Notebook and Mobile PC Review

ASUS N53JF Review

2011-01-01T08:20:00.000+07:00

A well-rounded entertainment notebook needs to deliver plenty of eye candy and back it up with stellar sound. And that's exactly what the ASUS N53JF-XE1 does. This 15.6-inch laptop ($1,094 as configured) pairs a full HD display with booming Bang & Olufsen speakers. What about performance? The N53JF has you covered there, too, with a Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 425M graphics. We have a couple of complaints, but overall this machine kicks ass and looks good doing it
.

The ASUS N53JF is one of the few notebooks that utilizes a very limited palette (did you know there were this many shades of gray?) yet manages to look stylish. The fine lines of the brushed metal lid lead gracefully to the slick little curve at the hinge, which adds a bit of a wave to the deck. The palm rest is also made of metal, which gives the laptop a sturdy feel.
The multimedia DNA in the N53JF becomes apparent the minute you see the huge speaker bar dominating the deck. A strip of chrome above the keyboard houses buttons for multimedia, power, and more.
At 15.6 x 10.6 x 1.6 inches and 6.4 pounds, the N53JF is heavier than competing notebooks such as the Dell XPS 15 (6.1 pounds) and Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d (6.2 pounds), but comes off as sleek because of its design. Just don't plan on traveling with this laptop.

After playing a Hulu clip at full screen for 15 minutes we measured temperatures on the N53JF's touchpad (83 degrees), keyboard between the G&H keys (86 degrees), and the middle of the underside (88 degrees). All of these temperatures are comfortably below the category average.

The N53JF features a new "wave" keyboard with large keys, along with a numberpad on the right. The latter's small size is fine for crunching numbers but might turn off gamers. While typing, the key feel was bouncy but slightly mushy, and we noticed some flex.
The 3.25 x 2.1-inch touchpad is a nice size (it could be bigger, given how much space there is on the deck), and has just the right amount of matte texture on the surface for smooth navigation. The single mouse bar beneath is not only a finger smudge magnet, but also marginally stiff.

The N53JF sports a 15.6-inch, full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) glossy display that provides a gorgeous canvas for Blu-ray movies and other 1080p content. When watching a Blu-ray of Iron Man we noted bright, popping colors and smooth action sequences. We noted no pixelation or artifacts when transferring from light to dark scenes, and we appreciated the wide viewing angles. Glossy screens mean reflections, though, and ours proved somewhat distracting when watching flicks.

The real star of the multimedia experience are the huge Bang & Olfson speakers. They're backed by ASUS' SonicMaster technology, which allows users to customize audio output both on the speakers and when listening via headphones. The result is rich audio with a wide range that's well above the average notebook.
We compared N53JF with the Dell XPS 15, which delivered the best notebook audio quality of all the notebooks we tested this year. When playing tracks with driving bass, such as "Pick U Up" by Adam Lambert or "Beautiful Dangerous" by Slash and Fergie, the XPS 15 was the clear winner. However, with tracks that soar upwards or rely heavily on acoustics, such as "Dryad's Promise" by Tricky Pixie or "Legions (War)" by Zoe Keating, the N53JF fared better. Overall, the XPS 15 has the best sound system, but the N53JF is a close second.

Never one to skimp on ports, ASUS packs in a few designed with the media maven in mind. The HDMI 1.4 port is ready for the next generation of HD connectivity. And the USB 3.0 port next to it ensures you'll be able to take advantage of super speedy external drives and other enhanced peripherals down the line. You'll also find a USB/eSATA port, plus two more USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, VGA, a 5-in-1 memory card slot, headphone, mic, and a Blu-ray drive.

The 2-megapixel webcam above the display is just okay. The images it produced weren't the sharpest, but while chatting on Skype our friend noted that the camera continually adjusted for different lighting as we moved around and didn't see much blur.

Review of Samsung RF510

2010-12-29T12:19:00.000+07:00

In this time that 15-inch notebooks are the new family PCs, you'll want a hub that can do it all: web surfing, word processing, streaming movies, photo and video editing, and, yes, even gaming. The Samsung RF510 ($729 on Amazon) answers the call for versatility by combining a Core i5 processor with discrete Nvidia graphics, stylish looks, and a responsive keyboard. But is this 5.6-pound system really good enough to play demanding games or full HD videos?

Though sized like a family PC, the Samsung RF510 has a sleek, black aesthetic that looks equally at home in the living room and the conference room. The glossy black lid, which resists most fingerprints, is emblazoned with a chrome Samsung logo and accented by chrome hinges and chrome lines on the left and right sides.

The RF510's island-style keyboard sports a numeric keypad and offers solid tactile feedback and a smooth key surface, though it lacks a backlight. We scored our typical rate of 80 words per minute on the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, with a modest 2 percent error rate.

The Samsung RF510 stayed pleasantly cool throughout our testing. Even after streaming video at full screen for 15 minutes, the keyboard measured a temperate 92 degrees. The touchpad clocked in at a chilly 89 degrees, as did the middle bottom area. Those numbers are excellent, because we consider anything below 95 degrees comfortable and anything below 90 degrees imperceptible. By comparison, the bottom of the Dell XPS 15 reached a warm 102 degrees.

Review of the Acer Aspire 5745DG

2010-12-27T21:43:00.000+07:00

Priced at $999, the Aspire 5745DG is the least expensive 3D notebook we've tested that uses Nvidia's impressive 3D Vision technology. Powered by a Core i5 processor, this 15.6-inch system can also output 3D content to a compatible TV via its HDMI connection. So is this multimedia machine really a bargain?

While not as large as a desktop replacement, the size and bulk of the 5745DG means it's not going to travel much. It tips the scales at 6.2 pounds, around the average for a 15-inch system. Its 9-cell battery protrudes out the bottom towards the rear, and while it angles the system towards you--making typing more comfortable, it raises the height of the notebook to 2.3 inches.

Having a spacious underside means that the 5745DG stayed fairly cool. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the touchpad and the G and H keys reached 92 degrees, but the middle of the bottom stayed a cool 85 degrees.

The 5745DG uses the same FineTip keyboard that's become standard on all Acer notebooks. The keys are flat on top and separated from each other, and a full number pad sits to the right. We found the typing experience fairly comfortable but certainly not best in class.

Size and resolution-wise, the 15.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display on the 5745DG is about as common as you can get. However, it has a refresh rate of 120Hz--twice that of typical notebooks--in order to display 3D content.

The right side of the 5745DG has a tray-loading DVD drive, and three USB ports. The left has an additional USB port, plus VGA, HDMI, Ethernet, and headphone and mic jacks. The left front lip of the laptop houses a 5-in-1 memory card slot.

Best User Review of Samsung R540

2010-12-27T21:29:00.000+07:00

This R540 model has entry-level specifications; competing notebooks with a similar configuration can be had for $100 - $150 less online. The R540 is also offered in a higher-end configuration featuring a Blu-ray drive, low-end ATI Radeon graphics card and a more powerful Core i5 processor for MSRP $999.99 (a little on the pricey side).

