Just Announced: New Dell Inspiron R, Z and Special Edition Laptops

The team from Notebook Review spent some hands-on time with the latest members of the Inspiron family and we were impressed. All of the new Inspirons feature exciting new designs with curved edges rimmed by what Dell calls a "Moon Silver band" (we call it aluminum or silver-colored plastic depending on the laptop) for a smooth, contemporary look. The latest Inspiron laptops feature Waves MaxxAudio technology to deliver "studio-quality sound" for watching movies and listening to music without the need for external speakers. The Inspiron 13z and 14z and the Inspiron R Special Edition series also feature Skullcandy-branded speakers integrated into the laptops.

If cool designs and quality audio aren't your thing, you'll be happy to know all of the new Inspirons are equipped with the latest technology such as Intel's new third Generation Core i processors (Ivy Bridge), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, and will be eligible for the Microsoft Windows 8 upgrade program.

Inspiron 14z and 13z: Dell makes Ultrabooks more affordable

Dell's first Inspiron Ultrabook, the Inspiron 14z, will likely be a strong seller this year thanks to the combination of stylish looks, solid features, and a modest price tag that starts at just $699.99 on June 19. The Inspiron 14z is Dell's second Ultrabook offering after the impressive XPS 13. The Inspiron 14z combines Intel Rapid Start Technology for fast boot and resume and up to seven hours of battery life. With a premium brushed aluminum finish in two color choices, Moon Silver and, coming later this summer, Fire Red, the Inspiron 14z is a well-built and well-equipped Ultrabook. Starting at 4.12 pounds (1.87kg), and 0.83-inches (21mm) at its thickest point, it's light and easy to carry in a backpack or messenger bag.

Rounding out the Inspiron z series portfolio is the Inspiron 13z. This "ultraportable" isn't technically an "Ultrabook" since it doesn't comply with all of Intel's strict guidelines for Ultrabook design, but the Inspiron 13z is no less impressive and starts at an even lower price of $599.99. With a range of available color SWITCH lids for customizing - Moon Silver (standard), Fire Red and Lotus Pink - up to seven and a half hours of battery life, and starting at a mere 3.81 pounds (1.73kg), and 0.82-inches (20.7mm), students and style-conscious adults will probably gravitate to this laptop.

Both of the Inspiron z series laptops offer mobile broadband as an option with Dell NetReady mobile broadband service. Dell NetReady provides connectivity on a session-based model and is a "pay-as-you-go" service that allows connection in places where Wi-Fi may not be available.

Inspiron 15R and 17R: Family PCs done better

The new Inspiron 15R and Inspiron 17R feature stylish designs similar to the Inspiron 13z and 14z but the R series are full-featured notebooks for everyday use and entertainment. These notebooks offer high-definition displays (available up to 1080p), Waves MaxxAudio 3 technology, and a full selection of ports. Combine that with a variety of processor, memory and hard drive options and you've got a recipe for success that has worked for Dell time and time again. The optional color SWITCH lids make these laptops easily customizable to your favorite color. These budget-friendly laptops also include Intel Wireless Display technology for a wire-free connection to a compatible 1080p / 5.1 surround-compliant home theater.

Inspiron R Special Edition laptops: immersive entertainment and enhanced audio

The new Inspiron Special Edition series provides even better performance and premium features for people who demand the best entertainment and multimedia experience. A new expansion of Dell's Inspiron portfolio, the Inspiron 15R Special Edition and 17R Special Edition feature the Waves MaxxAudio 4 audio suite and Skullcandy speakers, and standard discrete graphics from AMD (Inspiron 15R Special Edition) and NVIDIA (Inspiron 17R Special Edition).

The new Inspiron R Special Edition laptops feature an anodized aluminum exterior in Stealth Black, Full HD display (1920x1080) for stunning video playback and Blu-ray disc options. The Inspiron 17R Special Edition is also available with a super bright 400 nit Full HD display or an optional Full HD 3D display. With backlit keyboards, and optional mSATA SSD devices with Intel Rapid Start Technology for fast boot and sleep resume times, the Inspiron R Special Edition laptops are packed with technology and features to make multimedia fun in any environment.

