Sony DCR-DVD408 4MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I tried this camera during my recent visit to Seattle for Tulip festival. The recording quality is amazing. 5 channel recording is superb. I tried it in 16:9 and 4:3 fine mode with playback on HD Plasma TV. The quality was breathtakingly good. Yet to try photo (claimed to take 4 MP pictures) as photos can only be taken with a memory stick.
Cons:
-Limited Mini DVD space (20 minutes max in fine mode).
-Limited support for combining mini DVDs to a regular sized DVD. Bundled software requires double the size of DVD (9GB) free on the PC to make a movie
-Box contains just the camcorder without any memory stick or DVD. It has to be separately ordered.

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Canon Elura 90 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)In researching digital camcorders I prefer to rely on the experts. Apparently there's a guy on this site who has it out for Canon for some reason, and has blasted this camcorder in particular. But... read all of his "other" reviews, and you'll see that he blasts the ENTIRE Canon line, as if he's actually bought each camera and found fault with each of them. Clearly impossible, and clearly a person with an agenda. Ignore him. For an honest review of the Canon Elura Digital Cameras, specifically the Elura 90, read the write-up on CNET.com... perhaps the best site for technical reviews and pricing information. Not only did they point me in the direction of a GREAT digital video camera, the CNET.com site also saved me over $200.00 from the big box retail prices! This camcorder does it all, and then some! True, you will need to be able to read in order to study the manual and unlock it's capabilities, and you will need to be able to independently manuever your fingers to operate it, and it's helpful if you can walk and talk at the same time... but if you can do all of those things... you can work this camcorder... and enjoy it! One recommendation though... don't buy a digital camcorder if you have no intention of truly utilizing its capabilities... or if you have no desire to network/connect it to your PC and either save and/or create your own movies/DVDs. THAT is the true innovation behind the technology. Using MicroSoft MovieMaker 2.1 I have been able to make incredible home movies... soundtrack... narration... effects... the works. With my old analog camcorder I could... save them and watch them as recorded... nothing more. But... if you DO want to enter the digital age... and you want the best camcorder possible at the best possible price... the Canon Elura 90 can't be beat! PLUS... it is one of the ONLY high quality camcorders that allows you to CONVERT your old analog tapes into a digital format... and it can also function as a WEBCAM! As I said, this one does it all![...]

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon Elura 90 MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

Place the power of both a movie crew and photography studio into the palm of your hand with the Elura 90 digital camcorder. Beautifully sculpted, easy-to-use and fully featured, the Elura 90 is a heralded addition to family gatherings, sporting events, and those once-in-a-lifetime special occasions. The highlight of the Elura 90 is Canon's advanced DV Photo Plus technology, which combines Genuine Canon Optics and a Mega Pixel CCD image sensor, with a DIGIC DV image processor and versatile Print&Share features. Take stunning digital photos while simultaneously shooting video, treat your family and friends to high-resolution 16:9 widescreen images, and edit your digital videos and photos into the perfect family album for playback on a TV or computer. Since the Elura 90 is compatible with both Windows XP and Apple computer systems, there is no limit to the creative possibilities. When you own an Elura 90 digital camcorder, you also get the benefit of Canon's world-renowned technical expertise in photography and broadcast television. Shoot with the confidence Canon's superior optics and image-processing power provide. Capture Life In All Its Brilliant Color And Clarity Preserve every hue of a summer sunset or backyard garden thanks to the Elura 90's 1.33 Megapixel Image Sensor. The product of Canon ingenuity and technological expertise, the image sensor achieves high-resolution results whether recording video to DV tape or still images onto a memory card. Photos can be captured at a variety of different image qualities and compression sizes (Superfine/Fine/Normal) giving you the ability to balance quantity with quality. Get It All In With True Widescreen Recording Treat your family and friends to high-resolution 16:9 widescreen videos that are perfect on a wide-screen home Theater system. Unlike some camcorders that record a vertically stretched picture, the Elura 90 uses the full width of its Mega Pixel C

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Sony Reader Touch Edition - Red (PRS650RC) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had my PRS-650 for about a week now. I have had a chance to play with all the features. I also have owned a Sony Reader PRS-505 for about one year and a half.ERGONOMICS AND FEATURES
The Sony PRS-650, in my opinion, is a beautiful piece of equipment. It is lighter than the PRS-505, weighing in at only 7.6 ounces. It is also slightly smaller but has the same size screen. It has an aluminum case and a matted back surface. The back is less slippery and thus easy to grip.
I actually prefer now to read on the Sony Reader verses a physical paper book. A lot of people will say they like the feel of a book. You will get over that. The Sony Reader is better than a paper book. The PRS-650 is lighter than most paper books. You will be surprised at how liberating this can be. You can hold the thing with one hand in many comfortable positions. Also, the reading surface is flat. On a paper book, the reading surface is curved near the binding, and thus gets unequal lighting. You also do not have to keep an eReader open like you do with a paper book. Turning a page is effortless. The words flow into your mind as if the device was not there. Beautiful design leads to an immersive reading experience. I thought the PRS-505 was well designed for reading. The PRS-650 is also well designed for reading, it just has a ton more features. I do have to say the PRS-505 was better designed for one handed page turns. The PRS-505 had two page turning buttons located on different places on the eReader. This allowed one handed page turns with either hand. The PRS-650 only has one set of buttons to turn pages. For one handed page turns, you pretty much can only use your left hand. The touch screen also allows you to turn a page by swiping the screen. This is cool, but I don't think it is any better than just pushing a button.
The screen of the PRS-650 rocks! It noticeably has greater contrast than the PRS-505. And the PRS-505 was considered the "gold standard" of readability. The earlier touch models (PRS-700 and PRS-600) compromised contrast and glare to provide the touch screen. With the PRS-650, Sony has solved that problem. It looks great and glare really is not a problem. Also, page turns seem to be about 50% faster than the PRS-505. In the PRS-650, you can also change how the text contrast renders. This works good for books that have colored text that don't look as dark as they could be.
I will not go over all the features, but will point out some that the PRS-650 has over the PRS-505. The one feature I love the most is the ability to highlight text. With a touch screen, this is almost like doing it on a paper book with a highlighter. You can use your finger, but the provided stylus works better for small fonts. You can then associate a note with the highlighted text. This note can be hand written where you can draw with the stylus, or you can use a touch qwerty keyboard. If the highlighted text has a note associated with it, a little icon shows next to the highlighted text. When you touch the highlighted words, the note opens up. I read a lot of non-fiction books that I want to highlight, so this is huge for me. You can also mark up a book by drawing right on the page with the stylus. You can circle things, make arrows, etc., with the stylus or your finger. Pretty cool!
The other feature I love is the ability to zoom on a page. I have read books on my PRS-505 that have had diagrams that I just could not make out on the 6" screen. Now with the zoom, I can see them clearly. The PRS-650 has a cool feature where you can double tap a picture in the book and it will zoom to fill the screen with just the picture.
Another feature worth pointing out is PDF reflow. This is not new to the PRS-650. If you read a lot of PDF documents, this is huge. Without PDF reflow, one PDF page will fill the screen. It generally will be too small on a six inch screen. To read it, you will have to zoom and pan. Pretty much unworkable. The Kindle does not have PDF reflow. With PDF reflow, you can change the font size and the document reflows within a page. So now one PDF page may take more than one screen to render. You do normal page turns to access the reflowed text. This makes reading PDF MUCH easier. A lot of books from the public libraries are still PDF, but ePub is the dominant new standard used by the libraries.
There is also a Power Management feature on the PRS-650 that is cool. When you shut off the PRS-650 by sliding the switch at top, it really puts the device in stand-by. This allows the PRS-650 to very quickly come back on. In stand-by, it uses a very low amount of power. If you never turned a single page, the PRS-650 will lose its battery charge just by being on stand-by. This stand-by time is about 2 to 3 weeks. With Power Management turned on, if on stand-by for more than 2 days, it will fully shut down automatically. When fully shut down, it will not use any power, but it will take about a minute to turn on. You have the option to shut off Power Management.WHY BUY SONY
Many will choose an eReader based upon availability of books, price of books, ergonomics/ease of use, and features. I would like you to also consider and additional reason: principles.
Sony has embraced opened standards on both the format of the eBook and the Digital Rights Management (DRM). They have done this by using Adobe eBook Platform as their underlying technology. Adobe eBook Platform consists of several components, most importantly Adobe Digital Editions and Adobe Content Server 4. Many other publisher and retailers have also chosen to use Adobe eBook Platform, which has resulted in improved compatibility between eReaders and eBooks.
Sony Reader Store, Borders, over 9,000 public libraries, eBooks.com, Books-A-Million, to name just a few, have adopted Adobe eBook Platform. Barnes and Noble also uses Adobe technology, but uses a DRM variant. The Sony Reader PRS-650 can read protected eBooks purchased from the above mentioned retailers, with the exception of Barnes and Noble. The Barnes and Noble Nook can read books purchased from Sony Reader Store, but surprisingly, as far as I know, the Sony Reader cannot read protected books purchased from Barnes and Noble. I suspect a firmware update to the Sony Reader allowing support for the DRM variant could change this in the future.
Other eReaders that use Adobe technology can read the books you are reading on your PRS-650. Most notably is the Kobo. The way you can tell an eReader is compatible with the Sony Reader is if it supports ePub for Adobe Digital Editions and PDF for Adobe Digital Editions. This specifies the document format and DRM standard.
The key to make this all work is to use a consistent Adobe Digital ID. When you get your PRS-650, you will be asked to create an account on the Sony Reader Store. Typically you will use an email address and a password to create an account. Sony Reader Store will generate an Adobe Digital ID based upon your Sony Reader Store account credentials (provided your computer is not already authorized with an Adobe Digital ID). It will then authorize your computer and your device based upon this Adobe Digital ID.
Now say you want to purchase a book from Borders. This can be confusing, but as long as you remember to use a consistent Adobe Digital ID, you will not have compatibility issues. Your Adobe Digital ID is essentially your personal encryption key used to protect your copy of eBooks. Borders will recommend that you install Adobe Digital Editions and their reader app. You do not need to do this. The Reader Library software that comes with the Sony Reader, along with the Adobe Digital ID generated by the Sony Reader Store, is all that you need.
When you purchase a book from Borders, and then download it, Borders will actually download a very small file with an acsm extension. The Reader Library Software can open the acsm file. When the acsm file is opened by the Sony Reader Library, this causes the download of the actual eBook from an Adobe Content Server 4 server. At the moment of download, the eBook is encrypted using the Adobe Digital ID associated with your authorized computer and by Sony Reader Library software.
So my advice is not to install Adobe Digital Editions and to use the Adobe Digital ID generated by the Sony Reader Store. When you get set up to check out books from public libraries, OverDrive will advise installing Adobe Digital Editions. You do not need to do this. The public libraries work exactly like Borders. The public library will download the acsm file to your computer, Sony Reader Library will open the acsm file and download from the Adobe Content Server 4 server your encrypted version of the eBook. You actually can do all this without the Sony Reader Library software and just use Adobe Digital Editions. You can let Adobe Digital Editions generate your Adobe Digital ID, but I personally prefer the Sony Reader Library software just because it makes purchasing books from Sony Reader Store very easy. The Reader Library software also works great with the public libraries. You can return your book directly in the Reader Library. The Reader Library will tell you how many days are left on your check out. The Sony Reader PRS-650 will also display days remaining for your checked out book. When your check out expires, the book will be removed from your computer and eReader automatically.
So if you want to share books between eReaders, use the same Adobe Digital ID. You can have up to six devices on the same Adobe Digital ID. My wife now uses my old PRS-505 and we can easily share books.
So I started this whole discussion around principles. Say you bought a Blu-ray player from Store A. Store A then says, your Store A Blu-ray...Read more›

