Acer Aspire AS1551-5448 11.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review applies to both the 721 and the 1551 (I own the 1551, but the cons mentioned are common to both)
Vertical Viewing Angle
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One MAJOR shortcoming of these Acers (AO721/AO1551) is the vertical viewing angle. In fact if you look at a black, but still backlit screen, at the optimal viewing height/angle, you will see that the only part that is actually black is a horizontal stripe which is about 1/3rd of the vertical height of the screen. Above and below this stripe (i.e., the upper and lower thirds of the screen) are basically a dark gray. As you move your head up and down and/or tilt the screen, the image changes brightness dramatically in the vertical direction. Fortunatelly, the horizontal viewing angle is pretty good, but you almost have to tilt the thing perfectly to maximize vertical viewing and brightness falloff. I can see this happening with a 24-27" LCD screen at small viewing distances, but with a tiny laptop screen that measures approx. 5 5/8" vertically, this is plain embarassing for a 2010 run of LCD panels. In my opinion, one star should be taken off for Acer taking the cheap route with something as important as the screen. Fortunatelly, at 200 nits the screen is relatively bright at its maximum brightness, giving one some consolation to the non-uniforum vertical brightness issue.
Cheap Plastic Hinge Arms that Hold the LCD Panel
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Not much to say here. The arms are hollow molded plastic and do not seem sturdy at all. As you open and close the panel, there is some give, and one constantly fears that these things will break in a year. A friend of mine has an older model Acer netbook whose swivel arms and mechanism feels much more sturdy. I'm going to take off a half-star here, for Acer saving a whopping $2 on something this important, and not using aluminum hinge arms, opting for hollow molded plastic instead.
Bloatware
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Seriously Acer, how much bloatware needs to be installed on an Ultra-Portable? Couldn't you just supply all the crap on a cheap 4GB MiniSD memory card or something (since these things do not contain optical disc readers) and let the user choose whether or not they were interested in all the apps most users won't even use. I won't go into too many details here about each installed app, but let me just say that it took at least a good 45 mins to an hour to uninstall all the junk (involving at least a good handful of required restarts for good measure). Some of the device drivers were as much as nine months old, as well. I realize that nearly all laptops and netbooks come with some bloatware, but I think that the amount included on these is way over the top. Half a star off for the trouble of uninstalling the junk and replacing very outdated drivers.
Inability to Adjust Brightness after Putting Laptop to Sleep
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The title says it all. Put the laptop to sleep, wake it up and you will no longer be able to adjust screen brightness until the next reboot. I won't subtract any more stars here, because this may be fixed with a future BIOS, but it is a royal pain in the neck for now.
Update: Thanks to some workaround tips from on the MS forums along with some of my own experimentation with this particular model, I now have a workaround. The workaround is to set your "Choose what closing the lid does" action in the Control Panel / Power Options to "Do nothing." Unfortunately, that means that you will now have to manually put the display to sleep prior to closing the lid. This is a pain, but in my opinion it's a good idea in any case, because you will cause less vibration while the hard drive is still active (i.e., still spinning), putting the laptop to sleep prior to closing the lid. What this whole two step (Step 1. Press Fn-F4 to enter Sleep Mode and wait for completion / Step 2. Close the lid) process buys you is this:
- Putting the laptop to sleep will still cause the "inability to adjust brightness" issue
- However, you can get your brightness controls back, without a reboot, by following this procedure:
"WITHOUT putting the laptop to sleep, close the lid and reopen it several seconds later."
Since closing the lid is set to "Do Nothing" this seems to be a no-op (i.e., a pointless non-operation). However, this seems to re-enable the keyboard brightness control, although the cool pop-up that tells you the current brightness level will no longer pop-up until the next reboot. The keyboard brightness adjustment controls will once again be functional, though.
I realize that this whole process is a royal pain in the rectum, so you may not want to go through the trouble unless you actually have a need to adjust screen brightness frequently after putting the laptop to sleep.
Laptop Cannot be Used Comfortably on Lap Without a Lap Mat
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If you try to use it on your lap (e.g., on a plane, train, bus, toilet seat, whereveer you would normally use a laptop on your lap) it will rock back and forth when you use the lower portion of the laptop (i.e., the Acer Pad and the mouse buttons). I am talking about a significant amount of rock (picture a rocking chair) which basically makes it unusable, or perhaps usable if you want to be uncomfortable and destroy the hard drive in short order. I won't subtract stars, because I am uncertain if other similarly sized laptops share this problem. I would recommend a lap mat if you need to use your laptop on your lap. Targus make a good one (Lap Chill Mat).
Laptop Takes a Long Time to Charge
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I am talking hours while in a sleep state here. No stars off, but it is a pain.
UPDATE: Many more technical details are available in the comments section below this review.
UPDATE 2: In retrospect, after upgrading the HD on the unit and looking at the crap other manufactures have put out in recent weeks, I have decided that I may have been a little harsh in giving this product three stars, so I've bumped my rating up to four stars.


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Acer Aspire 1551: Ultraportable Performance
Weighing just over 3 pounds, the ultra-mobile 11.6-inch Acer Aspire AS1551 notebook PC (model AS1551-5448) offers great performance features in a netbook-sized chassis and weight that lets you travel light. Premium usability features include a full-sized keyboard for more accurate typing and a multi-gesture touchpad that is perfect for scrolling, rotating images, zooming and browsing--all with fingertip convenience. And with up to 5-hours of battery life, you can mobile longer when not connected to an AC outlet.

