Dell Inspiron 1545 Review

Editors note: This Dell Inspiron 1545 review was submitted by Mike D, one of our new readers.

I use my Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop all the time and when I say all the time I really do mean about every waking moment I am sitting on the couch, I have my laptop on my lap. I am constantly multi-tasking because I have a very hard time focusing. First off, my wife and I both use this computer. She uses it mainly to check her email and run her google calendar. I use it to run my Internet business and other various tasks.

I got this laptop about 2.5 years ago and I bought it right off of Dell’s website cause that was the best deal on the web. I looked at other discount laptops but none of the compared to what I would get with just buying a Dell. I upgraded the wireless card to draft N because speed is of the upmost importance and I also upgraded the screen, we will get to the screen part later.

The computer rarely crashes but when you get too many things running at the same time it does slow down. If I had to do it all over again I would get 8 GB of memory in it instead of 4. Another thing I wish it had was a backlight for the keyboard. Good thing I know how to type cause it gets tricky trying to work on this when there isn’t that much light around.

Another problem is the power supply. Either the power supply or the connection has gone bad because it no longer charges the battery when plugged in. It gives me an error saying it has the wrong power supply connected even though it is the one that came with the laptop.

Overall for the price I have been really happy with this laptop. Dell laptop prices are comparable, if not better than others on the market. While my dell was in my backpack, my backpack slipped off of my shoulder and hit the ground resulting in a broken screen. Since I was cheap and didn’t want to buy the accidental insurance dell offered I had to fix the screen myself. Fortunately dell has a great support website with a walk-through on how to replace the screen. I ordered a screen off of a description on a computer supply website and had it shipped to my house. Took the entire laptop apart to find it was the wrong screen. This time I ordered the screen based on the part number and I got the right screen and everything went back together perfectly. So I can say the computer is definitely repairable and fairly easy to work on, thanks to Dell’s great support walkthroughs.

I am unsure if I am going to buy another Dell laptop. I keep hearing great things about macbooks and want to try one of those out for size. The only problem is that a lot of the applications I run only run in a PC environment so I am going to have to figure something out there. Overall I am very happy with this laptop as I think it only cost me about $700 and I have gotten a ton of use out of for that price.

Related posts

• Top 5 Laptops For Individual Needs (7)
• Review: Dell Laptops (0)
• Five Tips For Buying Laptops On Sale (0)
• Save Money On Laptops (0)
• How To Get The Best Deal On A Laptop (0)

Google’s Laptop, Netbooks vs Tablet & Eye-Tra...

Will Google’s Laptop Make Waves?
Pretty much anything Google does gets attention in the tech arena. The introduction of the web giant’s laptop, the Chromebook, was no different. Given its roots, it is no surprise that it was designed with web surfing in mind. In December of last year the company released the product to test the market and get public feedback.

The fact is, most people perform many tasks online from shopping to banking transactions. This would explain why Google saw fit to endow the laptop with Chrome OS (not to be confused with Chrome, the web browser from Google) as opposed to the other browsing software available. Currently, official launch date is set at June 15, 2011 as Google works to correct problems that were identified.

One of the most significant problem with the laptop is the use of Google’s OS, Chrome, which utilizes cloud computing. This in the opinion of some critics is a problem in itself. It is said that the technology does not run very well on some networks. In fact, while some users are happy with the Chromebook, they have not been quick to forego Windows and Mac OS. Still, if there is one thing Google has in its favor its brand recognition. The company also has the obvious technical capabilities to sort out the problems that have been experienced so far.

Will Netbooks Lose Out to Tablet PCs?
There is no denying that netbooks came along at exactly the right time. They gave an eager public the ability to do what most of them wanted to do – simply browse the Internet. Infinitely portable, it was smaller than the laptop and carried a smaller price tag.
While they were still in the testing phase many predicted they would be the next big thing, and they were. Growth in the sale of netbooks was staggering, and figures reached over 30m million within just a few years. As with everything else in the tech industry however, it couldn’t last forever.

The current hot ticket is tablet PCs, with Apple and Motorola leading the charge. While Apple’s iPad is still the one to beat other players including HP and Dell have been coming out with impressive offerings. Netbook sales have dipped and already industry insiders are predicting doom for the once hot tech product. Much of this has come in the wake of the iPad’s rapid rise in the market. There are still some factions that insist that the netbook will continue to have devotees and new users in the years to come.

