New Dell laptops for Adobe work

[Tom Lowe]

Dell updated its website about a week ago with new laptops, using the new Intel redesigned i7 CPUs. I ordered this:

XPS 17

2nd generation Intel Core i7-2720QM processor
16GB DDR3 RAM
NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 3GB CUDA graphics
256GB SSD + 640GB 7200 RPM SATA HDD
17.3in FHD WLED TL (1920x1080) 3D
Bluray player
eSATA, USB 3.0 x2

Not too shabby for $2,800.

Only thing I wish is that it had two eSATA ports, maybe maybe more options for the screen.

BTW, I wonder if it might be useful to have a "Computers" forum here? Some posts like these sort of fall between OT and maybe Workflow?

[Elsie N]

Dell updated its website about a week ago with new laptops, using the new Intel redesigned i7 CPUs. I ordered this:

XPS 17

2nd generation Intel Core i7-2720QM processor
16GB DDR3 RAM
NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 3GB CUDA graphics
256GB SSD + 640GB 7200 RPM SATA HDD
17.3in FHD WLED TL (1920x1080) 3D
Bluray player
eSATA, USB 3.0 x2

Not too shabby for $2,800.

Only thing I wish is that it had two eSATA ports, maybe maybe more options for the screen.

BTW, I wonder if it might be useful to have a "Computers" forum here? Some posts like these sort of fall between OT and maybe Workflow?

Another vote for a computer forum.

Looks like a screamer, Tom.

[Sven Seynaeve]

Would be great if you could hook up a 3d monitor, or even edit on that screen in 3d, but we might need adobe update ppro enabling 3d native and including such a feature.

[Jay Gannon]

Or even a post production hardware forum?

[Subhadip Sen]

Yes, a Computers forum will be great. I have counted no less than 7 of the 20 threads currently in the OT first page being directly Hardware/Software oriented.

The XPS 17 sounds like a pretty good deal, given the functionality. A no-brainer addition would be the Blu-ray Writer, which costs just $75 more.

On a budget, if you can do without 3D, SSD and only (!) 8GB RAM, a similar config otherwise will be less than $1500.

[Paul Steinberg]

Dell have discontinued Expresscard port (like many manufacturers) on their notebooks so I ended up going with a Sony F series Vaio. Similar spec's, 1xeSATA, 2x USB3 but with express card to add FW800 for old Red Drives and additional eSATA for the new SSD and Flashcard readers.

[Peter Chang]

Would be great if you could hook up a 3d monitor, or even edit on that screen in 3d, but we might need adobe update ppro enabling 3d native and including such a feature.

With Cineform NeoHD/Neo3D, you can already edit S3D in Premiere Pro very easily.

[Peter Chang]

Looks like Alienware's M17x R3 is back online:
http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-M...voyager-launch

PAX East 2011: Alienware's M17x Notebook Steals the Show
http://www.notebookreview.com/defaul...andy+bridge+3d

The XPS17 is cheaper for equivalent specs. You just don't get the Alienware bling!

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

Insane specs indeed.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

The Dell specs are pretty impressive for the price. On the down side, their build quality seems to have reached a new low. I got a new XPS with 2.3GHz i7 2820QM about a week and a half ago. It died just a few days later. After spending over an hour on and off of hold, talking to Dell, they finally agreed to ship out a replacement. Unfortunately, they told me 2-3 weeks. Watching my order progress, nothing has happened yet, been a week, so we'll see... Judging by 4/1/11 being the estimated ship dates for new systems, I don't have very high hopes. I don't really want to ask for a refund at this point -- what else would I buy instead?

I did not buy the 3D version... Maybe I should have, it was only about $120 more. I don't know if I would use it though. I went with 2 x 640GB 7200rpm HDDs. No SSD...