Dell has generally based most of their success on producing affordable desktop and laptop computers geared toward budget-minded buyers. The XPS series, on the other hand, provides premium performance and a sleeker design than most Dell models, but this does come at an extra cost.

The Dell XPS 17 is the 17 inch model in the XPS lineup. Unlike the 14 and 15 inch models, it provides a much larger screen at a resolution of 1600×900. The extra size of this model also allowed Dell to include a full-size keyboard and a number pad, which is not included in the other two models. This could be good news for those who do a lot of work with numbers and spreadsheets, as the majority of laptops on the market do not include a dedicated number pad.

Buyers have a choice of four different i5 or i7 processors from Intel, which provide great performance even in the base configuration. Buyers also have a choice of Windows 7 64-bit operating systems: Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate. RAM configurations go from 4 GB to 16 GB.

The XPS 17 is built for multimedia and gaming as well. In addition to the high-definition screen, it includes built-in JBL speakers with Waves MaxxAudio 3 technology for better sound even from small speakers. The built-in webcam can stream video at 720p resolutions for clearer video chats. Skype software is even included right out of the box. The includes of NVIDIA’s 3DTV Play technology allows the laptop to send 3D content directly to a 3D TV as well, even opening up possibilities for 3D gaming.

For such an affordable price, the Dell XPS 17 sports an impressive array of high-end features, complimented by an eye-catching design. Those who want more performance and a larger screen than budget models will be impressed with the XPS 17.