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Windows Vista - Dell XPS 410

Initial Review - February 6, 2007
Stephen Rinaldi

After expecting the release of Microsoft's new Vista operating system for many months, the day finally arrived about two weeks ago.

Is there any "Wow" factor, as Microsoft puts it?

I've had each of the last three Microsoft operating system releases - and each were purchased on a new machine within the first week of release - Windows ME, Windows XP and now, the new Windows Vista. I've only used XP for the since 2002.

Now, I still remember the issues I had when trying to make all my Windows 98/ME software and peripherals work on my new XP machine..., and they aren't all fond memories. I think I was searching for updated drivers for a month or two before things were working semi-smoothly. Then, of course, the major service packs and the endless stream of patches were released, which further complicated things. But even with all extra set up involved, XP was a big improvement over ME.

I've had my main XP machine since 2002 - and in early 2005 it was finally up-to-date - and then immediately crashed. I had to run a repair installation of XP, which brough it back to it's original "pre-Service Pack 1" state. To make a long story short, I could never get it updated back to Service-Pack 2, it just wouldn't take.

Now, you might be wondering why anyone would want to take the chance of going through the same potentially long and torturous experience with a brand new operating system?

Well, at the risk of being called a masochist, I'll tell you that not only do I have enormous respect for Bill Gates and Microsoft, I also appreciate the incredible complexity of designing these ridiculously intricate operating systems and then trying to make them compatible with the piles of equipment and software all of us have been collecting over the past 10 years modern computing.

Ordering and Delivery

I purchased this new Dell XPS 410 from Dell online, as I have with my last three machines since 2000. I can tell you that this was easily the best of those three buying experiences, meaning that it was a super-easy process and it went as smoothly as could be imagined. I ordered a custom XPS that varied a bit from the standard package offering - and it was built, shipped and in my office within 3 days of my order. While I did get free 3-5 day shipping as part of the purchase, Dell sent the system via FedEx Overnight Delivery, which was a very nice surprise upgrade at no cost to me.

The system arrived in two boxes, as expected. This time, however, the monitor box was not the humongous and unruly 80 pound crate I've been used to with the 19-inch CRT Trinitrons. Instead, the new 20-inch Dell flat-panel wide-aspect Ultrasharp display comes in a box not much bigger (or heavier) than three large pizzas.

Set-Up

The set-up of this system was a breeze. The wide-screen flat panel monitor snaps in easily and securely to its base. The panel sits solidly on its base and is easily and smoothly adjusted vertically over a wide range and tilts as well. It can also be spun 90 degrees to display vertically.

There are three basic connections needed to get the monitor working - a DVI (or VGA) cable connection, power cord and a USB cable (the monitor also has two added USB connections on its side). So, a few simple connections to the computer, and I was ready to power up.

Under The Hood

I'll also tell you that my equipment is used professionally for graphic and web design, as well as audio and video production - and is usually powered up for 16 hours each day.

This was a major upgrade in performance for my work machine too. The Windows XP machine I used up until now for design is a P4 1.8 Ghz with 512 MB of RAM.

This new Dell XPS 410 has been configured with an Intel Core 2 Duo 6600 @ 2.4Ghz, with 4MB L2 cache. There is also 2 GB of installed DDR2 RAM.

Other additions include:

I should mention that available hardware options were limited somewhat, due to compatibility issues with Vista. For example, integrated 7.1 audio was the only audio option available. Also, the Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse were not offered with Vista. But, those issues would be expected and I can always upgrade or add those items later if necessary.

The flat-panel display is a 20-inch wide-aspect Model WFP2007 Ultra-Sharp. Of course, before I received this monitor, I was leaning toward the 30-inch Ultra-Sharp display, but the way the prices are dropping, figured I'd hold off another year or so to upgrade. After seeing this 20-inch wide screen, though, I'm very pleased with this choice.

First Impressions

Yes, the Dell XPS 410 case is very attractive in white, black and silver - and yes, this big flat panel looks great on my desk - but what about performance?

Well, first-things first, the XPS 410 is whisper-quiet and like most new computers, starts-up in a jiffy when new. After running through some simple configuration windows, Vista makes it's first real appearance. The default screen resolution is on the large side, but a quick adjustment to the recommended 1680 x 1050 resolution set things up just right.

So, how's the Dell Ultra-Sharp monitor look? Well, in a word, beautiful. Crisp, vivid color without making a single adjustment. More on the display later.

Enter Windows Vista

"Alright, so the computer starts and looks good, but what about Vista?", you say. Well, it has been said that it's critical to make a good first impression, and Microsoft Vista did just that. The user interface is clean, intuitive and very attractive.

It's the overall look and feel of the interface that is so great. The way the windows minimize and expand, the way the tool bars and active windows have a transparent and liquid-look to them and many other small, but very nice features. I'd go into more detail, but it would take another two pages to go through all the visual and functional enhancements. Suffice it to say that Microsoft Vista is a very attractive and intuitive OS.

As far as my performance review of Windows Vista and the Dell XPS 410, I'll preface by saying that I have only had it set up for about one week, and I haven't really had the opportunity to work full-time on it yet, for reasons I'll explain in a moment.

I have installed both Dreamweaver MX and Photoshop 6 without a hitch and have tested both with flawless results. Being a serious multi-tasker, I love having a lot of RAM available. Fast processing power and 2GB of RAM goes a long way and allows me to run both Dreamweaver and Photoshop, along with all the other things I'd normally be doing online (i.e. live support, FTP, etc.) all at the same time without any degradation in performance.

