Dell Inspiron 13 Laptop
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The Dell Inspiron 13 is a 17" desktop replacement
targeted towards younger consumers, most of whom are
in school. This notebook competes against such notebooks
as the HP dv9500t and Toshiba P200/P205. The 1720
offers a wide range of hardware configurations, as
well as 8 different color options to be customized
exactly as you want it. Processors range from the
T5250 all the way up to the T7700, RAM from 1GB to
4GB, HD from 120GB to 500GB (250GB x 2), display resolutions
starting at WXGA+ up to WUXGA, and color ranging from
jet black to sunshine yellow.
As with all of Dell's computers, the pricing and options
for the 13 can vary greatly depending on your region.
Here are the specifications for the system as reviewed:
* Microsatin Finish in Spring Green
* Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz, 800MHz FSB, 4MB
Cache)
* 2GB RAM at 667MHz
* 160GB 7200 RPM HD
* 256MB Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT
* 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
* Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card
* 15.4” WSXGA+ Display with TrueLife
* Integrated 2.0 MP Webcam
* 9 Cell Battery
* Windows Vista Home Premium
* “DellCare Plus” Warranty (three year
warranty with Complete Care and a few “extras”
like 10 GB of online storage)
My final cost was $1,640.55. I chose not to include
internal Bluetooth or Bluray, but they are offered
as options in most markets. I placed the order over
the phone as I have found that is the best way to
ensure a quick confirmation. Of course, the order
confirmation was the only quick and convenient thing
about dealing with Dell's customer support.
Reasons for Buying
The 13 is a new direction for me in laptops. My
last two have been 12.1” ultraportables—the
Dell 700M and the XPS M1210. While I prefer the smaller
size in most cases, I'm traveling much less now and
have really been feeling the need for more powerful
graphics and more screen real estate when gaming.
I seriously considered the Asus G1S, but could not
justify the cost. When Dell announced their new Inspirons,
I was sold immediately. I loved the ability to customize
the exterior and must admit that choosing the color
was the hardest decision I had to make. The price
was definitely right for me.
First Impressions
The 13 arrives in a very boring brown box in a
very boring white Styrofoam shell. The following items
were included in the box:
* CDs including all preinstalled software and drivers
* Product Information Guide
* Contacting Dell Guide
* Dell Inspiron 13 Owner's Manual
* Creative Ear Buds
* A/C Adapter
The ExpressCard remote control mentioned in other
reviews is not included by default; you must request
it when you order your system and may be charged for
it. When I first unwrapped the laptop, I was shocked
by how vibrant the color actually is—it is brighter
and richer than it appears in pictures. I had been
using an M1210 and an E1505 and the 13 looked much
larger even than the E1505 due to the absence of white
bumpers to break up the outline. The design is truly
sleek and beautiful—I spent several minutes
admiring the exterior before I even powered it up.
Build and Design
This is the first computer I just enjoy touching.
The finish on the lid has a pleasant, almost rubbery
tactile surface. Dell's term for it is “Microsatin,”
and I have to agree with that description. My first
concern was that the material would scratch, but after
some vigorous scratching with my thumbnail I was unable
to produce a mark.
Top view of the Inspiron 13 (left) compared to
the E1505 (right). (view large image)
Because of the lovely rounded edges, the notebook
does not appear overly thick, especially while open.
However, at 14.12” x 10.59” x 1.47”,
it is rather large for a 15.4” laptop. With
the 9-cell battery, it weighs slightly less than seven
pounds. While it is great for occasional traveling,
at this size it is probably a poor choice for people
who are frequently on the move, such as business travelers
or students who want to carry their laptops to class.
At the same time, the 13 does feel sturdy enough
to handle being bounced around daily.
In the 13, the hard drive, battery, and power indicator
lights are located to the top right of the keyboard.
The lights extend to the side of the computer and
can be viewed while the laptop is closed. This is
a pretty nifty feature for some, but may be irritating
to those who keep their laptops in their bedrooms
and like to sleep in complete darkness as the power
indicator light alone is pretty bright.
Right side views of the Inspiron 13 (bottom) and
the E1505 (top). (view large image)
One disappointment for me is that the 13 retained
a similar latching system to the E1505. It does not
feel especially strong, and the release is a little
awkward. There is a little play while the laptop is
closed; the latch does not hold it firmly shut. The
media buttons along the front are also not as aesthetically
pleasing as the rest of the laptop. While functional,
they are hard to press and the blue backlight shines
through in such a way that imperfect paint on the
buttons is highlighted.
Style note: Dell is currently offering really chic-looking
Belkin bags in colors to match the new Inspirons.
I personally did not purchase one because they are
not yet offering the sling bag in the Dove/Tarragon
color to match my computer.
Screen and Camera
The screen on the 13 is solid with very little
screen flex. I was unable to produce any rippling
of the LCD even with some decent twisting. The WSXGA+
resolution is a great fit for me—I have plenty
of room to work with but text doesn't seem too small.
This particular screen does seem a little grainy,
though. There is about 1/4” of light leakage
along the bottom of the screen, but I have not found
any dead or stuck pixels.
he 2.0 MP camera and the integrated microphone are
located above the screen, just under the latch release.
They are very unobtrusive—there's just a tiny
square for the camera lens and three small holes for
the microphone and indicator lights. The picture quality
is markedly improved over the last generation of Dell
integrated webcams. The performance is adequate even
in lower light situations.
Speakers
In the 13, the speakers have been moved from in
front of the palm rests in the E1505 to under the
front edge of the computer. I would have preferred
for them to be above the keyboard somewhere, but at
least where they are now you are less likely to block
them with your hands than you were on the E1505. The
speakers get surprisingly loud without too much distortion,
and sound quality is quite good. I will add a caveat
here that I am used to M1210 speakers, so my definition
of good sound is probably going to be less demanding
than some others.
If you opt for the webcam and integrated mic option,
you will also receive a pair of Creative ear buds.
These provide really nice sound reproduction and even
include three different sizes of rubber earpieces
for comfortable in-ear use.
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