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Matte (NOT TrueLife) Display on XPS m1330

Monitors and Displays, XPS products submitted by mw 06/27/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

The XPS m1330 seems to be the perfect machine, aside from a few imperfections (no Gigabit Ethernet, for example). However, there is one feature that is an absolute dealbreaker for me--the glossy TrueLife screen. I remember the day before the shiny screens, and what a beautiful day that was.

If the XPS m1330 were available with a matte option (along with LED backlighting, of course), I would order one right now. I just don't think I can deal with the TrueLife panel.











17 Comments »

Implement an Option of an Intel Core 2 Extreme and a Intel Core 2 Quad processor and the new PENRYN processor on XPS 1330 and 1530 and a higher Graphics Card 8700gt or above

Sales Strategies, XPS products, Laptops submitted by bryan14c Jan 9

dell should implement a Core 2 extreme processor as an option for the XPS 1330 and 1530 and a first quad core notebook , because the high end models have this , why not on the 1330 and 1530 XPS is high end right? and also why stick to 8600gt that there is a 8700gt or above graphics card , well the XPS 1530 and 1330 overall design is great slim light, well as an addition dell should also implement a PENRYN processor

26 Comments »

Fix the M1330 Defects

XPS products, Laptops submitted by hoodedthing Mar 18

Okay, I just bought this great XPS m1330, but it's literally falling apart. The top left hinge cover fell off, because it can't clip in because it's not the right size to begin with, or the frame is shifted too far right to begin with (factory defect, nothing is broken on the part). The plate that covers the two headphone jacks and the microphone jack also fell off, I guess it wasn't glued on well enough. I'm not real upset about this, but it's pretty pathetic when my state of the art flagship laptop has pieces FALLING OFF of it. I fixed both instances with some superglue, and they're as good as new now, but tweak the assembly line for the m1330 or something so that this doesn't keep happening.

Here are pictures of the hinge cover:http://www.freewebs.com/iacobus/xps1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/iacobus/xps2.jpg

Also, it seems that everyone has this problem with the hinge cover, and that it's not just me.
http://www.obscurehideout.com/
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=183602
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=208643
http://forum.osnn.net/showthread.php?p=808820 20 Comments »

256MB Geforce 9500M GS Upgrade for the M1330! Possible!!!

XPS products submitted by q0987 Feb 23

For all those of you who wanted 8600M GT performace inside a 13.3 inch shell read on...

The next generation of Nvidia graphic cards have just been released and the Geforce 9500M GS should definitely be the prime candidate to replace the current 8-series 8400M GS residing within the m1330 chassis.

Now you may notice that the model numbers (400-500) suggest that the 9-series card is more powerful than the 8-series, which it is, but you may also be apprehensive and reluctant to cry out in joy because of all the talk about how a more powerful GPU fitted into the m1330's small body would generate too much heat and reduce battery life resulting in the loss of true portability.

I share those feelings, however you should know that Nvidia's 9-series has a card up its sleeve (no pun intended). This card comes in the form of a smaller fabrication process.
You see the 8400M GS was built using a 80nm fabrication process to manufacture it. The 9-series uses a 65nm fabricating process which reduces the size of the chip and has the benefits of reduced power consumption and lower heat emissions. Don't ask me exactly how this works because I only have a vague understanding.
Before I go on lets quickly take a look at the graphic cards that were released -



The 9-series currently consists of two mobile graphics cards. The 9300M G is basically a shrink of the 8400M GS with the exact same performance but slightly more power efficient and with less heat being emitted as a result. The second card released is the 9500M GS which has the same performance as the 8600M GT but also gains the same benefits as the 9300M G. Both the 8600M GT and the 9500M GS have more than twice the power of the 8400M GS.

What this comes down to then is that if Dell used the 9300M GS to replace the 8400M GS in the m1330 then you would get improved battery life and less heat emisions without sacrificing performance.

This next bits gonna be alittle more tricky to put into words, but here goes anyway... Next up, the 9500M GS.

Well as I see it, if you can use the benefits gained from the newer cards you can upgrade the performance without generating more heat and using more power than in the current 8400M GS equipped m1330. This would undoubtedly mean we lose the battery life we could have saved and the lower heat emissions but we gain a performance boost without using up anymore battery life than the current m1330 - there you go Dell, two problems solved in one neat package.

Although even if we do use slightly more power and produce more heat than the current m1330, the benefits gained from other revised components such as the newly available Penryn processors will compensate for this and help to negate the overall effect. Also once Montevina becomes available the RAM upgrades from DDR2 to DDR3 will further improve battery life and heat emissions so in the end the fan won't have to work any more harder than it already is today. Plus the m1330 does also have the Solid State Drive options and LED backlit screens for even more power efficiency which you could make compulsory when adding this mainstream graphics card. If you really have to cut down anything, then give us ATLEAST 256MB of the available dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory with the 9500M GS instead of the maximum 512MB. That alone would be a vast improvement over the measly 128MB provided with the 8400M GS (not counting the 128-bit memory interface the former would also bring).

