Dell Launches Inspiron 11z

I'm willing to bet that it will be offered in Pink...Dell has offered it on everything from the entry-level Inspiron models to the last-generation high-end XPS 1330/1530 models! Apparently, there is a market for Pink...lots of "Barbie girls" or Pepto-Bismol fans out there!

Actually, the Pink on current models is called "Promise Pink" and they donate $5 for every one sold to "Susan G. Komen for the Cure"...a great cause!

 

Well, they currently only offer it in Black- but I really want a color- every computer I've owned has been black. I need to purchase one soon because I'm heading back to school from break at the end of the month and would like to have lighter load with this netbook instead of the 17 inch Toshiba that I've been lugging around with my books.
How long do you think it will be before the make it in colors?

 

I'm not sure how quickly color options will be made available, but PC Magazine posted an article yesterday stating that it would be available in 7 colors. Their initial review unit was White, so it sounds like they are making them in colors other than Black...hopefully it will only be a week or two! It was 7-10 days after the Inspiron Mini 10 was introduced before color choices were offered.

Have you thought about the 14" Inspiron 14 or Studio 14z? They're both available in Promise Pink and you could get the Inspiron 14 for close to $500....just a thought.

 

I'll look into those models- but I really like that 3 lb. size if the 11z. I lug so many books to school that I went through 3 rolling backpack cases in 1 Month. I ended up goint to a luggage store & purchasing a $500 Briggs & Riley lifetime guaranteed rolling Business travel case, but luckily it was a discontinued color & I got it for $250. That puppy has air plane rubber on the wheels & it is the only case that has held up to all the books I transport. Environmental Marine Science Major- 4 classes with 4 labs per semester= alot of heavy books.
I could wait a few weeks for the 11z if it comes out in other colors. Or, Do you think they'll sell colored panels that we can install ourself?

 

Hrm, I've completely overlooked the Acer 1410. Considering the 1410's

1. longer battery life
2. Core 2 Solo processor
3. ability to easily expand to 4GB RAM
4. roughly same price range and weight
5. (i think) larger keyboard

Is there any reason to pick the 11z over the 1410? (ignoring for the moment the possibility of Dell's future discounts)

 

In my opinion, NO. The 11z doesn't offer any advantages over the Acer AS1410 at this point. The AS1410 is available in three configurations, all with the 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500, N-wireless and 6-cell battery. It's also available in Black, Red or Blue.

When the Inspiron 11z is available as a configurable model, it will be on par with the Acer. Dell's greatest advantage over most competitors is high level of customization they offer....without that, it's really nothing impressive.

 

Cool, thanks for the input! I guess I'll hop on the 1410 preorder train.

 

Heh, its a pretty long train (I'm on it too, don't worry). By the end of the second day of preorders, there were over 2000 orders for the 1410.

 

Well there is also the 1810 timeline model which will have 8 hours of battery life and you can option it up with the Pentium Dual Core CPU.

 

Yeah, but it's even farther out than the 1410, timeframe-wise. If you were going to wait for the 1810, you might also want to wait for HP's 11.6" CULV notebook that is rumored to debut this month.

 

Yep, the 1410 here in the U.S. is actually sold as the 1810T in other markets. It has a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor.

But the upcomin 1810TZ will have a 1.3GHz Intel SU4100 dual-core processor (I've read reports calling it a Pentium Dual-Core and a Core 2 Duo, but I could care less what they name it)...it should perform similarly to the 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400, that's what matters!

The SU4100 has a TDP rating of 10W, like the SU9400. Battery life should only be slightly lower than the SU3500 with a 5.5W TDP...and well worth it for the performance boost!

 

We ordered one for company evaluation when they were announced. Stock configuration.

The order originally said on or before Sept 10, but we just got a shipment confirmation with delivery set for Thursday the 20th.

I'm very interested in this system since it's about a fourth the price of the Sony TT's we have been buying with comparable screen res weight and size.

It doesn't have yet some of the high end options like WWAN and optical drive built in, but again for 1/4 of the price....

 

Is there a rough ETA on when the 1810TZ will be available?

 

Supposedly October in Europe.

 

I concur about Matte & HDMI & Dell's mini 10 originally offered that. Now it only offers glossy, I guess it's just too expensive to offer customers a choice otherwise I don't see why they don't offer that option..?

Now that HP switched their latest Mini 110 to a matte LCD (unfortunately with a glossy reflective bezel & no HDMI however), I was hoping Dell would start offering a matte option for more than their business lines.

I also cant' believe it doesn't offer Bluetooth & better battery yet

I just don't see the perfect netbook yet though I expect some cool offerings in 2010. Any constructive thoughts on these issues would be welcome

 

I was ready to scream "YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!" but then found its 1-option processor and 3-cell battery. Hurrah.

 

This is definitely the most popular news thread in a while

I think i would still have the Acer or the MSI X series. This is gonna be a HOT segment. I considered an netbook for youtube browsing and doing all that stuff but these ULV seem better and better.

 

I thought Dell's online business model was built on offering direct à la carte customizations, (i.e. priced options) so I expect more options for the 11z like they were expanded for the mini 10.

