Dell XPS M1530 Notebook

Dell completed the overhaul of its XPS notebook line by introducing the XPS M1530. The system is one of Dell's few high-end 15-inch notebooks and is aimed at the same audience that would otherwise seek slim, stylized portables such as Apple's MacBook Pro: the minimalist system is 0.9 inches deep at its thinnest point and uses a slot-load optical drive (like the M1330) in place of the usual tray-loading option. A minimum 128MB GeForce 8400M GS graphics chip provides dedicated 3D acceleration even on the least expensive model, which also includes a 2-megapixel webcam and a fingerprint reader.

A base system starts at as little as $999 by using a 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB of memory, and a 120GB hard disk backed by a DVD burner. Buyers can custom-order the notebook, however, to use as much as a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo as well as 4GB of memory, 250GB of storage, a Blu-ray burner, and faster 256MB GeForce 8600M GT graphics. The M1530 can be colored with a black, red, or white outer shell and is available to order now, but should ship by mid-December. The price tag starts from $999 depending on the kit.

The specs of the XPS M1530:
* Display – 15.4” 1280x800 pixels
* CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo T5250/T5450 (1.5 GHz/1.66 GHz)
* DDR2 SDRAM 1 or 2 GB
* HDD - SATA 120/160/250 GB (5400 rpm)
* DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write) with slot start up
* Video card - 128 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS/256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
* Wi-Fi Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g or Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N
* Bluetooth 2.0
* 2-megapixel web-camera
* Dimensions – 357x263x23.7-35.1 mm
* Weight – 2.62 kg
* OS - Windows Vista Home Premium

Seagate Momentus 7200.3 320GB Hard Drive Now Available with Dell and Alienware Laptops

Seagate’s new Momentus 7200.3 hard drive, the first 7,200-rpm, 320GB hard drive for notebooks, are now shipping in select Dell XPS laptops and will also be available in Alienware laptops. I guess this officially marks the entry of the high capacity, high-performance 320GB hard drives - which only means you now have more data to lose if the drive goes bust!

Anyway, jokes apart, the Momentus 7200.3 comes in a 2.5 inch form factor featuring SATA 3.0 Gbit/second interface as well as a 16MB cache that enhances performance. The drive also features G-Force Protection, where a free-fall sensor detects any changes in acceleration equalling the force of gravity, and quickly parking the head off the disk to prevent major damage in a free fall (even as low as 8 inches!).

Seagate

More features in the extended entry.

Highest available notebook performance increases productivity
in all environments.

Developed with proven Seagate 7200-RPM laptop technology

Available in capacities from 80 GB to 320 GB

SATA 3Gb/s NCQ interface

16-MB cache on every capacity

G-Force Protection™ available for added robustness in mobile
environments

Green features:
– Leverages Seagate laptop power management technology,
delivering the lowest-power 7200-RPM laptop hard drive yet
– Utilizes ramp load features which remove the head from the disk
during idle periods, improving idle power consumption and adding
to the durability of the drive

QuietStep™ technology enables ultra-quiet load/unload acoustics

Perpendicular recording technology

Seagate 5-year limited warranty

MikeMingLaptops.com from MikeMingLaptops.com from Dell

Dell has finally registered MikeMingLaptops.com. Why finally? They have launched their new Inspiron customized laptops a while ago, but failed to registered a domain for it.

While I understand why Dell is trying to offer personalized notebook skins to their customers, I can’t understand why the need of a customized site which will lead to Dell’s home site. Are they going to get 40 more skin models from 20 artists and register a domain for each one?

They are lucky no one thought of registering MikeMingLaptops.com. But then again, who would have? It’s not going to be that famous is it? It’s long and it doesn’t seem official, so why bother registering a domain few will remember. I can bet that most people looking for a customized Dell laptop are going to go to their site first and then redirect to MikeMing.

If Dell was more popular then web opportunists would have tried at least to spam the internet with look alike domains. But nonetheless this delay shows that even a big company like Dell didn’t think of registering a domain prior to launching a new product meant to raise popularity. Maybe next time…