Dell's 15.4-inch XPS M1530 multimedia powerhouse available on-line -- starts at $999

Thar she blows! Dell's mysterious XPS M1530 is up live and dancing on Dell's Singapore site. With any luck, she'll be struttin' that 15.4-inch, 1440 x 900 CCFL (not LED-backlit) display, HDMI-out and optional slot-loading Blu-ray Disc and 64GB SSD Stateside by morning. This XPS powerhouse packs up to a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo T7800 processor, 256MB of NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics, 4GB DDR2 memory, and either a 7200RPM 200GB or 5400RPM 320GB SATA disk. Rounding things out are 802.11n WiFi (with built-in WiFi catcher), Bluetooth 2.0, 2 megapixel webcam, and optional HSDPA or EVDO cards. It's even sporting a panel of touch-sensitive, capacitive controls for your media. Thing is, that rumored 4-pound weight is 5.78-pounds in reality -- more if you opt for the 9-cell battery. Still, that weight was always a bit too good to be true for a fully-spec'd, 15-inch laptop.

Update: Ooops, the Singapore site is down (gone?). No worries, the site is up in Germany, France, and the UK.

Update 2: Dell's US site is now hot. Prices start at $999 for the "good" configuration on up to $1,499 for "best." Oh my, and the display has been rolled back to just 1,280 x 800. Why so stingy with the pixels Dell?

Dell's 15.4-inch XPS M1530 powerhouse available on-line

[Thanks, Stuart]

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 1:04PM]

I wonder why the poor resolution? My one and a half year old Dell Inspiron E1505 has a 15.4" 1680x1050 screen!

[MrPeanut Posted Nov 27th 2007 1:33PM]

I'd totally bite on getting one of these if the resolution can reach 1680x1050.

1,280 x 800? I'll pass.

[Mayhoff Posted Nov 27th 2007 2:06PM]

Use Coupon Code ZDWPS9CZT37LLB for 300 off

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 4:53PM]

This applies to Inspiron notebooks only.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 2:27PM]

1200 X 800 resolution is garbage. Looks nice but I'll pass! Try again DELL.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 2:27PM]

I've been waiting for this one for a while and I'm glad that it has the 8600m GT, unlike what was previously reported.

What bothers & confuses me is the terrible screen resolution. Virtually every 15.4" laptop offering from Dell has resolution options up to 1680x1050.

[link12245 Posted Nov 27th 2007 3:26PM]

for some reason it's saying best config only has a 1.6Ghz processor? what's up with that??

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 3:46PM]

Much more than the >5lbs that they first announced..and the resolution sucks...gotta wait till they get a better screen..

[kineticarl Posted Nov 27th 2007 4:08PM]

I don't get it. As far as I can tell, you can configure an e1520 the same way as this xps (plus have your 1680x1050). Is it just prettier and a little thinner?

[Mayhoff Posted Nov 27th 2007 5:35PM]

Coupon code worked fine when i ordered mine.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 9:21PM]

I have been waiting for this laptop for months now and was ready to buy today when I heard it launched, but once I say 1280X800, I just can't, my e1505 has 1680X1050, I can't downgrade when I spend so much and it's supposedly an XPS, I gotta think this option will be available.

[YpoCaramel Posted Nov 28th 2007 8:39PM]

There might be non-specification areas, or at least specs people often don't look at. I would check the screen brightness (really makes things easier on the eyes) and build quality (mobile laptops take a lot punishment).

My Asus A8jS's screen assembly cracked and keys fell off after three months, Macbook Pro was dented from a fall but is otherwise fine.

I honestly don't understand the obsession with resolution - makes webpages hard to read, and changing fonts sometimes mess up layouts). 1440x960 is as high as I'm going right now.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 28th 2007 7:35PM]

All this, it is an inspiron 1520, they just took out the inspiron and slap on the xps. They are almost the same spec in relative ways. But the inspirion is way cheaper it seem.

[guynax Posted Nov 27th 2007 10:31PM]

singapore site does not have any news of this product... dunno when will be available...

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 28th 2007 6:14AM]

Slightly off topic but why do Dell, Acer etc. Persist in bundling their inhouse media apps when most new systems come with MCE 2005 or Vista MCE, they are much better than the rubbish Dell Media Direct and Acer Arcade apps, considering that you have virtually boot the thing to use them anyway. Pah bundled crap still pollutes most fresh systems why bother ? just not give download links if you are really bothered ?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 1st 2007 7:47PM]

Ugh, so so disappointed with the 'large text' resolution on this LCD. Hopefully its just a timing / supply issue around launch and 1680x1050 will show up asap...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 2nd 2008 5:33AM]

This notebook is exactly what I’m looking for. I’m currently holding back as would definitely want a higher resolution screen; currently its disappointing low. If Dell are reading this please, please ensure it’s 300 nits AND can still support a 2MP+ camera.

I bought two XPS M1330 a couple of months ago with and 300 nits option and these only have 0.3MP option – the quality on these are extremely poor.