Reply to: Developer Laptop

[VectraMan]

Decided on the XPS 15 L521x, it has full HD 15 inch screen. 8GB upgrdable to 16 and you can upgrde the 32GB SSD to 256GB, comes in just above a grand.

What put me off the previous generation XPS15 (and this one is the same) is the silly half sized cursor keys, obviously copied from you know who with their style over function mantra. If you spend your days editing code, you use the cursor keys a lot (or at least I do), and I think that would annoy me.

Which is why I bought the previous-previous XPS15 (L520x), even though it's somewhat bulky by modern standards. It is however, very fast, but of course not buying the latest meant I was able to get an i7 + SSD for my £600.

[doodab]

Thanks will try that. Did you have any issue with your wifi driver? I got the august 2012 update and it stopped working. Using the 2011 version.

Will check the RAM as well. Edit: crucial is saying the max memory for T420s is 8GB.

qh

I haven't updated any of the drivers since I got it TBH.

[quackhandle]

Thanks will try that. Did you have any issue with your wifi driver? I got the august 2012 update and it stopped working. Using the 2011 version.

Will check the RAM as well. Edit: crucial is saying the max memory for T420s is 8GB.

qh

[doodab]

16GB RAM? I thought the limit was 8GB? Yes the screen isn't the best but I wfh a bit and use a bigger monitor. What tweaks did you do? I find that any extras you want Lenovo like to charge you through the nose for it, so easier to buy afterwards. However the ThinkVantage bloatware keeps on asking to do a system hardware check, I wonder if it will see the extra RAM and invalidate my warranty? Paranoid, moi?

qh

Not sure what it says on the spec sheet but it will take 2 x 8GB modules from Crucial etc. I always buy aftermarket RAM & SSDs.

Display tweaks were in the graphics properties "color enhancement" page

brightness -13
contrast 51
gamma 0.9
hue & saturation 0

[LatteLiberal]

Decided on the XPS 15 L521x, it has full HD 15 inch screen. 8GB upgrdable to 16 and you can upgrde the 32GB SSD to 256GB, comes in just above a grand.

[LatteLiberal]

I have a Dell XPS 15, 512Gb SSD, 8Gb Ram, Intel I7, Nvidia GPU 1920x1080 Full HD screen.

Lovely kit.

How much did this cost?

I am looking at spending 1k max. I want 15 inch HD, decided against touchscreen, want SSD or option to upgrade and min 4GB ram but upgradable.

[quackhandle]

I have one of these with 16GB and a crucial M4 512MB in it, it's more than capable of everything I've thrown at it although it has to be said the screen isn't the best you'll see. It was awful until I did a bit of tweaking of the settings, now it's passable but still not a patch on my previous T500. I'd take a look at the T530 TBH.

16GB RAM? I thought the limit was 8GB? Yes the screen isn't the best but I wfh a bit and use a bigger monitor. What tweaks did you do? I find that any extras you want Lenovo like to charge you through the nose for it, so easier to buy afterwards. However the ThinkVantage bloatware keeps on asking to do a system hardware check, I wonder if it will see the extra RAM and invalidate my warranty? Paranoid, moi?

qh

[d000hg]

DO you have paint bleeding from your finger tips? I use the ipad and iphone for weeks without wiping it and it never becoming unreadable.

Try looking at your iPad from an angle. Mine looks as clean as anything in normal use, but is actually as smeary as ****, for whatever reason smudges only show up from an angle.

I'd be worried that you view a laptop screen from a greater range of angles, though I haven't had the chance to test this theory.

[LatteLiberal]

and be prepared for finger prints making the screen unreadable.

DO you have paint bleeding from your finger tips? I use the ipad and iphone for weeks without wiping it and it never becoming unreadable.

[woohoo]

and be prepared for finger prints making the screen unreadable.

yes be prepared, use screen wipes once a week. Perhaps twice a week.

[redgiant]

did you upgrade the memory yourself or do they let you configure up to that amount?

Lenovo will let you upgrade it to that amount but it's better to buy it afterwards from Cruicial or somewhere like that.

I have a W530 as well but the dual core i5 version with 16GB RAM (Quad Core goes to 32GB) as I don't need to run too many VMs (only two at any one time) so decided to save a little cash. I went for the W530 because I wanted a more powerful GPU than the T530 (K2000M).

[eek]

If you want touch I'd wait a few months until it becomes more common.

and be prepared for finger prints making the screen unreadable.

[d000hg]

If you want touch I'd wait a few months until it becomes more common.

[Scrag Meister]

Touch screen?

No, didn't see you mentioned it on your requirements list and I'm not telepathic.

[lilelvis2000]

did you upgrade the memory yourself or do they let you configure up to that amount?

Don't know about other's experiences..but it often works out cheaper to upgrade the memory yourself. I think a 4GB DDR3 stick is like £15