The Dell Vostro V13 is extremely stylish and sturdy. But unlike the Dell Adamo XPS or the Latitude Z600 this machine offers more style than substance.
Design
The Dell Vostro V13 measures just 0.7 inches in thickness and weighs around 3.4 pounds. The lid and the bottom are made of brushed aluminum. The inside of the notebook sports matte black plastic. Build quality is excellent. The Vostro 13 can easily survive the rigors of business travel.
Wireless Keyboard Touchpad
Review laptop configuration
Processor: 1.3-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 500GB/7,200 rpm hard drive
Display: 13.3 inches display with 1366 x 768 pixels
Graphics: Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics
Price as configured: 1
The Vostro V13 starts at 9. The base model has a 1.3-GHz Intel Celeron M ULV 743 processor, Ubuntu Linux version 9.04, 2GB of RAM, a 5,400 rpm, 250GB hard drive, and 802.11b/g wireless.
Heat
Heat levels are nothing to worry about particularly when you consider how thin the notebook is.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is nearly full-sized, but unfortunately, it isn't very good. The keys are a bit noisy when pressed. The touchpad measures 3.2 x 1.7 inches and is large for a notebook of this size. The touchpad surface is slightly recessed and offers the right amount of friction.
Display and Audio
The Dell Vostro V13 has a 13.3 inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels. The display is very nice with good colors and acceptable contrast. Viewing angles are also good. The Vostro V13 is not an entertainment notebook, still the audio quality is good.
Ports and Webcam
Port selection is average. There is one USB port, an eSATA/USB combo port, Ethernet, VGA, an ExpressCard slot, a 5-in-1 memory card reader, headphone and mic jacks. No HDMI or FireWire. The 1.3 mega pixel webcam produces decent images.
Performance
The Dell Vostro V13 has a 1.3 GHz Intel U7300 processor and 4GB of RAM. The notebook doesn't deliver remarkable performance in some benchmark tests, but it has enough power to handle day-to-day jobs. Browsing with multiple tabs open poses no problem, neither does image editing in Photoshop. The Vostro V13 has a 7200rpm hard drive which performs really well. Boot times are also good. The GMA 4500 integrated graphics aren't very powerful, so high end gaming is out of question. But this shouldn't be regarded as a drawback, because Vostro V13 is a business-oriented notebook and businesses are not supposed to indulge in heavy duty gaming.
Battery Life
Battery life is below average. The notebook lasts for only around 4.5 hours of constant web surfing via WiFi. The battery is not user replaceable.
Verdict
The Dell Vostro V13 is as attractive as the Adamo XPS 13 and Latitude Z600.But this machine is pricier than its siblings and falls short in terms of battery life. In fact, the ThinkPad Edge 13 and HP ProBook 5310m are better choices for small and medium businesses looking to invest their money wisely. But if you are keen on buying a Dell, getting the Vostro 3300 is a better idea. It is a bit chunkier but significantly faster than the Vostro V13.
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