How futureproof is the M11x i7?

So I'm going to be in college next year, and I'm planning on buying a laptop this Christmas while the deals are HOT. The laptop I buy will probably be used for 3 years. That saying, how futureproof is the M11x with the core i7? I love the portability, battery life, and graphics card but will that ULV i7 be severely underpowered in the future?
(The thing I hate about technology is that it moves so f'ing fast. Laptops that are three years old (2007) are considered slow. Fast and slow is so relative. Ughh)

For all you M11x owners, how snappy is the processor?

 

It probably will be outdated by then. In fact, only the highest-highest-highest end laptops will be "fast". It really depends on what you're using it for. Are you just web browsing?

 

If you want to future proof it more, wait for the future

but in all honesty, the i7 was a sort of mid-cycle update for the m11x. The real punch will come when they release the Sandy Bridge CPU architecture to the M11x. I have no insider info (unfortunately) but I think its reasonably certain that a new M11x will be out by summer, and it will blow the current one away (the R2 wasn't a HUGE step up from the R1). That being said, the best way to future proof the m11x is to wait for the R3, and watch out for its release. Usually dell has MAD CRAZY deals in the first couple hours/days of the m11x being on sale--even rivaling Black-Friday sales. If you will need this computer for 3 years, wait to pick up the next one while it's hot. Thats what I'm doing.

 

If you want to do the latest gaming it'll be outdated in a year or so, if you don't mind knocking the settings down to medium, a good 3 years.

 

The lack of USB 3.0 is also something to consider as not future proof.

 

There's no such thing as future-proof nowadays. Everything is designed to be produced, consumed, and replaced within a short period of time. Just know that when you buy the latest model of anything, an upgraded, redesigned model is already in the works.

 

"Future proof" and "11-inch notebook" just don't go together... but it's still the best <14" notebook you can get for gaming.

Even the desktop core i7-980X will be looking dated 1 year from December.

 

My Q9550 desktop which I can overclock like crazy still feels outdated.

 

Honestly the laptop lasting for 3 years is going to depend on two things:1-what you are going to be doing with it in between now and then 2-"The eye of the beholder....." If any gaming or other GPU intensive apps/tasks are involved what tolerances you have settings/time wise, some people refuse to use a computer that won't run ultra settings or ridiculously fast process times, and even the highest end laptop won't last 3 years at those need levels.

 

Keeping money in your wallet (or on your bank account) is the best future proofing you can get ^^

I had no problem with the CPU on R1. I don't have a problem with single core 2.8 GHz CPU I use on the other computer in the office. I do some standard work (internet, office apps, latex, multimedia...) and some image processing - that takes most of the CPU time anyway.

 

In three years time your mobile phone with HDMI 1.4a 3D,
USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 will be more powerful than todays M11x.

 

yeah, I heard the iphone 7 is kinda awesome.

 

Technology is future proof sadly. However, you can switch out the hard drive and RAM, so you can upgrade that if you'd like. I'm sure it'll last a good long time.

 

TBH given the current generation of CPUS one could look at the M11x (R1 or R2) and assume it's oudated. However, as long as you know it isn't the fastest thing on the block and can live with its shortcomings, it should last you a good while to come.

My desktop for example makes my M11x look like a slug that is caught in treacle, yet I prefer to game on the M11x.

 

3.0 is not a factor, is gonna take you more time to move something, yes, but you are still gonna be able to do it, with the GPU or CPU you don´t, if a game does not run in the i7, is never gonna be able to do it...

And you are gonna need to update your devices, no device that I own supports USB 3.0, even if the m11x start to get 3.0, you are gonna need to change your iPod/mp3 player, External Hard Drive, etc.

 

Agreed. The main thing people are waiting on for the next revisions is a better CPU and GPU compared to things like USB 3.0

 

^ omg it's shimmycocopufsss! I watch your videos all the time! (I'm asian that's why) I never assumed that you were a computer guy.

Back on topic:
How well can the ULV i7 handle multitasking? I usually like to have 2-3 browsers opened with a few tabs while running 1 medium intensive application. I don't require the enthusiast power, I just need a speedy computer that won't suddenly lag on me.

 

It's 64bit architecture, windows 7 and the GPU can handle directX 10.1 and GPU acceleration. You'll get a few years out of it.

And besides, most new externally connected stuff is backward compatible.

So if in a year or two you're prepared to wait a few extra seconds for a task to complete or data to be transferred, you should be fine.

Games and media are the 'netbook' killers.

I'm still using a couple of cia 1999 Tosh Portrege 333Mhz, 192RAM 'netbooks'.

They have USB 1.1 and ten years on most stuff still supports that. Using it's built in PCMCIA slot it now has a USB 2.0 hub with Blutooth 2.1 and 802.11n WiFi. It's still great for writing code, web surfing (sans video) and email.

And yes, you can load windows XP and Avast using only 90MB of memory.

My clapped out old cia 2004 P4 3.2Ghz 2GB RAM WinXP with an AGP upgraded AMD HD 3850 GPU is still breathing. 5000 3DMark06 and 100sec wPrime 32M is a joke in today's terms. But it still supports two 24" IPS monitors

The temptation for developers when presented with more powerful processors is to massively fork/thread processes. In the end that'll be what forks you.

It is mooted that processing power will double every 18months.

An i7-640UM is more than enough for most of todays CPU based tasks.

 

If you're worried about future proofing wait for sandy bridge.

The laptop I upgraded to the m11x from was a pentium m 1.86ghz, with 1gb (2 dimms) of ddr memory and a 100gb pata hdd. I bought it in 2005 for about $300 more than I paid for my m11x this year.

 

I dont know what anyone is talking about. For an 11" notebook that can run pretty much every game to date on max settings, and also having the ability to OC without massive temperature increases, this laptop id say is at least 3 years futureproof. I currently own the R2 i7 and I am very very pleased with it. I've always had an alienware notebook and have been let down, but this blows them away.

 

it can't play almost every game on max... at least, not most of the newer games. with those you usually get high - low (but not really highest and rarely high). but if you compare it to other models of its size and what will probably come out to compete against it, i don't think that too much will come out in the next year or so that will completely dominate this (maybe except for the r3 if it's going to be "all that" as i keep hearing haha)... but it doesn't mean that it's not worth getting now even if it does get it's butt kicked later on... upgradeable desktop for home and portable little monster for travel/school !

 

I dont know if you have the i7 model but if you do, than you are getting crap performance if you aren't getting close to max settings

 

What up baybay~

People have different definitions of what's "playable" on highest settings. Some people tolerate 20 FPS, while others can only stand playing at least 60 FPS stable.

 

I think for "future proof" it's best to go with something that is more upgradeable. ie M15x or M17x. If you really want the m11x I would go for the R2 or R3. Also it would be nice to get some insight into the next set of video choices.

Best Wishes, StevenX

 

You cannot really upgrade which means the only thing you can do is buy the newest revision as soon as you can. That will probably account for the longest relevance. The R2 wasn't a huge bump to the model so that wouldn't have made a huge difference, but the r3 could be and if you get it right away then you would do the best towards "future proofing" your purchase.