Dell XPS M1330 Laptop Review

I purchased the M1330 to replace an old, 17 inch desktop replacement Inspiron. I need something fast (check), lightweight (check), portable (check), thin (check) and capable of using internet on the go (check). I can stash my laptop in a backpack and head out. It's several inches too large to be a "netbook", and doesn't fit in my always-wth-me- diaper bag, but it has a full-sized keyboard. Since I'm either coding or writing most of the time, the larger size is worth it.

The M1330 also takes a ridiculous amount of abuse. I don't recommend testing this claim, but it's survived falls from tables, couches, broken bags and my 4-year-old's physics experiments (read: rolling things down the stairs).

I did some heavy customization to the laptop, and it ran around $1,500 in September of 2008, including a 3 year drop-it-dunk-it-destroy-it service plan (see daughter's physics experiment). My only complaint after more than a year of use is the touch buttons for the CD-ROM, media and volume. They're too sensitive, light up blue when I'm not expecting it and make strange noises at inappropriate times.