All about laptop

Lenovo Thinks 400

2009-07-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

They don't make things easy for us, the folks who name names for laptops. The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s is the latest addition to the Lenovo T series, and may be nominatively related to the T400, but is in fact closer to the Lenovo ThinkPad X300. It's certainly thin, and tougher than most, as well as being louder. Let's see if it goes up to 11.

The 14.1-inch T400s is clad in a second-generation carbon fibre monocoque. As well as making it very thin -- 21mm -- Lenovo reckons it gives the T400s enough tough to be run over by a 12-tonne truck. Except it isn't; it won't turn on. Still, at least the hard drive survives.

Chip choices are from a selection of Intel 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo processors, with a choice of solid-state drive storage up to 128GB or a 250GB hard-drive.

Features include a fingerprint scanner, USB port, a 2-megapixel camera and optional card reader, Blu-ray, Bluetooth and ultrawideband. The speaker volume has been tripled over the T400 for an improved VoIP experience, as well as blasting AC/DC and rocking the heck out.

Speaking of rocking out, here some tornado chasers take the T400s and attempt to rock you like a hurricane.

Web Cnet UK

One Aspired By Acer

2009-07-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Acer says the Aspire One is not a laptop. It might look and smell like one, but the company has gone to great lengths to promote the message that the One is an 'Internet device'. Others, such as Intel, refer to it as a netbook -- a new category of device spawned by the Asus Eee PC 701. You, friends, can call it what you want. We'll stick with mini laptop.

Despite its lateness to the party, the One has pretty much everything it takes to be a market leader. It's attractive and lightweight. It offers solid performance and it's easy to use. Most importantly, however, is its price: the entry-level One costs a very pocket-friendly £220.

Design
The One's dimensions are somewhat deceiving. The 249 by 29 by 170mm chassis makes it approximately 25mm wider than an Eee PC 901, but it's also marginally thinner. At 995g, it's also lighter than the 1.1kg Eee 901. Be warned, though: the One saves weight because it comes with a very small, very lightweight 2200mAh battery, which is dwarfed by the 901's 6600mAh unit.

The One, on the whole, is attractive -- particularly with its lid closed. The curved edges and glossy blue finish -- it's also available in white -- give it a more contemporary, grown-up look than the Eee PC series. The general concensus in the CNET.co.uk offices is that it isn't quite as attractive as an Eee PC 901, but looks are always a subjective issue -- you may think it's the best thing since sliced bread.

By making the chassis wider than most netbooks, Acer has been able to incorporate a keyboard that's 95 per cent the size of a full laptop keyboard. Amazingly, you can actually touch-type on the One without much compromise in your speed. Sure, the enter button isn't as big as we'd like, but the rest of it is spot on. Both shift keys are large and even the Ctrl and Fn buttons are the right way round. Unfortunately, the mouse trackpad is extremely shallow and its remarkably skinny buttons live on either side instead of directly below. This takes a lot of getting used to.

There's plenty to talk about elsewhere. There are three USB ports in total -- two on the right, one on the left. There's also a D-Sub video output port, Ethernet port and mic and headphone ports. Unusually, there are two SD card readers, one on either side. The idea is that one SD reader -- which also recognises MMC, xD and Memory Stick Pro cards -- can be used to access removable media. The other is intended for semi-permanent storage -- you simply slap an SDHC card in and leave it there.

Features
Like most netbooks, the One comes in Linux and Windows XP versions. The entry-level Linux version sells for £220 and packs the hugely popular 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU and 512MB of RAM. Standard storage levels aren't great -- just 8GB of NAND flash memory is provided, but you can't complain given the amount Acer's asking you to spend.

The basic Windows XP model uses the same 1.6GHz Atom CPU, but gets 1GB of RAM, plus an 80GB mechanical hard drive, all for around £320. We love that it has plenty of storage space, but the mechanical hard disk has moving parts, which makes the One more prone to accidental data loss than machines with solid-state drives.

The majority of the One's other features are common across all versions of the device. The 8.9-inch, 1,024x600-pixel display is a good one and the 1.3 megapixel webcam above the screen comes in handy for anyone who wants to video chat with faraway friends and relatives.

Web Cnet UK

XT2 from Dell

2009-07-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Dell Latitude XT2 is a business-grade convertible notebook, offering multi-touch finger and digitized pen controls. With a slim and boxy chassis it might not look as cool as some consumer tablets, but it ends up being easier to carry and smaller to travel with. With a starting price of $1,929 it is easily one of the more expensive tablets on the market, but it does include some not-so-common features.

* Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.4GHz (800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache)
* Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32-bit)
* 12.1" Premium WXGA (1280 x 800) LED-Backlight Display with Multi-touch
* Intel X4500MHD Integrated Graphics
* 3GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM (2GB + 1GB)
* 120GB Toshiba 1.8" 5400RPM HDD
* 8X CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) through docking station
* Intel 5100AGN WiFi, Bluetooth, and 1Gb Ethernet
* 6-Cell 42WHr Battery
* Limited 3-year standard parts and labor warranty with on-site service
* Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 1.1"
* Weight: 3lbs 13.6oz
* Price as configured: $2,253

Build and Design
The Dell Latitude XT2 has a very professional, business-like appearance with sharp lines and edges, all dark-grey design, and even exposed screws. This notebook is definitely not targeted towards those looking for the next designer notebook. Instead, it is aimed squarely at those who just want to get down to business. The brushed metal surfaces are actually specially painted covers that give the look of metal but with the ease of maintenance that paint gives. The finish resists smudges and is much easier to wipe clean than most brushed metal exteriors. If it was painted matte black and had a Lenovo logo printed on it, you would swear it was a ThinkPad.

I personally love the side profile of the Latitude XT2, which is almost perfectly square at all corners. It has no sloped surfaces, no rounded sides, and sits very low to the desk surface. If you are carrying the tablet around in one arm it takes up such a small amount of space that you really don't mind holding.

Build quality is excellent, and probably the best construction I have ever seen on a Dell notebook. Panels feel solid with very little creaking or squeaking plastic, and fit and finish is impeccable. Surfaces meet with clean lines and nothing feels out of place. Paint quality is great on every part of the body, with no specs of dust, unpainted edges, or really any type of imperfection. The screen hinge is durable and rugged, giving you the sense that it should hold up well over time. The chassis feels very rugged with barely a hint of flex if you squeeze the palmrest or put heavy pressure on the keyboard. The screen lid has some minor wiggle, but doesn't show any signs of color distortion unless you really try to twist the panel

Access to user-serviceable components is easy through two areas. The hard drive is located underneath the battery, with four screws and a frame holding it in place. The RAM, WiFi-card, and WWAN-card are located under a single access panel held in with two screws. For most upgrade needs it should take no more than five minutes to swap out any component. One interesting component that Dell puts front and center under the access panel is a user removable BIOS chip (with a handy pull tab). This lets companies replace it in the event of a failed BIOS update, instead of sending the entire machine in for repair.

more reviews in Web NotebookReview

Laptop Batterties Q & A

2009-04-22T00:23:00.000-07:00

Question: I have a five-year old Dell Latitude laptop. A few weeks ago the battery stopped working. The computer runs when it is plugged in but the battery does not. Should I replace the battery (about C$100)or do I have any other options?
Constantine Kostarakis, Montreal, Canada

Answer: I don’t know how many times you have recharged the battery but five years is quite a long time for a laptop battery — most new rechargeable batteries are guaranteed for one or two years but should probably last three or more.

Since the laptop runs when it is plugged into the mains, it is almost certain that a dead battery is the only problem. Assuming you want to continue using the machine away from the mains, your only option is to replace the battery.

The safest option would be to buy a Dell branded replacement, but that said, it is certainly worth shopping around for a replacement battery pack since you may find cheaper alternatives from other manufacturers. Check out specialist online replacement battery suppliers like Laptop Battery Depot which supports all the big band names or LaptopPartsWorld.

You could also consider buying a used battery on Ebay or from another source though there is always the risk that a second hand replacement may be nearing the end of its life.

http://www.ft.com/comment/columnists/paultaylor

Cheaper Computer For Consumers By Intel

2009-04-21T01:22:00.000-07:00

Intel Corp., in an effort to jumpstart sales of notebook computers, is cutting prices on chips that go into "thin and light" machines aimed at consumers.

The computers, which will cost about US$600, are designed for people who want the features of a full-sized laptop in a smaller package. Intel's customers will begin shipping notebooks based on the chips this quarter, said Connie Brown, a spokeswoman for the company.

Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is targeting a portion of the market that may account for 10% of laptop processor sales by 2013, according to Shane Rau, an IDC analyst in San Mateo, California. Intel, which had a 17% sales drop at its unit that makes chips for laptops last quarter, needs to keep out new competition from mobile-phone chip makers such as Qualcomm Inc.

"This is the next battleground for mobile computing and it is beginning to heat up," said Jim McGregor, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based analyst for research firm In-Stat.

Apple Inc. fired up interest in thin laptops last year by introducing the MacBook Air, which is less than 1 inch thick and almost twice the price of the company's most basic notebook. Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini has called such machines "executive jewelry."

Intel has typically charged more for versions of its laptop processors that need less power. Chips that use less electricity generate less heat, allowing them to be squeezed into smaller cases. Intel's Ms. Brown declined to say how much the company will charge for the new chips or which PC makers will use them.

IDC's Mr. Rau estimates that most of the current thin and light computers sell for between US$1,250 and US$1,500. Models such as the MacBook Air and Dell Inc.'s Adamo can sell for more than US$2,000. The majority of the new, cheaper machines will go on sale in early 2010, when demand is recovering, Mr. Rau said.

"They will draw some significant new volume," said Mr. Rau. "People look at the executive jewelry with some jealousy."

By cutting prices on chips that consume less power, Intel is continuing the strategy it started last year with its Atom processor for so-called netbooks, said Tristan Gerra, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Netbooks are scaled-down notebooks powerful enough for basic functions such as surfing the Internet.

Demand is starting to shift from high-performance processors, which have been a "driving force" for Intel, to cheaper chips, Mr. Gerra said. While cutting prices may hurt Intel's profitability, it needs to hold off the possible challenge from phone-chip makers such as Qualcomm, he said.

"Intel is doing the right thing, it's just there are lower margins," he said.

San Diego-based Qualcomm, the largest maker of chips that run mobile phones, will begin selling a processor called Snapdragon this year. The new chip will become the basis of small computers made by Samsung Electronics Co. and other manufacturers.

