Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
The new Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 doesn't look like a US $750 laptop. But it is.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Sure, the design isn't particularly inspired, but this inexpensive Windows 10 machine is made of aluminum and glass!
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
You get your pick of 13- or 15-inch screens for the exact same price, and with the exact same specs.
Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
There's also a 17-inch model that adds a numpad and discrete Nvidia graphics, but is bulkier and costs far more: $899 to start, or $1149 if you want a solid state drive. (Trust us, you want it.)
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
The only difference between the 15- and 13-inchers, other than the screen, is a slightly deeper and notably wider body to accommodate the larger screen.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Even the ports are the same: two USB 3.0, one HDMI, one 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C socket and an SD card slot. That's true of the 17-inch model as well.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
And it's a very good thing that these laptops are the same, because it means both of them have a pretty decent keyboard and an excellent touchpad.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
My favorite feature: an infrared camera that lets you sign into Windows with your face. No kidding.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
The screen is pretty great, too -- a crisp 1080p panel with wide viewing angles. It's a touchscreen.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
And, yes, like many recent premium Windows laptops, that screen bends over backwards, letting the computer transform into a touchscreen tablet.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
It's just a shame the screen is so glossy, but that's the price you pay for touch.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
You can't see it here, but the keyboard has a backlight, too.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Unlike many Windows laptops, this touchpad is excellent at two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom gestures.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Yes, that metal body extends all the way around -- it's not just a facade up top.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
That's a full-depth SD card slot you're looking at: the card slides completely inside the frame instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Okay, here's a big annoyance: this power button (and volume rocker) on the right front edge are easy to hit by accident.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Look at that sheen off the beveled aluminum edges.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Even the hinges are made of metal, unusual for a laptop this inexpensive.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
My second favorite feature: an optional $100 (AU$179, £112) external battery that can deliver an additional 80% charge through the laptop's USB-C port.
It's a shame it doesn't work with the 17-inch version, only the 13- and 15-inch ones.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
You can also use the USB-C port for breakout multi-port adapters, like this $60 unit from Dell. It adds a USB 3.0 port, an Ethernet jack...
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
...and your choice of an HDMI or VGA monitor.
It also doesn't work with the 17-inch model, only the 13- and 15-inch ones. Blah.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
The power adapter that comes with these laptops is pretty small, too, though it's got an ugly, bulky cord and uses a barrel jack instead of USB-C.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Just know these laptops are fairly heavy: 3.86 lb (1.75kg) and 5.84lb (2.65kg), respectively, for the 13-inch and 15-inch models, and 6.12lb (2.77kg) for the 17-inch one.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
One last shot of me using the 13-inch Dell Inspiron 13 7000.