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Dell's new Inspiron 15z.

Dell's ubiquitous Inspiron line of laptops is getting a few new additions today, with the announcement of the Inspiron 14z and 15z. According to Dell, the "Z" designation for these new systems indicates, "thinner, lighter bodies, and long-lasting power-sipping batteries."

They also both feature 16:9 1,366x768 widescreen displays, and Intel's Core 2 Solo processors -- which offer much of the battery saving advantages found in low-power chips such as Intel's Atom, but with better performance more suited for a mainstream system.

Specs, according to Dell, include:

• Both 14-inch (14z) and 15.6-inch (15z) models are about one-inch thick
• Choice of Intel Core 2 Solo ultra-low voltage Core 2 and Core 2 Duo processors
• Up to 500 GB, 7,200 RPM hard drives
• Included DVD drive
• Up to 8GB DDR3, 1,066MHz
• Standard Wi-Fi and optional Mobile Broadband
• Choice of 4-cell (4-hour), 6-cell (8-hour) batteries
• Express Charge (4- and 6-cell batteries) are 80% recharged in 60 minutes

Both new models are available starting today in black or cherry red, and start at $599.

Can we all agree on something? There's no longer a difference between a Netbook and a notebook. Thanks to Netbooks' move to more features and larger-size screens, the distinction between the two can now be considered little more than marketing speak.

We recently wrote about the fall's coming battle between Netbooks--a category now 2 years old--and thin and light notebooks with consumer ultra-low voltage (CULV) processors. In theory, the value of a Netbook--with its small keyboard, small screen, and lack of an optical drive--vs. an ultralight laptop with a long battery life and a full-size keyboard for roughly the same price was very low.

But now that we're actually seeing how PC makers are packaging and selling CULV notebooks (take Dell's recent introduction of its Inspiron 11z notebook) it's obvious: Netbooks are nothing more than smaller, cheaper notebooks.

Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Netbook

(Credit: Dell)

The distinction made some sense early on. The first Netbooks were very small, around 7 or 8 inches, and were used for little more than getting online. They were marketed by smaller brands such as Asus and MSI as super portable, inexpensive notebooks that ran Linux, cutting out much of the cost tacked on with a Windows license. But they didn't really take off until Microsoft began offering Windows XP specifically for Netbooks, long after it was no longer available on new laptops and desktops.

The big PC makers, understandably, wanted a piece of the action too, but not at the expense of cannibalizing their budget-conscious traditional notebook lines. So Netbooks were sold as a "companion device." As in, if you keep some of your data "in the cloud" as with e-mail on Yahoo or Gmail or pictures on Facebook or Picasa, and you stream music on a service like Pandora or Last.fm, you can use your regular notebook at home and use something smaller on the road that still affords access to a lot of your stuff.

The Inspiron 11z: Dell's affordable thin-and-light (or, Netbook Plus?)

(Credit: Dell)

While much was made of Dell killing off its Mini 12 Netbook recently, one question raised was: what might fill that 11-to-12-inch void in the future? That question is answered, in part, with today's announcement of the Dell Inspiron 11z, an 11.6-inch thin-and-light weighing only 3 pounds. How thin? At its thickest point: 1.02 inches, according to Dell's specs. This is Dell's first real entry into thin-and-light, a category that's been gaining momentum recently (the Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T, MSI X340, and Lenovo IdeaPad U350 to name a few).

Inside, there's no Atom processor, but instead a single-core 1.2 GHz Intel ULV Celeron 723. Equipped with a three-cell battery, Dell promises long battery life in a chassis that's "24 percent smaller than 14-inch laptops" (but this is an 11.6-inch laptop, so how is that fair?). Unfortunately, that "long battery life" equates to 3 hours in the press release, but we'll remain optimistic. The keyboard is 92 percent standard-size, close to a regular laptop experience (although sometimes we've found that small differences in ergonomics can be disorienting). Like a Netbook and most thin-and-lights, the 11z has no optical drive.

One of the best features is the price: Dell's Web site lists the Inspiron 11z as $399, the same cost as a Netbook.

