Dell XPS M1210

Put simply, the XPS M1210 is the most powerful and feature-packed 12.1-inch notebook we've seen. This sleek 4.8-pound system combines a dual-core processor with a 256MB discrete graphics card, plus integrated mobile broadband and a built-in webcam. Throw in Dell's top-notch service for XPS customers and you have one of the best thin-and-light notebooks of the year, albeit at a steep price of $2,356.

Dell's sexy thin-and-light is the perfect combination of style and power. Pop the black top on this mini Media Center notebook, and you're greeted with a dazzling gray-and-silver color scheme. Despite its demure (11.7 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches) size, the M1210 offers a well-spaced keyboard that doesn't leave you feeling cramped when typing. The only thing we don't like about it is that the Page Up key is too close to the right Shift key.

Above the keyboard reside three buttons for Power, Dell MediaDirect (which allows you to access media files without booting into Windows), and the 1.3-megapixel Logitech QuickCam. A touchpad with a built-in scrollbar sits beneath the keyboard. The front bezel contains a set of illuminated multimedia buttons for volume, play/pause, stop, fast forward, and rewind, which really come in handy while on a flight or when sitting in other cramped quarters.

Watching DVDs on the 12.1-inch TrueLife screen was a pleasure, as the colors were bright and the visuals sharp. The screen maintains a wide viewing angle, so two people can watch a flick on this system at once. Dual headphone jacks on the front of the M1210 mean two people can listen simultaneously, too. The speakers below the display delivered tinny sound, which was a letdown for a notebook with such strong multimedia features.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but the M1210's main wireless attraction is the integrated Dell Mobile Broadband Card that connects to Verizon's EV-DO service. (A Cingular HSDPA card should be an option by the time you read this.) Road warriors who don't want to concern themselves with tedious hotspot hunting will love this feature, as they can connect to the Web at broadband speeds from anywhere there's coverage. We averaged a very good 563 Kbps, which equated to speedy Web surfing. However, we did notice a few dropped connections when commuting from New Jersey to Manhattan.

The rotating 1.3-MP Logitech Quickcam sits atop the screen and works in tandem with an omnidirectional microphone for voice or video chats using the included copy of Skype. The video quality wasn't as good as an external webcam, but it's convenient to have on board. Face tracking technology keeps a subject centered in the frame, so you're free to move about a bit without ruining the shot.

The M1210 is a productivity champ, as the 2.16-GHz Core Duo T2600 processor combined with the 1GB of RAM notched a blistering score of 286 on our MobileMark 2005 benchmark test. As we expected, this machine didn't hiccup when we ran a virus scan and a DVD simultaneously. Even with all that power, the M1210's battery lasted an impressive 4 hours and 29 minutes with Wi-Fi activated.

What makes this Dell unique among 12.1-inch notebooks is that it houses an Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 graphics card with a whopping 256MB of dedicated video memory. The M1210 turned in a 3DMark03 score of 4,456, which is good for a notebook in this weight class. When we ran our F.E.A.R. test, the XPS M1210 delivered 26 fps at 800 x 600 pixels, which is certainly playable (and better than the Sony VAIO SZ's 23 fps) but less than stellar. Notching up the resolution to 1024 x 768 simply isn't an option, as the system mustered only 5 fps.

In addition to a one-year warranty, the M1210 comes with Dell's white-glove XPS service. The package includes a 15-month subscription to security software and quick access to a dedicated group of XPS-trained support specialists.

Offering integrated mobile broadband, a webcam, handy multimedia controls, excellent battery life, and DVD burning in a lightweight, stylish package, the Dell XPS M1210 is a winner on several fronts. Those in search of a strong all-around portable performer with money to burn can't go wrong with this system.

 

Notebook owners: Do you have a great tech-support story? We want to hear all about the good, the bad, and the just plain stupid. Vent, give praise, or tell us how they couldn't help you at all. Our editors will feature the best stories in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

 

If you're looking to upgrade to Microsoft's new operating system, these can't-miss Vista machines have something for everyone, regardless of budget.

 

These notebooks deliver the best mix of performance and features at a reasonable price.

 

Everyone's abuzz about the power of dual-core processors and the slick new features of Windows Vista. And these six notebooks prove you can get both for less than a grand.