SXPS 13 Owners: Some questions before I get the laptop...

Is the heat overly blown out of proportion with just the 9400m(no SLI)? Is it significantly more than a m1330 with a X3100?

What is the average battery life you get with no gaming(surfing, YouTube, music, word)?

Is the vent going to pose a problem if used on a bed or non-flat surface?

Have the Latency issues been fixed with the audio completely? I've read mixed reports.

I'm thinking about this because Dell offered me a system exchange for my m1330(T7500,LED,Intel X3100,250GB) and said I would be given a SXPS 13 since m1330 is no longer being shipped.

Thanks.

 

I have the SLI but leave it on the integrated card most of the time. When just surfing the internet it stays decently cool. Also, I have the newest drivers from Dell on everything except the GPU which I have the newest nvidia drivers and the audio latency still exists.

 

1. IMO yes, heat doesn't become an issue when doing the tasks you described in #2. The laptop certainly is still bearable if the 9200M GS is enabled when doing nothing...I just don't see why you would enable it unless you plan on doing something graphically intensive.
2. On Windows 7 I'd say battery life ranges from anywhere between 2 to a bit above 3 hours (It really depends on what you are doing, streaming/watching 720p Flash can be quite a bit more power consuming than editing a word document with no WiFi) with a lower brightness on the LED monitor.
3. If placed directly on the bed, there will likely be an increase in temperatures. Usually what I do is place the laptop on a either a text book or tray (any flat surface) before placing it on either my bed or lap.
4. Last time I tried doing an audio test in Windows 7, latency was still present. Unless updating GPU drivers somehow fixed the problem, I don't see why it wouldn't have gone away.

If you are being offered an SXPS 13 in exchange from a m1330, I would definitely accept it. Just request that they give you the LED monitor on the SXPS as well.