Showing posts with label notebooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label notebooks. Show all posts

Sony VAIO FW Series VGN-FW340J/H - Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz - Centrino - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n (draft) - Vista Home Premium 64-bit - 16.4" Widescreen TFT 1600 x 900 - camera - titanium gray Review

Sony VAIO FW Series VGN-FW340J/H - Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz - Centrino - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n (draft) - Vista Home Premium 64-bit - 16.4 Widescreen TFT 1600 x 900 - camera - titanium gray
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I'm really delighted with this very stylish laptop. It offers excellent performance and a design that is both pleasing to the eyes and ergonomic. The quality of the display is superb and the keyboard is the best I've ever had, and this is my 4th laptop. It has the little features I need too, like 3 USB ports so that I no longer have to tote around a hub.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony VAIO FW Series VGN-FW340J/H - Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz - Centrino - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n (draft) - Vista Home Premium 64-bit - 16.4" Widescreen TFT 1600 x 900 - camera - titanium gray

Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 2.0GHz 4096MB RAM (8192MB max) 16.4 WXGA XBRITE ECO (1600x900) 320GB HD (5400rpm) DL DVD+R/W WiFi (802.11a/b/g/n) Gigabit Ethernet Built-In 1.3 Megapixel MOTION EYE Camera and Microphone Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD w/Clear Video HDMI Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit (Titanium Gray)

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Click here for more information about Sony VAIO FW Series VGN-FW340J/H - Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz - Centrino - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n (draft) - Vista Home Premium 64-bit - 16.4" Widescreen TFT 1600 x 900 - camera - titanium gray

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Acer Extensa EX5230E-2177 Notebook PC Intel 2.2GH CPU Webcam DVDRW 2GB 160GB Review

Acer Extensa EX5230E-2177 Notebook PC Intel 2.2GH CPU Webcam DVDRW 2GB 160GB
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We purchased this laptop here on Amazon just before Black Friday 2009. We paid $309 even though it was $249 at Best Buy the following week. After getting it home and realizing the single core Celeron 900 was an absolute dog of a processor, I went on eBay and bid $41.66 for a Pentium dual-core T4300 processor. I installed that and bumped the memory up to 3GB from 2GB using a PC2-5300 chip I had available from another machine. PC2-6400 memory can be used but it does increase temperatures inside the laptop. To put it simply, the computer now flies. Video is clean, clear, and stutter-free. It does not hang at times during booting. It does not freeze or lock up when multitasking. I use it as my primary computer and it blows away every desktop I've owned in the past few years. To be honest, I don't use it as a laptop, but as a desktop. I use an ASUS 23.6" LCD monitor (full 1080p video on a VGA connection), Logitech optical mouse and USB speakers, Kensington Keyboard For Life, and I just stick the laptop in my keyboard tray, put my external keyboard on the desk itself, and it's perfect.
This laptop can game. The Intel HD graphics (X4500MHD) is on-board, but it is THE BEST on-board graphics set you can get today. The performance is comparable to any of the following modern PCI Express cards:
ATI Radeon HD 4550
ATI Radeon HD 5450
nVidia 9400GT
nVidia 9500GS
nVidia 9500GT
nVidia GT120
It delivers close to 8600GT performance as well. I couldn't be happier with this laptop-as-a-desktop.
The computer having 3 USB ports is a slight problem, but a 4-in-1 USB hub solved that. I now have all ports in use and one free plug on the hub for flash drives, camera docks, printers, and other such temporary connections. It does not have a webcam (I use an external model) and it has no card reader (I have a microSD adapter and will be getting a full-size SD to USB adapter soon, but worst case, I can plug an SD card into my Kodak camera and unload it from there using my camera dock). The laptop's case appears to support these upgrades and other models of Extensa (5630 for example) do have these options. But a deep research into the computer's service manual shows that the card reader cannot be added to this motherboard.
Other processors that do absolutely for a fact work with this motherboard, chipset, and BIOS include:
Stock Celeron 900 (2.2GHz)
Celeron dual-core T3000
Celeron dual-core T3100
Pentium dual-core T4200
Pentium dual-core T4300
The T3200, T4400, and T4500 should also work fine as they are in the same processor family (Penryn-3M standard voltage, socket P) they are just newer models than when this GL40 chipset was introduced.
The T4300 does not have a noticeable heat increase over the Celeron 900, a degree or two hotter at idle, but identical under load. A T4500 might see another degree here or there. Other chips like Core 2 Duos may work in theory but may run hotter. These include T6400, T6500, T6600, T6570, T6670, T8100, T8300, and some later T9300/T9500 steppings,
Do NOT discount this computer, or any other cheap laptop with the GL40 chipset, for having a single core Celeron in it. These dual-core Celerons and Pentiums can be bought for $50 or less and provide a much needed kick in the rear as far as performance in daily use. The third GB of RAM just provides an extra cushion against slow operating when you're really busy. A $300 or $400 laptop with a $50 processor and $50 in RAM upgrades is now equal to a $700 model. Anyone who bought one of these at Best Buy for $249 just gets to do it cheaper than the rest of us.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Extensa EX5230E-2177 Notebook PC Intel 2.2GH CPU Webcam DVDRW 2GB 160GB

* Intel Celeron processor 900 Features an 800MHz frontside bus, 1MB L2 cache and 2.2GHz processor speed. * 2GB DDR2 memory For multitasking power, expandable to 4GB. * Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media; also supports DVD-RAM. * 15.4" LCD high-brightness widescreen display With 1280 x 800 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio showcases movies and games in stunning clarity. * 160GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm) Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times. * Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD For lush graphics. 2 built-in stereo speakers with high-definition audio support. * Built-in webcam with digital microphone Makes it easy to video chat with family and friends. * 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports For fast digital video, audio and data transfer. * Built-in 802.11b/g/Draft-N wireless LAN Wirelessly connect to the Internet. * Built-in 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN With RJ-45 connector for quick and easy wired Web connection. * Weighs 6.3 lbs. and measures just 1.7" thin For portable power. * Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit operating system preinstalled Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more.

