Handy Computer Guide

Tablet PC Review have published a review of the Gateway C-140x Convertible Notebook. ‘The overall build quality is very solid, which was a concern. The screen swivels to slate mode fluidly without wobble. The hinge feels very sturdy, not flimsy, as it is made from metal alloy attached to a magnesium super-structure. However, I find myself constantly trying to swivel it in the wrong direction, and I wish it were bi-directional. For example, if I want to show the person sitting to my left something on my screen I have to turn the entire laptop. Although annoying, my guess is that the size of the screen prevented the use of a bi-directional hinge because it would not have been sturdy enough.’

Read: Gateway C-140x Tablet PC User Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Toshiba Satellite U305 Notebook has been posted over at CNET. 'Measuring 1.5 inches thick, the Satellite U305 is a bit chunkier than other laptops with 13.3-inch displays, such as the Apple MacBook, which isn't exactly what we'd call svelte, and the Sony VAIO SZ. Thickness aside, the Toshiba is rather compact and, with a 5-pound weight (including the extended-life battery), easy to carry. With its rounded edges, reflective blue-black exterior, and silver interior, the Satellite U305 could be mistaken for an HP Pavilion from afar, if not for the giant silver Toshiba logo emblazoned in 0.75-inch letters across the laptop's lid and the brightly glowing Satellite logo on the left side of the laptop's front edge. We like the Satellite U305's design, but we didn't like feeling like we were sitting behind a Toshiba billboard every time we booted up.'

Read: Toshiba Satellite U305 (Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz, 2GB RAM, 200GB HDD, Vista Home Premium) - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Personal Computer World have published a review of the upgraded Apple Mac Mini desktop computer. 'The Mac Mini was originally designed to lure owners of old PCs into switching over to Apple products for the first time, saving money by allowing them to use the monitor and other peripherals that came with their old PC (the Mini is sold on its own, without even a mouse). That's not a bad idea, but the problem from Apple's point of view is that the low-cost Mini could also end up cannibalising sales of the flagship iMac. So the company has always tended to limit the Mini's potential by intentionally giving it a relatively modest specification. That obviously doesn't do much for sales and explains all the rumours about its imminent demise.'

Read: Review: Apple Mac Mini desktop computer - Personal Computer World

Posted by HCG Admin at 9:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

XYZ Computing have published a review of the lightweight Toshiba R500 Notebook. ‘Looking at the specifications we can see that the R500 is not too different from a number of other ultraportables, like the ThinkPad X61s or Sony's TZ. The U7600 processor, 1GB of RAM, and the graphics solution are what one would expect from an ultraportable in this price category. Toshiba did not stop there though, the R500 differentiates itself from the crowd by using a 12" LCD (instead of something smaller), LED backlighting, and by including an optical drive. The typical notebook in this category does not have an optical drive and the typical 12" notebook is considerably heavier than the R500. The LED backlighting is a great add-on, but it is becoming increasingly common and is becoming a feature that people should demand instead of seeing it as a bonus.’

Read: Toshiba R500 – XYZ Computing

Posted by HCG Admin at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the lightweight Asus V1S Notebook has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'There is a fair amount of flex on the lid of this notebook, touching anywhere on the back of the screen results in a ripple just below the webcam. But no matter how hard I push I have not been able to make the palmrest flex or bend. There is no keyboard flex and overall it feels very sturdy. The palm rest is either very rigid plastic or a metal alloy. It dosen't chink like metal when you tap it but it stays cold unlike plastic. The hinges are very strong, the screen dosen't wobble or shake when you move the laptop, nor is it ridiculously hard to open like my old Sony. The bottom of the notebook has a much more plastic feel to it, but is also extremely hard and rigid. The lid is metal, my guess being magnesium alloy.'

Read: Asus V1s User Review - Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the new Apple iMac desktop PC has been posted over at Pocket Lint. 'Shiny is probably the best way to describe the new iMac launched earlier this month and in the flesh it doesn't disappoint. But does delving deeper open up a chasm of problems? We get playing to find out. Coming in two sizes; 20-inch and 24-inch you can see that the person in the design department who likes metal has finally got their way. Shaking off the iconic white, the Desktop computer comes in aluminium with a black framing around the glossy glass screen.'

