Dell Inspiron i1545-4583JBK 1545 15.6-Inch Laptop (Jet Black)

#1: Dell Inspiron i1545-4583JBK 1545 15.6-Inch Laptop (Jet Black) Reviews!

After seeing some of the other reviews I thought I would add my two cents worth, as it may help out some of you who are looking to purchase an Inspiron 1545.

I've owned this laptop now for a little over a week and I am very happy with the experience so far. I am very knowledgeable about computers, and currently run several machines running Windows 7, Windows Home Server, Mac OSX, and Ubuntu. I have also worked in IT support in the past, so diagnosing and upgrading PCs is something I'm very comfortable with.

Quick Pros and Cons List:

PROS:
+ Windows 7 (it really is a nice and stable OS)
+ Intel dual-core T4400 processor (works well for most users, easy on battery life)
+ 4GB of RAM (helpful for running programs simultaneously, such as Office, Photoshop, Media Center, etc)
+ 320GB hard drive (plenty of storage for most users)
+ Integrated 1.3MP Creative Labs Live! webcam
+ 7-in-1 media card reader (almost a necessity today)
+ Easily upgradeable (discussed below)

CONS:
- T4400 is a dual-core processor, not as powerful as a Core 2 Duo, or the current Core i3 (1545R)
- Memory is slower 800MHz speed, not current 1066MHz (1545R)
- Wireless (wifi) card is A/B/G, but not N-spec
- While the webcam is 1.3MP, it isn't of the highest quality - but it's okay
- VGA-out included, not HDMI-out like on the newer 1545R
- Bluetooth not included (though upgradeable)
- High gloss surfaces do attract fingerprints (not a big negative)


OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
I've owned many Dells, and this is the third computer I've purchased from Dell this year... not because something was wrong, but they've had good deals on desktops and laptops this year. This is the first entry level laptop that I have purchased from Dell, and overall I am happy with the design, layout, and quality of the build. The high gloss plastic areas on the palmrest and LCD bezel are obvious fingerprint magnets, but not as bad as an iPhone or iPod. They keyboard is laid out well, with good distance between the keys and a nice feel when typing. The keyboard includes dedicated buttons on the right hand side for Home, Page Up/Down, End, and the four arrow keys.

The hard drive, a Seagate Momentus 5400.6 has decent storage space at 320GB, though it is slower at 5400RPM with an 8MB cache. After formatting, you have about 300GB of usable storage. The memory for this machine is 4GB, though the motherboard can support up to 8GB. The memory speed is 800MHz, which is fine, but is slower than the current 1066MHz memory available. It would have been nice if Dell included an HDMI video port, but instead chose VGA. The HDMI comes standard on the new 1545R with the Core i3 processor. The LCD is crisp and bright, with decent viewing angles. The native resolution of 1366x768 is good, though a little compact, but makes viewing 720p video very nice. The AC adapter is the slim variety... the only issue is that the power plug into the computer fits a little loosely - though probably on purpose to prevent damage to the laptop if the cable is snagged by a passerby.

UPGRADEABILITY:
The nicest aspect of this laptop is that if you find that you need more speed, hard drive space, memory, faster wifi, or even bluetooth - all of these components can be easily upgraded. Reading the service directions at Dell, you can see that taking apart the Inspiron 1545 is easy and straight forward. By removing the keyboard, you can easily add the bluetooth module and cable, which together go for about on eBay. By removing the bottom cover, you can replace the memory, wifi card, and processor with little difficulty. An Intel 5100 N spec wifi card goes for about on eBay. You can also add memory if need be - up to 8GB is supported. The processor can also be replaced, though make sure that the processor you choose is supported by the laptop's bios. The 1545 supports Intel Socket P (478-pin Micro FCPGA) processors; with the bios specifically supporting the Celeron 900, Dual-Core T4200, T4300, T4400, and the Core 2 Duo T6400, T6500, T6600, P7350, P7450, P8600, and P8700. The faster processors, like the P8700 include more onboard cache, faster processor speed, faster bus speeds, and virtualization. Replacement processors like those mentioned can be found on eBay for around -150. The hard drive can also be easily upgraded - I installed a new Western Digital 64GB SSD, which took about 60 seconds to install. The hard drive slot is on the right hand side, and comes out with the removal of two screws. I installed the new wifi in about 60 seconds, adding bluetooth took about two minutes. It doesn't take a lot of know-how to upgrade these components - just a screwdriver and a quick read of the manual.

CONCLUSION:
It's a good laptop for the price, which can be upgraded into a better computer easily and cheaply... all you have to do is read the manual, which is straightforward. I usually keep computers for about a year or two, and by next year I'll probably be ready to sell this at a decent price and use the proceeds to get another Inspiron - but it will have been worth it for sure. In my opinion, for the price, quality, and support, you can't go wrong with a Dell.

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Dell Inspiron i1545-4583JBK 1545 15.6-Inch Laptop (Jet Black) Features

• 2.2GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T4400 Processor (1MB cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 4GB System Memory; Media Card Reader; 10/100 Ethernet; Wireless 802.11 b/g Card
• 320GB Hard Drive; DVD/CD±R/RW Optical Drive - Plays and creates CDs and DVDs
• 15.6" Display; Integrated Intel 4500 MHD Media Accelerator Graphics; Built-in 1.3MP webcam
• Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64-bit); 6-cell Battery; High Definition Audio 2.0

Customer Reviews

great machine, great service - maximom -
This is an great machine for the price. I had a special request for delivery, and it was taken care of swiftly and efficiently. Thank you!