Dell Vostro 1540 Review
The budget laptop from Dell Australia, the Vostro 1540 is a good value laptop at just $699 – but is it a cheerful option? Whilst the current craze for tablets may be dominating much of the consumer technology business, if there is one segment that remains immune and is standing steadfast with their laptops it’s the business user, since there is no replacement for a full keyboard and a fully fledged operating system when you are trying to get some work done.
There is a lot to say for laptops in the budget range as well, since you may well end up paying much less than you would for a tablet made by one of the major companies. Budget laptops imply a more basic machine, but Dell has managed its fundamentals quite well.
- The Vostro 1540 has a responsive and wide touchpad, and whilst the keyboard does suffer from a surface which a tad bit bouncy, it remains both comfortable and snappy, nor are there any layout problems.
- The chassis is 3.3 cm thick
- The laptop is relatively lightwith a 15 inch screen and weighs in at 2.4 kg, a little less than similar laptops made by rivals. However its design makes it feel rather hollow as opposed to strong, the rest for the wrist tends to compress with only the lightest of prods, coupled with its weak base and poor screen, results in the screen bending when the rear is squeezed.
Anyone who has ever had the misfortune of having to work under a harsh light overhead, will deeply appreciate the Vostro 1540’s anti-glare matte screen. The laptop is fairly aesthetically pleasing and is made from glossy black plastic, with a sliver of chrome effect border material, which lends the design some welcome sheen. The lid has horizontal raised lines that run parallel to one another and a textured feel.
The laptop has a selection of sockets and ports that are thoughtfully scattered around the side of the machine. There are a couple of USB2 ports located on the right hand side of the machine, whilst an SD/MMC/MS card reader is located on the front of the machine alongside another single USB 2 port and HDMI and VGA outputs. Sitting on the left hand edge of the machine are a couple of audio jacks and a Gigabit Ethernet input.
The laptop is powered by an Intel 2.4 GHz dual core Core i3-370M, and whilst that processor may not be either current or high end, it provides enough force to power through most office applications.
The laptop comes with a DVD writer that is 8x, and 8.2.11n single band Wi-Fi. The laptop has 320 GB of hard drive storage, but if you are someone who used accelerated GPU applications, you will not be satisfied by the Intel integrated graphics chip, which whilst being good for either Angry Birds or playback of HD, is not good for very much else.
Battery life is fairly average, at roughly 4 hours and 46 minutes, which is acceptable, but rival products tend to perform much better in this category, nor will you be able to go through a full day’s work without a socket.
There is no question that the Dell Vostro 1540 is at the lower end of their laptops. However if budget is your main criteria, then it is certainly perfectly usable, and worth taking a look at, so long as you make sure to purchase protective casing as well.
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Dell XPS 17 3D Sets The Bar As The 3D Laptop To Beat
Dell Computers Australia is taking advantage of things 3 dimensional with its XPS 17 3D. This 17.3 inch screen 1920 x 1080 pixel notebook computer is a beast, weighing in at a monster 8.2 pounds, with cutting edge specifications.
- 2-GHz Core i7
- 12 GB of RAM,
- dual 500-GB hard drives
- Blu-ray optical drive
- The Nvidia GeForce GT 555M.
- two USB 3.0 ports
- one USB 2.0 port
- USB/eSATA combo port
- dual headphone jacks
- HDMI
- Mini-DisplayPort jack
All of which has blazed the best frame rates in video game I have ever seen, with the general application benchmarks performing solidly, though short of record highs.
None of that matters though because it is the glorious LCD of the Dell XPS that shines. Not just as the brightest laptop screen I have ever seen, but it also happens to be brighter than every all in one desktop PC I have ever reviewed in my life too. In fact this baby is brighter than the 22 inch flat panel display I have sitting on my desk, and doesn’t just light up the night sky, it lights up every angle as well.
Whilst talking about performance is important, and the Dell Coupons XPS does well here, the real measure is how well it stacks up in the third dimension. The 3D is indeed quite effective not stuttering regardless of what 3D games or movies we tested on it. If you don’t mind sitting a little away from your PC and wearing 3D glasses, then you will enjoy the experience of 3D entertainment.
In short the XPS is the most capable 3 D laptop I have used till now. The latest version of this venerable series is solid, and if 3D is what you are looking for this baby sets the bar as being the machine to beat.
Be warned though it’s a pricey little thing, and at over $2000 you really need to ask yourself whether 3D is that important to you.
