The Dell Studio XPS 16 Notebook Computer Review
Looks like Dell has set the bench mark for multimedia notebooks again. The Studio XPS16 is meant for people who are unwilling to compromise on power features and style, whatever the cost. And before you get the wrong idea, the XPS16 is reasonably priced with base prices starting at $1,199. However, for a configuration that gives you the best performance, be prepared to spend up to $1,900. That’s still not bad at all for what you get.
Performance: 
Design:
Ease of use:
Overall Rating: 
Some years ago Dell developed a reputation for making dull stodgy “assembly line” notebooks that were, to put in bluntly, boring. Over the past year or two they have been able to turn this reputation around with product lines like the XPS, Inspiron and Studio. The Studio XPS16 is an amalgam of the best of the Studio and XPS product lines. It has the sleek brushed aluminum look of the XPS with the solid performance of the Studio series and the combination becomes a serious multimedia desktop replacement. Yes, it is a desktop replacement because the 16 inch display is not the ideal size for portability. But if performance is the key and you don’t mind a little extra size and weight on your shoulder, the XPS16 is for you.
The Key board is the standard Dell type and quality. You can type for hours without feeling the strain. The keys are well spaced out and have a solid feel to them, with a satisfying (but not irritating click) at the end of the travel.
The 1920 x 1080 screen is great for both any kind of work or for watching movies. The wide horizontal viewing angle means that a bunch of friends can sit around the unit and watch movies without the guys at the ends straining their necks to get a better view of what’s happening on screen.
Sound wise too there is nothing to complain about – the two stereo speakers with a built in sub woofer offer among the best sound outputs in notebooks. Once again a group of friends watching a movie will all be bale to hear even the smallest sounds clearly.
The chassis is strong and solid with no creaks or groans, even when subjected to a twisting force that no right thinking notebook owner would ever subject his notebook to!
Talking about the performance of any Dell computer is difficult since the specs are so variable and the amount of options is so great. When using a fairly full featured one the performance parameters were found to be great at best and adequate at worst. All normal office and other business applications opened and functioned with no problems or time lag. Noise and heat were normal for a notebook of this size with the kind of processor and graphics installed.
Various battery options are available, as is standard with Dell. Since this is a road warrior’s notebook, it would be best to go in for a heavy duty 9 cell battery which will give up to 3 hours of battery life. This may not seem like much, but keep in mind that this is a full featured notebook and fairly heavy power consumption can’t be avoided. A 6 cell battery will give about 2 hours of running time.