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Dell XPS M1330 questions

post #1 of 22
12/5/07 at 2:22pm
Thread Starter 
I just ordered the Dell M1330 yesterday.

I have a few questions I wanted help with/your thoughts on...
--processor
--SSD
--webcam


Here goes...

I want to make sure I got the BEST processor possible...
There are several options and some that "appear" lesser cost more??
I am confused.
I would appreciate any replies so that I can call them up today and change processors if I made a mistake...
Thanks-in-advance!

Ok, here is the lowdown...

I got the T7500 which has 2.2GHz/800mhzFSB, 4M L2 cache

The other options are:
1) Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processor T5250 (1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB, 2MB Cache)
2) Intel® Core™ 2 DuoT7100 (2MB cache/1.8GHz/800Mhz FSB)
3) Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processor T7250(2MB cache/2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB)


Here is how I configured it...


Alpine WHITE with gloss, 4GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm,128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, 64 GB SSD, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit*, Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card,8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive, Dell Wirless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0+EDR), fingerprint reader, Dell Wireless 400,Ultra Wide Band (wireless USB and slim & light LCD


I wanted the better camera AND the better display...but they do not offer it that way...It's either...
"Standard" display with 2.0mp
or
Upgraded LED backlit with 0.3mp

I know, wierd.

Anyways, I got the upgraded display and then bought a Logitech Quick Cam Pro for Notebooks. Anyone think the M1330 won't be able to "perform" well with video conferencing using an external webcam like that instead of the built-in one?
I really think I would have regretted not getting the "swankier" display so hopefully the way I'm doing it will work out.

On the SSD choice...
It's 1/2 of the reason I chose this laptop.
If you haven't checked it out www.samsungssd.com
I am curious to know what others think about my choice of 64GB SSD as opposed to another drive.
Anyone think I'll have "storage issues"?
I was thinking I could just use external if need be.


General comments before I go...

--I'm hoping it has enough "umph" to allow me to multi-task, conduct web conferencing and be on my IP phone (which I'll load on soon).

--I got the wireless USB since it only has 2 ports and, well, c'mon, wireless USB = cooool!

--I'm stoked on the white.

--I will post when I get it...after a few weeks...and let you all know how it treats me after loading on all of my programs, the webcam and soft phone.



Ok, that's all for my morning ramble.

Whatever anyone has to say...thanks-in-advance for taking your time-out to do that. I mean that. This is the second forum I have ever posted at and I don't take "for granted" conceptually what we're doing here. People helping people is, well, that's what it's all about.

Have a good one...or as many good ones as you so choose...
-Completur
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post #2 of 22
12/5/07 at 11:14pm
outlets got some nice deals
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post #3 of 22
12/6/07 at 1:54pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the reply, State.Ops

I did not think of searching the outlets. Oops!

I don't doubt I spent too much on it.

Well, I guess it just goes to show patience truly IS a virtue!

Have a nice day State.Ops
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post #4 of 22
12/6/07 at 10:38pm
Your post was so long, I didn't bother reading it.

All I can say is, once you get it, reformat and install WinXP. You'll be much better off.
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post #5 of 22
12/7/07 at 12:44am
Thread Starter 
Sorry so long. I got carried away.
Why intall XP?
You don't like Vista or there is something specific about the configuration that you feel is problematic?

Thank you
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post #6 of 22
12/8/07 at 10:41am
I don't like Vista for a variety of reasons. It offers no improvement over WinXP, besides some visual enhancements (Aero). It uses a lot more resources than WinXP, such as CPU and RAM. A lot of programs that I use for work are not compatible with Vista.

But most importantly, games run a lot slower in Vista. Sometimes, they run at the same speed under WinXP and Vista... but usually, they run a lot slower in Vista.

