Handy Computer Guide

A review of the HP Pavilion dv6000t Notebook with Core 2 Duo has been posted over at Notebook Review. ‘The world of 15.4" consumer-oriented notebooks is a well-populated world indeed, but in its design and production of the dv6000t, HP has managed to come up with a popular notebook that has been provoking buyer interest from the moment it was released, and then impressively sustaining this appeal. The glossy WXGA LCD of this review model was excellent, flawless really, and a pleasure to view. I didn't mind scrolling more than I'm used to because of the lower than I’m used to 1280x800 screen resolution. Except when I was actually doing my nine-to-five-type computing at work, and when I had the choice, I rarely used anything but the dv6000t as a PC during the two weeks that I had it. Since the screen and keyboard are the most important factors for making a notebook something you actually want to use (even after a day of work) that’s kudos for the dv6000t screen.’

Read: HP Pavilion dv6000t with Core 2 Duo Review – Notebook Review

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Trusted Reviews have reviewed the Toshiba Qosmio G30-102 multimedia notebook PC. ‘The G30 is a big 'ol machine and at 4.8Kg it's actually heavier than the last version. The dimensions when closed are 406 x 285 x 43.1 mm - pretty big. It’s chunkiness is its most noticeable dimension. It's only sensible to consider it as a permanent, or at least one rarely moved installation. Despite its bulk there's a very large external power supply trailing from the rear. Considering its size, the Toshiba is not surprisingly very imposing even when closed, with a very large silver lid with the Qosmio logo etched onto it. Open it up and you'll find a black brushed metal chassis round the keyboard with an array of buttons running across its top edge. The construction is actually less swish than the G20, which had the buttons as incorporated into the chassis itself and illuminated from underneath. It might not be as cool but the actual buttons are easier to use. The left button is the power switch and has the obligatory blue light surround. Next to this is one that launches Windows Media Center directly, while the one to the right launches the software that gives access to the G30's star attraction - the HD DVD drive.’

Read: Toshiba Qosmio G30-102 – Trusted Reviews

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The Lenovo ThinkPad Z61m “midsize laptop” has been reviewed over at ZDNet. ‘The ThinkPad Z61m is solidly constructed with a magnesium-alloy frame and thick metal hinges. It measures 14 inches wide, just less than 10 inches deep, and 1.4 inches thick, making it similar in size to the HP Compaq nc8430 and a bit smaller than the Acer Ferrari 5000. Though the ThinkPad Z61m starts at 6.3 pounds, the optional titanium cover on our review unit bumped its weight to 6.8 pounds (7.7 pounds with its AC adapter), making it a touch heavier than the other models. While we wouldn't want to carry the ThinkPad Z61m with us every day, it is still light enough for the occasional business trip. For travelers who want to carry less weight, Lenovo also makes the ThinkPad Z61t, a thin-and-light member of the Z series with a slightly smaller display.’

Read: Lenovo ThinkPad Z61m – ZDNet

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The powerful Toshiba Tecra M6-EZ6611 Notebook PC has been reviewed by Laptop Magazine. 'The Toshiba Tecra M6 ($1,494 direct) is a nicely equipped ultraportable for business travelers who want a lightweight notebook that won’t break their budget. Unlike competing systems, such as the Dell Latitude D420 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X series, the M6 has a built-in optical drive (a multiformat DVD burner in this configuration). That brings the weight to just above four pounds (versus three-plus pounds for the others), but road warriors who prefer not to have to keep track of a media slice probably won’t mind the M6’s extra heft. The machine’s magnesium alloy shell feels solid in the hand, and the boxy, dark-silver-and-black design, though conservative, is handsome. Business users will find a full complement of ports on the M6: three USB ports (two on the right edge, one on the left), a Type II PC Card slot, a 6-in-1 memory card reader, and a FireWire port (though its placement on the front edge means a connected cable will snake toward you). We appreciate the handy Wi-Fi toggle switch and volume wheel on the right edge, as well as the Presentation button, which automatically adjusts settings (VGA-out enabled, sleep mode off, and so on) for presenters.'