Most of us don’t want to spend more than a few hundred on a notebook computer -- Samsung’s answer is their $699.99 R540, featuring a 15.6-inch display and dual-core Intel Core i3 processor. We take a look.

Best Review of Apple iPad iOS 4.2

2010-12-27T07:14:00.000+07:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the release of iOS 4.2 makes the iPad "a completely new product," and I have to agree with him. When Apple's tablet was running iOS 3.2, there were many irritating limitations, but most of these were taken care of with the operating system upgrade that was released yesterday.

I installed the new version on my iPad as soon as I could, and quickly began testing it. So far, I have generally positive things to say. There are a number of new features and other enhancements that significantly improve the way this tablet works, but there's still room for improvement.

Samsung Galaxy Tab User Review

2010-12-27T07:11:00.000+07:00

We had some very nice things to say about the Samsung Galaxy Tab during our first review of the Android tablet. In particular, we loved its speed, effective multi-tasking and the mobility that comes with a seven-inch screen. Unlike the iPad, users can comfortably hold the Android-powered Galaxy Tab with one hand.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Specs

* Screen: 7 inches
* Resolution: 1024 x 600
* Operating System: Android 2.2
* Processor: 1GHz Cortex A8
* Graphics: PowerVR SGX 540
* RAM: 512MB
* Storage: 2GB on board
* Storage Expansion: microSD (16GB card pre-installed, supports up to 32GB)
* Connectivity: 3G, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
* Networks: Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, US Cellular
* Camera: 1.3 megapixels (MP) front facing, 3MP rear camera
* Weight: .84 lbs
* Dimensions: 7.48 x 4.74 x 0.47 inches (WHD)
* Cost: $400 with two year agreement, $600-$650 without, carrier dependent

User Review of HP Slate 500

2010-12-27T07:07:00.000+07:00

As a tablet PC user since the launch of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition in November 2002, I've longed for a lightweight, portable and thin slate device that essentially functions as a digital notepad computer, and this is what I believe HP has delivered in the 500. There's nothing new here, the Slate is just a vanilla Windows 7 Professional device with practically no 3rd party applications installed except Evernote and the camera software, but I think that's actually a good thing as it keeps the unit from being bogged down given its adequate but less-than-powerful Atom platform.

Toshiba Satellite A665 Review

2010-12-09T14:04:00.000+07:00

The Toshiba Satellite A660 and A665 are 16-inch laptops with a reasonably attractive design and solid performance. If you're shopping for a desktop-replacement notebook the Satellite A665 might be a worthy choice. Keep reading to see what we think of this Core i5-equipped model with Nvidia discrete graphics.

Toshiba Satellite A665 (A665-S6089) Specifications:

16-inch 720p (1366x768) display with LED backlighting
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Intel Core i5 460M (2.53GHz)
Nvidia GeForce 310M graphics card w/ 512MB GDDR3 dedicated memory (Optimus switchable graphics)
4GB DDR3 RAM
500GB 5400RPM hard drive (Toshiba MK5065GSX)
802.11b/g/n wireless
DVD SuperMulti (+/- Double Layer)
Warranty: 1-Yr Parts and Labor, 1-Year Battery
6-cell Li-ion battery (48Wh) and 90W power adapter
Weight: 6.52 lbs
Dimensions: 15 x 10 x 1.2-1.5 inches
Price as configured: $879.99

Build and Design
The Satellite A660/A665 is the latest generation of 16-inch multimedia notebooks from Toshiba and is the "big brother" to the Satellite M640/M645. At first glance, the design of the A665 is pretty traditional with sculpted edges, a mixture of smooth and textured glossy plastics, and some attractive LED accent lighting. If you're familiar with the 14-inch Toshiba Satellite M645 and 15-inch Satellite C655 then this laptop just looks like a larger version of those notebooks. The exterior is covered in what Toshiba calls the "Fusion X2 Finish in Charcoal." Personally, I call it black glossy plastic with a textured "chain" pattern imprinted in the surface to help hide fingerprints and dirt. Despite the silly marketing name for the finish, I have to give Toshiba credit here. The textured chain pattern gives you the modern look of the glossy plastics but doesn't look like a horrible magnet for smudges, dirt, or whatever else a student spills on a laptop.

The build quality of the A665 is very good with a durable main chassis that doesn't squeak, creak, or flex even under significant pressure. The screen hinges are a little loose, making it easy to open the laptop with one hand but also making it easy to accidentally move the screen if you bump the laptop. While we're on the topic of the screen, the screen lid doesn't provide as much protection as we'd like. If you press on the back of the screen while the laptop is running you'll see obvious distortions on the screen itself. In addition, placing more than one heavy textbook on the screen lid causes the lid to bend inward sharply toward the screen ... suggesting that the screen lid doesn't offer much protection during travel.

The bottom of the notebook includes two access plates for the RAM and the hard drive. Despite the fact that most consumers buying this type of general purpose or light multimedia notebook don't perform upgrades, Toshiba engineers made is very easy to get inside this laptop. You only have to remove one screw to access the hard drive and one screw to get to the RAM.
Ports and Features
The Satellite A665 features a great range of ports--making this laptop one of the more "future proof" 16-inch notebooks available in this price range. You get two USB 2.0 ports and a combo eSATA/USB 2.0 port in case you want to use fast external storage drives. The A665 also features dual video out ports: a VGA connection for old-school projectors and HDMI for new monitors and HDTVs. More importantly, the A665 includes an ExpressCard slot so you can upgrade this laptop with USB 3.0 ports if you need them. All picture descriptions are left to right.

Front view: Memory card slot	Rear view: No ports
Left side: VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, combo eSATA/USB 2.0, USB 2.0, ExpressCard	Right side: Audio jacks, two USB 2.0, optical drive, power jack and lock slot

Full Review

Lenovo ThinkPad T510 Review

2010-12-09T14:02:00.001+07:00

The ThinkPad T510 is the 15.6" notebook from Lenovo that competes head-to-head with the HP EliteBook 8540p and the Dell Latitude E6510. The T510 offers optional NVIDIA NVS 3100M dedicated graphics, a full line-up of display options, and Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. In this review, we see how the ThinkPad T510 performs in our test lab and if you should add it to your Christmas shopping list.

