I like a lot of Dell's newer laptops, and I had hoped to like the company's newly Core i5-enhanced Inspiron 15 (1564 variant). This model has a lush widescreen and isn't too big, and the glossy shell looks nearly as good as the Apple aesthetic it apes. At about $934 (as of March 9, 2010) when it isn't on sale, the DELL Inspiron 1564 battery is a reasonably priced all-purpose laptop with a substantially more than adequate chunk of silicon at its heart. But it doesn't give you a lot of ways to get all that power out and onto the screen of your choice, and the keyboard is an uncomfortable mess. Typing this review means that I'm finally, blissfully close to not having to use this keyboard ever again. (Yes!)
The review model I received had the "Ice Blue" finish with the familiar Dell icon in the center. The glossy sections of this machine are fingerprint magnets (no way around that), but they look good. The whole thing measures 15 by 9.8 by 0.8 inches and weighs just under 5.5 pounds. The 15.6-inch widescreen display stretches it out--this is not a laptop you can casually toss into a small bag, but it isn't a monster either. The left side has USB, VGA, and HDMI ports, plus the ethernet plug. The right edge has the DVD drive, two more USB ports, microphone and headphone ports, and a memory card reader.
A fast processor is all very well, but what about the rest of the laptop? The Inspiron design remains basically the same, with a fairly minimalist case and sturdy lid hinges that allow you to push the lid back almost to a horizontal position. There aren't any flashy LED controls or indicators, which is no bad thing. Once again, Dell has swapped the Function keys default behaviour - for example the F2 key is now the "Toggle Wireless" key, and you have to press the Fn key to get F2. If this is a little confusing, you can reverse this behaviour back to 'normal' in the BIOS.
The rest of the keyboard is fairly standard. The keys have flat tops but enough spacing between them, and their action is light with fairly crisp feedback. The touchpad is large enough and very responsive, with two large buttons that have an extremely light action - so light that there is hardly any feedback when you press them.
First let me say I ended up purchasing this model because I had to. Really wanted a 1464 but they were out of stock and needed a new laptop asap so got the 1564 instead. Let me say that his computer works great! On the positive side I really enjoy the number pad. The track pad needs a little getting use to but since I use a bluetrack wireless mouse it doesn't bother me much. The Cyberlink DVD software really takes advantage of the integrated HD features from the integrated graphics and iCore chip, had no slowdowns. Setting up the wi-fi was a breeze. Didn't have to remove much bloatware if anything at all. Everything works great, can't complain.
Specifications:
Like the Dell Studio 15 Artist Edition, the Inspiron 15 sports a dropped central hinge design, and a refreshingly cleaner palmrest. The new Dell Inspiron 15-1564 is better built than the previous one, and definitely better looking than some other laptops in its price range. The Inspiron 15's one of the lighter 15-inch laptops, weighing just 2.4kg.
The Dell Inspiron 15's 15.6-inch LED backlit display has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is nice for watching high-def content. The screen is glossy in nature, has good horizontal viewing angles, and it does a pretty good job of displaying both text and movie content.
As mentioned above, the Inspiron 1564 battery is the first machine with Core i3 branding we’ve reviewed. Core i3 represents the lower end of Intel’s next generation processing technology and – after initial testing – we were extremely impressed by the power on offer for the money. It blows away competition from Intel's older Core 2 Duo processor technology, making it an entry level machine you’ll be able to run surprisingly powerful applications on.
Elsewhere there’s an integrated Intel GPU providing limited graphical performance, 802.11g Wi-Fi and also VGA and HDMI out ports giving you versatile connectivity to external monitors.
While the low clocks will reduce heat output and improve battery life for the Inspiron 1564, it bears mentioning that there's no way to switch to using the integrated graphics built into the Core i5 CPU and thus improve battery life further. This is similar to what we saw with NVIDIA's switchable graphics, which have only been in a few products over the years. As we covered in our Optimus Technology Overview, switchable graphics requires more validation and testing, more motherboard layers, and several multiplexer chips (typically two per video output). Given all of the added work, it's perhaps not too surprising—though it is disappointing—that Dell chose to keep costs down on the Inspiron 15. Less expensive models are available with Intel HD Graphics, for those that don't need a faster GPU.
