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Dell Inspiron XPS Gen 2
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More…- Spec Navigator
- Processor
- Memory
- Display
- Storage
- Battery
- Dimensions
- Other Features
- Networking
- Multimedia
- Software
- Interface Connections
- Included Devices
Storage
| Total HD Size | 100 GB |
| Optical Drive Type | DVD+R DL/DVD±RW |
| Optical Drive Speed | 8 |
| Removable Optical Drive | No |
| Slots |
|
| Number of Media Slots | 1 |
| PC Card Slots | Yes |
Battery
| Number of Included Batteries | 1 |
| Standard Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Type of Batteries | Lithium ion |
| Vendor Rated Battery life | 218 |
Networking
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Included network card | Gigabit ethernet |
| Modem Type | V.92 |
| Wireless LAN Type | 802.11a/g |
Software
| Included Software | Corel WordPerfect Productivity Pack |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition |
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Laptops »
Pros
Nice, high-resolution screen
Cons
Pricey; offers poor battery life
Bottom Line
Burly gaming notebook has a high-resolution screen, but its battery life is poor.
Not Much RAM for Multitasking
The more RAM your laptop has, the faster programs will run and the greater number of windows you can work in at one time. If your needs are simple and you rarely do more than two things at once on your PC, the relatively modest amount of memory that comes installed in inexpensive laptops will be enough. Today the standard amount of RAM shipped in most PCs is 2GB. If you like to multitask--say, you want to launch a search for a file and start backing up data to a disc while you watch a news video--you need more memory.
Designed to Replace Your Desktop
With its expansive screen and keyboard, large hard drive, and fast processor, this portable qualifies as a desktop replacement. As the moniker suggests, this laptop could take the place of your desktop PC, as it offers most of the features that people look for in a computer. The screen is spacious enough for you to work on it all day without eyestrain, and the keyboard's roominess rivals that of a desktop's. It has only one optical drive, but ports aplenty. Even so, this machine is still portable, light enough to unplug from the wall and easily move to another room--or to a meeting across the country on your next business trip.
Great Resolution for HD Video
This laptop's 1920 by 1080, or WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array), display is great for high-def video. (Another variation of WUXGA is 1920 by 1200.) This is the highest resolution you can get on a laptop--if you want something beyond this, you'll have to buy a stand-alone flat-screen monitor. Be aware, however, that text and icons can be tiny and hard to read at this resolution. If all you need to do is handle word processing, e-mail, and the Internet, a superhigh resolution is overkill. But if you require a huge screen that shows as much information as possible, opt for this laptop, or another that sports a similarly large, WUXGA-resolution screen.
Supports SD Cards
Like most new laptops, this one has either a multiformat card reader or a dedicated slot that accepts an SD (Secure Digital) Card. More popular than Memory Stick, CompactFlash, and xD-Picture Card, SD is found in a large number of digital cameras, PDAs, printers, and other devices. SD Cards have built-in security functions to protect data, including music copyright protection. (The cards have a small write-protection switch on the side similar to that of a floppy disk.) The latest SD card, the microSDHC, is the tiniest flash memory card to date, measuring only 11mm across. It's also the fastest and roomiest, capable of holding up to 16GB of data.
Windows XP Installed
Currently Microsoft's Windows XP operating system remains an option for sub-$600 mini-notebooks (also known as "netbooks"). Although it debuted back in 2001, XP is still popular among many computer users, especially in businesses that have standardized on the OS and have no desire to switch to the 3D-heavy Vista. XP introduced a lot of the useful built-in applications we now take for granted, including the ability to burn CDs, as well as Remote Desktop, which lets telecommuters connect to another XP computer across a network or the Internet and access their programs and files. This streamlined operating system should run fine on this notebook.
Be Wary of Battery Life Specs
Take the battery life you see advertised for any laptop with a grain of salt. Why? A few vendors still use unrealistic testing parameters in order to report the longest battery life possible. For example, a "tested" laptop simply might be turned on, with the screen brightness lowered to the darkest level, and allowed to run down without anyone touching it. When the laptop undergoes typical, everyday use--say, with the screen brightness turned up to a readable level and with the user working in several applications or playing a CD or DVD movie--its battery life could be much shorter than a vendor's claims.
- Rating Breakdown
-
91
-
91
-
80
- See Complete Lab Results »
Performance Comparison with Similar Laptops
91
52
67
66
Performance
| ACD Systems ACDSee | 605 |
| Adobe Photoshop | 322 |
| Adobe Premiere | 453 |
| Ahead Nero | 605 |
| Battery Life (Office Applications) | 2:18 |
| Discreet 3ds Max DirectX | 267 |
| Discreet 3ds Max OpenGL | 293 |
| Microsoft Office XP | 542 |
| Mozilla | 448 |
| Musicmatch Jukebox | 517 |
| Number of Included Batteries | 1 |
| Roxio VideoWave | 406 |
| Windows Media Encoder | 410 |
| WinZip | 369 |
| World Bench 5 Score | 93 |
| World Bench 5 Word Score | Superior |
WorldBench Tests
| Multitasking | 717 |
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- Before you buy
- How to Buy a Laptop
- How to Buy a Netbook
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