Monday, 30 April 2012
Dell XPS 13
It might seem gushing, but the XPS 13 is a joy to hold. In fact, once you've unpacked it, you'll probably want to hold it a lot, and sometimes - and we really mean this - caress its smooth metal lid. This is something that, in the past, only Apple laptops could inspire from us.But this lovely design isn't the only thing on which Dell has taken its cue from Apple. This machine has very little in the way of connectivity - something that garnered Apple considerable criticism when the Air launched. There are just two USB sockets, and only one of them supports USB 3. Aside from that, you'll find a DisplayPort socket and a combined headphone and microphone jack.
And that's it. Apart from the power connector - but that really doesn't count.
It's hard to say how we feel about this dreadful connectivity. Our gut reaction is that we simply don't care, that the design and beauty of this laptop makes up for its lack of socketry. Then we snap out of the haze that Apple has managed to hypnotise us in to, and we realise that it is a little bit annoying not to be able to use an Ethernet connection without an adaptor.
But the flipside to this is that we don't usually plug our laptops in to Ethernet cables anyway. It's entirely too much hassle, and it detracts from the pleasure of having a portable computer.
We miss a full-sized SD card socket too, and that hurts a little more, as it means we'll have to carry a card reader around with us to manage photographs and video - something we do an awful lot of. In many ways, we think Dell should have ditched the battery meter, and put an SD card socket in there instead. Although we have no idea if that's possible, given the tiny proportions of this machine.
Screen and sound
As with 99 per cent of Ultrabooks, the screen on this XPS 13 is driven by Intel integrated graphics. That means you'll get a solid, but uninspiring performance. Gaming is pretty much out of the question here, but that's unlikely to bother the people buying this machine.
The screen is covered in a glossy glass. This is a bit of a disaster for using it in bright conditions, but it is usable. There are some Ultrabooks that use matt screens, and this is good if you use your machine outside a lot, but for most of us, it's not a massive issue.
The LCD panel behind the glass is top-notch though. It might be only a 1366x720 panel but the colours are spot on and there's plenty of detail. We really enjoyed looking at it and movies and TV shows look superb with that high contrast - thanks in part to that glass cover.
We streamed movies in both 720p and 1080p over our network using Plex. They looked utterly fantastic, and the detail in both was delicious. It's worth pointing out that the i5 processor in our machine handled the high-quality video with ease. Proving, to some extent, that the faster core i7 is perhaps unnecessary.
We plugged in a pair of our high-end reference headphones to get the measure of the sound on the Dell. We felt that audio was a little whispy and trebbly to start with, but a quick check in the control panel told us that the Realtek soundcard was applying some daft sound effects. Once disabled, sound was much more balanced and a pleasure to listen to.
The built-in speakers are, as you'd expect, less than impressive. They do the job though, and for video conferencing and the occasional YouTube clip are more than adequate.
Options
The available hardware choices for the XPS are quite small, which is a good thing. As of now, you can get two i5 machines with either 128 or 256GB SSDs and 4GB of RAM each or you can opt for an i7 with a 256GB SSD and 4GB of RAM.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
HP ProBook 4530s
The device weighs in at 2.5kg, which is pretty impressive considering it measures 374 x 256 x 28.7mm. It would make a good desktop replacement system, but mobile road warriors would require something less bulky.
The 4530s has a full-size keyboard with numeric extensions and a 15.6in screen. One unusual aspect of the system is that it comes with two separate onboard graphics systems. The first is Intel’s Intel HD Graphics 3000 system integrated into the processor, which shares 1.76GB of system memory. The second is ATi’s Radeon HD4690M, which uses its own dedicated video memory and not the computer’s system memory.
The dual graphics cards enable users to tag applications whichever one best suits it. Standard apps like Microsoft Word could use Intel's HD graphics system, while CAD applications requiring better performance could be set up to use the ATi graphics card.
The system uses a Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset, and the processor is a second generation Intel Core i5-2410M running at 2.3GHz. The processor quad core rating is achieved by having two cores with dual hyperthreading.
The front side bus runs at 1333 MHz, and the 4530s has two memory slots for DDR3 dual-channel 2GB or 4GB memory SoDIMMs, up to a maximum of 8GB (2 x 4GB).
Our 4530s was running the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional, although Windows 7 Home Premium, Home Basic, and Vista 7 Home Basic are also supported. SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 is also certified for use by HP on the 4530s, as well as FreeDOS (a DOS compatible, free, open-source free operating system).
For optical media, the 4530s uses an on-board SATA HP DVD A DS8A5LH drive, which supports CD, DVD and Blu-Ray media.
Storage is provided by a 2.5in form factor Toshiba 5,400 rpm MK6465GSX 640GB hard drive partitioned into four sections: operating system, recovery, system and tools.
There’s also a protected partition for Microsoft Office 2010 Click-to-Run, a method for installing Office 2010.
Ports
The UK version of the 4530s has four USB ports, two USB 2.0 towards the front on the right hand side, and two more USB 2.0 ports on the left hand side.
The 4530s has a full-size keyboard with numeric extensions and a 15.6in screen. One unusual aspect of the system is that it comes with two separate onboard graphics systems. The first is Intel’s Intel HD Graphics 3000 system integrated into the processor, which shares 1.76GB of system memory. The second is ATi’s Radeon HD4690M, which uses its own dedicated video memory and not the computer’s system memory.
The dual graphics cards enable users to tag applications whichever one best suits it. Standard apps like Microsoft Word could use Intel's HD graphics system, while CAD applications requiring better performance could be set up to use the ATi graphics card.
The system uses a Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset, and the processor is a second generation Intel Core i5-2410M running at 2.3GHz. The processor quad core rating is achieved by having two cores with dual hyperthreading.
The front side bus runs at 1333 MHz, and the 4530s has two memory slots for DDR3 dual-channel 2GB or 4GB memory SoDIMMs, up to a maximum of 8GB (2 x 4GB).
Our 4530s was running the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional, although Windows 7 Home Premium, Home Basic, and Vista 7 Home Basic are also supported. SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 is also certified for use by HP on the 4530s, as well as FreeDOS (a DOS compatible, free, open-source free operating system).
For optical media, the 4530s uses an on-board SATA HP DVD A DS8A5LH drive, which supports CD, DVD and Blu-Ray media.
Storage is provided by a 2.5in form factor Toshiba 5,400 rpm MK6465GSX 640GB hard drive partitioned into four sections: operating system, recovery, system and tools.
There’s also a protected partition for Microsoft Office 2010 Click-to-Run, a method for installing Office 2010.
Ports
The UK version of the 4530s has four USB ports, two USB 2.0 towards the front on the right hand side, and two more USB 2.0 ports on the left hand side.
Dell Latitude E5410
The Dell Latitude E5410 is a laptop built for business that doesn’t skimp on features, but strikes just the right balance that it won’t break the bank, either. It seems Dell has done their best to build a machine that doesn’t compromise too much, but that still comes in below average on price. Let’s take a look ‘under the hood’.
The first thing you’ll notice opening the Latitude E5410 up is the screen. It’s 14.1 inches (measured at a diagnol), supports a native resolution of 1440×900 pixels, and is LED-backlit, so colors appear clearly and contrast is consistent across it. We’re very happy to see that this is becoming more standard on portable computers these days.
The heavy lifting is handled primarily by an Intel Core i5 520M dual-core chip at 2.4 GHz, with a 3MB L2 cache. Multitasking on the machine is smooth, and due to its clock frequency, it stacks up well against typical desktops. Heat output is fairly low compared to the higher-clocked i7 parts, and as you might expect, this also keeps battery life from being impacted too harshly under heavy load.
Our review model came fitted with 3GB of RAM, which is a slightly odd number to see. However, it makes no noticeable performance impact in most applications, even using the memory-hungry Windows 7. Since a Core i5-series CPU is being used, it’s no surprise to see that the memory employed here is the newest available, DDR3.
Our model came with a 250GB 7200RPM hard drive by Western Digital. Some other storage options are available, but for a cheap laptop like this, we wouldn’t expect an enormous amount of storage. 250GB should be more than enough for most users, and will hold a substantial library of music, photos, movies, and standard office documents with room to spare.
Wireless is of course included, and we’d be quite concerned if it weren’t. The model on offer is an Intel chipset, model 6200AGN. It supports Draft-N, so it will be compatible with the latest other Draft-N access points you may wish to use in your home, as well as the standard A/G/B points you are likely to find at coffee shops, libraries and the like. We found range to be about on par with notebooks, maintaining a stable connection at the other end of the office with 2+ bars, well within usable range. Using wireless knocked about 90 minutes off the battery life of the laptop.
While we are on that topic, the included battery on our test unit was 9-cell, with the typical Lithium-Ion battery chemistry. This battery protrudes a little from the back of the unit. This machine can also be purchased with a standard 6-cell battery that will sit flush with the edge of the unit. This will of course yield less battery life, but reduces cost. The included one has a capacity of 85 Watt Hours (WH), and yielded about 5.5 hours of life in our web browsing test with the wireless enabled. Very impressive!
From a physical standpoint, build quality of the unit appeared quite high. Measuring at 13.3 long by 9.6 wide by 1.31 inches thick and weighing 5.21 pounds, the unit is small enough to tuck under your arm and take to and from work or school every day, but not nearly as light as a netbook would be. You can decrease the weight a bit by using the 6-cell battery instead, but it’s not a huge difference.
The first thing you’ll notice opening the Latitude E5410 up is the screen. It’s 14.1 inches (measured at a diagnol), supports a native resolution of 1440×900 pixels, and is LED-backlit, so colors appear clearly and contrast is consistent across it. We’re very happy to see that this is becoming more standard on portable computers these days.
The heavy lifting is handled primarily by an Intel Core i5 520M dual-core chip at 2.4 GHz, with a 3MB L2 cache. Multitasking on the machine is smooth, and due to its clock frequency, it stacks up well against typical desktops. Heat output is fairly low compared to the higher-clocked i7 parts, and as you might expect, this also keeps battery life from being impacted too harshly under heavy load.
Our review model came fitted with 3GB of RAM, which is a slightly odd number to see. However, it makes no noticeable performance impact in most applications, even using the memory-hungry Windows 7. Since a Core i5-series CPU is being used, it’s no surprise to see that the memory employed here is the newest available, DDR3.
Our model came with a 250GB 7200RPM hard drive by Western Digital. Some other storage options are available, but for a cheap laptop like this, we wouldn’t expect an enormous amount of storage. 250GB should be more than enough for most users, and will hold a substantial library of music, photos, movies, and standard office documents with room to spare.
Wireless is of course included, and we’d be quite concerned if it weren’t. The model on offer is an Intel chipset, model 6200AGN. It supports Draft-N, so it will be compatible with the latest other Draft-N access points you may wish to use in your home, as well as the standard A/G/B points you are likely to find at coffee shops, libraries and the like. We found range to be about on par with notebooks, maintaining a stable connection at the other end of the office with 2+ bars, well within usable range. Using wireless knocked about 90 minutes off the battery life of the laptop.
While we are on that topic, the included battery on our test unit was 9-cell, with the typical Lithium-Ion battery chemistry. This battery protrudes a little from the back of the unit. This machine can also be purchased with a standard 6-cell battery that will sit flush with the edge of the unit. This will of course yield less battery life, but reduces cost. The included one has a capacity of 85 Watt Hours (WH), and yielded about 5.5 hours of life in our web browsing test with the wireless enabled. Very impressive!
From a physical standpoint, build quality of the unit appeared quite high. Measuring at 13.3 long by 9.6 wide by 1.31 inches thick and weighing 5.21 pounds, the unit is small enough to tuck under your arm and take to and from work or school every day, but not nearly as light as a netbook would be. You can decrease the weight a bit by using the 6-cell battery instead, but it’s not a huge difference.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Asus U46SV
The Asus U46SV all-purpose laptop sets itself apart from the crowd through great performance and outstanding battery life, two attributes that rarely cohabitate.
The primary reason for the long 6-hour, 41-minute run time is an unusually large 74-watt-hour battery. The large battery is also responsible for the U46SV's hefty 2.2 kg static and 2.7 kg travel (with AC adapter) weights, but clever design makes the unit feel lighter than those numbers might lead you to believe.
The battery protrudes about a half-inch beneath the back of the otherwise one-inch thick unit. That gives you a firm, yet comfortable grip when toting it about (part of the reason it doesn't feel as heavy as it is) and also adds a slight forward rake that puts your hand at a better typing angle. All told, the heavier, larger, longer-lasting battery should please more users than it discourages them.
The U46SV sports a stylish aluminum lid and keyboard deck, though the effect is cheapened slightly by chrome touchpad buttons and a rather bright power button. Still, while the touchpad buttons are distractingly reflective, they also have just the right amount of resistance. The U46SV's breathable Chiclet-style keyboard feels exactly like those found on Lenovo's U series (a good thing); crisp, even though the keys travel only a short distance. The touchpad is nicely responsive as well.
Our test unit featured an Intel Core i5-2430M CPU, 8GB of DDR3 memory and a 750GB hard drive. It also had both Intel HD Graphics 3000 for everyday use and a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 540M GPU that propelled the unit to playable gaming frame rates; in the 60s at low detail and high 30s at high detail at 1024x768 resolution. You can also buy the U46SV with a Core i3, less memory and less capacious hard drives if our configuration's price tag seems too steep.
Besides the stellar battery life, the U46SV scored a 123 on WorldBench 6, excellent for a Core i5. Video of all resolutions plays smoothly and is rendered to good effect on the U46SV's 14 inch, 1366x768 display. So good, in fact, that when I tested with a 1080p DVD of True Grit (the Coen Brothers version), I wound up watching nearly the entire movie. Of course, it's also a very good movie. That experience was best with headphones; the U46SV's speakers sound weak and thin despite the Sonic Focus audio enhancement software that tries to overcome that fact.
The U46SV's ports include VGA and HDMI, three USB ports (one of which is USB 3.0), ethernet and an SD card slot. The laptop includes both headphone and microphone jacks, as well as a Kensington lock port on the back. You get a webcam, too, but for some reason Asus opted for a relatively low resolution 0.3 megapixel unit.
Though the U46SV turned in very nice performance numbers, it performs sluggishly for the first minute after booting with the stock software configuration. This is largely due to loading a whopping 32 non-standard startup items, the majority of which aren't particularly useful or necessary.
The primary reason for the long 6-hour, 41-minute run time is an unusually large 74-watt-hour battery. The large battery is also responsible for the U46SV's hefty 2.2 kg static and 2.7 kg travel (with AC adapter) weights, but clever design makes the unit feel lighter than those numbers might lead you to believe.
The battery protrudes about a half-inch beneath the back of the otherwise one-inch thick unit. That gives you a firm, yet comfortable grip when toting it about (part of the reason it doesn't feel as heavy as it is) and also adds a slight forward rake that puts your hand at a better typing angle. All told, the heavier, larger, longer-lasting battery should please more users than it discourages them.
