Laptops, NoteBooks, NetBooks, laptop computer, buy laptop

Acer launches two of the greenest laptops

2010-01-16T04:51:00.000-08:00

If you are worried about polluting the environment with your laptop then you might be pleased to know that energy conscious computer firm Acer has just launched two new laptops which are possibly the Greenest laptops available on the market today.

The two laptop models, which have been praised by Greenpeace and acknowledged for their environmentally friendly materials are both part of Acer’s Timeline series of laptops. They are the Acer Aspire 3811TZ and the Acer Aspire 3811TZG.

Apparently both of these laptops are practically free of the toxic substances polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFR) apart from their power cables. These two substances are often used in the production of laptops as well as other products.

As PC World reported, “PVC is a cheap, durable plastic used widely in electronics casings and cables that has been targeted by environmental groups for not being biodegradable as well as for leakage, including gases given off from some products.”

They also reported that “BFRs are used in plastics and textiles to prevent them from catching fire, but in recent years some studies have found the chemicals accumulate in the environment and can be absorbed by some animals and passed on to their young. BFRs are used heavily in the electronics industry for fire prevention.”

The Timeline laptops produced by Acer are slimmer and lighter than most laptops and run on Intel’s ULV (ultra low voltage) Core 2 Duo processors which also give a longer battery life.

Acer maintains that their laptops reduce energy consumption and they help to protect the environment by reducing the number of poisons released into the environment.

“The chemical characteristics of PVC and BFRs may generate toxic substances like dioxins and furans at products’ end-of-life, therefore, the reduction of PVC and BFRs in Acer products will help protect our environment from being poisoned by electronics goods,” Acer said.

Acer originally said back in 2005 that they were intending to make all their products free of PVC and BFRs as well as phthalates by 2009 and that they were going to work with their suppliers and partners to reach this target.

Taiwan based Acer is the second largest computer manufacturer in the world, the largest being Hewlett Packard and they sell laptop and desktop computers as well as other technology equipment for business and the home.

[http://www.geekwithlaptop.com/]

Acer Aspire One 532h

2010-01-16T04:47:00.000-08:00

Like other netbook makers, Acer is refreshing its line with the new Intel Atom N450 processor (Pine Trail), which promises similar performance but greater endurance. Also like its competitors, Acer has tweaked the design, adding a keyboard with the same style as its larger notebooks and trimming down the chassis. But most significantly, it’s also trimmed the price: though our review model came in at $349, the Aspire One 532h starts at $299, a hundred bucks less than competing brands. But does price trump all, even in the commodified netbook market?

Design

The 532h is a bit of a departure from Acer’s previous 10.1-inch netbooks, the Aspire One D150 and D250. In fact, it looks more like Acer’s 11.6-inch netbook, the Aspire One 751h. Instead of a solid color, the lid of the Onyx Blue 532h fades from a dark metallic blue to black. Other color options included Garnet Red and Silver Matrix. This treatment makes the netbook look much more refined. However, the glossy finish, which is also found beneath the keyboard, picks up fingerprints quickly. There’s now a lot less room at the top of the deck; the keyboard is shoved right up to the top, and the power button is crammed in by the left hinge.

Like the Toshiba mini NB305-N410, Acer saw fit to change the design of the six-cell battery on the 532h. No longer does it jut out the back; it’s now tucked in underneath, shaving three quarters of an inch off the footprint. The area beneath the display and between the hinges has a sharp edge as opposed to the smoother curves of the D250. At 10.2 x 7.3 x 1.0 inches and 2.8 pounds, the 532h is about the same size, shape, and weight as most 10-inch netbooks.

Heat

After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the touchpad on the 532h registered 92 degrees Fahrenheit, the space between the G and H keys was 91 degrees, and the middle of the underside reached 97 degrees. While we don’t consider any this heat to be troublesome, the temperature of 110 degrees in the left front corner was a cause for concern.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Instead of a traditional keyboard as on its older netbooks, the 532h has Acer’s FineTip keyboard, which is completely flat on top, and has a slight space between each key. Also, it’s larger than when compared to older netbooks: whereas on the D250 there was approximately half an inch of space on either side of the keyboard, on the 532h there’s less than a quarter of an inch unused. While it looks identical to the layout on the 11.6-inch 751h, the 532’s keyboard is smaller and the keys have a shallow pitch to them, which made typing somewhat more difficult. We much prefer the keyboards on the ASUS Eee PC 1005PE-P and the Toshiba mini NB305, which have island-style layouts and more space between the keys.

We’re also pleased to see that the touchpad on the 532h is much larger than on previous Acer netbooks. At 2.6 x 1.4 inches, it’s positively spacious compared to the previous generation—though still not as large as that on the Toshiba mini NB305. The multitouch-enabled touchpad is covered with a number of tiny dots that distinguish it from the glossy deck, making it practically friction-free. While we wish the metallic blue mouse button beneath was split into two, it’s sufficiently large and has a nice response.

Rest is here

Intel Shows Off Push TV From A Laptop With WiDi at CES 2010

2010-01-11T02:11:00.000-08:00

Intel showed us a demo that allows you to stream video and audio wirelessly from your laptop to a TV via WiFi that was pretty slick. This means that you no longer need to hassle with with HDMI cables or anything like that thanks to Intel's Wireless Display technology (WiDi). Intel's WiDi is built in to the laptop, so all you need is an off the shelf receiver. This demo used the Netgear Push2TV PVT1000 box ($99) to act as the link between the notebook and the HDTV. This method works great, but you won't be able to use WiDi to play copy protected content to your HDTV. Check out the video clip below to see WiDi sync up in real time.

[http://www.legitreviews.com]

Lenovo Unveils Tablet Laptop Hybrid

2010-01-07T23:58:00.000-08:00

The clamshell notebook and detachable multi-touch slate / tablet PC combo shares a power supply, but each runs on its own operating system.

Lenovo on Wednesday introduced a hybrid laptop that's either a clamshell notebook or a multi-touch slate tablet, each with its own processor and operating system.

The two-in-one design makes the IdeaPad U1 unique and more mobile than a standard laptop. Lenovo plans to showcase the device along with a variety of other PCs at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The IdeaPad U1 has an 11.6-inch display and weighs 3.8 pounds. When the display is attached to the body of the laptop, the unit operates like a typical notebook running Microsoft Windows 7.

With a flip of a switch, however, the display detaches, and becomes a multi-touch tablet PC powered by an ARM processor and running a Linux-based operating system. The slate weighs 1.6 pounds.

The two devices share the same battery power and 3G mobile broadband technology and are designed to have all data and documents in sync. For example, a user can surf the Web in laptop mode, switch to tablet mode, and continue from the same point without interruption, according to Lenovo.

The tablet interface provides either landscape or portrait viewing, depending on the application in use. The screen can be divided into four or six sections, with each section running a separate application, such as email, a calendar, an RSS reader, a social networking Web site, video playback or document editing.

Lenovo said the system can support more than five hours of 3G Web browsing. The hybrid comes with an integrated video camera, stereo speakers and microphone.

The IdeaPad U1 is scheduled to be available June 1. The estimated retail price is $999.

On Tuesday Lenovo introduced the Skylight smartbook, a clamshell device with a keyboard and 10-inch display. The thin gadget weighs less than two pounds and has a customer interface for quick access to Internet services and browsing. It also refreshed its line of laptop PCs for mobile pros, adding ultra-portable notebooks and introduced a series of energy efficient machines.

[http://www.informationweek.com/]

Laptop, Desktop CPUs Arrive in January

2010-01-07T23:53:00.000-08:00

Intel has officially launched its 32-nanometer CPUs, including 11 Arrandale chips for laptops, six Clarkdale chips for desktops, and seven new chipsets.

It's official. Intel CEO Paul Otellini launched a volley of 32-nanometer cannonballs at AMD today with the official release of the company's latest dual- and quad-core Clarkdale (desktop) and dual-core Arrandale (laptop) CPUs.

The launch--spanning 27 different chips and seven individual chipsets--marks the first time Intel has opted to stash a graphics processing unit alongside the CPU on consumer platforms. What does that mean? Smaller motherboard form factors, lower power consumption, and better cooling for the integrated chips. Expect to be able to get your hands these new CPUs as early as late January.

The benefits the move brings to the living rooms of aspiring PC purchasers include advanced optimizations for HD playback and new supported features--picture-and-picture Blu-ray capabilities and dual-monitor support via HDMI or DisplayPort connections, to name a few.

Unique to the Arrandale lineup is the ability to switch between integrated and discrete graphics on-the-fly. Although both Clarkdale and Arrandale processors feature lower power consumption than previous Intel CPUs, combination of speedy discrete graphics and a low power overhead improves laptop gaming performance while still keeping the best interests of the battery in mind.

Intel has stuck with the Turbo functionality from its Lynnfield family of CPUs to deliver automatic overclocking for supported Clarkdale and Arrandale processors. That said, the Core i7 line of processors for both desktop and mobile still deliver Intel's best performance in terms of raw speeds.

