Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook
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- Weight: 6.7 lb.
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Processor: Celeron M 1.5 GHz
- Laptop Type: Mid-Size Laptop
- Installed Memory: 512 MB (DDR2 SDRAM)
- Display: 15.4 in. WXGA TFT Active Matrix
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~~~THE DELL INSPIRON B130 PC NOTEBOOK~~~NEW MILLENNIUM 2000 YEARS/2000 REVIEWS WRITE-OFF!
Pros
Very affordable basic, entry level notebook model.
Cons
Recent issues with Dell computer batteries made by Sony.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
I love my new Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook!! It's a great entry-level choice for those with basic computer needs such as students on a budget and the casual user.
After owning a Dell Dimension 2400 desktop computer for a few years now, I recently decided it was about time to upgrade to a new laptop. For my kids were always on the computer and I had to run them off whenever I wanted to do anything (like check my email or read/write Epinions reviews!). I was tired of sharing and selfishly wanted my very own! So I started saving my Epinions checks for several months so I could buy one. Since I was already quite pleased with the performance and reliability received from our current Dell computer, it seemed quite logical that I'd be purchasing a laptop from the same company as well. And I loved the Dell 17 inch Flat Panel Monitor we also owned that was bought separately. We had ordered our desktop online at their website a few years back, which was a quick and painless process once we decided what we wanted. I'd seen some ads in the Sunday newspaper (Parade magazine) for basic Dell notebooks such as this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook advertised for less than $500, so this is what I ended up buying after checking out all they had to offer at their website. For I'd never owned a notebook before and decided that an entry level model would be the best place to start for my limited computer needs. So back in early June of this year, I took the plunge and ordered my new laptop online. Read on to find out more about a good basic laptop that's now all mine, mine, mine!
~~~The Basic Notebook~~~
After browsing the Dell site, I quickly learned that the Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook at the special lower advertised price offered bare bones features. So upgrading naturally added several hundred dollars to the final price. The processor I chose was the Intel Pentium (1.80GHz/2MB) with an 80GB hard drive and 1 GB of RAM (Centrino Mobile Technology). It comes with the Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system and features a nice 15.4 inch vibrant color screen display. The notebook itself is all black in color with a silver top cover and the Dell logo placed right in the middle. The black keyboard keys are also outlined all the way around in silver. It weighs approximately 7 pounds and a carrying case can be ordered separately if desired. The notebook is quite slim when closed as it's only 1.5 inches tall (14 inches long) when flat and locked in. There's an internal 56K modem with internal wireless feature as well as a 8X speed CD/DVD rewritable drive. Of course there's a cord included to hook the laptop up to AC power when the battery is not in use. I chose the 6 cell lithium ion battery instead of the 4 cell, so this upgrade alone added $50 to the price. For those concerned about the recent recall of Dell notebook batteries, mine was not included. The keys on the keyboard are quite tight and close together, but then most found on notebooks usually are. This took awhile to get used to while typing. And then there's that "touch" type mouse feature below the keyboard that's even harder to get used although a regular standard type mouse can also be purchased separately. So overall, even though this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook is a basic laptop choice when compared to those in their entertainment line, there are plenty of extra upgrades that can be added when ordering to make it the best computer you can afford.
