Looking at a Dell Inspiron 15

petemc · 15-08-2011, 22:11

So the girlfriend needs a new laptop. I'm an Apple guy so I'm quite out of touch with modern PC's. I normally just go to the Apple store and buy the mid-range computer.

I've seen a Dell Inspiron 15 for £287 on Asda Direct. It's an Intel Pentium T4500 dual core cpu. WLED display. 3gb ram, 320gb drive etc.

Main uses are browsing and editing photos in Lightroom.

It looks alright, but it's got 3/5 stars on the Dell website. Plenty of complaints. I hate buying things online as its so easy for people to complain. For the price I doubt I'd find a nicer machine, looks and performance wise. I've been searching the forum and there does seem to be a lot of love for Dell.

Yay or nay?

Mark · 16-08-2011, 00:39

The T4500 CPU is towards the low end of the range (1MB cache gives the game away), which probably sets the scene for the rest of the laptop. Nothing at all wrong with that as a browser (I got an even lower spec part) but might not be as happy with something demanding (which I suspect will probably include Lightroom).

If you're chucking lots of big RAW files around you'll probably want to look for something a little higher up the range if you can afford to do it.

petemc · 16-08-2011, 09:43

Found this on Hotukdeals.

Dell Vostro 15.6 3550 Sandybridge i3-2310m £358 or **£328 after quidco**

Intel® Core™ i3-2310M 2.1GHz
2gb ram
Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator HD

Mark · 16-08-2011, 21:48

Well, it's slightly lower core speed made up for by faster RAM (handy for those RAW files). Plus if Lightroom is in any way multi-threaded it'll benefit some. Memory is less but almost certainly upgradeable if you need to.

Intel GMA is, as usual, somewhat underwhelming, but is par for the course at that price. Discrete (faster) graphics is an option on that laptop but at a price. One thing I did spot is the low-ish resolution of 1366 x 768. That might be an issue for photo editing, but I'll leave you to decide on that (you can always plug in a monitor if you need more real estate).

Otherwise, that looks like a better deal to me, but I'll defer to others in case I missed something.

petemc · 17-08-2011, 10:09

She's only a casual photographer and the display is the same as the Compaq CQ60 so I think that'll be ok.

As a geek it's hard to find a decent computer around the £300-350 mark as I keep thinking about geeky things. My girlfriend, I'm sure, will be happy with a machine that simply doesn't feel slow and is good value for money. She's currently using my 2006 C2D Macbook Pro, so anything that's faster than that will do.

As long as it's got a solid cpu I can upgrade the ram and hd to ssd at a later date.

LeperousDust · 17-08-2011, 14:51

Intel GMA graphics with sandybridge are VERY good, they've come on a long way...

I have my little HP with last tech i3 here but includes AMD 5470HD which are technically discreet but actually barely a performance increase over the sandybridge GMA.

Seems like a decent buy pete, cheap dells are that, cheap and reliable, it's like buys a corsa or fiesta, because deep down you know there are so many out there things are easily replaceable... ****ing steer clear of the top end Dell and XPS line i've been nothing but burnt by them continually since 2007! I've since given up

HP Probook 3420 on HUKD's for £299 after HP cashback, for the money i don't know better...

petemc · 17-08-2011, 15:09

Probook 4320s looks alright but its a 13'' screen. Think I'll stick with the Dell

petemc · 18-08-2011, 21:02

Just got a little tricky. She really wants the laptop to have a numpad built in. Not one you press num-lock and use the letters as numbers, a proper full sized keyboard with numpad.

The Dell Vostro 3550 doesn't have that.

This Samsung RV511 does, and looks quite swish. Oh and has £50 cash back that started yesterday. I think that's a winner.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-15-6...3697551&sr=1-3

Finding it hard to find something I trust as I haven't bought anything PC based for years.

Oooh Sainsburys have an even better spec. http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...LAID=867853246

Ah nuts. The Sainsburys is the NP-RV511-A06 which is £379 and you can't get £50 cash back. The Amazon is £379, bit lower spec but £50 cash back.

Del Lardo · 18-08-2011, 21:26

Another option.....

petemc · 18-08-2011, 21:39

I offered her that option, she didn't like it

The more I look into this Samsung with £50 cash back the more I like it over the Dell.

