Dell Laptops, Notebooks Computers Australia

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Dell's Inspiron 9400 is a very powerful machine thanks to the new Intel Core Duo processor, but Dell could have put more effort into distinguishing it from the previous Inspiron 9300 model.

Intel Core Duo T2400 (1.83Ghz) Mobile Processor
1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
80GB 5,400rpm SATA Hard Drive
24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
17" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) Wide Screen LCD Panel
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 Graphics with 256MB Memory
v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11a/b/g Wireless
Six USB2.0, One FireWire, 5-in-1 Card Reader, ExpressCard/54 Slot
15.5" x 11.3" x 1.6" @ 8 lbs.
Windows XP Home SP2 with Word Perfect 12 Word Processor

1/23/06 – Dell is one of the first companies to release a notebook based around the new Intel Core Duo mobile processor. This is the first processor developed for notebooks that features a dual-core design that helps improve multitasking performance. The Duo T2400 (1.83GHz) processor in the Inspiron 9400 should be able to keep pace with the fastest Pentium M processors yet still conserve battery life. The processor is matched up with 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 that should let it run all applications smoothly.

Storage for the Inspiron 9400 is a bit lacking. While the 80GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive provides very good performance, it is disappointing to see Dell ship the base system with an older 24x CD-RW/DVD combo drive over a DVD burner. The system does feature a 5-in-1 media card reader and six total USB 2.0 ports to allow connections to portable storage and other peripherals.

Graphics on the Inspiron 9400 are quite strong. The large 17” wide screen LCD panel has a 1680x1050 resolution that is an excellent compromise between resolution and workspace. This is matched up with a high end NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 graphics to give this excellent 3D graphics performance.

What the Inspiron has in graphics and processing, it lacks in originality and extras. It may have been better to give it a more compelling design like the XPS series rather than looking like the older 9300. It also does not come standard with productivity software that adds to its already hefty price tag.

Penny-pinching no longer means making sacrifices, thanks to the Dell Inspiron 6000. This is one of the best notebooks you can currently get for less than $1,000 ($999 at time of testing), and is our new Editors' Choice for desktop-replacement value notebooks.

The notebook is not exactly thin and light, at 7.0 pounds, but you do get a 15.4-inch widescreen display, which is great for movie watching. (If you're looking for a smaller value notebook to travel with, check out our lightweight EC winner, the Averatec AV3270-EE1.) A set of DVD player controls sit in the front panel (Play/Pause, Stop, Rwd, Fwd, Volume Control). The Inspiron 6000 also comes with the Dell Media Experience software for organizing and managing digital media.

This system has everything the value notebook user needs. Like the smaller and lighter Averatec AV3270-EE1, it comes with a DVD±RW—a rare value offering. The Inspiron 6000 has a multitude of connectivity options, including four USB ports, FireWire and S-Video Out ports, and an SD slot. To top it all off, it also includes a fast, 60GB 5,400-rpm hard drive instead of the slower 4,200-rpm drives offered by its peers.

The Inspiron 6000 was the only one that could pull together a sub-$1,000 system with Intel's latest-generation Centrino solution—Pentium M 730 (1.6GHz) with 512MB DDR2 400 RAM, and 128MB Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 GM. This combo rocketed the Inspiron's performance to the top, way past the Averatec AV3270-EE1 with its 1.6-GHz Mobile AMD Sempron 2800+ and the HP Pavilion ze2001 with a last-generation, 1.5-GHz Pentium M 715. The Inspiron's BatteryMark score was a very impressive 5 hours 52 minutes.

Dell has never hit the value sweet spot like this before, always trumped by its competition. This time around, however, things are different. Just remember that the sub-$1,000 price tag is only available if you punch in Dell's e-code (1111-i6000PC), for a limited time only. (You can't configure this system for this price on the site.) With this in mind, even the most frugal shoppers will find it hard to pass up the Inspiron 6000

- "...the above average thickness of the unit - its dimensions are 330 x 244 x 38mm - give it a far sturdier feel than other similarly priced units."

- "The 630m's MobileMark2005 scores place it at the top of its class in terms of both performance and battery life."

- "The 630m comes standard with a one year on-site parts and labour warranty. Telephone support is available during normal working hours, and if necessary, Dell promises to dispatch a technician to your home on the next business day. Dell also provides online support that includes an extensive knowledge base and various tutorials."

- "Buyers can upgrade their warranty plan to two or three years, and these plans can be customised to include features like night/weekend service, accident damage (e.g. spillage) and theft. More information regarding these packages can be found at Dell's services page."

- "All things considered, Dell's Inspiron 630m is undoubtedly the most impressive sub-$1500 notebook we've tested to date. Its battery life blitzes the competition, and its performance and feature-set is also top notch. Highly recommended."

Dell Laptops, Notebooks, Inspirons, Computers Australia

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