Dell has formally but quietly backed out of the netbook category. A search for netbooks like the Mini 10 gives users a warning that the Mini line is "no longer available." In return, buyers are told to pick the much larger Inspiron 14R.
Dell chose Thursday to remake its most important small notebooks. The 14-inch Inspiron 14z and 13.3-inch Inspiron 13z together slim down compared to Dell's usual and measure just slightly under an inch thick. Some of the size reduction comes from a move to higher-quality parts: they now use aluminum lids and palm rests instead of the plastic common to many notebooks in their class.
Dell hoped to preempt Apple Wednesday by adding its own rough parallel to iCloud. An updated Stage UI now includes SyncUP, a Nero-developed sync service that both automatical spreads files and streams music, photos, and videos between computers and mobile devices. The service is cross-platform and can see Android and Windows devices, though it won't share copy-protected content.
Microsoft UK managing director Ashley Highfield in an interview on Tuesday left the door open for the possibility of a dedicated tablet OS. While he wouldn't say Microsoft was developing such a platform, he allowed the possibility at some point in the future. Regardless of how it came, Microsoft's unwillingness to make a tablet of its own meant any tablet-ready software would come only if it could stand out, Highfield explained to Pocket-lint.
Dell upgraded its most important notebook line today with a revamp of the Inspiron R. The new design makes the needed upgrade to Intel's 2011 Core i3, i5 and i7 (Sandy Bridge) processors but also gets Dell's first truly on-the-spot customizable design. Notebook lid covers can now be changed like faceplates, letting users change the look if they get bored or want to adapt to a different environment.
T-Mobile's roadmap for its networking devices has leaked on Friday. The network is now known to have two mobile routers in development that would split the line in both speed and international travel. One, jokingly codenamed Wayne in TmoNews' copy of the memo, would top at 21Mbps using only T-Mobile's own 3G frequencies; another, just called Wayne, would supply 42Mbps and carry international 3G bands for traveling.
Intel this morning warned of a serious bug with the Cougar Point chipset that would force it to delay desktop PCs using its Sandy Bridge processors. Those using the 6 series have a flaw that gradually degrades the performance of the SATA ports over time, eventually affecting the speed of hard drives and optical drives. The issue was in hardware and needed a reworking at the factory for a fix.
The latest Windows commercial from Microsoft (below) focuses on the creation of a flash mob in Seattle using the company's social networking tools and mostly portable devices using them. The ad follows choreographer Bobby Bonsey as he kicks off an umbrella-toting dance troupe. Featured in the ad are Windows Phone 7, Windows Live, Kinect, Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 9, as well as the Dell Inspiron Duo tablet/notebook hybrid.
The launch of the iPad almost single-handedly drove the rise of large touchscreens this year, the NPD Group's DisplaySearch found today. About 6.3 million touchscreens large enough for tablets and touch-aware netbooks shipped in the first half of 2010, but the rise of the iPad and relatively minor contributions from the Samsung Galaxy Tab will have boosted that number to about 20 million for the second half. Although declining to mention Apple by name, the researchers noted that key iPad supplier Wintek produced the "majority" of the large touchscreen hardware for the year.
Hybrid Audio LLC late Tuesday joined in a spate of recent lawsuits by suing Apple, Dell and HTC. The Tyler, Texas-based complaint accuses all three of violating a patent for processing MP3 songs using a tree-structured array. The lawsuit claimed that Apple's iPad, iPhone 4, iPod nano, iTunes and MacBook Pro all violate the patent; Dell's Adamo, Alienware, Inspiron, Studio and XPS systems have been similarly named, as have its Aero smartphone, the Streak tablet and HTC's Evo 4G.
The Microsoft Store has listed the Dell Inspiron Duo for pre-order. Also listed for pre-order is the companion JBL audio dock. No shipping date is listed at the time of writing, but anyone who places a pre-order will not have their card charged until the order is ready to ship or made available for purchase. Also listed for the first time are the Duo's official specifications.
Dell today formally revealed the Inspiron Duo, its first tablet netbook and its current attempt at a more direct Windows alternative to the iPad. The design hinges on its 10-inch display, which revolves vertically and turns the Duo into either a multi-touch slate or a touch-aware netbook. A custom layer on top of Windows 7 gives users access to media, the web and an iBooks-style e-reading app.
