rMBP vs DELL XPS: Experience?

[hemon]

Hi,

as much of you I'm waiting for the new rMPB. Otherwise, I start to loving Windows 10 and so I'm thinking to change OS at all. For this I would only buy the Dell XPS. That's because I'm asking you:

Have you made this change? Which are the pro and contra of the Dell XPS? Would you do it again?

Thanks.

 

[tubeexperience]

Well, I know a few people who have the Dell XPS 13 and they all speak highly of it.

The only complain I've heard has been about the placement of the webcam.

It's probably the best laptop you can buy today.

 

[maflynn]

I've heard great things about the XPS laptop, I don't think you can go wrong with that machine.

I dual boot my iMac, so I'm in OS X and Windows 10 about 60/40 and I enjoy Windows quite a bit.

 

[radus]

copy your data to an external usb-ssd / hd

to convert filnames / remove apple specific names use: "A Better Finder Rename 10"
to remove apple specific files use: "Tinker Tool System"

I did a clean install of Windows 10 pro on the XPS, let Windows load all the needed drivers
make every firmware update available
copy your converted data to your windows user

install all programs needed and use your office abo or your adobe abos - the abo's are a godsend for switcher !

microsoft defender is a very good antivirus program but don't open files in suspect emails ...
oracle virtualbox is very good and fast on the xps

by 32gb ram for $125 and instll it
and have fun

 

[marc55]

I had a 2013 XPS-15 (9530), and purchased a 15"MBPr last March. All I can say is I doubt I will ever go back to a Windows PC.

I'm not trashing the Dell or Windows; just saying my overall computing experience with my MBP is awesome.

m

 

[Fancuku]

The XPS line is very popular and is one of the better Windows machines. It all comes down to which OS you prefer. If you are ok with leaving OS X, then it makes sense to save some money and go with the XPS.
Now, if you can afford to have all the fun, buy both.

 

[throAU]

Not specifically XPS related, but Dell are never getting a cent out of hardware from me ever again based on their handling of the issues I had with their Latitude E6500 machines. Google "latitude Throttlegate" for an illustration of the difference between Apple and Dell support.

I spent a good 3-4 months being told to update BIOS on various machines (had about 30 of them with the problem - tried 20 different Bios versions which did nothing to fix the problem), being told "oh they aren't intended to run that work load" and "we have a global 1% failure rate, you must be doing something wrong" before we stopped purchasing from Dell at my company over the handling of the issue. We did eventually get all 30 replaced with hardware that worked. But it took 3-4 months, during which time we had a bunch of very expensive paperweights.

That said, the XPS hardware looks nice. But i'm still never giving them another cent.

 

[hemon]

Not specifically XPS related, but Dell are never getting a cent out of hardware from me ever again based on their handling of the issues I had with their Latitude E6500 machines. Google "latitude Throttlegate" for an illustration of the difference between Apple and Dell support.

I spent a good 3-4 months being told to update BIOS on various machines (had about 30 of them with the problem - tried 20 different Bios versions which did nothing to fix the problem), being told "oh they aren't intended to run that work load" and "we have a global 1% failure rate, you must be doing something wrong" before we stopped purchasing from Dell at my company over the handling of the issue. We did eventually get all 30 replaced with hardware that worked. But it took 3-4 months, during which time we had a bunch of very expensive paperweights.

That said, the XPS hardware looks nice. But i'm still never giving them another cent.

Thanks for your reply/experience.

I read the same about the XPS which may have bios and software related problems. That's because I think I will stay with Apple.

 

[throAU]

Don't get me wrong. Apple have issues as well. But generally if something doesn't work, and you can show it doesn't work you can take it back and get an exchange under warranty pretty easily...

Those 30 machines that took 3-4 months to replace were all brand new and had extended 3 year support on them (equivalent of Applecare). We also had to talk to the state manager from Dell to get them to play ball (enterprise customer). Home user? Good luck.

 

[Fishrrman]

Can you run the Mac OS on the Dell?

If not, ain't no "experience" there for me!

 

[tubeexperience]

Thanks for your reply/experience.

I read the same about the XPS which may have bios and software related problems. That's because I think I will stay with Apple.

Well, if you think that's a problem, how about Apple releasing MacBook Pros that have defective designs where the GPU would continuously fail?

Some people here (MR) are on their 4th logic board replacements on the very same MacBook Pros because the GPUs keep failing.

 

[zettabyte]

Well, if you think that's a problem, how about Apple releasing MacBook Pros that have defective designs where the GPU would continuously fail?

Some people here (MR) are on their 4th logic board replacements on the very same MacBook Pros because the GPUs keep failing.

Good point.

The XPS is an excellent machine, whether people don't like it or not and the same can be said for Apple.

 

[Three141]

I'm sure the Dell is a solid device but I won't buy from 3rd party manufacturers when it comes to computers, I don't trust the after care support anymore so either Apple or Microsoft for me.

 

[macjunk(ie)]

My brother uses the 13 and I have to say it is a really nice machine. You just have to wrap your head around Windows 10 if you are a OSX guy. That is not to say Win 10 is bad, it is just different.

I did not like the placement of the webcam on the 13 though; but that screen is gorgeous!

 

[throAU]

Well, if you think that's a problem, how about Apple releasing MacBook Pros that have defective designs where the GPU would continuously fail?

Some people here (MR) are on their 4th logic board replacements on the very same MacBook Pros because the GPUs keep failing.

DELL has done the same thing, in fact the very problem i was talking about was due (in part) to defective design where both the CPU and GPU were on the same heatsink and one would throttle the other.

