I am sure you will get different opinions here and is to be expected. Most people select what they feel is best for their situation. In my case I believe the E-1505 is the better choice as long as you select the proper components. We did not upgrade the LCD and I believe it was a smart thing to do. But we upgraded to the ATI 256mb video card, upgraded the wireless card to the Intel 2200, and upgraded the system memory. We also wanted Windows XP-PRO which was a great choice for us. So far this laptop has run flawlessly and it does any and everything we wanted it to do including running wireless with a Linksys router. The LCD display looks great and we have not had any of the bad graphics problems others are having best listed LCD upgrade option. I may be wrong but I believe your video card and display options are limited with the E-1405. I am sure others will say differently.

The E1405, as you know is a 14.1" screen with a maximum resolution of 1400 x 900 and definately has only one video option...The Intel 950, which cannot be upgraded and is part  of the motherboard, and is considered entry level graphics.  Other than that...you can match machine for machine with Processor, Memory, wireless card, etc.  The smaller screen means less weight (around 5.5 lbs).

 

The 1505 has a 15'4" screen with 1400 x 900 or even 1680 x 1050 truelife which is what I have...it's gorgeous!  I chose an add on ATI Radeon x1400 video card, which is considered mid level for 3D.  Even with the larger screen, my machine weights in at around 6.5 lbs. 

 

Both are mobile...and easy to carry.  I guess the choice is whether or not the different monitor and graphics choices matter...

 

Bob

Heres is the deal, I had an XPS M-140 and it went out and was replaced with an E-1405 and it is 3 weeks old and already having some of the same problems as the XPS-140 so Dell is willing to refund the original purchase price of the 140 and I was thinking of buying an E-1505 since they seem to have less problems that I have seen. I have to put about $250.00 with the refunded money to get the 1505 using the e-value coupon from the catalog. the replacement 1405 is right around the same price as the 1505 but they will only refund the original price of the 140 so do any of you think I should go this route? I am getting an upgraded video card, larger but slower harddrive, larger screen, larger battery (9-cell) , free upgrade to Vista, Upgrade in memory, and bluetooth.

I would go with the 1505, personally!  You can get the x1400.  It is no Nvidia 7900GS...but it is a decent enough card to play games when you want.  If you can get the WSXGA+ screen on the 1505 and like the True Life finish...the screen is beautiful!  Warning...the viewing angles on the LG screen at the right bottom corner and left bottom corner may look a bit dark...but is is more to do with viewing angle and NOT a problem with the screen.   The larger / slower hard drive...not by all that much...remember...the larger HDD's have larger platters, thus giving you a bit of a speed increase.  You shouldn't be too unhappy with that.  I put a 7200 rpm hard drive in my older laptop and I cannot for the life of me see the difference between that one and my 1505.  My other recommendation...if you really intend to use Vista...up the memory in the 1505 to 2 GB.  That was my only mistake when I ordered my 1505.  I will do an aftermarket upgrade when the time comes.  Newegg has great prices on memory and from what I have read...OCZ PC5400 is very compatible with the machine as well as Crucial PC5300. 

 

Bob

I'd say go with E1505.  On January 2007 issue on PC World, they gave this E1505 #1 with a score of 83.  In my opinion i like it.  Tho I should have gotten the 2 GB instead of 1 GB RAM...

 

Look at my sig. for my configs.