New M6500 Discussion Thread

You can use a calibrated color profile posted on this thread depending on if you have the samsung or LG panel.

I look at my rgbled screen all my waking hours and I wear trifocals...it is very easy on my eyes. it's a great resolution for a 17 inch screen.

 

Yes, it can write all types of media including DVD-RAM but excluding Bluray and HD-DVD.

But in this case you don't want that default tray drive. It's a HL-DT-ST DVD+/-RW GSA-U20N:
#578546 - linux-image-2.6.32-bpo.3-amd64: burning DVD+RW very slow with HL-DT-ST DVD+/-RW GSA-U20N - Debian Bug report logs

About the screen I can tell you, that you won't have any issues with the WLED option. Neither with 10h work and of course not with Linux. But you should go for a NVIDIA card!

 

absolutely get an nvidia card if you're going to use linux. I can second that.

 

great thanks

 

Thanks Zoid and debguy,
It sounds like the RGB is the way to go for $140 extra.

And I totally missed the slot load vs. tray load for the dvd. That explains the $67 price difference.

Much appreciated for the input.

 

oh yeah, I think you'll really like it....for sure... when I got my m4400, I got the wled screen instead of the rgbled...but that was a 15 inch screen...for a 17 inch screen, I think it's perfect.

 

Hi, I'm a user of Autodesk products, AutoCAD2011, Revit Architecture 2010 and Adobe CS4... I'm about to buy my first laptop as I need mobility at home and to have portability of work but I want to make it run these things well and to be reasonably future proof. The toss up is between two dell systems, one costing almost twice the other.

The question I ask is, is it worth giving up beer for a year and going on a diet to have the most expensive one?? Also, how do you think both these systems compare in regards to those software packages. Thanks!

Budget:
Base Precision M4500 : Standard Base
Microsoft Operating System English Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (64Bit OS) Recovery DVD included
Memory 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel (2x4GB)
Video Card 1 GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M (with 1GB dedicated memory) 35W
Hard Drive 500GB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive
Modem Worldwide Internal 56.6K V.92
Optical Devices 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with Roxio and Power DVD Software Included
Wireless Networking EMEA Intel® Pro Wireless 6200 (802.11 a/g/Draft-n 2x2) Mini Card
Gedis Bundle Reference W08M4501
Enhanced Service Packs 5Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day
Bluetooth Dell™ Wireless 375 Bluetooth
Primary Battery Battery : Primary 6-cell 60W/HR
Carrying Cases Dicota Challenge Backpack - Brown - compatible with up to 16in notebooks
Processor One Intel® Core™ i7-820QM(1.73GHz,8MB,Quad Core,45W) operates at 1333MHz
Dell System Media Kit Mobile Precision M4500 Diagnostics and Drivers
Camera Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Camera with Microphone
Color Choice White Led Silver LCD Back Cover
Image Restore Dell Backup and Recovery Manager for Windows® 7
Labels Intel™ Core Label I7
LCD 15.6in Full High Definition (1920 x 1080) White Led Antiglare LCD Panel
Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 ( Excel Starter 2010, Word Starter 2010)
Protect your new PC English Trend Micro™ Internet Security(15 month subscription) Antivirus Software
Power Supply Worldwide 130W AC Adapter with UK/Irish Power Cord

Deluxe:
Base Orange Base, Clarksfield, USB3
Microsoft Operating System English Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (64Bit OS) Recovery DVD included
Memory 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel (4x2GB)
Video Card 1GB nVIDIA FX3800M (with 1GB dedicated memory)
Hard Drive 160GB Serial ATA (7200RPM) (Free fall sensor)
Optical Devices 8X DVD+/-RW Drive Slot Load with Software included
Wireless Networking EMEA Dell Wireless 1510 (802.11a/b/g/n 2X3) Mini Card
Gedis Bundle Reference W08M6503
2nd Hard Drive 160 GB (7200 Rpm) Serial ATA (Free fall sensor)
Enhanced Service Packs 5Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day
Primary Battery Primary 9-cell 90W/HR Battery for Blood Orange LCD Panel
Carrying Cases Targus Campus XL Backpack for laptops up to 17" - Black
Processor One Intel® Core™ i7-820QM(1.73GHz, 8MB,Quad Core) Memory runs at 1333MHz
Dell System Media Kit Mobile Precision M6500 Diagnostics and Drivers
Camera Integrated 3.2 Mega Pixel Camera with Microphone for Edge to Edge Panel for Blood Orange Base
Color Choice Blood Orange Edge To Edge LCD Back Cover
Image Restore Dell Backup and Recovery Manager for Windows® 7
LCD 17in Widescreen WUXGA (1920X1200) USB3, Truelife RGB with EdgetoEdge Blood Orange LCD Panel (Bluetoo
Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 ( Excel Starter 2010, Word Starter 2010)
Raid Connectivity Raid Controller : All SATA Hard Drives, RAID 0 (Striping) for 2 Hard Drives
Protect your new PC English Trend Micro™ Internet Security(15 month subscription) Antivirus Software
Power Supply UK/Irish 210W Slim AC Adapter with UK/Irish Power Cord

 

If it were me, I would want more CPU power as well as RAM over storage, since storage is so cheap. Normally I'd say more expensive one... but giving up beer, ouch, that would be pretty rough.

 

It seems to me the main determining factors are the difference between the LCD 15.6in Full High Definition (1920 x 1080) White Led Antiglare LCD Panel and the LCD 17in Widescreen WUXGA (1920X1200) USB3, Truelife RGB with EdgetoEdge Blood Orange LCD Panel and the 1 GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M gfx card (with 1GB dedicated memory) 35W and the 1GB nVIDIA FX3800M (with 1GB dedicated memory) gfx card, also the 'deluxe' version has the capactity for another 8gb of memory in the future. I had wanted an antiglare screen and unfortunately the 17in only comes in truelife.

So... considering my usage, is the 17in screen combined with the much more expensive gfx card going to be worth the extra £1200 I would be paying? Also is the screen that much better that I wont mind the 'truelife' glass? I'm a 5th year architecture student so although my work is demanding, my budget is somewhat restricted!

Thanks.

 

I'd agree in most cases, but as I see rcruk comes from where they pay with £. If his beer comes from the same place, I'd say, the beer is not worth giving up the deluxe version.

@rcruk:
I wouldn't go for the Covet if I were you. Just stick with the silver case and you'll get a matte screen without glass at a much better price.
However, I can't tell if you should prefer the M4500 or the M6500. Since this is your first laptop, you should know that 17" is huge to travel with it. And the M6500 is a big and heavy monster, even for a 17" device. If you are a strong guy this is no problem, but if you intend to work in a narrow surrounding (train, plane, etc.) your neighbours will hate you and you will hate the laptop.
Usually 15" is a good compromise between portability and working comfort. It's not fine, but ok to use it in a train.
So besides your budget you should base your decision on how you will work with it. If you only carry it from A to B the M6500 should be ok, but if you want to work in between the M4500 is the better choice.