Dell stuffs Merom into two more, the Inspiron E1505 and E1405

No surprises here, but Dell is fleshing out their Core 2 Duo processor upgrades with two more Inspiron laptops, the E1505 and E1405. The cheapest of the cheap is a E1505 running a 1.66GHz T5500 processor for a mere $729 -- after the $100 instant rebate -- but speeds scale all the way up to the 2.16GHz T7400. The E1405 starts at $779 -- again, with a $100 instant rebate -- with the same range of processors. Other specs include a 60 or 120GB HDD, combo drive or DVD burner, and your pick of Intel 950 integrated graphics all the way up to a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 card with 256MB of memory. Both laptops also have an option for an 802.11n card, along with Bluetooth, and both still have a Core Duo option if you've got a hankerin' for Yonah. All configurations should be available now or soon from the Dell store.

Read - Inspiron E1505
Read - Inspiron E1405

[barbecued zucchini @ Sep 2nd 2006 8:16PM]

yay another huge plastic slab of a lappy... that'll break down every couple months. like my Latitude did

I just bought a T60 - wish I had waited for the core2duo....

[Raider @ Sep 2nd 2006 8:57PM]

Yup.... the Dell UnInspiron E1405 & E1505

I wish manufacturers would pick some different plastics. Like Lexan (polycarbonate)... or make some aluminum or titanium notebooks.. hell maybe even something a little more exotic, like carbon fiber. I know there are some out there... but I'll wait until those get Merom...

[Dan @ Sep 2nd 2006 9:04PM]

Apple uses Polycarbonate on their MacBook and Aluminum on the MacBook Pro. But if you're anti-Apple, well, that sucks for you. Haha.

I hope the MacBook Pro gets a new carbon fiber case or something on the 12th.

[Nana @ Sep 2nd 2006 10:04PM]

The problem is Apple doesn't have Merom in their laptops yet. How can you justify spending ~$2000 on a MacBookPro that's only a CoreDuo when you can get a laptop for $730 with a Merom? I hope Apple updates their computers soon. I hate how they always make you wait until their "Special Events"

[Nana @ Sep 2nd 2006 10:04PM]

Btw I love the Desktop pic on that "Inspiron" that was ripped off from Apple. Almost as if they're trying to trick you into thinking you're getting one.

[Joel @ Sep 2nd 2006 10:19PM]

Look. The Core 2 Duo isn't SIGNIFICANTLY faster than the core duo. Processor Speed isn't what is used to be. (that and the fact that everybody knows OSX will run just fine on just about any processor you put it on)...

Let apple give you the chip they want. If you want something faster... wait for it.

[lolersticks @ Sep 2nd 2006 10:50PM]

I actually love my new E1505 (Yonah, got it...TODAY MWAHAHA!). It feels a lot sturdier than my father's 600m, or one of the new Acer Travelmates in LCSC's Comp classes. Sure, it could be made out of a metal or a [more expensive] polycarb/fiber, but I bought this for two reasons: Price/Performance, and Weight. For the $840 I spent on this, it'd be pretty hard to find something comparable AND sturdier. Granted, it does have it's flaws (white and silver? plastic latch? [6 cell] battery life? [I got the 9 cell]), but I can press on the back of the lit fairly hard without seeing any sign of it on the screen itself.

[Bob @ Sep 2nd 2006 11:10PM]

Hey Joel,
Were you born in a barn?
Yes, it is SIGNIFICANTLY faster.
30% plus is very significant to me.
Read much? Or just like to spout off as if you know what you are talking about.. Because in this case you are dead wrong.

[Jackson @ Sep 2nd 2006 11:10PM]

Joel, You're either missing the point, or ignoring the point as you apple fanboys tend to do. Processor speed isn't what it used to be? What does that even mean? Oh yeah, it used to matter, but now who cares? Apple probably won't even bother to upgrade their chips anymore because OSX will run fine on anything. The Core 2 Duo's main advantage is that it is 64 bit and has SIGNIFICANTLY better battery life. The new Dell E1405 was just reviewed and they got something like 8 hours of battery life on a 1.6 Ghz chip. I'm sure OSX runs "fine" on a regular core duo, but it will run with better battery life on a core 2 duo. I love how whenever anything comes out that Apple doesn't have posters blindly attack it and when Apple has it first everyone is "copying" them.

