Entered CNET Catalog: 06/12/2003
SKU: CNETDELLINSPIRON5150
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
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Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 06/12/2003
The 8.1-pound desktop replacement offers the very latest in secondary storage, wireless technologies, and processor speed. It includes a DVD+RW/+R drive for storing tons of big files and an 802.11a/b/g wireless mini-PCI card for achieving the fastest possible wireless transmissions. The Inspiron 5150 also carries the sizzling 3.06GHz Mobile Pentium 4 processor, up to 2GB of extrafast 333MHz PC2700 SDRAM, and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 chip with either 32MB or 64MB of video memory. Such strong specs hint that the Inspiron 5150 could annihilate CNET Labs' benchmarks--we'll see if that happens when we get our hands on a test model later this month.
To house all this power, the Inspiron 5150's case measures a considerable 13.1 by 10.8 by 1.7 inches. It's not ideal for travel, but on the flip side, the big case allows for a comfortable keyboard and an impressive 15-inch display. Thanks to a graphics-friendly native resolution of 1,600x1,200, this screen sets the Inspiron 5150 apart from its predecessors, but you can also buy the notebook with a cheaper 1,400x1,050-resolution screen.
With such a distinguished pedigree, this laptop could be one of the best desktop replacements we've seen this year. Check back soon to find out if it passes with flying colors or fails to live up to the challenge.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 2 user reviews
Despite Design Flaws; This Computer is Great
Pros: Powerful, Durable, Easy to carry
Cons: Overheating Flaw
Review: Many people have had issues with their 5150; overheating, clogged heat sinks, heat destroying processor connections. But honesty, anyone with enough mental capacity to not leave their laptop running on the couch for an hour, but to leave it in a well ventilated spot and knows well enough to take care of a laptop much better than a desktop will do fine with this PC. It took almost 3 years before my computer hid it's motherboard failure to get it's replacement. And with Memory expansions and an eventual new harddrive when you fill this 60GB one up, you could make this computer last you 6+ years if you wanted to.
Take care of your Laptop's people!
Take care of your Laptop's people!
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 2 user reviews
Absolutely Awful.
Pros: Worked for the warranty period
Cons: Failed right after
Review: When I chcked the internet after starting to have problems, I found out that I was not alone. My Dell's battery power had died about 3 months after the warranty period, and Dell was offering $800 to "fix" it without guaranteeing that the solution would last. I found this out after calling Dell's 1-800 "Customer Service" (in India.) Dell offered to replace the offending motherboard with another motherboard. The same motherboard. Others had replaced it and found that the replacement was the same part -- the problem was only temporarily fixed, in other words.
I ran to the store and bought another laptop from another company. In a frenzy, I copied all the files over.
2 days later, the Dell died for good, displaying all the symptoms described in links such as: http://p068.ezboard.com/fi5150usersfrm2 among others.
My recommendation: Do a search for Dell 5150 motherboard. Back everything up right now. Be ready to buy another laptop as soon as possible (start saving.) As soon as your laptop starts to display power-related symptoms, BUY. Join the class-action lawsuit if one is launched.
Good luck (I certainly had my share!)
NB: On a "positive" note, someone has posted a solution involving a soldering iron, a strong magnifying glass and a lot of patience...
I ran to the store and bought another laptop from another company. In a frenzy, I copied all the files over.
2 days later, the Dell died for good, displaying all the symptoms described in links such as: http://p068.ezboard.com/fi5150usersfrm2 among others.
My recommendation: Do a search for Dell 5150 motherboard. Back everything up right now. Be ready to buy another laptop as soon as possible (start saving.) As soon as your laptop starts to display power-related symptoms, BUY. Join the class-action lawsuit if one is launched.
Good luck (I certainly had my share!)
NB: On a "positive" note, someone has posted a solution involving a soldering iron, a strong magnifying glass and a lot of patience...
