Dell Inspiron 15z-5523 Pro Reviews

It’s rather large and heavy for an Ultrabook, but its responsive touchscreen and powerful hardware make it a Best Buy

The Dell Inspiron 15z-5523 gives plenty of bang for the buck, boasting solid performance and a feature set that helps deliver a smooth and intuitive Windows 8 experience.

The world needs more midsize, midprice laptops that match Windows 8 with a touch screen. And, if they can work in a slim optical drive, as in the case of the Dell Inspiron 15z, all the better. But, once you get close to that magic $1,000 mark (this 15z is $899), your options become very wide, and an upgraded Inspiron, still stuck with a low-res screen, may not be your top choice.

Dell has successfully integrated the ultrabook into the multimedia Inspiron family. The 15z bridges the gap between the two notebook classes without sacrificing too much on either side. First off is the stylish appearance that deserves the title ultrabook. The brushed aluminum not only looks good, but also emphasizes the high quality of the case. It is remarkably thin for a 15-inch notebook and is also well built. The hardware components are also on an ultrabook level: the Intel Core i5-3317U is a processor with a good price-performance ratio, supported by the Nvidia GeForce GT 630M. Occasional gaming is also possible on the Inspiron 15z. The Solid State Drive in combination with Windows 8 makes working rather quick - the system boots in seconds and so do the other programs. The display is less convincing. Due to its glossy surface and relatively low brightness, it is less than suitable for outdoor use. The performance of the notebook suffers from a CPU that is limited to its base clock, thus remaining below its potential. However, this ensures that the ultrabook is always cool and quiet. Also unsatisfactory is the pre-installed software. Under Windows 8 not all of the multi-touch gestures shown in the Touchpad Tool work, even after activation. This leaves just a couple of the standard ones. There is also no separate deactivation of the Bluetooth and WLAN. The Fn key switches both of them on or off. This is not user-friendly or practical. We are hoping for an update here.

Going big hasn’t caused the 15z to compromise its Ultrabook roots. This is a snappy, portable system. While it isn’t a performance powerhouse, it does meet the demands of the average consumer. Like Lenovo’s U-Series Ultrabooks, the 15z excels not because it is extraordinary in any one category but because it is consistently competent. The display is the only weakness, but competitors with better displays sell for more. Dell sent us the touchscreen model, which means we are forced to judge it on the basis of its $899 price. That’s unfortunate. As we’ve noted in other reviews, the current $150 surcharge for a touchscreen is way too much. The truth is that touch is almost pointless on a laptop that doesn’t convert to a tablet. It does nothing but spoil the value. That aside, the 15z is a good choice among the current crop of plus-sized Ultrabooks. It is reasonably priced, quick, and pleasing to use. Just keep it away from windows on a sunny day – unless you like your laptop to double as a vanity.