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HP Pavilion DV4-1227US 14.1-Inch Laptop - Espresso Black Review

HP Pavilion DV4-1227US 14.1-Inch Laptop - Espresso Black
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I ordered this laptop on the HP website, even though the model number is not the same (mines is DV4-1300), it has all the same exact features as this model, and looks physically the same. So far so good I haven't had any problems. It's packed with features, and the best part is, that it's affordable. I got my laptop for $701.00, of course this was with the use of a coupon, and a student discount, plus the shipping was free, not only that, but I got free upgrades on the memory and hard drive. I think this is the perfect laptop for a student, because it's not that heavy and you can easily take it with you where ever you want. I also love the 14" screen it's not too big, but it's not too small, to me it's the perfect screen size on a laptop. The fan is a little noisy at times, but it's not a major concern. It also gets quite hot on the bottom, but I think most laptops do. The battery life I found to be so-so, not the best, but not bad either.
My computer specs:
-Espresso Black
-Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit) (free upgrade)
-Intel Core Duo 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0Ghz)
-3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) (free upgrade)
-320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection (free upgrade)
-Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
-14.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
-LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
-Webcam + Fingerprint Reader
-Wireless-G Card with Bluetooth
-HP Integrated HDTV Hybrid Tuner
-HP Color Matching Keyboard
-6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
-No Modem Overall, I do recommend this computer, especially for students like myself who are on a tight budget, you'll get a lot of bang for your buck!

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion DV4-1227US 14.1-Inch Laptop - Espresso Black

Offering an eye-catching modern look, the entertainment-focused HP Pavilion DV4-1227US notebook PC makes it easy to enjoy your favorite music and videos while on the go, as well as keep you productive with a speedy dual-core processor and 64-bit Windows Home Vista Premium operating system. The 14.1-inch high-definition BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and you'll enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included HP remote, then store it conveniently in the Express card slot. Turn your next instant message into a live video chat with the integrated webcam and omni-directional microphone. Optimized for low-light environments, it's great for capturing short videos to share on your favorite social networking site.
It's powered by the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, which boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. It also offers a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 2 MB L2 cache. HP's ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection locks your 250 GB hard drive into place when it senses abrupt motion to help prevent data loss. The built-in eSATA/USB combo port enables fast backup to an external hard drive. Other features include 4 GB of installed RAM (8 GB maximum), Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics (up to 1759 MB total), dual-layer Lightscribe DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard 54 slot, quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), and 5-in-1 memory card reader.

High Style Expanding on the sophisticated elegance of HP's notebook design from the past few years, the new DV series is defined by fluid, modern lines and metalized finishes. Bursts of energy and excitement are brought to life with the HP Expresso Black Imprint, using bright flickering balls that erupt outwared against a sleek black backdrop. The streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and touchpad. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance.

The Basics

Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor has a 2.0 GHz processor speed, fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 2 MB L2 cache. (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.)
With two computational execution cores in a single processor, it provides greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.



Hard Drive: The large 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.
You'll enjoy enhanced hard drive protection with HP's Protectsmart, which includes a 3D accelerometer that safeguards your data by parking your hard drive if your notebook detects any range of motion, such as being knocked off your desk, falling or taking abuse.



Memory: The 4 GB of installed RAM helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card. This notebook has an amazing 8 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.


DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds.
This LightScribe DVD±RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.



Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad. It also includes two quick-launch buttons (HP QuickPlay Music and DVD).
Screen, Video & Audio You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics and widescreen movies with the 14.1-inch WXGA high-definition screen, which has a widescreen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels--perfect for watching DVD movies the way they were meant to be seen. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, which uses shared video memory (up to 1759 MB allocated from the system memory). This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out.
The Altec Lansing speakers provide exceptional sound, and it also includes SRS Premium Sound. You'll be able to privately share enjoyment of multimedia with a friend via the dual headphone jacks.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. It comes with the following external connectors:

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (with 1 eSATA + USB 2.0 combo port)
1 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
Analog video output: 1 VGA
1 ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
2 headphone jacks
1 microphone jack
1 Expansion Port 3 connector (for use with the HP xb3000 Expansion Base or the HP Notebook QuickDock)
1 IR receiver
5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)
10/100 Fast Ethernet networking
56K modem (V.90)



Operating System The 64-bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium (with SP1) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

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.

Preloaded Software

HP MediaSmart Software Suite: Your one-stop multimedia and entertainment center to create photo slideshows, share personal videos, listen to your favorite music playlists and watch DVD movies.
muvee autoProducer Basic: Automatically create professional looking home videos and burn to DVD.
Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe: Automatically fix and edit videos and create CDs and DVDs. Edit, burn and archive data to discs.
Microsoft Works 9: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar.
Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 (60-day trial version).
Adobe Reader 8: Read and print PDF files.
Norton Internet Security 2009 protects your PC and your identity when you email, bank and shop online; 60 days of protection updates included.

Dimensions & Weight This notebook measures 13.15 x 9.45 x 1.57 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 5.1 pounds.

Power It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 2 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box This package contains the HP Pavilion DV4-1227US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, IR remote control, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.

Reduce your impact on the environment with this Energy Star-certified system and HP's innovative take-back options, including trade-in, recycling and donation.


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Acer Aspire Celeron M 1.86GHz 512MB 80GB CDRW/DVD 14-Inch Vista Review

Acer Aspire Celeron M 1.86GHz 512MB 80GB CDRW/DVD 14-Inch Vista
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We purchased this laptop in 2006 or 2007 when we had dial up and now we still have it and use it as our family's primary computer. Don't get me wrong, we are ready for an upgrade but this computer really lasted us well. We have teenagers and no one is gentle with it. Although I know people complain about Vista, we haven't had any issues with it. You can burn CD's, edit pictures, watch movies, connect it to the TV, all basic things with no issues. Definitely a worthy investment. We did upgrade the memory when we bought it though since it didn't come with much...super easy to install though.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire Celeron M 1.86GHz 512MB 80GB CDRW/DVD 14-Inch Vista

Maximize your productivity, entertainment and gaming needs! This Acer Aspire 3680-2682 Notebook is poweredby anIntel Celeron M processor 440with a 1.86 GHz CPU speedand512 MB of DDR2 system memory that is upgradeable to 2 GB! The80 GB hard drive ispreloaded with Microsoft Vista Home Basic and provides enough space for data, games, photos and music! Play DVDs and burn CDs with the CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive. The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 delivers superb imagery on the 14.1-inch Acer CrystalBrite LCD screen.The 5-in-1 media card slotreads most popular memory cards including SD, MMC, MS and xD flash cards,so you can conveniently upload photos, music or data! Additional highlights includebuilt-in stereo speakers, 802.11b/g wireless LAN capability,dial up modem and 10/100 networking.Fully loaded with entertainment-enhancing features, the Acer Aspire 3680-2682 is designed to improve your multimedia experience!Order today!

