While not quite as exciting as March's week of
Latitude scoops, we've got ourselves some infos on what look to be Dell's upcoming
Inspiron 1435, 1535 and 1735 consumer laptops. Seems they'll all be sharing the same basic design language, pictured above, and will be privy to some rather expansive aesthetic customization options if you're into that type of thing. Specs are the typical Dell smorgasbord of options, but all three laptops start at around 1-inch thick and taper up to 1.5 inches thick. All three also sport slot-loading drives, with a Blu-ray option, and processors ramp up to Core 2 Duo T5850 2.16GHz chips. 3G options are also available across the lineup, and just about anything else you might find useful in a mid-range laptop. Apparently the 1435 isn't due until October, but the 1735 is coming on June 9 and the 1535 on the 26th of this month.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
131172 @ May 8th 2008 8:55AM
Looking nice... I thought Dell just released the 1420,1520 under a year ago?
Bill @ May 8th 2008 9:07AM
ye, but they were fugly.
This is a step in the right direction for dell. I had lost faith in last year when i saw that the current gereration of inspirons were thicker and uglier than their predecessors. I wanna see more pics!!
OneLove @ May 8th 2008 10:28AM
it seems manufacturers are putting more emphasis on colors than on giving us better hardware.
Tony C @ May 8th 2008 11:44AM
Allowing the customer to bling out their Inspiron notebooks with color panels has been a Dell thing for years... It's a nice quick buck with huge profit margins -- just for a piece of plastic that probably cost them anywhere from $0.25-$1.00 to make.
That said, this is a very nice looking design! I'm glad they went with the tapered wedge and slot-load optical, ala their newest XPS lappies. Why they changed the design so quickly is obvious -- sales are down and they're losing market share. Needed to stop the bleeding as soon as possible.
Not sure I like the edge-to-edge glass option. I'm sure it's a beautiful esthetic/element, but I'd think that would make the LCD part even more fragile and definitely more susceptible to fingerprints.
Bill @ May 8th 2008 11:58AM
Its funny though, even with all the colour options, how many people do you actually see with the coloured lids? Most customers dont bother paying €20 extra for a colored lid.
besides, a monochrome finish is defo the best look for this laptop.
as for the fingerprints... well you shouldn't be touching the screen!
RJ @ May 9th 2008 3:17AM
This looks like a pretty good design rip-off of Lenovo's new range of consumer notebooks
Big Al @ May 9th 2008 10:45AM
Still looks beefy to me, but nice from the top end.
Information Central @ May 14th 2008 5:31AM
Not really: Look at that dumb glossy screen. Even in the glamor shot it's totally obscured by reflections.
What a ridiculous step backward for computing. A marketing disgrace, where the real shame belongs to the customers who are lapping it up instead of demanding usable products and the maintenance of common sense.
Ralph @ May 8th 2008 8:56AM
HDMI or Displayport?
loosely_coupled @ May 27th 2008 1:46AM
HAHHAA.. are you kidding? Dell even just recently REMOVED EXTERNAL DVI PORTS from ALL of their Inspiron line, citing this as a "professional range" feature. That's right.... in 2008 Dell believes customers only need VGA, and that DVI ports are only for "enthusiasts".
Isn't that F'ING UNBELIEVABLE??
BrianB @ May 8th 2008 8:58AM
Looks pretty exciting to me. Just what I needed.
BrianB @ May 8th 2008 9:00AM
Well, the only disappointment is the Macbook-like keyboard.
Information Central @ May 14th 2008 5:33AM
If it has a Delete key, it already has every Mac portable's keyboard beat. It probably sports Page-Up/Down keys too, like pretty much every portable computer except Apple's.
tknisley @ May 8th 2008 8:58AM
A May launch seems unlikely since Dell seemingly would consider launching these in sync with Centrino 2 which isn't out until June at a minimum...
System48 @ May 8th 2008 9:14AM
It's most likely Centrino 2 and if it's not it's a terrible waste of resources for a redesigned Santa Rosa platform.
Technex @ May 8th 2008 9:04AM
Hawt!...
Pochi @ May 8th 2008 9:09AM
These look absolutely awesome. Makes me even more excited to see whatever Eee killer they are cooking up for this summer. Somebody over there is pushing everything in all the right directions.
Bill @ May 8th 2008 9:10AM
doesnt that hinge remind you of the new lenovo ideapads?
James @ May 8th 2008 9:21AM
I saw the same thing looks just like a Lenovo a friend of mine bought. Hmmm wonder if that means something!!!
peekinde @ May 8th 2008 9:58AM
can we get some lenovo fan boys to bash on the dell?
bobartig @ May 8th 2008 11:44AM
The recessed screen hinge is finally picking up in the PC laptop world. I agree that this does look pretty much exactly like the lenovo's display.
James Grasty @ May 8th 2008 1:13PM
It's more that just the hinge it's the whole profile of the notebook. The screen design as well as it's look when it's closed. The thing look almost identical. Crazy
papu @ May 8th 2008 2:06PM
No it reminds me of the hinge on my XPS 1530 its such an awesome design , these laptops look brilliant! backlit keyboard Edge to edge screen! WIN
goodstuff @ May 9th 2008 9:24PM
Nah not enough Lenovo fanboys on earth at the moment. We could get some Apple fanboys though.They'll call anything thats not glossy white inferior.
