Handy Computer Guide

A review of the HP tx1000 Convertible notebook with Windows Vista installed has been posted over at Tablet PC Review. 'The tx1000 has a sharp appearance. Its unique inlaid wave design extends from the glossy black lid onto the silver inside surrounding the keyboard. HP went for a modern, portable design. Weighing in at 4.2 lbs., the tx1000 can go wherever you go. If you want to save even more weight the optical bay is removable and can be replaced by the included weight saver. The chassis has some flex in parts due to the fact the tx1000 uses a plastic housing, though it can't be called flmsy, it's not the sturdiest notebook on the market either. The advantage of a plastic casing is in keeping weight and price down. When you tap on the left palmrest area the sound is hollow and you'll get some flex there. The keyboard itself has a solid design with minimal flex..'

Read: HP tx1000 Convertible Notebook Review - Tablet PC Review

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CNET have published their review of the new Windows Vista Home Premium OS which is available to consumers as of today. 'Windows Vista is Microsoft's first new operating system in more than five years and the successor to Windows XP. However, it is not worth rushing out to purchase. If you desperately need to buy a new PC (if your old one died or you've been waiting and waiting for Vista to be released), then by all means do so; there's nothing wrong with Windows Vista. But there's no one compelling feature within Windows Vista that cries out to switch over, neither the enhanced graphic capabilities (Aero) nor the improved system performance features (truthfully, our Windows XP doesn't crash). As for security, Microsoft's biggest improvements in Windows Vista are within the Enterprise or 64-bit editions, editions most home users will not be running. Windows Vista is not the Apple Mac OS X 10.4 killer one hoped for (or feared). Nor are there specific big-name software packages written exclusively for Windows Vista--most software available today is compatible with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. But the extensive tie-ins to Microsoft.com and Live.com, and the many, many interdependences upon Internet Explorer 7 left us desperately wanting more (and often best-of-breed) alternatives. Hard core Microsofties who live and breathe within the MSN, Live.com, and Microsoft desktop software ecosystem will rejoice with the release of Windows Vista, but for the rest of us who are product agnostic, who use Firefox, Google Desktop, ZoneAlarm, GMail, and Corel WordPerfect, Windows XP SP2 will suffice nicely until some killer program necessitates that we all upgrade to Windows Vista.'

Read: Review: Windows Vista Home Premium - CNET

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Sinan Karaca writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the 20" screen Sager NP5960 notebook. 'The Sager NP5960 notebook features a massive 20" LCD display. It has a dual graphics card power in the form of 2 Nvidia 7950GX cards, and an AMD Turion X2 processor. While performance was actually a little dissapointing relative to what you would expect looking at the specs, the huge and beautiful screen makes this "laptop" quite a stunner. The screen is gorgeous. I have a 20" stand-alone LCD at home and this laptop screen actually looks better than that. Really! It's the brightest and crispest display I have ever seen on a laptop. Since the screen size was a primary - if not the entire - reason for me buying this laptop, I cannot say how satisfied I was with the purchase decision, after the initial shock of having a non-decorated system faded away. This is a beautiful display, people. It is pretty and it's great on your eyes and the resolution is just right so you don't go blind when trying to read text on the screen.'

Read: Sager NP5960 20" Screen Notebook Review - Notebook Review

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CNET have reviewed the updated Shuttle XPC X200M PC with Windows Vista Home Premium installed. 'Shuttle's XPC X100 PC impressed us with its design this past summer, but its feature set lagged behind similar systems', such as Apple's Mac Mini and the WinBook Jiv Mini. With its updated XPC X200M, Shuttle brings the features in-line with what we expect from a smaller PC, adding an integrated analog TV tuner and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, but now it's performance that's the problem, at least with this $1,149 baseline model. Shuttle sent us this system with Windows Vista Home Premium, and we found anecdotally that Vista ran smoothly enough, but when we ran it through CNET Labs' benchmark tests, it lagged behind others in its class. We're also surprised that Shuttle doesn't offer an option for an HD optical drive. We attribute both of those issues to the XPC X200M's Intel chipset. Still, it is attractive, and it has the basics down, which might be enough to sway some of you.'

Read: Shuttle XPC X200M - CNET

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A review of the Averatec AV7170-EC1 "desktop-replacement" PC has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'Like its single-core sibling, the AV7160, the Averatec AV7170-EC1 ($1,099) is a stylish 17-inch desktop-replacement notebook with a few nice multimedia options. This time around, the system comes with an AMD dual-core processor and Nvidia graphics. Despite the upgrades, this system's performance falls way short of our expectations. The AV7170's sleek black-and-silver exterior gives way to a matching full-sized keyboard and two-way touch pad that maintains the same aspect ratio as the 17-inch screen. With a maximum resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels, the widescreen display delivers vivid colors and excellent viewing angles, but the AveraBrite coating is a bit too reflective when viewed under bright lighting conditions. Weighing 7.2 pounds and measuring 1.3 inches thick, the system is a bit more portable than most desktop replacements but still too hefty to be considered a full-time travel companion.'

