Precision 7510 Owner's Thread

It's been beneficial for me, when I've had to have a couple things swapped they did it pretty much no hassle, few-questions-asked. You talk to someone local instead of an India call center (which I got when I call in once on my previous system).
I got pro support free on the M6700 when placing my order via phone. The rep tried to get me to buy it and I declined, so he just gave it to me. In the end, glad I had it, might pay for it next time.

 

Still strongly considering a 7510. I intend to keep this machine for as long as possible, which means I'm gonna wait for the version with Thunderbold so I'll be able to keep up with external storage speed for a bit longer (being limited to USB2 always was the biggest drawback with my M4500).

However I do have some questions about the HiDPI screen, since I have no experience with them. In all honesty I don't have a pressing need for one right now, in fact it probably wouldn't play well with some of the software I'm still using. And I still have this 21" expensive NEC with 1600x1200 sitting on my desk that I don't want to look bad in comparison... On the other hand it seems likely that most quirks with the technology and software integration will be history between this and 3-4 years, it might even have become totally mainstream by then. So what I'm envisioning is that I could order one with 3280x2160 res, and just use it in Full HD mode or even 1600x900 most of the time at first. This is in the assumption that Full HD would be displayed without any loss of quality due to the perfect scaling factor, 1600x900 considering that's what I've been using on my M4500 for so long. Over time I could then switch to native resolution, for example as soon as I upgrade the external screen to an UHD model, too. It would then just feel like the other incremental upgrades that I'm anticipating over the projected lifetime of hopefully 6-7 years: 32 to 64 and maybe even 128GB RAM eventually with special modules, stepping up to higher capacity and high-speed PCIe SSDs or even the new Intel non-volatile memory... Considering the slowdown in the evolution of CPU, the machine could still be pretty viable at that point.

But so, the question is: is the UHD screen matte, can it be used in FHD resolution without compromises, and is even the 1600x900 mode acceptable compared to this res in native resolution? Also, does it offer any other intermediate resolutions beyond FHD and do they look usefull? I might want to occasionally configure a res that allows for putting 4 VM consoles on the screen at once while keeping text just about readable, for example.

 

Which screen is better - IGZO in m4800 or IGZO in 7510? Cant find any comparison.

 

Yes it's matte, and contrary to what I've read it's pretty darn bright. And you can set it brighter in the Intel GPU screen. I've tried it at 1920x1080 and it looks fine, but so far I've had no problems with micro text, except the Samsung Magician app.

I haven't tried all resolutions but there are many offered. I would guess the ones that are multiples of 3840x2160 would be best, i.e. 1920x1080, 1280x960. You may have to adjust the text appearance with other resolutions. Then againnext if you run 4 VMS it may be beneficial to run max resolution. Or just put each one Ina virtual desktop.

On that subject I want to run some software that I have for XP and Linux as well so I'd like to experiment with Hyper-V.

 

I do have a question for those who find using Fn to access Home and End a nuisance... What on God's green Earth are you doing with your left hand that makes it difficult to also use your right hand? Balance? Itching? I tested this with a couple Word and Excel files I have and it took me about 5 minutes to adjust. In fact I found it easier than on the M6500 where I had to reach over the keypad AND avoid the volume buttons. And as a bonus Page Up and Page Down are right there with the arrow keys - which are all 2/3 size not 1/2 as alleged. Plus the Down Arrow has a raised mark making locating it and the other arrow keys relatively easy.

Even if you had the left hand free it's not like you can do anything else simultaneously on the computer while hitting Home or End.

My only thing with the keyboard is that the track pad seems more left than the M6500 so that takes getting used to, a few minutes for me. I like and still use my M6300 and that has no keypad at all, but probably a keyboard that would be more "standard". I feel you type enough it isn't too hard to adjust. Old fogies will always lament no mechanical switches on today's keyboards, no more 4:3 aspect ratio, lack of optical drive, and end of WinXP support. There's always eBay for those museum pieces.

 

When you are on sofa left hand can be busy holding your head for instance

 

My two main complaints:

I used Ctrl+Shift+End while composing this post (to select from the cursor to the end, to delete most of the quote. Adding anoather key to this combination is silly.
The other complaint is, there are dedicated keys that are even less used (next track and previous track key is my best example), that would have been better to use as Fn+combo keys.

 

As opposed to just selecting the text with the trackpad and left button, then hitting Delete?! Ctrl-Shif-End then backspace ad nauseum?! I grew up with DOS too and it's great to know I can still Alt-X out of stuff, and use the Tab and Arrow keys to flip through menus, but if there's an easier way, why not?

In the days of the mechanical mouse I can see where keeping your hands on the keys can be faster... but the trackpad is right there!!!

As to the track buttons, I guess I'm in the minority that it's handy if I listen to my music collection while I work. I also play guitar and keyboards and practice to tracks I've recorded, and those buttons come in handy.

I do use Alt-F4 to shut down my machine so I'm glad that still works. But just like anything you learn how to adapt; my wife's touchscreen Asus is nice and I think it's better tHan multi gesture on the trackpad.

Speaking of which the trackpad on my M6300 looks to be 16:10 though the screen is 16:9! WTF?

 

Ctrl+Shift+End + left arrow a few times times (still holding shift, to deselect the "[/QUOTE]") + backspace, pretty easy to me, way easier than fumbling with the trackpad. And in the case of this post, the quote was large enough that I would have had to scroll, more fumbling.

Anyway, different people use the computer in different ways, but as a software developer, I'm in a text editor of some sort all day long. The home/end keys plus related shortcuts are used very frequently. Adding complexity is not appreciated, especially since I am on an external keyboard some of the time and then I'd have to adjust depending on that as well.

Obviously, I'm not the one that this is a sore point for, but there are a lot of users (like yourself perhaps) that will not notice the difference.

 

I agree, and yes I notice the difference, but I adapt. I concede this may interfere with sime person's workflow. But this goes to my point in general - if the goal is programming then maybe this is not the right machine. And in fact it's a waste of money if the true value of the machine is not utilized, like buying a NASCAR to buy groceries. Most developers aren't going to gain advantage of ISV-certified software, unless perhaps they are developing said software. Between the Quadro and FirePro options, Xeon and ECC support, ISV certification, these machines are geared toward graphics and data intensive applications. People will still buy the machine anyway knowing the keyboard or other "limitations," then complain about it. I suppose remapping some keys are one option, and if this machine is a best fit solution for someone otherwise that may be the way to go.

That said I haven't seen all of Dell's product line, but I wonder what options they have within their product lines that do have a more traditional keyboard layout.