Dell launches the Vostro 1510 and 1310 laptops

Just like we warned, Dell's new cheapo business laptops, the Vostro 1510 and Vostro 1310 have hit virtual shelves. The 15.4- and 13.3-inch models both feature Intel CPUs (up to Core 2 Duos), a maximum of 4GB of RAM, 80GB to 250GB hard drives, and a bunch of other features that should be totally adequate for your business affairs. The 1510 starts at $599, and the 1310 at $749; both are available now.

[Via Laptoping]

[Andrew @ May 1st 2008 12:52PM]

People moaned about news of updated iMacs... I wonder if this will get trolled in the same manner.

[MachShadow @ May 1st 2008 12:58PM]

^ agreed, we'll have to see and wait for what happens. I personally think that the Vostro suite in itself is a pretty petty excuse for "business certified" laptops/workstations, though they may be cheap, the cheapest route is never the best.

[MH @ May 1st 2008 12:55PM]

Worst. Design. Ever.

[roach @ May 1st 2008 12:58PM]

No this laptop is the worst design ever.

http://www.mac4mac.com/laptop/Clamshell_iBook_G3.jpg

[Flashpoint @ May 1st 2008 1:00PM]

MH

not if your a single white female -30 something - metrosexual.

[MachShadow @ May 1st 2008 1:01PM]

^ rofl, agree 100% w/ ya roach.

[MasterCKO @ May 1st 2008 1:08PM]

@roach: agreed!

[MH @ May 1st 2008 1:10PM]

Roach, I stand corrected.

Maybe Dell should market the new Vostros along-side those iBooks.

[Mike C @ May 1st 2008 1:17PM]

When will Dell ever hire some product designers and bring their stuff into the new millennium? disgusting.

[sam @ May 1st 2008 12:58PM]

MH, its a simple cheap design, these are budget laptops, not mid-range. i'd rather have a cheap design and have faster components. the £450 1510 has a 2.1ghz core2 45nm which is nice value.

[MH @ May 1st 2008 1:05PM]

Yes but it doesn't have to look cheap. I got a Vostro 1500 a couple of months ago, and it's a much nicer design; basically a black version of their Inspiron:

http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/26177.jpg

I suspect that the popularity of the Vostro's were taking sales away from the more expensive Inspirons, and so Dell decided to hobble them. They've even made the new ones MONO! Do you know of any other notebook that isn't stereo?

[schmitty338 @ May 1st 2008 1:56PM]

"They've even made the new ones MONO! Do you know of any other notebook that isn't stereo?"

....the MacBook Air....and that costs a around 4 times more for the same or worse specs...

[MachShadow @ May 1st 2008 1:01PM]

^ agreed, we'll have to see and wait for what happens. I personally
think that the Vostro suite in itself is a pretty petty excuse for
"business certified" laptops/workstations, though they may be cheap,
the cheapest route is never the best.

[Andrew @ May 1st 2008 1:29PM]

Sorry but I disagree. Not every expensive machine works the best. Look at the MacBook Air, a very expensive machine that has had plenty of complaints. The Vostro line is great for its design and purpose. I have a 1500 and have no complaints. The 1310 does make me a little envious though.

[roach @ May 1st 2008 1:02PM]

Hey MachShadow,

"The cheapest route is not always the best"

If you can surf on it, write on it, excel on it, it's a good enough route for most people.

[MachShadow @ May 1st 2008 1:07PM]

true to a point. but then again, if thats all they need, why not go Linux??? It would run much faster and smoother on a machine like that then say "the almighty vista" ^^

[Jeff P. @ May 1st 2008 2:47PM]

Mech, these notebooks are not targeted at individuals as much as they are companies. While YOU may not want to drop your coin on these, a business that needs to buy several (or several hundred) will love them. They are perfectly suited to the average business person that just needs to do their job and not play games or even surf the web.

[Jeff P. @ May 1st 2008 2:48PM]

Dang it all, sorry: I meant to say "Machshadow" and not "Mech". A mech is a large device that transforms from a truck into a biped.

[roach @ May 1st 2008 1:03PM]

Oops...responding to first post.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ May 1st 2008 1:03PM]

No \ key under A WOOHOO!

[MH @ May 1st 2008 1:07PM]

It's a US keyboard. What do you expect?