Lenovo ThinkPad T510 Specifications:

15.6-inch HD+ LED-backlit Display (1600x900)
NVIDIA NVS 3100M dedicated graphics with 512MB DDR3
Windows 7 Professional (64bit)
Intel Core i5-560M (2.66GHz, 3MB cache)
4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB + 2GB)
320GB Seagate 7200.4 HDD (7200rpm)
Intel 6200 802.11AGN, Bluetooth
94Wh 9-cell, 90W 20V AC adapter
ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3
Dimensions: 14.68" x 9.65" x 1.41"
Weight: 6.22 pounds
Retail Price: $2,038.99 ($1,508.99 on sale) with docking station

Build and Design
The ThinkPad T510 has a "get down to business" appearance that has served the ThinkPad-series of notebooks very well. The outside finish is matte black, with a slight rubbery texture to increase grip when carrying it around. The design includes many flat surfaces with sharp and precise corners, but still manages to stay comfortable to use for hours on end. The screen hinges are stainless steel, and unlike the models two generations ago, are equal in size on both sides. Inside, the all-black appearance continues with a textured plastic palmrest, keyboard surround, and screen bezel. There are few, if any, glossy surfaces on the ThinkPad T510 which is great if you worry about glare from overhead lighting or sun while outdoors.
Build quality is very good on the Lenovo ThinkPad T510. Out of the box, this model has a stronger feel to it than most of the smaller ThinkPad models and is fairly hefty. Our model weighed in at over 6 pounds and is built like a tank. The newer palmrest and keyboard design is solid as a rock with a strong support structure underneath the plastic. Even with a strong grip or a lot of downward force, we saw minimal flex around the palmrest and keyboard. Following with its "overbuilt" (in a good way) trend, the screen hinges are strong enough that it required two hands to open the notebook and even to tilt back the screen once the lid was opened. When fully open, the screen did not have loose wobble or other problems staying firmly positioned.
The bottom of the notebook has two access panels for the system memory and hard drive. Users looking to upgrade either of those will only need to take out a couple of screws to gain access. Only one of the memory slots is located beneath the notebook though, making upgrades easy if you are only adding to the memory configuration. If you are replacing both sticks you will need to open up the notebook to get at the other slot.
Ports and Features
Almost every inch of the perimeter of the Lenovo ThinkPad T510 is filled with some form of connection or feature. The T510 includes three USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, FireWire 400, VGA and DisplayPort-out, Ethernet, a modem jack, and a headset port. Expansion slots include an ExpressCard/34 slot and a SDHC-card reader.

Front: Screen release

Rear: one USB 2.0, modem, DC-power input,

Left: DisplayPort, VGA, two USB 2.0 ports, eSATA/USB combo, FireWire-400, wireless on/off

Right: ExpressCard/34, SDHC-card reader, optical drive, Ethernet, Kensington Lock slot
If you are one of the ever-increasing segments of consumers that use their notebook for a desktop-replacement at home and mobile platform on the road, the latest ThinkPad Mini Dock might be for you. Our T510 review unit included the Mini Dock Plus Series-3 docking station that is loaded with ports and even supports up to three monitors connected simultaneously. In total the docking station adds six more USB ports, Ethernet, two DVI-outs, two DisplayPort-outs, one VGA-out, eSATA, and additional headphone and microphone jacks. If you have a ton of devices that need to be connected at your home or office, a docking station is one of the best options.

Full Review

Dell Inspiron 15R Review

2010-12-09T14:00:00.000+07:00

The newly designed Inspiron 15R is the latest 15.6-inch desktop-replacement notebook from Dell. Equipped with the Intel Core i3 or i5 processors and Intel GMA HD graphics, this budget-friendly system is aimed at the masses. In this review we take an in-depth look at this new system and see how it performs.

Dell Inspiron 15R (N7010) Specifications:

Intel Core i3 370M processor (2.4GHz, 3MB cache)
15.6-inch 1366x768 display with LED backlighting
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
4GB DDR3 memory
500GB 5400rpm HDD
Intel HD integrated graphics
10/100 Ethernet, 802.11n wireless, and Bluetooth
Intel Wi-Di (wireless display technology) and adapter
6-cell Li-ion 48Wh battery
Dimensions: 14.8 x 10.31 x 1.25-1.34-inches
Weight: 5.79lbs
MSRP: $599 (excluding Intel Wi-Di)

Build and Design
The newly redesigned Inspiron 15R offers a much cleaner and sleeker look and feel compared to past models. Similar to the Adamo-series, the layout has a hinge-forward design with the screen positioned just slightly in front of the back edge of the chassis. This has the added benefit of moving the screen closer to the keyboard and bringing the action to you. The outside appearance of the new 15R is very stylish, with a faux-brushed metal screen cover. The look gives the appearance of metal, although with an easier to clean painted surface. This look it also shared inside the notebook, with the palmrest and keyboard trim.

Build quality is great with a strong chassis and very durable feeling plastic. Even with its large footprint, the thin chassis resist flex and doesn't creak when you lift it up from the corners. The keyboard and palmrest both have more than adequate support, and don't sag under strong pressure. The screen cover has moderate protection for the LCD, with only strong pressure to the back of the panel causing ripples. The screen has no problem staying put with two strong hinges that get the display into position and hold it without any wiggle.

Users looking to upgrade the RAM inside the Dell Inspiron 15R will find the process quite easy. There is only one access panel on the bottom of the notebook. With a few Phillips head screws removed, you can add or repalce to the system memory. Unfortunately, getting access to the hard drive requires a complete disassembly of the notebook chassis.
Ports and Features
For a budget 15-inch desktop-replacement the Inspiron 15R offers plenty of inputs. We counted three USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA/USB connection, HDMI and VGA-out , audio jacks, and Ethernet. It also featured a SDHC-card reader, but an ExpressCard slot was missing.

One feature Dell offers as an option on the Inspiron 15R is Intel Wi-Di (Wireless Display) that transmits 720P resolution video through wireless HDMI over a long distance to a receiver box that attaches to your HDTV. This technology is great for enjoying movies without needing to trip over wires draped across a living room. The downside is this technology requires a 2-3 second buffer, making it impossible to use for a second monitor where you need to actively control items on the screen. Browsing the web is very difficult when your mouse cursor is trailing a couple seconds behind. For watching a movie, its not a problem since you start it up and go hands-off.

The Intel Wi-Di option adds $100 to the price of the Inspiron 15R. In theory this is a great value, although at the time of this writing Dell only offers this on the highest configuration of the 15R. Our $599 model cannot currently be configured with Wi-Di on the Dell website. Instead, the lowest priced model with Wi-Di starts at $949.
Front: Activity lights

Rear: DC-input, one USB 2.0, VGA-out, one USB 2.0

Left: One USB 2.0, audio jacks, HDMI-out

Right: SDHC-card slot , optical drive, eSATA/USB combo port, LAN, Kensington Lock slot

Full Review

Toshiba Satellite A665 Review

2010-12-08T09:51:00.000+07:00

16-inch 720p (1366x768) display with LED backlighting
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Intel Core i5 460M (2.53GHz)
Nvidia GeForce 310M graphics card w/ 512MB GDDR3 dedicated memory (Optimus switchable graphics)
4GB DDR3 RAM
500GB 5400RPM hard drive (Toshiba MK5065GSX)
802.11b/g/n wireless
DVD SuperMulti (+/- Double Layer)
Warranty: 1-Yr Parts and Labor, 1-Year Battery
6-cell Li-ion battery (48Wh) and 90W power adapter
Weight: 6.52 lbs
Dimensions: 15 x 10 x 1.2-1.5 inches
Price as configured: $879.99

Front view: Memory card slot	Rear view: No ports
Left side: VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, combo eSATA/USB 2.0, USB 2.0, ExpressCard	Right side: Audio jacks, two USB 2.0, optical drive, power jack and lock slot

Full Review

Lenovo G560 Review

2010-12-08T09:48:00.000+07:00

The Essential G560 is Lenovo’s entry-level 15.6” notebook. It sports an Intel Core i3 processor, full-size keyboard with number pad, and a starting price around $600. Read our review to find out more.