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Click here for more information about Acer Aspire Celeron M 1.86GHz 512MB 80GB CDRW/DVD 14-Inch Vista

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Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black Laptop - 6 Hour Battery Life Review

Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black Laptop - 6 Hour Battery Life
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I keep checking out the Netbooks that come into the hardware lab where I work, looking for something to replace a cheap one I bought for my kids to play with, but they all just seem too small. As a result I've been poking around the high-end of the Netbook spectrum / low end of the Ultra-portable spectrum for something more usable. The Acer Aspire 1410 series does a great job of bridging the gap between small low cost "Netbooks" and more expensive "Ultra-portables" (which is what Acer classes this as). It manages to overcome many of the short comings of Netbooks without getting anywhere near the $1000+ price range of most ultra-portables. It has a few drawbacks, notably material quality: like a lot of Acer products the plastic molding is attractive and the tolerances are tight. However the quality of the plastic is more in line with what you would expect with a Netbook (which is to say it is lower density plastic and more likely to scratch or break). To me it's reasonable that the overall component quality is lower than what I would get if I spent $1000 (display not as nice, finish not as refined, buttons not as responsive, etc...). Still, overall this is a well put together computer with good build quality considering the price. While I didn't end up buying one myself if might be the right fit for you: if you are on a budget and you need a small laptop that can do more than browse web pages this would be a very good choice.
Let's go over the specs:
CPU: The Core 2 ULV SU3500 is a great CPU choice and far more powerful than the Atom CPU found in most Netbooks. This is a single core (as opposed to the two core "Core2 Duo") Ultra Low Voltage cpu running at 1.4GHz. Depending on the exact application this CPU is about 3-6x more powerful than the typical Atom Processor. It also has 3 MB of cache (cache is a form of on-chip high speed memory) vs the Atom's 512 KB. With 6x the cache of the Atom this CPU is going to spend a lot more time running instructions and a lot less time waiting on the memory sub-system. It also helps that the Core 2 ULV SU3500 memory bus is about 25% faster than what you will find on an Atom. The Core2 is technically more power hungry than the Atom but when running applications the difference isn't significant (5 watts for the Core2 vs 1.5 watts for Atom). The main difference happens when in standby or sleep mode where the Atom will use much less power than the Core2 (because the kind of transistors on the Atom "leak" less power than those used on the Core2 when in those modes). So if you need long battery life while carrying your computer around in standby with brief periods of activity you might prefer the Atom based Netbooks (say for sales calls on the road). I think most users will probably prefer the Core2 - I know that I do. Update: there may be a dual core version of this coming out soon. It's on the list to arrive where I work but that doesn't mean it will be sold in the US.
MEMORY: 2GB of DDR2 RAM is plenty and the 667Mhz memory speed is good enough (faster notebooks go up to 1066Mhz). This system runs Vista which is more memory hungry than the Windows XP or Linux found on most Netbooks so 2GB, while enough, doesn't go as far as you might think. Still, as long as your aren't planning on doing any really serious gaming 2GB will handle the typical office application with no troubles.
HDD: The 250GB HDD has plenty of storage given that most users don't use more than 50GB. Serious gamers and video encoders will need a lot more space than this.
DISPLAY: The 11.6" 1366x768 screen looks good and is a lot more useable than the 8-10" screens found on most Netbooks. The resolution is much better than what you will find on most Netbooks and it is reasonably bright (200 nits vs 300+ nits on higher end laptop). I passed on this model because the viewing angle is limited (the manufacturer list the viewing angles as 60vert/90horiz compared to 120v/140h on a high end display) and my sons like to sit with me and watch YouTube videos. The limited viewing angles might be a selling point for somebody traveling who would prefer not to share what's on their screen with others. So while Acer clearly saved some money here it's still a good display: unless you need a really high quality LCD I think most people will be pretty happy with this screen (again it's far better than what you'll find in most Netbooks). For those few who care it's made by AU Optronics and I think it's model B116XW01.
GRAPHICS: The Intel Mobile GMA X4500HD graphics won't impress any gamers but if you're running business applications it will do just fine. Update: they loaded Autocad on this thing at work and it wasn't pretty. It might have been a driver issue but the render times were terrible. It's not really a surprise but don't buy this to run your CAD software. Of course for most users this won't be an issue.
AUDIO: notebooks are not known for great speaker sound and this notebook doesn't break from that trend. Again it's better than most Netbooks but not by a lot. Update: With headphones on I found the sound to be fine.
DRIVES: Like most Netbooks and Ultra-portables this has no CD or DVD drive. I recommend buying an external CD Drive. The software industry may start to switch over to USB drives soon (Windows 7 will be sold on USB drives) so this may not be a big deal for much longer. Today it's a pain to not have a CDROM.
BATTERY: The 6 cell battery is perfect for this notebook (thanks to the low power components). This notebook is probably too small for an 8 cell to fit cleanly but the 4 cell found in most Netbooks just isn't adequate, even for an Atom CPU. This 6 cell battery will provide about 3-5 hours of real use though with aggressive power saving modes you can get over six hours. Update: we have two of these in our hardware lab and it was just pointed it out to me that one (which came pre-release) had a higher capacity battery than the release version (5600mAH vs. 4400mAH). I've adjusted my battery life numbers down to reflect the release version. Interestingly the non-US version of this laptop has the higher capacity battery. I can only assume Acer was trying to bring the price down to compete in the tight US netbook market.
WEIGHT: Coming in a 3.1 lbs this is tiny bit heavier than the typical Netbook but not by much (Netbooks will range from 2-3lbs). Most regular notebooks are 6-8 lbs.
WIRELESS: The usual Intel 5100 A/G/N supports the most common standards ("A" and "G") along with the new "N" standard. You should have no trouble connecting to wireless networks. This is pretty standard though a few laptops will support 3G out of the box.
In short: while this notebook isn't perfect it is well built and unlike most Netbooks, actually has a decent CPU. It's small and light but big enough that you can actually use it. If you've got 1K-2K to spend you can get a better Ultra-Portable notebook (I'm partial to Sony's and Apple's offerings in that segment) but in this price range there isn't much competition.
Oh I should note that while this model is dark blue, Acer makes this in two other colors you can buy:
Acer Aspire AS1410-8913 11.6-Inch Ruby Red
Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black
Also if you're outside the US this might be sold as the "Acer Timeline 1810T" locally and may have slightly different specs (such as a better battery).


Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black Laptop - 6 Hour Battery Life

Weighing just over 3 pounds and measures 1.2 inches slim, the Acer Aspire AS1410-8414 makes it easy to roam the globe with a powerful PC. It includes a 6-cell battery that provides up to 6 hours of continuous use and a vividly colorful 11.6-inch LCD screen as well as an HDMI port for connecting it to an external monitor or HDTV for viewing presentations and movies. Presented in a stylish diamond black case, the thin and light Aspire 1410 also features a full-size keyboard and Acer's ComfyTouch technology, which uses an innovative Laminar Wall Jet Engine design to air-cool the processor and notebook case.
A Multi-Gesture Touchpad 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. 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.

