If you’re the owner of a small business and are looking for a laptop that has mobility and your specific needs in mind, then you’re bound to find the series of laptops in this Dell Vostro review almost irresistible. In this vostro review we will look at 5 models with various features and capabilities that suit every business professional and those that have a simple network. Since the laptops are all priced well below $1,000, these cheap business laptops will most likely meet the buyer’s budget too.
Dell is working on the principle that business isn’t only done in the office and as a result, this series has features that protect the laptop from falls, spills, and moisture. Its Free Fall Sensor detects if the laptop is in a state of free fall and shuts off the hard drive to prevent data loss. Compared to most laptops, the Dell Vostro Series laptops are slimmer and lighter. They have long-range wireless capability and come with security options that will be invaluable for protecting critical information. Display size ranges from 13.3” to 17” while processors being offered range from AMD to Intel Core 2 Duo.
The choice of the laptop to purchase is quite subjective since it will have to be based on the buyer’s requirements. Any of the laptops from the Dell Vostro Series can be upgraded so if you don’t like the performance or if your needs have changed, it wouldn’t be much of a problem.
Because of these features, the Dell Vostro series has frequently appeared on top of the list of most businesspersons and working professionals. The needs of entrepreneurs are not as basic as those of most consumers but they’re also not as advanced as those of large corporations. Dell determined there was a need and set about filling the need for laptops meant for small business entrepreneurs.
The laptops are simple and sturdy. They’re certainly not for those who are flamboyant but they have their own subtle, classy style. Because they’re meant for business, they have a better built. The series does give a good performance but as with any laptop that doesn’t have mediocre specs, its battery life is shortened.
The current notebooks in the Dell Vostro Series include the models: the 1220, 1320, 1520, 1720, and budget models: the A90 and A860. The Vostro 1220 was released online on July 1, 2009, while the Vostro 1320, 1520 and 1720 were released on April 2, 2009. On the other hand, the Vostro A860 was released on Nov. 13, 2008, and the Vostro A90 went on sale on April 15, 2009.
Dell Vostro 1220
The Dell Vostro 1220 is one of the latest offerings from computer giant Dell. The company boasts of the Dell Vostro 1220 having superior specifications as compared to its predecessors and perhaps its competitors as well. Of course, consumers just can’t make decisions based solely on specs and claims from the manufacturers. They should make sure the product is indeed worth the money that they intend to spend.
Indeed, the Vostro 1220 has some of the features that a laptop user would want to have on their unit. For example, it has a battery that is purported to be able to last for at most 9 hours, which is at least 3 hours more than what most notebook models can give.
The Vostro 1220 is also surprisingly light. It weighs about 1.52 kilograms, making it handy to carry around. It would just be like carrying a lightly-loaded handbag. Users would certainly love this quality. On top of that, the monitor size is also ideal; instead of making the monitor small in order to make the unit very light, Dell has made the wise decision of giving the Vostro 1220 a 12-inch screen. This screen is capable of displaying a resolution of 1280×800 pixels widescreen.
Specs
| SPECS | AVAILABLE OPTIONS |
| CPU | Intel® Celeron™ 900 (2.2GHz, 1M L2 Cache, 800Mhz FSB),Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T6670 (2.1GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB) |
| RAM | 2GB-4GB |
| Screen Size | 12.1-inch widescreen |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows Vista Basic and Ultimate 64-Bit Editions |
| Battery Life | 9 hours (manufacturer’s estimate) |
| Graphics | Intel® X4500MHD |
Pros
One of the other reasons to buy the Vostro 1220 aside from the battery life and the light weight would be its speed. Capable of booting the system up in just a few moments, users don’t have to wait that long in order to start using their new notebook. This is a lifesaver for owners who are always pressed for time with their work. Setting up and starting the product would simply be a breeze, leaving them more time to do what is important.
The Vostro 1220 certainly pleases when it comes to its display capabilities. Colors are brilliant even at the default setting, and this can even be furthered by manually inputting values for brightness, contrast, color balance, etc. The text and graphics can also be seen and read without any trouble at all for the user.
The touchpad performs satisfactorily as well. It responds well to stimulation, making it possible for users to rely solely on it without having to connect an external mouse.
Cons
On the other hand, there are indeed some drawbacks to the Vostro 1220. One of these would be its audio output. The built-in speakers found in the notebook are only capable of mono output, which is a big disadvantage especially to those who are fond of listening to music.
Conclusion
For a price range of about $800-$1300, the features of the Dell Vostro 1220 are certainly up to par with current demands. While the audio drawback may be an issue, it can always be remedied by connecting an external speaker that would address the problem of inadequate audio outputs. All in all, a good buy.
