Dell Studio XPS 1645 Overview's

Dell has announced that a new BIOS for the Dell Studio XPS 1645 notebook is now available for download. The machine had problems performing CPU intensive tasks. In February Dell had discovered that the issue was related to the limited capability of the 90W power adapter that was shipped with the laptop.

Besides updating the BIOS, Dell is offering a larger, more powerful 130W adapters. According to Dell, the BIOS update and the new adapter will solve the problem. Owners of the notebook will get the new adapters free of charge.

With stunning good looks and performance, the NEW Dell Studio XPS 1645 battery is designed to give you a multimedia laptop thats sure to turn heads. From the optional genuine leather accents to the seamless design, you ll be surrounded by elegance. And the 15.6" LED or 16" RGBLED ultra widescreen display makes your movies, videos and photos come alive with brilliant color and detail.

The Dell Studio XPS 1645 delivers the ultimate multimedia experience with an optional full 1080p Hi-def widescreen display and optional Blu-ray Disc player. It also has a fast 8ms response time for a crisp, clear resolution during fast-action video and gaming. The optional RGBLED display provides a 100% color gamut for truer, more vibrant colors.

Following Specifications:
Dell Studio XPS 1645 Laptop(OCQT) for Win 7
Studio XPS 16 Base (Direct)
Intel(R) Core(TM ) I7-720QM Processor (1.6GHz, turbo up to 2.8GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 Label
Genuine Windows(R) 7 Professional 64bit (English
Microsoft Patch for WIN7
Windows(R) 7 Professional COA Label(INDIA)
15.6 " Edge to Edge Full High Definition (1080p) Display with TrueLife(TM )
Full High Definition info Mod
4GB Dual-channel 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2GB)
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive 1
Slot Load 8X DVD + /-RW Drive with double layer
PowerDVD Software
Roxio Premium 10.3 Media Kit 1
Cyberlink PowerDVD Software media kit
Roxio Creator 10.3
ATI Mobility RADEON(R) HD 4670 - 1GB
Dell(TM) Wireless 1520 802.11n Mini-Card
Integrated CREATIVE Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi MB Audio Software Solution
CREATIVE Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi MB Software Kit
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth
9-cell (85WHr) Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Shipment box
90W AC Adapter
Power Cord (India)
Microsoft(R) Works 9.0 (Does Not Include Microsof Office 2003/2007 Software)
Datasafe Local 2.0 Basic
Dell(TM) PC-Restore

Day-to-day operations run quite well on this system. It takes less than two minutes to fully boot-up. I'd estimate it takes about one minute to come out of standby. Programs open instantly, with the exception of one photo organizing program, which seems to load slowly on every system. I am able to search the hard drive quickly.

My gaming experience is exceptional. I regularly play two MMORPGs; City of Heroes/City of Villains and Star Trek Online. This computer runs both very well, with moderate frame rates at the highest settings. Most recently, City of Heroes and City of Villains added a large graphics update to the game, creating Ultra Mode. This mode can only be run by certain graphics cards and systems, providing new levels of detail to the environment, with more realistic shadows, reflection effects, and more. This Studio XPS 1645 battery system not only supports Ultra Mode, but manages to do it with a decent frame rate for a laptop (30-34fps). When I first loaded Star Trek Online on this system, I was amazed by the colors I had never noticed with my previous system. The graphics card and HD screen turn space combat into a colorful display of laser beams and explosions. It really makes space battle an awe-inspiring, immersive experience. I have similar compliments about the way the system runs the Sims 3. The performance is excellent.

My gaming experience is further enhanced by the system's sound system. Two speakers at the base of the screen create a truly studio-like experience. I was completely taken aback by the superior sound quality. The speakers are tin-ny like most notebook speakers. They actually have bass! Games have simulated surround sound, providing a game experience that provides a taste of my home theater system on-the-go. The great sound also allows me to enjoy another passion of mine; music. My music tastes are a bit eclectic, but this laptop's sound system is versatile enough to produce concert-like sound to fit any genre. When I'm playing J. DeOliveira's "You Are Broken" or Michael Simone's piano cover of "Hallelujah," it sounds like I'm in a concert hall with a pianist. The bass is sufficient enough to catch the infectious rhythm of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro." I'm also able to balance the sound perfectly to match the tone of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" or Eminem's "When I'm Gone." It's impressive enough that my husband thought I was using our favorite iPod speakers when he walked in and heard AFI's "Kiss and Control" playing.

