The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is a bit confused. It packs an Intel Atom processor, which makes it a netbook. But it also has a 12-inch screen, which exceeds our definition of what a netbook can be. On one hand it's a natural evolution of the genre in an ever growing screen size arms race, topping the 10-inchers like a razor company adding another blade. On the other, the Inspiron Mini 12 reaches a size and pricepoint that makes it comparable to far more capable systems from Dell in the same pricerange.

But rather than focus on philosophy, I'll say that the Inspiron Mini 12 feels better than any netbook I've used to date...even if it cheated a bit in the process.

Design

The build of the Mini 12 is excellent. Even with the extended battery, it feels light and easy to toss around. But it's more than the weight that makes it so comfortable to carry. Its bottom has a sandpapery texture, which grips a hand with confidence.

You'll also notice that the side profile is tapered along the bottom edges. I don't know that it makes any difference in how the computer actually rests on a table, but it looks nice enough.

The Mini 12's keyboard is still not full-sized, but it's adequate to feel comfortable and satisfyingly clicky. Meanwhile, the trackpad does leave something to be desired. The texture is simply off to me, simultaneously smooth and bumpy, it almost feels like a skin rash. The right and left mouse buttons below tend to recess when pressed more than any laptop I've ever used. It's and off-putting sensation at first, but I grew to appreciate the mechanical feel.

As for the screen, it's a luxury to use. The experience is completely different than an 8.9-inch display that you find in most standard netbooks nowadays (including own Dell's Mini 9). There's decent color, solid contrast, and sharp 1280X800 resolution...but just moderate brightness. The max setting was just adequately bright, which considering the fact that LCDs fade with time, is something to keep in mind-especially if you like to fry your eyes like I do.

The biggest surprise of the testing had to be how cool the system ran. The bottom didn't heat my lap at all, feeling only lukewarm to the touch. I can only assume that the larger case mixed with a low wattage processor dissipates heat very well. However the engineering worked out, I'll take it.

But if there was one thing I would change, it would be the charging and power light. It sits on the hinge in a prominent position that you can see even when closed, but it's far too dim, and it's viewable from a very limited range of angles. Put it this way, for the first day I had the system, I thought Dell had omitted this light altogether.

Ultimately though, it's just a nice looking machine that feels great to put your hands on, a far cry from the humble original Eee and something you'll be proud to pull out at board meetings and pretentious coffee shops alike.

Function

So here's the rub: While I love the Dell design, the hardware/software combination has slowed the Mini 12 to barely usable levels. The model I tested was the $550 base system with a 1.33GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM and 40GB hard drive. That system should be alright for XP (though we'd love to see a 2GB RAM upgrade option), but it's just not enough to power Vista. And you can only buy the system with Vista. The system crawls with constant multi-second stalls, and effective multitasking is pretty much impossible. Sadly, there's not much more to say on the topic. Simple mental math tells us that this system shouldn't be running Vista as it skirts the minimum requirements of Home Basic, and our real world testing shows us the same thing. Of course, Vista alone doesn't mean you should pass over the Mini 12. Just expect to reinstall the OS with the purchase and come to terms with the fact that your paying licensing rights for an OS that you won't use.

Battery Life

I tested the battery life through MPEG4 video playback with the default processing settings and the screen at max brightness (max, to me, is the ideal viewing brightness).

Base 3-cell Battery - 1 hour, 20 minutes

Extended 6-cell battery - 4 hours, 2 minutes

At a glance, this 12-inch Dell system looks to about as power efficient as the 10-inch MSI Wind, though it loses about 20 minutes on the 3-cell battery (we're guessing through a combination of more computational rigorous testing methods and a larger screen). Keep in mind that if you expect to hang out around a plug, the AC adapter is quite light, lacking any big power brick to speak of.

