Here are our top laptops with backlit keyboards and a quick summary of what they offer in addition to their specs.

1. Dell XPS 13

Made from patented glass-fiber weave, the stain-proof deck is beautiful. The keyboard features larger keycaps that are nicely spaced for such a small laptop. It is pushed toward the top of the deck, providing enough space for a glass touchpad. Typing on the keys makes for a comfortable experience, with just enough snap to avoid feeling mushy. The backlighting is only bright enough to make out every key character in a dark setting.

Technical Details:

• Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1185G7 Processor (12MB Cache, up to 4.8 GHz)
• Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, English
• Intel Iris Xe Graphics with the shared graphics memory
• Up to 32GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x Memory Onboard
•  2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
• 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches

2. Asus VivoBook 15 F512JA-AS34 Laptop

This great laptop features an ErgoLift hinges design that tilts the keyboard up for more comfortable typing. The backlit keyboards are a lifesaver for late-night usage, and it also comes with various brightnesses instead of a toggle, even though the lowest setting is bright enough.

The keyboard is quiet and comfortable to type on, and the fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate. The great thing is that the number pad is small, so it doesn’t get in the way. Overall, the deceive doesn’t lag, and everything opens quickly, thanks to the SSD.

Technical Details:

• 15.6 inch Full HD (1920×1080) 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
• 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU (4M Cache, up to 3.4 GHz)
• Ergolift design
• USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 2.0, and HDMI; Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
• Windows 10 in S mode
• Anti-glare coating
• Intel UHD G1 integrated graphics of 10th Gen Core i3 & i5 G1
• Lithium-polymer battery
• ASUS SonicMaster.

3. Apple MacBook Pro

Now, the keyboard that gets the most praise. This laptop’s Magic Keyboard features a scissor mechanism with 1mm travel—about half of the original keyboard found in the 2015 and prior model years—for a comfortable and quiet typing experience. The keys spring back enough to get that satisfactory typing feel.

The keyboard is quiet and very comfortable to type on, as the keys are slightly smaller; still, they do not make typing on them any more difficult. The directional arrows are adequately set up, and the physical Esc key makes it a breeze to flip through open applications.

Technical Details:

• Ninth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
• 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology
• Touch Bar and Touch ID
• AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics with GDDR6 memory
• Ultrafast SSD
• Intel UHD Graphics 630
• Six-speaker system with force-canceling woofers
• Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
• Up to 11 hours of battery life
• 802.11AC Wi-Fi

4. Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701

This ASUS laptop is easily one of the best for gaming—and it’s safe to say that, on top of other great specs, the keyboard of this device alone can be a big selling point. Its forward keyboard position lowers surface temperatures on the desktop-style layout so that you can game in comfort for hours.

You can customize per-key RGB backlighting for different games and workflows and match colors and effects with compatible peripherals using Aura Sync. Illumination extends to a unique volume roller positioned for quick adjustment and a glowing Numpad that appears on the touchpad.

Technical Details:

• 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H (Hexa-core, 9MB cache, up to 4.1GHz)
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q (8GB GDDR6 VRAM); Intel UHD Graphics 630
• RAM: 24GB DDR4 (2,666MHz)
• 17.3-inch screen, Full HD (1,920×1,080) IPS, Pantone Validated
• 2 x USB 3.1 (USB Type-C), 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, headset jack
•  Full HD webcam (1080p, 60fps)

5. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

This laptop features a full-size chiclet-style keyboard that also includes a separated numpad. The backlit feature turns off after 30 seconds of inactivity to save energy making it very convenient. The typing feel is exquisite. However, some may feel that separated ‘Home/End/Pg Up/Pg Dn’ keys are needed.

Technical Details:

• AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Mobile Processor
• 15.6″ Full HD IPS screen
• 7.5 hours of battery life
• The  innovative Acer TrueHarmony speaker design
• HDMI, USB 3.1 & USB 2.0, 2×2 802.11ac.
• Windows 10 in S mode
• MD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
•  HD Webcam (1280 x 720)

There are many other great laptops the market offers. However, these are what we think are some of the best choices. We tried to find an option for everyone, so whatever the purpose you’re searching for, we hope to have helped you find the laptop that will benefit you most.

Dell Latitude Laptops

The Latitude laptop is intended more for business and professional user; thus, they are designed to be more durable to withstand commuting or business travel. Due to their business focus, their features are what differentiates Latitude laptops from one another. For example, since they have a business purpose, some models include security features.

Latitude devices are small and light with advanced cooling solutions so that users can work comfortably anywhere. The latest Latitude devices feature Dell Optimizer, a built-in artificial intelligence software. This optimizer picks up and adapts to the users’ behavior to create a smarter, more personalized experience. In turn, it improves application performance and battery life, so there are fewer disruptions no matter where the user is working

There are four different Latitude series with several models.  Let’s see what each of them offer:

• 9000 series: this series features a  line of laptops and 2-in-1s. These laptops are the smallest and thinnest business notebooks that adapt to the way the user works.
• 7000 series: these thin and light laptops and 2-in-1s offer ExpressConnect and have been enhanced with SafeScreen—features that help work at full speed.
• 5000 series: these models are focused on security and manageability and, in addition, offer fast performance that does not fail during meetings and presentations.
• 3000 series: this series is the budget-friendly option with models that feature long-lasting battery life and equally good processors as the other series. However, there are differences when it comes to RAM and some screen sizes.

Dell Inspiron Laptops

The Inspiron line is a consumer-focused series that comes at an affordable price. The series of this line feature a wide variety of laptops intended for everyday use. In addition, the Inspiron line comes with a gaming-friendly variant.

The difference between each series is ultimately specs and price—with also means the higher the number and specs, the higher the cost. Let’s take a look at them and their offerings.