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Books are a necessity in life, and the PRS-650RC wont make any bones about it. With a capacity for up to 1200 books (before you add your own memory), and access to multiple book stores or your own files, the Reader Touch Edition is the perfect way to bring your library with you wherever you go. With a light, thin body the only way its like carrying an actual library with you is the E Ink, high contrast display, thats easier on the eyes than a harsh LCD display, and easier to see in sunlight.

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Sony VAIO VGN-Z550N/B 13.1" Laptop 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600, 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Vista Business) Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First vendor did not exist. Tied up funds/credit card for a month with no delivery. This guy was exactly what I would have expected. On time, virgin machine. No hassles.
TNX

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Acer Aspire One AO751h-1522 11.6-Inch Blue Netbook - 8 Hour Battery Life Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To many previous reviewers: Microsoft won't legally allow them to put XP on it (or any other manufacturer of a netbook that is capable of running Vista). Do some research. That doesn't stop you from installing XP yourself, though. Or Linux. Or wait another month and go with Windows 7.
I like this netbook a lot. The screen and keyboard are big and comfortable enough to use without driving me nuts. That's amazing at this price point! When you factor in 2GB memory, the nice size hard drive and the LOOOOOONG battery life you come up with a heck of a machine for $330.
Drawbacks: It has no CD/DVD drive (how many netbooks do?) but you can get an external drive pretty cheap or network your desktop drive for free. The HDD is 5400rpm which slows things down but a faster drive would eat up more power. A solid-state HD would be great but would double the price of this thing. It still gets five stars from me.
NOTE: much of the slow performance that people are experiencing is due to the cr*pware that comes pre-installed (and no, I'm not talking about Vista ;) Get rid of EVERYTHING except the OS and the apps you use (check out "PC decrapifier"). Then install Avast or AVG, maybe spybot or spyware blaster and you'll be shocked at how much better it runs.


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Enjoy enhanced productivity and web browsing with the Acer Aspire One AO751h, which features an 11.6-inch high-definition screen and full-sized keyboard. The LED-backlit widescreen (16:9 ratio) display is large enough to easily view multiple windows and reduces the need to scroll to view Internet sites. An integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations.
It also includes a Multi-Gesture Touchpad that enables you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. The full-size Acer FineTip keyboard has flat, broad keys for enhanced typing comfort, and the AO751h features a soft-touch palm rest to increase typing comfort.

This blue Aspire One (model AO751h-1522) is powered by the latest Intel Atom processor for a good balance of computing power and power efficiency for up to 8 hours of battery life from its 6-cell battery. Other features include a 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB of RAM, a multi-format memory card reader, 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), and thre USB ports. This model comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic operating system. In addition to this Sapphire Blue model, the AO751h also comes in Diamond Black, Ruby Red, and Seashell White.





Key Features
11.6-inch LED-backlight widescreen display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio and 200-nit high brightness (Learn more)
1.3 GHz Intel Atom Z520 extends battery life and power efficiency to deliver excellent mobile performance and Internet connections on the go (Learn more)
250 GB hard disk drive
2 GB of RAM (DDR2, maximum capacity)
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500
Multi-gesture touchpad supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip (Learn more)
Crystal Eye webcam supports Acer PrimaLite technology, which consists of a premium sensor, firmware and lenses to provide superior video performance under low-light conditions. A built-in digital microphone helps keep background noise levels low and minimizes echoes.
54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Fast Ethernet (10/100)
VGA video output
Stereo speakers and optimized Dolby Headphone technology for 5.1-channel audio
Windows Home Vista Basic operating system (Learn more)
Up to 8 hours of battery life from 6-cell battery
Dimensions: 11.18 x 8.54 x 1 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 3 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This Acer Aspire One notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Acer InviLink) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks and offers Acer's SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency. It also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking.

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
Multi-in-1 memory card reader compatible with MultiMediaCard, Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO or xD-Picture Card
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack

What's in the box This package contains the Acer Aspire One AO751h-1522 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions

It also comes with the following software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (trial version); Google Desktop; Carbonite Online Backup; Customized Windows Internet Explorer 7.0 ; Acer GridVista

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11.6-Inch Widescreen Display The 11.6-inch LED-backlit display (1366 x 768 pixels) presents true 16:9 aspect ratio with high-def resolution and fast 8ms (millisecond) response time for high-quality media playback as well as increased readability in low-light conditions. And the LED backlight technology is 33 percent more energy efficient than standard CCFL LCD screens.


