Dell INSPIRON 15-3521 15" Laptop i3-3217U @ 1.8GHz-- 8GB/256GB+1tb SDXC Card/Linux Mint Cinnamon 22.3 + MORE!
REFERENCE LAPTOP DELL INSPIRON 3521-1 -- **NON-TOUCHSCREEN VERSION**
This is a fully-loaded DELL INSPIRON 15” 3521 Intel Core i3 processor laptop that has “decommissioned” from my personal fleet (I test software for various companies) with Linux Mint Cinnamon 22.3 (latest version) machine ready for use as a great Internet browsing, e-mail, and general-purpose laptop with a nice 15-inch screen. As this is an "older" (circa 2013) model, but runs Mint Cinnamon 22.3 flawlessly and it’s very snappy! This is your chance to get a low-cost but capable Linux laptop at a fraction of the cost of a newer expensive Windows 11 laptop. The Inspiron 3521 is a cousin of the Inspiron 3537 with very similar features (please see my listings for the 3537s as well if interested). Mint Cinnamon 22.3 runs on the popular Ubuntu Linux platform but the Mint Cinnamon Desktop (like Zorin 18) is about as Windows-like as they come and the learning curve is therefore very short for newcomers to Linux. Easy to use and easy to learn -- great for anyone just wanting to learn about using Linux and/or transitioning from Windows. This is the perfect opportunity to become familiar with one of the most popular and easy-to-use Linux distributions available and the learning curve is minimal because they are very Windows-like in functionality. I've pre-installed Mint Cinnamon 22.3 for you to make sure it operates well and to ensure functionality. Of course, Linux is a free open-source platform devoid of many Windows issues and apps are free and easily installed via each operating system's software managers. The full-featured Mint Cinnamon 22.3 is totally free and has plenty of productivity, music, multimedia apps and games and both have basic full-featured apps already installed including a complete LibreOffice suite, and the distributions of Mint Linux is well-supported on its website as well as user forums. There are hundreds of free apps that are easy to install and Mint make updating and upgrading easy as new versions come out. This is the perfect opportunity to learn to use a Linux-based machine with all the advantages, or if you're already familiar with Linux, just to have a handy extra laptop (or backup laptop) just for e-mailing and web browsing! Please read and see that this is a lot of laptop value for the price and what's included! As this is an "older" (circa 2014) model, but runs Linux Mint 22.3 flawlessly and it's very snappy! This is your chance to get a low-cost but capable Linux laptop at a fraction of the cost of a newer expensive Windows 11 laptop. Linux Mint 22.3 comes with Libre Office installed which is a worthy alternative to Microsoft Office and can work with all Microsoft Office files if desired. **Note that unlike many Inspiron 3521s for sale on E-bay, this one is from one of my personal fleet and is not only in great overall condition, but includes 8gb DDR3L memory (maximum for this machine is 16gb but 8gb is more than sufficient for Linux) and A LOT of storage + a fresh Mint Cinnamon 22.3 install + a 65W genuine DELL AC adapter. This laptop is upgraded to a Samsung PM851 256gb mSATA 2230 drive (instead of the OEM mechanical hard drive) and a 1tb SDXC storage card for a total of 1.25tb of storage!** (**note that the price of SATA drives has nearly *TRIPLED* in the past 3 months!**) Like most Inspiron laptops this laptop DOES NOT have a fingerprint reader or an NFC sensor. **This one also has an 8X DVD/CD+/-RW Drive** I have all Dell documentation & manuals for this laptop downloaded on the desktop for the buyer’s convenience! These Inspiron 3521 laptops were great entry-level laptops for their time (circa 2013) and were well over $800 without the features I’ve added to this one. If you need a very capable, lower-cost snappy extra/spare laptop for general use with significant storage capabilities, and a larger than 14” screen this is a laptop for you! If you’re looking for a [more expensive] gaming laptop, this laptop is NOT for you! If you can find a better Inspiron 3521 with everything I’ve included for a better price than I offer, please buy it instead! ;) ***PLEASE take the time to read the details in this listing carefully as you can see I put a lot of time & effort into creating very detailed listings for my potential buyer’s convenience*** **Please also see pics of system specs for this laptop** Note that this laptop will run Windows 7, 8, 10 natively, plus Windows 11 and other versions Linux (like Mint Cinnamon) if desired. **The Wine app is installed on this laptop as well which is useful for running many Windows apps within Linux or use the VirtualBox Linux app to run Windows inside Linux!