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Review Dell Vostro 3360 Notebook

Slimmed Vostro. Dell has not only reworked its smallest, 13 inch scion from the business sector, it has also been put a radical diet. This leads to a mostly successful symbiosis of office laptop and ultrabook that will particularly appeal to students and business travelers.

The Dell Vostro family of notebooks has acquired an impressive reputation in the field of business notebooks and offers solid office performance at affordable prices. We confirmed these qualities a year ago when we reviewed the Vostro 3350. In this review, we will consider its successor, the Dell Vostro 3360. Our review will compare the new Vostro 3360 to not only its predecessor but also contemporary competition such as the HP ProBook 5330m.

The Vostro 3360 received a fundamental redesign from its predecessor. While the 13.3 inch display remains unchanged, the 3360 hosts new features that were not available in the 3350 – an energy-efficient ULV Ivy Bridge Core i5-3317U processor, 6 GB memory, and a 320 GB hard disk. On the other hand, the Vostro 3360 also lacks the optical drive and dedicated graphics card that were available in the predecessor.

While we do not know the exact retail prices, we can estimate that the above configuration will cost between 600 and 700 Euro ($750 to $880 USD). As is typically the case with Dell products, we expect that the notebook will have a wide array of options that can be selected via the online configuration tool according to each customer’s individual needs. At the time of this review, a reduced Vostro 3360 package featuring a Core i3-2367M, 4 GB RAM, and 320 GB hard drive is available from Dell at a cost of 499 Euro ($630 USD).

Case

Stable metal hinges
Stable metal hinges

At first glance, the Vostro 3360 suggests that Dell is moving the line toward the direction of ultrabooks. Anyone familiar with the preceding Vostro 3350 will be impressed by the Vostro 3360’s slim case. The Vostro 3360 weighs in at 1.67 kilograms (3.67 pounds), a 24% reduction from the Vostro 3350’s 2.19 kilogram (4.82 pound) weight. The thickness has also been reduced to less than 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) compared to the predecessor’s 30 millimeter (1.18 inch) thickness. These changes will certainly benefit any user who requires mobility.

Despite the case’s revision, the Vostro 3360 retains Dell’s business oriented design. The color palette remains a seemingly boring dark gray and silver but we have traditionally found these to be particularly easy to clean and dirt resistant. The appearance is still dominated by both aluminum and plastic surfaces and remains unobtrusive and restrained. The materials used provide a high-end feel which easily defies selective pressure and the Vostro 3360 has exemplary stability. The two minor exceptions to this are the keyboard’s right side which yields somewhat to pressure and the display’s lower edge. Aside from these two minor flaws, the entire notebook proves to be quite rigid.

The display unit can be opened with one hand thanks in part to the hinges which are slightly offset forward. Like its predecessor, the Vostro 3360 has a wide display bezel, measuring 18 to 25 millimeters (0.71 to 0.98 inches) wide. We would have liked a more modern, slimmer bezel that could have also allowed for a larger 14 inch screen to be installed.

In summary, the Vostro 3360 approaches the quality of more expensive ultrabooks such as the Dell XPS 13. While there remain small issues to nitpick, overall there is little to complain about. Only a select few notebooks, such as the HP ProBook 5330m, can compete.

Connectivity

VGA port on the rear
VGA port on the rear

Compared to its predecessor, the Vostro 3360 shows a minor reduction in connectivity. While it retains the three USB ports of the 3350, none of these ports are designed as a combination port for eSATA connectivity. Instead, all three ports now use the USB 3.0 specification. The rear left USB port is capable of the "Power Share" function, allowing external devices such as smartphones and MP3 players to charge using the USB port even when the notebook is turned off. While it will be at least one more Vostro revision before DisplayPort is available, the Vostro 3360 features both VGA and HDMI interfaces for external display connectivity.

Other connectivity features include a fingerprint reader and Kensington lock slot that will likely appeal to business customers seeking security, the typical Gigabit LAN, and an 8-in-1 card reader capable of reading, among formats, SD, MMC, and MSPro cards.

