The Samsung Q310-34P is a thin-and-light laptop offering competent performance. Prices start at $1299.

Design
Build quality is good. At just 4.8 pounds, this netbook is quite portable. The Q310-34P also comes with good looks. There is a touch of color on the deck.

Ports and slots
There are 3 USB ports, an 8X optical drive, ExpressCard/34 slot, VGA, HDMI, 7-in-1 memory card reader, Ethernet, headphone and microphone jacks. There is a very handy button at the base of the machine that gives a quick reading of the netbook’s battery life.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard comes with a silver nano antibacterial coating. It is easy to type on and shows no signs of flex. The touchpad is a bit smaller for a laptop of this size.

Display and Audio
The 1280x800 pixel display is brilliant. Colors are bright. Despite being glossy, it doesn’t create a lot of reflections. Wide viewing angles are also good.
Audio quality is good. Sounds are crisp and quite audible. There is an integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam. It offers solid images with minimum blurring.

Performance
The Q310-34P comes with a 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor and 3GB of RAM. Boot times are really fast. Performance is on a par with the performance offered by HP Pavillion dv3510nr. The 320GB HDD has enough room to store your photos, music and videos.

Battery Life
The six cell battery offers around 5 hours of up time. If you need more battery life, you can use the 9 cell battery which comes at the steep price of $229.

System Specifications
Processor: 2.26-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400
HDD: 320GB SATA 5,400rpm
Optical Drive: DVD+RW
Display: 13.3 inch; native Resolution 1280x800
Graphics: Intel GMX4500
Operating System: MS Windows Vista Business

Pros
Attractive design
Great sounding speakers
Snappy performance
Good keyboard
Great battery life

Cons
Small touchpad
No discrete graphics card (you can’t play graphics rich games)
Stacked USB ports

In design the Samsung N120 is similar to Asus laptops in many ways. Like its predecessor the N110, the N120 is available in black and white.

System Specifications
Processor: Intel Atom N270 processor running at 1.6GHz
Memory: 1 GB
HDD: 160 GB
Graphics: Intel GMA950 integrated graphics

The N120 comes with a full-size keyboard. The keys are of the same size you would normally find in a 12 inch notebook. The speakers are on either side of the 10.1 inch screen. Samsung has also included a subwoofer with this netbook.

Connectivity options include standard 802.11g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 plus EDR. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, SD card reader and VGA. There is no optical drive or expansion slot.

Performance
In performance Samsung N120 is neither better nor worse than other netbooks using the Atom processors. You will be able to perform your daily tasks like web surfing and word processing. The Integrated Intel graphics can’t process high end graphics games. So this netbook isn’t for gamers.

By setting your laptop in the hibernate mode you will be able conserve battery power and keep your documents safe when you are away from your laptop. In this article we will show how you can manually set the laptop in the hibernate mode.

Step 1
Click on the Start button; go to Control Panel; double-click Power Options.

Step 2
Click on Hibernate tab; check the ‘Enable hibernation’ option; click OK.

Step 3
Go to Start; select Shut Down. Click on Hibernate.

Users who have enabled ‘Fast User Switching’ will not see the Hibernate option. Instead they will see the options Stand by, Turn Off and Restart. To get the Hibernate option, you need to hold down the Shift key and then the Stand By will change to Hibernate.

Note:
To set the laptop into the Hibernate mode, you need to be logged in as Administrator or have Administrator privileges.

At just 1.5 pounds, the Samsung NP-Q1U/600 is no bigger than a PDA, but it offers the functionality of a full-PC.

Keyboard, Touchpad and Display
The keyboard has a split QWERTY layout. It is easy to use. There is a nice touchpad. Other input options are the touchscreen and stylus. The 7 inch LCD display is bright.

Connectivity
The connectivity options include Bluetooth and 802.11.b.g Wi-Fi. The tablet also comes with video-conference capability. There are two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, VGA and headphone out. There is a biometric fingerprint reader for advanced security.

Performance
The Samsung NP-Q1U/600 combines mobility with great performance. This tablet PC has enough power to handle day-to-day tasks like typing documents, revising spreadsheets or sending presentations. You can also surf the web easily. The approximate battery life is 4.5 hours.

System specifications
Processor: 600MHz Intel Ultra Mobile Processor A100, 512Kb L2 cache, 400MHz FSB provides the muscle
Memory: 1GB 400MHz DRAM
HDD: 40GB
Graphics: Intel GMA950 graphics with 128MB shared memory
OS Provided: Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition
Video conferencing: Integrated front-facing video chat camera (300P), rear-facing video/still camera (1.3MP)

Tablet PCs are gaining in popularity. With their sophisticated touch screens and stylish styluses, tablet PCs have become a highly portable alternative to traditional desktops and laptops. Here we have compiled a list of the best tablet PCs available in the market. Take a look at them.

1. HP Pavillion TX2500Z

Specifications
Processor: AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology
Memory: up to 4GB DDR2
Graphics: ATI Mobile Radeon HD 3200
Display: 12.1″ WXGA touchscreen/active digitizer display.

2. Fujitsu LifeBook T5010

Specifications
Display: 13.3″ WXGA widescreen with active digitizer
Processor: Intel Centrino 2

3. Lenovo ThinkPad X200

Specifications
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo
Display: 12.1″ WideView Standard WXGA
HDD: 80 GB
Operating System: Windows Vista Business

4. HP EliteBook 2730p

Specifications
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: up to 4GB
HDD: up to 120GB 5400 rpm 1.8-inch SATA II hard drive
Display: 12.1-inch Illumi-Lite WXGA UWVA anti-glare

5. HP TouchSmart tx2z

Specifications
Processor: AMD Dual Core
Memory: Base model is equipped with 3GB memory and can be customized up to 8GB
Display: convertible, swiveling 12.1″ touchscreen

6. Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet

Specifications
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo L7500
Memory: 2GB
Weight: 4.4 lbs
Display: 12.1 inches
Graphics: Intel GMA X3100


7. Samsung NP-Q1U/600 Tablet PC


Specifications
Processor: Intel Ultra Mobile A110 600 MHz
Display: 7 in. WSVGA TFT Active Matrix with Touchscreen
Memory: 1 GB
HDD: 40 GB
Weight: 1.52 lb


8. Fujitsu Stylistic ST5111 (FPCM35262) Tablet PC

Specifications
Processor: Core 2 Duo 1.2 GHz
Display: 10.4 in. XGA TFT Active Matrix
Memory: 1 GB
HDD: 80 GB
Weight: 3.5 lb.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista


9. Sony VAIO® VGN-UX180P Tablet PC

Specifications
Processor: Core Solo 1.2 GHz
Display: 4.5 in. SVGA TFT Active Matrix With Touchscreen
Memory: 512 MB
HDD: 30 GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Your laptop needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year. The recommended cleaning procedure for laptops differs from model to model. So read your User’s Manual before you clean your laptop.

