Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge

Any suggestions on which fingerprint reader is better, or if they're both low value?

 

I have the lesser 'cost' finger print reader. It's high value to me because I like to log in that way. Works just the same as the built in one on my Asus C90s.

 

Dear readers, I just bought a RiDATA Ultra-S Plus SATA2 128Gb SSD, I tried to install Vista Ultimate 64bit but it failed at the point when everything is installed but about to restart to enter the desktop for the first time.

When I first insert the SSD, my M4400 could not detect it, after a several plug in & out, it was detected & I tried to install the OS, but till last it still couldn't boot to desktop, any idea why? Is it that my SSD is not compatible or something?

Please kindly advise ASAP, thanks in advance.

 

No idea if it will be useful - forgive the disruption to the thread if not. I found an AHCI problem with Vista installs on one desktop machine. Vista would install until the very end, but not boot afterwards. Switching it to legacy solved the problem.

 

Just great!

Thanks a lot!

 

site feedback: This site does not render properly in firefox 3.0.6 on OpenSuSE Linux 11.1 (KDE + compiz-fusion environment)

Please pardon me if these are already answered: I have been reading every post in this thread in my spare time for the last four days and am only up to page 135. If the answers are already here later in the thread and I see them, I'll edit or delete this post.

I'm planning on ordering a Precision M4400 in the next month or two, with the following configuration:

2.93Ghz Core 2 Duo
FX1700M
the largest 7200RPM HDD available at time of order
DVD-R/DL drive
RGB-LED WUXGA screen
4GB RAM (Win doesn't see >3GB of RAM without PAE? Non-issue. I'll be upgrading it to 8 when the 4GB SO-DIMMs become widely available as 64-bit Linux will be the primary OS)
Vista Ultimate + XP downgrade
Internal 9-cell battery
12-cell Power Slice
Intel 5300 wireless adapter
swipe fingerprint reader
webcam
Dell 370 bluetooth

Here are my questions:

Linux Compatibility

- What is available for Linux drivers for the Nvidia FX1700M chipset? I don't see drivers for that chipset listed on Nvidia's site but I saw that others mentioned that the Linux drivers work. I use compiz-fusion on Linux. Compositing capability is required. I'd rather avoid the e6500 if I could as I need a workstation replacement.

- Does the Dell 370 bluetooth work with Linux? I haven't seen much info on this bluetooth adapter where Linux is concerned. Which chipset do they use in their bluetooth adapter?

Backpack

- I will be needing a new laptop backpack. My current one barely fits my current 15.4" Lenovo. What do you folks use for an m4400+powerslice? Accessories I will be carrying for work:

• External 3.5" HDD drive + power supply (enclosure is approx. 5x7)
• Power supply
• ballistic nylon CD/DVD binder

It's a lot to fit, but I'd like to keep the purchase price below $60. My current backpack is ballistic nylon and it has held up for ten years but the Lenovo has caused the seams to begin to come apart due to the tight fit; my first notebook was an NEC 14" desktop replacement, then a Dell Latitude C540 which fit fine, now temporarily a Lenovo 3000/N100 which barely) fits).

I've looked at the sleeves people have recommended for additional protection but according to the specs it won't fit with the power slice so I'm going to make a felt sleeve to protect it from scratches. What is my best bet for a backpack?

 

About Linux , I just got since a couple of days my M4400, I install Ubuntu Intrepid in a glance, I use the Nvidia drivers for the FX770.
I had absolutely no problems, also the webcam is working with Cheese.

The 370 Bluetooh was working perfectly on my Latitude D400 so I guess that it will work also on the M4400 , I bought a new one because the connector of the 370 is different on the M4400.

The only thing that I'm unable to do with Ubuntu is to record the audio output of the sound card, but I have the same problem with an Inspiron 9400

I got my M4400 at very good price from a Ebat UK reseller, , 770 GBP , a 3 days refurbished laptop, in fact brand new.
P8600, 4gb, 250gb 7200rpm, 1900x1200 no led,6 cell battery, webcam.3 years garanty.

 

I like mobile edge. You should be able to get one for about $40, They hold up well, and have a lifetime warranty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834997649

I have had one for about 4 years now. had to use the warranty once for a tear at the seam, but I had about 30pounds of stuff in there almost everyday daily.

The warranty process was smooth. I sent them my torn bag and they sent me a new one

 

dont bother with upgrading to the FX1700, the benchmarks and performance show little to no gain over the fx770 oddly enough, and its consuming more power, generating more heat. not worth it.

 

Anyone else started having problems with Wifi connectivity after installing A12 BIOS?

Just curious, cuz I used to have no problems but in the last 2 weeks after installing A12 I suddenly find that often after coming out of sleep / hibernate or ejecting from dock it will "connect" to Wifi but have all kinds of problems (no ip address, unable to send / received packets or ping anything etc.) I have to disable Wifi, renable, then forcibly tell Vista to re-acquire an ip-address before it all comes good again.

I have no idea if this is because of A12, but I'm curious if anybody else out there noticed the same.

(For reference - Intel 5300 wifi card).