Dell Inspiron 545 Piano Black Desktop PC with 22-Inch HD Monitor (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This computer is a replacement for a relative's ancient Dell Dimensions system. I bought it and am setting it up for him. I personally have several Windows XP computers myself, 1 Vista, and 1 Snow Leopard (iMac), and I do know a lot about computers and networking, so this review will have those above thoughts in mind as I write it.
Positives:
* Monitor (5/5)
The supplied 22" has an exceptionally sharp screen, and I have no complaints about it at all. Perfect size, and works very well even at mid-range settings (I like 1920x1200, but lower resolutions are still sharp, unlike experiences I've had in the past with other computers & monitors).
* Windows 7 (5/5)
I can't find anything to complain about with 7. It is intuitive, and does everything I need easily and without having to jump through hoops. I was familiar with the earlier Windows releases, so there was basically no learning curve for me with 7. I am also a big Snow Leopard fan, but now with 7, in my mind they are pretty much equals.
* Box (5/5)
The piano black looks nice. I like that the DVD drive and the card reader slots are covered when not in use to keep dust at bay. It runs quiet, so that is much appreciated. I also prefer the Intel processor VS AMD, and like that it came with 6Mb RAM and a large hard drive.
* Keyboard (4/5)
The supplied keyboard is basic, and is a USB connection (not wireless). It works well, and is no frills. No complaints.
* Speakers (3/5)
The speakers are slimline, and very light. They won't get real loud, but are fine for basic needs. If you are planning on doing anything like watching movies frequently, you may consider upgrading them. Absolutely fine for everyday use though.
* Performance (5/5)
For my relative's needs (internet, email, youtube, etc), this is perfect. Video works great, and the speed of 7 is satisfactory. I did some benchmark testing, and the processor and drive score high, with the only downfall being the graphics ability. Nobody will notice that though, unless you are into hard core gaming.
* Amazon (5/5)!!!
The price is terrific, and is actually a much better deal than I could get from Dell directly (at least as of this writing, deals change all the time). Also very much appreciated the $3.99 1-day shipping! I'm a prime member so I could have had free 2-day shipping, but I wanted to make sure it was delivered when someone would be here so the 1-day worked out great.Negatives:
* Mouse (2/5)
The mouse is also a USB connection (not wireless), and is pretty cheap. It is optical and tracks fine, but just feels real cheap. I'll probably replace with a nicer wireless mouse.
* Dell supplied software (1/5)
The only real issue I'm having is the Dell supplied software crashes repeatedly. None of it is very useful, so I just disabled it and all is well. Please note that this is NOT a Windows 7 issue, but an issue with the Dell utilities software itself. I suspect they will have updates that will fix it, but for now, it liked to crash, so I just disabled it. I also uninstalled the supplied anti-virus software and installed one I like better that is free, but that is just a personal choice.Overall:
I am very pleased with this computer! The hardware (except for the mouse) is better than expected, especially the monitor. I would recommend this setup without hesitation, especially for those that are mainly going to do emails & internet. This is a stellar deal as well, and I feel you get a lot for the money.
Thanks for reading.UPDATE 11/29/09: I did purchase the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro keyboard and mouse set to replace the supplied Dell ones for this system. This was a fantastic upgrade! I highly recommend the Wave Pro setup. It integrates well with Windows 7, and has dedicated keys on the mouse and keyboard for Aero among other things. With this mouse and keyboard, I like the system even better.


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The Inspiron 545 desktop is optimized to provide the entertainment features you need for a price you want. Watch your screen come to life with the integrated Integrated Intel Media Accelerator 3100 graphics with optional ATI discrete graphics that further maximize your viewing experience. Quickly transfer your digital photos and music from your digital camera with the 19-in-1 media card reader. Immerse yourself into a cinematic experience by connecting to your 22-Inch HD monitor or TV with the HDMI port.Dell USB keyboard and mouse included.Included software: McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days; Microsoft Works.

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DELL UltraSharp 2209WA 22 Inch Black Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the Dell 2209WA to replace my Hanns-G 199N 19" standard flatscreen. I create fantasy art using Photoshop and I need accurate color across the whole screen. The Hanns-G was an excellent monitor that displayed much like an HP LP1965, and I needed that same quality in a widescreen.
As a general rule of thumb, you get a TN panel for gaming because of the ultra refresh rate; you get an MVA panel for movies because of the truer blacks, and you get an IPS panel for graphics and art because of the consistent color. It turns out that the 2209WA's e-IPS panel (which is the budget version of IPS) is very close in quality to my excellent Hanns-G and the HP. The colors are rich and complex right out of the box. The one aspect that I can't match to my old monitor is the native contrast (I've never tried color calibration because my audience doesn't use it). I turned the brightness way, way down and the contrast to about 70, but the highlights in my paintings are still a little too bright. This is negligible though, and the color itself is excellent. Considering the price of any other 22" widescreen IPS monitor, I'm more than willing to live with a variance that only my eye will notice. BTW - I'm using the DVI connection.
I'm not a gamer, so I can't speak to the refresh rate or ghosting. You're on your own there.
Important note: this is a 16:10 ratio monitor, which means the widescreen dimensions are designed for computer use rather than watching movies. If you want to watch DVDs on your PC without a black stripe at the top and bottom, get a 16:9 ratio monitor. Also, this monitor has a matte screen to eliminate glare. This is critical for an artist or anyone serious about viewing art, but if you're used to a glossy, vibrant screen it'll seem drab.
The height of the display on this monitor is just a fraction less than the height of a regular 19" monitor. So if you're upgrading from a 19" standard flatscreen like I did, your eyes won't notice any vertical difference. You're basically taking a standard 19" and extending it into a widescreen.
Construction seems to be high quality, particularly the stand which adjusts via spring calibrated to the weight of the monitor itself. This works really nicely, and the stand installs and removes elegantly. The control panel is intuitive to me so no issues there. And I'm very pleased that this monitor doesn't pretend to have speakers. I also won't use the USB ports, but it has `em if you want `em.
My 2209WA arrived with no dead pixels, no backlight bleedthrough whatsoever, and no display irregularities. Very, very nice. I highly recommend, especially for serious digital artists on a budget.
Final notes: be sure when you purchase that you don't confuse this with the 2209W, which is NOT the same thing. If you want the e-IPS panel, you must get the WA model. And look for a sale. This can sometimes be found for under $300.


Click Here to see more reviews about: DELL UltraSharp 2209WA 22 Inch Black Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor

The UltraSharpTM 2209WA 22-inch Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor from DellTM is a brilliant choice when you need exceptional clarity and vibrant color. Featuring a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 300 cd/m² brightness, the monitor boasts excellent color accuracy and uniformity. Additionally, a resolution of up to 1680x1050 pixels provides quality entertainment and an exhilarating multimedia experience. Moreover, you can enjoy accurate color representation for engaging gaming, video and photo viewing with the TrueColorTM for better color representation resulting in deeper, more vibrant reds, greens and blues. The 2209WA features a response time of 5 ms that helps prevent smearing and ghosting, whether you are playing a game or watching the latest swash-buckling thriller! In addition, the analog and DVI-D connectors with HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection) help ensure high quality image of protected high-definition content while the USB 2.0 high speed ports allow easy access to connect peripheral devices such as cameras, USB keys or mouse. Dell branded monitors undergo exhaustive testing for performance, reliability, durability and compatibility with Dell systems. This monitor is supported by Dell Technical Support when used with a Dell system.

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