Dell - Inspiron 2-in-1 14” FHD+ Touch Laptop – 12th Gen Intel Core i7 – 16GB Memory – 512GB SSD - Platinum Silver

As a traditionally Mac kind of guy, this Dell Laptop really impressed me. It's a lightweight, mid-range performance, 2-in-1 - pretty ideal size for the on-the-go kind of person like me. We did get off to a bit of a rocky start. The very first screen that showed up after rebooting was a bit scary - though I think that's mostly a Windows problem not specific to this PC. Hardware-wise, I am REALLY impressed with the fingerprint sensor to log in to Windows and authorize other system tasks. I have other laptops with fingerprint capabilities, but none compare with this Dell's speedy and accurate readings - very impressed! The speed is impressive likely due to the solid-state hard drive (SSD), mid-range processor, with mid-range RAM. Other than my Windows glitch, applications were a breeze to install (and uninstall - see below), and all the software I loaded on to the machine ran well. Applications launch quickly and there seems to be an adequate amount of space on the SSD for a mostly cloud-based file storage user. So, the only real fault I find in this laptop is all the pre-installed software. I know that may be more of a Microsoft package kind of thing rather than specific to this machine - but I spent a good deal of time weeding through and uninstalling quite a few unnecessary applications. So, all in all, I give this Dell laptop a thumbs up!

Super crisp display. Only item to note is the screen is a bit reflective if the brightness isn’t all the way up. Touch screen is very responsive. Fingerprint reader works well and great for a fast secure password free sign on. Camera works great for zoom and teams calls and nice that it has an integrated camera simple to use privacy shutter. Sound is excellent. When using the laptop for music out of its speakers, you'll feel the base while typing on the keyboard. The speakers are actually under the laptop so you don't cover them up when typing. With other laptops with a touch pad mouse I've sometimes have had issues with the touch pads picking up my thumbs and hands while typing and errantly moving the mouse around, but that hasn't happened once with this laptop - a major plus for me. Keyboard is very low profile and it has back lighting that you can turn on/off. Function controls are off by default (meaning the alternative use like sound volume, mute, brightness, etc. are all the default behavior which is nice so you don't have to hit the FN button all the time.) The power/fingerprint button is upper right next to Delete. I've hit it a few times trying to hit delete (and puts the laptop in standby), but I'm sure I'll get used to that the more I use it. The keyboard platform and mouse platform are "full size" as far as laptops go, which gives you a full platform for your hands to rest on. Installation / setup was super quick. Took less than 10 minutes from out of the box to online and using it. (Note I skipped the MS Office trial setup as I have a subscription already so that may have saved some time.) Comes with Windows 11 which is a nice clean update. Hard drive space wise it has 412 GB free out of 458 GB out of the gate. Everything runs fast so far and it boots in about 10-12 seconds and with the finger for password option you get in and running very quickly. Only minor thing I’ve run into so far was the Dell support assistant (installed by default) wouldn't connect and update the Dell drivers. Fix was easy though – I just uninstalled the support assistant and then reinstalled from support.dell.com and it worked and updated a few device drivers. Overall very happy with this machine!

Dell has been a computer company I’ve trusted for over 20 years now. They always build a quality product and I’ve owned multiple different desktops and laptops. The Dell Inspiron 2 in 1 is the latest laptop I have the pleasure of reviewing. At first glance the computer is very simple and sleek with a lightweight design and an aluminum looking finish. The computer itself comes with multiple ports, an HDMI out, 2 USB C and a standard USB with SS technology, a headphone jack and a SD card reader. Being a photographer I always find the SD card reader to be very useful and I’m glad its included in this model. It only took a few minutes to get setup and running and comes with the new Windows 11 standard. Putting the computer through my normal testing it responds very well to every day tasks. The monitor is a touch screen that is very responsive and bright. Bolstered by an Intel Core I7 processor and an SSD hard drive with 16gb of ram it really can handle any normal computing task you throw at it. This model isn’t a gaming computer due to the baseline onboard graphics card but for anything else it is a home run. The SSD hard drive doesn’t have any moving parts so it’s so much faster than traditional disc drives of the past. It can handle multitasking with a breeze and really performs great as an everyday computer. The computer also has a very nice keyboard. Coming from an Apple laptop keyboard, which I despise, I found the keys felt very good under my fingers, something I was pleasantly surprised by. The backlit feature is a nice touch as well. It also comes with a fingerprint reader as well to forgo having to put in a password. Windows 11 is a nice upgrade from previous versions and has an Apple OS feel to it while still retaining windows features you’re familiar with. The computer runs beautifully with it and I love certain features that windows has like the screen snap to make 2 windows fit on screen. Overall this is a very solid laptop, Dell is a superior computer brand imo and this laptop is no different. For the price you can’t beat the quality you get with their products and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great baseline computer for everyday use.

