There wasn't a press release. We didn't get a note, or a fax, or even an e-mail. For whatever reason, Dell has slipped three AMD powered notebook systems into the wild in complete silence.

The new Inspiron 1501 notebooks feature a 15.4" widescreen and some interesting hardware under the hood. First, all units feature ATI integrated X150 graphics - there is no option to increase the power. But what everyone really cares about is the processor - the buyer can select a Turion X2 TL-56, TL-50, or a new MK-36 processor.

I went looking for some information on the new processor, but there isn't much to be found. It is not listed on AMD's product page or pricing documents. It's single-core, and looks to be intended for the lower power consumption budget market.

The shift to offering AMD processors in some Dell laptops has been discussed ad nauseam, which is why it's so surprising that the company did so with little fanfare. Hopefully, the greater choice in the market will bring some greater competition to the laptop market.

Looking forward to an AMD-based Dell laptop? Just plain happy to see another brand besides Intel? Tell us about it in the forums.