Dell XPS 15z

 

Finally, Dell produces a product that incorporates both practicality and design in one. Dell XPS 15z claims to be the world’s thinnest 15-inch Windows laptop. It is often compared with MacBook Pro because of its design, thinness and performance. The features may be a big point of comparison but XPS 15z beats MacBook by its price. At a starting price of $999, you will be delighted to own this gadget.

 

Design

Dell is known for producing mid-priced laptops that favors practicality over design. With the release of the XPS 15z, the company aims to cater to more aesthetically minded customers. The model resembles Apple’s Pro especially when the lid is closed. The sleek metallic box and monochrome design look very much interesting. Despite the slimness of the body, the model feels solid and tough.

 

The chassis hardly bends when flexed and the lid’s aluminum back keeps it from twisting too much. The interior is made of only a backlit keyboard, touch pad, power button and speakers. The exquisitely-made keyboard has scalloped keys. The left side houses the HDMI and various ports while right side houses the slot-loading DVD burner, microphone and headphone jacks. The Ethernet and power plug are located on the rear edge.

 

Features

• Dimensions: 19.9 x 9.8 x 0.97 inches

• 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 2620M Processor

• 8GB 1,333 MHz DDR3 Memory

• 750 GB, 7,200rpm Hard Drive

• NVIDIA GeForce 525M Graphics

• HDMI, Display Port

• Stereo Speakers, Headphone and microphone jacks

• 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB/eSATA, SD card reader

• Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth

• DVD burner

• 1920 x 1080 screen resolution

 

Pros

For a midsize laptop, the Dell XPS 15z is extremely thin. The gorgeous aluminum design is a proof that the company is investing more on stylish designs to match the taste of its varied customers. The powerful CPU, midrange GPU and stellar speakers add to its excellent performance.It also has a longer battery life lasting to more than 6 hours. Compared with other contemporaries that offer the same features, the killer deal is its price.

 

Cons

Although it is claiming to be the world’s thinnest Windows laptop, it is still not as thin as other high-end laptops like the 0.95 inch of MacBook Pro. The slimness may also be tricky considering that it is not very light to carry, weighing about 5.5 pounds. Other 15-inch laptops offer a full keyboard with a number pad but with this model, the speakers have used up the space.

 

The shallow island keys are also not very comfortable for long-tern typing. It has the flat pad multi-touch.Unlike other Dell laptops, the XPS 15z is not highly configurable. The system is too thin to have room for slot-loading Blu-ray drive. The “Splendid Color” which is supposed to enhance color, sharpness and contrast is not good at all.

 

Conclusion

Dell XPS 15z is a thin yet powerful mid-sized laptop. The solid metal construction and large speakers are very much enticing for a gadget enthusiast.The speed and battery scores lives up to expectation. The biggest downside is the scalloped-keys keyboard that is difficult to type on. Although it does not match the MacBook Pro’s level of polish and sophistication, the price is reasonable for the features you get.