January 2010 Archives

A review of the Asus G51J 3D laptop has been posted over at Reg Hardware. 'It's a fairly bulky piece of kit, measuring 375 x 265 x 41mm. The battery also pokes out from the rear, which is a shame since given the size of the laptop there should have been room to keep it in within the confines of the chassis. The laptop's styling is questionable. The lid looks like Wolverine has gone to town on it, with a large tear motif sitting in the middle. Asus has also deemed it necessary to adorn the chassis with lights - two strips on either side and a third on the lid - as well as illuminating its Republic of Gamers logo. Somewhat annoyingly, it's not possible to switch these blighters off. Worse still, leave the laptop in standby with the lid closed and the two lights on the top will endlessly flash.'

Dev Hardware have published their review of the Alienware M15x gaming laptop. 'The Alienware M15x laptop from Dell is a gaming powerhouse for serious gamers who want to dominate their competition. Not only does this laptop look fierce, with its jagged design and lights emanating from all of its pores, but it performs beastly as well. A solid feature set with plenty of interesting technology comes along for the ride too. Keep reading for a closer look. Of course, the machine does have some drawbacks, such as its bulky frame. The M15x is highly configurable and is like shopping for a car in that you can add all the bells and whistles you want to it prior to ordering.'

IT Reviews have published a review of the PsiXpda pocket computer. 'The internal specifications are reasonable enough. Windows XP Professional, Intel's Atom Z510 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of solid state storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and even SIM card support for mobile broadband. One standard sized and one mini sized USB port, microSD card slot and 2.5mm headset slot sit around the edges of the casing. There is a VGA webcam next to the screen. Some aspects of the ergonomics of use are well thought out. The screen, for example, faces outwards and the PsiXpda can be used with its keyboard hidden away thanks to a pair of mouse button surrogates to the left of the display and a touchpad area to its right.'

The Compaq Presario CQ61-310US 15.6-Inch Black Laptop (Up to 4.25 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) has been reduced from $499.99 to $463.70 over at Amazon.com. 'Balancing mobility and performance needs at 5.90 lbs, the CQ61 is powered by AMD processor and ATI graphics technology along with these essential features: 15.6-Inch Diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView display for full-screen views. Integrated high-speed wireless LAN(10d) enabling connectivity within hot spots. Altec Lansing speakers delivering smooth audio performance. IDEAL FOR: Going online (Web surfing; social networking; email; shopping; video streaming).'

The new Samsung R530 15.6-Inch Laptop (Red) is available on pre-order for $679.00 over at Amazon.com. 'With a glass-like finish over a rich red-black gradation, the feature-rich Samsung R530 notebook's style gives you a hint of what's to come when you push the power button. The 15.6 inch LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen LCD gives you bright, colorful high-definition images and HD audio, for a rich gaming experience. You'll speed your way around applications with Windows 7, and you'll control it all with a full size isolation-type keyboard with integrated 17-key numeric pad. The touchpad's lighted edges add even more style. And the R530 fits your busy lifestyle, with a 4-hour battery and a weight of just 5.5 lbs.'

The new Toshiba Satellite T135-S1330 TruBrite 13.3-Inch Ultrathin Laptop (Black) has been reduced from $719.99 to $679.99 over at Amazon.com. 'The Satellite T135 is engineered to feature the comfort and convenience of a standard laptop yet in an ultra-thin package. It features a full-sized keyboard and full-sized touchpad with multi-touch capabilities, enabling greater flexibility to browse and control what's happening on-screen with gesture commands--including two-finger pinch, swipe, rotate and scroll. It's also been designed to be environmentally conscious with a power-efficient, mercury-free LED backlit display that also provides brilliantly colorful imagery for photos and video thanks to the native HD TruBrite screen.'

A review of the Asus EeePC 1201N netbook has been posted over at PC Magazine. 'The ASUS 1201N is long and slim and takes its design cues from the ASUS EeePC 1101HA. Like most of its EeePC predecessors, it's wrapped in shiny plastics: The black version is a magnet for fingerprints and smudges, so you're better off with the silver one. Its 3.2 pound frame is light among other 12-inch netbooks like the Samsung NC20 (12GBK), and Lenovo IdeaPad S12 (Ion), which weigh 3.3 and 3.4 pounds, respectively. The MSI U210 (008US) is the lightest 12-inch netbook, at 3 pounds.'

