Dell XPS 15 Touch Screen Laptop Review
Design and Layout
If you've seen a recent XPS laptop in person, you have a pretty good idea of the XPS 15 Touch will look like. It follows the same basic blueprint, one that calls for a machined aluminum finish with Dell's logo sitting unobtrusively in the center. Though the XPS 15 Touch definitely has some gaming chops -- we'll get into that in a bit -- there are no flashing LEDs or aggressive angles to designate a peppy GPU underneath the hood. Those seeking a flashy exterior can head over to Dell's Alienware division, whereas the XPS 15 Touch is designed in way that you can take it to the board room without it being a distraction.
As we noted when we revisited Dell's XPS 13 Ultrabook last year, the XPS 15 Touch is constructed out of a single block of aluminum that's precision cut. The lid itself is not the least bit pliant or flimsy like some lighter weight notebooks tend to be, and it fights gravity to stay open at whatever angle you choose. You'll also notice that all four corners are rounded. That might not seem important, but it can actually help when slipping the laptop into or out of a backpack, briefcase, or laptop bag. Sharp corners have a tendency to grab hold of whatever they can, especially when you're in a hurry.
The other benefit running at a 3200x1800 resolution is that you have more room for multitasking. We never felt like we had to strain when viewing the QHD+ display, and it sure is nice having all that room to play with, whether it's browsing the web or shuttling files between folders or drives. We were also impressed with the generous viewing angles, which allowed us to see the screen in high detail without having to sit dead center in front of it.
Nestled dead center below the keyboard is a big trackpad with gesture support. A rubberized finish wraps around the trackpad and extends up and around the plank as well. It's cool, smooth, and comfortable, and best of all, it doesn't attract finger prints like those glossy finishes are notorious for.
Dell did a good job with its port selection too. Over on the right side of the laptop is a memory card reader, a USB 3.0 port (non-color coded), a USB 2.0 port, and a Noble lock. Both of the USB ports (as well as the ones on the other side) feature PowerShare technology, which allows you to charge USB devices even when the laptop is turned off or in standby mode. Do note, however, that if you turn the system off while charging a device, it will stop charging. To resume, just unplug and plug and plug it back in.
None of the USB ports are color coded, though if you forget which of the four is a slower USB 2.0 port, just peer at the scribblings next to each one. Each of the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports are designated with "SS" next to them.