Compare Different Laptop Computer Models
Dell Inspiron 5160
The Dell Inspiron 5160 is a 9-pound laptop that includes a 24X CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, coupled with Dell's Media Experience software for watching movies and listening to music. There is a Dell 1350 802.11b/g card for wireless connectivity, two USB 2.0 ports, and S-Video and VGA-out. One PC Card slot completes the package.
The system includes a 3.2-GHz Pentium 4, 512MB of RAM, and a nice GeForce FX Go5200 graphics card with 64MB of graphics memory. In a world of heavy-duty desktop replacements and super ultraportables with incredible performance and battery life, the 5160 lands somewhere in the middle: not bad, not great.
The Dell Inspiron 5160 with it's gray case, a color named Moonlight Silver, has none of the look of a black IBM or the silver lines of a Sony. But if you're looking for a fast, no-frills desktop replacement, this Inspiron will meet your demands.
Dell includes a few pieces of software that perk up the Windows XP Home desktop, including the Dell Jukebox by Musicmatch, which organizes and plays back MP3s and audio streams in the Media Experience. The Media Experience is a media player for DVDs and video files with a user interface that's legible from 10 feet away. Think of it as a light version of Windows Media Center Edition.
There is nothing to complain about with the Dell Inspiron 5160 in terms of usability. The 15-inch screen is average, both when displaying movies and word processing. There are two buttons over the keyboard, one controlling power and the other invoking Dell's automatic support wizard. The keyboard is solid and the trackpad is ordinary, with two buttons below the pointing surface.
Performance-wise, the Pentium 4 processor gets the job done. The 5160 is about standard for Pentium 4 laptops. It runs for 2 hours on one charge, which is what you'd expect from a large desktop replacement with a sharp 15-inch screen.
Dell also includes a photo organization system called Picture Studio. These software packages, including Dell's support wizard, add quite a bit of value to this package. The support wizard alone can diagnose any number of PC problems on the fly, and even suggests fixes based on optimal configuration.
The 5160 may be plain looking, but it makes quick work of accessing all of your files and multimedia. It's a good desktop replacement at a reasonable price.
Dell Inspiron 5160
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Dell Inspiron 5160 Features/Specifications
- Classification:
Desktop Replacement - Display: 15'' SXGA+
- Processor: Pentium 4 3.2GHz
- RAM Memory: 512MB
- Hard Drive: 60GB (5,400RPM)
- Optical Drive: DVD/CD-RW
- Floppy Drive: No
- Media Card Slot: No
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce FX Go5200 w/64MB
- Audio: Built-In Speakers
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
- Internet Connectivity: 56K Modem + 10/100 Ethernet
- Battery Life: 2.0 hrs.
- Operating System:
Windows XP Home - Weight: 9 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 Year
- (1) PC Card Slot
- (1) S-Video Port
- (1) VGA Connector
- (2) USB 2.0 Ports
- (1) FireWire Ports
- (1) RJ-11 phone jack
- (1) RJ-45 standard Ethernet jack
- Microphone, Headphone line-out jacks