Dell Inspiron 1545 vs.Vostro A860

Can anyone comment on the difference in build quality between a Dell Inspiron 1545 and a Vostro A860?

 

I haven't actually seen/used the Vostro A860, but I have used other Vostros and Inspirons. I recently bought my sister an Inspiron 1545.

The A860 was originally intended for "emerging markets", the marketing term for developing countries. From what I've read, the A860 is well-built among sub-$500 models, but that's not saying a lot. To keep the price down while still using decent materials, Dell uses outdated technology. It still uses the Intel GM965 chipset, which most competitors phased out more than a year ago!

The Inspiron 1545 is built at least as well as the A860. It's very solid with no creaks or excessive flex/give in any plastic surface. It also has the current Intel GM45 chipset, which has far superior integrated graphics and uses less energy than it's predecessor! The 1545 also has the option of an LED-backlit display, which is a no-brainer for only $25! It has far better image quality/brightness and is more energy efficent, too.