tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55133937158566897922024-03-05T14:46:59.692-08:00Laptop ReviewsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-21319074798325072112020-10-23T13:06:00.000-07:002012-04-21T13:23:04.314-07:00Review of Dell Vostro A860<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69R8Db5znCMPFMXe-CmesrylWozcrICFNceFml8EMs_Y5MlbZnlHaenySuDeqg-DJjE0uUhZZmfNzaBAVUR2qdUuKMIaWzM5ScqMr_1WC5PAPgbq2Kt5SjLahetV9aNsztTGWshqr-VN1/s1600-h/8834_main_vostroA680.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69R8Db5znCMPFMXe-CmesrylWozcrICFNceFml8EMs_Y5MlbZnlHaenySuDeqg-DJjE0uUhZZmfNzaBAVUR2qdUuKMIaWzM5ScqMr_1WC5PAPgbq2Kt5SjLahetV9aNsztTGWshqr-VN1/s320/8834_main_vostroA680.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395889580712400802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Full review of Dell Vostro A860</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;" id="review-full"> <p></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An affordable option that will fit into any budget, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dell Vostro A860</span> Laptop offers great mobility and connectivity for the individual who needs a little more versatility from a work computer. Recently offered at $399 through Dell as part of a late 2008 push, there's arguably no better computer for your buck. The Vostro A860 offers three upgrade packages for more user customization. However, no unnecessary trial software is in the mix to clutter the hard drive or the desktop. The amply spaced 15.6-inch widescreen LCD display offers enough room to view multiple tasks and projects, with the ability to stream media or DVDs on the standard drive. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dell Vostro A860 Tech Specs</span> <br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vostro A860</span> comes with a lower-end Intel Celeron M processor at 2.16GHz and Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1. The optical drive offers a 24x CD Burner/DVD combo, with the option to upgrade to an 8x DVD+/-RW drive. The basic package offers users 1GB of memory, a 160GB SATA hard drive and the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100. Out of the box, the laptop is wireless capable, and includes the standard one-year basic limited warranty. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Features </span><br />Ultimately, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vostro A860</span> is perfect for transitioning from a desktop to a capable laptop, catering to those in need of the technological mobility. Aesthetically, the computer offers a low-profile look, without the overly glossy finish found on many black laptops. The full keyboard allows for maximized user efficiency and comfort, and with the four-cell battery, the weight is just over 5 lbs. The only real drawback, when considering the unbeatable price, is the size and the power-pull of a four-cell Li-Ion battery. Yet, when reviewing the pros and cons, an under $400 price tag far outweighs the drawbacks to this entry-level laptop. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dell Vostro A860 </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Technical Specifications</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;" id="review-tech-specs"><h3></h3> <ul><li><span>Processor</span> Celeron M 2.16GHz</li><li><span>Memory</span> 1GB DDR2</li><li><span>Harddrive</span> 160GB</li><li><span>OS</span> Vista Basic</li><li><span>Weight</span> 5.4lbs</li><li><span>Screen</span> 15.4 inches</li><li><span>Screen resolution</span> 1366x768</li><li><span>Graphic Card</span> Intel GMA X3100</li><li><span>Battery Life</span> 2.5 hours</li></ul> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-76239255804777592292012-08-31T11:05:00.005-07:002012-08-31T11:27:54.433-07:00test<a onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'location, toolbar, top=0, left=0, width='+screen.availWidth+', height='+screen.availHeight);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/whatever.htm" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYPGLQy6rjz30wD-Z4eErFsb0ZTzQBQkYdSI2bTrH7ZR30txCNBg7-1OqVUP49IkApw5a_67cry_kJEOgK9RYOiW8ggFcEndz8vNKqWN-9AOHzyJvfqA0uaE-YZTamUjpsmaLidRLmZI/s400/play.gif" height="75" width="75" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onclick="window.open('../DogDescription.htm', 'popup', resizable=yes, 'width=300,height=150'); return false" href="http://www.blogger.com/DogDescription.htm" target="popup"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYPGLQy6rjz30wD-Z4eErFsb0ZTzQBQkYdSI2bTrH7ZR30txCNBg7-1OqVUP49IkApw5a_67cry_kJEOgK9RYOiW8ggFcEndz8vNKqWN-9AOHzyJvfqA0uaE-YZTamUjpsmaLidRLmZI/s400/play.gif" height="75" width="75" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-79691053383160545902012-04-20T20:46:00.000-07:002012-04-20T20:47:55.012-07:00http://www.bizontv.com/The free TV Online. 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Watch your favorite TV channels online like sports, movies, news, music, education, and moreUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-5532820247001727112011-10-06T04:01:00.000-07:002011-10-06T04:13:29.218-07:00Lenovo Think Pad T420 Review: The Best Business Laptop ?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrGSTJHXa7nZZ-PyG8Yh9gRWMyOFb_pfuHSKJ3UHDuWbt4IVvcVBC49dbY2cZqoEuaeihskqcGYgArP23XfP_t3s5Sf2jG_e-Aid4HO6A-WFN7Vl3BwntjjnJgriHVquA4AxkyCLW0ve5/s1600/lenovo_thinkpad-t420-img1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrGSTJHXa7nZZ-PyG8Yh9gRWMyOFb_pfuHSKJ3UHDuWbt4IVvcVBC49dbY2cZqoEuaeihskqcGYgArP23XfP_t3s5Sf2jG_e-Aid4HO6A-WFN7Vl3BwntjjnJgriHVquA4AxkyCLW0ve5/s400/lenovo_thinkpad-t420-img1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660335588931234914" border="0" /></a><br /><p><strong>Review Summary:</strong></p> <p style="">Bottom line, the ThinkPad T420 is an excellent choice for business, home, and student use.</p> <div class="left semi-column2"> <p><strong>Pros</strong></p> <ul><li>Good build quality</li><li>Excellent keyboard and trackpad/touchpad</li><li> High-resolution 900p anti-glare screen</li><li> 10 hours of battery life!</li></ul> </div> <div class="right semi-column2"> <p><strong>Cons</strong></p> <ul><li> Weak speakers</li><li> Design might not appeal to all</li></ul> </div> <!-- NewsItem#begin --> <h2 style="color: black;"></h2><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lenovo ThinkPad T420 Full Review: The Best Business Laptop? </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The 14-inch ThinkPad T420 business notebook has an excellent screen, keyboard, and battery life. We explain why this "business rugged" notebook is a great choice for hard-working customers.</div><span id="intelliTxt"><p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60840"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60841.jpg" style="float: right;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>Build and Design</strong><br />The T420 looks ... pretty much like what ThinkPads have always looked like. It's a classic design that places function over form. Take the exterior plastics, for example. They have a matte texture which is scratch-resistant and does not show fingerprints/dust (as opposed to glossy plastic). The plastics are of good quality and don't rattle when tapped by a fingernail. The fit and finish is consistent all over - there are no rough edges and gaps between the various pieces are the same.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60842"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60843.jpg" style="float: left;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>The chassis strength is excellent; T-series ThinkPads have strong internal frames that prevent flex. This is good for the internal circuit boards - the less they flex the better in the long term. The lid is securely anchored to the chassis via two metal hinges. The lid itself affords the screen good protection from bumps and pressure but lacks the magnesium alloy backing of notebooks like the Dell Latitude E6420 or <a style="border-bottom: 0.2em dotted rgb(43, 101, 176); font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: none; padding-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(43, 101, 176); background-color: transparent;" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6276&review=lenovo+thinkpad+t420+business+laptop#" id="itxthook1" rel="nofollow"><nobr style="color: rgb(43, 101, 176);" id="itxthook1w0nobr" class="itxtrst itxtrstnobr itxthooknobr"><span id="itxthook1w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-weight: inherit;font-size:inherit;" >HP</span><img class="itxtrst itxtrstimg itxthookicon" id="itxthook1icon" src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif" style="" /></nobr></a> EliteBook 8460p.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60844"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60845.jpg" style="float: right;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>Overall the quality and build are top notch. Keep in mind the T-series notebooks are quite popular for corporate fleet use; they must handle years of abuse from not-so-careful employees in order to provide a good return on investment for the company. They're built to last and it shows.</p> <p>Upgrading the T420 is a simple task; a single cover under the chassis holds the memory and the hard drive slides out the left side of the chassis.</p> <p><strong>Ports and Features</strong><br />The T420 has a solid array of input and output ports. It's also worth noting the T420 has a docking station port on its underside - Lenovo sells several different models, all offering plug-and-play compatibility and connections to many more ports. This functionality is a feature of a true business notebook; lower-end "business" notebooks do not have them, nor do consumer models. All picture descriptions are left to right.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60851"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60852.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Front: Screen latch</i></td> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60853"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60854.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Back: IEEE-1394 mini-Firewire, USB 2.0, battery pack, AC power, cooling exhaust vent</i></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60855"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60856.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Left: Cooling exhaust vent, VGA, Ethernet, DisplayPort (top), USB 2.0 (bottom)</i></td> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60857"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60858.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Right: DVD burner, ExpressCard/34 (top), media card reader (bottom), USB 2.0 (top), USB 2.0 + eSATA combo port (bottom)</i></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><strong>Screen and Speakers</strong><br /><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The T420 features a 14-inch screen with an anti-glare coating. It is available in two resolutions: 720p (1366x768) and 900p (1600x900); ours has the latter and it's a good thing it does, otherwise I would complain. A 1600x900 screen has almost 30% more space compared to 1366x768 - that means less scrolling since more lines of text can be shown at once (or more detail in a high-resolution picture). It also makes it possible to use two windows side-by-side.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60859"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60860.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60861"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60862.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60863"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60864.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60865"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60866.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a></p> <p>The screen has 15 levels of brightness and ample contrast; the infamous Command Prompt window looks black with barely a hint of gray. Viewing angles are typical for a TN-type panel like this one; fine horizontally but with significant color distortion vertically. Nearly all notebooks come with TN-type panels. The anti-glare screen coating is more evidence this notebook is designed for productivity - it's not a mirror like a glossy display and thus does not have annoying reflections. It is easy to clean as a bonus.</p> <p>The T420 sports two stereo speakers on either side of the keyboard. They suffice for watching occasional audio clips but lack the volume and bass to enjoy music. I appreciate the dedicated volume control (up/down/mute) buttons above the keyboard - they're convenient.</p> <p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60846"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60847.jpg" style="float: right;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>Keyboard and Touchpad</strong><br />Like the design, the T420 has a keyboard ... pretty much like ThinkPads have always had - a great one. Although Lenovo is controversially introducing "Chiclet" or "island" style keyboards on some more consumer-esque ThinkPad lines, the T-series stays true to form with a standard keyboard (maybe it should be called an "old school" keyboard since apparently "keyboard" isn't sufficient anymore).</p> <p>Tactile feedback - what it feels like to press the keys - starts with the key travel, or the distance between pressed and not pressed positions. The T420's keys have precisely the right amount of travel to allow time for your finger muscles to realize a key is fully depressed; this is essential for fast and accurate typing. Additionally the spring mechanism (it's not actually a spring, but a scissor switch/rubber dome, but that's for another article) pops the keys back up immediately yet is stiff enough to let you rest your fingers on the keys.</p> <p>I could talk about the keyboard all day but will restrain myself to two more points. First, the layout of the keyboard is fantastic; it has the [Fx] keys at the top separated into groups of four as they should be and the home/end/pgup/pgdn/delete keys separated into cluster. Lastly, the keyboard is quiet and subdued for use in meetings and classrooms alike - no clacking or clicking, just a nice low octave sound.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60848"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60849.jpg" style="float: left;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>The T420 has an "UltraNav" solution which consists of the touchpad and the red rubber trackpoint in the center of the keyboard. The touchpad sports an anti-glare textured surface which is actually a bit too bumpy for my tastes, coming from a smooth touchpad. On the plus side, the rougher surface makes it highly accurate. The trackpoint is the best in the business, responsive and with an excellent dome shape. I prefer using this since it's not necessary to remove hands from the keyboard while doing so. Finally, the buttons are quiet and have enough depth to provide solid feedback. They are easy to find by feel.</p> <p>Overall there are not enough good things I can say about the input devices, they are the gold standard. If you want to buy a notebook with a good keyboard/touchpad and can't see it in person, a ThinkPad might be your best bet.</p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-72146707154584917372011-10-06T03:54:00.000-07:002011-10-06T03:59:22.920-07:00ASUS U36S Review: Better Than A MacBook Pro ?<p><strong>Review Summary:</strong></p> <p style="">The ASUS U36S is highly recommendable to those searching for a well-rounded portable notebook with good quality and lots of battery life.</p> <div class="left semi-column2"> <p><strong>Pros</strong></p> <ul><li>Ultra-thin metal alloy chassis</li><li>Good keyboard and touchpad</li><li>8.5 hours of battery life</li><li>Two-year warranty standard</li></ul> </div> <div class="right semi-column2"> <p><strong>Cons</strong></p> <ul><li>Glossy display creates reflections</li><li>Touchpad buttons could be quieter</li><li>Poor speakers</li></ul> </div> <!-- NewsItem#begin --> <h2 style="color: black;"></h2><span style="font-weight: bold;">ASUS U36S Full Review: Better Than A MacBook Pro?</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The ASUS U36S is a 13.3-inch ultraportable featuring a magnesium-aluminum chassis that weighs just 3.1 lbs. At just 0.75" thin and with over 8 hours of battery life, could this laptop be one of this year’s best buys? Here's a tip: Keep reading if you are thinking about buying a MacBook Pro for Christmas.<span id="intelliTxt"></span></div><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60950"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60951.jpg" style="float: right;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>Build and Design</b><br /></p></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The ASUS U36S ($899.99) has a rather unsuspecting gray and black exterior. The surfaces of the notebook are made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy which is strong and extraordinarily light. The whole notebook including its large 8-cell battery weighs just 3.11 lbs. Additionally the notebook is exceptionally thin measuring just three quarters of an inch with the lid closed.</div><span id="intelliTxt"></span><span id="intelliTxt"> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60952"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60953.jpg" style="float: left;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>The build quality is excellent; the chassis is nearly inflexible and the lid has strong protection from the metal alloy backing. I like how the top of the chassis is molded from a single piece of metal alloy including the keyboard surround. Finally, the anti-glare properties of the metal alloy do not show fingerprints or dust and should resist scratches fairly well. The only area of the build quality that could use improvement is the screen bezel; the glossy plastic is difficult to keep clean as is the glossy screen surface.</p></span></div><span id="intelliTxt"> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60954"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60955.jpg" style="float: right;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>Unlike many other metal-clad laptops (the ones with fruit logos on the lids), upgrading the RAM inside the U36S is easily accomplished by removing the user-serviceable panel on the bottom of the chassis. Getting to the hard drive is another matter; the whole chassis needs to be taken apart. This is a shame; I imagine a good number of customers will want to upgrade to an <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> or at least a faster hard drive.</p></span></div><span id="intelliTxt"> <p> </p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />The ASUS U36S has a standard array of ports for a 13.3-inch notebook including a single USB 3.0 port. It does not have an internal optical drive, an ExpressCard slot, DisplayPort, or eSATA. All picture descriptions are listed from left to right.<br /></p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60960"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60961.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Front: Air vents, speakers</i></td> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60962"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60963.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Back: Battery pack</i></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60964"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60965.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Left: </i>Kensington Lock<i> slot, AC power, VGA, 2x USB 2.0, cooling exhaust vent</i></td> <td><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60966"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60967.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="215" /></a><br /><i>Right: Headphone and microphone jacks, 1x USB 3.0, HDMI out, Ethernet</i></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br /></p></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The 13.3-inch display has a glossy/reflective surface and a 720p resolution (1366x768). The screen has no outstanding qualities. Brightness and contrast are about the same as any other sub-$1,000 notebook; viewing angles are fine horizontally but colors distort from above and below, as expected from a TN-type display. Color reproduction is substandard (as is the case for most notebook screens); everything looks a bit cold/cool with the default settings. Fortunately ASUS includes built-in color profiles; press the [Fn] key and [C] to switch between them. ASUS is the only mainstream notebook maker to include such a feature and it is certainly appreciated.</div><span id="intelliTxt"></span><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60968"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60969.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60970"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60971.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60972"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60973.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60974"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60975.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a></p> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The screen resolution of 1366x768 is standard for this screen size. I prefer 1600x900 since it has more space to work with (more lines of text can be viewed on the screen without scrolling), however no 13.3" notebook offers it anywhere close to the U36S' price range. Finally, the screen's glossy surface increases clarity but acts like a mirror, creating reflections; for this reason I prefer anti-glare screens.</p></span></div><span id="intelliTxt"> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>There are two stereo speakers located under the palm rest; they sound tinny and have no bass. The sound is muffled further when hands are placed over them for typing.</p></span></div><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60956"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60957.jpg" style="float: right;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br /></p></span><div style="text-align: justify;">ASUS has modified its standard keyboard design for the U36S; the island/Chiclet-style keyboard is completely integrated into the single piece of metal alloy that makes up the top of the chassis. This keyboard is a significant improvement over the ones used on previous ASUS notebooks; it feels solid and has no flex. The keys have a flat surface and a granular texture that will likely wear shiny over time. The key travel (distance between pressed and un-pressed positions) is just right, more than other ASUS notebooks. Furthermore the keyboard is relatively quiet. Overall the only thing it's missing is backlighting; it continues to be a rarity in the notebook market.</div><span id="intelliTxt"></span><span id="intelliTxt"> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=60958"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/60959.jpg" style="float: left;" border="0" height="161" width="215" /></a>The touchpad is appropriately sized. It has a smooth anti-glare surface and is easy to find by feel. Responsiveness and accuracy are as expected. The single touchpad button could use improvement; the pressure needed to produce a click is inconsistent depending where the button is pressed. Additionally the clicks are louder than they should be; people around you will know you are clicking. Lastly it has a reflective surface which always makes it look unclean.</p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-28278810406278803922010-02-08T15:22:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:24:20.416-08:00Lenovo Think Pad T400s<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>It seems a common trend at Lenovo right now is making super thin and lightweight ThinkPads. First the X300 hit the market, offering a super thin and lightweight chassis with the ruggedness we have come to expect from a ThinkPad. Now Lenovo has done it again with the T400, bringing a newer, lighter, redesigned T400s to the table. In this official review we show you what's changed on this new 14" ThinkPad, which even includes the legendary keyboard.</p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Our ThinkPad T400s specifications:</p> <ul><li>OS: Windows Vista Business (SP1)</li><li>Screen: 1440 x 900 WXGA+ LED Backlit (Matte finish)</li><li>Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 (2.53GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)</li><li>Memory: 2GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 1)</li><li>Storage: 128GB Samsung SSD</li><li>Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW</li><li>Wireless: 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0</li><li>Graphics: Intel X4500M Integrated</li><li>Built-in web camera</li><li>Battery: 6-cell 11.1 44Wh</li><li>Dimensions: (LxWxH) 13.27 x 9.49 x 0.83"</li><li>Weight: 3lbs 14.3oz</li><li>Starting Price: $1,599</li></ul> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44513" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44514.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The new ThinkPad T400s looks completely revamped and polished compared to the regular T400. The chassis has slimmed down significantly, and the weight of the notebook has also dropped by almost a pound. The exterior is still wrapped in Lenovo's much-loved rubberized black paint, but the design just looks cleaner and less busy than previous ThinkPad models.</div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44497" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44498.jpg" border="0" height="190" width="250" /></a></p> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Looking inside, the main changes start to become obvious. Besides the new keyboard and touchpad that we will go over shortly, Lenovo changed the shape of the palmrest around the touchpad, with the touchpad resting flush with the palmrest instead of being slightly recessed. The screen bezel is smooth all around the perimeter of the display, unlike the T400 which shows rough plastic grids near the built-in antennas and cutouts near the light and webcam. Even when compared to the ThinkPad X301, the new T400s looks more refined. The speaker grills are larger and look better suited to the design. Even the fingerprint reader manages to blend in better, with an all-black design instead of gold and silver like past models.</p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44509" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44510.jpg" border="0" height="172" width="250" /></a></p> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Build quality is still fantastic, with barely a hint of chassis flex even as it has decreased in thickness. The screen has some minor side-to-side flex when open, but no more than previous models. Protection for the screen, even with the super thin cover is surprisingly good, showing only small amounts of screen distortion when you are squeezing the back of the display. The new chassis feels quite rugged.</p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44525" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44526.jpg" border="0" height="170" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44523" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44524.jpg" border="0" height="173" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>With the thinner design Lenovo completely reworked the chassis for the T400s, and it looks completely different than the T400 once you start opening it up. The hard drive is now accessed through a panel under the left side of the palmrest, which is now 1.8" instead of the 2.5" found in the T400. System memory and <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=11880" target="_blank">Wireless Cards</a> are found under a single access panel on the bottom of the notebook. Compared to removing the palmrest on previous models, you now just loosen one screw and pop off a single panel to upgrade memory. With most of the slots changing location to the underside of the notebook, removing the keyboard is now only required to replace a broken one, or to get access to a half-sized mini-PCIe slot used for Wireless USB on some models. I really hope future ThinkPads follow a similar design to the T400s, since it is so much easier to upgrade components now.</p></span></span><p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The LED-backlit WXGA+ (1440 x 900) display on the T400s rates above average, with good color reproduction and very good peak backlight brightness levels. The display part number is LTN141BT08001, which may indicate that it has a Samsung panel. Colors appear bright and vibrant for a matte-finish display, and it has very nice contrast when the backlight isn't at the brightest setting. At 95-100% brightness the screen starts to look slightly washed out, which is pretty normal for higher brightness displays. My comfortable viewing brightness range for this notebook is between 50-60%, giving great black-levels and no hint of backlight bleed. Viewing angles are average for a TN-panel LCD, with colors quickly inverting or washing out as you <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1087" target="_blank">Tilt</a> the screen forward or back. With the matte finish and higher backlight power the screen is readable outdoors and quite visible in your car on a bright day.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44515" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44516.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44521" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44522.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44519" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44520.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44517" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44518.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Speaker performance was lackluster, but that is common on most business notebooks. They work well for streaming audio or having a VOIP chat, but for movies and entertainment the headphone jack is a much better alternative.</p> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />Yes, Lenovo significantly changed the look, feel, and layout of the keyboard on the T400s. After you pick yourself up off the floor from fainting, you will quickly see most of the changes are for the better. The feel of the keys remains mostly untouched from past models ... outside of the fact that the spacebar seems to click loudly if you press it on the edges. The biggest change comes with a redesigned function key section, offering larger "escape" and "delete" keys. Through in-depth research Lenovo found that those two keys were used more than other function keys. As a result they doubled the height, and moved the position of the insert key and F1 key.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44509" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44510.jpg" border="0" height="172" width="250" /></a></p> <p>I think the coolest difference is the new media buttons and power button. The power switch and mute keys light up when activated, so instead of the power icon showing up on the bottom edge of your screen, the button itself is the indicator. The caps lock button now features a translucent window with an LED that lights up to indicate the caps lock is turned on. One thing that is missing is an AC and battery indicator light facing you with the screen open, as they are now external only.</p> <p>The T400s offers one feature I have yet to see on any other notebook to date: a speaker AND microphone mute button. While I am not sure how often I personally need to turn off my microphone, if you videoconference or use Skype frequently then a quickly accessed mute button would come in handy. Another minor change is the key tolerances have decreased, meaning there is less room for crumbs or dust to fall in-between keys.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44527" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44528.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The new touchpad is different, but I am having a hard time figuring out if that is a good or bad thing. The old design used a slightly rough matte plastic finish, which gave some traction and made it easy to move your finger around even if sweaty. The new design has a raised dimple finish with a softer texture that feels strange. I found myself increasing the sensitivity in the Synaptics control panel to make movement feel more fluid, but then found it too sensitive. It seems that you need to apply consistent pressure when moving over the new touchpad, where before it was easy to flick your finger across. I think if the bumpy surface was glossy or more slick I might enjoy it more.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44511" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44512.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Another change is the shape and size of the trackpad buttons. The buttons have a radius contour that goes through the buttons to the edges where they meet the palmrest. From a design standpoint they flow better with the notebook than previous attempts, and it is even easier to access them from the touchpad now.</p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />Port selection on the T400s has been greatly improved over the T400 model. New to the back of the T400s is an eSATA port for <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=11484" target="_blank">Storage</a> expansion and DisplayPort out, giving you digital video from the notebook itself. Just like the T400 it has three USB ports, one through a combo USB/eSATA port. Lenovo has kept the VGA port for legacy connections, since it is still used frequently for projectors. With the decrease in thickness the T400s lost its dual card slots, only keeping an ExpressCard/34 slot. The T400s offers a docking station connector on the bottom, but it is a new design that is incompatible with older models. The last big change came with the T60, and I can just hope that this docking station format stays the same for a few notebook generations to come.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44501" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44502.jpg" border="0" height="97" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44505" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44506.jpg" border="0" height="93" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44503" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44504.jpg" border="0" height="129" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44499" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44500.jpg" border="0" height="148" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Internal features include integrated 3G WWAN and a handy GPS receiver. While 3G is pretty common these days GPS seems to always be passed over. Lenovo includes software for initializing the GPS receiver, and translating the NMEA data through a virtual COM port for applications. Since I am fond of Garmin GPS receivers, I installed a trial version of Garmin Mobile PC. Installation was simple and the software will automatically find the virtual COM port for communication with the GPS unit. The T400s was quick to acquire our location with a six satellite lock inside our office. So if you don't own an automotive GPS receiver yet, this $60 piece of software might come in handy paired with the T400s.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44573" target="_blank"> </a> </p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44569" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44570.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44573" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44574.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />With an Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 and 128GB Samsung <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> the T400s was no slouch ... despite the Intel X4500 integrated graphics. The T400s was extremely fast to boot, and was quietly waiting at the desktop idle much sooner than other notebooks we have reviewed. The T400s handles day-to-day uses, such as typing a paper, watching <a href="http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=697" target="_blank">Hulu</a> while the boss isn't watching, or enjoying an HD movie all with ease. Gaming presented a problem with the X4500 integrated graphics, so instead of playing <i>Left 4 Dead</i> you might have to compromise with <i>Peggle</i>. 720p and 1080p HD video decoded with no problems at all thanks to the fast processor, although outputting it to a home stereo might be tough without digital audio out through the DisplayPort. One original concern we had with system performance was the speed of the 1.8" drive, but as we found out the 128GB Samsung <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> included with our T400s blew the socks off most 2.5" drives. The only downside to this is the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> is fairly expensive and the small size has few aftermarket options, whereas the 2.5" market is loaded with affordable alternatives. <p><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td>HP <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1184" target="_blank">Pavilion dv4t</a> (Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 2.8GHz)</td> <td>26.972 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1196" target="_blank">ThinkPad T400</a> (Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 2.8GHz)</td> <td>27.410 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Lenovo ThinkPad T400s (Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 @ 2.53GHz)</b></td> <td><b>30.328 seconds</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1157" target="_blank">Latitude E6400</a> (Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 @ 2.53GHz)</td> <td>30.497 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Satellite E105 (Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 @ 2.26GHz)</td> <td>33.961 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1201" target="_blank">ThinkPad SL400</a> (Core 2 Duo P8400 @ 2.26GHz)<br /></td> <td>34.628 seconds</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Lenovo ThinkPad T400s (2.53GHz Intel SP9600, Intel X4500)</b></td> <td><b>7,590 PCMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo T400 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, ATI Radeon 3470 256MB GDDR3)</td> <td>6,589 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Latitude E6400 (2.53GHz Intel P9500, Nvidia Quadro NVS 160M 256MB)</td> <td>5,780 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv4t (2.8GHz Intel T9600, NVIDIA 9200M GS 256MB)</td> <td>5,463 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 (2.26GHz Intel P8400, NVIDIA 9300M GS 256MB)</td> <td>5,173 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Satellite E105 (2.26GHz Intel P8400, Intel 4500MHD)</td> <td>4,836 PCMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>3DMark06 measures video and gaming performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Lenovo T400 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, ATI Radeon 3470 256MB GDDR3)</td> <td>2,575 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1201" target="_blank">ThinkPad SL400</a> (2.26GHz Intel P8400, NVIDIA 9300M GS 256MB)</td> <td>2,211 3DMarks<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1157" target="_blank">Latitude E6400</a> (2.53GHz Intel P9500, Nvidia Quadro NVS 160M 256MB)</td> <td>1,818 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1184" target="_blank">Pavilion dv4t</a> (2.8GHz Intel T9600, NVIDIA 9200M GS 256MB)</td> <td>1,741 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Satellite E105 (2.26GHz Intel P8400, Intel 4500MHD)</td> <td>1,030 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Lenovo ThinkPad T400s (2.53GHz Intel SP9600, Intel X4500)</b></td> <td><b>996 3DMarks</b></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><i>*All 3DMark06 benchmark tests are set at 1280 x 800 screen resolution.</i></p> <p><i>HDTune <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=11484" target="_blank">Storage</a> drive performance results:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44571" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44572.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />The T400s managed heat and noise very well during our tests, keeping external temperatures low with minimal noise from the cooling fan. After continuously stressing the notebook over a period of 30 minutes the fan never went above a whisper level. You had to put your ear to the vent to hear it above normal ambient noise. Under light activity the case barely warmed up above room temperature. Under heavier loads such as watching an HD movie or playing a quick game the temperatures increased slightly, but overall stayed very lap-friendly. External temperatures listed below are shown in degrees Fahreheit.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44559" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44560.jpg" border="0" height="172" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44561" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44562.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />Time on battery with the T400s was good, but not as impressive as the 10 hours experienced on the T400. Currently the only battery size offered is a 6-cell battery with a reported size of 45Wh. Compare this to the 9-cell on the T400 with a capacity of 84Wh, almost twice the size. Even with the smaller battery the T400s managed 5 hours and 48 minutes with the screen brightness set to 70%, Vista set to the Balanced profile, and wireless active. During the test power consumption varied between 6.5W and 8W depending on load. Compared to the T400 the power consumption drop most likely comes from the 1.8" <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> and integrated graphics chipset. Lenovo doesn't have plans to offer a larger main battery for extended battery life, similar to the 4-cell, 6-cell, and 9-cell options on the T400. What they will offer though is an ultra-bay battery to run in place of the optical drive, which should extend battery life by up to an additional three hours.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />Overall I think Lenovo put a lot of time into thinking through the changes they made with the T400s so they wouldn't offend too many ThinkPad customers. The keyboard change is significant, but for all intents and purposes they stuck with the tried-and-true design. The keys feel the same, the core layout is the same, the only thing that changed were the function and media keys. Even though the keys look weird at first it takes about 3 seconds to adapt to the new layout. I think the super slim and lightweight design is excellent, moving to a layout that is easier to service by the end-user. The inclusion of eSATA and DisplayPort is something that should have come sooner, considering that the T400 doesn't offer a digital video output without a docking station.