Dell XPS M1330 Midnight Blue - 2008 Version

[sinstoic]

I received a 2008 manufactured/assembled Midnight Blue Dell XPS M1330 yesterday. Here is my review:

Compact Configuration

Notebook: Dell XPS M1330
System Color: Midnight Blue
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium Edition
LCD and Camera: Slim and Light LED Display with VGA Webcam
Memory: 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
Hard Drive: 200GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) Free Fall Sensor
DVD+RW Drive: CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Video Card: 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
Wireless Card: Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
Bluetooth: Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
Battery Options: 6 cell Primary Battery and 9 cell additional Lithium Ion Battery
Sound Options: High Definition Audio 2.0
Fingerprint Scanner: Biometric Fingerprint Reader
Antivirus Software: Trend Micro Internet Security 15-months
Productivity Software: Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD
Entertainment Software: Yahoo! Music Jukebox - Music Player
Editing Software: Adobe Photoshop + Premiere Elements
Power Options: Dell Slim 65W Spare Auto/Air/AC Adapter
Warranty and Service: 3Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
Accident Protection: Accidental Damage to 3Yr Warranty
DataSafe Online Backup: DataSafe Online Backup 10GB for 1 year

Memory & Extended Warranty were part of the package and could not be downgraded. If you insist and find a way to return some of these, the cost benefits are negligible. Similarly, Anti-Virus, Office Suite, Music Player, Digital Media Editing Software and Online Backup were part of the package. Although you could uncheck some of these while configuring, they neither cost you any additonal money nor can they be returned back for a refund.

The additional 9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery and Slim 65W Spare Auto/Air/AC Adapter were ordered as a part of the package as they cost more when ordered separately.

The starting price of this configuration is $2596 USD before shipping & handling and taxes.

Functional Features

1. Midnight Blue Color

M1330_2008_Midnight_Blue.JPG

2. A09 Revision BIOS (02/06/2008)

3. A04 Revision Motherboard

Feature 1 is a great option. It does not attract fingerprints, changes color based on the surrounding light and is the smoothest texture available on this notebook. It looks professional enough to carry at a formal meeting but gels equally well at any informal gathering.

Feature 2 is now available for download from Dell's website: M1330A09 This BIOS revision provides support for future Intel Penryn processors, Blu Ray/DVD+/-RW combo drive and enhancements for thermal and MediaDirect controls.

Feature 3 can be verified by checking the revision number printed on the sticker pasted on the SODIMM Socket 1 or A. Check the Service Manual for accessing the memory: Memory

Features 2 & 3 eliminate processor/bridge whine (piezoelectric effect), excess heat/fan rotation, hard drive clicking and also conserve power without affecting performance.

Features 1 & 3 were offered on some notebooks ordered/replaced in late 2007.

Ignorable Issues

1. Left Hinge Gap

M1330_2008_Left_Hinge_Gap.JPG

2. Left Side Display Case Gap (from the center towards the left side)

M1330_2008_Left_Side_Display_Case_Gap.JPG

3. Battery Compartment Wire (Twisted Flat Ribbon Cable)

M1330_2008_Battery_Compartment_Wire.JPG

Issues 1 and 2 seem to be present in almost all M1330 notebooks, although in varying degrees. It is not very evident that it mars the beauty of the notebook and can be comfortably ignored.

Issue 3 seems to be present in some M1330 notebooks, although in varying degrees. Even the pictures in the DCSE Dell XPS M1330 Self-Study Manual show this issue. As the wire does not get caught during battery insertion or removal and is evident only when the battery is removed, this too can be ignored.

The physical build quality in 2008 has suffered due to the same 2007 issues in design of some components especially the hinge, display case and cable routing.

The notebook has no functional issues and therefore worth keeping it given that the above physical issues are likely to repeat in case an exchange is requested.

The functional build quality has improved radically in 2008 with a new motherboard and BIOS revision.

[judgedee]

I have a hinge gap too on both sides of my monitor

[cmd51229]

My hinge gaps are same in distance on both sides. I think the hinge gap is supposed to be there as the outer edge of the LED screen would not be flush with the outer edge of the laptop body if there was no gap.

Do you only have gap on one side??

[JShamoon]

Are these "common" gaps present on non LED displays?

[sinstoic]

Originally Posted by JShamoon

Are these "common" gaps present on non LED displays?

Yes. It does not matter whether the display is LED or CCFL backlit. The physical build quality has suffered due to the issues in design of some components especially the hinge, display case and cable routing. The only way to eliminate these issues is to redesign the affecting components.

[Les]

I think the detriment of this site is that we gather enough information to look for every little thing.

I would consider my system perfect but just angled it correctly and can get the same look from the left hinge. Of course, there has to be a small space to properly move the monitor.

Likewise with the HD cover, you have to really look. If you want to fix the HD cover, by the way, unscrew the battery, pull it out, push it back in and rescrew it...works fine.

I had never even heard of the battery ribbon sticking out before and I have had 7 M1330s come through my hands.

To take this to the extreme, I would bet there are a fair number of exchanges from those who heard 'ghost squeals'.

A healthy suggestion to all would be to just hand your system to an impartial, unknowing party and ask their opinion. This is what I do. I state this because, to this day, my wife laughs her butt off when I speak of the squeal my M1210 had. She swears it wasn't there; they eventually granted me an exchange to a M1330 though after several motherboard, adapters, HD, heatsink and DVD replacements.

Im not saying problems don't exist because most do. I believe the site actually promotes finding imperfections in your laptop though.

A healthy suggestion to all..... Give your laptop to a friend who knows nothing of what you suspect and ask if they can look it over and give you their opinion.

Most would be surprised at the response.

[sinstoic]

Originally Posted by cmd51229

My hinge gaps are same in distance on both sides. I think the hinge gap is supposed to be there as the outer edge of the LED screen would not be flush with the outer edge of the laptop body if there was no gap.

Do you only have gap on one side??

The gap on the left is more than that on the right. This results in some teeth showing up at the center towards the left. My camera could not capture it.

[cmd51229]

Originally Posted by sinstoic

The gap on the left is more than that on the right. This results in some teeth showing up at the center towards the left. My camera could not capture it.

Mine are fairly equi-distant and I don't see the teeth you are mentioning. But, the routing/cable and mechanical spacing concerns you mentioned are good points. Personally know about this system (Thurman) and the mechanical challenges you mentioned at the CM (Wistron).

[mia4l]

I stil like the red better

[sinstoic]

Originally Posted by flamenko

I think the detriment of this site is that we gather enough information to look for every little thing. I had never even heard of the battery ribbon sticking out before and I have had 7 M1330s come through my hands.

I just wanted to see how things have changed in 2008 and mentioned some of those issues here. I am extremely happy with my notebook and have nothing to complain about. I had seen the wire sticking out on many notebooks and wasn't surprised to find the same on mine.

If I hand my notebook to a layman, he or she would find issue 1 easily and it would take some close observation to find issue 2. Issue 3 would be tough as there are other wires (like black), aluminum foil and so on which make the flat twisted wire a part of the package.

For those who are looking for an M1330 without any of the above mentioned issues, they'll have to wait till Dell resolves them by redesigning the affecting components. Knowing Dell, I highly doubt if any changes would make it to M1330.