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M680 Reviewed - As Promised - Page 11

Poll Results: Was this helpful

Poll expired: Jun 9, 2005  
  • 83% (25)
    Yes, I found it to be very helpful.
  • 13% (4)
    Yes, It was somewhat helpful.
  • 0% (0)
    It was Ok, but not very helpful.
  • 3% (1)
    It was horrible and not helpful at all.
30 Total Votes  
post #201 of 217
8/23/05 at 2:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ogcvi
I just bought a M680XL. The salesperson said I would get it in six to seven days. We'll see how long it actually takes. Here is the run down of the system

M680XL
Windows XP Professional with Backup CD
Microsoft Office Pro. Edition 2003
Pentium M Processor 770 (2.13 GHz, 533 MHz Bus, 2 MB L2 Cache)
1024 MB 533MHz DD2 SDRAM ( 1 - 1024 MB Module)
17" Ultrabright WSXGA+ TFT Active Matrix ( 1680 x 1050 max. resoultion)
60GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA HD
3 yrs. parts/labor/ onsite/ 3 yrs. technical support/ 3 yrs. ADC
12 cell lithium ion battery
Port Replicator
Altec Lansing XT1 2 pc Portable USB speakers
Intergrated 802.11 b/g wireless network card
Norton Internet Security 90 Day intro
Features Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Integrated 4-in-1 card reader
Integrated 8x Mulit Format Double Layer DVD Writer (DVD+-R/+-RW/CD-RW)
One type II PC slot card
(4) USB 2.0, VGA, TV Out, S-Video, IEEE 1392 (Firewire)
nVidia GeForce Ge6800 256 MB Graphics
Integrated Dound and stereo speakers, headphone/speaker jack, and mic jacks
Inegrated V.90 56K Modem
Six Months America Online Internet Access
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0, McAfee AntiSpyware 30 day introductory offer and Google Toolbar

Tell me what you guys think.
You guys on here has been a great help (except Laptop<3)!
Nice. Very nice. I personally am not fond of the 12 cell battery, but the rest of the system in my opinion is sweet! Hopefully with the 12 cell you will balance out the extra power consumption with the faster video card and 7200 rpm hdd.

Congrats. Let us know what you think when you get it. I wish mine had the nVidia card
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post #202 of 217
8/23/05 at 6:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ogcvi
I just bought a M680XL. The salesperson said I would get it in six to seven days. We'll see how long it actually takes. Here is the run down of the system

M680XL
Windows XP Professional with Backup CD
Microsoft Office Pro. Edition 2003
Pentium M Processor 770 (2.13 GHz, 533 MHz Bus, 2 MB L2 Cache)
1024 MB 533MHz DD2 SDRAM ( 1 - 1024 MB Module)
17" Ultrabright WSXGA+ TFT Active Matrix ( 1680 x 1050 max. resoultion)
60GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA HD
3 yrs. parts/labor/ onsite/ 3 yrs. technical support/ 3 yrs. ADC
12 cell lithium ion battery
Port Replicator
Altec Lansing XT1 2 pc Portable USB speakers
Intergrated 802.11 b/g wireless network card
Norton Internet Security 90 Day intro
Features Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Integrated 4-in-1 card reader
Integrated 8x Mulit Format Double Layer DVD Writer (DVD+-R/+-RW/CD-RW)
One type II PC slot card
(4) USB 2.0, VGA, TV Out, S-Video, IEEE 1392 (Firewire)
nVidia GeForce Ge6800 256 MB Graphics
Integrated Dound and stereo speakers, headphone/speaker jack, and mic jacks
Inegrated V.90 56K Modem
Six Months America Online Internet Access
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0, McAfee AntiSpyware 30 day introductory offer and Google Toolbar

Tell me what you guys think.
You guys on here has been a great help (except Laptop<3)!
How my does your system cost? It looks expensive, especially with that 3 year ADC.
I also have the 3 year ADC so I know that extra cost.

Here is what I think you will expect.

The 60GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA HD does not produce that much heat. I have this HD. It is on the right palm rest area and it is much cooler than on the left palm rest area. Underneath this left palm rest area I believe is the graphic card with the fan.

