Dell Vostro V131 Review

The Dell Vostro V131 is designed primarily for business users, but its price and features are compelling enough that some casual users will want to check it out. Dell Vostro V131 reviews praise the laptop's tough magnesium case and full-size keyboard. Reviewers are especially impressed with the longer-than-average battery life -- more than eight hours, according to a Dell Vostro V131 review at PCMag.com. The 13.3-inch display has a matte finish, which reduces glare but also the angles at which you can view the display, notes a Dell Vostro V131 review by CNET.

The base model has an Intel Celeron CPU and starts at $500. Dell also offers a $600 version with an Intel i3-2310M CPU, which reviewers strongly prefer. The $600 version includes 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, both of which can be upgraded to larger quantities. That amount of memory should be enough for most business users, but anyone looking to use the laptop for multimedia or gaming should consider an upgrade. The slim, lightweight system has two USB 3.0 ports, as opposed to the USB 2.0 ports found on most budget laptops, as well as an HDMI port and an 8-in-1 memory card reader. The Vostro V131 also has a fingerprint reader for logging in and accessing passwords -- a nice feature for business users concerned with security. One thing you won't find in this little laptop is an optical drive, although you can buy one separately and attach it to one of the USB ports.

The specs on the Dell Vostro V131 are similar to those on the Inspiron 14R, but the Vostro costs about $100 more. However, the Vostro has fewer superfluous frills. Instead of a gimmicky switchable lid, the Vostro V131 has a strong magnesium case. It also has better battery life, which many laptop users rate as a top priority. The Vostro V131 is super-portable, which makes it a good choice for users who frequently tote a laptop around with them. The price is a little high considering this laptop's base components, but its battery life, portability, and tough construction will no doubt appeal to many users.