• 7000 Series: the best place to look for a convertible 2-in-1 laptop. These lightweight laptops are made of durable material, designed to offer mobility and high performance.
• 5000 Series: This is where many people will find a balanced laptop with a sleek design, great specs, and high user experience. Compared to 3000, this one looks and feels a little higher quality.
• 3000 Series: even though this is the entry-level series, it still delivers laptops with a compelling user experience. If you want an inexpensive laptop with great configurations but want to spend less, the 3000 series is for you.

Inspiron or Latitude? Key Differences

The distinctions between the two lines reside from their intended purpose. This distinction contributes to their differences in size, capabilities, and power. Latitudes have been targeted at business users. On the other hand, the Inspiron laptop series is for home and light office use.

The latitudes come with the basics, drivers, burning software, and DVD player. It’s pretty easy to format an Inspirons drive and reinstall windows and drivers. Many Latitudes allow you to easily swap out the DVD tray and insert a battery or another peripheral. Some of the nicer Latitudes have four mouse buttons instead of 2 for a more comfortable approach.

While Inspiron laptops are made almost entirely from plastic, the Latitude laptops are more rugged and durable. Other business and durability-oriented features, such as better and spill-proof keyboards, panel reinforcements, and displays that do not reflect much light, also tend to be available for Latitude laptops.

Dell offers something for everyone. There’s a chance that you’ll find a Dell model that fits your needs, whether you’re looking for a more simplistic laptop or a stronger business one, and these two lines are a great place to start looking.

Feature photo: CreativeCommons

The most crucial factor for a keyboard is comfort and a good key travel distance. A durable and well-built laptop will withstand everyday use. For those who are always on the move, a lightweight option may be crucial. Another essential feature is a reliable and safe display that you can easily use while reading and writing, without straining the eyes after long hours working.

These are our best options that deliver comfort and practicality to any writer.

1. ASUS ZENBOOK 13 ULTRA-SLIM

The Zenbook is not too small, and yet not too big, and in addition, it is also thin and super light. The display is bright, creating an immersive viewing experience. It features an edge-to-edge ergonomic keyboard, meaning it utilizes all the space within a compact design. The number pad is also built into the trackpad and can be activated upon need.

The single most remarkable thing about this laptop is the incredible 22 hours of battery life from a single charge. The laptop uses a low-power 1-watt display, and you will still have power efficiency without compromising on quality. This is the best overall laptop for on-the-go writing and other reasons like practicality and design.

Technical Details:

• 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1
• 13.3″  NanoEdge IPS Anti-Glare Screen
• up to 3.6 GHz, 6M Cache
• HDMI, Thunderbolt 3 USB-C (x2), USB 3.2, MicroSD
• Windows 10 Pro
• ErgoLift hinge and backlit keyboard and NumberPad

2. MacBook Air

While it is one of the more expensive laptops, the MacBook Air is the most portable laptop, making it a great choice for writers on-the-go without question. The key features that make this laptop excellent are the new Magic Keyboard and battery life.

When taking long writing sessions, when traveling or using the computer away from home, you’re safe to know that the battery life won’t disappoint anytime soon. It’s effortless, fast to load apps, and rarely hesitates even when needed to do multiple tasks at once. What helps immensely is the non-existent fan noise and quiet keyboard, making for a silent and productive writing session.

Technical Details:

• Retina display
• 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
• Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
• 8GB unified memory (Configurable to 16GB)
• 256GB SSD (Configurable to 512GB SSD, 1TB, or 2TB)
• Touch ID sensor

3. HP Spectre x360

The HP Spectre is another option on the expensive side, but if you need flexibility and a powerful but thin laptop, this is the best choice. Its design and performance are just some of the great features it offers to writers. It makes for a portable device thanks to its duality of swapping between laptop and tablet modes, with its gorgeous 4K touchscreen and two-point hinge.

Even though it has a durable build, it still is as lightweight as they come. The keyboard is comfortable to use, softly backlit in white with large deep-travel keys that feel luxurious; however, there’s no Numpad. Still, the trackpad has a wide touch area and a satisfyingly firm click.

Technical Details:

• 1.3GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7 (quad-core, 8MB Intel Smart Cache, up to 3.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
• Intel Iris Plus (integrated)
• 13.3-inch 4K (3,840 x 2,160) AMOLED
• 1x USB-A 3.1, 2x USB-C 3.1 with Thunderbolt 3, microSD card reader, combi audio jack

4. Acer Chromebook R11

The Acer Chromebook R11 is probably the best affordable laptop for writers. In its convenient notebook mode, writers can use the R11 as a tablet on-the-go, to maximize productivity and manipulate the screen in various ways to create.

Since it provides all the productive Google apps, you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Chromebooks come with built-in offline access storage for your most essential files and an extra 100 GB of Google Drive space to ensure that all your files are automatically backed up.

Technical Details:

• Intel Celeron N3150 Quad-Core Processor 1.6GHz with Intel Burst Technology up to 2.08GHz.
• Google Chrome Operating System.
• 11.6″ HD 1366 x 768 resolution, high-brightness, LED-backlit IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology with an integrated 10-point multi-touch screen.
• 4GB DDR3L Onboard Memory.
• 32GB Internal Storage.
• Intel HD Graphics.
•  2 USB ports, HDMI Port, Multi Card Slot, RJ45 (LAN) ports

5. Google Pixelbook Go

Last but not least comes this fantastic Chromebook. The battery life and keyboard make this laptop ideal for writers who value comfortability. The backlit keyboard with Hush Keys delivers Just the right degree of clickiness, of bounce, which means you can write anytime, anywhere without disturbing others around you.

The Pixelbook Go utilizes a 1080p touchscreen that displays colors with vibrancy and accuracy. The design features a rippled base for a comfortable and easy grip. If you spend your days writing away for hours, this laptop will definitely help you get stuff done aimlessly.