Other features include a 1.4 GHz Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor, 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking, and a multi-format memory card reader.



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)
Energy efficient 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor with ultra-low voltage uses only 5.5 watts of energy--less than 1/10 that of a normal desktop processor--for extended battery life (Learn more)
250 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
2 GB of installed DDR2 RAM (667 MHz; 2 x SODIMM slots; 4 GB maximum capacity)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1700 MB of shared video memory and support for DirectX 10 games (Learn more)
Multi-gesture touchpad supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip (Learn more)
Thermal-efficient cooling innovation ensures the notebook achieves comfortable skin temperature during use. (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.
Draft-N Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11a/b/g/n) with SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
5-in-1 memory card reader
HDMI (with HDCP) and VGA video output
Stereo speakers with Dolby Sound Room audio enhancement transforms the experience of movies, music, and games.
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit) operating system (Learn more)
Up to 6 hours of battery life with included 6-cell battery
Dimensions: 11.2 x 8 x 1.2 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 3.1 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). This notebook also provides ultra-fast Gigabit Ethernet networking (10/100/1000).

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable
Analog video output: 1 VGA
5-in-1 card reader compatible with MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card
1 headphone/line-out jack (with SPDIF digital audio support), 1 microphone jack
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

What's in the box This package contains the Acer Aspire AS1410-8414 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions

It also comes with the following software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (trial version); CyberLink PowerDVD; Google Desktop; Acer Backup Manager; Acer GridVista

Learn More
11.6-Inch Widescreen Display with True 16:9 Aspect Ratio 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.
Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, which uses shared video memory (providing up to 1700 MB of video memory as allocated by the system memory). This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out.



Energy Efficient Intel Core 2 Solo Processor Offering the latest in ultra-low voltage processing power, the single-core Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor has a has a power consumption rating of just 5.5 watts and a 1.4 GHz speed that's paired with a fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. (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.) The Core 2 Solo processor delivers enhanced performance for today's demanding applications such as CAD tools, 3D and 2D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming. And Intel's Smart Cache technology enables smarter, more efficient cache and bus design for enhanced performance, responsiveness and power savings.


The Multi-Gestured Aspire 1410
Cool to the Touch The Acer Aspire 1410 notebook includes Acer's ComfyTouch technology, which uses an innovative Laminar Wall Jet Engine design to air-cool the processor and notebook case. Even when running for a full day the notebook remains cool in your hands or on your lap.




Windows Vista Home Premium Operating SystemWindows Vista Home Premium (32-bit version) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
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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Lifebook T900 - Intel - Core I5 - 520M - 2.4 Ghz - DDR3 Sdram - 2 Gb - Serial At Review

Lifebook T900 - Intel - Core I5 - 520M - 2.4 Ghz - DDR3 Sdram - 2 Gb - Serial At
Average Reviews:

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I am a doctor in a busy practice. I own a Fujitsu lifebook T4220 for close to 5 years. The tablet gets used > 8 hours a day over that period. I have been very satisfied with it's durability and performance. I have been looking for a tablet with a pen digitizer and a larger screen but the 13.3" is the biggest they make theses days.
I believe the Fujitsus in my office have been surprisingly free of mechanical defects.
We use the tablet to sign off on documents , prescriptions etc., and they have worked quite well.
I would suggest getting a long term service contract (2-3 year upon purchasing the unit however given the fact it is costly to service.

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Lifebook T900 - Intel - Core I5 - 520M - 2.4 Ghz - DDR3 Sdram - 2 Gb - Serial At

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Acer Aspire AS5551-4937 15.6-Inch HD Wi-Fi Laptop (Black) Review

Acer Aspire AS5551-4937 15.6-Inch HD Wi-Fi Laptop (Black)
Average Reviews:

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This thing has it all. It's all the power and slender of a macbook pro for half the price. Well, maybe not "all" the power, but all that most people need.
I will say right off the bat that this laptop has a great video card, but a low quality sound card. So if you do audio/video editing and not a lot of gaming, I would go with something else. If your a gamer though, this has unbeatable graphics for the -$600 price range.
Starcraft 2 runs at 70+ fps on low, 30-50 on medium and High, and 15-20 on ultra. WoW would surely run perfectly with 4 gigs of RAM.
I love this laptop. The keyboard is comfy, the touchpad feels good and has a very intuitive scroller on it for reading pages. The screen is amazing, HD, very bright, looks awesome.
The pros outweigh the cons very much, but I feel like I have to mention them for people. There are a couple of dead pixels, like 4-5 and that is common from other reviews I have read. They are really not noticeable during use, and very small, but still frustrating. Also, a lot of bloatware comes installed and NO windows 7 disc :(. Really frustrating but for $550 I think it is still well worth it. This thing is packed with great technology and is slim to boot. If your a gamer strapped for cash, I would HIGHLY recommend this over comparable toshiba's, hp's and dell's if you are torn.

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Acer AS5551: Multimedia Powerhouse Enjoy multimedia brilliance, power and performance with the Acer Aspire AS5551 notebook PC (model AS5551-4937), which features a vivid 15.6-inch HD widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display. The dual-core AMD Turion II processor and 4 GB of DDR3 RAM accelerate all your daily needs with the multitasking performance and responsiveness needed to download music, launch movies, chat and complete your daily tasks.
The notebook's rounded edges and smooth lines bring a slenderized look while the textured mesh black cover brings a rich appearance and prevents fingerprints and scratches. Other features include a multi-gesture trackpad, dedicated numeric keypad, 1.3-megapixel HD webcam, and Wireless-N Wi-Fi connectivity.

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
15.6-inch HD widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display
2.3 GHz AMD Turion II dual-core processor (2 MB total dedicated L2 cache) with AMD's VISION Technology, which combines cutting-edge processing and video power that allows you to experience vivid web and video content, sharp photos and crystal-clear music.
320 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz)
ATI Radeon HD 4250 graphics provide exceptional features, performance and power-efficiencies that enrich what you see and do.
8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW drive can also write to CD, DVD-RAM, and dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs--which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data.
1.3-megapixel HD webcam lets you go face to face in online chats and VOIPs with 1280 x 1024 resolution, and easily take still pictures and videos that you can share with friends.
Stereo speakers with High Definition Audio support
Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks.
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows 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 such as Google Earth. It also enables you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through Web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. (Learn more)
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS PRO), xD-Picture Card (xD)
3 USB ports
HDMI high-definition audio/video output allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video to your digital TV or LCD
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
6-cell lithium-ion battery (4400 mAh)
Weight: 5.74 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

What's in the Box This package contains the Acer Aspire AS5551-4937 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions



