Dell's no stranger to the idea of small form factor computers. They've offered slim desktops for years, and last year they introduced the interesting bamboo-covered Studio Hybrid desktop. The Zino isn't quite as out there as the Studio Hybrid with its rounded square shape and brightly colored lid, but it definitely has its advantages. Read on for our full review.
Specifications
* Processor: AMD Athlon X2 3250e @ 1.5GHz (1MB L2 cache)
* Memory: 3GB DDR2 SDRAM
* Hard drive: 320GB SATA @ 7200RPM
* Optical drive: 8x tray-loading DVD+/-RW
* Sound: Integrated 2.1 audio
* Video card: Integrated ATI Radeon HD3200
* Networking: Gigabit Ethernet
* Wireless networking: 802.11b/g/n
* Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Dimensions: 7.8 x 3.4 x 7.8 inches (WxHxD)
* Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
Prices for the Inspiron Zino HD start at $249. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for this configuration is $454.
Build and Design
Obviously the most noticeable aspect of the new Zino HD is the design. It's roughly the same size as the aforementioned Studio Hybrid, but the styling is less aggressive - which also means it'll likely appeal to a much broader audience. The unit itself is largely comprised of a black plastic body with a black base and colored top.
Dell has made a big push in the last couple of years toward the individualization of their products; one of the easiest ways of accomplishing this task is to let the user have some degree of customization over the products they order. A button in the back of the machine lets users quickly and easily pop the lid off of the computer and swap it out for another color.
The Zino HD comes with a base black top but for an additional fee, you can choose a new lid from a limited list of other colors. Solid colors, like blue, red, purple, green, pink and orange all raise the cost of the Zino by fifteen dollars, while patterned options like 'Green Scatter', 'Red Swirls' and 'Blue Lines' all cost an extra thirty
The Zino occupies an interesting position in Dell's lineup - it has a premium look and feel but as part of the Inspiron line of products, Dell considers it to be more of a value-oriented machine. The price enforces that attitude—at $250 starting, it's a pretty affordable little box. Surprisingly, the build quality is solid. The build and general feel of a computer is often one of the first things to get tossed out the window when it comes to bringing the price down a few notches, and it's a very pleasant surprise that it didn't happen here.
Given its general size and shape, a lot of people like to draw comparisons between the Dell Inspiron Zino HD and Apple's Mac Mini. It's a fair review, all things considered, even though the two really sort of target two different segments of the market. To be frank, the Zino HD loses to the Mini in a number of areas—processor, build quality, size and design.
Specifications
* Processor: AMD Athlon X2 3250e @ 1.5GHz (1MB L2 cache)
* Memory: 3GB DDR2 SDRAM
* Hard drive: 320GB SATA @ 7200RPM
* Optical drive: 8x tray-loading DVD+/-RW
* Sound: Integrated 2.1 audio
* Video card: Integrated ATI Radeon HD3200
* Networking: Gigabit Ethernet
* Wireless networking: 802.11b/g/n
* Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Dimensions: 7.8 x 3.4 x 7.8 inches (WxHxD)
* Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
Prices for the Inspiron Zino HD start at $249. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for this configuration is $454.
Build and Design
Obviously the most noticeable aspect of the new Zino HD is the design. It's roughly the same size as the aforementioned Studio Hybrid, but the styling is less aggressive - which also means it'll likely appeal to a much broader audience. The unit itself is largely comprised of a black plastic body with a black base and colored top.
Dell has made a big push in the last couple of years toward the individualization of their products; one of the easiest ways of accomplishing this task is to let the user have some degree of customization over the products they order. A button in the back of the machine lets users quickly and easily pop the lid off of the computer and swap it out for another color.
The Zino HD comes with a base black top but for an additional fee, you can choose a new lid from a limited list of other colors. Solid colors, like blue, red, purple, green, pink and orange all raise the cost of the Zino by fifteen dollars, while patterned options like 'Green Scatter', 'Red Swirls' and 'Blue Lines' all cost an extra thirty
The Zino occupies an interesting position in Dell's lineup - it has a premium look and feel but as part of the Inspiron line of products, Dell considers it to be more of a value-oriented machine. The price enforces that attitude—at $250 starting, it's a pretty affordable little box. Surprisingly, the build quality is solid. The build and general feel of a computer is often one of the first things to get tossed out the window when it comes to bringing the price down a few notches, and it's a very pleasant surprise that it didn't happen here.
Given its general size and shape, a lot of people like to draw comparisons between the Dell Inspiron Zino HD and Apple's Mac Mini. It's a fair review, all things considered, even though the two really sort of target two different segments of the market. To be frank, the Zino HD loses to the Mini in a number of areas—processor, build quality, size and design.
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