Dell has released its the XPS M1530 in Malaysia, a sleek and stylish 15.4-inch notebook featuring the same award-winning design and features introduced by the highly acclaimed XPS M1330 earlier this year. The XPS M1530 is loaded with features, such as built in webcam and fingerprint reader, and design accents such as touch-sensitive multi-media buttons, brushed aluminium accents and a choice of colours.

Standard features include a high definition widescreen 15.4-inch display, slot-load optical drive, DirectX 10 capable graphics, sophisticated touch sensitive media buttons, and HDMI support. Customers can also personalize their systems with a choice of colours: Tuxedo Black and Alpine White.

Multi-media enthusiasts will appreciate the optional Blu-ray disc drive and included noise isolation earbuds and travel remote that stores away in the ExpressCard card slot. For those who need to stay connected and in touch no matter where they may be, the XPS M1530 includes standard Wi-Fi wireless networking, and optional Bluetooth wireless.

All XPS desktop and notebook computers feature Dell’s first-class service, which guarantees quick access to Dell’s best home-computer technicians and a 15-month subscription to virus and spyware protection.

The 6400, like so much of the Dell range, comes in a variety of user-defined guises so bear this in mind when it comes to the performance numbers and features I'll be making reference to. Indeed, in the time we've had the notebook, a Dell special offer has upped the memory to 2GB from the two 512MB modules of DDR 2 SDRAM featured in our version.

Our particular model also came equipped with Intel's impressive new mobile Core 2 Duo processor, the T7200, which ticks along at 2.0GHz off a 667MHz frontside bus. 4MB of shared L2 cache helps speed things along too. Like the entire mobile range of Core 2 Duo processors it operates at between 1.0375V and 1.3V and runs comparatively cool for its speed.

Furthermore, our test unit arrived with an ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 graphics chip and not the X1300 currently offered on Dell's website as standard for all but the most basic version of the 6400.

Proof of the Inspiron's multimedia aspirations is the array of seven external play control buttons lined up across the front face, all fully accessible with the lid closed. These are flanked on either side by a pair of what must be the loudest stereo speakers I've heard from a notebook. And, like the control buttons, the speakers are unobstructed when the lid is closed.

At the heart of any good notebook is the screen and this 15.4in widescreen doesn't disappoint. Our unit uses the standard 1,280 x 800 display but with Dell's Truelife glossy finish. It was bright, sharp and vivid though in common with other similar screens reflections are evident.