Lenovo Essential G560 review unit has the following specifications:

15.6-inch 720p (1366x768) glossy panel with LED backlighting
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Intel Core i3-330M dual-core processor (2.13GHz, 3MB L3 cache, 2.5GT/s QPI, 35W TDP)
Intel HM55 chipset
Integrated Intel HD graphics w/ shared video memory
4GB DDR3-1066 dual-channel RAM (2x 2GB)
320GB 5400RPM Western Digital hard drive (WD3200BEVT)
Broadcom 802.11n wireless LAN card
DVD burner (Optiarc DVD RW AD-7585H)
1-year limited warranty
6-cell Li-ion battery (11.1V, 48Wh)
Weight: 5.73 lbs.
Dimensions: 14.8” (L) x 9.8” (D) x 0.7~1.4” (H)
MSRP: $699

Our test unit has specifications appropriate for what it was designed for – basic use. The Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM ensure smooth multitasking. Something this machine will not be able to do is play 3D games since it has integrated graphics.

Build and Design
The G560 has a modest-looking exterior with a few high-quality touches. The palm rest area is inlaid with brushed aluminum, which feels cool to the touch. The G560 is rather thin and light given its 15.6” screen, coming in at a shade under six pounds and about 1.3” thin. Despite its all-plastic construction the G560 has a solid feel. The palm rest and areas surrounding the keyboard have good support and do not flex, even under abnormal pressure. The plastic used in the construction has satisfactory quality; it is thick enough to not feel brittle yet not something I would classify as durable.

Unlike the chassis, the lid is covered in smooth glossy plastic, which attracts dust and fingerprints. This is a con – the glossy plastic gets messy quickly unless a microfiber cloth is kept handy at all times. The build quality of the lid itself is average and not as good as the chassis. It flexes easily when twisted by the corners and I made ripples appear on the screen when I pushed in on the back. The G560’s overall build quality is satisfactory; my only real complaint is the glossy plastic used on the lid.
Screen and Speakers
The G560 has a 15.6-inch screen with a 720p (1366x768) resolution and LED backlighting; this is the only available screen. While its glossy mirror surface helps colors stand out and improves sharpness, it also acts as a mirror, especially when there are light sources behind it. Cleaning is also difficult.
The picture quality of the display is passable at best; it has a low contrast ratio of 150:1 and lacks sharpness. Colors appear somewhat washed out. We measured brightness at 210nit at its peak, which is average for a notebook of this size. Side-to-side viewing angles are also average; colors start to shift about 40 degrees off-center. Vertical viewing angles are narrow; it is viewable about 20 degrees up or down off-center before serious color inversion.

The 1366x768 resolution is the number one problem with the display; it makes multitasking difficult and limits productivity in general. Only about one-half of a page in a Microsoft Word document is visible at a time; additionally, lots of scrolling is required in web pages since there are only 768 pixels of vertical space. Using two windows side-by-side is more or less impractical since only 1366 pixels span the horizontal.
Overall, the display is typical of a low-priced notebook; it is hard to find budget 15.6” notebooks with better. To get a better resolution than 1366x768 one needs to go with a business class notebook, and even then higher resolutions are a rarity.
The G560 has two stereo speakers above the keyboard. They actually sound respectable; tinny, yes, and without much bass however quite usable for casual listening; the sound is fuller than I expected. The touch-enabled volume buttons above the keyboard work well.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The G560 has a full-size keyboard with separate numeric keypad. The keyboard is one of the highlights of this notebook; it feels solid and is pleasing to type on. Even under significant pressure there is little flex. The keys are quite communicative thanks to the just-right travel (the distance between pressed and un-pressed positions) and moderate actuation force (the amount of pressure needed to depress a key); both of these factors help accuracy. The layout of the keyboard takes some getting used to. Lenovo was only able to fit in a number pad by squeezing the keys to half their normal size – this means a bit more precision is required to hit them.

The touchpad is the polar opposite of the notebook – that is, terrible. After reviewing several dozen notebooks, I can safely say this is the worst I have used. The positives first: the touchpad’s mildly-textured surface is a cinch to track on with moist or dry fingers. It is also appropriately-sized for a 15.6” screen. The negatives: its usability; only about half my intended clicks actually registered, which was quite frustrating. There are no dedicated touchpad buttons; this is a “clickpad”, where the entire surface can be pressed down anywhere (supposedly) to register a click. Pressing the very bottom-right simulates a right-click and everything else is left-click. I had to apply an abnormal amount of pressure to get any sorts of clicks to register, especially towards the edges and center. On top of all this, the clicks are loud.
When I use a touchpad I have one hand to click and one hand to track; this does not work with the G560’s touchpad. It gets confused when there are two fingers on it and works sporadically; I had to change the way I used a touchpad to work with the G560. All in all, the G560’s touchpad was aggravating; those planning to purchase this notebook should also invest in an external mouse.
Ports and Features
The G560 has an impressive amount of ports for a budget notebook. It includes e-SATA for fast connections to external hard drives and HDMI, which is handy for connecting to HDTVs. Also included is ExpressCard/34, which can be used for add-on cards like USB 3.0 adapters. All picture descriptions are left to right.

Front: wireless on/off switch, status lights, media card reader (MMC/MS/MS Pro/SD/xD)

Back: battery pack

Left: Kensington Lock slot, cooling exhaust vent, RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, USB 2.0, e-SATA, HDMI, ExpressCard/34

Right: microphone and headphone jacks, optical drive, USB 2.0, AC power

Full Review

HP Mini 5103 Multitouch Review

2010-12-08T09:46:00.000+07:00

The new HP Mini 5103 is an update to the previous 5102 netbook, adding the newest dual-core Intel Atom N455 to the spec-sheet. This 10.1-inch netbook can be configured with an optional multi-touch display and has a starting price of $399.99. Check out our review to see our verdict on this small system.

HP Mini 5103 has the following specifications:

Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)
Processor: Intel Atom N550 Processor 1.5GHz (1MB cache)
Memory: 2GB DDR3 SDRAM
Storage: 160GB 7200rpm SATA HDD
Display: 10.1-inch multitouch LED-backlit display (1366x678, matte finish)
Graphics: Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics
Wireless: Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR
Expansion: 4-in-1 media card slot
Dimensions (H x W x D): 10.30 x 7.09 x 0.98 in
Weight: 3.01 lb with 6-cell battery (not including weight of AC adapter).
Power: Standard 4-cell (28WHr)Lithium-ion battery or 6-cell (66WHr) extended-life battery
Warranty: One-year standard warranty
Price: $399.99 Starting

Build and Design
The HP Mini 5103 has a very business-like appearance with a squared-off chassis and rugged-looking brushed metal finish. The design hasn't changed much over the years, first seen with the Mini 5101 and the 5102 earlier this year. The appearance is almost as if the small and medium-business ProBook 4520s was hit with a shrinkray and this was the result. The brushed metal finish holds up well to daily abuse, but it seemed to attract a few fingerprints without much effort. The inside has a rubbery dark paint covering the palmrest with a glossy black touchpad recessed slightly below the surface. On top of the keyboard HP throws in two quick-launch buttons to launch an internet browser and default email client ... probably the two most used applications on a business notebook.

