Vostro 1500 vs Inspiron D830

Hi,

I phoned Dell UK sales to order the Vostro 1500 that I had spec'ced out via the Dell website, and after a long conversations with the Sales Rep, was offered an Inspiron D830 with a similar spec for the same price.

The specs are as follows:

Dell Vostro 1500:
- Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2.0GHz
- 2Gb RAM
- 160 Gb Hard Disk
- 15.4" WXGA+ (1440 x 900) display with TrueLife
- 256Mb NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT video card
- Integrated Bluetooth 2 + EDR
- Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N (wireless card)
- 9 cell battery
- Matte Black with 2.0 mega-pixel camera
- Windows Vista ULTIMATE

Dell Latitude D830:
- Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 @ 1.8GHz
- 2Gb RAM
- 120 Gb Hard Disk
- 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) DellSharp Wide Aspect Ratio TFT display
- 256Mb NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M video card
- Integrated Bluetooth 2 + EDR
- Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N (wireless card)
- 9 cell battery
- Windows Vista ULTIMATE

My requirements are a laptop for both work and pleasure - I'm a self-employed software developer, working from home, but probably won't be travelling that much with my laptop (most "offsite" work is done via remote access), but will obviously want to travel with it occasionally. I will be using standard applications (email, web browsing, word processing, spreadhseets, etc), but also software development IDEs, e.g. Visual Studio, Java / Netbeans, etc. I also wish to run Linux (mainly Ubuntu) via VMWare (i.e. running "on top" of Windows Vista in a virtual machine), and occasionally use a webcam for video conferencing / messaging / Skype etc. I also want to use the laptop to relax and enjoy myself with some games (I used to be an avid gamer, but this has tailed off in the last few years - however, I'd like to try some more games in the future!), and also use the PC as a Media Centre (including watching / recording TV programs using a TV Tuner, listening to CDs, watching DVDs, etc) - plus some graphics work (Corel Draw, Photoshop, etc).

I had done quite a bit of research, and had set my heart on the Vostro 1500 (as above), but became confused when the Dell sales rep tried to sell me the Latitude D830 (spec as above), eventually for the same price as the Vostro! Bit of a hard sell too, and I hate that sort of pressure when I'm spending close to £1000, as I like to research the computers I'm buying via the web (in places such as this superb forum!), so can't make "snap" decisions like that over the phone under pressure. To be honest it put me off a bit (although the sales rep seemed like a nice person, and I'm sure he was trying to give me good advice - he kept saying "I guarantee that you will love the Latitude!").

EDIT: I forgot to add that the laptop I finally purchase will be my main computer workhorse (possibly even my *only* PC for a while), and may be switched on anything from 1 to 10 hours in a day (and from 3 to 7 days per week - depending on workload / requirements etc), so I obviously want something that will not overheat drastically (although I probably won't be stressing the CPU and Video Card with a very high workload most of the time - i.e. I won't be gaming for hours on end [at least that's the plan!]), and will last me for 2 - 3 years at least if possible.

Anyway - which of these 2 laptops is the better choice for me?

The Latitude lacks an integrated webcam (which is a bit disappointing for me), has a smaller hard disk (120Gb instead of the Vostro's 160Gb), a slower processor (T7100 1.8GHz with 2MB L2 cache instead of the Vostro's T7300 2.0 GHz with 4MB L2 cache), and a diffrent graphics card (NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M 256Mb, instead of the Vostro's NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 256Mb). The one higher spec component of the Latitude is the WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) screen - BUT my eyesight isn't 100% (I have to wear contact lenses / glasses), and I want to avoid eyestrain (don't want to squint at tiny text + icons), so I had chosen the WXGA+ resolution (1440 x 900) for the Vostro exactly for that reason (and also because I have read that it is the optimum resolution for 15.4" screens, & the best compromise between screen "real estate" and performance - games run better at a "native" WXGA+ than WSXGA+).