I've lost count of how many different laptops I've had just in the past couple years, but of all the ones I've had, this Dell is my first ever 2-in-1. Before we get to the 2-in-1 aspect though lets start with what's inside. It's spec'd out to handle just about anything between the 12th Gen i7 cpu and 16gb memory and is perfect for the way I use it, which is a little bit of everything. From just surfing around the web and social media, basic video editing, software development, all the way to gaming, it has no problem handling my needs. Everything performs smoothly and the fan doesn't sound like a jet engine doing it either. That all said, I'm not pushing it to its limits either. I'm not a hardcore gamer so I'm not playing the latest most resource intensive games. The video editing I've done isn't exactly blockbuster film stuff either. But if your needs is either of those two things you're probably getting a more purpose-built machine. As far as ports go this is just about perfect, with an HDMI, a couple usb-c (1 of which is for the charger), a usb-a, headphone jack and SD card slot, it covers just about everything. One of the ways I'll be using this Dell will be almost like a desktop, where I'll have an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse plugged in to it. Add in its bluetooth functionality and I don't think I'll be needing an extra hub at all. Then there's the 2-in-1 feature. Again, this is my first convertible laptop and I absolutely love it. When I'm sitting at my desk in my office I just use it like a regular laptop, but then when I want to chill out on the living room couch it's so easy to use it as a tablet. The touch screen works as smooth as my smartphone too. What I really like is if I need to do something that involves a bit more typing where an on-screen keyboard just isn't as convenient, you just flip it around, type away, and flip it back when you're done. That's one of the reasons I've never been a big tablet user, something would come up like that and I'd have to get up and open up my regular computer. But with this 2-in-1 now, I feel like I might get more stuff done since I have that versatility. There are a couple things though that I don't like. First of all, this thing is heavy and a bit bulky, at least by todays standards, especially for being just a 14". It's probably one of the heaviest laptops of all the ones I've had over the past couple years. I normally wouldn't think much about this except I plan to make this my daughter's first real laptop, and at the same time a tablet for her to use during those long road trips. So the weight of it will probably come up. The second thing I'm not a fan of is the fact that when in tablet mode, the keyboard is just fully exposed on the backside. It's automatically deactivated so there's no worry about unintentional key presses, but it still leaves the keys vulnerable to dirt and damage. I don't know if this is just something you have to deal with all 2-in-1s, or if its really something to worry about, but I know I will. Hopefully I can find some kind of case to help with that. Plus it just feels weird to be holding it as a tablet and be constantly pressing keys down on the back. Outside of those couple physical aspects, this is easily the most versatile computer I've had, both in form and function, and given all that along with the specs, is reasonably priced as well. One last thing I forgot to mention, it has one of the sleekest webcam blockers I've seen yet! It's hidden behind the glass and there's just a small slider that you wouldn't even notice if you didn't know it was there. Overall this is a great computer that I not only recommend for others, but is also taking on the role of family computer in my household. It's a computer that will now be handling my own business and gaming use as needed, and will also provide entertainment and hopefully a path into computer science for my daughter as she learns how to use it. Its versatility allows it to take on these duties sitting on my desk at home or as a tablet during a long road trip, and I can't wait to see what else I can do with it.

The Dell 2 in 1 is a good product. It has good sound with decent bass. I turned up the volume on a song that had a lot of bass and it didn’t get crackly. The picture is crisp and clear with no lag. The keyboard is backlit which is a great feature for me. To log into the device you need your fingerprint. Initial setup was fast and easy. It took about 7 minutes. It does not have a numeric keypad. There is a port for hdmi, usb-a, 2 usb-c ports (one is to charge the device), an SD card reader, and a headphone Jack. I was able to connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse very easily. To use the tablet version, just fold the keyboard to the back. The one thing I don’t like is that the fan that is located underneath the keyboard begins to blow the hot air back at you when you use it as a tablet. And it does heat up fast. I love how big the screen is (14 inches diagonally) when used as a tablet. They keys that appear on the screen in tablet mode are nice and big. The touch screen does not work in laptop mode. Overall I think it’s a good product. My only concern is it overheating (which it has not done yet).

