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April 14, 2009

VisTablet Mini Review - PC Advisor

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PC Advisor have published a review of the VisTablet Mini . 'Build is solid yet slim, and lightweight enough to slip into most laptop bags if you need a pen tablet on the move or are simply pressed for space. With 1,024 levels of pen sensitivity you can start to get the best of many creative applications. The pen itself relies on a battery, which is a little fiddly to fit and bulks the barrel out a bit, though not so much that you'll struggle to make your mark. An alternative VisTablet Dolphin Pen, along with pen nib replacements, are available although both have yet to appear on the EU specific store.'

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March 31, 2009

Compal KHLB2 Review - Notebook Check

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Notebook Check have published a review of the Compal KHLB2 Notebook. 'The plastic chassis of the KHLB2 does not appear to be high-quality. Nevertheless, the palm rest areas mentioned above fell nice to the touch. Also the workmanship is similar to older Compal Barebones, but, it look like the present case is not that stable than the ones of former models. We detected some uneven gaps, which even intensified the moderate impression we had of the not really outstanding materials. In addition the case creaks a little bit if you pick it up on the front edges. Furthermore, it even slightly winds, if you hold it close by the power switch (above the DVD drive) and the part with the vent holes gives under creaking.'

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Workhorse PC Certeza MC10 Review - Laptop Mag

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Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Workhorse PC Certeza MC10 netbook. 'The black, glossy Workhorse PC Certeza MC10 looks good from afar, but up close it doesn’t have the same lustre as its competitors. Sporting a boxy plastic chassis, the Certeza doesn’t look like a finished product, which is partially due to its customizability. The lid, which is a fingerprint magnet, has a small indented, rectangular-shaped slot which is blank at the moment, but can be customized with a label of a company’s name or school. Similarly, a blank plastic strip waiting to be personalized runs along the top of the keyboard. While there is a Workhorse logo beneath the screen, the overall impression is that this is a netbook in progress.'

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March 26, 2009

Medion Akoya P8610 Review - Computeract!ve

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A review of the Medion Akoya P8610 laptop has been posted over at Computeract!ve.co.uk. 'It uses an Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 processor, not one of the faster ones, although that is backed with a huge 4GB of memory. The computer is loaded with the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system, but it's the 32-bit edition, which makes for much better compatibility with other software and hardware, but the computer can only access 3GB of the 4GB installed. Still, the difference in price between 3GB and 4GB is minimal so it's not a big deal.'

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March 24, 2009

Medion Akoya S2211 - Smarthouse.com

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A review of the Medion Akoya S2211 notebook PC has been posted over at Smarthouse.com. 'The S2211 comes in two colours: black and white (our review unit was a black one). The cover sports a glossy finish, which may be once again be a problem for those who don't want to see smudges and fingerprints on their notebook. The interior is neat, with the S2211 sporting large keys for easy typing and hotkeys (Google desktop search, Webcamera, and Wi-Fi) for easy access to programs and features. The 12.1-inch screen has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, with a 1.3-megapixel camera and microphone located on top of the unit.'

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March 6, 2009

Clevo M980NU Review - NoteBook Check

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NoteBook Check have published a review of the Clevo M980NU Notebook. 'The design of this notebook very much resembles some Clevo colleagues of the XXL-category, e.g, the D901C. Contrary to the popular M570TU barebone, the case of the M980NU does it without a colourful design. Only a silver molding on the base unit puts a small accent on the case. However, after power on, the notebook is highlighted by a literal play of colours of numerous built-in LEDs. E.g., the hot keys, but also the openings for loudspeaker and fan at the front and at the back side, shine in various (configurable) colours. Also at the lid, the label 'Style Note' is highlighted by illumination and even the touchpad comes with a colored shiny frame.'

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January 7, 2009

MSI Wind U100 Review - HotHardware

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A review of the MSI Wind U100 netbook has been posted over at HotHardware.com. 'The Wind is very much a minimalistic unicolor design. Besides the primary color, in this case white, there are literally no other colors present anywhere on the chassis, excluding labels. While this makes for a uniform appearance, it can also come off a little bland. There aren't even any details or accents. The only splash of color comes from the various status LEDs. The power button features an inset blue LED to indicate power. There is also a huge row of status LEDs along the bottom right edge of the palm rest. There are 8 LEDs in total to indicate everything from hard drive activity and Bluetooth status to battery level and caps lock. These LEDs light up green and may flash orange to indicate certain status conditions.'

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January 3, 2009

MSI Megabook GX620 Review - NoteBookCkeck.net

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NoteBookCkeck have published a review of the MSI Megabook GX620 Notebook. 'The Megabook GX620 has, thanks to the built in hardware and not least again through the turbo button, quite a bit to offer in consideration of performance. The CPU (2.93GHz) and the RAM pulse rate becomes over clocked which, according to MSI, should lead to an increase of performance of up to 20%. Tests were made with PCMark05, Cinebench R10 and the newest offspring from Futuremark, the PCMark Vantage. The test runs were made once without and once with the turbo feature, whereas we wrote the results with activated turbo in brackets "(xxxx)" in order to differentiate both results better.'

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December 17, 2008

MSI VR220 YA Edition Review - Laptop Mag

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A review of the MSI VR220 YA Edition ultraportable PC has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'The VR220’s design reminds us of a mismatched 70’s outfit. Its matte Wasabi Green lid is an attention getter; those who are looking for something less bold will be best suited by the black color option (it’s also available in Coral Pink and Denim Blue). The lip and interior, while also green, is done up in a lighter, more metallic shade. At the top of the deck is a silver speaker bar, and below, a white keyboard that looks completely out of place. While the overall build of the MSI VR220 is solid, it isn’t anywhere near as sleek as the similarly sized and priced Dell Inspiron Mini 12.'

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December 14, 2008

Packard Bell Easynote BG45-U-300 - Computeractive

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Computeractive have published a review of the Packard Bell Easynote BG45-U-300 Notebook. 'The BG45 has a solid metal case, which is surrounded by a soft black rubber coating that provides an extra amount of grip compared with the plastic cases that are, again, typical of mini-notebooks. It is not as light, although its weight of 1.6kg makes it very easily portable. The rubber coating gives the impression that it might bounce if you were to drop it, although that's probably not the case, so it isn’t recommended. The chassis is brushed black aluminium, with white lights surrounding the important parts such as the mouse trackpad and the power button.'

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November 9, 2008

Smoothbook DR Notebook Review - Tweak Town

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A review of the Smoothbook DR notebook from Smooth Creations has been posted over at Tweak Town. 'Up the top of the Smoothbook DR we have a skull face that looks like it’s about to attack you. It’s hard to explain exactly what’s going on with the paint job, so it’s easiest to simply let the pictures do the talking. The only other noticeable piece on the top here is three LED indicator lights that tell you when the power is on, if it’s running off the battery and other useful information. Smooth Creations has done more than just paint the top of the notebook and leave it at that. Looking around the outside, we can see that the paint job is literally everywhere it can be. This really helps tip the paint job over from a quick slap on top to a professional finish like we’re seeing here today.'

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October 30, 2008

Apricot Picobook Pro Review - Register Hardware

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The Register Hardware have published a review of the Apricot Picobook Pro netbook. 'Like the original Eee, the Pro has a very small trackpad - it's just 33 x 21mm - but it's been crafted as part of the wrist-rest area so there's no edge around it. This, surprisingly, makes it much more usable since it eliminates the sense of restriction you get with small, edged trackpads. The two buttons are position in front of the pad and are likewise formed from the body of the laptop. The front of the Pro is home to the four-in-one memory card reader and 3.5mm audio sockets. Round on the left side are the aforementioned air vent, one of two USB 2.0 ports and the laptop's VGA connector. The second USB port is one the right side, next to a Kensington lock slot, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet port and the power socket.'

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October 24, 2008

Akoya P6612 Review - Computeractive

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Computeractive have published a review of the Akoya P6612 notebook PC from Medion. 'It weighs 3kg, making it more of a desktop computer than a true portable, but it is fairly easy to pick up and carry, not being too bulky. The notebook is powered by an Intel P7350 Core 2 Duo processor. This is roughly in the middle of the range of processors and it provides a reasonable amount of processing power while not producing too much heat (more power means more heat, which means more cooling equipment, which in turn increases the weight and bulk of the product).'

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October 17, 2008

Zoostorm Fizzbook Review - Computeractive

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Computeractive have published a review of the Zoostorm Fizzbook mini-notebook. 'The Fizzbook is designed to be used by children aged between six and 14, but can of course be used by anyone. The only real thing stopping adults using it – other than the garish looks – is the fact that the keyboard is very small (smaller even than that of the similarly sized Asus EEE 901). It took quite a long time for us to get used to typing on it without constantly hitting the wrong keys, although of course smaller hands will be much more suitable.'

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October 15, 2008

Raon Digital Everun Note Review - Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Everun Note UMPC from Raon Digital. 'If the Everun Note is ever to rise above the level of charming gadget, though, it needs to perform well and things start pretty well. Unsurprisingly its 1.2GHz dual-core AMD processor chomps comfortably through all the usual activities, like browsing the web, creating and writing documents and listening to music and since it's dual-core, it can do more of these things at once without things coming to an abrupt halt. Fundamentally, then, it should run rings around any Atom based netbook and in terms of raw performance, it does. Amazingly, the Everun Note still manages to remain cool and quiet during use despite its more powerful components.'