Last year, Intel won sales in mobile computers from its only rival, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Intel ended 2008 with 87.1% of the market, up from 82.3% in 2007, IDC says.

AMD began selling chips aimed at thin and light laptops in January and will offer improved models with better graphics capabilities and processors in the second half, said John Taylor, a spokesman for the Sunnyvale, California-based company.

http://www.financialpost.com/

Latest Encryption Software For Laptop

2009-04-21T00:20:00.000-07:00

For years now retailers have been selling more notebooks than PCs and thanks to the success of ultra-portable net books, more people than ever before are carrying their computers - and their valuable data - around with them the whole time. Needless to say, this increases the risk of data being skimmed, stolen or of it simply falling into the wrong hands. Fortunately, confidential information on portable computers can be reliably secured using state-of-the-art encryption techniques or biometric authentication.

"If you are looking for a high level of protection it is no use simply denying access to the system", said Detlef Huehnlein, an expert on biometrics and electronic signatures at the Bonn-based Society for Information Technology. "After all, someone can just physically steal the storage medium". This means users should encrypt their most important files or indeed their entire database.

Windows Vista now offers complete data encryption security with an improved Encrypted File System (EFS) and the new BitLocker feature. It will be available too on the upcoming Windows 7-operating systems Enterprise and Ultimate. Mac OS fans can turn to FileVault although the drawback here is that the system does not allow users to select which parts of the disk to encrypt since only entire home directories can be encrypted.

"This makes it unsuitable for particularly sensitive information", said Huehnlein who has his doubts about the effectiveness of the Apple Mac encryption technology.

Under Windows the free open-source encryption software TrueCrypt encrypts not only individual boot partitions but entire boot drives. It can also set up and run a hidden encrypted operating system. According to specialists at Germany's heise security portal, "The encryption algorithms used are virtually impregnable, provided a sound password is used."

Meanwhile, there are several companies offering encryption processors integrated into intelligent USB sticks, as Huehnlein points out. These enable users to create secure files on the device and the host computer. Similar applications are based on the MicroSD and SD cards used in smart phones.

Nowadays, encryption does not necessary slow down the computer and Huehnlein says performance remains unaffected when the applications are in use.

There are plenty of USB stick encryption devices on the market but heise security advises against using bargain basement solutions. "Cheap hardware means cheap encryption", experts warn. Such devices represent poor value for money since the manufacturers cut corners where it matters most, namely on developing reliable encryption.

In all cases, the user needs a key to access the encrypted data and this can be provided in a number of ways, typically in the form of a password. "This means the degree of security comes down to the password", said Huehnlein. For particularly data-sensitive areas so-called authentication tokens or chip cards can be used to boost the degree of confidentiality.

A password can be combined with biometric authorization which typically compares and matches the irises of an individual's eyes, facial features, hand geometry or handwriting. Voice recognition can also be used.

Fingerprint sensors are currently the most widespread method and they can be found in products ranging from notebooks to computer mice and USB sticks. Unfortunately, they are fairly easy to spoof using anything from duplicates to jelly babies.

The standard facial recognition software solutions supplied by many notebook manufacturers are also easily fooled. Programmes designed to match faces using a webcam are often unable to distinguish between the real thing and a simple photograph held up to the lenses

While biometric protection may not be bombproof, it is certainly better than no security at all. "It all depends on what level of data security you are looking for", said Huehnlein. User friendliness plays a major role and fingerprint sensors score high on that level.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (SIT) in Darmstadt is currently working on a new biometric system designed to make paying at the cash till safer by boosting the authentication process. The technology could have other applications such as limiting access to sensitive data, said SIT Thomas Kniess.

A forged signature is not enough to trick this system which does not compare the signature image but the way in which it was written.

"It plots the position of the pen on the x and y axis at a given time", said Kniess. Depending on the level of sophistication of the touchpad or display used, security can be further enhanced by measuring the angle or amount of pressure used by the writer during the signing procedure.

http://www.earthtimes.org/

Laptop Theft At Bowling

2009-04-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

BOWLING GREEN — A former Defiance College football player who stole a laptop computer from a dorm room at Bowling Green State University was sent to jail Friday for 45 days.

Wood County Common Pleas Judge Alan Mayberry also placed Aaron Whaley, 19, of Oak Park, Mich., on community control for three years and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine, perform 250 hours of community service, have no contact with the victim or BGSU, and consume no alcohol.

Whaley, who pleaded guilty in February to burglary, and two other former Defiance College students were arrested Oct. 3 after the incident at McDonald East residence hall.

http://www.toledoblade.com/

Teacher Charges With Child Pornography

2009-04-20T01:17:00.000-07:00

THORNDIKE - A science teacher at Mount View Junior High School was arrested Thursday, April 16, at his residence in Augusta, charged with possession of child pornography.

According to an affidavit on file at Fifth District Court in Belfast, Michael J. Douglas, 41, admitted to police that he had accessed child pornography over the Internet and that he had done so "over the course of years."

Police were reportedly first alerted to Douglas late last month by SAD 3 Superintendent Joe Mattos, who said Douglas was in possession of a school-issued laptop computer containing child pornography.

Trooper Corey Smith met with Mattos the next day, and in his affidavit Smith wrote that he was "provided with copies of information … which illustrated the allegation Michael Douglas used the computer to access Internet Web sites to view images of children under the age of 12 years engaged in sexual acts."

Smith said he was given Douglas' school-issued computer, which he turned over to the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit. Sgt. Glenn Lang of that office informed Smith the next day that "contraband" had been found on the Macintosh laptop computer.

The following day, Lang and Smith interviewed Douglas in Unity, where he allegedly admitted that over the course of years he had viewed child pornography on the Internet.

Douglas reportedly told the officers the sexually explicit images he had viewed depicted a range of individuals, from children as young as toddlers up to and including adult women.

Douglas reportedly told Lang and Smith that he had viewed the images on his school-issued laptop while at home, and that the same images found on the school-issued laptop could be found on his home computer.

After the interview, Lang and Smith followed Douglas to his residence in Augusta, where Douglas reportedly turned over a Dell computer to the officers and signed a consent form allowing the Computer Crimes Unit to analyze it.

Smith gave the computer to the Computer Crimes Unit in Vassalboro and within two weeks a technician with the Computer Crimes Unit told Smith she had found "evidence of suspected child pornography."

According to court paperwork, Douglas was arrested Thursday, April 16, in Augusta and taken to Kennebec County Jail. A handwritten note on the affidavit states that bail conditions include that Douglas is not to use or possess a computer, and that he may not use or have access to the Internet.

Douglas was scheduled to be transferred to the Waldo County Jail but jail personnel in Belfast said Douglas had made bail at Kennebec County Jail prior to the scheduled transfer.

Kennebec County Jail personnel said Douglas had left the jail Thursday after his $1,000 bail had been posted.

The Republican Journal Reporter Steve Fuller can be reached at 207-338-3333 or by e-mail at sfuller@villagesoup.com.

Patient Got Problem Of Laptops

2009-04-20T00:15:00.000-07:00

Greensboro, N.C.-based Moses Cone Health System recently notified 14,380 patients that some of their identifiable information was on a laptop stolen in Canton, Ga., on March 9. The delivery system is offering the patients one year of free credit monitoring services and insurance protection from CSIdentity, Austin, Texas.

The laptop was stolen along with other items from the car of an employee of VHA Clinical Specialty Services, previously known as Goodroe Healthcare Solutions, a consulting division of provider alliance VHA Inc., Irving, Texas.

Moses Cone contracts with VHA Clinical Specialty to analyze data to improve utilization of supplies without compromising the quality of care. The delivery system transmitted the data via a virtual private network to VHA, where it was downloaded to the laptop. The laptop was password-protected but data was not encrypted. The VHA consultant was authorized to bring the laptop home but should not have left it in the car, says a VHA spokesperson.

Following the March 9 theft, Moses Cone was notified about the episode by VHA on Saturday, March 14, says Lynn Matthews, compliance and privacy officer at the delivery system. Letters were sent out to patients on April 9 and local media was informed on April 13. "We wanted to tie the medial release to coincide with patients receiving the letters," Matthews says.

In response to the event, Moses Cone contracted in March with CSIdentity, got a copy of the downloaded file back from VHA, converted it back to its original format, and removed about 4,000 duplicate listings so patients wouldn't get two or more letters. Deceased patients also were identified and removed. "It was just a lot of data to turn around," Matthews says.

Identifiable information on the laptop included patient names, addresses, date-of-birth and about 6,000 Social Security numbers. Because the laptop was among several items stolen and "the data was in a format the average criminal could not access," Moses Cone officials do not believe any of the data was exposed, Matthews says. "We don't have any indication this data was used and hope patients use the credit monitoring service. We are very sorry that this happened."

Since the theft, VHA Clinical Specialty Services has changed its procedures for capturing information from hospitals, according to the VHA spokesperson. It has identified other laptops with hospital information and removed the data. Now, hospitals transmit data via the virtual private network directly into a server accessible only by authorized VHA users.

VHA is working with hospitals to determine other ways to further protect data. For instance, they are studying whether it is practical for VHA consultants to come to hospitals to do programming and analyses on a designated computer. That way, the data never leaves the hospital.

http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/

Adamo against the odds

2009-04-19T02:30:00.000-07:00

The Dell Adamo laptop has now received an in-depth review including an abundance of clear pictures from the guys over at Engadget Mobile. The guys even put up the Dell Adamo against an Apple MacBook Air laptop and an X301 for kicks.

The guys say if you were to simply judge the Dell Adamo by the cover it would be a best seller with its sleek and sophisticated packaging.

But then it’s not just judged on appearance is it, so the guys got down to the nitty gritty and gave the Dell Adamo a good going over, which you can read all about and view all those images by hitting the source.

http://www.cheaplaptops.org.uk/

Acer With EasyNotes

2009-04-19T01:30:00.000-07:00

Given the huge growth and popularity attributed to penny-saving and ultra-portable Netbook computers, you’d think hardware manufacturers would perhaps lean away from producing new conventional notebooks – not so Packard-Bell as it strives to polish its brand perception.

Sure, Packard-Bell’s new EasyNote Butterfly and EasyNote TR85 platforms might not sport ‘trendy’ form factors or boast the brand draw associated with the likes of ASUS and Dell, but parent company Acer is certainly a manufacturing frontrunner thanks to popular traditional and ultra-portable lines such as the Aspire.

