[Review] Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 The notebook with a twist

Performance and Conclusion
In terms of specifications, the Inspiron 15 7000 is specced purely as a paperwork cruncher though one ideally suited for the role. The 15.6-inch LCD touchscreen has 1080p resolution and acts as the main interface when in tablet mode and as a supplement to the keyboard when deployed in laptop mode.

The notebook runs Windows 10 Home on an Intel Core i7-6500U processor running at 2.5GHz paired with 8GB RAM and a 500GB hard disk. The notebook lacks any dedicated graphics solution and relies on Intel HD 520 graphics. Firing it up was relatively swift and it booted in under a minute. The keyboard itself is backlit with generously spaced keys and while it lacks a numeric keypad like a full sized keyboard, it does have a small direction pad in the lower right corner for navigating spreadsheets and the like.

When deployed as a traditional laptop, it offered a pleasant experience for crunching paperwork. The wide, generously spaced soft-touch keys made typing a cinch with the backlighting being particularly helpful when working past sundown with the lights turned down low. The huge touchpad was equally  responsive and combined with the large display, it made working on multi-page word documents and spreadsheets less of an onerous chore. There was even enough space for YouTube on the display. The rock solid hinges ensured that the display didn’t wobble about even with vigorous typing.

In tablet mode, the generous width of the screen allows you to view websites in their full glory and the responsiveness of the display made web surfing a joy though the unwieldy weight of the tablet precludes one-handed use. Size aside,the best use case for this will likely be on your lap with both hands wielding it two-handed.

When deployed as a tent-style display or keyboard-down, the notebook did a bang-up job for movie watching duties, serving up great viewing angles, punchy colours and good blacks. The downward firing speakers were a bit of a mixed bag though. They worked well in laptop mode with loud audio suitable for general listening and movie watching that’s angled at the viewer but their positioning seems something of an afterthought when deployed in other modes.

The Intel Core i7 processor and Intel HD Graphics package allowed it to handle every form of paperwork thrown at it with adroit ease and it managed a spot of basic photo manipulation too. GeekBench yielded a 3536 score on a multi-core test while it garnered a score of 1,885 for single-core performance. Unfortunately, it isn’t able to handle any current-gen gaming and when tested with Unigine Heaven Benchmark 4.0 it chugged with middling scores while Resident Evil 6.0 ran like molasses in winter if you max out the settings. The 3DMark Sky Diver demo yielded similarly glacial results. If you’re still keen on gaming you’ll have to limit it to casual games like FTL or something last-gen like Bastion for sufficient playability.

When put through its paces, it managed to last a middling five or so hours with Full HD video running on a loop, giving it just enough endurance to keep you entertained on a long-haul flight. All said, this is a capable hybrid with a good display, a great keyboard and decent battery life though its rather hefty weight may give you pause should you contemplate taking it for extended trips.

What We Love Generously spaced backlit keyboard, vibrant and responsive display, solid build quality
What We Didn’t Middling battery life, a bit on the weighty side
What We Say If you’re prevaricating between a Windows slate and a notebook and need both, this robustly built rig is right up your alley. The responsive display, good keyboard and solid build make it good as a paperwork cruncher though middling battery life and a heavy chassis may limit its utility in the field.

Specifications
Screen 15.6-inch LED Backlit Touch, 1080p displayProcessor Intel Core i7-6500U @ 2.5GHz / 2.60gHz
Memory 8GB RAM / 500GB hard disk
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 520
OS Windows 10 Home
Battery 3-cell, 43WHr, 9.5 hours (Quoted)
Connectivity – 1x HDMI 1.4a, 2xUSB 3.0, 1x USB2.0, 1x card reader
Size/Weight 381.9×252.5×19.9mm/2.17kg
Price RM3,599
*Review unit courtesy of Dell Malaysia