So, you might ask, why get this over a Netbook? For one, it runs Windows Vista SP1 Home Premium--while Windows 7 is just around the corner, this OS qualifies for a free upgrade. And the 11z also breaks through the XP Netbook barrier of RAM/hard drive space, with 2GB and 250GB respectively. Other notable features include HDMI-out and a 1.3-megapixel Webcam. The Inspiron 11z comes in Obsidian black with silver tones.

Full specs below, as well as more product shots after the break. ... Read more

(Credit: Gizmodo.com)

We popped by to see our pals at Dell earlier and get a behind-closed-doors sneak peek at some interesting upcoming holiday systems. Coincidentally, the folks over at Gizmodo say they've stumbled across some new upcoming Dell products for the holiday season, and have posted some pics and details about the Inspiron Z series of laptops, of which they say: "It's the "thin and light" take on Dell's budget Inspiron line using Intel ULV chips."

The Gizmodo post specifically mentions a system called the 11z, which is described as looking, "more like a follow-up to Dell's Inspiron Mini Netbooks." Perhaps that's why Dell recently pulled its 12-inch Mini Netbook.

See the original Gizmodo post, and more pictures, here .

(Credit: Gizmodo.com)

The Gateway NV5807u: $599.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

This week's review of the Gateway NV5807u and an in-progress review of a higher-end configuration in the Dell Inspiron 15 line raised an interesting question: is it better to configure your laptop yourself online, or buy a premade, all-in-one, retail package?

With Netbook purchases, these decisions are rarely made. The internal specs of Windows XP-running Netbooks have already been locked at the same set for months, and consumer decisions instead run to considerations like design and screen/keyboard size.

With laptops, especially the midrange, it's a totally different story. Our review of the Gateway NV5807u is up, and the Dell Inspiron 1545 review is in progress. But both have similar specs and performance, with the exception of a better video card in the Dell. The Gateway NV5807u costs a mere $599. The Dell Inspiron 1545, as configured from Dell with 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon graphics, runs $794. Both are 15-inch laptops with T6400/T6500 Core 2 Duo processors.

The knee-jerk is to favor the Gateway. It is a great package for the price, and was pretty comfortable to use here at the office. On the other hand, there is no way to add or remove features as one desires. Dell's Inspiron 15 line allows nearly everything to be customized--Blu-ray drives, hard drive, battery size, processor, graphics, screen resolution, RAM, and Wi-Fi card, to name a few. The bit-by-bit purchase process, however, can be a steep and slippery slope from what was a $399 laptop to one that looms near $1,000.

Of course, we've also recently been reviewing a number of retail laptops for our Back-to-School Roundup, some of which have been excellent values. And, sometimes, finding a good laptop model in a retail setting can feel like looking for a needle in a swamp.

Do incremental add-ons appeal to you, or do you prefer discrete, prepackaged machines, like Gateway's NV5807u, where the fixed specs potentially lead to reduced production cost and consumer savings? Do you like the freedom of choice, or the savings of a fixed box?

In the meantime, read our review of the Gateway NV5807u.

We always want what we can't have, and when Dell canned its Inspiron Mini 9, I beat myself up for not buying one earlier.

But lo and behold, Dell has brought back its itty-bitty Netbook for $199 until July 27. The price gives you bare necessities: the Ubuntu Linux OS, a 4G SSD, a Webcam, and other basic features.

There's also a $269 option that upgrades the Netbook to Windows XP and an 8GB SSD.

"That's it, this is your last chance. Really...I'm leaving this time. Or am I?"

(Credit: Dell)

The Mini 9 had a few words to say regarding her retirement and limited-time return:

A few months ago Anne C. was kind enough to publish a post about my retirement. It was a bittersweet moment for me - being the "eldest" of the Dell Inspiron Mini portfolio, but my siblings the Mini 10 and the Mini 10v have been introduced, and frankly are capable of offering anything I can, plus more.

Imagine my surprise when I got the call to return for a limited engagement. I checked my 401(k) and saw that it really wasn't at the point I needed it to be to support a comfortable retirement, so I have agreed to return.

