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  • Hrel - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Where's a 15.6" laptop with Sandy Bridge and a GTX460 that has a 1080p display with over 500:1 contrast ratio and 5+ hours of battery life on internet? Like that Clevo but with a not sucky keyboard. Or like the Asus you have yet to review except... well idk if it has flaws cause you haven't reviewed it.

    And where did Compal go? They have no good Sandy Bridge anywhere I can find. I need a new laptop damnit and I want a GTX460 with i72620QM and 1080p for 1200 or less. Clevo has one, but you guys seem to really hate that keyboard and I'm not dropping 1200 bucks if I need to carry around an external keyboard.
  • SimKill - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I doubt the Clevo has a 5+ hour battery life. ESPECIALLY with a 460. If there exists such a computer, please do link as I'm looking out currently for decent models.
  • ThomasK - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    A Clevo P150HM has roundabout 2,5 hours of battery life with a power supply thick as a brick. The value for money of the high end Clevo notebooks is top.
  • GTVic - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Why so angry?
  • Sunner - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I'm using a Precision M4500, and I will say it doesn't feel like it has anywhere near the build quality of HP's enterprise line. Or a Macbook Pro for that matter.
    It still has that Dell plastic feel to it, and it was pretty damn expensive to boot at €3000.

    I get the impression that this won't change with the new ones. Ah well, maybe we'll start buying HP gear some day, Dell support will soon have pissed off every single person in the office.
  • Stuka87 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I also have an M4500 (being I work in a dell shop). Certain aspects of it are, others are kind of bleh.

    I actually held out buying one for ages waiting for the M4600, and finally got to the point to where I could no longer weight. So I got this in February.

    It would have been nice to have a Sandy Bridge based chip, but I really have no complaints about the Arrandale that I ended up with.
  • Stuka87 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I should note that "Dell Shop" is not a Dell operated company, but rather a company that has a service contract with Dell, so mostly purchases Dell hardware.

    (Wish I could have just edited my original post :/ )
  • kmmatney - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I have a hard time taking the new "workstation" laptops seriously with 16:9 screens. (I'm still using a 4-year old laptop with 1920 x 1200 resolution, and don't see why i'm forced to down-grade.). I have to give Apple credit for still having 1920 x 1200 resolution in their MacBook Pro. .
  • mgambrell - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    getting near to a decade into the irrational widescreen phase of human history and still no laptops with a proper inverted T + 6 cursor control block in place of the useless numpad, unless I've missed it. That's what I find it tough to take seriously. If crappy resolution is going to be inflicted on me at least give me the keys I want to make me feel like it was worthless.
  • lous - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    agreed. though 1920x1200 was available with the previous generation but only on the 17". this was similar to the macbook pro 17. though i think at 15, the macbook pro doesn't even do 1080.
  • awaken688 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I have a 15.6" with a 1920x1200 right now that is from 1 or 2 generations ago and I couldn't agree more with the 16:9 thing being insane on a workstation. However, I will say that it is freaking tiny font, so you better have fantastic vision. Personally, I like 1920x1200 on the 17" and 1680x1050 on a 15". Guess Apple got this one right (well if you pay $150 to get the upgrade with the matte finish).
  • Hargak - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    You realize you CAN adjust font size? and still take advantage of the sharp display? I always preferred the 1920x1200 as well, no matter what it was a great resolution...

    Why u no give 16x10?!
  • kmmatney - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I agree about the tiny fonts - I actually change my panel to 1680 x 1050 for most work, and I sometimes even scale down to 1440 x 900 if my eyes are tired. However there are projects where I really NEED the full 1920 x 1200 resolution, and I'm glad I have that option.

    Most of the time, I'm docked to a 24" 1920 x 1200 LCD, but I do travel a lot. I can fully open up my 17" laptop when traveling on United Airlines (free economy plus for premier executive status).
  • mike8675309 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I'm shocked that a workstation class machine is so hamstrung that you can't even get a proper vertical resolution if you are willing to pay for it. (it should be standard). Why people paying so much money for these things are willing to just settle, and haven't pressured Dell more, I don't understand.
  • LoneWolf15 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    The LCD panel vendors are the more appropriate spot to place blame. Dell isn't exclusive to the 16:9 switch; Lenovo, HP, and pretty much every other vendor has.

