I love Amazon but bought this elsewhere online to avoid paying taxes since I live in WA.
I used to sell laptops and desktop etc. for an electronics retailer and now work in IT.
I have owned several laptops and netbooks within the last 6 years.
Decided on something like this because my Asus netbook which has served me well was on its last legs and there weren't any netbooks with processors that are powerful enough for my needs. I have an Asus 14" business laptop but I felt it was too heavy (about 6 lbs).
I went into this purchase with the idea of keeping costs down while not sacrificing too much in performance and weight and am content with my purchase.
The term Ultrabook tends to convey the idea of a super slim, sleek, lightweight laptop with a metallic enclosure.
Well, think of this ultrabook as a budget ultrabook because that's exactly what it is. After all look at the price!
BATTERY
Let me first say that pretty much all manufacturers exaggerate battery life so you won't get stated life in most cases.
Not until there is some kind of ISO standardized rating system like there is now for inkjet cartridge yields.
As far as battery life goes PCMAG and LAPTOPMAG tested and rated it at just over 5hrs which is what I was expecting.
Dell should have stated UP TO 7.X hours which is a mistake on their part. The key is the "UP TO" before the battery life rating indicating that it can go up to that amount but under most normal usage it's for the most part unlikely.
I have drained the battery three times under normal usage (browsing and or downloading/streaming data) and have gotten an average of about 5 hours. Which is a little less than what PCMAG and LAPTOPMAG got.
I did this without using Dell's power management software. Using Dell's power management software could yield better results but I have not tested yet.
Here's the good and bad points I have found so far.
PROS:
relatively light weight. Can be easily held with one hand while screen is flipped open.
nicely spaced out matte keys with slight grip to them.
maximum screen brightness is fine in well lit rooms.
Intel Core i5-3317u CPU view comparison chart at passmark.com. There are other brands with same CPU that benched more or less.
6GB RAM altough most users will be fine with 4GB.
Speakers are pretty loud for a unit of this size
Windows 7 (if you're not interested in Windows 8 "Metro" for non touch systems)
CONS:
no SSD but then again this is a budget model (models with SSD + HD can be found for around $80 more)
would like a removable battery but most ultrabooks don't have removable batteries since they are more like thin plates that are "layered" inside instead of those removable bar or block types.
old smart phone type port covers. Other than helping it look more streamlined and dust protection there is no real reason for this.
If you are resting this unit on a flat surface the port covers will open JUST ENOUGH to allow you to plug in but it will be tight. (reason for 1 star deduction)
heat is mainly in the area under the power button. It gets pretty warm so if you actually plan on using this on your lap please take note.
Del bloatware
Who would like the Dell 13z?
Someone who wants an affordable ultrabook with an i5 CPU for under $600.
Someone who doesn't place an emphasis on how attractive their laptop looks.
If an average of 4.5-5hr battery life is okay for you.
If you mainly use it on a tabletop or other flat surface.
Who might not like the Dell 13z?
Compared to other ultrabooks this just looks average and has no bling finishes and has a mostly if not wholly plastic enclosure. In other words this is not going to turn heads when you whip this out at the trendy coffee shop that you may frequent...seriously. The surface surrounding the keyboard looks like brushed dark bronze metal but is not.
I have noticed very slight keyboard flex but it has not affected my typing or comfort in any way. However, if you're like that other guy who mentioned it you may want to spend the extra $$$ and get a higher end ultrabook because I have not noticed it at all until I read his post and actually pressed hard on the keyboard to replicate his claim.
If used on your lap you will notice your left thigh getting a bit hot so you might need one of those lapdesks which doesn't help if the coffee shop scenario above applies to you.
Other models you may want to consider:
Toshiba Portégé R835-P94 13.3-Inch Laptop (Magnesium Blue)
lighter weight, larger HD, faster CPU, longer battery life, though about 1/3 thicker
Lenovo IdeaPad U310 43752CU 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Graphite Gray)
less battery life, CPU benchmarks faster, HD webcam, SSD drive, very little bloatware.
*UPDATE 10/24/12*
Price is now back up to $749 (was at $579 at the time of writing original review)
at this higher price this is definitely not a as good a deal as the other two models listed in this review.
lowering star value from 4 to 3 since price has gone up almost $200 and is same price as the newer model with more memory?
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With a 3rd Gen Core i5 and 6 GB of RAM, this laptop is good buy from every angle.Light, thin and very capable. Wouldn't go any bigger after trying a 13 in laptop like this one.
I have always believed 13 is the magic screen size number and this model is not exception.
Upgrade with an SSD and you have a very capable Ultrabook for a lot less money.
Best Deals for Dell Inspiron i13z-7729sLV 13-Inch Laptop (Silver)
The Dell Inspiron i13z-7729sLV 13-Inch Laptop works perfectly. I am a regular user (work in th university in the Economy department) only use it for working (Office, statistics programs), for mail/skype/facebook, searching stuff on the web and watching movies. I bring it constantly with me, and use it everyday. I installed windows 8 and it runs smoothly in the laptop.I do not use it for playing games or with complicated design programs.
The computer feels very fast, is very light (1.8 kg aprox), the battery runs for long time (6 hours when it is fully charged), and the view in the monitor is very clear.
I had a problem with the keyboard (a couple of keys did not function properly), but this is more a positive issue for the product more than a negative: I called to Dell support service from Argentina, and they had a post-sale service shop in my town (Tandil, a medium-smal city in Argentina). They asked for a new keyboard to the US and in less than a month the problem was solved (that seems preety fast, considering the import restriction policy of our country).
Anyways, I also choosed Dell since its fame of resistant to hard work and constant transport, but I can not give faith of this, since I only started using it two months ago.
Hope this can be useful, sorry for my poor english.
Honest reviews on Dell Inspiron i13z-7729sLV 13-Inch Laptop (Silver)
Here comes my review.I bought this laptop for 3 reasons.
1. Thin and lightweight
2. Cost effective
3. Battery life (After seeing 7 HOURS description in the product details I decided to buy this without second thought)
Pros:
Core i5, 6gig RAM, nearly 2GB graphics. Nothing more!
Cons:
Its thin, but its not too light. Though the cost is not pretty high, but for sure its not worth for money. I have used this for about 2 weeks now.
Coming to the biggest reason and biggest worry is battery life. As described and promised in the product description, the battery never gave backup of 7 hours.. Oh!! Forget it, not even 3 hours. I didn't play HD games, didn't watch HD movies, didn't run any NASA or Man-on-Mars projects too, but still, the battery drained out in less than 3 hours, all I did is just usual surfing and document edit.
I am not in US now, hence cant even think of returning this product. I am screwed, others be on your alert.
I suggest to pour another 200 bucks and go for Samsung Ultrabook, I am sure you will not repent your decision.
I will post more of my findings soon, but sure this is not worth buying.
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