Consumer Report

Coleman 1

Coleman 2

CONSUMER REPORT ON

LAPTOPS

SOLD BY DELL, HP, AND SONY

For

Michael Hricik

Technical Writing instructor

Westmoreland County Community College

By

Shelby Coleman

ENG 162-WA

March 30, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Informative Abstract……………………………………………………………………………... 3

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

Discussion of Findings…………………………………………………………………………… 8

Cost………………………………………………………………………………………. 8

Processor…………………………………………………………………………………. 9

Display………………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Storage Space…………………………………………………………………………… 11

Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3…………………………………………………..… 11

Special Features……………………………………………………………………….... 12

Summary of Findings…………………………………………………………………………… 14

Conclusion and Recommendations……………………………………………………………... 16

Table 1: Laptop Ratings….……………………………………………………... 17

Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………………….. 18

INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT

I plan to purchase a laptop now that I have completed extensive research on laptops sold by Dell, HP (Hewlett Packard), and Sony. Throughout my research, I have learned about the multiple qualities that I want my future laptop to possess. After careful consideration, I was able to narrow down my final laptop choice as the Dell Inspiron 15R. However, this report will discuss why I considered the Dell Inspiron 15R, HP Pavilion dv6, and Sony VAIO E Series laptops. I chose these three different brands of laptops to research according to my following predetermined list of criteria.

· Cost

· Processor

· Display

· Storage Space

· Special Features

As stated previously, I decided that my future laptop purchase would be the Dell Inspiron 15R based on its cost, processor, display, storage space, and special features. This laptop will meet all of my school needs and personal wants. Plus, the Dell Inspiron 15R was the best deal for the best price. I know how expensive laptops are, and so I expect to purchase a laptop that will not be composed of cheap parts. Since Dell, HP, and Sony are all technology experts, I know any of those laptop brands will be reliable.

As for my second and third choices, I decided on the HP Pavilion dv6 and Sony VAIO E Series laptops. The HP Pavilion dv6 was my second choice while the Sony VAIO E Series was my third choice. Both of these laptops were less satisfying because they possessed fewer qualities than the Dell Inspiron 15R. For instance, the HP Pavilion dv6 is difficult to find in stores with as fast of a processor. Unless one customizes the computer through the manufacturer, it is nearly impossible to purchase the HP Pavilion dv6 with any processor other than an AMD 6 or Intel Core i3. While referring to the Sony VAIO E Series, its complete "fingerprint-free" exterior appears generic-looking when compared next to the sleek and smooth look of the other two laptops. Furthermore, the Sony VAIO E Series is more expensive than both the Dell Inspiron 15R and the HP Pavilion dv6 laptops.

INTRODUCTION

Growing up in the twentieth century, technology is a must in order to function in normal society. With that said, almost everyone in the U.S. owns a desktop computer or laptop. Nowadays, it is preferable to own a laptop with wireless capabilities, which makes it portable almost anywhere. Although I will not use just any wireless connection, I will use the secure wireless connection in my house or at my school. I wanted to purchase a laptop rather than a desktop computer mainly because I want to have access while remaining comfortable in any room of my house. Since I chose to shop for more expensive laptops, it is important that each embraces all of my specific comforts and expectations. Nonetheless, I discovered that the Dell Inspiron 15R is more superior to the other two laptops.

I am interested in purchasing a laptop because I need it to submit and type my school assignments. I also will use my laptop to access the WCCC school website and for personal or recreational reasons. However, so many brands of laptops are available, and even more laptop models are produced by those manufacturers. So, I chose my top three laptops according to three popular, experienced brands in order to narrow down my search. After that, I based my selection on my previously mentioned criteria: cost, processor, display, storage space, and special features.

1. Cost - I want my price range for any laptop I purchase to be set between $500-$700. Since I will mainly use my laptop for academic purposes, I do not need an extremely advanced $1,000 or more laptop.

2. Processor - I want a 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor with a speed of at least 2.5GHz. If the processor is faster, it will be able to carry out more information or tasks at the same time, which I need because I often have multiple programs running at once.