The U46SV sports a stylish aluminum lid and keyboard deck, though the effect is cheapened slightly by chrome touchpad buttons and a rather bright power button. Still, while the touchpad buttons are distractingly reflective, they also have just the right amount of resistance. The U46SV's breathable Chiclet-style keyboard feels exactly like those found on Lenovo's U series (a good thing); crisp, even though the keys travel only a short distance. The touchpad is nicely responsive as well.
Our test unit featured an Intel Core i5-2430M CPU, 8GB of DDR3 memory and a 750GB hard drive. It also had both Intel HD Graphics 3000 for everyday use and a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 540M GPU that propelled the unit to playable gaming frame rates; in the 60s at low detail and high 30s at high detail at 1024x768 resolution. You can also buy the U46SV with a Core i3, less memory and less capacious hard drives if our configuration's price tag seems too steep.
Besides the stellar battery life, the U46SV scored a 123 on WorldBench 6, excellent for a Core i5. Video of all resolutions plays smoothly and is rendered to good effect on the U46SV's 14 inch, 1366x768 display. So good, in fact, that when I tested with a 1080p DVD of True Grit (the Coen Brothers version), I wound up watching nearly the entire movie. Of course, it's also a very good movie. That experience was best with headphones; the U46SV's speakers sound weak and thin despite the Sonic Focus audio enhancement software that tries to overcome that fact.
The U46SV's ports include VGA and HDMI, three USB ports (one of which is USB 3.0), ethernet and an SD card slot. The laptop includes both headphone and microphone jacks, as well as a Kensington lock port on the back. You get a webcam, too, but for some reason Asus opted for a relatively low resolution 0.3 megapixel unit.
Though the U46SV turned in very nice performance numbers, it performs sluggishly for the first minute after booting with the stock software configuration. This is largely due to loading a whopping 32 non-standard startup items, the majority of which aren't particularly useful or necessary.
Lenovo IdeaPad V470
The Lenovo IdeaPad V470 is an ideal choice for users who want a budget-conscious notebook with both home and office features. It's equipped with a second-generation Intel dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, Intel HD graphics, and an HDMI port. Keep reading to find out more about this notebook, including full specifications, an overview of its build quality, and more.
BUILD AND DESIGN
The first thing you'll probably notice about the V470 is that it's an extremely attractive-looking notebook. It has a clean, dual-color scheme of metallic gray and black, as well as a glossy screen bezel. The look appears business-casual and classy. And, at 4.8 pounds with a 14.0-inch screen and just over an inch thick, it's portable, too.
The display cover and palm rest consist of brushed aluminum while the base is made of hardened plastic. Hardly any flex was seen when we pressed down on the palm rests with considerable pressure; it's constructed very well. The display cover isn't constructed as well, though -- it's just too thin to be considered sturdy. I could break it easily if I tried. Ripples appear on the screen when both top corners are bent inward. The chassis is much more durable; it doesn't flex much at all. Overall, we would consider the V470 to have good build quality if the display cover was thicker and less worrisome.
The hard drive and memory can be swapped out from the bottom panel. To replace the hard drive, simply remove a few screws as well as the drive compartment. The memory can also be increased up to 8GB (dual-channel) as there are two SO-DIMM sockets. If desired, the mini PCI Express card and optical drive can also be removed.
PORTS AND FEATURES
The V470 has a great port selection; above average for its price range. Even though it doesn't have USB 3.0, it has a total of four USB 2.0 ports, along with a 6-in-1 memory card reader, VGA, HDMI, eSATA, separate headphone and mic jacks, and an optical drive with CD-RW/DVD-RW/DVD-Multi capabilities. The memory card reader is compatible with SD, SDHC, MMC, MS, MS Pro, and xD-Picture memory cards. The V470 also has a fingerprint reader to the right of the palm rest.
Front: Activity lights, speaker, 6-in-1 memory card reader, Wi-Fi on/off switch
Left: Lock slot, exhaust vent, VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, eSATA/USB 2.0 combo, USB 2.0
Right: Headphone jack, mic jack, USB 2.0, optical drive (CD-RW/DVD-RW/DVD-Multi), USB 2.0
BUILD AND DESIGN
The first thing you'll probably notice about the V470 is that it's an extremely attractive-looking notebook. It has a clean, dual-color scheme of metallic gray and black, as well as a glossy screen bezel. The look appears business-casual and classy. And, at 4.8 pounds with a 14.0-inch screen and just over an inch thick, it's portable, too.
The display cover and palm rest consist of brushed aluminum while the base is made of hardened plastic. Hardly any flex was seen when we pressed down on the palm rests with considerable pressure; it's constructed very well. The display cover isn't constructed as well, though -- it's just too thin to be considered sturdy. I could break it easily if I tried. Ripples appear on the screen when both top corners are bent inward. The chassis is much more durable; it doesn't flex much at all. Overall, we would consider the V470 to have good build quality if the display cover was thicker and less worrisome.
The hard drive and memory can be swapped out from the bottom panel. To replace the hard drive, simply remove a few screws as well as the drive compartment. The memory can also be increased up to 8GB (dual-channel) as there are two SO-DIMM sockets. If desired, the mini PCI Express card and optical drive can also be removed.
PORTS AND FEATURES
The V470 has a great port selection; above average for its price range. Even though it doesn't have USB 3.0, it has a total of four USB 2.0 ports, along with a 6-in-1 memory card reader, VGA, HDMI, eSATA, separate headphone and mic jacks, and an optical drive with CD-RW/DVD-RW/DVD-Multi capabilities. The memory card reader is compatible with SD, SDHC, MMC, MS, MS Pro, and xD-Picture memory cards. The V470 also has a fingerprint reader to the right of the palm rest.
Front: Activity lights, speaker, 6-in-1 memory card reader, Wi-Fi on/off switch
Left: Lock slot, exhaust vent, VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, eSATA/USB 2.0 combo, USB 2.0
Right: Headphone jack, mic jack, USB 2.0, optical drive (CD-RW/DVD-RW/DVD-Multi), USB 2.0
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Advent Roma 3001
A great laptop featuring the best of everything in a value laptop. The Advent Roma 3001 is a great mid-range daily work and multimedia laptop including some great features such as a HDMI port, 4GB of RAM, a great 15.6” HD screen all at a bargain price. The hard drive even though quite large at 250GB could be bigger and a problem that we’re finding in numerous laptops is the lack of Bluetooth, even though not a huge problem it does limit the user to connecting the peripherals.If you're after a basic, reliable and cheap home laptop the Roma 3001 has been infected with the best bits of having a laptop including mobility, reliability and affordability, a moderate specification notched up the low price tag. The Advent Roma 3001 is another great laptop introduced to us by Advent, it skilfully infuses the best bits of mobility, reliability and affordability all in a cheap laptop deal under £375.
The Roma 3001, in terms of design, looks pretty much the same as the previous Advent Roma models such as the Roma 2000 and the Roma 2001. However, when you peer a little closer you realise that it what lies beneath the surface is nothing less than outstanding for a laptop under £375.
The Roma 3001 comes with a decent Intel Celeron T3100 Dual-Core Pentium processor, far more responsive and powerful than the previous generation of Celeron processors that lacked badly when tested on multi-tasking and running simultaneous applications. With the Dual Core Celeron T3100, or any other Dual Core Celeron, you can expect reliable and fast computing while using your standard day to day applications such as Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and even download multimedia or play light 3D games.
The Advent Roma 3001 Laptop comes with a 250GB hard disk which is more than enough space for an average user to store there data. To make matters even better the high definition 15.6” LCD widescreen with 16:9 aspect ration is another feature you probably won’t find in a budget laptop. The Roma 3001 has a DVD-RW optical drive, perfect to play all your DVDs, a HDMI port so you can enjoy quality visuals when connected to a HD TV.
If you’re looking for a mid-range value laptop then the Advent Roma 3001 has it all to keep your basic computing needs covered. It seems Advent have become over generous and given the user brilliant multimedia capabilities that make this laptop an absolute bargain for £369.
The Roma 3001, in terms of design, looks pretty much the same as the previous Advent Roma models such as the Roma 2000 and the Roma 2001. However, when you peer a little closer you realise that it what lies beneath the surface is nothing less than outstanding for a laptop under £375.
The Roma 3001 comes with a decent Intel Celeron T3100 Dual-Core Pentium processor, far more responsive and powerful than the previous generation of Celeron processors that lacked badly when tested on multi-tasking and running simultaneous applications. With the Dual Core Celeron T3100, or any other Dual Core Celeron, you can expect reliable and fast computing while using your standard day to day applications such as Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and even download multimedia or play light 3D games.
The Advent Roma 3001 Laptop comes with a 250GB hard disk which is more than enough space for an average user to store there data. To make matters even better the high definition 15.6” LCD widescreen with 16:9 aspect ration is another feature you probably won’t find in a budget laptop. The Roma 3001 has a DVD-RW optical drive, perfect to play all your DVDs, a HDMI port so you can enjoy quality visuals when connected to a HD TV.
If you’re looking for a mid-range value laptop then the Advent Roma 3001 has it all to keep your basic computing needs covered. It seems Advent have become over generous and given the user brilliant multimedia capabilities that make this laptop an absolute bargain for £369.
Advent Modena
The Advent Modena features the powerful Intel Celeron T3100 along with Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium which ensures effortless multitasking. Advent has even included a great hard drive to store all your files along with 2GB of RAM and a whole lot more. At the adequate price tag the Advent Modena gives you a 320GB hard drive which provides more than enough space to store music, photos and videos, which can be easily burned to your own CDs and DVDs using the built-in DVD rewriter. The size of memory also allows you to multitask smoothly. With the Advent Modena giving high-speed wireless connectivity which is provided by an integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi an additional feature is given. An integrated camera is in place, fitted above the screen.A problem of the Advent Modena is the very short life span of the battery only lasting 3 hours however for a laptop under £350 this is more than adequate. Another problem is the integrated graphics which shares the memory with all tasks and not dedicating memory to graphics. With high-definition video and high-resolution image editing can quickly bring the GPU to its knees.A basic, good looking laptop that, for its price, is one of the best of its kind giving great value for its price. Even though this won't be the first on your list for a multimedia machine it certainly, and comforatbly, will cope with the demands of daily laptop usage including multi-tasking. It's a cost effective solution that the entire family can use. The Advent Modena is driven by the powerful Intel Celeron dual-core T3100 with a processing speed of 1.9GHz. Windows 7 Home Premium guarantees smooth multitasking. The spacious 320GB hard drive lets you store everything from multimedia files to documents.
The slim chassis carries the same design scheme from the Advent range, but its patterned glossy lid and matt-plastic interior creates a nice contrast. At 2.5kg, this is a machine that is easy to use around the home or on shorter journeys. With a depth of just 33mm, it slips easily into a carry case, also the battery runs for under three hours. Usability is pleasing, with the isolated-style keyboard proving very comfortable to use.
An amazing feature of this laptop is the performance of the wireless connectivity, as the Advent Modena comes with a 802.11n wireless integrated card. A numeric keypad is fitted on the board's right-hand side, for fast data input and making quick calculations, and the glossy textured touchpad is tactile and works well. The most notable feature of this machine is its vibrant 15.6-inch screen. The colour and contrast is quite fantastic and really brings photos and movies to life. Even the glossy Super-TFT coating is less reflective then the other Advents in this range.
At this low price, the Advent Modena performs for the price you get it for but comes with amazing features.
The slim chassis carries the same design scheme from the Advent range, but its patterned glossy lid and matt-plastic interior creates a nice contrast. At 2.5kg, this is a machine that is easy to use around the home or on shorter journeys. With a depth of just 33mm, it slips easily into a carry case, also the battery runs for under three hours. Usability is pleasing, with the isolated-style keyboard proving very comfortable to use.
An amazing feature of this laptop is the performance of the wireless connectivity, as the Advent Modena comes with a 802.11n wireless integrated card. A numeric keypad is fitted on the board's right-hand side, for fast data input and making quick calculations, and the glossy textured touchpad is tactile and works well. The most notable feature of this machine is its vibrant 15.6-inch screen. The colour and contrast is quite fantastic and really brings photos and movies to life. Even the glossy Super-TFT coating is less reflective then the other Advents in this range.
At this low price, the Advent Modena performs for the price you get it for but comes with amazing features.
Advent 9515
The Advent 9515 is weighs in at 2.8kg and it measures up at 358x36x258mm. It isn’t a huge laptop by any means but it isn’t exactly a slim jim. Huge storage space - 160GB hard drive. Not the sexiest of laptops. Poor battery life. Advent are clear cut - reliable, durable and relatively cheap. If you're looking for a laptop that'll take a battering, look no further. Advent has decided to be different. They have decided that Intel isn’t good enough. They have decided to go with an AMD chip rather than an Intel.
You’re probably all thinking the Advent 9515 laptop is going to be poorer than an Intel...but guess what? It isn’t half bad and its performance is just as good. It also comes with a 160GB hard drive which is more then enough really. It also has a DVD writer and the keyboard is easy to use, a good size and uses the most of the area it has. The touch pad below the keyboard is also half decent but it can be difficult to use at times, so I’d suggest buy yourself a mouse.
That frankly is as good as it gets from no on it is the downsides. Don’t blame me I didn’t create this amazing laptop – I hope you realised I was being sarcastic.
The laptop has been branded as a desktop replacement, yes that is true it is a desktop replacement but I’d say not the best desktop replacement. It struggles with any type of gaming.
You would also expect a desktop replacement laptop to last quite a while but unfortunately the Advent 9515s battery life is nothing to brag about. The battery lasts for about two hours, not what you would expect from a desktop replacement. Yet what do you expect it is fairly cheap.
It also has a 15.4” screen. Now I bet you’re thinking that doesn’t sound bad but wait let me finish. This 15.4” screen has a standard widescreen resolution and like many laptops the panel is not glossy. This also helps to give you the image of murky and washed out colours. So when you want to look at your home videos or pictures they will appear to be of a half decent quality.
Overall this laptop doesn’t really come with much to brag about, at all. It does pass when trying to use web browsing and word processing and other core applications of a desktop computer.
Its short battery life doesn’t help but then again you won’t be lugging this around with you much. Well it weighs in at 2.8kg and it measures up at 358x36x258mm. It isn’t a juggernaut but it isn’t exactly a slim jim.
You’re probably all thinking the Advent 9515 laptop is going to be poorer than an Intel...but guess what? It isn’t half bad and its performance is just as good. It also comes with a 160GB hard drive which is more then enough really. It also has a DVD writer and the keyboard is easy to use, a good size and uses the most of the area it has. The touch pad below the keyboard is also half decent but it can be difficult to use at times, so I’d suggest buy yourself a mouse.
That frankly is as good as it gets from no on it is the downsides. Don’t blame me I didn’t create this amazing laptop – I hope you realised I was being sarcastic.