With the AMD Athlon II Neo dual-core mobile processor and 4 GB of memory, you'll enjoy the benefits of multi-core processing that does more in less time. And the impressive ATI Radeon HD 4225 Graphics delivers the performance you need to take your high-definition experience to the next level by combining the power of desktop graphics with mobility so you can experience smooth viewing of rich content built from popular sites like Hulu.com or YouTube.

Enjoy the next generation of video playback with the HDMI output, which allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video and audio to your digital TV or capable external monitor. Immerse yourself into your entertainment with Dolby Sound Room, delivering spectacular surround sound from any pair of speakers or headphones. Other features include ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, and an integrated webcam for video chats.

This Aspire laptop comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version).

Note that, because of its size, the Aspire AS1551 doesn't include a DVD drive, but you can connect an optional optical drive to the laptop via a USB port.

Key Features
11.6-inch CineCrystal LED-backlit widescreen display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution (native 720p for high-definition viewing), support for a 16.7 million color depth, and high brightness rating (200-nit).
1.5 GHz AMD Athlon II Neo dual-core processor K625 (2 MB L2 cache) provides a full-featured PC experience, exceptional HD entertainment and long battery life rating so you can do more on the go.
320 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz; maximum capacity)
ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics card provides exceptional features, performance and power-efficiencies that enrich what you see and do (256 MB - 1405 MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory).
Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows 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 such as Google Earth. It also enables you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. (Learn more)
Built-in webcam and microphone delivers solid communication to all your family and friends.
Built-in stereo speakers with Dolby Sound Room, which combines a suite of technologies to deliver truly stunning virtual surround listening from your two laptop speakers, or on headphones for a more immersive private performance.
Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking capability 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). This laptop uses Acer InviLink Nplify technology that enables multi-stream input or output for faster and more reliable bandwidth, and it also offers Acer SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency.
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS PRO), xD-Picture Card (xD)
Three USB 2.0 ports
HDMI high-definition audio/video output allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video to your digital TV or LCD. It also includes a standard 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.(Learn more)
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.
Up to 5 hours of battery life (6-cell battery)
Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.0 x 1.1 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 3.1 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty
Energy Star certified

What's in the Box This package contains the Acer Aspire AS1551-5448 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions
It also comes with the following software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (trial version); Google Toolbar; Acer Recovery Management; Acer GridVista; Microsoft Works; Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Trial (60 days); Norton Online Backup

Learn More
The Acer Multi-Gesture Touchpad
A Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows 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 enables you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through Web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more.

The TouchPad can also be disabled with a one-touch button, eliminating accidental cursor movement with palms and wrists when using an external mouse.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
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.

And with Windows Anytime Upgrade, you'll be able to add new features to your PC in as little as 10 minutes. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process, it requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings

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

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.

