Dell XPS 27 Touch: Looks are everything

DELL’S XPS 27 Touch all-in-one (go.pcworld.com/dellxps27touch) packs a speedy new Haswell CPU under its hood. Specifically, our review unit—about $2100 at the time of writing—sports a quad-core Intel Core i7-4770S processor; 8GB of DDR3/1600 memory; a discrete video card (Nvidia’s GeForce GT 750M); and a roomy 2TB, 7200-rpm hard drive augmented by a 32GB mSATA SSD cache. Beyond that, the XPS 27 Touch delivered a Desktop WorldBench 8.1 score of 262— meaning that it’s more than 2.5 times faster than our reference PC, Acer’s Aspire U. It’s also significantly faster than Vizio’s CA27T-B1. The displays on those models are limited to 1920 by 1080 pixels (versus the Touch’s 2560-by-1440 resolution), but they’re also much less expensive ($1000 and $1550, respectively).

The Dell’s score places the XPS 27 Touch solidly in the upper half of all the desktop systems we’ve tested under WorldBench 8.1, though it’s nowhere near the custom-built gaming rigs we’ve evaluated (Primordial Computer’s over-the-top, quad-Titan Medusa hit 385; Micro Express’s single-GPU MicroFlex 47B scored 421). And the XPS 27 will satisfy the gamers in your family—if their expectations aren’t too hard-core. In Dirt Showdown, with the game’s resolution at 1024 by 768 pixels and image quality set to low, the XPS 27 delivered a strong 125.7 frames per second. (Our reference PC ran Dirt Showdown at just 47.5 fps.)

As befits a Windows 8–era AIO, the XPS 27 has a 10-point touchscreen display, and it’s the best touchscreen I’ve seen from Dell. It’s extremely bright, and images and text look fantastically crisp and clear. Multitouch gestures are smooth and easy to perform. But colors, especially skin tones, have a tendency to look oversaturated.

While the media card reader and two USB 3.0 ports are conveniently on the left side of the bezel, other ports—HDMI (in and out), Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort, gigabit ethernet, and four additional USB 3.0 ports—are on the back, obscured by the stand, and hard to reach.

I also dislike the four touch-sensitive buttons on the front lower left corner. A proximity sensor causes these unlabeled buttons to light up when you hover your finger over them, though the only one you might use regularly is the Eject button for the DVD burner. Otherwise, the Dell XPS 27 Touch is an exquisite all-in-one.

Dell XPS 27 Touch
PROS:
• High-quality touchscreen
• 2560 by 1440 resolution
• mSATA SSD cache
• Great overall performance
• Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort
CONS:
• Skin tones look oversaturated
• No Blu-ray drive
• Unlabeled front-panel buttons

BOTTOM LINE:
Though we have a few minor quibbles
with the Dell XPS 27 Touch’s design, we
think this is the best all-in-one on the
market today.

PRICE:
$2099


(PC World USA October 2013)

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DELL ULTRASHARP 2408WFP

Big Screen, Bold Color

If you're looking to make the move to a 24-inch desktop monitor, put the Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP on your short list. The overall image quality on this versatile. 1.920-by-1,200 display is outstanding. and it offers an unusually large variety of multimedia connections. Its wide-color-gamut technology—which translates to vibrant images with great color fidelity—is icing on the cake.

This attractive display has clean lines with a thin black bezel and silver trim, while the back is predominantly silver with black grillwork. The panel is supported by a V-shaped base and mounting arm that provide the full range of position adjustments,
including height, tilt, swivel, and pivot maneuver-ability. On the back of the display you'll find all sorts of A/V connections. including HDMI, DisplayPort, analog (VGA) inputs, dual-DVI ports, three USB ports, and connectors for composite, component, and S-Video. There are two additional USB ports
and a 9-in-2 card reader on the side.



The 2408WFP. with its 6-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response, handled fast-motion video and 3D gaming quite well. I was unable to detect any sign of ghosting or lag while blasting my way through a round of F. E.A.R., and our test DVD looked spectacular. I did observe a slight loss of detail in the darker scenes, but it was barely noticeable. Although this display is expensive, its superb image quality, rich color rendition. adjustability, and multimedia functions helped it to garner an Editors' Choice and make it well worth the expense for those who demand the most in performance and features.—John R. Delaney

PC Magazine January 2009

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Dell Studio Desktop

Media-ready machine has some limitations

DELL'S $1,129 STUDIO DESKTOP LOOKS and behaves exactly like what it is: an uneasy blend of midrange and home-theater components that results in a less-than-
cohesive machine.

