Handy Computer Guide

CNET have published a review of the Dell Inspiron 1721 desktop-replacement PC. ‘The Dell Inspiron 1720 series consists of two models. The Inspiron 1720 is built around an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and (in the case of higher-end models) the new Centrino Duo platform, while the Inspiron 1721 trades Intel for an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor and chipset. Aside from processor choices, Dell is also offering color choices with the Inspiron 1720 series: if buyers don't like the traditional white or black case, they can opt for red, blue, green, yellow, brown, or pink. We've seen colorful laptops before--most recently in the Sony VAIO CR series--but we've never seen a colored laptop with as many configuration options as the Dell Inspiron 1720 series offers. While many of the upgrade options--such as integrated WWAN or a Blu-ray drive--will surely push the price well above the $899 baseline, we think the Inspiron 1720 series will nevertheless appeal to home users who want a solid all-around laptop with a high degree of customization.’

Read: Dell Inspiron 1721 - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 9:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Shuttle XPC mini X 200 media PC has been posted over at Computeractive. ‘Shuttle is famous for popularising the 'small form factor' computer a few years ago – a PC in a far smaller box than the enormous tower boxes we were used to at the time. The company's latest, the mini X 200, is a step even further – it's significantly smaller even than Shuttle's normal cases, which is saying something The design is understated, with a sleek black trim offset by an aluminium stripe recessed into the top of the case. This extends over the front panel, and it's where the power button and memory card reader are located. There's also a single USB2 port to one side, and a slot-loading DVD writer, but apart from those the front panel is bare.’

Read: Review: Shuttle XPC mini X 200 media PC - Computeractive

Posted by HCG Admin at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tablet PC Review have published their "First Look" review of the Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 Tablet PC. 'The T4220 has a solid chassis. Right off the bat I noticed how sturdy the design was and how there was no flex in the screen or wobbling from the hinge. The great thing about the hinge is that it is bi-directional as well, meaning users have the option of turning their screen both ways, which comes in handy for those presentations. It is a little on the heavy side weighing in around 4.3 pounds, but it is still small enough to take with you to class or on those business trips. I didn't have any problems carrying it around in Tablet mode and the display automatically changes once you rotate it. As far as I can tell (from the little time I have spent with it) the battery life is good. It has about a four hour battery life running in standard mode.'

Read: Fujitsu LifeBook T4220 Tablet PC First Look Review - Tablet PC Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

James William Hegg writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the affordable Gateway MT6705 Notebook. 'Gateway packed the MT6705 in their standard box. They wrapped it in an industrial-strength plastic bag. Two styrofoam pads flanked the ends. A separate box with three compartments sat adjacent. They housed the battery, charger, and documentation. A thin pad lay between the keyboard and display to prevent scratches. The notebook's dimensions are 1.4'' (H) x 14.1'' (W) x 10.4'' (D). It weighs 6.24 pounds. The instructions recommended I charge at least three hours prior to use. While charging I explored the documentation which included Windows Vista Home Premium and Anytime Upgrade DVDs, a setup guide, a flier offering a Microsoft Office 2007 60-day trial, and numerous advertisements.'

Read: Gateway MT6705 Review - Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 2:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X61s ultraportable. ‘One of our favorite ultraportables just got a power boost. Like its predecessors, the ThinkPad X61s ($2,228 as configured) boasts a rock-solid design (view our photo gallery), a best-in-class keyboard, and enough security features to make the most seasoned hacker ponder retirement. What's new is the muscle, courtesy of Intel's latest Core 2 Duo Low Voltage processor, which also delivers long battery life. Despite its surprisingly low Wi-Fi score (for 802.11n), standard-ratio screen, and lack of a built-in optical drive, you'll be happy with this pricey pint-size performer.’

Read: Lenovo ThinkPad X61s Review - Laptop Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Alienware Aurora mALX 19 inch gaming Notebook has been posted over at 14U News. 'Visually the Alienware mALX is a very cool system with the green-blue color shifting paint and the airbrushed graphics on the lid. Alienware uses an AMD Turion 64 Mobile CPU with an 800MHz FSB and 1MB L2 cache. The CPU is certainly the weakest part of this gaming rig and could only muster 833 points in 3DMark06. Graphics on the Alienware mALX are just superb with a pair of NVIDIA Go 7900 GTX graphics cards running in SLI, you can also option the system with a pair of 7950 GTX cards as well. Storage is with a stripped array giving a bit over 298 GB of storage space from a pair of 250GB 5400 RMP drives, 200 GB 7200 RPM units are optional. While you can get versions of Windows Vista on the Alienware mALX, my test machine was running Windows XP Media Center. System memory is 2GB of DDR at 400 MHz.'

