Oct 14, 2009 09:11 PM
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The Bottom LineDell's Inspiron 1520 notebook will appeal to those looking for a stylish and customizable notebook computer on the cheap, but the overall base features and price put it a bit behind much of the competition. Dell has also had some issues with quality control with some of the system cases due to the color process.
Avialable in Eight Different ColorsStrong Dual Core Mobile ProcessorCustomizableConsDVD Burner Is Not Standard On Budget ModelsQuality Control IssuesDescriptionIntel Core 2 Duo T5250 Dual Core Mobile Processor1GB PC2-5300 DDR280GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive15.4" WXGA(1280x800) LCD Display with Intel GMA X3100 Integrated Graphicsv.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g WirelessFour USB 2.0, One FireWire, ExpressCard/54, 8-in-1 Media Reader14.1" x 10.6" x 1.7" @ 6.4 lbs.Windows Vista Home Premium, MS WorksGuide Review - Dell Inspiron 1520 Budget Notebook PC
10/11/07 – One of the key features of Dell's new notebook lineup including the Inspiron 1520 is the choice of colors. For an extra$50, users can select from one of seven colors other than the basic black. The drawback is that some colors may cause delays in shipping and some colors have had reports of issues with the exterior cases by users.
One of the bright spots of the Inspiron 1520 is the processor. Dell has decided to use the Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 for the majority of its budget range. This is a solid dual core processor that provides excellent performance for the cost. Users who want to pay more can upgrade to the new T7000 series processors but it will greatly increase costs. It is matched up with 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory that is average for this segment and will let it run Vista.
Storage is where the Inspiron 1520 needs some help though. Dell insists on using the 24x CD-RW/DVD combo drives with the base budget models rather than using a more common dual layer DVD burner standard. The cost difference between the two is negligible. The 80GB hard drive space is about average for this price segment though.
Dell has used the newer Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor for the 1520. This is definitely an improvement for video playback functions, but it still lacks any form of 3D punch for gaming. Of course, 3D gaming is something that no budget notebook will really be able to deal with.
Overall, the Dell Inspiron 1520 isn't really that radical of the notebook system. The color options and customization is nice, but the selection for base components puts too much effort by the user to get a system that is comparable to others available on the market.
