Our Take: Nirvana? Definition: heaven, paradise, Shangri-la, promised land. Dell is taking thin to an all-new level in performance with its new “Z” model laptops. Featuring thinner, lighter bodies and longer-lasting batteries, the new Inspiron 14z boasts a 14" Hi-def L.E.D. display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, a game ready ATI HD4330 graphic processor, and even a built-in multi-format DvD-Writer/Player. On the exterior it is easy to mistake the new Inspiron 14z with the older Inspiron 14/1440, but a side-by-side comparison will show that the 14z is much thinner than the older model. In fact, the Inspiron 14z is the thinnest Inspiron notebooks Dell has ever issued. The Inspiron 14z is only 1" - (1.04" - 1.15") and weighs 2.08Kg with the 6-cell battery making it a trifecta of capable processing, long battery life and portability.



The quest of mobile computer users is to find a laptop with sufficient horsepower yet gifted with long battery life. In the past if you wanted the two(2) desirable features you have to contend with a bulky laptop with a 9-cell or a even a 12-cell battery, or in other words a heavy laptop. The Dell Inspiron 14z is able to provide the "Nirvana" of a powerful system with long battery life by employing the Ultra-Low Voltage Core2 Duo processor(CPU) partnered with a very capable 512mb-GDDR3 ATI-HD4330 graphic processing unit(GPU). We give this model a very high personal endorsement and believe this will be the unit by which new laptop models will be compared. To best appreciate this model we will provide reply to three(3) questions.
1. What is the Intel Core2 Duo Su7300?
2. Can I use the Inspiron 14z for gaming?
3. Why we LOVE the Inspiron 14z?



1. What is the Intel Core2 ULV SU7300?
A trusted friend of CoolTOYZ commented that maybe this model is not intended for CoolTOYZ customers because majority of our customers are power users who want to compare Processor speed and benchmarks with their friends, and not they type who will brag about how long is the battery life of the laptop ^.^ . We contradicted by stating that our customers are maturing like us and have come to realize that a powerful system is only as good as the battery life endurance... no juice - useless power!

Let us dissect the centerpiece of this laptop the Core2 ULV SU7300.
a) With the Core2 branding it means that this processor offers two cores or commonly know as a Dual Core processor.
b) U.L.V. is an abbreviation for Ultra Low Voltage because the Su7300 is rated to consume only 10Watts whereas regular Core2 Duo processor consume 35watts or three(3) times more power.
c) SU7300 is the number code of this processor meaning it offers 1.3Ghz processing speed, 3Mb L2 cache and 800Mhz front side bus.

In everyday computing it can be said that the Core2 ULV SU7300 is a fast Dual Core processor but is power sipping like an ATOM processor found in most netbooks. This is why we say that the SU7300 is like the “Nirvana” of mobile computing and will be the system by which new laptop models will be compared.



Is SU7300 fast? YES! Is it the fastest? No! It has been a practice at CoolTOYZ to measure the capability of each component of a laptop using the Windows® Experience Index which is a feature built into Windows Vista™. The feature measures various performance characteristics and capabilities of the hardware it is running on and reports them as a Windows Experience Index(WEI) score, a number between 1.0 and 5.9 for Windows Vista. The score of the processor is 4.5 which is not the fastest in the whole system and which brings us to the next question...

2. Can I use the Inspiron 14z for gaming?
Newbie laptop buyers want a fast processor because they want to play games on their laptops. Experienced Gamers on the other hand know that gaming is more dependent on fast graphics(GPU) rather than a fast processor. It is the graphic card that converts information into images we see on the display. A fast processor will not make a slow graphic card any faster because they serve different objectives in a computer. Without an equally fast video card or GPU; a fast processor will only benefit the user by starting up the laptop faster. To cut the story short, computer performance has shifted from raw processor speed to graphic capability, and you will be glad to note that despite its slim physique, the Inspiron 14z still features a game ready ATI HD4330 graphic processing unit with dedicated 512mb GDDR2 memory.



Based on the respected and independent notebookreview.net website and as shown below, the ATI 4330 is four(4) times more powerful than the Intel X4500M, twice as capable as the flavor of the month ATI HD3200, and even stronger than the latest nVidia G_105M. We tested the Inspiron 14z using real world application of NBA2K9 and Left_4_Dead and was amazed by the performance.



3. Why should I buy the Inspiron 14z?
We made two statements in the earlier part of this article that needs validation. Statement No.1 – “Is SU7300 fast? YES! Is it the fastest? No!”. Statement No.2 –“computer performance has shifted from raw processor speed to graphic capability”. To validate these two statements we refer back to the Windows Experience Index[WEI] score of 4.5Points for the Inspiron 14z as posted above and compare the core of other systems:
a) The 2009 Best Seller CQ40-416AU <click here> only has a WEI score of 3.5Points but users have come to love the machine because it can play almost of the popular games... what more the 14z!
b) The Acer 4736z with a Core2 Duo P7350(2.1Ghz) was tested with a much lower score of 3.1Points. <click here>
c) The Hp DV3-2000 with Core2 T6500(2.1Ghz) and nVidia G105M GPU was tested and only provided a lower WEI score of 4.1Points. <click here>

We can go on with the comparison of the WEI score of the Inspiron 14z to other systems but that is already stating the obvious to prove the performance capability of the 14z. What is amazing is that this configuration is capable to provide 5.5Hours on basic use[surfing, word, spreadsheet] and up to 3.5hours on DvD Playback and continuous gaming, on a regular 6-cell battery. In addition, the system runs wonderfully cool because of the Core2 Duo ultra-low voltage processor. Battery life and system temperature are features that do not appear on the specification sheet aka “bragging rights” but is most vital in a mobile computer. Without battery endurance the mobile user is handicapped to enjoy the machine while on the go. While excessive heat will make the system prone to break down.



“People who want mobility, value, great performance and easy Internet access have made Inspiron our most popular consumer brand” said Glen Robson, general manager Dell consumer laptops. After trying out the model for a week, we have the opinion that Dell has hit the nail square on with the Inspiron 14z. We have to admit we have been Dell laptop users for the last 7years and gravitate towards the brand. Finding a laptop model with a combination of power and battery life and with a Dell brand, naturally has made us very excited.



The excitement is not like that of a kid finding a new toy. The excitement is like that of an adult finding a toy he has been searching for during his childhood and now the toy is within his grasp. The 14z is one for the experienced and mature mobile computer user that has been there and done that. We will agree with our trusted friend that the Inspiron 14z will not win “bragging rights” for benchmarks but it can not be denied that the 14z provides the nirvana for mobile computer users of capable processing, long battery life and portability with great looks to match!

Our Buying Tips:
1. Select Three(3) Laptop that fits the requirement and the budget
2. Visit the store
3. Sit Down and compare the laptops side-by-side. Nothing like actual comparison.
4. View if the Display meets expectations... check dead pixels also
5. Check if Audio is Acceptable.
6. Check Battery Life
7. Inquire about the Warranty Policy
8. Take a Deep Breath and decide.

"Paying for what you can Experience and Buying from a Shop is for Your Peace of Mind... Units available for immediate purchase".