LapTop Reviews 2010-2011

Dell Latitude E6410 Review

2011-03-27T05:20:00.001-04:00

When Michael Dell founded his company back in 1984, he had a mission: to deliver individual PCs configured to customer specifications. Since its first release in 1997, the Latitude line has targeted corporate customers with an emphasis on long life-cycles, reliability, and serviceability. The Latitude E-series is a range of business-focused notebooks. Introduced in March 2010, the Dell™ Latitude™ E6410 laptop is designed, to quote Dell, “to increase productivity while reducing total cost of ownership…and features dramatic advancements in durability, security and mobile collaboration.”

Globally available

For multi-national corporations, compatibility is key when linking branches all over the world. With the Latitude E-Family product portfolio, corporations all over the world will be able to purchase multiples of the same computers and accessories. Networking within an office or factory and other connectivity support for the mobile traveling executive or salesperson are facilitated with ease. In the event of a glitch or breakdown, help is just a phone call away for 24/7 service and support from Dell-trained personnel including international on-site service.

Compact size, light weight

Whether used for trips around the world, between office and home, or just in the office or factory, the Dell Latitude E6410 can replace the space-eating desktop computers of the past. Weighing just over 4 pounds (4.26 lbs/1.93kg, with 4-cell battery), it is the size of a large book at 13.2 inches (335mm) wide by 9.4 inches (238mm) deep by only 1 to 1.2 inches high (25.4-31.2mm) when closed.

Designed to please your IT staff

When a company decides to purchase hundreds or even thousands of computers, it is up to the IT staff to keep them functional over the long haul. As an alternative to having in-house IT staff, Dell offers ProSupport for End Users giving direct fix hardware repair and answers to all your ‘how to’ questions. Dell shines among computer manufacturers by keeping parts and components to the Latitude series in stock and available (you can still order parts for the old D600 units). This model has a 15-month targeted lifecycle, and targeted 5-year docking and peripherals commonality.

This laptop is very easy to service. Cleverly designed with a single screw holding it in place, the entire bottom of the notebook pops off. With the cover removed, you have access to the WWAN, Wi-Fi card, memory slots, processor and heatsink, CMOS battery, cooling fan, and the instant-on OS card. IT staff and reviewers report it is among the easiest of all computers to upgrade or repair.

Latitude to choose

I’Made to order’ configuration is Dell’s specialty and the Latitude line lives up to its name – there is a lot of latitude for businesses to select the performance, appearance, capacity, connectivity, and price best suited to their needs. The E6410 is a sturdy and durable rectangular box with a Dell Tri-Metal™ casing, along with reinforced hinges and rugged system latches and comes in a choice of three colors (available on select models).

Personalized configuration

Depending on speed and performance needs, the laptop can be configured with any of three Intel Core processors ranging from the i3 (380M) to the top of the line i7. Any of five different Windows 7 options are available including Home Premium, Profession, Ultimate and Professional 64-bit. You can install up to 8GB of DDR3 SDRAM running at 1333 MHz and have three choices of internal hard drives: 160GB (5400 RPM), 250GB Solid State, or 500 GB (7200 RPM). Again, choices can be made about the optical drives, whether you want DVD-ROM, DVD+/-RW, and/or Blu-Ray installed.

Comfort increases productivity

Working for hours at a computer, most users have two demands: for a screen that is easy on the eyes and a comfortable keyboard that supports wrists and hands. The 14.1 inch LED Display comes in two varieties: WXGA+ Anti-Glare at 1440x900 or WXGA Anti-Glare at 1280x800. While this is a bit small compared to the majority of Dell Inspiron and other home notebooks which measure 15.6 inches, this laptop has a clear, bright and colorful display with plenty of power to output to another monitor if preferred. Dell’s longtime partnership with video card maker NVIDIA is represented here with the NVS 3100 with dedicated 512MB gDDR3. There’s more ‘Intel inside’ with Intel HD Graphics.

In a painted-on gunmetal gray color, users report there is little or no glare from the deck or body or the display. With the gesture-enabled touchpad and vibrant backlit keyboard, you can get your work done quickly and comfortably.

Take it on the road

This is a notebook that goes readily from office to the road to home and back again. It features connectors to choose from to cover almost any eventuality including a Gigabit Ethernet network interface adaptor, an option 56K modem, a choice of Dell Wireless, Intel Centrino and WiMax as well as Mobile Broadband Mini Cards. Bluetooth 3.0 is available from Dell as are an array of key peripherals and docking devices including E-Port, E-Port Plus, E-Legacy Extender and the E-Family of mdular media bays. You can also order a variety of stands, monitors, flash devices, and many other components and accessories directly from Dell.

Multiple connections

With global communications a high priority, businesses will find multimedia functions are well-served with high quality speakers, stereo headphone jack, speaker out, and a special microphone jack featuring an integrated noise reducing microphone array with speech enhancements. For meetings and chats online, there is also an integrated light-sensitive HD webcam and Dell Webcam Central software.

As you should expect from a professional quality computer, ports and slots include an RJ-45 network connector, and an optional RJ-11 modem connector. There are 4 USB 2.0 ports including 1 USB/eSATA combo. Firewire 400 IEEE 1394, a 6-in-1 card reader, and a slot for either a 54 mm Express Card or Type VII PCMCIA. A Docking Connector allows instant connect/disconnect of cables, while the DisplayPort HDMI and VGA can connect to LED TVs or projectors to show presentations, photos, and videos.