The graphics processor chip come with this specific notebook will let you run more like lighter video games -I just mean it may not manage the modern games- without problems. Speakers used on 1645-BQ72P45 notebook are slightly poor, nonetheless these are pretty decent for any notebook. The processor used on Dell XPS 1645-BQ72P45 notebook is top-of-the-line between modern processors. With the new cutting edge engineering utilized on this cpu you'll be able to perform multi-tasks easily, of course together with the significant support of RAM that provides torque for this monster notebook.

The touch pad normally is responsive with hardly any lag. The touch pad is simply a glossy one together with some assistance for multitouch actions. They've got shallow feedback in addition to need reasonable pressure to trigger which happens to be actually more at ease. The touchpad buttons are convenient to push with the side of your thumb and give off a tiny click when pushed. If you like the look and feel of the island-style keyboards, you'll be satisfied when using the XPS 1645-BQ72P45. The keys of Dell XPS 1645-BQ72P45 notebook is an island-style variant, the keys feel very sturdy to the tips of your fingers. In person I do not prefer island-style keyboards, yet I have to say that they look really luxurious.

Thanks to the 1,920x1,080-pixel display, the Studio XPS 1645 is great for watching Blu-ray movies or other high-definition content (an optional Blu-ray optical drive is available). For £150 less, you can get a more basic 1,366x768-pixel display, but we wouldn't recommend it. Both display types, however, have that edge-to-edge glass that seems to be all the rage these days.

The XPS 1645 battery is one of the first systems we've seen with a DisplayPort connection built in. According to Dell, it's getting behind the new standard in a major way, and we should expect to see it on most Dell laptops in the future. While the technology itself is fine, we're dubious of how quickly the public will adopt DisplayPort. After all, HDMI is just starting to gain mainstream acceptance, thanks to cheap HDTVs and HD game consoles, such as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Jumping to a new connection (and a new set of required cables) is going to be a hard sell for the typical consumer. Fortunately, the Studio XPS 1645 also includes VGA and HDMI connections.

Pros: extremely fast processor
500 gb hard drive (optional)
graphics card can handle pretty much any game, and well
camera (2mp) and microphone
HD+ (900p) screen very bright and clear
charger small
leather cover
speakers loud

Cons: speakers sound hollow
battery life with 9cell dell laptop battery is < 3 hours
media button backlighting + screen hinge lighting can't be turned off
extended battery sticks out (6cell doesn't,
heavy (about 5lbs)
surfaces collect smudge marks

The touchpad is medium in size with 2 large buttons on it, placed an inch or so to the left from center. It's semi-glossy, meaning it's not as glossy as the palm rest area but not matte either - your finger sticks to it a little bit. It's certainly not as a bad as HP laptops but completely matte would have been best. I would have liked a bigger (and centered) touchpad since there's clearly enough room for it between the keyboard and the edge of the laptop.

The back-light keyboard is big with large easy-to-type keys, however the layout is a bit weird. Dell made a bad design decision putting the speakers on the sides of the keyboard therefore limiting its width. This Dell Studio XPS 16 battery led to a crammed layout with an extra row of keys on the right and un-separated directional buttons. Had the speakers been above the keyboard or on the lower edge of the laptop, it could have accommodated a perfectly spaced layout, with all the buttons being where they're supposed to. The back-light has 3 settings - high, medium and off and here's how it looks in the dark on high.

Hardware is obviously the main distinguishing factor—if not the only one—when it comes to features. Powered by a Core i7-720 QM quad-core CPU, with an ATI Radeon HD 4670, 4 GB RAM and a 500 GB hard drive, this machine is an excellent desktop replacement in the literal sense. So, from watching HD movies, to gaming at medium settings, and from working spreadsheets to encoding audio/video files, this laptop will crack almost everything you throw at it. A 15.6-inch crisp and vibrant screen, like this one, makes entertainment on the go truly enjoyable. However, the ‘on the go’ part can’t be taken too seriously because the laptop offers about 3 hours 35 minutes runtime under medium load. We’re not complaining only because it’s a desktop replacement, but battery life is clearly not a strong point in this laptop.

