The 2120 at first glance looks like something out of a toy catalog – it's thick, block-like, and blue. My first impression was, "There's no way Dell is serious with this design." But they are, and the kid-friendly design fits with the education market, so let's take a closer look.Acer Aspire 4755ZG battery ,

The blue exterior is actually a rubber coating; it has an inlaid square pattern and feels soft yet durable. It extends to the underside of the machine as well, save for the battery. As a computer intended for business use, Acer Aspire 4771G battery ,this might not have been the best color choice though. The 2120 is constructed out of high-strength ABS plastic. The matte black plastic has a slightly granular texture and is quite solid. Keeping in tradition with business notebooks, there is no glossy plastic used on the exterior.Acer 4771 laptop battery ,



There is a meager array of design features. The most noticeable physical feature is actually the extended battery, which protrudes out the bottom and effectively doubles the thickness. A 3-cell battery is available that sits flush with the chassis. Acer Aspire 5250 laptop battery ,The volume control buttons, keyboard status lights and power button are all characterized by overly-bright blue LEDs. Power, hard drive, battery, and wireless indicator lights are located at the bottom left corner of the chassis. There is a light bar at the top of the back of the display, which does not appear to serve any functional purpose.Acer 4771Z battery ,

All picture descriptions are left to right.The new Dell XPS 15 has a silver on grey color scheme, using metal panels and plastic for the body. Compared to past XPS designs that were trend setters that distinguished themselves from the lower models, the new XPS doesn't seem to spark much visual interest. In theory, mixing alloy panels with a brushed metal palmrest and backlit keyboard usually yields good results.Toshiba M800-113 battery charger ,

The redesigned XPS 15 doesn't seem to really set itself apart, though, from the standard Inspiron 15R until you take a much closer look. Standing back five feet, the panels look like average plastic on the exterior, and the body itself even seems more bloated than the 15R. Overall, it seems like Dell missed a big opportunity to make the XPS-series the unique notebooks they once were. The result is a rather bland looking multimedia notebook where its budget-oriented sibling --the Inspiron 15R--outshines it.Toshiba Portege M800-116 charger battery ,

Nevertheless, the XPS 15 feels nicer than it looks. Toshiba M802 battery ,The metal panels on the interior and exterior add strength to the body, reduce flex, and give the notebook a high-quality feel. Holding the notebook for the first time is a weird experience, Toshiba Portege M801 charger battery ,as most of the panels look like plastic until you feel the cold metal. The screen cover does a very good job at protecting the display from impacts and seems to resist flexing when opening the screen from one of the front corners. The inside of the notebook features a large brushed metal panel that makes up the palmrest and keyboard surround. The bottom of the notebook is completely plastic (including the access panel) but still resists flex and feels durable. The only problem we noticed was the high use of plastic clips holding most of the notebook together (in addition to metal screws).Toshiba M800-701 charger ,

Users looking to upgrade the Dell XPS 15 will find it easy or not so easy, depending on which components they are looking to swap out. The single access panel on the bottom of the notebook houses the two sticks of RAM, wireless card, and WWAN/TV tuner slot. HP Pavilion N5452 battery charger ,To get at the hard drive, you must fully disassemble the notebook, which isn't a task for the faint hearted. We counted about 16 screws, but didn't want to go further and risk breaking plastic clips or gouging the trim around the perimeter. That's an awful amount of work just to swap out a hard drive for a full-sized notebook.N5451 battery charger ,

Ports and Features

Users who want high-speed data connections on their notebooks will love the Dell XPS 15. HP Pavilion N5390 battery ,Dell configured this system with two USB 3.0 ports, one eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port, gigabit Ethernet, mini-DisplayPort, HDMI-out, and plenty of audio jacks. For expansion, Dell only includes a SDHC-card reader/writer; you don't get an ExpressCard slot to add additional ports in the future.The newly redesigned Inspiron 15R offers a much cleaner and sleeker look and feel compared to past models. Similar to the Adamo-series, the layout has a hinge-forward design with the screen positioned just slightly in front of the back edge of the chassis. This has the added benefit of moving the screen closer to the keyboard and bringing the action to you. HP N5454 charger battery ,

The outside appearance of the new 15R is very stylish, with a faux-brushed metal screen cover. The look gives the appearance of metal, although with an easier to clean painted surface. This look it also shared inside the notebook, with the palmrest and keyboard trim.HP N5350 battery charger ,

Build quality is great with a strong chassis and very durable feeling plastic. Even with its large footprint, the thin chassis resist flex and doesn't creak when you lift it up from the corners. The keyboard and palmrest both have more than adequate support, Pavilion N5444 battery charger ,and don't sag under strong pressure. The screen cover has moderate protection for the LCD, with only strong pressure to the back of the panel causing ripples. The screen has no problem staying put with two strong hinges that get the display into position and hold it without any wiggle.HP Pavilion N5400 charger ,

Users looking to upgrade the RAM inside the Dell Inspiron 15R will find the process quite easy. There is only one access panel on the bottom of the notebook. With a few Phillips head screws removed, you can add or repalce to the system memory. Unfortunately, getting access to the hard drive requires a complete disassembly of the notebook chassis.HP N5445 battery charger ,

Ports and Features

For a budget 15-inch desktop-replacement the Inspiron 15R offers plenty of inputs. We counted three USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA/USB connection, HDMI and VGA-out , audio jacks, and Ethernet. It also featured a SDHC-card reader, but an ExpressCard slot was missing.HP Pavilion N5450 battery ,

The Intel Wi-Di option adds $100 to the price of the Inspiron 15R. In theory this is a great value, although at the time of this writing Dell only offers this on the highest configuration of the 15R. Our $599 model cannot currently be configured with Wi-Di on the Dell website. Instead, the lowest priced model with Wi-Di starts at $949The newly redesigned Inspiron 17R offers a much cleaner and sleeker look and feel compared to past models.Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet PC battery ,

Similar to the Adamo-series, Thinkpad R61 laptop battery , the layout has a hinge-forward design with the screen positioned just slightly in front of the back edge of the chassis. This has the added benefit of moving the screen closer to the keyboard and bringing the action to you. The outside appearance of the new 17R is very stylish, with a faux-brushed metal screen cover. The look gives the appearance of metal, although with an easier to clean painted surface. This look it also shared inside the notebook, with the palmrest and keyboard trim.Lenovo R400 laptop battery ,

Build quality is great with a strong chassis and very durable feeling plastic. Lenovo Thinkpad T400 laptop battery ,Even with its large footprint, the thin chassis resist flex and doesn't creak when you lift it up from the corners. The keyboard and palmrest both have more than adequate support, and don't sag under strong pressure. The screen cover has moderate protection for the LCD, with only strong pressure to the back of the panel causing ripples. The large 17.3-inch screen has no problem staying put with two strong hinges that get the display into position and hold it without any wiggle.Lenovo R61i Series battery ,

Upgrading the 2120's internal components is tedious and time consuming; replacing the memory module or hard drive requires removing the keyboard and access panel. Overall the 2120 has impressive build quality for a netbook, Although the toy-like external appearance makes a perfect fit for K-12 education, it seem out of place in the business world.Users looking to upgrade the Inspiron 17R will find it easy through one access panel on the bottom of the notebook. With a few Phillips head screws removed, you gain access to the system memory and hard drive. Components like the wireless card and processor require more disassembly to get at.