Read: Alienware Aurora mALX 19 inch Gaming Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET have published a review of the Apple MacBook Pro 2007 Edition (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD). ‘Apple's recent update of its 13-inch MacBook line was a modest one, with an incremental processor upgrade and updated default components, but the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro laptops have gotten a much more radical overhauling, even if they, like the MacBooks, look the same on the outside as previous-generation models. Moving to Intel's latest 2.4GHz mobile Core 2 Duo CPU (part of the new Centrino Duo platform) means the MacBook Pro's performance can stand up to that of the latest Windows Vista laptops, and the new LED-backlit display on the 15-inch model is more power-efficient than traditional LCD displays, resulting in better battery life. While $2,499 is still a lot to spend on a laptop (the entry-level model starts at $1,999; we reviewed the middle child in the MacBook Pro family), the MacBook Pro makes a strong case by keeping its components on the cutting edge, especially because Apple has bumped up the specs without raising the price.’

Read: Apple MacBook Pro 2007 Edition (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD) - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 9:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PC Magazine have published their review of the Lenovo ThinkPad R61 widescreen laptop. ‘At 5.4 pounds, the R61, even with a widescreen, is over a pound lighter than its earlier version, which weighed 6.5 pounds and came with a standard screen. That suddenly puts it into the same league as the T61 Widescreen. Their dimensions are practically identical. The R61, at 9.4 by 13.2 by 1.4 inches, is about 2mm thicker. And the Lenovo typing experience is still the best. The ThinkPad keyboard is the most responsive in the industry, and you get dual pointing devices with the touchpad and the lovable TrackPoint pointing stick.’

Read: Lenovo ThinkPad R61Review - PC Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trusted Reviews have published their review of the Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebook P1610 Ultra-Portable Tablet PC. ‘As with the P7230, the P1610 has a corporate target market and this is reflected in the design. However, if anything the P1610 does a have a slightly more interesting visual impact. Whereas the P7230 was covered entirely in dull black, the inside of the P1610 sports a two-tone effect with metallic dark grey around the keyboard, a black keyboard and black bezel. This is a little more attractive than the all black approach of the P7230, though that doesn’t mean it's any less inconspicuous. One thing that’s immediately apparent about the design is the battery, which protrudes from the front of the notebook. Although this makes the machine look a little uneven it’s a not a major problem, and creates a handy wrist wrest for typing. As a general rule this is seen when using extended butteries, but this is the 6-cell battery that ships with the machine. A smaller 3-cell battery can be purchased separately, though there’s no second battery slot as found on the P7230 so you can only have one or the other, not both.’

Read: Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebook P1610 Ultra-Portable Tablet PC – Trusted Reviews

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Sony VAIO FZ180 Media Center laptop has been posted over at ZDNet. 'Like much of the Sony VAIO laptop family, the FZ180 has a large VAIO logo embossed on the back of the lid, while the sharp, angular case eschews the recent trend toward soft, rounded edges. At only 1.4 inches thick, it's slimmer than other recent 15-inch media-friendly laptops, such as the HP Pavilion dv6500t and the Dell Inspiron E1505. Sony's flat-key keyboard is among our favorite laptop keyboards, but we wish the tiny touchpad mouse buttons were a little more substantial. Keeping with the multimedia theme, there's a four-way click-wheel above the keyboard that acts as a media-control hub, offering fast-forward, rewind, play, and volume controls.'

Read: Sony VAIO FZ180 - ZDNet

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pocket-Lint have published a review of the HP Pavilion TX1138EA Tablet PC. 'The HP Pavilion tx1138ea hasn’t so much dusted down the older consumer look, more re-designed it to fit in with their new notebook ID but it still looks funky and unlike any other tablet out there. It’s worth pointing out that HP has played on the side of caution, as this isn’t a slate design, rather a notebook with a touchscreen, so can be used in a variety of ways. The build quality is stunning, as the sturdiness of the case, with extra protection behind the screen, will certainly take being carried around for large portions of the day.'

