used to stand for supersized premium just a couple of years ago!

[schmitty338 @ Jan 7th 2009 10:48AM]

@SkateNY

Dell's are no less reliable than other large computer makers.... It may seem so when you read forums, etc. and see a ton of problems, but that is simply because Dell sells soooo many laptops! Even if Dell has a lower breakdown rate than another maker, they probably also sell WAY more laptops, and thus will have a higher absolute number of people with problems.

That said, their warranty policy is pretty damn good and they never seem to care replacing any part of, or the entire, computer as many times as it takes to make you happy (nice thing about dealing with a huge company with a lot of money).

For example, I have a 600m for almost 5 years, sold it for $200 to my brother-in-law who has been, and still is, using it at his shop for about a year now. I have had a XPS M1330 since then and have had no problems.

[Cash @ Jan 7th 2009 3:11AM]

Sure as hell looks more attractive then some goofy $2700 macbook. I'll take the 1 less inch screen size if it will save me over a grand.

[Level 5 @ Jan 7th 2009 7:24AM]

The difference isn't quite that drastic between the 09 17" MBP and the XPS Studio 16. When you fully flesh out an XPS Studio 16, it's about $500 difference. But even with that, you don't get certain "premiums" (read: things I don't personally care about, but a professional might); like the dual GPU's, custom battery, accelerometers, etc. One thing to consider; the jump to 4GB to 8GB in the new 17" MBP is $1200 where as in the XPS Studio 16 it's $800. I wonder how similar in spec the memory used by each company is...

Also (AND DAMNIT THIS IS NOT TO START AN OPERATING SYSTEM/FANBOY ARGUMENT), but you're only getting Vista Home Premium with this notebook, and the jump to Ultimate is $150.. ow. On the other hand, you only have one version of OS X that's not for servers, which I'm sure even for Apple factors into the price.

[Neha @ Jan 7th 2009 8:54AM]

But the Macbook is birthed in its pristine unibody(not) shell somewhere in guangdong province.

Also Jobs saves us the trouble of having clutter like Removable Batteries, MMC Reader, Biometrics, BRD Playback/Burning and oh yeah a fucking right click button.

[YpoCaramel @ Jan 7th 2009 11:16AM]

My take is as follows:

Dell Studio M1640 Pluses, $2000ish config:
Blu-Ray Drive
128GB SSD or nice HDD
E-Sata / USB slot
RGB LED Screen

Apple 2009 Unibody 17" MBP, $2800
Dual GPU, 9600GT slightly faster and cooler (word of mouth)
Long battery life
Acceleration meter
Presumably great Apple screen
FW800
Sleek

No idea on weight and hard to compare the quality of construction, the MBP is definitely very sturdy. Video card on both is meh - Leonovo has already announced the next-gen nvidias on their laptops.

Of course, OSX may be the tie breaker for many, but if you are OS neutral than its up to personal preference, whether you find the Blu-ray, SSD options appealing. I wouldn't really say the MBP is more professional (apart from OSX, very popular amongst them) but some people would definitely find its features more useful. Plus, depends on how much you want to spend.

As for me, I'm still wondering if the XPS16 would soon come with a Nvidia N10P option, a much better video card that should be coming Q1 2009.

[SwiTch @ Jan 7th 2009 3:16AM]

Those are some damn good "base" specs...

[you @ Jan 7th 2009 4:07AM]

X2. those "base" specs smash my laptop into the ground :(

[dharna @ Jan 7th 2009 3:19AM]

have been waiting for this a long time

[Davorin @ Jan 7th 2009 3:18AM]

very impressive for dell, i regret ever buying this white notebook damn it all to hell.

[dalus87 @ Jan 7th 2009 3:31AM]

.....i Have been waiting..and waiting..and waiting..
and FINALLY
Thank you Engadget
...wow..
specs are awesome, 1640 has a 512Graphics card standard omfg............
need some benchmarks but omfg!!!!!!
yup, and the saving...begins...now......

[ed. @ Jan 7th 2009 3:29AM]

DO WANT

[ed. @ Jan 7th 2009 3:32AM]

The ATI Radeon M86XT is the SKU name for the ATI Radeon 3670 according to this:

http://products.amd.com/pt-br/MobilityGPUDetail.aspx?id=10&f1=&f2=&f3=&f4=&f5=&f6=&f7=&f8=&f9=&f10=&f11=&f12=&f13=&f14=&f15=True&

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 7th 2009 7:27AM]

Really? then this is as fast as a 7900GTX... really good for a laptop. Beat my 8600gt in a heartbeat. Crysis should look good on that one. Just be sure to buy with a dell coupon for save 10 or 15%.

[Knives_Out @ Jan 7th 2009 3:31AM]

16:9 ... boo.

[TheGasMan @ Jan 7th 2009 8:39PM]

Why is that a bad thing? Would you rather 16:10? 4:3?

[Alexkapone @ Jan 7th 2009 3:36AM]

The XPS brand continues to bring to the market really competitively priced spec'd performance AND nicely styled machinesThe later of which is sometimes difficult for dell.) This machine does look a bit too shiny though just from the pics. My M1210 is still chugging away from when I first started with it 3 years ago this summer. I think especially in the 12/13 inch form factors these are especially nice machines for college students who are at all interested in using their computer for multimedia purposes. With dell's occasional deals on financing of XPS systems with no interest financing its a great buy.

