Vostró! (It’s French for Uber)

My new Laptop, a Dell Vostro 1700 arrived on Tuesday, and its more than a worthy replacement for my ageing Latitude.  I might even go as far as to say its the perfect notebook, for the person who doesn’t need to take their machine to work with them every day.  The only reason I say that is because its big, and really heavy as well (I’d estimate 4kg).

But for a round-the-house desktop replacement, media and occasional gaming machine, its perfect, and cheap too!

I got:

  • Core2Duo 9500 (2.5Ghz)
  • 4GB RAM
  • nVidia 8600GM
  • 2x200GB 7200RPM HDD’s
  • Intel Wireless Draft-n card
  • 17″ 1920×1200 WUXGA+ Monitor

Plus all the throw in options (Vista, MS Office, Bluetooth Headset, etc etc)

For £895!

Once again, I put it to anyone to find a similar spec’d machine for anywhere near this price because Dell definitely seems to have the upper hand in these stakes.

Vostro - NoteBookReview.com

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This entry was posted on Saturday, April 26th, 2008 at 11:09 am and is filed under Development, Online. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Henry
    I guess the windows environment would be easier to work with than the symbian one for most people as well.

    When I think about it, the key for me is web browsing (including email) and GPS. I struggle to think what else I'd really use on a regular basis, apart from maybe youtube or playing some mp3's. Occasionally flash/timewaster video games?
  • admin
    Heheh, true true. Definitely not eh non-3g iPhone, it packs so much punch and is such a cool little machine, and then they leave 3g out. Pffft. Fat load of good that is. Whats the point, in this day and age of selling a net/web phone without adequate means (apart from wifi) of accessing the net.

    I'd never use Outlook Syncing either, but I think as far as a personal organiser, and computer like device, any of the windows mobile PDA phones are still probably a better fit than the N95.

    Damn that though, Nokia good does!
  • Henry
    I actually don't think I'd use wi-fi that much - there's not that many places to use it here. I don't even have wi-fi at home anymore, although I have to say, i've been thinking of getting DSL re-installed now that they've got these "naked" line plans.

    Just can't stand to pay to get the phone line installed!

    and yeah, I wouldn't bother getting the non-3g iphone, can't really see the point. I'm not bothered with the winmo stuff, I can't (and wouldn't want to) sync it with my outlook calendar.

    You're a very good N95 salesperson, although they do still seem to be the best on the market at the moment. Although if I get a 3g/hsdpa netbook, maybe there's not much point getting the smartphone!
  • admin
    On the topic of smartphone, I'd definitely go with N95 (or the 3G iPhone, when it comes out), or maybe a Windows Mobile based O2/XDA/HTC variant, though the phones in those aren't often particularly good.

    I can't tell you how often I use the phone now though, its definitely filled a gap, it can pretty much replace calendars/notes, my ipod, laptop whilst communiting/travelling etc etc. At least get something with Wifi though, as it makes all the difference when your somewhere with a free connection.
  • Henry
    I've been thinking on and off about the ways I could upgrade or replace my computing situation at home recently, and you're right, the Dell AU site is bloody stupid with it's releases.

    I was really keen on the XPS one, but it still hasn't shown up on the AU site. Which is all good, because I've gone off it again. Thinking vaguely about getting a big flat TV or maybe a lappy instead.

    And maybe some sort of fancy smartphone when my handset conract runs out in 3 months. N95 v. iphone v. blackberry.

    When I think about it, it's a good thing that I don't actually ever get round to buying these things, or I'd be a lot poorer.

    PS: this is my 5th comment on hd911 today, can you tell that I'm bored at work today or what?!
  • admin
    Oh yea, it's great.. I had the same resolution screen on my previous Latitude, but the move to 17" makes all the difference.. I refused to accept at first that the writing was too small on the previous one, but looking back on it now, it probably is.. Just a little bit..

    Perfect on the new Vostro though. Dell Australia seems to be a little weird with their release schedule, as well as holding back on monitors for the Aussie market. When I got my latitude, they were offering the 1920x1200 screen for only $150 extra (or there abouts). I noticed soon after they took it off the website altogether and for a while you couldn't get it on the 15.4" screen at all.

    The XPS range is the cream of the crop though. As long as you're willing to fork out the bit extra, its a better machine all round, and you really get the best of everything!

    I'm not sure what older distributions would be like with the new Intel Chipset and Wireless cards, but Ubuntu 8.04 installed perfectly on this, first time. Found every bit of hardware actually (though I haven't tested the card reader, tv out, etc etc). I haven't had any issues with hardware compatibility on any newish laptop for at least two years though, so as long as you haven't got anything completely out of the ordinary you shouldn't have a problem.
  • That is a magnificent resolution! I can't seem to find the Vostro 1700 on Dell's AU site. My Mum just got the XPS 1530 (I think) and it seems pretty decent. Laptops have come quite a long way.

    I want to get a laptop at some point this year, how did you find setting up linux on it?
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