Secure and Durable

Security is a top concern in business. Dell supplies steel-reinforced Cable Lock Slots, as well as Media Module and Hard Drive locks. To quote the manufacturer: “Dell Latitude computers are also built to Dell's RoadReady specification which includes a durable magnesium-alloy casing, internal metal frames and Strike Zone shock protection in case the computer is dropped or suffers a severe impact. Many models also feature free-fall sensors or solid-state drives.”

Concerns about loss or theft of data can be allayed by installing additional protection. A Fingerprint Reader or FIPS Fingerprint Reader will secure passwords, and a SmartCard Reader or a Contactless SmartCard Reader, and/or TPM 1.2 are all options – all of which can be built-in at initial assembly or added later. For those who need full disk encryption an Encrypted Hard Drive is obtainable as well as secure credential management with ConrolVault. Protect your network’s security with Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security and protected access available for for WPA, WPA2, and VPN. Hard Drive data recovery and destruction and a multitude of Data Management Services are available on a contract basis with Dell.

Conclusion

Durability, security and mobile connectivity with Dell’s worldwide support are some of the strong selling points of the Latitude E6410. Clearly, Dell has done an admirable job of designing a powerful laptop at a discount price for the international business community. With its ease of repair and simplified upgrades, it can save your company both time and money on IT support. Get The Best Price Here

HP Pavilion dv7-4060us Review

2011-02-28T05:26:00.002-05:00

A gaming computer for under $1,000 USD? One that gives superfast 3-D display of the latest games and has enough sound to rock your virtual world? Just a few years back, that was an impossibility. Now thanks to Hewlett-Packard’s clever partnering with leaders from other industries including Microsoft and music producer Dr. Dre, the HP Pavilion dv7-4060us gives you superior audio, video, and 3-D graphics at an affordable price. With this laptop (notebook), you can take the virtual world with you wherever reality takes you.

A desktop replacement for work or play

Of course, it’s not just all play and no work. Professional architects and graphic designers will enjoy the mobility of this 8.16 pound laptop to take ‘into the field’ as it is powerful enough to run 3-D CAD applications. Advertisers, marketers, and office IT ‘geeks’ will all appreciate the small body size at 16.35” x 10.8” x 1.25”/1.46” and big 17.3” screen as a desktop replacement that is easy on the eyes.

HP’s got game

Hewlett-Packard has gotten into gaming in a big way by offering the power of DirectX 10 running on the Windows Vista operating system (some models may even include DirectX11). The application programming interfaces (APIs) are a gamer’s dream as Direct X handles most tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video. The dv7 laptop handles all the newest DirectX 10 games with remarkable aplomb: everything from the old 2006 “Dungeons and Dragons” to the newest “Sims 3 (October 2010)” will run on this machine. You will get fast playable frame rates if you join the 12 million other subscribers to the hugely popular online “World of Warcraft” game.

What makes the dv7-4060us tick is the AMD Phenom II N830 triple core processor which clocks at 2.1 GHz. Three cores means tasks are distributed, making multi-tasking a breeze. Each core has an L2 cache of 512KB which adds up to an actual available cache memory of 1536KB. It comes with 4GB DDR3 memory in two slots which you can increase up to 8 Gigs. Almost endless storage capacity is available in the 500GB hard drive which runs at a fast 7200 RPM. There is also an integrated SuperMulti8x DVD +/-RW drive with double layer support with LightScribe technology allowing you to record DVDs and burn labels right on to the disk. Surprisingly, despite all this power-drain, the 9-cell ion battery will give you up to 7.5 hours of cable-free computing time.

The big picture

One of the largest laptop screens available at 17.3 inches, the widescreen display is LED backlit and your video graphics appear in High Definition. The powerful ATI Mobility Radeon 5650 graphics card has a discrete dedicated 1GB of DDR3 video memory and a total available graphics memory of 2714MB. ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology supports up to 6 external displays at once with independent resolutions. This means you are able to play games with 1080 pixels HD content. Films and TV show correctly in 16:9 format as the Brightview HD display resolution ratio is 1600*900.

Dr. Dre’s “Beats” inside

Where the dv7 series really sings is its audio output. Partnering with famous record producer and performer, Dr. Dre, HP has invested in the “Beats™” brand which aims to bring recording studio quality sound to new generation computers. Beats Audio is built in with stereo speakers and supported by a High Definition Audio Chipset. An optional HP Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer can be installed when ordering.

Multiple connections

Lots of connectivity is possible with a 5-in-1 Digital Media Reader, Headphones-in and Mic-out jacks, and the variety of ports needed for today’s technologies including 4 USB 2.0 ports (the 4^th port is shared with eSATA), an eSATA + USB 2.0 combo, RJ-45 Network port for 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, and both VGA and HDMI ports to allow you to output to larger monitors and HD televisions. HDMI is supported by the HP MediaSmart software. Improved wireless connectivity comes when you hook into a Wireless-N (draft 802.11n) network but you also have the options of connecting to 802.11 b/g networks or high-speed wired networks. Some models come with Bluetooth (check when ordering).

Security at your fingertips

With all this power packed into a backpack-sized machine, damage and security may be issues. HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection detects sudden drops and bumps and acts to keep your hard drive safe. HP designers have also come up with SimplePass Identity Protection in the form of an integrated Fingerprint Reader located next to the touchpad that stores your fingerprint as a unique secure password.

Good looks inside and out

Handsome both inside and out, it comes in a brushed aluminum finish with a stream design in Argento. The keyboard has 101-keys (compatible with island-style full-size keyboard) with an integrated numeric keypad. The touchpad is HP’s own Clickpad with an On/Off button. Above the screen, you will find an HP TrueVision Webcam with integrated digital microphone especially designed for low-light settings so you can chat or play games all night.

