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

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.

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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
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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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HP Pavilion dm3-2010us 13.3-Inch Laptop (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This size computer has become popular because it hits a sweet spot between portability and functionality. I first purchased an Asus ultralight 13.3 inch notebook last fall, and it has been terrific. When my daugher needed a new notebook, she wanted one like mine due to its portablity, light weight, full web-page-sized 1366x768 screen, low power use, and higher processing power when compared to a netbook. (Netbooks, with their smaller 1366x600 screens and single core processors, are less functional in my opinion, although they can weigh a pound-or-so less.)
As compared with my Asus UL30a-X5, this notebook is similarly priced and has nearly identical specs. I purchsed the DM3 due to a local sale, and with a trade in on an old notebook it ran 450. The differences between the Asus and this notebook are as follows. The Asus is a square, flat, brushed metal finish while the HP has an elegant curved style with a design etched into it...win: HP. The Asus weighs 3.75lbs and has slightly longer battery life, the HP weighs 4.2lbs....win: Asus. Both with 1.3 Ghz dual core processors (although Asus is Intel C2D, HP is AMD X2 K325), both have 4ghz RAM, both have full versions of Win7 Home 64-bit, both have 13.3" LED LCDs...tie. Unexpectedly, the HP has a marginally faster 320gb 7200rpm HDD, the Asus a larger 5400rpm 500gb...winner=your choice.
Functionality of the notebook is great, as long as you're not trying to do processor-intensive tasks. Nice clear, bright screen. Boots up quickly, and the initial screen gives you a choice of a proprietary Linux-like web browser-email-picture viewer-music-video player OR Win7. The 4gb ram allows quite a bit of multitasking without a noticable decline in performance. I notice no difference in speed between the two notebooks, and they both work great for word processing, web brousing, and playing video and music. I've loaded the FREE Microsoft Security Essentials, and it does not seem to slow down the machine at all. (Unlike some other resource hungry anti-virus-spyware program suites.) Chicklet keyboard is typical of this style (I prefer a regular keyboard) and the touchpad is easy to use. None of these UltraLights have DVD drives, so if you need one figure that into the price if you need one. It is helpful to have one because you should either make a set of restore DVDs from the factory HDD, or you can use a (very large) USB drive.
Overall a fine computer with exceptional design and finish. Recommended.

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HP Pavilion dm3-2010us Notebook - Athlon II Neo K325 1.30 GHz - 13.3" - Brushed Aluminum WQ600UA#ABA Laptops & Notebooks

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Asus K50I-RBBGR05 15.6-Inch Widescreen Titanium Notebook - Black (Manufacturer Refurbished) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought for husband as travel-laptop. Just got in today.
Let me say this laptop will be sufficient for some daily use. It is a good laptop for the price. Fast enough ( but not super speedy). Doesnt feel really heavy to me, but then again, I normally carry around a 17 inch dell. Very nice looking. Overall, very good for browsing and email. Probably really good for a student or light to medium usage. Im a heavy user and KILL laptops, so I dont think this one will last too long is you are rough on your laptops. Good specs. Started up out of the box. Would recommend though.
Cons:
-Installed software. There is A LOT of it! Slows down the computer on start up horribly.

-It was FILTHY! I know its refurbished, but at least you could take a can of air and blow out the cat hair and food crumbs (Im literally serious)! Come on, Amazon! If you buy this, purchase some canned air to blow out the keyboard and monitor as it was GROSS! Again as a heavy user, I know a gross laptop, and that one put mine to shame. Im going to have to pop the keys out and scrub with Qtips.
-Small scratches around the monitor. Nothing major, just figured I would mention it because some people are really picky.
-Packaging/Delivery. No bubble wrap or padding whatsoever. Came in a large box ( like a laptop normally would), but just had cardboard to hold in place and skrink wrap to prevent scratching. No padding between keyboard and monitor either. No protection at all (aside of the plastic bag on the outside incase it rained). The box wasnt dented, but if it had been, I worry about what could have happened. Speaking of which, FedEx left it outside on my porch ( in 95 degree heat) when I didnt answer my door (didnt even require a signature I guess), so make sure you are home for your delivery otherwise, someone might walk off with your new-to-you laptop. :/

