Dell has used the ultra-low voltage Celeron 723 and the GS45 chipset on its new netbook, the Inspiron 11z. The Celeron processor when paired with X4500 integrated graphics has a definite advantage over the Atom processors common in netbooks.
Dell Inspiron 11z Specifications
Operating system: Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit)
Processor: Intel Celeron 723 (1.2GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB Cache)
Chipset: Intel GS45 + ISH9M chipset
Display: 11.6" WXGA LED-backlit display at 1366x768
Graphics: Intel X4500 Integrated Graphics
Memory: 2GB DDR2-800 SDRAM (1 Slot)
Weight: 3.05lbs
Build and Design
The Dell Inspiron 11z comes with a plain, black screen cover and chassis. The machine looks neat and elegant with no superfluous features inside. The build quality seems average, but the chassis still feels durable. Dell has placed the user-accessible components just under the keyboard. You can easily upgrade or replace components by removing the keyboard.
Screen and Speakers
The Inspiron 11z has a 11.6 inch screen with 1366x768 pixels. The LED backlit display is great with good color reproduction. Horizontal viewing angles are excellent, but vertical viewing angles aren’t very good. Display has good viewing brightness, but outdoor viewing can still be limited.
The speakers sound reasonably well. Peak volumes are good for watching a movie or listening to music.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Inspiron 11z has a nearly full-size keyboard which is very comfortable to type on. The all-in-one touchpad comes with multitouch controls, but unfortunately it doesn’t work well. While this is a problem that can be solved by using an external mouse, it takes away from the portability of the netbook.
Ports and Features
There are three USB ports, audio jacks, an SDHC card slot, HDMI and LAN connector. Dell supplies a very good power adapter with this netbook. While it will last longer than the average netbook adapters, it is pretty big.
Performance
The Dell Inspiron 11 has a Celeron processor, which is better than the Atom processors found on most netbooks. Performance is strictly OK for most tasks around the house. You can surf the net, process MS Office documents and watch videos.
Battery Life
The Inspiron 11z has a 3-cell battery. At 3.5 hours, the battery life is average.
Pros:
Integrated X4500 graphics with HDMI out
Good screen
Nice keyboard
Cons:
Bad touchpad
Weak performance from the Celeron 723
