***-->The Official Dell Adamo Thread<--***

Sorry, I can't tell if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me.

And, DANG, dude!! Looking at your signature, you have almost as many notebooks as I do! Woohoo!

 

Dell Adamo XPS specs leak out: ULV processors, integrated graphics

 

Typical engadget write-up.

A $1000 Macbook is great, a $1,300 ultraportable is expensive. These guys have no sense of relative value because a lot of them are the rabidly broke themselves and don't themselves understand how to use these machines. And think about it (the blogger certainly didn't): Why would you need to open the laptop if it's ran out of juice?

A $2,000 leading-edge ultraportable is par for the course. The Adamo was a harder sell because it was retreading Air territory, albeit in a more solid manner - but the XPS is a genuine innovation.

 

In all fairness, Engadget had this to say in their review yesterday of the new $999 MacBook:

"we're totally underwhelmed by the new plastic MacBook."

It was actually a pretty critical (but fair) review.

 

Fair? No. Written from the viewpoint of a let-down fanboi? Yes.

 

Tru dat Vogelbung

 

So, back on the topic of the Adamo...can I hear from any owners as to which LCD panel they have? I have, according to Device Manager, a SEC5441, which I believe to be a Samsung.

Are there others with a better display? This SEC5441 has poor viewing angles and tends to make blacks look grey/white when slightly off angle, and colors go dark. The LCD/lid needs to be "just pefect" for the screen to look it's best.

 

Out of curiosity:

How long is the battery life on the adamo desire 2.13GHz? The original one was pathetic (I've had a trial one) - less than 2 hours in my normal usage (vmware).

I've seen some posts above about the poor display quality, maybe the refresh has been updated with a new one? as the original was very poor (angles, contrast, color)

Thanks

 

I really liked the SEC5441.

Granted the viewing angles were terrible, but the colors and brightness were pretty good.

Anyway, the Samsung was the only lcd being used in the Adamo.

 

Guess I've been spoiled by the current LED backlit displays like the 1080p (non-RGBLED) in the SXPS1640. No angle problems or weird color shifting.

Also, sleey0, are you able to provide a part number for the "better" 128GB SSD in the Adamo's?

 

I don't have a part number.

The only thing I could tell you is to call Dell and ask for a replacement ssd for an Adamo.

This way you will get a quote for the new drive (IMO they have phased out the older drives and are using them for the outlet systems). Be prepared hear a large number, these thin microsata 1.8" SSD's are hella expensive.

Just tell them that it should say PM800 in the item description.

Alternatively, you could order a new system, swap the drives, and return it. Not saying this is an ethical or moral thing to do, but I know some folks who have done this.

 

As I posted earlier, I had to get a replacement for my doa adamo. I got the original today and it actually has the faster hard drive in it...I guess I got lucky...so at least some refurbs are coming with the new drive.

c

 

Was your original from the Outlet or a new one?

Interestingly, I opened, this morning, the 2nd of two I got from the Outlet. I was amazed at what I found--the bottom part of the Adamo apparently comes out. The whole front part of the bottom was pryed out and hanging down. Also, looking at the Adamo from the side, the entire bottom chassis was bent. Yes, bent. With the lid closed, the lid and chassis were not parallel. The chassis was concave! Third, the keyboard was completely inoperative...even the backlighting was inoperative. I hooked up a USB keyboard and booted it up. It showed "Resuming Windows...". RESUMING? From what! When it came up, it was most of the way through the initial Vista startup. Holy cow. Did no one at Dell even look at this unit?

Needless to say, I called to get an exchange, and also explained about the two different SSD's and nicely requested a replacement with the faster SSD. The rep said, basically, no guarantees. So, who knows.

Hey c#ad, what is the device ID in Device Manager for your SSD, and also, if you got a packing slip, what is the SSD part number and description, please?

Thanks!

 

Sounds like the pins were not in the correct location...when i got my first one, i could hear them sliding...i just slid it closed...but the exchange one is in much better condition than the first one...the rep said they would be double checking the new one they sent me and it is in much better condition...even the keyboard backlighting is much more uniform...

