I noticed that Dell keeps insisting on putting in Intel video cards in the laptops. Why? they suck! All the reviews say so. Are the cards so much cheaper than good cards? I can't believe so

Intel extreme then extreme 2 and now the GMA 950! When will we laptop owners get a break Dell!

Intel tries to tell us its the only way to get great battery life HA!

get a 7900gs! stop whining!

Is there another company that makes a (good) integrated video solution? I think not. Integrated video chips save a lot more battery than video cards do, but yes as DoubleDown (indirectly) said they offer alternatives that are more powerful (but reduce battery life significantly) so if you want the extra power, go for it. Intel does not make the 7900gs, 7400, x1400, x1300, etc. and those are all alternatives that are offered (depending on the type of notebook you look at).

Uh...they dont insist....it's an option like any other. If someone dosent need the video power and needs the battery life or dont have the money for a better card why in the world shouldnt they be allowed to chose the intel?
If you dont want that just get one of the video card upgrades.....

You sound uninformed. With this generalization.

They do insist on some models, you should have a choice on all models and they should use a different card IMO. I take offense to uniformed, I have built laptops and computers since the 80's I know what goes in them and I know that the intel video does not have to be the only option, but since there is this belief that it is the only way for extended battery life ( not true) then Manufactures like Dell force them on us in some models. They advertise that the GMA 950 has great specs but in reality it sucks, I bought 2 E1405 and would gladly have chosen a different video card but cant there is no option, the other option is to spend double the money on a heavy laptop for the better card, no I did not want the M1210 in this case. I love my 700M but not everybody wants such a small screen.

Also go to the Dell web site and see for yourself many laptop models the only option is this GMA 950.

Look I like Dell why do you defend them they are not perfect.

Gotta love lame computer users. I had no problem ordering my E1705 with the ATI X1400 card, which works fine for me.

Yeah this is a sad pathetic post...

No one is forcing you to buy anything. If you don't like what you see, don't buy it! Intel video may s*** but if all one ever does on his/her laptop is word processing or something along those lines, do they really need a top of the line or even a basic dedicated graphics card?!?!? This is also not forgetting that having a dedicated graphics card will cost more & not everyone is as rich as you are & the list goes on & on.....

My post was about your generalization..."dell insists on video cards that suck" Sounds like you're putting them all in the same boat while only a couple of lower bracket models dont offer the option. That's why it sounds uninformed.

i think the best statement on integrated sounded something like why burden market that 90% of the consumers do not need with the wants of 10%. bottom line is that the market for upgrded graphics is much much much smaller than market for regular graphics like integrated.

moreover, it is not necessarily dell that controls these things. Intel is the one who makes the integrated graphics card. now dell could allow for options for upgraded graphics cards, and last i check dell does offer upgraded cards. how many 700m users really need an upgraded graphics card? very few, simply because the reason for buying 700m isn't to do heavy gaming.

Believe it or not the highest volume selling videocard happens to be Intel based because their cheap and not everyone in the world needs or cares for a high end card. If the the integrated solution is being sold the most then companies such as DELL will obviously go out of there way to push the benefits of having such a card which mainly is cost and battery life over their alternatives. I think for a consumer videocard the GMA950 is pretty good and compares pretty well to other integrated solutions from ATI or the lesser known and respected ones from SiS or such. Those who can afford to make the physical or financial sacrifices should obviously pick a dedicated card but for most the GMA950 will do the job and the soon to be in production card which will replace the GMA950 which I think is the GMA2000X (correct me if im wrong) seems be shaping up to be a pretty good card with enough juice to give consumers Vista AERO without a pricey dedicated solution.

I think College Students are a big market more then 10% The size and weight of the E1405 is perfect only the Video card is the problem, Also I read the other post, The ATI cards for the most part are better for gaming than the GMA 950, the 3000 card due to be out is supposed to be way better but I heard that about the 950 till I saw the reviews.

Lower bracket? My 700m early this year was not "Lower bracket" there are plenty of models from the cheap to the midprice they have offered with no Video card option I just do not want any 8 to 9lb laptops for my family there are not very portable. I just wnt more options thats all not every body needs long battery life ether, and in fact most of these notebooks never live up to the battery life claims without adding real pounds in a big battery anyway.

I understand what you're trying to say, but agree that the way you said does not reflect well on your "being informed". I too have a e1405, and really wish I could've had the 7400 like the m1210 or the x1300. Just SOMETHING a step above GMA as an option would've been great. I'm not asking for dual 7900gtx's in my e1405, just an alternative.

Yeah I wrote this out of frustration that finally there was better video cards in these machines but many reviews later the expert authors tend to agree that intel has been making crappy cards for years so I'm frustrated that Dell still has little alternative unless you spend over a grand many times.

Sorry to wirite this thread, Just shoot me!