My Dell Inspiron 1420 Review
I just got my new notebook recently, a Dell Inspiron 1420 with a ruby red colored lid. Dell refreshed their new line of Inspiron at the end of June, and boy I am pleased with the new changes they made.
My Dell Inspiron 1420
Okay, specs please. My unit’s configuration are as follow
- Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz with 4MB cache)
- 2GB of DDR2 667MHz RAM
- 128MB GDDR3 nVidia GeForce 8400M GS discrete graphics card
- TrueLife 1440×900 resolution LCD screen
- 120GB 5400rpm hard disk drive
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- 9 cell battery
- built-in webcam and microphone
- built-in 8-in-1 card reader
- Intel 802.11 a/b/g wireless card
Built Quality
In short, compared to the older model Dell Inspiron 640m, which share the same 14.1″ screen size, the Dell Inspiron 1420 proves to be much sturdy and with better finishing. The new Dell Inspirons now come with magnesium alloy material chassis, compared with hard plastics to the older models.
You can see the 9 cell battery sticking out in the back
The lid only flexed a little when I applied pressure with my hand on the top. Once opened, one of the changes you will notice in this new Dell Inspiron 14.1″ line is that they do not have any latches to hold the screen down. Instead, they used the same spring tension kind of mechanism feature in the Dell XPS m1210 and m1330. The lid closes like a magnet from 1.5 to 2 inch height mark from the base, when I am trying to close the lid. And, it stays intact and does not wiggle around like the Inspiron 640m did.
Ruby red with Microsatin finish
Appearance
Dell offered 8 different colors to choose from for its lid, red, blue, pink and more! There’s also black and white color to choose from, if you prefer to have business look. All these colors (excluding black and white), have what Dell called the Microsatin finish, where the lid feel a bit rubbery and does not pick up finger print marks easily. The matte black and glossy white however, do take up a lot of finger prints due to different paint finishing.
The bottom base of the notebook is black in color, while the rest of the system takes a white silver appearance.
Physical Size and Weight
Weight and thickness wise, this notebook will not win any award for being the thinnest or lightest 14 inch laptop around. In fact, compared to other brands notebooks, this thing is quite heavy and thick. My unit is heavy, reaching around 2.7kg, as it came with a 9 cell battery, but it is still manageable. Sure it adds some extra weight, but it is worth the extra weight if battery life is important to you. As for it’s dimension, the width is 13.1″, followed by length 10.3″ and 1.5″ thick.
Side by Side
This machine comes with 4 USB ports, 2 on each side of the notebook. Besides that, on the right side, it has a DVD Writer, a S-Video out port and VGA out port. On the left, there is an Express Card slot, FireWire port, AC power slot and a cable lock slot. The ethernet and modem telephone line port is located at the back.
Right in the front, there is a built-in card reader, a WiFi catcher (which originally a Dell Latitude notebook feature, that is capable of finding availability of WiFi connection, without having to boot up your computer. Right in the center, there are two headphone out jacks, so you can share your music and videos with another friend, and one microphone jack. The status lights are located to the left side on the front.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Inspiron 1420 share the same keyboard like the XPS m1330. It is a full size keyboard, and the Function(Fn) key locates right where it suppose to be, in between Control(Ctrl) and Windows key. This keyboard is superb, no flex and easy to type on. In fact, I can type it way much faster on it than on my current desktop PC keyboard that I’ve used to for at least 1 year! The Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up and Page Down key are placed vertically one line on the right, so it is very easy to access to them.
The touchpad is slightly lower then the base, so when placing my palm while I’m typing, would not cause unnecessary movement on the screen’s mouse cursor. The touchpad buttons are also easy to press on, just the right amount of pressure.
Screen
I’ve customized my screen to the higher 1440×900 resolution, instead of the 1280×800 screen. So, I can get a bigger workspace and view much things on the screen at one time. There is some light leakage on the bottom of the screen, however this is pretty much common on notebook LCDs, it didn’t bother me much. Since I have a Dell TrueLife LCD screen, which produces brighter images with richer color than the matte ones, it is however the screen is quite reflective. I can practically see my self reflection if the screen is displaying dark images.
Multimedia Features
My unit come up a nVidia discrete graphics card. Sure, it won’t be able to run the newest games at the highest settings, but it is capable to run at reasonable FPS on medium to high settings. You have the option to get the Intel integrated graphics, to shave off some cost and increase battery life. But, don’t expect to play much games on the integrated graphics.
One thing I like about the new Inspiron is that, they now come with webcams with integrated microphone. It features a 2MP webcam, which have a reasonable FPS (Frame per second) when set to 640×480 resolution. However, the built in mic is quite useless in capturing voice. Often I have to speak right in front of the microphone, just to get a reasonable sound volume.
The media buttons are located north of the keyboard, followed by the notebook speackers with locate above the media buttons. The placement of the speakers is ideal, as it is free from obstruction. One downside is that, the media buttons paintjob with chrome on plastics, making it looks a bit cheap. I would prefer it to be a flat color, just like the silver base.