Dell is expected to launch its 10-inch Inspiron Duo on November 23 according to a CNET report. The netbook tablet cross aims to give users the best of both worlds when it comes to combing work and entertainment on the go. It features a clever swivel hinge that allows the display to be flipped converting the Duo from netbook to tablet and back again.
Dell on Thursday posted a teaser clip (below) for the Inspiron Duo, its attempt to bridge netbooks with hand-portable tablets. The video highlights its signature display, which rotates 180 degrees and lets users work in touch-only mode, but also highlights some of Dell's plans to solve the lack of full tablet support in Windows 7. The interface appears to be an expansion of what Dell has done before and has a dedicated portal for e-book reading along with a fuller interface that lets users stay in the touch environment rather than revert to the trackpad and keyboard.
With the premium Adamo XPS notebook discontinued and the more recent introduction of XPS notebooks, Dell has rebranded its lineup for greater simplicity. According to Engadget, there will be only three core brands, including Inspiron, XPS and Alienware. Each will be aimed at users who require different performance levels, with Alienware being the top-rung offering.
Dell chief marketing officer Paul-Henri Ferrand today said his company was spending "hundreds of millions" on a marketing campaign to improve its image and better compete against Apple. He wanted to swing the company's focus away from price above all else and towards more upscale systems like the new XPS line. The executive added that it would come with a shift to mobile devices, with both the seven-inch Android tablet and the Inspiron Duo netbook/tablet hybrid due on Monday.
Dell has added a special edition to its Inspiron 15R line-up introduced this summer. The 15.6-inch Alloy Edition is unique in offering a silver, laser-etched wave design in aluminum on the exterior of the lid, along with a matching palmrest. Its technical specs are similar to other 15R models and include a choice of Core i3, Core i5 or Core i7 Intel CPUs.
Sprint claimed a minor first on Tuesday by getting the two first notebooks to have both built-in 3G and 4G in the US. Its version of the Dell Mini 10 and the Dell Inspiron 11z can access either regular EVDO or WiMAX to have the up to 6Mbps speeds with a fallback for when 4G coverage isn't available.
Dell swung its attention to models directly competing with Apple on Thursday as it launched a new all-in-one desktop and upgraded its smallest desktop. The 23-inch Inspiron One is meant to go both against the iMac and HP's TouchSmart line with a 1080p, multi-touch display that centers on a new touch front end known as Stage. The interface provides quick access to apps, music, photos and video, including online services such as CinemaNow and Netflix.
AT&T's mobile data plans expanded today with its first options for prepaid data. The DataConnect Pass gives those with built-in 3G in a notebook the option of paying for just a short stint of data without having to commit to a contract. Its rates carry a premium for the freedom at $15 for 100MB of data over the course of a day, $30 for a week pass with 300MB of data and a full month with 1GB for $50.
Dell has slipped out its new Inspiron M501R with a quad-core AMD Phenom II N930. Also on offer is the Inspiron M5030 with a triple-core AMD Phenom II P320. The 15.6-inch notebook weighs in at 5.83 pounds and is built on AMD’s 880G chipset with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 integrated graphics on the M5030. The more powerful M501R includes the option of an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 550v 1GB for graphics. They both come pre-installed with Windows Home Premium 64-bit and can be fitted with up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, though both come with 4GB in standard trim.
Dell took to the stage at the Intel Developer Forum today with the surprise unveiling of a netbook and tablet hybrid it said will be a real production model. The Inspiron Duo when closed acts as a 10-inch Windows 7 tablet but can spin the display within the frame to face inwards and work as a traditional netbook. The dual design would not only be less bulky than a traditional convertible tablet but would open the door to tablet-sized docks, such as one to add speakers for movies and music at home.
Dell today shipped the US version of the Inspiron M101z. It marks Dell's official leap into the crossover category between netbooks and notebooks with an 11.6-inch screen and a faster AMD Athlon II Neo processor. Making the switch in processors gives it faster RS880M graphics and opens the door to upgrades that aren't practical or possible on Atom netbooks, such as 4GB of RAM.
Dell's Inspiron Zino HD mini desktop will finally get a performance boost soon as documentation from Dell itself has confirmed faster options. The breadbox-sized PC's maximum options will jump from a dual-core Athlon X2 to a quad-core Phenom II; triple-core will also be a choice. Integrated graphics will ramp up to a Radeon HD 4250, but dedicated graphics will advance further still with a Mobility Radeon HD 5450 as a replacement for the 4330.
