Hands-on Photos of Dell’s Updated Inspiron R with Interchangeable Lids; starts at $529–Lids cost $20

Dell just added a whole new layer of customization with its new Inspiron R line of budget notebooks. These new systems have lids that customers can swap out on their own–a small button at the base of the screen lets you pop the lid off and replace it with a new one. The system, is called SWITCH by Design Studio, and will have solid-color lids that cost $19.99, and patterned lids–there will be 22 to start–will cost $39.99.

Of course, pretty colors aren’t the only thing the Inspiron R has going for it. The line is being updated with the second-gen Intel Core processor, an HD webcam, chiclet-style keyboard, USB 3.0, and optional support for 3D movie playback on a 3D-enabled TV using the Inspiron R’s HDMI 1.4 port.

The Inspiron R will come in a 14, 15, and 17-inch size;  starting pricing is as follows:

• Inspiron 14R: $579
• Inspiron 15R: $529
• Inspiron 17R: $579

Size (with 6-cell battery):

• 14” :  13.5 x 9.7 x 1.2 – 1.3 inches
• 15” : 14.8 x 10.2 x 1.17 – 1.34 inches
• 17” : 16.5 x 11.3 x 1.17- 1.34 inches

Weight (the optional SWITCH lid design adds about 0.4 pounds to each of these weights):

• 14” : 4.94 lb (6-cell); 5.32 lb (9-cell)
• 15” : 5.39 lb (6-cell); 5.79 lb (9-cell)
• 17” : 6.65 lb (6-cell); 7.03 lb (9-cell)

Processor:

• 2.1-GHz Intel Core i3-2310M
• 2.3-GHz Intel Core i5-2410M
• 2.0-GHz Intel Core i7-2630QM

Graphics:

• Intel HD Graphics 3000
• AMD Radeon HD 6470M with 512 MB memory
• AMD Radeon HD 6630M with 1 GB memory
• NVIDIA GeForce  GT 525M with 1GB memory
• NVIDIA GeForce  GT 525M with 2GB memory

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