Core decisions
Expansion ports are reasonable in number, although given the flat back of the system and the fact that the screen doesn’t cover it when it’s open it’s a pity Dell hasn’t used the space for a few more USB ports; as it is a single USB 2.0 port on the left-hand edge is complemented by two USB 3.0 ports on the opposite side. You also get an HDMI port on the left and a VGA port on the right, plus a combined headphone and mic socket.
Benchmark Tests
PCMark 7 Results
Longer bars are better
PCMark Vantage Results
Longer bars are better
Build quality isn’t perfect; there’s a reasonable amount of flex in the screen and base. It’s not enough to suggest the Vostro is going to fall apart the first time someone knocks it off a train table, but it’s pretty much the only aspect of the V131 that will give away how little you paid for it.
Minor tweaks in the Core-i5 offerings have increased the clock speed from 2.3GHz to 2.4GHz
The range of options on the Vostro V131 is vast - the cheapest system comes with a frustrating-sounding 1.1GHz Celeron 847 ULV with 2GB of RAM. There's a Core i3-2330M model too, the fastest machine has a Intel Core i5-2430M with 8GB of RAM; other options such as an SSD in place of a mechanical hard disk are also available.
PCMark Vantage Battery Life Results
Battery life in minutes
Longer bars are better
The review sample came with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M CPU, with 4GB of RAM to give plenty of space to running applications. This configuration has only recently changed on Dell's website, now the Core i5-2430M CPU has come on stream. Still, it’s safe to say that any of Dell’s Core i5 Vostros will be up to virtually anything you can throw at them.
Next page: Deal or no deal
COMMENTS
ive yet to use one of the 13"models, but the 15"is only 300quid ex vat for a core i3 :) pretty much the best thing out there for the cash,certainly at the entry level they are the most featureful, sofar the alu clad Vostros have made very nice business machines, excluding user abuse, of 70 odd, only one has required a hardware call.
If only dell could make their rugged range as solidly!
Two screws to remove the panel on the bottom. Another couple to free the HDD tray. Disconnect the cable and swap. Done it twice. Piece of piss.
Not a Dell thing
I have an EliteBook where you have to pop the entire bottom off to access anything.
I also have a Vostro at the house that I'm fixing for a friend - two screws and the HDD is out... just like the Latitude (D630) I used to use.
<sarcasm>
Does this mean my EliteBook does not qualify as a business machine?
</sarcasm>
Depends on your standards.
For years, 1024 x 768 has been the "normal" resolution for 15", I don't see why today's 1366 x 768 on a 13" would suddenly cause you to scroll up and down like mad.
@Business machines? @Head
I've got three vostros, an original 1700 which was the last of the decent build-quality units. The two latter 1720's I was disappointed in, they are a bit bendy, but that said they've survived reasonable well including umpteen trips between Scotland and Ireland for business and pleasure. I have one running Citrix XenServer and the other running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and they're good enough (for the money). The 1920x1200 glossy screens that shipped with them are fairly pleasant to work with as well.
It's a shame they're hobbled with VGA video outputs though.
There are a lot worse things you can spent your money on when looking for cheap laptops....such as the Latitude E series. I don't think there's a single one of these in our company that hasn't topped itself.