The laptop has been branded as a desktop replacement, yes that is true it is a desktop replacement but I’d say not the best desktop replacement. It struggles with any type of gaming.
You would also expect a desktop replacement laptop to last quite a while but unfortunately the Advent 9515s battery life is nothing to brag about. The battery lasts for about two hours, not what you would expect from a desktop replacement. Yet what do you expect it is fairly cheap.
It also has a 15.4” screen. Now I bet you’re thinking that doesn’t sound bad but wait let me finish. This 15.4” screen has a standard widescreen resolution and like many laptops the panel is not glossy. This also helps to give you the image of murky and washed out colours. So when you want to look at your home videos or pictures they will appear to be of a half decent quality.
Overall this laptop doesn’t really come with much to brag about, at all. It does pass when trying to use web browsing and word processing and other core applications of a desktop computer.
Its short battery life doesn’t help but then again you won’t be lugging this around with you much. Well it weighs in at 2.8kg and it measures up at 358x36x258mm. It isn’t a juggernaut but it isn’t exactly a slim jim.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Advent Sienna 710
The Advent Sienna 710 is a great multimedia-geared high tech and elegantly designed laptop with a 15.6 inch screen that is a delight to use. Excellent multi-tasking ability, attractive design and a great and comfortable keyboard. A very small battery life compared to other models in the same class. A rather chunky design (no matter how elegant) and the first laptop to take the 'lap' out of laptop.The Advent Sienna certainly does pack an impressive processor, screen and keyboard but its specification isn’t as balanced as we would have liked especially for how much it costs to buy one. The Advent Sienna 710 features a rather powerful Intel Core i7-620M processor along with a 15.6inch screen. We last saw the i7 on the Alienware M11x However, by 15-inch standards the chassis of the laptop is rather chunky and thick and even though it sports a splendid design of curves, slopes and wavy patterns dotted along a glossy, deep blue lid.
Comfortable keyboard, but no Bluetooth
The keyboard that has been incorporated into this rather large chassis is comfortable and easy to use. This is mainly due to it chiclet style, isolated key formation. It even includes a full numerical keypad. However, the keyboard does flex under pressure but this isn’t too noticeable when touch typing.
The Advent Sienna 710 features a less than average number of ports with just 3 USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, a HDMI port, an Ethernet port, 802.11bgn Wi-Fi but sadly no Bluetooth. The lack of Bluetooth is rather a big let down considering you’re paying around £700.
e Advent Sienna 710 really wins when it comes to its processor, the Intel Core i7-620M a high end dual core CPU clocks at a speed of 2.66GHz and with the help of Turbo Boost technology can clock at a higher speed of 3.33GHz if and when necessary which makes it a perfect multi-tasking companion.
Runs hot on the lap
There is one slight downside of the incorporation of such a powerful processor, it can run rather hot and Advent for some reason or another have opted to place the fan at the bottom which will certainly warm up your lap. It gets so hot that Advent have even placed a sticker on the underside of the laptop indicating that this you should “not place this notebook on your lap while it is operating.”
Overall, this laptop features a rather impressive even though unbalanced specification but considering it takes the lap out of laptop for £700 we know there are better alternatives on the market. Try the Dell Inspiron 17R to start with
Premiere look and feel
To add to the more premiere feel and look of this base level laptop the black lid has a glossy finish and the same pattern of pale concentric circles that we last saw on the Advent Roma laptops, and this motif is repeated on the silver interior.
Comfortable keyboard, but no Bluetooth
The keyboard that has been incorporated into this rather large chassis is comfortable and easy to use. This is mainly due to it chiclet style, isolated key formation. It even includes a full numerical keypad. However, the keyboard does flex under pressure but this isn’t too noticeable when touch typing.
The Advent Sienna 710 features a less than average number of ports with just 3 USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, a HDMI port, an Ethernet port, 802.11bgn Wi-Fi but sadly no Bluetooth. The lack of Bluetooth is rather a big let down considering you’re paying around £700.
e Advent Sienna 710 really wins when it comes to its processor, the Intel Core i7-620M a high end dual core CPU clocks at a speed of 2.66GHz and with the help of Turbo Boost technology can clock at a higher speed of 3.33GHz if and when necessary which makes it a perfect multi-tasking companion.
Runs hot on the lap
There is one slight downside of the incorporation of such a powerful processor, it can run rather hot and Advent for some reason or another have opted to place the fan at the bottom which will certainly warm up your lap. It gets so hot that Advent have even placed a sticker on the underside of the laptop indicating that this you should “not place this notebook on your lap while it is operating.”
Overall, this laptop features a rather impressive even though unbalanced specification but considering it takes the lap out of laptop for £700 we know there are better alternatives on the market. Try the Dell Inspiron 17R to start with
Premiere look and feel
To add to the more premiere feel and look of this base level laptop the black lid has a glossy finish and the same pattern of pale concentric circles that we last saw on the Advent Roma laptops, and this motif is repeated on the silver interior.
Toshiba Satellite L30-101
The Toshiba Satellite L30-101 laptop comes equipped with an Intel Celeron Mobile Processor, 512MB RAM, and a 60GB hard drive. The laptop features Windows Vista Home Basic, a DVD RW & 15.4" widescreen display. A great laptop for a great price.The power and the performance of the laptop could be improved.The Satellite L30-101 model from Toshiba is built using the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and has 2GB Ram, and a 160GB hard drive. The sleek laptop features Windows Vista Home Premium, a DVD RW & a great 15.4" widescreen display.For such a low cost laptop this certainly has all of the features necessary. It’s thin(ish) portable and if you don’t want to spend a lot of money but want a laptop that has all the features needed then this is certainly a contender. Do not be put off by the price just because it’s relatively cheap does it mean that this laptop is terrible.
The laptop comes installed with Windows Vista Home Basic, which is a bit of a pain considering that Windows Vista uses 512MB itself. However, the wireless feature works great and saves the hassle of having to buy a plug in wireless adaptor for your laptop.
The battery life is good and the graphics are good in that it can play games but not very well. Nonetheless, the screen display, although not the largest, is certainly big enough and because its not that large it makes this truly a user friendly portable laptop.
If you’re looking for a decent laptop at a good price then this is definitely one to consider.
The laptop comes installed with Windows Vista Home Basic, which is a bit of a pain considering that Windows Vista uses 512MB itself. However, the wireless feature works great and saves the hassle of having to buy a plug in wireless adaptor for your laptop.
The battery life is good and the graphics are good in that it can play games but not very well. Nonetheless, the screen display, although not the largest, is certainly big enough and because its not that large it makes this truly a user friendly portable laptop.
If you’re looking for a decent laptop at a good price then this is definitely one to consider.
Sony Vaio NS20SS
The NS20 is simple to use, looks impressive and provides the latest VAIO technologies at affordable prices including the stunning 15.4 X-Black screen.It is jammed full of impressive features including a built in DVD Rewriter drive, a 1.3 MegaPixel webcam, 4 USB ports and WiFi, all presented on the 15.4 inch X-black screen, the Sony NS20SS maybe the perfect laptop when you have a budget to consider.With the home users needs being the focus for the design of this laptop, its stylish finish with subtle curves there is a space for one of these in anyone’s study.The New NSS20SS is simple to use, looks impressive and provides the latest VAIO technologies at affordable prices.The New NSS20SS is simple to use, looks impressive and provides the latest VAIO technologies at affordable prices. It's a lot more affordable than the Asus Bamboo that we also reviewed recently.
With the home users needs being the focus for the design of this laptop, its stylish finish with subtle curves there is a space for one of these in anyone’s study.
Powered by Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 technology, with a mega 3Gb of memory in addition to a 320GB hard drive the NS20SS storage capabilities will be difficult to fill.
It is jammed full of impressive features including a built in DVD Rewriter drive, a 1.3 MegaPixel webcam, 4 USB ports and WiFi, all presented on the 15.4 inch X-black screen, the Sony NS20SS maybe the perfect laptop when you have a budget to consider.
If you've got a few more quid to spare though, you may opt for the TZ series.
With the home users needs being the focus for the design of this laptop, its stylish finish with subtle curves there is a space for one of these in anyone’s study.
Powered by Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 technology, with a mega 3Gb of memory in addition to a 320GB hard drive the NS20SS storage capabilities will be difficult to fill.
It is jammed full of impressive features including a built in DVD Rewriter drive, a 1.3 MegaPixel webcam, 4 USB ports and WiFi, all presented on the 15.4 inch X-black screen, the Sony NS20SS maybe the perfect laptop when you have a budget to consider.
If you've got a few more quid to spare though, you may opt for the TZ series.
Samsung NC20
Samsungs new NC20 Net book is the updated version of their notorious NC10 series, this enhanced model has been cram packed with improved features which enables users to do even more on this compact and ultra convenient Netbook. The stylish and nifty Netbook comes with improved energy efficiency and advanced performance supplied by the VIA Nano U2250 processor added to a 1GB RAM, the Windows XP operating system now runs smoothly with no interruptions. The battery life at only 3 hours, for us, means that we'd prefer an Eee over the NC20. Also with the new Notebook style keyboard and built in 1.3 mega pixel webcam, the improved Netbook could be regarded as the perfect combination of its Notebook counterparts with the convenience of its size and weight making it an ideal travelling companion and work tool. Samsungs new NC20 Net book is the updated version of their notorious NC10 series, this enhanced model has been cram packed with improved features which enables users to do even more on this compact and ultra convenient Netbook.
The stylish and nifty Netbook comes with improved energy efficiency and advanced performance supplied by the VIA Nano U2250 processor added to a 1GB RAM, the Windows XP operating system now runs smoothly with no interruptions.
This is all presented on the NC20’s 12.1 inch wide screen display, providing an additional thirty percent viewing space making it easier to read text, decreasing eye strain, as well allowing easy viewing for your photos.
Also with the new Notebook style keyboard and built in 1.3 mega pixel webcam, the improved Netbook could be regarded as the perfect combination of its Notebook counterparts with the convenience of its size and weight making it an ideal travelling companion and work tool.
However, the battery life, at only 3 hours for us, means that we'd prefer an Eee over the NC20.
The stylish and nifty Netbook comes with improved energy efficiency and advanced performance supplied by the VIA Nano U2250 processor added to a 1GB RAM, the Windows XP operating system now runs smoothly with no interruptions.
This is all presented on the NC20’s 12.1 inch wide screen display, providing an additional thirty percent viewing space making it easier to read text, decreasing eye strain, as well allowing easy viewing for your photos.
Also with the new Notebook style keyboard and built in 1.3 mega pixel webcam, the improved Netbook could be regarded as the perfect combination of its Notebook counterparts with the convenience of its size and weight making it an ideal travelling companion and work tool.
However, the battery life, at only 3 hours for us, means that we'd prefer an Eee over the NC20.
Rock Xtreme X790
The Rock Xtreme X790 is a decisive gaming laptop that will give you the best quality gaming in high definition as well as suiting business professionals looking for power and performance. The 1GB of dedicated graphics memory is certainly noticeable. Even though Rock claims this to be 'Xtreme', this laptop certainly lacks some of the standard features that sub-£400 laptops include such as a webcam. With a weight of 5.4kg this laptop is certainly not light nor portable and it's obvious that this laptop was designed with performance rather than looks in mind. An all-round workstation pumped by the latest Intel Core i7-930, 2.8GHz, processor. However, its looks are something to look out for and not for the right reasons either. The X790 is in a placid silver-grey with a black trim and looks more like a workhouse than a gaming laptop. For instance look at any of the Alienware range, the M11x for instance, the design is eye-catching and stunning.
Looks? Not a chance!
However, Rock, presumably, in a bid to be different has gone totally in the wrong direction.
Nonetheless, with a 17-inch screen that produces an attractive, bright and sharp picture things start to get better. In addition, to the 17 inch screen and the i7 processor the X790 features a 500GB hard drive, which is large enough to install numerous games, 3GB of RAM, which quite frankly is an outrage considering a number of sub-£400 laptops feature 4GB of RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 280M graphics card with 1GB of dedicated RAM.
Blu-ray movies? Definitely!
Let us, for a moment, forget about everything else and focus on the graphics card. It alone can cost between £350 and £425, which partly explains the huge price tag of this laptop. Besides handling gaming comfortably even in high detail settings for instance handling Crysis at around 42.2 frames per second in max details at full 1920x1200 resolution.
The graphics card can also transcode your videos ten times faster and doesn’t slow down. It supports, very clearly, Blu-ray movies
On the right hand side of the unit you have four USB 2.0 ports, your optical drive, an eSATA interface, Gigabit Ethernet, four-pin Firewire, ExpressCard slot and a memory card reader. There’s a DVI port on the back, audio jacks on the front and it runs the latest Microsoft Windows 7.
Even though this laptop is a beast, weighing in at under five and a half kilograms, it ran surprisingly quiet but did get particularly hot. However, due to its weight and size it’s not a laptop that would be taken with you on your travels or spend much time on your laptop and neither can it spend much time on your lap without a charger as a result of a mere 90 minute battery life span.
Looks? Not a chance!
However, Rock, presumably, in a bid to be different has gone totally in the wrong direction.
Nonetheless, with a 17-inch screen that produces an attractive, bright and sharp picture things start to get better. In addition, to the 17 inch screen and the i7 processor the X790 features a 500GB hard drive, which is large enough to install numerous games, 3GB of RAM, which quite frankly is an outrage considering a number of sub-£400 laptops feature 4GB of RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 280M graphics card with 1GB of dedicated RAM.
Blu-ray movies? Definitely!
Let us, for a moment, forget about everything else and focus on the graphics card. It alone can cost between £350 and £425, which partly explains the huge price tag of this laptop. Besides handling gaming comfortably even in high detail settings for instance handling Crysis at around 42.2 frames per second in max details at full 1920x1200 resolution.
The graphics card can also transcode your videos ten times faster and doesn’t slow down. It supports, very clearly, Blu-ray movies
On the right hand side of the unit you have four USB 2.0 ports, your optical drive, an eSATA interface, Gigabit Ethernet, four-pin Firewire, ExpressCard slot and a memory card reader. There’s a DVI port on the back, audio jacks on the front and it runs the latest Microsoft Windows 7.
Even though this laptop is a beast, weighing in at under five and a half kilograms, it ran surprisingly quiet but did get particularly hot. However, due to its weight and size it’s not a laptop that would be taken with you on your travels or spend much time on your laptop and neither can it spend much time on your lap without a charger as a result of a mere 90 minute battery life span.
