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.

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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.

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Black Friday Online: Shopping For Laptops

This Black Friday guest post is from Jenna who writes about online shopping and getting good deals.

In the past, I’m the person you see starting their Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. Whether it’s because I was working late, or because I had other commitments, I’ve always been a procrastinator, when it came to shopping for Christmas gifts. And the fact that I’m slightly claustrophobic, keeps me from malls during the holidays.

I’ve always heard the stories about Black Friday; people lining up outside the stores at 5 AM waiting for the doors to open, making a mad rush for the discount items. But because of my phobia, I wouldn’t even consider going to the malls on Black Friday. Now, however, since shopping online is so easy, I have no problems shopping on Black Friday. 

This year, my 13 year old is asking “Santa” for a laptop. He actually saved up about a third of the money himself, but I’m going to surprise him and buy him an HP laptop this year. I read a few gaming laptop reviews and this seems to be the best for his needs. Like I said, I would never, ever, consider going to the mall, especially on Black Friday, looking for laptops. I would not fight parking, nor would I fight the crowds, looking for a big sale on laptops. Online shopping is so easy! Now, I can go online and see the various Dell, HP, and Toshiba laptop that are new to the market. And, I can surf various websites faster than I can travel to any store looking for the cheapest laptops for sale.

The only benefit that I can see by going to the store and shopping there is that there may be an opportunity to barter and try to get a better price for the gift I’m shopping for, in this case, a laptop. But the reality is, if shopping at a Wal-Mart or K-Mart type store is there is NO opportunity to barter. If you were to ask them for a better price, they’d look at you like a puppy dog, with tilted head, with a response similar to that of a 5 year old; uh, nope. And, imagine how much gas (and time) I’d waste driving from store to store looking for the best price on laptops. Now, I can shop online and travel to as many stores as I want to, in as little (or as long) amount of time shopping for the best deal. I can surf from manufacturer’s websites, to store websites, and I can do it at the convenience of my schedule, without spending money on gas, and without wasting time and energy driving from store to store. And, with Internet security being as good as it is now (compard to when I started writing about online shopping), I don’t worry about shopping and having my identity being stolen, as long as I’m going on secured and reputable sites.

The various merchants won’t want you to hear this, but I don’t understand why anyone would shop at the stores on Black Friday. It makes no sense. I can get the same discounts online that are being offered at the retail outlets, but I can get it at my convenience, without the headaches of fighting crowds and parking, and I can do it in luxury of my own home!

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Black Friday Laptop Deals

Black Friday 2010 is just around the corner, and with it the opportunity to find some excellent deals on all sorts of products. There’s no guarantee you’ll find any particular item or that you’ll be able to get the Black Friday pricing — often, the biggest savings are strictly limited in quantity and sell out within moments. But if you have some flexibility in terms of what you’re looking for, and do a little research, Black Friday can be a great time to purchase cheap laptops on sale.

Your first task is to check around on the Internet beforehand to see if any Black Friday deals are leaked. Some chain stores such as Best Buy may intend to offer a big sale on laptops, and this can help you plan which stores to visit to maximize your chances of finding what you want. Also, bear in mind that people are more likely to compete with you for the items if you go to the stores commonly associated with electronics, so remember to check out other locations such as Staples or Office Depot as well.

Another strategy is to look to Internet retailers for specials. Many popular laptops for sale such as Toshiba, Asus, Sony, or Samsung are available through a number of online stores. Again, the most commonly thought of retailers for laptops are also the most likely to be sold out quickly, so build a list of all online stores you can think of that has laptops in their inventory. And don’t forget places like Dell or Sony’s online store — sometimes the manufacturers themselves will offer you great deals on Black Friday and you might be able to score laptops under $300.

What features should you look for in a laptop? You should try to buy a system with at least a dual-core CPU, 250GB hard drive, 4GB memory, a DVD+R/DVD-R/RW drive, 802.11n Wi-Fi built-in, and Windows 7 installed. This combination costs around $650-700 online, but look to buy for $100-150 less on Black Friday (or 15-25% off). Also look for TV-out capability, which will likely either be S-Video or DVI if present on the laptop; this can allow you to use your laptop to stream services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon On-Demand to your television set. Blu-Ray drives have also come down in cost lately, so keep an eye out for those as well if that interests you. Lower-end laptops are available for around $500 if you are unconcerned with performance, but you should ensure they come with a better operating system than Windows 7 Starter and more than 2GB of memory.

