Need Purchasing Advice On DELL INSPIRION 1525

WARNING: Lots of Questions, Need the advice and answers, bear with me .


EDIT: Is Dell a reliable and durable brand and does the screen "clank"/attach itself to the notebook very well when closed since this notebook does not have a screen latch???

Okay, I went into my local Best Buy the other day, and saw the Dell Inspirion 1526 (AMD Version of the Intel 1525). I thought it was a great looking notebook and something that fits the bill and needs, and needed some advice before I do a CTO through Dell's website.

1.) Apparently the notebook was just launched, should I wait while for any mechanical/hardware issues to be fixed? I read online that the hinges for the LCD screen are wobbly and seemed that way in store too.

2.) Is it going to get the Penryn treatment?

3.) Is it going to get a higher resolution screen?

4.) Dedicated video card?

5.) More added features?

I was also curious about the RAM. I am seeing more and more notebooks coming out this year with 3 GB of RAM installed with expansion up to 4 GB. What in reality is better; 2 GB, 3 GB, or 4 GB? I don't know how good is good and I kinda want to "future proof" it.

That being said, does Dell ship notebooks via FedEX, UPS, etc... and how do I get free shipping?

Is it better to wait it out before I get the Dell Inspirion 1525 or go for it, because I don't know how good Penryn will be (if it gets it)?



I would love to hear the positives and negatives if anybody owns this machine and any answers to my questions. This looks like the one for me.

 

Please, I need help...

 

Don't know.

Maybe. This being Dell's budget 15.4", it'll either stay Merom or they may offer a Penryn option or two alongside the Merom processors.

Maybe at some point... but maybe not... I wouldn't hold my breath.

Probably not.

Probably nothing too exciting.

You have to ask? 4 gb is best... then 3 gb... then 2 gb.

Don't bother. Dell usually overcharges for RAM anyway. Upgrade it later yourself and save money. It depends what you're doing... but 2 gb is enough for most uses.

Generally DHL I think... they usually have some free shipping deals... you just configure one of the computers where they say "Free shipping"... there's no special thing you have to do.

Penryn is an incremental improvement... nothing earth-shattering.

Anyway, the 1525 is a budget notebook... so not many fancy options... if you want high-end stuff like dedicated graphics, high-res screen, faster processors, HDMI port... then look at the XPS M1330 instead.

 

... Any other opinions? ...

 

I'd imagine the screen would hold itself quite firmly when closed. It's uses spring tension to do so.

1) If you really want the notebook now, don't wait. If your notebook comes with any damages, etc. request a replacement, and some sort of discount from your total price.

2) Most likely it will get the "Penryn treatment", just because that's going to be 2008's standard Intel chipset. But Merom processors that Intel hasn't discontinued will still likely be available.

3) I'm willing to bet that it will get a higher resolution screen later. Can't say when, though.

4) Ya, Dell will probably include at least an NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 128mb dedicated card later on. Or something equivalent, like an ATI graphics card.

5) More added features? Probably not.

If I was any help at all, feel free to rep me!

 

Arrgggg... Okay, so I chatted online with Dell Customer Service, and the person said in response to my questions that the reason the 1525 doesn't have higher screen resolution options is because it doesn't have a dedicated video card and only the integrated intel graphics can handle the 1280 X 800 screen resolution, nothing higher than that.

The other reason I got as well was because the 1525 is a slimmer notebook than the 1520/1521 and isn't big enough internally for a dedicated video card. That seems to make sense, but then again isn't the Dell XPS 1330 and 1530 slim notebooks too? The 1525 definetly is slim, I tried it out at Best Buy and I think it's worth getting.

Just doesn't make sense though that initially there were reports of Dell having the 1440 X 900 screen on the 1525 and then only offered the 1280 X 800, and the 1525 has HDMI wheras the 1520/1521 did not.

What do you say???

IMHO, I think the Inspiron 1525 is better in some ways than the XPS 1330 and 1530, yes I'm crazy to say that. I think the slot-loading drive is novel, but what happens when the drive gets dirty to the point of it needing to be cleaned and there isn't a cleaning CD/DVD approved for slot-loading drives? And, what about the glossy touch buttons? They work fine but glossy material is a fingerprint, dust, and scratch magnet. Matted material on the 1525 for the touch buttons seem cool and work good.


One last thing, are the resolutions on Dell LCD panels more affected with reported grainy problems that go above the 1280 X 800 resolution mark?

 

Bump, Bump, Bump...

 

oh yeah.
the amd version of it has integrated. i think it is called ati x1270 right?
If you want the dedicated one then go for the intel. i didn't see dell releasing computers with ati dedicated in the notebooks much..

 

Any other opinions/answers... I am going Dell for several personal reasons, and need any help with my platters worth of questions... Thanks

 

I bought a 1525 for my wife a few weeks ago and we are very satisfied with it. The fit and finish were good, no wobbly hinges, and the paint (it's pink) looks and feels great. I especially like the new form factor as compared to the 1520. Lighter and sleeker. The 1280 x 800 standard screen resolution looks very sharp, especially in comparison to some older notebooks we have. For what she uses it for, internet, word processing, video, and light gaming, this has proven to be an ideal choice. Hope this helps.

 

Just wondering, is there ANY news on Dell releasing the Penryn processor acoss the Inspiron line of notebooks, like the 1525, as well as a higher res screen on the 1525? Non-USA based websites like Austraillia offer the 1440 X900 resolution on the 1525.

This is B.S. from Dell, I am cancelling my order until specs are better.