[Jimmy Jones @ May 1st 2008 1:05PM]

I just don't like when Dell keeps copying designs from other pc makers..... it tried to make its first table look like Lenovo but it didn't quite resemble...this Vostros is another example of its copycat idea....plus the Media led buttons on top if I'm not mistaken from HP notebooks..jeez... what are the design folks in the design dept doing? running outta ideas???

Jeez...another reason for me to stick with my lenovo thinkpads..

[Low Ranked @ May 1st 2008 1:07PM]

If you bring this to any Spanish speaking country, some people may interpret Vostro as Vosotro, and end up walking away with your laptop because the model name is "Your 1510"

[MachShadow @ May 1st 2008 1:09PM]

rofl

[phanbouy @ May 1st 2008 1:16PM]

well at least it's not as shitty a name as "Inspiron".. it's like the demon love child between an 'inspiring' michael bolton song and Tron.

[phanbouy @ May 1st 2008 2:45PM]

Dude! Vosotros teneis un Dell!

[Towncivilian @ May 1st 2008 4:48PM]

I have a Dell? Free? Sweet.

[Flashpoint @ May 1st 2008 1:07PM]

HEY DELL ! Here's an idea...

Why not put out Core Duo laptops with 2GB of Ram running Windows XP + Microsoft Office.

bluetooth/ wifi/ optional wimax

improve the battery technology for 5 hours on a charge.

sell them for $500 (or less).


Why keep chasing after higher Vista specs when the majority of the business world only needs a laptop to present documents, powerpoints or data?

[Backwards People @ May 1st 2008 1:11PM]

My wife is not happy that her new notebook has Vista. It's been upgraded to SP2.

It boots a lot slower than her old Windows XP notebook.

I'll have to buy XP soon and downgrade it before I find myself on the couch!

Microsoft needs a thin OS that they can build on... like XP. Vista ME is ridiculous in so many ways.

[Alex @ May 5th 2008 12:02PM]

Umm, that's the entire point of the Vostro lineup. 2GB RAM, XP, Office, BT, WiFi, optional WiMax, and extended batteries.

[Backwards People @ May 1st 2008 1:08PM]

Going on Day 2 that Engadget is not reporting on the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray report.

Consumers liked HD-DVD. Too bad you killed it. LOL

[Joshua Ochs @ May 1st 2008 1:11PM]

Just a note...
Compare the high-end white MacBook with an upgraded hard drive to 250GB, with the Dell Vostro 1310 with an upgraded processor and Bluetooth.

You get:
MacBook: 2.4Ghz C2D, 13.3-inch 1280x800 X3100, 2GB/250GB, 8xDVD Burner, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, integrated camera, $1399
Dell: 2.5Ghz C2D, 13.3-inch 1280x800 X3100, 2GB/250GB, 8xDVD Burner, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, integrated camera, $1512

Looks like the Dell has similar ports to the MacBook (including Firewire, which surprised me), and includes an ExpressCard slot and two additional USB ports that the MacBook lacks.

Still, damn close to the same configuration, and... um... that Mac isn't overpriced _for the same functionality_.

[MachShadow @ May 1st 2008 1:16PM]

^ better functionality, better OS system, better design & archetecture. I'm not much of an apple fan, but the way that they have been improving and building upon themselves, i am thinking of getting a Mac soon.

[phanbouy @ May 1st 2008 1:38PM]

but but but but... i thought macs were always 50% more than everyone else at all times always!

[Raptor007 @ May 1st 2008 1:54PM]

Agreed Joshua. Apple's prices are very reasonable. Now, with the same components being used in Macs as PCs, we can finally debunk this "Macs are overpriced" myth by doing head-to-head comparisons like that.

[Erik @ May 1st 2008 4:32PM]

On the other hand, configuring a 17-inch Inspiron with the MBP gets different results...

Both:
2.5 GHz C2D (6MB Cache), 802.11n, 1920x1200 resolution, 3 yr warranty, 4GB RAM, Bluetooth, Webcam

MBP:
300GB HDD, 512MB graphics $3523.00

Dell:
640GB HDD (2x320GB), 256MB graphics $2147.00


Personally, I don't think OSX and an additional 256MB of video memory are worth almost $1400, but that's just me.

Don't get me wrong, OSX is very nice, but I don't have any desire to pay that much more for it.

[BPeredo @ May 1st 2008 7:09PM]

Erik,

Stating the cards themselves rather than their video memory would provide a better comparison.

