The new Dell Studio 17 – model 1747 – is about to hit the virtual shelves, and offers users with yet another option in the desktop replacement market. This 17.3 inch laptop comes with the usual variety of configurations offered by Dell, and apart from a few issues, it seems to be a pretty solid machine.
The amount of flexibility provided by Dell makes any review difficult, as the options vary so much in almost every regard. The Dell Studio 17 can be configured with different processors up to an Intel Core i7 quad core, and varying hard drive sizes and levels of RAM are also on offer. Screen resolution goes up to a very healthy 1920 x 1080, and although resolution does come higher on other laptops, it is always at a significant cost.
The build quality is one constant factor across all configurations of the Studio 17, as are the ergonomics. The Dell Studio 17 is a true desktop replacement, with an almost full size keyboard, a complete numeric keypad, and cursor keys as well. The touchpad is also fairly good, with a textured finish and the ability to adjust itself to your personal touch.
As expected with a 17 inch desktop replacement, the Dell Studio 17 is not a lightweight, coming in at just over 7 pounds. When you consider the size and power on offer however, things could really be much worse in this regard. Connectivity is well thought out and comprehensive, with the usual USB, network, and display ports all well represented.
The Studio 17 comes with a Radeon Mobility HD 4650 graphics processor, which makes it a contender as a gaming computer. Considering the short battery life of some recently reviewed desktop replacements at GWL – Sagar NP9285 and the HP Envy – the three and a half hours measured here is not bad at all.
It is not all oranges and apples however, with many Studio owners complaining about heat issues with these laptops, to an extent that many people find them almost unusable directly on a lap. The Dell Studio 17 comes in a range of configurations that start from only $700, although it is important to remember that this will only get you entry level speed and performance at this price.
