News on Haswell based mobile Precision M6800 ?

No, actually those are just gimmicks. A higher resolution screen doesn't necessarily mean a better one.

After all the talk I finally went down to the Apple store (a creepy place I may I add) see the retina and wasn't as impressed as I was with the IPS. Now maybe if they could combine both then maybe they will have something?

That would be a correct assessment. Graphic artist and editors appreciate the additional screen real estate. As well, the addition of a larger GB graphics card for those who need it, can also be extremely important.

 

Agreed, but it seems that the industry is focusing investment and innovation on the mass-market, and that means tablets and hybrids are becoming legitimate PC replacements for the average user... It used to be the case that power-users got access to innovative features first (and at a substantial price premium), but these days, many phones/tablets have higher resolutions/densities, and better touch capabilities than most laptops. Windows 8 and the Office Ribbon, and on the Apple-side, the changes to Final Cut Pro, have arguably made software features more accessible, but have hampered/frustrated the professional user.

Regrettably, the professional/prosumer market is not being catered for, and this trend is evident in hardware AND software. The professional market may not be huge, but it does exist, and there are undoubtedly light-users that have "overpaid" for a MBP because they like the aesthetic, and can afford the premium. Apple is able to deliver a reasonably powerful laptop in the MacBook Pro, but without the grunt/features/expandability of a mobile workstation like the Dell/HP/Lenovo offerings. It does that in an aesthetic design, and charges US$2799 for a 15" retina MBP. The newly released, haswell-based Razer Blade 14" is US$1999, and while clearly a MBP imitation, it doesn't have mobile workstation capabilities. And yet, a comparable screen-size in the Dell Precision M4700 starts at just over $1000. Surely Dell can find a market for a Precision with a better design/aspect ratio/pixel density and still come in under $2000????

Moore's law and mobility have combined to deliver an era in which a mobile workstation can be a genuine PC replacement, even if that means a higher price or the sacrifice of some features and/or upgrade-ability. It's great to have the mobility, flexibility AND power that a mobile workstation offers, but there are still times where a real keyboard/mouse/dock and/or multi-monitor set-up are desirable. I'd argue that a DVD drive is no longer essential, and if required, is best added as a USB device. I think most readers here, and in the other mobile workstation forums/threads would agree that 16:9 is not ideal for a professional....Even if 16:9 is OK for you, you don't lose anything by having 16:10, but the opposite is not true if you require more vertical pixels than 16:9 can offer. 16:10 also allows you more room for a larger trackpad, which I'd argue is increasingly useful in a touch-centric, high-PPI world.

It's no doubt too late to influence the imminent mobile workstations, but I do hope that Dell/HP/Lenovo have been listening. I suspect that most power users would pay a premium for a mobile workstation designed from the ground-up for the mobile professional. I also suspect that a lot of power users would be willing to pay a design-premium, so long as the design doesn't sacrifice features or durability.

The haswell-based HP Envy Touchsmart 15 doesn't compare to a Precision laptop, but it does a reasonable job of adding modern features with a powerful CPU (it comes with i7-4700MQ but it can be configured with an i7- 4900MQ) and optional discrete GPU...

Add in options for Quadro, IPS, displayport, e-sata, docking, ExpressCard, etc... and I'd be 1st in line.

 

I want a latitude/precision simply for having a good dock option. Consumer laptops dont have them, even though I just want a durable everyday type laptop that I can game on or take with me.

 

A workstation should be first and foremost utilitarian. It is most of all a heavy duty machine. A computer designed for the working professional. It is a part of his business and used in accomplishing his job. Reliability and durability are paramount, and should always come first. Prettiness, should come last on the list.

See the thread on, "what defines a workstation." If you covet those things (see what I did), look to the rest of the industry where they exist in abundance.

Obviously you can game on a Precision, but that's not its target market. Nevertheless, again you define a the workstation in that it is very adaptable.

 

my wishlist.

weight: <2.5kg
resolution: min 2560x1600 (with a touch and pen would be ideal)
bluraydrive
dual ejectable HDD bay with pcieSSD option
quadro K5010M or GTX 770/780M
Thunderbolt 2
10Gbps Ethernet
fits into existing docks
better internal speakers

 

Today I saw that they posted new touchpad drivers for current model laptops. Under the changelog, they mention:

"Initialize release for Dell Latitude/Precision 2013"

Not sure what's up with that, I initially interpreted as new drivers being posted for the new 2013 Latitude and Precision models, but maybe it just means it's some 2013 version of the drivers?

Anyway, if it's the former, just another indication that new Precisions are on the way sooner or later.

 

Get rid of alps! ... But we know it not gonna happen

 

As far as I'm concerned, cosmetic changes just for change are unnecessarily and costly. These are not consumer machines and shouldn't need to include sparkle and glitz to move them along.

A better philosophy for this line would be to change when there is a major innovation that increase the performance and/or usability of the machine. At least Apple gets that right.

Things like cartridge based ports--just like I get to decide what goes in my express card slot--that's an innovation I'd like to see in the new laptops. That way you get to select only the ports you need and use.

 

Oh you got that too. Somewhere in the 6600 drivers I saw mention that they were trying to align version numbers for all the precisions. They really messed up that driver organizing and reference names.

Anyway, one thing you can be sure of is the product line will be updated and marketed. Gotta entice people to spend money and this has worked for them since the industry began.

 

My wish list:-

1) Thunderbolt
2) 10GB ethernet
3) 6Gbs for mSATA port
4) more USB 3.0 ports
5) better speakers.
6) SPDIF out