All connectors and interfaces are located in the rear half of the notebook’s base unit, allowing for unobtrusive cabling. We found that the VGA port on the rear was convenient and would have preferred that the power port also be located on the rear as opposed to its designed location on the left. Nonetheless, the case’s compact dimensions allow the user to easily reach all interfaces. The small space between the ports on the left side – the power socket, two USB ports, and the HDMI port – may prove problematic when using larger connectors.

Front: No interfaces
Front: No interfaces
Left: Power socket, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, vent
Left: Power socket, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, vent
Rear: Kensington lock, VGA
Rear: Kensington lock, VGA
Right: Headphone/microphone, USB 3.0, card reader, GBit LAN
Right: Headphone/microphone, USB 3.0, card reader, GBit LAN
HD webcam's picture quality
HD webcam's picture quality

Communication

The Vostro 3360 features the Dell Wireless 1703 wireless card which is based on Qualcomm’s Atheros AR9485 chip. This is a frequently used entry-level chipset that supports IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards. One can likely select other wireless cards before purchase that will support the 5 GHz band and allow for higher data rates than the 150 MB/s maximum found in the Wireless 1703 card. The Vostro 3360 also includes support for the latest Bluetooth 4.0 standard and can be configured with an optional Wireless WAN (WWAN) module. While European customers will be limited to 3G networks, 4G connections are available in the United States via WiMAX.

An HD-ready webcam is built into the display bezel and can take pictures and record video at a resolution of 1280x720. While the quality of the camera is above average, the sensor fails to compete with modern phone-based cameras let alone point-and-shoot cameras or digital SLRs. The array microphone does a reasonably good job and features very low noise levels but could use more clarity in the high ranges.

Accessories

In addition to the usual leaflets, Dell includes a total of four discs for reinstalling the operating system, drivers, and software. As mentioned in the review of other similarly sized notebooks, this is an interesting choice as the Vostro 3360 lacks an optical drive. As a result, users will need an external DVD drive for recovering the system unless the internal hard disk hosts a recovery partition.

Apart from a few superfluous browser toolbars, the installed Windows 7 Professional 64-bit operating system is clean and largely devoid of trial version software. As is the case for Dell, all necessary drivers and programs come pre-installed.

Maintenance

The maintenance cover can be found on the notebook’s underside and is secured by a screw. Removing the cover grants access to the major hardware components.

As we had expected, both memory slots are occupied and at least one of the existing memory modules would have to be removed to reach the Vostro 3360’s official memory maximum of 8 GB. It is likely that 8 GB SODIMM memory modules will also work with the Vostro 3360 and hence a maximum of 16 GB is likely supported.

Aside from the memory banks, we also found the Wi-Fi card and, interestingly, a free mini PCIe/mSata slot was available. If the user selected to have a UMTS module installed for WWAN, the module would have been located here. Otherwise, the slot can be used for a small mSATA SSD. This is an important aspect as neither the 2.5 inch physical hard disk or the built-in battery can be accessed without completely disassembling the notebook.

Warranty

As is typical for Dell products, the Vostro 3360 will likely only have a one year manufacturer's warranty that can be extended for a premium. The previous generation carried a 120 to 150 Euro ($150 to $190 USD) premium to extend the warranty to three years. We found this premium to be reasonable.

Input Devices

Keyboard

As a result of the case redesign, the input devices have also been reworked. This may or may not prove advantageous for the Vostro 3360. The new chassis creates a two centimeter (0.79 inch) strip on both sides of the keyboard and accordingly limits the room for the key layout. To compensate, a few function keys were reduced in size slightly while the letter keys retain their 14 x 14 millimeter (0.55 x 0.55 inch) sizes. As was the case in the Vostro 3350, a backlit keyboard is optionally available. Our test model came with the standard splash proof keyboard.

In our tests, we immediately observed noticeable keyboard yielding during typing. The keys lacked a clearly defined pressure point, resulting in a somewhat spongy typing experience. Both the preceding Vostro 3350 and the HP ProBook 5330m performed better in this regard. While these flaws were annoying, one can eventually adapt to these traits and typing speeds certainly improved after the familiarization period. We should also mention that the keys themselves demonstrated low noise and excellent tactile feel. The keys did not jam or clatter when pressed from the side.

