A Laptop Blog

Prepaid Wireless Internet from Verizon

2009-11-07T21:25:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, Verizon Wireless announced that they will now be offering an on-the-go prepaid wireless broadband Internet service. The package will include the new Verizon Wireless USB760 to allow customers to access their Internet whenever and wherever. Users will be able to use this service on any laptop with a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system.

There will be three different plans that Verizon will allow customers to choose from. They offer a daily, weekly, and monthly plan. The daily plan will cost $15 and will allow users to utilize 75 megabytes of data. This allows the user to send or receive 25,600 e-mails, download 500 Web pages, and send or receive 150 digital pictures. With the monthly plan, which Verizon will offer for $30, customers will be able to transfer 250 megabytes of data. This accounts for the sending or receipt of 85,300 e-mails, the viewing of 1,700 Web pages, and sending or receipt of 500 pictures. Finally with the monthly plan, users will be able use 500 megabytes of data usage for only $50. This will allow them to send or receive 170,000 emails, view 3,400 Web pages, and send or receive 1,000 digital pictures.

Before releasing this new prepaid plan, Verizon offered a contract wireless broadband service that is still available. Customers could choose between the $60 plan that allows users to utilize up to 5 gigabytes of data or a $40 plan that allows up to 250 megabytes of usage.

The new prepaid wireless modem will be available for purchase on November 16th at many Verizon Wireless Communications stores and Best Buy locations. If you’re looking for a reliable on-the-go wireless Internet service, I don’t know where better to look than Verizon Wireless.

A Deal You Can't Overlook: The ASUS UL80Vt-A1

2009-11-06T14:22:00.002-05:00

So while I was checking out the newest laptops, there was one that immediately caught my eye. The ASUS UL80Vt-A1 cannot help but be noticed. The optical drive, 14-inch widescreen, and new switchable graphics technology jumped off the page at me. I couldn’t help but investigate further.

The UL80Vt features a modest yet luxurious design. The lid is constructed of brushed black metal, and the overall feel of the laptop is strong and secure. Although the UL80Vt is not as thin as its predecessor, the UL30A, it still manages to remain thin and up-to-date measuring 13.4 x 9.7 x 1inches (HWD). The reason that the UL80Vt is not thinner is because of the awesome internal optical drive that it contains. The laptop comes in weighing 4.7 pounds. No, this is the lightest of laptops, but I feel that the features it has make the bit of added weight entirely unnoticeable. The 14-inch screen on the UL80Vt features 1,366 x 768 resolution and average brightness. The keys on the keyboard are all raised and isolated from one another, and the touchpad has built-in multi-touch gestures that can be very helpful at times.

One of the features that makes the UL80Vt stand out from its predecessors is its built-in dual-layer DVD drive. Other more common features would include the laptop’s three USB ports, VGA-Out, a multi-media card reader, and an Ethernet port. Also included is an HDMI-Out which allows you to display videos or slideshows on your television. The laptop contains 320 GB of hard drive which is pretty average, but it comes with an remarkable 2-year global warranty that definitely impressed me.

Once we get inside the UL80Vt, we discover a 1.3-GHz Intel Core Duo SU7300 CULV processor. No, its not the most outstanding processor available right now, but it still has great performance and is energy efficient. Now one thing that was definitely able to catch my attention about the UL80Vt is its switchable graphic technology. This means that you are able to view your laptop screen like any normal laptop, but you can also switch it over to 3D mode. This gives you the ability to now play any 3D intensive game and even view pictures and some video in 3D. Another huge advantage with this laptop is its amazing battery life. The UL80Vt comes standard with a huge 84Wh battery and can work off the battery for an average of 10 hours 10 minutes.

You can purchase this feature filled laptop for around $820, so this is an incredible deal. To add to the bargain, Amazon.com is offering a $100 gift card to those that purchase the ASUS UL80Vt-A1 through their website before December 15, 2009 (or while supplies last.) With the chic appearance, optical drive, switchable graphics, and incredible battery life what more could you want for such a reasonable price? I would recommend definitely moving this towards the top of your list if your shopping for a laptop.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL510

2009-11-03T00:38:00.005-05:00

Last week, Lenovo introduced three new laptops, just in time for the release of Windows 7. Among the new laptops is the SL510, a 15-inch ThinkPad that performs extremely well and is made with small to medium-business budgets in mind.

Specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 Dual Core Mobile Processor
4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
15.6" WXGA (1366x768) LED Backlit Display With 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
Intel GMA 4500MHD Integrated Graphics
Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless
Four USB 2.0, eSATA, HDMI, VGA, ExpressCard/34, 4-in-1 Card Reader
15" x 9.7" x 1.4"
5.7 lbs
Windows 7 Professional, Office 2007, Norton Internet Security

The ThinkPad SL510 isn't exactly new. It's an updated version of Lenovo's original 15-inch business class laptop. The new version is not the prettiest laptop on the market - it's very plain and boxy, with a 1.4 inch frame, but it performs well and at a $500 starting price, it's a great deal for businesses and individuals on a budget.

And don't let the outside fool you. The computer performs great with its Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 mobile processor combined with its 4GB of DDR3 memory, allowing it to zip through almost any application without compromising battery life.