15-08-2011, 22:11	#1
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Looking at a Dell Inspiron 15 So the girlfriend needs a new laptop. I'm an Apple guy so I'm quite out of touch with modern PC's. I normally just go to the Apple store and buy the mid-range computer. I've seen a Dell Inspiron 15 for £287 on Asda Direct. It's an Intel Pentium T4500 dual core cpu. WLED display. 3gb ram, 320gb drive etc. Main uses are browsing and editing photos in Lightroom. It looks alright, but it's got 3/5 stars on the Dell website. Plenty of complaints. I hate buying things online as its so easy for people to complain. For the price I doubt I'd find a nicer machine, looks and performance wise. I've been searching the forum and there does seem to be a lot of love for Dell. Yay or nay? __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

16-08-2011, 09:43	#3
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Found this on Hotukdeals. Dell Vostro 15.6 3550 Sandybridge i3-2310m £358 or £328 after quidco Intel® Core™ i3-2310M 2.1GHz 2gb ram Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator HD __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

17-08-2011, 10:09	#5
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	She's only a casual photographer and the display is the same as the Compaq CQ60 so I think that'll be ok. As a geek it's hard to find a decent computer around the £300-350 mark as I keep thinking about geeky things. My girlfriend, I'm sure, will be happy with a machine that simply doesn't feel slow and is good value for money. She's currently using my 2006 C2D Macbook Pro, so anything that's faster than that will do. As long as it's got a solid cpu I can upgrade the ram and hd to ssd at a later date. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

17-08-2011, 14:51	#6
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Intel GMA graphics with sandybridge are VERY good, they've come on a long way... I have my little HP with last tech i3 here but includes AMD 5470HD which are technically discreet but actually barely a performance increase over the sandybridge GMA. Seems like a decent buy pete, cheap dells are that, cheap and reliable, it's like buys a corsa or fiesta, because deep down you know there are so many out there things are easily replaceable... ****ing steer clear of the top end Dell and XPS line i've been nothing but burnt by them continually since 2007! I've since given up HP Probook 3420 on HUKD's for £299 after HP cashback, for the money i don't know better... __________________

17-08-2011, 15:09	#7
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Probook 4320s looks alright but its a 13'' screen. Think I'll stick with the Dell __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

16-08-2011, 00:39	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	The T4500 CPU is towards the low end of the range (1MB cache gives the game away), which probably sets the scene for the rest of the laptop. Nothing at all wrong with that as a browser (I got an even lower spec part) but might not be as happy with something demanding (which I suspect will probably include Lightroom). If you're chucking lots of big RAW files around you'll probably want to look for something a little higher up the range if you can afford to do it.

16-08-2011, 21:48	#4
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Well, it's slightly lower core speed made up for by faster RAM (handy for those RAW files). Plus if Lightroom is in any way multi-threaded it'll benefit some. Memory is less but almost certainly upgradeable if you need to. Intel GMA is, as usual, somewhat underwhelming, but is par for the course at that price. Discrete (faster) graphics is an option on that laptop but at a price. One thing I did spot is the low-ish resolution of 1366 x 768. That might be an issue for photo editing, but I'll leave you to decide on that (you can always plug in a monitor if you need more real estate). Otherwise, that looks like a better deal to me, but I'll defer to others in case I missed something.

18-08-2011, 21:02	#8
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Just got a little tricky. She really wants the laptop to have a numpad built in. Not one you press num-lock and use the letters as numbers, a proper full sized keyboard with numpad. The Dell Vostro 3550 doesn't have that. This Samsung RV511 does, and looks quite swish. Oh and has £50 cash back that started yesterday. I think that's a winner. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-15-6...3697551&sr=1-3 Finding it hard to find something I trust as I haven't bought anything PC based for years. Oooh Sainsburys have an even better spec. http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...LAID=867853246 Ah nuts. The Sainsburys is the NP-RV511-A06 which is £379 and you can't get £50 cash back. The Amazon is £379, bit lower spec but £50 cash back. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station! Last edited by petemc; 18-08-2011 at 21:26.

18-08-2011, 21:26	#9
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	Another option.....

18-08-2011, 21:39	#10
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	I offered her that option, she didn't like it The more I look into this Samsung with £50 cash back the more I like it over the Dell. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!