Great, but don't move it around!
Written: Oct 15 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Quality of Tech Support: |
 |
|
|
Pros: great screen, fast laptop
Cons: questionable build quality, not mobile
|
|
|
| DefBringer's Full Review: Dell Inspiron 7500 G600VW |
(There is a summary at the bottom if you don't care to read all of this)
The first thing that I'd like to mention about my Dell Inspiron 7500 is the display. It is simply the best on the consumer market. It's nearly 14.1" diagonally across which is equivalent to a 15" desktop monitor, plenty big for a laptop. In fact, I had been very cautious about purchasing a laptop prior to experiencing this screen because I felt that most laptop screens are small, dim, and produce text that is too hard to read. As far as I am concerned, the screen *IS* the Dell Inspiron...I believe Dell took the screen and built the rest of the computer around it.
That is not to say that the rest of the computer lacks. The components that go into the Dell Inspiron 7500 are top-notch. The DVD drive (if equipped with one....and I highly recommend that you get one)works really well, the disk and video system work well enough that one can actually videoconference with this laptop (unlike most laptops). This computer moves along at a nice pace and won't keep you tapping your foot while waiting for Microsoft Word to open. I bought this laptop just to watch DVD movies while on flights and in that capacity it really delivers. The movies are quite crisp and clear!
Now on to the negatives.
The price to be paid by having such a powerful laptop is its size and heft. Now, this isn't a problem for me because I figure the difference in size between this laptop and the smallest ones from Sony is really trivial; however, I realize that some folks get quite worked up over the size and heft of their laptops so this information has been included.
Additionally, the pointing device is terribly erratic. When it works (which is perhaps every other boot), it works really well. Unfortunately, every once in a while the cursor has a nasty habit of moving about the screen when I do not tell it to or it might just get stuck in one spot for a bit. When doing a lot of clicking about (like when you're web surfing) this becomes especially annoying. After talking to Dell support about this issue I was told this was commonplace and that I would need to download and install some updated drivers. I did this and it did not remedy the situation.
By far the biggest problem with the Dell Inspiron 7500 series are the brackets that connect the screen to the laptop itself. A heavy screen such as the one on this laptop needs some super-strong and stiff joints to keep the screen just at the right tilt as you require. To my disappointment, the joints on the Dell just aren't up to the task. I am very careful to open and close the laptop (use both hands and proceed slowly!) yet this precaution did not prevent the immediate loosening and eventual breaking of one of the swivel joints. In fact, it completely popped out and made it impossible to use my laptop. After speaking to Dell tech support (call after 10pm or be prepared to wait 30 minutes) a technician was sent out 5 days later to fix the laptop. The technician replaced the joints and all was well for a few weeks. Now, as I write this, the joints are once again starting to loosen and there is WAY too much play in the screen.....I have to set the screen entirely vertical in order for it to rest back at the correct reclined position.
Another problem with the Inspiron 7500 is the power cord. The connection from the power cord to the laptop is very loose and does not want to stay connected. Even worse, the cable wants to tangle because part of the cable is one width and another is a thicker width. Halfway through the cable there is a transformer and at this connection it has somehow been compromised----the result? I now have to fool around with twisting the power cable in order to get power to my laptop from the cable. I phone Dell 10 days ago and was promised a replacement power cord...it still has not yet come.
Summary: Great screen, exceptionally quick laptop is unfortunately ruined by spotty build quality and components that simply do not take well to being moved about. The result is a laptop that you will not feel comfortable moving around and in fact may prefer to just keep at a desk.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 2799
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: 801-900
Screen Size: 15"
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 7-9
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
DefBringer
|
|
Member: Tony Agee
Location: Lenexa, KS
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 9 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.