Dell have just unleashed the Inspiron M101z, an 11.6 inch mobile computer that sits somewhere between a laptop and a netbook. With a range of AMD processors, a wide range of colour choices, and a very small price tag indeed – the M101z is a real contender in the mini laptop market.
The Inspiron M101z is just as configurable as much more expensive Dell models, with a number of options including different designs, colours, processors, operating systems, and differing levels of RAM. The base spec is an AMD 1.7GHz single-core processor, but slightly deeper pockets will provide you with dual-core performance. Some of the very descriptive colour choices on offer include Peacock Blue, Tomato Red, and Promise Pink.
The build quality of the M101z looks to be a standard Dell affair, with a nice looking design that is confident without looking expensive. Dell are claiming six hours of battery life for this one, and while they do have a habit of over exaggerating their claims, it seems a lot of effort has gone into battery performance. The M101z has been tested running WiFi and web browsing for about four hours, which is probably a better representation of real world usage.
The screen features a resolution of 1366 x 768, a very respectable number for a laptop of this size in this price range. Connectivity is also very well featured, with 3 x USB 2.0, an impressive 7-1 card reader, and standard HDMI, VGA, and Ethernet ports.
Because this laptop is so new, a number of the options are as yet unavailable, with Dell promising a nine-cell battery and an unlocked internal 3G modem within the year. The basic configuration comes with a 250GB hard drive, 2GB or RAM, and Windows 7 Home Basic, but bigger drives, more memory, and Windows Home Premium are all on offer for the right price.
With prices starting from only $449, the Inspiron M101z is sure to turn a lot of heads in the budget mini-laptop market, but be careful because those options sure do add up fast. Even a moderately specced model is likely to cost more like $699, which already makes some of those very attractive features look not quite so rosy coloured. The Dell Inspiron M101z is available right now in the U.S.A, and will become available all over the world within the next few months.
Specifications
AMD Athlon Neo single and dual-core processors
Integrated ATI graphics
11.6 inch screen
1366 x 768 resolution
up to 4GB of RAM
up to 320GB SATA HDD
USB 2.0 x 3
HDMI
VGA
7-1 card reader
Ethernet
WiFi
Bluetooth
optional mobile broadband