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October 8, 2008

MSI MS-1651 - Notebook Review

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A review of the MSI MS-1651 gaming notebook has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'The design of this notebook is very nice, with a cool looking silver on black appearance. The screen lid and keyboard palmrest is made up of brushed aluminum, which even includes the touchpad buttons. The media buttons are flush mounted on a matte plastic panel that is entirely touch sensitive except for the main power button. The overall look is very stylish for a gaming notebook, and has nothing too out of the ordinary compared to the lengths some manufacturers go with exotic colors and LEDs.'

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October 5, 2008

Novatech m20 3G Notebook Review - PC Advisor

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PC Advisor have published a review of the Novatech m20 3G mini notebook. 'The Novatech m20 3G is a no-nonsense business laptop with few frills beyond a fingerprint reader and an Eco button to reduce power consumption - this more for the benefit of a user seeking longer battery life, we note, than a step toward reducing your carbon footprint. In prqctice, this buttom seems to drop processor speed to 600MHz and reduce screen brightness. Two system versions are offered, the model we reviewed adding integrated 3G wireless capability.'

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October 4, 2008

MSI Wind U100-291UK - Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published their "Exclusive review" of the MSI Wind U100-291UK Netbook. 'Starting off with the visual side of things, if the white models we reviewed before looked good, the grandly-titled 'Empire Black' one looks even better. Of course it's still glossy, so fingerprints will be a problem, but a shiny finish seems almost inevitable on a netbook these days. And though there's no cleaning cloth provided, MSI does give you a rather nice zipped case, with a fake leather exterior and soft fleece lining on the inside. Once you open the piano-black lid, with the MSI logo now in off-white, the interior of the notebook is thankfully matte plastic; though marks from sweaty or greasy hands are still visible on the palm-rest and touchpad.'

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September 8, 2008

MSI Wind Netbook Review - The Gadgeteer

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The Gadgeteer have published their review of the MSI Wind netbook. 'The MSI Wind netbook is currently available in four colors and two hardware configurations. The colors are Black, Pink, White and the Love Edition, which is White with heart line graphics. The hardware config choices are just between an 80GB or a 120GB hard drive. The 120GB version of this netbook is only available right now in the Black and Love Edition colors. At the time I placed my order last week, I didn't even know there was an 120GB version. I was having a heck of a time trying to find any online stores that had any models in stock. I lucked out though and found the MWave store and they had some 120GB Black models in stock, so I snapped one up. I originally wanted a 6 cell battery model, but since I couldn't find any in stock, I decided to go for the higher capacity hard drive model instead. I figure I can always get a 6 cell battery later.'

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September 7, 2008

Clevo TN121R Review - Tablet PC Review

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Tablet PC Review have published a review of the Clevo TN121R tablet PC. 'The Clevo TN121R is a solid tablet. The chassis feels sturdy and there is no flex in the body. The casing underneath feels a little cheap, but this isn't a huge problem. It weighs in around 4.7lbs. and is the perfect size for traveling. It does look a little odd though since it doesn't have any branding. It is a Clevo, but it came customized from AVA Direct so the badges are gone. It has a black glossy finish, which is a fingerprint magnet. I mean the entire tablet is glossy even the palm rest area, so it doesn't hide dirt and smudges at all. It looks fancy and appealing, but you need to have a cloth handy to keep it clean. I wasn't impressed with the hinge for the screen because it wasn't sturdy at all. When I shook the tablet lightly the screen would fall backwards. The screen rotates fine, but the hinge needs to be more sturdy.'

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September 4, 2008

Getac B300 Review - Register Hardware

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The Register Hardware have published a review of the Getac B300 rugged laptop. 'The first impression is that this thing looks like it should come with handcuffs, like one of those top secret briefcases only seen in movies. The silver-grey magnesium alloy chassis and rubber protrusions do nothing to disguise the take any punishment nature of the device. To help make carrying it a heck of a lot easier, there's a retractable handle on the front, which can be folded back to keep it out of the way during use. The keyboard and trackpad are also designed for use in less than ideal conditions.'

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August 24, 2008

MSI Wind NB U100 Review - PC World

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PC World have published their review of the MSI Wind NB U100 Netbook PC. 'The Wind manages to one-up earlier mini-notebook designs with a 10-inch, 1024-by-600 resolution display and a keyboard reasonably appropriate for human hands to type on. It's also larger (10.23 by 7.08 by 1.24 inches ) than most other mini-notes, and its construction seems solid (bonus points for the well-constructed hinges inside the case). The Wind comes with three USB ports, a Webcam/mic that camps atop the display, an SD Card slot, and ethernet and VGA-out jacks. Most current mini-notebooks offer the very same features.'

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August 20, 2008

MSI Wind U100 - Digital Trends

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Digital Trends have published a review of the MSI Wind U100 sub-notebook. 'Although you’ll never mistake the Wind for a full-size notebook, we found we could comfortably browse almost any Web page without side scrolling, and text was easily readable. You probably wouldn’t want to perform an extensive research project on it, or read A Tale of Two Cities, but for routine Craigslist browsing, e-mail reading, and IM, it’s up to the task. As for display quality, our model seemed to have a pronounced bluish tinge with the default settings, but Intel’s display drivers made this easy to correct. The powerful LED backlight left little to be desired in terms of brightness, but we were slightly disappointed with the viewing angle, which had us constantly twisting and turning to make sure we were looking at it dead on.'

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August 15, 2008

Willcom-D4 (Sharp WS016SH) - Pocketables

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A review of the Willcom-D4 (Sharp WS016SH) ultraportable has been posted over at Pocketables.net. 'The Willcom D4 (Sharp WS016SH) UMPC is currently the smallest-screened Centrino Atom device running Windows Vista in the world. Launched alongside the Kohjinsha SC3 on July 11th in Japan, the 40GB slide-and-tilt handheld computer is an unlikely candidate to see an official release outside of Asia, but that doesn't mean it can't make it to American soil. With the help of an importer like Conics.net, anything is possible,'

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August 13, 2008

Medion Akoya S5610 Review - Computeractive

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Computeractive have published a review of the Medion Akoya S5610 Notebook. 'Medion's Akoya S5610 is the first to use Intel's new Centrino 2 technology, which means it should in theory have better battery life than previous models, as well as better wireless network performance. The heart of the computer, which is only available in Sainsbury's shops, is an Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 processor. This is a fairly fast model from the middle of the range, and it's accompanied by a decent 3GB of memory and a capacious 320GB hard disk.'

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August 8, 2008

Elonex One Notebook Review - Computeractive

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Computeractive have published a review of the Elonex One ultraportable PC. 'Available in lime green and grey as well as the standard black, white and pink, The One is an unconventional machine in several ways. Perhaps the most obvious oddity is that it's upside down: most notebooks put their electronics beneath the keyboard, which keeps the screen section quite light and stops them tipping over. The One's keyboard is in its lid and the electronics sit behind the 7in screen. Tipping would be a problem if it wasn’t for a little strut which folds out from the back to support it.'

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August 6, 2008

Packard Bell Easy Note BG45-U-300 - PC Advisor

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PC Advisor have publsihed a review of the Packard Bell Easy Note BG45-U-300 laptop. 'On the outside of the Packard Bell Easy Note BG45-U-300 there is an unusual black rubber coating, making it easy to grip. The main deck has an attractive finish in brushed black anodised aluminium, although this is something of a fingerprint magnet The Packard Bell Easy Note BG45-U-300 has a stylish trackpad and mouse button arrangement, consisting of a 50mm-diameter circular touch area and buttons hidden below the metal plate. These can be depressed by bending the case edge – a system that works surprisingly well.'

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August 4, 2008

Elonex Webbook Review - Pocket-Lint

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Pocket-Lint have publsihed a review of the Elonex Webbook notbook PC. 'Weighing in at 1.3kg, this isn't the lightest netbook on the market, but nor is it the heaviest, and the weight gives the design a solid feel rather than the sometimes lightweight feel of the early Eee PC models. The hinged design sees a black outer case with silver inside and there was no Carphone Warehouse or Orange branding to be seen on our unit. There is, however, a big Webbook Logo on the top of the laptop for all to see when you’re using it.'

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August 1, 2008

Micro Express JFL9266 - PC World

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PC World have published a review of the lightweight Micro Express JFL9266 Notebook PC. 'It's no shocker that the octane-fueled notebook, packing 3GB of RAM and a 2.53-GHz T9400 processor, whipped through our WorldBench 6 tests as if the rest of the all-purpose laptop pack were standing still. Whether burning disc images or encoding video, nothing else could keep pace: The JFL9226 scored an impressive 103 on the WorldBench test suite. The nearest competitor in the category--Sony's VAIO VGN-SZ2791N--scored about 10 points lower while costing almost twice as much ($2499 as of 5/30). What's more interesting is that the JFL9226 has the same guts--well, CPU and 3GB worth of RAM--as Sony's new 16.4-inch entertainment laptop and still comes out slightly ahead. And it does all this while managing to last about 4.5 hours in battery tests

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July 23, 2008

MSI Wind Review - PC Mag

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PC Magazine have published their review of the MSI Wind UMPC. 'The Wind's 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor helps it avoid a problem that plagues the HP Mini-Note: running warm in your lap from heat that it generates. Unlike the HP Mini-Note's VIA C7-M processor, the Atom is more energy efficient and is a much better performer. Its video-encoding score of 5 minutes was almost twice as fast as the HP's (9 minutes). And the 1GB of memory is more than enough to run Windows XP.

