Dell Announces Shiny New Inspiron Laptops By Brian Westover September 17, 2013 12:43pm EST Dell's consumer lineup is getting refreshed inside and out with newly announced Inspiron systems that include new processing hardware and touch options, making them more powerful, more energy efficient, and more intuitive than ever before. Dell is also revamping its naming, much as it did for the Latitude business systems. Ditching the old naming, where a standard model might be the Inspiron 15, with the 15R and 15z differentiating the budget and premium options, new models will now be differentiated by series number. The 3000 series, for example will be the lower-tier, budget-friendly models, with 5000 as mainstream, and 7000 series as the premium end of the lineup. The new Inspiron systems will be available in 14-, 15- and 17-inch sizes, and feature Intel's fourth-generation Haswell processors. As a result, battery life will be dramatically improved over previous models. The Inspiron PCs will also be available with an array of options for touch screens, high-resolution displays, and Gorilla Glass to prevent scratching and other damage to displays. The new models feature a minimalist design, switching out the plastic construction of previous models, like the Dell Inspiron 15 (I15RV-6190 BLK), and opting for a more premium bare-aluminum chassis. The new design features a larger trackpad, which offers 1-to-1 positioning in relation to the display, allowing for more intuitive control in Windows 8 when a touch screen isn't present. Backlit keyboards come standard, and options will be available for touch and HD displays on all models. The sound design has also been tweaked, with significantly less focus on the built-in speakers and more attention paid to the quality of sound when using headphones. Dell was unable to make specific claims about battery life on any of the new models, but claims that all three models will offer at least six hours on a single charge. Available later this month, the new Inspirons 7000 series will available in 14-, 15- and 17-inch models. Base prices for the new models start at $849 for the Inspiron 14 7000 series, $699 for the mainstream Inspiron 15 7000 series, and $849 for the larger Inspiron 17 7000 series. There's also a new little brother for the Inspiron line, the budget-friendly Inspiron 11 3000 series, which offers a compact touch-capable laptop and sells for less than $400. The small chassis measures only 0.83-inches thick, and weighs just over 3 pounds, but offers Windows 8, a touch screen with protective Gorilla Glass, and more than eight hours of battery life. Unlike the larger models, the Inspiron 11 has a two-toned plastic chassis, with a black interior and grey exterior, with the lid and underside coated with soft touch paint for better grip when carrying. The Inspiron 11 will be available Oct. 3, and can be configured with either Intel or AMD processors, starting at $379 and $349, respectively.