Dell XPS 15 reliability

[terrafield]

Hi

I'm planning to buy a new laptop and my budget is around 60k. I had a look at Dell XPS 15 laptop. I really like its 1080p screen and JBL speakers and I got attracted to it but I'm still afraid of Dell's reliability based on recent reviews/complaints/surveys etc

Laptop which I'm going to buy is for general purpose (as my desktop is going to die) browsing, watching movies, music etc and No games - not interested in games but I do realize the importance of video card when we play HD videos

Also I have heard that Asus N55SF laptop with sonicmaster bang&olufsen speakers is a good multimedia competitor for XPS 15


Now my basic question: Is Dell XPS 15 reliable? (less faulty components, malfunctions etc) Previously I had compaq and I got frustrated with their faulty batteries, touchpad, usb slots etc

This time I want to buy reliable laptop though it can be feature rich

Could anyone in this forum please provide some inputs?

Thanks
Terrafield

 

[aroraanant]

XPS laptops are one of the best laptops by dell.
As you have already seen it and you know that how good their sound, display and performance.
Don't worry about its reliability,it is very much reliable and also it has got a very good build quality.
And Asus N55SF is also a very good laptop on the other hand,you can get it for around 65k.
But these laptops have a very good graphic card and it is not required for daily use, it is basically for gamers.
Anyways you can also have a look at Sony VAIO C Series VPCCB38FN

 

[dashing.sujay]

@OP- Above, if you need i7, otherwise CB35 ftw.

XPS is supposed to give peace of mind, and has been giving till now. So, its likely to give you that.

 

[terrafield]

Thanks for your inputs

@aroraanat,dashing.sujay - are Sony laptops more reliable than dell xps laptops?

Why I'm asking is when I search for extended warranty for Dell XPS 15 it is coming around 7000 but at the same time the same extended warranty in Sony is costing only 2500. I was just thinking about Sony's confidence in their products. Isn't?

Your inputs are really helpful

Thanks
Terrafield

 

[sarthak]

If you are not going to game then Sony is really good as it has FHD display along with good looks. XPS also has the option of FHD display but it is very thick and heavy when compared with Sony. Its JBL speakers are unbeatable though.

 

[terrafield]

Thanks sarthak for your inputs. Actually I like sony vaio more than apple but its just that JBL speakers is attracting me towards XPS 15 but how about vaio reliability? any opinions?

 

[ritvij]

i bought a vaio first but returned it within an hour and ordered xps 15 and now after using it for a year... i'm impressed..
the speakers are best in the buisness except only aliemware's....
reliability factor-- dell rocks for me..

 

[terrafield]

@ritvij, thanks for sharing your experience. Even I'm attracted towards XPS 15's speakers

Though XPS 15 has JBL speakers, Vaio has Dolby Home theater. I'm a big fan of Dolby Headphone

Can any Cb35 user please let me know if Dolby Home theater features Dolby headphone as well? Because in Dolby website it doesn't indicate Dolby headphone.

Thanks for all of you for sharing your inputs

 

[aroraanant]

^^^^
Contact dashing.sujay.
PM him and ask

 

[dashing.sujay]

As far as speaker is concerned, I haven't heard XPS, but I'm sure it will make Sony's speaker sound like mobile I can say this as one of my mate has got HP probook, which does the same to my Vaio. Speaker volume is good, but lower frequencies are absent, which renders a plain sound, but clear. Regarding dolby thing, the audio driver installs a Dolby Home effect software which is pretty a equalizer with presets like movie, songs & games. No custom. But it does works well.
How good it is? Well it depends on the genre/type of song. In some, turning it off works better and in some turning it on.

Bottomline: Its nothing so worthy which should be considered a point in buying a laptop. You can get the same effects by using some other 3rd party softs, or by manual equilizer if you're good at it.

 

[terrafield]

Thanks dashing.sujay for sharing your inputs. Actually I thought Dolby Headphone will be in-built inside Dolby Home Theater (in some configurations) If CB35 had Dolby Headphone then I would have bought it without any confusion

 

[dashing.sujay]

Don't go by these marketing gimmicks. And most of these lappies have more or less same sound output (quality wise)

 

[aroraanant]

^^^^
But XPS is having an amazing sound and its totally different from any other laptop out there

 

[dashing.sujay]

^I meant to say the sound card output quality.

 

[terrafield]

Actually I heard some laptops has better sound quality through headphone out with much less noice and good THD, frequency response etc but most of them are macbooks

This weekend I will go and checkout CB35 and XPS 15

And no one is recommending Asus N55SF? Is it not that good when compared to XPS 15 or CB 35?

 

[dashing.sujay]

You got N55sf's recommendation in 2nd post only.
Its very good performance laptop better than rest if you can throw the extra money.

And don't be sceptic about sound. If there would be difference, it'd be min, also not notable by normal users.

 

[Prongs298]

if you want sound quality from headphones then the dv6 series from hp are the best in that area due to the presence of beats audio. you can also consider the dv6165tx although it has slightly inferior build quality than the dell xps 15, asus n55 or the sony cb35.

 

[terrafield]

Thanks dashing.sujay and Prongs298

I have some worst experience with compaq and I don't want to rely on HP. My main criteria is reliability. If cb35 or xps 15 offers that then I will buy. Sound quality is my 2nd priority only

 

[aroraanant]

^^^^
CB35 is discontinues by the company,so you have to search for it in the local stores, and pick CB35 over XPS 15, but XPS have better sound than XPS

 

[randomuser111]

I don't think one is more reliable than the other between the XPS 15 and CB. HP "might" be less reliable than XPS and VAIO but otherwise they are pretty much even. Brand wise of course Sony notebooks are more reliable than Dell and HP in the long run. But between the two laptops you are looking at both are more or less the same. Both very good notebooks