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July 17, 2008

Kohjinsha SC3 Review - Pocketables

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A review of the Kohjinsha SC3 convertible notebook PC has been posted over at Pocketables.net. 'The Kohjinsha SC3 series is the company's newest 7-inch mini notebook line and one of the first Menlow-based ultraportables to begin shipping in the world. Announced in Japan last month and launched on July 11th, the series includes built-in GPS, a swiveling widescreen touch panel, ExpressCard/34 and 3-in-1 memory card slots, upgradeable RAM, a redesigned casing that's more compact than ever before, and of course the long-awaited Intel Silverthorne (now Atom) processor and Poulsbo chipset pairing.'

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July 7, 2008

MSI Wind Netbook - Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published a review of the MSI Wind - Windows XP Edition Netbook. 'Internally the Wind features many of the same components that make up most Intel based Netbooks. Directing proceedings is a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, supported by an ample 1GB of RAM. This combination deals with the Windows XP OS of our review sample very well. In fact, if anything the Wind feels marginally snappier and more responsive than the Eee PC and its Linux OS, though we're only talking split seconds here

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June 25, 2008

Zepto Notus A12 Reviewed

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A review of the Zepto Notus A12 Notebook has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'The bottom of the computer has small protruding feet about 1.5mm (1/16" long). There is a single removable cover for the mini PCI-E slot which contains the wireless card. There are no air vents on the bottom so this notebook is suitable for use on the bedclothes without sucking in fluff. The standard 6 cell battery fits at the back of the notebook and is held firmly in place by two latches.

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June 23, 2008

MSI Wind Windows XP Edition - Register Hardware

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The Register Hardware have published a review of the MSI Wind Windows XP Edition sub-notebook. 'The Wind’s 10in display is surrounded by a thick bezel, which also houses a webcam and a single microphone. With a resolution of 1024 x 600 – the same as its 8.9in rivals – the Wind's display is sharp enough to show Windows XP without the need for some frantic scrolling. It’s a lot brighter than the panels found on other Small, Cheap Computers, and colours are reproduced with impressive accuracy.

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May 22, 2008

MSI GX700-204UK Review - PC Advisor

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PC Advisor have published a review of the MSI GX700-204UK Notebook. 'Despite its reasonable price tag, MSI has managed to cram into the MSI GX700-204UK some impressive components - most notably the Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 Penryn processor and 3GB of RAM. The pair proved an admirable match for our WorldBench real-world testing software and managed to pull in a result of 88 which is good for a machine with a sub-£1,000 price tag. Perhaps where the MSI GX700-204UK really excels, though, is gaming which is notoriously taxing for mobile machines. The nVidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics chip managed to achieve a score of 27 frames per second (fps) running our intensive FEAR test which again is unusual at this price.'

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May 19, 2008

Vye mini-v S37B Review - Register Hardware

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The Register Hardware have published a review of the Vye mini-v S37B mini-notebook. 'The S37B's most obvious attribute is its 7in, 1024 x 600 touchscreen mounted on a swivel which allows the S37B to be turned into a tablet PC. The little laptop also includes a 120GB hard drive, compared to the 4GB of solid-state storage found in the Eee. At first glance, the device looks a little cheap and plasticy but once you have it on your hands the build feels solid, and the swivel is well made and should withstand some punishment. Although the S37B is more powerful than the Eee PC 701, like most people carriers it's a little underpowered for the job it's trying to do. It packs in a single-core 800MHz Intel A110 processor, the predecessor to the 'Silverthorne' Atom and essentially and old Pentium III.'

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May 16, 2008

HTC Shift UMPC Review - InfoSync World

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A review of the HTC Shift UMPC has been posted over at InfoSync World. 'The HTC Shift takes a few good ideas and clubs them over the head with some serious design and performance flaws. The device's leather sleeve, the wonky slide mechanism and the tiny keys all detract from what should have been a great idea, an extra-large version of the AT&T Tilt. With a thinner shell and a more touch-friendly interface, this device might have solved some of the nagging issues with the UMPC form factor, but instead it simply creates new problems.

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May 6, 2008

Sager NP9262 Reviewed

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Charles P. Jefferies writing over at Notebook Review.com has posted a review of the Sager NP9262 gaming laptop. 'The NP9262 looks powerful. Its external appearance is blocky but civilized, and by civilized I mean has no sharp corners or rough edges - all corners on this machine are nicely rounded off. The bottom half of the base is smaller than the top half, giving the impression this machine is smaller than it really is. All viewable areas of the NP9262 with the exception of the keyboard and lid are beautifully finished with a clear glossy lacquer.

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May 2, 2008

Systemax Medallion XVII – Laptop Mag

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Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Systemax Medallion XVII desktop replacement PC. ‘The Medallion XVII has the same design as the ChemBook Z7-1719, but where the ChemBook’s lid simply says “Notebook,” the Medallion VII’s shell has a backlit sign on the lid that reads “Systemax.” Two points for Systemax remembering to put its name on the lid. The system looks relatively modern, with a glossy, all-black chassis that measures a svelte 1.3 inches thick but attracts smudges just as easily as the ChemBook. A 1.3-megapixel camera is above the display, flush with the casing.

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April 21, 2008

Enpower ENP780 Review - CNET

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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.’

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April 11, 2008

GETAC M230 Reviewed

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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.

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April 8, 2008

MSI PR210 Review - CNET

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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.'

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March 26, 2008

DRS ARMOR C12 Review - Tablet PC Review

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A review of the DRS ARMOR C12 rugged tablet PC has been posted over at Tablet PC Review. ‘The design of the DRS ARMOR notebook is very boxy, with no thought put into making it have soft rounded edges. The notebook is almost twice as thick as a standard 12” notebook, has rubber tabs sticking out at every angle from the edges, and has its own built-in carrying handle. Every part of the notebook that could hit an object if dropped is padded with rubber strips, and all vital components have thick metal panels protecting the body from sharp impacts.

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March 21, 2008

MESH MSI GX700 Review – IT Reviews

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IT Reviews have published a review of the Mesh - GX700 gaming Notebook. ‘The GX700 uses a high-end MSI chassis, attractively finished in a gloss piano black, and comes with a feature set that helps explains the price tag. With a 17-inch screen it's always going to have a fairly hefty footprint (405 x 314 x 38.2mm) but surprisingly it weighs just 2.6kg even with the battery, so it is portable up to a point. But adding the power adapter sends the weight up to 3.95kg, so this is one notebook destined to spend most of its life plugged into the mains.

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March 17, 2008

Axiotron ModBook Review - CNET

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CNET have published a review of the 13-inch Axiotron ModBook 13-inch tablet PC. 'The ModBook is an impressive feat of engineering and it looks and feels well-constructed. But unlike convertible tablet PCs, it lacks a keyboard and even the most basic of tablet functions, a rotating screen orientation, so you're stuck in landscape mode--which is somewhat awkward when cradling it in your arm. For the very small minority who need a slate-style tablet and the Mac OS, Axiotron certainly fits the bill. For the rest of us, however, it's an expensive oddity.

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March 14, 2008

Zepto Znote 3415W Review – Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Zepto Znote 3415W Notebook. ‘As is typical of Zepto, the Znote 3415W is best described as functional. On the outside there's a simple two-tone black and dark grey gloss finish, while the rest of the system is wrapped largely in non-descript matt black plastic. Weighing 2.8kg it is relatively light for its size and the actual dimensions, 355 x 257 x 35.2mm (WxDxH), make for quite a pleasant form factor that's free of unnecessary bulk and feels a little slimmer and more svelte than you might imagine. Nonetheless, this is no style icon and though it's well put together, if you're after something with a little more character you're better off looking elsewhere.’

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March 4, 2008

Everex CloudBook Reviewed

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A review of the Everex CloudBook ultra-mobile notebook has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'The Everex CloudBook is an impressive little machine at first glance. The innovative grip-through LCD hinge design and compact form factor come together with smooth matte black plastics and a hint of metal reinforcement in just the right places. Weighing in at just two pounds the CloudBook was built around the VIA Nanobook reference design ... a subnotebook prototype developed by VIA as a platform for their new mobile technologies. Despite the impressive compactness of the design, the CloudBook is reasonably solid and durable thanks to the fact so much was packed into such a tiny space. We don't recommend dropping the CloudBook but it should survive the average use and abuse that any other $400 notebook can handle.'