However, the more inexpensive Clarkdale and Arrandale CPUs should definitely do their part to help usher out the company's Core 2 processor family. And in some ways, Clarkdale and Arrandale chips even do a fair job of competing against the prices and performances of a few of their more multi-core, Core i7 cousins.

Be sure to check out PC World's full analysis of the Clarkdale and Arrandale chips, including breakdowns of all the newly announced products and prices.

[http://www.pcworld.com/]

HP Debuts New Laptops, Netbooks, Desktop PCs at CES

2010-01-07T23:29:00.000-08:00

The overriding trends embodied in the new machines: more -- and vastly improved -- touch-screen access, the technology of which has improved greatly in the last year or two; improved power efficiencies, thanks largely to cooler-running Intel Core processors; better physical security for laptops/netbooks due to sturdier protective frames; and increased multimedia capabilities in most of the new machines.

The overriding trends embodied in the new machines: more -- and vastly improved -- touch-screen access, the technology of which has improved greatly in the last year or two; improved power efficiencies, thanks largely to cooler-running Intel Core processors; better physical security for laptops/netbooks due to sturdier protective frames; and increased multimedia capabilities in most of the new machines.

Touch-screen breakthroughs enable improved accuracy, higher sensitivity and faster response times to allow for more detailed use via digital pen or a finger. New multitouch displays also enable gestures such as zoom, scroll and rotate.

Because users find themselves working at sporadic times of the day—and more and more often from home—these types of PCs are likely to be used in a number of situations, whether in an office, on the kitchen table, on an aircraft or in some remote location.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP has been industrious in turning out new business and personal computers lately. Only a few months ago, on Sept. 10, 2009, the company debuted a series of Touch-screen machines preloaded with Windows 7.

For the CES show, HP is touting a new TouchSmart notebook and several colorfully designed netbooks—including the company's first touch-enabled Mini—which are now the headlining devices.

The touch-enabled TouchSmart tm2 is built into a sophisticated-looking aluminum case with an engraved illustration. Naturally, it is aimed at artistic-minded users. Input is enabled by finger, digital pen or keyboard. The 12.1-inch monitor twists up and over to become a tablet; it can also be used as a standard notebook. Intel Core 2 Duo processors and optional high multimedia performance ATI Mobility Radeon discrete graphics upgrades are available. The system becomes available Jan. 7, and pricing starts at $949.

HP's first touch-enabled netbook, the Mini 5102 (photos were not made available), is aimed at students and mobile professionals. It features an all-metal case in black, red or blue and offers a range of features, including face recognition for easy log-on to Windows operating systems and password-protected Websites.

The new HP Mini 210 and 2102 are companion PCs that feature long battery life (6 to 8 hours) that provide all-day computing, optional high-definition video playback, and optional global positioning system (GPS) and mobile broadband connectivity.

HP is positioning its Compaq L2105 21.5-inch Widescreen Touch Monitor, also debuting at CES, as the company's first Windows 7-certified multitouch monitor. Touch inputs are recognized quickly, accurately and without drift. It features a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and resolutions up to 1,920 by 1,080. It is available now and priced at $299.

HP calls its new Compaq 8000f Elite Business PC its most "environmentally friendly" business desktop. It sports a more efficient power supply (87 percent efficiency; most current PCs range in the 40 to 60 percent efficiency area) and is free of brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from the wall to the mouse.

The Compaq 8000f Elite Business PC is Energy Star-certified and comes equipped with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the Intel Q45 chip set and vPro, DDR3 memory and Windows 7 for starters. It becomes available Feb. 1, and pricing starts at $849.

By: Chris Preimesberger [http://www.eweek.com]

Is the Netbook Over and Out?

2010-01-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

Stuck between a rock and a hard place—the rock being the still-evolving smartphone, the hard place being the emerging tablet computer—the netbook computer would seem to be doomed.

The netbook, which rose to great popularity only about a year ago, may, in fact, become the victim of the technology that helped create such a small computer. Ultra-thin machines now offer more power in much lighter packages, smartphones with increased Web functionality and more sophisticated processors will eclipse the netbook’s rather limited abilities, and the tablet computer is likely waiting in the wings from companies like Dell and Apple.

In fact, Apple has booked the San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Centre on January 28 for a “major product announcement” without amplifying on details.

Another crucial factor: the cost of netbooks are inching up, bringing their price points preciously close to that those of fully-functional notebooks.

“It’s the Internet’s fault for making us much more multimedia savvy,” Stuart Miles, founder and editor of technology blog Pocket Lint, told the BBC. Uploading and editing photos or motion video requires more power than the basic netbook offers, he said.

Going forward, many observers believe that machines—phones in particular—will be less generic, and more tailored for specific functions, such as access to social media. “It’s no surprise that your mobile has changed a lot in the last three years but your PC hasn’t,” Ian Drew, spokesman for chip designer Arm, told the BBC. The short-term “will be a lot of different machines for a lot of different people,” he said, Look for some clues to the PC future at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and on this blog.

By STEPHEN WILLIAMS

Apple tablet set to be launched next month

2010-01-01T04:44:00.000-08:00

Ex-Google (and Apple) exec claims rumours are true

Apple is set to launch its much-hyped but still unconfirmed tablet device next month, and it will come with 3D graphics and a price tag below US$1000, according to former Google China president Kai-Fu Lee.

"Most surprising: Apple predicts production of nearly 10 million [units] in the first year!" Lee said in a post on a Chinese microblog service that cited information from a source he described as a knowledgeable friend. The tablet will look like a large iPhone and come with a 10.1-inch multitouch touchscreen, a virtual keyboard and support for videoconferencing and e-books, the post said.

The comments from Lee, who worked for Apple over a decade ago and left Google this year, add to a sea of rumours about a possible ultrathin Apple tablet combining e-reader and web-surfing functions. Speculation about the device has redoubled since a blog post by the Financial Times last week cited unnamed sources saying Apple is expected to make a major product announcement at an event in San Francisco on 26 January.

Lee predicted in a later post that the new device will weigh less than half as much as a MacBook Air, though it was unclear whether the message was speculation or came from Lee's friend. Lee also cited speculation that Apple could team up with US network operators to lower the price of the tablet. Operators already widely use a similar model for mobile phones including the iPhone, in which the buyer gets a discounted device in exchange for signing a mobile service contract.

[http://techworld.com]

First look of Acer Aspire One 532 spotted

2009-12-31T04:58:00.000-08:00

The Acer Aspire One 532 will be the company’s first Intel Pine Trail netbook. We’ve already come across the specifications that include a 10.1-inch high-resolution (1280 x 720) display and 1.66GHz N450 Atom Pineview processor. The first pictures of the AAO 532 have been spotted at a couple of retailers. Check out a few larger pictures after the break.
The Aspire One 532 will come with 1GB RAM, a 160GB/250GB HDD and Windows 7 Starter. Other features include a 3-cell battery, 5-in-1 card reader, 0.3MP webcam, Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and three USB ports. It will be available in four different colours (Blue, Red, Black and Silver). It has dimensions of 22.9 x 31.5 x 11cm and weighs 1.25kg.

Via http://www.netbookchoice.com

ASUS Eee PC 1005P/PE PineTrail Netbooks

2009-12-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

EeePC 1005P & 1005PE Netbooks to Feature Atom N450 CPUs & 12.5hr Battery

A lot of netbooks are coming out this holiday season, making for one of the most sought-after gadgets this year. However, if you’re in the market for one these days (maybe as a Christmas gift), there is a high chance to end up kicking yourself, maybe a month later. Why? Well, in January a whole range of new netbooks based on Intel’s new Atom PineTrail platform will be coming out, bringing more performance at a lesser price.

Among those to bring the new systems to the market, ASUS is set to release new PineTrail models in their EeePC range of netbooks. We’re talking about the new ASUS EeePC 1005P and the EeePC 1005PE. Both units will be powered by an Intel Atom N450 1.66 GHz processor, have 1GB of DDR2-RAM and will come preloaded with Windows 7 Started Edition.

They also pack and Intel GMA 3150 GPU, which is a slightly improved version of Intel’s G31-based GMA 3100. The 1005P will be the lower end model with a 160 GB hard drive while the 1005PE model will have a 250GB hard disk along with a 6-cell battery which is supposedly capable of providing up to 12.5 hours of runtime.

The Asus Eee PC 1005P was listed early on a UK webstore for £242.95 (some $395 at today’s rate) while the 1005PE was listed at £270.94 (~ $440). More details about the availability as well as confirmed pricing should be announced at CES 2010.

by Alex Ion

Review - ASUS N61VN

2009-12-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

The N61VN is a new 16-inch gaming and multimedia notebook from ASUS designed to compete against systems like the HP Pavilion dv6t and Dell Studio XPS 16. It includes a built-in Blu-ray player and NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M graphics meaning it can handle the latest HD movies and newest games. Just how well does the N61VN stack up against the competition?

