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Dell Latitude E6400 Tiny Sound In Windows XP Fixed

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:57:17 +0000

Dell Latitude E6400

Many users can get the problem of bad quality sound of Dell Latitude E6400 in Windows XP (or volume is so low). Problem will be easily resolved. You just need to check PC Speaker Mute button. First open Volume Control by this path Start Menu/Programs/Accessories/Entertainment –> Volume Control

Press Advanced button and check PC Spk Mute. Then everything will be ok, even the quality of sound is better than ever.

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Dell updates business-oriented Vostro notebooks

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:09:14 +0000

Dell on Thursday announced it has updated its Vostro notebook line-up with three new models, including the 13.3-inch Vostro 1320, the 15.4-inch Vostro 1520 and 17-inch Vostro 1720, which are available now. Dell has outfitted the range with added security measures, including optional shock-proof solid state drives, fingerprint readers, and encrypted hard drives with Wave Systems software. All share standard 80GB hard drives and six-cell batteries, as well as integrated Wi-Fi capabilities. Processing power comes via Intel’s 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo chips.

Dell’s research indicates small businesses will send employees on less business trips this year, and saw it fit to include the option of videoconferencing hardware and software for the Vostro notebooks as an alternative. Intel’s integrated 4500MHD graphics processor is standard fare in all, as is a 8x DVD writer. Integrated RAM ranges from 1GB, 2GB and 4GB, with Windows Vista Basic, Business or Ultimate 64-bit, offered in the Basic, Productivity and Ultimate trims, respectively, that each new Vostro is offered in, with the exception of the 1520, which gets 2GB of RAM even in its basic level of equipment.

Pricing for the Vostro 1520 starts at $569, the Vostro 1320 at $629 and the Vostro 1720 at $649. European, Middle Eastern and African markets will get the notebooks on April 7th, with certain Asian countries following in May.

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Dell Releases Budget Vostro Laptops with Videoconferencing Options

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:52:52 +0000

Dell lifted the veil off its newest laptop offering in the market in the Vostro laptops. These new mobile devices are designed expressly to meet small business needs and custom-built to maximize productivity amidst shrinking travel budgets with free, pre-installed videoconferencing and webcam software with purchase of integrated webcam and microphone.

In the current economy, small businesses are relying on productivity and collaboration solutions more heavily than ever as a cost-effective alternative to business travel.

According to a recent study by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, 71 percent of businesses plan to spend less on travel in 2009. IDC predicts that by the close of this year, close to 35 percent of SMBs will be using some form of videoconferencing.

“Through our direct relationships, we understand what small businesses care about most – staying productive everywhere, staying secure, and staying up and running without fail,” said Sam Burd, global vice president, Dell Small and Medium Business. “Customer-driven innovation is the core of our DNA. Today, SMBs need effortless videoconferencing solutions and world-class data security in an affordable package and that is what the latest Vostro laptops provide.”

Redesigned Vostro laptops include the 13.3-inch Vostro 1320, the 15.4-inch Vostro 1520, and the 17-inch Vostro 1720. Products are available today in North America and select South American countries, followed by Europe, Middle East and Africa on April 7, and select Asian countries in May.

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Multitouch Dell Studio One 19

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:04:40 +0000

Japan just scored big time with Dell’s multitouch Studio One 19 PC. This all-in-one PC is a semi-successor to the AIO XPS One and is Dell’s commanding answer to the iMac. Here are some of the highlights: a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo, 750GB HDD, 4GB of memory, integrated 1.3MP webcam, Blu-ray player, 6x USB, and integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400 graphics unit.

The Dell Studio One 19 PC It is fronted by a very pretty forward-set 19-inch multitouch LCD. It features a display with a 1,366 x 768 aspect ratio with touch or nontouch glass panels. This entertainment PC will appeal to those who like their screens with extra smudge. It has a heavy dose of styling and is very pretty. It also comes near the stylish series of the Dell Adamo.

An official press release has just confirmed that the Dell Studio One 19 PC will have a staring price of $699 starting price when it hits the country. It will cost a lot more if you start adding the $200-ish Blu-ray option, $100 touchscreen, more memory, etc.

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Dell Latitude 2100 Welch Gets Leaked

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:13:10 +0000

Dell is ready to make a new 10-inch netbook. The Latitude 2100 Welch has been leaked and according to unofficial sources the netbook will offer an optional SSD, up to 2GB RAM, a 1.6GHz processor and it will all weigh under 3lbs. Other specs include three USB ports, an SD/MMC slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/g/n, Bluetooth and 3 and 6-cell battery options. The most interesting feature might be a touchscreen, but none of this has been confirmed yet. The new netbook will come in School Bus Orange or Red Apple versions and it will have a price tag of less than $600 in May 2009 when it comes out.

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Dell Adamo 9 and Studio One 22 Leak

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:17:49 +0000

The Adamo we’ve just seen is not going to be the only thin laptop Dell is going to launch. In fact a slim netbook has been leaked, the Dell Adamo 9 which should be a 9-inch ultra-slim and ultra-portable computer. Besides the Adamo 9, another new Dell all-in-one PC has been leaked, the 22-inch Studio One 22. We have no specs ready for you, but at least you know what’s coming in the near future.

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Dell Releases First Adamo Laptop… Finally

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:01:43 +0000

We were waiting and waiting and Dell decided finally to launch its first laptop in the Adamo line. And in case you were expecting a cheap MacBook Air competitor then you should keep on waiting.

This Dell Adamo will cost you about $1,999. You get a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and a 128GB solid state drive. Yeah, we were expecting more too! The chassis has been built from a single sheet of aluminum, which sounds too familiar. You can pre-order the Dell Adamo today and you’ll get it on March 26. What do you think? Will you get one?

