A few questions about the m1210

Kay, i'm 90% sure i'll be ordering this in the next few weeks(just waiting for my income tax rebate) but i got a few quick questions i couldn't find answers for.

1.How is the camera integration, software wise? I don't like bloat on my computers, and i know in the past it was integrated camera software that would usually screw up an otherwise clean install of XP.
2.Lights... How many are there on this thing? If its powered down, but still plugged into the wall, are there any glowing lights?(For example, my M70 has 3 bright LED's that show the battery is currently charged and that its plugged in. Really annoying since my laptop is in my room, and i hate ambient light when I'm trying to sleep)
3.I doubt anyone here would know, but will the M1210 be getting updated to the santa rosa chipset anytime soon?
4.The camera is a logitech. Is it one of the more advanced ones that can use the 3d avatars with the updated logitech software? I know its a pretty useless feature, but its still something i might use to mess around with friends.

 

I think I can help you with #3...

Right now, I think we are looking at the late-June/early-July timeframe for Dell laptops to get refreshed. Any sooner, and they won't have enough time to properly integrate Santa Rosa into laptops...any later, and they will start loosing more sales from competition.

If you are already waiting a few more weeks, two or three more wouldn't kill you...especially if you don't want to have to deal with either buyer's remorse, or returning a notebook because Santa Rosa notebooks just came out.

 

1. I have a M1210, but cant answer your camera problems since I don't have the AV package. But from what I've heard the camera is pretty ok.

2. About the lights, it has blue LED lights under the media direct buttons that can be turned off from the BIOS. Apart from those only the indicator lights (power, HDD, bat, and other status indicators)

3. DELL has not officially (or unofficially) announced any plans specifically for a Santa rosa M1210 yet, therefore no one knows when. But eventually they will release, maybe in 2 ~3 months, or maybe more.

 

I don't think Dell will wait 2-3 months...

 

Maybe...., lets hope they'll do it soon. If they decide to go ahead with the X3100 then they can put it out sooner.
But I'm not so sure about the NV 8M series, can a 8400 series card put in to a 12"? if not, then they will have to wait more than 2 months for nVidia to come up with a budget (low power) 8M card.

 

They managed to put a 7400 series card into a 12" notebook when no one said it was possible, so a 8400M in a 12"-14" notebook would certainly be possible.

I'll put it gently...good things happen to those who wait. Good things are on the horizon I'm sure

 

Yeah, since you (@ Cam_86) are anyway going to wait few weeks, why not wait a little longer and see how things turn out ?

 

Can do. I have a window from now until late august(when i agreed to give my parents my current laptop so they can travel with a computer) to look at replacements.

And just so i understand correctly, There is only one LED that stays on when the thing is plugged in and not powered on, and it can be disabled in the bios? I'm a really light sleeper and I have such a hard time falling asleep that i actually press my current laptop up against the back of my chair so it covers the shinning LED's, to keep my room dark.

 

As far as I know, if the laptop is 100% charged it will not have any LEDs on...

 

Yep, No LEDs when completely powered down and fully charged.
Sorry, I missed the "powered down" part of your first post.

 

Just thought of another question thats pretty important
Does the M1210 media reader support SDHC? I'm also planning on getting a D40 or D80 so it would be great knowing i wouldnt have to carry around an external reader.
Also, do the SD cards sit flush in the case, so i wouldnt have to remove them when i put it in a case? The cards stick out about 1/8th of an inch on my M70, so if i leave a SD card in for 'readyboost' it gets ejected when i slid it into my backpack.