Vista also has a new feature which I like quite a bit, called "Gadgets". Gadgets are small applications that run in a vertical strip along the right-side of the screen. They include things like analog clocks of various retro styles, a photo slide-show, calendars, weather, news headlines, contacts, notes. stock market reports, a currency converter and others. There are also many others available online (or so I've been told). The user has full control to choose which gadgets appear and in which order.

Compatibility Issues

As with any major operating system upgrade, there's bound to be a period of confusion around what hardware and software will have compatibility issues with the new OS, and Vista is no exception.

Normally, I would use the Windows Compatibility Advisor Tool available online to figure out which of my installed XP software and hardware would no longer function, or require updated drivers, etc., but in my case, that tool wouldn't function on my pre-Service Pack 2 XP machine ;) So, I had to wing it, knowing there would probably be a few things I'd have to deal with.

Now, on to my Internet connection..., I have to confess that I made an error that I wouldn't normally make - I did not think to check with my Satellite Internet Provider, Starband, before going forward with Vista. I assumed that their service would be compatible with the new Vista OS release, it is not, as of this writing.

Anyhow, about an hour after powering up this new computer for the first time, I was ready to install the software to run my Starband 360 Satellite Modem. After installation, it did not work and after a restart, it crashed the computer! Even after using the System Restore function, I could still only start up in safe-mode.That same day a small message appeared on the Starband website saying that their 360 modem will not be compatible with Vista - and that they actually have no modems available that will work with Vista yet - and don't know when they will. Yikes!

Rather than tackle the OS repair myself, I figured I'd give Dell Online Support a try. I wasn't expecting much, based on past experiences, but I had heard that Dell was trying to improve their customer support, and decided to give them a try.

Boy, was I surprised. Not only did I get someone online within a minute or two, the Support person stayed on the chat with me for over three hours! He helped me through the troubleshooting process and eventually guided me through a reinstallation of Vista. And he arranged to have another support person call me the next morning to assist in reloading the necessary drivers. That support person then arranged a follow-up call two days later just to make sure all was working ok. Just overall excellent service. I was very impressed.

So, until the time when Starband gets their act together, I'll be running a separate online XP system, alongside this new system - and unfortunately can't yet report on the online features of Vista that I've been waiting to try out.

In case you're wondering, my office is high on a hilltop in the middle of nowhere, so no DSL or Cable access available. Satellite has been the best option for high-speed Internet. And honestly, I can't really complain about the Starband service all that much. It's been very reliable, even through the crazy weather we experience here throughout the year.

WFP2007 20-Inch Wide-Aspect UltraSharp Flat Panel Display

What can I say? This monitor is big, beautiful and a great performer. I've been using 19" (18.1" viewable) flat-screen Trinitron CRT displays for about 8 years now. They are huge, heavy and so, well.., old-school.

The 20-inch Dell WFP2007 Ultra-Sharp has a very wide viewing angle, both VGA and DVI inputs, a composite and S-video input and 2 handy high-speed USB jacks along the side of the monitor.

The control panel is very easy to navigate and use. The default settings look fantastic, or you can select from three presets - standard, multi-media and gaming.

DVD movie playback is simply great on this display. Monitor performance is super, with very minimal ghosting or artifacts. The wide-aspect display is not true wide-screen, in that it is a bit taller than a true wide-screen film. But the difference in screen real estate between a standard 19" CRT monitor and this 20" wide screen is dramatic. First, technically there's something like 35% greater viewable area. However, in a practical sense, the wide-screen format is a very natural way to work with a computer. Our eyes acclimate very naturally to this wide horizontal format, as opposed to going high with the standard format.

For me, having extra space up top is mostly wasted. Very little work goes on up there in that part of the screen and it's normally outside my field of vision. The wider-aspect screen feels more like looking through binoculars, rather than a telescope. It provides a wide field of vision that seems to reduce eye-strain too.

When buying a flat panel display, I recommend upgrading to an Ultra-Sharp (or similar higher-end) model. There's a big difference in color, sharpness and effective viewing angle. Meaning that you will be able to see the picture clearly from a variety of angles, unlike the lower quality displays that get darker or lighter as you move from the direct viewing position.

Conclusion

I realize that some people would probably freak out at the prospect of having to reinstall their operating system within a few hours of taking the computer out of the box - and then discovering that your ISP doesn't support the OS..., but after 10 years of working with computers for my livlihood, I've learned not to stress over those things and just take them in stride. I knew buying into a brand new operating system would have some risk, but it's all part of the fun.

What I did discover was that Dell is heading in a very positive direction. The entire experience from ordering online, to the super-fast assembly and shipping, to the technical support after the sale, was fantastic. If this has been a planned and lasting change for the better, the "bravo" to Dell.

As for Microsoft Vista, it's simply a very inviting and comfortable interface that looks and feels like you might have assumed computers would look like 7 years into the new millenium. It's high-tech, yes, but also very fluid and organic too (if that makes any sense).

Of course, an interface has to perform too, and from what I've seen of Vista so far, I'm very impressed. A more thorough performance review will be forthcoming once I've had the chance to get connected to the net.

My best advice in regard to Microsoft Vista is to expect that some of your peripherals and software will not be compatible and don't worry too much about it. Also, check the web sites for each of your software programs and other peripherals first before trying to install them on your Vista machine. Vista seems sensitive to incompatible stuff. On two occasions so far, I've run into some difficulty. First when installing my Starband modem software (had to reinstall the OS) and again when checking to see if I could run my Maxtor external hard drives, after which I successfully used system restore to get back up and running.

So, as I sit here typing out this review in Dreamweaver on this excellent machine and beautiful OS and display, I can tell you that I'm very happy with this system and can highly recommend Dell XPS and the new Microsoft Vista Home Premium.

Enjoy.

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