Dell XPS m1330 performance ultraportable revealed
By Ryan Block 
posted Jun 4th 2007 12:02PM
posted Jun 4th 2007 12:02PM
- 13.3-inch screen, configurable with LED backlight! (300cd/m2, or 220 with CCFL backlight)
- Core 2 Duo processor (up to 2.4GHz), Santa Rosa chipset (965PM/GM)
- Up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM
- 32GB SSD drive or spinning-platter drive options up to 250GB
- Slot-loading dual-layer DVD±RW drive!
- Optional NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS / 128MB
- WWAN option for Verizon, Sprint, or AT&T
- Ethernet, 802.11a, a/g, or n options, Bluetooth option
- Integrated 2 megapixel webcam (VGA only on LED-backlit display)
- HDMI, VGA, 1394, (2) USB 2.0, integrated media reader (MS, SD, xD), dual mini-PCI slots, fingerprint reader
- Dimensions with LED 12.5 x 9.4 x 0.87 - 1.33-inches (318 x 238 x 22.1 - 33.8mm) / with CCFL 12.5 x 9.4 x 0.97 - 1.43-inches (318 x 238 x 24.6 - 36.3mm)
- Weight starts at 4 pounds
I would've liked to see Dell stick with the 12 inch screen from the M1210
Damn, that's hot! These specs make my wallet hurt...
Wow that thing looks amazing. Dell seem to have really stepped up their designs. I am really impressed. I thought it was going to be a 12" screen.
Dayumm that's hot...argh must resist!
This is similar in looks to an old sony laptop. But it sure is nice - hopefully its dell price, not sony.
Looks like this is aimed fairly and squarely at the Vaio SZ series, though has better GPU options, unless Sony get their act together on that..
And maybe Apple are coming up with something similar too, could be a three way fight for my new laptop..
Ultraportables are typically under 3lbs. Sony has had similar models (made by asus) for a couple of years now. Make this unit with similar specs under 3lbs and it would be impressive.
Check out the toshiba portege 2000 (its from 2001 or so)
imagine a computer the size of 50 sheets of letter paper. and weighing something simular.
I've been waiting for this new configuration. Hello SSD & LED.
Could someone please explain the difference between a CCFL and a LED screen. Why one is thicker and which is better. Thank You.
you aint seen nothin yet. wait and see what apple has up their sleeve.
What are you talking about, the 13.3 MacBook? Yeah whatever, this is better than that in every way.
apple has a proprietary os to go with their cool hardware. it doesn't matter what they produce until they're willing to open up to new platforms and offer windows and opensource w/ their hardware.
The design looks eeriely and strikingly similar to the older Sony VAIO Z1 series.
Anyway, the specs do look impressive (But I was hoping for a faster display card), and I am sure Dell will charge a premium for this. I have a feeling with the amount Dell charges there would be plenty of other options available.
Mildly reverable direction from Dell in terms of design. It borrows some
design cues from the now extinct Sony VAIO Z and I think that is a
good thing.
http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Products/PCG-Z1V/feat4.html
Thanks Neel for explaining that.
Hey I am looking to buy a new laptop, I truly love Asian machines (Sony, Fujitsu) but I don't love the price. And I'm not interested in a mac. Does anyone know of some good asian companies who make great machines besides the more well known. And where can you by a nice ASUS or ACER machine, or do they not exist?
They're ALL Asian machines. Do you think Gateway laptops are made in Des Moines? No, they're made in Shanghai, in the same building Dell laptops are made.
8400M GS (128mb dedicated) > Go 7400 (64 mb dedicated)
Dell also has a factory in Xiamen (in Fujian province), and quite possibly many other locations too.
I have a M1210. The screen size is fine, but I hate the glare from the shinny screen. could be a bit thinner too.
HELP, anyone know how to get the M1210 to output in is wide screen format? I have a 24" 1920X1200 screen I would like to see this thing on. I've been on the phone with Dell for 4 hours trying to add resolutions with no luck.
Hi Chris, found this out when researching the same issue, except I was looking to use a 1210 with dells 30". Hope it helps -- Stu
"To use the full resolution of the screen, you need a laptop which has a graphics card which suppots dual-link DVI"
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2098720,00.asp
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2006/02/dell_3007wfp_on_dell_2001fp_action_8_megapixel_desktop.html
That doesn't really help. The 30" displays are a whole-nother ball of wax.
