Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I've owned several laptops and would be considered an intermediate to advanced computer user. I've built my own desktops, tweaked a few laptops and owned various brands of laptops including HP, Fujitsu, Sony and Dell (Inspiron, Latitude and XPS series).
I purchased this laptop directly from Dell (got a better deal than current Amazon pricing) based upon Consumer Report's November 2009 article recommendations where the Dell Inspiron 1545 was rated a 'Best Buy' for every day computing. I purchased it for my husband who will use it primarily for watching an occasional movie from Netflix streaming wirelessly on our home network, emailing to share jokes and videos with his friends, and browsing the Internet.
After setting it up, which other than running into a snag with my home network was a breeze, and playing with it for about an hour, these are my impressions. Yes, there are more 'cons' than pros in this review, but the bottom line found when you ask yourself 'What do I need?' and buy accordingly.
The PROS:
+ Adequate hard drive for storing photos, videos and music.
+ Good speakers! Better than those on my Dell XPS, for which I paid 30% more less than a year ago.
+ 3 usb ports
+ Bright 15.6" display; nice size. I sometimes find the 13" on the XPS too small and the Fujitsu had a 17" which is fine for a desktop replacement but really adds weight to the overall unit.
+ Virtually silent running. No fan noise to speak of and yet...
+ Stays cool to the touch! Not worried about overheating on this one. '
+ 7 in 1 media reader.
The CONS:
- No HDMI ports.
- No wireless 'n' network capable card. Has a card that will do 'b or g' speeds.
- Windows Vista versus the new Windows 7.
- Keyboard is OK, but not as responsive as some others I've used.
- The touchpad seems a tad small and the buttons (left/right click) seem too low by comparison to the keyboard. It could be the size of my hands (small...) but I tend to think it's just the layout.
- The high gloss finish inside and the glossy display (versus matte finish) look cool, but do show fingerprints and reflect light to the point of sometimes being a nuisance.
- There is no 'media only' button like on the XPS where you don't have to turn on the computer to watch a movie, but this is something that higher end laptops would have and may simply be a perk to paying more.
- Heavier than some others, but at under six pounds, it's still not too bad.
- Matte finish on the outside shows greasy smudges where you've touched it. I have the same issue with my XPS, but frankly I've never found a finish that doesn't show something.
- Not a multi-media or gaming powerhouse. It will play dvd's and games, but if you're buying a laptop and really into those things, spend a bit more and make sure you upgrade your video and audio to support your interests. The 4GB of memory really helps as much as anything and I didn't notice any issues with the media I tested.
SET-UP:
Open the box, charge the unit and follow the prompts to get started. You will want to have your home network settings (security code) available to you for ease of set-up, and perhaps a USB flashdrive with your email contacts, favorites, photos and documents available for transfer from another computer, although you can do that via the home network in Windows too.
BATTERY LIFE:
Battery life seems to be about 3.5 hours. I think the 4+ hour estimate is high, but that undoubtedly is also based upon what things you are doing on the laptop and mobile power settings.
CONCLUSION:
If you purchase this Dell you are getting a solid workhorse for every day computing for a fair price. I think it's quality is certainly higher than an Acer with the same specs, and backed by a 1 year warranty from Dell. (Having had a Dell laptop that needed the keyboard replaced recently, I truly think the warranty service provided by Dell - they came to my house the next day - is exceptional and worth the small price hike over some other brands.)
The Dell Inspiron 1545 is great for a student or grandparent who wants to keep up with emailing and basic computing tasks. Regarding this specific model, if it had a webcam and Windows 7, it would be better (there are other 1545 models that have them...), but it will never be a multi-media powerhouse. If looking for HDMI inputs or a fast graphics card for gaming, look elsewhere.
WIRELESS NOTE: If you are having trouble connecting to a wireless network, be sure you check the included 'set-up guide', page 10, to find the wireless key on your keyboard. You can inadvertently press this key and turn off your wireless capabilities. Handy on airplanes... not so handy at home.
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Dell Inspiron 15 (1545) Midnight Blue Laptop Notebook PC: Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 (2.0GHz /800Mhz FSB/1MB cache), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive (5400) , 15.6 WXGA Laptop Screen Display with TrueLife, 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer, Genuine Windows Vista Home PremiumAudio and Speakers: Intel High Definition Audio 2.0 , (3) USB 2.0 compliant 4-pin ports, 15-pin VGA video connector, Integrated network connector 10/100 LAN (RJ45), AC adapter connector, Audio jacks (1-line out, 1 Mic-in), 34 mm ExpressCard slot, 7-in-1 Media Card Reader
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