Technical Details:

• 1.3GHz Intel Core i5-8220Y (dual-core; 4MB cache; boost up to 3.9GHz)
• Intel UHD Graphics 615 (300MHz)
• 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080; 166 ppi) LCD touchscreen (16:9; 72% NTSC)
• 2 x USB-C 3.1 (charging and display out), 3.5mm headphone jack

So, there you have it. The best options if you’re looking for easy-to-use laptops that will help you maximize your productivity and help you stay creative. We’ve focused on giving reasons why each product would best benefit writers. However, keep in mind to pay attention to the specs listed so you can get the most out of your choice and consider other features of interest to you.

Is It Possible To Upgrade A GPU on a Laptop?

In most cases, upgrading the laptop graphics card is actually impossible, this is due to the graphics processing unit either being soldered to the board, or integrated with the processor. Even if it is possible, you should know that most upgrades options are aimed at big laptops. If there is a slight chance of upgrading your laptop’s GPU, you’ll need to be skillful to pull off such a difficult task. 

Another option could be getting an external GPU which you plug directly into your laptop’s USB port.  It’s worth noting that not all external GPUs offer full compatibility. external graphics cards are worth it if you have a decent laptop with no dedicated/discrete GPU from NVIDIA or AMD.

Determine Whether Your GPU is Replaceable

Only a few laptops have removable video cards. To save space, many laptops come with attached graphics processing units (GPUs) that are hardwired into your processor and motherboard. That means that in order to get a new video card for your computer you’d need to get a new processor. 

Check the “Specifications” or “Product Description” section in your laptop’s user manual to determine if you have a slot to plug a card into. Look for “Graphics,” and note what options your computer supports. Old laptops may have a PCI slot, while newer ones will have an MXM slot.

To get your current video card’s information, search for Device Manager, on the Windows search bar and click “Display Adapters”.  

• If you see an Intel Chip, or the words “Integrated Graphics,” then you have an attached GPU and you cannot swap your video card.
• if there are two options, such as Intel graphics and an ATI or nVidia card, you have a discrete graphics card that may be possible to swap out. 

Once you’ve determined whether you can upgrade your GPU, the hardest part is choosing the right one in the first place. There is a wide selection of GPU options available from a variety of manufacturers, and it might not be immediately clear which best fits your needs. 

Replacing the Graphics Card

This is not an easy procedure, and it requires that you take apart almost the entire laptop and put it back together flawlessly. Every laptop will have a slightly different procedure in order to find and remove the video card, but the same basic principles hold no matter who made your computer.

Step One: Dismantle the laptop in a clean, dust-free environment. Clean your hands and wipe down the laptop with a static-proof cloth before beginning,

Step two:  Every laptop is different, but the odds are good that you need to go all the way into the guts of the computer to get your old video card out and the new one in. You want to read through every step 2-3 times before beginning to avoid surprises. you need to know your computer from top to bottom before beginning,

Step three: Once you’re familiar with the task at hand, shut down the computer. Unplug everything and let it sit for 10 minutes to cool down

Step four: More often than not, your first step is going to be stripping away the plastic so that you can get into the guts of the computer. More often than not you simply need a small screwdriver,

Step five: This is where every computer is different—as some computers require massive dismantling and others offer easy access to your switchable video card. Remove the necessary parts, keeping them organized with the screws and attachments needed to reassemble the computer. Pay close attention to your work, your product manual, and your parts.

Write down the order you took parts out if there is any confusion. This will help you work backward when you need to put the computer back together.

Step six: Once you get to the card, simply slide it out of the PCI x16 port (labeled on the switchable motherboard) and slide the new one in. Don’t bend, jiggle, or yank on either card — they should slide in and out relatively easily once you undo the safety latches on the sides. Clean off all the parts by blasting air, especially the fan, while they are out. 

Step seven: Replace the parts in the order you took them out. The installation, in all cases, is the same procedure used to remove the parts in reverse. If you’ve paid attention and kept yourself organized, you should be able to easily retrace your steps and put the computer back exactly how you found it.

Please take safety measures such as grounding yourself and taking anti-static measures, such as wearing an anti-static wristband, before working on your computer.

How Can I Check My GPU Temperature?

On Windows 10, you can check the GPU temperature by going to the Task Manager’s monitoring tool.

1. Open the Task Manager by either pressing Crtl + Shift + Esc, pressing Crtl + Alt + Delete, and selecting Task Manager, or by right-clicking on the Windows Start menu icon and selecting Task Manager.

2. Once the Task Manager window appears, click the Performance tab and look for your current GPU temperature listed in the GPU section.

This feature shows the current temperature rather than showing its history. 

Suppose you want to keep track of when temperature spikes happen and what app or action is causing it; you can keep Task Manager open on the side. Thus you will get an idea of your patterns, which will help determine and troubleshoot future issues or provide you with an early warning in case something is going wrong with your GPU.

What Does a High GPU Temperature Mean?

Typically, a high temperature suggests that your GPU is working hard, leading to performance problems. As the temperature builds up, the GPU will begin to self-regulate its performance in order to cool itself down. In turn, if you’re doing a task like editing videos, the process will take way longer.

For normal GPU operating temps, consider 85 ° C as the max. While under serious pressure, your GPU will surpass this level, but it shouldn’t do so on a regular basis. For any GPU, the maximum operating temperature is about 100 to 105°C.

Causes & Preventions of GPU Heating?

Some of the most common reasons your GPU might be heating up and what you can do to help lower your GPU temperature are outlined in the table below.

So, these are some ways to ensure your GPU does not heat up anymore and how you can check on the temperature. Make sure to check what is causing the GPU temperature to heat up and implement these solutions.

You may have seen gamers having steups with multiple screens; however, it is also helpful for editing and routine work tasks. It certainly is a lifesaver when it comes to multitasking, as you will be able to get more work done in less time. 

Depending on your user needs, your device’s arrangement will change. You may want to use three monitors for a side-by-side comparison of sheets, working on lengthy documents, video and photo editing, or even streaming while playing games. For writers or graphic designers, vertical orientation monitors may serve better to see long documents or designs.

