Review On Dell Studio 15 Notebook
We have read a review on the Dell Studio 15 notebook and decided that this gadget offers good value for money. It makes a good desktop replacement but also a good working computer. It is not expensive so almost anyone can afford it and the specs are not at all bad for a notebook cheaper than $800.
<-300×250 Medium Rectangle – center->
The Studio 15 has a solid design and nice built-in features but it is not what we call a thin and light notebook. The Studio 15 seems to have several design elements which are similar to the latest XPS notebooks: the wedge-shaped profile, slot-loading optical drive, drop hinge and the touch-sensitive media buttons are some examples. As you know that Dell always spoils us with our favorite colors, the Studio 15 is also available in 7 different colors. The matter cover has a texture that look like rubber. There is a fancy imprint design on the palm rest area. We are not sure what that design in supposed to mean but it either looks like a map or some lightning bolts. The chassis seems to be very solid so this notebook will handle of couple of shocks which are not too severe. It may be ok if you happen to drop it off your desk but you still have to be very careful how you handle it. One thing we thought was cool is the fact that it is very easy to upgrade this notebook. By removing a number of seven screws, you can lift the bottom panel which provides access to the entire inside of the notebook. Be careful not to damage anything else while you’re adding some extra RAM.
The Dell Studio 15 has a 15 inch display with a casual resolution of 1280 x 800. The horizontal viewing angles are quite acceptable so if you want to call over some friends and enjoy a movie together but you don’t have any external monitor to attach, the Studio 15 is going to support your socializing and movie watching experience. The keyboard is definitely something you will get used to really fast. Even if you may notice a bit of a flex in the center area of the keyboard, the keys offer a positive feedback when you type. The keys make a clicking sound, maybe a bit too loud for one’s taste. If you are willing to spend some extra dollars, there is also an option for a backlit keyboard which is not included in the main configuration of the notebook for financial reasons. The touchpad is ok, it offers properly travel response and the texture will not tire your fingertips like some keyboards do. The left and right mouse work properly and you don’t have to press hard in order to get the clicking sound. Above the keyboard is a set of touch sensitive media control buttons which reminded us of the Dell Inspiron models. These buttons are backed up by blue LED lights that shine so bright for about one second after you push them.
The number of ports and connections on this notebook is very satisfying especially for a desktop replacement. It widens the possibilities and the number of thing you can do with your notebook. There are 4 USB ports, one Ethernet port, one FireWire, a HDMI out, an Express Card slot, a Kensington lock slot, a VGA out, an 8-in-1 media card reader, two headphone jacks and one microphone jack. Unlike other notebook we were used to, the Dell Studio 15 has us puzzled as to where the power button is located. We’ll save you the trouble and some minutes and tell you that the power button is on the right side of the notebook. The speakers are ok, especially because they are located above the keyboard and this means the sound is projected straight up. They are good for listening to some of your favorite music but to enjoy the high quality experience of a movie, you still have to buy a good set of headphones or get yourself a nice pair of external speakers.
The 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 processor plus the 3 GB of RAM are excellent for multitasking at reasonable speed and if you are going to buy this notebook for things like surfing the internet and maybe working on some documents, then the Dell Studio 15 is going to do the trick. You have 250 GB of disk space to store whatever you may need. The disappointing thing is the graphics card which is an Intel X3100. To be honest, we didn’t expect to find anything spectacular in terms of the video card especially due to the small price of the notebook. This means you won’t be able to play any super cool video games or run any 3D applications but if that is not the main thing you are looking to do on a notebook then it is safe to say that the Dell Studio 15 is the right choice for you.
Along with this system you will get a 6-cell battery that can provide approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes if the Windows Vista power manager is set to “balance mode” and the display’s brightness is set to medium level plus the wireless card is turned on. This is pretty good for a 15 inch notebook and also a nice performance for the 6-cell battery. Dell also has a 9-cell battery to offer but if you plan to use this notebook mostly at home and keep it plugged in most of the time, then another battery is probably useless. If Dell had also offered more choices for a graphics card as well, we would have been extremely satisfied. We hope that this review on the Dell Studio 15 notebook was useful. This is one notebook we definitely recommend for those that are seeking a desktop replacement and don’t have the money to afford a very fancy one. If you are even in need of better components, it’s easy to upgrade without having to take it to a specialized shop.