I am back, for a limited time, and for now can be found as part of a few key limited time promotional deals on dell.com. Both Ubuntu (starting at $199) and XP versions are available, as are a few color options (Obsidian Black and Alpine White are standard, Jade Green and Promise Pink add $40).

Not to sound immodest, but I do want to acknowledge and thank my fan club members who expanded my pre-retirement horizons with various mods and hacks. I hope to renew our acquaintance, even if for a short time and continue our adventures. I do want to assure that this will be my last appearance - I disdain those "final sales" campaigns that seem to go on perpetually. Next time I retire, it will be for good.

The perfect Inspiron redesign?

(Credit: Dell Singapore)

Have you been looking for new, sleeker Dells on the imminent fall horizon? Perhaps you'd better pay attention to Singapore. Eyes on the Web spotted that Dell's Singapore site has the Inspiron 13 in a new redesign, featuring a look that seems more like a Dell Studio.

What this amounts to is an affordable Dell with good looks in a package that's decently priced, at least in the Singapore conversion rate (it amounts to a little less than $1,000).

It's a big shift from the current Inspiron, which has a pretty bland look to it, relatively speaking. While the specs are similar in the new Inspiron 13 (a shift to the Intel GMA X4500MHD instead of the Intel GMA X3100 is one of the few notable changes), HDMI and a 1366x768 LED screen are also included.

Would this be the upgrade you're looking for? If so, there might be an announcement in store sometime soon.

(Via Engadget)

The $299 Inspiron 15n runs Linux, but so what? You can always load up Windows 7.

(Credit: Dell)

Zowie! For less than the price of some Netbooks, you can get yourself a full-blown Dell notebook. Here's the deal: Dell is offering the Inspiron 15n for just $299. That's undeniably amazing, though there are a few caveats.

First, these are new units, not refurbs, and you don't have to deal with any rebates. Ahhh...gotcha! Those aren't caveats at all. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

The real consideration for most buyers is that the Inspiron 15n runs on Ubuntu Linux 8.10--a great operating system by all accounts, but no good if you need to run Windows apps. (I know, I know, there's always WINE, but I don't consider that a viable solution for everyday users. Yell at me in the comments if you disagree.)

Of course, you could always replace Ubuntu with, say, the Windows 7 Release Candidate, which is available free of charge and will run until March of next year.

If you think you'll go that route, I highly recommend spending an extra $35 to upgrade the Inspiron's Celeron processor to a 2GHz Pentium Dual Core T4200. The Celeron's fine for Linux, but a weakling for Windows. (Actually, it might be OK for 7, which manages nicely even on low-powered Atom processors.)

Everything else about the Inspiron is rock solid, including its 2GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, DVD burner, and 15.6-inch wide-screen LCD. You also get a four-cell battery and one-year warranty.

I wish I could say that you'll get out the door for $299, but Dell charges $29 for shipping, and you may have to pay sales tax as well. Even so, this is a fantastic bargain for anyone seeking a full-fledged notebook at a Netbook price.

(Credit: Dell)

Dell is taking the Inspiron desktop and minimizing it.

The new Inspiron Slim and Inspiron Mini-Tower start at $299 and have a variety of exterior hues from which to choose. There are eight colors (all of which sound like shades of polo shirts available at J. Crew): piano black, pure white, true blue, formula red, tangerine orange, spring green, plum purple, and flamingo pink.

(Credit: Dell)

You may recognize these, since CNET actually got a sneak peek at them during a visit to Dell's design lab in Austin, Texas, earlier this month.

We here in the U.S. actually won't see these until later this year. China gets first crack at them starting Monday, which falls in line with Chief Executive Michael Dell's recent comments about increasing the company's focus and presence in China. They'll be available on Dell.com, and through Chinese retailers Suning and Gome.

Both new models of the Inspiron come with a variety of Intel and AMD processor options; Intel or ATI Radeon graphics (integrated or discrete); up to 8GB of memory; up to 750GB or 1TB storage; six USB ports; and dual optical drives including Blu-ray.