Click Here to see more reviews about: Asus K50I-RBBGR05 15.6-Inch Widescreen Titanium Notebook - Black (Manufacturer Refurbished)

This Asus K50I-RBBGR05 notebook is designed to keep you computing on the move!While this Asus K50I-RBBGR05 notebook may not offer all the thrills of an expensive notebook,it has the muscle to provide cinematic audio and visual enjoyment to keep you entertained anytime, anywhere, and all without a hefty price-tag! Your multimedia comes alive on the 15.6-inch LED backlit LCD display powered by the integrated Intel graphics and SRS Premium sound with built-in Altec Lansing speakers. Chat face-to-face over the Internet using the built-in 1.3 MP web camera!A powerful Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4400 2.20 GHz processor and 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM help you breeze through your work and play-related commands. Access CD and DVD media, backup data and burn DVDs and CDs using the DVD RW drive.Store your growing media library on the roomy 320 GB hard drive which also plays host to Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium! Another great feature of this Asus K50I-RBBGR05 notebook is its IceCool design. The IceCool design boasts cleverly designed and positioned heat vents which keeps the palm rest cool so you can keep computing in comfort for hours.

Get 14% OFF

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ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this little computer about a week ago and so far it has been great. So far I have not found anything to complain about with the computer so I will list a few of the things I like:
- Even with the extended capacity battery, the computer is very light and portable
- The battery life is great! My daughter watched movies for almost 8 hours on our plane ride home without a hitch or stutter. After being in use for nearly the entire flight, it still had 35% of the battery remaining. Another note on the battery, in the earlier 1005 netbooks, the battery would stick out past the screen on the rear of the netbook. That is no longer the case, on the 1005PE it is flush with the rear of the netbook.
- The keyboard is nice and decent size. I almost bought a Toshiba solely because I did not like the keyboard on the 1005HA version of this machine. Asus changed the keyboard on this model to a chiclet keyboard which is much better. I saw one review that thought the keyboard was flimsy. As far as I can tell, the Asus has no more flexibility in the keyboard than the Acer or Toshiba netbooks I looked at.
- Windows 7 starter and Asus Utility. I saw a few reviews where people complained about Win7 Starter. Again, so far no problems with the OS, it does what it is intended to do. As far as the complaints about changing the background on the desktop, Asus was kind enough to provide a utility that makes changing the background very easy.
- WLAN - since I bought the netbook, it has been in 6 locations that have wireless internet and it has jumped on the network easily each time regardless on encryption.
A couple more thoughts on netbooks in general:
- Netbooks are not desktop replacements or miniture laptops. They are intended to provide basic computing and internet needs. If you are expecting it to fly through huge power point presentations or apps that require a lot of RAM and processing power you will be disappointed. If all you need is a computer that travels easily and will allow you to surf the web, play music and video and run office programs, netbooks can be a very good choice.
- I would recommend that anyone who buys a netbook remove as much of the installed software as they can. I was able to remove alot of pre-loaded junk and the netbook ran faster. Here are a few program that I think every netbook should have: Firefox or Google Chrome for internet, vlc (Videolan) for music and movie playback, Open Office 3 for word processing, spreadsheets, etc and Foxit Reader for opening .pdf files.
Also, I have seen several recommendations to replace the 1GB Ram with a 2GB stick. I have not done this yet and it still works great. At the moment I have a 4GB SD card installed to see if there are any performance gains using the Windows Reafyboost function. So far so good.
The bottom line is that this netbook has exceeded my expectations and is a solid little machine. I would recommend it to anyone in search of a good netbook.


Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life)

Eee PC 1005PE-P The 10.1-inch Eee PC 1005PE-P Seashell with Windows 7 Starter shines as the ideal Eee PC for the traveler looking for outstanding wireless connectivity and efficient Eee PC performance.Thanks to the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and high-density battery, you can take this mobile phenom wherever you choose and enjoy up to an incredible 14 hours of unplugged freedom.* The Eee PC 1005PE-P is encased in a smooth pearlescent shell that captivates onlookers and features the next generation Intel Atom N450 processor for extraordinary battery life.Plus, it gives you extended comfort with a chiclet keyboard, large palm-rest, and multi-touch trackpad. For more convenience, the Eee PC 1005PE has hotkeys placed above the keyboard – granting you quick access to Wi-Fi and control of the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that instantly optimizes system performance for the task at hand.Throw in a generous 250GB hard drive with 500GB of ASUS WebStorage** and you get the ability to store, share, and access your important data anytime, anywhere. ASUS worked closely to make your Windows 7 experience better with groundbreaking utilities such as FastBoot and LocalMe.With ASUS FastBoot technology, this Windows 7-enabled Eee PC starts up fast so you wait less and do more.LocalMe is a GPS-like application that when connected to the internet provides easy access to local areas and gets you where you want to be. Miles ahead of its competition, the Eee PC 1005PE-P provides unsurpassed battery life and superior portability that liberates you from wall chargers and brings you into the next generation of mobility.


Key Features

Up to 14 hours of unplugged all-day computing to go further than ever before* (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) innovatively saves battery life and boosts performance (Learn more)
Intel Atom N450 processor is now even more power efficient in combination with ASUS SHE
750GB Hybrid Storage for convenient storage on-the-go 250GB HDD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage** (Learn more)
10.1-inch LED-backlit Color-shine display uses less energy for longer use(Learn more)
92-percent full-size chiclet keyboard for a comfortable and precise typing experience (Learn more)
Multi-touch trackpad for intuitive and quick control (Learn more)
Stunning looks and convenient mobility with seashell design weighing a mere 2.8 lbs
1GB system memory (easily upgradable to 2GB)
High speed Wi-Fi networking (802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz) + Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR for wire-free mobility (Learn more)
Windows 7 Starter for the most reliable and simplest Windows operating system to date (Learn more)
Integrated webcam and digital microphone for video/voice conversations with your friends and family
F9 easy recovery for convenient and easy system reinstallation (Learn more)
Warranty: 1 year global warranty and 30-day Flawless Display Guarantee: If a single bright dot is found, a free panel replacement is guaranteed within 30 days of original purchase

Learn More
Get up to an Amazing 14 Hours of Battery Life
Get the Big Picture in a Small Frame
Strikingly Comfortable. Perfectly Concise.
Easy Connectivity
Even More Storage
Quick Recovery with Just One Key
Eee PC with Windows 7 –Life Made Easier
A Brand that Sparked a Revolution - The First Netbook
Customer Warranty –The Industry's Most Complete Netbook Care Package
1 year global warranty
6 months battery warranty
30-Day Flawless Display Guarantee: If you discover one defective bright dot within 30 days of purchase, ASUS will replace the panel at no cost
Free one-way standard shipping
24/7 tech support
What's in the Box
Eee PC 1005PE-P Seashell (Black)
Power Adapter †
User Manual
Warranty Card
Recovery DVD / Support CD
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Starter
Display: 10.1-inch LED-Backlit Display(1024 x 600) with Color Shine glossy finish
Intel CPU: IntelAtom N450
Wireless Data Network: 802.11b/g/n(@ 2.4GHz) & Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR
Memory: 1GB(upgradeable to 2GB)
Hybrid Storage: 250GBHDD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage
Camera: 0.3M Pixels
Audio: StereoSpeakers, High-Definition Audio CODEC, Built-in digital microphone
Storage Cards: 2-in-1MMC, SD(SDHC) flash card slot
Input/Output: 1 xVGA connector, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 x audio jacks: Headphone& Mic-in
Battery: Up to 14hours high-density Li-Ion battery *
Dimensions: 10.31(W) x 7.01 (D) x 1.02~1.44 (H) inches
Weight: 2.80lbs (with battery)
Color: Black * Operation lifetime subject toproduct model, normal usage conditions and configurations. For more information, pleasevisit http://eeepc.asus.com/global/computing.html. The estimated maximumbattery life in Windows 7 is measured with MobileMark 2007. **ASUSWebStorage is a complimentary trial service for 1 year after registration.Actual storage capacity varies by model. †To recharge using the AC power adapter, power plug must be fully pushed into the power socket on the Eee PC until it clicks firmly into place. Note: This Eee PC features a glossy finish chassis. Reflections in photos may vary. Color of the chassis is single-toned. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images.

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