XPS M1730 Questions

I know that the Dell XPS M1730 is still new and few, if any, people have their hands on one right now but I was wondering if someone could provide good guesses to some questions I have (I've never ordered from Dell before and was hoping someone who has experience with Dell could pass on some knowledge):

1. Regarding the TV tuner option...in the configuration it says, "TV Tuner and Remote Control Bundle"...do you think the TV tuner is internal or external? For instance I know the Alienware m9750 has an internal TV tuner and you just plug the coaxial cable into the port on the back of the laptop.
2. Will the system come with recovery discs? Like something for system recovery or to reinstall Windows? Or is this something I have to call Dell about and pay extra for?
3. Would the phone based tech support be U.S. based English speakers? I thought I remember reading something that said XPS users get this. Also I would upgrade to the 3 year warranty with In-Home service...has anyone had any experience, positive or negative, with the In-Home service?
4. I have a question about the hard drive option that I hope someone could explain to me. It says "RAID Performance: 400GB (2x200GB) 7200RPM". So I assume this is a RAID-0 set up but since it says 2x200GB does that mean I will have access to two 200GB drives (like a C: and D: drive) and that I could save documents to both of them (or is one locked and can't be accessed)? Or does the computer "combine" the two 200GB drives behind the scenes and to me it will show up as one 400GB C: drive? Also does the fact that there are two drives spinning and moving around mean there is a greater chance something could go wrong and I could have a computer crash (since it's my understanding that in a RAID-0 set up that if one drive goes, they both go).
5. Finally does Dell have a return program? If I customize an XPS M1730 and it arrives and I begin using it and have a major problem with it and am very disappointed, can I return it for a refund to my credit card? If so what is the time frame for this? Would it matter that the computer was customized (not a preconfigured model) and had been turned on and used slightly?

Thanks for taking the time to look at my questions...I really appreciate any help that you all can provide and share your knowledge and experience with me.

 

I don't have a 1730 myself, but:

1) It is almost certainly an external (usb) tuner. Everyone I know who has bought a Dell tuner has gotten an external one and I don't think it'll be different for the 1730.

2) It will. Or at the very least it should. If it doesn't you can pester Dell into giving you one.

3) This I don't know, I try to stay far away from Dell tech support...

4) Customization options have selections for "RAID Protection" and "RAID Performance", I'm betting those are for RAID 1 and 0, respectively, meaning you have a choice of RAID 0 or 1.

5) They do have a return program. Conditions vary depending on why you are returning it, but yes, if something goes terribly wrong with the thing you will be able to return it.

 

If you get a Raid-0, you will get a much more faster access to programs and files compared to the single HDD. Raid-0 "shares" and "splits" the data into the HDDs

If you get a Raid-1, you will get a stronger and reliable recovery system if you break or lose any data. Raid-1 "mirrors" the data into each HDDs therefore, if you lose one data on a HDD, you can get from the other one because it mirrored the other HDD.

I recommend Raid-0 if you are doing lots of games and 3D applications cuz theres lots of downloadings to do.
If you are a businessman, Raid-0 might be better because you dont want to show up on a meeting without any data to exhibit in front of the audiences.

 

1. It'll be external most likely, but that thing is so damn big it should have an integrated one.

2. It'll have to come with recovery disks and such, if it doesn't, go on the Dell web site, they have a form to request recovery disks, you may have to pay shipping but it's free. I think all you'll need is your service tag.

3. You'll get a verity of people like the rest of us will when we call. But Dell claims this group of XPS techs have been jumping through hoops of fire to learn everything they can to answer on spot.

4. Consumer grade raid shows little to none of an improvement compared just a single drive. Only commercial RAID setups gain an advantage. I know this from experience. Lots of systems in the office and we abandoned that striped RAID crap a long time ago, one dies all data is gone. RAID-1 has great advantages though.

5. As already told, it'll vary to a number of factors to what they'll accept as a reason to return you're system. I doubt they'll take it back because you just plain don't like the color or something stupid or minor like that - but if it was to just explode into flames, they'll replace it on spot or return it.

 

Agree to disagree,

You can run all the benchmarking software you can find, when it comes to real world performance - as I said - little to none compared to an average single drive - in CONSUMER grade raid.

There could be many factors why you're wife's is slower. Cache on the hard drive be one big one. Along with the bus type and speed. Sata from Sata2.. Comparing 2 totally different systems leaves the possibility for any result, my advice, try it with you're Sager if you feel so strongly.

Just look at all these Dell users, some systems can be configured exactly the same one will score better benchmarks then others, so if that can easily happen with the exact model computer, think of the possibilities with 2 totally different machines and brands.

You're comparing lemons to oranges.

 

i am not comparing apples to oranges. the dell e1505 has the same fsb speed and even has a faster processor with it's core duo compared to my older single core p4 3.6 in the sager 9860. both systems use sata drives and i will say again that you are fooling yourself if you think there is no performance increase with raid 0.

on my system i can run ad-aware and spybot along with an antivirus program doing full system scans at once and have enough "hard drive power" to easily run other applications like system explorer, surf the internet and be in my CAD program doing designs without the system choking. on the e1505 i cannot do these things as the hard drive cannot keep up with the demands. i could not even transfer 2 directories that each contained about 500 megs worth of data from the 1 gig flash card to their own respective directories on the hard drive without it choking. i had to do one directory trasnfer at a time as it was quicker.

but don't take my word for it, just look at the benchmarks and do a benchmark yourself. they honestly do not lie about real world performance. my 5400rpm raid array on the sager scores higher than a single 7200rpm drive of similar size.

and sata from sata 2 will yield no performance difference as the physical rotation speed of 7200rpm is not fast enough to utilize the throughput of sata2. so sata2 in laptops is a moot point right now.

 

Well that's you're experience, I can't argue, I never was in your shoes.

But all the raid systems we've used in the office to displaying full res HD plates up on the screens, all the drives chocked. Only good raid system we've had luck with is the ones offered by Apple, but they costs thousands of dollars, so obviously not a consumer level product.

And after that mess I just find it completely strange a notebook's raid option can be outstanding compared to the custom made desktops we had running.

I know I'm not the only one that thinks consumer level stripe raid setup are little to none effective, many experts like Leo Leporte and Steve Gibson even would agree..

but ah well, different experiences.

 

How noisy is it? Anyone who has the laptop - please answer.

 

I went to the Dell Real Site and touch the actual mahcine but there wasnt any real problems regarding fan noises.
Since i was planning to buy, the Dell staff showed me the AC adpater and wow... it has huge. However i presumed that i was going to be big.
The size was about the width of a DVD case.