Project runway: Dell's new-look systems impress

Dell made a major splash at Macy's last month. Not only did the iconic department store usher in the end of Dell's longtime Dimension brand--both Dell's mainstream desktops and laptops will now carry the Inspiron name--but it witnessed the introduction of some truly innovative systems. (Over the years, Dell has certainly proven to be an innovator in how one goes about selling computers, but it has often trailed behind competitors in terms of design innovation, something that wasn't vital to its mission of marketing its system to the mass audience.)

The desktops and laptops rolled out at Macy's include an improved XPS laptop, a new 14-inch Inspiron laptop, and the first Inspiron-branded desktops. We liked the Inspiron 531 desktop so much that we gave it an Editors' Choice. Thanks to its new looks and stellar performance for very reasonable prices, we think it merits serious consideration from a wide range of mainstream users. And we liked the slim Inspiron 531s nearly as much.

The XPS m1330 laptop has turned a number of heads during its time in the labs. Its design is much sleeker than preceding XPS laptops, models we thought highly of, save their bulky dimensions. The XPS m1330 is much thinner and features a number of useful features for performance users including a slot-loading DVD drive, touch-sensitive media buttons, and HDMI out. Our only gripe, really, is that its touch pad is still a touch too small.

This launch also witnessed the introduction of a 14-inch model, the Inspiron 1420. We think this size laptop offers the optimal balance between screen size and portability. Like the XPS m1330, it operates on Intel's latest Centrino Duo platform. And it's available in a rainbow of colors and networking options.

In addition to our full reviews, we offer you our first impressions of Dell's refreshed 15-inch and 17-inch Inspiron laptops. For reference, the 1520 and 1720 are Intel-based models, while the 1521 and 1721 are their AMD counterparts. Same goes for desktops: Intel chips on the 530 and 530s use Intel processors; AMD on the 531 and 531s. Currently, there is no AMD version for the new 14-inch Inspiron, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for a 1421 model.