Dell XPS "1730": When?

[Evenkeel]

I've been waiting on Dell to refresh their XPS laptop line, and was hopeful that, with the recent release of the XPS 1330, that the rest of the line would soon be updated. I'm specifically interested in the 17" model. (Presumably to be called the XPS 1730.)

Of course, the phone rep at Dell had no idea when the updated 17" would be released, so they can, I assume, sell thru the old XPS 1710 stock. I was mainly interested in the new Intel "Santa Rosa" platform update w/the 800 MHz FSB, but I see that the 1330 also has the new LED backlight, and assume the 17" model will also, which was more than I could have hoped for. So you can tell I'm anxious. 😉

Has anyone heard any relatively reliable rumors when the 17" model will get the updates?

 

[TheStu]

I dont think that they will call it the 1730 since the numbering scheme has to do with screen size from what i have surmised. The XPS1210 had a 12.1" screen, the 1330 has a 13.3" screen, the 1710 has a 17.1" screen, and the 2010 has a 20.1" screen.

So, beyond that, I also would not hold my breath on it having an LED backlight. Those are significantly more expensive than CCFL Backlights, and I don't even think that they are made in 17" or larger sizes yet. Until Apple came out with the new SantaRosa MBPs, I didnt even think that 15" laptops could get LEDs yet.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I would guess its not too far away. Intel is launching a Core 2 Extreme mobile CPU, which would be fitting for their high end laptop.

Have you checked Dell's blog and Engadget and other places (is it NotebookReview that's the big laptop forum)?

They might be waiting on an LED backlit screen in that size (as I'm sure Apple probably is as well), and possibly for SSD to drop in price some so they can maybe make it standard.

 

[Evenkeel]

Originally posted by: TheStu
I dont think that they will call it the 1730 since the numbering scheme has to do with screen size from what i have surmised. The XPS1210 had a 12.1" screen, the 1330 has a 13.3" screen, the 1710 has a 17.1" screen, and the 2010 has a 20.1" screen.

So, beyond that, I also would not hold my breath on it having an LED backlight. Those are significantly more expensive than CCFL Backlights, and I don't even think that they are made in 17" or larger sizes yet. Until Apple came out with the new SantaRosa MBPs, I didnt even think that 15" laptops could get LEDs yet.

My interpretation of Dell's model numbering scheme is a bit different from yours (not saying you're wrong). In the XPS laptop line I interpreted the model # as the screen size rounded off, followed by the digit "10". As in XPS 1210 (12" screen), XPS 1710 (17" screen), etc.

The previous generation of Inspirons had (as I recall) 2-digit suffixes of "05", as in 1505, etc. I mean, obviously a 10 is waaaay better than an 05. 😉

Ergo, if the newest laptop in the XPS line has a siffix of "30", I'm expecting the rest of the line to also have the 30. Time will tell...

I truly hope you're wrong about the LED backlight, because I've been drooling over the thought ever since I read the review on the brand-new XPS 1330. My reasoning is that, it would probably look pretty strange if the little 13" laptop had LED backlighting, but the new 17" didn't. And the current XPS 1710 design is so "tired", I'm expecting something really special in the new one, esp. since Dell has recently been stumbling.

The PC Mag review said the LED backlight (on the 1330) cost $150 more than the CCFL, and was well worth the price. It was an instant "Editor's Choice".

Anyway, I guess we'll see...

 

[Evenkeel]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
I would guess its not too far away. Intel is launching a Core 2 Extreme mobile CPU, which would be fitting for their high end laptop.

Have you checked Dell's blog and Engadget and other places (is it NotebookReview that's the big laptop forum)?

They might be waiting on an LED backlit screen in that size (as I'm sure Apple probably is as well), and possibly for SSD to drop in price some so they can maybe make it standard.

Thanks for the pointers to the other resources--I'll check them out.

Since Dell just launched the hot new Inspirons (probably the mainstream laptop of choice for back-to-schoolers), then the XPS 1330, ditto, except for the gaming-oriented, and finally the Vospros for biz, I am really hoping the flagship XPS 17" inch isn't too far behind. Esp. since I'm guessing that HP laptop (the dv9000t?) is getting good reviews and is new, slick, and eating into Dell's high-end laptop profits.

Being patient is a pain! 😉

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Evenkeel

Originally posted by: TheStu
I dont think that they will call it the 1730 since the numbering scheme has to do with screen size from what i have surmised. The XPS1210 had a 12.1" screen, the 1330 has a 13.3" screen, the 1710 has a 17.1" screen, and the 2010 has a 20.1" screen.