</p> <p>The only complaint I have is with the price, starting well above the standard T400, and the costly drive upgrade options since it is limited to 1.8" models instead of the cheaper and more widely available 2.5" size. If you are in the market for a new ThinkPad and don't mind spending a bit extra for something thin and lightweight, the T400s is a great choice.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Excellent build quality</li><li>Good keyboard changes</li><li>Nice polished design</li><li>eSATA and DisplayPort ... finally</li><li>Very fast even with integrated graphics</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Limited battery options</li><li>1.8" storage drive</li><li>Different docking connector</li></ul></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-30232442226202011242010-02-08T15:19:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:21:46.358-08:00Lenovo Idea Pad S10-2<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1461">IdeaPad S10-2</a> is the latest generation 10" netbook from Lenovo, offering the 1.6GHz N270 Intel Atom processor and a 6-cell extended battery. Lenovo redesigned this netbook to make it look slimmer and more attractive than its predecessor, giving the edges a rounded look and a more modern appearance. In our review we see how well the IdeaPad S10-2 performs in our tests, to help you make an informed buying decision.</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Our Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 Configuration:</p> <ul><li>1.6GHz N270 Intel Atom Processor</li><li>1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz</li><li> Windows XP Home Edition (SP3)</li><li> 10.1" WSVGA Glossy LED-backlit display with integrated camera 1024x600</li><li> 160GB 5400rpm Western Digital Scorpio Blue hard drive</li><li> Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics</li><li> Broadcom 11b/g Wi-Fi wireless</li><li> 4-in-1 Media card </li><li> 6-Cell Li-ion 10.8v 4.06Ah 44Wh battery</li><li> 40W AC Adapter</li><li> Size: 10.2" x 7.6" x 0.7-1.8" (including battery)</li><li> Weight: 2lbs 11oz, 3lbs 5.4oz travel weight</li><li> Starting price: <b>$439 (Currently on sale for $349 at the time of this review)</b></li></ul> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45026" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45027.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The second generation Lenovo S10 looks great, with a cleaner and smoother appearance all around. In the redesign, the sides changed from flat surfaces that looked stuck onto the chassis, to a rounder and smoother form that looks integrated into the netbook. As a result, the new S10 is thinner in most dimensions, with varying heights depending on the inner structure of the notebook. The all-black model which we were lucky enough to get looks great, with every bezel matte black, except the screen lid which has a glossy black finish with a faint metallic weave pattern. Contrasting the black surfaces the Lenovo logo, power button, and touchpad buttons are all silver. This theme continues to the bottom of the S10-2, which if some of the stickers were removed would share the same clean look. My only complaint is Lenovo stuck with the large Windows COA sticker, instead of the new netbook-sized stickers that can be hidden underneath the battery or someplace out of sight.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45012" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45013.jpg" border="0" height="158" width="250" /></a></p> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Lenovo went with an extended battery that significantly improves runtime over the smaller flush-mount one. The downside to this is it sticks out the back, and raises the netbook up off a surface about 0.75". Some could argue that it moves the keyboard into a more comfortable typing position, or it works great as an extra handle. I would personally like one that just sticks straight out the back, making aftermarket carrying cases much easier to choose.</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Build quality is very good, with firm plastic used throughout the chassis and very little obvious flex or squeaking when you are carrying the netbook around. The screen hinges feel solid, needing two hands to easily open up the display. The matte plastic finish on the inside and bottom of the notebook stayed scratch free throughout the review. Likewise, the glossy finish held up surprisingly well; it did, however, give us a few scares, making us think we created huge scratches... which turned out to be smudges. Even if you did scratch this model, the black finish hides most blemishes (including smudges and dust).</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45022" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45023.jpg" border="0" height="179" width="250" /></a></p> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>From an upgrade standpoint Lenovo really wins our hearts with its user-friendly design that puts every swappable component behind one of two removable panels. Under the main panel, we have access to the hard drive, wireless card, and spare mini-PCIe slot with the connector included (some don't solder this in place so they can save money). The other slot is for the system memory, which is expandable to 2GB total. The only thing that could have made this better is if they went with the HP Mini approach, which doesn't even need a screwdriver to open the RAM cover.</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The glossy panel on the Lenovo S10-2 is average compared to other netbooks, with bright and vibrant colors, but somewhat limited viewing angles. The glossy screen really does an awesome job at making colors pop, and also helps reproduce deep blacks as well - handy for watching Sci-Fi flicks. The downside to this and any other glossy screen, though, is added reflection, making screen visibility poor when outdoors or under a bright light.<br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Viewing angles seemed average, with colors starting to shift if the screen was titled about 20 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles just showed a slight hint of color shift, but nothing that would really bother you if you were sharing the screen with someone sitting next to you. Backlight brightness was perfect for viewing in bright office conditions, but might not have been strong enough to use outside. I spent a couple of hours out in my garage with bright shop lights on around it, and my motorcycle schematics were still fully visible from a few feet away. One possibly limiting factor of the screen design which might affect a few people is the limited hinge range, which prevents the screen from tilting completely flat. It stops the screen about 45 degrees back from vertical.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45038" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45039.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45040" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45041.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45034" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45035.jpg" border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45032" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45033.jpg" border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The speakers on the S10-2 are lap-firing, facing down underneath the palmrest. If you are listening to the speakers on a flat desk surface you can hear the full (albeit limited) range of the speakers, but if the notebook is sitting on a soft surface like your bed or lap, they get quite muffled. Music from the speakers sounds clear and crisp with excellent higher frequency reproduction, but falls flat with midrange and low-frequency support. For VOIP, streaming music, or YouTube they will probably work fine, but headphones would be the best option if you plan on watching a movie or are doing something that requires you to pay attention to all the little nuances of the audio source.</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The keyboard on the S10-2 is a bit small compared to some netbooks, sticking with a condensed layout (instead of cramming in as much keyboard space as possible like what we see on the HP netbooks). This in itself isn't a bad thing, since you get used to it after a while, but coming from full-size notebook and larger netbook keyboards can be challenging. Keyboard support is excellent, exhbiting no flex or trampoline affect when typing. Individual keys feel sturdy with no wobble when sliding your fingertips across the surface, and key action is smooth with a very mild "click" given off when you trigger a key.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45024" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45025.jpg" border="0" height="174" width="250" /></a></p> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The touchpad is a Synaptics model with limited multi-touch support. The only multi-finger control you get in the control panel is "pinch", to zoom in on the cursor area. Just the same, sensitivity and speed were excellent, with no lag present in our testing. The size of the touchpad could be slightly larger or wider, to give a more defined scroll region. The surface texture is a smooth, almost gloss finish, which has decent traction but still lets a sweaty finger glide across the surface without sticking.</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p>The touchpad buttons are easy to trigger, with only a light touch needed to activate them. Feedback is minimal with a very short throw. They both give off a mild click when pressed.</p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Port selection is average compared to other netbooks, with three USB ports, audio jacks, LAN, VGA, and a <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3042" target="_blank">Kensington Lock</a> slot. Lenovo also includes a wireless on/off switch, SDHC multi-card slot, and an open internal mini-PCIe slot (probably for WWAN). One feature missing from the previous generation model is the ExpressCard/34 slot, but its uses are fairly limited for what netbook users might need.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45016" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45017.jpg" border="0" height="95" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Front: Activity lights, SDHC slot</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45020" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45021.jpg" border="0" height="97" width="250" /></a></p> <p><i>Rear: Battery</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45018" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45019.jpg" border="0" height="143" width="250" /></a></p> <p><i>Left: LAN, VGA, 1 USB, Mic/Headphone</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45014" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45015.jpg" border="0" height="132" width="250" /></a></p> <p><i>Right: Wireless On/Off, 2 USB, <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3042" target="_blank">Kensington Lock</a> slot, AC power</i></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br /></span></span></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt">System performance seemed on par with many of the newer netbook models hitting the market. Boot and shutdown times were excellent, quickly coming up to a fully ready state without much waiting. For normal tasks such as web browsing, typing documents, playing music, or even watching video the IdeaPad S10-2 performed flawlessly. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Normally, users buying a netbook (outside of the ASUS N10 with dedicated graphics) understand that gaming just isn't going to be realistic. For this reason we find 3D benchmarks, which normally register very slow performance, to not be as relevant for these systems. Thus, we are shifting toward HD movie tests for netbooks, which are more in the realm of what a netbook can handle on the high end in terms of performance. In our HD video test the S10-2 played up to 480p and 720p video without much trouble. 720p video was starting to task the processor leaving little overhead, but it was very watchable. However, 1080p video was badly out of sync and painful to view.</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook / CPU</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>wPrime 32M time</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz)</td> <td>76.240 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv2 (AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 @ 1.60GHz)<b><br /></b></td> <td>103.521 seconds<b><br /></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>114.749 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>116.030 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>116.421 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Lenovo S10-2 (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.6GHz)</b></td> <td><b>122.247 seconds</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Mini 2140 with HD screen (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)</td> <td>123.281 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One D250-1165 (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)</td> <td>124.829 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One 150-1635 (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz) </td> <td>125.812 seconds<br /></td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="top"> <td>Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (2009) (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz)</td> <td>126.406 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Samsung NC20 (VIA Nano ULV U2250 @ 1.30GHz)</td> <td>173.968 seconds</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Notebook</b></td> <td><b>PCMark05 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>2,446 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv2 (1.60GHz AMD Athlon Neo, ATI Radeon HD 3410 512MB)</td> <td>2,191 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS N10 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, NVIDIA 9300M 256MB)</td> <td>1,851 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Portege R500 (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,839 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,637 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,564 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One 150-1635 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,555 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,535 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Lenovo S10-2 (1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 950)</b></td> <td><b>1,511 PCMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One D250-1165 (1.60GHz Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,456 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Samsung NC20 (1.30GHz VIA Nano ULV U2250, VIA Chrome9 HC3)</td> <td>1,441 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Mini 2140 with HD screen (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GM1 950)</td> <td>1,437 PCMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span></span></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>In our ongoing quest to provide helpful information to our readers we are adding the following video playback table to our reviews of netbooks. Since netbooks are starting to be used for mobile entertainment (watching movie trailers or streaming video) it's important to know how a netbook performs when trying to play a simple video file. We selected a family-friendly movie trailer and downloaded three different versions in 480p, 720p, and 1080p resolutions. We used the CCCP Codec Pack for decoding and Media Player Classic Homecinema (version 1.1.796.0) for playing all of the video files.</p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><i>Video Playback Performance:</i></p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Video Resolution</b></td> <td><b>CPU Usage</b></td> <td><b>Playback Comments</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>480p</td> <td>20%-30% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays flawlessly</td> </tr> <tr> <td>720p</td> <td>44%-49% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays with an occasional dropped frame<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1080p</td> <td>50%-60% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays with severe stutter, dropped frames and audio out of sync<br /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><i><br />HDTune for the built-in hard drive:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45010" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45011.jpg" border="0" height="203" width="250" /></a><br /></i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />While performing normal activities (browsing the web, playing MP3s, typing documents, etc.) the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 ran fairly cool and quiet. The fan remained off during this time, which included the majority of our battery test. Under more stressful activity, like running benchmarks, watching HD video, or playing Peggle, the fan came on occasionally, but was quiet enough to not be a nuisance. On the top surface of the notebook, the only part that stuck out as warm to the touch was the touchpad, while on the bottom the heat was centralized around the RAM. If you are sensitive to heat or noise the S10-2 seems to be a pretty acceptable choice.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45044" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45045.jpg" border="0" height="174" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45042" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45043.jpg" border="0" height="179" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />Battery life was excellent, but at the downside of having a gigantic battery sticking out and down from the back of the netbook. With the screen brightness set to 70%, wireless active, and Windows XP set to the laptop/portable power setting the notebook managed 7 hours and 15 minutes with light web browsing. During the test power consumption fluctuated between 6 and 7.5 watts.</p> <p> </p><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 performed quite well in our tests, showing consistently better results that the previous model. The design looks much cleaner than before, and with the black color scheme, at least, the netbook is visually excellent. Battery life was improved, no doubt due to the large extended battery that sticks out behind and below, giving us over 7 hours in out battery test. The S10-2 handled 480p and 720p video without too many problems, but 1080p video was too much to ask for from the Intel Atom N270 and GMA950 chipset. Overall, the IdeaPad's price is very attractive, with a $439 MSRP - lower than previous models, and sale prices put it as low as $349. Our only big complaint is the rather cramped keyboard, but if you don't mind typing on the smaller keys the keyboard feels very well built and easy to type on.</p> <p><b>Pros</b></p> <ul><li>Good looks and excellent build quality</li><li>Great battery life</li><li>Good performance</li><li>Easy to upgrade</li></ul> <p><b>Cons</b></p> <ul><li>Keyboard feels cramped</li><li>Extended battery doubles the thickness in the rear</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-57405407849286241482010-02-08T15:17:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:19:29.252-08:00Lenovo Idea Pad S12 Review<div style="text-align: justify;">The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 features a 12-inch screen and is one of the largest netbooks on the market. This 3.42-lb machine is designed to let consumers easily surf the Internet and perform other light tasks on-the-go without having to spend a lot of money. The S12 comes pre-loaded with Windows XP, has a full-size keyboard, and includes a six-cell battery for five hours of run time – read on to see how it fared in our testing.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Our <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1463&pid=246851"><b>Lenovo IdeaPad S12</b></a> review unit has the following specifications:</p> <ul><li>Intel Atom N270 processor (1.60GHz)</li><li> Windows XP Home Edition</li><li> Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics</li><li> 1GB RAM </li><li> 12.1-inch widescreen display (1280x800) with LED backlighting</li><li> 160GB 5400RPM hard drive (Hitachi HTS543216L9A)</li><li> 6-cell Li-ion battery (11.1V, 52Wh)</li><li> Broadcom 802.11b/g wireless</li><li> One-year limited warranty</li><li> White color (also available in black)</li><li>Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.5 x 0.9 – 1.4 inches (W x D x H)</li><li>Weight: Starting at 3.42 lb w/ 6-cell battery</li></ul> <p>As configured, our S12 is currently priced at $499. The base model starts at $449 with a VIA Nano 1.3GHz processor.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45358" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45359.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br />Since all netbooks have nearly identical specifications, manufacturers have to look at the design and build quality to differentiate themselves. Lenovo's IdeaPad S12 is a docile and friendly-looking machine with a not a square edge in sight. The company's second generation of netbooks feature rounded edges and a slimmer chassis. The S12 looks well built; all of the parts fit together neatly.</p> <p>The back of the lid has a "fashion" design with hundreds of little circles dotting the lid. The S12 would be at home in a Target store because I think all of those little circles resemble the company's bullseye logo. In addition, the majority of people I showed it to thought it was a girl's machine, probably because it is white and has that circle design on the lid. Your mileage may vary – I suggest guys go with the black version.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45360" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45361.jpg" border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The S12 is constructed of ABS plastic through and through. It looks and feels sturdy and is not fragile at all. The only part of the notebook that could be more solid is the battery, which wobbles ever so slightly. There is little flex anywhere on the machine, with the exception to this being the lid; ripples show on the screen when only mild pressure is put on the back of the screen. This should be a non-issue as long as the machine is not thrown around. The hinges that hold the display on are very solid as well. A point of interest about the lid is that it only tilts back about 20 degrees past vertical; given how light this machine is, it will likely be used in a variety of situations and therefore should probably tilt back another 10-20 degrees or so.</p> <p>The entire base of the notebook has a matte finish, while the lid is glossy plastic front and back. The glossy plastic is surprisingly durable; I did not use a sleeve to protect the S12 in my bag during the week I had it and there were no scratches at the end of the review period.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45384" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45385.jpg" border="0" height="203" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The glossy screen attracts dust and fingerprints easily, so keep a microfiber cloth handy. As far as cleanliness goes, the white plastic stayed clean during the time I had it; only time will tell how it fares in the long term. Hopefully the plastic is not too absorbent and will not pick up stains and other discolorations. The black S12 is be better at hiding everyday wear and tear.</p> <p>Compared to the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, a direct competitor to the Lenovo S12, the S12 is slightly smaller (albeit about a tenth of an inch thicker). The S12 feels deceptively heavy in the hands depending on how you pick it up (by the back, front, and so on). The stick-out 6-cell battery is the primary reason the S12 feels weighty.</p> <p>Overall, the S12 has excellent fit and finish with an accommodating design.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The S12 has a 12-inch widescreen display (16:10 aspect ratio) with a 1280x800 resolution and LED backlighting. Contrast and brightness are excellent; the LEDs lighting the display (instead of the traditional CCFL lighting used in most notebooks) make for a very even brightness distribution, with only a hint of bleed at the bottom. There are ten levels of brightness; I found level 7 or 8/10 to be the sweet spot, but dimming the screen to 4 or 5/10 are perfectly usable and will extend battery life. The top brightness level is almost too bright. Viewing angles are average at best – from above the picture washes out quickly, and from below it darkens. Side-to-side angles are better but there is noticeable color shift.</p> <p>Unfortunately the glossy screen coating means a lot of reflections, so using this machine outside or areas with a lot of lighting sources could get annoying.</p> <p>The 1280x800 resolution of the display is excellent for a netbook; most have 1024x600 or less. The display also has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is unusual since most manufacturers are moving to 16:9 displays. The higher resolution makes the S12 feel more like a full computer than other netbooks with lower resolutions.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45374" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45375.jpg" border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45380" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45381.jpg" border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45376" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45377.jpg" border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45378" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45379.jpg" border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>There are two speakers located beneath the palm rests on the S12. These are essentially stereotypical notebook speakers – they get loud enough to hear sounds and are reasonably clear but for situations where audio matters, like movies and music, do make use of the headphone jack.</p> <p>Speaking of the headphone jack, it is unfortunate that some background hiss is present. It is easily drowned out with audio and most people probably will not even notice it, but to a headphone audiophile like myself, it is disappointing.</p> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The IdeaPad S12's keyboard is, in a word, superb; it is full-size and requires no adjusting from a standard notebook keyboard. There is no flex and key travel is just right. The keyboard feels of high quality and allows for precision typing; each key is anchored securely and does not wobble at all. It has excellent tactile feedback and enough resistance that you can rest your hands on the keyboard in typing position without pressing keys accidentally. Lenovo designers made good use of the keyboard real estate – I am pleased to see the PrintScreen key is its own key and not mapped as a secondary function (as in, needing to press the [Fn] key in conjunction with the corresponding key to use it), and that the PgUp and PgDn keys are near the arrow keys. The Home and End keys are secondary function keys, but looking at the space the designers had to deal with, it was clearly not an option to make them separate as well.</p> <p>All in all, this is one of the best netbook/notebook keyboards I have used in a long time.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45372" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45373.jpg" border="0" height="179" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The touchpad has its ups and downs. While tracking is easy and it is reasonably accurate, it is a bit too small – I found myself running out of room often. If it measured a half-centimeter more in diameter, it would be perfect. The touchpad buttons provide good feedback and make an audible but not annoying click when depressed. The buttons are easy to find by feel and other than wishing they were slightly larger, I have no complaints about them.</p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />The IdeaPad S12 has a limited selection of ports – let's take a picture tour. All descriptions are left to right.</p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45370" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45371.jpg" border="0" height="123" width="250" /></a><br />Left Side: Power jack, exhaust vent, wireless on/off switch, two USB, media card reader (MMC/MS/MS Pro/SD)</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45366" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45367.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="250" /></a><br />Right Side: ExpressCard/34 slot, headphone and microphone jacks, USB, VGA out, 10/100 Ethernet, <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3042" target="_blank">Kensington Lock</a> slot</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45364" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45365.jpg" border="0" height="96" width="250" /></a><br />Front: Stereo speakers</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45368" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45369.jpg" border="0" height="97" width="250" /></a><br />Back: Battery</i></p> <p>The S12 has the essentials; given what a netbook is designed to do, the port selection is difficult to complain about.</p></span></span></p></span></span><p><b>Performance</b><br />I used the S12 more or less as my primary computer for one week and I quickly found out what a netbook is good for and what it is not good for. Its Internet surfing performance is reasonable, as is its performance in most everyday activities such as playing music and reading email. OpenOffice.org ran without any hitches. I was able to use Firefox and listen to iTunes simultaneously without trouble.</p> <p>That said, doing anything more strenuous than surfing the Internet can quickly overwhelm the Intel Atom processor. Despite its Hyper-Threading technology, which makes Windows think it has two cores, the Intel Atom is still a single-core processor and a very limited one at that, and therefore multitasking with several programs is not going to be smooth. Alt-tabbing between applications is not instant. In everyday performance, users coming from faster computers will notice programs take longer to open, web pages take longer to render, and in general performance is toned down a notch. Going through ten megapixel images and trying to watch high-res movies from my video camera were clearly too much for it to handle. Know the limits of a netbook before you buy one.</p> <p>Overall, the S12 is what a netbook is supposed to be – a more portable compliment to a user's primary computer. I found the S12 to be a great companion at work – I used it to listen to music and keep a web browser with my email open. For everyday tasks, the performance is just fine.<br /><br />All netbooks generally have the same specifications and therefore will have nearly identical performance. Nonetheless, we run a full set of benchmarks for each netbook reviewed.</p> <p><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook / CPU</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>wPrime 32M time</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz)</td> <td>76.240 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv2 (AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 @ 1.60GHz)<b><br /></b></td> <td>103.521 seconds<b><br /></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>114.749 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>116.030 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>116.421 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.6GHz)</td> <td>122.247 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Mini 2140 with HD screen (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)</td> <td>123.281 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Latitude 2100 (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)<br /></td> <td>124.062 seconds<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz) </td> <td>125.812 seconds<br /></td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="top"> <td>Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (2009) (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)</td> <td>126.406 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Lenovo IdeaPad S12 (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)</b></td> <td><b>134.374 seconds</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC T91 (Intel Atom Z520 @ 1.33GHz)</td> <td>141.031 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Samsung NC20 (VIA Nano ULV U2250 @ 1.30GHz)</td> <td>173.968 seconds</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Notebook</b></td> <td><b>PCMark05 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>2,446 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv2 (1.60GHz AMD Athlon Neo, ATI Radeon HD 3410 512MB)</td> <td>2,191 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS N10 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, NVIDIA 9300M 256MB)</td> <td>1,851 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Portege R500 (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,839 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,637 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Latitude 2100 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,588 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,564 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,555 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,535 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 (1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,511 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Lenovo IdeaPad S12 (1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 950)</b></td> <td><b>1,449 PCMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Samsung NC20 (1.30GHz VIA Nano ULV U2250, VIA Chrome9 HC3)</td> <td>1,441 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Mini 2140 with HD screen (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,437 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC T91 (1.33GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,292 PCMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>Video Playback Performance:</i></p> <p> </p><table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Video Resolution</b></td> <td><b>CPU Usage</b></td> <td><b>Playback Comments</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>480p</td> <td>25%-35% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays flawlessly</td> </tr> <tr> <td>720p</td> <td>40%-50% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays flawlessly<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1080p</td> <td>60%-75% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays with severe stutter, and broken audio<br /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><i><br /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune for the hard drive performance:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45386" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45387.jpg" border="0" height="203" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p><br /><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />The S12 has one small cooling fan which gently pushes lukewarm air out of an exhaust vent on the left side of the machine. The fan is on the majority of the time while in use. The fan is nearly silent – I had trouble hearing it when there was any background noise.</p> <p>The surface of the S12 does not get warm at all – there are no noticeable hotspots on the bottom or top of the machine. The S12 is a very good choice for those wanting a quiet and cool machine.</p> <p> </p> <table border="0"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45390" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45391.jpg" border="0" height="179" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45388" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45389.jpg" border="0" height="203" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span></p></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><b>Battery Life</b><br />At half brightness (5/10) while typing this review and surfing the Internet, the S12 managed five hours of battery life. Lenovo includes a custom power configuration utility with the S12, from which I used the second-most power conscious setting, Low Power. Lenovo claims the S12 can go for six hours, which I suppose could be reached using the Super Energy Saver profile, but it sets the screen brightness down to near zero and barely anything is visible on the screen. Under normal use, expect the S12 to be usable for at least four and a half hours. With a power-saving <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> instead of a mechanical hard drive, I imagine the battery life would be a bit longer.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The IdeaPad S12 is excellence in a small form factor at a low price. The overall design is very pleasing to the eyes and it has the best netbook keyboard I have used to date. Build quality is solid and the screen is beautiful. There is little complain about on the S12 – sure, the touchpad could be a bit larger and the screen could tilt back further, but other than that, if you are in the market for a netbook with a larger screen, it is difficult to go wrong with the Lenovo IdeaPad S12.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li> Pleasing design</li><li> Solid build quality</li><li> Excellent keyboard and screen</li><li> Five hours of battery life</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li> Touchpad could be a bit larger</li><li> Screen could tilt back further</li><li> Back of the lid could use a bit more protection</li></ul></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-13637644477623033102010-02-08T15:16:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:17:29.173-08:00Lenovo G550<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt">The new Lenovo G550 is an update to the Value Line G530 with the primary difference being the shift from a 16:10 to a 16:9 screen. This is becoming a common trend for most manufacturers, as they shift to the now more standardized 16:9 screens. The biggest question on our minds is how well this updated budget notebook performs; considering the previous revision earned our Editor's Choice award.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Lenovo Value line G550 Specifications:</p> <ul><li> Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200 (2.00GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)</li><li> Microsoft Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (w/ SP1)</li><li> 15.6-inch glossy 16:9 display (1366x768)</li><li> Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD</li><li> 3GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM</li><li> 250GB Western Digital 5400RPM HDD</li><li> SuperMulti DVD+/-RW Optical Drive</li><li> Broadcom WiFi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Modem</li><li> 6-Cell 11.1V 48WHr Battery</li><li> Limited 1-year standard parts and labor warranty</li><li> Dimensions: LxWxH, 14.9 x 9.6 x 1.4" </li><li> Weight: 5lbs 9.0oz</li><li> Price as configured: $549</li></ul> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45810" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45811.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br />The design of the G550 has changed slightly from the G530, switching from a smooth matte exterior finish, to a black weave pattern. The new cover is every bit as strong as the last one, preventing any screen distortion even if you hit or flex the back of the screen. The interior of the notebook shares the same color as the lid, but is textured with a rougher matte finish similar to what you would find on unpainted sections of a ThinkPad. Lenovo took the back-to-basics route with the color scheme on this notebook, making it entirely black inside and out.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45814" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45815.jpg" border="0" height="128" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45816" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45817.jpg" border="0" height="152" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The chassis is constructed entirely of plastic, but where most budget notebooks might feel flexible or flimsy, the G550 feels like a solid block of sturdy material. When talking about the palm rest on most notebooks, including ThinkPads, notebooks with good support still show some flex under a very strong grip. Somehow squeezing the palm rests on the G550 feels like you are trying to squeeze a rock. Other areas of the notebook share the same toughness, including the keyboard and surrounding trim.</p> <p>To upgrade components the G550 has easy access panels to the memory and CPU, wireless card, and hard drive on the bottom of the notebook. No components, including the processor, had "warranty void if removed" stickers, making it very easy to handle upgrades or repairs in the future.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45826" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45827.jpg" border="0" height="180" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The 15.6" LCD is average compared to most 15-16" notebooks, with bright and vibrant colors and decent viewing angles. The G550's big change is the transition away from the 16:10 screen size to the wider (but shorter) 16:9 panels. The screen offers a glossy surface, which helps improve colors and contrast at the cost of added reflections and glare. Compared to "frameless" displays the reflections were tolerable as long as you were not outside under direct sunlight. Screen brightness was adequate for viewing in bright office conditions, but might not cut it outside unless it is an overcast day. Vertical viewing angles were adequate with a broad viewing sweet spot measuring 30 degrees forward or back before colors started to wash out or invert. Horizontal view angles were much better, showing minimal color distortion at steep angles.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45802" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45803.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45808" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45809.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45806" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45807.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45804" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45805.