My wife has used her previous laptop for about 4 years now and has recently talked about getting a new laptop due to some issues that she’s been having. The past few weeks we’ve looked at numerous different laptops and them we stumbled across the Dell Inspiron 2 – in – 1 14” FHD+ Touch Laptop. So when the opportunity arose for this gem I had to dive on it and grab for my wife. Upon receipt of our Dell Inspiron 2 – in – 1, I immediately plugged it in and charged it up to 100 percent before starting the set up process. The set up was pretty straight forward. The entire setup took about thirty to forty-five minutes to complete. One issue that my wife was having with her previous laptop was that the battery charge was lacking. When using without being plugged in would usually last about 15 to 20 minutes. This alone takes away from one of the biggest reasons to have a laptop and that the mobility of it. Now, with new Dell it can be used for more than one hour unplugged. This Dell is extremely lightweight and compact. Although it’s compact, the layout of the keyboard is perfect and easy to use. Due to the size and weight it can easily be used at the kitchen table, the couch or even while in bed. The primary use of this laptop is for my wife getting her next required certification for her career and she has really enjoyed having the ability to be mobile with this Dell. The speed of this laptop top is due to the outstanding SSD that is utilized in the construction of the Inspiron. Whether streaming a television show, watching a movie, playing an interactive online game or just browsing the internet this Dell does it all very well and fast. I like how fast this laptop boots up when you turn it on. Dell has vastly improved the screen on this laptop. It’s bright, vivid and has great resolution. Action scenes in movies great and interactive video games show great detail in the characters that didn’t present in her previous laptop. To top this all off, it has a touch screen. The Solid State Drive offers tons of storage capacity (512gb). So if you need space to store videos, photos or documents whatever the case may be, the Dell is not short on storage. So all in all, I definitely recommend this stylish laptop to anyone looking to replace an aging laptop or just have one that does everything well.

The laptop has an Intel Core i7-1255U which is a high-end mobile CPU released this year and includes an integrated Xe Graphics G7 graphics card and 16gb or ram. While the card is almost twice as fast as the previous version, it should still be set for lower graphic and resolution settings in higher end games. The laptop is thin and light weighing in at about 3.5 pounds and is 0.7” thick. It has a 14” (1920x1200) WUXGA screen. The ports include a card reader, USB 3.2-A, (2) 3.2 USB-C (1 for charging), and HDMI along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The audio is Waves MaxxAudio® Pro and the laptop has 4 speakers Additional features are a fingerprint reader and a camera privacy screen. The battery life is acceptable, but I would consider it an “all day” battery. The longest I’ve been able to use it for standard use is about 4 – 6 hours. The touch pad is responsive, but I wish there was tactile feedback. The touchscreen is works very well and the colors are vibrant. The keyboard has 2 backlit levels in addition to “off”, and the keyboard can be seen more clearly in the daylight with the backlight off. There is room for improvement in the webcam and general build quality. The speed is more than adequate for everyday personal, family and business use, but it’s not a gaming laptop. The fan is quiet no matter how much load is on the processor, and the bottom of the laptop stay cool.

