Dell Inspiron Duo Teardown

– Introducing the Dell Inspiron Duo: not just another netbook, but a standout in the netbook world from Dell!

– Tech specs:

– Intel Atom 1.5 GHz Dual Core processor

– 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM

– 320 GB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive

– Intel NM10 Express Chipset with integrated graphics

– Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam

– While this device isn’t the slimmest out there at just 1.13 inches thick—especially when stacked up against the ultra-slim 11″ MacBook Air—it still packs a punch. With dimensions of 11.22″ by 7.66″, the Inspiron Duo has a noticeably larger footprint than most tablets you’ve seen. Sure, it might feel a bit bulkier compared to sleeker competitors, but at a price tag of $550, you’re saving a good chunk of change—think of it as getting a versatile combo of a laptop and a tablet without the hefty price tag of at least $1500. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

– The device info and Windows product details are tucked away under a removable cover at the bottom of the Inspiron Duo. Just to the left of this cover, you’ll find the SIM card slot—though in this model, it’s not being used. The Inspiron Duo offers two ways to get your interface fix: if you’re into a netbook vibe, it comes with Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed. But if you’re after quick media access like a tablet, this device features Dell’s DuoStage interface. Follow along, and if you need a hand, you can always schedule a repair.

– The Inspiron Duo opens up just like most other PCs out there: start by removing around 90 screws (just kidding, but it feels like it), flip the laptop over, pop out the keyboard, remove a few more screws, and then take off the top panel.

– One of our favorite little features in PCs, and something we’d love to see more of: many screw-holes are labeled to help with reassembly. This one’s for a M2.5×8 screw.

– Besides the usual screws and clips, you’ll find three connectors linking the top cover to the lower case. Let’s tackle this together!

– Underneath the upper case, you’ll spot the touchpad and the two switches we’ve been guessing about all along.

– Switching between tablet and netbook mode? That’ll either activate or deactivate the keyboard and tweak the screen layout. It looks like these two sensors help decide whether your device is in tablet or netbook mode. Smooth, right?

– Once you pop open the Inspiron Duo, it’s basically your typical netbook inside. You’ll see the usual crew: motherboard, hard drive, RAM, battery, fan, heat sink, RTC battery, wireless module, and a couple of speakers doing their thing.

– Kinda plain, right? We were half expecting something a bit more… wizardly.

– After dealing with about six connectors and screws, the display assembly pops right off the lower case.

– With a little plastic tool magic and some screw loosening, we can pop off the display bezel and separate the LCD/digitizer/glass combo from the display assembly. It’s almost like peeling off a sticker, but with more techy vibes.

– The Inspiron Duo has a 1.3 megapixel webcam snugly sitting above the display when it’s in netbook mode. Flip the screen around, though, and poof—it disappears, leaving the Samsung Galaxy Tab to hold down the fort as the only picture-capable tablet for now.

– The 10.1″ display boasts a resolution of 1366×768 pixels, which gives it a crisp pixel density of just over 155 ppi. It’s got more pixel-packed punch than both the iPad and MacBook Air, making it a serious contender in the display game.

– Time to unscrew and pry a little more with that trusty plastic opening tool.

– The magnets tucked in the corners of the rear LCD bezel help snap the display in place, whether you’re rocking the netbook or tablet mode.

– The offset magnets? They’re there to tell your device which way the LCD is facing—tablet or netbook. Remember them?

– Looks like we’re supposed to leave the inverter board alone—probably because the connections to the LCD cables are super delicate.

– Those switches on the underside of the upper case are actually Field-Effect Transistors (FETs), and they change their conductivity when a magnetic field gets involved. The offset magnets in the rear bezel help the FETs figure out if the screen’s in tablet or netbook mode.

– Like many modern touchscreen devices, the Inspiron Duo’s display, digitizer, and front glass are all bonded together. While this makes for a sturdy and neat assembly, it can make some repairs trickier. The touchscreen relies on a pair of EETI chips working in tandem: the EX5404 and the EXC7200. If you find yourself in a tough spot, remember you can always schedule a repair with Salvation Repair.

– Getting to the battery requires removing the top cover, but once that’s out of the way, the battery pops right out with ease.

– The 14.8 V, 29 Wh battery is a bit of a letdown for the Inspiron Duo. Dell promises up to 3 hours and 57 minutes of use, but Engadget’s review suggests you might want to keep a charger nearby, as it tends to fall short of that.

– Even if it does manage to hit that 3-hour mark, the Inspiron Duo still lags behind many other devices out there, with most modern gadgets easily hitting 7 hours or more.

– One last screw is holding the hard drive bracket in place—go ahead and take it out.

– The Inspiron Duo comes with a sleek 320 GB 7200 RPM Hitachi Travelstar Z7K320 hard drive. It’s impressively thin, with a super slim 7 mm profile.

– The Inspiron Duo comes with a solid 2GB of Hynix DDR3 SDRAM as its standard memory. Not bad, right?

– Just pop out the Atheros AR5B195 WLAN card after you unscrew that one little screw. Easy peasy!

– Nothing too wild here. The Inspiron Duo is equipped with 802.11b/g/n wireless capabilities, keeping you connected!

– The heat sink and Sunon MagLev fan are buddies, stuck together like best friends! Once you unplug the fan cable and unscrew the three Phillips screws, they’ll pop right out. Simple as that!

– Just a few screws left to go before we can lift out the motherboard from the bottom case. Almost there!

– Here’s the lineup of the key components you’ll be working with: the Intel Atom 1.5 GHz Dual Core N550 processor, Broadcom BCM70015 HD media processor, Intel NM10 Express Chipset, Samsung KB926QF E0, Realtek RTM890N-397, and Conexant CX20671-112 SmartAudio HD. These are the MVPs of your device, and they all need a bit of TLC to keep things running smoothly. Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

– The speakers are the last piece of the puzzle in the Inspiron Duo, and they’re a breeze to pop out.

– These speakers deliver a solid 2 watts of sound—nothing that’ll shake the walls, but they sure manage to put out a respectable tune.

– Dell Inspiron Duo gets a 7 out of 10 for repairability.

– Most of the guts inside are not only easy to swap out, but you can grab replacements from Dell or just about any third-party shop.

– You can take apart nearly the whole machine with just a plastic prying tool (maybe grab two) and a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

– Lots of screw-holes, both inside and out, are labeled for you. Nice touch.

– You’ll need to pop off the top case to reach the battery—a bit of a letdown from Dell.

– Getting to the LCD takes some patience, and when you finally get there, you’ll need to swap out the whole assembly.