The Dell Studio series was created in part to blast misconceptions that specs of laptops are set in stone and that they have similar appearances. People clamor for personalization, which also translates to what they prefer in a computer or laptop.

Fortunately Dell has heard everyone’s clamor. The company has paid close attention to the buzz in its own forums, and other community forums frequented by computer users. Because of all the discussion about the need for a customizable laptop, Dell has developed the Studio series specifically to answer those claims.

True enough, the series has a flair for the personal melodrama that each computer user has. Dell offers these laptops in many colors. Of course, the aesthetics of each unit are not the focus.  Each Studio model is powered by a “muscled” processor from Intel, from Core2Duo to the next-generation Core i7 processor technologies. Each Studio unit may also store up to 4 gigabytes of random access memory to support the powerful features of the processor.

You could say that beyond its beautiful exterior, there lies a very powerful unit that can tackle just about any task that you can throw its way.

Storage space is not a problem with the Dell Studio series. Dell has installed at least 250 gigabytes worth of hard disk space for its Studio models. Some models even have hard disk space that totals 500 gigabytes. Downloaders, gamers and businessmen alike will appreciate the amount of space that they have at their disposal.

Its graphics capabilities are also topnotch. Most of the laptops under the Studio series are powered by a GeForce graphics accelerator. The least you can get for a graphics card would be the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 with 256-megabyte video ram.

Studio XPS Studio 13

The XPS stands for the unit’s extreme performance capabilities. Indeed, the Dell Studio 13 is armed to the hilt and ready for some heavy functioning with 2.93 GHz Intel processor options including the Core2Duo T9800, up to 8 gigabytes of RAM and powerful graphics cards.

Pros:

Clearly geared towards both gaming and entertainment, the Studio 13 has some of the most powerful specifications in the entire series with its graphics card options and its 2.93 GHz processor.

Cons:

Of all the Studio models, the Studio 13 has the smallest screen at 13 inches. Some gamers may find it difficult to use because of the amount of screen available to them.

Studio 14z

As its designation suggest, the Dell Studio 14z is the one with the 14-inch screen. In a way, it is similar to the Studio 15 in terms of features except for a few differences. It only has one graphics card option and that is the Nvidia GeForce 9400M, and no integrated graphics card for its default configuration. It does not have the Core i7 option as well.

Pros:

The option of having a GeForce 9400M as a default configuration is a welcome fact. The Studio 14z also features a good amount of RAM at 5 gigabytes, though slightly lower than the Studio 15.

Cons:

Though it has a good graphics card, you are still restricted to only one option. When time comes you realize that you need to upgrade, you won’t be able to do so with the Studio 15.

Studio 15

The Dell Studio 15 is the 15-incher of the Studio series. Armed with powerful options for a processor including the next generation Core i7 processor, the Studio 15 has so much in store for the buyer.

Pros:

The Studio 15’s display screen stands out by being able to reach 1080p high-definition resolutions. Plus, it can be fitted with powerful graphics processors from ATI.

Cons:

The default configuration has only an integrated graphics media accelerator. This could restrict the graphics processing that the person on a tight budget can have access to with this model.

Studio XPS 16

Another XPS model, you can expect this unit to stand up to even the most memory-hungry applications out there. With a powerful processor backed up by up to 8 gigabytes of RAM and its ATI Mobility graphics cards, you can put the Dell Studio XPS 16 through abuse and find it still standing.

Pros:

The strongest points in the Studio XPS 16 are its powerful graphic cards that complement its memory and processor. Its display screens are also capable of up to 1080p resolutions.

Cons:

Unlike its cousins, the XPS Studio 16 does not have high-definition audio speakers but instead has simple 7-watt stereo speakers with a built-in subwoofer.

Studio 17

In terms of specifications, the Dell Studio 17 is perhaps the most powerful of the 5 Studio series laptops by Dell. It is powered by a 1.6GHz Core i7 processor, which is considered a next-generation technology. It also has a 1-gigabyte ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650.