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The speakers are located on the front edge of the palmrest and sound more than adequate for playing music or watching streaming video. Sound quality isn't the best compared to other notebooks of this size with a tinny sound that lacks bass. Headphones would be a good accessory for this notebook.</p> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The keyboard is easy to type on, sharing the same comfortable and durable feel as my ThinkPad T60 keyboard and only differing in layout. Individual key action is smooth with no audible click when pressed. The keys are textured with a smooth matte finish, giving decent traction for typing ... unlike the glossy keyboards we are seeing on a greater number of notebooks these days. Keyboard support is excellent, barely a hint of flex on the main section of the keyboard. The newer 16:9 chassis on the G550 allowed Lenovo to add a numberpad to the keyboard, but they didn't change the support under that side of the keyboard frame. It doesn't appear to have much flex, but it has just enough to make a squeaking sound against the optical drive when press down. Media-related keys are limited to touch-sensitive mute and volume up/down buttons located above the keyboard.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45812" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45813.jpg" border="0" height="168" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Lenovo transitioned to a new touchpad on the G550, switching from the Synaptics model on the G530 to an ALPS pad. The ALPS pad doesn't have as quick of a refresh rate, so at times it feels like the pointer is lagging behind your finger. Another problem is the surface isn't as sensitive for users who like to use tap to click and tap to drag frequently. On the Synaptics pad it is easy to drag and lift off, while the ALPS models seem to need a strong tap at the end, otherwise it won't let go of the selected item and you keep dragging it around the screen. The touchpad buttons are similar to the old ones, with shallow feedback and giving off a positive "click" when pressed.</p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />Although the G550 is now larger than the G530, Lenovo still managed to decrease the amount of ports available. The ExpressCard slot is missing, USB ports are down from four to three, and the modem jack is gone. I can see no other reason besides cutting costs for such a loss of features.</p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45818" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45819.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="250" /></a><br />Front: Wireless on/off, audio jacks</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45822" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45823.jpg" border="0" height="66" width="250" /></a><br />Rear: Screen hinge</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45824" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45825.jpg" border="0" height="129" width="250" /></a><br />Left: <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3042" target="_blank">Kensington Lock</a> slot, LAN, VGA, two USB</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45820" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45821.jpg" border="0" height="122" width="250" /></a><br />Right: one USB, optical drive, AC power</i></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />The Lenovo G550 works very well as a desktop replacement notebook, handling most tasks with ease. The target market for this notebook includes small businesses, students, or home users looking for a basic machine. The G550 has no problems surfing the web, playing SD or HD movies, or playing the occasional 2D game like Peggle. Compared to the older G530, Lenovo switched from using DDR2 memory in favor of DDR3 which is faster and now becoming cheaper. In theory this change could have meant greater performance, but we didn't see any significant change. Both PCMark05 and 3DMark06 dropped, while wPrime saw a small boost in speed.</p> <p><span><span><span><span><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):</i></span><span></span></span></span></span></p> <table style="height: 134px;" name="551" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook / CPU</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>wPrime 32M</b> <b>time</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo T500 (Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 2.8GHz)<br /></td> <td>27.471s<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>HP EliteBook 8530w (Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 @ 2.53GHz)</span></td> <td><span>30.919s</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 (Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 @ 2.4GHz)</td> <td>32.275s</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP ProBook 4510s (Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 @2.1GHz)</td> <td>36.583s</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><span><b>Lenovo G550 (Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200 @ 2.00GHz)</b></span></span></td> <td><b>38.172s</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><span>Lenovo G530 (Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400 @ 2.16GHz)</span></span></td> <td>38.470s</td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="top"> <td>Dell Vostro 1510 (Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 @ 1.8GHz)<br /></td> <td>51.875s</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><br /><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table style="height: 178px;" name="573" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Notebook</b></td> <td><b>PCMark05</b> <b>Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo T500 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, ATI Radeon 3650 256MB GDDR3) </td> <td>7,050 PCMarks<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><span>HP EliteBook 8530w (2.53GHz Intel T9400, Nvidia Quadro </span>FX 770M 512MB<span>)</span></span></td> <td>6,287 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo T500 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, Intel X4500) </td> <td>5,689 PCMarks<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia 9300M GS 256MB)</td> <td>5,390 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>HP ProBook 4510s (2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6570, Intel 4500MHD)</span></td> <td>4,192 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Lenovo G530 (2.16GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400, Intel <span><span>Intel 4500MHD</span></span>)</span></td> <td>4,110 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><b>Lenovo G550 (2.00GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200, Intel <span><span>Intel 4500MHD</span></span>)</b></span></td> <td><b>3,964 PCMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="top"> <td>Dell Vostro 1510 (1.8GHz Intel T5670, Intel X3100)</td> <td>3,568 PCMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><br /><i>3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>3DMark06</b> <b>Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><span>HP EliteBook 8530w (2.53GHz Intel T9400, Nvidia Quadro </span>FX 770M 512MB<span>)</span></span></td> <td>5,230 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad T500 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, ATI Radeon 3650 256MB GDDR3) </td> <td>4,371 3DMarks<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia 9300M GS 256MB)</td> <td>2,242 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad T500 (2.80GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9600, Intel X4500)<br /></td> <td>809 3DMarks<br /></td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="top"> <td>HP ProBook 4510s (2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6570, Intel 4500MHD)<br /></td> <td>748 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo G530 (2.16GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400, Intel <span><span>Intel 4500MHD</span></span>)</td> <td>730 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><b>Lenovo G550 (2.00GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200, Intel <span><span>Intel 4500MHD</span></span>)</b></span></td> <td><b>716 3DMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Vostro 1510 (1.8GHz Intel T5670, Intel X3100)</td> <td>519 3DMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>HDTune storage drive performance test:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45868" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45869.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="250" /></a><br /></i></p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />Thermal performance of the G550 is very good thanks to the large chassis, slower processor, and integrated graphics. Under stress the system controlled temperatures very well, and under normal loads the bottom of the notebook and palmrests stayed cool to the touch. Fan noise was minimal, with it staying off under light system loads, and going just above a whisper under intensive use. The one hotspot that stood out on the G550 was the panel beneath the hard drive that warmed up considerably if you were stressing the disk. The temperatures shown below are listed in degrees Fahrenheit:</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45830" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45831.jpg" border="0" height="168" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=45828" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45829.jpg" border="0" height="180" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery</b><br />The new Lenovo G550 uses a slightly smaller battery than the G530, but with a more efficient processor it consumes less power and gets longer runtimes. The G550 stayed running for 4 hours and 18 minutes in our tests with the screen brightness reduced to 70%, Vista on the "Balanced" power profile, and wireless active. This is better than the original 3 hours and 29 minutes the G530 managed with a larger battery. While I hate to see the battery capacity decrease, at least the efficiency made up for it and gave us a net gain in battery life.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The Lenovo G550 is a very solid and durable notebook, but now is missing some of the features that were standard on the previous revision. From what could only be considered cost-cutting measures, Lenovo took away one USB port, removed the ExpressCard slot, and moved to an ALPS touchpad. These types of changes might not look as bad if the retail price also dropped, but it is selling for the same price as (if not slightly more than) the previous model. I would still gladly take this model over a lot of the small-business targeted notebooks on the market, but it is just a shame that it is no longer as nice as it once was.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Almost tough enough to stand on</li><li>Textured interior and exterior finish hides smudges and fingerprints</li><li>Comfortable and solid keyboard</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Missing features from previous revision</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span></p></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-42054921615598043262010-02-08T15:13:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:15:50.086-08:00Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch<p style="text-align: justify;">Multi-touch functionality is one of the newest features being added to notebooks and tablets alike. Currently only tablets offer screen manipulation of objects, whereas notebooks get limited multi-touch through touchpads. Lenovo is hoping to change this, by adding screen multi-touch capabilities to the thin and light Lenovo ThinkPad T400s. For an additional $400 over the base T400s, users get a touchscreen panel, albeit a non-pivoting one. In this review we take a look at the new T400s Touch with Windows 7, and see if we actually find an increase in our productivity.</p><p>Our Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch specifications:</p> <ul><li>Windows 7 Professional</li><li> 1440 x 900 WXGA+ with MultiTouch LED Backlit (Matte finish)</li><li> Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 (2.53GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)</li><li> 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 2)</li><li> 128GB Toshiba SSD</li><li> DVD+/-RW</li><li> Intel 5100AGN, Bluetooth 2.0</li><li> Intel X4500M Integrated</li><li> Built-in web camera</li><li> 6-cell 11.1v 44Wh</li><li> Dimensions: (LxWxH) 13.27 x 9.49 x 0.83"</li><li> Weight: 4lbs 6.9oz</li><li> Retail Price: $1,999 Starting</li></ul> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46431" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46432.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">The new ThinkPad T400s looks completely revamped and polished compared to the regular T400. The chassis has slimmed down significantly, and the weight of the notebook has also dropped by almost a pound. The exterior is still wrapped in Lenovo's much-loved rubberized black paint, but the design just looks cleaner and less busy than previous ThinkPad models.</div> <p style="text-align: justify;">Looking inside, the main changes start to become obvious. Besides the new keyboard and touchpad that we will go over shortly, Lenovo changed the shape of the palmrest around the touchpad, with the touchpad resting flush with the palmrest instead of being slightly recessed. The screen bezel is smooth all around the perimeter of the display, unlike the T400 which shows rough plastic grids near the built-in antennas and cutouts near the light and webcam. Even when compared to the ThinkPad X301, the new T400s looks more refined. The speaker grills are larger and look better suited to the design. Even the fingerprint reader manages to blend in better, with an all-black design instead of gold and silver like past models.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Build quality is still fantastic, with barely a hint of chassis flex even as it has decreased in thickness. The screen has some minor side-to-side flex when open, but no more than previous models. Protection for the screen, even with the super thin cover is surprisingly good, showing only small amounts of screen distortion when you are squeezing the back of the display. The new chassis feels quite rugged.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">With the thinner design Lenovo completely reworked the chassis for the T400s, and it looks completely different than the T400 once you start opening it up. The hard drive is now accessed through a panel under the left side of the palmrest, which is now 1.8" instead of the 2.5" found in the T400. System memory and wireless cards are found under a single access panel on the bottom of the notebook. Compared to removing the palmrest on previous models, you now just loosen one screw and pop off a single panel to upgrade memory. With most of the slots changing location to the underside of the notebook, removing the keyboard is now only required to replace a broken one, or to get access to a half-sized mini-PCIe slot used for Wireless USB on some models. I really hope future ThinkPads follow a similar design to the T400s, since it is so much easier to upgrade components now.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46443" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46444.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="178" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">The T400s Touch uses a similar panel as the regular T400s, but with a touch surface added to the display. Everest indicates the panel part number as a Samsung made LT141DEQ8B00, with an N-Trig multitouch device. Just like the regular T400s, the screen has a WGXA+ resolution and is LED-backlit. Overall the screen looks nearly identical, but with one downside that is shared with nearly all touchscreens. Touch panels appear to have a hazy layer over the screen, although on the T400s it is not as apparent. Users who have never seen a notebook and tablet side-by-side might not notice this difference, but if you are coming from a regular notebook you may be slightly annoyed. Color and contrast are good compared to business notebooks, but it might seem washed out next to the latest and greatest glossy consumer-notebook display. Backlight levels are strong, with my preferred setting being 50-60% at my home and about 75% at the office that has brighter overhead lighting. Backlight bleed is minimal, only barely coming through at the highest brightness levels.</div> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46445" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46446.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46451" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46452.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46447" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46448.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46449" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46450.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: justify;">The touch surface is a unique feature for a notebook. On one hand you can directly manipulate objects without a mouse or touchpad, but on the other you have a fixed screen that can't rotate like a tablet. Another inherent flaw of multitouch is that since it uses your finger as the pointer, it will never be as precise or accurate as a pen-input touch surface. This means that the controls are crude at best, using gesture or tap-based commands. In this area the multitouch screen works great. Scrolling around websites is easy with one finger, although sometimes the screen detects two inputs and starts to zoom the page. While drawing circles, we noticed some issues with our preproduction screen, where certain parts of the panel would get jittery, instead of showing smooth lines. As our model has a very early panel in it, it would be safe to say production models wouldn't have this problem.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46429" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46430.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Lenovo included new software to take advantage of the multi-touch features, with the primary one being Simple Tap. This application gives the user direct access to basic system features like volume and camera controls, wireless devices, and screen brightness. Each control is given its own tile, and you can add application shortcuts to the list if you want. Simply tapping the screen with two fingers brings up the tiles on top of any window.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46461" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46462.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Speaker performance was lackluster, but that is common on most business notebooks. They work well for streaming audio or having a VOIP chat, but for movies and entertainment the headphone jack is a much better alternative.</p> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, Lenovo significantly changed the look, feel, and layout of the keyboard on the T400s. After you pick yourself up off the floor from fainting, you will quickly see most of the changes are for the better. The feel of the keys remains mostly untouched from past models ... outside of the fact that the spacebar seems to click loudly if you press it on the edges. The biggest change comes with a redesigned function key section, offering larger "escape" and "delete" keys. Through in-depth research Lenovo found that those two keys were used more than other function keys. As a result they doubled the height, and moved the position of the insert key and F1 key.</div> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46433" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46434.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="168" width="250" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">I think the coolest difference is the new media buttons and power button. The power switch and mute keys light up when activated, so instead of the power icon showing up on the bottom edge of your screen, the button itself is the indicator. The caps lock button now features a translucent window with an LED that lights up to indicate the caps lock is turned on. One thing that is missing is an AC and battery indicator light facing you with the screen open, as they are now external only.<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">The T400s offers one feature I have yet to see on any other notebook to date: a speaker AND microphone mute button. While I am not sure how often I personally need to turn off my microphone, if you videoconference or use Skype frequently then a quickly accessed mute button would come in handy. Another minor change is the key tolerances have decreased, meaning there is less room for crumbs or dust to fall in-between keys.</div> <p style="text-align: justify;">The new touchpad is different, but I am having a hard time figuring out if that is a good or bad thing. The old design used a slightly rough matte plastic finish, which gave some traction and made it easy to move your finger around even if sweaty. The new design has a raised dimple finish with a softer texture that feels strange. I found myself increasing the sensitivity in the Synaptics control panel to make movement feel more fluid, but then found it too sensitive. It seems that you need to apply consistent pressure when moving over the new touchpad, where before it was easy to flick your finger across. I think if the bumpy surface was glossy or more slick I might enjoy it more.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Another change is the shape and size of the trackpad buttons. The buttons have a radius contour that goes through the buttons to the edges where they meet the palmrest. From a design standpoint they flow better with the notebook than previous attempts, and it is even easier to access them from the touchpad now.</p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Port selection on the T400s has been greatly improved over the T400 model. New to the back of the T400s is an eSATA port for storage expansion and DisplayPort out, giving you digital video from the notebook itself. Just like the T400 it has three USB ports, one through a combo USB/eSATA port. Lenovo has kept the VGA port for legacy connections, since it is still used frequently for projectors. With the decrease in thickness the T400s lost its dual card slots, only keeping an ExpressCard/34 slot. The T400s offers a docking station connector on the bottom, but it is a new design that is incompatible with older models. The last big change came with the T60, and I can just hope that this docking station format stays the same for a few notebook generations to come.</div> <p> </p> <table border="0"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46437" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46438.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="107" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46441" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46442.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="105" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46435" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46436.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="82" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46439" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46440.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="86" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch is the first "official" Windows 7 notebook we have had in for review. This means it has all the proper manufacturer drivers, and the newest Windows 7 designed utilities. On most review notebooks we have personally upgraded to Windows 7, we have seen decent performance bumps, but this was not the case with the T400s. From the first review the only items that have changed are the OS, new touchscreen, <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> from a different manufacturer, and RAM, which is now double at 4GB. All aspects of day-to-day performance seem very snappy, including boot times, application load times, and HD movie playing. When we went to test its synthetic performance we noticed a pretty drastic hit to PCMark05 and a slightly smaller hit to wPrime. 3DMark06 was the only benchmark that actually increased. Some of this may be driver related, since technically Windows 7 hasn't officially launched, but it still goes against what we have seen on other computers. Another possibility is the touch surface is polling for gestures, and taking up precious CPU cycles. The average user would probably never notice this, as we can't actually see any performance drop in day-to-day use.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><i>wPrime Processor Performance Benchmark (lower scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46468.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /></i></p> <p><i>PCMark05 Overall Performance Benchmark (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46467.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /></i></p> <p><i>Synthetic Gaming Performance using 3DMark06</i><i> (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46469.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune Hard Drive Performance Benchmark:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46453" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46454.jpg" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch" border="0" height="201" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">We found the T400s Touch ran slightly warmer than the standard T400s in our tests. While both notebooks showed the same heat zones, the T400s Touch was about 3-4 degrees warmer in each area. Some of this could be related to room temperature, or it could be related to certain components being able to run hotter or faster under Windows 7 while under a moderate load. Overall nothing ran too hot to be non-lap-friendly, but it was a surprising find. Fan noise was similar to the standard T400s, staying off for most of time, only coming on while benchmarking or small bursts to cool internal components. External temperatures listed below are shown in degrees Fahrenheit.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46459" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46460.jpg" border="0" height="168" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46457" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46458.jpg" border="0" height="178" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Battery life was somewhat of a surprise with the T400s Touch. Even with the added power consumption of the touch interface, it still managed to get better battery life than the non-touch version. In our battery test with the screen brightness set to 70%, wireless active, and the system on the Balanced profile, it managed 6 hours and 19 minutes. The standard T400s only managed 5 hours and 48 minutes under similar conditions. This might be one area where Windows 7 shines, with less background processes or more efficient use of the processor. Both of these times are much less than the T400 with an extended battery though, almost reaching 10 hours with its 9-cell extended battery.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Touch is a very cool idea, bringing a touch interface to a standard notebook. It gives users the capability to interact with the computer on a much more natural level and has huge potential for CAD applications or even messing around while surfing the web. The only problem right now that I see is that it was added to an already expensive model, putting it well out of reach for most users. Adding it on the base T400, which starts $749, instead of the T400s which starts at $1,599 would have been the better choice. Besides some preproduction quirks we saw it was a good implementation that didn't even affect battery life. If you are looking at the T400s currently, and could expand the budget by $400, it might be worth adding to the notebook for future uses.</div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">First regular notebook to offer multitouch</li><li style="text-align: justify;">No battery hit from the touch surface</li></ul></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Software supporting full multi-touch controls is still limited</li><li>Expensive upgrade to gain touch controls</li></ul></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-27998976797979035862010-02-08T15:11:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:13:14.564-08:00Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt">To compete in the tablet market, Lenovo offers a touch-screen and Wacom-enabled version of its 12-inch ThinkPad X200. Lenovo has a standard Wacom-enabled X200, as well as a two-finger multi-touch version for a $125 upgrade. With a starting retail price of $1,909, it is priced almost $500 under the Dell Latitude XT2, which is its primary competitor. In this review we put the standard and touch-enabled ThinkPad X200 Tablet head to head, to see how well they perform in ours tests.<br /><br /></span></span><p><b>Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet with Multitouch Specifications:</b></p> <ul><li> Windows 7 Professional</li><li> 1280 x 800 WXGA with MultiTouch and Wacom LED Backlit (Matte finish)</li><li> Intel Core 2 Duo SL9600 (2.13GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)</li><li> 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 2)</li><li> 160GB Seagate 7200.2 Hard Drive</li><li> Intel 5300AGN, Bluetooth 2.0, AT&T WWAN</li><li> Intel X4500M Integrated</li><li> Built-in web camera</li><li> 8-cell 11.1v 66.2Wh</li><li> Dimensions: (LxWxH) 11.6 x 10.1 x 1.04-1.31"</li><li> Weight: 4lbs 3.9oz</li><li> Retail Price: $2,579 ($2,199 Street)</li></ul> <p><b>Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet Specifications:</b></p> <ul><li> Windows 7 Professional</li><li> 1280 x 800 WXGA Sunlight Readable with Wacom LED Backlit (Glossy, Anti-glare)</li><li> Intel Core 2 Duo SL9600 (2.13GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)</li><li> 2GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 1) (Benchmarked with 4GB)</li><li> 160GB Seagate 7200.3 Hard Drive</li><li> Intel 5100AGN, Bluetooth 2.0 </li><li> Intel X4500M Integrated</li><li> Built-in web camera</li><li> 8-cell 11.1v 66.2Wh</li><li> Dimensions: (LxWxH) 11.6 x 10.1 x 1.04-1.31"</li><li> Weight: 4lbs 1oz</li><li> Retail Price: $2,464 ($2,084 Street)</li></ul> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46836" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46837.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br />The design of the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4497" target="_blank">Lenovo ThinkPad X200</a> Tablet is all about business, with no superfluous frills. The color scheme revolves around black, with the screen lid and bottom painted with a rubberized black paint and with the inside being lightly textured black plastic. Following the trend of function over form, Lenovo includes an externally mounted WWAN antenna, palmrest rubber bumpers for when the screen is in the slate position, and quick access buttons along the lower edge of the screen. From tech-geek standpoint it is also nice to see that Lenovo didn't hold anything back when they planned the port layout, using all available space for ports, expansion slots, and internal component access. On the bottom the design is fairly busy, with two access panels for the hard drive and system memory, as well as numerous rubber bumpers for a solid grip on flat surfaces.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46842" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46843.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Build quality is excellent, with a great match of a sturdy magnesium chassis and durable plastic panels. Chassis flex isn't present anywhere, feeling solid in your arms in its slate position or sitting like a notebook on your desk. Keyboard support is very good, with only a small amount of movement on the right side of the keyboard above the hard drive bay. This wasn't noticed unless you really squeezed it in that spot. The upper half of the notebook feels very strong, which is important for any tablet that might be gripped along the screen edge. The plastic bezel feels firm under a tight grip and even under strong pressure doesn't transmit any force into the screen edge, which can cause color distortion.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46840" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46841.jpg" border="0" height="178" width="250" /></a></p> <p>A potential weakness of any tablet is the single pivoting hinge design, which also happens to be one of the first components we look at when we review any convertible tablet. Lenovo uses a 360-degree pivot mechanism on the X200 Tablet, which allows you to spin the screen in either direction. To go along with this feature, they also provide a visual indication of which direction you need to spin the screen to get it back to its default orientation. The hinge itself feels durable, with firm locking points in each of the three positions. When it is tilting the screen forward or back, it feels as strong as a standard notebook. When fully open it has some slight wiggle, which seems more like flex near the attachment point then play in the clutched hinge.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46838" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46839.jpg" border="0" height="220" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The X200 Tablet offers easy access to the hard drive and system memory through two access panels. The large panel on the bottom of the X200 exposes the two RAM slots, while the thinner access panel on the edge lets you slide out the hard drive.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46854" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46855.jpg" border="0" height="186" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />Lenovo uses an In-plane Switching display (IPS) in all versions of the X200 Tablet, but incorporates a different covering and backlighting method for each version. IPS displays are renowned for their color accuracy and superior viewing angles, which is a must if you are viewing the screen from many viewing angles. In the two models we reviewed, each showed the identical screen part number, but looked vastly different when put side by side. The touch-sensitive layer put over tablet screens almost always gives the display a hazy look, but this was the first time we saw both versions side by side. Below in the screen comparisons shots, the model on the left is the standard X200 Tablet, while the one on the right is the multitouch version.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46826" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46827.jpg" border="0" height="125" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46834" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46835.jpg" border="0" height="125" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46828" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46829.jpg" border="0" height="125" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46830" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46831.jpg" border="0" height="125" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The multitouch version looks faded and dimmer, even when both displays are set to the exact same brightness. One thing that becomes very clear is the non-touch X200 Tablet has one of the best screens we have seen in our office since the Flexview-era Thinkpads. Color saturation is excellent, contrast is through the roof, and black levels are excellent. Compared to my T60 with an IPS panel and CCFL lighting, the newer LED-backlit X200 display is much brighter and visible outdoors in full sunlight. Another interesting feature is the glossy but anti-glare surface. This display has a special coating which significantly reduces the amount of reflection you see. The only way we even saw anything reflected back at us was to tilt the screen back completely and get one of the overhead lights to bounce off of it. I personally wish other manufactures tried to do something similar. Viewing angles are nearly perfect, with colors staying accurate to the steepest angles. The only thing that changes is outside of the 10-15 degree "sweet spot" you can notice the screen dim slightly; other than that it looks perfect.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46824" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46825.jpg" border="0" height="114" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The Wacom support on each X200 Tablet was very good, with high accuracy once the pen was calibrated. Out of the box each model was pretty good, with a 2-3mm deviance from directly under the tip of the pen. Each screen surface was smooth to move a pen across, but the finish on the touch-screen model seemed to edge the glossy one out. For drawing or direct manipulation of objects on the screen the Wacom screens are very hard to beat. For slightly less accurate, but easier to use input, the touch-screen model offers excellent two-finger multitouch support. Finger presses were recognized quickly, with no lag or forceful press needed. I wish the screen supported more fingers like the T400s, but with the Wacom support included on both models, I can't complain much.</p> <p>The onboard speakers are lap-firing, mounted directly below the palmrest. When situated on a flat desk surface they sound clear but very tinny. For video-conferencing or VOIP needs they work very well, but are lackluster for music and video. If you plan on using this tablet for multimedia, a pair of headphones is highly recommended.</p> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The ThinkPad keyboard really deserves its own class when it comes to comfortable and durable business-grade keyboards. The X200 Tablet continues this trend with a full-size keyboard that is great to type on. The 12" widescreen size allows for a 100% size keyboard, no exceptions. Keyboard support is very good, with only one minor soft spot noticed on the right side above the hard drive bay. Under normal typing you would never notice the spot, but if you grip the tablet from that side you notice some give in that area. Individual key action is springy and precise, with great tactile feedback. Each key gives off a very mild click when pressed, which may get louder if you are a very forceful typer. Overall if you can get past the rather short palmrest, it is a very comfortable computer to use when typing.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46856" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46857.jpg" border="0" height="154" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Since this model has very little real estate south of the keyboard Lenovo went with a pointing stick only, just like the X-series models before it. If you have never used a pointing stick before it takes a bit to get used to, but once you get the nack of it is a very precise way to control the cursor. Sensitivity is great, with a wide range of adjustment possible in the driver menus. On occasion the mouse might move on its own for a few millimeters before it auto-adjusts on occasion, but that is fairly common with most pointing sticks on the market. As with notebooks with touchpads, you are still free to use an external mouse if you chose to go with an alternative input device.</p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />Port selection is very good when compared to other notebooks and tablets in the same size range. The X200 Tablet offers three USB ports, VGA-out, LAN, modem, and audio in/out jacks. Expansion slots include an ExpressCard/54 slot and 5-in-1 SD-card reader. When compared to the Dell Latitude XT2, the only features missing are a FireWire port and eSATA connection. For additional ports as well as an optical this model also offers a docking station connection on the bottom.</p> <p> </p> <table border="0"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46852" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46853.jpg" border="0" height="132" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46848" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46849.jpg" border="0" height="125" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46844" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46845.jpg" border="0" height="107" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46850" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46851.jpg" border="0" height="105" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />System performance was excellent on both models we tested, and since the scores were nearly identical, we merged both of the results. Compared to the Dell XT2 with its 1.8" hard drive, the X200 Tablets offers a standard 2.5" drive that helps to keep system lag to a minimum. Going with the faster hard drives, Lenovo also offers faster processor options. New to the Windows 7 versions of the X200 is the the 2.16GHz Intel SL9600 processor. Compared to the 1.4GHz SU9400 processor offered in the XT2, the SL9600 provides much greater speeds with little impact to battery life. In our tests the X200 Tablet was able to easy cope with 720P and 1080P HD movie decoding, and even handle some older video games such as Half-Life 2 with some settings tweaking. Synthetic benchmarks also showed that system performance was on par with the 2.4GHz P8600 equipped X200 notebook. For users looking for a mobile workhorse, the X200 Tablet seems to be a great option.</p> <p><i>wPrime Processor Performance Benchmark (lower scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46889.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>PCMark05 Overall Performance Benchmark (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46888.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>Synthetic Gaming Performance using 3DMark06</i><i> (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46890.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune Hard Drive Performance Benchmark:<br /> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46820" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46821.jpg" border="0" height="201" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46822" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46823.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />During our tests we found the X200 Tablet to run fairly cool and quiet. Fan noise during our tests was minimal, with the fan staying at below whisper level under stressful activity. Under normal use the fan stayed off for the most part, only coming on in short bursts to bring air through the chassis. The cooling system seemed to handle system temperatures very well, keeping the chassis cool to the touch even after the system was on for most of the morning. The external temperatures shown below are listed in degrees Fahrenheit.