The Dell Inspiron 1520 is a 15.4″ screen mainstream multimedia notebook that competes head-on with the likes of the HP dv6500t and Sony VAIO FZ. Dell has always been known for its direct to order model and ability to configure to your hearts delight, and now they’ve taken that a step further by giving you the ability to customize the color of your notebook from a selection of eight colors. In addition to prettying up the design Dell also introduces the new Intel Santa Rosa chipset and Nvidia go 8600m graphics in the Inspiron 1520.
The Inspiron 1520 is the follow-on to the popular Inspiron e1505 notebook. The Inspiron 1520 offers the latest Intel platform, dubbed Santa Rosa, that offers faster processor speeds, a new and improved integrated graphics solution, Intel’s 802.11n wireless chipset and a larger amount of processor memory cache on certain processors.
System as Reviewed
The specs for the Inspiron 1520 as reviewed are the following:
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz / 4MB L2 Cache)
- Screen: 15.4″ WSXGA Glossy Display
- Hard Drive: 160GB 5400RPM
- Color: Jet Black lid
- Optical Drive: 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
- Graphics: Nvidia 8600M GT
- Memory: 2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM
- Wireless: Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN
- Battery: 9-cell extended life
- Ports: 4 Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0), IEEE 1394 Firewire, TV out (S-video), Integrated Consumer IR (remote control receiver), 5-in-1 digital media card reader, headphone out, microphone in, RJ-11 (modem), RJ-45 (LAN), VGA out
I paid around $1,300 after all was said and done. Using the ubiquitous Dell coupons found around the web you can drive the price down a bit. Dell is always one of the tops when it comes to price competition
Places to buy
The story is pretty simple with Dell, if you want to buy a notebook you can go to their website and configure one, call and order over the phone or go to a Dell kiosk in a mall and place an order. Either way the notebook will be delivered to you via mail!
What you get
- Inside the box you get the Dell Inspiron 1520
- CDs with preinstalled software and driver files
- Product info guide and Owner’s Manual
- Ear buds in a small black bag
- A/C Adapter
- Remote Control
- Battery
Weigh in
One thing I like to always do with any new gadget I get is take it to the scales and see how much it weighs:
| Notebook | Actual Weight |
| Dell Inspiron 1520 (15.4″ screen, 9-cell battery) | 7.4lbs |
| HP Pavilion dv6500t (15.4� screen, 6-cell battery) | 6.10lbs |
| Sony VAIO FZ (15.4� screen, 6-cell battery) | 5.62lbs |
With the 9-cell battery you can see the Inspiron 1520 is quite a beast in terms of weight! It’s well over a pound more than the HP dv6500t with a 6-cell battery. If you’re lugging 7.4lbs around for more than 10 minutes, you will begin to feel that weight on your shoulder for sure.
When you add the power brick and charge lead into the weight, commonly called the travel weight of the notebook, the total weight comes to about 8.5lbs. Yikes! That’s really a lot of weight to be carrying in a backpack, this mainstream laptop is not for the weak and I would not recommend it for carrying around campus. At least get the 6-cell battery to cut back on the weight if you really do want to lug this big boy around.
Size-Up
Another interesting metric I like to look at is the dimensions of the notebook compared to similar notebooks.
| Notebook | Dimensions |
| HP Pavilion dv6500t (15.4� screen) | 14.05″ (W) x 1� - 1.69″ (max H) x 10.12″ (D) |
| Dell Inspiron 1520 (15.4� screen) | 14.12 (W) x 1.47 - 1.65� (H) x 10.59� (D) |
| Sony VAIO FE (15.4� screen) | 14.41� (W) x 1.02� -1.39� (H) x 10.81� (D) |
| Sony VAIO FZ (15.4� screen) | 14″(W) x 0.98-1.4″(H) x 10.02″(D) |
At its thinnest point the Inspiron 1520 is 1.5 inches, so it’s definitely a thick notebook. You can see by looking at the comparison chart it’s one of the thickest 15.4″ screen notebooks out there for the major brands.
