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Dell Inspiron 17R review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £529
inc VAT

A dedicated graphics card, a pair of USB3 ports and a decent set of speakers, but it's the 17in 1,600x900 screen that makes it great value

Specifications

17.3 in 1,600×900 display, 3.2kg, 2.2GHz Intel Core i3-2330M, 4.00GB RAM, 640GB disk, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

http://www.dell.co.uk
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Another advantage of the 17R’s size is that there’s more room for the keyboard, and even with a numberpad added, the keys are large and have plenty of room between them. The keys have a slightly convex surface, so you get extra tactile feedback from your fingertips as you strike them, and their action is light and crisp. The layout is standard, with the Control key in the bottom-left corner and the Function key marked in bright orange, matching the corresponding shortcut icons on the F1-12 keys.

Dell Inspiron 17R

A massive touchpad – measuring over 11cm diagonally – sits beneath the keyboard. It has a smooth, responsive surface and two large buttons. The buttons have a light, shallow action, but we felt they were set too far back from the edge of the case, which means you have to reach forward with your thumb to strike them.

Despite its yellow cast, the 17R’s screen is bright and colourful, and great value at this price. 2D performance may be average, but it can play games and it even has a decent set of speakers. The Asus K53S has a more accurate screen and better 2D performance, but we think the Inspiron 17R’s large screen tips the balance in its favour, winning it our Best Buy award.

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Basic Specifications

Rating*****
ProcessorIntel Core i3-2330M
Processor clock speed2.2GHz
Memory4.00GB
Memory slots2
Memory slots free1
Maximum memory8GB
Size36x418x287mm
Weight3.2kg
SoundRealtek HD Audio
Pointing devicetouchpad

Display

Viewable size17.3 in
Native resolution1,600×900
Graphics ProcessorNvidia GeForce GT 525M
Graphics/video portsVGA, HDMI
Graphics Memory1,024MB

Storage

Total storage capacity640GB
Optical drive typeDVD+/-RW +/-DL

Ports and Expansion

USB ports4
Bluetoothyes
Wired network ports1x 10/100/1000
Wireless networking support802.11n
PC Card slotsnone
Supported memory cardsSDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo
Other portseSATA (shared with USB socket), 2x USB3 port, minijack audio output, minijack microphone input

Miscellaneous

Carrying caseNo
Operating systemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Operating system restore optionrestore partition
Software includedMicrosoft Office 2010 Starter

Buying Information

Warrantyone year collect and return
Price£529
Detailswww.dell.co.uk
Supplierhttp://www.dell.co.uk

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