The problem is you can't set the output rez to what ever you want. I'm sure it can do 1920X1200 but it doesn't let you set the external resolution to that. I think nvidia blows.
I have a 3 year old Dell 6000 laptop with a 64meg ATI card that works just fine.
Yeah, BUT - this has a slot-loading CD/DVD-RW drive! That's what the ultraportables have typically lacked, and was the reason I went with the Dell M1210 a couple months ago. Also, this runs 1/2 the price of the Vaios, etc. Looks great!
Damn you Dell!
Why couldn't you have just put a better graphics card into this bad boy so I wouldn't have to spend endless sleepless nights tossing and turning deciding between this and a 14.1" with a better card?
My fingers are crossed three times over hoping that they'll offer a better card as an ugrade.
Dell did a great job of aping the design from current HP notebooks (everything from the rounded hinge, the touch-sensitive media buttons near the screen, and even the ExpressCard remote). Yes, I understand that HP doesn't have a 13.3 inch notebook in this design, don't get all riled up.
Notice that there's nothing about battery life. An ultra portable should have 6+ hours of life. The idea is to be able to carry it around all day to meeting and such. That's what I do with my Sharp MM20.
Fake.
Wow! Aren't you insightful!
Next time back up your less than intelligent comments.
I think it is a fake. I do not think that ilancen (above) has been clear about why.
It is fake because it is fantastic and it is different in two ways. Dell designs bricks. Even the XPS line is just a bunch of nice bricks with racing stripes.
We don't normally see new Dells as a computer-gen image, but these XPS m1330 "revealed" shots are rendered. We don't normally hear about a new dell all at once. We usually get word from someone has seen it in a presentation, and may have low-res pictures and no port-level stats. Then, it just shows up a few weeks later.
The Wal^Mart story is different, but it is not fantastic. Both companies are obsessed with low cost distribution, and Dell is trying to find a way to gain share.
How does it feel to be wrong? Both the m1330 and a slew of Inspiron laptops have been confirmed directly from the horse's mouth!
Looks like we're going to have to learn how to type without looking at the keys (they're all blank).
The price on the Sonys hurt, but are the XPS's really that much better? All the decent coupons on the Dells seem to be for Inspirons only, and in the end the price isnt all that different between the two.
Then again I've heard about how horrid Sony's support is, so if the XPS system can provide matching style and performance (and a decent screen), this may be a decent choice...
I can definitely vouch for Sony's support being very poor, my S series laptop stopped booting a couple of weeks back,. It took a week for an engineer to come out and replace the motherboard, it now boots but hangs after 15-30minutes of usage and Sony are refusing to believe its a hardware problem unless I revert it to the factory default install, unfortunately in doing that the damn thing hung again and I'm left with a 4lb paperweight...
grrrr
Having said that I'd definitely buy another Sony, I'd just get a better warranty package.
are you people on crack?
this thing does NOT have a good design!!!! its a BAD thing that it looks like a vaio z or one of those HPs.
what the F is wrong with pc makers and this totally stupid slanted/wedge design factor? it looks so ugly in my opinion!!!
why cant they take cues from GOOD industrial design?
a flat, one toned, curvy edged machine that doesnt use that STUPID xps wow radical frikken high school dork gone to college flames everywhere extreme BULL CRAP branding would do dell some good. its been said they want to be more like Apple anyway, right?
Now that intel laptop prototype, THAT was impressive.
Actually, considering your comment about the wedge shape of laptops I'm not sure you know what "good" industrial design constitutes. Ever tried to type on a flat keyboard? It's not particularly comfortable is it? It's all these little things that help with overall usability.
What you're actually telling us is your opinion on whether this is aesthetically pleasing to you. You don't find it to be a pleasing design, whereas some of us think otherwise.
Personally, I find it attractive because it borrows styling cues from the Vaio SZ series and the HP Pavillions but may also come in at a lower price. It has a clean design without opting for a too simple look (although I hope the lid comes in black/silver as well). Yes, macbooks are regarded as an example of "good" design but I find the all black/white/brushed aluminium look a little boring after a while. They're easy to like because they have a neutral colour scheme and simple looking shape, and therefore don't offend the eyes as much as a competing product that opts for more distinctive colours and/or shapes.
Good design isn't just about putting out a product, making it all one colour and calling it 'minimal', it's about making a product that pleases your target audience. If Apple set out to create a laptop that appeals to as many people as possible, they've succeeded. If Dell has intended to make people re-think the notion of what you get with a Dell PC, they could be well on the way with this and their glass fringed monitor.