Rounding out the package is 4GB of DDR3-1066 memory (expandable to 8GB if you're willing to lose the 2GB SO-DIMMs that the system comes with), a 320GB hard drive running at 5400 RPM (a Western Digital Scorpio Blue in our test unit, though we suspect actual hard drives will vary based on Dell's current inventory), and a DVD+/-RW drive. Networking comes courtesy of Dell's Wireless 1397 802.11g network adapter, 10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth, and an integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam. While the memory is bog standard for this market segment, the rest of the components are curiously underpowered for such a monstrous processor. The lack of gigabit Ethernet is disappointing, and the modified configuration utility is a mess.
Despite using an integrated GPU – a graphics technology traditionally associated with limited power – Intel's latest onboard chip provides surprisingly powerful 3D performance, allowing high-definition (HD) video and even less demanding games to run with little effort.
The stunning 15.6-inch screen adds to the multimedia usability on offer. It is a very bright panel, and delivers fantastic colour reproduction and sharp images, ensuring movies, photos and games are shown with impressive clarity and vibrancy.
If there's an area in which the Dell 1564 battery comes up a bit short, it's in the port, I/O, and networking configuration. Competing laptop models have similar connection assortments to this Dell, but some have an ExpressCard slot, dual headphone jacks, and a USB/eSATA combo port. Probably the biggest error, though, is the use of an 802.11g wireless adapter instead of an 802.11n adapter. Also, Dell didn't include Bluetooth with this Inspiron, which seems to have disappeared from most of the recent mainstream laptop models we've tested.
The i1564-6980CRD is a retail system and is not configurable at time of purchase. However, on Dell's Web site you can configure the Inspiron 15 with a faster Core i5 processor, more storage, software, and select from three other color options: black, blue, and pink. The Inspiron's memory is expandable to 8GB and can be easily added via a removable panel on the bottom of the system.
Dell's Inspiron 1564 budget systems offers a solid laptop for those on a tight budget. Incentives and discounts often drive the price below $600. With the Core i3 processor it provide a very quick computing experience. The downside is that users will have to sacrifice some RAM, hard drive space and wireless features for this lower price. For some this may not matter much but be warned that Dell does not offer the same level of customization on this particular model.
Graphics are handled by the integrated Intel chipset, so you’ll be able to play basic games but you won’t find this machine optimised for serious gaming and even video editing will be something of a strain.
Below the screen is a full-sized keyboard with a separate keypad. The keys are a good size but we found they tend to rattle as we typed. Also, less appealing, is the keyboard has been shunted to the left-hand side to accommodate the numeric keypad, so pushing it left of centre, which can take a little time to grow accustomed to.
For storage you can use the 500GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive rotating at 5400RPM. Not the speediest drive, but plenty of space to store your digital pictures from your camera or all your music for your iPod. The optical drive is a 8x multi-format DVD drive which supports reading/writing of CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, and DVD-RAM. The 7-in-1 memory card reader is compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Hi-Capacity Secure Digital (SDHC), Hi-Density Secure Digital (SDHD), Multi Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS Pro), and xD Picture Card (xD) media cards.
For networking you can use the 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) wireless networking adapter, or the 10/100 RJ-45 Ethernet port. Other ports include 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports, HDMI output port for connecting to your HDTV, VGA port for an external monitor, headphone out and microphone in jacks.
With a base price tag of roughly $640, Dell offers a number of discount incentives on their systems that results in a price tag that can easily be found for under $600. This makes it extremely affordable but they did sacrifice a few other features to reach this price. With 802.11n now an official standard, most laptops include this as a standard feature. This version of the DELL Inspiron 1564 laptop battery only comes with 802.11b/g support which may disappoint those wanting high speed wireless networking.
