17 inch laptop computers are the perfect choice when you are looking to replace a home desktop computer, but aren’t very worried about portability. And the Dell Inspiron i17RN-4235BK is one of the best combinations of performance and value that you will find among the 17 inch laptops on the market.
It features an Intel i5 processor, 6 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive, as well as a slew of networking, wireless and assorted port connectivity to ensure that you will be able to access all of your devices and networks.
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Dell Inspiron i17RN-4235BK | |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i5 2450M Processor 2.5GHz |
RAM | 6GB DIMM |
Hard Drive | 5400 GB (5400 RPM) |
Graphics | Intel HD graphics 3000 |
Number of USB ports | 4 |
Number of USB 3.0 ports | 2 |
Screen | 17.3 inch LED-backlit (1600×900) |
HDMI? | Yes |
Webcam | 1-megapixel HD webcam (1280 x 720) |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 3.0 |
Keyboard | Full size, full-numeric keypad |
Battery Life | 4 hours (estimated) |
Optical Drive | 8x multi-format CD/DVD drive |
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Pros:
- Intel i5 processor
- 6 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 8)
- 4 USB ports, 2 of which are USB 3.0
- One of the USB ports is also a combo USB/eSata port
- HDMI for connecting your computer to the TV
Cons:
- Heavy (when compared to a 15 inch laptop)
- Short battery life, though this is common among 17 inch models
- No Blu-Ray player
This is a great laptop for someone that needs a computer for their personal use, or for use in a home office. The large screen looks and feels great (especially if you are used to using smaller laptops), and the performance components inside make it easy to multitask with Office programs while also streaming video or radio content. And, speaking of Office, this computer comes equipped with Microsoft Office Starter 2010, which features ad-supported versions of Microsoft Word and Excel. If you don’t need Powerpoint or Outlook, then the inclusion of these two programs can save you a lot of money. And heavy Excel users will appreciate the ease with which they can enter their numerical data via the full numeric keypad at the right side of the keyboard.
If you are in the market for a 17-inch laptop and are comfortable with the increased weight, shorter battery life and reduced portability that comes with machines of that size, then this could be the right laptop for you. It has a great set of features that will make it a useful computer for years to come, and the price is better than most other options you will find for computers with this set of specs. To read more about this computer and check reviews from other owners, click this link on Amazon.
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Are you looking for a 17 inch laptop, but you want something with a little more power? Read our review of the Acer Aspire V3-771G-9875 to see a similarly priced laptop computer with a dedicated graphics card and an i7 processor.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
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