Dell's gaming power now in red or black

Dell introduced a flashy new notebook Tuesday in a bid to capture a gamer's sense of style.

The XPS M1710 features the horsepower needed to stay afloat while playing demanding games, with Intel's Core Duo processor and Nvidia's GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics chip. Its predecessor, the M170, used Intel's single-core Pentium M processor.

Credit: Dell

The Special Edition Formula Red and Black versions of the XPS M1710.

The new notebook looks a bit like the XPS M170 but is available in either black or red. The Special Edition Formula Red model actually costs more than the Metallic Black notebook, but it also comes with a faster processor and 512MB of memory dedicated to the graphics processor.

Dell has stepped up its pursuit of the gaming market over the last few quarters with the introduction of its XPS line. Gamers tend to splurge on tricked-out systems beyond the needs of average PC buyers, making them a more profitable and highly coveted customer. Dell recently increased its investment in the gaming community by snapping up boutique PC vendor Alienware in a rare acquisition designed to boost Dell's standing in the gaming community.

The Metallic Black M1710 costs $2,600 with Intel's Core Duo T2400 processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, and a 60GB hard drive. The Formula Red model will be available in the U.S. and Canada only. The price with the T2500 processor and an 80GB hard drive is $3,400. Both notebooks feature Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition operating system.

More detailed specifications are available on Dell's Web site.

To see the CNET review of the XPS M1710, click here.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Where to laptops come from?

See picture.

[umbrae]

Humina Humina

If the desk is rockin, don't come a knocking... :)

[ericfish]

Well, you see...

When a processor and a motherboard love each other very much...

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Where to laptops come from?

See picture.

[umbrae]

Humina Humina

If the desk is rockin, don't come a knocking... :)

[ericfish]

Well, you see...

When a processor and a motherboard love each other very much...

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Where do laptops come from?

See picture.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Where do laptops come from?

See picture.

[Jambi3]

just curious

how the INtel MacBooks stack up . . .

[Rolndubbs]

Im guessing

I would guess they post comparable scores in CPU intensive tasks, not so comparable scores in GPU intensive tasks(assuming they both are running the same amount of ram). A 512 7900 in a laptop makes me want one very badly though.

[Rolndubbs]

Im guessing

I would guess they post comparable scores in CPU intensive tasks(assuming they both are running the same amount of ram), not so comparable scores in GPU intensive tasks. A 512 7900 in a laptop makes me want one very badly though.

[Jambi3]

just curious

how the INtel MacBooks stack up . . .

[Rolndubbs]

Im guessing

I would guess they post comparable scores in CPU intensive tasks, not so comparable scores in GPU intensive tasks(assuming they both are running the same amount of ram). A 512 7900 in a laptop makes me want one very badly though.

[Rolndubbs]

Im guessing

I would guess they post comparable scores in CPU intensive tasks(assuming they both are running the same amount of ram), not so comparable scores in GPU intensive tasks. A 512 7900 in a laptop makes me want one very badly though.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Great hardware. Now if only it was supported

I've had several of these systems come through my office now. The hardware is fantastic and very nice indeed. If you're going to play a game, then these are really nice systems.

If you want to use them for any other purpose, then save $2000 and buy anything else.

The hardware is *very* Windows Media Center specific, even to the point that if you want to install XP because you're silly and want to join a domain or something (Media Center doesn't support domains), then you'll find that most of the customized hardware that makes the system so neat *isn't* supported driver-wise for XP. That's not surprising, since this was designed from the ground up to be a Windows Media Center system instead.

Most of the time XP drivers can work, but for hardware specific items, you'll find you have a lot of dead buttons on the system.

For Windows Media Center, it's a great system. For games, it'sa great system. For anything else, it will be crippled.

I Must be getting old

What actually IS Windows Media Center ?

[microsoft slayer]

what a piece of junk

why would anyone waste money on a crippled operating system?

[Vegaman_Dan]

Great hardware. Now if only it was supported

I've had several of these systems come through my office now. The hardware is fantastic and very nice indeed. If you're going to play a game, then these are really nice systems.

If you want to use them for any other purpose, then save $2000 and buy anything else.

The hardware is *very* Windows Media Center specific, even to the point that if you want to install XP because you're silly and want to join a domain or something (Media Center doesn't support domains), then you'll find that most of the customized hardware that makes the system so neat *isn't* supported driver-wise for XP. That's not surprising, since this was designed from the ground up to be a Windows Media Center system instead.

Most of the time XP drivers can work, but for hardware specific items, you'll find you have a lot of dead buttons on the system.

For Windows Media Center, it's a great system. For games, it'sa great system. For anything else, it will be crippled.

I Must be getting old

What actually IS Windows Media Center ?

[microsoft slayer]

what a piece of junk

why would anyone waste money on a crippled operating system?

[microsoft slayer]

ugly laptops

urghh...who would be in their right mind to waste money on such crap!

