BIOS: Technology Means Business

Dell latest mobile workstation, the Precision M90 (from £1487), looks like most other laptops from the company but offers unprecedented portable workstation performance. Sporting all the application certifications and assured reliability that professional workstation users demand (it’s certified on some of the industry’s most demanding CAD, CAE, DCC, GIS applications), the Precision M90 is perfect for engineers, artists, developers and other professionals who need to work on business critical applications on the move.

With up to 512MB of high-performance nVidia Quadro FX 2500M OpenGL graphics (optional Quadro FX 1500M with 256MB memory), Intel Core Duo processors (up to T2600), Intel 945PM Express chipset, and up to 17-inch WUXGA (1920x1200-pixel) display, the Precision M90 (394x42x288mm, 3.9kg) is at the cutting-edge of workstation performance. Mobile options like 802.11a/g (802.11n-ready) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth even give workstation users the freedom to deliver engineering design, analysis and content creation anytime, anywhere there’s a wireless hotspot.

These components help ensure that you get the best possible mobile workstation performance while using less battery power than previous-generation technologies. With dual-core processors, more instructions or tasks can be processed in the same amount of time when executed in parallel across two cores. The processors do more work per second, allowing you to run multi-threaded workstation-class applications with noticeably quicker results.

Because data security is one of the most important elements of today’s computing, the Precision M90 has been designed with this in mind. A built-in Smart Card reader requires both a card and a password for the operating system to boot up. Plus, with the added security of a standard slot for locks, support for TPM 1.2, compatibility with leading security software and optional laptop tracking software, the M90 is about as safe from hackers, thieves and malicious viruses and worms as you can get on a Windows-based laptop.

The Precision M90 is Dell’s most powerful workstation to date. It has 2MB L2 cache, relatively fast 667MHz front side bus, and supports up to 4GB of 533MHz DDR2 memory and SATA HDD capacities up to 100GB (7200rpm). It also has a 4-pin FireWire port, six USB 2.0 ports, 3-button touchpad, as well as DVI (analogue vide too) and S-Video outputs. Media controls litter the front of the chassis, allowing you to navigate your media and alter volume levels.

There are headphone and microphone ports, 54mm Express Card slot (supports both 54- and 34mm I/O), Gigabit Ethernet and V92 modem, and a 5-in-1 memory card reader. Our review model also came with an 8x DVD+/-RW optical drive, although if your needs are more basic you can save a little cash by opting for a 24x CD-ROM or 24x CD-RW/DVD drive. Enterprises will be pleased to know that the laptop supports Dell’s D-Family Advanced Port Replicator, D-Family Docking Station, and D/Monitor Stand.

A significant design feature is that the Precision M90 was conceived, designed and built with the rigors of the road in mind. Every Precision mobile workstation is stress-tested in extreme conditions to be sure that it can withstand the physical challenges it will meet in the course of your busy day. These shock and fatigue tests, along with the M90’s magnesium-alloy casing and steel hinges and patented StrikeZone technology, mean that you get a mobile workstation that is designed to last better than most competing laptops on the market.

And the 9-cell 85-WHr battery and the power savings features of Intel’s Centrino Mobile Technology help you to stay productive longer, but you’ll still only get about 2.5 hours’ use between charges. Thanks to Dell’s ExpressCharge, battery recharge time is optimised, letting you recharge the battery to 80 per cent in about an hour. Plus, you can quickly and easily customise your power settings and optimally manage battery life with Dell’s excellent Quickset software (dedicated button above the keyboard).

The Precision M90 is pitched squarely at content creators, graphics professionals and anyone who needs sheer brute computing force and high-end graphics. The laptop is certified by no less than 31 independent system vendors, which means the laptop will run the like of 3DS Max and all of Adobe’s software without a problem. It’s not the most attractive laptop we’ve seen, but its components are all first-rate and perfectly roadworthy. In addition, build quality is reassuringly solid and shouldn’t let you down on the road. [8.5]

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