Laptop Magazine have published their review of the Lenovo IdeaPad U150 ultraportable. 'At 11.4 x 7.5 x 1.4 and 3.2 pounds, the IdeaPad U150 is larger than the 11.6-inch Acer Aspire Timeline 1810T (11.2 x 8.0 x 1.2 inches; 3.2-pounds), but lighter than both the Toshiba Satellite T115 (11.3 x 8.3 x 1.4 inches; 3.4 pounds) and the Dell Inspiron 11z (11.5 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches; 3.4 pounds). Only 0.5-inches at its thinnest point, the U150's six-cell battery juts out of the bottom, causing the chassis to stand at an angle and the thickness of the backside to balloon up to 1.4 inches. The IdeaPad U150's subtle design has some unique and attractive elements. The lid, which comes in either black or red, features a hard matte surface with subtle lines and a web pattern that reminds us of a DNA strand or series of atoms.'

CNET Asia have published a review of the Acer Aspire 4540G (AMD Turion II X2 M520 Processor 2.3GHz, 4GB RAM) notebook. 'The Aspire 4540G may have gone with plastic for its chassis, but it's one solid notebook that and feels like it can stand up to some abuse. One of the first things we noticed is that despite an LED-backlit screen, which is supposed to offer a slimmer profile than traditional CCFL-based displays, the unit is unusually thick. Turns out the extra "love handles" are to protect the panel. We tried exerting considerable force on the back of the screen and found no noticeable ripples on the display.'

A review of the UMID mbook BZ ultraportable has been posted over at Pocketables.net 'Originally known as the UMID M2 but officially rechristened the UMID mbook BZ, the Atom-based clamshell MID/UMPC was launched at CES 2010 and is now available at Dynamism. It is the successor to last year's mbook M1, which received mixed reviews due to early build quality issues and hardware quirks like a less-than-ideal screen angle, non-standard ports that required unwieldy adapters to use, and no pointing device.'

Digital Trends have published their review of the HP TouchSmart 600 All-In-One deasktop PC. 'From an aesthetic standpoint, each new TouchSmart model seems to be just a little slicker looking than the last, and the TouchSmart 600-1055 is no exception. Its thin piano black bezel rests on three legs; a pair of u-shaped supports in the front and a photo frame-inspired kickstand in the back. A recessed blue light, the intensity of which can be altered via a button on the side of the display, shines down on a super-slim wireless keyboard and matching mouse, both of which can be slid under the display and out of sight when not in use, ensuring that the machine maintains a relatively small footprint.'

A review of the HP EliteBook 8540p notebook has been posted over at NotebookReview.com. 'The HP EliteBooks have a very stylish brushed-metal exterior that adds a splash of sophistication to what is usually a dull or boring business notebook. The metal cladding gives the notebook a bright eye-catching design, helps to hide fingerprints, and really pulls together the look that the notebook could stand up to the rigors of daily abuse. HP even went as far as putting matching silver trim pieces around the screen hinges, showing no design element is too small. The brushed-metal finish really flows well with the black chassis and black inlays around the keyboard and touchpad. While I am usually partial to all-black business notebooks, the HP EliteBook-series really makes me want to jump to the other side.

PC Advisor have published their review of the Acer Aspire One 532h netbook. 'Compared to the earlier Aspire One D150 and D250 netbooks, which had a strong glossy blue screen lid, the Acer Aspire One 532h has a smooth gradient of glossy metallic blue and black on its screen lid. It definitely makes the Aspire One 532h look more refined. However, the glossy exterior is a fingerprint magnet. The interior palmrest, keyboard and bezel are washed in black. Another notable feature of the Acer Aspire One 532h is its keyboard which bears the exact same sized keys and layout (FineTip) as found on the Aspire One 751h. It's great for typing, once you tune into the smaller form factor, and it's definitely better than the MSI Wind U135's keyboard.'