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Dell Announces Studio 15 Special Edition Laptop

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:13:03 +0000

It looks like everyone has computer announcements today. After we’ve seen the new Apple desktops we have more machines to show you. Dell launched a new Studio 15 laptop which is quite a Special Edition one. Does it have special features too? Well the new model will bring you a 1440 x 900 LED-backlit display, a choice of Pentium Dual Core or Core 2 Duo processors, up to 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 graphics and a new “Black Vapor” color.

The prices aren’t that special but the laptops are still affordable. They start at $799, $849 and $949.

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Dell 1410 Gets an Upgrade

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:48:00 +0000

If Dell is your favorite laptop provider then you should be interested in the new specs on the Dell Inspiron 1410. What you’ll get out of the 14-inch laptop is a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a WXGA display, 250 GB of HDD storage space, a DVD burner, 802.11b/g WiFi and a Intel’s GMA X3100 graphic card. Not exactly the high-end laptop you might be looking for but still a dependable machine.

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Dell Mini 9 Available for Only $199

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:52:11 +0000

If you want a cheap netbook Dell has decided to offer you one. The Dell Mini 9 is available for just $199. Dell took $50 off for a day so you should hurry on this one. What you get for your money is an Obsidian Black 8.9-inch netbook which comes with the regular 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, WiFi, a 4-cell battery, 512MB of RAM and a 4GB SSD. The netbook will run on Ubuntu Linux. You weren’t expecting Windows XP inside for that price, were you?

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DELL Inspiron 1525

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:56:15 +0000

With a complete top-to-bottom revamp of Dell’s entire laptop line in mid-2007, why the need for a new mainstream model so soon? While the current 14-inch Inspiron 1420 hits the size/features/performance sweet spot, and the high-end XPS M1330 and the XPS M1530 are slick, thin 13- and 15-inch models, respectively, the middle-of-the-road Inspiron 1520 was always a little too big and clunky for its own good. When compared with the 14-inch version, Dell’s basic 15-inch Inspiron–long the bread and butter of the company’s consumer laptop line–got lost in the shuffle, offering a small increase in screen size but at the expense of a larger, more unwieldy chassis.

Dell’s taken these points to heart, and the company has reworked the 1520 in the form of the Inspiron 1525. It’s a smaller, lighter version of the previous 15-inch Inspiron 1520. However, after getting used to the brushed metal of the XPS M1530 (which itself starts at only $999), the new Inspiron 1525 has a somewhat cheap plastic feel, and we’re not sure how much abuse it would stand up to on the road. But for a laptop that starts at only $499, it offers a lot of bang for your buck, including an HDMI output and touch-sensitive media controls, which are solid extras for a budget laptop. Our review unit bumps the spec up and includes a T7000-series Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and 2GB of RAM, for about a still reasonable $1,024–but within Dell’s crowded laptop lineup, you may still prefer the smaller 14-inch 1420 model, or the slightly more expensive (but much nicer-looking) XPS M1530.

Price as reviewed / Starting price	$1,024 / $499
Processor	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7250
Memory	2GB, 667MHz DDR2
Hard drive	120GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Intel GM965
Graphics	Mobile Intel Express 965GM (integrated)
Operating System	Windows Vista Home
Dimensions (WDH)	14.0×10.1×1.45 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	15.4 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	6.0/6.8 pounds
Category	Mainstream

With the upgraded Inspiron 1525 (hey, nobody ever accused these guys of being too creative in the naming department), Dell has managed to shave a little bulk off of the system–it’s about 30 percent thinner and a half-pound lighter than the 1520 model it replaces–and the smaller chassis leaves less dead space on the keyboard tray.

The keyboard is the same full-size model found on Dell’s other Inspiron and XPS laptops. While the keyboard is not our favorite, because of its tapered keys that may not offer enough surface area for chubby fingers, its feels solid and responsive. Above the keyboard sits a row of media control buttons. These are of the touch-sensitive variety we’re partial to, and the Inspiron 1525 is the cheapest laptop we’ve seen those on yet. An additional quick-launch button is also above the keyboard for starting Dell’s proprietary multimedia management software, but chances are you’ll stick with more established programs such as Windows Media Center or iTunes. Our review unit also had a 2-megapixel Webcam built into the display, which is a $25 add-on.

The 15.4-inch wide-screen LCD display offers a 1280×800 native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size. Our screen was glossy, as is common on consumer laptops (they make for a better video-viewing experience), but an antiglare option is available at no extra charge. We typically see matte screens on business systems, and generally prefer them rather than trying to fight the glare from our desk lamp or sunlit window.

	Dell Inspiron 1525	Average for mainstream category
Video	VGA-out, HDMI-out	VGA-out, S-Video
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, mulitformat memory card reader	4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, mulitformat memory card reader
Expansion	Express card slot	PC Card or Express card slot
Networking	Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth
Optical drive	DVD burner	DVD burner

The Inspiron 1525 offers all of the ports and connections you’ll probably need, but in typical Dell fashion, almost everything is an extra-cost add-on. Bluetooth is $20, 802.11n Wi-Fi is $50, and a DVD burner is $30 (as opposed to a plain CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive). In a move that our friends at Apple should take note of, mobile broadband antennas from both Sprint and Verizon are offered. Each antenna costs $150, but signing up for service will get you a $100 rebate from either carrier.

