Dell Inspiron Zino HD 410 Review

The Dell Inspiron Zino HD will prove to be a fantastic choice for an enthusiast user who needs more grunt than the Atom powered ASRock ION3d can deliver. Dell's choice of AMD graphics and central processing unit in this competitively priced chassis is inspired. The AMD P840 processor is significantly more powerful than the Atom, although it comes with one proviso – a significantly higher power requirement.

On a design level we feel that most bases are covered. There is strong wireless support, plenty of connectivity for both USB 2.0 and eSata with HDMI output to a television or monitor. We were slightly surprised that Dell omitted a DVI port, opting instead for VGA … but perhaps this was an intentional choice to allow a customer to use an older analog panel with the Zino HD. Additionally we would assume that a portion of the user base would prefer USB 3.0 connectivity instead of dual eSATA connectors.

Unfortunately, we are still not happy with the Dell default software installation. I never want to see McAfee or Roxio installed on any systems I receive and they need to start offering a bare bones ‘driver' install configuration to attract a more discerning audience. There is sadly no way to remove all the bloatware when you order the system online.

Pricing is competitive with systems ranging from the entry level £399 X2 P340 with 3GB of ram to the range topping X4 P940 with 8GB of DDR3 at just over £800.

In closing, we can recommend the Inspiron Zino HD 410 as a viable, more powerful alternative to the wealth of small form factor Atom powered systems currently saturating the market. It is quiet, well built and stylishly designed.

KitGuru says: A capable, all round system with a tiny physical footprint.

Become a Patron!