Dell XPS M1330 First Look Review (Video)

I'll be going to one today (in the mall) so I'll check, and ask when the kiosks will get them if they don't have them already.

 

Hello, i am from Spain, so sorry for my english, i know it is not so good. My question is to Andrew. I like to know if the computer is noisy. At wich temp the fan starts?
Thanks for that preview, it is a really interesant laptop. I am impatient for the conclusions. Cya

 

How long do you get to keep the demo unit? Or did you already have to send it back?

 

They did a great job building a system that looks good and performs well, but noise, heat, and battery life are just as important as looks and performance, if not more important. Doesn't look like they did as well as I expected in those areas.

 

Bump from two pages ago in hope for data from Andrew

 

Any word on the clock speeds of the 8400mGS in this thing yet?

 

The LED backlit screen is thinner and lighter, it's simply not thick enough for the components needed for a 2.0MP camera. They're not trying to limit options, it's just pure physics and supplier limitations at work here, the only thing small enough that'll fit in the housing for the LED backlit screen is a 0.3MP.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't Sony SZ with LED come with 1.3 MP camera instead of VGA?
If Sony can fit a 1.3MP, y can't Dell? VGA camera is really a low-end product to be used in such a nice notebook.

 

I'm sure if 13.3" WXGA panels were widely available, they would be an option on this laptop. But they're not.

 

Consider yourself corrected. The SZ premium (w/LED) is only 0.3MP as well. The non Premium SZ (w/o LED) is 1.3MP.

 

Too much complaining and not enough praise. At 4lbs (6-cell) this notebook is in a class of its own already with the multimedia options. It even offers SSD for those willing to pay for it. The battery life may be shorter than the x60, but as a multimedia machine the x60 is nowhere near it.

There may be some minor shortcomings, but I'd sure as heck rather have an HDMI port than an extra USB port. I'd also rather have a thinner/lighter notebook than have a 2MP webcam.

Again, just my opinion, but I've been looking for a good month for a laptop that suits my needs and Dell has convinced me it's theirs on the very day of its release.

 

Does the LED backlit version has a thinner lid?
By looking at the pictures in the review, the lid isn't any thinner than a MBP and the new LED MBP has the same thickness and a 1.3MP camera.
So unless they make a thinner lid on the LED version, it should not be an excuse for the 0.3MP camera.

Plus, the Sony SZ has always had a ultra thin lid (even when LED was not available) and a 1.3MP camera.

So, I don't think the thickness of the lid has anything to do with the camera.

 

FYI that 1.3MP camera in SZ is idential to what's used in cellphones that are 1.3MP.

 

Well according to the Mac OS X forum here on NBR, the new LED MBP has only a VGA (0.3MP) camera.

 

Andrew- Nice review and nice shirt too !!!

As for the heat, that's too bad as it is actually going to be used on laps being 13" - at least I would want to if I bought an ultra portable....

 

First off, kudos to notebookreview and staff...these first looks are not only super informative but they are also up to date...there really is no other website that even comes close to offering the same level of coverage as NBR does...so nice job!!!! The videos are amazing and give so much depth to the reviews. Seriously, nbr bests engadget and CNET in terms of laptops.

Ok, now the machine. This thread is moving so fast that my comments probably won't get read, lol.

I think this is an insane machine...and it will cause a lot of people to take a good look at it over the apple macbook. Apple needs to step it up - I'm in the market for a laptop (still debating w/ tablet vs. nontablet), and there is no compelling reason, besides OS X, to buy a macbook over the dell. The dell gives you a much lighter, thinner package, an LED screen, santa rosa, etc. I'm really in awe how they got a 13.3" machine, with an optical drive, to fit in that small of a footprint. I was looking at the x61 tablet, and the only feature the lenovo has over the dell is perhaps the durability of the case and the tablet functionality (which I'm still thinking about). Good job dell! Also, I find it great how they've added the option for different colors. I wish they offered the flash hard drive in 64 GB capacities...then I would be sold. I don't need music/video stored on the machine. But 32 GB seems kind of smallish...and it's expensive.

So to recap: NBR is a fantastic site, and the XPS M1330 is a fantastic laptop! I can't wait for the full review!!

