XPS arrived what to do

Just downloaded firefox... what should I do now?

so many options!

Is google bar on the side worth keeping?

 

any programs to remove?

 

Yup. I personallly removed the google desktop bar, I dont use it really. Software you want to remove:

1) Roxio (Yeah, its a CD burner, but it takes up lotsa space and memory, lots of free alternatives out there)
2) Mcafee Virus Scan (You dont want this. Believe me, you don't.)
3) Microsoft Office Trial
4) Not a program, but just delete all of the web shortcuts and links that are in a folder on the C: Drive and the desktop.

Thats it!

 

...

????

It's your laptop, your hardware, your software. So I don't think that we can really tell you want to do with your stuff except a classic: "you can always give your lappy to me for free".

"Is google bar on the side worth keeping?"
Do you find it useful? If yes, keep it. If not, delete it.

 

What sefk said is true, but I just pointed out what I would classify what is potentially classified as "Bloatware". One persons bloat may be another persons treasure. (Roxio CD Burner for example). Its all up to you in the end, though Dell has much improved as the XPS M1530 really doesn't have much bloat compared to previous Dell laptops I've owned.

 

Fresh install or nuke the junk programs with Revo Uninstaller.

 

Fresh install nukes your factory restore partition and your mediadirect gets upped by another 500 megs if you choose to do so. Not recommeded.

Revo Uninstaller sounds safe though.

 

XPS arrived
1) send it to me

mines coming sometime today too!!!........

i would probably be installing vista 64bit and ubuntu, plus openoffice, opera, visual studio... etc.

 

Depends, I think that a restore partition is almost useless, same for mediadirect. So I would recommend fresh install.

 

Yeah I'm gonna put put 64 bit on mine when I get it

 

i agree. when are you ACTUALLY going to use mediadirect? its one of those features that you think is really cool, but you end up never using it. no need for a restore partition either if it comes with the reinstallation cd.

 

Yes, if you think restore partition is almost useless, and mediadirect is useless so you wont use them at all. You can go ahead and fresh install.

Though keep in mind you will have to go driver searching for those that arn't included on the Drivers and Utilities CD. Also you will run into the hassle of asking the question "whats the best drivers for the 8600GT" and might deal with feeling around trying to figure out which ones work best.

There are no restore CDs like previous Dells have. The only restore to factory is in the hidden restore partition on the hard drive only.

All you get is a Mediadirect disc and the Vista disc.

 

format, then install OS of choice.

 

The coolest thing with mediadirect is that the mediadirect button can be set up, in a dual boot system (windows/linux) to boot linux automatically (or windows). But that's all.

The CD is always outdated.

Anyway, it's all about personal taste(and time that you have).

 

Yeah, patience too. Like I said in my first reply to your post, XPS really does not have as much bloat as previous systems have. There is no need for a Fresh Install.

In fact, performance sometimes decreases compared to out of the box based on personal experience. I got a replacement for poor build quality. I requested replacement M1530, when I had both, I turned both on at same time, they both loaded same time. I took the one I was going to send back anyway and reformatted it, reinstall drivers and everything, and the result was that it was 4 seconds slower than the one I didn't reformat. Upon installing windows SP1 on both and then booting both up, the one that was reformatted was slower by 7 seconds.

This is the very reason why I didn't reformat the replacement.

 

whats the difference between a restore cd and a vista install cd?

ok, after googling it looks like the recovery partition is used to recover your files in case of a virus or other os malfunction, if you have a second computer that you can pop the hard drive into this is entirely useless (same with if you properly back up your data, which you should be doing anyway)

 

well just test driving it and I love it so far!

was looking for suggestions of new programs to add... what to remove....
windows Vista settings... etc etc...

 

Restore CD is the CD that actually restores your Dell computer back to factory condition/state including the drivers, programs, and everything that came with it.

Vista Disc is just a Vista Disc. It installs vista, but does not have any of the drivers, programs, etc.

 

nice, thats pretty cool actually
can you program it to start a certain application once in windows?

its almost as useless as the s-video out, as well as the modem/fax port.

 

1) Roxio (Yeah, its a CD burner, but it takes up lotsa space and memory, lots of free alternatives out there)
2) Mcafee Virus Scan (You dont want this. Believe me, you don't.)
3) Microsoft Office Trial
4) Not a program, but just delete all of the web shortcuts and links that are in a folder on the C: Drive and the desktop.

Yes. Which makes it a whole lot cooler. You can even make the button boot you up into a different operating system like Ubuntu for example.

 

how much of that is crap that you dont need? and how much of it is readily available on the internet? oh wait.. all of it. no wonder they dont include it anymore

 

Like I said, it really doesn't come with as much as you'd think.

