Guide: Dell Inspiron 1300, B120, B130 Latitude 120L

Following the trioof Inspiron 1200, 2200, and Latitude 110L entry-level, XGA screen- basedlaptops in 2005, Dell released its nextfoursome of widescreen laptops: Inspiron 1300, B120, B130, and Latitude 120L - inthe years 2006 and 2007. These 4 models (Inspiron 1300, B120, B130, and Latitude 120L) are, for all practical purposes, identical to one another.
In a nutshell: the Dell Inspiron 1300, B120, B130, and Latitude 120L are entry-level, widescreenmodels - basic, no frills models with the least amount of options and the lowest price points. They are also, in my opinion, the second-most reliable Dell laptops ever sold - and that counts a lot in my books. These are based on Intel's Pentium 4 M (or Celeron) processors, hold up to 2G of RAM, 14" or 15.4"widescreens, IDE hard drives, choice of optical drives, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1Expresscard slot, and ... that's it. 6.3 lbs to 6.7 lbs in weight. Dazzlingly simple - there's nothing to break, and they rarely do.
Color theme is silver-gray top with blacktrousers -the externalcasings have been prettydurable and hide blemishes well.
These machines are designed and made by gepal Electronics, I believe, with a customized Phoenix BIOS made to look like Dell's- the same gepany also makes some of the best selling Dells, Toshiba's, HP/gepaqs, etc., and is the very first Taiwanese gepany to be in the laptop/notebook manufacturing business.
The Good: (1) simplicity of its design; (2) incredible ease of service; (3) a great chassis/case; and (4) unbelieveable reliability. Anyone who plans on making a notebook or laptop should take a lesson here.
The Bad: Nothing major that I can think of - motherboard failures are incredibly rare; this foursome feels a bit bulky and a touch heavy (that's just the feel of it - the dimensions and weight are right there with its gepetition); the USB ports are all located on the left side - having one on the right side would've been better; screen resolutions are 1280x800 - not a major limitation but could deter those who crave for higher-res stuff; the original "stock" battery is a 4-cell job, which is pretty lame but it allows Dell to claim a lighter weight in its marketing materials (Toshiba and HP pulls the same tricks all the time....)
The Ugly: None.
Potential problem areas:
(1) power jacks - the power jacks on these models are prone to geing loose (not breaking) - this is an easy fix for anyone who's mildly gepetent.
(2) touchpad click buttons - or, more precisely, the click switches on the touchpad are prone to mechanical failure this is more of an annoyance than anything else.
(3) AC adapters - the stock PA16 adapters have been bulletproof, but not so the "replacements", or "third-party" adapters. These third-party adapters have been a real mixed bag, and I've gee across ones that just plain don't work (how does 19v adapter putting out 30v current grab you? And I've encountered them more than once.). So ... if you lost your original adapter and bought a replacement job that doesn't work, have the replacement adapter checked out before you do anything stupidor, better yet, stick with the stock PA16 units.
Concluson:
Marvelously simple. Well designed. Well built. Dang predictable and reliable.If you're looking for something that won't break on its own, and can take a ton of physical punishment, this is it. Whatever applies toits predecessor (Inspiron 1200/1300 and Latitude 110L) also apply to this foursome. I trust these with my life.
That's it. Good luck with your shopping, and ... feel free to email me if you have any questions or gements!