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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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Toshiba Mini NB305-N440RD 10.1-Inch Netbook (Ruby Red) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Let's get real here. Netbooks ARE NOT replacements for those of you folks who should be shopping for a NOTEBOOK. Having owned at least 4 Toshiba notebooks in the past and currently on my first Sony notebook, I'd expect those machines to do the heavy lifting... serious Photoshopping, DV editing, CAD modelling, rendering, moderate gaming, etc. It'd be irresponsible to ding netbooks on how inadequate they are at these tasks. With this in mind, the Toshiba NB305-N440 fills a very helpful role for those of you who already have a full-fledged notebook or desktop chugging away in the background.
The Toshiba netbook's 3lb weight and size makes it incredibly portable, handleable, and stowable. Grab it single-handedly at the palmrest, grab it at the hinges, or scoop it up from underneath; it's construction feels sturdy and solid where you don't have to worry about something falling off from this kind of abuse. For you existing notebook users, ever feel like you're devoting 80% of your backpack to carrying around that bohemoth... or how about trying to use a 15" screen on the dining tray in the cattle-section of an economy flight? ESPECIALLY when you're just using it to compose a few paragraphs for a meeting, class, or email rant? The NB305 netbook remedies this exactly. The 10.1" screen can be comfortably angled away from you even when the passenger in front decides to stay reclined throughout the flight. Size and weight. Advantage? Netbook.
Unlike other netbooks, Toshiba's NB305 has a design that accomodates a 6-cell battery as standard. No outrageous goofy protrusion as in HP and Sony's extra-cost offering. With the lid closed, the whole package remains as svelte and stowable as lesser competitors with their 3-cell designs. And BECAUSE the Toshiba NB305 has a 6-cell Li-Ion as standard, real-world usage equates to a 5-7 hour run-time with the brightness set at max while pounding away at tasks that make the hard drive thrash around. Coming from a decade of using 2-hour notebooks, its amazing to be away from an AC outlet for that long.
How about useability for a 1.66ghz machine? With the Microsoft-imposed configuration of 1gig RAM, I had my doubts about Windows 7 Starter edition. It turns out the NB305-N440 boots into the desktop in a reasonable amount of time and simple websurfing, emailing chores are handled without issue. Sites that make use of Flash like Hulu, Youtube, and a myriad of other flash-navigation stuff is very surfable on this netbook. The VGA webcam offers adequate resolution and has a wide enough capture angle to make this netbook suitable for video Skyping. Where it falls short is the speaker volume. This is pandemic of all netbooks. When in the boundaries of your personal space, the dinky speakers are barely audible enough for a conversation in all but the emptiest of coffee shops. Those of you hoping to give one of these to grandma as a dedicated Skype device should hope grandma doesn't mind wearing headphones. No issues with the netbook's mic as the other party will hear you fine. Did this netbook slow down? Eventually. By the time I had Skype fired up, two tabs in IE8 loaded on sizeable pages and a THIRD tab buffering a show on Hulu, the 1gig ram had to swap stuff into the hard drive. Bumping up to 2gigs DDR3 RAM would help, but you'll have to yank out the existing one.
At first unboxing, the Toshiba NB305-N440's brightness is set midway; passable, but not something I'd want to scowl at for more than an hour. Crank up the brightness settings and the Toshiba's efficient LED backlit screen shows itself to be very crisp, very readable, quite bright. The next several hours was spent installing personal stuff, Win7 updates (224megs), and removing the thankfully small amount of Toshiba bloatware. All that time the bright screen was legible and comfy on the eyes. Even after Windows Update did everything it wanted, the netbook still booted up in the same 40-ish second span. That's kinda impressive considering they're still using a non-SSD traditional hard drive. Part of this can be attributed to the reduced amount of OS baggage in Windows 7 Starter edition. On that note, there was hardly anything I missed in this OS-lite. Can't change the wallpaper? No big deal. The only plausible nit here is that Win7 Starter lacks multiple user accounts... so those hoping to lock things down and hand it to their tots might have to upgrade beyond "Starter Edition".
The heat vent on the left side emitted therms about the equivalent of holding your hand up near a fluorescent desklamp. It's there, but in no way bothersome.
While Senor Jobs positions his iPad to be a "consumption" device, there are those of us who wish to stay productive and the reason for a netbook's existence is to sport that keyboard. The Toshiba NB305 netbooks don't disappoint here. Touch-typists will appreciate chicklet keys that feel as nicely spaced as all the other keyboards they've worked on. Toshiba saved space by narrowing the traditionally long caps-lock, shift, and enter keys. The touchpad is nice too... full-size just like most big-boy notebooks. Possibly the biggest of ANY netbook. Dedicated left and right buttons are in the appropriate expected spot.
The last and most prominent nit is that the NB305 lacks built-in Bluetooth. Bluetooth would allow the Toshiba netbook to simultaneously control a mouse, feed a wireless headset, and transfer files between your smartphone. Being internal, it wouldn't eat up a USB slot. Alas, neither the preconfigured units or ToshibaDirect offers internal Bluetooth in their netbooks. (Oddly, the Bluetooth SOFTWARE stack is already installed) The only recourse is their low-profile USB Bluetooth 2.1 dongle. Speaking of USB, one of the three slots on this netbook offers power even when the machine is off. This means only having to carry a USB charge cable for your phone instead of a larger dedicated wallwart when travelling lite.
This leaves the last de rigueur issue, High Definition. It's seems the rage to pair up HD with netbooks nowadays. I'm one of the biggest HD snobs out there, but after using a netbook for several hours, forcing HD into a netbook form factor is just pointless... moreso when it only serves to kill the battery life with its high CPU/GPU requirement and the high-capacity battery requirement itself. Being able to stay productive for a 6-hour stretch on a Toshiba netbook trumps the notion of hunching over a 10" screen squinting at a "high definition" file for two hours. If I'm missing a show, I'm willing to "settle" for a 480P stream from Hulu on a Toshiba NB305-N440 rather than give up two thirds the amount of battery life in some of these HD netbooks. Need a portable high-definition playback machine? Get a full-fledged notebook; full-HD widescreen, larger/louder speakers, blu-ray drive. I suggest this from first-hand experience.
Need to be productive while staying highly mobile? This Toshiba NB305-N440 is appropriate for THAT task. I can't really ding it for lack of internal Bluetooth now that Toshiba offers their low-profile dongle. Yes it takes up a precious USB port, but it'll make up for it by its versatility in handling a (Bluetooth) mouse, headset, smartphone, pen tablet, etc. The streamlined 6-cell battery and other forward-thinking features like LED backlight, USB charging, diminuitive AC adapter, and draft-N WiFi makes this a well-focused netbook. In its pricepoint, the NB305-N440 netbook offers a great degree of functionality out-of-the-box, exudes a good amount of sturdiness, comes with a 3 year warranty, and is born from a company that's been into mobile computing for nearly two decades now.

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Toshiba Mini NB305: Stylish, Highly Portable Netbook
Enjoy the lighter, brighter side of mobility with the affordable, super-compact Toshiba Mini NB305-N440RD, which weighs less than 3 pounds, is small enough to throw in a purse or bag, and has a brightly colorful 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen. Offering a durable textured finish and cover in Ruby Red, it features a full-size keyboard for comfortable typing and a larger touchpad with Multi-Touch Control, which enables you to navigate documents, web pages and images more easily.

Combining the power of the latest Intel Atom N455 processor and NM10 Express chipset with a six-cell battery for up to 8.75 hours of battery power, you'll be able to go through an entire day of school, work or errands without worrying about a recharge. The battery pack is neatly hidden under the casing of the netbook to preserve its sleek, ergonomic design.

