Dell Inspiron 11z Review

The Dell Inspiron 11z: Is It A Netbook To Take Home (Or Anywhere You Go)?

Netbooks have become popular strictly because of their portability and wide connection options. With a mini notebook computer in your bag, you can surf the net, type out an urgent email, go online to chat via webcam, or playback a video presentation with ease. Although most netbook models have screen and keyboard sizes that are too small for comfort (based on the average user), most people opt to accept and compromise because they need the compactness that these little devices provide.

This is where the Dell Inspiron 11z comes in. It took our attention after getting a number 1 place for 11 to 12 inch netbooks in a Consumer Reports article. It is still considerably smaller than an average notebook, but with its 11.6 inch screen (hence the name), it is also larger than pretty much all netbook computers out there. So how does the Dell Inspiron measure against the other? We did our research to help you decide.

Size Matters

The 11 inch screen of this Dell computer meant two basic things: a larger screen and resolution, and wider space for a full keyboard. Dell’s mini laptop offering now boasts of a 1366 x 768 display, instead of the standard 1024 x 600 that other netbooks have. This meant less scrolling and more visibility for enjoying websites, watching videos, reading documents, and even some instant photo editing. We found that to be a plus.

Keyboard wise, the Dell Inspiron 11z has now the advantage of having extra keys on the right for Page Up and Down, Home and End, which other mini notebook computer models don’t have. Typing was comfortable and easy on the full-sized keyboard. The left and right click buttons are integrated on the touchpad, which is still the same size as that on its smaller sibling the Dell Inspiron 10.

Although some users prefer this integration, scrolling through without accidently clicking or hitting these buttons could take some practice. Alternately, you could choose to use a USB mouse instead to make scrolling and browsing easier. But still this is a minor discomfort and we appreciated how the bigger size made typing and viewing comfortable – without taking away the lightness and ultra-thin dimensions of the device.

Performance Matters

The 1.3GHz Intel Celeron 743 CULV processor promises standard to above average computing speed on this netbook, depending on the load of applications one would have on. Upon testing, it was found that it did a fairly reliable job of booting office applications, playing back video, running music, and surfing online with minimal to no hang ups.

The hardware is “larger” compared to other netbooks – a built-in 2GB RAM and 320GB hard disk drive. These specs are starting to approach the contents of regular-sized laptop computers, so we can say that although it’s not a necessary addition to a portable device, it’s a good catch if you’re looking for a lower-priced alternative to getting a full laptop.

Conclusion

The bigger size of the Dell Inspiron 11z does lead to bigger physical perks, but performance wise it is still similar to smaller mini notebook computers. All in all it’s a solid contender if you want a portable computer that is easier on the pocket.