Dell Studio XPS 16 16-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

The Bottom Line

Dell's new Studio XPS 16 introduces a new low cost luxury laptop lineup that mixes design elements from multiple product lines. The new aluminum trimmed and leather accented case gives the impression of a very expensive system. The biggest draw to the system though is its outstanding 16-inch LED backlit screen that provides some amazing color, as long as you can deal with all the reflections. Definitely a powerful system for someone looking for a great graphics display.

Pros

* Bright and Colorful LED Backlit Display
* Strong Performance Thanks to DDR3 Memory
* Luxury Design Elements

Cons

* Glossy Edge to Edge Display Design Causes Lots of Reflections and Glare
* Below Average Battery Life
* Gets Fairly Warm
Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 16" WXGA (1366x768) LED Backlit Display With 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
* ATI Radeon HD 3670 Graphics With 512MB Memory
* Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth
* Three USB 2.0, FireWire, eSATA, HDMI, DisplayPort, ExpressCard/54, 8-in-1 Card Reader
* 15.2" x 10" x 1.3" @ 6.4 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, Works, McAfee Security Center

Guide Review - Dell Studio XPS 16 16-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

While many may cite the leather and aluminum trim as the features to draw users to the Dell Studio XPS 16, the real standout feature of the laptop is the 16-inch LED backlit screen. It provides some of the best overall color and brightness available in the 15 to 16-inch laptop size range. The only downside is that the glossy edge to edge frameless design results in a highly reflective display that can be distracting in certain lighting conditions.

Performance for the Studio XPS 16 is quite strong thanks to the Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor combined with 4GB of faster PC3-8500 DDR3 memory. Most laptops in the $1100 price range still use DDR2 as a means to keep costs down but thus limiting possible performance some. When the system is used heavily for extended periods of time, the bottom of the case can get quite warm though.

Storage is pretty typical for laptops in this models price range. The 320GB hard drive provides a good amount of space for applications. It spins up at a faster 7200rpm rate for added performance but it does draw more power than 5400rpm models. A dual layer DVD burner is standard but a Blu-ray drive is optional. Those thinking of getting the Blu-ray drive would definitely want to upgrade to the 1080p display panel.

Besides the high level of glare, the biggest drawback to the Studio XPS 16 is its below average battery life. Dell does offer a much higher capacity 9-cell battery that gives it a longer running time, but it adds a significant amount of bulk making it much less portable.

As with all Dell systems, the Studio XPS 16 has a wide range of options available for it. This includes Blu-ray, 1080p high resolution display, faster processors and larger hard drives. All of these add to the performance and capabilities, but they also quickly add up from the $1100 base price.

source by : Mark Kyrnin