The 250 GB hard disk drive is protected using an integrated 3D impact sensor which detects freefalls, shocks and vibrations. The Toshiba Mini also features a USB Sleep-and-Charge port, which allows external USB devices such as mobile phones and personal media players to charge from the netbook even when it is turned off. Other features include fast DDR3 RAM, an integrated webcam, and a mono speaker.

This Toshiba Mini comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter operating system (32-bit version).



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 N455 processor (512 KB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB) combines performance and energy efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile.


250 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)


1 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (667 MHz; expandable to 2 GB)


Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 video processor with up to 250 MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory.


Wireless Connectivity
With its integrated Wireless-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.



Included Toshiba Software:
Toshiba Media Controller offers simplified media sharing. Using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, it lets you share videos, music and pictures from the media library on your laptop with compatible devices in your home entertainment network, or with other compatible laptops and devices, like an Xbox 360 game console. And you can do it all without moving equipment, burning discs or fumbling with cables.
Toshiba Bulletin Board is an easy-to-use organizational and productivity app that lets you build your own personalized space on your desktop. With Toshiba Bulletin Board, you can quickly and easily manage your to-do lists and calendars, plus create your own custom work area by pinning your favorite photos, documents, links and more.
Toshiba ReelTime helps you cut down the time it takes to search for files. The easy-to-use app takes traditional text-based file structures one step further to help you find what you're looking for more quickly. Accessible from your taskbar, it shows you a visual timeline of your recently accessed files--using graphical thumbnails--so you can easily identify and get to your files faster.



Included Toshiba Utilities:
USB Sleep and Charge offers a great way to keep your portable electronics powered up without requiring your laptop to be on. With this laptop's Sleep and Charge USB port, you'll be able to charge your smart phone, MP3 player, and other portable electronics--all without having to keep your laptop awake.
Hard Drive Impact Sensor takes the worry out of taking your most important files and multimedia on the go. Able to detect sudden movement along three different dimensions, the impact sensor (a complex system of hardware and software) helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement. And it works faster than you can blink to help protect your laptop and all-important data.



Up to 8.3 hours of battery life (6-cell battery; 48 Wh)


Dimensions & Weight: 10.47 x 7.57 x 1.43 inches (WxDxH); 2.6 pounds



Microsoft 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. Some features include:

Features like Jump Lists, Pin, Snap, and Windows Search all make using a small notebook PC simple and easy
Joining home networks with other PCs running Windows 7 is easy and simple
Connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever
Supports the latest hardware and software
Internet Explorer 8 improves the safety of web browsing

Environmental Specifications
Energy Star 5.0 certified
Gold EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact.
RoHS compliant effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances

Learn more about Toshiba's environmental commitment.

Learn More


25th Anniversary of Toshiba Laptops
This year, Toshiba celebrates its 25th anniversary of innovations and quality in the notebook PC business. Beginning with the launch of the Toshiba T1100, the world's first clamshell-type, fully functional laptop PC, Toshiba has led the with such innovations as the first laptop with a color monitor in 1991 and a laptop with integrated CD-ROM drive in 1995 (followed by the addition of a DVD drive in 1998). And in 2009, Toshiba unveiled the world's first ultraportable laptop with 512GB solid state drive.

Today, Toshiba continues to be a leader in eco-friendly manufacturing, with virtually all of its consumer laptops earning EPEAT Gold status for meeting standards that help reduce overall environmental impact.

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ASUS N82JQ-A1 14-Inch Laptop (Dark Brown) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Had the laptop for two weeks and it started to blue screen, shutdown, and pixelate on a clean factory system. The wife called and ASUS tech support asked her to run a virus scan. She told them a full scan ran the previous night and nothing was detected. They told her to call back when the crashes occur again. What?
When it crashed for a four time I ran some diagnostics (memtest, SMART, SpeedFan, and windbg for the dump log) and found the issue was related to video (but more likely an overall heating issue). Found that the 720QM is a hot little puppy and hard to cool in a laptop. Sent the laptop to ASUS and they had it for 2 weeks. No customer contact or update on their RMA status check for the entire duration. After we got the laptop back (now with a new motherboard) it still runs very hot (cannot have this on your lap and the left side of the palm rest gets to 115F after 15 minutes of watching a show on Hulu). Oh, I forgot to mention that the first boot after since RMA return we had to call ASUS back. Since the motherboard was replaced our Windows 7 product code was no longer valid. I called ASUS and they wanted us to ship the laptop back. I instead called MS following the activation suggestions and MS got me back on track without a hassle. I also decided to burn the five recovery DVDs to make sure I have a recovery option. Well, the second DVD write fails on several types of DVD brands. Don't rely on ASUS for recovery media. Use Ghost, Windows Backup, and/or Clonezilla for your recovery options.
Overall: the laptop is fast, the graphics are good (not great) for newer games, the heat is a serious issue, and tech support is not very helpful. I would recommend an Core i5 that comes with optimus technology instead of a model with Core i7.