Power-Sipping Processor Newly designed from the ground up, the Intel Atom Z520 uses a 45nm (nanometer) design structure with new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--to conserve even more energy and give you more time away from the wall outlet. The Intel Atom Z520 provides a 1.3 GHz CPU speed with a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 512 KB L2 cache--which uses just 2 watts of power. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) It supports Intel's 64-bit computing architecture, which can allow the use of extended virtual and physical memory with compatible 64-bit software, as well as Intel's Hyper-Threading technology for speedier multitasking.


The Multi-Gestured Acer Aspire One
Windows Vista Home Basic Operating SystemWindows Vista Home Basic (32-bit) is the operating system for users with basic computing needs, such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using e-mail, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks. Additionally, Windows Vista Home Basic integrates new search tools throughout the operating system to help you quickly find the precise file or program you need.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

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Samsung N150 10.1-Inch Netbook (Bermuda Blue) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I chose this netbook over other brands for one reason; the non glossy matte screen. It is really difficult to find a non glossy screen on laptops these days. The non glossy finish does make a huge difference in readability. To see how much difference does it make, check out the image that I have uploaded in customer images section. It shows the samsung netbook screen and an ipad screen side by side. The netbook screen is bright and clear, but the ipad screen is barely readable with all the reflection.
I use this netbook primarily for internet surfing. With the chrome browser, this is the perfect internet device. I had to do some initial setup to get some decent performance out of this netbook. First of all I had to get rid of all the crapware this netbook comes loaded with. The crapware does really slow down the netbook, but is a reality with all netbooks. The crapware is what keeps the netbooks cheap :(.

I got the windows 7 home premium upgrade and did a clean install from a usb flash drive. Two birds with one stone. A much more useful version of windows 7 plus a fast netbook free of any crapware. Make sure you do a clean install and not the anytime upgrade option. Anytime upgrade does not get rid of the crapware.
After the clean install you have to install all the necessary drivers from the samsung website. The only drivers you really need are the atheros wireless card driver, intel media accelerator driver and the realtek audio driver. Now this thing flies.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung N150 10.1-Inch Netbook (Bermuda Blue)

The Samsung N150 netbook gives you value without compromise. It starts with a powerful Intel Atom N450 processor and Windows 7 Starter OS. The non-glare 10.1" screen gives you plenty of room, while a 3-in-1 memory card slot and 3 USB 2.0 ports make it easy to connect a digital camera, printer and more. At a scant 2.7 lbs, you can pick up and go at a moment’s notice, and the 7-hour* battery is good for all day. *Battery life based on independent MobileMark test scores.

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HP Pavilion dv5-2070us 14.5-Inch Laptop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I own a powerful gaming desktop PC, and my previous laptop was just a mid-okay 2GB ram/AMD 2.0GHz with less that 250MB of graphic memory on it. So I only used it for school work and that was pretty much it. Now with this HP pavilion dv5, I find myself completely ignoring my gaming desktop. Because this laptop can play most of the PC games that I play (Just finished playing call of duty 4 Modern warfare). It has 500GB space on it and comes with a HMDI port, so that means I connect it to my sumsung HD 1080p screen and everything looks pandora. Also has a very good webcam with a lot of options. It is simple light weight machine with a slick design. It comes with the super quick HP start up, so no need to start up win 7 all the time, especially if you just wanna go online.
Cons: The mouse pad is annoying, just grrrrrrrrrrruugghh!
The inbuilt speakers are so poor. But works great (dolby advance audio) if you connect them to good PC speakers.

I like it ...

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion dv5-2070us 14.5-Inch Laptop

It's always showtime. Enjoy high-quality graphics, audio, video and more using the HP Pavilion dv5-2070us Entertainment Notebook PC. Get instant access to your favorite music and movies with exclusive HP MediaSmart software, plus watch DVDs on the 14.5-inch diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED display. Video chat in low-light environments with improved noise reduction using the integrated HP webcam. Also, HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection software helps prevent data loss if you accidentally drop your HP laptop. Count on impressive features inside and out. The HP Pavilion dv5-2070us Entertainment Notebook PC has the stylish HP Imprint finish with the link design in black cherry. Burn custom labels onto CDs and DVDs using LightScribe Technology and transfer photos from a memory card directly to your HP laptop. Expect great performance with a powerful Intel processor and premium audio.

Get 12% OFF

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Lenovo IdeaPad U260 08763DU 12.5-Inch Ultraportable Laptop (Clementine Orange) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm a retired university professor. I've published many books. I am a serious blogger. I have owned numerous computers, including several laptops (Apple & Windows). I currently write on a powerhouse, custom-made PC built by Quiet PC out of Vancouver, WA. I'm pretty skilled as an IT person. (I handle all our IT issues in our medical office: my wife is a physician and between us we operate a small medical office.)
All this by way of background, to set the context.
I wanted a truly lightweight, elegant, well-made, compact laptop to free me from my PC. So I could write anywhere in the house. Or, of course, while traveling. Secondly, I wanted Windows, not Apple. (Apple's fabulous, but I simply didn't want to learn the Apple system. I follow Thoreau's famous advice, "Simplify, simplify, simplify.")
Lenovo? I'd never heard of it. But I did due diligence, researching numerous laptops. And, of course, I lusted after the MacAir--except it was Apple. And, like all Apple laptops, it has a keyboard I find difficult to type on. (By the way, I'm an outstanding typist. Whereas most reviewers wax eloquent about the internal specs of computers, I home in on the keyboard and screen and such.)
Okay, you're getting the picture. I was much impressed by the reviews of this Lenovo. Seasoned reviewers--professional reviewers--were listing it in the top 10 of recommended laptops.
The rest is history. I bought it from Amazon and I'm writing this review on it. I've owned the machine for a week, and I'm in love. It's spring, time to be in love--and I'm in love with this thing!
This is one heck of an elegant machine! Extremely well built. Fabulous screen. Terrific, full-size keyboard. Nicely-molded keys. Keys not too hard, not too soft--for me, at any rate. (I'm a pianist; touching keys is important to me. Typing is like playing Bach.) The touch pad is a dream! The touch pad does all the cool stuff touch pads do these days--and does it flawlessly. Yes, it takes getting used to, but worth it.
For me, the 12.5" screen is ideal. I read the NYTimes and NY Review of Books on this thing. It scrolls side to side and up and down with ease, yes, using a feather-light finger motion on the touch pad. And the "enlarge" and "shrink" image feature on the touch pad is more than cool, and works brilliantly.
The machine is sexier than heck! I got the sort-of-orange case. I adore it! And the whole thing is so thin, and actually fun to glance at on the table, when you're walking through the room. And, closed, carrying this around is, well, a delight.
The installed camera seems to work well, when I tested it. It's got an Ethernet port (MacAir does not), 2 USB 2.0 ports (which is all I need), and headphone jack. And you can plug in a monitor or keyboard, if you wish.
A word about the on-board speakers: Terrific! If you listen to audio (music, video, whatever) without plugging in an earphone, you can hear just fine, but the quality is "tinny." This is not a criticism of Lenovo; this is merely a matter of electronics and physics: it's impossible to install a decent external speaker in so small a space.
Now: go to Radio Shack and buy a set of earphone plugs, plug them into the speaker jack and . . . wow! Great sound! Lenovo brags about its speakers (via headphone jack), and it's not hyperbole; it's warranted. The U260 has better speakers than my very expensive, custom-made, huge, and relatively new desktop PC.
Back to features. The U260 comes with Windows 7 Home installed. I upgraded to Windows 7 Pro. In fact, it comes with a variety of programs which I simply dumped. (I believe this is called, in the business, "bloatware," yes?)
By the way, I was dubious of using Windows 7. I've been an XP fan for years. But I gotta tell you, Windows 7 is terrific. The point being, I'm thrilled Lenovo included it in the U260.
A few words about other reviews. Some reviewers griped about the heat produced by this machine. I find it remarkably cool. No heat problems at all. (Yes, I watch videos and all that good stuff.) Some reviewers said the fan runs a whole lot. Wanna know the truth? I have yet to hear the fan. To me (and my hearing's excellent), this machine is silent.
Battery life. Reviewers complained that it has relatively short battery time. Three to four hours. There are laptops out there in this price range that offer far longer battery time. This was not an issue for me, and I find the 3-4 hours is plenty. The charger, incidentally, is small, and recharging is complete in several hours. Like, three. Perhaps less (I didn't time it carefully). All I noted was that it recharges swiftly.
There is no disk drive. Not a problem for me. Having one on board would add to the weight and, as I say, for me it's unnecessary.
I'm writing this review because I have benefitted from Amazon reviews. And I noticed that no one had reviewed the Lenovo. What a shame! It's outstanding! Brilliant, in fact. I would say that if you're lusting after a MacAir, but inclined to stick with Windows--the Lenovo is definitely worth looking at. (And, if it means anything to you, the Lenovo is away sexier than the Air!)
The final word is about Amazon's reviewing process. All praise to Amazon for this! I consider Amazon Reviews to be one of the great democratic processes in the world. I consult Amazon Reviews as a matter of course when buying something--anything, in fact, that's likely sold on Amazon.
Hence, to all you folks who write Amazon reviews--many thanks! I have been the beneficiary of your labors.
And to Amazon: you're an amazingly efficient and elegant company. I've spent many thousands of dollars buying stuff from you for that very reason. This Lenovo being merely the latest in a long list. And your Return Policy: God bless for that! You make it easy to return goods. Very easy. And you're now delivering items at lightning speed, yes, even without expedited delivery.
Forgive me for winding up with a hymn to Amazon, but you--Amazon--deserve it.
...............
A postscript. It's been about a month since I bought this machine. I'm still in love. It continues to amaze me, especially as I learn its elegant ways. I'm now expert at using the keyboard and mousepad. I'd go so far as to say the keyboard is the best I've ever used.
Truth be told, there are moments when I'm tempted to ditch my desktop for good and swear monogamy to this Lenovo. Yeah, it's that good.
A couple additional points not made in my initial review. This thing is fast. Again, I compare it to my relatively new, monster, custom-made PC desktop--with the power of a Boeing 747.
Yeah, well, the Lenovo's faster. Faster start-up, faster shut-down, faster performance in all applications (I don't play games on it). I should add that I've resisted loading it up with software, including those seductive apps calling my name. I made that mistake on laptops before.
The wireless on this is flawless. I mean, picking up the signal. I bought a Linksys router at Radio Shack and was in business in minutes--all over the house.
Forgive my evangelism. I suppose what compels me are the endless customer reviews of competitors like MacAir, HP, Toshiba, Dell, etc--but surprisingly few of Lenovo. (No, I don't own Lenovo stock.)
Regard this as one man's effort to add Lenovo's elegant U260 Porsche to the race.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Lenovo IdeaPad U260 08763DU 12.5-Inch Ultraportable Laptop (Clementine Orange)