Touchpad

The touchpad remains largely unchanged and retains the 82 x 45 millimeter (3.23 x 1.77 inch) dimensions, absolutely sufficient for a laptop of this size. As in the previous generation, the touchpad retained first-rate glide traits, near perfect accuracy, and multi-touch support for pinch-to-zoom, rotate, and scroll. A practical feature was added that automatically disabled the touchpad when a palm was placed on the touchpad.

In our review of the Vostro 3350, we criticized the mouse keys for their loud click noise. In the current model, these are now much quieter and no longer have a key drop. We felt that the touchpad demonstrated high quality workmanship and reflects the general high quality, business-oriented purpose of the Vostro family.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

In our recent review of the Asus UX32VD, we stated that Asus set a new standard for the entire 13 inch class with its first-rate Full HD display. On the other end of the spectrum, Dell has chosen to limit the Vostro 3360 to the typical 1366x768 WXGA resolution and 118 dots per inch (dpi) for its display. This display appears justified for a notebook in this price range although many users would likely appreciate the larger desktop space of a higher resolution.

The weak comparison to the UX32VD does not end only at resolution. In fact the Vostro 3360’s brightness, which averaged a low 177 cd/m2, clearly falls behind that of Asus’s admittedly more expensive ultrabook and replicates the weak performance of the previous generation’s Vostro 3350. Fortunately, illumination was observed to be largely homogenous with a brightness distribution of 83%.

193
cd/m²
178
cd/m²
180
cd/m²
181
cd/m²
175
cd/m²
181
cd/m²
175
cd/m²
160
cd/m²
172
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B133XW3 tested with Gossen Mavo-Monitor
Maximum: 193 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 177.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 175 cd/m²
Contrast: 158:1 (Black: 1.11 cd/m²)41.14% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.56% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)

We observed a rather disappointing black value of 1.11 cd/m2, demonstrating that the AUO B13XW3 screen used in the Dell Vostro 3360 is a simple twisted nematic (TN) display. The high black value and aforementioned low brightness resulted in a poor contrast ratio of 158:1. It should be noted that such low contrast ratios are common for entry-level notebooks, and even some more expensive laptops such as the HP ProBook 5330m suffer from equally low contrast ratios.

While brightness and contrast may not be major issues for professional customers, the Vostro 3360’s limited color spectrum and inability to cover both the AdobeRGB and sRGB spectra completely ultimately makes the 3360 incompatible for graphic design and image editing. Users outside of these fields will likely not notice this drawback subjectively and we were unable to observe weak or unnatural colors.

Vostro 3360 vs. AdobeRGB (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. AdobeRGB (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. sRGB (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. sRGB (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. 3350 (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. 3350 (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. ProBook 5330m (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. ProBook 5330m (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. UX32VD (t)
Vostro 3360 vs. UX32VD (t)
Outdoors
Outdoors

In light of the Vostro 3360’s improved mobility, the display’s feasibility for outdoor use is of heightened importance. The display’s matte surface ensures that the user will not be subjected to distracting reflections that would make outdoor use impossible, but the LED display’s low brightness falls short of ensuring the readability of screen contents in direct sunlight. As a result, users will likely need to find shade for many if not all outdoor tasks.

Viewing angles: Dell Vostro 3360
Viewing angles: Dell Vostro 3360

Viewing angle stability is a typical weakness of TN display technology and as such is noticeably weak in the Vostro 3360. Deviations of only a few degrees from head-on in the vertical direction cause extreme image fading and color inversion. As a result, the screen’s tilt will require continuous adjustment to suit the user in practical use. While deviations in the lateral direction are a bit more generous, the display cannot compete with an IPS or VA screen in any way.

The notebook’s VGA port provided a nearly perfect output signal and is worth mentioning. We noticed virtually no blurring or flickering on an external 24 inch test screen even at a resolution of 1920x1200. This, combined with the possibility for digital output via HDMI, ensures that the Vostro 3360 can deliver excellent picture quality to an external display.

