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Dell stuffs Merom into two more, the Inspiron E1505 and E1405
No surprises here, but Dell is fleshing out their Core 2 Duo processor upgrades with two more Inspiron laptops, the E1505 and E1405. The cheapest of the cheap is a E1505 running a 1.66GHz T5500 processor for a mere $729 -- after the $100 instant rebate -- but speeds scale all the way up to the 2.16GHz T7400. The E1405 starts at $779 -- again, with a $100 instant rebate -- with the same range of processors. Other specs include a 60 or 120GB HDD, combo drive or DVD burner, and your pick of Intel 950 integrated graphics all the way up to a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 card with 256MB of memory. Both laptops also have an option for an 802.11n card, along with Bluetooth, and both still have a Core Duo option if you've got a hankerin' for Yonah. All configurations should be available now or soon from the Dell store.Read - Inspiron E1505Read - Inspiron E1405
Dell has Core 2 Duo laptops in the wings?
A few spicy tidbits have been showing up on Dell's websites pointing to some Core 2 Duo releases sooner rather than later. Their UK website lists Core 2 Duo versions of their XPS M1210, M1710, M2010 and Inspiron e1705 and e1505 laptops, while the US support site mentions a BIOS update to allow current owners of those laptops to upgrade to Merom processors. So far there isn't any official word from Dell on any such upgrades, and you'll have to call up Dell in the UK to try and finagle those Core 2 Duo models, but it seems like Dell fans aren't going to have to wait too long to get some of that next-gen Intel action.
Dell Inspiron E1505 reviewed
If you've been looking to go Core Duo on the cheap then wait no longer. PCMAG just busted out their Editor's Choice award on the 15.4-inch widescreen Dell Inspiron E1505 laptop. Good reason too, since their $999 test model shipped pre-loaded with XP Media Center Edition 2005 (TV tuner costs extra), sporting a 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, 80GB (5400rpm) disk, 802.11b/g, dual-layer DVD burner, and ATI Mobility Radion X1300 graphics -- not top of the line by any means, but oodles better than a lot of those integrated graphics craptops, and more likely to run Vista with some pep. PCMAG calls the E1505 "perfect" for people on a budget who "appreciate technology" which well, pretty much covers just about everyone we know. Knocks? Sure, the battery only managed about 3 hours and you have to enter a goofy Dell E-Value code "E1505PC" when ordering if you expect your kit to ring-up with that sub-grand price tag. Righteous pricing indeed for this full featured and powerful kit.