Lenovo IdeaPad U260
Luxurious details: textured palm rest and a silky-smooth glass touchpad
Multi-finger touchpad allows users to circle their finger on the touchpad to browse Web pages and files; they can also separate their fingers to enlarge the image or bring their fingers together to diminish the image.

Breathable Keyboard, an Intel® Advanced Cooling Technology that allows your PC to run cooler and maintain spill resistance
The unique micro-porous structure of GORE® Protective Vents enables breathability, while providing a barrier to liquid, dust, and dirt.



Active Protection System (APS)
Mobility


Long battery life with a low-voltage processor for extended use on the move
Thin and light design for easy mobility; just 0.7" thick and 3.04 lbs.

Click here for more information about Lenovo IdeaPad U260 08763DU 12.5-Inch Ultraportable Laptop (Clementine Orange)

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Samsung GO N310-13GB 10.1-Inch Midnight Blue Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I own and use both a Toshiba Satellite notebook for windows applications and a Macbook Pro for apple applications (I prefer a separate windows machine over rebooting into boot camp and also for the additional hard drive space for my multimedia applications).
Recently I saw the netbooks at a local department store, and asked myself why I would want one. The reasons boiled down to:
1.Long battery life.
2.Portability.
3.Light-weight.
4.Ability to play Netflix on-demand movies.
5.Ability to play Real Arcade games (or similar web-based games).
6.Solid build.
7.Somewhat decent speakers for listening to Rhapsody or other subscription based music programs.
8.Responsive speed for Microsoft Word 2003 (not 2007).
9.Chatting with my children who are away at college.
I then went on a week-long research into the different machines, read the reviews, played with them at the store, typing to see which one would fit my large hands, listening to the sound, picking them up to see how they felt in my hand, and how much they weighed. I didn't care if they had the Atom N270 or N280 processor as long as they met my criteria listed above. At first, I didn't care if the 10.1" screen was at 1024 x 600 or 1366 x 768. But after a bit, I began to prefer the 1024 x 600 resolution over the reduced, but sharp, images of the 1366 x 768. With the 1024 x 600, I didn't have to get close to the screen to see what was being displayed. And since I have a tendency to write short paragraphs when composing my next trash-can masterpiece, I preferred seeing part of the page of Microsoft Word over the whole page.
I finally settled on the Samsung Go (Midnight Blue) mainly due to form and the fact that I like Midnight Blue. And the reviews I read seemed to indicate that it would meet all the criteria I listed above.
The first thing I noticed when I lifted the unit out of the box was the way it felt. It has a slight rubber feel to it, and it was a little heavier than (as my wife pointed out) her Macbook Air. But for what I was used to carrying around, it felt great. The keyboard was also large enough for comfortable typing, although, I kept hitting the "=" key instead of the "Back Space" key when I want to correct my spelling errors. This is something that I know I'll get used to -- not correcting spelling errors -- but learning where the keys are when I am typing on a smaller keyboard.
The first thing I did was charge the battery up to 100% as instructed. It didn't take long as the battery already had a charge when I received the unit. I then begin to redownload my Real Arcade games to test them out. So far Luxor 3 and Rebound Lost Worlds have run like a charm. I also installed Starcraft, and didn't have, or expected, any problems running it. I installed Yahoo Messenger and chatted with my children. Made a YouTube video with the included CyberCam. Installed and played around with Microsoft Office 2003 Professional without any problems. I watched two Netflix movies and noticed only a slight stutter in some frames, probably due to the wireless connection (how far I was from the router). When I plugged in the Ethernet cable from the router, I had no problems at all watching the movies. But it wasn't enough of a performance difference that I wouldn't be just as satisfied watching movies using only the wireless connection.
All in all I'm quite pleased with the purchase, and am happy that I selected this netbook as my first netbook.
Now to my only quibble, and it isn't really much, but the sound is...well...tinny. But with headphones, it is quite nice and bearable. I installed SRS Audio for additional enhancement, and although it helped some, for a netbook, I felt it was the best I could do. For watching YouTube videos or chatting or casual game playing without headphones, the audio is adequate. And since I wasn't expecting an audiophile experience when I bought the Samsung Go, I am more than pleased with what sound quality it musters.
So far, my rating is five stars. If anything changes, I'll come back and revamp my review.
And one last thing -- the battery life is amazing. I have seen five hours so far, and I keep running the cursor over the battery icon to see how much more battery life is left. It's more than enough battery life for my portable needs.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung GO N310-13GB 10.1-Inch Midnight Blue Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

Weighing just 2.9 pounds, the Samsung GO N310 netbook is one of the lightest netbooks in its class and it's loaded with the latest technology for maximum performance. Distinctively styled, it's designed by award-winning Japanese artist Naoto Fukasawa and features smoothly rounded edges that resemble a pebble that's been worn down by wind and waterfall and its cover has a rubberized surface that more durable and easy-to-grip. In addition to this model in midnight blue (N310-13GB), it also comes in three other colors: jet black, sunset orange and mint blue.