PC World havew published their review of the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge notebook. 'Though its 13.3-inch screen size puts this notebook in almost the same category as all-purpose machines, it is billed and sold as an ultraportable. It's slim and light enough (under 4 pounds without accessories) to qualify. As with many ultraportables, it utilizes an ultra-low-voltage processor that sacrifices performance for battery life. Our test system came equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor at 1.3GHz, and starts at $799. A less-expensive, AMD-based system is available for as little as $579, but our experience with these processors tells us it would be a bit slower than the Intel flavor.'

A review of the Medion Akoya E7212 desktop replacement PC has been posted over at Computeractive.co.uk. 'Although the computer's body is large, accommodating the 17in widescreen display, the keyboard was surprisingly small, with plenty of space at either side, although the touchpad below it was large enough to be comfortable in use. The keyboard took a bit more getting used to before we were able to type without regularly bashing other letters than the ones we had meant to hit. Battery life was not impressive at only one hour and 40 minutes but that's in keeping with the laptop's profile - it's too heavy to be used for very long away from a mains power socket.'

MobileTechReview have published their review of the Toshiba Satellite Pro U500 notebook. 'The Toshiba Satellite Pro U500 is among what Toshiba calls their "premium design" notebook models that have a textured surface on the cover and keyboard deck. The textured surface adds a luxurious look to the notebook and is impervious to fingerprints. Even though the Toshiba Satellite U500 carries the "U" series label, it's quite thick and measures at 12.5 x 9.08 x 1.16 (front)/1.50 (rear) inches. However the notebook isn't hugely heavy at the 4.74 lbs starting weight.'

CNET have published a review of the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge (13-inch) business laptop. 'At first glance, the 13-inch ThinkPad Edge doesn't seem so unlike a ThinkPad, save for the extremely glossy lid. The Edge has a low starting price of $579, although that's with an AMD processor: Intel configs of the Edge start at $799. Our review version, with 4GB of RAM, a U7300 Intel Core 2 ULV, and a 320GB hard drive, sells for $899. At the lower end of the range, the Edge could represent great value for someone looking for a thin laptop with business software built in. However, when you're getting up to $899, there might be better values elsewhere.'

PC Magazine have published a review of the HP Pavilion dv4-2153cl multimedia notebook. 'The notebook's 5.2 pound weight is about average for a 14-incher, but is still a full pound heavier than Acer's featherweight Aspire Timeline AS4810TZ-4120. The Imprint pattern extends to the keyboard deck, which holds a black keyboard that is firm and comfortable, as well as a polished chrome touchpad and mouse buttons. The pad is smooth and provides easy fingertip cursor control but is slightly squashed. There are no built-in media player buttons on this model but it does come with a cool little media player remote that you can stash away in the ExpressCard slot. Joining the power switch at the top of the keyboard deck are a volume slider and a Wi-Fi button, both of which are touch sensitive controls.

A review of the Fujitsu LifeBook T4410 tablet PC has been posted over at TabletPCReview. 'The design of the Fujitsu LifeBook T4410 is a cross between a pure business tablet and a consumer tablet. The look and feel is very rounded compared to the business competition which feature squared edges and sleek looks. It lacks the flair of a glossy paint job like the HP TouchSmart tx2 and it is thicker and more "plasticy" than either the Lenovo X200 Tablet or Dell Latitude XT2. The color scheme is very similar to past Fujitsu notebooks with highly contrasting colors inside and out. If a category existed for a small-business oriented tablet, this model would fit in perfectly.'

Notebook Review have published a review of the PowerPro 10:17 (MSI 1727) gaming notebook. 'The 10:17 has a nondescript look. It has no outstanding design features; the chassis is a traditional rectangle shape sans radical curves or designs. It is reasonably slim for a 17-inch notebook at about one and a half inches thick at the highest point. The plastic used in the construction is noticeably thicker than what makes up most consumer notebooks. It has a solid feel and does not rattle when tapped. One design characteristic of the 10:17 we appreciate is the use of matte plastic instead of glossy plastic; matte plastic is not only more durable but also far easier to keep clean. The 10:17's matte surfaces feel very smooth.