Learn MoreThe Acer Multi-Gesture Touchpad

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Sony VAIO VGN-AW230J/B 18.4-Inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray Drive, Vista Premium) Black Review

Sony VAIO VGN-AW230J/B 18.4-Inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray Drive, Vista Premium) Black
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The backlight on the VGN-AW230J is poorly designed, resulting in an area approximately 0.5 cm high at the bottom of the panel that is evenly and significantly brighter than the rest of the panel. This same effect can be seen to a lesser extent along the sides of the panel. The opposite effect occurs at the bottom corners of the panel, where the backlight appears pinched and at times completely black.
Sony initially told me this was a defect and sent a technician to repair the laptop. After the technician replaced the LCD panel (and broke the bezel in the process), the problem remained. Sony then requested that I send the laptop to their repair center. The repair center has since notified me that the strip of light is "normal," and that despite multiple unnecessary repairs made at their suggestion, they will not provide me a with new, unmodified laptop.
Sony has also added a vaguely worded article to their knowledgebase describing the problem as normal. While they refer to the problem as a "glow," which can in fact be normal for some backlights, this is not how the problem presents itself. http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/microsites/searchEntry.do?locale=LA_eng_US&usemicrosite=true®ion=UMRE_UNITEDSTATES_2_5&sonyregion=US&searchString=lcd%20bright&product=SG_VGNAW230J_1_5&sonytemplate=1&sonymodel=VGNAW230J
I was quite surprised with Sony's response given the marketing behind this particular laptop's display and their direct support of Adobe's color profiles. If you're looking for a laptop with a clear, even, and professional display, look elsewhere.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony VAIO VGN-AW230J/B 18.4-Inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray Drive, Vista Premium) Black

The VAIO AW notebook is an HD multimedia powerhouse boasting an 18.4-Inch extra-widescreen display with XBRITE-FullHD LCD technology. Designed to maximize LCD space while minimizing chassis size, this user-friendly notebook packs a powerful punch with Blu-ray Disc technology, NVIDIA graphics and Intel Core 2 Duo processor technology. Whether you\'re a gamer, photographer or movie enthusiast, this cutting-edge notebook lets you enjoy all your media in full 1080p high definition. And with Dolby Home Theater surround sound you\'ll enjoy an immersive audio experience that puts this machine a step ahead of the pack

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HP EliteBook 2530p - Core 2 Duo SL9400 / 1.86 GHz LV - Centrino 2 with vPro - RAM 3 GB - HDD 120 GB - DVD?RW (+R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft) - TPM - fingerprint reader - Vista Business / XP Pro downgrade - 12.1" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) - camera - Smart Buy - Microsoft Office Ready - with HP 2500 Series Docking Station Review

HP EliteBook 2530p - Core 2 Duo SL9400 / 1.86 GHz LV - Centrino 2 with vPro - RAM 3 GB - HDD 120 GB - DVDRW (+R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft) - TPM - fingerprint reader - Vista Business / XP Pro downgrade - 12.1 Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) - camera - Smart Buy - Microsoft Office Ready - with HP 2500 Series Docking Station
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I bought this computer about 9 months ago, and it has been the best buying decision that I have made on a computer. The size is a big factor. It's a 12" computer, but it also has an optical drive (it's optional anyway). So it's small but versatile. You can get it with 80GB, 120GB, and 250GB hard drives, so the expandability is fantastic. Mine is 120 GB Hard Drive. It's got an Intel dual core 1.86 GHz processor, so it's pretty fast for a netbook/ultraportable sized laptop. The new 2540p has a processor that it 2.1 to 2.5 GHz - the newer version is much faster, but I've had no issues with mine as it relates to speed. I have 4GB of RAM in mine, but you can expand up to 8GB (which is more than enough). The Processor bus speed is 1066MHz and the RAM bus speed is 800MHz, so not perfectly ideal (matching bus speeds would be better to avoid bottle-necking), but again as it relates to speed... not much of an issue. The screen is FANTASTIC!!! No glare at all, and great resolution! It's no commercial art quality screen, but more than functional. Great for watching movies and television online. The keyboard is HUGE! I can't believe that they fit one this size on an ultraportable! I love it. I will probably buy the upgraded 2540p when this one has had it (but don't expect that to be for a long time). I have MIcrosoft Windows XP on mine (it's faster than Windows Vista and Windows 7), so mine is configured for business functionality and not multimedia ultra-userfriendly. I still think it's great. I LOVE this computer!!!!
Quick Specs:
12.1" 1280 x 800 non-glare screen
1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor @ 1066 MHz bus
4 GB RAM @ 800 MHz bus (up to 8GB RAM possible)
120 GB Hard Drive (80, 120, and 250 GB HD available)
95% full size Keyboard
DVD-RW Optical Drive


Click Here to see more reviews about: HP EliteBook 2530p - Core 2 Duo SL9400 / 1.86 GHz LV - Centrino 2 with vPro - RAM 3 GB - HDD 120 GB - DVDRW (+R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft) - TPM - fingerprint reader - Vista Business / XP Pro downgrade - 12.1" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) - camera - Smart Buy - Microsoft Office Ready - with HP 2500 Series Docking Station

2530P C2D/1.86 12.1W 3GB 120GB DVDR WLS WVB-XP SBY

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Click here for more information about HP EliteBook 2530p - Core 2 Duo SL9400 / 1.86 GHz LV - Centrino 2 with vPro - RAM 3 GB - HDD 120 GB - DVDRW (+R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 4500MHD - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft) - TPM - fingerprint reader - Vista Business / XP Pro downgrade - 12.1" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) - camera - Smart Buy - Microsoft Office Ready - with HP 2500 Series Docking Station

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HP Pavilion HDX18T 18.4-Inch 16:9 Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 at 2.53GHz, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, WUXGA Ultra Brightview (1920x1200 1080p), Blu-ray ROM, Fingerprint Reader, Vista Ultimate) Review

HP Pavilion HDX18T 18.4-Inch 16:9 Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 at 2.53GHz, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, WUXGA Ultra Brightview (1920x1200 1080p), Blu-ray ROM, Fingerprint Reader, Vista Ultimate)
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My laptop arrived quickly and in perfect condition. The quality of picture, sound, and function is outstanding. I would recommend this product to anyone, though for mobility purposes, it is quite large. I will continue to purchase H.P. products. There are currently (4) H.P laptops of different sizes in my household. I am 100% satisfied with my new purchase. Regards, Tracy E. McCallon

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion HDX18T 18.4-Inch 16:9 Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 at 2.53GHz, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, WUXGA Ultra Brightview (1920x1200 1080p), Blu-ray ROM, Fingerprint Reader, Vista Ultimate)

