CNET Editor's rating: 7.3 out of 10
Reviewed by
Dan Ackerman
Review date: 02/05/08
Release date: 01/11/08
The good: Slimmed-down design; low starting price; high-end extras are available, including HDMI and touch-sensitive media control buttons.
The bad: Not as many configuration options as some of Dell's other laptops; plastic construction feels somewhat flimsy; base $499 configuration about as powerful as an abacus.
The bottom line: Taking consumer complaints to heart, Dell updates its mainstream 15-inch laptop with the Inspiron 1525. It's thinner, lighter, and less expensive than its predecessor.
With a complete top-to-bottom revamp of Dell's entire laptop line in mid-2007, why the need for a new mainstream model so soon? While the current 14-inch Inspiron 1420 hits the size/features/performance sweet spot, and the high-end XPS M1330 and the XPS M1530 are slick, thin 13- and 15-inch models, respectively, the middle-of-the-road Inspiron 1520 was always a little too big and clunky for its own good. When compared with the 14-inch version, Dell's basic 15-inch Inspiron--long the bread and butter of the company's consumer laptop line--got lost in the shuffle, offering a small increase in screen size but at the expense of a larger, more unwieldy chassis.
Dell's taken these points to heart, and the company has reworked the 1520 in the form of the Inspiron 1525. It's a smaller, lighter version of the previous 15-inch Inspiron 1520. However, after getting used to the brushed metal of the XPS M1530 (which itself starts at only $999), the new Inspiron 1525 has a somewhat cheap plastic feel, and we're not sure how much abuse it would stand up to on the road. But for a laptop that starts at only $499, it offers a lot of bang for your buck, including an HDMI output and touch-sensitive media controls, which are solid extras for a budget laptop. Our review unit bumps the spec up and includes a T7000-series Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and 2GB of RAM, for about a still reasonable $1,024--but within Dell's crowded laptop lineup, you may still prefer the smaller 14-inch 1420 model, or the slightly more expensive (but much nicer-looking) XPS M1530.
With the upgraded Inspiron 1525 (hey, nobody ever accused these guys of being too creative in the naming department), Dell has managed to shave a little bulk off of the system--it's about 30 percent thinner and a half-pound lighter than the 1520 model it replaces--and the smaller chassis leaves less dead space on the keyboard tray.
The keyboard is the same full-size model found on Dell's other Inspiron and XPS laptops. While the keyboard is not our favorite, because of its tapered keys that may not offer enough surface area for chubby fingers, its feels solid and responsive. Above the keyboard sits a row of media control buttons. These are of the touch-sensitive variety we're partial to, and the Inspiron 1525 is the cheapest laptop we've seen those on yet. An additional quick-launch button is also above the keyboard for starting Dell's proprietary multimedia management software, but chances are you'll stick with more established programs such as Windows Media Center or iTunes. Our review unit also had a 2-megapixel Webcam built into the display, which is a $25 add-on.
The 15.4-inch wide-screen LCD display offers a 1280x800 native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size. Our screen was glossy, as is common on consumer laptops (they make for a better video-viewing experience), but an antiglare option is available at no extra charge. We typically see matte screens on business systems, and generally prefer them rather than trying to fight the glare from our desk lamp or sunlit window.
Dell Inspiron 1525
Average for mainstream category
Video
VGA-out, HDMI-out
VGA-out, S-Video
Audio
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data
4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, mulitformat memory card reader
4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, mulitformat memory card reader
Expansion
Express card slot
PC Card or Express card slot
Networking
Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth
Optical drive
DVD burner
DVD burner
The Inspiron 1525 offers all of the ports and connections you'll probably need, but in typical Dell fashion, almost everything is an extra-cost add-on. Bluetooth is $20, 802.11n Wi-Fi is $50, and a DVD burner is $30 (as opposed to a plain CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive). In a move that our friends at Apple should take note of, mobile broadband antennas from both Sprint and Verizon are offered. Each antenna costs $150, but signing up for service will get you a $100 rebate from either carrier.
While our $1,000-plus review unit was a perfectly capable dual-core system, what exactly do you get for the $499 base price? We would steer far clear of the lowest-end components, which include a 1.8GHz Intel Celeron 540 CPU, Vista Basic, an 80GB hard drive (same size as the MacBook Air), and only 512MB of RAM. Upgrading to 1GB of RAM is only $50, and adding an Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 is $100--we would call that the bare minimum for a usable laptop.
