Dell added a notebook with completely new design to its product range, the XPS M1330. In contrast to many other Dell notebooks, the XPS M1330 scores points by an elegant form. Also the tapered front edge looks beautiful. However, the design of the hinges and the notebook's back side are crucial for the overall appearance of the notebook.

Regarding colors, the XPS M1330 has a black finished trough made of aluminum, roughened aluminum palm rest areas, and a black display with silver molding. The used materials and the slightly roughened surfaces contribute to the notebook's comfortable and high-quality haptics.  The display cover is designed in the same way, but, very sensible to fingerprints and hard to clean.

Besides the design also the stability of the case convinces. The base unit is very flexural rigid and also very resistant against applied forces. Regarding this aspect, we could detect some smaller weaknesses above the keyboard, where especially the cover of the speakers can partly be easily pushed in. The same is true, for the complete part with the XPS logo, which even wobbles a little bit. Although the flexural rigidity is generally alright, also the display clearly yields under pressure.

The hinges of the Dell M1330 do not only look good, they also convince in use. The position of the display can be precisely adjusted, whereas no see-saw is noticeable.

A transport hook, i.e. a single or multiple hooks to secure the display in closed state, are missing. Instead a closing mechanism of the hinges, keeps the notebook closed. To prevent the risk of object penetration between display and base unit, Dell provides a notebook bag for the XPS M1330 instead. As long as you do not travel with big luggage, it is very useful. There even isn't enough space for the power adapter in this elegant cover. Fortunately, the XPS M1330 fits even with the clearly bigger 9-cell battery in.

As a supplement, you'll find stereo cable bound headphones and bluetooth headphones, which allow enjoying music without cable possible, in the package. The sound of both of these devices is acceptable.

Although it seems that the XPS M1330 provides only few interfaces at first, they are adequate considering it is a subnotebook. Besides the standard ports, i.e., LAN, modem, VGA, USB, also audio ports, a firewire port and a HDMI port are provided. Perhaps, you'll miss the docking port, which would be a very reasonable supplement for compact and mobile notebooks.
We think that this is maybe Dell's way to differentiate between consumer and business notebooks.

Loudness

Despite the fan runs permanently even in idle mode, we felt that the XPS is relatively quiet. This is mainly because of the low-frequency noise, which is rather decent, despite of a noise level of 35.4 dB with office applications. Sometimes, the fan runs even in idle mode at higher revolutions, which lets the notebook appear a little louder, but, in total the noise is acceptable.

Sometimes a high-frequency cheeping can be heard in idle mode, but, only if the environment is absolutely quiet and when listening very carefully. Furthermore, we, would not call it annoying.
A clicking noise is sometimes emitted by the hard disk, especially during the boot process.

Under load the fan runs clearly faster, and a noise level of about 42.9 dB is reached. Sometimes we also measured annoying maximum values of 47.2 dB. During standard usage, it is not very likely that this noise level is reached. But, if it was, we have to mention, that the fan immediately decelerates, if the performance demand falls. So, the noise level will be acceptable again soon.

Temperature

Our test uncovered that the surface temperature in idle mode were nearly above the ones under load. Especially the temperature of the palm rest areas, made of aluminum, was comfortable, because it did not exceed 32.8°C. The maximum of the top side was measured in touchpad region and amounted to 35.5°C.

The surface temperature of the bottom side was somewhat higher than at the top side. We measured a maximum of up to 38.2°C, which is also acceptable and allows a use at the top of the lap.

Apropos use at the lap: The suction hole of the fan is at the back left side of the bottom side and you should take care not to cover it with anything, especially when demanding high performance at the same time. Still, also mobile use on soft surfaces was trouble-free.

The Dell XPS M1330 notebook is available with three batteries of different capacity. Besides the 4- and 6-cells batteries, which fit entirely into the notebook, also a clearly bigger 9-cells battery, which clearly protrude the case  and also increase the weight by about 170g compared to the 6 cells version, is available.
For mobility you should definitely at least choose the 56Wh 6 cells version. The runtime was also measured with a battery of this kind.

The 4 cell versions is only for those who like very light notebooks, if weight is the most important aspect. For those who travel a lot the 9-cells 85Wh battery might be interesting too. Its runtime should be about 50% longer than the one of the 56Wh battery. The cost of 47,60.- EUR, at the time of writing, should also be alright.

If you use the Dell XPS M1330 with the bigger 9-cells battery the notebook will stand gently inclined. Interestingly, this also improves the typing comfort.

The runtime of the 56Wh Akkus ranged from a minimum of somewhat about one hour to a maximum of a little above 5 hours. During DVD playback the runtime of the XPS was 150 minutes, which should be sufficient for most movies. Even the runtime during WLAN usage, in energy saving mode, brightness at level 6 (one below maximum, display still good legible) of about 3 hours is rather passable.
You can estimate the runtime of the other battery solutions, by subtracting 50% (4 cells, 37Wh), respectively adding 50% (9 cells, 85Wh).