Dell XPS 15 X15L-1024ELS Laptop (Elemental Silver)

by Dell

• 2.00 GHz Intel Core i7-2630QM "Sandy Bridge" quad-core processor
• 6GB DDR3 RAM
• 640GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
• 15.6-Inch Screen, NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 1GB
• Windows 7 Home Premium

Product Description

Amazon.com

Whether it's HD, multitasking, or multimedia, the Dell XPS 15 laptop has what it takes to take you to new levels of performance. Blending classic style and world-class features, Dell's XPS lineup was designed for creative explorers where everyday is a multimedia experience, whether it's uploading photos, watching streaming video, or listening to your favorite band play a concert on the other side of the world.

Movies, games, music, and Web chat come to life with amazing visuals and incredible sound on the Dell XPS 15.

 

The bright LED-backlit 15.6-inch HD display is complemented by built-in JBL speakers and integrated Waves MaxxAudio 3 audio processing technology as well as a 12-watt subwoofer. It also boasts a webcam capable of HD video streaming for crystal-clear-full screen video chats (and it's also Skype-certified).

It's powered by a second-generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor ("Sandy Bridge"), which provides breakthrough digital media management, content creation, and 3D gaming capabilities. With updated Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, the latest Core i7 increases speed automatically for whatever you're doing. And you'll enjoy a rich set of new features for a stunning and seamless visual PC experience with no additional hardware. Video is powered by NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M graphics with 1 GB of dedicated DDR3 video memory and NVIDIA Optimus technology.

The laptop comes with two speedy USB 3.0 ports--the latest development in USB data transfer technology. Perfect for transferring and retrieving large files between your PC and an external hard drive or digital camera, USB 3.0 offers the speediest, most efficient way get what you need from external devices. (It also comes with a combo eSATA/USB 2.0 port, plus the two USB 3.0 ports are backward compatible.)

You also get Dell's innovative Stage software, which provides a one-stop entertainment hub. Download movies, play games, listen to your favorite songs, and stream radio stations with RadioTime. Connect with friends on social networks, and view their Facebook and Flickr photos together in a real-time photo stream (learn more below).

This Dell notebook comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version). You'll also experience new ways to deliver your best work with Office Starter 2010.

Made for multimedia playback.

Specifications

• 15.6-inch high-definition LED-backlit display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution for native HD 720p display. It also provides TrueLife high-gloss/anti-reflective technology, which features a sharp contrast finish that's well suited to immersive 3D games and watching videos.
• 2.00 GHz Intel Core i7-2630QM "Sandy Bridge" quad-core processor for smart performance with a speed boost (2.90 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology; 6 MB L3 cache). Intel's Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload--providing more performance when you need it the most. And Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology enables each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking. It also comes equipped with Intel Quick Sync Video, which provides accelerated encoding, decoding, and transcoding features (for converting video for portable players or online sharing).
• 640 GB SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
• 6 GB installed RAM (DDR3, 1333 MHz)
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M with 1 GB of dedicated DDR3 video memory delivers great performance and great battery life. NVIDIA Optimus technology automatically transitions between NVIDIA graphics and Intel Integrated Graphics, seamlessly and in the background, whether you're watching a movie, surfing the web, or playing a 3D game.
• 8x multi-format DVD drive supports reading/writing of CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, and DVD-RAM.
• Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks (plus backwards compatibility with older wireless routers).
• Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity provides faster throughput while minimizing on power requirements. It's compatible with new Bluetooth 3.0-enabled devices as well as backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as printers and cell phones.
• JBL designed and certified speakers with two 4-watt stereo speakers and a 12-watt subwoofer (for 20 watts of power), plus Waves MaxxAudio 3 sound enhancement technology.

