| The Dell Vostro 1500 is the small business | | | | and I frequently have trouble getting them to |
| equivalent of the Inspiron 1520. This computer, | | | | activate regardless of their setting. Large-handed |
| starting at less than $600, can be configured with | | | | users beware: I often find the edge of my palm |
| anywhere from a Celeron M540 processor to a | | | | rests or taps the touchpad on occasion, causing |
| much faster Core 2 Duo 7500. Unlike the Inspiron | | | | clicks where they weren’t intended. The large |
| model, an AMD option is unavailable. | | | | buttons placed below the touch pad are suitably |
| | | | | sized, though they are mushy as with the older |
| Configuration:? (Total: $877) | | | | Inspiron computers. There’s no satisfying click |
| - Intel Core 2 Duo T5470 (1.6Ghz) | | | | as there is with some touchpad buttons. |
| - 1GB 677Mhz DDR2 SDRAM | | | | Input and Output Ports: |
| - 120G 5400RPM Hard Drive | | | | This computer features a host of ports, though |
| - nVidia GeForce 8600M GT, 256MB | | | | surprisingly it lacks a DVI-out port as may be |
| - 8x DVD Burner with Double Layer capability | | | | expected. The VGA port is located on the right |
| - 15.4” widescreen anti-glare screen | | | | hand side of the system. Dell designed this |
| (1280x800) | | | | system to have 4 USB 2.0 ports, two on the |
| - Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + | | | | back next to the power plug, and two on the side |
| Enhanced Data Rate) | | | | next to the Ethernet port. Also featured are an |
| - Dell Wireless 1505 Mini-Card (Pre-802.11n) | | | | IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port on the same side as the |
| - 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery | | | | VGA plug, 10/100 Ethernet port, and the CD |
| - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic | | | | drive. The system also has an 8-in-1 memory |
| Note: Since this machine was purchased, Dell has | | | | card reader, which can read: SD, xD, MMC, SDIO, |
| increased the price of this computer. | | | | Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Hi Speed-SD, |
| Upon unpacking the Vostro 1500 and first handling | | | | and Hi Density-SD. In contrast to the heavily |
| it, I was rather impressed by the build. Upon | | | | utilized right side, the left side of the case |
| picking up the system, it’s clear the computer | | | | features few ports. There is a microphone jack, a |
| is very sturdy and will hold up over time. | | | | headphone/speaker jack, and an Express Card |
| Unfortunately, the side effect of this build quality | | | | slot. The back is also fairly unused, with nothing |
| is the heaviness and size. This machine is a beast. | | | | but the power input, an S-Video output (notably |
| I make a note of handing it to people and | | | | also supporting several adapters Dell will sell you |
| watching their reaction. Everyone is shocked by | | | | for component video and the like), and the two |
| the sheer weight of this machine. | | | | USB ports I noted earlier. |
| Build/Design | | | | Wireless: |
| The design of this system is rather spartan, but | | | | I opted for my computer to use the Dell Wireless |
| also very professional with the solid black styling. | | | | 1505 , which features pre-N functionality. The |
| It’s not flashy like a high-end gaming laptop | | | | wireless range on this card is fairly average, and it |
| would be, but it doesn’t look bad to my eyes. | | | | connects to most networks with ease. However, |
| The LEDs have a nice saturated blue color, though | | | | it’s important to note that this card does not |
| was inconsistent in the styling. Several lights, | | | | communicate with all wireless routers without a |
| including the battery level LEDs, the CD drive LED, | | | | fight. My recommendation, for compatibility, is the |
| dell vostro 1500 battery and the “Wi-Fi | | | | Intel Wireless card instead of the Dell wireless. It |
| Catcher” LED are green. In addition, the low | | | | seems to be more compatible according to what |
| battery light is an odd shade of hot pink, which | | | | I have read (the lower-end Dell cards also seem |
| fits with nothing else in the system. While this is | | | | to have the same connection problems). I do, |
| by no means a major functional concern, I would | | | | however, like the wireless switch on the left-hand |
| have preferred the colors to be more consistent. | | | | side of the notebook. This switch allows control |
| I also dislike the hot pink color the battery light | | | | (configurable via the Dell software in Windows or |
| turns when the battery reaches a low level. | | | | through the BIOS) of the system’s internal |
| The build of this system, as noted above, is very | | | | wireless cards, including, if installed, Bluetooth, |
| good. The back of the screen and bottom of the | | | | 802.11X, and any WWAN cards. This switch has |
| case appear to be a fairly thick magnesium alloy, | | | | three options: On, off, and a third, momentary |
| which is solid, but has the side effect of adding a | | | | switch, dubbed “Wi-fi Catcher.” This |
| lot of weight. My configuration, without the | | | | technology, if used while the system is off, will |
| battery, is 6.2 pounds. The battery is 1.1 pounds, | | | | turn a small LED green if a wireless network is |
| as is the charger. In total, the system carrying | | | | detected in range of the system within around |
| weight is 8.4 pounds. Clearly, this computer is not | | | | five seconds. If used from within Windows when |
| designed to move very far. When I pushed | | | | the Dell software is installed, a window will |