HP EliteBook 8440w Review

HP has come up with its first 14 inches mobile laptop and that is HP EliteBook 8440w. Generally, the laptops named as a “workstation” will be different from the typical notebooks since they are the high performance business laptops and also they need to meet some of the software as well as hardware requirements in order to satisfy industry standards. These are normally designed for scientific and technical applications.

According to HP, the paradox is by popular demand: Design pros asked for a workstation that packed plenty of power when deskbound with a couple of monitors at a docking station, but that could be carried easily enough to show work at a client's site or conference room. And though the EliteBook's screen is small(ish), its resolution is high -- 1,600 by 900 bright, sharp, eye-pleasing pixels, enough to give the 512MB Quadro FX adapter a workout.


The machine's no skinny mini, either. Chunky for a 14-inch notebook, the EliteBook series is HP's business-rugged line, with features ranging from a 3D accelerometer that parks the hard drive in the event of a fall to a spill-resistant keyboard with drain channels, all wrapped up in a magnesium-alloy chassis with a magnesium/aluminum display enclosure that's rated to withstand 300 pounds of pressure without damaging the LCD. We didn't administer any torture tests, but we gave the HP EliteBook 8440w battery a few friendly jolts and accidentally stepped on its closed lid with no ill effects.

Key Specs
Processor: 2.66GHz Intel Core i7-620M
Memory: 4GB RAM
Storage: 320GB hard drive
Optical Drive: DVD±RW
Screen: 14 inches (1,600x900 native resolution)
Graphics: Nvidia Quadro FX 380M (512MB)
Weight: 5.5 pounds
Dimensions (HWD): 1.5x13.2x9.3 inches
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)

The EliteBook 8440w includes a full complement of ports, including some that are vanishing from so many other new laptops these days. You get three standard USB ports, plus a fourth that’s a USB/eSATA combo; a FireWire port; DisplayPort and VGA video connectors; and LAN, modem, headphone, and mic jacks. HP has included an ExpressCard/54 slot and an SD/MultiMediaCard flash-memory reader, plus a docking connector. All models also include Bluetooth 2.1 and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, plus a 2-megapixel Webcam.

The $1,649 configuration includes a multi-format DVD burner with LightScribe labeling (a Blu-ray burner is an option), a fingerprint reader, and a 320GB 7,200rpm hard drive. (You can step up to a 500GB drive, or a 160GB or 256GB solid state drive.) Also optional on all models is carrier-agnostic wireless broadband via the Gobi Mobile Broadband 2000 chipset, which includes new GPS support. And HP notes that required antennas are built in to all EliteBook 8440 battery models, so if you order a machine without internal WWAN and decide to add it later, you’ll be set.

The 8440w houses a 14-inch widescreen big enough to make the system your primary PC. It's the same size as the one found on the Lenovo T410, except its 1,600-by-900 resolution is slightly higher. The T410 uses a 1,440 by 900 resolution, which still falls in the WSXGA+ spectrum. Visually, there are very few differences between the two screens.

The user experience is satisfactory. The 8440w has a full size keyboard, but the keys are a bit mushy when pressed. The typing experience is not as responsive as the one on the Lenovo T410, which, in my opinion, has few equals, but PCs like the Dell Latitude E4300 ($2,789 direct, ) come close. The 8440w comes with two pointing devices—a pointing stick and a touchpad—though the pointing stick (eraser mouse) was stiff at times and the touchpad seemed small after using the one on the Lenovo T410. The rubbery mouse buttons are soft and non-resistant.

Certainly, the 8440w's performance in normal usage scenarios left nothing to be desired. We installed Microsoft Office and Firefox 3.6, opening numerous windows and tabs while working on text. The 8440w seemed responsive at all times, except when Firefox exhibited its usual quirk of locking down the system while loading a dozen tabs simultaneously (but that's true with all PCs).

The keyboard on the 8440w is one of the finest examples of a laptop keyboard we've seen. The layout is reasonable for a compact laptop, but the main typing keys are full-size and offer excellent tactile feedback while requiring relatively little pressure. Nice touches abound: The Home and End keys, for instance, are separated by the PgUp and PgDn keys--a good compromise when space constraints force laptop designers to put that group of keys in a vertical row. The cursor keys are half size, but physically separated from the main keyboard, minimizing confusion when you're using those keys to navigate documents.

