Dell Studio 14z

The Dell Studio 14z ($1004 direct, as tested) is essentially a sneak peak at what the future holds for mainstream laptops. Its looks aren't futuristic by any stretch of the imagination, but parting ways with an internal optical drive (thanks to the advent of downloadable content) is picking up momentum, and excluding a legacy feature like VGA-Out is forgivable in the long term. In their place, the Studio14z is jam-packed with forward-thinking features, including a fantastic resolution, both DisplayPort and HDMI technologies, and Nvidia's integrated graphics platform. It's the kind of laptop you'll want to take on the road or back to school—that is, if you're ready to leave the past behind.

SPEC DATA:

Price as Tested: $1,004.00 Direct
Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
RAM: 3 GB
Weight: 4.5 lb
Screen Size: 14 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 9400M
Storage Capacity: 320 GB
Networking Options: 802.11a/g
Primary Optical Drive: External

SOURCE:www.pcmag.com