Read: Toshiba Tecra M6-EZ6611- Laptop Mag

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A review of the Shuttle XPC P2 3700G Small Form Factor (SFF) PC has been posted over at CNET. 'The Shuttle XPC P2 3700g is the newer, Intel version of the AMD-based XPC P2 2700 model we reviewed earlier this year and adds a couple of important upgrades. First, the P2 3700g features Intel's Core 2 Duo processors, which our tests show improve overall performance. Using the same chassis as the P2 2700, the P2 3700g also manages to find room for a second x16 PCI Express slot, though the system's somewhat underpowered power supply limits the dual-card setups available to you. Still, competing gaming-oriented small-form-factor (SFF) PCs from Falcon Northwest and Maingear not only cost more, they don't supply a second graphics slot. Although we'd like to see the P2 3700g give you at least the option to upgrade to a bigger power supply and we take issue with Shuttle's overprotective warranty policy, we recommend this system for its affordability and expandability. It will ably serve as a trusted LAN-party companion while also pulling double duty as your primary PC.'

Read: Shuttle XPC P2 3700g - CNET

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The MSI MS-16332 laptop computer has been reviewed on Notebook Review. 'The MSI MS-16332 is to say the least a desktop replacement. Packed with a powerful nVidia GeForce card on top of the new AMD Turion64 X2 processor; this will easily fulfill any of your multimedia as well as gaming needs. Let me just start by saying that I’m far from new to desktops and computers in general, however I am fairly new to laptops. The laptop I had before was a Fujitsu Lifebook made in 1997, so this was to say the least an upgrade. I picked up the MSI MS-16332, a fairly new piece of work put out by MSI; a Chinese company that in no way lacks on building their ensembles and barebones, but are mostly popular and known for their exceptionally made individual notebook component parts.'

Read: MSI MS-16332 Notebook Review

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CNET have reviewed the "budget-priced" Everex StepNote NC1500 notebook PC. 'The Everex StepNote NC1500 first came to our attention as a potentially interesting preholiday Wal-Mart special--a sub-$500 laptop. But the low price isn't the most interesting thing about the StepNote NC1500. First, there's the unusual choice of CPU. Instead of going with Intel or AMD, like virtually every other desktop or laptop computer on the market, Everex features a CPU from Via, a company with a niche market in lower-end processors found in thin clients and consumer electronics products. Second, the 1.5GHz Via C7-M processor in this system is designed for ultralow power consumption. Everex claims the system requires only 12 watts to operate and is the world's most energy-efficient notebook. Despite (or perhaps because of) the low price, the $498 StepNote NC1500 isn't suitable for anything but the most basic productivity and Web surfing, but with its environmentally friendly vibe, there's a potential for a niche audience. Users less interested in saving the Earth will want to add a couple hundred dollars and get a more robust system, such as the Averatec 3360.'

Read: Everex StepNote NC1500 - CNET

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A review of the lightweight Averatec 1100 Ultra-Portable Notebook PC has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. ‘At 10.4 x 7.9 x 1.1 inches, the Averatec 1100 is smaller than a standard sheet of paper, and at 3.4 pounds, feels almost as light. The slim but sturdy body is accented with an appealing black-and-silver color scheme. Opening the notebook reveals a gorgeous, 10.6-inch, 1280 x 768-pixel widescreen display. Web pages and images were especially sharp and colorful. DVDs looked good with the screen’s wide viewing angles, but the sound was less than spectacular. Because of the 1100’s small footprint, the keyboard is cramped, and we found ourselves making an unusual amount of typos. Nonetheless, the keys were solid and responsive. The system’s demure size also affects the two-way scroll control built into the touchpad for navigating pages; it felt as if it didn’t have enough vertical room to be useful.’

Read: Averatec 1100 – Laptop Mag

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PC Magazine has reviewed the Polywell Poly 976N4-SLI4 Quad SLI multimedia desktop package. 'The Poly 976N4-SLI4 is housed in a ginormous chassis and uses two 700W power supplies: one for the CPU, motherboard, and optical drives, and one for the hard drives and graphics cards. This is a questionable setup. I understand why Polywell went with two power supplies (to share the load and to keep each power-hungry component happy), but I think a single 1,000W (or higher) power supply would have been a wiser choice. The Poly 976N4-SLI4's 10,000-rpm hard drives and Quad SLI configuration (two graphics cards with two GPUs and two sets of memory per card) are certainly power hungry, but adding another power supply can tax your wall outlet if you're not careful, and ideally you'd want to plug each power supply into its own UPS for safety. The second power supply tempts fate by adding a layer of complexity and thus another opportunity for failure.'

