The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 Series is nothing spectacular. But then again you are paying $550. Below we list down the pros and cons of this laptop and give our take on it.
To start off, the touchpad is large and supports multitouch gestures up to four fingers. You also get a decent 14-inch touchscreen with a 1366×768-pixel resolution. In the wireless department, you get the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
As far as the sound quality is concerned, the front speakers can get loud enough without distorting the audio. Even then if you seek to do some serious listening, consider getting some speakers and headphones. Battery time is also good at about 7 hours. Other features include two USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 ports, a full-size HDMI output, an SD memory card slot, and Ethernet. There is also a headphone and mic jack.
The best features of the Inspiron 14 5000 are its design and size. It has above-average looks, especially when compared with laptops in this price range. The chassis is mostly polycarbonate and the lid has a metal finishing. A sample Dell logo is placed in the middle. And while it is not the thinnest or the lightest 14-inch laptop in the market, it is highly convenient to carry in your shoulder bag around campus, or while you are on a flight. The specs are as follows: the laptop is 22mm thick and weighs 4.8 pounds. It has a width and depth of 13.5 x 9.7 inches.
But here’s the down side. While the keyboard is backlit and spill-resistant, you will experience a fair amount of flex. And while the touchpad is decent, you can hit the palm-rejection setting when attempting to type with your hands on the palm rest. Finally, the screen doesn’t allow you to work in bright daylight as the color and contrast easily become problematic.
To sum up, the Dell Inspiron 14 5000 series is best suited to the budget conscious users that need something that can easily be carried around.
Photo courtesy: Dell
