You Get What You Pay For
Written: Dec 05 '05 (Updated Dec 06 '05)
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Pros: affordable, slim casing, 3 USB hubs, DVD-ROM drive,
Cons: Large screen, keyboard, slow preformance, inefficient cooling fan, limited battery life
The Bottom Line: I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone wanting a top of the line computer. However, if you want something cheap and easy to use, this may work.
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| kelly617's Full Review: Dell Inspiron 1000 (i1000S1) PC Notebook |
I set out to buy my first laptop/notebook computer with the express interest of getting the cheapest one I could find with a reputable name. Dell Inspiron notebooks started at $999 CAN, so I was very attracted to this particular laptop. Also, I had never heard a bad thing about Dell, so I wasn't worried about ordering a laptop, or any computer for that matter, from them.
The first thing I noticed when I started using my inspiron was the battery life. It lasted 2 hours for me, at best. Now, after only about a year and a half of careful battery use, I get about 50 mins worth if I'm lucky. The whole point of having the laptop was so I could carry it to class and take notes. Unfortunatly, it's battery doesn't last long enough for me to get half way through my lessons.
The 15" screen is a nice size if there is something worth looking at on it. The inspiron has no fancy video cards, no amazing resolution and watching movies on it is hardly something one would primarily use it for. So, why is the screen so incredibly huge. Perhaps a 12" or 14" screen would be more practical for the limited ability of the laptop.
Something very strange that happened after a limited amount of use was that my keys began sticking and basically becoming useless. The first to go was the spacebar, which I had to have a professional fix. Then, several of my letter keys would stick down if struck the wrong way. I sent the laptop to a computer store around 5 times for the keyboard alone.
The small cooling fan, though pleasantly quiet, is located right underneath the laptop in the very centre of the bottom. No matter where you set it, it almost always gets blocked. The laptop reaches incredibly hot temperatures very fast and this makes it highly uncomfortable to work with on your knee.
The speakers are not typical laptop speakers. They hardly produce any sound at all. Plugging in a set of headphones is a must if you want to hear anything coming out of the computer at all.
That all said, if you are willing to cut corners for a very affordable laptop that, despite it's shortcomings, still manages to function and complete the most basic tasks, this may still be an okay buy. If you can though, try to invest on a slightly better battery.
I wouldn't reccomend the computer. I've had it for a year and a half and already find myself dishing out a more substantial $1500 for a much better, smaller and more powerful laptop. For the beginner, though, who needs nothing more than a word processor and something to occasionally pass the time with, this computer may still prove useful.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 999
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: Don''t Know
Screen Size: 15 inches
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 21-30
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Epinions.com ID:
kelly617
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Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 1 member
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