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Expect an Encore Turn up the performance on the 14-inch N82Jq notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB of DDR3 VRAM, the N82Jq delivers turbo-charged graphics that brings pristine HD quality for your videos, movies, and games. And with ASUS VideoMagic software, you get a premium software package to instantly take your standard definition media to an up-scaled HD experience with smoother frame rates and sharper images, so you can enjoy your favorite DVDs – new and old – in the quality they deserve. The N82Jq also comes with the Intel Core i7-720QM processor that delivers the multitasking muscle to take on several tasks at once. Plus, with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, this multimedia powerhouse automatically senses what you\'re doing and boosts processor performance to optimize your task at hand. Switch on the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and seamlessly optimize the system for increased battery savings. The N82Jq also gives you the latest in connectivity with Super Speed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly, and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than previous generation USB 2.0 speeds.1 The N82Jq features a 2.0 megapixel webcam, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid Technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, chiclet keyboard, and an aluminum texture design.

Key Features
14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp HD visual quality (Learn more)
Intel Core i7-720QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitaskingthat automatically boosts performance for the task at hand(Learn more)
Super Speed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01 (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine boosts system performance and saves battery life with selectable power profiles (Learn more)
High-speed wireless N and Bluetooth v3.0 for fast Internet speed and enhanced Bluetooth connectivity(Learn more)

Learn More
Mesmerizing Visuals
Ingenious Multitasking
Enhanced Connectivity
Striking Style and Intelligent Control
ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better
ASUS 360 – 2 Year Global Warranty
ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty
What's in the Box The entire ASUS N82Jq-A1 package contains a warranty information card, AC Adapter, ASUS N82Jq-A1 notebook, and 6-cell battery pack.
ASUS N82Jq-A1 notebook
AC Adapter
6-cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
CPU: Intel Core i7-720QM processor (1.6 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) , Bluetooth v3.0
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066 DRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (up to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel
Audio: Altec Lansing speakers with SRS Premium Sound, ALC269 High Definition Codec with Embedded Class D Speaker Amplifier
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 8-in- card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo)
Input/ Output: 1x Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x E-SATA, 1x HDMI port
Battery Pack: 6 cell
Dimensions: 13.8 x 9.7 x 1.3 ~ 1.4 (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.06 lbs
Color: Brown
© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. ASUS shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. 1 Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2 Actual speed depends on device and system status. 3 Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com\'s Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009\'s RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 4 For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.

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Compaq H3835 iPAQ Color Pocket PC Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using an iPAQ 3635 (32MB RAM/ 16MB ROM) for almost a year and just upgraded to the new 3835 model a few days ago (my old 3635 developed a defect and I was given full credit towards a replacement).
While the 3835 is basically a good evolutionary upgrade from the 3635, there is at least one "gotcha" that Compaq does not go out of their way to point out: Compaq changed the Power/Data interface from once model to the other. On the 31xx, 36xx and new 37xx iPAQ models, the power interface and the data interface are separate. On the 38xx series, Compaq chose to combine the two interfaces into a single, slightly larger (and thus incompatible), combined power/data interface. This means that you won't be able to use some accessories you purchased for your older model with the new 38xx series, such as that the:
- Targus Stowaway foldable keyboard
- the 31xx, 36xx and 37xx "Universal" or Serial Sync cradles
- the 31xx, 36xx and 37xx sync cables.
You can use the your old AC Adapter and your car / airplace power cables if you have the interface converter adapter.
If you have a big investment in these power- and/or sync-related accessories, give some consideration to purchasing a 37xx model rather than a 38xx servies model.
There are some differences between the 38xx and 36xx (and new 37xx) series, but I have not used my 3835 long enough to notice a huge difference in performance. The 38xx has
- Double the RAM and ROM of the 36xx (this is good if you were finding 32MB RAM to be too confining)
- An integrated SD slot for 64/128MB memory cards without having to use a CF Card expansion pack (a truely useful new feature)
- Pocket PC 2002 vs Pocket PC original (some additional, applications, functionality and ease-of-use)
- a 64K color screen vs. a 4096 color screen (the difference not so obvious so far)
- 1400mAh battery versus a 950mAh battery (but the rated battery life remains 10 hours)
- A different task manager (which at first blush appears a bit less easy to use .. but that's probably just me)
- Some additional software bundled by Compaq, including IBM ViaVoice (voice commands) and iPresenter PowerPoint (for converting and displaying PowerPoint presentations - quite useful for me).
There other differences, but it's best to go to Compaq's website and print out the QuickSpecs to see for yourself.
All-in-all, I'm not sure if upgrading from a 36xx to a 38xx is really worth it if you have to pay full for a new 38xx; but if you only have to pay the price delta between the two, and you don't mind not being able to use (for now) productivity-increasing accessories such as the Targus Stowaway foldable keyboard, it was certainly worth to me.

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Perfect condition, no scratches on screen, may be minor marks on case. Good battery, stylus latch, stylus, SD slot, usb connector. Tested and Checked. Software free from internet. No case or CD. Sync charge cable gets power from PC. Sync Stand and Power Supply Available Separately.

