Advice on Vostro 3500, your opinions

Hi everybody,

I saw that the basic V3500 is £399 (excl VAT and delivery) which seems pretty good value.

Given that I don't play games and that my usage is:

1. 90% internet (Chrome)
2. 5% Office (mainly Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
3. photos and iTunes

I find that, for only £399+VAT, the shortcomings are:

1. RAM: it has 2GB only, but with £69 I can buy 2GB+2GB of Crucial memory
2. HD: it has 250 GB only, but, in the future, if I run out of space I can always replace its HD with little money.

The advantages:

1. The matte screen, seems good quality and mid res (I don't like small icons and high DPIs)
2. n wireless card
3. multi card reader
4. good keyboard
5. Slim and pretty

Battery and portability are not important, I'll always use it on a desk in the kitchen or tv room. I also believe that the i3 will be plenty for my current and future needs (future versions of Office perhaps? post 2010. And Windows 8? whenever that will be).

I'd appreciate your comments and opinions.

PS: I initially looked at the Studio 1558 but the 3500 seems even better value for money.

 

Have you seen the 3500 in person? I thought the 1366x768 resolution on that size looked really poor. I mean really bad, not just kinda. Like unacceptable bad. I like the Vostro line otherwise. I don't know why they would use that resolution on a 15.6, especially since matte screens are less forgiving of low res.

I know someone who has a 3500 and thinks its fine, so if you've seen it and feel its ok then you're good to go. I agree, better choice than the 1558. The 1558 has a nice display, and Dell's glossy screens are less reflective than most imo, but imo the build quality (superficially) isn't on par with the vostro.

 

Hi, thanks for the prompt reply, I haven't seen the 3500 in person yet, very difficult as I don't know anyone who has it...

My current laptop is 15 and has a res of 1440x900 and it's perfect for my needs. I wouldn't want to go any lower though otherwise I can't display enough info in Excel without scrolling.

If I throw in the Vostro 3700 (which costs essentially the same as the 3500!) quick comparison:

1. 3500: 101 DPI
2. My current laptop: 110 DPI
3. 3700: 119 DPI

The 3700 would actually be ideal then! Doh! Is the matte screen of the 3700 a good screen? I'm using an EIZO 22'' at work and it's fantastic. Do you know if the 3700 is of similar quality?

 

That is good value for the money, and if a 15" size fits your need better than 17" I wouldn't be put off by the 1366 x 768 resolution as that's the standard on laptops today and what most people choose. Granted, I prefer higher resolution and wouldn't buy that but many do. Just walk into any computer shop and look at the 15" laptops on display and 90% of them will have this resolution so you can tell how the Vostro 3500 would be. If you need more screen real estate and will be at a desk most of the time then by all means go for the Vostro 3700, makes sense (so long as price is similar).

As far as being same quality as EIZO, no way, that's a high-end brand and laptop monitors use a far inferior technology called TN panel. Unless you want to spend $4,000+ on a high-end HP, Dell or Lenovo workstation style laptop that is.

 

Thanks for your advice.

I found a new Acer 7741 (i3, 3GB, 320GB, Ati5470 512BG, 17'') for £469 (incl VAT and delivery). I also found a refurbished (ebay) Vostro 3700 with i3, 4GB, 320GB 7200rpm, IntelHD, 17'') for £529 (incl. VAT and delivery).

Which one would you recommend...? The Acer seems a good deal, plenty for Office, surfing and recreationall photos!

 

If that's a new Acer 7741 for that price then definitely go with that choice, nice configuration for very good price.

 

Hi Andrew, thanks for the prompt reply, yes the Acer is a brand new one with from a high street shop with full UK warranty.

 

Try and find a laptop with memory of 800mhz plus. That will really affect the performance. For future-proofing get DDR3 as well.

 

Oh and also, if you step up from a vostro to say a latitude, you will get free 3yr warranty rather than 1yr...HUGE VALUE! if you ask me