First up for assessment is the Butterfly, which – effeminate name aside – is less than an inch thick and offers up a backlit 13.4-inch LED display (16:9), ATI Radeon HD4330 graphics, data storage via a choice of either a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), Dolby Sound Room audio, an onboard Web cam, Bluetooth, HDMI, and a lockable multi-touch trackpad.

While Packard-Bell has not yet confirmed the chip and network muscle responsible for powering its Butterfly (or the range of its data storage), current chatter suggests the inclusion of a dependable Intel processor while optional 3G connectivity will also be included.

Those looking for optimal usage while on-the-go will likely be thrilled to learn that Packard-Bell claims the Butterfly’s battery and PowerSave button will provide single-charge power for up to eight hours when interaction is limited to word processing and Web browsing – though multimedia activities and downloads will impact that longevity significantly.

If the aesthetically simple but elegant Butterfly doesn’t blow your tech skirt up, then how about the slightly more glossy and outgoing EasyNote TR85, which has design notes from Pininfarina and comes equipped with a backlit 15.6-inch LED display screen (16:9), Intel processing, NVIDIA GeForce graphics, up to 500GBs of storage, a Web cam with privacy cover, a slot-in optical drive, and a ramp-shaped Dolby speaker.

While neither slice of Packard-Bell’s hardware will be the easiest to cart about when compared to an Eee PC, an Inspiron Mini 9 or an Aspire One, both will likely offer solid portable performance without requiring the help of a golf caddy – Packard-Bell claims the Butterfly weighs “500 grams less than a standard notebook.”

That being said, clean design and a selection of pleasing features and functions won’t tempt the masses out of the shadows of recession unless the price is right – excuse the cliché. And, surprise, surprise, Packard-Bell has not yet announced its price points for the Butterfly – although the TR is expected to come attached to a €699 price tag.

The EasyNote Butterfly is expected to hit retail in June, while the EasyNote TR85 has been pencilled in for a release in May.

http://www.thetechherald.com/

Gaming Notebook from MSI

2009-04-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

MSI has launched a new 14.1-inch notebook, the GSX403. It comes with an ECO Engine with 5 modes that are meant to save power, thereby enabling a better battery life.

Users can switch among its modes by repeatedly touching the ECO quick launch touch sensor.

The notebook weighs about 2.2 kg, and is powered by Intel Core2 Duo processor, the Intel PM45 Express Chipset. Its screen features a resolution of 1280x800 and an aspect ratio of 16:10.

It houses the E- SATA support, high-definition multimedia interface, 1.3 MP web cam and DTV receiver (optional). The HDMI output connector offers 5 Gbps data transfers and also allows transmission of high-definition digital video and digital audio up to 1080p resolution, says MSI.

The notebook enables users to connect to HD enabled equipments like an HD monitor, HD TV and HD projector. It also offers wireless functions like 802.11 b/g/n wireless networking standards and Bluetooth.

For audio and video, the notebook houses Dolby Surround Sound, Nvidia's GeForce GT 130M 3D graphic card (built-in DDR3 512 MB VRAM) and the MSI vivid image enhancement technology.

MSI says that the Turbo Drive Engine Technology increases the CPU speed while the GX403 is in AC mode. This can be activated by touching the turbo button above the keyboard.

The GX403 features the Color Film Print technology that adds texture and brightness to its surface. This also makes the surface scratch and fingerprint proof.

The notebook also includes colorful W, A, S, D buttons on the keyboard, thus adding convenience for gamers.

There is no news on the pricing and availability of this notebook.

http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/home.jsp

Archos 10 The Netbook Chipmunks

2009-04-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

New netbook The Archos 10 from the infamous Archos is unsurprisingly, a 10-inch (1024 x 600) netbook. It is the first netbook from Archos who traditionally make PMP products. The Archos 10 is actually a rebranded a Hasee MJ125 netbook. NetbookNews.de got hands on and posted a very thorough unboxing of the netbook (spanning three pages!) As well as going through every perceivable angle of the Archos 10 they also compare it to the Asus Eee PC 1000HE and Dell Mini 10. netbook

In our view the styling that similar with notebook is slightly uninspired and the specs are similarly ’standard’. The unit is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU and 1GB RAM. It also supports a 160GB hard disk, a 1.3MP webcam and integrated Wi-Fi.

The Archos 10 netbook suggested retail price in the UK is £349, which is not good value for money in our opinion. It rather comes with a weak 2200 mAh 3-cell battery and given the Asus 1000HE can be had for a similar price, it is hard to understand who would choose the Archos over the Asus
.
http://www.netbookchoice.com/

Optical drive includes with ASUS netbook

2009-04-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Asus announced a netbook that includes an integral optical disk drive. The Eee PC 1004DN (left) has an Intel Atom N280 processor, a 10-inch display, a 120GB hard disk drive, up to 2GB of RAM, and weighs 3.19 pounds with a six-cell battery.

At 10.9 x 7.55 x 1.33 inches, the PC 1004DN isn't the smallest computer to include an integrated optical drive but we believe that honor may go to the Kohjinsha SR8KPO6S pictured at right, which measures 9.2 x 7 x 1.3 inches and includes a touchscreen that folds into tablet mode. However, the PC 1004DN is the first such device in Asus's Eee netbook line, according to the company.

The optical drive would certainly come in handy for easy loading of Linux distributions on the netbook. The company did not detail operating system support, but the Atom-based system should support both Linux and Windows for this netbook.

Asus says the PC 1004DN's optical drive reads and writes data from and to standard CD/DVD media, allowing movie playback, data backup, and software installation. At the same time, the netbook battery, packing six cells for a total of 5200mAh, provides up to five hours of operation, it's claimed.

In another novel move, the PC 1004DN incorporates not only Intel's 1.66GHz Atom N280 CPU, but also the chipmaker's GN40 northbridge/southbridge combination. Earlier N280 netbooks, the Asus PC1000HE and the PC 1008HA, have apparently used Intel's 945GSE (945GCSE northbridge and 82801GBM southbridge), which typically accompanies the chipmaker's earlier Atom N270.

http://www.desktoplinux.com/

Asus G50V - Reviews

2009-03-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Asus G50V, which is on sale in various model ranging from 15.4 "or 15.6" display with the diagonal 15.6 "offers an ideal 16:9 ratio for movies. In both versions of the events on the screen just look powerful with a graphics Card GeForce 9800GT from NVIDIA, which offers 512 MB of graphics RAM.
The heart of this new model is Processor Intel Core 2 Duo, the choice are range from the models T9600, T9400, P8600, P8400 and P7350, to ensure sufficient power for intensive calculations in games. For this model is T9400.
For storage of games, applications, music and so G50V to offer 640 GB capacity of the two hard drives. The sufficient amount of RAM type DDR2 up to 4 GB. Offered are several different optical drives, among other things, the latest Blu-Ray.

A 2 Mpx webcam, Wi-Fi module which supports WiMAX technology, or decorative LEDs on both side of the notebook. The rear of the addition has a features change color according to speed cooling, optionally can be delivered to both Asus gaming notebook and Bluetooth.

Not just the duration of battery life, the weight is also seems problem as for its bigger in size this note book is heavier and becomes uncomfortable to carry by anyone who travel a lot or for a women.

Technical parameters:

Processor
Frequency: 2530 MHz
Type: Intel Core 2 Duo
Model: T9400
Zběrnice Frequency (FSB): 1066 MHz
Chipset: Mobile Intel ® PM45 Express Chipset + ICH9M

Hard Drive
Capacity: 320 GB
Interface: SATA
Hard drive speed: 5400 RPM
Number of installed hard disks: 2
Total Storage Capacity: 640 GB

Screen
Diagonal: 15.6 "
Display Type: TFT WXGA +

Memory
Size: 4096 MB
Type: DDR2
Layout memory: 2 x 2048 MB
Maximum: 4 GB
As follows: 800 MHz

Backup Media
Intgrovaná card reader: Yes
Compatible with memory cards: SD, MMC, MS, MS-Pro, mini SD, MS-Duo, MS-Pro Duo

Video
Video card: NVIDIA ® GeForce ® 9800
Dedicated video memory: 512 MB

Optical Drive
Type: Blu-ray

Sound
Sound system: HD Audio
Direct 3D sound: Yes
Full Duplex: Yes

Camera
Contains camera: Yes

Networking
Internal modem: Yes
Network Properties: Gigabit Ethernet, WLAN
Wireless technologies: 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth: Yes
Technology wiring: 10/100/1000 Base-T (X)
Modem speed: 56 Kbit / s

Operating System
Available OS: Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

Power
Battery type: Lithium-Ion
External AC Adapter: Yes
Power: 120 W
Output current: 6.32 A
Output voltage: 19 V
Frequency: 50/60 Hz
Input voltage: 100 - 240 V

Options link
ExpressCard Slot: No
Microphone: Yes
DC-in jack: Yes
Output S / PDIF port: Yes
Infrared port: No
DVI port: No
TV Output port: No
Port Replicator: No
CardBus PCMCIA slot type: No
SmartCard slot: No
TV Input port: No
Number of serial ports: 0
Patalelních Number of ports: 0
The number of PS / 2 ports: 0
Number CardBus PCMCIA slots: 0
Number of Ethernet ports (RJ-45): 1
Connectors for headphones: 1
Number of VGA Ports: 1
Number of IEEE 1394 ports: 1
Number of HDMI ports: 1
Number of external SATA ports: 1
Modem Port (RJ-11): 1
Number of USB 2.0 ports: 4

Security
User password hard disk: Yes
BIOS Password: Yes
Slot lock: Kensington

Weight and dimensions
Weight: 2800 g
Depth: 265 mm
Height (front): 34.3 mm
Width: 375 mm
Height (rear): 40.6 mm

Technical details
Model: PC
Pointing device: touchpad

How to: Notebook vs Netbook

2009-03-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

A very good video on how to tell a different between notebook and netbook

8.9 inch netbook on demise?

2009-02-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

Asus has annouced the discontinuation of the 8.9 inch Eee PC and some more many vendors has started to pull down the current price in regards to stabilize their inventory.Many rumours has come that is about time for the this computer model to come to its end.

It is said that Intel and HP was having some talk for a mutual agreements so that Intel will have lower down their limitation of Atom processor selling distribution so that HP can use the netbook processor in a netbook with a larger panel in regards to the Digitimes reports that HP's '09 roadmap showed the corporation hoped to attach both an 11.6-inch model and a 13.3-inch model to its netbook line, with the 11.6-inch predicted sometime in Q2 '09 and the 13.3-inch in June ’09.

