The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    xps m1210 > a bunch of questions

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Gautam, Jul 22, 2006.

  1. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,856
    Messages:
    3,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    I am pretty much ready to get a m1210, but I have questions that I couldn't find answers on any of the posts.

    1) Bluetooth - does the m1210 have a physcial button (hardware based) to toggle the radio on/off? This is important to me.
    2) Media Direct - do the media direct keys work only for some specific dell program? Do the volume buttons control the windows volume, or some dell program's volume?
    3) QuickPlay- I realize that the dell can play media without booting. How does it know where to get the media from the hard drive? Is there a specific folder for the 'media' (music, especially) or is this user specified?
    4) Core 2 Duo (Merom) - Will the core 2 chips drop right into the current core processor slots?
    5) Power Adaptor - I have owned dell notebooks in the past, and the power adaptor is massive. Is the m1210's adaptor smaller? Is there a small one that can be purchased (I couldn't find one on the dell site)
    6) Key "Flex" - something others have noticed was a "keyboard flex." What does this actually mean? I assumed its a negative thing since it was referred to negatively.
    7) USB Power - are the USB ports always powered? I charge my phone/pda/psp via the USB ports, and really would like the ports to be powered when the notebook is off. (my Acer does this)

    Thanks in advance for answering all this technical stuff.
     
    Gautam, Jul 22, 2006
    #1
  2. compsavy

    compsavy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    840
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    1) Not a physical button but FN + F2
    2) Work with Media Direct, Windows Media Player
    3) No you can search your hard drive for media. No specific folder is needed but it is easier to locate
    4) Yes, but needs bios update
    5) Dunno
    6) No Flex
    7) Dunno
     
    compsavy, Jul 22, 2006
    #2
  3. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,659
    Messages:
    5,066
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    2.) the volume controls work with XP volume. The play/pause, etc only work with some programs as default (WMP,MD, Cyberlink) but you can enable them to work iTunes and WinAmp.

    4.) supposedly yes, but Dell has not officially stated anything or released any information on this

    7.) AFAIK - no they aren't powered when the laptop is off.
     
    Amber, Jul 22, 2006
    #3
  4. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,856
    Messages:
    3,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Thanks to SouthernGirl and compsavy - now I just need to look into the ac adaptor.
     
    Gautam, Jul 22, 2006
    #4
  5. Ebs757

    Ebs757 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    250
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ebs757, Jul 22, 2006
    #5
  6. tears_for_fears

    tears_for_fears Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    6) Keyboard flex- Some people notice that if you press some of the keys on the right side of the keyboard you can see the keys around it sink down to. It doesnt really effect typing at all, at least for me. I can only notice it when I just tap one key and watch for it. Mainly occurs with the L,;, and p keys.
     
    tears_for_fears, Jul 22, 2006
    #6
  7. sheff159

    sheff159 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    77
    Messages:
    880
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There is a new BIOS update for the 1210 that just go released last week I believe. It didnt say anything about what it fixed, but it was classified as "urgent".
     
    sheff159, Jul 22, 2006
    #7
  8. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,856
    Messages:
    3,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Funny, I read that a BIOS update might PREVENT a merom upgrade, instead of enable it. Chaz mentioned this somewhere, since Dell can hook you into buying a new machine (considering how hard it is to reverse a BIOS flash upgrade)
     
    Gautam, Jul 22, 2006
    #8
  9. jzephyr

    jzephyr Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    83
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hmm.. I hope that isn't true because if it is.. then I can't upgrade mine to Merom :(! I flashed the A02 BIOs when I got my system.
     
    jzephyr, Jul 22, 2006
    #9
  10. sureshot

    sureshot Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    89
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15

    I saw that post too and it has me pretty spooked. I figure if the computer is running fine then the bios update isn't needed, right?
     
    sureshot, Jul 22, 2006
    #10