Type: Gaming, General Purpose, Media, Value
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T9300
Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz
RAM: 2 GB
Weight: 5.9 lb
Screen Size: 15.4 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 3450
Storage Capacity: 250 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW
The DELL Studio 15's styling is also a tribute to the XPS M1530. You might recognize the drop-down hinges, similar to the ones on the M1530 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510. It even has the same tapering design as the M1530, becoming thinner as you move toward the bezel. At 5.9 pounds, it's a shade lighter than the 6.2-pound M1530, although the Apple MacBook Pro is still the undisputed 15-inch mainstream lightweight with its 5.3-pound frame. I'm surprised that Dell didn't offer a 13-inch Studio, as it would appeal to mobile professionals. As it stands now, the Studio line consists of the 15 and the Studio 1735 17-inch widescreen.
When Dell crossed the bargain pricing of its Inspiron laptops with the design sense of its XPS line, something sensational emerged—a new mainstream laptop line called Dell Studio. With the new line, Dell hopes to reel in the latest generation of back-to-schoolers, content creators, social-network addicts, and camera enthusiasts, just to name a few groups. The Dell Studio 15 is a stylish 15-inch laptop that represents the convergence of the Dell Inspiron 1525 and XPS M1530. Some of its highlights include spectacular performance scores, excellent configuration options, and an extensive color palette. It earns the Editors' Choice for mainstream laptops because it offers all of these things for just $1,199 (direct, E-Value code DNDPUA1, for a limited time).
A wide array of upgradable features makes the 15 shine. Embellishing its sleek look is a slot-loading DVD burner, which can be upgraded to a Blu-ray reader for $200. You can enhance the Blu-ray experience by using the included HDMI port to display the image on a larger monitor. With the proliferation of digital cameras and video content, you'll be glad of the four-in-one card reader, the variety of hard-drive configurations (my review unit has a 250GB drive), and the 2-megapixel webcam, to help you stay in line with these trends. Mobile broadband or a cellular modem is a feature I've been pleading for on the MacBook Pro, the Gateway M-152XL, and the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6845. At least Dell offers it as an option on the 15.
