Indonesian Laptop

The 13.3-inch Dell Vostro V131 offers small-business users long battery life, a fingerprint reader, and a stylish design.
Price as Reviewed : $889.00
Business users looking for a svelte, stylish notebook with strong performance should check out the Dell Vostro V131. Dell's update to the SMB-focused Vostro V130 rectifies one of biggest the missteps of its predecessor with a longer lasting battery. The V131 further sweetens the pot with a pair of USB 3.0 ports, a comfortable backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint reader. But has the Vostro V131 made enough strides to win us over?

CPU	2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M
Operating System	MS Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
RAM	6GB
RAM Upgradable to	8GB
Hard Drive Size	500GB
Hard Drive Speed	7,200rpm
Hard Drive Type	SATA Hard Drive
Display Size	13.3
Native Resolution	1366x768
Optical Drive	None
Optical Drive Speed	n/a
Graphics Card	Intel HD 3000 Graphics
Video Memory
Wi-Fi	802.11b/g/n
Wi-Fi Model
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 3.0
Mobile Broadband
Touchpad Size	3.25 x 1.75
Ports (excluding USB)	Gigabit Ethernet; HDMI; Headphone; USB 3.0; VGA; security lock slot
USB Ports	3
Card Slots	8-1 card reader
Warranty/Support	1 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 1 Year NBD On-Site Service
Size	12.9 x 9.4 x 0.6 - 0.8 inches
Weight	4 pounds

When we reviewed the $829 model of the Dell Inspiron 14z, we praised its sleek and stylish aluminum design and fast performance. However, its price was on the high side for a budget-conscious consumer looking for a portable system. The starting $599 version has the same slick chassis, but a less powerful Core i3 processor, only 4GB of RAM, and lacks a backlit keyboard. So does this model do enough for the price?

Performance

The base model of the Inspiron 14z we reviewed has a 2.2-GHz Intel Core i3-2330M processor and 4GB of RAM, which powered the system to a score of 4,967 in PCMark Vantage. That's about 900 points below the thin-and-light average (5,891) and about 200 points lower than the similarly priced HP Pavilion dm4t, which also has a Core i3 CPU. The $829 version of the Inspiron 14z, which has a Core i5 processor, scored a much higher 7,743. Regardless, if all you're doing is surfing the web, checking Facebook, and doing e-mail, the Core i3 model will have all the power you need.Unlike the $829 Inspiron 14z, which has a 7,200-rpm hard drive, our starting model has a slower 500GB, 5,400-rpm drive, and it showed. While it booted Windows 7 Home Premium in 1:06--nearly the same as the category average--it took a long 3 minutes and 57 seconds to duplicate 4.97GB of mixed-media files. That's a rate of 21.5 MBps, nearly 6 MBps slower than average (27.9 MBps), and less than the dm4t (24 MBps).
Thanks to the Core i3's QuickSync technology, which allows for quick video editing, the 14z transcoded a 5-minute 1080p video to an iPod touch format in 37 seconds using Cyberlink Media Espresso. It performed a complex VLOOKUP operation on 20,000 rows in a spreadsheet in OpenOffice Calc, the 14z took 8 minutes and 57 seconds, about a minute longer than the Lenovo IdeaPad V470, and about 4 minutes longer than average.

