a few more questions to Dell M1330 owners

Thanks for the answers to my previous questions (LED display etc).
I have a few more since completing my research.

1. I really like the red color, however a few have complained that it looks like a toy and not serious enough if you are using it for business. I can't know for sure without seeing it in person, but I would like a few more opinions.

2. I plan on getting the spare plug in battery as a supplement on long flights.
What bothered me about my old machine (Fujitsu Lifebook) is that there was no case that was offered to store my CD burner in my laptop bag when not in use. I wonder if Dell offers a case for it.

3. I cant decide between Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 vs. 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M
I am not a gamer, but I do like high quality video, a smooth Vista graphics interface and web page scrolling. Is the X3100 sufficient for my needs?

4. Lojack for laptops. Dell includes it free for a year. Sounds great on paper. Just not sure if cops really care to go after laptop thieves. I also don't understand how it can work if I use Bitlocker to protect access to my files without a password or fingerprint. If the thief cant boot up my machine, how can the thief get caught. And if a thief can get onto my machine to get caught, how do I protect access to my key files.

5. This is a minor question. With my current Fujitsu Lifebook, all of the screen cleaner solutions (wet/dry wipes packs and microcloth/spray types) leave visible swirl marks. I am wondering if the M1330 has a durable coating that doesnt wear off or swirl when you clean it. I also prefer to use regular Isoprophyl Alcohol and a clean cloth rather than the specific LCD sprays which can be sticky and messy. I am wondering if Dell warns against using Isoprophyl Alcohol (rubbing alchohol) on their screens like Fujitsu does.

 

1. Red looks like a toy?! It looks awesome, but if you want an understated look, you should avoid it.

2. I travel frequently, and thus got the 9-cell battery. It's good for almost 5 hrs. If you use the 1330 for movies, you'll get through two with no problem with the 9-cell. 5 hrs is good for most coast-coast flights, especially when you consider you can't even use your laptop for about 40 minutes of the flight. Now, for inter-continental flights, you might as well get an auto/air/ac adapter; save the weight from the extra battery.

3. If you're not going to game, yes.

4. Didn't install it on mine. My problem with Lojack is that you have to pay for it. So, after your trial year is up, you're going to have to pony up some money. The other thing is: if it's meant to be invisible to thieves, how will I ever know it's completely off my system if I ever want to uninstall it?

5. Slightly damp microfiber cloth is all you need.

 

1. I went with black because not only it looks more professional, the color also gives the illusion of making the notebook look smaller (white will have the opposite effect)

2. see previous post.

3. go for the dedicated graphics card solution - many people make this mistake when buying notebooks and then later regret because you cant upgrade this (as of the date of this post, i've yet to see the xg station or msi equivalent)

4. lojack is pretty much a joke - because the refund cost is the subscription (some $30 or so) - they DO NOT refund the cost of the notebook - you are better off with travel insurance or contents insurance. the company does offer a more premium service that covers the cost of the notebook - but i do not think its for retail end users.

5. use a lit free cloth to clean the screen (go to your nearest optometrist), you dont need to use other chemical solutions.

 

Red baby!!!!!

 

1) Matter of preference. I would have liked Black due to being more profesional looking, but red is fine. My boss carries a Red Acer ferrari..... Black may attract fingerprints, but so does the red (applies to anything matte finished) .... just less obvious.

2) DVD burner of the M1330 is not removable, therefore it doesn't have a "spare" hotswap drive bay battery. You will have to look at the Business D630 for that. I ordered the 9 cell with mine, although the battery life is a bit dissapointing compared to my D630 on its equivalent 85WH, 9 cell. (perhaps the 8400GS is to blame). I might just order another 6 cell to complement the 9 cell.

I travel from Asia to Europe several times a year, so generally, the 5-6 hr battery life is a little lacking (Wifi Off). Usually I will travel with D630 with the 9 cell and modular 6 cell, giving me about 12-13hrs battery life. Great to kill transit boredom. Heavy like hell though.

3) Unless you need to play games, the X3100 sufices, even for Vista Aero. I wished I had ordered the X3100 instead but at that time, the option was not available. Look at point 2 for cons.

4) Not ordered, so no idea.

5) Wet wipes are fine. As with my previous Inspiron630 with glossy screen, a mild solution of Windex works fine as well. You just have to use a microfiber cloth to gently buff off the marks.