Dell has also been known for their wide range of customization options when ordering laptops. In the case of their budget Inspiron 1564, it is considered a fast track item. This means that the internal components can not be upgraded at the time of the order. Only external peripherals can be added to the bundle.
The review model I received had the "Ice Blue" finish with the familiar Dell icon in the center. The glossy sections of this machine are fingerprint magnets (no way around that), but they look good. The whole thing measures 15 by 9.8 by 0.8 inches and weighs just under 5.5 pounds. The 15.6-inch widescreen display stretches it out--this is not a laptop you can casually toss into a small bag, but it isn't a monster either. The left side has USB, VGA, and HDMI ports, plus the ethernet plug. The right edge has the DVD drive, two more USB ports, microphone and headphone ports, and a memory card reader.
A fast processor is all very well, but what about the rest of the laptop? The Inspiron design remains basically the same, with a fairly minimalist case and sturdy lid hinges that allow you to push the lid back almost to a horizontal position. There aren't any flashy LED controls or indicators, which is no bad thing. Once again, Dell has swapped the Function keys default behaviour - for example the F2 key is now the "Toggle Wireless" key, and you have to press the Fn key to get F2. If this is a little confusing, you can reverse this behaviour back to 'normal' in the BIOS.
The rest of the keyboard is fairly standard. The keys have flat tops but enough spacing between them, and their action is light with fairly crisp feedback. The touchpad is large enough and very responsive, with two large buttons that have an extremely light action - so light that there is hardly any feedback when you press them.
First let me say I ended up purchasing this model because I had to. Really wanted a 1464 but they were out of stock and needed a new laptop asap so got the 1564 instead. Let me say that his computer works great! On the positive side I really enjoy the number pad. The track pad needs a little getting use to but since I use a bluetrack wireless mouse it doesn't bother me much. The Cyberlink DVD software really takes advantage of the integrated HD features from the integrated graphics and iCore chip, had no slowdowns. Setting up the wi-fi was a breeze. Didn't have to remove much bloatware if anything at all. Everything works great, can't complain.
Specifications:
- Intel Core i3-330M Dual Core Processor
- 3GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
- 250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
- 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
- 15.6-inch WXGA (1366x768) WLED Backlit Display With 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
- Intel GMA 4500MHD Integrated Graphics
- Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
- Three USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, 7-in-1 Card Reader
- 15" x 9.8" x 1.3" @ 5.5 lbs.
- Windows 7 Home Premium, Works, McAfee Security Center
Like the Dell Studio 15 Artist Edition, the Inspiron 15 sports a dropped central hinge design, and a refreshingly cleaner palmrest. The new Dell Inspiron 15-1564 is better built than the previous one, and definitely better looking than some other laptops in its price range. The Inspiron 15's one of the lighter 15-inch laptops, weighing just 2.4kg.
The Dell Inspiron 15's 15.6-inch LED backlit display has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is nice for watching high-def content. The screen is glossy in nature, has good horizontal viewing angles, and it does a pretty good job of displaying both text and movie content.
As mentioned above, the Inspiron 1564 battery is the first machine with Core i3 branding we’ve reviewed. Core i3 represents the lower end of Intel’s next generation processing technology and – after initial testing – we were extremely impressed by the power on offer for the money. It blows away competition from Intel's older Core 2 Duo processor technology, making it an entry level machine you’ll be able to run surprisingly powerful applications on.
Elsewhere there’s an integrated Intel GPU providing limited graphical performance, 802.11g Wi-Fi and also VGA and HDMI out ports giving you versatile connectivity to external monitors.
While the low clocks will reduce heat output and improve battery life for the Inspiron 1564, it bears mentioning that there's no way to switch to using the integrated graphics built into the Core i5 CPU and thus improve battery life further. This is similar to what we saw with NVIDIA's switchable graphics, which have only been in a few products over the years. As we covered in our Optimus Technology Overview, switchable graphics requires more validation and testing, more motherboard layers, and several multiplexer chips (typically two per video output). Given all of the added work, it's perhaps not too surprising—though it is disappointing—that Dell chose to keep costs down on the Inspiron 15. Less expensive models are available with Intel HD Graphics, for those that don't need a faster GPU.