3. Display - I want my laptop to have about a 15.6" (diagonal measurement) screen with high-definition LED technology. Because I do not want a tiny or enormous screen, this size is perfect. I will also include color in with this category. My preferred laptop color is red, silver, or black, but I will settle for basically any color except pink.

4. Storage Space - I want a hard drive capable of storing at least 500GB to 640GB of programs and other electronic information. This category also includes the system memory, which I want to store 6GB of data for the operating system, files, and applications.

5. Special Features - I want wireless capability in case I need to take my laptop with me to school and a rewritable DVD disc drive in order to burn music and videos onto discs.

I also want at least two USB ports and a digital media card slot in order to transfer data to or from any type of external source.

This report was centered on my interest to purchase a laptop for my academic and personal convenience. I am interested in technology even when it does not obey my requests or function properly. Nonetheless, I decided to research laptops because I experienced multiple people describing how convenient and dependable their particular brands of laptops are. The brands of my fellow technology enthusiasts included Dell, HP, and Sony. Through my trustworthy sources, I was able to confirm my choices in a Dell, HP, or Sony laptop. They are all popular brands with high reputations because they are not cheaply made but they have produced multiple forms of technology, such as televisions, cell phones, desktop computers, and laptops. Therefore, people are familiar with those three brand names and their individual level of quality and performance.

Although I have spent numerable hours researching online, I now know what important qualities I want included in my laptop. All of my sources were intentionally websites that provided me with each product's specific information as well as reviews from the manufacturer or customers. On two of the websites, the laptops are even comparable side by side for their exact specifications. Even though I only used websites, I was also able to consult a Best Buy employee with extensive knowledge about how the current laptops function and their various components. Plus, I have already experienced Windows 7, and so I am familiar with the basic operating system installed in most of the new laptops. Furthermore, after reading this report, people will understand why I chose the three brands of laptops based upon my own personal requirements and their qualifications.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

First of all, I initiated my research on laptops by visiting bestbuy.com and a nearby Best Buy store. On the website, I discovered that they sale 20 brands of laptops, which includes a total of over 700 different models. With that known, I choose the three well-established brands that had previously been recommended by people who I know already own laptops. Those three popular brands are Dell, HP, and Sony. In order to see what models were offered, I looked through the pages of laptops and chose three models based on my own preferred criteria. These categories allowed me to determine which three laptop models I would research further and consider purchasing later on.

COST

For those who do not have the money to throw away, their initial first question when purchasing a new item is, "How much does it cost?" Well, I compared the laptops first according to my set price range of $500-$700. It is true that if anyone is looking for the best deal that Best Buy is the place to shop for technology. I looked on bestbuy.com to decide on which three models I would research, and I discovered that Best Buy offers a better deal than anywhere else whether online or in stores. Best Buy even beats Wal-Mart's low prices for the Dell Inspiron 15R and HP Pavilion dv6 models. Additionally, Wal-Mart and Staples do not even sell Sony laptops, so I did not waste my time looking further. For the Dell Inspiron 15R, Best Buy and Staples actually list both of their prices as $579.99. However, Best Buy offers a much lower price of $599.98 than anywhere else for the HP Pavilion dv6 including Wal-Mart and Staples. As for the Sony VAIO E Series, Best Buy's price is listed at $629.99 while compared to the Sony manufacturer (the only other place that carries Sony laptops) who lists their price at $719.99 for that model. Overall, the Dell Inspiron 15R wins as the "best buy" when compared to the cost of the other laptop brands.

PROCESSOR

Since I am a college student, I need a processor capable of running multiple programs. I need a processor that can run Microsoft Word programs while simultaneously allowing access to different websites on the Internet without slowing down after years of use. The processor installed in any given laptop model depends on what the seller is provided with by its personal supplier. As provided by Best Buy, the type of processor installed in the Dell Inspiron 15R and Sony VAIO E Series laptops is the 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2450M with a speed of 2.5GHz. However, Best Buy only offers an AMD A-6 Series processor with a speed of 2.4GHz in the HP Pavilion dv6 model. As a result, those laptops sold by Best Buy include Intel processors, which function better than the AMD processors in laptop owners' opinions.