Performance

2.6 GHz maximum Turbo clock
2.6 GHz maximum Turbo clock

The previous generation Vostro featured a standard 35 Watt CPU. Our test Vostro 3360 system features a brand new Core i5-3317U energy-efficient ULV processor with a thermal design power (TDP) of only 17 Watts paired with the backward-compatible HM77 platform which is capable of running both Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge processors. We first tested this 1.7 GHz dual-core processor in the Asus UX32VD. This processor features the typical Hyper Threading and Turbo Boost 2.0 technologies. The latter is capable of boosting the processor clock from its base 1.7 GHz speed to 2.4 GHz in dual-core applications and 2.6 GHz in single-core applications. These capabilities are a result of the 22 nm fabrication process which, as of now, is exclusive to Intel.  More information and details about Intel’s 3D transistors and the Ivy Bridge architecture can be be found here.

As this system is targeted toward business customers and not 3D gamers, the Vostro 3360 features only the processor-integrated HD Graphics 4000 graphics system. This system has 16 Execution Units as compared to the previous generation HD Graphics 3000 which had 12 units. The increase in Execution Units results in a noticeable boost in performance but this boost is insufficient to propel the HD Graphics 4000 into the realm of complex 3D gaming and only provides enough performance for simple and casual gaming.  

The Core i5-3317U and HD Graphics 4000 are combined with 6 GB Samsung DDR3-1600 memory (one 2 GB module and one 4 GB module as mentioned in the Maintenance section) and a 320 GB physical hard disk. In this section, we will examine the performance highlights and limits of this combination.

System info CPUZ CPU
System info CPUZ Cache
System info CPUZ Mainboard
System info CPUZ RAM
System info CPUZ RAM SPD
Systeminfo GPUZ
System info HWInfo
DPC Latency
System information: Dell Vostro 3360

Processor

Despite the latest fabrication process and architecture, it seems only natural to assume that Ivy Bridge ULV processors would lag behind standard Sandy Bridge processors in terms of performance. Our benchmarks confirm this assumption, but the performance differences were smaller than expected.

In our test, the Core i5-3317U scored 2.4 points in Cinebench R11.5 (64-bit), only 0.2 behind the previous generation the Vostro 3350's i5-2410M. This is a difference of less than 10 percent. In the older Cinebench R10 (64-bit) single CPU test, the i5-3317U’s score of 4390 points was even closer to the i5-2410’s score of 4534. This demonstrates that there are no practical limitations when comparing to the previous generation’s CPU.

We performed the same tests on battery power. Apart from the expected variance in measurements, we recorded identical performance in all benchmarks and the processor was capable of maintaining its maximum Turbo Boosted clock speed. In the event that this level of performance is insufficient for a particular need, the Vostro 3360 can also be configured with a faster, albeit much more experience, Core i7 processor.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
4390 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
9113 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
3770 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
3467
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
7430
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
3773
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
2.4 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
15.07 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.05 Points
Help
Transfer rates in HDTune benchmark
Transfer rates in HDTune benchmark

 

 

Storage Devices

While most ultrabooks include SSDs as standard equipment, the standard drive in the Vostro 3360 is a 320 GB Seagate Momentus Thin hard disk featuring a 7 millimeter thickness (0.28 inch), 7200 rpm rotational speed, and a 16 MB cache to help the drive achieve higher performance levels. We tested the drive in the HDTune benchmark and observed a high sequential transfer rate of 89.5 MB/s and a reasonable but slow access time of 18.6 milliseconds. An SSD drive would be necessary in order to achieve noticeable improvement. More commentary on this aspect of the notebook is available in the Maintenance section. It should be stated that an SSD is available as a replacement to the physical hard disk from Dell for a premium.

Seagate Momentus Thin ST320LT007-9ZV142
Transfer Rate Minimum: 50.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 117.2 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 89.5 MB/s
Access Time: 18.6 ms
Burst Rate: 82.9 MB/s
CPU Usage: 1 %

System Performance

The development of ULV processors in the past few years has been truly impressive. From a subjective standpoint, a user would remain unaware that the Vostro 3360 is based on a low voltage power saving CPU. The performance provided by the CPU is more than required for word processing and Internet surfing and is also capable of computationally heavy tasks. Transcoding HD video can be done within seconds using the proper software thanks to Quick Sync support. To quantify the Vostro 3360’s performance, we used a series of benchmark tests.

