Precision M2400 Owner's Lounge

I doubt the Precision is of better quality than Latitudes. Both are intended for the same corporate market and can only be differentiated by the graphics card and LCD lid. All but two parts are interchangeable...

 

I for one am a fan of the new Latitude and Precision design. I like the old D series designs as well, but there's nothing wrong with putting a little style on a business notebook. It's not like there are flashing LEDs or crazy paint jobs like the Studio line. I didn't know business had to equal plain.

 

I also think the new Latitudes and Precisions are sleek and elegant. I don't the new design will be turn-off in the corporate market.

 

Actually, the design was one of the reasons I waited for the new models. I originally looked at Asus, Compal, HP, and Lenovo laptops. Only the Lenovo provided a "professional" appearance that I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry to a business meeting (other than the M2400 I bought).

I would relate to the new E series as such: I don't go to a customer meeting in shorts and a tanktop (very disturbing mental image), but I also don't go in a full business suit. I usually show up in khakis, button up, and usually a tie, or for less formal meetings, khakis and a polo. Basically enough formality to say "I'm here to do business, you can trust me" without saying "I'm stuffy and want to make this as boring as possible". From what I've seen of the E series, I think this parallels it rather well.

 

If the design of the Latitudes stayed the same, I would have order a T400 right away. Now, the only other things that makes me undecisive is the ThinkPad T400's DDR3 and ThinkVantage softwares.

 

While the pricing between the E series and the M series is insignificant, I think you might find the real difference in the service response you get from Dell. I think, I can't prove it, that the Precision is purchased by a more demanding (in terms of QC and components) buyer than the Lattitude as supported by the fact that the Precision offers a better graphics option and hard drive (320 gig 7200 rpm) option. I also noticed some other subtle differences in the accessories offerings.

If they are going to offer a Precision line, there must be more to it than just these subtle differences, and I think it might be in the response you get if you call for support. I've only had one Precision in the past and it was a workhorse and virtually 100% reliable - never did have to call for support.

If that happens again, then I will be convinced that the difference is more than subtle, but only time will answer that question.

 

The Thinkvantage software is the ONE reason NOT to buy them. In my opinion, they do nothing but get in your way. The only one I really like is the Software Update, the rest are a pia.

Unfortunately, it seems like Dell has copied this idea and is offering something similar.

 

Hi! I'd like to join this "lounge"... but I have a question about the quadro graphics...

I'm thinking about choosing the e6400 or the precision 2400, one thing that makes it hard to decide is that i dont really know what the difference is between the quadro FX370m and the NVS 160M. I've understood that the nvs 160m is roughly a 9-series 8400-card... a 9300? But i dont have a clue about what the fx370m performance is like. The price is about the same for the precision and the latitude here in Sweden so its down to what graphics is better i guess.

 

Alright, this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3801161&postcount=6

Plus nVidia's specs: http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_11761.html

Code:

			8600M GT		9300M GS		NVS 160M	Quadro 370M
Chip Core		G84M			G98M			G98M		???
Memory Type		DDR2/GDDR3		GDDR3			GDDR3		GDDR3
Stream Processor	32			8			8		8
Core Speed		475 MHz			550 MHz			580 MHz		???
Memory Speed		400/700 MHz		700 MHz			700 MHz		???
Shader Speed		950 MHz			 1400 MHz		1450 Mhz	???
Max Bandwidth		12.8/22.4 GB/s		9.6 GB/S		11.2 GB/s	9.6GB/s
Memory Bus Width	128-bit			64-bit			64-bit		64-bit
Max Memory		512 MB			256 MB			256 MB		256MB
Current Consumption	20 W			13 W			12 W		Up to 20W

I did some googling and couldn't come up with anything else useful. Feel free to speculate, or fill in the blanks

 

That shouldn't bother you if the first thing you do on a new computer is reinstall the OS.