Read: Averatec AV7170-EC1 - Laptop Mag

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The Dell Latitude D420 notebook with Core Duo and Windows Vista installed has been reviewed over at Notebook Review. 'The Dell Latitude D420 is the smallest notebook currently offered by Dell. It is a fusion of the discontinued Dell Latitude D410 and X1. It combines notable traits from both and offers great portability, power and versatility. Starting at $1199 it also offers great value featuring an Intel Core Duo ULV processor, 12.1in widescreen LCD, ExpressCard slot, a host of wireless options, and great battery life. The build quality of the Dell D420 is great overall. It feels very solid and the steel hinges are very tight though not as tight as the X1's. The magnesium alloy casing felt rigid and when pushing the back of the LCD it did not cause LCD distortion. Unlike the X1 which uses the hinges to keep the LCD shut the D420 goes back to the more common latch design.'

Read: Dell Latitude D420 with Core Duo and Windows Vista Review

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Laptop Magazine have reviewed the VAIO VGN-N130G laptop from Sony which features an 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM (2 GB max), multi-format/dual-layer DVD/CD burner, Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g) and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. 'The clean, uncluttered design continues under the lid, with a white keyboard (with characters in pleasing blue and orange) set into an expansive deck. Of course, the lack of clutter also means a lack of dedicated multimedia controls, but we suppose that’s the price of visual simplicity. The keyboard and touchpad are comfortable to use, though the mouse-button clicks are a bit too noticeable. The 15.4-inch glossy widescreen delivered rich, vibrant colors and did well with DVD playback. Viewing-angle performance was good side to side, though we noticed a bit more glare from this screen than with other glossy panels. Sound quality is very good, though we would have preferred a bit more volume at the maximum setting.'

Read: Sony VAIO VGN-N130G - Laptop Mag

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ZDNET have reviewed the Systemax Pursuit 4155 laptop which features Intel's Core Duo T2050 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM Memory, 80GB hard drive and an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950. 'For a budget laptop, the Systemax Pursuit 4155 feels surprisingly sturdy. Better suited for a desk than an airplane tray table--it measures 14.1 inches wide, 10.1 inches deep, and 1.4 inches thick--the Systemax is nevertheless of average size for a laptop with a 15.4-inch display. Both the Lenovo 3000 N100 (configured with the 15.4-inch screen option) and the Gateway NX570X have similar footprints. When it comes to weight, the Systemax is likewise average for a midsize laptop; it weighs 6.3 pounds alone and 7.3 with its compact AC adapter. We simply love the Systemax Pursuit 4155's 15.4-inch wide-screen display. The 1,280x800 native resolution results in crisp graphics and images, especially for DVD playback. The screen is also remarkably bright (209 cd/m² in our Labs test), and its glossy coating makes colors pop without being annoyingly reflective. Above the display sits a 1.3-megapixel Webcam and an accompanying microphone; image and sound quality weren't tops, but we thought them sufficient for video chats and Web conferencing. We particularly like the handy cover that slides over the Webcam when it's not in use.'

Read: Systemax Pursuit 4155 - ZDNet

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CNET have posted their review of the Dell Latitude ATG D620 rugged laptop 'The ATG in the system's name stands for All Terrain Grade, a bit of playful promotional copywriting that brings to mind SUV ads showing attractive young adults offroading though the mud. The system looks like an armor-clad version of a standard gray laptop from Dell's Latitude line, with parts of the lid padded out like a car bumper. The chassis is still made of a magnesium alloy, but the new hinges are reinforced with steel. Measuring 13.2 inches wide, 10.75 inches deep, and 1.75 inches high, the Dell Latitude ATG D620 is slightly larger than a standard Latitude D620, but it still qualifies as a midsize laptop. The extra weight (7.1 pounds; or 7.9 pounds with the A/C adapter), however, makes this a backbreaker for daily commuting. For use on a construction site or in a work vehicle, the added heft is a reasonable trade-off. The rugged Itronix Hummer GoBook VR-1 weighs about the same, despite having only a 12.1-inch screen. '

Read: Dell Latitude ATG D620 - CNET

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A review of the Dell XPS 710 H2C gaming desktop configuration has been posted over at CNET. 'Thanks to dual-graphics-card technologies and the expensive, high-wattage power supplies required to run them, the average price tag of a best-of-the-best PC has ballooned to well over the $7,000 mark. That's why, despite running a still-ridiculous $5,759, the Dell XPS 710 H2C looks like a downright bargain. Dell remains tied to a slightly older motherboard chipset than its competitors, which limits the system's memory bandwidth and gives you a small downtick in performance. Our testing didn't show that to be a dramatic loss, though, and considering Dell's price advantage and its new cooling technology, the XPS 710 H2C is our Editors' Choice winner for high-end gaming PCs. The main reason we're giving the XPS 710 H2C an Editors' Choice award is because of what you get for the price. For $5,759, you get an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 quad-core processor overclocked to 3.2GHz out of the box--a first for Dell. You also get 4GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, two 768MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX graphics cards, and 1TB of hard drive storage between two 10,000rpm 150GB drives and a single 750GB 7,200rpm unit. Virtually every boutique vendor would charge you at least $500 more for a similar configuration.'

Read: Dell XPS 710 H2C - CNET

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A review of the Sony Vaio TX3 notebook has been posted over at Shiny Shiny. 'Performance wise, it works surprisingly well for one so small. It packs Intel's Core Solo processor, which runs at 1.06GHz and is supported by 512MB of Ram, and didn't slow down at any point despite running numerous applications at the same time. Saying that, mine were mainly office and editing jobs, so gaming on it would be a whole other ball game (but it's not really a gaming laptop). It had no problem playing movies either, although I had to download a 3rd party app to play my Region 0 DVD. The battery life is also superb - I had it running for about 7 hours before it finally conked out.'

