Dell Inspiron 9100 - First Take

Dell Inspiron 9100

Dell Computer today added a new desktop-replacement laptop to its arsenal, the 8.9-pound Inspiron 9100. The new machine offers many of the same specs as Dell's new gaming laptop, the Inspiron XPS, but the 9100 sells at a lower price.

Upside: The base model of the Dell Inspiron 9100 starts at $1,549, and you get a lot for your money: a 15.4-inch WXGA display, a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 processor, 256MB of RAM, a CD burner, and ATI's Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics card with 64MB of memory. Upgrading to a higher-resolution, 15.4-inch WSXGA+ screen, a 3.2GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of RAM, a version of the ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 card with 128MB of memory, a 60GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and wireless networking will increase the price to $2,325, before rebates.

Downside: Don't attempt to travel much with the Dell Inspiron 9100 and its shoulder-straining 8.9 pounds. And while the price of the base model is decent, if you're looking for a cheap laptop, the Dell Inspiron 1100 sells for even less--$699, after a rebate.

Outlook: Dell makes some of the best desktop replacements, but even with its price and features, the Dell Inspiron 9100 will face stiff competition from other notebook makers, including Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, Sony, and Gateway. Check back for a full review of the Inspiron 9100.