Dell Inspiron 1545 15.6-Inch Jet Black Laptop - Up to 4 Hours 34 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)

by Dell

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 12.4 x 19.1 inches ; 9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B002PY7OKI
• Item model number: i1545-4338JBK
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #514 in Computer & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computer & Accessories)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 18, 2009

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Stay connected wherever you roam with the Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop in black, which features a bright, vivid 15.6-inch LCD screen and long-lasting 6-cell battery. Weighing just under 6 pounds, it's a great choice for both work and play with the screen's high-definition resolution and included DVD drive (which can also burn dual-layer DVD and CD media). You'll enjoy dual-core productivity from its 2.1 GHz Intel Pentium T4300 processor for excellent multitasking.

Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below.

The Dell Inspiron 1545 in black.

Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to. (Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below.)

Other features include a 250 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM, 54g Wi-Fi networking, 7-in-1 memory card reader, ExpressCard 34 slot, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics with video memory shared with the system, and pre-loaded Microsoft Works.

Key Features

• 15.6-inch Glossy Widescreen Display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution (Learn more)
• Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. (Learn more)
• Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
• 2.1 GHz Intel Pentium T4300 dual-core processor (Learn more)
• 250 GB hard drive
• 4 GB of installed RAM with 800 MHz speed (maximum capacity)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD graphics with up to 1750 MB of dynamically shared memory allocated by the system (Learn more)
• 1.3 megapixel webcam with facial recognition software automatically secures your computer when you're away. This software adapts to your changing looks so you can expect faster login times. Also, there's no need to remember numerous passwords for password-protected Web sites.
• 8x multi-format DVD drive supports reading/writing of CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, and DVD-RAM
• 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g)
• Fast Ethernet (10/100)
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work and McAfee SecurityCenter for anti-virus protection (with 30 days of updates)
• Dell Dock: Enjoy a cleaner desktop with this application organizer. Installed software applications on your PC are automatically sorted into user-friendly categories placing your most frequently used programs front and center.
• Dell DataSafe Online backup service offers data protection by enabling customers to back up data to a safe, remote storage site using a broadband connection. Dell DataSafe Online is easy, flexible and secure. After setup, it will automatically back up data and help protect against software, hardware and catastrophic failure.
• With Dell Remote Access you can easily access photos, music, movies and more on your home system using another Internet-connected computer.
• Dell Support Center: This centrally located, easy-to-use application provides personalized support resources. Conveniently located on your PC's desktop with quick links to service, support and system resources. Helps keep your system up-to-date and running efficiently through automated fixes for common configuration issues.
• 6-cell battery
• Dimensions: 14.7 x 9.6 x 1.5 inches (WxDxH)
• Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Warranty: One-year with 24x7 technical support

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks as well as Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. It comes with the following external connectors:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• Analog video output: 1 VGA
• 1 ExpressCard/34 slot
• 7-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, and more
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• RJ-45 port for Ethernet

What's in the Box
This package contains the Dell Inspiron 1545 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions

Learn More

---

15.6-Inch High-Definition Display

This notebook has a 15.6-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TrueLife high-gloss/anti-reflective technology, which features a sharp contrast finish that's well suited to immersive 3D games and watching videos. Its widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio is designed to present websites without lots of left-right scrolling, as well as with a smoother line of sight. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, which uses shared video memory (up to 1750 MB allocated from the system memory). This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out.

---

Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.

Simplify everyday tasks	Work the way you want	Make new things possible
Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap. Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs. Setting up a home network and connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever. Windows 7 Home Premium supports the latest hardware and software.	Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker. Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory. Connecting to wireless networks is fast and easy.	Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center. Watch your favorite DVD movies. Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Jump Lists
New in Windows 7, Jump Lists take you right to the documents, pictures, songs, or websites you turn to each day. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar. (You'll also find them on the Start menu.) What you see in a Jump List depends entirely on the program. The Jump List for Internet Explorer 8 shows frequently-viewed websites. Windows Media Player 12 lists commonly-played tunes. Your Jump List missing a favorite? You can "pin" whatever files you like there. Jump Lists don't just show shortcuts to files. Sometimes they also provide quick access to commands for things like composing new e‑mail messages or playing music.

Improved Windows Taskbar
In Windows 7 you can "pin" favorite programs anywhere on the taskbar for easy access. Not crazy about the icon lineup? Now you can rearrange them any way you like by clicking and dragging. Finally, there are new ways to preview windows. Point to a taskbar icon to see a thumbnail preview of open files or programs. Then, move your mouse over a thumbnail to preview the window full-screen. You can even close windows from the thumbnail previews--a big time saver.

Snap
Ever need to cut through a cluttered desktop and quickly focus on a single window? Just click a pane and give your mouse a shake. Every open window except that one instantly disappears. Jiggle again--and your windows are back.