Pricing and availability

Inspiron 14z: Available today in select countries in Asia, June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, and in select countries in Europe and Latin America later this summer, starting at $699.99.

Inspiron 13z: Available today in select countries in Asia, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $599.99.

Inspiron 15R: Available today in select countries in Europe and Asia, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $549.99.

Inspiron 17R: Available today in select countries in Europe, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $599.99.

Inspiron 15R Special Edition: Available today in select countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $899.99.

Inspiron 17R Special Edition: Available today in select countries in Europe and Asia, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $1,099.99 ($1,299.99 with 3D).

ASUS G75VW Review: The Best Mainstream Gaming Notebook Gets Better

Build and Design
The basic design of ASUS' G-series notebooks stays the same - it's designed to resemble a stealth military aircraft and pulls it off rather well. This facelifted model includes a more aggressive-looking rear cooling exhaust vents, a new brushed aluminum keyboard inlay and softer rubber surfaces.

The changes are welcome; the notebook looks classier with the addition of another color (previously the G-series was all black). I especially like the gray plastic surrounds on each side of the notebook around the input/output ports. The brushed aluminum keyboard surround looks infinitely better. I'm pleased to see there is no glossy plastic anywhere on this notebook.

The build quality isn't rock solid but strong enough to withstand the rigors of gaming and everyday use. The G75VW is made almost entirely of plastic and rather thick plastic at that. The lid provides ample protection for the actual display panel; I could not get ripples to show up on the screen by pressing in on the back. The palm rest is hard to press in by pushing on it. Overall there are no weak points.

Ports and Features
The G75VW has a healthy array of input/output ports including a total of four SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, the most we've seen on a notebook to date. The G75VW has plenty of video output options including HDMI, VGA, and mini-DisplayPort (I find it puzzling ASUS didn't simply use a full-size DisplayPort).

Front: Status lights	Back: Cooling exhaust vents
Left: 2x USB 3.0, tray-load Blu-ray drive, 3-in-1 media card reader, microphone and headphone jacks	Right: 2x USB 3.0, mini-DisplayPort, HDMI, Ethernet, VGA, AC power jack

Screen and Speakers
ASUS switched gears and went with an anti-glare display (versus glossy/reflective), for which I'm grateful. It's easy to clean and there are no more annoying reflections. The display has a full HD resolution ("1080p" or 1920x1080 pixels) - and I'd expect nothing less on a 17.3-inch display, especially considering this notebook has a Blu-ray drive (Blu-ray content is native 1080p). 1920 horizontal pixels means using two windows side-by-side is doable. The display is slightly more colorful than those on rank-and-file notebooks sold in stores, so there is room for improvement.

Contrast levels are slightly better than average; the command prompt window is black but not completely black. Viewing angles are noticeably better than average; there is about a 40 degree vertical viewing range; this means the display doesn't have to be tilted exactly right to get a good picture. Compare this to the 20 degree angle I find on most inexpensive consumer notebooks. It's a good display overall; I wouldn't change much about it. I can't stress how nice the anti-glare finish is for usability.

The sound system is the most underwhelming aspect of the G75VW; it's muffled and has little bass despite the inclusion of a separate subwoofer. ASUS probably should have tried a little harder with the audio considering the target market for the G75VW and the fact that engineers went to the trouble of including a subwoofer in the design.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard and touchpad are much improved over ASUS' past G-series gaming notebooks like the G73JH, which we reviewed here. The full-size keyboard is a "Chiclet" style model with a separate numeric keypad. It has a beautiful brushed metal surround and truly feels solid.

The white backlighting has three brightness levels or can be turned off completely. The keyboard has communicative tactile feedback and is easy to type on quickly. Keys make an almost metallic clicking sound when pressed; it's pleasant and not too loud. The layout is standard.

The oversized touchpad is centered below the keyboard. It has a practical anti-glare surface. The most notable difference compared to past ASUS G-series notebooks is the buttons; they're nearly silent and have ample depth to provide feedback.
Overall I couldn't be happier with the quality of input devices.