    While some will argue that Apple has not, Apple currently has a laptop design that is probably bound to a contract. There's a good chance that their next design refresh will bring about 16:9 screens as well.

    LCD panel vendors don't want to make 16:10 because of their primary market, televisions, which are 16:9. The true fault lies with them.
  • FlyBri - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Why? Because Dell could care less about its customers. Laptops themselves may be ok, but you have any issues with them (especially major ones), and good luck trying to get it resolved.

    Just from my own personal experience, Dell violated CA consumer protection laws, and even when the BBB got involved, and Dell was notified that they were not complying with consumer protection laws, they still refused to follow them. I'm sure people had problems with the other large computer manufacturers, but I'm sure not as much as Dell.
  • lous - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    did you buy complete care?

    i haven't had any problems getting things resolved. even travelling when i've had a problem, the next business day service has come out to the hotel to fix my laptop.

    this is based on my own personal experience after having dell laptops for over 10 years.
  • Stuka87 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Ditto here. Complete care has really been on top of things. They are always quick to fix any issues we come across.
  • Johnmcl7 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    As expected I could usually get an engineer organised for the next day in a matter of minutes as long as I was prepared, if you had any sort of vague issue they'd want to troubleshoot but if you had a firm failure or diagnostic code they'd put it straight through for an engineer to sort out.

    Since changed to another company and the service is nowhere near as good.
  • seapeople - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I bet this is how your phone calls went:

    "Hi this is Krishna Baoduhari from Dell Support. I am very pleased to help you. What is your problem?"

    "YOU F*S*&DFK BASTA(DS GAVE ME GRAPPY GOMPUTOR. It does not work no matter what I do!"

    "I'm very sorry to hear that, could you tell me your problems?"

    "F*@|< YOU. Give me a new computer now or I call the BETTER BUSINESS BOROUGH!!! Give me MICHAEL DELL on the phone RIGHT NOW."

    "Sir, please tell me what issues you are experiencing with your computer. I am very pleased to assist you in any way I can."

    "WHAT IS YOUR HOME NUMBER! I will attack your family! You have failed me for the last time! You will hear from my lawyers!"

    "Sir, if only you would *click" Sir? Sir?"
  • Iketh - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link

    LOL +1
  • khimera2000 - Thursday, April 28, 2011 - link

    I dont know about you, but I got mine fixed within a week, and the only reason why it took that long is because they orderd the wrong part. I even had someone come out and fix it for me, at no cost. They also kept me informed throughout the entire process even when they made the wrong part order, they called me up and redid the service date.

    so in this regard I will have to disagree with you and agree with Lous.
  • jwaight - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I'm impatiently waiting for a Lenovo review with a Sandybridge processor. The Edges offer good performance for the money, but the forums are complaining about a variety of things.

    So, I guess a T series it is then? Or maybe not, wish I knew.
  • Dustin Sklavos - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    It's not for lack of trying. It's extremely difficult for us to get Lenovo hardware in house anymore, we'd be reviewing it if we could get it. Until then you're going to be stuck hitting NotebookReview or big mainstream consumer-oriented sites like PCWorld to get Lenovo reviews.
  • jcompagner - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    In our company we have quite a few M6500, but that was because that was the only laptop from dell (and also not many outside of dell) that had a 1200p screen
    So for us programmers that wants as much pixels as possible in a 17" screen the price was ok.
    But now they are expensive workstation class machines with just 1080p screens... We don't need the workstation GPU thats pure overkill and completely unused.. (and we don't also care about gamut or full rgb screens and all that nonsense, it just must be a decent screen that even the vostro 1700 from 4 years ago already had)

    So now we are forced to go to that full hd madness then there are plenty options for us and the big price of those machines are not justified at all anymore for us.

    Not that dell has loads of other choices, but i am currently quite content with the XPS 17 (L702x) laptop, the only issue is that the fan is not completely configured right.. And will make a little bit to much noise now and then.
  • Candide08 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    They are still producing SUV's when everyone else is making Priuses
  • Stuka87 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    That comment is just as much fail here as it would be on autoblog.

