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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.

You got 1 inch? I got 1 and 1/4... Maybe my measuring skills are in the toilet :P

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...

woot! govtcheez, that sounds awesome. and for paleren who never really got an answer, get sata. its fast like big ones, but its small.

Does a M1210 is able to run games such FFXI and BF2? I'm wondering this because I want a good laptop for school and not a crappy notebook. A XPS M1210 looks like a good choice for me.

well you're in the same spot as me. i got my m1210 for school/gaming and i can run the source engine on it (half-life2, cs:s, dod:s) its not specifically built for gaming so your not going to get 100+ fps constant, but the games run smooth on high. i also play joint-operations, its kind of like bf2. it can run that in high and have no lag. hope this helps

1) Has anyone had any keyboard problems yet? I played with display units at 2 different shops and both of them had broken keys - 1 with a broken enter key and 1 with a broken space bar. The keypads felt very flexible and weak, compared to my Sony. If the kaypad cannot handle a few wankers touching it every day, there is no way it will handle the kind of daily abuse I dish out.

2) The display seems to have a very bad contrast ratio. The blacks do not appear to be black at all. Has anyone compared this side-by-side with another notebook?

I have been licking my credit card in anticipation of this model for a long time. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed after playing with one.

yes actually, on my unit the g and b buttons dont respond unless i hit them a little harder than i usually type.

also remember they are display models, maybe a kid or someone thought it would be funny to break a key or something.

Ive been reading some you guys with 9-cell batteries getting 4.5 hours on average, while not being stingy with usage (gaming etc.). How on earth do you get that? With my M1210 and 9-cell battery I rarely get usage past 3 hrs and 15 mins or something around that. If im really stingy with power settings and do not game it may get to 3 hrs and 40 mins.


I see some of you have a 6-cell too is it possible to combine two batteries at once?

If you are using powermizer and still only getting 3 hours on a 9 cell..you have a defective battery. I get 3 hours on a 6 cell.. Bare in mind your not going to get 4.5 hours while gaming, but for general usuage you should get over 4 hours..You should call Dell and have them send you out a new battery..