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just got my 8600 and not satisfied

post #1 of 33
8/3/04 at 10:35pm
Thread Starter 
It just came today and I was excited, its a nice looking computer and the screen is nice at first. However, at the maximum resolution it strains my eyes. When I lower it to something else, it looks bad and it even says a message stating that this is not the optimal resolution and will look fuzzy. When I was on the phone with sales reps and asked them about the sxga+ and if i could adjust the resolution to alower one, and if it would affect the looks they all said no not at all. Second, the intel card picked up my wireless network and everything, but the internet doesn't work it says like 70 received and 20 sent. I think I am going to return it, but I want to give it a chance and am on hold waiting for tech support to fix the internet. If I do return it, I really don't know what to get. Now I see i need a lower resolution monitor, that BS about it being so much better for dvds is crap, as my current dell at 1024x728 or whatever looks fine on dvds. Any suggestions, I think I really ought to get an Apple. See when I was looking for notebooks it was really between dell or apple as we have owned many many apples but I am more familiar with windows. I dislike windows though for the most part. This is so difficult!!
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post #2 of 33
8/3/04 at 10:44pm
Increase your DPI (it's probably at 120) to 144. Windows default is 96.

The info is all over the forum.
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post #3 of 33
8/3/04 at 10:45pm
Well make sure the DPI is set to the large option.

Right click desktop -> properties -> settings -> advanced -> general
(this applies to ATI cards, I assume its the same for NVidia)
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post #4 of 33
8/3/04 at 11:10pm
Thread Starter 
also the trackpad is acting weird. Its sluggish and moves slowly as if a button is being held down like sometimes ill move the cursor and it'll start to make that box thing that it would do when holding down right key. What do you all think about the 600m and latitude d600, i'm really not going to be gaming so I don't need top of the line.
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post #5 of 33
8/3/04 at 11:13pm
Try adjusting the settings.

Seriously, I think you are being way too hasty. ALL computers need tweaking when you get them.

I formatted my computer today that I've had for TWO years and it needs a lot of work/time to set it up how I like it and more importantly, to perform better.
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post #6 of 33
8/4/04 at 12:17am
Sounds like to me that you're just looking for a problem with the 8600.

Get an apple, because as we all know they're well worth the money.
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post #7 of 33
8/4/04 at 12:23am
If youre not gaming and want a good price/performance ratio, get the 600m. If youre not gaming and dont care about the price/performance ratio, get the D600.
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post #8 of 33
8/4/04 at 12:26am
what about a D505?
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post #9 of 33
8/4/04 at 12:47am
I have never found a touchpad I've liked, they ALL suck

the eraserhead pointer is far more usable in my opinion but still a mouse is so much nicer if possible

whenever I'm unable to use a mouse due to being "on the go" or whatever, I feel like I'm taking three times as long to perform tasks on the computer, though maybe this is partly due to my competitive fps gaming history
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post #10 of 33
8/4/04 at 1:06am
I agree. Eraserheads are superior to touchpads, despite what the clueless pundits think. I had an 8600 but did not like its cheap eraserhead/mouse buttons. Thus I returned it. Dell recently has gone touch pad only for 8600...I guess Dell agreed that the eraserhead was crappy. My current laptop, 8100, has an excellent eraserhead.
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post #11 of 33
8/4/04 at 2:25am
Thread Starter 
yeah the trackpad on this i8600 i got is slow to respond. The ones on the apples i saw at the store are great. I did increase the size of pixels and that helped but when I move around on the trackpad all these little lines flash around the screen. Argh. See I was torn on a windows or mac. I am writing this from a dell pc which for the most part is pretty good, its just windows is not great a lot of the times. We have owned macs for years and I used to know more about them, but not so much now. They are more stable though. Who knew buying a computer could be such a hard decision.

Everything has drawbacks it seems like: the 600m no firewire, hear things about heat which I experienced a month ago cuz my friends sister had it.

Can somebody explain to me why notebooks can't adjust the resolution w/o compromising quality like desktops can??

Also the intel 2200 card sucks, I read somewhere that with the dell 1350 you get right online. Well the intel picked up the network with an excellent signal but the rate said received 34 etc. Try to get online and doesnt work.

Tried calling tech support and was on hold for 30 minutes so I gave up.

