Vostro notebooks are built exclusively for small business and are ready to be customized with the features and software you want without any trialware. The Vostro 1500 is a... more
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Branded memory offered in the Memory Selector is fully compatible and supported by Dell. Memory offered now may differ in speed from the original system memory but
(+) Build Quality, Connection, Graphics, Keyboard, Webcam and Mic, Ease of Use, Speed, Quiet Running. (-) No graphics drivers for 64 bit operating system. No big deal. Hopefully soon they will have them
(+) Can take it into Best Buy for Geek Squad. This is convenient, because Best Buy has many locations. (-) Slow, keypad breaks easily, internet issues, overpriced.
A review by Lev42 on Dell Vostro 1500 October 5th, 2007
Author's product rating:
Speed
Very fast
Look & Feel
Excellent
Comfort & Portability
Good
Robustness & Durability
Excellent
Value For Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Great build quality, damn quick, looks cool as hell .
Disadvantages:
Poor screen, no DVI out, no docking station, heavy
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
As another review states, Dell Vostros are for small business, with no trialware. A review can't really generalise on performance since you can make a machine to your own spec.. So, I'll detail my spec and then comment on that, plus make generalisations about e.g. build quality.
** My Spec **
Core 2 duo, 1.8ghz 2 Gig ram 160 Gig 5400rpm HD Geforce 8600 256 Mb Card reader Integrated camera Bluetooth DVD burner Firewire input 15.4 inch widescreen truelife display
*** Performance ***
Very quick. It plays Quakewars at 1280 with everything up up high and 2x antialiasing. For the uninitiated, Quakewars is a brand next gen. game that really punishes hardware. The Vista speed index is 4.7, GFX for games is 5.1, GFX for Aero takes it down to the 4.7 figure.
*** Ergonomics ***
Screen
Bright but unevenly lit with lighting is brighter at the bottom of the display. This only midly gets in the way whilst watching films with poxt box type bars at the bottom and top. Viewing angles are very good, no problems there.
A real downer however is colour on this display. They are washed out and pale, this becomes very noticeable when you compare the same screen output on a normal monitor. The display is at least quick enough for films or games.
You can order a non shiny screen which personally I would go for, but my wife didn't want. But.. shiny is well.. shiny.
Keyboard
Keyboard has a good solid feel with nice weight on each key. The letters are unobtrusive. It's quiet and even playing CPU intensive games, it never gets loud.
Weight
It isn't that light so might not be the thing for frequent travellers or less strong people.
*** Build quality ***
I can't tell the material it is made of but it is very hard and makes a satisfying hard dense sound when you tap it with your fingernail. The screen resists twisting and generally it has a tank like feel to it. It's easy to get greasy finger prints on the lid, but they wash off easily enough.
*** Looks ***
Pictures don't do it justice, it really does look and feel very cool! It's dark graphite with some blue leds and just looks well.. cool. Everyone at the office agreed too and was generally cooing over it, well apart from the mac owners who were too busy daydreaming about being hairdressers. I put it on the table next to a MacPro, and yes Macs are beautifully made and do a lot in a more compact body, but somehow I like a PC that is black, built like a tank and that somehow looks mean. I think of it as the 'anti-mac'.
*** Features ***
Well, all present and correct really; bluetooth, card reader, DVD burner, firewire, plenty of USB ports. I digital out would have been nice, and it has no docking station. But then it is aimed at small business.
*** Conclusion ***
Despite being a bit big and heavy, the laptop is just excellent value, great build quality, performace and it looks damn cool. If you aren't convinced, spec one of these up, then spec one up on the Dell site as a home-consumer, it'll be a big price difference. I'm 100% happy with it.
*** Additional comment after a few months of use ***
Performance is great, keyboard is great, build quality still feels great. The screen however is very poor and on a couple of occasions now, I have really missed that DVI output.
Advantages: Small, lightweight, cheap, efficient. Disadvantages: No use at all for games or graphic intensive applications.
...and business needs.
The Dell Vostro 1500 doesn't come with all the latest and greatest peripherals, but just like the notebook itself the price is also down-to-Earth.
Shipping with a reasonable 1.86ghz processor, 1gb of RAM and a fairly low-spec integrated graphics card the Vostro 1500 is a simple laptop not suited to gaming in the slightest. That being said, this is a powerful and portable notebook perfect for everything personal and business, ... ...processor document or add the final slides to that powerpoint presentation on your daily commute to work - Or just use it as a portable computer to take your work home with you in a safe and reliable manner. The Dell Vostro 1500 is a bargain business or personal notebook/laptop. ...
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Advantages: Cheap, mean little machine Disadvantages: Heavy, non-linux compatable
...just the best buy and Dell are known to be a respectable no frills brand which helped. It's worth noting that my Dell came with a lot of bundled software, slowing it down slightly. It was a litttle trouble to format a new laptop and install the drivers again, but the machine has been satisfactory ever since! The ram seems to work well, the hardware (bluetooth, wireless, DVD, Webcam etc) are top quality and are well integrated to work with each other. ... ...fully linux compatable yet, since i tried booting it up with Kubuntu, and unsuccessfully tried to get all the hardware to work for 4 months. It was okay though, just double check if you plan to use linux (you're better off going for a linux-ready dell). Also, it's meant for small businesses which means it's a little heavy and not the best machine for you to lug it around everywhere (especially if you're a student!). Having said that, i don't have ...
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Advantages: can customise to suit you Disadvantages: i dont like dell
...have always felt that that dell as a brand are lacking in durability and quality. any product that does not offer a place were you can talk to someone face to face should make you fell uneasy to start with. yes it is probably up-to-date and will do the job, but at some stage something will undoubtedly go wrong.
in my own dealing with dell, like most people i thought it was great and so affordable! but when you have a problem its soo hard to get ... ...vostro 1500 itself isnt a bad model, it does have all the necessary features and with dell when you order you can easily customize it to suit your own needs. this great and is great value too,
i guess its just the aftercare i really have a problem with.. ...
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Vostro notebooks are built exclusively for small business and are ready to be customized with the features and software you want without any trialware. The Vostro 1500 is a terrific balance of performance and portability, featuring extensive technology options, enhanced wireless connectivity, exceptional durability, and many features great for business users.
This Laptop is a good value for it's money's worth. Equipped with a Intel Duo chip going at 2.0 Ghz speed, this laptop also has the advantage of 1 Giga Ddram (expandable up to 4 Giga DDRAM), a large 17" screen, a 150 Gigabytes Samsung HDD (it is also... more