Without an SSD, the Vostro 3360 was limited in performance and could not achieve the scores of SSD-based ultrabooks. With scores of 6650 points in PCMark Vantage and 2526 points in PCMark 7, our test sample was competitive with other office notebooks. These results should be taken in moderation due to the fact that these results reflect purely synthetic benchmarks. When considering all options, we would highly recommend configuring the laptop with an SSD to not only speed up the load time of Windows but also to reduce overall power consumption and increase battery runtimes.

5.1
Windows 7 Experience Index
Processor
Calculations per second
6.9
Memory (RAM)
Memory operations per second
7.3
Graphics
Desktop performance for Windows Aero
5.1
Gaming graphics
3D business and gaming graphics
6.4
Primary hard disk
Disk data transfer rate
5.9
PCMark Vantage Result
6650 points
PCMark 7 Score
2526 points
Help

Graphics Card

In previous reviews, we commented on the HD Graphics 4000’s technical specs. In this section, we will review its performance. Due to the pairing of the integrated GPU with the Core i5-3317U, the graphics unit only clocks at 350 to 1050 MHz. This will likely reduce the GPU’s performance considerably when compared to other HD Graphics 4000 GPUs paired with standard TDP processors. Additionally, the smaller L3 cache of the ULV processor – 3 MB for the Core i5-3317U compared to the 6 to 8 MB of standard TDP quad-core processors – also serves as the cache for the GPU and undoubtedly has an impact on overall performance.

This was demonstrated in 3DMark 11 where the Core i5-3317U’s HD 4000 scored 603 points, a score that is approximately 30% behind the best score achieved by the HD Graphics 4000. This score roughly equals the performance of the previous generation Vostro 3350's dedicated Radeon HD 6470M. The older Sandy Bridge HD 3000 GPU could not even run this benchmark due to the lack of DirectX 11 support.

3DMark 2001SE Standard
15253 points
3DMark 03 Standard
12734 points
3DMark 05 Standard
8567 points
3DMark 06 Standard Score
4799 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
2995 points
3DMark 11 Performance
603 points
Help
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Gaming Performance

Our review of the HD Graphics 4000 demonstrated that we cannot expect high performance gaming from the integrated graphics unit. Nonetheless, it still has enough power to play even modern games smoothly provided that low settings are used. This determination was reaffirmed in our test of the Vostro 3360. All of the games we tested were able to achieve frame rates of over 40 fps at a resolution of 1024x768 and minimum details. In some games, we were even able to increase individual settings slightly as was the case in the relaxed-pace building game Anno 2070. On the other hand, only older and less demanding games could be played at the display’s native 1366x768 resolution.

One example of a less demanding game is Fifa 12. This game from Electronic Arts could be played under maximum settings and anti-aliasing for those who have caught soccer fever as a result of the Euro 2012 soccer championship. Medium settings were possible in Blizzard’s latest installment of its RPG series, Diablo 3. It should be noted, however, that the performance observed in the Vostro 3360 should not be used for comparison with the Diablo 3 benchmarks as the performance values have increased significantly after the most recent updates.

low med. high ultra
Dirt 3 (2011) 51.6 27.4 17.6
Deus Ex Human Revolution (2011) 45.8 22.9
F1 2011 (2011) 48 26 12
Fifa 12 (2011) 136.2 76 37.9
Anno 2070 (2011) 45.5 21.1 12.9
Diablo III (2012) 50.6 30.4 26.7
Dirt Showdown (2012) 39.6 20.3 12.8

Emissions

System Noise

Perhaps one of the most aggravating experiences occurs when an office notebook emits annoying operating noises under the slightest load. The previous generation Vostro 3350 was excellent in this regard and produced a barely audible noise level. We used this level as our expectation entering the emissions test.

