Dell Precision M3800 Owner's Review

Id like a thin portable laptop and the M3800 is a good size, but just checking to see if other better options are available which are a similar size, such as the MSI WS60 as that is available with the K2100m

 

Thanks!!

I just received my system today.
The bottom chasis had a bent, somewhat at a degree that the laptop tilts everytime I lay hands on the right side of the keyboard.
I've contacted Dell and said they'd be sending a parts replacement for the chasis.

Anyway, back to the point.
So basically I can get any mSATA ssd's on the market and add this right?
I went with the 60W battery (or was it 61.. whichever it is), with a 500 HHSD option just fyi.

 

One another quick question for M3800 users out there.
I've been using the XPS 15 (9530) model before this one, and it had some palmrest issues.
The palmrest would discolor when exposed of some usage (yeah my hands get sweaty sometimes...)

I recall seeing some users in the XPS forum recognizing this issue, but wanted to check if that's also the case for this model as well (given the resemblence of the two).

 

Yeah, I've also read (other) terrible things over there in the XPS 15 thread -- they seem to advise against buying it!

So is this different with the M3800 -- does it not break all the time like the XPS 15 seems to do?

 

I've had my M3800 for over a year and have not had a single issue with it. Not a single one. In these forums you are likely to see users who come here to try and resolve issues and so it sounds like the machine might be bad all around... but the vast majority of users have no issues at all. I've had many Dell's throughout the years and the M3800 is the best built and impressive machine I have ever owned. It's amazing what they've crammed into such a small frame.

I have only two gripes: 1) Synaptics sucks and I wish PC users would someday be blessed with touchpads on par with the amazing touchpads on Macbooks and 2) I kinda wish the touch screen was able to be folded all the way back to use as a tablet. That's it. This machine is otherwise brilliant.

 

So you never had an issue with palmrest discoloring after a quite some usage?

Just by the looks of it the material of both XPS 15 and M3800 look the same, and the former had a huge issue with that.. just checking!

 

I would also expect that the XPS-15 outsells the M3800 and thus more people are going to ask complaint like questions. I do agree that the trackpad has a few issues. For me the only issue is that it's WAY to sensitive to falsely identifying a tap to click. I found that I false clicked far to often when sliding the pointer across the screen. This is really disappointing given that the rest of the track pad seems to work quite well and, honestly, tap to click is a feature I think I've had since 2005 and this is the only computer where I've had false click issues. Anyway, my M3800 has been good and I suspect that the majority are just fine.

 

They are almost certainly identical and after 1.5 years I haven't had issues. I've also been impressed that the keys don't seem to have that "worn smooth" look that I've seen with some other computers such as my Thinkpad X120e

 

Nope. No discoloration. Also 1.5 yrs like Regnad Kcin. No coil whine either.

 

At least in my case that discolouring is temporary, it's just oil buildup that can be quickly cleaned with a cloth.