Budget: Inspiron 1525 vs. Vostro 1520 ...

Hi, I'm in dire need of a cheap notebook for collage. Nothing to fancy. I'll only be using it to browse the web, watch some movies, do my homework and play World of Warcraft. (system requirements: here)

I'm considering a Dell Inspiron 15 or a Dell Vostro 1520, but can't decide. Which would you guys pick if you had to chose between the following 2 ?:

Dell Inspiron 15 - € 484,06

• Screen: 15,6-inch WXGA WLED (1.366 x 768) TFT, with TrueLife™
• CPU: Intel® Pentium® Dual Core Processor T4200 (2,00 GHz, 800 MHz, 1 MB cache)
• Memory: 4.096 MB 800 MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2 x 2.048]
• GPU: Intel Integrated GMA X4500M HD
• Hard Drive: 250 GB (5.400 rpm)
• Battery: 4-cel lithium-ion (24 Wh)
• OS: Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 64 Bit + free Windows 7 upgrade - Dutch
• Warranty: 1Yr Limited Warranty - Collect & Return

Dell Vostro 1520 - € 470,74

• Screen: 15,6-inch WXGA WLED (1.366 x 768) TFT, with TrueLife™
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T6670 (2.2GHz,800MHz,2MB)
• Memory: 2.048 MB 800 MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [1 x 2.048]
• GPU: Intel Integrated GMA X4500M HD
• Hard Drive: 160 GB (5.400 rpm)
• Battery: 6-cel lithium-ion (48 Wh)
• OS: Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 + free Windows 7 upgrade - Dutch
• Warranty: 1Yr Limited Warranty - Collect & Return

So to summarise the differences:

Dell Inspiron 15:

• More memory
• More space on the hard drive
• Better OS (this one has 64-bit)

Dell Vostro 1520:

• Cheaper (€ 13,32 to be exact)
• Better CPU
• Better battery

Atm, my preference goes strongly to the Insprion, since I don't care about battery life, € 13,32 is neglectable and I'm not sure if I will realy need the stronger CPU. + It comes with more memory and more hard drive space.


/Prophex

 

The 15.6" Inspiron is simply called the "Inspiron 15". The actual model number is 1545, which replaced the 15.4" 1525 earlier this year.

Your specs show the Vostro 1520 with a 15.6" display, but that model actually has a 15.4" display. There is a new Vostro model (1015) that has a 15.6" display, so I'm not certain which one you're looking at?

Regardless, I recommend the Vostro over an Inspiron! The Vostro is more durable thanks to a magnesium alloy-reinforced base and sealed/spill-resistant keyboard.

 

Which isn't to say that the new Inspiron 15 (1545) isn't sturdy; quite the opposite, in fact. It's extremely well built for a budget-oriented laptop.

I would side with the Inspiron out of personal preference as well, but the Vostro is probably a better choice financially. RAM is dirt cheap to upgrade to 4GB, and depending on what you're doing, you may not need more than the 160GB hard drive. Plus, business-class support is better than home support.

 

RAM and Hard Drives are the simplest components for a user to upgrade after purchase, so I wouldn't let that weigh too heavily on my decision!

Unlike most entertainment/multi-media notebooks, the Inspiron 1545 (and even the more expensive Studio 1555) don't have dedicated multi-media controls. The Vostro 1520, despite being business-oriented, has a small row of multi-media contorls located above the keyboard...it doesn't make sense, but it is another feature in the Vostro's favor!

The Vostro also has a FireWire (1394 EEEE) port and 4-USB ports (vs. 3-USB in the Inspiron). The overall size and thickness of both models is very similar, but the Vostro weights about one-half-pound less than the Inspiron.

I purchased an Inspiron 1545 as a gift from my sister a few months ago. I was pleasantly surprised at the solidity/build quality for a entry-level laptop. With the 2.0GHz Intel T6400, 3GB RAM, Intel X4500 and Vista Home Premium, it's more than adequate for her needs.

But it has one feature that she dislikes (and most other Inspiron 1545 users I've heard from)- the glossy black trim around the keyboard, wrist rest, touchpad and the display bezel! It's impossible to keep it clean and my sister uses a microfiber cloth at least once every day to get rid of the smudges, etc. The Inspiron 14 and Inspiron 17 both have silver trim in those areas and they look MUCH better! The Vostro 1520 has simple matte-black trim inside.