Read: Shiny review: Sony Vaio TX3 laptop - Shiny Shiny

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Trusted Reviews have reviewed the "rugged" ToughBook CF-19 notebook PC from Panasonic. 'The unusual thing about the CF-19 and the CF-18 before it, is that despite being as tough as an armadillo, it's also pretty small and light. Weighing in at 2.25kg and measuring 271 x 216 x 49mm (WxDxH), the CF-19's proportions don't indicate that it could withstand serious abuse, but believe me, it can. The video embedded on this page shows the CF-19 being dropped from a metre high, being doused in water, having someone jump on it and having it doused in more water with the lid open. You can also see from the video that the CF-19 still worked after all that punishment and was happy to be doused in yet more water when powered on.'

Read: Panasonic ToughBook CF-19 -Trusted Reviews

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Akhil Parujanwala writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Asus G2 gaming notebook PC. 'The Asus G2P is a new gaming series 17” notebook. The G2P offers an array of interesting and cool design features. The Asus G2P reviewed here comes with a Core 2 Duo T7200, a 17” screen with a native resolution of 1440x900 (WXGA+) and an ATI Radeon X1700 512mb graphics card. The Asus G1 notebook is closely related to the G2, but is of a smaller 15.4" screen size. Following is a full review of the G2. The laptop has a very rugged look, but also very nice accents of faux aluminum on the lid and anodized aluminum on the palm rest. The laptop basically has 3 color tones, red, black and silver. The red color is used to signify some new features in the G2P, like the side lights, the top vents, and the trademark G2 symbol between the touchpad buttons.'

Read: Asus G2 - Notebook Review

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A review of the "semi-rugged" Dell Latitude ATG D620 laptop has been posyted over at PC Magazine. 'ATG stands for "All Terrain Grade," and one of the first things you'll notice about the ATG D620 is its black magnesium alloy plates. They cover the most expensive part of the laptop—the 14.1-inch LCD screen. The thicker magnesium alloy extends into the hinges, so the likelihood of the screen tearing off during a freak accident is reduced. Of course, metal hinges, such as the quad metal ones found on the Lenovo Thinkpad T60 Widescreen, are just as effective, but it never hurts to add more metal. The rugged theme is further extended into the hard drive, which is shock mounted. For all the additions, including a rubber port cover that prevents dust and water from seeping into the ports, the ATG D620 is not that heavy (it's 6.4 pounds). That's a bit lighter than the also rugged, 6.7 pounds, 12-inch screen-equipped iTronix Hummer Laptop IX600 The rubber port covers, the dustproof screen, and the spill-proof keyboard are a boon to field-based workers who encounter harsh conditions and wet environments, usually a lethal combination for laptops. In order to be legitimately called a semi-rugged laptop, the ATG D620—like the IX600 and Panasonic Toughbooks—has been field-tested against the Military Standard specification (MIL-STD 810F) standard (a series of specs set down by the U.S. Department of Defense that covers various environmental tests to prove that equipment qualified to the standard will survive in the field) for its ability to withstand shock/vibrations, extreme temperatures, and drops.'

Read: Dell Latitude ATG D620 - PC Mag

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Laptop Magazine have posted their review of the Asus G1-AK008 gaming laptop. 'The 13.9 x 11.1 x 1.3-inch case features military styling appropriate for a gaming laptop. The lid and keyboard area are skinned with a mesh decal; hinge accents and a handful of green lights add to the serious appearance. An unnecessary button featuring the Asus gaming logo distracts from the comfort of the mouse pad, but we don't mind the clearly labeled WASD keys. Despite the handful of stylistic touches, the G1-AK008's restrained appearance doesn't immediately mark it as a gaming machine. Neither does the weight, which comes in at 6.8 pounds without the power adapt Without a massive chassis to play with, Asus had to squeeze the Home, End, and Page Up/Down keys along the keyboard's right side, where you can accidentally press them. Although there isn't a number pad, the keys are otherwise very well spaced with considerable depth, which makes them well suited for typing and gaming.'

Read: Asus G1-AK008 - Laptop Mag

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CNET have posted their review of the Systemax Venture VX2 gaming desktop. 'The Systemax Venture VX2 isn't a gaming PC to inspire envy among your fellow fraggers. It won't net you the fastest frame rates on your block, and its plain-Jane looks cannot be classified as "head turning" or "conversation starting." But what this affordably priced, fixed-configuration, $1,999 gaming system provides is a solid foundation for playing today's current titles, and you can put the money you save now toward future upgrades. With its Intel motherboard, 500-watt power supply, and midtower chassis, the Venture VX2 will never be transformed into a bleeding-edge gaming PC, but it does provide enough wiggle room to let you at least keep pace. Its mix of components allow it to hit the sweet spot between underperforming and overpriced, resulting in a system that is priced lower than similarly configured systems from competing vendors. The Systemax Venture VX2 uses a midtower chassis that looks more like your basic, black business PC than something used to play Company of Heroes. You won't find any molded plastic or custom paint options--there aren't even any drive doors or covers to hide the optical drives or the front-panel ports, if that's your thing. We like that the two USB 2.0 ports, the six-pin FireWire port, and the mic and headphone jacks are located right in the middle of the front panel and not placed along the bottom, where they collect dust and are harder to reach. And the data archivist will appreciate that there are two optical drives--a DVD burner and a DVD-ROM drive--which makes for quick disc-to-disc copies. '