ASUS N61VN-A2 Specifications:

* Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
* Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 (2.0GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)
* 16" WXGA HD LCD display at 1366x768
* NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M 1GB GDDR3 memory
* Atheros AR9285 BGN Wireless, Bluetooth
* 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM (2GB x 2)
* 320GB Seagate 7200.4 Hard Drive
* Blu-ray/DVD SuperMulti
* 1.3MP Webcam, Included Slipcase
* 90W (19V x 4.74A) 100-240V AC Adapter
* 6-cell 48Wh 10.8v 4400mAh Lithium Ion battery
* Dimensions (WxDxH): 15.4 x 10.6 x 1.5
* Weight: 6lbs 6.6oz
* 2-Year Global Warranty/1-Year Accidental damage
* List Price: $1,299

Build and Design
The ASUS N61VN has a rather inconspicuous outside appearance that doesn’t really hint at the multimedia and gaming beast housed within. I actually prefer this semi-professional look since it gives the impression you could be typing an essay or surfing the web instead of actually killing zombies or battling other online gamers. The contrasting textures inside and outside the N61VN are great in both form and function. The outside shell is finished with a glossy paint and a very subtle zen garden style design. The interior switches to an almost rubbery finish similar to the outside paint on a Lenovo ThinkPad. To your wrists it feels soft and it still retains traction even if your hands aren’t dry. The finish also resists fingerprints and most smudges which helps to keep it looking clean longer than a glossy finish. The only time you really start to notice marks on the rubbery paint is when oil from your hands start to build up in spots you frequently touch. This cleans off well with a microfiber cloth.

Build quality is excellent with a solid chassis, durable paint, and strong screen hinges. The glossy and rubbery paint resists most wear and tear very well. It was no problem keeping the notebook looking brand new after wiping down the glossy front and palmrest every few days. The notebook body is constructed in such a way to prevent most flexing and creaking sounds when carried. On a flat desk surface the palmrest has basically no flex at all and the keyboard only shows minimal movement from the tray itself under strong pressure. The thick screen bezel protects the display from front or rear impacts and doesn’t show any screen distortions from strong pressure on the back side. Even the screen hinges feel strong, requiring two hands to open the display. When close they have enough tension to keep the screen snug against the body without falling forward if you have the notebook standing up vertically.

Users looking to upgrade components will find it no problem with the complete access ASUS provides. The hard drive, system memory, wireless card, processor, and heatsink are all replaceable with the two access panels removed. Usually most systems only give a glimpse of the processor or heatsink through the main access panel, requiring you to fully disassemble the notebook to reach those parts. To save space ASUS used an integrated graphics card soldered to the motherboard instead of the MXM-standard which is sometimes user upgradeable. The only component with a "warranty void if removed" sticker is the processor which is normal for the majority of notebooks. Another item worth noting is the unused mini-PCIe slot has no header soldered to the motherboard. This means users thinking about adding a WWAN card or other device won’t be able to.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The ASUS N61VN offers an island style keyboard with four-row numberpad. The wide 16” chassis gives plenty of room for non-condensed keys while still maintaining a good border around the perimeter of the keyboard. The keyboard is very comfortable to type on and once you get used to the Chiclet-style keys it is very responsive. You can notice some minor flex under strong pressure but it was only the tray moving, not the underlying structure. Individual key action is smooth with a quiet “clack” emitted when fully pressed. Multimedia keys are limited to mute, volume up and down, and play/pause. Another thing missing from this notebook is a backlit keyboard which seems to be standard on most ASUS models in this pricerange.

ELAN touchpads have come a long way since I first started to see them introduced in popular notebooks. The first generations had trouble with lag and finger tracking, but now they are on par with the latest Synaptics touchpads. The ASUS N61VN includes a multitouch enabled ELAN touchpad that is very intuitive in use. It supports two-finger scrolling, zooming, rotating, as well as three-finger magnifying, swiping, and window selection. The ELAN utility also supports multi-finger clicking to emulate a middle-button click and pop-up menu by default. These can be changed to other options including (but not limited to) start menu access and return to desktop. Lag is minimal at worst and only noticed under very fast repetitive motions. Touchpad sensitivity is excellent but it can’t be adjusted through the software interface. Below the touchpad is a single rocker-style button for left and right click. It has shallow feedback and gives off a solid "click" when pressed.

Screen and Speakers
ASUS includes a WXGA resolution screen with this configuration of the N61VN. This is very disappointing given the built-in Blu-ray player and gaming nature of this notebook. At a minimum for the 16” screen size they should have offered a 1600x900 panel… especially with its $1,299 price tag. The display rates average in terms of color saturation and contrast. Viewing brightness was adequate in our bright office but with an all-glass style screen cover outdoor viewing would be difficult. In the office I found the comfortable viewing brightness level to be 90-100% and 60-70% in my home. Viewing angles were average for a screen of this resolution but weaker when compared to notebooks of this price range. Vertical viewing angles showed some color distortion in as little as 10 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles were better as colors stayed accurate even at steep angles.

The onboard speakers were average compared to other 16” notebooks, with good high notes but weak midrange and low-frequency response. Peak volume levels were fine for watching a movie or listening to music in a small room. For watching movies the volume was set to 100%, as any lower would be hard to understand if there was too much background noise. Headphones or listening through a stereo connected over HDMI would really be the best option for this notebook.

Ports and Features
Port selection on the ASUS N61VN was great with three USB-ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, LAN, VGA and HDMI-out, and two audio jacks. Additional features include an ExpressCard/34 slot, a SDHC-card reader, and a quick access wireless on/off switch.

While the system includes a Blu-ray drive it doesn’t include anything to decode Blu-ray movies. ASUS includes a crippled version of PowerDVD 9 that prompts you to upgrade to a better version to play Blu-ray movies when a disc is inserted. The Acer 8940G was another notebook that didn’t include Blu-ray software even though it included the drive. These days it seems like manufacturers are trying to find new and inventive ways to save money, even if it passes unexpected costs onto the consumer.

Performance and Benchmarks
Since the ASUS N61VN was released around the same time as the G51J we were partially expecting Intel Core i7 processors in both systems. Even though each system is quad-core, the N61VN comes equipped with the older Q9000 Core 2 Quad processor. With that said the notebook still performs quite well in a wide range of tasks. With the help of the 7200RPM hard drive startup and shutdown times were excellent and programs load without any lag. Gaming performance is very good with the NVIDIA 240M, handling many of the latest games with ease at the system’s WXGA resolution. Playing through a level of Left 4 Dead with FRAPS running in the background we saw an average of 66FPS, a peak of 107FPS, and a minimum of 35FPS. This was with all detail settings set to high and anti-aliasing turned to its lowest setting. HD movie playback was no problem either, with 1080P video barely bringing the system load above 10%.

wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):

PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

3DMark06 comparison results against netbooks @ 1024 x 768 resolution (higher scores mean better performance):

HDTune hard drive performance test:

Heat and Noise
The N61VN handles its heat output very well when performing low-stress activities like browsing the web, typing documents, listening to music, or watching movies. The palmrest and keyboard stay just above room temperature; which is great if you sit at your notebook for hours. This changes while gaming though as the system warms up considerably within the first 10 to 15 minutes. With the processor and GPU tasked the palmrest and keyboard measured around 90 degrees, with a hot spot on the bottom measuring nearly 100 degrees near the exhaust vent. If you were playing a game with the notebook sitting on your lap this would probably get pretty uncomfortable.

Noise from the cooling fan was minimal under normal conditions. With the processor near idle the fan stayed off most of the time and occasionally spun up briefly. While gaming, noise increased with the spinning faster and it staying on longer.

Battery Life
The N61VN performed quite well on battery even though ASUS only includes a 48Wh battery standard. In our tests with the screen brightness set to 70%, wireless active, and Windows 7 on the Balanced profile the N61VN stayed on for 3 hours and 22 minutes. During the test power consumption varied between 12 and 14 watts. Considering the battery had to power a quad-core processor, mid-range graphics card, and 7200RPM hard drive, getting above 3 hours was very good.

Conclusion
The ASUS N61VN works very well as an entry-level gaming system with media playing capabilities. The NVIDIA 240M graphics paired with the Intel Q9000 processor handled modern games at a lower WXGA resolution without completely destroying battery life. The system has a slimmer design compared to a true gaming system like the ASUS G51J and it also weighed a good deal less. With that said the system does have a few limitations, including a lower resolution WXGA panel and no included Blu-ray decoding software. For most buyers when they see that their notebook includes a Blu-ray drive they generally assume the system can read and play movies. That wasn’t the case with the limited version of PowerDVD 9 that was included.

Besides the screen and limited software the N61VN still has quite a few things going for it. It has a good design, a very solid chassis, and a great keyboard. Given the missing Blu-ray software I think the best advice I could give people looking to purchase this system would be to checkout the N61VN-A1. It offers the same features as the N61VN-A2, but instead of a Blu-ray drive it has a standard DVD-multi drive and costs $100 less.