PROCESSORIntel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz/6MB L2 Cache) MEMORY4GB DDR2 SDRAMHARD DRIVE500GBSATA Hard DriveDISPLAY18.4" WUXGA Ultra Brightview (1920x1200 1080p) w/Fingerprint ~ Infinity ~MULTIMEDIA DRIVEBlu-ray ROM w/Super Multi 8X DVDRW w/Double LayerVIDEO GRAPHICSNVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT w/ WebcamDIGITAL MEDIA5-in-1 media card readerCOMMUNICATIONIntel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card KEYBOARDFull-Size w/ Numeric KeypadPOINTING DEVICETouchPad with dedicated vertical & horizontal scroll padDIMENSIONS17.17 (W) x 11.26" (D) x 1.33 (min H)/1.72(max H) - with Dual LampWEIGHT8.94lbsPC CARD SLOTSExpressCard/54 SlotEXTERNAL PORTSExpansion port 3 connectorIEEE 1394 FirewireHDMI 1.3 connectorFour USB Headphones out Microphone inIntegrated stereo microphoneHDMI External PortRJ-45 (LAN)VGA portSOUNDAltec Lansing (4 panel mounted and 1 sub-woofer)POWERStandard Lithium-Ion batterySECURITYIntegrated Fingerprint ReaderOPERATING SYSTEMMicrosoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bitSOFTWAREHP PhotoSmart EssentialsAdobe Acrobat ReaderMicrosoft Windows Media PlayerHP Games Powered by Wild Tangent HP QuickPlay

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Toshiba Satellite A205-S5814 - Pentium Dual Core T2330 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA X3100 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Vista Home Premium - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) TruBrite - onyx blue Review

Toshiba Satellite A205-S5814 - Pentium Dual Core T2330 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA X3100 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Vista Home Premium - 15.4 Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) TruBrite - onyx blue
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I purchased my third Toshiba notebook after dumping a cup of hot tea into the keyboard of my last model.
Lesson learned: Don't fall asleep leaning over your notebook.
Lesson learned #2: Hot tea won't keep you awake when you're really tired.
So, I purchased the Toshiba Satellite A205-S5814 as a replacement. I was able to take advantage of an additional rebate which made the value too good to pass up.
Here's my caveats:
I use the notebook for writing, working and shopping. I'm not a gamer.
I use the notebook exclusively. I prefer the mobility over desktop models. I often travel with this notebook so durability is important to me.
Toshiba notebooks have provided me years of hassle-free use. If they ever build a model that repels hot beverages, I'll consider an upgrade.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Satellite A205-S5814 - Pentium Dual Core T2330 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA X3100 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Vista Home Premium - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) TruBrite - onyx blue

TOSHIBA PSAF3U-0P900V Satellite A205-S5814

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Click here for more information about Toshiba Satellite A205-S5814 - Pentium Dual Core T2330 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA X3100 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Vista Home Premium - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) TruBrite - onyx blue

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Sony VAIO VGN-CS230J/Q 14.1-Inch Laptop - Black Review

Sony VAIO VGN-CS230J/Q 14.1-Inch Laptop - Black
Average Reviews:

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Besides I had to wait for 6 days or so with free shipping, as far as this note book goes, I have no problem. It's just perfect! Fast, stylish, the screen is crystal clear, the speaker sounds great. Maybe the battery runs out rather fast.., but I don't go outside often with this notebook anyway.. so it's not really my problem..

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony VAIO VGN-CS230J/Q 14.1-Inch Laptop - Black

Step out and be seen with the VAIO CS notebook, a gorgeous and sophisticated 14.1-Inch notebook adorned by fashionable high-gloss colors inside and out. This thin-and-light PC slips easily in and out of hand bags and features an array of entertainment extras, including light effects and an intuitive AV "slide” control that lets you control your media with the slide of a finger.

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Sony VAIO VGN-FW350J/H 16.4-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray Drive, Vista Premium) Gray Review

Sony VAIO VGN-FW350J/H 16.4-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray Drive, Vista Premium) Gray
Average Reviews:

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These are the things that sold me on this particular VAIO:
Under $1000
Huge resolution (1600x900)
Blu-Ray
Wireless N
Amazing dolby sound
Keyboard has independently isolated keys
The fact that it is relatively light weight and looks amazing was just a bonus.
Some impressions after several days of use:
The touchpad is superior to those on dell laptops I've owned.
The speaker is huge, it spans almost the width of the entire laptop.
The media buttons, especially av mode, are slick.
Blu-ray playback is flawless.
Battery life out of the box was about 3 hours, but using heavily optimized settings (in vaio control center) I've achieved upwards of 5 hours.
Webcam+Mic+Speakers = very high quality skype calls, better than my bluetooth headset.
The location of the power button and charging plug-in is really, really slick.
Only frustration:
I have not been able to output via HDMI at 1080p, despite being hooked up to a 42" 1080P LCD. 720P works fine, but for some unknown reason 1080P is grayed out in the settings.

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Vaio FW350JH T6400 2.0G 4GB

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Sony VAIO VGN-FW373J/B 16.4-Inch Laptop - Black Review