 

WPrime won't load on the M1330 for whatever reason, just gives error of "object not found". I ran Super Pi to 32M digits and 3DMark05 at the same time to stress it out and the processor only got to 62C at the max. It's the graphics card that causes the fan to kick in, the processor doesn't seem to contribute much.

Also, for the record, I've been talking about heat on the palm rests as a con, but the VAIO SZ does get hotter in that area than this machine. Neither are great on that front. The M1330 gets hottest on the bottom at the front area.

 

The m1330 is NOT thinner than a macbook. It tapers to a finer point, but it's thicker. The macbook is a uniform 1.08" all around. The dell is 1.3" tall at the back...and when you're stuffing a bookbag, the ultimate thickness is all that matters.

 

your problem might be due to uac.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=123570

for some comparison benchmarks and for some tips.

 

I wondering and curious about whether the OS and drivers are affecting the graphic performance as well, like will running windows xp os with its updated drivers, increase its graphical performance and produce better benchmarks. I know xp is a DX9 os and will not use DX10, but i just want to know, as i use lightwave and max.. which only uses DX9 , and currently the games i am still playing are still DX9.

So just wondering should i stick to xp or move to vista once my m1330 arrives.

 

UAC is abysmal. It's a torture loading into Vista on my new lappy after nearly two years of peace with Linux. I have to spend like an hour cleaning and prepping Vista to barely be suitable.

 

This makes me sad. I was all set on my MacBook..... I'm really liking the brown 1520 a lot. The XPS m1330 is very attractive. I just don't think I could stand Vista(at least thats what I'm going to tell myself).

 

Ok everyone keeps talking about 9-Cell vs. 6-Cell batteries. But on the Dell site you have the option of a 4-Cell, 6-Cell, or 9-Cell. I am thinking of ordering one of these, and I want to be sure that the 6-Cell battery is flush to the case.

I noticed a few small errors in the review (like the 2MP camera etc) and I just want to make sure that you do not have the 4-Cell battery there for the review. I would hate to order the 6-Cell and still have a bump! Then i might as well get the 9.

Also, I am not planning on gaming so I am going with the Intel graphics. Will this lower the noise and heat levels? I read Andrews post where he said the Nvidia graphics card was making most of the noise on the stress tests.

This site is great by the way. I have found more info here in the pre-review and the discussion than any of the "big" sites like CNet or PCWorld.

 

A lust worthy Dell? Slurpees in hell?

Sweet!

 

Hehe, I am planning on Installing Linux on mine. I will dual boot Vista when I realllllly need something else.

Seeing as this is based on the Santa Rosa platform (like the New 14in Inspiron Linux Laptop) I am thinking Linux should install pretty easily (fingers crossed).

 

I am going to order an m1330 but I'm stuck on which video option to go with. How good is Intel's X3100? I don't play games at all, just basic work like PowerPoint, digital pics, spreadsheets, etc... I've never bought a notebook without a dedicated card. Wouldn't going with the integrated graphics card cut down on heat? It's also cheaper. Thanks for any help!

 

For your uses, the X3100 will be 100% fine and yes, you have the benefit of more battery life, less heat, etc.

 

Ok, fair enough. But the Dell is lighter (although dimensions are more important than weight imo). Unless Apple releases an ultraportable mb/mbp anytime soon, I don't see any good reasons to buy a macbook given the new hardware that's out there now.

 

I'm concerned about that as well...with the dedicated video card improve windows aero performance? or will it run fine on integrated?

 

No, the X3100 will render Aero perfectly, shouldn't be any difference with Aero from the X3100 to any dedicated GPU.

 

Yeah people say Areo is a 3D hog, but almost any new graphics chip will be able to handle it.

The 3D graphics cards have no impact on how well Power Point, any other 2D application performs. Before Aero was released with Windows Vista 3D graphics really did not help anything at all unless you play games.

And yes, I am getting the Intel graphics for *hopefully* reduced noise, heat, power consumption and cost. I will not be able to play the latest 3D games, but that's why my desktop is for

 

In response to my own question

I just finished chatting with a Dell rep, and they said that the 6-Cell battery does no protrude out of the case. So I guess the only benefit to the 4-Cell option is weight and $30? I still would like to see pictures of the 6-Cell installed in the machine, but I can't wait to get mine

 

But wait, aero WILL work fine on without the dedicated graphics card? Or is it preferable to have the video card installed?