Usability is also a plus. The keyboard, in traditional Lenovo fashion, is solid and easy to use. It also has a multitouch trackpad or the trackpoint if you'd prefer not to use the trackpad.

Choose a Laptop with Microsoft's Windows PC Scout

2009-10-24T15:37:00.000-04:00

Microsoft has launched a new website - Microsoft.com/Windows/PC-Scout. The website features a flash audio guided tour, which is meant to help you find a new laptop. It takes you through three segments, including Laptop 101, Recommendation, and Selection. Respectively, in each segment, you'll learn everything you need to know about laptops in general, answer questions about what you need in a new laptop and get a few recommendations, and then you have the opportunity to make a final choice and purchase your laptop. The tour is not mandatory and you can skip any part or pause it if you need to come back to it later. Looking for a desktop? Check back later. Or says the male voice behind the website. Either way, you're out of luck right now.

If you already know what kind of laptop you're looking for, you can skip the first two sections and get straight to the selection part to choose your laptop based on a number of different categories. They are: price ($400 - $2600), screen size (8 - 19"), processor (1 GHz - 3GHz), RAM (1GB - 5GB), storage (50GB - 550GB), and weight (2lbs - 10lbs). You can also select whether or not you need an all around, mobile studio, movies on the go, power gaming, or work from anywhere laptop.

Microsoft claims the selection of laptops comes from a compiled list from Windows experts and the final selection has nothing to do with any sort of paid advertising. Right now, the website contains 46 various laptops, but more are likely to follow in the weeks ahead, especially with the release of Windows 7. The website isn't too detailed - your average computer user should feel comfortable with it, and the most tech-savvy folks probably won't see the need for it.

Another Reason Not to Travel with Your Laptop

2009-10-20T14:11:00.004-04:00

Troy Davis, a former officer with the Transportation Security Administration, has admitted to authorities that he stole laptops and video game systems from passengers' checked luggage. Davis used to work as an airport screener at Philadelphia International Airport.

A baggage handler spotted Davis taking a laptop from a suitcase and hiding it behind an explosive-detection machine earlier this year. The witness notified supervisors who later discovered four laptops and a game console in the same area.

The 36-year-old Davis pleaded guilty yesterday to the charges and will be sentenced by a federal court in January.

It seems as though nothing is safe these days, especially when you are traveling. Once your luggage leaves your hands, you can never be exactly sure where it'll end up or whose hands it will fall into. Could a devious airport employee like Troy Davis be waiting for the bag, containing your laptop, to pass through security? Could your entire suitcase get lost and end up in a city 2,000 miles away from where you are going?

These are certainly things to consider when packing, whether it be for a business or personal trip, but these incidents are avoidable. Whether you're traveling to a business meeting or just taking your laptop along on the family vacation, so you can keep up with your business, you should always consider a quality Laptop Rental, instead.

There are so many different ways to save your data and most of them are compatible with almost any computer. Worried about the cost? A rental fee is a small price to pay compared to the potential thousands of dollars, not to mention the sentiment from personal files, you could lose when traveling. Instead of risking theft, loss, or damage to your personal computer, consider having a rental meet you at your destination.

Sony VAIO X Series Ultra Thin Laptops

2009-10-16T14:05:00.005-04:00

It seems, in the computer world, that thin is the way to go theses days. When the MacBook Air was released by Apple, many of us thought that we couldn't get any thinner. well we were wrong. Sony's VAIO X Series of laptops has proved to be smaller, thinner and lighter than the MacBook Air. While looking at this laptop, you may notice the Intel Atom processor and compare it to be the same as other netbooks. However, this machine is something different completely.

How is this netbook so thin you may ask? Well for starters, the motherboard has all of its components soldiered onto one side of it. In addition to that, all the components are stuffed into the back of the motherboard leaving the front half to house the battery. This interesting choice of design has resulted in the thinnest machine on the market coming in at 16mm throughout. If you want to plug in an Ethernet cord, then you are going to have to the drop-down legs at the back of the netbook because the Ethernet connection is thicker than the actual laptop.

The keyboard has nice spacing, allowing you to easily type at speed. However, the keys only move a fraction when under pressure and don't have much space for travel which will not suit all users. The touchpad is tiny but responsive allowing precise control and the accompanying buttons are somewhat big and do not offer much movement. The X Series comes with an 11.1inch display which is expected for a mid-range laptop although this is better than nearly any one currently on the market. It has amazing color reproduction and comes with a 1366x768 pixel resolution.

Just like the VAIO P Series, the X Series has an Intel Atom Processor and came in at 2GHz offering enough power for most of your office tasks. It also comes with a 256GB solid state drive but only only has 2GB of memory. The X Series chassis is made out of carbon fiber which helps keep it light at a 775g. But this light weight comes at a price. The body flexes heavily under light pressure. But the carbon finish and glossy lid makes the device feel like a premium product.

The X Series is limited on ports having only two USB ports located on the left side of the device and one VGA and one Ethernet on the right side. Support for SD cards can be accessed on the front as well as a place for Sony's memory stick formats. The X Series has 802.11n Wi-Fi as well as Gigabit Ethernet and range topping models get 3G/HSDPA with the SIM card sliding in behind the battery. As soon as you see this thing your first reaction is going to be "whoa". It literally is that small. If you are a business man who values tiny dimensions as well as the lowest weight possible then the VAIO X Series is the exact laptop for you.

