Decision between 8740w and m6500

Hi, notebookreview community, first post.

I am about to buy a business notebook and leaning towards the 8740w because
its a newer model and has superior build quality.My specs will be something in the i7-840qm and 7820 region.But before i take the plunge, i need some answers.

-Monitor quality is a major factor, so I 'll opt for the top ones.Are both the dell rgb monitor and hp dc2 TN types?Which has arguably the best color quality?Is the DC monitor 500$ better than the non DC?
-How easy is the upgradability of the 8740w ? (considering an SSD in the future) .
-Are there any European site's that i could configure my hp or at least have a large variety of the series (except HP.uk which, i think has only pre-configured laptops ).

Thanks in advance.

 

Are you referring to the DreamColor or DreamColor 2? The DreamColor 2 is the best display you can buy now on a mainstream notebook. It's an IPS panel and you will not find anything better. Is that worth the cost? I don't know. The Dell RGB is still a TN panel with all it's limitations like limited viewing angles.

Typically laptop drives are very easily upgraded.

Don't know much about HPs in the UK.

 

As stated, the 8740w Dreamcolor screen is a RGB-LED IPS screen (while technically a Dreamcolor 2, it's the only Dreamcolor available in the 8740w, and is thus simply called a Dreamcolor, for some reason, even though it's a different screen from the Dreamcolor in the 8730w).

The 8740w is fairly easily upgradable within its limits, such as the fact that it only has one HDD bay unless you change out the ODD.

I don't know much about buying HP in the UK either, but I believe Vogelbung also lives in the UK, and he's recently traded in his M6500s for 8740w's. I'll PM him and ask him to take a look at this thread. Other than that, I know some people (HiddenUser) have done CTO (in Spain), but it came out as being quite expensive (I think the price was mentioned as being around 4000 euros).

 

for the 'preconfigured' ones you can get a small discount if you 'call to discuss' with HP.

I got this with mine.

I upgraded mine with an SSD - I have the WD941EA - but i've whacked in another 8gb ram, 240GB ssd etc. so answers the deal lol.

I got mine from the UK, but i'm out in HK for the moment.

 

Thank you for the replies. I guess the only way to customize an 8740w in Europe is by direct contact with HP.Any reputable online stores with discounts?
That would be helpful.

 

Yup, I did a tremendous sacrifice in order to purchase it, but I have been saving money since 5 years ago for a new computer... (I'm not rich )

If you are indecisive, I recommend you read my M6500<->8740w comparison post. I've just updated it today to claim the 8740w already supports up to 32GB RAM installed with 8GB modules.

 

i'll be testing that claim this weekend hidden. i'm borrowing a couple of 8GB sticks to test it

 

@Hiddenuser
Wow,that is a lot of homework for just a laptop.I can't imagine what would you do if where in the market for something bigger! (ie car,house).
You also seem to prefer the m6500 but ordered the hp...
Concerning by decision, i got a very generous offer with similar specs, from a local dealer . Only difference is that is comes with an i7-640M and without the ssd.

Question is can i update later to an 840qm or not?

(spec'ing an m6500 to similar would cost at least 500 euros more-weird stuff..)

 

Probably, with some extra work. You'd almost certainly have to get a quad-core HS (which has two heatpipes to deal with the extra heat from a quad-core), and you will, obviously, lack the 2 extra RAM slots that a quad-core board would have given you. To be fair, though, I'm not sure anyone has actually tried this upgrade yet; all CPU changes so far have gone the other way (changing from a quad to a dual).

 

A great read save the lack of a comparison on aesthetics.

In any event, the addition of those HD bays in the M6500 are a great bonus. But as an video/photo enthusiast, I have to admit a great gravitation toward the Dreamcolor display. There's just no denying it's clear superiority.

 

No, the other way around I prefer the 8740w for many reasons, such as weight, aesthetics and DC screen (the BEST). You'll realize there are more advantages for the 8740w than for the M6500 in my comparison, although I tried to be objective (but not 100%, I admit)

Well, I think aesthetics is a very subjective judgment. For some people (me included), the M6500 is horrible (I'm not the only one, believe me ) and the 8740w is gorgeous, and vice versa. For that reason, I didn't comment anything about that.

