Dell's colorful Inspirons and XPS
Dell notebooks have always been considered value-for-money propositions, with a single design and shade available across the various screen sizes. The new Inspiron range, unfortunately, is still based on a single chassis with different screen sizes to accommodate different markets. The key difference, however, is that the American computer maker is now actively working the lifestyle crowd by offering a choice of eight colors. Even the crowd stealer, the XPS M1330, can be dressed in black, white or red. The XPS M1330 is Dell's first foray into the 13-inch market, competing with the likes of the MacBook, ASUS W7S, Sony SZ series, etc. As such, the XPS departs from Dell's conventional design and makes claims to bring the world's thinnest notebook in this category. At its slimmest, it is 23.1mm thick, though according to Sony's Web site its SZ series is only 21.8mm at its thinnest point. We look forward to physically comparing both units to verify Dell's claims. Made using magnesium alloy, the XPS M1330 is a looker with its touch-sensitive buttons and slot-loading optical drive (the latter, unfortunately, precludes the use of smaller 8mm discs). Out of the shop, the basic S$2,699 (US$1,717.14) has an impressive feature set. There is HDMI output, integrated Webcam, Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS graphics processor, fingerprint biometric sensor and a mini remote control that can be stored in its ExpressCard slot. The display uses the latest LED backlight technology which provides a brighter display (300nits) while reducing energy consumption. Uptimes can be extended using the optional nine-cell battery which retails as a S$45.15 (US$28.73) option. A nice bonus is that the notebook is protected for three years under the XPS Premier Service plan with a one-year CompleteCover. The Inspiron series now come in three sizes: The portable 14-inch Inspiron 1420; the mainstream 15-inch 1520; and a desktop replacement in the form of the 17-inch 1720. In case you did not notice the pattern, the first two digits define the screen size, while the next two numbers refer to the generation which it belongs to. As mainstream consumer models, the new Inspirons are equipped with the MediaDirect and Instant Office shortcuts to give quick access to multimedia files and calendar information, respectively. Common features include a Centrino Duo platform, mini remote control and integrated Webcam. All Inspiron models have the option to switch to a Blu-ray optical drive for S$983.85 (US$625.94). The new range may look nice, but unfortunately they are all rather heavy for their display sizes, ranging from 2.45kg to 3.45kg.
The Inspiron 1520, on the other hand, offers the same discrete GPU with its base configuration, making it a much more powerful system right off the bat. Though the GeForce 8400M GS is competent enough for older gaming titles and high-definition video playback, those who take their shooting and looting a little more seriously will jump at the S$79.80 (US$50.77) upgrade to the more powerful 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card. The extended battery will cost an additional S$36.75 (US$23.38), but if you want a mobile gaming platform it is worth the extra weight and cost. With its larger chassis, one would assume that the Inspiron 1720 has discrete graphics performance as a given, but the base set comes with Intel's integrated graphics solution instead. Perhaps this is for users who, for some reason, need a desktop replacement to be mobile, especially since the 1720 does not have an extended battery option. Also, it is the only one of the trio not to have an 802.11n radio, an upgrade which costs S$21 (US$13.36) to select. On the plus side, this Inspiron can be configured with dual harddisks and a choice of either a 128MB Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS (S$128.10 (US$81.50)) or 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT (S$239.40 (US$152.31)). | |||||||||
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