It’s not easy life form king of the mount. In spite of being the main and one of the most gainful computer manufacturers worldwide, Dell does not have the personality of an Apple, the blue-blooded reputation of IBM or the glamour of Sony. What it does tender to consumers are attractive all-year-round discounts due to the lower costs sustained by its direct sales model and outstanding supply chain management. Arbitrator from its success, this commerce model works but Dell just does not inspire the same kind of brand loyalty that Apple or Sony can.
The company’s recent acquisition of enthusiast oriented PC boutique firm – Alien ware -may be a sign that Dell is aware of its moderately bland image and aims to broaden its appeal to this niche. However that doesn’t mean that its own XPS enthusiast line of computers will be neglected to play second fiddle, for the hip quotient for a Dell product just went through the roof with the latest XPS notebook, (if a monster of a system weighing more than 8kg could still fit that account) the Dell XPS M2010. A prototype was showcased at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show as a concept PC but apparently, it has crossed in surplus of from life form a fancy idea to reality. And like what its marketing praise claims, it’s certainly a showstopper.
The remarkably huge Dell XPS M2010 ‘notebook’ has a magnificent 20-inch widescreen LCD display. And no, that glossy circular thing is neither the subwoofer nor the drink coaster. It’s actually a cool slot-in DVD drive.
Picture a high-end performance desktop squeezed into the form factor of a notebook and you’ll get the Dell XPS M2010. However, its enlarged dimensions will stretch your idea of a notebook though Dell seems to be trying to de-emphasize the notebook aspect in its marketing. Decked out with the some of the best hardware mechanism that would put gaming rigs to shame, it is an exceptional integration of form and function that show off the company’s engineering and design prowess. It’s so unlike Dell’s typically nameless black boxes or their useful but barely sexy notebooks. In case you’re not convinced, how would you like to own one of these?
The adjustable screen can be brought forward so that it look like your orthodox notebook. However, you won’t be able to admission the DVD drive then. In any box, adjusting the screen to any height or angle within its routine means is easy, and surprisingly feels robust too.
Specifications
Processor and Chipset Â
   * Intel Core Duo T2600 2.16GHz with 2MB L2 cache
   * Mobile Intel 945PM Express chipset
Operation System         Â
   * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition with Service Pack 2
BIOS Â Â Â Â
   * BIOS Version A01 (06/05/2006)
   * Supports CD-ROM and USB boot
System Memory            Â
   * 2 x 1,024MB DDR2-667
   * 2 x DDR2 SO-DIMM Slots
LCD Â Â Â Â Â Â
   * 20.1-inch WSXGA LCD screen with integrated Logitech 1.3-megapixel web camera
   * 1680 x 1050 pixels
Video  Â
   * ATI Mobility Radeon X1800
   * 256MB DDR3 RAM
   * DVI output
   * S-Video TV-output
HDD Â Â Â Â Â
   * Dual Hitachi 2.5-inch SATA (HTS72101)
         o 2 x 100GB configured in RAID 0
         o 7200RPM
         o 8MB Buffer
Optical Drive   Â
   * Teac DVD+-RW DVW28SLZ, CD-ROM Read: 24x
   * CD-R Write: 24x, CD-RW Write: 16x
   * DVD-ROM Read: 8x, DVD�R Write: 8x
   * DVD�RW Write: 2.4x, DVD+R DL Write: 2.4x
Communication             Â
   * Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
   * Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter
   * Conexant HDA V.92 Modem, Bluetooth
Audio  Â
   * SigmaTel Audio (HD Audio)
   * 8 Integrated speakers and subwoofer
I/O Port              Â
   * 4 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 X IEEE 1394 mini jack
   * 1 x RJ45 Ethernet jack, ExpressCard slot
   * S/PDIF Digital and Analog 7.1-channel audio out via external module, External USB TV Tuner (S-Video, Composite, Coaxial & Stereo audio inputs)
Card Reader     Â
   * Integrated 13-in-2 Memory Card Reader
Dimension & Weight   Â
   * 489 x 425 x 76 mm (W x D x H), Expected starting weight of 8.3kg