Soon to be available in the UK is the new Dell XPS 15 laptop, sporting the latest Sandy Bridge technology. ‘Sandy Bridge’ is a code name for Intel’s next generation core series processors, i3, i5 and i7, which are set to offer vastly improved gaming and video performances over existing processors. Dell is the first manufacturer to release laptops with Sandy Bridge but it is expected that many more notebooks will follow suit throughout the rest of this year.

The XPS 15 is Dell’s premium 15-inch laptop and not only does this latest release have Intel’s next generation series processors, but it also has Nvidia GeForce GT 500 series graphics, so looks to promise some seriously heightened media and processing prowess.

These laptops are not going to come cheap, although prices will vary according to the specifications chosen. A top-end version of the XPS 15 comes inclusive of a 2-GHz quad-core Core i7, Ram of 8GB, Nvidia GT540M graphics and a 1080p screen.

The XSP 15 design is undoubtedly sleek. The lid is fingerprint proof and sports an anodized silver matte finish, which extends to the bottom and sides of the device, areas often forgotten by notebook creators. On the inside of the machine is a modern-looking dark aluminium deck with a silver trim surrounding the keyboard and touchpad.

The new laptops are not the smallest of 15-inchers with their 15 x 10.4 x 1.5 inch dimensions and users will struggle to fit them into the standard laptop carriers. Weight-wise, at 6.6 pounds, they are heavier than the MacBook Pro and IdeaPad Y560d laptops.

According to early reviews in the US, the laptop does not give out excessive amounts of heat, even when streaming full screen videos for extended periods of time. The touchpad, keyboard and bottom are reported to remain at consistently comfortable temperatures.

The keyboard is backlit with well-spaced keys and a generous-sized palm rest. There are three handy touch-sensitive buttons above the keyboard that launch Windows Mobility Centre, Dell Audio Control Centre and user-configurable options. The touchpad is reported to operate smoothly with an effective level of sensitivity.

As to be expected for laptops with this calibre, the display, at a resolution of 1920 x 1080, is reported to be amongst the brightest and sharpest going, even at obscured viewing angles. All videos will play without hesitation including streamed and Blu-ray movies.

The XPS has outstanding audio-quality thanks to the JBL Speakers and sub-woofer. The sound is accurate and can be turned up very loud! This makes the device alluring for music lovers who will be able to depict every subtlety in any type of music. Furthermore, the Wave MaxxAudio sound enhancer allows adjustments to be made to optimize the sounds for different functions, such as movies, voice conferences, games and music.

The Dell XPS 15 benefits a large range of ports including a microphone jack, headphone jack, S/PDIF connector, USB 2.0/eSATA combo port, Ethernet, HDMI port, Kensington lock slot, mini DisplayPort and a USB 3.0 port.

These laptops have a 2-megapixel webcam providing 720p of video output and are compatible with Skype HD and Dell’s Webcam Central application. The camera is reported to be an improved version over the last XPS 15 release, succeeding to give reasonably bright images in dim surroundings.

The XPS 15 does not have a 3D display like the new Sony Vaio F laptops but it does present the opportunity to stream 3D videos to a three-dimensional enabled television via the Nvidia GT 540M video card, using 3DTV Play software. 3DTV Play will display 3D web content as well as videos or photos taken with a 3D camera. By equipping the XPS 15 with a Blu-ray drive, then there is a further option to play 3D Blu-ray movies.

This latest Dell laptop offers some very high specifications, but whether customers will deem it worthy of the matching high asking price, only time will tell!