Dell Inspiron R gets upgrade to Sandy Bridge, swappable lid
updated 10:40 am EDT, Thu March 17, 2011
Dell Inspiron R revamped for 2011
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.
The technology upgrade also means WiDi support for wireless 1080p to an adapter as swell as better battery life. The best battery life comes from the Inspiron 15R, which with a nine-cell pack can last for up to 13 hours. Both the 14-inch 14R and 15-inch 15R get a speed upgrade from the newly competent Intel graphics, but the 17-inch 17R can optionally use a GeForce GT 525M for much faster video.
Prices start out at $530 for an Inspiron 15R with a 2.1GHz Core i3, 3GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. Both the 14R and 17R cost $580 with identical details apart from the screen. Orders start today, though any new system won't ship until the end of March.
