Dell launches XPS M1330, new Inspiron notebooks

Dell today officially unveiled its home notebooks based on Intel's faster Santa Rosa tech, headlined by the gaming-oriented XPS M1330 (pictured). Following not too long after the company's own confirmation, the 13.3-inch widescreen system is both one of Dell's fastest-ever small notebooks and one of the most portable in the entire class: the body's thickest point is no larger than 1.33 inches, and a complete system weighs just under four pounds. The new XPS also takes the design upscale, Dell says. Aside from a new, one-hinge shape, the shell is painted either in a glossy pearl white or a micro-satin black or red.

Like most of the XPS line, the M1330 is said to be a technology showcase. The LCD can be optionally fitted with an LED-backlit display for better color and battery life; buyers can also pick a 32GB flash-based drive for shockproofing or 3G wireless through AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon in the US. A 128MB GeForce 8400M GS is an option for faster 3D, the company says. Intel's Santa Rosa comes into play through the choice of up to a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of memory, X3100 graphics (on basic models), and the option of 802.11n wireless.

A base model is available today at $1,299 starting with a new low-cost 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB of memory, a 120GB hard drive, and a DVD burner.

Also upgraded today is the company's wider-ranging Inspiron series: the 14-inch 1420, 15.4-inch 1520, and 17-inch 1720 also pack the new Intel technology and have a more conventional redesign with the added touch of several color options for the lid. While going without LED screens, each of the portables also has the option of Blu-Ray for movie playback; the Inspiron 1420 is the smallest Blu-Ray notebook to date, according to Dell's specs.

Stock performance is the same regardless of screen size. A stock model ships with a 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a DVD/CD-RW combo drive; adding Blu-Ray boosts the price by $700, while most systems also have the choice of faster CPUs and larger storage as well as dedicated graphics, which top out with a 256MB GeForce 8600M GT on 15- and 17-inch systems. Prices start at $819 for the 1420, $899 for the 1520, and $1,049 for the flagship 1720. AMD-based versions of the larger notebooks with 1.6GHz Turion 64 X2s and 160GB hard drives start at $1,297 and $1,388 respectively.