Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop Computer (Intel Celeron 550, 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM)

Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Part number: DNCWPA1_6

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$574.00 at 1 online store

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1 review

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

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.

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CNET editors' review

Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop Computer (Intel Celeron 550, 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM)

price range: $574.00

Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
Edited by: Matthew Elliott
Reviewed on: 02/05/2008
Released on: 01/11/2008

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.

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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.

Price as reviewed / Starting price	$1,024 / $499
Processor	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7250
Memory	2GB, 667MHz DDR2
Hard drive	120GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Intel GM965
Graphics	Mobile Intel Express 965GM (integrated)
Operating System	Windows Vista Home
Dimensions (WDH)	14.0x10.1x1.45 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	15.4 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	6.0/6.8 pounds
Category	Mainstream

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)

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3inch - 2.2GHz

545

Dell XPS M1530

949

Dell Inspiron 1525

1,069

Gateway M150-XL

1,166

Adobe Photoshop CS3 image-processing test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3inch - 2.2GHz

144

Gateway M150-XL

246

Dell Inspiron 1525

247

Dell XPS M1530

273

Apple iTunes encoding test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3inch - 2.2GHz

184

Dell XPS M1530

186

Dell Inspiron 1525

207

Gateway M150-XL

221

DVD battery drain test (in minutes)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Gateway M150-XL

135

Dell Inspiron 1525

161

Dell XPS M1530

202

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3inch - 2.2GHz

270

Find out more about how we test laptops.

System configurations:

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

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo - 2.2GHz / 13.3 inch
OS X 10.5.1 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz; 2,048GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 144MB Intel GMA X3100; 160GB Fujitsu 5,400rpm

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1 review
My rating: 0 stars

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7 stars

Good basic laptop for indoor use

by ldetex on March 17, 2008

Pros: Low cost and HDMI output

Cons: No OS choice and no video option

Summary: I purchased one of the "so called" refurbished units (they are mainly new returns from customers who don't like Vista), with 2 gig of memory and a 1.8 ...

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Summary: I purchased one of the "so called" refurbished units (they are mainly new returns from customers who don't like Vista), with 2 gig of memory and a 1.8 Mhz Core 2 Duo CPU for eighteen dollars over the new base price. As there is no video card option, this is not a games machine but fine for Internet and Home Office tasks. I am not sure if bigger is better in laptops, I much preferred the old 12" screen units in my car and on a plane; even though fairly light it's still bulky and awkward to open the 15" screen. The keyboard caps don't look solid and the reflective screen is almost impossible to view in your car, if you are looking for a wi-fi hotspot, but indoors for a non-gamer this is a reasonable laptop and includes an HDMI output. Most of my negative views relate not to the laptop but to the "forced to take" Windows Vista and it's drag on performance (even the mouse waits to move) and its many compatibility issues. I didn't want Vista. but Gates has forced it upon Dell and thus upon us. I thought, for a Core 2 Duo 1.8 Mhz machine, it was very slow as supplied and so I immediately switched to "performance" instead of the default "Windows select" in the advanced options; which helped speed things up a bit. None of my utilities and some programs would work with Vista and because of this and the performance gain, I will go back to an XP operating system (downgrade the OS as Dell calls it) for which Dell cannot or will not provide help. To do this you will need a SATA driver and a USB floppy drive as XP when booting will not find a hard drive. Most of the other drivers you will need are available for download on-line if you search but the NIC driver is a bit tough to find. My suggestion is to take the options for improved CPU, non reflective screen (if you plan any outdoors use) and the battery upgrade but get the smallest hard drive and least memory you can buy and then upgrade both with an on line purchase. You will throw away the installed memory, but it's still cheaper. Dell's refurbished site is worth a look; especially when they have a 15% off coupon.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
Part number: DNCWPA1_6
Description: Your notebook, your looks! A range of cool, new patterns, a spectrum of vibrant colors, a choice of finishes, eye-catching accents and a complement of color-coordinated accessories make the Inspiron 1525 the most colorful notebook you can find. With a comprehensive selection of wireless solutions spanning Wireless USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Mobile Broadband, Dell has you covered. And thanks to a family of antennas built into your notebook, you get outstanding connectivity no matter where you are. Convenient built-in mobile broadband options, available thought multiple service providers, give you high-speed connectivity wherever you have cell phone service. Dell Exclusive Wi-Fi Catcher is a simple switch, which helps you find a wireless network without even powering up your system. Bluetooth securely connects your peripherals without cables. Wireless USB connects wirelessly to USB-enables devices. Redefine your hi-def life through an exceptional movie, multi-media and audiovisual experience. Dell MediaDirect enables one-button access to movies, calendar, contacts and presentations, without waiting for your operating system to start up. Video Communications Pack lets you chat with friends and family thanks to the optional webcam (2MP), dual digital microphones and earbuds. Dual headphone jacks, smooth-touch multimedia media buttons and integrated IEEE 1394a make for a great multimedia experience.

General
Built-in Devices Wireless LAN antenna, Stereo speakers
Width 14.1 in
Depth 10.1 in
Height 1.5 in
Weight 6 lbs
Color Jet black
Notebook type Thin-and-light (4-6 lbs.), Budget
Screen type Wide-screen
Processor
Processor Intel Celeron 550 / 2.0 GHz
Data bus speed 533 MHz
Chipset type Mobile Intel GM965 Express
Cache Memory
Type L2 cache
Cache size 1 MB
RAM
Installed Size 2 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz
Environmental Parameters
Min Operating Temperature 32 ?F
Max Operating Temperature 95 ?F
Humidity Range Operating 10 - 90%
Shock Tolerance 30 g @ 3ms half-sine pulse (operating) / 163 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse (non-operating)
Vibration Tolerance 0.66 g @ RMS (random) (operating)
Storage Controller
Storage controller type Serial ATA
Storage
Floppy Drive None
Hard Drive 160 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400
Storage Removable None
Hard drive type Portable
Optical Storage
Type DVD?RW - Integrated
Optical Storage (2nd)
2nd optical storage type None
Card Reader
Card reader type 8 in 1 card reader
Supported flash memory cards MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick, SD Memory Card, XD-Picture Card
Display
Display Type 15.4 TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
Widescreen Display Yes
Video
Graphics Processor / Vendor 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
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 4-cell Lithium ion
Installed Qty 1
Battery capacity 28 Wh
Operating System / Software
OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Edition
Software Microsoft Works, McAfee SecurityCenter (Trial), Drivers & Utilities
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year, Product info support - E-mail consulting - 1 year
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (June 2008) 4.5
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008) 7.3