[ccutlip @ Sep 2nd 2006 11:28PM]

@ Bob and Jackson:

Final Core 2 Duo Mobile benchmarked; eh, it's ok

Posted Aug 29th 2006 3:26AM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Laptops
So, now that you're totally and completely freaking sick of hearing about the Core 2 Duo mobile (aka Merom) laptops that were launched today, perhaps it'll interest you to find out exactly how well these machines perform compared to their original Core Duo counterparts? Well, without taking away too much of the reason to hit the PC Perspective benchmark bonanza that pitted the Core 2 Duo T7600 against the Core Duo T6700 -- both today's and yesterday's 2.33GHz Intel Core chips -- we can tell you that the performance was in all cases better, though not typically much more than marginally so. Under heavy load Core 2 Duo was only 2 to 6 degrees cooler (and even in some cases hotter) than the Core Duo, though in one test it did score an entire half hour more battery life. So what have we learned? Well, you can walk -- don't run -- to pick up your Merom laptop, if at all. Us? We'll be fine with our Core Duo (even our Pentium M) machines a while longer yet, thanks; somehow we don't think that 2 or 3 degrees of heat shaved off the top is really going to finally help us conceive.
______________________________________________________

The above post was on Engadget. Core 2 Duo doesn't sound worth a wait to me.

[Raider @ Sep 3rd 2006 12:13AM]

everyone chill..

there are fanboys of hating on other fanboys.

Core 2 Duo is a real decent upgrade. Longer battery life with improved performance, all for the same prices of Core Duo when they were released.

And yes I love Macs. I have about 4 of them in my house. But I like the option of alternatives. That is why I said there needs to be more notebooks made out of difference plastics than the kind that your remote control is made out of. There are some real nice Windows notebooks out there. That are more than the basic Dull... I mean Dell design. But even for a Windows machine, even some of those can get expensive for the look of the machine.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Picking on an Pro-Apple person make any difference?
Being an Apple person and responding without fully thinking of the ramifications of your statement.... solve or do anything?

EVERYONE CHILL OUT>!!

[Silver @ Sep 3rd 2006 1:27AM]

Brand new processors - same old ugly.

Hire some new industrial designers, Mr. Dell.

[Nana @ Sep 3rd 2006 1:52AM]

Fan boys are great. They make me laugh. I'm an Apple user myself but Joel's argument makes no sense. Using his argument, since OSX runs "just fine on any processor" I might as well just buy this Dell and run OSx86 on it.

[Dan @ Sep 3rd 2006 2:09AM]

I assume he meant any processor speed. As in, people can still run OS X on there Old 233MHz G3 iBook.

[Paul Smith @ Sep 3rd 2006 3:09AM]

I debated between the macbook and Dell 1405. I went with the macbook, but I couldnt fault anyone for a Dell laptop. With all the coupons/discounts they are a good bit cheaper than the Macbook.

I love the macbook and with bootcamp I can use XP. The free Nano and Printer were a good deal too.

Dell may be unattractive, unhip or whatever, but they do give you a decent looking laptop at a very attractive price.

[Gym @ Sep 3rd 2006 7:08AM]

Agree to Paul. I don't like how Dell laptops look, but the price is very attractive.

[rudoe @ Sep 3rd 2006 8:58AM]

I think the good about a Macbook Pro with Mernom will be the combination of a 64Bit CPU with a 64Bit OS (X Leopard)

[Kevin @ Sep 3rd 2006 10:20AM]

Hey guys.. i need help making a decision between hp's new 9000t core2duo laptop and dell's e1705 laptop. Any opinions? both will be maxed out thanks

[catusf @ Sep 3rd 2006 10:29AM]

Its time to get a cheap Duo machine.

[E @ Sep 3rd 2006 12:47PM]

Nana

"Btw I love the Desktop pic on that "Inspiron" that was ripped off from Apple. Almost as if they're trying to trick you into thinking you're getting one."

yeah I am sure that must be it, because everyone wants a laptop with outdated hardware isntead of a new PC laptop that always has the latest technology.

I could be wrong, but you'll have to wait for the next Apple dog and pony show at any rate.

[Dan @ Sep 3rd 2006 1:16PM]

@E

Honestly, just cut it out. Don't be so ignorant. I'd still rather buy a Mac with a Core Duo than a Dell with a Core 2 Duo. I don't care if it got a little better battery life, was a little faster, and cost a little less. PC's are simply less efficient. If you can deal with inefficiency, go ahead get a Dell, otherwise buy a Mac and spend 2 days learning how to use it rather than sit here and say "Apple sucks" because you don't use one daily.

The whole Mac vs PC thing has gotten so childish.

[CF @ Sep 3rd 2006 1:42PM]

Dan - You know nothing about computers my friend.

[Dan @ Sep 3rd 2006 2:33PM]

Actually, I know a lot about computers.

Care to put some poop behind your assumption?

[dysonlu @ Sep 3rd 2006 3:15PM]

Can any Apple-lover give me any reasonable and intelligent explanation as to why a similarly configured (in terms of tech. specs) 15.4" 2Ghz Core 2 Duo Inspiron costs around 1000$ cheaper at Dell.ca than a MacBook Pro at Apple.ca??? No joke. I really like to know why.

