Dell XPS M1730

Gaming laptops are a peculiar breed. Due to their intensive hardware requirements, they are virtually outdated before they are released. So enthusiasts and wealthy shoppers tend to shy away from mainstream solutions, and instead opt for products from Alienware, VodooPC or other boutique manufacturers that offer hybrid SLI-enabled laptops with impressive specs and inflated price tags that often top Rs 3 lakh.

What does this leave for the normal consumer? A very limited choice, that's what. Only a handful of laptop manufacturers such as Asus and Dell offer consumer-oriented gaming laptops at prices that won’t send you into an early grave. Dell’s XPS line, which at the lower and mid-level is oriented at slim high-performance laptops, surprisingly sports a monster as its flagship model: the XPS M1730. This is the model we shall review today.

The XPS M1730 is a radical departure from the slim lines of its younger brothers. It's a behemoth of a laptop, as the picture indicates. It measures 406 x 302.6 x 50.7 mm and weighs 4.81 kg, which makes it one of the largest laptops currently available. If you want a real-life comparison, imagine this to be the Hummer in a line dominated by Lamborghini and Ferrari wannabes.

While the laptop may be huge, its sense of styling and finish are top-notch. It comes with a beautiful dull-gloss black finish which is accentuated by a series of LEDs housed on the lid, next to the speakers present below the keyboard area. Since it sports a “dull-gloss” finish the laptop looks classy and is far from a fingerprint magnet. The physical construction is sound, and despite its weight and size, there were no discernable squeaks or flexing anywhere.

The M1730 has a 17-inch full-HD backlit LED panel. This resolution allows for a lot of screen space and adds to the appeal. The panel itself is a crisp affair with above average brightness, color and contrast levels, and surprisingly good side viewing angles. The only downside (if it can be called that) is a tendency for the screen to inexplicably go into sleep mode in the middle of a gaming session. This could perhaps be attributed to a problem with our test piece, which gave us a lot of hardware trouble.

The full-sized 101-key keyboard is exceptionally good. The keys have a silver matte finish and offer very good tactile feedback. The positioning is top-notch and, despite the presence of extra keys, are centrally located and don’t tend to drift to the side as in the Acer 8920.The area above the keyboard houses an LCD panel that's liberally borrowed from Logitech’s G15 keyboard range. While it looks impressive, it does not offer the same level of functionality and hence loses its appeal.

The touchpad is quite functional and can easily be used for normal work without any problem. Of course, if you're an avid gamer you'll be better off using an external mouse. The keyboard offers an interesting option. Using a set of software controls from Dell it is possible to vary the backlit areas of the laptop. A variety of colors is available, with options such as strobe, breathe, etc. This allows for some shallow entertainment while gaming.

Connectivity-wise the 1730 offers a plethora of options. It comes with an Express card slot, S-Video, a multi-format 8-in-1 card reader, 4 USB ports, and HDMI. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth, infrared, and Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n.