Handy Computer Guide

CNET have published a review of the Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830 laptop. 'The $1,149 Satellite U405 is a sleek, light 13-inch system, and while it won't be replacing the 13-inch MacBook in our affections anytime soon, the new features and decent specs make it worth a look in the thin-and-light category. The new Satellite look is certainly an improvement over previous versions, which have alternated between slate gray and bizarre red-and-black flamed designs. Toshiba says the new look is a "Horizon" pattern in a "Fusion" finish, which basically means silver-gray and black pinstripes that combine for a distinct metallic sheen. Nearly identical in terms of features and design are the new 14-inch Satellite A305D and the 15-inch Satellite M305. The interior smartly makes maximum room for the keyboard, and the large keys are comfortable and easy to use. While we're used to having to watch out for fingerprints on a glossy laptop lid or wrist rest, this is the first time we can recall having to worry about fingerprints on the keyboard. The keys are made of an exceptionally glossy plastic, and the effect is almost distracting.'

Read: Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830 - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PC World have published a review of the Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N Notebook. ‘The 4-pound Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N falls somewhere between a beefy ultraportable and an all-purpose laptop. Thanks to its Intel 2.5-GHz Core 2 Duo T9300 CPU (a Penryn-class processor that we see in some desktop-replacement notebooks) and its nVidia 8400GS graphics card, the SZ smoked our WorldBench 6 performance tests with a score of 94. Among all-purpose notebooks, even Lenovo's ThinkPad R61 and Fujitsu's LifeBook A6120 couldn't match that number.

Aside from strong performance, this laptop has several likable features. Two customizable shortcut buttons sit at the top of the keyboard. You can use them to call up a number of useful functions--multiple monitor mode, hibernate, brightness adjustment, or a snapshot look at key notebook functions, for example.’

Read: VAIO VGN-SZ791N – PC World

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Notebook. ‘Lenovo has also been smart enough to equip the screen on the X300 with a native resolution of 1,440 x 900, instead of the more common 1,280 x 800, and believe me, that extra desktop space really does make a difference. That said, it's the screen that represents one of the very few weak points on the X300. Like many thin and light notebooks, the X300 employs an LED backlighting system, which brings with it benefits but also problems. When Sony pioneered LED backlights in its TX1XP machine, it suffered from seriously uneven lighting, with significant light bleed running along the bottom edge of the screen. With several generations of development under its belt, Sony has pretty much eradicated those problems and now its LED based LCD screens are, quite simply, stunning. Lenovo on the other hand, clearly doesn't have the same experience with this technology and like the early Sony screens, the lighting across the display surface is fairly uneven. There's also discernable light bleed at both the top and bottom edges.’

Read: Lenovo ThinkPad X300 – Trusted Reviews

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ZDNet have published a review of the ASUS Lamborghini VX3-A1 laptop. 'The $3,299 Asus Lamborghini VX3 is a lap-based homage to the famous sports car of the same name, complete with a screamingly bright automotive yellow paint job. We've seen car-themed laptops before, from Acer's Ferrari to a Toughbook-like Hummer laptop, and their audience is usually limited to auto enthusiasts who don't mind paying a premium for what is essentially window dressing on a set of fairly standard laptop components. That being said, if you're a fan of the car company founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini, you'll find a nicely put-together laptop, with excellent build quality and upscale touches such as a leather-clad wrist rest. Under the hood, it lacks that sports car DNA, eliciting middling performance from its standard Intel Penryn CPU. Still, we can't help but like the included sack of Lamborghini-branded accessories, including a leather mousepad and Bluetooth mouse.'

Read: ASUS Lamborghini VX3-A1 (yellow) - ZDNet

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Toshiba Satellite U405 Notebook has been posted over at Notebook Review. ‘The Toshiba Satellite U400/U405 series is a new 13.3" widescreen notebook that weighs in at just 4.85 pounds and packs solid Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn performance and a big hard drive with plenty of storage space. Add to that a stylish chassis covered in Toshiba's new "Fusion" finish, 3GB of RAM, a webcam, and fingerprint reader and this notebook starts looking even better. Toshiba calls this notebook a "compact hero [that] balances working room with carrying comfort." Let's take a look and see if this laptop is as good as it sounds.
The Toshiba Satellite U400/U405 series is available with a range of Intel processors (from the 1.73GHz Pentium Dual-Core T2370 up to the T8300 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo Penryn). There is only one 13.3" screen offering, a 1280x800 WXGA "TruBrite" glossy display. The notebook can take up to 4GB of RAM and Toshiba offers 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista SP1. The system is priced starting at $767.20 at the time of this writing.’