 

Sorry I tend to ramble The Intel chip is a new graphics chip, so it will handle Aero fine.

 

Oh ok great, thanks. And no you do not ramble!! I just wanted to make sure I understood.
Hmm, so many choices now...thinkpad, XPS, tablet or no tablet, etc...

 

Still hoping for an answer in response to post #91, but have another question...

I'm leaning towards the Tuxedo Black color, but am a bit concerned whether it will be prone to scratch or not. Are these finishes fairly scratch-proof? Or are they going to look like a beat-up iPod after a short time?

Michael

 

i'm so tired of hearing people saying that their desktop is there for gaming and that the notebook should not have a real graphic card ! well this is a NOTEBOOK forum and we want some of them with real video cards ! moreover, i quit buying desktops for 5 years or so.. i just simply hate'em !

 

...and there we agree. This is a thin and light, at best (the Sony SZ is classified as such and has similar specs). Dimensions DO matter and I want another 12" powerbook that's only 1" thick all around. Even if it does weigh half a pound more.

 

I did not say notebooks are not for gaming, or should not have good graphics cards. I just said that in my situation I did not need it. If I did not have a desktop then obviously I would fork over the bucks and put up with the addition heat etc for the dedicated graphics.

 

Won't this help heat?: http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/25/nvidia-prepping-power-saving-hybird-sli-technology/

 

Nobody has a completely working install of Ubuntu or Fedora on a T61 or SR MBP yet (many partial or mostly-working installs... see ubuntuforums.org). I would buy a m1330 instantly if Dell gave an Ubuntu option for it.

 

Yeah, I agree. A 12" "updated" powerbook (i.e. sr, led screen, isight, etc etc) would take the cake...I wouldn't even consider this dell or the lenovo anymore...it would be a done deal! I like OS X so much better than Windows, but unfortunately, the way it looks now, unless apple releases something, I'll have to go with vista. Vista isn't bad, but I've become assustomed to OS X (in fact, I'm more comfortable on OS X than I am on Vista - in vista they messed with the menus so much and I don't really know my way around that well yet).

I really really hope they release a 12" soon.

 

Back to topic , so when is the next update going to be ? really wanna know more about this laptop, before i make my order.. which is hopefully end of the week

 

You mean the full review of the laptop? it shouldn't be too long...if you are craving more info you can check out cnet's review.

 

I'm really interested in this one, but I can't figure out the pros/cons of the different displays.
In Switzerland, the price for the "normal" CCFL-Display (with 2MP cam) and the White-LED-display (0.3 MP cam) have a difference of 150$. Is it worth this difference?

Is there no big difference? Or should i choose the LED-display no matter what?

 

I would go with LED no matter what.. its brighter and gives better battery life.
It also makes lid more thinner and I wouldnt be worried about 0.3 MP cam, its good enough for basic use..

Here in Netherlands you can get LED display for 60e, thats about 80$.. so im definitely going with LED

 

Is the build quality same with Inspiron 1420 & M1330? When I config the 1420 with Go8400M, the 1420 need to select 90W AC Adaptor whereas the M1330 with Go8400M can use 65W Light-weight Adaptor, Y is that? Anyone, please.

 

In the passed the XPS rigs have always been of a higher build quality than the inspirons. Without any having both of them you can't be for sure, but it's a safe bet to say the M1330 will have a much better build quality.

 

The LED is definitely worth the $150 upgrade in my view. It's more slim, brighter and more even and perhaps a touch better on the battery.

Speaking of battery, we have the 6 and 9 cell batteries. I didn't even know about the 4 cell until I went through the configurator. The 4 & 9 option makes a lot of sense, get the lightest one for quick trips and have the 9 cell for when you need it.

Our full review should be up next week at some point. Feel free to read CNET's "review" if you like, but I'm not sure they've covered much we haven't. And not to rip them, but their video feels more like a QVC commercial than an information session. Oh well...

I was working in the garage on it while my son played outside. I thought it was fine for such a purpose.

 

@ Brian : Please refrain from double-posting