Our first impression was good. The fan was usually deactivated during idle operation and the only noise present was the quiet 31.1 dB (A) whir of the hard drive. Unfortunately, this silent operation was not maintained during video playback. This level of load was enough to cause the internal fan to start, creating a very audible 34.4 dB (A) noise. In this situation, the smaller size of the chassis plays a role as the compact cooling system can only dissipate a lower amount of heat and must work harder, and noisily, to keep the system within operating temperatures.

During full load, the ULV processor’s lower power consumption generated less heat than standard voltage processors and this resulted in a maximum noise level that did not exceed 40.5 to 40.8 db (A). We found these noise levels to be quite acceptable considering that premium competitors such as the HP ProBook 5330m can be even louder under load. We did notice that the fan would remain active for several minutes even after the system had been idle after longer periods of load.

Noise Level

Idle
31.1 / 31.1 / 34.4 dB(A)
HDD
31.1 dB(A)
Load
40.5 / 40.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft SL 320 (15 cm distance)
Stress test
Stress test

Temperature

During everyday use, we observed a case temperature that was marginal and barely exceeded ambient temperature. While idle, the top and bottom of the notebook were a mere 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit). These temperatures should prove comfortable for use on one’s lap.

When loaded with intricate calculations and 3D games, we observed that the Vostro 3360 began to heat up. While the wrist rest remained fairly cool with temperatures in the range of 33 to 36 degrees Celsius (91 to 97 Fahrenheit), the vent area demonstrated heat accumulation and approached a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). These temperatures do not allow for longer periods of contact with the skin and restrict the notebook to desk-bound operation. By comparison, we recorded temperatures that were over 10 degrees Celcius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) lower during comparable usage for the previous generation’s thicker Vostro 3350.

In our stress test, we used Prime95 and FurMark to fully load both the GPU and processor. The processor reached a peak operating temperature of 89 degrees Celsius (192 Fahrenheit). This falls within the acceptable operating temperature range. The Core i5-3317U was able to operate at 1.9 GHz and maintain a 200 MHz Turbo Boost at this temperature and even the graphics unit was able to operate at the maximum 1050 MHz.

Max. Load
 48.6 °C
119 F
44.8 °C
113 F
40.5 °C
105 F
 
 44 °C
111 F
37.3 °C
99 F
34 °C
93 F
 
 36.2 °C
97 F
32.9 °C
91 F
33.3 °C
92 F
 
Maximum: 48.6 °C = 119 F
Average: 39.1 °C = 102 F
40.3 °C
105 F
45.5 °C
114 F
46 °C
115 F
36 °C
97 F
39.5 °C
103 F
46.6 °C
116 F
34.5 °C
94 F
35.5 °C
96 F
39.9 °C
104 F
Maximum: 46.6 °C = 116 F
Average: 40.4 °C = 105 F
Power Supply (max.)  43.6 °C = 110 F | Room Temperature 21.9 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 39.1 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.6 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 46.6 °C / 116 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.6 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 36.2 °C / 97.2 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-7.9 °C / -14.3 F).

Speakers

As a line of business notebooks, it is no surprise that the sound quality of the Vostro 3360 is only a secondary concern. The 3360 has two weak stereo speakers hidden behind two narrow slits on the notebook’s front edge. These speakers demonstrated an impressive maximum volume but both high pitches and low ranges were virtually absent, resulting in a flat and midrange-heavy sound. This makes the speakers well-suited for speech playback and will likely be the speakers’ most common use. Due to the aforementioned limitations of the speakers, they should only be used when external speakers, via the audio jack or the HDMI port, cannot be used.

Battery Life

One major departure from the preceding Vostro 3350 is the change in battery. While the 3350 had an external battery design capable of supporting an 8-cell 80 Wh battery, the Vostro 3360 features a built-in battery with a capacity of 49 Wh. With this in mind, we expected battery runtimes to be reduced.  To test this expectation, we used the BatteryEater suite of tests to measure runtime scenarios for idling, surfing the Internet, and maximum consumption.

To test runtime while idle, we used BatteryEater’s Reader test. In this test, the notebook was set to energy saving mode with Wi-Fi deactivated and the display set to minimum brightness. Under these conditions, the notebook managed a 7 hour 30 minute runtime. We found this runtime to be reasonable considering the capacity restrictions in the new design.

