Dell 13.3in Vostro V131

Verdict
Dell’s 13.3in Vostro V131 combines power and stamina in a business-friendly package
Pros
Powerful standard-voltage Core i5 CPU. Excellent battery life. Excellent keyboard. Two USB 3.0 ports. Fast spinning hard drive.
Cons
Subpar gaming scores from integrated graphics. No backlit keyboard.
Bottom Line
Thanks to an Intel Core i5 processor and 8-hour battery, the Dell Vostro V131 small-business laptop has most of the features, power, and battery life of its enterprise-oriented counterparts, yet it won't cost you nearly as much.
DELL VOSTRO V131 SPECIFICATION/DATA:
Type: Ultraportable, Business, Small Business
Processor Name: Intel Core i5-2410M
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Weight: 4 lb
Screen Size: 13.3 inches
Screen Size Type: Widescreen
Native Resolution: 1366 x 768
Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Graphics Memory: 64
Storage Capacity (as Tested): 500 GB
Rotation Speed: 7200 rpm
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: External
Wireless Display Capability (WiDi): No
WiMax: No
Battery Type 65 Whr (Watt hours)
Multimedia Tests - Handbrake 1:54 min:sec
Multimedia Tests - PhotoShop CS5 4:21 min:sec
Multimedia Tests - CineBench 11.5 2.56
Price Reviewed: £829 (£995 inc VAT)
The attractive chassis measures a dainty 19mm thick, apart from the slight bulge of the six-cell battery propping up its rear. The extra bulk of the battery sees it tip the scales at 1.8kg – 170g heavier than last year’s model, the Vostro V130.

Dell’s Vostro range lacks docking station options, but there’s no shortage of connectivity. Two USB 3 ports sit alongside a D-SUB video output, Gigabit Ethernet and a single 3.5mm headphone output on the right-hand side, while HDMI, a single USB 2 and an SD/MS/MMC card reader are positioned on the right. There’s a fingerprint reader, too, for the more security-minded.
Wireless networking covers every base, meanwhile, with single-band 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0 and integrated 3G. Photo Credit: PC Pro