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March 3, 2008

Belinea s.book 1 Review – Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Belinea s.book 1 ultraportable PC. ‘It's certainly small and light, and compares favourably with the very smallest of machines on the market right now. With the lid closed it's barely bigger than a large format paperback book at 230 x 171mm and it's pretty slim too, standing a hardly-substantial 29.4mm proud of a desk. The weight is as inconsequential as the s.book's dimensions. It's a mere 1.1kg, including the 2,200mAh lithium ion battery, and it all adds up to a laptop that's as easy to sling into a handbag as it is a briefcase or rucksack. This is an ultraportable in every sense of the word, and the inclusion of a luxuriously soft leather case, which comes as standard in the box, is the icing on the cake.’

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February 18, 2008

Vye mini-v S37B Review - Trusted Reviews

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A review of the Vye mini-v S37B ultra portable has been posted over at Trusted Reviews. ‘The S37 comes with an extra-life battery, which does stick out a little awkwardly at the back and takes the weight to over a kilo - but it also gives the Vye impressive on-the-move credentials. I managed to extract five to five-and-a-half hours away from a power source, using it for general word processing, browsing the Internet over the wireless connection and performing other non-processor intensive tasks.

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February 14, 2008

Everex Zonbu Notebook Review – PC Mag

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PC Magazine have published a review of the Everex Zonbu Notebook. ‘Unlike the Zonbu PC and the ASUS Eee PC 4G, the Zonbu Notebook comes with a decent amount of local storage, rather than the 4GB flash drives that leave little room for anything else besides the operating system. The 60GB spinning hard drive is enough to store a good-size music collection, as well as handle a lot of your online downloads. Despite loading Skype, the Zonbu Notebook doesn't come with an integrated webcam, as the ASUS Eee PC does, although it does have both built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port to help you get online.

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February 6, 2008

Sager NP5793 Review - Notebook Review

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Charles P.Jefferies writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Sager NP5793 gaming Notebook. 'The Sager NP5793 does not follow the glossy plastic trend of the mainstream notebook market. Instead, it has a more understated look, encased in smooth matte black plastic. Around the base of the unit is a thin border of orange, giving the NP5793 a sophisticated look. The keyboard and touchpad area are surrounded by a carbon fiber-like border, which appears to blend in from a distance but up close is quite detailed. The back of the NP5793's lid is covered almost entirely in black brushed aluminum, which adds a degree of protection and durability. At the very top of the lid is a thin strip of glossy plastic, yet another design detail. A thin border surrounding the screen is of the same material.

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February 5, 2008

Maxdata Belinea s.book 1 Review - Pocket-Lint

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Pocket-Lint have published a review of the Maxdata Belinea s.book 1 Notebook. 'The s.book 1 is an ultraportable designed for those who need to write while on the move. If it looks distinctly like the Packard Bell EasyNote XS that is because they both use the same VIA design reference, which means they can quickly build and release a machine as the hard work of the main board design has already been designed by VIA.

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February 4, 2008

Portable One SXS37 Review - CNET

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CNET have published a review of the Portable One SXS37 13-inch laptop. 'When reviewing a laptop with a 13.3-inch screen, it's hard not to look at Apple's 13-inch MacBook for comparison. While the Portable One SXS37's overall design doesn't match that of the MacBook, it does get points for trying. Often we see laptops from smaller vendors using an OEM case that's rough around the edges. The Portable One SXS37's chassis features an attractive, glossy black lid with rounded, tapered edges similar to those found on the MacBook. It's also blissfully free of branding; the only Portable One signage comes by way of a small, silver badge below the display.

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January 30, 2008

Maxdata Belinea s.book 1 Review - Register Hardware

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The Register Hardware have published a review of the Maxdata Belinea s.book 1 portable PC. 'The s.book is based on a UMPC reference design, the NanoBook, developed by chip maker VIA last year to highlight its C7-M processor. But Maxdata has tweaked it a bit. The display, mounted to the left side of the laptop's lid, was originally placed alongside a small touchpad, but Maxdata has sensibly moved the navigation device to the slim space in front of the keyboard. In it's place in the screen bezel, there's a pop-out VoIP handset.

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January 29, 2008

Vye S37 Review - Personal Computer World

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Personal Computer World have published a review of the Vye S37 Notebook PC. 'This laptop doesn’t follow the ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) specification as set out by Microsoft and Intel, and therefore doesn’t include Origami software such as Dialkeys - the screen-based keyboard as seen on Samsung’s Q1. However, it’s certainly small enough to compete with the current crop of UMPCs and measures 35mm at its thickest point. Unlike Asus’ Linux-driven Eee PC, Vye has opted for Vista Home Premium. Although Vista has many more features and looks far more appealing, it requires components with more grunt, hence the relatively high price.'

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December 12, 2007

Vigor Artorius Pro Review - Laptop Mag

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Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Vigor Artorius Pro gaming Notebook. 'The 8.4-pound, 15.6 x 11.5 x 1.8-inch notebook is black with a red-stripe trim; the cover sports a small Vigor winged icon but is otherwise devoid of flashy touches. We appreciate the minimalist design, which runs counter to the gaming notebook standard. Colored finishes (red, gray, blue, and yellow) are also available for a $139 premium. Below the LCD is a full keyboard and number pad with three small quick-launch buttons for mail, a Web browser, and one you program. The keyboard had a satisfying throw depth, and the trackpad was responsive with a slightly rough finish. We had little trouble acclimating to either keys or touchpad, and found the keyboard usable over stretches of use (4 hours or more).'

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December 5, 2007

Xtreme Notebooks 917V Accelerator Review - CNET

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A review of the Xtreme Notebooks 917V Accelerator quad-core laptop has been posted over at CNET. 'The Xtreme Notebooks 917V Accelerator is built like a tank--an American tank, thanks to the optional photorealistic American flag design on the case of our review unit. (Opting for a simpler case immediately shaves $390 off the laptop's price.) The screen sits very securely on its hinges, and--while we wouldn't recommend testing this claim--the laptop feels like it could not only survive a significant drop, but would possibly cause some damage to whatever surface it drops onto. At 2.2 inches thick and weighing 12 pounds even without the power adapter, the massive system is a true desktop replacement. We honestly can't imagine roaming anywhere with this box, except LAN parties.

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December 3, 2007

EasyNote Easynote MB Notebook Review - CNET Asia

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CNET Asia have published a review of the EasyNote Easynote MB notebook PC from Packard Bell. 'Getting this Easynote buys you some interesting looks and some decent internal components. A 1.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 provides the bulk of the grunt, while 2GB of RAM helps applications run smoothly. 160GB of disk space is about what you'd expect from a laptop at this price point, and the DVD rewriter drive living on the right side is, again, par for the course. Packard Bell provides a semi-potent graphics card in the form of an Nvidia GeForce 8600M. Don't expect it to run all the latest games at high speed, but it won't let you down if you fancy a quick blast of F.E.A.R, Unreal Tournament or Doom 3, as long as it's at low resolution. Interestingly, Packard Bell has supplied DVI as well as HDMI video outputs--something seldom seen on laptops. Both are HDCP-enabled, but as there's no Blu-ray or HD DVD drive, you can't watch high-definition movies on the laptop.'

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November 30, 2007

MSI PR200-064UK Review - Personal Computer World

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A review of the MSI PR200-064UK Notebook has been posted over at Personal Computer World. 'The speakers, placed just below the screen, created reasonable sound, but the edge of the speaker grille grazed our skin as we ran our hands across it. Again, like too many notebooks, the trackpad has no scroll ­ something manufacturers have previously told us is down to poor Vista driver support. The PR200’s grey chassis and translucent front black lining reminds us of VHS recorders. But, despite the antiquated looks, MSI is the sole manufacturer to include an HDMI port ­ a hassle-free way of outputting audio and video to an HD TV with one cable. This makes it a top choice for big TV owners.'

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November 17, 2007

MSI GX600 Reviewed

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A review of the MSI GX600 gaming notebook has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'The MSI GX600 is a "compact" 15.4" gaming notebook with a 512MB NVIDIA 8600M GT graphics card, and an overclockable Intel T7300 Core 2 Duo processor. This notebook offers a wide range of ports including HDMI, e-SATA, MCX for TV-Antenna, VGA, S-Video, four USB ports, one Firewire port, and LAN/Modem jacks to cover almost any device you have laying around. Probably the coolest feature which I have not seen since my 20Mhz 486 desktop is a Turbo button to overclock the machine on the fly to bump the processor speed from 2.0GHz to 2.4GHz without a restart.'

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November 3, 2007

Intel Classmate PC Review - CNET

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A review of the Intel Classmate PC laptop has been posted over at CNET. ‘The Classmate starts at $225, and for around $350, you can get one set up like our review unit, preloaded with Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003--both software packages specially configured to fit onto the tiny 2GB flash hard drive (larger versions may be available in the future). There's scant room left for file storage or adding applications, but to its credit, the Classmate ran Windows XP smoothly with only 256MB of RAM, an impressive feat in itself. While the Classmate isn't currently available to individual consumers, the technologies reflected here will likely filter down to consumer systems, leading to cheaper, smaller laptops for everyone, although likely not directly from Intel, which wants to stay out of the system-selling business.’