With 2GB of RAM and a 2.0GHz T7250 CPU, the Dell Inspiron 1525 offered no surprises on the performance front. Dell's upscale XPS version--the XPS M1530--was faster, sporting a better processor and video card (the 1525 is stuck with basic Intel integrated graphics), but similarly configured versions of both systems would offer nearly identical performance, with the XPS premium going for better design and construction.
The Inspiron 1525 ran for 2 hours and 41 minutes on our DVD battery drain test, using the included six-cell battery, a decent score for budget 15-inch laptop. A nine-cell battery is also available, but it's large enough to stick out conspicuously from the back of the system. Our DVD battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and office use.
Dell includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Upgrading to a three-year plan will cost an extra $260, which includes on-site service. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, and Dell's robust online knowledge base and driver downloads, although XPS customers get access to a different, better-quality, tech support line. Dell will also send you a free recycling kit for your old laptop on request (basically a prepaid postage label to ship old products back to a recycling facility).
Multimedia Multitasking test (in seconds) (Shorter bars indicate better performance)
Dell Inspiron 1525
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7250; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 120GB Saegate Momentus 5,400rpm
Dell XPS M1530
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Gateway M150
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2400XT; 120GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Intro:
This configuration of the Dell Inspiron 1525 is a 6-pound, consumer level notebook computer.Compared to other mainstream consumer notebooks on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $750.Has Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) built-in.
Noteworthy Features:
Has a 15.4 screen size, which is somewhat larger than some similarly priced notebooks.In fact, the typical cost of a product with this large a screen size is $1,065.Also, this notebook has 2 GB RAM, which is more than some similarly priced notebooks.By way of comparison, the typical cost of a product with this ample a RAM is $1,585.
Weaker Features:
The Dell Inspiron 1525 comes with simple word processing software ? if you often create complex documents you will likely need to upgrade to a more powerful office suite.This notebook's Intel media accelerator X3100 graphics chip uses system RAM, which sometimes results in slower performance.
Suitability:
A general-purpose notebook, suited for general mobile computing.Preserve special occasions for future generations by saving them onto DVD with this notebook's DVD writer.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled notebook.
Value:
Given its very inexpensive price, this notebook has great features for the money.For example, when it comes to screen size, the average price of mainstream products with a similar screen size is quite a bit more -- right around $1,064.Generally, not targeted at the gaming crowd, this computer will likely fulfill more modest notebook needs.
Suggestions:
(1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Web more conveniently from any room.(2) Using this PC's Firewire (1394) port, you can connect to many digital videocameras and other equipment to rapidly upload data to the computer hard drive.
5 out of 10 - Average I have only had my Inspiron 1525 for 1 month and have already had a severe hardware problem.
After only 1 month of use, my laptop developed a severe problem and would not boot up. After several attempts ...
After only 1 month of use, my laptop developed a severe problem and would not boot up. After several attempts by Dell tech support, they determined that my problem was a defective motherboard. A technician was dispatched to my home to replace the motherboard. However, the replaced motherboard was not NEW, but was instead refurbished. Wouldn't you think that especially since this is a brand new machine, Dell would ensure that the replaced motherboard was completely new. So I have another motherboard installed that has worn components which of course could themselves develope problems at any time----rather shabby customer service. I've used Dell products in the past and have been quite satisfied. With pressure from HP, Apple and others, I wonder if Dell isn't sliping from it's once lofty position in the PC world. This is one customer that will more seriously consider competitor products next time around.
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by fishook2 (see profile) -
February 28, 2008
7 out of 10 - Very good feels hyundai-ish
i bought this computer for a friend of mine. i got the best deal possible at the time. for just ...