Conclusion

Whether as a desktop replacement or a gamer’s fantasy laptop for those on a budget, this version of the Pavilion at 17.3 inches offers some exceptional audio, video, and performance for a mid-range notebook computer under $1,000 USD. The price has dropped over the past year and ‘Black Friday’ sales show it marketed on numerous websites between $600 - $700 USD. Note that the ‘us’ suffix on the end of the model number indicates that the dv7-4060us is primarily sold in the United States and some pepole says its the best gaming laptop 2011 so one can realise its performance.

HP Pavilion dv6-3010us Review

2011-02-15T02:45:00.002-05:00

Like a glass of the bubbly, Hewlett-Packard’s HP Pavilion dv6-3010us provides classy entertainment but may be a little light for the serious consumer. From the champagne-colored exterior finish to the banquet of features designed for your entertainment, this mid-sized laptop is designed to amuse.

At your leisure

Enjoy your favorite music, view and edit your photos and videos, play games, or do some serious office work. The Pavilion dv6-3010us Entertainment Notebook lets you do all this and more. With the latest AMD Vision platform installed you can even run multiple applications at once so you can work and play at the same time.

Classy understated design

HP has redesigned the mid-sized Pavilion to give it a characteristic classy and subtly understated appearance. The exterior has the same slightly textured “HP Imprint” geometric designs on a molded plastic surface of previous Pavilions but here it is reinterpreted in a semi-gloss champagne color inside and out. The bezel frames the screen in a glossy black while the keyboard and large HP Clickpad (touchpad) in matte black provide an elegant contrast. The screen display is a full 15.6 inch diagonal with HP BrightView HD LED at 1366x768 resolution giving your movies, games and 3-D graphics a bright, clear and colorful look.

Instant keyboard access

The full-size, island-style keyboard is supplemented by a row of media shortcut keys down the left hand side which give you quick access to your email, internet browser, DVD recorder and printer. There is even a button that brings up a calculator. The sensitive touchpad seems to resemble the Apple MacBook Pro with the mouse buttons one part of the unified design and may take you some adjustment to get comfortable.

A respectable competitor

Every major manufacturer competes for the top of the line of mid-range entertainment computers: see the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch, the Acer Aspire AS5741-6073, and the Toshiba Satellite L665D-S5066 to name a few. Cisco Cheng at PC Magazine named the Samsung R580 his ‘Editor’s Choice’ as a desktop replacement for its i5 CPU and Blu-Ray drive. The HP Pavilion dv6 series is a solid competitor though its AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile Processor P520 (2.3 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache) is considered by some reviewers to give less than optimum performance when compared to others in the same class.

Just like its rivals, this model features a big 320GB SATA serial ATA hard drive and exceeds them all with the hard drive rotation at 7200 RPM.

Industry standard hardware

While the processor may not compare favorably with others that employ Intel Core i3 or i5 CPUs, AMD’S Vision platform supports faster DDR3 memory, HyperTransport 3 and Direct X 11. The laptop comes with an ample 4GB DDR3 system memory (expandable with two memory slots) and integrated ATI Radeon HD 4250 graphics card.

It carries all the usual ports and slots you might expect in this class: 3 USB 2.0 ports and a fourth combo USB shared with eSATA, an integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN with an RJ-45 connector, Bluetooth and Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n WLAN. Around the exterior you will also find a multi-format multimedia card reader, headphone and microphone jacks, and both VGA and HDMI video ports for output to larger monitors and televisions. The HP TrueVision Webcam is not as high on resolution as some but comes with an integrated digital microphone. Audio output from two Altec Lansing stereo speakers is more than adequate for light listening to music or movies. There is also a sturdy dual-layer DVD burner built in.

Conclusion

Reviewers agree that for wireless connectivity, audio and video, this laptop offers real speed and clarity although it lags slightly behind its competitors on performance. Like mid-range champagne, the HP Pavilion dv5-3010us entertains in a classy, understated way but may fall slightly short for those who desire the best. Currently on sale at amazon

Toshiba Mini NB255-N245

2011-02-07T03:43:00.003-05:00

NB255-N245

Among the top-selling ‘netbooks’ on Amazon.com in Autumn 2010, Toshiba’s updated Mini is a bargain choice for anyone who wants instant computing while on the go. Whether you need to check Google Maps for directions, send a quick email or compare prices while shopping, or take notes during a lecture, the Toshiba Mini NB255-N245 is a purse-sized alternative to the smartphone scene. This Mini can help you accomplish your daily computing tasks as well - you can write a book or compose a presentation while sipping coffee in an Internet café. The price is currently $310 at amazon

Comfort for the typist

Hunting and pecking on the shrunken keyboards of most Minis is a nightmare for the touch typist in a hurry. Thanks to a new design which stretches the keyboard almost to the edge of the shell, fingers accustomed to larger computers will barely notice a difference. The keys are flat and full-sized, terraced, and spring back easily. Some may quibble that to give sufficient room for the alpha letters, function and directional keys have been reduced in size -- which may take a bit of practice to get used to. A textured palm rest supports your hands while the large 3 x 1.5 inch central touchpad with right and left mouse buttons makes navigation a snap.

