Dell Studio XPS 13
The XPS 13 is Dell’s answer to the growing popularity of Apple laptops in the corporate market. It’s an attempt to move away from the bland PC of old, and Dell’s approach seems to have been to make it as shiny as possible.
Its glossy black exterior makes it a fingerprint magnet, but get past this and you’ll find it a surprisingly good all-rounder. It’s got everything you could ask of an everyday machine, although spreadsheet addicts might balk at the slightly smaller than average, although good quality, 13.3-inch display.
The small screen means the XPS 13, weighing 2.2kg, is more portable than some of the other machines here. It has a built-in DVD drive, so it’s certainly worth a look if you’re going to be travelling a lot and need your film fix.
The Intel Core 2 Duo processor manages to pack in enough power for almost all day-to-day tasks. The design might grate a little, but overall this is a great everyday machine and good value for money.
PROS Good value for money
CONS Uninspiring design
From £749