I interpret this limited 11z option offering as a simple introduction base configuration in a fast moving market & hope it doesn't signal a move toward limiting options merely to cut bottomline costs.

 

The X is still too expensive - isn't the X340 going for $749? Or is there a cheaper, X140 or something with an 11.6" screen coming out?

 

Thanks Phil...I corrected it!

It's a miracle that I was only one digit off, given the farkokteh naming/numbering scheme Intel is using with the CULV processors! Celeron, Pentium, Core 2 Solo... Oy vey!

 

Based on the press release and various reports of the new 11z, I get the impression that it will DEFINITELY be offered as a 'CTO' (configure-to-order) model just like every other Dell! In particular, there will be 7 color choices and a 6-cell battery option...and hopefully some other hardware upgrade options, too.

In the last month or so, Dell has introduced "Fast Track" models that ship within one business day. These are fixed configurations, much like you'd find in Best Buy, etc. The 11z introduced this week for $399 is a 'Fast Track' model...but the customizable one should be available very shortly....

 

I totally agree with that insightful analysis & actually think it is a smart business strategy to offer both CTO & "Fast Track" models

Riddle me this however, why can't Dell offer an anti-glare option beyond their business line?

Would it be that much more expensive to offer matte & glossy, I hear even Apple will likely bring back both options beyond their 17" & as aforementioned HP latest "consumer" mini 110 netbook is now anti-glare only. While obviously I prefer anti-glare, I think manufactures should offer customers both options..

 

Traditionally, there hasn't been a great demand for anti-glare/matte displays on consumer (non-business) notebooks. For entertainment, multimedia and general internet usage, a glossy display usually has greater color saturation/vibrance and superior level of contrast (contrast ratio). That makes it ideal for watching video, viewing/editing photographs and general personal use.

With the arrival of CULV-ultraportables (and even netbooks to a limited extent), these models (such as the 11z) will be used by personal AND business users alike! So it would seem like a good idea (from a sales and marketing standpoint) to offer a choice of glossy or anti-glare displays on these models!

Dell currently offers a choice between TrueLife (glossy) and Anti-Glare displays on their Vostro small business notebooks. Lenovo also offers a choice between VibrantView (glossy) and Anti-Glare displays on the ThinkPad SL400/SL500 notebooks...and it's often a no-cost option to choose either, so cost doesn't seem to be a factor.....

But just because it would be logical to offer a choice on the CULV notebooks, I wouldn't get my hopes up....

 

What I want to see is a CULV with 9400M G in a 11-12 inch body. Now THAT is insteresting

 

Thanks again for that insightful analysis but found the following interesting from a recent "consumer" product:

"The LED anti-glare widescreen display reduces both system weight and
reflections that can distract from the visual experience" - HP Mini 110 literature

Is this acknowledgement that glossy displays come with a significant drawback?

I love multimedia but prefer to look at the actual content-rather than diverting reflections.

I can only speculate HP's anti-glare only decision there was a product differentation move & more broadly that manufacturers don't always offer such options to simply save costs (on as many fixed configurations as possible) through basic economies of scale savings. This is the only rationale I can think of why Dell & others don't always offer more options eventhough they may not realize limiting such options could prove to be dealbreakers. I hope Dell & others refocus on offering as many à la carte options as possible. With computer automation it shouldn't be this limiting.

 

I'd like the same but in an 11 .1" or smaller.

 

Well LG had a the 10.6in X100 which had a c2d based cpu and paired it with like the nvidia 8600 gs or something.

 

I like LG...they're not afraid to pack the strongest GPU they can into the smallest laptop chassis they think will take it.

See Also: X-Note P310.

 

Yeah but the problem is many of there devices are not available in states, and you either have to get it from Australia or Canada.

 

The 10.6" LG (C100?) had a Go7300 and a ULV Core Duo (1.2GHz). Two years ago. It was massively expensive, and while a novel concept, I don't think it was necessary. A laptop that small simply does not need a dedicated graphics card (though an Ion-based solution would be enticing, for sure).

 

I am referring to the X100 that never was released only in Asia and Australia. That had the Core 2 Duo U7700 and the 8400M card. Sure it may not need it but it could come in handy.

 

i just got mine...
the manual say the 6 cell would give 4 hours while the 3 cells would give you 3...
i can give 1 hour just for the comfort of not having a big lump on the back of the machine...

the power adapter is not the same as the other mini's..perhaps is because the processor is more power hungry. It have a small 65w one...i heard its the same as the some other inspiron...

there are a few pics on a thread on the dell inspiron area!

 

Oh no. You've got to be kidding. Only 4 hours for the 6 cell?? My bubble jut burst

 

well thats what the manual say...
dont know if it true or not...

they actually sell the 6 cell for like 140 at dell store...

 

Hmm, from what I understand the 6 cell for the 11z is the same battery used on the mini10 and those folks are reporting 6-7 hours. Very confusing.

 

Well, the Mini 10 is an Atom based laptop. This one uses a much more hungry CULV and GMA4500MHD...

 

....and a larger screen. Also maybe a larger fan for cooling.