Cleaning the Exterior
You can clean the exterior of your laptop with a soft damp cloth. Do not use a scratchy or abrasive cloth for cleaning. Also avoid using harsh cleaning agents. Do not spray the cleaning solution directly onto the casing of the laptop. You need to spray it on to the cloth first and then wipe the casing thoroughly.

Cleaning the cooling vents
Use a bottle of compressed air to clean the cooling vents. Don’t spray hard. Use cotton swabs to hold fans in place while you clean them.

I/O PORTS:
You can wipe away large pieces of dirt that may have accumulated in the ports with cotton swabs. You can also blow compressed air on to the ports.

Cleaning the Display
Use a non-abrasive cotton cloth for cleaning the display. Do not use ammonia based cleaning solutions as they will leave a film. Do not spray the cleaning solution directly on to the display. Spray on the cloth first and then wipe the screen with the cloth.

Cleaning keyboard
Use compressed air or cotton swabs to remove the dirt build-up in and around the keys. With some laptop models you can remove the keys for cleaning. Read your user manual to see whether yours allow this. Be sure to put the keys back into their proper places after you are done cleaning them.

Plenty of Bluetooth music docks are available in the market. The problem with these devices is that they are a bit difficult to set up and the audio quality isn’t very good. Most of them are also device specific making it impossible to use them with all of your devices. Well, the i2i music streaming device from Aerielle is different. It doesn’t require Bluetooth; can be set up easily and provides good audio quality.

Setup
The device can be set up really easily. The output jack on the top of the device can accept all standard 3.5 audio devices. You can hook this up to all audio devices like headphones, home theater or your car stereo. The input jack is on the bottom of the device. There are two sets of 2.5 to 3.5 mm conversion cables.

Operation
For streaming audio, you need to pair devices. Pairing is quite easy and doesn’t require passwords. All you have to do is to match the color channels on each device. If one device is on blue, make sure that the other too is on blue. Once you have paired the devices connect the transmitting button to your audio player and the receiving button to the device that you want to hear the sound from.

Pros
High quality audio
Universally compatible
Very compact
Wireless range of 30+ feet
Broadcast from 7 colored channels.

Cons
Pricey ( $119.95)
Weak battery life

Mobile workers constantly face threats against their mobile gear and the data contained in them. By taking a few simple steps, you will be able to ensure that your data remains safe while you are traveling.

Preventing Unauthorized Access
Mobile professionals need to be extremely careful with their passwords and other authentication methods to prevent unauthorized people from accessing the files on their mobile device. Most laptops now come with sophisticated security measures like finger print readers. Be sure to set them up.

Electronic Eavesdropping
Electronic eavesdropping or "sniffing" is a method of accessing networks or files through a mobile device. You can protect your device from eavesdropping by using techniques like encryption, authentication and authorization.

Hackers
Hackers employ several methods to gain access to your system or data and then create problems by planting viruses. One infected device is enough to infect an entire network. Mobile professionals can reduce the threats from hackers by having anti-virus software installed on their machines. Also be sure to update the software whenever a new version arrives.

You need to keep your laptop as cool as possible. While laptop stands are great for keeping your machine cool, they are not always portable. Laptop lifts are a useful alternative to them.
The Laptop Lifts are made from durable rubber compound. They can handle the heat generated by your laptop without getting hot themselves. One package contains two long strips of 6 inches long and 4 short strips of 2 inches long. You can easily apply them to your laptop and they provide enough elevation for air flow. They also provide protection against dust or moisture.
Pros
They are economically priced
Easy to set up
Keeps your laptop cool
One package contains enough lifts for two laptops.
Cons
Can only be used once

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ270P combines power and prestige with great looks. This thin and light laptop is feature-rich, has great looks and weighs less than 4 pounds.

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ270P is available in a variety of configurations. The fastest model uses an Intel Core Duo T2500 clocked at 2.0GHz. It supports up to 2GB of RAM. Hard disk drive capacity is 120 GB 5400rpm.

The 13.3 inch widescreen LCD display is beautiful. It uses the XBRITE technology. The hybrid graphics system makes it possible to switch between the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 graphics chip and integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950.

Connectivity
There are enough connectivity options and they include a built-in Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth and even Wide Area Network (WWAN).

Pros
Ultraportable; weighs less than 4 pounds
At around 3 hours the battery life is satisfactory
Attractive design
Hybrid Graphics System

Cons
Noisy; the CPU fan, keyboard and optical drive all make noise
Expensive
No DVI

Wi-Fi hot spots are available in hotels, airports and train stations. With the help of a wireless adaptor card, you can make use of the hotspots even if your laptop doesn’t have integrated wireless.

Best wireless adapters
Here we have compiled a list of popular wireless adapter cards. One of them should definitely fit your needs and budget.

Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G Notebook Adapter
This adapter card is compatible with all versions of Windows. It can work with both B and G wireless networks.

Wi-Fi Detective
Wi-Fi Detective is a powerful adapter that helps you connect to the internet even if your laptop doesn’t have integrated graphics.

D-Link DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless CardBus Adapter
This adapter card works with the more recent versions of Windows including Windows 98. It comes with a set up guide and installation CD.

Proxim Orinoco 11a/b/g ComboCard Gold
With this wireless adapter, you can connect to any network you may get in contact with while you are traveling. In wireless G mode, this card can work well up to a distance of 200ft.

Airport Extreme Card
This card is for Mac users. It operates on the 802.11g standard and is compatible with the 802.11b standard.

With a starting price of $1,929, the Dell Latitude XT2 is unarguably one of the most expensive convertible tablet PCs on the market. It is aimed at businesses and does offer some interesting features.


System specifications of the laptop for review
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.4GHz (800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32-bit)
Display: 12.1" Premium WXGA (1280 x 800) LED-Backlight Display with Multi-touch
Graphics: Intel X4500MHD Integrated Graphics
Memory: 3GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM (2GB + 1GB)
HDD: 120GB Toshiba 1.8" 5400RPM HDD
Weight: 3lbs 13.6oz

Build and Design
The Latitude XT2 is thin and light – you can easily carry it wherever you want to. And with its sharp lines and edges its appearance is very business-like. In terms of build quality this is the best Dell laptop ever.

Screen and Speakers
The 12.1 inch screen looks gorgeous. The 1280x800 display is much better than those normally found on tablet PCs and offers good viewing angles. There is a capacitive touch-screen with a built-in digitizer. The pen is fabulous – it gives excellent traction. The multi-touch capabilities of the tablet aren’t very impressive. The zoom features aren’t very good either.

There is a single mono speaker. The sound quality is reasonably good, but headphones are a must if you are an audiophile.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is very good and has an easy to follow layout. The primary keys are full-sized and easy to type on. The touchpad is responsive, but it could have been a bit bigger. Dell also includes a pointing stick with XT2.

Ports and Features
Port selection is good. There are two USB ports, one eSATA/USB combo, audio in/out, FireWire, VGA, LAN, and a proprietary power socket for some Dell accessories. There is a well-built docking station which gives you access to four USB ports, serial, DVI, VGA, LAN, headphone out, and an optical drive.