So, beyond that, I also would not hold my breath on it having an LED backlight. Those are significantly more expensive than CCFL Backlights, and I don't even think that they are made in 17" or larger sizes yet. Until Apple came out with the new SantaRosa MBPs, I didnt even think that 15" laptops could get LEDs yet.

My interpretation of Dell's model numbering scheme is a bit different from yours (not saying you're wrong). In the XPS laptop line I interpreted the model # as the screen size rounded off, followed by the digit "10". As in XPS 1210 (12" screen), XPS 1710 (17" screen), etc.

The previous generation of Inspirons had (as I recall) 2-digit suffixes of "05", as in 1505, etc. I mean, obviously a 10 is waaaay better than an 05. 😉

Ergo, if the newest laptop in the XPS line has a siffix of "30", I'm expecting the rest of the line to also have the 30. Time will tell...

I truly hope you're wrong about the LED backlight, because I've been drooling over the thought ever since I read the review on the brand-new XPS 1330. My reasoning is that, it would probably look pretty strange if the little 13" laptop had LED backlighting, but the new 17" didn't. And the current XPS 1710 design is so "tired", I'm expecting something really special in the new one, esp. since Dell has recently been stumbling.

The PC Mag review said the LED backlight (on the 1330) cost $150 more than the CCFL, and was well worth the price. It was an instant "Editor's Choice".

Anyway, I guess we'll see...

Well, look at Apple... the 15" MBP has the LED backlighting, but the 17" doesn't yet. It probably simply isnt cost effective yet, or it could be that it isnt feasible in any quantity. It could be that they might have a few available to them, but no where near enough stock to sell. Look at the high end XPS desktop for example. They previously offered a truly ridiculously OCed and watercooled Quad Extreme in there, but no longer since they can't get enough chips that will take that amount of OCing. They still sell OCed procs, just not as high.

Oh and back to our number argument 🙂, I found that while the 1710 apparently has a 17" screen, the 2010 does have a 20.1", the 1210 a 12.1" and the 1330 a 13.3"... so I guess it could go either way, that they named the 1710 that way to match the rest, or otherwise is beyond me, I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[Evenkeel]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Well, look at Apple... the 15" MBP has the LED backlighting, but the 17" doesn't yet. It probably simply isnt cost effective yet, or it could be that it isnt feasible in any quantity. It could be that they might have a few available to them, but no where near enough stock to sell. Look at the high end XPS desktop for example. They previously offered a truly ridiculously OCed and watercooled Quad Extreme in there, but no longer since they can't get enough chips that will take that amount of OCing. They still sell OCed procs, just not as high.

Oh and back to our number argument 🙂, I found that while the 1710 apparently has a 17" screen, the 2010 does have a 20.1", the 1210 a 12.1" and the 1330 a 13.3"... so I guess it could go either way, that they named the 1710 that way to match the rest, or otherwise is beyond me, I guess we will have to wait and see.

The fairy-tale land that is the inside of my head fervently hopes that the 17" w/LED backlight isn't too far off. 🙂 And your point about cost is certainly valid: just because PC Mag said it costs $150 more (to the cost of the laptop) to add LED backlight to the XPS 1330 (13" screen), doesn't necessarily mean that the same $150 will scale for the 17" screen.

And the LED issue may indeed be the cause of the delay for them introducing the new 17" model. I mean, wouldn't you agree that the 2-year old design of the current XPS 1710 looks pretty tired next to the spiffy new XPS 1330? My hope--which I will readily admit may be bumping up against the realities you have presented--is that market forces will compel Dell to get the new 17" out there ASAP. 😉

 

[Wolfpup]

I seriously doubt Dell's going to be selling a 17" laptop with LED lighting any time soon, since it's mostly just 13" laptops that have it, and the 15" Macbook Pro.

The numbering scheme is pretty clear. the 1x05 and 1x10 were the "mainstream" and "high end" laptops respectively. The 1x20 and 1x30 are the replacement "mainstream" and "high end" laptops.

What I've been assuming is that Dell is waiting on the mobile Geforce 8800 to launch the 1730. Until that's out, there's nothing to offer for it. I mean right now they'd have to launch it with a Geforce 7950GTX on the high end...it would just be the new CPUs-almost exactly what they're already selling.

Unfortunately there's very little info on the 8800. Most recent thing I could find says it's coming Q3 this year (ie this month, or the next two). That dovetails with the conspicuous absence of the 1730.

I've literally been waiting for this GPU since July of last year. I'm not willing to buy a 7950GTX with an 8800 so close.

I could see Dell offering an 8700GT as the low end option in the 1730, but there's no way they'd try to pass that off as the high end option (not unless they launch the system a month or two before the 8800, and that's the only option at first). The new system would be worse than the old.