Panasonic ToughBook CF52
The Toughbook series ranges from military grade resistant laptops to just the simple drop-and-spill resistant business laptops. In the middle is where this laptop sits along with its 15.4” widescreen. The screen uses all the space it possible can and the keyboard is quite nice. The space bare and enter button could both be slightly bigger but once you get used to it, it isn’t bad at all. For those who are accident prone the entire keyboard area and this also includes the touch pad is splash resistant. I was tempted enough that I purposely dropped a glass of water on the laptop and it still worked. It might be resistant but it is also heavy and large, not a good combination. It measures in at 356mm x 52mm x 287mm and it weighs in at a huge 3.3kg. This definitely will help build your muscles. Overall, well it does what it says on the label but its battery life doesn’t stack up, and quite frankly if you’re not near a plug socket then you won’t be using this laptop for long. It is also an extremely difficult laptop to carry around and a bit on the heavy side.Panasonic’s Toughbook range covers a number of different grades of toughness. The Toughbook series ranges from military grade resistant laptops to just the simple drop-and-spill resistant business laptops. In the middle is where this laptop sits along with its 15.4” widescreen.
Even though it is branded as being only a “semi-ruggedised” laptop it certainly looks as if you could blow it up and it would still work but I don’t want to take any chances. Due to its hard outer shell and built in carrying handle when it is closed it looks more like a briefcase then a laptop.
It might be resistant but it is also heavy and large, not a good combination. It measures in at 356mm x 52mm x 287mm and it weighs in at a huge 3.3kg. This definitely will help build your muscles.
The screen uses all the space it possible can and the keyboard is quite nice. The space bare and enter button could both be slightly bigger but once you get used to it, it isn’t bad at all. For those who are accident prone the entire keyboard area and this also includes the touch pad is splash resistant. I was tempted enough that I purposely dropped a glass of water on the laptop and it still worked.
The Toughbook CF-52 has a 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor. This includes 2MB of L2 cache and an 800MHz front side bus. It normally comes with 1GB of RAM. Yet this be easily upgraded to an entire 4GB, you may have to if you wish to install Windows Vista as 1GB is not sufficient enough. Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet are all integrated into the laptop and the graphics are handled by the GMA X3100 module integrated in Intel's GM965 Express chipset. The 160GB hard drive is located in a setting of shock-absorbing foam and connected by flexible cable. Panasonic do say it will withstand a 90cm drop but this is if the laptop is not switched on.
Most of the ports and connectors ranged around the sides of the casing are protected by covers yet not all them are. The SD card slot or the multi-format DVD drive on the left-hand side does not have the security of being protected by covers.
Panasonic do say that the battery will last up to seven and a half hours but many people have found out that the laptop struggles to run past three hours.
Overall, well it does what it says on the label but its battery life doesn’t stack up, and quite frankly if you’re not near a plug socket then you won’t be using this laptop for long. It is also an extremely difficult laptop to carry around and a bit on the heavy side.
Even though it is branded as being only a “semi-ruggedised” laptop it certainly looks as if you could blow it up and it would still work but I don’t want to take any chances. Due to its hard outer shell and built in carrying handle when it is closed it looks more like a briefcase then a laptop.
It might be resistant but it is also heavy and large, not a good combination. It measures in at 356mm x 52mm x 287mm and it weighs in at a huge 3.3kg. This definitely will help build your muscles.
The screen uses all the space it possible can and the keyboard is quite nice. The space bare and enter button could both be slightly bigger but once you get used to it, it isn’t bad at all. For those who are accident prone the entire keyboard area and this also includes the touch pad is splash resistant. I was tempted enough that I purposely dropped a glass of water on the laptop and it still worked.
The Toughbook CF-52 has a 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor. This includes 2MB of L2 cache and an 800MHz front side bus. It normally comes with 1GB of RAM. Yet this be easily upgraded to an entire 4GB, you may have to if you wish to install Windows Vista as 1GB is not sufficient enough. Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet are all integrated into the laptop and the graphics are handled by the GMA X3100 module integrated in Intel's GM965 Express chipset. The 160GB hard drive is located in a setting of shock-absorbing foam and connected by flexible cable. Panasonic do say it will withstand a 90cm drop but this is if the laptop is not switched on.
Most of the ports and connectors ranged around the sides of the casing are protected by covers yet not all them are. The SD card slot or the multi-format DVD drive on the left-hand side does not have the security of being protected by covers.
Panasonic do say that the battery will last up to seven and a half hours but many people have found out that the laptop struggles to run past three hours.
Overall, well it does what it says on the label but its battery life doesn’t stack up, and quite frankly if you’re not near a plug socket then you won’t be using this laptop for long. It is also an extremely difficult laptop to carry around and a bit on the heavy side.
MSI TurboBook GX600
Okay now this is a past from the blast, a piece of history, a reminder of the good old computers in the seventies. You guessed what it is yet? Yeah, it’s a turbo button. The screen at first looks nice and pleasant but once you start to use it you realise quality isn’t its forte. It uses an Intel T8300 CPU running, without pressing the turbo button, at 2.4GHz. The keyboard and touchpad don’t stack up either really. The enter button and right shift key and to small and the cursor buttons are so small you might as well have paid extra to get rid of them. I’m not even going to go into detail about how the touchpad is to wide and is a nuisance which always makes its presence known. All I will say is disable the touchpad and get yourself an external mouse.
Overall this laptop is a mixture. It comes packed with all sorts but doesn’t have a battery life to support it. It boasts a turbo button that frankly isn’t really needed, even without it the laptop runs quietly and smoothly and even with it booting time is the same. Unless you are doing CPU-intensive work, then I would advise you to purchase something slightly better. This laptop comes with a turbo button along with everything else it has to offer such as a 15.4” screen. The screen at first looks nice and pleasant but once you start to use it you realise quality isn’t its forte. It uses an Intel T8300 CPU running, without pressing the turbo button, at 2.4GHz.
Yet if that formula 1 racing type turbo button tempts you enough this laptop can move up to 2.8GHz. Now that sounds like heaven but it is too good to be true because you can only use your boost if you’re connected to the mains. Wait it gets worse, the 3GB of memory of the GeForce 8600M GT graphics card can’t be boosted in the same way.
The design of the laptop is just like its features. You think you have something brilliant but you look deeper and realise you’re wrong. With the lid closed, you’ve guessed it, it looks very nice. Once you open it, well I’m sorry, it all goes down hill. It goes down hill fast.
The keyboard and touchpad don’t stack up either really. The enter button and right shift key and to small and the cursor buttons are so small you might as well have paid extra to get rid of them. I’m not even going to go into detail about how the touchpad is to wide and is a nuisance which always makes its presence known. All I will say is disable the touchpad and get yourself an external mouse.
It isn’t all bad news don’t worry the laptop comes with a number of input-output ports. It comes with four USB ports, two on each side and three separate video outputs: D-Sub, S-Video and HDMI. To accompany these three video outputs it also has front facing audio jacks making it that slightly bit more convenient to hook up your microphone and headphones/speakers. Wait it also as a DVD rewriter – it isn’t that bad then is it? They have also included a 1.3 mega pixel webcam, like usual, just above the screen and an optional freeview TV tuner. Along with all of this it has wireless internet to be precise it comes with 802.11b/g and the high-speed Draft-N wireless.
To accompany all of this you’d expect a long battery life. A battery life that would ensure you could tire yourself out before your companion decided to turn its self out but MSI thought differently. This laptop has a meager hour and a half battery life.
Overall this laptop is a mixture. It comes packed with all sorts but doesn’t have a battery life to support it. It boasts a turbo button that frankly isn’t really needed, even without it the laptop runs quietly and smoothly and even with it booting time is the same. Unless you are doing CPU-intensive work, then I would advise you to purchase something slightly better.
Overall this laptop is a mixture. It comes packed with all sorts but doesn’t have a battery life to support it. It boasts a turbo button that frankly isn’t really needed, even without it the laptop runs quietly and smoothly and even with it booting time is the same. Unless you are doing CPU-intensive work, then I would advise you to purchase something slightly better. This laptop comes with a turbo button along with everything else it has to offer such as a 15.4” screen. The screen at first looks nice and pleasant but once you start to use it you realise quality isn’t its forte. It uses an Intel T8300 CPU running, without pressing the turbo button, at 2.4GHz.
Yet if that formula 1 racing type turbo button tempts you enough this laptop can move up to 2.8GHz. Now that sounds like heaven but it is too good to be true because you can only use your boost if you’re connected to the mains. Wait it gets worse, the 3GB of memory of the GeForce 8600M GT graphics card can’t be boosted in the same way.
The design of the laptop is just like its features. You think you have something brilliant but you look deeper and realise you’re wrong. With the lid closed, you’ve guessed it, it looks very nice. Once you open it, well I’m sorry, it all goes down hill. It goes down hill fast.
The keyboard and touchpad don’t stack up either really. The enter button and right shift key and to small and the cursor buttons are so small you might as well have paid extra to get rid of them. I’m not even going to go into detail about how the touchpad is to wide and is a nuisance which always makes its presence known. All I will say is disable the touchpad and get yourself an external mouse.
It isn’t all bad news don’t worry the laptop comes with a number of input-output ports. It comes with four USB ports, two on each side and three separate video outputs: D-Sub, S-Video and HDMI. To accompany these three video outputs it also has front facing audio jacks making it that slightly bit more convenient to hook up your microphone and headphones/speakers. Wait it also as a DVD rewriter – it isn’t that bad then is it? They have also included a 1.3 mega pixel webcam, like usual, just above the screen and an optional freeview TV tuner. Along with all of this it has wireless internet to be precise it comes with 802.11b/g and the high-speed Draft-N wireless.
To accompany all of this you’d expect a long battery life. A battery life that would ensure you could tire yourself out before your companion decided to turn its self out but MSI thought differently. This laptop has a meager hour and a half battery life.
Overall this laptop is a mixture. It comes packed with all sorts but doesn’t have a battery life to support it. It boasts a turbo button that frankly isn’t really needed, even without it the laptop runs quietly and smoothly and even with it booting time is the same. Unless you are doing CPU-intensive work, then I would advise you to purchase something slightly better.
Lenovo Ideapad 3000 N200
If you work harder then you play, if that is possible, then this is the laptop for you. The computer has great 2D performance with a fantastic high resolution display and a fingerprint reader.The touchpad and the touchpad buttons are tacky, the gaming capability is extremely poor and the looks are below average.Overall this laptop is for those business men who wish to work harder than they play. This laptop is for those who haven’t got time to play about and brag about the latest film they watched in HD on their laptop. For something this price though it does exactly what it set out to do perfectly. If you work harder then you play, if that is possible, then this is the laptop for you.
It comes with a Intel Core Duo T2310 processor which runs at 1.46GHz and has only 1GB of ram and a 80GB hard drive, it isn’t the best but for £350 it is impressive. The 15.4” screen is sufficient enough and multiple windows can be arranged spaciously. It also shows colours in a glossy finish but it can reflect bright lights around you.
It has four USB ports, a fingerprint reader and in terms of battery life it lasts about 3 hours. All of this for £350, I’m impressed.
Its design, well isn’t what Lenovo wish to brag about. The keyboard however is sturdy, stiff at times but normally easy to use due to its good key size. The touchpad is weirdly quite small seeing there is more then enough space for it to be expanded. The touchpad well feels and seems cheap but you can be the judge of that.
Overall this laptop is for those business men who wish to work harder than they play. This laptop is for those who haven’t got time to play about and brag about the latest film they watched in HD on their laptop. For something this price though it does exactly what it set out to do perfectly.
It comes with a Intel Core Duo T2310 processor which runs at 1.46GHz and has only 1GB of ram and a 80GB hard drive, it isn’t the best but for £350 it is impressive. The 15.4” screen is sufficient enough and multiple windows can be arranged spaciously. It also shows colours in a glossy finish but it can reflect bright lights around you.
It has four USB ports, a fingerprint reader and in terms of battery life it lasts about 3 hours. All of this for £350, I’m impressed.
Its design, well isn’t what Lenovo wish to brag about. The keyboard however is sturdy, stiff at times but normally easy to use due to its good key size. The touchpad is weirdly quite small seeing there is more then enough space for it to be expanded. The touchpad well feels and seems cheap but you can be the judge of that.
Overall this laptop is for those business men who wish to work harder than they play. This laptop is for those who haven’t got time to play about and brag about the latest film they watched in HD on their laptop. For something this price though it does exactly what it set out to do perfectly.
HP 6830s
The HP 6830s has a Intel Dual-Core processor backed up with a 3GB Ram which combined, have the capability to multi task many programs at once without reducing its’ speed or quality. One of the first laptops to incorporate a blu-ray drive along with a nearly full size keyboard and an impressive battery life all for an attractive price. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor is poor and as a result there is low power performance and the image quality is poor to say the least. As one of the most affordable Blu-ray laptopsf you can currently buy its excellent battery life and Blu-ray compatibility makes the 6830s well worth considering. As one of the most affordable Blu-ray laptops you can currently buy its excellent battery life and Blu-ray compatibility makes the 6830s well worth considering.
This Hewlett Packaridd laptop has a great Intel Dual-Core processor backed up with a 3GB Ram which combined, have the capability to multi task many programs at once without reducing its speed or quality.
So you can be downloading music while uploading photos and be using all the work applications at the same time, and the efficiency of the laptop should be not be affected.
The 6830s comes with a huge 250GB hard drive as standard which you will have trouble filling even with all your photos, music and files. There is also full wireless and Bluetooth capabilities built in allowing connecting to the internet anywhere at any time to be a quick and hassle free task. This added to the built in webcam, 4 USB ports and a card reader, the 6830s is quickly becoming a fantastic all rounder with all the features you could possibly need.
However, arguably the best feature of this laptop, is it’s built in Blu-ray drive. As the 6830s comes with a laptop price tag, the complete and exciting entertainment experience comes as both a fantastic bonus and an amazing level of detail for you to take advantage of while watching high definition movies, not forgetting the ultra stylish 17 inch screen, it may even slip your mind you this is all coming from a laptop!
If you are looking for a great laptop with all the entertainment extras you could need, the Hewlett Packard 6830s could be the laptop you’ve been waiting for.
This Hewlett Packaridd laptop has a great Intel Dual-Core processor backed up with a 3GB Ram which combined, have the capability to multi task many programs at once without reducing its speed or quality.
So you can be downloading music while uploading photos and be using all the work applications at the same time, and the efficiency of the laptop should be not be affected.
The 6830s comes with a huge 250GB hard drive as standard which you will have trouble filling even with all your photos, music and files. There is also full wireless and Bluetooth capabilities built in allowing connecting to the internet anywhere at any time to be a quick and hassle free task. This added to the built in webcam, 4 USB ports and a card reader, the 6830s is quickly becoming a fantastic all rounder with all the features you could possibly need.
However, arguably the best feature of this laptop, is it’s built in Blu-ray drive. As the 6830s comes with a laptop price tag, the complete and exciting entertainment experience comes as both a fantastic bonus and an amazing level of detail for you to take advantage of while watching high definition movies, not forgetting the ultra stylish 17 inch screen, it may even slip your mind you this is all coming from a laptop!