The original was a refurb as well...I dont think i got packing slips, but looking at the order online it says:
R173J Module,Solid State Drive,128G S2,Thin Micro Sata,Samsung,XLO (original order)

R173J Module,Solid State Drive,128G S2,Thin Micro Sata,Samsung,XLO (exchange)

So I don't think Dell puts too much time into figuring out which drive is which..

the hardware id on the new one is:
ID\SAMSUNG_SSD_PB22-JS3_TM_128GB______VBM19D1Q

c

 

Thanks for the info. I wanted to be sure what "faster one" was ID'ing as!

 

Do you know if there were also a "slow" and a "fast" version of the 256GB SSD in the Adamo, or was the 256GB always the faster rated model?

There was a Previously Ordered New Admire Adamo in the Outlet this morning for what would have been about $1k after coupon, with a 256GB drive. I would have snagged it but I wasn't sure whether the 256GB was a faster or slower model.

Thanks.

 

If anyone with an Adamo is running Windows 7, can you tell me what you are using for a 64-bit version of Quickset?

I tried installing the Vista x64 version, and although it installed, I ran into issues with the trackpad acting oddly, the on-screen volume control popping on the screen and staying there, and the touch buttons below the LCD all being unresponsive.

I've uninstalled that Quickset and everything seems to be back to normal (just that I don't have any of the functionality that Quickset offers).

I'm hoping that Dell will update the drivers page for the Adamo to include more Windows 7 drivers and apps since they are now shipping Windows 7 with it.

Thanks.

 

I had the same sort of issue and they have actually released a quickset for 7 on adamo...
1. go to the drivers download page
2. choose that you have vista 64 bit
3. now change to win 7 64 bit
this will show more files (including the quickset and also a keyboard driver that will fix that pesky unknown device)

However, I can't find where my ambient light sensor info went...

 

I also would like to know the battery life on the new Adamo Desire model. I just want to know the battery life for like surfing the web with wi/fi and like word processing. Those are the essentials for students.

 

Wow...interesting you have to "play" with the driver page in order for all the drivers to show up! Thanks for the instructions!

Rep given to ya!

 

I watched a 1hr 20min movie on it and then browsed the internet for about 1.5hrs on my desire last night...not the most scientific testing..so take it for what you want...

cheers

 

I'm about to pull the trigger on a new Desire. Does anyone know if I can format the hard drive and then just restore only Windows 7 on it from the restore disc? I'm just wanting to start fresh and get rid of the McAfee and other software.

 

The Adamo doesn't come with any media. You can reformat and reinstall windows but you'll have to contact Dell for the disc.

 

I am having a problem with my adamo sleeping. I had it on and just shut the lid and put it in my bag...took it out a few hours later and it was warm and the battery was dead...

I installed win 7 on it and i think all the drivers...i checked and it is supposed to sleep when the lid is shut...also the white light brightens and dims so it appears to be sleeping...

so something is draining the power on it and i can't figure it out...

please let me know if you all have any ideas...

 

It didn't sleep.

Make sure the power plan wasn't on High Performance and also check the settings for 'Choose what closing the lid does' option in the power settings.

This has happened to me before and there is nothing to worry about.

 

Well, as c#ad stated, the power LED pulsed off and on, which would indicate it was in sleep mode. Also, I don't believe having a computer on High Performance has anything to do with sleep, as long as you have set the notebook to sleep on a lid closure action.

It's more possible that the computer woke up at some point on it's own. My own desktop used to wake out of sleep on it's own. It was very irritating, and turned out to be a hardware issue and just required setting that device to not wake computer from sleep.

 

Since my Dell representative is an idiot, I am debating canceling my order for my sxps 13 and picking up an Adamo from the outlet,

I found a Pearl Adamo for 1099 before outlet coupons with a 256gb ssd is that possible for this model? Would it be a fast one?

Also if it comes and has damage or I am unsatisfied do they still take returns for outlet items?

Thanks!

 

Yes they have a 30 day money back guarantee

 

Cool thanks, does anyone know about the 256ssd in a 1.2 model?

 

Okay whatever, just canceled my order for the studio xps and placed my order on a Pearl Adamo!

