Dell's new 13.3inch 1310 Vostro notebooks not only look sleeker, but at $999 we're wondering if we should be recommending them to friends.
Sure you don't get HDMI, or sleek backlit LED screens, and the weight's not exactly light at more than 2Kg, but the new Vostro lineup is making us think twice about boring business notebooks.
The starting price for the 13.3inch model is $999 - we were told by Dell's reps at today's launch that this includes Core 2 Duo, which if correct (we're yet to see the full spec list) makes the Vostro 1310 nothing to sniff at. (Dell's 13.3inch consumer model, the M1330, starts at $1,499).
The value gets even better with the new 15.4inch Vostro 1510, which starts at $799 (again, including Core 2 Duo according to Dell's reps). The 13.3inch and 15.4inch models will appear on May 5, and a 17-inch model will be available in late May for those wanting some exercise.
If you'd seen Vostro machines a year ago you might have baulked at the hybrid consumer/business design, which looked a tad chunky. Someone must have agreed, because the new look is much sleeker - think piano black, skinnier chassis, slot loading DVD, and a rock solid magnesium chassis. It's dare we say vaguely closer to the Thinkpad (Dell's marketer's may be recoiling in horror).
Dell also confirmed it continue to offer the option of downgrading from Windows Vista to XP "for the foreseeable future". We tried to get a more specific commitment but Dell refused to be drawn.
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| Dell Vostro 1310 |
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| Dell Vostro 1310 |