Showing posts with label battery life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label battery life. Show all posts

5/09/2012

Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737 13.3-Inch Brushed Aluminum Laptop - Over 8 Hours of Battery Life Review

Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737 13.3-Inch Brushed Aluminum Laptop - Over 8 Hours of Battery Life
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
First, I would like to say there is a ~$590 version of this laptop also sold here on Amazon. The differences between that laptop (Product ID: Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-4925) and this one (Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737) is the 4925 has 3GB of ram where the 8737 has 4GB. Also the 4925 has a 320GB HDD while this 8737 has a 500GB HDD. I've noticed some of the specifications on the 8737 page are incorrect most notably the ones mentioned above. There is also another model (6376) that is considerably more money (~$[...]) and without a lot of research I only see that it's processor is 1.40GHz instead of the 1.30GHz that the 8737 has. As I'm typing this this laptop is listed on Amazon for $[...] even though I purchased it this past Friday for $[...]. [...].
So far I'm in love with this laptop. Now it's only been a couple of days but it's great. I was a little worried about the keyboard since the keys were not your normal design but after about 20mins with it I love it. It took just a little while to get used to it. I purchased this laptop because my MSI Wind U100 had a resolution of 1024x600 where the height of the screen wasn't friendly for some applications. This laptop's resolution is not only perfect but the screen size 13.3" instead of 11.1" is great. It's not too big and not too small, just right. The multi-touch pad is also a neat feature, although the only one I've been using frequently is the scrolling which is two fingers up and down on the pad. If you rather use a regular wired/wireless mouse instead of the pad it's easy to do that with the included button just outside the mouse pad. This button will disable the mouse pad so that you don't accidently trigger it while typing. The build of the laptop itself is also very nice. The outside lid is Aluminum while the rest of the laptop appears to be plastic. I've seen some people were unhappy with the lid not going back further. It seems to recline somewhere between 45-60 degree angle. It shouldn't be a problem unless your using a docking station in which the laptop is in a vertical position.
The laptop comes with some unneeded programs pre-installed but it isn't too much trouble to just jump into the Control Panel>Programs and Features and uninstall what isn't wanted. Windows 7 Home Premium is a wonderful OS from my experiences over the last couple of months since release. It's very user friendly and I love the new Taskbar. Acer also has some software for you to create a backup disk for your windows installation. You will need a usb DVDR/W drive for this however and I haven't tried it yet. This isn't necessary however because you have the restore partition on the hard drive but it would be a wise decision if your planning on formatting the whole drive for another installation or if your drive were to go bad.
The battery life is amazing. For a laptop of this size I wouldn't have expected to get 8hrs of battery life but after trying it out it is as advertised. The speakers at times do sound a little buggy where I get sound distortions but this might have been due to some problem with VirtualBox/Ubuntu. The wireless G is great. I used to have problems connecting in some areas with my MSI Wind U100 but those same areas work perfectly with this laptop. I haven't had the opportunity to try it out with wireless N yet.
I really can't find much at fault with this laptop. Very nice quality and at what I thought was a very reasonable price. I hope Amazon brings the price back down to where it should be though. Out of the 3 models I referred to at the beginning of this post I'd vote that this model (8737) gives you the most bang for your buck.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737 13.3-Inch Brushed Aluminum Laptop - Over 8 Hours of Battery Life


Acer Aspire Timeline 3810: All Thin, All Light, All DayAveraging more than 8 hours of battery life, the Acer Aspire Timeline notebook PC series makes "all day computing" a reality. You'll be able to remain productive as you work remotely from 9 to 5 without ever stopping to plug in and recharge, or keep yourself entertained throughout an entire coast–to-coast flight without worrying whether you'll make it to the end of your movie. The thin and light Timeline 3810 (model AS3810T-8737) is made for modern mobile work and play with its 3.5-pound weight and thin measurements--less than one-inch thin at its slimmest point and just over an inch at its thickest.
The high-definition, 13.3-inch CineCrystal LED backlit widescreen display (16:9 ratio) offers 33 percent more energy savings than traditional notebook screens. A Multi-Gesture Touchpad enables you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. An integrated Acer Crystal Eye HD webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations.
Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

Key Features
13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio and 200-nit high brightness
Energy efficient 1.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life. The dual-core SU7300 has a has a power consumption rating of just 10 watts, a fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 3 MB L2 cache.
500 GB hard drive
4 GB of installed RAM with 1066 MHz speed, expandable to 8 GB
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1700 MB of shared video memory and support for DirectX 10 games.
Multi-gesture touchpad supports circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, and page flip. (Learn more)
Thermal-efficient cooling innovation ensures the notebook achieves comfortable skin temperature during use.
Crystal Eye HD webcam supports Acer PrimaLite technology, which consists of a premium sensor, firmware and lenses to provide superior video performance under low-light conditions. A built-in digital microphone helps keep background noise levels low and minimizes echoes.
Stereo speakers with 2nd generation Dolby Sound Room audio enhancement transforms the experience of movies, music, and games.
Draft-N Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11a/b/g/n) with SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card
3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players.
HDMI port for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable. Also includes standard analog VGA video output.
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works SE 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work. Enjoy a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.
Over 8 hours of average battery life with included 6-cell battery (5600 mAh)
Dimensions: 12.7 x 9 x 1.1 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

What's in the Box This package contains the Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions
It also comes with the following software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (trial version); CyberLink PowerDVD; Google Toolbar; Acer Recovery Management; Acer GridVista; Microsoft Works; Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Trial (60 days)
Learn More
The Multi-Gestured Aspire 1410

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4/26/2012

HP Mini 210-1030NR 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9.75 Hours of Battery Life Review

HP Mini 210-1030NR 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9.75 Hours of Battery Life
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased this netbook because of the small size, excellent price, long battery life, and great customer service that HP is known for.
As far as the computer goes...
The computer itself is very light weight and easy to tote around. Not too heavy in a purse or bag and the size it great for concealing what you're carrying, say on a city bus or train.
I'm not a big Winblows fan so I changed the OS to Linux Mint 8 and that gave me back around 8 or 10GB of space that the old OS was eating up. There is plenty of room on the hard drive for a mid-sized music collection, lots of files, and plenty of pictures with room to spare.
The keyboard is great, but lacks a home key, page up, and page down. The touch pad gives you the ability to double click or single click by touch and there is a button on the keyboard for a right-click action.
The AC adapter is plenty long for most tasks and the battery life is excellent.
The webcam is fairly low quality but for basic things, such as using Skype or other conferencing methods, it will do the job. Speakers and mic are great and produce good quality sound for a netbook.
Customer Service...
After having the 210-1030nr for only two weeks, my hard drive went bad. No drops, no spills, no crazy room mates, just went bad. I called HP customer service and they were excellent! They're sending me the shipping materials to send the computer back and are footing the repair bill for me. Great customer service, just like I expected.
The 210-1030nr would have earned that fifth star had the hard drive not gone bad on me. I know, however, that this is a rare occasion for a netbook and sometimes things are not made properly or other issues occur that are beyond my, or any one else's, control.
This HP has performed very well up until the hiccup with the hard drive. My boyfriend was very impressed with the machine, despite his initial aversion to it's small size; he was worried it would be fragile or flimsy. He will be purchasing one for himself very soon.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Mini 210-1030NR 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9.75 Hours of Battery Life

Prepare to be noticed when you take this Netbook out on the town. Small, slim and stylish, the HP Mini 210 lets you surf the web, stay connected, and be entertained wherever you go.Amp up the fun by playing videos and music or showing off your photos.Exclusive, integrated software keeps you in sync with your life by letting you e-mail, chat, and instantly access your files from anywhere.Take just what you need And leave the rest on your primary PC. At less than one inch thin and starting at just 2.69 pounds, this ultra-compact PC won\'t weigh you down. You\'ll enjoy a 16:9 10.1" diagonal BrightView Infinity display and nearly full-size keyboard.