Build quality is a step above most consumer netbooks with a very sturdy chassis and durable finishes inside and out. The brushed metal screen cover held up well against everything except fingerprints-easier to wipe off than scratches -- and also added some extra protection for the LCD. When closed, the netbook had very little flex, which is just what you would expect from a business-grade system. The only aspect that seemed to clash with the business-theme was an abundance of glossy finishes, including the touchpad, keyboard bezel, and screen bezel that increase reflection and attract fingerprints more compared to matte or rough finishes.

The HP Mini 5103 wasn't as easy to upgrade as most business notebooks. The designers only included access for the system memory, although that is still a step up from the ProBook 4520s which needed to be fully dismantled to access the RAM. A few added perks to the design included battery charge-indicators on the 4 and 6-cell batteries which give an instant readout of capacity without having to turn the system on. The Mini 5103 also made use of the larger full-size notebook AC-adapter plug, which looks and feels more solid than your average netbook power connector.
Screen and Speakers
The HP Mini 5103 offers an optional multitouch display with a WXGA resolution. For average day to day usage the screen is great for browsing the internet or writing documents without excessive scrolling. For accurate finger-input the smaller details can be troublesome, but with practice it gets easier to hit the smaller icons. The screen has a matte finish which is great when it comes to reducing screen glare. The added layer for the touch-sensitive screen didn't seem to add that much haze, keeping images and text crisp and clear. We measured peak brightness at 225nit and the contrast level at the center of the screen as 151:1, which is about average in terms of netbook or notebook displays.

Viewing angles were above-average with colors starting to invert with the screen tilted forward or back 25-30 degrees. Horizontal viewing angles were better, staying visible to about 80 degrees before glare off the screen prevented you from viewing what was being displayed.
The multitouch display was responsive in our testing, but the small screen size combined with the higher resolution display did present some problems with the user interface. Aiming for small buttons, especially when located near the corners resulted in many tries before you could close a window or hit the back button in a web browser. With scaling increased some of this could be elevated, but then you take away any benefits of even having the higher resolution panel to increase screen real-estate.

The stereo speakers are front-firing, located on the front edge of the palmrest. Compared to other netbooks the speakers rank about average, with moderate volume levels, but weak bass and midrange. For listening to streaming video or audio, or using Skype they should suffice, but headphones would be a good idea.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard on the Mini 5103 is easy to type on with its Chiclet-style design. Spacing between keys was wide enough to help reduce mistakes while typing, and the design was very comfortable to type on for hours at a time. The slightly-smaller than full-size design did take some adjustment to get used to, since some of the outer perimeter keys are condensed compared to keys around the center of the keyboard. The tab, `, and 1 buttons were smaller than average to help make room for other keys. Typing pressure needed to activate each key was minimal, with each key only needing a soft touch to engage. Key noise was minimal, allowing me to type without annoying others in meetings or coffee shops.

The HP Mini 5103 has a unique Synaptics touchpad in that it has no multitouch capabilities enabled. Unlike the majority of the current netbooks on the market, HP didn't opt for a unit with more than single-finger input. This is probably because it featured a multitouch display, but in any event it would have been nice for when you didn't want to interact with the screen directly. Sensitivity was excellent out of the box, requiring no adjustments during the review. The glossy surface was easy to slide across and didn't seem to have problems with a wet or oily finger. The touchpad buttons are adequately sized, coated with the same rubbery paint as the rest of the chassis. Feedback was shallow, with a mild click emitted when fully pressed.
Ports and Features
The HP Mini 5103 had a rather standard port layout, including three USB 2.0 ports, VGA-out, headphone and microphone jacks, LAN, and a SDHC-card slot. The system also featured a handy wireless on/off switch to quickly disable any radios.

Front: HDD activity, wireless on/off

Rear: Nothing

Left: Charge status light, DC-power input, VGA-out, two USB 2.0 ports

Right: SDHC-card slot, headphone/microphone jacks, one USB 2.0 port, LAN, Kensington lock slot

Full Review

Dell Latitude E6410 Review

2010-12-08T09:44:00.000+07:00

The Latitude E6410 is the latest in a long line of business notebooks from Dell. Sporting a wide range of Intel Core processor options, Intel integrated and NVIDIA NVS 3100M dedicated graphics, and two display options. In this review we see how this Dell business notebook compares to others already on the market.

Dell Latitude E6410 Specifications:

14.1 LED-backlit WXGA+ 1440x900 Display
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Intel Core i7 620M processor (2.66GHz, 4MB cache)
NVIDIA NVS 3100M Dedicated Graphics with 512MB VRAM
4GB DDR3 RAM
250GB 7200RPM hard drive (Western Digital Scorpio Black)
Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6200AGN
Built-in Bluetooth v2.1+EDR
8X DVD burner
One-year limited warranty
9-cell Li-ion battery (85Wh)
Weight: 4.26lbs starting (5.5lbs configured)
Dimensions: 13.2 x 9.4 x 1-1.2-inches
MSRP: $960 starting ($1,865 closest configuration)

Build and Design
The Dell Latitude E6410 has a very modern look and feel, with a few changes this generation to give a nod towards past models. The E6400 brought the latest body style, with a black alloy shell. The E6410 this time around keeps the body style, but switches back to the gunmetal gray coloring scheme which was found on the D630 and D620 before it. The finish has a pseudo-brushed appearance (painted, not actual brushed metal like on the HP EliteBook) that seems to resist fingerprints more than the real thing. The lower half of the notebook keeps the black metal design, with a large service panel that lets you access everything in the notebook by removing a single screw.
Inside the E6410 the look is matte black on everything besides the keyboard and model lettering. Compared to what you might find in a consumer model, there are no glossy or reflective surfaces besides the small chrome lettering on the Dell branding logo. This is nice if you use your notebook in brightly lit areas where reflections can be distracting. It also means that smudges and fingerprints won't be a problem from day-to-day use.

Build quality is very good and if feels very durable with the metal panels top and bottom. In the business notebook market not all makers have stuck with metal body panels. After the T60-series ThinkPad, Lenovo switched to a plastic top cover, which has stuck for every generation since then. The HP EliteBook though keeps the metal top cover and retains the image and feel of a higher-grade notebook over a standard plastic consumer model.
The Latitude E6410 chassis felt very well built and resisted any flexing in the usual spots. The palmrest and touchpad showed no signs of sag under heavy prodding. The keyboard directly over the optical drive stayed firm, even though most notebooks do show some signs of weakness in this area. Grabbing the notebook by the palmrest and carrying it around didn't cause any twisting or creaking noises. With the notebook closed the screen cover gave above average protection for the screen and should prevent any keyboard key marks on from imprinting on the LCD after being transported in a backpack loaded with other items. With the notebook open it took a good amount of pressure applied to the back of the cover before it showed any ripples or distortions on the display.