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46860" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46861.jpg" border="0" height="154" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=46858" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46859.jpg" border="0" height="186" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />Battery life was very good on each system, but the non-touchscreen version of the X200 Tablet was able to take a big lead in this department. Both models were equipped with the 66Wh 8-cell battery, which extends out the back on the X200 chassis. A smaller 4-cell battery option is available, but I don't see why anyone would want that besides for aesthetics. On the standard X200 Tablet with the screen brightness set to 70%, wireless active, and Windows 7 on a dynamically-switching power profile, it got 8 hours and 48 minutes of runtime. Average power consumption during the test was between 6.5 and 7 watts. The touchscreen version didn't do as well in this test, getting only 5 hours and 32 minutes of runtime, while consuming between 10-12 watts of power.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablets we reviewed performed very well in almost all categories. Battery life was excellent with the 8-cell battery, reaching 8 hours and 48 minutes on the sunlight readable version, and 5 hours and 32 minutes on the touchscreen model. Screen quality on both models was phenomenal, with the sunlight readable display being one of the best screens we have ever seen in our office. Not only was it useable outdoors, but color saturation was high and viewing angles were perfect thanks to the IPS panel.</p> <p>Overall performance was very good on both models, with little impact to battery life or system temperatures. Considering the low starting price compared to the Dell XT2, the ThinkPad X200 Tablets are a clear winner. For its amazing screen, great build quality, and excellent battery life we are also awarding the outdoor viewable X200 Tablet with our Editor's Choice award.<br /></p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Beautiful IPS displays</li><li>Good performance</li><li>Excellent battery life</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Touchscreen display doesn't look as good as non-touchscreen model</li><li>Only two-finger multitouch support </li></ul></span></span></p></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-22080386623038239912010-02-08T15:07:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:11:37.731-08:00Lenovo Think Pad SL510<div style="text-align: justify;">When most people think of the Lenovo ThinkPad brand, they think of the T-series notebook with the alloy unibody chassis, rubberized black paint, and boxy looks. What most people don't realize is Lenovo offers a small business line, called the SL-series, which offers most of the same features at a much lower price. In this review we take a look at the 15.6" Lenovo ThinkPad SL510, and find out if it is a worthy alternative for users who don't want to shell out for the higher-end ThinkPad models.<br /><br /><p>Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 Specifications:</p> <ul><li>Windows 7 Professional</li><li>15.6" HD 1366 x 768 WXGA Anti-glare</li><li>Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 (2.53GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 3MB Cache)</li><li>3GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 1GB)</li><li>320GB Hitachi 7200RPM Hard Drive</li><li>Intel 5100AGN, Bluetooth 2.0</li><li>Intel X4500M Integrated</li><li>Built-in 2.0M web camera</li><li>6-cell 10.8v 52Wh</li><li>Dimensions: (LxWxH) 14.9 x 9.75 x 1.45"</li><li>Weight: 5lbs 11.5oz</li><li>MSRP: $1,224 ($989 Street)</li></ul> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47817" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47818.jpg" border="0" height="179" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Build and Design</b><br />The SL-series ThinkPad is the toned-down version of the more rugged T-series. The exterior shell is entirely plastic, but with a softer finish with rounded edges and a smooth texture, instead of the rubberized paint on the more expensive models. The shape is also different, with sloped sides, instead of the flat sides seen on the higher models. Overall it has a more consumer appearance that might be more inviting to some users. Compared to the SL500, the SL510 has a few aesthetic changes, including a redesigned screen hinge assembly, and a few minor body tweaks. Side by side though, they still look almost identical.</p> <p>Build quality is nice compared to consumer-targeted notebooks, but a step under the T400 and T500, which offer alloy unibody frames and stronger body panels. The notebook still has a very solid feel to it, with very little chassis flex.</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47735" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47736.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The screen cover provides adequate protection for the screen, preventing visible distortion under moderate finger pressure. The keyboard and palmrest have good support, only flexing under strong pressure. The plastics feel durable enough to resist cracking under mild abuse, and the matte-black plastic finish shouldn't make scratches stand out as much as they would on a glossy notebook. For a small-business user, the SL-series is a nice step up from the average multimedia-oriented consumer notebook without the cost of a high-end business notebook. <p><br />Upgrades and expansion are easily handled through panels on the bottom of the chassis. The primary panel gives you access to the processor, system memory, and hard drive. No "warranty void if removed" stickers were found anywhere. The two smaller access panels uncover an open mini-PCIe slot for a WWAN card and a sim-card slot when the system is equipped with 3G.</p> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />Lenovo offers both matte and glossy screen options on the SL-series, both WXGA resolution. Our review model included the standard matte-panel, but if you enjoy the vibrant colors and increased contrast of a glossy screen, that option is available. The matte WXGA panel was average compared to consumer notebooks, and could have really benefited from a higher resolution. Color and contrast were weaker than normal, but this is common for basic non-glossy displays. Viewing angles were fine for an office setting where the notebook wouldn't be moved around a lot, but on your lap it was easy to see colors starting to shift. In testing we saw colors starting to shift when tilted 10 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles were better, staying true past 70 degrees from each side. Viewing brightness was perfect for bright office conditions, and with the matte finish partially visible outdoors.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47753" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47754.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47759" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47760.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47755" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47756.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47757" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47758.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Speaker performance was average for a basic mid-size desktop replacement notebook. Bass and midrange were lacking but for listening to streaming radio or YouTube videos it was fine. The SL510's peak volume level was fine for a small room, but felt lacking compared to other consumer notebooks. For a better experience, using the analog audio out to a pair of external speakers would be a better option. The best alternative would be using the HDMI out to pass a digital audio stream to an outside stereo system.</p> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47747" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47748.jpg" border="0" height="149" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The keyboard was very comfortable to type on and felt very similar to the keyboards on the T-series ThinkPads. The layout is different, missing the extra row of function keys at the top, but the main area has been left intact. Key action was great, with a soft spring movement, giving off a mild click when pressed. Key spacing is nearly identical to regular ThinkPads, with barely any difference noted switching between my T60 and the SL510. The biggest difference is the newer keyboards are slightly quieter. On the left side of the keyboard are some quick-access buttons, used for muting system volume or the microphone, as well as adjusting volume levels.</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47749" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47750.jpg" border="0" height="147" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The touchpad is an ALPS model that looks and feels identical to the newer textured ones seen on the latest ThinkPad models. It is flush mount to the palmrest, and given a soft texture that is supposed to help with traction under varying conditions. I am personally a fan of the old matte plastic style, but given enough time the newer one might grow on me. In general I found the touchpad to be as responsive as the Synaptics model found on higher-end ThinkPad models. The only weakness I saw was tap to select, where the cursor would sometimes not let go of a selected object without a very deliberate click. This is common with many ALPS touchpads, but can be avoided most of the time. <p><b><br />Ports and Features</b><br />Port selection was surprisingly good, including three USB ports, an eSATA/USB combo port, HDMI, VGA, and audio jacks. Lenovo also included an SDHC-card slot and ExpressCard/34 slot for expansion. The HDMI-out and eSATA were greatly appreciated, and I almost wish they offered those on more ThinkPad models.</p> <p> </p> <table border="0"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47745" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47746.jpg" border="0" height="105" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47741" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47742.jpg" border="0" height="81" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47739" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47740.jpg" border="0" height="60" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47743" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47744.jpg" border="0" height="64" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />System performance was great, with a quick 2.53GHz processor, 3GB of system memory, and a 7200RPM hard drive helping to keep load times to a minimum. For standard office productivity applications the system had no problems, barely breaking a sweat. Since the SL-series is slightly more multimedia oriented, Lenovo includes an HDMI port on the side to connect the notebook to an HDTV. In our multimedia tests the system had no problem playing 720P or 1080P video in the background while handling more productive tasks up front. Gaming with the Intel X4500 integrated graphics was out of the question for modern games, but previous generation games were possible with heavy tweaking. The 3DMark06 synthetic benchmark below shows how the SL510 provides better gaming performance than other notebooks designed for small business, but doesn't come close to the gaming performance of a consumer multimedia laptop like the Dell Studio 15. For its intended market of small businesses, the SL510 mixes the perfect blend of performance and price.</p> <p><i>Wprime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47819.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47820.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47821.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune storage drive performance test:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47763" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47764.jpg" border="0" height="201" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />The system managed heat fairly well in most area, but did leave a few spots warm to the touch. The panel covering the hard drive was stood out on the bottom as the warmest spot, which is most likely caused by the 7200RPM drive that consumes more power and throws off more heat. Under mild stress the plastic panels stayed within very reasonable temperature ranges, without any uncomfortable areas. Fan noise minimal, with the fan staying off the majority of the time while running on battery power, occasionally turning on to bring fresh air through the system. Under heavy stress levels fan speeds would pick up, but still not get overly loud.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47773" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47774.jpg" border="0" height="149" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47771" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47772.jpg" border="0" height="157" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />Our review unit of the SL510 included the midrange 6-cell battery with a capacity of 52Wh. With its older CCFL-backlit screen, power consumption was higher than the more efficient T-series, using roughly double the amount of power at idle. Under a light load where the T400 or T500 might be using 6-8 watts of power, the SL510 was at or above 12 watts. In our main test with the screen brightness set to 70%, Windows 7 on a balanced profile, and wireless active the system stayed on for 3 hours and 53 minutes. A larger battery would have helped, and is highly recommended if you plan on using this notebook to travel.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 proved to be a reasonable compromise between price and quality. While it doesn't offer the nicer touchpad or rugged build quality of the T-series, it retails for almost half the starting price. The SL-series is a good option for users looking for only basic qualities in a notebook like a standard WXGA screen or integrated graphics. It still offers a great keyboard and extended batteries if you plan on typing documents all day without breaking the wallet. Overall if you are looking for a notebook that will be sitting on a desk most of the day and staying out of harm's way, the SL510 is worth taking a look at.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Good keyboard</li><li>Better than average build quality</li><li>Low starting price for a ThinkPad</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Few power-saving screen options</li><li>Higher power consumption than more expensive models </li></ul></span></span></p></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-2259517775630265842010-02-08T15:05:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:07:09.565-08:00Lenovo Idea Pad U350<div style="text-align: justify;">The Lenovo IdeaPad U350 is a 13.3" thin and light notebook based on the Intel CULV platform. It offers Intel processors ranging from the single-core SU2700 to the dual-core SU7300 with up to 4GB of DDR3 memory and your choice of 4-cell or 8-cell batteries for extended battery life. In this review of the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 we take a look at how well it performs in a wide range of tasks, including time away from the power outlet, to see if this is indeed the perfect travel companion.<br /><br /><p>Our Lenovo IdeaPad U350 Specifications:</p> <ul><li>Windows Vista Home Premium with SP2 (Now available with Windows 7 64-bit)</li><li>Intel Pentium SU2700 CULV (1.3GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2MB cache)</li><li>4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1066MHz)</li><li>320GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD</li><li>13.3-inch diagonal WXGA (glossy, 1366x768) </li><li>Intel X4500M integrated graphics</li><li>Intel 5100AGN, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR</li><li>Ports and connectors: (2) USB 2.0 ports, VGA, HDMI, 2-in-1 SD-Card reader, RJ-45/Ethernet (Gigabit), stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 1.3 megapixel webcam</li><li>Dimensions: (LxWxH) 12.9" x 9.0" x 0.7-1.0"</li><li>Weight: 3lb 10.3oz (not including weight of AC adapter).</li><li>4-cell 41Wh battery</li><li>One-year standard warranty</li><li>MSRP: $749</li></ul> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47895" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47896.jpg" border="0" height="123" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Build and Design</b><br />The Lenovo IdeaPad series has always featured unique designs compared to other Lenovo notebooks, and the U350 is likewise a unique-looking laptop. For starters, the U350 features a cross-weave texture imprinted on the top of the screen cover where most notebooks are only covered with glossy paint. This gives the user a completely different tactile experience: you can feel the difference in texture the moment you touch this laptop. I think it looks kind of cool and unique, but not everyone will agree with that. Inside the U350 you'll find a plastic palmrest painted with a brushed metalic finish to simulate the look of metal. This is one design element I don't agree with, since it gives the illusion of better construction than what plastic provides.</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47897" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47898.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Build quality is still very good thanks to a solid chassis and durable components throughout. The plastic exterior feels strong with very little flex even under moderate pressure. The textured plastic lid not only looks nice, but hides day-to-day abuse by making scratches blend in with the imprinted pattern. It also does a very good job at hiding smudges and fingerprints compared to laptops with glossy plastic exteriors. Inside, the palmrest and keyboard feel solid under the weight of your hands and arms. The chassis doesn't twist or flex when you hold the notebook by the edge of the palmrest. In short, the laptop feels like it should stay in one piece over its lifetime. <p><br />People who like to tinker with computers or add aftermarket features will really enjoy the way Lenovo built the IdeaPad U350. A single panel on the bottom of the notebook gives you access to the hard drive, system memory, WiFi card, and an open WWAN slot. While Lenovo doesn't currently offer a WWAN option on the U350 series, the notebook comes prewired with capped off antenna leads in case you want to install your own 3G card. There is a slot for a SIM card underneath the battery for those consumers needing GSM-based WWAN options. We couldn't find any explicit "warranty void if removed" stickers inside the notebook, but there were some Lenovo-branded stickers covering the edges of the RAM, Wi-Fi card screws, and heatsink screws which may be used to indicate tampering.</p> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The 13.3" screen is average, providing decent color and contrast but suffering from noticeably shallow viewing angles. Low-quality TN display panels are normal since most of the thin-and-light notebooks costing very little, but some displays are better than others. For standard activities like browsing the web or typing documents you don't really notice the color shift, but when viewing pictures or watching a dark movie the color shift is very noticeable and distracting. Vertical viewing angles are good until about 10 degrees forward or back when colors start to shift considerably. Horizontal viewing angles are a little better as colors remain true except at very steep angles. The screen backlight level is rated at 200nit by Lenovo, and in our testing it works very well under bright office lights. The screen isn't quite powerful enough to overpower the reflections off the glossy screen outdoors under direct sunlight.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47903" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47904.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47909" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47910.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47905" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47906.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47907" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47908.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The speakers are fine for listening to streaming radio or the occasional TV show. That said, headphones are a much better option to really enjoy music and movies from this notebook thanks to the weak bass and midrange from the built-in speakers. Another alternative is using the HDMI-out to pass digital audio to a home stereo.</p> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47899" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47900.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The full-size keyboard is great for typing and the 13" form-factor is the perfect compromise between size and user comfort. Too much smaller and the palmrest won't actually support your wrists. Any larger and the notebook becomes too large to be travel friendly. Key action is smooth and quiet with a very mild click emitted when you fully press a key. Key wiggle is minimal and each key top is solidly attached to the scissor mechanism below. We didn't notice any keyboard flex unless we pressed down very forcefully on the keys. In short, the keyboard on the U350 easily ranks as one of the nicest ones we've used on a thin-and-light notebook.</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47911" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47912.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The IdeaPad U350 offers a spacious Synaptics touchpad that is one of the better models we've seen in this form-factor of notebook. The surface texture is mildly rough and gives good traction without making it difficult to slide your finger across when moist. Speed and accuracy are great and we barely noticed any lag in our tests. Refresh rate of the touchpad surface is very good and prevents any "stutter" like what we've recently seen on a few Synaptics touchpads. The acceleration on each axis is adequately matched and helps guarantee that cursor movement on the screen matches your finger movement on the touchpad. The touchpad buttons were excellent thanks to a soft, springy action with a very long throw. The only complaint I have regarding the buttons is you need to make a full press all the way down as far as the buttons will go, otherwise you don't fully engage the button. <p><b><br />Ports and Features</b><br />Port selection is very good with three USB ports, VGA and HDMI-out, gigabit LAN, audio in/out, and an SDHC card slot. The SDHC-slot is spring loaded, but doesn't allow the card to sit flush in the slot. When you fully insert a standard SDHC card into the slot it still sticks out partially. Don't expect to see a built-in optical drive in this notebook, so if you plan on reinstalling the OS or ripping DVDs, pick up an external USB optical drive. Multimedia keys are limited to a mute button and a direct access button to the Lenovo recovery software suite.</p> <p> </p> <table border="0"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47919" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47920.jpg" border="0" height="87" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47915" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47916.jpg" border="0" height="83" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47913" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47914.jpg" border="0" height="78" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47917" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47918.jpg" border="0" height="58" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />System performance with the Intel SU2700 CULV processor is less than stellar. Most programs take noticeably longer to load or access information compared to faster CULV options. Even with 4GB of memory, the system feels as sluggish as most Intel Atom-based netbooks. That said, basic tasks such as web browsing, listening to iTunes, typing documents, or watching the occasional SD video are no problem for the IdeaPad U350. When we moved up to watching HD video while still multitasking, the system lagged considerably. If this system included the faster SU4100 or SU7300 dual-core processors this would not be a problem in the slightest. Most of the configurations with the better processors don't even cost that much more than this model, so there is little reason not to choose a faster one.</p> <p><i>Wprime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47927.png" border="0" height="220" width="520" /></i></p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47926.png" border="0" height="220" width="520" /></i></p> <p><i>3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47925.png" border="0" height="220" width="520" /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune storage drive performance test:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47893" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47894.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />System temperatures stayed within normal ranges with the low-end single core processor. The hard drive cavity was noticeable warm on the left side of the palmrest and on the bottom of the notebook, but the temperature wasn't uncomfortable. Noise levels were about average for a computer of this size, but the fan might get on your nerves if you are used to a completely silent notebook. The U350 tends to keep its fan running all the time, either to keep case temperatures low or to keep the processor under a certain temperature range. Fan noise was only a little louder than the noise level of a hard drive, but if you have really good hearing you will notice it.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47921" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47922.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47923" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47924.jpg" border="0" height="177" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />Battery life with the 4-cell battery and the SU2700 is less than we had hoped for. In our test with the screen brightness set to 70%, Vista on the "balanced" power profile, and wireless active the system stayed on for 3 hours and 35 minutes before going into standby mode. Power consumption during this test floated between 9 and 10 watts. Lenovo does offer an 8-cell battery with higher-priced models for users looking for better battery life, and the 8-cell battery should provide more than 7 hours of runtime.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The Lenovo IdeaPad U350 is a great thin-and-light notebook ... as long as you don't pick the model with the slower Intel SU2700 processor. The U350 offers a unique design with a textured surface, great build quality, and excellent upgrade options. What can make or break this system though is the configuration, which could span from speedy to painfully slow under most tasks. Battery life is below average with the 4-cell battery, but an 8-cell battery comes standard on higher-priced models. The IdeaPad U350 offers an overall excellent value as long as you pick the right configuration.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Excellent build quality</li><li>Design looks and feels good</li><li>Pre-wired for WWAN</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Slow SU2700 processor</li><li>Touchpad buttons require deep press</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-15129905785711913152010-02-08T15:01:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:03:55.824-08:00Lenovo Idea Pad Y550<div style="text-align: justify;">The IdeaPad Y550 is a 15.6" multimedia notebook from Lenovo offered in a mix of affordable and high-end configurations. The top of the list system options include an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GT 240M dedicated graphics while more affordable systems include standard Core 2 Duo processors and integrated graphics. In this review we look at a model equipped with the Intel T6400 processor and Intel X4500 integrated graphics.<br /><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1318" target="_blank">Lenovo IdeaPad Y550</a> Specifications:</p> <ul><li>Windows Vista Home Premium with SP2 (Now available with Windows 7 64-bit)</li><li>Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 2.0GHz (2MB Cache, 800MHz FSB) </li><li>4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1066MHz)</li><li>320GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD</li><li>15.6-inch LED-backlit WXGA display (glossy, 1366x768)</li><li>Intel X4500MHD integrated graphics</li><li>Intel 5100AGN</li><li>Ports and connectors: (2) USB 2.0 ports, eSATA/USB Combo, VGA, HDMI, SDHC-Card reader, RJ-45/Ethernet (Gigabit), stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 1.3 megapixel webcam</li><li>Dimensions: (LxWxH) 15.2" x 10.0" x 1.02" to 1.5</li><li>Weight: 5lbs 13.5oz</li><li>11.1v 56Wh 6-cell battery</li><li>One-year standard warranty</li><li>MSRP: $813</li></ul> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48309" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48310.jpg" border="0" height="162" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Build and Design</b><br />The <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1318" target="_blank">Lenovo IdeaPad Y550</a> has a modern design with a sleek shape and a rather pronounced contrasting color scheme. The exterior view of the Y550 when closed is thin and flat with a thick orange trim piece breaking up the two black halves on the notebook. From a distance the outside color of the screen cover appears to be matte black, but looking at it closer it is actually a faintly embossed surface. This particular design is an overlapping honey-comb finish that gives the notebook a nice subtle look while also giving it a light texture. The inside is a combination of a glossy black and metallic grey with chrome accented speakers and white LED-backlit controls. I really think that the Lenovo design staff has to hold so much back when building ThinkPad models that they really go all out with the IdeaPad series.</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48323" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48324.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The Y550 feels well built compared to most consumer notebooks but still seems like it could be improved in some areas. The screen hinges are pretty stiff and requires two hands to open the cover. The lip of the cover works against you when trying to open the screen since it hugs the palmrest closely. The screen cover has some minor flex but still does a good job at preventing screen distortions when you press on the back of the display. The chassis has some minor flex when you hold the notebook in the air by the edge of the palmrest, but it still feels solid if firmly pressed when the notebook is sitting on a flat surface. The keyboard doesn't flex much, but right above the optical drive if you press hard enough you can get the keyboard base to make a clicking sound. Fit and finish is good overall, but one area stuck out in a nit-picking way. I believe the speaker grills are supposed to sit flush with the bezel above the keyboard and on both speakers one edge sticks up higher than the other. <p><b><br />Screen and Speakers</b><br />The WXGA display on the Y550 appears to be the highest resolution offered on this model. Even the better configurations are limited to 1366x768. This is lacking when compared to the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4518" target="_blank">Dell Studio 15</a> that can be configured with a 1080p panel in configurations starting at less than $800. The panel offers good color and contrast, ranking middle of the pack compared to most notebooks. Black levels are good at low and middle backlight levels, but show some backlight creep near 100%. Peak brightness levels are great for viewing in bright office conditions with a comfortable home viewing level somewhere between 60 and 70%. Viewing angles appear average with colors showing significant inversion in as little as 10 degrees when tilted back. Horizontal viewing angles look much better, showing no notable color shift even when viewing from the very edge of the screen.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48327" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48328.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48331" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48332.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48329" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48330.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48325" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48326.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1318" target="_blank">Lenovo IdeaPad Y550</a> has above average sounding speakers, making use of two primary speakers up top and a subwoofer below. Listening to music and movies the speakers have good midrange and bass, but is still weak compared to other notebooks with dedicated subwoofers. Peak volume levels sound strong enough to be listened to in a small or mid-size room, but not loud enough to over-power a lot of background noise. For watching feature-length movies in large rooms the HDMI-port is a great way to pass digital audio over to a home theater system.</p> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48321" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48322.jpg" border="0" height="149" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The keyboard is comfortable to type on and has a pretty solid typing surface. Transitioning to this keyboard from my ThinkPad was no problem, especially since the key action felt very similar. The only tactile difference I found between this keyboard and the ThinkPad keyboard is the key shape; the ThinkPad keys have a more "cupped" feel to them.</p> <p><br />The Y550 has a spacious Synaptics touchpad with a very nice texture. While some notebook manufacturers might carry the glossy palmrest surface onto the touchpad, Lenovo breaks it up with a barely-bumpy texture that is easier to slide over. Out of the box it was hard to slide across and almost tacky from the multitouch sticker over it, but with some oil build-up over the first few hours it broke in perfectly. Sensitivity is great out of the box... requiring only a light touch to move the cursor across the screen. Lag is not present under any circumstance including very fast movement. The touchpad buttons have a long throw and emit a mild click when fully pressed.</p> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />Port selection is adequate although I feel there was enough room left unused to account for an additional USB port. The <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1318" target="_blank">Lenovo IdeaPad Y550</a> offers two USB ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, VGA and HDMI ports, Ethernet, and audio jacks. Expansion slots include an ExpressCard/34 slot and SDHC-card slot.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48319" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48320.jpg" border="0" height="86" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48315" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48316.jpg" border="0" height="88" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48313" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48314.jpg" border="0" height="60" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48317" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48318.jpg" border="0" height="54" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Lenovo also includes a number of touch-sensitive and click-style buttons around the keyboard to control quick access functions. The standard buttons include one to switch video modes, another to load the Dolby audio control panel, and audio switches to adjust volume and mute the speakers. A blinking slider bar in the middle lets you quickly access four pre-set Lenovo applications.</p><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />The Y550 performs well in average day-to-day activities like surfing the web, typing documents, listening to music, and watching movies. If you plan on using it as a multimedia-only rig the shortcomings of the integrated graphics don't become a problem, but if you do intend to game, you might want to look at a better configuration. In our tests the Y550 with Intel X4500 integrated graphics had no trouble playing 720p and 1080p video while still multitasking in the background. Using the HDMI port you could output a video with audio to an HDTV and still use the notebook for surfing the web. If your ideas of gaming include titles like Left 4 Dead 2 or Modern Warfare 2 instead of Peggle, one of the higher configurations with an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GT 240M graphics would be recommended.</p> <p><i>Wprime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48371.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48370.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48369.png" border="0" height="160" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune storage drive performance test:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48307" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48308.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />Thermal performance is good under normal conditions when the system is not under much stress. The palmrest and keyboard stay just above room temperature which is nice for longer typing sessions. Fan noise is excellent with a very relaxed cooling system. Under light usage the fan defaults to fully off; only coming on when needed. Increased system activity makes the fan stay on in longer intervals but overall the notebook still stays relatively quiet.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48337" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48338.jpg" border="0" height="149" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=48335" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/48336.jpg" border="0" height="161" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />The Y550 offers reasonable battery life for a 15.6" notebook, but still shows some room for improvement. In our battery test with the screen brightness set to 75%, wireless active, and Vista on the balanced profile the system stayed on for 3 hours and 52 minutes. During the test the Y550 consumed between 13 and 14 watts of power; well above more power efficient notebooks.</p><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 is a stylish and well built multimedia notebook offered with a wide array of options. Build quality is good overall with only a few areas sticking out at us as needing improvement. The design is very nice with a subtlety textured lid and an attractive color scheme. The keyboard proved to be comfortable to type on with an equally usable bumpy touchpad. System performance was more than adequate for everyday use with our configuration ... and if you have gaming in mind Lenovo has alternative builds for that purpose. Overall the Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 fits the bill regardless if you are looking for a basic desktop replacement or gaming system.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Textured lid design</li><li>Better than average speakers</li><li>Comfortable keyboard and touchpad</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Some minor fit and finish concerns</li><li>Low 1366x768 resolution with all configurations</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span></p></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-51610712279578124032010-02-08T14:57:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:00:51.916-08:00Lenovo ThinkPad T410<div style="text-align: justify;">The ThinkPad T410 is the latest revision of the popular T-series ThinkPad from Lenovo. This model brings a new line of dedicated and integrated graphics cards, the Intel Core-series processor line, and a completely redesigned chassis. We took an in-depth look at the highly anticipated T410 to see how well it stacks up against all the prior T-series ThinkPads. Does it live up to our expectations? Read on to find out.<br /><b><br />Lenovo ThinkPad T410 with NVIDIA Graphics Specifications:</b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <ul><li>Screen: 14.1-inch WXGA+ (1440 x 900) LED Backlit (Matte finish)</li><li>Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (64bit)</li><li>Processor: Intel Core i5-540M (2.53GHz, 3MB Cache) </li><li>Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB + 2GB)</li><li>Storage: 320GB Seagate 7400.4 HDD (7200rpm)</li><li>Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW</li><li>Wireless: Intel 6200 802.11AGN, Bluetooth, Gobi 2000 WWAN</li><li>Graphics: NVIDIA NVS 3100M with 256MB DDR3</li><li>Power: 94Wh 9-cell, 90W 20V AC adapter</li><li>Dimensions: 13.13 x 9.41 x 1.09-1.26”</li><li>Weight: 5lbs 9.3oz</li><li>Retail Price: $1,940</li></ul> <p><b>Lenovo ThinkPad T410 with Intel Graphics Specifications:</b></p> <ul><li>Screen: 14.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) LED Backlit (Matte finish)</li><li>Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (64bit)</li><li>Processor: Intel Core i5-540M (2.53GHz, 3MB Cache) </li><li>Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB + 2GB)</li><li>Storage: 320GB Seagate 7400.4 HDD (7200rpm)</li><li>Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW</li><li>Wireless: Intel 6250 802.11AGN, Bluetooth</li><li>Graphics: Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics</li><li>Power: 57Wh 6-cell, 65W 20V AC adapter</li><li>Dimensions: 13.13 x 9.41 x 1.09-1.26”</li><li>Weight: 5lbs 5.1oz</li><li>Retail Price: $1,580</li></ul> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49558" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49559.jpg" border="0" height="190" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Build and Design</b><br />To the naked eye very little has changed with the overall design of the ThinkPad T410 compared to past models. It still carries the black rubberized screen lid with ThinkPad logo, still offers the shiny matte-black chassis and palmrest, and still uses the strong and highly visible stainless steel screen hinges. Those are the areas where the similarities stop. The port layout has significantly changed to allow an increase in available ports and even a few new types of connections. Once opened, ThinkPad fans will notice that Lenovo finally centered the screen, so no more thick bezel on one side and a thin bezel on the other. Another change is the shift from a two-piece palmrest and keyboard bezel on older models to one-piece design that is stronger and has fewer gaps to squeak. The bottom has also changed--with a user-access panel being the biggest addition--to let users install more RAM or a wireless card without tearing apart the notebook.