Editor's Note 9/13/06: Dell has just informed us that the Intel Core 2 Duo T5500(1.6Ghz) processor is in short supply. As such, Dell plans to begin offering the E1405 with a higher Core 2 Duo processor beginning in the last quarter of this year. We anticipate the E1405's performance will improve as a result of this processor upgrade, but battery life might also be impacted.

When I reviewed the Dell Inspiron E1505 last May, I didn't hesitate to give it the Editors' Choice award for offering incredible value at a budget price. The only thing that could've made it better was a lighter chassis and better battery life. Now, there is a "Mini-Me" version of the E1505, the Dell Inspiron E1405 ($1,106 direct; E-Value Code: 9-D81012M). If its size and 8 hours of battery life do not capture your attention, perhaps the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor will. The E1405 will be one of several Inspirons to get the new processor upgrade, and it's priced with frugality in mind. But the performance gains I had expected from the processor upgrade really didn't come to fruition.