Everything is readily available on the internet, though knowing which ones to install is the tricky one. With the tons of revisions of the 8600GT drivers, which one to decide?

Fingerprint reader isn't working? What? I have to grab something from intel?

There are other drivers I have to get besides the ones on the Dell website?

Plus, what if you wanted to sell your computer. You can claim at least its been restored to factory condition to make your life easier. If your just installing drivers and junk yourself, its not going to be factory condition.

 

That's what I said.

Don't it start windows media center?

It's not harder than building a pc.

 

i upgraded to windows xp, so no media center for me. how do you program it to boot to a certain operating system? is that in the bios, or the bootloader, or what?

 

Take a look at this. Its quite simple actually:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=108496&highlight=media+direct+buttons

Its not as hard as coding Windows either.

 

Forte would you recommend 64 bit?

 

If you want to take advantage of extra recognition of up to 8GB of memory, go ahead.

Personally I'd stick with 32-bit just because despite there are more and more applications supporting 64-bit, the majority are still 32-bit. I'd wait a while before upgrading, but thats just me.

Driver support is also a potential issue despite Dell offering 64-bit versions of their drivers, the Dell site does not cover all of them and for the rest not offered by Dell you will have to go looking yourself.

 

Bad comparison.

Coding Windows require special skills that most people don't have. Building a PC from component bought at a local store (let's say bestbuy) require almost no skill(oh yeah, you have to know how to read...).

 

Right back at ya.

Bad comparison.

Just because you and I both know how to build a PC from components bought from a local store, does not mean it requires no skill. You alienate everyone who does not know how to build a PC. Not everyone is as PC-literate as you may think.

 

Can you put 4gb+4gb in a laptop? is that even possible (or will it be)?

 

Yes, laser technology does allow 4GB DIMMs. Though even without installing 8GBs of RAM from 4GB DIMMs, as of now, even if you install 4GBs of RAM, your computer recognizes only 3.5gb on 32-bit. These 4GB DIMMs are not made for the type of RAM the M1530 uses.

With 64-bit. Your computer recognizes all 4gb. Not much of a difference to warrant an upgrade at the current day and age. Maybe one day when 4GB ram sticks do get more mainstream and applications are completely 64-bit compliant and are more supported, then it would be a good time to upgrade.

 

"You alienate everyone who does not know how to build a PC."
To be able to code a whole OS like windows, it's at leat 10 years of experience+a lot of talent.

On the other hand, learning how to build a pc tooks 20 minutes of reading(some magazines publish once a year an article about: how to build your PC). Then it's shopping and putting component together (which very easy). I don't call this "special skill", or even skill. It's all about being able to read a magazine and some instructional books, the assembly is easier than playing with LEGO.

Most people can do it, but they just don't have time to waste on it or are scared by it. And in fact, the biggest issue is even not fear, but time. Fine tuning a system can take up to a whole weekend and a lot of people just don't have a weekend to spend. I understand them, but I think that if one has time to waste on his or her pc/lappy, he or she should take it: it's very useful to know how your computer works.

 

computer components are meant to be easily assembled. i cant think of a single connection that isnt either uniquely shaped, or labeled properly to be easily interpretted correctly. think about it, theres only one place for everything to be. only one way that the motherboard can screw into the case, only one way for the sata cable to go, only one way that the memory can fit into the slot, etc. the only thing that isnt the case would be the front controls, such as the power button, led, hdd led, etc. but those are labeled, nothing reading the motherboard's manual wont be able to fix.
its significantly easier than most people might think; the hardest part would just be making sure your components are all compatible.

 

any other suggestions?

what happens when I close the lid to the laptop? does it go to sleep?

any power saving settings adjustments you guys would make to vista?


thanks

 

again, its all personal preference.

 

but dont bother putting 4GB+4GB(total 8GB) of RAM on the m1530
1) u wont even use 4GB unless u run photoshop all day
2) believe the m1530 hardware is capped at a max of 4GB

my m1330 CAME!!!! but w/o the CD case, earbuds or cleaning cloth.... only the sleeve....

yay!


EDIT: does the LED have a greenish-tint when the whole system is turned off? theres no tint when the display is on...

 

Does the XPS come with things like Dell Network assistant? What a crap piece of software. Why the heck would you need it when Vista does the job perfectly.

 

Last time I checked 2 modules of 4GB PC5300 would cost way more than a M1530

Having said that... Santa Rosa is actually 36bit when it come to memory addressing and should support up to 64GB.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3326663&postcount=10

 

I would have to agree with you on this one. It's as easy to build a PC than to assemble some of the furniture you can buy at IKEA...

Coding applications and operating systems is a completely different story. Worst than that is video drivers...