Read: Systemax Venture VX2 - CNET

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The Gateway NX570X business laptop has been reviewed over at PC Magazine. 'The NX570X's 15.4-inch screen is matted and coated with an antiglare film. You can opt for a transflective screen (a $25 upgrade), in which the pixels are illuminated from both front and back. This is particularly good for multimedia tasks like video and photo editing. The mouse buttons, actually the same ones found on the classy Gateway E-100M ultraportable, can get quite noisy. That's one of the few enhancements that shouldn't have been made. The keyboard is lovely for extensive typing, and Gateway keeps the surrounding area clear of add-ons such as application keys and a biometric fingerprint reader. Despite a new design, all the accessories are still compatible with other Gateway laptops. This includes the extended batteries, AC adapters, modular hard drives, and optical drives. The NX570X's other features are generic for a Gateway laptop. You get four USB ports, a FireWire port, and an S-Video port. It does have a 5-in-1 card reader (for xD, SD, MMC, MS, and MS Pro) that covers most of your media formats. My configuration came with an 80GB, 7,200-rpm hard drive, but you can currently swap that out for a 200GB, 4,200-rpm one at no extra charge. A dual-layer DVD burner comes built into this system; again, it's pretty standard.'

Read: Gateway NX570X - PC Magazine

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Tiffany Boggs writing over at Tablet PC Review has posted a review of the Asus R1F Tablet PC. 'The Asus R1F has been referred to as the Lamborghini of Tablet PCs and I can see why. This is my first Tablet review and working with the R1F has made it easy. The R1F has a sleek design and is very user friendly. The design is much like a standard notebook until you notice the center hinge, which converts it into a Tablet. The R1F isn't as small as some other Tablets on the market such as Fujitsu's T4215, but it still is portable. Weighing in at 4.3 lbs, the R1F can go where ever you need to go. The 13.3" screen makes reading documents and viewing photographs pleasurable, you can fit a decent amount on the screen and the XGA resolution makes for easy reading.'

Read: Asus R1F Tablet PC - Tablet PC Review

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J.Steven A. writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the HP Compaq nw9440 mobile workstation. 'This laptop looks really good. It’s definitely better than any other HP I’ve had experience with. The HP/Compaq Business Class notebooks are all about a professional external appearance, and the nw9440 certainly doesn’t slouch from that standard. Everything is color schemed in black and metallic charcoal, with small LED accents of green, blue and orange, indicating different functions. The case is made from thin hard plastic cover panels and reinforced around the edges and at other key spots (around the keyboard, for example) with thicker plastic. This keeps the weight down while allowing for a high degree of rigidity. When pushing on the screen from the back, nothing is noticed on the LCD. Likewise, the amount of flex allowed by the 17” widescreen when twisting is minimal unless a high degree of force is applied. The hinges on the LCD also allow for minimal wobble when the screen is tapped from the front.'

Read: HP Compaq nw9440 - Notebook Review

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PC Magazine have posted their review of the HP Compaq nc8430 business laptop. 'The HP Compaq nc8430 ($1,680 direct) has a lot of stature for a business laptop. When it comes to meeting work deadlines and taking on various projects, this powerhouse lives up to its reputation. The 15.4-inch widescreen display is a compelling reason to go with the nc8430. It lets you have three windows open at the same time (arranged so that each gets its own space) or gain several more columns on an Excel worksheet. If that isn't enough to meet your business requirements, then check out the system's Intel Core 2 Duo processor and discrete graphics. The Compaq nc8430 isn't as much of a space hog as a desktop, but it does give you plenty of screen space for a machine that weighs just 6.2 pounds. Granted, it's not as light as the 5.8-pound Lenovo ThinkPad T60 Widescreen, which also has a spacious 15.4-inch screen. Large screens like this enhance productivity by letting you multitask more efficiently. Instead of minimizing and maximizing application windows, you can have several of them opened at the same time. The nc8430's 1,680-by-1,050 resolution is extremely sharp for presentations and video and picture slide shows, and an antiglare coating on the screen eliminates the reflection from fluorescent lights.'

Read: HP Compaq nc8430 - PC Mag

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A review of the stylish Toshiba Portégé R400-S4931 mobile notebook which features fast mobile broadband and an external screen has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'Some might say Toshiba has gone too far in the bling direction, but our only substantive complaint about the R400-S4931's appearance is the three-quarter-inch chrome letters on the lid that shout "TOSHIBA." This may be great for product placement, perhaps, but not carrying around (unless your name happens to be Toshiba). One especially convenient feature is the R400-S4931's ability to receive real-time alerts, e-mail, and calendar updates using Microsoft's Active Notifications with Push Technology. The alerts are displayed on a digital display located on the front edge of the system, which Toshiba calls a Personal Information Assistant. The Portégé R400-S4931 automatically checks for new e-mail and calendar items as long as you have a wireless connection, whether it's via Wi-Fi or the integrated EV-DO modem.'

Read: Toshiba Portégé R400-S4931 - Laptop Mag

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Laptop Magazine have reviewed the budget-priced Dell Inspiron E1505 dual-core notebook. 'The centerpiece of the nearly seven-pound unit is a gorgeous 15.4-inch glossy widescreen that delivered rich colors and nearly blur-free images during DVD playback. Add impressive sound quality from the built-in speakers and you’ll be putting the included Media Center Edition OS (which is upgradable to Windows Vista Home Premium for free) to good use for music, photos, and imported video. There’s also a multiformat DVD burner, so the only item on our multimedia wish list is an external TV tuner and remote for using the 80GB hard drive as a DVR (an $84 upgrade). Dell MediaDirect enables E1505 owners to play multimedia files without booting into the OS. The Instant Office feature includes viewers for PowerPoint, Outlook, and Outlook Express that let you see a presentation or check your calendar or contacts without starting Windows. The screen’s 1280 x 800-pixel resolution will disappoint those who prefer a high-res panel, but we found working on it very easy on the eyes, and we didn’t have to strain to read smaller text.'