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September 2, 2007

Zepto Znote 6224W Notebook Review - Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Zepto Znote 6224W multimedia Notebook. 'At the core of our sample was an Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, which runs at a breezy 2GHz with 4MB L2 Cache on a 800MHz front-side bus. This is backed up by a single stick of 2GB 667MHz DRR2 RAM, and most impressively a 512MB nVidia GeForce 8600M GT. This is a very powerful set up, especially for a notebook of this size, and should allow for a good deal of gaming performance. Slightly disappointingly our sample came with an 80GB SATA HDD, though it was a 7200rpm Hitachi drive so it was at least nippy. Thankfully, you can specify a 160GB 5400rpm drive for as little as £13.18 more, with options going all the way up to 250GB for 5400rpm drives and 200GB for the 7200rpm versions.'

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August 21, 2007

Compal IFL90 Notebook Reviewed

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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.'

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August 5, 2007

Review: Zepto 6224W - Notebook Review

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Jessica Gardner writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Zepto 6224W gaming Notebook. 'The initial impression that is given by the 6224W is that of a classy, sleek and uncomplicated design. While it’s not the best looking notebook on the market it’s certainly no pig. The mix of straight lines, flat surfaces and matte and shiny plastic make it feel uncluttered and unimposing. The screen may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s mounted high up in the lid with the speakers underneath. I find this gives the notebook a feel of being unbalanced. A more centrally mounted screen could reduce the footprint of the notebook but this might create issues with fitting all this hardware into such a small space.'

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July 9, 2007

Review: Twinhead Durabook D13RY - CNET

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CNET have published a review of the rugged Twinhead Durabook D13RY Notebook. ‘If the Twinhead Durabook D13RY looks familiar, that's because it is: the rugged laptop uses the same case as the Polywell Ruffbook M410ic. However, the Ruffbook has a 14.1-inch standard-aspect dsiplay, while the Durabook D13RY includes a 13.3-inch wide-aspect screen and a Webcam. Also, Twinhead has constructed the Durabook D13RY to meet military specifications for durability, a claim which Polywell never made. We actually like the Durabook a bit more than its doppelganger. The Durabook's wide-aspect display is better suited to today's work and play, and when it comes to performance the Durabook does a better job of keeping up with competing systems. That said, the Durabook D13RY is more expensive than similarly configured traditional laptops--our configuration cost $1,945--so we can really only recommend it for buyers who need a laptop to withstand heavy abuses in environments beyond the home, office, or coffee shop.’

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July 6, 2007

Enpower ENP660 Review at CNET

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CNET have published a review of the Enpower ENP660 Notebook. 'The ENP660's matte-black case contains a stripe of silver around its edges that extends into the wrist rest, while a square Enpower logo on the back of the lid glows white when the laptop is running. We were impressed with the ENP660's remarkably slim case, which is at least 0.2 inch thinner than the Sony VAIO FZ180, Lenovo 3000 N200, and Dell Inspiron E1505, all of which include 15.4-inch screens. The Enpower ENP660 also feels very sturdily constructed and, at 5.8 pounds, it straddles the line between our midsize and thin-and-light categories.

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June 17, 2007

Twinhead Durabook D14RY Review at Laptop Mag

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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.

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June 1, 2007

Howard Verity TW3 - PC Mag

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PC Magazine have published a review of the Howard Verity TW3 notebook. ‘Despite its big screen, the TW3 is fairly light, at 6.1 pounds. It's 9.9 by 13.9 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and doesn't look as bulky as the Gateway NX570X. The first system that the company sent me had a flimsy keyboard with several keys that didn't work. The keyboard on the replacement system was very responsive and tactile—too bad it's a foreign keyboard, complete with Alt Gr (a control key found on non-U.S. keyboards) and a key for the £ U.K. pound symbol instead of one for the $ dollar sign. The company did inform me that it has sturdy American keyboards in stock (and claims that all its new keyboards will be sturdy), but that still doesn't explain why the one on my replacement system wasn't one of them. And the mouse buttons on both keyboards I got made loud clicking noises.’

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May 13, 2007

Zepto Znote 6625WD Notebook Reviewed

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Personal Computer World have published a review of the Zepto Znote 6625WD notebook. 'The new Znote 6625WD from Zepto hides an array of highly anticipated technologies. Most importantly, it houses Intel's new laptop platform, previously codenamed Santa Rosa. Rather confusingly, Santa Rosa laptops will still be branded Centrino Duo for home users. A new Centrino Pro badge will be added to corporate laptops containing Intel's vPro management software. Santa Rosa brings a new motherboard design with Intel's new PM965 chipset and a new CPU plug called Socket P. This can hold new Core 2 Duo processors (the T7100, T7300 or T7500), all of which have an 800MHz front side bus (FSB), up from 667MHz on previous Core 2 Duo processors.'

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May 3, 2007

iBuyPower Battalion 101 LX750 - ZDNet

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A review of the of the iBuyPower Battalion 101 LX750 notebook has been posted over at ZDNet. ‘Measuring 1.3 inches thick, the iBuyPower Battalion 101 LX750 is rather thin for a desktop replacement. With a width of 15.5 inches and a depth of 11 inches, it won't take up much room on your desk (or in your bag). Compare that to the massive Alienware Area-51 m5790, which measures 16 inches by 11.5 inches by 1.7 inches, and you can appreciate the iBuyPower's svelte profile. At 7.5 pounds (8.7 pounds with its chalkboard eraser-size AC adapter), the Battalion 101 LX750 also weighs less than the Alienware by more than a pound, though it's still not portable enough for a regular commute or frequent travel.

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April 10, 2007

Systemax Hornet2 B76 - Laptop Mag

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A review of the Systemax Hornet2 B76 "desktop replacement" laptop has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'The Systemax Hornet2 B76 is a bit of an enigma. It carries the price of a high-end unit, but its bland silver-and-black plastic chassis doesn't look the part. Worse, its performance is more in line with the budget-priced Everex entry here, which costs $1,100 less. Without a high-def DVD drive, TV tuner, ultra-high-res screen, and a top-end graphics solution, we can't figure out what Systemax is charging $2,000 for.

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March 6, 2007

Portable One UXM520 - Laptop Mag

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Laptop Magazine have reviewed the sleek Portable One UXM520 notebook PC. 'Featuring an attractive all-silver body with black highlights, the UXM520 is portable enough to take anywhere. The system sports a solid keyboard with keys that have just the right amount of springiness without feeling too bouncy or hollow. The layout is a bit cramped, but that's to be expected from a notebook with an 11.4 x 8.5-inch footprint. We're less forgiving of the tiny touchpad, which was unresponsive at times.

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February 27, 2007

Systemax Pursuit 4155 – Laptop Mag

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Laptop Magazine have published a review of the Systemax Pursuit 4155 dual-core notebook PC. ‘The Systemax Pursuit 4155 is proof that buying a budget notebook doesn't mean you have to forgo the latest generation of processors or settle for a bare-bones system. Priced at $999, this 6.5-pound system features a 1.66-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, and a dual-layer DVD burner. You also get an 80GB hard drive and a bright 15.4-inch widescreen display with a 1280 x 800-pixel native resolution. Top it off with a 1.3-megapixel camera and you have a mainstream machine that can go toe to toe with the big boys.

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February 23, 2007

ACI Matrix 1500 - Personal Computer World

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Personal Computer World have published a review of the ACI Matrix 1500 notebook which features a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 processor; Windows XP Professional; 2GB DDR RAM; 100GB hard drive; 15.4in 1,280x800 TFT display and a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card. 'Although robust, the chassis encasing ACI's Matrix 1500 doesn't look anything special with a rather mundane grey and silver livery. The keyboard has decent-sized and well-spaced keys, but they feel a little spongy during typing. Stereo speakers sit either side of the keyboard provide adequate audio - headphone and line-in sockets are located at the front of the chassis. A 1.3-megpixel camera is embedded into the top of the monitor's bezel and is accompanied by a built-in microphone - perfect for impromptu video calls (should you ever make any).'

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February 10, 2007

Itronix GoBook XR-1 - Laptop Mag

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A review of the Itronix GoBook XR-1 wireless rugged mobile computer has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'When General Dynamics acquired the rugged-laptop manufacturer Itronix more than a year ago, the giant defense contractor must have somehow equipped its new possession with an afterburner from an F-16 jet fighter. Within a space of six months, the company introduced no fewer than three new rugged and semi-rugged notebooks, including the eye-catching semi-rugged Hummer. Now, with its first product under the General Dynamics brand, the company has issued the GoBook XR-1, which may well be the smallest fully rugged notebook on the market.'

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January 30, 2007

Sager NP5960 20" Screen Notebook Reviewed

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Sinan Karaca writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the 20" screen Sager NP5960 notebook. 'The Sager NP5960 notebook features a massive 20" LCD display. It has a dual graphics card power in the form of 2 Nvidia 7950GX cards, and an AMD Turion X2 processor. While performance was actually a little dissapointing relative to what you would expect looking at the specs, the huge and beautiful screen makes this "laptop" quite a stunner.