   

  

  Integrated JBL stereo speakers and subwoofer.
• 2-megapixel Skype-certified HD webcam
• 6-cell battery
• Measures 15 x 10.4 x 1.5 inches (WxDxH)
• Weighs 5.96 pounds
• Warranty: 1-year limited hardware warranty; 24/7 phone support; mail-in service

Connectivity & Expansion

• 2 USB 3.0 ports for ultra-fast data transfer (1 front, 1 rear) with up to 10x the speed of USB 2.0 (and is backward compatible with your USB 2.0 peripherals). Download a 25 GB HD movie in just 70 seconds, and even charge your USB devices when your laptop is on sleep, hibernate, or off.
• 1 eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port that enables you to connect to compatible external hard drives for lightning fast transfers of large multimedia files--up to 5 times faster than via a standard USB port. And this PowerShare USB port can charge devices even when laptop is off.
• HDMI port for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable.
• DisplayPort video output is the newest monitor interface supporting today's digital graphics and LCD technologies
• Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
• Multi-format memory card reader including compatibility with Secure Digital (SD), Hi-Capacity Secure Digital (SDHC), Hi-Density Secure Digital (SDHD), Multi Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS Pro), and xD Picture Card (xD)
• 1 headphone, 1 microphone

What's in the Box

This package contains the Dell XPS 15 (X15L-1024ELS) notebook PC, AC adapter, rechargeable battery, and printed documentation.

Included Software

McAfee SecurityCenter with Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Firewall (6-month subscription); Microsoft Office Starter 2010

The centrally located, easy-to-use Dell Support Center application offers provides personalized support resources. Conveniently located on your PC's desktop with quick links to service, support and system resources. You'll be able to keep your system up-to-date and running efficiently through automated fixes for common configuration issues.

Dell's innovative Stage multimedia software.

The Stage That Sets Itself

Dell Stage delivers the things that matter to you right to your desktop, with your most recent content always front and center. Seamlessly toggle between your favorite applications (photos, videos, music, Web pages and more) with ease, all from Stage's sleek, movie-reel style interface.

With Stage, you can easily edit and crop your photos, then share them with family and friends on Facebook or Flickr--no extra software required. Want to find that song you love? MusicStage lets you search your music collection by artist, title or even genre. And when you're ready to share your home movies, PhotoStage makes it easy to play and upload video files to Facebook.

When you buy a Dell system equipped with Stage software, you get a one-stop entertainment hub. Download movies, play games, listen to your favorite songs and stream radio stations with RadioTime. Connect with friends on social networks, and view their Facebook and Flickr photos together in a real-time photo stream. Stage delivers the things you need, right where you need them.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

The Best Entertainment Experience On Your PC

Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, and rewind TV or record it to watch whenever and wherever you want. For the best entertainment experience, choose a PC with Windows 7.

Peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop (see larger image).

Windows 7: Your PC Simplified

Simplifies everyday tasks, works the way you want, and makes new things possible.

• Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek, and Shake, make it easier to manage all of your open windows.
• Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
• Find virtually anything on your PC--from documents to songs to email--just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.
• Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
• Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center to watch whenever and where ever you want*.

 

Create, Connect and Share with Windows Live

Windows 7 and Windows Live bring it all together for free. Get the free set of programs that make it simple to create and share amazing photos and movies, organize mail, and stay connected with your closest friends.

• Get 25 GB of free online storage with Windows Live SkyDrive.
• Sync files on your PCs automatically with Windows Live Mesh.
• Share photos during video chats with Windows Live**
• Easily edit photos and combine the best parts of multiple photos into one perfect photo with Photo Fuse.

Windows Live is available for free at download.live.com.

Complete your PC Experience with Microsoft Office 2010

• Microsoft Office Starter 2010 includes reduced functionality versions of Microsoft Word and Excel with advertising. (Note that PowerPoint or Outlook are not included.)
• Purchase Office 2010 today and get the most out of your new PC.

* Additional hardware may be required. Not available in all countries. (See windows.microsoft.com/products/windows-7/system-requirements/ for more information.)
** Requires a compatible microphone, speakers or headset, webcam, and broadband connection.