Read: Polywell Poly 976N4-SLI4 Quad SLI - PC Mag

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The HP Pavilion d4650y Core 2 Duo multimedia configuration has been reviewed over at PC Magazine. ‘The d4650y comes in a nondescript tower that looks pretty much like every other tower PC you've seen in the past five years. Thankfully, the goods inside the system aren't so cookie-cutter: There's a 2.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 processor, 2GB of system memory, two 250GB drives in a RAID 0 array (for a total of 500GB of drive space before you count the Personal Media Bay Drive), high-end ATI Radeon X1600XT graphics, and an HP Personal Media Drive bay. A great PC for tinkerers, the d4650y has plenty of room for upgrades, with space for at least one hard drive and up to four more regular PCI cards. You won't even need a screwdriver to open the case or to remove drives (though you will if you need to add or remove PCI cards or put mounting studs on new drives). Connectivity options include S-Video in/out ports, ten USB ports, two FireWire ports, composite video in/out ports, and digital and analog audio in/out ports. This means you can connect all sorts of consumer electronic devices to it, including VCRs, camcorders, and audio players. The HP vs19e 19-inch LCD monitor that came with my test system was okay, but a widescreen monitor would make better sense for a multimedia enthusiast.’

Read: HP Pavilion d4650y – PC Mag

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Agopc has launched the ago7 Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer which is capable of using any Bluetooth-ready, EDGE- or EV-DO-networked cell phone to make Internet connection. "Our lightweight ago7 UMPC is ideally suited to using 'phone as modem,' or PAM," states agopc President and CEO David Carroll. "Subscribers to data plans with such companies as Cingular, Sprint, or Verizon can get even more value from their extensive network service by combining PAM with the versatility and power of ago7." agopc has posted a one-page setup guide entitled "Using Your ago7 and PAM" on their website, www.agopc.com (linked from the "Buy/Specs" page).

Read: Mobile Computer uses cell phone for Internet connection. Thomas Net

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A review of Dell XPS 710 desktop PC has been posted on CNET. 'When we first wrote about the Dell XPS 710 on November 1, we weren't able to give it a full review because we didn't know the price. Dell finally gave us the number: $5,344 for the configuration we tested. This revelation and some issues with the configuration we're able to talk about only now sour our opinion of this system. Similar systems from Gateway and Polywell that cost nearly $2,000 less outperformed Dell's new flagship PC, and the Polywell and systems from several other boutique PC vendors have more up-to-date graphics cards. Dell's XPS 700-series case remains one of the most visually bold on the market, and the XPS 710 review unit we received is as well built as the XPS 700 we saw a few months ago. But anyone spending even $4,000 on a gaming PC has a right to demand a cutting-edge system with the latest and greatest of everything, and while we expect Dell will offer that sooner or later, the XPS 710 doesn't have it right now.'

Read: Dell XPS 710 (Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700) - CNET

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CNET have reviewed the new MacBook notebook which has been updated to Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU. 'Now that the high-end MacBook Pro has Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU, it's high time the latest processor technology filtered down to Apple's more consumer-friendly MacBook line. There are three MacBook models, one with a 1.83GHz CPU and two with 2.0GHz CPUs. The MacBook starts at a mere $1,099, but our review unit is the most tricked-out of the three, offering the faster CPU and a larger hard drive for a still palatable $1,499. These 13.3-inch notebooks, available in the standard Apple colors of black and white, are nearly as powerful as their 15- and 17-inch Pro cousins, and they include a lot of the same features, such as the built-in iSight camera and Front Row remote. If the handful of compromises vs. the Pro model, such as the screen size and the lack of discrete graphics, isn't a deal breaker, the MacBook is a no-brainer for anyone who wants to step up to an Apple laptop or upgrade their older MacBook.'

Read: Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz) - CNET

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A review of the Panasonic Toughbook CF-W5 notebook computer has been posted over at Laptop Magaszine. 'The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up Panasonic’s new Toughbook CF-W5 will likely be its matte-silver finish, super-light weight, and pop-up optical drive. You won’t, however, need to pay much attention to the battery meter, since this system lasts a staggering eight hours on a charge. Throw in a durable design and an optional Verizon Wireless EV-DO card for anytime, anywhere connectivity and you have a pricey but highly recommended ultraportable. Without the mobile broadband option, this refresh of the Panasonic CF-W4 sports a lower base price tag of $1,899 but is a little heavier at 3.1 pounds versus 2.8 pounds. That’s because the wireless WAN antenna is built right into the lid. With a thickness of 1.8 inches, the CF-W5 has a higher profile than most other ultraportables. This extra girth is put to good use, however, providing super-rigid support for the W5’s 12.1-inch display. Other business-rugged features include a full magnesium-alloy case designed to withstand a one-foot drop and a shock-mounted hard drive that’s rated for a fall of 30 inches.'