**
This machine is very clean with minimal wear and surface scratches and fully functional. The screen is in excellent condition with nothing to deter the resolution. I take pride in repurposing these older machines that still have plenty of life in them when not pushed beyond their reasonable limits. It includes a higher capacity 6-cell 65Wh battery (standard is the 40Wh 4-cell battery) in very good condition at 76% health, a good CMOS battery (this CMOS battery is NEW), and also a GENUINE DELL 65W AC power adapter. **I have elected not to replace the battery in this one as there’s plenty of life left in it and the replacement batteries are very inexpensive (even the 6-cell 65Wh versions) and simply “pop-in” batteries requiring no disassembly of the laptop.**
**THIS INSPIRON 3521 IS A NON-TOUCHSCREEN VERSION**
Known cosmetic defects: some minor scratches/scuffs on outer case, some normal wear on the touchpad – however, there may be minor cosmetic differences that do not affect functionality in any way (please see pics)** **This one is otherwise rather pristine! – (please see pics.)**
This Inspiron 3521 does also have a built-in webcam and microphone and a headphone/microphone combo (headset) jack.
This Dell Inspiron 3521 laptop has the following features (please see pics of specs in listing):
· 15.6" diagonal HD LED TrueLife NON-TouchDisplay (1366 x 768 max)
· Intel Core i3-3217U Processor @ 1.8 GHz
· Intel HD Graphics 4000 (does NOT have HDR support)
· **UPGRADED** TO a Samsung PM851 mSATA 250gb SSD + *NEW* 1tb SDXC card
8X DVD/CD+/-RW Drive
· 65W Genuine Dell AC Adapter
· 6-cell Battery in very good condition at 76% health
· CMOS battery replaced if needed (this one has a NEW CMOS battery)
· **UPGRADED** -- 1x8gb DDR3 for a total of 8gb (can upgrade to 2 x 8gb = 16gb if desired but you will not likely notice a significant performance increase)
· 8-in-1 SD Card Reader
· Dell Wireless Bluetooth 4.0
· 2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports
· 1 RJ -45 (LAN) port
· Webcam/microphone + headphone/microphone combo (headset) jack -- webcam is 1280 x 720 HD at 30fps
· 1 HDMI Port
· Keyboard (this keyboard is NOT illuminated)
· Touch Pad with integrated and 2-way scrollpad support
· Built-in speakers 2.5W (RMS) per channel
· Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN
· Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN
· Pre-downloaded starter/overview and service manuals onto the desktop
· Pre-Installed latest versions of recommended essential basic programs that are installed with Mint Cinnamon 22.3 – many other free apps can be easily selected and installed!
· Approx. 5.8 lbs
· approx. 14.8"(W) X 10.2"(D) X 1.1"(H)
***FREE SHIPPING IN CONUS (SORRY…CONUS SALES ONLY)***
I sell these machines as projects to repurpose them and only make a little profit to cover the replacement parts and time spent. If not using a Bluetooth mouse (to save USB ports) I suggest buying a wireless USB mouse with a dongle for this laptop which works flawlessly with this laptop as a plug-n-play device. Please ask any and all questions BEFORE purchasing and thanks for looking!
NOTE: Because this is an electronic device and i have no control over how the buyer uses it after received, I CANNOT accept returns unless the machine arrives physically damaged as evidenced by shipper handling. This laptop is otherwise guaranteed to work as described. These are not "buy and try" laptops as it would not be feasible for me to sell them otherwise. Thank you for your understanding!