Key Specs
2.4GHz Intel Core i5-520M4GB RAM
500GB hard drive
8x DVD±RW
17.3 inches (1,600x900 native resolution)
Nvidia GeForce GT330M GPU (1GB)
6.5 pounds (with optional 9-cell battery)
1.3x16.2x10.7 inches
Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)
Small-business owners that sat out the Windows Vista era, take note: Dell has a powerful, affordable machine to replace your aging desktop—and it’s one you can carry with you (well, occasionally at least.) The Dell Vostro 3700 is the big-screen desktop replacement model in Dell’s new Vostro 3000 series lineup, featuring a 17.3-inch HD display, fast Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, and an available Nvidia GPU that can satisfy your gaming itch when work is done.
The Vostro 3700 is certainly aggressively priced. The base model, with an Intel Core i3 processor and integrated graphics, starts at $629, while a Core i7–powered unit starts at $1,304. Our configuration—with a Core i5 CPU and dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 330M graphics processor—splits the difference at $1,172 when you add in the $99 nine-cell battery to supplement (not replace) the standard six-cell power pack.
Design, however, is another story, in which you get what you pay for. The silver-and-black model is inoffensive, if a bit generic. If you want to make more of a statement, spend an extra $40 and step up to the red or bronze chassis. But either way, the case is plastic; you don’t get the richer materials, such as leather and aluminum, that make the Dell Studio XPS
models so satisfying to behold (and hold). As expected of a laptop with a desktop-size screen on board, the Vostro 3700 is large. Its footprint measures 16.2 by 10.7 inches and the machine is 1.3 inches thick. At 6 pounds with the six-cell battery and 6.5 pounds with the nine-cell, the Vostro 3700 is no lightweight, but the heft is more than reasonable given the size.
The LED-backlit panel has a native resolution of 1,600x900. That puts it in HD territory; some might argue a full 1080p (1,920x1,080) resolution is more appropriate given the panel’s 17.3-inch size. But for business use, the slightly lower resolution delivers readable text and still plenty of pixels to have two application windows open side-by-side. The panel has an extremely wide viewing angle side-to-side, making the Vostro 3700 appropriate as a presentation device. However, there’s a fairly narrow sweet spot in the vertical plane for games and video. If the lid isn’t open to just the right angle relative to your eye position you’ll see an annoying brightness shift. Videophiles should also note that Dell opted for a subtle anti-glare coating to cut down on reflections in typical business lighting environments, but that does rob some of the “pop” from movies and games. We also noticed motion blur in action scenes.
Those are minor nits. Worse is the Vostro 3700’s sound system. Typically a large portable delivers fairly rich sound, given the copious room in the box for decent-size speakers and sometimes even a subwoofer. But the Vostro 3700’s speakers are straight from the bargain bin, with thin, tinny sound that’s especially disappointing for music playback. Better is the 2-megapixel Webcam, which delivered a good (if slightly reddish) image under typical light and a fairly usable image even in low light. We also like the easy-to-use Dell Webcam Central utility for capturing stills and video. The software gives you the option of sharing your desktop with the person you’re chatting with and lets you send a still or video clip to e-mail, YouTube, or Photobucket with a click.
Also on the plus side, Dell did not skimp when it came to the keyboard. It's full size, of course, and the wide screen means there’s room for a dedicated number pad. The keys have good up-down travel and a comfortable feel overall. A pleasing white backlight is included on higher-end SKUs (ours included); but lower-priced units do not let you add the backlit keyboard as an option, which is unfortunate. Dell also includes a row of white-backlit touch-sensitive multimedia buttons above the Function-key row, a welcome touch missing from many business laptops