Precision M2400 Owner's Lounge

So I pulled the trigger tonight and bought a Precision M2400. I was planning on getting a Latitude E6400 through my school's EPP and upgrading the ram and hard drive once I got it. The only thing that bothered me is the weak graphics card. I don't do hardcore gaming, but I would like to at least be able to play newer games at decent framerates. After checking out the fancy configuration of the M2400 with the $315 off (from small business), I decided to pull the trigger. Specs:

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Order Detail
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Item Description:
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Dell Precision Workstation M2400 - Intel® Core蒂 2 Duo T9400 (2.53GHz 6M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB), Genuine Windows Vista® Business SP1, With media
Unit Price: $1,991.00
Quantity: 1
Total Price: $1,991.00

-- Precision Mobile M2400 --
-- Intel® Core蒂 2 Duo T9400 (2.53GHz 6M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
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-- Memory --
-- 2.0GB, DDR2-800 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
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-- Internal Keyboard --
-- Internal English Backlit Keyboard
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-- Graphics --
-- NVIDIA Quadro FX 370M 256MB
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-- Primary Storage --
-- 250GB Hard Drive, 7200RPM with Free Fall Sensor
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-- Fingerprint Reader Options --
-- No Fingerprint Reader
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-- LCDs --
-- 14.1" Widescreen WXGA (1280x800) Display
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-- Operating System --
-- Genuine Windows Vista® Business SP1, With media
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-- AC Adapter --
-- 90W A/C Adapter (3-pin)
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-- Primary Optical Device --
-- 8X DVD with Cyberlink PowerDVD蒂
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-- Camera/Microphone --
-- Integrated webcam, with digital microphone
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-- Wireless LAN (802.11) --
-- Intel® WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card
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-- Primary Battery --
-- 9 Cell Battery
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-- Hardware Support Services --
-- 3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD On-Site Service
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-- Miscellaneous Cables --
-- DisplayPort to DVI (Single Link) Adapter
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-- LCDs --
-- Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel w/Integrated Camera and Microphone
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For some reason, the webcam was showing up as a free upgrade tonight, so I went ahead and took advantage of it. The only things I don't like is the higher wattage T9400 and the lack of a DVD burner. I figure, though, that the T9400 can be undervolted some, and I don't think I've used the DVD burner on my I8600 in the past 2 years. Also, as a side note, my eyes give me quite a bit of trouble staring at small screens, which is why I got the 1280x800.

Ship date on this is 9/8/08...I'll be counting down the days...

 

is it possible to get one without that wavy lid?

 

Doesn't show up as a choice right now. I assume in the future you will be able to customize them to some degree, but I'm willing to bet the wavy lid will be the trademark of Precision. I'm not too concerned about it, considering I'll almost always be looking at the inside, it doesn't bother me.

Update: Ship date is 9/9/08...this will be a long 3 weeks...

 

Hey, congratulations on your purchase! After all that scouting you did, it's only fair that you got a new Precision.

I'll be waiting for your review.

 

Agreed about the wavy lid. Precisions usually have a different lid design that differentiates them from the Latitudes. But, I'm willing to bet that the lid can be swapped out with a Latitude's if it bothers you that much.

 

That lid totally killed the Precision for me. Dell should have gone for a simple aluminum like on the new Latitudes and if they really wanted it to be different they could have made it silver instead of black.

 

Like I said, put up with it for a little bit, and when E-series parts pop up on Ebay, purchase an E6400's LCD cover and swap it out with the Precision's.

 

The lid appears gray (grey...whatever) in most of the photos, but I'm curious how dark it actually is. My I8600 is light gray, and shows all marks really really bad. Hopefully this cover is a little darker.

 

Actually i think the lid looks magnificent! I'm a proud owner of the 8510w. If they keep the lid, i'm going for the precision next! Also the fact that the 4400 might be able to house the quadro fx1700? would rock.

 

Yea it's gonna have a fx1700 avible in september, I've heard in the first few weeks...

And I don't see anything wrong with the lid it doesn't look amazing or anything but not bad... Just differnt