Dell XPS 15 L502x P11F Laptop Review
Dell XPS 15 L502x P11F- We’ve seen the Dell XPS 15 L502X before (tinyuri.com/6959seo), but this P11F version adds a touchscreen display. We found this useful for entertainment, such as when watching DVDsr but not so much for general Windows operation.
Although Windows 7 supports touchscreens, there are still too many fiddly menus to navigate. And there’s no getting around the fact that pressing a laptop’s screen doesn’t feel as natural as the same action on a handheld tablet or smartphone. It takes some getting used to, and we ultimately found ourselves using the keyboard and touchpad for most tasks.
The Dell might find itself in more comfortable surroundings when Windows 8 launches, expected some time in 2012, As we’ve seen from the Developer Preview (turn to page 104 for our Windows 8 tutorial). Microsoft’s forthcoming operating system lets you quickly switch between two interfaces; Classic Windows, and the tile-based, touch-operated Metro environment.
For now, though, the touchscreen appears to be little more than a gimmick. No stylus is provided, and the screen’s glossy surface is not a good match for finger input, with greasy marks showing up a treat.
This panel is also a pain to use in bright lighting conditions, and prone to distracting reflections. The 15.6in screen is better suited to films, although it doesn’t support a full-HD resolution, maxing out at 1366×768 pixels. Neither can the DVD drive read Blu-ray discs. You can forsake the touchscreen for a I920xl080-pixei panel, however, while a Blu-ray drive is optional.
Gaming is well catered for and the Dell’s nVidia GeForce GT525M managed 31fps in our standard Fear test (“Maximum’ detail settings). This graphics processor has 1GB of video RAM; like the DVD drive and display, it can be upgraded at purchase,
Overaif performance is good, if not outstanding, A WoridBench 6 score of 117 points is indicative of a system that can complete everyday tasks with ease.
Other specifications include 4GB of RAM, upgradable to 8GBr and a 500GB hard drive. The Dell supports USB 3,0, and supplements its single port with a combo eSATA/ USB 2.0 connection, plus HDML There’s no VGA port, though.
The design is smart, yet this XPS 15 is clearly marketed for home use. The keyboard has a few quirks, including a wide but short Return key, and a Caps Lock button that’s far too big and easy to accidentally hit when you’re gunning for the A. A large and easy-to-use touchpad confirms our suspicions that the touchscreen was never intended to be the Dell’s primary mode of input,
We were disappointed by the battery fife. At just under 5 hours, it’s short for today’s standards. Given that the Dell weighs 2,3kgr however, you probably won’t be lugging it around too often.
Verdict
The Dell XPS 15 L502X PUFisa well-balanced desktop-replacement laptop that will do an admirable job of completing everyday tasks and keeping the family entertained. But its touchscreen simply isn’t worth the £160 it adds to the overall system price.
Dell XPS 15 L502x P11F- We’ve seen the Dell XPS 15 L502X before (tinyuri.com/6959seo), but this P11F version adds a touchscreen display. We found this useful for entertainment, such as when watching DVDsr but not so much for general Windows operation.
Although Windows 7 supports touchscreens, there are still too many fiddly menus to navigate. And there’s no getting around the fact that pressing a laptop’s screen doesn’t feel as natural as the same action on a handheld tablet or smartphone. It takes some getting used to, and we ultimately found ourselves using the keyboard and touchpad for most tasks.
The Dell might find itself in more comfortable surroundings when Windows 8 launches, expected some time in 2012, As we’ve seen from the Developer Preview (turn to page 104 for our Windows 8 tutorial). Microsoft’s forthcoming operating system lets you quickly switch between two interfaces; Classic Windows, and the tile-based, touch-operated Metro environment.
For now, though, the touchscreen appears to be little more than a gimmick. No stylus is provided, and the screen’s glossy surface is not a good match for finger input, with greasy marks showing up a treat.
This panel is also a pain to use in bright lighting conditions, and prone to distracting reflections. The 15.6in screen is better suited to films, although it doesn’t support a full-HD resolution, maxing out at 1366×768 pixels. Neither can the DVD drive read Blu-ray discs. You can forsake the touchscreen for a I920xl080-pixei panel, however, while a Blu-ray drive is optional.
Gaming is well catered for and the Dell’s nVidia GeForce GT525M managed 31fps in our standard Fear test (“Maximum’ detail settings). This graphics processor has 1GB of video RAM; like the DVD drive and display, it can be upgraded at purchase,
Overaif performance is good, if not outstanding, A WoridBench 6 score of 117 points is indicative of a system that can complete everyday tasks with ease.
Other specifications include 4GB of RAM, upgradable to 8GBr and a 500GB hard drive. The Dell supports USB 3,0, and supplements its single port with a combo eSATA/ USB 2.0 connection, plus HDML There’s no VGA port, though.
The design is smart, yet this XPS 15 is clearly marketed for home use. The keyboard has a few quirks, including a wide but short Return key, and a Caps Lock button that’s far too big and easy to accidentally hit when you’re gunning for the A. A large and easy-to-use touchpad confirms our suspicions that the touchscreen was never intended to be the Dell’s primary mode of input,
We were disappointed by the battery fife. At just under 5 hours, it’s short for today’s standards. Given that the Dell weighs 2,3kgr however, you probably won’t be lugging it around too often.
Verdict
The Dell XPS 15 L502X PUFisa well-balanced desktop-replacement laptop that will do an admirable job of completing everyday tasks and keeping the family entertained. But its touchscreen simply isn’t worth the £160 it adds to the overall system price.
