| Dell
Laptop Reviews
Dell Studio 15
You can usually predict solid, reliable performance
from a Dell; that's why so many businesses use them. We got our
hands on the latest in a long line of of laptops, the Studio 15.
Keep reading to see whether it lives up to Dell's reputation.
Introduction
According to theDell website, the company’s
new Studio 15 notebook is a 15.4” widescreen laptop devoted
to serving the typical consumer’s multimedia needs at a
reasonable price. As the industry has come to expect from Dell,
they have produced a product here that lives up almost exactly
to its expectations, which are reasonably set. With a price tag
of $1,200 (though it starts at only $800), this first product
in the Studio line is certainly not the cheapest laptop ever made.
At the same time, it is reasonably affordable and does not bring
any of the ultra high-tech features that you can associate with
an overly priced $3,000 machine.
The concept behind Dell’s Studio line
is that it takes the more affordable features of the Inspiron
line and mixes them with some of the high class features of the
XPS line, such as design and media performance. To be precise,
according toPC Magazine, the Studio 15 is a mixture of the Inspiron
1525 and the XPS M1530. Basically, the Studio 15 takes the design
look and feel from the M1530 as well as its powerful capability
to display media. From the Inspiron 1525, it borrows the more
generously sized chassis and the slightly under-par performance.
The overall effect is that you will be buying a nicely styled
large laptop that has a respectable, but not incredible, ability
to do just about whatever the average consumer could want.
When it comes down to it, you are left with
plenty of choices. The Studio is really a specific line that caters
to a specific type of user, just as the Inspiron and XPS lines
are. With that being said, if you are looking for a computer that
is relatively inexpensive but sports a bit of style while also
being able to display some power, then the Studio 15 is a good
bet. If you are only concerned with price or only concerned with
style and power, then you should either downgrade to the Inspiron
or upgrade to the XPS models. If you are concerned about the size
of this model, then you might consider waiting until a later date;
Dell is said to be considering the release of a 13” model
in their Studio line.
Dell Studio 15 Laptop Review - Design
Much of the design of the Studio 15 is almost
directly borrowed from its higher class cousin, the XPS M1530.
This includes a tapering design that thins down the front of the
laptop, as well as numerous other features. One aspect that differentiates
the XPS’s higher quality is that it comes with aluminum
accents, as opposed to the relatively cheap ones offered on the
Studio 15. However, most will not find the difference in quality
worth a considerably higher price tag.
One feature that the Studio 15 offers that is
better than either the Inspiron or the XPS models is an improved
ability to customize the color of the laptop. Dell offers seven
separate colors with which to customize, including some very outrageous
colors that are sure to make your laptop stand out. Further, you
are also able to choose whether the entire laptop should be a
solid color or a primary color with different kind of accents.
Although this is no new feature to laptops, it is a nice option
that will allow each consumer a relatively custom experience.
Although there is not much to say about the
keyboard and mouse on the Studio 15, that is a good thing. You
will find the experience very straightforward, and not at all
cramped or confusing like some laptops. This makes the experience
of switching from a desktop PC to a laptop quite a bit easier
for many users. If you are one of these users, then this is actually
a considerable highlight of the design.
The one flaw in the Studio 15’s design
is its slightly larger-than-average weight for its size. Any 15.4”
laptop is going to be fairly heavy, and not the greatest choice
for those that are all about mobility. However, at 5.9 pounds,
it is not really all that close to the 5.3 pounds of the record
setting MacBook Pro. Interestingly, the Studio 15 does weigh in
a bit better than its richer counterpart, the XPS M1530, which
weighs a respectable 6.2 pounds. You probably will not notice
the difference between the two just by picking them up, but it
is still there. The XPS model does appear to be more sleek and
lightweight, but I have to assume that that is a result of the
aluminum accents and higher class design in general.
Dell XPS M1330
Finally! Having waited for what seemed like
an age to get our mucky paws on Dell's latest and possibly greatest
consumer notebook, we can bring you a review of the XPS M1330.
