Hands-on with Dell's M1730 "Beast"

Beast is right, this thing is just a monster. We're fairly certain we've held laptop before that are lighter than the Dell M1730's LCD alone. That said, it can certainly pump out the graphics, and the amBX-esque lighting functions are kind of growing on us. An extra perk to the AGEIA PhysX systems is an exclusive Unreal Tournament 3 level with extra explosion fodder, which is possibly one of the best selling points we've heard for the physics card.

Gallery: Hands-on with Dell's M1730 "Beast"

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[CharlieX @ Sep 27th 2007 4:53PM]

Ah, the lauded Playstation school of Highly Reflective Design

[Aaron Falcone @ Sep 27th 2007 4:55PM]

that small LCD looks exactly like the one in the Logitech G15 keyboard...

[ja$on @ Sep 27th 2007 5:22PM]

It also looks the same as the LCD on my Logitech Z-10 speakers.

[Justin @ Sep 27th 2007 5:54PM]

Maybe Logitech help developed the keyboard? The apps displayed look exactly the same as the ones on my G15. Wonder if the different macros for the G15 will work on this Dell.

[Nerdtalker @ Sep 28th 2007 1:36AM]

I just placed my order for a fully decked out XPS M1730, running like $6,300.

I can confirm the LCD is indeed a Logitech, as this is in the parts manifest:

1 320-5789 Logitech Gaming LCD $0.00

[carguy84 @ Sep 28th 2007 10:14AM]

A $6300 Dell laptop???

Go check out Alienware or better yet, Sager. Unless your forced to buy Dell from work.

[telepheedian @ Sep 27th 2007 4:59PM]

Still a non-portable, but doesn't look nearly as bad as it did in the earlier shots.

[JDizzle @ Sep 27th 2007 5:01PM]

Yeah, if you're going to be lugging around that thing for the purpose of gaming, I'd say you're better off just getting a better equipped desktop for the same price.

[Bigsby @ Sep 27th 2007 5:03PM]

ZOMG! AN XTRA LVL 4 PPLZ WIT D4 PHYSX CARD!! A WWHHOOLLEE!!!!! LVL 4 DEMZ!!! OMFG!!!

But seriously though, the PhysX card was a good idea, but it's dead for the most part. That computer looks freaking huge though, almost as big as an Xbox!

[jg @ Sep 27th 2007 5:16PM]

Gotta admit though, it looks a hell of a lot better without the camo paint job or whatever it was sporting before.

[jamesc @ Sep 27th 2007 5:29PM]

You gotta have the extra explosion fodder.

[Dan @ Sep 28th 2007 1:28AM]

Best Buy Salesman - "Oh, yeah, you'll totally lag without the level flooding explosion card. In fact, I don't even think the game'll run. Best get two - daddy needs a new processor."

[bg @ Sep 27th 2007 5:46PM]

the dell site to configure the m1730 is broke. clicking "build yours" for the "good" configuration does not give you anything to configure. the "better" configuration does not allow you to change out the optical drive and clicking the "best" build yours button takes your browser into a never-ending loop of refreshing. fix your site dell!

[kuzu-b @ Sep 27th 2007 6:06PM]

I bet the battery dies just from booting this thing up.

[Michael La Framboise @ Sep 27th 2007 6:11PM]

Dell? What Dell? Forget the Dell! -- Give me a copy of UT3 thats running on the Dell :) - gonna be one hell of a game :D

[Dan @ Sep 27th 2007 6:17PM]

I don't care what people say, I think it looks badass. It's so wild that it just says "screw you, I'm so powerful it doesn't matter how I look."

[John Doe @ Sep 27th 2007 6:50PM]

Before too many people bitch about the size...look up the term luggable PC. They were popular in the 90's and what goes around comes around. This is no different other then it is smaller and actually has a battery. Frankly Dell shouldn't have even bothered with the battery. Have the slot there for a battery but place a plastic filler in the spot with another fan for even better ventilation. Battery life is pointless on such a machine. The only point would be to move it from A to B and plug it back in.

[John Doe @ Sep 27th 2007 6:51PM]

PS- I still think the design looks nice. I don't care what anyone says.