Below are some pictures of the HP dv6500t Special Edition notebook with the Dell Inspiron 1520 so you can see some comparisons.
I have to say that the large size and weight of the Inspiron 1520 relative to the other 15.4″ notebooks I’ve used is probably its biggest downfall.
Looks
The Inspiron 1520 allows for customization of color for the lid. This is a nice option, although I sometimes find that too much choice leads to indecision in the configuration process and you always second guess if another color might have been better after you finally decide on one.
The actual design and shape of the Inspiron 1520 isn’t that inspiring though, it looks much like the old Inspiron e1505 did, except they took the white bumpers off of it. I wouldn’t call the design innovative or particularly striking, overall I would use the word “muscular” to sum up how the Inspiron 1520 looks. It’s big and beefy looking.
Below is a group shot of the Inspiron 1520 with the Sony VAIO FZ and HP dv6500t, all three are 15.4″ screen notebooks.
The good news with the lid of the Inspiron 1520 is that it doesn’t really pick up fingerprints and is easy to keep clean, the HP dv6500t glossy lid is a pain to keep clean as it’s a fingerprint magnet.
Construction
The overall build of the Inspiron 1520 is quite amazing, there’s no flex in the body. I complained about the weight, but it’s clear that the material used to build this notebook is thick and rigid and thereby contributes to it being solid but heavy.
The lid has a latch to hold it down, ensuring the screen won’t accidentally open at any time. The hinges for the screen feel extremely firm, I have no doubt they’ll hold up over time. The lid cover itself is rock solid and will protect the screen with ease.
This is one of the sturdiest consumer notebooks I’ve come across.
Ports
The port selection of the Dell Inspiron 1520 is pretty standard for a mainstream multimedia notebook. Again I�ll compare it to what similar notebooks have so you get an idea of where it stands relative to competition
| Ports | Inspiron 1520 | HP dv6500t | Sony VAIO FZ |
| USB 2.0 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| FireWire | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Media Card Reader | Yes (8-in-1) | 4-in-1 | Yes (MS and SD) |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Modem | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone out | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone in | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monitor out | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI | No | Yes | Yes (optional) |
| DVI-D | No | No | No |
| S-Video | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressCard Slot | Yes (54mm) | Yes (34mm/54mm) | Yes (34mm) |
| PCMCIA Slot | No | No | No |
| Expansion Dock Port | No | Yes | No |
Let�s take a look at the port offerings and locations on Inspiron 1520:
On the front side you have the multimedia buttons, and you can see the screen latch.
On the left side you get a lock slot, Wi-Fi catcher (used for detecting wi-fi signals), microphone port, headphone port, ExpressCard 54mm slot.
On the right side is the optical drive, 8-in-1 card reader, FireWire port, VGA out port, LAN port, and 2 USB 2.0 ports
On the back side is an S-Video port, 2 USB ports, power jack and on the far right a modem port.
Keyboard
The keys on the Inspiron 1520 keyboard are well placed, I have no complaints there. The feel of the keys is nice too, they have a bit of a grip to them. The travel is a bit shallow and light touch typists will prefer this keyboard over those that like to pound on a keyboard and get a ton of travel with a key. There’s no sag to the keyboard anywhere, it’s very firm.
The touchpad works fine, it has horizontal and vertical scroll areas and the mouse buttons are quite nice. It would be nice if there were an on/off switch for the touchpad like the HP dv6500t offers, instead you have to go into software and disable it.
The media buttons on the front of the Inspiron 1520 are certainly nice to have, it’s good that there located here, you can close the lid of the notebook and still control the media if you direct the notebook not to go to sleep when the lid is closed. If you configure a Blu-Ray drive in the 1520 it is quite conceivable you could be using it to play media that’s output to the TV. It’s just a shame Dell didn’t include a hi-def output port, the best you can do is S-Video output.
The Wi-Fi catcher on the left side of the notebook is a nice button to have. You simply push it and it lights up green if it detects wireless access points in the vicinity. It can also be used to turn wireless on/off.