If you are looking for a great laptop with all the entertainment extras you could need, the Hewlett Packard 6830s could be the laptop you’ve been waiting for.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Getac B300
The B300 is one of the king pins of rugged laptops; it has also been designed so that any user can customise it. It has amazing security, power and connectivity options and boasts a 12 hour battery life. Works as normal when exposed to water. Slightly pricey for its size. The B300 is one of the king pins of rugged laptops; it has also been designed so that any user can customise it. It has amazing security, power and connectivity options and boasts a 12 hour battery life.
The screen size comes in at 13.3” and along with that you can opt in for a touch screen. The B300 has a magnesium alloy design, shock mounted hard disk drive, vibration and shock resistance along with sealed caps to prevent damage from small particles and moisture.
Just in case that isn’t secure enough it comes along with a finger print screen, a optional smart card reader and also includes connectivity options such as Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, GPS and 3G.Just in case that isn’t secure enough it comes along with a finger print screen, a optional smart card reader and also includes connectivity options such as Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, GPS and 3G.
The screen size comes in at 13.3” and along with that you can opt in for a touch screen. The B300 has a magnesium alloy design, shock mounted hard disk drive, vibration and shock resistance along with sealed caps to prevent damage from small particles and moisture.
Just in case that isn’t secure enough it comes along with a finger print screen, a optional smart card reader and also includes connectivity options such as Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, GPS and 3G.Just in case that isn’t secure enough it comes along with a finger print screen, a optional smart card reader and also includes connectivity options such as Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, GPS and 3G.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook N3530
The Fujitsu LifeBook N3500 laptop combines innovation with latest generation Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology, and delivers leading performance in a sleek design. Boasts an advanced Colour-Enhanced Crystal View display. A slightly bulky laptop. The optional Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2005 will turn your notebook into an uncompromising Media Centre PC. It includes built-in connectivity, media options, and a stunning display.
Fujitsu Siemens Amilo LI 1705
The 15.4" Amilo has a huge 120GB hard drive and offers wireless LAN capability as well as being equipped with plenty of entertainment features. Windows Vista Home Basic is also included. Packed with a powerful Intel Pentium Dual Core T2060 Processor.
A very vasic laptop.
DVDs and games are beautifully displayed on its 15.4 inch with CrystalView screen technology.
The 15.4" Amilo has a huge 120GB hard drive and offers wireless LAN capability as well as being equipped with plenty of entertainment features. Windows Vista Home Basic is also included.
A very vasic laptop.
DVDs and games are beautifully displayed on its 15.4 inch with CrystalView screen technology.
The 15.4" Amilo has a huge 120GB hard drive and offers wireless LAN capability as well as being equipped with plenty of entertainment features. Windows Vista Home Basic is also included.
eMachine D620
The eMachine D620 is an impressive no-frills notebook that is ideal for basic home use, such as surfing the Internet, sending e-mails and managing finances. The D620 runs on an AMD Athlon 64 processor with 1.66 GHz, which is more than adequate for surfing the worldwide web, while the huge 160GB hard drive provides enough storage space for 1000's of songs, photos and video content, which can be viewed on the impressive 14.1-inch TFT display.Not the laptop to go for if you need a lot of processing power for memory intensive applications.If you’re looking for a laptop that offers desktop-level reliability and performance at a low price, then you should definitely consider the eMachine D620.Other features of the D620 include a dual DVD/CD burner, graphics card, 3 USB ports and wireless connectivity (WiFi) for instant internet access on the go. The notebook also comes equipped with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic.
Dell Vostro V130
The Dell Vostro V130 is an incredibly thin, quiet and exquisite 13.3-inch laptop. Business users and travellers will find the laptop fits perfectly with their lifestyle. The only downside is the lack of an optical drive.
Ridiculously good looking, thin and light. Solid aluminium finish and looks sturdy enough to survive the odd drop or two.At 1.6kg, the Vostro V130 from Dell is only 280g heavier than the MacBook Air 13-inch laptop, comes in Lucerne Red or Aberdeen Silver with an LED-backlit, anti-glare, HD screen with 1366 x 768 resolution.The V130 is one of the thinnest and lightest ultraportable 13-inch laptops around and will set you back around £750.
The first thing you'll notice about the Vostro V130 when you pick it up is that it's incredibly thin and light. It weighs just over 1.5 kilos and is less than 2cm thick - which means it's perfect for those on the move.
This laptop is designed to be portable and it certainly doesn’t fail in that category. It sports a smooth 13.3 inch WLED HD screen with matt finish - a great size to watch HD movies or photos.The screen is vibrant and the 1366 by 768 screen res is perfect for web browsing and watching HD videos in 720p playback. There’s also an HDMI output on the back, which means you can plug it into your high-def telly and enjoy HD video content on the big screen.
The V130 is certainly value for money. This V130 shipped with 500GB hard drive, 4GB RAM with Windows 7 Home Premium in Aberdeen Silver. Made with aluminium and reinforced with zinc hinges, the V130 will certainly survive the odd bump and thump.
The V130 has an Intel Core i5-470UM processor with Turbo Boost mode, meaning that the clock speed can jump from 1.33 to 1.86GHz as and when required. The Vostro has Hyperbaric Cooling, an Intel Advanced Cooling Technology which means the V130’s cooling fan acts as an air intake rather than an exhaust.
It seems to work, too, as the V130 was quiet and cool after several hours’ use.
Plethora of connections
When it comes to connections, you’ll find almost all of them on the back of the laptop. There’s a shared eSATA/USB port, 2 USB ports, VGA, HDMI and Ethernet port.
There’s an audio and mic port on the front and on the side you’ll find a multi-format reader. There’s a SIM card slot at the front, too – but this V130 didn’t come with a 3G modem to use it.
There’s a full-sized keyboard with magnesium alloy palm rest, too. It’s got to be said – the V130 design is pretty flawless.
Impressive battery life
Battery life is pretty impressive for an ultraportable. The V130’s battery lasted for just over 3 hours running the CPU at 100% on Dell’s Power plan. If you want more juice, the battery life can be extended by using Dell’s own Power save plans, too.
Windows Experience Index
When it comes to the Windows Experience Index, the V130 is let down by its HD graphics integrated with the processor. It’s come a long way from previous generations of Intel integrated graphics chips and can support high definition video. However, playing games such as COD4 or FIFA11 become too much for the V130.
This is shown in the Windows Experience Index of 3.1 for graphics.
The only niggle we have for Dell about the V130 is the lack of an optical drive. With a laptop aimed at small to medium-sized businesses, you’d expect an optical drive – certainly for the price you’d have to pay for the V130.
All things considered, the Dell V130 is a great laptop. Although the ultraportable market is crying out for an all-in-one laptop that includes an optical drive – the V130 comes very, very close.
Ridiculously good looking, thin and light. Solid aluminium finish and looks sturdy enough to survive the odd drop or two.At 1.6kg, the Vostro V130 from Dell is only 280g heavier than the MacBook Air 13-inch laptop, comes in Lucerne Red or Aberdeen Silver with an LED-backlit, anti-glare, HD screen with 1366 x 768 resolution.The V130 is one of the thinnest and lightest ultraportable 13-inch laptops around and will set you back around £750.
The first thing you'll notice about the Vostro V130 when you pick it up is that it's incredibly thin and light. It weighs just over 1.5 kilos and is less than 2cm thick - which means it's perfect for those on the move.
This laptop is designed to be portable and it certainly doesn’t fail in that category. It sports a smooth 13.3 inch WLED HD screen with matt finish - a great size to watch HD movies or photos.The screen is vibrant and the 1366 by 768 screen res is perfect for web browsing and watching HD videos in 720p playback. There’s also an HDMI output on the back, which means you can plug it into your high-def telly and enjoy HD video content on the big screen.
The V130 is certainly value for money. This V130 shipped with 500GB hard drive, 4GB RAM with Windows 7 Home Premium in Aberdeen Silver. Made with aluminium and reinforced with zinc hinges, the V130 will certainly survive the odd bump and thump.
The V130 has an Intel Core i5-470UM processor with Turbo Boost mode, meaning that the clock speed can jump from 1.33 to 1.86GHz as and when required. The Vostro has Hyperbaric Cooling, an Intel Advanced Cooling Technology which means the V130’s cooling fan acts as an air intake rather than an exhaust.
It seems to work, too, as the V130 was quiet and cool after several hours’ use.
Plethora of connections
When it comes to connections, you’ll find almost all of them on the back of the laptop. There’s a shared eSATA/USB port, 2 USB ports, VGA, HDMI and Ethernet port.
There’s an audio and mic port on the front and on the side you’ll find a multi-format reader. There’s a SIM card slot at the front, too – but this V130 didn’t come with a 3G modem to use it.
There’s a full-sized keyboard with magnesium alloy palm rest, too. It’s got to be said – the V130 design is pretty flawless.
Impressive battery life
Battery life is pretty impressive for an ultraportable. The V130’s battery lasted for just over 3 hours running the CPU at 100% on Dell’s Power plan. If you want more juice, the battery life can be extended by using Dell’s own Power save plans, too.
Windows Experience Index
When it comes to the Windows Experience Index, the V130 is let down by its HD graphics integrated with the processor. It’s come a long way from previous generations of Intel integrated graphics chips and can support high definition video. However, playing games such as COD4 or FIFA11 become too much for the V130.
This is shown in the Windows Experience Index of 3.1 for graphics.
The only niggle we have for Dell about the V130 is the lack of an optical drive. With a laptop aimed at small to medium-sized businesses, you’d expect an optical drive – certainly for the price you’d have to pay for the V130.
All things considered, the Dell V130 is a great laptop. Although the ultraportable market is crying out for an all-in-one laptop that includes an optical drive – the V130 comes very, very close.
Dell Inspiron 17R
Considered the premium version of the Dell Inspiron 17, the Inspiron 17R has more options in terms of graphics card, memory and Wi-Fi yet at the same time offering a great design, screen and overall usability. The dedicated graphics card is capable of handling even some of the most demanding games and the huge 17.3” inch high definition screen is more than perfect for watching the latest DVDs and the i5 processor is more than capable of handling multiple applications with ease. The screen and the entire laptop as a whole is extrememly reflective. Even though this isn’t much of a problem it certainly does attract finger prints and dust a lot. However, even though the battery life is quite miserable but for a desktop replacement laptop that is far from being portable it is satisfactory. The Inspiron range is one of the better consumer laptop ranges on the market and the Inspiron 17R is the latest in Dell’s latest big-screen media centre laptop. Putting aside the small problems such as a highly reflective finsih and screen and the fact that it attracts dust and finger prints it is one of the greatest desktop replacement laptops.
The Inspiron 17R has a great specification our test unit consisted of a i5-450M processor with 2.4GHz processing speed. Just like other Core i5 CPUs, the i5-450M is based on 32nm Arrandale core, main features of wihch are dual-core architecture. A dual-core laptop CPU that clocks due to Turbo Boost to a maximum 2.66GHz. Turbo Boosting is automatically undertaken by the laptop when necessary to help multi-task and support running applications. The dual core processor due to hyperthreading is able to work with four threads simulatenously and thus support multi-tasking with ease. With the ability to multi-task effortlessly partly due to the 4GB of RAM the Intel Core i5-450M is certainly a great processor for a great laptop.
In addition, to the Intel Core i5-450M processor the Inspiron 17R features a 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 a middle class DirectX 11 graphics card and due to the higher clock rate the 3D gaming performance is above the HD 4570. As a result even some of the most demanding games such as Crysis plays fluently on the HD 4570, even if in low settings, and less demanding games such as Left 4 Dead runs fluently in higher settings. Similar to the HD 5000 series the Mobility HD 5470 supports Eyefinity which allows to connect the graphics chip to up to four monitors. The power consumption of the graphics chip is between 12 and 15 watts and therefore the GPU is used in 13-17” laptops.
The 17.3” inch HD display is more than spectacular and even though this laptop is far from mobile the screen certainly makes it worth while. The glorious 1600:900, or more commonly 16:9 aspect ratio is prefect for watching widescreen movies whilst the stunning brightness and TrueLife colours bring images to life and with a great 320GB hard drive you will be able to store all of your photos, films and files without a hassle at all.
With a wide range of ports from 3 USB ports, a VGA port, a HDMI port, an eSata port, an ethernet port and a microphone and audio in port there really isn’t anything that you cannot connect to this great laptop. In addition, with the inclusion of Bluetooth you can certainly connect to just about every peripheral of yours.
Even though Dell claims that the battery life is up to 5 hours long we found out that under max performance the battery lasted only a minor 90 minutes and even in power saving mode we could only manage around about three and a half hours. However, one great inovation is the laptop charger that is well pre-bent in order to avoid the wear and tear and destruction of the charger
With other great features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera and SRS Premium Sound Stereo Speakers this is certainly an overall winner. Even by desktop replacement standards the sound that pours out of these two stereo speakers is adequate and provides great music playback.
For such a low price and for the great specification in multiple areas such as GPU, CPU and HardDisk this 3Kg laptop is certainly a great overall multimedia desktop replacement laptop.
The Inspiron 17R has a great specification our test unit consisted of a i5-450M processor with 2.4GHz processing speed. Just like other Core i5 CPUs, the i5-450M is based on 32nm Arrandale core, main features of wihch are dual-core architecture. A dual-core laptop CPU that clocks due to Turbo Boost to a maximum 2.66GHz. Turbo Boosting is automatically undertaken by the laptop when necessary to help multi-task and support running applications. The dual core processor due to hyperthreading is able to work with four threads simulatenously and thus support multi-tasking with ease. With the ability to multi-task effortlessly partly due to the 4GB of RAM the Intel Core i5-450M is certainly a great processor for a great laptop.
In addition, to the Intel Core i5-450M processor the Inspiron 17R features a 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 a middle class DirectX 11 graphics card and due to the higher clock rate the 3D gaming performance is above the HD 4570. As a result even some of the most demanding games such as Crysis plays fluently on the HD 4570, even if in low settings, and less demanding games such as Left 4 Dead runs fluently in higher settings. Similar to the HD 5000 series the Mobility HD 5470 supports Eyefinity which allows to connect the graphics chip to up to four monitors. The power consumption of the graphics chip is between 12 and 15 watts and therefore the GPU is used in 13-17” laptops.
The 17.3” inch HD display is more than spectacular and even though this laptop is far from mobile the screen certainly makes it worth while. The glorious 1600:900, or more commonly 16:9 aspect ratio is prefect for watching widescreen movies whilst the stunning brightness and TrueLife colours bring images to life and with a great 320GB hard drive you will be able to store all of your photos, films and files without a hassle at all.
With a wide range of ports from 3 USB ports, a VGA port, a HDMI port, an eSata port, an ethernet port and a microphone and audio in port there really isn’t anything that you cannot connect to this great laptop. In addition, with the inclusion of Bluetooth you can certainly connect to just about every peripheral of yours.