>>Click here to view latest deals with Dell Australia
New Dell Vostro Latitutde Inspiron And XPS Models Makes Choosing Between Them Difficult
Computer manufacturing giant Dell, which trades in the country as Dell Computers Australia recently rolled out a number of new laptop models as it seeks to cater to the increasing mobile computing needs of consumers. Dell Coupons laptops aside from being eye candy, are both impressive and attractive.
Dell Coupons Inspiron R series joins the ever growing collection of Dell laptops and desktops that run 2nd generation Intel core technology. The Inspiron R laptop is sleek and has a battery life of as long as 13 hours Dell claims. The laptop makes use of USB 3.0 technology, making transferring of data such as media faster than it’s ever been. Add to all that the fact that the lid is fully customizable, this is quite a sweet little machine.
A couple of weeks ago Dell Coupons rolled out is super slim laptop offering the XPS15z, which it claims is amongst the slimmest machines on the planet, and the first model in a planned series of super slim ultra powerful laptops from Dell.
The XPS 15z aside from being super slim provides uncompromising power combined with a truly stunning design. The 15z also makes use of a 2nd generation Intel core processor and comes with an optional 15.6-inch Full HD display and backlit keyboard, offering as many as 8 hours of battery life, all of which is packed into an elegant well crafted case that is astonishingly less than an inch thick.
Dell Coupons Vostro 3000 range of laptops the company claims have as many as twelve hours of battery life, and come in screen size options starting from 13 inch and going all the way up to 17 inch. The Vostro 3000 again makes use of a second generation Intel core processor, which is packed into a sleek design. The Vostro 3000 is a business laptop primarily, and comes with a full HD webcam, enabling life like quality interaction with colleagues and customers. The Vostro 3000 comes with a digital array microphone, designed to reduce ambient noise providing virtual collaboration solution that’s both fast and clear.
Last but certainly not least is the Latitude E series laptop which has been refurbished as a new addition to the Latitude family aimed at a variety of different users. These machines are ideal for pro’s who seek a cost effective blend of both desktop and mobile computing. These rugged machines have been designed for use in even the most demanding conditions.
With such a huge range to choose from, one could be forgiven for not being able to choose between true beauty or absolute power. The best answer is why not take a formidable combination of both.
>>Click here to view latest deals with Dell Australia
Dell XPS 15z A Worthy Rival To The MacBook
Throwing down the gauntlet to Apple, Dell Computers Australia has just rolled out an ultra portable laptop that challenges the MacBook Pro, offering just as much power but at a price which is as much as $700 lower than the Apple product.
Dell’s XPS 15z, with a 15.6 inch screen has a starting price of $1,399 and is available for purchase already. The laptop weighs 2.5Kg, measures 24.68 mm and features an anodised aluminium chassis.
Comparatively speaking Rival Apple’s MacBook Pro costs anywhere from $2,099 to $2,499 depending on which configuration you choose, and weighs roughly the same as the XPS 15z, measuring roughly the same in thickness as well. Both laptops make use of Intel Core i5 and i7 chipsets, boasting similar latch-less design with a large trackpad.
Rainer Noack, who runs the consumer division for Dell Computers Australia says that when compared against one another the XPS15z would “win hands down”.
According to Mr. Noack, the XPS15z is the only laptop in the 15 inch range that comes with a full 1080p full HD display as standard, which is 50 per cent brighter than the screen of an average laptop. The model comes with a standard 8GB of RAM and 750GB storage capacity.
Whilst the price is extremely reasonable, the XPS15z is still more expensive in Australia compared to the price being charged overseas. In the US for example the model sell for just US$999.
Mr. Noack says the discrepancy exists because the model being sold in the US has slightly different specifications, with the Australian price also inclusive of taxes and on site support from Gizmo.
Dell Computers Australia says that the XPS 15z is just the fist in a series of superslim Inspiron and XPS branded models that it intends to launch. The XPS 15z comes with a backlit keyboard, has a battery life of eight hours of, USB 3.0, a built-in DVD burner and Nvidia Optimus graphics.
>>Click here to view latest deals with Dell Australia
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Ultra-Thin Design Meets Elite Performance
Lenovo Computers Australia has launched the ThinPad X1, which is Lenovo’s thinnest business laptop yet. The notebook has a number of fabulous features aimed primarily towards business users, including video calling, and enterprise management. The laptop is powered by second generation Intel core Sandy Bridge processors, and feels light and sturdy, primarily because the ThinkPad X1 from Lenovo Coupons has an interior roll cage and magnesium chassis.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is packed with powerful features and comes with a great design. Lenovo Coupons ThinkPad X1 ultra-thin design meets elite performance and is complemented by strong multimedia functionality and excellent power management.