An affordable mobile PC that's ideal for all your online needs, the GO N310 is designed to go almost anywhere--from kitchen and living room at home to Wi-Fi hotspots at coffee shops, airports and more. You'll be able to stay connected all day long thanks to the included 6-cell battery, which provides up to 9 hours of continuous use. It sports a 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen with a scratch resistant, edge-to-edge glass display, and the pebble-textured keyboarddesign makes typing comfortable with larger than average spacing. This netbook is powered by the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, which is designed especially for mobile devices and features an innovative hafnium-infused circuitry that reduces electrical current leakage in transistors to conserve energy.
The integrated 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) will keep you connected to email and all your social networks, while the Bluetooth 2.1+EDR technology enables you to use handsfree communication headsets while video chatting via the integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, built-in speakers and microphone, SD/SDHC/MMC memory card reader, three USB ports, and a VGA output to an external monitor. It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.

Key Features
10.1-inch LED-backlit display (1024 x 600) offers up to 30 percent more viewing area than traditional screens with 300 nits of brightness. Using LED technology means the screen is thinner, brighter, more durable and power efficient. You can also enjoy photo-like image quality, greater viewing angles and better text legibility, reducing eye strain and boosting productivity.
1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor extends battery life and power efficiency to deliver excellent mobile performance and Internet connections on the go (includes 533 MHz front side bus and 512 KB L2 cache)
160 GB hard drive (5400 RPM)
1 GB of RAM (maximum capacity)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with up to 128 MB of shared video memory
1.3-megapixel webcam integrated into the bezel
54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g)
Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity enables you to communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones.
Seamlessly move data from your digital camera, camcorder, MP3 player or PDA straight to the netbook via the 3-in-1 memory card reader, three USB ports or wirelessly with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Smooth rectangular-shaped isolation keypad design with an ergonomic design and optimized key spacing that make working and communicating a much more pleasurable and productive experience, with fewer errors and faster typing speeds.
Stereo speakers (1.5 W x 2) with SRS 3D Sound Effect and HD Audio capabilities
Windows XP Home operating system
Standard 6 cell (8850 mAh) high-capacity battery enables you to surf the web for up to 9 hours on a single battery charge
Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.8 pounds
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This netbook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks, and it also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking.
3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
3-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), and MultiMedia Card (MMC)
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
10/100 Fast Ethernet

What's in the box This package contains the Samsung GO N310 (model N310-13GB), 6-cell rechargeable battery, AC adapter, power cord, printed user manual.
It also comes with the following software: Magic Keyboard, Easy Display Manager, Easy Network Manager, Easy SpeedUp Manager, Samsung Magic Doctor, Samsung Update Plus, Recovery Solutions III, Easy Battery Manager, Easy Resolution Manager, Battery Life Extender, Adobe Acrobat Reader 8, Cyberlink YouCam, McAfee Internet Security 9.0 (60-day trial)

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HP Pavilion DM4-1162US Entertainment Notebook PC Laptop 14.0-Inch Widescreen LED Display, Brushed Aluminum Finish, Intel Core i5-450M 2.40 GHz Processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.66 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD, Windows 7 Home Premium, Up to 6.25 hours battery life Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)From what i can tell this is the exact same model as the dm4-1160us except with a smaller hard drive. That smaller hard drive should result in a $50 price reduction, but i picked this one up at Office Depot for $[...] after a $[...] mail in rebate. Due to the unusually low price i was convinced something must be wrong with this computer, but it's awesome. I've read complaints about the mousepad on the 1160... i'm not sure what they're referring to cause it's been perfectly fine for me, infact its been better than the asus, dell, and compaq laptops i've had in the past.
If you're game player with heavy graphics needs you should pass on this model. But if you're a business users or home user who wants a light, solidly built, good performing laptop with great battery life, then I'm sure you'll love this computer even at a $700 price tag.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion DM4-1162US Entertainment Notebook PC Laptop 14.0-Inch Widescreen LED Display, Brushed Aluminum Finish, Intel Core i5-450M 2.40 GHz Processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.66 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD, Windows 7 Home Premium, Up to 6.25 hours battery life

14.0-inch Diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768), Intel Core i5-450M Processor 2.40GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.66 GHz, Intel HD Graphics, 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 DIMM) (expandable up to 8GB), 320GB 7200 rpm Hard Disk Drive, Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit), HP QuickWeb,HP MediaSmart,HP SimplePass with Integrated Fingerprint Reader,HP TrueVision Web Camera with Integrated Digital Microphone,SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support, 802.11b/g/n WLAN, Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN, External Ports: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader, 2 USB 2.0; 1 eSATA/USB 2.0; 1 Ethernet; 1 HDMI; 1 VGA 15-pin D-sub,101-key compatible with island-style full-size keyboard, 6-Cell 55Wh Lithium-Ion Battery with up to 6.25 hours of battery life, 65W AC Adapter.

Click here for more information about HP Pavilion DM4-1162US Entertainment Notebook PC Laptop 14.0-Inch Widescreen LED Display, Brushed Aluminum Finish, Intel Core i5-450M 2.40 GHz Processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.66 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD, Windows 7 Home Premium, Up to 6.25 hours battery life

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HP Pavilion dm4-1060us 14.1-Inch Laptop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this notebook to send off to college with my daughter. I've been in the computer business for over 35 years, and this is one of the best PC notebooks I've ever had (I'd give it 5 stars, but it is not a Mac Book - my daughter prefers Windows).
But I have owned a bunch of PC notebooks over the years, including several other HPs, and this is the best PC notebook I've ever owned - a really excellent mix of size, performance, and style. Aside from its technical specs, it really is attractive for a notebook - way to go HP design team!
My daughter is very fussy about keyboards and trackpads, and to win her approval is a huge endorsement. I've been watching the ads for PC notebooks knowing college starts this fall, and this HP dm4 really caught my eye. I'd been considering the 8 hour ASUS machines, but this 6 hour HP was enough better in other specs to seal the deal. For a PC, the claimed 6+ hours (over 4 in reality) is way better than almost any other PC notebook (although Mac Books are much better).
Compared to most other PC notebooks, this one wins because: very light (other reviews say it is one of the very lightest 14" notebooks), fast (Intel i5 mobile, not just an i3), 4Gigs RAM, 500Gig hard drive (and 7200rpm, not 5400!), fingerprint scanner (and it really works well and seamlessly - encourages good security), bluetooth, WiFi N, HDMI + VGA, eSATA, Windows 7 64-bit, great battery life, great size and weight. Just right mix. (Just a note - it uses shared graphics, just fine for anyone except hard core gamers - probably improves battery life.)
SUMMARY: A great balance of price, performance, and style. Should easily last four years of college.
PROS: Size, weight, style, CPU performance, fingerprint scanner, memory
CONS: screen size (beautiful LED display, but at 768 pixels high, a bit low - wish it were 900), really loaded with crapware (but that is typical of almost any PC notebook today, especially HP - check out pc decrapifier)

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion dm4-1060us 14.1-Inch Laptop

Count on a thin, lightweight laptop that has everything you need and want. The HP Pavilion dm4-1060us Notebook PC delivers exceptional performance from the inside out. Manage your passwords, access online accounts and secure files easily using the integrated fingerprint reader and exclusive HP SimplePass software. With a battery that lasts up to 6.5 hours per charge, you can forget about plugging in your HP laptop all the time. This stylish notebook PC also has a durable metal chassis finished in brushed aluminum with the stream design in argento.Have fun wherever you go, whether it\'s around the house, across town or on the road. The HP Pavilion dm4-1060us Notebook PC is designed for how you live. Watch DVDs using the built-in optical drive and 14-inch diagonal High-Definition LED display. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth help you connect and sync your HP laptop to a printer, MP3 player or smartphone without using cables. Video chat in low-light environments using the HP webcam, plus transfer photos from a digital camera to your notebook PC using the digital media reader.