Performance
Performance is OK. This machine can easily handle everyday business uses. It can also decode 720p and 1080p video without any difficulty. However, it does show some signs of slowing down when you try to install large applications or move/copy files around. The integrated graphics and the power conscious processor can’t handle 3D graphics. So this isn’t the tablet to buy if you are an avid gamer. That said, this notebook can handle almost everything else.

Battery Life
At about three and half hours, the batter life is quite average. If you are not satisfied with the 42Wh battery, you are given the option of using a 45Wh slice battery, which should give you more than double the battery life.

Pros:
Good build quality
Ultra thin
Easy to upgrade

Cons:
Slow hard drive
Average battery life
Is costly

Everybody likes to buy a brand new laptop, but sometimes budget constraints make it impossible. Used/refurbished laptops are the ideal solution for users who don’t want to or can’t afford to buy a brand new laptop.

Before you buy a used laptop make sure that you will be able to upgrade its components when you want to. New and improved networking options arrive almost everyday. If you can’t upgrade the networking capabilities of your laptop, you will not be able to make use of the newest connectivity options.

Used laptop or refurbished laptop – what to buy?
A used laptop is not the same as a refurnished laptop. In fact buying a refurbished laptop is better than buying a used laptop. This is because refurbished laptops are much less likely to have problems. Used laptops, on the other hand, are not certified. They don’t have warranties and there is no guarantee that they will work or for how long. In many cases you will have to make repairs or replace components.
Refurbished laptops are certified for resale. They have warranties and have been closely examined and damaged or worn out parts replaced. In many cases you will be given an opportunity to try the machine before you buy.

Where to buy a refurbished laptop
Check with laptop manufacturers; they will recommend authorized sellers or refurbished laptops.

With its metal and leather looks, the Dell Studio XPS 16 will appeal to everybody who wants to make a style statement with their notebooks. It is stylish, has cutting-edge features and enough power inside its chassis for number crunching and
video encoding.

System configuration for the laptop under review
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 (2.4GHz)
Memory: 4GB - 2DIMM DDR3
HDD: 320GB 7200rpm
Graphics: ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 (512MB)
Display: 16.0" 1080p Full HD RGBLED LCD with 2.0 MP Webcam
Optical Drive: 4X Blu-ray Disc Combo Drive (DVD/CD +/- RW +BD Read)
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64 bit)
Prices start at $1,199

Build and Design
Until a few years ago, Dell laptops had the dubious distinction of being heavy, thick and boxy. They offered great value, but always lacked in style. But with the release of such lines as the XPS, Inspiron and Studio, Dell underwent a huge stylish makeover. The Studio XPS 16 is both stylish and classy. It combines the best features of the XPS and the Studio line of notebooks.
The XPS 16 has a solid design and construction. The use of leather on the lid over the hinge area makes the laptop look more stylish. The Studio XPS 16 isn't as sturdy as the Dell Latitude or Precision business notebooks but it will survive a drop from your desk without much damage.

Screen
The 16 inch display is simply fantastic. It uses the RGBLED LCD display which offers richer and deeper colors than the standard LCD technology. Horizontal viewing angles are great.

Keyboard, Touchpad and Media Controls
The LED backlit keyboard is very good. It is also very firm and shows no signs of flex. The Synaptics touchpad works well, but it is slightly small for a laptop of this size.

Ports and Features
The port selection is very good. There are 3 USB ports (2 USB ports + 1 combo USB/eSATA port), VGA, TV tuner, Ethernet, HDMI, microphone jacks, two headphone jacks, ExpressCard, FireWire, Slot-loading optical drive and power jack.

Speakers
There are two large stereo speakers and built-in subwoofer. They are placed on either side of the keyboard. The audio quality is good.

Performance
The XPS 16 offers good performance in terms number crunching and video encoding. And with the ATI Radeon HD 3670 dedicated graphics card, you can play almost every game or perform 3D graphics work.

Battery Life
At around 2 hours, the battery life is good for a 16-inch desktop replacement notebook. You will get up to 3 hours of battery life if you use the 9 cell lithium battery.

Pros:
Great build quality
Good keyboard
Great display
Good selection of ports

Cons:
Glossy screen
Tends to heat up
Average battery life
Pre-loaded programs

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 is a multimedia notebook with a 16 inch screen. It is thinner and lighter than most other 16 inch notebooks and has enough power and storage capacity to be your primary PC. Prices start at $1,299.

System configurations for the laptop under review

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8700 (2.53GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Display: 16.0 "TFT Widescreen display with LED backlighting (1366x768)
Memory: 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz System Memory
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce G 105M graphics with 256MB discrete memory
HDD: 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

Build and Design
The IdeaPad Y650 looks distinct from other IdeaPad notebooks. In build quality it is as sturdy as the business class ThinkPad notebooks. In looks it will easily beat Apple MacBook.

Display
The 16-inch display is simply great. Colors are bright and vivid and there is excellent contrast. Horizontal viewing angles are extremely good. So you can share a movie with a friend or two without any trouble.

Keyboard and Touchpad
Large notebooks will usually have larger keyboards. But this is not true of Y650. Lenovo has used a small keyboard on this machine. On the bright side, the smaller keyboard makes more room available for the massive touchpad. The keys are of reasonable size and the keyboard is quite comfortable to type on. The touch sensitive media bar which is located above the keyboard gives quick access to several programs.

The touchpad is Synaptics-based. It uses multi-touch controls. It has good sensitivity and accurately tracks finger movement.

Ports and Features
The port selection is basic. There are 2 USB ports, a 6-in-1 card reader, a smaller ExpressCard/34 slot, an eSATA port, headphone and microphone jacks and ethernet. There is no FireWire.

Performance
Y650 performs much better than other IdeaPad models. This machine will exceed the expectations of an average user. Boot times are fast, so is web browsing. You can easily perform your day-to-day tasks and enjoy high definition video. Gaming is where it falls behind other multimedia oriented notebooks. At a little over 3 hours, the battery life is average.

Conclusion
Overall the performance is good. The Y650 is thinner and lighter than any other 16-inch notebooks in the market. This is not a high-end gaming notebook. But if you are looking for an attractive entertainment notebook for your family, this is the one to buy.

Pros:
Good build quality
Great touchpad
Great sounding speakers

Cons:
Limited selection of ports
Small keyboard

Business notebooks are ideal for people who use their machine primarily for work. Most business notebooks lack entertainment features like gaming processors or Bly-Ray discs. They will usually have a low-key design and good build quality. Durability rather than looks is the key-word here. Many business notebooks also come with the docking station option which is very handy when you are working at a desk.

Here is an indicative list of the top 10 business notebooks available in the market.

Best Business Laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s
Lenovo x200
Lenovo ThinkPad X301
Toshiba Satellite Pro L350
Lenovo ThinkPad T400
Apple MacBook 2008
Toshiba Tecra R10
Apple MacBook Air
Dell Adamo
Lenovo IdeaPad Y650

It is that time of the year again - students are getting ready for school. Arm yourself with one of these scholastic notebooks before you get back to school. They are all ideals for students who need a portable machine with enough power inside its chassis.