First Notebook with Dual Screens: ThinkPad W700 Rentals

2009-10-07T10:03:00.005-04:00

Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 is the first notebook computer with dual screens. How does that work exactly? Well, it features a 10.2 inch display which slides out from behind a 17-inch widescreen. The editors at PC Mag rate it "very good" and use the term "supercompuer" in their review. It even won their Editor's Choice award in the workstation category.

It's heavy, but it's powerful - powered by an Intel quad core processor and a NVIDIA Quadro mobile graphics card - and it's got a lot of neat features. Those features include a Pantone color sensor, a Wacom digitizer that is made into the palm rest, dual 160GB hard drives and ISV certified graphics. It also has five USB ports, a FireWire port, a webcam, and a fingerprint reader.

While many notebooks are usually specific to one part of the population, the Thinkpad W700's features will accommodate anyone. Whether you are a gamer or business professional or graphic artist, this computer has what you need all built into one. While many workstations emphasize style over substance, this one takes the professional route and focuses on performance.

To rent the first notebook with dual screens, visit our website to get a fast quote on the Lenovo ThinkPad W700 or call us at 1-800-736-8772 today.

Kohjinsha's Prototype Dual-Screen Swivel Netbook

2009-10-06T09:23:00.004-04:00

Have you ever been working on your laptop and thought "man this would be so much easier if I had two screens!"? Well now your little wish is granted with a new dual-screen prototype netbook from Kohjinsha.

Kohjinsha unveiled their prototype at this year's CEATEC and it quickly caught the eye of many event goers. Like myself, anybody who works on dual-monitors knows that it makes work so much easier and more efficient. That feature was one thing desktops had over laptops until recently.

This netbook from Kohjinsha boasts dual 10.1-inch LCD monitors, each of which are capable of outputting either 1024x600 or 1366x768 resolution. If the dual-screens are feeling unnecessary and you want to switch over to a single screen then you can thanks to a unique sliding mechanism. This allows you to hide one screen behind the other when not in use.

Another feature that many people will like is the fact that the base swivels up to 15 degrees. The dual-screened netbook is powered by an AMD Athlon MV-40 as well as a 2.5-inch SATA HDD. It can handle up to 4GB of DDR2 memory and comes shipped with the latest Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

This isn't the biggest netbook on the market but it isn't the smallest either. This one weighs in under 4lbs and is around 1.7-inches at it's thickest and 0.75-inches at it's thinnest. But this is a small price to pay for the value you receive from the screens. Due to this netbook still being in the prototype phase there is no set price and no release date. The battery life is also something of an enigma. However, considering you have two screens being powered you can probably bet on this thing doing any favors for energy reserves.

Needless to say this is one great innovation in the world of netbooks and this one from Kohjinsha seems to already have a lot going for it. We can only sit in anticipation until more news about this product comes our way.

Get Slimed with Dell's Mini Nickelodeon Laptop

2009-10-04T13:27:00.000-04:00

Dell's latest Mini-laptop is definitely family-friendly. The new version of the Inspiron works like any other Dell laptop, but it certainly doesn't look the same. A green splash of paint resembling Nickelodeon's trademark "slime" covers part of the laptop's outside cover and inside palm rest. The laptop also provides interactive Nickelodeon creative content. In addition, it features mobile connectivity, an optional external DVD drive to watch or burn CDs, and a 10.1 inch display.

Specs include:

Processors: Intel® AtomTM N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K L2Cache) & Intel® AtomTM N280 (1.66GHz/667Mhz FSB/512K L2Cache)

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition SP3

Memory: 1 GB, DDR2, 533MHZ

Chipset: Integrated Intel® 945GSE UMA Graphics Media Accelerator

Graphics: Integrated Intel® 945GSE UMA Graphics Media Accelerator

LCD Display: Glossy 10.1 inch display (1024x600) WSVGA

Audio & Speakers: Main Speakers (quantity) : 2 x 1.0W and Microphone – Integrated single analog

Hard Drives: 160GB77 SATA HDD 2.5 inch 5400RPM

Optical Drives: External only

Camera: 1.3MP Webcam

Wireless: Wi-Fi: Dell 1397 WLAN 802.11g - Half mini-card and Dell 1510 WLAN 802.11g /n Mini Card; Bluetooth: Bluetooth® Internal (2.1+EDR) mini-card

Ports, Slots & Chassis: Externally Accessible: Kensington lock, AC Power-in, 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS), Integrated network connector 10/100 LAN (RJ45), VGA connector, (2) USB and (1) Power USB, Audio jacks (1 line-out, 1 Mic-in); and Dimensions and Weight: Height 26.8 – 28.3 mm (front – back), 1.06 – 1.11 inches (front – back), Width: 261mm, 10.26 inches, Depth: 182mm, 7.19 inches, Starting weight: 2.5 lbs8 with 3 Cell battery

The Nickelodeon Dell Inspiron Mini Laptop can be yours for $329.

Toshiba' Slim T100 Series Gains Windows 7

2009-09-29T09:01:00.006-04:00

With the anticipated launch of Windows 7, we are seeing a ton of new laptops coming out that already have Windows 7 integrated into them. Toshiba has just launched a new line of slim laptops entitled the T100 series. Toshiba has unveiled two new laptops for the T100 series, the 13.5-inch T135 and the 11.6-inch T115. Each device is less than one inch thick with multi-touch touchpads and LED backlight displays.