Dell will soon replace the 11.6-inch Inspiron 11z with the Inspiron M101z. It comes powered by either a 1.7GHz single-core or 1.3GHz dual-core Athlon II Neo, unlike the outgoing 11z's 1.2GHz Celeron. It offers a 500GB hard drive, with Windows 7 pre-loaded and as much as 8GB of RAM.
PC maker Dell has teamed up with Threadless to offer custom designs from the clothing label on notebook lids. The original graphics can be chosen from Dell's Design Studio, and there are 11 designs currently available. New designs will be added in the future as well.
Clearwire said on Monday that its high-speed WiMAX modules will be built into all Intel-based notebooks and netbooks offered at Best Buy. The 4G mobile broadband modem will be built into the Dell's Inspiron 14, Inspiron 15, Mini 10 as well as Toshiba's Satellite M645. Certain notebooks carry an associated $100 discount if bought with a two-year Clear 4G contract, but all should be available contract-free.
Dell has upgraded its core Inspiron line with a new focus on both looks and extras not seen before at the PC builder. They now have a full 'chiclet' keyboard and unique color options: the underside of the keyboard can now be color-matched, and HP-style imprints can sit on the palm rest. The display has been made more practical with a Mini 10-style hinge that can bend further back than the previous design.
Dell's website has been expanded with a teaser page for upcoming notebooks based on AMD's quad-core Phenom II X4 CPUs. The new Inspiron M501R notebook is based on AMD's M880G chipset with integrated Radeon HD4250 graphics, while customers can choose to add Radeon HD 550v discrete graphics components with 1GB of memory.
A San Francisco Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today overturned the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing the company of knowingly selling flawed notebooks. The decision asserts that a move to shutter the case and head to arbitration was "unconscionable" and that the terms Dell used to avoid a trial couldn't be enforced. The public nature of the problem made it important to allow a proper case, according to Judge Lyle Strom.
Dell on Thursday morning unveiled its ultra-mobile gaming laptop as well a 5-inch tablet concept and an Android-based smart phone for AT&T -- both of which are slated for launch in 2010. The new "Slate" concept shown the demo was very thin, multi-touch device with a 5-inch screen, but the company said that you could imagine larger versions -- up to 10-inches. In addition, Dell also refreshed its Inspiron, Studio and Alienware systems incorporating the new Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors and announced that AT&T will become the next mobile operator to offer the Mini 3 Android-based smart phone.
Dell today is holding an event to launch new computers and handheld devices at CES; expected are Core i5 notebooks and the Streak, an Android tablet. Updates are available in reverse chronological order after the jump.
As it's Cyber Monday, which follows Black Friday, many companies continue to offer sales on their wares, with electronics included. Among them are Walmart, Dell and Newegg, with the three retailers showing off what's on sale today. Walmart is taking the sale and extending it for the entire week, calling it Cyber Week. Standout deals from the retailer's 150 sale items include a 12-megapixel digital camera with a memory card and accessory kit for $89, a 10.2-inch Acer netbook with a case and USB flash drive for $268 as well as a 22-inch Samsung LCD HDTV priced at $248.
PC maker Dell announced this week that it is making an experimental version of the open source Chromium OS for the company's Mini Inspiron 10v netbook. The OS is available as a USB key image file, but Dell technology strategist Doug Anson warns the file should be used with an assumed risk, as it has minimal testing.
Dell could be planning a significant revision to its Mini 10 netbook if an FCC filing (PDF) is a clue. The testing for a seemingly nondescript 802.11n Wi-Fi mini-card makes reference to a 10-inch system with the model number P04T, which isn't known to apply to any current shipping Dell notebook. Few other details are available.
Dell this morning officially unveiled its most direct attempt at claiming the ultra-compact desktop space currently held by the Mac mini. Shown after multiple teases, the Inspiron Zino HD occupies roughly the same footprint as its Apple counterpart but uses AMD processors to keep the costs low while still supplying options its rival doesn't have. The micro PC is seen as a home theater PC and comes with native HDMI output as well as options of discrete Radeon HD 4330 graphics and a Blu-ray drive.
Dell has brought its Inspiron 13z notebook to Australia and Japan, both with Windows 7. While basic specs differ slightly between the two offerings, buyers still get a 13.3-inch, 1366x768 resolution, LED-backlit screen and a choice of Intel's CULV processors.