Pros:

Responsible looking design
Great build quality
Good gaming performance

Cons:

Limited WXGA resolution
No Blu-ray decoding software

BY: Kevin O'Brien, NotebookReview.com

Great Deals on Fully Loaded Laptops

2009-12-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Fully loaded laptops for less than $700

Competition from netbooks is driving down prices.
Netbooks -- those mini portables with small screens and compact keyboards -- are cute. But they're not for everyone. Disk space is limited, keyboards are cramped, and they're no good for watching movies. To remedy all that, you need a full-size laptop.

The good news is that for about $600 you can get a lot of portable-computing prowess: a 15-inch or larger display, a full-size keyboard, and enough processing power for movies, games and, of course, boring stuff such as word processing. You'll get from four to eight hours of battery life, too, depending on your usage. One caveat: The deals are on PCs running Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system. (Sorry, Apple fans. Mac laptops still start at $1,000.)

Slim and Light
Tipping the scales at 5.3 pounds, the Acer Aspire Timeline AS5810TZ-4784 ($650) may seem gargantuan next to a netbook weighing 2 to 3 pounds, but it's a lightweight compared with the 7- to 9-pound luggables of old. The Timeline features a colorful 15.6-inch display and a full-size keyboard, but it'll still fit -- albeit snugly -- in a backpack or briefcase. This portable, with its Intel Pentium Dual Core SU4100 processor, 4 gigabytes of memory and a large, 320GB hard drive, packs plenty of punch.

The Timeline adds a few clever touches -- literally. Its "multi-gesture" touchpad permits iPhone-like finger commands. For instance, to browse photos or Web pages, you slide two fingers horizontally across the pad. The keyboard is spacious, although the spacing between keys may actually be too wide for some users. And if you eat while you type -- as I often do -- crumbs of food may get lodged between the keys. (Yes, there's an etiquette lesson in here somewhere.)

Power Bargain
Dell has perfected the art of build-it-yourself PC purchasing, which makes it tempting to scrimp a little and buy a stripped-down model. For example, you can buy a no-frills Dell Inspiron 15 for $400 with 2GB of memory and the much-maligned Windows Vista operating system. But a better bet is the upgraded Dell Inspiron 15 ($550), which has Windows 7, an Intel Pentium Dual Core chip, 4GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive.

The Inspiron 15 is a reliable workhorse, and its 15.6-inch display is crisp and colorful. The keyboard is roomy but lacks a dedicated numerical keypad (the Timeline and Hewlett-Packard's Pavilion dv6z both have one). The 5.8-pound Inspiron is a bit bulkier than the Timeline, particularly with its lid shut, and its basic black shell is a tad drab; you can jazz it up by adding an optional color or custom-design top ($40 and up).

Big and Brawny
The HP Pavilion dv6z ($600) isn't svelte like the Timeline and, at 6.5 pounds, it's the heftiest full-size laptop in the group. But if your portable spends most of its time sitting atop a desk or table, what's an extra pound or so? The version available at HP's online store is nicely configured: It has an AMD Athlon II Dual Core chip, 4GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, a 15.6-inch display and Windows 7.

In terms of appearance, the Pavilion dv6z falls somewhere between the Timeline and the Inspiron. It lacks the Timeline's slim fashion sense, but it's hipper than the stodgy Inspiron. The standard espresso-black case features an imprint that resembles large raindrops. If that's not your thing, you can upgrade to moonlight white for an extra $25.

Jeff Bertolucci

Acer, Dell and HP Are Sabotaging Ultra-Thin Laptops

2009-12-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

According to DigiTimes, Wang says HP and Dell aren't pushing the ultra-thin category hard enough, particularly in the United States. Instead, they're slashing prices on mainstream notebooks, selling them for as little as $400.

Wondering why thin and light laptops with monster battery life haven't been a smashing success? Acer chairman J.T. Wang says Dell and HP are to blame.

As a result, Intel's not seeing good enough sales on its consumer ultra-low voltage, or CULV, processors, Wang argued. In 2010, the chip maker plans to mainly push mainstream notebook platforms, possibly investing less in ultra-thins.
Ultra-thin laptops, such as Acer's Aspire Timeline 3810T and Asus' UL30a, tend to measure an inch thick or less, can last an entire work day on a charge and forgo an optical drive to trim down on bulk. They're larger and more powerful than netbooks, but they can struggle with gaming and 1080p HD video, partly because many ultra-thins lack dedicated graphics cards (Asus' UL80vt, on which I'm typing this, is an exception).

Wang believes that interest in ultra-thin laptops is stronger than HP and Dell would have Intel believe. At a recent trade show in Taiwan, ultra-thins accounted for half of Acer's laptops sold. Wang didn't say how Acer ultra-thins fared in 2009, but expects that they'll account for 30 percent of sales next year, backed by new models in March or April.

Wang's take on the ultra-thin market seems convoluted to me. HP and Dell aren't totally ignoring the category, with HP's ProBook 5310m and Pavilion DV2 (using AMD's Athlon Neo processor) and Dell's Inspiron 11z and the new Vostro V13. But Wang is essentially saying the competition isn't focusing on the laptops he wants to compete with, but that's of course their prerogative. And just last month, Wang was hinting at faster Intel chips on the horizon, presumably to power Acer's upcoming models, so the situation doesn't sound all bad.

In any case, Acer is the second-largest PC maker now. If ultra-thin notebooks haven't flourished, it could just be because Acer's offers haven't been attractive enough.

Jared Newman

Lenovo IdeaPad U350

2009-12-02T02:28:00.000-08:00

IDEAPAD U350
(Lenovo)
Slim notebook
Processor: Intel ULV SU2700 (1.3GHz)
Memory: 3GB DDR3 RAM
Graphics: Intel GMA 4500M
Storage: 250GB hard drive
Operating system: Vista Home Premium
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth
Other features: Card reader, 1.3-megapixel webcam, VGA out, HDMI port
I/O Ports: Three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet port
Battery: Four-cell lithium-ion
Dimensions (W x D x H): 32.8m x 22.9m x 2.5cm
Weight: 1.6kg
Website: www.lenovo.com
Price: $940

When you first set your eyes on the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 you will probably be charmed. It is a sexy little 13.3in laptop.

It looks like an Apple Macbook, not that silverish chrome and black is a revolutionary colour contrast.

But if Lenovo intends to attract working executives then the U350 is a handsome business accessory that will turn heads at meetings and in boardrooms.

The backpanel of the LCD is the eye-catching centrepiece and its matte black criss-cross embossed finishing brings a touch of class to the U350, something that is rarely found in this price range.

It is also very slim and lightweight. This may be a welcome change from the desktop replacements of old where heavyweight features took precedence and broke our backs in the process.

This being said, the U350 is not a power-packed hunk of a machine. On the contrary, it reminds one of nonchalant cattle grazing rather than charging.

Before we launch into the sluggish performance of the laptop, we need to finish admiring the U350.

It does not feel like cheap plastic and neither does it feel flimsy or poorly made. The keypad sits well and typing is quite fun. Also the keys seem well spaced and they are laid out slightly differently.

The U350 is solid and it looks like something you could tote into meetings. One can be forgiven if they want to go paperless and use this laptop to replace their notepads and pens instead. It really is that portable and stylish.

Lacking punch

Although on first impressions the U350 wins, the moment you start it up is when the disappointment sets in.

The U350 uses an ULV (ultra low voltage) processor and you can tell straight away it is a gentle, docile machine because it takes awhile to start up.

ULVs are mainly found in netbooks and the U350 is one step up from a netbook because of its 13in screen which is really helpful.

With the U350 you save on carrots because you will not be straining your eyes as much. So if you are looking for a netbook with a bigger screen then the U350 is your new best friend.

It does come with a generous helping of RAM, 3GB to be exact, but this is unnoticeable in the greater scheme of things as the U350 still underperforms and is laggy.

Programs take ages to load but once they are ready to be used performance picks up somewhat.

If you are one of those who open multiple tabs in Internet browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome simultaneously then you will not have to worry too much except for some pauses once in awhile.

It can get annoying but is tolerable if you have time. Do not expect to multitask though because if you open another program or two in addition to the web browsers, the U350 will slow down.

Also, with progressive use, the laptop deteriorated in speed and performance but this could be due to the rigorous stress we put the laptop under with background programs running and web browsers perpetually open.

Software overload

Lenovo's tagline for the U350 is 'light and loaded' and it is true to a degree. It is lean on the outside and loaded or bloated with all sorts of programs inside.

The review unit comes with Windows Vista Home Premium but we expect new machines to ship with Windows 7.

Lenovo decided to pack the U350 with its proprietary software such as Veriface login, which is a security feature, and other nonsensical and memory hogging programs.

It is not worth the hassle and soon enough, you will find yourself uninstalling these programs to try and get the notebook to work faster.

It does come with WiFi which is sufficient for our needs since so many of us live on the Internet. The U350 also comes with three USB 2.0 ports and a HDMI port which is great for playing videos on your big screen TV if necessary.

The U350 supports Dolby surround sound but the effect felt tinny and spaced out - not very good for heavy bass music or for listening to music in general.

