Engadget: Review – Dell XPS 14 Laptop
Engadget’s reviewer was unimpressed by the “chunkiness” of the new Dell XPS design and complained about poor battery life, but still gave this high-performance (Intel i5 processor) 14-inch-screen laptop seven out of ten stars.
“When Dell told us of its plans to revive its tried and true XPS laptop line we were pretty darn excited. With so much brand dilution in the past few years — there’s been the Adamo XPS and the Studio XPS — the products have noticeably strayed from providing the rock solid gaming and multimedia experience they were once known for. There’s a reason XPS stands for Xtreme Performance System, right?! The new line, which includes 14-, 15-, 17-inch systems, has all the ingredients to set it back on track — including Core i5 / i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce 400M graphics with Optimus, JBL speakers, a backlit keyboard, an HD webcam and a solid aluminum lid – but has Dell succeeded in creating a well-rounded multimedia machine? And does it rival our oh-so-adored HP Envy line? We’ve spent the last week using the more mobile $899 XPS 14, so read on to find out in our full review!
Look and feel
If you want our honest opinion — and we’re assuming you do — the new Dell XPS machines aren’t gorgeous, but they’re not hideous, either. These rigs are fairly middle-of-the-road in terms of design, and that’s probably the reason that the bigwigs in Round Rock haven’t gone out of their way to highlight design on Dell’s website or in ads. All of the machines have anodized aluminum lids and bottom panels, while the rest of the chassis is made of black and gray plastic. Similar to the Inspiron 14R and M101z, the design takes on more of a wedge shape as the battery is built-in to the base of the system so that it doesn’t jut out. We tend to fancy the flared look, but it does give it a chunkier trunk. We’ll say it flat out: if you’re seeking a more attractive 14-inch PC, you really don’t have to look any further than the HP Envy 14, but if you’re content with a laptop that doesn’t turn heads, the Dell XPS will fit the bill.”