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Dynex Optical Mouse Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I would have written a favorable review of this mouse a month ago. After just 3 months of very mild light use, it has failed. The middle mouse button lost all traction and began slipping. The optic lens doesn't track properly. I bought it because it was cheaper than other brands. If you pay more than 1 dollar for this you are being ripped off. There are much better brands out there. This is the third Dynex item I've bought that failed (out of 3 total). The first item was a sound card. I chalked it up to a fluke and I bought a pair of headphones with my mouse. The headphones failed within 14 DAYS. I had only used it a few times and it just stopped transmitting audio.
I've been building my own computers for years, and have a degree in digital audio (as well as a higher degree in another field). I understand hardware and computers. These are very cheaply made in China. This is the one brand I recommend that you avoid like the plague. They already burned me on three products. I won't ever buy from them again.

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Surf the web and navigate your computer in style with this optical mouse, ergonomically designed with rubber side grips for added comfort and support.

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HP G42-230US 14-Inch Laptop Review

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.

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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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HP G42-240US 14.Inch Laptop Review

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!

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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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HP Pavilion DM4-1162US Entertainment Notebook PC Laptop 14.0-Inch Widescreen LED Display, Brushed Aluminum Finish, Intel Core i5-450M 2.40 GHz Processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.66 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD, Windows 7 Home Premium, Up to 6.25 hours battery life Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)From what i can tell this is the exact same model as the dm4-1160us except with a smaller hard drive. That smaller hard drive should result in a $50 price reduction, but i picked this one up at Office Depot for $[...] after a $[...] mail in rebate. Due to the unusually low price i was convinced something must be wrong with this computer, but it's awesome. I've read complaints about the mousepad on the 1160... i'm not sure what they're referring to cause it's been perfectly fine for me, infact its been better than the asus, dell, and compaq laptops i've had in the past.
If you're game player with heavy graphics needs you should pass on this model. But if you're a business users or home user who wants a light, solidly built, good performing laptop with great battery life, then I'm sure you'll love this computer even at a $700 price tag.

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14.0-inch Diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768), Intel Core i5-450M Processor 2.40GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.66 GHz, Intel HD Graphics, 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 DIMM) (expandable up to 8GB), 320GB 7200 rpm Hard Disk Drive, Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit), HP QuickWeb,HP MediaSmart,HP SimplePass with Integrated Fingerprint Reader,HP TrueVision Web Camera with Integrated Digital Microphone,SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support, 802.11b/g/n WLAN, Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN, External Ports: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader, 2 USB 2.0; 1 eSATA/USB 2.0; 1 Ethernet; 1 HDMI; 1 VGA 15-pin D-sub,101-key compatible with island-style full-size keyboard, 6-Cell 55Wh Lithium-Ion Battery with up to 6.25 hours of battery life, 65W AC Adapter.

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Casio Disc Title Printer with Qwerty keyboard (CW-75) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The software install was very fast and went without a hitch. Loaded the batteries, installed the print cartridge, and connected to the computer with the included USB cable. Turning the printer on then prompts Windows XP to recognize the new hardware and load the drivers which you previously installed from the CD-ROM. This took 30 seconds.
Once that was done, I opened up the software and after clicking around a bit to see some of the formatting options, it took me less than ten minutes to put together a label for tomorrow night's MONK second season finale episode which I will burn onto DVD-R, with MONK at the top print area, and the episode name and original air date on the bottom print area. I used TDK brand DVD-R media which has a nice, large, smooth printable surface at the top and bottom.
Then I used the sample CD-R which comes with the machine, to burn a copy of a music CD. My results and observations of the machine's performance:
1. The software is pretty slick, and so far it works flawlessly. Depending on the type of disc you are printing (e.g. music, data, photos, etc.), it presents you with a variety of formatting options for the two print areas. With all formatting options, you can change the font name and size to whatever you have installed on your computer. All text formatting changes are immediately shown in the on-screen depiction of your label, so you can see right away if your text will fit into the print area the way you want it to appear. If you are printing in both print areas of the disc, the software prompts you to first align the disc in the tray for the top portion of the label...click print and it goes to it. Then the tray opens again, and the software prompts you to turn the disk so that it can print the lower print area.
2. I have not yet used the printer as a stand-alone...I will eventually try it out, but why bother with all those buttons and keys when I can easily get what I want much more easily on the computer?
3. The print quality is Pretty Darn Good. Larger, bolder and straighter fonts come out better than smaller, thin and curvy fonts, but in all cases you'll notice a slight "pixelization", or slightly rough edges. To my eye, it's only obvious if I hold the thing right up to my face. You can change the print density but I haven't played with that option yet, to see if it makes a difference. Overall, I'm happy with the print quality.
4. I'll be interested in seeing how the printing on the CD holds up from use in my car. The instructions say that use in such players causes wear on the print surface from the CD player's rollers that load the CD, which could cause the printing to eventually get worn off. Also says not to keep printed CDs where they'll get very hot, and not to store them in plastic-sleeve storage devices...I guess the ink can come off on the vinyl if it's in contact with it for very long.
5. Cost per print raised by others...bah! Definitely no comparison to the almost-zero cost of just writing on a disc with a marker, but my handwriting and printing looks like crap. Labels and ink jet ink aren't free, but probably cheaper than using this...but so what? And I'm starting to see some of the labels I've been using (Stomper and Avery) come up a little around the edges over time.
6. Power options: the battery power is great for me, because I don't have to find an empty outlet in my gaggle of power strips, and I can just pick the thing up and put it in a drawer when I'm done. On the other hand, I think Casio could have sprung for a measly A/C adapter instead of making it an option.
7. The CW-75 is not built like a tank. The drawer has a flimsy feel and does not close as precisely as it should. The unit is lightweight and...well, just think of your last Casio calculator or adding machine to get an idea of its general construction, fit, and finish.

