The Dell Inspiron 17R N7110 we reviewed last week is a 17.3″ inch laptop which belongs to the popular and affordable Inspiron R series. The model we tested had a Core i3-2330M processor, the Nvidia GeForce GT 525M dedicated graphics combined with the on-CPU Intel HD, 4GB RAM, a 500GB hard drive, DVD burner, and 1600×900 display resolution.
As you can see on the images above, the 17R N7110 sports an all-glossy design and the finish is a real fingerprint magnet on both the lid and palm rests. Even space between keyboard keys is glossy, not to mention the LCD bezel and the display itself. The only matte surfaces are the touchpad and the bottom of the case. A nice and unique feature on this laptop, like on the other R series, is its switchable lid, which can be easily removed by pushing a button located on the low end of the LCD back panel. The hinges keep the display firmly in a chosen position, but the whole screen panel wobbles considerably. The keyboard is surrounded by chrome-like plastics which gives this budget laptop a somewhat classy look.
Performance
The Core i3 processor used in the review unit belongs to the lower end of the Core i-series family, but it’s a mid range chip if you additionally take into consideration Pentium and Celeron chips. Similarly, the GeForce GT 525M is an entry-level dedicated video card, but on the other side it’s much faster than widely used Intel’s integrated GPUs.
The Core i3 processor used in the review unit belongs to the lower end of the Core i-series family, but it’s a mid range chip if you additionally take into consideration Pentium and Celeron chips. Similarly, the GeForce GT 525M is an entry-level dedicated video card, but on the other side it’s much faster than widely used Intel’s integrated GPUs.
Display
The display is a TN panel, which provides good viewing angles from the sides, but when you only slightly tilt the screen from the ideal position you will notice big contrast and color changes. That’s common for TN-based displays. In terms of colors and contrast, we have nothing to complain about, but brightness could have been better. The 1600×900 resolution is standard for 17.3″ consumer laptops and does provide a noticeably larger work space than 1366×768 15.6″ screens.
Speakers and Webcam
Stereo speakers accompanied by a subwoofer on the Dell Inspiron 17R N7110 deliver a pleasant sound. They provide a decent sound volume, but the problem is their location on the front-bottom of the case so high tones and sound sharpness are reduced.
The 1.0MP camera performs well in lower light conditions, such as room lighting at night. On the other hand, the frame rates are pretty low so you won’t be able to stream a fluid picture.
The display is a TN panel, which provides good viewing angles from the sides, but when you only slightly tilt the screen from the ideal position you will notice big contrast and color changes. That’s common for TN-based displays. In terms of colors and contrast, we have nothing to complain about, but brightness could have been better. The 1600×900 resolution is standard for 17.3″ consumer laptops and does provide a noticeably larger work space than 1366×768 15.6″ screens.
Speakers and Webcam
Stereo speakers accompanied by a subwoofer on the Dell Inspiron 17R N7110 deliver a pleasant sound. They provide a decent sound volume, but the problem is their location on the front-bottom of the case so high tones and sound sharpness are reduced.
The 1.0MP camera performs well in lower light conditions, such as room lighting at night. On the other hand, the frame rates are pretty low so you won’t be able to stream a fluid picture.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The keyboard is a chiclet-style one with a large space between the keys, but the keys could have been larger to avoid constant hitting keys’ edges. The keys provide good tactile feedback with a mid-range travel. The flex is present only on the right side of the keyboard – around the enter key and on the num-pad. But, that flex occurs only if you use bigger pressure on the keys. In normal typing, you won’t notice it.
Above the keyboard, there are three dedicated buttons for access to Windows Mobility Center, Dell’s support service, and for turning the screen on and off. Although these buttons can be useful, Dell could have included at least basic multimedia buttons, like volume and mute, besides or instead of them.
We had no problems with the touchpad, which is off the center in order to match the keyboard with numeric pad. It’s spacious and precise, and the separate left and right touchpad buttons have a mild stiffness. However, these plastic keys are pretty loud when clicking.
Above the keyboard, there are three dedicated buttons for access to Windows Mobility Center, Dell’s support service, and for turning the screen on and off. Although these buttons can be useful, Dell could have included at least basic multimedia buttons, like volume and mute, besides or instead of them.
We had no problems with the touchpad, which is off the center in order to match the keyboard with numeric pad. It’s spacious and precise, and the separate left and right touchpad buttons have a mild stiffness. However, these plastic keys are pretty loud when clicking.
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