i bought this computer for a friend of mine. i got the best deal possible at the time. for just under 800, i got the minimum warranty option, with 1.83ghz, 2gb ram, 120gb 7200 hd (could be 5400 cant remember), webcam, dvd burner, plain black, all the wireless options, no bluetooth..thats pretty much it. this is actually my first dell purchase ever, and i must say, the quality of the product feels just OKAY. i would compare the quality to maybe an acer. however, the palm rest of the dell feels almost like one of those cases for those graphing calculators..i think worse actually. now don't get me wrong.. the computer works well. the functionality is on par with everything but the most strenuous tasks like video editing or heavy gaming. it runs best when surfing the web or normal college tasks such as typing. the keyboard is great. the webcam is okay. speed is good. screen is alright. build quality is aw man... its sad. i bought my dad an acer from best buy for 400. its much more sturdy than this. i bought a lenovo ideapad a little over a month ago that feels almost as tight as a thinkpad (which has very nice build quality). i have a mba which i can not even begin to describe the build quality.. but this dell has given me the impression that its give consumers a lot for their money but with little regard to the quality of the build. hyundai-ish.
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by silvershox (see profile) -
February 25, 2008
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
1 out of 10 - Abysmal Broke 5 days after I got
A true piece of junk. Computer broke down 5 days after I got it. I figured out it was a ...
A true piece of junk. Computer broke down 5 days after I got it. I figured out it was a hardware issue then I called Dell support. After 10 hours on the phone over two days and three system re-builds they were convinced it was a hard ware issue (wireless card). It took 10 days to get the computer to them and back. Out the box, the wireless was fine but the touch bad was broken. It is just unbelievable. The fix one thing and break another. Its like working with a mechanic working for a used car salesman. I called them back, three hours later they could not get the problem fixed. At that point I no longer wanted the piece of junk. I wanted to exercise my right of returning the product 21 days from day of purchase and get my money back! They did not want to do it. Lets say, I had to use words I did not use for decades. Long story short, I just shipped the computer back today. I will have to wait 31 days to get my money. I will be waiting. I will never buy Dell again. I don?t recommend this product. Dell quality and service is no longer what it used to be. Stay away from their produts.
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by 000nah (see profile) -
April 17, 2008
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
1 out of 10 - Abysmal Nothing but issues from day one.
This was a gift from my husband and it has been a nightmare from day one. This computer has crashed ...
This was a gift from my husband and it has been a nightmare from day one. This computer has crashed no less than 16 times, I have had to restore it to manufacturers level 3 times, per Dell techs advice and it still doesn't work right. I would NEVER advise purchasing this laptop, mine is most likely on it's way back to wherever it came from, hopefully, never to be seen again. I've had Toshiba's in the past and will most likely purchase another.
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by depietra (see profile) -
March 23, 2008
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
7 out of 10 - Very good Not as bad as people say...
Bought this from best buy a couple weeks ago, wanted to give it a little while before i put in ...
Bought this from best buy a couple weeks ago, wanted to give it a little while before i put in my 2 cents. I love it! everyone has had a favorite computer just like uve had a favorite car. and this is not my favorite computer, but it is nice and suits my needs very well. id recommend it, although u need at least 2gb's of memory.
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by alexswnsn (see profile) -
June 18, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
4 out of 10 - Mediocre disappointing
You would think that a core 2 duo with 1.83 ghz and more than enough RAM could run Vista ...
You would think that a core 2 duo with 1.83 ghz and more than enough RAM could run Vista efficiently, but not this computer. Remarkably slow in every way; especially slow load times (app. 30 sec. to open and close files). Start up takes forever. Fan runs constantly and is disruptively loud (you will draw unwelcome attention to yourself in class or at the library). Cheap overall look and feel with lots of frivolous graphics. Keyboard like typing on marshmallows, and there is a noticeable lag in the time it takes for letters to appear on screen. Vista, of course, just makes things even more ponderous, introducing menus and options where you least need them. Also the touchpad is placed too far to the left, requiring that you move your entire arm every time you enter a command. I've gone back to using my Dell Inspiron 2600, circa 2001: it's twice as fast and just as reliable.
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by michael dell (see profile) -
June 12, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
2 out of 10 - Terrible I would not recommend buying this product
I had bought a Dell laptop and the Hard disk crashed in a month. Three, 1 hour calls later i ...
I had bought a Dell laptop and the Hard disk crashed in a month. Three, 1 hour calls later i was offered a Refurbished hard disk as replacement.
Talk of customer service, Dell shows you how to sink to new depths.
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by vink74 (see profile) -
May 26, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
2 out of 10 - Terrible Do not buy this MODEL!!!
We have taken this model of computer back to the store 2 times and last week since we had waited ...