All of those negatives, with virtually no benefit? It's a no brainer to go back to WinXP.
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post #7 of 22
12/8/07 at 12:42pm
just wondering is the 8400 nvidia card offered with 1330 good enough to view blue ray or hd dvd (i was thinking of using my xbox hd dvd add-on)?
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post #8 of 22
12/10/07 at 11:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by amm37 View Post
just wondering is the 8400 nvidia card offered with 1330 good enough to view blue ray or hd dvd (i was thinking of using my xbox hd dvd add-on)?
Yes.
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post #9 of 22
12/10/07 at 5:13pm
Do not be in too much of a hurry to dump Vista. It does have some nice features and Vista behaves for me. Give it some time and download all the updates.
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post #10 of 22
1/3/08 at 2:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kent1146 View Post
Yes.
But whats the point to run Blue Ray or HD DVD on the 1330? The screen is not going to allow the 1080p resolution...
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post #11 of 22
1/3/08 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBLV View Post
But whats the point to run Blue Ray or HD DVD on the 1330? The screen is not going to allow the 1080p resolution...
Because you can still view at 1080i resolution, or use the laptop to output to true 1080p via HDMI cable.
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post #12 of 22
1/3/08 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kent1146 View Post
Because you can still view at 1080i resolution, or use the laptop to output to true 1080p via HDMI cable.
Wow, I didn't even realize the 1330 had the capability to output HDMI! Thank you for the heads up
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post #13 of 22
1/4/08 at 6:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kent1146 View Post
Because you can still view at 1080i resolution, or use the laptop to output to true 1080p via HDMI cable.
why don't you just hook the xbox directly to the tv then?
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post #14 of 22
1/4/08 at 7:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xarthan View Post
why don't you just hook the xbox directly to the tv then?
You can use the XBOX HD-DVD drive stand-alone with the laptop, no XBOX required. Correct?
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post #15 of 22
1/4/08 at 9:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBLV View Post
You can use the XBOX HD-DVD drive stand-alone with the laptop, no XBOX required. Correct?
ooooo really? nice. i'll google it.
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post #16 of 22
1/4/08 at 10:25pm
SSD is great-- I have the 32g SSD (not offeed anymore), and I love it. Vista works fine, although I understnad going back to XP--- with the SSD, I odn't notice a difference, although I'm sure XP would SCREAM on this machine. No storage issues, but then agin, this is strictly a work machine... use it for the occasional game (world in conlict runs GREAT) brosing, email, WP, and a few other programs. Hven't had a problem with storage yet, and have about 9 gig free.
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post #17 of 22
1/4/08 at 11:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kent1146 View Post
Because you can still view at 1080i resolution, or use the laptop to output to true 1080p via HDMI cable.
1080i still requires a 1920x1200 resolution display, the most the M1330 could handle is 720p. Blu-Ray would certainly be cool, but not sure how useful it would really be, unless of course you wanted to use your laptop as your home theatre blu-ray player.
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post #18 of 22
1/4/08 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder82 View Post
1080i still requires a 1920x1200 resolution display, the most the M1330 could handle is 720p. Blu-Ray would certainly be cool, but not sure how useful it would really be, unless of course you wanted to use your laptop as your home theatre blu-ray player.
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/720p#720p_versus_1080i

While 1080i has more scan lines than 720p, they do not translate directly into greater vertical resolution. Interlaced video is usually blurred vertically (filtered) to prevent twitter. Twitter is a flickering of fine horizontal lines in a scene, lines that are so fine that they only occur on a single scan line. Because only half the scan lines are drawn per field, fine horizontal lines may be missing entirely from one of the fields, causing them to flicker. Images are blurred vertically to ensure that no detail is only one scan line in height. Therefore, 1080i material does not deliver 1080 scan lines of vertical resolution.
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post #19 of 22
1/5/08 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kent1146 View Post
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/720p#720p_versus_1080i

While 1080i has more scan lines than 720p, they do not translate directly into greater vertical resolution. Interlaced video is usually blurred vertically (filtered) to prevent twitter. Twitter is a flickering of fine horizontal lines in a scene, lines that are so fine that they only occur on a single scan line. Because only half the scan lines are drawn per field, fine horizontal lines may be missing entirely from one of the fields, causing them to flicker. Images are blurred vertically to ensure that no detail is only one scan line in height. Therefore, 1080i material does not deliver 1080 scan lines of vertical resolution.
Right.. but your not going to get true 1080i displaying on the M1330's 1280x800 resolution screen, unless its downscaled/downconverted. At 1280x720, 720p is the best signal you could output to the M1330's screen without converting it.

http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/focus/resolution.htm

Either way, Blu-Ray will look better on any screen as compared to a standard DVD, even if you can't display it at full resolution. Is it worth the extra 500$ for the drive though? Considering you can purchase a nice blu-ray player for your home theater for quite a bit less? (Sony S300, PS3, or Samsung BDP1400, etc)
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post #20 of 22
1/9/08 at 8:02pm
blah nm
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