Users looking to upgrade parts of IT staff looking to replacing components will find the Latitude E6410 very easy to service. Dell designed the entire bottom around a single access panel with a single screw holding it in place. After removing the screen (which is retained with a spring so it never gets lost) you simply slide the cover down about a smidge and pop it off. With the cover removed you gain access to the WWAN, Wi-Fi card, memory slots, processor and heatsink, CMOS battery, cooling fan, and the instant-on OS card. Outside of having a cover that removes by the thought of wanting to upgrade alone, the E6410 is probably the easiest notebook we have come across to upgrade.
Ports and Features
The Latitude E6410 is packed with a ton of connections, including three USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA/USB combo port, VGA and DisplayPort-out, audio jacks, LAN, and FireWire-400. Other features include an optical drive, SDHC-card reader, and a SmartCard reader.

Front: SDHC-card slot	Rear: LAN, DisplayPort-out, power jack
Left: Kensington lock slot, VGA-out, one USB 2.0, eSATA/USB, SmartCard reader	Right: ExpressCard/54 slot, FireWire-400, optical drive, audio jacks, wireless on/off, two USB 2.0 ports.

Full Review

ASUS Eee PC 1215N Review

2010-12-07T06:54:00.000+07:00

ASUS Eee PC 1215N Specifications:

Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit)
Intel Atom D525 Dual Core Processor 1.8GHz (1MB L2 cache)
2GB DDR3 RAM (800MHz)
250GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD plus 500GB Online Storage
12.1-inch diagonal WXGA (1366x768)
NVIDIA ION with Optimus
0.3 megapixel webcam
Realtek 802.11 B/G/N Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4-in-1 media card slot
11.65 x 8.19 x 1.31
3lbs 3.5oz (not including weight of AC adapter)
6-cell Lithium-Ion battery (5200mAh, 56Wh)
One-year standard warranty
MSRP: $499.99

Build and Design
The ASUS Eee PC 1215N is the latest addition to the "Seashell" line of Eee PC netbooks and features an attractive wedge design with a very thin profile at the front that gradually thickens towards screen hinge. This shape feels nice in your hands and looks even nicer when the computer is resting on a desk. The combination of glossy black plastics and silver metalic finish help accent the various details in the design of this netbook. ASUS was the company that invented the netbook category with it's original Eee PC, and whether you love them or hate them, netbook sales are still strong enough to suggest that this category of budget ultraportable laptops is going to stick around for a while.

Build quality is very good with the 1215N feeling solid and showing almost no signs of flex. The screen stays firmly shut with a good amount of tension from the screen hinges when closed. Protection from the screen cover is very good; as no distortions appeared on the display when we applied pressure to the back of the cover. Opening up the screen you can tell the hinges should hold up for a long time with strong tension that prevents the screen from flopping around once opened. The body of the netbook seems to be well designed with minimal chassis flex and no obvious creaks from the plastics.

As we've seen on other recent ASUS notebooks, the new Eee PC 1215N features a convenient webcam privacy cover that slides into place over the lens of the built-in webcam when you flip the switch between the "on" and "off" positions. Yes, technically proficient users can disable the webcam using the Windows Device Manager, but many average netbook owners appreciate having a simple way to protect their privacy so unscrupulous outsiders don't use their laptop webcams for spying or stalking. Considering how much value a few cents worth of plastic offers, I'm amazed every built-in webcam doesn't have a switch like this.

One area of the design that didn't impress us was the bottom of the netbook. The expansion bay consists of nothing more than the two RAM sockets. The cover panel is held in place by a single screw, which makes it easy to upgrade the RAM, but ASUS engineers don't give you convenient access to the wireless card or the hard drive. Users interested in making upgrades (a common thing for netbook owners) will have to completely disassemble the Eee PC 1215N if they want to do anything other than upgrade the RAM.
Screen and Speakers
The 12.1" screen on the Eee PC 1215N appears to be the same model used in the older 1201N and is great for browsing the web, editing photos, or even watching HD movies. Color and contrast are excellent thanks to the glossy surface and LED-backlighting. Color saturation is better than average although only in a narrow viewing range. Once you start to tilt the screen forward or back the colors start to look dim or very washed out. Horizontal viewing angles were better; staying visible until roughly 60 degrees where the reflections on the screen start to overpower what is being displayed. Peak backlight brightness was fine for viewing in bright office conditions, but only when the brightness was set to 100 percent. Outdoor viewing was close to impossible unless you were in some serious shade from a tree or other structure.

The onboard speakers were lap-firing and sounded very tinny. The speakers had no low frequency response and just a small hint of midrange. This is fine for listening to streaming music or watching a YouTube clip, but not for sharing a movie in a small room. The speaker orientation causes problems if you have the laptop laying on a bed or pressed against thick clothing on your lap. I was able to easily obstruct the speakers with my legs; making them sound muffled. In short, audiophiles would be better off using a nice pair of headphones or connecting the Eee PC to a stereo through its HDMI-out port.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The nearly full-size keyboard on the 1215N is very comfortable to type although it still has a learning curve compared to regular sized notebooks. Most condensed Chiclet-style (also called island-style) keyboards provide enough space between each key to prevent excessive typos. The keyboard looks quite nice but the keyboard on our review sample suffered from a great deal of flex or "bounce" under heavy typing pressure. Not only does this make typing feel mushy but it can lead to typos when the keys "bounce" under your fingertips. The keys are designed with a rough matte finish on top which helps increase fingertip traction. Individual key action was smooth, giving off a quiet high-pitched click when pressed.

The touchpad on the 1215N is a Synaptics model with great sensitivity and speed. We didn't notice any problems with the touchpad calibration straight out of the box and the lightly textured surface provides just the right amount of traction for cursor movement. The flush touchpad surface is separated from the palmrests by a pair of polished metal strips but I often found my finger moving outside the touchpad area when using the touchpad. Once again, ASUS engineers decided to use a single touchpad button bar rather than two separate buttons. This makes it easy to accidentally hit the wrong mouse button since there is just one button and no dividing line between the two sides. Hopefully one of these days someone at ASUS will read these reviews and stop using touchpad buttons like these.
Ports and Features
Port selection on the Eee PC 1215N is fairly standard for a modern netbook. ASUS gives you three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI-out, VGA, LAN, and audio jacks. It also features a SDHC-card slot for expanding internal storage or just loading images off your camera while traveling. We won't complain about the port selection, but since we're starting to see USB 3.0 on more consumer notebooks we hope it will start showing up on netbooks soon. The only negative aspect of the connections on this Eee PC is the super-tiny AC adapter plug. Compared to any other notebook or netbook (and even some cellphones) it is smaller and potentially weaker. We can't accurately speculate on long term reliability, but we don't imagine this power jack could hold up as well as more robust connectors.
Front View: Activity lights

Rear View: Battery and screen hinges

Left Side View: AC-power, VGA out, HDMI-out, one USB 2.0 port, and media card reader

Right Side View: Audio jacks, two USB 2.0 ports, LAN, and Kensington lock slot

Full Review

HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation Review

2010-12-07T06:49:00.000+07:00

The business notebook market has two types of systems; notebooks and mobile workstations. The workstation-class systems offer faster processors, better graphics options, and sometimes additional features over the regular business systems. In this review we take a look at the HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation and see how it compares to other systems we've reviewed.