Connectability

What most “mini” purchasers may want to know is how fast they can make connections. In tests by LaptopMag.com, this netbook beat the competition. The built-in WiFi wireless radio is an Atheros AR9285 802.11 b/g/n which will let you keep surfing the ‘net even at a distance from a router. You can plug into your home or office network with the 10/100 Ethernet LAN, transfer photos from your camera using the installed Memory Card reader, add speakers, a microphone or stereo headphones using the installed jacks and connect many kinds of digital devices through the 3 USB 2.0 ports. Still you should remember this is a budget laptop. Toshiba has cut back on some connectivity and expansion possibilities: there is no Bluetooth antenna or modem port, no PC Express Slot, no SmartCard reader slot. For more storage capacity, Toshiba has a USB Portable DVD SuperMulti Drive which is sold separately.

Budget-conscious price

The Mini NB255-N245 is a clear answer for the consumer who wants a ‘traveling companion’ for under $300 USD. This year, Toshiba also put out a pricier premium netbook line with the Mini NB305 which has longer battery life and a ‘streamlined’ look. Coming only in basic black, the boxier Mini NB255 stands out from the crowd with a handsome swirling textured pattern on the lid and deck which resists fingerprints more effectively than its glossier elders. Depending on configuration and usage, the battery may last up to 8.35 hours, though testers report only 6-7 hours life.

Bright graphics

Weighing in at under 3 pounds (2.8 lbs.) and smaller than a piece of notebook paper at 10.4 x 8.3 x 1.3 inches (WxDxH), there is nothing ‘mini’ about the graphics shown on the 10.1-inch screen. A true alternative to a mini-DVD player for viewing TV or movies, the surface of the screen is bright and glossy (some say too reflective) with a 1024x600 pixel LED backlit-display. An Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 speeds graphic processing.

Intel’s ‘Atom’ speeds the process

In 2008, Intel introduced the ‘Atom’ processor which made the mini-laptop computer possible. The Atom gives fast, reliable performance while reducing the power-draw and heat output. The energy-efficient Intel Atom Processor N455 puts this mini out near the front of the netbook market. While 1GB DDR2 RAM is less than you will find in comparable others, the 1.67 GHz CPU gives respectable performance allowing you to run most office and Internet applications quickly and easily. The 5,400-RPM, 160GB hard drive, while smaller than the more usual 250GB included on most laptops, still manages impressive speed and reliability. Windows 7 and the much praised Toshiba PC Health Monitor both help to keep the processor up to speed.

What to watch out for

While sales of this model are high, checking consumer reviews on various websites, some complain that the battery life is shorter and recharge time longer than expected. Others report that the built-in webcam gives less than satisfactory pictures, especially when Skype-ing, and the single monoaural speaker does not put out a lot of volume. Some ‘hitching’ (screen stop / starts) was encountered by users when streaming video on Windows Media Player and when playing games with intense graphics.

Conclusion

Brisk sales of this model of the Mini prove that Toshiba made a clever choice by introducing this budget version of their Mini netbooks in the same year as their premium line. The giant Japanese manufacturer celebrates 25 years of leadership in the PC laptop market in 2010. With the Mini NB255-N245, once again Toshiba proves they can manufacture best-in-class.

Toshiba Satellite L650-BT2N23 Review

2011-01-27T04:32:00.005-05:00

Gone are the days of what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSWYG) – nowadays the watchword is “customization.” When ordering a computer, you want to be sure it is the right fit for you. At resellers like Amazon.com and Office Depot, you can order from a menu, but an even better option may be to go straight to the manufacturer. Toshiba has a web store (Toshiba.direct.com) with a long list of features for you to select the hardware and software you prefer. The question is: with so many options, how do you choose?

Start customizing now

To customize your laptop computer, you start by considering your wallet. At extremely attractive price tags across specifications, the 15.6 inch diagonal Toshiba Satellite L650-BT2N23 becomes a solid contender in the mid-range laptop market. It stands out from the rest because Toshiba has specifically committed to the customer service and technical support required to make this model “customizable.” You configure it the way you want it when you order. Toshiba has long been regarded as “the laptop expert” and as customers report, Toshiba delivers.

A base model ready to be upgraded

The base laptop comes with the first level of the newest Intel Core i3-370m processors, 4 GB of memory, a 320GB hard drive, and a 1366x768 native screen resolution. Like comparable laptops, it includes 802.11 wireless connection and integrated webcam. Some rivals leave off the all-important HDMI output, but you will find that plus 3 USB 2.0 ports so you can input all the files you want from digital media and output them via a HDMI cable (sold separately) to your high-def television or home theatre projector. With the LED backlit screen standard on this model, this laptop draws less power than others with LCD screens, giving this model longer battery life and reducing environmental impact. Literally hundreds of accessories are available from external monitors to docking stations to wireless range boosters to extreme backpacks.

Lots of free software

There is no extra charge for Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit or any of the Toshiba extras like Toshiba ReelTime™ which helps find your files with an innovative timeline or "reel,” Toshiba Bulletin Board which is like a customized mini homepage where you can drag and drop all your important files, notes, and links, and Toshiba Media Control which makes it easy to share videos, music and pictures from your PC’s media library with any compatible home entertainment network. Microsoft® Office® 2010 Starter comes preloaded (reduced functionality Word and Excel with advertising) — upgrades to the full version are available when you customize.

Upgrade or downgrade – the choice is yours

The fun comes when you start configuring your laptop to suit your tastes. For a small fee, you can pick your favorite look: the basic model comes with a Fusion® Finish in Helios Black with Standard Black keyboard, or you can choose White with White keyboard, Grey or Red or Brown with Glossy Black keyboard.

You can save money by downgrading memory just a bit to the 3GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM (2048MB+1024MB) or by selecting either 4GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM (2048MBx2) or the 6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM (4096MB+2048MB). Or for a bit more, upgrade to an Intel® Core™ i5-460M Processor 2.53 GHz (2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology), 3MB L3 Cache or go for the top of the line with an Intel® Core™ i5-560M Processor 2.66 GHz (3.2 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology), 3MB L3 Cache. Additionally, you can Upgrade to Windows 7 Professional for or go all out and order the 320 GB or even the 500 GB hard drive.

