What we'd like to see in the 2018 XPS 15 9570

[Vaidyanathan]

When you read about XPS 13 or 15 "the keyboard isn't bad", by all means, try to get a hold on this laptop and try the keyboard. I did it at local Microcenter at Cambridge MA and, for my taste, it is not just *bad*, but "really bad". At Microcenter that laptop was next ti Thinkpad lineup, in particular X1 Carbon, and - well, it's like a day and night. Of course, if you want this laptop as primarily multimedia machine, it's probably OK, but if you want to do some serious typing - forget it. From the DELL lineup the one which was OK was Latitude 7480.

Thinkpads have unarguably one of the best keyboards — even if it means getting used to the Ctrl and Fn key swap. I've used a Latitude E5430 and that was such an abomination to type on that I felt that I had lost my typing abilities.

[giobaba]

I have the last xps 15. The sound is terrible, worse I have ever experienced in a laptop

[ayernote]

I widely disagree with you. No way I want to have a numpad on this superb machine. Who likes having his keyboard uncentered ? You can by an external numpad to plug with usb whenever you need it. Most people don't.
The idea is not to make to laptop bigger or thicker, pretty much the contrary. We want a performer in a tiny chassis. If anything they should make it even compacter and lighter. If you want a brick, there is alienware.

[PatrickPK]

THIS is the type of review I am looking for compared to all the other reviews which basically say nothing and only serve as a groupie sales call.

This review goes indepth and points out the real issues with the machine design as well as the documented and unacceptable Dell customer-no-service events.

I've been eyeing the Dell XPS 15 for some time now, but the prohibitive price at Costco has kept me on the fence up until now.

This article makes me question if there is no better alternative out there, even though I love the bezel-less screen.

The other option would be to wait and see if they can't fix all if not most of the issues you bring up, but then again, I don't want to wait that long. I will be pulling the trigger on Black Friday... Are there any alternatives out there that you would recommend?

Please Keep Up the Great work!

[Louisd]

Webcam just made me choose to upgrade to an HP Spectre x360 from my XPS 13.  I got tired of carrying a webcam around with me for video calls. The one of the XPS 13/15 is unusable.

[Daniel Lewandowski]

No off-center keyboard please! It's an idiotic invention ruining typing experience. I've been holding off purchase of my next laptop and XPS 15 was my prime choice. However, Surface Book 2 has nailed it with its design, features and power and it's going to be my next laptop. Everything else in the Windows universe is just a poor bastard child compared to that. Hey, OEM, wake up and start making laptops Windows deserve.

[Vaidyanathan]

No off-center keyboard please! It's an idiotic invention ruining typing experience. I've been holding off purchase of my next laptop and XPS 15 was my prime choice. However, Surface Book 2 has nailed it with its design, features and power and it's going to be my next laptop. Everything else in the Windows universe is just a poor bastard child compared to that. Hey, OEM, wake up and start making laptops Windows deserve.

You're right, Daniel. The Surface Book 2 shows OEMs how it's done. That is the main aim of the Surface line, anyways — to introduce some quality in form and function in the Windows notebook scene for others to emulate. Of course, Windows definitely needs star laptops that stand out and showcase the best of the platform. HP and Dell have woken up and so did a lot of other OEMs. They are not flawless, but they are getting there surely.

[Vaidyanathan]

THIS is the type of review I am looking for compared to all the other reviews which basically say nothing and only serve as a groupie sales call.

This review goes indepth and points out the real issues with the machine design as well as the documented and unacceptable Dell customer-no-service events.

I've been eyeing the Dell XPS 15 for some time now, but the prohibitive price at Costco has kept me on the fence up until now.

This article makes me question if there is no better alternative out there, even though I love the bezel-less screen.

The other option would be to wait and see if they can't fix all if not most of the issues you bring up, but then again, I don't want to wait that long. I will be pulling the trigger on Black Friday... Are there any alternatives out there that you would recommend?

Please Keep Up the Great work!

Thanks for taking the time to read the article, Patrick. Glad you liked it. While most of the issues mentioned here could have actually been rectified during QC, the XPS 15 is still a great buy. You do have comparable options from HP, Lenovo etc, and of course, Microsoft. I recommend that you try one in a physical store before committing to a purchase. You can also peruse through our extensive reviews and analysis for the models you're thinking of to know the  finer details. :)

[Good job]

Vaidyanathan - great job with this article. I've owned a few XPS units and I think think this article does a nice job of summarizing the pros & cons of this unit from a power-users' perspective.

[Roush]

Also worth mentioning changing the hdmi port of 1.4 to 2.0 if they decide to still include one.
Is there any hope of getting the 2018 model ready for orders by January like the 2017 model?
Any ETA on the laptop 8700 processors at that?

[Vaidyanathan]

Vaidyanathan - great job with this article. I've owned a few XPS units and I think think this article does a nice job of summarizing the pros & cons of this unit from a power-users' perspective.

Thank you! Glad you found it useful :)

[Vaidyanathan]

Also worth mentioning changing the hdmi port of 1.4 to 2.0 if they decide to still include one.
Is there any hope of getting the 2018 model ready for orders by January like the 2017 model?
Any ETA on the laptop 8700 processors at that?

That's a good point, Roush. HDMI 2.0 will enable 4K output at 60 Hz. I think they will be going all Thunderbolt 3 in the next model. You might have to buy a dock to get HDMI out. The next XPS 13 will be announced during CES in January so it is likely that the XPS 15 will see a closer announcement. With respect to availability for ordering, our guess is as good as yours :)

[Petertrenque]

Hi Vaidyanathan, thanks for the article. I would love to see a Dell XPS 15 9560 with the new AMD's CPU for laptops which seems to be far superior to Coffe Lake, you make no mention of this possibility. Also, hope they include an Intel Wifi card, no more Killer! regards

[Vaidyanathan]

Hi Vaidyanathan, thanks for the article. I would love to see a Dell XPS 15 9560 with the new AMD's CPU for laptops which seems to be far superior to Coffe Lake, you make no mention of this possibility. Also, hope they include an Intel Wifi card, no more Killer! regards

Hi, Petertrenque. I'll be really glad if Dell can release an XPS with an AMD CPU. But it could be highly unlikely at least for the 2018 version because assuming the laptop would be formally announced at CES 2018, Dell would have already finalized the specs and design of the laptop by now. Also, the XPS hardware has mostly been developed keeping Intel's chips and their associated thermals in mind so I think it would take a fair bit of R&D and testing before Dell can certify that AMD plays well with their power policies. Add to the fact that Raven Ridge had a delayed and somewhat lackluster launch compared to desktop Ryzen, its hard to envisage an XPS with AMD power within.

I think most of the issues with Killer have been pretty much sorted out by now. If you are using a Killer, make sure you update both Killer drivers and Windows as well.

[crazyjar.com]

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