Doubtless anyone who has already ordered one will be able to substantiate
this frustration, because Dell has been struggling to fulfil orders
of its latest consumer notebook due to some well publicised production
issues. Thankfully, those issues seem to have been alleviated
somewhat, though that'll be of little consolation to those who've
been waiting for theirs to arrive.
Putting these issues aside for a moment: what's all the fuss about?
Take a look at the pictures and you'll begin to understand, because
the XPS M1330 is without a doubt one of the best looking consumer
notebooks Dell has made in…well, ever actually. Built around
a 13.3in display, the chassis measures a sleek and slender 318
x 238 x 33.8mm (WxDxH) at its bulkiest points and weighs 2kg with
a 6-cell battery. Dell also claims that this is the thinnest notebook
in its class, though this is somewhat disingenuous because the
22.1mm at its thinnest is only possible thanks to the wedged shaped
design.
Ultimately this dubious claim isn't especially
important, because it does nothing to add or detract from the
M1330s undeniable good looks. On the outside Dell continues its
use of the Microsatin finish we've previously seen on the Inspiron
1520, which is reputedly a source of Dell's production problems.
In any case, these finishes are both very attractive
and very durable, proving predominantly scratch proof unlike the
glossy finishes we see on many notebooks these days. Our unit
came in a fetching Crimson Red, while the M1330 is also available
in "Tuxedo" Black - it's remarkable how many kinds of
black there are. This coloured trim is framed by strips of silver
either side, while the silver XPS lettering and inset Dell logo
are a vast improvement over the rather clownish logos found on
the company's other consumer offerings.
Clearly then, the M1330 is something of a departure
for Dell. Moreover, as a design it strikes a lovely balance. Elements
such as the outer finish give it a striking visual appearance;
while the simple metallic silver and charcoal grey combination
on the inside give it a classy and understated look. It's a powerful
combination, making the M1330 ideal for both consumers and the
business user who wants something a little out of the ordinary
but not too garish at the same time.
There are plenty of other nice touches too,
such as the slot loading optical drive, the touch sensitive media
keys and the media remote, which slots discreetly into the 54mm
ExpressCard bay. Also worthy of note is the display, in this instance
a 1,280 x 800 resolution LED backlit panel. Dell also provides
a standard panel that's cheaper, but the LED backlit version is
truly superb thanks to superior brightness levels, vibrant colour
production and razor sharp detail. A glossy high contrast coating
helps in this regard too and it's not the most reflective finish
we've seen either, which is a significant bonus.
Getting a bit more technical, Dell provides
a plethora of options in keeping with the XPS brand that's reserved
for "performance" products. Our sample unit came with
an Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, which clocks in at 2.00GHz and features
4MB L2 cache and an 800MHZ Front Side Bus. Alternative options,
in order of speed and expense, include the T5250 (1.5GHz), T7100
(1.8GHz), T7250 (2.0GHz) and T7500 (2.2GHz).
Of all these options, we'd say the T7250 is
worth a look if you're after the best balance between performance
and value. It features the same clock speed as the perfectly able
T7300, but has half the amount of L2 cache and costs a good deal
less. Indeed, it seems as though Dell and/or Intel are trying
to phase out the T7300 since, if you spec it, you pay the same
price as you would for the faster T7500. Because of this the price
we're quoting in this review uses the T7250, since it's a more
realistic option and the performance will be near to that of our
system which uses the T7300.
This is supported by the obligatory 2GB of 667MHz
DDR2 RAM, with graphics processing provided by an nVidia 8400M
GS with 128MB of dedicated video memory. This particular choice
of GPU is always a source of frustration because it's potentially
more power demanding than Intel's X3100 solution, but it isn't
powerful enough to be a truly compelling gaming option. For sure,
it's significantly better than integrated options and will give
you more gaming headroom, but that doesn't change the fact that
it isn't and never will be a genuine gaming option.
