Inspiron 8500 Specs

• Laptop specifications determine the computing experience. B2M Productions/Polka Dot/Getty Images

  Back in 2003, Cnet called the Dell Inspiron 8500 laptop a media powerhouse. Encased in a plastic silver chassis, the sturdy laptop weighs 7.5 lbs. It runs cool and is optimized for fast performance and multimedia viewing. The lid comes in a variety of colors to suit user preference.

Processor

• The Inspiron 8500 series uses the Intel Pentium 4 processor with a 400 megahertz front side bus, operating at 2.2GHz. It alternates usage to keep power usage down and conserve battery life when necessary, although it comes at a cost of a significant performance decrease.

Screen

• The Inspiron 8500 uses a 15.4-inch LCD with the 16:9 aspect ratio. It supports a maximum resolution of 1,900 by 1,200 pixels, allowing you to have a larger work space or run multiple tasks side-by-side.

Video

• The GeForce4 4200 Go powers the graphics on the 8500. The card supports graphic-intensive games and 3D viewing. The laptop can also be used for an occasional gaming session with no decrease in performance.

Ports

• Add more capabilities to your laptop with the two 2.0 USB ports that provide connections for a mouse, storage device or gaming controller. The S-Video out port allows you to connect a television to the computer for added-viewing size. The laptop also includes a port to add a security lock or headphones and microphone.

Battery Life

• The battery life on the Inspiron 8500 comes close to three hours, a suitable amount for a laptop with as much processing power as this. It uses a 11.1-volt, 6,480 milliampere-hour battery.