Need Feedback On Inspiron 1525

Hi guys,

I'm in charge for finding a laptop for a family friend and I thought the first place I'll look for a budget laptop was Dell's website. I've found the Inspiron 1525 which seems too offer great value for money, slightly too cheap to be true imo.

Was wondering if anyone could give me some feedback over the general build quality and screen, in particular the WXGA option. Also, do Dell offer an original OEM Vista disc or backup discs or do you have to make the backup discs yourself?

Thanks,
Jam.

 

Get a Vostro 1400 or a Vostro 1500 and get some dedicated graphics options. The 1400 has a 8400m gs and the 1500 a 8600GT. Both of which are leaps and bounds ahead of an Intel X3100.


Plus Vostro is MUCH cheaper

 

At the Dutch Dell site the Vostro isn't that cheap, it actually is more expensive than the Inspiron 1525 when you want to config it with +- the same specifications, and that's without tax so there is another +100 to add.

However I don't know what the Vostro costs in your country, so it may be a different story.

I bought an Inspiron 1525 yesterday, I hope it'll come soon.

 

If you aren't gaming or doing serious video editing, you don't need dedicated graphics.

I helped a group of my extended family all to buy a laptop for my cousin (he is mildly autistic, and has muscle problems) and I picked the 1525. Seemed great when it arrived. Came with ALL of the disks, without requesting them. The laptop seemed to be built very well. Much better than my mom's XPS M140. The screen was an LG and was excellent, no grain and great color(was a matte screen).

Because of the budget, we were only able to get a Pentium Dual-Core, and it still has plenty of power, it is easily enough for email, web browsing, photo editing, basically anything you can throw at it short of gaming or encoding files.

Greg

 

That may be true.

Over here in the states I can get nearly the same configuration on a Vostro for usually $100-200 cheaper than the Inspiron line.

 

I bought one of these in pink for my wife in January and have spent a little time on it, mostly installing programs for her. I am very satisfied with the build quality and form factor as well as the paint, which has kind of a smooth textured feel to it. She loves it. As stated earlier, this isn't a gaming machine, but it does do a very good job of playing "normal" games that aren't graphically demanding. (My wife likes Bejeweled, Jewel Quest, Zuma and assorted online games).

I also helped a friend set up a black 1525 which was similar to my wife's in terms of build and finish. It was the $499 model. Very nice budget laptop, perhaps as good as any out there for the cost. Both laptops came with the Dell install disc, which includes Vista, which if used, restores your laptop to it's original day of arrival state.

 

I really don't want to ''steal'' your topic but since it's going over feedback about the Inspiron 1525 I have a question as well.

I bought it with the Dell 1505 Wireless-N card, but now I'm reading about problems with this card, though I'm reading positive things about it too. Could someone tell me who had/have this card if it works well?

 

Thanks for the replies guys.
I've ruled out the Vostro as the 1525 is slightly lighter and slimmer. Also, its not plain black and has a bit of style.
In terms of gaming, no gaming will be played what so ever and therefore an integrated card should suffice. It seems that 1525 seems to be getting quite a bit of positive reception and therefore I'll think I'll reccommend that one to my friends.

I was just a bit cautious with Dell. For myself I would never buy an Inspiron since I have a larger budget and want more quality. However, the 1525 in particular seems perfect for home users. I just hope the screen doesn't have any grain!!

Thanks guys,
Jam.