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January 24, 2007

Systemax Pursuit 4155 - ZDNet

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ZDNET have reviewed the Systemax Pursuit 4155 laptop which features Intel's Core Duo T2050 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM Memory, 80GB hard drive and an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950. 'For a budget laptop, the Systemax Pursuit 4155 feels surprisingly sturdy. Better suited for a desk than an airplane tray table--it measures 14.1 inches wide, 10.1 inches deep, and 1.4 inches thick--the Systemax is nevertheless of average size for a laptop with a 15.4-inch display. Both the Lenovo 3000 N100 (configured with the 15.4-inch screen option) and the Gateway NX570X have similar footprints. When it comes to weight, the Systemax is likewise average for a midsize laptop; it weighs 6.3 pounds alone and 7.3 with its compact AC adapter.

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November 26, 2006

Review: MSI MS-16332 - Notebook Review

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The MSI MS-16332 laptop computer has been reviewed on Notebook Review. 'The MSI MS-16332 is to say the least a desktop replacement. Packed with a powerful nVidia GeForce card on top of the new AMD Turion64 X2 processor; this will easily fulfill any of your multimedia as well as gaming needs. Let me just start by saying that I’m far from new to desktops and computers in general, however I am fairly new to laptops. The laptop I had before was a Fujitsu Lifebook made in 1997, so this was to say the least an upgrade. I picked up the MSI MS-16332, a fairly new piece of work put out by MSI; a Chinese company that in no way lacks on building their ensembles and barebones, but are mostly popular and known for their exceptionally made individual notebook component parts.'

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November 25, 2006

Review: Everex StepNote NC1500 - CNET

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CNET have reviewed the "budget-priced" Everex StepNote NC1500 notebook PC. 'The Everex StepNote NC1500 first came to our attention as a potentially interesting preholiday Wal-Mart special--a sub-$500 laptop. But the low price isn't the most interesting thing about the StepNote NC1500. First, there's the unusual choice of CPU. Instead of going with Intel or AMD, like virtually every other desktop or laptop computer on the market, Everex features a CPU from Via, a company with a niche market in lower-end processors found in thin clients and consumer electronics products. Second, the 1.5GHz Via C7-M processor in this system is designed for ultralow power consumption.

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November 16, 2006

Compal HEL80 Reviewed

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Chris Yano writing over at Notebook Review has posted his review of the Compal HEL80 Notebook PC. 'The Compal HEL80 is a 15.4" mid-range gaming system that offers power and performance at a reasonable price. The HEL80 is often directly compared to the Asus S96J/Z96J (96J hereafter). Many prospective buyers will find themselves trying to decide between these two similar systems. I went through this very process five months ago when they were both newly released. The business-class HP nc8430 also meets the requirements of those looking at the HEL80 and 96J, but it is a more expensive option.'

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November 14, 2006

Review: Micro Express NP6260 Rugged UltraLite - CNET

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CNET have reviewed the "lightweight" Micro Express NP6260 Rugged UltraLite laptop. 'The magnesium-alloy chassis gives the NP6260 Rugged UltraLite a sturdy feel, but to the untrained eye, the laptop's lightweight silver body looks like plastic--almost like a toy laptop. But magnesium is both lightweight and sturdy, so we wouldn't be too concerned about putting this system through the rigors of the road. It's worth noting that while it has the word "rugged" in its name, the NP6260 is not a truly rugged or semi-rugged laptop in the sense of a Panasonic Toughbook or the Itronix Hummer, so liquid spills and 15-foot drops aren't recommended.

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November 9, 2006

Review: Twinhead Durabook D14RA - Laptop Mag

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The "affordable" Twinhead Durabook D14RA notebook PC has been reviewed by Laptop Magazine. 'The Durabook D14RA has what might be called stealth ruggedness: It looks pretty average on the outside, except for its black rubber corners, and even carries an ordinary, affordable price tag of $1,299. But inside is a semi-rugged notebook that can handle more than its share of knocks, drops, and splatters. If you’re willing to deal with below-average battery life and low-end graphics, this system is worth considering.

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November 2, 2006

Review: iBuyPower Z92T - CNET

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A review of the iBuyPower Z92T notebook PC has been posted over at CNET. 'At first glance, the iBuyPower Z92T looks like a good deal: $1,563 for a Media Center laptop with a midrange dual-core AMD CPU, discrete Nvidia graphics, and a fast 100GB hard drive. With these components the Z92T posted decent scores on our performance benchmarks, but it trailed similar systems based on the Intel Core 2 Duo platform.

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October 28, 2006

Review: Polywell PolyNote V512NC Laptop - CNET

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If you are on the lookout for a laptop which possesses the "high-end components" of well known brands but is available at an affordable price, CNET's review of the Polywell PolyNote V512NC may be of interest . 'It's not often a laptop comes through our offices with a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge on its lid (read: never), so the Polywell PolyNote V512NC drew a fair amount of attention while it was on our testing bench. In addition to the customized panel option, which lets you choose from stock images or your own photography for the laptop's lid, Polywell offers a rather competitive mix of specs--including the latest Core 2 Duo processor, fast memory and hard drive, and dedicated Nvidia graphics--in its affordably priced midsize laptop.

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October 25, 2006

Review: Sager NP6260 - Notebook Review

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Andrew Baxter writing over at Notebook Review has posted a review of the Sager NP6260 notebook PC. 'The Sager NP6260 is a 12.1" screen 2.8lb ultraportable laptop that breaks the mold for what this company typically offers. Sager is a known commodity among those notebook buyers that seek powerful systems with a screen size in the 15.4" - 17 "range. But the company has decided to broaden its offerings and cater to those that crave small and light notebook systems offering better battery life and portability. Following is a review of this first ultraportable NP6260 offering from Sager.'

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October 14, 2006

PC Club Enpower ENP680

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Michelle Thatcher writing over at CNET has reviewed the affordable PC Club Enpower ENP680 Core 2 Duo laptop PC. 'The PC Club Enpower ENP680's silver lid and black case could almost pass for a Dell or a Toshiba laptop, and its $1,499 price tag, which includes the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a discrete Nvidia graphics card, adds to its allure. Unfortunately, the Enpower ENP680 suffers from a few design flaws, such as a superreflective display and an overly flexible keyboard, that some users may not be willing to accept in exchange for the low price. Looking strictly at performance and battery life per dollar, though, the Enpower ENP680 offers a decent, low-price alternative to Core 2 Duo systems from some of the larger laptop manufacturers.'

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October 11, 2006

WidowPC Sting 517D Reviewed

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The WidowPC Sting 517D "heavy" notebook PC has been reviewed over at Notebook Review. 'The WidowPC Sting 517D is a high-end gaming notebook with more power than most desktops. It features a high-resolution 17” display, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and the holy grail of notebook GPUs, the Nvidia GeForce Go7900GTX with 512MB of dedicated memory. Our 517D has the highest specifications available, and it is certainly not for the budget-conscious, its final price as configured is retail $4,799.75. According to WidowPC, the price is “always negotiable”, so I would assume it can be had for less. The 517D starts at $2,695.'

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September 27, 2006

Intuos3 4x6 Pen Tablet Anounced

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The new Intuos3 4x6 pen tablet from Wacom Technology features 4 programmable ExpressKeys(TM); one finger-sensitive Touch Strip; cordless, battery-free Grip Pen with 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity; and 5-button Intuos3 mouse. 'The Intuos3 4x6 comes with all the features that have made the Intuos3 line of pen tablets the de facto standard among serious photographers, designers and artists. Intuos3 turns on the full power of Adobe(R) Photoshop(R), Corel(R) Painter(TM) and over 100 other leading software applications with its intuitive controls.

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September 25, 2006

MSI Megabook L715 Laptop Review

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A review of the MSI Megabook L715 laptop computer has been posted over at Notebook Review. 'The design of this notebook is very nice for a 17" screen notebook. It has a backlight for the MSI logo and the case is slim and classy with a sturdy enough feel. The only negative comment I have is about the hinges which seem somewhat fragile because they are small compared to other models I owned and relative to the size of the notebook. However, in use the hinges seem to work well and do their job despite appearances as I carried the laptop here and there and everything was okay.'

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September 23, 2006

Voodoo Envy u 734 Notebook Review At Laptop Magazine

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The Voodoo Envy u 734 gaming notebook has been reviewed over at Laptop Magazine. 'At 8.7 pounds, the u:734 weighs in on the lighter side for a gaming notebook. This case is remarkably solid, and the screen feels as if it would yield to nothing less than hurricane force. Our chassis was painted a subtle and attractive metallic green. The very sleek design makes the case feel smaller than Dell’s XPS M1710, though it’s actually a touch larger. The extra real estate allows room for a full-sized keyboard and number pad without shrinking important keys.

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September 16, 2006

Everex StepNote LM7WE Laptop Review

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Laptop Magazine has reviewed the “budget priced” Everex StepNote LM7WE laptop computer. ‘The black chassis with silver accents looks sharp, and under the lid you’ll find a minimalist black-and-silver design. At 14 x 10.5 x 1.3 inches, the unit is large but surprisingly light for its size at only 5.9 pounds. The widescreen allows for an expansive keyboard, and the StepNote has a quiet, comfortable layout—for the most part. The letter keys are full-sized, but the peripheral keys (Backspace, Home, Function, and so on) are truncated, and the Enter key is small and oddly shaped. The mouse buttons for the touchpad are a bit stiff but work fine.’