Difference is, Apple offered an extended repair program - and people are actually getting replacement hardware. DELL told me i was a liar when i had 30 useless brand new machines, it took 3-4 months of hassling them to do anything about it.

Not the first time either, there was the capacitor issue on the Optiplex GX260s and I'm sure a bunch of other problems but those are two i have personally had to deal with.

Look up the last time DELL offered a no cost extended repair program on faulty hardware, even for beyond the 1 year standard warranty.


edit:
oh look here, DELL also sold machines with defective GPUs

http://www.dailytech.com/Dell+HP+Lists+Reveal+Defective+NVIDIA+Mobile+GPUs/article12553.htm

DELL's "solution"? Run the fan harder so the machine is noisier. Standard warranty only - no extended warranty offered.

 

[Mr. McMac]

I owned a 2006 XPS 1210 up until about 3 years ago. It never gave me any problems. I ended up selling it on ebay because it was basically obsolete. I don't remember the exact specs, but I'm pretty sure it had a Core Duo CPU.
That being said, I'd get the Dell

 

[tubeexperience]

DELL has done the same thing, in fact the very problem i was talking about was due (in part) to defective design where both the CPU and GPU were on the same heatsink and one would throttle the other.

Difference is, Apple offered an extended repair program - and people are actually getting replacement hardware. DELL told me i was a liar when i had 30 useless brand new machines, it took 3-4 months of hassling them to do anything about it.

Not the first time either, there was the capacitor issue on the Optiplex GX260s and I'm sure a bunch of other problems but those are two i have personally had to deal with.

Look up the last time DELL offered a no cost extended repair program on faulty hardware, even for beyond the 1 year standard warranty.


edit:
oh look here, DELL also sold machines with defective GPUs

http://www.dailytech.com/Dell+HP+Lists+Reveal+Defective+NVIDIA+Mobile+GPUs/article12553.htm

DELL's "solution"? Run the fan harder so the machine is noisier. Standard warranty only - no extended warranty offered.

You must have selective memory.

There was a class action lawsuit against NVIDIA that result in repairs for Dell, HP, and Apple laptops.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/nvidia-reaches-settlement-in-class-action-suit-affecting-apple/

 

[smelly cat]

I would choose Apple notebooks over Dell for one reason above all else: battery durability. Apple's notebooks since 2009/2010 have implemented a long life technology that allows the battery to retain reasonable capacity for 5 years or more. I have a 2010 MacBook Pro with 87% battery capacity that has been used and abused daily. My mother's MacBook Air from the same year has even higher battery capacity still.

I've owned several Dell notebooks over the years... The battery? Useless after 18 months...

 

[Steve121178]

I did not like the placement of the webcam on the 13 though; but that screen is gorgeous!

The display is 16:9 which has always been completely inappropriate for a notebook.

Apple go for 16:10 (perfect), Surface Book/Pro go for 3:2 (also perfect). Why 16:9 became the 'standard' is beyond me. Maybe because it was cheap and used the same manufacturing methods as televisions? I don't know the answer, all I know is that it was and continues to be wrong.

 

[maflynn]

Can you run the Mac OS on the Dell?!

Yes, its called a hackintosh

 

[Dead0k]

the annoying fact for me is that the microphone is beneath the laptop and the camera is on the left side of screen in XPS15. I make skype calls everyday.

 

[judgedeath2]

I need to have OS X. I did the hackintosh game for awhile, but it's too much of a pain to manage.

 

[lcseds]

I would choose Apple notebooks over Dell for one reason above all else: battery durability. Apple's notebooks since 2009/2010 have implemented a long life technology that allows the battery to retain reasonable capacity for 5 years or more. I have a 2010 MacBook Pro with 87% battery capacity that has been used and abused daily. My mother's MacBook Air from the same year has even higher battery capacity still.

I've owned several Dell notebooks over the years... The battery? Useless after 18 months...

I think Dell rates the battery life of the XPS 15 as about 300 cycles. That's low.

 

[smelly cat]

I think Dell rates the battery life of the XPS 15 as about 300 cycles. That's low.

Very low! MacBooks are rated for 1000.

For me, the battery consideration alone erases any advantage in price that PCs typically have over MacBooks. Some others may not care about battery longevity as much though I suppose.

 

[joeblow7777]

Well, I know a few people who have the Dell XPS 13 and they all speak highly of it.

The only complain I've heard has been about the placement of the webcam.

It's probably the best laptop you can buy today.

It really is a fantastic laptop, and since I never use the webcam, the placement of it isn't an issue for me.
[doublepost=1462812326][/doublepost]

I would choose Apple notebooks over Dell for one reason above all else: battery durability. Apple's notebooks since 2009/2010 have implemented a long life technology that allows the battery to retain reasonable capacity for 5 years or more. I have a 2010 MacBook Pro with 87% battery capacity that has been used and abused daily. My mother's MacBook Air from the same year has even higher battery capacity still.

I've owned several Dell notebooks over the years... The battery? Useless after 18 months...

I think Dell rates the battery life of the XPS 15 as about 300 cycles. That's low.

Very low! MacBooks are rated for 1000.

For me, the battery consideration alone erases any advantage in price that PCs typically have over MacBooks. Some others may not care about battery longevity as much though I suppose.

I've had my XPS 13 for a year and a couple of months now and while I do keep it plugged in during most usage, when unplugged, the battery life has shown no noticeable decline since it was brand new. The battery diagnostics that I've run say that it has suffered only 2% battery wear, and that number hasn't changed in some time.