2nd Story Software's TaxACT is much less costly than TurboTax, edging up to only $12.95 for the full-fledged "Deluxe" edition. In another point of distinction, you can save time on this year's tax returns by importing previous returns into TaxACT from any number of other software programs.U33JC charger ,

Qosmio X875 / Qosmio X875 3D

Designed for enthusiast gamers, media creators and advanced users who demand the most powerful equipment, the Qosmio X875 and Qosmio X875 3D laptops are fully equipped with the latest processor technology from Intel and NVIDIA, ASUS U43F adapter ,providing users with the power and speed required to take on the most demanding tasks and graphics-intensive applications with ease. Their 3rd Generation Intel Core processors and high-resolution 17.3-inch diagonal HD+ (1600x900) TruBrite display — or a full 1080p HD with 3D screen—combine to deliver amazing performance and stunning visuals boosted by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M graphics processor with 3GB of GDDR5 discrete graphics memory to take on graphics-heavy projects and the latest 3D games.ASUS U33JT battery ,

Satellite P800 Series

For premium performance and features, look no further than the Satellite P800 Series laptops. U43 battery ,Available with 3rd Generation Intel Core processors and select configurations featuring NVIDIA GeForce 630M discrete graphics with battery-saving Optimus technology, this series incorporate everything needed for an amazing entertainment and multitasking experience. Additionally, the laptops all include harman/kardon stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound 3D sound enhancements, HD Webcam, an HDMI port, Toshiba's exclusive Resolution+ video upconversion technology and vivid HD TruBrite LED Backlit displays in three screen sizes: 14-inch diagonal widescreen, 15.6-inch diagonal and 17.3-inch diagonal widescreenASUS U43J charger ,

Also, if you're one of the many people impacted by casualty losses from hurricanes or other bad weather during 2011, TaxACT makes it particularly easy to find out the ways in which the law has changed that could help to mitigate your loss.Asus N82JV adapter battery ,

Read the full TaxACT review.

H&R Block At Home

H&R Block At Home also tends to be less expensive than TurboTax, Asus P42F adapter battery ,although costs for state returns and online filing can be steep.While H&R's tax prep software doesn't provide quite as much hand-holding as other products, it contains some very convenient features. These include a vertical column on the right-hand corner of the screen, which keeps track of refund/payment status, along with buttons on the bottom of the screen for the Personal Tax Guide and for asking a tax question. Asus P42 laptop adapter battery ,

Ideal for the entertainment enthusiast and the everyday user looking for a stylish laptop with excellent power at a reasonable price, Asus P52 laptop charger ,the all new Satellite S800 Series features 3rd Generation Intel Core processors or the latest multi-core Accelerated Processing Units from AMD with optional discrete AMD graphics and HD TruBrite LED Backlit Display. The Satellite S845 with a 14-inch diagonal widescreen display, and the Satellite S855 with a 15.6-inch diagonal display are perfect for exceptional power for multitasking, entertainment and creativity.Asus P42JC adapter charger ,

Ideal for families, students and small business owners looking for a solid all-around system at a reasonable price, Asus P52J laptop charger ,the Satellite L800 Series laptops are offered in select configurations featuring 3rd Generation Intel Core processors or the latest multi-core Accelerated Processing Units from AMD and HD TruBrite displays. Available in three screen sizes (14-inch, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch), this series offers great performance for multitasking, productivity and light gaming.Asus P52F charger battery ,

Made for the value-minded, budget-conscious consumer, the Satellite C800 Series laptops feature next-generation processors from Intel and AMD, up to 500GB hard drives and a range of connectivity options including USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports,Asus P62 laptop battery , a Media Card Reader and an HDMI port. Available with a new 14-inch diagonal HD TruBrite widescreen display as well as a 15.6- and 17.3-inch diagonal display models, the laptops are perfect for everyday productivity.Asus P52JC laptop battery ,

The Qosmio X875 and Qosmio X875 3D laptops will be available for purchase at the beginning of Q3 2012 at major retailers and direct from Toshiba at ToshibaDirect.com. Pricing starts at $1,299 MSRP and goes as high as $2,499 MSRP for better configurations.Asus N82E adapter battery ,

The Satellite P845 and Satellite P855 (starting at $799.99 MSRP) and Satellite P875 (starting at $849.99 MSRP) will be available for purchase at the beginning of Q3 2012 exclusively at Best Buy stores nationwide, on BestBuy.com and ToshibaDirect.com.Asus N82EI charger battery ,

The Satellite S800 Series (starting at $699.99 MSRP) will be available for purchase at the beginning of Q3 2012 at major retailers and ToshibaDirect.com beginning on June 24, 2012.After a drought, AVADirect is now selling Clevo notebooks with the new, next-generation Intel HM77 chipset. Users speculated that the Clevo notebooks went unavailable to prepare for the release of the next-gen notebooks.Asus N82J laptop charger ,

AVADirect is now offering the 15.6-inch P151EM, the P150EM and the 17.3-inch P170EM. The notebooks are all based off of the HM77 chipset, Intel's next-generation processors, and the new NVIDIA 600M Series graphics processing units (GPUs). In addition to the latest hardware and architecture, new features such as a backlit keyboard are included with the P150EM and P170EM.Asus N82JG charger adapter ,

According to AVADirect, "more modern features" and ports will be included on the laptops, such as display port and digital optical outputs, eSATA, and an mSATA SSD interface for Intel Smart Cache Response support. The new NVIDIA GPUs will also continue to have Optimus technology, tech that helps on save battery life while the GPU is in use. NVIDIA GTX 670 and 675 graphics cards will be available in some select upcoming Clevo notebooks.Asus N82JQ charger battery ,

The HP Pavilion g6 budget-priced notebook is still in the #1 position with over 22,000 pageviews for the month. The next highest ranked notebook on our site is the budget-priced Lenovo G570. The Asus Zenbook UX31 dropped a spot since February and is now in position #3.HP XH455 adapter charger ,

1. HP Pavilion g6 (Still #1) - HP Pavilion XH525 adapter charger ,The Pavilion g6 is a budget-priced laptop that tries to balance great design, solid performance, and affordability. The Pavilion g6t series with 15.6-inch LED display features a range of available Intel Pentium and Core i series processors, Windows 7, multiple graphics options, and a 6-cell battery with more than four hours of battery life while browsing the web. (22,898 unique views)HP Pavilion XH485 adapter ,

Purchase the HP Pavilion g6

View the NotebookReview.HP XH535 adapter battery ,com Review for the HP Pavilion g6

2. Lenovo G570 (Previously #3) - The G570 is part of the budget-priced/general use G-Series line by Lenovo. Running on Windows 7 Home Premium on a 15.6-inch display (1366x768), the G570 has an Intel Core i5-2410M dual-core processor and up to 8GB of RAM. Choose from a 500GB capacity hard drive at 5400rpm or a 750GB capacity hard drive at 5400rpm. The graphics card included with the system is an Intel HD 3000 (integrated). (20,306 unique views)

View NotebookReview.com Review for the Lenovo G570

Also, a user who is not familiar with the ins-and-outs of PDF is going to be confused with some of the choices available on the ribbon bar. These include a checkbox for compliance with PDF/A-1b,Acer BTP-59A1 battery ,which is an archiving standard that insures compatibility with future releases of the PDF standard.Asus K62 laptop charger ,Nuance PDF Converter Professional 7Nuance is better known to most people for other products -- including Dragon Dictate,

While creating PDF files is most often going to be done from within an application, for greater flexibility, the standalone application provides all of the features we listed in the checkbox. At any time, help is available through use of the F1 function key or by clicking on the Help icon.Asus K52N laptop charger ,

Nitro Pro 7 also has good security features. You can set a password so that the generated PDF can't be opened with it, and digitally sign the document to allow the person receiving it to authenticate its origin.If a scanner is attached, you can scan directly into a PDF, although we had to go to the Help page to find out how to do this.Asus K62F laptop battery ,

PaperPort, and OmniPage OCR -- than for its PDF Converter line-up. Nuance also had a big hand in the Siri voice search assistant found in Apple's iPhone 4s. Yet PDF Converter, now in version 7, has been around for a number of years.Asus K62JR laptop battery ,PDF Converter is available in the $99 Professional version as well as an Enterprise version. Alternatively, if all you need to do is read PDFs, Nuance offers a free PDF Reader on its Web site that's similar in functionality to Adobe Reader.Asus K62J adapter battery ,

Nuance offers pretty much the same feature set as Acrobat X for $200 less, and it's the most famous company other than Adobe in this roundup. Since Nuance is a multi-billion dollar firm, you don't have to be afraid that it won't be there if you need support somewhere down the road.Asus N82E charger battery ,

Like Nitro, for example, Nuance Converter Pro 7 installs itself as both a standalone utility and an addition to the menu selections in Microsoft Office. You can also preview a PDF file in your Web browser, a feature that's fairly unique. These previews are available for the Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome browsers.Asus N82EI laptop charger ,

The product is very easy to use. Nuance exploits its own OCR technology well, so exporting a PDF document into another format, such as a Word or Excel file, is relatively precise (although as with all utilities of this kind, even Acrobat X, Asus N82JG adapter battery ,occasionally the formatting doesn't quite follow the text when going from PDF to another document type). Converting into PDF is both fast and very accurate, either from the added icons in a Microsoft Office application, or by manipulating the file in the standalone application.

