The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Series (3558) (starts at $229.99; $329 as tested) is a desktop-replacement laptop that will get the job done with no fuss—or frills—for a very reasonable price. Of course it is not a speed demon at this price, but it's a better performer than much of the competition, and it offers a whole terabyte of storage along with all the ports you'd expect. The touch screen is also sharp for an inexpensive system, and the laptop is more portable than the chunkier. Thanks to these generational improvements and overall solid design, the Inspiron 15 3000 Series (3558) is our new Editors' Choice for budget desktop-replacement laptops. Measuring 0.9 by 14.7 by 10.2 inches (HWD) and weighing 4.96 pounds, the Inspiron 15 (3558) is not chunky or unwieldy. It's no slim, super-light ultraportable, but if you're shopping in this category, that's not your chief concern.

Dell Inspiron 15 3542 Windows 7 x64 (64-bit) Realtek Card Reader Driver Version 6.2.9600.39054,A00. Dell Inspiron 15 3542 Windows 7 x64 (64-bit) Intel Chipset Driver Version 9.4.0.1026,A00. Dell Inspiron 15 3542 Windows 7 x64 (64-bit) Intel Management Engine Interface Driver Version 9.5.24.1790,A00.

The Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch is a bulkier 17-inch laptop that measures 1.1 by 16.2 by 10.6 inches and weighs 6.6 pounds—a much more daunting prospect to take with you anywhere. The 14-inch falls on the opposite end, measuring 0.7 by 13.36 by 9.25 inches and weighing 3.46 pounds, perhaps a more attractive option if you really plan to move your desktop-replacement laptop around often.

As a whole, build quality is fairly strong, particularly the responsive touchpad and keyboard, and the body itself is good. There is, however, a lot of flex on bottom of the lid when it's open. The display is supported by two hinges set on each end of the laptop, so pushing down at all in the middle easily bends the screen inward. The period book pdf.

You shouldn't be applying pressure there often, really, but I managed it a few times while carrying the laptop around. The flimsiness is worth noting. The 15.6-inch touch display itself features a 1,366-by-768 resolution, which is all you can expect at this price. Full HD is generally reserved for laptops that cost a few hundred dollars more, but for 720p resolution, the Inspiron 15 (3558)'s display is actually pretty nice, and touch support is a plus.

The screen is sharp and wider viewing angles are okay, though it is quite reflective. The Inspiron 17 5000 Series resolution is higher at 1,600 by 900, so though it's also short of 1080p, the picture quality is a little sharper and there's more room to work with, but the 15 inches here should suffice for most users.