One new feature included in the T100 series, as well as most of the recent Toshiba laptops, is the extremely useful sleep-and-charge feature. The sleep-and-charge feature lets you connect an iPod or other device to the USB port to allow you to charge them even if the system is in sleep mode or off.

These two devices have some nice specs about them. The T115 comes with your choice of an Intel Pentium processor SU4100 or Intel Celeron processor 7435 and a starting 250GB (5400 RPM) HDD7 disk with up to 4GB of memory. The T115 also has Windows 7 Home Premium OS, eSATA/USB combo port with USB Sleep-and-Charge, 1 HDMI port, built-in webcam with Toshiba Face Recognition, stereo speakers, microphone, 5-in-1 memory card reader slot, Toshiba Hard Drive Impact sensor, 802.11 b/g/n wireless 8 10/100 Ethernet, a 6-cell battery with up to 9hrs of charge and an 11.6-inch diagonal widescreen HD TruBrite LED Backlit display. All of this comes in at around $450.

The T135 comes with your choice of an Intel Pentium SU4100 processor or Intel Pentium SU2700 and a starting 250GB (5400 RPM) HDD disk with up to 8GB of memory. The T135 also has Windows 7 Home Premium OS, eSATA/USB combo port with USB Sleep-and-Charge, 1 HDMI port, built-in webcam with Toshiba Face Recognition, stereo speakers, microphone, 5-in-1 memory card reader slot, Toshiba Hard Drive Impact, 802.11 b/g/n wireless and 10/100 Ethernet, a 6-cell battery with up to 9hrs of charge and a 13.3-inch diagonal widescreen HD TruBrite LED Backlit display. The T135 is a little more expensive than the T115 coming in at around $600.

With the release of Windows 7 growing ever nearer, we can expect most laptops coming out in the future to be equipped with Windows 7 and if Windows 7 delivers even some of what it promises then we can all be excited. You can pick up both the T115 and the T135 on October 22, 2009.

HP's Envy: 13 & 15 Inch Laptops

2009-09-16T01:04:00.004-04:00

Hewlett Packard's new "Envy" line of laptops is sleek and stylish, and according to PC World, looks a lot like Apple's MacBook Pro line.

The 13.1 inch model or the "Envy 13" has a sharp 1366 x 768 pixel screen and lots of power for its small frame. For $1700, you get a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400 CPU with 3GB of RAM (including an extra DIMM slot), plus a 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 GPU. For low-end tasks, the laptop throttles the GPU and shifts down to the integrated Intel GPU, extending battery life.

The thin 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.8 inch frame contains a 250 GB had drive and an external 8x DVD-RW drive. It provides two batteries: the standard four-cell battery along with a thinner six-cell battery that sits underneath it. It supposedly has enough power to handle the 64-bit version of Windows 7.

The comfortable keyboard and mouse are backed up by a series of quick-access multimedia buttons along with an "Instant On" feature for browsing the web and playing multimedia files. The laptop also features two USB ports, 802.11n, optional Bluetooh, HDMI-out and a combination headphone/microphone jack that is also suitable for a cell phone headset.

There is also an Envy 15 in the works, but HP hasn't been quick to release the details. What is known is that the machine is a 15-inch model, weighs 5.18 pounds, and will feature a "Future Intel Core i7 Processor" with up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM and 1 GB discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4830. That laptop will retail at $1799. More details will be released at next week's Intel Developer's Forum.

Both the Envy 13 and the Envy 15 will go on sale October 18, just in time for the holiday season.

Crossing the Border? Leave Your Laptops at Home

2009-09-13T04:44:00.001-04:00

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued some new rules regarding what border officials can and can't do with your laptops and any other electronic media storage device. Despite a lawsuit from the ACLU, the rules are very similar to those put in place by the Bush administration with a few slight changes. According to the DHS website, the rules will "enhance transparency, accountability and oversight of electronic media searches at U.S. ports of entry and includes new administrative procedures designed to reflect broad considerations of civil liberties and privacy protections."

Either way, border officials can still seize and search your laptop, MP3 player, or flash drives without warning and can look at any file on it without reason. The new rules require those performing the search to keep the item for no longer than a 30 day period and keep laptop owners informed of the search's progress. The Association for Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has said they believe border officials make images of the laptops' hard drive and return the laptops to their owners by mail, with copied files being stored for an indefinite amount of time.

In any event, if you are traveling beyond the border, there are a few ways to be prepared, just in case your laptop is seized. Chances are, if you're traveling for business or even for pleasure, there are files on your computer that will need while on your trip. Here are some ways to avoid being stuck without important information:

This is a no-brainer, but store your files in multiple locations. Take advantage of external drives and discs, or even an internet-based storage system such as Google Docs that will allow you to access information anytime, anywhere.

If the information stored on your laptop is pertinent to your job, make sure you inform border agents verbally and if possible, in writing. According tot he ACTE, this will help you retain more legal rights.

Consider a Laptop Rental. By renting a laptop and having it delivered to your destination, you'll avoid the hassle of dealing with the issue all together, have one less piece of equipment to carry on your trip, and you won't risk unexpected loss or damage that might occur during any type of search and seizure.