On top of the keyboard is the power button and another button that you push to get to the Dell quick launch media system, this software allows you to boot to a Linux OS in 10-seconds or less to view image files, listen to music or watch a DVD. The media buttons work within this mode.
You also get a remote control with the Inspiron 1520 that fits into the ExpressCard 54mm slot for storage. This is a nice extra touch, especially if you want to control movies from a distance.
Screen
It’s really great that Dell offers WSXGA+ resolution on the 1520, it’s nice to have extra viewing real estate but not have resolution so high that you can’t read text. This is pretty much so the perfect resolution for my needs. You can get a WXGA, WXGA+ or WSXGA+ resolution screen so you’ve got options.
The screen is fairly bright, though not as bright as recent Sony or Fujitsu notebook screens I’ve seen. I found there’s a bit of graininess on this screen if you stare hard enough. With the glossy screen colors are bright and bold, but you will get reflection from strong lighting. Viewing angles are so-so, about average among other notebooks.
Sound
The speakers for the Inspiron 1520 are located under the front side area. This seems to work fairly well for projecting sound forward. The volume can get loud, and it’s a fairly crisp audio experience, above average for notebooks I would say but still not stunning. Dell included a pair of earbuds with the Inspiron 1520, you get these if you opt for the webcam and integrated microphone during configuration.
Performance
The Inspiron 1520 has been a joy to use, it’s extremely snappy with the Intel T7300 2.0GHz processor and Nvidia 8600m graphics. Bootup is fast, and programs load instantly in Vista. Indeed I think this could be the snappiest notebook I’ve used to date. You can get up to a 2.2GHz processor at the moment, I think that would be overkill given the amazing performance the 2.0GHz T7300 already gives.
I ran the popular 3DMark06 on the Inspiron 1520 and got a score of 2,921 3DMarks, which is quite impressive. This notebook is certainly ready to do some gaming.
I ran PCMark05 on the 1520 to get an overall system performance score, you can see that the system performs very well with a 4,670 score. This result was gained using out of the box configuration settings and before any of the bloatware was removed from the system.
I also ran Cinebench, a benchmark that tests the graphic and dual processor capabilities of a notebook, the Inspiron 1520 scored an excellent 628 with the configuration I have.
Remember that the configuration of the Inspiron 1520 as reviewed is pretty high-end, the performance will vary a lot depending on how you configure the 1520. Bottom line is that you can really configure this notebook to be powerful if you want to though.
Noise
The Inspiron 1520 is fairly quiet, at no time did it get really loud with fans. Basically you won’t hear this notebook at all in an environment with ambient noise, and if you’re in a library it won’t get loud enough to annoy anyone.
Heat
I’ve been completely amazed by the total lack of heat buildup in the Inspiron 1520. Even though it’s a very powerful machine, there’s simply nothing to talk about regarding heat issues other than there are no issues! Well done in designing a cool running notebook Dell.
Battery
The 9-cell battery gave me about 3.5 hours of battery life while it was mostly idling but with wireless on and the screen at about medium brightness. My guess is you could maybe stretch the 9-cell battery to four hours. More realistically you’ll get about 3 hours of battery life under normal usage. With a 6-cell battery you’re probably looking at about 2 hours of battery life under normal usage. Not bad overall. The major problem with the 9-cell battery is that it sticks out and adds extra weight.
Conclusion
The Inspiron 1520 is definitely an improvement on the Inspiron e1505 and I like the new option of configuring the lid color to give the notebook a more personal touch. The performance can be really amazing if you get a high-end processor and Nvidia 8600m graphics card. Options for built-in Verizon EVDO is certainly nice to have for those that want to be connected while on the road too. The only problem with being on the road with this laptop is that it’s heavy and chunky, so it’s not the easiest thing in the world to lug around.