[Llib Setag]

FUGLY

Dell lame attempt to be more like Apple & less like Walmart of PC Industry...

Dude, you're getting a FUGLY Dull.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
"loser"...
=8-)

[microsoft slayer]

ugly laptops

urghh...who would be in their right mind to waste money on such crap!

[Llib Setag]

FUGLY

Dell lame attempt to be more like Apple & less like Walmart of PC Industry...

Dude, you're getting a FUGLY Dull.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
"loser"...
=8-)

[Jonathan]

Yah..I think my neighbor had the same siding on his house.

Just not in red or black. Seriously how freaking hard is it NOT to make a fugly laptop?

[Jonathan]

Yah..I think my neighbor had the same siding on his house.

Just not in red or black. Seriously how freaking hard is it NOT to make a fugly laptop?

[Llib Setag]

MacBook Pro Cheaper + WIN XP Boot Camp

Apple MacBook Pro:

2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
1GB 667 DDR2 - 2x512 SO-DIMMs
100GB Serial ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
15.4-inch TFT Display
BootCamp Software FREE (XP on Macintel)
Mac OSX + iLife Suite + Front Row Media
built-in iSight Internet Video Camera & software (AOL AIM compatible)
$2399.00
DELL BLACK $2600.00

2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 - 2x1GB SO-DIMMs
100GB Serial ATA drive @ 7200 rpm
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
15.4-inch TFT Display
BootCamp Software FREE (XP on Macintel)
Mac OSX + iLife Suite + Front Row Media
built-in iSight Internet Video Camera & software (AOL AIM compatible)
$3199.00
DELL RED $3400.00 (80 GB HD & 1GB DDR2)

Apple MacBook Pro ALUMINUM body + can run MacOSX Unix/Linux/WinXP on Intel Core Duo.

[Rolndubbs]

Macbook not a gaming rig

The macbook is a fine notebook, but it wasn't designed with gaming in mind. The XPS line is designed for gaming and media, hence the premium price on the units. I mean, 512 7900 vs 256 1600. The macbook is a fine unit, but it would get spanked in any gaming benchmark by a wide margin.

[Llib Setag]

MacBook Pro Cheaper + WIN XP Boot Camp

Apple MacBook Pro:

2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
1GB 667 DDR2 - 2x512 SO-DIMMs
100GB Serial ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
15.4-inch TFT Display
BootCamp Software FREE (XP on Macintel)
Mac OSX + iLife Suite + Front Row Media
built-in iSight Internet Video Camera & software (AOL AIM compatible)
$2399.00
DELL BLACK $2600.00

2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 - 2x1GB SO-DIMMs
100GB Serial ATA drive @ 7200 rpm
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
15.4-inch TFT Display
BootCamp Software FREE (XP on Macintel)
Mac OSX + iLife Suite + Front Row Media
built-in iSight Internet Video Camera & software (AOL AIM compatible)
$3199.00
DELL RED $3400.00 (80 GB HD & 1GB DDR2)

Apple MacBook Pro ALUMINUM body + can run MacOSX Unix/Linux/WinXP on Intel Core Duo.

[Rolndubbs]

Macbook not a gaming rig

The macbook is a fine notebook, but it wasn't designed with gaming in mind. The XPS line is designed for gaming and media, hence the premium price on the units. I mean, 512 7900 vs 256 1600. The macbook is a fine unit, but it would get spanked in any gaming benchmark by a wide margin.

dell power

The only game dell is good at is called,"shaft the customer."

[booboo1243]

but they're so very good at it...

When you've played the game for as long as Dell has, you start learning all the little tips and tricks that only the seasoned pros pull off with any regularity.

As an example, how many people can grenade-jump in Counterstrike?

dell power

The only game dell is good at is called,"shaft the customer."

[booboo1243]

but they're so very good at it...

When you've played the game for as long as Dell has, you start learning all the little tips and tricks that only the seasoned pros pull off with any regularity.

As an example, how many people can grenade-jump in Counterstrike?

[booboo1243]

whoops...

"The Special Edition Formula Red model actually costs more than the Metallic Black notebook, but it also comes with a faster processor and 512MB of memory dedicated to the graphics processor."

So, in order to get the faster machine, I have to buy the red one? What gives? I can't believe Dell would make that kind of marketing mistake... To be quite honest, every gamer I know is totally into customization, making their box unique... Forcing them into a "red notebook" just isn't going to work. Try again next year, Dell, we'll stick with our "homegrown" solutions - for half the cost, I might add.

[booboo1243]

whoops...

"The Special Edition Formula Red model actually costs more than the Metallic Black notebook, but it also comes with a faster processor and 512MB of memory dedicated to the graphics processor."

So, in order to get the faster machine, I have to buy the red one? What gives? I can't believe Dell would make that kind of marketing mistake... To be quite honest, every gamer I know is totally into customization, making their box unique... Forcing them into a "red notebook" just isn't going to work. Try again next year, Dell, we'll stick with our "homegrown" solutions - for half the cost, I might add.