The setting up and getting everything in place may be time-consuming and confusing, but the result pays off. Now, let’s go and follow these steps on how to set up three monitors.

Step One: Check the Ports

You need at least three video ports in order to run triple screens, which can all be used simultaneously. Start by looking at the availability of your device’s external ports and note what type they are.

If you’re working with a Desktop, check the back of the case, or if you have a laptop, check on the right and left sides. Depending on your device’s model, you may find more than one port in your equipment, which could be DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA. 

Many computers have two groups of video ports: integrated graphics AND a graphics card with video ports. If you have that, it’s probably best not to use them simultaneously, or else you will experience lagging when switching between monitors. So, in the case where you have both, a graphics card is the better option since it is more responsive and has a  higher resolution and better quality.

Some graphics cards might have three ports, but you may only be able to use two at the same time. Finding your card’s name is the easiest way to determine whether your graphics card supports various monitors. To do so, go to Control Panel > Device Manager > Display Adapters and Google it with the monitor setup you’re looking to run.

If your device doesn’t already support triple monitors, you need to buy extra hardware. You can get an external multi-display adapter, a USB to HDMI adapter, a docking station, or an additional graphics card.

Step Two: Check for the Necessary Cables

When you’ve confirmed that your device has the required ports to support multiple monitors, or you’ve purchased additional hardware to support them, you need to make sure you have all the necessary cables to connect everything. If you seem to miss any necessary cables or the ports on your monitors don’t match those on your computer, you can find what you need at any tech store (e.g., DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter.)

Once you have everything ready, you can plug them in and follow the next and final step instructions.

Step Three: Setup the Displays in Windows 10

The next step is setting everything up. Decide which display is the main one, which will be on your left, and which on your right. After that, you can continue to Configure display settings on Windows 10 by following these instructions:

1. On your display, right-click and select Display settings.
   
   
2. To find out which screen is associated with each number, select Identify, and then arrange by dragging and dropping the displays on-screen to match your setup. Select Apply to update the arrangement.
   Note: If any of your monitors are missing, hit the Detect button and wait for your computer to detect it.

    

3. Select the monitor you want to use as the main display screen, then scroll down and select “Make this my main display.”
4. Select the Multiple displays options list and choose “Extend desktop to this display” to expand the work area across multiple displays. 

    

5. Then, select “Keep changes.” Furthermore, you can adjunct any additional settings such as scaling, layout, and resolution.

Well, there you have it. We hope this guide was helpful and easy to follow.

• Screen: 14″ LED-backlit display, glossy finish, 1366 x 768 resolution, 220-nits brightness, 500:1 contrast ratio
• Processor: Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz Quad-Core processor (3rd generation, Intel Ivy Bridge)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
• Memory: 8GB of DDR3 memory @ 1600MHz
• Storage: 750GB Hard Drive with 5400RPM rotational speed
• Ports: Two USB 2.0, Two USB 3.0 ports, 6-in-1 media card reader, Ethernet port, headphone out, microphone in, monitor out VGA port, HDMI port
• Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi-Burner
• Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wireless Networking, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Di
• Weight: 4.85lbs
• Dimensions: 13.6” x 9.4” x 0.8” – 1.3” (Width x Depth x Height)
• Battery: Lithium-Ion 6-cell, 48Wh
• Features: Backlit keyboard, integrated webcam
• Warranty: 1-year

At the time of this writing, the price of Y480 is still a bit of a mystery. The Y480 was priced at $999 on TigerDirect.com when purchased. The Y480 will be available sometime in May 2012 at Lenovo.com, but we don’t know what Lenovo will charge as a starting price for the Y480. Just check out the Y480 first thoughts article we posted if you want to see the laptop’s unboxing images.

Design and Build

Since the Y480 comes with a few different design choices, you can go for either a black color case with a patterned lid or a brush metal grey finish.   The model covered in this review has a  grey brush metal finish. It’s a bit more conservative and conventional than the black finish. While the black design has some orange accents and a funky pattern on the lid, the grey design has the same brush metal finish all over.

There are a few other interface features that have been updated compared to the previous Y470.0, in addition to the latest color choices. At the top of the keyboard, Lenovo omitted some of the touch-sensitive media keys. The Y480 has only a mute button and a color control button for the screen, while the Y470 has the up/down volume buttons in addition to those.

I like that the media buttons are physical pushbuttons now, but I miss getting the up and down volume controls you used to get there. There are two more buttons at the top of the keyboard on the left, one for power and the other for a Lenovo Recovery button, one press and you can restore your PC to the original factory image.

The glossy bezel around the screen is one design touch I could do without. It appears to pick up fingerprints and reveal them, an irritating characteristic when you consider the fact you have to grab the screen to close the laptop. On the plus side, after a few openings and closings, the rest of the case is reasonably safe to fingerprints, although the cover showed some of my fingerprint marks. Another thing to note is that the top sides of the keyboard region are slightly sharp. You’re not going to cut yourself on the edge, but it would have been good to see the edges rounded off a little. The top sides of the keyboard region are slightly sharp.

We described the brush metal finish on the Y480, and to give a metallic look, there is also a thin metal layer applied to the lid and keyboard area. However, the major portion of the case is made of a rigid plastic material, not metal. The overall laptop, however, feels sturdy and reliable. The build quality is outstanding, and I would feel comfortable putting the Y480 in a backpack with a bunch of heavy books and carrying it. The only zone of visible flex is under the optical drive on the bottom of the laptop, but that’s typical of many laptops as it’s challenging to improve the hollow space in the area of the optical drive. In terms of construction, the one disappointment I have is that the screen hinges on the Y480 are not as rigid as they should be. In comparison to the ThinkPad X220 I own, if you push, it wobbles a little on the screen; it resists any wobble no matter how hard you flick or push the screen.