Specifications:

Intel Core i7-620M (2.66GHz, 4MB L2 cache)
Microsoft Genuine Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)
15.6-inch LED-backlit HD+ anti-glare (1600 x 900)
NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics 1 GB DDR3 video memory
4GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM (3GB Usable with 32-bit OS)
320GB Seagate 7200.4 HDD
Intel Ultimate-N 6300 AGN WiFi, 1Gb Ethernet, Modem, and Bluetooth Connectivity
8-Cell 73WHr Battery (14.4V)
Dimensions: 14.7" x 9.90" x 1.28"
Weight: 6lbs 7.2oz
Price as configured: $1,679 with 3-year onsite warranty

Build and Design
The HP EliteBook Mobile Workstations are very similar to their standard EliteBook counterparts. Besides the name tag, the only external feature that changes is the color of the brushed metal finish... in this case from bright silver on the standard EliteBook to gunmetal-grey on the Mobile Workstation. EliteBooks have a very stylish brushed-metal exterior that adds a splash of sophistication to what is usually a dull or boring business notebook. The metal cladding gives the notebook a bright eye-catching design, helps to hide fingerprints, and really pulls together the look that the notebook could stand up to the rigors of daily abuse. HP even went as far as putting matching trim pieces around the screen hinges, showing no design element is too small. The brushed-metal finish really flows well with the black chassis and black inlays around the keyboard and touchpad.

The EliteBook feels as hard as a rock when you first pick it up. The alloy chassis and brushed metal body panels have very little give under a strong grip. The screen cover has some mild flex but nothing we haven't seen in other business notebooks. Even with its small about of flex the screen cover does an excellent job of looking good and protecting the display housed within. The brushed metal finish resists scratching and fingerprints, keeping a pristine appearance long after most painted notebooks might be looking a bit worse for wear. Screen protection is excellent with no distortion of the LCD-panel even with strong pressure applied to the back of the cover.
When you open the notebook and start squeezing on the palmrest and surrounding panels the first thing you notice is how strong the entire chassis feels. The thin brushed-metal panels have excellent support underneath, with absolutely no flex at all under a strong grip. The keyboard has minimal flex if you squeeze it hard, showing maybe 1-2mm of movement before it stops dead like you were pressing it into a rock.
On most notebooks the strength of the lower chassis is usually overlooked, especially around the optical drive which is the widest open bay. Pressing on the edge of the opening it flexes slightly until it makes contact with the bezel of the DVD-recorder. As you move away from the edge it feels like you are trying to squeeze a wood board.

Users looking to upgrade the HP EliteBook 8540w will find it relatively easy to access some user-replaceable components. One memory slot, the hard drive, CMOS battery, and WWAN card slot are all accessible through individual compartments on the bottom of the notebook. In certain configurations the 8540w can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM using four memory slots. This only applies to systems with that amount of RAM configured from the factory, otherwise you get a system without those slots soldered to the board. In our configuration we only had two memory slots total; one located on the bottom of the chassis and under underneath the keyboard. Both slots were occupied.

Full Review

Apple MacBook Air (11.6-inch) Review

2010-12-07T06:44:00.000+07:00

More peoples know that Apple is for pushing boundaries. Sometimes it's a cutting-edge industrial design, sometimes it's new technology and the others time a new standard. When the MacBook Air was originally introduced, it was all three. Growing less unique with the netbook craze, Apple was forced to rethink thin.

Specifications:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 @ 1.4GHz (3MB cache)
Display: 11.6-inch TN panel
Resolution: 1366x768
Memory: 2GB not accessible
Hard drive: 64GB solid state drive
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 320M with 256MB of shared system memory
Optical drive: none
Networking: none
Wireless networking: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Built-in iSight webcam, integrated microphone
Dimensions: 11.8 x 7.56 x 0.68-0.11 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.3 lbs
Warranty: One year limited parts and labor, 90 days free phone support

The manufacturer's suggested retail price of our review unit is $999; a fully-specced 11.6-inch MacBook Air will cost $1,399.

Build and design
The original MacBook Air remains one of the thinnest notebooks ever created; like the current iteration, it was designed along a tapered-wedge form factor. Although it wasn't necessarily the thinnest laptop ever created (hey there, Mitsubishi Pedion!), the first-generation MacBook Air brought a number of new features to the table.
It was the first of Apple's notebooks to be designed using the now-famous unibody engineering technique, which essentially carves the computer's case from a single block of cast aluminum. The CPU was a Core 2 Duo designed to take up only 40% of the room of its more traditional counterparts.

The last couple of years, however, have driven the notebook market into a frenzy. Netbooks, buoyed by consumers' desires to be smaller, lighter and cheaper invaded the industry. The MacBook Air that once stood alone started to get overshadowed. Few of these notebooks were as thin, but they weren't precisely fat. They were also light and affordable.
Apple finally realized that with the latest refresh of the MacBook Air lineup, something had to change. The 11.6-inch MacBook Air is Apple's smallest laptop ever, harking back to the days of their original 12-inch ultraportable offerings. Both the 11.6- and 13-inch Airs share the same design trend and some of the same dimensions. Both are 0.68 inches in the back, tapering down to a scant eleven-hundredths of an inch at the front.

As mentioned in the first look on the device, the thinness of the MacBook Air is a carefully crafted illusion - the reality is that the Air is thicker than it seems. It's definitely light, though - the smaller model tips the scales at just 2.3 pounds - and frankly, who cares if there is trickery involved? The design is smart, and it works.
Much of the notebook's exterior is notable only for its emptiness. The front of the Air has a notch cut out of the bottom lip to provide a spot for opening the screen. Like most modern MacBooks, the screen easily lifts up with a single finger.

The rear and bottom of the machine are largely featureless as well, with the latter hosting four plastic bumpers to lift the machine off of its worksurface. There are also a number of five-lobed Torx screws on the bottom for those so bold as to risk voiding their warranties for a peek at the insides.

Keyboard and trackpadOpening up shows off a typical MacBook sight - individual black keys poking up through perfectly cut holes in the aluminum case. Noticeably, the keyboard on the new MacBook Air models is not backlit, a downgrade from prior models. Likely a cost-cutting measure, it's also unfortunate, as Apple seemed to standardize around the backlit keyboard - it certainly makes low-light computing much easier.

The trackpad on the MacBook Air might be called large when comparing it to any notebook on the market - considering that it's on an 11.6-inch laptop, it becomes much more impressive. Apple is one of the few companies who have managed to integrate buttons into the trackpad and get it right - when companies get it wrong, it quickly becomes the bane of a user's existence. In order to save space but still provide a large trackpad and full-sized keyboard, the function keys on the 11.6-inch MacBook Air are half the size of those on the 13-inch MacBook Air and the rest of Apple's mobile lineup.