Read: Dell Inspiron E1505 (dual-core) - Laptop Mag

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A review of the high-end Velocity Micro Raptor Signature Edition gaming desktop configuration has been posted on CNET. 'The Velocity Micro Raptor Signature Edition is the midsize vendor's elite gaming PC. Company founder and CEO Randy Copeland helps build each unit, and they all come with his signature. This system is supposed to represent the best in modern PC hardware. Our review unit's configuration prices at $7,395, which is shockingly high, but also the apparent going rate for boutique-class systems of this caliber. On balance, the Raptor Signature Edition is as fast and as carefully assembled as we expect for an über-PC, but we have a beef with the high-end PC market in general right now, as the prices seem unreasonably high. That issue and the fact that its competition went the extra mile on software are our only significant issues with this PC. Unlike Alienware, which has revamped its cases recently, Velocity Micro sticks with the tried-and-true Lian Li models throughout its product line. While they don't offer a fancy lighting system like Alienware's new chassis, Velocity Micro's cases retain a bold, sturdy look that we like quite a bit, and they have static internal lighting that adds a nice glow. All Raptor Signature Editions come with an extended-depth case that looks like a full-sized desktop tower turned on its side. The extra depth makes the inside of the PC easier to work with than the Widow PC IX2 SLI, which came to us with a standard midtower enclosure. The inside of the Velocity Micro isn't perfect, as the case's hard-drive cage points the drives toward the rear of the system, not out toward you, which makes the drives much more difficult to remove. We've criticized Velocity Micro for this minor issue in the past, so it's not a surprise, but we wonder how hard it would be for it to get Lian Li to tweak that part of the design in the future.'

Read: Velocity Micro Raptor Signature Edition (Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700) - CNET

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Zachary Blum writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the affordable HP Compaq Presario V6000Z laptop computer. 'The V6000Z comes in a very dark grey color. I want to call it charcoal-like in color. Some of the pictures online made it look silver and that's just not what it looks like. It also really likes fingerprints. I did not opt for the imprint finish on this notebook since this was such a budget-conscious purchase. Upon starting up the notebook you'll notice blue lights for the "feather-touch" volume controls as well as media button (which boots up a DVD player that only responds within Windows). There's also a blue light on the power button and a blue ring that surrounds where the power adaptor plugs in. Blue indicator lights for the caps lock, scroll lock, and touchpad are right next to their appropriate buttons. There's an orange light for the Wi-Fi on/off switch which is analog and can be toggled even when the system is off. The dimensions for the main body of the laptop are: 14 ¼ inch wide x 1 ¼ inch tall x 10 ¼ inch deep. The entire thing seems to be made of sturdy plastic that's the dark grey everywhere except on the bottom where there's black. There's no latch to secure the screen when closed. However, the joints where the screen tilts back are stiff and prevent the screen from bouncing around much when open or being accidentally pulled open when closed. You'll want to be careful the first time or two you close the screen because the bottom of the system may lift a little. Also, during the ordering process if you want to get additional ports (like IEEE 1394) you'll have to get both the graphics card upgrade and the imprint finish. That was more than I wanted to spend.'

Read: Compaq Presario v6000z Review - Notebook Review

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CNET have reviewed the stylish Portege R400 portable laptop from Toshiba. 'Toshiba's first Windows Vista laptop, the Portege R400, is a beautifully crafted convertible tablet that unfortunately is every bit as expensive as it looks. It won't be available for purchase until January 30, 2007, with a base price of $2,599. Our review unit came packed with high-end features such as built-in EV-DO, an OLED display on the front edge, and a screen that uses the new LED backlight technology. Add in Windows Vista Ultimate, and you've got a system that will strain even the thickest wallets at $3,499. We'll have to wait until closer to the release date to see what money-saving configuration options are offered. Despite its excellent design and build quality, it's hard to recommend a system this expensive, especially one that provides only a Core Duo processor, a rather skimpy 80GB hard drive, and integrated graphics. Ignoring its high price, the Toshiba Portege R400 is an impressive achievement, firmly in the same industrial design league as Apple and Sony.'

Read: Toshiba Portege R400 - CNET

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Laptop Magazine have posted their review of the OQO model 02 UMPC. 'Weighing just over a pound and measuring 5.6 x 3.3 x 1 inches, the model 02 is a UMPC that is compact enough to carry with you in a jacket pocket, briefcase, or purse. The five-inch widescreen LCD slides up to reveal a new, ergonomic, backlit QWERTY keyboard. You won't be able to type as fast as you would on a BlackBerry, but the layout provided better tactile feedback than the model 01. The cursor is controlled via a small pointing stick for your right thumb and mouse buttons for your left. Or if you prefer, you can use the included stylus and tap the screen. It's too bad OQO didn't include a stylus holster on the device, though. The model 02 does get warm after some use, but not uncomfortably so, and it was quiet.'

