Happy then and happy now (updated)
Written: Sep 22 '03 (Updated Jan 01 '04)
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Pros: Crisp screen image
Fast processor
Easy set up (at first)
Good support "website"
Customized ordering
Cons: Indeed it is heavy!
Almost "unhelpful" software and configurations
Relatively long wait for delivery
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend the Dell Inspiron 5150. It has the functionality of a desktop with the portability of a laptop.
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| tony1963's Full Review: Dell Inspiron 5150 (5150rh) PC Notebook |
I was ready to upgrade from my old Compaq desktop (circa 1998) to a new system, when I started investigating the new "desktop replacement" laptops. It used to be a laptop was a low-function computer for travellers to use when they couldn't be near a REAL computer. Now the technology allows fast and powerful laptops that can function as good as desktop systems.
I visited the Dell website during my investigation, and really like the ability to customize a laptop to my own needs. I am a digital art hobbyist, and having a system that could display high resolution images and run heavy-duty photo-editing applications was important to me. The Dell Inspiron 5150 seemed to be the best fit, cost vs features.
The system I ordered came with
Mobile Pentium 4, 3.06 GHz
15" UXGA screen (Ultra sharp!)
64MB DDR NVIDIA Graphic card
CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
40 GB hard drive
512 MB memory
TrueMobile 1300 Mini-PCI card (with TrueMobile 2300 wireless router)
The 5150 also comes with 56K modem, 10/100 ethernet, 2 USB ports, 1 Firewire port, VGA and S-Video outputs, Type I/II card slot, and a 12 cell lithium battry
After going through the checklist and indicating what I wanted, the site shows the final price and delivery estimate. I came up with about $2100, plus free delivery (special offer, may not be available anymore), a $200 rebate offer (again, limited time offer, but Dell has these types of deals all the time) and an estimated ship date of 4 weeks. I was a little bummed about the long wait, but the price seemed OK to me (most similar systems were close in price but were not as tailor-made for me).
Good news was it shipped after 2 weeks, and got to me the next day, despite them using ground FedEx. I guess the Dell warehouse is close by. Anyway, the laptop came packed very nicely with all the system software provided on back-up CDs. The bootup and setup were very simple and I had my system running in a couple of minutes.
Then the headaches started...Nothing horrible but when I tried to set up my wireless network (linking my laptop to the internet and my old computer), I hit snag after snag. Microsoft uses a nasty Network Wizard that blocked both of my computers with firewalls that I couldn't override (perhaps my ignorance stopped me, I searched high and low for a way to configure the firewall). I wound up disabling the Microsoft network and using Zone Lab's free firewall software. Long story short, the hardware all functions beautifully, I can access the internet AND my old computer (which is filled with my digital files) from anywhere in my house.
Second headache was the display. It seems many people must find the UXGA display makes things too small, so there is a function in "display properties" that magnifies the images by 25%. This gives everything a dithered appearance. When I figured this out I disabled the magnification and suddenly everything was SUPER vivid. My digital images never looked so good.
The Inspiron is fast, I mean wicked fast! Programs open and are running in the blink of an eye (I can't imagine needing anything faster). I got 512 MB of memory and so far it does the trick. It has 2 memory slots, so you can load as much as 2 GB of memory. DVD-CDRW drive works fine, but I haven't put it through the rigors of use to give a good review. But the DVD playback is amazing, very sharp image and no flickering. If I didn't have such a good surround system for my TV I would probably opt to watch movies on the laptop (the laptop speakers are not so great, you'll need decent headphone if you want to hear the soundtrack properly, or listen to music)
I have read a few reviews here and elsewhere about the sub-par Dell Support. Gratefully I have not needed to use the phone to contact Dell (knocking wood), but they do have a pretty good website that provides a number of support options, including a searchable Community message board where users and Dell Moderators discuss issues/problems they encounter with various systems and peripherals. I did a few searches related to my problems I mentioned above and found a few pointers that helped me. Granted, if your system crashes and you can't access the website you will need to use the phone, but for minor fixes I think the support website is useful.
I'll come back to update this review at the end of 2003, but for now, I am a very satisfied customer
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Updated 1/01/2004
Really no changes to my original review, 3+ months of use and it is still running perfectly. I have to reiterate the Dell web support is terrific, it is frequently updated with new drivers, bios, and information about the Inspiron. Definitely a full recommendation from me!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2100
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 15 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 41-50
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Epinions.com ID:
tony1963
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Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 0 members
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