Cheers
- Nice personalization option with lid color selection
- Excellent performance with Intel Santa Rosa processor and Nvidia card
- Good screen options
- Very cool running and quiet notebook
- Excellent build quality, very solid
- Very good wireless connectivity options
- Good price
Jeers
- They added color to the outside, but the design is still kind of bland on the inside
- Chunky thick and heavy
- No high-def out port such as DVI or HDMI, baffling given you can configure a Blu-Ray drive
July 11th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Excellent review! Thanks!
July 12th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Really best review! Thanks very much!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:42 am
very nice review and image comparisons thanks
July 12th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Thanks for the positive feedback, glad to help
July 12th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Hey Jason,
First thing’s first, very good review…I really appreciate the detail in the way you look at notebooks, and the 1520 in particular because my bf is very interested in it.
Thing is, he likes the idea of having a laptop to actually carry around if necessary, and the 1520 obviously is abit of a “big boy”, shall we say. Do you know of anything else out there right now that has the same “Cheers” as the 1520? (special videogaming stuff isn’t important, just office work) What about the 1420?
Thanks
July 14th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Very good review and very helpful. I have a question: Did you request the Expresscard remote control when you ordered your system or this arrived with the laptop by default?
July 14th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I would love to know that too.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:37 am
I believe it is an option under the media centre enhancements. It’s free of cost but isn’t included by default
that’s wat I see on Dell.ca anyways..
July 18th, 2007 at 6:16 am
very nice review..
just a question: how tall is the AC/DC adapter?
July 20th, 2007 at 6:41 am
The remote is a default attachment. It comes with the package. It is usually inserted in the Express card slot. And its pretty good looking.
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:54 am
@ Agatha:
Checkout the HP dv6500t or the Inspiron 1420 might be a good choice. I wouldn’t worry too much about the size if your boyfriend is just going to be using it for office work around the house. If he wants to be using it on the go that might be an issue though.
July 25th, 2007 at 6:05 am
First of all, I should thank you for your nice and detailed reviews of exactly those three laptops which I
July 29th, 2007 at 2:33 am
Honestly speaking the the Dell inspiron 1520 because the HP Pavilion DV6500 runs rather loud, IE. classroom taking notes, the keypad is sticky, feels more flemsy than the dell,you can put a better graphics card, Don’t get me wrong HP is a GREAT brand, but on this i must say the Dell got it hands down.
July 29th, 2007 at 2:36 am
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3808 Another review i found to help you guys out this went face to face 1520 by dell vs the dv6500 by HP.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:04 pm
When I ordered my 1520, I did not saw the code of piece for the remote control in the order confirmation. You ordered It explicitly? Does it appear in the codes of the confirmation?
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:30 am
Hey thanks for giving such a detailed review. My father is getting one for my birthday and I wanted a good comparison and I got one. So thanks, Cyntha
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:33 am
thanks for the detailed review my father is going to get me one for my bithday and I needed to find a good site for pros n cons n i found one so thanx!!!
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:47 am
Great write-up by reviewer. I agree with what has been said in the review.
I have spent months evaluating and testing the three computers mentioned herein; Dell 1520, Sony FZ and HP 6500t. I know how much time can be spent (wasted) trying to get it right. Therefore, I felt compelled to write up my own detailed thoughts about them. I think in the end, I got it right. I hope this helps anyone else out there wanting a high end 15.4″. I want the power of an entertainment/work PC without the huge form factor of the 17″. Unfortunately, no on provides the perfect solution in this notebook size, making the decision pretty tough.
First bought the HP 6500t; special edition, loaded up. Loved the form factor and feel. Although the only screen opition is 1280 x 800, the color was indeed bright and beautiful. However, the 8400m GS graphics card is not sufficient to handle serious games except on the lowest of low settings. Don’t expect better with the FZ’s 8400m GT. The HP computer scored a Vista Experience of 3.1. Graphics being the key holdbacks. I didn’t feel that it was acceptable for a $1,270 new laptop. I sent it back to HP. All I can say is that HP has incredible customer service. In that regard, I am disappointed to leave them. Also I will miss the fingerprint reader, HDMI out and fast docking port; but these are all secondary “nice to haves” for me.