Product Description

Movies, games, music and Web chat come to life with amazing visuals and incredible sound - all powered by the latest Intel processors. Its top-of-the-line adaptable speed and responsiveness make the 2nd-generation Intel Core processors the ideal choice for visibly smart performance. Get new, faster 2nd-generation Intel processors. Experience leading-edge NVIDIA performance graphics that bring your media to life. Get high-fidelity JBL speakers with Waves MaxxAudio

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent laptop but a little bulky July 6, 2011

By RudyC

Amazon Verified Purchase

First things first, this is an excellent machine. Zippy fast, feels rock solid and user friendly. It is a bit bulky but like I said, feels solid. Keys are lit and feel really secure. As a whole, you feel like you purchased a rock solid machine that wasn't built with cheap materials.

Pros:
1) Great specs (i7 core 2nd gen, 6 gb ram, 750gb hard drive) & performance.
2) Rock solid build & feel (keyboard, touchpad & body).
3) User friendly to setup & use.
4) Two USB 3.0, HDMI & Bluetooth.
5) Excellent speakers, best sound I've heard on a laptop.
6) 2.0 mega pixel webcam.
7) Excellent deal for students with free Xbox 360.

Cons:
1) A little bulky.
2) Power brick a little big (but to be expected with needed power).
3) 6-cell battery is ok at best (2-3 hours). A 9-cell is available but currently $179.

In summary, this is not a MacBook Pro in terms of style but it's a great performer and despite it's slightly bulky build, the machine looks really nice & solid. It's also considerably cheaper than a MacBook Pro. On a side note, a bit of a gripe regarding Amazon -- despite description being accurate, the last of the item photos shows a Blu-Ray drive (available as an upgrade). A bit misleading, I think. Only the photos of the actual model being sold should be on display.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dell XPS 15 - L501x Review July 23, 2011

By Andres Gallardo

This will be a review of the L501x model (1st Generation)Only thing that is upgraded is processor and gpu, which i'll talk about later.

The main upgrade the second generation Dell XPS 15 has are the newer SandyBridge CPUs which run cooler and are up to 30% more efficient than previous generation i5/i7s. The addition of a 1080p WLED multi-touch display is exclusive to the newer L502x model, but in my opinion you might as well upgrade to the BRGLED if you want a nicer display. Lastly the inclusion of Optimus is a big plus on second gen L502x's due to the ability to save more battery and lower temperatures.

The Dell XPS 15 includes the speedy USB 3.0 technology and offers up 2 USB 3.0 ports, one on the left side and one on the back next to the power connector. A USB 2.0 (eSATA/powershare combo) can be found on the right side of the laptop. On the back you'll find a gigabit LAN port and an HDMI 1.4 port. The SD card reader slot is flushed with the front of the laptop covered by hardly noticeable dummy SD card.

One of the main gripes I have with this laptop is the form factor and weight. The Dell XPS 15 is a whopping 1.5" at its thickest point. With the 9 cell battery plugged in, you're looking at carrying around a 6.33lbs laptop. That is both bulky and hefty compared to its competition, the Macbook Pro 15-inch model (boasting a height of only .95" and a weight of 5.6lbs). The 9 cell battery adds to the height of the laptop, protruding about an inch from the base of the laptop. Although the incline the battery creates makes typing more comfortable, it can become uncomfortable when having the laptop on your lap for too long. The weight and bulky nature of the Dell XPS 15 make the laptop less friendly for frequent commuters. I found it best to unplug the 9 cell battery when storing the laptop in my messenger bag.

I can honestly say I have never listened to laptop speakers as good as the JBL 2.1 speakers on the Dell XPS 15. The laptop includes two speakers on either side (each boasting 4W of power) and a 12W sub-woofer on the bottom of the base. That is a total of 20W total peak audio performance on a 15 inch laptop. The speakers are not only loud, but clear at high volumes. There was no noticeable distortion when playing music and movies at full volume. The bass impressed me the most, achieving a clear booming sound. Without a doubt these speakers make the Dell XPS 15 one of the best multimedia laptops on the market.

The 9 cell battery boasts about 4 hours of general use (web browsing, light video viewing). If you're going to sit down and watch a movie, expect around 3 hours of battery life. Finally if you're going to be gaming unplugged, you'll only get an hour to an hour and a half. The newer generation Dell XPS 15 includes the Optimus technology with their video cards. Optimus claims to give better battery performance by switching to the integrated Intel graphics when you are not gaming or using dedicated GPU based programs.