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Click here for more information about HP Mini 210-1030NR 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9.75 Hours of Battery Life

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4/23/2012

Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BN 10.1-Inch Sable Brown Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter) Review

Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BN 10.1-Inch Sable Brown Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I looked at netbooks for about 2 months, comparing all of the various features. Then I went on the road to see them in person and put my hands on the keyboard. I ended up choosing the Toshiba NB205-N325 because it met all my criteria (Windows 7, upgradable RAM, great battery life, and overall quality construction) and because it has the best keyboard for my hands. The chicklet keys are great and the sub-sized keyboard only slows me down a little from a full-sized version.
After shopping all around I ended up buying it direct from Amazon. They had the best price on cyber monday of 329.99. Interestingly, the price is now back up to 380+ so I guess I got lucky with the timing.
I tossed the 2GB RAM upgrade into my shopping cart and the machine showed up at my door about 8 days later.
Start up was a breeze. It found my home network and network printer without a problem. I downloaded chrome as my browser with no problem, activated the Norton trial (still shopping for an antivirus program), and activated the free trial of Office (I actually have the software but haven't gotten around to activating my copy). I've plugged in several USB devices without issue including a wireless mouse and external hard drive. No problems. The 160 GB hard disk has plenty of space and unless you plan to make and store movie files you should never need more. After about an hour I shut back down and installed the 2GB RAM chip which is simple to do. You just remove one screw on a small cover on the back and the chip is right there. Pop the old one out and the new one in, then start back up. The user manual spells it out perfectly. I didn't run it long enough on the 1GB chip to give you a comparison on performance but with 2GB it seems as quick as my other laptops. I think this upgrade is a no-brainer if you plan to use your netbook for anything more than reading e-mail.
The only glitch I've had is with the display. About 2 hrs after I started it up the display suddenly went crazy, jerking all over. I was talking on a cordless phone at the time and assumed it somehow interfered with the display. It happened again one time two days later only I wasn't talking on the phone. Both times I got it to stop by putting it to sleep and then starting back up (which only takes a couple seconds). I don't know what to make of this but so far it hasn't repeated itself and at least I know how to stop it. If it happens again I'll call Toshiba.
My overall impression is that I love this little guy. It does everything I wanted it to do and is the ultimate in portability. I use it on and off all day, closing the lid when I'm done which puts it to sleep. It wakes up almost instantly, so this is a great way to extend the battery. The only time I plug it in is at night. I've never come close to running the battery down. The fit and finish of the machine are terrific.
Toshiba hit a home run with this model. It gets 5 stars from me.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BN 10.1-Inch Sable Brown Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)

Small enough to throw in a purse or bag, the affordable, super-compact 10.1-inch Toshiba mini NB205 netbook--which weighs just under 3 pounds--is designed with smart features like a full-sized keyboard and touchpad, long battery life, 3 USB ports (including one Sleep and Charge port) and a hard drive impact sensor that protects your data. You'll also get excellent battery life with the included six-cell battery that provides up to 9 hours of battery power--enabling you to go through an entire day of school, work or errands without worrying about a recharge.
It comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter operating system, which combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows. It includes new Windows 7 features like Jump Lists to help you to better find and manage files, and connecting to printers and peripherals is easier than ever. (Learn more about Windows 7 Starter below.)
Created especially for mobile devices, Intel's 1.6 GHz Atom N280 processor uses an innovative design structure and hafnium-infused circuitry that helps reduce electrical current leakage in transistors--which means longer battery life when you're on the go. It also includes the Intel 945GSE graphics chipset, which provides browsing the internet, emailing, running basic PC applications and enjoying online digital media. This model of the Toshiba mini NB205 (NB205-N325BN) has a distinctively styled cover in Sable Brown, which is accented by a textured finish with a Matrix pattern. It features a 160 GB hard disk drive, 1 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 2 GB), 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), Fast Ethernet, and a Secure Digital memory card slot.

Key Features
10.1-inch LED backlit widescreen display (1024 x 600-pixel resolution) provides richer colors and clearer definition--perfect for browsing the internet
Windows 7 Starter makes small notebook PCs easier to use because it puts less between you and what you want to do--less waiting, less clicking, less hassle connecting to networks. And Starter combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows. (Learn more)
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade.A small notebook PC running Windows 7 Home Premium is even easier to use. The new taskbar and advanced navigation features make launching programs, opening files, managing windows, and getting around your PC faster and easier. Personalize your PC to be just the way you want it with helpful gadgets and desktop themes--even turn your desktop into a slideshow of your favorite photos. And you get the best entertainment experience on a PC. With Windows Media Center, you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 processor combines performance and efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile (Learn more)
160 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) with an impact sensor that helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement. (Learn more)
1 GB of RAM (800 MHz; 1 memory slot; upgradeable to 2 GB)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GMA950 with up to 251 MB of dynamically allocated shared graphics memory
Webcam (0.3 megapixels) integrated into the bezel for easy video chats and teleconferencing
Three USB ports with one Sleep and Charge port on the left side, allowing you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
Full-sized keyboard (85 keys)
Integrated Wi-Fi networking (802.11b.g) so you can communicate, browse and share while on the move
Fast Ethernet wired networking (10/100)
Built-in mono speaker
Up to 9 hours of battery life from included 6-cell battery
Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.6 x 1.27 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.93 pounds
Environmentally focused with RoHS compatibility (reducing its environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances), Energy Star 5.0 compliant, and EPEAT Gold compliant
Warranty: 1 year warranty with international limited warranty coverage

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This Toshiba mini NB205 notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. It offers the following ports:
3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
Memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), and MultiMediaCard (MMC)
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
10/100 Fast Ethernet

What's in the box This package contains the Toshiba mini NB205-N325BN netbook, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.
It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009, Microsoft Works 9, Windows Media Player, Google Toolbar, Toshiba PC Health Monitor
Learn More
Windows 7 Starter makes small notebook PCs easier to use because it puts less between you and what you want to do--less waiting, less clicking, less hassle connecting to networks. Windows 7 Starter combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows.

Intel Atom Processor: Your PC's Perfect Internet Companion Take the Internet to more places with the long battery life and flexibility of a compact, lightweight netbook powered by the incredibly small, amazingly smart Intel Atom processor. It features a design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.66 GHz Atom N280 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).
Hard Drive Protection While the highly portable nature of mini-notebooks exposes them to the knocks and bumps that are an inevitable feature of life on the move, the Toshiba mini NB205 features a 3D-accelerometer monitoring system that detects freefalls, shocks and vibrations and protects the integrated HDD to secure against the loss of any personal data.


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4/17/2012

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 (NB200 series) 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Review