I also wish I had the opportunity to get the 6800 graphic card.
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post #203 of 217
8/24/05 at 12:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by czm2000
That's good . I hadn't quite thought of that. Excellent point.
damm straight
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post #204 of 217
8/24/05 at 5:11am
With all the options I chose that system came up to $3300.00 on the online customizer. Does anyone know of any good laptop bags or protective sleeves for this monster. I rather get a protective sleeve, but I am also looking at laptop backpacks. Since I am going to school I rather get a protective sleeve that I can put in one of my old backpacks or a laptop backpack that is not huge and wide like the Targus XL backpack. I got it mistakenly for the M460 and that thing is huge when I got it in the mail. Full- it would literally look like I am going camping for two weeks.
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post #205 of 217
8/24/05 at 9:03am

Try these

Quote:
Originally Posted by ogcvi
With all the options I chose that system came up to $3300.00 on the online customizer. Does anyone know of any good laptop bags or protective sleeves for this monster. I rather get a protective sleeve, but I am also looking at laptop backpacks. Since I am going to school I rather get a protective sleeve that I can put in one of my old backpacks or a laptop backpack that is not huge and wide like the Targus XL backpack. I got it mistakenly for the M460 and that thing is huge when I got it in the mail. Full- it would literally look like I am going camping for two weeks.
Sweet laptop, indeed. I would have gone with the 100GB 5400 RPM since you get no appreciable increase in performance (the opposite may be the truth), but you saved some $$$ going with the 7200 RPM so that evens it out.

For the sleeves check this forum or go to these 2 companies. Let us know what you got.

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=99208

http://www.caselogic.com/17_eva_shu...m?modelid=42844
http://www.roadwired.com/store/Prod...=1&Productid=89
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post #206 of 217
8/24/05 at 12:19pm
I couldn't find a really lightweight and slim sleeve so I could throw my 680 in my messenger bag to bike around, so I ended up going with a Timbuk2 commute messenger bag with a built in laptop sock. The 680 just barely fits and doesn't easily slide in and out until the sock is stretched out a bit. After that, fits perfect. You can pick one up on Ebay for a bit cheaper or order straight from Timbuk2's site.
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/c...2?categoryId=8

There are these sleeves that I considered buy passed on as well:

Shoreline -
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4033320

Fellowes Body Glove (1 bad review on Amazon says the logo scratched the laptop) -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ducts&n=507846

Tucano (This one looks nice w/ lots of features) -
http://www.pcuniverse.com/product.asp?pid=3075642&m_id=
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post #207 of 217
10/5/05 at 7:23pm
I have just ordered this laptop it is great but the fans are almost on at full speed, although Im idle and CPU temperature is about 29 C
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post #208 of 217
10/10/05 at 12:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tommy_512
I have just ordered this laptop it is great but the fans are almost on at full speed, although Im idle and CPU temperature is about 29 C
I had the same fan problem with my M680XL. The fix for mine was to change the power scheme setting to "minimal power management". This setting allows the CPU to idle at 800mhz (when plugged in) and to run full throttle when required. This is an "adaptive" setting for Win XP. The second/noisy fan almost never runs now. If you use a power scheme setting that runs the CPU at full throttle, the fans will definitely run alot. This is really my only complaint about the M680XL.

You can check the CPU speed by right clicking on my computer, then properties.
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post #209 of 217
10/13/05 at 5:59pm

WSXGA ultrabright (glossy) or WSXGA (non glossy) ???

Quote:
Originally Posted by czm2000
from your M680XL review at www.designingcyberspace.com/m680/
... "It really is not too glossy and I've seen some glossy ones. I don't know, maybe it's the lighting, but I've seen some I'd swear were doing double duty as mirrors."
Hello CZM2000, i checked with gateway.com and it seems you can choose between two WSXGA screens (both with 1680x1050 resolution). You have a choice between normal and glossy (Ultrabright)!

Which one do you have? ... maybe... just maybe you are in possession of the non-glossy (NON-ultrabright) version... Is it possible? Can you check?

By the way, I enjoy your review very much. You sure love nice and well built machine. It shows in your review with attention to details and very nice snapshots
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post #210 of 217
10/13/05 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 
Hi there. I'm glad you enjoyed my review. I still have it and still love it.