While our $1,000-plus review unit was a perfectly capable dual-core system, what exactly do you get for the $499 base price? We would steer far clear of the lowest-end components, which include a 1.8GHz Intel Celeron 540 CPU, Vista Basic, an 80GB hard drive (same size as the MacBook Air), and only 512MB of RAM. Upgrading to 1GB of RAM is only $50, and adding an Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 is $100–we would call that the bare minimum for a usable laptop.

With 2GB of RAM and a 2.0GHz T7250 CPU, the Dell Inspiron 1525 offered no surprises on the performance front. Dell’s upscale XPS version–the XPS M1530–was faster, sporting a better processor and video card (the 1525 is stuck with basic Intel integrated graphics), but similarly configured versions of both systems would offer nearly identical performance, with the XPS premium going for better design and construction.

The Inspiron 1525 ran for 2 hours and 41 minutes on our DVD battery drain test, using the included six-cell battery, a decent score for budget 15-inch laptop. A nine-cell battery is also available, but it’s large enough to stick out conspicuously from the back of the system. Our DVD battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and office use.

Dell includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Upgrading to a three-year plan will cost an extra $260, which includes on-site service. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, and Dell’s robust online knowledge base and driver downloads, although XPS customers get access to a different, better-quality, tech support line. Dell will also send you a free recycling kit for your old laptop on request (basically a prepaid postage label to ship old products back to a recycling facility).

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DELL XPS M1330

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:39:01 +0000

Back in February, Dell told us “off-the-record” that there was a “sexy” new XPS product coming out in June which was worth waiting for. Come the end of July, and the Dell XPS M1330 is now here. Pictures leaked onto the net about two months ago — generating a bit more hype than your average Dell product.

Our sister site, CNET.com may have posted their review on the day of launch, but it was a pre-production unit. We waited until the production units finally began rolling out in order to better evaluate what would actually be delivered to people’s homes. So, how sexy is it?

Design
The new XPS is a 13.3-inch notebook which Dell claims is the “slimmest in the world”. It’s certainly quite slender at the front, and a lot more so than the Dell XPS M1210 — though it does taper out at the rear. Build quality is quite good, with a floating hinge, brushed aluminium palmtop and a sensible array of ports within easy grasp. The colour scheme is also quite attractive with a mix of matte and piano black, and silver used. The screen cover of the M1330 comes in three colours — red, black, and white — and though it misses out on the veritable rainbow available in the Inspiron line, we don’t think people looking for a performance notebook will mind the lack of a “Flamingo Pink” option.

However, one thing that surprised us about the laptop was the flexibility of the LCD screen. Using an LED backlight allows the screen to be thinner and lighter, but it also means that it flexes more, too. At the bottom of the screen, the surround has around 1-2cm of give, but in order to compensate the mag alloy hinges and frame are fairly robust.

Features
Being as this is a Dell, a lot of the specifications are based on you and how much you want to spend. Configurations currently start at AU$1,799, but the one we received topped out at AU$2,899. For this you get: the Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 processor, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, the optional draft-N wireless card, 2GB of RAM, the faster 7200rpm 160GB hard drive, and a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate.

Standard features on the M1330 include an HDMI output for outputting both audio (using a SigmaTel chipset) and video, two USB ports, a slot-loading DVD drive and capacitive media buttons as standard. One of the only “hard” buttons launches Dell’s MediaDirect application, which is a Windows Media Center clone. However, it’s not as powerful as Media Center (which is also onboard). It’s not as feature-rich as Windows’ offering and has some limitations — like region-encryption and an inability to decode 5.1 streams. It’s OK, because you can just use Media Center anyway.

The options on our model included LED backlighting, fingerprint sensor, and unavailable at the moment but apparently in the pipeline — a Blu-ray drive. The unit also features onboard speakers, but they’re not much chop

In what seems like a strange move, choosing the LED backlighting upgrade actually results in a Webcam downgrade — from 2-megapixel to a measly 0.3-megapixel, which is equivalent to the VGA camera found on most phones.

The slot-loading DVD machine is similar to the one used on the Macbook and Macbook Pro — this shouldn’t be surprising as they’re both built by a third party, ASUS. At the launch we did some filming of the notebook and demonstrated a DVD loading. However, being a pre-production unit the disk got stuck. There’s no reset switch or hardware button on these drives — just a capacitive media “eject” button above the keyboard — and if this fails we wouldn’t want to have to return the notebook to the service centre if a disk became trapped.

In a thoughtful move, the Dell also includes a funky carry pouch with a magnetised fastener, which will save you having to spend extra money on one — it doesn’t have handles though.

Performance
It looks good, but how is it to use? Quite good, actually. The aluminium palmtop may be a little cool on winter evenings but the PC soon warms it up. But that’s not to say the PC gets hot — it doesn’t, and unlike some other high-powered notebook, it’s also fairly quiet.

By switching from a 12-inch in the m1210 to a 13.3-inch has meant that Dell is able to incorporate a full-sized keyboard. As a result, typing is comfortable, and there is a decent amount of tactile feedback in the keys as well. But the extra real-estate hasn’t translated to a larger touchpad — it’s a little small, and it can grate on your fingertips if they’re calloused enough. The pad also has small scroll bars , which despite their size are easy to trigger accidentally.

The fingerprint reader is a nice addition but the software included isn’t the best, on a bad scan you’ll get a cryptic “too short” message, until you keep trying and can get a decent read.

The M1330 may boast some powerful components, but the weak link in the performance chain is the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS. Though this graphics adaptor it will decode HD video and accelerate your “Windows Vista Aero experience^TM“, it’s fairly average for gaming.

This translated in the benchmarks, with a score of 1448 marks in 3DMark06 (at the default 1280×800 resolution). In PCMark05, though, it was a different story, with the powerful 2.4GHz dual-core processor able to push the laptop to an excellent score for an ultraportable — 5653 marks.