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 (NB200 series) 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
UPDATE:
Just in case you decide to order a case for this netbook, keep in mind that the dimensions in the Amazon description or Toshiba's website (10.4 x 7.6 x 1.27 inches) are the dimensions of this netbook WITHOUT the 6-cell battery. If you look at the side-view photo in the Amazon description area (the one with the 7.6" measurement right below it), you'll see it's pictured without the battery. I just measured mine and with the 6-cell battery protruding from the back, it's actually 10.4 x 8.4 x 1.27 so many of the cases you find on Amazon made for 10" netbooks may not fit the NB205 with the 6-cell battery. Okay that's it for my update... read on for my original review...
----------
I just received my Toshiba NB205 yesterday and after spending many hours "playing" with it, I can easily say that, hands down, it is the BEST Netbook on the market today!
At the end of next week, I'll be traveling overseas and I wanted a small and lightweight laptop that I would be able to use to watch movies on the plane, transfer vacation photos and videos to, and use the internet for researching stuff from my hotel room. I currently own a 15" Macbook Pro but decided I didn't want to take it with me since it's a bit bigger & heavier and I can't afford to lose it. That's when I began researching these Atom-based Netbooks.
When I started researching, the Toshiba NB205 had not yet been released but there were still many netbook models out there by other manufacturers. I had originally considered the Samsung NC10, Acer Aspire One AOD250, Asus 1000HE, and Lenovo S10 as they all were pretty much equipped with similar configurations (Atom N270/N280 1.6 or 1.66Ghz cpu, 10" screen, 1GB ram, 160GB HD, 6-cell Li-Ion battery, Windows XP Home) and priced in the $350-400 price range. I won't go into too much detail about what I liked or didn't like about the other products but I had pretty much narrowed it down to either the Samsung NC10 or the Acer AOD250. Then I came across a pre-release review from Laptop Magazine on the Toshiba and decided to wait on my netbook. It was definitely worth the wait considering this is the first netbook I've come across that actually had noticeable differentiating features. When you compare all the others, it's kind of hard to choose from one over the other because they're all so similar!
The 4 biggest selling points on this Toshiba NB205 that had me wait for it was the 9-hour battery life, the look & feel of the keyboard, the size of the trackpad & buttons, and the overall aesthetics of it.
The whole point of buying a laptop this small and compact is for its portability factor. When you have to lug a brick-based AC adapter with you in fear the battery in your laptop won't last as long as you need it, it sure interferes with how portable carrying a laptop really is. A 9-hour lithium-ion battery will definitely solve that problem. Most of you are probably wondering how realistic that 9-hour rating really is... Let me just reassure you all, the battery life is GOOD! I brought it to a full charge, then unplugged it from the adapter and watched two movies on it (more on the movie playback capabilities later) and did 4 hours worth of web surfing afterwards -- all off the power from the battery on a single charge! You students out there can now bring it to all your classes and not have to look for a wall outlet! Oh, btw, I had the screen brightness set to 1/2 (level 4 brightness setting) and turned off the Bluetooth.
Netbooks are known for smaller keyboards and even worse, SMALL trackpads and trackpad button(s). In addition to the smaller size, many of the netbooks I saw in person at my local Fry's Electronics had very "cheapy"-feeling keyboards -- they just felt real fragile compared to the keyboard on my Macbook Pro. Enter the Toshiba NB205. Finally, a netbook that has a keyboard with keys that had the look and feel of a Mac keyboard and a robustly solid build to it. In addition to the look and feel, the keys were also pretty darn close in width to my Mac keyboard (both my Macbook Pro's keyboard, and my desktop Mac's keyboard). I'll try to post some comparison photos on Amazon this weekend for all those interested. The trackpad and buttons on the NB205 is also the biggest I've seen in the netbook category. Toshiba did a tremendous job in getting this right. Most of the other netbooks had really small trackpads and little miniature trackpad button(s) that felt real flimsy. Another feature that I like with the trackpad that's not stated anywhere is that the very right edge of the trackpad can be used for scrolling web pages or other documents (similar to the one on the Samsung NC10). This feature is not obvious as there are no arrow indicators like there is on the NC10 but it does support it!
I won't go into the aesthetics of this unit since you can pretty much see how amazing this netbook looks from the Amazon photos (I'll also add my own photos this weekend so you can get a better feel for the size, etc.) but let me now shift focus on using it.
Although I upgraded the memory on the unit to 2GB (I installed the Crucial 2GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz Memory Module and it works great with the NB205!), all the testing I performed and am about to describe was done with the stock 1GB memory.
The very first thing I wanted to make sure this unit can do is play back, at the very least, DVD-quality movies (i.e. 480P movies (720x480 resolution)). One thing I'd HIGHLY recommend everyone who's interested in watching movies on their netbook do is download the FREE media player called VLC (Google "download vlc"). VLC is very lightweight and will play back movies a lot smoother than Quicktime or Windows Media Player; and given the inherently slower speeds of these Intel Atom processors compared to the Intel Core 2 Duo processors, using the VLC media player is your best bet. Using a free program called "Handbrake", one can convert their Bluray or DVD movies to AVC/h.264-encoded movies, which is what I used to convert some of my Bluray collection into a format that can be played-back on my NB205. Since it's out of the scope of this review and would require a tutorial guide of its own, I won't be able to explain how you would go about converting your Bluray or DVD movies. Anyhow, I first converted my Bluray edition of Valkyrie to a 720x480 resolution with a conservative 864kbs bitrate. The NB205 had NO PROBLEMS playing it back... It played back with very smooth video and the audio was synced up perfectly throughout the entire movie. So I decided to convert the movie again.... this time, using more aggressive settings... I converted it to a resolution of 1024x600 (since this is the native resolution of the NB205's screen) and a 2048kbps bitrate. Again, the NB205 was able to play the movie without a hitch. I didn't bother trying to convert the movie to 720P since the native resolution of the screen is only 1024x600 (it would be equivilent to 600P but 600P is not a standard). If you're planning to watch movies on the NB205 with someone else, you'll be happy to know that watching it from a 45 degree angle is very acceptible. Beyond the 45 degree angle, you won't be able to really see much so don't expect to have more than 3 people watching from it (why would you have more than 2 or 3 people watching off a 10" screen anyways!?).
Given it's capability to playback movies very smoothly, anything else I was going to throw at it would be child's play. Anyhow, I was reading that this laptop does get hot but after playing back two movies on it, it was not unbearable when resting it on my lap. So it doesn't seem like overheating problems will be too much of a concern for this laptop (but only long-term usage can really confirm this).
Another cool feature the NB205 sports that I'm not sure is available on all the other competitor models is a built-in accelerometer. It works the same way as the iPhone accelerometer but it's in the NB205 purely to detect if the laptop is about to take a fall. When it detects motion, it quickly moves the hard drive heads away from the hard drive to prevent any mishaps in case the hard drive is currently reading from or writing to the hard disks. Using a Toshiba software utility that's installed from the factory, you can change the sensitiviy threshold of the accelerometer or turn it off altogether.
There are obviously a lot more features that the NB205 comes with but I'm not going to explain each one simply because they're self-explanatory (such as bluetooth, wifi, etc.) but you can find out more about those features in Amazon's description of this product.
One final note before I conclude my review... Toshiba released two main models of the NB205 on the same day... the NB205-N310/311/312/313 (which is the model I have -- the NB205-N310/BN to be exact) and the NB205-N210. I think if you want to save $50, the NB205-210 would be a good choice as well -- provided you don't need Bluetooth or the Mac-style "chiclet" keyboard. For the extra $50, though, you also get the much sleeker, unique Toshiba-styling of the NB205-N31X series.
So if you're in the market for a very portable laptop, and you're considering a 10"-based netbook, the Toshiba NB205 is packed with features, enclosed around a very aesthetically pleasing body, and is very competitively priced!!!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 (NB200 series) 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

Small enough to throw in a purse or bag, the affordable, super-compact 10.1-inch Toshiba mini NB205 netbook--which weighs just under 3 pounds--is designed with smart features like a full-sized keyboard and touchpad, long battery life, USB Sleep-and-Charge ports and a hard drive impact sensor that protects your data. You'll also get excellent battery life with the included six-cell battery that provides up to 9 hours of battery power--enabling you to go through an entire day of school, work or errands without worrying about a recharge.
Created especially for mobile devices, Intels 1.6 GHz Atom N280 processor uses an innovative design structure and hafnium-infused circuitry that helps reduce electrical current leakage in transistors--which means longer battery life when you're on the go. It also includes the Intel 945GSE graphics chipset, which provides browsing the internet, emailing, running basic PC applications and enjoying online digital media.

This model of the Toshiba mini NB205 (NB205-N210) has a brilliant high-gloss Fusion Finish in Black Onyx, and it features a 160 GB hard disk drive, 1 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 2 GB), 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), Fast Ethernet, and a Secure Digital memory card slot. It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.



Key Features
10.1-inch LED backlit widescreen display (1024 x 600-pixel resolution) provides richer colors and clearer definition--perfect for browsing the internet
1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 processor combines performance and efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile (Learn more)
160 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) with an impact sensor that helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement. (Learn more)
1 GB of RAM (800 MHz; 1 memory slot; upgradeable to 2 GB)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GMA950 with up to 251 MB of dynamically allocated shared graphics memory
Webcam (0.3 megapixels) integrated into the bezel for easy video chats and teleconferencing
Three USB Sleep-and-Charge ports allow you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
Full-sized keyboard (85 keys)
Integrated Wi-Fi networking (802.11b.g) so you can communicate, browse and share while on the move
Fast Ethernet wired networking (10/100)
Built-in mono speaker
Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system
Up to 9 hours of battery life from included 6-cell battery
Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.6 x 1.27 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.93 pounds
Environmentally focused with RoHS compatibility (reducing its environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances), Energy Star 5.0 compliant, and EPEAT Gold compliant
Warranty: 1 year warranty with international limited warranty coverage

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This Toshiba mini NB205 notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Atheros) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks, and it offers the following ports:

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
Memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), and MultiMediaCard (MMC)
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
10/100 Fast Ethernet

What's in the box This package contains the Toshiba mini NB205-N210 netbook, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009, Microsoft Works 9, Windows Media Player, Google Toolbar, Toshiba PC Health Monitor

Learn More
Power-Sipping Processor The Intel Atom processor uses a design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.66 GHz Atom N280 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).


Hard Drive Protection While the highly portable nature of mini-notebooks exposes them to the knocks and bumps that are an inevitable feature of life on the move, the Toshiba mini NB205 features a 3D-accelerometer monitoring system that detects freefalls, shocks and vibrations and protects the integrated HDD to secure against the loss of any personal data.



