Dell Vostro Laptops for Small Business

Dell has released a new line of computer with small businesses in mind. There is a wide variety of machines in this line to fit any situation that you may have. There are desktops and laptops both, with the desktops being lauded as having the power to be a small server for your company. This may all sound good, but is it really true? There are many critics out there, but there are two sides to every story and that includes tech reviews. Keeping in the realm of small business, we will take a look at the basic version of the Vostro laptop. Most entrepreneurs are looking for the cheapest solution to a problem. The Vostro 1014 and 1015 have answered this call. These are referred to as the "essential" versions on the Dell website. These two do not have any color options for the exterior, but black matches everything, right? The biggest difference between the two machines is the size. The 1014 is slightly smaller and lighter than the 1015. Appearance should be tossed out when you need performance though. Here is a look "under the hood" on these two models to see if they can really stand up to the test.

When it comes to the tech specs, there is really only one difference between the two models. The memory on the 1015 is up to 8 Gigs, while the 1014 is only upgradeable to 4 Gigs. Other than this, the two machines are identical. They both have a 320 Gig hard drive and 8x DVD +/- RW. They also have the same Core 2 Dual processor and all other components. There is very little difference between the two base models, and at the same price, it would be better to go with 1015 for the extra memory space. Since most people do not upgrade the memory anyways, there is really no difference other than size. The price is also identical at $399 each for the base model.

Now that we have touched on the tech specs, how does it really work? Is it worth my investment? These are likely the questions on your mind. This really depends on what you need it for. The base models do not have Bluetooth installed. You have to upgrade to this. This can be crippling to a small business. If you want to sync these machines with your phone, or even use a wireless mouse or docking station, you will have to upgrade. The other downside to this machine is the sound. If you do not have headphones, do not get this machine. No matter how much you upgrade it, the sound stinks. It has a single speaker mounted in the bottom and you can not hear anything, even at max volume. You will have to use a third party amplifier, and these have been known to blow speakers, crash the system, eat up all of your memory, cause lag, etc. If you make a lot of conference calls or video messaging for your business, be prepared to toss more money on the price tag. There is no built in microphone or camera. Both of these will need to be added. Once again, the sound does not get loud enough for a reliable conference unless you use headphones.

Overall, the video and sound capabilities of this machine are very lacking. No matter how much you upgrade or invest into this machine, the sound is sub-par and the graphics seem large and pixilated. For many businesses that rely on communication via the computer, this can be a real problem. If you do not need the video conferencing and have some headphones, this is your machine. The basic $399 version is really all that you need performance wise. It has the hard drive to handle all of your customer, supplier, financial, and other databases. The sleek and shiny look are also sure to impress at meetings. The look and speed of these machines is great.

The price is another big problem for this machine. Dell has begun to get into the fast food mindset with the dollar menu lures. These machines are priced dirt cheap, but when you actually get into what is included, the price gets pretty high, pretty fast. The $399 version is very tempting, but many people are not comfortable with using Ubuntu Linux. Of course, you can not upgrade simple items like many of the al a cart PC ordering systems. You have to upgrade to a whole new package to get Windows, and another package to get Bluetooth. By adding in some trash you do not need with the tools that you must have, the cost gets out of control quickly. You will want to piece one of these together before you buy one. There are so many options and they are very difficult to customize. If you only want one or two options added, you may be stuck buying the whole package. When you get the perfect combination, the price is no longer perfect and is usually better elsewhere. You could even try piecing together an Inspiron if you are a Dell fan.

Overall, these systems are solid and can handle your business needs. The sound is a huge factor that many people are not happy with. The fact that you can buy a comparable machine for much less at a Best Buy or Office Depot. The base price of this may awe you into it, but it is not as cheap as it sounds. The upgrades that you will need to incorporate will get really expensive, really fast. The sound is also weak and, without external speakers or headphones, will cause you to strain even at max volume. Overall, this is a good computer for a small business, if you only use it for the day to day tasks that you need. If there is any video conferencing or if you need Windows or Bluetooth, there are some better options out there.

Sources:

Dell Vostro Laptops*

*The above source was used for technical specs. Evaluation of this products performance was conducted in person by the author.