The 14" machine is equipped with a "gunmetal" finish that's frankly one of the most attractive we've seen, particularly for a business-class notebook. It doesn't attract fingerprints, and it's pure class inside and out. There are also a great deal of ports, and our review unit ships with an extended battery that protrudes from the rear but provides much-needed extra life considering just how much power a Core i7 Mobile and NVIDIA Quadro FX 380M will draw. There's also an option for integrated WWAN (mobile broadband), which is a must for most mobile professionals. Toss in an enclosure built to meet military standards (MIL-STD 810G) and a spill-resistant keyboard with drain vents, and you've got one well-rounded workhorse of a noteobok.

Isn’t this everyone’s concern when a Core i7 Mobile processor is used in a notebook? First off, I was amazed at the battery life of the HP 8440w battery considering its powerful processor. Unplugged and working on documents/surfing the web, I managed to clock in 6 hours of work using the primary battery (6 cell) and another 8 hours with the secondary battery (screen at medium brightness). And using it for CAD work and gaming at maximum brightness slashes those numbers into half.

24 hour battery life: You read that right, but only the Elitebook 8440p models will manage that. The p “professional” variants run on less powerful (hence, less power consuming) processors and have other power saving measures, while the 8440w “workstation” variant here trades some hp laptop battery life for power.

Below the keyboard is the touchpad which has buttons unlike those I’ve seen before, but they work well and they’re easy to use. Off to the right is the biometric fingerprint reader. I found using the touchpad is fine, it might look small, but if you’ve ever used a netbook then you’ll be more than accustomed to the small size, and for me I had no issues.

The EliteBook is running Windows 7 Professional 64bit and powering it on took about 45 seconds from the time you touch the button until you get a usable desktop. There’s not much at all on the desktop of the unit I received for review, just the recycle bin.

The EliteBook 8440w’s keyboard is solid, with good key response and minimal flex. There is nothing funky about the layout, so you’ll be able to type with a high degree of accuracy instantly.

I can’t heap the same praise on the trackpad. Don’t get me wrong – it works fine, but it is one of the smaller trackpads I’ve used recently. The HP EliteBook 6930p battery makes up for this somewhat by including a trackpointer – a small nub in the middle of the keyboard that can be used for navigation. This also comes up short of perfect, however. The problem, I think, is the texture of the material used on the trackpoint. It is rough and uncomfortable to use for more than an hour or two.

The HP Elite 8440w’s display is a pleasure. Although only 14” in size, it offers a resolution of 1600x900. This means that there is a lot of usable space. The high resolution makes it easy to display two documents at once for direct comparisons. The display is matte, and the backlight is among the brightest I’ve ever encountered – it is so bright that using the 8440w in full direct sunlight is not only possible, but actually comfortable. The display isn’t perfect, however. It is tailored for work, not play. Contrast and black levels are poor, so movies and games don’t look their best.

Dell Latitude E5400 Review

Dell's Latitude range is aimed at corporate users, with the Latitude E5400 providing a good mix of features and value for money.

The 14.1-inch screen offers detailed and crisp images, and although colours could be slightly more vivid, it's also a bright panel. The matt-TFT finish is ideal for commuters, proving resistive to reflections and fingerprints when on the move.

My particular Dell Latitude E5400 came equipped with the following hardware:
Display: 14.1” WXGA (1280x800) CCFL LCD
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2.0GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2MB cache
Memory: 2GB of 800MHz DDR2
Hard Drive: 80GB 5400 RPM Hitachi HDD
Graphics: Intel GMA 4500 MHD
Wireless: Dell 1397 802.11n mini-card
Wired: Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx gigabit
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Drive
PC-Card slot
Windows Vista Business w/XP Downgrade option
56Wh 6 Cell battery
90W slim AC adapter
Weight: 5.58lbs/2.54kg
Dimensions 13.3” x 9.5” x 1.5” (338.0 x 240.0 x 37.0mm)

The Latitude E5400 is marketed as a corporate notebook and certainly looks the part. Dell seems to have taken a page from the ThinkPad design manual when they designed the E5400 as the entire machine is a matte black color and there are no fancy curves.

