Dell Inspiron
Dell has been making the Inspiron for a long time, and it definitely shows as they have perfected this workhorse. There are currently four different models of Inspiron, each geared toward a different focus: the 1501, which is an entry level laptop, the E1505, Dell’s mid-range model, the E1705, which is designed for multimedia applications, and the E1405, a lightweight notebook for someone who is more mobile.

The computing power in the Inspiron is very solid, even in the entry level model. The 1501 has a choice between offerings by AMD, which is interesting given Dell’s long standing relationship with Intel as its processor of choice. A user can choose from between the Sempron, Turion, and Turion 64 X2 series chips. The latter is a dual core processor that can run multiple threads at once, which is a must for fast multimedia processing these days. The mid range E1505 comes with an Intel processor, and the user can choose the Core Solo processor to keep the price down or pick from four dual core chips, ranging from 1.66 to 2.16 gigahertz. Same thing with the E1405 and the E1705, except the Core Solo option is not available in the latter model.

Screen sizes range from 14.1 inches with the lightweight model, all the way up to 17 inches diagonally in the E1705, which makes sense given that it specializes in multimedia. This is a very large screen for a laptop; it’s not the biggest one out there, but more than adequate for watching movies or playing games. Although with an extra large screen comes more weight, so this option is largely a matter of what the user’s priority is. Will the laptop be used primarily at home for playing games, or will it be a business notebook that will be toted around every day? If it’s the latter, one might think about sacrificing screen size for a reduction in weight and go with the E1405.

Overall, the Inspiron is a very solid laptop that offers a wide range of choices for customization to the user, based on what tasks the computer will be used for. As a rule, Dell often offers free shipping and handling, so one is advised to wait for a deal like that before buying one. But with all four models starting at less than a thousand dollars, this model is a great deal for the average computer user.