Read: Apple iMac Review - Pocket Lint

Posted by HCG Admin at 9:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PC Perspective have published a review of the Toshiba Satellite P205-S6287 Notebook. ‘The Satellite P205-S6287 is very stylish with its onyx blue metallic exterior and silver keyboard. The exterior cover is very glossy and will be subject to fingerprint smudges. For some reason, I’ve always looked at the construction of the case as an indication of the quality of the notebook. Maybe it’s because I’ve had the misfortune in the past of having to replace a notebook display and the hassle that’s involved in returning the product to the manufacturer, but one feature that is important to me is that the lid doesn’t feel flimsy. The Satellite passes the test there and has a suitably solid-feely display.’

Read: Toshiba Satellite P205-S6287 Review – PC Perspective

Posted by HCG Admin at 11:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Dell Inspiron 1720 desktop replacement PC has been posted over at the Reg Hardware. 'With the 1720, Dell has caught the coloured notebook bug. The chassis may be the normal silver colour, but you can now personalise the lid with a choice of eight colours - a matt black called Jet Black, and six microsatin finishes, Midnight Blue, Bubblegum Pink, Spring Green, Ruby Red, Sunshine Yellow and Espresso Brown. Yes, really. A gloss white finish is also available, but you may have to wait up to 20 days longer before you can get hold of your Mac look-a-likey. Whichever hue you choose, you won't be showing if off too often as it weighs in at a spine-crippling 4.3kg including the power brick - hence the desktop replacement tag.'

Read: Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop - Reg Hardware

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET Asia have published a review of the Fujitsu LifeBook S6410 premium (Core 2 Duo T7400 Processor 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM) Notebook. 'This notebook features the use of magnesium alloy and carbon fiber for a combination of strength and lightweighted-ness. It's not as thin as some ultraportables we've seen, but despite its relative chubbiness it still weighs only 1.66kg. The LCD is a 13.3-inch model and the LED backlighting makes this one of the brightest we've seen. In fact, as far as clarity and viewing angles are concerned it even outstrips Fujitsu's own Q2010, which is almost S$2,000 (US$1,315.96) more. The only problem with LED backlighting is you lose a lot of contrast--black comes out grey--and it's not the best choice for multimedia applications.'

Read: Fujitsu LifeBook S6410 premium (Core 2 Duo T7400 Processor 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM) - CNET Asia

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Toshiba Satellite A215 (Turion 64 X2 1.8GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Vista Home Premium) laptop has been posted over at CNET. ‘Toshiba's latest mainstream laptop occupies the sweet spot between price and features, packing in a generous 250GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM for $999. The 15.4-inch Toshiba Satellite A215 also includes a Labelflash DVD burner that can burn text and images on your optical media, but it skips the brand-name Harman Kardon speakers found on the more expensive A205 model. Still, a more attractive sub-$1,000 laptop would be hard to find, making the Satellite A215 a worthy alternative to Dell's similar line of mainstream laptops.’

Read: Toshiba Satellite A215 (Turion 64 X2 1.8GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Vista Home Premium) - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dan Denzell writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Compal IFL90 Notebook. 'The IFL90 arrived in a surprisingly little, double boxed shipping container. The inner box contained my Compal IFL90 and a box with a driver disk, DVD-RW software and a Robson disk. The power supply came with cords for both US and European outlets so I’m set if anyone in Italy wants to fly me there so they can check out my notebook. Removing the protective packing reveals the glossy, black piano finish of the IFL90 lid. I expected this to be a magnet for fingerprints, and they do show, but not nearly as badly as I feared. I think that it willl scratch easily, but I didn’t want to test this, I figure time will tell. I’m very pleased with its external appearance.'

Read: Compal IFL90 User Review - Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Velocity Micro Vector GX Campus Edition (overclocked Core 2 Duo E6320) configuration has been posted over at CNET. 'Aside from the peripherals getting cut from the deal, the Vector GX Campus Edition is roughly the same as last year's model. It features a low-end Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, a midrange Nvidia graphics card, a 250GB hard drive, and a DVD burner inside the same aluminum GX chassis. What's changed? For one, Velocity Micro acquired Overdrive PC earlier this year and has applied Overdrive's HyperClocking technology to raise the Core 2 Duo E6320 clockspeed from 1.86GHz to 3.0GHz. For another, this year's model adds a second gigabyte of memory. Our review unit also includes a hard-drive upgrade; the 320GB drive adds $55 to the price for a still reasonable total of $1,054.'

