CNET Editor's rating: 7.9 out of 10
Reviewed by
Dan Ackerman
Review date: 06/29/07
Release date: 06/26/07
The good: Newly redesigned Inspiron line adds Centrino Duo CPUs and color choices; highly configurable with plenty of networking options; discrete graphics option; excellent battery life.
The bad: Not as radically reengineered as Dell's new XPS laptop; low starting price, but everything from the Webcam to Bluetooth costs extra.
The bottom line: Dell's retooled Inspiron line introduces the new 14-inch Inspiron 1420 laptop, which benefits from an internal and external makeover. The wide-ranging configuration options mean that virtually any mainstream user can find a system to fit their budget.
With its latest Inspiron update, Dell adds some major improvements, both inside and outside, to its workhorse line of laptops. And in the case of the Inspiron 1420, Dell has introduced a new screen size--a spacious yet portable 14-inch wide screen. The 1420's baseline price is a reasonable $819 and offers a host of upgrade options--everything from Blu-ray drives to Intel's latest Centrino Duo processors--that make the Inspiron line one of the most flexible systems out there. Our review unit packed in a discrete graphics chip, a Centrino Duo CPU, and mobile broadband from Sprint, driving the price up to nearly $1,700. You can configure a well-equipped system for much closer to the baseline price, however, that would prove more than adequate for most mainstream users. The Inspiron 1420 isn't nearly as attractive as Dell's other new laptop, the higher-end XPS m1330, but it still improves on the last-generation Inspiron's biggest flaw--its bulky, boxy chassis.
While Dell is offering similarly revamped version of its 15- and 17-inch Inspiron laptops, the 14-inch 1420 model is a new addition. We continue to see vendors--Lenovo with its ThinkPad T61, Gateway with its E-265M, and Sony with its VGN-CR190--redefining their mainstream laptops as 14 inches instead of 15 inches. We welcome this trend; after working with 14-inch laptops for a time, we find that they offer the optimal balance between portability and usability.
The new look for Inspiron is an evolution rather than a revolution, offering softer, rounded edges and a thinner lid while scrapping the two-tone, white-on-silver design that never looked particularly inspiring. Instead, you get your choice of eight different colors for the back of the lid. Our Ruby Red model, which looked an awful lot like the Crimson Red on the 13-inch XPS m1330, had an appealing satin finish that seemed to be virtually fingerprint-proof. If you fear colorful laptops, black and white are also options for the lid.
The basic Dell laptop keyboard remains unchanged and is comfy to type on, but we were pleased to see the old Inspiron's excessively chunky mouse buttons reduced to a more manageable size, along with small square media control buttons replacing the older round ones, which were notoriously hard to hit. A 2.0-megapixel Webcam sits above the screen, or you could forgo it and save $30. Like the XPS m1330m, a small, credit-card-size remote control that pops into card slot on the side.
The 14.1-inch wide-screen LCD display offers a 1,440x900 native resolution, which is a $50 upgrade Dell offers over the standard 1,280x800 screen (standard on both 14- and 15-inch laptops). For a screen this size, the difference is honestly negligible, but people working with digital photos, for example, may want the slightly higher resolution. Neither screen would be able to play back Blu-ray movies in full 1080p resolution.
Dell Inspiron 1420
Average for mainstream category
Video
VGA-out, S-Video
VGA-out, S-Video
Audio
Stereo speakers, headphone (2) / microphone jacks
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data
Four USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, multiformat memory card reader
Four USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, multiformat memory card reader
Expansion
ExpressCard slot
PC Card slot
Networking
Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth; mobile broadband.
Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth
Optical drive
DVD burner
DVD burner
Our review unit was tricked out with every networking option under the sun. While you can order the Inspiron 1420 with just a basic 802.11g Wi-Fi card, we had Draft N Wi-Fi , Bluetooth, and mobile broadband from Sprint (AT&T and Verizon are also available). The EV-DO cards are an extra $150, but all the major carriers offer some kind of rebate with a service plan.
While older, non-Santa Rosa CPUs are also available, they knock only $100 off the cheapest Centrino Duo option. We suggest choosing one of the three Core 2 Duo 7000-series chips that feature Centrino Duo's faster 800MHz frontside bus. Trading the integrated graphics up to an Nvidia GeForce 8400 is likewise $100. Add in options such as Bluetooth ($20) and a second GB of RAM ($150), and the $819 starting price can easily climb.
Our Inspiron 1420 featured a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 CPU, and compared to other similarly configured systems, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad T61 and the Gateway E-265M, the performance differences were negligible, especially in CNET Labs' Photoshop CS2 and iTunes encoding tests, where less than 20 seconds separated these three 14-inch laptops. It's a point we harp on, but any current Centrino Duo laptop will be able to easily handle the multiple simultaneous tasks (Web surfing, media playback, document editing, and so forth) that average users engage in on a regular basis, and the Dell Inspiron 1420 was no exception.
