Well, alright, it might be heavy and hot. However, I ordered one (though not the EE) for one reason: to use it as a 'mobile' workstation. The fast desktop CPU and a system board supporting 400 MHz, 1 GB of RAM, allows for serious software development. One can run a Database server next to a WebSphere Exclipse Application Studio development environment.
I think the uber laptop category is overrated. People think the don't want portability but why are you buying a notebook? If you need a bigger screen, keyboard etc. just get a external monitor, keyboard etc. I think they are like SUV's, big, fat, ungainly and sucking up energy.
I recently bought a notebook and look at nearly every model out there. I considered everything from ultralight to luggables.
I needed it for everything - work (Adobe Creative Suite, Project, MS Office 2003), art (After Effects, 3D, Vegas+DVD) and play (mostly EA Sports titles). Plus I wanted take it out of the house 3-4 times a week and run on battery for at least 2 hours.
Solution? Despite not being an IBM fan and wishing Thinkpads looked cooler, I'm bought a t41p. Sure, this Dell (or insert huge Alienware, Sager) beast might be a few percentage points faster, but at what cost is weight, price, durability and practicality?
P4-M at 1.7, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB 7200 RPM, ATI Mobility Fire GL T2 w/ 128 MB driving a fantastic SXVGA LCD. $3150 delivered. Oh, and it's 5.5 lbs and comes with Gigabit Ethernet and a/b/g wireless with a great antenna design that doubled my signal strengh over my g PCcard and boosted ranged by 20%. Plus the drive shock protection etc. etc.
After 6 weeks, I love it. 5 hours of battery life, fast as a desktop. Only quibbles are FN/CTRL key placement and tinny speakers. But then what notebook has great speakers...
This is the best notebook I have ever touched. If you need larger screen, the t50p is available.
So if you are considering a "desktop replacement", you might want to think again as I did. Even if your computer never leaves the house, I carry this one all over, including sitting outside. The difference between 5.5 and 10+ lbs, between 5 hours battery life and 45 minutes is a big deal.
I fail to see what real advantage a machine like this offers. You can get 7200 rpm disks, fast CPU, fast memory, fast GPU's without building a brick. All this gets you is some very weak bragging rights.
Frankly I applaud Dell for taking this step. Dell are perhaps one of the market leaders in top-spec/high-end notebooks (I wouldn't trust their ultraportables as much as an IBM or Sony) and this is simply evolution. Dell were the first (and only) to implement the GeForce 4 Go 4200 (based on the GF4 Ti architecture) which is still a formidable mobile card (ok, it's power consumption was bad) and beats out the GeForce FX Go 5650 in DX8.1 benchmarks. If you don't like it though, then don't buy it. But if you do like to transport your machine to friends' houses for gaming/watching films, this is a godsend. I suspect Dell won't charge stupid premiums for it either since it is based around their current notebooks (so no major redesigns) and Dell are normally quite good about this kind of thing.
One thing does spring to mind though is rather than kitting out these machines with desktop CPUs and mobile GPUs, why not either kit the thing out completely with desktop parts (and scrap a battery - perhaps a WD Raptor 74Gb hard disk could go in it then) or exchange the parts for a mobile CPU and a desktop GPU (i.e. shifting the cooling capacity there instead) as I could bet a Radeon 9800 Pro with a P4-M at 2.6Ghz would slaughter a P4 3.4Ghz (800Mhz FSB) with a Mobility Radeon 9700. Power is not an issue (if your going to run off mains - perhaps you could have a small battery for standby modes and moving the machine small distances?), since Shuttle have very good small power supplies you could squeeze one of those 250W supply somewhere I'd think. Anyone else wondered this ever perhaps?
It was only a matter of time before Dell realized that companies like Sager (via www.powernotebooks.com) and the like were making some bucks from these uber laptops. For me? No. But for the mobile gamer who has a ton of cash... yes. Dell wants to make money off everything.
It'll be interesting to see (or feel) how hot these Prescott based laptops actually run. Unless the mobile Prescott uses far less power than the desktop version I fail to see how it can be a viable option.
How the hell can you cool a 3.4ghz prescott in a laptop when a desktop already can barely keep up with a 3.2ghz one? Bet the fan brings flashbacks of the fx5800ultra.
THG is saying that the system can also come with a P4EE instead of Northwood or Prescott. Costs start at around $2500 for the base model and scale up to $5000, apparently. (OUCH!)
And yes, kuk, it is definitely ugly. I would go so far as to call it fugly. If the back cover is a clip-on thing, at least it can be changed. That current design is looking like a Matrix wannabe, and Matrix went downhill with the last two movies. It's so 1999.... :p
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thbde - Monday, March 1, 2004 - link
Well, alright, it might be heavy and hot. However, I ordered one (though not the EE) for one reason: to use it as a 'mobile' workstation. The fast desktop CPU and a system board supporting 400 MHz, 1 GB of RAM, allows for serious software development. One can run a Database server next to a WebSphere Exclipse Application Studio development environment.A mobile CPU is simply not up to the task.
stephenvv - Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - link
I think the uber laptop category is overrated. People think the don't want portability but why are you buying a notebook? If you need a bigger screen, keyboard etc. just get a external monitor, keyboard etc. I think they are like SUV's, big, fat, ungainly and sucking up energy.I recently bought a notebook and look at nearly every model out there. I considered everything from ultralight to luggables.
