Dell Inspiron 14R 5420 shows good performance, many
connectors, impressive heat elimination, yet it’s a little thick and heavy.
Dell Inspiron 14R
5420
Dell Inspiron 14R 5420 is the company’s first model that is
equipped with the latest third-generation Intel Core I processor in Vietnam.
The design is chubby plus replaceable and characteristic front cover and a good
configuration.
The tested model, Dell Inspiron 14R 5420 – RW5G41 comes with
Intel Core i5-3210M (2.5 GHz) processor belongs to the latest Core I series.
This chip gives a 15% efficiency gain compared to previous models. There’s also
a 14-inch screen with 1,366 x768 pixel resolution, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD and Nvidia
GeForce GT630M VGA.
This distinctive model is equipped with even 4 newest USB
3.0 ports using the technology that recharges when the laptop is off. The
product also owns ports for VGA, HDMI, LAN and a read/write DVD optical drive.
Ubuntu 11.10 OS is already installed.
RRP is $762.40.
Overviews
Good
High graphic performance
Impressive heat elimination
Replaceable lid cover
Many USB 3.0 ports
Bad
The laptop is thick and heavy
A little difficulty in pressing heavy keyboard buttons
Design
The replaceable
lid cover
Dell Inspiron 14R 5420 retains a chubby design from
2-year-ago generation of Inspiron 14R. The 14-inch laptop is quite heavy (2.29
kg) while other laptops with the same size give an average 2 kg. Although
common laptops have a thickness under 2.5 cm, this model owns a thickness of
2.88 cm in the fore side and 3.16 cm in the rear on.
Inspiron 14R 5420 shows more curves in the edges and other
details, which may not appeal to choosy male customers. Nonetheless, this
design is overall modern, the aluminum imitation plastic coat inside and
outside gives the laptop a luxurious appearance while the lid cover is
favorably replaced according to colors chosen by the young.
The left side with
ports for power jack, VGA, HDMI and 2 USB 3.0 connectors
The USB 3.0 slots
and the optical drive
It’s an upside that Inspiron 14R 5420 has complete
connectors. There’re such 4 USB 3.0 ports, HDMI for HDTV connection, VGA and
LAN. An optical drive is also integrated in the right side plus one LAN and two
USB ports which come handy for using external mouse.
In the left side, there’re slots for power jack, VGA, heat
eliminating bars, HDMI and 2 USB 3.0 ports. 2 slots for microphone and
headphone are place in this side as well. Meanwhile, the system of status light
is moved to the front.
We found a little
heaviness pressing the keys
Inspiron 14R 5420 has no separate multimedia buttons
lying on top; instead, they are secondary and integrated into function keys.
The keyboard is Chiclet style with rounded corners and no backlight. With a
standard sized keyboard and a mediocre typing speed, Inspiron 14R 5420 actually
seems giving a poor typing experience because the keys are a little heavy. It
can be used in long time, the under rubber membrane will become softer but this
can cause difficulty for new users. However, it’s good that the navigation keys
are big thus this is suitable for users who regularly surf webs, play games or
text.
Medium-sized
touchpad with good sensitivity
The laptop touchpad is medium-sized with rough surface
helping to prevent slippery hands, plus a good sensitivity. Two separate mouse
buttons also give a feeling of comfort and accuracy. However, the pad is placed
near the keyboard so the wrist sometimes unintentionally touches it and changed
the on-screen cursor’s position.
Screen
There’s not much
considerable upgrade for the screen
Despite a lot of upgrades in settings with new chip and
discrete cards, Inspiron 14R 5420 owns the similar monitor with older models
from the last year. The resolution reaches 1366 x 768 pixels (HD standard). The
laptop uses glass screen producing great sharpness yet the constant problem is
that it gives reflection in strong or outdoor lighting. To fix this, users
should increase highness.