Read:Toshiba Satellite U405 Review - Notebook Review

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

PC Authority have published a review of the new ASUS M70 Blu-Ray Notebook. 'The M70 is a milestone for a couple of reasons. Firstly it's a powerful machine, with a Blu-Ray drive, but it doesn't break the $5,000 mark. At $3,699 it's expensive, but this is cheaper than what HD afficionados have paid in the past (up to $5,000 or more for Toshiba's Qosmio G40). Take into account Acer's $2,699 Blu-Ray 8920G and it's clear the cost of full HD is coming down, if slowly. The M70 is also very, very fast - which you'd expect with a $3,500+ price tag. Under the hood is Intel's T9300 (2.5GHz) with 6MB cache, 4GB RAM. Graphics are taken care of by an ATI Mobility Radeon HD3650 (with 2GB in our test unit). The standout features are the two 500GB drives, for a whopping 1Terabyte of storage. You won't even need external drives with this.'

Read: FIRST LOOK EXCLUSIVE: ASUS M70 - PC Authority

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET have published a review of the Enpower ENP780 desktop replacement PC. ‘Draped in glossy black, the overall design lends an upscale look to the ENP780. The laptop feels sturdy, too, with very little flex in the lid and keyboard tray. There are four buttons above the keyboard, but volume control is mapped to the Function keys, and media control keys are absent. We also appreciate it when a desktop replacement provides dedicated volume and play, pause, and track forward and back buttons. We'd happily trade the number pad for such functionality. Despite the large chassis, the number pad is squeezed in to the right of the keyboard and unfortunately forces some heavily used keys--Enter, Shift, the period, and the four arrow keys--to be shortened. The other nitpick we have is with the case itself--the mouse buttons below the touchpad are very stiff and clacky.’

Read: Enpower ENP780 - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Dell Vostro 1310 business Notebook. 'Thinner and lighter than the 14-inch Vostro, the 4.8-pound Dell Vostro 1310 looks the part of a business notebook without being boring. Take a closer look at the 12.5 x 9.6 x 1.5-inch system, and you’ll see that the magnesium-alloy and titanium chassis has a little sparkle to it, visible in the lid and the keyboard deck. Above the keyboard is a set of blue status lights for Internet, Bluetooth, and more, plus seven touch-sensitive multimedia keys, which were very responsive on our tests. Above the display is a microphone and 1.3-megapixel webcam, which were fine for video chats. The full-size keyboard is spacious and comfortable, though we did notice some flex when we typed. We had no problems with the very responsive touchpad or comfortable mouse buttons.'

Read: Dell Vostro 1310 - Laptop Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Toshiba Satellite L355D laptop has been posted over at Notebook Review. ‘The Toshiba L355D has a design that we are very familiar with, that has changed very little from the older P200 series notebook. The notebook body slimmed down across the board, but without comparing pictures between each model it would be hard to tell the difference. The peak height at the feet remained very similar, but the notebook profile is thinner in the front and back. The biggest change is the hinge design, which went from a "hidden" design to a double hinge setup. The rest of the notebook looks fairly untouched, with the same multimedia controls, stepped sloping palmrest, and near identical look when closed. The final visual change that many will notice is the lack of glossy finish on the display cover, which was replaced with a silver metallic matte finish. Users who complained of easy scratching and smudged fingerprints can now rejoice.’

Read: Toshiba Satellite L355D Review – Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Digital Trends have published a review of the ASUS U6 Notebook. ‘Like most ultra-portable notebooks, the U6S features a 12.1-inch widescreen LED backlit display that is incredibly thin and helps keep the system’s weight down to a respectable 3.5lbs. It’s a Centrino machine to boot, featuring a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and Intel’s latest 965 chipset, which notably features support for 802.11a, b, g, and the new n wireless networking standard.
Furthermore, the machine comes with Vista Business and includes several Asus utilities designed to offer enhanced security – a must-have for any working professional’s laptop. In addition to a biometric fingerprint scanner, which can log you into Windows as well as remember website passwords, it also cleverly includes facial recognition technology that lets you sign right into the system as well.’

Read: ASUS U6S – Digital Trends

Posted by HCG Admin at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pocket-Lint have published a review of the HP Pavilion dv6750ea Notebook. 'The HP Pavilion dv6750ea takes the now standard HP design, a silver and black casing with an inlaid swirl design and offers it up as a multimedia entertainment notebook. The screen is a 15.4-inch Super-TFT panel that sits on a strange hinge that dips at the back of the casing. It's not the most secure of fixings, as we found the screen was prone to movement as we typed, which isn't great if you're planning on using it on the move. Screen quality is stunning, with images looking sharp, and making it ideal for watching movies or playing games. At this price point you'll find a reasonable graphics card in the form of the Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS, which is fine for playing mainstream games and even helps if you're editing video.'