Another thing that Dell could also do is change the materials used to construct certain parts of the m1330 such as the lid and base. For example if titanium was used to incase the components then it would allow for better heat dissipation so you wouldn't have to worry so much about things getting hot inside. I am sure people wouldn't mind paying alittle extra for this luxury (seeing as how it is targeted towards the enthusiast afterall). I know I wouldn't.

If this were done correctly then the m1330 would become the real portable gaming rig it was meant to be.
If however you don't really care about the performance boost and like it just the way it is and would rather have the benefits of improved battery life and lower heat emissions than you can opt for the 9300M G. Even better for those not too concerned with performance but want the rest than you would be able to choose the integrated X4500 (when Montevina comes out) which will supposedly be 3 times more powerful than the integrated graphics available now and may also promote improved battery life and heat emissions (even when compared to todays integrated graphics equipped m1330).
Dell should make these options available so the m1330 continues to appeal to all types of customers e.g. gamer, college student, business user etc.
Dell I am tellin you, make sure you let the consumer decide. I am actually giving you the options you should list -

1. Integrated Intel GMA X4500 (Business user)
2. Nvidia Geforce 9300M G (College student)
3. Nvidia Geforce 9500M GS (Gamer)
4. ??? - BinaryGFX/Hybrid GPUs (ALL USERS)

Even better than this would be if you just add both integrated and discrete graphics cards and have the ability to toggle between the two. You wanna game, switch to discrete. If your browsing the internet or typing up an essay then use integrated.

Alienware have done this with their m15x and using what is identified as BinaryGFX. This has allowed them to add a 512MB 8800M GTX into a 15" chassis and when switching to integrated they have a touch-sensitive control labelled "stealth mode"!

And in case your thinking "thats a 15 inch thats why you can add both" then take a look at the 13.3" Sony SZ6 series or how about the 13.3" Asus U3. If they can do it why can't Dell. At the rate the m1330 is going at its gonna be left way behind! Even LG has been able to put in a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M class graphics card into their 13.3" P300!!

Alienware have also used another great idea. They've come up with the Smart Bay technology which can also be found in their top-of-the-line m15x. If this were also thrown in as a feature with the m1330 then you would be able to swap out your optical drive to obtain an enormous increase in battery life. As this is just an after thought it may just be too radical an idea to pull off. But I thought I'd mention it anyway. Afterall, you never know what might happen.



Dell owns Alienware, right!? So why are they so behind when compared with Sony, Asus and LG?

But suppose if everything I just mentioned was added to the m1330 - you can all imagine the impact it would have on portable gaming! It would be Sweeeeeet!

The m1330 could end up desimating all competition in 2008. To be honest, I consider this to be the real ultraportable XPS that we've all been waiting for all this time! No wait (adds Gigabit ethernet, backlit keys and tweaks the design to reflect coolness) - now we're talking!

Oh! One last thing to think about. Would changing the name to "The M1337" appeal to anyone other than myself!? :)

EVERYONE START PROMOTING NOW TO MAKE THIS A REALITY!

Feedback on this idea would be welcomed both from Dell and IdeaStorm users.

Here is a list of articles on this site that have asked for a more powerful graphics card inside the m1330 -

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75366/Offer_256MB_discrete_Graphics_on_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/71568/DELL_XPS_M1330_with_more_Graphic_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75165/Allow_the_133_XPS_M1330_Laptop_to...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/72990/Love_the_new_XPS_M1330_but_need_m...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/73545/XPS_1330_Video_Card
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/74876/Less_plastic_please_on_the_XPS_M1...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/71342/M1330_Resolution__Graphic_Card_Op...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75525/Update_M1330_GPU_to_beat_specs_of...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75590/Updating_XPS_M1330
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75640/High_resolution_screen_and_new_vi...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75965/Implement_an_Option_of_an_Intel_C...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75526/Nvidia_Geforce_8800M_Nvidia_Gefor...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75526/Nvidia_Geforce_8800M_Nvidia_Gefor...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75879/make_the_a_XPSm1330_to_M1335_and_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/73869/14_xps_notebook
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/76008/M1330_2008
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/71725/XPS_m1335
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/76168/Use_nVidia_Hybrid_SLI_technology_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/102651/Offer_Core_2_Extreme_X7900_28GHz...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75413/Can_Dell_upgrade_the_XPS_m1330_I_...