Battery life using the six-cell battery was good, with the laptop lasting 3:02 hours using our BatteryEater Pro reader test. You’ll also be able to watch most movies on one charge, with the battery lasting 1 hour and 51 minutes at full brightness on a run-through of King Kong — using a set of headphones. A good result.

If you’re looking for a rugged laptop, then the M1210 would a better and cheaper option. The relative fragility of the LED-backlit screen could be an issue over time, and it may even be worth saving AU$400 and going for the original version with a better Webcam. The downsides are that it would be thicker and heavier, and battery life would also suffer. In conclusion, if you’re in the market for a portable under two kilograms, the 1.78kg Dell XPS is both stylish and a pleasure to use.

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DELL Inspiron 8600

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:29:36 +0000

Building on the success of its 8500 predecessor, the Inspiron 8600 combines state-of-the-art components with a proven design to deliver an excellent multimedia-orientated desktop replacement notebook.

If you’re looking for a notebook on which to watch DVD movies, play games or edit video, then Dell’s new Inspiron 8600 should be at the top of your shortlist. On the other hand, if you want something portable and affordable on which to run your business productivity software, then this AU$4,866.40 system is seriously over-specified. Featuring a 1.7GHz Pentium M processor, 512MB of 266MHz DDR RAM, a 15.4in. wide-screen display, Nvidia’s new GeForce FX Go 5650 graphics chip with 128MB of video RAM and an 80GB hard disk, the Inspiron 8600 is a state-of-the-art notebook that takes no prisoners.

As far as design is concerned, the 8600 looks identical to its 8500 predecessor, the defining component being its 15.4in. wide-screen display. Designed primarily for viewing DVD movies, this 16:10 apsect ratio LCD requires a sizeable notebook to house it, and the Inspiron 8600 duly measures 35.9cm wide by 27.4cm deep by 3.8cm high; our review sample weighed a hefty 3.32kg without the AC adapter. We had the highest-resolution 1,920-by-1,200-pixel screen, which is great if you want a large workspace; however, it can make screen icons, toolbars and type very small. You’ll probably need to use Dell’s Quickset utility to reset the size of icons and toolbars, and perhaps adjust the font size in Display Properties/Appearance to get a comfortable working environment.

As with the 8500 model, you can jazz up the default silver livery of the 8600’s lid cover with a choice of optional AU$49.50 add-ons — they come in Bamboo, Burlwood, Graphite and Venice Blue. Without any such embellishment, the 8600’s look and feel is pretty middle-of-the-road: there’s no unnecessary design gimmickry, and it feels quite solidly built without being particularly ruggedised.

With so much space to play with, you get an 88-key keyboard with a sensible desktop-style layout — all that’s missing is the separate number keypad that you only get on truly gargantuan notebooks like Acer’s Aspire 1700 series. There are dual pointing devices: a conventional two-button touchpad, and a keyboard-embedded trackpoint with a further pair of buttons just below the spacebar. The keyboard is flanked by a set of CD control buttons to the right, while at the top there are volume and mute buttons. Stereo speakers mounted on the front edge deliver reasonable sound by notebook standards, although DVD movie buffs will probably want to attach a set of external speakers when at home.

Unlike its predecessor, which was based on the Mobile Pentium 4-M processor, the Inspiron 8600 is a Centrino system, using the latest 1.7GHz Pentium M chip backed up in our review system by 512MB of 266MHz DDR memory. There are two SODIMM slots, so you can fit a maximum of 2GB of RAM if you really need it. Hard drive sizes range from 30GB to 80GB, our review sample coming with the latter. There’s a single modular drive bay, fitted in our system with the top-end component, a Philips DVD+RW drive: alternative choices include DVD-ROM, DVD/CD-RW combo, a second 40GB hard disk, a second battery and a floppy drive.

The 15.4in. wide-screen LCD can be driven by a selection of graphics chips, from ATI’s Mobility Radeon 9000 with 32MB of video RAM, through Nvidia’s GeForce4 4200 Go with 64MB ( as featured on the 8500 model we tested a few months ago), up to the new GeForce FX Go5650 with a whopping 128MB. As detailed below, the latter component delivered record-breaking 3D performance in our review system.

By default, the Inspiron 8600 comes with the Centrino-standard Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 802.11b Mini-PCI card, but you can specify Dell’s b/g TrueMobile 1300 or a/b/g TrueMobile 1400 options if you’re prepared to pay extra. The 8600 can also accommodate Blueooth internally, although this is a AU$48.40 factory install option.

As far as I/O is concerned, the Inspiron provides what you’d expect in a desktop replacement system: serial, parallel, VGA, two USB 2.0, S-Video-out, FireWire plus audio (microphone and headphone) ports, and a single Type II PC Card slot. There are also RJ-11 and RJ-45 ports for the modem and 10/100 Ethernet connections respectively.

Considering that its specification is state-of-the-notebook-art, it’s no surprise to find that the Inspiron 8600 is an excellent performer. Its Business Winstone 2001 score of 66.3 makes this the fastest Pentium M system we’ve tested to date when running mainstream business applications, while its Content Creation Winstone 2002 score of 35.8 shows that it’ll handle high-end applications with aplomb, too.

If you’re a gamer and you select the 128MB GeForce FX Go5650 option, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you should be delighted with the 8600’s record-breaking score of 9,955 under 3DMark 2001 SE (1,024 by 768 resolution, 32-bit colour depth). Basic 3D performance like this will allow you to turn on the graphics chip’s image quality enhancements such as anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering and still get good frame rates.

