Dell XPS 15

Competition is stiff among manufacturers of premium desktop replacement laptop , with many players vying for the Windows PC market and growing as switching to Apple products . But while everyone is busy doing their best impression Apple , not every laptop is the performance to back up a premium price tag . The Dell XPS 15 ( $ 1,699.99 direct ) works , thanks to a quad- core Ivy Bridge processor , switchable NVIDIA graphics , and a design that's completely fine , if not entirely original. If you're not ready to go the Mac route , it could be a solid backup plan .

Design
The Dell XPS 15 has a minimalist design , with a dark all- metal chassis with smooth curves and surfaces that echo the distinctive look of the MacBook Pro . Dell has done its best to meet the XPS 15 with a two - tone dark metal design on the lid and a stripe of bare silver aluminum around the edges , but with the Dell XPS 15 laptop sitting on the bench next test easy - to - be reviewed Apple MacBook Pro 15 - inch ( Mid 2012) and Choice Apple MacBook Pro 15 - inch ( Retina Display) Editors' , it's hard to ignore the similarities . In fact , " similarity " may not be strong enough a term - perhaps " uncanny resemblance ", " clearly inspired , " or " out - and- out clone " would be closer . Dell can not say with any ad , but it is clear that this is Dell 's answer to the MacBook Pro . In fairness , Dell is not alone in this , as we have been taught the Apple design cribbed from other premium desktop replacement , such as the HP Envy 15 .

Believe it or not , we're not knocking Dell for taking a page from the book designer Jony Ive . In fact , Dell has put a very good time and attention to improving the appearance XPS 15 , and it is largely succeeded . Which Apple uses bare aluminum , Dell adds soft touch paint on the palm rest and bottom panels of silicone , making the XPS 15 both more touchable and a bit more stable on some surfaces . Apple unibody design with a hard edge around the palm rest , but Dell softens things a minute tables . The backlit chiclet keyboard adds some curvature in the key cap , making for a comfortable typing experience , and the clickpad is coated with the same paint as the soft touch palm rest . All in all , even the XPS 15 lookslike an Apple product, it actually feel better.

The 15.6 - inch widescreen display offers 1920 -by - 1 , 080 resolution , the same view on the HP Envy 15 and surpassing the more modest resolution of the Samsung Series 7 ( NP700Z5A - S03 ) and Dell XPS last year 15z ( Microsoft ) , but it can not hit the modern 2,880 -by - 1 , 800 Retina display on the new MacBook Pro . ( It is hard to compete with technology that Apple purchased with the giant pile of money , but you'll also pay $ 500 premium to get them . ) The XPS 15 also has solid audio , with Waves MaxxAudio 4 and two integrated two - watt stereo speakers . The only thing you get is an integrated subwoofer as seen ( or rather felt ) on the HP Envy 15 .