According to PCWorld, only 46 laptops have been subject to seizure in the last ten months, but it's always better to be safe than sorry!

New Apple Tablet

2009-09-07T03:14:00.000-04:00

Steve Jobs is back to work at Apple, just months after having a liver transplant, and sources say he is spending most of his time focused on the company's new tablet device. According to the Wall Street Journal, the team of people working on the tablet are under much scrutiny from their company's CEO. The article also states that this is the third attempt at the tablet, the first one failed due to a low battery life, the second one due to insufficient memory. Jobs, himself, has confirmed that most of that information is correct, but didn't specify any details. There is still no word on when an Apple tablet might actually become available to the public or what kind of impact it will have but if the success of Jobs' last pet project - the iPhone - is any indication, the tablet could change the way many people view technology.

There have been many rumors about the Apple tablet in recent months. Some say a September unveiling is in the works, others say November and some say not until 2010. A report from Barron's claims the device will be marketed for mostly media play (with an Apple TV tie-in) and gaming. Regardless of when and what, there is no doubt the rest of the industry is waiting to see what exactly Jobs and Apple have planned.

Netbook shipments growing at twice the rate of Notebooks

2009-09-01T18:20:00.004-04:00

A newly released report from DisplaySearch shows a growing trend in the world of portable computers. In the 2nd quarter of 2009 netbooks had a net growth of 40%, while notebooks only grew 22%. To date netbooks now hold 22.2% of the portable computer market, its even more impressive when you compare that to the 2nd quarter just a year ago, when netbooks only accounted for 5.6% of the market.

Many factors could be playing into this surge. The bad economy which may be causing potential notebook buyers to rethink their needs and go with the cheaper, slimmer version. Netbooks also have been growing in popularity with promotions from companies like Verizon, Sprint, Comcast and Qwest offering discounted netbooks for new customers. The increase is also likely due to growing netbook sales in latin America and China, where new computer users and first time buyers may not need all the extra amenities that come with a notebook or desktop computer.

Nokia Booklet 3G

2009-08-25T14:07:00.010-04:00

Nokia’s recently announced “Booklet 3G” was a big shocker for most of. My first impression of the netbook was that it looks very neat and it almost has the Macbook look to it. It weighs 2.7 lbs, and it is 2cm thick, and the all aluminum case to top it off. The new netbook is going to be running off of a 1.6Hz Intel Atom Z530. The netbooks screen is going to be 10.1’, with an impressive 12 hour battery life. The Booklet has built in HSDPA 3G, so you can expect the 3G connectivity to be very fast. The Booklet is Bluetooth enabled so no more taking wired microphones on the go. The Booklet also comes with Windows 7 Starter Edition pre-installed, which really surprised me because this is one of the first to offer Windows 7 on a netbook. The HDMI output allows you to plug into your TV in HD, and also lets you watch videos in 1080p. The Booklet comes with Assisted GPS and a swappable SIM card.

This netbook will be running at the high price of $799, I say the high price because, the RAM usage will double because it is running Windows 7, instead of Vista or even XP, so in my opinion you will not be getting the best performance from this computer. Which if all you are using the computer for is school work, office work, or browsing the internet, then this computer should be fine for all the basic needs. But I wouldn’t suggest downloading, playing high performance games or storing mass amounts of files, just because of the amount of RAM being used just to run windows 7. I would suggest this netbook for the “average” computer user, or as a gift for going back to school. This is definitely one of the most impressive netbooks I have seen so far. I am still very skeptical about how the overall performance of the computer will be. But it is definitely worth checking out; Nokia just set the standards for netbooks. The future is going to be interesting, seeing if their competitors like Dell can keep up with Nokia.

Specs:

Intel Z530 1.6Hz
1GB RAM
120GB Drive
A-GPS
Nokia Ovi Maps
Windows 7
Bluetooth Enabled
HSDPA 3G/ Wi-Fi
Swappable SIM
12 Hour battery
HDMI output

Finding a Laptop for College

2009-08-17T11:30:00.000-04:00

As the school year quickly approaches and parents and students begin the crazy time-consuming job of preparing everything to head off to college, a laptop is likely at the top of the shopping list. As a college student, I can definitely say that I don’t know where I would be without my laptop. I literally use it for absolutely everything. Whether I’m taking notes in philosophy class, writing a research paper for rhetoric, or just listening to music back in my dorm room, my laptop is constantly by my side.

The hard part in this situation is finding just the right laptop to suit all your college needs for the next four years or so. You don’t need crazy amounts of memory or hard drive space, but you do want a reliable, quick, easy to use laptop. In this guide to finding the perfect student laptop, I will try to cover all the basics you’ll need to know before heading out to your local Best Buy or Circuit City to begin the hunt.

Ok, so the first aspect we’re going to consider is the design. You’re probably going to be lugging your laptop all over campus with you so you are not going to want it to be super heavy. One easy way to minimize the total weight of the laptop is to get a smaller screen. Yeah its nice to have a big screen, but is it really necessary? I would recommend that you get a laptop with a screen that is no bigger than 14 inches. This way you still have a nice size screen, but you still have plenty of room in your backpack for your books and you won’t be weighed down by a really heavy piece of equipment.