Also, isn't the 1920x1200 resolution on the MacBook Pro the LED-backlit option? That would explain a significant difference in price.

[Erik @ May 1st 2008 8:39PM]

@ BPeredo:

This part is what confuses me. According to both Apple and Dell, their laptops use the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT card, yet have the difference in memory.

Also, as per the resolution, I have no idea what the base resolution of the 17" MBP is, but the upgrade is only $100 from that, so there's still quite a difference in price.

[BPeredo @ May 1st 2008 9:47PM]

@ Erik

Oh, then perhaps the Dell is the much better deal when ignoring weight, operating system, backlight, and physical dimensions.

Apple doesn't offer huge discounts like Dell so I'm guessing that's why the Inspiron is a much better deal. I guess it's up to the consumer whether the attributes mentioned above are worth the premium for the MacBook Pro.

[Timmy @ May 1st 2008 10:31PM]

I used that same laptop in 1996, only it was called an IBM Thinkpad. They must have swapped out the 486 processor for a Core Duo.

[Joshua Ochs @ May 1st 2008 1:21PM]

Working with a lower-end config it's a different situation, but still rather close. Both have:

2.1Ghz C2D, 13.3-inch 1280x800 X3100, 2GB/160GB, Combo Drive, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, integrated camera

Dell: $1163, Mac: $1249

Now the Dell is cheaper (and certainly more configurable), but it's not huge. Just more food for thought.

[CraigJ @ May 1st 2008 1:50PM]

Well don't forget with the Mac you are getting Leopard and iLife, not Windows...

That's more than worth the difference right there...

[zargon @ May 2nd 2008 7:53AM]

"Well don't forget with the Mac you are getting Leopard and iLife, not Windows...

That's more than worth the difference right there..."

To some, but not to all.

Why do all you Apple fanboys think that OS X is the only and the best solution?

[fuzzy @ May 1st 2008 1:20PM]

Meh, the 13" still is only WXGA. I thought that with the X300 coming out with WXGA+ in a 13" panel, more companies would follow suit. :( So far, no others.

[Joshua.JWilliams @ May 1st 2008 1:23PM]

Now if I could only have that 13.3" anti-glare display put on my XPS M1330, I'd be all set. I'm hoping Dell starts offering anti-glare displays on their XPS lines soon. This glossy display fascination is the ONLY thing I don't like about my current laptop.

People complain that the 1280x800 resolution is too crappy; but for me -- it's completely fine. I'd hate to have a real high resolution on such a small display.

[Raptor007 @ May 1st 2008 2:00PM]

I completely agree about the glossy screens. I hope laptop makers get over this lame fad, and we can get back to sensible matte screens. Glossy glare is just awful. I customized my MacBook Pro and made sure NOT to get the glossy screen.

But as for resolution... I have 1920x1200 in 17", and it's awesome. Sure the pixels are small, but when do you ever sit far away from a laptop screen? Everything is so sharp, and I can still read 8-point font no problem.

[Joshua.JWilliams @ May 1st 2008 3:05PM]

I don't see why it is such a big deal for companies to offer choice in their display line up. Your MBP is quite a bit difference price wise from my entry level spec'ed M1330... Look at the Macbook users, they're at the same disadvantage --- only glossy screens.... no other options. They must upgrade over $1,000 for a MBP. Ridiculous.

Sigh, I'm going to eventually try and see if I can get an anti-glare filter for my laptop; only other option is sell it at a considerble loss -- all because of a crappy glossy screen.

Go to your local Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. --- all that you'll see is endless laptops with glossy screens. When will this silly fad end. Computer manufacturers get with it; not everyone likes these current options!

[Lein @ May 1st 2008 1:41PM]

Anyone comparing the 1310 to the Macbook to this notice the optional Geforce 8400m GS? Tack on the 6- or 9-cell battery, and I dare say you've got quite the affordable lightweight gaming machine.

That's a major score in my opinion. If Apple can cram the 8600m stuff into a thinner frame of the Pro, there's no damned reason they can't wedge the 8400m GS, or even G (or hell, maybe some of the new 9-series parts) into their 13.3" laptop.

Also, doesn't the 1310 weigh less than the Macbook?

[bobbywigs @ May 1st 2008 1:53PM]

it's totally designed for corporate cube monkeys such as myself. do not look for beauty here.

[phanbouy @ May 1st 2008 2:03PM]

speak for yourself! i'm a corporate cube lemur