Screen

With a glossy finish, the Y480 has a 14.0-inch display. The glossy finish tends to make colors pop, but when you have a powerful light source from behind or above, it produces unnecessary reflections from the screen on the downside. On the Y480, the display is rendered by AUO. It provides nice and deep colors, both blacks and whites seem true, and when viewing straight on at a perpendicular angle to the eyes, color accuracy is great. Since the screen, like those used in the Apple iPad, does not use IPS technology, the colors distort as the viewing angles expand.

Lenovo offers a color optimization function for the screen and a button called OneKey Theatre, you click the button located on the top right side, and you can switch between Normal Mode, Movie Mode, and Intelligent Mode on the screen. Movie mode offers the richest and brightest colors, while screen colors in normal mode make it easier for documents to be read. If you switch to “Intelligent” mode, the Y480 can detect a pretty neat feature while you are playing a movie and switching to colors in the movie mode.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The Y480 keyboard didn’t change other than one major factor from the Y470-it now has a backlight! A real luxury is the keyboard backlight feature, making it so much easier to see keys in dimly lit rooms, enhancing the usability factor. Even if you’re a touch typist, to find those out of reach keys or cursor movement shortcut keys, you’ll sometimes need to look at the keyboard, and if it’s dark, then finding those is difficult to do without a backlight.

The Y480 keyboard is fantastic in terms of user-friendliness. The keys are spaced well and have a decent amount of tactile input and travel. It’s the same feeling as the keyboard found on ThinkPads and not quite the same value, but it is definitely above average for a consumer notebook. A chiclet-style layout is used, which provides both a sleek look and promotes key spacing, minimizing mistyping. The chiclet-style is named AccuType by Lenovo.

The only characteristic I don’t like about the Y480 keyboard is that it has the PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End keys aligned on the keyboard’s far-right side. This is an unnatural position and is distinguishable from most other keyboards, and even worse, Lenovo modified the right Shift key to accommodate these keys.

The Y480 touchpad has been revamped. It’s just one big touchpad with built-in buttons, usually referred to as a clickpad, and something people in the MacBook lineup are used to seeing. There is a thin vertical line at the bottom of the touchpad to signify the border between the left and right mouse buttons. In operation, the touchpad works well by pressing down anywhere on the touchpad to register a left-click. The dimpled surface that Y470 had is missing; the Y480 surface is smooth and not as textured.

Lenovo Y480 Performance

Buyers of the Y480 are searching for a portable laptop with extreme performance credentials, so this is the aspect that people care most about. In the form of a Core i7-3610QM processor and Intel HD 4000 graphics, the Y480 sports Intel’s technology. An Nvidia GeForce GT 640M LE dedicated graphics card is included as well. This GPU uses the old Fermi rather than the modern Nvidia Kepler architecture. Therefore the 640M in the Lenovo Y480 will disappoint some users as it is almost on par with the launches of graphics cards in recent years, such as the AMD 7690M and Nvidia GT 555M in the Y470. Later in the year, with the faster Nvidia 650M or 660M graphics cards, Lenovo should have Y480 configurations available, but those are not an option at this point.

Our Y480 came with a generous 750GB hard drive, but it’s a 5400RPM slow-spinning drive. As the hard drive is really the performance bottleneck, that’s a bit of a downer. Using the stock configuration hard drive, we ran most benchmarks. Still, we were also unable to resist throwing in the latest budget-friendly Intel SSD 330 120GB that costs just $150 but provides a significant performance boost compared to a 5400RPM HDD. Check out the analysis at StorageReview.com for a thorough review and context on the Intel 330 SSD.

With all that said, let’s dig into some benchmarks we ran on the Y480 and analyze the performance.

PCMark 7 – Measures overall system performance

PCMark Vantage – Measures overall system performance

PerformanceTest 7.0

Performance Test 7 is a benchmarking tool form PassMark software. 

Super Pi calculated to 1M

Yeah, we know how flawed (it’s not multithreaded) the Super Pi benchmark is but people still want to know the score! In 11 seconds, the Intel Core i7-3610QM calculated Pi to an accuracy of one million digits. Uh, not bad! For that calculation, the Intel Core i5-2410m powered processor in my X220 takes 15 seconds, so you’re looking at a 25 percent increase in processor speed in single-threaded mode, for a program that can use multiple cores, the speed improvements are even great.

3DMark Vantage – Measures 3D graphics performance

3DMark 11 – Measures 3D graphics performance

Such findings indicate that the Intel Core i7-3610QM is a performance screamer, with the Y480’s 8,634 PCMark Vantage score nearly 2,000 points higher than the Y470p with a Core i5 Sandy Bridge class processor. Then if you include an SSD such as the Intel 330, the score completely rockets to 18,170, this indicates the Y480’s weak point is the hard drive and you have a serious performance computer if you upgrade to an SSD.

While the Ivy Bridge processor is undeniably amazing, the NVIDIA GT 640M LE turns out to be a graphics card in the middle range, unable to outdo the graphics of the last generation Nvidia 555m or AMD 7690M. Indeed the score of 1,333 3DMark 11 is almost exactly the same as the Y470p scored with its AMD 7690M, but we have to take into account the fact that the processor helped bump this score a bit, so the AMD 7690M graphics are probably better than the NVIDIA GT 640M LE in effect.

Input and Output Ports

The Y480 has a generous selection of ports for a 14-inch laptop. On the left side of the Y480 are a VGA monitor out port, Ethernet RJ-45 LAN port, HDMI, and 2 USB 3.0 ports. On the right side, you get a headphone jack, microphone jack, and 2 USB 2.0 ports. n the front side is located the 6-in-1 media card reader for SD cards and the likes.