[SHEiK124 @ Sep 3rd 2006 3:30PM]

"PC's are simply less efficient."

No Dan, I think its safe to say you know jack about computers. How is it more inefficient? Care to put some poop behind YOUR assumption? Since Apple has gone x86 now, Macs ARE PCs, genius, the only difference is the fact that they run OSX. The hardware in a MacBook and an ASUS Windows laptop are probably damn near identical seeing as how ASUS builds the Macs, that means Windows is the only reason you see PCs to be inefficient. That's like telling someone they're inefficient for using GSM phones over CDMA, they both work, just differently.

[Dan @ Sep 3rd 2006 4:49PM]

I'm sorry. I should have been more clear. I was speaking about software, not hardware. I should have said OS X is more efficient than Windows XP. Windows is not inefficient, just less efficient.

@SHEiK124

Oh yes, you're right it's because x86 that Macs are now PC's. No, wait it's not. Macs have always been PC's. Apple was the one who popularized the term PC to begin with GENIUS. If you're going to try to make people feel stupid over the internet, know what you're talking about first.

@Dysonlu

Honestly yes I can. You'll all shut it down because, well, you know, "Macs suck" but here goes:

MacBook Pro is thinner, lighter, made of aluminum, has a built-in camera, has firewire, has a much less annoying design with things like perfectly rounded edges, and a retracting latch, backlit keyboard, magnetic power cord, it runs OS X, which means virtually no viruses, no spyware, no hackers, no extra software to protect your computer, easy searching of your files with spotlight, expose, and many many more things that are just plain easier to do on a Mac than on a PC. YES, THAN ON A PC!! Because that's what everyone calls it "Mac vs. PC".

[Dan @ Sep 3rd 2006 4:51PM]

...and when Apple does put Core 2 Duo's in, the price won't change. The MacBook Pro may also get a makeover with a similar features to the MacBook case. Nicer keyboard and magnetic latch. Less parts to brake.

[dysonlu @ Sep 3rd 2006 5:54PM]

"thinner, lighter, made of aluminum, has a built-in camera, has firewire, has a much less annoying design with things like perfectly rounded edges, and a retracting latch, backlit keyboard, magnetic power cord [...]"

Maybe it's just me but 1000$ more for these little niceties is a bit outrageous. The Inspiron has niceties such as built-in 5-in-1 flash memory reader, so if we really wanted to count every little details, they might not be far apart. So perhaps the only big difference after all is the design and looks. Sorry but shelling out close to 1000$ more for better design and looks? No thanks.

(Regarding the OS and software argument, it does not have its place in a hardware comparison.)

[Dan @ Sep 3rd 2006 6:08PM]

"(Regarding the OS and software argument, it does not have its place in a hardware comparison.)"

You're not comparing hardware, you're comparing price. Software costs money too. No doubt the Mac is more expensive. I wasn't trying to deny that. I'm just giving you a few reasons for a higher price. Also, Macs last a lot longer without maintenance (if you know how to keep your PC running they run just as long, but you rarely need to do anything to keep a Mac running).

It's obvious that I'm outnumbered, and the arguement will go on forever. So, let's just cut it out and be internet friends.

[Hi @ Sep 3rd 2006 7:55PM]

Comments should be disabled since all most of you do is turn it into a PC/Dell vs. Apple flamefest.

Rules for the retarded fanboi:

1) If your an Apple fanboi stop posting comments on PC/Dell stories.

2) If your a PC/Dell fanboi stop posting comments on Apple stories.

If your comment isn't constructive or helpful, don't leave one!

[Matt @ Sep 3rd 2006 8:00PM]

E is a fuckin cake

[QQQ @ Sep 3rd 2006 10:20PM]

Both Dell and Apple minions seem to have never grasped the concept of building their own notebook.

1 barebones laptop, 1 copy of Unix (or GNU/Linux if you're on the dole), and all the expensive components you need/want.

Pour all ingredients in a large bowl, stir slowly. This takes all of half and hour.

Serves 1. Sexier than a Dell and cheaper than a Mac. If you know enough about computers to spell the word "computer," you can pull this off.

[jackjeff @ Sep 4th 2006 7:35AM]

Does this one has a better trackpad than the previous model? I'd rather pay $100 and avoid having to buy a fucking mouse... and carry it along.. arrf... Why can't dell just have a trackpad that works?

[deetimj @ Jan 14th 2007 3:15PM]

I have an e1505 Dell notebook. I am very satisfied with its overall performance. I am having trouble with the bluetooth connection with my newly purchased jensen wbt212 headphone. The headset works great, but I can't get the mic to pair up. Any suggestions? Should I download the a2dp from audio gateway? Thanks for comments.