A review of the Toshiba Satellite T130-11H notebook has been posted over at Pocket-lint.com. 'Measuring only 323 x 223 x 22.2mm (at the front and 34.2mm at the rear) this isn't the slimmest of all the machines out there, but it will easily slip into most bags too. Weighing in at 1.76kg it won't pull your arm off either if you have to carry it around all day. The design is attractive enough - despite the fingerprints - with a subtle patterned underlay giving the impression of a carbonfibre weave. It isn't, of course, but the plastics seems to be substantial enough to avoid too much bending and twisting, with the screen getting a good degree of protection from the rear and lid not bending as you move it around.'

The Lenovo Ideapad U-350 (2963-47U) 13.3-Inch Black Laptop (Up to 5 hours of battery life, Windows 7 Home Premium) has been reduced from $599.99 to $494.76 over at Amazon.com. 'Thanks to the combination of new Ultra-Low Voltage Core 2 Duo processors from Intel and the latest technologies from Lenovo and Microsoft, the ultra-thin IdeaPad U350 notebook features increased battery life, is just an inch thick and weighs only 3.52lbs, yet it delivers a brilliant Windows 7 experience. With Windows 7 Lenovo Enhanced Experience certification, the U350 features fast boot and shutdown, rich multimedia capabilities and easy system maintenance tools. Best of all, it's from Lenovo, makers of the award-winning ThinkPad notebooks for business.'

The ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 hours of battery life) has been reduced from $379.99 to $367.99 over at Amazon Marketplace.. 'The Eee PC 1005PE-P is encased in a smooth pearlescent shell that captivates onlookers and features the next generation Intel Atom N450 processor for extraordinary battery life. Plus, it gives you extended comfort with a chiclet keyboard, large palm-rest, and multi-touch trackpad. For more convenience, the Eee PC 1005PE has hotkeys placed above the keyboard - granting you quick access to Wi-Fi and control of the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that instantly optimizes system performance for the task at hand. Throw in a generous 250GB hard drive with 500GB of ASUS WebStorage** and you get the ability to store, share, and access your important data anytime, anywhere,'

The new Acer AO532h-2730 10.1-Inch Garnet Red Netbook (Up to 8 hours of battery life) is on offer for $299.00 with free standard shipping over at Amazon.com. 'Browse the Web, check email, share photos, keep up with social networks, listen to music and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment with the Aspire One AO532h, which features a small compact design that you can take anywhere. Combining the power of the latest Intel Atom N450 processor and NM10 Express chipset with a 6-cell battery, this Aspire One AO532h model (AO532h-2730) in garnet red provides up to 8 hours of battery life on the go--enough for a full workday.'

PC Magazine have published a review of the HP Pavilion p6347c-b desktop PC. 'The Pavilion p6347c-b breaks no new design ground; in fact it looks very much like the HP Pavilion p6247c-b and p6127c-b. It's the usual glossy black HP minitower with top-mounted power button and the 15-in-1 media card reader, sliding cover over two USB and audio ports in the front, and standard set of ports in the back. Though it's an older design, it does hold at lot of stuff: It can handle three more PCIe x1 cards in addition to the PCIe x16 graphics card, two more additional hard drives and an optical drive, and space for one more memory DIMM (8GB anyone?). There's even space for a mini-PCIe card, in case you want to add Wi-Fi to this desktop. I'm thankful that HP skipped adding a modem to this system; widespread broadband adoption is making sure you don't need to dial up anymore.'

A review of the Sony VAIO VPCCW1S1E notebook has been posted over at IT Reviews. 'As with most Sony VAIO laptops, the VPCCW1S1E has no problems in the looks department. It's also available in a variety of striking colours, namely red, white, black, pink and blue. With a weight of 2.3kg, it doesn't make it into the ultra-portable category, but measuring 233 x 38.5 x 341mm, it's fairly small and should fit into even modestly-sized bags. Flipping open the lid reveals a 14-inch display that, thanks to its glossy coating, is able to produce bright, vibrant colours. The native resolution sits at 1,366 x 768, and the 16:9 aspect ratio means movies will fit the screen perfectly. Viewing angles aren't the best, though, and you need to make sure you're looking at it square on in order to get the best out of it.'