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CW-75 Disc Title Printer with QWERTY keyboard

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Samsung NC10-14GW 10.2-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 6 Cell Battery, XP Home) White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)USER BACKGROUND:
I've been involved with PC's since PC's came into existence. Through the years I've owned a wide range of notebooks from luggables, desktop replacements, to travel companions (currently I own a couple of 12" touch screen tablets and two HP 20" HDX media notebooks used as desktop replacements). I was ready for a new travel notebook and started to follow the evolving "Netbook" category. As in the past, I was faced with a substantial expenditure (several thousand dollars) to get one of the current higher end travel notebooks that would meet my general laptop requirements; a light, relatively powerful, good battery life and compact design. The evolving +/- $500 Netbook category piqued my curiosity and I started to read reviews and study the new product offerings including their upgradability potential, or lack thereof.
INTENDED USE:
In my experience, most air travelers use a laptop similar to myself, web browsing, email, and light office applications (word, excel, etc); or in other words the "Netbook" categories target market.
REQUIREMENTS:
On occasion I take long trips across the country (8 to 10 hour block to block) and I wanted my new purchase to provide a single charge that would last through that day's journey; no spare batteries or AC adapter in tow. A typical trip for me begins at the departure gate and firing up the notebook for a little catch-up computing while waiting for departure. Once airborne and settled in, I pull my notebook out for some on-board work. Upon arriving at my connection stop I either head to a travel lounge or the departure gate and get on-line once again. On the last flight leg, I'll generally pull out my notebook for some additional in-air use before getting to my destination.
My target requirements:
1.Light weight & Compact foot-print
2.Long battery life
3.10" - 12" screen size, 1024x600 minimum resolution and bright
4.Reasonable processing power for intended use
5.Windows XP Pro
6.2 GB of memory and a 320 GB 7200 rpm hard drive
MY NETBOOK SELECTION:
I purchased the "Samsung NC10" and I'M VERY IMPRESSED! I pre-ordered from Amazon.com and received the unit on 11/19/08. I settled on the white version since I'm not a fan of black keyboards which the NC10's blue and black color options sport. With the modifications discussed below, this little machine exceeds my overall expectations and is everything the various reviewers have analyzed and discussed to date. Most reviewers consider the keyboard on the NC10 the best in category, but since I'm not a touch typist that wasn't one of my hot buttons, however the key board is large, solid, and pleasant to use.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
The standard NC10 came closest to my purchase specs for light weight; it's under 3 lbs, long battery life; it seems Samsung's targeted 6 - 8 hours of battery life is doable (I've hit 6+ hours using disk, WiFi and toned down screen brightness). The 10.2" screen is very bright and clear with 1024x600 resolutions; it helps to auto-hide the taskbar to buy a little more screen real estate. The unit is very compact and like most Netbooks its projected area is smaller then an 8.5"x11" sheet of paper and the closed clamshell is 1" thick. The standard unit arrives with XP Home, 1 GB memory and a 160 GB 5400 rpm drive. The NC10 feels solid, build quality (inside and out) are excellent and out of the box the unit was responsive and fairly snappy. I have two WiFi access points in my home and the NC10's WiFi card picked both up with excellent reception and through-put; I also tried my Sprint USB broadband adapter with equally satisfactory results.
THE UPGRADES:
Like most engineering types; "If its not broke, take it apart and fix it anyway". I've read the reviews and knew the memory and hard disk could be easily be upgraded (given a little bit of prior experience and some hardware finesse). I went to my preferred parts supplier, Newegg, and purchased a 2GB stick of RAM for $32 and a 7200 rpm 320 GB disk drive for $100. I also picked-up a nice Netbook carrying case by Caselogic for $12 with my Amazon order. I used Apricon's EZ Upgrade Kit to image the units' standard 160 GB disk and then put it on the shelf as the failsafe backup. It took me about 10 minutes to take the unit apart and upgrade the components. I then prepared a Windows XP Pro DVD slipstreamed with SP3, repartitioned the disk, reinstalled the operating system and all the Samsung drivers and application software. Samsung did an excellent job of putting all the NC10's drivers and application software on their technical support web page. The overall result of these upgrades makes a noticeable improvement in overall performance. I'm very pleased with the final results for this tweaked, travel ready road machine (an example: standard boot time to WiFi connection is about 90 seconds, however I use hibernation on my notebooks and the machine will boot-up to WiFi connected status in 25 seconds).

NETBOOKS FUTURE:
I agree with many of the industry and media experts who have editorialized on the Netbook phenomena. Netbooks will continue to be a significant new growth segment in the overall notebook category. The manufactures have an interesting dilemma however; Netbooks will also continue to cut into sales of the higher margin, costlier tier of their notebook offerings. Feature creep is probably going to be the manufactures biggest marketing challenge; the temptation to seek product differentiation by adding larger screens, faster processors (central & graphics), more IO, etc., all tending to increase price, size, weight, and cut into battery life. If you examine your real world use and expectations you may have the same epiphany I have had; these little Netbooks are excellent solutions vs. the more expensive traditional notebook offerings. With a couple of easy inexpensive tweaks, the "Samsung NC10" is a home run!


