Dell Inspiron 1318 in Laptops

One final moan comes courtesy of the glossy 13.3in display, whose budget origins are all too evident. It's bright enough, and the native resolution of 1,280 x 800 is ample, but a closer look reveals a number of flaws. Dull colour reproduction is the first of its sins, with Crysis' lush tropical scenes looking just a tad too pedestrian and grey, and we were equally disappointed to notice some considerable backlight leakage along its bottom edge.

For just £383, however, we think Dell is on to a winner with the Inspiron 1318: it has a portable chassis with great ergonomics and fine battery life - a potent combination. Other 13.3in laptops, such as Dell's own XPS M1330 or Samsung's Q310, hand the Inspiron 1318 its marching orders when it comes to power, gaming prowess and finish but, at this price, it's easy to settle for second best.

Author: Sasha Muller