Questions about Inspiron 1420 compared to Vostro 1400.

Hi I am trying to decide which laptop to get and had a few questions that I could not find an answer for on your website:

- Are the LCD's the same? They have the same Product Code "14XGAL" but different descriptions. Are they identical?

- Does the Vostro use SATA? It didn't say when I picked the 120 GB 7200 RPM drive.

- If I don't get the Wireless-N card will it still have 3 antennas? If I got a card with just a/b/g would it only have 2 antennas?

- Is the Intel T7250 28% better than the T7100 for battery life? On the Tech Specs site for Canada it says the T7500 is 28% better than the T7100 (battery life wise) and I was wondering if it was also true for the T7250.

- Does the Vostro have a DDR2 or DDR3 video card? On the Tech Specs site for Canada it says "NVIDIA® GeForceTM Go 8400M GS with 128MB DDR2 dedicated graphic memory" for Vostro but "NVIDIA® GeForceTM Go 8400M GS with 128MB DDR3 dedicated graphic memory" for the Inspiron, is it accurate?

- Are there 2 Mini-PCIe slots (WLAN & WWAN)? And if so do they support any Mini-PCIe card? And if so do they both have 2-3 antenna plugs?

- Are there any other design or technology differences between the 2 laptops (Inspiron 1420/Vostro 1400)?

I look forward to your answers and if you need more information I will watch this forum post incase you need to ask me for more.

I copied this post from were I originally posted it in the Dell Forum but I figured it couldn't hurt to post here also because I'm sure I'm not the only one to have asked at least one of these questions before. If some of these questions have been asked/answered before I am sorry for double posting but I have searched the forums and still am not 100% sure on these so a link to said post with which question it answers and were would be helpful.

 

You have the same LCD choices for both. The make of the LCD depends on the current supply.

They all use SATA.

8400M GS is DDR3 IIRC

Both the Inspiron and Vostro construction are the same. Vostros only comes in black. Insprions have a choice of colors.

 

Thanks for answering a few of my questions Mr Cook. Just to be sure I had a few follow-up question to your answer:

- So "High Resolution, glossy widescreen 14.1 inch display (1440 x 900)" is the same as "14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA+ LCD Display with TrueLife™"?

- Your sure there SATA or assuming because the Inspiron is?

- Where did you read that it was DDR3? Are you assuming all 8400M GS's are DDR3? Why do the specs on dell.ca say different? Is it a misprint perhaps?

 

The LCDs are the same (WGA+ = 1440x900 and Trulife = glossy), and they both use SATA hard drives. In fact, everything about the two models is essentially the same. The Vostro is labeled as "Roadready" and supposedly has a mylar sealed keyboard and shock-mounted hard drive, while the Inspiron provides the option of a Bluray drive.

Both will have a total of five antenna connectors routed to the mini-PCIe slots - three for WLAN and two for WWAN.

 

Thats good to hear about the LCD's and Durability of the Vostro. So this 5 antenna design, is it documented somewhere or do you have first hand experience?

 

As said above, Vostros and Insprions construction are exactly the same.

Maybe you can try believing what people say.

 

I asked about the antenna's not the durability, maybe you should read what people type. And I am not doubting what people are saying, im just asking if he had documentation as I am to make a presentation on these laptops to my boss. Sorry if it came across wrong.

 

First hand experience with both Vostro 1400 (mine) and friends (1420) both are essentially the same.
Only difference I could make out was Physical.

1400 has the extra antennas, no worries.

Hard drive is SATA, i pulled it out and saw it with my own eyes.

I think both 1400 and 1420 have 128MB DDR2...

 

After compare my friend's Vostro 1400 and my Inspiron 1420, Both are the same. I prefer 1420 for it's stylish color while 1400 looks more professional.

 

Cool thanks guys, hand on experience with both is exactlly what I like to hear. Its good to hear the Vostro has SATA and extra antennas. Hey n19ghtmare did you mean DDR3 or DDR2? Cause dell.ca says both and lordnikon said DDR3 and a review I read for a LG with same card said DDR3.

 

My Vostro 1400 came with SATA-300 Toshiba 120GB HD. My 8400M GS showed GDDR3 memory in all the Benchmark utilities I've tried.

 

Ah good to hear billcsho, I guess the Vostro on dell.ca is misprinted DDR2 when its a DDR3. It didnt make sense for them to be different but I like confirmation.

 

Which brings me to this:

You asked questions on your first post and which I answered. Take your own advice.

 

I don't want to get into a whole thing man, im sorry if I offended you, let it go.

 

Likewise, I overreacted.

Enjoy the new laptop.

 

The 8400M GS is using GDDR3. Some crazy memory clocks were achieved using the 8400M GS that's definitely NOT possible on the DDR2 8600M GT.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys, Im confident now that I will be happy with the Vostro 1400.