</p> <p><br /> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49552" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49553.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Build quality is a touchy subject for anyone familiar with the ThinkPad brand and how it has changed over the years. Any change to the sacred ThinkPad is seen as negative, even if it results in a stronger notebook. The good news is that overall the redesigned chassis in the T410 still feels as strong as ever ... but the bad news is a few specific areas did lose some strength compared to past ThinkPads. The screen lid seems weaker on the left side which allows pressure applied to the lid to show through as distortion on the LCD. Only the left side of the screen cover shows this distortion but it is still more than past models. Another item is the access panel on the bottom of the notebook that is designed to let users access one of the system memory slots and an open mini-PCIe slot. This is easily the weakest part on the entire notebook ... bowing slightly when installed and flexing more than any surrounding panel. I really wish Lenovo went with a metal panel even if it slightly increased the overall weight of the notebook. <p><br />Access to internal components has improved over past models with the T410 no longer needing to have the palmrest removed to upgrade the memory. With the latest redesign Lenovo moved the RAM to the center of the notebook. One slot is accessible through the bottom of the chassis with the access panel removed and the other is underneath the keyboard. The keyboard easily comes out after you remove two screws and slide it out of position. For the average person this makes user upgrades much less complex. As always the hard drive has its own access panel which is removed with a single screw.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49568" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49569.jpg" border="0" height="178" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49570" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49571.jpg" border="0" height="95" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The screens offered on the ThinkPad T410 have changed very little compared to ones offered on the T400. The biggest difference is all T410 models come standard with LED-backlighting. With that said we didn’t notice any decrease or increase for that matter in the quality of the displays. The WXGA+ screen on the T410 with dedicated graphics offers good color reproduction with better than average contrast. The WXGA screen on the T410 with integrated graphics also has good color reproduction and contrast but it has a slight blue tint compared to a neutral white on the WXGA+ panel. Backlight levels are stronger on the WXGA panel when both panels are set to the same brightness level. Viewing angles were similar for each notebook with most colors starting to distort and invert when tilted 15-20 degrees back. Horizontal viewing angles were better with colors staying accurate even from steep angles.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49572" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49573.jpg" border="0" height="100" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49578" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49579.jpg" border="0" height="100" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49576" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49577.jpg" border="0" height="100" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49574" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49575.jpg" border="0" height="100" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The onboard speakers sounded better than average for a business notebook. They were able to get loud enough to fill a small room but bass and midrange was still lacking. For the daily video conference or watching YouTube during a break they should be more than adequate for the intended market. Headphones for travel are also high on the list of must-have accessories.<br /><br /><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49556" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49557.jpg" border="0" height="157" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The T410 has the same redesigned keyboard that we saw debut on the T400s. It has a new function key layout with keys such as the Escape and Delete buttons increased in size while also added a backlit power button and microphone mute button. Another new feature which is located in the BIOS is Lenovo allows you to swap the function and control keys through software if you happen to be one of those people that enjoy the control key being the last key in the row.</p> <p>The ThinkPad keyboard is still comfortable to type on for hours without creating too much hand strain. The redesigned keyboard has a few tweaks compared to previous models; narrower spacing between keys to lessen the chance of crumbs getting in and a softer typing feel. The softer and quieter typing feedback actually caused some typing troubles since I would type lighter on the keyboard and not fully activate keys. Once you got used to the difference it wasn’t a problem but for those first mistyped passwords it was really annoying.</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49554" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49555.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The touchpad is a textured Synaptics model that is very spacious to handle multi-finger gestures. The T410 supports two-finger scrolling, rotating, and zooming, as well as three-finger press and flick. In general use the touchpad is easy to use with no discernible lag and a very fast refresh rate. The acceleration speeds on both axes were equal… so drawing a fast circle didn’t result in an oval shape. The textured surface was easy to slide across in daily use even if your fingers were slightly damp. The touchpad buttons were easy to use and very comfortable to click. They offered a long throw with a soft clicking action that didn’t emit any noise when fully pressed. <p><b><br />Ports and Features</b><br />Port selection on the new T410 is excellent and a huge improvement over previous models. Lenovo added an additional USB port, added FireWire, added eSATA (for compatible models), and even tossed in a DisplayPort connection for digital video out without needing to use a docking station. In total this makes the ThinkPad T410 one of the most feature-rich 14” notebooks on the market, with four USB ports, VGA-out, DisplayPort-out, combo audio jack, modem, LAN, FireWire-400, optional eSATA, as well as an optional SmartCard slot. The T410 also has a SDHC-card slot and ExpressCard/34 slot for expansion.</p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49560" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49561.jpg" border="0" height="65" width="250" /></a><br />Front: SDHC-card slot</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49564" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49565.jpg" border="0" height="79" width="250" /></a><br />Rear: Modem, AC-Power</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49566" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49567.jpg" border="0" height="108" width="250" /></a><br />Left: VGA-out, LAN, three USB ports, DisplayPort-out, and Smart Card reader</i></p> <p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49562" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49563.jpg" border="0" height="121" width="250" /></a><br />Right: ExpressCard/34, eSATA, headphone/mic combo, optical drive, one USB, FireWire, Kensington lock slot</i></p></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />System performance on both ThinkPad T410 models was excellent with the Intel Core i5-540M processors and speedy 320GB 7200RPM Seagate hard drives. Both systems offered excellent boot times and had plenty of power to handle anything we threw at them. The T410 with integrated graphics also gave us the highest 3DMark06 score we have seen to date on an Intel graphics model. Pushing close to 2,000 in 3DMark06 the T410 with integrated graphics should be able to handle most previous generation games with tweaked settings. For the average user the T410 in even the basic configuration will be able to handle 1080P HD video without breaking a sweat. For the business user on the road the newest Intel Core i5 processors are closing the gap between “slow” notebook computers and “fast” workstations.</p> <p><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49594.png" border="0" height="190" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49593.png" border="0" height="190" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>3DMark06 comparison results against netbooks @ 1024 x 768 resolution (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49592.png" border="0" height="190" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune hard drive performance test:</i><br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49588" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49589.jpg" border="0" height="201" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />Lenovo updated the cooling fan on the T410 by reshaping the fan blades to mimic the wings on an owl. This change lets the fan still push the same amount of air without producing as much sound as previous generation cooling fans. In testing we found the fan to be quieter but the pitch of the noise it produced went from a low to high-frequency note. In terms of cooling performance the T410 can easily cope with the thermal load from integrated graphics as well as dedicated graphics. After being stressed over a period of about an hour with back-to-back benchmarks the hottest spot on the T410 with dedicated graphics was 96-degrees on the bottom. The rest of the notebook including the palmrest and keyboard stayed comfortable. The T410 with integrated graphics saw a two to three-degree drop across the board with a hot spot measuring 90 degrees Fahrenheit.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49586" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49587.jpg" border="0" height="157" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49584" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49585.jpg" border="0" height="178" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49601" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49602.jpg" border="0" height="157" width="250" /></a><br /></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49603" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49604.jpg" border="0" height="178" width="250" /></a><br /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />Users looking to get the most runtime out of their new ThinkPad will love the new 9-cell battery. Lenovo quietly bumped the 9-cell from the previous 84Wh capacity to a new 94Wh model. The change makes the battery look slightly larger but it doesn’t stick out any further from the back of the notebook. The 6-cell battery only got a 1Wh bump to 57Wh. In our battery test with the screen brightness set 70%, wireless active, and Windows 7 on a balanced profile the dedicated graphics model with 9-cell battery lasted for 7 hours and 30 minutes while the integrated graphics model with 6-cell battery stayed on for 5 hours and 43 minutes. Power consumption on the integrated graphics model was between 9 and 10 watts during the test with the dedicated graphics model pushing as high as 12 watts.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The full-redesigned Lenovo ThinkPad T410 offers quite a few enhancements over the previous generation T400, including less keyboard flex, an updated keyboard, a nicer touchpad, huge improvement in port selection, and better component access through the chassis. The new design is not without its flaws though as we have seen some areas like the screen cover show more flex than we would like. Overall the pros far outweigh the cons with the new T410 and as always the newest generation offers a substantial bump in performance. Compared to the last T400 we reviewed we saw an increase of almost 100% in 3DMark06 performance and almost half the time in wPrime. While it would be hard to say it is worth upgrading a T400 to this newer model--if you have an aging T60 or T61--now might be the time to upgrade.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li> Very fast</li><li> Increased battery capacities</li><li> Excellent port selection</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li> Screen shows some distortion when flexing</li><li> High pitched fan could be annoying</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-1201477001542929152010-02-04T04:59:00.000-08:002010-02-04T05:04:45.798-08:00Most Popular Laptops for January 2010<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p></p></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Each month we compile data for the number of times a particular notebook is viewed on this site's product pages to get an idea for what mainstream consumers are looking at and thinking about buying. While these laptops aren't necessarily the most popular in terms of sales, they are the most popular based on the number of times our visitors clicked on them.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In that sense, think of this list as the "most clickable laptops of the month" ... the notebooks that most of the people visiting this site are interested in learning about. Keep in mind that clicks directly on the "Most Viewed Laptops" list do not count toward the total in order to keep the list as fair as possible each month. The only clicks that count toward the monthly totals come from web searches like Google or from visitors who have clicked on a laptop after visiting our "Notebook Database" or inside our forums.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p></p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>In the month of January we saw a ton of new notebooks enter our Top 10 list, including the Lenovo ThinkPad T400, Lenovo ThinkPad X200, Dell Studio 17, HP ProBook 4510s, and the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro. The biggest change this month is the Lenovo G550 which took the lead spot, bumping the Acer Aspire One to #2.</p></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> <p> </p> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/46872.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="120" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>1. <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1486"></a></b>Lenovo G550 (Prev<b>iously #8</b><b>)</b> - The Lenovo G550 is an update to the Value Line G530 with the primary difference being the shift from a 16:10 to a 16:9 screen. Configurations include either Intel Pentium or Core 2 Duo processor and up to 4GB DDR3 installed memory. (55,506 unique views)</p><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/45561.jpg" border="0" height="94" width="120" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>2. <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1207"></a></b>Acer Aspire One (Pr<b><b>eviously </b></b><b>#1) - </b>The Aspire One is the latest "netbook" from Acer, offering a convenient, compact design at a budget price. The Aspire One features an Intel Atom Processor, 8.9" WSVGA TFT LCD, and a choice of either Genuine Windows XP Home Edition or Linpus Linux Lite version. (37,844 unique views)</p> <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4575"><br /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/42835.jpg" border="0" height="90" width="120" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>3. <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1326"></a></b></b>Dell Studio XPS 16 (P<b><b>reviously #4)</b> - </b>The Studio XPS 16 features premium design with genuine leather accents, anodized aluminum, edge-to-edge display and backlit keyboard, 16" ultrawide 16:9 aspect ratio with 1080p HD support & optional RGB-LED for brighter and more vivid colors, the latest Centrino 2 platform for blazing fast performance, amazing battery life and go anywhere wireless connectivity and premium ATI 512MB graphics delivers incredibly lifelike videos, movies and gaming. (31,888 unique views)</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4764"><br /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49495.gif" border="0" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>4.</b> Lenovo ThinkPad T400 (Bac<b>k in the Top 10)</b> - The ThinkPad T400 features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 14.1" LED-backlight widescreen, up to 8GB of PC2-8500 and integrated Intel X4500 or ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470. (26,262 unique views)</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4946&review=lenovo+thinkpad+t400"><br /></a></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44759.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="120" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>5.</b> Dell Studio 15 (Previously #7) - The Dell Studio 15 is a 15.4" screen multimedia laptop offered in multiple colors and configurations. The Studio 15 can be equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo and dedicated ATI graphics. It comes with a slot-loading DVD drive, backlit keyboard, sleek drop-hinge design, widescreen glossy display and touch sensitive buttons. Software wise the Dell Studio 15 includes a unique Apple Mac OS X launch dock. (25,816 unique views)</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5114&review=dell+studio+15+1555"><br /></a></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49494.gif" border="0" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>6.</b> Lenovo ThinkPad X200 (Back in the Top 10) - The Lenovo ThinkPad X200 is a 12.1" ultraportable featuring an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and up to 4GB of DDR3 Memory. (22,092 unique views)</p> <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4497"><br /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49496.jpg" border="0" height="125" width="125" /></p> </td> <td> <p><b><br /></b></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b>7. </b>Dell Studio 17 (New to the Top 10) - The Dell Studio 17 is a 17" screen multimedia laptop offered in multiple colors and configurations. The Studio 17 can be equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo and dedicated ATI graphics. It comes with a slot-loading DVD drive, backlit keyboard, sleek drop-hinge design, widescreen glossy display and touch sensitive buttons. Software wise the Dell Studio 17 includes a unique Apple Mac OS X launch dock. (19,866 unique views)</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5419"><br /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49492.gif" border="0" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>8. <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1411&productID="></a></b>HP ProBook 4510s (Back to the Top 10) - The HP ProBook 4510s offers a 15.6-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display and optional HP Mobile Broadband connectivity with built-in Gobi technology or standard Wi-Fi certified and optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology. Choose from integrated or dedicated graphics and 6 or 8-cell lithium ion battery. (19,607 unique views)</p> <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5015"><br /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49493.png" border="0" height="94" width="160" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>9. <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1440&productID="></a></b>Apple 13" MacBook Pro (Back in the Top 10) - This 13 inch notebook is the smallest of the Apple MacBook Pro family. It features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce graphics with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory, up to 8GB DDR3 system memory, and 160 or 250GB SATA hard drive. This system is also equipped with a FireWire 800 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and SD card slot. (17,856 unique views)</p> <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5105"><br /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47583.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="120" /></p> </td> <td><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>10</b>. Toshiba Satellite L500/505 (P<b>reviously #2)</b> - The Toshiba Satellite L500 and L505 share a 15.6 inch HD display. Configurations are available with either Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon X2 or AMD Turion X2 processor. Other features include DVD SuperMulti drive and up to a 320GB hard drive. (17,361 unique views)</p></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>And here's the rest of 'em rounding out the top 20 most viewed and popular on NotebookReview.com for the month of January:</p></div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> </span></span><p>11. Dell Inspiron 11z - 15,722 unique views<br />12. Asus G51 - 13,314 unique views<br />13. Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 - 12,526 unique views<br />14. Asus UL30 - 12,027 unique views<br />15. Lenovo ThinkPad T500 - 11,292 unique views<br />16. Lenovo ThinkPad X200 - 10,955 unique views<br />17. Dell Studio XPS 13 - 10,154 unique views<br />18. HP ProBook 5310m - 8,565 unique views<br />19. Dell Inspiron 15 - 8,434 unique views<br />20. Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 - 8,382 unique views</p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"> </span></span><p style="text-align: justify;">Remember, to get advice on which notebook to buy don't just go with what's popular, visit our What Notebook Should I Buy forum to ask what everyone else thinks you should buy based on your needs. Check out how the current standings for this week's most popular notebooks looks.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-52007830321925360862010-01-31T16:05:00.000-08:002010-01-31T16:09:36.135-08:00Acer Aspire 6920<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><em>by Kevin O'Brien</em></p><p>The all new Gemstone Blue series notebooks from Acer offer a cinematic experience with a 16-inch 16:9 ratio display, built-in subwoofer, and touch-sensitive multimedia control panel. Going beyond the multimedia experience, Acer also give this Gemstone notebook one of the most innovative designs we have seen in years. From a semi-transparent LCD cover with an LED outlined company logo to blue LED illuminated chrome screen hinges Acer really went all out to make this notebook stand out from the competition. Now does Acer really deliver a "true cinematic experience?" Read on to find out.</p><p><script src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/123354bargainspots.js"></script> </p><p>Specifications:</p><ul><li>Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 (2.0GHz, 667MHz FSB, 2MB Level 2 cache)</li><li>Operating system: Windows Vista Home Premium</li><li>Memory: 4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300)</li><li>Hard drive: 250GB (5400rpm)</li><li>Screen: 16" HD Acer CineCrystal (glossy) display (1366 x 768)</li><li>Graphics: Intel X3100 integrated graphics</li><li>Optical drive: DVD SuperMulti DL</li><li>Ports: Ethernet, modem, VGA, microphone in, two audio out jacks, four USB ports, 5-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard slot</li><li>Wireless: 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0</li><li>Dimensions: 10.8" x 15.1" 1.7" (HxWxD)</li><li>Weight: 7.3 lbs. </li><li>MSRP as configured: $899</li></ul><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35485.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="197" width="250" /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p><strong>Build and Design</strong></p><p>Build quality of the Acer Aspire 6920 is very solid and held up quite well during our testing. Whether it was being tossed inside of a backpack haphazardly or carried around by the edge of the palmrest, it didn't make one creak of noise. The plastics used throughout the notebook are high quality, and give it a tough feel (might even be subliminal with the brick textured palmrest) which doesn't bend under a strong grip. The glossy plastic bits located throughout, including the media control panel, held up well without showing much wear or scuffing. Those thinking about stuffing the notebook into a backpack full of heavy textbook needn't worry, as the screen cover resists a strong push without distorting the LCD, although I wouldn't go as far as standing on it.</p><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35469.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="172" width="250" /></p></span></span><br />The design of the Gemstone Blue series is a bit unlike anything I have played with or experienced before. Acer paid attention to all of the minor details when designing this notebook, leaving no surface untouched of some sort of special feature. The screen cover which can generally be a pretty basic element of a notebook has a very advanced look to it. It consisted of multiple layers and soft gradient changes from dark blue around the edges to a semi-transparent blue in the center. It is a subtle touch that you don't notice at first, but once you do it is pretty awesome. LED lighting is another design element used throughout the design of this notebook, and they can be found in many areas:<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><ul><li>Hinge endcaps</li><li>Power button outline illumination</li><li>Media control area</li><li>Acer logo on the cover</li></ul><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35503.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td> <img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35501.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p>The only areas Acer didn't really add to the design of this notebook are found on the lower end configuration models. Acer shares the same plastic trim and palmrest between models, and if your notebook didn't come equipted with HDMI, TV-Tuner, or Fingerprint scanner you are left with tacky looking blanks. The worst one is the fingerprint scanner blank, which makes it look like you have one, but it is actually black plastic bar. This even confused a few retail sites which list lower configurations as having a fingerprint scanner, even though they don't.</p><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35505.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="134" width="250" /></p></span></span><strong>Screen</strong><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p>The 16:9 Acer CineCrystal LCD rates average compared to other notebooks, having good color and contrast, but lacking a wide viewing range. The display has a very narrow viewing sweet spot and even a small 5-10 degree change up or down will start to invert colors on the top or bottom half of the screen. Side to side viewing angles were better, but still lacking compared to other displays.</p><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35493.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td> <img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35495.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td> <img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35497.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td>(<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer;" onclick="displayWindow('http://www.notebookreview.com/picture.asp?f=35496','Picture',1094,948,'');">view large image</span>)</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The aspect ratio of the screen does help reduce the some of the aspect ratio correcting bars found while watching some movies, but doesn't entirely get rid of them which some might think. Depending on the movie you watch you will still have some bars, either super small, or upwards of an inch tall.</p><p><strong>Keyboard and Touchpad</strong></p><p>From the first day seeing this Acer notebook opened, I wasn't sure how much I would like the keyboard with the angled spacebar and right ALT key. Well I am happy to say that although the design is a bit odd, it didn't impede my typing abilities, which I was nervous about at first. The keys are great, with a shallow cupped surface, and good quiet feedback when typing. Support underneath the keyboard could be better, with some mild sag under moderate finger pressure. The layout and spacing were great and I didn't miss a full number pad, although it could have fit one if it didn't have the media controls.</p><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35489.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="176" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td>(<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer;" onclick="displayWindow('http://www.notebookreview.com/picture.asp?f=35488','Picture',1094,900,'');">view large image</span>)</td><td> <img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35509.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="267" width="200" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p>The touchpad surface was great to use, with a unique brick-like surface texture that let you finger effortlessly slip across it even if your hand was a bit sweaty. Sensitivity was excellent out of the box, and if you wanted to, you could adjust it further through the control panel. The scrolling region of the touchpad was defined with a small ridge that separated it from the main area, which had a tendency to confuse you during use. Your finger would slide over and try to scroll inside the main area, since you would think you were hitting the far edge of the touchpad. </p><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35483.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></p></span></span><strong><br />Input and Output Ports</strong><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p>Port selection on the Acer Gemston Blue was decent, but was missing a few common ports that we would have liked to see. Firewire was nowhere to be found, and for those who selected lower configurations, all you get is a blank HDMI and TV tuner port. Acer included 4 USB ports, instead of just 3 which you sometimes find on 15" or even 17" notebooks. Below is the full port selection list:</p><ul><li>4 USB 2.0 ports</li><li>ExpressCard slot</li><li>Gigabit Ethernet and modem</li><li>5-in-1 multi-card reader</li><li>Headphone</li><li>Microphone, Line-In</li><li>VGA monitor out</li><li>Kensington lock slot</li></ul><p>eSata and a true docking connection were also missing. I would have personally enjoyed not seeing a modem jack and the extra space used for eSata or a proprietary docking connection.</p><p>Front: 5-in-1 multi-card reader</p><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35477.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="74" width="250" /></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p>Rear: Subwoofer</p><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35473.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="90" width="250" /></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p>Left: AC Power, Modem, VGA, LAN, 1 USB, Headphone/Mic/Line-in</p><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35479.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="131" width="250" /></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /></span></span><p>Right: Optical Drive, 3 USB, Kensington Lock Slot</p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35475.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="139" width="250" /></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p><strong>Performance and Benchmarks</strong></p><p>The Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 processor found in our review configuration isn't exactly the fastest processor on the market, but it was more than fast enough for your average workload. Office productivity applications and internet browsers were no problems for this computer. Even more difficult tasks such as compressing audio or video files in iTunes completed without much delay. Overall most users will have a hard time telling the difference between a top of the line processor and base budget model during day to day work. Gaming and more stressful applications where something with that amount of grunt is needed.</p><p>The lack gaming abilities of the X3100 integrated graphics chipset on the other hand really put a damper on any fun with this notebook. Without a more powerful dedicated graphics chipset, you won't be able to play current or even last generation games without horrible frame rates, or even getting the game to load at all. Another downside to the X3100 graphics on this notebook is the removal of the HDMI port (come standard in higher configurations), leaving you with only VGA out for connection to a larger display.</p><p><span><span><p><em>WPrime 32M comparison results</em></p><p>WPrime is a benchmark similar to Super Pi in that it forces the processor to do intense mathematical calculations, but the difference is this application is multi-threaded and represents dual core <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4288" target="_blank">processors</a> better. Lower numbers indicate better performance.</p></span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Notebook / CPU</strong></td><td valign="top"><strong>wPrime 32M time</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Acer Aspire 6920 (Core 2 Duo T5750 @ 2.0GHz) </strong></td><td><strong>44.457s </strong></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Sony VAIO FW (Core 2 Duo T9400 @ 2.53GHz)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>30.373s </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell Studio 15 (Core 2 Duo T5750 @ 2.0GHz)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>41.246s</td></tr><tr><td>HP <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1191" target="_blank">Pavilion dv5z</a> (Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80 @ 2.1GHz)<strong> </strong></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><strong></strong><br /></td><td>39.745s <strong></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><strong></strong><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1171" target="_blank">Vostro 1510</a> (Core 2 Duo T5670 @ 1.8GHz) </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>51.875s </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1117" target="_blank">Inspiron 1525</a> (Core 2 Duo T7250 @ 2.0GHz)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>43.569s</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1101" target="_blank">XPS M1530</a> (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)<strong></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr><td><strong></strong><br /></td><td>37.485s<strong> </strong></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"><td>HP Pavilion dv6500z (Turion 64 X2 TL-60 @ 2.0GHz)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td><br /></td><td>40.759s</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="366" width="509"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td><br /></td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"><td>Sony <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1075" target="_blank">VAIO NR</a> (Core 2 Duo T5250 @ 1.5GHz)</td><td>58.233s</td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"><td>Toshiba Tecra A9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)</td><td>38.343s</td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"><td>Toshiba Tecra M9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)</td><td>37.299s</td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"><td>HP Compaq 6910p (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz)</td><td>40.965s</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Lenovo T61 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)</td><td valign="top">37.705s</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">HP Pavilion dv6000z (Turion X2 TL-60 @ 2.0GHz)</td><td valign="top">38.720s</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><em>PCMark05 measures overall notebook performance based on processor, hard drive, operating system, RAM, and graphics (higher scores are better):</em></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Notebook</strong></td><td><strong>PCMark05 Score</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Acer Aspire 6920 (2.0GHz Intel T5750, Intel X3100) </strong></td><td><strong>4,179 PCMarks </strong></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Sony <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1193" target="_blank">VAIO FW</a> (2.53GHz Intel T9400, ATI Radeon HD 3470) </td><td>6,002 PCMarks </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1189" target="_blank">Studio 15</a> (2.0GHz Intel T5750, Intel X3100)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>3,998 PCMarks</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>HP <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1191" target="_blank">Pavilion dv5z</a> (2.1GHz Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80, ATI Radeon HD 3200) <strong></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><strong></strong><br /></td><td>3,994 PCMarks </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1171" target="_blank">Vostro 1510</a> (1.8GHz Intel T5670, Intel X3100)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>3,568 PCMarks </td></tr><tr><td><span>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1117" target="_blank">Inspiron 1525</a> (2.0GHz Intel T7250, Intel X3100)</span></td><td>4,149 PCMarks</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" height="380" width="596"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1101" target="_blank">XPS M1530</a> (2.20GHz Intel T7500, Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB)</td><td>5,412 PCMarks</td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1014" target="_blank">Inspiron 1520</a> (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT)</td><td>4,616 PCMarks</td></tr><tr><td>Sony <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1075" target="_blank">VAIO NR</a> (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100) </td><td>3,283 PCMarks </td></tr><tr><td>Lenovo T60 Widescreen (2.0GHz Intel T7200, ATI X1400 128MB)</td><td>4,189 PCMarks</td></tr><tr><td>HP dv6000t (2.16GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)</td><td>4,234 PCMarks</td></tr></tbody></table><p><em></em></p></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><p><em></em></p><p><em>3DMark06 comparison results for graphics performance (higher scores are better):</em></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Notebook</strong></td><td valign="top"><strong>3DMark06 Score</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Acer Aspire 6920 (2.0GHz Intel T5750, Intel X3100) </strong></td><td><strong>605 3DMarks </strong></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Sony <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1193" target="_blank">VAIO FW</a> (2.53GHz Intel T9400, ATI Radeon HD 3470) </td><td>2,598 3DMarks </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1189" target="_blank">Studio 15</a> (2.0GHz Intel T5750, Intel X3100)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>493 3DMarks </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>HP <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1191" target="_blank">Pavilion dv5z</a> (2.1GHz Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80, ATI Radeon HD 3200) <strong> </strong></td><td>1,599 3DMarks </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1171" target="_blank">Vostro 1510</a> (1.8GHz Intel T5670, Intel X3100)</td><td>519 3DMarks</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1117" target="_blank">Inspiron 1525</a> (2.0GHz Intel T7250, Intel X3100)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>545 3DMarks </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td>HP Pavilion dv6500z (2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60, NVIDIA 8400m GS) </td><td>1,551 3DMarks </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><span>Sony <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1075" target="_blank">VAIO NR</a> (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100)</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="633"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td>504 3DMarks </td></tr><tr><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1101" target="_blank">XPS M1530</a> (2.20GHz Intel T7500, Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB)</td><td>4,332 3DMarks</td></tr><tr align="left" valign="top"><td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/scripts/buyDirect.asp?productFamilyID=1014" target="_blank">Inspiron 1520</a> (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT)</td><td>2,905 3DMarks</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)</td><td valign="top">827 3DMarks</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><em>HDTune results:</em></p></span><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35511.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="201" width="250" /></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><br /> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Speakers and Audio</strong></p><p>Audio performance of the speakers found on this Acer notebook fall between above average and "sounds like earbuds cranked up." Acer included a subwoofer tube built into the hinge section of the display, which helps to add life into the music or movies that you might be watching. However, if you disable the subwoofer, the regular speakers sound horrific. They lack all midrange and bass, and sound just like small earbud headphones cranked up to a higher volume. The overall speaker performance could have been greatly improved with slightly better main speakers, but as it stands, they still rate fairly good if you keep the subwoofer turned on.</p><p><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35491.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p>The headphone jack worked very well without any static or hiss if you were watching a movie or listening to music in a more private setting. For a notebook, I still think a users best friend is a good set of "cans."</p><p><strong>Battery Life</strong></p><p>On the balanced profile with screen brightness set to 60% and wireless enabled, the Acer Gemstone pulled off 4 hours and 6 minutes of battery life with the 4400mAh battery. This is well above average, even compared against notebooks equipped with much higher capacity batteries. </p><p><strong>Heat and Noise</strong></p><p>Thermal performance is better than average, where even under heavy stress, like in the middle of benchmarking, the notebook is barely above room temperature in all of the important areas. The palmrests were slightly above room temperature and the bottom of the was fairly cool as well. The only warm spot that you notice with it sitting on your lap is right at the back corner of the notebook near the CPU exhaust vent. </p><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35487.