XPS M1210 Review - Page 4

Also the Precision Workstations and the XPS M1710.

Really? Think the XPS M1210 has a port replicator but no monitor stand. Think there was an option for the port replicator when doing config for the system. I'm verifying this with our corp rep. Want to get one when I exchange my D620 for the M1210.

I think that port replicator is the same kensington that you can get when you configure the Inspirons... I may not be right.

That's all it is, a USB port replicator, unlike a docking station (D/Dock or D/Port) it does not give you legacy support on serveral outputs, like DVI and sound.

I'll let you guys know if there is an option when I talk to our Dell corp rep hopefully tomorrow. Thanks.

Does the XPS M1210 have a user removable optical drive like the 700m/710m?

Not really. Unlike the 700m/710m, you have to remove a screw and use a screwdriver to push out the optical drive.

Whatresolution can it un bf2 at medium?

COuld you do some tests for me cos i might be getting one.

Fear: defult cpu min gpu but with medium textures and at 1280 x 800

what fps?

Oblivion

View %100 distant lands off. Medium no special lighting 1280 x 800 what frames per second. THanks

Patrick

hi@all...

i also just got my m1210 today.. after 4 years it was tme to upgrade from my old toshiba 5100-503 (which still IS a great machine by the way)!!!

what can i say.. .the price is really incredible for this tiny little bit of plastic.. i paid 155.000 yen incl. shipping (1.66duo, 80gb sata 5400, 1gb ram, kamera pack, nec dvd burner, hd soundcard, nvidia 7400 gfx, intel wireless, bluetooth, 9cell akku, 4 years warranty + 4 years complete care).. i hope i didnt miss anything.

After it arrived i reformatted it completely and set it up from scrath (took me around 7 hours with data migration) but now its running and it looks promising!

the performance increase compared to my good old Pentium 4 Mobile 2.2Ghz is great... the display is nice, but the black could be better.
overall the systems also seems to run stable (except some memory write errors... which i dont know yet where they came from)... i hope nothing is wrong with the rams... hmm...

also the system is not very hot. FEAR and HALF LIFE 2 i could already test. FEAR runs OK, where Half Life 2 looks great and runs great (played it up until now on a DX7 GeForce Go 440 32mb).

I think this little baby will help me through my upcoming workingdays .. if you have the ~1000 euro for this baby its well invested!

squarefan

PS: a working colleague of mine bought himself a SONY Vaio with almost exactly the same specs as my M1210 and paid 1680 Euro brutto... so the M1210 has really an incredible price!

Wow, it came with NEC burner & not Sony? That is interesting...

yes.. 6650... works good.. i built a 6500 in my toshiba.. and it worked great. but as far as i know (as a good friend of mine used to work for dell until a month ago), they actually always build nec drives in their notebooks.... or at least all he brought home for testing had one inside...

squarefan

Considering the m1210

Hi all,
Feel like a noob posting here, I don't know as much about computers as most of you, but I needed some quick advice. I'm considering the XPS m1210, in fact I'm downright in love with it lol, but I want to hear from some of you first.
First thing, I'm handicapped and I'm looking for something light weight.
My last laptop was an inspiron 5100, and when you put it in it's case, with it's adapter, some other cords and everything it was just too heavy to reasonably tote around everywhere. I did do it, but after a while I just ended up leaving it at home most of the time. My grip isn't the best and it just became too much. If I could cut the weight in half, or even by 40% or so that would probably be enough. Will the m1210 do the trick? it looks great and 4 to 5 lbs sounds great, but of course I won't know till i get it in it's case with it's adapter and mouse and such.

Secondly I've read alot of the reviews and they all look great, but I have mixed comments from friends.
One tells me I shouldn't waste the money on a dual core processor because I won't be able to notice a big difference at all, and an older 2ghz processor will be cheaper. Is a dual core worth the dough?

Also, can anyone tell me if the graphics memory is shared with the system memory? Another friend is insistant that the graphics memory be dedicated, and makes it sound as though the system will crawl along if it's shared.
The specific stats on the m1210 I've customized at dell.com does say "shared" for the system 1 GB memory, but I have no clue if that's what that means or not.

Sorry for the long post, your thoughts are appreciated!!
-Troy

P.S. my inspiron 5100 always felt chunky, and almost bend-able lol. I know this is smaller and has a nice structure, but it is also a little thick for it's size, does it feel chunky?

I was in love with it too, but I ended up going with the cheaper, bigger e1505 mainly because of price, but also because I wasn't sure if I'd like the small screen.

I do know that the 'Intel Integrated Graphics Accelerator 950' is NOT dedicated, while the 7400 (or whatever the option is) has SOME (not all) dedicated video memory...much like the card i got on my 1505. If it is not dedicated, it uses up the computers RAM to function...slowing things down a bit. If it is dedicated it has some of its own RAM and also borrows some (although a lesser amount) of the computers RAM as well.

Oh and to be honest, from everything I've heard, EVERYONE agrees that a dual core processor is the way to go, unless you want to wait for Core 2 Duo to come out...but that shouldn't be an issue, as you can't even get the 1210 with a single core processor.