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Staying connected 24/7. It\'s what matters to you. That\'s why Samsungintroduced the new NC10 netbook. Weighing just 2.9 pounds, it\'s designed to keep you online and on the go. Experience the freedom to surf the Web, shop and chat on IM with the latest wireless technology. Zip through your online applications with a speedy new Intel Atom processor. Store all your favorite videos, music, images and more with 160GB of storage, and enjoy them on a SuperBright 10.2-inch LCD. And with up to 8 hours of battery life, the NC10 brings you staying power. Key features include:Ultra-long battery life: Delivering up to 8 hours of battery life, the NC10 will let you surf the Web to your heart\'s delight.Intel Atom processor technology: Newly designed from the ground up, the Intel Atom processors pack an astounding 47 milliontransistors on a single chip, delivering the power you need for full Internet capabilities.Large LCD display: With its SuperBright industry-leading 10.2-inch wide LCD, you can view the Internet, or any application, in full screen without compromise and in a clear and comfortable display.

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Lifeworks Technology iHome iConnect Media Keyboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was very excited to tryout this keyboard. I'm always looking for innovative ideas and combo type products. Here we have a keyboard with a 2 USB ports (that swivel up), full numeric keypad, some touch sensitive media controls and a dock for ipod/iphones. I was looking for a wireless keyboard but purchased this one cause of all the options. It also came with a wireless mouse with scroll wheel.
The only thing that I liked about it was the sleek styling and the media controls. These were not buttons but touch sensitive controls with blue lighting that worked well. The volume was a set of blue dots that you swipe your finger across in either direction for more or less volume. The play/pause control was an actual button to the left by the pod cradle. The rest was all downhill from there.
First, off you have to plug in a power adaptor that they say needs to be pluged in all the time (I figured this was for charging/powering the pods). I never tried the keyboard without it to see if it would work. After wanting a wireless one I was annoyed that I had to deal with yet another extra wire and make room in my already filled power strip.
Second, the opening and closing of the pod cover door was not intuitive. It took me a few tries to open and to close it right which made it to where I just wanted to always leave it open. It held my iphone just fine and everything synced fine of course.
Third, was the keyboard layout. Everything on the right side of the keyboard was crammed together. The backspace key was in the middle of keys and was the size of a normal key. I much prefer it to be the last top right key and be double wide for easy of use. This was the same with the right shift key. It was single wide and even more difficult dot find and use. The arrow keys were also crammed into the keys around the control and shift as well as all the location keys (home, del, end etc.). This alone made the keyboard useless to me.
Forth, and worst of all, was the numeric keypad. I always use this instead of the QWERTY numbers and let me tell you this was impossible to work with. For some reason the keys are not your basic keyboard keys like the rest of the keyboard (like any other keyboard).They thought it would look sleek if they made these keys all flush with each other. This makes it hard to hit the right key. Add to that the fact that they barely press down, made almost on noise and had no tactile feedback. I kept hitting the keys and not typing all the numbers. Then I figured I had to hit push them harder and that was worse. You could get no speed with them. I noticed that the keys sort of wobbled if pressed off center and that was the key, to press directly down and directly in the center. I tried for 3 days to get used to it with much typing that I had to do and was hoping to try it for a few weeks, after 3 days I cold take no more.
The real buttons on the rest of the keyboard were fair but not the best. I have a Logitech G11 gaming keyboard that I love the key action on and even a wireless IOgear (for my home theater PC) that is my favorite. I've decided to go with another IOgear. Its wireless with 30ft range (15 in real world) and forgo the fancy options and hated wires.


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Lifeworks Technology iHome iConnect Media Keyboard (PC Keyboard Only) IH-K230MB

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Portable Flexible Silicone Keyboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a good keyboard but it requires some learning curve before you become productive. Two things to note:
1. the backspace key is a square instead of a rectangle. If you're used to the plastic keyboard, you will almost always miss the backspace key and end up hitting '\'.
2. hitting the corners of the keypad doesn't register. Instead, you need to hit the keypad near the center. if you're a lazy or inaccurate typist, you'll be frustrated. This is especially true with the Shift key-- pressing the corners of the shift key isn't good enough.
That said, the keyboard makes no sound and is very easy to clean unlike plastic keyboards where dust/dirt gets in-between the keypads.


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The blue flexible, full-sized silicone keyboard is spill-proof and foldable - perfect for travel. Easily cleaned with a damp cloth or disinfectant spray. Comes with PS/2 adapter attached for older computers - remove adapter to reveal USB plug. This silicone keyboard is fully compatible with Windows 98/2000/ME/XP/VISTA.

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iConcepts-M01917-MB Foldable Keyboard (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I fund this keyboard easyto nstall. It is a full-sized keyboard, with a layout that people wil find vey familiar. It rolls out very flat, which may take some getting used to.
he main complaint with this keyboard is he lack for key response. In particular - where are my T's? The keys feel suishly to type on, and it forces me to type slower. Typically, I am an excellent typist and can do 60+ wpm without eror. This keyobard, unfortunately, makes me type like a second grader. simply cannot recommend his keyboard...

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The full size, flexible iConcepts Foldable Keyboard is constructed from the highest quality silicon to ensure long lasting protection.

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