Ok, I just built a DELL Inspiron E1505 and a DELL XPS M1210 with virtually almost identical specifications and this is what I got:
XPS M1210:
PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5600 (1.83GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667 MHz FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
A/V COMMUNICATION PACKAGE: None
MEMORY: 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
HARD DRIVE: Speed: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
VIDEO CARD: Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
SOUND OPTIONS: Integrated Audio
BATTERY OPTIONS: 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
POWER OPTIONS: 65 Watt Spare AC Adapter
ESSENTIAL BUNDLES: Core Bundle: 2-outlet surge, 1GB flash drive, wireless optical mouse
CARRYING CASES: Dell Nylon Deluxe Carrying Case
WIRELESS CARDS: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS: Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
PRODUCTIVITY: Microsoft® Office Small Business 2007-includes Publisher + Outlook2007
ANTI-VIRUS & SECURITY: McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 36-months
PHOTOS, MUSIC & MORE!: No Entertainment software pre-installed
FAMILY SECURITY & UTILITIES: Spy Sweeper - Award-winning spyware protection
WARRANTY AND SERVICE: 2Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day
ACCIDENT AND THEFT PROTECTION: Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 2Yr Warr.
DIAL-UP INTERNET ACCESS: No ISP requested
PRICE: $2,007
Inspiron E1505:
PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5600 (1.83GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
LCD PANEL: 15.4 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen SXGA+ Display with TrueLife™
MEMORY: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHZ, 2 DIMM
HARD DRIVE: Speed: 100GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
OPTICAL DRIVE: 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
VIDEO CARD: 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
SOUND OPTIONS: Integrated Audio
BATTERY OPTIONS: 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
POWER OPTIONS: 90 Watt Spare AC Adapter
ESSENTIAL BUNDLES: Core Bundle: 2-outlet surge, 1GB flash drive, wireless optical mouse
CARRYING CASES: Dell Nylon Deluxe Carrying Case
WIRELESS CARDS: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS: Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
PRODUCTIVITY: Microsoft® Office Small Business 2007-includes Publisher + Outlook2007
ANTI-VIRUS & SECURITY: McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 36-months
PHOTOS, MUSIC & MORE!: No Entertainment software pre-installed
FAMILY SECURITY & UTILITIES: Spy Sweeper - Award-winning spyware protection
WARRANTY AND SERVICE: 2Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day
ACCIDENT AND THEFT PROTECTION: Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 2Yr Warr.
GETTING-STARTED HELP: No Dell On Call
DIAL-UP INTERNET ACCESS: No ISP requested
PRICE: $2,185
So the Insprion, despite having 60GB less of hard drive space, costs me about $200 more (The Insprion didn't have a 160GB (7200 RPM) hard drive available. The best available was 100GB (7200 RPM) or 160 GB (5400 RPM)). XPS the way to go?