It could be that the thin U350 body cannot handle sound so headphones or external speakers are best used with the notebook.

Let us not forget the U350 also comes with a webcam for video conferencing and is very helpful. However, webcams are a standard accessory with most notebooks now.

Conclusion

Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 has a very masculine appeal but will not look out of place if carried by a woman too.

It looks professional and serious, very much suited for business users who want something thin and portable.

The speed leaves much to be desired but it will complete the tasks at hand, just slightly slower than usual.

Pros: Lightweight and slim; 3GB RAM.

Cons: Slow; unnecessary software.

Source: digital.asiaone.com

ASUS Eee PC 1201T dumps Atom for AMD Congo

2009-11-30T03:01:00.000-08:00

ASUS have pushed out another 12.1-inch ultrathin, and this time they’ve eschewed Intel in favor of some AMD goodness. Unlike the 1201HA and 1201N, the ASUS Eee PC 1201T uses AMD’s 1.6GHz Congo MV40 processor, along with the RS780MN chipset and ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics; that adds up to 1080p Full HD performance, though it doesn’t appear from the spec sheets that ASUS have fitted an HDMI port to the 1201T.

That means you have to make do with VGA output, together with three USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out, ethernet and a multi-format memory card reader. There’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and the whole thing weighs in at 1.46kg while measuring 296 x 208 x 27.3-33.3 mm including the standard 6-cell battery.
ASUS reckon you’ll get around four hours of runtime from that battery, which seems on the low side even if you’re playing back HD video on the 1366 x 768 display. No word on pricing nor release date as yet.

via NetbookItalia

Best Buy Black Friday 2009 HP Laptop $197, Compaq Netbook $179

2009-11-26T11:25:00.000-08:00

Best Buy has pages of Black Friday 2009 deals in their ad and the deals keep coming. Computer deals are big at the Best Buy Black Friday sale and great deals on laptops, desktops and netbooks make going shopping at 3am just a bit easier. The latest addition to the deals is the HP Laptop with Intel Celeron Processor for $197.00.

The 12-page Best Buy Black Friday ad reveals that Best Buy will be opening at 5:00am on Black Friday and passing out tickets for their doorbuster specials at 3:00am. While some doorbuster deals will be available online as early as Thanksgiving Day, the HP Laptop for $197 is an in-store only deal.

Best Buy states that quantities are limited so there is no guarantee that you will be able to get a doorbuster special like the HP Laptop for $197. There are a minimum of 5 available at each Best Buy store.

There is also a low-priced doorbuster deal at Walmart for a laptop, but not an HP. It's an eMachines 15.6" Notebook for $198.00. Walmart also have limited quantities.

There are many other deals at Best Buy on computers, netbooks and laptops. Here is the list of Black Friday deals on computers so you can compare before you head out early in the morning.

Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive - $179.99

Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive - $229.99

eMachines Desktop w/AMD Athlon Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, w/18.5" LCD Monitor and HP Deskjet Printer - $299.97

Dell 10.1" Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive - $379.99

Sony 15" Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $399.99

Toshiba 16" Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 3GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) - $399.99

Sony 15" Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, Sony Headphones, Built-In Blu-ray, Blu-ray Movie - $479.97

Toshiba 16" Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) w/Printer and Case - $499.97

HP Desktop AMD X4 Quad Core, 8GB Mem, 1TB Hard Drive, 20" Monitor, HP Deskjet DJ350 Color Printer, Windows 7 Home Prem - $499.97

HP 15.6" Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 6GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $599.99

HP 15.6" Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 8GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $699.99

Macbook 13.3" Notebook w/2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, w/$150 Gift Card - $999.99

HULIQ

World's Cheapest Laptop

2009-11-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

$80 Android Laptop, Menq EasyPC E790

Here is the cheapest laptop in the world. It can run Android since it is based on a Samsung ARM926EJ-S3C2450 processor, but for now this review unit that I am reviewing in this video only runs Windows CE 5.0. Check back hopefully within a month for another video when Menq may have sent me a firmware upgrade to use Android instead of Windows CE.

As I filmed the Menq Easypc E760 last year at IFA, Menq is a chinese company interested in providing the worlds cheapest laptop designs. Last year, they were using a 480×320 resolution 7-inch screen to reach the $89 price point for laptops, now they are able to include a 800×480 resolution 7-inch screen. Find more information about this Menq EasyPC E790 at http://www.menqgroup.com/products/pro/E790.asp

The coming of the ARM based laptops, in my opinion, are indicative of the real revolution that is imminent for the Laptop and Desktop computer industry. As soon as ARM based laptops can run a full Chrome Browser, with unlimited amounts of opened tabs all running smoothly, with Flash support, full Javascripts support and basic multimedia functions, then I think the turning point will be reached where most consumers in the world, and especially in developing countries, will be buying only the cheapest laptops.

Web Browsing is all that most people need, with clever HTML5 enabled Chrome browser running on any type of Embedded OS, be it Android or Ubuntu, even offline application could be run reliably from within the browser engine. Anything most people really need will work.

As you can see in my video review, this Menq EasyPC E790 is kind of slow since it is based on the ARM9 processor technology. For not much more cost, though, the Chinese laptop manufacturers could soon be using the ARM Cortex A8 processor technology, which should provide for a 5-10 times faster web browsing experience, and even faster if using an upcoming ARM optimized Chrome browser.

This laptop, I think, is giving us a taste of the future of laptops. Soon all laptops will cost $80 or less, run 10 hours or more on a small and cheap 3-cell battery, even over 20 hour battery life if using the Pixel Qi screen technology. It is also providing a sensation for the what we can expect from the next generation OLPC One Laptop Per Child XO-1.75 to be released by OLPC with ARM processor technology inside instead of X86.

If using ARM9, OLPC could definitely sell laptops at below $80, but maybe ARM Cortex A8 will be preferable at around $10-$20 extra in manufacturing costs, and the innovative new Pixel Qi screen, WiFi meshing, more RAM and storage, could bring the next ARM based OLPC XO-1.75 laptop coser to $125 per laptop, to reach below $100 with mass production. In any ways, I am really looking forward to see the upcoming releases of the ARM Cortex A8 based laptops, yet still, this ARM9 based laptop is very interesting, and if you want your local supermarket to start selling them, I suggest you phone your local supermarket headquarters, and ask them to contact Menq and order for example 5000 pieces or more so they can get them at the price of $80 per unit and sell it to you for probably below $100 in supermarkets.

Pictures of this laptop:

Find more information at http://www.menqgroup.com/products/pro/E790.asp

Review: Acer Aspire One AO751h

2009-11-22T06:12:00.000-08:00

The AO751h is in-between of a small laptop and a netbook and so it makes it an interesting item to investigate.

The model we received comes with the following general features:
# Black color
# Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition pre-installed w/CoA
# Intel Atom Z520 1.33 GHz processor
# 1 GB DDR2 RAM (easily upgradeable to 2 GB)
# 160 GB hard drive
# Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500 (GMA500)
# Integrated audio with built-in speakers
# Integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet
# 802.11b/g wireless LAN (Atheros)
# Built-in webcam and microphone
# 4-in-one card reader
# Full size keyboard, Synaptics touchpad
# 11.6-inch HD WXGA CrystalBrite LED-backlit TFT LCD display (1366x768)
# 3 USB 2.0 ports
# 15-pin VGA
# RJ-45 Ethernet jack
# Microphone jack
# Headphone jack
# 1.0 x 11.25 x 7.75-inches (H x W x D, approximate)
# 2.75 lbs. with 3-Cell battery pack (approximate)

Since my 12" 867 Mhz G4 Powerbook is too slow rendering most of the web these days, I tried a number of solutions to replace it: from going big to 15" laptops, down to 9" netbooks. Nothing seemed to strike the perfect balance of "small, but not too small" though. Handling this model of the successful Aspire One series, at last it brings a feeling of fulfillment. The laptop is thin, light, with a small form factor, while at the same time it sports a full size keyboard that's very comfortable to write on, and with a very spacious screen resolution. While flash storage is "in" lately, I personally dislike the performance hit that usually comes with it, so the 160 GB hard drive included in this model was a welcome feature for me.

The laptop comes with Windows XP SP3 pre-installed. After logging in for the first time I had to do a bunch of updates to bring it up to speed (overall, about 4 reboots). With the laptop also came a bunch of other software, like the (pretty irritating) McAfee suite, Cyberlink DVD player (even if there's no internal DVD player on this model!), about 15 game demos, a webcam app, and some Acer utilities.

I contemplated on re-sizing the NTFS partition and installing Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala in it too, but I stopped short of doing that because of the GMA500 graphics chipset. While Ubuntu has some cursory support for the specific chipset, its Linux support in general is pretty poor, as its driver is not updated promptly for new versions. The reason for this is because the GMA500 has a PowerVR core and not an Intel Graphics one like all other Intel chips. Even on Windows XP, with the latest drivers drivers installed, dragging windows around was not smooth (there was more tearing than on other PCs). The pre-installed game demos did play smooth though.

