I wanted to get one decent notebook that i wont have to change any time soon. This asus has about done it for me in regards to quality. The thing started developing cracks by itself. As for the so called vista express upgrade i didnt really see much of an express upgrade more of a painful one if i do buy this machine i will indeed stick with xp which will run much better.

 

I didnt just want toughness i wanted reliability, performance, something that looks nice. Is this something i can get from the M1710 or is it just looks and performance? Can i be seen using this notebook in 2-3 years without a problem?

 

What would be better to run with this machine xp or vista?

Thanks. The more and more i read about this machine the more i am pushed towards getting it!

 

I have noticed a few topics about the power supply having problems and the machine dieing beacause the power cant get to it.

 

Also i noticed that the support isnt that great. This was one of my reasons for looking at a Dell. Over priced but the support is meant to be good?

 

And do the machines seriously have a over heating problem like ive read on these forums?

 

I was just looking at the Dell buying options and i went though the Business site and was able to customise it with Vista Ultimate for the same price. Is this the same machine as the XPS on home site beacause they have different cataloge numbers and the pictures are different. Which would be better to go through?

The M1710 is a well-built laptop. Like most electronics, there are always the odd few that passes Quality Control checks when it shouldn't ... but humans aren't perfect :smileytongue:

 

The only complaint so far about the XPS is the paint used for the keyboard and palm resting surface, which gets marked easily overtime (the same goes for Toshiba laptops). HP business range laptops don't get this effect so perhaps Dell might want to consider what paint or material to use in the future for laptops that cost over £1500. Considering what you are getting from a M1710, it is actually well-priced (screen quality and graphics card in particular).

 

The screen quality and hinge are what stands out for me on the Dell, most laptops I've used or come across tend to do badly on this sector. Hinges that fall apart or become very stiff are common problems... plus try and find a 17" screen that offers a 1920x1200 resolution, only Dell comes to mind. The near-even brightness and vivid colours across the screen is also a plus.

 

I've yet to come across any problems people are experiencing, such as overheating. Considering my M1710 is on 24/7 at home and wherever I go (except for transportation), used heavily for music and graphics editing and also playing games (latest ones that demand a lot of resources such as Company of Heroes, C&C3 and STALKER), I can vouch for the M1710 as a well-built laptop.

 

As for the Dell business site, if you are based in the UK as I am, it doesn't include what we call VAT, hence it'll cost more when you checkout.

That sounds reassuring! I was going to get it through the business anyway and found that i would need to upgrade to vista ultimate as i want the Home prem stuff if i go through business side.

 

But that would drag down the notebook a lot more and seeing as vista is already over using the computer it  might be better going through the home site in case i do decide to get xp.

 

But what would be better XP or Vista?

 

Im buying it through the Dell UK also!

It will be a difficult choice to choose between XP and Vista.

 

For gaming and best compatibility, XP is at present the best choice. There are still a few niggly faults in Vista, mainly with drivers, which has brought it down. I originally purchased the M1710 with XP Pro before moving to Vista Ultimate. Drivers have improved albeit rather slowly.

 

Vista is more user-friendly and secure but also has a fair amount of restrictions in place as a result of these changes. However, with a bit of patience and experience over time, you can get it running smoothly. The only reason I won't recommend XP is because it is due to be decommissioned from support by Microsoft as of the end of January 2008. On a security point of view, I wouldn't take this risk.

 

It is worth mentionng that you should upgrade to 2Gb RAM. 1Gb RAM won't be sufficient under Vista.

I have used vista on my current Asus A7c which has only 1gb and it is being slowed down a lot!

 

I also need 2gb and dont really see the point in the 4gb beacause vista cant address it all anyway!

 

Have the overheating and power issues been resolved in the current M1710? beacause those seem to be a big concern for me!