The back-lit keyboard is phenomenal. Typing is a breeze and the back-lit keys are easy to read in low light. When the Dell XPS 15 first came out, you had the option to add the back-lit keyboard for around US$25, but Dell has since wizened up and now includes the back-lit keyboard automatically with any new purchase of the Dell XPS 15. If you are buying this laptop from a third-party retailer, make sure you check that it has the back-lit keyboard if that is a feature you wish to have.
The Dell XPS 15 was the first laptop to include a Skype-certified webcam. The webcam is a 2.0MP camera capable of recording 720p HD content. While performing a Skype test, the person on the other end, could both hear and see me clearer than my Logitech Webcam Pro 9000. Video footage taken with the webcam was decent, but suffered from heavy noise and framerate issues when recording at 720p.

The wireless card on this review model is the Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300. This model was quickly taken down weeks after the Dell XPS 15 release due to lack supply for the overwhelming demand. It's a shame because this little card is by far the best laptop wireless card I have ever had the pleasure of using. The range on this Ultimate-N 6300 is rated as 2x that of the Centrino Advanced-N 6200 series, but what really makes the card shine is the addition of a third antennae. 6200 cards usually have only 2 antennae. Having a third allows for faster wireless speeds and an overall more reliable connection. Speeds are rated at 450 Mbps compared to the 300 Mbps of the 6200 cards.

The Dell Xps 15 is one warm machine. Notice I used the word warm not hot. If you're using the laptop for general everyday things like browsing the web and working on documents, the temperatures will hang around 55 degrees Celsius. If you're rendering video, expect the fan to ramp up and temperatures to hover around 70 degrees Celsius. Gaming will raise temperatures even higher into the 80s.

While these temperatures are higher than what I'm used to on my personal computer, they are not entirely bad. Most laptops starve for cool air because of the enclosed nature of the chassis, so temperatures around this range are actually normal. For reference, the Dell XPS 15 does not get anywhere near as hot as its predecessors the Studio XPS 16 and Dell XPS M1530. If the warmth the Dell XPS 15 gives out proves to be too much for you, or if you're a heavy gamer, I suggest you invest in a laptop cooler. Nowadays laptop coolers run around US$20 - $50 depending on how much cooling force you want.

The Dell XPS 15 is the best multimedia laptop on the market at its price point. If you can live with the slight bulky design and 6lbs weight, you'll be able to enjoy the high quality JBL speakers, brilliant BRGLED display, and more than adequate performance it has to offer. Whether you're a gamer or multimedia enthusiast, this laptop will take everything you throw at it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Xtreme Performance System - indeed July 8, 2011

By OJ Silk

I am very pleased with this Dell XPS (L502X). Solid build, feels expensive. A little bulky, perhaps -- but that's why it feels high end and not like cheap piece of plastic.

The great: 1) Specs (I7 2nd Generation, 6 GB RAM, 750 HDD -- mine came with 750 instead of the described 640 -- thanks!). 2) JBL speakers - best sound ever on a lap top -- trust me. 3) Keyboard - feels solidly in place & backlit - love it! 4) Two USB 3.0 slots, an HDMI out & Bluetooth connectivity. 5) Performance - you can multi-task all day long.

The good: 1) Machine stays cool. 2) 15.6 screen size shows off nice colors but not quite like a MacBook Pro -- nice but not great. 3) Personally, I like having the Power cord, HDMI and a USB in the back. 4) Overall feel of machine -- like the metal feel around the mouse pad/keyboard. Power button feels strong, like it won't fall off at some point.

The not so good: 1) Battery life is average. Three hours tops on regular, not extremely intensive use. You're going to need the expensive 9-cell battery if you want 4+ hours. 2) A little large as I mentioned above but don't let that deter you because in the end, the machine's solid build makes you feel as if you bought a quality product.

After a week of putting this machine to the test, I would recommend it. The price for the specs/performance you get is very good. If you're a student, you get an even better deal with the free Xbox thrown-in. Amazon has already run several promotions, including a $100 gift card. So if you've been thinking about buying a laptop, take advantage. You won't regret it.