DailyTech - Dell Inspiron 1525 Gets Blu-ray for Under $1K

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Hardware Dell Inspiron 1525 Gets Blu-ray for Under $1K
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - March 28, 2008 3:35 PM

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15 comment(s) - last by Wolfpup.. on Mar 31 at 9:58 AM

Dell's Blu-ray equipped notebook starts at $879

Most movie fans that have made the jump to HDTVs are glad that the format war that raged between Blu-ray and HD DVD is over. The HD fans out there who bet on HD DVD may be a bit upset at the outcome, but on the whole the win for Blu-ray is good for everyone.

With Blu-ray as the winner, more competition between Blu-ray makers should help to drive prices of the players down allowing more consumers to adopt the Blu-ray format. The first indication of a change in pricing for Blu-ray equipped notebooks came from Dell when it announced today that its Inspiron 1525 notebook with Blu-ray now starts at $879.

The Inspiron 1525 is a 15.4-inch notebook with a wide aspect ratio screen capable of 720p playbacck and features a HDMI output. The Blu-ray player Dell uses in the 1525 can also burn CD and DVD as well as play standard DVD movies.

Dell uses Broadcom Media PC technology to allow the integrated graphics machine to be able to play Blu-ray titles. HD playback is enabled through a built-in dedicated accelerator in the systems mini-card slot.

Dell offers the 1525 in three colors including Sunshine Yellow, Midnight Blue and Ruby Red. Buyers can also choose from designs including Chill, Blossom and Commotion.

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Yes, but can it output the full spectrum of BD audio over HDMI?

By Chris Peredun

on 3/28/2008 4:01:59 PM , Rating: 2

I wasn't able to figure this out from the article and Dell's information.

And I won't be satisfied with just DD 5.1 - let's see the whole gamut, right up to 8ch LPCM.

RE: Yes, but can it output the full spectrum of BD audio over HDMI?

By SunAngel on 3/28/2008 7:12:30 PM , Rating: 4

I don't think the audio will be a problem. The main concern is will the X3100 be able to do 1080p "fluidly"? My guess is not. But I am nearly certain 720p over HDMI will not be a problem at all.

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RE: Yes, but can it output the full spectrum of BD audio over HDMI?

By bjacobson on 3/30/2008 2:00:22 PM , Rating: 2

I was about to reply and say that the graphics card was going to take care of it, but then I looked and it's Intel integrated crap, so who knows?

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RE: Yes, but can it output the full spectrum of BD audio over HDMI?

By lhlinlhlin on 3/30/2008 11:12:59 PM , Rating: 3

quote:
Dell uses Broadcom Media PC technology to allow the integrated graphics machine to be able to play Blu-ray titles. HD playback is enabled through a built-in dedicated accelerator in the systems mini-card slot.

Not Intel integrated graphic to handle the BD playback but Broadcom's.

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Recordable?

By AmyM on 3/29/2008 3:23:11 PM , Rating: 4

Are they recordable drives or just players?

RE: Recordable?

By lhlinlhlin on 3/30/2008 11:06:46 PM , Rating: 4

It is a combo drive ( Blu-Ray play only, RW DVD and CD).

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Price is right...

By mkrech on 3/28/2008 5:18:33 PM , Rating: 2

but, a Blu-ray drive in a laptop with only 720p capability.

I wonder what the HDMI output is capable of displaying.

RE: Price is right...

By Fnoob on 3/28/2008 8:57:29 PM , Rating: 2

1080p with an annoying hickup every once in awhile.

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That was quick

By darkpaw on 3/28/2008 3:52:28 PM , Rating: 2

Jesus, that changed fast.

I was just pricing laptops on Dell two weeks ago (ended up buying a Lenovo) and the Blu-ray drives were still a $500 option.

Units

By Balgarath on 3/29/2008 5:01:05 PM , Rating: 2

I was just surfing the Dell.ca website and was comparing monitors out of interest sake. I noticed they don't have consistent units for comparing! It goes from inches to cm and yes you can start multiplying by 2.54 but still its a pain. Even their weights are confused. You think they could standardize? Its a real pain in the but, doesn't cost too much and would save so much hassle.

not impressive

By Visual on 3/31/2008 4:23:21 AM , Rating: 2

The burners are already under the $400 price range now (combo with HDDVD reader even, just in case someone hasn't accepted defeat yet), so Dell offering a read-only drive in their systems does not impress me at all.

Now if only blank media would hurry up to get cheaper and more available...

Uh...why not just put in a GPU?

By Wolfpup on 3/31/2008 9:58:08 AM , Rating: 2

Good grief, they add dedicated decoding hardware...why not just throw in a low end GPU like an 8400GS? It can't cost THAT much more, can it? And has a lot more uses (and probably better support in the future).

WOW I can't wait .....

By Reclaimer77 on 3/28/08, Rating: -1

RE: WOW I can't wait .....

By cocoviper on 3/28/2008 8:48:56 PM , Rating: 2

You're right in that it's not the ideal portable Blu-Ray solution (although unless you have at least a 30 inch screen, good luck recognizing the difference between 720p and 1080p anyway); but it is awesome in that for about $300 more than a standalone Blu-Ray player, you get a full blown laptop as well. Not to mention the ability (albeit illegally because of the DMCA) to rip said Blu-Ray movies for backup purposes.

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