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Click here for more information about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 (NB200 series) 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

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3/15/2012

HP Pavilion DM4-1062NR Notebook Pc Review

HP Pavilion DM4-1062NR Notebook Pc
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
So I purchased this from the microsoft store and really love it. Its aluminum case is beautiful and solid feeling. Its fast and gets a 6.6 for windows experience processor and a 4.5 for graphics. In fact I wrote a detailed review on my blog but heres some points in a nut shell. There a couple of emissions of the product discription as it does have the fingerprint scanner and webcam. It seems to be the same as the HP Pavilion dm4-1060us 14.1-Inch Laptop but sold thru microsoft hence the microsoft signature. Microsoft signiture means no bloatware so it should be easier to set up.
But mine had touch pad click problems. I initially tried to change mouse settings but it still failed then I called microsoft tech support (its a microsoft signiture) and he told me I was changeing windows mouse settings not driver. When I went to to mouse driver settings they were grayed out but I was able to hit restore default and that corrected problems and got mouse settings ungrayed.
Another low point is that I actualy only get about 4 1/2 hours of battery life for browsing without pluging in so 6 1/2 is very optimistic.
As for bloatware free- I had to download the simple pass finger print scanner software from hp to use the fingerprint scanner and install the hp web cam software. You would think that microsoft would have already installed these programs. The antivirus thats installed is Microsoft security essentials which I like better then norton and they include office starter 2010 a scaled down version of word and excel. They also have a trial version of office 2010. they also have click to install software form hp if you like the hp stuff. But overall its pretty free of bloatware just wish that Microsoft would know what HP stuff is needed and what is not.


Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion DM4-1062NR Notebook Pc

?Just over 1 inch tall and only 4.4 pounds?Powerful Intel Core i5-430M processor with 500 GB hard drive?Stylish, brushed aluminum finish?Extra-large touch pads and island-style, full-size keyboard?5-in-1 digital media reader allows for easy photo transfer from digital cameras

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2/15/2012

Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter) Review

Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I looked at netbooks for about 2 months, comparing all of the various features. Then I went on the road to see them in person and put my hands on the keyboard. I ended up choosing the Toshiba NB205-N325 because it met all my criteria (Windows 7, upgradable RAM, great battery life, and overall quality construction) and because it has the best keyboard for my hands. The chicklet keys are great and the sub-sized keyboard only slows me down a little from a full-sized version.
After shopping all around I ended up buying it direct from Amazon. They had the best price on cyber monday of 329.99. Interestingly, the price is now back up to 380+ so I guess I got lucky with the timing.
I tossed the 2GB RAM upgrade into my shopping cart and the machine showed up at my door about 8 days later.
Start up was a breeze. It found my home network and network printer without a problem. I downloaded chrome as my browser with no problem, activated the Norton trial (still shopping for an antivirus program), and activated the free trial of Office (I actually have the software but haven't gotten around to activating my copy). I've plugged in several USB devices without issue including a wireless mouse and external hard drive. No problems. The 160 GB hard disk has plenty of space and unless you plan to make and store movie files you should never need more. After about an hour I shut back down and installed the 2GB RAM chip which is simple to do. You just remove one screw on a small cover on the back and the chip is right there. Pop the old one out and the new one in, then start back up. The user manual spells it out perfectly. I didn't run it long enough on the 1GB chip to give you a comparison on performance but with 2GB it seems as quick as my other laptops. I think this upgrade is a no-brainer if you plan to use your netbook for anything more than reading e-mail.
The only glitch I've had is with the display. About 2 hrs after I started it up the display suddenly went crazy, jerking all over. I was talking on a cordless phone at the time and assumed it somehow interfered with the display. It happened again one time two days later only I wasn't talking on the phone. Both times I got it to stop by putting it to sleep and then starting back up (which only takes a couple seconds). I don't know what to make of this but so far it hasn't repeated itself and at least I know how to stop it. If it happens again I'll call Toshiba.
My overall impression is that I love this little guy. It does everything I wanted it to do and is the ultimate in portability. I use it on and off all day, closing the lid when I'm done which puts it to sleep. It wakes up almost instantly, so this is a great way to extend the battery. The only time I plug it in is at night. I've never come close to running the battery down. The fit and finish of the machine are terrific.
Toshiba hit a home run with this model. It gets 5 stars from me.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)

Small enough to throw in a purse or bag, the affordable, super-compact 10.1-inch Toshiba mini NB205 netbook--which weighs just under 3 pounds--is designed with smart features like a full-sized keyboard and touchpad, long battery life, 3 USB ports (including one Sleep and Charge port) and a hard drive impact sensor that protects your data. You'll also get excellent battery life with the included six-cell battery that provides up to 9 hours of battery power--enabling you to go through an entire day of school, work or errands without worrying about a recharge.
It comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter operating system, which combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows. It includes new Windows 7 features like Jump Lists to help you to better find and manage files, and connecting to printers and peripherals is easier than ever. (Learn more about Windows 7 Starter below.)

Created especially for mobile devices, Intel's 1.6 GHz Atom N280 processor uses an innovative design structure and hafnium-infused circuitry that helps reduce electrical current leakage in transistors--which means longer battery life when you're on the go. It also includes the Intel 945GSE graphics chipset, which provides browsing the internet, emailing, running basic PC applications and enjoying online digital media. This model of the Toshiba mini NB205 (NB205-N325BL) has a distinctively styled cover in Royal Blue, which is accented by a textured finish with a Matrix pattern. It features a 160 GB hard disk drive, 1 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 2 GB), 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), Fast Ethernet, and a Secure Digital memory card slot.



Key Features
10.1-inch LED backlit widescreen display (1024 x 600-pixel resolution) provides richer colors and clearer definition--perfect for browsing the internet
Windows 7 Starter makes small notebook PCs easier to use because it puts less between you and what you want to do--less waiting, less clicking, less hassle connecting to networks. And Starter combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows. (Learn more)
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. A small notebook PC running Windows 7 Home Premium is even easier to use. The new taskbar and advanced navigation features make launching programs, opening files, managing windows, and getting around your PC faster and easier. Personalize your PC to be just the way you want it with helpful gadgets and desktop themes--even turn your desktop into a slideshow of your favorite photos. And you get the best entertainment experience on a PC. With Windows Media Center, you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 processor combines performance and efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile (Learn more)
160 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) with an impact sensor that helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement. (Learn more)
1 GB of RAM (800 MHz; 1 memory slot; upgradeable to 2 GB)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GMA950 with up to 251 MB of dynamically allocated shared graphics memory
Webcam (0.3 megapixels) integrated into the bezel for easy video chats and teleconferencing
Three USB ports with one Sleep and Charge port on the left side, allowing you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
Full-sized keyboard (85 keys)
Integrated Wi-Fi networking (802.11b.g) so you can communicate, browse and share while on the move
Fast Ethernet wired networking (10/100)
Built-in mono speaker
Up to 9 hours of battery life from included 6-cell battery
Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.6 x 1.27 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.93 pounds
Environmentally focused with RoHS compatibility (reducing its environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances), Energy Star 5.0 compliant, and EPEAT Gold compliant
Warranty: 1 year warranty with international limited warranty coverage

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This Toshiba mini NB205 notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. It offers the following ports:

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
Memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), and MultiMediaCard (MMC)
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
10/100 Fast Ethernet

What's in the box This package contains the Toshiba mini NB205-N325BL netbook, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009, Microsoft Works 9, Windows Media Player, Google Toolbar, and Toshiba PC Health Monitor.

NOTE: All Toshiba NB205 Netbooks (no matter the model) are packaged with the "NB200" series model# on the outside of box.

Learn More
Windows 7 Starter makes small notebook PCs easier to use because it puts less between you and what you want to do--less waiting, less clicking, less hassle connecting to networks. Windows 7 Starter combines the latest in reliability and responsiveness with the familiarity and compatibility of Windows.



Intel Atom Processor: Your PC's Perfect Internet Companion Take the Internet to more places with the long battery life and flexibility of a compact, lightweight netbook powered by the incredibly small, amazingly smart Intel Atom processor. It features a design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.66 GHz Atom N280 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).
Hard Drive Protection While the highly portable nature of mini-notebooks exposes them to the knocks and bumps that are an inevitable feature of life on the move, the Toshiba mini NB205 features a 3D-accelerometer monitoring system that detects freefalls, shocks and vibrations and protects the integrated HDD to secure against the loss of any personal data.