Click here for more information about HP Pavilion dm4-1060us 14.1-Inch Laptop

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MSI Mainstream A6200-248US 15.6" Notebook (Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor P6000, 3 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Purchased this at Fry's Electronics for $399. There is a rebate associated with it for $50. I live in Illinois so I had to pay sales tax. Still under $400 out the door after the rebate (been told it takes 3 months or so) but that's no big deal.
Quick start up guide suggested I make an msi recovery disc set upon 1st boot, so I did (easy but slow - 8x is the highest speed on the included optical drive). Removed all the bloatware (not much actually came pre-installed) with PCDecrapifier. Black pinstripe finish is different (highly susceptible to fingerprints & smudges). Battery is good for about 3 hours (maybe a little less) with light use (msi's WIND series can go for 15 hours - WOW).
Bonus warranty: Upon receipt of my mail in registration form, msi extends their manufacturer's warranty to 3 years! Pretty sweet! (If you get this make sure you get at least 3 rebate receipts or make copies for all the forms you have to send in).
Fry's customer service is pretty lousy - I placed the order online & went in to pick it up with a hard copy of my receipt in hand. They had no record of the order and I had to wait a 1/2 hour for them to figure that out & then another 1/2 hour to take me over to the returns desk to place & process a new order. Took forever and they weren't that busy. They did NOTHING to make it up to me. Also, BE AWARE, Fry's charges a 15% restocking fee on laptops - no exceptions. That is $60 out of your pocket on this A6200-428US if something goes wrong or if you change your mind after you open it.
How does it work? Boots fast. Runs cool & quiet. Nice display. A lot of connectivity (USB 2.0 x 3, Express Card, Video Port: VGA (15-pin, D-Sub), HDMI, Audio Ports: Mic-in, Headphone output,). I really like the msi "chiclet" keyboard and number pad. Thin and light, easy to carry but the display doesn't lock when you close the laptop - just something to be aware of. Wireless LAN found my home network right away. I bought this to use for school and it is overkill for the typical "student" requirements.
Cons: Power button has a bright blue LED. It is just under the screen located at the top right side of the keyboard - distracting when reading the screen (nothing a piece of tape can't fix). Due to the short battery life I want to buy another battery just in case. Overall, this is pretty hard deal to beat.
Includes:
Windows 7, 64 bit
Fast Intel® Pentium® Dual Core Processor P6000 with a 1066MHz FSB & a 2MB cache
320 GB 5400 RPM SATA HD is partioned into 2 halves (or close to it)
3GB 1066MHz DDR3 SO DIMM(upgradable to 8 gigs (2 slots))
4-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/XD)
LAN Ethernet LAN 10/100
WLAN Built-in 802.11b/g/n WLAN Card
Stereo speakers (not bad for a laptop)
1.3MP Web cam with microphone (not great but works ok)
Optical Drive Type: DVD Super Multi (slow)
*UPDATE* I am now at the 4 month point of ownership and felt like updating my review.
After all the constant updates for Windows the computer is using 50% of the RAM all the time - just to run the machine. Makes running other programs difficult. I had McAfee installed and that bogged it down even more. Uninstalled McAfee and installed Kaspersky. Kaspersky seems to be working better.
About two months ago a friend of mine got an HP 15.6" Pavilion dv6-3122us Turion II Entertainment 4GB Laptop 500GB Notebook PC and it blows away the msi for only $100 more at the times of respective purchase. The display, software suite, webcam, audio, storage, graphics, and speed are all superior on the hp. Even the finish on the outside is superior in that it doesn't show fingerprints everywhere like the msi.
I just got the rebate from msi last week. My friend got their rebates from hp before I got mine from msi and they sent them in 2 months after I did.
The webcam has been problematic. I try to skype with other students but they cannot hear me unless I call them on my cell. I've checked all the settings and everything is supposed to be working fine but the msi warns that the connection isn't strong enough to support this service. I have a desktop in the same room, farther away from the wireless gateway and it handles web conferences just fine. Has to be the msi. The audio is really quiet. All the way up I can hardly hear professors & fellow students.
I've ordered more RAM for the msi hoping this will speed it back up. If I plug in headphones I can hear others during conferences. They can't hear me but there is a spot where I can "chat". I use sticky keys when zi type and the msi is very slow to recognize or doesn't recognize at all the keys being pressed. When writing an essay it misses the first couple of key strokes when it's running slow. There is no bloatware on my pc and there are very few programs installed. Not many applications or processes running in the background either. So I have no idea why the msi is running as slow as it is these days.
It seemed really good at first. basic. simple. just enough to get the job done. I'd lower it to 2 stars if I could and I would have bought the hp instead seeing as I just shelled out $80 to upgrade the RAM to full capacity on it. The msi is / feels heavier than the hp too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: MSI Mainstream A6200-248US 15.6" Notebook (Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor P6000, 3 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit)

The MSI A6200-248US Laptop Computer is a powerful work, entertainment and multimedia platform that can still travel wherever you do. It is powered by an Intel Pentium Dual-Core P6000 1.86GHz processor, 3GB of DDR3 memory, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system. Store your data, software, digital pictures, movies and more on a multitude of storage options including a 320GB SATA hard drive, DVD Super Multi Drive, and 4-in-1 media card reader.

Click here for more information about MSI Mainstream A6200-248US 15.6" Notebook (Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor P6000, 3 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit)

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Samsung N150 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered the Samsung N150 after much research and have not been disappointed. The main reasons for my choice were: 1. Matte screen, which I prefer over the glossy screens of other netbooks I've seen in stores, 2. Battery life, 3. Matte blue finish of cover doesn't show fingerprints, 4. Positive reviews of keyboard, 5. Super-quiet fan. And so far, all of these features have lived up to my hopes. Other nice features: silky smooth operation of lid hinges, and the built-in webcam and microphone.
One downside as noted by a previous reviewer: the initial setup of the hard drive and software takes a LONG time (one hour, more or less). From what I've read, there are other netbooks out there with much shorter setup times. Fortunately, you only have to go through setup once with this netbook. Be patient, and you'll get through it fine. Just don't expect to be doing useful work until the day after your box comes in the mail.
Another negative is that the processor seems relatively slow (compared to desktop PCs or full-size laptops) at some operations like booting, doing data transfer, and unpacking/installing software. This is just because of the processor, which has been optimized for low power usage. And I imagine that other netbooks have the same shortcoming, so it's no particular knock against the N150. It's the price all netbooks pay for being small and power-stingy.
Having said that, once the Samsung gets itself booted and ready to go, it does fine at web browsing, email, word processing, and video watching. I was able to watch a streaming Netflix video with no problems. Speakers are decent, but a battery-powered iPod speaker like an Altec Lansing iM237 plugged into the headphone jack gives a much better and louder sound.
Suggestions:
1. Allow at least one hour for initial setup. Be patient.
2. Either turn off the automatic "Windows Update" in the control panel, or change the frequency of updates from "every day" to "one day per week." The automatic update hogs the processor each time it runs, and you'll be wondering why the netbook is running so slowly every morning.
3. In the Start menu, type "Task Manager" in the search box and put a shortcut for the Task Manager in your Start menu or on your taskbar. Get familiar with the Task Manager because it shows you CPU usage, memory usage, and what processes are running in the background. When the blue "hard disk" light starts flashing and the netbook slows down, the Task Manager will tell you why.
4. In the Start menu, type "gadgets" in the search box, and install the "CPU" gadget on your desktop. The large dial gives a constant readout of CPU usage, and the small dial a readout of RAM usage. Another good tool for monitoring the CPU workload. When the needle is pegged in the red zone (e.g. at startup) you're not going to get much done. Wait til the needle drops out of the red zone before trying to do any other CPU-intensive tasks.
5. Forget the installed McAfee antivirus program and download the free "Microsoft Security Essentials". It's free and it works great. Saved my other laptop from numerous attacks. Also download the free "Malwarebytes" program.
6. Forget the MS Office "trial" software and download the free Open Office, which works just like MS Office and can open MS Office files, and an save in MS Office format. (Open Office also plays better with this netbook than the included MS Works package. I downloaded Open Office and then uninstalled both MS Office and MS Works.)
Some owners have reported that replacing the 1GB RAM stick with 2 GB RAM improves performance. Before going that route, I tried the Windows ReadyBoost feature, which Microsoft says will improve performance in some operations. Exactly which operations is not clear, and when I tried using ReadyBoost with a 4GB USB emory stick, I wasn't able to discern any difference.
All in all, the Samsung is a competent netbook in a nice package. Two thumbs up.
Update: After upgrading to 2 GB RAM and having used this netbook for a couple of weeks, I like it even better. Upgrading the RAM definitely helped performance. And the matte screen is definitely better than the glossies, and the keyboard is much better than my friend's Asus eeePC keyboard. The trackpad is just too small for more than occasional emergency use, though, so I use an iHome mid-size wireless optical mouse, which I love and highly recommend. Being freed from the tiny trackpad and the marginal 1 GB RAM makes this little machine a pleasure to use.
PS--If you do install Microsoft Security Essentials, be sure to follow their instructions for uninstalling other antivirus programs first (in this case, McAfee). I apparently failed to do so, and eventually noticed an oscillation in CPU usage as shown by the Task Manager when the CPU should have been idle. A Google search suggested a conflict between two competing antivirus programs. I went back and uninstalled McAfee by using the "appwiz.cpl" command per instructions on the Microsoft Security Essentials site, and problem solved.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung N150 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue)