Computeractive have published a review of the Viewsonic Viewbook VNB131 notebook. 'It may only be slightly bigger than a mini-notebook or netbook computer, but the Viewbook Pro is more powerful and more pleasant to use than a netbook - but it's also considerably more expensive. It has a larger, higher-resolution screen, which is better for working on, and the computer is powerful enough to allow it to play high-definition video in the best and most taxing resolution of 1080p. While it copes with that and with light video editing, though, it's still no powerhouse, and its graphics aren't really good enough for 3D games.'

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Toshiba Satellite T135D ultraportable. 'The T135D features a glossy coating that commands your attention, and the Fusion Finish in Nova Black offers a dark, rich visual design with a subtle checkered pattern that's quite fetching. Available in black, red, and white, the T135D's subtle, houndstooth-esque pattern spreads across the lid, extending onto the keyboard deck and palm rest. Even the touchpad bears this pattern (although it has a textured finish). Because of this design, fingerprints remain more or less hidden. Coupled with metal accents on and around the touch button, the machine looks a bit more expensive (and rightfully so) than your average netbook.

Geek.com have published their "Quick review" of the Gateway EC1430u notebook. 'The CULV, or affordable ultraportable, market has been tough to figure out, especially in sizes where the computers seem a lot like big netbooks. The EC1430u isn't a netbook though: it has a dual-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 320GB of storage. It also sells for $550, much more than even a premium netbook. Despite what it does to separate it from the netbooks, it still runs integrated graphics, presenting a sticking point for anyone interested in HD video playback and who might also be considering something like the HP dm3z.'

CNET Asia have published a review of the Toshiba Qosmio X500 (Core i7 720QM Processor 1.6GHz, 4GB RAM) notebook. 'With a massive 18-inch 1080p display, it's no surprise our review unit included a Blu-ray drive (a bandwagon Toshiba has been reluctant to hop onboard as it was the driving force behind HD-DVD). Those features (plus a second solid-state hard drive) make for a system that costs US$1,899--not much compared with the tricked-out Alienware laptops of old, but considered very high-end in today's Netbook-obsessed market. HP, Asus, and others also have Core i7 gaming rigs in the works, which may be worth considering if you want a Core i7 and high-end graphics without paying for Blu-ray, the SSD drive, and other pricey features.'

Notebook Check have published a review of the new Asus Eee PC 1005PE notebook. 'Asus has kept the design of the 1005 range upright and hasn't dared to make any big changes. The predecessors, 1005HA-M and 1005HA-H, were only available in black and white. The new models, 1005P and 1005PE, are now also available in dark blue and pink. The three new case surfaces with many small rhombuses in white, black or blue is completely new. Thus, Asus now has seven different alternatives amongst which everyone should find the right one.

TweakTown have published their review of the Smooth Creations 18.4 gaming notebook. 'Like most gaming notebooks, especially those from boutique makers like Smooth Creations, the number of options and choices on this notebook is simply staggering. The machine I am testing is packed full of the best available with an Intel Core 2 Extreme Q9300 quad-core CPU, NVIDIA GTX 280M graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 500 GB of storage. The basic notebook starts at about $3,400 and the configuration I am testing is well over that starting price.

A review of the Lenovo IdeaPad U450 widescreen notebook has been posted over at NotebookReview.com. 'The Lenovo U450 is black with a plastic casing and gently rounded corners and edges. The lid and area surrounding the keyboard (including the palm-rests) have a tactile, checkerboard-like pattern which resists smudging, fingerprints and scratching. Some may find this pattern distracting or annoying after prolonged use, but we see it as a nice design choice which gives this the otherwise plasticky case a bit of class and differentiates it from the shiny plastic all too common recently. The screen lid has a metallic, plastic Lenovo emblem embedded in the upper left. The bezel around the screen is shiny, smooth, black plastic and the hinges connecting it to the body seem fairly typical - plastic on the exterior and not overly tight or loose. The laptop is held closed by the tension of the hinges.

PC World have published a review of the Toshiba Satellite T115-S1105 netnook. 'The 11.6-inch widescreen places the T115 in a select group of netbooks with oversized screens. This one, along with every other one in its class, employs a 1,366-by-768 resolution, so you get more pixels than that of a 1,024-by-600 one that is standard among 10-inch widescreens, like the one found in the Toshiba mini NB205. My compliments to Toshiba for including a full size keyboard when similar netbooks, like the HP 311 and Asus 1101HA, are topping out at 92% of full size. It's easier to implement a full size typing experience on a 12-inch platform, which is exactly what the Lenovo S12 (Ion) and the Samsung NC20 did.

