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Recently, Dell unveiled three new XPS laptops. The first laptop to be reviewed was the Dell XPS 17. Today, we're looking at the Dell XPS 15 for gamers who require mobility at an affordable price. The Dell XPS 15 is equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, and NVIDIA GT 420M graphics. The audio quality is exceptional on this laptop, gameplay is adequate, but battery life is disappointing with the base 6-cell battery. Overall, if you're on a budget, this notebook will get you gaming with medium settings. If you're an avid gamer, though, the larger Dell XPS 17 is worth considering.

Pros :

* Cost
* Available Options
* Stellar Audio
* NVIDIA Graphics with Optimus Technology

Cons :

* Disappointing Battery Life
* Heavy
* 720p Screen as Opposed to 1080p
* Lack of Blu-ray as a Standard Option

Description :

* Intel Core i5-460M Processor
* 15.6" HD 720p WLED Display
* NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M Graphics with Optimus Technology
* 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
* 500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
* 8x CD/DVD Burner
* 56 WHr 6-Cell Battery
* Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
* JBL 2.1 Speakers
* Windows 7 Home Premium
* 15" x 10.4" x 1.3" @ 6.14 Lbs


Starting at $850, the Dell XPS 15 features a 720p 15.6-inch WLED display. Although this is a bit inferior to rival laptops equipped with full HD screens, there is an option to upgrade to a full 1080p display with facial recognition for $130 more. The exterior casing is made of silver anodized aluminum, and the interior features black palm rests and a black backlit keyboard. It is on the heavy side, though, weighing in at 6.14 pounds with the 6-cell battery.

Like most other pre-built systems, the Dell XPS 15 comes with Windows 7 Home Premium. The base system features an Intel Core i5-460M that runs at 2.53GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz. This is adequate for mainstream gaming. Since the Dell XPS 15 is fully customizable, there is an option to upgrade to a Core i7, but the price tag is steep at $500.

Although an upgrade from the base NVIDIA GT 420M video card to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M 2GB graphics card would normally be recommended, it does require an upgrade to an Intel Core i7 quad-core processor as well. If you have the budget, it's fine, but many mainstream gamers do not. The NVIDIA GT 420M-based Dell XPS 15 can still be used with medium settings in the latest games, since it's a newly released graphics card with 96 shaders and a 128-bit memory interface. The NVIDIA GT 420M also offers Optimus technology.

Along with NVIDIA graphics, the Dell XPS 15 comes standard with 4GB of dual channel DDR3 memory. This is an average amount of memory for a laptop in this price range, but more memory is definitely a good thing to make it future-proof.

Luckily, storage is more than adequate with a base 500GB 7200rpm hard drive that offers decent speed with ample space. A solid state drive is available as a $550 option, but it's not worth the price unless you travel incessantly. Although load times of games improve with an SSD, that's about it. It won't give you any marked improvement once in the game.

The Dell XPS 15 gaming laptop PC also comes equipped with a 56 WHr 6-cell battery which makes battery life disappointing. If you want to game on the go, be sure to bring the AC adapter on any prolonged journey. What really stands out is the sound quality. Boasting JBL 2.1 built-in speakers, the Dell XPS 15 offers better audio than many other laptops in this price range. Since this laptop is geared for multimedia, though, it would be nice if a Blu-ray drive was standard. It's easy to overlook this issue, though, since the Dell XPS is priced aggressively.

Overall, the Dell XPS 15 is a decent 15.6-inch machine for the budget-conscious gamer. It offers flexible options, a fast hard drive, and 720p screen. Although gameplay is a bit cramped on any 15-inch notebook, the Dell XPS 15 is easy to tote around for on-the-go gaming. For gamers looking for smooth gameplay in a desktop replacement, though, check out the Dell XPS 17 or ASUS G73 Series

After scrapping the original XPS name years ago for the more affordable Studio XPS line, Dell has just relaunched the XPS brand with three new models. Aptly called the XPS 14, 15, and 17 based on the screen size, these laptops are appealing to gamers largely due to the available options and mid-range price tag. But are these notebooks great for gaming? The Dell XPS 17 offers a unique set of features, including NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M graphics and built-in JBL speakers. Hot off the presses, the Dell XPS 17 offers decent DirectX 11 gameplay, making it a worthy buy.

