Good laptop – had for since early 2008 with a similar configuration (no discrete GPU – no gaming for me). I only paid about $600, though. Recently filled up my 120GB with photos, and bought a 320GB replacement from BestBuy (yeah slickdeals – $35 + tax, FS).

The only complaint is the sometimes flaky b/g WiFi – due, no doubt to the distance between the router (in the basement) and laptop (upstairs). WiFi works flawlessly when the laptop is moved closer.

The battery life is down to about 1 hour after 2+ year (from about 3 hours). I should have taken it out and stored it in a cool place, as this is mostly a desktop replacement for the kitchen.

Hopefully, the new harddrive will allow me not to upgrade to a new laptop for another year.

Currently i can play Fallout 3 with anti-aliasing and Red Alert 3 at Ultra High setting on 1280×800 res.

I’m just wondering if anyone know where can i find, or if it’s really possible to upgrade the graphics card. I saw that it’s detacheable but i’m not knowledgeable enough to tinker about laptop graphics adapters.
I would like to upgrade it before giving to my mom, and buying a new Dell XPS16 (http://cooltoyzph.com/viewitem.php?iid=686) for myself.

Thanks for sharing

Ok, I’ll admit that my Vostro is worked much harder than yours. I not only use it heavily in the classroom for forty hours each week (all parts are used. It’s my DVD player, my Internet access, etc, etc… It’s on the entire time and being used in some way)… But when we get home, the kids have every Sims II pack on it, and when they aren’t playing away, I’m using it to create/edit movies, create/edit powerpoints and create/edit graphics to use at work.

Here’s what I’ve had to have done on my Vostro in just the last two weeks: (remember, less than 1.3 years since I got it)… Dell tech replaced harddrive and all plug-in’s attached to it. (Video plug in and USB ports had begun to malfunction), Then they sent me new DVD reader and updated Driver program. (Hasn’t solved the issue of the PC not reading DVD R disks but reading DVD RW and CDs. A little problem I had just run across recently…). And maybe when the tech shows up at my home again, I’ll mention that the hinge is getting loose and the fact that the touch pad’s finish has come off and it’s looking like it’s been used for ten years!

Oh, did I mention that two weeks after I first got the Vostro – the memory/hardware crashed and they had to send me a new one? Lost all work that I hadn’t saved on USB.

Would I purchase another one? I’m not sure now. I love the thing. It’s easy to use. Perhaps the laptop I’m comparing it to – is just not the thing to compare it with? But that old HP is probably 6-7 years old now and still chugging along for my oldest son at college. It’s even been dropped down a flight of stairs! And has NEVER had a malfunction!!! Oh, and it’s hinge and touchpad finish look/work as nice as when it was brand new!

Realiability means more to me than a nice looking, easy-to-use laptop. Maybe after my two years of full-service tech support is over – I’ll just replace the thing when it breaks down again? But replace it with something more reliable.

I found it in 16 seconds.

kevinpalmieri@hotmail.com