    Just because somebody doesn't need a vehicle (or computer) capable of heavy work, doesn't mean nobody else does.

    I for one need the hardware provided in a workstation class machine. Just like a lot of people need the hauling and towing ability of an HD truck or full size SUV.
  • LoneWolf15 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    This is bull. Dell makes the Latitude line for business, and the Vostro line for entry-level business, just as the Precision is targeted at the mobile workstation market.

    That's not including the Inspiron and Studio lines for home users.

    Please do a little research before you open your mouth again.
  • khimera2000 - Thursday, April 28, 2011 - link

    did you not hear there are SUV hybrids out to :D

    If you dont get why these systems are made, then they are not targeting your field of work, or your life style.

    But if you need a couple of reasons:
    - People in the military have sevearly limited space, but love to game. a consol will not fit in combonation with a LCD TV, so in most cases these people will opt for the fastest thing that they can sandwich into a seabag.

    -Some people move around alot, but still need a high performance system to do there work, be it graphic, video, or anything high in resorce use. The thing is that these people are not really moving that notebook around once they set up at there location in which case this is alot safer to bring with you then a desktop which has a risk of loosing the associated paripherals and cords.

    -Any one that is in need of horsepower, but needs to travel significant distances with that power will find good use for these systems.
  • danjw - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I don't want all the spam ware they put on their computers. I will NEVER, EVER buy a Dell!
  • LoneWolf15 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Then buy a business-line laptop from Dell like a Vostro, Latitude, or Precision, and you won't get bloatware.

    Home PCs get bloatware to bring the cost down because home users are cheapskates. Business PCs don't.

    The average user has no idea how much difference there is between home and business laptops. All they see is a price tag. They never learn that business laptops have ruggedized chassis with magnesium or carbon-fiber reinforced frames, that business laptops have better keyboards, better tech support, and come without the bloatware that consumer laptops usually include.

    So most of them say "Why would I pay $$$ more?" and buy a laptop that will probably work for them, but will never give the kind of experience, support, or durability a business laptop will.

    I will buy Dell Outlet (factory-recertified) business laptops before I buy new consumer laptops. They are that much better.
  • kmmatney - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    My Inspiron 17" didn't come with very much bloatware. It's also built like a tank - I dropped it from 4 feet onto a hard floor, while open, and it survived with just a tiny scratch. It's almost 4 years old, and still looks/feels great, and has held up much better than all the Lattitudes we have at the office. I travel 50K miles a year, all around the world (just came back from Russia 2 weeks ago), so this thing has taken plenty of abuse.

    I think at the time, the Inspiron was the only machine I could get with an upgraded T7200 processor and a 1920 x 1200 "true life" screen, so that's why I got it over a business-line laptop. However its just as rugged as any lattitudes we have. (I've never seen a precision laptop to compare it against, but we have plenty of latitudes at work).
  • Stuka87 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    My Precision came with zero third party software. It has some Dell drivers for the touchpad and such, but nothing outside that. Including no antivirus (which is good, I hate pulling trial ware).
  • seapeople - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    My Dell came with lots of bloatware. It took me at least 30 minutes to go into Add or Remove Programs and uninstall the bloatware. Dell's bloatware probably saved me $100 on the purchase price of the computer. I make less than $200 per hour. I like Dell bloatware.
  • darwinosx - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Dell makes poor quality barely supported hardware. That hasn't changed. They are nowhere in the same league as an HP W series or MacBook Pro. I've used the HP series pretty extensively but will take a MacBook Pro any day instead of using Microsoft's latest mediocrity of an OS.
  • erple2 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Yawn.
  • GeorgeH - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Thank you for those Quadro/Geforce comparisons; Nvidia and AMD seem to go out of their way to make to make such comparisons difficult.

    If that IPS screen were 1920x1200, the M4600 would be an instant buy for me. As it is I think I'll try to keep limping along with my C2D 16x10 workstation until the Ivy Bridge refresh, as hopefully it'll come with Z68's SSD caching.