Pdf995Asus N82J laptop battery ,

It doesn't get any less expensive than free, which is what Pdf995 will cost you if you are willing to put up with its sponsor ad splash screen. We didn't find the splash screen intrusive, but if you do, you can pay $9.95 to get a key that disables the ad.Actually, Pdf995 is actually only one of a trio of PDF applications that make up the PdfSuite. When you download and install it, you'll be reminded that you also need a PDF Converter application, which you can then download and install as well.Asus N82JQ adapter battery ,

Yet downloading PDF Converter still gives you limited PDF capability. Basically, all it does is to add a PDF printer driver to your printer list. So when you have a document of any printable form, you use the print menu in that application. If you choose the PDF driver instead of a physical printer, Pdf995 will then create a PDF for you.

Essentially, then, in and of themselves, Pdf995 and its Converter component don't do more than make PDF files. But that's not bad for free.Asus N82JV laptop adapter spec ,

Pdf995 itself is simple to use. It really doesn't offer much in the way of options, but it does a decent job producing PDF files, even those with some rather intricate formatting. The utility doesn't include a PDF viewer, however, so you'll need to use another vendor's offering for that, or the PdfEdit application.

But even free stuff comes with a price. Despite the wide functionality of the PdfSuite, we found using it for anything other than simply generating PDFs from document files to be a rather clumsy process.Asus P42F laptop battery ,

So there you have it. PDF has become so prevalent these days that it's almost a "must" to use other PDF tools beyond the PDF viewer that's probably installed on your PC already.Your choice of tools, though, should be based on what types of capabilities and performance you want and need, together with how much you're willing and able to pay. EUROCOM managed to fit the brand new 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics card and the latest Intel 'Ivy Bridge' processors into its new Monster 1.0, an 11.6" gaming notebook.Asus P42J charger battery ,

Weighing in at 3.96 lbs and measuring just under and inch and a half thick, EUROCOM says the Monster 1.0 gets 6.5 hours of battery life. Its full specifications are as follows:

11.6" display (1366x768) glossy surface (matte available)Intel Core i5/i7 processors (35W TDP); 'Ivy Bridge' and 'Sandy Bridge' models supportedNvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics card w/ 2GB DDR3.Asus P42JC laptop battery ,

Pricing and Availability

The EUROCOM Monster 1.0 is available for order though a shipping date is not listed. It starts at $817 USD ($899 CAD) without an operating system.For Windows PC users wanting alternatives to the ribbon-based Microsoft Office, Corel on Thursday released a new edition of the WordPerfect Office suite which adds a new Document Viewer app for Android devices, along with features such as multiple monitor support and built-in eBook pubishing.Asus P52 laptop adapter ,

Corel's suite still revolves around WordPerfect, Presentations, and the Quattro Pro spreadsheet, and it still includes classic features such as "reveal codes" and "make it fit," said Peter Hanschke, Corel's director of product management -Asus P52J adapter battery , Office Productivity, in a briefing for NotebookReview.With WordPerfect Office X6, though, Corel is responding to market changes such as the "ubiquity of PDFs, prevalence of mobile devices, growth of eBook and eReader markets, and pressure to do more in less time," Hanschke told us.Asus P52F charger battery ,

Muvee Reveal X takes the templates concept a step further by automatically "analyzing" your video for "highlights" before automatically applying "styles" you've selected, which incorporate transitions, special effects, and music. Styles in Reveal X include Cube Twist, Ultra Plain, and Uncle Oscar, to name a few.

More and More Advanced FeaturesAsus P52JC laptop battery ,

One leader in the sub-$100 category, Adobe Premiere Elements, offers advanced features that include support for up to 100 simultaneous video and audio tracks. Within the more costly (and complex) Sony Vegas family, support for simultaneous tracks is (theoretically, at least) limitless.Asus P62 charger battery ,

Other hot trends to look for in high-end features include stop motion, time-lapse movies, picture-in-picture, and 3D. Avid's Pinnacle Studio includes a stop motion import feature aimed at making it easy to capture individual frames from a variety of sources for stop-motion video. Asus B53JC charger adapter ,If you double-click a video on your PC, the software will automatically detect separate scenes as you import the clip.In the new X5 edition of VideoStudio Pro, Corel adds a stop motion animation capture that lets you capture video in increments of 1 to 30 frames. Onion screen functionality is included, for seeing through to the previous frame. B53J laptop battery ,

That's no longer at all the case today, when decent video editing software such as Microsoft's Windows Live Movie Maker and Apple's iMovie is practically at your fingertips. If you're looking for more choices, the range is practically endless. F86 laptop battery ,With so many products priced at around $100, or even less, you won't need to spend a small fortune to get a package geared to ease of use, top-of-the-line features, or some combination of the two.Asus F85 charger battery ,

Meanwhile, video editing takes less time than in the past, and it can be less of a drain on PC resources.Asus K42DQ laptop battery , Vendors have been introducing new technologies for speeding up video rendering, as well as the task of encoding – or converting – videos into formats suited for sharing movies to DVDs, social networking sites, and iPhones and other mobile devices, for instance.Asus K42DE charger battery ,

Easier and Easier!

In addition to improving the suite's core functionality at opening, editing and exporting PDF files, Corel has added an advanced preview mode for looking at documents in Windows Explorer or as Microsoft Outlook attachments without needing to open the docs.

View the NotebookReview.com Review for the Lenovo ThinkPad X220

6. Lenovo ThinkPad X220 (Previously #4) IBM ThinkPad Z61p Series charger ,- The 12.5-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X220 is an ultraportable business notebook that will soon replace the popular X201. The X220 comes built with the latest of the Intel Sandy Bridge processors (Core i3, i5 or i7), has a high-quality IPS display, and can deliver more than eight and a half hours of battery life. With the optional battery slice this system can deliver 18 and a half hours of mobile life. Choose up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a hard drive with up to 320GB of hard drive storage. (11,488 unique views)Acer LC.BTP01.010 charger ,

4. Asus Zenbook UX31 (Previously #3) Asus X52JB laptop adapter ,- The Asus Zenbook UX31 is a 13.3-inch notebook with a 900p screen. It also comes with the option of a 11.6-inch screen. It was designed to compete with Apple's MacBook Air because of its higher-end specifications in a slim form factor. You can customize this notebook with up to 4GB-1333 DDR3 RAM. It has a 50Whr polymer (non-removable) battery. (14,061 unique views)Asus X52DR laptop battery ,

View the NotebookReview.com Review for the ASUS Zenbook UX31

5. Asus B23E (New to the Top 10) - The Asus B23E is a 12.5-inch business netbook that can be equipped with up to an Intel Core i7 2640M dual-core processor and Intel HD graphics. It weighs in at only 3.4 pounds and its dimensions are only 12 x 8.1 x 1.1 inches, making it very portable. Equip it with up to 8GB-1333 memory and up to 750GB/7200rpm storage. (12,542 unique views)X52F adapter battery ,

2. Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 (New to the Top 10) - The Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 is a 15.6-inch multimedia and gaming ultrabook.Acer battery LC.TG600.001 , The Ultra M3 stands out because it's the first ultrabook that packs a dedicated graphics card. Not only that, it is the first ultrabook on the market with the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M graphics. It can also support up to 6GB of RAM and a hybrid storage drive. It weighs in at 4.4 pounds and measures in at 14.8 x 10 x 0.79 inches. (21,155 unique views)View NotebookReview.com Review for the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3Acer LC.BTP01.011 battery ,

7. HP Folio 13 (Previously #9) - The HP Folio 13 is a 13-inch ultrabook encased in aluminum. It has a thickness of 0.7 inches and is equipped with a second-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 128GB solid state drive. It weighs in at 3.3 pounds. (9,323 unique views)HP COMPAQ 8510p battery ,

Read the NotebookReview.com Review for the HP Folio 13 HP Notebook 8510w battery ,

8. Dell XPS 15z (Previously #10) - Dell Studio 17 laptop adapter ,The Dell XPS 15z is a 15-inch multimedia notebook with an ultra-thin metal chassis, an optional 1080p display and a backlit keyboard. The XPS 15z can be configured with a second-generation Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 525M dedicated graphics for serious multimedia performance. With a starting weight of just 5.5 pounds and an attractive metal exterior this is an interesting alternative to Apple's MacBook Pro. (7,672 unique views)

Purchase the Dell XPS 15zView the NotebookReview.com Dell 1745 adapter battery ,

Review for the Dell XPS 15z

9. Toshiba Portege Z830 (Previously #5) - The Toshiba Portege Z830/Z835 is a thin and light consumer notebook with a 13.3-inch 720p display and a dual-core Intel Core i3-2367M processor. Known as an "Ultrabook," it comes equipped with 4GB DDR3-1333MHz memory (max. 6GB), a 128GB solid state drive, USB 3.0 and a backlit keyboard.Dell D400 power supply ,

The battery provided six hours of life during our tests. (7,402 unique views)Lenovo IdeaPad Y730a battery ,

View the NotebookReview.com Review for the Toshiba Portege Z835

10. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 (Previously #8) - The Lenovo ThinkPad W520 is Lenovo's upgrade to the W510 mobile workstation notebook.Y730 laptop adapter ,This 15.6-inch notebook is powered by up to an Intel Core i7-2920XM processor and equipped with up to a discrete NVIDIA Quadro 2000M GPU, switchable to Intel HD integrated graphics. (7,320 unique views)Lenovo IdeaPad Y710 laptop adapter ,

View the NotebookReview.com Review for the Lenovo ThinkPad W520

3. Lenovo G570 (Previously #2) - The G570 is part of the budget-priced/general use G-Series line by Lenovo. Running on Windows 7 Home Premium on a 15.6-inch display (1366x768), the G570 has an Intel Core i5-2410M dual-IBM Z61m Series charger battery ,core processor and up to 8GB of RAM. Choose from a 500GB capacity hard drive at 5400rpm or a 750GB capacity hard drive at 5400rpm. The graphics card included with the system is an Intel HD 3000 (integrated). (17,071 unique views)

View NotebookReview.com Review for the Lenovo G570.Acer BT.00803.004 ,

Purchase the Lenovo ThinkPad W520

And here's the rest of 'em rounding out the top 20 most viewed and popular on NotebookReview.com for the month of April:Qualcomm hopes its success and experience in the mobile phone market will translate into worth competition for Intel's massive ultrabook push. The San Diego chip giant is preparing a line of ARM-based processors for super-thin notebooks and/or tablets running Windows 8.Dell Studio 1747 laptop battery ,

Snapdragon is a system-on-a-chip (SoC) design that includes a CPU, a GPU, a 2G/3G/4G modem and a baseband processor, so everything you need to build a smartphone comes in one processor that's just 14mm by 14mm.Dell Latitude X200 price ,

View the NotebookReview.com Review for the Asus B23E

There are four lines of Snapdragon processors, the S1 through S4. The S1 is used in lower-end smartphones while the S2 is in higher-end phones, including the much-lauded Nokia Lumia 900. The S4 is relatively new and can be found in at least one tablet, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity.Asus X52J laptop battery ,

Qualcomm believes it can compete with the Intel juggernaut by offering a better mobile experience. "The difference will come from choosing a technology that's grown up from mobile versus one from the PC space that's trying to be mobile. We're from a place of devices designed not to fit in a briefcase, but designed to fit in a pocket," said Tim McDonough, vice president of marketing for Qualcomm CDMA technologies.HP COMPAQ Notebook 8710p battery ,

"We also come from the perspective of designing for batteries versus designing for outlets. So we design for things that are extremely thin and are designed to run for extremely long periods of time, won't need fans, Acer BT.T3004.001 ,and because we come from a heritage of mobility a broad range of mobility options, we're also a leader in multimode LTE," he added.Qualcomm has already worked with Microsoft to optimize Windows Phone on Snapdragon, as seen in the Lumia series. Apple M9338J/A ,Now it's working with Microsoft to make sure the Windows 8 RT software takes full advantage of the hardware.

Graphics chip maker NVIDIA also last month announced a new series of ultra-powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) that will add incredible 3D rendering capabilities to smaller and thinner notebooks, but not before Ivy Bridge took flight.ThinkPad Z60m laptop battery ,

ASUS B23E Review: Almost Everything a Netbook Should Be

The demo unit was based on Ivy Bridge, although given its size and the lack of a heat sink, it will probably use an ultra low-voltage Core i3 or i5. The board showed two SO-DIMM slots (the kind used in laptops) and two mini PCIe headers. There was also one Thunderbolt, HDMI, and USB 3.0 port. X52D laptop battery price ,

Apple MacBook Air (2011) Review

The images and report make no mention of storage and there was no visible SATA port. Of course, given the size and potential for mobility a compact mSATA solid state drive (SSD) would be a likely storage solution. The design was a prototype though, so that could change.Apple M9338G/A ,

A spokesman for Intel said this technology is expected to be introduced in the second half of this year and is aimed at the digital signage segment and use the "Third Generation Intel Core processor," which is the Ivy Bridge generation. "At this time, we aren't commenting further including speculating what other applications might benefit from this technology," he said.Asus X52DE laptop adapter ,

However, "besides (the) CPU, there are a lot of other components in the system, like screen, SSD/HDD etc. So overall power consumption of the system should be around 15% less compared to Sandy Bridge laptops."

"I remember SB was rumored to offer a much better battery life improvement than it actually did when it came out, so I'd like to see some IB tests to see how much of a difference it actually makes," said Fat Dragon, an educator who has been a forum contributor for more than three years.

"Seriously, IB isn't much of a performance improvement like SB, just gonna get lesser power consumption and maybe slightly cooler running CPUs," adds hawk1410 in Atlanta.

