My Dell XPS 15z brief review

This is a brief review of my XPS 15z, which I hope potential customers will find more informative than the garbage that has been going on in the "New XPS 15z" thread.

Reasoning:
I purchased the 15z because it mets my technical needs in the smallest and lightest package, for the price I found acceptable. The XPS 15 is a far better deal especially with the current deals, but the size and weight did not warrant the extra processing power, Bluray, or B+RGLED.

Order Experience:
I purchased the laptop for retail price from Dell home. I picked the $1200 configuration with the 2410m, 6gb, 500gb 7200rpm, and 1080p. I needed the laptop fast as my Latitude suffered a tragedy. Dell shipped the laptop within 2 days, and it was in my hands in less than a week.

Physical Quality and Aesthetics:
The 15z's high quality build is more apparent in person than I was led to believe in the photos. The keyboard looks especially bad in the photos, but I find it to be excellent. Materials are generally very good quality, and the laptop feels very solid and well built. The LCD latch system is very strong and shaking the laptop freely doesn't seem to move the LCD at all. Nothing vibrates strangely, fit and finish is very good.

The shape of the laptop makes it very easy to hold, grab quickly when on the go, and the weight is ideal for this size laptop, especially packing an 8-cell battery.

Positives:
- Excellent build quality and attention to detail.
- Thin and light.
- Strong build that gives me confidence that it will stand the test of time.

Negatives:
- Although excellent to type on, I wish the keyboard keys were built from a heavier and stronger material.
- Speaker grilles aren't very attractive, and there are a few other minor aesthetic issues.


Using the 15z:

Heat and fan noise seems to be a big concern to many forum members. I will keep it simple and tell you right now that this is the quietest and the coolest running laptop I have ever come across. My machine has been on for 3 hours in 80 F temperature room, sitting on my lap. (wearing house shorts) I do not feel any significant heat coming from the laptop. In comparison to my Macbook Pro 13 (C2D), one would think that it is on standby.

I am unable to hear any audible fan activity on this laptop even after extended use. I should also mention that the fan(s) blow the air directly behind the laptop, so any heat expelled is hardly noticeable. Previous laptops I've owned typically exhaust to the side, which I always found annoying.


I will be updating this post soon with impressions on Performance, Battery life, and whatever else comes to mind, or you ask me to investigate.


Best Regards,
Peter

 

When your 15z lid is closed, does it flex quite a bit when you push on it?

Mine does... and it worries me to the point that I don't want to hold it around that area.

 

With lid closed if i push down on the lid, it flexes 1-2mm. It seems like a lot but honestly there's nothing to worry about imo.

My Sony Vaio Z screen i can flex to a degree you would think it would crack open, yet nothing happens.

 

Thanks for the informative post. Quick question for you if you don't mind. Can you please comment on the screen itself? And what are you comparing the screen against when you respond?

Thanks.

 

guys we are forgetting this is dell, and this is as good as it gets right now. I'm still on my studio 16 and I wish this 15z looked better I still might buy it since dell will probably never make another 16incher again.

Anyway want to buy my 1640 for 600?

 

Nice review, now seeing if Dell would release a 13" version of the 15z..

 

I'm on the fence about between a 15 and 15z. I am also wishing for a 13z, but we can all dream can't we?

 

Can you tell me anything about gaming on this laptop?

 

I have recently used the following laptops extensively:
Apple Macbook Pro 13
Dell Latitude E6510 (1080p)
Sony Vaio Z690 (900p)
Dell Studio 15 (1080p)

I would describe the screen as closest to the Studio 15 (1080p) screen; similar glossy screen, similar picture quality though the 15Z gets brighter. The screen is better than all of the above besides the Vaio Z.

Summary: The display is very glossy which may bother some. Color reproduction is good, but nothing special. Contrast seems very good. Brightness is very high and I typically use it at minimum brightness even during the day.

 

Using the MBP13 as a point of reference, do you feel the 15z has a comparable verticle viewing angle? I imagine the MBP has a higher gamut screen but, that said, how would you compare the color gamut between the two?

 

If you can, have you owned laptops with RGBLED? Is the color gamut and viewing angles any good?