Anyways I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but getting one of these was the best deal when I was in the market for a computer and I think to some extent it remains the same today. (I'd have to see about that shine though, hah)

[shotta @ Jan 7th 2009 3:39AM]

I want one. Let me ses you bet that Apple.

[SkateNY @ Jan 7th 2009 5:35AM]

Apple doesn't have to beat it. They're already outselling Dell laptops, and not by a little bit. You people need stop being mesmerized by shiny little objects. Either that, or just buy a paper clip to stare at.

[ScaryFast @ Jan 7th 2009 3:43AM]

Dammit! I was putting off buying a new Dell because I was expecting these to come out but by early December there was nothing. So I bought a Studio 15 with 2.25ghz, 4gb, 250gb 7200rpm drive, blu-ray, and got it on the 15th of last month.

Now this 1640 comes out :(

Not on the Canadian site yet though so it doesn't really matter until it shows up there. I wonder if they do returns...

[bdo21 @ Jan 7th 2009 3:46AM]

No bluray option on the 1340 - I wonder whether that will follow?

[shiv @ Jan 7th 2009 3:44AM]

M86-XT is codename for Mobility 3670.

specs
http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-3670.9595.0.html

[shiv @ Jan 7th 2009 3:45AM]

haha. repost!

my bad >

[bluebarca @ Jan 7th 2009 3:44AM]

FullHD Widescreen 16.0 inch RGBLED LCD (1920x1080) W/2.0 MP wowwwwwwwwwwww ... i never though that dell would release RGBLED for normal home conumers after it released it to the M4400. But this is a wonderful screen, i guess this beats everything else in the market right now. along with the DDR3 and 64bit OS.

i've recently baught dell studio 1537 and it came with 32bit OS and 4GB ram ... i don't understand why any company adds 4GB when the OS choices are limited to 32 bit only and why not offer 64 bit when it will not cost a thing.
anyway ... i guess this is a winner :-D

[Skel1ingt0n @ Jan 7th 2009 4:05AM]

I'll be honest... I'm quite the Apple fan. I'm currently looking at upgrading my rev A Macbook to something more modern. And with the release of the MB with the 9400, I was pretty set on that. Finally, an entry-level Mac laptop with a decent video card for some light gaming. But I can't deny, this definitely has my attention. That's a heck of a video card for a $1200 laptop.

Why buy the more expensive Mac, with the worse video card, if I'm gonna be playing a lot of games in Windows, anyway?

I'm curious to read reviews about this Dell's build-quality.

[cheng @ Jan 7th 2009 6:36AM]

actually the xps 13 has the same video card as the macbook, which is the 9400.

[aeth @ Jan 7th 2009 6:48AM]

Ah yes, this (Studio XPS M1340) can also be configured with a dedicated 9500M G.

[someone @ Jan 7th 2009 4:04AM]

lets hope my xps m1330 breaks down after it's warranty soon!!

[someone @ Jan 7th 2009 4:09AM]

wait... dell wireless? no thanks

[Nihil @ Jan 7th 2009 7:17AM]

You can switch to an Intel wireless for the same price.

[BobTurbo @ Jan 7th 2009 4:08AM]

Those things are hideous.. I love the tasteless geeks commenting on how good it looks :) Very cute... will go well with your pocket protectors.

[Kay @ Jan 7th 2009 4:38AM]

Didn't your mommy ever teach you not to judge based on appearances?

[BobTurbo @ Jan 7th 2009 6:52AM]

People who rely on what their mommy taught them don't have a brain of their own and follow stupid sayings like "don't judge a book by its cover" so that they can get by in life.

Beauty isn't subjective. Go for a walk through a busy area with a hot chick and look at all the guys staring at her.

[Nihil @ Jan 7th 2009 7:28AM]

10/10 would get trolled again.

[SharpShooter @ Jan 7th 2009 5:30PM]

Walk through with an incredibly hideous chick and they'll stare also. How do you know which stares you've been getting? :P

[BobTurbo @ Jan 7th 2009 4:10AM]

Every Dell I have ever had has been extremely reliable and the customer service is excellent... just incase you have never had a Dell before.

[Knives_Out @ Jan 7th 2009 4:19AM]

I don't know about DELL Home, but DELL Small Business Support is amazing ...

[Mike @ Jan 7th 2009 4:39AM]

+ 1, the only choice for me

[SkateNY @ Jan 7th 2009 5:34AM]

Just in case you haven't heard Mr. Fanyboy, Dell reliably comes up last in terms of customer service, cusomter support, and customer satisfaction among the major hardware retailers.

People who lie typically do so because they're afraid of the truth. What is it that you're afraid of?

[BobTurbo @ Jan 7th 2009 6:51AM]

Dell comes up last according to who - the ghost in your parents basement?

[BobTurbo @ Jan 7th 2009 6:54AM]

"What is it that you're afraid of?"

Kids with no brains on school holidays pretending to be experts on the internet.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 7th 2009 7:35AM]

Dell is the top choice for budget computer on this year Anandtech Editor Choice... go away with your fake statistic.

[iKurt @ Jan 7th 2009 4:50AM]

Too bad these notebooks run Windows

[superhobo @ Jan 7th 2009 6:12AM]

Explain, in detail, why said operating system is bad. Use 10pt Arial, single spaced, with a margin of 0.5 inches.
I expect a complete 25 page report by Thursday.
kthxbye

[Nihil @ Jan 7th 2009 7:24AM]

That's an odd way to spell Linux.