Is it the fact that PC giant vendors such HP starting to limit their distribution of small netbooks determine the low selling of such notebooks in market or less demand of it compare to other model as well? It will look like Intel Atom will have some problem in marketing and rebranding this processor to the a better level. While HP is keen to see the boundaries relieved thus it can create different prospect Atom-based netbooks, Intel is perhaps going to be a little suspicious of making the Atom available for anything larger than an 11-inch panel (the current restriction stands at a reported 10.2 inches, Dell Mini 12 aside). Intel has certain limitations on the Atom so as not to demise sales of their more classy CPUs. The Celeron or Pentium Dual Core will have to be a last resort for building a bigger than 10.2

Mini 10 Dell arrived in town this week

2009-02-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

The marketable advancement of the small size "netbook" PC takes into a next level with the launch of the Dell Inspiron Mini 10. Response evetually were vary according from the sources John Stokdyk

The computer were planned to be on market in UK region on Thursday 26 February.The computer is eal\rly seen in US shopping channel QVC and powered by 1.33GHz or 1.6GHz Intel Atom processors, and also comes with 160GB hard drive, webcam of 1.3 mp and also built-in Wi-Fi.
The mini computer looks alike were not come up to a standard as everyone expected.. In a company blog, Dell executive Lionel Menchaca explained, "Initially, all Mini 10s will come with 1GB fixed RAM (which means it will not be upgradable), the Windows XP operating system, and a 16:9 edge-to-edge put on view that supports a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768." The screen dimensions will default to 1024 x 576, which is a improved fit for widescreen viewing, he added.

The complete specifications are obtainable from Dell's US site. The US price will be $399, with the UK price anticipated to start from £299 .The non-upgradable RAM in the initial models were among of the dislikes for the people who responded to Menchaca's blog.

One commentator called ShakataGaNai quote the the case: "Dell: People buy machines here because they want customised based on their own need. By abandoned from that services (not telling when features will be available, and making items like RAM non-upgradeable), customers will likley goes away. Why would I pay $399 for a Mini 10 that doesn't have everything I want, and won't for an unknown amount of time, when I can have an Eee PC tomorrow, for cheaper?"

Budget PCs could help Taiwanese firms in downturn

2009-02-24T08:52:00.000-08:00

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Thinking small might help Taiwan's computer industry emerge from the global downturn as an even bigger global player.

While the worldwide computer market is suffering through its worst sales in years, one bright spot is coming from the mini-laptops known as "netbooks," which appeal to the budget-conscious in tough times.

Several research groups have forecast that global demand for the thin, light machines could double this year — and the category is dominated by Taiwanese brands and Taiwanese contract manufacturers.

With the island's $2.5 billion in electronics exports accounting for one-fifth of Taiwan's overall exports in January, Taiwanese government planners hope netbooks can boost an economy that is struggling.

At 5 percent, unemployment is moderate by worldwide standards but at a five-year high here. And with exports registering two consecutive monthly drops of more than 40 percent year-over-year, economists are predicting a 3 to 6 percent contraction in the Taiwanese economy for 2009.

Taiwan-made mini-laptops burst onto the world's electronics scene with an estimated 11 million units sold last year. This year, sales could hit 22 million units, according to several analysts. In comparison, 120 million standard laptops are expected to be churned out this year.

With screens of 9 to 10 inches — or smaller — and prices generally between $350 and $700, netbooks have relatively scant memory, and specialize in accessing the Internet and checking e-mail. Their low price is meant to appeal to the budget-conscious, but netbooks' small size also makes them convenient for business travelers.

"It is small but has enough functions for my personal and office use," said Taipei insurance company employee Winnie Tsai, who bought a 10-inch netbook for 16,000 New Taiwan dollars ($476), about one-third of what her old standard laptop cost.

Growth in netbooks could be well timed for Taiwanese contract manufacturers, which need to keep their assembly lines busy during a falloff in orders for conventional laptops and desktops. Some 85 percent of all laptops are made by Taiwanese companies.

Taiwan-based AsusTek Computer Inc. got the netbook ball rolling in 2007. Acer Inc., the world's second-largest laptop vendor, was initially dismissive of the AsusTek models as cheap knockoffs but soon followed suit. Last year Acer and AsusTek dominated the world netbook market, with each selling about 5 million units — a combined share of more than 90 percent.

AsusTek and Acer netbooks are among the top-selling computers listed by Amazon.com, the leading online retailer, and Business Computer News Ranking, a Japanese market research firm. And sales of those computers figure to help Acer and AsusTek raise their profiles abroad with consumers who might remember those brands when shopping for desktops and standard laptops, said Tu Tze-chen, head of research at Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute.

At least for now, AsusTek appears to be lagging the larger Acer in the netbook market. AsusTek has learned an important lesson: Small may be beautiful but too small can be useless.

It forecast a loss for the fourth quarter of 2008, blaming it in part on a failure to cut production of its relatively slow-selling 7-inch netbook, which has limited functions and a screen many users find too small.

"We paid a price for the 7-inch experiment, but we also learned valuable lessons and introduced the larger ... versions soon after," said AsusTek spokesman Beck Lee.

The popularity of netbooks has prompted other computer companies to launch their own versions, though most — including Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., and Toshiba Corp. — have consigned production, and sometimes design work as well, to Taiwanese contract makers like Quanta Computer Inc.

In turn those Taiwanese companies often turn to massive assembly lines in mainland China, where production costs are lower.

http://www.ap.org/

Sony Vaio: Not a netbook

2009-02-24T08:47:00.000-08:00

COULD THE Vaio P be Sony’s much-awaited netbook contender? The answer is somewhere between yes and maybe, depending on which main feature you’re looking at.

It’s easy to dismiss the Vaio P as a netbook just by looking at it. It’s tiny — about the size of a lady’s clutch — and it weighs about 1.4 lbs, which is just as light as a hardbound book. Its solidly built chassis is pretty impressive for such a fragile-looking device. Like most netbooks, the Vaio P’s full QWERTY keyboard is 25% smaller than a full-size laptop keyboard. While the keys extend to the edges of the tray, typing with Chiclet-like keys can still be a chore.

Vaio P also comes with a WiFi on/off switch, found in the brim of the chassis. Its small footprint means that it can only accommodate two USB ports, a standard headphone jack and an LAN adaptor port.

Viewing from an eight-inch widescreen display takes some getting used to: the bright backlight and a superb 1,600x768 resolution helps one appreciate the display easier. The only trade off is that one has to squint to see the Windows icons and toolbars.

Expanding the screen to the perimeters of the screen would have been great, but Sony opted to make space for a Web camera instead.

When it comes to playing videos, don’t expect too much. Firing up a full-screen video can be disappointing; when I played an MPEG-4 clip, it dropped quite a few frames.

What lies underneath the hood is perhaps the unit’s greatest asset. Packed with some high end extras, these features are enough to take it out of the netbook category. Well, almost.

It has 2GB of RAM, 60 GB hard drive space with up to 128GB solid state drive, it is based on Windows Vista Home Basic and it runs on 1.33Ghz Intel Atom processor. It also has built-in 802.11n WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth connectivity.

With a decent RAM capacity and an average processor, Vaio P’s performance was surprisingly underwhelming.

The unit’s battery life left much to be desired. For basic productivity, which included playing music, word processing, and exploring other Windows applications, Vaio P clocked in barely three hours. For Web surfing, it lasted two hours, tops. It is also worth noting that the machine’s base already felt warm just after an hour of usage.

Overall, the Sony Vaio P hits most of the marks, although some promises are yet to be proven. Just like most netbooks, its machine is ideal for Web surfing and running not-too-heavy applications.

At P49,999, it looks (and sometimes, behaves) like a netbook, but with its high end extras it cannot be denied that it packs a punch like a full-size laptop. —

Mira B. Gloria
Manila,Philippines
http://www.bworldonline.com/

Apple roundup: Jobs-less meeting, to netbook or not, and an iPhone rumor

2009-02-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

What better way to kick off a Monday than with an Apple roundup that includes a pretty weak, albeit juicy, rumor.

First there’s the look ahead at this week’s shareholder’s meeting, which will be the first without CEO Steve Jobs since his return to the company in 1997. As expected, his absence has raised concerns again about his health. It’s been just over a month since since Jobs announced a medical leave of absence to deal with a medical condition that is more “complex” than previously believed.

Expect shareholders to lob questions about Jobs’ health and its impact on the company’s future. Board members, aside from a statement expressing their support for Jobs, have been pretty quiet on the topic. Apple investor Ryan Jacob, head of the Jacob Internet Fund, told Bloomberg that “the company has a responsibility to let public shareholders know that the organizational structure will be sound if Steve Jobs has to leave for any reason.” The amount of disclosure, he said, has been “poor at best.”

In the meantime, at the financial markets, one analyst sharply reduced his earnings estimates for Apple, calling it a reflection of a “collapse in consumer demand.” According to an entry at Barron’s Tech Trader Daily, Pacific Crest analyst Andy Hargraves said he doesn’t expect to see significant price cuts or for the company to shift its strategy and enter the low end of the market (read: netbooks). Instead of cheaper or nano-sized iPhone, look for innovation at the chip level and improved battery life, he says.

The blog also posts the opinion of a different analyst who sees it differently. Broadpoint Amtech analyst Brian Marshall. thinks that Apple is likely to introduce a netbook - likely around the $599 price point - before the end of the year. He maintains that continued expansion is “crucial” and that the battle ground is netbooks. Such a product, he said, could boost profits by 15 cents this year and 40 cents next year, he said.

Finally, a blog entry on ITExaminer.com, citing “Deep throat” sources inside Apple, reports that “iPhones for Verizon Wireless will be announced soon.” There’s not much meat to the report - other than piece-mealing the speculation - but I’d like to believe that it’s true. I gave the iPhone a test run last month and ended up returning - not because of the phone but because the AT&T service was pretty bad where I am. Instead, I stayed with the more reliable Verizon Wireless.

CNET has issued a correction to its version of the rumor about the iPhone coming to Verizon Wireless. It turns out that one of the sources for that rumor was a blog post from last fall that resurfaced over the weekend. Interestingly enough, the ITExaminer.com blog post - which is where this buzz started - has not issued a correction. It reportedly had its own unnamed sources.