Read: Panasonic Toughbook CF-W5 - Laptop Mag

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Martin Rochon-Brazeau writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Dell Latitude D820 Core 2 Duo "business notebook". 'The professional look of the Latitude D820, paired with a workstation class video card, is reason enough for Dell to call it a business notebook. While I agree that it would be a great tool for a business, the D820 could also be an excellent notebook for a student looking for performance, ease of use and occasional gaming. If equipped with the Quadro NVS video card, it can be quite useful for a business application such as AutoCAD, but can also provide the user with extra power for gaming breaks. A great desktop replacement with long battery life, but not a back breaker either.'

Read: Dell Latitude D820 with Core 2 Duo Review - Notebook Review

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A review of a refurbished Fujitsu LifeBook N3530 Notebook has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'The Fujitsu LifeBook N3530 is a 15.4” notebook that can be considered a desktop replacement due to its above average weight. Fujitsu is known for its above-average build quality and beautiful glossy screens. Considering that I bought this notebook as refurbished, it may even be classified as a budget notebook. We will explore these aspects further in this review. As for the build quality itself, the notebook is quite solid. There is no noticeable flex on most of the chassis. Nevertheless, the chassis has “weak” spots around where the LCD meets the body. But even the flex there is no where near the flex I have felt on Gateways and Compaqs I have played around with at Office Depot. With normal pressure, there are no ripples on the LCD, though with slightly above average pressure, you can produce ripples on the upper-right hand corner. Regarding the hinges, they are quite stiff, though if I shake the notebook a little, there is a small amount of wobbling of the LCD. The only real problem that I have with the build quality is that, although nothing seems to be moving, the chassis and hinges creak.'

Read: Refurbished Fujitsu LifeBook N3530 Review

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Ed Bott writing over at ZDNet provides an insight into the soon-to-be launched Windows Vista operating software which is set to be retailed for $399. 'It's been a long and winding road, but Windows Vista is finally released to manufacturing. That means the final stage of the waiting game has begun. According to Microsoft, Volume Licensing customers will receive media containing Business and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista by the end of this month, with Ultimate edition available via download. Giant PC makers will get those bits as well, and retail customers will be able to buy Windows Vista on new PCs or in retail boxes by the end of January. (Those rumors that Vista will be publicly unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in early January? No way, say my sources.)'

Read: Will Windows Vista be worth the wait? - ZDNet

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A review of the Acer Ferrari 1004WTMi "subcompact" notebook computer has been posted over at Laptop Mag. 'The fit-and-finish of this Ferrari is superb, and the 0.8-inch-thick unit is comfortable to carry and easy to slip into a briefcase. The slot-loading external 6X DVD+/-RW drive is nicely designed, though we wish Acer had found a way to integrate it into the notebook. This configuration also includes a spacious 160GB hard drive with an active protection system to prevent data loss should you drop the system. Open the carbon-fiber lid and you’ll find a bright, sharp 12.1-inch glossy widescreen. The 1280 x 800-pixel resolution makes for sharp text and graphics, though fonts appear fairly small at the default settings. As with similar panels, viewing-angle performance is good side to side, but the image looks washed out when viewed from even slightly above. '

Read: Acer Ferrari 1004WTMi - Laptop Mag

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Chris Yano writing over at Notebook Review has posted his review of the Compal HEL80 Notebook PC. 'The Compal HEL80 is a 15.4" mid-range gaming system that offers power and performance at a reasonable price. The HEL80 is often directly compared to the Asus S96J/Z96J (96J hereafter). Many prospective buyers will find themselves trying to decide between these two similar systems. I went through this very process five months ago when they were both newly released. The business-class HP nc8430 also meets the requirements of those looking at the HEL80 and 96J, but it is a more expensive option.'

Read: Compal HEL80 Review - Notebook Review

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Trusted Reviews have posted a review of the Asus F3JP Core 2 Duo Notebook PC. 'It's undeniably a smart looking machine, with a smooth grey/silver finish inside and out and an embossed grid pattern towards the bottom of the lid. Opening up the machine you'll need to press in a rather clunky central button, which is rather stiff - no fancy pants magnetic closing here. The speakers are located at the top under a grille, with four lights embedded, indicating power, hard disc activity and Scroll and Num lock status. Beneath this is a silver line and on the right hand side this is broken up into six buttons. Five of these are shortcut buttons, while the one of the far right is the power switch. The one on the far left launches what looks at first like a proprietary Asus 10ft interface, aka Windows Media Center.'

