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Dell's Small Notebook That Can Grow

Techstination feature for Tuesday, July 29, 2003

A little notebook PC... that can grow. Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today's technology. Buyers of notebook computers typically have to choose between full featured models... desktop replacements... that can be difficult to lug around... .and the small lightweight models. The just out Inspiron 300m from Dell can go either way. Marketing manager Ketan Pandia...

"We have built a lot of features into that notebook. Everything from integrating with your digital camera, to built in wireless, to a very crisp twelve inch display, to very nice battery life, up to two and a half hours. It does feature Intel's Centrino technology."

With pricing starting at about 16 hundred dollars. What helps to set the notebook apart, is the optional MediaBase...

"The MediaBase serves three key functions. One is it's a spare battery charger. Not only does it charge a spare battery but if you keep the notebook attached to the MediaBase, it will get you a long battery life. It does have integrated multimedia capabilities, so it has a subwoofer built into it. Then most importantly it has the optical media built in.

Anything from a CD ROM drive to a DVD burner. The MediaBase isn't just for docking on your desk. It's portable and although it adds somewhat to the thickness and weight of the 300m, but those extra ounces could be outweighed by the advantages. Dell faces lots of competition on the notebook front... from companies like HP, Toshiba and many others. The features and declining prices have meant lots of consumers are opting to buy the portable machines instead of desktops. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.