Read: HP PAVILION TX1138EA Tablet PC Review - Pocket-Lint

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jerry Jackson writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the stylish Lenovo 3000 V200 ultraportable widescreen Notebook. 'The Lenovo V200 replaces the V100 as the top-of-the-line model in the Lenovo 3000 series of budget-priced ultraportables. The 12.1-inch widescreen isn't as thin and light as competing ultraportable notebooks, but with a built-in optical drive, 1.3 megapixel web camera and a price of $1,199 the V200 is an attractive solution for some people. Anyone familiar with Lenovo’s V series will instantly recognize the V200 looks like a carbon copy of the V100. The back of the notebook is curved but you are greeted with traditional-looking straight lines and surfaces as soon as you open the notebook. The color is the same all silver outside and black inside of the V100. '

Read: Lenovo 3000 V200 Review - Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET have published a review of the Acer TravelMate 6291 ultraportable Notebook. 'Slightly larger than other recent ultraportables, such as the Lenovo 3000 V200 and Averatec 2371, the Acer TravelMate 6291 is still a very portable package. The generic all-over black design won't turn any heads, but the solid hinges and stiff lid cover make us feel confident about taking it on extended road trips. The keyboard makes the standard ultraportable sacrifices, such as doubling the page-up and page-down keys, but it feels comfortable and not too cramped overall. The touch pad includes a handy four-way directional button between the two mouse buttons. There's also a row of quick-launch buttons along the right side of the keyboard tray--a departure from the usual location above the keyboard. While the practical impact is minimal, it's a nice change of pace. The buttons can control the Wi-Fi antenna and Bluetooth, and launch a Web browser and e-mail program.'

Read: Acer TravelMate 6291- CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Twinhead Durabook D14RY Vista Notebook ‘As its name implies, the Durabook D14RY is designed to be a survivor but has a subtle enough design for everyday use. In fact, the only hint of this system's ruggedness is a quartet of thin black rubber bumpers on each corner. Inside are a number of features designed to weather a gauntlet of knocks, drops, and droplets. An anti-shock mounting design protects the Durabook's LCD screen and hard drive, and a unique optical-drive tray lock keeps this sensitive component from accidentally opening during a severe shock, a very common calamity when a notebook is dropped.

The magnesium-alloy case suggests ruggedness without looking much different than many mainstream notebooks. Also, the keyboard and touchpad feel and look like standard notebook components yet are spill resistant. Twinhead tests the keyboard with 100ml of water--about three ounces--and claims it is also resistant to spills of juice, tea, and coffee.’

Read: Twinhead Durabook D14RY - Laptop Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the UBiQUiO 701 Ultra Mobile PC has been posted over at Brighthand.com. ‘Products sold under the UBiQUiO brand tend to get limited exposure here in the U.S., being available from a handful of distributors. Our UBiQUiO review unit was kindly provided by eXpansys, which, along with its subsidiary MobilePlanet, is one of those distributors. It offers the unit as reviewed here, priced at $1000, plus delivery. It also offers the UBiQUiO 702, which is essentially identical to the 701 save for the inclusion of a six-cell extended battery and an additional $95 in price.’

Read: UBiQUiO 701 Ultra Mobile PC Review – Brighthand.com

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the MacBook Notebook from Apple. 'Sporting the same glossy white finish and one-inch-thick design as its predecessor, the 5.1-pound MacBook revamp also retains Apple's attractive, minimalist aesthetic. Popping the lid reveals a gorgeous 13.3-inch (1280 x 800-pixel resolution) widescreen LCD that displayed robust color when we loaded Finding Nemo into the slot-loading drive. The LCD kicked back some reflections but nothing too detrimental to the viewing experience. The built-in speakers offer adequate sound but lack volume and a strong bottom end (view photo gallery).'

Read: Apple MacBook - Laptop Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET have published a review of the Averatec 2371 N2371DH1E-1 - Turion 64 X2 TL-52 1.6 GHz - 12.1" TFT Notebook configuration. 'The Averatec 2371 has a subtle, sophisticated look that we chalk up to its unusual dark brown chassis. The finish is slightly glossy, and we had some trouble with fingerprints on the lid, but the one-color look for the lid, keyboard tray, and screen bezel contrasts nicely with the black keyboard. At a little more than 4 pounds, it's average for a 12-inch laptop--lighter than the bulky Dell XPS M1210, but heavier than the Toshiba R400, which omits an optical drive to save on weight. The keyboard and touch pad are comfortable and a good size for such a small system, but they are tightly packed into the keyboard tray with little wasted space. Typical for ultraportable laptops, some controls, such as page-up and page-down keys, are mapped to other keys and can only be accessed by holding down the function key. That particular space-saving trick always irks us, as the page-down key is crucial for quick Web surfing. There are no quick-launch keys, just a power button and a button for activating a power-saving mode, which dials down CPU performance to improve battery life.'

