Tag: XPS

My Dell XPS: Finally everything fine with it

As I told you all that it was all heart breaking to see it in hands of technician before even I could have tried my hands well over it. The Dell Executive Mr. Harpal arrived by 1:00 PM of the day next, better in time. But the wrong part of it was that he came here without new LCD and it was to be delivered separately by someone else. Although he came here after assuring that it must have been delivered already, but it was not. Even he was frustrated over it as it was disturbing his next call schedule. Meanwhile he went on talking with me and also diagnosing the piece. Conclusions were of course the same and even a bit further that no loose connection, but actually faulty screen.

After confirming that the parts might be reaching here by 2:00 PM, he went on opening the whole Laptop and detaching the screen. It was sure heartening to see as LCD is not at screws only and rather than being soft and cautious, he was just professional and I was scared if it could lead some scratches at some side (although nothing happened like that). In conversation, even he said that it was better that if I would have asked for a Unit replacement in place of being agreed for a part replacement. I was not able to do so as my flight was scheduled at 26th December and I was willing to keep the laptop by then anyhow. I’ll sure suggest others to never settled for anything less than perfect in case of delivery, but in my case, even now I was not with any complaints as there is no sign that anything might have been replaced, but still….. it will be a pain… just take a look, how was it over me?

Yes!! This is my newly came Laptop in pieces. But sure I got a better view of my laptop for sure before getting into any trouble and as being a Server administrator and experienced with hardware so much, it was not that bad with me as it might have been with any novice, who might be just willing to get the laptop working as soon as possible. But I wish to say to Dell that its really not good impression for the first timer. Beware of such incidents and keep the final check unit more tight and controlled.

Anyway, in the first look, like others, I am also annoyed with Windows Vista. Its really a Hogg when it comes to memory utilization, although as mine case is of 4GB and 2.4 GHz, so its not an issue, but I was really sure able to imagine that how divine it was, if I was getting it installed with Windows XP. I could have tried, but I was already warned that it would void the software support warranty. So, I have to live with it.

I was also troubled a bit with finger print scanner as it was giving me results like bad quality image etc. I told the same to Mr. Harpal. He tried once and it worked well. In fact the problem was with my finger. There were a few cuts over it, so it was not getting the perfect image. I tried with my thumb and it worked. I registered both of my thumb as only one finger was not allowed. After the same, I never tried with the passwords and always used the thumb only. Angutha Chhap 😉

Speakers, I was really never demanding about it with a Laptop, but it really does a decent job. I could give it very good marks. I am happy with its loudness for sure. Being a 2.1, its fine at its limits.

Keyboard is sure divine and I really never had seen anything better than it. I have seen many of HP/ Compaq and even the other products of Dell, but it really something superb. The material also gives you a feel of its robustness. Although in first impression, you might say that it was better, if it was total black in place of being silver, but sometimes later, you get used of it.

Camera is also nice. I have a 2 MP camera with my Desktop as well, so I was already aware that what it could be offering and I found it on the same scale.

People, who might be willing to get a full review here, would be feel little disappointed as I am writing only my experience and not exploring it completely. Of course due to the constraints of my job requirements now days, which are really keeping me on toe.

Few more good things to say about my deal were, it was including a Bluetooth Mouse, which is being very very handy to me and the case, which came as bundled even if you opt for none, if very nice looking and comfortable enough.

Anyway, ending here. Feeling really tired enough.

Finally recieved my sweeet heart, Dell XPS, but still :(


I was waiting for the same very egarly and you all could understand the same very well. Got call from Security of my office that Sir! your consignment has arrived. I almost ran to the same. Checked the packet from all the sides to make sure that its in perfect shape and then signed the delivery reciept. Got the import paper, Tax Invoice and BlueDart receipt. Taken the laptop inside the office and then it was the time to open it.

Everything seems to be fine and I was already aware, it was not very pleasant to look at its screen under daylight. But my aim was to check out all the configurations, so I went for that only. All the items seem to be inside the box except the dusting cloth, which I was expecting to be there as I recieved the same with last LattitudeVostro consignment for office, but the same was not there. Don’t know whether they ship it with XPS or not. They should, I guess. In next part, I went for checking the index as my home PC gives a ranking of 4.8 and I was expecting it to produce. I got 5.1, in which lowest score was from memory. I think one somehow should arrange a memory at 800 MHz at least.

Anyway, later the nightmare came in. Don’t know it was from start or just start. I felt the display is too dull, so I taken the laptop inside the room and found that its redish and somewhere look like one might be using 16 bit colours. I double checked but it was not the same case. I called up Service Center obviously. I never thought that I would be doing by very first day, but it was … after diagnosis of one and half hour, me and the executive on other side reached over the conclusion that my LCD panel must be culprit as external display was working just as fine as it should be. So, the conclusion was: one executive will visit my office tommorow with new LCD and connecting cables to diagnose and change accordingly.