Pros:

What we like about the Studio 17 is its powerful processor and graphics card. The screen is also decently sized at 17 inches.

Cons:

Compared to the other Studio series laptops, the Studio 17 cannot output true HD resolution in its display. Accordingly, it also has only 4 gigabytes of memory to back up its processor.

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2. Asus UX – Review
3. Dell Inspiron 1525 – Review

So, the thinner the laptop is, the greater the space it can save. Asus has recognized these concerns and has come up with some of the thinnest laptops there are in the market: the Asus UX series.

Indeed, thin is the middle name of the Asus UX series. With a thickness of only 1.2 inches at most, these laptops will be ideal for your traveling needs. You can easily stuff them among clothing – nothing heavy though as this will damage the laptop – or you can use a smaller carrying case. This means that you can carry these devices around easily without a problem, as opposed to the larger and thicker laptops that you can find in the market. They also are very light as well, weighing at least 3.5 pounds depending on the configuration.

Another amazing thing about the Asus UX series is that, as opposed to its thickness, its insides are packed with powerful features that make your computer usage as enjoyable and dependable as ever. Flexibility is at its best with the Asus UX series.

Depending on which model you would want to purchase, the Asus UX series has something for gaming as well as for normal and business computing requirements.

Performance is another thing most users look for in a laptop. The Asus UX series offers more than one choice depending on the performance they want from the portable computer. The UX50V, for example, is definitely a gaming platform. It runs on an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a processing speed of 1.6GHz, and a dedicated graphics card – the GeForce G105M with a video memory of 512 megabytes. The other model, the UX30, only makes use of an integrated Intel GMA 4500 graphics card. However, it makes use of a slightly slower but still powerful Core 2 Solo processor running at 1.4 GHz.

All UX series models are packed in both random access memory and hard disk space. Asus allows a user to set up to 500 gigabytes of hard disk space, and a maximum RAM of 4 gigabytes. These make an excellent support for the equally powerful brains of the UX series laptops.

Another great feature that Asus has installed for this series is the Altec-Lansing speaker system. Altec-Lansing is known worldwide for the excellent quality of its speakers, thus buyers of both UX laptops will be delighted to know that they now have access to the rich and detailed audio that Altec-Lansing speakers can offer them.

Deserving mention is the Consumer Ultra Low Voltage feature that Intel has included in its processors for the UX series laptops. CULV processors use very low voltages or energies thus despite its high processing power the notebook generates very little heat. The CULV is solely the platform that has made ultra-thin notebooks like the UX series possible. Without it, the electronics would be fried due to insufficient space for heat and air to circulate.

Asus UX30

The less powerful of the two, the Asus UX30 is apparently designed for less strenuous processing requirements. This makes it ideal for people who want to use it for business purposes mostly, and perhaps a little gaming on the side.

PROS:

The strong points for the Asus UX30 include its fast processor which runs at 1.4 GHz, as well as the detailed resolution of its 13-inch screen at 1366×768. Another thing that we love about the UX30 is the presence of hot keys, which allow for one-touch operation for turning the laptop off, for adjusting the brightness and other routine tasks in using the UX30.

CONS:

What is disappointing about the Asus UX30 is its minimal support for gaming. Having only an integrated graphics card, it is less capable of playing the newer games in the market. However, one can still play the older and less demanding games in terms of processing power.

ASUS UX50V

The big brother of the UX30, it is apparent that the Asus UX50 is the more powerful of the two. Unlike its sibling, the UX50V allows one to perform more functions because of its more powerful features and processor.

PROS:

The UX50V is raw power. From its processors to its graphics card, the UX50V gives one a lot more options when it comes to usage. You can play games here, thanks to its 512MB video card that is capable of more demanding usage as compared to the UX30.

Just like the UX30, the UX50V has hot keys for one-touch operation.

CONS:

Its price. The UX50V has a very high price tag that can discourage people and let them turn their back almost immediately.

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