Everything on the laptop worked as advertised: ethernet, wifi (very speedy on connecting back after waking up from sleep), mic, webcam. The screen is bright and with has a wide angle of view. The VGA webcam is acceptable -- definitely better than my HP netbook's -- but not better than the one on Macbooks. Sleep and hibernation were flawless too. The laptop supports up to 2 GBs of RAM: upgrading the RAM is an easy affair as you can access the RAM bay on the back of the laptop.

The CPU is a Z-series Atom 1.33 Ghz Intel. The specific CPU is meant for MID devices and not laptops, but Acer took a bold step by using that chip. The price we have to pay for this is low performance. In essence, the Z-series CPUs are slower than the N-series Atom CPUs (which are already pretty under-powered). I didn't run specific benchmarking tests since other reviews has done so already and all agree about the low performance. My other HP N-series Atom netbook at 1.6 Ghz running Ubuntu feels significantly faster on casual usage. To give you an idea how slow this is: Vimeo and Youtube's NON-HD (VGA) MP4 Flash videos barely play in real time (sometimes you'll have to wait for the VGA video to completely buffer before you get real time), while 720p HD Flash video is unusable (~1 fps). Playing back 720p h.264 videos via a media player also yields a bad performance, and one has to use a super-optimized codec, like CoreAVC's, to get away with it (and even then it's barely real time). Nevertheless, performance for normal browsing and casual usage is more than adequate.

You might think that the low voltage and low performance CPU will offer better battery life, but the 3-cell battery that the laptop came with didn't manage over 3 hours of battery life. It's a good battery performance for a just 3-cell battery, but it's still just 3 hours, like any other netbook out there. Acer sells a 6-cell battery too, which should double the battery performance though.

Finally, there's no Bluetooth support. The Wifi card is easily accessible and upgradeable though, so it would be nice if there was a replacement card for it that included 802.11 "n" support, Bluetooth 2.1, a SIM slot, and why not, a GPS chip too.

Overall, this laptop came the closest to be "the" replacement I was looking for my G4, or for a casual laptop usage, but the low CPU performance and lack of Bluetooth spoiled the recipe. Good performance for h.264 720p video playback (with Flash and without) is a must-have for me, so this made the deal a sticky point. The GMA500 is one of the few modern Intel graphics chips that Adobe's upcoming Flash 10.1 won't support with hardware acceleration for decoding, so this makes this laptop a hard sell to my eyes.

-- OS News

Asus Eee PC 1201N netbook sleek, powerful and cheap

2009-11-22T05:46:00.000-08:00

Asus Eee PC 1201N netbook will be shipping in the US and the UK market sometime in December 2009 and January 2010 respectively. It is also expected to hit the Indian market early next year and despite the launch date still far away, it is generating immense interest worldwide. But why?

Because of one simple reason - Eee PC 1201N, like other latest netbooks and nettops launched by Asus, will sport discrete Nvidia Ion graphics which promises stunning multimedia performance and supports HD video playback.
According to Asus, thanks to the discrete graphics, the netbook can "deliver an outstanding HD experience that isn't possible with today's basic integrated graphic." Besides promising to deliver up to 10x faster graphics performance than comparable systems with Intel integrated graphics, ION graphics also supports new features of the latest Flash Player 10.1 and, thanks to an HDMI port, it can hook up to an external display with resolutions up to 1080 pixels.

But that's not all. Eee PC 1201N also sports a 12.1-inch LED-backlit display capable of supporting up to 1366x768 pixel resolution, 250GB HDD (Asus is also offering 500GB online storage space for free), 2GB DDR2 RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, full-size chicklet-style keyboard, 3 USB ports, VGA port, Ethernet port, SD card slot, audio jack sockets, 0.3-megapixel webcam (with digital zoom function) and Li-Ion battery capable of keeping the netbook powered up to 5 hours without needing a recharge.

The netbook also promises blazing fast speed, thanks to its Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz dual core processor (the first netbook perhaps to incorporate a dual core processor – a desktop chip, to be precise – under its hood) and Windows 7 OS.

And, if you're still feeling underpowered, you can bump up its HDD to 320GB and RAM to 3GB.
The netbook will sport a price tag of $500 in the US and £399 in the UK market. In India, the netbook should ship for around Rs.30,000.

Unfortunately, Eee PC 1201N, which measures 296x208x27.3mm, weighs 1.46kg and comes in black and silver colours, will not have any optical drive, nor will it support 3G or GPS like the costlier Nokia Booklet 3G. Also it will only sport Windows 7 Starter Edition so don't go ga-ga over it.

But then, at this price tag, you're getting a powerful processor, discrete graphics and the world famous Asus customer support. And, that's saying a lot.

-- International Business Times

Hands-on with the Asus 3D laptop

2009-11-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, Asus unveiled a 15-inch laptop with Nvidia's 3D Vision technology built in. The $1,699 Asus G51J 3D has a 120Hz LCD panel, an Intel Core i7 CPU, and a high-end Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M GPU, and comes bundled with a pair of Nvidia's active glasses and the USB-powered IR emitter required to make the glasses work.
We've just had a chance to take the system for a test drive, and came away largely impressed with the results, especially compared with Acer's Aspire 5738DG, a 3D laptop that uses a pair of passive polarized glasses and a special screen coating to create a 3D effect.
That Acer model was unfortunately underpowered for gaming, especially with the added overhead of running its 3D software in the background. The Asus G51J, on the other hand, with a high-end processor and video card, seemed well-suited for mid-to-high-end gaming. Of course, it lacked dual SLI video cards and the 1,366x768 15-inch display is no match for some of the nicer 17-inch 1080p displays we've seen.

The Asus G51J with Nvidia's 3D glasses and IR emitter.

(Credit: Dan Ackerman/CNET)

While playing Left 4 Dead 2, the 3D effects appeared crisp and appealing, and didn't seem to distract from the speed of gameplay or the screen brightness. There appeared to be no real hardware burden in generating the 3D in terms of frame rate or graphics detail, either. On the other hand, the 15-inch screen is a little small as compared to a nice big gaming monitor, and that mitigated the overall immersion of the 3D effects.
The bigger problem is that 3D gaming is still a novelty. It's not actually needed to appreciate any game at this point, and it has an expensive and often clunky set-up for users to navigate through.
Many people haven't even seen 3D of the caliber that Nvidia is currently offering, and so they have no idea how smooth and crisp it is compared to the fuzzy double-vision experience of years past. What's particularly great about Asus' solution is that it's already integrated into a reasonably priced Core i7 gaming laptop, so the set-up and research into compatible hardware components is almost entirely eliminated.
This is an interesting trend to watch for in gaming laptops, and it should be included in more Core i7 laptops aimed at gamers, especially if Nvidia is serious about getting a larger adoption. We expect to see more 3D Vision capable laptops from major PC makers by early next year.

by Dan Ackerman
and Scott Stein

ASUS EeeTop PC ET2002 Review

2009-10-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

Back when we reviewed the ASUS Eee Top ET1602 late last year, we suggested it could be the epitome of a niche product: netbook hardware squeezed into an unusual desktop case. Now all-in-ones are more common, and so ASUS have returned with an updated design, bigger screen and more media-centric intentions. The ASUS Eee Top ET2002-B024C sticks with Intel’s Atom CPU range but now pairs it with NVIDIA’s Ion graphics chipset for potentially 1080p High-Definition performance. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

In the case of the ET2002, the Atom CPU is a dual-core 330 rather than the ET1602’s N270. It’s matched with 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard-drive, together with a welcome DVD burner mounted on the side. As for the display, that’s a 20-inch panel running at 1,600 x 900, and ASUS even fit an HDMI input for using the PC as a display. Other connectivity includes WiFI b/g/n, ethernet, six USB ports, audio in/out and a 3-in-1 memory card reader. OS is Windows Vista Home Premium, though those who pick up the ET2002 in the next week will also get a free upgrade to Windows 7.

What the ET2002 doesn’t have is a touchscreen. ASUS will offer a version which does add a touch-panel – the ET2002T – together with a larger, 22-inch touchscreen version, but the ET2002 we have on our test-bench relies on more traditional keyboard and mouse input. ASUS do supply wireless peripherals, and they’re of reasonably quality and color-matched to the main unit; the laser mouse has a separate on/off switch and a scroll wheel, both appreciated.

Physically, the ET2002 looks a lot like the ET1602, with a glossy black plastic casing that sits inside a smoked transparent plastic shell. On the back there’s a sturdy, spring-loaded desk stand, four of the USB ports, ethernet and the power input, while the right-hand side has the tray-loading optical drive and the left-hand side gets the remainder of the ports. Running along the bottom edge of the LCD are a few control keys, including display brightness/contrast adjustments, power and a Home button that replicates the “Minimize All” shortcut. Beneath them, there’s a grey grill hiding the stereo speakers, which didn’t exactly blow us away with their audio performance but are good enough for casual radio and music listening, while up above the screen there’s a webcam and dual-microphone array.