Battery Life
The system can last for more than 3 hours if playing a DVD movie. So, you can expect to hit the 4 to 4.5 hours mark easily if you are just doing some web surfing, listening to mp3s and some word processing.
Bottom line, this machine is especially great for people with tight budget, as it offers wide range of customize options in a reasonable. Don’t get me wrong, this machine can be cheap, but it can reach more than Rm4K depending your own configurations and needs. If you care “specs” more than “looks”, this is a right machine for you. Although it does not have very fancy design, but overall the look and feel is not that bad.
The only complain I can say about the finishing, is the media buttons that looks cheap, and the built in microphone on the web cam. Other than that, I’m pretty pleased with the performance.
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August 20th, 2007 at 11:05 am
hey…got ur web from low yat…nice bookmark…can i use it???im a comp student too..
August 20th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
well, you can get the high resolution image from the Gallery and print it yourself, then laminate them.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
hey thanks dude….i wanted to ask ur permission without simply using cuz i know how hard to make one and when ppl simply use…sakit hati..thanks!
August 24th, 2007 at 9:55 am
if you dont mind, how much does this lappy cost you?
August 24th, 2007 at 10:01 am
To be exact, it cost RM4454. Including a Bluetooth mouse that cause RM89, upgrade to backpack that cost around RM20, and a 3 years Complete Cover + Accidental Damage warranty.
August 25th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Nice review. Is your 9 cell battery fit into the slot or slightly loose?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:08 am
The 9 cell batter fit into the slot perfectly. Although it wiggle a bit(vertically), doesn’t really bother me much.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
I found your review very useful as I intend to get the same model but am concern about its weight and size. Size is okay to me but still do you know what is the original weight without upgrading it to 9 cell battery?
October 15th, 2007 at 11:43 am
For the original 6 cell battery, it is 2.45kg according to Dell official website and other online review articles that I have read, compared to 2.7kg for 9 cell battery.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Nice review. I bought the same laptop which i got 2 days back. I am quite pleased with its performance so far. However the battery doesnt seem to fit tightly into the slot but wiggles somewhat vertically. Is that a known problem with 1420 or should I try and get it replaced from Dell?
October 31st, 2007 at 7:41 pm
You’ll get the same thing even you ask for a replacement. Normally, 9-cell batteries will have this problem, even for other manufacturers, as the 2 way clips is the cheapest mechanism to lock the batteries, yet it can’t support the 9 cell batteries excessive weight extended at the back. A way to it is to cut a thin cardboard, and slot it in to stop the wiggling.
November 25th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
hey i really lke the review . it just gives u the whole summary of the laptop . my actual concern is that i want to order the same piece but i dnt knw which color lid to choose i like red but i am going UK to study a managamnet course so should i pick a white r stick to red because i dnt want it to be flashy. and my second concern is the 9 cell battery ? hw many hrs more life does it provide compared to the 6cell battery please help me i need to place the order soon
November 25th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
For colors, it really based on the person’s preference. I like white too, but I know it’s going to be hard for me to take care, as it has a glossy paint finish. The red color Inspiron is basically more light a dark red, close to maroon.
If you really concern about it, go to Dell roadshows or coming PC fair if there’s still time for you before going abroad, to see how the real colors really look. Basically I would say black and blue is the safest color.
As for battery life, I’m not sure how much a 6 cell can last, but mine can last around 4 hours. And if you don’t like the battery sticking out, it’s better to option for the 6 cell battery that stay flush at the back. It’s all down to you, battery life first, or lighter weight comes first.
December 26th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Hey thanks for the awesome review ^^, i guess this is the one im looking for, esp in red it looks so nice. Anyways, happy new year, take care ya =)
January 14th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Hi, great review indeed!, I want to buy a dell now, I think dell 1420 is a good option, I have a dell inspiron 9100 but it’s both too hot and too heavy, it’s a shame I released it after I bought it. Anyway, thanks your review and other ones I found, I know this dell 1420 it’s 2.7 kg in average but you don’t mention anything about the heat produced by dell 1420. Does it produce too much heat as dell inspiron 9100 does? I hope you could support me with this. Thanks! Gery.
January 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
No worries, the vents on the 1420 is large enough the dispense the heat. Even on my configuration with the GeForce graphics card, the heat is still bearable.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Hi Eu Hua! I’ve ordered mine in ruby red too! Luckily I found ur review just minutes before I confirm the order. Now I am really sure that this is the one for me. Cant wait for it to come next week. Fyi, I got the wireless mouse for free.
Thanks a lot! 
January 15th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Yup, there are having quite a number of bonuses and free gifts now, too bad I couldn’t wait back then. If I waited, I couldn’t have finish my final year assignments.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Eu Hua! I am super sad now la! My new lappie has arrived. I am excited and all and later when I want to format it to XP Pro, it cannot detect the hard disk! I know it is all about SATA blabla. Did u format yours to XP Pro? Vista is a pain in the a** lah. I dont want to use Vista. Pls help if you have any solution at all. Thanks Eu Hua.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I did not format back to XP, but I think I know the problem. That is because XP is release before the SATA hard drive technology. You can borrow a USB floppy drive, which is basically the easiest way, and copy the SATA driver on the floppy and press F6 during XP installation. You can Google for that. Make sure you use XP drivers only (can get from Dell).
