Reviews on Vostro 1220

The Vostro 1220 can be ordered with Core 2 Duo P8600 which has a TDW of 25 W so it is possible, but not probable.

 

Grrr......Live and learn. I guess it is too much to expect that this be made known to the average consumer. Wonder if i should just refuse delivery?

I had determined, when looking at the ASUS UL30 series, that to get the longest battery life was going to cost a bit more. Should have assumed the same with Dell - but thought the difference was the 6 cell battery.

Thanks for the info though.

 

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Dell has placed a clearly misleading statement on their website. The say, "Enjoy over 9 hours of battery life with optional high-capacity 6-cell battery." They make no reference to the fact that one also has to fork over an additional (minimum) $125 for a 25w processor. Grrrrr. I have asked Dell for a response.

 

The Asus UL30 is sure to have better battery life considering it's using the CULV processor but I would never consider it because of its poor processing power.

So it's really depends on what your preference is.

 

I guess if you go down this road you would be disappointed by all laptop manufacturer because that's how they all market their products.

The same for handphones and their battery life.

 

Points well taken. Probably cheaper to buy a second battery than pay return postage and restocking fee anyway. Still undecided.

 

You can get great battery life if you want to go for one those CULV slowwww processors....that's the whole point of going with the 1220 ...am I right?

 

FWIW - no answer yet from Dell Order Support (to whom I emailed my question) so I did an online chat with the small business sales people. Here is that exchange:

Initial Question/Comment: I am intested in a Vostro 1220 laptop. Help me understand what to select to achieve 9 hour battery life.
4:21:09 PM System You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
4:21:09 PM System Connected with QCSMB_Aris_Go
4:21:19 PM QCSMB_Aris_Go Thank you for contacting the Dell Small Business chat line, my name is Aris and I will be your sales agent today. If you have further questions once our chat session has ended, I can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
4:21:32 PM Kim Viner OK
4:21:59 PM QCSMB_Aris_Go The battery will last for 9 hours with a single charge.
4:23:14 PM Kim Viner Yes, that is what the web site front page says. But I have read in many forums that the 6 cell must be ordered with a specific processor to get the nine hours. Most are reporting that many processors available will only yield 5 hours with the 6 cell battery.
4:25:39 PM QCSMB_Aris_Go The claim on the website is based on actual testing done. And the approximate battery life is for 9 hours no matter what processor is installed.
4:26:09 PM Kim Viner Thank you very much. That is what I wanted to know.


So there you have it. Dell small business sales is not aware that a 25W processor takes less energy than a 35 w processor. Again, I guess I should not be surprised.

1220 arrives tomorrow. I will give it a whirl and report back.

 

:yes: Indeed you have made a good point.

 

Let us know ...I've reordered mine because the refurb screen wasn't any good (too much light bleeding on the bottom...had them send me an LED just because with my luck I'd get the same prob) and upped the HD to 320. Had to pony up a couple hundred extra but I liked the unit well enough to do that. I won't get it till next week, but I can say I think it's a pretty great notebook. Very solid and fast for a 12 incher. Speakers? The GF and I tried to watch a movie on it in a remote location, and I couldn't get it loud enough to hear clearly the dialogue from the single stock speaker. The SO said she could hear it OK. Headphones of course is no problem. So I bought a pair of small portable speakers and that cured the problem. That's rare I'd be in that situation, like right now I'm wearing Apple Earbuds with my m4400 FWIW.