_____ *Pros: -Good hardware configuration (12th-gen Core i7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB NVME drive) for everyday usage. -Huge & accurate Precision trackpad that supports custom finger gestures. -Even & bright display lighting. -Good color profile that’s not overly saturated. -The 1920x1200 touchscreen is responsive and accurate. -Tactile and comfortably spaced keyboard. -Keyboard backlighting offers good contrast against the dark keyboard. -Stiff and non-wobbly hinge. -Fingerprint sensor unlock is fast and convenient. -Windows 11 is fast, responsive, and stable. -Good speakers. -Easy to remove the bottom panel to upgrade components. _____ *Neutral: -No dedicated PgUp and PgDown buttons. -The fingerprint sensor isn’t as accurate & fast as on smartphones. -Comes with many preloaded with apps I don’t want. -At 3.46 lbs, it’s kind of heavy to be used like a tablet. -The key travel is a bit shorter than I like and not very comfortable. -I don’t like the new Start Menu on Windows 11. _____ *Cons: -Battery life isn’t that good. The Dell Inspiron 7420 is my second 14” 2-in-1 Windows laptop, with the 2018 HP Spectre x360 being my first, and my third Inspiron since I began using laptops in the early 2000’s. For the most part, I’m happy and content with it. The laptop has a simple but functional design, the performance is good thanks to the 12th-gen Intel Core i7 and NVME hard drive, the keyboard is easy to type on and live with, the touchpad is huge and responsive, and the display is uniformly lit and can get bright enough for my front porch usage. The battery life, however, was a bit disappointing from its 4-cell, 54-Wh cell. At $799.99 (as of 2022-06-21), I think it’s fairly and affordably priced. I feel like I’m getting a good deal and I can comfortably recommend it to friends and family looking for an everyday laptop that can handle office tasks, web browsing, and multimedia consumption. === Design & Build Quality === Being an Inspiron, the design is expectedly just okay and there’s nothing special or standout about it. It’s not cheap-looking but it isn’t premium-looking either. Although it doesn’t really stand out from a sea of others in this price range, it’s at least clean-looking and functionally built, with a decent selection and number of ports (1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x SD-card, and 1x audio). The build materials, build quality, and the fit-and-finish are great for this price point. My two previous Inspirons from over a decade ago were cheap-feeling and crinkling plastic builds but the 7420 comes with an aluminum lid which feels nice in-hand and doesn’t creak. The keyboard deck also feels solid and pressing down on it barely made it flex. The low-profile keys on the keyboard are nicely spaced apart and they don’t wobble around. There is a nice-feeling bump when pressing down on them, and I was able to type at my usual 95 to 100 wpm speed. I wish the keys were better dampened, though, to prevent finger fatigue when doing lots of typing. Also, the uptake rate is kind of on the slower side for me. I didn’t experience any issues with the large Precision touchpad. Thanks to its generous size, it’s easy to swipe, tap, and drag things around. The surface is smooth but not as nice-feeling as doing swipes on glass touchpads found on more expensive laptops. I found the touchpad to be very stiff when clicking on it but it’s a non-issue for me as I always use my wireless mouse. I was pleasantly surprised by the 14” 1920x1200 WVA display from BOE. The backlighting is uniform and even with no unsightly bright spots in any of the corners. The colors pop out and look nice without being oversaturated. The touch-enabled screen is responsive and accurate. There is minimal bezel on the sides, and thanks to the 16:10 aspect ratio, the 14” screen on the 7420 looks bigger than other 14” laptops I’ve used before. Being a 2-in-1, one can flip the display backwards to use the laptop like a tablet which is useful at times. At 3.46 lbs, it’s quite heavy as a tablet, but I likehaving this option. There was no stylus included inside the box but it is stylus-enabled. Another pleasant surprise was the aural quality from the Waves MaxxAudio Pro speakers. Music sounds loud, punchy, and even the bass was okay. The vocals sound warm and the soundstage is well represented. The speakers on the 7420 are definitely way better than the ones on my HP Spectre x360. === Performance === My 7420 is configured with a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 1255U with 10 cores, 16GB of DDR4, Iris Xe graphics, and a Samsung 512GB NVME drive (PM991a, PCI-E 3.0 x4), and it’s been satisfactorily performant. It can handle everything I normally do on my non-gaming laptops, such as office tasks, heavy multi-tab browsing, video editing and encoding, watching movies, and listening to music. I didn’t run any games because I have my gaming laptops for that but I’m sure it can probably older games pretty well. The boot times are quick and short, and file transfers are speedy. Future upgradeability is a positive since th bottom panel can be easily removed to access the battery, memory slots, and the M.2 2280 slot. At this price point, I’m completely happy with the 7420. === Windows 11 Home and preloaded apps === The 7420 is my second Windows 11 PC and I still prefer Windows 10 over it. My main issue with Windows 11 is the Start Menu because it displays so little of my apps and there is a lot of wasted space. As expected, the laptop came preloaded with lots of apps I don’t want, such as Spotify, WhatsApp, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Alexa, and McAfee antivirus. Fortunately, they can all be quickly uninstalled. I’m still getting used to Windows 11 and I’m sure it’ll grow on me. At least it’s stable and snappy in performance. === Battery life === I didn’t expect much in terms of battery life due to its smallish 4-cell, 64Wh rating, but I was still disappointed by how quickly the battery depleted from 100% to zero with the screen brightness turned all the way up. At max brightness, the 7420 needed a recharge after only about 2 hours. With the display set at its second dimmest setting, it lasted about 3.5 hours. === Is it a good buy? == At $799.99, I would say yes. The Inspiron 7420 offers good performance, a pleasant display, a good keyboard, and a large touchpad surface that makes it a good daily driver for most tasks. With great sounding speakers, it also makes for a good multimedia device.