Glossy black on the top and front panels and gunmetal gray on the side, the system's looks lean toward sedate. But its size definitely makes an impression; don't expect to easily fit this computer into your entertainment center. (A version using Dell's slimmer case style is also available.)

Still, the Studio Desktop offers some healthy connectivity, including a 15-in-1 card reader, two FireWire ports, six USB ports, seven-channel audio, and an
external 802.11n wireless adapter. The 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor makes it a potent performer, in large part because its 64 bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium can take advantage of every bit of its 4GB of DDR2 RAM. A 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3650 graphics and packs a modest punch, and the 640GB hard drive is a decent size for use with Vista's Media Center software and the included Hauppauge HVR1250 TV tuner.

Unfortunately, although our test system's motherboard had an HDMI-out port, it was equipped with just a standard DVD burner and no Blu-ray drive; you can add one, but you'll need to shell out at least $200 more. Expansion potential is also limited: There's only one free PC1 slot, and the cramped case layout makes
installing a second hard drive in the sole available internal bay difficult.



On our benchmark tests, the Studio Desktop proved mostly adept at everyday media chores and could even handle basic 3D gaming at reasonable frame rates. For heavy 3D tasks, the Studio Desktop isn't the best, but it remains a solid choice for a starter home theater PC.-M.M.

www.dell.com
Computer Shopper January 2009

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DELL XPS M1730 (PENRYN)

Mobile Gaming Beast



The newest Dell XPS M1730 (Penryn) is an awe-inspiring piece of technological splendor. A bold statement, yes, but one that's easily warranted by this masterfully designed gaming laptop, despite its size and heft.

Weight is, in fact, this rig's only limitation. With its gigantic AC adapter, the weight of the 17-inch, widescreen M1730 jumps to almost 14 pounds. Nonetheless, the M1730 is a terrifict example of where technology is heading. LED lights shine out through the grilles of the front speakers and from underneath the keyboard, the numeric keypad, and the center of the lid. You can also customize the lights with Dell's quickset software. If you're more interested in conserving power or battery life, the intensity of these lights can be lowered or turned off.

The feature set is solid, for the most part, except for the aging DVI-out connector. The 2.8-GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 represents the M1830's move to "Penryn" core. The M1730 also includes a built-in PhysX card from Ageia-a first for a laptop, as well as dual nVidia GeForce 8800M GTX graphics cards.

The M1730's SYSmark 2007 Preview Overall score was slightly behind our comparison system, the Alienware Area-51 m15x (by 6 percent). The system's video-encoding score also came up short. Scores on CineBench R10 and Photoshop tests, on the other hand, were as impressive as those of the Alienware laptop. Result on the World in Conflict and Crysis gaming tests were 1.7 times and 7.2 times as high, resprectively, as those of the Alienware. As for battery life, the Dell laptop's score of 1 hour 30 minutes on MobileMark 2007 sentences it to a life near a power outlet. But for serious gamers, the game experience is what counts th emost. Here the M1730 easily takes first prize. If you're looking for an all-around laptop that's still strong on gaming, however, I'd recommend going for the Alienware system. -Cisco Cheng


Specs: Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 (2.8 GHz); 4GB DDR2 SDRAM; 250GB,7,200-rpm hard drive; SLi nVidia GeForce 8800M GTX, 512MB; 17-inch, 1,920-by-1,200 display; Intel Wireless Wi-FI Link 4965AGN: 10.7 pounds (13.7 pounds travel); dual-layer DVD+-R; four USB ports; one FireWire port, 85-Wh, zz-Ah, lithium ion battery; Windows XP Prx`ofessional.

PC Magazine November 2008
www.dell.com

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Dell Studio 15

Midrange notebook offers better brain than looks




OFFERING MORE-FLEXIBLE OPTIONS than Dell's budget-minded Inspirons-but still priced well south of th emore upscale CPS line- the company's new Studio line (starting at $749 and available in 15- and 17-inch varieties) hits a midrange sweet spot, delivering everything the mainstream consumer could ask for.
Dell offers the Studio in a wide assortment of colors (our Studio 15 test system came in midnight blue), though the Dell designers got too artsy with the drip-like imprint design on the glossy wrist rest. A recessed lid hinge and clean lines rescue the Studio line from aesthetics hell, howevew.
The Studio 15 delivered solid marks on our PCMark05 test suite, but it did even better on Our Windows Media Encoder and iTunes-encoding tests. Our unit came with a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 discrete graphcis card, which wasn't as strong a performer-if you want to play the latest games, look elsewhere. The included six-cell battery lasted a respectable 2 hours and 6 minutes on our DVD drain test.
At our test unit's $1,999 price, you get 2GB of RAM to go with a top-shelf 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo T9300 processor; in its current configuration, unfortunately, the Studio misses out on Intel's recently launched Centrino 2 technology.

