Dell M6400 Covet or Lenovo w700

Hey there,
First post. Before I begin, allow me to request, No Lenovo Bashing. That is not what I am looking for. Anyway...

I am about to buy a new anchor and have narrowed it down to the above two options. Quotes pasted below. Prices ommitted.. The Covet is about 100 bucks more then the w700 out the door.

I have always been a Dell guy, never had much experience with the IBM/Lenovo's. (Dropped my D630 in a pool so I get to finally get a dcent computer) I understand the raw spec differences in that I am getting more power all around with the Dell. What I don't know is that if the Covet is of the same build quality as the lower end business or consumer models (Not so great) as opposed to the Thinkpads which are wonderful.

Also, is the only difference between the LED RGB E2E and the non E2E the piece of glass? Is it identical except for that? I have a 2009 Macbook pro 17" with the matte screen and think it is beautiful, did not like the Apple Glossy (read, glare) option. Am I losing out on anyhing other then the Glare with the Non-E2E screen?


=====Covet=====
Base Unit:
Precision M6400, Intel Core 2 Dual Extreme Edition Q9100 2.26GHz, 1066MHZ, 12M L2 CacheDual Core (224-5236)

Memory:
8.0GB, DDR3-1066 SDRAM, 4 DIMMfor Mobile Precision (311-9453)

Keyboard:
Internal Backlit English Keyboard for Mobile Precision (330-1844)

Keyboard:
Documentation (English) Latitude E-Family/Mobile Precision (330-1652)

Video Card:
1GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M Mobile Precision M6400 Covet (320-7518)

Hard Drive:
128GB Encrypted Mobility SolidState Hard Drive, Dell Mobile Precision (341-9491)

Hard Drive Controller:
FIPS Certified Fingerprint for Mobile Precision M6400 (311-9458)

Floppy Disk Drive:
17 inch Wide Screen Edge 2 Edge WUXGA RGBLED LCD, Blood Orange, for Mobile Precision M6400 (320-7199)

Floppy Disk Drive:
Dell Webcam Central Software for Dell Latitude/Mobile Precision (420-8666)

Operating System:
Vista Business 64-BIT Service Pack 1, with media, English Mobile Precision (420-8780)

NIC:
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth 2.1 Minicard for Latitude E/Mobile Precision (430-3090)

Modem:
No Modem for Mobile PrecisionMX400 (313-6453)

TBU:
210W 3-Pin, AC Adapter for Mobile Precision (330-1837)

TBU:
US - 6-FT, 3-Pin Flat Power Cord for Mobile Precision (330-1838)

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive:
8X DVD+/-RW slot load for Mobile Precision (313-7042)

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive:
Cyberlink Power DVD 8.2,with Media, Dell Relationship LOB (421-0536)

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive:
Roxio Creator Dell Edition 10.3, Media, Dell RLOB (421-1189)

Sound Card:
Integrated megapixel VGA webcam with single digital microphone, Mobile Precision M6400 (313-7044)

Processor Cable:
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (802.11 a/g/n 3X3) 1/2 MiniCard for VPRO Latitude E/Mobile Precision (430-3362)

Additional Storage Products:
320GB Additional Hard Drive 9.5MM, 7200RPM FFS for Mobile Precision M6400 (341-7892)

Factory Installed Software:
No Resource DVD for Dell Optiplex, Latitude, Precision (313-3673)

Software Disk Two:
All Hard Drives Non- RAID for 1 to 2 Hard Drives, Dell Mobile Precision M6400 (341-7876)

Feature
9-Cell/85-WHr Covet Battery for Mobile Precision M6400 (312-0828)

Service:
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response 2 Year Extended (990-6022)

Service:
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response Initial Year (990-8210)

Service:
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Extended Year(s) (991-9808)

Service:
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Initial Year (991-9777)

Installation:
Standard On-Site Installation Declined (900-9987)


You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System (310-8758)


Intel Extreme Quad Core Processor (311-9428)


CompleteCare Accidental DamageProtection, 3 Year (983-8362)


Info, Complete Care (988-7689)





