M1210 vs 6400....need opinions

hi,

I've been looking around for lappy's for quite a while and i've pretty much set my eye on dell (considering you can cuztomize most parts, etc..)

I'm trying to pick between the Inspiron XPS M1210 or the maxed out Inspiuron 6400 dual core.

(both are cuztomized with 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHZ, 2 DIMM and an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 (2.00GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB), etc.. etc... the debate is the following three things:

the GPU.
the M1210 offers the GeForce Go 7400 TurboCache while the 6400 offers the RADEON X1400 HyperMemory or the GeForce Go 7300 GS. who wins?

the wireless card offered in the XPS is the basic one or Dell Draft N Internal Wireless (witch i heard is hard to configure ) (or is the basic Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless any good?)

the screen offered in the 6400 has the UltraSharp feature and the Xps doesnt offer this ( i heard somewhere that the screen was very reflective... is it THAT BAD). Also heard that you can't surf the web without the widnow being cut half size and hard to read. is this all true? or does it really come down to what resolution you use?

finally apparently the 9 cell batterie sticks out, was the picture i saw wrong or does it really?

with shipping and all that the Xps comes to about 2,233$ canadian while the 6400 comes at about 1,933$ canadian.

the price tag isn't all that much different but keep in mind that i am a student and i will need the computer for graphic arts, video editing and gaming. i also want it to be portable.

I know basics but i'm not an expert. This community seems quite knowledgeble so i'd really appreciate opinions and explanations.

thank you,
P.H.

p.s. any extra tips on how it should be built, like cuztomising ideas, etc..

 

The 7400 and X1400 are pretty evenly matched, I'd say its a toss up. The intel pro set has worked quite well for me over two machines, an E1505 and my present M1210. Glossy screens are reflective period, they wouldnt be glossy if they werent, its a non issue for me, I was afraid at first, but after using them awhile I find I prefer them. The m1210 has a screen size of 12.1"@1280x800, the same resolution of the standard 15.4" screen on the E1505. they both show information on the screen exactly the same way, its just bigger on the 15.4" screen, though the exact same amount of information is dispalyed, bumping up to wsxga+ gives the E1505 1680x1050 resolution, meaning it can display a lot more information on the screen. I had the wsxga+ screen before I got my M1210, the transition was virtually painless, I missed the extra real estate, but it wasnt a big problem. If you go with the e1505, go high res. The 9 cell sticks out a little on the M1210, its not a big deal and doesnt get in the way at all, its a very small unit, the 6 cell fits flush, you choose between asthetics or longer battery time.

It would help if you tould us your uses, types of programs, environments you plan to be in, if it will be used mostly in the home or outside the home. Personally there is no other laptop on the market that I would part with my M1210 for. Its insanely portable for the performance it has. The e1505 is kind of a pain to lug around everywhere. If your going to spend the bulk of your time using it on a desk, the E1505 would be a better fit due to the bigger screen size and high res option,if you plan to use it on the go, you cant beat the M1210, other than that they are essentially the same in performance. Build quality wise the M1210 has an edge, better materials are used and its a flagship product, the E1505 is an economy based laptop, though still well built, the case is all plastic and there is much less attention to deatail.

 

X1400 is slightly (at most 10%) faster than Go 7400 but that difference alone is not worth going for the 6400 especially if you are concerned about portability. I'm not exactly sure what DELL means by ultra sharp but it is not the reflective screen. The glossy surface is called TrueLife. It makes the colors look more vibrant and overall picture looks sharp and crisp. However some people don’t like the glare it causes. Better check out some reflective screens in person and decide yourself.

9Cell battery of m1210 will stick out from the back but not in the I6400.

As long as the wireless adapter goes, Intel cards are quite good. And I think 3945 b/a/g is good enough. Draft N is the upcoming more faster wireless protocol, however it is still not standardized (hence the word draft). However it supports all previous standards therefore you should be able to connect to any current network without a problem. Since I have no experience with this particular DELL Draft N card I cant tell you much.

For a college student I recommend the m1210 because it is light (2kg with 6 cell) and much smaller in comparison to 6400.

 

Ultra sharp actually designates enhanced verticle viewing angles. They lump it together with true life so its assume its part of the glossy coating.

 

i'll running programs like : photoshop Cs2, adobe premiere, blender, anything else touching media production (audio, visual, etc..)

i Also enjoy fairly new games like HL2 and other Fps.

hopes this help, thanks for the info up to now,

also anyhtign i coudl cut back on and still have good performance, (exemple, 1.83 ghz instead of 2)

thanks

 

Photoshop would be better on a 15.4" WSXG+ screen, if this will be your only computer and you do a LOT of PS work, you'll either want to nod in the direction of the E1505, or purchase an external monitor to use with hardcore PS work. The 1.83 chip suits my needs just fine, the 4MB cache of the T7200 will become more useful later on, so it wont be a bad thing to have, I would say it would be far from a deal breaker though.

 

Hey Iceman,

I'm in the same boat with vindex. I'm planning on purchasing a 6400 (intel core 2 duo t7200 2.00 GHz, 2GB DDR2 SDRam at 667MHz, 100GB 7200rpm sata Hard Drive, Radeon x1400), but I'm not sure what LCD panel I should go with that will suit best for video editing.

Ultrasharp SXGA+ or WXGA+? What's the difference?

I'll be video editing on Adobe Premiere Pro.
Also, choosing more harddrive space (160gb 5400rpm) out weigh the faster one (100gb 7200rpm)?
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

Your best bet is to try and check out similar screens in person, I prefer high res, to me the more information displayed on the screen the better, some folks prefer lower resolution, less information, and everything is larger, the only real way to know whats best for you ist try them out, prerably spend some real time with both, running your inteded apps, and see which one suits your needs more.