However, I just got a 1520 with specs exactly like those of this review except I opted for the wireless N and the WXGA+. The 1440 x 900 display is great. It is the brightest of the three options and looks great. Also, I spent the money for the 7200rpm. Let me now end the 7200 vs. 5400 debate; the 7200rpm drive is much, much faster on bootup and loadup of programs. Let me tell you, this computer is smoking fast. Vista experience jumped to 4.8; very good. Many of the Vista Experience factors are in the low 5’s. Although not a huge gamer, I can run Call of Duty 2 at very high settings and it looks stunning and plays great.
I would highly recommend this setup on the 1520 if you are at all inclined to have a powerful graphics experience (games and video editing). Go with the HP or Sony FZ if you want a nice bright screen and good movie watching. However, neither of the 6500 or FZ will cut it on texture intensive graphics applications. I would go with HP over Sony due to overwhelmingly better customer support, equal or better form factor HP (special edition) and better pricing.
I have to say again that HP absolutely won me over on several occassions with their amazing support. They are making a huge mistake by not offering an 8600 card in this model (even 8600m GS would be fine based on 3D marks people are posting for that one). I would have kept the HP if it offered a 8600 card. If you go with Dell, try to find someone who has a business account manager. This person will have a direct phone extension and can place a consumer order for you. It is like a majic key into the Dell “machinery”. Once I got this established, Dell became great to work with. However, calling in to their main consumer lines is like beating your head against a wall of spikes. However, I was dealing with them during the huge back to school rush, so I probably saw Dell at its worst.
I got the 1520 for $1,266. To make a long story short, I got a bit lucky. Again though, a business rep can help you trim the cost from what is achievable on the Dell website. I saved $348 based on what Dell.com is currently pricing the same rig.
Bottom line: Games/intensive video apps = Dell 1520 loaded; Normal user, basic graphics/web videos/movies = HP 6500t special edition. Extreme portability / beautiful screen / price not as important = FZ.
Hope this helps.
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:48 am
Great write-up by reviewer. I agree with what has been said in the review.
I have spent months evaluating and testing the three computers mentioned herein; Dell 1520, Sony FZ and HP 6500t. I know how much time can be spent (wasted) trying to get it right. Therefore, I felt compelled to write up my own detailed thoughts about them. I think in the end, I got it right. I hope this helps anyone else out there wanting a high end 15.4″. I want the power of an entertainment/work PC without the huge form factor of the 17″. Unfortunately, no on provides the perfect solution in this notebook size, making the decision pretty tough.
First bought the HP 6500t; special edition, loaded up. Loved the form factor and feel. Although the only screen opition is 1280 x 800, the color was indeed bright and beautiful. However, the 8400m GS graphics card is not sufficient to handle serious games except on the lowest of low settings. Don’t expect better with the FZ’s 8400m GT. The HP computer scored a Vista Experience of 3.1. Graphics being the key holdbacks. I didn’t feel that it was acceptable for a $1,270 new laptop. I sent it back to HP. All I can say is that HP has incredible customer service. In that regard, I am disappointed to leave them. Also I will miss the fingerprint reader, HDMI out and fast docking port; but these are all secondary “nice to haves” for me.
However, I just got a 1520 with specs exactly like those of this review except I opted for the wireless N and the WXGA+. The 1440 x 900 display is great. It is the brightest of the three options and looks great. Also, I spent the money for the 7200rpm. Let me now end the 7200 vs. 5400 debate; the 7200rpm drive is much, much faster on bootup and loadup of programs. Let me tell you, this computer is smoking fast. Vista experience jumped to 4.8; very good. Many of the Vista Experience factors are in the low 5’s. Although not a huge gamer, I can run Call of Duty 2 at very high settings and it looks stunning and plays great.
I would highly recommend this setup on the 1520 if you are at all inclined to have a powerful graphics experience (games and video editing). Go with the HP or Sony FZ if you want a nice bright screen and good movie watching. However, neither of the 6500 or FZ will cut it on texture intensive graphics applications. I would go with HP over Sony due to overwhelmingly better customer support, equal or better form factor HP (special edition) and better pricing.
