XPS M1710 can you turn on the flashy LED lights?

OFF!?

I am thinking about going 17" WUXGA - and since the price of a Vostro 1700 is pretty much the same as a XPS M1710 why not go for the M1710 (7900 GTX card - who uses DirectX 10.0 anyway?).

But the darn lights on the outside, makes it look like a car from "Too fast too furios" and I would like to know, if they can be turned off?

 

Sorry, I've never owned a Vostro 1700, so I don't know but whenever lights annoy me on a notebook, I just cover it with black insulation tape.

Sorry if this doesn't help much, someone might know a better way, but it's an option if it really gets to you.

P.S. not many people need DX 10 now, but in 3-4 years? Still if you don't want to game then that's fine.

 

Thanks for your suggestion. For me it would ruin the aestetichs (spell?), if I cover the lights with black insulation tape..

I'm planning on having this laptop for the next 2 years (gaming and HD-movies), so what happens in 3-4 years time is not a concern for me

 

Hi Thuekr,
Yes, the lights can be turned off. You can also choose different combinations of colors if you prefer. I'm assuming that you're referring to the M1730 model.

Gabe

 

Gabe, I am actually referring to the M1710 model

 

Hi Thuekr,
My apologies. Yes the M1710 also has the ability to turn off the lights. Here are the options and color choices:
Off
Ruby
Citrine
Amber
Peridot
Emerald
Jade
Topaz
Tanzanite
Aquamarine
Sapphire
Lolite
Amethyst
Kunzite
Rhodolite
Coral
Diamond


Gabe

 

You can turn it off using the Dell Quickset program in the system tray. Or alternatively, turn it off yourself in the BIOS. They use up negligible amounts of energy, though - and they don't expel any heat.

I personally like the looks and leave them on. I change the colors here and there according to how I feel.

 

It's better to keep the LED's off until you actually need them... they do burn out I know... I have an M1710 and M1730, and both have required LED replacements in the past.

 

Is it normal for there to be less of a color choice for the lights on the back of the lid? I bought mine as a refurb and it's always been this way. Even though the colors are listed, some colors seem to be skipped, or the same as the adjacent color.

 

Nope, definitely not normal... that's an indicator that one of the primiary color LED's (red, green, or blue) is out of commission. All the color options should be the same at all locations -- if any of the LED colors don't match the other sets, then you probably have one or more dead LED's at the given location. These are covered by Dell's warranties.

 

I wish I'd known that before. I could have had the LED's replaced at the same time as the screen.

 

I keep the LEDs on my 1710 off...(and as mentioned, you can use Quickset under the gaming options selection, or you can go into the BIOS on bootup [F2] and turn them off)...

Even with the LEDs off, you can go into Windows Media Player and choose the Dell XPS LED visualization and the LEDs will come on and pulse to the music...that's the only effect I ever use and it's mainly to annoy my wife...(but, God help me, colored, dancing LEDs in a dark room look soooo cool)...

I keep the LED on the touchpad off since the color is non-selectable...you get red or nothing for the touchpad...

Also, even with the LCD screen LEDs off, you still get LCD bleed light through the XPS logo on the lid which ruins the aesthetics a bit...it's just flourescent white light bleeing through the transparent XPS logo vs the colored LEDs...