Dell Precision M6600 vs. HP EliteBook 8760w: Workstation Battle

Dell Precision M6600 vs. COMPAQ Notebook nc8230 battery ,HP EliteBook 8760w: Workstation Battle

By Charles P. Jefferies, NotebookReview Staff | 5/16/2012

0digg

Dell Precsion M6600

Mobile workstations are specialized brutes designed for professionals on and off the field including photographers, videographers, as well as 3D and CAD illustrators. Why choose one of these powerful notebooks over the other? Check out our roundup.Here are the specifications of the notebooks in our comparison:Dell 1220 laptop battery ,

The nearly $1,000 price difference is an immediate concern; why so much? HP is notorious for overpricing its configured-to-order (CTO) business notebooks; it's almost like they want to force customers to purchase preconfigured models. Buyers can usually negotiate a discount over the phone (up to 25% or so), so taking that into account makes the prices about even.HP Notebook nc8200 charger ,

The other specifications are almost identical; the only difference is that the M6600 has an HDMI port where the 8760w does not. Later in this comparison we'll take a look at other differences between these notebooks; there are more than just hardware specifications to compare.Dell Vostro 1220n battery ,

Build Quality

These workstations both offer MIL-STG-810G military standards for minor protection against the elements including vibration and low temperatures. HP COMPAQ nw8200 charger ,The HP 8760w offers an HP "DuraCase" design with aluminum hinges, titanium-alloy display latches, aluminum keyboard deck, strengthened display frame, and an HP "DuraFinish" to prevent premature wear. The M6600 has a magnesium and aluminum alloy chassis and feels just as durable. Personally I prefer the HP's looks but will call this a tie for comparison sakes; I can't point out any significant design or build quality flaws in either model.HP COMPAQ nc8430 battery ,

ISV Certifications

Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certification is a key reason for professionals to consider a mobile workstation over a cheaper business or consumer class notebook. Historically these certifications have been isolated to desktop computers; these two workstations in our article are some of the very few notebooks that have it (and you pay a premium for the privilege, naturally).HP Notebook nw8240 battery ,

ISV certification implies the company offering "ISV certified" workstations has worked with vendors to ensure not only does the workstation fully support the products you're using, but also that the workstation vendor will work with you in the event of issues with said applications.HP COMPAQ Notebook nw8240 battery ,

Need AutoCAD support? The M6600 carries an MCAD certification and so does the 8760w. But where I get lost is that Dell classifying the M6600 as "fully ISV certified" and neglecting to provide something that could even be a list of vendors it has worked with; as a matter of fact I had to pry just to find out about its AutoCAD support.

HP on the other hand lists every single vendor and application it worked with; it's an impressive list and there's too many to place here – refer to this link: 8760w Quick Specs. Overall the edge goes to HP for being straightforward.HP COMPAQ nw8440 charger ,

Enthusiasts reading this article have likely noticed I did not configure either notebook in this comparison with one of the elusive IPS display options; the reasoning is simple – at several hundred a pop ($400 on the M6600 and $550 on the 8760w), they're far too expensive and most notebooks will ship without them.Dell Studio 1440 laptop battery ,

Both notebooks come standard with a lowly 1600x900 resolution anti-glare display (these notebooks only offer anti-glare displays, by the way). There's no point in getting a 17.3" workstation unless it's going to be equipped with the highest resolution possible; Dell Studio 14z laptop battery ,I therefore equipped both workstations with a 1920x1080 full HD resolution. These upgrades ran about $100 and are not typical 17.3" displays; they offer a Wide Viewing Angle (WVA), which is important for accurate representation of what you're looking at (especially if more than one person is looking at the screen). This screen will suffice for nearly all users.Dell 1440n laptop battery ,

Fortunately both notebooks offer the highest quality panels available on mobile computers – IPS.Dell Inspiron 14 laptop battery , Dell calls it PremierColor and HP DreamColor. IPS displays have unlimited viewing angles and super color reproduction. Additionally the models offered on these workstations have RGB LED backlighting – that is, multi-colored LEDs illuminate the display. Most notebooks use blue LEDs which explains the bluish hint most LED-backlit displays have. Dell 14zn adapter battery ,Lastly the color support is outstanding; these are both 10-bit panels which support over 1 billion colors. That's one of the reasons a professional-grade Nvidia Quadro or ATI FirePro card is included; a standard consumer graphics card can't provide 10-bit support (or ISV certification).

This is where HP trounces Dell; the Dell M6600 keyboard has a feel that's best described as strange. I've reviewed more than my share of notebooks and did not feel at home using this keyboard. The HP 8760w on the other hand offers a precise, solid feel with no flex and excellent communicative feedback.Dell 1464 laptop adapter ,

The 8760w's touchpad buttons are noticeably better, too; they're quiet and have a pleasant rubbery feel. The M6600 on the other hand feels cheap by comparison (though its buttons are quiet too).Dell Inspiron 17 laptop battery ,

Lenovo Unveils 2012 ThinkPads: New L, T, W, X and the Stunning X1 Ultrabook (25 posts) ThinkPad Z61e adapter ,

Video Card Support

This is of paramount importance to those in 3D work and the good news is that both notebooks offer the same high-end options. Dell Inspiron 1564 charger battery ,Dell and HP offer the Nvidia Quadro 3000M, 4000M, and 5010M (which are extremely expensive, adding up to $1,000 to the end price); AMD FirePro cards are standard. The 8760w however comes standard with a lesser M5950 vs. the M6600's standard M8900, which is significantly faster. I'm not sure why HP chose the M5950. Either way the edge here goes to the M6600 for including a better standard video card.Dell Inspiron 15 laptop charger ,

The price difference even taking into account the HP's possible discounts is too much to overlook; the overall winner is the Dell M6600.Dell 15 (1564) laptop battery , On top of that the M6600 is cheaper to customize with the available IPS display and comes with a better standard graphics card (AMD Radeon M8900 vs. M5950).

There are some things I like better about the 8760w, namely its keyboard and touchpad and the fact that HP lists out its ISV certifications (Dell neglects to do so). Otherwise these notebooks are neck and neck and it simply doesn't make sense to spend a few hundred more for either one.

HP Pavilion dv6t Quad vs. Dell XPS 15: Multimedia Powerhouses (28 posts)Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 laptop adapter ,

EUROCOM Launches 11.6" Gaming Notebook (14 posts)

Lenovo IdeaPad Y480 Review: A Solid Mobile Entertainment PC (14 posts)IBM X41 laptop battery ,

Gaming performance is limited with the low-end Atom-based system, but some games can still be operated at decent framerates. The original Half-Life at 640x480 runs at 20-40FPS, which is more than playable, and a great alternative to just playing Solitaire on a boring day.Asus K53SV-SX055V laptop charger ,

Using the latest Xvid codec and Media Player Classic we tested out multiple ripped video sources. The average load on the processor was 10-14 percent. With this type of load, battery life was decreased enough that watching a movie barely more than two hours might be pushing it.Asus K53SV-SX071V charger ,

This is a new review category I made up. Asus K53SV-SX079V charger ,Nevertheless, in a world of Vista-only notebooks it is useful to know whether you'd be able to run your favorite proven OS on your new 5920. Well, you can and quite easily as the supplied Vista drivers are compatible with XP. Thanks to some tips from NBR forums members the install process was even easier, updating the bios to the latest version allowed switching the SATA interface to IDE. Then it was a simple XP install using an old XP SP2 disc. Surprisingly the laptop worked quite well (webcam included) even before I installed the Acer drivers. I have yet to find a way to get XP working in SATA ACHI mode which might be the cause of the HD Tune test results.Asus K53SV-SX077D laptop charger ,

Performance and Benchmarks

Heat and Noise

Having so many ports limits the air vent to the lower left side, and the lid design comes back to haunt us as it limits the space allocated for the back vent profile. The result is somewhat warmer than appreciated inner idling temperatures with the CPU hovering at 50+ °C and the GPU in the 60°C area.Asus K53SV-SX080V Li-ion battery ,

Under load the left side gets noticeably hotter with the GPU peaking to 90 °C and once freezing on me. Asus K53SV-SX087V Li-ion battery ,The notebook might be designed to handle that amount of heat but I'm still uncomfortable with that. Both machines exhibited erratic fan behavior which would come on at full power for a short burst every few seconds. I'd much rather have it work constantly at a low rpm, keeping the notebook cool and quiet as the fan is silent by itself.Asus K53SV-SX081 laptop battery ,

I couldn't find a way to enable speedstepping in the bios. NHC doesn't show the CPU to throttle down while CPU-Z shows only 33% slowing to 1000Mhz and SpeedFan wouldn't control the fans. The 8600m GT driver will not allow throttling down on DC power either, nor to downclock the GPU speeds.Acer TravelMate 8215WLMi charger battery ,

