Dell’s CES 2013 Includes Updated Inspiron Laptops and Latitude Tablets, Focus on Price
CES is a blast in part because we get to see and touch exciting technology and amazing prototypes and grill companies in person about the latest rumors pertaining to their products. Yet for as exciting as all of that may be, it’s also a time for companies to simply look us in the eye and proudly show off their latest wares, whether they’re headline-grabbers or just solid updates to existing product lines.
Dell fell into the latter camp this year for the most part, showing off their latest products to us away from the bustle of the show floor, at a quiet restaurant banquet room down the road. (We do enjoy pounding the pavement on the show floor, but it was nice to not have to shout to be heard for a while.)
The company’s new offerings include several Inspiron laptops and a version of its Latitude 10 tablet, and although the designs are eye-catching and lovely to hold, the best features are the prices.
Dell Inspiron 15
Dell’s Inspiron 15 and 17 notebooks starts at a mere $399 and $499, respectively, and even the sexier Inspiron 15R and 17R models start at $549 and $699.
The base model of the 15.6-inch Inspiron 15 features a Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3-2365M (1.4GHz) processor, 4GB of DDR3-1600MHz RAM, Intel HD graphics, and up to a 500GB (5400 RPM) hard drive. There’s also a 1MP webcam, a DVD+/- optical drive, stereo speakers, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports (two each), HDMI, and an 8-in-1 card reader. The Inspiron 17 offers a better CPU (the Ivy Bridge Intel Core i3-3217U processor at 1.8 GHz) and a bigger 17.3-inch display but otherwise offers nearly identical specs and features.
Dell Inspiron R family
The least expensive Inspiron 15R can be configured with an Intel Core i3-3217U (Ivy Bridge) chip, but you can also configure it with up to an Intel Core i7-3517U. Other specs include 6GB or 8GB of DDR3-1600MHZ RAM, integrated HD graphics, up to a 1TB (5400 RPM) hard drive, DVD+/-RW optical drive, 1MP webcam, WiFi and Bluetooth, and the same ports mentioned above. On the top end, the Inspiron 17R also boasts a 17.3-inch HD+ (1600x900) display and up to an Intel Core i7-3517U (Ivy Bridge, 3GHz) processor.
Dell Inspiron R
After seeing them in person, we have to say that the Inspiron R-series are beautiful, moreso than in the photos you see. They immediately make you want to pick them up. Dell told us that they spent a great deal of R&D resources developing lappies that looked amazing yet offered those little extras such as fingerprint-resistant surfaces, and indeed, the brushed metal finish looks clean and svelte even after being aggressively fondled.
All of these Inspiron laptops come with Windows 8.
The other main feature of Dell’s new lineup is aimed at the enterprise with the new Latitude 10 Essentials Configuration. Dell bills this device as “the first full-featured, enterprise-ready Windows 8 tablet experience at a price below $500 (US)”, calling it ideal for schools and small businesses due primarily to its ability to snap right into existing IT environments.
Dell Latitude 10 tablet
The essentials configuration is “essentially” the same as the standard Latitude 10 and features 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 64GB of SSD storage, Intel Atom Z2760 (1.8GHz) processor, 10.1-inch (1366x768) display, and 720p HD front-facing and 8MP rear cameras.
Most notably, this is a tablet that can run Windows 8 Pro starting at $603.50; a 32GB version is coming as well, and that will start at $499 with Windows 8. And of course, there’s a slew of accessories you can add on, including a dock that adds several I/O ports, a nice stand for the tablet, and thus the ability to plug in any mouse/keyboard combo you want.
Dell fell into the latter camp this year for the most part, showing off their latest products to us away from the bustle of the show floor, at a quiet restaurant banquet room down the road. (We do enjoy pounding the pavement on the show floor, but it was nice to not have to shout to be heard for a while.)
The company’s new offerings include several Inspiron laptops and a version of its Latitude 10 tablet, and although the designs are eye-catching and lovely to hold, the best features are the prices.
Dell Inspiron 15
Dell’s Inspiron 15 and 17 notebooks starts at a mere $399 and $499, respectively, and even the sexier Inspiron 15R and 17R models start at $549 and $699.
The base model of the 15.6-inch Inspiron 15 features a Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3-2365M (1.4GHz) processor, 4GB of DDR3-1600MHz RAM, Intel HD graphics, and up to a 500GB (5400 RPM) hard drive. There’s also a 1MP webcam, a DVD+/- optical drive, stereo speakers, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports (two each), HDMI, and an 8-in-1 card reader. The Inspiron 17 offers a better CPU (the Ivy Bridge Intel Core i3-3217U processor at 1.8 GHz) and a bigger 17.3-inch display but otherwise offers nearly identical specs and features.
Dell Inspiron R family
The least expensive Inspiron 15R can be configured with an Intel Core i3-3217U (Ivy Bridge) chip, but you can also configure it with up to an Intel Core i7-3517U. Other specs include 6GB or 8GB of DDR3-1600MHZ RAM, integrated HD graphics, up to a 1TB (5400 RPM) hard drive, DVD+/-RW optical drive, 1MP webcam, WiFi and Bluetooth, and the same ports mentioned above. On the top end, the Inspiron 17R also boasts a 17.3-inch HD+ (1600x900) display and up to an Intel Core i7-3517U (Ivy Bridge, 3GHz) processor.
Dell Inspiron R
After seeing them in person, we have to say that the Inspiron R-series are beautiful, moreso than in the photos you see. They immediately make you want to pick them up. Dell told us that they spent a great deal of R&D resources developing lappies that looked amazing yet offered those little extras such as fingerprint-resistant surfaces, and indeed, the brushed metal finish looks clean and svelte even after being aggressively fondled.
All of these Inspiron laptops come with Windows 8.
The other main feature of Dell’s new lineup is aimed at the enterprise with the new Latitude 10 Essentials Configuration. Dell bills this device as “the first full-featured, enterprise-ready Windows 8 tablet experience at a price below $500 (US)”, calling it ideal for schools and small businesses due primarily to its ability to snap right into existing IT environments.
Dell Latitude 10 tablet
The essentials configuration is “essentially” the same as the standard Latitude 10 and features 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 64GB of SSD storage, Intel Atom Z2760 (1.8GHz) processor, 10.1-inch (1366x768) display, and 720p HD front-facing and 8MP rear cameras.
Most notably, this is a tablet that can run Windows 8 Pro starting at $603.50; a 32GB version is coming as well, and that will start at $499 with Windows 8. And of course, there’s a slew of accessories you can add on, including a dock that adds several I/O ports, a nice stand for the tablet, and thus the ability to plug in any mouse/keyboard combo you want.