Rory @ May 8th 2008 9:11AM
FINALLY Dell gets in the game in terms of general consumer laptop aesthetics outside of the xps line. Lookin' great guys.
darkstar @ May 8th 2008 9:18AM
yeah, a Dell that i actually like... i thought i would never see this day. lol
Lein @ May 8th 2008 9:15AM
Rounded corners... HP keyboard, perhaps?
Still looks good otherwise, though.
J @ May 8th 2008 9:15AM
These lappy's might persuade me to get one of these, instead of waiting for Dell to update the XPS M1330 with a blu-ray drive.
platta13 @ May 8th 2008 9:22AM
but slot loading drives.... come on dell... havent you learned from the XPS line.... sending a tech if the drive gets jammed... bad pr and bad for the wallet.
BobTurbo @ May 8th 2008 9:30AM
A PC maker starting to get design right, I never thought I would see the dya.
blomster @ May 8th 2008 9:40AM
Please, please, please offer a matte screen option!
Paul Rivers @ May 8th 2008 11:18AM
"Please, please, please offer a matte screen option!"
Yes, please!!!
jonathan @ May 8th 2008 9:41AM
I ordered a XPS 15" about three months ago before they switched to LED displays...sent it back...JUNK...JUNK JUNK..the keyboard felt like i was typing on FIsherprice keyboard!! CRAP!!!!!
Hellios @ May 8th 2008 9:44AM
Seems I'm the only one who dislikes the design of these, not to mention that this is like their fifth Inspiron that's available right now, that starts with the model number 15**
t8iteasy @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:50PM
The reason why they have"so many" of the same,is because all manufacturers are getting away from dedicated graphics cards.All of these laptops have the video soldered to the MOBO.And none of these line ups are for gaming,just casual internet surfing,that's about all you can do with these new laptops.If you want anything that will play games or have dedicated video cards you will have to fork over the cash.
EricP @ May 8th 2008 9:51AM
Will it be available on the 9th of june in Canada too??
BradVT @ May 8th 2008 9:52AM
So, should I just assume these have integrated graphics? It would be even more appealing to me with some dedicated graphics onboard. I wonder if they'll update the m1330 and 1530 with this new keyboard style.
bob e @ May 8th 2008 9:57AM
These new Dell's look great ~
Joshua.JWilliams @ May 8th 2008 10:02AM
Wow, very good looking laptop indeed. The design is very similar to Lenovo's Ideapad, but with a optical disk drive.
I'm not a big fan of the Macbook keyboard that others have mentioned. I'm surprised their ditching the 1420 and other designs so fast after just barely a year on the market. They weren't awful.... not great, but certainly I've seen much worse out there.
Nice that they're taking the design cues from the XPS lines and moving it more mainstream for all consumers. This means a great looking computer/notebook for a great price. Their outlet center has some of the lowest prices on notebooks I've ever seen.
As a M1330 owner, I wished they'd make the touch pad 2X the size ... like the MacBook size which is plenty large.... :(
que @ May 8th 2008 10:09AM
flush glass screen? sign me up!
Howdy Doody @ May 8th 2008 10:11AM
Man Dell totally rips HP off with these new Inspirons!
legios @ May 8th 2008 11:07AM
They actually look like the Dell XPS line which have been out for over a year.
Andrew @ May 8th 2008 10:18AM
The Inspirons are looking more and more like their XPS line. I wonder if we're due for an XPS redisign as well?
Jherez @ May 8th 2008 10:21AM
I'm wondering the same thing because I'm about to buy a 1530. If the 15 inch XPS is M1530, and this is M1535, doesn't it mean that it's higher up than the XPS?
Andrew @ May 8th 2008 10:30AM
Oh WTF, the 1435 is not being released until October?! Why the hold up?
Bill @ May 8th 2008 10:52AM
how is that like hp?
Surely the mac keyboard, Even the lenovo hinge and flush screen. but in fairness this is nothing like a hp!
MBS @ May 8th 2008 10:55AM
Looks good... hopefully the 17'' version comes with better than WXGA resolution... What's up with that anyways?
Tonnica @ May 8th 2008 11:11AM
This was looking pretty hot to me until I saw what the hinge orientation does to the angle of the screen. I'm nearsighted and even with my glasses on, the farther that top half of the screen angles away from me the less I can read.
Otherwise this is the first Dell laptop I'd ever consider owning.
Not sure if want.
Tony C @ May 8th 2008 11:51AM
I sincerely doubt that the hinge always leaves the LCD in that position when open. Side photo merely shows how far back the panel can tilt -- I'm sure it can rest at any angle you deem necessary for viewing between 0 degrees and what is that... 135 or so?
CosterMonger @ May 8th 2008 11:22AM
I like the design, hate the company.
Dell is starting to understand their products don't have to look as cheaply made as they are.
sorry to all the Dell fans, but I don't like dealing with companies that don't adhere to standards {in the past, I'm not sure if they've changed it's just that Dell left a bad taste in my mouth long ago}.