A Glitch In the Get-A-Long
Written: Dec 14 '99
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Pros: Screen size, image, speed, lightweight
Cons: Occasional blackouts, low-resolution speakers
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| MikeGalloway's Full Review: Dell Inspiron 3500 A366GT |
Having owned two Compaq Presario's in my previous job, I was anxious to see what Dell had to offer with its 3500 series. And, for the price ($2,800), I guess I probably expected a computer that could type for me.
After changing jobs, my new boss allowed me to purchase a laptop, and since I had always heard that Dell was top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art equipment, I ordered one from the factory. My first mistake was having NT factory installed. When I got to my new place of employment and connected to the LAN, everything worked okay for awhile. But I wanted the laptop so I could take my work home with me, and that's where the problems arose. In order to connect to my ISP at home, I had to order a new modem to even get on-line. To make a long story short, in order to get my Dell to work both at home and at work, I had to completely reconstruct my software using Windows 98 instead of NT. That took nearly three days out of my work schedule.
Several other problems I have noticed with the 3500 is -- without warning -- the system will completely shut down. It takes awhile, but eventually you can reboot and start over. This has happened on more than one occasion.
The speakers are not big enough or profound enough to let you listen to Real Audio, even at its highest level. The only way to hear Real Audio without sticking my ears to the speakers is to plug in auxiliary speakers. Then, and only then, can you enjoy Real Audio.
The biggest attributes are the screen size, which makes everything seem almost three-dimensional. The keyboard is larger than the Presario, and is easy to get used to. And the system does not take a long time to boot up, which is good when it blacks out on you out of the clear blue. The battery pack is also acceptable, getting almost three hours of usage per charge. It is also rather lightweight, easily fitting into an average computer bag.
In summation, if you're looking for something with a great sound system, and a computer that does not have occasional blackouts, the 3500 series is not for you, especially at the $2,800 range.
As for durability, the verdict is still out.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 2,800
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium II
Processor speed: 401-500
Screen Size: Greater than 15"
RAM: 64
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 4-6
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Epinions.com ID:
MikeGalloway
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Member: Mike Galloway
Location: Jacksonville, Alabama
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 2 members
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