Further information: Like the Nvidia Geforce 8-series GPUs the 9300M G and 9500M GS support DirectX 10.0, SM 4.0 & OpenGL 2.1. However unlike the integrated graphics equipped in the m1330 today (Intel GMA X3100), the GMA X4500 was specifically designed and made to be an integrated hardware solution that supports DirectX 10.0 and SM 4.0 aswell as to handle Blu-ray/HD DVD footage.


16 Comments »

Tell us WHY we don't have Ubuntu DELLs in Belgium (or other countries)

Linux, Service and Support submitted by mathieu147 Apr 2

Ubuntu DELLs are available in several european countries like France, Germany and UK. You can buy them in USA, too. But, for example, it's impossible to buy one in Belgium (juste between France and Germany) or in Canada (just next to USA).

There are many ideas (with high scores) saying «I want Ubuntu in [country name here]». It seems that DELL doesn't care.

Ok, right, you want to sell Linux DELLs only in some countries. But could you tell us WHY?

Is it a language problem? Well, install the english version and tell the buyers how to install his own language support (if you can't do it for him (you can for Windows, why not for Ubuntu?)).

Thank you :-) 10 Comments »

Publish the "noise" specs on every PC

Dell Web Site, Desktops and Laptops submitted by stk 05/02/07

I want to buy a quiet PC, but Dell doesn't quote noise specs anywhere on the website.

For example, the XPS 210 says: "Runs cool, quiet, and is energy efficient"
but the tech specs on the noise are nowhere to be found (not even on the "tech specs" page for that PC).

If you really make quiet PCs, then why hide the noise specs? Why not make it a standard part of the tech specs page for each machine? 9 Comments »

Noise level information on product pages

Dell Web Site submitted by jaybee 02/20/07

The noise level has for many years been raised as more powerful CPUs, graphics cards etc has been added. Personally, I've lately been looking for an replacement to my old fan-monster. And it should be quiet! Watercooling or passive cooling is of course an option, but I've been having good experiences with my Dell Laptop and a Dell at work. Sadly, there are no information about the noise level of the various Dell products. Please add that to the specification pages on the web site. Comment »

Stop selling the leftovers in Mexico and at least give the option of buying the same products you sell in USA

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site, XPS products submitted by kanoneno Feb 5

I'm interested in buying the M1730, but the thing is that I live in Mexico and here you don't sell that model with the same specs that you offer in the web page of the United States. When you offered the 2.8 Ghz processor in USA you only offered the 2.6Ghz in Mexico. And now you offer the 2.8Ghz processor in Mexico but you dont offer the new Nvdia 8800 GTX, you only offer the 8700. I really want to buy the most actual computer, I work producing video and audio so I need a computer that will last for a long period of time supporting the tasks that I will be asking for (I mean: is not a cheap computer at all). At least offer the chance to buy that.
The thing is that you make me believe that you are only offering leftovers in here, and I dislike that idea big time.
Probably it's only that the web page in Mexico is not actualized. In that case please speak to the web master in Mexico. 1 Comment »

"Help Me Choose" is often inaccurate

Dell Web Site submitted by davhef 02/17/07 **COMING SOON**

Very often the "Help Me Choose" feature does not include the actual items available for that system. Fix it! 10 Comments »

Improve the hardware building page

Dell Web Site submitted by bbr 06/25/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

- Currently -
I surf to dell.com
and see a number of options. i can't click these but instead are presented with a popup which asks whether i'm a normal customer, small company, large company, and some others.

First issue :
If i want to order a Desktop, laptop, or anything at all, it should in theory not matter at all where i'm coming from, how big my business is, or what i'm willing to spend.
i come to dell to order a desktop, or laptop, and that's it.

Request : Remove the popups, and make the first choice basic to simply :
- desktop
- laptop
- server & network
- accesories
- help & support

Now, let's assume i clicked the consumer section in the desktop menu.
You are then presented with 3 "packages" you could say.
While i'm not directly against this sort of set up (i'm sure it's direct, userfriendly and easy for an average user). i notice that the options from "small business" are similarly distributed. and equally vague.
If you click one of these options, you're taken to yet another sub page with about 3-4 preconfigured systems that suposedly fit into the category which you've selected so far.
After this you can "configure" the computer to some extent.
But the actual options are fairly limited and fall short of my expectations... so i need to go back 2 pages and select a different system in the hope of having more options with that other system.

- The future -
Request : Either add a sixth option to the front page, or a fourth option to one of those sub pages that basically reads "Build a computer"
From this link you'd be taken to a step by step process where you select what kind of computer you wish to build.

- Options -.
The frame.
The basis of all computers, and how much you can put "into" the computer.
you'd start by choosing the frame for your computer.

- Dimension E52x
- Dimension C52x
- Dimension 92xx
- XPS 710
etc

Once you've selected a basic frame for the computer its time for the mainboard(number of slots, and socket type) and powersupply(output), cooling system(heatsink, h20, active or passive) and after that the processor type and speed.