PC Advisor have published a review of the Eclipse Evolution i792R585 gaming desktop. 'Sticking with Intel's older, but still very popular, 2.66GHz Core i7 920 CPU gives the Eclipse Evolution i792R585 the power to deliver some great performance results, including a 136-point tally in WorldBench 6. The Evolution also houses a DirectX 11.0-compatible ATI Radeon HD 5850 graphics card, allowing for a fantastic gaming experience both now and with future titles. Gamers should note that the Biostar motherboard's trio of PCI Express x16 slots and support for scalable link interface (SLI) and CrossFireX technologies let the Eclipse Evolution i792R585 play host to up to three graphics cards. Should you wish to take advantage of such a setup, however, don't forget to also upgrade the 650W PSU.'

A review of the CyberPower Gamer Xtreme 2000 Core i5 gaming system has been posted over at ThinkCompuuters.org. 'This system is made to be a gaming system so the Element T is a good choice. It has 2 USB connectors on the front which are perfect for flash drives and you have headphone and microphone connections which are great for gaming headsets. Opening the system up the first thing you notice is the cable management. There are hardly and cables that will obstruct airflow in the case. This makes for better cooling and of course keeps the inside of your system clean. CyberPower uses cable ties to keep everything organized, even the SATA and internal USB cables are kept nice.'

The ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Black Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Windows 7 Home Premium) is on offer for $649.99 with a $100.00 rebate over at Amazon.com. 'With the new ASUS K50IJ-X8, you get the exclusive ASUS Color Shine 15.6-inch LED HD widescreen, a rich media experience, Intel® Core™2 Duo speed, longer battery life, and an integrated suite of effortless mobile computing technologies. Plus, you are also covered by the most thoughtful notebook warranty package in the industry.The K50IJ-X8 is quintessentially practical and trendy. It is designed with Infusion styling that sets it apart from conventional notebook design, while a suite of innovative technologies provides effortless mobile computing capabilities from day to day.'

Notebook Review have published a review of the HP EliteBook 8440w laptop. 'The HP EliteBook 8440w represents the HP's first 14-inch mobile workstation. For those who aren't already familiar with mobile workstations, these high-performance business laptops are different from typical notebooks because anything labeled as a "workstation" must meet specific hardware and software requirements in order to meet the industry standards for PCs designed for technical or scientific applications. In short, while there are many 14-inch business notebooks on the market this is the first 14-inch laptop that packs enough bells and whistles to be considered a "workstation."

CNET have published a review of the Lenovo IdeaPad S12-2959 (Ion, Atom N270 1.6GHz, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7) netbook. 'The IdeaPad S12 comes in two processor versions: one with a Via Nano ULV and one with an Intel Atom N270. To get the Nvidia Ion processor, you must choose the Atom N270 (the Via Nano is the low-end config only, at $399.) While the non-Ion S12 we previously reviewed now sells for $429, the cheapest Ion config is $599. Our review unit was the highest-end model. From a design standpoint, the S12 looks like a larger brother of its smaller 2009 sibling, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2. Compact and well-proportioned, the outer matte black plastic case (white is also available) is topped with a glossy plastic lid patterned in a subtle series of varying polka-dots.'

Reg Hardware have published a review of the Asus Lamborghini VX5 desktop-replacement laptop. 'The VX5 comes in black or white and declares its heritage with a Lambo bull badge in the middle of the lid and shallow louvres behind. Open it up and there are a number of other trim tweaks, such as leather covers to the wrist rests in front of the keyboard and metal trim around the edges. There's a smooth ceramic touchpad and a conspicuous button to the left of the keys, marked 'speed'. The button switches between ordinary 'Entertainment Mode' and 'Twin Turbo Mode', which overclocks the FSB by 100Hz and the video chip by 25MHz, but only when the VX5 is plugged into the mains. It didn't seem to make much difference during testing, but the machine ran pleasantly cool in both modes, though it's one for the desktop, not the lap.