I have to say again that HP absolutely won me over on several occassions with their amazing support. They are making a huge mistake by not offering an 8600 card in this model (even 8600m GS would be fine based on 3D marks people are posting for that one). I would have kept the HP if it offered a 8600 card. If you go with Dell, try to find someone who has a business account manager. This person will have a direct phone extension and can place a consumer order for you. It is like a majic key into the Dell “machinery”. Once I got this established, Dell became great to work with. However, calling in to their main consumer lines is like beating your head against a wall of spikes. However, I was dealing with them during the huge back to school rush, so I probably saw Dell at its worst.
I got the 1520 for $1,266. To make a long story short, I got a bit lucky. Again though, a business rep can help you trim the cost from what is achievable on the Dell website. I saved $348 based on what Dell.com is currently pricing the same rig.
Bottom line: Games/intensive video apps = Dell 1520 loaded; Normal user, basic graphics/web videos/movies = HP 6500t special edition. Extreme portability / beautiful screen / price not as important = FZ.
Hope this helps.
September 19th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
dell is the best but i’d like to know how much
plz send me ur answer
with my thanks
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:06 am
Great review! I bought EXACTLY the same thing as you, Brad. The only difference is that I got the 2.0GHz processor with only 2MB of cache! So yours is a whole FIFTY bucks better than mine!!! In total, with three years of LoJack and accidental damage plan (an arm and a leg), I paid about $1900 for it. You can subtract about $300 for the insurance. I love the speed of the machine. It scored a Vista Aero score of 4.5 WITH a whole bunch of crap running! Surely it could be a bit higher! The only downside is that I’ve heard bad things about the 1680X1050 monitor. I’ve heard that there are “crappy” versions, and then a superior LG model. I was wondering, how can you tell what model screen you have? Also, I’ve heard that the aforementioned monitor is actually a sub-par 6-bit color, whereas 8-bit is usually the standard. Having had yours for a few months, would you know anything about these specifications??? Or do you just not care like most people?? (I wish I didn’t care, honestly!)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
October 5th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Hello, I was looking at the pictures and I saw that some laptops’ insides looks kind of a gold color, and some of them look just gray. Why is this happening? Is it because the choice of lid or just the color of the laptop? I’m confused. :S
October 26th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I just ordered Expresso Brown and am nervous because I can’t see a sample in real life. I would love to hear from brown owners. Is it goldish inside?
December 7th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I’ll be getting one next week. Excellent review. Thanks very much.
December 11th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Ordered mine yesterday, bit suprised to see i have to wait till mid-January.
Well, guess i could have expected it, holiday’s and all.
I couldn’t find anything about the nice remote control, so I’m hoping its included. (probably not)
btw. Great review.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Firs of all thanks 4 such a great info. I cant decide between Inspiron 1520 and HP 6500t special edition, Inspiron seems 2 be a better choice and with same price. I have one question though. Does Inspiron 1520 comes with Black keyboard or white?
thanks so much
nick
December 15th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
The keyboard is silver/grey, or what you may call white. The inside of the laptop is Also silver/grey and not gold.
Great review, and thanks
Daniel
December 16th, 2007 at 5:34 am
Great review, It helped me with buying it!
February 7th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I just got my Dell Inspiron 1520 with maxed out processor and 8600m GT onboard. I have to say this is one of the worst performing laptops I’ve ever used. Everytime I run any remotely decent or graphic intensive game, I get the infamous nv4_disp stop error. Just look it up, it’s a problem Nvidia has had for years with their drivers. I’ve had the stop errors with past nvidia cards, but those were usually with desktop machines.
I’ve tried reinstalling drivers, flashing the bios, trying third party modified drivers, and nothing worked. The only thing more useless than the video drivers are the people at dell tech support who merely suggest my system is incompatible with the games I’m playing. Completely unacceptable and baseless answer. Minimum system requirements for games are extremely low and my hardware far exceeds those requirements anyway. I’ve run the same games on 4 year old machines, so why can’t this one do the same?
