Today, customers in the United States can order two new Inspiron z systems with Ivy Bridge technology. The Inspiron 13z and 14z laptops are the latest members of Dell’s thin and connected Inspiron z series, now with 3rd Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 Ivy Bridge processor options. We worked to make the Inspiron 13z and 14z laptops ideal for customers who need to stay connected when they’re on the go. They are both under an inch thin and light weight, so they don’t take up much space in your bag and won’t weigh you down. They let you connect in more places with pay-as-you-go NetReady wireless broadband, and their great battery life gives you plenty of time between recharges.
The Inspiron 14z Ultrabook packs a ton of versatility into its sleek, sub-1”, 4.12lb brushed aluminum case, including an onboard DVD player, HD-resolution webcam with pre-loaded Skype and Ultrabook-specific features that take responsiveness to a whole new level. Intel Rapid Start Technology allows it to resume in under half a second from opening the lid, giving you quick access to your work (or play). It also packs Intel Smart Response Technology, which provides SSD-like read/write performance for the files you use most, and isn’t as expensive as SSD. The 14z can be configured with optional SSD drive with Intel Smart Connect, which updates web feeds and e-mail when the lid is closed,* so you don’t have to wait for downloads when you just have a few seconds to check on things.
Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook with headphones and backpack
If you want to see more images of the new laptops, visit the new Inspiron 13z and 14z laptops album on Dell’s Google+ page.
The Inspiron 14z also comes with two USB 3.0 ports to make fast work of transferring files – one of those USBs also functions as a PowerShare so you can recharge a smartphone even when the lid’s closed. A media card reader, HDMI 1.4a port, Intel Wireless Display, Waves MaxxAudio 4 technology that helps our XPS laptops sound so good coupled with Skullcandy speakers round out an Ultrabook packed with features. It is available in standard Moon Silver, or later this summer optional Fire Red. For that little extra bit of video punch, Dell even offers a 1 GB switchable discrete graphics option if you’re so inclined. The 14z is already available in many countries around the world this week, and will be available in the United States starting at $699.99 today on Dell.com.
The Inspiron 13z laptop is the 14z’s smaller sibling, available with SWITCH-able lids in either standard Moon Silver or optional Fire Red or Lotus Pink. Its 13-inch design, contoured edges, sub-4 lb. weight and sub-1” thin design make it easy to take with you, and hard to put down. Don’t be fooled by the diminutive size though – this sleek little laptop packs the video muscle and hard drive capacity to handle your digital library, and three fast USB 3.0 ports that make file swaps quick and easy. One of those USB ports is also a PowerShare design that allows you to charge your smartphone even when the 13z’s lid is closed. A media card reader and HDMI 1.4a port are also part of the story, as is Intel Wireless Display for streaming content to your HDMI TV in full 1080p with 5.1 surround. When you’re not streaming it through external speakers, Waves MaxxAudio 4 audio and Skullcandy speakers provide great audio to complement the 13.3” Truelife screen and make the most of pre-loaded Skype and HD-aspect webcam for super-easy webchatting. The 13z has also been available in many countries around the world, and now it will be available in the United States starting at $599.99 beginning today.
Here’s a video overview of Dell’s new Inspiron z laptops:
Dell also designs and tests these systems rigorously, so that you can depend on yours for years to come. Here are some examples of the kinds of things I’m talking about with these new Inspiron z laptops:
- Laptop hinges still feel tight, after opening & closing the lid 20,000 times, batteries are still snug after being removed & reinstalled 1,100 times, media card readers have cards inserted and removed 2,000 times and still work perfectly.
- We test for the regular bumps & thumps a laptop sees when being put into a tight bag. We close the lid and press 22 lbs (10 kg) of force on various areas of the lid 2,400 times.
- We open it up and press on the palm rest with over 20 pounds of force 2,400 times. We jam 10 lbs of force on the touchpads that many times too — to ensure there are no dents, cracks, or crowding of the components underneath.
- We twist the system lid and base 25,000 times from multiple sides — without hurting the parts inside.
- We plug in the AC connector and USBs 5,000 times to ensure they work, and that the icons don’t rub off. (We plug in less commonly-used ports 2,500 times to ensure they work too.)
- Commonly-used keys are tested for 10,000,000 keystrokes and touchpad buttons 1,000,000 times with no failure. Power and multimedia buttons are tested 40,000 times as well.
- We put them through brutal short-term heat cycles from -40C/-40F to 65C/149F to survive being stored in your car’s trunk whether you’re in Alaska or Dubai.
Thin. Light. Just right. Those are the goals we worked toward with the new Inspiron 13z and 14z products. Our formula for making Inspiron z products that keep up with constantly-connected customers is to bring lots of features with laptops that feature designed-in quality. Welcome your thoughts and comments here.