Battery life may not be a key concern with a hefty desktop replacement system such as the Inspiron 8600, but if you do become separated from a source of mains power, you can expect to get around three hours’ life from the system’s 9-cell, 6,486mAh Li-ion battery in desktop mode. If you need more uptime, you can apply more conservative power management settings, or buy a second battery for the modular bay for AU$188.10.

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DELL Inspiron 1520

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:21:11 +0000

The Dell Inspiron 1520 series consists of two models. The Inspiron 1520 is built around an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and (in the case of higher-end models) the new Centrino Duo platform, while the Inspiron 1521 trades Intel for an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor and chipset. Aside from processor choices, Dell is also offering color choices: if buyers don’t like the traditional white or black case, they can opt for red, blue, green, yellow, brown, or pink. We’ve seen colorful laptops before–most recently in the Sony VAIO CR series–but we’ve never seen a colored laptop with as many configuration options as the Dell Inspiron 1520 series offers. Add to that such media-friendly options as a built-in Webcam or Blu-Ray disc drive, and the Dell Inspiron 1520 series will definitely appeal to home users who want a solid all-around laptop with a high degree of customization.

Starting price	$749
Processor	AMD Turion 64 X2 up to 2.2GHz or Intel Core 2 Duo up to 2.2GHz
Memory	Up to 4GB of 667MHz
Hard drive	Up to 160GB
Graphics	Integrated: ATI Radeon Xpress X1270 or Mobile Intel GMA X3100 Discrete: Nvidia GeForce Go 8400M GS (128MB) or Nvidia GeForce Go 8600M GT (256MB)
Chipset	ATI 690T/600SB or Mobile Intel Express 965PM/GM
Operating system	Windows Vista (all editions)
Dimensions (WDH)	14.1×10.6×1.5-1.7 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	15.4 inches
System weight	6.4 pounds
Category	Midsize

Though the Inspiron 1520 series’ feature set is largely average for the midsize category, a few key items stand out. For example, the laptop’s 15.4-inch wide-screen display can be configured with a sharp 1,440×900 or even sharper 1,920×1,200 native resolution. Users who want always-on connectivity can opt for integrated WWAN from Sprint, Verizon, or AT&T (though you’ll have to subscribe to the carriers’ data service). And buyers of the Intel-based Inspiron 1520 will have the option to include a Blu-Ray drive in their system–still a rare choice outside the realm of premium desktop replacement laptops. Of course, these finer features will drive the Inspiron 1520 series well above the $749 starting price, but many home users will appreciate the option to customize their laptop to fit their needs and lifestyles.

Dell has also borrowed a few handy design features from its other laptop lines and incorporated them into the Inspiron 1520 series. First, media controls along the front edge, similar to those found on the XPS line of laptops, let you easily control disc playback. From the Latitude line, the Inspiron 1520 has adopted a built-in Wi-Fi Catcher, which lets you detect wireless networks even when the laptop’s lid is closed or the computer is powered off.

	Dell Inspiron 1520 series	Average for midsize category
Video	VGA-out, S-Video	VGA-out, S-Video
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	Four USB 2.0 ports, a mini-FireWire, and a multiformat memory card reader	Four USB 2.0 ports, a mini-FireWire, and a multiformat memory card reader
Expansion	PC Card slot	PC Card slot
Networking	Modem, Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth, optional WWAN	Modem, Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth
Optical drive	CD-RW/DVD-ROM or DVD burner, Blu-ray drive optional on Intel-based models	DVD burner

As often happens with configurable laptops, the price of the Dell Inspiron 1520 series can vary widely depending on your component and feature choices. But we even like the look of the baseline Inspiron 1520 configuration, which incorporates a Core 2 Duo T5250 processor (based on Intel’s previous-generation architecture), 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive for $849. Buyers looking for an even lower price can opt for the baseline Inspiron 1521, which trades the Intel processor for an AMD Turion 64 X2 and costs just $749. These budget-friendly processors won’t outrun the latest-generation components, but they should prove sufficient for most home users’ needs.

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DELL XPS M1730

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:49:25 +0000

The Dell XPS M1730 is an ogre of a machine, weighing nearly 5kg. It is predominantly a gaming notebook thanks to its AGEIA PhysX Accelerator and the latest NVIDIA SLI technology.

The Dell XPS M1730 can also handle the latest games with fast graphics due to the AGEIA PhysX processing unit and 512MB of dedicated video RAM.

Available in red, blue, white and grey, the Dell XPS M1730 makes a visual impact but we were not completely sold on the over-the-top futuristic design. The Dell XPS M1730 looks like a gaming though, and the light shining through the panels in the side of the lid gives it a space age feel.

The Dell XPS M1730 even features a full size keyboard that illuminates for late-night game play.

The 17in widescreen UltraSharp WUXGA display with a resolution of 1920×1200 and full HD 1080p support allows gaming fans to experience the action at its best quality. The Dell XPS M1730’s built-in Logitech Gamepanel LCD will also catch gamers’ eyes. This is a first for notebooks, displaying gaming information, doubling up as a clock and stopwatch and telling you how much memory is being used.

Those that look for the flashier elements of laptops will delight in the Dell XPS M1730’s 16-colour, programmable LightFX lighting in the front speaker grill that display as you play games or music. You can even customise the touchpad back-lighting.

In terms of our WorldBench testing, the Dell XPS M1730 scored highly, achieving 78 real-world speed points. As we had expected, the notebook performed well in gaming tests, scoring a whopping 70. Battery life was not as high as we had hoped however, managing only 73 minutes at full pelt.

The Dell XPS M1730 has an optional of a TV tuner, connectivity options are impressive, with long-range wireless connectivity via internal mobile broadband, Bluetooth peripherals and the Dell XPS M1730’s Wi-Fi catcher and support for the newest Wireless-N technology.

