by Jerry Jackson
The all new Dell Inspiron 13 (1318) follows the design direction of the new Studio series, as well as the XPS M1330 and XPS M1530. This sleek looking notebook offers a slot-loading optical drive, and is available at both the Dell website as well as Wal-Mart and Walmart.com. With a starting price of less than $700, this notebook is destined to be quite popular with students and average consumers looking for something more portable than a 15-inch laptop.
Dell Inspiron 13 (1318) specifications:
* Screen: 13.3" WXGA TrueLife Glossy
* Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core T2390 (1.86GHz, 533FSB, 1MB Cache)
* Memory: 2GB RAM
* Storage: 160GB HDD (5400rpm)
* Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW
* Wireless: 802.11b/g
* Graphics: Intel X3100 Integrated Graphics
* Built-in web camera
* Battery: 11.1V 56Wh
* Dimensions: 12.52" x 9.37" x 1"/1.51"
* Weight: 4lbs 13.5oz
* Retail Price: $698
Build and Design
The design of the Inspiron 13 is remarkably similar to the XPS M1330 and really sets it apart from the older Inspiron notebooks. The design is, in a word, attractive. The sloping look and glossy blue lid are immediately attention grabbing. The slope is akin to a fast car tear drop look. The screen hinges use the same rounded design found on the XPS M1330, but this time they're black plastic with metal core instead of a brushed metal exterior. The wedge-like angles to the chassis design likewise make the Inspiron 13 look like it has the same DNA as the XPS line.
Once opened the Inspiron 13 provides a conservative, black plastic design. The buttons along the top edge are touch sensitive but don't light up with a soft glow when pressed like the media buttons on the XPS line. The black colored keyboard and textured black plastic palm rests are nice, but the palm rests are made of a textured black plastic that looks quite cheap and has the horrible side effect of picking up skin oils and sweat ... making your attractive notebook look tarnished and dirty.
The chassis is quite rigid with metal support in just the right places and little or no flex on the palm rests or anywhere on the base of the notebook. The back of the LCD does have some flex and it's possible to produce ripples on the screen if you press firmly on the back of the panel. The hinges are extemely firm and smooth and help give the Inspiron 13 a quality look and feel.
Overall we have to say that the Inspiron 13, like the XPS M1330, is a visually appealing notebook with solid build quality.
Screen
The screen on the Inspiron 13 rates about average, with the only drawback of the panel being poor viewing angles. Screen brightness is great for around the office or classroom, but isn't quite bright enough for outside use on a sunny day. Not only would the screen brightness be fighting against the sun, but the glossy panel would probably blind you if you were not able to get into some shade. Indoors, the screen doesn't present such problems. It's glossy in nature so you'll get some reflection, but the rich and bold colors that come with having this type of screen finish is worth it.
While the direct view or horizonal viewing angles looked fine, the vertical viewing angles were hardly acceptable. At the upper viewing angles the screen washes out and loses contrast. At lower viewing angles the colors severely invert and at extreme angles the entire panel goes nearly black. While extreme horizontal angles weren't perfect, it was the extreme vertical angles that killed this screen.
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