Delivering high style while ensuring you have less to carry whie staying within your budget, the Samsung N150 netbook PC in blue features a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, the latest Intel Atom N450 processor, Windows 7 Starter operating system, and up to 7 hours of battery life. This impressive battery-powered performance is possible because overall power consumption is reduced by the energy efficient LED display, optimized processing performance and Samsung's proprietary Enhanced Battery Life solution.
Great for writing e-mail and getting work done while on the go, it sports a 93 percent full-size keyboard for easy typing as well as a webcam for staying in contact via video chats. With the integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi, you'll be able to connect to the Internet at home or at hotspots throughout town. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM, a 3-in-1 memory card reader, and three USB 2.0 ports.

Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

Key Features


Key Specifications
1.66 GHz Intel Atom N450 processor (512 KB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB) combines performance and energy efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile.
160 GB hard drive (5400 RPM)
1 GB of RAM (DDR2)
Intel GMA 3150 graphics
1.3-megapixel webcam integrated into the bezel
Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks.
Three USB 2.0 ports with one slot that charges your peripherals even if the netbook is in sleep mode.
3-in-1 memory card reader (SD, SDHC, MMC)
Fast Ethernet (10/100) for wired networking.
VGA video output for connecting to an external monitor.
Headphone jack as well as mic input
Kensington lock compatibility
Built-in stereo speakers (1.5 W x 2) with HD Audio and SRS 3D Sound Effect capabilities.
Windows 7 Starter makes small notebook PCs easier to use because it puts less between you and what you want to do--less waiting, less clicking, less hassle connecting to networks. And Starter combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows.
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. A small notebook PC running Windows 7 Home Premium is even easier to use. The new taskbar and advanced navigation features make launching programs, opening files, managing windows, and getting around your PC faster and easier. Personalize your PC to be just the way you want it with helpful gadgets and desktop themes--even turn your desktop into a slideshow of your favorite photos. And you get the best entertainment experience on a PC. With Windows Media Center, you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
Up to 7 hours of battery life from standard 6-cell battery.
Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.4 x 1.37 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.73 pounds
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor

What's in the Box This package contains the Samsung N150, 6-cell rechargeable battery, AC adapter, power cord, printed user manual

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Lenovo ThinkPad X201i 3249MDU 12.1-Inch Laptop Review

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(More customer reviews)I feel compelled to write a review about the best laptop I've ever owned. I opted to get the low-end X201i (as opposed to more expensive X201 models). For around $850 my machine came with Windows 7 Pro and a camera.
I'm a trial lawyer and depend upon laptops for spreadsheets, videos and document data bases. For the past ten years I've relied upon various Lenovo products, but lately been unable to find one small enough, cheap enough and fast enough. Until now.
The X201i is far superior than the netbooks I've been using, and helpfully smaller than Lenovo's other laptops I've been using.
The X201i, although perhaps not having the same sturdy feel as more expensive Lenovo laptops, is quite durable. It isn't all that stylish, and is a throwback to Lenovo laptops I used 8 years ago, but it does it all.
Mine came with the 9 cell battery, which is way more than enough for long cross-country flights. In fact, it replaces my netbook which I would carry around for hours for light reading and notes. It replaces my more robust and larger Lenovos used for database work.
Another reason why I vastly prefer this small notebook over the netbooks is the pointer stick which to me is the most efficient way of mousing around a laptop

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X201i - Intel - Core i3 - 370M - 2.4 GHz - DDR3 SDRAM - RAM: 2 GB - Serial ATA - 160 GB - 7200 RPM - Intel HD Graphics - 12.1 Inch - TFT Active Matrix -Gigabit Ethernet; IEEE 802.11b; IEEE 802.11g; IEEE 802.11n - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

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Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 11.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the first one when it came out last August in Europe. It is the same specs as the US sold one. I also purchased this again from Amazon for a gift and have in the household the Acer AS1830T-3721 (i5 model), and the AS1830T-3505 (i3 model), both purchased here on Amazon.
The Acer 1830t i3/i5/i7 are all physically the same computer. Only the processor, hard drive size, installed ram amount, and Bluetooth 3.0 separate the 3 models, therefore, reviews on those models apply here as well.

