The XPS M1730 appears to have just as much in common with its Alienware sibling on the outside as on the inside, but the Dell has another surprise. In an effort to one-up flashy competitors, Dell applied full lighting to the back of its 17" flat panel display.

But the highlights don’t end at the lid, as the keyboard and touchpad buttons also light up. Most onlookers will likely view all of the lighting as a marketing gimmick. However, the keyboard lights do serve the practical purpose of allowing users to find those pesky function keys that aren’t part of their normal typing routines.

The lights might get more attention, but the system has several more practical capabilities. For example, the 17" display shown above features a 1920x1200 pixel native resolution, which is a widescreen format that’s just a little taller than the popular 1080p (1920x1080) high-definition video resolution. The added width can benefit movies and some games, while users stepping up from a 4:3 aspect ratio 1600x1200 pixel 15" display will find similar text size for any given font. The small pixels will, however, require a bit of adjustment for anyone moving away from a desktop display.

Widescreen displays also require a slightly wider shell, which increases keyboard space. Dell provides a full-sized keyboard with a number pad, which was somewhat of a rarity among notebooks prior to the introduction of widescreen displays.

Users not concerned about the health effects of warm laps will be pleased to find a smooth front on the XPS M1730, accessorized only by media control buttons. Audio jacks and the optical drive are located at the sides for easier use.

The right edge features an Express Card slot, which combines a PCI-Express and a USB 2.0 interface internally. The interface used by any particular card Express Card device depends on the manufacturer’s bandwidth requirements.