During our Internet surfing test, we turned on the energy saving mode, activated the Wi-Fi module, and set the display to a moderate 148 cd/m2. In this scenario, we managed a mediocre runtime of 4 hours and 18 minutes while surfing the web. By comparison, the HP ProBook 5330m lasted between 3 and 6 hours depending on load in practical use. This limited runtime forces business users to have some form of external power to prevent the notebook from running out of power during the workday.

In the maximum load test, we used BatteryEater’s Classic test and set the notebook to high-performance mode, activated the Wi-Fi module, and turned the display to maximum brightness. In this case, the energy-efficient ULV processor surprised us as the Vostro 3360 demonstrated a 106 minute minimum runtime. However, this time is dwarfed by the 3-hour recharge time required using the included 65 Watt power supply.

Maximum battery runtime (Reader's Test)
Reader's Test
Minimum battery runtime (Classic Test)
Classic Test
Charging
Charging
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
7h 30min
WiFi Surfing
4h 18min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 46min

Power Consumption

To further understand our measured runtimes, we considered power consumption. At idle, power consumption has been reduced to a range of 6.6 to 10.2 Watts, compared to the 8.3 Watt to 10.7 Watt range of the predecessor. While running 3DMark 06, both the current Vostro 3360 and the previous Vostro 3350 consumed approximately 33 Watts. This suggests that efficiency gains from the lower voltage processor are offset by the faster GPU. The 3360 proved to be much more efficient under full load with a consumption of 36.9 Watts compared to the older 3350’s consumption of 53.6 Watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 6.6 / 9.9 / 10.2 Watt
Load midlight 33.8 / 36.9 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Verdict

Dell Vostro 3360
Dell Vostro 3360

The Vostro 3360 represents a major revision compared to its predecessor and serves as Dell’s newest high-end office laptop for business customers. These revisions have moved the Vostro line from a classic 13.3 inch subnotebook toward being an ultrabook. The notebook’s weight and thickness have been significantly reduced without compromising stability or performance.

While these changes certainly make the Vostro 3360 more attractive, there are still a few issues that prevent the notebook from becoming a true ultrabook.  The first of these is that system temperature while under load has increased significantly despite the implementation of energy-efficient ULV hardware. The second issue is the lack of an 8-cell battery option and the limited practical runtime of approximately 4 hours. Lastly, the weakness of the display prevents productivity on the go, a serious weakness for a notebook that seems to have been redesigned with mobility in mind.

Despite these issues, the Vostro 3360 still makes an extremely good impression. The 3360 is an excellent choice for students looking for a solid, portable work computer. Comparable alternatives such as the HP ProBook 5330m are typically more expensive and thicker. Other ultrabooks typically have reflective screens or only host a limited variety of interfaces.

As a final tip for those interested in the previous Vostro 3350, it should be noted that this previous generation Vostro will likely be discontinued soon and interested buyers should hurry and buy one before it is too late.

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In Review:  Dell Vostro 3360
In Review: Dell Vostro 3360

Specifications

Dell Vostro 3360 (Vostro 3300 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-3317U 2 x 1.7 - 2.6 GHz, Ivy Bridge
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 4000, Core: 350 MHz, Memory: 800 MHz, Turbo up to 1150 MHz, 8.15.10.2598
Memory
6 GB 
, Samsung DDR3-1600 CL11, 2 + 4 GB, 2 slots
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel, AUO B133XW3, LED backlight, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM77 (Panther Point)
Storage
Seagate Momentus Thin ST320LT007-9ZV142, 320 GB 
, 7200 rpm, 16 MB cache
Soundcard
Intel Panther Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: headphone + microphone (3.5 millimeter jack), Card Reader: 8in1 card reader (SD, MMC, MS Pro), 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Atheros AR8161/8165 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Atheros AR9485WB-EG Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0 (Dell Wireless 1703)
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19 x 332 x 233 ( = 0.75 x 13.07 x 9.17 in)
Battery
49 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
driver and recovery DVDs, leaflets, warranty documentation, Dell Support Center, Dell Webcam Central, Dell Data Safe, DigitalPersona Fingerprint
Weight
1.67 kg ( = 58.91 oz / 3.68 pounds), Power Supply: 200 g ( = 7.05 oz / 0.44 pounds)