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="176" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td>(<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer;" onclick="displayWindow('http://www.notebookreview.com/picture.asp?f=35486','Picture',1094,900,'');">view large image</span>) </td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td> <img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/35507.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="188" width="250" /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td>(<span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer;" onclick="displayWindow('http://www.notebookreview.com/picture.asp?f=35506','Picture',1094,948,'');">view large image</span>)</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Even while maintaining a very cool outside temperature, the system doesn't really emit much fan noise. During normal operation the system has the fan completely off or at a very slow speed, which you can only hear if your head is right above the exhaust vent. During stressful activities such as benchmarking or encoding video, the fan increases speed, but still within the whisper range.</p><p><script src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/123354bargainspots.js"></script> </p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>The Acer Gemstone Blue series has one of the coolest designs we have seen in our office in quite a long time. The attention to detail is astounding, especially with the screen cover where you realize the color isn't a solid blue, but instead a smooth transition to a lighter color towards centered Acer logo. Even the screen hinges weren't overlooked, with the chrome accents and inner blue LED lighting when plugged in. While our review model lacked HDMI out and a Blu-ray drive, it still handled downloaded HD content (720P) and DVD movies just fine. The built-in subwoofer performed well, but covered up the anemic audio that the main drivers put out. </p><p>For the going price of $899 this notebook configuration is a lukewarm deal, but if you find it on sale for $699 (which we have seen) it turns into a great deal for all that you get. </p><p><strong>Pros</strong></p><ul><li>Solid build quality</li><li>Cool screen cover paint finish</li><li>Chrome and LED trimmed pieces everywhere</li><li>Operates with lap friendly temperatures </li><li>Great battery life</li></ul><p><strong>Cons</strong></p><ul><li>Anemic main speaker drivers</li><li>Mild keyboard flex under typing pressure</li><li> Poor screen viewing angles</li></ul></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-8374557398412570792010-01-31T16:02:00.000-08:002010-01-31T16:05:08.294-08:00Acer Aspire One D250<div style="text-align: justify;">by Jerry Jackson Acer managed to strike gold in the middle of a global economic crisis thanks to their affordable Acer Aspire One netbooks. These low-cost, ultraportable laptops have quickly become popular travel companions for people who don't want to haul a heavy notebook to Starbucks. The latest 10-inch Acer Aspire One, the D250 series, offers a great balance of features at a starting price of less than $300. Read on to find out more about the Acer Aspire One D250-1165.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?pid=239330&productFamilyID=1207"><b></b></a>Acer Aspire One D250-1165 features the following specifications:</p> <ul><li>Operating System: Genuine Windows XP</li><li>Processor: Intel Atom N270 Processor 1.60GHz</li><li>Memory: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (533MHz)</li><li>Internal Storage: 160GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD</li><li>Display: 10.1-inch diagonal WSVGA+ (1024x600) </li><li>Graphics: Intel GMA 950</li><li>Wireless: 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)</li><li>Expansion: 5-in-1 media card slot</li><li>Ports and connectors: (3) USB 2.0 ports, VGA OUT, power connector, RJ-45/Ethernet (10/100), stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 0.3 megapixel (VGA) webcam</li><li>Dimensions (H x W x D): 1 x 10.2 x 7.2 inches (including feet)</li><li>Weight: 2.4 lbs (not including weight of AC adapter).</li><li>Power: 3-cell Lithium-Ion battery (2200mAh, 25Wh)</li><li>Warranty: One-year standard warranty</li><li>MSRP: <b>$329.99 ($299.95 Retail Price)<br /></b></li></ul> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44824" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44825.jpg" border="0" height="195" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br />The Acer Aspire One D250-1165 is a low-cost version of the new D250 series netbooks and features a smaller battery and no Bluetooth in order to drop the retail price below $300. One very interesting item of note is that the D250 is actually slightly thinner than the original Acer Aspire One 150 series which used a smaller 8.9-inch screen. Like the original Aspire One, the D250 uses glossy plastics on the top of the screen cover as well as around the entire LCD. At times the reflective boarder does get on your nerves if you are in a brightly lit room with many sources of glare.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44808" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44809.jpg" border="0" height="180" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Build quality looks quite good and the construction feels strong enough to handle being tossed around inside a book bag without much concern for its safety (well apart from possible scratches to the glossy surfaces). We detected some flexing in the LCD lid plastics and bottom of the chassis when we squeezed the D250 while holding it folded in half, but overall this is a solid little netbook.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44822" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44823.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p>One nice design feature in the D250 is easy access for upgrades. Compared to the original Acer Aspire One, the D250 is extremely easy to upgrade. Flip the netbook over and you'll find three access panels for the hard drive, RAM, and the mini-PCIe card slot. The mini-PCIe card slot is obviously open for built-in broadband wireless access, so you should be able to buy this netbook directly from wireless carriers depending on the carriers and data plans in your area.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44828" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44829.jpg" border="0" height="168" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The new Aspire One uses a fairly standard LED-backlit display panel with a 1024x600 native resolution. The glossy screen looks identical to what we're seeing in most netbooks: the glossy screen offers good color and contrast, but glare and reflections indoors under strong lights or outdoors under direct sunlight can be a problem. Again, although the 1024x600 resolution is pretty standard for a netbook these days, I'd much rather see a 1366x768 screen in the next Aspire One. Vertical viewing angles are average, with some strong color inversion when viewing from below and some over-exposed colors when viewed from above. Horizontal viewing angles are better with colors staying accurate at extremely wide viewing angles.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44850" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44851.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44854" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44855.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44852" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44853.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44848" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44849.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The Aspire One D250 uses a surprisingly cramped keyboard that is virtually identical to the keyboard used on the original Aspire One 150 series. Considering that the original Aspire One was a smaller netbook with a 8.9-inch screen it's rather disappointing that Acer didn't use a larger keyboard. Despite the small key size, the typing surface feels strong with no keyboard flex and individual keys feel strong with no wobble. One aspect that I really enjoy about the keyboard layout is the dedicated page up and page down buttons.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44820" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44821.jpg" border="0" height="164" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Still, the cramped keyboard will cause problems for more than a few owners. Since the keys are small and unusually close together you have to look at the keys when typing rather than using touch typing methods. Here's a quick example of what I can type when looking at the keys:</p> <p>"This is what it's like to type a document on the Acer Aspire One keyboard if you are looking at the keys."</p> <p>Here's a quick example of what I can type using the traditional touch typing method:</p> <p>"This is ehat it's like to type a document on the Acer Aspore One keyboard ig you are looking st the screen."</p> <p>The Synaptics touchpad used on the D250 is a little small considering that most 10-inch netbooks are getting larger touchpads these days. The touchpad is gesture-enabled and this allows you to use multi-finger gestures such as "pinching" your fingers together or "pulling" your fingers apart to zoom in or out. You can also use a spiral motion to activate the "chiral scroll" feature. The Synaptics control panel in Windows also allows you to customize these gestures as well. The touchpad surface provides smooth, fluid movement but the small size takes some getting used to. The left and right touchpad buttons are located beneath a single rocker-style button, but with no separation between the left and right side it's easy to accidentally press the middle of the touchpad button when you're trying to press the left or right side. The touchpad buttons have extremely shallow feedback, so it isn't always easy to feel when you have or have not pressed a button.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44826" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44827.jpg" border="0" height="213" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The D250 also includes a dedicated wireless on/off switch on the front of the notebook--something that's nice to have when traveling and isn't available on many netbooks from other manufacturers.</p> <p><b>Input and Output Ports<br /></b>The Aspire One D250 provides a good selection of ports despite the thin profile of the chassis. You get three USB 2.0 ports, a 5-in-1 media card reader, headphone and microphone jacks, Ethernet port, and a standard VGA out port. It's nice to see a standard set of ports considering that several other netbooks sacrifice ports in order to achieve a thin profile.</p> <p>Here is a quick tour around the Acer Aspire One D250-1165:</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44816" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44817.jpg" border="0" height="114" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Front view: Wi-Fi on/off switch.</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44812" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44813.jpg" border="0" height="105" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Rear view: No ports here, just the hinges and battery.</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=42743" target="_blank"> </a> <i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44814" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44815.jpg" border="0" height="155" width="250" /></a><br />Left side view: Ethernet, heat vent, VGA out, USB 2.0 port, microphone and headphone jacks.</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=42741" target="_blank"> </a> <i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44810" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44811.jpg" border="0" height="165" width="250" /></a><br />Right side view: 5-in-1 card reader, two USB 2.0 ports, power jack and security lock slot.</i></p></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />There isn't much to be said in the performance section of a netbook review. If you've read our reviews of other netbooks that use the Intel Atom processors then you know that all Atom-based netbooks have nearly identical performance in terms of actual real-world use. Overall performance with the Intel Atom platform is very reasonable for daily activities like Web browsing, email, using Microsoft Office, listening to music, and watching standard definition (480p) movies. If you're in a bind you can even use photo editing software like <i>Photoshop</i> or <i>GIMP</i> for basic image editing. <p>The weak performance of the Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics combined with the Intel Atom means this isn't going to be your next multimedia laptop. The integrated graphics processor (IGP) is powerful enough to handle displaying a PowerPoint presentation on a projector or watching DVD quality video, but a netbook with this hardware is really only intended to provide "good enough" performance for quick Web access while you're away from your primary PC.</p> <p><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook / CPU</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>wPrime 32M time</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz)</td> <td>76.240 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv2 (AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 @ 1.60GHz)<b><br /></b></td> <td>103.521 seconds<b><br /></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>114.749 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>116.030 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz)</td> <td>116.421 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Mini 2140 with HD screen (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)</td> <td>123.281 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Acer Aspire One D250-1165 (Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz)</b></td> <td><b>124.829 seconds</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One 150-1635 (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz) </td> <td>125.812 seconds<br /></td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="top"> <td>Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (2009) (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz)</td> <td>126.406 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Samsung NC20 (VIA Nano ULV U2250 @ 1.30GHz)</td> <td>173.968 seconds</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Notebook</b></td> <td><b>PCMark05 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>2,446 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv2 (1.60GHz AMD Athlon Neo, ATI Radeon HD 3410 512MB)</td> <td>2,191 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS N10 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, NVIDIA 9300M 256MB)</td> <td>1,851 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Portege R500 (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,839 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,637 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,564 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One 150-1635 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,555 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>1,535 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Acer Aspire One D250-1165 (1.60GHz Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 950)</b></td> <td><b>1,456 PCMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Samsung NC20 (1.30GHz VIA Nano ULV U2250, VIA Chrome9 HC3)</td> <td>1,441 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Mini 2140 with HD screen (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GM1 950)</td> <td>1,437 PCMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>3DMark06 comparison results against netbooks @ 1024 x 768 resolution:</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>3DMark06 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv2 (1.60GHz AMD Athlon Neo, ATI Radeon HD 3410 512MB)<b><br /></b></td> <td>1,520 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS N10 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, NVIDIA 9300M 256MB)</td> <td>1,417 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Samsung NC20 (1.30GHz VIA Nano ULV U2250, VIA Chrome9 HC3)</td> <td>151 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>127 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Acer Aspire One 150-1635 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)<br /></td> <td>122 3DMarks<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Acer Aspire One D250-1165 (1.60GHz Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 950)<br /></b></td> <td><b>120 3DMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>116 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Mini 2140 with HD screen (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GM1 950)</td> <td>112 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)</td> <td>92 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO P (1.33GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 500, Windows Vista)</td> <td>88 3DMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p>In our ongoing quest to provide helpful information to our readers we are adding the following video playback table to our reviews of netbooks. Since netbooks are starting to be used for mobile entertainment (watching movie trailers or streaming video) it's important to know how a netbook performs when trying to play a simple video file. We selected a family-friendly movie trailer and downloaded three different versions in <a target="_blank" href="http://movies.apple.com/movies/disney/up/up-landing_480p.mov">480p</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://movies.apple.com/movies/disney/up/up-landing_720p.mov">720p</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://movies.apple.com/movies/disney/up/up-landing_1080p.mov">1080p</a> resolutions. We used the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cccp-project.net/">CCCP Codec Pack</a> for decoding and Media Player Classic Homecinema (version 1.1.796.0) for playing all of the video files.</p> <p><i>Video Playback Performance:</i></p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Video Resolution</b></td> <td><b>CPU Usage</b></td> <td><b>Playback Comments</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>480p</td> <td>30%-40% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays flawlessly</td> </tr> <tr> <td>720p</td> <td>40%-50% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays with a few dropped frames</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1080p</td> <td>55%-70% (hyperthreading)<br /></td> <td>Plays with severe stutter, dropped frames and broken audio</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><i><br />HDTune for the built-in hard drive:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44866" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44867.jpg" border="0" height="203" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p> </p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />Temperatures on the new Aspire One are in line with what we've come to expect from netbooks with Intel Atom processors. Temperature readings taken from the outside of the plastic chassis remained "lap friendly" during normal use. The only time that temperature readings spiked was when the CPU was being stressed with video playback.</p> <p>Below are images indicating the temperature readings (listed in degrees Fahrenheit) taken inside our office where the ambient temperature was 74 degrees Fahrenheit.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44908" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44909.jpg" border="0" height="164" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44910" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44911.jpg" border="0" height="168" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><b>Battery</b><br />Acer claims that the Acer Aspire One D250-1165 provides "up to 3 hours of battery life" from the 3-cell battery. Even if the D250 indeed lasted that long it would be relatively pathetic compared to the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA with a 6-cell battery that lasts more than 9 hours.</p> <p>In our test with the screen brightness set to 70%, wireless active, and XP set to the laptop/portable power profile the system stayed on for <b>2 hours and 32 minutes</b> of constant use. If we turned down the screen brightness to the lowest setting and disabled Wi-Fi then I'm reasonably sure the D250 could have lasted more than 3 hours. It's worth mentioning that the Aspire One D250 series is also available with a 6-cell battery, and that the 6-cell battery version should provide better battery life.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />Although the Acer Aspire One D250-1165 offers a great value for less than $300, I can't help but feel a little less than impressed. Acer used a small keyboard, small touchpad, and worst of all a small battery on what is otherwise a fantastic netbook.</p> <p>Considering how crowded the netbook market has become over the last year I really expected Acer to deliver more with their 10-inch netbook. Yes, it costs less than $300, but that price looks less impressive when other netbooks have better keyboards, better touchpads, and MUCH better battery life for less than $400.</p> <p>As I've said before with netbooks, I'd like to see a higher resolution screen and better graphics solution, but when it comes to the Aspire One D250 I'd settle for a better keyboard, touchpad, and battery. Still, if you're looking for a low-cost laptop to take with you to the coffee shop then the Acer Aspire One D250-1165 might prove to be a very good choice.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Low Price</li><li>Nice build quality </li><li>Easy access for upgrades</li></ul> <p><b>Cons</b>:</p> <ul><li>Poor battery life</li><li>Small keyboard</li><li>Still uses weak integrated graphics</li><li>Bad touchpad buttons</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-62893978607041181042010-01-31T16:00:00.000-08:002010-01-31T16:02:43.381-08:00Acer Aspire 8940G<div style="text-align: justify;">The Acer Aspire 8940G is a desktop replacement system packing an Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA 250M dedicated graphics, Blu-ray, and a massive 18.4" 1080P display. Acer built this system to not only handle everyday gaming, but also to be the multimedia hub in your dorm room or home office. With extra perks such as a backlit keyboard and touch-sensitive media buttons, is there anything not to love in the Aspire 8940G? Read our full review to find out.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Our Acer Aspire 8940G Specifications:</p> <ul><li>Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)</li><li>Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHzGHz, 1333MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)</li><li>18.4" WUXGA FHD LCD display at 1920x1080</li><li>NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M with 1GB GDDR3 memory</li><li>Intel 5100AGN Wireless, Broadcom Gigabit LAN</li><li>4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM (2GB x 2)</li><li>500GB Western Digital 5400RPM Hard Drive</li><li>Blu-ray/DVD SuperMulti</li><li>Webcam, Acer CineSurround speakers, backlit keyboard</li><li>120W (19V x 6.32A) 100-240V AC Adapter</li><li>8-cell 71Wh 14.8v 4800mAh Lithium Ion battery </li><li>Dimensions (WxDxH): 17.34 x 11.62 x 1.22-1.73"</li><li>Weight: 9lbs 5.5oz</li><li>1-year warranty</li><li>Price as configured: $1,329</li></ul> <p><b> <table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47967" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47968.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Build and Design</b><br />Acer shares the same overall look and feel throughout many of their notebook lines. The Acer Aspire 8940G shows quite a bit of resemblance to the Acer Aspire One ... keeping the same hinge shape and position as well as the protruding rear-edge of the main body that you can see when the lid is closed. The side profile of the 8940G doesn't look much thicker than a smaller 15" or 17" notebook. The sloped front and rear edge do a great job of masking thickness even further while also making it more comfortable to carry. Inside you have a completely flat surface containing the keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and multimedia keys. The keyboard is even recessed just enough so the flat keys lay flush with the outer bezel. Acer did an excellent job of making this laptop look user friendly and organized by keeping so many controls within a finger's reach.</p> <p>Notebook manufacturers face a difficult task when it comes to making large notebooks that feel sturdy but aren't overweight. Wider panels require more bracing to reduce flex and heavier notebooks require stronger panels so they don't flex under their own weight. The Aspire 8940G feels very well built with a solid frame and only minimal flex on the screen cover when the notebook is shut. The palrmest feels durable and shows no signs of flex even under strong pressure. The same applies to the keyboard and upper bezel, which show only minimal signs of flex under heavy pressure. The one complaint I have with the build quality of the notebook is the use of glossy plastics which scratch and smudge easily. If you are a neat freak then those smudge-prone glossy surfaces might get on your nerves over time.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47949" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47950.jpg" border="0" height="126" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47961" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47962.jpg" border="0" height="155" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The upgradability factor of this notebook looks great thanks to a single access panel on the bottom of the chassis. Simply remove the panel and you have access to the dual hard drive bays (one of which is unused in this configuration), two system memory slots, two mini-PCIe slots, and a partial view of the processor socket. I saw no "warranty void if removed" stickers anywhere, including the screws holding the heatsink onto the processor. If you want to add a second hard drive you will need to purchase a spare retention bracket, which mounts to the back of the drive, to prevent it from sliding out of place. The open mini-PCIe slot appears to be intended for an onboard TV-tuner, and as such doesn't have WWAN-antennas pre-installed.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47979" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47980.jpg" border="0" height="171" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47977" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47978.jpg" border="0" height="170" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The 18.4" screen on the Aspire 8940G is an "all-glass" style with a protective layer covering the actual display panel. This gives the notebook a very clean and polished look, but also increases glare and reflections. With the notebook turned off the screen surface resembles a mirror and reflects the entire room around you. These reflections are reduced when the screen is on and displaying bright colors. In terms of overall quality the screen looks very nice with good color reproduction and above average contrast. The screen really draws you in while watching movies or viewing pictures ... as if you were viewing that place in person. Black levels look great and the only noticeable areas of light bleed are near the edges of the screen and only visible with the brightness set to 100%. Vertical viewing angles look good until you pivot the screen forward or back roughly 15 to 20 degrees. Horizontal viewing angles look nice right up until reflections off the screen start to overpower the image being displayed. At peak brightness the screen is still easily visible in bright office conditions as well as sitting near a window with the sun casting over the notebook.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47969" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47970.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47975" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47976.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47971" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47972.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47973" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47974.jpg" border="0" height="140" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Acer includes a 5.1 Cinematic Surround system on the Aspire 8940G that seems to sound a step above most notebooks. The audio system features five speakers, including a Tuba CineBass Booster to increase low-frequency sound. In practice the speakers produced a great surround experience, but I felt the peak volume levels were lacking. Even with the system volume set to 100%, the speakers were nowhere near being over-driven. This causes some trouble if you expect to use the system to watch a movie in your bedroom with it sitting on a dresser rather than on your lap. This can be avoided though if you use external speakers or a home theater system connected to the notebook.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47959" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47960.jpg" border="0" height="147" width="250" /></a></p> <p><br /><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />Even though many notebooks are switching to Chiclet-style keyboards these days, Acer still uses a traditional design with thin flat-top keys instead. The design resembles lily patties sitting on a pond with a very thin top and the support structure tucked neatly out of view. The keyboard also offers a backlit which gives you great key visibility in dark settings. The underlying light elements are adequately shielded, preventing "light bleed" unless you view the keyboard at an angle shallower than 45 degrees. The backlight is non-adjustable in brightness, but you can turn it off completely.</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47961" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47962.jpg" border="0" height="155" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><br />The keyboard is very comfortable for typing thanks to properly sized keys and good spacing. The large 18.4" footprint allows Acer to incorporate a full-size keyboard as well as a full number pad. There is almost no "wiggle" or lateral key travel when you move your hand around the keyboard despite the thin looking keys. The keys are easy to trigger with roughly average pressure required and when pressed give off a very small click sound. The broad palmrest works very well for cradling your hands and wrists. Typing for hours at the notebook isn't a problem unless it is on your lap ... in which case your legs might not enjoy the weight.</p> <p><br /> </p><table align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47965" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47966.jpg" border="0" height="145" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The touchpad is a very large Synaptics model that rates very high on my list of best touchpads. It is quick to respond to fast movements, showing no discernable lag at any time. The surface texture is a soft matte finish that makes it easy to slide your finger across whether completely dry or slightly damp from sweat. The only significant complaint I have is the size. This touchpad is so much larger than most of the touchpads that I use that I end up clicking the bottom edge of the touchpad instead of the actual buttons. If you like big touchpads you will love the touchpad on the Aspire 8940G. The touchpad buttons are the same width as the touchpad surface and have a very short throw. Each button gives off a higher pitched clicking sound when you press down. Acer also includes a button to disable the touchpad to prevent accidental movement when using an external mouse. This button is located to the right side of the touchpad and lights up when activated. <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />The port selection on the Acer Aspire 8940G is phenomenal. Acer gives you four dedicated USB ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, Firewire 400, VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, LAN, and audio jacks including digital audio out. To load pictures from a digital camera, there is a flush-mount SDHC-card slot on the front side of the notebook.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47953" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47954.jpg" border="0" height="64" width="250" /></a><br />Front: SDHC-card slot</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47957" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47958.jpg" border="0" height="65" width="250" /></a><br />Rear: Exhaust vent and Tuba CineBass Booster</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47955" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47956.jpg" border="0" height="90" width="250" /></a><br />Left: AC-power, LAN, VGA, DisplayPort, HDMI, eSATA/USB Combo, one USB, FireWire, Audio jacks, ExpressCard/54</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47951" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47952.jpg" border="0" height="101" width="250" /></a><br />Right: Two USB, BLu-ray drive, one USB, Kensongton lock slot</p> <p> </p><table align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47963" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47964.jpg" border="0" height="228" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> On the left and right side of the keyboard there are touch-sensitive control keys. The left side has three buttons including one for Wi-Fi On/Off, one for Bluetooth On/Off, and another to access the Acer Backup Manager. The right side offers media quick-access keys including a Media Center button, hold button, skip, play/pause, stop, and fast forward controls, and a switch to enable or disable the touch sensitive buttons. The volume control is a metal rotating dial that gives a slightly more precise method to adjust the volume than a touch-sensitive slider.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br />The Asipre 8940G performs very well in games as well as playing high-definition video. The Intel Core i7 processor didn't even work up a sweat while we pushed 720P and 1080P video its way. While it is pretty sure this system would have no problem playing Blu-ray movies, we were unable to test playback since Acer didn't include software to decode Blu-ray movies. <i>PowerDVD</i> or another equivalent software package is usually included with systems that offer Blu-ray drives as an option, but we guess Acer wanted to save on the cost of licensing fees and left this up to the customer. The NVIDIA GTS 250M graphics handled <i>Left 4 Dead</i> at 1920x1080 resolution with high detail settings very well. Playing with multiple zombies on the screen framerates still stayed above 30FPS with the average being in the lower 40s. If the detail settings were tweaked slightly or the resolution was lowered to 1280x768, I don't see any reason why you couldn't get framerates above 60FPS.</p> <p><i>Wprime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47991.png" border="0" height="190" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47990.png" border="0" height="190" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):<br /><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47989.png" border="0" height="190" width="520" /><br /></i></p> <p><i>HDTune storage drive performance test:<br /><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47983" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47984.jpg" border="0" height="186" width="250" /></a></i></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br />The Acer Aspire 8940G maintains very good temperatures even though it has an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GTS 250M graphics card. Heat coming through the palmrest and keyboard is minimal while running stressful benchmarks and games. The only hotspot worth noting on the top of the system is near the left side of the touchpad, which crept up to 91 degrees Fahrenheit after stressing the CPU and graphics card for more than 30 minutes. Fan noise is very tolerable when the system is performing run-of-the-mill activities. If the processor and graphics card utilization is low the fan is either off or spinning very slow. While gaming the fan throttled between its slower and faster speeds, neither of which was louder than most notebooks.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47987" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47988.jpg" border="0" height="155" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=47985" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/47986.jpg" border="0" height="171" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery Life</b><br />Battery life is never the strength of large notebooks, even more so when you combine the large screen with a powerful processor and dedicated graphics card. The Acer 8940G stayed on for 3 hours and 10 minutes in our battery test with the screen brightness set to 70%, the power profile set to "balanced," and the wireless active. Power consumption varied between 18 and 24 watts during the test.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br />The Acer Aspire 8940G is a well built and good looking multimedia notebook that can also game. The sound system is great if you can get past the weaker volume levels. The spacious 18.4" display is great for sharing a movie in a small room; something that might be difficult with a 15" or 17" notebook. System performance is very good with the Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GTS 250M graphics ... although slightly less than true gaming notebooks. The biggest strength of the 8940G though is its $1,329 price, which is lower than any other Core i7 system currently on the market.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Huge touchpad</li><li>Comfortable backlit keyboard</li><li>Beautiful display</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Knee breaking 9lbs 5.5oz</li><li>No Blu-ray software</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-33938650106601464672010-01-30T13:11:00.000-08:002010-01-30T13:13:48.855-08:00Apple Mac Book<div style="text-align: justify;">by Perry Longinotti<br /><br />We are in a post-PC era. Our computers are lifestyle devices and many folks want them to express something other than just their ability to browse the web or create documents. The question is, How do we measure the non-technical appeal of a notebook? In a lot of ways the traditional methods of determining value are obsolete because today's desirable computers are more than the sum of their parts. This "non-technical appeal" may be vital to some people, and superfluous to others. Somewhere in the middle of that spectrum are folks who think computers should be nicely designed with solid features while still representing good value. This brings us to the latest update to the Apple MacBook.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>As I examine the MacBook, let's start with the easy stuff and save the value proposition and judgment for later. My <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=798" target="_blank">MacBook</a> is the base model. Vital statistics are as follows:</p> <ul><li>Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 2.0GHz CPU with 25 Watt TDP</li><li>NVIDIA GeForce 9400m IGP with shared memory</li><li>13" WXGA High-Definition Display With 1280 x 800 Resolution</li><li>160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)</li><li>2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 System Memory (dual channel mode)</li><li>Superdrive 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support</li></ul> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Apple makes the best packaging in the business. In this case, the box is hardly larger than the diminutive notebook itself. Despite Apple's attempts to please Green Peace by making environmentally responsible products, there is a lot of plastic in the box. Specifically the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=798" target="_blank">MacBook</a> is cradled in black polystyrene or plastic.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39395" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39396.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></p> <p>According to online recycling websites this form of plastic has 'long been on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.' There is a fair bit of Mylar used to protect the surface finish of the MacBook and its power adapter. Although most owners will keep the boxes and possibly the packing materials, coming up with fully biodegradable packaging might be a nice way for Apple to think different.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39389" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39390.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></p> <p>I have seen really nice cardboard and paper based packing materials used by Toshiba. Maybe Apple should follow their lead. After all, I think you can get black cardboard.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39381" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39382.jpg" border="0" height="253" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b></p> <p>The notebook itself is constructed of aluminum and glass. The case is a unibody that seems to be machined from a solid piece of billet aluminum. The finish is quite good, and appears to have been anodized to prevent the pitting that afflicted the first generation aluminum PowerBook. Apple has made a notebook that is creak free when carrying it around - this is very rigid and feels like it will still be going strong long after it is obsolete. For reference, I am typing this review on a Dell Latitude E6400, itself made from Magnesium alloy, and the MacBook feels much more robust. The best way to describe is that when you hold it, the MacBook feels as though it is one single solid piece of metal with no seams.</p> <p> </p><table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39383" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39384.jpg" border="0" height="83" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39391" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39392.jpg" border="0" height="105" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39413" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39414.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39393" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39394.jpg" border="0" height="182" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The gray body and black keyboard recalls the Titanium PowerBook. But handling it, the MacBook possesses a solid construction that the TiBook never did - very confidence inspiring. Rather than a LCD latch mechanism the MacBook uses a magnetic latch. Hinge tension is perfect and the assembly appears to be very robust.