Dell Inspiron e1405 and Inspiron 640m Released (pics, specs)

Dell has released a couple of new 14.1" screen portable notebooks. The Dell Inspiron e1405 is a Core Duo processor notebook available through Dell Home while the Inspiron 640m is available through the business side.

The Inspiron e1405 as seen on theDell Home site (view large image)

Inspiron e1405 Specs / Inspiron 640m Specs:

• Available Processors:
• Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 (2GHz/667MHz FSB/2MB Cache)
• Intel Core Duo Processor T2400 (1.83GHz/667MHz FSB/2MB Cache)
• Intel Core Duo Processor T2300 (1.66GHz/667MHz FSB/2MB Cache)
• Intel Core Solo Processor T1300 (1.66GHz/667MHz FSB/2MB Cache)
• RAM: Up to 2GB DDR2 dual channel memory
• Screen: 14.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) or WXGA+ (1440 x 900) with TrueLife (glossy screen)
• Hard Drive: up to 100GB
• Optical Drive: Fixed bay (configurable at purchase only)
• Combo Drive - 24x/10x/24x CD Burner and 8x DVD-ROM
• 8x DVD/CD Burner (DVD+/-RW)
• Ports:
• IEEE 1394 integrated port (1394 cable and software sold separately)
• 4 USB 2.0 (Universal Serial Bus) compliant 4-pin connectors
• RJ45 Ethernet port
• RJ11 Modem port
• Video: 15-pin monitor connector
• S-Video: 7-pin mini-DIN connector
• 5-in-1 removable memory card reader
• Audio jacks: Stereo headphones/speakers miniconnector (same as line-out), microphone miniconnector
• Audio: Integrated stereo sound oroptional extra Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio.
• Graphics: Intel Integrated
• Weight: about 5lbs
• Price: Starting at $799 with a basic configuration

Inspiron e1405 (view large image)

The e1405 carries the exact same look as the 15.4" screen Inspiron e1505 and 17" screen e1705 -- that being silver with a white trim and media controls located on the front. The e1405 features the new Core Duo processor. Even with this new processor the price can be had for under $1,000. If you configure it with a Core Solo processor the price can be as low as $749.

A 14.1" screen is a perfect size for those that need to be portable (i.e. not have a back ache from carrying a notebook all over campus), but also want a large enough screen sothat you can have a comfortable viewing experience without too much scrolling.

Dissapointingly it appearsthere are no dedicated graphics options for this notebook, something many had hoped to see. Certain features of the upcoming Microsoft Vista OS may require a dedicated graphics card, so this option is becoming more and more important to consumers.

The selection of ports is quite good though, four USB 2.0 ports is generous for this sized laptop and the optional built-in Sound Blaster Audigy is nice.Some might miss having a DVI port option. Also dissapointing to see is that the optical drive is fixed and cannot be upgraded after purchase.

The Inspiron e1405 is available now via Dell.com Home

The Inspiron 640m is available now via Dell.com Business

 

when did the m640 come out
i customized it and it came out to be 846..
with specs:
-1.66GHz cpre duo
-XP home edition
-14.1" truLife
-1gb RAM
-integrated GMA 950
-80gb hdd
its too good to be true!
whats wrong with it

 

well that's a fantastic price for that config, but I couldn't get that price, when doing your configuration it came to $1,024 with me. The 640m came out a few hours ago.

 

Is the 1405 just a E1505 Inspiron with a 14" screen instead of the 15", like Dell does with the B130 and B120? Does it have the large space on the sides of the screen? Or is it a different, 14" case altogether?

 

So, will there be a Core Duo version of the XPS M140?

 

As usual.. ugly as hell ::yuck::

 

Am I the only one who thinks the design looks great on a 14.1" screen model?

Yeah, kinda sad how it doesn't come with dedicated graphics. Lets hope there'd be a XPS M1410 anytime soon.

 

If you are looking for the E1405 with plenty of config options either go here:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=e1405s2&s=dhs

or go through an EPP program.

As of right now, clicking on the Configure button off of the product screen restricts you to the Core Solo chip only.

 

does the 6-cell battery appear to be sticking out from the chassis as shown on the pictures ?