Not only is the Dell XPS M1730 a machine suited to gaming, the M1730 is well featured as a multimedia machine. It has a 2Mp camera, full HD movie viewing that looks fantastic on the high definition display, optional Blu-ray Disc Technology, dual headphone jacks, and an express card travel remote that slots conveniently into the side of the laptop.

Dell XPS M1730 power laptop

The Dell XPS M1730 is an ogre of a machine, weighing nearly 5kg. It is predominantly a gaming notebook thanks to its AGEIA PhysX Accelerator and the latest NVIDIA SLI technology.

Specifications

2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 T7250; Windows Vista Home Premium; 2GB DDR2 RAM; 200GB; 15.4in x-black LCD; 1280 x 800 display; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (Total available memory 358MB); 802.11 a/b/g/n; 3-year limited warranty; 360×269x31mm; 2.8kg

Verdict

Although you’re paying a price nearing the £2,000 mark, you get a machine offering top performance in return. The Dell XPS M1730 is definitely for the more serious laptop users and gamers out there, and it would be a good desktop-replacement thanks to its cracking display. Although the Dell XPS M1730 is bulky and we are a little disheartened by the battery life we were wowed by the high games and WorldBench scores and impressive hard drive capacity.

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DELL XPS M1530

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:35:06 +0000

Verdict: A superb laptop, combining excellent ergonomics and slick looks with a good dollop of power.

Dell’s XPS branding was once synonymous with futuristically tailored, high-performance gaming systems. But with the acquisition of Alienware back in 2006, Dell sought to steer the branding away from its specialist heritage and usher in a new, luxurious, design-led range.

The first herald of that transformation came in the guise of a radical, briefcase-sized desktop replacement, the Dell XPS M2010. We gave that a favourable review in 2006. Since then, Dell has added the 13.3in XPS M1330 and 17in XPS M1730 to the range, and, now, the XPS M1530 has arrived to fill the gaping 15.4in-sized hole in the line-up.

While the XPS M2010 was a truly remarkable beast, it wasn’t until the arrival of the XPS M1330 last year that the XPS range found its true identity. The M1330 was, and still is, the finest looking laptop Dell has ever produced, and so it’s no disappointment to find that the M1530 shares its fine sense of style.

Slip the Dell from its packaging and its good looks are immediately apparent. In a refreshing departure from the norm, Dell, unlike many laptop manufacturers, hasn’t made recourse to the glossy black clichÃ©. Instead, the lid is adorned with a single block of colour, interrupted only by chrome-effect Dell and XPS logos, and flanked neatly in grey.

Our review model was finished in an attractively subtle, muted shade, dubbed Midnight Blue, but depending on your tastes, there’s the choice of Crimson red and Tuxedo black. Whichever you choose, the Micro Satin paint that Dell uses makes sure that the M1530 feels as good as it looks, with a wonderfully tactile, silky-smooth finish.

It isn’t often that practicality and fine design meet in the middle, but you only need spend a little time with the M1530 to be assured that its creators thought long and hard about every facet of its design. Tilt the lid back on its strong, pleasingly stiff hinges and the Dell’s interior continues to impress.

The wide expanse of brushed-aluminium wrist rest both looks and feels outstandingly luxurious; and it provides a supremely comfortable typing position. Even the omission of lid catches is forgivable- those strong hinges won’t allow the lid to flop open in a bag.

Once you’ve finished gawping at the striking looks, simply turning on the M1530 is enough to elicit another shiver of excitement. Depress the silver on button and the row of touch-sensitive buttons to its right strobe into life with a gentle blue glow. They look lovely and work well too: all it takes is a light press of the finger to mute the volume, or pause a track, each button illuminating and then gently fading away.

The M1530’s sterling build quality is equally impressive. Its sheer solidity makes it feel heavier than it truly is, but at 2.62kg, it’s far from overweight when compared with other 15.4in laptops.

It’s just superbly solid, and no matter how hard we tried, the M1530’s base failed to exhibit the slightest hint of flex. It’s little surprise that the 15.4in display is more pliant, but again we had to really prod and poke with excessive force before we noticed any distortion on the displayed image.

The resilient build quality pays dividends when it comes to usability too. The wide chassis gives the keyboard plenty of room to breathe, and apart from the slightly compressed shift keys, the layout is eminently sensible.

In use, each of the full-sized keys gives a crisp, positive action that helps make light of long stretches of typing. The trackpad is equally praiseworthy, despite its small dimensions, and its responsiveness is complemented by the light action of the accompanying buttons.

It is testament to the M1530’s ergonomic excellence that it’s easy to forget about the components beavering away underneath it all. The model Dell sent us came with an array of sensibly chosen parts: an Intel Core 2 Duo T7250and 2GB of memory partnered with a fast 7,200rpm 160GB hard disk. That might not look much on paper, but it goes together to earn the Dell a fine score of1.04 in our application-based benchmarks.

And, thanks to the accompanying Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics, there’s even a modicum of gaming ability. It wasn’t until we ran Crysis at 1,280 x 1,024 in Medium detail that frame rates dropped to a jerky 15frames per second.

Try as we might, very few serious criticisms can be levelled at the Dell. Perhaps the worst among them is that the glossy 15.4in display doesn’t offer acres of desktop space – it settles for a modest 1,280 x 800 resolution – but even then the image quality more than makes up for it.

The panel is impressively bright and, thanks to good contrast, images are reproduced with incredible vibrancy. Pop a DVD in the slot-loading DVD drive, or fire up a game, and any worries about the resolution soon fade away.