The central processor unit, or CPU, is the brain of your notebook. Learn More CPU	2.2-GHz Intel Core i3-2330M
Operating System	MS Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
The amount of memory our reviewed configuration comes with. Learn More RAM	4GB
The maximum amount of memory this notebook supports. Learn More RAM Upgradable to	8GB
Amount of data your storage drive can hold. Learn More Hard Drive Size	500GB
The rotation speed of a mechanical hard drive. Learn More Hard Drive Speed	5,400rpm
Your notebook’s storage drive (hard drive or solid state drive) holds your operating system, your programs, and your data. Learn More Hard Drive Type	SATA Hard Drive
Your notebook display is the primary viewing device for your laptop computer. Learn More Display Size	14.1
The number of pxiels (wxh) displayed on your screen at once. Learn More Native Resolution	1366x768
An optical drive allows you to play or record to DVDs, CDs, or Blu-ray discs. Learn More Optical Drive	DVD SuperMultiDrive
The speed of the optical drive. Learn More Optical Drive Speed	8X
Graphics chips are responsible for processing all images sent to your computer’s display. Learn More Graphics Card	Intel HD 3000
The amount of memory available for graphics processing. Learn More Video Memory	Shared
Wi-Fi connects you to a router or hotspot for wireless Internet access. Learn More Wi-Fi	802.11b/g/n
Wi-Fi Model
Bluetooth allows you to connect to wireless devices such as headsets, smart phones, and speakers. Bluetooth
Mobile broadband connects you to the Net from anywhere, even places with no hotspot. Learn More Mobile Broadband
Touchpad Size	3.1 x 1.75 inches
Ports allow you to connect to external devices such as monitors, printers, MP3 players, and hard drivse. Learn More Ports (excluding USB)	Ethernet; HDMI; Headphone; Kensington Lock; Mini DisplayPort
USB ports allow you to connect many external devices, from MP3 players to external hard drives. Learn More USB Ports	3
Card readers allow you to plug memory and expansion cards directly into a notebook. Learn More Card Slots	4-1 card reader
Warranty/Support
Size	13.6 x 9.7 x 0.94-inch
Weight	4.4 pounds

From:Laptopmag

The Dell Inspiron 14z (Core i5) ($750 direct), a mainstream laptop has a boat-load of features, sports a thin, attractive chassis, and breezes through any task. The eight hours of battery life only adds to the allure. Aside from some minor annoyance—the stiff-clicking mouse and irksome port covers—it should be at the top of your list for laptops to consider. As such, it earns our Editors' Choice in the mainstream laptop category.
Design
Dell Inspirons are considered entry-level laptops, yet the days of cheap, bulky plastic enclosures seem to be behind them. Indeed, the Inspiron 14z (Core i5) is fitted with a brushed aluminum top, which makes that of its predecessor, the Inspiron 14z, look like a relic. Moreover, the chassis is a complete redesign. The protruding strip from the back—which we've previously seen on the Dell XPS 15z ($1,534 direct, 4 stars)—conceals the big 65WH battery, and it measures only an inch thick, despite its built-in optical drive. The Gateway ID47H02u, Samsung QX411-W01's ($899.99 list, 3.5 stars), and Asus U46E-BAL5 ($699.99 List, 4.5 stars) sport similar designs—metal tops and inch-thick frames—putting the Inspiron 14z (Core i5) in pretty good company.


It weighs 4.5 pounds, which is similar to the Gateway ID47H02u (4.4 pounds), and lighter than the Asus U46E-BAL5 (4.9 pounds) and Samsung QX411-W01 (5.1 pounds).

Spec Data
Type General Purpose, Media
Processor Name Intel Core i5-2410M
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor Speed 2.3 GHz
RAM 6 GB
Weight 4.5 lb
Screen Size 14 inches
Screen Size Type Widescreen
Native Resolution 1366 x 768
Graphics Card Intel HD Graphics 3000
Graphics Memory 64
Storage Capacity (as Tested) 640 GB
Rotation Speed 5400 rpm
Networking Options 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive DVD+R DL
Wireless Display Capability (WiDi) Yes
WiMax No
Battery Type 65 Whr (Watt hours)
Tech Support 1 year parts and labor.
MobileMark 2007 – Standard Battery Productivity Load (hrs:min) 8:38
MobileMark 2007- Performance score 275
PCMark Vantage 2308
3-D BENCHMARK TESTS - 3DMark06 - 1,024 x 768 - Default 4759
3-D BENCHMARK TESTS - 3DMark06 - Native – 0X/4X 4053
Crysis - Medium quality - 1,024 x 768 - AA/AF=Off/Off 17.8
Lost Planet 2 (DX9) - Middle quality - 1,024 x 768- AA/AF=Off/Off 18.1
Lost Planet 2 (DX9) - High quality - Native - AA/AF= 0X/4X 6.6
MULTIMEDIA TESTS - Handbrake 1:58 min:sec
MULTIMEDIA TESTS - PhotoShop CS5 4:10 min:sec
MULTIMEDIA TESTS - CineBench 11.5 2.56



The 14-inch widescreen is as vivid as the one found in the Asus U46E-BAL5. The Samsung QX411-W01, on the other hand, uses a TV-like glass screen, which also produces vivid images but reflects more light. Like every other 14-inch laptop in its class, the 14z's screen resolution is limited to 1,366 by 768. Higher-resolution screens can be found on the Sony VAIO VPC-SA2FGX/BI($1,199.99 list, 3.5 stars) (1,600-by-900) and Dell XPS 15z (1,920-by-1,080).


