Dell Studio 1737 (Ruby Red)

Bought this one in early 2009 as an 'emergency' replacement for an HP that failed without warning. The purchase price at Walmart in Laredo, TX was $899 (before taxes). My 1737 was equipped somewhat differently than described for this article...4 USB 2.0 ports1 USB/eSATA1 port Firewire IEEE 13941 port LAN port (wired) Cat 5e3 audio ports (headphone, mic, line-in, all can have their functions changed) 1 VGA out port 1 HDMI out port 1 SDHC reader 1 Smart card port 1 Fingerprint reader (highly configurable) Built-in Bluetooth Built-in WiFi (a/b/g) Inexpensive speakers and and microphone at the ScreenIn-screen VGA-level camera Touchpad mouse 101-key backlit keyboard (very nice for night work) Standard dual-layer DVD-RW Intel Core Duo processor (2.0 GHz max) Intel video with 128 MB, can share RAM (max 1GB, Windows decides what you need, you can't) 90 watt power supply 64-bit Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, with lots of Dell "bloat ware" DVD disk set for system restore operating and drivers (never pe rdre or damage them, getting a replacement from Dell is difficult and expensive) Compact Manuals As soon as b Ox came out, the 1737 power supply was not enough to power the 1737, and the power jack was so loose that the power supply kept disconnecting. The 1737 often failed to identify the power supply, resulting in reduced BIOS and Windows functionality by 50%. I had to disable power detection in BIOS and Windows. The power supply also becomes hot enough to constitute a fire hazard. I ended up replacing both the power supply and the battery (damaged by the original power supply) in 2012 (see my other reviews for suitable replacements that work just fine, without overheating). I recommend immediate replacement of both. In addition, the power module must be replaced periodically. If you are unable to follow the repair and replacement instructions (on Dell's website), you should not purchase the 1737. There is also an issue with the design of the display/panel hinges. cover, you should plan for periodic replacement. This won't be an easy task, it took me a few hours and I've been fixing computers since 1978. This is a design issue, so again, if you're not comfortable with such replacement following Dell's instructions, only purchase the 1737. The cover also holds the on/off radio (wifi/bluetooth) and on/off switches IN THE HINGES, so hinge replacement should be done periodically. Dell does not honor warranty issues with the 1737, period, non exceptions. They also won't allow direct purchase of the correct power supply if they know it will be used for the 1737. See my other reviews for suitable spares I found from third parties for the battery and food. From April 2009 to March 2011, this computer was my workhorse inside a tractor-trailer. It powered and recorded to a 2GB external hard drive 3 USB cameras, the built-in camera and a FireWire camcorder everything my rig did 24/7. Using USB GPS it would also provide routing, as well as location-based Doppler radar. Also performed were electronic logbooks, maintenance records, transmission of billing information (so I could get paid faster), and some basic games whenever I got bored waiting for customers. It's not a gaming rig at all, but it will play DVDs with no problem. The sound is pretty crappy (common with laptops), so I used external speakers. The computer handled the extreme conditions of being in a tractor-trailer extremely well for the 250,000 miles it used for this purpose, despite the issues mentioned above. It's a bit heavy, so the vehicle mount had to be modified to minimize sway. The fingerprint reader was particularly useful, as my employer's mechanics were trying to gain access to the computer to turn off the cameras (to avoid revealing that they weren't making the required repairs), but couldn't do anything without an acceptable fingerprint (mine). After coming off the road, I added a second 120GB hard drive with Ubuntu Studio (Debian Linux) 12.04, which works quite well on the 1737 (although Dell says it won't). My particular dual-boot setup requires entering BIOS to switch drives, which was intentional on my part. I also replaced the hinges, screen cover (black to red) and screen frame. While I was at it, I finally replaced the power supply and battery. Typical battery life is 1 year before a replacement is needed, but I also rarely use the battery. What to watch out for is when the battery is discharging and not recharging. My 1737 is powered 24/7, and the power settings are set for maximum performance, which isn't particularly good for the batteries initially. Apart from the previously mentioned problems, this computer is a real workhorse for students and the office. It can be upgraded to Microsoft Windows 7 Pro 64 bit if you want to run Microsoft Office 365 or 2013. I recommend Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit though, as Pro is primarily for those who need backwards compatibility with Windows XP (most don't, and no, it won't run your USB-only XP devices). If needed, and you may find it, you can replace or install 32-bit WinXP in a multi-boot environment, or as a backwards replacement OS, for those who need it (Storm Chasers , emergency personnel, etc.). HDMI out is fine for video playback or for plugging into a larger screen, but audio playback on Windows is problematic with HDMI. Better to use VGA output with audio output, if your devices can handle that. Both HDMI and VGA can do 1920x1080, and the built-in display scales to 1400x900. However, Windows is better with using multi-display capabilities than Ubuntu. I was unable to use both the HDMI and VGA outputs, especially leaving the main display on, still working out how to do this. Overall, the 1737 is my favorite, despite known issues that Dell refuses to address. . If you are comfortable using Dell repair manuals, have the right tools and have the aptitude, the above issues are not that big of a deal, but an annoying and time consuming problem every year. or every two years. I have newer laptops that are more capable of gaming and such, but I still use the 1737 (I'm now using to write this review) a lot more than my other computers, and this one now has over 5 years. However, if you're not comfortable fixing known issues, I suggest looking to other laptops. I generally charge $75/hour for repairs, and I'm considered cheap in my area. Getting repaired by other people can easily cost more than the laptop, especially screen issues. This device loses 1 star for design flaws, 1 star for very poor Dell warranty and customer service/technical support.

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