Price as reviewed / starting price$1, 488 / $799
Processor2.0GHz Intel Core i7-2630QM ( quad-core)
Memory8GB, 667MHz DDR3 RAMHard drive750GB 7, 200rpmChipsetIntel HM67GraphicsNvidia GeForce GT540M + Intel GMA HD ( Optimus) Operating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium ( 64-bit)
Dimensions ( WD) 15 x 10.4 inchesHeight1.3-1.5 inches
Screen size ( diagonal) 15.6 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter6.7 / 8.0 pou
The good Dell's new XPS 15 offers a high-resolution screen and excellent JBL speakers. Intel's new Core i-series CPUs and Nvidia graphics are standard, but there are also plenty of configuration options.
The bad The extremely bulky, uninspired design of the XPS 15 doesn't suit its price, and though the battery life is very good, it's not as great as Apple's MacBook Pro. Some configuration options feel like they should have been included for free.
The bottom line Equipped with second-gen Intel Core i-series CPUs and improved Nvidia graphics, the new Dell XPS 15 performs even better than its predecessor, although it's still just as bulky. Also, keep in mind that the XPS 15 ranges greatly in price, from $799 up to $1, 500
.Still, for this price, you won't get really impressive general computing performance. The basic configuration we tested-which includes an Intel Core i5-2410M CPU ( a current, lower-end Intel notebook processor) running at 2.3GHz, 4GB of DDR3 memory, the aforementioned Nvidia graphics card ( with Optimus support) , and the 64-bit edition of Windows 7 Home Premium-scored a mediocre 116 on WorldBench
Although Dell also promotes the XPS line for its design, this notebook looks more serviceable than chic. It's bulky, weighing in at 6.2 pounds, with one of the largest AC adapter bricks I've ever seen. Along with the so-so battery life, this makes the XPS 15 L502X a poor candidate for frequent flyers. Its silvery aluminum chassis, including a slab-like lid with black accents, looks fairly generic, and its underside gets quite warm after extended use. The keyboard, while roomy and responsive, has no backlighting, and the touchpad seemed a bit slow to respond. The 1366 by 768 display, which is fine for video, could be a bit sharper and crisper when showing a screenful of text; Dell offers a couple of 1920 by 1080 display alternatives. You can get this same hardware in a sleeker, lighter, and more durable shell if you're willing to pay a couple hundred dollars more for the XPS 15z.
The 2-megapixel integrated webcam, however, is quite nice as is, with Dell's Webcam Center software offering easy and intuitive controls ( setup with the preinstalled Skype software was a breeze) . The audio system consists of two 4-watt JBL speakers and a 12-watt subwoofer, plus Waves MaxxAudio 3 audio-enhancement technology. You also get two headphone jacks ( unusual in a notebook) , one of which supports SPDIF ( direct digital) output, alongside the microphone-in jack. I wasn't able to try out the notebook's support for 3D content, but Dell says that if you get the optional Blu-ray drive, it can stream a 3D movie to a 3D-enabled HDTV ( over an HDMI connection) .
The port array is fairly typical and includes two USB 3.0 ports, a combined E-SATA/USB 2.0 port, an SD/MMC and Memory Stick Pro reader, and ports for HDMI and gigabit ethernet. There is, however, no ExpressCard slot. Above the keyboard, a thin, dark, glassy strip features several indicator lights ( one shows the status of Wi-Fi, for example) and three backlit touch-sensitive controls ( they light up when you touch the area) . One of these controls brings up a window with audio settings, and another summons the Dell-customized Windows Mobility Center, which affords easy access to settings for a dozen or so features ranging from screen brightness to wireless radios. I would have preferred an exterior hardware button for turning Wi-Fi on or off. The third touch-sensitive control is user-customizable to launch the application of your choice.
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