New Dell Inspiron 1464
Several months did I prayed to get a timing of buying a new laptop. Yes, I thought I have outgrown my 3-year old Asus Barebone S62Fp. Then, the Kadayawan celebration in Davao city was just the right time for me. Here below is the specs of my new Dell.
Dell Inspiron 14 (1464) Specifications:
* Processor: Intel Core i3 330M (2.13GHz, 1066MHz, 3MB L3 Cache)
* OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
* Memory: 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
* Storage: Samsung 320GB 5400rpm HDD
* Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD
* Display: 14.0” HD (1366×768) White LED Display, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 512MB and webcam
* Optical Drive: 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD/-RW/R) with Dual-Layer
* Wireless: Intel Wireless 1397WLAN
* Battery: 6-cell Lithium Ion battery (48 WHr)
* Dimensions: 13.39 x 9.55 x 1.27 inches (WxDxH)
* Weight: 4.8 lbs
* Price: $750
Build and Design
The design of the Inspiron 14 hasn’t changed much in the last year since Dell released the Inspiron 14, Inspiron 14z and Studio 14z laptops. We’re calling this laptop the “Inspiron 14″ and it’s worth mentioning that Dell markets this system as the “Inspiron 14″ as well as the “Inspiron 1464.” Dell Inspiron 14 looks cool and isprobably durable enough for desktop replacement work, but the heavy use of thin plastics certainly doesn’t help the laptop feel as durable as it could be.
Screen
The 14-inch high-definition (1366 x 768) panel on the Dell Inspiron 14 displays generally good colors but contrast wasn’t as impressive. Horizontal viewing angles are extremely good, so you won’t have any trouble sharing a movie with the person sitting next to you on a plane. Vertical viewing angles are average or below average with colors quickly washing out when viewed from above and colors begining to distort and invert as you move the screen back.
Speakers
The stereo speakers produce average sound quality and are located beneath the front edge of the notebook palmrests firing downward at your lap. I usually call this type of audio “crotch speakers” because the speakers aren’t pointed up toward the user. If you’re using the Inspiron 14 on a desk then the audio from the speakers “bounces” off the hard desk surface and it sounds okay, but if you’re using this PC as a “laptop” then the sound is going to be muffled.
Bottom line, the speakers aren’t horrible … but the location isn’t helping matters. You’ll probably want to use a good set of headphones with this notebook, and the headphone jack produces clear, distortion-free sound.
Keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys with acceptable key spacing and an excellent depth to the key throw but I later I knew and I wasn’t aware, Num Lock feature isn’t available so I can’t make Alt 164 for some lastname of my students.
Touchpad
The multi-touch, gesture-based touchpad is pretty average for a 14-inch notebook and the dual touchpad buttons have deep feedback with quiet clicks. The touchpad itself is an ALPS model that uses Dell proprietary touchpad drivers. The touchpad was reasonably responsive with good sensitivity and very little lag.
Ports and Features
The port selection on the Inspiron 14 is pretty average for a budget 14-inch notebook with one or two exceptions. Dell included three USB 2.0 ports, VGA and HDMI video out ports, Ethernet, and a multi-format memory card reader. The Inspiron 14 lacks an ExpressCard slot, FireWire, and eSATA, so if those ports are important to you then you’ll need to look elsewhere.