 

The UK models are disappointingly expensive, no deals to speak of

 

Design? Design and Dell don't go together very well... If you want design, get yourself a Mac (or, on a smaller scale, Sony). Just flip the book over and you'll see all of that design.

 

thank you onedeep, I adjusted the url in the article so it goes to a more helpful configuration page.

 

not entirely true, the m1710 gaming notebook is really quite nice. The D620, D820 Latitude notebooks are nice too. I agree they gotta drop this white trim design though, I didn't like it much at first and now I'm getting tired of it.

 

They're designed okay, but to just look at an Inspiron 17 or even the 15 and then compare it to a MacBook Pro side by side, there is a huge difference (flip em over and there will be an even greater difference). They're "nice" when compared to what Dell put out a few years ago though, that I'll agree with.

The same goes for Apple's and Dell's entry-level notebooks (I think the difference in build quality and design can be seen even more here).

But back on topic, is this a 14" screen inside the Inspiron 15" case (ala B120 and 130) or is it a completely separate case/design/model?

 

The E1405 is not the same chassis as the E1505 since you can see the bezel is small on the sides of the E1405... also, the battery they show sticking out of the back is the high capacity 9-cell battery, the 6-cell battery is flush against the back of the notebook.

The XPS M140 as far as I can tell, is being layed to rest... we know the XPS M1210 is coming out with dedicated graphics, so one would hope a 14" model, hopefully based on the much nicer design of the M1210 might come out.

 

ok, so we all know that the e1505 took a while to have ded gfx.
is this likely to happen in a few months?

 

Man if this had the option of a x1400 its just perfect.... thought Im also looking at sony sz, 13.3 and a 7400 go

 

If Dell would only add the option of a graphics card, then I would buy it. Dell disappoints in the graphics department again. Thumbs down here.

 

I believe it's a different case altogether, not the 'lets put more plastic on the edges and call it a 14" screen' that the B130/120 does. Really, the E1405/640m is just a newer-tech'ed (core duo, gma 950, etc) version of the XPS M140/630m, from all accounts.

 

Yes, not to mention this one uses SATA drives, the old 630m/M140 used the old interface. And it has integrated Sounblaster Audigy HD soundcard, at least according to the pdf owner's manual I was checking out online.

Mine is in testing already, so I hope to have it be end of next week, where I'll compare the 1440x900 TrueLife on the E1405 to the not-so-good Samsung 1280x800 TrueLife on my 630m.

 

some comparison of the e1405 to the 630m would be fantastic nycscorpio, amazing its getting moved along so fast in production. Often new releases seem to take forever to ship.

It seems to me that Dell back pedaled on the XPS M140, people were confused when they released that notebook without dedicated graphics because we'd all associated XPS -> high end system, and an integrated graphics system is just really not high-end. This is certainly a replacement for the M140, and as they're releasing it as an Inspiron and not XPS it seems we're back to where any XPS system by default has a dedicated graphics card.

 

We have now confirmed with Dell that they are not going to offer a dedicated GPU in this unit.

 

Dam Dell. Looks like im going to get the A6 then.

One less Dell customer.

 

one question
does the 640m have the thing for a microphone?

because i have a headset, and i want to use it

 

Yes. Many laptops come with a microphone-in.

 

Wow, this is a great deal. Hardware wise, it's almost the same as a Mac Mini, only in true laptop form, rather than the headless laptop that is the Mini.

 

well i got my m140 loaded for $830 shipped to the old house. at first i was worried cause i heard that the e1405 was coming out in about a month. now after see the specs and the price im glad that i got mine when i did, i looks like all i missed out on was a dual core processor which i can do without.

 

I just ordered e1405 on the 4th. I did not like dell's design, but couldn't resist a great deal they offered, only $699, especially if compare to what i paid for my HP dv1000t last month.($1300)

 

Nice juicy,

I will be missing my delivery of my E1405 (640m) since I am out of town on business... but it's definately impressive since I ordered it on 5/2/06, pretty much the day of release and it shipped friday 5/5/06, and "arrived" today 5/9/06... 7 days, definately not bad for a brand new model.

I will review and compare this with the 630m by Thursday, so keep an eye out for my review/comparison, especially in regards to the new WXGA+ (1440x900) TrueLife screen. I am praying that it's better than the subpar Samsung TrueLife screen I have been cursed with on the 630m.