This is where a proper ePower management should have let me control the fan operation and speed as well as enable an aggressive CPU and GPU throttling. It has some sort of CPU power options but I have not seen any big difference. All points melted down.Acer TravelMate 8210-6597 charger battery ,

Battery Life

Interestingly the XP unit reported an estimate of 3:04 hours on a full battery and maximum screen brightness loosing about one percent battery power every two minutes idling, while the Vista unit reported an extra hour with a 4:10 hours estimate. Yet another unfulfilled promise by Windows Vista.Acer TravelMate 8215WLHi laptop adapter ,

Conclusion

Despite its many flaws the Acer Aspire 5920 is one of the best buys today thanks to its rich specification, wealth of features and relative low price. I believe a proper new bios would solve the fan issue and CPU management, and a new Nvidia driver should let us use powermizer to reduce GPU heat. That leaves us waiting for a decent LCD panel from Acer or getting one of those LCD films to enhance the blacks. Acer TravelMate 8210-6204 adapter ,

Like its name suggests, the Acer 5920 gemstone is truly a diamond in the rough and with a bit of polishing would shine.Two years ago I bought a Latitude E6400 and shared my findings (see my review here). It has provided two years of trouble-free service in a range of countries and conditions. However, the time has come for me to consider replacing it with something newer and, hopefully, faster and the logical contender for this role is the E6410. Fortunately Dell has had the wisdom to keep the 16:10 display for this model).Dell 1535 laptop battery price ,

However, I was not desperate for a replacement and I could afford to wait until stock from Dell Outlet arrived in UK. Dell Studio 1555 Li-ion battery ,Contrary to most computer-related goods, the cost of a configured E6410 ordered direct from Dell UK is higher than the equivalent E6400 from two years ago. Finally, discounted UK E6410s started to show up in late August 2010. I found one on ebay that met most of my requirements including being red. I've liked red ever since owning a Samsung Q35 and more recently purchased a red Dell Latitude E4300. So how does the E6410 compare to its predecessor? Read on ...Dell 1537 laptop Li-ion battery ,

The specifications of my Dell Latitude E6410 are:Dell 1745 battery price ,

Build and Design

Overall, the E6410 is very similar to the E6400 and uses what Dell calls "tri-metal" construction. There was not much to improve on the E6400's design and the visible changes are relatively small. The top of the front edge of the E6410's palm rest is slightly bevelled and a rim around the SD card slot results in a card in the slot sitting flush with the surface (suggestion to Dell: Provide an SD to micro-SD adaptor instead of the plastic filler). Dell Studio 1749 laptop charger battery ,

The display bezel has acquired two small rubber bumpers in the top corners, a very small bumper on the left side of the latch and there are two new bumpers behind the keyboard to support the bottom of the display when closed. Hopefully, these will prevent the cosmetic damage that occurred on the E6400 when the display bezel rubbed on the keyboard surround during transport. A less visible change is that the base of the E6410 contains larger air vents than provided on the E6400.

Bottoms of E6410 (left) and E6400 (right). Note the more generous air vents.Asus K53SV-SX121V laptop battery ,

Close up of front edge of palm rest. E6410 (left), E6400 (right).

The initial impression on picking up the E6410 is that it is a solid as the E6400. My E6400 also gave me an initial impression of robustness which two years of travel and heavy use has confirmed the impression. However, whereas my E6400's hinges had a small amount of travel when open (which has increaseAsus K53SV-SX123V battery price ,d with time), the E6410's hinges are still (after 3 weeks usage) very tight with no looseness when open and pushing back on the open display lifts the front of the computer.

The display back is metal alloy. I've tried pushing and twisting but I can't get any ripples on the display. The computer's base is a single sheet of metal that is held in place by one screw, which vastly simplifies access to the main components. The battery latches in snugly with no wiggle and has an accessible power gauge. Dell Latitude X200 laptop battery ,

My E6410 computer had originated from Dell Outlet. I therefore checked carefully for any problems and noticed that the right end of the LED cover (which is located immediately behind the keyboard) didn't clip down. A call to Dell's support resulted in a replacement part being delivered next day and there was a follow-up call the day after to check that the problem was resolved (comparison of the two parts revealed a broken hook).Dell Latitude D400 battery ,

Removal of the base revealed no major changes in the layout with the various add-on slots being in the same locations but the cooling system has changed. There is no longer the need for the extension of the heat pipe to cover the northbridge although there is an extension of the heat sink to cover some chip near the battery.

The engine room: E6410 (left) and E6400 (right).Dell 17 laptop battery ,

The only areas Acer didn't really add to the design of this notebook are found on the lower end configuration models. Acer Aspire 4741G-372G50Mnkk02 laptop battery ,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.Acer 4741G-332G50Mn laptop battery ,

Screen

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.Acer Aspire 4741G-372G50Mnkk06 laptop battery ,

493 3DMarks

HP Pavilion dv5z (2.1GHz Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80, ATI Radeon HD 3200) 1,599 3DMarks HP Compaq 395791-001 ,

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.Dell Vostro 1510 (1.8GHz Intel T5670, Intel X3100)519 3DMarks.Dell Inspiron 1370 battery ,

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, Acer 4741G-5464G50Mn laptop battery ,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.Acer Aspire 4741G-5462G50Mnkk05 battery ,Acer Aspire 6920 (2.0GHz Intel T5750, Intel X3100) 605 3DMarks

Input and Output Ports

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:Acer Aspire 4741Z laptop battery ,



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 Sony VAIO FW (2.53GHz Intel T9400, ATI Radeon HD 3470) 2,598 3DMarks Dell Inspiron 13z laptop battery ,

Notebook3DMark06 Score DELL Vostro 3500 laptop battery ,

Performance and Benchmarks

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.Dell Studio 15 (2.0GHz Intel T5750, Intel X3100)DELL Vostro 3400 laptop battery ,

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.Dell Inspiron 1525 (Core 2 Duo T7250 @ 2.0GHz)DELL 3700 laptop battery

43.569s

WPrime 32M comparison results

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 processors better. Lower numbers indicate better performance.Dell XPS M1530 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz),DELL 17R laptop battery ,

Notebook / CPUwPrime 32M time

PCMark05 measures overall notebook performance based on processor, hard drive, operating system, RAM, and graphics (higher scores are better):

NotebookPCMark05 Score3DMark06 comparison results for graphics performance (higher scores are better):Dell Vostro 1200 laptop battery ,



HP Pavilion dv6500z COMPAQ nx7300 battery (2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60, NVIDIA 8400m GS) 1,551 3DMarks

Sony VAIO NR (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100)

504 3DMarks

Speakers and Audio

Audio performance of the speakers found on this Acer notebook fall between above average and "sounds like earbuds cranked up." Acer Aspire 4741ZG-P602G50Mnkkc battery ,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.Aspire 4741ZG laptop battery ,

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."Dell Studio XPS 13 laptop battery ,

Battery Life

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.

Heat and Noise.ASUS Eee PC 901 (1.60GHz Intel Atom) 746 PCMarks Aspire 4741G-432G50Mnkk01 laptop battery ,

Keyboard and Touchpad

From the first day seeing this Acer notebook opened, Acer Aspire 4741G-5452G50Mnkk04 laptop battery ,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.

Dell Studio 15 (Core 2 Duo T5750 @ 2.0GHz)Dell Studio XPS 1340 battery ,

41.246s

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.HP Pavilion dv5z (Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80 @ 2.1GHz) HP COMPAQ Notebook nx7400 battery ,

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.Acer BTP-ASJ1 ,

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:"This is what it's like to type a document on the Acer Aspire One keyboard if you are looking at the keys."ASUS U33JT battery ,

Here's a quick example of what I can type using the traditional touch typing method:ASUS U43 battery ,

"This is ehat it's like to type a document on the Acer Aspore One keyboard ig you are looking st the screen."