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September 2, 2006

Systemax Vigor Notebook PC Review

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Dustin Sklavos has reviewed the Systemax Vigor notebook computer over at Notebook Review. 'This is my first personal, prolonged experience with a ruggedized notebook and I have to say, I'd be really impressed if another rugged notebook manufacturer could make a more comfortable, respectable machine.It goes without saying that the lid is almost completely inflexible and the screen shows no rippling if you press behind it, unless you press EXTREMELY hard and sustain the pressure. And even then, rippling is very minor, and is all over the screen. To say it's well constructed would be an understatement.

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August 24, 2006

Widow PC Sting 917H2 Review

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Russ Fischer has posted a review of the "pricey" Widow PC Sting 917H2 over at Laptop Magazine. 'While most gaming notebooks stretch their chassis to accommodate a massive screen, the Widow PC Sting 917x2 builds up; this is the thickest model we’ve seen. The right side features two DVD drive bays, and the left side can house dual hard drives. As we mentioned in our December review of the original Sting 917, the chassis and case are rebranded pieces of hardware used by other manufacturers such as Voodoo and Alienware.

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August 20, 2006

Daewoo Solo M410 Ultra-Portable Notebook Preview

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Mobile Whack previews the new Solo M410 ultra-portable notebook PC from Daewoo Lucoms in Korea. ‘The M410 boasts of a pretty average design and definitely not the one to turn heads around. It is powered by an Intel's Core Duo T2400 processor running at clockspeeds upto 1.83GHz. The system though lacks a punch in the memory department as it comes loaded with 512MB RAM chip, which is a bit on the lower side, in view of today's demanding applications. Other features include Built-in 1.3 megapixel web camera, DVD Super-Multi drive, 14” WXGA display with 1280 × 768 resolution and 4-in-1 memory card reader (MMC/SD/MS//MS Pro) .’

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August 15, 2006

General Dynamics Itronix GoBook XR-1 Laptop Preview

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CNET previews the Itronix GoBook XR-1 "rugged" notebook computer which is set to be released to consumers sometime in September. 'The XR-1 isn't cheap, with a starting price of $4,330. But it is designed to withstand falls, spills and other hazards that would render an ordinary notebook useless, said Tom Turner, president and CEO of Itronix. The Air Force uses Itronix GoBooks in flight-line operations around the world, and Sears sends its service technicians out into the field with GoBooks, Turner said. He declined to comment on potential customers for the XR-1, but noted that several other GoBooks have been deployed to the deserts of Iraq, where they are able to withstand the fine-grained sand that gets into absolutely everything.'

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August 13, 2006

Compal HGL-30 Notebook PC Review

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Notebook Review reviews the Compal HGL-30 notebook computer and reports favorably on the features and performance of the machine. 'The Compal HGL-30 has nothing cheap feeling to it. There is no rippling of the screen even with consistent and hard pressure on the back of the screen. The screen hinges are solid almost to a fault. The hinges take a fair amount of pressure to open the screen, and if the screen is opened too fast then the bottom of the computer will pull up from the table until the weight brings it back down. The computer is made of all plastic but in my opinion (and this is very subjective) this is a very stylish computer.

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August 9, 2006

Haseenote JIVE W205R Laptop At Akihabara News

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Akihabara News reports on the launch of a entry-level laptop for Korean consumers. 'The Korean company Haseenote will sell in Seoul for 830.00 euro, a 12” notebook with a resolution of 1280x800, a Core Duo T2050 (1.66Ghz), 1GB of RAM, 80GB of SATA, DVD Multi burner, ATI Radeon Xpress 200M (64MB of VRAM) and this in a body of only 1.2kg. The lack of a powerful video card could be somehow a bit troublesome for some user, but quite enough for most of us which needs a good and small computer on the go.'

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August 1, 2006

NEC LaVie L LL590 Basic Notebook PC At Mobile Whack

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Mobile Whack.com reports of the launch of the new NEC LaVie L LL590 Basic Notebook computer from NEC of Japan. 'NEC Japan launched their new low-end LaVie L Basic notebook, the LL590 which touts a 15.4-inch WXGA TFT LCD screen with resolutions of 1280 x 800. It is powered by AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile technology TL-50 processor that runs on Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. If you are targeting for a lower budget, you are given the choice of downgrading your processor to Mobile AMD Sempron 3200+.’

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July 31, 2006

Systemax Epic Notebook Review

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Scott Jones posts a review of the Systemax Epic notebook PC on Laptop Mag.com. 'In this era of sexy, sleek notebooks, the pricey Systemax Epic is a bit of a curiosity. Despite its silver casing and jet-black keyboard, it's dangerously close to being downright generic-looking. Once we cracked the Epic open, however, we found a solid PC just waiting to be break out of its bland shell.

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Sager NP6630 Notebook Review

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Rob Sieczkiewicz reviews the Sager NP6630 laptop on NotebookReview.com. 'The Sager NP6630 straddles the line between mainstream and thin & light notebooks. Its sturdy build, sleek appearance and light weight make it a notebook worth considering for anyone but the serious gamer. This is a great-looking machine. When shopping, I showed my wife (who has a much better aesthetic sense than I do) images of the three models I was considering. When she saw the NP6630, she immediately said, "Get that one." I'm glad I listened to her. The notebook is slim and tapered. It's quite light for its size, and I find it easy to carry. It also feels solidly built. I have to apply serious pressure to the lid to see ripples in the screen. The hinges are tight; I cannot open it with one hand, but need to hold the base down with one hand and push up on the lid with the other.'

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July 28, 2006

New Lesance AS520AW-DUO Notebook From PC-Koubou

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Mobile Whack reports on the launch of the new 15.4-inch Lesance AS520AW-DUO gaming notebook from PC-Koubou which is available to Japanese consumers only. 'Koubou is one of the famous notebook manufacturers in Japan. They introduced their latest Lesance notebook, the AS520AW-Duo. I should say this is one of the best gaming notebooks from Koubou. It is powered by Intel Core Duo T2400 1.86GHz processor running on Microsoft Windows Home Edition. Playing games or watching high-definition movie won't be a problem with the integrated Mobility Radeon X1600 256MB graphic card and 15.4-inch TFT LCD screen that boasts resolutions of 1280 x 800.'

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July 27, 2006

Tsukumo N170-802D High-End Gaming Notebook At Mobile Whack

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Mobile Whack previews the features of the new N170-802D gaming PC from Tsukumo. 'Tsukumo Japan announced their high-end gaming notebook, the N170-802D which is powered by Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz processor running on Microsoft Windows XP operating system. It boasts a 17-inch WXGA TFT LCD with resolutions of 1920 x 1200, Mobile Intel 945PM Express chipset, 1GB DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M, 80GB hard disk storage and DVD Super-multi drive. Other than that, it has 7-in-1 memory card reader (memory stick/memory stick Pro/memory stick Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RSMMC) and IEEE802.11a/b/g wireless connectivity and integrated Bluetooth module.'

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New BenQ Joybook P52 With Built-In Digital TV

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'BenQ announced on Tuesday its new BenQ Joybook P52 with built-in digital TV. Equipped with SRS 360 degree TruSurround Technology and 16ms response time, the P52 also features card-size remote control, an ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1600 top-end graphic chipset and hi-definition transfer with DVI-D digital I/O ports. Together with its' minimalist, elegant design and extraordinary Obsidian cover, the Joybook P52 is the ideal notebook to enjoy digital TV broadcasting with excellent performance and appearance in every sense

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July 24, 2006

Reg Hardware.co.uk: Media MIM 2220 Laptop Special

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Tony Smith reports over at Reg Hardware of the offer to UK buyers of a MIM 2220 laptop for £400. 'The MIM 2220 incorporates a 1.7GHz Intel Pentium M 735A processor - not the most up-to-date CPU in these times of Core Duos, let alone the upcoming mobile Core 2 Duo, but a notch up on the Celeron Ms found in so many low-end laptops. The laptop also features three USB ports, a Firewire connector, 10/100Mbps Ethernet, a VGA port, TV-out, a 56Kbps model and a S/P DIF digital audio port. Medion has pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition, Cyberlink PowerDVD, Nero burning software and Microsoft Works - but the less said about the latter the better.'

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July 23, 2006

Engadget.com: Malibal's Bodhi And Lotus Core Duo Laptops

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Engadget highlights the new Malibal Bodhi and Malibal Lotus laptops which are targeted to "on-the-go professionals". ''The Bodhi sports a 14-inch 1280 x 768 screen, 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi/Bluetooth combo, dual-layer DVD burner, and options for up to 2GB of RAM and a 160GB SATA HDD. Mere integrated graphics, and the 3 hours of batter life is just average, but they're fairly compact at 4.85 pounds. The Lotus bumps the screen to 15.4-inches 1280 x 800, and the weight to 5.73 pounds. It can handle those snazzy 2.16GHz Core Duo chips, but the series otherwise mirrors its release buddy. Both laptop lines are on sale now, with the Bodhi starting at $1099, and the Lotus dropping for $1115.'