Having completed that, you get an option for the operating system and memory(preferably chooseable per slot).
Then secondary parts such as the CD, DVD, Blu ray drive, DMD, SSD, etc
Monitor, etc

I can't provide everything in a 100% detailed manner, that'd be up to Dell obviously.
But, a more expansive "build my computer" page, based on this idea could be very interesting indeed.





2 Comments »

Clear motherboard specs

Dell Web Site submitted by s_wel 06/03/07

How about the specification of the motherboard included with the hardware selection process information on your Web site like:
-- Number of ram slots
-- Number of pci/ pci express slots (With pci express spec. eg. X1, X8, X16)
-- Processor slot info eg. 775, AM2

This would be useful for people buying a cheap computer in the hope of upgrading later. 2 Comments »

System Update

Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by ahazan Feb 9

Crrently in Dell software & driver support dell takes your system tag and shows all available drivers and software for all peripherals that were offered on that system. that could mean 5 video cards 3 wireless nics, 4 CDR drives. It should be more like windows update or Lenovo thinkvanatge system update where it detects what hardware you have (or looks up what was shipped by service tag) and offers you only software and drivers for WHAT YOU HAVE. and also only offers drivers newer than what's currently installed 9 Comments »

Keep drivers UP TO DATE

Dell Web Site submitted by bl4derunner 02/21/07

Keep drivers updated!!

It's a drag to have to check what chipset is used, and then find the manufacturer to get the latest drivers to solve some problems, or to get some performance improvement. 3 Comments »

Automatic driver download for our Dell systems

Dell Web Site, Software submitted by sr45 03/11/07

I believe Dell might want to consider a way to scan our Dell systems, that will determine what you have, what version of the device driver you have, and then offer you the opportunity to install an update if it finds one.

Right now, new computer users are having a difficult time under stand the driver download site for their system, and which drivers to download. 2 Comments »

Allow me to narrow my computer search early if I know specific features I must have.

Dell Web Site, Desktops and Laptops submitted by sotopheavy Feb 21

I want to be able to select a feature I must have before I answer any other questions (perhaps in an advanced users section) that will narrow down the number of computers I will be looking at.

For example. I want to be able to select Wireless N, core 2 duo, gigabit ethernet and laptop and then have dell narrow my search results to only laptops where those options are possible. I want to further narrow my search results by the processor speed (1.8 Ghz, 2.0Ghz...) until I find a list of acceptable computers I can select from.

It would be nice but not necessary if before I selected an option to narrow the results if it showed how many computers in each category would be left (xps (2), dimension(0), latitude (1), and inspiron (0))

For something similar to what I am talking about see newegg.com 3 Comments »

Show the Vista performance rating during system configuration.

Dell Web Site submitted by jervis961 02/17/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

People may not realize that Vista gives your computer a performance rating based on several factors (processor, RAM, hard drive and video card).
Dell should show the performance rating on the side as you build your computer and update it as you go along changing the configuation. This should give people a guage as to if an upgrade will really improve your overall performance and also what kinds of games and programs your new computer will be capable of.

Drivers Update

Dell Web Site submitted by sanjeev 02/17/07

I think it would be nice, if dell could provide the updated driver automatically. Like i have inpiron/e1505 and i went from Windows Media Center to Windows Vista Business. For couple of weeks i wasn't able to use my wireless because for some reasons my driver was not supported, but later i found the driver. So, it would be nice if dell could provide automatic driver download so that user don't have to spend much time where to go and download the drivers. 2 Comments »

Make it easier to buy components to repair broken Dell computers.

Dell Web Site submitted by jmxz Feb 25

I need a power supply for a Dell PowerEdge 1750- and can't find where on your web site I can buy one.

If you sell such stuff, please make it easier to find on your web site.
If you don't sell such stuff, consider doing so - or at least link to someone who does.

I'd rather buy it from Dell, but if I can't find it soon I'll get it from some random on ebay. 6 Comments »

Driver updates

Dell Web Site, Laptops submitted by alexb Feb 18

Dell should update their notebook drivers more often.
For example their current ATI display drivers for Windows Vista were released in the middle of 2007.
I feel that many people are frustrated because drivers are not updated to get more features, better performance etc.
I'm sure that if Dell commited to update notebook drivers regularly people would be more likely to buy Dell in the future for support alone. 6 Comments »

Downloadable, PDF format, full technical specs for all systems

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by benjesuit 06/12/07 **REVIEWED**

Before I buy, I would like to have the options of downloading the full technical specifications of the system. Not just the brief specifications. Place a link under "tech specs" tab that allows you to view or download the full specification PDF file for those of us who care about and understand such things. This way everyone is satisfied.
We are looking to improve the specs pages by making them consistent across all product lines, provide more in-depth specifications and making them available in a printable format.





35 Comments »