Read: OQO model 02 - Laptop Mag

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A review of the HP TouchSmart PC IQ770 digital media-oriented home PC has been posted over at ZDNet. 'In addition to its own unique design and features, the HP TouchSmart PC IQ770 has the distinction of being the first Windows Vista desktop we've reviewed. It uses Vista Home Premium, which means that it in addition to the core operating system, you also get the Windows Media Center interface, the touch screen capability (which HP uses to great effect), as well as the Aero Glass visual effects among other things. Rather than shoehorning an operating system review into a desktop story, (Vista will be getting plenty of its own coverage shortly, don't worry), we'll simply say that HP is doing Microsoft a great service with this system. The TouchSmart PC is a convincing showcase for the new features Vista brings to the table.'

Read: HP TouchSmart PC IQ770 - ZDNet

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Andrew Baxter writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Sony VAIO N130 notebook PC. 'The most striking thing about the VAIO N130 you’ll notice in terms of design is how spartan the overall look is. In a time where we see curvaceous laptops with flashing lights that could drive a disco floor, the VAIO N goes to the other extreme. It is square looking and unapologetically plain. For those that like clean looks, this design will please. I can see the laptop fitting nicely in one of those minimalist type designed rooms with large windows and bamboo flooring. The build of the VAIO N is decent, I was worried that a budget offering from Sony that is dubbed as a PC for around the home would simply skimp on any type of quality casing. And while the case is certainly of plastic construction, not carbon fiber like more expensive Sony’s, it is built reasonably well and there is no flex to the case in most areas. The left hand palm rest is the exception here, if you tap on that area you’ll hear it is hollow and there’s a mild amount of flex to that area. Not enough to be typically noticed though.'

Read: Sony VAIO N130 - Notebook Review

Posted by Admin at 11:46 AM | Permalink

A review of the HP Pavilion tx1000 feature rich notebook as been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'HP makes a credible case for Vista as highly usable even in an ultralight format. The HP Pavilion tx1000 (available for purchase February 28) crams a full suite of multimedia features and even limited Tablet capabilities into an attractive 4.2-pound notebook, complete with an optical drive. It's not the fastest ultraportable on the block, but you get a lot for your money. Borrowing from the look and feel of HP's Pavilion dv series, the black-and-silver tx1000 is certainly a striking ultraportable. The same Imprint finish is present, which consists of subtle wave patterns on the casing, and the glowing blue multimedia buttons above the keyboard further contribute to the futuristic-chic aesthetic. We wish the buttons themselves were a bit larger, though.'

Read: HP Pavilion tx1000 - Laptop Mag

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CNET have posted thier review of the Asus W7J notebook PC. 'With its 13.3-inch wide-screen display, Core 2 Duo processor, built-in Web cam, and matte-black finish, the Asus W7J is surprisingly reminiscent of Apple's popular MacBook. Unlike the MacBook, the W7J features discrete graphics, which is a nice plus, but it's hurt by poor battery life. At $1,499, the fixed-configuration Asus W7J isn't any cheaper than the MacBook or the similarly configured yet slightly larger HP Compaq Presario V6000T. While its size, weight, and specs are appealing, the Asus W7J's battery life will be a deal breaker for most. Despite some of their physical similarities, you're not likely to confuse this thin-and-light laptop with the MacBook upon closer inspection. The system's silhouette would be much improved if the built-in Web cam didn't extend slightly from the top edge of the lid, marring the back of the lid with what could be best described as an inelegant silver bump. Measuring 12.5 inches wide, 9.1 inches deep, and 1.3 inches high, the system is small enough to carry around every day, but big enough to work on comfortably for long stretches. The W7J weighs 4.4 pounds (5.6 pounds with the AC adapter), which is light enough for a daily commute or extensive airport traveling. Compared to the MacBook, the Asus is slightly thicker, but a little lighter. While not flimsy, it doesn't feel as solid as the Apple laptop. '

Read: Asus W7J - CNET

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Michael Davison writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Asus A8JP gaming notebook. 'The ASUS A8JP is a small 14” laptop with enough power and performance to put most larger laptops to shame. Especially considering the price, nothing can touch this. I know, because I have looked. While not an “ultra-portable” (13” and smaller), it is definitely not a burden to carry around and has pretty good battery life, taking in to account what this bad boy can do. ASUS provides a “zero bright dot” warranty on all laptops bought after October 2006. My screen had zero bright dots and is beautiful and colorful without any noticeable leakage, when viewed dead on. I put the blank screensaver on and looked at the screen and it was evenly lit up. I could only see what seemed to be leakage when looking through my digital camera, but it was not noticeable to the naked eye. The screen is too bright at 100% for indoors.'

Read: Asus A8JP - Notebook Review

Posted by Admin at 4:19 PM | Permalink

A review of the Averatec 2300 Series ultraportable PC has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'The Averatec 2300 Series is a solid ultraportable at a very affordable price. Weighing only 4.1 pounds, it’s the lightest dual-core notebook here and is easy to carry. The angular, black metallic flake chassis is attractive. Averatec hasn’t stripped down the configuration to make it come in at under $1,000, either, delivering 1GB of RAM, a 100GB hard drive, an integrated dual-layer DVD burner, and Windows Media Center Edition (or Windows Vista Home Premium, depending on the build date). That said, the AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core processor trails the others here in performance. The small size and glossy 12.1-inch widescreen make the 2300 Series feel more like a portable DVD player than a PC. And indeed, the screen looked good during DVD playback, with very little motion blur for a budget entry. The panel’s 1280 x 800-pixel resolution makes for crisp text and images but also mighty small default fonts and icons. Sound quality was a bit thin but more than acceptable for a machine this size. We do wish the unit offered dedicated multimedia controls, or at least volume buttons.'