Oh God, that's another pathetic attempt to overcome apple's macbooks. Another pile of junk from Dell.
Gabe, my 710m "pile of junk" from last year has better specs than your brand new MacBook with a cheaper price. It's also in one piece, which is more than i can say for all those shiny Macs at the campus coffee shop.
overcome apples macbooks? waht you mean OVERCOME? and yes, lol i've had 4 dell latitudes (dads former office laptops) since 1997, and they all still work, havent broken, chipped etc... how often do you hear about dells falling apart (other than the battery issues, which STILL affect apple)? question number 2, how often do you hear about apples openin gaps, splitting etc? now, look at the price difference between the respective models... and mind you, all those complaints about the apples comes from a much smaller number of overall consumers... so a higher percentage of all the apple macbooks are reported than the dells.
eat my shorts!
Wow, a lovely 13.3", 4 pound "ultraportable" - such a useful term
"Ultraportable"? How can 1.8kg be ultraportable? My 7 year old Toshiba Portege 3440CT weighs 1.4kg, come on now!
I can tell you that my new macbook does have better specs than the 710m: 2.16>2.0, 1GB>512.... the only thing I envy about that 710m is the battery life of 5+hours, but I'm quit satisfied with this OS.
Yes and your MB also has the world's most shittastic warranty as well. This coming from someone who has had his MBP in for repairs no less then 7 times. (6 on the first MBP, 1 on the second.) now where Apple has had the system for about 3 weeks total. Fuck Apple. I don't care how good their OS is, their hardware sucks my ass. >:-(
Dell may suck but at least they usually are pretty damn responsive with repairs.
PS- And before you tell me oh you just had bad luck. So did two of my friends who had iBooks. They each had their logic boards replaced twice.
That sucks, man. I've heard a ton of bad stories about Apple, but I also have coworkers who 6-year-old Apple Laptops that haven't malfunctioned once. Granted, I've only had my MacBook for about two weeks, but so far I love it. Personally, I choose to try the experience out myself - sometimes it isn't that the company (whether it is Apple, Dell, Microsoft, Sony...) is all bad, it's just that the ones with bad experiences are especially vocal (and rightly so; if you had a shitty deal with a company, you have every right to bitch and moan.) while the satisfied customers have no reason to talk about it. I'm trying it out myself, and so are 7 of my friends. That'll be the true test.
What are you talking about? You really think the 710m maxes out at 512mb memory?
Your also comparing apple at their "best value" time when they have just updated their models (led screen, hurray?) to a laptop that I don't think you can even buy right now.
The price point of the macbook starts at 1099 + shipping + tax (with a 90/1 year day warranty, what sounds like mail in, wait in line for 4 hour warranty)
where I have seen the XPS M1210 (with a 3 year next day, come to you warranty) well loaded for 750 with shipping and tax, so comparing it to dells lower home line isn't exactly fair. Of course the Dells you can find deals and coupons on where Apple keeps pretty much the same price for at least 6 months and highly controls any deals on them. Mac people act like having the option to have a cheaper laptop is someone an advantage. For thinking differnt you sure hate choice.
anyone know when this is going to be available.
june 29th
26th of june to be more exact :P
How does it compare to the Apple MacBook Pro Quad Core 17" Machine?
quad core macbook pro? when was that?
Way too heavy for a so-called "ultraportable"... Give me the same specs with a 12" screen and no optical for 2.0 pounds, and I'm there.
I'm a Dell X1 ultra portable user and have been without an optical drive for my last two laptops (IBM X40). For a pure road warrior, ditching an optical drive is weight happily surrendered.
The Dell X1's biggest problem is their slightly cramped keyboard key size. Hopefully, this slightly wider unit will move back to a standard key size.
I've had a Panasonic W2 (2.8 pounds) for almost four years. Now I have my eye on the new 1.8 pound Toshiba, as soon as it's available with the 64 gb flash drive. The only thing I don't like about that one (from what I've read) is that it doesn't have the new Santa Rosa chip in it.
this will seriously give Apple a run for their money...and I do love Macs!
Hot? I see nothing hot about it--unless it scalds your lap like the D610 I'm using right now. Perhaps it will also fall apart in under 2 years like this one. I would like an LED screen, though.
And the screen resolution on this model is . . . ?