Battery Life

For the Y480, fitted with a 6-cell 48Wh battery, Lenovo claims 4 hours of battery life. Typically manufacturers over quote the battery life, but under a light use scenario, we actually achieved better than the 4 hours in our testing. With the screen dimmed to 1/3 brightness, the Y480 was capable of reaching 5 hours of battery life with Windows power set to “power saver,” wireless on, and the laptop idling. Here, that’s a very positive scenario for use. You should expect closer to the 4-hour battery mark under more normal circumstances of making the screen brighter, streaming video, and doing a lot of web browsing. If you just want to stretch the battery out, however, dimming the screen will prolong life by using the power saver mode and switching to integrated graphics.

Speakers

For a 14-inch laptop, the speakers on the Y480 are definitely above average. The sound from these JBL branded speakers can fill a room, with booming lows and consistent highs provided by the audio. Like in many laptop speakers, there is no irritating tinny noise that is present in this case. The surround sound function is activated if you press the OneKey Theatre button and turn to movie mode.

Dolby Home Theatre v4 audio is also included, which helps to provide more of a surround sound effect, as the built-in speakers clearly can not be placed behind you. The claims of 5.1 surround sound are somewhat deceptive, but it is still a good added feature and allows you to power a 5.1 surround sound home theatre if you connect to a receiver via HDMI.

Heat and Noise

How well they do in terms of keeping cool and minimizing fan noise is one significant feature of laptops that is often ignored. This is particularly a concern for smaller laptops with powerful components packed inside. The worry is that due to its small size and inability to dissipate heat well the laptop could overheat. We are pleased to report that the Y480 has no signs of overheating or irritating fan noise of any sort.

In fact, for its ability to stay cool and keep fans running to a minimum level, the Y480 should be applauded. The Y480 has a very large cooling system, and when it comes to cooling, larger vents and heat syncs are certainly better. The warmest Y480 got was 96F around the heat vent area and in the middle of the keyboard (somewhat, unfortunately).

96F is not bad, however as that’s still below the temperature of the human body. For long periods of time, it took running challenging 3D benchmarks to warm the Y480 up and push the fan to spin up to a higher speed, something you won’t be doing all the time. The fan will be all but inaudible under regular use and temperatures will remain far below the 96F peak we met. Under any usage scenario we threw at the Y480, the palm rest remained cool, and because your hands sit on the palm rest most of the time, you will be free of sweaty palms.

User Upgradability

The Y480 is similar to the Y470 in that it provides quick access for updates to components. All you have to do is remove the bottom panel to get access to the mSATA port if you would like to bring in an mSATA SSD. By removing this pad, you also get access to a hard drive, wireless card, and RAM slots. All it takes to gain entry is the removal of a few screws.

Lenovo also makes it easy to find Y480 teardown guides so that you know exactly what is inside your laptop and if you wish, make repairs on your own.

Conclusion

A worthy successor to the acclaimed Y70 and Y470p is the IdeaPad Y480. For the most part, Lenovo has stuck with the Y470’s winning formula, creating a 14-inch mobile laptop that has all the output of larger 15-17-inch laptops while holding the price below $1,000. A nice upgrade is the latest Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge chip, offering about a 20 percent performance increase from equivalent Intel processors of the previous generation.

The Nvidia 640M LE graphics card is comparable in performance to the AMD 7690M, but more powerful options should be available once Lenovo starts rolling over more Y480 configurations, such as the Nvidia 650M. Although the heat and noise were a non-issue with all that power packed into a small 14′ chassis, Lenovo engineers should be commended for creating a well-functioning cooling system.

As with anything, not everything is perfect about the Y480. Some people would be disappointed not to have an option for a higher resolution screen, for now, Lenovo sticks to only a screen option of 1366 x 768. Some more conservative purchasers would be deterred by the glossy screen and bezel. In general, the battery life of the Y480 has decreased compared to the Y470, which was able to achieve six hours, not what we anticipated with Intel highlighting the Ivy Bridge’s power-saving capabilities.

However, for the most part, the Y480 is an advancement. To make this reviewer prefer the Y480 over the Y470, the backlit keyboard alone is enough reason. In particular, the Y480 can cater to students who want something both solid and mobile. Ultrabooks are all the rage now, but with the Y480 for the same price, they can’t touch the power and performance you get.

Pros

• Powerful performance for a 14” laptop, add an SSD and you’re off to the races
• Easy to upgrade internal components or battery
• Great audio from speakers
• Backlit keyboard!
• Stays cool and minimal fan noise

Cons

• Odd position for Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys
• Glossy bezel around screen picks up fingerprints
• Max resolution for screen is 1366 x 768

Here are the details of what that you’ll get with your hard-earned money:

Processor: Intel Core i5-3210M 2.50GHz (dual-core, Ivy Bridge)
Memory: 4GB
Screen: 14″ 1600 x 900 glossy screen
Graphics: Nvidia GT 630M with
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Storage: 500GB HD
Optical Drive: DVD Burner
Ports: 2 USB 3.0, Ethernet LAN, Wi-Fi, HDMI, media card reader, Thunderbolt
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n wi-fi
Webcam

The S430 is a slim laptop at 0.87″, even though it is not an Ultrabook. What you do not find in Ultrabooks is also an optical drive such as a DVD burner, wherein this case it is a feature. So if you are looking for an option to use disc-based media, the S430 might be your better choice. Another notable factor is that the computer case will be made out of aluminum to make the laptop much more durable. Some people assume the Edge laptops are not that well-built and sec·ond-rate, but in this case, it is undoubtedly an exception.

The ThinkPad Edge S430 will also feature a ThunderBolt I/O port, which makes it one of the first PC-based laptops in the market with this port. The ThunderBolt port will allow its users a fast data transfer that also supports external graphics cards.

Maybe the S430 will start selling on June 3rd since that’s the date when Intel is set to announce their Core i5 and Core i3 lineup of Ivy Bridge processors. The German retailers indicate that there will be pre-orders available, meaning that there won’t be a long time before the release.