If anyone purchases the Dell Inspiron 15R, HP Pavilion dv6, or Sony VAIO E Series from the individual manufacturers, then more processor options are available for each laptop. Furthermore, the Dell Inspiron 15R is offered with an Intel Core i3-2350M with a speed of 2.3GHz, Intel Core i5-2450M with a speed of 2.5GHz, or Intel Core i7-2670QM with a speed of 2.2GHz through Dell. Through HP, the HP Pavilion dv6 has the options of an Intel Core i3-2330M with a speed of 2.2GHz, Intel Core i3-2350M with a speed of 2.3GHz, Intel Core i5-2430M with a speed of 2.4GHz, or Intel Core i5-2450M with a speed of 2.5GHz. Even though the purchasing options are limited for the Sony VAIO E Series, Sony offers an Intel Pentium B960 with a speed of 2.2GHz, Intel Core i3-2350M with a speed of 2.3GHz, or Intel Core i5-2450M with a speed of 2.5GHz. In addition, Wal-Mart has a preinstalled Intel Core i5-2450M processor with a speed of 2.5GHz in both of its Dell Inspiron 15R and HP Pavilion dv6 laptops. After comparing all of the sources, my top decision is to purchase the Dell Inspiron 15R based on the available processor options.

DISPLAY

Even though the appearance is not the most important characteristic, it is one that I consider while researching any laptop. I decided that I wanted a screen that was not too small or big, so I looked at the 15.6" screens in between the 14" and 17.3" screens. For future reference, all laptop screen sizes are measured diagonally where as the width is measured horizontally. All of my sources say that the Dell Inspiron 15R and HP Pavilion dv6 have a 15.6" high-definition LED screen. While the Sony VAIO E Series has a 15.5" LED screen, the matter of an inch is not noticeable. Therefore, I consider its screen size as adequate, but it is not high-definition like the other two laptops, which takes away from the quality of the picture.

Moreover, I also consider the color of any laptop I want to purchase even though the color choices depend on the seller. Since I could not find each laptop model in all of the offered colors, I looked at the manufacturer websites to see what color options were available. On Dell's website, the Dell Inspiron 15R is offered in the standard Black, but it has multiple switchable lid colors, such as Fire Red, Summer Grass, Bronze Orange, Peacock Blue, Lotus Pink, and so on. Wal-Mart also sells other switchable lid colors like Passion Purple, Apple Red, Obsidian Black, and Tomato Red not listed by Dell. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion dv6 model is only offered in Dark Umber or Steel Gray no matter what supplier it is purchased from. Nevertheless, the Sony VAIO E Series is available in Glacier White, Charcoal Black, Midnight Blue, and Blush Pink on the Sony website. Overall, I would prefer the Fire Red for the Dell Inspiron 15R (Figure 1), Steel Gray for the HP Pavilion dv6 (Figure 2), and Glacier White for the Sony VAIO E Series (Figure 3) as pictured below. In terms of appearance, I continue to choose the Dell Inspiron 15R for its 15.6" high-definition LED screen and varying color options.

Figure 1 Figure 2

Figure 3

STORAGE SPACE

When researching the amount of storage space on a laptop, I consider the hard drive and the system memory to be included together. The hard drive is important because it mainly stores all of the programs I will use on my laptop. For that reason, I require at least a 500GB hard drive, but a 640GB hard drive would be the best deal for a laptop in my price range. As provided by Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Staples, the Dell Inspiron 15R has a 500GB hard drive. Even though this model has enough hard drive storage, I think that it is the cheapest laptop of the three because it only includes a 500GB hard drive. The HP Pavilion dv6 includes a 640GB hard drive through Best Buy and Staples, but it only has a 500GB hard drive listed by Wal-Mart. Conversely, the Sony VAIO E Series is only listed on Best Buy with a 640GB hard drive. At Best Buy, the HP Pavilion dv6 includes a larger hard drive for only $20 more than the Dell Inspiron 15R.