---

Dual-Core Pentium Power

Ready to move up to a dual-core? This Intel Pentium processor-based PC is a good place to start. The Intel Pentium processor is the fast dual-core that lets you surf the web and run multiple applications simultaneously. So you can browse, IM, download music or transfer photos all at once. And use office applications, too.

With the 2.1 GHz Intel Pentium T4300 dual-core processor, you'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. And its Intel 64 architecture is also ready for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, and offers enhanced performance through improved virtual memory. It has a 1 MB L2 cache and an 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB). (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

Product Description

Meet the Inspiron 15 — a 15.6-Inch laptop computer for your everyday needs. With an attractive, stylish design and mobile technology, this laptop features everything you want for everyday computing. The Inspiron 15 offers a modern black palmrest. Not to mention Intel Core 2 Duo processors, a Dell Dock and optional facial recognition software, all at a value within reach. *Based on Dell Lab testing. Battery life varies by configuration, operating conditions and other factors. Maximum battery capacity decreases with time and use.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

216 of 219 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Choice for a Daily Use, Mid-range Laptop, November 19, 2009

By	Andrea L. Polk (Southern Oregon) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Dell Inspiron 1545 15.6-Inch Jet Black Laptop - Up to 4 Hours 34 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) (Personal Computers)

I've owned several laptops and would be considered an intermediate to advanced computer user. I've built my own desktops, tweaked a few laptops and owned various brands of laptops including HP, Fujitsu, Sony and Dell (Inspiron, Latitude and XPS series).

I purchased this laptop directly from Dell based upon Consumer Report's November 2009 article recommendations where the Dell Inspiron 1545 was rated a 'Best Buy' for every day computing. I purchased it for my husband who will use it primarily for watching an occasional movie from Netflix streaming wirelessly on our home network, emailing to share jokes and videos with his friends, and browsing the Internet.

After setting it up, which other than running into a snag with my home network was a breeze, and playing with it for about an hour, these are my impressions.

The PROS:
+ Comes with Windows 7 - no need to upgrade, and the 64-bit combined with the more than adequate memory makes things move nicely. Slightly different than Vista's look, but should be easy to use.
+ Adequate hard drive (mine came with a 320) for storing photos, videos and music.
+ Great 1.3mp webcam which delivers pretty nice snapshots (not too grainy) as well as excellent video (very little drag of movement).
+ Good speakers! Better than those on my Dell XPS, for which I paid 30% more less than a year ago.
+ 3 usb ports
+ Bright 15.6" display; nice size. I sometimes find the 13" on the XPS too small and the Fujitsu had a 17" which is fine for a desktop replacement but really adds weight to the overall unit.
+ Virtually silent running. No fan noise to speak of and yet...
+ Stays cool to the touch! Not worried about overheating on this one.

The CONS:
- Keyboard is OK, but not as responsive as some others I've used.
- The touchpad seems a tad small and the buttons (left/right click) seem too low by comparison to the keyboard. It could be the size of my hands (small...) but I tend to think it's just the layout.
- The high gloss finish inside and the glossy display (versus matte finish) look cool, but do show fingerprints and reflect light to the point of sometimes being a nuisance.
- There is no 'media only' button like on the XPS where you don't have to turn on the computer to watch a movie, but this is something that higher end laptops would have and may simply be a perk to paying more.
- Heavier than some others, but at under six pounds, it's still not too bad.
- Matte finish on the outside shows greasy smudges where you've touched it. I have the same issue with my XPS, but frankly I've never found a finish that doesn't show something.
- Not a multi-media or gaming powerhouse. It will play dvd's and games, but if you're buying a laptop and really into those things, spend a bit more and make sure you upgrade your video and audio to support your interests. The 4GB of memory really helps as much as anything and I didn't notice any issues with the media I tested.

SET-UP:
The only issue I had with setting up this laptop was with my home network not being accepted because Windows 7 didn't like the security settings I had in place. I could get the 1545 to recognize my network, but it wouldn't connect until I changed the settings. I had my wireless settings on WEP and Windows 7 wanted WPA. Once I changed the settings, the laptop connected. I then had to go to 8 different devices on my network and make sure they were happy. Only one item: Myine Electronics IR001 WiFi Internet Radio Adaptor wasn't happy, but eventually accepted the settings with some concentrated tweaking.

BATTERY LIFE:
Battery life seems to be about 3.5 hours. I think the 4+ hour estimate is high, but that undoubtedly is also based upon what things you are doing on the laptop and mobile power settings.

CONCLUSION:
If you purchase this Dell you are getting a solid workhorse for every day computing for a fair price. I think it's quality is certainly higher than an Acer with the same specs, and backed by a 1 year warranty from Dell. (Having had a Dell laptop that needed the keyboard replaced recently, I truly think the warranty service provided by Dell - they came to my house the next day - is exceptional and worth the small price hike over some other brands.)

