ell's current Inspiron lineup -- regardless of series -- has been very consistent at offering above average looks and features for what you're paying. There may be a disappointing spec here and there, but there's typically some other feature to sweeten the deal in some other way.
Design
Design and features
What's best about the design of the 14 5000 series is that it looks better than you might be used to from a laptop that starts at 0. While the chassis is most definitely polycarbonate, the lid is finished with brushed metal with a small, simple Dell logo in the middle.
Mainstream laptops can be thick and heavy, but that's not the case here. It's not necessarily the thinnest or lightest 14-inch laptop, but you shouldn't have trouble slipping it into a shoulder bag or backpack. The whole thing measures 0.9-inch thick (22mm) with a width and depth of 13.5 by 9.7 inches (342x246mm) and weighs in at 4.8 pounds (2.2kg).
I also found the keys to be a bit spongy feeling, perhaps caused by whatever makes it spill-resistant. Still, it's not a bad typing experience: the keys have good travel so that you don't feel like you're typing on a tabletop and there are no odd placements or awkwardly small keys.