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More for Less
The base model of the Dell Inspiron 14z has the same great
looks as the higher-priced model, but even longer battery life.
When we reviewed the $829 model of the Dell
Inspiron 14z, we praised its sleek and stylish aluminum
design and fast performance. However, its
price was on the high side for a budget-conscious
consumer looking for a portable system. At $599,
the base configuration has the same slick chassis,
but a less powerful Core i3 processor, only 4GB of
RAM, and no backlit keyboard.
The only markings on the outside of the 14z are
a chrome-colored Dell logo situated in the center
of the lid and a single Inspiron logo stamped in
the bottom-left corner. The black coloring continues
onto the deck, where it
contrasts nicely with the 14z’s
black keyboard and bezel.
During our heat test, which
involves streaming a full-screen
Hulu video for 15 minutes, the
14z kept its cool. Between the
H and G keys, the 14z only
reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit,
about the same temperature
we measured in the center of
the system’s underside.
Benchmarks
The Inspiron 14z’s chiclet-style keyboard offered
excellent responsiveness and tactile feedback. The
base model doesn’t come with a backlit keyboard,
but we think it’s worth the $25 upgrade.
Navigating around the screen with the 14z’s
3.1 x 1.7-inch Synaptics touchpad was smooth and
accurate, but the pad had trouble with multitouch
gestures. Two-finger scrolling and three-finger
flicking worked fairly well, but pinch-to-zoom and
rotate were inconsistent at best.
The 14z’s 14-inch 1366 x 768 glossy display
provided great image quality when viewed headon.
Colors were vibrant and text appeared sharp.
While watching a trailer for The Avengers, we
noted plenty of contrast, and images were crisp
and clear. The display’s glossy coating, however,
Score
Category
Avg.
PCMark 07 1,815 2,171
3DMark06 3,509 4,722
LAPTOP Battery Test
(h:m)
LAPTOP Transfer Test
(MBps)
Spreadsheet Test
(min:sec)*
7:15 5:29
21.5 27.8
8:57 6:10
Boot Time (min:sec)* 1:06 1:05
W.O.W.
(autodetect/max)
28/12 fps 77/30 fps
* Lower is better
kicked back reflections.
Images also washed out
significantly when viewed
from a modest angle.
All of the ports on the 14z
are protected by flap covers.
While this helps prevent dust
from entering your system,
these covers just got in the
way and slowed us down.
A 2.2-GHz Intel Core i3-
2330M processor and 4GB of
RAM powered the system to a score of 1,815 in
PCMark07, about 300 points below the thin-andlight
average. The $829 version of the Inspiron
14z, which has a Core i5 processor, scored much
higher. Regardless, if all
you’re doing is surfing the
web, checking Facebook,
and doing e-mail, the Core
i3 model will have all the
power you need.
The Inspiron 14z’s integrated
Intel HD 3000 GPU
certainly won’t break any
graphics performance records,
but it managed to hold its own
on our testing. In the 3DMark06
benchmark, the 14z notched
3,509, which is below the
category average, but on par
with the HP Pavilion dm4t.
While playing World of
Warcraft with the graphics set to
autodetect, the 14z managed
28 frames per second. That’s
The Inspiron 14z cuts a slim figure,
but the port covers are annoying.
equal to the 27 fps turned in by the HP dm4t, but
nowhere near category average of 77 fps.
The one area where the starting model of the
14z beats its higher-priced version is endurance.
The $599 model lasted 7 hours and 15 minutes
on the LAPTOP Battery Test, nearly an hour longer
than the $829 version. That also beats the category
average of 5:29.
We liked the Inspiron 14z at $829, but the $599
version is an even better choice for bargain hunters.
While you give up some performance, you get
an hour more of battery life in return. We’re just
not fans of the port covers or the way the laptop’s
touchpad handles some multitouch gestures. Other
than those minor issues, the Dell Inspiron 14z is a
very good value. —Michael A. Prospero
Dell $599
★★★★☆
www.dell.com
CPU: 2.2-GHz Intel Core i3-2330M Operating
System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
RAM/Expandable to: 4GB/8GB Hard Drive
Size/Speed: 500GB/5,400 rpm Optical
Drive: DVD SuperMulti Drive Display Size/
Resolution: 14.1 inches/1366 x 768 Graphics/Video
Memory: Intel HD 3000/256MB
shared Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Ports: Two
USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, eSATA, HDMI, Mini
DisplayPort, Ethernet, headphone, mic, Kensington
Lock slot Card Slots: 4-in-1 memory card
reader Size: 13.6 x 9.7 x 0.9 inches Weight:
4.4 pounds Warranty/Support: One-year
limited/24/7 toll-free phone
Sleek design
Good battery life
Affordable
Annoying port covers
Below-average performance
Some multitouch gestures hard to execute
Get more online
Watch it Work
44
Laptop | January 2012
www.laptopmag.com