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the powerful ASUS K42F notebook. 'The first thing you'll notice about the 13.6 X 9.8 X 1.4-inch K42F is its attractive lid; it features a black finish with a subtle wavy pinstripe pattern. Upon lifting the lid, you'll find that the finish extends to the base of the system (except for the strip directly north of the keyboard) for a unified look. As with other glossy notebooks, the K42F collects fingerprints and smudges, which detracts from this system's initial appeal. Some may also be turned off by the plastic casing in an age where metal finishes are becoming all the rage. At 5.0 pounds, this notebook is quite totable, but it's a bit heavier than some similarly sized notebooks. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y450, for example, weighs just 4.6 pounds, and the Dell Studio 14z weighs just 4.4 pounds, but that laptop lacks an optical drive.

Notebook Check have published a review of the Toshiba Satellite T130-14T ultraportable. 'Currently, the Satellite T130 range is made up of 3 models in Germany and Austria. These differ in terms of CPU (Pentium SU2700 or Pentium SU4100), hard disk size and available Bluetooth option. Because both processors show the same power dissipation, it's unlikely that there will be a difference in relation to battery life or emissions in the single models. However, the SU4100 can serve with two computer cores in comparison to the SU2700 so that more performance is awaited from the models equipped with the dual-core CPU, depending on the application.'

I4U News have published a review of the Smooth Creations 18.4 Gaming notebook. 'The huge 18.4-inch screen of the notebook has great color reproduction and works very well for gaming and movie watching. The 1920 x 1080 resolution means you can watch HD video on the machine and it has an HDMI output for watching on a big screen. I noticed no issues with video playback like smearing or tearing of images. You can take one look at this machine and tell that you won't be carrying it around with you in a backpack.

A review of the Acer Aspire One D250 Android notebook has been posted over at Pocket-lint.com. The D250 itself measures 257 x 185 x 24mm and is lightweight at just over 1kg including the battery. The construction is predominantly plastic and whilst the base of the D250 feels solid enough, the screen feels decidedly flimsy, not helped by the elevated hinges. The internal finish is reasonable enough when you lift the lid, with a brushed effect around the keyboard and trackpad that keeps things relatively clear of fingerprints. The glossy plastic bezel surrounding the 10.1-inch LED backlit display and housing the webcam unfortunately doesn't get the same treatment.'

CNET Asia have published a review of the Asus G51J-3D laptop (Core i7 720QM Processor 1.6GHz, 4GB RAM). 'Typical for an Asus gaming laptop, the G51J features a black design with a few gamer-friendly graphical touches on the lid. It's big and bulky for a mainstream-size laptop, so you're not going to be carting this to the coffee shop. The matte keyboard has large, flat-topped keys, and manages to squeeze in a separate number pad, although the number pad keys are narrow. Its large touchpad, while decent, isn't of much use in gaming (3D or otherwise), for which you'll typically hook up a separate USB mouse.'

PC Magazine have published a review of the LG X120 netbook. 'The X120 is a great looking netbook, one that doesn't seem to involve hours and hours of design work, but the execution worked out in its favor. It's draped in white like the original Lenovo Ideapad S10 and the Asus EeePC 1008HA (Seashell). Even the interior--the keyboard and palm rest area--received the same color treatment. Furthermore, the combination of the shiny (lid) and matted (interior) plastics give it a clean, pristine look. The colors aren't as conservative as those found in the Acer Aspire One D250-1958 (Navy Blue) or Samsung N120 (12GBK) (Black), but aren't as forward-thinking as those of the Toshiba mini NB205 (textures) and the Nokia Booklet 3G (aluminum) either. In other words, its use of materials is attractive enough to at least have a gravitational, pull-you-closer effect.'

A review of the Nokia Booklet 3G has been posted over at Stuff.tv. 'It's small, as a netbook should be, but the tiny keyboard is well spaced out, solid and a pleasure to use. The high-resolution screen is a healthy 10.1in, but the machine is smaller than an Asus Eee PC 901. The battery life can stretch to eight or nine hours (not quite the advertised 12 hours, but still impressive), and the only piece of preinstalled software is an elegant switcher for controlling the wireless functions. The mousepad is, of course, multitouch.'