Dell Vostro 3500 (i5 460M, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Win Vista) $699

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scotty on 01/01/2011 - 21:28 dell.com (956 clicks)

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Just spotted it at the Dell SMB deals page. Dell Vostro 3500 for $699 ($300 off):

• Intel Core i5 460M (2.53GHz)
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 320GB HDD 7200RPM
• Integrated Graphics
• 1 Year NBD Warranty

Similar to this offer from early last month, except the old deal is slightly cheaper ($22 cheaper) for a slightly inferior CPU (i5 450M vs. 460M).

And it has the same problem as well — can't believe that they are still selling Vista Home Basic. I think it is pretty much equivalent to OS-less, and you might as well wipe it and use Ubuntu instead.

Otherwise upgrade to Win 7 Pro and then upgrade to 3 year NBD warranty (which most small business would do) will bring it to almost $1000.

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• 

  wisc on 01/01/2011 - 21:33

  +1

  yeah the vista is the killer!

  but still good for the mum and dad type internet surfer…

  shame microsoft isnt still doing the free upgrade….

• 

  AlexF on 01/01/2011 - 21:58

  +1

  Arr, humbug. Just Dell's response to upcoming Sandy Bridge - wait a few more days until 15th, they'll get cheaper.

  • 

    auna on 01/01/2011 - 22:09

    Yeah, that's what I noticed as well. One of main reasons being the Integrated Graphics in this deal.

  • 

    GreatWhiteHunter on 01/01/2011 - 22:34

    Agree - Sandy Bridge integrated GPU/CPU kicks the ass of even mid-range dedicated laptop graphics. And it costs no more than the older equivalent CPU (in theory at least)

• 

  karturo on 01/01/2011 - 22:04

  They use Vista Home Basic because its the cheapest OS out on the market (Microsoft Based anyway…) - they rely on people updating to other OS's so they make some money!!!

  Still - pretty good price!

  • 

    newguy on 02/01/2011 - 00:19

    I don't think any Vista based laptop worth that money at the moment, unless you want to reinstall other OS by yourself. The upgraded version of this laptop, with win 7 pro and 3-year warranty is $1000, which is just a normal price.

  • 

    AlexF on 02/01/2011 - 02:29

    An OEM like Dell buy licenses in blocks… They probably bought couple of million Vista Basic licenses from MS and now don't know what to do with them. Only makes sense to throw them into their cheapest offerings.

    Vista Basic doesn't allow Aero but on IGP it would only slow down the machine anyway. Otherwise, Vista is 100% compatible with all the latest software (for Windows 7, aka. Vista SP3).

    Together with Dell's "3 Yr Next Business Day Onsite Service", Vista OS and Vostro's hardware makes a solid proposition for a reliable productivity machine, if you disregard embarrassingly low resolution. It's just that with Sandy Bridge, the timing is against Dell, and they must now clear them any which way they can.

    • 

      stewy on 02/01/2011 - 03:07

      +1

      Vista was nothing but a resource hungry, troublesome piece of crap. Anyone buying this reply need to factor in ~$120 to buy an OEM copy of Win 7 Home Prem. Every PC I've liberated from Vista runs much quicker on Win 7.

      With both of my last two Dells having issues after 1 yr the 3 yr warranty is VERY advisable, but in reality there are better laptops these days. (Samsung, Asus, etc)

      • 

        AlexF on 02/01/2011 - 18:26

        -1

        Vista was nothing but a resource hungry, troublesome piece of crap.

        This FUD has been debunked long ago. (http://www.tweaktown.com/print/articles/2886/index.html)

        Obviously, there are some features that aren't in Vista, for example, TRIM for SSD, or support for new instruction set in Sandy Bridge/Bulldozer, but for most intent and purpose, 7 is only slightly better than Vista (as any SP3 would be over SP2) but not significantly if you exclude cosmetic changes to Explorer.

• 

  R00D on 01/01/2011 - 22:21

  Spend the extra $100 and get this: http://penta.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&product…

  My IT department uses Lenovo, very few issues… good product, good price(Windows 7 Home Premium 64).

  • 

    EnALup on 02/01/2011 - 01:34

    the link says, Lenovo thinkpad. I dont think they are thinkpads. they look ideapad.

    • 

      scrimshaw on 02/01/2011 - 02:14

      To be accurate, it's neither. It's simply called the Lenovo G560 according to the manual and specifications sheet.

  • 

    scotty on 02/01/2011 - 10:47

    Yes it is mis-leading. G560 is not even their IdeaPad range. If you into Lenovo Shop it is listed under "Essential" range — so only comparable to probably a cheap Inspiron. I usually compare Vostro to the new Lenovo ThinkPad Edge range.

    That said, this previous offer from Lenovo is probably more comparable. ThinkPad Edge 15 for $749 — same CPU, same amount of RAM and HDD. $50 more but you get Windows 7 Home Premium.

  • 

    IVI on 02/01/2011 - 10:47

    At least this Lenovo you're recommending HAS an Optical Drive, which - it seems - the "deal" Dell lacks.

    • 

      scotty on 02/01/2011 - 10:48

      +1

      If you click through the link it says

      • Optical Drive: 8X DVD+/-RW Drive-Aberdeen Silver
• 

  fungi79 on 02/01/2011 - 10:53

  +4

  Please everyone, STOP tempting me with all these laptop deals. I already have a Macbook pro, I do not need another laptop, I do not need another laptop, I do not need another laptop…

  But if it's cheap enough..

  • 

    scrimshaw on 02/01/2011 - 15:23

    +2

    Remember. it's not a saving if you don't need it in the first place.

    • 

      dsg101 on 04/01/2011 - 21:37

      You should come with me when I shop at Aldi.

• 

  IVI on 02/01/2011 - 10:59

  So, is it only Dell (on the PC side of the fence) that use 7200 RPM hard drives…?

  • 

    scrimshaw on 02/01/2011 - 15:24

    No, plenty of other manufacturers use 7200rpm drives as well. Only the higher end ones though.