The chassis of the machine is has a thick plastic skin over an aluminum skeleton rather than the magnesium alloy used in the E600 lines. This less-expensive chassis material did not affect the sturdiness of the E5400's chassis one bit as it is very solid. You can pick up the Dell Latitude E5400 battery by a corner and there is zero chassis flex. The lid has a metal outer cover and the hinges are very robust as well. The E5400 is extremely sturdy, but it does pay a little penalty for that sturdiness with using less-expensive materials by weighing the better part of a pound more than the magnesium-alloy E6400.

A comprehensive set of ports are available on the left-hand side of this machine, with VGA and S-Video for hooking up displays and projectors, a PC card slot for older peripherals, 1394 FireWire and two USB ports. You’ll also find sockets for the modem and Gigabit Ethernet adapter. There’s no sign of an HDMI port, however, so you won’t be able to output high-definition movies.

Most of the right side of the chassis is taken up by the DVD rewriter, although you will find a further two USB ports, headphone and microphone sockets and a connection for the power adapter. There’s a memory card reader on the front.

The Dell Latitude E5400 came pre-installed with Windows XP Professional only, though it included a Windows Vista Business disc. This initiative from Dell caters to satisfy both who are happy with XP and folks eager to try out Vista. We ran our benchmarks on Windows Vista and realized just how good this laptop is. WorldBench 6, our in-house real-world benchmark suite, pegged the Latitude E5400's overall performance score at an impressive 98, falling a point shorter than the 99 garnered by Dell Studio 15.

PC Mark 2005 score of 5350, PC Mark Vantage at 3498, and 3D Mark 06 score of 814, all agree to the fact that the Dell Latitude E5400 is a very good machine. Seldom is gaming associated with a business laptop, but F.E.A.R and Doom 3 played at medium settings averaged 15fps and 19fps, respectively. It has the potential for handling casual gaming well, if the rigors of a tiring day call for a quick stress buster. However, the six cell Latitude E5400 battery fell short of the four hour mark, lasting 3 hours 50 minutes on MobileMark 2007.

Business users want a laptop that will allow them to get some work done while on the road (or maybe to watch a DVD on a flight). The E5400 isn’t a laptop that you’d want to play demanding 3D games on, so that automatically cuts out the video card as a major power hog. During our testing, we found that the E5400 gives about 1 hour and 20 minutes of battery life under the most demanding conditions. This torture test was done using Orthos in blend mode, testing both the CPU and RAM at 100%. Brightness was also set to max, making this a worst-case scenario. On the other side of the spectrum, the E5400 battery lasted a relatively long 6 hours and 20 minutes with the computer at idle & minimum brightness. Business users should expect to get between 3-4 hours of genuine Excel fun crunching their spreadsheets.

The keyboard is another great feature that is mentioned in all positive Dell Latitude E5400 reviews. The keys are smooth and move with a solid click. They are also comfortable, and users can type all day long with no problems. The touchpad is located in the center, where it is complemented by a pointing stick. This offers an alternative method of clicking and controlling the arrow onscreen.

A 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor powers this laptop. Even though the memory is slightly slower than what most users expect, it's still a great system nevertheless. It can handle multi-tasking and resource-heavy applications, such as image and video editing programs. The speed is good for the most part, and it handles all office and business related applications. The Dell Latitude E5400 comes with a VGA port for connecting the laptop to a projector or other external display.

The Latitude E5400 is designed not just to survive a long day on the job, but to provide the flexibility mobile users demand. Enjoy a highly adaptable and innovative family of docks and peripherals, designed to shift easily between desktop and on-the-go computing. The ultimate team player, the Latitude E5400 can be managed virtually anywhere in the world by a single IT professional. Image and systems management tools like Dell ImageDirect and Dell Client Manager also help simplify systems management and free up IT resources.

The Latitude E5400 comes at a price of $899 and can be purchased online and from major electronics stores.

Coinciding with the release of this laptop, the company had launched a new community website which is called as Digital Nomads. This site is specifically designed to allow web-centric consumers to stay in touch with their works while also connecting them to various forms of recreation regardless of their location.