Before you shop, make a list of the features that are important to you in a laptop, and carefully compare them before you buy. Sometimes Black Friday electronics are stripped-down versions of regular electronics with a minor modification to the model number, so check each feature line-by-line. If in doubt, don’t buy; it’s better to pay a little extra down the road than to regret your purchase for years to come. If you’re planning on playing games, read as many gaming laptop reviews as possible, before you buy.

Hopefully, this will help you work out a plan to find the best deal on the laptop you want on Black Friday. There’s no one place to go or one perfect strategy, but between research of stores in your neighborhood and stores online you can maximize your chances of finding the deals that suit you.

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How To Get The Best Deal On A Laptop

Purchasing a laptop is an important and rewarding process. If you do it right, you can find a product that fits your needs at a good price. If you do it wrong, you can wind up spending too much money on a piece of technology that does things you don’t want it to do, doesn’t do things you wish it did, or doesn’t work at all.

So, where to begin my search, what should I look for and how will I know what is the best laptop brand for my needs? I think you need to evaluate a series of questions about yourself and your computer usage to begin narrowing down the number of options. There are at least a few hundred choices, but you can quickly narrow it down once you know the following: *Apple/Mac or PC? *10-12 inch, 14-16 inch, or 17-19 inch? *Gaming or heavy video editing? *Speed and memory? *Price? *Brand? *Deals? Let’s walk through each one and by the end you should have a good sense of a few solid choices.

Apple computers are known for being slick, simple to use, beautifully designed, great for video editors, and generally expensive. PCs are known for being technically adaptable, fast, great for business, and generally affordable. Those are stereotypes that have begun changing over the years but still generally hold true.

The next major decision is size. Smaller 10-12 inch computers, also known as netbooks, make great portable devices. They work best as a secondary computer for use in web browsing, notetaking, and general work on the go. Medium sized 14-16 inch laptops are ideal for general use and can be either portable or used as a stationary computer. The screen is large enough to be comfortable but not so large as to be cumbersome. Larger 17-19 inch screens are beautiful and functional but not so portable. They’re best for graphic designers, gamers, and those who want a sleep alternative to a desktop computer that they can still unplug and pack into a suitcase.

Gaming and heavy video editing requires special features. For one, speed is a primary concern, so you’ll need a top of the line processor with lots of RAM (random access memory). You’ll also need a high end graphics card. Gaming usually happens on PCs, but video editing tends to happen on Apples.

As for speed, even those not doing heavy gaming or editing may want a zippy device which can handle multiple programs and windows running at the same time. If you tend to do 15 things at once, make sure that you opt for a faster chip with more RAM. If you are more of a simple web-browser and occasional document writer, you’ll be fine with less.

More costs more. Price is where all of these options come together. Apple is more expensive. Better chips, graphic cards, and more RAM are all more expensive. If you’re looking for the best laptop deal, a cheap 10 inch computer with full capabilities can be had for $300 dollars. An average, fully loaded 15 inch computer could be had for $700 if its a PC and $1200 if it’s an Apple. A high end, large screen gaming/graphics/business laptop could run into the $2500-4000 range. Brand choice is partly a matter of preference and partly a matter of reputation. Apples are known for being well made, so there is no concern there. PC brands with the best reputation are HP and Dell laptops, followed by Toshiba, Sony, and Acer. A newer company ASUS has been making neat devices that many people like.

Whatever brand you buy, try it out in person to see how it feels. Laptops are a very personal device and you need to like using it. Deals and checking out popular laptops for sale are the final concern. Like cars, laptops will come down in price before the next year’s new models come in. The worst time to buy a laptop is typically around the holidays or when students are going back to school. That’s when everyone buys one. A good idea is to select a few models that suit your needs and shop around for prices over a month or two. When a big sale on laptops pops up, take advantage of it. If you follow all of these tips, your laptop purchase should be a successful one.

Final thoughts: only buy the software you need. Great anti-virus software is available *free* online. Try AVG, Malware Bytes, and CC Cleaner. Microsoft Office-like applications can be had for *free* in the open source Open Office suite. Most insurance is not a great buy. The first year is always covered by warranty, and laptops rarely last more than 3 or 4. Just take good care of it and you should be ok. Good luck!

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