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Just a couple of corrections there....W3J is 14" NOT 13.3" and the extra bay battery gives you about an extra 1.5 hours from what I have read. Giving you a total of about 4.5, maybe 5 hours...NOT 7+. Nice thought though!!

I am currently considering buying this machine, or the ASUS W5F.

What I am most worried about is the noise. I would prefer a laptop that is as quiet as possible, as I will be using it for lectures etc.

So my question to you guys is, how is the noise with the m1210?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

- Palle

The cd drive can be a little noisey...but other then that..the unit is really quiet. I can't even hear the fan run...its great.

Thankyou very much.

Is there any real difference between choosing the SATA HD or the ordinary HD?

M1210 only uses SATA Hard drive.

Not if u look at these choices...

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dells...pn_xps_m1210_2

Audio problem!
Just got my m1210 today and I couldn't be happier except for one thing. I am unable to record from the computer's output! IE: if you go into your computer's volume control and go to recording properties, you can usually select "Stereo Mix" or something similar to record what your computer is playing back.
This is extremely usefull for me for recording things off the internet (like flash movies they won't let you save" and for getting sound clips off of movies (I work in radio, and need those funny clips)

I only have 2 recording options, line-in and microphone. And this is the upgraded sound card! My dektop has on-board audio and a ton more options than this does. Am i totally screwed? Anything I can do?

Are you trying to get the sound recorder to work? If so its Start Button> Control Panel> Sounds and Audio Devices>Voice Tab>Voice Recording... Change the drop down box from quick cam to whatever is in there for your sound card...hit apply. The voice recorder should function after this.

OK here's what I mean. My cheap on-board audio on my Dell Dimension 4700 that was worth about $800 a year ago has these options for recording:

My xps with the upgraded sound card only has these options:


With the desktop I can use the program "fraps" and screen capture live video (with audio) from a dvd playback or game I'm playing or whatever, and the sound records just find using that last option "Stereo Mix"

My desktop however isn't fast enough to play a DVD and record it at the same time without significant jitter... same thing with most games. the m1210 is the first computer I've had that can capture video, without skipping a beat, but due to the abscence of recording options I can't capture it with sound
Not the end of the world but it is somethig I use alot, and would've been extremely neat to work with. it just astounded me that this "high quality" sound card comes in so lack-luster in options. it has all this fancy software to make everything sound wonderfull but you're on a laptop in the first place, so that stuff is mostly useless most of the time.

Other than the sound car, I will say i've been very happy with the xps m1210! I give it an 8 out of 10! I can tell I'm gonna love this for yars to come!

heh Im glad you like it... The stuff you describe i've never done.. we'll i've captured dvd's I own in the past and split the audio from the video , resampled the sound then put them back together again. But i've never did it in the way you described. Unless someone else here knows more then I do..(not hard :P ) you might want to get an external sound card.. I have a USB soundblaster audigy..course my sound fried in my desktop so guess where that external is.. If your at a desktop or stationary while your capturing your videos thats a good option..you can use your built in sound when your out on the road or around the house..

I'd give the M1210 an 8 too But for different reason..I think they could have used a better LCD..but other then that im really happy happy happy!

Question for you actual M1210 owners:

1) Thickness
How thick is the M1210 it at the palm rests when open? That is, measured from a flat surface (tabletop) to the top of the palm rests? I don't want to feel like I'm typing on a phone book.

2) Hinge
I've got an old Latitude D600, and boy is the hinge wobbly. I've replaced the screen/hinge at least twice now (on my 3rd LCD) and it still manages to get loose over time, no matter how often I tighten the screws.

I drool over the Thinkpads I come across for their hinges alone! So solid feeling. Is this Dell "RoadReady" moniker a bunch of marketing nonsense, or did they actually do something about floppy hinges over the last few years?

1) It's exactly 1" from table to the top of the palmrest.

2) Hinges are really strong, almost need to hands to open it up and it's not wobbly at all.

very sturdy, strong hinges, and in my opinion, not too thick at all. I think it "looks" thicker than it actually feels compared to some other lightweights out there.

I have a T7400 Merom processor coming, so I will be upgrading and updating this review.

Thanks for the feedback, fellas.

I guess I just need to convince myself that I can live with the glossy screen. Never had one, and I can't stand glare...