Sony VAIO VGN-FW373J/B 16.4-Inch Laptop - Black
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I was going to wait a bit longer before writing this review of the new Sony FW-373J/H 16.4" 1080P Hi Definition Notebook computer, but it's so impressive, with outstanding performance, utility, standard features, software, and has hardware packaging that is 2nd to none in this price range of c.$1250+/- notebooks, that I couldn't wait to put it in perspective, compared to other "media center" notebooks.
I bought this Sony for my wife, but it's such a gem, has incredible performance characteristics and utility features like the Blu-Ray ROM (Sony Optiarc BC5500S v1.75 firmware-Oct, 2008) optical drive, a very efficient, speedy 2.4Ghz C2Duo Intel SCR(P)-8600 CPU w/3MB L2 Cache, running a 1066Mhz FSB (front side system bus, the pathway between the 4GB of PC-6400 800Mhz SDRAM and the hard drive, ie faster is better(!)--and this is as fast as it gets-- FSB's in notebooks), that I've been using it too. A LOT!
Don't forget the 7200-RPM SATA II 2.5" HD, which is easily reached via a 2-screw trap door on the bottom of the case (as is the SDRAM, but that's only 1 screw!), which has plenty of room for most people's work, media collection, photos, applications for business and pleasure, et al. I can't imagine "upgrading/updating" this particular HD setup, as 320GB is as big as a 7200RPM HD gets right now...maybe IF Hitachi, Western Digital, or Samsung comes up with a 500GB 7200RPM notebook HD there will be a reason to upgrade, but not now!
Tonight we watched "Transporter 3" using the Sony notebook as the player, the Jason Statham action-sequel in Blu-Ray ROM format, on our Samsung 52" HDTV, the TOC (Touch of Class) Series 8000x model w/50,000 Contrast Ratio, 120Mhz Video Codec Switching, 4ms response time, etc, arguably the best LCD available today, and it was just astonishing & fantastic! We hooked everything up via a simple 10-feet-long-HDMI-Cable using the Sony FW-373J/H as the "player" with the standard Blu-Ray on-board player built into the Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium OS by Sony engineers, called "InterVideo® WinDVD® BD for VAIO" (quite a mouthful, yah? They could have just called it "Sony BluRay Player" but no, go figure!).
All you do is hook up your HDTV to one end of the HDMI cable after "sourcing it", attach the other end to the Sony notebook, insert the Blu-Ray movie into the optical drive, (with preferences enabled this happens...) and BAM! The video starts playing on the TV instantly, with full on-screen controls available for menus, setup, etc for the movie. Crazy-Bitchin-Good!
That was the deal-sealer, seeing that Blu-Ray movie via the Sony notebook tonight!! It WAS CLEAR, CLEAN, PERFECT, EVERYTHING YOU WANTED in clarity, depth of field, all that Blu-Ray HDTV goodness rolled up into a great action-movie experience like "Transporter 3"... and to see the new notebook's player and optical drive doing the duty, putting the film up onscreen with such a quick one-two-three "Play!" sequence, well, it was just great! The sound was fantastic, everything synched-up correctly with our Marantz-6800-powered audio system, enabled by a JBL Studio Sound Speaker System in all its 16-inch bass-reflex glory, and I am telling you it played purrrfectly through the Sony notebook's optical drive. No Hill For a Climber!
Now that experience is out of the way, and fully described, because it IS a fantastic feature to be able to play Blu-Ray media through the notebook, but let's talk about the CPU, the memory, the OS, the unbelievably full-featured, and strong ATI Mobile RADEON® HD PCI-Express Video Card w/512MB of discrete, dedicated DDR2 VRAM, with get this, 2280MB of "burst VRAM" available via shared memory from the SDRAM/HD system! Holy Smokes! That's quite a package!!
Some desktops don't have a better video card system than the Sony does, and this thing just SMOKES in performing its rituals, whether it's working magic with the 16.4" 1920 x 1080P NATIVE HD widescreen back-lit LCD display on photos in Corel's PC photo program, displaying 2 side-by-side web pages with Flash-Player enabled, or just simply going about the business of mundane things like working behind-the-scenes to enable crisp, clean, precise rendering of any normal project you can think of: Word Processing, film editing in Sony Vegas 5 Pro, or just plain 'being beautiful'...it's a stunning display of video power all-around!! I can't say enough about how the ATI Mobile HD Video Card w/512MB of DDR2 VRAM/SDRAM performs, because it's the best notebook display I've seen in a long, long time...bar none, including all Mac Pro displays, right up to the 17" Apple widescreen in their top-of-the-line $2700 notebook.
Our LCD screen, apparently a Samsung device as best as I could tell (they are the No.1 producer of LCD technology devices worldwide), has NO DEAD PIXELS, not a one to be found! It's clear, clean, crisp, responsive and fast in any and all circumstances, has no big "footprint" like the 18.4" widescreen notebook LCD's do, and yet there you go, there's native 1080P display power all day, all night! It's truly a fantastic, feature-laden display, one I can't say enough about.
The C2Duo 2.4Ghz CPU is F A S T, don't think it isn't! You know it's good when you see the Windows Performance scores of 5.4 to 5.9 on everything but "Gaming graphics" where the notebook scores "5.0", oh well, it's built by humans, yes? It does have a small weakness there, but that's about it! The 4GB of 800Mhz PC-6400 SDRAM does a nice job with almost any assignment, ie it's enough for virtually all Windows Vista tasks, throw in 4 to 5 open programs, some background FM music via FireFM in FireFox 3.0.7 (ditch Windows Explorer as your browser first chance you get!), and there's still 1GB of SDRAM availble for "burst" assignments.
You can order up twin 4GB DIMMs to make 8GB of SDRAM in the machine, but at this time it's prohibitively expensive @ c.$400 a DIMM, so equipping the notebook with 8GB of SDRAM is stupid right now...wait until summer, or later, when Samsung's chip supply dries up (they cornered the market on the 4GB DIMMs apparently), and you can buy a pair of 4GB DIMMs for $400 or less for both, and then it'll be a good thing to do...but not right now.
As for the network adapter, which is an Intel PCI-Express WLAN card, with A, B, G, and "Spec N"-qualified high-speed abilities, it's so seamless in its operation that I almost forgot to mention it! It just works fantastic. You should have seen my eyes when I installed iTunes 8.1 for PC the other day, and hit the "shared" Library key in iTunes, and voila! Up popped my 2TB Apple TV/iTunes Library from my G5 "SuperSystem," across my studio over in the "serious computer territory", yes, right there on the PC's desktop there was an unlimited supply of iTunes goodness, some 200GB of music, and more than 1.4TB of AppleTV movies ready for sharing on the PC! My Lordie, that was a fantastic surprise!! So I didn't have to install a bunch of music for my wife's edification...she could simply "share" my rather substantial Apple iTunes music system from across the room, a coup'de'etat if I've ever made one happen...PC and Macs living in harmony, together, functioning perfectly fine using the same music. Now that's KUHL!
What else is nice, and stands out? Well, the touch-pad works 110% to my liking, if you're not using a Mini-BlueTooth Mouse like my LogiTech V470, which only costs $38 here at Amazon.com, so there you go! Another strong point, the notebook's "A2DP" BlueTooth (stereo BlueTooth for headphones, earphones, and v2.1.x BlueTooth for external devices like a mouse) is another wonderful standard feature, so you can utilize the USB ports (3 of them, located on the right, front side of the case) for what they were meant to be used for: peripherals like a printer, scanner, etc. There's also a FireWire port, for those of you who still own FireWire movie cameras, or have external HD's with FireWire 800/400 connections, (with Oxford 924 or 912 bridge boards...these are good things), they are all GOOD TO GO with this notebook, with the conveniently placed port on the left side of the case.
You know, I should say something about how this notebook LOOKS! It's just great! It has spacey curves over to the heavy-duty magnesium-alloy body's end, which is at a set of HD hinges that will never, ever creak, groan, lack support for the display, and it looks T H I N, and subtle, and even though it weighs some 6.7 lbs w/standard battery, it doesn't look heavy and overblown, like so many of the "big generation" of PC notebooks do these days. The brushed magnesium finsh is really groovy! Clean looking! The media controls over the back-right edge of the chassis, up by the screen are appropriately placed, and work well for home-base media movies onscreen, or playing music with the optical drive, whatever!
I am glad I held out for the grey case vs. the black case, aren't all of you in this group? It just looks G R E A T with the alloy body, the two compliment each other, sort of "flow into each other" and work with the Sony Style form to make up a stunning notebook masterpiece. As a practical exercise, the Sony wins, to me anyway it does...it's just so "handsome and practically sexy-looking"... In so many notebooks there's nothing but plastic and buttons, and this machine rocks the house with heavy-duty doses of class, style, and grace of design. The key placement is a bit unusual unless you're a previous Sony owner, with the keys placed/vertically surfaced OUT of the top of the case, but with a scant 2mm of travel per key, they feel right-on, and correct for the application.
I bought an Antec® notebook cooler, the twin-fan design alloy and plastic device, for the notebook with the order, so I can't comment on its ability to cool itself without a notebook cooler, all...Read more›

