Dell Inspiron 13 now available build-to-order

Dell's Inspiron 13 made its Wal-Mart debut earlier this month, but now the budget back-to-school lappy is ready for you to trick it factory-style on Dell's site. Nothing too crazy on the options list, and it looks like you're stuck with some form of integrated graphics no matter what -- but hey, when the most extravagant configuration maxes out at $1,149, you can't be too picky.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[JohnTitor @ Aug 26th 2008 10:20PM]

no gpu ftl
go for Inspiron 1420 or Studio 15 for at least some gpu goodness
can't go back-to-school without some game-ability

[Striker @ Aug 26th 2008 10:27PM]

They DO have a GPU, it is just an integrated one, fail.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Aug 26th 2008 10:53PM]

Not everyone needs a laptop for gaming. Some of us have desktops.

[Khris @ Aug 26th 2008 10:54PM]

Not everyone needs a laptop with a dedicated GPU

[Nytrojen @ Aug 26th 2008 11:03PM]

Plus we live richer and more fulfilling lives, with longer lasting and more exciting.... I'm sorry, I forgot that I was talking about a computer. Ahh, Hookerbot 3000 - pneumatics that won't quit and a gpu of gold.

[1234321 @ Aug 26th 2008 11:14PM]

the integrated gpu is really just graphics on the chipset
I want a frickin chip with a ATi or nVIDIA logo standing on its own
like I said, back to school guys probably will want to stick a game in between classes
and you can get a still small and light Vostro 1400 from the Dell Outlet for

[avester @ Aug 27th 2008 2:10AM]

For around a grand, GPU is quite common, I paid 600€ for my laptop last year and it had at least GeForce 7400...

[some freak @ Aug 27th 2008 3:44AM]

minesweeper ftw!!

[Evan @ Aug 27th 2008 7:20AM]

Integrated graphics still has a GPU that accelerates desktop graphics and video playback perfectly fine, it runs cooler and consumes less power for longer battery life than a discrete GPU, and costs less. I use integrated graphics and it works fine, even for watching 1080p movies. There is no reason the average consumer, who browses the internet, reads email, watches video, and perhaps runs MS Office, needs a gaming-GPU in their computer.

[avester @ Aug 27th 2008 8:44AM]

Yeah, you don't need a good GPU for that, but do you need 2,6ghz Dual Core and 4gb of RAM for making essays either...

[Tony @ Aug 26th 2008 10:25PM]

Look on the bright side- at least this thing has wifi built in,right?

lol

[PatrickJ @ Aug 27th 2008 11:41AM]

Actually the max config is $1,423.

not to be a smartass :)

[Unknown @ Aug 26th 2008 10:38PM]

looking forward to the eee pc killer

[The Dude @ Aug 26th 2008 10:48PM]

As long as Dell doesn't adopt Asus's naming conventions a la DEPCK4RWNKTIGTCYSBDWMIHA10ISAAHD (Dell's Eee PC Killer 4 Real, We're Not Kidding. This Is Going To Cost You Some Bills. Did We Mention It Has A 10 Inch Screen And A Hard Drive), that's fine.

[jonosono @ Aug 26th 2008 10:59PM]

@ the dude...

Dude... You have too much time on your hands.

[Striker @ Aug 26th 2008 10:44PM]

Wait, wait, wait... Why is a Mac user customizing a Dell, of all computers?

[Khris @ Aug 26th 2008 10:56PM]

To see how many Dell Fanboys will notice and then blow it out of proportion.

[Striker @ Aug 26th 2008 11:02PM]

I haven't really liked Dell too much, Lenovo FTW

[Khris @ Aug 26th 2008 11:35PM]

Back-peddling! Minus 10 points! No Olympic Gold for you in the Witty Comments event!

[dave @ Aug 26th 2008 11:57PM]

hey SHUT UP

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 27th 2008 1:05AM]

Because they want something reliable and in the event something does happen to the system they aren't dicked around by Apple for days on end just to replace a DVD drive?

No personal expierience in the above comment though....none whatsoever.

[TerraCotta @ Aug 26th 2008 11:00PM]

What is the reason the manufacturers now supply glossy screens on recent laptops?
These glossy screens catch plenty of reflections, it is tiring for the eyes over a long period of time.

