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 Dell Vostro Series almost irresistible. The series consists of 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.
Vostro 1220
This is an extremely portable laptop at 12.1”, which makes it slightly larger than a netbook. However, the Vostro 1220 performs better than a netbook and is superior when it comes to battery life. Office applications can be accomplished with no glitches or delays although the screen size is too small for multimedia or editing tasks. Battery life exceeds 3 hours when used heavily. We have issues with the uncomfortable keyboard and the chassis but it is not unexpected considering its low price.
| Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Celeron 900, Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, P8600, P8700, or T9550 |
| Display | 12.1″ WXGA w/TrueLife |
| Memory | 2 GB Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz |
| 2, 3, 4, or 8 GB of Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz | |
| Optical Drive | 8X DVD+/-RW drive, Blu-ray Disc Combo drive |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD |
| Security Hardware | Fingerprint reader w/DigitalPersona software, Wave Encryption software |
| Hard Drive | 160 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM, 250, 320, or 500 GB @ 7200 RPM w/Freefall Sensor |
| 250GB Encrypted Hard Drive @ 7200RPM w/Free Fall Sensor & Wave software | |
| 128 GB Solid State Drive | |
| Wireless | Dell Wireless 1397 or 1510 mini card, |
| Intel WiFi Link 5100, WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150, or 5300 mini card | |
| Bluetooth | Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth 2.0 |
| Webcam | Integrated 1.3 MP webcam w/digital mic, optional free video chat software |
| Battery | 4-cell or 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery |
Vostro 1320
With a 13.3” display screen, the Dell Vostro 1320 is a good size for a businessperson to bring around while traveling. It has a solid built and although trivial, we appreciate that it broke away from the usual black and has a striking burgundy-colored lid and black base. Aside from having the capacity to do regular office tasks, the Vostro 1320 gives a sufficient performance when it comes to multitasking and even photo editing. Its battery life of 2 hours is a turn-off and its keyboard needs improvement.
| Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Celeron 900, Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, P7550, P8600, P8700, or T9550 |
| Display | 13.3″ WXGA Anti-Glare, UltraSharp WXGA w/TrueLife |
| Memory | 2 GB Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz |
| 2, 3, 4, or 8 GB of Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz | |
| Optical Drive | 8X DVD+/-RW drive, Blu-ray Disc Combo drive |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD, NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS |
| Security Hardware | Fingerprint reader w/DigitalPersona software, Wave Encryption software |
| Hard Drive | 160 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM, 250 or 320 GB @ 7200 RPM w/Freefall Sensor |
| 250GB Encrypted Hard Drive @ 7200RPM w/Free Fall Sensor & Wave software | |
| 128 GB Solid State Drive | |
| Wireless | Dell Wireless 1397 or 1510 mini card |
| Intel WiFi Link 5100 or 5300 mini card | |
| Bluetooth | Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 |
| Webcam | Integrated 1.3 MP webcam w/digital mic, optional free video chat software |
| Battery | 4-cell, 6-cell, or 9-cell Lithium-Ion battery |
Vostro 1520
With a 2.5kg weight and measurements of 357 x 258mm x 38mm, Dell was able to create a laptop that scores high on portability while still having a screen size that’s acceptable to many small business entrepreneurs. It has an anti-glare screen too, which ups its value a bit. It doesn’t have much of a style to speak of but it does meet the demands of small to mid-sized companies.
| Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Celeron 900, Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, P7550, P8600, P8700, or T9550 |
| Display | 13.3″ WXGA Anti-Glare, UltraSharp WXGA w/TrueLife |
| Memory | 2 GB Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz |
| 2, 3, 4, or 8 GB of Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz | |
| Optical Drive | 8X DVD+/-RW drive, Blu-ray Disc Combo drive |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD, NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS |
| Security Hardware | Fingerprint reader w/DigitalPersona software, Wave Encryption software |
| Hard Drive | 160 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM, 250 or 320 GB @ 7200 RPM w/Freefall Sensor |
| 250GB Encrypted Hard Drive @ 7200RPM w/Free Fall Sensor & Wave software | |
| 128 GB Solid State Drive | |
| Wireless | Dell Wireless 1397 or 1510 mini card |
| Intel WiFi Link 5100 or 5300 mini card | |
| Bluetooth | Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 |
| Webcam | Integrated 1.3 MP webcam w/digital mic, optional free video chat software |
| Battery | 4-cell, 6-cell, or 9-cell Lithium-Ion battery |
Vostro 1720
The 17″ business laptop is intended to be a desktop replacement. It has enough power to accomplish office and internet tasks as well as editing and design work. The screen size and its resolution of 1920×1200 allows for a very comfortable experience especially when your task requires you to put documents side by side. Its keyboard is one of the best we’ve found with its soft and responsive buttons. It has an adequate battery life and as long as you keep within the business-related tasks, it shouldn’t pose any problems.
| Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Celeron 900, Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, P7550, P8600, P8700, or T9550 |
| Display | 17″ WXGA+ Anti-Glare LED, UltraSharp WUXGA w/TrueLife |
| Memory | 2 GB Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz |
| 2, 3, 4, or 8 GB of Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 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 | |
| Security Hardware | Fingerprint reader w/DigitalPersona software, Wave Encryption software |
| Hard Drive | 160 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM |
| 250 or 320 GB @ 7200 RPM w/Freefall Sensor | |
| 250GB Encrypted Hard Drive @ 7200RPM w/ Free Fall Sensor & Wave software | |
| 128 GB Solid State Drive | |
| Wireless | 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 |
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 |
Vostro A860
The 15.6″ Vostro A860 is a budget laptop; therefore, it is understandable that it has nothing fancy to offer. Its appearance is typical for a low-end model. The keyboard is uncomfortable and it uses too much plastic. Business people would probably need more than 2 ports that are offered by the Vostro A860. When manufacturers place the usb port on the left, it inconveniences right-handed mouse-users. The nice thing about this laptop is the brightness and illumination it offers to the viewer. It doesn’t have a fast processor but it does the tasks of browsing and office work well.
| Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Celeron M M560, Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 |
| Display | 15.6″ WXGA |
| Memory | 1 or 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz |
| Optical Drive | 8X DVD+/-RW drive |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 |
| Hard Drive | 160 or 250 GB SATA @ 5400 RPM |
| Wireless | Wireless 802.11b/g |
| Webcam | None |
| Battery | 4-cell or 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery |
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[...] 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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