Ultimate Notebook Reviews

Dell XPS M1330

The first thought that comes to mind when one thinks about a Dell notebook is that it is cheap and looks ugly. In spite of all the doubters, the new Dell XPS M1330 notebook that wears a very sleek and very ultra classy Tuxedo Black casing with Microsatin finish. For those looking for a brighter look, the XPS M1330 also comes in a luscious crimson red, or a clean pearly white. Not only is the M1330 a pretty notebook – it is a durable one with strong hinges made of brushed aluminum. And at 13.3" and a mere 3.97 pounds, this is the definition of mobile computing.

The new XPS does not disappoint in terms of computing power either, with a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor, featuring the new Intel Santa Rosa chipset. As with most Dell computers and notebooks, the M1330 is customizable and upgradeable in many different ways. Your choice of processor can go up to 2.4GHz with a 4MB cache and 800MHz front side bus.

At the base price of $1500 USD, the M1330 comes stock with 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, and a 120GB SATA hard drive. Similar to the MA897LL/A MacBook Pro, this notebook has a slot loading 8X dual-layer CD/DVD±RW drive! However, Dell doesn't stop there in making the XPS M1330 cool. Often overlooked on this notebook are its remarkably smart, heat sensitive media keys that are LED backlit. The "heat sensitive" part means that if you press one of the keys with a pencil, nothing will happen. Press it again with your finger, which is warm, and the keys will work.

The security savvy users will be happy to know that the M1330 has a fingerprint reader built in, just in case Windows Vista's own security measures aren't enough. Another next generation technology that comes with this notebook is the HDMI port, which will enable you to hook up the notebook to a plasma TV.

Overall, I would give the Dell XPS M1330 a 9/10 for the value and "cool" factor.