The only discrete graphics option available, the 128MB Nvidia GeForce 8400, isn't going to turn this laptop into a gaming powerhouse, but we got a very playable 29.8 frames per second in Quake 4 at 1,024x768, even with high-end options such as anti-aliasing turned on.
The 1420 ran for 3 hours and 29 minutes on our DVD battery-drain test, using the included nine-cell battery (a $50 upgrade), making it the longest-lasting 14-inch laptop we've seen. A smaller six-cell battery is also available if you absolutely hate batteries that stick out from the back of the system. Our DVD battery-drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and office use. Going for integrated graphics instead of the aforementioned GeForce 8400 will likely result in better battery life as well.
Dell includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Upgrading to a three-year plan will cost an extra $250, which includes on-site service. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, an online knowledge base, and driver downloads; Dell also included 3GB of online backup space free for the first year.
Multimedia multitasking test (in seconds) (Shorter bars indicate better performance)
Dell Inspiron 1420
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Toshiba Tecra M5-S4333
Windows Vista Business Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB nVidia Quadro NVS110M; 120GB Toshiba 5400rpm SATA/150
Gateway E-265M
Windows Vista Business Edition; 2.2GHz Intel Core Duo T7500; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD2300; 100GB Seagate 7,200rpm
Lenovo ThinkPad T61
Windows Vista Business Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 100GB Seagate 7,200rpm
HP Compaq 6515b
Windows Vista Business Edition; 2.2GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-64; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB ATI Radeon Xpress 1270; 120GB Toshiba 5,400rpm SATA/150
Intro:
This configuration of the Dell Inspiron 1420 is a 5.5-pound, mainstream notebook computer.Compared to other consumer level notebooks on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $785.Has Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) built-in.
Noteworthy Features:
Has a 14.1 screen size, which is larger than some similarly priced notebooks.By way of comparison, the typical cost of a product with this large a screen size is $1,400.Also, this notebook has a Core 2 Duo processor, which is more efficient than some similarly priced notebooks.In fact, the typical cost of a product with this desirable a processor is $1,565.
Weaker Features:
Has only a 80GB hard drive, which is somewhat smaller than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the HP Compaq Business Notebook 6720s, a 5.5-pound notebook at around $810, has a 250GB hard drive.The Dell Inspiron 1420 comes with no-frills word processing software -- serious business or academic document authors may want to upgrade to a full-fledged office suite.Shared video memory has a negative impact on system performance which may be okay for users with more modest graphics needs.Users with more demanding needs should look to a graphics solution that brings its own muscle.
Suitability:
Suited for those who just need a basic notebook.Preserve family get-togethers for future generations by saving them onto DVD with this computer's DVD writer.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled notebook.
Value:
In view of its very inexpensive price, this notebook has great features for the money.Generally, given the trade-offs between performance and low price, this item will likely only appeal to serious bargain hunters.
Suggestions:
(1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Web more conveniently from any room.(2) For help in deciding if this is the right laptop for you, see CNET's buying guide for notebooks.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Very good for the price
I have typically always looked at both dell's top of the line XPS machines and then created something exactly ...
I have typically always looked at both dell's top of the line XPS machines and then created something exactly like it on an inspiron. I have generally found that you can have the same computer with a slightly less stylish looking case for around $1000 less.
This time I did it with the XPS m1330. Its their newest and thinnest computer. For the people who were complaining about this laptop being too thick, they should have looked at that comupter which was thinner because of the LED screen, however they would have paid around $2100 for the same computer. I like the 1420 because its still reasonably thin, easy to carry around and for $1400 I was able to get a computer with the best warranty, the 2.2ghz dual core processor, two gigs of ddr2 ram, 120gb hard drive, the nvidia 128mb video card and blue tooth, And that price was after shipping and tax.
My last laptop I got from dell was seriously flawed in that the fans were located on the bottom of the laptop however I didn't realize this flaw since I bought it online nor did anyone bother to write about it at the time. Since the fans were on the bottom of the laptop it was prone to overheating and eventually overheated and fried the video card when it was barely a year and half old. This is what prompted me to buy this laptop. Needless to say I was thrilled to find this time they had improved the design by putting the fans on the side of the laptop rather than the bottom. I was also very carefull to watch for overheating when I played games or anything that might be hard on the processor and so far it has performed very well.
It still has the play, stop, next, etc. bottons on the case as well as the volume which has always been something I like. A nice bonus is also the mic and web cam. Someone said that they had to pay extra for the webcam, but it came standard with mine. The bluetooth though is only $18, not a terrible expense.
