Gizmodo Gifts
Where is the line drawn between notebooks and desktops? Nowhere close to the M2010 from Dell. This laptop measures in at 18-inches wide and 16 inches deep. It includes a full size keyboard as well as specs traditionally reserved for PCs like a beastly Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of ram, 256MB ATi Mobility graphics card. You may want to think twice before packing this up to take to class. It weighs in at 18 pounds. Yes, 18 pound. It will get the job done at home through, and that is for sure. Prices for the M2010 start at $2,500. [Product Page]
How can it be too much and not enough all at the same time???
I got this laptop about 1-2 years ago when it first came out. For a notebook, it runs very fast. Gorgeous screen as well. The reason why I bought it because I'm a designer and often time I meet up with clients and need to show some WIPs, with big screen.. it makes the discussion easier because they can see it in glorious big wide screen.
The downside though is -as gizmo stated- that thing is so firrgin heavy. It even feels heavier than 18lbs. I thought that it would be very portable, but I was wrong. This thing is not portable at all considering you have to bring that humongous battery all the time with you. But with all the fairness I'm very surprised that the battery holds about 3 hours (depends on apps you open). I mean with that giant screen, 2-3 hours is very impressive.
The other downside is that it's difficult to find the case. The case that Dell offers.. well hmm I'm not sure if I can call that a case.. it's more like a lugage to me.
But other than that.. this thing is a monster (speed wise) and very reliable as well. A showstopper as they say.
oops I mean not the battery but the power adapter
This looks like a computer where there is no market for it. Make a decision as to what you are, notebook or desktop!
So how would this be better (or faster) then a MacBook Pro? Oh, right, if you wanted to club someone to death.
@james-42: Read what belief said. It's really just the huge screen. It's really more like an iMac.
I believe the keyboard undocks if I am not mistaken
The keyboard is a detachable bluetooth bit of awesome that recharges when magnetically connected back to the base. I would have one right now, but the fact that the graphics card hasn't been updated in a year means that beautiful screen is DX9 only, and I don't want to run Crysis with last year's graphics.
@james-42: I don't know if that thing is faster than MacBookPro or not. But strangely it is faster than my desktop machine (running the same config slightly faster on desktop, with both freshly installed XP).
Speed wise this thing is very reliable. And amazingly runs very QUIET. The DVD drive is a bit noisy though although I almost rarely use it.
And you can undock the keyboard, and amazingly the bluetooth works from quite a distant. Unfortunately the keyboard (at least mine) was plagued with some bugs, especially waking up from hyber mode. But when it's running, the keyboard and mouse work just fine. No lag or whatsoever.
oops what i mean by slightly faster on my desltop is.. the config is slightly better on my desktop.
If this thing had a better graphics card (ie 8800gtx) it would be pretty sweet. A portable gaming desktop weighing at 18 pounds would be tolerable.
@Belief:
"Unfortunately the keyboard (at least mine) was plagued with some bugs, especially waking up from hyber mode." My MacBook has the same issue sometimes (under XP).
My comment above was snarky, but I do like this thing, if nothing else it has flavor. So few things have flavor these days. I respect Dell for coming up with it and sticking with it.
I doubt it's the right thing for most people, but I love that it is exactly the right thing for a few people.
Well, considering most people with laptops just have it for portability between AC outlet to AC outlet, and rarely use it for mobile computing, that's where this market is.
Why compromise on specs and hardware when in the end, what people want is a computer that sits on their desk, and maybe once a week actually bring it somewhere? E.g., maybe they telecommute. This is the system they use at home, and when they have to show up at the office, they bring it in, and poof, it's setup like at home.
When first reading about this computer, a guy who works at trade shows seemed to fit the niche perfectly. He needs a real computer with him, but he has to pack it up and move it. It seemed like it was made for him.
@Worf: Yeah, that's why I saved a couple of thousand dollars and got a MacBook. It's also a bit easier to travel with a small, thin five pound laptop, then an 18 pound computer.
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