Part of the new Vostro 3000 range, the Dell Vostro 3550 represents the smallest notebook of the series, with a 13 inch screen and weighing just over 2Kg. Can it keep up with the high standards set by the rest of the series?
What we like best
The Dell Vostro 3550’s design reflects the largest of the Vostro family, the new 3750.
Its edges are angular rather than rounded, the casing is kept in matt monochrome, the colours available are slightly more shiny versions of red, bronze and silver, and the swish chiclet keyboard (which doesn’t have a numeric keypad) is embedded in a matt black surface. The very stable metal hinges that keep the screen in place are also present.
This is the notebook most obviously targetted as the super-mobile, super-busy user who does not want to carry around a device weighing the equivalent of ten bricks and looking like the kind of ‘laptop’ you pick up at Toys R Us.
Connectivity is important to mobile businesspeople, and the Dell Vostro 3550 certainly shines in that respect. There are two USB 3.0 ports for super-fast data transfer, a HDMI output and a DVD drive (which can be replaced with a Blu-ray drive), all placed on the two sides rather than the rear of the laptop. WLAN 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 are also supported.
A real clincher is the strong anti-reflection in place with the screen – working outdoors should not be a problem at all.
The processor options range from entry-level (Intel Core i3) to expensive powerhouse (i7-2620M, 3.3GHz). A Vostro 3550 with a strong processor, along with the AMD Radeon HD 6470M, could even become a small gaming platform, albeit mainly for visually undemanding games.
What we like least
At 2Kg, the Dell Vostro 3550 is light but not as super-portable as other notebooks in its price range. This is in part due to the large 8-cell battery, which makes for an improved battery life but lowers portability.
Overall, the Dell Vostro 3550 is a very good proposition for businesspeople in need of a compact, powerful and well-designed mobile device. Dell are reliably churning out strong all-round business notebooks, and it’s a sign of great dedication when even the smallest model from a range is as impressive as the Dell Vostro 3550.
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Processor Speed
2.1GHz
Processor
Intel Core i3
RAM
Up to 2 Gb
Screen Size
15.6 inch
Graphics
1024 MB AMD Radeon HD6630M
Hard Drive Storage
Up to 250 Gb
Battery
6-cell Li-Ion
Multimedia
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
8-in-1 card reader
2 x integrated speakers
Webcam
Ports
1 x USB 2.0
1 x USB 2.0/eSATA
2 x USB 3.0
1 x HDMI
1 x VGA
Weight & Size
375.4mm (W) x 34.8mm (H) x 260.2mm (D)
2,47Kg
Connectivity
802.11a/b/g/n Wireless
Bluetooth 2.1 (optional)
Gigabit Ethernet (optional
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
The Dell Vostro 3550 forms part of Dell’s new 3000 series. With its 13 inch display, it is the series’ smallest notebook, but it is no midget when it comes to design (which it takes from the other laptops of the series) and performance.
The Dell Vostro 3550′s chiclet keyboard is responsive enough to allow touch-typing, but not overly sensitive as to increase typos. The essential ports are there, and both WLAN and Bluetooth 3.0 are supported.
Dell Vostro 3550
Users who work while on the go will most likely come across a scenario where they’ll have to work in surroundings exposed to sunlight. These users will find that the Dell Vostro 3550 is equipped with a very strong anti-reflection function, protecting them from unwanted reflections.
Two USB 3.0 ports allow speedy data transfer between the notebook and other devices.
To read more about the Dell Vostro 3550 and its features, check out the PC Site review here.
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