~~~Price & Availability~~~
Once our order was complete including all the extra upgrades I chose for this basic Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook, the price came to $824 before taxes and $24 in shipping was added on (final price $926.45 ). Ordering online at Dell.com is a simple process as they walk you through each step of the ordering process. Of course I've never had to actually speak with a real live person so my experience with their customer service is quite limited. I paid via credit card instead of using their own financing option so ordering with my private information was safe and secure. It only took a few days to arrive at my home. Then my husband set everything up for me so my new laptop would be all ready to use. We already owned some McAfee software to help protect our computer from viruses, etc., so he loaded that on as well. To find out more information online about this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook, copy and paste the following URL into your computer's web browser:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_basnb?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
~~~User Experience~~~
All you have to do is press a small button to turn this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook on. It can be placed in "standby" mode when not in use by using the "function" key. Since laptops are by design supposed to be small and compact, the keyboard space is quite limited, so the extra functions that are sometimes needed are located in blue print along the keys such as the scroll lock, standby, and hibernate modes just to name a few. There's no side number keypad like most typical desktop keyboards have, but there's one that can be selected using the all important function feature. I love both the battery as well as the internal wireless modem features as I can take my new somewhat lightweight laptop outside on the deck in the evenings and use my computer doing both on and off line things to my hearts desire. I do alot of browsing and ordering online as well as visiting favorite websites such as Epinions, but I'm not much of a gamer or play much music on my computer. I do, however, often download family pictures from a digital camera onto my computer, so I have plenty of storage space and memory to run the few programs I frequently use. The battery will last a good 2 hours or more before having to be recharged, and it does so automatically when the notebook is plugged back into AC power. Open the 15.4 inch color display as it's hinged onto the keyboard section. It's automatically adjustable to whatever angle you wish for it to open up to for the easiest, most comfortable viewing. The colors in the display screen are quite vibrant and the monitor section is crystal clear with little noticeable glare. Use the Microsoft Windows XP software just as you would on a desktop with the "touch" mousepad being the most obvious adjustment to make. To the left are the green lit modem lights to let you know how your notebook is connected. We have a cable modem for internet access and I can go anywhere inside the house as well as outside and still pick up a signal with my new laptop. And to the right on the side is the location of the 8X DVD/CD RW drive. I love the freedom this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook gives me as far as portability is concerned, especially since I didn't have to trade performance, speed, reliability, and user-friendliness for it when making the transition from a traditional desktop to my first laptop. Much thanks to Dell for this affordable, entry level model! And it's still all mine :-)
~~~Summary of Computer Tech Specs~~~
Since I am no computer expert by a long shot when it comes to the technical aspects that go along with writing a helpful review, I copied the ordering information from the Dell website regarding my new Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook. I hope this covers some of the minute details I might have otherwise skipped over:
***Inspiron 1300, Intel Pentium M 745 (1.80GHz/2MB Cache/400MHz
***15.4 inch WXGA Display, for Inspiron B130
***1GB,DDR2,533MHz,2 DIMM, for Inspiron 1300
***Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 for Inspiron 1300/B130
***Ultra-ATA Hard Drive, for Inspiron 1300
***PC Backup, 90-day Trial English, for Inspiron
***Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 2, English
***Image Restore
***DELL SUPPORT 3.0
***Windows Media Player 10
***Complimentary courses: Look for EU icon
***Dell Direct Download
***Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
***Icon Consolidation Application
***Internet Search and Portal
***Internal 56K Modem, for Inspiron B1300
***Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0, for Inspiron
***8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability for Inspiron 1300
***CyberLink PowerDVD v5.5 Decoding Software DVD Drives
***Intel PRO 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11b/g,54Mbps) for Inspiron 1300/B130
***Network Associates McAfee 7.0, English,90-day Trial
***WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 1300
***Broadband Icon for Inspiron EA
***NETZERO ISP
***AOL for Broadband
***Netscape ISP
***Corel WordPerfect 12 plus Trial of Quartro Pro and Presentations
***1 Year Limited Warranty
***Type 12- Mail-In Service, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year
***Warranty Support,Initial Year
***PC Restore Recovery System by Symantec
***Paint Shop Pro Standard
***Basic digital Music,Photo and Game experience
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
Looking for a great basic entry level notebook that won't break the bank? For me, this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook has proved to be an excellent choice. I'd easily recommend it for basic computer needs when you want the extra freedom for travel, etc. that a regular desktop just can't provide. This would be a good choice for college students on a budget or someone like me who mostly uses a computer for email, browsing and ordering things online, writing product reviews, and as a storage modem for digital pictures. I rarely use my computer for playing music or movies as well as for gaming, so an entertainment based model just didn't make much sense for my current needs. The speed and storage capabilities are more than adequate for what processes I use my laptop for. I've now owned my new Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook for almost three months and couldn't be happier!! And best of all, no sharing :-) In conclusion, I highly recommend this laptop for the average computer user such as both high school and college students and well as those with casual and leisurely email, internet browsing and shopping computer needs. Good luck and happy computing :-)
***For more information on this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook as well as other fine computer choices to fit your specific needs, please check out their website online at:
www.dell.com
Or call 1-877-979-3355 to shop by phone.