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July 9, 2006

Alienware Aurora m9700 Laptop Computer

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CNET reviews the feature-packed Alienware Aurora m9700 laptop which is targeted at gamers and users of those resource-hogging multimedia applications. 'With its acquisition of Alienware earlier this year, we've been wondering how Dell was going to keep its high-end XPS line separate and distinct from Alienware's luxurious offerings. The Aurora m9700 certainly makes a bold statement for the Alienware brand, serving up components not offered on its Dell counterpart, the XPS M1710, including an AMD processor, dual-SLI graphics, dual hard drives, and an integrated TV tuner. Like the M1710, the Alienware Aurora m9700 features a 17-inch wide-screen display and a black-and-glossy-silver exterior.

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April 18, 2006

PC World.com: Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010 Laptop Computer

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Melissa Perenson previews the stylish Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010 laptop for PC World. 'In Sunnyvale today, Fujitsu Computer Systems announced its stylish new LifeBook Q Series notebook. The LifeBook Q2010 is super-slim--just ¾ of an inch thick--and weighs just 2.2 pounds. (The unit comes standard with a three-cell battery; a six-cell battery is optional.) Its black magnesium chassis houses an impressive 12.1-inch wide display, as well as a shock-mounted hard drive that relies on hardware and software G-Force accelerometers to lock the drive's head if the unit experiences a sudden drop or vibration.'

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April 9, 2006

Gateway NX100X Notebook Computer

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There can be no denying Gateway has certainly reorganized and now offers computing products which can certainly hold their own against those from larger competitors. ' For its first ultraportable model since 2002, Gateway has taken a page from Apple's design handbook; with a sleek black case, brushed-aluminum details, and dark blue status lights, the NX100X looks like a minimalist's dream laptop. That minimalism extends to features as well; among other omissions, the NX100X forgoes the built-in optical drive found on higher-priced competitors, such as the Fujitsu LifeBook P7120, and the more robust security features found on the business-friendly Lenovo ThinkPad X60s (though some security features can be found on Gateway's identical business-focused model, the E-100M). But the NX100X's $1,625 price is many hundreds of dollars less than those fully loaded models from Fujitsu and Lenovo and slightly cheaper than an almost identically configured Dell Latitude X1.'

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April 8, 2006

Dell Latitude D820 Core Duo Notebook Computer

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CNET reviews the brand new Dell Latitude D820 notebook computer. 'The Latitude D820 demonstrates best-in-business laptop design, beginning with its broad, comfortable keyboard that's complemented by a pointing stick and a touch pad, both with their own sets of mouse buttons. If you configure your D820 with biometric security, Dell reduces the size of the mouse buttons to accommodate a fingerprint sensor between them; while we appreciate the sensor option, the accompanying buttons may be too small for big fingers to use comfortably. Three handy buttons for volume up, volume down, and mute lie above the keyboard, while the two mediocre-sounding speakers (typical for a corporate laptop) flank the board on either side.

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April 7, 2006

Trusted Reviews.com: Fujitsu Siemens Amilo L1310G Notebook Computer

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If you are looking for an affordable but classy looking notebook computer the Fujitsu Siemens Amilo L1310G seems a reasonable option. 'With the AMILO L1310G, Fujitsu Siemens has set out to create an affordable notebook with no crippling compromises and by and large, it has succeeded. The sticker on the front of the chassis is an indicator of the first area of cost saving. The badge says Intel Celeron M inside, rather than Pentium M. The difference between the two is that the former has half the Level 2 cache, 1MB, and does not feature SpeedStep power saving technology, which powers down parts of the processor when it detects that it's not required. This is probably the biggest drawback of the system as on the move the CPU will be running at full pelt all the time - not great when the battery life isn't outstanding in the first place. This is also why Intel doesn't afford the Centrino branding to Celeron M powered machines, even if Wi-Fi is built in, as it is here.'

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April 4, 2006

Gateway's NX100X Ultraportable Laptop Computer

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While not maybe in the same class as the Lenovo Thin Pad X60s or the Fujitsu LifeBook P7120, the Gateway NX100X nevertheless comes with adequate features to satisfy the average user. 'For its first ultraportable model since 2002, Gateway has taken a page from Apple's design handbook; with a sleek black case, brushed-aluminum details, and dark blue status lights, the NX100X looks like a minimalist's dream laptop. That minimalism extends to features as well; among other omissions, the NX100X forgoes the built-in optical drive found on higher-priced competitors, such as the Fujitsu LifeBook P7120, and the more robust security features found on the business-friendly Lenovo ThinkPad X60s (though some security features can be found on Gateway's identical business-focused model, the E-100M).

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April 3, 2006

NotebookReview.com: Compaq Presario B2800

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NotebookReview.com reviews the Compaq Presario B2800 notebook computer which is currently only available in Asia and Australia. 'The model being reviewed is the Compaq Presario B2800. This model is the first of its kind and is the result of a manufacturing agreement between Hewlett-Packard Compaq and Asus, where the latter will produce some of the notebooks under the Compaq brand for the Asia-Pacific market. The Compaq B2800 is a 14''screen laptop with an overall weight, including the 6 cell battery, of around 2.2 kg (just over 4.8 lb, for those readers not use to the Metric System). This, together with its slim profile, clearly puts in the Thin and Light' category.'

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March 31, 2006

Acer Aspire 9504WSMi Notebook Computer

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Stephanie Bruzzese previews the feature-packed Acer Aspire 9504WSMi notebook computer. 'The Aspire 9500 is a true desktop replacement. It weighs 8.5 pounds and measures 15.8 inches wide, 11.3 inches deep, and 1.6 inches thick. These dimensions are about the same as those of the 8.2-pound Inspiron E1705 and the 8.4-pound Sony VAIO AX series, and they're slighter than those of other multimedia desktop replacements, such as the 9.5-pound Qosmio G25 and the 9.7-pound Fujitsu LifeBook N6210. The Aspire 9500's large AC adapter adds another 1.1 pounds to the system's total weight.'

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March 29, 2006

Lenovo 3000 N100[Core Duo] Laptop

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Cnet provides an early look-in to just what you can expect from the Lenovo N100 laptop when Lenovo computers go on sale in a matter of days.' Lenovo, the company that bought IBM's ThinkPad business last year, has developed an alternative brand of desktop PCs and laptops designed to "address the needs of small-business customers" at a cheaper starting price point than most ThinkPad models. The first two laptop offerings under the Lenovo 3000 umbrella include the superbudget C100 (starting at $599) and the slightly higher-end N100 (starting at $799--same as the ThinkPad Z60t). Our well-equipped $1,399 N100 test unit delivered a strong combination of components (including Intel's new Core Duo processor), performance, and connectivity for the price.

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March 28, 2006

Toshiba P105-S92 Laptop Powerhouse

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Cisco Cheng reports on the "official" announcement of the soon-to-be-released Toshiba Satellite P105-S92 notebook computer. 'The P105-S921 will be the "deluxe" model of the Satellite P105 line that will have two other less tricked-out configurations. Besides the GeForce Go 7900 GS, the high-end system will also take on an Intel Core Duo T2400(1.83Ghz) CPU and 1GB of RAM. Sporting a 17-inch TruBrite screen and tipping the scales at 7.2 lbs, it's clearly a desktop-replacement system. Like the Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV600, the P105-S921 will also employ a Dual Mode Touchpad, embedding slick-looking illuminated icons within the touchpad itself. The big laptop also features a massive 160GB hard drive and a DVI-D output port. You can expect the P105-S921 to retail for $1,999.'

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March 27, 2006

Laptop Mag: Dell Inspiron 710m Notebook

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Laptop Mag reviews the Dell Inspiron 710m and apart from the obvious challenge of listening to audio on the device's small speakers found this notebook computer a handy companion for the mobile professional. 'The 710m’s 12.1-inch screen is a widescreen model with a glossy finish that makes colors more vivid. We found this notebook to be the perfect mobile DVD player. The integrated stereo speakers sound tinny, but they’re surprisingly loud for such a small notebook. The optical drive installed in the 710m is a DVD burner, so you can create your own movies, as well.A four-pin FireWire port located on the front panel gives you an easy way to connect your digital camcorder to the notebook and an S-Video output routes video signals to an external television'

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March 25, 2006

CyberPower Xplorer X64 9700 Notebook

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Who says you cant get top-quality computing features in devices other than those with familiar sounding names.? Not true at all. You can configure an adequate feature-set in almost all the computers available nowadays regardless of the brand. The CyberPower Xplorer X64 9700 is one such device which is not only afford ably priced at $1,458 but has an array of colors from which you can choose. 'The Xplorer X64 9700's wide-aspect 15.4-inch WXGA display has a glossy, reflective surface. We found that the laptop's discrete ATI graphics engine generated fluid DVD playback and rich colors. We just wish there were external controls to adjust volume and control playback.The CyberPower Xplorer X64 9700 features a decent selection of ports and connectors, including VGA, S-Video, four-pin FireWire, modem, Ethernet, and four USB 2.0 ports, as well as headphone and microphone jacks and an 802.11b/g Wi-Fi radio. Our review unit also came stocked with a sweet dual-layer DVD burner.

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March 21, 2006

Twinhead Durabook N15RI

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