Are there any alternatives?

The MSI Creator Z17 is a recent addition to the 17-inch class, and it provides similar performance to the XPS 17 while being just a hair thinner. It doesn’t offer nearly as good a display, nor as much longevity, however, and it’s also an expensive machine.

　　Another alternative is the Razer Blade 17, which is just about as fast and almost as thin. But it, too, doesn’t offer the same kind of battery life, nor as good a display. It can be configured with a faster GPU, however, meaning it makes for a better gaming laptop.

　　The most competitive alternative is the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has the performance, battery life, and display quality to move ahead of the XPS 17.

　　

How long will it last?

The XPS 17 is solidly built and should last for years of typical abuse. It’s also well-stocked with up-to-date components, and you can upgrade the RAM yourself and add in a second SSD, further extending the machine’s life span. Of course, I don’t like the one-year warranty, but that’s, unfortunately, the industry standard.

　　

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you need a large display with excellent performance in a reasonably sized chassis, then the XPS 17 is for you.