A year or two ago, it was not possible to get a notebook for less than $500. But now you can get a full-size laptop for less than $500. And they will handle almost all of your daily tasks with élan.

This is only an indicative list of notebooks aimed at students. There are many more and you may have your personal preferences too. Before you choose a model, keep in mind your specific requirements and budget constraints if any.

Best Back to School Notebooks
Acer Aspire One AO751H (Price: $379.00)
ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (Price: $389.00)
Dell Inspiron 15 (Price: $479.00 - $599.99)
Gateway NV Series (Price: $499.00)
Toshiba mini NB205 (Price: $344.99 - $399.39)
Apple Macbook (Price: $1,099.99)
Gateway P-7807u FX (Price: $1,399.00)
Fujitsu Lifebook T1010 (Price: $1,204.88 - $1,419.99)
Sony VAIO SR (Price: $1,240.23 - $1,389.99)
MSI X340 (Price: $775.00 - $939.85)
HP Pavilion dv3t (Price: $774.00)
Acer Aspire Timeline 3810TZ (Price: $598.86)
Dell Studio 14z (Price: $724.00)
Lenovo IdeaPad Y450 (Price: $599.00)

Solid State drives are getting more and more popular. Many notebook users now use them for storing operating systems and programs.

While SSDs are much better than traditional drives they do have two major draw backs – they are pricey and they can’t store as much data as a traditional disk drive.

What is a Solid State Drive?
A solid state drive is built entirely out of semiconductors. SSDs use the same non-volatile memory chips used in USB drives. And because of this they are capable of retaining their information even when they have no power. SSDs come in the same standard dimension as a 1.8, 2.5 or3.5 inch hard drive. So from outside they look no different than a traditional hard drive.

Why Use a Solid State Drive?
Solid state drives are better than magnetic hard drives for several reasons. For instance, SSDs have no moving parts. A traditional drive, on the other hand, has several moving parts and isn’t as durable as a SSD. All the storage on an SSD is handled by flash memory chips. This provides three distinct advantages:

* Less Power Usage
* Faster Data Access
* Higher Reliability

Since notebooks need to conserve as much power as possible, solid state drives are ideal for them. Faster data access is another reason to use SSDs. With SSDs data can be read almost instantly.

Why Aren't SSDs Used For All PCs?
The major problem is price. SSDs are much costlier than traditional drives. In most cases the cost of the drive is roughly the same as the entire notebook it will be installed in. Another problem is their storage capacity. While traditional hard drives can store up to 200GB of data in a small 2.5 inch hard drive, most SSDs can store only up to 64GB.

But technology is improving and prices are falling. So it will not be long before SSDs replace traditional drives altogether.

With its 12 inch screen, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is one of the biggest netbooks available in the market. It comes with the Windows XP operating system.

System configurations for the laptop under review
Processor: Intel Atom N270 processor (1.60GHz)
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
Graphics: Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Display: 12.1 inch widescreen display (1280x800) with LED backlighting
Hard Disk Drive: 160GB 5400RPM hard drive (Hitachi HTS543216L9A)
The base configuration starts at $449.

Build and Design
S12 is very sturdy and has rounded edges and a slimmer chassis. The design is very accommodating - all parts fit together neatly.

At 1280x800, the display resolution is excellent for a netbook: most other netbooks have 1024x600 or less. Contrast and brightness are excellent. The only problem with the screen is that its glossy coating is prone to cause a lot of reflections. This can be very annoying when you use the machine in direct sunlight.
The speakers are audible, but to listen to music or movies you will need to buy a pair of headphones.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is full size. If you are used to typing on a standard notebook keyboard, you will have absolutely no problem typing on this keyboard. The keyboard feels of high quality and the keys don’t wobble at all. The touchpad is both good and bad. Tracking is easy and it is reasonably accurate. The only problem is that it is slightly small.

Ports and Features
The port selection will meet almost all of your connectivity needs. There are 3 USB ports, one media card reader, ExpressCard/34 slot, headphone and microphone jacks, VGA and Ethernet.

Performance
You can perform all day to day activities without much difficulty; you can surf the net at reasonable speed; you can work with your documents; you can also listen to music or play video. Having said that, performing strenuous activities will easily overwhelm the Atom processor. So if you like to multi-task with several programs, you may be a bit disappointed with the performance. For everyday tasks, the performance is just fine.

Battery Life
At half brightness (5/10), the six-cell battery will give up to five hours. The S12 comes with a custom power configuration utility. Choose a power conscious setting, and you will get reasonable battery life.

Conclusion
The IdeaPad S12 is an excellent choice for those budget-minded consumers with modest needs. It has a pleasing design and comes with one of the best netbook keyboards.

Pros:
Pleasing design
Superb keyboard
Five hours of battery life

Cons:
Touchpad could have been larger

The LifeBook T5010 is the latest addition to the Fujitsu Tablet PC line-up. The T5010 is the successor to the T4220 line of tablets. This tablet is aimed at businesses and it is good for taking notes and giving presentations.

System Configurations for the tablet under review
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz processor
Graphics: Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 MHD graphics
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Disk Drive: 80GB, 5400rpm hard drive
Operating System: Windows Vista Business
Weight: 4 pounds 13 ounces with battery
Display: 13.3 inch active digitizer display

Design and Build
The LifeBook T5010 has a sturdy chassis and solid design. It is sleek in appearance and weighs around 4.5lbs. The display comes with a resolution of 1280 x800. Colors are bright and vivid. The screen can rotate in both directions – a feature great for presentations. The speaker quality is average. But with a good pair of headphones you will be able to listen to music.

Keyboard/Touchpad/Pen
The LifeBook T5010 keyboard is solid and doesn't show any signs of flex. The keys are flat and the normal size. The touchpad is very responsive. The right and left click buttons work well. The pen is great to take notes with and comes with an eraser. The active digitizer works well with the pen. There are some handy buttons on the screen. They can be programmed as shortcuts in the tablet mode.

Ports and Slots
Port selection is impressive. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, LAN, modem, headphone and microphone jacks, memory stick/SD Card slot and dedicated Smart Card Slot. The T5010 is Bluetooth enabled. Other wireless features like Atheros XSPAN (802.11a/b/g/draft-n) also work well. If you prefer, you can get Intel WIFI Link 5300 AGN as an option.

Battery
Battery life is average. You will get up to four hours in the Balanced mode.

Conclusion
Overall, this is a nice tablet PC. It loads web pages fast and you will have no trouble running multiple applications on it. The design is good, so is the bright screen. But prices will still need to come down a bit to entice the customers.

Pros
Active digitizer display that is vivid and bright
Solid design
The screen can be rotated in both directions

Cons
Tends to heat up
Pen tends to get stuck in silo.

The HP EliteBook 2730p is a good Tablet PC with a solid chasiss and nice design. This is an updated version of the 2710p Tablet PCs.

Design and Build
2730p has a sleek appearance with an impressive design. It comes with both the pointing stick and the touchpad. At around 3.7lbs, this tablet is ultraportable.

