Is the review optimization category that seems missing the 'portable desktop' where occasional meetings are required ? Will this category be increasingly important as we telecommute more ?
The desktop portables or workstation laptops never went away. By this I mean putting desktop components into laptop form factors. Gaming laptops are just added to that type of niche now. I think mass market laptops will continue to be driven toward thinner and lighter form factors as hardware performance has outstripped office automation app and web work software, for awhile now. 2 lb 13", 3 lb 15" and 4 lb 17" are going to be the targets in a couple of years.
These 2020 XPS 15 and 17 models look nice in a way, it uses many of the same design elements as Apple's MBP inside and outside, but I don't think they will touch Apple's targeted market for the MBP. They look really bulky and Apple most certainly are targeting customers who want svelte, mobile and powerful machines. Not desktop power, but a good triangulated set of features.
If you prefer more svelte or lightweight machines, these don't look you'd be buying it to me. The 97 WHr XPS 17 is going to weigh 5.5 lbs. They are some who won't mind that, but I think the vast majority of Apple's customers will, even if it was used mostly as a desktop. In a backpack, it maybe 8 lb of stuff to carry as it has a 130 W charging brick. The LG Gram 17 would be a better fit save for the asymmetric keyboard layout. The MBP16 will feel like a better machine, and I think Apple will continue to drive towards thinner and lighter.
And, these XPS machines aren't going to be competing against gaming laptops. So, curious how this will go for Dell. They look better than the prior models, but their triangulation of features don't look too great to me. AI is saying the 10th generation processors are better than 9th gen processors, but I'd really wait and see on that. Dell has a gigantic Enterprise presence, but I'm sure if those are all Inspirons or whatever their Enterprise laptops are branded as.
Well it is up to Apple what they choose to offer of course, however in the day we used to have a choice between 12", 15", 17" and then the Air, the 17" being my choice for 'mobile desktop' and the occasional travel, client presentations and even a dual drive option with adapter kits. The main frustration then seemed RAM limitations. I find the Apple 16" a beautiful design, and to be fair I have not seen the DELL, although the review has me very curious...
I have the misfortune of using a company-issued XPS 13 on a daily basis. It is a total piece of garbage. Literally the only advantage this has over any MacBook I have used in the past decade is the light on the power cord to show you when it's plugged into the wall. The trackpad is atrocious compared to any Mac track pad, to say nothing of the latest Apple versions. It's bad at ignoring stray touches; the cursor movement is poor; and the gestures (copied straight from Apple) just don't work as well. But here's the best part. Because I leave my laptop plugged in 22 hours a day (as I do with my MacBooks to no ill effect), the battery has swollen to that the track pad is bulging out the case and the keyboard is visually/physically bulging. When I close the laptop there is a 1 cm gap between the screen and the palm rest.
Here's Dell's hand-waving response to this common problem (impacting at least 20% of the XPS 13s we have in house):
Emphasis mine. Not unique to "PCs"? So apparently this must be just as prevalent with MacBooks, by implication. Funny, I've never heard anyone hear post a complain about a swelling MacBook or any other Apple device. I thinking Dell is full of shit on this. Personally, I'll never spend a dime on a Dell PC (and not only because I don't intend to ever buy a Windows computer).
The only good thing about our company standardizing on this crappy laptop is that now every conference room has a USB-C to HDMI adapter since Dell followed Apple's lead and omitted USB-A ports.
Let me get this straight...the XPS 13 (you don't state what model or year and there are quite a few) is a "total piece of garbage" because the trackpad isn't like a Macbook Pro and because the battery swelled, much like other brands and models as many here have indicated? Hmmm...not sure I agree with your rating system!
It should be noted that a few years back, Dell did have a recall on certain XPS models for swollen batteries, whereby they sent out batteries to customers (yes, because you can easily change your own battery by removing a few screws) to exchange. Or, you could send it in, but that was less convenient.
Where do you talk about how the XPS 15 / 17 has a user replaceable battery, 2 user upgradable PCIe M2 slots and 2 user upgradable RAM slots?
As well, unlike the XPS 15, the 17 uses vapor chamber cooling that is said to be an excellent system.
I'd also add that there are the Precision versions of both of these laptops, the 5550 and the 5570.
These can be equipped with up to the Intel Xeon W-10855M (15") / Intel Xeon W-10885M (17"), 64 GB DDR4 ECC, and a Quadro T2000 (15") / Quadro RTX 3000 (17"). They also have optional 5 year next business day onsite service warranties.
It's been two months from now but hear me out.