The Dell Inspiron 1545 is perfect for a student, a grandma who likes to email or wants to keep up with the grandkids on Skype, or anyone who has no need for the latest and greatest gaming, multi-media computer. For a laptop with a webcam, 4GB memory, and Windows 7 (64-bit) that's ready to fly right out of the box... it's a good choice.

**WIRELESS NOTE: If you are having trouble connecting to a wireless network, be sure you check the included 'set-up guide', page 10, to find the wireless key on your keyboard. You can inadvertently press this key and turn off your wireless capabilities. Handy on airplanes... not so handy at home.

110 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Windows 7 Laptop, but a Few Software Issues, November 21, 2009

By	K. J. Jensen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dell Inspiron 1545 15.6-Inch Jet Black Laptop - Up to 4 Hours 34 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) (Personal Computers)

The performance of this laptop is outstanding compared to most laptops in the price range. It's unfortunate that Dell decided to preload Mcafee's security suite on the machine. Uninstalling Mcafee disables your network connection preventing you to get online. Reading up on this machine, it seems many people have this issue with the Mcafee suite. After reinstalling all of the software, this machine is pretty speedy. If you aren't sure how to reinstall Windows and all of the applications, be prepared to pay for subscriptions to Mcafee. You will be permanently offline if you choose to remove it.

The webcam will keep kids entertained for hours with its facial recognition software. You can put goofy hair, hats, and other decorations on your face real-time. Not really a practical feature, but it is pretty cool.

Aside from software bugs on the machine, this is an awesome computer, and it feels quite sturdy. It seems to be a pretty solid machine, and I think I will enjoy having it.

Pros
Windows 7 runs well.
Wonderful widescreen display
Plenty of ram (4gb)
Speedy processor for a laptop
Built in webcam software with facial recognition is awesome!
Battery life is decent for a machine this size.
Machine runs very quiet.
Keyboard is very quiet, and buttons are easy to press.
Very attractive computer.

Cons
Built-in Mcafee software disables your network connection if you uninstall it.
Dell includes reinstallation discs, not recovery discs.
Most of the pre-loaded apps cannot be reinstalled from their DVDs if you choose to reinstall windows.
Glossy finish on the inside of the laptop is prone to fingerprints/smudges.
Lack of dedicated media buttons (shared with F1-F12 keys)
No HDMI
No Bluetooth
No Blu-ray
Only 3 USB ports
Lack of 10 keypad

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best bang for the buck on any laptop I have bought, November 26, 2009

By	Charles S. Glass "salty" (oregon coast) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Dell Inspiron 1545 15.6-Inch Jet Black Laptop - Up to 4 Hours 34 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) (Personal Computers)

I bought mine from Dell with a little better price but I buy a lot from Amazon and find the reviews helpful. I have a Dell XPS which is a high end Dell and running my benchmarks it is really preforms quite well considering the cost. Like one lady said the sound is better than the xps, maybe the best I have heard on a laptop. The screen is about a 1/2 inch shorter from top to bottom but about 1/2 inch wider. I thought I would be to skinny like the new 16:9 but its fine. The screen is excellent in sharpness and color very good. The intel graphics card is ample for video and is ok for older games. I am not a gamer high end graphics are not a issue.It does have 32mb of its own ram and the rest is shared. Dell has finally installed a app to back up the system for restore like other oems. The roxio is pretty much worthless and you need something else for the normal burning that windows 7 cant do.Mine came with 15 months of mcafee and I uninstalled it as soon as I got it. It is a resource hog and will slow your computer to a crawl at times. Microsoft finally has a free security essentials app instead of having to pay someone else to protect your computer and I use it as well as Avira anti virus (free)from time to time. I am going on 4 hours battery now and the battery says I have 50 minutes left. It only has 1 led for power and low battery, I dont care for this and prefer a full set of leds to let me know whats going on. Software indicators work but or a cost cutting feature.
My only problem is the space bar feels loose at times and hinges for the monitor are quite stiff and hope they don't break.
I have had my share of problems with Dell and have sent back 2 different computers. To be honest this is the best computer for the money I have had. Only time will tell if it holds up or not but I am quite happy with it. Charging $40.00 for a different color (on there website)lid is a rip off to me, but each to their own. Mine came with 3gb ram and I added a 2gb chip for 4gb I had and it does make a difference. I would keep an eye on the price as they do change. One of the main reasons I bought this is because I despised vista, but I have had no problems with 7. My wifi and networked worked with no problems.
Update: a nice feature that might confuse some people is that the fn key need not be pushed to use the media keys and the sound volume and brightness. There is a bios setting that can change the priority of the fn key to media first or number keys (like f1 f2 f3) first) It is set by default to media first. I have never seen this before but I like this feature.