How does the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M 256Mb video card compare with the GeForce 8600M GT 256Mb card? As I said, I'm not (yet!) an avid gamer, but would certainly like to play some games (probably including some DirectX 10 ones in future).

I understand that the Latitudes are probably lighter and better built than the Vostros - on the other hand, I won't be travelling *that much* with my laptop (mostly using it for both work + pleasure at home), so not sure how much of a concern that it.

Also, can the Latitudes accept Intel Turbo Memory (aka Flash Cache Memory modules, aka "Robson")? Just wondering...

Any other majpr differences between the 2?

Anyway, what are your thoughts? I have to decide by tomorrow's lunch time, so any advice would be very welcome - many thanks!

 

The main difference is going to be build quality and weight, with the D830 being of better build and a bit lighter. However, seeing that you're not going to be moving around too much with the laptop, I'd be more inclined to recommend the Vostro config as the extra performance will more than offset the build quality and weight, especially since you're not super mobile.

The NVS 140M is based off the 8400M GT, and as a result will be somewhere around 60-70% of the performance of the 8600M GT. The 8600M GT will be a much better card for gaming.

Plus as you said, the lack of a webcam option with the Latitude is disappointing, given your requirements.

 

referring to the video card, the NVS 140M is a card better suited for office work, image editing and stuff, implemented on most office laptops, although the 8600m GT id a better card for other other issues. i'd go with the vostro

 

The D830 is more of a personal work laptop. Vostro is more of a company work loaner laptop. Go with the D830 way better build quality.

 

I was looking at these same two machines. For a while I had my heart set on the D830, just a well-built proven tank of a machine. But then when the Vostro came out, I spec'd a similar machine and saw I'd save US $200-$300. If they were close in price, I would have gone with the Latitude. My friend has the 630 and it's just beautiful (at least functionally. the Vostro's probably the cooler-looking one). The experience of people seems to be that the Latitudes are well-built, and their design has been around for a bit, so they're proven. I don't like however, when people start assuming that the Vostro's are not as well built. Unless Weird Al has seen a Vostro, I don't see how he can comment. Those who have reviewed Vostro's and 1520's (same thing) have commented on their strong builds.
I'd say it comes down to whether you'd prefer a sexy/fun Vostro or a proven Latitude. The good news is that I think both are excellent choices.

 

Thats really a tough choice... One thing to also take into consideration is that the Latitude has a matte screen, while the Vostro has the Truelife glossy screen. In my opinion, the Latitude is a better overall notebook. But for your needs, I would probably lean more towards the Vostro.

 

For your requirements, without any hesitation, go with the Vostro (if you are going to use EPP to buy, go with 1520, to get it even cheaper e.g. your specs of 1500 in 1520 cost me $1250 in US)!! VMWare and stuff can always use extra juice. And you don't want to move much anyway, so chances of getting it thrown or dropped are much less. Moreover, vostro also comes with strikezone and sealed kbd. And, lastly, you won't be able to video conference with lattitude unless you carry a USB webcam around with you.

 

I would go with the lattitude (And i am personally going with the D630 model) because of the superior build quality. I don't mind paying a bit extra for the quality of the laptop because i want something that works and is solid.

 

Thanks for the advice so far! Looks like the Vostro is winning at the moment! (Although I haven't quite made up my mind yet - any further comments?)

Thanks again...

 

I dont know how people can comment on vostro been not very soildly built. I have read reviews on insprions 1520 and they have all commented on how soild the build quality is. I would assume that vostro is tougher that insprion since its fully cased in mag-alloy. D630 may be proven for its quality, but i dont expect vostro to be suck. vostro is my pick simce its got better specs

 

Thanks guys for the advice:

I have now placed an order for the Dell Vostro 1500.

Cheers...

 

It doesn't matter now but the 140m is more like the 7400, while the FX 360M in the Precision M4300 is like the 8400GT.