Display
The display is good – colors are bright and vivid. The keyboard, the casing and the keys are all in silver. The keyboard is very firm and shows no sign of flex. The digital pen is great. It has an eraser and writes like a real pen. You are going to love it.

Ports
Port selection is average. There are two USB ports and some wireless connectivity options too.

Performance and Use
Performance is strictly OK. You will have no problem performing your basic tasks like working with documents or surfing the net. You can also run multiple applications simultaneously.

Conclusion
The 2730p is a nice update to the 2710p. It comes with a better processor and better graphics options. Taking notes is fun and easy – you will forget that you are working with a digital pen. It is no wonder then that this peppy little tablet has been compared to Lenovo’s X200.

No people, we’re not talking about a netbook here. What you are looking at is a full fledged notebook that is packing an AMD processor (those things don’t come in netbooks).

The Compaq CQ60-419WM is packed with such features as an AMD Sempron SI-42 processor, NVIDIA GeForce 8200M graphics, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, 160GB hard drive (yes, yes we know its small) and a DVD burner. Wal-Mart has these babies for only $298. The model is not that new as it has been on sale for quite some time now (granted for $170 more), but the latest price cut is enough for any barging shopper to get one.

This is based on “while supplies last” so if you’re interested get over to your local Sam Walton store and pick one up. Oh and did we mention its packing a 15.6 inch 1366x768 screen? Yeah, yeah we know.

After a billion dollar antirust fine from the EU and countless court hearings, Microsoft has finally decided to scum to pressure from the EU and remove IE from the European version of Window’s 7.

Basically this means that Microsoft will not ship the browser with the OS but that does not mean manufacturers will not be able to install it. They will have the option to install any browser they want to.

So what do those living in the UK have to say about this? Glad or sad? Let us know in the comments below.

For the amount of rumors we have heard about a possible Apple tablet computer, it would be impossible for this not to be true. As to when it will launch is something we are not sure of but if we are to believe news coming from AppleInsider today, Steve Jobs has finally gotten a prototype he is happy with and has given the go ahead to actually build the device.

More importantly we’re being told that it will be packing a 10-inch screen (rumored earlier), 3G and will be running on “the network.” Furthermore, we’re hearing that the purchase of P.A Semi is related to this device because it is running an in house chip instead of the Atom that was being pondered earlier.

So what do you think? Does it make sense or is it too far fetched? Let us know below.

This is yet another addition to the Vostro family of business notebooks. The Dell Vostro 1320 comes with a budget friendly tag of $549.

There is a lot that is similar between the Vostro 1520 and Vostro 1320. The basic difference is in size and weight. 1320 is smaller and lighter than 1520.

Specifications of Vostro 1320 Review Laptop
The Vostro 1320 is available in a multitude of configurations. The laptop under review had the following configurations.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Hard Disk Drive: 250 GB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive
Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Memory: 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz, 2 DIMM (1GB and 2GB sticks)
Display: 13.3 inch WXGA Anti-Glare LED Display
Weight: 4.75lbs
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium

Design and Build Quality
The Vostro 1320 has squared off edges and corners. It weighs less than 5 lbs and is just the right size for portability. The build quality is quite good.

Ports and Features
Port selection is impressive. There are four USB ports, VGA, Ethernet/LAN, 8-in-1 media card reader, 54mm ExpressCard slot, FireWire (IEEE 1394), headphone and microphone jack. Web camera, fingerprint reader and Bluetooth are optional.

Keyboard
The keyboard is full sized and surprisingly good for a budget size notebook. The touchpad performs reasonably well. It is still not the best you would find on a business notebook.

Performance and Internal Components
The performance depends upon the configuration you choose. If you aren’t very demanding you can opt for the basic configuration. You will still be able to perform your daily tasks. The battery life is reasonable at 3 hours.

The Dell Vostro 1520 is a budget notebook aimed at businesses. The Vostro 1520 is slightly thinner and lighter than its previous version Vostro 1510. It also comes with a better processor and graphic options.

System Specifications of Review laptop
The Vostro 1520 is available in a wide variety of configurations. The laptop under review had the following components.
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
HDD: 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Memory: 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz, 2 DIMM
Display: 15.4 inch WXGA Anti-Glare LED Display
Weight: 5.42lbs
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Basic

Build Quality, Keyboard and Touchpad
Build quality is excellent. Vostro 1520 has an extremely rigid case that shows no flex at all. The keyboard is also very sturdy. The full sized keyboard is good for a budget business notebook. The touch sensitive buttons for media control are very responsive. The touchpad is slightly smaller but it works well.

Ports and Slots
Port selection is OK. There are 4 USB ports, VGA, Ethernet, Modem, 8-in-1 card reader, 54mm ExpressCard slot, FireWire. Web camera and Fingerprint reader are optional. The options that could have been included are HDMI, DVI and S-Video.

Performance and Internal Components
As we said earlier Vostro is available in a variety of configurations. If your demands are modest you can opt for the basic configuration with Core 2 Duo processor. You can get up to 320 GB of HDD. If speed of the system is your concern, you may want to buy the 128GB SSD at an additional cost of $400. Alternatively you can opt for a $50 upgrade to a 7200 rpm to give performance a quick boost. You can play most games on Vostro 1520 but not certainly those high-end graphic games. If you aren’t particular about gaming or graphics performance, you can opt for the cheaper Intel Integrated graphics option.

Battery Life
The standard 6-cell battery will give up to 5 hours of up time. If you need more battery life, you can opt for the extended 9-cell battery which should give up to 8 hours of battery life.

Audio
Speaker quality is good for a business notebook. Volume levels are good and with touch sensitive volume controls, you can easily turn the volume up or down.

Conclusion
There is nothing fancy about Vostro 1520. It is a business class notebook that would meet almost all of your needs. It is neither too big nor too small; neither too powerful nor too week; neither too cheap nor too expensive. Vostro is a good choice for the budget-minded consumer. It is sturdy and should last you four or five years.

Pros:
Sturdy; good build quality
Good keyboard

Cons:
Tends to heat up

Laptop prices are falling with many retailers in the US offering fully equipped systems for less than $300. Starting July 26, the retail giant Wal-Mart will start selling limited number of Compaq Presario CQ60-419WM for $298. The machine is powered by AMD’s Sempron SI-42 processor running at 2.1GHz.The 15.6 inch laptop uses the Windows Vista OS. Other system specifications include 3GB of RAM, 160 GB of HDD, a DVD-RW drive and Nvidia’s GeForce 8200M integrated graphics. Wal-Mart also plans to add an Acer laptop and an HP netbook to the list.

Earlier this week the retailer Best Buy made a move to offer an Acer laptop with a 15.6 inch screen for $299. The offer had to be quickly pulled out as Best Buy ran out of stock.

So will we able to buy a mainstream laptop at a throw-away price? Well, the War of Retailers may just make it possible. Wait and Watch.

Mobile professionals need a device that they can carry around without having to compromise on the day to day tasks they need to perform. So what gadget is best for your needs?

