Dell Unveils Inspiron 11z: Better Than Netbook?

News
By Marcus Yam
published

Is this a better netbook than most netbooks?

We've heard for some time now that Intel's CULV (consumer ultra low voltage) chips would pave the way for thin and light, but affordable notebooks. Today Dell officially unveiled the Inspiron 11z, which appears to straddle the line between netbook and notebook.

Like some of the netbooks that also offer 11-inch screens, the Inspiron 11z is similarly affordably priced starting at $399. That sub-$400 cost will buy you the following:

  • Intel Celeron 723 processor (1.2GHz)
  • 2 GB memory
  • 250 GB hard Drive
  • Built in Wi-Fi, 1.3MP Webcam
  • 11.6-inch HD (1366x768) display
  • 28WHr battery with approximately 3 hours of battery life
  • Windows Vista Home Premium WITH free upgrade kit to Windows 7

With the cheaper and faster Inspiron 11z creeping into the Mini netbook territory, it suddenly makes sense now why Dell discontinued the Mini 12.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
35 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cmmcnamara
    Bah I've been wanting a netbook but I won't buy one until NVIDIA Ion versions start coming out.
    Reply
  • cadder
    Needs a dual core processor, a little more ram, and more battery.
    Reply
  • felipetga
    I would get one with an atom 330 dualcore and 9400M chipset.
    Are there any interferences by Intel to sell atom with the ION platform??
    Reply
  • Ramar
    Three hours of battery life? No thanks.
    Reply
  • Major7up
    I might be able to get behind this but I'd have to see the full spec sheet.
    Reply
  • IzzyCraft
    RamarThree hours of battery life? No thanks.Seriously long bat life is suppose to be a backbone of netbooks.
    Reply
  • tipoo
    cadderNeeds a dual core processor, a little more ram, and more battery.

    Yeah, and throw in a 15 inch screen and a 7200 RPM hard drive...Oh wait, its not a netbook anymore.
    Reply
  • sciggy
    Higher resolution screens damn it! I can't believe that everyone is seriously ok with these low res lcds.
    Reply
  • ebattleon
    i am withholding my opinion until tom's gets their hands on it.
    Reply
  • Ryun
    The specs look pretty similar to the Gateway LT3103u I just picked up, though I got a 6-cell battery that lasts me a good 5 hours (whole notebook cost me $20 less too). Since that celeron is based on the core architecture it should make for a very capable notebook/netbook though a 6 cell is pretty much a must.
    Reply