Dell Studio laptops now available

Dell has announced its new Studio line of laptops. The Studio series includes models with 15.4-inch and 17-inch displays. Dell is in the process of expanding its retail business, and the flashier design and more compelling features of the Studio models are tailored to retail customers who would typically choose an HP Pavilion, Sony VAIO or Acer Aspire.

The new Dell Studio series includes 15.4- and 17-inch (pictured) models.

Credit: Dell

Based on the design of the popular XPS series, the Studio notebooks are available in seven different colors (including the standard Jet Black), as well as more customized color combinations. Notable features include glossy, LED-backlit displays; slot-loading drives (including a Blu-ray option); capacitive touch media controls; EV-DO Rev A wireless broadband options; and an integrated Webcam.

The Dell Studio 15 starts at $800 with the 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750; 2GB of memory; a 160GB hard drive; Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics; a slot-loading DVD burner; and Windows Vista Home Premium Edition SP1. The Dell Studio 17 starts at $1,000 with nearly identical specs aside from the upgraded graphics 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 driving the 17-inch (1,400x900) display.

The 15.4-inch Dell Inspiron 1525 with the same processor, graphics, and even the same Jet Black case currently sells for $900 online (the regular price is listed as $1,288). For that extra $100, you get 3GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, and a larger, 9-cell battery. Granted the Inspiron lacks touches such as the slot-loading drive and capacitive controls--and the new Studio design is appealing--but for many the good, old Inspiron may still be the better deal.

Both the Studio 15 and Studio 17 are available online at www.dell.com/studio, as well as at Best Buy and Staples.

[Updated 6/26/2008 12:01 EST: PCMag.com has posted a review of the Dell Studio 15. The $1,229 configuration it tested earned an Editors' Choice award.]