Dell Vostro 1320
The Dell Vostro 1320 is just one of the laptops that have come from Dell. The Dell Vostro 1320 was developed as a successor to the much older Vostro 1310. Slick and professional, what features can a user expect from the Dell Vostro 1320?
Just like most laptops from Dell, one of the features of the Vostro 1320 is flexibility and customization. You can choose from more than one configuration and specifications for the 1320.
The Dell Vostro 1320 doesn’t look stylish enough, with a seemingly “flat” black color with only a glossy finish to boast of. However, its looks should not be given too much weight for judging the Vostro 1320 because it does have several capabilities that any user would appreciate.
The 1320 is also notable for featuring a much larger screen than most of its contemporaries. It has a 13.3-inch monitor. Dell even offers two options of a conventional LCD and a TrueLife version, which features a glossy finish.
Of course, who wouldn’t be concerned about weight? A heavy laptop would certainly be uncomfortable to carry around. It’s a good thing then that the 1320 weighs less than 5 pounds. Carrying it around would certainly be easy and convenient, which is what most users are looking for in a laptop.
Specs
| SPECS | AVAILABLE OPTIONS |
| CPU | Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9550 (2.66 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache, 1066 MHz FSB) |
| RAM | Up to 8GB6 Dual Channel 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM7 |
| Screen Size | 13.3″ Widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) Anti-Glare Display13.3″ WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with TrueLifeTM |
| Operating System | Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate, Business, Home Premium, Ultimate with Downgrade Rights Service to Windows® XP Professional, and Business with Downgrade Rights Service to Windows® XP ProfessionalFreeDOS operating systems |
| Battery Life | At least 4 hours |
| Graphics | Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X4500MHD256 MB NVIDIA® GeForce 9300M GS Graphic Card |
Pros
The 1320 is certainly up to the task in terms of convenience in using. The keyboard is just the right size. There is enough space for the fingers to move. Plus, the keys are very sensitive and responsive. Typing will not be very difficult and will actually help you develop decent typing speeds because there is not much effort needed to press a key and have it return a response on-screen. The touchpad matches that sensitivity as well.
The notebook also doesn’t heat up that much as well. This is a big advantage because most users cease using their units when they start heating up and become unbearable, but with the 1320 you can use it much longer without minding the heat.
Cons
One of the biggest weaknesses in buying the 1320 is that it is not built for gaming. Its graphics and processing capabilities can certainly tide you through light gaming, but if you are a hardcore gamer you certainly will not appreciate the 1320 and would be better off buying another model.
Another drawback to the 1320 is the speaker setup. They are not positioned ideally for optimal output, which can be a nuisance when you are watching to movies or engaging in a video conference with someone. Ideally laptop speakers are located just above the monitor but for the 1320, you get speakers at the bottom of the laptop itself.
Conclusion
While there may be issues to buying the 1320, it was designed solely for business use and its specifications are tailored specifically for that. For that purpose, the 1320 is certainly worth the price that you pay to own it.
Dell Vostro 1520
The Dell Vostro 1520 is targeted towards small to medium-sized businesses. Bearing a weight of only 5.42 lbs and having measurements of 357mm x 258mm x 38mm, the Dell Vostro 1520 is a very portable machine that offers an extensive range of configurations. This laptop has screen size of 15.4”, a tad smaller than its 15.6” HP Compaq 610 competition. Nonetheless, the 15.4” of screen is nothing to complain about. The screen is of adequate size for small business entrepreneurs to be able to work on various office applications with ease.
The user can choose from the available configurations for the Dell Vostro 1520 depending on his or her specific needs. A buyer may choose a budget configuration of Intel Celeron 900 for the processor and a standard 160GB SATA for the disk storage. One may choose to boost the configuration to a racy Intel Core 2 Duo T9550 2.66 GHz and fast 128 GB Solid State Drive, while having an optional Nvidia 9300 graphics. The downside is that extra weight will be carried on this laptop once the upgrades are made. 