Rounding out the package is 4GB of DDR3-1066 memory (expandable to 8GB if you're willing to lose the 2GB SO-DIMMs that the system comes with), a 320GB hard drive running at 5400 RPM (a Western Digital Scorpio Blue in our test unit, though we suspect actual hard drives will vary based on Dell's current inventory), and a DVD+/-RW drive. Networking comes courtesy of Dell's Wireless 1397 802.11g network adapter, 10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth, and an integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam. While the memory is bog standard for this market segment, the rest of the components are curiously underpowered for such a monstrous processor. The lack of gigabit Ethernet is disappointing, and the modified configuration utility is a mess.
Despite using an integrated GPU – a graphics technology traditionally associated with limited power – Intel's latest onboard chip provides surprisingly powerful 3D performance, allowing high-definition (HD) video and even less demanding games to run with little effort.
The stunning 15.6-inch screen adds to the multimedia usability on offer. It is a very bright panel, and delivers fantastic colour reproduction and sharp images, ensuring movies, photos and games are shown with impressive clarity and vibrancy.
If there's an area in which the Dell 1564 battery comes up a bit short, it's in the port, I/O, and networking configuration. Competing laptop models have similar connection assortments to this Dell, but some have an ExpressCard slot, dual headphone jacks, and a USB/eSATA combo port. Probably the biggest error, though, is the use of an 802.11g wireless adapter instead of an 802.11n adapter. Also, Dell didn't include Bluetooth with this Inspiron, which seems to have disappeared from most of the recent mainstream laptop models we've tested.
The i1564-6980CRD is a retail system and is not configurable at time of purchase. However, on Dell's Web site you can configure the Inspiron 15 with a faster Core i5 processor, more storage, software, and select from three other color options: black, blue, and pink. The Inspiron's memory is expandable to 8GB and can be easily added via a removable panel on the bottom of the system.
Dell's Inspiron 1564 budget systems offers a solid laptop for those on a tight budget. Incentives and discounts often drive the price below $600. With the Core i3 processor it provide a very quick computing experience. The downside is that users will have to sacrifice some RAM, hard drive space and wireless features for this lower price. For some this may not matter much but be warned that Dell does not offer the same level of customization on this particular model.
Graphics are handled by the integrated Intel chipset, so you’ll be able to play basic games but you won’t find this machine optimised for serious gaming and even video editing will be something of a strain.
Below the screen is a full-sized keyboard with a separate keypad. The keys are a good size but we found they tend to rattle as we typed. Also, less appealing, is the keyboard has been shunted to the left-hand side to accommodate the numeric keypad, so pushing it left of centre, which can take a little time to grow accustomed to.
For storage you can use the 500GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive rotating at 5400RPM. Not the speediest drive, but plenty of space to store your digital pictures from your camera or all your music for your iPod. The optical drive is a 8x multi-format DVD drive which supports reading/writing of CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, and DVD-RAM. The 7-in-1 memory card reader is compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Hi-Capacity Secure Digital (SDHC), Hi-Density Secure Digital (SDHD), Multi Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS Pro), and xD Picture Card (xD) media cards.
For networking you can use the 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) wireless networking adapter, or the 10/100 RJ-45 Ethernet port. Other ports include 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports, HDMI output port for connecting to your HDTV, VGA port for an external monitor, headphone out and microphone in jacks.
With a base price tag of roughly $640, Dell offers a number of discount incentives on their systems that results in a price tag that can easily be found for under $600. This makes it extremely affordable but they did sacrifice a few other features to reach this price. With 802.11n now an official standard, most laptops include this as a standard feature. This version of the DELL Inspiron 1564 laptop battery only comes with 802.11b/g support which may disappoint those wanting high speed wireless networking.
Dell has also been known for their wide range of customization options when ordering laptops. In the case of their budget Inspiron 1564, it is considered a fast track item. This means that the internal components can not be upgraded at the time of the order. Only external peripherals can be added to the bundle.
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