I have tried a glossy screen for a short period and found that it was quite annoying. I would appreciate the opinion of anyone of you who has good experience with both types of screens.

Thanks in advance.

[cesium @ Aug 26th 2008 11:05PM]

I love glossy screens, and I've used both extensively.

[DrunkMonkey @ Aug 26th 2008 11:49PM]

I also prefer glossy screens. Most of them are good enough that you only get glare when there is a bright light behind you (such as the sun). Usually my laptop is in front of me so my shadow blocks out most of the glare anyway.

[Evan @ Aug 27th 2008 7:28AM]

Glossy screens appear higher-contrast, and therefore easier to sell (especially in a brightly lit store). The manufacturers just care about that first impression that leads to a sale, they don't care about the consumer having to deal with glare after bringing their computer home.

[BobTurbo @ Aug 26th 2008 10:59PM]

These 13" inspirons plus the new latitudes look, at least in pictures, actually quite good. I will have to see it in person to believe it. Personally though, the lack of hardware to be able to view AVCHD smoothly makes the inspiron pretty worthless to me :(

[cesium @ Aug 26th 2008 11:04PM]

Someone fails at life... the most extravagant configuration is actually $1,274. Obviously this does not include peripherals and warranties and whatnot.

[cesium @ Aug 27th 2008 12:36AM]

Looks like I fail too, but only by $20

[Darth Abe @ Aug 26th 2008 11:19PM]

I would have to agree that integrated graphics is really a bad option. Nowadays, a great many tasks are gpu accelerated so you often end up with shitty performance running a broad range of applications, not just games. Especially since you can get a dedicated card for a very small premium over a integrated card while getting vastly more performance. Part of the reason I like my M1330 so much is because it's a small lappy with a powerful processor and reasonable graphics abilities. On the flip side, it was expensive for a dell but you take what you can get.

[Darth Abe @ Aug 26th 2008 11:20PM]

...Why didn't it reply to the person I was replying to?
Engadget comments, you confuse me so...

[Khris @ Aug 26th 2008 11:36PM]

You have much to learn young Padawan!

[Dflood @ Aug 26th 2008 11:49PM]

the most extravagant price is 1,294 straight from dell website
Dell Inspiron 1318
Starting Price $1,572

Instant Savings $278


Subtotal $1,294



My Components
SYSTEM COLOR Pacific Blue edit
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 edit
DISPLAY AND CAMERA Glossy, widescreen 13.3" LCD (1280x800) w/ 2.0M pixel Camera edit
VIDEO CARD Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 edit
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz edit
HARD DRIVE Size: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) edit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE 8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive) edit
WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card edit
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR) edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 27th 2008 1:13AM]

don't care what anyone says. For a little over a grand that is a hell of a computer. However be sure to get 3 years onsite warranty and accidental damage. Even with the best of intentions "shit happens". I was on a call today to replace a mobo on a studio 15"er and it was obvious that the thing was dropped. so much so that I couldn't take off the palmrest because the posts had broken out of the plastic and couldn't remove the metal shielding. In the end I told them they need to call Dell and discuss it with them, which is dickless for you are screwed...you are going to spend more getting this repaired then simply buying a new computer. That $119 sounds like a lot until some idiot comes by you on the plane and spills coffee on your precious. Its not a good feeling to have.

[tbone @ Aug 26th 2008 11:48PM]

sorry Dell i'm taken. i just got a mac today

[Khris @ Aug 26th 2008 11:53PM]

Gaggle of Dell fanboys low-ranking you in 3...2...1...

[Michael Scrip @ Aug 27th 2008 12:16AM]

The pizza box was right, "That's the problem... they're choosing you."

[deyanimay @ Aug 27th 2008 5:40AM]

http://files.redvsblue.com/web/images/comic/20080819RT0315.jpg

[Danny @ Aug 27th 2008 10:13AM]

This is a pretty good deal given that the chassis is identical to the XPS M1330.

[cesium @ Aug 27th 2008 11:39AM]

It's definitely not, look at the lack of ports compared to the m1330

[LukeCarroll @ Aug 27th 2008 5:17AM]

Any idea on UK release?