Pros :

* Available Options
* Speakers
* HD Webcam
* Price

Cons :

* Resolution
* Lack of an Optional High-End Video Card

Description :

* Intel Core i5-460M Processor
* 17.3-inch HD+ (900p) WLED Display
* 4GB 1333MHz Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
* 500GB SATA 7200RPM Hard Drive
* NVIDIA GeForce GT435M 1GB Graphics
* 8x CD/DVD Burner
* One Mini DisplayPort, Two USB 3.0, Two USB 2.0, HDMI 1.4
* 56WHr 6-cell Battery
* 16.3" x 11.3" x 1.3" @ 7.57 Pounds
* Windows Home Premium 64-Bit


Out of the three new XPS laptops, the Dell XPS 17 is the best fit for gamers. With its 17.3-inch widescreen display, there is ample room for gameplay. The standard WLED screen supports 900p resolution for sharp looking games, but it'd be nice if a 1080p option was available. Paired with the included NVIDIA GeForce GT 435m, the Dell XPS 17 is a decent gaming laptop for under $1,000. Of course, seeing as this is a Dell model, it is fully customizable, so you can add more memory or upgrade to a bigger hard drive if need be.

Speaking of memory, the Dell XPS 17 comes equipped with 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory for $949.99. Upgrading to 8GB will run you $180 with a max of 16GB of memory. If you're on a tight budget, 4GB is adequate, but it's worth upgrading to 8GB if you want the notebook to last. The base XPS 17 also arrives with an Intel Core i5-460M processor that runs at 2.53GHz. You can upgrade to the Core i7, but the Intel Core i5-460M does its job for the price.

Graphics on the base Dell XPS 17 are on par with mid-range gaming laptops. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M 1GB graphics card is a newer Fermi card that supports DirectX 11. If you have the funds, though, an upgrade to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 445M is recommended. With the upgraded graphics, you'll benefit from 144 CUDA cores and an 1180MHz processor clock. By comparison, the standard GT 435M has 96 CUDA cores and an 1300 MHz processor clock. If you're playing the latest games, the GT 445M will let you game at higher settings. The Dell XPS 17 also features NVIDIA Optimus technology, which optimizes battery life by switching between onboard graphics and the video card depending on usage.

Along with being gamer-friendly, the Dell XPS 17 is designed for multimedia enthusiasts. This means you can game and watch movies with ease. Touted as being 3D TV-ready, the XPS 17 features NVIDIA 3D Play software that allows you to connect the laptop to new 3D HDTVs. This may confuse some as 3D content cannot actually be displayed on the Dell XPS 17. It must be used in conjunction with a 3D HDTV to game and watch movies in 3D glory. It's not a necessary feature, but it is cool if you own a 3D HDTV or plan to purchase one in the future.

The Dell XPS 17 also boasts JBL built-in speakers for updated sound. This enhancement offers loud, crisp sound that is refreshing compared to weak speakers found in many rival notebooks. The XPS 15-inch and 17-inch models even have 12-watt subwoofers. Overall, the audio is superb with rockin' bass that is awesome for gamers.

In the moments you aren't gaming, the Dell XPS 17 also functions as a social tool with an integrated webcam that streams in HD and is Skype-certified (a first in the laptop PC sector). It's a niche feature that is great if you use a webcam often.

Externally, the Dell XPS 17 comes standard with a silver anodized aluminum display back. While the sleek surface is nice, it cannot hold a candle to the aluminum unibody design of a MacBook. However, the Dell XPS 17 makes gaming a whole lot easier than on a Mac. Overall, the XPS 17 is a great setup for both gamers on a budget and multimedia enthusiasts seeking a new platform.

Ringing in at around $780, the Gateway M-7818u is tricky. It sure looks a lot like the Samsung X460, with its stylish red accents. But, the comparisons stop right there. Beyond a flashy coat, the M-7818u is a clunker.

The first thing to realize is that the M-7818u is a special configuration on the Gateway M-series made only for Office Max. Yep. Office Max. Friends, if you are going to Office Max to buy a computer. Well, you shouldn’t be.

Before anything else, this is a budget model notebook, and it shows with the specs. While the fairly standard Gateway configuration of nice components make up the heart of the machine — a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB of RAM — that’s about where the sexy stuff ends. In tests, Laptop Magazine found the M-7818u to be fast on boot and application launch, but molasses slow when it came to multi-tasking. And, for a everyday consumer’s home notebook, with internet browsing and music needed at the same time, multitasking is a necessity.

With the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, don’t expect fast, current gameplay either. Sorry.

So, if it’s not good at multi-tasking or gameplay, why woulnd’t you just buy a netbook instead?