Extend your reach

Get more cord-free hours with an Extended Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery (6-cell, 61Wh) or wirelessly connect with your Bluetooth devices by adding Broadcom Wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth® Version 2.1 +EDR, also at an additional but reasonable cost. Web surfers on a budget or in remote areas where no wireless connection is available will want to pay a little extra to get an integrated modem.

Conclusion

Whether you are computer-savvy or a shopper bewildered by the range of choices available on today’s market, check out the manufacturer’s website and reviews of computers that interest you before you buy. Find out how the lines and models differ: the Toshiba Satellite aims for the home and small business computing market where their Qosmio line aims at gamers and intense multimedia users, while the Tecra, Satellite Pro, and the ultra-thin Portege families of computers all serve business customers in different ways. Think about size and use – do you want a lightweight ‘Mini’ you can carry around or a large “film-friendly” display on a laptop that will replace your old desktop PC on your desk? Each line carries a variety of models to suit. currently on sale at amazon

Toshiba Satellite L635-S3030 for Kids

2011-01-24T03:56:00.003-05:00

If there is a computer in the house, you can be sure your kid will want to play on it – and that’s probably a good thing. The 21st Century kid will need to be a master of the digital world. Getting children started on computers at an early age may be one of the wisest investments parents can make. But how can you as a parent protect important family files, keep kids away from unsuitable content, pack in enough educational software on your hard drive, or give the kids sufficient time to become fluent in computer-ease while still getting your own work done on the home computer? Toshiba has recognized parents’ concerns and come up with a laptop that is both kid-friendly and parent-pleasing.

A grownup ‘toy’

The Toshiba Satellite L635-S3030 for Kids is a budget laptop but still pricey for a child’s toy. With an Intel Celeron P4600 Processor inside and a 250 GB hard drive (5400 RPM), with a respectable 2GB DDR3 “RAM” memory running at a fast 1066 mHz, this is a powerful grownup laptop that can turn out your teen and college student’s essays and math assignments and keep the family budget up-to-date. But it’s the little ones who will go for this computer – and the Toshiba designers have given careful thought to kids’ interests and needs – with strong parental controls.

Safe for little fingers

Stylish corner bumpers in a bright apple green are the first clue that this laptop is a bit different. The textured finish resists sticky fingers and a wipeable keyboard – a Toshiba innovation – cleans up easily. A light 4.8 lbs. means it can be carried around the house and its ‘mini’ dimensions lets it slip into a backpack to take to school.

This model has a sturdy rubberized external shell in Neo-X textured gray with colored accents and comes equipped with a Hard Drive Impact Sensor to protect the laptop if it takes a spill. Hard drive recovery disk and other software help prevent loss of important data. Toshiba's PC Health Monitor alerts you to issues by constantly monitoring temperature, power usage, and shocks.

Little hands will have less risk of injury when they use the TouchPad with Multi-touch. A simple brush of fingers over the pad lets them scroll through images or websites. The full-sized keyboard has large brightly labeled keys that are spaced widely for accurate typing and easy cleanup.

Entertainment starts right out of the box

The kid-friendly entertainment starts right out of the box with the action-packed game, ‘Lego Batman,’ pre-downloaded. Just a click will take them to Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” animated movie or you can approve access to thousands of movies on demand from CinemaNow. “Kidzui,” the kids’ internet browser, serves up hours of entertainment and games galore. Specially designed and constantly updated, “Kidzui” takes your child to some 2.5 million monitored websites that kids love.

Pre-loaded with the Satellite L635-S3030, it also blocks access to other sites, even Yahoo.com, unless you approve. Education and homework help are a priority. On the “Kidzui” menu, your child will find thousands of games and lessons organized by grade level. Click on the desktop button to open Toshiba’s “BookPlace” for access to thousands of popular books for children. The laptop features built-in wireless WiFi networking (802.11b/g/n) which gives instant access to the web and to a home network so the laptop can be moved to any room in the house.

‘Net Nanny’ minds the kids for you

You can’t always be monitoring your child’s internet experience but “Net Nanny” can. A powerful filtering tool, it allows parents to decide which sites are appropriate. An award-winning program from industry leader ContentWatch, “Net Nanny” has an innovative, user-friendly interface that allows you to manage and get reports remotely – so you can be at the office or traveling and still know exactly what the kids are doing at home. Using Dynamic Contextual Analysis (DCA) smart technology, “Net Nanny” has the ability to monitor interactions on social networking sites, block games, and approve or restrict access to inappropriate websites. With facial recognition to log on to the computer and websites, you will know who is using the computer at all times.

Full-featured connections

Other features that you and your child will appreciate include the webcam and microphone built into the bezel that lets your child talk face-to-face over the internet with you while you are away or they can video conference with classmates and other kids around the world. With the built-in Memory Card Reader, files transfer easily from digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players or smart phones. Two USB 2.0 ports enable plug-n-play of most digital devices while a third eSATA / USB combo port facilitates backups and storage to external hard drives.

Cinematic audio and video

All your child’s DVD movies will run on the DVD-SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) optical drive which comes with LabelFlash to let you laser-burn labels on DVDs you create. Films and TV shows look sharp and clear on the 13.3 inch screen playing at film-friendly 16:9 resolution, with bright colors and smooth transitions coming out of the Mobile Intel HD Graphics engine and 64MB-763MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory. Dolby® Advanced Audio™ serves to upgrade the audio capabilities of the built-in laptop speakers for a more natural sound.