Read: Velocity Micro Vector GX Campus Edition (overclocked Core 2 Duo E6320) - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PC Magazine have published a review of the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (LED) laptop. ‘The Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (LED) embeds a new display technology called LED backlighting, not to mention an array of processing parts that range from a new Intel Core 2 Duo processor to a new graphics core from nVidia. You won't notice much of a visual difference with the LED screen, but the performance enhancements may be enough to make MacBook Pro owners out of some who had been undecided. Upgrading from a current MacBook Pro is probably not worth the expense, but Apple put enough into the MacBook Pro 15-inch (LED) for the line to retain the Editors' Choice for mainstream laptops.’

Read: Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (LED) – PC Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET Asia have published a review of the Toshiba Qosmio G40 multimedia desktop replacement. 'The Toshiba Qosmio G40 represents a marked departure from the previous Qosmio G series laptops. Instead of the white LCD cover and black keyboard, the new model flips the color scheme though it maintains the same glossy coat. Granted it makes the unit look very attractive in the showroom, but fingerprints and dust show up too clearly for comfort. It also does away with the slot-in optical drive and had gone with the conventional tray system instead. Though the former does add aesthetic appeal, the switch will be appreciated by those who stock 8cm discs that can be used only with a tray.'

Read: Toshiba Qosmio G40 (Core 2 Duo T7300 Processor 2.0GHz, 2GB RAM) - CNET Asia

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the rugged MobileDemand xTablet T8600 Tablet PC has been posted over at Tablet PC Review. 'The xTablet has a solid design. It is designed and built to withstand the harshest environmental conditions. It meets all military standards for rain, dust and drops. The magnesium alloy chassis helps keep it lightweight while maintaining all it's durability. The housing is a matte black, which hides dirt and scratches well. It weighs in at 4.6 pounds, which is heavy for a tablet you would consider carrying around all day, but that isn't what the xTablet is made for. It has a docking solution, a hand strap, vehicle cradles and many mounting options that are great for working on the go. These accessories really add to the convenience factor of the xTablet.'

Read: MobileDemand xTablet T8600 Review - Tablet PC Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pocket-Lint have published their review of the Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop. 'The first thing you will notice is how sturdy it is, as Dell has learnt its lesson with the previous generation of Inspiron and opted to use thicker plastic for the main body and behind the lid. Under the lid, you’ll still find the same silver colouring but Dell has decided that consumers like colour so has made eight different coloured lids available. They claim they’ll bring out colour co-ordinated peripherals to match but details are a little thin on the ground. However, what really helps this machine stand out from previous versions is the keyboard, which is a great size and extremely comfortable to use. In keeping with 17-inch machines from its rivals, you’ll now find a numeric keypad has been added to the right-hand side, which is great if you need to do a lot of number crunching.'

Read: Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop Review - Pocket-Lint

Posted by HCG Admin at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kevin O'Brien writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Lenovo ThinkPad T61p business Notebook. 'The ThinkPad T61p comes in two sizes, one being 14.1” and the model being reviewed at 15.4”. The key difference between both these lines, besides screen size, is the memory size of the NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M video card included with the system. You receive a 128MB card in the smaller 14.1” model, and double the memory at 256MB in the 15.4” model. The processor selection is the same, spanning from the Intel T7100 to T7700, memory from 1GB to 4GB, and hard drives from 60GB to 160GB in 5400 or 7200rpm flavors. Other options include a fingerprint reader, Bluetooth, Intel Turbo Memory, N-wireless, and an extended battery version.'

Read: Lenovo ThinkPad T61p Review - Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Evesham Voyager C515SR laptop has been posted over at IT Reviews. 'In terms of design, the C515SR isn't going to win any prizes for originality as it has a traditional silver casing, conventional black keyboard and work surface and measures 359 x 255 x 36mm. It isn't bristling with peripherals either, having four USB 2.0 ports, a Dual Layer DVD-RW drive, VGA connection, Ethernet port and Express card. There is, however, a handy built-in media card reader (SD/MS/MS Pro/MMC formats).'