- 17mm thickness, 1.72 kg weight.
- 13.3-inch screen made of Corning Gorilla Glass (for durability, rigidity, scratch resistance)
- Lenovo RapidCharge to charge battery to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
- Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7, to allow for faster system start up.
- Instant Resume to help users retain their wireless connection (WiFi/Mobile broadband) even when the laptop goes into sleep mode for up to 90 minutes.
- Claimed superior VOIP experience with advanced noise and echo cancellation.
- Low light sensitive HD camera, optional mobile broadband 720p camera, high definition microphone and advanced calling modes for clear video calls.
- Optional Intel vPro technology, encrypted hard drives with remote management support and a fingerprint reader with one touch swipe for power on and authentication.
“The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is in line with our DO philosophy and offers everything that a corporate leader looks for in a business machine. This business Notebook reaffirms Lenovo’s long standing heritage of leading the industry with ThinkPads that provide great reliability and a superior user experience. We have created a DO machine that incorporates features that we believe will be a very useful tool for business users.” said a Lenovo Coupons executive.
>>Click here to order online with Lenovo Australia
Apple Unveil New Improved iMac
Apple Australia are as pleased as punch with the latest reincarnation of the iMac that hits stores across the country, and trust me, this one is an absolute beauty. As an avid Mac head myself, I have become quite accustomed to my old school G5 tower and Macbook Pro as my standard computers of choice for both work, play, and creating music (which is a bit of both).But having now had a look at the configurations and screen size of this truly remarkable feat of ingenuity, I’m thinking maybe it’s time for me to upgrade. After all, who wants to live forever!
There was a time when the iMac wouldn’t really be considered as a ‘hardcore’ computer for things such as music production and video editing, but from looking at the latest specs, this monster will give any tower a run for its money. Plus, look at the size of that screen!
An Apple spokesperson said -
These next-generation processors feature an integrated memory controller for an amazingly responsive experience and a powerful new media engine for high-performance video encoding and decoding.
The 27inch model needs to be in my life, and I’ve already started looking at the calendar to work out how and when I get get the pennies together to sample it’s delights. With a 1TB hard drive fitted as standard, the larger of the two machines is definitely the one to keep your eye on. I know I will be, and with a new copy of Logic Pro alongside this bad boy, you may not see me again till next year, or MTV, whichever comes first.
Well, you’ve heard enough from me, I love it and I want one more than I want world peace. That may mean I never make the Miss World finals, but I may compose the theme tune!
> > Click here for Apple Australia
Dell Vostro 460 Review
The Dell Vostro 460 from Dell Small Business Australia is a power packed tower featuring cutting edge technology designed to help businesses meet their challenges.
The Dell Vostro 460 is the first PC from a major manufacturer using Sandy Bridge and supporting a quad core Core i5-2500 processor.
The Dell Vostro 460 comes bundled with Windows 7 Professional, a powerful Intel HD graphics cars, 3TB of storage capacity, supporting up to 6GB of DDR3 memory.
Turbo Boost Technology adds more power whenever necessary, with the tower system comfortably fitting on top of or underneath any desk. However the Vostro 460 does not come with much room for expansion, with capacity to accommodate one additional 3.5 in hard disk and one 5.25 inch hard drive.
The SATA port capacity is a little stingy with only two free ports, and the machine does vibrate heavily when turned on, probably due to poorly secured internal components. This can be countered by either placing a heavy object on top of the machine and placing the machine on carpet.
The motherboard has three additional PCI-E x1 slots, which means that USB ports or eSATA ports can be added. However buyers should not expect to use the Vostro 460 as a 3D graphics workstation without some serious upgrades. The 350W power supply should be enough to power a more capable graphics card.
>> Click here to order online with Dell Australia
Alienware M17x R.3 3D 17.3-inch Gaming Laptop Review
Alienware’s first venture into 3D gaming comes in the form of the M17x Revision 3 and is about a powerful as it gets when it comes to laptops, particularly if it is as pimped out as the review unit. Less expensive configurations are available, however at those price points you only get a mediocre set of components housed in an attractive looking shell.
