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    inspiron 15R 5110 or Vostro 3550

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by wires_and_whatnots, Jun 21, 2011.

  1. wires_and_whatnots

    wires_and_whatnots Newbie

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    Vostro 3550 - $749
    Processor 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M processor 2.30
    Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-Bit
    Display15.6" HD WLED Anti-Glare (1366x768)
    Memory 6GB4 DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
    Hard Drive 500GB5 hard drive (7200RPM)
    Video Card 1024MB AMD RadeonTM HD6630M
    Optical Drive 12.7" SATA tray load DVD+/-RW
    Security Software Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security Service (Multi-Language) - 30 Days Trial
    Warranty 1 Yr Next Business Day Onsite Service


    inspiron-15r-n5110 - $699
    Processor 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M Processor(2.3GHz base, up to 2.9GHz
    Operating SystemGenuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
    Memory 4GB (1 X 4GB) 1 DIMM DDR3 1333Mhz
    Hard Drive 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
    Display 15.6" HD WLED True-Life (1366x768)
    Video Card Intel® HD Graphics 3000
    Optical Drive 12.7" SATA tray load DVD+/-RW
    Wireless Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1030 with Bluetooth v3.0+HS
    Security Software McAfee® SecurityCenter™ (Multi-Language) - 30-Day Trial Version
    Primary Battery 2.2AHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery
    Warranty 1Yr Carry-In Service after Remote Diagnosis
     
    wires_and_whatnots, Jun 21, 2011
    #1
  2. jdewinnaar

    jdewinnaar Notebook Enthusiast

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    The Vostro has a far better graphics chip, gaming on that inspiron would be impossible, personaly I'd take the Vostro!!
     
    jdewinnaar, Jun 21, 2011
    #2
  3. edit1754

    edit1754 Notebook Prophet

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    If you don't need a graphics card, and aren't set on Dell, I think the HP DV6t is a much better value, for $769

    HP Official Store — Buy and Customize your dv6 and dv6t series PC direct from HP

    In the cart, use the coupon code SAVE30HP to bring the price down to the aforementioned value.

    The thing about this laptop is it comes with a 1920x1080 display, which is much better for a 15.6" laptop than 1366x768. Both of the laptops you're considering have crappy screens. With a higher resolution, you'll be able to fit more onscreen at once such as side-by-side windows, since items onscreen aren't as big... and the image quality will be much better as well. 1366x768 is a bad resolution for a 15.6" laptop, because things onscreen will be huge and not many windows will fit. Plus, individual pixels can easily be differentiated between with the naked eye. 1366x768 is meant for 13.3" and 11.6" laptops, but unfortunately many manufacturers have been putting it in 15.6" laptops as well.

    If you don't have any specific performance needs, downgrade to the i3 processor and the price will be $719

    Just don't downgrade the display. The display is the most important thing on a laptop because it makes the most difference. i3 vs i5 - you'll never notice the difference unless you need the difference.
     
    edit1754, Jun 21, 2011
    #3
  4. wires_and_whatnots

    wires_and_whatnots Newbie

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    cheers for the info mate, probably should have mentioned from Australia so can't pick up that deal. Wanting a machine ASAP pretty much.
    so i5 and 6GB is not really necessary?

    plan on doing some casual gaming on it, maybe more if i get addicted, and do a lot of live video and ausio streaming. Tend to always have a few things on the roll.

    Other affordable option for Australia at the moment seems to be the Lenovo thinkpads E420 & 520? Thoughts?

    Know of any Aussie coupons? ;)

    Thansk again
     
    wires_and_whatnots, Jun 21, 2011
    #4
  5. Cheffy

    Cheffy Notebook Evangelist

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    Should add that the HP is a lousy unit for gaming - especially with that much higher native resolution. Not to mention that HP has one of the worst reliability records in the industry.
     
    Cheffy, Jun 22, 2011
    #5
  6. edit1754

    edit1754 Notebook Prophet

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    It wasn't really clear whether the OP is doing any gaming or not, especially since he's considering the Inspiron with integrated graphics. Plus, higher native resolution means little to gaming, because you can always downscale the resolution and deal with a minimal amount of blur. Odds are with a midrange graphics card you're going to have to do that anyway, even on 1366x768. Don't prioritize how good the edge of a tree looks in a game over the productivity value of a high-res screen.

    HP does have a bad history, but the new DV6 laptops have much better build quality.
     
    edit1754, Jun 22, 2011
    #6
  7. jdewinnaar

    jdewinnaar Notebook Enthusiast

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    Go for the Vostro mate, that's the best configuration for your needs in the price range, also the only laptop worth getting if you're gaming, even light gaming would be impossible on the others..
     
    jdewinnaar, Jun 23, 2011
    #7
  8. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    I played with a few Vostro's, generally a little more rugged design over the inspiron laptops.

    Also the 15R hard drive is a pain to get to, located under the keyboard and required a fair bit of dismantling to get to.
     
    dave-p, Jun 23, 2011
    #8
  9. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    Vostro is a "budget" business class notebook...still better built than inspirons. Vostro Definitely imo.
     
    theZoid, Jun 29, 2011
    #9
  10. CyberTronics

    CyberTronics Notebook Consultant

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    CyberTronics, Jul 1, 2011
    #10