| Specifications | |
| Central Processing Unit | Intel Celeron 900, Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, P7550, P8600, P8700, or T9550 |
| Display | 15.4 inches WXGA Anti-Glare LED, WXGA+ Anti-Glare, WXGA+ w/TrueLife |
| Random Access Memory | 2 GB Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800 MHz |
| 2 to 8 GB of Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800 MHz | |
| Optical Drive | 8X DVD+/-RW drive, Blu-ray Disc Combo drive |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, |
| NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS | |
| Hard Drive | 160 GB SATA at 5400 RPM, 250 or 320 GB at 7200 RPM w/Freefall Sensor |
| or 250GB Encrypted Hard Drive at 7200RPM w/Free Fall Sensor & Wave software | |
| 128 GB Solid State Drive | |
| Wireless Connection | Dell Wireless 1397 or 1510 mini card, Intel WiFi Link 5100 or 5300 mini card |
| Bluetooth | Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 |
| Web cam | Integrated 1.3 MP web cam w/digital mic |
| Battery | four-cell, six-cell, or nine-cell Lithium Ion battery |
Pros
Unlike its competition, the Dell Vostro 1520 has flexible configurations that allow its owners to customize their computing needs. For users who don’t normally use a lot of heavy applications, they can configure their machines to exclude speedy hardware and other add-ons. For those who like to mix work with pleasure, they can rope in higher-end processors, data storage, graphics card and longer-life Lithium Ion batteries.
The Dell Vostro 1520 succeeds in terms of durability and build quality since its components are not made of cheap plastics that are prone to breaking. Its case is rigid allowing those who prefer backpacks to bring their laptop where they go.
The keyboard’s buttons are touch-sensitive, making it a good computing machine for touchtypers.
With the Nvidia 9300 option, the user may play with older 3D-based games.
Cons
Those who want to stand out may not find the Dell Vostro 1520 appealing. The laptop has a simple design that is not stylish in the least. It looks like any standard-issue notebook out there.
Unlike its HP Compaq 610 competition that carries a two-megapixel camera, the Dell Vostro 1520 only holds a 1.3 MP Web cam. The user however, may opt to upgrade the camera for video-conferencing purposes.
The Dell Vostro 1520 has some issues with heat – its palm rest gets warm quickly and its fan bogs down after a short while.
Conclusion
The Dell Vostro 1520’s design may not be impressive to look at, but if one wants a dependable computing machine that is portable, this would be a good buy. Although it would be small businesses that are expected to find the Dell Vostro 1520 quite appealing, students who want to balance computing performance, price, portability and durability would be getting a great bargain.
Dell Vostro 1720
The Dell Vostro 1720 is a business laptop designed to appeal to people who want to hang onto the resolution of a desktop but don’t have the space for it. The Dell Vostro 1720 is also ideal for people who want a 17” widescreen portable thinking machine and wouldn’t mind carrying an extra-large laptop for extra weight. An entry-level configuration of this laptop weighs around 6.8 lbs, around 26% heavier than the entry-level version of its 15” cousin, the Dell Vostro 1520. It should be noted though that it is lighter than its competition in the 17” category.
Like the Dell Vostro 1520, the Dell Vostro 1720 comes in a wide variety of configurations, suited to the needs of the computer user. A budget configuration of Intel Celeron 900 for the processor and a standard 160GB SATA for the disk storage may do. However, if the user wants a desktop replacement unit, it is recommended to upgrade to Core 2 Duo T9550 2.66 GHz and 128 GB Solid State Drive.
Work-and-play computer users may also upgrade the graphics card from an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD to NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GS, which would make the Dell Vostro 1720 powerful enough for photo editing, video editing and even 3D rendering and design work.
| Specifications | |
| Central Processing Unit | Intel Celeron 900, Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, P7550, P8600, P8700, or T9550 |
| Display | 17″ WXGA+ Anti-Glare LED, UltraSharp WUXGA w/TrueLife |
| Read Access Memory | 2 GB Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800 MHz |
| 2 to 8 GB of Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800 MHz | |
| Optical Drive | 8X DVD+/-RW drive, Blu-ray Disc Combo drive |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, |
| NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GS | |
| Hard Drive | 160 GB SATA at 5400 RPM, 250 or 320 GB at 7200 RPM w/Freefall Sensor |
| 250GB Encrypted Hard Drive at 7200RPM w/ Free Fall Sensor & Wave software | |
| 128 GB Solid State Drive | |
| Wireless Connection | Dell Wireless 1397 or 1510 mini card, Intel WiFi Link 5100 or 5300 mini card |
| Bluetooth | Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 |
| Battery | 6-cell or 8-cell Lithium Ion battery |
Pros
While other laptops in the Dell Vostro 1720’s size category offers few configurations, this machine’s specifications could be configured to suit the computing and budgetary needs of a buyer. Although not the most powerful laptop in its class, Dell Vostro 1720 owners will find that playing older games is possible as this computing machine could handle some 3D graphics once equipped with Nvidia 9600.
The Dell Vostro 1720 has a large native resolution of 1920×1200, which allows users to multitask. This is also great for video viewing.
