Every now and again a product comes along that seems to tick all the boxes. It doesn’t happen often but when it does it deserves recognition.
It has been done with the Dell Inspiron 15 by the manufacturer managing to get all the simple things right and deliver a laptop that combines performance, design and affordability. This classic laptop has recently received a revamp, and although the price has been raised, you get a lot more for your money.
What we like best
The latest edition of the Dell Inspiron 15 comes with up to an Intel Pentium Dual Core T4500, 4 Gb RAM, a 320 Gb hard drive, Genuine Windows 7 and some pretty attractive minimalist design features.
The keyboard is made up of black matte keys that are nicely spaced together and perfectly comfortable to type on over the course of two hours. The screen is a 15.6 inch glossy panel Hi-Def widescreen that comes with Dell’s TrueLife technology, delivering a perfectly crisp and attractive picture quality.
Sound on the Dell Inspiron 15 is pretty impressive, which along with the looks and price are bound to make this an instant hit with music and movie lovers. Believe me you get a lot of speaker for your money with this PC.
If you wish to make a statement you can also change the colour from black to one of six bright colours!
What we like least
Unfortunately at its entry level, the Dell Inspiron 15 does not offer that much in terms of graphics, memory or processor. In order to get the very best out of the machine you will need to add upgrades, which tend to increase your bill quite a bit.
The standard model would be fine for light use, but not as a work laptop, or for gamers.
The Dell Inspiron 15 also falls down on battery life; its 6-cell battery only lasts around two hours during video playback. You can upgrade, but this will cost you, and will make the laptop much heavier.
The beauty of the Dell Inspiron 15 is that it is a great basis for those who wish to customise their laptop. The basic model has some great features and upgrades – though they may be expensive – and allow users to improve on the components which they will need.
Today's best deal
Processor Speed
NA
Processor
Up to Intel Pentium Dual Core T4500
RAM
Up to 4 Gb DDR3 SDRAM
Screen Size
15.6 inch
Graphics
Integrated GMA 4500 MHD
Hard Drive Storage
Up to 320 Gb Serial ATA 5400 RPM Hard Drive
Battery
6-cell 48 WHr Li-Ion
Multimedia
Dell Audio - 2 1 watt speakers
Tray Load DVD+/-RW with Dual Layer DVD+R write capability
Integrated 0.3MP webcam with microphone
3-in-1 Media Card Reader
Ports
Three USB 2.0 ports
15-pin VGA video connect
Audio jacks (1-line out and 1 Mic-in)
Weight & Size
378mm (W) x 37.7mm (H) x 245mm (D)
2.733 kg (with 6-cell battery)
Connectivity
'Dell Wireless 1501 802.11b/g Half Mini Card (optional)
Atheros Wireless-N 802.11n Mini-Card (standard)
Integrated network connector 10/100 LAN (RJ45)'
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Students looking for a solid, no frills, powerful model for the new academic year would do well to study the Dell Inspiron 1545 for a moment or two. It’s not as flash and it does not have the range of accessories as the Dell XPS range – but for a much more affordable price, with the Inspiron 1545 you won’t be doing badly.
The Inspiron 1545 is driven along by a 2.2GHz Intel processor which will allow you to run all of the top software packages quickly and extensively. A 500Gb hard drive will provide ample room for all of your latest files, music and photos and there are numerous ports which ensure the model is flexible too.
But by far the best thing about the Dell Inspiron 1545 is its price. Dell has long specialised in laptops that perform admirably without breaking the bank. For a student with a long list of outgoings, a few pounds can be saved by investing in the Dell Inspiron 1545, a worthy laptop computer.
"I've been using one of these with an i5 and 500GB memory it works very well as a lounge laptop and I can get through my work quickly with it to - very satisfied with it."
Elliott Hadaway 14 February 2012
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