To look at the Dell Precision 15 5510, you wouldn't know that it sits in the middle of Dell's workstation lineup. The laptop is thinner and sleeker than you might expect a workstation-class laptop to be and the premium carbon fiber palm rest gives the system a decidedly high-end vibe. But the Precision 15 5510 is actually Dell's mid-range mobile workstation, and its price can start as low as $1,399.

Putting the power of a true workstation into a laptop is a tall order to begin with, but Dell makes the job even tougher with the Precision 15 5000 series, which is designed to be thin and light. Dell succeeds in creating a highly portable workstation, but there are inevitably sacrifices to be made with a machine of this type...