Dell XPS M1530

Dell’s XPS series has brought serious multimedia and computing power to both desktops and laptops for a few years now. The XPS lineup of laptops manages to keep on top of the latest advancements in hardware technology by updating configuration options every two or three months. Remarkably, they manage to keep them pretty affordable too. Dell’s current 15.4-inch XPS M1530 brings a solid set of performance oriented hardware at a midrange price.

Standout Features

• 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 500GB hard drive
• GeForce 8600M GT video card
• High connectivity

Features

From a strictly aesthetic point of view, the Dell XPS M1530 is about as pretty as one could hope for. The Dell XPS M1530 manages to pack a Swiss Army knife’s worth of gadgets while still preserving a minimalist professionalism. Add the color options Dell gives you (pink, black and blue), and you’re looking at an elegant, yet still personalized laptop.

With a comparably strong graphics controller, the GeForce 8600M GT, powering video, HD movies will look stellar on the Dell XPS M1530’s 1440 x 900 resolution screen. No stuttering either, thanks to Intel dual-core processing. Feel like running some apps in the background while you enjoy the Quantum of Solace? Go right ahead, 4GB of RAM equate to smooth sailing when running multiple applications simultaneously.

The Dell XPS M1530 is going to delight the multimedia user more than anyone else. The Dell XPS M1530 has a remote control that tucks comfortably into the chassis of the notebook itself. The remote control in conjunction with the HDMI output on the Dell XPS M1530 allows it to link up with your HDTV for home theater quality audio and video.

Users looking to stay connected at work, home, and everywhere in between will be happy to learn that the Dell XPS M1530 ranks highly in terms of connectivity. In addition to standard wi-fi and Ethernet, you’ll find the option to include Bluetooth.

The only real complaint we have about the Dell XPS M1530 is the underwhelming video card. We’d love to be able to buy the Dell XPS M1530 with a 512MB video card. Unfortunately, the GeForce 8600M GT only has 256MB of dedicated memory.

Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet

Users are pleased with the thin and light build. The Dell XPS M1530 weighs about 6 pounds.

The Dell XPS M1530’s onboard speakers produce mediocre sound. Headphones are a must.

Summary

Ultimately, the Dell XPS M1530 is a jack-of-all-trades in the laptop arena. The Dell XPS M1530 will handle multimedia, wi-fi networking, internet, resource-intensive applications, and even manage some casual gaming on the side. For the user with a very specific set of needs, likeDVD authoring, the Dell XPS M1530 might not be the best laptop out there. But, for the civilian user with a love of multimedia and a need for versatility, the Dell XPS M1530 is a great candidate—especially at the price.

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