Monster Technology

I can’t remember the specifics of the older model Dell laptop I had for four years, but I loved it & it treated me well. The only reason I bought a new one was because the hard drive popped out of the old one, & before I realized it could just be popped back in I had already ordered the 1525.

This computer is like an $800 headache. I don’t even care that it came with Vista, because honestly it hasn’t given me that many problems & I’m not picky about my operating platform, so long as it gets the job done. (Although, I will say, it comes with a completely useless graphics driver, & I had to downgrade to the previous edition of the driver to get basic games to run.) I’ve been lucky & haven’t had the battery or trackpad problems everybody else complains about. But even as one of the “lucky” ones, I’d had to deal with my fair share of crap from this model.

1. The left mouse button is permanently stuck in the down position. It still functions, but it doesn’t have that satisfying “click” that mouse buttons are supposed to have. This may sound like a superficial problem, but it’s not. You want to know when you’ve clicked the mouse. As far as I can tell from browsing message boards & forums, everybody who has this computer has this problem. As an Inspiron 1525 owner, it’s something you’ll just come to accept.

2. Like many people have noted, it gets hot. Dangerously hot. Not a “lap” top.

3. The screen! Bane of my existence!

a. First of all, there’s no clasp or magnets to ANYTHING to hold the screen down when it’s closed. What’s up with that, Dell? If you’re carrying your laptop in a bag or something the screen just flops around, bouncing as it pleases off the keyboard. Well, you know… WHO EXPECTS LAPTOPS TO BE PORTABLE ANYWAY?

b. MAJOR MAJOR HINGE PROBLEMS. I’ve just spent the last week of my life without a computer at all because I had to order new hinges. The screws holding the display together are so weak & the plastic so flimsy that the metal hinges work themselves out of alignment in no time, causing the laptop to give a mighty CRACK when you open it & eventually causing the metal hinge to become exposed &, in my case, non-functional. This can be dangerous, as the trauma caused by the cracking or hinge popping out can crack the screen. Luckily, my screen was unaffected. But I had to take the whole display apart myself & replace the stupid hinges. Now it’s working fine, better than it did when I got it actually — makes me wonder if the people at Dell even bothered to screw the hinges in all the way or not. But I know this problem will resurface again in no time & need constant surveillance & maintenance. Who needs a laptop they’re going to have to dissect every six months? It’s ludicrous.

You know, I’m absolutely not a picky person. I’m just a regular chick who needs a laptop for work, school, & play. I’m not some tech geek who feels it’s my job to complain about every flaw in a gadget in order to make myself feel superior. I am the Everyman. I don’t know anything about laptops. All I know is that I have had this computer for a little over a year (ONE YEAR, A SINGLE MEASLY YEAR) & it has caused me nothing but stress. When I buy an expensive electronic, I expect it to work, & not to break until I’ve dropped it or at least gotten a few good years of use out of it. I don’t have money to throw around on upgrades or new equipment. No matter how low the price, this laptop just isn’t worth the time, money, or trouble. It’s a big, overheating, screen-cracking, mouse-malfunctioning, bulky piece of junk.
Rating: 2 / 5

I can’t begin to describe how cool this laptop is. It is all you need for personal or business work. I have an Acer Desktop with 1 GB of RAM and 100 GB Memory. This little guy has 4 GB of RAM and an Intel Duo Core Processor (that’s basically at least twice as fast as my desktop) and 250 GB on the hard drive! Those items are critical for good, fast performance. The keyboard is perfectly typical in its layout and the mouse pad is actually sleek and slightly indented, allowing you to seamlessly run your finger over the metal. The two button pads allow for more functions. It is completely intuitive and although I prefer Windows XP Home over Vista Home (XP is faster), you can’t get around that nowadays. It comes preloaded with everything you need and I actually uninstalled some unnecessary programs. I took out the Norton Virus software and put in Windows Live One Care (my preference on quality and ease of use).

There are lots of standards that used to be extras, like the Web Cam, which transmits, records, takes pictures, etc. When you move around, it is a bit blurry, but for ordinary transmission it is right up there with most in quality. It also contains a DVD/CD burner and player, which are very fast, even though it seems terribly fragile when you open it. I like being able to have the choice of Cable DSL, dial-up and Wireless Internet. When at home I just plug in the Ethernet wire and when traveling it is very easy to get a signal just about anywhere I go, (call your service provider to get the pass code for wireless service). There is the media card insert, two USB ports and lots of standard software. You can read all of that here on the web page, but the look and feel (the keyboard is very easy on the hands and wrists) is sleek. It also comes with a one-year warranty with the option to buy more.

Here’s a little secret. Don’t buy past the standard one-year warranty, as Dell will contact you within six to nine months to offer you an extended warrantee at a lesser cost. They want your business. Why pay more? I suggest getting that warrantee when it is offered. Also, a good, secure, padded carry-bag is a must. “Targus” makes great bags that are relatively inexpensive. One last note: Dell has one of the best reputations for quality computers and they have home service, meaning they come to YOU! Have fun!

Rating: 5 / 5