Dell Precision M6700 Notebook Review: The Enterprise Split
by Dustin Sklavos on December 12, 2012 7:43 PM ESTConclusion: Lacking in Progress
As of this writing, the Dell Precision M6700 is the fastest mobile workstation I've yet tested; impressive considering its comparatively modest weight. Dell was actually able to get the M6700 to be slightly lighter than HP's EliteBook 8760w, its chief competitor, but 7.76 lbs. is totally reasonable given the robust performance of the hardware included. The PremierColor display is also among the most beautiful panels I've yet tested in a notebook, and the included software is a rarity among OEM solutions: useful and welcome. So if Dell is able to get all of the function right, why am I reluctant to recommend it?
If you're looking strictly for a more affordable mobile workstation, Dell once again has HP beat, offering the Precision M6700 for roughly a grand less than a comparable system from HP. So much like the desktop workstation space, Dell has the edge on price. The M6700, despite having a stranger internal layout, can be ordered with a full-fledged mSATA drive in the mSATA slot instead of just a cache drive, ultimately allowing you to order it with more storage from the factory than HP's offering.
The problems here are shared by Dell and HP, but Dell remains more on the back foot than HP is. Both are guilty of letting their designs sit idly by and coast on their successes, but Dell's is more notably archaic than HP's. The EliteBook 8770w is a better-looking and better-feeling notebook, with a smarter keyboard layout, a better touchpad, and it's easier to service. Dell has been quicker to update their internals, but they're both guilty of throwing last year's hardware into the ring, and if Dell wants to beat HP at the workstation game they're going to need to be hungrier than this.
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And what of the old stalwart, the ThinkPad? Unfortunately a victim of Lenovo's continued mismanagement of the ThinkPad line. What used to be the gold standard unfortunately now doesn't even have a model to compete with the likes of the 8770w and M6700; their top end is a 15.6" unit with the CPU support in place but mediocre, DDR3-based Quadro graphics hardware. This lumps Lenovo in the same pile as Apple; they just didn't show up to this party.
I may be too critical of Dell's Precision M6700. It has the performance, it has the price, it has the expandability, and looks aren't everything. Yet I can't help but be baffled by the substandard aesthetic, the less user-friendly access panel, and bizarre keyboard layout. The chassis HP was using prior to the 8760w and 8770w was a mismatched, miscolored eyesore, definitely a step below what Dell was and is using. But they went back, redesigned it from scratch, and came up with something a lot more pleasing and functional. So why can't Dell get it together?
If you prioritize build quality above all else, HP's EliteBook 8770w is going to be the one you want. If you want the performance and display quality at a lower price, the Dell Precision M6700 is the right call. I just wish Dell would produce enterprise notebooks as smartly designed as their current generation desktops.
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critical_ - Friday, December 14, 2012 - link
I'm not sure if Haswell will fix this but I'm hoping it does.Yes, the SIM is a full-sized slot. Google and download the owner's manual for the M6700 and you can see it for yourself. You can also see the slot on Page 2 of this review. It is to the left in the battery bay.
Yes, the antennas are already installed because they form a loop around the screen. Therefore they need to be installed during assembly of the laptop. You can see them in the same picture on Page 2. It is the horizontal slot towards to back of the laptop. You can see the white colored antenna lead just sitting there. In the bigger version of the picture you can see the second black colored antenna lead.
Dell has several WWAN cards. It is just the full length mini PCI-E module as the antennas are built in.
hrrmph - Friday, December 14, 2012 - link
Thanks again for the answers.Doh! I have the owner's manual for the latest HP, but I forgot to get the Dell. Thanks for your patience and help :)
p05esto - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
Trouble? More like AWESOME. I'm typing on the M6700 right now and this screen is as good as my new Dell IPS, beautiful. Best screen I have even seen on a laptop, better than glossy crap Apple screens.hrrmph - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
For non-CAD users, if you are looking at the low-end graphics options which are AMD FirePro:Dell: M6000 / Radeon HD7870M: 960 G-FLOPs
HP: M4000 / Radeon HD7770M: 615 G-FLOPs
Source: Wikipedia
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hrrmph - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
Audio:Dell: IDT 92HD93BXX
HP: ?IDT 92HD81B1X
What's the difference?
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hrrmph - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
OS:Dell gives you Win7-64 Ultimate for $34 extra.
HP tops out at Win7-64 Pro.
Ignoring Win8, of course.
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hrrmph - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
As of 2012-12-13:-----------------------------------------------
Dell: $2400
HP: $3200
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Assuming:
- Non-CAD user needing only low-end graphics;
- Core i7-3840QM is "good enough" ;
- User will install their own desired RAM; and
- User will install their own desired SSDs and HDDs.
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hrrmph - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
Even with a bunch of open question marks, I give:- Dell a narrow win on equipage and performance;
- Dell a big win on value due to the current heavily discounted price; and
- HP... yeah it looks and feels better... but not $800 better.
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hrrmph - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
But really?A display with fewer pixels?
A storage system that can't decide how many SATA 6.0Gbs ports it has?
A wireless system that lacks the current top standard?
A chassis with yesterdecade's peripheral ports?
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I think my tired ole HP ZD8000 will make it another year or two while these yo-yos get it sorted out to offer something that doesn't have so many compromises.
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stephenv2 - Thursday, December 13, 2012 - link
I'm finally posting a comment after consistently tired of the strong personal bias and hyperbole over minor details Dustin has in all his reviews.You have to dig and skim around all the personal angst over looks and minor OCPD examination of irrelevant details to glean what actually matters - in this review, it's the Dell is lighter, faster and cheaper than competition with a better display.
As power user, if you are choosing a notebook based on how it looks - you really can't describe yourself as power user. And describing the Dell's keyboard layout as "bizarre" is schoolgirl hyperbole.
I find myself going elsewhere these days for reviews these days. I like what Anandtech reviews, but the actual reviews are reading more and more like coffee shop poetry slams and less like substantive, objective breakdowns of performance and value.