</p> <p>LED back lighting makes it possible to produce a very thin cover. MacBook's 13" display is one of the brightest I have seen on a small notebook. At the second lowest brightness setting the screen was quite usable in a dark setting, but most people will probably settle on 50%. It uses a very glossy glass screen which is compensated for by the bright LED back light. Glass may sound fragile, but Apple uses a tempered variety here and on the iPhone that seems quite durable in my experience. There is a subtle rubber gasket lining the screen's perimeter that prevents accidental screen slams and broken glass.</p> <p>For a screen this size, the MacBook's 1280x800 is a good resolution. Text size and the amount of usable screen real estate are decent. If you plan on doing any video or photo work an external monitor will be a good idea. Viewing angles are good horizontally and poor vertically – this is what I have come to expect from consumer notebooks.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39387" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39388.jpg" border="0" height="152" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Pressing fingers firmly against the back did not cause ripples in the LCD display. Above the display is the iSight webcam its microphone is above the keyboard.</p> <p>Apple has employed the thin metal keyboard design that debuted with the new iMac. Key travel is short and the action is quiet. The MacBook's keyboard is reassuringly mush-free. The flat key shape may take a little while to get use to but over-all it is a joy to use. It's lonely at the top for Apple, Lenovo and Dell when it comes to excellence in keyboards. I'll never understand why it is that after so many years other PC makers just can't seem to get this right.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39411" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39412.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></p> <p>A new touch pad design is incorporated into the MacBook. I have always found Apple's touch pads to be among the best, but here Apple is taking things to a new level. First, they have made it even bigger – which makes a lot of sense paired with the ubiquitous 16:10 or 16:9 LCD screens. In order to reduce accidental mouse clicks while typing, Apple has designed the pad to act as a mouse button across the entirety of its surface.</p> <p>You also get support for more touch gestures when using the pad. You can rotate pictures, increase/decrease zoom and even change the screen magnification with the touch pad. Apple's control panel offers video demonstration of the actions making it very easy to learn how to fully exploit the new features. This is the sort of well thought out enhancement Apple is known for. The number one item I miss when using a Windows PC is the Apple touch pad.</p> <p>In terms of human/computer interface the MacBook is close to perfect - screen, keyboard and touch pad are terrific. A matte screen option would make it perfect, that way people could order their preference rather than glossy or bust.</p> <p>In terms of size, the MacBook is tough to beat if a small notebook is what you need. Dimensions are: height 2.41 cm (0.95 inch), width 32.5 cm (12.78 inches), depth 22.7 cm (8.94 inches) and weight of 2.04 kg (4.5 pounds). Its 60 Watt power adapter is tiny and adds about half a pound to the travel weight. MacBook uses Apple's Mag Safe connector. This innovation eliminates a few risks from notebooks; for example a sudden yank of the cord releases the magnetic connector before the notebook is pulled off the table.</p> <p><b>First Boot</b></p> <p>This is another area where PC makers could learn from Apple. OS X Leopard's into movie is simple yet slick and 4-6 screens of info is all that is need to get up and running. If you are already a registered Apple user, simply type in your credentials and the notebook will retrieve all your info from Apple. And finally, if you still have data on your old Mac, OS X can automatically transfer your accounts, personal data and settings to your new Mac. In short, you will be using your new Mac quickly. Windows still has a long way to go in this department.</p> <p>Apple computers are junk ware free - even the trails of Office and iWork that used to be part of the standard install are gone. Apple's iLife suite is included – iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb and Garageband. The photo and video tools are really only matched on the Windows side by Adobe's excellent Elements bundle (which is more powerful and also a bit more complex to learn). Your garden variety PC does not come with tools this good. Garageband is cool, but other than playing with NIN's sample tracks (free download – registration required).</p> <p>Restore and recovery software is included and one of the disc functions as the driver disk for Windows if you decide to install it. The ability to do so is fully supported by Apple and is administered within OS X via Boot Camp. Installing a non OEM edition of Vista on the MacBook took much less time than on any of my other computers due to the narrowly defined hardware components in Macs and the included driver disk (all drivers install from a single executable).</p> <p><b>Technical Specs</b></p> <p>The MacBook's CPU is common in this price range; Intel's Core 2 Duo P7350 CPU. This is a Penryn-3M medium voltage chip. What does this mean?</p> <ul><li>It's made using 45 nm process making it smaller and cooler running</li><li>It has 3 MB of level two cache versus 2 MB in last year's value processors</li><li>Benefiting from the Penryn architectural advancements makes it about 15% faster than last year's Merom-based budget CPUs clock for clock</li><li>The latest front side bus speed of 1066 MHz</li><li>Medium voltage means that it consumes less power, improving battery life</li><li>Miserly power consumption produces less heat, about 25% less than last year</li></ul> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Less heat? Now you have my attention. As a previous owner of both Core Duo and Core 2 Duo MacBooks (both of which were sold due to heat issues) any technology that can make Apple's notebooks cooler to the touch is appreciated. We'll take a look at heat in a minute.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39423" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39424.jpg" border="0" height="278" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Next up is the chipset; MacBook uses NVIDIA's 9400m G chipset (nForce 730i). This is a core logic chipset that incorporates integrated graphics (IGP). Before we get to the video system, let's look at the basic features. As a Centrino 2 alternative it features many of the same characteristics; faster Front Side Bus (FSB) speed of 1066 MHz with matching DDR3 which is both faster and uses lower voltage. Unlike Intel, NVIDIA packages all on the chipset's features into a single small chip – it uses space more efficiently.</p> <p>Apple offers the base MacBook with only 2 GB of this newer faster RAM. Upgrading to a more sensible amount such as 4 GB is going to be an expensive proposition because both of the MacBook's slots come from the factory occupied by 1 GB SO-DIMMs. With 4 GB becoming the new standard and even budget notebooks coming with 3 GB, it will be hard to get sell two 1 GB sticks of DDR3 RAM to anyone.</p> <p>NVIDIA's GeForce 9400m video system is one of the faster integrated solutions along with the AMD RADEON Mobility 3200. However, this only gets it to the ankle level of powerful mobile GPUs. Apple and NVIDIA each claim that this solution is 5x as powerful as Intel's latest. Apple describes the chip as having 256 MB of dedicated shared memory – very misleading. As an IGP it uses 256 MB of system memory leaving you with approximately 1750 MB free to run programs.</p> <p>Video playback was good, but that could just be the CPU doing its job. Encoding in iMovie did not appear to be much faster than previous Core 2 Duo Macs – GPU acceleration makes a big difference, so if it was on we would know. Whether future software updates enable PureVideo acceleration, CUDA and PhysX remains to be seen. Hopefully you won’t have to upgrade to 10.6 to see benefits.</p> <p>Onwards, to the storage system; Hitachi's MHZ2320BH G1 160 GB HDD has a spindle speed of 5400 rpm, 8 MB buffer and SATA-II 3.0 Gb/s interface. This is an OK performer but the size is a disappointment. Even basic notebooks come with 320 GB now – that is twice as much space as what Apple provides.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39419" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39420.jpg" border="0" height="201" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Optical recording is robust and the Panasonic UJ868A covers all but the most exotic formats (CD-R 24x, CD-RW 4x, DVD-R 8x, DVD-R DL 4x, DVD-RW 4x, DVD+R 8x, DVD+R DL 4x DVD+RW 4x, DVD-RAM 5x). This is a slot loading model so it spares you the wimpy cheap feel of normal tray loading notebook optical drives.</p> <p>Blu-Ray reading combo drives are becoming common in this price range. This rounds-out my disappointment with the MacBook's storage system. RAM, HDD or optical - none of the storage specs are in-line with this notebook's price.</p> <p>Networking is handled by a Marvell Gigabyte LAN. No useless 56k modem here.</p> <p>Wireless networking capabilities are powered by Broadcom's Atheros 802.11n Wi-Fi chip. I expected to find Intel's latest 5100 series chip in Apple's notebook. Apart from the CPU, there is very little Intel inside this notebook.</p> <p>Realtek provides the HD Audio Codec along with autosensing jacks that seem to work a little better than those of the previous MacBook which were known to get stuck on digital out mode from time to time.</p> <p>Port layout on the MacBook is sparse; you get two USB 2.0, microphone, headphone, Ethernet and <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3042" target="_blank">Kensington Lock</a> ports. Looking at the MacBook's case and design, I don't know if Apple could have fit anymore ports on this notebook. It's your call whether this is enough, I seldom need this many.</p> <p><b>OS X Performance</b></p> <p>Apple's OS seems to do a better job handling memory than Vista. Immediately after booting the amount of RAM used is 327 MB. This figure is amazing. Not only does Apple produce an Operating system that is light years more polished than Windows Vista, but it actually uses half as much RAM.</p> <p>This efficiency means that the MacBook never really struggles when in its native OS. Multitasking with the included applications is a pleasant experience that is lag free. The Xbench score is 119.01 which is 20-25% faster than the first generation MacBook Pro.</p> <p>Battery life is exceptional in OS X. Apple advertises five hours of use. With brightness set at 50% the MacBook scored the following:</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39421" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39422.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="250" /></a></p> <p>The surfing test is demanding, I spent about 25% of the time streaming video from YouTube. Simple word processing or reading tasks will stretch the life a bit further.</p> <p><b>Vista Performance</b></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>If you install Vista you get a peppy little notebook that only struggles when there are lots of applications open. On first boot, without virus scan installed, 577 MB of MacBook’s memory is used. This is almost double what is used for the arguably superior Mac OS X.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39427" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39428.jpg" border="0" height="186" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Boot Camp offers a single control panel for configuring Apple's hardware. I had some issues with the track pad working properly in Vista. Specifically I could not get the mouse button to stay 'clicked' when click dragging to make a selection. The right click never registered either. Eventually I gave up and attached a mouse.</p> <p>The default driver package includes the NVIDIA 176.44 driver. For newer games like Far Cry 2 you will need to update to the latest set. I used Dox's 180.70 optimized driver set (probably the finest modified driver available at the time of testing).</p> <p>First the synthetic results - the MacBook scores 3,965 in PCMark05 and 2,088 points in 3DMark06. This puts it close to some of the discrete GPU solutions present in notebooks. The MacBook will be slightly faster than notebooks equipped with RADEON 2400 or GeForce 8400m GPUs and approximately the same performance as units with the RADEON 3450 and GeForce 9300m. For perspective, this is half as fast as mainstream dedicated video solutions such as the GeForce 9600m found in Acer and HP notebooks at this price point and one quarter of the performance of a 9800m GPU that can be found in Asus and Gateway gaming notebooks in the price range. Different strokes for different folks, but if gaming is important to you make sure you weigh your options carefully before buying.</p> <p>Running games like Far Cry 2, Crysis Warhead, Fallout 3 and Call of Duty 4 on the MacBook might seem silly, but for all their visual splendor these games can scale down to pretty low settings. This makes them look a bit older but the game play is mostly unchanged.</p> <p>Of these games, all except Crysis Warhead ran nicely. Call of Duty 4 ran very well and could probably have some of the detail turned back up (which bodes well for Call of Duty 5). Fallout 3 is eminently playable – so Oblivion should run great. Far Cry was a left less margin for error, but on minimum settings it looks very good.</p> <p>Here are the numbers:</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39377" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39378.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="250" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39417" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39418.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="250" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39415" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39416.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="250" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39379" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39380.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="250" /></a></p> <p>If you can live with a few visual compromises, you will be happy with the gaming performance of the MacBook. I have to point out, that similar priced notebooks can allow you to play this games and medium settings (Acer 6935G) or high settings (ASUS G50vt-X1). Clearly with numbers like these the MacBook will be able to run World of Warcraft and similar games quite well. For many people that will be enough.</p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p>All this video game playing would normally create some serious heat, and with Apple notebooks that is a worry. In a quest to make quiet computers, it has been my observation that Apple sacrifices fan speed (which usually equal more decibels) at the expense of increased heat. This new MacBook is vastly improved.</p> <p>Maximum temperature after running benchmarks was recorded at the rear vent at 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). This is warm, but it will not sear your skin. Fan noise is bearable and the cooling system tends to kick in early to keep temperatures in check. The following images illustrate temperature captures:</p> <p>Vista battery life is very different than OS X.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=39425" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/39426.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="250" /></a></p> <p>As you can see, without Apple’s software wizardry the MacBook struggles to attain decent battery life.</p> <p>Wi-Fi performance is very good in Vista and in OS X. The number of networks visible to the MacBook and my Dell are the same. I found that the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=798" target="_blank">MacBook</a> could keep a strong fast signal throughout my home.</p> <p>Audio performance is also really good. For such a small notebook I was surprised by the speakers on the MacBook. They easily outclass the speakers on my Dell E6400.</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b></p> <p>In terms of design, this notebook is the class of the field. Not only does it look nice, but the materials are top notch and Apple’s thoughtful touches such as the MacBook’s innovative touch pad give it a good balance of form and function. If everything else was equal, or at least close to equal, a recommendation to buy this notebook would be easy to make.</p> <p>Performance is acceptable. This is certainly a step up from the previous generation MacBook, but it falls short of many notebooks in the same price range. Frankly, the old MacBook was always a disappointment with its weak IGP and temperature problems when pushed through even medium intensity tasks.</p> <p>Bang for the buck is a letdown. I don’t know how much that pretty shell cost, but it left very little for internal components. Apple skimps on RAM and HDD space, and you are paying a premium for an IGP platform that will be in $600 notebooks soon – just like the comparable AMD RADEON 3200 IGP.</p> <p>The main advantage of this notebook, and all Apple computers, is the OS. Running Vista, this notebook is no faster than $600 budget model. But the efficiency of OS X wrings more from the MacBook’s modest internals.</p> <p>Another major advantage is the software bundle. iLife 08 is great and certainly worth its $80 price tag, but with a new Mac you get it free of charge.</p> <p>In summary, this is a great little notebook that I feel is priced too high. Maybe the high price is to control demand, is Apple worried that they won’t be able to build enough of these things if they were priced appropriately? What is an appropriate price? I think its $999 as reviewed here. That is a $400 premium over similarly spec’ed rivals made of plastic and hobbled by Vista and bloat ware.</p> <p>Keeping the old plastic MacBook model in the lineup as an olive branch to the value conscious is strange. Its $999 price point acknowledges the unrealistic entry price of the new MacBook, but in and of itself is no bargain either. It’s hard to imagine that in the current economic climate that Apple won’t introduce something to compete with netbooks and entry level machines from Acer and Dell (which are often much better than their prices imply). Maybe this January holds the answer.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Solid construction</li><li>Impressive industrial design</li><li>Awesome touch pad</li><li>Excellent keyboard</li><li>Centrino 2 processor</li><li>NVIDIA 9400m</li></ul> </span></span></p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Price – it is $200-300 overpriced in my opinion</li><li>2GB RAM is low by today's standards</li><li>160GB HDD is low by today's standards</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-77749903040352096702010-01-30T12:58:00.000-08:002010-01-30T13:01:36.881-08:00Apple 13-inch Mac Book Pro<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>by Kevin O'Brien</i></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The new <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1440&pid=244133">13-inch Apple MacBook Pro</a> brings a lot of new features to the table from the previous generation. Users now get a large battery that gives pretty amazing life, a better display, faster processor, FireWire, SD-card slot, and best of all a lower starting price. Getting more for less seems to be the trend during this slow economy, so is there any reason not to buy the new 13" MacBook Pro? Read our full review to find out.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>13-inch <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2906" target="_blank">Apple MacBook Pro</a> Specifications:</b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mac OS X v10.5.7 (9J3032) </li><li>Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz (3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz frontside bus)</li><li>2GB 1067MHz DDR3 SDRAM</li><li>160GB 5400rpm SATA hard disk drive</li><li>13.3" glossy widescreen TFT LED backlit display (1280 x 800)</li><li>NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics (256MB of DDR3 shared memory)</li><li>8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)</li><li>iSight webcam</li><li>AirPort Extreme WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n)</li><li>Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)</li><li>Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports (480Mbps), FireWire 800, Audio out and microphone in, SD-Card reader</li><li>Dimensions : 0.95" x 12.78" x 8.94" (H x W x D) </li><li>Weight: 4.51 pounds </li><li>Integrated 58-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery</li><li>60W MagSafe power adapter with cable management system</li><li>MSRP: $1,199</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44268" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44269.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Build and Design</b><br />The <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1440&pid=244133">13.3" MacBook Pro</a> is very sleek and classy, which is what we have come to expect from Apple. The design is sharp with the unibody chassis showing no panel lines or breaks except on the bottom for the huge panel that covers the internals. Apple gives us a very simple interface with little clutter (and ports) turning what is usually a mindless appliance into a work of art. To further simplify the design they switched to an internal battery for this model, instead of having a cover and release bar like in the previous revision.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44252" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44253.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Build quality is excellent thanks to the very strong and rigid unibody chassis that is machined out a solid block of aluminum. Unless you were going to clamp the MacBook Pro in a vise and try to bend it, you can't really find any flex anywhere on the main half of the notebook. The screen cover does flex slightly under strong pressure, but with something that thin it was expected. Without any plastic panels, except at the screen hinge, there are no parts to squeak or creak under normal use. Outside of a few rugged models I can't think of a single notebook that has a stronger chassis than the unibody MacBooks.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44298" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44299.jpg" border="0" height="173" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44300" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44301.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Normally simple upgrades such as swapping in a faster hard drive or upgrading the system memory (or changing the battery) take a few additional steps on the new 13.3" Macbook Pro. To access user-serviceable components you must buy a precision Phillips head screwdriver, and remove 10 screws around the perimeter of the notebook. With the cover off you get access to the battery, hard drive, optical drive, and tightly stacked system memory. Once you overcome the fear of ripping off the bottom of your new shiny MacBook Pro, upgrading the components isn't that bad. The only problem that might come up is going against the recommended advice from Apple to not disconnect the main battery when swapping out components. Usually you want to unplug AC and the battery from notebooks before you change the RAM or hard drive to prevent damage.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44288" target="_blank"> </a> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44264" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44265.jpg" border="0" height="173" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44288" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44289.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="179" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />The screen on the MacBook Pro is average compared to other glossy panels, and has the downside of having the highly reflective glass layer over the LCD. This increases the amount of reflection from other objects, including you sitting right in front of the notebook. While you do adjust to it after a while, it can still be annoying. Pictures and movies look great thanks to the glossy surface and a healthy 60% bump in color gamut over the previous generation MacBook, which gives vibrant colors and deep blacks. Overall brightness is excellent for viewing in brightly lit rooms like in an office building or lecture hall. If you were able to find a spot of shade you could also use it outdoors as long as you find a strategic position away from any glare. Viewing angles are average for a TN-panel LCD, with colors starting to show signs of inversion when titled 20-25 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles are much better, with colors staying accurate at steep angles, right up until the point where reflections overpower screen.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44278" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44279.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44284" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44285.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44280" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44281.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44282" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44283.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The speakers sound weak compared to other notebooks, with little bass or midrange sound. The enclosed position of the speakers doesn't help with stereo separation, so it ends up sounding like one mono speaker. For enjoying some iTunes music or watching a movie headphones are the best option. The MacBook Pro also supports digital audio out through the headphone jack, so hooking it up to a stereo for surround sound is another option you could go with.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br />The 13" MacBook Pro offers a full-size Chiclet-style <a href="http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=473" target="_blank">Keyboard</a> that is fully backlit for typing where overhead light might not be the best. While <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=1434" target="_blank">Sony</a> originally created this style of keyboard, I think Apple really perfected it and made the better version. The keyboard is comfortable to type on and easy to transition to if you are used to typing on a standard notebook <a href="http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=473" target="_blank">Keyboard</a> with tighter key spacing. Individual key action is smooth with less than average pressure required to activate each key. Key noise is low, with a smooth almost-muted click when pressed. If you enjoy stealth typing, look no further. The backlight is nice even when your room isn't completely dark. If you are not used to an Apple keyboard, it makes it easier to spot keys since everything is lit up. The backlight is also fully adjustable, to be brighter when the room is brighter, and dimmer when you don't need the keys blindingly-bright in a pitch black room.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44266" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44267.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44286" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44287.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">One trade-off to the shape of the unibody MacBook Pro is the sharp edges around the perimeter. The palmrest on most notebooks have a slightly rounded or sloped edge for the front of the palmrest, whereas the MacBook Pro is a perfectly flat surface with a sharp edge. If you normally hang your wrists off the edge like I do, one thing you notice over time is the edge digging into your wrist. If you have small hands this might not be a big deal, but for someone like me it gets painful quick. This is just another example of form having a higher priority than function.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44274" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44275.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The touchpad is a large multi-touch surface with no separate touchpad buttons. The clicking action is through a clicker button under the touchpad, which allows the entire surface to "click". If you are used to other touchpads, it takes a while to get used clicking the surface itself, instead of a button below it. In OS X the touchpad sensitivity is excellent, offering no lag on the default sensitivity settings. Contrast this with Windows, where the driver support doesn't give you the same fluid experience. Movement is choppy and over-sensitive, where the cursor will sometimes release an object mid-drag or take many tries to double click. Another problem we ran into is the touchpad sometimes detected a slight increase in fingertip pressure as a double click, opening applications when moving over a list in the start menu. None of these problems happened within OS X. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ports and Features</b><br />The new 13" MacBook Pro offers two USB ports, one mini-DisplayPort, LAN, and the return of FireWire 800. While eSATA is generally the best when it comes to fast external storage, more Mac-targeted <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=11484" target="_blank">Storage</a> devices offer FireWire from the long standing Apple support of the standard. The Macbook Pro also offers a headphone jack and a new SD-card slot, bringing it to the same level that most PC's have been at for a number of years.<br />The most notable feature on the MacBook Pro is a handy battery gauge mounted on the side of the notebook. Pressing the button lights up a number of eight LED's showing the current charge level of the battery. This is a handy feature if you are thinking about grabbing the computer before you head out the door without an AC adapter ... just in case the battery is actually dead.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44260" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44261.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="82" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44262" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44263.jpg" border="0" height="80" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44256" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44257.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="108" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44254" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44255.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="119" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44258" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44259.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro 13" border="0" height="120" width="250" /></a></td> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt">System performance is excellent, even with the NVIDIA 9400M integrated graphics. While most Intel integrated graphics options have greatly reduced performance compared to dedicated options, NVIDIA has broken that trend with the 9400M. With an average 3DMark06 score of more than 2,100 3DMarks, it is comparable to low-end dedicated options and can handle previous generation games with some tweaking of the resolution and detail settings. In our test of the game <i>Portal</i>, the 13" MacBook Pro delivered 38-42 frames per second (FPS) at 1280x800 resolution on high settings looking through a single portal. Looking through no portals the framerate would be as high as 55FPS, and if you were looking through two it would drop down to about 22-23FPS. </span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44250" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44251.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a></p> <p>Outside of gaming performance the system handled 720P and 1080P HD movie decoding with ease, perfect for a home theatre hub with a mini-DisplayPort to HDMI adapter. While we didn't see any significant slowdowns related to the 5400rpm hard drive in our review model, upgrading to a 7200rpm drive would decrease boot and application load times. Battery impact should be minimal, but you will probably see a drop of 15-30 minutes. One interesting hard drive related quirk we noticed with the new MacBook Pro was the drive was working on SATA-150 mode only. Some of our forum members are experiencing this problem as well, which you start to see after you upgrade to a fast <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/resource/ssd/" target="_blank">SSD</a> that is capable of pushing more than 150MB/s. It is too early to say if this is a hardware or software bug, but we are leaning towards a software problem.</p> <p><i>XBench 1.3 summary results:</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Model </b></td> <td><b>Overall Score</b></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>MacBook Pro 13 (2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)</b></td> <td><b>135.52</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>MacBook 2008 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)</td> <td>126.23</td> </tr> <tr> <td>MacBook Pro (2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)</td> <td>106.05</td> </tr> <tr> <td>MacBook (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)</td> <td>95.89</td> </tr> <tr> <td>MacBook Air (1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)</td> <td>50.76</td> </tr> <tr> <td>PowerBook G3 Pismo (500MHz G3)</td> <td>18.47</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook / CPU</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>wPrime 32M time</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv4t (Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 2.8GHz)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> <td>26.972 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Studio XPS 13 (Core 2 Duo P8600 @ 2.4GHz)</td> <td>31.951 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Apple MacBook Pro 13 (Core 2 Duo P8400 @ 2.26GHz)</b></td> <td><b>34.209 seconds</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Satellite U405 (Core 2 Duo T8100 @ 2.1GHz)</td> <td>37.500 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv3510nr (Core 2 Duo P7350 @ 2.0GHz)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> <td>38.656 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Inspiron 13 (Pentium Dual Core T2390 @ 1.86GHz)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> <td>44.664 seconds</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Notebook</b></td> <td><b>PCMark05 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv4t (2.8GHz Intel T9600, Nvidia 9200M GS 256MB)</td> <td>5,463 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Studio XPS 13 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia 9500M GE 256MB)</td> <td>5,450 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv3510nr (2.0GHz Intel P7350, Nvidia 9300M GS 512MB)</td> <td>4,920 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad X301 (1.6GHz Intel SU9400, Intel 4500MHD)</td> <td>4,457 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Satellite U405 (2.1GHz Intel T8100, Intel X3100)</td> <td>4,145 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2.26GHz Intel P8400, Nvidia 9400M)</b></td> <td><b>4,136 PCMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Inspiron 13 (1.86GHz Intel T2390, Intel X3100)</td> <td>3,727 PCMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>3DMark06 graphics comparison against notebooks @ 1280 x 800 resolution (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>3DMark06 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Dell Studio XPS 13 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia 9500M GE 256MB, Hybrid SLI)</span></td> <td>3,542 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2.26GHz Intel P8400, Nvidia 9400M)</b></td> <td><b>2,139 3DMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Dell Studio XPS 13 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia 9500M GE 256MB, Integrated)</span></td> <td>2,090 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv3510nr (2.0GHz Intel P7350, Nvidia 9300M GS 512MB)</td> <td>1,865 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lenovo ThinkPad X301 (1.6GHz Intel SU9400, Intel 4500MHD)</td> <td>712 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Toshiba Satellite U405 (2.1GHz Intel T8100, Intel X3100)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> <td>539 3DMarks</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Apple <a href="http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=1083" target="_blank">MacBook Air</a> (1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7500, Intel X3100)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> <td>502 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Inspiron 13 (1.86GHz Intel T2390, Intel X3100)</td> <td>470 3DMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>HDTune for the built-in hard drive:</i></p></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44248" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44249.jpg" alt="apple macbook pro" border="0" height="200" width="250" /></a></i></p> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b></p></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Heat output is always a touchy subject when it comes to the newer aluminum-body Apple notebooks. When under stress the entire system acts as one huge heatsink, making it very unfriendly for your lap in those conditions. Under normal daily activity the MacBook Pro stays relatively cool, shedding heat into the air quite well, keeping the body cool to the touch. Fan noise under these conditions is non-existent. One situation that warmed up the notebook considerably was installing <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=1710" target="_blank">Windows</a> Vista through BootCamp. The back section of the notebook, bottom, and keyboard had recorded temperatures as high as 115F. Unlike warm plastic, the aluminum body was quick to transmit this excess heat to your hands or legs making things quite unpleasant. Thankfully it was only during the installation that we saw temperatures get that high, but if you were gaming for a few hours or encoding lots of video you might experience the same thing. Below are two temperature readings taken from the 13" MacBook Pro during our tests. One shows how hot it can get while running <i>Portal</i> for 20 minutes, and the other shows what it is like under normal non-stressful conditions.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44296" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44297.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><i>External temperatures after light use</i></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44292" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44293.jpg" border="0" height="173" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><i>External temperatures after light use</i></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44294" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44295.jpg" border="0" height="187" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><i>External temperatures after heavy use</i></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44290" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44291.jpg" border="0" height="173" width="250" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><i>External temperatures after heavy use</i></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery</b></p></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Battery life was excellent ... even when running Windows Vista where MacBooks tend to have less-than-impressive battery life. The 58Wh battery is similar in capacity to most 6-cell batteries, but the times we saw were in line with notebooks having larger 9-cell extended batteries. In OS X with the backlight set to about 70%, wireless active, and the hard drive set to never turn off we found the 13" MacBook Pro to last 7 hours and 59 minutes. With the same testing conditions in Bootcamp, the MacBook Pro stayed on for 5 hours and 1 minute, still respectable for a 13" notebook, but far from optimal. Apple driver support inside <a href="http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=1710" target="_blank">Windows</a> leaves much to be desired--making the notebook consume far more power than it should. It appeared the lower power states of the processor were disabled, keeping system power consumption between 12-13 watts for the length of the test. Another problem that kept recurring is the keyboard backlight wouldn't stay off. Under OS X you can completely turn off the backlight, but in Windows it is forced into automatic mode. You can't adjust the brightness of the keyboard until the computer detects less-than-optimal lighting conditions, then when you do it completely forgets the setting minutes later when another shadow is cast over the keyboard. Bottom line is if you want longer battery life for the MacBook Pro, keep using OS X unless Apple corrects this problem with an update.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b></p></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The new <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1440&pid=244133">13-inch MacBook Pro</a> has many strengths that make it a good notebook you should consider buying. It gets excellent battery life while running OS X, it can game on integrated graphics, its screen looks excellent, and it has fantastic build quality. With that said its all-aluminum design causes heat to be quickly transmitting into your skin acting as a huge heatsink, driver support inside Windows isn't the best, and the sharp edges of the palmrest can be painful to lean your wrists across. For its intended market most people won't care about the Window's driver problems and the substantial increase in battery life from the previous model is worth the internal battery. Overall if you can get past some of its design quirks it is a great notebook with a feature set that is hard to beat.</p> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Excellent battery life</li><li>Screen has excellent color and contrast</li><li>Great build quality</li><li>SD-card slot!