Dell Studio 15 gets a new 15.6-inch screen

Darius Chang | Feb 24, 2009

Here is a nice instance of a no-brainer. Which would you rather buy?

a) A Dell Studio 15 with a 1,280 x 800-pixel 15.4-inch display, 2GB RAM and integrated graphics card for S$1,549.

b) A new Dell model with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1,366 x 768-pixel 15.6-inch screen, 4GB RAM and discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 graphics engine for a mere S$50 (US$35.64) more.

The latest 15.6-inch version is obviously a much better deal with more upgrade options for the processor and RAM. The only thing going for the older 15.4-inch model is that the screen can be bumped up to a full-HD 1,920 x 1,200-pixel LCD, though at this display size the difference is unlikely to be noticeable.

We spoke to a Dell representative regarding the company's pricing strategy for the Studio 15. It seems that this is a matter of offering more choices to the customer who may, in some cases, feel that the slightly lower-priced configuration is good enough for their needs. Moreover, it must be kept in mind that the discrete graphics engine in the new model will significantly reduce the battery life compared with a integrated video chipset.

The new 15.6-inch variant is already available with a starting price of S$1,599 (US$1,139.78).

Filed under: Notebooks
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manish1228

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manish1228 says...
"Value Performance Laptop"

Pros:
Awesome G-Card, Processor(p8600) and display. Killer backlit keyboard, decent speakers, Great VFM @ Rs55K(=1110USD).
"Burnout Paradise : Ultimate box" and NFS Undercover games perfectly playable @ High, 1280res!(Beat THAT XPS!)
To make up, Dell has gone cost-cutting mode with no signs of "just-for-frill" features like remote, fingerprint reader, touch sensitive buttons, etc. That makes room for segment-busting core components. Smart!

Cons:
Has its helping of quirks and glitches. For eg: try closing/opening lid while playing a song- audio glitches become apparent.
All essential buttons are absent. I miss the wifi/bluetooth on/off switches and led indicators. The all-important monitor Off/On button's gone. Also, where's the "HDD" led indicator?? Even my P1 had that! This is extreme cost-cutting.
Finding a 15.6" carry case may be a pain.
Topo black, a fingerprint magnet.

Additional Thoughts:
You can probably try waiting for a month or two till dell refines this product a little bit.
But minor glitches aside, make no mistake: Its an amazing laptop; the BEST at this price-point."

Apr 03, 2009 01:24