1). Both have cinebench scores lower than the current 16”. You can say that they're i7, but remember that’s already half-year late. That proves just because it’s “vapor chamber” doesn’t mean it will be better. You’re assuming like you always do.
2). Their OEM drive isn’t speed-driven, also the fastest you can get is 3.5GB/s and the 16” is almost at there, two modules natively. 3). We've talked about the graphics, it's at worst each in their own. 4). The only part that's better is the RAM which is only limited by the CPU, you won't find 2933 to be noticeably faster than 2666.
So in the performance perspective, there's no major difference, if the XPS is not slower by a bit. Winning over a half-year earlier design only sounds like an achievement to you.
Dell makes great laptops, I purchased an XPS 13 9730 last year and never had a problem. also April I placed the XPS next to a MacBook Pro and realized the Dell was built better, faster with a sharper screen.
the entire build of the laptop is sturdy whereas the MacBook Pro did not seem that strong and was easier to move off a desk. the little things Dell added into their XPS like a better power chord that is alway illuminated and the ports seemed stronger. The typing experience is great and placing the power/fingerprint señsor away from the keyboard was smart. The camera on top was a much needed improvement from the older version. the trackpad is fluid and can do as many tasks as the MacBook.
BUT
the Dell XPS is sitting in box because the windows system does not fulfill my cartooning needs like the MacBook, iPad, iPhone continuity I need. also replacing the amazon fire stick this month with the TV rendered the laptop useless fo' now.
as far as bench-score and launch angle of GPU interfaces and numbers that are determined in nano-increments, I never got into those stats. when the laptop loses bluetooth computer connection, I noticed things are not up to par.
Very nicely laid out. That said, I feel like not enough is said about the "keyboard". I've only ever had an Apple product as my main computer (the first was an Apple II+ and the most recent a 15" MacBook Pro), but the Touch Bar is awful. From the odd bug, to having to hit it multiple times to get the desired key to work, to going dark at the wrong time, and finally not allowing me to install Linux the way that I'd like, it's just a hassle. Whereas Apple products and policy used to be a huge boon to me both personally and professionally, now I find the bits that are unique to Apple getting in the way. For the last month or two I've been booting my MacBook into Windows and working there, and the most galling bits have been the Apple bits I still have to contend with (like the Touch Bar.) A month or so ago the Apple Care on my MacBook expired, and yesterday, I ordered an XPS 17 to replace it. I'm really excited.
Comments
It should be noted that a few years back, Dell did have a recall on certain XPS models for swollen batteries, whereby they sent out batteries to customers (yes, because you can easily change your own battery by removing a few screws) to exchange. Or, you could send it in, but that was less convenient.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-offers-to-replace-swelling-XPS-15-9550-batteries-for-free-even-if-out-of-warranty.247546.0.html
You might also consider that Dell does not manufacture the batteries. The blame is on the battery manufacturer, and there were bad batches.
Dell's XPS series continues to be one of their best products (based on the many awards it wins).
1). Both have cinebench scores lower than the current 16”. You can say that they're i7, but remember that’s already half-year late. That proves just because it’s “vapor chamber” doesn’t mean it will be better. You’re assuming like you always do.
2). Their OEM drive isn’t speed-driven, also the fastest you can get is 3.5GB/s and the 16” is almost at there, two modules natively.
3). We've talked about the graphics, it's at worst each in their own.
4). The only part that's better is the RAM which is only limited by the CPU, you won't find 2933 to be noticeably faster than 2666.
So in the performance perspective, there's no major difference, if the XPS is not slower by a bit. Winning over a half-year earlier design only sounds like an achievement to you.
also April I placed the XPS next to a MacBook Pro and realized the Dell was built better, faster with a sharper screen.
the little things Dell added into their XPS like a better power chord that is alway illuminated and the ports seemed stronger.
The typing experience is great and placing the power/fingerprint señsor away from the keyboard was smart.
The camera on top was a much needed improvement from the older version.
the trackpad is fluid and can do as many tasks as the MacBook.
BUT
the Dell XPS is sitting in box because the windows system does not fulfill my cartooning needs like the MacBook, iPad, iPhone continuity I need.
also replacing the amazon fire stick this month with the TV rendered the laptop useless fo' now.
as far as bench-score and launch angle of GPU interfaces and numbers that are determined in nano-increments, I never got into those stats.
when the laptop loses bluetooth computer connection, I noticed things are not up to par.
That would mean both have go through PCH and you won't get the full performance.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-XPS-17-9700-Core-i7-Laptop-Review-Pretty-Much-A-MacBook-Pro-17.480975.0.html
(See that PCIe x16 at x8, instead of just x8)