Dell 15" Laptop DealsDell Inspiron 1525 Laptop Computer (Intel Core 2 Duo T5850, 250GB HDD, 3GB RAM)
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Part number: DNDWPA3_1
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- Product brief
- User reviews
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- 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 Core 2 Duo T5850, 250GB HDD, 3GB RAM)
price range: $749.00
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.
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.
| 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).
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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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
Product brief
Intro: This configuration of the Dell Inspiron 1525 is a 6-pound, consumer level notebook computer.Compared to other general-purpose 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 larger than some similarly priced notebooks.By way of comparison, the average cost of a product with this large a screen size is $1,105.Also, this notebook has 3 GB RAM, which is somewhat more than some similarly priced notebooks.In fact, the average cost of a product with this ample a RAM is $1,135.
Weaker Features: The Dell Inspiron 1525 comes with no-frills word processing software ? if you often need to create presentations you will likely need to upgrade to a full-fledged office suite.This notebook's Intel media accelerator X3100 graphics chip uses system RAM, which sometimes results in slower performance.
Suitability: A mainstream notebook, suited for general mobile computing.Archive your digital videos using this computer's DVD burner.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled laptop.
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 general-purpose products with a comparable screen size is quite a bit more -- in fact around $914.Generally, given the trade-offs between performance and low price, this item will likely only appeal to serious bargain hunters.
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 camcorders and other equipment to rapidly upload data to the notebook hard drive.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
- Part number: DNDWPA3_1
General
- System Type Notebook
- 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
- Wireless capabilities 802.11g, 802.11b
Processor
- Processor Intel Core 2 Duo T5850 / 2.16 GHz
- Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
- 64-bit processor Yes
- Data bus speed 667 MHz
- Chipset type Mobile Intel GM965 Express
Cache Memory
- Type L2 cache
- Cache size 2 MB
RAM
- Installed Size 3 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 250 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 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 - availability: 24 hours a day / Monday-Sunday, 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 (15 months subscription), Drivers & Utilities
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
- Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008) 7.3
Manufacturer info
- Dell, Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Dell, Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.dell.com/
- Address:
One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 - Phone: (800) 274-3355
- Email: LB_Order_Questions@dell.com
