Vostro 1500, E1505 or 1520?

Hi,

Would like to buy a laptop for office/internet/matlab, i.e. work...
I'm confused.
Vostro 1500 (the cheapest, I think), E1505 or 1520???

Thanks,
Dror.

 

It would be easier for us to help you if you filled out the FAQ But if I was given the choice of those 3 and I didn't need any gaming needs or cared much about styling... I'd go with the 1505 since it's a previous model so Dell has to clear their stock. If games and performance are at all important to you Vostro 1500 or 1520 will do. Vostro is usually cheaper with low end configurations and you have the option to not get the bloatware. But if you want any better advice you'll need to fill out the FAQ

 

Thanks.

General Questions

1) What is your budget? around $700-930 (via EBAY seems cheaper than
directly from dell...

2) What size notebook would you prefer? c.

a. Ultraportable; 12" screen or less
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
d. Desktop Replacement; 17"+ screen

3) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in. buying in the US

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?

5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook? MATLAB (heavy computation, memory consuming), OFFICE, INTERNET. Almost no games!

6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk? Mosly on my desk (home) but also for travelling.

7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games? rarely playing games.

8) How many hours of battery life do you need? 3-4 hrs.

9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person? No.

10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc. Vista.

Screen Specifics

11) Would you prefer standard or widescreen? widescreen 15.4.

12) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer? d (I think).

Standard
a. XGA -1024x768 - Large and easy to read text + graphics icons, but you fit less stuff on the screen.
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
c. UXGA - 1600x1200 - Very small text and graphics icons, you can fit lots of stuff on the screen.

Widescreen
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
f. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Wider viewing version of UXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.


13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen? glossy is o.k.

Build Quality and Design

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you? not very.

15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last? buying in a few days.. 3-4 yrs.

Notebook Components

16) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 200GB? 120 GB.

17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive? DVDRW.

Thanks.

 

Alright. I think maybe the Vostro 1500 or Inspiron 1520 are your best bets. If you want this notebook to last 3-4 years you're gonna need the Core 2 Duo processor. If you're going with Vista 2GB of RAM is a MUST. No matter what. You can get it from them or upgrade yourself which I recommend.

If you get the Vostro 1500 the configurations would be cheaper at the low end

If you go for the 1520 use this coupon to lower the price: 641C0DMGDKFLLQ to save $325 off $1,299.00+ on this Dell Inspiron

The 1520 and Vostro 1500 are basically the same system, the Vostro is just all black, gives you a windows XP option, and has less bloatware. I hope helped.

 

Yes, great!!!
BTW- a small technical question- ordering now from dell.com, is there any chance it will arrive but 09/09?
Thanks a lot !!!

 

My Vostro 1400 arrived in a week. Unfortunately I live out of the country, and I won't be arriving to my in-laws' house where I had it shipped for another month. But the computer arrived a week after I ordered (surprised the hell out of me).