Read: HP Pavilion dv6750ea notebook review - Pocket-Lint

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Toshiba Portégé M700-S7002 convertible tablet PC has been posted over at PC Magazine. 'The M700-S7002 measures 9.5 by 11.8 by 1.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.5 pounds. You can't tell at first glance, but the system has received a considerable makeover from its predecessor, the Portégé M400-S4032. It retains a boxy look, absent any visual eye-candy that might make it look less like a business machine and more like its prettier sibling, the Portégé R400-S4931. But it adds a new hinge design, a widescreen, and a webcam. The optical drive is essentially the reason why tablets like the Fujitsu LifeBook T4210 and the ASUS R1 are thicker and less attractive than those that forgo the drive. It doesn't help either that the Wacom-enabled screens—the technology that drives handwriting recognition—have sensors beneath the tablet's surface that thicken the screen and thus increase the tablet's overall dimensions. So even though the M700 now has a widescreen format and an LED backlight, usually signaling a thinner screen, the Wacom technology counteracts that effect.'

Read: Toshiba Portégé M700-S7002 - PC Mag

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

Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Sony VAIO VGN-TZ31MN ultra-portable Notebook PC. ‘On the surface the TZ31M looks identical to the TZ11MN that I reviewed a year ago, but believe me when I say that this isn't a bad thing. The VAIO TZ series really does represent the pinnacle of notebook design right now. The form factor is perfect, the finish is first rate and the design stylish - and the fact that the TZ is essentially an evolution of the VAIO TX series is nothing to worry about either, since the TX machines were also head and shoulders above the competition at the time.
Sony quotes a weight of 1.19kg, and that's exactly what the TR scales reported when we placed the TZ31MN on them. This makes the TZ31MN a very light notebook and, although it's not as light as the Toshiba R500, it also doesn't feel like it's made of paper. With dimensions of 277 x 199 x 29mm (WxDxH) it's incredibly svelte as well as light - in fact every time I see a TZ series VAIO it amazes me that Sony has managed to squeeze so much into such a small case.’

Read: Sony VAIO VGN-TZ31MN - Ultra-Portable Notebook – Trusted Reviews

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

CNET have published a review of the new HP 2133 Mini-Note PC. 'The 2133's biggest selling point is its fantastic keyboard, which HP claims is 92 percent of the size of a full-size laptop keyboard. Both inexpensive mini-notebooks and high-priced UMPCs have been plagued by tiny Chicklet-like keys, which make typing a pain and typos plentiful. By expanding the keyboard right to the edges of the system, HP was able to fit bigger keys into the tray. The result is a comfortable typing experience. It also presents a unique, eye-catching look. The touch pad also has an unusual shape, stretched into a letterbox-like wide rectangle. The touch surface is a little small, and the mouse buttons have been moved to the left and right sides of the touch pad, but this permits the system to have a minimal amount of wasted wrist rest space, and seems to be a fair trade-off, even if it takes a little getting used to. There are no quick-launch or media control buttons, but a Web cam and speakers are mounted around the screen.'

Read: HP 2133 Mini-Note PC - CNET

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

InfoSync World have published a review of the Asus EEE PC ultraportable. ‘The keyboard and trackpad on the EEE PC are not only tiny, they include some design choices that make them even more difficult to use. On the keyboard, the tiny keys meant that we often missed our mark with annoying results. We pressed the arrow key went we meant to shift. We pressed Delete when we meant to Backspace. The keys themselves felt flimsy and cheap, which they probably are, considering the machine's price tag. But this meant that typing wasn't very comfortable, and often our keystrokes wouldn't register if we didn't type carefully and deliberately.
Unfortunately, the trackpad is even worse. It was too small for even our dainty fingers, which made it difficult to use, but also meant that moving the cursor from one side of the screen to the other took an inordinate number of swipes. The trackpad button tries to be clever, hiding two buttons under a single metallic bar. Press on the left side, and you left-click; press on the right side, and you right-click. But press anywhere near the center, and nothing happens. In fact, some times we had to batter the button even when we were pressing on its poles.’