Thanks for the reply.
Here are the stats on my customized Wish list order:
processor: Dual Core 2ghz/667mhz
Windows: Media Center edition
A/V comm pack
Memory: 1 GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667 mhz
Video: 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 TurboCache
HD: 80GB 7200 RPM SATA


My only computer right now is a dell dimension desktop with a 2.8 ghz single processor with 512 mb of ram and a 128mb ati graphics card. I would think and hope that the m1210 would at least keep up with if not surpass my dekstop in graphics performance. Am I wrong?

the nvidia has 64mb dedicated ram.. and can take up to 192mb from the RAM.

also the 12.1" screen is ok.. but i think i will definately buy an external monitor in the future especially for word, excel and outlook.. .for the rest it performs very good.

i just have a question for other m1210 owners... i just saw when i close the lid and the monitor turns off... and i open the lid after some time again.. my desktop icons are kind of disorted... e.g. i have them placed on the left and right side of my desktop and upon reopening the lid they are placed more to the top left corner. It is not a big problem as i have an icon restoration program.. but still al little bit annoying.

and yes, I use the standard DELL drivers (no 3rd party patched etc.)

i would appreciate some feedback

regards
squarefan

Someone was talking about this same problem on this forum before...they said it had something to do with the screen resolution returning to default when the lid is closed while the computer is on...

hmm... ok.. i hope this will be resolved in the future with a driver upudate...

i also just found a second problem with the sound card... in the event viewer i have a STavSV error.... this comes from the STIGMA (i think) sound card. does anybody else has this event entry??

thx
squarefan

Thats ok..thats why we're all here.

How much did your 5100 weigh? I will try to answer some of your questions. I recently got rid of my beloved Sager 9880 powerful 6800 ulta dedicated 256mb card *cries* But I did it because the notebook was to hot and to heavy for me (im a wussy girl) to carry around at 12-13 pounds. Compared to that thing..I run around with my M1210 under my arm..or in one hand..its really light compared to my old one. As to the thickness. That is probably my only complaint. It is a little thick when compared to the Sony SZ series which you might want to look at also...(think they weigh 3-4 pounds and have Go7400 128 dedicated memory and 128 shared if im not mistakened.) Also the Sony is 13.3 wide screen and a better screen as far as looks over the M1210.. Everyone probably is saying why didn't you get the Sony then..heh Money! One I like Dells complete care warranty. And two.. a replacement battery for the Sony is like 300 dollars...so I had to keep those things in mind before I purchased.

Alright..those are probably the only negatives I can give you.. Now for the positives..

Its still light weight. The palm rests stay cool. This was WAY important to me as i've actually had my rest discolor from the other one because of heat and I ended up using an external keyboard. The bottom does get warm to the point its a little uncomfortable..but not BURNING hot. I have a plastic mouse pad the same deminsions as the M1210 and I set it under it when its on my lap..works out great.

The graphics card in this small little machine has really impressed me. While its not going to blow my last laptop out of the water in gaming by a long shot...for its size it handles games...at least the ones i've tried so far..really well. As of yet i've not noticed any slow down as far as it taking system ram.. but I haven't played anything that intensive. Far cry, Saga of Ryzom, Hero online are the ones i've tried so far and they run really smooth. I do plan to load EQ2 which will push even the best graphics cards later and see how it runs. This is where 2 gigs of memory would be more useful as that game will eat all of the 256 memory and all of the 1 gig I currently have before it starts raping page file. Another good thing..this notebook can one day go to 4 gigs..well it can now..but that is good for the future.

Processor..mine has handle everything really well... The big different with the duo is that xp sees it has two processors. My desktop AMD3400 64 is at 100% load which makes toggling out of games sluggish..while my duo is at 50% load...and the surfing, toggling while gaming is handled by the other processor which makes it run fairly quick..so yes duo is worth it in my opinion..

All in all, the M1210 is a really solid notebook. If it had a better screen and was slightly thinner..i'd consider it perfect. The screen I should say is fine once you get it into the sweet spot zone. This is something I didn't have to do on my Sager ...every spot was a sweet spot

Let me know if you have any other questions..

Thanks :D

Thanks Syn for the detailed reply! It rocked my world haha.
Ok I did a little more research, my Inspiron 5100, according to one review, weighed "over 9 lbs" with it's power adapter.
Meaning when you pop it into a carry case, and throw in some cables, a mouse, cds and stuff, I'm thinking probably 10 and a half pounds, maybe even 11.

So what I'm hoping is that the xps 1210 will, together with it's A/C adapter, carry case and 6 cell battery is no more than 6 lbs. (I chose 6 cell to save weight and money. If i figure out I can carry more I can always upgrade) That would be cutting the weight in half and should be remarkable for me.
Does anyone know if this is reasonable?

Also, any suggestions on a specific carry case from Dell? One that will be lightweight and not HUGE so it will fit the 1210 good? Right now I have selected the only Dell case offered, a nylon something or other.

i know I can ge them cheaper from wal-fart but I don't shop much (in-person) and this way I'll have it when it arrives... or soon after.

Syn, I also checked out the Sony SZ series, thanks so much for the recommendation. The 2.7 pounder made me drool LOL, But I just cant help it, I'm in love with the xps. Everything from all it's connections, to it's camera, to it's wifi auto-finder button, to the fact that it's a monster in a little body lol!
I'm really having a hard time tearing myself away from it.

If I don't hear anything bad from anyone here, I'll probably see if I can get an increase in my Dell credit tomorrow morning and if I have the balls, go ahead and purchase it.

One more question, is the hard drive quiet? the drives on my preivous laptops, and on my current desktop have all had a vibration to them and it drives me crazy. I think out of the 20 different reviews I read for the 1210, one time, one place, someone said there's was very loud Could just be a random problem tho.

-Troy
Is it legal in Indiana to marry a notebook? lol

how's the XP media edition? i heard the interface was weird. i have never used it before and waiting for mine to come. is it like the interface for home/pro?