 

One more observation. The system will be WD939EA based.I suppose this means that it is dual core based . What extras do the WD940-1 have,except the different motherboard.They seem to command a lot more money.I originally wanted to opt for an 820qm, but the 640m seems a good compromise price wise..

 

Some thoughts:

Both have their ups and downs IMO, but IMO the HP is a better compromise for me as a mobile workstation, given that it isn't my primary heavy lifting platform.

I guess which is better would really depend on how you'll be using it.

Displaywise, for me I would be using nothing but the built-in display as the only usage pattern for me is using it in a luggable manner. And for that, for me the DC2 screen is a better prospect (bear in mind the only M6500 spec I have had / was prepared to own was the Covet with the e2e display). If, for example, it will spend most of its time on a desk then honestly, an actually professional >24-inch etc monitor is going to have better results than either Dell or HP panel. And I wasn't particularly fond of the panel arrangement on the Dell. Too reflective, hard to calibrate.

In terms of duty cycle, as may have been mentioned before if you're going to max out either machine on a daily basis, maybe the Dell is worth a closer look. The machine stays cool and quiet in heavy use (the HP does too to be honest), going nowhere near 'dangerous' temps in high summer, and of course it has better internal expansion capabilities.

The Dell is also undoubtedly the more attractive machine. This - the M6400 onwards - is the first mobile workstation I've encountered that is designed from top to bottom, not just laid out as per the HP / Lenovo. The orange works as well.

The buying experience for me was however infinitely better from HP. One of the contributing reasons I've now dumped the M6500's - and in fact Dell altogether - was the (non-Prosupport) Customer Service & Support issues, and one lemon. One of the reasons Apple can get away with basically selling a potential lemon every time is that they have great consumer CS. Now I have certainly expectations for pro-grade CS, and Dell patently didn't deliver in many ways, e.g. The posession of that lemon was drawn out into the maximum disruption and pain possible. Talking to a stonewalling manager who himself doesn't actually have any real power to solve the situation is an exercise in frustration, and the issues I had with the M6500 was the last straw. With HP, I'm talking to a reseller - and given the amount of gear I still buy, it's much better to get 'bend-over-backwards' support from a reseller to whom you mean a fair chunk of business. YMMV of course, especially if you're a 'one machine every 4 years' buyer.

As for CTO's, you'll need to go to an HP authorised partner, who then contacts HP for custom specs. I found I was able to get better prices out of Dell in terms of specification bang for the buck than HP resellers.

I personally don't really see the point of ordering a machine like this if you aren't going to pretty much max it out, so not sure about the upgradability.

 

I couldn't agree more. Though HiddenUser many disagree; and from a purely user perspective it's the least important thing. The Dell appears as the more unified sphelt case. As opposed to HPs rugged Panasonic Toughbook (which btw, even they have toned down from the ATV style) look.

Still, you have to carry these things around. And it certainly can't hurt to put a bit of outward appeal into your product.

 

Reading back the above, I think it's important to reiterate the difference between Prosupport and Customer Support. Dell's Prosupport (N.B: I always get uplifted warranty to the highest level on whatever I'm buying, so I have no idea how standard RTB warranty is) tech support service is IMO, the best in the business that I've used. CS - Customer Support - is probably the worst. If you never have issues that goes beyond the purely ' x broke', then you should have few qualms with Dell in these respects.


Personally, I wanted to like the Dell - And apart from the screen ultimately, I guess I do. The reason to dump Dell wholesale was taken for not just the M6500 CS issues - and if I hadn't decided to issue an FU to Dell, I probably would have had at least one of them still lying around.

For me, the HP is however a tad more practical a machine for my particular uses. I started with an experiment early this year, to go entirely with laptops at home and for at least one of my offices - and I have to say that I overestimated the capabilities of these flagship notebooks, even when loaded to the gills as in the case of the machines I buy. Compared to what I'm used to on a desktop, ultimately I've found these machines too weak-sauce for full time use for what I'd consider using such a machine for, and despite the slightly less accomodating nature of the 8740w, the HP now works for me better in terms of being an occasionally used actually mobile workstation - now that I'm back to desktops once again for heavy lifting.