Dell does allow for a model without an 8400M
GS but, due to the vagaries of Dell's configuration system, you'll
actually pay more for a system that's identical but for the lack
of discrete graphics. Whichever way you look at it, Dell has probably
missed a trick by not adding a switching capability as per the
Sony SZ or upcoming Asus U3.
Our sample unit came with a 160GB 5400rpm SATA
drive, which is ample for most peoples' needs. Options run up
to a 250GB 5400rpm drive, while you can also specify faster 7200rpm
drives in 160GB and 200GB capacities. Optical storage is fixed
and cannot be configured, with all systems coming with the same
8x DVD+/-RW slot loading drive.
For network connectivity the M1330 won't disappoint.
There's 10/100 Ethernet as standard, while Draft-N Wi-Fi is available
as an extra on most models. Our sample also came equipped with
embedded HSDPA, making this a genuinely mobile machine. Bluetooth
2.0 EDR is also available, with our sample unit coming with a
set of Dell's surprisingly decent Bluetooth headphones.
In addition to all these features our system
also shipped with some extra features, including fingerprint reader
and a nylon carry case. These are quite useful and smart features
respectively, but they do add approximately £70 to the overall
price of the machine. Moreover, currently Dell is quoting a seven
week delay for any system equipped with a Fingerprint reader,
so it's probably worth avoiding unless you absolutely must have
one.
Most notebooks come with a six-cell battery
as standard, however for the purposes of this review we were sent
both six-cell and nine-cell extended batteries. As previously
noted, with the six-cell battery the XPS M1330 weighs just a fraction
over 2kg. This is a nice portable weight for a notebook of this
size, though it doesn't quite match Sony's SZ in this respect,
which comes in at under 1.8kg with the same capacity of battery.
In cheaper configurations Dell also allows for a four-cell battery
that reduces the weight to 1.79kg, though you'll take a significant
hit in the battery life department with this option.
Interestingly the nine-cell battery shares a
similar design to that found on the MSI PR210, with a ridge shape
that acts as a stand. This actually provides a very nice angle
for using the notebook, while the nine-cell only increases the
total weight of the notebook to an acceptable 2.15kg. As such,
for those who require longer battery life this is quite a compelling
option and although you can't specify both six-cell and nine-cell
batteries at point of purchase, you could buy them separately.
For battery testing we've run a couple of tests,
including a DVD playback test and one based on general real world
usage. For the DVD Playback test screen brightness was set to
around 70 per cent, which proved to be a nice balance between
the brightness required to bring out enough detail, while maintaining
decent black levels.
With the six-cell battery this produced a total
of two hours and 23 minutes playback, which is a good return and
will ensure you can watch most films on a single charge. With
the nine-cell this was extended to just under four hours, at three
hours and 58 minutes -- more or less double that of the six-cell.
Overall these results were very encouraging, proving that you
can watch DVDs at acceptable brightness levels and not resort
to mains power halfway through a film.
To gauge battery performance under more typical
conditions the M1330 was used for word processing and Internet
browsing, in this instance using the six-cell battery with display
brightness set to its maximum and with Wi-Fi enabled. While conducting
our test it was very evident that as well as being great to look
at, the M1330 is also a great notebook to use. It runs quietly
and coolly during normal use, while the keyboard layout is truly
excellent with none of the annoying issues one sometimes finds.
Keys themselves are crisp and responsive, making typing a pleasure;
while the touchpad below the keyboard is well placed and doesn't
obstruct typing.
After two hours and 55 minutes the system ran out of juice,
shutting down completely. This is an acceptable result, but its slightly short
of the Sony SZ61VN which managed around 25 minutes longer thanks to its ability
to use Intel's integrated graphics. Obviously reducing display brightness will
improve things slightly, but the cumulative difference in battery life will
always remain in favour of the SZ and the gap would likely increase given identical
conditions. Of all things, this is one of the few areas the M1330 doesn't match
its nearest competition.
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