Make no mistake, the Dell XPS M1530 is a simply fantastic laptop. If portability is high on your agenda then its more petite stablemate, the XPS M1330, is a better choice, but with its fine combination of ergonomics, power and design, the XPS M1530 is the finest 15.4in laptop we’ve ever encountered.

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DELL Inspiron 5150

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:12:19 +0000

For mainstream notebooks, it doesn’t get much better than the old Inspiron 5100–unless it’s the souped-up 5150.

When designing its new Inspiron 5150, Dell started with the same sensible case that houses both the Inspiron 5100 and the Inspiron 1100, then filled it full of awesome components such as a 3.06GHz mobile Pentium 4 processor, 333MHz memory, and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics chip. These parts helped the Inspiron 5150 achieve outstanding scores in our Labs’ benchmark tests. Additional highlights, such as a DVD+R/+RW drive, 802.11g wireless, and a giant battery, help this machine excel at just about any task, from marathon movie viewing to all-night work sessions. As long as the 3.59kg Inspiron 5150 stays close to home, it will please even the most finicky laptop users.

It would be impossible to pick the Inspiron 5150 out of a lineup alongside the Inspiron 5100 and the Inspiron 1100 because all three systems share the same 335-by-275-by-46.5-mm, 3.59kg case. The AC adapter pushes the total weight past the 4.26kg mark.

The case falls on the heavy side, largely due to its considerable 14.8V, 6,450mAh battery. On the plus side, the system’s large battery lasted an exceptionally long 254 minutes in battery-life tests. The included mobile Pentium 4 processor, which consumes less juice than the desktop chips used by the Inspiron 5100 and Inspiron 1100 do, also helped extend the notebook’s battery life.

The Inspiron 5150 offers an unexciting, straightforward design, but it gets the job done nevertheless. The no-frills keyboard, the touchpad (no pointing stick is available), and the two mouse buttons are large enough to work comfortably into the wee hours. A programmable button above the keyboard launches your designated application in one convenient touch. The system includes just one fixed bay that you can configure with a DVD-ROM, a combo DVD/CD-RW, or the cool, new DVD+R/+RW drive.

Dell leaves off outdated serial and PS/2 ports and includes just the ports and slots you’ll use most. FireWire, S-Video-out, VGA, Ethernet, and two USB 2.0 ports are located on the rear edge, with a 56Kbps-modem jack on the right side. Finally, one Type II PC Card slot and two jacks for headphones and a microphone sit on the left edge.

The Inspirons 5150, 5100, and 1100 may look identical, but they contain some distinct internal differences. While both the Inspiron 5100 and the Inspiron 1100 feature cost-conscious components, such as desktop Pentium and Celeron processors, the Inspiron 5150 offers more cutting-edge parts. The system includes Intel’s latest mobile CPU, the 3.06GHz mobile Pentium 4. All main memory runs at a superspeedy 333MHz and comes in amounts ranging from 256MB to 2GB. The Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics chip is ATI’s top-of-the-line offering, available with either 32MB or 64MB of dedicated 266MHz video RAM. These parts paid off in CNET Labs’ benchmark tests, helping the Inspiron 5150 clock some of the fastest scores we’ve seen to date.

The Inspiron 5150 earns our approval for more than performance. The notebook’s 15-inch display sports one of two native resolutions: 1,400×1,050 or the extrafine 1,600×1,200, which lets you see graphics and games down to the smallest detail. You can then use the integrated DVD+R/+RW drive to burn huge multimedia files or other important data to disc. Or you can save some bucks and fill that fixed bay with a DVD or DVD/CD-RW combo drive when you order. You can also get the fastest-possible wireless transmission speeds with the notebook’s built-in 802.11a/b/g mini-PCI wireless card or save a few bucks by choosing an 802.11b/g card instead.

Dell makes sure that the Inspiron 5150’s software speaks to both home and business users. The system ships with either Windows XP Home or XP Professional. Corel WordPerfect Office 11.0, with Quicken New User Edition, is the standard software suite, but you can also upgrade to Microsoft Works, Office XP, or Office Small Business Edition.

The Inspiron 5150 came in first place in mobile performance in this small test group. It beat the Eurocom D470W Impressa by 40 points and slid past the Alienware Area-51m (neither of which is available locally) by 8 points. The Inspiron 5150 is the first system we’ve tested with a 3.06GHz Mobile Pentium 4. This processor was specifically made for notebooks, and as such, it has better CPU-throttling efficiency when running on batteries than do the desktop chips running in the Alienware Area-51m and the Eurocom D470W. Thus, the Dell Inspiron 5150 easily comes out on top in mobile performance.

The Inspiron 5150 achieved the highest maximum-performance score we’ve seen to date. There are three elements that allow the system to achieve such lofty marks. The first is its 3.06GHz Mobile Pentium 4 processor. The second is its fast 333MHz DDR SDRAM. And finally, the system houses the ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 64MB, which is faster than the ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 64MB used in the comparison systems.

The Inspiron 5150 came in second place in 3D performance. With the ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 64MB we expected a higher score. The reason may be that this 3D test relies more on the quantity of system RAM than our other benchmarks do, and the Inspiron 5150 has only half the RAM as the comparison systems. That said, the system still scores high and would disappoint only the most jaded of gamers.

Thanks in part to its big 14.8V, 6,450mAh battery, the Inspiron 5150 managed a battery life of more than four hours–very impressive. The great battery life is partially attributable to the fact that the processor–a 3.06GHz Mobile Pentium 4–was made specifically with notebooks in mind. As such, it is much more efficient when it comes to conserving power than are the desktop processors found in the two comparison systems. This is a mainstream notebook done right: a mobile system that does not sacrifice battery life for performance.

