Dell m4600 mobile workstation

NikonsandVstroms · March 25, 2012

I'm looking at getting a mobile 15" workstation since this would become my main computer for a month at a time and they have amazing service (well Dell has been great to me at least with my last 2 desktop worsktations). So does anyone have any opinion on this one? Or any other mobile workstations? I'm looking at refurbs since they come with 3 years of service it's not much of a risk.

Richard · March 25, 2012

That model is on my short list for my next machine. It seems to have pretty much everything. You might want to also take a look at the Lenovo ThinkPad W520. The Dell supports dual hard drives, so you can have one SSD and another normal drive, while the Lenovo has a built-in screen calibrator. Otherwise they are fairly similar.

Let us know if you buy it--I'd be very interested in hearing your impressions.

Newsy · March 25, 2012

Make sure you get the optional UltraSharp™ display with PremierColor technology - this gives you a screen with an IPS tft LCD panel which is best for viewing angles. Gives you minimal color/gamma shift when the panel is not square on to your eyes.

W.W. Webster · March 25, 2012

Isn't "mobile workstation" an oxymoron?

Richard · March 26, 2012

Newsy wrote: »

Make sure you get the optional UltraSharp™ display with PremierColor technology - this gives you a screen with an IPS tft LCD panel which is best for viewing angles. Gives you minimal color/gamma shift when the panel is not square on to your eyes.

Do you happen to know whether it's matte or glossy? I hate glossy.

Newsy · March 26, 2012

Richard wrote: »

Do you happen to know whether it's matte or glossy? I hate glossy.

The PremierColor screen has a matte finish.

Lots of YouTube videos on this laptop so watch them.

Review with standard Full HD screen (but not IPS); screen is matte.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Precision-M4600-Notebook.62946.0.html

Review with IPS screen.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6400&review=dell+precision+m4600+mobile+workstation

User Review without the IPS screen.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/586301-user-review-dell-precision-m4600-15-6-mobile-workstation.html
... Some comments in it that are somewhat misleading - just because a screen uses an IPS tft matrix does not mean it requires a 10bit video card (i.e. 10bit Red + 10bit Green + 10bit Blue = 30bit system).

Review with PremierColor IPS screen.
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell-precision-m4600/4505-3121_7-34854542.html#reviewPage1
One thing we did notice is a pulsing or flickering when the backlight is reduced to about 75 percent brightness

NikonsandVstroms · March 27, 2012

Newsy wrote: »

The PremierColor screen has a matte finish.

Lots of YouTube videos on this laptop so watch them.

Review with standard Full HD screen (but not IPS); screen is matte.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Precision-M4600-Notebook.62946.0.html

Review with IPS screen.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6400&review=dell+precision+m4600+mobile+workstation

User Review without the IPS screen.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/586301-user-review-dell-precision-m4600-15-6-mobile-workstation.html
... Some comments in it that are somewhat misleading - just because a screen uses an IPS tft matrix does not mean it requires a 10bit video card (i.e. 10bit Red + 10bit Green + 10bit Blue = 30bit system).

Review with PremierColor IPS screen.
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell-precision-m4600/4505-3121_7-34854542.html#reviewPage1
One thing we did notice is a pulsing or flickering when the backlight is reduced to about 75 percent brightness

Most I'm finding are 1080 but without the IPS screen :cry

Dan7312 · March 27, 2012

The Dell m6600 is available with a larger IPS screen (1920x1080) sceen.

NikonsandVstroms wrote: »

Most I'm finding are 1080 but without the IPS screen :cry

NikonsandVstroms · March 27, 2012

Dan7312 wrote: »

The Dell m6600 is available with a larger IPS screen (1920x1080) sceen.

A little bit too big, I have an amazing case from my old 17" Inspiron desktop replacement but it was a different aspect ratio so I need to use a ~15".

Richard · March 28, 2012

NikonsandVstroms wrote: »

Most I'm finding are 1080 but without the IPS screen :cry

I'm not sure that's a show-stopper in a laptop. As I understand it, the main advantage of IPS is that it expands the optimal viewing angles. With a laptop, it's easy enough to adjust the angle, though it's true that you need to be constantly aware to keep it right. If the color gamut is as wide on the non-IPS screen, then perhaps it doesn't matter.

NikonsandVstroms · April 12, 2012

Richard wrote: »

I'm not sure that's a show-stopper in a laptop. As I understand it, the main advantage of IPS is that it expands the optimal viewing angles. With a laptop, it's easy enough to adjust the angle, though it's true that you need to be constantly aware to keep it right. If the color gamut is as wide on the non-IPS screen, then perhaps it doesn't matter.

I'll grab a 24" IPS screen with it, if the Tokina 17-35 turns out to be a great lens I can get that and the laptop with only a few hundred extra after selling the Oly gear

Dell m4600 mobile workstation

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