The HP has slightly better build quality, and as attractive the Dell is, because of its clean looks it requires as much care as a Macbook in order to retain it's cosmetic integrity - while the HP has a more 'pop in bag and forget about it' appeal.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by this? If you don't mind me asking, what is it you want them to do?

These days workstations are incredible advanced machines; and while a desk top will always be more powerful (for obvious reason) the workstation laptops mentioned here, can do virtually anything (for all but the most advanced computer user) their more cumbersome stationary brethren can do...and nearly as fast.

 

Nearly? I invite you to pit an xm-equipped Dell M6500 Covet in an ~$8k config (or indeed, a similar HP although the xm's aren't available) against e.g. a T7500 even in the same-cost trim in any use that justifies workstation-class hardware.

 

Perhaps I took for granted I needed to specify: "for all intents and purposes!"

Unless you operate in a very elite group of specialized users, a well equipped workstation can handle virtually any application you can throw at it.

 

As I said, the above comparison will yield a sizeable advantage for the desktop "in any use that justifies workstation-class hardware". There is no 'for all intents and purposes' qualifier relevant in those situations. We aren't talking about looking at some Flash videos or working on a one-page Excel file.

One thing that trying to use the 920xm Covet as a 'main' machine (well, at home and one of the offices at least) for a number of months - rather than what I used to do (and what I'm now back to doing with the 8740w's) i.e. unearthing them occasionally for when I need to take visualisation/etc on the move - taught me was that I significantly overestimated the potential capability of these mobile workstations.

 

oops wrong forum entirely

 

Yes. I mean obviously if you can have only one machine and you need to move around with it, and you require the most grunt in a practically luggable package, then the 8740w and it's direct competitors (and we are not, of course, talking about the trinket that is the 17-inch MBP in the same breath) are your best bet.

But in many usage scenarios - once again, those which demand workstation-class hardware - you might be far more productive with a proper desktop at your home base and a truly mobile machine with a passable discrete for actualy moving around with.

 

On the contrary, the negatives far outweigh the advantages. I wouldn't be silly enough to argue that a laptop can match the performance with any desktop since their capacity can be limitless. However, there is a point of diminishing return. And unless you have a commercial application, the net advantage relative over price won't be that great.

I've seen the results of programs processing run on desktop workstation vs laptops (HD video). And although the desktops were faster every time, it wasn't by much. Not to mention you had to pay a premium price to get that advantage.

That was then; and this is now. And for now, nothing could be further from the truth.

Again, today's workstation laptops are very powerful and potent enough to handle any consumer products right up to a professional level. If you need anything more advanced, your computing needs are in an elite niche, and well beyond this website. Our computing needs are no longer chained to a power outlet.

 

I don't really see any usefulness in arguing this one. It's like most internet arguments - one side only has access to one side of the argument.

I'll stick to the desktops for heavy lifting, thanks.

 

Who's arguing? I agree with that. I'm just pointing out that there's a level of practicality that few people would venture beyond.

 

Yes. That's what I'm getting at. Practical suitability for the role. Read my posts back again.

 

^^ The thread should have been closed right after this post, IMHO.
I had a very similar experience with Dell and HP and would prefer the later for the outstanding SC&CS and more configuration options (DC2, more video cards and processors to choose from, etc).
Regarding the prices, I think they are comparable. You can have up to 28% OFF on any HP system when ordering through a rep.

 

BEFORE someone closes the thread, anyone care to explain what exactly the parts "no vpro AMT supported module" and "HP IDS QUAD 8740w base NB PC " mean? I got a final offer around ~2k euro (3k $) for a quad /w DC2, which i found far more competitive than a similarly spec'd m6500.

 

How do you get such a machine for 2k Euro? WD942EA starts at almost 3000 and the 840QM equipped WD943EA will be 4400 Euros (cheapest online shops).

 

If you're asking this question, you probably (99.9%) don't need AMT.

IDS QUAD 8740w base NB PC - this is probably just a naming scheme used by HP, referring to the basic configuration with a quad core CPU support (4 memory slots, dual-pipe CPU heatsink,etc)

 

@sotton You can configure a lowly wd939-940ea to that specs with far less money.I can pm you the spec sheet /w parts if you want.

@aikimox Thnx, that's what i thought so.