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(Source: PC Advisor)

Product: Dell Inspiron 9400
Type: Notebook

Basic Configuration:

* Intel Core Duo T2500 processor (2.0 GHz)
* 1GB DDR SDRAM
* 100GB (5400 RPM) SATA hard drive
* 17″ WXGA TFT LCD display
* NVIDiA GeForce Go 7800 (256MB)
* Tray-loading 8x dual-layer (DVD+/-RW)
* Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 (802.11a/b/g)
* Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
* 5-in-1 media card reader
* Ports: 6x USB 2.0, 1x FireWire 400, Modem RJ-11, ExpressCard 54 slot
* Audio / Video Connectors: VGA out, audio line-out, external mic. port
* Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition
* Dimensions: 391 (H) x 290 (W) x 44 (D) mm
* Weight: 3.5 kg

Reviews:

1. Right after this post, we’re going to look at Macworld’s updated comparison of the MacBook Pro and a comparably customized Dell Inspiron 9400. So, I though it would be best to feature a Dell Inspiron 9400 review by PC Advisor first. This way, you’ll get some background knowledge on the Inspiron 9400 before reading the Mac-DellTel comparison.

   PC Advisor’s review is a short one, so I’ll skip straight to their verdict: “The build quality of the Dell is beyond reproach, but it isn’t exactly a looker and there are plenty of better deals available.” Statistically, this means that the Dell Inspiron 9400 scored 8 out of 10 for build quality, 7 out of 10 for features, and 6 out of 10 for value for money.

News:

1. Dell’s PR department must be going through a nightmare phase with all the bad PR floating around. Only a couple of weeks back, we heard about the exploding laptop in Japan.

   However, such bizarre cases are rare, and conventional cases are likely to cause more problems, as in a Dell Inspiron 9400 case highlighted by The Inquirer in March - where a customer was shipped an ATI X1400 rather than the (much) more powerful GeForce Go 7800GTX graphics card.

   But at least that case seems to have been resolved, with the customer in question getting an apology from a Dell Switzerland representative, plus his favoured 7800GTX.

   Of course, whether this move will mitigate the negative PR “accumulated” so far is still unknown.