To chris fredette
The nVidia card only will support 1900X1200 in 16 bit colour... change that first and then change resolution... I think..
This is agreat deal from Dell although I would prefer an upgrade to m1210 with this graphics card, more resolution, and the led screen...
Give Apple a run for its money? I doubt it. This thing is ugly ... and specs regardless, it's still running an inferior OS. You can't shine a turd and yet that's what the PC market continues to try to sell to you Windows fanboys. As far as it being an "ultraportable" ... hardly; not at that screen size and weight.
It's high time that Mac users realised that the term 'PC' is not synonymous with 'Windows'. I remember about five years ago when Steve Jobs touted the PowerPC as 'the most powerful personal computer available'. In case you didn't know, that's what PC stands for.
I think the term 'inferior OS' should only be applied respectively to an OS, depending on the task at hand. If you're playing with photos, I'd say Windows is inferior to OSX. If you're playing computer games (decent ones), OSX is inferior to Windows.
You can't plainly say one OS is better than another; they're designed for different things. It's like a paintbrush vs. pen argument.
It really isn't an ultraportable at 1.3 inches thick and 4 pounds, but that's still some very impressive specs for something that small.
Impressive. Can't believe I'm seeing a possible 32GB SSD drive in that thing. I could live with 2 or 3 of those RAIDed, but just one is a bit small. 13.3" with dedicated graphics at around 4 pounds is definitely ultraportable, though.
This is aimed at the Vaio SZ. Unless Sony gets their act together and makes the push to Santa Rosa with the SZ, they'll lose my business. I don't know whether or not to expect any more from Sony, other than a carbon-fiber chassis.
I'd wait to see what Sony pumps out and the price on the Asus W7s before I make any decisions. Whatever happens, it'll be better than a POS macbook.
Very Cool but If only they would have given us a price...
who said I had to use windows?
It looks like Dell is ripping off designs from SONY from a few years back. Sigh can't they do ANYTHING original... Just buy and HP or a Mac
Apple will poo poo all over this...
I'm disappointed to see Dell using touch-sensitive media on this laptop. Sure it may seem cool at first, but from personally owning an HP dv2120us, I can tell you that they are nothing short of frustrating, particularly for volume control. This is one area in which I would prefer function over form.
Yup, you're a dumbass, no doubt.
1330 looks like dell in reverse order... no, wait, that would be 1130... i need sleep...
Yes...but will it run Linux!?
The specs are sweet though, a shame about the GS instead of GT card though. :(
Attention Gamers: This laptop is not for you.
This laptop is for business-world computing, which is not very taxing on a computer. Using any application with 3D acceleration is a rarity. Most likely this computer will spend most of its time making pretty graphs in Excel, surfing the web, and writing e-mails to the boss.
BTW: I'm an Apple fanboy, but other Apple fanboys that hype non-existent hardware (Mac Book Pro quad-core?) just make us look dumb. Good job, Dell, for coming out with an LED-backlit display. Let's hope Apple is not too far behind.
@Aaron
"BTW: I'm an Apple fanboy"
No you're not. Unlike yourself, fanboys employ neither logic nor reason. :)
Nice 'puter. Have looked forward to SSD, LED and HDMI. And all this on a 13.3", nice DELL!
Now give us that nice tablet you bragged about..
BTW: the earbuds are either Sennheiser CX300 or Creative EP-630 :P
looks exactly my sony sz, the remote is a nice touch tho
So, Your OS didn't clearly define where you should have hit the reply button.
If you don't think this laptop is sweet (even against a mac), then you are a dumbass.
---------------------
On a side note, if this thing has a nice resolution with all the colors ;) ... I can't resist.. :(
I thik Dell took some of my idea of a Dell 1320, posted at IdeaStorm, check it out below.
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/64897/13_ultraslim_notebook__XPS_1320
Yes dell created and marketed this laptop, including the idea of a 16/32gb flash drive(pretty much the only real flash choices)and the idea of a 13 inch monitor in 2 months time after you posted that.
Also when I first the Playstation 2 was first announced, hey they should take this and make it faster, and play a better type of DVD, and call it the PS3, do you think Sony copied me, should I get a lawyer?
absolutely, sue their @$$ off! if only i can claim some connection to iphone
Indeed, mac OSX is a superior OS, that's why only 5% of the population owns PCs and use Windows....oh wait!
retards.
I wonder if the announcement today of Sandisk producing 64gb SSDs will affect this lappy? Sure would be nice to see double the storage!
