[User Review] Dell Precision M4600 15.6" Mobile Workstation

I use Ubuntu 11.04 64-bit, and just about everything worked out of the box. The only real problems I had were that it would not reboot properly (though it would shutdown fine) without using the "reboot=pci" kernel parameter, and suspend to disk doesn't work (hibernate works, and suspend to memory work though).

I have the Quadro 2000m, and while the drivers are pretty good, it has some quirks. If I, say, suspend the machine while it's on the dock, remove it from the dock and wake up the machine, the video won't come back. I have also not been able to get it to consistently activate the two monitors connected to the dock and disable the internal LCD when it's docked -- it will activate the internal LCD and one of the external monitors. I can easily disable the LCD and activate the 2nd external, but it's a pain to do it on every single boot.

Other than those few issues, it works fine under linux.

 

Yeah, I found them via google on the dell UK and DE sites and hence why I wrote in the original posts that they're expensive

On the german site, the charger is 110 EUR. So, hopefully, some used ones will appear on ebay sooner or later (preferably sooner)..

 

Not true. All configurations of the M4600 are Energy Star 5 certified.

 

We just sent a pair of M6600's with 2920xm processors to Washington DC as a part of our student built carbon neutral house that competed in the Solar Homestead competition. The EPA had very strict rules for the machines and measured the amount of power that they pulled. Both machines pulled 10 - 20 watts with optimus and Dell's extended battery life power mode enabled.

The M4600 would likely pull even less power.

The power supplies are also Energy Star 5 rated and around 90% efficient.

 

Thanks for the reply! The salesman made a mistake and my M4600 is currently in production... and it will be Energy Star 5.0 rated!

 

Hi everyone! First of all, I would like to congratulate iieeann for the thorough review of the M4600. I am currently thinking about buying one, and I would appreciate a clarification regarding the optical drive. Since Dell is charging an overpriced premium for a Blu-Ray burner, I am planning to buy one in the aftermarket and then replace it myself. Does anybody know if a Panasonic/Matsushta UJ240 drive could fit within the M4600's optical drive bay?
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

 

No the optical drives are thinner than ordinary laptop optical drive. I think...

 

I presume they should be 9.5 mm (like on M6400 and later series) and it seems that the UJ-240 is 12,7 mm..

 

Correct. Most optical drives from other OEM's are 12.5mm and not 9.5mm. Dell since the M6400 are using 9.5mm drives.

 

i tried replacing with the bluray drive from my Alienware. It was too thick to fit in.