[Ed @ Sep 27th 2007 7:11PM]

But will it blend?

[Fruition @ Sep 27th 2007 8:41PM]

Can you imagine the SIZE of the blender you would need to accomplish that?

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 28th 2007 1:31AM]

Toss in a Mac and you have an Apple Smoothie.

[John @ Sep 27th 2007 7:15PM]

Way way too big for a laptop. if people want something that big just get a desktop. it's probably lighter. how about getting a 6.8 pound Macbook pro with 80% of the power. Much better.

[Michael Mendoza @ Sep 27th 2007 7:36PM]

Wow, that countdown clock on the top-right of the behemoth laptop... it says 00:05:00, is that how much battery life is left after starting up UT2007?

LOL! It's a nice laptop, got awesome features, but I'll stick with my 1" thin 17" C2D MBP. May not have an Dual 512mb 8700GT, but it gets the job done and it's actually nice-looking.

[alberto gonzales @ Sep 27th 2007 8:04PM]

If engadget cannot use proper grammer, then i will aint not done do it both, ahhh whatever

[Ogy @ Sep 27th 2007 10:56PM]

Ugly or not, atleast they changed the surface around the K-bord. I had
that "portable" (actually still have, in the closet) Gen2 and after
1st month of use palmprints were developed over the palm rest
surface. BTW it is in closet now because of the infamous "dell
vertical line issue" now counting dozen, which still remains
unresolved. Unless someone considers 750 pounds for a replacement
screen as a resolution. If there is someone considering spending
ridiculous amount of money on that huge pile of
today-latest-tommorow-forgotten technology, purchase extended
warranty, you'll need one.


And please, comparing pears and Apples...

[hjb1000 @ Sep 28th 2007 1:28AM]

Worst industrial design ever!
If you're paying over 4K for a laptop, you at least want a good quality metal case construction rather than this cheap, shiny plastic stuff.

[PTTG @ Sep 28th 2007 2:37AM]

BAH! You say it's heavy? Have you forgotten what a REAL computer is like? You are not a geek until you have used wordperfect on an Osborne Toatable. The thing is 42 lbs. and has no battery. It has a 5 in screen and dual 5 in floppy drives. One of these was picked up in a tornado, dropped 5 miles away, and still worked. These nanotech micro laptops are spoiling you!

[Cassini @ Sep 29th 2007 3:57AM]

This laptop is absolutely INCREDIBLE. And in these particular photos, with the extended keyboard (which I'm happy to see they finally incorporated - and backlit, too!), the blue lighting, and the carbon-fiber finish, I think the laptop looks fantastic.

Is there anything this thing DOESN'T have?

OK, so no biometric reader, which I like and which they also should've included at that price, but I don't think that's gonna be a deal breaker.

It's got everything else... it's ticked practically all the boxes.


What I'd like to know is the performance of the Dual Link DVI port (that works as HDMI with an adaptor). I'd like to know what the performance output on the HDMI side of things is (and which version it supports - hopefully 1.3a). With dual vids, I'm unsure why they didn't just add a dedicated HDMI port to begin with. But it won't matter if the output is indeed 1.3a.

Also, the S-Vid port apparently (with a dongle of some sort) serves as composite, component, and S-PDIF ports, as well. I'd be curious to know the performance output in these modes as well.

And finally, what happened to that outer carbon-fiber finish? Dell doesn't show that as an option on their site. They only show the hydrographic pattern as the only option (aside from the color accents). Personally, I'd go with the CF.

[Cassini @ Sep 29th 2007 4:13AM]

One other thing... aren't the 8700M GTX or 8800M vid cards supposed to be available soon? Either of these cards in SLI would be preferable to what the M1730 has in it right now.

[CB @ Sep 29th 2007 7:59AM]

Ok I know computergeeks aren't the most pumped up on steroids kinda guys, but stop bitching about the size or weight for christs sake! The thing is still 10 times more portable than a desktop (and almost as powerful as one) even for the mere reason that you need a goddamn screen with you if you wanna transport a desktop. The machine is incredible, just ask the people who know about the sort of things!

[Donoho @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:40PM]

Vista Only :(