However, if you cant find a USB floppy drive, there is another method. Hopefully the link will help you, as I am not able to explain much myself http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/501772
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hi Eu Hua. Thanks for the link. I have tried the nLite; try to integrate SATA driver into Win XP installation cd but it doesnt work. I guess I MUST find a floppy disk and try the F6 method. Haiya! Where to find la? Anyway, thanks a lot.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Your best bet would be borrowing it from someone who has it. Not feasible to buy one you see, as it cost almost a 100 bucks and you will be rarely using it. Try looking for second hands.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Hi i too have a dell inspiron with pretty much the same specs but i dono how to make the integrated mic work..can u helpme out?
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Please go to Control Panel>Sound. Go to Recording tab, and make sure the “Microphone Array” device is enabled and selected as default.
March 30th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
do your dell inspiron come with ms office?
what do they mean by nylon case?
March 30th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Nope. There is an option that you need to pay more if you want the ms office. Nylon case means the hand held bag to put you laptop in.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:42 am
Hey Eu Hua,am a student whom planned to transfer to states to persue my final year and i need to get a laptop. i wanna know..
* should i get my Dell here or in states?
* whats the difference between ur 1420 and 1520?
thanks a lot..
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Well, I think you should get the notebook here. Prices here are much cheaper compared to the states, because in states you will need to pay taxes and need a student voucher to get the discounts.
1420 and 1520 the main differences is of course the size and the weight. And in 1520, there’s an option to upgrade to a better graphics card. If you plan to do a lot of traveling, I recommend to go for 1420 instead. If mobility is very important, you might want to go something more lighter like a 12.1″ or 13.3″ notebook.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Thanks for the reply..by the way,is Dell the best choice? My budget was actually for Sony VAIO CR35G, which is about RM4488..then my friends were saying that if I am actually paying for the brand rather then for the specs..
I am not a gamer..All i need is a laptop which is easy to maintain and doesn’t give me much trouble and hopefully looks good as well..sorry to be asking so much..just really new at all these laptop thingys..
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
well, since you have the budget, you can actually get the Dell XPS m1330. No doubt Sony are much on the pricey side, due to design, but the hardware specification is a bit low.
For Dell, if you purchase a 3 years warranty with international warranty, it will prove to be less hassle, because the tech support come next day right to your door-step to fix the computer for you, if anything happen to it.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
i checked out the m1330 specs..am slightly concern about the video card..i thought of getting the 8600m gs..my friend says that can support vista better..ok, how about this eu hua,can u email me ur msn to my gmail and we chat online..is that ok with you? if cant its alright..let me know..thanks
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 am
great review! It was really helpful and you pretty much answered all my questions.
However, do you have any issues with performance? Do you wish you had a faster processor? or more RAM?
Thanks again.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
Well, my processor and RAM is pretty much to the max already. 2.0GHz with 4MB cache, and 3GB of RAM is pretty much what I need for at least another year. But I think soon enough, I need some bigger screen and higher resolution like 1680 X1050.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
what is the difference between vostro and inspiron series? since the price are about the same? I am planning to buy a dell laptop with budget about RM2500 in these few days.Thanks.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Vostro is aim for business users, Inspiron more on normal consumers. There really isn’t much difference on the machine, except for it’s colors. The differences is in terms of services, Vostro have a business warranty, and the have the option of choosing no OS and bloatware.
May 13th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Great review, I was wondering whether i should get one too. I wanna ask what is the difference a True Life display with the normal display. Plus, what kind of games do the laptop can support? Does it support games like FIFA 2008 and Counter Strike: Condition Zero without any major lag to this laptop?
May 13th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
TrueLife is the glossy screen, which is great for movies and games, having a much more vivid color. However, it is highly reflective, which might be a problem if in offices lights. Games will run just fine, you have the option of upgrading to a Nvidia dedicated graphics card, which is sufficient to run on most modern games, on average to above average graphics performance.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Ok, so if i opt for the Nvidia graphic card (which is actually included)what kind of games does it run perfectly well. What about games such as these:
- Fifa 2008
- Counter Strike- Condition Zero
- Age of Empire 3
or any other games which need such requirement?
May 14th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I’m not gamer, so I can’t tell. But I played NFS Pro Street, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare smoothly, with above average graphic details.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
well I’m impress with your reviews…by tomorrow i might have one like the red one you have coz i just made an order 2 dys ago coz it run out of stocks. anyways it would be a big help on my my part since i’m a first time user.
July 4th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Nice review! I own inspiron 1420 with gforce 8400.whether it is possible to upgrade its graphic card.if yes,how much it costs? Do it have a 5.1 sound output?thanks in advance…
July 6th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Well I’m afraid the gForce 8400 is as far as it can go. And no, there’s no 5.1 sound output. As you can see, it suppose to be an average consumer notebook, the price depends on how u customise it. But, they do not offer anything else that is much more advanced.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I just adjusted its speaker configuration in control panel and got 5.1 output.it really works. try it.