The Eye-Tracking Laptop is Now Here
It seems there is no boundary that laptop makers are not willing to shatter when it comes to tech developments. While 3D laptops are still catching on there is even more for tech lovers to salivate over. One of the hottest trends currently is the use of eye tracking laptops which is being partly driven by Lenovo, fast becoming a major player in the market.

Lenovo teamed up with Tobii Technology to reveal the new laptop at a trade show held in Germany back in March. As revolutionary as it may seem, it is actually in keeping with the direction that the industry seems to be heading. There is an increasing emphasis on moving away from typical inputs as can be seem in gaming with the introduction of Microsoft’s Kinect.

How it Works:
On the face of it, the technology works in a relatively simple fashion. A built in camera zeroes in on the user’s eyes and follow even the slightest movement. This is what Tobii is known for developing and so far critics have been impressed. When using the laptop you can do many things you would do with a mouse or keyboard; make selections, open new windows, scroll up and down or zoom in on pictures.
Originally Tobii was focused on developing the technology for people with special needs. With Lenovo’s help they hope to reach a wider audience with their products. There is also a focus in the industry on trying to reduce the incidence of repetitive motion injury.

Related posts

• How To Get The Best Deal On A Laptop (0)
• Buying A Laptop For Your Teenager (0)
• Buying A Laptop For Your Teen (0)
• Black Friday Laptops On Sale (0)
• Sony Joins the 3-D Laptop Arena: Can it Match Up? (1)

Sony Joins the 3-D Laptop Arena: Can it Match Up?

It was only a matter of time before Sony released its own version of the 3-D laptop, given current technology trends. Earlier this year the tech giant hit the market with its VAIO® F Series 3D laptop. Like other offerings, the VAIO® F Series 3D is meant to deliver quality video and enhance the experience for users.

Currently, the 3D laptop is one of the hottest and newest trends in the tech world. The biggest names have scrambled to capitalize on the ‘3D without the glasses’ idea. Sony’s relatively late entry might be a good thing. It has enabled the company to tweak the already innovative offering, helping to change the face of entertainment as we know it.

That electronics companies are moving fast on 3D is hardly surprising. The format has reenergized the movie box office, with the most notable example being 2009’s Avatar. Now the makers of television sets and some handheld game systems are trying to cash in on the technology. It would seem then that Sony unveiled its latest offering at just the right time.

A Look at the Features
Reviews so far has shown that while late to the field, Sony has gotten it right for the most part. While reviews for any tech product can vary, Sony’s 3D laptop is being widely regarded as a game changer. One feature which has caught the attention of users is the convenient 3D button. This allows you to watch standard 2D movies on DVD or Blu-Ray in 3D format with one click. This is not a basic feature of most other laptops, but we can expect to see more manufacturers adding it as demand for 3D products increases.

Naturally the display is not limited to the small laptop screen for those who think 16 inches might not be enough. The new Sony offering can be connected to HDTV via its HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port. This feature, which has been around for a while allows the connection of both digital video and voice via one cable. This allows for better picture and sound quality. Another standout feature is the presence of what are known as shutter glasses which enhance the 3D experience. These have an independent power supply which is rendered inactive once there is no 3D content being viewed.

Other specs worth noting on this laptop include:
· Windows 7
· 640GB HDD
· S-Force front surround 3D system and Dolby® Home Theater v3
· A 3D compatible LED backlight
· 3D glasses with sync capabilities
· Blu-Ray player
· Bluetooth and WiFi

Gamers are expected to warm to this Sony offering as it delivers the kind of high end performance they would expect. Naturally the specs are subject to change depending on the market. Buyers may also have their own preferences when it comes to memory, operating system and hard drive size to name a few.

Some of the top 3D laptops on the market currently are:
· HP Envy
· Asus G51J
· Lenovo Ideapad Y560d
· Alienware M17xR3
· Toshiba 3D Dynabook TX/98MB

Releasing this laptop under the VAIO banner practically ensures that this product will have a ready audience. The brand is well established because of its reliability and spectacular features and most Sony Vaio reviews are positive. The VAIO F series 3D laptop is expected to retail for roughly $1,700 as its basic price. This is considerably higher than the standard price for most laptops on the market today, but it is in line with other 3D offerings. Price is not considered too big an issue when the power of these laptops is considered.

Related posts

• How To Get The Best Deal On A Laptop (0)
• 10 Most Popular Laptops On Sale (6)
• Black Friday Laptop Deals (0)
• Reader Reviews: HP Pavilion (0)
• Google’s Laptop, Netbooks vs Tablet & Eye-Tracking Laptops Are Here (2)