May 6 - 2:50pm EDT   Dell this afternoon introduced a rare variant on its home notebooks. The Inspiron 1525 Mike Ming Editions each get graffiti-influenced artwork by their Brooklyn-based namesake on the outer lid, personalizing the systems beyond the solid colors and stock prints that are normally available for the 15.4-inch notebooks. Regardless of the trim level, users can either pick from the monochrome-effect "Bunch O Surfers" or the multicolored "Sea Sky." [full story]

April 10 - 11:15am EDT   Dell this morning revealed that Canada would be the next to see the fruits of its retail initiative. Beginning late this week, the company will sell several of its desktop and notebook models in multiple large retailers for the country, including Best Buy, Future Shop, and Staples. The exact mixture of systems will vary by store but should include the Inspiron 530, its slimline 530s equivalent, and the XPS 420 for desktops; notebooks will include both the Inspiron 1525 as well as the XPS M1330 (pictured) and M1530. [full story]

March 28 - 9:55am EDT   Living up to an earlier promise, Dell started the weekend by introducing what it says is the first notebook below the $1,000 mark to come with a Blu-ray drive. The 15.4-inch Inspiron 1525 now has the option of either a Blu-ray combo drive limited to burning DVDs and CDs or else a full Blu-ray burner; with the former option, the system price can dip as low as $879 while still supporting HD movies at 720p, Dell says. [full story]

February 20 - 10:50am EST   Dell on Wednesday followed up on previous upgrades to its XPS line with speed boosts to its Inspiron line based on Intel's 45 nanometer Penryn processor architecture. The 14-inch Inspiron 1420 and the 17-inch Inspiron 1720 now have the option of Core 2 Duo processors that use Intel's new platform to run cooler as well as faster than older designs. As Dell's desktop replacement, the 1720 is the fastest and uses a 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo with 6MB of Level 2 cache; the 1420 scales back only slightly by using a 2.4GHz processor with 3MB of Level 2 cache. [full story]

February 18 - 2:50pm EST   Dell today tackled two new versions of its mainstream Inspiron notebooks with models aimed at both retail and at Linux users. Quietly slipping into its retail offerings, the Inspiron 1526 opts for an AMD platform in place of the Intel-only 1525 but otherwise leaves the slimmer 15.4-inch design unchanged: a 2GHz Turion 64 X2 dual-core processor and an ATI-branded Radeon X1270 integrated graphics chipset replace the Core 2 Duo and Intel X3100 options of the earlier system. A 2-megapixel webcam, 2GB of memory, and 250GB of storage come with the stock system, which normally ships for $900 at Best Buy and should drop to $750 after immediate discounts. [full story]

February 11 - 3:55pm EST   Dell today quietly slipped in one of the first widely available Wireless USB options into its portables. Both the Inspiron 1525 as well as the entire XPS gaming notebook line can now fit an internal adapter that supports the new standard. The technology uses ultra wideband to connect a system to a wireless USB hub or directly to the newest mix of external hard drives, printers, and other peripherals. The short-range technology is claimed to be as fast as wired USB 2.0. [full story]

February 8 - 11:35am EST   Dell has caused a stir in recent hours by pulling some of its AMD-based systems from its online store, creating a concern that the PC builder would switch to Intel-only systems. With the exception of three systems -- the Inspiron 531 desktop as well as the Vostro 1000 and Latitude D531 notebooks -- all non-business AMD systems have been removed from the company's store. The company has since been directing customers to offline stores to buy the systems. [full story]

January 23 - 12:50pm EST   Dell today continued its releases with word of its first notebook outside of the Inspiron 1420 to carry Linux. The XPS M1330n is the first high-performance system from the PC maker to come with Ubuntu instead of Windows and adds features that have previously been off-limits to earlier systems running the OS, including the option of a 64GB solid-state drive, a 320GB rotating disk, as well as a display with a webcam and an LED-backlit display. DVD playback support is already installed rather than requiring an add-on software pack, Dell adds. [full story]

January 3 - 8:35am EST   (Updated with DisplayPort info) Dell on Thursday jumpstarted its CES efforts with one of its most unique displays to date as well as a reworked version of its most popular notebook. The Crystal is Dell's first designer LCD and is designed to be as unintrusive as possible while offering a full media setup: built with a glass frame about 4mm (0.15 inches) thick, the touch controls, wiring, and speakers are all built into the frame surface and allow Dell to create the illusion of a "bare" LCD without the associated clutter. Only one cable typically needs to leave the back of the screen, Dell says. Quality is also evident in the panel itself; though most 22-inch LCDs ... [full story]

December 28 - 10:10am EST   In an unexpected move, Dell's Australian branch has begun taking early orders for the Inspiron 1525, the upgrade to the 1520 model from the spring. This new version chiefly represents a boost using faster, more recent components: the stock system now jumps from 1.66GHz to 2GHz for its Core 2 Duo and makes 2GB standard where before it was only a special discount. The Dell system also marks a return to custom lid patterns with black, purple, and white designs that can replace the normal solid colors from the 1520. [full story]

December 18 - 11:55pm EST   Dell recently announced that it is shipping systems loaded with Ubuntu Linux v7.10 and feature DVD playback. Currently loaded in the Inspiron Desktop 530 N, and the Inspiron Notebook 1420 N systems in the US – with English, French, and German models being offered later this week – these machines represent a first, but large, step by the computer manufacturer, as it seeks to eventually offer Ubuntu with its entire product lineup as an alternative to Windows. After a lengthly portion of time between the Ubuntu release and its implementation in Dell's computers, users have access to the stability of Linux, with a few Dell-added bonuses as well. [full story]

December 6 - 9:25am EST   Dell on Thursday revealed that it will begin selling its computers at Best Buy stores in the US, marking one of the company's most significant ventures into retail. The Texas PC builder will offer both desktops and notebooks from its Inspiron and XPS lines; this includes the iMac-like XPS One, according to the company. Outside of the all-in-one computer, the focus of the initial release will be on more affordable systems and should top out at the XPS 13.3-inch XPS M1330 in white; the 14-inch Inspiron 1420 will be available with a black lid while the AMD-based, 15.4-inch Inspiron 1521 will ship in black or blue hues. The Inspiron 530/531 tower and its 531s slimline ... [full story]

December 4 - 3:40pm EST   Dell is about to update its budget notebook lines to capitalize on end-of-year sales, a pair of leaks from Les Delliens. The Intel-based Inspiron 1525 and its AMD equivalent, the 1526, are expected to provide minor speed upgrades to the current 1520 and 1521 models. Both 15.4-inch systems will be close in spirit to the existing design but are likely to reflect the introduction of new processors and storage options since the original release. HDMI output will still be an option for at least dedicated video chipsets. [full story]