Additionally, I want a decent amount of memory because that is where all of my files will be stored automatically. For example, 6GB of memory should provide plenty of space to store my files. Because all of my sources for the Dell Inspiron 15R, HP Pavilion dv6, and Sony VAIO E Series suggest that each laptop includes a 6GB system memory, all laptops have enough memory for me to be satisfied with. In the end, the HP Pavilion dv6 is the over-achiever in this category because of both its 640GB hard drive and 6GB memory for the price.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Conveniently, most laptops today are already set up for wireless connection, so wireless capability is not a problem for the Dell Inspiron 15R, HP Pavilion dv6, or Sony VAIO E Series. As stated by Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Staples, both the Dell Inspiron 15R and HP Pavilion dv6 models include a DVD+/-RW/CD-RW disc drive (DVD/CD burner) to write CDs and DVDs. The Sony VAIO E Series is listed on Best Buy and Sony with a DVD/CD burner as well. My sources also state that the Dell Inspiron 15R has three USB ports, which are located near the back, and a media card reader to interchange information between those devices and the laptop. The Dell Inspiron 15R only has three USB ports, and they are all inconveniently located near the back of the laptop. However, the HP Pavilion dv6 and Sony VAIO E Series include four USB ports and a media card reader that are easily located near the front of the laptop, but the placement of the USB ports is more logical on HP Pavilion dv6. For that reason, the winner in this section is the HP Pavilion dv6 with easy access to the DVD/CD burner, USB ports, and media card slot.

Since I researched each laptop on the multiple online sources, I know which laptop I will purchase based on all of the specifications and reviews.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Obviously, the Dell Inspiron 15R, HP Pavilion dv6, and Sony VAIO E Series, all compete closely in my list of necessities. In order to eliminate my third choice, I compared each laptop according to the five criteria. Then, I chose one of the three laptops which would win in each of my five categories.

I believe that cost is one of the first qualities to look at in any purchase, especially laptops, since they are usually expensive. Although all three laptop models are within my range of cost, the Dell Inspiron 15R is the least expensive. Plus, I had an option of purchasing this model for the same low price of $579.99 from two different sources.

Equally important, the type of processor offered with each laptop model differs according to the seller. Since I am able to purchase the Dell Inspiron 15R with my preferred processor from any of my sources, it offers the most freedom for me to choose which supplier I want to utilize. I prefer the Intel Core i5-2450M processor because it does not slow down over time like the Intel Pentium, Intel Core i3, and Intel Core i7 processors.

According to the display, each laptop has an approximate 15.6" LED screen with different color choices available. However, the Sony VAIO E Series is not in high-definition like the other two, and the HP Pavilion dv6 only has two basic color options. Thus, the Dell Inspiron 15R wins with a 15.6" high-definition LED screen and numerous lid colors available.

When storing programs and files on a laptop, I want at least a 500GB hard drive and a 6GB system memory. Since all three laptops offered at least both of those qualities, I also compared their hard drives according to their prices. The Sony VAIO E Series includes a 640GB hard drive but is $30 more than the HP Pavilion dv6 that offers the same hard drive. Because the HP Pavilion dv6 is offered with a 640GB hard drive for only $20 more the Dell Inspiron 15R with a 500GB hard drive, it is obviously the overall winner of this category.

Furthermore, I look at the special features, which are basically included bonuses, for all three laptops. While each laptop included the wireless capability, DVD/CD burner, USB ports, and media card slot that I wanted; I critiqued these criteria even further. So, the Dell Inspiron 15R only has three USB ports, and they are located near the back of the laptop. Comparing the four USB ports in both the HP Pavilion dv6 and Sony VAIO E Series, both are located more logically. Even though they are extremely similar in their layout, the Sony VAIO E Series places three USB ports on one side instead of two USB ports on each side, making the HP Pavilion dv6 the winner here.