That’s the thing about rumors. You have to take them for what they are - rumors. Still, just because the blog post being referenced is old - a September 2008 entry on the 9to5Mac blog, in this case - doesn’t mean that it’s not still relevant. A lot of the points raised in that blog post aren’t so aged that they’re outdated. The blog suggests that the Verizon iPhone woudl be announced in 2009 - and it’s not even March yet. It could still happen.

And, as I pointed out above, it’s a weak rumor. But it’s also one that the blogosphere is anxious to report. That alone should say something about the attention that a Verizon Wireless iPhone might receive if either company wants to make that announcement anytime soon.

Dell apply to revoke Netbook Trade Mark

2009-02-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Computer giants Dell have applied for the revocation of the 'netbook' trade mark on the grounds that it is a generic term for small, cheap computers that are designed for wireless communication and access to the internet.

'Netbook' is owned by Dell's rival Psion, they have registered the mark in both the US and also as a CTM. It is believed that Psion stopped using the mark in the US in 2004 and in Europe around the same time, however recently they have made attempts to assert their rights by sending various cease and desist letters.

Dell are arguing that "Psion has abandoned the 'Netbook' mark,". Under trade mark law if a brand name becomes so synonymous as to be merely a generic name for a kind of product then it is possible to file for it's revocation.

By way of example consider 'escalator' originally this was a registered trade mark but was revoked on the grounds that it was merely a generic name for a kind of product.

This case shows the importance of protecting your trade marks through constant vigilance, consider for example 'Tannoy' or 'Hoover' both of which it could be argued are now generic names but both brand owners have strictly regulated their use so as to ensure that they are considered as trade marks.

By Ben Evans
Ben Evans is an Intellectual Property Executive at Lawdit and can be contacted at ben.evans@lawdit.co.uk
http://www.lawdit.co.uk/reading_room/room/

Kogan promises Linux netbook in "weeks," we have our doubts

2009-02-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

Ruslan Kogan, the Australian who built up our hopes only to let them down recently with his make believe Agora, is back with more outlandish promises, and for whatever reason, we think he actually expects us to just believe him this time. During a recent interview, Kogan noted that he would like to be taking orders for a Linux-based netbook that he designs and specs in as little as "two to two and a half weeks." He's expecting to sell the 10-inch machines for around $529 to $539, which will buy you an Intel Atom processor, 160GB of HDD space, 1GB of RAM and a decent amount of magical pixie dust, we imagine. In related news, Kogan's also hoping to have OLED TVs out within just a few months and region-free BD decks shortly thereafter. See, our skepticism isn't that unwarranted, now is it?

by Darren Murph
http://www.engadget.com/

IBM Promises World's Fastest Computer--Again

2009-02-03T05:04:00.000-08:00

The so-called Sequoia supercomputer is expected to leap-frog competitor Cray--15 times over.
IBM is climbing back to the top of the big iron heap.

On Tuesday, the computing giant announced a deal to sell a new supercomputer--one that it says will be the most powerful in the world--to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). IBM (nyse: IBM - news - people ) boasts that its so-called Sequoia system will be capable of crunching numbers 20 times faster than IBM's last record-breaker and 15 times faster than the current fastest machine, built by Cray (nasdaq: CRAY - news - people ).

IBM has promised the DOE that the computer, part of its Blue Gene series and scheduled for delivery in 2011, will be capable of 20 petaflops, or 20 quadrillion floating operations per second. That's the equivalent of completing calculations in around eight hours that would take a typical Intel-powered (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) laptop 20,000 years--or, by IBM's count, the ability to finish in one hour a series of computations that would require the entire population of the planet, armed with pocket calculators, 320 years to complete.

Like its predecessor, the one-petaflop Road Runner supercomputer, Sequoia will be offered for general use to the scientific community for several months before it's put to use modeling the deterioration of America's nuclear weapons stockpile. The DOE will house the computer in its Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif.

The Sequoia announcement is IBM's answer to Cray's Jaguar supercomputer, which last November quietly took the title of the world's fastest system, using clusters of Advanced Micro Devices (nyse: AMD - news - people ) chips to achieve processing speeds of 1.6 petaflops, 60% faster than the IBM Road Runner supercomputer that held had held the top spot for the five months before Jaguar's debut.

But Sequoia will do more than leap-frog Jaguar, says IDC analyst Earl Joseph. He argues that Sequoia could vastly outpace Moore's Law and set a new standard for supercomputing for years to come, much as Japanese company NEC's (nasdaq: NIPNY - news - people ) Earth Simulator remained the top-ranked supercomputer for much of the earlier part of the decade.

"This has created a bar much higher than we all expected," Joseph says. "If they had said 20 petaflops by 2015, that wouldn't have been a surprise. By 2011? That’s a real eye-opener."

Apple’s desktop sales down, but notebooks up

2009-02-03T05:02:00.000-08:00

Although Apple ’s computer sales over the past few quarters have been stellar, new research shows that the company ’s desktop sales numbers took a sharp downturn during the month of Novemberhowever, the company ’s notebooks sales have continued to rise.

According to a new report from market research firm NPD Group, industry desktop sales as a whole in November were down 20 percent from the previous month, representing a decline of 15 percent for Windows-based PCs and a 38 percent decline for Macs. At the same time, Apple ’s notebooks outpaced the competition with a 22 percent increase, compared to a 15 percent increase for Windows-based PCs (overall notebook sales for the month were up 16.6 percent). Apple ’s October introduction of new MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook models probably contributed to Apple ’s laptop rise.

While the numbers clearly show a decrease in sales, Stephen Baker, vice president of Industry Analysis at NPD, said that because Apple doesn ’t offer a lot of Black Friday promotions, the company was disproportionately affected by the dates of what is, for Americans, the biggest shopping period of the year in 2008. Last year, Apple enjoyed November sales one week after Black Friday. However, in 2008, Black Friday fell at the end of the month, giving Apple only two days of sales. This year, those sales will be counted for December.

Apple sold 15.8 percent of desktops purchased in November, down from 17.4 percent in October 2008 and 20.6 percent in November 2007. The company ’s notebook sales accounted for 14.8 percent of laptop purchases, down from 20.9 percent in October, but up from its 14.1 percent number in November 2007. Overall, Apple sold 15 percent of all computers in November, down from 20 percent in October and 16 percent in November 2007.

Although all companies are feeling the economic downturn, Baker feels Apple should be "appropriately concerned" about its sales numbers and make smart decisions with its products and pricing.

Notebooks that travel light

2009-02-03T05:01:00.000-08:00

THE search for the perfect notebook computer becomes something of a religious quest for many regular business travellers.

Yearning for that balance between usability and weight, they scour retail shelves and vendor websites looking for the ultimate portable machine.

Tired of lugging a full-screen notebook that strains shoulder muscles and breaks carry-on weight limits, some are lured into the emerging netbook category of devices that offer basic computing capabilities in a tiny, featherweight case.

For others, netbooks are just not enough. They need a fully fledged notebook computer that can cope with heavy computing tasks but still be light and portable.

The good news is that equipment vendors have been busy in this ultraportable segment Using innovative design and lightweight components, they ’ve created a selection of notebooks that tick both the weight and performance boxes.

ExecTech took two of the latest contenders out for a road trip.

HOUSED in a silver plastic case, the R600 looks too flashy to he a serious business notebook, hut don ’t he deceived by first impressions.

Built around an Intel Core2 Duo processor and 3GB RAM, this little beast packs some serious computing punch.

The 12.lin screen is sharp and bright and the keyboard is solid and big enough even for those with large fingers.

Despite its svelte profile and 890g weight, the R600 also has an internal DVD burner, a 200GB hard drive, a webcam and a fingerprint reader.

Although the screen flexes noticeably if pulled by the corner, it doesn ’t seem flimsy. When closed the whole unit feels solid, durable and ready for the road.

The one feature lacking in this notebook is sound, with just a single tiny speaker at the top left of the keyboard. The sound it produces will have you reaching for headphones in a second.

Running Microsoft Vista Business, the review model chugged through normal office tasks with ease. You can expect a couple of hours of battery life, and doing things like dimming the screen backlight and turning off the DVD drive will extend this further.

Closing the lid puts the notebook into sleep mode in less than 10 seconds and you can wake it again in a similar time. This is a boon when working on the road or in situations where you ’re regularly interrupted and need to pause.

If you ’re in the market for a grunty ultraportable notebook and don ’t mind paying a premium price, the R600 could be for you.

LENOVO has stuck with its standard oh-so-corporate black casing for the X200.

Although a little staid, it gives the notebook a solid ready-forbusiness look that will appeal to many users.

Inside, the X200 has an Intel Core2 Duo with 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive.

The unit ’s 12.lin screen is clear and bright (although not great in full sun) and is housed in a solid lid.

The keyboard feels good and exudes quality. Some users may be put off by the lack of a touchpad. Sure, there is a rubber nipple in the centre of the keyboard, but if you ’re more comfortable with a touchpad, you ’d best look elsewhere.

Knowing bow corporate types tend to treat their portable devices, Lenovo has incorporated a spill-resistance feature into the keyboard.

This means that spilling your long black over the machine won ’t necessarily put it out of action.

Running Microsoft Vista Home Edition, the notebook ’s performance was impressive enough for all but the most power-hungry travelling business person.

The internal cooling fan is quiet and effective and battery life topped the two-hour mark under normal working conditions.

Like the R600. the X200 is not great for sound. A single speaker produces muffled noise that means listening to music should he avoided. One absence is an optical drive, although you can add one by investing in a dock.

There is a built-in webcam for video calls and messaging.

For those looking for a solid, dependable ultraportable computer, the X200 is a good choice. It may lack the flashy looks of other models, but it is built for business.

SHEDDING kilos from your portable computing equipment no longer has to mean shedding performance. The latest ultraportable devices are housed in cases so light you can almost forget you ’re carrying them.

The solid design and build of the ThinkPad X200 will make it a natural choice when dependability is paramount, although the lack of a trackpad and internal optical drive is a little disappointing.

Those seeking something a little more stylish and with more than enough power to cope with a heavy daily workload will find it hard to go past the Toshiba R600.

Wal-Mart to sell Apple's iPhone

2008-12-27T09:57:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said it will start selling Apple Inc.'s iPhone on Sunday in almost 2,500 U.S. stores to bolster its offering of consumer electronics.

An 8 gigabyte version of the Web-surfing iPhone 3G model, with a two-year AT&T Inc. service contract, will cost $197, and a 16 gb version will go for $297, Wal-Mart said.

Selling the iPhone will draw more customers and burnish Wal-Mart's reputation as a consumer-electronics destination, analysts said.

