Dell's Inspiron 13 already reviewed: basic, but capable

Look, we know you've spent the last three or so hours toying around on Dell's build-to-order page, but be honest with yourself -- are you really willing to pull the trigger on an Inspiron 13 without taking one tiny peek at a review first? NotebookReview has snagged one of the new 13-inchers and taken it for a ride on the test bench, and overall, things are lookin' up. Reviewers found the design to be "sleek," the specifications to be "reasonable" and the price point "attractive." Beyond that, it also found the battery life to be surprisingly satisfactory, though the "cheap palm rests and noisy slot-loading optical drive" were small (albeit noteworthy) nuisances. In the end, critics summed things up by suggesting that if you're scouting "a basic mobile companion with good looks and a low price tag, then this is probably the right notebook for you." Hit up the read link for the full writeup and even a few benchmarks.

[Twoje @ Aug 27th 2008 8:02AM]

I'm waiting on the Inspiron 910.

[Knives_Out @ Aug 27th 2008 8:50AM]

that's nice ... no one cares.

[Superevil @ Aug 27th 2008 8:31AM]

So out of the 30 or so laptops they've released this week I see theyre still forgetting the mini inspiron

[Rick @ Aug 27th 2008 8:33AM]

It may start at $700 but configure with the T8300 CPU and you are
talking about $1100 with a 1-year warranty.

[Yem @ Aug 27th 2008 8:36AM]

Looks a lot like the m1330 - pity they kept those awful "touch-sensitive" media buttons.

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

Can we skip the release of more of the same, and get with the Mini Inspirons. The money is burning a hole in my pocket, and I am very close to just getting the Lenovo. I wanted to preorder an EEE, but when I heard the rumors of all the folks jumping on board, i waited. When i saw the Wind I almost jumped onboard, until news of the Dell, I waited. Then news od Lenovo, waited, Lenovo released, waiting...{taps foot}

[Greg @ Aug 27th 2008 8:51AM]

I'm there with you. Each netbook release has been a small disappointment in its own unique way. Too expensive, too loaded, not loaded enough, crummy buttons, too ugly, too pricey, made with wet cardboard...the list goes on.

The mythical 910, especially the low-end version, hits my sweet spot on a number of levels. Too bad we'll never see it.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Aug 27th 2008 9:13AM]

I've been playing this shitty waiting game right alongside you. I've wanted a Netbook in a huge way ever since the Eee released, but I've been sitting here waiting on this damn Dell.

COME ON, YOU BASTARDS.

[neil @ Aug 27th 2008 10:04AM]

Right there with you guys. None of the others have appealed to me enough.

I'll be buying the entry level version (as long as it has wireless).

[Valgas @ Aug 27th 2008 2:09PM]

The Lenovo Netbook is callin meeeee. Dell's got me thinkin they know their netbook is gonna suckass.

[Phoenix987 @ Aug 27th 2008 6:58PM]

I'm there with you guys. Dell's seriously starting to lose my interest. With lenovo (who I've never had an issue with) and Acer (cheap) having netbooks out there, Dell's really lost my interest. Surprise me!

Been waiting but I dunno... I may just end up waiting too long to see what the Mini Inspiron is like.

[Chris @ Aug 27th 2008 9:53AM]

Only 2 USB ports? seems pretty limited there.

[Stephanie Jobs @ Aug 27th 2008 11:24AM]

... like the Macbook?

[XenoX101 @ Aug 27th 2008 11:41AM]

But thats TWICE the amount of the MacBook Air, you're not saying it needs to have THREE TIMES as many USB ports are you!?

[Ashwin @ Aug 27th 2008 11:05AM]

I'm no Apple fanboy, but this looks very similar to a Macbook.

[XenoX101 @ Aug 27th 2008 11:32AM]

No, it really doesn't.

These are Dell's attempt at buying into the 'no-bullshit' market of Lenovo. Hence why they look just like Lenovos, to the point where you could accuse them of copying. The original designs of all laptops however derive from early models of IBM laptops so it would be like suing the first maker of beige computer cases.

But anyway, the point was your wrong.

[jon @ Aug 27th 2008 11:34AM]

what do you do that needs more than two usb ports??

[Steve @ Aug 27th 2008 12:11PM]

Dell Inspiron 9400 6 USB ports.

1. Thingy for my wireless mouse.
2. External Hard Drive
3. USB thumbdrive for "Readyboost"
4. Cable that provides USB to my second monitor.
5. USB TV Tuner.
6. iPod touch.

[Ashwin @ Aug 27th 2008 12:37PM]

jon, i can think of a situation that a student would be likely to come across:
1) external mouse
2) syncing an iPod
3) USB Flash Drive
4) External hard drive

While I doubt that a student buying a budget laptop would use a second monitor, a TV tuner, or would know what ReadyBoost is, 2 is quite skimpy. I have seen netbooks with 4 USB ports.

[XenoX101 @ Aug 27th 2008 11:43AM]

But thats TWICE the amount of the MacBook Air, you're not saying it needs to have THREE TIMES as many USB ports are you!?

[XenoX101 @ Aug 27th 2008 12:08PM]

So engadget, I see your comment system is working as per usual. (Not a compliment)

[Lance7179 @ Aug 27th 2008 2:41PM]

I think the design of inspiron is obviously outdated. it doesn't look similar to studio.
Perharps. That's why it is still Inspiron though it adopt Studio's design in some parts

[Branflakes @ Aug 27th 2008 3:31PM]

The review is a little misleading. They list the price of the notebook as $698. However, for that price, it would only have 1GB of RAM, not 2, it would not come with a built in webcam, and it would only have a 37Whr battery, not a 56Whr. According to Dell's website, the laptop as they have it configured would cost $853. That's a fairly significant difference.