User manuals for the new  ThinkPad T431s and ThinkPad X230s are accessible on the Lenovo Chinese language website. They help reveal quite a bit about the expected Spring/Summer 2013 ThinkPad releases.

ThinkPad T431s

The current T430s will get updated by The ThinkPad T431s, a slimmed-down variant of the flagship T430. There aren’t specific internal specs revealed in the T431s user manual. Still, we can see form factor changes.

Based on the user manual design, the most notable feature appears to be the elimination of the dedicated mouse buttons associated with the TrackPoint. Instead, the buttons have gotten integrated into the touchpad. Even though this allows a generously-sized touchpad, what might annoy long-time users is the combined TrackPoint button approach, another change to the traditional ThinkPad layout.

The anticipated ThinkPad Helix also has the integrated button feature, but there’s no feedback on the comparison to the traditional buttons since it hasn’t hit the stores yet.

Another adjustment to the keyboard is the Function buttons. They will now primarily be media keys, just like on the MacBook. Now you’ll have to press the Fn+Esc key to turn on Function Lock or hold down Fn+ the function key you want if you need to use them as usual F1 – F12 keys for Windows and shortcuts. This new feature may be more useful for casual users; however, those who have used the Thinkpad for work purposes for decades might get unsettled by it.

As a result of the Fn keys’ media button purpose, the volume and mute buttons are gone. Just a few years back, Lenovo didn’t provide a touchpad on some ThinkPad models, whereas now it’s somehow ironic that the touchpad is becoming more crowded and taking up space.

Another new change worth noting is the hinge design. Same as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, it uses the dropdown hinge. Ergo, this allows the screen to ride lower, useful for creating a lower clearance and a more comfortable fit on airplanes or when you’re lying down. However, since the hinges seem to be thinner, assumably, the screen won’t be able to open 180 degrees, as it could originally.

Also, it looks like there will be only one empty  RAM slot for upgrades instead of the traditional two. That means the RAM will require separating the entire bottom of the laptop instead of just a door.

ThinkPad X230s

Another upcoming ThinkPad is The ThinkPad X230s, whose design is inspired by the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook.

It has a 12.5” screen, just like the typical X230. There seem to be the same changes as on the T431s—the integrated Trackpoint buttons, the dropdown small hinge design, and function buttons that act as media keys. And just like the edge series, the “i” letter in the lid Thinkpad lights up.

What we don’t know is whether the changes made for the X230s and T431s will also carry through to the other mainstream models expected later in the year. Maybe these designs are meant for the sleep Ultrabook-like models. I guess we’ll have to wait until the release of the mainstream enterprise models, or earlier, in case of other user manual leaks.

Source: ibmthink in the NotebookReview forums

We ordered this PC directly from HP to get the full shopping experience, as is typical for our reviews. This is not a review model sent from HP, so you get an honest opinion on purchasing, delivery, and what is received. On 30th April, the day it was first available, we ordered the dv6t-7000 edition, and it came to my door on 15th May.

With its black box and fancy packaging, you don’t get the luxury unpacking experience that an HP ENVY laptop provides, but that’s not really a major component of why you buy a computer. Inside the box, you get the following contents:

• dv6t-7000 Quad Edition Laptop
• Power brick and charge cable
• Documentation and warranty
• Battery (6-cell standard)

You don’t get recovery discs; you’ll have to burn those if you want them. No manufacturer includes restore discs these days, so it’s not just HP shorting you here.

These are the specs of this dv6t Quad Edition under review:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-3610QM
• Screen: 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) matte anti-glare finish
• Graphics: Nvidia GT 650M with 1GB GDDR5 memory
• Memory: 8GB DDR3 (2 DIMM)
• Storage: 750GB 7200RPM HD
• Battery: 6-cell Lithium-Ion, quotes 6 hours of battery life
• Backlit keyboard with number pad
• Built-in WebCam
• Weight: 5.5lbs
• Ports: monitor out, HDMI, Ethernet LAN (RJ-45), three USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, headphone jack, microphone jack, media card reader
• Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Optical Drive: Blu Ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner
• Dimensions: 14.88” x 9.71” x 1.22” (Width x Depth x Height)

Design

With the dv6t-7000 and dv7t-7000 series, HP has moved to a new design that they call part of the Mosaic of HP product designs. While that’s all a bit of push, to be quite frank, what it means in real terms is that HP has taken a look that features detailed lines and tapered profiles and uses quality materials such as aluminum and magnesium in their flagship products.

Dv6tqe is only offered in one color, midnight black. They offered this model last year with a dark brown and silver style, but as it turns out, black is the most common color choice, so HP just settled on that this year. The black model is classic, and the elegant aluminum brush strokes are a nice touch, and that’s a good thing. The lid features a silver rim and an illuminated HP logo, it’s a classy look from above, and it doesn’t pick up too many fingerprints.

Inside, the look is all black again, and the bezel has a glossy finish around the screen that picks up a lot of fingerprints. The keyboard tray’s surface has the same glossy finish, while the keys are a matt finish themselves. The areas of the palm rest have the same metal brush finish as you see on the top. The laptop sides where the ports are located have a silver color finish, plastic is the material used here, but it is a sturdy and solid feeling. Two mesh-like speaker grilles are at the top of the keyboard and below the panel. I should note that the speaker grille under the screen is just stuck on; when removing the protective plastic layer after unboxing, I had the bad luck of peeling mine off a little. Unfortunately, to secure these speakers to the body, HP should have used a snap-in technique.

The dv6tqe’s bottom is made of what appears to be a very tough and durable plastic. Located here is a subwoofer. Using a release button, you can quickly detach the battery and access the hard drive, wireless card, and memory easily with the removal of only one screw.

The dv6t-7000’s overall look is fantastic, it’s sleek and attractive, the branding of the red Beats Audio logo at the top is subtle but really looks cool against the black.

