Dell's 12.1-inch Vostro 1220 gets official in Japan, packs few surprises
By Darren Murph 
posted Jun 30th 2009 9:07AM
posted Jun 30th 2009 9:07AM
[Via Impress]
Update: And now it's a go in North America. Check the local press release after the break.
DELL VOSTRO 1220 PACKS FULL-SIZE FEATURES INTO AN ULTRAPORTABLE PACKAGE
· Latest Vostro is compact, stylish with mainstream performance, state-of-the-art security and backed by small business-dedicated service and support
· By popular demand, Dell expands Vostro laptop line to include 12.1-inch model designed exclusively for small businesses
ROUND ROCK, Texas
June 30, 2009
Dell today announced the latest addition to its expanding line of Vostro laptops, the 12.1-inch Vostro 1220. This stylish, ultraportable laptop was designed exclusively for business travelers who are unwilling to compromise on performance, battery life and security for a thin and lightweight design.
Available in Obsidian Black or Deep Cherry Red, the Vostro 1220 starts at a mere 3.36 lbs, is equipped with the latest Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors and features up to 9 hours of battery life¹, making it an ideal travelling companion for on-the-go, global entrepreneurs.
According to IDC², worldwide commercial shipments of 12-inch widescreen laptops are expected to grow almost 35 percent from 2008 to 2009. "This trend supports what Dell has been hearing from our customers," said Sam Burd, global vice president, Dell Small and Medium Business. "Today's globe-trotting entrepreneurs need a laptop that is powerful and long-lasting. That used to mean carrying around an ungainly device, the Vostro 1220 combines performance, built-in security and long battery life with useful features like videoconferencing to be the ideal weapon of choice for any road warrior."
Vostro 1220: Productivity, Security and Connectivity
· Only Dell offers pre-installed videoconferencing software, Dell Video Chat, which along with the purchase of optional integrated webcam and microphone gives customers a complete videoconferencing solution.3
· More security options than similar Acer, HP and Lenovo small-business systems4 including mobility solid state drives for three times the reliability of traditional hard drives5, fingerprint readers with easy-to-use software, and multi-factor authentication and encrypted hard drives with Wave Systems software that can easily encrypt data without impacting system performance.
· 802.11 draft-n wireless LAN or optional Mobile Broadband external solution for optimal connectivity anywhere your business takes you.
Backed by dedicated and specially trained small-business sales and support experts, Dell Vostro laptops come with a 30-day worry-free return policy6, are available with Dell CompleteCare7 Accidental Damage Service and Dell ProSupport8services that give customers the ability to customize and tailor services to fit their technical expertise and business needs.
Starting at $799, the Vostro 1220 is available worldwide today. For additional information on the Vostro 1220, visit www.dell.com/vostro.
Meh
It's surprisingly boring, and ugly.
I was just thinking the same thing... I wonder why did they announced this in Japan first... Was Dell trying to tell the Japanese that their product was so ugly it is cute?
Vostro is the business line. They work pretty well for what they are made for.
I was just thinking that I had been sucked into a wormhole and transported back to 1995 because thats where those looks and that price come from.
Low end configuration for $837? Dell Mini 12 is so much more sexier at half the price.
you must have missed the processor. This has a 2.20GHz Celeron or 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, wheras the Mini 12 has the slothful Atom.
It is ugly, but have you shopped for a real laptop (not netbook) with a 12" or smaller screen lately? Can't be had until you get in the $1200+ price range. I ended up settling for a 13" HP last month. Now I wished I could had waited...
Glossy on a Vostro? And it's not optional? Are you sure?
Vostros are very good quality and come at a good price. I'm typing on one right now.
mee too haha
I upgraded mine to the max
@Kelvinyam:
You're comparing apples and oranges. The processor on any netbook, including all of the netbooks in Dell's line, wouldn't hold a candle to the Core2Duo or Celeron chip in this machine. The Dell Minis may be sexier, but their processors are weak. They're so slow they're inappropriate for business; no road warrior would want one. This machine, on the other hand, would serve as a desktop replacement. Sure, you *could* get a sexier laptop that's intended for children and the elderly, but something tells me that's not who Dell is aiming at with this one.
And this laptop is better then a netbook for a road warrior how? CPU? I'm sure they need the extra CPU power for...what do they need it for? The Atom can multi task fairly well for road warrior needs. Mozilla/Office/Music. The only argument you can make is that the netbooks dont have a media drive. Even then you can just put everything on a flash drive.
Seems to be lacking ram to be honest
Is that a 4:3 screen? I wish we'd get some netbooks with 4:3 screens instead of this constant 16:9 nonsense. 4:3 is so much better for me for writing purposes. It's the one reason I tend to keep my old iBook around rather than having jumped into the netbook fray yet.
I believe 1280 x 800 is 16:10.
Which is the best aspect ratio 16:9 sucks.
Whenever I use a 4:3 screen I feel like by eyes are falling on the side bezels.
Glossy screen on a business laptop? That's the end of Vostros for me.
I sure hope Lenovo doesn't go down the same route.
It looks like there's an Anti-glare option for the panel that just hasn't been put in yet.
What the, it looks like a re-cased, slightly differently spec'd XPS M1210. Oh, and 3 years newer.
zzzzzzzzzz
Well i have a compaq mini laptop which i got it free from three through http://www.domesticutilities.com on mobile broadband and i think thats better then this dell laptop.