 

Unobtrusive yet high-end:
Unobtrusive yet high-end:
Special key facilitate controls (Mobility Center, Dell Support Center, opening pre-defined applications).
Special key facilitate controls (Mobility Center, Dell Support Center, opening pre-defined applications).
In addition to the Core i5-3317U, the Vostro can also be ordered with other CPUs ranging from Core i3 to i7.
In addition to the Core i5-3317U, the Vostro can also be ordered with other CPUs ranging from Core i3 to i7.
While the speakers deliver a rather weak sound,
While the speakers deliver a rather weak sound,
the HD webcam's quality proves to be feasible.
the HD webcam's quality proves to be feasible.
The maintenance cover is on the bottom.
The maintenance cover is on the bottom.
Different components can be upgraded or retrofitted here.
Different components can be upgraded or retrofitted here.
6 GB of DDR3 memory
6 GB of DDR3 memory
and a wifi card are already available.
and a wifi card are already available.
A UMTS module or mSATA SSD can be installed optionally.
A UMTS module or mSATA SSD can be installed optionally.
The compact power supply provides 65 watts
The compact power supply provides 65 watts
Regrettably, the keyboard yields intensely on the right, which affects the typing feel a bit.
Regrettably, the keyboard yields intensely on the right, which affects the typing feel a bit.
The accurate metal hinges make a solid impression.
The accurate metal hinges make a solid impression.
The new Vostro 3360's design and workmanship convince,
The new Vostro 3360's design and workmanship convince,
the material mix of plastic and metal also offer excellent stability.
the material mix of plastic and metal also offer excellent stability.
In contrast to the prior 3350 model
In contrast to the prior 3350 model
Dell could reduce the weight by about half a kilogram.
Dell could reduce the weight by about half a kilogram.
Consequently, the slim office laptop could almost pass as an ultrabook.
Consequently, the slim office laptop could almost pass as an ultrabook.
One drawback of the new case
One drawback of the new case
is the loss of the optical drive though.
is the loss of the optical drive though.
To compensate, there are three modern USB 3.0 ports.
To compensate, there are three modern USB 3.0 ports.
The matte screen
The matte screen
allows a maximum opening angle of approx. 150 degrees.
allows a maximum opening angle of approx. 150 degrees.
which is more than sufficient for the maximum power consumption.
which is more than sufficient for the maximum power consumption.

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Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Links

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Pros

+Slim build
+High-end materials and manufacturing quality
+Integrated USB 3.0 support
+Matte screen surface
+Good application performance
+Optional UMTS / HSPA
 

Cons

-Low-end TN screen
-Temperature development during load
-Weak speakers
-Unstable keyboard

Shortcut

What we like

The old Vostro 3350 was definitely not a heavyweight with almost 2.2 kilograms - nevertheless, the difference in weight and volume are great compared with the 3360. The slim 13 incher is perfectly suitable as an everyday companion.

What we'd like to see

The mobility could be improved even more with a longer battery life and brighter screen. A more stable keyboard with a crisper pressure point would also be appreciated.

What surprises us

Dell shows courage by turning the notebook's previous concept up-side-down so radically. Even if a few details could still be improved, the resulting total package convinces.

The competition

Classic contenders for Vostros are business models, such as HP's ProBook 5330m, as well as consumer devices, like Sony's Vaio VPC-SB2L1E. Moreover, the slim 3360 now also competes against ultrabooks, such as Acer's Aspire S3 or Samsung's 530U3B.

Rating

Dell Vostro 3360 - 06/11/2012 v3(old)
Till Schönborn

Chassis
90%
Keyboard
78%
Pointing Device
91%
Connectivity
75%
Weight
90%
Battery
87%
Display
73%
Games Performance
69%
Application Performance
91%
Temperature
75%
Noise
85%
Add Points
85%
Average
82%
84%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average
Till Schönborn, 2012-06-15 (Update: 2013-06- 6)