Dell Inspiron e1505 Review (specs)

The Inspiron e1505 is Dells 15.4" widescreen notebook featuring the impressive new Intel Core Duo CPU. A virtually identical Inspiron 6400 is available through their business site. Outside it looks just like the Inspiron 6000 it replaces, but the new hardware inside makes for impressive performance. In traditional Dell style, the E1505 is well rounded, quite customizable and available at a competitive price, but doesn't offer anything radical.


The E1505 reviewed here was configured as follows:

Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 at 2.0 GHz per core.
15.4" Ultrasharp SXGA+ display with TrueLife
512MB DDR2 533MHz RAM in dual channel mode
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
100GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD +/- dual layer recorder
53 watt-hour 6-cell dell inspiron e1505 battery



Dell Inspiron E1505 Laptop Battery:

With the smaller option 6 cell laptop battery and a powerful new processor, I didn't have very high hopes for battery life. However, the Dell lasted longer than expected. At maximum brightness, it played a DVD for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Under normal light tasks, with WiFi on and almost maximum brightness, the battery lasted almost three hours. Dimming the screen all the way and shutting wireless off squeezed almost 4 hours of total battery life. I could burn the battery in about 90 minutes or less if I really tried. Gaming would likely burn it this fast.

The optional 9-cell battery, which is the same physical size as the 6-cell, should give about 50% more run time.

The battery charges fast for the first 80%. At nearly 1% per minute, you could get a significant boost on a one hour layover at the airport.

A bigger laptop battery might be a better choice than two batteries. Lithium-Ion cells wear out even if you don't use them.