Another important pat of the design of your future laptop is they keyboard. I personally feel that a full size keyboard is necessary. The whole point of having your laptop is to do research papers, essays, reports, and of course chat with your friends, so you’re going to be using the keyboard quite a bit. I feel like any keyboard that isn’t full size is just too cramped to do serious typing on. Having a full size keyboard, in my opinion, is worth even paying a little extra for if necessary.

Next we need to consider features. Recently, features that used to only be included on high-end laptops are now being featured on really cheap laptops too. Things like multiple USB ports, DVD burners, webcams, and media card readers are now coming standard on laptops priced around only $300. Concerning memory and hard dive space, I would say that the minimum would be 1GB of memory and 160GB of hard drive. Those are petty basic and can be found in most laptops.

Battery life is also an important part to consider when choosing your laptop. Having a long battery life is important if you plan on hauling your laptop around to all your classes to take notes. Most laptops will offer a battery option that you can choose from. Although it will add some weight, I would recommend always going with the bigger better battery.

The next step that you will be faced with once you’ve selected your perfect laptop will be concerning warranties. Most laptops are backed by a 1-year complimentary parts and labor warranty. The choice that you will have to make is whether to get an extended warranty past that first year. A standard warranty does not cover things such as spilled drinks or drops on the hard floor. For accidents such as these, you’ll have to take out a separate accident coverage plan. These warranties just keep adding up and can cost over $250 for maybe three years of coverage. I personally did not take out any sort of extended warranty and have been perfectly fine. I bought my laptop completely on my own, and I realize that if I ever endangered it or somehow destroyed it that I would be unable to afford to replace it. This fact makes me think twice before sitting my pop can down or tossing around my laptop.

Buying a laptop is something that you definitely shouldn’t do without first doing the proper amount of research. It’s a lot of money to put on the table, so you should consider all your options before making a commitment. Hopefully these tips and recommendation can give you a hand during your search for that perfect laptop. I wish you the best of luck during your hunt!

Dell Unleashes Vostro Laptops

2009-08-12T12:05:00.006-04:00

It was no surprise when Dell put out it's latest entry in it's Vostro line of notebooks. Vostro notebooks are low-cost notebooks that won't empty your wallet while simultaneously not feeling like a typical notebook. There are three new models added by dell which consists of the 14.1 inch 1014 and 1088 and the 15.6 inch 1015. The laptops themselves are pretty similar across the board. All feature Intel Core 2 Processors, 802.11n, 4GB of RAM, optical drives, 2 mega-pixel webcam, and 320GB of storage space.

The notebooks also have an improved battery life due to WLED LCD displays and each laptop also has a 5-in-1 card reader. Along with all of these features there is also draft-n Wi-Fi. But these three laptops are not all exactly the same. The 1088 carries a heavier graphics card than the 1014 and the 1015. The 1088 comes with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics which is upped from the integrated Intel graphics of the 1014 and 1015.

Dell has yet to slap an official pric tag on these laptops as of right now. The price will differ depending on what all you want or don't want in your laptop. This installment in the Vostro line is already available in Europe with devices becoming available in Asia over the next week. Dell has said that you can grab your Vostro in the U.S. sometime in the next couple of months.

Gateway's New LT2000

2009-07-28T09:26:00.000-04:00

Gateway has now introduced their second netbook, the LT2000. This extremely reasonably priced laptop is not only sleek and stylish but has some awesome features for the very low price tag.

The LT2000 is compact and considerably portable. It only measures about one inch thin and weighs a mere 2.62 pounds. The netbook is available in NightSky Black and Cherry Red and is engraved with the Gateway logo and chic sliver trim accents.

The rundown on all the features of the LT2000 are pretty basic but most people wouldn’t really need anymore than what Gateway offers. The netbook has a 10.1-inch TFT LED-backlit display that allows plenty of room for owners to view web pages, e-mails, digital media, documents, and more. Included in the LT2000’s slim frame is three USB ports, an Ethernet port, a VGA port, and a multi-in-one digital card reader. Also, the laptop is powered by an Intel Atom processor, has 1GB of memory, and has 160GB of hard drive space.

Some eye-catching additional features that would normally not be found in a netbook in such a low price category would include the integrated webcam and the awesome Multi-Gesture Touchpad. The Touchpad allows users to move around e-mails, web pages, documents, music playlists, files, and so much more in an incredibly unique way. To flip through pictures, all that you need to do is move two fingers across the touchpad. To scroll through web pages or music playlists, simply use a circular swirling motion on the touchpad. Along with many other unique finger motions that can be utilized on the touchpad, you can pinch inward or outward to zoom in and out of whatever application you might be using. I think its incredible that such a cool feature can be found on such a budget laptop.

With the cool design, standard basics, awesome added features, and low price tag, I don’t know how this netbook could be passed up. Gateway will offer the LT2000 for $299.99. After considering all the facts, this netbook is looking good!

NEC VersaPro VS-7 Changing the Way We Look At Netbooks

2009-07-24T21:16:00.002-04:00

Netbook is not one of the most popular choices among laptops because they are heavy and clunky like an old combat boot; but the release of the NEC VersaPro VS-7 Netbook is changing the way we look at Netbooks. It’s sleek body that is only 15.8mm thick and nice sized slightly curved keys are made to hug your fingers and I have to say the traditional mouse is more of a preference for me as opposed to the touch pad.

