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New Dell Inspiron 5577 Gaming Laptop Now Available

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Dell has released and updated version of their popular budget Inspiron 5000 Series gaming line, the newest model number for this series is now the Dell Inspiron 5577 .  Prices start at $799 for the Intel processor based series of this 2017 model gaming laptop.  With the base model you get an Nvidia GTX1050 with 4GB DDR5 Memory, which is going to be a powerful enough graphics card to play the most recent games on high settings.  A very important note is that Dell has improved the cooling capabilities of this laptop so that will allow the Nvidia GTX 1050 to perform at its highest potential and avoid any throttling due to overheating, which is a common problem in laptops that include powerful components. The Dell Inspiron 5577 is available in a few different configurations and you can choose from an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor.  Below the are technical specs and options available: Processor:  7th Generation Intel Core i5-7300HQ Quad Core (6MB Cache, up to 3.5 GHz) 7th Generat

Dell XPS 13 Web Cam Demo - a Not so Flattering Angle

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The latest model of the Dell XPS 13 with an infinity display is well known for its stunning looks, but one little known problem is that this laptop won't make you look stunning -- at least when using a web camera.  Let me explain.  Because the XPS 13 screen bezel (that area around the display portion) is so thin and designed to give an infinity edge look, there's no room at the top of the screen where a web camera would typically go.  To compensate for this Dell places the web camera at the bottom of the screen near the keyboard.  Seems like a fair compromise, but then when you start using it you realize that the camera is positioned in such a way it points straight up your nose, so anyone on the other end of a video conference call gets a view up your nose.  This is typically not a very flattering angle to be viewed from, especially if you're a guy with a hairy nose or sporting a cold and have lots of gunk up there.  Even if you get past the fact you can see straight up so

How to Reduce (not stop) Dell XPS 13 9360 Coil Whine Issues

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When Dell updated their XPS 13 in Fall of 2016 to the new 9360 model with Intel Kaby Lake processors we all assumed (and desperately hoped) that the dreaded "Coil Whine" issue would be resolved.  Alas, it was not to be.  I and many others have purchased a top of the line Dell XPS 13 9360 that has a coil whine issue, here's a video example I put together demonstrating it: Others have also done some "nice" video overviews (cover your ears) of their new XPS 13 9360 screeching away: There are also several threads in the Dell support forums with users complaining about this: http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/os-applications/f/4613/t/19992655 http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19995934 http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19992657 I could go on, but you get the point that there are a lot of people out there experiencing this screeching coil whine issue with their XPS 13, but there is no fix for it

Dell Announces Updated XPS 12 with Intel’s new Haswell

Dell is wasting no time taking advantage of the new lineup of 4th generation Core processors from Intel, today they announced (among other machines) an updated XPS 12 convertible that improves upon an already excellent machine.  Dell will offer the new Intel Haswell Core i5 and Core i7 processors as options in the XPS 12, a slightly bigger battery (50Wh, previously it was 47Wh).  According to Dell, the improved power efficiency of the new processors and larger battery will mean battery life can go up to 9.5 hours under normal usage, a 50% improvement over the previous generation.   Performance will also be better, with the company claiming 63% overall processing performance and about the same boost for graphics performance. For those who aren’t familiar, the XPS 12 is a 12.5” screen notebook tablet hybrid with a screen that can rotate within the frame allowing it to be used either in laptop mode with a keyboard, or laying the lid down with the screen facing up so that it acts like a

New Dell XPS 15 L521X Arrives with $1,299 Price Tag

The long awaited Dell XPS 15 L521X is finally here with its thin looks and metallic design. The L521X is clad in a machined aluminum magnesium alloy case and is a mere 0.91-inches thick. It’s weight of 5.79 pounds is a little on the heavy side, but remember it’s made of all metal to so it’s durable. The screen on this model is Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and uses edge to edge Gorilla Glass for protection. The L521X starts off with a price of $1,299 via Dell.com and with those specs you get a speedy Intel Core i5-3610M processor, Intel HD 4000 graphics, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB 5400RPM HD with 32GB mSATA SSD. You can also upgrade to an Intel Core i7-3610QM processor and Nvidia GT 640M graphics but pricing jumps to $1,699 for that model . If you want a 512GB SSD and the Core i7 and Nvidia graphics, pricing goes up to $1,999 . In terms of ports, the XPS L521X comes with 3x USB 3.0, 1x mini-DP, 1x HDMI, 1x RJ-45, SD card slot, and a headset jack . You also get a 1.3MP web camera and gl

New Dell XPS 14 L421X Ultrabook Available for $1,099

Dell has added a new member to its XPS family, the XPS 14 L421X is an Ultrabook style laptop with thin looks and design but beefy specs.  The L421X is clad in a machined aluminum magnesium alloy case and is a mere 0.81-inches thick.  It’s weight of 4.6 pounds is a little on the heavy side for an Ultrabook, but remember it’s made of all metal to so it’s durable.  The screen on this model is 1600 x 900 resolution and uses edge to edge Gorilla Glass for protection. The L421X starts off with a price of $1,099 via Dell.com and with those specs you get a speedy Intel Core i5-3317U processor, Intel HD 4000 graphics, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB 5400RPM HD with 32GB mSATA SSD.  You can also upgrade to an Intel Core i7-3517U processor and Nvidia GT 630M graphics but pricing jumps to $1,499 for that model .  If you want a 512GB SSD and the Core i7 and Nvidia graphics, pricing goes up to $1,999 .  In terms of ports, the XPS L421X comes with 2x USB 3.0, 1x mini-DP, 1x HDMI, 1x RJ-45, SD card slot. 

Dell Inspiron 14z and 13z Ultrabooks Offer Student Friendly Size & Budget

The Dell Inspiron 14z and 13z are just the latest sub $700 Ultrabooks to hit the market as manufacturers try to appeal to a budget conscious audience with the latest technology.  The Inspiron 14z Ultrabook (not to be confused with last years Inspiron 14z) is a 14-inch notebook with a not so incredibly light weight of 4.1 pounds.  It is however quite thin at 0.83-inches.  The 14z comes with up to a 500GB regular hard drive and uses a 32GB SSD for caching and faster boots.  The starting price should be $699 for the base model that will come with an Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge processor.  You will have an option to upgrade to the latest Intel Ivy Bridge processor technology, but it’ll take you well above the $700 starting price.  Also optional will be dedicated AMD 7570M graphics.  Other notable features include a backlit keyboard, built-in optical drive DVD Burner (very unusual for Ultrabooks), 1.0MP web camera, silver brush metal finish with optional red color and 7 hours of battery life