January 7, 2009 10:59 AM PST

Hands-on pics of the Dell Studio XPS 1640

by Dan Ackerman
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While we're still pretty unsure of what Dell was up to when it combined its midrange Studio and high-end XPS laptop lines into the new (wait for it...) Studio XPS line, at least it means we're finally getting a true 16:9 16-inch laptop from Dell, in the form of the Studio XPS 1640.

More details on specs and price to follow (being a Dell, expect tons of configuration options, including Blu-ray), but in the meantime, click through for some new photos that highlight the backlit keyboard and smart-looking leather trim.

Update: Dell's gone ahead and popped this guy up for sale online immediately. CPU options include the P8400, P8600, T9400, and T9600, all from Intel's Core 2 Duo line. While it starts at $1,199, for an extra $250, you can upgrade to a full HD 1920x1080 display. Graphics are limited to an ATI Mobility RADEON M86XT chip. There's also a 13-inch version, called the Studio XPS 1340.

New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. He hosts the weekly Digital City podcast and the New York edition of Editors' Office Hours. Dan's new album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now. E-mail Dan.
Topics:

CES - Computers and hardware

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Dell,

XPS,

Studio,

16:9

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by GardenLobster January 7, 2009 11:49 AM PST
One question: why leather?
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by habassa5 January 8, 2009 10:02 AM PST
Why are widescreen laptops so popular? Most people just browse and use email -- a taller screen (or at least the classic 4:3) is far more useful because you won't have to scroll down as much. When i'm browsing the web on my stupid widescreen, I have two wide vertical stripes of unused pixels on either side of my browser window. What a waste. I don't understand the love affair with widescreens -- DVDs? -- who, especially business users, really spends more than 5% of their laptop time watching movies? If nothing else, the screen should pivot such that you can rotate it 90 degrees to make it tall. If anyone has an explanation, I'd love to hear it...
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by ashrafneo January 9, 2009 8:55 PM PST
Its the form factor now, I guess. When wide screen laptops first came out I was thinking the same thing. Most new monitors also come in wide screen, I think web sites should just start developing website with wide screen in mind. I have a 1920X1200 resolution and browsing the web is so disheartening because I only utilized 50% of my screen.
by akbogart January 27, 2009 2:44 PM PST
I'm a business user and I'll give you a huge bonus to wide screens - having two documents side by side. Or, email and a word document side by side. Or reading an email referring to a spreadsheet that you are looking at without changing windows. Or cutting and pasting from one document into another - everything becomes easier. <br /><br />Try it, you might like it. Unless you only read email.
by H4MM3R January 8, 2009 11:27 AM PST
In a nut shell the 16:9 is cheaper to manufacturer then a 16:10.
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by ashrafneo January 9, 2009 8:53 PM PST
You are making a huge oversight in that statement. The huge demand for 16:10 screens is obviously going to put them at a lower price than the 16:9's. Dell doesn't manufacture there own screens they buy from other companies who obviously will charge more for 16:9 because they have to stop producing 16:10 screens which they have perfected at manufacturing since they have been creating them for so long. For the 16:9 screens the manufacturers will need to create a whole new setup. Dell has created a good laptop and priced it competitively, it just remains to be seen if the masses will bite or continue purchasing $800 HP laptops because they don't care about style or raw processing power.
by aplegacy January 25, 2010 3:47 PM PST
that laptop is hot. i have it with core i7
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