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. ASUS U43F battery ,

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. ASUS U43JC battery ,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.ASUS U43J battery ,

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.ASUS U52F battery ,

Input and Output Ports

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.Acer TravelMate 8210-6204 battery ,

Here is a quick tour around the Acer Aspire One D250-1165:Front view: Wi-Fi on/off switch.Rear view: No ports here, just the hinges and battery.

Left side view: Ethernet, heat vent, VGA out, USB 2.0 port, microphone and headphone jacks.Acer TravelMate 8210-6597 laptop battery ,



Right side view: 5-in-1 card reader, two USB 2.0 ports, power jack and security lock slot.

Performance and Benchmarks

There isn't much to be said in the performance section of a netbook review. Acer TravelMate 8215WLMi laptop battery ,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 Photoshop or GIMP for basic image editing.Acer 8215WLHi laptop battery ,

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.

wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):

Notebook / CPUwPrime 32M time

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.Acer 8216WLHi-FR laptop battery ,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.TravelMate 8216WLHi laptop battery ,

Heat and Noise

Temperatures on the new Aspire One are in line with what we've come to expect from netbooks with Intel Atom processors. Acer Aspire 4250 battery ,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.

Battery

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.Acer 4251 laptop battery ,

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 2 hours and 32 minutes 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.Asus K53SV-V2G-SX208V battery ,

Conclusion

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. K53T laptop battery ,

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.Asus K53U laptop battery ,

The Acer Aspire 5735Z is a low-priced mainstream notebook with a 15.6", 16:9 aspect ratio display. It retails for less than $500 and has reasonable build quality, a full keyboard with number pad, and decent battery life.Asus X43 Series laptop battery ,

The Aspire 5735-4744 has the following specifications:

15.6" WXGA glossy display (16:9 aspect ratio, 1366x768 resolution, model AUO10EC)

The 5735Z is held back by its integrated graphics, which bring the score down to an average 3.5. The other components – the processor, memory, and hard drive – have reasonably high scores.wPrime is an arithmetic benchmark that forces the processor to calculate the square roots of numbers. Lower times are better.Acer Aspire One 150-1635 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)Asus X43E laptop battery ,1,555 PCMarks

ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, Intel GMA 950)Asus X43BY battery , 1,535 PCMarks

Acer Aspire One D250-1165 (1.60GHz Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 950)1,456 PCMarks

Samsung NC20 (1.30GHz VIA Nano ULV U2250, VIA Chrome9 HC3)1,441 PCMarks

This time places the Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3200 within 15% of the performance of a Core 2 Duo with a similar frequency (around 2.0 – 2.2GHz). The T3200 is essentially a Core 2 Duo with reduced specifications.HDTune tests the read, write, and access time of a hard drive. Higher numbers are better for transfer rates, and lower for access time.X43B laptop battery ,

The Western Digital 160GB 5400RPM drive posts some nice results. An average transfer rate of 50MB/s is very respectable for a 5400RPM hard drive. This particular drive, the WD1600BEVT, has a single platter, which greatly helps performance.Asus X43J laptop battery ,The Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics card is designed to lower costs and save energy while providing enough power for smooth video playback and light 3D applications. We run 3DMark06 to compare it to other graphics cards:

A typical gaming notebook scores north of 3,500 points in this benchmark, so gamers will obviously not be flocking to the 5735Z.Asus X43JE battery ,

I do appreciate that ASUS continues to deliver a mostly stock ICS experience with a few additions and a handful of useful preloaded apps (e.g. Polaris Office). The additions to ICS are all functional and ASUS tends to rely on its strengths as a great hardware manufacturer rather than gimmicky software to sell its Android tablets. I'd also like to applaud ASUS for offering sensible pricing on its NAND options with the Transformer Pad 300: $20 buys you another 16GB of storage. This is the direction I hope more tablet vendors go in the future.ASUS U43JC battery ,

ASUS TF300 – 8 / 10

Backlight levels are fine for viewing in bright office conditions, but not bright enough for outdoor viewing with the glossy screen surface. Peak brightness levels measured 248cd/m2 at the center of the screen and decreased to as little as 199cd/m2 at the corners. Colors displayed on the screen stay consistent to about 15 degrees when tilted forward or back. The screen stays visible until about 60 degrees when viewing from the side since the backlight is overpowered by reflections on it.Acer LC.BTP00.008 ,



The speakers on the Aspire 7740 sound above average and are pretty good for a system that doesn't have a subwoofer. In our testing, we found peak volume levels to be more than adequate to watch a movie in the immediate area around the screen. The speakers also support simulated Dolby surround sound that worked quite well if you were centered over the notebook. Sound output is warm with a hint of bass and midrange when the Dolby Audio Enhancer was toggled on and off. For a system priced under a $1,000 and not including a low-frequency driver, we were impressed.Acer LC.BTP00.014 ,

Keyboard and Touchpad

The Aspire 7740 uses a floating island-style keyboard that is comfortable to type on but causes a few hang-ups when trying to type quickly. Since this keyboard doesn't have an internal bezel structure or solid key design, it is easy to hit the top of another key when you finger is fully pressing a neighboring key and trying to slide over at the same time. I got used to it after a few hours and learned to lift my finger fully off the key before sliding to the next key in my typing motion. The keyboard layout takes advantage of the chassis and offers a four-key wide number pad with room to spare on each side.Acer MS2221 ,

One thing missing from the keyboard layout is quick-access media keys. It was surprising that a notebook designed entirely around multimedia use with a Blu-ray drive didn't offer touch-sensitive buttons for volume control or media playback. Instead this notebook has quick-access buttons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, backup software, and a customizable program launch.Acer ZD1 ,

The touchpad on this notebook is an ALPS design model with a spacious layout and multitouch gesture support. The touchpad is quick to respond, but we did notice just a hair of lag in fast gestures. Refresh times are great which helps prevent a choppy mouse movement when moving around. Sensitivity out of the box was good but not perfect, and no adjustment for sensitivity was found in the ALPS control menu. For users who don't want to accidentally move the cursor while typing, there's a button located to the right of the touchpad to disable the touch surface.Acer GRAPE32 ,

Ports and Features

The Aspire 7440's port selection is average for a 17-inch notebook with VGA and HDMI-out, four USB ports, audio input and output jacks including S/PDIF out, LAN, modem, and a Kensington lock slot. We were hoping to find eSATA for faster external storage expansion, but it was probably left out to keep the price low. We were impressed that a Blu-ray drive was included, but decoding software was absent. Blu-ray decoding software can cost as much as $99, with one example being PowerDVD 10 from CyberLink.Acer LC.BTP00.005 ,

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.Acer LC.BTP00.011 ,

Build and Design

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. Acer Ferrari 5005WLHi battery ,

The side profile of the 8940G doesn't look much thicker than a smaller 15" or 17" notebook. Acer Ferrari 5005WLMi-FR laptop battery ,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.Acer 5005WLMi laptop battery ,

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.Acer TravelMate 8202WLMi laptop battery ,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.TravelMate 8200 battery ,



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,Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi battery , 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.TravelMate 8204WLM laptop battery ,



Screen and Speakers

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. Acer 8204WLMi-CAM laptop battery ,

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 Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi-FR laptop battery ,

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.Acer 8204WLMib laptop battery ,



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.Acer TravelMate 8205WLMi laptop battery , 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.Acer 8205WLHi battery ,

Keyboard and Touchpad

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.Acer 8205WLMi-FR laptop battery ,

The keyboard is very comfortable for typing thanks to properly sized keys and good spacing. Acer TravelMate 8210-6038 laptop battery ,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.Acer 8210 battery ,

Configurations

Aside from our model, the G73Jh-A2, ASUS also offers the $1,699 G73Jh-A1, asus A32-N55 notebook battery which has the same specs but adds a Blu-ray drive (a $100 premium). NewEgg carries a slightly modified SKU, the $1,599 G73Jh-X1, that has the same specs as the A2 but only one 7,200-rpm, 500GB drive and no included Republic of Gamers bag and mouse.Best Buy carries the $1,599 G73Jh-RBBX09, again with the same specs as the A2 model but a lower resolution 1600 x 900 LED backlit panel. You can also find the $1,199 G73Jh-RBBX05 with this same 1600 x 900 panel, one 7,200-rpm, 500GB hard drive, and 6GB of RAM.