Dell Latitude E5510 Review

The new Dell Latitude E5510 is a 15.6-inch business series laptop.The new Dell Latitude E5510 is designed to simplify IT by reducing cost, deployment time and maintenance, DellTM LatitudeTM E5510 laptop delivers reliable mobile computing with increased flexibility and proven durability.

The screen is a very nice quality 15.6 inch High definition LED with good anti-glare. This is supported by a very reasonable Intel HD Graphics card with dynamic frequency; overall the screen is more than adequate for anything short of serious multi-media work.

You will also enjoy using the HD webcam for video conferencing, along with the noise reducing mic and very good speakers; perfect for video conferencing outside of the office.

The range of ports and e-docking options are also really very good. You can use your Latitude E5510 battery with Latitude E Series docking station when working in the office.

Among the standard equipment of both business laptops there's fast Gigabit-Ethernet, Wireless LAN standard 802.11n as well as Bluetooth 3.0. Optionally an integrated 56k/V92 modem is also available. Differences regarding mobility are seen in the availability of a mobile broadband connection. In Dell's specifications, only on the smaller 14-inch E5410 an optional EVDO/HSPA/AGPS-module is mentioned.

In this category both models are again presented with anything but the lowest. A SmartCard reader as well as a fingerprint scanner belongs to the standard equipment. Additionally a contactless smart card reader or an FIPS fingerprint-scanner (US security standard) can be ordered. Added to this is a Trusted Platform module 1.2 as well as optionally available hard disks. Supported network security standards: WPA, WPA2, VPN, CCX4.0.

The configuration we tested - which includes 3GB of RAM (2.75GB usable by the 32-bit Windows 7), a 320GB hard drive, integrated graphics, and a crisp 1600-by-900 display - sells for 919 inc VAT - and that includes a 90 discount from Dell. But you can pick up the base model, with smaller hard drive, less memory and a 1366x768 display, for only 739 inc VAT.

FEATURES / SPECIFICATIONS

• Intel Core i Processors
• 14.6'' LED backlit display
• Latitude ON
• Fast Response Free Fall Sensor and StrikeZone hard drive protection
• Windows 7 options
• WiFi, WiMax, Ethernet connectivity options
• Compatible with Latitude E series docks
• 3 year warranty on battery
• Energy Star and EPEAT Certifications

While even that seems a bit much compared with similarly equipped consumer laptops, the Dell E5510 battery offers a number of perks useful in a business environment. Customers buying add-ons can have units customized with specific business applications - even in-house apps can be preinstalled (or images supplied). Every Latitude is built on a common accessory base, so the same docking stations and other accessories can be used, whether you have an E5410, E5510 or 65xx series unit.

The 14.1-inch E5410 and 15.6-inch E5510 feature the Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs or the new Intel Celeron P4500, all with dual cores, Intel HD graphics, up to 8GB RAM, up to 320GB hard drive or up to 128GB solid state storage, a DVD burner or Blu-ray drive, and Windows 7, Vista, or Ubuntu Linux OS.

The successors of the E5400 and E5500 optionally provide WiMAX and mobile broadband connectivity, as well as business-class security features.

A 15.6-inch widescreen is a productive size, large enough to accommodate spreadsheet users, photographers, and anyone who works with multiple windows open at a time. Higher resolutions are guaranteed on more expensive business laptops like the Lenovo T410 (1,440 by 900) and HP 8440w (1,600 by 900), but to offer it on an $884 Latitude is very impressive. The Dell E5510′s 1,600-by-900 resolution is a boon for multitasking, fitting more pixels on a screen than the 1,366 by 768 one that’s offered as an option. If there were ever a feature worth splurging on, make sure it’s the resolution.

The E5510 has a terrific keyboard and dual pointing devices—a pointing stick and touchpad. However, you’ll find a better pointing stick, touchpad, and keyboard combination on the Lenovo T410 and T410s. The two pairs of mouse buttons are as soft as those found on a ThinkPad. And even though a backlit keyboard isn’t available, there’s plenty to like about the user experience.

The machine is really a good performer in the business line machines and its pretty costly machine in this series. The screen resolution we tested gives upto 1600 x 900 pixels. The LCD colours were sharp and crystal appearance. The performance with games is not that good with the integrated Intel chipset. However the chip managed to run some low graphic games.

