Thin laptops

Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2.5GHz
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 graphics card
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
2X 320 GB hard drives
Starting from £499

I’ve heard many Dell customers complain that when choosing a Dell laptop that suits their needs, they were having trouble finding a proper balance between price and affordability. The entry level Inspiron line provided low-end needs for PC users just needing basic features and hardware for their laptop. Those looking for an all-out gaming/multimedia PC that could handle whatever you could throw at it was provided by their high-end XPS line of PCs, but there was little in between the two. Dell answered the call in June, releasing their Studio 17 model, which falls into the category of thin laptops, and aims to be a midpoint in price and power between the XPS and Inspiron lines. In that regard, they manage to deliver.

True to form, the design of the Studio 17 looks like a cross between the XPS and Inspiron lines. At first glance, the solid-colored lid looks much akin to the their other portable laptops. Jet Black is the standard color, but you can upgrade it to another color if you like (10 colors are available) at a modest price tag ($25.00). The inside of the machine has been significantly redesigned and departs from both the XPS or Inspirons. The keyboard itself is black, with a glossy silvery color for the deck decorated with a swirling pattern for the palm rest. Its a bit busy to be looking at all the time, but I got used to it after about an hour or so of use.

For hardware we decided to max out all available options, pulling out all the stops for what this series has to offer. The result? Some impressive, specs, with an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache) providing plenty of processing power. If you’re looking for multimedia needs, you’re covered with that as well with a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 graphics card and 17 in. hi resolution display. I was a little disappointed in the lack of choice when it came to the video card. Though the 3650 is a solid card and should be able to handle most of your gaming needs moderately well, I was surprised they didn’t give me the option to taking it to the next level. The 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 is pretty standard for a higher-end laptop, and anything running Vista will likely need a good amount of RAM regardless. 2X 320 GB hard drives provides a bit of overkill on storage, but I’ve no doubt many users will find a way to utilize it. For high definition movies, you’re able to upgrade the Studio 17 to a 6X Slot Load Bluray (BD) Combo Drive. Battery power tends to get eaten up much faster when playing games or watching movies, so we moved the battery up to the 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery. As far as hardware goes, the Studio 17 proves to be a reliable machine that keeps up with other lightweight laptops. It may not provide the punch of some high-end XPS laptops but still gives you just enough for multimedia and gaming needs, and with a much lower price tag.

To wrap up our review we took a look at the warranty options available on the Studio 17. Thankfully the machine comes with a standard one-year warranty for parts and labor with 24/7, toll-free technical support service. If you’re on the conservative side, you can extend the warranty up to 4-years. The 9-cell upgraded battery will provide about 3 hours of staying power if you’re using it for everyday operations like web surfing or word processing.

If you’re looking for an affordable blend of power and reliability, the Studio 17 definitely brings the goods. With a fast dual-core processor, just enough of a graphics card to get by, and a brilliant hi-res display, its a solid machine to pick up.

Tags: Dell, studio, thin laptop