Dell Vostro V131 Pro Reviews

A stylish portable business laptop at a good price

If you tinker with the configuration options you can get a Dell Vostro V131 for an attractive price – the top-end somewhat slightly less so, but only because the silver finish and light weight invites unflattering comparison with Apple's MacBook Air. Without the current spate of Dell discounts, the top-end Vostro costs £960 – which then puts a 13in Air within reach and the 11in model for less, although they run a slower Core i5 chip. Yet at the mid-range, the Dell Vostro V131 certainly holds its own as a portable day-to-day work machine. ®

The V131 is only one of many Vostro offerings; some offer higher performance and better specs, others less, but in general you get what you pay for. I’m guessing most of our readers—particularly those in IT departments—feel similar to me in regards to Vostro (and other “inexpensive business” offerings). They’re good machines for the price, and I actually like the Vostro quite a bit, but at the end of the day I use computers all the time and would prefer something better. Anyway, if you’ve had experience with such products, good or bad, I’d like to hear what you think, and I’m sure Dell would as well. Sound off in the comments and let us know how Vostro has worked for you.

For the business traveler looking for an ultraportable machine without having to settle for a tiny display, the 13.3-inch, 4-pound Dell Vostro V131 is a smart choice. We love its thin, aluminum chassis and—especially—all the changes Dell made from last year, making the battery bigger and removable, while relocating the ports to the sides. If the Vostro V line continues in the same forward trajectory in subsequent turns, it may start approaching our 4.5- or 5-star ratings before long.

The Dell Vostro V131 shows a notable improvement over its predecessor the V130, especially in terms of battery life, processor performance and exceptionally friendly keyboard - but the lack of an optical drive might make some think twice.

The Vostro V131 is going to draw a lot of attention solely because of its low price. But it's no good grabbing someone's attention if you can't impress them. The V131 should have no problem doing that.

We believe the Dell Vostro V131 makes for a great small-to-medium business notebook. Aside from its low contrast display, the V131 provides amazing battery life (nine hours), has good overall performance thanks to its internal hardware, and it has some useful features such as a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader. Dell also gives you 15 months of free Trend Micro security, even if you go with the $499 model. The notebook also has two fast USB 3.0 ports, a comfortable keyboard and touchpad, and the preferred 'office friendly' matte display for easier viewing in a bright office. Things to be aware of: it doesn't have a docking station port, and the lid of the display bends inward easily. This could make it a target for troubles while traveling or while being used for more than desk productivity.

The $889 Dell Vostro V131 is one of the better small business notebooks you can buy. The machine retains the incredibly attractive aluminum chassis of its predecessor and improves upon it with a comfy backlit keyboard; a longer-lasting, user-replaceable battery; and a fingerprint reader for security. While the Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830TG-6431 offers better graphics performance and endurance--but no fingerprint reader--for the same price, the Vostro V131 is a solid SMB system with style and substance.

Though allegedly designed for small business, the Vostro is a clear winner for anyone who is in the market for a small, powerful laptop with excellent battery endurance. Although the price tag of $889 (as configured) is not a bargain, this laptop never feels like it needs to have a lower price. It’s competitive with (but not necessarily superior to) anything of similar size. Perhaps the biggest issue with this little Dell is heat. This laptop runs warm, and as a result it can be uncomfortable to use for long periods of times, even under light loads. Touchpad use is also an average experience at best, but this is hardly a deal-breaker.

The Vostro V131 is going to draw a lot of attention solely because of its low price. But it's no good grabbing someone's attention if you can't impress them. The V131 should have no problem doing that.

Ultimately, the display remains to be the weightiest con argument due to its only average brightness. Even if it's not a problem indoors, it is partly responsible for a more than difficult to read image particularly in bright ambient light conditions. The laptop's permanently present background noise is especially ascribed to the 7200 rpm hard disk.

The 2011 Dell Vostro V131 succeeds at being an affordable and powerful update to the 13-inch small-business laptop, adding much-needed battery life and processing boosts. At its lower-priced configurations, it's worth a look for budget shoppers.

Ultimately, the Vostro V131’s configurability is its greatest asset: if you’re after a light, portable, low-cost laptop, a frugally equipped model would make a tempting option for small companies with tight IT budgets. However, a fully loaded Vostro with all the trimmings doesn’t make financial sense.