Dude, you're getting a Dell

[GeronimusClone]

Dell has a decent sale going on at their Web site. Was wondering if anyone has the Inspiron 1525 or any recommendations. I would just be using it for surfing Web, word documents, no gaming or anything like that.
Dell 15-inch Laptop Deals

 

[cyfanatic]

Remember that "dude" guy...didn't he get busted for weed? Nice career move...

 

[cycloneG]

It should be fine for what you're doing.

 

[GeronimusClone]

It should be fine for what you're doing.

$500 a good price? Couldn't get it anywhere cheaper?

 

[dmclone]

I've become more interested in those micro laptops. The other thing to consider is that these have Vista. If you wait a few months Microsoft is going to start offering a free upgrade from Vista to 7 if you buy new. At least that's what I've heard.

 

[dmclone]

Also, buy the biggest battery you an get. From my experience if they say they will run for 5 hours on battery power that means about 30 minutes.

 

[isucyfan]

Also, buy the biggest battery you an get. From my experience if they say they will run for 5 hours on battery power that means about 30 minutes.

I second this. I bought what I think was the biggest one they offered for my Inspiron 1520, and it lasts maybe two hours, much less if you're doing something graphics-intensive.

One downside: The big battery juts out the back maybe a half-inch, which is kind of a pain.

 

[jumbopackage]

I have a 1525 with both the extended and stock batteries.

I've been very happy with it. The extended battery is nice for battery life, but it makes the back bulge. If you don't travel a bunch, I'd just stick with the standard one. If you do travel, and don't have power available, you might just consider getting a second standard battery.

Make sure to get plenty of RAM, though. Vista is hungry for it.

 

[cytech]

I would say it is a so-so deal. With the largest battery it is 569. It will be good for basic tasks. Hard to say when there will be a better deal than this but they are out there occasionally.

 

[joefrog]

Remember that "dude" guy...didn't he get busted for weed? Nice career move...

You mean this guy?

Michael C. Maronna

Looks like he hasn't worked in the "industry" since 2004 or so. So don't look to him for career advice I guess.

 

[isucyfan]

I have a 1525 with both the extended and stock batteries.

I've been very happy with it. The extended battery is nice for battery life, but it makes the back bulge. If you don't travel a bunch, I'd just stick with the standard one. If you do travel, and don't have power available, you might just consider getting a second standard battery.

Make sure to get plenty of RAM, though. Vista is hungry for it.

This doesn't do it for me. I have two batteries, but you can't hotswap them, can you? I never want to power down to swap out the battery. Who wants to do that?

If I'm wrong, and you can do that, dang, I've been doing it all wrong.

 

[Clonefan94]

You mean this guy?

Michael C. Maronna

Looks like he hasn't worked in the "industry" since 2004 or so. So don't look to him for career advice I guess.

That whole thing always cracked me up. "Hey, let's do a marketing campaign based around a... hmmm, I don't know... Oh, let's get a Jeff Spicole type kid to say dude and laugh a lot while he's trying to sell computers. Oh wait, the brain dead, smoking pot thing isn't just an act? Fire him."

 

[GeronimusClone]

Thanks guys. I pulled the trigger on it.

 

[jaretac]

That is a very good deal, almost as good as my laptop, and I have a $2000 computer.

 

[jumbopackage]

This doesn't do it for me. I have two batteries, but you can't hotswap them, can you? I never want to power down to swap out the battery. Who wants to do that?

If I'm wrong, and you can do that, dang, I've been doing it all wrong.

You can hotswap if you have it plugged in.

You can't tell me you can't find an outlet somewhere for the 5 seconds it takes to swap a battery. Is it a pain? Yeah. Is it a pain having to carry around a laptop that weighs a bunch more all the time with a big bulge in the back? Yeah.

Like I said, I have both. I prefer the bigger battery when I'm traveling all day, and the smaller one most of the time aside from that. The bigger one lasts maybe 3-4 hours, while the small one lasts 2ish, depending on use.

 

[Wesley]

No wonder Dell is under $10/share. They may be the next Pontiac.

 

[isucyfan]

You can hotswap if you have it plugged in.

You can't tell me you can't find an outlet somewhere for the 5 seconds it takes to swap a battery. Is it a pain? Yeah. Is it a pain having to carry around a laptop that weighs a bunch more all the time with a big bulge in the back? Yeah.

That's the thing...I didn't know I could do that! I may have to start using my other battery. I really don't mind the bigger battery, though. It still fits in my laptop bag.

 

[GeronimusClone]

That is a very good deal, almost as good as my laptop, and I have a $2000 computer.

That made me feel better about the purchase.

 

[jumbopackage]

That's the thing...I didn't know I could do that! I may have to start using my other battery. I really don't mind the bigger battery, though. It still fits in my laptop bag.

Yup. You can run without a battery as long as you're plugged in.

I know it seems like sort of a trivial thing, but the laptop feels so much lighter and smaller with the small battery in as opposed to the big one.

 

[isucyfan]

Yup. You can run without a battery as long as you're plugged in.

I know it seems like sort of a trivial thing, but the laptop feels so much lighter and smaller with the small battery in as opposed to the big one.

I'm a little nervous to do that, because I've plugged/unplugged mine so much, the power cord doesn't seat in there as well as it used to, and often slips out. If that happened while I was monkeying with swapping the battery, that wouldn't be good.