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Broaden your entertainment horizons with the VAIO FW notebook featuring an extra-wide 16.4-Inch XBRITE-FullHD LCD display. Great for watching widescreen Blu-ray Disc movies or viewing two websites side-by-side, this entertainment-rich notebook minimizes those annoying black bars you see when playing widescreen movies. Watch and record CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Disc movies and get the most out of your games with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. An HD entertainment powerhouse, the VAIO FW notebook is inspired by theater screens, born from Sony HD expertise and powered by the energy-efficient and super-powerful Centrino 2 processor technology ¿ the latest and greatest from Intel.

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Acer AS5740-6025 15.6-Inch Laptop (Blue) Review

Acer AS5740-6025 15.6-Inch Laptop (Blue)
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I was amazed at how easy it was to set up my new computer. This Acer was great right out of the box. Between it and the Windows 7 it was so easy. I turned it on and was walked through everything step by step. All the updates to the installed software went quickly and smoothly. But was was the best was when I went to hook up my 4 year old Samsung 19" external CRT,3 Year old Microsoft external Keyboard, and 3 year old Logitech mouse. It all worked plug and play. Found all the drivers and installed with me doing anything but plugging it in. Same thing with my 2 year old Cannon printer. I am giving the names of each just to elaborate that they we not Acer products or new products. Then I downloaded the Windows 7 upgrade adviser and ran it. This software told me what units I had plugged in that needed to have driver updates done to work correctly with Windows 7. The only one was the printer as the others were done automatically when I plugged in the USB cables. Now back to the computer. I love it. The keyboard is great and mouse pad (almost don't feel like I need the external stuff like I did with my previous laptops). The camera (Crystal eye) is as good as my Logitech external camera and even has wide angle. The microphone quality is good too. The dolby home theatre is better than anything I have ever had on other Laptops but I still prefer the external speakers. The I5 Dual Core speed is tremendous and all my programs open and close very quickly. I have only had this for two weeks but have enjoyed it every day. And I gotta say after having XP Pro, the Vista Ultimate (which I did not like but struggled through) I really so far am very impressed with Windows 7.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer AS5740-6025 15.6-Inch Laptop (Blue)

Acer AS5740-6025 Notebook comes with these specs: Intel Core™ i5-430M Processor 2.26GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.53GHz, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 15.6" HD Acer CineCrystal™ LCD Display, Mobile Intel HM55 Express Chipset, 4096MB DDR3 1066MHz Dual Channel Memory, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD, 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive, 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive, Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader, Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, Gigabit Ethernet, High Definition Audio Support, Built-In Webcam, 4 - USB 2.0 Ports, 1 - HDMI™ Port, Convenience Features- Multi-Gesture Touchpad, Acer Backup Manager, Touchpad-lock, 6-Cell Lithium-Ion (4400 mAh), 6.16 lbs. | 2.8 kg. (system unit only), AC Power Adapter, AC Power Cord, Wireless Setup Card, Registration/ Limited Warranty Card, McAfee Internet Security Suite Trial (60-day trial),

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

Lenovo IdeaPad U260 08763DU 12.5-Inch Ultraportable Laptop (Clementine Orange)
Average Reviews:

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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.




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HP Mini 110-1109NR 10.1-Inch White Netbook - Up to 3.5 Hours of Battery Life (Windows XP) Review

HP Mini 110-1109NR 10.1-Inch White Netbook - Up to 3.5 Hours of Battery Life (Windows XP)
Average Reviews:

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Dear H. khashim aka DangaMan,
Your self-proclaimed status as a net book expert is as credible as your review. If you are going to bash the product then at least have the courtesy to back it up with some tangible facts and examples. I think your expertise is questionable and your product review is based solely on unrealistic expectations.
"keyboard is really small" - Net books are made for portability. You can expect the keyboard to be small. This one is only 8% smaller than full size.
"screen lighting is dim" - One way to maximize battery life is to employ a dimmer screen. The batteries on these are usually very small to reduce the weight. If you are using it outdoors or with a bright light or a window at your back then you can expect visibility problems no matter what laptop you are using.
"webcam is terrible" - No comment. I never use it.
"slow even for basic like internet browsing and and word application" - Out of the box I found this net book to have adequate and unspectacular performance. I removed all the garbage software and trial-ware that OEM's like to pre-install, disabled unused XP services, and installed Firefox. I have no complaints. Internet speed is also largely dependent on the provider.
"after 2 days of use it just completely shuts off and restarts by itself" - Every manufacturer tries to deliver a product at a more competitive price. Quality assurance is usually the most expensive part of manufacturing. If you want a high quality, high reliability, net book that outperforms your expectations then stop looking in the bargain bins. That's what warranties and return policies are there for.
All in all, this net book does what it claims. It is compact, portable, and cheap. It's adequate and unspectacular. The features are average and are common to most in this price range. If you plan to use this for anything more than web surfing, emailing, or light document editing then you need to look elsewhere.


Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Mini 110-1109NR 10.1-Inch White Netbook - Up to 3.5 Hours of Battery Life (Windows XP)

The Internet is at the center of modern life keeping you connected and informed through email, IMs, RSS feeds, social networking sites and Search. Keeping up often requires time shifting with companion devices like netbooks. Powered by energy-efficient Intel Atom processors, the HP Mini 110 is optimized for Web access and can handle standard productivity apps - but is light enough to carry everywhere at just 2.33 lbs. Its LED anti-glare display reduces reflection that can distract from the visual experience, especially when used outside. The 92 percent of full-size keyboard enables much more efficient and comfortable use than texting (or typing on smartphone keyboards) for most. Windows 7 makes locating and connecting to hotspots easier and faster than ever. The HP Mini 110 is the perfect device for staying productive, informed and in touch.

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