Eco-friendly technology

Toshiba ‘goes green’ with 93% of Toshiba laptops, netbooks and Tablet PCs meeting the ENERGY STAR 4.0 standard since it was established in 2007. With the Eco Utility installed on this and other Satellite models, with just a click, you adjust the settings and power usage of your laptop. The rechargeable 6-Cell Li-ion Battery Pack keeps the laptop running at top speed for an estimated 4.5 hours while the LED Backlit Display is designed to last longer, use less power, and warm up quicker. The Satellite L635-S3030 has been awarded EPEAT™ Gold Compliant, the highest possible ranking of the acclaimed Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool which tests products across 51 different dimensions.

Conclusion

Toshiba taps into the next generation market by helping parents get kids started early on computing with a powerful computer designed for ages 7 to 12 years. Adults may want to use it too for the Windows 7, Windows Live Essentials, Microsoft Office and the variety of Toshiba designed software that come pre-installed. Parents will appreciate the many parental controls which help monitor and protect children as well as the safety features designed to keep the laptop running even under rough use. currently on sale

Toshiba Portege R600-S4213 Laptop

2011-01-18T07:48:00.006-05:00

R705-P41

What makes a laptop worth spending $3,500 USD? In an era when the cost of a fast, durable, even stylish computer can be below $500, what can you get if you can afford the best that money can buy? In this review, we take a look at a notebook that executives could love, the Portégé R600-S4213, one of the most expensive models made by Toshiba.

A showcase for Toshiba

The Portégé® line is a showcase for the latest design innovations by the giant Japanese electronics firm which spends billions on R&D. Portégés are backed by an exceptional three-year international warranty so the 2009 and 2010 R600 models and components will still be around for awhile, though the line is being phased out in favor of the R700 and R800 which offer tablet PC and touch screen technologies at about half the price.

Ultrathin, ultraportable

Fierce competition reigns among brands with size, weight, speed, storage capacity, overall performance, and security as key issues. This model is one of the smallest laptops on the market (11.1x8.5x1 inches) and ultrathin at only about 0.8 inches thick. It is ultraportable at 2.4 pounds. It qualifies as a ‘mini’ with its 12.1 inch screen, as a netbook for its high quality connectivity, and as a high end executive notebook with the power and performance to be a desktop replacement.

Inside its slim shell, it manages to tuck in a lot of power including an ultraslim multi-format DVD burner. Some of the other amenities include an LED backlit display and a 6-cell long-life battery giving an estimated 7.5 hours before recharge (though testers report closer to 4 to 6 hours of use). A built-in fingerprint scanner replaces passwords with a finger swipe to provide added security. These eco-conscious laptops are Energy Star Compliant and received the coveted EPEAT Gold™ status. Toshiba's exclusive EasyGuard® Technology and the Hard Drive Impact Sensor add a suite of safeguards against shocks, spills and drops.

A revolutionary solid state drive

May 2009 marked the advent of the 512GB solid state drive (SSD) in Toshiba’s showcase R600 series. Along with greater capacity, the hard drive gives much faster access to data and much more storage than other laptops. This is where price jumps up because the technology does not come cheaply. Solid state means no moving parts, therefore the laptop is less susceptible to damage from shock or vibration. This so-called ‘second-generation’ SSD features SATA standard and multilevel cell (MLC) NAND flash memory technology which helps increase the density, thus allowing more storage. 3GB RAM comes installed but can be upgraded to 5GB of DDR2 SDRAM (800 MHz). In comparison with a Macbook Pro (with a 320GB, 7200 RPM hard drive), tests showed the R600 performed file copying in 8 seconds while the Mac took a leisurely 35 seconds.

Thoughtfully designed, inside and out

Like its R500 predecessor, the stylish silhouette on the R600 is painted matte silver with a black screen surround. It has a plastic shell designed to be smudge-proof, part of a "shock absorbing design" complete with a full-sized spill resistant keyboard. Some users complain about the flexion of the lid and body as well as the feel of the plastic shell but Toshiba claims it bends rather than breaks in drop tests. Open it up and there is an aluminum-alloy chassis inside into which is slotted the 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 processor on an 800MHz frontside bus, linked to 3GB of DDR2 memory. From back to front there are multiple slots and ports for power, VGA, combo USB 2.0/eSATA and USB 2.0 , 3.5mm audio ports and a volume wheel on the left side. The right side houses a Gigabit Ethernet socket, a third USB port, wireless on/off switch, an ExpressCard 54 bay and an SDHC card slot. Networking and wireless connections are provided via integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi and network-unlocked 7.2Mb/s HSDPA 3G module. Unlike many ‘minis,’ it has Bluetooth built in. You can also plug in smart phones and other portable electronic devices to recharge as the USB Sleep-and-Charge operates even when the laptop is turned off.

Indoor / outdoor transreflective display

The display differs from most other laptops as well. Take it outdoors or work near a window -- a click of a button switches over to the unique ‘transreflective’ mode that effectively uses sunlight to enhance the picture with the added benefit of drawing less energy from the battery. Indoors, the widescreen WXGA LED Sidelight display with High Brightness gives rich color and clarity though some claim the screen seems a bit dim and angle of view is limited. Utilizing Intel’s Mobile Graphics Media Accelerator and Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0, the display resolution is 1280x800 with 128MB – 1024MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory driven by Intel's latest integrated graphics core, the GMA 4500MHD, part of the GS45 chipset. While generally application processing was graded fast, testers report on both 3DMark06 and PCMark05's graphics tests, 3D imagery ran slower than might be expected so this is not the machine for gamers – for that look to the comparably priced Qosmio line.