The display itself is bright and crisp, and despite being unable to show Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution video it did a great job with 720p footage. While lacking a touchscreen, we found that because of the extra screen inches over the ET1602 we sat further back from the newer Eee Top, and thus it made less sense to reach out and try to tap at it.

We ran the usual GeekBench testing to see how the dual-core Atom 330 held up, and as you might expect the ET2002 wasn’t much of a fighter. Overall the nettop scored 1226, with memory-related performance holding back CPU performance slightly. In practice, applications load after a slight pause, and attempting to multitask with several browser windows, background media playback and Office open (ASUS preload a 60-day Office 2007 trial) led to some sluggishness.

Of course, neither of those situations take advantage of the NVIDIA Ion GPU, which could be seen as the Eee Top’s secret media weapon. As we’ve seen on netbooks and other nettops, the Ion – when paired with compatible applications that take advantage of its GPU grunt – can make a huge difference to video playback, crunching high-definition footage and capable of 1080p resolutions. Of course, the ET2002’s resolution means full 1080p display isn’t possible, but downloaded 1080p HD files and those loaded from DVD both performed very well. It’s also possible to play reasonably graphics-intensive games on the ET2002, though this certainly isn’t a replacement for a console or even a mid-range traditional PC.

Where Ion falls short is in situations where software isn’t set up to access GPU acceleration. For local content it’s usually pretty straightforward to find a workaround – there are a few media apps which will work just fine – but if your HD diet is mainly sated by streaming content then you’ll have more of a problem. Flash, at least right now, lacks support for GPU acceleration, and as such scaling up YouTube HQ/HD, Hulu and other online video sites to full-screen pushes the Atom 330 not just to the edge of its abilities but demands even more of it. Dropped frames, jagged edges and general graphical disappointment is the name of the game, sadly.

The good news is that Adobe have promised GPU acceleration support for Flash 10.1, which is set to arrive before the end of 2009. That should make the world of difference, with YouTube HQ/HD offset to the NVIDIA Ion rather than making demands on the processor; until then, though, the ET2002 is a surprising disappointment for streaming video consumption.

While you lose touchscreen control with the ET2002, it makes for a more convincing second PC than the ET1602 managed. Slot in a USB TV tuner and it could serve as a decent kitchen or bedroom entertainment system, replacing a standalone TV and DVD player, and we’re confident that with Windows 7 (which we already know to be gentler to Atom-series processors) and Flash 10.1 the general usability of the nettop will take a step up before the year is out. Considering most PCs feel dated the day after you buy them, that’s something to look forward to.

Its $600 MRSP has already been undercut online by twenty bucks or more, and while that’s certainly shy of non-Atom all-in-ones, $100 more does get you Dell’s Studio One 19. The Dell drops 1-inch on the display but packs a 2.6GHz Pentium dual-core CPU; alternatively, forget the all-in-one requirement and there’s plenty of choice at around that price point, usually with mainstream processors rather than low-voltage Atoms.

However, the ASUS Eee Top ET2002-B024C is arguably more attractive than either a separate tower and display, or the Studio One 19 for that matter, and it delivers an impressive blast of local HD video playback with the promise of more to come. As it stands it would do a decent job as a second PC; give Adobe some time to catch up and the ET2002 could even step out of the backroom.

By Ewdison Then

HP Envy 13, looks like a MacBook

2009-10-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

If it looks like a MacBook and feels like a MacBook, it's got to be from Apple, right? Wrong! The Envy 13 is the PC's answer for slim, stylish computing--only more expensive. - - Darren Gladstone, PC World

Snarky bloggers (ahem) could easily dismiss the HP Envy 13 as a MacBook Pro plus $300, say so in a tweet, and call it a day. Hell, I was certainly tempted. (The Envy 13 starts at $1699. As configured, our review unit would cost you $1799.) This handsome laptop isn't so much a tribute as it is a poke in Apple's eye saying, "We can design similarly sleek, sexy machines...and maybe charge people a little more." But the HP story here--and my review--has a bit more to it than that.

Before I start digging (or, should I say, "lacing"?) into the Envy 13, a disclaimer: We haven't had enough time to run the machine through our rigorous WorldBench 6 tests yet. But under the hood you get a decent amount of juice, comparable to that of a 13-inch MacBook Pro: a 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SL9600 processor, 3GB of RAM, and an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 discrete GPU. (A $1499, 13-inch MacBook Pro--one of the cheaper versions--offers a 2.53GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and an nVidia GeForce 9400M GPU.) So, I will speak from my initial experience, from boot-ups to letdowns and everything in between--and update this review with full scores as soon as possible.

In the meantime, this MacB--I mean, the Envy--is an eye-catcher. Every place I popped open the laptop to try to get some work done--even near the Macworld zone in the office--people couldn't help but crane necks to check it out. The thin, metallic frame is a little on the heavy side, but I'm not offended (it measures 12.6 by 8.5 by 0.8 inches and weighs 3.1 pounds). A little meaty? Maybe, but I want a machine that feels like it can take a punch.

Anyhow, flipping the lid and firing up the machine, I get the option to start with HP's Instant On Linux shell. You've seen it before in other machines, and the slick little interface works here just as well. One-second access to pictures, MP3s, the Web, Skype, and the like--whether it is something sitting on the hard drive or popped into the SD card slot. Of course, you could opt to skip that insta-boot and go straight into Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit edition). It takes about 80 seconds to go to a fully-loaded OS. From a sleep state, this sucker is back in action in under 2 seconds.

The screen is a crisp, glossy 13.1-inch backlit LED with a native resolution of 1600 by 900. That resolution, however, is an upgrade option--the default panel resolution is 1366 by 768. Either way, HD video, here we come! The color is appropriately warm enough for video that shows fiery explosions against a black backdrop, and yet it won't wash out the darker colors.

Still photos similarly popped. If only that glossy screen wasn't fighting me. While images are certainly viewable, you'll notice reflections that'll distract you from what you're trying to type if you're parked anywhere near a window. (On the bright side, it's a great rear-view mirror.)

Now onto something else that's been celebrated in press materials about this machine: It has Beats audio. Yep, the high-def audio processing that's found it's way into high-tech hipster headphones is built into a custom DSP chip. The results: Well, you'll need headphones to even remotely appreciate what's going on. The two tiny on-board speakers are there for show. they sound decent enough, but even with the volume cranked, I needed to lean close in a noisy room just to hear a peep out of the Envy 13.

While I don't have Beats headphones for the "optimal" experience, I plugged in what most people would probably use--a pair of earbuds. Nothing fancy, and yet the sound is indeed noticeably crisper. Dre's "Nuthin' But a G Thang" (hey, it seemed an appropriate choice at the time) is more than just bumping bass--the headphone audio adds a meaty middle. The same song out of another notebook I had sitting around sounded a little sharper. Not nails on a chalkboard, but noticeable.

Speaking of inappropriate uses of hardware, I've never had such a love-hate relationship with a touchpad since....the newer MacBook Pros, I guess. First the love: the multitouch functionality. It works, I like it, done. Now the hate: With the mouse buttons tucked away underneath the touchpad's comfortable strike zone, I had a tough time pegging where the buttons ended and the touch controls began. At first I had to pound like a maniac on the corners just to highlight bits of text when writing this review. But over time, it became a little more manageable.

The keyboard, on the other hand, garners little to no complaints from me. In fact, the cut-out keys on this machine are a breeze to use. Well-spaced, springy, and solidly secured--this is a no-nonsense design. And, following the lead of machines like Dell's Studio 14z, the keys lining the top are multimedia and hardware toggles first (no button combos required), then F1 through F12 keys when combined with the "fn" button. The Up and Down arrow keys are a little too tiny, but if that's the only complaint about the keyboard on a 13-inch laptop, HP's doing okay.

Looking around the rest of the notebook, you'll see a couple of USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI-out, an SD flash-card reader, and a combo headphone/mic jack. That's it. No wired ethernet port or legacy VGA (those require dongles)--but you do get Bluetooth and 802.11n Wi-Fi under the hood. And an optical drive? That falls under the "extras" category.

The matching external optical drive starts at $100 for the DVD-ROM (or $250 for the BD-ROM), and the slick 6-cell battery slice that sits beneath goes for another $100.

A quick aside about this slice: It's just smart. The extra battery snaps on, and you'd have to look closely to know that it's even there, though it adds a little extra thickness to the profile--and, of course, an extra 1.4 pounds of weight. (We can't say anything about the length of battery life just yet. Stay tuned and we'll update that ASAP.)

We've given HP the nod for smart design all around--might as well mention the premium packaging (and the promise of premium support). It makes you feel like you're getting a first-class seat to Windowsville. You even get a 2GB SDHC card that contains the manual. But that makes me think, "Hey, why not just put all the lovely 'bonus' software on the SD card, not the hard drive?" (See my recent rant about the joys of shovelware in the Mobile Computing blog; I'll spare you here.)

