Dell Latitude E4200 Info

I am running XP SP3, but I have noticed some oddities with BT (besides the Dell Connection Manager issues I posted about before). I don't use a BT mouse but do use a BT keyboard when docked. Twice I have had a problem where I bring the notebook out of sleep, then press a key on the keyboard to wake up BT. Then in the password box of the login screen it goes nuts like a key is being held down continuously (i.e. continuous bullets rolling across the password box). I pull the batteries from the keyboard, it keeps going. Anything I do, it keeps going, like a key is still being held down. I use the trackpad to put the notebook back to sleep. Wake it up again and immediately it starts doing the same thing, repeating keystrokes even without being touched and the BT keyboard still empty of batteries. Cycled sleep again, still the same. The only thing that worked was to turn off the wireless switch (repeating keystrokes stops) and then back on again. Then the BT keyboard worked normally again. It's only done this twice, and hasn't recurred since. No idea what caused the problem.

 

I must say that old Logitech mouse was pretty wonky with BT though my new MS laser mouse has been perfect. I would often lose the connection on my XPS M1330. This is really the first time everything has worked properly. I don't know why it is really.

 

Having used the E4200 for 10 days or so, I do have some reservations about this laptop:

(a) The LCD screen, although bright, lacks color depth. It looks washed out. The viewing angle is not that great, although that is expected in a matte screen. It lacks contrast, and the colors are hard to set accurately.

(b) The keyboard flexes a lot more than the E6400, especially in the middle area. Perhaps I should have ordered one with the backlit keyboard.

(c) The speakers are horrible. Even with the latest IDT drivers, I cannot get decent sound out of the speakers. They lack quality and volume. My 4-year-old Inspiron 700m puts these speakers to shame. I know this is supposed to be a business laptop, but still, we like to watch videos now and then on it.

(d) As many have mentioned, the fan is a nuisance. This notebook runs hot.

(e) I have the SU9300 CPU and the Mobility 64GB SSD. This notebook comes out of hibernation very slowly, compared to the E6400 with a 5400 rpm drive. Maybe the CPU is limiting it. Also, making an image of the drive to an external hard drive takes a very long time. Installing Win7 is not any faster than on my E6400. In normal operation, everything is responsive, though, despite the slow CPU speed.

 

Not to undermine your thoughts but here are mine on what you have mentioned:

My LCD is fine, though people have mentioned that there are two being used in these laptops. Toshibas and Samsungs? I have the Samsung. Perhaps they are better?

I feel no flex whatsoever on my laptop. However, I do have the backlit keyboard. Even if this wasn't the case, there is literally no room on this laptop that has been spared with space (except maybe the area where they are supposed to put on the infamous LatOn card). So I am not sure where the flex would be coming from. Of course, I am royally pissed about the fact that my backlight is out. On the plus side, Dell local has decided to support me though Dell Corporate doesn't officially support the Middle East anymore. Go NBD 3 year warranty! However, I am loathe to have a local tech open up my E4200 to peek inside, I am certain he has never seen an E4200 locally. I haven't seen one at all here.

There aren't two speakers on the E4200. There is just one speaker. It's monoaural, all the way, my friend!

The hibernation issue appears to be a common theme with SSDs, I haven't been able to quite figure out why this is the case yet, but it's definitely a SSD thing. I would guess, and this is a WILD guess, that it has something to do with the OS writing to disk and our MLC/SLC SSDs are not really good with that with the version of the Samsung controller on them. This should improve with future SSDs or even with the Intel X18M, which I plan to try in my E4200 eventually. The SSD is what makes the overall experience snappy. If it were not for that, this laptop would be a total dog.

I find my E4200 to be, contrary to popular opinion that was effectively formulated after expensive retail purchases, beautiful. Its understated elegance really appeals to me. It's like a stunning woman who doesn't need makeup to look good. Am I getting carried away? I think it's great and looks gorgeous. Especially for my $1200 that I paid for it without tax and many of you lucky souls got it for $400 less.

So for me, no complaints, despite my sour experience with the backlit keyboard. Mid-term report coming up in three months!

Edit: Oh and that Latitude On thing you promised us last year some time, Dell? We will take that now. Jeez. Can you say UNFULFILLED? Are you listening, Michael?

 

I have the Toshiba LCD. Yes there is only one speaker, I stand corrected. It is a poor speaker. Exactly where is the speaker located?

Yes, you are getting carried away. It's just a laptop!

Yes, I do like the price. I got it from Outlet with the discount.

 

Heh! I know, I love my gadgets.

The speaker is at the bottom somewhere. You should be able to locate it.

 

The speaker is located in the front, right "below" the left mouse button. It does not look like a speaker at all. Its more like a microSD-slot or something.

I like the speaker better than my last Dell X1 at least...

 

Wow, that is a small speaker. Now I am amazed that it sounds so good .

Looks more like an opening for a microphone than a speaker...

 

Now my E4200 is like a handsome sleek man in wonderful shape.
Easy on the eyes.... hard ball when it needs to be
and really love the size....

 

Technically, still at the bottom It is effectively something like a 'piezo driver' more than anything else.

Such imagery!