macnn/electronista
11/27/2007, 9:05am, EST
Tuesday, November 27thDell aims at MacBook Pro with XPS M1530
Dell today completed the overhaul of its XPS notebook line by introducing the XPS M1530. The system is one of Dell's few high-end 15-inch notebooks and is aimed at the same audience that would otherwise seek slim, stylized portables such as Apple's MacBook Pro: the minimalist system is 0.9 inches deep at its thinnest point and uses a slot-load optical drive (like the M1330) in place of the usual tray-loading option. A minimum 128MB GeForce 8400M GS graphics chip provides dedicated 3D acceleration even on the least expensive model, which also includes a 2-megapixel webcam and a fingerprint reader.
A base system starts at as little as $999 by using a 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB of memory, and a 120GB hard disk backed by a DVD burner. Buyers can custom-order the notebook, however, to use as much as a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo as well as 4GB of memory, 250GB of storage, a Blu-ray burner, and faster 256MB GeForce 8600M GT graphics. The M1530 can be colored with a black, red, or white outer shell and is available to order today, but should ship by mid-December.
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Other than that, it doesn't fare very well. Against the MacBook the processor speed and integrated features are lagging - the only advantage is the screen size and a slightly larger hard drive. Against the MacBook Pro, you have to jack up the built-in processor significantly, and you'll never be able to match the screen.
As usual, the PC crowd will crow "$999 for a 15-inch laptop - Macs are expensive!", while it's far from comparable.
Height: 1 / .93 to 1.38 (Dell is a wedge - odd) Width: 14.1 / 14.06 (virtually identical) Depth: 9.6 / 10.34 (3/4 inch deeper) Weight: 5.4 / 5.78 (almost 1/2 lb more)
For a Dell, this is not too bad. Usually they're as thick as a Dagwood sandwich, and weigh enough to cut off circulation to your legs.
Like all things wintel, quite content to be watching apple be the best from a distance.
"aimed at the same audience that would otherwise seek slim, stylized portables such as Apple's MacBook Pro"
stylize |ˈstīˌlīz| verb [ trans. ] [usu. as adj. ] ( stylized) depict or treat in a mannered and nonrealistic style : gracefully shaped vases decorated with stylized but recognizable white lilies.
stylish |ˈstīli sh | adjective having or displaying a good sense of style : these are elegant and stylish performances. • fashionably elegant : a stylish and innovative range of jewelry.
/pedant