Even though Dell claims that the battery life is up to 5 hours long we found out that under max performance the battery lasted only a minor 90 minutes and even in power saving mode we could only manage around about three and a half hours. However, one great inovation is the laptop charger that is well pre-bent in order to avoid the wear and tear and destruction of the charger
With other great features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera and SRS Premium Sound Stereo Speakers this is certainly an overall winner. Even by desktop replacement standards the sound that pours out of these two stereo speakers is adequate and provides great music playback.
For such a low price and for the great specification in multiple areas such as GPU, CPU and HardDisk this 3Kg laptop is certainly a great overall multimedia desktop replacement laptop.
Asus Eee PC 1000
The Eee PC 1000, the most well equipped and largest in the Eee series, is a fabulous netbook that walks the thin line between netbook and ultraportable. It’s well equipped, well designed and great for anyone looking for a balance between portability and functionality. The Intel Atom N270 processor, a revolution on its own, replaced the popular Celeron in many cases and is used in most low cost notebooks and is more than adequate for a small mini notebook and yet at the same time not compromising the size of the screen or keyboard. For such a small, mini notebook, to weigh in at 1.45kg is less than permissible and being so small and portable and not having the capability of 3G is a slight let down. A fabulous machine well equipped and portable, well designed and compact and has a choice of specifications. Fantastic for those on the move and is small whilst still being usable. The solid state drive is a benefit as a knock or bump will not harm it in a way that a traditional hard disk would be affected. The Asus Eee PC 1000, like the others in its range, is no ordinary laptop. It is a netbook and this netbook kicks the rear ends of all of its predecessors. It is the best and most well equipped and largest notebook in the Eee series.
Before we cause confusion lets clear up what a netbook actually is. A netbook is a category of small, inexpensive and light weight sub notebooks specialized for web browsing and core computing. An excellent companion for anyone who needs a permanent travel computer.
Asus have ensured that the Eee PC 1000 is available in one of two operating systems. The more common Windows XP model for around £349 and a Linux model for £369. Before you wonder where that extra £20 is going, we have no idea. Along with saving £20 with the Windows model you receive an extra 40GB of hard disk space. However, both models come with 802.11bgn Wi-Fi allow you to connect to just about any and every wireless network.
The netbook measures in at 22.5cm x 17.0cm x 2.0cm and as a result is very portable, even though it is the biggest, in terms of physical size, in its series. That’s not a problem but the weigh of the netbook is, without the battery it weighs in at about 1.1kg yet with the battery it weighs an extra 0.35kg. The size and weight of this netbook forces us to say that this isn’t really a netbook, it is more of an ultraportable laptop such as the Sony Vaio TZ series.
However, the keyboard on this small 10.1 inch screen netbook is something to brag about. The keyboard is one of the best, if not the best, on any machine in its category. The mouse pad is quite simply perfect. It supports multi-touch input which means you can rub two fingers vertically or horizontally to roll through documents or even use a pinch motion to zoon in and out of images. This just makes surfing the net and life so much easier.
Considering that ultraportable laptops can cost anywhere above £500 the Asus is still in the clear as this netbook is at its most is only £369.
Overall the machine is not bad at all. Its screen is of a good standard and it’s a pleasure to use. In the field of performance, as long as you stick to web surfing, word processing and watching movie you shouldn’t be disappointed. Furthermore, it has a great battery life of four hours enough to watch Saw I and II and get half way through Saw III, now that is a good laptop.
Before we cause confusion lets clear up what a netbook actually is. A netbook is a category of small, inexpensive and light weight sub notebooks specialized for web browsing and core computing. An excellent companion for anyone who needs a permanent travel computer.
Asus have ensured that the Eee PC 1000 is available in one of two operating systems. The more common Windows XP model for around £349 and a Linux model for £369. Before you wonder where that extra £20 is going, we have no idea. Along with saving £20 with the Windows model you receive an extra 40GB of hard disk space. However, both models come with 802.11bgn Wi-Fi allow you to connect to just about any and every wireless network.
The netbook measures in at 22.5cm x 17.0cm x 2.0cm and as a result is very portable, even though it is the biggest, in terms of physical size, in its series. That’s not a problem but the weigh of the netbook is, without the battery it weighs in at about 1.1kg yet with the battery it weighs an extra 0.35kg. The size and weight of this netbook forces us to say that this isn’t really a netbook, it is more of an ultraportable laptop such as the Sony Vaio TZ series.
However, the keyboard on this small 10.1 inch screen netbook is something to brag about. The keyboard is one of the best, if not the best, on any machine in its category. The mouse pad is quite simply perfect. It supports multi-touch input which means you can rub two fingers vertically or horizontally to roll through documents or even use a pinch motion to zoon in and out of images. This just makes surfing the net and life so much easier.
Considering that ultraportable laptops can cost anywhere above £500 the Asus is still in the clear as this netbook is at its most is only £369.
Overall the machine is not bad at all. Its screen is of a good standard and it’s a pleasure to use. In the field of performance, as long as you stick to web surfing, word processing and watching movie you shouldn’t be disappointed. Furthermore, it has a great battery life of four hours enough to watch Saw I and II and get half way through Saw III, now that is a good laptop.
Asus Bamboo U6V
The Asus' new Bamboo Laptop is quite literally as its name suggests is one of the world's first laptops made with an element of nature, instead of the shiny plastic normally used on laptop cases, this latest notebook is presented with laminated bamboo strips, making it both stylish and better for the environment. Before even considering the features this laptop has, one must first appreciate the attractive and totally unique piece of art that is the encasing of the new Asus notebook. With no two covers the same; it is crafted with both consideration and dedication and provides the user with a minimalistic charm that could never be replicated with synthetic materials. However, at over £1013 - it may be a little bit too much for some. The specifications may be good - but during the credit crunch, we'd expect more people to go for a Lenovo or a Vaio - for the same price or less - and for that reason, it only gets 2*. Before even considering the features this laptop has, one must first appreciate the attractive and totally unique piece of art that is the encasing of the new Asus notebook. With no two covers the same; it is crafted with both consideration and dedication and provides the user with a minimalistic charm that could never be replicated with synthetic materials. The Asus' new Bamboo Laptop is quite literally as its name suggests is one of the world's first laptops made with an element of nature, instead of the shiny plastic normally used on laptop cases, this latest notebook is presented with laminated bamboo strips, making it both stylish and better for the environment.
Before even considering the features this laptop has, one must first appreciate the attractive and totally unique piece of art that is the encasing of the new Asus notebook. With no two covers the same; it is crafted with both consideration and dedication and provides the user with a minimalistic charm that could never be replicated with synthetic materials.
The innovative design of this laptop does not come at the detriment of the usability and features available. Powered by the Intel Core Duo processor, beautifully presented on a 12.1 inch screen, with a massive 4 GB of memory to use, this notebook brings the latest technologies of computing back to nature and could well be the missing link we have all been waiting for.
However, at over £1013 - it may be a little bit too much for some. The specifications may be good - but during the credit crunch, we'd expect more people to go for a Lenovo or a Vaio - for the same price or less - and for that reason, it only gets 2*.
Before even considering the features this laptop has, one must first appreciate the attractive and totally unique piece of art that is the encasing of the new Asus notebook. With no two covers the same; it is crafted with both consideration and dedication and provides the user with a minimalistic charm that could never be replicated with synthetic materials.
The innovative design of this laptop does not come at the detriment of the usability and features available. Powered by the Intel Core Duo processor, beautifully presented on a 12.1 inch screen, with a massive 4 GB of memory to use, this notebook brings the latest technologies of computing back to nature and could well be the missing link we have all been waiting for.
However, at over £1013 - it may be a little bit too much for some. The specifications may be good - but during the credit crunch, we'd expect more people to go for a Lenovo or a Vaio - for the same price or less - and for that reason, it only gets 2*.
Advent 9515
The Advent 9515 is weighs in at 2.8kg and it measures up at 358x36x258mm. It isn’t a huge laptop by any means but it isn’t exactly a slim jim. Huge storage space - 160GB hard drive. Not the sexiest of laptops. Poor battery life. Advent are clear cut - reliable, durable and relatively cheap. If you're looking for a laptop that'll take a battering, look no further. Advent has decided to be different. They have decided that Intel isn’t good enough. They have decided to go with an AMD chip rather than an Intel.
You’re probably all thinking the Advent 9515 laptop is going to be poorer than an Intel...but guess what? It isn’t half bad and its performance is just as good. It also comes with a 160GB hard drive which is more then enough really. It also has a DVD writer and the keyboard is easy to use, a good size and uses the most of the area it has. The touch pad below the keyboard is also half decent but it can be difficult to use at times, so I’d suggest buy yourself a mouse.
That frankly is as good as it gets from no on it is the downsides. Don’t blame me I didn’t create this amazing laptop – I hope you realised I was being sarcastic.
The laptop has been branded as a desktop replacement, yes that is true it is a desktop replacement but I’d say not the best desktop replacement. It struggles with any type of gaming.
You would also expect a desktop replacement laptop to last quite a while but unfortunately the Advent 9515s battery life is nothing to brag about. The battery lasts for about two hours, not what you would expect from a desktop replacement. Yet what do you expect it is fairly cheap.
It also has a 15.4” screen. Now I bet you’re thinking that doesn’t sound bad but wait let me finish. This 15.4” screen has a standard widescreen resolution and like many laptops the panel is not glossy. This also helps to give you the image of murky and washed out colours. So when you want to look at your home videos or pictures they will appear to be of a half decent quality.
Overall this laptop doesn’t really come with much to brag about, at all. It does pass when trying to use web browsing and word processing and other core applications of a desktop computer.
Its short battery life doesn’t help but then again you won’t be lugging this around with you much. Well it weighs in at 2.8kg and it measures up at 358x36x258mm. It isn’t a juggernaut but it isn’t exactly a slim jim.
You’re probably all thinking the Advent 9515 laptop is going to be poorer than an Intel...but guess what? It isn’t half bad and its performance is just as good. It also comes with a 160GB hard drive which is more then enough really. It also has a DVD writer and the keyboard is easy to use, a good size and uses the most of the area it has. The touch pad below the keyboard is also half decent but it can be difficult to use at times, so I’d suggest buy yourself a mouse.
That frankly is as good as it gets from no on it is the downsides. Don’t blame me I didn’t create this amazing laptop – I hope you realised I was being sarcastic.
The laptop has been branded as a desktop replacement, yes that is true it is a desktop replacement but I’d say not the best desktop replacement. It struggles with any type of gaming.
You would also expect a desktop replacement laptop to last quite a while but unfortunately the Advent 9515s battery life is nothing to brag about. The battery lasts for about two hours, not what you would expect from a desktop replacement. Yet what do you expect it is fairly cheap.
It also has a 15.4” screen. Now I bet you’re thinking that doesn’t sound bad but wait let me finish. This 15.4” screen has a standard widescreen resolution and like many laptops the panel is not glossy. This also helps to give you the image of murky and washed out colours. So when you want to look at your home videos or pictures they will appear to be of a half decent quality.
Overall this laptop doesn’t really come with much to brag about, at all. It does pass when trying to use web browsing and word processing and other core applications of a desktop computer.
Its short battery life doesn’t help but then again you won’t be lugging this around with you much. Well it weighs in at 2.8kg and it measures up at 358x36x258mm. It isn’t a juggernaut but it isn’t exactly a slim jim.
Acer Aspire 5745
The Acer Aspire 5745 is a laptop that features multimedia performance with a great screen and a powerful mid-range Intel Core i5-450M processor, combined with a dedicated graphics and HD technologies taking you right to where the action is. The laptop has a dedicated graphics card and in combination with the processor ensures this laptop performs and the sharp screen and touch screen controls are an added benefit. Its weight of 2.7kg will be heavy for some but in combination with the 3 hour battery life certainly takes away from the portability of this laptop. An excellent all-round laptop that is certainly worth buying if you need something that is powerful, nearly-portable and not too expensive. The Acer Aspire 5745 features the latest in mid-range processors, the Intel Core i5-450M. In addition, the build quality of the laptop is strong and has a solid chassis and even though Acer haven't gone crazy with design and have kept it simple it certainly looks sleek and attractive especially with the glossy black lid and brushed aluminium finish along the palmrests.The keyboard is impressive and firm and the flat but slightly raised keys are comfortable and easy to use and even though it is uncommon to find a keyboard that lacks key definition and still be comfortable we reckon this certainly bucks the trend.
The 15.6inch widescreen display is fantastically stunning creating realistic images and thanks to Acer's added touch control functionality you can forget the touchpad and use your fingers to move and use the cursor
However, even though this laptop is an all-rounder it is certainly not perfect and that's due to its limited portability. The 3 hour battery life is about standard for desktop replacement laptops. However, the 2.7kg of this laptop is just acceptable but you will need to remember to pack the charger just in case.The dedicated graphics the Nvidia GeForce 320M, that still uses the laptops memory, will be able to run older and less demanding games in high details fluently. However, more modern games such as Crysis will only be able to be played in low settings.
The Acer Aspire 5745 is an excellent all-round laptop that is worth every penny due to the solid build quality, power, usability and design.
The 15.6inch widescreen display is fantastically stunning creating realistic images and thanks to Acer's added touch control functionality you can forget the touchpad and use your fingers to move and use the cursor
However, even though this laptop is an all-rounder it is certainly not perfect and that's due to its limited portability. The 3 hour battery life is about standard for desktop replacement laptops. However, the 2.7kg of this laptop is just acceptable but you will need to remember to pack the charger just in case.The dedicated graphics the Nvidia GeForce 320M, that still uses the laptops memory, will be able to run older and less demanding games in high details fluently. However, more modern games such as Crysis will only be able to be played in low settings.
The Acer Aspire 5745 is an excellent all-round laptop that is worth every penny due to the solid build quality, power, usability and design.
Acer Aspire 5738 3D
The Acer Aspire 5738 3D features 3D technology, Dolby surround sound, a great processor and other great features making this a more than average gaming laptop. The hard disk is relatively large, contains a fast CPU and the so called 3D is permissible. The 3D feature isn't that impressive and the graphics card is average. The 3D hype has reached a fever pitch recently and the Acer Aspire 5738 3D is capable of delivering a noticeable but average 3D image but in numerous cases it is below average with an image that is ineffective. However, it is still a good machine. The Acer Aspire 5738 3D is a 15.6inch laptop that sports a 3D screen and is moderately priced at £679.99. However, the screen is both 2D and 3D enabled. When the 3D mode isn't on the image shows as normal. However, when the 3D mode is enabled the TriDef 3D technology transforms a 2D image into a 3D object but a pair of polarising glasses are needed to really provide the impression of depth. However, the 3D image is only perceived at a certain angle and distance otherwise the illusion is ruined so in all the 3D effect is a gimmick, a time wasting gimmick too.Aside form the apparent ability to convert everyday 2D applications into 3D objects, rather poorly, the best instance of the 3D ability of this laptop is whilst playing games in particularly Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare that when loaded with TriDef software looks great and adds a noticeable sense of depth.The Acer Aspire 5738 3D is powered by a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T4400 which is quick enough to meet the demands of most users and with a 320GB hard drive, 4GB RAM and Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium you've got everything you need to keep you going. However, for a gaming laptop the only let down is the average dedicated graphics card that only sports 512MB dedicated graphics, it is powerful enough to run HD movies but certainly does struggle with 3D games at high resolution and high details. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5738 3D is a decent 3D laptop most notably when playing games but it's still far from perfect even though it is a rather decent laptop if you put aside the gimmick of 3D technology.