--------------------------------------------------
***This review is my entry to Bryan Carey's New Millennium Write Off: 2000 Years, 2000 Reviews. Belated congratulations, Bryan, for this major accomplishment!! I've actually had the chance to meet Bryan in person not once but twice over the years. To find out more about submitting your own entry in honor of Bryan's 2000th Epinions review, check out his write-off announcement found here: New Millennium Write-Off.
~~~The Basic Notebook~~~
After browsing the Dell site, I quickly learned that the Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook at the special lower advertised price offered bare bones features. So upgrading naturally added several hundred dollars to the final price. The processor I chose was the Intel Pentium (1.80GHz/2MB) with an 80GB hard drive and 1 GB of RAM (Centrino Mobile Technology). It comes with the Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system and features a nice 15.4 inch vibrant color screen display. The notebook itself is all black in color with a silver top cover and the Dell logo placed right in the middle. The black keyboard keys are also outlined all the way around in silver. It weighs approximately 7 pounds and a carrying case can be ordered separately if desired. The notebook is quite slim when closed as it's only 1.5 inches tall (14 inches long) when flat and locked in. There's an internal 56K modem with internal wireless feature as well as a 8X speed CD/DVD rewritable drive. Of course there's a cord included to hook the laptop up to AC power when the battery is not in use. I chose the 6 cell lithium ion battery instead of the 4 cell, so this upgrade alone added $50 to the price. For those concerned about the recent recall of Dell notebook batteries, mine was not included. The keys on the keyboard are quite tight and close together, but then most found on notebooks usually are. This took awhile to get used to while typing. And then there's that "touch" type mouse feature below the keyboard that's even harder to get used although a regular standard type mouse can also be purchased separately. So overall, even though this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook is a basic laptop choice when compared to those in their entertainment line, there are plenty of extra upgrades that can be added when ordering to make it the best computer you can afford.
~~~Price & Availability~~~
Once our order was complete including all the extra upgrades I chose for this basic Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook, the price came to $824 before taxes and $24 in shipping was added on (final price $926.45 ). Ordering online at Dell.com is a simple process as they walk you through each step of the ordering process. Of course I've never had to actually speak with a real live person so my experience with their customer service is quite limited. I paid via credit card instead of using their own financing option so ordering with my private information was safe and secure. It only took a few days to arrive at my home. Then my husband set everything up for me so my new laptop would be all ready to use. We already owned some McAfee software to help protect our computer from viruses, etc., so he loaded that on as well. To find out more information online about this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook, copy and paste the following URL into your computer's web browser:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_basnb?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
~~~User Experience~~~
All you have to do is press a small button to turn this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook on. It can be placed in "standby" mode when not in use by using the "function" key. Since laptops are by design supposed to be small and compact, the keyboard space is quite limited, so the extra functions that are sometimes needed are located in blue print along the keys such as the scroll lock, standby, and hibernate modes just to name a few. There's no side number keypad like most typical desktop keyboards have, but there's one that can be selected using the all important function feature. I love both the battery as well as the internal wireless modem features as I can take my new somewhat lightweight laptop outside on the deck in the evenings and use my computer doing both on and off line things to my hearts desire. I do alot of browsing and ordering online as well as visiting favorite websites such as Epinions, but I'm not much of a gamer or play much music on my computer. I do, however, often download family pictures from a digital camera onto my computer, so I have plenty of storage space and memory to run the few programs I frequently use. The battery will last a good 2 hours or more before having to be recharged, and it does so automatically when the notebook is plugged back into AC power. Open the 15.4 inch color display as it's hinged onto the