Read: Averatec 2371 N2371DH1E-1 - Turion 64 X2 TL-52 1.6 GHz - 12.1" TFT - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Samsung Q40 HSDPA Notebook. ‘Samsung should be congratulated not only for managing to find the space for an HSDPA module in a machine this small, but also for making the SIM slot easily accessible. There’s a rubber flap in the base of the notebook, behind which hides the SIM slot – most other notebooks with integrated HSDPA hide the SIM slot behind the battery, which means removing the battery in order to gain access to the slot. That said, Samsung still warns that the SIM should only be inserted or removed when the machine is powered off, but it’s still a good design.’

Read: Samsung Q40 HSDPA Notebook – Trusted Reviews

Posted by HCG Admin at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kevin O'Brien writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Lenovo N200 laptop. ‘The N200 is a very solid laptop with minimalistic design features. The basic silver paintjob and dark grey plastic inside don’t automatically stick out from the crowd in terms of looks. Where it really shines is build quality, ease of upgrading, and solid Thinkpad geared keyboard. The screen hinges are very solid ... which you would expect from the company that brings you the very durable ThinkPad business line. The screen latches hold the lid down very firmly by keeping a bit of tension on the rubber guards placed around the screen edges. The chassis is very nice and produces no plastic squeaks or creaks when you lift it up. The entire area around and below the keyboard is supported very well with little or no flex under pressure. Pressing firmly along all parts of the keyboard shows no sign of weakness or give.’

Read: Lenovo N200 Review – Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the affordable eMachines T5088 desktop PC has been posted over at PC Magazine. 'Under the hood, the T5088 is almost identical to the T3612. Only the (slightly) more powerful processor, larger hard drive, multimedia card reader, and $50 separate the two systems. They're both built around the same Intel 945GC-based motherboard, and both are in the same squat mini-tower case. The extra $50, however, is money well spent. The multimedia card reader is almost a necessity these days, and a larger hard drive can hold more of your files. The more powerful Pentium 4 processor is a measurable upgrade, even if the P4's clock speed is "slower." This is because of the P4's hyper-threaded CPU and its larger internal L2 cache. All this makes the T5088 a slightly faster and definitely more capable system.'

Read: eMachines T5088 - PC Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET have published a review of the HP Pavilion dv6500t multimedia laptop. ‘The dv6500t is about the same size and weight as other recent 15-inch laptops we've tested, such as the Toshiba Satellite A205 or the Gateway E-475M, but the 15-inch mainstream laptop is quickly losing ground to models with 14.1-inch screens (like Gateway's E-265M), trading a little screen real estate for lighter, smaller cases and better design, saving almost a full pound in many cases. But for music and video use, a 15-inch offers a more immersive experience, and this particular system stands out for that purpose thanks to eye-catching design and media-friendly features.’

Read: HP Pavilion dv6500t - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kellen Steffen writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Sony VAIO TX850p Notebook. ‘Aesthetic design is one of the TX series' best attributes. The keyboard and lower potion of the laptop is a cool grey supporting a razor-thin black screen housing. The case is made of carbon fiber, which allows for both flexible strength and light weight (Sony quotes 2.75lbs with the standard battery). Sony has managed to squeeze a ton of features and gadgets into this tiny machine, and yet I find the placement of the various ports, switches, and buttons to be absolutely optimal, and they look good, too. The power button, which is translucent and lights up green when the laptop's on, is located on a raised hump near the bottom of the screen, along with a row of other multimedia buttons and an soft-eject button for the optical drive. The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth switch as well as mute and volume +/- buttons are located at the front, just below the right hand when typing; they're functional and solid. Props to Sony for this.’

Read: Sony VAIO TX850p Review – Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Acer TravelMate 6460-6263 notebook. 'The Acer TravelMate 6460-6263 is a mainstream model aimed at business buyers. As such, it's priced slightly higher than other entries here but includes such extras as a built-in webcam, a fingerprint reader, and Bluetooth. We just wish it had a longer battery life. The dark-gray, metallic flake chassis is simple and inoffensive, and it strikes the right tone for a corporate player. The TravelMate 6460-6263 weighs 6.4 pounds (at the high end of the range here) but feels even heavier. Blame the bulk on the seemingly wasted space around the screen and keyboard, which gives the unit a larger footprint than the other 15.4-inch widescreen models we tested.'

Read: Acer TravelMate 6460-6263 - Laptop Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 4:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)