It looks a bit strange without the parallel and serial ports. The picture clearly shows them missing, but the list below the picture list the parallel and serial ports. Most computer companies consider these ports outdated and useless. I have never used either on my I4150, although I am glad they are there in case I do ever need them.
Hmm, one of the reasons i bought my 8600 is explicitly BECAUSE it has a serial port, which I use all the time for accessing the consoles of various devices....(NetApp filers, Cabletron & 3com network equipment, Cisco routers....)
Although the description still lists the ports, it's probably just an overlook and they probably really have been removed. I don't know why they would show a new picture of an 8600 without the ports if that's not what they were doing (if not, why even create the new picture then?).
Also, I'm sure the motherboard is the same, with the circuitry for the parallel and serial still on it. I don't think they would make such a major change as the motherboard without somehow indicating a new revision with a new model number or something. So apparently all they really did was just eliminated the step of soldering the physical ports themselves to the motherboard and put a flat plate where they used to be. Why? just so they could save a few bucks on the physical ports? Or perhaps another reason... but it's not like they needed the space because they didn't put anything new in thier place.
Interesting. I've been considering trying to remove the parallel port connector from my i8600. Why? In order to improve the airflow to the graphics cooler fins. With the "old" design, air for cooling the graphics is pulled in through a narrow slot above the parallel port. Perhaps Dell has modified their design for similar reasons -- to improve cooling.
Edit: After looking at the pictures, I see that my speculation is false. Looking at the left side view, they've actually remove air inlets! The opening for the graphics inlet looks slightly bigger. It's wierd that they didn't open that up more.
Message Edited by my_screen_name on 03-26-2004 03:22 PM
I can see why they're getting rid of parallel...that's way to outdated. But serial still has alot of uses, especially on a laptop, which would get hooked up to things like GPS, automotive scanners, etc. Stupid move Dell...
True.... and it looks so...so...so wierd without them on the back, because there is space recessed for them but nothing except blank plastic and a single port.... wierd.
I am very surprised they removed them. It is true that most people probably do not use the parallel port any more. However, there are some expensive applications ($10,000+) that require a dongle be attached to the computer via the parallel port. I have seen many laptops with dongles attached, so I know that I am not the only one that would be concerned about this.
I bought my Inspiron 8600 in January and I am really enjoying it. I use both the parallel and serial ports on it. After reading this post, I am very happy that I did not wait to buy it. As I said before, I am surprised that they have phased out the parallel port.
I have no legacy ports on my Toshiba. Granted, some individuals need a serial port for their hardware.
I believe the absense of these ports expand the IRQ base and make conflicts a thing of the past, also making the computer faster as it spends less time searching IRQs. I'm not sure if this is true, although my lappy is pretty fast.
Randy, maybe you are correct, but it is surprising that they drop them on a design that was made for having them... Two more IRQs are free. In fact, the 8600 doesn't seem to support the APIC mode because it has only 15 IRQs, whereas every _new_ desktop I've seen has more IRQs.
@HMKrieps wrote:
Randy, maybe you are correct, but it is surprising that they drop them on a design that was made for having them... Two more IRQs are free. In fact, the 8600 doesn't seem to support the APIC mode because it has only 15 IRQs, whereas every _new_ desktop I've seen has more IRQs.
Don't you mean ACPI?
I just think; with fewer ports...fewer problems - unless they're USB or Firewire.
Don't you mean ACPI?
I just think; with fewer ports...fewer problems - unless they're USB or Firewire.
No, I meant APIC (Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller). It's used under Windows via the "ACPI Uniprocessor PC" driver (I think it's called like that), but it has not immediately something to do with ACPI.
Yes, sometimes less is more, but they could have added some USB's. I guess your "legacy free" Toshiba has more than 2 USB's (and even USB2.0, I know the story. It also prevented me from purchasing the i8200 :-) ).
jwerfel
26 Posts
0
March 26th, 2004 15:00
mattcowger
2.6K Posts
0
March 26th, 2004 16:00
madhav95
24 Posts
0
March 26th, 2004 16:00
You are right, the back view does not show any parallel or serail port but what is funny is that the ports description hasnt changed
Since the 8600 has earned a good reputation Dell would have wanted to retain the same model number instead of going in for a new release.
I just hope they didnt screw around inside. Dont know if it will reduce the power consumption significantly but hope it reduces the price tag
Message Edited by madhav95 on 03-26-2004 12:03 PM
carlsad
26 Posts
0
March 26th, 2004 18:00
Although the description still lists the ports, it's probably just an overlook and they probably really have been removed. I don't know why they would show a new picture of an 8600 without the ports if that's not what they were doing (if not, why even create the new picture then?).
Also, I'm sure the motherboard is the same, with the circuitry for the parallel and serial still on it. I don't think they would make such a major change as the motherboard without somehow indicating a new revision with a new model number or something. So apparently all they really did was just eliminated the step of soldering the physical ports themselves to the motherboard and put a flat plate where they used to be. Why? just so they could save a few bucks on the physical ports? Or perhaps another reason... but it's not like they needed the space because they didn't put anything new in thier place.
my_screen_name
34 Posts
0
March 26th, 2004 19:00
Interesting. I've been considering trying to remove the parallel port connector from my i8600. Why? In order to improve the airflow to the graphics cooler fins. With the "old" design, air for cooling the graphics is pulled in through a narrow slot above the parallel port. Perhaps Dell has modified their design for similar reasons -- to improve cooling.
Edit: After looking at the pictures, I see that my speculation is false. Looking at the left side view, they've actually remove air inlets! The opening for the graphics inlet looks slightly bigger. It's wierd that they didn't open that up more.
Message Edited by my_screen_name on 03-26-2004 03:22 PM
zmoz
62 Posts
0
March 26th, 2004 23:00
kormath
401 Posts
0
March 27th, 2004 00:00
sakor1
2.2K Posts
0
March 27th, 2004 09:00
True.... and it looks so...so...so wierd without them on the back, because there is space recessed for them but nothing except blank plastic and a single port.... wierd.
stu
HMKrieps
713 Posts
0
March 27th, 2004 09:00
Jobhater
35 Posts
0
March 27th, 2004 13:00
I am very surprised they removed them. It is true that most people probably do not use the parallel port any more. However, there are some expensive applications ($10,000+) that require a dongle be attached to the computer via the parallel port. I have seen many laptops with dongles attached, so I know that I am not the only one that would be concerned about this.
I bought my Inspiron 8600 in January and I am really enjoying it. I use both the parallel and serial ports on it. After reading this post, I am very happy that I did not wait to buy it. As I said before, I am surprised that they have phased out the parallel port.
RandyB
518 Posts
0
March 28th, 2004 11:00
Dell is just FULL of surprises; aren't they?
I have no legacy ports on my Toshiba. Granted, some individuals need a serial port for their hardware.
I believe the absense of these ports expand the IRQ base and make conflicts a thing of the past, also making the computer faster as it spends less time searching IRQs. I'm not sure if this is true, although my lappy is pretty fast.
HMKrieps
713 Posts
0
March 28th, 2004 16:00
mariusstrom
9 Posts
0
March 28th, 2004 17:00
FWIW, I just (i.e., it got to me on Friday) got a new Inspiron 8600 and it still has the serial and parallel port on the back.
-marius
(now to go back to figuring out why the damned thing shuts down automatically because of heat in BF: Vietnam.)
RandyB
518 Posts
0
March 29th, 2004 22:00
Don't you mean ACPI?
HMKrieps
713 Posts
0
March 30th, 2004 16:00