Thinking about returning my M11x

Hey everyone, just got my m11x about 1.5 weeks ago. So far its been pretty cool I love the power it packs and the smallness of it and stuff. But there are a few glaring issues so far I have noticed:

1. The hinge seems like a piece of sh*t: There is a crack along the seem and the hinges are even a bit misaligned. I had an inspirion 1525 before and the hinges completely fell apart to the point the screen wouldnt stay up by itself any more, although I got the three year warranty, I don't want to deal with the stress of trying to get them fixed if they break.

2. Random power shut offs: Twice now, I've put the laptop down and it instantly shuts the power off. This is unacceptable in my opinion, I dont want to be in the middle of doing something important (I am in engineering and use it for school work) and lose all my work.

I am thinking about getting one of the new macbook airs.. About the same price, I wont be able to game on it but the gaming is sort of taking away from school anyways haha. Bigger screen would be nice too I find im straighning to read stuff on the screen with the small size. Any thoughts? Anyone else returned their m11x before?

 

In case you are curious what build I got the core i7 r2 with 4gb of ram and the lunar shadow (which I regret getting, the soft black is so much nicer)

 

Well a lot of people have had issues with the hinges breaking so you may run into that.

It may be the freefall protection kicking in which is causing your laptop to turn off. Not sure though, could be some other issue.

 

No I dont think it is that, seemed like it was the (minor) shock of putting it on the desk.

 

So you actually got the r2 with 8gb? In my opinion If you dont want this laptop for gaming you can buy another dell cheaper with an i3 or i5 and 4 gb of ram. But like you said If games are interfering school well that is up to you. I had the same problem but I can control it now =). macbooks are usually 1100+ above if Im correct ( correct me if im not). But yeah I think you should replace your m11x and get a new one. If you still dont like it change it.

 

As an owner of both I'd have to say stick with your M11x. If you can get your issues resolved it truly is a better computer. Don't get me wrong, the air is a beautiful machine and is awesome for ultra-portability, but if I was forced to choose between the two it would be the M11x hands down.

 

Do you mind expanding a bit on your reasoning? I'm in this exact situation of deciding right now.

 

Maybe the battery wiring/connection is loose and it was jarred when set down.

 

Absolutely. In my case my Alienware is my main computer right now. I do a lot of gaming and the M11x suits my demands very nicely. While gaming is certainly possible on the MBA it's no where close performance wise to the M11x since it has a C2D and an integrated video card. Plus the M11x has a backlit keyboard, while the MBA does not.

In my opinion it depends on what you plan to do with it. If the M11x is your main computer then I wouldn't switch because of the performance downgrade. However if it's a compliment to a more powerful desktop then I would recommend the switch.

 

I got an iPad with a keyboard attachment and honestly I kinda love it. Has a few games too, but mostly casual. I already have a somewhat beefy desktop so my m11x was not my main machine.

If I could I'd return my m11x, hinges broke within 2 months.

 

Anyone have any experience with returning a product to dell? If I listed off these problems what are the chances of them giving me a brand new product, or just taking it back if I dont want it at all?

 

I had problems with my m11x refurb and they offered me money to keep it. I told them it's not monetary and they took it back shipping on them. It was easy.

Now I am waiting for another outlet coupon. Who knew they'd dry up.

 

Hey

I would say if you can deal with the restocking fee just return it. I would say this with any product though, not specifaclly the m11x. Why keep somthing you kind of don't want? Why deal with that every day? Just return it and buy somthing but take more time on your next decison. I would say that m11x is a fine product I think, but ask yourself what you belive.

 

If Dell tries to charge you a restocking fee + shipping, you could always try to sell it in ebay. I just sold mine for more than I paid for it, plus I got to keep my Tactx keyboard as well

 

How do you like the tactx dajohu? I am thinking about getting one but $99 without pre-screening is risky.

 

I love it! Not sure how I'd feel about paying for it though. Got mine for free with the m11x purchase like most others.

 

Yeah, just sell it if you can't return it. Honestly, neat concept, but terrible execution in design. I don't have time to swap hinges and rubber feet every few months and explain to my boss why my desk has scratches from moving m11x without a rubber foot. I am much better off with a Thinkpad for a portable machine.... or anything that actually doesn't fall apart.

Forget about gaming on ultraportable, obviously noone came up with anything decent yet.

 

Does it have a power button that could act to put the computer to sleep? Like the Alien head?

 

What do you mean with anything decent unreal25? I'm pretty sure that I m11x can run most of the games that are play today Team fortress, call of duty. I dont know about starcraft but oh well. The thing is nobody wants to spend 1100$ or more in a laptop. Problems comes with every machine *cof cof 360 red ring of death cof cof* But thats why we got warranty ^^

 

I will check as soon as a benchmark is done. Don't want to shut it down in the middle lol.

Honestly I couldn't find any fault with the m11x. It is a great machine and does what it is supposed to. Obviously I didn't have it long enough to have any hinge issues. It boiled down to I just needed a desktop replacement rather than an ultraportable. I don't move my laptop often and do not need great battery life, just the ability to take it with me when I head out of town. I thought I'd start taking it to work with me everyday, but I never have time to mess with it anyway so there was no point. The tinyness is awesome, but I decided I'd rather have faster machine, at the cost of size and weight.

**edit**
I don't think there is anyway to power on & off from the keyboard. The alien head is just for looks, not a button.

 

Ah how people change opinons on laptops (myself included ) My last visit a few months ago on the forum you loved your m11x and defened it with much enthusiam lol. Sucks about the hinge issue. I had the same problem with my original m15x (the plastic silver model).

 

Yeah, you're absolutely correct - I can't believe it myself! When I got it, I thought it was the best laptop ever, and it would be if it could only hold itself together.... lol I still think that, performance wise, it's a clear winner in this sub 13" class. Not to mention it even beats MBA 11" on battery life (just lol....) But what is the use of all that power... if the physical construction falls apart? I think if the construction can be improved (mainly hinge, rubber feet and screen actually being able to close completely, like with a latch or something + the oil grease is more of a nuisance) this laptop would be a killer. Now it's *almost* a killer. The potential of this laptop is incredible, but its still just that - potential. Then I hear people suggesting Acer or some similar junk (no offense) - then I think I'd even rather get a "hinged" m11x than that...


On the other hand, I was very close to returning m17x (touchpad issue, crossfire flickering, stuck in stealth mode ....) and right now it just works amazing, with flashed BIOS, VBIOS and new graphic drivers. Honestly, the main reason I didn't return it was actually the screen - and if you could get RGB LED on 11" laptop I'd even pay $300-$400 more. Yeah, its that good.

 

Someone didn't disable the accelerometer.

 

Agreed. Or just put it down more gently/smoothly

 

Is this really what does that? It instantly shuts off the power?

 

It turns off the computer to protect the hard drive in a fall.

 

Any point in even bothering to install the driver for that if you're running an SSD?

Just wondering since it's the last Unknown Device I have in my device manager after setting up my m11x r2.

 

Yep. Kills the computer to protect the hard drive I guess. Just uninstall it as no one really plans on dropping their laptop.

 

i've had my m11x since march, and i've never had any problems with it. i use it perhaps 25% of my time computing, so i guess it doesn't get as much use as someone who uses it as their main machine.

for me, the construction is superb. i wouldn't want any other "netbook" at this moment in time. though, i need a portable laptop that can run / compile 3d engines since i'm a programmer. . unfortunately compiling on this sucker takes a good while as opposed to my dekstop.