Read: Evesham - Voyager C515SR review - IT Reviews

Posted by HCG Admin at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Medion 6486 desktop PC. ‘The Medion 6486 system box is a typical tower, but with a smarter than average front panel that includes a LightScribe DVD rewriter and a separate player, as well as a multimedia panel which sits behind a push-to-open, vertically sliding door. There's a wide array of sockets behind this door, including slots for all the popular memory card types, twin FireWire sockets, stereo audio inputs, plus composite and S-Video. This suggests the multimedia nature of the machine and indeed, it’s a full Media Center system that positively encourages you to play around with audio, video and DVD.’

Read: Medion 6486 PC – Trusted Reviews

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET have published a review of the HP Compaq 2510p business notebook. ‘Compared to the impossibly slim body of the Sony VAIO TZ150, which measures less than an inch thick, the HP Compaq 2510p looks almost boxy. In truth, the HP's 1.2-inch thick frame is still very easy to carry around, although at 3.4 pounds, it's markedly heavier than other recent ultraportables that come in under the 3-pound mark, such as the VAIO TX150 and Toshiba's R500. On the plus side, it feels much sturdier than either the R500 or TZ150, and the HP's keyboard and lid are both extremely inflexible, good points for frequent travelers to keep in mind. Besides a solid keyboard, the touch pad on the HP Compaq 2510p is also noteworthy. While a bit on the small side, like most ultraportables, the touch pad has a finger-wide discrete scroll zone marked off. This highly responsive bar is much easier to use than the invisible scroll zone found on most laptops, where we just end up running our finger along the right edge of the touch pad trying to find it (or else randomly accidentally scrolling when we just want to click on something).’

Read: HP Compaq 2510p - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 9:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Alienware Area-51 m9750 gaming notebook has been posted over at Firing Squad.com. ‘Alienware’s latest gaming notebook, the Area-51 m9750, is poised to change all this. The Area-51 m9750 is designed to deliver extreme levels of performance along with portability. The system fuses two GeForce 7950 GTX cards running in SLI along with dual hard drives and Core 2 Duo processing power all in a slim 1.5” chassis that tips the scale at just 9 pounds. It’s a remarkable achievement that quite frankly has us giddy about the future of gaming on the go. Let’s go over what makes this system so special.’

Read: Alienware Area-51 m9750 Review – Firing Squad

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Dell Vostro 1400 laptop. 'With its rounded edges and soft-touch-finish lid, this notebook certainly looks hipper than the corporate Latitude line. (You don't have the Inspiron's eight color options, but that's fine given this system's target audience.) The six-pound Vostro 1400 is relatively thick and heavy for a notebook with a 14.1-inch display, but the magnesium-alloy chassis feels sturdy. If you'll be plugged in most of the time, you can skip the nine-cell battery that hangs off the back of the system and opt for a lighter six-cell battery, which will save you $40 and about a half a pound. We loved the responsiveness of the full-sized and sealed keyboard; the nice-sized touchpad buttons were equally responsive without being noisy.'

Read: Dell Vostro 1400 - Laptop Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Digital Trends have published a review of the Lenovo 3000 V200 ultra-portable Notebook. ‘The V200 is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, which is a Core 2 Duo CPU running at 2.2GHz. This model is using the new Intel “Santa Rosa” chipset, which is the fastest mobile chipset available and ups the front side bus speed from previous Intel chipsets from 667MHz to 800MHz. This model was outfitted with 2GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM, which is the maximum capacity. It’d be nice to have a 4GB max capacity, but in the real world 2GB should be more than enough for quite some time, especially on a machine that is not destined for LAN parties. It should be noted that unlike XP, Vista’s Super Fetch feature will gobble up 1GB of RAM in order to launch applications faster, but that still leaves you with a 1GB for applications, which is more than sufficient.’

Read: Lenovo 3000 V200 – Digital Trends

Posted by HCG Admin at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pocket-Lint have published their review of the Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC. 'When it comes to the UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC), Samsung has really got behind the idea of what handheld computing should be. This is the third version in less than twelve months and is a move away from the original concept.