| around the casing, the only places that gave were | | | | instantly pop up with all the wireless networks in |
| in the largest areas of the palm rest, and then | | | | range. While it sounds pointless, considering a |
| only a little bit. The keyboard has no discernable | | | | similar feature is available through Windows, the |
| give. I was disappointed, as I was with the | | | | Wi-Fi Catcher is considerably faster. |
| Inspiron 1501 vgp-bps8 battery , with the Express | | | | Battery: |
| Card release button. In the out position, it’s | | | | I opted for the 9-cell extended life battery on the |
| extremely difficult to push back in for those of us | | | | notebook. This battery extends about |
| with chubby fingers. | | | | three-fourths of an inch past the edge of the |
| The build of the screen is a not quite as good as | | | | computer, and spans nearly the entire back. On |
| the rest of the notebook. Neither twisting nor | | | | the underside of the battery are 5 LEDs and a |
| pushing on the back of the screen yielded any | | | | button which, if pushed, illuminates the LEDs to |
| rippling. However, the screen itself is relatively | | | | indicate battery charge remaining (20% per LED). |
| easy to twist, and squeaks when twisted. Pushing | | | | I tested the battery life by instructing the |
| on the top of the screen yields only a small | | | | computer to standby when the battery got to |
| amount of wobbling, but not enough to be a | | | | 2% and to not shut down anything on inactivity. |
| problem in my opinion. As noted in reviews of the | | | | On full brightness, while connected to a wireless |
| Inspiron 1520/1521, the screen latches leave a | | | | access point and watching a DVD, I managed to |
| slight amount of room between the rubber pads | | | | squeeze 3 hours and 20 minutes out of the |
| on the screen and the palm rests, about the | | | | battery before it abruptly went into standby. This |
| thickness of a dime. This is enough to wiggle a bit | | | | seems adequate for most purposes, and it is |
| and make some noise if it’s closed and it gets | | | | likely that with lower power consumption (Word |
| jostled. | | | | processing on low screen brightness with no |
| Screen: | | | | wireless, for example) would yield above four |
| The screen on the Vostro 1500 is relatively | | | | hours, a reasonable amount of time for a desktop |
| ordinary. I opted for the anti-glare 1280x800, | | | | replacement machine. Don’t expect it to be a |
| 15.4” resolution model. The vertical field of | | | | road warrior. If you need the extra battery life, |
| view on this screen can be described as poor at | | | | Dell offers a battery that replaces the optical |
| best, and I frequently find myself adjusting the tilt | | | | drive. |
| of the screen to match the way I’m sitting. | | | | Operating System and Software: |
| The horizontal field of view is considerably better | | | | The Dell Vostro 1500 comes with only two CDs: |
| than the vertical, and I have no complaints. Even | | | | One to reinstall the Dell MediaDirect feature and |
| looking closely at the screen, I am unable to | | | | the other is a driver CD, including both XP and |
| distinguish the “Dell noise” that some | | | | Vista drivers. No operating system reinstall disk is |
| other reviewers have described. What does | | | | included, much to my dismay. The Dell MediaDirect |
| bother me, however, is this screen’s ability to | | | | install disk appears to be only for Vista, if Vista |
| attract dust. Cleaning the screen is an ordeal that | | | | was the chosen operating system. More on this in |
| has to be done frequently to remove the dust | | | | a moment. |
| from the screen. I do not know if the glossy | | | | My system came preconfigured with Windows |
| screen would improve this or not. | | | | Vista Home Basic. After a day with Vista, I |
| In the screen’s defense, it is rather bright | | | | decided I preferred Windows XP, and promptly |
| when put on full brightness, and colors seem | | | | began to install the older operating system. This |
| adequately saturated and accurate to my eye. | | | | process, which in the past has taken around an |
| The light leaks are relatively minor on this | | | | hour, took 10 hours to do. My attempts were |
| computer and are only noticeable on a completely | | | | plagued by the Dell MediaDirect software. |
| black screen, and then only on the top and | | | | MediaDirect, for those not familiar, is a |
| bottom. | | | | quick-booting Linux operating system accessed |
| Speakers: | | | | using a small ‘home’ button near the |
| As can be expected of most laptops in this price | | | | power button. It allows one to watch movies, |
| range, the speakers are nothing spectacular. | | | | read documents, listen to music, look at pictures, |
| There is an excess of sound in the 4K range, and | | | | and a few other things. According to the |
| not nearly enough in the lower-end range, causing | | | | instructions packaged with the disk, the |
| very tinny sounding speakers. I would recommend | | | | MediaDirect disk is to be installed first, then the |
| using an equalizer if you intend to listen to music | | | | operating system is to be installed in the empty |
| on this computer. As an example, the following | | | | partition MediaDirect leaves. I did this. Several |
| screenshot shows my iTunes EQ settings. | | | | times. As it turns out, Dell did not intend to leave |
| Fortunately, these speakers do get rather loud, | | | | a downgrade path. When I tried invoking |
| and due to the position on the underside of the | | | | MediaDirect, the first few times it didn’t install |