"It's impressive that a manufacturer with the cachet of Apple chooses Wal-Mart as the next place to go after Best Buy," said Joseph Feldman, an analyst at Telsey Advisory Group in New York.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/

Notebook PC Sales Outpace Desktops: Good News For Apple

2008-12-27T09:52:00.000-08:00

By Dan Frommer
(alleyinsider.com) -- Notebook computer sales outpaced desktop PC sales for the first time last quarter, according to research firm iSuppli.

Worldwide, PC companies shipped 38.6 million notebook computers in Q3, up almost 40% year-over-year. Desktop PC shipments grew 1.3% year-over-year to 38.5 million units.

That's good news for Apple, which is increasingly a notebook company. If the trend toward notebooks continues -- which we expect it will -- Apple stands to gain market share.

Last month -- which will be reflected in iSuppli's Q4 analysis -- Apple U.S. notebook sales -- led by new MacBooks -- increased 22% year-over-year, about 1.5x the rate that Windows-based notebook sales grew, according to research firm NPD Group. (That won't translate directly to Apple's worldwide share -- it's not nearly as popular outside the U.S. -- but it's still a good trend.)

One unknown for Apple: How it will compete with the newest wave of notebooks from PC makers -- small, cheap, less powerful "netbooks," which are catching on with geeks and some business travelers. Netbooks cost around $400-500, while Apple's cheapest laptop starts at $1,000 and has a large display.

We think Apple will eventually offer a $500-700 ultra-portable computer with a 7-to-10-inch screen, but we don't think it'll be in the cramped netbook design. We think Apple is more likely to sell a tablet-like device using its multi-touch technology for an on-screen keyboard, and a software model similar to the one it uses for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Meanwhile, Apple will have to make sure its desktop business doesn't tank. Its U.S. desktop shipments dropped 35% year-over-year last month. That could get a boost as soon as next month, when Apple is widely expected to unveil new desktops, such as a new Mac mini.
http://money.cnn.com

Dell to Launch Adamo as MacBook Air Competitor

2008-12-19T21:17:00.000-08:00

Comes out in early 2009
Back in January this year, Apple released what it described as the “world's thinnest notebook,” officially known as the MacBook Air. Since its release, the MacBook Air has experienced some modifications, along with the official unveiling of the company's updated line of portable computer systems, which have also switched from Intel's integrated graphics to a solution that is provided by the Santa Clara, California-based NVIDIA.

On the 15th of January 2009, the MacBook Air will celebrate a year since it has been released, but the celebration might be shadowed by a possible release of a new notebook from Dell, said to be dubbed Adamo, and expected to become the next competitor for Apple's thin MacBook Air.

There aren't many specifications to go on for the time being but, according to available details, the Adamo is expected to be marketed as the “world's thinnest laptop.” That statement alone makes Dell's mysterious portable computer system a direct competitor to Apple's MacBook Air. However, Dell isn't the first PC maker that tries to provide its customers with a PC alternative to the MacBook Air.

According to additional details regarding said laptop, Dell is expected to debut the system sometime in early 2009, although according to earlier reports, the Adamo was slated to be released this month. Also, the Adamo is expected to boast a black and silver color scheme.

Despite no solid specifications available at this time, Dell could potentially release a product that will be meant for a niche market segment. Given that it will compete with Apple's MacBook Air, the Round Rock, Texas-based Dell might have a better chance of recording a market success if the Adamo is priced considerably lower than its rival. An alternative would be to release a notebook that can also provide improved specifications compared to those of Apple's product.

http://news.softpedia.com

Lenovo W700ds laptop with 10.6-inch secondary display announced

2008-12-19T20:49:00.000-08:00

Details of a Lenovo laptop with integrated dual displays have emerged. The W700ds has both the 17-inch CCFL-backlit 1920 x 1200 display from the W700 but adds a second, 10.6-inch LED-backlit 768 x 1280 panel in portrait orientation. Lenovo are billing this as a productivity booster, with an extra 39-percent of space on offer. As with the original W700, the w700ds has an onboard 128 x 80 cm palmrest digitizer, optional RAID and up to an Intel Core 2 Quad Core Extreme QX9300 2.53GHz processor with 12MB of L2 cache.

The notebook supports up to 4GB of Intel Turbo RAM, and has a choice of either a 512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M or a 1GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M. Storage options include RAID arrays of up to 320GB 5,400 rpm or 200GB 7,200 rpm with full-disk encryption, or non-RAID dual 64GB SSD, among others.

The dual-screen model weighs 4.96kg with one hard-drive, compared to the single-screen model at 3.83kg, and both have WiFi a/g/n, Bluetooth, dual-link DVI, gigabit ethernet, five USB 2.0 ports and three Mini-PCIe slots (two full-sized, one half-sized). Although pricing has not been officially announced, early indications suggest that the preconfigured W700ds will hit the $6712 and $5632 price-points

Alex

Toshiba plans HD-DVD-R laptop for Vista launch

2008-12-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

January 16, 2007 (IDG News Service) -- Toshiba Corp. will put on sale in Japan in late February the first laptop PC in the world with support for the write-once HD-DVD-R optical disc format.

The G30/97A will be an upgrade of existing models of Toshiba's hefty Qosmio G30 entertainment laptop. Some of those models already contain an HD-DVD reader and are on sale in major markets worldwide.

The computer is based on an Intel Corp. 2-GHz Core 2 Duo processor and has a 17-inch widescreen display with 1,920 pixel by 1,280 pixel resolution, which means it can show high-definition images from HD-DVD movie discs. The 10.6-lb. machine also features a 320GB hard-disk drive, digital TV tuner and high-definition multimedia interface output.

Toshiba hasn't announced a price for the computer, which will run the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system. International launch plans have also not been announced.

To coincide with Toshiba's launch of the Qosmio computer, Hitachi Maxell Ltd. will begin selling HD-DVD-R media. A single-sided 15GB disc will be available from Jan. 25 for around $12.

Another rival PC maker is also offering blue laser disc compatibility in a new machine running Vista.

NEC Corp., which has been straddling the format battle fence, will release in February two laptops with Blu-ray Disc support. The LaVie C will come out Feb. 9 for about $2,570, and the LaVie L will come out Feb. 23 and cost around $2,486. Both will be based on Windows Vista Home Premium.

The drives will be read-only models suitable for playing back Blu-ray Disc movies and other prerecorded content but not in full high-definition resolution. The computers have 15.4-in. widescreen displays that only offer 800 pixels of horizontal resolution. Full HD images have 1,080 picture lines.

Dell adds to Linux notebook range

2008-02-24T07:07:00.000-08:00

Inspiron 1525 latest to run Ubuntu

Dell has added the Inspiron 1525 notebook to its range of Linux-based Ubuntu products.

The vendor is including built-in DVD playback capabilities in line with its other systems running Ubuntu 7.10.

The Ubuntu-powered Inspiron 1525 is available today for customers in the UK, France, Spain and Germany starting at £299.

Dell claims to have based its latest Ubuntu-based products on feedback from more than 100,000 visitors on the company's IdeaStorm website, set up last year to canvas customer opinion on their preferred Linux-based laptop.

Dell took its first Ubuntu steps in the US last May when it preloaded the OS on two desktop systems and an Inspiron E1505n laptop.

Written by Guy Dixon
http://www.vnunet.com

Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M laptop review

2008-02-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

The Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M isn't a full-scale desktop replacement, but then it's also not exactly something you'd want to cart around with you everywhere you go.

However, if you want something to use around the home or office and pack up at the end of the day then the Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M is perfectly adequate.

The Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M's large frame means Sony has managed to squeeze in a 15.4in display that's a joy to use. It has a standard 1,280x800 widescreen resolution and it's a glossy X-black model that offers great colour reproduction, although it is quite reflective.

Although the Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M is equipped only with a 1.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor it still managed to rack up an impressive WorldBench real world speed score of 70, no doubt helped by the generous 2GB of RAM.

Nothing could help the integrated Intel X3100 graphics chip take on our intensive FEAR test, however, and the Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M limped home with a result of just 4 frames per second (fps).

The Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M is a stylish looking model, with pleasantly curved edges and a distinctive uniform dimpled finish to the lid and keyboard surround. The extra size allows for a generous keyboard that's pleasant to type on and although the touchpad is very slightly off centre its increased surface area makes this less of an issue.

You're unlikely to run out of space for some time thanks to the Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M's large 200GB hard drive and there's a DVD writer should you need to make backups. You'll find a generous four USB ports - two on each side - plus Firewire as well. You only get VGA out though, with no DVI (digital visual interface) or HDMI (high definition multimedia interface).

And with the Sony Vaio VGN-NR21M you get not one, but two card readers - one for Memory Stick and the other for SD - so you won't need to keep swapping cards in and out if you frequently need to access different media.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/

Vision evolves, but $100 laptop is still the goal

2008-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

In 2005, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nicholas Negroponte's idea of distributing $100 laptops to poor children captured the world's imagination. Today, Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child foundation of Cambridge has begun distributing hundreds of thousands of its XO laptops around the world. Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray spoke with Negroponte for a progress report.

Q. How many of the XO laptops are now deployed in developing countries?

A. Five hundred thousand have been committed, 250,000 have been manufactured and half of those have arrived. They have arrived in Uruguay. They have arrived in Peru. They have arrived in Mexico, Ghana, Nepal, Afghanistan, Cambodia. It's a pretty long list.

Q. You're going up against rival laptops made by Asus Computer International. How is this competition affecting the foundation's plans?

A. That's actually heartwarming. We don't see that as competition; we see that as actually success.

Q. What do you think of the Asus laptop?

A. They're offering it for a number less than $250 per laptop, which is very encouraging. There are technical difficulties, but it doesn't really matter.

One of the arguments here at OLPC is, if 100 million kids could have an Asus running Windows, is that better with two million kids running the XO? And the answer is yes. We want kids connected and the largest possible number is the goal.

Q. Lots of American buyers paid $400 to the Give One, Get One program. In exchange, OLPC was to donate one laptop to a poor child, and send the other to the American buyer. Months later, many Americans still haven't gotten their machines. What went wrong?

A. The whole billing, the whole processing of orders, it's not something we do.

There were about 17,000 orders that we misplaced - 17,000 orders vanished and reappeared in January.

Q. How close are you to getting it done?

A. I think we're within days of completing all the orders. It's not six months from now.

Q. Is mass production of the laptops now up to speed?

A. This month is an odd one, because you have the Chinese New Year. I think this month was 60,000. Last month was 110,000.