The only real complaint I have is that I was not able to get XP instead of Vista. While I like vista, I have been having trouble logging into wireless networks and sometimes explorer won't load pictures for some unknown reason. Its kind of annoying. I would have liked the option of putting XP on the computer since I am more familiar with it and most of the world is set up to use it. However, I think this is because I bought it with an educational discount. (which anyone who is a current college student or alumni can get.)
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by tisiphone (see profile) -
July 25, 2007
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Great product, great price.
Excellent product. I got it with almost every option - bluetooth, webcam, T7300 (2.0GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB 7200RPM HDD, ...
Excellent product. I got it with almost every option - bluetooth, webcam, T7300 (2.0GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB 7200RPM HDD, dedicated GPU (Nvidia GeForce Go 8400M GS), WXGA+ display - and it still came out to be cheaper than the other laptops I was looking at. My only complaint is that it's slightly heavy, but it's probably because I opted to go for the longer-lasting 9-cell battery instead of the standard 6-cell. This laptop is good for most anything you want to do, even for playing most of the latest games. 2GB of RAM keeps everything running smoothly, and the 7200 HD speeds up read/write times noticeably. The keyboard's nice and firm and the touchpad's adequately responsive. The webcam's 2.0 megapixels, very nice (the ones on macs are only 1.3 MP). The volume/media controls on the upper-left of the keyboard are useful. The laptop runs cool and quiet. The exterior is attractive - I got the black matte, which does pick up fingerprints, but I hear the premium microsatin colors don't. There are no hinges, but the spring mechanism that keeps the lid shut works well, eliminating the need for ugly hinges. 2 USB ports on either side are useful, as are the two headphone ports and media card reader on the front. The screen is bright and the 1440x900 resolution looks beautiful and allows me to multitask more efficiently.
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by aeidein (see profile) -
August 21, 2007
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
7 out of 10 - Very good Good well built product at an excellent price and nice design
The computer came with a battery that does not fit well. It is very loose. However, Dell was responsive and ...
The computer came with a battery that does not fit well. It is very loose. However, Dell was responsive and is sending a tech to replace the battery and lower body to make it fit right. If this is done the computer will move up to an 8. The keyboard is very easy to type on, a big improvement over the Sony that I returned. Also, the mouse pad does not cause the screens to change as did the Sony. The screen is imporved over my Dell Lat. 600 and is on par with my daughter's Apple. The speed is good, Duo 2 Core 7100, but a computer is never fast enough for me. The computer is very quiet and the fan has not come on yet. Also the computer runs much cooler than the Sony FZ160 that I returned. It could be a little thinner, but the White and Silver design looks very attractive. The price was fantastic about 900.00 with 2 gigs of memory and a 160 gig hard drive with a camera, bluetooth and a 7100 Intel chip. I could not find anything even close to this price for what I got. All in all a good and attractive unit.
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by rome78 (see profile) -
July 21, 2007
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
3 out of 10 - Poor nothing but problems
I had this computer for 3.5 months when a problem happened that would not allow me to log on ...
I had this computer for 3.5 months when a problem happened that would not allow me to log on to windows. After 3 hours on the phone with Dell, the solution was to reformat the computer to factory specs losing all data. One week later, a different logon issue that resulted in the same great solution by Dell. Two weeks later, my computer would start in "Startup Repair" mode, and would never start Windows. After battling with Dell, they agreed to give me a "new" refurbished computer. Of course, I would not accept a refurbised computer to replace my brand new lemon. After a week of back and forth banter with a very nice Dell tech in India, they are refunding my money. They would rather refund my money than send me a new computer. They kept trying to tell me that a refurbished computer was as good as new, blah, blah, blah. I have only owned Dell computers for the last 10 years, and they have lost a customer for life.
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by brianoleksy (see profile) -
January 19, 2008
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 out of 10 - Excellent Great all around laptop
Specs: 2.0Ghz Processor, 2GB RAM, High Resolution Screen, 160G 7200rpm hard drive, 128 dedicated graphics, Vista Home Premium, Upgraded ...
Specs: 2.0Ghz Processor, 2GB RAM, High Resolution Screen, 160G 7200rpm hard drive, 128 dedicated graphics, Vista Home Premium, Upgraded sound package, 9 cell battery, 2.0 mp webcam, bluetooth, Wireless-N mini card.
Overall, this is a great laptop for the money. I traded in my Sony FZ (which doesn't compare other than it is a sony) for this laptop. The speed is great and with the upgraded video card, I am able to play games on Steam, and Company of Heroes (COH - however not on the games full potential). But it is an inspiron, so if you are a HARDCORE gamer, then I would advise to buy an XPS model. This laptop does the job when it comes to games and movies but it is not perfect. I watched the movie "Hero" on this laptop and the picture quality was not superb but good. It might be the software, but I'm still looking into that. Oh yea, when playing COH or any other game for a couple hours that required the use of your hands on the keyboard, the left palm area of the keyboard gets hot. Kinda annoying, but if you don't mind it then knock yourself out.
