Both types of screen feature a 1280 x 800 (WXGA) resolution, and we found images crisp and easy to view. Another reason to upgrade to the LED screen is for its power efficiency – we managed to get just under three and a half hours' use between charges with the six-cell battery in place.
This was despite the dedicated GPU, which saps more power than the integrated graphics cores usually found on laptops of this size. But it wouldn’t be an XPS without the ability to play games, even if the low-end Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS restricts you to older or less graphically-intensive titles.
Powerful and portable
The M1330 managed a 3DMark06 score of 1421 when running in its native screen resolution. Drop the image quality down to 1024 x 768 and the score rises to 1653 – excellent for a 13.3in machine, but still an eternity away from what we’ve come to expect from the XPS brand.
Still, it’s unrealistic to expect a more powerful GPU in a chassis of this size. Heat dissipation is managed with aplomb, the XPS remaining cool to the touch even under intensive use.
The aluminium palm rests are sturdy, and there’s plenty of width in the chassis for a good-sized keyboard. The keys are finished in silver, and we found them responsive and quiet in action, and more than large enough for even the stubbiest of digits. There’s also a range of touch-sensitive hotkeys below the display, allowing you to control your CDs and DVDs with ease.
The right side of the chassis offers a ExpressCard 54 slot, a switch to control wireless functions, and a USB 2.0 port. There’s also a slot-loading DVD±R/RW drive. Future models will be available with a Blu-ray Disc drive, and there’s an HDMI port on the left of the chassis for connecting the laptop to an HD TV.
Those with older monitors or projectors will be able to connect using the VGA socket. Other items on the left include a second USB 2.0 port, a mini Firewire connector and a Gigabit Ethernet socket. The rear of the machine is devoted entirely to the battery, and there's a three-in-one memory card reader on the front of the chassis.
COMMENTS
@Vernon Lloyd
Why do people like you blame a specific operating system for a limitation in chipsets and all 32 bit operating systems?
Linux is limited to 4GB RAM until you recompile your kernal and turn on PAE.
Windows can address more than 4GB (just not at the same time) as well by using the PAE switch.
This is all assuming your chipset can support it, if it can't, it doesn't matter what OS you run.
I seem to remember using an entreprise Windows 32 bit OS with 8GB of RAM and that was 5 years ago.
@John W
Why do people like you blame Dell for an Operating System Flaw. Do you see HP, Fujistu or Toshiba telling you that.....NO.
For those who do not have an idea what we are talking about it appears that Microsofts Operating Systems can only allocate a Maximum of 4GB of RAM. If for example you have a 256MB Graphics Card, Windows allocates 256MB of addresses, meaning that Windows can only see 3.75 GB of RAM.
If you have a Beast of a computer with two 512MB Graphics cards Windows will only be able to access 3GB of memory even if you have 4GB installed.
Its good to see that after all these years Microsoft are still shite at designing an OS for a top end machine.
/Just get my coat
Love it (part 2)
Re: the LED screen. Forgot to say how gorgeous the LED screen is. Haven't seen a direct comparison with the CCFL version, but again, it's a case of finding other laptops deficient when using them. On the M1330 the top brightness level is simply _too_ bright whilst indoors. I only ever need to crank it up to about 2/3 for comfortable use.
NB 2: The 6-cell battery is the one I have, and sits flush with the unit. The optional 9 cell is the one that protrudes a little and provides a "wedge" that makes the machine "sit-up" when on a flat surface. Some folk seem to like that.
Love it.
Bought one of these from a local independent retailer 3 or 4 months ago (the 5 week wait was well worth it). Love it.
It was a split purchase between my GF and me (and my first laptop too). After she'd browsed around in the shops and seen a Vaio SZ in the flesh) I had to find something with the following specs before she'd pony up half the cash:
-14" or less screen (so as not to be unnecessarily unwieldy).
-Less than 2kg (for comfort when resting whilst sofasurfing).
-Not be Fugly (i.e. look as similar to a Vaio SZ as possible).
-Be half the price of an SZ.
That was it. With the SZ being the benchmark but far too pricey. A MacBook was almost the only thing that came close, but it's a Mac. There was a pretty decent little Fujitsu fella but it wasn't sleek enough. Everything else was too/big/heavy.
The XPS M1330 fitted the bill perfectly. Plumped for a £799, 1.5GHz, 2GB, 160GB model (with integrated GFX cos I have a console for games). No probs running Vista Home Premium or any other general multitasking job I've thrown at it. And it can stretch to around 4hrs of Wireless surfing/graphics editing.
After using a few other laptops of various description, they all seem deficient in some way when compared to the M1330.
Completely made up with it and now I want another so that my GF and I can have one each, I can set up a Wireless NAS and dispense with the Desktop/Server-of-sorts machine in the spare room.
I realise that I'm becoming the Dell equivalent of a Mac-vangelist now so I'll stop, except to say that as soon as Dell do their version of the Air at half Apples price, I'm sold.
NB: The ExpressCard slot has a dinky IR remote in it for control of media centre functions.
Looks good
It looks like a pretty good laptop. I may consider buying one to replace my aging Fujitsu Siemens laptop.
If like me, you want something mobile when working away from home, but at the same time play the odd hour on a few games, then it seems like a good compromise.
But if they're bringing a model out with a high def drive, I may just wait for that.
