Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge

Ordered mine March 2. It wasn't scheduled to ship until March 17, initially, but I ended up receiving it March 9th. I think they know how to keep customers pleased.

You'll see the difference between your M4400 and T61p displays immediately. The real question is whether you'll find the WUXGA screen usable under XP/Vista. For me, it took Windows 7. I read somewhere that Windows 7 handles wide-gamut screens better too, though I'm not sure exactly how (if it's using a special appropriate color profile or something), I need to read up on it more. Browsing the web in IE8 doesn't look like an over-saturated cartoon-fest any more. With 125% DPI scaling active, the desktop and web have been *really* easy on my eyes. I did not find this to be the case in XP or Vista. With the same level of DPI scaling applied, I actually still preferred my WSXGA+ T61p display at native resolution, for its text clarity. I would really recommend finding yourself a copy of the latest Windows 7 beta and a key, to make the M4400 shine.

PS - It's zippy quick, too.

 

Yeah, I'm running Win 7 build 7048 now on my T61p with a 128gb SSD drive and it's just beautiful I'll be running the same setup on my M4400.

A couple of questions for you, do you remember where it shipped from? I'm curious if it's from Texas or overseas?

also, hows the "feel" of the laptop compared to the T61? I know the keyboard is a little softer but how about overall ergonomics?

 

FedEx tracking info says the initial package pickup was in Reno, NV. Package says the computer was made in Malaysia. Return address on the shipping label is Lavergne, TN. Make of it what you will. I should note, Dell customer service bumped me up to overnight shipping due to a minor credit card processing snafu.

The keyboard isn't bad, though I prefer the T61p's, which gives better feedback. There are a few minor differences in key layout too, mostly in the spacebar row--you'll see what I mean. It won't be hard to adapt to these minor differences.

My biggest complaint is the trouble I've had with the M4400 touchpad sporadically failing to register finger strokes. I have the correct drivers installed and most of the advanced options (tapping, touchcheck, scrolling, zooming) disabled. I've had the same problems with it in XP, Vista, and Windows 7 (after I installed the drivers, I didn't notice any issues with the Windows default drivers). Sometimes (especially while scrolling in a browser window, it seems) it just doesn't register at all for a few seconds, as if it's "hung" waiting for CPU cycles or something. Most of the time it's flawless, very fluid, like my T61p, but when it has problems, it's very noticeable. I'm going to see if there are any updated drivers available, or I'll try going back to the Windows default drivers to see if they really don't have the problem.

I prefer the layout of the T61p touchpad buttons. Having them on the lower edge of the chassis made them easier to find and press without looking for them. (Though, perhaps it did also make them more prone to breaking, which happened on my T61p once--it's a natural place to grab and lift the notebook while it's open.) The M4400 touchpad buttons are inset on all sides, and there are three instead of two. This makes them harder to find and press with a casual sideways thumbpress (if that makes any sense).

Now that I'm very happy with the display, I'm quite willing to adapt to the M4400's minor ergonomic shortcomings (if they can even be called that).

 

Tracking info just popped in, shipping fedex ground from Reno. About 2 days to sunny SD.

 

Hello guys, I would like to know did your M4400 give a warning beep when it running low in critical battery level, mine doesn't beep at all & goes into hibernation. I can't seem to find any place in Control Panel to set the alarm, there is one setting stated On or OFF in Advance Battery Setting, but it still doesn't give any beep, I wonder what it does for that.....

Anyone here have similar problem whereby your M4400 doesn't beep when in critical battery level?

Please advise, thanks in advance.

 

I have never let my battery run down to that point so I don't know. I think it once fell below a certain level and the icon in the taskbar changed but I didn't hear any beep. Maybe I had my speakers muted. I also think that the battery icon above the ESC key starts flashing when the battery level is critical.

Things you might want to check....
a- goto control panel--power options--change plan settings--change advanced power settings.

b- Once the advanced settings window opens up scroll down to -Battery and click on the + sign.

c- click on the + next to the -Low battery notification.

d- make sure On battery is ON.

* you may want to tweak the other battery settings to your liking so it doesn't go to hibernate too quickly.

e- Click on Apply or OK when done.

Next:
a- Goto Control Panel -- Sound-- and hit the Sounds tab in the Sound window.

b- Scroll down to Low Battery Alarm and make sure there is a sound associated with that action.

c- Click on Apply or OK when done.

As far as I know, that should solve your problem

Hope this info helps.

Cheers!

 

Reviving Intel Matrix Storage Manager / Latency issue..

A New Version Intel MSM 8.8 was released Friday 3/13, has anyone tried it for addressing DPC Latency issues? other issues? Otherwise I will try to find v8.4 or v8.5 and try 2K5.lexi's solution (disabling unused a/b/g/n modes)...

Also, I'm a relative noob, now playing with Vista x64 install for the first time. Can anyone running BIOS A11 or A12 please recommend a list of Driver Versions that may work for a stable/smooth install? Or will I need to go the A02/A03/A06 routes mentioned other places ( + driver version recommends). I will eventually attempt to slipstream good drivers into a vLite x64 install image (if I can figure out .exe -> .inf conversions.. Grrr!), Thanks -

 

Is it possible to install Windows XP SP2 without splistreaming SATA drivers into it? I haven't try to install it yet but I will have my M4400 soon and without OS and I want to be ready for installing WinXP.

Any other advices are also welcomed

 

Update: with Matrix Storage Manager ver 8.8, DPC Latency is down to avg of ~500, only occasional spikes (<1 "yellow" 1100 per 2mins), best by far so far. Btw, this is with IDT drivers uninstalled, unused a/n wifi modes disabled... sound output is great.


Edit - Fine with all wifi modes enabled, but sound is still better with default O?S driver instead of Dell/IDT provided.

 

I'm on version A12 of the BIOS running Vista x64 with no problems of real note (just the usual Vista annoyances) - good to hear that MSM 8.8 may have resolved the latency issue. Make sure the Broadcom hub drivers are up to date from the Dell download site. I also had to turn off a bunch of the wake on lan features in order for it to go to standby mode without a serious case of insomnia.