    If the refresh dumped the optical bay (now that we have Mini-SATA for multiple storage device options) in favor of better cooling for more powerful GPUs, that'd be awesome as well - but unfortunately I doubt it'll happen.
  • Icabus - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    Will be interesting to see how these fair down the road after several months of use. We use these Dell Portable workstations at my job and they are great at first but after a couple months of use their performance just seems to drop and become almost unusable. Now it could have some to do with all the crap our IT department puts on them, but that doesn't explain why they work great in the beginning and fall near the end.
  • JMS3072 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    1080p RGB-LED-backlit IPS? Sexy. Very sexy.
  • amd1600 - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    What technology is behind the 17" ultrasharp 1080p panel? I know IPS is coming later but does the 17" 1080p panel use RGB LED? Also does anyone know how soon IPS is coming?
  • ilkhan - Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - link

    I'm running a E6410 right now, but drop the price a bit and add an IPS 1600x900 display option, and I could be convinced to purchase an M4600. But my plan has been to wait for an Ivy Bridge for my next laptop, so maybe the next gen version.
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  • ChuckDriver - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link

    Does ATI have a technology allowing on-the-fly switching between the Intel integrated graphics and its own discrete GPU that is comparable to Optimus?

    If not, I would hesitate to select a Precision laptop with the FirePro, although I'm assuming that the Quadros feature Optimus.
  • Penti - Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - link

    I would rather have an HP mobile workstation then this. To bad to not see a better offer from Dell here. It's decent and is a good laptop though, but I would like to have a few more options. It also looks rather bulky because of the excessively squared design. Personally I would rather go with a latitude rather then this, if it's not needed for at specific reason. I'm guessing the Dell will be prices ridiculous with the 1080p anti-glare IPS screen, quadcore and so on.
  • dshirsh - Tuesday, May 3, 2011 - link

    Are these workstations equipped with SATA III? With the new generation of SSDs hitting the market this is virtually mandatory. Chances are that if you spend the bucks on the computer you'll spend the bucks to get the fastest storage device for it.
  • tyea - Wednesday, May 4, 2011 - link

    I bought the laptop as soon as it came out. The class action law suite covered the NVidia quadro 1600M included in my configuration, but not during the time I bought it. Apparently, I bought it one month to early to be covered. I had the ball grid array re-soldered at a computer shop for $275, but the graphics solder card failed again from overheating about 6 months later. So now I have a non functioning dell laptop that I spent allot of money on new. It failed one month after my 3 year service contract expired. I'll never buy a Dell product again because they did not back their top of the line product for a repeat customer, with a known manufacturing defect.
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  • rhoek958 - Monday, September 5, 2011 - link

    Hi all -

    I have spent the better part of an afternoon trying to get the specs on the 128 MB SSD mini-card option for this laptop. I have talked to several Dell reps, who simply regurgitated what I had already found on-line. I simply want to know one of two things before choosing this as an option:
    - What are the specs of this 128 MB mini-card (read/write speed, DDR2 vs. DDR3)
    or...
    - What is the make/model of the part used.

    Dell continued to mindlessly re-state their talking points about this laptop without getting into any specifics. When I pushed, two things happened. (1) they hung up on me. (2) they said that the specific part installed was up to their tech people. When I said (2) was like being told that their tech people would use whatever CPU and memory they had on hand, they again hung up on me.

    Anyone have any better information on the 128 GB SSD mini-drive that Dell uses in the M4600? Apparently it's classified information.

    Thanks.
  • IT_Architect - Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - link

    >getting near to a decade into the irrational widescreen phase of human history...agreed. though 1920x1200 was available with the previous generation but only on the 17"<

    It's only been 5 years, but I agree with the sentiment. I'm using a 9400 with True Life and 1920 X 1200 and upgraded to Core 2 Duo. I am looking at the M6600 because I want more RAM, but I despise the squirrely 1920 X 1080 screens. I can understand where the 1080s would be a lot cheaper to make because the pixels are spread out further and there are fewer of them, but one would think they would have a 16:10 in the M6600 line. They said that it would be available with the IPS and RGB, but I don't see any mention of that. Might as well get the XPS 17 L702.

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