PDAs are attractive because of their small size and reasonable price. But they do not offer as much functionality as a laptop does. A viable alternative is the tablet PC. Before you choose a device, you need to evaluate the specific requirements of your job. You may also want to consider budget constraints if any.

Tablet PC Pros & Cons
Because of their relatively large size, tablet PCs offer a working environment similar to that offered by laptops and desktops. They also come with touchscreens and digital pens which are ideal for taking notes during meetings or conference calls. Tablet PCs are usually compatible with all Windows compatible applications, so you will not have to purchase additional software. On the flip side, tablet PCs are costlier than PDAs. They are larger too.

PDA Pros & Cons
PDAs are lightweight, so you can easily carry them around. Prices are reasonable. They start up fast and you will be able to enter data quickly. Some higher-end models will allow you to upgrade the RAM when you feel the need to. A number of freeware programs are available for PDAs. PDAs also face considerably reduced threat of virus attacks. On the flip side, because of the small viewing area reading long pieces of information can get tiresome.

Some PDAs are based on the Palm OS; some are based on the Windows OS. So before you purchase the device you need to make sure that the software included with the device will be compatible with the software used by your organization.

Toshiba has finally entered the Netbook market with Mini NB205. This slick-looking laptop is available in four colors: white, blue, brown and pink.

System Configuration

Processor 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280
Memory 1GB, 800MHz DDR2
Hard drive 160GB 5,400rpm
Chipset Intel 945GSE
Graphics Intel GMA 950 (integrated)
Operating system Windows XP
Display: 10.1 inch

Design, Keyboard and Touchpad
The design is distinct- it does manage to stand out from other netbooks in the market. The keyboard has widely spaced, raised keys similar to those found on traditional full size laptops. The touchpad is even better. It is bigger for a 10 inch netbook. The 10.1 inch wide-screen display offers 1024x600 native resolution. There are 3 USB ports. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth.

A very useful feature of this netbook is the sleep-and-charge technology. With this technology you can charge USB devices from that port, even when the laptop is sleeping, hibernating or off. The speaker performance is lack-lustre.

Performance
The Toshiba NB205 uses the slightly faster N280 version of Intel’s Atom processor. But performance isn’t significantly better than that offered by other netbooks using a low-end processor. You will still have no problem performing basic tasks like web surfing and word processing. At 6 plus hours the battery life is quite impressive.

Pros:
Distinctive design
Large touchpad
Impressive battery life

Cons:
Bulky battery – it sticks out awkwardly
Poor speaker performance – you can hardly hear anything

Unlike its predecessors, which were all meant for businesses, the newest addition to the Latitude family of notebooks is aimed it students. And this rugged netbook with its rubber-coated exterior, antimicrobial keyboard and optional solid state drives can indeed survive the use and abuse in a typical classroom.

Dell Latitude 2100 Specifications:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
Display: 10.1" WSVGA (1024 x 576) Touchscreen LED-backlit display
Processor: Intel Atom N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB)
Graphics: Intel GMA 950
Memory: 1GB

An interesting feature of this netbook is the Network Activity Light which will help teachers monitor who are actually paying attention in the class. The light will remain constantly lit when the netbook is on but no web browser is open. Open a web browser or a chat application and the light will begin to flash.
The Latitude 2100 is available in a variety of colors including School bus gold, Chalkboard black, Schoolhouse red, Blue ribbon, and Ballfield green.
Build quality is quite good.


Screen and Speakers
The 10.1 inch display uses a 1024 x 576 native resolution which is slightly less than the standard 1024 x 600 resolution seen on most 10-inch netbooks. There is an optional touchscreen which is a first for an education netbook. The speaker performance isn’t very impressive.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The antimicrobial keyboard is nice and firm. Keys are slightly small, but that shouldn’t be an issue with young students who want to type school papers or emails. There are dedicated buttons for raising and lowering volume levels. The touchpad offers good sensitivity and is the normal size for a 10 inch netbook.

Input and Output Ports
The port selection is pretty basic, but it will still meet student needs. There are three USB 2.0 ports, VGA out, Ethernet, a 3-in-1 media card slot, microphone and headphone jacks. Another cool feature is the inclusion of two security lock slots to which students can attach a handle/strap so that they can carry the netbook between classes.

Performance
This netbook is meant for use by K-12 students and it is more than enough to meet their needs like typing an assignment in MS Word or browsing the web. And with the Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics, it is also possible to display a PowerPoint presentation or watch a DVD quality movie. At 6 and half hours the battery life will meet or exceed school needs.
Bottomline
The Dell Latitude 2100 has enough features to make it a prominent item on the shopping lists for most schools. It may be a bit thicker and heavier than most other netbooks, but it does have a lot of features you wouldn’t find in most $400 laptops.



Pros:
Very sturdy
Good battery life
Cons:
Slightly thicker and heavier
Touchscreen without the necessary tablet convertibility

The Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Tablet PC isn’t bigger than a PDA but it can do almost everything a laptop does. For instance, you can work with documents, use email or surf the net.

System Configuration
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
Processor: Intel Ultra Mobile platform 2007, Intel Processor A110 (800MHz, 512KB L2 cache, 400MHz FSB)
Memory: 1GB DDR2 400MHz
Display: LCD, 5.6-inch Crystal View WSVGA, 1024 x 600 pixels, Touch screen.
Hard Disk Drive: 40 GB, 1.8-inch PATA Ultra DMA 100 (4200rpm), S.M.A.R.T. support.

The best thing about LifeBook U810 Tablet PC is indeed its size: it is very compact and can be packed easily. People with larger hands and fingers may have some difficulty getting used to tying on the small keyboard. It will be a good idea for them to use an external keyboard.

The display is crisp and with the integrated camera it is easy to use conferencing programs. The tablet supports a variety of networking options including Ethernet and Bluetooth. So you should have no trouble synchronizing your files between devices or sharing them with your co-workers.

The integrated fingerprint reader is another option extremely useful to mobile professionals.

Pros
• Can perform almost everything a laptop does.
• Offers a variety of network connections
• Ultraportable; can be packed easily
Cons
• Keyboard is very small.

Its not everyday that Dell produces that rivals Apple in absurd marketing sense. And its not everyday that you see a $500 price cut on a laptop. More importantly its not everyday that this price cut comes a few weeks after the device was launched.

By now you have a pretty good idea that I’m no fan of the “priciness” of the Dell Adamo, especially when you can get a more powerful system from Apple for hundreds less and only a fraction of an inch thicker.

Seems like Dell found out that not everyone is Bill Gates and has subsequently cut the price on all the Adamo trim levels by $500 For example a 1.2GHz system will cost you $1499 (down from the original $1999). The high end model which comes equipped with an SSD and 1.4GHz processor is down to $2299 which again is a $500 price cut down the board.

So what do you guys say, gonna take the jump now or is it still out of your ballpart. Voice yourself in the comments below.

There is no need to debate that the Mobi ION 230 is in a class of its own. Although it’s a netbook, and carries some of the similar specs of many other netbooks it still manages to stand out in things such as design and power.

