He basic configuration we tested-which includes an Intel Core i5-2410M CPU(a current, lower-end Intel notebook processor) running at 2.3GHz, 4GB of DDR3 memory, the aforementioned Nvidia graphics card(with Optimus support), and the 64-bit edition of Windows 7 Home Premium-scored a mediocre 116 on WorldBench 6. The battery life was an equally unimpressive 4 hours and 10 minutes in our video rundown test. In other words, hard-core number crunchers and people who don’t always work near an electrical outlet should consider other options, but these test results also shouldn’t overly concern general business users.
Although Dell also promotes the XPS line for its design, this notebook looks more serviceable than chic. It’s bulky, weighing in at 6.2 pounds, with one of the largest AC adapter bricks I’ve ever seen. Along with the so-so battery life, this makes the XPS 15 L502X a poor candidate for frequent flyers. Its silvery aluminum chassis, including a slab-like lid with black accents, looks fairly generic, and its underside gets quite warm after extended use. The keyboard, while roomy and responsive, has no backlighting, and the touchpad seemed a bit slow to respond. The 1366 by 768 display, which is fine for video, could be a bit sharper and crisper when showing a screenful of text; Dell offers a couple of 1920 by 1080 display alternatives. You can get this same hardware in a sleeker, lighter, and more durable shell if you’re willing to pay a couple hundred dollars more for the XPS 15z.
Dell, as usual, offers a slew of upgrade options-including faster CPUs, more system RAM, and GPUs with more memory-that can dramatically increase the price. Other components that are upgrade candidates include the 500GB, 7200-rpm SATA hard drive(you can opt for a 256GB solid-state drive); the 8X DVD burner(you can pay extra for a Blu-ray drive); the 56-watt, 6-cell lithium-ion battery; the keyboard(you can get a backlit one); and the Intel Centrino-based 802.11n, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi(upgrade options include dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and WiMax). It’s disappointing that the basic model doesn’t include Bluetooth.