Dell Precision M3800 Owner's Review

I used Microsoft Security Essentials and the built-in firewall on Win7, and since Security Essentials has been built into Win8 (under the resurrected Windows Defender name) and the firewall is still around, I haven't installed anything extra. It's not the most comprehensive protection out there, but it's lightweight, hasn't interfered with anything else I've used, doesn't pop up annoying notifications all the time, and of course it's free. I figure that it's just the right amount of protection for someone who's generally smart about what they're doing on their computer anyway. If I were setting up grandma's computer, I might choose something more robust.

 

I'll check the Defender for antivirus. With the firewall I need to restrict outgoing traffic and windows doesn't do this.

Here's a list of 64 bit firewall tests:
Results and comments - www.matousec.com

Comodo ranked highest but I found too resource intensive in the past. Then again I have plenty of resources now with the m3800, 2 samsung ssds and 16gb ram...

Also not to spend too much time on Win 8.1 here but has anyone tried something like Classic Shell to make 8.1 more like 7?: http://www.classicshell.net/
Wondering how it plays with QHD and 8.1 in general

 

I use AVG as I was finding that the built-in defender was using quite a bit of CPU time (=shorter battery life).
I also use Classic Shell (for the start menu only) - works a treat - prefer the Classic Shell start menu to Windows 7's.

 

Not sure if this is connected to my issue, but I have just noticed that under USB Input Device (in HID area of Device Manager)- I don't have a Power Management tab???? The only tabs that appear upon double clicking are.... General, Driver, Details, Events.

All other aspects of the laptop are 100% fine, no crashes, etc.

If I look under Advanced Power Management Settings, I can globally disable the USB Selective Suspend Settings (for mains and battery)????

Is it worth trying to work this through with Dell Support?

To be totally honest, it would not be the end of the world to live with- but it grates me that this is a brand new machine I paid £1,800 for. On the other hand- I literally cant afford the downtime if the thing has to go back (It's the primary tool for my own business).

Many thanks,
Regards,
Ian

 

I wouldn't bother asking Dell Support about this. There's no chance they'll be knowledgeable enough to troubleshoot this; chances are they'd just have you do a factory restore.

Fwiw, I'm running Windows 8.1 and see it. If you're on Windows 7, I'm not sure that tab is even supposed to be there. I googled "Device Manager power management tab missing" and found some results, but nothing that sounded too promising in the admittedly few minutes I spent sifting through the results.

 

Windows Firewall can absolutely filter/block outbound traffic. It's been able to do that since at least Vista, maybe even XP. Granted the interface for managing it is pretty bad, but that's solved with a tool like this: http://www.binisoft.org/wfc.php

I will say though, good luck staying sane dealing with an outbound firewall if you plan to take a whitelist approach. The last time I tried that was years ago and even then there were so many legitimate apps that I kept having to approve (and then other stuff I didn't recognize by name but that turned out to be needed) that I gave up. I can't even imagine trying to do that in the cloud/connected era.

Or do you just need it to prevent some phoning home by some software you pirated??

 

No pirated software. I just prefer to know what's outgoing as much as stopping incoming. PrivateFirewall is not so bad after a few days.


Next problem to solve; Working on QHD w/Adobe Photoshop & Fireworks...

 

I wonder how many hours people are using their M3800 for on average per day. I use it for about 12 hours per day, and this system is going back once the replacement arrives but this one among its many faults also has this non stop buzzing apart from the coil whine that developed. It sort of buzzes on and off constantly buzz-silence-buzz-silence-buzz-silence...its like a woodpecker, pecking at the side of my head! The point of my overly silly example is that this noise only develops after about 10 hours of constant use - battery and in the wall. Just wondering if anyone uses this machine 6 days a week 12 hours a day (or more). I called Dell about the new m2800 but...u know....lots of questions about my account and very few substantive answers regarding upgrade options, whether or not it has multiple drives etc...

 

I am afraid I use the machine constantly and have had no problems... knocking on wood. Dell support is indeed pretty useless, nonetheless.

 

Thanks. I have ordered some converters for the connection. It would not even charge with the lid closed... no active draw. Red lights on the box on both airlines. Charged on 747 service outlet (crew service).