</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>When the system is running hot you can really feel it</li><li>Good looks put in front of ergonomics</li><li>Poor Windows driver support</li><li>Hard drive is limited to SATA-150 speeds </li></ul></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-76692404805160957662010-01-30T12:47:00.000-08:002010-01-30T12:49:34.848-08:00AVA Direct D900F<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the main factors between notebook and desktop hardware has always been that desktops get the faster processors. Those processors put out more heat, consume more power, and are larger in size, which usually prevents installation into notebooks. The AVADirect D900F aims to change that, offering configurations that include the new Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition processor. Pair that with an NVIDIA 280M GTX graphics card, 6GB of DDR3 memory, and a 17" WUXGA display, and you get an extremely fast mobile workstation or gaming rig.</div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>AVADirect D900F Specifications:</p> <ul><li>Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit)</li><li>Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition Processor (3.33GHz, 8MB L2, 1066MHz FSB)</li><li>Intel X58 + ICH10R chipset</li><li>17.1" WUXGA Ultra Bright Glossy LCD display at 1920x1200</li><li>NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M 1GB GDDR3 memory</li><li>Intel 5300AGN Wireless</li><li>6GB DDR3-1333 SDRAM (2GB x 3)</li><li>30GB x 2 OCZ Vertex in RAID 0, 500GB Seagate 7400.4</li><li>DVD SuperMulti /BD-ROM</li><li>webcam, stereo speakers</li><li>220W (20V x 11A) 100-240V AC Adapter</li><li>12-cell 95Wh 14.4v 6600mAh Lithium Ion battery </li><li>Dimensions (WxDxH): 15.62" x 11.42" x 2" - 2.36"</li><li>Weight: 12lbs 0.1oz, 14lbs 15.6oz with AC adapter</li><li>1-Year Standard Limited Warranty</li><li>Price as configured: $3,900</li></ul> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44098" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44099.jpg" border="0" height="250" width="250" /></a></p> <p><b>Build and Design</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The AVADirect Clevo D900F appears at first glance to be a bit lacking compared to most notebooks on the market, with function being more important than form in the design phase. The look and feel seems dated compared to other notebooks on the market and the quality of the plastics seem underwelming for a notebook with such a high starting price. If this were any other notebook we might say there is no excuse for it, but then you realize it was designed to handle a desktop-class processor, high-end graphics card, and all of the cooling for that equipment.</div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44046" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44047.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="147" width="250" /></a></p> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The build quality of notebook is in the same category as the design; more emphasis was placed on performance than build quality and the end result is flexible plastic and a not-so-durable feeling chassis. The screen lid has some give to it, and the palmrest and keyboard could probably use some additional support. While the outside could use a face-lift the inside looks amazing. After you remove two access panels and the battery you have direct access to multiple heatsinks and cooling fans, the graphics card, processor, RAM slots, dual hard drive bay, and single additional drive bay. You can tell that most of the design went into cooling the notebook, most likely to prevent it from bursting into flames when the Intel Core i7 processor is under significant load.</p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44060" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44061.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="197" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44102" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44103.jpg" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a><br /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Screen and Speakers</b><br />For high-detail gaming the AVADirect Clevo D900F offers a 17.1" WUXGA (1920x1200) LCD, which in our testing turned out to be quite nice. At full brightness it is easy to view even in a brightly lit office, although with the glossy surface it might not hold up well to outdoor viewing. Vertical viewing angles are average compared to other WUXGA panels we have seen, with about 25 degrees of play forward or back before colors start to distort. Horizontal viewing angles are much better, with colors staying true to roughly 75 degrees to each side. Beyond that angle, reflections overpower the picture displayed on the screen. While gaming we didn't notice any sort of lag or streaking.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44062" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44063.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44068" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44069.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44066" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44067.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44064" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44065.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="166" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Speaker performance is weak compared to other large gaming notebooks, but this isn't unheard of on some high-end gaming notebooks that are running cramped on space. The speakers have little bass or midrange, sounding very tinny at higher volume levels. While the speakers might work well for a small dorm room, headphone or external speakers would be the most preferred option.</p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b>Keyboard and Touchpad</b><br /></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The keyboard on the D900F is a full-size model with number pad. Spacing is average compared to most notebook keyboards, with some slightly condensed function keys on the left side of the keyboard. Gamers will enjoy the proper control key position, in the far lower left-hand corner, instead of an Fn key. Support underneath the keyboard could be better as there is some slight give under harder typing pressure. Individual key action is smooth with only a mild, almost-muted click given off when pressed. While you might get away with stealth typing on the D900F in a classroom, the fan noise will definitely give you away.</div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44058" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44059.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="160" width="250" /></a></p> </span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>The touchpad is an appropriately sized Synaptics model, with a nice, mildly textured matte surface. It is snappy and responsive, with no lag noticed while gaming. Sensitivity is excellent, even with the default settings. The touchpad buttons are the shallow feedback kind, needing a solid positive press to activate. When pressed they give off a soft click sound, not that loud compared to the fan noise of the notebook while gaming.</p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b>Ports and Features</b><br />Considering the overall size of the D900F, we expected it to have a greater port selection. That being said, it rates about average compared to other gaming notebooks on the market. In total this notebook has four USB ports, one eSATA, HDMI, DVI, FireWire, TV, modem, LAN, and audio jacks. For expansion it offers an ExpressCard/54 slot and SDHC multi-card slot.</p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44054" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44055.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="123" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Front: Line-in, digital audio out, microphone, headphones</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44050" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44051.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="123" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Rear: AC power, DVI</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44052" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44053.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="123" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Left: HDMI, eSATA, CATV, modem, LAN, FireWire 400, ExpressCard/54, SDHC multi-card, optical drive</i></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44048" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44049.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f " border="0" height="123" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Right: Four USB, <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3042" target="_blank">Kensington Lock</a> slot.</i></p><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><b>Performance and Benchmarks</b><br /></span></span></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt">It is almost difficult to describe how fast this notebook is in normal operation. With the Intel Core i7 975 processor, 6GB of RAM, and OCZ Vertex drives in RAID 0, the Clevo D900F blasts through any task you can think of. Installing software happens abnormally fast, boot and shutdown times are very quick, and game load times are phenomenal. Going back to my ThinkPad T60 to type this review felt like I was transitioning to my parents' 10-year-old desktop. To give you an idea of how fast this processor is, the previous "fastest" notebook in our office was an <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4917">ASUS W90</a>, scoring 23.5 seconds in <i>wPrime</i> when overclocked to 3.3GHz. This system finishes <i>wPrime</i> in an amazing 7.2 seconds! PCMark05 also increased significantly, jumping nearly 6,000 points over the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4917">ASUS W90</a>. </span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><i>wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook / CPU</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>wPrime 32M time</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>AVADirect D900F (Core i7 975 @ 3.33GHz)</b></td> <td><b>7.206 seconds</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>ASUS W90Vp-X1 (Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 3.29GHz)</span></td> <td>23.494 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS N90SV-A2 (Core 2 Duo T9550 @ 2.66GHz)</td> <td>28.485 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1193" target="_blank">VAIO FW</a> (Core 2 Duo T9400 @ 2.53GHz)<b><br /></b></td> <td>30.373 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1190" target="_blank">Studio 17</a> (Core 2 Duo T9300 @ 2.50GHz)</td> <td>31.574 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Studio XPS 16 (Core 2 Duo P8600 @ 2.40GHz)</td> <td>31.827 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS F50SV-A2 (Core 2 Duo P8600 @ 2.40GHz)<br /></td> <td>31.857 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gateway P-7805u FX (Core 2 Duo P8400 @ 2.26GHz)</td> <td>34.287 seconds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv6z (AMD Athlon X2 QL-64 @ 2.10GHz)<b><br /></b></td> <td>38.519 seconds</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><b>Notebook</b></td> <td><b>PCMark05 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>AVADirect D900F (3.33GHz Core i7 975, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M 1GB</b><b>)</b></td> <td><b>14,971 PCMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><span>ASUS W90Vp-X1 (3.29GHz Intel T9600, Dual ATI Radeon Mobility 4870 1GB)</span></span></td> <td>9,056 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gateway P-7805u FX (2.26GHz Intel P8400, NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB)<br /></td> <td>6,637 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS N90SV-A2 (2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9550, NVIDIA GeForce GT 130M 1GB)</td> <td>6,464 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Studio XPS 16 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 512MB)<br /></td> <td>6,303 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS F50SV-A2 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia GeForce GT 120M 1GB)</td> <td>6,005 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony VAIO FW (2.53GHz Intel T9400, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470)<br /></td> <td>6,002 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell Studio 17 (2.50GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9300, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650)<br /></td> <td>5,982 PCMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv6z (2.10GHz AMD Athlon X2 QL-64, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4530 512MB)</td> <td>4,119 PCMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>3DMark06 graphics comparison against notebooks @ 1280 x 800 resolution (higher scores mean better performance):</i></p> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><b>Notebook</b></td> <td valign="top"><b>3DMark06 Score</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span><span>ASUS W90Vp-X1 (3.29GHz Intel T9600, Dual ATI Radeon Mobility 4870 1GB)</span></span></td> <td><span>15,628 3DMarks</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>AVADirect D900F (3.33GHz Core i7 975, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M 1GB</b><b>)</b></td> <td><b>14,824 3DMarks</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gateway P-7805u FX (2.26GHz Intel P8400, NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB)</td> <td>9,190 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS N90SV-A2 (2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9550, NVIDIA GeForce GT 130M 1GB)</td> <td>5,778 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS F50SV-A2 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia GeForce GT 120M 1GB)</td> <td>5,152 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span>Dell Studio XPS 16 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 512MB)<br /></span></td> <td>4,855 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>HP Pavilion dv6z (2.10GHz AMD Athlon X2 QL-64, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4530 512MB)</td> <td>3,254 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dell <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1190" target="_blank">Studio 17</a> (2.50GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9300, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650)</td> <td>2,974 3DMarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sony <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/price/product.asp?productFamilyID=1193" target="_blank">VAIO FW</a> (2.53GHz Intel T9400, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470)<br /></td> <td>2,598 3DMarks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><i>HDTune</i> had trouble reporting the full speed of the two OCZ SSDs in RAID 0, so we are also including <i>ATTO</i> to better show what these drives are capable of:<br /></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44092" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44093.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44090" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44091.jpg" border="0" height="319" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span></span></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p>Gaming performance was excellent, even without SLI or CrossFire graphics. For our review we ran <i>Call of Duty 5</i>, <i>Left 4 Dead</i>, <i>BioShock</i>, and <i>Crysis: Warhead</i>. We ran each game with high detail settings (Warhead on gamer mode), in both 1280x800 and 1920x1200 resolutions. <i>Call of Duty 5</i> played between 85 frames per second (FPS) and 90FPS depending on the amount of action on the screen at 1280x800 resolution, and slowed to 45-55FPS at 1920x1200. <i>Left 4 Dead</i> had much higher framerates, which had greater variance depending on the amount of action on screen. At 1280x800 resolution framerates varied between 200FPS and 240FPS. Switching to 1920x1200 resulted in varied speeds between 130FPS and 180FPS. <i>Bioshock</i> at 1280x800 showed speeds between 120FPS and 130FPS, and at 1920x1200 slowed to 66FPS to 72FPS. While those three games were fairly easy for the AVADirect D900F to handle, <i>Crysis: Warhead</i> proved to be more of a challenge for the D900F, running at slightly lower speeds than the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4917" target="_blank">ASUS W90</a> with CrossFire graphics. With <i>Crysis: Warhead</i> set to "Gamer" detail mode at 1280x800 resolution speeds ranged between 30FPS and 35FPS. At 1920x1200 framerates dropped to 17-22FPs, still kind of playable, but some tweaking would be needed for longterm gameplay. Overall while speeds would be better with two graphics cards, the D900F still proved to be more than capable for all of the games we tested on it with a single GTX 280M.</p></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44086" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44087.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Left 4 Dead @ 1280x800<br /></i></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44088" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44089.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Left 4 Dead @ 1920x1200<br /></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44082" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44083.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Crysis: Warhead @ 1280x800<br /></i></td> <td><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44084" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44085.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /></i><i>Crysis: Warhead @ 1920x1200<br /></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44078" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44079.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br />Call of Duty 5 @ 1280x800<br /></i></td> <td><i><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44080" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44081.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br />Call of Duty 5 @ 1920x1200<br /></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44074" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44075.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Bioshock @ 1280x800<br /></i></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44076" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44077.jpg" border="0" height="156" width="250" /></a><br /><i>Bioshock @ 1920x1200<br /></i></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Heat and Noise</b><br /></p></span></span></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Fan noise was above almost all the other notebooks we have reviewed, having four high speed fans to cool the various internal components. The processor has two fans to itself, one for the system memory, and the forth for the graphics card. Under light use most of the fans are off or spinning very slowly. Under stressful activity such as running benchmarks or gaming the fans kick on loud enough to be heard in a decent sized room. Gaming in a classroom would be possible, if only because the battery wouldn't last long enough to annoy those around you.</div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p>Heat output is substantial while gaming, but the constant flow of air from the four cooling fans keeps the chassis temperature within reasonable levels. The pictures below show the temperature readings off various spots on the chassis after stressing the system for 15 minutes. The palmrest and keyboard are kepy fairly cool, with most of the hotter parts along the back edge near the processor and GPU. After gaming with this notebook on my lap for one night I can say I wasn't burnt, but the weight on my legs was just as bad.</p> <p> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44096" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44097.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f" border="0" height="160" width="250" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=44094" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/44095.jpg" alt="avadirect clevo d900f" border="0" height="197" width="250" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><b>Battery</b><br /></p></span></span></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">I do have to admit that the first time we saw the specifications for this notebook, we bet it would probably get between 15-20 minutes when unplugged. For a notebook that consumes 75 watts at idle, the battery is more like a battery backup. With Vista set to the Balanced mode, screen brightness at 70%, and wireless active the AVADirect D900F stayed on for 1 hour and 8 minutes before abruptly turning off. Very impressive given the Core i7 975 desktop processor inside this notebook.</div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><b>Conclusion</b><br /></p></span></span></p></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Overall the <a href="http://www.avadirect.com/product_details_configurator.asp?PRID=13880">AVADirect D900F</a> 17" gaming notebook proved to be very capable of handling modern games, even without dual graphics cards. Compared to the <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4917">ASUS W90</a> it has slightly less graphics performance, but clearly leads in raw processing power. For encoding video or working with CAD applications the Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition would give you workstation level performance, without the bulk of a 30lb desktop case. While the $3,900 price seems steep, most of it comes from the processor and SSDs in our review unit. Going with a more reasonable Core i7 920 would save you nearly $800 by itself. Bottom line, if you want the most processing power out of a notebook, there is really nothing else that is faster than this with an Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition packed inside.</div><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"><p><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;font-size:12;" class="width490" ><span id="intelliTxt"> <p><b>Pros:</b></p> <ul><li>Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition inside a 17" notebook</li><li>Smoking fast</li><li>Very speedy SSD RAID 0</li><li>Over and hour of battery life with a Core i7 inside</li></ul> <p><b>Cons:</b></p> <ul><li>Chassis could use a face-lift</li><li>Loud cooling fans</li></ul></span></span></p></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-46329701413541379182010-01-29T08:57:00.000-08:002010-01-29T08:58:01.645-08:00Apple's iSlate Not the Only Tablet Eye Candy Available<div style="text-align: justify;">This week, Apple Computer will finally unveil its long-awaited and much-speculated tablet computer -- most likely called the iSlate and Apple's first entry into a rapidly crowding field (if you discount Apple's ill-fated Newton MessagePad, of course, which was introduced years ago and was a resounding flop).<br /><br />It remains to be seen whether the iSlate will be a huge success, or will take up residence with other niche products that were technically interesting but never reach critical mass in terms of consumer acceptance. As Brighthand.com Editor Ed Hardy said in a recent posting, "A slate computer has all the disadvantages of a notebook, plus all the disadvantages of smartphone." Also, they are "as expensive as laptops, but offer the same feature set as a smartphone."<br /><br />One thing is certain, though, since it is Apple's first entry into what is fast becoming a crowded field (although only about 121,000 pure' tablets were sold last year, according to market researcher International Data Corp.), the iSlate could be perceived as Apple's impra mateur on the technology and therefore give a boost to development and sales. Then again, even the great Apple can get it wrong sometimes (as the MessagePad demonstrated).<br /><br />Brighthand.com and NoteBookReview.com have covered and reviewed some of the best and most innovative tablets and tablet hybrids over the past several months. The following is a sampling of the technologies that will give Apple a run for your money in this niche field, much of which has been reviewed and analyzed by the TechnologyGuide.com staff.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">APPLE TABLET NEWS</span><br />iSlate and iPhone OS 4.0 Unveiling Expected on Jan. 27<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Apple has confirmed earlier rumors by announcing a press event for the end of this month. It's not saying what's going to be unveiled, but numerous unconfirmed reports say it's going to be a tablet computer and a new version of the iPhone OS to run on it.<br /></div><br />Verizon May Be Getting the Apple iSlate and iPhone<br />Apple and AT&T have had a successful partnership, selling millions of iPhones together. But analysts say Apple has wandering eyes, and will bring both the iPhone and the iSlate to Verizon Wireless later this year.<br /><br />Apple Very Optimistic About the iSlate: Has Ordered 10 Million Units<br />According to an industry insider in China, Apple's first tablet computer will have a webcam and a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and will act like both a netbook and an e-book reader. Apple is apparently quite optimistic: it plans to have millions of these devices produced next year.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TABLET REVIEWS</span><br />ASUS Eee PC T91 Review<br />The idea of a compact convertible notebook tablet might not be anything new, but ASUS found a way to create a mini tablet that sells for just $500.<br /><br />Fujitsu LifeBook T4410 Review<br />The LifeBook T4410 is one of the latest Windows 7 equipped tablets from Fujitsu. Offering a Wacom-enabled 12.1" display with multi-touch this model is aimed to compete with the Dell Latitude XT2 and Lenovo X200 Tablet.<br /><br />Multitouch ThinkPad X200 Tablet Review<br />Lenovo's entry into the field, featuring a two-finger multi-touch display, as well as the 2.16GHz Intel SL9600 Core 2 Duo Processor.<br /><br />Dell Latitude XT2 Tablet Review<br />The Dell Latitude XT2 is a 12.1" tablet targeted towards business users. It offers a multi-touch enabled touch-screen, active digitizer, and optional daylight viewable panel. Dell has the starting price listed as $1,929<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TABLET PC NEWS</span><br />CES 2010: The Best And Worst Laptops<br />Hybrid tablets were definitely in vogue at this year's CES 2010, including the debut of Lenovo's IdeaPad S10 Tablet, which is an Intel Atom-based netbook with a 10-inch touchscreen that rotates 180 degrees in either direction; and a unnamed entry from HP.<br /><br />NVIDIA Launches Tegra 2<br />At CES 2010 NVIDIA launched the new Tegra platform, officially making 2010 the rebirth of the Tablet. Even with hints of the Apple Tablet coming around, it turns out that quite a few companies have already jumped on the bandwagon of super thin slate computers thanks to the second generation NVIDIA Tegra.<br /><br />Most Popular Tablet PCs of December 2009<br />Our latest rundown on the Tablet PCs our readers are researching the most, based on clicks on product links within our articles and reviews.<br /><br />TabletKiosk Launches 3 Atom-Based Tablets<br />TabletKiosk launches three new Intel Atom-based Tablet PC models. The new Tablets include the 7-inch eo a7330D, 7-inch eo TufTab a7230XD, and 12.1-inch Sahara NetSlate a230T.<br /><br />HP TouchSmart tm2t Tablet PC Now Available<br />HP releases its latest consumer tablet PC, the TouchSmart tm2t series. It features an Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processor, optional ATI Radeon graphics, weighs 4.72 pounds, and has a six-cell battery.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDITORIALS</span><br />Why the Apple Tablet (or iSlate) Will Change Everything<br />Apple's upcoming tablet computer, which is expected to be unveiled this week, has everyone talking. In this editorial, NotebookReview.com Editor Jerry Jackson explains why this will likely be the most important consumer electronic device since the iPhone<br /><br />Apple's Tablet Computer Might Be a Flop<br />Interest in Apple's upcoming tablet computer, which is widely expected to be unveiled this week, has reached fever pitch. Despite all the hoopla, Brighthand's Site Editor points out that there are plenty of reasons why this device could go down in flames.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-49722415176682344902010-01-29T08:54:00.000-08:002010-01-29T08:55:04.159-08:00The new iPad runs the iPhone OS -- and that's the problem<div style="text-align: justify;">By Jay Garmon<br /><br />No matter how excited you are about the 9.7-inch HD display, capacitive multitouch interface, or staggeringly cheap 3G data plans promised by Apple's iPad, there's one feature that's billed as a benefit but may prove to be more of a bug: The iPad runs the iPhone OS. On the surface this seems like shrewd platform cross-compatibility, but do you really want to pay between $499 and $829 (plus data plan) for a device that actually does less -- as in no built-in camera, no phone -- than your iPhone?<br /><br />While you may be smiling inwardly at the notion of getting all your existing iPhone apps ported to your iPad for free (you've already paid for them), there's a question of whether anyone really wants to run apps designed for a phone-sized screen on a tablet-sized display. During Steve Jobs's demo today, we saw this phenomenon in action. Either the iPhone app ran at native resolution as a floating block inside a lot of blank screen real estate, or the iPad upscaled the app to its full screen resolution, presenting you with ridiculously oversized icons and buttons. If one could run multiple iPhone apps side by side on the iPad, that would be worth talking about, but that brings me to the second problem with building an iPhone OS-based tablet: No multithreading.<br /><br />The iPhone OS can't run background processes. It can't have two apps open at the same time. You can't chat while watching a video. You can't read the New York Times while listening to Pandora. You can't toggle between a word processor and a spreadsheet, or a Web browser and a presentation. Thus, while you can get an iPad version of iWork for $30 ($9.99 each for Pages, Numbers and Keynote), you won't be using any of those apps simultaneously -- which is how many of us work best. Here's betting that most iPad adopters will want to rebuy most of their apps in iPad versions, which makes me wonder why the iPad couldn't get its own multithreaded OS to begin with.<br /><br />The other major drawback to the iPad's iPhone OS-basis is a lack of support for Adobe Flash. I'll accept not being able to render highly interactive Flash Web sites on my phone, but on a high-end media consumption device like the iPad I should be able to open every Web site on the planet. This Flash incompatibility also bans any Web video player that isn't Quicktime or Youtube. Sorry budding filmmakers, but there will be no Vimeo or Hulu or Yahoo Video for you on the iPad. Jobs himself showed a failed Flashplayer icon during his Web surfing demo today, so clearly Steve isn't perturbed by this feature limitation, which won't be solved until HTML5 reaches full adoption -- months or years from now.<br /><br />On the bright side, the iPad running the iPhone OS does mean that the new iBook store will be cross-compatible with the iPhone, which is great news for iPhone owners. The iBook store will sell ePub versions of books from major publishers, which means digital reading just got a boost, if only because iBooks will appear on the world's most popular mobile phone. That said, I don't expect the iBookstore to truly revolutionize publishing, both because the $14.99 price point suggested for iBook titles is still too high, and because I can't rip my existing dead-tree books to the platform. While almost anyone can copy a CD into iTunes easily, almost no one can scan in paperbacks to iBooks with any speed or grace. At $14.99 each I'm not going to rebuy all my favorite books for the iPad.<br /><br />Now that the iPad SDK is in the wild, I expect developers to create new and innovative applications and content that truly take advantage of the iPad form factor, display, and interface. Until those iPad-native apps show up, however, I'll reserve judgment as to whether the iPad is the successor to the glorious iPhone, or the ignominious Newton.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513393715856689792.post-57757201310260420482010-01-29T08:53:00.000-08:002010-01-29T08:54:05.713-08:00Free Online Music Services Listeners Guide<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" class="width490"> <span id="intelliTxt"><p><i>By Jay Garmon</i></p> <p>Pandora or Slacker? Last.FM or Grooveshark? There is a host of free streaming music services on the Web, but which one has the best features to go with its giveaway price? We sound it out in this listeners guide.</p> <p>There are a few basic features common to most of online music services. Usually you can't request a specific song or band, but you can request that one or both are part of your music mix. Rating songs will entice these services to play them more or less often, but you can only skip or ban so many songs per hour (usually about 3-4) before you violate the service's play license and you're stuck with whatever music it gives you. Almost all of these services let you purchase MP3 versions of songs from Amazon and iTunes. Nearly all of them have display and audio ads, which you can ban by upgrading to a monthly subscription service. Most of the music services are available only in the United States or North America (due to licensing restrictions). Finally, virtually all of these services have iPhone and Blackberry mobile versions, with most of them appearing on Android as well. Beyond this feature set, it's the unique differences that make or break an online music service. I detail the various flavors below.</p><p><b>Pandora</b></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49198" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 5px 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49199.jpg" alt="Free Online Music Services Listeners Guide - Pandora interface" height="145" width="200" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.pandora.com/">Pandora</a> is arguably the most high-profile of the free online music services, and it bills itself as a "music discovery service" which is a nice way of saying "we're going to play at least as many songs you <i>haven't</i> heard before as we are tunes you know and love." It works like this: You create a Station on Pandora by requesting a song or artist, and Pandora builds a virtual radio station that plays works from -- and similar to -- that song or artist. It does so by matching your request against the approrpriate song analysis from the Music Genome Project. For example, request "Jump" from Van Halen and you'll get lots of Van Halen <i>and</i> lots of mid-eighties electric guitar riffs from other artists (including solo stuff from Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth). Sometimes this results in great discoveries of songs and bands; sometimes it just drives you crazy. The good news is you can "tune" these Stations by rating each song with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Thus, the more time you spend build a Pandora station, the more you should like it -- provided you have the patience.</p> <p>Pandora also has a nice Quickmix feature that will play selections from all your stations, and there are some nice Artist Info pages below the fold on each page. Perhaps best of all, there's an I'm Tired Of This feature that will ban a song for 30 days without exiling it from a station permanently; this quickly became my favorite Pandora trick. Unfortunately, I found Pandora's Flash-based player to be a memory hog that occasionally crashed my browser. Your mileage may vary. Also, Pandora's licenses are unusual and you may "lose" a version of a song over time -- there are a lot of live/alternate cuts on Pandora that seem to spontaneously supplant the traditional album versions.</p> <p><b>Slacker</b></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49200" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 5px 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49201.jpg" alt="Free Online Music Services Listeners Guide - Slacker" height="145" width="200" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.slacker.com/">Slacker</a> is like Pandora if Pandora was run by professional DJs. You select pre-designed stations based on musical genre -- like Classic Rock or Indie Hits -- or select stations based on specific artists. You'll hear pretuned mixes of songs in that genre or by that artist, but the station will also play tracks by similar groups. The result is a much more refined and radio-like experience than Pandora; you'll discover less and recognize more. Slacker also has some very fine-grained preference options, so you can have any song you've favorited played more or less often, ramp up the mix of popular versus obscure artists, and outright ban artists or songs from any station. You can also build custom stations from the ground up by feeding in artists. Slacker is the easiest of all the services to "surf" between stations. Slacker also tells you which song is going to play next, so you can spend your limited hourly skips more wisely -- don't jump past a song you're just tired of to land on a song you hate. Slacker's premium version allows unlimited skips, displays song lyrics, and permits song requests along with removing its ads. Strangely, Slacker doesn't allow MP3 downloads of songs, but it will sell ringtone versions of most tracks.</p> <p><b>Last.</b><b>FM</b></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49202" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 5px 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49203.jpg" alt="Free Online Music Services Listeners Guide - Last.FM station" height="145" width="200" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://last.fm/">Last.FM</a> is a bit like Slacker in that it has stations based on artists, but it differs from the other services in that it boasts "instant" knowledge of your listening habits -- provided you regularly listen to MP3s on your PC. By downloading the Last.FM "Scrobbler" plug-in, the service integrates with iTunes, WinAmp and Windows Media Player and analyzes not just the songs already in your MP3 library, but the frequency with which you listen to them. From this observation Last.FM builds a preference profile for you and plays songs from its library matched to your tastes. You can also manually tune the suggestions without the Scrobbler, which will appeal to those who don't want the Scrobbler hanging out in their System Tray (where it can launch a browser-free Last.FM miniplayer). Last.FM also offers nice integrated song "sharing" -- as in "Hey, I'm listening to this song!" announcements -- thanks to keen Facebook and Twitter integration. Beyond the usual Amazon and iTunes MP3 purchase options, Last.FM also links to 7Digital and offers ringtone purchasing. Last.FM is available in several European countries as well as the US, but manages its international licensing with somewhat aggressive IP address and cookie scanning. This same tech is used to promote live concerts and music events in your area, so if the artist you're listening to is playing a show nearby, you'll be informed.</p> <p><b>Grooveshark</b></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49204" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 5px 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49205.jpg" alt="Free Online Music Services Listeners Guide - Grooveshark search results" height="145" width="200" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.grooveshark.com/">Grooveshark</a>, frankly, was the most impressive music service we came across, and probably will remain so right up until the moment it's sued into oblivion. Unlike every other service we've seen, Grooveshark lets you request specific songs, build specific playlists, infinitely skip over any suggested songs, and fast-forward through songs by advancing the progress bar. It's basically a Web-based version of your iTunes account, but with access to thousands of other users' iTunes libraries, too. How's it work? Grooveshark doesn't "own" any music, it just lets users share. All the music in the Grooveshark library was uploaded by users, which leads to a highly diverse catalogue of songs that aren't subject to Internet radio restrictions because they aren't being "broadcast," they're just being "shared" on a one-off basis between friends -- sort of like if I played you a record in my living room. Moreover, you can upload your own entire library (using a rather kludgy widget) to the service, so all your music is available online, anywhere in the world. You can also create embeddable widgets of a given song to play on your blog or Facebook page, which is a step beyond the typical Facebook and Twitter sharing options (which Grooveshark has, too). Download any Grooveshark song from Amazon, iTunes or as a ringtone. Grooveshark's Radio feature suggests new songs based on what's already in your library, and it has a nice set of pop-up user tips that make tuning easy. The service is supported by unobtrusive sidebar ads, all of which go away with the Grooveshark VIP subscription service. I couldn't figure out what the library size limit is for standard Grooveshark users, but presumably it's lower than the 50,000-song library you're allowed under Grooveshark VIP.</p> <p><b>Live365</b></p> <p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/shared/picture.asp?f=49206" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 5px 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/49207.jpg" alt="Free Online Music Services Listeners Guide - Live365 search results" height="145" width="200" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.live365.com/">Live365</a> is the black sheep of online music services because it's not actually an online music service; it's an Internet radio station network. Search for a band or genre on Live365 and you'll get a list of Internet radio stations -- run by real human beings and supported by commercials, just like broadcast radio stations -- that play those genres or artists. A number of actual, conventional broadcast stations actually use the Live365 service to stream their broadcasts over the Web. Live365 is a station-discovery service, not a music-discovery service. Users can build a list of "presets," like stored stations on an old-school car radio, and you can donate to stations with subscriber packages. If there's a station or list of stations you really enjoy, Live365 can generate embeddable widgets to install either lineup on your blog. While the quality of its stations is often quite good, the Live365 user interface is clunky and dated. If you're into it, Live365 offers services for setting up your own Web radio station. All stations have playlists of music that was recently broadcast, and these lists include Amazon and iTunes MP3 purchase links. I think of Live365 as a Web-based universe of niche/college radio stations -- but with lots more commercials.</p></span> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0