| computer, they don’t get muffled by hands. | | | | properly. When it finally did, it set itself up then |
| PCMark 2005 is a synthetic benchmark that tests | | | | told me it couldn’t access the information on |
| all areas of system performance. The Vostro | | | | the hard drive. Upon restarting the system, it |
| 1500 was, however, unable to complete this test. | | | | became apparent that MediaDirect was going to |
| I am uncertain why, but it seemed worthy of | | | | be a problem. It went through its “unable to |
| note. | | | | access the hard drive” routine again- I was |
| Unfortunately, the stock 5400RPM hard drive | | | | stuck out of Windows. Eventually, my solution |
| doesn’t always cut it. Since I now use this | | | | was to install Windows without MediaDirect and |
| computer as my standard gaming computer, | | | | simply not press the MediaDirect button. |
| I’ve loaded games onto it. What I’ve | | | | The software on the Vostro is surprisingly free of |
| discovered is that with some games, Battlefield 2 | | | | bloatware, as is advertised on the website. I |
| in particular, the hard drive loads everything slowly | | | | requested my system without security software, |
| enough that by the time I have loaded the game, | | | | and it came exactly as I wanted it: A clean slate. |
| the match is half over. If you’re intending to | | | | This was a very welcome relief after some |
| use this computer for gaming and you have the | | | | systems I’ve worked with that take hours to |
| money, spend the extra on the 7200RPM hard | | | | uninstall the bundled software. |
| drive.? If you intend to use it solely for less hard | | | | The Dell configuration software is relatively |
| drive-intensive applications, the 5400RPM drive will | | | | spartan and pales in comparison to the |
| be fine. | | | | configuration software available in systems |
| HD Tune is a basic hard drive benchmark that | | | | manufactured by some other companies, |
| tests the transfer rate and access speed of the | | | | particularly Toshiba. There are a few power |
| hard drive. As is evident, this hard drive sets no | | | | setting options, a configuration tool for the Wi-Fi |
| performance records, and the transfer rate is | | | | Catcher, some basic screen settings, and |
| inconsistent. | | | | that’s all that’s included. There is no |
| Keyboard and Touchpad: | | | | option to slow down the CPU to improve battery |
| The keyboard and touchpad of the Vostro 1500 | | | | life that was visible to me. |
| lenovo v100 battery are both very sturdy and | | | | Customer Support: |
| without flex. The keyboard, as with all laptop | | | | Several weeks after receiving the laptop, the |
| keyboards, takes some adjustment to learn the | | | | ‘a’ key on the keyboard began dropping |
| unique positioning of the keys. I am a huge fan of | | | | keypresses seemingly randomly. I contacted Dell |
| the way Dell laid out this machine’s keyboard. | | | | technical support on a Sunday evening with my |
| The function key, as seen in pictures, is placed | | | | problem. They asked for an address and by |
| just to the right of the control key, and is the | | | | Tuesday morning, the new keyboard was at my |
| same size as the Windows key (I have on | | | | doorstep. It was a self-install keyboard, which was |
| occasion pressed the Windows key instead of the | | | | easy due to the instructions in the substantial |
| function key). The delete key is positioned in the | | | | manual. When I was done, I put the old keyboard |
| upper right corner, and it’s probably the most | | | | back in the box that was shipped to me and used |
| natural spot it can go. It’s out of the way | | | | the included return label to ship the old keyboard |
| enough not to be accidental, and it’s easy to | | | | to Dell. (If you don’t do this, they invoice you |
| find.? Function keys are fairly standard, and include | | | | for the replacement keyboard). |
| F1 for sleep/hibernate, F3 for battery status | | | | On the note of the manual, it is impressive by |
| (Which requires installed Dell software to operate), | | | | today’s standards. It’s 222 pages long |
| F8 to switch monitors, and the up/down arrow | | | | and covers everything that a basic user could |
| keys for monitor brightness. One gripe I have is | | | | likely need. In the second half of the book is the |
| that the numpad not only requires numlock to be | | | | shortened service manual, which includes how to |
| on, but the function key must also be held down | | | | remove and install the hard drive, memory, |
| while using it. I also had a key stop working | | | | keyboard, and wireless cards. For me, having the |
| properly for a while. I will explain in the customer | | | | printed copy was a nice touch. |
| support section. | | | | Conclusion: |
| The touchpad is not as good as the keyboard. | | | | |
| Dell chose to move down the keyboard in this line | | | | The is a moderately powerful and relatively |
| of computers, which, while it makes it more | | | | inexpensive system for businesses and home |
| attractive and better laid out, shrinks the | | | | users alike. Its good build quality and good |
| touchpad significantly vertically. By my own | | | | configuration options allow it to be an excellent |
| measurements, it’s 3” wide by 1.5” tall | | | | and versatile machine for many different |
| -- certainly usable, but far too short for my | | | | applications. Despite some design flaws, the |
| tastes. The scroll zones at the top and bottom | | | | Vostro 1500 is still an excellent machine. |
| are also difficult to adjust properly using software, | | | | |