 

Acer 1410 is having over 6 hours battery life on 4400 mAh with CULV parts, so the reasoning isn't accurate.

Let's first see real life battery life scores for the Inspiron 11z before we judge.

 

with 98% battery my laptop is marking 3:17...
the 6 cell is twice...so maybe 5 hours is not too far fetched!

 

Hey Joel, so now that you've had your 11z for a few days how about your pro/con report. thanks

 

According to the Mydellmini forums, this has a single ram slot.

 

A kitten just died.

 

I think we got ours the same day that Joel got his.

My opinions so far:

Pros:
Very good screen- bright and crisp with good viewing angles (with the right driver is important too)

Good keyboard- especially compared to some of the netbooks out there

Decent size/weight/screen size ratio. Not much bigger than some of the 10 inch models and the extra pixels are nice.

Does a decent job on video playing everything up to 720p without a hitch and even a few 1080p have played

Neutral:
Battery Life: with screen at about 60% brightness, wifi on and a mixed combination of Office 2007, Firefox, Windows Media player and a few videos I'm getting right around the 3 hour mark consistently. I really would want the 6 cell battery standard

Cosmetics- not a fan of the shiny black lid, the rest of the machine seems utilitarian

Performance- seems to be ok (and vista maybe part of the problem) but some apps do seem slow like power point and photoshop. Boot time seems above average

Cons:
Ac Adapter- its freaking huge compared to the one that comes with the 10 and adds considerable bulk and weight to the total carry package.

Fan- runs way to much for what is supposed to be a cool running processor and this one gets a very high pitched whine when it's running at full speed (which is often)

Trackpad- I dont like the integrated buttons in the pad. Yes I know apple does it and they do it pretty well, but this implementation of it blows. Just a simple click and drag is hit and miss or you have to go through contortions.

Lack of easy expansion- you have to take the whole thing apart just to get to the RAM. I know they are trying for thin, but sony does this and still makes the memory more user accessible (except maybe on the w series)

Overall- I'd give it a 6 on a 10 scale. When dell gets the CTO going and we get some coupons, this could be a nice unit. Right now the price is the biggest point in it's favor.

For reference, I currently have a Sony TT130, HP DV2, macbook pro 15 and the original 7" eeepc. I have had lots of laptops since the units with 286 processors in them.

 

I agree with desertlap on most points.

So...i disagree in:
Trackpad.. its a good track pad compared the things i have used in other laptops...its the first laptop (windows based) that i would use the trackpad instead of always be with a mouse. I love been able to use the mouse with only one hand. I would have make it a little taller though (at least more square-ish)

expansion. I would have love to have the ram accessible undel the chassis...but having it under the keyboard is a meh point. I would rather had a 2 slot ram expansion though (4 gigs on a stick are kind of expensive)...

AC is big...but i guess when i compare it with the brick on my 1520 and the 60W on works 620 i see it small...but yeah...the mini's adapter would have been awesome!

now...
I installed W7 64 as soon as i got it.
It boot in around a minute, so not too bad.
Only issue so far is the video card...i have try 720 video and its not smooth, it is not slide show slow, but too many jumped frames and slowdowns. Dont know if its because of the video card. I downloaded the drivers from intel web site and dont seems to help.

since this is my first "netbook" i would say i give it 8/10...

love the screen resolution and the weight to size...i think its a perfect combination of size, performance and price. Performance wise the only think that would come close to play 720 video on the market right now is the Lenovo s12 with the Via chipset. Its a direct competition to this one, but its heavier and thicker.

I think the only thing the laptop lack is looks...this would have been a 10 with this performance and price on the Toshiba NB205-N310 body with 11" screen...

 

Thanks a bunch for your reviews! I really appreciate it and for now the 11z is still on my list.

 

Joel, Thank You for the review and also DesertLap - I am looking at getting one & Ireally wish they offered it in colors. But it's nice to know that it will be usable & worth the money. I'm a college student so I have to invest every $ as wisely as I can because there's very little.

 

Before you order this laptop have a look here:
http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-A...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251143693&sr=8-1

Much better CPU, battery and 2 RAM slots.

 

Thank You for the Info Phil. I think I'm going to go with the 11z simply because I will be able to get it for about $350 with my student discounts & free shipping. That will save me about $100 over the Acer. I always carry my charger with me, so hopefully I won't need to rely on it's week 3 cell battery. I can't wait around for Dell to come out with colors, so I'll probably have to "Skin" it.

 

i saw it today...
Oh well... Might be better computer but i paid 50$ over my original budget...i know you could say "for 50 more you could have a better pc" but if i keep going up i would end up with a macbook pro 17!
so i like to think i made a good choice...the 11z its not bad at all and its REALLY comparable...
ram is only one but can use 800 instead of 667
Processor is same speed but have 1 meg cache instead of 3...
battery is smaller, but meh...what can you do...it still give me 3+ hours without the bulk...

so all and all...its better, but not by much...$50 better...maybe...but too late for regrets!

 

Well Celeron 723 may be fast enough but SU3500 has 200 MHz higher clock speed, more cache, lower TDP and supports virtualization.