Buy NowGet 15% OFF

Click here for more information about Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)

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1/27/2012

Dell Inspiron iM1012-799OBK Mini 1012 10.1-Inch Netbook (Obsidian Black) Review

Dell Inspiron iM1012-799OBK Mini 1012 10.1-Inch Netbook (Obsidian Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I was after a new netbook (owned an EEE 701)and thought I would go with the Dell this time around.
I found the Dell the most attractive package in early 2010 for the follwoing reasons:
1. comes with the new Atom 450 (should be a little more nergy efficient)
2. the 6-cell battery gives me more air time than the 3-cells batteries in so many other netbooks.
3. the keyboard is a pleasure to type on quickly.
4. the case is not only pretty but sturdy. No noticable flexing of any kind under pressure.
5. the screen is nice, colors vibrant.
6. touchpad is of a nice and usable size.
I've been using the Mini now for a couple of days and I'm not disappointed. I use it for light web surfing, emails, and typing (the classic core apps of a netbook). In addition, I use it for streaming music under my Zune subscription.
My expectations are met. Windows Starter only seems a bit of a bottleneck in terms of included (or lacking) features compared to Home or Professional. I couldn't figure out how to back up the Mini via a mapped network drive and as it stands, it must be a missing (or blocked) feature due to Windows 7 Starter Edition. Upgrading seems the better choice if one really wants to use the Mini for sharing and streaming at home.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell Inspiron iM1012-799OBK Mini 1012 10.1-Inch Netbook (Obsidian Black)


Dell Inspiron Mini 10: Jack of All TradesThe highly portable Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (model iM1012-799OBK) is everything you want in a mobile companion with easy Wi-Fi connectivity for on-the-go productivity, access to your favorite entertainment, and smooth video playback via the brightly colorful 10.1-inch screen. Redesigned for 2010, the Mini 10 now features a newly streamlined case with forward hinge design and it includes a textured, smudge-resistant palm rest and sculpted keys on the near-full-size keyboard. It also combines the power of the latest Intel Atom N450 processor (NM10 Express chipset) with a 6-cell battery for up to 6 hours of battery power
The newly redesigned Dell Inspiron Mini 10 comes in a range of bright colors.

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1/18/2012

HP G42-230US 14-Inch Laptop Review

HP G42-230US 14-Inch Laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
!!UPDATED!!
I have had my g42-230us for three months and found it to be a decent moderately powerful computer. The 7200RPM hard drive and 1Mb per core cache give it the extra "umph" it needs to compete with the Intel offers.
This computer, like most consumer targeted systems, came loaded with bloatware (software that isn't required and slows down performance).
I am a computer tech so the first thing I recommend for this and all consumer targeted computers is to make the restore DVD's as soon as you turn on the computer and before you connect to a network or the internet. Second thing I recommend to do is to get a genuine copy of Windows 7, then use it to reformat (and delete all extra hard drive partitions) and reinstall operating system. Doing this is almost literally the difference between night and day. You will realize more hard drive space, faster boot and shutdown, no software "nags" (other than Windows 7 "nags") or bloatware pop ups to activate and upgrade trial software and no performance robbing unnecessary running services and registry entries.
I tell my customers to consider this a required cost to any big brand consumer level computer purchased (comsumer level computers are typicaly computers sold that are not installed with Windows 7 Professional). You can get windows here on Amazon:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Microsoft Windows 7 Professional . Keep in mind bloatware keeps the cost of the computer down (the computer's maker is often paid to install this trial software in hopes it will lead to the sale of the full product.
After installing Genuine Windows 7 64bit I have a decent professional grade laptop for a few hundred less than what HP sells them for otherwise.
Clarification from what other reviews have stated: All three USB ports are v2.0 and are powered to 500mA. I have tested them and confirmed this to be true even under battery power.
Note:
No modem is included and no PC Card socket is present.
The speakers and Altec Lansing, upward facing above the Function keys near the display hinge.
Wired LAN is not Gigabit Ethernet (this is a real downgrade from my almost four year old Acer Aspire).
Annoyances:
The power button is slightly recessed and very small. I have very small fingers but still have to press the button multiple times to get it depressed enough to activate (but now I just use my finger nail and it works fine).
The hard drive activity light looks to be a 1mm LED mounted behind a hole in the left side of the unit next to the media card reader. This is excellent for the person sitting to my left when they want to know if my hard drive is active but totally useless to me.
Also the power / charging light looks to be a 1mm LED mounted behind a hole on the right side near the DC input. This too is excellent for the person on my right that wants to know if my laptop is charging or on but totally useless to me.
There is however a power light in the power button above the Function keys and speakers near the hindge but it to looks to be a 1mm LED pointed straight up and can't be seen when the lid is closed so you cannot see if your computer is on/sleeping/or off unless you open the lid or look at the led on the right side of the unit.
Almost a deal killer is the fact that the touchpad area is not recessed or raised, nor does it have a different pattern or texture than the palm rests. Without looking, using the touchpad buttons as an guide, a person cannot feel where the touchpad area starts and ends on the left and right side. I used 3M blue painters tape 3M 2090 Scotch-Blue Painter's Tape for Multi-Surfaces 1-Inch x 60-Yard, 4-Rollto create outlines of the touchpad area to use the unit in the dark and without watching my fingers.
Battery:
The stock battery is a MU06 and the battery life is very good but I got the MU09 extended life batter anyway. The extended life battery does stick out some at the bottom causing a funny lop-sided look. Also an optional higher watt charger can be found but I don't know it would be any better than the one included. HP 90W Smart Ac Adapter US
I like Acer / Gateway laptops because I had always found them easy to work on but I have already taken this one apart pretty well and it isn't as bad as the HP computers of previous years.
I have a report for Speccy on my unit:
CPU
AMD K10
45nm Technology
RAM
4.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz (7-7-7-20)
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 1444 (Socket S1G4)
Graphics
Generic PnP Monitor @ 1366x768
AMD M880G with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250
Hard Drives
313GB Seagate ST932042 3AS SATA Disk Device (IDE)
Optical Drives
hp CDDVDW TS-L633N SATA CdRom Device
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio
CPU
AMD K10
Cores2
Threads2
NameAMD K10
PackageSocket S1 (638)
Technology45nm
SpecificationAMD Turion(tm) II P520 Dual-Core Processor
FamilyF
Extended Family10
Model6
Extended Model6
Stepping3
RevisionDA-C3
InstructionsMMX (+), 3DNow! (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4A, x86-64
Bus Speed199.5 MHz
Rated Bus Speed1795.6 MHz
Stock Core Speed2300 MHz
Stock Bus Speed200 MHz
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size2 x 64 KBytes
L1 Instructions Cache Size2 x 64 KBytes
L2 Unified Cache Size2 x 1024 KBytes
Core 0
Core Speed2294.2 MHz
Multiplierx 11.5
Bus Speed199.5 MHz
Rated Bus Speed1795.6 MHz
Thread 1
APIC ID0
Core 1
Core Speed2294.2 MHz
Multiplierx 11.5
Bus Speed199.5 MHz
Rated Bus Speed1795.6 MHz
Thread 1
APIC ID1
RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots2
Used memory slots2
Free memory slots0
Memory
TypeDDR3
Size4096 MBytes
Channels #Dual
DRAM Frequency532.0 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL)7 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD)7 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP)7 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS)20 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (tR?)27 clocks
Command Rate (CR)1T
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules2
Motherboard
ManufacturerHewlett-Packard
Model1444
Chipset VendorAMD
Chipset Model785GX
Chipset Revision00
Southbridge VendorAMD
Southbridge ModelSB800
Southbridge Revision40
BIOS
BrandHewlett-Packard
VersionF.0A
Date06/08/2010
Graphics
Monitor
NameGeneric PnP Monitor on AMD M880G with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250
Current Resolution1366x768 pixels
Work Resolution1366x738 pixels
Stateenabled, primary
Monitor Width1366
Monitor Height768
Monitor BPP32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency60 Hz
AMD M880G with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250
Memory256 MB
Memory type2
Hard Drives
ST932042 3AS SATA Disk Device
ManufacturerSeagate
Form Factor2.5"
InterfaceIDE
Capacity313GB
Real size320,072,933,376 bytes
Optical Drives
hp CDDVDW TS-L633N SATA CdRom Device
Audio
Sound Cards
ATI High Definition Audio Device
Realtek High Definition Audio
Playback Device
Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Recording Devices
Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)(default)
Peripherals
Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Device KindKeyboard
Device NameStandard PS/2 Keyboard
Locationplugged into keyboard port
Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
Device KindMouse
Device NameSynaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
Locationplugged into PS/2 mouse por
USB Video Device
Device KindCamera/scanner
Device NameUSB Video Device
VendorUnknown
CommentHP Webcam-101
LocationUSB Composite Device
I have been informed that there is a clean install restore option but this is not an option on my unit. The factory restore "clean" option still installs many services and registry items including HP "nags" and programs that connect to HP's web site to keep you informed up updates and messages (offers). The clean install I recomend will give a user the most out of the computer.
!!!!!!CAVEAT!!!!!!!: Some users do not mind or miss the lost performance and hard drive space and can very well live with the hp "clean" install or even the factory install.
I only mention the clean install in my review because I and most of my cutomers are "power" users and prefere a true Windows clean install from a genuine Windows disc. Plus a person can buy almost the same computer without the bloatware software installed for twice the price. I am just pointing out an alternative to spending twice the money and getting the almost the same computer as a pro model.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP G42-230US 14-Inch Laptop

Do more without spending more than you expect. For productivity, reliability and fun at a great value, choose the affordable HP G42-230US Notebook PC. Watch DVDs and view photos easily on the 14.0-inch diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED display. Browse the Web from any room and on the go using built-in Wi-Fi, plus video chat using the integrated HP webcam. This HP laptop also looks great with the fingerprint-resistant, textured HP Imprint finish with the prism design in silver.Stay productive and be entertained. The HP G42-230US Notebook PC has the right balance of performance and fun. Handle everyday tasks effortlessly using the dual-core processor and 4GB of memory. Convenient one-touch keys give you fast access to email, the Web and other common applications. Burn custom labels onto CDs and DVDs using LightScribe Technology. Transfer photos directly from a memory card to your HP laptop, plus manage and share your photos using HP Photo Creations software. At 4.85 pounds, this notebook is light enough to carry with you all day long.