I needed it for everything - work (Adobe Creative Suite, Project, MS Office 2003), art (After Effects, 3D, Vegas+DVD) and play (mostly EA Sports titles). Plus I wanted take it out of the house 3-4 times a week and run on battery for at least 2 hours.
Solution? Despite not being an IBM fan and wishing Thinkpads looked cooler, I'm bought a t41p. Sure, this Dell (or insert huge Alienware, Sager) beast might be a few percentage points faster, but at what cost is weight, price, durability and practicality?
P4-M at 1.7, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB 7200 RPM, ATI Mobility Fire GL T2 w/ 128 MB driving a fantastic SXVGA LCD. $3150 delivered. Oh, and it's 5.5 lbs and comes with Gigabit Ethernet and a/b/g wireless with a great antenna design that doubled my signal strengh over my g PCcard and boosted ranged by 20%. Plus the drive shock protection etc. etc.
After 6 weeks, I love it. 5 hours of battery life, fast as a desktop. Only quibbles are FN/CTRL key placement and tinny speakers. But then what notebook has great speakers...
This is the best notebook I have ever touched. If you need larger screen, the t50p is available.
So if you are considering a "desktop replacement", you might want to think again as I did. Even if your computer never leaves the house, I carry this one all over, including sitting outside. The difference between 5.5 and 10+ lbs, between 5 hours battery life and 45 minutes is a big deal.
I fail to see what real advantage a machine like this offers. You can get 7200 rpm disks, fast CPU, fast memory, fast GPU's without building a brick. All this gets you is some very weak bragging rights.
Ecmaster76 - Monday, February 16, 2004 - link
...Or just make a cube SFF PC with a folding LCD and keyboard.plewis00 - Sunday, February 15, 2004 - link
Frankly I applaud Dell for taking this step. Dell are perhaps one of the market leaders in top-spec/high-end notebooks (I wouldn't trust their ultraportables as much as an IBM or Sony) and this is simply evolution. Dell were the first (and only) to implement the GeForce 4 Go 4200 (based on the GF4 Ti architecture) which is still a formidable mobile card (ok, it's power consumption was bad) and beats out the GeForce FX Go 5650 in DX8.1 benchmarks. If you don't like it though, then don't buy it. But if you do like to transport your machine to friends' houses for gaming/watching films, this is a godsend. I suspect Dell won't charge stupid premiums for it either since it is based around their current notebooks (so no major redesigns) and Dell are normally quite good about this kind of thing.One thing does spring to mind though is rather than kitting out these machines with desktop CPUs and mobile GPUs, why not either kit the thing out completely with desktop parts (and scrap a battery - perhaps a WD Raptor 74Gb hard disk could go in it then) or exchange the parts for a mobile CPU and a desktop GPU (i.e. shifting the cooling capacity there instead) as I could bet a Radeon 9800 Pro with a P4-M at 2.6Ghz would slaughter a P4 3.4Ghz (800Mhz FSB) with a Mobility Radeon 9700. Power is not an issue (if your going to run off mains - perhaps you could have a small battery for standby modes and moving the machine small distances?), since Shuttle have very good small power supplies you could squeeze one of those 250W supply somewhere I'd think. Anyone else wondered this ever perhaps?
Pumpkinierre - Sunday, February 15, 2004 - link
What does 'copasetic' mean? Sounds Silicon Valley!Geekish Thoughts - Saturday, February 14, 2004 - link
It was only a matter of time before Dell realized that companies like Sager (via www.powernotebooks.com) and the like were making some bucks from these uber laptops. For me? No. But for the mobile gamer who has a ton of cash... yes. Dell wants to make money off everything.daniel1113 - Saturday, February 14, 2004 - link
According to Dell, it is 9 punds, not 14...PrinceGaz - Saturday, February 14, 2004 - link
It'll be interesting to see (or feel) how hot these Prescott based laptops actually run. Unless the mobile Prescott uses far less power than the desktop version I fail to see how it can be a viable option.Serp86 - Saturday, February 14, 2004 - link
How the hell can you cool a 3.4ghz prescott in a laptop when a desktop already can barely keep up with a 3.2ghz one? Bet the fan brings flashbacks of the fx5800ultra.CrystalBay - Friday, February 13, 2004 - link
Well it's a start... I wont say anything A64M, oops, point me somewhere around 2k with a M11 or M10pro and I'll go...TrogdorJW - Friday, February 13, 2004 - link
THG is saying that the system can also come with a P4EE instead of Northwood or Prescott. Costs start at around $2500 for the base model and scale up to $5000, apparently. (OUCH!)And yes, kuk, it is definitely ugly. I would go so far as to call it fugly. If the back cover is a clip-on thing, at least it can be changed. That current design is looking like a Matrix wannabe, and Matrix went downhill with the last two movies. It's so 1999.... :p
dvinnen - Friday, February 13, 2004 - link
It uses a Prescott? SO what kind of battery life will it have, 23 mins?kuk - Friday, February 13, 2004 - link
Huge and ugly.CitizenKain - Friday, February 13, 2004 - link
14 pounds? Thats a bowling ball, not a laptop.