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Toshiba Satellite L670 10N
The Toshiba Satellite L670-10N is capable driven by an Intel Pentium Dual Core P6000 and features some great features.
Great design and a great trackpad.
The keyboard is spongy and the speakers are below average even for a laptop.
The Toshiba Satellite L670-10N with a huge 17inch screen is a desktop replacement laptop no questions asked. However, the keyboard is spongy, the speakers are below average even for a laptop but it still offers impressive performance for the price
The Toshiba Satellite L670-10N is a desktop replacement laptop that comes with a large 17.3inch screen and powered by a capable Intel Pentium Dual Core P6000. The design is rather standard with a glossy black finish and a touch of class due to the carbon-fibre style pattern on the surface.
However, the spongy, flex-under-your-finger keyboard certainly takes away from the Toshiba Satellite L670’s premium feel. However, the keyboard is roomy even with a full-size shift and return key as well as a numerical keypad. Nonetheless, the trackpad is certainly great with a slightly rough texture that makes it one of the easiest to use trackpads around. In addition, there is even a trackpad on/off button for when you’re using a mouse.
The laptop comes with a number of ports and connections such as three USB2 ports, one of which doubles up as an eSata port, a VGA socket, a HDMI port, an SD card slot, an Ethernet port as well as 802.11bgn Wi-Fi even though there is no Bluetooth connectivity which is a slight shame.
The screen is large at 17.3inches and recreates a crisp and sharp image but does come with a glossy and reflective coating.
The 500GB hard disk comes in the form of two 250GB partitions and there is plenty of room for all of your files and documents.
Overall, the Toshiba satellite is a decent looking laptop with an impressive performance a great screen and all at a reasonable price but the keyboard is spongy and the speakers are below laptop standards.
Great design and a great trackpad.
The keyboard is spongy and the speakers are below average even for a laptop.
The Toshiba Satellite L670-10N with a huge 17inch screen is a desktop replacement laptop no questions asked. However, the keyboard is spongy, the speakers are below average even for a laptop but it still offers impressive performance for the price
The Toshiba Satellite L670-10N is a desktop replacement laptop that comes with a large 17.3inch screen and powered by a capable Intel Pentium Dual Core P6000. The design is rather standard with a glossy black finish and a touch of class due to the carbon-fibre style pattern on the surface.
However, the spongy, flex-under-your-finger keyboard certainly takes away from the Toshiba Satellite L670’s premium feel. However, the keyboard is roomy even with a full-size shift and return key as well as a numerical keypad. Nonetheless, the trackpad is certainly great with a slightly rough texture that makes it one of the easiest to use trackpads around. In addition, there is even a trackpad on/off button for when you’re using a mouse.
The laptop comes with a number of ports and connections such as three USB2 ports, one of which doubles up as an eSata port, a VGA socket, a HDMI port, an SD card slot, an Ethernet port as well as 802.11bgn Wi-Fi even though there is no Bluetooth connectivity which is a slight shame.
The screen is large at 17.3inches and recreates a crisp and sharp image but does come with a glossy and reflective coating.
The 500GB hard disk comes in the form of two 250GB partitions and there is plenty of room for all of your files and documents.
Overall, the Toshiba satellite is a decent looking laptop with an impressive performance a great screen and all at a reasonable price but the keyboard is spongy and the speakers are below laptop standards.
Samsung Q1 Ultra Tablet
The attractive and sleek design, multiple input options including a full QWERTY keyboard as well as being lightweight and large make this rather appealing
There is no cellular broadband and even though the keyboard is an improvement it is still a challenge and seeing that the battery life is still fairly weak this isn't really a portable tablet
The Samsung Q1 Ultra A110 is seriously underpowered and if you wish to upgrade from XP to Vista, which is easily done, it be a bad mistake causing the entire thing to run a whole lot slower. The Q1 Ultra is the best version yet by Samsung but still seriously niche
The Samsung Q1 Ultra at first glance seems impressive and attractive but under close examination a number of inaccuracies spring up. Samsung have split the QWERTY keypad between the left and right-hand sides of the rather large 7inch screen which makes it seem like an overgrown games console rather than a business orientated tablet pc.
Nonetheless, it is still rather comfortable to hold and even though it is an inch thick this helps to give it its sturdy feel and solid build. The 7inch screen backs a 1024x600 resolution which helps to give you a clean, clear and bright screen and with the capability to switch to portrait mode surfing the web is easy and fun and so, may I add, is watching films. Even though the screen is generally rather glossy surface reflection is fairly minimal.
The mouse button on the left switches the centre-mounted joystick between a track point and a cursor style selector. Nonetheless, you can use your finger or even the stylus, which is really a waste of time, and the touch screen has a number of multi-touch functions such as press-and-hold acts as a right-click.
The A110 is run by an Intel A110 0.8GHz processor, including 1GB Ram and a 40GB hard drive and the Intel GMA 950 graphics integrated chipset is a rather basic but modest performance.
In all the Samsung Ultra Q1 A110 is seriously underpowered and not the best pick of the punch for a tablet pc.
There is no cellular broadband and even though the keyboard is an improvement it is still a challenge and seeing that the battery life is still fairly weak this isn't really a portable tablet
The Samsung Q1 Ultra A110 is seriously underpowered and if you wish to upgrade from XP to Vista, which is easily done, it be a bad mistake causing the entire thing to run a whole lot slower. The Q1 Ultra is the best version yet by Samsung but still seriously niche
The Samsung Q1 Ultra at first glance seems impressive and attractive but under close examination a number of inaccuracies spring up. Samsung have split the QWERTY keypad between the left and right-hand sides of the rather large 7inch screen which makes it seem like an overgrown games console rather than a business orientated tablet pc.
Nonetheless, it is still rather comfortable to hold and even though it is an inch thick this helps to give it its sturdy feel and solid build. The 7inch screen backs a 1024x600 resolution which helps to give you a clean, clear and bright screen and with the capability to switch to portrait mode surfing the web is easy and fun and so, may I add, is watching films. Even though the screen is generally rather glossy surface reflection is fairly minimal.
The mouse button on the left switches the centre-mounted joystick between a track point and a cursor style selector. Nonetheless, you can use your finger or even the stylus, which is really a waste of time, and the touch screen has a number of multi-touch functions such as press-and-hold acts as a right-click.
The A110 is run by an Intel A110 0.8GHz processor, including 1GB Ram and a 40GB hard drive and the Intel GMA 950 graphics integrated chipset is a rather basic but modest performance.
In all the Samsung Ultra Q1 A110 is seriously underpowered and not the best pick of the punch for a tablet pc.
MSI GT640 Laptop
The MSI GT640-030UK is the latest from MSI's gaming laptop range featuring an Intel Core i7 processor and a Blu-ray RW optical drive.
The latest and one of the fastest processors from Intel with the added addition of a blu-ray drive included
Not very attractive and there is no blu-ray playback software included you've got to find it yourself and considering you're paying nearly £1000, which is expensive anyway, you would at least expect software to be included
MSI claim that this is the fastest quad-core laptop in the world, that may not be entirely correct, but it is certainly fast thanks to the Intel Core i7-720QM processor and will satisfy even the most demanding and gaming intensive user if that is they can handle the design and look so this rather ugly laptop. Nonetheless, it is a great desktop replacement laptop or gaming machine.
It is from MSI's latest line up of gaming systems and even though it is not attractive to all it is a decent looking laptop, with strong build quality and relatively great performance, even though laptops at a similar price can be found with better performance.
A gaming laptop has to have a decent and dedicated graphics card to handle the constant barrage of game playing. The MSI GT640-030UK includes a Nvidia GeForce GTS 250M 3D 1GB chip that will handle even the latest games without an issue even if they are in low settings.
I'm sure for those who read the specifications of this rather expensive laptop why on earth MSI are shipping it with a 32bit version of Windows, particularly when a 64-bit version of Windows 7 is far more powerful and is a lot smoother to run. However, MSI have declared they will be shipping it out with 64bit Windows 7 soon.
The Intel Core i7-720QM is a fast quad-core CPU but is the slowest of the Core i7 quad-core range. It incorporates 4 cores but with the use of hyper threading works on 8 threads simultaneously. In addition, and thanks to Turbo Mode or Turbo Boosting the CPU can be clocked up to 2.8GHz when necessary and therefore is faster for single core applications such as older and less intensive games. However, for £500 more you can purchase yourself an Alienware M17x which outstrips the Intel Core i7-720QM with its much faster Intel Core i7-902XM.
Nevertheless, the 15.4inch screen is clear, crisp and detailed providing a great screen to watch blu-ray movies on thanks to the Blu-ray RW drive. Furthermore, the keyboard is comfortable to use even though it does seem to creak under the pressure of our fingertips. However, an additional feature of the keyboard is that the W, A, S and D keys have all been painted red making it easier for gamers to locate. In addition, MSI have even managed to squeeze in a numeric keyboard.
However, the question of portability is somewhat a confusing matter considering this laptop weighs 2.8kg which is relatively light for a gaming laptop but the battery life only lasts 2 hours.
Overall, the MSI GT640-030UK is a great gaming laptop if the design appeals to you and considering that far better gaming laptops can be purchased for around £1000 this wouldn't necessarily be the top of Laptops.co.uk best gaming laptop list but the inclusion of a blu-ray RW drive is certainly a great thing.
The latest and one of the fastest processors from Intel with the added addition of a blu-ray drive included
Not very attractive and there is no blu-ray playback software included you've got to find it yourself and considering you're paying nearly £1000, which is expensive anyway, you would at least expect software to be included
MSI claim that this is the fastest quad-core laptop in the world, that may not be entirely correct, but it is certainly fast thanks to the Intel Core i7-720QM processor and will satisfy even the most demanding and gaming intensive user if that is they can handle the design and look so this rather ugly laptop. Nonetheless, it is a great desktop replacement laptop or gaming machine.
It is from MSI's latest line up of gaming systems and even though it is not attractive to all it is a decent looking laptop, with strong build quality and relatively great performance, even though laptops at a similar price can be found with better performance.
A gaming laptop has to have a decent and dedicated graphics card to handle the constant barrage of game playing. The MSI GT640-030UK includes a Nvidia GeForce GTS 250M 3D 1GB chip that will handle even the latest games without an issue even if they are in low settings.
I'm sure for those who read the specifications of this rather expensive laptop why on earth MSI are shipping it with a 32bit version of Windows, particularly when a 64-bit version of Windows 7 is far more powerful and is a lot smoother to run. However, MSI have declared they will be shipping it out with 64bit Windows 7 soon.
The Intel Core i7-720QM is a fast quad-core CPU but is the slowest of the Core i7 quad-core range. It incorporates 4 cores but with the use of hyper threading works on 8 threads simultaneously. In addition, and thanks to Turbo Mode or Turbo Boosting the CPU can be clocked up to 2.8GHz when necessary and therefore is faster for single core applications such as older and less intensive games. However, for £500 more you can purchase yourself an Alienware M17x which outstrips the Intel Core i7-720QM with its much faster Intel Core i7-902XM.
Nevertheless, the 15.4inch screen is clear, crisp and detailed providing a great screen to watch blu-ray movies on thanks to the Blu-ray RW drive. Furthermore, the keyboard is comfortable to use even though it does seem to creak under the pressure of our fingertips. However, an additional feature of the keyboard is that the W, A, S and D keys have all been painted red making it easier for gamers to locate. In addition, MSI have even managed to squeeze in a numeric keyboard.
However, the question of portability is somewhat a confusing matter considering this laptop weighs 2.8kg which is relatively light for a gaming laptop but the battery life only lasts 2 hours.
Overall, the MSI GT640-030UK is a great gaming laptop if the design appeals to you and considering that far better gaming laptops can be purchased for around £1000 this wouldn't necessarily be the top of Laptops.co.uk best gaming laptop list but the inclusion of a blu-ray RW drive is certainly a great thing.
HP Probook 5310m Ultraportable
If you’re looking for a stylish, ultra-portable, reliable and functional
laptop. The 5310m is the perfect one.
The trackpad is slightly sticky.
An ultra-portable laptop without a huge price tag and is a fine travel companion if you pack yourself a small portable mouse.
If the HP ProBook 5310M looks familiar that’s because it looks like an old Apple MacBook just the colours have been changed. Instead of the white and silver casing of a MacBook, HP choice all-black casing which is made from aluminium and a magnesium alloy.
The HP ProBook 5310M includes a 13.3inch, evenly lit LED-backlit widescreen display that thanks to a matte anti-glare coating is a great travel companion. The screen is as previously mentioned evenly lit, vivid, clear and crisp and is great even when working outdoors.
The laptop weighs 1.8kg which is borederline for an ultraportable laptop but is still rather light and easily portable. The keyboard does feature the chiclet style keyboard but the keys are rather close and takes time getting used to unless you fancy being plagued with numerous typos. However, once you are use to it you’ll find its rather comfortable and its even spill resistant. In addition, the touchpad doesn’t have texture at all and so finger’s do not slide around easily making it rather difficult to use.
However, the biggest downfall for such a portable laptop is its battery life lasting just mere 2.5 hours which certainly isn't fair when paying above £1,000.
In addition, the laptop includes an integrated 2megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and Wi-Fi as well as the normal plethora of ports such as mic and headphone jacks as well three USB2 ports.
However, the ProBook 5310M features a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SP9300 CPU, 3GB RAM and a great 320GB hard drive as well as Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics which is good enough to playback your video collection.
Overall, the HP ProBook 5310M is aimed at professional business users who will be on the move even though on the edge of the ultra-portable feature it is still a great laptop for the price and is perfect 13inch laptop.
laptop. The 5310m is the perfect one.
The trackpad is slightly sticky.
An ultra-portable laptop without a huge price tag and is a fine travel companion if you pack yourself a small portable mouse.
If the HP ProBook 5310M looks familiar that’s because it looks like an old Apple MacBook just the colours have been changed. Instead of the white and silver casing of a MacBook, HP choice all-black casing which is made from aluminium and a magnesium alloy.
The HP ProBook 5310M includes a 13.3inch, evenly lit LED-backlit widescreen display that thanks to a matte anti-glare coating is a great travel companion. The screen is as previously mentioned evenly lit, vivid, clear and crisp and is great even when working outdoors.
