Dell rolls out Studio 15 Special Edition laptop
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 3rd 2009 4:09PM
posted March 3rd 2009 4:09PM
Dell's Studio 15 laptop is already a decent enough budget-minded system as is, but those looking for that little something extra may want to consider the company's new Special Edition model, which adds a snazzy "Black Vapor" paint job and, more importantly, a 1440 x 900 LED-backlit display. Otherwise, you can get it configured with your choice of Pentium Dual Core or Core 2 Duo processors, up to 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 graphics (though Intel's integrated GMA 4500MHD is standard). Prices have also expectedly seen a bit of a hike over the non-Special Edition models although, at $799, $849, and $949 for the standard configs, they're still far from premium territory.
[Via Electronista]
[Via Electronista]
Anybody have a Studio 15 and want to share their take on them? My brother is looking to get a laptop for work/school, and I haven't tried any of the slot-loading Dells myself. Besides being snazzier, is there much difference between this and the 15" Inspiron?
Usually I recommend a 14" laptop as the ideal compromise between screen size and carry size/weight, but the 14" Inspiron carries a premium for some reason. His budget is $600-700, and I was probably going to suggest he get an extra year on the warranty as well.
It's a decent machine, especially for the price. I'm not fond of the trackpad on it, but you get used to it.
i would suggest you forget about the consumer-line and go with the base-buisness line vostro 1310 with intel grafics:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/vostronb_1310?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
i have one myself and am very happy with the quality and performance. its quiet, the battery lasts 4-5 hours and has a slot loader, too, which works flawlessly (i would never go back to the drawer-thingies *g*)
the price point is also great
wish your brother much fun with his dell
ps.: also free xp-option for you vista-haters ;)
They are really big. I have an xps 1330 and my wife has a studio 15. It's like twice the size or more. One issue that happened nearly right away is that the power switch shorted out (working on getting it replace right now). The price is good, but don't get one expecting to use it as a highly portable laptop. The screen also sucks. a 15" screen should be no less than 1440x900 resolution (preferrably 1680x1050). 1280x800 is just pathetic and probably where they are saving a lot of money.
youre right, as you can see, im no big studio fan, also, but the xps-line is a little too expensive for my taste, although its more sleek than any other dell. so stick with the 13" vostro, its also as big as i would go for a "mobile" computer.
In the UK, at the studio 15 price point, you don't really get higher resolutions than 1280x800.
Thanks for the advice. I know not everybody likes Dell, but it's what I'm most experienced with, and I know the ins and outs of dealing with their customer service pretty well through personal and work related stuff. The Vostro might be a little too small of a screen, I'll have to see what he says about it.
I've got a 1555, one of the recently updated ones, that is, and for the price, it's a great machine.
The bump from an ATI Radeon 3450 to a 4750 has given it quite a bit of grunt when it comes to graphics intensive programs. And all the screens come with a standard 1376 X 768 screen now.
ok, i thought he would want to _take_ it to school and for mobility reasons i wouldnt recommend anything larger than 13".
but if it is more like a desktop replacement theres nothing false with the vostro 1510 either. perhaps its even cheaper.
but remind, dont, for no price, take a 8000-series nvidia! i made the mistake and ordered my 1310 with a geforce 8400gs and it broke within the first year. the great dell support fixed it in no time and for no cost and i even have another year warranty (on the graaphics, free), but i will have to sell it when warranty expires, because i dont wanna sit on a "time bomb" ;)
i recommended the vostro line to a buch of other people, who all are happy with their purchase or are looking forward to getting one.
He's a high school teacher who is going to start an MA program soon. That said, they don't have a decent "main machine" at home either, so it will probably see triple duty as a photo/layout editing platform. Typical family stuff.
Pentium dual core is an option, really.... really?
I mean really?
I mean seriously its 2009, the age of i7. Is Pentium dual core seriously still an option?
I mean really?
wow what douche...
I agree, Dell is a douche for offering this option.
See above.
Especially since the current Pentium Dual Cores are just pared down, cheaper versions of the of Core 2 Duo line. Ideal if you (as many people do) just want to use a computer for basic web access and office tasks.
I got my daughter a Studio 15 and she uses it for school. She really likes it and it seems to work fine for basic tasks such as: Microsoft Office, Web Surfing, Watching DVDs, Basic Graphics, etc. Very easy to use and the built in webcam is a nice add.
Sexy laptop is sexy, but I wonder what it would stand up against heavy video editing and picture editing. Still quite a good looking laptop.
why shouldnt it manage these things? ok, it only has ati 3400something, but the rest is on par with every other average lappi
I'm surprised Pentium Dual Core is still around, with more and more good budget Core 2 Duos out there.
The red side edging reminds me of the Dell Studio XPS 435 desktop I just ordered. (great deal on that by the way!)
The lines on the back remind me of GridIron Flow. Love the design!
hehe, i love black with red accents as well
i really like the looks .... i have a imac desktop .... with mac os and windows xp .....this is a good deal ... i am so tired of the apple tax on everything
I have one and its flawless, not a single problem... other than the notorious resource savvy vista(which I made look like xp :p)
huh. I guess it's the angle of the shot and the solid bar going across, but my first thought was 'Atari?'
Dude, where's my Adamo?!?