New Dell Vostro V131

My V131 w/ i5-2430 CPU and SSD doesn't have any fan noise at all until it gets above 50 deg C (as measured by Core Temp). I've not heard the fan become excessively loud but I don't work in a totally quiet environment. It's often not running at all. I have the Power options set to "Balanced" with the cooling set to "passive" while on battery. I'm hearing nothing while typing this response even when holding it up to my ear. I'm on battery power at the moment.

The bottom is warm but not enough to be annoying even while in my lap.

 

I own the celeron version with an SSD and mainly use it for word processing and web browsing. The laptop is silent as long as I'm not performing a "heavv duty" operation (i.e. streaming video). The V131 gets a little warm, but not hot, so it's okay to put it on the lap.

I also use my laptop in a silent room and, to me, the V131 is the perfect laptop for my needs: silent, light, illuminated keyboard, and cheap!

 

I got my V131 from the Outlet. It's a great machine. What's funny is the system came with Win Home Premium 64 bit but the Microsoft CoA said it is a Win 7 Pro. So someone is "violating" the CoA.

The Dell application for controlling screen brightness and backlit keyboard is not installed. I guess I can download it, right?

It comes with a Samsung 7200 HD. The machine itself almost screams for a SSD.

 

many thanks!

and one other thing - I'm going to buy a machine with HDD and upgrade myself to SSD. what SSD should I get? meaning what the dimension should be in order that the drive will fil properly (or if u can - write the specific model of ssd that your machine has, so I can look up myself)

 

I got the Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F60GB3A-BK 2.5" 60GB ( Newegg.com - Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F60GB3A-BK 2.5" 60GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)) on sale @ Frys.

Installation went flawlessly. I did a clean install, using Dell drivers--kind of a pain in the behind, but well worth it. I followed these simple instructions: Dell Vostro V131 review

Windows 7 Home Premium took almost 20GB, so do the math and get the SSD size that better suits your needs.

FYI: Celeron model without tweaks takes about 19 seconds to boot.

 

I have a basic question. How to turn on the backlit keyboard on V131? The function key doesn't have that function. The mobility center doesn't have it. I'm pretty sure this model comes with it (In my order list).

Well - Dell screwed up again. This order list has backlit keyboard but the Technical Support said on their end it doesn't have one. I was transferred to another group for resolving this issue. The other group said the technical case number hasn't shown up and wanted me to speak to a technical support first.

So they want to replace the machine. I just sent one back this morning. I have ordered 5 or 6 Dell computers in the past 5 years. I never had to use customer services this frequently. This is a bit unbelievable for me. And it wasted my time.

 

Haven't posted on here for like half a decade but uh... anyone know why the gps is not detected by Windows as a sensor? And anyone know if there are third party IPS screens for this thing?

 

Really? there's a GPS? I must research!

 

Oh boy... Today the V131 let me down HARD!

I used it last night to type up a paper and had it on high performance setting (I was listening to music too and ran dual screens via vga, so I figured why not). I noticed the fan came on and figured it was normal. I typed up my paper to finish it in the morning and turn it in... I set the machine to hibernate and closed the lid... it was on the charger and figured that I would let it charge through the night as well. I got up this morning, put it in my bag and was off to school. I get to school and the computer will not turn on at all. The paper I stayed up working on is locked away and I am now risking a drop in a letter grade IN LAW SCHOOL... Undergrad, no biggie.... Grad school... Huge Issue!

I am going to go through dell's customer service and seeing as I have had the machine less than a month... I am going to see if they will just give me a full refund or if they send me another, make it worth my while... (maybe step me up to an ssd or i5).

Any thoughts? I am going to file my complaint and ask them if I can remove the hard drive in order to try and get my data off before I send it back in... I just want to make sure that does not void my warranty... There are no status lights, power button does nothing, battery is charged (I removed it and re-set it and everything)... I am pretty sure the motherboard failed (possibly due to heat). I didn't overclock anything and only had word and google chrome running... Its not like I was watching videos or playing a game... Do I have a right to a refund or some sort of compensation?

--- I don't want to detur anyone from this machine, but for reference, I got a refurb gen 2 i3, 4gb ram, 320 hdd...


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*update --- Went through the Dell customer service and they offered to give me a different system or a refund. I decided on a refund. I liked the machine, it has great positives but in the end, I really could not get over the size difference between this and the V130. They are going to call me back in 1-3 business days to let me know the status of the refund. I only paid about 370 for the system and now that there are no coupons, could I argue with them to get a coupon for my next purchase? I am going to yank the Hdd tonight and see if I can get it to work from a usb enclosure that I have laying around... hopefully I can so I can get my documents back. I took ALL of my notes and such from school on this machine...

 

^^^ Did you try plugging in your laptop when you got back from school with the AC Adapter just to see if it would turn on? I had similar things happen with several Vostro laptops in the past where the laptop battery was not charged while in sleep mode even though it was plugged in. When I tried to turn it on it was dead.

I just re-seated the AC cord at the outlet and it started charging again.