As we tested the video performance of the machine , we were disappointed. The Hi-Def videos were not played exactly , and it had some loss of quality.

Performance wise , the machine performed better when it ranked a pretty close WorldBench mark of 110. The machine is configured as 3GB RAM , for memory consuming softwares , I think it would be better to go for atleast 4GB RAM , but there is nothing to worry , Dell aslo has an option to upgrade the machine to 4GB RAM for a Windows 7 64Bit version.

It handily beat the HP 4425s in our tests. On our video encoding test, the Dell E5510 finished it in 46 seconds, matching the Lenovo T410s (46 seconds) and falling slightly behind the Lenovo T410 (45 seconds) and HP 8440w (41 seconds). It beat the 4225s by almost 20 seconds. PCMark Vantage scores ranked near the bottom, because this test has a 3D component, and the Dell E5510 lacks a discrete graphics chip that would help it keep up with the others. It should also go without saying that the Dell E5510 is not an ideal pick for 3D-related tasks, such as games and CAD applications.

Battery life is another area where the E5510 excels in. The reason being, the Dell E5510 includes a big 85WH (9-cell) Dell Latitude E5510 battery, which is only slightly smaller than those found in the Lenovo T410 (94WH) and HP 8440w (93WH). Because it doesn't have a battery-guzzling graphics chip (discrete chips are bigger power drains), the Dell E5510 shined in MobileMark 2007—a battery test. It scored 7 hours 5 minutes, which easily beat the Lenovo T410 (5:25), Dell Vostro 3300 (4:55), and Lenovo Edge 15 (4:20). It came within a half hour of the HP 8440w (7:34), which is very impressive.

The Dell Latitude E5510 has processing power and battery performance often associated with pricier enterprise laptops. It could use one or two more features, but it has most of the things long-time Latitude users are accustomed to, which doesn't include running a huge tab on the corporate budget. Unless your staff spends 50% of their time on the road, in which case I would recommend a lighter system, there's no reason why your company shouldn't buy an entire fleet of E5510s.

Dell Vostro 3500 Notebook PC Review

Dell recently updated their Vostro range with the 3000 Series, a collection of notebooks and laptops designed with small to medium businesses in mind. There are a variety of models to choose from the range – the Vostro 3300 measures up at 13.3″; the 3400 is 14″ across; the 3500 is 15.6″ and the 3700 is 17.3″ – and, as usual for Dell, each model can be customized to your liking.

We’ve grabbed the 15.6″ Vostro 3500 for this review to put it through its paces. Depending on your preferred specs, there’s a wide range of pricing, starting from around £510 for a basic model and then up to over £870 for the all-singing, all-dancing version. We’ve selected a mid-range model priced at under £688 which should give a rough guide to performance levels.

The high performance Core i5 processor could be the culprit for the short charge. Dell does offer a 9-cell DELL Vostro 3500 battery option, but this is a very bulky way to go about improving battery life.

To deliver performance in a small package Dell has used Intel’s Core i5 processors and high speed DDR3 memory. To add to this, Dell has included a 7200RMP drive that allows for fast boots and data access. Coming with 320GB you have adequate space for your files.

Dell Vostro 3500 Laptop Specification:

• Genuine Windows 7 Professional
• 15.6” inch (1366×768 pixels) Widescreen LED Anti-Glare Display
• Intel Core i5-520M processor (2.40GHz, 3MB Cache, Turbo Boost 2.93 GHz)
• NVIDIA Geforce 310M Graphics
• 4GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM
• 500GB Hard Disk
• 8X DVD+/-RW Drive-Silver
• Wi-FI 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth v2.1
• Webcamera with Microphone
• Palmrest with Finger Print Reader
• 90W AC Adapter
• 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery

Dell's Vostro 3500 does exactly what it says on the tin. The laptop is a value-for-money mid-range system for small business customers. Although it has few frills, this Vostro meets all a customer's basic requirements, and looks a bit more stylish than the original Vostro models. However, adding to the basic features soon bumps up the price.

Pros: Good performance; good keyboard; relatively low cost

Cons: Windows 7 Home Premium; relatively low battery life

At 2.5kg this isn't the lightest business machine you can buy, but is portable enough for use on shorter journeys. Its smooth metal case lets it slip easily into a carry case. The 277-minute battery life is also satisfactory and lets you work for half a day when away from mains power.

