Dell Inspiron 1520 or Vosto 1500

Would you purchase s Dell Inspiron 1520 or Vostro 1500?

 

Is the Vostro 1500 a better notebook?

 

Its hard to say. Some people are saying that the build quality on the Vostros is better, but I'm not sure if thats true or not. Um... I believe that the Vostros are slightly cheaper than the Inspirons and they are all black. So, I guess it comes down to personal preference and price...

 

inspirion is much cheaper for the specs i want.

 

I really wonder about this myself,

Also you have to consider the warranty

Inspirons have pick up and return warranty support while Vostros have a hardware warranty or something, I'm still not sure if they are the same?

 

Inspiron with 3year warranty/accidental care was something like 250-300 cheaper than the vostro for me. Since I'm a college student and will be lugging this everywhere, it seems worth it.

 

I don't know this for a fact because I haven't seen either of them in person. But IMO they are the exact same laptop with different colors, they are just marketing them differently. Consumers want unique colors and businesses want dirt resistant keyboards. In reality I would bet they are EXACTLY the same, Dell just chooses to point out key features that appeal to individual segments...ie consumer/business.

Just get the one that is cheaper for you. I went with vostro b/c i wanted lower end components and it came out to be about 300 less. But if you are getting +2.0 ghz, 2 gig ram, and other high end stuff the inspiron will be cheaper. But the laptop chassis I believe is identical in build quality, size, and craftsmanship.

 

I would have to agree with shlurpee on this one, I can't seem to find any significant difference in the laptops, apart from color and pricing.

 

Someone mentioned here that Vostros had a Sigmatel Audio while Inspirons Intel, I'm pretty sure there are some minor differences, even in circuitry and chip qualities, that's why I want to see Vostro benched, to see if the results will be the same as Inspiron.

And like I already mentioned higher, warranty differences.

 

Actually, I believe both Vostro and Inspiron uses Sigmatel Audio with an option software upgrade to the Soundblaster Audigy HD.

 

I read in another thread that the Vostro's come with a Magnesium Alloy Chassis and Spill/Dust Proof Keyboard. I spoke to a rep last week regarding the Vostro and he told me that they have a fingerproof/smudge resistant finish. I would have asked about the other two if I had known before talking to him.

In any event I chose the Vostro becuase of price and I like black notebooks, they look both cool and different.

 

You deal with english speaking customer service reps with vostro and their business support, right? and the mylar keyboard is one difference. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

edit- oh, and you can get XP with vostro, straight from dell!

 

Vostro 1500 is more durable than inspiron 1520. For those who don't like the silver keyboard in 1520 (like me) can opt for vostro. But vostro is expensive than inspiron with the same good configuration.

Vostro has strike zone, which senses sudden shock to the hard drive and protects loss of data. It also has a spill proof keyboard.

 

But again, as shlurpee pointed out and was insinuated weeks ago by Dell techs on this board, the Vostros are supposed to be identical in every way to the Inspirons. It is entirely possible that the spill proof keyboard and all magnesium alloy construction are basic to both lines, but in looking to appeal to a different market segment, Dell Business has chosen to highlight key features whereas the Inspirons tout their newfound colors.

As for the fingerprint proof black finish of the Vostros, I'd really like to hear from the first person to receive one about this. I mentioned in another thread that if it's the same finish as the basic black lid on the Inspirons, it's a fingerprint magnet for sure. Hopefully we'll get a final confirmation soon.

 

Thinsg you can get with Inspiron 1520, that you cant get with Vostro 1500:

Windows Home Premium (Supposedly you can add this to vostro if you ask)
Glossy Screen
7200 RPM Drive
Choice of Colors
Low-End/Cheaper CPU Options (T5240 T5250)
Audigy HD and Creative Labs sound card options
Blue-Ray



Things you can get with Vostro 1500 that you cant get with Inspiron 1520:

Other OS Options (Windows Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, XP)
Anti-Glare Screen for WXGA+ or WSXGA+
Odd Ram Options (.5Gb, 1.5Gb, 3Gb)
Smaller HD Options (80Gb 120Gb)
Custom HD Partition Options
Low-End/Cheaper "Wireless A/G Only" Option (Dell 1490)
Option for removable AT&T Mobile broadband card (inspiron's are built-in only)



I think the only significant reason someone would choose a vostro 1500 over the Inspiron 1520 is if

a] They want it to come with Windows Xp, Business, or Ultimate
b] They want an anti-glare screen at higher resolutions

And people would choose the Inspiron if

A] They want a glossy screen
B] They want a fast hard drive
C] They want better sound options
D] They want Blu-Ray
E] They want a color choice

Build-wise, I think they are identical.

 

Ah, I found out that the inspiron's are shipping with the same (Model 355) bluetooth module as the Vostro, so cross off that difference.

