Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS 15 starts at just $849. With the base configuration, which is what we tested except for our optional ($25) backlit keyboard, you get a 2.4-GHz Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium, and Nvidia GT420 graphics. If you shop at Dell.com, you can configure the notebook with a full HD screen ($130), processors ranging from a 2.6-GHz Core i5 to a 3.2-GHz Core i7 ($500), a faster Nvidia GT435M graphics chip ($100), or a graphics chip with TV tuner ($50 to $100). A larger 640GB hard drive ($40) or a 256GB SSD ($550) are also available. You can step up to a Blu-ray drive for only $100, or get a 9-cell battery ($40) which promises to boost the notebook's meager endurance.

We highly recommend splurging for the 1080p display panel, because the notebook's strong media prowess is wasted on the default 1366 x 768 resolution screen. If you're a media enthusiast, the Blu-ray drive is a good choice too.

Configuration

Processor – Intel Core i5-480M
Random Access Memory ( RAM ) – 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM
Hard Disk Drive ( HDD ) – 500 GB SATA
Display Monitor – 39.6 cms ( 15.6 ” ) WLED Display with TrueLife ( 1366 x 768 res. )
Operating System ( OS ) – Windows 7 Home Premium
Graphics Processing Unit ( GPU ) – 1 GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M
Sound – Subwoofer – high-fidelity JBL speakers and Waves MaxxAudio technology