The ample connection options include an HDMI port, five USB ports, FireWire, a multiformat memory-card reader, and a PC Card slot. Wireless connectivity comes courtesy of built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. You also get a built-in 2-megapixel Webcam residing above the screen.-Asa Somers.
source: Computer Shopper October 2008.
www.dell.com

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Dell Studio Hybrid

Environmentally friendly PC lacks processing punch

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY for a green PC? Or for that matter, a green PC that comes in green, as well as black, blue, orange, red, yellow, or even bamboo? Dell is betting you'll put down about $874, the price of its new Studio Hybrid desktop, which comes with a 19-inch wide-screen LCD monitor. Whether it's worth that price to you depends greatly on your own commitment to the environment: For all of its eco-friendliness and spectrum-spanning color palette, the Studio Hybrid is otherwise fairly unexceptional as a computer.
The Studio Hybrid is most succressfull in terms of its design, which melds desktop and laptop philosophies into a uniquely unified look. It's ovoid-rectangular in shape and, laid flat, measures just 2.75x7.5x8.25 inches (HWD) inside its swappable plastic color sleeve, making it the second-small-east PC we've seen in years. (Asus's new Eee Box, which we review on p.14, is the smallest.) The optical drive (a DVD+-RW), headphone jack, USB ports, and multiformat memory-card reader are straregicaly positioned to all but disappear within the curved grooves that grace the front panel. The rear panel, if similarly compact, is more conventional in design, and it makes less of an attempt to hide the power jack (for hooking up the AC brick the Studio Hybrid uses for juice) and the host of other connections: one each for headphone, microphone, Ethernet, S/PDIF digital audio, four-pin FireWire, DVI monitor, and HDMI, and three USB. Our configuration also came with built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi.
As the port selection suggests, the Studio Hybrid is aimed at general-purpose, living-room usage, so it's not destined to satisfy those looking for top-tier performance or inside-and-out customizability. There are, for example, no drive bays or expansion slots, even the half-height variety; though you can open the system by removing a screw, the cramped interior isn't easy to navigate. And although the 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAm, 250GB hard drive, and Intel 965 Express integrated graphics can power the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system, they're not capable of much more.
Aside from 3D (an unimpressive 525 in Futuremark's 3DMark06) and gaming - a terrible 4,6 frames per second (fps) in Company of Heroes at 1,280x1,024-the Studio Hybrid acquitted itself decently in our performance tests. But other, cheaper computers have done better recenlty: The Gateway GT5692, priced at just $549.99 (with a monitor), trounced the Dell in our Cinebench 10 (5,040 versus 4,289) rendering test, as well as in 3DMark06 (1,480) and Company of Heroes ( 13,1fps). THe Gateway did take slightly longer, however, to make it through our Windows Media Encoder (7 minutes and 33 seconds, compared with the Dell's 7 minutes and 19 seconds, compared with the Dell's 7 minutes and 19 seconds) and iTunes conversion (4 minutes and 18 seconds versus 4 minutes and 49 seconds) trials. The $749.99 ZT Affinity 7225Xi didn't come with a monitor; but it bested both systems i nall our tests.
What the Studio Hybrid has that other machines don't is its G (for green) factor-something we can see being a tipping much tinier thatn traditional desktop (Dell say it's 80 percent smaller than average), the Studio Hybrid also suck up very little energy (70 percent less than full-size desktops, again according to Dell) and comes with minimal paper documentation and packaging-all of which is up to 95 percent recyclable. You even get a system-recycling kit to make it easier to dispose of your old PC properly. (We're not sure how environmentally responsible the system's colored plstic covers are, but no matter.)

