The M1710 is available in two configurations; Metallic Black and the more powerful (and U.S./Canada exclusive) Special Edition Formula Red. Ours is the SE, which features a reflective red finish set into the lid. Dell’s design is far less attractive than cases from Voodoo and Falcon Northwest. The red inset looks like fancy fiberglass siding and contrasts poorly with the blue-lit XPS logos running down the left and right of the lid. Thankfully, there’s an option to change the color of the accent lights.

Inside the clamshell is a more pleasing, simplified layout. A big keyboard (sans number pad) delivers large and very responsive keys. The tracking pad has a backlit XPS logo (surprisingly useful when gaming in the dark), and the mouse buttons are large and have a softer, easier feel compared to other systems in this class. An uncluttered set of media controls rides above the keyboard. One of the keys activates Dell’s Media Direct software, which accesses music, photos, and DVDs without booting.

Unlike the desktop market, it is extremely difficult (actually impossible at present) to review a mobile graphics offering without getting a laptop built around the new GPU. The good news is that Dell sent us their new XPS M1710 with the top-end 7900 GTX 512MB chip, so we have a chance to see exactly what the new mobile graphics “king” brings to the table. Dell didn’t stop with stuffing in the fastest mobile graphics chip either; they’ve decked out the system with a flashy appearance, Intel’s fastest mobile processor, 2GB of DDR2 memory, and a huge 17 inch widescreen display with a native 1920×1200 resolution. Clearly, this isn’t a notebook targeting the Thin and Light market, but rather it’s going after the Desktop Replacement (DTR) segment.

Review By Notebookreview

The XPS M1710 has a 17″ widescreen WUXGA (1920 x 1200 resolution) LCD with the Dell TrueLife (glossy screen) treatment. The TrueLife is a standard feature on the M1710 and a good option for an entertainment machine as it really does provide greater contrast and bolder colors. The display on the XPS M1710 is 30% brighter than the M170 it is replacing. The XPS M1710 has 250 nits of brightness while the M170 was about 200 nits.

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Review By Dell

The XPS M1710 has ushered in a new era of mobile gaming. With dual core processors, ultra high-end graphics and fast mobile memory and storage solutions, you finally have ample horsepower to burn through the latest 3D games and entertainment applications.

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Review By Pcworld

Dell’s XPS M1710 is the notebook for the power desktop user who’s ready to go (sort of) mobile. Packed with high-performance hardware, it’s one of the fastest notebooks we’ve tested. But neither its price nor its weight is for the weak of heart.

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