Dell Inspiron 7000 Review

Good Points
Astounding battery life
CD/floppy drive & battery slide out when released, v. convenient
Surprisingly quick on XP considering processor & age
Large clear display
Reliable

Bad Points
Weight
Flimsy lid catches
Only 1 USB port, though can use a USB hub to get round this

General Comments
I have had my 7000 for 3 years now, and although I have a newer machine I can't See myself getting rid of the Dell. It has lasted extremely well, despite several knocks, and has been far more reliable than my others. As can be expected considering its age, this machine is quite heavy; I tend to use it instead of a desktop.



The battery life on this machine is astounding. I don't know exactly how old it is now, but considering it was secondhand and ageing when I got it, must be ancient in computer terms. I still get 3 and a half hours out of the battery! In comparison I am lucky to get 2 hours out of my brand-new Fujitsu Siemens.



I have a 366MHz Pentium 2 processor, 192MB of RAM, and a 20GB hard drive. I upgraded the machine to XP, which it runs quite happily, and friends knowledgeable about computers tell me it should be impossible for a machine of this spec. to run at the speed it does! The screen is bright and clear, far better than many newer screens. The only downside is that the catches on the lid are very easily broken by anyone as clumsy as me. Also the hinges are apparently prone to breaking, although mine show signs of damage but don't actually cause a problem.