Hey guys, does somebody know how much will this be?
I was going to buy a M1210 this summer for school, but after seeing this...
They should ditch the optical drive in favour of a 8600 card and a larger battery. External Optical is fine, Once your OS is installed whats the point of it?
Seems like a pretty slick laptop, but I would not recommend it to anyone for the reason that it has a 13.3 inch screen.
A small screen means its keyboard is crammed into the frame of the computer. It becomes very annoying because your fingers end up hanging off the side of the laptop and you just dont feel comfortable typing on that kind of laptop for an extended period of time.
Trust me, I know how it feels. I am suffering with a 12 inch iBook G4. The keyboard on this thing almost hangs off the edge of the laptop!!! SO FREAKING ANNOYING!!!
Uh... no thanks. Get a real vid card to match the rest of the specs please.
OOooOOoo..thats hot! I was just about to buy the SR Sony SZ, but this just might spark me to changemy mind...any clues when it'll be released(I dunno dells usual release structure if such thing exisits)
The only thing that distracted me about the sony sz was the thiness of the led screen...i heard many complains of broken screens....dells laptops go through a ton of rugged testing and I've dropped my dell a dozen times and the screens fine...Nice to see Dells getting rid of the rugged gamer like hummer designs.
"Rellin", no one said you have to use Windows but you miss the other point, its an ugly PC.
I'd also rather be a dumbass using a sleek, un-clunky machine rather than some poorly designed laptop with no aesthetic consideration.
No doubt a fun machine, but ugly design... But since when did Windows people care about design? All I ever hear 'bout in these Windows/OS X flaming sessions is price and 'performance,' and lowest-common denomenator operating systems like Windows and how many people use it...
Personally, I prefer to think of WHO uses something (and what it's used for) rather than HOW MANY use something (and what they do with it), but if you want to get down with a "McDonald's/Billions Served" mentality, do your thing.
And is the state of affairs so bleak on the Windows side that all I see are weak insults like "retard," "dumbass," and tonight's stakes winner "Applefags?"
You guys better get back to monitoring your torrents...
the real question for me is.... does it run Linux? (=is all the hardware supported?)
behold! my next pc!
4 pounds, has an SSD hard drive, LED backlight, Santa Rosa, looks nice. Only question is when and how much...
I think Dell's trying, this is a bit better. The pretty pictures look okay, but it really comes down to the quality of the build. They always have big gaps between parts, wierd/ugly crap on the bottom, bad/faux finishes. Oh, and too many connectors, like I still need a pcmcia slot? A phone jack? If I really need that, I'll get a dongle. Otherwise spare me and most everybody else the legacy crap.
P.S. so true about the Sony previous industrial design.
where is the d430?
must resist.. holycrap... i want this thing... bad... get them out already....
I would rather carry a 4lb dell, than a 3lb sony anyday. Sony is too expensive for what you get.
1) Can it play Counter Strike: Source, maxed?
2) With SSD and the 8400 graphics card... will it cost under $2400 after EEP (12% off)?
Once I have these answers, I will have made my decision.
my m1210 just started crying :(
To all the Apple fanboys out there, you really can't properly compare this machine to a MacBookPro, they are totally different form factor!
I have a Sony S series which is practically the same size and has a similar spec level (albeit a high end spec for a 2 year old machine). For me its the ideal combination of power graphics and weight/size.
I'm in the process of looking for a new computer and the list is Sony SZ and now this Dell they tick all the right boxes, the developments with the new MacBookPro yesterday are interesting. I went and had a look at one yesterday, but the thing is huge in comparison, with specs that aren't a million miles away.
Now if Apple come out with a 13.3 inch screen version then were talking but until then its not a contest, they are aimed at different markets.
And before anyone starts spouting OS bile, PC v Mac, I use Ubuntu so I'm manufacture agnostic to a large extent.
@Brian
1) yes, it should. The M1210 nearly could and the 8400 GS is clearly more powerful.
2) no idea....
I was about to order an M1210 today, when i colleague highlighted this article to me. I'll wait for the release of this one.
And, as far as my knowledge goes, this won't be too far in the future. Somebody mentioned a date at the end of June, this sounds reasonable.
The m1330 should be released sometime in the 1st half of July i belive its July 10 but dont quote me on it!
Yes the new card has less vram but with the new chips set "santa rosa" it will still out proform the old 7400.
wait until june 26th