As sexy and sleek as this laptop is, its not all about the outside, no, the VersaPro VS-7 Netbook has a beautiful inside too! Check out these specs:

• 10.6” 1280x768 Display (Glossy)
• Intel Atom Z540 (1.86GHz)
• Intel GMA500 Graphics
• 64GB SSD
• 15.8mm thick
• 725g (4-Cell Battery)
• Body capable of resisting 150kg pressure

I also want to make mention that even though the NEC VersaPro VS-7 Netbook is integrating an Intel GMA500 Video chipset that has the reputation of not keeping up the pace when it comes to watching high quality video or even HD video file but the VersaPro VS-7 installed with the CCCP Codec, took on whatever file and played them flawlessly even with Vista in a 720/30p DivX HD full screen playback.

Users that are into photography and graphics will be impressed to know that this baby can handle Photoshop CS3 with Bridge and performed as well as a Vaio G2 and is half the cost at just over $1000.

Unfortunately , for the moment the VersaPro VS-7 is currently only available in Japan but it is certainly something to look forward to.

Dell's New Studio 1737

2009-07-17T00:05:00.005-04:00

As August quickly approaches and thoughts of school or college come more and more frequently, I’m sure you have begun the sometimes long and frustrating hunt for that perfect back to school laptop. One that will probably catch your eye with the price tag of $749.98 is the Dell Studio 1737. To further your interest even more, you will most likely notice the 17-inch widescreen and 4GB of memory. Has this laptop grabbed your attention yet? It certainly grabbed mine.

The 1737 measures 15.4 x 11.4 x 1.4-inches (HWD) and weighs 7.5 pounds. It has a simple but attractive design, and Dell offers a variety of colors and over 200 designs to choose from to personalize your 1737. As mentioned before, the laptop features a 17-inch widescreen with 1,440 x 900 resolution with the option to upgrade to a higher resolution. The keyboard on the Studio 1737 includes a full-size numeric keypad. It also has soft mouse buttons that are entirely free of any clicking noises.

The Dell Studio 1737 features 5 USB ports with one functioning as a E-SATA combo port. It also includes a FireWire port for use with compatible camcorders and external storage devices, an HDMI port, dual-layer DVD burner, and Wi-Fi capabilities.

The 1737 runs on a 2.1 GHz Intel Core DuoT6500 processor. Dell offers two different battery options for the laptop, a 64Wh battery and a 85Wh battery.

I believe that all your back to school laptop needs can be met in the new Dell Studio 1737. With the impressive 17-inch screen, 4GB of memory, and everything else that a student could need, I don't know what could be a better deal than this feature-filled laptop from Dell.

A Netbook for Under $1

2009-07-07T23:52:00.002-04:00

I was obviously intrigued and skeptical when I heard that a netbook was being sold for under a dollar, so I felt the urge to investigate further. Here’s what I was able to uncover. Sprint Nextel has teamed up with Best Buy to offer the Compaq Mini 110c-1040DX Netbook for 99 cents. As incomprehensible as that seems, its true, but the required two-year service contract is where the money is being made.

The Compaq Mini offers a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and 160GB hard drive. It also features a 10.1-inch anti-glare widescreen display, 5-in-1integrated digital media reader, 92 percent keyboard, built-in-webcam, and a variety of eye-catching features.

The 3G wireless service that you are required to purchase through Sprint will cost you $60 a month for 5GB of data per month. This adds up to costing you around $1,440 once you have purchased the wireless service over the two years.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T plan to also sell the Compaq Mini with a two-year service plan for $199.99 through Best Buy. Verizon currently offers two different wireless service packages. You can select the $40 a month plan which offers 250MB of data monthly or the $60 a month plan that allows for up to 5GB of data per month.

AT&T offers very similar pricing. For up to 5GB of data it will cost you $60 a month, and for 200MB of data it will cost $40 a month. The advantage to AT&T’s deal through Best Buy is that it doesn’t just offer the Compaq Mini but gives you the option to choose between it, the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, or the LG Xenia all for a base price ranging from $50 to $250.

Although this is an offer that could easily draw in a crowd, if customers do the math they will realize that with the two-year service plan these netbooks will end up costing them way over $1,000 in the end. Hopefully people will realize that this isn’t such a hot offer and will search for a better, cheaper mini-laptop deal.

The HP Mini 110

2009-07-02T13:14:00.002-04:00

The price of netbooks just continues to go further and further down. Each year they offer better parts and lower price tags. The new HP Mini 110 definitely carries on this pattern. It resembles HP’s Mini 1000, but has many improvements and a much lower price point.

On the surface, the HP Mini 110 looks almost identical to the Mini 1000 and the Mini 1000 Mi. It features a glossy black top embellished with chic gray swirls. As you examine the netbook closer though, you are able to distinguish a few external differences. The HP Mini 110 is thicker than its predecessors, measuring more than one inch thick. This added thickness, to make room for the larger feature set and new battery set up, barely adds any extra weight to the netbook though. It manages to weigh in at a very reasonable 2.6 pounds.