I definitely have the Brightview screen. It's the best part about this system.

On your short list in this category and in addition to the list you have in your signature, be sure to include the just released Asus W2 and the about to be released Sager NP 5720. The 5720 is of particular interest to me because it sitll has a full size keyboard and Pentium-M processor, but it should be be cranking with the All-New 256MB nVidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX Graphics card. It should be totally sick. Still light enough to tote around, but screaming none the less.

Good luck...
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post #211 of 217
10/14/05 at 1:24am
Thanks for the feedback... Sager 5720 looks AWSOME... I will seriously consider this laptop.

ASUS looks a bit aged with there X700 solution... There is no numeric keypad... just like DELL 9300.

If DELL improves the 9300 with the introduction of a full size keyboard and a nice WSXGA glare and non-glare display (non-glare for me) plus an upgraded graphic card option, I will seriouxly reconsider their widescreen laptop.
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post #212 of 217
10/14/05 at 12:56pm

Wow!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by czm2000
On your short list in this category and in addition to the list you have in your signature, be sure to include the just released Asus W2 and the about to be released Sager NP 5720. The 5720 is of particular interest to me because it sitll has a full size keyboard and Pentium-M processor, but it should be be cranking with the All-New 256MB nVidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX Graphics card. It should be totally sick. Still light enough to tote around, but screaming none the less.
That's the coolest looking 17" notebook I have ever seen, IMHO. http://www.pctorque.com/sager-5720-gaming-computers.php
Love it.
Thanks czm2000.
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post #213 of 217
10/14/05 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
I've been eyeing this for a couple of weeks. I can't wait to see what it can do. Too bad I promised myself I would hold out on my next laptop until the dual core Pentium-M's come out next spring. I might have to cheat . I thought I could hold out cause I'm still really loving my M680. That is to say I haven't gotten sick of it yet. But a new system like that could make you sick of any current laptop

Later.
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post #214 of 217
10/24/05 at 3:57pm

Quick question for czm2000

I know this is the Gateway thread, but need your opinion on the Sager 5720 you so kindly told us about, specifically the screen. The model I am considering is the 5720-V (http://www.pctorque.com/sager-5720-g...computers.php). But I am not too crazy about the UXGA (1920 x 1200) screen. When I configure the 5720-C to the same spec as the V model with the SXGA (1680x 1050) screen it costs almost $200.00 more. Go figure.
I understand you do lot of development, coding, etc. If you would have to choose from these 2 screens, witch one would you go with? I do not know how readable Excel or other word documents (or VB Editor for that matter) would be. And adjusting the resolution downward might do things worse.

My eyes are not the sharpest so the screen resolution is important. But saving $200.00 would be nice (I already asked PCT and they said …).

Thank you for you opinion.
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post #215 of 217
10/24/05 at 4:54pm
Thread Starter 
No matter what brand you get I suggest the WSXGA. The WUXGA is just overkill, and the WXGA is far too large. The WSXGA is optimal. I have had all three and believe me, you will in the end, regret getting a WUXGA. That is one thing I am sure of if you do coding of any kind. A WUXGA would be good if you predominantly played video games or only did video editing or only used graphics applications. If you plan on spending any amount of time with, word, excel, or even Dreamweaver and any other development platforms for that matter, you would want to roll with the WSXGA. I use mine all day every day and I still couldn't be happier.
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post #216 of 217
11/15/05 at 1:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SV007
I had the same fan problem with my M680XL. The fix for mine was to change the power scheme setting to "minimal power management". This setting allows the CPU to idle at 800mhz (when plugged in) and to run full throttle when required. This is an "adaptive" setting for Win XP. The second/noisy fan almost never runs now. If you use a power scheme setting that runs the CPU at full throttle, the fans will definitely run alot. This is really my only complaint about the M680XL.

You can check the CPU speed by right clicking on my computer, then properties.
and it was everything what you have done?
because I already do it, and it slow down the CPU, but fan is still runing
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post #217 of 217
4/27/06 at 9:48pm

review

this laptop is very good u should buy it
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