Under the hood the device is equipped with NVIDIA’s ION platform (as the name suggests as well as an Atom N230 CPU. You can find 1GB of RAM doing the memory business and the usual 160GB HDD. From what we know about ION we wouldn’t expect the best battery life from this thing but Point of View (the manufacturer) does promise flawless 1080p playback as well as DirectX 10 and Shader Model 4.0 support as well as HDMI out in exchange for the battery life.

The display has been put at 10.2 inches which packs a 1024x600 resolution. On the subject of price and availability, this little bad boy will be coming to the European markets in only a few weeks and the price is set at €349 ($495). No word on a US release date, and in case the device is too gaudy for you, you are welcome to a more conservative black color option.

So what do you say EU readers. Getting one or not?

The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 and HD 4830 launched by AMD are the world’s first graphics processors based on the 40nm technology. These feature-rich, tiny processors are expected to redefine the PC entertainment. They can run high-end graphics games at beyond 1080p HD resolution, or playback full 1080p HD video.

The new processors are highly energy-efficient thanks to the 40nm technology which can pack more graphics horse power in a small size. And because of their small size they are capable of fitting in ultraportable laptops. The first notebooks to use the new ATI processors will be from ASUS.

The soon-to-be-launched Dell Inspiron 14 is aimed at students who want a good general purpose notebook at an affordable price. Inspiron 14 will be slightly heavier than the Studio 14z. There will be an optional built-in Blu-ray drive and dedicated graphics. You can purchase the notebook in its base configuration for less than $500.

Overview of specs and features:

Processors: Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium Dual Core, or Intel Core 2 Duo processors
Chipset: Intel GM45
Memory: Up to 8GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Storage: SATA Hard Drive options up to 500GB capacity and up to 7200RPM speed
Optical Drives: DVD+/-RW or optional Blu-Ray Disc
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500HD (standard) or ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 512MB (GDDR2)
Display (standard): 14.0 inch HD 1366 x 768; 14.0 inch HD+ 1600 x 900 (optional)

Ports and Slots
There will be 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, RJ45, ExpressCard/34 slot and 7-in-1 memory reader, Ethernet and Wireless LAN. Bluetooth, webcam and microphone are optional.

Build and Design
In design, the Inspiron 14 looks like an enlarged version of the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 10 netbooks. The keyboard feels firm with good key spacing. The touchpad too looks like a larger version of the touchpad found on the Dell Mini 9 and 10. Responsiveness is good; so is tracking.

Inspiron 14 will be available in a choice of colors including, Obsidian Black, Alpine White, Cherry Red, Ice Blue, Promise Pink, Jade Green, and Passion Purple. The starting prize will be $449 way below the $649 starting price of Studio 14z. Sure, Studio 14z has a better processor, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, FireWire and eSATA.

On the other hand, the Inspiron 14 too has some impressive features in the form of an optional 1600 x 900 screen, optional Blu-ray drive, and optional ATI discrete graphics. And like the Studio 14z, Inspiron 14 will also offer FailSafe theft prevention.

The Dell Inspiron 15 is a budget-friendly notebook that offers reasonably good performance.

Base System Configuration
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200 2.00GHz Processor (1MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32-bit)
Display: 15.6" 1366x768 16:9 Glossy Display
Graphics: Intel X4500 Integrated Graphics
Memory: 3GB DDR2 800MHz RAM (2GB + 1GB)
Hard Disk Drive: 320GB 5400RPM HDD

Build and Design
The design is attractive, but build quality is average. Since all internal components are easily accessible, the user will not have much difficulty upgrading this notebook.

The glossy 1366x768 display is average with poor viewing angles. Speaker quality is good for a budget notebook. But you will still need headphones for enjoying music or movies.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard layout is good and it offers good support. You will love typing on this keyboard. The touchpad gives excellent traction. Speed and accuracy are also good.

Ports and Features
Port selection is lacking in many areas. There are 3 USB ports, VGA, LAN and an ExpressCard/34 slot, but there is no HDMI or eSATA.

Performance
Boot times are fast, but with the low-end T4200 Intel processor performance is below average. You will still have no problem performing basic tasks like typing documents, watching HD movies, listening to music or editing photos. And if you upgrade the processor, performance should get a quick boost.

Battery
Battery life is below average. Despite having the 48 Wh battery, the laptop can’t stay on for more than two and half hours.

Conclusion
The Dell Inspiron 15 is mid-size budget notebook that delivers reasonably good performance at a highly affordable price. Basic configurations start as low as $379. It isn’t quite the best notebook in the market but is still a good choice for those working on a budget.

Pros:

Good looks
You can easily upgrade all components
Great cooling system
Good touchpad buttons

Cons:
Poor battery life
Poor selection of ports

The HP Pavilion dv3 is a slick budget-friendly notebook. At 4.7 pounds it is a portable alternative to the more powerful but slightly heavier Gateway UC7807u.

The dv3 is powered by the AMD 2.3 GHz Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile ZM-84 CPU. It comes with 4GB of RAM. While Gateway UC7807u does well in the performance department, dv3 stands its ground in the stamina department. At 5.5 hours, the battery life is great. Another plus point of this laptop is its amazing display screen.

There are enough connectivity options in the forms of HDMI and VGA video outputs, two USB 2.0 ports, one hybrid USB/eSATA port (ideal for high-speed data jockies), a PC Express Card slot, a flash-card reader, ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth. There is also a slot-fed DVD burner. The hard disk drive has 320 GB capacity.

The keyboard is good. Despite this being a low-end model, HP has taken the trouble to accommodate the touch-sensitive shortcut buttons on this keyboard. On the flip side, the function keys are barely visible.

The touchpad feels nice but its multitouch drivers are more than enough to give you some serious headaches. Don’t be surprised if you feel the need to turn the drivers off altogether.

Like other HP models this too comes with some preinstalled applications. While most of them are totally unnecessary some applications like the HP Advisor bar and ‘PC Health & Security’ button are really handy.

Conclusion
This laptop has enough plus points to make it worth considering. Performance is strictly OK. Battery life is good. Display is great. The only problem most users will have is with the touchpad.

If you are searching for an all purpose notebook, the Gateway UC7807u is a good option. It performs really well, has lots of useful features and can be bought for less than $800.

This probably isn’t the best laptop available but it is more than enough to meet your basic needs. The UC7807u comes with both HDMI and VGA video outputs. There are three USB 2.0 ports, an ExpressCard slot, a flash-card reader, ethernet, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), and Bluetooth. There is a slot-fed DVD burner and a 5400-rpm, 320 GB hard disk drive.

On the flip side, the battery life is average – you can’t be off the grid for more than 3.5 hours. And at 5.3 pounds, this isn’t the lightest machine out there.

An average laptop user doesn’t need to buy the fastest machine around. In fact what he needs is a machine that offers good value for money. So what are the basic features an all purpose laptop should have?

Well, it has to be portable. This is a crucial requirement if you are a frequent traveler. The additional factors you need to take into account are explained below.