The Alienware M17x R3 is powered by a NVIDIA GTX 460M GPU and Intel Core i7-2630QM that runs at 2.0GHz and can Turbo up to 2.8GHz. This 2nd Generation Sandy Bridge CPU features 6MB of cache.
- Intel Core i7-2630QM 2.0GHz (2.8GHz Turbo Mode) with 6MB of Cache
- 4GB DDR3 1333MHz Memory
- 17.3-inch 1920×1080 120Hz WLED Display with NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle
- NVIDIA GTX 460M 1.5GB GDDR5 Graphics Card
- 320GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
- 802.11 g/n Wireless
- Dual Layer DVD Burner
- Two USB 3.0/2.0 Combo, One eSATA/USB, One HDMI 1.4, One Mini-Display, One VGA Port
- 9-in-1 Media Card Reader
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
- 16.14″ x 11.96″ x 1.77″
- 9.4 Pounds (Starting Weight)
Very few people including hardcore gamers would ever use the kind of horse power that combination is capable of delivering, however for pure wow factor it is hard to beat, boasting a beautiful black slab aesthetic, Blu-ray drive and illuminated keyboard and if your gaming laptop is just as much about making a statement as playing games, few do it as well as the M17x r3.
With a matte black all-over finish that makes the laptop look like an imposing slab of high-frame-rate granite the M17x is most certainly aesthetically pleasing. The backlit outlined touchpad is made of the same material and looks very cool but can be difficult to use because it is hard to know when your finger slides off the edge without physically checking.
The M17x r3 contains a row of touch sensitive buttons etched right into the chassis and conveniently place just above the keyboard, which can be used for turning on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas and for launching the lighting control app that Alienware is famous for. The look is certainly very cool, however you do have to hold your finger on the buttons for a few seconds in order to generate a response.
The M17x comes with a backlit keyboard, a touchpad border, and the Alienware logo, and touch control buttons are also backlit.
The Alienware M17x r3 comes with a 17,3-inch wide screen Full HD display which offers a native resolution of 1920×1080. It is possible to get a lower resolution display, but if you feel the need to save cash on a machine, then this model is perhaps not the one for you.
Hard drive space is also a bit scarce at 320GB, although it is a fast 7200RPM model. However, you can purchase two 320GB drives in RAID 0 configuration for $150 more. Another option you may want to consider is upgrading to a Blu-ray drive, since the display features HD resolution.
The combination of Intel and Nividia chips makes the M17x R3 nearly unbeatable when it comes to benchmark testing easily outperforming other high end multimedia laptops. While it may be difficult to notice the difference when it comes to casual internet use or office applications, it does become apparent when it comes to gaming, and it must be said that the performance is impressive.
With all that power it would be reasonable if you expect that battery life would not be the strong suit of the M17x and our testing proved that assumption to be correct, with the laptop running for just 1 hour and 27 minutes on a video playback battery drain test, which is average for a high end desktop replacement and the reason behind why these laptops are plugged in most of the time.
All in all the M17x R3 delivers on the promise of being a top of the range high end desktop replacement, and if you have the cash, then it is something you should definitely consider
>> Click here to order Alienware with Dell Australia
Alienware Aurora ALX Desktop – Review
The Alienware Aurora ALX desktop is making waves in the gaming segment of the markets, with the mid tower desktop featuring a second generation higher end Intel Core i7-2600 CPU with 8MB of cache as part of the basic configuration.
- Intel Core i7-2600 Processor with 8MB Cache
- 8GB Dual Channel 1333MHz DDR3
- Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 1GB GDDR5 Graphics Cards
- 1TB SATA 3Gb/s 7200RPM Hard Drive
- 24x CD/DVD Burner
- 875W Power Supply
- Alienware Multimedia Keyboard
- Alienware Optical Mouse
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
- Mid-Tower Case
If you are considering buying this machine, it would be better to upgrade to 2600K processor, and regardless of the processor the Aurora ALX also features CPU liquid cooling regardless of the processor your select.
The Alienware Aurora ALX boasts the new Sandy Bridge chips, and offers 8GB of dual channel 1333MHz DDR3 memory.
The basic configuration of the Alienware Aurora ALX is roughly $1,900, which is slightly more expensive than most midrange gaming PC’s, its main drawback is the memory in the basic configuration, which can be upgraded for extra cash and upgrading the slower memory to 16GB of 1333MHz RAM is $150 which is well worth considering.
