If I were in the market, a comparison of inexpensive laptops would interest me, so I have one of my own to share. I still use my 3-yr old laptop, but make suggestions to others when they ask. Sometimes I receive the computer to finish little setups and remove all the bloatware for them.
Both were purchased from the manufacturer web site when they were running a discount.
The players:
Dell Inspiron 1545 purchased March 2010 for $423 + tax.
(webcam was a $25 option added to $398 base price)
Lenovo G550 purchased September 2009 for $399 + tax.
(webcam included)
They have much in common, thus I decided to compare them for you.
= CPU: Both have Intel T4x00 dual core mobile processors.
= Graphics: Both have Intel 4500MHD integrated.
= Memory: Both came with 3Gb.
= Disk: Both came with 250Gb HD and DVD-RW.
= Display: Both came with 15.6" wide screen LCDs.
= Touchpad: Both came with ALPS touchpads (yuck).
= Other: Both came with SD card reader, multiple USB, etc.
= Operating system: Both came with Windows Home Premium, but the Lenovo was purchased before W7, so it came with Vista.
= There are others which seem trivial to me but may not be to you.
Some objective differences:
<> The G550 has an LED backlit display, the Inspiron does not.
<> The G550 has PC3-8500 memory, the Inspiron has PC2-5300 memory.
<> The G550 has the usual array (of 4?) indicator LEDs to indicate power, disk activity, charging, etc. The Inspiron has only one, a power on indicator.
Some subjective differences:
<> Both of these are cheap plastic constructions, but the Inspiron feels flimsy where the G550 feels relatively solid.
<> The G550 looks classier, the Inspiron looks cheap. (Very subjective, I know.)
Some trivial details:
= I can't help but rant against ALPS touchpads. ALPS touchpads are awful! While some can be tweaked enough to be usable, sometimes it is impossible. Synaptics touchpads are so much better! I wish laptop manufacturers would disclose the touchpad brand in each laptop model.
= The Inspiron came with a Samsung HD. Not the first time I've used a Samsung HD but it is the first time I've seen one as an OEM unit in a non-Samsung computer. This hard disk is so quiet I can't hear it spin or seek!
My conclusion:
The G550 wins hands down!
Both are made in China, but interestingly the product of a Chinese company came across better than the product of an American company.
I am disappointed in Dell. I have worked with multiple models of their PowerEdge servers and found them to be solid (though they have cheapened their hardware over the years) so I didn't expect this.
Disclaimer: Your conclusion may be different!
Both were purchased from the manufacturer web site when they were running a discount.
The players:
Dell Inspiron 1545 purchased March 2010 for $423 + tax.
(webcam was a $25 option added to $398 base price)
Lenovo G550 purchased September 2009 for $399 + tax.
(webcam included)
They have much in common, thus I decided to compare them for you.
= CPU: Both have Intel T4x00 dual core mobile processors.
= Graphics: Both have Intel 4500MHD integrated.
= Memory: Both came with 3Gb.
= Disk: Both came with 250Gb HD and DVD-RW.
= Display: Both came with 15.6" wide screen LCDs.
= Touchpad: Both came with ALPS touchpads (yuck).
= Other: Both came with SD card reader, multiple USB, etc.
= Operating system: Both came with Windows Home Premium, but the Lenovo was purchased before W7, so it came with Vista.
= There are others which seem trivial to me but may not be to you.
Some objective differences:
<> The G550 has an LED backlit display, the Inspiron does not.
<> The G550 has PC3-8500 memory, the Inspiron has PC2-5300 memory.
<> The G550 has the usual array (of 4?) indicator LEDs to indicate power, disk activity, charging, etc. The Inspiron has only one, a power on indicator.
Some subjective differences:
<> Both of these are cheap plastic constructions, but the Inspiron feels flimsy where the G550 feels relatively solid.
<> The G550 looks classier, the Inspiron looks cheap. (Very subjective, I know.)
Some trivial details:
= I can't help but rant against ALPS touchpads. ALPS touchpads are awful! While some can be tweaked enough to be usable, sometimes it is impossible. Synaptics touchpads are so much better! I wish laptop manufacturers would disclose the touchpad brand in each laptop model.
= The Inspiron came with a Samsung HD. Not the first time I've used a Samsung HD but it is the first time I've seen one as an OEM unit in a non-Samsung computer. This hard disk is so quiet I can't hear it spin or seek!
My conclusion:
The G550 wins hands down!
Both are made in China, but interestingly the product of a Chinese company came across better than the product of an American company.
I am disappointed in Dell. I have worked with multiple models of their PowerEdge servers and found them to be solid (though they have cheapened their hardware over the years) so I didn't expect this.
Disclaimer: Your conclusion may be different!