DELL M90 impressions

I received my M90 on Thursday. I unboxed it, and plugged it in to let the battery charge. So far so good. Next I checked the packing slip with my order to insure I got everything I paid for, and I had. Okay, now the biggie, is it going to work or be DOA. I hit the on button and it comes on.
Now, I go to MSCONFIG and uncheck the programs that I don't need. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprized at the lack of garbage DELL loaded on the machine. Very little trials, and unnecessary software. Next is the SERVICES stop and turn off the services I don't use. Okay, reboot, and all is good, about 45 seconds.
Now I load Norton antivirus, no problem. It is time to introduce the M90 to the home network. I found the software for the modem, router, and Cox cable. I plug in the LAN cable and guess what happens. The M90 goes right to the net! Amazing!! No mess, no fuss, just plug it in and it works like it should, GREAT.
I update Norton, load adware, spybot, firefox, and Sketchup 5.0. Get off the net, and install all software I just loaded and configure to protect to my latest toy. Okay no problems everything is working. Setup email and it works. This is going too easy, something is got to screw up.
I loadup my USB stick with my latest sketchup design, and transfer it to the M90. Now, my desktop is a 3.2 GHZ, 1GB Ram, 64 MB video, and it tends to slow down when I load up a design with 3d components. I need a bigger video card, but other than this, everything else is good. I open the design with M90 and the moment of truth. Yes, no slow down, just does it! I make a few changes to see what will happen, and Shaaazam it is done. The 3D model goes to wire frame for about a second and pops up with the new additons. No slow down, shudders or hesitation. GREAT..
I add Autocad 2000 and it runs with no problems. I am still waiting on Architectural Desktop 2007 and Photoshop. As soon as they show up and I get them loaded I will update.
The weight is not as much as I was expecting. I bought a Taurus backpack to carry the M90 around in. I was using a shoulder tote to carry my older laptop around with, but I wanted something that would carry all my books also. Very pleased with the backpack, the M90 fits like a glove inside. I am starting my 2nd year in Architecture this fall and wanted something to put everything in to lug around. I have been taking the backpack to work with me to pass some time away when I am not busy, so far so good. I work the 12 hour dog shift at a chemical plant, so I have time when everything is working like it is supposed to.
I don't do music, or play games. Frankly, I just don't have the time. Between school and working full time, I have to leave time to do the important things in life, like playing with grandbabies and fishing. I have been listening to the radio on the net, and the speakers sound good to me, but I wasn't expecting much from the built ins, I didn't get the external ones.
Build quality seems pretty good. I haven't noticed any discernable flexing or weak areas with the M90. Screen looks really good, very large and wide. Keys feel good, although I will miss the number key pad. DELL has plenty of room for this feature, they should have used the space to make the keyboard larger and added a number pad, IMO. Touch pad is different, did get the optical mouse to use instead, maybe I'll get used to it. The M90 seems solid and well built, everything working fine.
My only gripe is the loss of a parallel port for my older printers. I guess I will have to buy a new one now.


M90--
2.0 Ghz dual processor
2GB ram, 512 MB video card, 80 GB harddrive, DVD burner, Dell wireless, 3 year comprehensive coverage.

 

Its a nice laptop, l hope you enjoy it

But about the printer, there are adaptors you can get that go from parallel to usb which means you dont need to get a new printer

 

Enjoy your new M90, if you have a digital camera, would it be possible to take pictures of it

 

hey, thanks for taking the time to post these first impressions, I see a few people interested in the Precision series but a lack of information out there. I spoke to Dell a few weeks ago and asked if they could send a review unit so I could check it out and write a review for this site but they don't really do that for the Precisions series like they do the Inspiron and Latitude so the insight you provide here is great. Good decision!

 

You can also get a docking station from ebay for about 80 bucks.(Dell charges 200)

 

I see that they make an adapter for the USB to parallel port. Only problem is that my printer, Canon 5000, isn't compatiable with XP. I can't find a driver, tried the 2000 driver, no luck. I bought my wife a new Canon 3000 printer about 2 years ago, and it is still going strong. I tried to set up the 5000 on my XP destop, but no luck. I didn't pay that much for the printer, and I can still use it on my '95 Compaq. Really irritated at Canon for not supporting their printers, but they still make good printers. I'll probably get a i9900, seems to be the setup.

 

I always wondered how you got all the latest models as soon as they came out. So how does that work, Dell sends you a laptop, and you review it, and then you send it back to them?

 

How's the power supply, is it a massive brick?

 

Congratulations on the machine. It's fantastic.

Garrett92, yes, the powerbrick is quite large. This is due to the 512MB 2500M GPU. It requires 100W of power all by itself.

I have a review written of the M90 that I should be posting up in the review section tonight. Just have to take pictures and put them in there.

 

A helpful and articulate review: thank you! I have had an older generation Precision (the M70) for a year now; like you, I don't play games, but like a computer that just does everything without problems. The new M90, of course, has a much more powerful gpu than the M70, but the principle is the same. The Precision line is really something special. I agree that the M90 keyboard should take advantage of the greater space available. It is a pitty that the M70 replacement, the M65, has an inferior gpu. To go up to the so much bigger M90 due to its great gpu not being available on the M65 is a shame. But the Precision's character is built around the powerful gpu's, so the M90 seems like the only way to go for present M70 owners. I probably instead will watch developments...

 

Does anyone know whether there is likely to be an after-market product that allows you to put in a second hard drive where the optical drive is currently situated on an m90/xps1710 ? (Is the pin-out the same?)

I'm irritated that I can't put a second drive in - I'd like to get my virtual machines on a separate spindle. Its making me want to choose the dell820 instead. thanks!

 

Post some pics!

 

I am awaiting my M90. Had the same question and read somewhere that a dell rep said 'nope'. While it's not all that mobile, I'm thinking that an external SATA RAID set via an ExpressCard might be worth looking into.

Thanks for the heads up Old Head et al. Good info. Great site.
I'll post back if my experience differs from others etc.

 

I just received my M 90 Precision. Does anyone know if it takes the 34 or 54 express card? Is one better than another? Where can one be purchased? I am rather new at this whole thing! Any help - thanks!

 

Not sure about the Express Card thing, but if anyone is interested, Dell just put up a BIOS update that provides support for Core 2 Duo.

 

Sandi,

M90 is 54/34 compatible. Basaically they both are identical (pin wise) and the only difference is that the 54 version gives the designer more room for memory, ports etc.