I am not happy. I am really really not happy. Being an experiennced user, no complaints from Dell or their service, but they were supposed to double check the build before shipping, at least they themselves claim so, but I found the claim false in my case. Although I am happy over one thing that their promise of delivering the piece in time was right in place. I booked at after noon of 9th December 2008 and got it delivered by 15th December 2008.

Although funny part is that Dell Order Stats is still showing me “In Transit”. Although I will consider it delivered completely, when it will start working perfectly means after the visit of executive tommorow. I hope that there will be no repeated visits as I was to leave the city after next week, so I really pray to god to get this mess over before that

Dell XPS: Wait continues

No Luck yet. No updates. Wait continues… This was the status till tomorrow.

After waiting till today, an impatient me went further to check the status on Bluedart itself, if it has started showing there as well as per instructions on Dell’s site. I am happy to see that my order status is showing there and its “In Transit” means must be on Airport. It is written to be booked on 12th December 2008 from Chennai and expected to reach here by 15th December 2008 as I reported earlier.

Dell XPS: The wait continues

Poor me!! My wait for my Laptop still continued. I guess, I am being impatient as the big date is expected to be 15th December 2008 and today is 12th, but… the status on site is still “Ship from Factory”. I guess tomorrow, it must be changed to “With Local Carrier”, if it’s not then I will be worried as 14th is Sunday and I don’t know that BlueDart works on Sunday or not.

Am I going to get it on Monday as expected?

Lots of questions running in my mind like what to check into it for the first time before signing the delivery? Then which software will do benchmark testing and in which manner have to verify all the configurations… and all and all… etc… Lets see… will update

Buying a Dell XPS M1530

Buying something is always been tough for someone like me, who wants to be optimistic and keeping the requirements sometimes even hyper. It was even long ride than my buying Nokia N82. I mean even with that I was sure that it will serve me properly, but even then confirming from reviews and reading specifications and capabilities etc.

Anyway, let me to come to the point. Buying a Laptop, when it was decided to be one of Dell, then choices were Inspiration, Lattitude, Studio, Vostro and XPS. People knowing me were too sure that only configuration of Dell XPS M1530 or M1730 could interest me. Somewhere I decided to keep my budget restricted by Rs. 60,000/- INR as I already have a Desktop with configuration given below:

Processor: 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2 GB DDR2
HDD: 1000 GB
Graphics Card: 512 MB nVIDIA 8600 GTS
Display: 22′ LCD Screen

But that was a price XPS starts with. Now, the another thing to trouble me was that I had lost my credit card in a theft one month back and I didn’t really went to apply again. My bank account has the Internet Banking enabled and I thought to get a Go Ahead with the same. I was to get my salary by first week of the month and I made the customized configuration online on 3rd November 2008, I guess. It wasn’t the first time, I might have did that (it was a joke for my colleagues), but for the first time, I completed all the things and posted it.

Then I was supposed to get a call by the day next or the same day and I guess I got the call at the same day. I really don’t remember what happened then, but I guess, I went ahead with the base configuration and asked for the discounts, which might be possible and I got a discount of 4% VAT only as I already was guessing. I was even then reluctant as I was not getting what I wished for. Like 7200 RPM drive, Sound Blaster or Carry Case, while for me at least the first two were a must. The base configuration for Dell XPS M1530 then, was:

Processor: 2.1 GHz Core 2 Duo
RAM: 3 GB DDR2 (2×1)
HDD: 320 GB
Graphics Card: 256 MB nVIDIA 8600 GT
Display: 15′ Screen

and other usual accessories.

The price quoted was Rs. 58,378/- INR. It was sure a big thought to me being a medium class buyer as this purchase was behind the back of my parents & room partner and they were sure going to be angry over me for this ‘useless purchase’. I was always thinking like any usual Indian Medium class buyer and I asked the Dell Executive Mr. Girish that could I make the payment with NEFT through my internet banking enabled IDBI account. He said sure I could go for that and provided me B’glore CitiBank Account details as well, in which I was supposed to transfer the money, if I buy and as per the proceedings as the amount will take one day to get transferred, so order will be supposed to be received by the day next. Honestly speaking, for me it was a bad idea to drop in around 60,000/- into an unknown account, just on basis of few telephonic conversations and just because it’s in name of a big Company. I was sure reluctant big time.