Also the older Acer 1810 with an Intel SU7300, Acer 1551 with an AMD Athlon II Neo Dual-Core Processor K325/K625, Acer TravelMate 8172 with an Intel i3/Win 7 Pro, and Aspire One 721 with an AMD Athlon II Neo Processor K125--netbook category, are the same basic computer chassis. This saves Acer a lot of money by offering several different models under the same platform--and gives us consumers more choices. If you are looking at this size PC check out Acer's current variants. Acer also owns Gateway and re-brands these 11.6 inch models. If you don't mind what the label says on the outside you can find similar models with Gateway that might have different sale prices. Compare both labels and shop around before you buy.
For budget buyers the i3 models (AS1830T-3505 and AS1830T-3921), are quite nice. The -3505 ships with 250GB drive, the -3921 ships with a 320GB drive, the -3505 is being heavily discounted. The i3-330UM is the same as the i5 but without speed step, it's fixed at 1.2GHz but still utilizes 4 hyper threads (2 per core). You can upgrade the ram and HDD at anytime money allows while still having a respectable laptop PC.
People like myself who are computer gurus, must have the latest whether we need it or not. I bought the i5 model for myself but passed it on to family after I got this i7. I did the same immediate upgrades I did on the i5 model by installing a Kingston 425 128GB SSD, (same MLC and Controller as the infamous Intel G2 but for a fraction of the cost), and 8GB PC3 10600 Crucial RAM. The cost difference from the i5/i7 is currently at 200$ simply for a faster more powerful processing unit. For a guru like myself most definitely a necessity. This is my dream machine. It is only lacking a dedicated graphics card, (GMU). My cost with RAM and SSD upgrade came to 1,300$, (current cost (02/11),>$1,100.
End results:
i3 models--worth their weight in gold. AS1830T-3505/AS1830T-3921, best value there is no better deal to be had as of current. It allows RAM and HDD upgrades. Also in this budget is the TravelMate 8172 with i3/2GB ram/Win7 Pro and the 1551 with AMD Athlon II Neo Dual-Core Processor K325/K625 and ATI discrete graphics.
i5 model--worth its weight in platinum. AS1830T-3927, at a current 600-700$ this is the model to have. It will handle just about anything you can throw at it and most likely, for its intended purpose, satisfy all users. Even upgrading ram to a max 8GB and the hard drive to an SSD still keeps cost under 1000$ which is very respectable and most likely will come down in a few months.
i7 model--worth its weight in titanium. AS1830T-68U118, at a current 800-900$, the extra 200$ it will cost to get the i7 processor will not see a huge gain. It is not a GAMER machine like the Dell Alienware m11x, but can be used as a media hub for all your multimedia entertainment. This model still lacks a discrete graphics and without one falls short of larger i3/i5/i7 models in the same price point. If having a dedicated GMU is important you may want to consider a larger 13/14-inch screen with an i3/i5/i7/discrete graphics for the same money. It comes down to size and weight VS ultimate performance. I have added a list of models that have dedicated graphics cards in the comments section.BATTERY RUN TIME:
The AS1830T-series includes a 5800mAh 6-cell Lithium Ion battery that sits nearly flush. Acer accomplishes this by moving the keyboard forward and cutting the battery casing into the top of the laptop frame. This gives it a nearly flush (top to bottom and out the back) fitment. Acer states an 8 hour run dead time. My experience is about 5.5 hours using WiFi and Bluetooth without letting it sleep and about 6 and up to 7 hours with Bluetooth off with rest periods in-between.
SCREEN:
Very impressive. Mercury and lead free LED backlighting (Light Emitting Diode) LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) at 11.6 inches diagonal measure 1366 x 768 pixels (720P 16x9). It has a 200-nit high brightness. The backlighting is extremely even (many reports with graphs showing this--just search the net), and consistent color at varying angles. It does lend on the blue side of the hue (cool temperature), which can't be dialed out with white balance. But again, you would never notice unless you have this side by side with a high end monitor or comparing pantone standards. It is still best in class.
GRAPHICS:
The Acer AS1830T-Series (except for the AMD ones which use ATI), use Intel HD with shared video ram of 128MB. While this is better than the older Intel GMA 4500 of the last generation, it is not a substitute for dedicated graphics or integrated graphic chips. It is enough power to help render HD video off the web and use the HDMI on the laptop to play video content on your big screen monitor, it will not play games with any kind of authority. It will render 3D imagines in software like Chief Architecture, Adobe CS5 and such but not like one would be use to on a desktop. Again, this is an ultra portable and I don't think many people will be trying to use it for these things on the couch/bed/airport lobby.
KEYBOARD/TOUCH PAD:
This is Acers short coming. The keyboard has been slightly improved over the last gen (1810), but only with layout. It still has some flex and even though the keys are large enough not to miss key often, they are chiclit style and don't have enough tactile feedback to use efficiently. Even still, there are worse designs out there and in this price range I say Acer rates mid-level. One complaint I read a lot about is that Acer moved the keyboard forward to accommodate a flush battery. This limits palm rest area and reduced the touch pad size. My personal preference is I like it better. I would rather have a flush battery and actually don't like to rest my palms on the leading edge of the laptop. The touch pad is an Alps version. Small, and not well designed. Acer has gone the multi touch/swipe way which is not well executed. When scrolling the touch pad often locks with an `action' function making if painfully difficult to simply scroll down/up or across the screen with the pointer without it locking. Also the left and right buttons have a loud stiff click. Unfortunately there is no `off' button to this multi jester function and one must adapt to it. My answer is a portable mouse when I can. And again, it is not the worst in the business, but improvement is in order for Acer.
SIZE/WEIGHT/CHASSIS:
One of the best features of the Acer is how compact and light it is for being nearly a full PC. At 3.1 lbs it is very easy to handle. You can pick it up by the corner and hardly know you are holding anything. Not much bigger than most netbooks. Once you have this in your hands it feels even thinner than the 1 inch spec sheet says. I also like that Acer keeps the 6-cell battery almost flush so there is no huge protruding appendage sticking out the back or angled down .Its reinforced plastic casing has an aluminum skin on the top edge and Acer has improved stress points over last gen (1810), so there is less flex and seam separation between the upper and lower halves and screen surround.
RAM:
RAM and HDD can be accessed by a removable cover on the bottom. HDD is a 2.5 inch Serial ATA drive with a maximum thickness of 9.5mm. the higher capacity drives over 640GB are 12mm in thickness and will not fit-(cover won't close). Also under this cover is the PCI-e 1x16 but Acer does not include this on most models. Misleading specs has Acer stating 4GB max ram capabilities. The Intel Arrandale Ultra Low Voltage (UM) versions can accept up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, 4GB x 4GB 204-pin SODIMM. The AS1830T's come packaged with PC3-10600 RAM (1333MHz) instead of the norm 8500 (1066MHz) RAM. When upgrading I recommend you upgrade to like same. While you can mix speeds it is not the best practice. If you are disposing of all factory ram you can re-install the PC3-8500 and it will work fine, but if you are only replacing one of the two sticks you should use the faster PC3-10600 version to match. Whether you go with 1066MHz or 1333MHz is redundant as the Intel Arrandale UM's only read PC3-800 and will automatically downgrade the speed. Cost between PC3-8500 and PC3-10600 is roughly the same, the problem is finding 4GB sticks in the PC3-10600 version. I have mostly used Crucial but have also used Kingston, Corsair, and Patriot Signature without cause. Plus all these brands offer lifetime warranties.
PORTS and WIRELESS:
Acer is loaded with connection abilities both wired and wireless. Wireless toggling is handled by soft keys now instead of hard keys (FN with F3). The 68U118 offers the new Bluetooth 3.0 +HS which use the collocated 802.11 for speeds up to 24Mb/sec when communicating with another Bluetooth 3.0 devise such as the Samsung Galaxy cell phone. Other AS1830T models use the Bluetooth 2.1 or can have Bluetooth added like in the AS1830T-3505. WAN uses Draft N in all models which are pretty standard these days. Acer runs the antenna around the screen giving better signal lock and very strong connections. For wired connections you have full HDMI that carries digital 5.1 surround...Read more›

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Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T: Extreme Mobile Performance
The next-generation of Acer's popular "all day computing" lineup, the 11.6-inch Aspire TimelineX 1830 (model AS1830T-68U118) is an ultra-portable powerhouse that weighs just over 3 pounds yet packs in a full-size keyboard and ultra-low voltage Intel Core 17 dual-core processing--with 4-way multitasking processor power to work on four tasks simultaneously.

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ASUS U30JC-A2B 13.3-Inch Laptop (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the same as the U30JC-A1 model except that is offers built in blue tooth and a 7200 RPM drive rather than 5400.

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13.3"/HD (1366 x768) (LED)/ i3-350M (2.26GHz)/4G DDR3/NV G310M 512MB DDR3 VRAM/320G 7200RPM/Super Multi/Windows 7 Professional/802.11 bgn/0.3 MP/8 cell 5600mAh

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Toshiba Portege R705-P35 Laptop, Intel Core i3 Processor, 13.3" Display Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)At 1st I wanted to buy a mini because I thought of it being more portable. Then I found out that they are quite slow when you start to add programs like Microsoft office because they are mainly for internet, email, etc. plus they don't come with a CD drive (unless you purchase one separately)
But the laptops seemed too big and heavy for me to carry around (student).. After doing tons of research I found this computer. The R705-P35 it's super light, might be as light as a mini. It has tons of memory and it runs many programs at once with no problems. It's quiet, it's thin, and it's pretty small! 13.3in!! So, if you are looking for a mini with the memory of a bigger computer, this is the one for you.
Can't say much about battery life because I always have it plugged in, but I will make sure to update if there are any issues.

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This laptop features a spacious 500GB hard drive so you can save important documents and files and Intel 4G WiMAX mobile broadband for Internet access on the go (service contract required).Windows 7 Home Premium preloaded Which Windows 7 edition is best for you? Compare.Intel 4G WiMAX chipset built in for Internet access to go at next-generation mobile broadband speeds. Learn more about WiMAX. Wireless service plan required; sold separately. WiMAX service not available in all areas.Learn more about Intel processors. Information provided by Intel.Learn more about Intel Wireless Display.

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