=====w700=====
1 SYS.2757CT CONFIGURED SYSTEM $0.00 $0.00
The above product code consists of the following component(s):
1 2757CTO THINKPAD W700 1 YR DEPOT WARRANTY $0.00
1 44C6317 SBB INCOR2QCOPRQ9000(2.00GHZ $0.00
1 42V8173 VBB MS WIN VISTA BUSSINESS 64 $0.00
1 43Y4982 SBB GWVIS BS US ENG $0.00
1 43Y4804 SBB 17"WUXGA LCD400NIT72%GAMUT $0.00
1 43Y4816 SBB NVIDIA QUADRO FX2700 $0.00
1 43Y4798 VBB 6GBPC3-8500DDR3SDRAM2DIMM $0.00
1 42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH $0.00
1 43Y4809 SBB ULNAV+FPR+PNCOLSENSWACOM $0.00
1 44C1917 VBB INTEGRATED CAMERA $0.00
1 43Y4831 SBB 128GB SOLSTATEDR,SATA $0.00
1 44C6321 SBB NONRAIDHDD320GBHDD7200RPM $0.00
1 43Y4819 SBB DVD REC 8X MAXULTRENHSATA $0.00
1 43Y4800 VBB EXPCARD(54MM)+EXPCARD(34MM $0.00
1 42X6325 SBB INT.WIFI LINK5300 $0.00
1 43Y4810 SBB 9 CELL LI-ION BATTERY $0.00
1 43Y4832 SBB C PACK NA $0.00
1 43Y4880 SBB LANGPK US ENG $0.00
1 41C9338 LENOVO THINKPAD PROTECTION WITH THINKPLUS ONSITE REPAIR - EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT - 3 YEARS - ON-SITE $0.00
Product DescriptionLenovo ThinkPad Protection with ThinkPlus Onsite Repair - extended service agreement - 3 years - on-site
TypeExtended service agreement
Service IncludedParts and labor
LocationOn-site
Full Contract Period3 years

 

I believe the Covet is only available with the E2E RGBLED (Glossy) screen.

However, you can get an M6400 Silver with all the spec`s you listed, a non-E2E matte RGBLED. You could also step the video card down to a 2700M like the Lenovo and save $250 (I think).

 

Thanks. The covet is costing me 80 bucks more than the lenovo. Nor worried about saving more money then I already am. So is the e2e really that bad? And how is the build quality compared to the 700?

 

I think the E2E is very close to the Apple for reflections & glare. This is based on input from others as I have ordered the RGBLED matte on a Silver myself.

Also played with a friends MBP and it can be problematic for me. However, he likes it...

 

Great answer on the screen. Thank u for that.

 

Another note on the screen. I don't know if the RGBLED is glossy or 'glassy.' The new Macbook Pro's use glass and I've found them to be much more reflective than a typical glossy screen. The reason I bring this up, is because I don't want you to think all glossy screens are annoying as Apple's .

 

I asked the dell premier rep if he had a salesman or someone in Dallas that had one on him that I could look at. He said the standard road warrior issue is an E6400 so, nope...

He mentioned I could do a try and buy if I think I might not like the screen. I love the matte 17" screen on my MBP. I am a systems architect working in offices all day long, or at home. Sun? What's that? lol...

So my question still kind o remains:

1. Can I get the RGB LED WUXGA NON E2E on a Covet?
2. How does the build quality compare to te Lenovo w700? I like Dell, but nobody can beat a Thinkpad keyboard.
3. What about everything else? What is the one thing that I am missing that should tell me, "Just buy the damned Dell already" HAHA

 

Actually, having tried a T500 recently, I can tell you that my E6400 is as well build as, or better than it. At least that's what it FEELS like, I didn't open the T500 up.

In the Lenovo forums people have been complaining about decreasing quality. I think you will find that Dell's top models (Latitude and Precision lines) are very well built.

 

The website does not allow a selection on screen and defaults to E2E.
You can order a silver non-covet with any options the covet has except color.
So basically a silver covet if you will.

If you are really wanting the Covet case, then I would call Dell for a quote on a Covet with a non-E2E screen and see hwat they say.
They often have options the website does not.

 

For the M6400, a dual core might me alot cheaper, not to meation faster and cooler in some apps. But if you need quad, Q9100 is quite decent.

I would get the laptop with just the standard HDD, the cheapest possible; then get a Intel G2 or Vertex SSD separately. This is cos that M6400 has 2 HDD slots, you can get faster and cheaper SSD by yourself, while keeping the traditional HDD for file storage.


As good as the thinkpad is, its spec is crap even for $100 less. The difference between FX3700 and the inferior FX2700 worth alot more. Q9000 is something I'd stay away from. It runs hot, has halve the cache, and isn't distinugshable in some apps, from a 2 Ghz C2D.