We have taken this model of computer back to the store 2 times and last week since we had waited 16 days, we were encouraged to try again, so we could get a full refund if we continued to have problems with this 3rd one and we have! Tomorrow we will take this one back and get another brand! It started on # 1 Dell Inspiron 1525 with frozen screen, complete reboot needed to start over. Faulty fan, Took it back when it could not find internal hard drive and fan started making a big racket. Owned it for 7 days Onto #2 Dell Inspiron 1525 had it for 16 days Screen flashing, frozen screen and complete reboot needed to restart, and also had to remove battery and then when we arrived at the store they removed and put the hard drive back in..it worked for then, we asked for another replacement since the Internal hard drive was not found. I just turned off the computer, because I cannot even browse the internet without the screen freezing up. The mouse totally fails. Thankfully, this time we didn't install pictures and other software since we were sceptical. DO NOT BUY THIS COMPUTER. Since we have now owned 3! I think there is definitely something seriously wrong with this model.
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by Nannoo46 (see profile) -
May 16, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
1 out of 10 - Abysmal Serious hardware issues
I have this laptop about a month now and am about to receive my third hard-drive. Yes, THIRD!! The first ...
I have this laptop about a month now and am about to receive my third hard-drive. Yes, THIRD!! The first one was making clicking noises from the beginning. Once that one came, the fan starting making obscure noises, which resulted in the replacement of the optical drive, heatsink, and cooling fan. While installing the software back on my 'fixed' laptop, the new hard-drive gave up and the laptop refuses to reboot at all. This happens all besides the first few weeks where I had major issues with the unstable Windows Vista. A serious disappointment and certainly my last DELL laptop.
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by Taypicala (see profile) -
May 12, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
2 out of 10 - Terrible A true piece of JUNK...
I have received this laptop in Turkey. It means that I have paid $300 extra to have it here in ...
I have received this laptop in Turkey. It means that I have paid $300 extra to have it here in Turkey. First contact with dell support occurred in the first three days. They had worked on my laptop remotely and after two hours asked me to restore Dell factory image and said it will fix the problem. Problem didn't fix either after. System start to get worse. Next problem, poor performance, programs stop responding frequently. I didn't contact Dell support suppose that it may be because of Vista which I am new with. The most recent issue is it doesn't read DVDs... Again contact customer support via chat for more than 6 times, every time server disconnection or representative leaved chat session and said I would receive callback after 30 minutes. NO CALLBACK AFTER 24 HOURS YET. Do not respond to my emails... REALLY DISSATISFIED... Will never buy a Dell again. Conclusion: Money (input) -> Inspiron 1525 (compiler) -> Trash (output) In compare to my wife's HP Pavilion it has nothing to say.
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by Sina_B78 (see profile) -
April 21, 2008
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0
Audio
Audio output type
Sound card
Audio codec
STAC9228
Audio output compliant standards
High Definition Audio
Audio Input
Microphone
Notebook Camera
Camera Type
Integrated
Notebook Camera / Sensor Resolution
2 Megapixel
Multimedia Functionality
TV Tuner Type
None
Input Device(s)
Input device type
Keyboard,
Touchpad
Telecom
Modem
Fax / modem
Max transfer rate
56 Kbps
Networking
Networking
Network adapter
Networking / Wireless LAN Supported
Yes
Wireless NIC
Dell Wireless 1395
Data link protocol
Ethernet,
Fast Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g
Networking standards
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free)
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54,
2 Memory
Interfaces
1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11,
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 pin FireWire,
2 x Audio - Line-out/headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x Display / video - HDMI - 19 pin HDMI Type A,
1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm,
1 x Display / video - S-video output,
4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A,
1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15),
1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45
Miscellaneous
Features
Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Power
Power device form factor
External
Voltage Required
AC 120/230 V
Battery
Technology
6-cell Lithium ion
Installed Qty
1
Battery capacity
56 Wh
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support
1 year warranty
Service & Support Details
Technical support - Phone consulting - 1 year,
Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year - On-site
Operating System / Software
OS Provided
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
Software
Microsoft Works,
McAfee SecurityCenter (Trial),
Drivers & Utilities
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008)
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Specs: Intel Pentium Dual Core (1.86 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Specs: Intel Pentium Dual Core (1.86 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
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