keyboard section. It's automatically adjustable to whatever angle you wish for it to open up to for the easiest, most comfortable viewing. The colors in the display screen are quite vibrant and the monitor section is crystal clear with little noticeable glare. Use the Microsoft Windows XP software just as you would on a desktop with the "touch" mousepad being the most obvious adjustment to make. To the left are the green lit modem lights to let you know how your notebook is connected. We have a cable modem for internet access and I can go anywhere inside the house as well as outside and still pick up a signal with my new laptop. And to the right on the side is the location of the 8X DVD/CD RW drive. I love the freedom this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook gives me as far as portability is concerned, especially since I didn't have to trade performance, speed, reliability, and user-friendliness for it when making the transition from a traditional desktop to my first laptop. Much thanks to Dell for this affordable, entry level model! And it's still all mine :-)
~~~Summary of Computer Tech Specs~~~
Since I am no computer expert by a long shot when it comes to the technical aspects that go along with writing a helpful review, I copied the ordering information from the Dell website regarding my new Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook. I hope this covers some of the minute details I might have otherwise skipped over:
***Inspiron 1300, Intel Pentium M 745 (1.80GHz/2MB Cache/400MHz
***15.4 inch WXGA Display, for Inspiron B130
***1GB,DDR2,533MHz,2 DIMM, for Inspiron 1300
***Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 for Inspiron 1300/B130
***Ultra-ATA Hard Drive, for Inspiron 1300
***PC Backup, 90-day Trial English, for Inspiron
***Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 2, English
***Image Restore
***DELL SUPPORT 3.0
***Windows Media Player 10
***Complimentary courses: Look for EU icon
***Dell Direct Download
***Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
***Icon Consolidation Application
***Internet Search and Portal
***Internal 56K Modem, for Inspiron B1300
***Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0, for Inspiron
***8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability for Inspiron 1300
***CyberLink PowerDVD v5.5 Decoding Software DVD Drives
***Intel PRO 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11b/g,54Mbps) for Inspiron 1300/B130
***Network Associates McAfee 7.0, English,90-day Trial
***WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 1300
***Broadband Icon for Inspiron EA
***NETZERO ISP
***AOL for Broadband
***Netscape ISP
***Corel WordPerfect 12 plus Trial of Quartro Pro and Presentations
***1 Year Limited Warranty
***Type 12- Mail-In Service, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year
***Warranty Support,Initial Year
***PC Restore Recovery System by Symantec
***Paint Shop Pro Standard
***Basic digital Music,Photo and Game experience
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
Looking for a great basic entry level notebook that won't break the bank? For me, this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook has proved to be an excellent choice. I'd easily recommend it for basic computer needs when you want the extra freedom for travel, etc. that a regular desktop just can't provide. This would be a good choice for college students on a budget or someone like me who mostly uses a computer for email, browsing and ordering things online, writing product reviews, and as a storage modem for digital pictures. I rarely use my computer for playing music or movies as well as for gaming, so an entertainment based model just didn't make much sense for my current needs. The speed and storage capabilities are more than adequate for what processes I use my laptop for. I've now owned my new Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook for almost three months and couldn't be happier!! And best of all, no sharing :-) In conclusion, I highly recommend this laptop for the average computer user such as both high school and college students and well as those with casual and leisurely email, internet browsing and shopping computer needs. Good luck and happy computing :-)
***For more information on this Dell Inspiron B130 PC Notebook as well as other fine computer choices to fit your specific needs, please check out their website online at:
www.dell.com
Or call 1-877-979-3355 to shop by phone.
--------------------------------------------------
***This review is my entry to Bryan Carey's New Millennium Write Off: 2000 Years, 2000 Reviews. Belated congratulations, Bryan, for this major accomplishment!! I've actually had the chance to meet Bryan in person not once but twice over the years. To find out more about submitting your own entry in honor of Bryan's 2000th Epinions review, check out his write-off announcement found here: New Millennium Write-Off.