At this time, I will remove the Sony VAIO E Series model because it is truly the most inferior laptop of my three choices. Since the Sony VAIO E Series did not win a single category of the five, I decided that it is not what I want in a laptop. Moreover, it does not include any characteristic that is not already found in one or both of the other laptops.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based upon my extensive research, I arrived at the following conclusions about the best laptop for me. Even though the Dell Inspiron 15R slightly lacks when compared to the HP Pavilion dv6 for the best priced hard drive, it is the cheapest laptop in my price range. Plus, the Dell Inspiron 15R also has the best processor options available for its price and offers the most colors for some personalization as well. Because the Dell Inspiron 15R meets almost all of my requirements for my future laptop, I decided that it is my final choice.

The major characteristics that I looked for in the Dell Inspiron 15R include the following:

· $579.99 at Best Buy or Staples

· 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2450M processor with a speed of 2.5GHz

· Preferred color with a 15.6" high-definition LED screen

· 500GB hard drive and 6GB system memory

· Wireless capability, DVD/CD burner, three USB ports, and memory card reader

With these aspects already in mind, I rated each laptop according to a 25 point scale and recorded the rating in the following table.

NOTE: Each laptop is able to score a possible 5 points out of 5 points for each of the criteria with 5 as the highest.

Table 1: Laptop Ratings

	Dell Inspiron 15R	HP Pavilion dv6	Sony VAIO E Series
Cost	5	4.5	3.5
Processor	5	4	4
Display	5	4	3.5
Storage Space	4.5	5	4
Special Features	4	5	4.5
TOTAL	23.5	22.5	19.5

Since my criteria are clearly shown in the table above, it is easy to see why my final choice is the Dell Inspiron 15R. According to this table, I highly recommend this laptop based on its high rating of 23.5 points out of 25 possible points. Nonetheless, my in-depth research on the specifications and reviews of the Dell Inspiron 15R provides more than enough evidence regarding it as my primary laptop choice in the future.

I know for certain that I will be satisfied with the Dell Inspiron 15R based on its outstanding qualities and my specified wants. In addition, my wants are a low cost of $579.99, 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor with a speed of 2.5GHz, color options, 15.6" high-definition LED screen, 500GB hard drive, 6GB system memory, wireless capability, DVD/CD burner, USB ports, and memory card reader. Therefore, most of the qualifications for my future laptop are expressed solely in the Dell Inspiron 15R. I hope to purchase this laptop in the near future to satisfy all of my school and recreational purposes.

WORKS CITED

“Dell - 15.6” Inspiron Laptop - 6GB Memory - 640GB Hard Drive - Diamond Black.” Bestbuy.com. Best Buy, 2003-2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

"Dell Fire Red 15.6" Inspiron N5110 Laptop PC with Intel Corei5-2450M Processor and Windows 7 Home Premium." Walmart.com. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2012. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

“Dell Inspiron 15RN-3647 15.6” Laptop.” Staples.com. Staples, Inc., 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2012.

“E Series.” Sony.com. Sony Electronics Inc., 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2012.

“HP - 15.6” Pavilion Laptop - 6GB Memory - 640GB Hard Drive - Steel Gray.” Bestbuy.com. Best Buy, 2003-2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

“HP Pavilion dv6-6b26us 15.6” Laptop.” Staples.com. Staples, Inc., 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2012.

“HP Pavilion dv6t Series.” Hp.com. Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2012.

"HP Steel Gray 15.6" Pavilion Entertainment DV6-6C15RN Laptop PC with Intel Core i5-2450M Processor and Windows 7 Home Premium." Walmart.com. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2012. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

“Inspiron 15R Laptop.” Dell.com. Dell, 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.

“Sony - 15.5” VAIO E Series Laptop - 6GB Memory - 640GB Hard Drive - Glacier White.” Bestbuy.com. Best Buy, 2003-2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.