Lastly, any reccomendations for me? I really think I didn't need this good of a computer because I am not going to game on it. Simply will be used for word, internet, music, IM, etc. I need firewire for my ipod (well i guess i could use usb2.0 but thats not as fast). Also I'd like for something thats somewhat portable but doesn't need to be ultraportable.
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post #12 of 33
8/4/04 at 3:23am
Thread Starter 
i was thinking i could always try an 8600 with wxga and get the dell 1350. Is wxga much better in terms of size? Would i be able to get a good idea at wxga by changing mine to 1280 resolution?
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post #13 of 33
8/4/04 at 3:53am
Do you have bad eyesight? I have WUXGA at 1900x1200 and I can read everything clearly with 120 DPI fonts without squinting. You have WSXGA+ which is what most people prefer and already complaining about it. If low resolution wasn't a problem, you should have gone with the WXGA. Most people like to have the extra space and not the bloated lower resolution.

The wireless connection problem is a configuration problem with your router or card. You have to configure it properly, it's usually not just plug and play.

Dell and almost every pc company customize the OS for the average new user with bloated programs. You have to customize the OS to your liking which can include reformatting the hard drive and fresh installing the OS and drivers.
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post #14 of 33
8/4/04 at 4:23am
I thought USB2.0 is faster than firewire. As I recall, firewire is 400mbps and usb2 is 480mbps.

My friend runs his Dell at 1900x1200 and I usually have to squint to see the minimize and close buttons of the windows or to see the title of the web page. The benefit is that he can put two web pages side by side without distorting them; something I cant do with my WXGA. WUXGA is funny in that you either love it or hate it, and terpfan101, you obviously hate it. If it bothers you that much, you should try to find ways of coping with it by searching the forum for others with the same problem. If you try all the solutions and you still are dissatisfied and you absolutely cant stand the resolution, then return it and get a laptop with a resolution you can agree with.
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post #15 of 33
8/4/04 at 4:34am
USB is not as fast as firewire, strangely enough. I read on two of my external hard drive boxes (5000DV and 7000DV) that the firewire port is faster. I tend to agree, and it does work faster.

I can't wait to receive my 8600. I got WSXGA+ and I can't wait. XGA on my 15" Inspiron 5100 is too big and "bloated" as bucckevin said.
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post #16 of 33
8/4/04 at 5:46am
i can see very nicely @96dpi on 1920x1200..... actually im soo used to it now, i find it too BIG!!!!1

bro i think you are having loads of issues, some real(like touchpad problems, i dont have any problems.. it works normally, and maybe a wireless problems) and some unreal (like resolution settings etc.. just tweak it a bit)..

But, after going through all your posts, specially this one " I really think I didn't need this good of a computer because I am not going to game on it. Simply will be used for word, internet, music, IM, etc. I need firewire for my ipod (well i guess i could use usb2.0 but thats not as fast). Also I'd like for something thats somewhat portable but doesn't need to be ultraportable" - Get a mac, its what you are looking for. ...
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post #17 of 33
8/4/04 at 5:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchellO
USB is not as fast as firewire, strangely enough. I read on two of my external hard drive boxes (5000DV and 7000DV) that the firewire port is faster. I tend to agree, and it does work faster.

I can't wait to receive my 8600. I got WSXGA+ and I can't wait. XGA on my 15" Inspiron 5100 is too big and "bloated" as bucckevin said.
you will love it, as i do, WSXGA+ is so cool... Bright, sharp and everything..
oh well, cant tell your case, cuz i got a Samsung screen
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post #18 of 33
8/4/04 at 6:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cool1Net6
I thought USB2.0 is faster than firewire. As I recall, firewire is 400mbps and usb2 is 480mbps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchellO
USB is not as fast as firewire, strangely enough. I read on two of my external hard drive boxes (5000DV and 7000DV) that the firewire port is faster. I tend to agree, and it does work faster.
Officially USB2.0 is faster than firewire, the 400mbps and 480mbps speeds mentioned by Cool1Net6 are correct. However, what they don't tell you (well, at least not clearly) is that the maximum 480mbps USB2.0 is burst speed and it does not get that all the time, whereas the 400mbps for Firewire is a sustained transfer rate. Therefore, although USB is technically faster, because of the way those speeds are worked and sustained Firewire generally comes out on top. Hence why I went with an external firewire rather than USB hard drive myself

stu
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post #19 of 33
8/4/04 at 10:30am
If you run an lcd at anything other than its native resolution it is going to look horrible.
The trackpad is fully configurable. With settings you won't find on a mac. IMHO the trackpad can be set to make anyone happy. You wireless issue is a configuration problem.

All the things that you are complaining about can be fixed with a little (minimal) knowhow. You must be pretty inexperienced with windows. Get a book and search the forums and use google. You will find the settings to make your laptop perform the way you want.

With power comes responsibility and obligation.
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post #20 of 33
8/4/04 at 10:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RedHerring
If you run an lcd at anything other than its native resolution it is going to look horrible.
Keep in mind "horrible" in this case is subjective and varies not only on display type but personal opinion.
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