Back to Square One

Without opening the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 box, I would have expected exactly what I encountered-a solidly built system that shouldn't be running Vista. But even loaded with XP, and even in the $600 configuration that we'd recommend (1.6GHz Atom, 60GB hard drive, 1GB RAM and 6-cell battery), the system still begs the question of value. A slightly smaller, equally powered MSI Wind will run you $350. And you can get a slightly bigger Core2Duo Dell laptop for $600 easy.

It's true. From a performance standpoint alone, there's almost no question that the Dell Mini 12 isn't "worth it." But if you don't want to squint at a screen yet you still want a system that breaks the 3-pound barrier, then it's hard not to be a little infatuated with the Mini 12. Just rip Vista off that thing as quickly as possible.

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The Dell Inspiron i1464-4382OBK ($749.98 list) is a well-balanced, mainstream laptop that should hold wide appeal for Staples shoppers perusing the shelves for a modern, versatile laptop. Its 14-inch display and sub-five-pound weight mean the laptop is big enough for use as your primary computer and light enough for daily travel. The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK is built on Intel's latest mobile platform, featuring the new Core i3 processor and integrated Intel GMA HD graphics. It doesn't offer blazing performance, but it is competitive among similarly-priced laptops and should stand the test of time better than a model based on older technology. In addition to the laptop's size and weight, we also like its sleek yet understated design and the surprisingly big sound that the speakers emit. The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK's merely average battery life won't help the laptop win any converts, but there are ways to fix that on Dell's Website (you can upgrade to a bigger battery and Core i5 processor for $100 more). Whether shopping for the home, small office, or college campus, the Dell Inspiron 1464-4382OBK deserves a spot on your short list. As such, it earns our Editors' Choice for budget laptop.

Design

The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK features a standard black plastic chassis that offers a bit of window dressing in the shape of a faux brushed aluminum keyboard deck. The lid and screen bezel are glossy black, and the keyboard is matte black. The keys offer good travel and a pleasant, clack-free typing experience. Likewise, the mouse buttons are quiet when clicked. The touchpad blends in with the rest of the faux aluminum deck; slightly recessed edges and a matte finish help your mousing finger stay on point. Absent is a strip of media control keys above the keyboard; the F keys handle such duties, though Dell reverses the standard order so you are not required to press the Function key when pausing, skipping to the next track, or adjusting the volume.

   

MoreThe laptop measures 9.6 by 14.9 by 1.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.8 pounds. It's heavier than the ultra-thin, 14-inch Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810TZ-4120 ($629.99 list, ), which weighs only 4.2 pounds, but lighter than a more typical 14-inch laptop, like the 5.2-pound HP Pavilion dv4-2153cl ($749.99, ). Larger 15.6-inch models typically weight about a pound more, hovering around the 6-pound mark, while 13.3-inch models weigh about a pound less, in the 3.5- to 4.0-pound range, though many jettison the optical drive to save weight. The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK features an optical drive in the form of a standard dual-layer DVD burner. In the end, The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK feels solidly constructed and far from bulky. It's about as big a laptop as you'll schlep comfortably with any regularity.

Specifications

Type :  General Purpose

Operating System :  Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

Processor Name :  Intel Core i3 330M

Processor Speed : 2.13 GHz

RAM : 4 GB

Weight : 4.8 lb

Screen Size : 14.1 inches

Screen Size Type : widescreen

Graphics Card : Intel GMA HD

Storage Capacity : 500 GB

Networking Options : 802.11n

Primary Optical Drive : Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

Features

The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK features a 14.1-inch, LED-backlit LCD display. The LEDs produce a bright image, and they are more energy-efficient than the traditional fluorescent lamps used in LCDs. The screen features a 1366-by-768 native resolution, which is standard for 14.1-inch display. It's also the same resolution that you'll typically find on larger 15.6-inch laptops; compared with those models with that resolution, text, and icons appear a bit smaller on the Inspiron i1464-4382OBK. We found Web pages and Word docs to be quite legible, but those with less than 20/20 vision might want to consider a 15.6-inch laptop instead. The larger screen size also gives a bit more cinematic feel to movies, but we enjoyed the visual experience the Inspiron i1464-4382OBK provides as an entertainment device.