In many reviews, I read about the bargaining on Dell’s prices, Dell Coupons and big time Thursday Deals. I got my offer by Thursday as well. The offer was that if I pay by the same day by credit card, then I will get a well customized configuration including 7200 RPM drive, Carry Case, Sound Blaster etc and still in budget means 59,397/-. I was sure going to happy, if there was not a catch, Internet Banking was not supported for this offer. L

Meanwhile another thing was going on at my side. My company made a purchase from Dell for more than a dozen Lattitude and Vostro Laptops. My Infrastructure Head (My Boss) said that a good deal might be arranged, if I follow the company links. I thought to give it a try and it was worth it. But the same also come to delay everything. I replied to Girish that I will go through my business links and the conversation broken later on.

But you know office side things, it went rather complicated as due to work, sometimes I was not getting time to talk over it and sometimes … so it didn’t went ahead and when it went ahead by end of November, then probably the Dell person dealing the business with us was changed and I got a general deal. Although it was profitable as there was an option of paying by Cash\ Cheque and the Dell office was in Gurgaon* (I am in Delhi). But the lady dealing with me was not ready to give any special offer or extra discount than standard 4%. I really said to her that whatever you are offering me, anyone anonymous could get by just filling order on your site. Why should I choose Dell, when even BDM’s of HP are almost regularly following me, if I go ahead for a deal with them? She was only replying that if any offer came then she could provide me, but right now she doesn’t have.

Honestly speaking, I was irritated. Irritated that why our company went ahead to have a business relationship with Dell, when they have nothing special to offer? But later I thought that I might be being little selfish, it was just an individual deal. In the moments of confusion, I called ABN Amro for my credit card, if it could be delivered back to me and for my surprised; it was delivered in just two days. Probably, it was the breakthrough that made me deciding to go ahead with Mr. Girish, the first Dell executive, I talked with. If I was to go with the same price, then why not with the person, who was sure nice to me and given attractive offers in place of being reluctant to give any.

I wrote an email to him mentioning the configurations I required. And he replied very soon with lesser prices than were being quoted to me right then. I made up my mind then and then it was time to say yes to the deal. But as my other friends bought Dell and a few online buddies suggesting me, it was the time to ask for discounts as one of online buddy got a 10% deal depending on his configuration. I talked with Girish over this matter and he said he can’t give this much offer, but will sure provide me the best deal at the moment, when I would be buying.

Finally the day came, 9th December 2008, when I was to buy and I was working in my office ready with two credit cards to pay with them. I got a call from his side asking me for my opinion. I said I am ready to buy, have to payments ready, but want to be assured of the best deal. He asked me for some time, he could arrange a good deal for me. I said ok and went for Lunch. While Lunch, I got a call from his side telling me about the offer. He asked me to be in front of computer. I was at Lunch and signals over my cell weren’t strong enough to get it online right then, so I said him to go ahead with telling me as I have worked out much over customization of Dell Configurations.

He given me the offer of a configuration in Rs. 69,000/- INR, which was including almost everything means 2.5 GHz Processor with 6 MB L2 Cache, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB 7200 RPM drive, Carry Case etc. I said Buddy!!! It’s really out of my budget as I really don’t need to spend this much over a Laptop. What he could do more to keep it under 63,000/- limit at least. Later after a few exercises, I was offered with a configuration (offer valid for sometime only), which finally became my final configuration as given below:

Processor: 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo 3MB L2 Cache
RAM: 4 GB DDR2 (2×2)
HDD: 320 GB 7200 RPM
Graphics Card: 256 MB nVIDIA 8600 GT
Display: 15′ Screen (1280×1024)
Sound: Blaster
Extra: Bluetooth Optical Mouse and rest is common in all XPS accessories* (check online).
Carry Case: No. As it was exceeding my cash limits.

Price was Rs. 63,125/- INR… Thanks to Girish.

He guided me to IVR and I made the payment, although later I was left with the thinking that should I disclose my credit card numbers and code to anyone online? Yes! I really went ahead to change the codes later on. Cautious you know.

In minutes, he replied by mail while keeping me on call and I confirmed over mail. I also made a double check on Dell’s site and my order was being shown there. I was relaxed a bit. Finally the payment was made. I was promised that my consignment will arrive in five working days and I really needed that as by the last week of December, I was to fly outside the city.

At the same night, it started showing Order Received, Released to Manufacturing and I was happy that the things are proceeding in right manners. At the day next, whole day there was no change in status while I keep on checking. I tried to keep patience and it was fruitful as in the morning of the day next means at 11th December 2008, I got an expected delivery date, which was 15th December 2008 in my case and the status shown was Ship from Factory. So, everything seems to be good enough till now and moving in time. I am waiting to get my hands on the same machine and then I will update you all guys about the same. Till then keep checking out my articles.