February 20th, 2008 at 12:07 am
gezzZZ!!! i address it wrong?! my first post dated Feb. 20, 2008 is not intended for you francis im sorry… its for Steven Howell the wors commentator on earth…
April 30th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Hi
I bought 2 pcs pf the 1520 myself - haven’t finish paying for it..battery has to be replace before the year was up, the power cord had to also be replaced before the year was up. Now i am 1 1/2 into it and the LCD screen went…Cost to repair $500.00 —OMG more than what the laptop is worth. Won’t buy another Dell for that reason…
Both issues were involved with both units.
Good Luck!
May 7th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Awesome, awesome review!!! very nicely done! I, too, am the proud owner of the lovely Dell Inspiron 1520. My 1520 mis tweaked to the max with lovely features and components, all topped off with Windows Vista Ultimate. I can’t wait for Windows 7. But anyway, I just absolutely adore my 1520. Even now, a year and half of owning it, it still looks and works as thought it was just bought today. I love it and highly recommend it to everyone, even now. Thanks!
May 21st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Absolutely and positively the very best review of the Dell Inspiron 1520 that I have ever read or seen! I, too, am the proud owner of a Dell Inspiron 1520. I bought mine out of the Dell Outlet store. Story is, I had configured one to be built brand new with everything that this one came with except one minor thing, and the one that I would have had built was going to cost me roughly $2500.00 or better. I went to Dell Outlet Store, and I found one almost exactly like the one that I was planning to have built, and it was only $1100. Upon calling and talking to the rep, he said that this laptop was listed as refurbished Only because that was the only way they could sell it for that price out of the outlet store. he further stated that what happened was a customer had this one built, but then cancelled the order just after it was built and before it could be sent out. He even clarified this with a guaranteed written letter to me. What he really did was cut me a very big break. I was so happy when I got my Inspiron 1520, and have been extremely happy with it ever since. So, I totally agree with this person’s review; Finally, someone got it right with their review of the actually Inspiron 1520, and they didn’t let any poor customer service, if any, cloud their judgment as so many others have done. Great job, dude!!
September 15th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Hello,
Well it has been a while since I left my first review of my Dell Inspiron 1520, and nothing has changed..well…one thing has… that is I like it even more now, even after all this time. It is just a solid built and solid-performing laptop, packed with the highest quality components and features. Tow years into having this awesome laptop and it still really outlooks and outperforms many newer laptops. Dell sure had a winner on their hands with the Inspiron 1520. It is too bad that they didn’t stick with the 1520, because the crap they are coming out with now in the Inspiron line doesn’t even come close to comparing with their 1520. I love love love my 1520. Thanks.
October 19th, 2009 at 1:03 am
Hello
This is by far the best review of a laptop that I have ever read or found… and the best part is…it’s a review about my favorite laptops (I also own a 1520) of all time so far. My Dell Inspiron is superb, and it’s a real blessing to come on here and find a detail-for-detail review of my baby! Great job to whoever did up this review. I know that it took a lot of time and effort to put all of this together. And anyone that doesn’t at least applaud your effort with this, even if they don’t like the review, well, let’s just say they must not appreciate hard work and dedication. Way To Go, Dude or Dudette!!! Way To Go!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 am
Hello,
I also have a wonderful Dell Inspiron 1520. I bought it right when it came out in July, 2007. So I have had mine for some time now, but I tell you what; My Dell Inspiron 1520 still looks as thought I just took it out of the box, and it performs as such too. It is still a pure positive and amazing performing machine. I love my Dell 1520. So naturally, when I first started reading your review and saw the negarive statements about the 1520, I started to get angry and very defensive, all because mine still works wonderfully after 2 years. But as I read on down and the rest of the review, and saw all the wonderful true points you made about the 1520, it cooled my jets. And I have to say, with taking the good with the bad, that you did an awesome and outstanding job with this review. I just love your review and the truth that is in it! Thanks for reading!!