Dell used the occasion of Windows 7's launch to unveil the first all-in-one desktop since Apple's new iMacs. Showing initially in Japan, the Inspiron One 19 returns to an easel-like design and is meant as a faster alternative to a notebook without taking up much additional space. The PC carries an 18.5-inch, 1366x768 display and uses desktop processors that scale up to a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo.
Dell as part of its special event today upgraded its Design Studio edition notebooks with two design lineups. A Major League Baseball set gives most Inspiron, Mini and Studio notebooks a custom lid with artwork featuring a team logo. "Classic" versions put the logo in small form with a textured solid color; "Fan" versions have a large logo, while "Die-Hard" covers nearly the entire lid with logo-themed graphics.
Dell at a press gathering today briefly offered an in-person look at its Adamo XPS ultraportable. True to its teaser graphic, the system is overall thinner than the MacBook Air it's designed to compete against (0.4 inches maximum) and appears to rely on a unique, underside hinge to reach its dimensions. As with very early Adamo and Inspiron 11z teasers, the company didn't provide any specifications or release information.
Some specs and details of the upcoming Dell Zino HD series of nettops were revealed, thanks to a recent DellZinoHD search. Two models in the Zino HD series will be offered, including the Inspiron 300 and Inspiron 400. Both have potentially been readied for Windows XP, Windows Vista or the upcoming Windows 7, with the support page also including a manual for Ubuntu.
PC maker Dell and online music service Napster have come to an agreement that will see the two offering Inspiron and Studio models in Germany, the UK and the US with preloaded content from Napster's music service. Through the agreement, these models will include 60 MP3s of the buyer's choice as well as 12 months of unlimited music streaming from Napster's service. Dell estimates it should save buyers at least the $60 for the individual tracks.
Dell today said it has added more cosmetic and performance customization options to its Inspiron 11z notebook. Dell has now added expanded its range of color options for the 11.6-inch CULV system beyond the original black, including white, blue, green, red, purple or pink. There are also new processor, memory and hard drive options.
Dell at IDF revealed that it's about to ship a version of the Inspiron Mini 10v with Moblin Linux. The system is initially aimed at developers but will give everyone a simpler-to-use alternative to Ubuntu for web browsing and media playback. It specifically uses Canonical's Moblin Netbook Remix, a variant tailored for the screens and interfaces common to the mini notebooks.
Dell today grew its budding CULV (Consumer Ultra Low Voltage) notebook line with two mid-sized models. The 14-inch Inspiron 14z and 15.6-inch Inspiron 15z together use the slower but also much cooler and more efficient processors to both slim down significantly from the regular systems while also shedding weight and extending their battery lives: the systems can last over eight hours (8.5 on the 14z) on a six-cell pack.
The still-growing popularity of netbooks has likely robbed Apple much of its target audience for back-to-school Mac sales this year, a study from Retrevo found on Tuesday. Just over a third of notebook-buying college students, or 34 percent, plan to buy a netbook from any make for their return to class. About 49 percent of the total also specifically plan to buy a regular Windows notebook, leaving just 17 percent either buying a Mac or uncertain about what they will buy.
Dell on Thursday previewed several upcoming computers, the Zino HD and Inspiron Z series. The Zino HD is a mini desktop that closely resembles the form-factor of a Mac Mini. The overall height appears to be greater than Apple's product, potentially due to the use of a tray for optical media instead of a slot-load system.
Dell in an unusual evening launch revealed its first non-education PC aimed at kids. A Nickelodeon Edition of the Inspiron Mini 10v will have a "slime" color scheme both on the lid and palm rest as well as a custom, Stardock-designed Windows XP skin with colors and icons themed around the TV network's shows. It also gets multiple links to special web portals on Nickelodeon's website and an updating desktop widget.
Dell today in a low-key move shrunk its Inspiron Mini netbook line by dropping the Mini 12. The Texas PC builder hasn't explained the decision but now just leaves the Mini 10 as its lone netbook. It follows shortly after Dell's cancellation of the Mini 9, its first netbook introduced late last year.
Intel may be shutting down production of its Z500-series Atom chips early, a source from the PC industry says. Unnamed contacts for DigiTimes say the processor developer won't accept any more orders "soon" and that the only processors it will ship past a certain point this year are from at least the three key supporters of Atom-based systems, namely Acer, ASUS and MSI. Supply of the Z500 line should stop altogether by the end of the year for everyone.