The 10.1-inch widescreen is now LED-backlit and comes with 1,204 x 576 resolution. It features speakers that have been built below the screen into the frame in order to keep them hidden behind the hinge. Other important aspects to consider include the Mini’s 92 percent keyboard and mouse buttons. It also has a VGA port, an Ethernet port, a multi card reader, a headphone jack, three USB ports, and a built-in webcam. The Mini has upgraded with a 160GB, 5,400-rpm spinning drive, with the option to upgrade for something even more powerful.

Another interesting fact is that the Mini now includes a third-party software application called Syncables. Syncables allows you to connect different machines on your local network and effortlessly share photos, documents, video, and music. You can even sync e-mail accounts from Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

HP has definitely made some huge improvements with the Mini 110. It now includes a faster hard drive and a variety of new features. No its not the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 or the Acer Aspire One, but for the reasonable starting price of $329.00 it seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Gateway NV Series 5214u

2009-07-01T16:05:00.003-04:00

Gateway has just released their latest new line called the NV series. The line offers what I feel is the best performance at a more than reasonable price. The first in the line is the 5214u. Starting at the low cost of only $479 at bestbuy right now. The Gateway NV5214u is a Normal sized 15.6' notebook with a resolution of 1366x769 and weighs a resonable 6.82 pounds.

The best part about this laptop is it comes with every main feature that I am looking for in a budget laptop. It has an 2.1GHz AMD dual-core processor, it comes with 4GB of RAM, and it comes with the ATI Radeon HD 3200 Video Card which is on par with the more well known 8400GS. The reason these three things are so crucial because these are the three things that guarantee you a fast laptop that will run for a long time. Also the included bonus of a video card makes this laptop capable of playing games.

Some added bonuses on this laptop is the 320GB Hard Drive, 6 cell Lithion Ion Battery, an HDMI Port, Media Card Reader, and a webcam. This laptop is the perfect multimedia laptop, 320GB is more than enough to store all your music, photos, and video. The HDMI Port allows you to hook your laptop up to your giant plasma screen and the Media Card Reader is perfect for putting stuff on your phone. For a complete spec sheet see gateways website here.

If you are in need of a back to school laptop or just want a decent laptop that won't break the bank then this is the perfect laptop. It comes with all the needed hardware and ports for a great price of under $500.

The IdeaPad Y450

2009-06-26T18:18:00.003-04:00

Did you think it was impossible to find an reasonably inexpensive, big screened laptop with a full size keyboard and loads of multimedia features? Well, Lenovo has changed that train of thought with their IdeaPad Y450.

The IdeaPad Y450 has a different look than any previous laptop. It sports a black cover like many other laptops on the market, except for the fact that the cover is not the traditional glossed-over top but instead a textured honeycomb pattern that gives the lid a coarse, grainy feel. This will certainly assist in promoting less fingerprints and smudges on the laptop’s cover. The edges of the lid are trimmed in a copper tone, while the inside is a stark white. This all unites to produce a stylish, modern looking laptop.

The Y450 measures 13.4 x 9.2 x1.4 inches (HWD) and weighs about 5 pounds. It features a 14-inch widescreen with 1,366 x 768 resolution. It also includes three USB ports, FireWire, Ethernet, a built-in webcam, and excellent speakers. Added bonuses not normally included in laptops in the Y450’s price range are the DVD burner, eSATA, and HDMI-out ports. Another important fact to consider is the Y450’s 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor.

This impressive, budget-friendly laptop can be purchased in retail stores for around $599. Yes, there are plenty of other thinner and lighter laptops on the market, but they will dig a lot deeper into your pocket. The IdeaPad Y450 has excellent features, a slick design, and a heart-warming price tag. I think this is certainly a laptop that can satisfy most average people laptop needs.

The New Acer Aspire One

2009-06-21T18:49:00.002-04:00

The new Acer Aspire One is now thinner and lighter than any previous Acer netbook. Acer managed to eliminate a sizeable amount of plastic within their best-selling netbook design to allow for these qualities, while still maintaining their reasonable price point.

Netbook design is not really one of Acer’s strengths. Although the plastic-topped Aspire One does not win any beauty pageants, there are many qualities that make up for the netbook’s lack of style. The Aspire One beats most comparable netbooks with its mere 0.8-inch thickness. This makes it thinner than the Samsung N120, the ASUS EeePC 1000HE, the ASUS EeePC 1008HA (Seashell), and the HP Mini 1000. The new Acer netbook is now also lighter. With the three-cell battery, it only weighs 2.4 pounds.

Considering other aspects, the Aspire One retains the standard 10-inch screen, 1,024 x 600 resolution, and customary keyboard. The 89 percent keyboard is certainly a feature that Acer needs to attend to. Acer was able to include mutitouch capabilities into the Aspire One, but with the limited space you have to work with performing such actions can be difficult at times.

The Aspire One features three USB ports, VGA-out, an Ethernet port, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 802.11 g WiFi, and a 4-in-1 card reader. It also has a 160GB hard drive, which is the same or better than all other netbooks currently on the market. The Aspire One contains a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1 GB of memory, and Intel integrated graphics.

Even with the new updates found in the Acer Aspire One, Acer has managed to retain its affordable price. The Aspire One is the most reasonably priced netbook to be found at about $300, which is the reason why the previous Acer model was the best-selling netbook available. The Aspire One is lighter, thinner, and cheaper than most other netbooks out there. If you’re looking for an inexpensive netbook, this is definitely one to check out.