Conclusion

A number of reviewers expressed gratitude for the pioneering of new technologies showcased by Toshiba in the Portégé line. The R600 competes well against other high-end ultraportable PCs like the Dell Adamo, the Sony TT, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X301, and Macbook Air, but is lighter and as fast or faster than almost all of them.

With its steep price tag, the Portégé R600 is a showcase model for Toshiba offering near state-of-the-art technologies for the executive who needs an ultrathin, ultraportable, ultra-capable laptop. It is even more costly than some of the branded lines like the Acer Ferrari 1100, though it costs less than the status-conscious Rock Extreme SL8 at $5000 or the Ego for Bentley selling for $20,000 which emulates a high fashion purse design and is made to match a Bentley car. The world record for the most expensive computer of 2010 goes to the Luvaglio ‘One Million Dollar Laptop’ which can be customized for you for a cool million.currently on sale at amazon

Toshiba Satellite A665-S6055 LED Review

2011-01-12T04:32:00.002-05:00

A long-time industry leader, the Toshiba Satellite series offers the consumer hundreds of options to pick and choose from so you can assemble exactly the computer you want. The Toshiba model A665-S6055 laptop is a family-friendly computer with an extra large 16-inch screen and more than enough features to please all ages.

Something for everyone in the family

The laptop looks sleek and professional for mom or dad’s home office, with a glossy Fusion X2 finish designed to resist little fingerprints. It comes with high performance Turbo Boost technology to speed through multiple office applications. With multimedia connections, internet usage is a breeze. Audiophiles will enjoy the superior audio quality from the built-in Harmon-Kardon speakers and movie buffs will be delighted by the clarity of the video. The real test of a high performance computer is how well it runs the newest games and gamers will find this laptop passes with flying colors.

Handsome on the outside, powerful on the inside

As handsome as the A665-S6055 looks on the surface, things get even better inside. The 2.40 GHz Intel Core i5-450M dual-core processor makes it one of the speediest laptops on the market. With Turbo Boost technology in the range of 2.66 GHz, expandable 4GB DDR3 RAM memory, and a 320 GB SATA hard drive, the laptop handles multiple applications with ease while playing your favorite songs.

Organize and connect with the latest software

All the newest Toshiba Satellites come bundled with Windows 7 pre-installed which provides new and easier ways to find files, jump from one application to another, and give you greater stability and reliability than ever before. Windows 7 makes it easy to set up a home network to connect all the computers and printers in the house. Pre-loaded software has been carefully designed by Toshiba to simplify setup. Toshiba’s Bulletin Board lets you organize your desktop just the way you want it, and Toshiba Media Controller makes it easy to share media with a single click of a button.

Extreme video for gamers

With so many ways to use the laptop, games may have to go to the backburner. With this computer, you can switch back and forth between applications. Dedicated gamers will be impressed by the speed pictures show up thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics card with NVIDIA Optimus Technology 512 MB of dedicated DDR3 video memory and 2267 MB of graphics RAM. Video graphics for games, movies, and photos will look crystal clear on the HD TruBrite 16 inch LED screen with backlit display. A comfortable full-sized keyboard and touchpad with multi-touch control emulates the best of desktops. The built-in dual-layer DVD±RW drive burns CDs and offers Labelflash print functionality.

Peripherals speed connectivity

To network, connect, or expand your laptop, there are multiple connectors including a microphone input port with Sleep and Music functionality plus headphone output, a multi-format memory card reader, an ExpressCard (34/54) slot that lets you use the newer extra-slim expansion cards, Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) for networking, and both a VGA video output and an HDMI high-def audio / video output that enables transmission of uncompressed high-def video to digital TVs, projectors, or an external monitor.

This model adds a fourth eSATA / USB combo port to the usual 3 USB ports found on other laptops in the same class. The combo port features both Sleep and Charge capabilities and lets you transfer multimedia files with external hard drives up to 5 times faster than standard USB ports.

One Step Docking

Toshiba also offers the Dynadock V universal USB docking station which connects your external monitor and PC-related devices to your laptop with one simple USB cable. No need to plug and unplug multiple cables every time you want to take your laptop to another location.

Conclusion

The whole family will find something to enjoy in Toshiba A665-S6055. At just under 6 pounds, it weighs a little more than most laptops and the 4 hours of battery power may not be enough for some travelers. But there are far more pluses than minuses to this stylish and powerful laptop. It may ending up sitting on a desk at home as everyone in the house will want to use it. This is one desktop PC replacement that heralds the end of the desktop age and the start of something new.currently on sale at amazon

Dell Inspiron 1545 Review

2010-11-28T05:09:00.004-05:00

The Dell Inspiron 1545 (also known as the Inspiron 15 or Inspiron i1545-4583JBK) is a popular global choice. Customer comments show that 94% of users would recommend this product to their friends. This 15.6" budget laptop weighs in at 5.8 lbs, has a bright, vivid 15.6-inch LCD screen, and a TrueLife WXGA widescreen display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels comparable to the 16:9 aspect ratio for films (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TrueLife high-gloss/anti-reflective technology, which features a sharp contrast finish that's well suited to immersive 3D games and watching videos. An Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD keeps the screen refreshed and graphics sharp.

Artistic Design Options
Artful color inspires the design of the Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop . The exterior can be customized in any of six vibrant colors or over 200 designs created by professional artists. With its appearance so important, customers may want to take special care to avoid fingerprints and other marks which tend to show up on the glossy finishes on the keyboard face and modern black palm rest.