As the Airs lack built-in optical drives, the eject button traditionally found on Apple laptops is replaced by the power button, which now looks like just another key on the keyboard. All the other keys appear to be identical to other MacBooks. While the keyboard will exhibit substantial flex if pressed firmly, it isn't something even heavy typists need to worry about. Additionally, while the power button might look like just another button now - and just as easily pressed - casually powering off the machine shouldn't be a concern as it goes to and returns from sleep rather quickly.

Screen and speakersMuch has been made in the past of the screen quality found in Apple laptops, but the notebook market has come a long way. The display on the MacBook Air is really good, though not exceptional; like any modern TN panel, it boasts great horizontal viewing angles and mediocre vertical ones.

The resolution offered on the MacBook Air, at least, is a definite improvement over prior generations of MacBooks. Previously, the 13-inch MacBook or MacBook Pro was only offered in a 1280x800 resolution; to go any higher required the purchase of a 15-inch MacBook Pro, which delivered 1440x900 or 1680x1050 options.

Contrast testing faired well, with an average contrast ratio of 755:1 when the backlight was at minimum (but not disabled); it dropped to 696:1 with the backlight at full. At its brightest, the panel reached 354 nits, which bodes well for bright office or even mild outdoor environments.
The Air delivers 1366x768 pixels of resolution, with the 13-inch model jumping up to 1440x900. While it's nice to see Apple (finally) supporting higher resolution panels, it is nicer still to consider what it means for the next revision of the MacBook Pro lineup. The display is glossy, but not too glossy. It's a nice compromise between matte screens that can muddy colors and glossy screens that can double as really annoying mirrors.

The other noticeable change in terms of the notebook's display is a distinct lack of glass. No doubt a means of shaving off some of the weight that a glass cover would invariably add, the edge-to-edge black-bordered display is replaced with more aluminum. It's still attractive, and appears to be the same treatment customers receive who order the 15-inch MacBook Pro with an antiglare screen. The speakers don't fare quite as well as the screen. They're definitely functional, and in fact they're pretty good for such a small laptop. Bass is unsurprisingly scarce, however, and while music is listenable, it would be better served by a pair of headphones or external speakers. On the plus side, they do seem to get pretty loud.

Ports and featuresThe sides of the wedge-shaped notebook showcase what inputs there are; on the right is one USB 2.0 port and one mini-DisplayPort...port. On the left is a second USB 2.0 port, the MagSafe power adapter, combo headphones/microphone/remote control jack and an integrated microphone.

front: n/a	rear: screen hinge
left: MagSafe connector, USB 2.0 port,headphone/mic jack, built-in mic	right: USB 2.0 port, mini-DisplayPort

It's unfortunate that there isn't any high-speed storage for the MacBook Air - given its limited storage capacity (64GB, in this instance), USB 3.0 or even eSATA would be a welcome addition. Apple would probably never add an eSATA port to any of their notebooks, however, and USB 3.0 will likely be added in the next revision.
Fortunately, the MacBook Air does fully support 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. Bluetooth 3.0 would have been another nice addition as the protocol allows for much faster transfer speeds (since it essentially uses Wi-Fi).
The 13-inch MacBook Air also gives users an SDXC card reader on the right-hand side of the laptop. That slot is omitted from the smaller model, to pretty much universal frustration.

Performance, benchmarks and gamingOne of the big criticisms of the current MacBook Air platform is that it uses Core 2 Duo chips at its core. Taking a step back, however, it appears to be a pretty reasonable decision. Until Intel's Sandy Bridge platform rolls around (presumably), the integrated graphics offered by the chipmaker are...less than stellar.

Unfortunately, the thermal envelope of the MacBook Air is unable to support both integrated and discrete graphics - a necessity if Apple had chosen something like the Core i3-330UM. Using the NVIDIA MCP89 chipset and associated GeForce 320M graphics, (a custom part for Apple based on the more powerful GeForce 335M found in laptops like the M11x) Apple is able to get respectable graphics performance and adequate battery life while maintaining the MBA's profile.
Even though the Core 2 Duo SU9400 is only clocked at 1.4GHz, it remains a surprisingly robust platform capable of handling some complex tasks.

Apple MacBook Air (11.6-inch) Review

2010-10-30T11:02:00.000+07:00

Apple is known for pushing boundaries. Sometimes it's a cutting-edge industrial design, sometimes it's new technology and sometimes a new standard. When the MacBook Air was originally introduced, it was all three. Growing less unique with the netbook craze, Apple was forced to rethink thin. Did they succeed?

Apple MacBook Air (11.6-inch) Review

Samsung Galaxy Tab Review

2010-10-24T07:20:00.000+07:00

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a seven-inch Android tablet that many believe is the first with shot at denting the Apple iPad's market dominance. With Froyo and a 1 GHz processor under the hood, does this potential iPad killer have the stuff? Or is the Samsung Galaxy Tab just an oversized Android smartphone?

Samsung Galaxy Tab Review

Armor X10gx Rugged Tablet Review

2010-10-24T07:18:00.000+07:00

Meet the toughest tablet on the block, the Armor X10gx from DRS Tactical Systems. While other tablets impress with flashy UIs and cute applications, the X10gx takes any abuse the user or environment can dish out. See how well it handled our abuse -- I mean tests and evaluation -- in this rugged tablet review.

Armor X10gx Rugged Tablet Review

HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation Review

2010-10-24T07:15:00.002+07:00

Lenovo G560 Review

2010-10-24T07:13:00.000+07:00

The Lenovo Essential G560 is a solid consumer budget notebook with a weak touchpad. The Essential G560 is Lenovo’s entry-level 15.6” notebook. It sports an Intel Core i3 processor, full-size keyboard with number pad, and a starting price around $600.

Lenovo G560 Review

HP Mini 5103 Multitouch Review

2010-10-24T07:11:00.000+07:00

The new HP Mini 5103 is an update to the previous 5102 netbook, adding the newest dual-core Intel Atom N455 to the spec-sheet. This 10.1-inch netbook can be configured with an optional multi-touch display and has a starting price of $399.99. The HP Mini 5103 offers a good looking business design with excellent build quality and very nice performance.

HP Mini 5103 Multitouch Review

Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d Review

2010-10-24T07:09:00.000+07:00

The IdeaPad Y560d is a consumer multimedia notebook featuring a powerful Intel quad-core processor and ATI graphics. The most interesting aspect of this notebook is the 3D-capable screen. Does this feature make the notebook worth extra money? Read our review to find out.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d Review

MSI GT660R Review

2010-10-24T07:07:00.000+07:00

If you're someone who wants a high-performance gaming notebook packed with 1TB of storage, a 1GB Nvidia GTX 285M graphics card and one of the most powerful Intel Core i7 processors currently on the market then you better be prepared to pay close to $2,500. Well, that was before the MSI GT660R arrived in stores. This 16-inch gaming notebook is packed with premium components, a fantastic speaker system and the ability to overclock the CPU and the GPU for $1,700. Keep reading to find out more.

MSI GT660R Review