Aiding the enjoyment of movies—and music—is the Inspiron i1464-4382OBK's audio subsystem. Featuring SRS Premium Sound, the laptop's two integrated stereo speakers produce loud and clear sound. It rivals the sound of larger 17.3-inch modelsthat come equipped with a small subwoofer. With just two speakers, the Inspiron i1464-4382OBK surprised and impressed us with its relatively huge sound. This is a laptop that you may use to listen to an album here or there without plugging in an external set or speakers or your headphones.

You can connect the laptop to an external display, using either VGA or HDMI. Other connections on board include three USB 2.0 ports, a media card reader, and an Ethernet jack. You won't find an eSATA port, which is an increasingly common connection on laptops, and an ExpressCard slot is also missing. An 802.11n antenna handles your Wi-Fi needs.

A Web cam sits above the display, and Dell includes a facial-recognition app that you can use in lieu of a password to log on to the system. It's of dubious value, but it is fun to play around with. Lastly, the laptop features a roomy 500GB hard drive. It's one notch larger than the 320GB hard drive found in many laptops at this price, such as the HP dv4-2153cl. The Dell's drive is also a lot less cluttered with bloatware—annoying software trials and offers and shortcuts—than the HP models.

Customers who buy this system from Staples can avail themselves of several services the retailer offers. This includes setting the new system up, data transfer from your old PC to your new one, software installation, and tech support and protection plans that range in price from $14.99 to $169.99.

Performance

 The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK features the successor to Intel's Core 2 Duo chip, the dual-core Core i3, which is part of the "Arrandale" family that also comprises the Core i5 and Core i7. The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK uses the 2.13GHz Core i3-330M processor, which features Intel's GMA HD integrated graphics, and 4GB of DDR3 memory. On PCMark Vantage, it was 30% faster than the Dell Inspiron i1545-4583JBK ($639.98 list, ), which uses an older Pentium Dual Core T4400 chip, and 43% faster than the Core 2 Duo-based Editors' Choice Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch ($1,199 direct, ). Compared with the AMD Turion II-based Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025 ($829.98 list, ) the Inspiron i1464-4382OBK was 22% faster on PCMark Vantage. Looking in the other direction, the Inspiron i1464-4382OBK trailed the Core i5-based Acer Aspire AS5740-6378 ($650 street, ) by 16% on PCMark Vantage and by 18% on Cinebench.

For further comparison, let's take the Dell Inspiron 14z ($824 direct, ), a configurable model sold direct by Dell that uses an ultra-low-voltage Core 2 Duo SU7300, and hold its performance up against that of the i1464-4382OBK. It presents an interesting comparison of the tradeoffs in performance and battery life between a Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) processor and a mainstream CPU like the Core i3. The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK more than doubled the 14z's Cinebench R10 score and posted a PCMark Vantage score that was 70% better. These figures show the drastic difference in performance between these two processors, but we can't end this comparison without also looking at battery life.

The Inspiron i1464-4382OBK ran for 3 hours 31 minutes on MobileMark 2007, whereas the Inspiron 14z more than doubled that time, running for 7 hours 11 minutes. Compared with other laptops with standard-voltage CPUs, the Inspiron i1464-4382OBK 's MobileMark score was thoroughly average. Dell'sWebsite has a configuration with a bigger 85WH battery (9-cell), so this is a recommended upgrade for frequent travelers.

While a CULV-based laptop offers a huge advantage in battery life for restless types and others prone to wonder great distances from wall outlets, a Core i3-based laptop like the Dell Inspiron i1464-4382OBK offers a well-balanced, modern configuration in a well-designed, versatile 14-inch chassis. This particular configuration neither the faster nor the longest-running laptop in its class, but it does everything well and looks—and sounds—good doing it. Available at https://www.trade2me.com/

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