Dell Inspiron 17R - Intel Core i5

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 20 expert reviews

Excellent:

0
Good:

14
Average:

3
Bad:

3

Pros:

Stylish design, Above average port selection, Solid performance for most, Good battery life
Huge battery, long battery life, Nice design, WiDi2, Minimal bloatware, Some 3D graphics performance, Automatic graphics switching technology, Bluetooth,USB 3,0, SWITCH lids.
Intel Wireless Display (WiDi). Big 640GB hard drive. Great navigating experience. Nice design. No bloatware.

Cons:

Softfeeling keyboard, No Bluray optical drive, Only average gaming performance
No 1080p HD resolution, Slow 5,400rpm hard drive.

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Last revision on April 26, 2012

Reviewers Liked

Stylish design, Above average port selection, Solid performance for most, Good battery life
Huge battery, long battery life, Nice design, WiDi2, Minimal bloatware, Some 3D graphics performance, Automatic graphics switching technology, Bluetooth,USB 3,0, SWITCH lids
Intel Wireless Display (WiDi). Big 640GB hard drive. Great navigating experience. Nice design. No bloatware
Great processing speeds. 6GB of RAM. Cavernous 640GB hard drive. WiMax-ready. Intel Wireless Display included
Fast Core i5 processor. Great raw horsepower. Nice 17-inch widescreen. Excellent typing experience. Flawless constructed mouse buttons
Great performance for its class. HDMI-out and eSATA ports. Barely any pre-installed bloatware
Moderate price for a 17-inch laptop; eye-catching design; decent battery life for size
Bluray Drive, Good Performance, Software Installation Free Of Much Bloatware

Reviewers Didn't Like

Softfeeling keyboard, No Bluray optical drive, Only average gaming performance
No 1080p HD resolution, Slow 5,400rpm hard drive
No 1080p resolution. Battery life was less than desirable
Lacks graphics power. Bigger battery needed
Doesn't have Blu-ray or dedicated graphics. A bit pricey compared with its peers
Lid collects fingerprint smudges. No ExpressCard slot or FireWire port
Weak 3D performance, despite discrete graphics chip; no Blu-ray drive; tinny speakers
Exterior Shows Lots Of Fingerprints And Smudges, Display Can't Handle 1080p HD Video, 3D Graphics Best Suited For Casual Gaming

Expert reviews and ratings

The Dell Inspiron 17R is a large 17-inch desktop replacement laptop that has a sturdy design that as some updated internals and ports, including USB 3.0 and Intel's Wireless Display interface. However it has only average graphics performance and...

By TechReviewSource on June 22, 2011

For $899, the Dell Inspiron 17R offers a great display and audio with plenty of performance for multimedia mavens and even gamers. Its impressive battery life, while not necessary on a desktop replacement, is a bonus. Our only major complaint is the...

By LaptopMag on May 18, 2011

The Dell Inspiron 17R (N7110) gives you some 3D performance, creative control of both your virtual media and the laptop's physical appearance, and features to make this desktop replacement laptop pop....

By PC Mag on May 17, 2011

The Inspiron 17R is a typical multimedia laptop that doesn't allow itself to make many mistakes. At the same time, it doesn't really excel in any relation. Workmanship, keyboard, connectivity, performance and emissions are on about the normal...

By NotebookCheck on April 29, 2011

Between 15 and 16 inches might be the most common laptop size, but if you're looking for a desktop replacement you probably want a bigger screen. This is where the 17.3in Dell Inspiron 17R comes in. Available in a wide range of configurations,...

By Trusted Reviews on September 03, 2010

The Inspiron 17R is a good desktop replacement laptop, but unless you're into games it's a little overpriced compared to the competition....

By Expert Reviews on August 13, 2010

Dell's Inspiron range has long been one of the better consumer lines we've seen, offering a string of high-quality machines at low prices. The Inspiron 17R is its latest big-screen media centre and, despite its poor battery life, is an impressive...

By TechRadar on July 29, 2010

Powerful and stylish, this budget desktop replacement hits a lot of right notes - as long as you stick to plug...

By T3 Magazine on July 14, 2010

This big, stylish $850 laptop has discrete graphics for a little extra video oomph. It's a great deal if you want a 17-inch LCD, but less so if you're a gamer....

By Computer Shopper on July 01, 2010

Pros: Bluray Drive, Good Performance, Software Installation Free Of Much Bloatware

Cons: Exterior Shows Lots Of Fingerprints And Smudges, Display Can't Handle 1080p HD Video, 3D Graphics Best Suited For Casual Gaming

By About.com on January 01, 2010

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