Dell's first AMD notebook hits our shores

Dell Australia has released its Inspiron 1501 laptops in Australia, the first models based on AMD chips.

The Inspiron 1501 line-up starts at $1099 and comes built with a 1.8GHz Sempron, 512MB of memory, a 60GB hard drive and a 15.4-inch LCD screen. It is double the cost of the US product, which starts at $549.

Dell planned to offer buyers a choice between the Sempron, Turion 64 and dual-core Turion 64 X2 processors.

The move would put local system builders under more pressure to compete. Jeff Li, managing director at Pioneer Computers, said Dell's new AMD machines at the $1000 mark "create more headaches" for the system builder.

"AMD will need to do something to convince the channel that it still wants to do business with us," said Li.

While notebooks are only a small part of its business, Compucon will think very hard about expanding its own range of laptops, said Greg Schroeder, marketing communications manager.

Schroeder said the Inspiron 1501 line would make the system builder very reluctant to go into white-box making.

"This is certainly going to ruffle a few feathers. We aren't a volume player in this market but it will definitely make us think twice about entering," said Schroeder.

"AMD use to have a 'counter-culture' feel to it - having an AMD product made users different. Now everyone will be able to buy AMD products."