 

You can also get home premium with the vostros, just call them up and they'll add it for 29 bucks.

 

Inspiron too has a strike zone, also, this review...
http://www.reviewpub.net/2007/07/inspiron-1420.html

Confirms that Inspirons indeed have a spill proof keyboards and a magnesium alloy chassis.

So basically there are no fundamental differences between Vostros and Inspirons.

I'd go with a Vostro though, I don't like the silver finish on the Inspirons.

 

I have theorised that the Vostro is basically where non-college students can shop and get the inspiron for the same price as the college students.....

my config was way cheaper then comparable inspiron...

only thing I wished was that I could get the 6-cell on the 1400 standard instead of heavier 9-cell. And, oh yeah, I think it's dumb that the 1400 cannot pre-load with XP

 

I asked if I could get a HDD with 7200rpm in a vostro, and seemed to be no problem, I got an offer with such a HDD

 

inspiron 1520 vs. vostro 1500?
same laptop, imho.

Seriously though, the Vostro 1500 may be slightly more sturdy (that seems to be the general opinion), but the 1520 is more than capable of handling stress as Cnet and user reviewers have pointed out.

the inspiron 1520 is slightly less pretty than the vostro (I like ALL black), but I went with the 1520 for the price difference.

 

Oddly enough, I am unable to find a review of the Vostro 1500. Since no one has one yet, it is not possible for the comparison you are pointing to. Please give us a URL.

 

I believe I only pointed to ONE 1520 review.
If i implied that i had access to a 1500 or information from someone who did, then I am truly sorry.

If you are reference my statement about the Vostro's build quality being better than the 1520, I made that statement because business laptops have a history of having better build quality than the mainstream notebooks (reference Dell latitude). Nothing has suggested that the Vostro will break this pattern.

I hope that explains my post, and I apologize for confusing you.

 

No, it sounded like you were saying that the Inspiron will take a beating better than the Vostro. What I was really hoping was that there was a review out there that I just could not find.

 

All I know is that my config with the 1500 is about $100 cheaper than the 1520, plus I think I get the wireless card, and sound audigy upgrade free. Plus, hardly any bloatware!!!!! Ill ask about the 7200 rpm HDD but Im scared to find out what itll cost me...

Also, the configuration was a more high-end one: T7300, 8600gt, etc. (just to dispell rumors that 1500 ugrades are more expensive)

 

build quality my ass. the vostro is a black painted inspiron that is titled a "small business" notebook. The vostro is only cheaper if you get low end specs, but other than that the inspiron is a better deal.

 

in Canada, vostro is cheaper with high-end specs...but seems different in the US

either way, just ordered my vostro 1500, t7300, 2gb, 160gb HDD at 5400rpm (stupid support couldnt upgrade me to 7200rpm), 256mb 8600M GT...woo hoo, hopefully fast enough to play games!

 

how much did that vostro cost you in USD?

 

Is there any way to get a vostro 1500 with a 7200rpm hard drive?

I might go inspiron just for that. :/

 

How much did yours cost you? You can get the vostro version of that for $1020 or so, but with 1 gig of ram. You can upgrade to two for another hundred something bucks or so, but I'd just do it myself for 50 bucks. And the 7200 rpm hard drive isn't offered from the site configurator, but some have talked to dell and gotten it installed.

 

in Canada they didnt allow me to add such an option...but my vostro with T7300, 2gb ram, 160gb HDD (5400rpm ) cost $1289 CDN before taxes...so probably about $150 less than that for the US (total guess lmao)

 

I dont think Vostro has all the configuration options available for the Inspiron thought it is cheaper (since it has an option to come with DOS)....

 

I don't see an option for DOS on any of the Vostro computers. I see XP home or pro and Vista home basic, business or ultimate.

 

Vostro 1500, I got a gaming laptop with 8400M GS, Core2Duo, 120GB, 2x512MB DDR2, 1440x900 LCD, bluetooth, webcam for $799 including tax and shipping. Great stuff. Inspirons are way over my budget.

I'd pay $90 to add 1GB, but $100 is the cost of potentially superior 2x1GB.

 

I tend to think that 1520 is a better deal than vostro, because its the same laptop, with the same build and properties but 1520 has more deals on it available. vostro is not even available thru EPP, where I got almost like 50% discount on my 1520. So, if you are a student or going thru EPP, 1520 is probably about $300-400 cheaper for the same high end config, and you get the same laptop with just silver color interior.

 

Here's a secreenshot of what I got on dell.co.in while customising the Vostro 1500

Actually there were two options when I choose Vostro1500 in the beginning one with Vista/XP and one with neither.... I chose the latter and so I was able to get this option...

 

Ah. In the US there is no DOS option. Okay.