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1/13/2012

Dell Inspiron Mini iM1012-571OBK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Obsidian Black) Review

Dell Inspiron Mini iM1012-571OBK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Obsidian Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Dell's Mini 1012 is simply a breath of fresh air in an ever-cramping netbook market. Dell continues moving forward with it's innovative features making this netbook the most-comfortable, most-useful netbook around. Its media handling features have a bit to be desired, but it makes out okay in that department too.===== It's Comfortable =====
This thing is a dream to use. Most netbooks are unusable to me. What stings me most with netbooks is the keyboard. Most netbooks' have either tiny keyboards, or their keyboards just aren't typing-friendly. I'm used to the low-profile, "chiclet-style" scissor-switch keyboards that are (or at least used to be) most common in older laptops, and in fact I love them. I'm referring to the type of keys that are flat and flush with the palm rest, and have a little flange or lip on the edges (where the space is between the keys).
To see exactly what I mean, check out the close ups photos of another Dell Mini (on the right side of this page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00361G10S?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8#productDescription). Such a design makes them spill-resistant, but also makes typing a breeze, as they won't inflict wrist strain due to tall keys or keys that require more force to press. So, this thing is certainly a dream to use. ===== It's Innovative =====
The touch pad is small, yet clever, allowing you to press down on the bottom-left/bottom-right corners of the pad to left-click/right-click (respectively), rather than wasting space by implementing separate buttons. This keeps the overall size of the netbook more compact than other brands. The Mini 1012 was smudge free, thanks to their use of an oil-resistant softly-textured palm-rest. The touch pad is also very touchable, as its texture and finish is matte, rather than glossy, making it much more conducive to swiping your fingers across than most of the other netbooks I laid fingers on.
Most brands of netbooks had touch pads that were glossy, making your skin shear and resist the dragging of your finger during swipe gestures (moving the mouse, scrolling, drag+drop, etc). I find that feeling to be as annoying as fingernails on a chalkboard! The other netbooks were also noticeably covered in oily smudges and finger grease, both inside the track pad and also on the wrist rest. Instant turn off for me on anything but the Dell! ===== It's Brilliant =====
The display is crisp and bright, and it isn't too shabby outside either, though I recommend using full brightness when being used outdoors. My only complaint about the screen is its native resolution is a bit low for my tastes, which I hope isn't just a personal preference. I'd rather see more on the screen than to see things big and close up. However, this is par for netbooks anyway. You should look into this Sony (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PII4HW?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8) if you absolutely must have a higher definition display while maintaining the small form factor of a netbook.===== It's More than Capable =====
This Dell Mini 1012 does more than just writing and surfing the Web (tip: keep your browser tabs to a minimum and not install too many Firefox extensions). Media plays decently as well, including Web videos, Flash sites and Flash games. Just don't run several other programs at once, and you should be perfectly fine. The 3-in-1 memory card reader is an added bonus, great for storing photos while on vacation--a life-saver when traveling. The webcam quality is sub-par compared to most full-sized notebooks, but still a decent quality for netbook webcams I suppose.
In the past, Dell has been known for using Windows XP on their netbooks, but those days are over. With Windows 7 being much more ideal, as the OS is optimized for the netbook, this latest generation Dell Mini outperforms its XP-based predecessors in several areas, including usability, responsiveness, and of course look and feel. ===== It's Media Friendly =====
The 9:16 ratio widescreen 10.1" display is great for watching widescreen movies on the go, with one very important exception: you must have an external DVD (or Blu-Ray) drive. I recommend this Samsung (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C1BBU8?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8) which sports a sexy look, on par with the Dell 's own appeal, without sacrificing functionality. Video playback is generally smooth and very few hiccups in playback have been experienced. ===== Processor and Battery =====
The Dell Mini 1012 features the Intel Atom N450, a 64-bit single-core processor supporting 2GB max of DDR2-667 RAM. It does support Hyper Threading though, meaning minor multitasking is possible (you probably shouldn't do more than two things at once). Try not to run more than two apps simultaneously for best performance and battery life. Intel Speedstep Technology is also built in, helping you save battery life. I averaged about 8-9 hours using the 56WHr 6 cell battery. This is definitely a gigantic leap in battery life over most netbooks we've tested to date.===== Praise =====
* Keyboard design - 92% full-size!
* Touch pad design - genius usability features
* Wrist rest - comfortable, remains clean & streak-free
* 3 USB ports (2-left/1-right) - handy for using a USB mouse
* 9:16 ratio display - great for movies (see above for DVD solution)
* Wireless N support for faster and farther-reaching WiFi reception
* Windows 7 - optimized for netbook performance===== Dissapointments =====
* 1024x600 resolution - would have preferred at least 1280x720
* 5400 RPM hard drive - would have liked a faster Solid State Disk (even if smaller)===== Bottom Line =====
All in all, my list of disappointments with Dell's Mini series continues to shrink with each new model, keeping Dell well-positioned atop my list of favorite netbooks. I think you'll soon find it on your favorites list as well.
I certainly hope you've found this review to be helpful! :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell Inspiron Mini iM1012-571OBK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Obsidian Black)

The Inspiron Mini 10 is an ultra-portable netbook offering brilliant industrial design, a six-cell battery with seriously long life, and an efficient Intel Atom processor. It's packed with features such as a 10.1-inch widescreen display, a Wireless-N card, 3-in-1 media card reader, a 250GB hard disk, and a gigabyte of memory.


Your new best friend.

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1/08/2012

Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black Laptop - 6 Hour Battery Life Review

Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black Laptop - 6 Hour Battery Life
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I keep checking out the Netbooks that come into the hardware lab where I work, looking for something to replace a cheap one I bought for my kids to play with, but they all just seem too small. As a result I've been poking around the high-end of the Netbook spectrum / low end of the Ultra-portable spectrum for something more usable. The Acer Aspire 1410 series does a great job of bridging the gap between small low cost "Netbooks" and more expensive "Ultra-portables" (which is what Acer classes this as). It manages to overcome many of the short comings of Netbooks without getting anywhere near the $1000+ price range of most ultra-portables. It has a few drawbacks, notably material quality: like a lot of Acer products the plastic molding is attractive and the tolerances are tight. However the quality of the plastic is more in line with what you would expect with a Netbook (which is to say it is lower density plastic and more likely to scratch or break). To me it's reasonable that the overall component quality is lower than what I would get if I spent $1000 (display not as nice, finish not as refined, buttons not as responsive, etc...). Still, overall this is a well put together computer with good build quality considering the price. While I didn't end up buying one myself if might be the right fit for you: if you are on a budget and you need a small laptop that can do more than browse web pages this would be a very good choice.
Let's go over the specs:
CPU: The Core 2 ULV SU3500 is a great CPU choice and far more powerful than the Atom CPU found in most Netbooks. This is a single core (as opposed to the two core "Core2 Duo") Ultra Low Voltage cpu running at 1.4GHz. Depending on the exact application this CPU is about 3-6x more powerful than the typical Atom Processor. It also has 3 MB of cache (cache is a form of on-chip high speed memory) vs the Atom's 512 KB. With 6x the cache of the Atom this CPU is going to spend a lot more time running instructions and a lot less time waiting on the memory sub-system. It also helps that the Core 2 ULV SU3500 memory bus is about 25% faster than what you will find on an Atom. The Core2 is technically more power hungry than the Atom but when running applications the difference isn't significant (5 watts for the Core2 vs 1.5 watts for Atom). The main difference happens when in standby or sleep mode where the Atom will use much less power than the Core2 (because the kind of transistors on the Atom "leak" less power than those used on the Core2 when in those modes). So if you need long battery life while carrying your computer around in standby with brief periods of activity you might prefer the Atom based Netbooks (say for sales calls on the road). I think most users will probably prefer the Core2 - I know that I do. Update: there may be a dual core version of this coming out soon. It's on the list to arrive where I work but that doesn't mean it will be sold in the US.
MEMORY: 2GB of DDR2 RAM is plenty and the 667Mhz memory speed is good enough (faster notebooks go up to 1066Mhz). This system runs Vista which is more memory hungry than the Windows XP or Linux found on most Netbooks so 2GB, while enough, doesn't go as far as you might think. Still, as long as your aren't planning on doing any really serious gaming 2GB will handle the typical office application with no troubles.
HDD: The 250GB HDD has plenty of storage given that most users don't use more than 50GB. Serious gamers and video encoders will need a lot more space than this.
DISPLAY: The 11.6" 1366x768 screen looks good and is a lot more useable than the 8-10" screens found on most Netbooks. The resolution is much better than what you will find on most Netbooks and it is reasonably bright (200 nits vs 300+ nits on higher end laptop). I passed on this model because the viewing angle is limited (the manufacturer list the viewing angles as 60vert/90horiz compared to 120v/140h on a high end display) and my sons like to sit with me and watch YouTube videos. The limited viewing angles might be a selling point for somebody traveling who would prefer not to share what's on their screen with others. So while Acer clearly saved some money here it's still a good display: unless you need a really high quality LCD I think most people will be pretty happy with this screen (again it's far better than what you'll find in most Netbooks). For those few who care it's made by AU Optronics and I think it's model B116XW01.
GRAPHICS: The Intel Mobile GMA X4500HD graphics won't impress any gamers but if you're running business applications it will do just fine. Update: they loaded Autocad on this thing at work and it wasn't pretty. It might have been a driver issue but the render times were terrible. It's not really a surprise but don't buy this to run your CAD software. Of course for most users this won't be an issue.
AUDIO: notebooks are not known for great speaker sound and this notebook doesn't break from that trend. Again it's better than most Netbooks but not by a lot. Update: With headphones on I found the sound to be fine.
DRIVES: Like most Netbooks and Ultra-portables this has no CD or DVD drive. I recommend buying an external CD Drive. The software industry may start to switch over to USB drives soon (Windows 7 will be sold on USB drives) so this may not be a big deal for much longer. Today it's a pain to not have a CDROM.
BATTERY: The 6 cell battery is perfect for this notebook (thanks to the low power components). This notebook is probably too small for an 8 cell to fit cleanly but the 4 cell found in most Netbooks just isn't adequate, even for an Atom CPU. This 6 cell battery will provide about 3-5 hours of real use though with aggressive power saving modes you can get over six hours. Update: we have two of these in our hardware lab and it was just pointed it out to me that one (which came pre-release) had a higher capacity battery than the release version (5600mAH vs. 4400mAH). I've adjusted my battery life numbers down to reflect the release version. Interestingly the non-US version of this laptop has the higher capacity battery. I can only assume Acer was trying to bring the price down to compete in the tight US netbook market.
WEIGHT: Coming in a 3.1 lbs this is tiny bit heavier than the typical Netbook but not by much (Netbooks will range from 2-3lbs). Most regular notebooks are 6-8 lbs.
WIRELESS: The usual Intel 5100 A/G/N supports the most common standards ("A" and "G") along with the new "N" standard. You should have no trouble connecting to wireless networks. This is pretty standard though a few laptops will support 3G out of the box.
In short: while this notebook isn't perfect it is well built and unlike most Netbooks, actually has a decent CPU. It's small and light but big enough that you can actually use it. If you've got 1K-2K to spend you can get a better Ultra-Portable notebook (I'm partial to Sony's and Apple's offerings in that segment) but in this price range there isn't much competition.
Oh I should note that while this model is dark blue, Acer makes this in two other colors you can buy:
Acer Aspire AS1410-8913 11.6-Inch Ruby Red
Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black
Also if you're outside the US this might be sold as the "Acer Timeline 1810T" locally and may have slightly different specs (such as a better battery).


Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire AS1410-8804 11.6-Inch Black Laptop - 6 Hour Battery Life

Weighing just over 3 pounds and measures 1.2 inches slim, the Acer Aspire AS1410-8414 makes it easy to roam the globe with a powerful PC. It includes a 6-cell battery that provides up to 6 hours of continuous use and a vividly colorful 11.6-inch LCD screen as well as an HDMI port for connecting it to an external monitor or HDTV for viewing presentations and movies. Presented in a stylish diamond black case, the thin and light Aspire 1410 also features a full-size keyboard and Acer's ComfyTouch technology, which uses an innovative Laminar Wall Jet Engine design to air-cool the processor and notebook case.
A Multi-Gesture Touchpad enables you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. An integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations.

Other features include a 1.4 GHz Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor, 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking, and a multi-format memory card reader.



Key Features
11.6-inch LED-backlight widescreen display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio and 200-nit high brightness (Learn more)
Energy efficient 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor with ultra-low voltage uses only 5.5 watts of energy--less than 1/10 that of a normal desktop processor--for extended battery life (Learn more)
250 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
2 GB of installed DDR2 RAM (667 MHz; 2 x SODIMM slots; 4 GB maximum capacity)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1700 MB of shared video memory and support for DirectX 10 games (Learn more)
Multi-gesture touchpad supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip (Learn more)
Thermal-efficient cooling innovation ensures the notebook achieves comfortable skin temperature during use. (Learn more)
Crystal Eye webcam supports Acer PrimaLite technology, which consists of a premium sensor, firmware and lenses to provide superior video performance under low-light conditions. A built-in digital microphone helps keep background noise levels low and minimizes echoes.
Draft-N Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11a/b/g/n) with SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
5-in-1 memory card reader
HDMI (with HDCP) and VGA video output
Stereo speakers with Dolby Sound Room audio enhancement transforms the experience of movies, music, and games.
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit) operating system (Learn more)
Up to 6 hours of battery life with included 6-cell battery
Dimensions: 11.2 x 8 x 1.2 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 3.1 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). This notebook also provides ultra-fast Gigabit Ethernet networking (10/100/1000).

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable
Analog video output: 1 VGA
5-in-1 card reader compatible with MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card
1 headphone/line-out jack (with SPDIF digital audio support), 1 microphone jack
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

What's in the box This package contains the Acer Aspire AS1410-8414 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions

It also comes with the following software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (trial version); CyberLink PowerDVD; Google Desktop; Acer Backup Manager; Acer GridVista

Learn More
11.6-Inch Widescreen Display with True 16:9 Aspect Ratio The 11.6-inch LED-backlit display (1366 x 768 pixels) presents true 16:9 aspect ratio with high-def resolution and fast 8ms (millisecond) response time for high-quality media playback as well as increased readability in low-light conditions. And the LED backlight technology is 33 percent more energy efficient than standard CCFL LCD screens.
Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, which uses shared video memory (providing up to 1700 MB of video memory as allocated by the system memory). This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out.



Energy Efficient Intel Core 2 Solo Processor Offering the latest in ultra-low voltage processing power, the single-core Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor has a has a power consumption rating of just 5.5 watts and a 1.4 GHz speed that's paired with a fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The Core 2 Solo processor delivers enhanced performance for today's demanding applications such as CAD tools, 3D and 2D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming. And Intel's Smart Cache technology enables smarter, more efficient cache and bus design for enhanced performance, responsiveness and power savings.


The Multi-Gestured Aspire 1410
Cool to the Touch The Acer Aspire 1410 notebook includes Acer's ComfyTouch technology, which uses an innovative Laminar Wall Jet Engine design to air-cool the processor and notebook case. Even when running for a full day the notebook remains cool in your hands or on your lap.




Windows Vista Home Premium Operating SystemWindows Vista Home Premium (32-bit version) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.