Under the Hood
One of the key features under the hood which make this a strong contender in the arena of home computing options is a 2.3 GHz Intel Pentium T4400 dual-core processor with 1 MB L2 cache and running a 800 MHz front side bus (FSB). Two other options are also available: Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo T6600 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache) and the Intel® Celeron® 900 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/1MB cache).

The spacious 320 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM) provides ample storage while customers can select from an impressive range of 2 to 8 GB of installed DDR2 RAM (800 MHz) memory which aids rapid multi-tasking. This laptop also comes with a built-in 8x multi-format DVD drive which supports reading/writing of CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, and DVD-RAM.

Built-In Features
Other built-in features are just what you might expect on a home computer designed to take on all the everyday tasks: stereo speakers with standard line out headphone and microphone in jacks (note that speaker volume is reported to be on the low side), 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) and a Fast Ethernet (10/100 LAN) network connector. Peripherals can be connected to the half mini card slot and a 34mm ExpressCard slot or any of the three USB 2.0 compliant 4-pin ports. Purchase a cable to use the 15-pin VGA video connector to show photos and presentations on televisions and slide projectors.

There is also a 7-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Hi-Capacity Secure Digital (SDHC), Hi-Density Secure Digital (SDHD), Multi Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS Pro), and xD Picture Card (xD) media.

Add-On Options
Among the many choices that can be installed on request to the basic model are the following options:

Built in WiFi options to allow you to connect to the Internet wirelessly and transfer larger content faster.
Dell Dock, an application organizer which sorts your most frequently used programs and places them front and center.
Dell Video Chat which is similar to Skype.
Optional integrated microphone and facial recognition software utilized by the 1.3 megapixel camera for webcam and VoIP
Blu-ray optical drive to watch movies in HD, as well as read and burn your files, music and videos to CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
Dell DataSafe® Online backup service to automatically back up data and help protect against software, hardware and catastrophic failure.
Dell Remote Access to easily access photos, music, movies and more on your home system using another Internet-connected computer.
Dell Connect Remote Assistance for personalized support resources.

Conclusion
Overall, this is a great laptop in terms of performance, connectivity and customization. Of the many desktop and laptop computers offered through the Inspiron line, the Dell Inspiron 1545 offers a colorful choice for daily computing with a rainbow of additional options. currently on sale

Acer Aspire AS5251 Review

2010-11-21T06:12:00.005-05:00

ACER ASPIRE AS5251

Currently one of the best selling laptops in the world, the inexpensive Acer Aspire AS5251 does not compromise on look or feel. The solid black plastic shell has a unique mesh pattern which gives it a rich appearance while also preventing fingerprints and scratches. The full size 103-key keyboard extends to a Dedicated Numeric Keypad while the Multi-Gesture Touchpad supports two-finger scrolling and enables you to “pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites.”

What you see is what you get
An industry standard 15.6-inch widescreen laptop monitor provides solid quality with the Acer® CineCrystal HD TFT display with a 16:9 aspect ratio perfect for showing movies and television programs. Graphics are sharp, smooth, and clear with the latest integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 4250 graphics and with Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 which supports up to 16.7 million colors.

Superior Video Connectivity

Video connectivity is a real virtue of this laptop as it has a responsive integrated Acer® Crystal Eye webcam with a 1280 x 1024 resolution for online chatting and web phone calls. Bundled with the laptop is Acer® Video Conference which allows conferencing with multiple people in locations all over the world. Both VGA and HDMI™ (High-Definition Multimedia Interface™) ports are supplied which can be cabled to LCD televisions and projectors to produce clear, large screen images.

Processing Power

Many of the higher end laptops that you find today come with a "dual-core" or even triple core processor, but the 2.20 GHz AMD V Series V120 single-core processor will meet or even exceed most of the normal consumer needs. The AMD processor is fast and handles video extremely well with the new Vision technology specifically designed by AMD to improve image processing.

While some pricier laptops sport only 1GB of RAM, 4GB is now the current standard for small business and high end home PCs. This particular laptop comes with a fairly fast 2GB of DDR3 system memory sufficient to do lots of basic photo editing, view movies, and complete most office tasks without glitches. With two 4GB memory card slots, it can be upgraded to a lightning-fast 8GB.

Under the Hood

The 250GB SATA hard drive is estimated to be able to store about 166,000 photos, 71,000 songs or 131 hours of HD video and more. There’s also a SuperMulti DVD burner that can read and write CDs and DVDs in multiple formats. 250GB will satisfy all but the hard-core multimedia buffs who are not satisfied with the storage capacity of any hard drive.

Make a Connection

Internet connections are smooth and easy to a broadband modem or a wired broadband router with wired 10/100/1000 Ethernet (LAN). Wirelessly connect to a Wi-Fi signal or hotspot with the 802.11b/g/n wireless connection built into this laptop.
Connectivity is also enhanced with a 5-in-1 memory card reader and the usual plethora of ports and slots including a DC-in, RJ-45 LAN, VGA, jacks for Headphones, speakers, line-out, and microphone. Three USB 2.0 ports and the aforementioned High-Definition Multimedia Interface™ (HDMI™) come standard. A 65-watt AC adapter and six-cell lithium ion battery are included. The battery can be expected to last up to 3.33 hours life depending on configuration and usage.

Conclusion

Price is what distinguishes the Acer Aspire AS5251 laptop from the pack. The experts of the Acer Group have somehow managed to come up with a competitively-priced laptop that does not compromise on all the basics. As long as you have a good basic machine, you can later add all the bells-and-whistles that you want.
currently on sale at amazon