Wedged neatly between Dell's stylish consumer PCs and no-nonsense corporate fleet machines is a handful of models bearing the Vostro banner and aimed squarely at the smaller end of the business scale. Dell sees this as anywhere from the self-employed solo consultant to a team of two-dozen staff.

When it comes to notebooks, that means treading the line between the world of business and home, work and play.

The Vostro family does a pretty good job of this, borrowing carefully from both modes of life. The keyboard is flanked by speakers and topped by a strip of back-lit, touch-sensitive buttons for multimedia playback, while the notebook's clean, if somewhat stolid, lines lend a professional air.

There are three sizes in the new 2009 series: the 34cm (13.3-inch) Vostro 1320, the 39cm (15.4-inch) 1520 and the 43cm (17-inch) 1720. The mid-sized 1520 makes the best all-rounder while the compact 1320 hits a perfect balance between usable size and go-anywhere portability. They're all solid machines built around a robust magnesium-alloy frame, with the keyboard sealed to guard against dust and spills.

The keyboard is a bit too noisy, especially if you're a two-finger typist. And if you plan on giving presentations, note that the only video port is a VGA connector, which won't be compatible with some newer monitors or projectors that may have only a digital DVI or HDMI video input.

But avoid the basic spec of the $899 Vostro 1520 that entry-level model is fitted with a slow Celeron chip and the Home Basic edition of Windows Vista, neither of which we recommend.

Our suggestion is to step up to a much faster Core 2 Duo processor, which adds upwards of $200, and specify Vista Business edition (an extra $135) or Vista Ultimate ($245). You can also opt to have Windows XP Professional pre-installed on the Vostro at no extra cost.

The one-year warranty includes next-business-day on-site service, which for $99 can be doubled to two years and include free telephone support for Windows, Microsoft Office and common hardware hassles.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/digital-life/laptops/reviews/review-dell-vostro-1520/2009/05/25/1243103478860.html