Dell Precision M6700 Owners Thread

Try ask about how to get "proper price" with HP machine in their owner lounge or Hp forum, their MSRP is amazing (or crazy).
The 17" is definitely not suitable to be used long time on the lap. The IPS model is heavier than normal screen model as well. Probably look at 9~lb when loaded HDD with IPS.

 

Thanks for the response, baiii.
Are you suggesting that I look at the 8570w, and try to get it reasonably priced, since it's 1 lb. lighter than the m6700? I guess I'd have to see how much I can get the price down.
The MSRP was $2,600 on the 8570w 15" when I looked at HP's site.
The m6700 that I configured on Dell (larger screen, but 1 lb. heavier) was $2,143 (and I happen to have $350 in Dell giftcards).

 

The touchpad seems decent to me but I use a USB mouse whenever possible --- that would be the case no matter how nice the touchpad was, just don't feel up to dragging my finger around all day. I don't really have a problem using it but I don't do precision graphics work so I'm not sure how you would like it. It's completely fine for just light browsing or whatever (my normal couch use). I'd say its a bit nicer than your run-of-the-mill laptop touchpad but not as nice as, say, Apple's. Not being a touchpad guy I chose to ignore that part of your post the first time around.

As for the SSD stuff, no problem. There are two internal 2.5" bays, and if you install the Crucial SSD in one of them it will be SATA-3. If you ever decide to use the mSATA you'll be capped at SATA-2 for that one. The optical drive port is also SATA-2 (a good place to put an extra hard drive since it won't take advantage of SATA-3... if you can live without the optical drive). It seems like you've got the correct understanding.

 

Well, now I tihink about it, if you remove the battery(assume you going to keep it plugged), the m6700 is not really that heavy.

The Hp should have a better point stick (it stick out from the keyboard and exchangeable with thinkpad nubs iirc), probably better trackpad (they use synaptic driver). I am not sure if HP business have the same 21 day return policy as home(probably is same), but if you get a ok price, I see no reason not to check both design out and see which fit you.
Personally, I can never do any precise work on touchpad, point stick to me is the way to get precise pointing w/o mouse.

 

Aaron, thanks again. Super helpful responses!

As for the weight/comfort, I can try using it on my lap for a while, but if that doesn't work out, it sounds like a dinner tray (perhaps large enough to accommodate using a mouse) might solve the weight and touchpad size issue.

You've patiently answered my "non-issue" SSD question, and for that, I thank you

Krane answered my Covet question and baiii addressed looking into the lighter 15" HP workstation (but that might be cost prohibitive).

The last thing I'm wondering is whether I'm missing any other systems that will give me the screen that I need in a laptop (something lighter than the Dell and HP workstations)...?

 

Thanks, baiii. I've been doing photo editing for a year and I think I'm starting to get carpal tunnel from it, even though my HP Envy touchpad is large.

As for removing the battery, I occasionally unplug and use the laptop in my bedroom and/or to take care of "business" in the men's room (if we're all being honest here, lol).

I'll do some browsing on the HP forum to see if I can figure out how much cheaper than MSRP they are buying their systems.

 

My point wasn't that you can't use it on your lap, but that it won't take long before it becomes uncomfortable. And if you're uncomfortable your work will suffer.

As you say, a tray sounds like a good idea to solve, or at least improve, on this problem. As for scrolling, I have a Performance Anywhere mouse and it can track on just about anything (including a pant leg ), but that's just my preference.

Anyway, if power is what you want/need you should have no problem if you choose the Precision. I haven't delved much into Photoshop but video editing is what I want a Precision for and it can certainly be as demanding.

Since this category of laptop can be used for 3D graphics (depending on configuration), it should be more than up to the task for any photo editing you can throw at it. From what I understand the Precision is the light laptop in its class; and the screens are comparable to those from HP. Currently its only direct competition.

Future proof is hard to predict, but they are upgradeable. I've been following it for months to make sure I make the best choice. I plan on order my machine this week.

 

I do not use the mouse for three (~) years. Only touchpad, sometimes trackpoint.
On the M90​​, M6400... M6600 Now.
Work at a laptop 10-12 hours a day (on my knees, too).
IMHO a matter of habit.

Best Regards,
Alex.

PS. Touchpad middle button - 5 points. Mouse will not replace it...
PPS. In M6400/M6500 touchpad better.

 

IMHO, it'd be surprising if Dell don't start working on one as soon as Haswell mobile parts are out.. Since Haswell is planned for June, if the mobile parts are released at the same time, based on the Ivy Bridge and M6700 release dates (roughly 3 months after), the new Dell could be available from September this year onwards.. That's just pure guessing, but it makes no sense to wait with the update and lose customers to HP or Lenovo.

 

Hi guys,

a question about RAM.

I remember I'm going to update my xps in sign to M6700. In my XPS I updated ram with 2x8 gb corsair 1333mhz.
M6700 will arrive me with 2x4gb 1600mhz.

Starting from this test I found in the 3d about M6700 review:

seems that 1866mhz really outperforms the other frequency in this test . I don't know if they are only numbers or if they mean something in the real use, visible by eyes I mean. My use is : lightroom with big libraries of raw from 5D Mk3, photoshop and some HD video with avid studio. Keep in mind that what I would like is to reach the "real time" managing of my raw when I click, zoom, scroll etc in lightroom ( I've already an SSD to install in my M6700). Considering this, and consdering what I 've told at the beginning, this is my scenario:

1) stay with 2x4gb 1600 of stock M6700
2) sell 2x8gb corsair 1333 that I already have to bring 2x4 or 4x4gb 1866 to use them on M6700 (I'm writing here to understand if it be worth...)
3) use my 2x8gb 1333 corsair on my new M6700 and save money
4) use my 2x8gb 1333 together 2x4gb 1600 (of course everything will run at 1333) for a total of 24gb and use a big ramdisk of for example 12gb for files temp....
5) other scenarios you could think is good..

THANKS !!!!!

ciao