M1330 - Quick and dirty review!! and FLAWS!

Hey guys,

So I got my m1330 (black, T7300, LED, 8400M GS, Bluetooth) on Thursday, 9 days before the estimated shipping date!

So far I am pretty pleased with the laptop. Still exploring the features though. This is my first time experiencing with Core 2 Duos (or any dual core processors, for that matter), and I must say I am very impressed by the speed.

I haven't had chance to connect to wireless, but I did try out the Bluetooth with my phone and headphones I had ordered from Dell, and it works and connects without any problems. I tested out the audio range with Bluetooth headphones, and I get about 35ft without any distortions. Pretty good in my opinion.

Like many others have said, the screen is a tad bit too light for my like, even at full brightness. Couple of notches higher should have done the trick. Viewing angles are pretty good (+- 60 degrees horizontally, and about 50 degrees vertically). I have the CMO 1309 display. This my first time with glare screen, so I am still getting used to that, but color saturation and color levels are excellent.

The slot loading drive doesn't make any noises when the system boots up or shuts down, and even when ejecting. So I guess I am one of the lucky customers?

Now to the flaws.

First and foremost, when placed on a flat surface, the laptop is wobbly. I checked the back side, and everything seems in place. One of the build defects, I guess. Also, my major concern is right above the webcam, there's a very tiny gap all across by the very top edge that shows few of the inner parts. I am afraid of dust getting inside the screen through that fine gap. And lastly, left-top part above the keyboard (the round-looking one) is loose, and could come of any minute. I will post pictures soon.

Definitely not something I would expect from a laptop worth $2100. The tiny gap makes me want to ask for replacement, but my college is about to start next week, and I don't want to go through the waiting game again. I have one year complete care warranty, so will that defect be covered under that?

Also, one thing I was thinking is that this will have s-video out, which it doesn't. It has HDMI and VGA. So I was wondering is there any adapter/cable I can buy that will convert HDMI to s-video and/or RCA?

Link with the product would be great! I tried looking for it, but no avail.

Free laptop messenger bag and LoJack are shipped with delivery date of tomorrow.

 

Atleast you are lucky enough to have HDMI, i dont have any type of output except for the dated VGA on my t61.

Nice review though.

As for the video conversion, I know for a fact that you can convert a HDMI signal to a DVI. i know alot of recievers are capable of doing video conversions. Do you have an HDMI capable reciever?

 

No! I wish I did have HDMI capable receiver. At home I have old-school CRT TV, and for work purposes where I use projector, it only has S-video and RCA inputs. So I am looking for something that would convert HDMI to either S-video or RCA, and if worse comes to worse, VGA to s-video or RCA (or preferably both, if they have something like that).

By the end of November, I am going to be getting HD LCD or Plasma for home, but for now I need something to convert HDMI or VGA to s-video and/or RCA.

Thank you for your reply!

 

You can request a replacement and you won't have to send your original back until you receive the new one (you'll use the same packaging). You can even swap out the hard drives.

 

Maybe try using Google to search next time.

http://www.computercasesandcables.com/ccc/CV-25120.html

 

request a replacement ASAP. you'll be able to keep your current notebook until the replacement reaches you. Don't settle for that crap. Same crap happened with my m1330. freakin $2600 for a wobbly laptop. No thanks

 

Concerning the wobble, I had the same problem. I can't understand why Dell is still shipping laptops with a wobble. You'd think they'd fix it by now.

In my case, Dell decided to send a technician to fix the problem by replacing the entire base of the laptop. To do that the technician basically has to take apart the entire laptop. Afterwards, the laptop didn't feel as solid anymore and I had a dent in the palm rest.

I've posted about my experience here.

In the end, after all this trouble and talking/chatting with Dell, I will be getting a replacement. I hope it will be defect-free, but with my luck, I'm not trying to hope too much.

 

I agree, i've also got faults in my laptop - Scratch on Keyboard and Deal Pixel.

I contacted XPS Support and then called Dell UK Customer Care. Getting a replacement, when i don't know, but I don't mind waiting as my faults arent show stoppers and hopfully by then, all common faults will be ruled out.

If i get a second faulty one, i think i'm screwed since i wont be able to request a another replacement as i'll be outside of my 30days and Dell have power then.

 

I think after u get the replacement you will have 30 days again to replace it if u want !!

 

isnt the cd loading slot normal to make a noise on start-up because thats what it detects first on start-up.. like a floppy drive on a pc.

 

If ever you still recieve a bad laptop then you can still request for another one, dont worry about the 30 days return period because this case has been existing from the day you got it and there is a record there to support your claim so no need to worry about this.