The good: Strong multimedia features which include HDMI and a mini remote control; fingerprint sensor; full HD panel option; optional Blu-ray drive; aesthetically pleasing touch-sensitive buttons.

The bad: No S/PDIF digital audio output or subwoofer; TV tuner not an option; heavy for a midsize laptop.

The bottom line: The Studio series sits nicely between the high-end XPS line and entry-level Inspiron series with a strong set of multimedia features. However, those looking for a more impressive entertainment and gaming experience would find more satisfaction getting an XPS laptop.

Read full review of the Dell Studio 15 »

By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
Jun 27, 2008

When rumors of Dell's Studio line went around, there were questions on how it would fit in among the Texan company's offerings. After all, XPS machines are built for entertainment and gaming enthusiasts, while the budget Inspiron series can also be configured to serve in the same role, albeit in a lesser capacity.

However, Dell has made it such that the Studio range has little overlap with the other models. Its curved chassis takes after the XPS series, while the backlit keyboard and mini remote control are reasons enough for some to select a Studio over an Inspiron. Moreover, it may possibly be the first 15.4-inch machine to be capable of full-HD resolution. This is an option which not even the XPS M1530 was given, and propels the Studio 1535 as a must-have for those looking at portable HD video playback.

Though Asia pricing details have yet to be released, this Studio starts at US$799 (S$1,090.28), which makes it very competitive compared to other midsized entertainment models such as the Toshiba Satellite A300 and Acer Aspire 6920G. But did the Studio make too many compromises to keep its price low? Unless you are an audiophile, the Studio 15 has enough multimedia features to satisfy all but the most demanding user.

Design

The new Studio range borrows some design elements from the high-end XPS machines, minus the bling and metal finish. We like the fact that the new series sports the same attractive hinge as the XPS M1530, with the power and Wi-Fi catcher buttons sitting on the sides. The unit weighs in at 2.93kg with the extended cell, and a footprint of 355.6 x 261.5 x 33mm. Fortunately, the curved body makes the unit look smaller than it really is.

The Studio series comes in a choice of seven colors. Though it's made from plastic, the top cover has a rubberized finish that makes it secure to carry and provides a degree of scratch resistance which requires relatively low maintenance. The palm rest and LCD bezel are molded from an understated slate-grey plastic which is glossy yet surprisingly doesn't pick up fingerprints easily unlike the finish on the Toshiba Satellite A300. The palm rest area has an interesting design that resembles a topology map.

On the surface, the full-sized keyboard looks just like those on any midsized machine. But Dell has hidden LED lights under the keys which light up at a touch of a button. The glow is bright enough for typing in dim environments, yet not so glaring that it becomes distracting. When left alone, the LED will slowly fade out to save power but will come on again when any key is pressed. They can also be disabled to prevent activation while watching a movie at night.

No proper multimedia laptop will be complete without dedicated multimedia keys, and the Studio 1535 has nice touch-sensitive ones which glow only when pressed. Besides the usual playback and volume controls, one of the buttons is used to eject disks from the slot-loading DVD writer. There is also a wireless switch which toggles the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios on and off.

The battery has a row of five LED lights which glow with a touch of a button. How many of them are lit depends on the power level of the cell. Our unit is equipped with an extended battery but instead of sticking out from the rear like most others, the additional bulk becomes a stand at the bottom which tilts the laptop. Though it may hinder the use of some slip cases, during usage the slight tilt makes typing more comfortable for the wrists.

Features

The Studio 15 is a portable entertainment machine. As such, features such as a mini remote control (which stores in the ExpressCard slot) and HDMI output are expected. However, we wonder why the unit does not come with a S/PDIF audio jack or built-in subwoofer. But the key selling point of this Studio is that, for a 15.4-inch machine, it can be equipped with a full-HD panel, an option not available even to the more expensive XPS M1530.

The 15.4-inch display has a nice level of brightness and our review unit is capable of resolutions up to 1,440 x 900 (the base model has a 1,280 x 800-pixel panel), which is sharp enough to display high-definition videos on this screen size. There is an option to increase the resolution up to full-HD (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) as well. The underlying graphics engine is an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 card with 256MB of video memory. There is no option to choose a higher-end graphics card such that it can match up to the XPS M1530 in gaming performance. It may not be up to the task of playing the latest first-person shooter game, but is more then sufficient for moderate titles as well as Blu-ray playback. External displays can be linked via the VGA or HDMI ports. Despite being an entertainment laptop, there is no integrated TV tuner which is a little disappointing. A 2-megapixel Webcam with dual array of microphones is available for video conferencing as well as impromptu snapshots.

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