But will all that -or any of the Studio Hybrid's other features-appeal to mainstream consumers? With lower-leaning pwerformance even at this price, cheaper models (the series starts at $499) won't be especially attractive, and the system's deficiencies and limitations will become only more noticeable at higher prices. Sure, the green overtones are nice, but we're not sure there's a compelling reason for most people to sacrifice more of their own green to get such a poor selection of features. -Matthew Murray.
source: Compute Shopper October 2008.
www.dell.com

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XPS Studio

XPS Studio
Studio system
With the desigh flourishes of the XPS an dthe customizability of the Inspiron, Dell's new Studio series of notebooks fits snugly between those lines. The 15.4-inch Studio 15 starts at $7900, while the 17-inch Studio 17 starts at $999. Both offer plenty of hardware options, with a selection of Intel Core 2 Duo processors, hard drives, ATI Mobility Radeon graphics, and high-resolution displays available. You can also chose from a wide range of colors-blue,green,orange,pink,purple, or red, or even graphite with your choise of color trim-so that your machine matches your personality as much as its performance does your needs. Dell, www.dell.com
source: Computer Shopper September 2008.

www.dell.com

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Dell Vostro 1310

Dell Vostro 1310
A solid business laptop for frequent travelers


DELL'S $1,416 VOSTRO 1310 offers a business-friendly mix of features, dedicated tech support, and handy utilities-with no preloaded trialware. We just wishit were a touch more portable.
Built around a 13.3-inch screen, the 4.8-pound Vostro 1310 is smaller than Dell's 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch Vostro models, but it's bulkier than other 13.3-inch models we've seen. We do like, however, the look of the notebook's subdued, black metallic chassis.
The Vostro 1310 has touch-sensitive multimedia control and volume buttons-rare on a business notebook. Oddly, however, there's no mute button. Not that it matters much, since the monaural speaker is tinny and muffled. The screen, on the other hand is a winner:bright and crisp.
Dell has included the ports you would expext in a business notebook, save for one you might need on the road: a modern jack.
Beyond the hardware, the Vostro line is just as much about the software. We like the inclusion of 10GB of online storage via Dell's DataSafe Online backup-and-recovery service, as well as a one-year subscription to Dell Automated PC TuneUp. Refreshingly absent is all the 30-day trial software many PCS are laded with.
Performance is solidly above average for a mid-price business notebook, though as we excepted, the Vostro 1310's 3D capabilities won't thrill games. The system lasted on a decent 2 hours and 15 minutes on our DVD-rundown test.
source: Computer Shopper August 2008.
www.dell.com

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Dell's new UltraSharp 2709W 27-inch LCD

Dell just busted out a new member in its storied line of LCDs, the UltraSharp 2709W. The 27-inch LCD is Dell's followup to the 2707WFP, and features the same 1920 x 1200 resolution, 9-in-2 media card reader and 6ms response time, but bumps the contrast ratio to 3000:1 and goes for some new all-black stylings. Brightness is a mean 450 nits, but the real fun comes with ports: Dell squeezed just about everything known to man in here, including HDMI, DVI-D, VGA, component, composite, and DisplayPort. There's also a nice collection of USB ports, plus HDCP for good measure. With a three year warranty the display sells for $999, quite the steal compared to the 2707WFP's intro price of $1,400 last year.

source: http://www.techenclave.com

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Dell E Series

Just a glimpse of the lipstick red competitor for the wildly successful Asus Eee PC sent us all into a tizzy. After all, we keep telling manufacturers over and over again we want a smaller, cheaper, sturdier unit to lug around with us that can perform the few functions we need on the go, but handier than your average smartphone. The more details that leak out about the Dell E series of minis, the more it looks like something the average person might buy and use.

The 8.9-inch E line, divided into three configs, is designed for what Dell says is "emerging markets" and children as well as "youth social networking/entertainment;" it features a 1024x600 WSVGA screen, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom "Diamondville" processor, and 3-5 color options. The MID will offer three USB ports, mic/headphone IO, VGA output and SD card input. It is only 2.2lbs, 0.82-inches thick, and includes a four-cell 35WHr battery for about five hours of battery life. Dell says the E classic, first expected to ship in August, will have both Linux and WinXP options, starting at $299. The "Classic" will offer 512MB RAM and 4GB flash HDD, while the Dell E Video-branded MID, for education, will include either 1GB RAM/8GB flash HDD or 1GB RAM/12GB HDD/Bluetooth on the E Video+.



You can knock the things around because they have a solid state flash drives, some instant on functions and WiFi access to get you out and about and browsing in a jiffy. Dell has a sort of MacBook Air 12.1" unit based on the Intel Silverthorne processor that has a SSD drive as well. But we can talk about that later. I want my Dell E Etch-A Sketch first!
www.dell.com

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