The target for the year is to get it up to 220,000, 440,000 a month.

Q. But the foundation is counting on governments to buy millions of the machines and distribute them to poor kids. You don't have enough orders from governments to support your production capacity, do you?

A. We're also looking at alternatives, just like Give One, Get One was an alternative. We're going to continue selling through governments, but we have to, in parallel, do things differently.

Q.What other plans do you have in mind?

A. One is a global Give One, Get One program. Another thing we're looking at is twinning (a cooperative arrangement between an affluent city and another in a developing country). The first city to twin is Florence, Italy, twinning 10,000 laptops with three African cities. We have a number of cities - they tend to be European at the moment - that would twin with other cities.

The third thing that we're exploring, which is in some sense the most delicate and the most complicated, is to have a third party release the machine commercially. You have somebody release it where $50 or $80 per laptop flows back to fund kids. So it's a partial Give One, Get One. And that, if it's big enough, creates critical mass for software developers.

Q. All along, critics have urged you to sell the laptop as a commercial product, but you rejected that idea.

A. Rejected isn't quite the word. We couldn't do it ourselves, because that just takes the clarity of purpose away. Suddenly I'm just a laptop salesman. Now that it exists . . . it makes it commercially more attractive.

We're talking to four or five people about doing something where they would release it commercially, and that would help fund kids in other parts of the world.

Q. The laptop sells for $188. You still say you'll get it down to $100, and then even cheaper. How?

A. The way you get down to $100 is by integration. There are 900 pieces in that machine. You want to get it down to 50. That's the big barrier. Then I'd like to go one step further, and the one step further is to bring the price to zero. Our goal has to be the zero-dollar laptop. Give One, Get One generated about 100,000 zero-dollar laptops. Somebody else paid for them, but from the recipient's point of view, that's zero.

Jonathan Wiggs
http://www.boston.com/

LG Under Fire Over Laptop Glitches

2008-02-24T06:35:00.000-08:00

LG Electronics is concerned over speculation that its laptops might have ``significant’’ technical flaws in the wake of recent battery-related troubles.

The company is now considering follow-up measures, including the recall of some laptop models.

Last Friday, the country’s second-largest consumer electronics manufacturer said it will halt sales of the ``Z1-A2007’’ model after a report of a battery meltdown. According to company officials, about 5,000 of the model have so far been produced since January 2007.

However, the company has refused to recall the notebooks immediately for intensified safety checks and even worse, the local electronics giant has yet to find out how many of the Z1-A2007 models have been sold after the introduction and the remaining stocks.

``We will decide whether to conduct the recall after the ongoing investigation with LG Chemical, the manufacturer of the battery,’’ a spokesperson from LG Electronics told The Korea Times.

``We still have not found the exact cause in the case,'' the official added.

LG said the laptops are no longer produced and have been sold only in South Korea.

In 2006, Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer Sony recalled 10 million laptop batteries to check for possible defects after its lithium-ion batteries caught fire. The recall cost Sony some $430 million. U.S.-based Dell took similar steps after it found battery-related defects in its laptops.

In January this year, another battery produced by LG Chemical and used in an LG Electronics ``Z1-A700K’’ laptop exploded. LG and LG Chemical later promised that they will seek ways to improve the safety of the products after an independent investigation into that explosion found the incident was a ``one time only’’ and caused by ``an external shock at an extremely high temperature.’’

During an investigation, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute suggested the explosion would not have occurred during normal use.

``We are worried about the proliferation of safety problems,’’ said an LG Electronics official.

``How can the company guarantee there won’t be a similar case in the future? LG needs to present fast and definitive follow-up measures,’’ said 27-year-old Han Jong-woo, who has used an LG-brand laptop for three years.

In 2004, LG pulled an electric pressure cooker after a series of consumer reports of cookers exploding due to technical glitches.

LG then launched a massive recall campaign of those goods, an embarrassing move for the company, which aims to become the worlds’ No. 5 consumer electronics giant by 2010

By Kim Yoo-chul
yckim@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/

MoD launches inquiry into laptop theft

2008-01-23T03:19:00.000-08:00

Defence Secretary Des Browne has launched an official inquiry into military security after the loss of a Royal Navy laptop containing the personal details of 600,000 people.

Browne also revealed that two other laptops had been stolen, one in Manchester in October 2006 and one in Edinburgh in December 2000, neither of which were brought to light until now.

The Conservative Party lambasted Browne over the loss during a parliamentary meeting, producing statistics claiming that more than 600 Ministry of Defence laptops and PCs had been stolen since 1998.

Shadow Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "In many ways this is worse than the loss of the child benefit records because we know this fell into criminal hands."

Data security firms have also slammed the government over yet another loss of data, pointing out that the information could have been protected in a number of ways.

Joe Fantuzzi, chief executive at security firm Workshare, believes that UK citizens should be given a timeline for tackling data breaches, which continue to put people's identity and privacy at risk.

"The latest data breach which has resulted in the loss of MoD data affecting 600,000 people is shocking," said Fantuzzi.

"After the HMRC scandal we would have thought that the government would put safeguards on information such as passport details, National Insurance data and NHS numbers with more care."

Fantuzzi added that the government continues to come under fire for information loss, but appears reluctant to introduce data breach regulation which would result in more punitive measures for such serious losses of data.

Jamie Cowper, director of marketing in EMEA at PGP Corporation, warned that policies, procedures and training will take time and money to implement, and that laptops will continue to be lost.

"Organisations must make it an absolute priority to start proactively defending electronic information now," he said.

Alan Bentley, EMEA vice president of Lumension Security, agreed that educating employees over the risks of data theft needs to be tackled.

"At the heart of all the recent data losses is a lack of awareness and coherence in security policies," he said.

"The 'human factor' is often the weakest link in any security armour and the MoD is no exception to this rule. The laptop stolen on 9 January failed to meet the specific requirements of its security policy, i.e. to encrypt data carried on laptops."

Bentley warned that organisations holding sensitive data should lock down their databases so that employees cannot download data onto mobile devices and take them off the premises.

Ian Williams,
vnunet.com

Dell's laptop customisation options not very customisable

2007-12-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

Forward-thinking Dell customers who want to make cash savings on pre-loaded memory cards in the firm's latest range of laptops could be in for a hard time.

El Reg reader Paul contacted us after problems he had when attempting to customise a Dell XPS M1530 on the PC giant's website

He was hoping to get a laptop loaded with a single 2Gb memory chip rather than the default option of two cards at 1Gb each.

But having failed to get the laptop specifications he wanted online he was connected to a Dell "Agent" via instant messenger (IM) to find out why it wasn't possible to install only one memory module in the machine.

Paul explained the rationale behind his thinking to the agent. He said that buying a laptop with two memory cards at 1Gb was not cost-effective if he wanted to upgrade in the near future.

He also pointed out that it wasn't good for the environment if he had to ditch two defunct 1Gb cards at a later date.

The Dell agent repeatedly told Paul that he couldn't buy just one 2Gb card because that "option is not available".

The agent also insisted that the laptop would only work with a pair of memory cards at either 1Gb or 2Gb each and told Paul that the system would crash if one card was removed but failed to explain why.

Customer: if i bought 2 x 2gb of ram and took one out, would the laptop crash?
Agent: yes.
Customer: it would crash, seriously?
Agent: yes.
Customer: does the laptop need 2 x memory cards to work?
Agent: It depends on the applications you perform on the laptop.
Customer: well, say i was just using it for standard use, like internet browsing, office apps etc. Would it crash then?
Customer: surely it will boot or it will not
Agent: I would suggest you to confirm this with our technical support team.
Customer: but i want to speak with someone in sales to get me an xps m1530 with 1 x 2gb of ram
Agent: I am afraid that would not be possible.
Agent: since we don't have such option.
Customer: but you should, that's my point
Customer: i am willing to pay extra for the option
Agent: I am afraid that would not be possible since we don't have such option.
Customer: am i speaking with a real person, or is this some type of bot agent?
Agent: You can have 2 x 512 or 2 x 1024 or 2 x 2048 but not 1 x 2048.
Agent: You are speaking to a real person.

Indeed on its website Dell punts "up to 4GB3 Dual Channel4 667MHz DDR2" for its XPS M1530 laptop model. It also points out that: "Upgrading your memory is one of the most cost-effective ways to supercharge your system performance."

But because Dell uses dual-channel architecture technology on its XPS M1530 motherboard the options for a customer to refine memory specifications are, in fact fairly limited.

We asked Dell why Paul wasn't given a simple technical explanation about the limitations of the firm's customisation options, but it has so far declined to comment. ®

By Kelly Fiveash
http://www.channelregister.co.uk

Dell Latitude ATG D630

2007-12-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Dell's Latitude ATG (All Terrain Grade) D630 is full of surprises, including a solid-state hard drive, but for $3,211 we expected a few extras, like mobile broadband or a DVD burner, for example. More importantly, we expected a semi-rugged notebook that could handle a few ounces of water.

Stylish Enough
The 6.3-pound gun-metal-gray ATG D630 comes with rubber bumpers but is generally appealing enough to take out in public. Beneath the sturdy magnesium-alloy lid is a bright 14.1-inch widescreen display with a 1280 x 800-pixel resolution and a sensor that adjusts the screen's brightness depending on lighting conditions. Two red task lights in the display's upper bezel provide sufficient illumination to see the keyboard in the dark without annoying those around you.

Comfortable Keyboard and Touchpad
The full-sized keyboard was roomy and comfortable, with large auxiliary keys. We wish the keys had a little more spring, but they're plenty good for most users. We love that Dell includes a trackpoint cursor controller and a touchpad, which you can disable when you're not using it. A biometric fingerprint reader is also part of the package, and the system has a nice assortment of connectivity ports, including four USB ports, a FireWire port, SmartCard and PC Card slots, and modem and Ethernet ports.

Damage-Protection Features
Reinforced lid hinges, rubber port covers, and a shock-mounted hard drive help protect the ATG D630 from drops and debris, while a water-resistant keyboard deck is supposed to protect against spillage. The ATG D630 meets the MIL-STD-810F specs for vibration, humidity, and altitude, and Dell claims the system can handle multiple angle drops from a height of 29 inches (a typical desktop height). The company also claims that the keyboard can take up to three ounces of liquid spilled over three different places.