To remedy the problem, ASUS is now shipping its UX21 series notebooks with Elan Touchpads. The company has also updated the device's drivers to improve its resume and standby times. ASUS X44HO battery ,

ASUS is now also offering the UX series in two new colors, Rose Gold and Hot Pink. Be sure to check out more on these releases and more throughout our time here at CES.The Asus Eee PC 1225B isn't available for purchase in the US yet, but the folks at Eee PC.it noticed that it's already available in Italy — and they've placed an order.X44L laptop battery ,

Verdict

While it doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the Alienware M17x, the ASUS G73Jh-A2 delivers tremendous power—and good looks to match—for much, much less. It's a great choice for gamers and multimedia mavens who demand more muscle than a traditional desktop replacement and an aesthetic that's mean, clean, and cool.If you didn't fall in love at first sight with the ASUS Zenbook UX31/21.ASUS X44LY laptop battery ,

On the bottom of the laptop you'll find a series of cooling vents. The fans tend to kick in when you're performing CPU-intensive tasks, and they can cause the computer to sound a little noisy at times. But unless you're in a pretty quiet room you probably won't notice them most of the time.The bottom of the ultrabook also gets a little warm to the touch after it's been running for a little while.G53SW laptop battery ,

Speaking of the bottom of the laptop — there are no access panels. You can't easily remove the 50Whr battery or replace the RAM or solid state disk. There are a series of screws which you can remove if you really want to get at the insides, but you'll probably void your warranty by doing so.In other words, the Zenbook's unibody design is attractive and helps keep the machine thin and light. But it makes upgrading the ultrabook difficult. E5520 laptop battery ,

While netbooks and some other low-cost ultraportable laptops are designed as secondary computers, ultrabooks are designed so that they really can be used as primary computers. They have decent screen resolutions, fast processors, and most of the features you'd expect from a modern laptop — except for replaceable batteries.DELL Latitude E6120 battery ,

Click through for details about each system.

The $299 10.1-inch Eee PC Flare 1025C (pictured above) is geared toward entertainment users, and light productivity. The netbook features a 1.6-GHz dual-core Intel Atom N2600, up to 2GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. Measuring 10.3 x 7.0 x 0.81 inches and weighing in at 2.7 pounds, the Flare 1025C features Intel's UMA graphics and built-in Altec Lansing speakers. ASUS says the system's 6-cell battery gives users more than 10 hours of battery life and can run in standby mode for up to two weeks. The 1025C is available in City Grey, Gentleman Blue, Lipstick Red, Paris Pink, ad Tuxedo Black.Asus A32-F82 ,

ASUS has also announced its 10.1-inch Eee PC X101CH. This $269 notebook features the same 1.6-GHz dual-core Intel Atom N2600 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 320GB hard drive as the 1025C, but the X101CH replaces the 1025C's 6-cell battery with a smaller 3-cell battery. And while the smaller battery size means users won't get the same kind of battery life as the 1025C, the reduced mass means the X101CH is slightly lighter: 2.3 pounds versus the 1025C's 2.7 pounds.

Users looking for a bit more power from their netbook can opt for ASUS's 10-inch Eee PC Flare 1025CE.asus p31jg-ro199x laptop battery ,At $319, the 10.1-inch 1025CE includes a 1.86-Ghz dual-core Intel Atom N2800 processor, upwards of 2GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. Like the 1025C, the 1025CE also includes Intel's UMA graphics chip and built-in Altec Lansing speakers. As with the 1025C, the 1025CE also weighs in at 2.7 pounds and measures 10.3 x 7.0 x 0.81 inches. Available colors include Addicting Pink, Mysterious Blue, and Plucky Purple, all in a metallic finish.p31 battery ,

Our only complaint is that sometimes the touchpad misinterpreted a left click for a right click, such as when selecting text in a Word document. Overall, though, the touchpad on this Ultrabook is now good enough for us to boost this review from 3.5 stars to 4 stars.DELL E6220 laptop battery ,

It still measures a large 4.1 x 2.75 inches, but the cursor doesn't jump like it did before and it takes much fewer swipes to get across the desktop. Two-finger scrolling is now smoother in both documents and on webpages, while pinch to zoom is nearly flawless when viewing photos. This same gesture stuttered on Internet Explorer and Chrome, so that's more of a software issue.Latitude E6320 laptop battery ,

Other gestures worked better this time around, too. We had no trouble rotating photos with two fingers, and we could easily flick through images with three fingers. You can also swipe down with three fingers to show the desktop at any time, or swipe up to show your open apps and then three-finger swipe sideways to cycle through them.DELLE6520 laptop battery ,

Below the keyboard you'll find a large touchpad. There are no buttons below the touchpad. Instead you can press down anywhere on the surface for a left-click, or press the lower right corner for a right-click.

I'm not a huge fan of touchpads with integrated click areas, and find that I have to push a little harder than I'd like in order to click. But for the most part the touchpad works reasonably well when I'm using the ultrabook on my lap. When I'm using it at a desk or table I typically prefer to plug in a mouse. I'm old fashioned that way.Asus L0690L6 ,

Performance

OK, so the ZenBook UX31 is portable and pretty. But how well does it actually function as a laptop?Pretty well, actually. In fact, it's probably the fastest computer I've ever spent any serious time with.Asus L0A2016 ,

Bear in mind, Liliputing is a website focused on affordable portable laptops, so most of the machines I've reviewed over the past few years have featured low power, inexpensive components.Asus 70-OA1B1B2100 ,

But odds are if you're looking for a replacement for a laptop you bought more than a year or two ago, the UX31 will probably be a faster, more capable machine. It fares reasonably well on benchmarks, handles HD video playback with ease, has no problems multitasking, and gets decent battery life to boot.Asus 90-OA001B9000 ,,

Speaking of booting, one of the most impressive tricks the UX31 has up its sleeve is its quick boot, shutdown, and resume from sleep speeds. In general if you close the lid the laptop will go to sleep in just a few seconds. But while most Windows 7 laptops take 10 or 15 seconds or longer to resume from sleep, the UX31 wakes up almost as soon as you open the lid, letting you pick up where you left off in 3 seconds or less.Asus AL31-1005 ,

I also ran a handful of benchmarks on the laptop and confirmed empirically that it's the fastest machine I've ever tested — at least in terms of raw CPU power. The Intel HD 3000 graphics aren't exactly designed for hardcore 3D gaming.

If you completely shut down the laptop it takes just 25 seconds or less to go from off to on. And by on, I mean you have a fully usable Windows desktop, and the computer is already connected to your WiFi network.The fast boot and resume speeds come from the fast procssor, the fast 128GB SATA III solid state disk, and software tweaks from Asus and Intel.Asus AL32-1005 ,

Another nifty feature that Intel is baking into the ultrabook platform is a smart connect technology that allows ultrabooks to connect to the internet periodically even when they're sleeping. That means if you close the lid on your ultrabook while your browser is open to Gmail or Google Reader, for instance, the latest email messages or news articles will be ready for you when you open your laptop again.Asus ML31-1005 ,

In day to day usage, the UX31 never felt sluggish. During this year's Consumer Electronics Show I used the laptop to transcode dozens of 720p HD videos into files with lower bit rates so I could upload them to YouTube. The UX31 was able to transcode videos using Handbrake about 3 times faster than my aging Asus UL20A notebook.Asus PL31-1005

I wouldn't mind slightly smaller keys if it meant that Asus could fit a row of dedicated keys for PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End functions on the right side of the keyboard.