Read: Asus F3JP Core 2 Duo Notebook - Trusted Reviews

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The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet PC has been reviewed over at CNET. 'Measuring 10.8 inches wide, 9.6 inches deep, and 1.1 inches thick, the ThinkPad X60 tablet is nicely sized for using as a laptop or for taking handwritten notes. Its 4-pound weight is a bit bulkier than its predecessor's but is lighter than the HP Compaq tc4400; in our use, the ThinkPad felt light enough to carry around every day and even hold in one arm while taking notes in tablet mode. Its candy bar-size AC adapter adds 0.7 pound to the tablet's total weight. Arguably the most innovation on this new ThinkPad tablet can be found on its 12-inch XGA display. The touch screen (available as a $200 upgrade) lets you use your finger or the included stylus to navigate menus; we appreciated the additional mode of input, especially when we were surfing the Web in tablet mode. The touch screen's indoor/outdoor viewing capability meant we were able to use the tablet in direct morning sunlight that washed out the displays on other laptops. Neither of these features are unique to ThinkPads, but the new Active Rotate feature, standard on all ThinkPad X60 Tablets, is a true innovation.'

Read: Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet - CNET

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CNET have reviewed the "lightweight" Micro Express NP6260 Rugged UltraLite laptop. 'The magnesium-alloy chassis gives the NP6260 Rugged UltraLite a sturdy feel, but to the untrained eye, the laptop's lightweight silver body looks like plastic--almost like a toy laptop. But magnesium is both lightweight and sturdy, so we wouldn't be too concerned about putting this system through the rigors of the road. It's worth noting that while it has the word "rugged" in its name, the NP6260 is not a truly rugged or semi-rugged laptop in the sense of a Panasonic Toughbook or the Itronix Hummer, so liquid spills and 15-foot drops aren't recommended. When you pick it up, the NP6260 Rugged UltraLite feels even lighter than you'd expect from a system that measures only 11.2 inches wide, 9.5 inches deep, and 1.25 inches thick. Without the A/C adapter, the NP6260 is 2.8 pounds (3.7 pounds with the adapter), a good deal lighter than other ultraportables from Dell and Gateway. The lighter weight is especially impressive, because the system includes a built-in DVD burner. Optical drives are rare in ultraportable laptops, especially in those at the very bottom of the weight scale. '

Read: Micro Express NP6260 Rugged UltraLite - CNET

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The LG R1 Notebook PC has been reviewed over at Notebook Review. 'Starting with the CPU, we see the R1 employing the relatively new Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 operating at 1.86 GHz. Aside from a slower clock speed, the biggest difference between this CPU and the more expensive models in the Core 2 Duo line is the amount of level 2 cache. In the T5600's case it has 2 MB - half of what the bigger and better T7xxx series has. This is a great chip that is designed to hit a certain price point, but it will please almost anyone with its real-world performance. In terms of measurable computational performance, the R1 calculates Pi to 2 million decimal places in 1 minute 16 seconds. This is a respectable score for a small notebook. FutureMark's PC Mark05 measures overall system performance and reported an aggregate score of 2855.'

Read: LG R1 Notebook Review

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Kevin Giberson writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Toshiba Tecra A8-EZ8314 notebook PC. 'The A8 strikes me as well made and sturdy. I say this without qualification, meaning I see no significant differences in build quality between the A8 and the workstation-class M65 I normally use, but I also say it with the A8’s price in mind. The overall design and build are quite impressive when cost is considered. The WXGA TruBrite glossy screen, with a resolution of 1280x800, is excellent: very bright and crisp, with no dead pixels and virtually no light leakage. Although my preference in a 15.4” notebook is WSXGA, the A8’s screen is nice enough to make me overlook the additional scrolling required at the lower resolution. And, of course, if a notebook manufacturer is going to offer only one resolution, WXGA is really the only way to go. While it’s possible to adjust to a lower resolution LCD, most people will complain loudly when presented with text that they consider too tiny. One final note about the screen: the lower-end configurations of the A8 come with a matte LCD, rather than the TruBrite panel of this review model.'

Read: Toshiba Tecra A8 Review - Notebook Review

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