Read: Averatec 2300 Series - Laptop Mag

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Laptop Magazine have posted their review of the budget-priced Toshiba Satellite A105-S4284 notebook PC. 'There's nothing offensive about the Toshiba Satellite A105-S4284. There's nothing thrilling about it, either. It's a well-equipped, solid budget entry that delivers good features at a decent price. The charcoal-and-silver design is a bit dull compared with what Dell, HP, and Sony have trotted out, but at just six pounds, the Satellite is relatively easy to travel with. Open the lid and you'll find a 15.4-inch widescreen with a 1280 x 800-pixel resolution that's easy on the eyes. The panel did well with DVD action scenes, though we found DVD playback a bit dark, even with the screen's brightness cranked. Like other budget laptops, viewing angles were good side to side but poor from above.'

Read: Toshiba Satellite A105-S4284 - Laptop Mag

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PC Magazine have reviewed the budget-priced eMachines T3516 desktop configuration. 'The T3516 comes in a case similar to that of every T-series eMachines PC since the Gateway buyout. Its silver and black facade hides a mostly modern interior, with an EM64T (64-bit compatible) 3.2-GHz Intel Celeron D 352 processor, 512MB of RAM, integrated graphics, and, curiously, an old-school IDE hard drive. Though using an IDE instead of a SATA drive may seem strange, it isn't a problem: Most home users don't tax their hard drives as much as professionals do, and moving the hard drive to a newer PC is a non-issue, since buyers of $400 PCs tend to treat their PCs as appliances. If you're a tinkerer or plan to upgrade the system in the future, you'll find a PCIe x1 and PCIe x16 slot along with another regular PCI, space for two more drives (IDE or SATA), one more optical drive, and a free memory slot.'

Read: eMachines T3516 - PC Mag

Posted by Admin at 11:42 AM | Permalink

The Lenovo 3000 C200 business notebook PC has been reviewed over at ZDNet. 'With its boxy case and a square, standard-aspect display, the Lenovo 3000 C200 isn't likely to turn any heads at the local Starbucks. But for those who can live without the wide screen, the C200 offers strong performance (outpacing a similarly configured N100, also from the Lenovo 3000 line) and a decent mix of features for typical business tasks. The biggest appeal of the Lenovo 3000 C200 may be its price, which starts at $649; our review unit costs a still-palatable $999 and includes a CPU from Intel's latest Core 2 Duo line. For such a low price, Lenovo forgoes high-end security features and a lengthy warranty--buyers who want a meatier business laptop--and can afford to pay a bit more for it--should look to Lenovo's own ThinkPad T60 or the corporate-friendly Dell Latitude D520. For individual buyers and small businesses who want a dirt-cheap yet still capable laptop, though, the Lenovo 3000 C200 gets the job done.' Lenovo 3000 C200 - ZDNet

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A review of the Asus R2H UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) has been posted over at Brighthand. 'The R2H is eye catching. It’s typical in the Asus look with a brushed aluminum type of finish. The build is rock solid, the case is a very rigid and firm metallic material. It's much sturdier than the somewhat cheap feeling Samsung Q1 UMPC device released in early 2006. The overall device is quite thick; I measured it to be about 1.4-inches thick when lying flat on a table -- it does have four rubber feet on the back so in actuality it's probably more like 1.25" in overall case thickness. Still, it's no skinny minnie and many an ultra-portable laptop can be found that's slimmer. At 2.2lbs it's only slightly lighter than an ultra-portable laptop too.'

Read: Asus R2H UMPC Review - Brighthand

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Trusted Reviews have posted a review of the Dell Latitude 131L business notebook. 'For the most part Dell has used AMD chips in its lower range affordable solutions and this is still the case with the Latitude 131L. Targeted at the ever lucrative business market, the 131L is a no frills notebook that’s perfect for all those tedious office applications we all love to hate but simply can’t do without. Coming in at a not unreasonable £586 (inc. VAT) our review model came with a Turion 64 X2 TL-50 running at 1.6GHz, an 80GB SATA hard drive, DVD Rewriter and 512 MB RAM. Naturally, the 131L also has wireless networking built in and though there’s no Bluetooth this could be added via any number of external units should it be required. To top things off it retains a 56k modem for all those golden oldies, and those backward locations where wireless connections are few and far between.'

Read: Dell Latitude 131L - Trusted Reviews

Posted by Admin at 2:43 AM | Permalink

Laptop Magazine have posted their review of the Dell Inspiron E1405 notebook PC. 'If you like the idea of owning a fast and full-featured notebook that can travel with you, the Dell Inspiron E1405 is a very good choice. This Media Center laptop packs a speedy dual-core processor, a huge hard drive, and the most robust instant-on functionality you'll find anywhere, plus next-generation 802.11n Wi-Fi. It lacks the more powerful discrete graphics of the E1505, but the E1405 has all of the right ingredients to deliver a top-notch Windows Vista experience. This thin-and-light doesn't break new ground in the design department, sporting the same silver-with-white-trim look that has adorned Dell Inspirons for well over a year. Actually, the E1405 isn't all that thin and light compared with other systems in its class; the chassis is a bit bulky and tips the scales at six pounds, although that's due in part to the long-lasting nine-cell battery Dell included with our configuration. The system starts at 5.3 pounds, but even with the larger battery, we had no problems using this notebook on a crowded bus.'