Build Quality

The materials used in the dv6t, as stated earlier, are a mix of aluminum and plastic, making it a rigid and firmly constructed notebook. The areas of the lid and palm rest use an aluminum chassis, while a rigid plastic material is on the side of the laptop. It appears that the bottom is hard plastic. There is no flex to be found on the laptop’s body anywhere.

I was one of the first to order this laptop when it became available on HP.com, as I previously mentioned. As such, I believe HP was still working out a few QA problems as the fit and finish were not up to the usual standards I would have with a notebook from HP. With the plastic hand sticking up slightly, the palm resting on the right side was slightly sunken. Also when I removed the plastic protective shipping material, the speaker grill on the bottom of the screen peeled off a little. Although I believe this is a poor showing on HP’s part, I contacted the company to report these problems and get a replacement unit. You have a 21-day window to make a return at no cost, no questions asked. HP is great for returns and exchanges.

Overall, while you’re going to find that dv6tqe is a high-quality laptop with the outstanding build quality, HP will stand behind their product if you have any problems and repair or restore what’s wrong.

Screen

HP provides two options for the 15.6-inch screen, a glossy 1366 x 768 is the standard screen, while a 1920 x 1080 resolution matte finish screen is the premium upgrade. The dv6tqe under review has the premium screen, at the time it was a $150 upgrade and well worth it in my opinion. This screen is fantastic, with excellent viewing angles and exact reproduction of color. That’s that one on top of the incredible 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution that allows you to comfortably fit two windows on the screen at the same time or see several spreadsheet rows and columns. As it eliminates glare on the screen and prevents eye strain, the matte finish is also much appreciated.

If you can afford it, it’s one of the best displays I’ve seen in a while and the viewing angles are so fantastic that it acts like an IPS screen. It’s a no brainer to get the updated 1920 x 1080 screen.

Performance

Of course, one of the major reasons people are interested in buying the dv6t-7000 Quad Edition is because the new Ivy Bridge platform uses the powerful Intel Core i7 Quad-core processor. That, combined with the Nvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics card, makes this a fantastic gaming machine, and it’s also affordable at a price of under $1,000 after coupons. Needless to say, this computer flies for standard work tasks, such as using the internet or office apps.

You just don’t need as much capacity to do daily work as it is under the hood here. The Core i7-3610QM on board will also shine and churn through that kind of multimedia tool if you’re into photography and do a lot of rendering or video processing. You can upgrade to even quicker Core i7 offerings, but that’s not really going to be necessary for most.

To see how the dv6tqe measured up to laptops that we have tested in the past, we ran a few benchmarks. As new technology is on board, you might say the argument is unfair, but it at least highlights the fact that you get a nice performance boost by purchasing the latest Intel and Nvidia hardware.

PCMark 7

PCMark 7 measures the overall system performance, the dv6t beat the ENVY 17-3000 from earlier in the year making it the most powerful HP notebook we’ve reviewed.

3DMark 11

It tests the performance of 3D graphics and is FutureMark’s most recent 3D research benchmark. The Nvidia 650M really starred; the Nvidia GT640M LE in the Lenovo Y480 we reported easily trounced.

3DMark Vantage

3DMark Vantage is an older but more common 3D benchmarking suite, with the dv6 soaring past the 10,000 score mark, which is very impressive.

The dv6t-7000’s only ‘weak spot’ is its standard hard drive capacity, so you can upgrade to an SSD for even better overall performance. However, since many people want it for multimedia and storing a lot of files using such a big laptop, I believe the standard hard drive would be more popular thanks to its much larger capacity and lower price. It’s possible to get up to 1TB of storage. You will get a whopping 2TB of storage with the dv7t Quad Edition and its dual bays!

The Windows Experience Index (WEI) score helps to bring home the message that the storage is the weak spot, it scored a 5.9 while all other components scored above 7.

HP offers a 32GB mini-SSD cache, which is called an mSATA SSD accelerator. That’s not going to store the OS on it and provide SSD as boot-up output, but it can assist with caching and speeding up the overall experience. Essentially, AnandTech has a strong review of this technology using Intel’s Smart Response Technology and functions like memory. I didn’t choose this $50 option, so I can’t comment on the benefit from the results.

The dv6t-7000 with the Nvidia 650M will be able to play any modern game in terms of gaming quality, although you will have to change the settings a bit to get the frame rates you want for the latest games such as Skyrim and Batman: Arkham City. Playing games at a resolution of 1366 x 768 would also help tremendously with frame rates.

One thing to remember is that thanks to the Nvidia Optimus technology, the dv6t can switch between Intel’s HD 4000 integrated graphics and Nvidia graphics. This means you only use the power-hungry graphics when you need to, saving on power and thereby offering longer battery life.

Keyboard and Touchpad

A chiclet-style keyboard is used by the dv6t and there is enough room to fit a number pad on the right side. The keys have a fairly short travel distance, which is nice for typists with quick contact, but this could result in more keypress errors if you’re a sloppy typist. You just have to press down to find some flex, since the keyboard is firm. The backlighting alternative is most certainly my favorite part of the keyboard. Having the keyboard backlight is $25 extra, but it is well worth the cost. The look is cool and in a dimly lit space, it’s all the more useable.

As a standard feature, HP has a fingerprint reader, this is good as an alternative form of Windows login and can be used on any website that needs login utilization, the software will store your login credentials when you first log in to a website and will use a finger swipe to login from then on.

The top row Function keys (F1 – F12) act as dedicated media type buttons, for instance, you can just push F10 to turn up the volume, you don’t have to hold Fn + F10.

The touchpad is a good size and works well. It uses synaptic drivers and has all the functionality you can expect from scrolling and multi-touch. Unfortunately, the touchpad area is not backlit like the keyboard, which is strange because the touchpad had lighting on the dv6t model from last year. The mouse buttons under the touchpad are let down, they have very little traveling distance and don’t give compelling feedback while they work perfectly. The feel is pretty chintzy.