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1/05/2012

HP Mini 210-2070NR 10.1-Inch Netbook (Charcoal) Review

HP Mini 210-2070NR 10.1-Inch Netbook (Charcoal)
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I bought an HP mini Netbook to use in my office and I have to say I'm extremely happy with my choice. It's quick, light weight, and just small enough I don't feel like I'm lugging around extra baggage when I'm carrying it. I have a friend who just bought a huge, and I do mean huge, laptop and she actually groans when she picks it up in the case. Further more, my battery life is excellent! I set my computer power setting on "High performance" and I still get 6 hours of juice from my battery. My friend gets around 3 hours on her laptop. Granted the my Netbook screen is small, but even with my bad eyesight (with glasses) I can see everything just fine. I've even watched streaming videos with no problems. The keyboard, which is smaller than a normal keyboard, is actually surprisingly good when typing. Actually, it was the keyboard that made my decision to get the HP Mini. The "chick-let" style keyboard is what I liked most. Each key is separate from the others and makes cleaning a snap! No accidental hitting other keys when typing. The wifi range is excellent. I was seeing connections from other businesses down the street as my co-workers were barely seeing the connection from a business in the same complex on their laptops. One thing, you will need to back up your Win 7 recovery part and it takes either a DVD, there's no DVD drive you will have to buy an external one, or back up via flash drive. It says it needs 14.99 gigs of flash drive to back up the recovery. I bought a 16 gig and windows install the drivers for it but left me with a 14.8 gig flash drive-Windows allocates just a little bit of the memory on the drive. Well needless to say, you will need to buy a 20 gig flash drive to back the netbook up-and you can't use an external usb hard drive either, I tried that.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Mini 210-2070NR 10.1-Inch Netbook (Charcoal)

Enjoy Web browsing and entertainment with an ultra-portable netbook. With a charcoal finish, the HP Mini 210-2070NR is a great choice for anyone. Watch videos, view photos and edit documents on the 10.1-inch diagonal flush glass display. Type with ease using the island-style keyboard and get fast access to email, IM and social networking sites. Plus, use the integrated webcam and microphone on this HP netbook to video chat with family and friends across the globe. Transfer photos from a memory card to the HP Mini 210-2070NR netbook using the 5-in-1 digital media reader. Built-in Wi-Fi lets you browse the Web from any room and on the go without using cables. Enjoy online games in crisp detail using integrated Intel video graphics, plus store important files on the 250GB hard drive. You can also connect this HP netbook to an MP3 player, digital camera or external optical drive easily using one of the USB ports.

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1/01/2012

Acer Aspire 4810TZ-4011 Timeline 14.0-Inch Laptop Review

Acer Aspire 4810TZ-4011 Timeline 14.0-Inch Laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have been using the Acer Timeline (14 inch, Aspire 4810TZ-4011) since yesterday evening and so far so good. Here are my first impressions:
1. The delivery was quick and packaging was good.
2. The looks of the laptop are fantastic. Love the isolation-type keyboard. The screen hinges could have been more solid but for a lightweight machine appear ok.
3. The eject button for the CD, various ports, the card reader, are all very suitably positioned.
4. The colours of the screen are beautiful. There are setup options to adjust those to taste, but I did not need to use them.
5. The laptop was easy to set up. I loaded the battery for about an hour before starting, perhaps an overkill, and was rewarded with a blue light coming from beneath the touchpad.
6. Setting up Vista for the first time was much quicker than my last XP setup on a netbook. Feels natural so far.
7. Soon after startup I was prompted to create recovery disks, and made two DVDs with the system and one with software.
8. There is (was) a lot of preloaded software. I spent a good deal of time finding out what it does (on Google) and cleaning most of it up.
9. People who have complained from performance issues maybe should take care to remove the redundant backup software (two or three of those pre-installed?!), the trial antivirus and other FUD nonsense.
10. I registerted for a FREE copy of Windows 7 for Timeline owners, to be shipped in October (woot!).
11. Set up Skype (after combating for a while with the firewall settings of Vista), and made a call -- the sound is good, the mic is well positioned, the camera works fine, even better after peeling off the protective plastic sheet :)
12. Tested a youtube video in HD and it did not play smooth, which was a disappointment.
Comparing this to my 4y old FS, the Acer Timeline feels about as solid, a lot more silent, cooler, lighter by more than 2 pounds, with 6 times the RAM, 4 times the battery time, and a newer processor -- clearly an upgrade in every aspect.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire 4810TZ-4011 Timeline 14.0-Inch Laptop

The Aspire 4800, one of the Timeline models from Acer, earned the name "all-day" notebook because it provides up to 8.0 hours of battery life, allowing users to go unplugged throughout the workday. Adding to this notebook’s portability is its compact size and light weight. The Aspire 4800 with 14.0" LCD is only 4.2 lb. and just a fraction over one-inch high at its tallest point.Model # ACRNB48104011.UPC: 884483706464.Intel Pentium SU2700 1.30GHz Processor (2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB).3GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM.320GB5400RPM Hard Drive.14.0" WXGA TFT LCD Display (1366 x 768) with CineCrystal technology (16:9).Integrated variable speed Super Multi Drive.5-in-1 Card reader.Crystal Eye Webcam.Intel Graphics Media accelerator 4500MHD.802.11b/g/Draft-N WLAN.Gigabit LAN.Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium.Optimized second-generation Dolby Sound Room audio enhancement.Kensington lock slot.6-Cell Lithium Ion battery: up to 8.0 hours life with Acer PowerSmart Manager enabled and depending on configuration and usage (may be reduced if Windows Vista Aero is enabled). Dimensions: 13.3""W x 9.4""D x 1.1"H .Weight: 4.2 lb"

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12/29/2011

HP G42-240US 14.Inch Laptop Review

HP G42-240US 14.Inch Laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased this computer from another site when they had a promotion on it. I looked at the specs and the price, and saw that it was a steal, and I abandoned my prejudice against HP for their past products and bought it. I am very happy that I did. I won't say the exact price that I got the computer for, but I will say that this computer is in the $600 and under category.
This computer is a good mixture of good technology. The processor in this computer is a very good processor for a number of reasons. The L2 cache is 2mb as opposed to 1mb in most Turion IIs; the energy consumption is 25w, which is very low for a laptop processor of this magnitude. The M880 chipset and ATI Radeon 4250 provide a decent graphics setup; obviously, this computer isn't for modern gaming due to the lack of a dedicated video card... However, this video setup is much better than you will get with any Intel onboard graphics and will work just fine for most anything short of intensive 3D gaming/ 3D rendering... The 14" screen on this computer is a good one, with great viewing angles. The speakers are good for laptop speakers, but really, there aren't any spectacular internal laptop speakers and so if you want great sound quality and volume, invest in a decent pair of laptop speakers.
Aesthetically, this computer is certainly pleasing. The silver-ish patterned case of the computer is really unique and I really enjoy it. 14" is the perfect size for me, as it cradles perfectly in my lap and is much, much more portable than 15.6" or so laptops than I have owned in the past.
The keyboard is not bad at all... No Num Pad, but the buttons and function button planning are very well done. For a 14" laptop, I'm not sure if you can ask for a smarter/ better keyboard than this...
As for the cons, there is one that may just be something I am misunderstanding, but it really seems like the USB port that is on the right side (for the mouse) is not USB 2.0... For some reason, it doesn't get nearly the transfer rate as the other USB ports. I recommend getting a high speed hub with this computer so that you can easily add the additional USB ports that you will surely need. The other con is also fair in magnitude... HP has a lot of programs that it installs to keep your computer running well with HP updates on the drivers on your computer and such. Some of these programs are helpful and some are bloatware. It is much harder to sort out which is which with HP laptops than other brands, since they get so much more involved in the upkeep of your computer. I have it set up just fine on my computer now, and practically any laptop that you get nowadays is going to have some kind of bloatware on it, so the problem is easily handled with a bit of time, just like with most laptops. Extra care is needed to make sure that you do not remove programs that HP has created to help your computer, such as keep the hardware drivers up to date, etc...
All in all, this computer is great... Just what I was looking for! This laptop is perfect for just about anyone that doesn't do intense 3D graphic stuff. I would even go so far as to say that anything better than this is overkill if you are not going to be doing that type of stuff. This is a great desktop replacement computer that is very versatile in its uses and very good on the battery given the power of the computer. I was hesitant to buy HP before this computer, but I am certainly not anymore.
Five stars from me!

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP G42-240US 14.Inch Laptop

Count on a notebook with a clean design and plenty of style. The affordable HP G42-240US Notebook PC looks great with the fingerprint-resistant, textured HP Imprint finish with the prism design in white. This HP laptop is a great choice for productivity, reliability and value. Watch DVDs and view photos easily on the 14.0-inch diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED display. Browse the Web from any room and on the go using built-in Wi-Fi, plus video chat using the integrated HP webcam.Have more fun. The HP G42-240US Notebook PC has the right balance of performance and entertainment. Handle everyday tasks effortlessly using the dual-core processor and 4GB of memory. Convenient one-touch keys give you fast access to email, the Web and other common applications. Burn custom labels onto CDs and DVDs using LightScribe Technology. Transfer photos directly from a memory card to your HP laptop, plus manage and share your photos using HP Photo Creations software. At 4.85 pounds, this notebook is light enough to carry with you all day long.

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