But let me assure you that I don't care if Norton trialware is loaded on my machine. I don't own a Slingbox, and don't like the Flash ad for it on the machine.

All that aside, the Envy 13 has a lot of eye-catching touches. Let's not forget that last year's HP Voodoo Envy 133 (hmm, I wonder where that "Voodoo" name went off to, anyhow?) was even more expensive and was amazingly underpowered compared with a MacBook back then. This is a good machine for people that have money to burn. Once we get our performance results back from the labs, I'll circle back and tell you if it's fully worth said cash.

--Darren Gladstone

Review: Toshiba Satellite T135-S1310WH

2009-10-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

Toshiba’s bright and shiny CULV-based ultraportable offers good features and a pretty good value.

Toshiba, let me officially welcome you to the CULV party. Today, the company unveils its not-quite-netbooks T100 line. But get this, the baseline models (the T115) in this notebook series start selling at $449. That's right, this thing is about 50 bucks more than Toshiba's chart-busting netbook, the NB205-310. Toshiba opted to send us the much higher-end T135-S1310WH--a laptop that will sell for $710 when it launches with Windows 7 on October 22. And you know what? Compared with machines like Acer's Timeline, MSI's X340, and the Asus UL30A, the T135 makes a promising showing among like company.

It's similarly slim and sleek (weighing 3.8 pounds and measuring about an inch thick), but before we dig into its guts, keep in mind that we haven't had time yet to run this ultraportable through its proper paces in WorldBench 6. Also, a bit of fair warning: Our T135 test unit arrived with Windows 7 Home Premium. So, you might see a slight performance difference from the competition. All other laptops tested as of late have run through WorldBench with the "ever-efficient" Windows Vista.

All right, let's get down to brass tacks. Intel's 1.3-GHz SU4100 processor is backed by 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive (the RAM and hard drive can be upgraded by removing the covers underneath). And, like many Toshiba machines, this unit has an impact sensor to keep the drive from going completely screwy if you drop your laptop. Spokespeople say that the 6-cell battery will provide 9 hours of running time, a claim we haven't yet tested.

The crisp 13.3-inch screen runs at an HD-ready 1366-by-768-pixel resolution, handling video whether streamed over Hulu or installed directly on the hard drive. Its 720p footage ran without a hitch or stutter. As for screen quality: With the brightness jacked all the way, this thing is a backlit LED beacon. Colors looked vivid and rich in still images, but appeared a little ashy in darker video playback, and black shadows seemed slightly washed out. But that's just the word of a cranky videophile. Tinker with the video settings, and you'll probably have little to gripe about.

In fact, almost my only complaint about this laptop is a minor beef with the keyboard and the mouse setup. The keys themselves feel comfortable in that flat, wide-button-layout sort of way, though shrinking the real estate around the keyboard would have allowed for slightly larger function and other special keys like and . What was noticable: A slight bit of flex in the keyboard. The left side seems to sink a little bit if you exert a modicum of pressure. And then there's the touchpad. The actual strike zone is textured nicely--it's a rougher finishing than the glossy plastic framing most of the case. And I'll give the T135 points for at least offering a multitouch pad for simple functions like zooming in and out of images and documents.

A slight aside: The glossy sheen on Toshiba's new notebook is almost blinding. The semi-hypnotic grey-white checkered pattern of our review unit looks nice (also available in red and black), but that won't distract me from one simple fact: The Toshiba with the largest touchscreen is.....a netbook? Yep, the NB205 is bigger and better in the mouse department Crazy, I know. And the metallic mouse button on the T135, while comfortable and firm, could benefit from being just slightly bigger.

Lining the rest of the machine: VGA and HDMI video-out ports, three USB 2.0 ports (one is a sleep-and-charge port ), a 5-in-1 flash card reader, an ethernet port, and headphone and microphone jacks. You'll probably opt for headphones. Toshiba's trademark audio quality had to take a backseat here: The two tinny front-firing speakers are loud-ish but not nearly as meaty as what I've heard on a variety of Toshiba notebooks. Not a huge complaint considering that this is a bargain box.

For wireless connectivity, you get Bluetooth and 802.11n Wi-Fi. Also included: a Webcam and facial-recognition software. Mercifully, the on-board bloat isn't horribly painful. You can see the extent of the software in a quick-launch shortcut that connects up all of Toshiba's preinstalled proprietary software--and the junk. You'll see plenty to uninstall without a blink (like eMusic and WildTangent) while the rest is your call. Otherwise, you'll find quick links to Toshiba support, system recovery, and some software similar to what you've seen before (basic utilities and such).

Honestly, there's enough to like here--and we haven't even finished all the testing yet. Of course, we plan to give you a proper heads-up at a later date with a full score. But caveats aside, this is a pretty appealing little machine that seems up to the task of handling Windows 7.

--Darren Gladstone

Review: Asus UL30

2009-10-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

The Asus UL30 is a CULV based notebook. It is thin and light, offers solid overall performance and comes at an affordable price. CULV based notebooks are known for offering better performance than netbooks; they are also cheaper than traditional ultraportables.

Specifications
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
RAM: up to 8GB
Storage: 500GB spinning at 5,400 rpm
Display: 13.3 inches

Build and Design
The machine weighs less than 1 inch in thickness and weighs 4 pounds. It is sleek and maintains a slim profile. Build quality is good; the design looks neat and elegant.

Keyboard and touchpad
The Asus UL30 has a full-size keyboard. The keys provide decent tactile feedback. You will be able to achieve your normal typing speed without much effort. The touchpad supports the two-finger scroll multitouch feature. It does not come with distinct left and right buttons, but that is unlikely to be an issue. Sensitivity is good, but buttons are a bit stiff.

Performance
The Asus UL30 has enough power inside its chassis to handle most tasks around the house. It is also good at multi-tasking. You can open more than 3 programs simultaneously. High-end gaming is still out of question.

Battery life
At around 10 hours, the battery life is pretty good for a machine of this size. Actually it lasts longer than most ultraportable notebooks in the market.

Ports and Slots
Port selection is satisfactory. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, 5-in-1 card reader and 0.3 mp webcam. There is no optical drive.

Pros
Thin and light
Elegant design
Great battery life
Solid performance
Comfortable keyboard

Cons
Glossy display
Average graphics performance

-- Etiketler

Why Apple Can't Sell Business Laptops

2009-09-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

Apple makes great laptops, but lags badly in corporate America: Dell's Latitude Z shows why.

BURLINGAME -- It's easy to give Dell a hard time. Earlier in this decade the company built on cranking out desktop computers for American businesses decided to dive into consumer electronics. That move didn't work out. Yet while Dell had its share of consumer clunkers--anyone remember the DJ Ditty?--the company is still entrenched in corporate America.

In many ways Dell is now the mirror image of rival Apple. That's because Apple remains as clueless about big business as Dell is about digital music players.

Just look at the numbers. Dell sells 32% of the computers used by companies with more than 500 employees, according to IDC. While HP holds the PC sales crown, it trails in that category, with 25% of the market, followed by Lenovo, Acer and Toshiba.

While Apple has pushed the story that it is gaining ground in corporate America, it still doesn't rate a blip on the radar screen.

If you want to know why, compare and contrast Dell's latest laptop, the Latitude Z, with the MacBook Air.

The $1,500 MacBook Air, introduced early last year, remains a charmer, thanks to a tapered aluminum case that makes the three-pound, 0.76-inch thick machine look as if it could levitate above the desktop. Apple had the discipline to remove things laptop aficionados really don't need.

By contrast, the Latitude Z includes all the options that make information technology departments deliriously happy. Like the MacBook Air, the $1,999 Latitude Z is striking--even if the 4.5-pound, 0.57-inch thick machine's shape is about as cute as a stealth bomber. The screen is bigger, 16 inches, compared with 13.3 for the MacBook Air.

The most telling differences, however, are mundane. The Latitude Z has two USB ports. The MacBook Air has just one. You can order the Latitude Z with security options such as a fingerprint reader and a contactless smart card reader. You can't get that on the MacBook Air. Or any MacBook. If you work at a financial institution that has standardized its laptops around such security features, that's a deal killer.

Even the Latitude Z's more exotic features are built to appeal to business users. Road warriors can tap a button to activate a built-in power-sipping co-processor that gives users instant access to email, the Web, attachments, and calendars, without worrying about draining the machine's battery.

The Latitude Z's showstoppers: an optional wireless dock and inductive charging system built to allow a user to simply set the machine down on a desktop and get back to work after a road trip or a sales call. Makes sense: that's because people who work at big companies tend to have these things called offices.

None of this means Apple makes bad laptops. Quite the opposite. Apple's laptop computers command the loyalty of some of the hardest to please customers: consumers with money to spend, creative professionals and students. Dell, by contrast, faces a tough fight to keep its share of the corporate PC market out of the hands of heavyweight HP.

Still, when it comes to business machines, Dell passes the one test Apple never has: Visit the offices of a big business near you and odds are you're going to find a whole lot of Dell's products.

-- Brian Caulfield