Dell Inspiron 14R-1296PBL

Dell Inspiron 14R-1296PBL

Decked out with a colorful lid and a brushed-aluminum interior, the Dell Inspiron 14R-1296PBL ($579.99 list at Best Buy) is more about style than substance. You won't find one of Intel's new Sandy Bridge processors or a Blu-ray drive on this laptop, and its performance is underwhelming. But it is equipped with several wireless features and has a good-sized hard drive. Design-wise, there's very little to distinguish this Inspiron 14R from the recently reviewed 14R-1181MRB ($679.98 list, 3 stars). Instead of a shiny black plastic finish the 14R-1296PBL is done up in a beautiful Peacock Blue that is sure to turn a few heads. It also sports a polished chrome Dell logo and a high-gloss coating that is susceptible to fingerprint smudging. The "hinge-forward" design exposes the brushed-aluminum finish at the back of the keyboard deck, which complements the colorful lid and gives the notebook a sleek look. The black traditional-style keyboard is firm and provides plenty of room for comfortable typing, but it lacks a number pad. The touchpad is of average size and is accompanied by two mouse buttons that are relatively quiet and responsive.