Dell Latitude ATG D630 Durability
While the ATG D630 made it through our drop tests without a hitch, it didn't fare so well when it came to our spill tests. As soon as the first ounce of water touched the keyboard, the screen went black. It bounced back quickly, but after we poured the remaining two ounces of water, the system shut down completely. Even after wiping the keyboard down and letting it drain for four hours, the ATG D630 continued to shut itself down and wouldn't start Windows until three days later.

Respectable Processor Speed and Graphics Performance
Our configuration came with a 32GB solid-state hard drive, not the most spacious, but it speeds up the boot sequence. Additionally, the lack of moving parts means it's much less susceptible than a traditional hard drive to failure due to sudden shock. With its 2.2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor and 2GB of memory, the ATG D630 turned in a respectable score of 4,231 on our PCMark05 tests--the best of the group--but its integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics card managed a score of only 1,761 on our 3DMark03 tests, the lowest of all the semi-ruggeds we tested. Battery life results were much better; the system lasted a strong 4 hours and 2 minutes with Wi-Fi enabled, which led the pack by a good margin.

Wireless Connectivity
The ATG D630 can be configured with various wireless components, such as an 802.11a/g/n wireless adapter, which was included in our test system and turned in solid throughput scores of 18.3 and 15.1 (15 feet and 50 feet from our access point, respectively), as well as Bluetooth, GPS, and EV-DO.

Dell's Damage Service Plan
For $149, you can upgrade Dell's standard support package for a more comprehensive three-year CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service plan, which protects against drops and spills, which is odd, given that a semi-rugged notebook is designed to endure such mishaps. Still, considering how it performed on our tests, this may not be such a bad idea.

Dell Latitude ATG D630: Tough Enough?
There's no doubt that the ATG D630 is tough enough to handle the occasional drop, and it certainly has the muscle to handle whatever business apps you throw at it, but if you're prone to keyboard spills, this notebook may not be the best choice.

Strengths:

• Wide screen easily readable in bright daylight
• Solid-state hard drive
• Speedy startup

Weaknesses:

• Didn’t pass spill tests
• Slow integrated graphics card
• Pricey

Eee PC 4G Notebook

2007-12-15T11:27:00.001-08:00

Manufacturer's Info

The Asus Eee PC offers the power of a full-sized laptop in an ultra-mobile PC. "Eee PC" stands for "Easy to Learn, Easy to Work, and Easy to Play," and Asus isn't kidding. Wrapped in an ultra-compact body, the Asus Eee PC features a full QWERTY keyboard and a 7-inch screen, and comes with a pre-installed Linux operating system (it's also Windows-compatible). The Asus Eee PC is primarily designed as an internet communicator...but it's so much more. Asus has packed the Eee PC full of features that benefit the on-the-go professional. It starts with over 40 built-in productivity applications, including the Open Office suite that allows you to create spreadsheets, documents, and presentations. The Asus Eee PC also connects to the internet at any wireless hotspot via 802.11b/g WiFi, and it also has an Ethernet port and a 56K modem. At the core of this ultra-mobile PC laptop is a 900 MHz Intel processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of solid state flash memory. Its small size makes it ultra-portable. The Asus Eee PC is great for kids - in fact, it was originally designed with students in mind. In addition to the productivity software mentioned above, the Eee PC features a built-in dictionary to help with homework. Older kids will appreciate the way it handles music, videos, and photos, and since it uses flash memory instead of a hard drive, it's rugged enough to be jostled around in almost any bookbag. If your child has never used a computer before, don't worry - the Asus Eee PC offers two different interfaces for both experienced and inexperienced PC users. This is where this Asus laptop really shines. The Eee PC's small size, rugged build, and internet capabilities make it great for people on the move. The Eee PC includes all the software you need to communicate away from home, and its long battery life will keep you going as long as you need. It has a built-in SD card slot, as well as three USB 2.0 ports, letting you upload videos and pictures to the web instantly without waiting to get home. Unlike other ultra-mobile PC's, the Asus EEE PC 4G also features an integrated Webcam, letting you easily stay in touch via video chat or VOIP. Overall, the Asus Eee PC 4G is a great ultra-mobile PC. It's half the size of other laptops, but comes with twice as many features. And its price makes it the perfect entry-level laptop or secondary notebook computer.

Specs

Multimedia
Video Chipset	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Max Shared Video Memory	224 MB
Video Integration	Motherboard
Video Bus	PCI Express x16

Warranty
Warranty Information	2 Year Limited Warranty

General
normalized-Display Size	7
normalized-Installed Memory	512
normalized-Cache Size	0.512

Dimensions
Depth	6.3 in
Weight	2.03 lbs
Width	8.86 in
Height	1.3 in

Processor
Processor Class	Intel Celeron M
Processor Speed	900 MHz
Intel Model	353

Software
Operating System	Linux

Display
Display Size	7 in
Aspect Ratio	16:10
Display Type	Active Matrix LCD (TFT)
Resolution	800 x 480

Memory
Installed Memory	512 MB
Memory Technology	DDR2

More Info
URL	Manufacturer's Link

System
System Chipset	Intel 915GM Express
Cache Size	512 kB
Bus Speed	400 MHz
Slots	MultiMedia Card (MMC) SD Card SDHC Card Sony Memory Stick
Interface Type	Audio - Line In (1/8" Mini) Audio - Line Out (1/8" Mini) Ethernet - RJ45 Twisted-Pair (XBaseT) Serial - RJ11 Modular (Phone/Telco) USB - Universal Serial Bus 2.0 Video - 15 pin High-Density D-shell (VGA)

Features
Included Devices	Built-In Microphone Built-In Webcam Modem
Battery Life	3.5 hour(s)
Input Devices	Keyboard Touchpad
Included Network Card	Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) Wireless Ethernet - 11 Mbps IEEE802.11b Wireless Ethernet - 54 Mbps IEEE802.11g

Storage
Solid State Drive Capacity	4 GB

User Reviews

Strengths:

Small size, light weight, fast, sleek design,

Simplicity, size, ease of use, intuitive, versatile with other OS.

Light weight, cool looking, extreme fast start up & shut down, work right out from the box.

Weaknesses:

Size (thickness), battery life, screen size relative to actual footprint size, availability.

Lack of bluetooth...that is the only thing I can think of.

VAIO VGN-SZ650N / C Notebook

2007-12-15T11:06:00.001-08:00

Manufacturer's Info: A premium mix of mobility, power and style, the ultra-sleek VAIO SZ Premium Notebook features a razor-thin 13.3" widescreen display17, long battery life7, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a revolutionary hybrid hard drive and a cutting-edge carbon-fiber casing. Work faster, play longer and get more from every moment with the VAIO SZ Premium Notebook.

Multimedia
Video Chipset	NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Video Bus	PCI Express x16
Video Integration	Card

Warranty
Warranty Information	1 Year Limited Warranty

General
normalized-DVD-ROM Read Speed	8
normalized-Cache Size	4
normalized-CD Write Speed	24
Merchants (Images)	Electronic Imaging
normalized-Installed Memory	2000
normalized-CD Rewrite Speed	16

Dimensions
Depth	9.3 in
Weight	3.95 lbs
Width	12.5 in
Height	1.5 in

Processor
Processor Class	Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile
Processor Speed	2.2 GHz
Processor Technology	Intel Centrino Duo
Intel Model	T7500

Software
Operating System	Microsoft Windows Vista Business

Display
Display Size	13.3 cm
Aspect Ratio	16:10
Display Type	LCD Display w/ XBRITE Technology
Resolution	1280 x 800

Memory
Memory Technology	DDR2
Maximum Memory	4 GB
Installed Memory	2 GB

More Info
URL	Manufacturer's Link

System
Drive Controllers	Serial ATA
System Chipset	Intel GM965 Express
Cache Size	4 MB
Bus Speed	800 MHz
Slots	Express Card 34 Memory Stick Duo Memory Stick PRO MultiMedia Card (MMC) SD Card SmartMedia Sony Memory Stick Type I PC Card Type II PC Card xD-Picture Card
Interface Type	Audio - Line In (1/8" Mini) Audio - Line Out (1/8" Mini) Bluetooth Ethernet - RJ45 Twisted-Pair (XBaseT) FireWire 400/IEEE 1394 - 4 pin Port Replicator/Docking Station Serial - RJ11 Modular (Phone/Telco) USB - Universal Serial Bus 2.0 Video - 15 pin High-Density D-shell (VGA)

Features
Included Devices	Built-In Microphone Built-In Webcam Fingerprint Reader Modem
Battery Life	4.5 hour(s)
Input Devices	Keyboard Touchpad UltraNav
Included Network Card	Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) Wireless Ethernet - 11 Mbps IEEE802.11b Wireless Ethernet - 54 Mbps IEEE802.11a Wireless Ethernet - 54 Mbps IEEE802.11g Wireless Ethernet - 540 Mbps IEEE802.11n

Storage
Included Drives	DVDRW DL
DVD Rewrite Speed	8 X (DVD, DVD-R)
CD Rewrite Speed	16 X (CD,CD-R)
DVD Write Speed	8 X (DVD, DVD-R)
Number of Hard Drives Included	1
Hard Drive Capacity	160 GB
CD Write Speed	24 X (CD,CD-R)
DVD+R DL Speed	4 X (DVD, DVD-R)
DVD-ROM Read Speed	8 X (DVD, DVD-R)
CD-ROM Read Speed	24 X (CD,CD-R)
DVD-R DL Speed	4 X (DVD, DVD-R)
DVD-RAM Speed	5 X (DVD, DVD-R)

Reviews By User

Strengths:

Super Fast with Vista Ultimate.

Lightweight, aesthetically beautiful, and all necessary features for complete mobility.

Very light and pretty. 2Gram and big hard disk. Wireless, bluttooth, web cam, a lot of functions!

Size, portability, LED Display, separate graphics cards, hybrid hard drive.

Amazing back-lit X-Brite LCD screen, portable size and weight at only 3.9 pounds, very fast (once formatted with clean install of Vista Ultimate), Web-Cam, looks sharp!

Weaknesses:

Almost all the drivers from original Version installed (Vista Business) are not compatible with Ultimate version.

Too much preloaded software especially from AOL.

Lots of bloatware (too much stuff pre-installed which is not necessary), has crashed very frequently in the past month (3rd month using it), keyboard is shoddy.

Too much useless software and vista is very hard to compatable with a lot of software, and have to buy backup software with addition money, short battery life

Install too much trial software that make slow when starting

Keyboard is "different" and takes getting used too. A little clicky, but the keys are big which is nice. Wish there were more exterior buttons to control volume. Dock station needs power button