Graphics on the Aurora ALX is hard to beat, boasting dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 1GB GDDR5 video cards. Enthusiasts can go a step further and upgrade this to two AMD Radeon HD 6950 2GB cards, to create the ultimate gaming machine which offers above average frame rates in the latest games even at high settings.
Whether you upgrade from the original GTX 460 video cards to the CrossFireX 6950 graphics the latest games run easily, and for those wanting 3D capability, the Aurora R3 can be paired with an optional NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit with the GTX 460 graphics cards and a compatible monitor to play games in stereoscopic 3D.
The Aurora ALX provides ample storage space thanks to a 1TB 7200RPM hard drive. Options for solid state hybrid drives, as well as full-blown SSD models or RAID configurations, are available.
The overall design of the Alienware Aurora ALX is nice, offering customizable lighting, and 160,000 different lighting combinations and the chassis also enables easy upgrades.
The Aurora ALX is a powerful and fast gaming desktop with a good design and the option of transforming it into a powerhouse through customization. Some of the upgrades however can be a tad bit expensive and however the basic configuration is well equipped for a decent price.While the speed of memory is a minor pitfall, the speedy Sandy Bridge processor and dual graphics cards do wonders for performance.
>> Click here to order Alienware with Dell Australia
Dell XPS 17 3D – Review
A few years ago, Dell, which operates in the country as Dell Australia tried to scrap the original XPS name in favour of the more affordable Studio XPS product range. That decision has been reversed somewhat, with the company re launching the XPS brand with three new models and a 3D offering, the Dell XPS 17 3D.
The Dell XPS 17 3D features a 1080p screen capable of displaying 3D content (when used with 3D glasses).
Though the 3D capability is very cool, the video card is perhaps a little too weak for a gaming laptop, however that is more than compensated for by the price point which starts off below US$1,100. The fast 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor is also pretty sweet, and if you do not mind the weight and bulk the Dell XPS 17 3D is a nice machine for the price.
Although Dell does have a range of gaming laptops in Alienware which it acquired a few years ago, the company still produces its own branded laptops that are more than capable of handling gaming.
The newly added 3D 120Hz display option is a welcome choice and features a more affordable starting price of $1,099 compared to the Alienware M17x R.3 3D model which is nearly US$2,000.
The display on the Dell XPS 17 3D is full high definition 1080p resolution. The laptop also comes with a 2.0 MP HD webcam which is skype certified providing excellent value, especially when you consider the fact that the option for 3D gaming is available.
Unfortunately, Dell doesn’t include a pair of NVIDIA glasses in the starting price. A pair of NVIDIA 3D Vision glasses required to view 3D content will cost at least US$149.
The 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2410M processor is a midrange chip that runs at a speed of 2.3GHz which can bolt up to 2.9GHz, which is more than adequate given the price of the laptop and is capable of handling a variety of tasks beyond gaming. For those who prefer a faster processor, the Core i7 can be upgraded too at the time of purchase.
The 4GB of memory in the base configuration is acceptable, and the dual channel memory is sufficient for mainstream users, however if you upgrade the system to 8GB the laptop running several programs at one time is a much smoother process.
The 500GB 7200RPM hard drive has enough space for most users. To upgrade to a 256GB SSD will cost at least US$600, so until solid state drive prices fall, the 7200RPM drive is fast enough for gamers on a budget.
Buyers may also think about upgrading the 6-cell battery to a 9-cell model however this desktop replacement cannot run on battery power for long whilst gaming.
The inclusion of JBL speakers is a nice feature providing decent audio quality. Unfortunately Blu-ray drives are not standard with this machine. With an outstanding display, the option to upgrade to a Blu-ray drive from the standard 8x CD/DVD burner is admittedly compelling. Blu-ray movies look particularly fantastic on the 1080p display.
At over 2-inches in spots the system itself is rather thick and very heavy as well especially compared to competitor products made by rival manufacturers.
Overall, the Dell XPS 17 3D is an excellent value and the upgrade prices are reasonable. Unfortunately, 3D gaming is still quite limited and the video card is not particularly powerful. However, as stated many times now, the display is top-notch.
- Intel 2nd Generation Core i5-2410M Dual-Core Processor (2.3GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.9GHz)
- 17.3-Inch Full HD 1080p 3D Display
- 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M 1GB Graphics Card
- 500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
- 6-Cell Battery
- Windows Home Premium 64-Bit
Click here to order online with Dell Australia
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