The laptop weighs 1.8kg which is borederline for an ultraportable laptop but is still rather light and easily portable. The keyboard does feature the chiclet style keyboard but the keys are rather close and takes time getting used to unless you fancy being plagued with numerous typos. However, once you are use to it you’ll find its rather comfortable and its even spill resistant. In addition, the touchpad doesn’t have texture at all and so finger’s do not slide around easily making it rather difficult to use.
However, the biggest downfall for such a portable laptop is its battery life lasting just mere 2.5 hours which certainly isn't fair when paying above £1,000.
In addition, the laptop includes an integrated 2megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and Wi-Fi as well as the normal plethora of ports such as mic and headphone jacks as well three USB2 ports.
However, the ProBook 5310M features a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SP9300 CPU, 3GB RAM and a great 320GB hard drive as well as Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics which is good enough to playback your video collection.
Overall, the HP ProBook 5310M is aimed at professional business users who will be on the move even though on the edge of the ultra-portable feature it is still a great laptop for the price and is perfect 13inch laptop.
HP EliteBook 8440P
The HP EliteBook 8440P allows you to take your office wherever you go and is the perfect way to connect, communicate or network giving you the perfect balance of power and portability.
The battery life long, the laptop has a strong build quality and performance is rather impressive.
Limited 3D power and storage space.
The HP EliteBook 8440P features a mixed level of features and specifications. However, it is a rather decent arrangement for business users. However, this laptop is for work and not for play. The HP EliteBook 8440P incorporates a rather impressive specification and is primarily aimed at professionals and business users mainly because it lacks the entertainment features such as a decent dedicated graphics card of its competitors. The laptop has solid build quality, long battery life of 4 hours and rather impressive performance certainly make this a great laptop.
The HP EliteBook 8440P is designed to be resilient and the chassis is built to be resistant not just withstand vibrations, dust, humidity but even extreme temperatures which means whatever you throw at it it’ll be able to handle.
In a similar note the keyboard is also resilient with a spill-resistant layer and a number of drainage holes that help to keep liquids away from damaging any internal components. The keyboard, besides being liquid proof is large and comfortable to use even over long periods.
The HP EliteBook 8440P features a 14inch TFT screen that features a matte finish, eliminating those annoying reflections and making the screen easily viewable in just about every situation.
Internally, the EliteBook integrates an Intel Core i7-620M processor with a clock speed of 2.66GHz and handles even the most demanding software, opening and running them in almost no time at all. The dedicated graphics card that comes with 512MB of dedicated RAM is more than adequate for photo and video editing and even playing some of the latest games but when it comes to 3D performance it does not perform as well as its rivals.
Interestingly this £1179 laptop does not feature a HDMI port which leaves us feeling rather cheated especially considering when laptops half the price of this manage to incorporate one.
Overall, the HP EliteBook 8440P is a great laptop but for its price tag you would expect more, a bigger HD, a HDMI port and possibly even a Blu-ray optical drive. However, it is still a laptop worth considering if you’re after a high-end machine.
Laptop News
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The battery life long, the laptop has a strong build quality and performance is rather impressive.
Limited 3D power and storage space.
The HP EliteBook 8440P features a mixed level of features and specifications. However, it is a rather decent arrangement for business users. However, this laptop is for work and not for play. The HP EliteBook 8440P incorporates a rather impressive specification and is primarily aimed at professionals and business users mainly because it lacks the entertainment features such as a decent dedicated graphics card of its competitors. The laptop has solid build quality, long battery life of 4 hours and rather impressive performance certainly make this a great laptop.
The HP EliteBook 8440P is designed to be resilient and the chassis is built to be resistant not just withstand vibrations, dust, humidity but even extreme temperatures which means whatever you throw at it it’ll be able to handle.
In a similar note the keyboard is also resilient with a spill-resistant layer and a number of drainage holes that help to keep liquids away from damaging any internal components. The keyboard, besides being liquid proof is large and comfortable to use even over long periods.
The HP EliteBook 8440P features a 14inch TFT screen that features a matte finish, eliminating those annoying reflections and making the screen easily viewable in just about every situation.
Internally, the EliteBook integrates an Intel Core i7-620M processor with a clock speed of 2.66GHz and handles even the most demanding software, opening and running them in almost no time at all. The dedicated graphics card that comes with 512MB of dedicated RAM is more than adequate for photo and video editing and even playing some of the latest games but when it comes to 3D performance it does not perform as well as its rivals.
Interestingly this £1179 laptop does not feature a HDMI port which leaves us feeling rather cheated especially considering when laptops half the price of this manage to incorporate one.
Overall, the HP EliteBook 8440P is a great laptop but for its price tag you would expect more, a bigger HD, a HDMI port and possibly even a Blu-ray optical drive. However, it is still a laptop worth considering if you’re after a high-end machine.
Laptop News
Lenovo Updates ThinkPad Laptop Range - Fri, 06 Jan 2012
Asus Transformer Prime Breaks Pre-sales Record For An Android Tablet - Fri, 23 Dec 2011
Dual-Screen Sony Tablet P Arrives In The UK - Mon, 05 Dec 2011
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Samsung R730
If you're after a laptop that will deliver when it comes to performance boasts an attractive design but doesn't come with a premium price tag then the Samsung R730 is certainly one to have a look at.
The keyboard is comfortable and the laptop is a rather inexpensive desktop replacement.
For such a large laptop it is rather underpowered and is relatively limited when it comes to connectivity.
A very well designed desktop replacement laptop that features a big screen, a big hard drive, a small price tag but a rather unexpected processor for the size of the laptop. Nonetheless, an inexpensive and rather powerful desktop replacement laptop.
Samsung are making rather attractive laptops and this is no different, even though the interior of the laptop looks rather dull compared to its glossy outer coating. The R730 is a 17.3inch desktop replacement that weighs in at 2.8kg which is still relatively light for what it is.
The most striking thing about this laptop is its display a bright and evenly lit display that has excellent contrast and colour and even though glossy and reflective in certain situations it helps to boost the vibrancy of the colours and contrast. Furthermore, thanks to the 16:9 aspect ratio there is plenty of desktop space and is a perfect laptop for watching films on.
However, even though this laptop is rather large it doesn't come with the plethora of ports that we would expect it to and only includes a D-Sub, HDMI, Ethernet, mic and headphones jacks as well three USB2 ports but that's it.
The 500GB hard drive is excellent for a machine of this type and the integrated DVD drive is an added bonus. Furthermore, the laptop boasts a comfortable, chiclet-style keyboard with each key slightly raised in the centre making your typing experience with the Samsung R730 easy and comfortable. Furthermore, the Samsung R730 includes a numeric keypad in the usual place and the trackpad is decent, supports multi-touch and has a great texture.
The Intel Core i3-330M processor is most commonly seen on smaller 13inch laptops but to include it in a 17inch laptop is rather bizarre. Nonetheless, in doing this the price does stay down. The Intel Core i3-330M processor is a lower-middle class dual core CPU that clocks with 2.16GHz and the only difference between this and the more powerful Intel Core i5-430M is its lack of Turbo Boost overclocking. Nonetheless, it is capable of handling multi-tasking.
Overall, the Samsung R73o is a great budget desktop replacement and even though under-powered for the size of the laptop it is still rather powerful and includes everything a home computer needs.
The keyboard is comfortable and the laptop is a rather inexpensive desktop replacement.
For such a large laptop it is rather underpowered and is relatively limited when it comes to connectivity.
A very well designed desktop replacement laptop that features a big screen, a big hard drive, a small price tag but a rather unexpected processor for the size of the laptop. Nonetheless, an inexpensive and rather powerful desktop replacement laptop.
Samsung are making rather attractive laptops and this is no different, even though the interior of the laptop looks rather dull compared to its glossy outer coating. The R730 is a 17.3inch desktop replacement that weighs in at 2.8kg which is still relatively light for what it is.
The most striking thing about this laptop is its display a bright and evenly lit display that has excellent contrast and colour and even though glossy and reflective in certain situations it helps to boost the vibrancy of the colours and contrast. Furthermore, thanks to the 16:9 aspect ratio there is plenty of desktop space and is a perfect laptop for watching films on.
However, even though this laptop is rather large it doesn't come with the plethora of ports that we would expect it to and only includes a D-Sub, HDMI, Ethernet, mic and headphones jacks as well three USB2 ports but that's it.
The 500GB hard drive is excellent for a machine of this type and the integrated DVD drive is an added bonus. Furthermore, the laptop boasts a comfortable, chiclet-style keyboard with each key slightly raised in the centre making your typing experience with the Samsung R730 easy and comfortable. Furthermore, the Samsung R730 includes a numeric keypad in the usual place and the trackpad is decent, supports multi-touch and has a great texture.
The Intel Core i3-330M processor is most commonly seen on smaller 13inch laptops but to include it in a 17inch laptop is rather bizarre. Nonetheless, in doing this the price does stay down. The Intel Core i3-330M processor is a lower-middle class dual core CPU that clocks with 2.16GHz and the only difference between this and the more powerful Intel Core i5-430M is its lack of Turbo Boost overclocking. Nonetheless, it is capable of handling multi-tasking.
Overall, the Samsung R73o is a great budget desktop replacement and even though under-powered for the size of the laptop it is still rather powerful and includes everything a home computer needs.
Samsung P580
The Samsung P580 is a high-powered portable laptop for professionals who need to see the bigger picture.
The screen, keyboard and touchpad are great, easy to use and comfortable.
The price tag.
The Samsung P580 would be perfect if it wasn’t for the price tag.
The 15.6inch Samsung P580 is a laptop aimed at businesses and so doesn’t sport the usually impressive and glitzy Samsung design instead it features a rather plain, chunky appearance which is more robust and perfect for office.
However, even though this is a business aimed laptop we could not find any security features expected from such a laptop such as a finger print reader or a smart card reader. It does come with Windows 7 Professional pre-installed and a downgrade disc for Windows XP.
One thing we can all agree on is the great 15.6inch screen with a matte finish which does away with all of those annoying reflections common of a glossy screen. A slightly unusual and unexpected addition to this business laptop is a rather capable dedicated graphics card the GeForce GT 330M that can manage the likes of Call of Duty 4 under low settings and is great if you need to do a spot of photo editing. As with most Samsung laptops the keyboard is large and comfortable to use and even incorporates a numeric keypad. Alongside this the touchpad is large and accurate and the buttons are rather responsive.
The battery life is average with a span of 3.5 hours which is acceptable for use in the office but if you need to take this with you you’ll need to hope you’re not travelling for long.
The Samsung P580 has a great screen, comfortable keyboard and large touchpad even though its gaming and 3D capabilities are limited it achieves what it aims to do and that is be a rather great business laptop.
The screen, keyboard and touchpad are great, easy to use and comfortable.
The price tag.
The Samsung P580 would be perfect if it wasn’t for the price tag.
The 15.6inch Samsung P580 is a laptop aimed at businesses and so doesn’t sport the usually impressive and glitzy Samsung design instead it features a rather plain, chunky appearance which is more robust and perfect for office.
However, even though this is a business aimed laptop we could not find any security features expected from such a laptop such as a finger print reader or a smart card reader. It does come with Windows 7 Professional pre-installed and a downgrade disc for Windows XP.
One thing we can all agree on is the great 15.6inch screen with a matte finish which does away with all of those annoying reflections common of a glossy screen. A slightly unusual and unexpected addition to this business laptop is a rather capable dedicated graphics card the GeForce GT 330M that can manage the likes of Call of Duty 4 under low settings and is great if you need to do a spot of photo editing. As with most Samsung laptops the keyboard is large and comfortable to use and even incorporates a numeric keypad. Alongside this the touchpad is large and accurate and the buttons are rather responsive.
The battery life is average with a span of 3.5 hours which is acceptable for use in the office but if you need to take this with you you’ll need to hope you’re not travelling for long.
The Samsung P580 has a great screen, comfortable keyboard and large touchpad even though its gaming and 3D capabilities are limited it achieves what it aims to do and that is be a rather great business laptop.
Samsung N150
The Samsung N150 offers you high-end style, high quality design and a great battery life without a high end price tag.
Ultraportable and has a great battery life.
The keyboard is cramped and uncomfortable and the hard drive is relatively small.
The Samsung N150 offers an impressive battery life and an excellent look without the huge price tag but that is if you can handle the cramped keyboard and relatively small hard drive.
The Samsung N150 is a great looking laptop that doesn’t include a huge price tag. The Samsung N150 features the latest in Intel Atom N450 CPU which offers new life to netbooks without wasting away the battery life. The Intel Atom N450 CPU clocks at a speed of 1.66GHz and comes with 1GB RAM relatively adequate.
The N150’s design is attractive due to its simplicity and available in five different glossy colours yellow, red, blue, white and black. However, the glossy sheen does attract huge amounts of dust and smudges and is a dirt magnet but if you open the lid you’re greeted by dull plastics which is well average.
The major disappointment of this laptop is its keyboard, cramped, uncomfortable to use keys that are so tightly packed you will constantly be plagued with miss-typings. However, the trackpad is comfortable to use, is accurate and responsive and features multi-touch gestures.
The laptop includes the common ports and connectors such as three USB ports, mic and headphone jacks, an Ethernet port, a VGA video output, 802.11bgn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The netbook has a great versatile screen that can be used even in some of the brightest places without becoming to reflective. However, even though the screen is versatile the processor, the Intel N450 CPU, is not the most powerful processor and is best suited to simple tasks such as web browsing and word processing.
Overall, the Samsung N150 is a great laptop for those who are after a long battery life and aren’t to bothered about multi-tasking power.
Ultraportable and has a great battery life.
The keyboard is cramped and uncomfortable and the hard drive is relatively small.
The Samsung N150 offers an impressive battery life and an excellent look without the huge price tag but that is if you can handle the cramped keyboard and relatively small hard drive.
The Samsung N150 is a great looking laptop that doesn’t include a huge price tag. The Samsung N150 features the latest in Intel Atom N450 CPU which offers new life to netbooks without wasting away the battery life. The Intel Atom N450 CPU clocks at a speed of 1.66GHz and comes with 1GB RAM relatively adequate.
The N150’s design is attractive due to its simplicity and available in five different glossy colours yellow, red, blue, white and black. However, the glossy sheen does attract huge amounts of dust and smudges and is a dirt magnet but if you open the lid you’re greeted by dull plastics which is well average.
The major disappointment of this laptop is its keyboard, cramped, uncomfortable to use keys that are so tightly packed you will constantly be plagued with miss-typings. However, the trackpad is comfortable to use, is accurate and responsive and features multi-touch gestures.
The laptop includes the common ports and connectors such as three USB ports, mic and headphone jacks, an Ethernet port, a VGA video output, 802.11bgn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The netbook has a great versatile screen that can be used even in some of the brightest places without becoming to reflective. However, even though the screen is versatile the processor, the Intel N450 CPU, is not the most powerful processor and is best suited to simple tasks such as web browsing and word processing.
Overall, the Samsung N150 is a great laptop for those who are after a long battery life and aren’t to bothered about multi-tasking power.