The Specs:

* Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
* Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5800
* Processor Speed: 2 GHz
* RAM: 4 GB
* Weight: 6.28 lbs.
* Display Size: 15.4″
* Graphics: Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
* Storage Capacity: 250 GB
* Networking Options: 802.11a/g/Draft-N
* Primary Optical Drive: 8x Multi-Format Dual Layer DVD-RW

Dell Mini laptops are Dell’s super compact, aggressively priced mini netbooks.
And if you aren’t in the know, netbooks are a newer type of laptop category that emphasize compact size and aggressive price over other typical laptop features such as sheer processing power and massive features.

And let me tell you, Dell really did their homework with the Inspiron Mini laptops for they did an awesome job and Dell offers a slew of configuration options for Mini netbooks.


Dell mini pretty pink netbook laptop picture Dell Mini notebooks even include cool and trendy color options such as the super trendy Pink Mini. Other colors include blue, red, green, white, brown, orange, and black at the time of this writing too.

Fashionable patterned designs can also be customized on some models during purchase and some of the patterns are pretty darn trendy.

As mentioned the Dell Inspiron Mini line of netbooks offer solid configuration choices with the latest in mobile technologies such as Intel Atom processors, USB 2.0, built in advanced wireless, webcam, optional Bluetooth, and some models even offer optional built-in GPS.

Super Light Dell Mini Notebooks With Fashionable Patterns


dell mini tristan netbook imageMost Dell Mini notebooks even weigh in less than 3.0 lbs which is pretty common for netbooks, and battery life is even pretty good across the board, especially if you configure with a 6-cell battery.

You can also if wanted turn your Dell Mini laptop into a rugged laptop for you even have the option to configure Dell Mini models with newer Solid State hard disk drives which offer ultimate shock resistance in the event you ever drop your Dell Mini.

We must say Dell Mini netbooks are also very competitive with Asus and other Netbook manufacturer’s products. In fact because of the sheer number of configuration choices the Dell Mini laptops are even going to be a step above of much of the competition for many of you. If like us you love customizing your tech products, the Dell Mini netbooks will be perfect for you.

Dell Inspiron Minis In The Sub $500 Price Range


Dell mini netbook pink apocalypse
And true to netbook computers Dell Mini laptops offer many configurations for under $500 including models such as the Mini 9 and Mini 10.

Of course let’s not forgot the Dell Mini’s keyboard. See many netbooks, especially earlier models had super cramped keyboards which literally made typing a chore.

Thankfully the gurus at Dell designed Dell Mini notebooks with a keyboard 92% the size of a traditional laptop keyboard.

Overall Dell Mini keyboards are much better than many other netbook keyboards on the market but still not quite up to par with the Asus Eee PC 1000HE keyboard, but pretty darn good nevertheless.

In conclusion we truly feel Dell Inspiron Mini netbooks are solid netbook computer systems that will be a great a starter laptop, a supplemental laptop for a primary machine, or even a great holiday gift.

Toshiba : has unveiled its latest 3D-toting laptops, the Toshiba P770 and P775, both of which pack in 3D webcams, and the Satellite L-Series with 3D playback capabilities.

Does the inclusion of 3D webcams speak of 3D Skype video chats to come? It's a scary but unsurprising prospect.

Skype does not yet support 3D webcams, but TechRadar has put a call in to Skype today, following Toshiba's latest laptop announcements, to find out how soon we might expect to see such a feature supported on the popular VoIP service.

Meanwhile, the 3D tech in the new Toshiba L and P series laptops is pretty standard stuff, with pricing expected to be announced soon.

3D or not 3D, that is the question :

Toshiba's all new Satellite P-series laptops are top of the range affairs, available intwo screen sizes: the Satellite P755 and P759 are 15.6-inch laptops, while the Satellite P770 and Satellite P775, feature slightly larger 17.3-inch screens.

As well as the P-Series laptops, Toshiba has unveiled its new Satellite L-series notebooks today.

These feature 2D-to-3D image conversion and external 3D playback, with integrated Onkyo speakers to "deliver immersive sound to match stunning visuals".

Premium

"Available in a choice of three screen sizes and a range of configurations, each model features impressive hardware specifications, including the latest Intel or AMD processors, dedicated Nvidia graphics on selected models, as well as a selection of premium 3D features," continues Tosh's release.

Toshiba will let us know more about UK pricing for the new Satellite L-series and P-series, both of which will be available from late April 2011.