A frequent strength of Dell laptops are their excellent keyboards and this machine doesn't disappoint. The wide board features large, firmly attached keys that respond smoothly and quietly at all times. Even over prolonged periods of use we found it consistently comfortable.

Despite its slimmed-down size you can still have a back-lit keyboard as an option, ExpressCard slot, FireWire, new ports including a combo eSata/USB and a HDMI port on the 3500. As for graphics option it supports a 512Mb NVIDIA 310M.

The 3500 laptop comes with an Intel Core i3 processor as standard but can be upgraded to hold the i5 chip. Each model has its perks and the 3500 comes with a 3G module and will be introduced with touch-screen capabilities.

Additionally, the systems also come with four to nine cell battery sizes. The latter claims to proffer usage time of around 8hrs from only one charge in a 14in Vostro 3400 system.

Now as to its connectivity options, these systems brag of Bluetooth 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless N, while as to the Vostro range, the 3000 line comes built-in with extra security attributes, like; a Strike Zone shock absorber, an alternative fingerprint reader, free-fall-sensor hard drive, a spill-proof keyboard and a complete alternative of business-service support options.

Dell’s new laptop starts at 5.3 pounds with the standard 6-cell Vostro 3500 battery and is available in three colors: silver, red, and bronze.

The Vostro 3500 runs Windows 7 Home or Professional Edition OS. It can be purchased via Dell online store at the starting price of $649.

Operating System: Windows 7 RAM: up to 8GB supported, 1066MHz DDR3, 2 DIMM slots Hard Disk: 500GB Display:15.6? High Definition Wide LED Anti-Glare Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD/Nvidia GeforceTM 310M, 512MB Graphics Optical Drives: 8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+/-R write capability Speakers :2 integrated stereo speakers (4 ohm 2W x 2) Web Camera: Integrated 2.0 MP Webcam with digital array microphones Gigabit Ethernet network or External USB Modem Wireless: Wi-Fi LAN: 802.11b/g/n, Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth 2.1 Card Reader: 8-in-1 card reader Other Features: Network connector (RJ45), USB 2.0 (3), USB 2.0/eSATA combo (1), HDMI connector, Headphone/speaker out, Microphone jack, Full size, spill-resistant keyboard, 15-pin VGA video connector, 34 mm ExpressCard Standard Gesture Multi-Touchpad Weight: 2.40 kilo grams

There are three USB 2.0 expansion ports, including one type combo with e-SATA, also for connecting a skirt is a HDMI or VGA more dated. The keyboard is not isolated elements too if the construction seem strong enough and without bending.

Tests on the quality of the display showed the average values: the maximum brightness is not a record, the white point is accurate even if some components are slightly saturated. (Video gamut).

In terms of hardware performance we found values aligned to products with similar features: the Intel Core i3 running at 2.13 GHz in combination with an integrated graphics subsystem provide a level of performance on average. From a laptop like you do not have to wait exaggerated performance in multimedia but not the typical limits of a netbook.

PC manufacturers like Dell have been responding to Apple with laptops that incorporate more and more of the sorts of features you see in PCs designed for the home laptop market. Yet many small business owner-managers probably only want one machine - and the Vostro 300 appears to be tailored specifically for them.

The test laptop was powered by an i3 processor running at 2.13GHz and equipped with 3GB of RAM and a 300GB hard disk.

All 3000 Vostro laptops are equipped with a webcam and microphone, essential if you are using collaboration software and video-conference. Dell 3500 battery also has the option of an NVIDIA GeForce 310M with 512MB of memory, so as to enable the best viewing experience possible. Thanks to the HDMI port, finally, you can make powerful presentations. Regarding the connectivity, the new Dell notebooks are equipped with 3G modem, Bluetooth and WiFi.

The new Dell Vostro laptops are accompanied by a special service package and a team dedicated to SMEs, a first in a field where the media is often very limited. This series is scheduled for Dell Online Self Dispatch that allows to obtain some configurations prepared in just 48 hours of ordering, making immediate buying a new laptop. Dell Vostro 3300, 3400, 3500 and 3700 will be available from 16 March with a starting price of 419 Euro (VAT and transport excluded).