Read: Review: Asus EEE PC budget ultraportable laptop - InfoSync World

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the ultra slim GETAC M230 rugged Notebook PC has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'Few notebooks hit the realm of perfect ruggedness, and the GETAC hits the spot perfectly in all areas. The design is excellent, everything from the port layout, to the onboard metal carrying handle. Sturdy rubber bumpers are screwed into all corners of the notebook to absorb impact forces when the notebook is dropped, tying into the immensely strong chassis to spread out the impact. No part on this notebook is left unprotected, in both open and closed positions. This includes the hinges, keyboard and buttons, external ports, and device bays, which all have a thick rubber cover, or secure metal hatch. The device bays, which include the battery, optical drive, and hard drive all use a pinch release metal hatch. The release mechanism is spring loaded, and with your fingertips you pinch the clips together to open the panel. Build quality is top notch, well above any other notebook I have tested to date. Squeaks and creaks are left to the plastic notebooks, where this notebook laughs at trucks running over it to induce screen flex. The frame is thick magnesium alloy and nothing short of jumping on it will make it bend. I am not joking when I say that pressing firmly on any section of the frame will not make it bend or flex. I might have been able to tweak it a little bit by putting a chair leg on the middle of the screen cover, but that is it.'

Read: GETAC M230 Review - Notebook Review

Posted by HCG Admin at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Register Hardware have published a review of the Alienware Area 51 ALX CrossFireX gaming PC. ‘The front of the case has one Firewire and two USB ports along with jacks for your headset, and above that there's a door that covers the optical drive. The drive bay flap is an impressive piece of engineering that operates on a pair of articulated arms so the door pulls forward before it swings to one side. Unlike the door on a typical PC case that is usually just a flimsy piece of plastic, the Alienware door is quite substantial. Inside the case, the Area 51 looks fairly conventional. There are three optical drive bays at the front, with an LG GSA-H55L 20x dual-layer DVD writer at the top, an empty bay under that and a card reader in the bottom bay.’

Read: Alienware Area 51 ALX CrossFireX gaming PC – Register Hardware

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC has been posted over at The Gadgeteer. ‘On the front edge, there are two small chrome slider switches with LEDs built into the switch knobs. The switch on the Left is the power switch and the switch on the right is for Wifi. There is also a small disk status LED next to the power switch. Speaking of the hard drive, it is protected by the HP 3D DriveGuard. This sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock by using a three-axis digital accelerometer chip. On the Left side of the laptop, you will find a VGA out connector, heat vents, a USB port, microphone and earphone jacks.’

Read: HP 2133 Mini-Note PC – The Gadgeteer

Posted by HCG Admin at 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNET have published a review of the MSI PR210 laptop. 'Available in blue, pink, and green, the MSI PR210 seems destined to appeal to users who aren't excited by the looks of 12.1-inch systems from Lenovo and Toshiba but still want a relatively portable laptop. The PR210's attractive metallic cover and full feature set certainly seem a steal for its list price of $1,000. In fact, our primary complaint about the bulky ultraportable lies in its superbudget AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor, which failed to exceed the middling performance of the less-expensive Averatec 2371. The trade-off for pokey performance is battery life--the PR210 lasted an impressive three hours on our drain tests. For most users the MSI PR210's good looks and lengthy battery make up for its slight price premium, though the budget-conscious should note that the Averatec 2371 offers many of the same features for $100 less.'

Read: MSI PR210 (green) - CNET

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A review of the Toshiba Satellite Pro U300 Notebook has been posted over at Pocket-Lint. ‘Finished in black and grey plastic, this isn't the most stylish of notebooks but it certainly proved robust for use on the move. It's a slim machine considering there is a DVD rewriter built-in and the size means it great for the commute, as it will easily slip in to any standard carry case. With an overall weight of 2.1kg, it's reasonably portable and coupled with a battery life well in excess of 3 hours, we were more than satisfied with its portability. This size is kept to a minimum by the use of a 13.3-inch display. It's a Super-TFT panel so has a gloss finish, which is great for digital photos and DVDs but can cast reflections if used in bright conditions. While it's more usual for business notebooks to have a standard TFT panel, we like this sort of screen as images really shine.’

Read: Toshiba Satellite Pro U300 notebook review – Pocket-Lint

Posted by HCG Admin at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Fujitsu LifeBook P8010 ultraportable. ‘At just 3 pounds and 1.1 inches at its thinnest point (and 1.4 inches at its thickest), the P8010 is relatively chunky but its magnesium-alloy chassis feels wonderfully light. The design, too, is a pleasant upgrade from its predecessor, the LifeBook P7230. The glossy black lid looks sleek but does not pick up fingerprints easily. Underneath, you’ll find a matching piano-black bezel with a matte black keyboard and silver palm rests. In addition to the power button, two small speakers and four launch buttons lie above the keyboard. These launch the Fujitsu Support Center, which contains a manual, a link to a support site, and a diagnostic program; Fujitsu Power Saving Utility, which allows users to switch to power-saving mode with the touch of a button; Fujitsu Display Manager, with which you can adjust the resolution; and the default Web browser.’

Read: Fujitsu LifeBook P8010 – Laptop Mag

Posted by HCG Admin at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)