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DELL Inspiron 1720

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:03:24 +0000

Dell’s Inspiron 1720 is a robust system available in seven colours besides black.

A powerful laptop does not have to be a boring laptop. The Dell Inspiron 1720 is a heavyish 17in notebook, but its multimedia design is top notch.

Superbly crafted for a demanding home office, the Dell Inspiron 1720 has a full-size keyboard with a separate number pad. Our test machine had one 160GB hard drive, as well as a complete contingent of connections – five USB ports, an ExpressCard/54 slot, and a memory card slot. The Dell Inspiron 1720’s 4kg weight makes it a less-than-ideal notebook for the road.

When it’s time to kick back, the Dell Inspiron 1720’s DirectMedia button provides instant access to the full panoply of entertainment options: DVD movies, music, photo slideshows and videos. The Dell Inspiron 1720’s stereo sound is good; a Blu-ray Disc drive is an option, albeit a costly one (£330).

Configured with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, 2GB of RAM, and an nVidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card, the Dell Inspiron 1720 proved an agile workhorse and gaming machine. Its WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 75 puts it in the top 10 percent of current notebooks. The Dell Inspiron 1720 kicked booty in our gaming tests, producing 116 frames per second playing Far Cry at 1,024×768 resolution. Its three-hour, 33-minute battery life isn’t great, but above average for this class.

Our review notebook had an espresso-brown lid that we found a little drab, but if you’re looking for a notebook with some pizzazz, try the Inspiron 1720 in spring green or flamingo pink, among other hues. Who said work isn’t fun?

Specifications

Windows Vista Home Premium; 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300; 17in widescreen; 4kg; DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/-RAM

Verdict

The Dell Inspiron 1720 is a splashy laptop that offers excellent entertainment options and great sound, as well as strong performance.

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Dell Adamo laptop could be answer to MacBook Air

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:08:12 +0000

The computer, which appears to be codenamed “Adamo”, is billed as “coming soon” , which has lead to speculation that Dell might take the wraps off its new product at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Documents uncovered by the New York Times show that the “Adamo” trademark covers computer hardware, including laptops and desktops.

Although Dell has not made an official statement about the product, the New York Times speculates that it will be a super-thin, ultra-portable machine to rival Apple’s MacBook Air computer, which was launched at Macworld in San Francisco earlier this year.

The NYT reports that Michael Tatelman, Dell’s vice president of consumer sales and marketing, looked stunned when the newspaper asked him whether the company had plans to make an Air-like product. “Mr Tatelman’s mouth gaped open and his eyes darted away from my face,” wrote Ashlee Vance on the NYT Bits blog .

It seems that Dell is planning to overhaul some elements of its consumer electronics line-up next year. Although generally well-regarded for their technical capabilities, Dell machines have a reputation for function over form, and are generally considered large and clunky.

“I think we need to get some iconic products out there, so people associate Dell’s brand with other things,” said Mr Tatelman in a recent interview.

Unleashing Adamo at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas would be a shrewd move by Dell. The event is one of the “blue ribband” conferences in the tech world, and dozens of cutting-edge gadgets get their first public unveiling at the show.

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Dell Studio XPS 13 Air-rivalling Dell Adamo coming February 2009

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:41:41 +0000

Images of Dell’s latest laptop have leaked, the Dell Studio XPS 13, complete with a slick leather, brushed metal and gloss-plastic casing. Full specs on the 13-inch notebook are unknown, but going by the press photos we can see that it has two USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA port, HDMI output and VGA output, together with wired ethernet.

Other specs include a slot-load optical drive, integrated webcam and microphone, and a multiformat memory card reader. A previous leak suggests that the notebook is based on Intel’s Centrino 2 platform, with Hybrid SLI support, Blu-ray drive, edge-to-edge glass display with optional LED backlighting and both WiMAX and UWB support.

Details – though no photos – of another upcoming Dell notebook have leaked, this time the company’s answer to the MacBook Air. Codenamed Adamo, it was originally expected to launch this month but has been delayed until February 2009, when Dell are hoping to market it as the “world’s thinnest laptop”. With a similar – though different – color scheme and design to the Studio XPS 13, no word on pricing but expect it to command a premium.

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Dell Studio 14

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:01:25 +0000

Dell’s Studio line of laptops is intended to be more upscale than its classic Inspiron line, and while you might hold out for the mysterious Adamo ultraportable laptop if classy is what you’re all about, here’s another option. The Dell Studio 14, a 14-inch entry into the line, has just appeared on the Malaysian Dell store and it’s likely to hit North America and Europe before long.

Like its 15 and 17-inch older brothers (and its 13-inch half-brother), the Studio 14 packs some hardware punch without going overboard. It comes with at least a 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (and as much as 2.6GHz if you want to spend more), 2GB of memory, and a 250GB hard drive for storage. By default it comes with the very slow Intel X3100 integrated graphics chipset. If you’re planning on playing a lot of games or watching high definition video (which you might, since a Blu-ray drive is an optional upgrade), you’ll want to exchange some extra cash for the vastly better ATI Radeon Mobility HD 3450 graphics card. And of course, like the other Studio models, it comes with a variety of color and design options.

The deal starts at 3,599 RM, or $1,036, but just about any of these minute details could change in the U.S. or European versions. It’s probably a lot cheaper than Adamo, so we’ll let you know when it shows up outside of Malaysia.

Specifications:

14″ display with LED backlight
1,280 x 800 resolution
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz processor
2GB RAM
250GB hard drive
GMA X3100 integrated graphics

Gallery:

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