The Dell Vostro 1720 has a solid built and has full-sized keys like the ones used in a standard desktop. The keyboard’s buttons are likewise touch-sensitive and very responsive.
Cons
The Dell Vostro 1720 doesn’t look good enough to warrant a second look. Upon looking closely, it has a glossy finish on top and a matte finish under but is far from being a stylish icon. Its weight would probably pose a problem to most users.
Even with Nvidia 9600, Dell Vostro isn’t the ideal laptop for rendering 3D graphic. Desktop gamers would not want to replace their stations with this one.
The Dell Vostro 1720 lacks a digital video output, so one may not be able to use this laptop as a DVD player. This laptop also lacks eSATA port for fast external hard drive access.
Conclusion
The Dell Vostro 1720 is a computing device that could do a variety of tasks and functions almost like a desktop except that the user could carry it around. It may not have a high portability score due to its dimensions, but the Dell Vostro 1720 would appeal to medium-to-large business people who want a high-resolution screen for multi-tasking while replacing the PC and monitor setup.
Dell Vostro A90
Vostro A90 is Dell’s 8.9″ business netbook and is actually the rebadged Inspiron Mini 9. If you have a thing for mini-laptops that’s affordable but can be used for business, then this is for you. However, it has its limitations when it comes to processing speed. It’s easily upgradeable too. Despite the cramped screen, it shows sharp images.
| Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Atom N270 |
| Display | 8.9″ WSVGA |
| Memory | 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM @ 533 MHz |
| Optical Drive | None |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 |
| Hard Drive | 16 GB Solid State Drive |
| Wireless | Wireless 802.11g card |
| Webcam | Integrated 0.3 MP webcam |
| Battery | 4-cell (35 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery |
Dell Vostro A860
If you’re looking for a laptop that offers great value for money and has adequate features to help you run your small or medium sized business while on the go, the Dell Vostro A860 is worth checking into. While Dell touts the A860 as a “mobile solution to everyday business computing,” we see it as a capable, entry-level laptop for entrepreneurs.
Handy tool for a business man on the move
Itinerant businessmen will find the A860 a handy little management tool with just the features they need at a cost their auditors won’t complain about. Business owners, too, would appreciate the availability of common business applications and straight out-of-the-box productivity. However, the A860, with its minimalist features, is definitely not suited for gamers.
Pros:
Value for money is definitely the number one compelling trait we see in this model. Its portability, mobility and the availability of core business applications are what make it attractive too. Not to be undervalued are its other features such as the excellent anti-glare matte screen which allows better visibility in outdoor situations and the availability of Celeron Dual Core technology which gives it a plus in terms of raw processing power.
Cons:
Its drawbacks include the following: short battery life, so-so speakers, limited USB ports (only 2) and the comparatively noisy cooling system. Although many users would be satisfied with the standard 1-gigabyte RAM, we would have preferred a higher configuration. Other users also wished that this laptop came with Windows XP instead of the preinstalled Windows Vista Home Basic.
Dell Vostro A860 Specs:
CPU = Intel Celeron P560 (2.13GHz) / Intel Celeron P560 (2.0GHz)
RAM = 1GB
Screen Size = 15.6” at 16:9 aspect ratio
OS = Windows Vista Home Basic
Battery Life = 2.5 hours on one charge with the WLAN module
turned on and transmitting data
Graphics – Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100+
We see the Vostro A860 as a good choice for business users who are making the transition from desktop to mobile computing. It offers a healthy marriage of price and useful features. However, as your business grows you may see yourself graduating to higher end models. Until then, the A860 will ably fit your needs.
Related posts:
- Dell Vostro A860 – Netbook Review
- Dell Inspiron 1525 – Review
- HP Probook 4510s VS DELL Inspiron 15 – Laptop Comparison
Tags: Dell, Dell Vostro, Vostro
[...] the style and design aspect. Aimed at both homebuyers and business users, XPS line is a notch above Dell’s Vostro and Inspiron series. The arresting design is both beautiful to look at and to touch. Decked with a [...]
dell has always been the “good price” computer brand ever, below $1000 and having such spec laptops are really a good price, low expenses for business users also for university students.
btw, the Vostro 1720 don’t come with a webcam? Vostro 1720 really caught my eye, wanting to experience the graphic it mentioned, although i have a 24″ monitor for my desktop, sometimes i have headaches with it. imagining 17″ in my backpack lol, i’m having a 15″ now sony, this size is okay for me, need to experience a 17″.
but always, when using laptop, always have a external fan with you, cuz i really hate over heating.
thanks for share and comparison. good job.
Very informative post, Dell is always giving better prices for similar spec but in term of service i prefer Acer.
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