Read: Dell Inspiron E1405 - Laptop Mag

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The Vista-compatible WinBook PowerSpec 7501 PC has been reviewed over at CNET. 'Like many $999 and under PCs this year, WinBook's PowerSpec 7150 aims for a bare-essentials sweet spot, combining an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a discrete graphics card into an affordable Windows Vista-ready desktop. At its core, its configuration is almost identical to the Velocity Micro Vector GX Campus Edition we reviewed way back in July. That system (now called the "Holiday Edition") no longer has the 17-inch LCD included in its price, but, when we match its specs to the WinBook's, the Velocity Micro system is $30 cheaper and comes with a faster 3D card. WinBook's advantages are that it comes with Windows XP Media Center 2005, and it has a $100 mail-in rebate. If you're looking for an easy way to get to Windows Vista, WinBook is a reasonable way to go. If you're willing to spend a little more, the Velocity Micro system is much more attractive and slightly more capable. We expect that many people will find the free Vista Home Premium upgrade tempting, but for our money, we'd rather have the cleaner-looking system.'

Read: WinBook PowerSpec 7501 - CNET

Posted by Admin at 2:26 AM | Permalink

Trusted Reviews have posted a review of the Samsung Q35 Red notebook PC. 'I first looked at the Samsung Q35 back in June where it grabbed itself a Recommended award. The original Q35 offered light weight, solid specification and very impressive value for money. About half a year later I'm looking at the Q35 again, but with a fair few upgrades - can Samsung make its updated Q35 as attractive today as the original was six months ago? The most obvious difference between this Q35 and the one I reviewed before is the color of the lid. Whereas the original machine was finished in matt silver, the lid on this model is a striking deep red color. To be honest, I'm not generally keen on bold color being thrown at an otherwise subtle product, but I have to say that it really works with the Q35. Perhaps it's because it's such a deep red, or maybe it's the fact that the finish is so glossy, but either way the red finish definitely makes the Q35 look a bit more special. Samsung has also been smart enough to not go overboard with the color, so it's just the lid that's red, with the rest of the chassis finished in matt silver and black.'

Read: Samsung Q35 Red Core 2 Duo - Trusted Reviews

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Blake Bonfiglio writing over at Notebook Review has posted his review of the HP Pavilion dv9000t laptop. 'The design of the dv9000 is excellent. It is much thinner and lighter than I had anticipated. The chassis is a very strong plastic, there is no flex anywhere on the body of the notebook. The screen will twist if ample force is applied, but is very sturdy for a 17" screen. When I push on the lid, no ripples are produced on the LCD. The most attractive part about the design of the notebook is HP's Imprint Finish. It is a swirled pattern on the outside and inside of the notebook, right under the keyboard. It definitely adds flare and personal taste to the normally bland world of mobile computing. The screen is one of the biggest things that attracted me to this notebook. As someone who relies on their screen for contrast and color accuracy, this screen has been nothing short of amazing. There are three options for customization regarding the screen: WXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1440x900); WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1680x1050) (which is the option I chose); and WXGA+ Ultra BrightView Widescreen (1440x900). The resolution differences are straightforward enough, but the Ultra BrightView does confuse some people. The difference between Brightview and UltraBrightview is the number of lamps lighting your LCD. '

Read: HP Pavilion dv9000t - Notebook Review

Posted by Admin at 4:08 PM | Permalink

Ted Lynch writing over at Notebook Review has posted his review of the 14” Lenovo ThinkPad R60 notebook PC. 'For your consideration is a review of my recently acquired 14” Lenovo ThinkPad R60. The R60 comes in 14 or 15” screen sizes. It is designed to be a more wallet friendly business class notebook, but if you get all the options it can get quite expensive. The R60 lacks the rock star status of the T series ThinkPads even though they share a lot of parts. It's sort of the Rodney Dangerfield of the ThinkPad line – no respect. I think the R60 offers great value for someone on a tight budget who wants a well built and serviced notebook. The R60 is not a perfect notebook, but has many admirable qualities and a few blemishes, all of which we will get into in more detail in the review. When you buy a ThinkPad, you should pretty much know what you are getting as they tend not to change a whole lot from one year to the next. It will be black and sort of boxy regardless of the model. I had the opportunity to work on a ThinkPad R31 not too long ago, it looked almost the same as the R60 save for the coloring on a few of the buttons and the addition of the Windows key. I personally happen to like black notebooks. The dark color and squared edges are simple and elegant for my tastes anyway. '

Read: Lenovo ThinkPad R60 14-inch Screen Notebook Review - Notebook Review

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A review of Fujitsu's LifeBook A6010 multimedia notebook has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'Speed, ample storage, and an excellent display are the highlights of the Fujitsu LifeBook A6010, which also packs an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a dual-layer multiformat DVD burner into a six-pound, silver-and-ebony body. Priced at $1,419, as tested, this system has everything notebook buyers are looking for, provided they upgrade to the higher-capacity battery. The 14.1 x 10.4 x 1.4-inch A6010 offers a spacious, spill-resistant keyboard that makes typing a pleasure. Above the keyboard are two handy quick-launch buttons, "My Home" and "Web Search," for quickly accessing a user-defined start page or search engine. Volume keys sit to the right of these buttons, and the speakers embedded in the front bezel deliver surprisingly loud and clear sound. As with most notebooks, loud volume is accompanied by subpar bass.'

Read: Fujitsu LifeBook A6010 - Laptop Mag

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