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 DVDburner 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.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
(+) Product is fine but dont bother buying from them direct due to poor customer service/ norights (-) Product is fine but dont bother buying from them direct due to poor customer service/ no rights
(+) cool and quite robust trackpad, good display,64-bit windows 7 (-) few connectors,dell drivers only, not realy for gameing (most models), finger print prone!
Great review! Lots of time and effort put into it i can see! I was thinking of either getting a Dell Vostro 1500 or the Samsung R70 (both were around the same price at the time) But i opted for the Samsung, Anyway! Great review and well done!
Seresecros 05.10.2007 19:54
Good review! Tightening up the structure would really improve the look of the whole thing, though. Don't doublespace your lines apart from each other and split each different heading so they make paragraphs of their own, and your review will be easier to read through for anyone. For example, it'll be more useful for someone who is looking for one particular feature of the computer above anything else.
Installation in matched pairs of modules is required, please order quantity two. Dell ... more
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
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Oct 5th, 2007
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