The upgraded sound package is great and sounds very good. I'm not sure if it is part of the upgrade, but there is also a program by CREATIVE that lets you customize the sound of your laptop speakers (EQ, EAX, Bass, Balance, etc).
The 2.0 mp camera has some great built in functions/options such as face detection (centers and zooms to one's face), motion detection, time lapse video, and basic photo and video.
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by socalstudent247 (see profile) -
August 8, 2007
5 out of 10 - Average Beware of stutting audio problems with all units.
I've only had the computer for just under a week and am considering sending it back. I never thought ...
I've only had the computer for just under a week and am considering sending it back. I never thought I'd do that.
I like just about everything on the computer(1280x800 non-glare screen, 2.2G T7500 processor, 7200 rpm 160G drive). But it has one fatal flaw that limits its abilities. When playing MP3s through iTunes or Media Center or just about any player, the music will drop out and stutter if you try to use other programs at the same time. Having spent several hours on various forums, including Dell's, it appears everybody has this problem and nobody has a fix. It also appears that the problem afflicts most Dell laptops and is not soley related to the 1420. I am using the integrated sound (SigmaTel high definition audio codec) but other users that have tried the Sound Blaster express card board have the exact same issue. Though some forums recommend disabling 802.11a as a remedy, this doesn't seem to help most.
Do yourself a favor and Google "1420 audio stutter" before you buy. If you don't listen to audio on the 1420, it is otherwise a very nice item. Mildly stylist, highly functional, great size for casual computing, etc...
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by ajcorson (see profile) -
November 22, 2007
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Great Laptop for school!
I love my 1420. It's not as configured as the one CNET rated but for using it at school, ...
I love my 1420. It's not as configured as the one CNET rated but for using it at school, its great. I've seen people with more expensive laptops have many problems, but the 1420 turns out to be pretty good. My only reall issue with DELL is all the processes and programs it has, and the fact that many of them do not agree with the vista design (like the webcam center)
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by Aetormin (see profile) -
September 12, 2007
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
7 out of 10 - Very good Very Good hardware for the price
I've had my Inspiron 1420 for about 10 days now. I had major problems with DHL delivery to my ...
I've had my Inspiron 1420 for about 10 days now. I had major problems with DHL delivery to my home, They came out a total of 2 times, and after the 2nd time i attempted to try to get them to call my cell phone before they would attempt a delivery. Needless to say i called DHL customer service several times, and their agents were rude and unhelpful. In the end i ended up driving to the dhl pick-up before work and picking up the laptop.
Ok so i finally get my laptop, I had problems with booting up windows vista the first time. I ended up having to do a reinstall since the first password i put in wasnt being recognized by windows vista. Dell Customer service was excellent, knowledgeable and sympathetic with all the initial problems i had. They compensated me 55.00 dollars for the start.
Ok so i'm finally in windows vista, and i tried playing CIV 4. Excellent platform, Very good picture quality. The laptop gets hot but not too hot when using it for 3 hours +
Audio on the laptop could be improved, but as this is my first laptop, i assume audio quality on most laptops are just not gonna be as good as desktops.
Another annoying thing about Windows Vista is that i get COM surrogate error messages sometimes when transfering files from portable devices. The worst thing about this laptop is the non option for windows xp.
The screen resolution when put on high is very good. I ran the laptop in balance mode and the brightness is very noticable, but the battery life can maybe extend to 4-5 hours depending on what your doing.
When using the earbuds with the laptop, the sound is more than adequate, and sometimes can be a little too loud.
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by Jeff101880 (see profile) -
August 5, 2007
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0
Audio
Audio output type
Sound card
Audio output compliant standards
High Definition Audio
Multimedia Functionality
TV Tuner Type
None
Input Device(s)
Input device type
Keyboard,
Touchpad
Telecom
Modem
Fax / modem
Max transfer rate
56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications
ITU V.92
Networking
Networking
Network adapter
Networking / Wireless LAN Supported
Yes
Wireless NIC
Dell Wireless 1395
Data link protocol
Ethernet,
Fast Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g
Networking standards
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free)
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54,
2 Memory
Interfaces
1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11,
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 pin FireWire,
1 x Display / video - S-video output - 7 pin mini-DIN,
1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm,
4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A,
1 x Audio - Line-out/headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15),
1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45
Miscellaneous
Features
Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Power
Power device form factor
External
Voltage Required
AC 120/230 V
Battery
Technology
6-cell Lithium ion
Installed Qty
1
Battery capacity
56 Wh
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support
1 year warranty
Service & Support Details
Limited warranty - 1 year,
Product info support - E-mail consulting - 1 year
Operating System / Software
OS Provided
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
Software
Microsoft Works,
McAfee SecurityCenter (Trial),
Drivers & Utilities
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008)
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