Admire Model
1.2 su9300
2gb ddr3
256gb ssd

Sub-Total : $934.15
Shipping : $27.00
Tax : $67.26
Order Total : $1028.41

Not a bad deal if it turns out to have the right ssd

EDIT: I checked my order status and it says the ssd is PM800

 

I saw one of that same config go the other day at the Outlet, and the base price was 1209 (or 1219)...was that what the base price was?

 

I didn't consider a device waking up the computer...I was thinking it was a problem that it wasn't hibernating...on my latitude e6400, when I close the lid, it goes to sleep. Then at some later point, it will hibernate and my battery life doesn't drop hardly at all.

So I was thinking my e6400 was doing something behind the scenes to make it go to sleep...I changed the hibernate after value under sleep in power options from 360 to 20 minutes....We'll see what happens with that...

i think i've reset this thing up like 6 times going back and forth between 32 bit and 64 bit...im on 64bit win 7 now.

 

hopefully i'm not the bearer of bad news, but on my outlet order/exchange, they both had the same model of hard drive on the order form, but the first one came with the slow hard drive and the secoond one came with the faster...

refurbs are so crazy now...used to be refurbs were like near perfect condition...and i had no hesitation to buy them...now they seem to be a bit of hit and miss...

good luck!!

 

Ahh that sucks, does the same apply for 256gb ssd? is there a fast and slow version?

The base price was $1099 which I thought was odd since the past few days the 1099 models had only 128gb ssd

 

You got a really good deal, then! Regardless if there is a slow and/or fast model, even the slow model of the 128GB is pretty darn fast! (and this is coming from a guy that has 200MB/s+ SSD's in all my computers! So, if it's really a 256GB, you got a good deal!

 

Yeah that is why I canceled my other order as soon as I saw 256gb for $1099 haha, I will keep you guys posted on how it goes! ETA is on the third, I splurged on overnight shipping

 

Hmm out of curiosity does anyone know if there is a reason why in the outlet the adamos that have 128gb ssd just say "128GB Mobility Solid State Drive" while the 256gb ssd say "256GB Mobility Solid State Drive, 2.5MM"

Are the 128gb 1.8?

 

Good question, because I wondered the same, myself. What the heck is a 2.5mm drive????

 

well 2.5mm are standard notebook drives correct? I thought the Adamo used micro sata 1.8... so confused!

 

you are confusing millimeters (mm) with inches. Standard drives are 2.5" and the micro drives are 1.8" (inches). I don't know what a 2.5mm drive is...

 

adamo 13's use a 2.5" drive, but I think they are thinner than a normal drive..so maybe they are 2.5mm thick (thin!)

have a look at this to see all the insides:
http://content.zdnet.com/2346-9595_22-287411-1.html

cheers

 

Yes, I considered that, and I have seen the pictures of an Adamo and its' solid state drive. It looks like they (Dell) took the SSD circuit board out of the 2.5" case and mounted it in the Adamo. To call it a 2.5mm drive certainly does not follow any standards, since a 2.5" drive is NOT 2.5" thick!

 

This is mentioned in the article you referenced:

The solid state drive's thickest point is the 4mm SATA connector. The rest of the drive is a scant 2.9 mm.

So, 2.9mm is not 2.5mm...but 0.4mm is a just a hair thickness!! Who knows!!??

 

right..whats .4mm between friends...i think the article also points out some other small errors on dell's side...i think with the battery specs...

 

lol I actually read that article as well before I posted, however I am still confused..

 

The SSD in the Adamo is 1.8".

You would need something like an X18-M taken out of the case. This would work just fine.

 

Waiting to see when sleey would make a reply, but do you have any insight to what the 2.5mm is when they mentioned 256gb ssd 2.5mm on my order?

 

On a side note there is a identical model to the one I just purchased on the outlet but in Onyx if anyone is interested:

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...line/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

 

Not any more!

Funny, I was checking it out already when you posted this! Got it with the 15% off coupon also...

Did you ever get yours? I remember you saying you got overnight shipping...

 

Haha congrats! I think we are pretty unique with our big ssds

but no it should arrive on the 3rd since they always have trouble with my amex card and they don't ship on weekends, but I had it shipped to my home address not my university address so hope I can make the trek home when it arrives

did you take any extras along with it?