THE Studio 1555 is the latest upgrade to one of Dell’s bestselling multimedia laptops.
What makes this incarnation different from the rest of the retail laptops lies in its use of Intel’s highend Centrino 2 P8400 processor with three megabytes (MB) of Level 2 cache, four gigabytes (GB) of DDR2 memory and a dedicated ATI chipset. These features are for users who want power for graphics editing and extensive multi-tasking while at the same time able to carry the laptop around for mobility purposes.
From a pricing standpoint, the Centrino 2 P8400 processor delivers a good deal since most of the laptops in this class are priced around or above RM4,000.
Moreover, DDR3 memory for laptops is still in its infancy and expensive compared to DDR2 to warrant an immediate upgrade.
Users want to take advantage of the maximum 8GB memory upgrade could consider upgrading the Vista operating system from 32-bit to 64-bit to deliver better performance for memory-hungry applications.
Such applications, for example, Adobe Photoshop CS4, will demand a memory upgrade, and combined with a dedicated ATI Mobility Radeon 4570 chipset with 512MB of random access memory, users can expect a smoother rendering delivery of graphics files, especially those above 100MB, with minimal lag.
At 371.6 millimetres by 25.3mm by 38.9mm and weighing about 2.5 kilograms, the Studio 1555 is a bigger and longer laptop, and Dell has managed to include a host of interface-cum-connectors to expand the functionality of the machine beyond that of a standard Internet and/or Office-based laptop.
There is little what this desktop replacement cannot do. The USB interface is sufficient to handle most standard functions such as external mouse, thumb drive and perhaps an external USB hard drive for transferring data, whereas the FireWire interface is useful for highspeed image transfers through an external FireWire flash reader and FireWire hard disk.
The Studio 1555 also can deliver better performance on threedimensional applications and games compared to shared graphics memory-based laptops.And the average battery life is expected to last around three hours.Home users who want a longer battery life of up to eight hours can opt for the nine-cell battery through direct purchase from Dell Malaysia for RM390.
On multimedia usage, the 15.6-inch WLED HD wide-screen is capable to displaying up to 1,368 by 768 pixels resolution with vibrant colours. The extra width enables users to view documents such as Office files and PDF files side-byside at any one time.
The sound system comes in the form of the Intel High-Definition Audio 2.2, stereo headphone lineout and stereo microphone line-out.Users who want to upgrade to a Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi card for gaming realism, or an internal Bluray drive to read Blu-ray movies or write to a 50GB Blu-ray media, or a 500GB Serial ATA hard disk, can opt for a customised version direct from the Dell Malaysia Web site.
As for users who want to carry out voice over Internet protocol and video conferencing or even meet up with loved ones, they will find the integrated two-megapixel Creative Webcam useful. The model’s picture quality is average in daylight, and like most Webcams, the quality gets grainier and pixelated in low-light environments.
In terms of wireless performance, the Intel 5100 wireless network is capable of transfers at up to 300 megabits per second using a dual N-draft standard over 2.4-gigahertz and 5GHz frequencies.
While it’s good news all round, there are some minor issues that Dell could consider improving for future models. First up is the optical drive, which emits a metallic sound during an ejection of media or upon booting up. And the laptop lacks a latch to keep the machine closed.
All in, the Studio 1555 is a good offering, but it is not designed for everyone, especially those who prefer a lighter and slimmer carryaround laptop. Such laptops are either low in regular and graphics processing or that have the necessary requirements but pricey.
To its credit, the Studio 1555 does prove a point that you can have a laptop that delivers on power and durability without having to break the bank.
Product: Studio 1555
Manufacturer: Dell
Enquiries: All IT Hypermarket(03-21446878)
Price: RM3,299
Specifications
Dimensions: 371.6mm by 25.3mm by 38.9mm
Weight: 2.5kg
Display: 15.6-inch HD LED (1,366 by 768 pixels)
Other features: Intel High-Definition Audio 2.2, 320GB 5,400rpm Serial ATA hard disk, 8X Slot Load CD/ DVD writer (DVD+/-RW), six-cell lithium-ion, two-megapixel Webcam
Our verdict ****
Physical design ***1/2
Documentation ****
Use-friendliness ****1/2
Features ****
Performance ****
Value for money ****
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