Pros: Beautiful screen, fast loading, insane amount of ports, ability to multi-task.
Cons: Weight, battery life, price (depending on configuration).
The Bottom Line: This machine is exactly what is advertised. With a beautiful display, fast accessible hard drive and memory along with multi-tasking ability this laptop is a great buy.
renny18's Full Review: Dell Inspiron™ E1705 PC Notebook
The hard drive in my family desktop computer decided it was time to say goodbye to this world so I thought now would be a good time to upgrade and invest in my own computer, preferably a laptop with the power of a desktop. This way my dad can use the desktop (after new hard drive) for his very own. So I looked at Dell since I have had good experiences with them in the past. I decided on the Dell E1705 due to it's huge screen and horsepower...oh and it was on sale :)
So what's under the hood?
I purchased the E1705 with the following configuration:
Windows XP Home Edition OS
T2500 Dual Processor 2.0ghz
17 inch Ultra Sharp WUXGA
2GB 667mhz memory
256mb Nvidia Geforce video card
60gb 7200rpm SATA hard drive
Upgraded sound card
CD/DVD writable drive
Ports:
IEEE 1394 Integrated Port
6 USB 2.0
5 in 1 removable memory card reader
Video 15 pin monitor connection
Digital Video Interface (DVI)
S Video
Audio Jacks
Can I have it my way?
Sure thing. I configured it like this because I enjoy playing games and watching movies which can be very demanding on a computer. While configuring this computer on the Dell website many options are included for all components.
For operating systems you can choose from Windows XP Home, Media Center or Professional. The processor is available from 1.66ghz up to 2.16ghz. Memory ranges from 1gb all the way up to 2gb with varying speeds of 533 to 667mhz. The video card at the time of purchase offered a 128mb card with an upgrade to 256mb option. There were multiple choices for hard drive ranging from 60gb to 120gb at either 5400rpm or 7200rpm speeds. At the time of purchase the WUXGA screen and DVD/CD-R drive were the only options. The system also comes with a wireless network card and sound card (upgrade available).
What about software?
The computer came with the following software:
Microsoft Office (included Word, Excel, Outlook)
CD and DVD recording software
Windows Media Player
McAfee Security
The McAfee security includes a personal firewall, anti-virus program, spam killer and personal information program. A 36 month subscription is included which is great. Aside from those essentials, it unfortunately was also brimming with trial software which can easily be removed (ex: AOL, various media software, etc).
Setting it up
Set up is extremely easy. Once you've got everything plugged in, power it on and start going through the initial Windows set up. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes. The first thing that I did was begin to remove all the trial software followed by setting up my internet connection. The network wizard was very easy to use and detected my wireless network easily. I also took the time to gather all the latest updates for McAfee which took awhile due to all the restarts.
Bottom line, how does it look and perform?
The screen supports up to 1920 x 1280 pixel resolution. Couple this with the clear and bright screen and you have a magnificent screen display. The colors are vibrant and lines are clear. I am currently playing a demanding game called World of Warcraft and the game looks outstanding, outperforming my expectations. The bootup is also very fast thanks to the higher speed hard drive. Programs are accessed seconds after clicking on them. The mouse field is sensitive enough and has 2 big buttons which are nice to the touch. I prefer using a mouse though which is no problem thanks to it's 6 USB 2.0 ports. The keyboard is very sturdy and quiet and easy to use. The sound is pretty good and has a built in subwoofer although I opted for a couple external speakers and subwoofer for better effect.
The nice thing about this computer though is that it comes with a dual processor which means it's a multi-tasking guru. Now I can perform a virus scan, burn a CD and surf the web at the same time with no slow down. In my other desktop if I ran a virus scan I'd pretty much head to the kitchen and make a sandwich until it finished :)
The only drawbacks to this machine that I see are it's weight, battery and price. The machine actually weighs a lot less than I thought it would but I still wouldn't recommend this for a traveler. The standard battery is pretty bad. It lasts about 2 hours at best for me. Understandable though due to how strong this laptop is. An option for a better battery is available at time of purchase although that will cost you. Lastly the price. Depends on your configuration really but it can get up there pretty quickly. My laptop was configured at around $2800 but due to the sale got it for $1850.
Bottom Line
Bottom line is that this machine is exactly what is advertised. The power of a gaming desktop in laptop form. With a beautiful display, fast accessible hard drive and memory along with multi-tasking ability this laptop is a great buy. Look for specials on Dell's website to grab one. I managed to get mine for 34% off.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1850 Operating System: Windows Processor: Other Processor speed: over 1000 Screen Size: Greater than 15 inches RAM: More than 256 Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.