Is the M4400 really that bad?

Thanks guys!

wearetheborg, you're right! The RAM is my first priority, as 2x2GB modules are so cheap these days. As for the SSD, it's true they're still expensive, so this is a splurge.

I read today that OCZ have a new Agility line that looks like the Vertex, but seems cheaper, so maybe I'll investigate that. If not, I'll go for the WD 320GB Black like willard, as it's less than half the price of an SSD, but still looks good performance-wise.

willard, thanks for the LCD tips. I hadn't heard that about the RGB version (there seems to be a darth of proper M4400 reviews online), but I'm sure I'll be okay with the CCFL. I did look at Sony Vaio's, whose Xbrite screens are sound like you mentioned (vibrant and only semi-glossy), and they were indeed better, but still not perfect for me. I guess everyone has different sensitivities to glare, though, so I'm glad it's no problem for you (plus you get the benefit of the 100% color gamut!).

Thanks for the advice, LPTP-LVR! That's really useful to know, so I will make a note and prepare everything beforehand. Hopefully this will minimize any issues (I'm also in the process of checking my software will play nicely in a 64-bit OS, but the situation seems much improved compared to recent years back).

Congrats on your order, sixty4! It sounds like our systems are quite similar, save for the display and processor (I have that CPU in my current notebook; it's nice!). Will you also upgrade your RAM and HDD?

As for the Chinese keyboard, yes, it does look like that There are actually four writing systems present on each key:

1. Upper-left: Pinyin and other 'romanized' systems (and English, of course!)
2. Upper-right: Zhuyin
3. Lower-left: Cangjie
4. Lower-right: Dayi

To be honest, I only need the Pinyin system, so I could have ordered the English keyboard. However, if my friends use my computer (I'm a British citizen living in Taiwan), then it's convenient for them to have a 'proper' keyboard, since everyone has their preferred writing method (most Taiwanese prefer Zhuyin). Anyway, I will take a photo when it arrives. It might look cool lit up ^^

By the way, sixty4, did you call/email Dell, or buy online via their website? In the past when I was in the UK, I just ordered via their website, and I was happy enough. However, this time I emailled them (in Taiwan), and they were a lot more helpful and I received a biggish discount compared to the website without even asking. I just hope you didn't pay over the odds. Good luck!

Thanks again guys!

 

I am a ninja if you really must know and given you don't have an answer for me on what the Chinese keyboard looks like this means your obviously not trainined in the ancient art. Given your Precision M4400 sig, I wonder if you night be trained from Steven Segal.

You have misqoted me or lost me with your english, I didn't say that I quoted the one called "Jonty" Jonty the great Chinese keyboard user.

For other Ninja's.

我是一個忍者如果你真的必須知道，並讓你知道答案，我什麼樣的中文鍵盤看起來這意味著您的顯然不是trainined在古老的藝術。

您已經misqoted箱或遺失我與您的英文，我不說，我引用了一個所謂的“ Jonty ”偉大的中國Jonty鍵盤用戶。鑑於你的精密M4400 SIG的，我想知道如果你晚上的訓練從史蒂芬西格爾。

 

I tried both, I was told via email there was no margin because I didn't get all their extra crap like an overprived hard drive, memory, virus software etc. I called and they knocked about $130 off. No big margin but considering I needed to order a laptop a week ago I was pleased.

I orderd RAM and a new HD from newegg.com today, they will arrive before my PC which will save me some mental pain. I got a 320GB/7200 RPM Drive and 4GB of OCZ Memory.

As far as the 64 bit I doubt you will have a lot of software that does not work, if it does not you already know its old stuff. If you must install a virtual server on it like Virtual Box and work that way. I have a home built quad core at home and have been running 64 bit stuff well over a year and a half now in one machine and a second home built server with it as well.

Thanks for the breakdown on the keyboard.

For my Ninja's

我想這兩個，我被告知通過電子郵件，沒有利潤，因為我沒有得到他們所有的額外的垃圾像overprived硬盤，內存，病毒軟件等我打電話，他們淘汰了約130美元。沒有什麼大的利潤，但考慮我需要訂購的筆記本電腦一個星期前，我很高興。

餘有序RAM和一個新的高清從newegg.com今天，他們將到達之前，我的電腦將拯救我一些精神痛苦。我得到320GB/7200 rpm硬盤和4GB的內存記憶。

至於64位，我懷疑你將有很多的軟件不能正常工作，如果沒有你已經知道它的舊東西。如果你必須安裝一個虛擬服務器上虛擬框和工作方式。我有一個內置四核心家庭在家裡，並已運行64位的東西遠遠超過了一年半，現在在一台機器和一個第二故鄉建服務器以及與它。

 

I'm sorry but I've got say this, please, don't use those online translations. The Chinese words you put there just don't make any sense.

 

I thought Ninja's were Japanese.lol

About the M4400,it has fault's like every other notebook,but has good point's over it's rival's also.

 

Oh wow...how did i miss that one!?

 

Hi guys

Just a quick update: my M4400 is here! I'm really impressed with the service. I ordered on Thursday night, and paid on Friday morning (wire transfer, hence the delay). Dell's order tracking said it was built on Saturday, but then showed nothing after that (even now it doesn't say it shipped). Anyway, I came home today and here it is

I've not played with it yet, but first impressions are very positive. Give me a couple of days and I'll post a review. Thanks again for your help!

 

Congrats! and enjoy!

 

I bought a Precision M4400 a month ago because its good price/quality equilibrium. Here, in Chile, is very dificult to find "performance" notebooks with good prices (for this case Dell is almost the only option). I believe that the Precision M6400 is too much expensive (and big, hehehe) for me, so I keep with the M4400, but I am very satisfied with its quality.

Well, talking about games, I can run Crysis in Medium settings with the native resolution (in my case, 1280x800) with an average of 31 to 32 FPS, I have done a little OC to my GPU (600 Core, 850 Mem) and the performace ups to 37 to 38 FPS (nothing bad!), with almost no increment in the GPU temperature (1 to 2 °C). Other games that I play are C&C3, Red Alert 3, DoW II using High or Med settings.