The typing experience is just lovely, because it uses the same chiclet-style, slightly scalloped keys as that of the Dell XPS line—a big improvement from the previous Inspiron 14z iteration. Underneath the keys are LED backlights, which make the keyboard even more invaluable lightless rooms. It's a feature you won't find in many mainstream laptops. My only pet peeve here is that the mouse buttons gave my thumb an extensive work-out; you really have to press into them to get a response.


Features
Like every other 14-inch laptop I've mentioned so far, the 14z (Core i5) integrates a DVD burner, yet kept its dimensions as svelte as that of the Asus U46E-BAL5 and Gateway ID47H02u. It's the only one that omitted a VGA port—a forward-thinking move—and instead opted to have both HDMI and mini-DisplayPort technologies. Both connectors can transmit digital audio and video to an external display. There is one USB 2.0 port; the other two ports are USB 3.0, which transfers data at 10 times the speed of USB 2.0. Port covers, which are a pet peeve of mine, have to be peeled off to access any of the ports. Concealing ports is done for aesthetic reasons, moreso than for protection, and having to remove a port cover to get to a USB port is annoying.


The 640GB 5,400rpm hard drive isn't the biggest one available (options go up to 750GB), but it is bigger than the 500GB one found in the Gateway ID47H02u. In addition to 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connections, the 14z (Core i5) is equipped with Wireless Display 2 (WiDi 2.0), which, like HDMI and DisplayPort, transmits video and audio, but without pesky wires. You will need the Netgear HD Push2TV receiver, though, a $49 add-on from Dell's website.

Dell XPS 15z is under an inch thick and only weighs less than a pound compared to its predecessors. But it still features an Intel Core i7 processor, loud speakers and Nvidia graphics. It also comes with full HD display and six hours battery life.
Design:
If you take a quick glance of Dell XPS 15z, you will mistakenly think of it as the 15 inch MacBook Pro. Its design features aluminum lid, chrome trim all over the edges and magnesium alloy chassis that makes the laptop more stylish than those in the XPS line. It has a slightly darker metallic color deck and two speaker grilles on both sides of the keyboard with diagonal pattern continuing on the vents on the back and bottom.With 15.2 inches widescreen and 10.3 inches height, it is a bit larger than MacBook Pro’s but has the same thickness. It is 5.6 pounds in weight but is not comfortable to carry around.

Heat:
After playing a video for straight 15 minutes at full screen, this laptop from Dell remained to be cool. Its touchpad registered only 82 degrees Fahrenheit and with space in between the G and H keys were 89 and 85 degrees on the middle of the underside.

Touchpad and Keyboard
The island style keyboard of XPS 15z is one of the stylish keyboards of its size and weight. However, the rounded keys do not have as much travel as users would like. When typing on the keys, you will feel that it is too shallow. Nonetheless, the keyboard is backlit so the letters can still be seen even in darker environment. However, turning the light off would make it difficult for users to read both the numbers and letters. It also comes with a dedicated eject button for DVD drive.
It has a spacious 3.9 x 2.3 inch touchpad and is fiction free as well as responsive. The multi-touch functions such as rotate, pinch to zoom and scroll can be executed with all ease. Its two mouse buttons feel a tad mushy but it is adequately large.

Specifications:
•Intel Core i7-2620M
•2.7 GHz Processor Speed
•5.5 lbs weight
•15.6 inches widescreen
•1920 x 1080 native resolution
•750 GB storage capacity
•1 year warranty on service and parts
Pros:
•Less than an inch thick
•Luxurious aluminum design
•Backlights and great keyboard
•Excellent performance scores
•Great for gaming and comes with impressive battery life

Cons:
• Bland or flat design
• Hard to upgrade

Summary:
This time we get something different with Dell. Dell XPS 15z is a powerful, slim and well priced laptop that is only a bit thicker yet wider than a 15-inch MacBook Pro and practically weighs the same.