Processor
Most modern laptops offer good performance. You can choose a model that uses an AMD or Intel Processor. AMD processors are slightly cheaper than Intel processors, but they do offer good performance.

System Memory
The best way to speed up your laptop is to stock up on the RAM. The more RAM you have the faster the machine. Choose a machine that offers at least 2GB of RAM. Most machines now offer more than that.

Graphics Board (aka GPU)
Even if you are not an avid gamer, buying a laptop with a discrete graphics board option is a good investment.

Screen Size and Native Resolution
The screen size on most machines for general-purpose use ranges from 13 to 16 inches. If you choose a laptop with a bigger display you will have to contend with low native resolution which means that the text on the screen will be hard to read. A 14 inch display is usually good.

Battery Life
Most average all-purpose notebooks will last 3 to 4 hours on a single charge. So if you are an infrequent traveler, you don’t need to buy a laptop with a big battery.

Connectivity
The connectivity options you will require are USB ports, SD card reader, VGA ports and Ethernet. Most modern laptops usually offer them.

A lot of people use their laptop as their primary PC. If you are one among them you will probably keep it plugged in for hours on end. How safe is this practice?

Your laptop is designed to run for several hours at a stretch. So plugging in will not reduce its lifespan. There are, nevertheless, a few steps you need to take before leaving it running for hours. For instance, you need to take the battery out.

If you have access to a power outlet and you need to work on your laptop for hours on end, you should definitely remove the battery. Many laptop batteries are Lithium-Ion based. The problem with these batteries is that they lose their charging capacity every time you re-charge them. Most laptop batteries aren’t smart enough to stop charging after they reach 100%. In fact several studies indicate that between the 99-100% charge level your battery goes through repeated cycles of charging and discharging.

Keep the machine cool enough
If you keep the laptop on for hours, chances are it will heat up. So make sure that your laptop is in a cool environment with its cooling fans running properly. You can also consider investing in a laptop cooler.

Mobile workers may not always be able to find a hot spot to stay connected. If you can’t connect to the internet using Wi-Fi, you can do so using your Bluetooth enabled cell phone as a modem. Bluetooth does not require direct line of sight connection. So you can keep the cell phone in your laptop carrying case and still use it as your modem. Note that if your laptop is not blue tooth enabled, you will need to purchase a USB blue tooth adapter.

How to use your cell phone as a modem

1. Switch on the cell phone and switch on the Bluetooth connection software. Make the phone discoverable.
2. Go to the My Bluetooth Places on your laptop. You should be able to locate it easily if you are using the Windows XP.
3. Select the View Devices in Range option. Upon doing this you should be able to see the icon for the cell phone. Right click on the cell phone icon and select the Discover Available Services option.
4. Right click on the Dial-Up Networking and select Connect Dial-up networking.
5. You will be asked whether you want to accept the connection request, decline or add to paired.
6. Select the desired option. You will be prompted to enter a PIN code to pair the phone and the laptop. You need to enter the PIN in the cell phone.
7. A dialogue box will appear asking for user name, password and the phone number of your ISP. Enter the details and then click on the dial button to connect to the internet.

Most modern laptops are Wi-Fi enabled making it possible for you to wirelessly connect to the internet in a hot spot. The problem with using your laptop in a Wi-Fi hot spot is that it makes your data vulnerable to hacking. So what are the precautions you need to take before entering a hot spot?

Install a Firewall
Before you use your laptop in hot spots you need to make sure that you have installed the Firewall software. Bear in mind that hot spots aren’t secure access points to the internet. It is your responsibility to take measures that would ensure your security.

Disable Wi-Fi Ad-hoc Mode
When you are in a hot spot, your laptop may pick up other Wi-Fi networks that you do not want to access or allow access to your laptop. To avoid this situation, disable ad-hoc mode before entering a hot spot. By disabling this option you can prevent your laptop from making instant network connections without your knowledge.

Use a VPN
Use your company VPN if you need to connect to a corporate network.

Disable File and Printer Sharing
When you use your laptop in a hot spot, you really don’t need to have the file and printer sharing enabled. You will become vulnerable to hacking if you leave this option enabled.

Turn It Off
Turn off your wireless devices if you don’t want to be connected. You can still continue working on your files. If you are using a Centrino-based system, you will be able to turn off Wi-Fi using a manual switch.

Be a discreet worker
Be discreet when working in a public place. Don’t let other people view your work and don’t tell them that your device is Wi-Fi enabled. Mobile workers should try and avoid attracting a lot of attention to themselves and their devices.

Password Protect Your File
Protect your important files with password. Several software programs are available for this purpose.

The Lenovo ThinkPad W700 is designed with creative people like graphic artists and photographers in mind.

System Configuration
Primary Display: 17 inch 1920 x 1200 screen
Secondary Display: 10.6 inch 768 x 1200 slide out screen (the DS stands for ‘dual screen’)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Extreme 2.53 ghz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Operating System: 64 bit Windows Vista
Hard Disk Drive: 460gb hard disk storage
Graphics: NVidia Quadro FX3700M Video Card

The ThinkPad W700 Dual Screen is not a small laptop. The machine weighs around 13 pounds. You can’t probably spend a lot of time with it on your lap or away from the desk. It has all the imprints of a ThinkPad machines – it’s black, square and solid looking. The full sized keyboard comes with a full numeric keypad. There is a trackpad with 5 buttons and a trackstick in the center of the keyboard. A very interesting feature is the Wacom tablet that is built into the front right hand area of the machine. There is also a digital pen to use it.


Main Screen
The 17 inch main screen is simply fantastic. Colors are great, brightness is good. The 10.6 inch secondary screen is not as great as the primary screen. But it is still a very useful addition. You can run email or other programs on it while working with main documents on the main screen. The smaller screen is in the portrait format while the larger one is in the landscape format. Keyboard/Touchpad

Other Features
The W700 Dual Screen offers plenty of options when it comes to connectivity. There are 5 USB ports. Other options include VGA, 1394 FireWire, CF card reader, Express 64, dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, 7-in-1 card reader, ethernet and wireless. There is also a fingerprint reader for those concerned with security.

Performance
Performance is amazing. You can run a variety of programs all at once and the machine won’t fail you even once. The only problem with performance is that you can’t run this machine on battery for long.

Conclusion
This is a powerful machine with many innovative features. It isn’t cheap. It isn’t very portable either. But if you are looking for a mobile workstation with enough power this is the laptop to buy.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X Series notebooks are known for their usability and sturdiness. The X61s is no different.

System Configurations
Operating System: Windows Vista Business 32 Bit
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz L7500 4MB L2 Cache 800MHz FSB
Memory: 2GB DDR2 PC5300 2 Slots, 0 Open 4GB Max
Hard Disk Drive: 100GB 7k100 Hitachi 7200RPM (HTS721010G9SA00)
Display: 12” XGA UltraLight 1024x768 180 nits
Graphics: Intel X3100

Build & Design
The X61s is slim and trim - almost tiny. It weighs a little over 3 pounds with the 8-cell battery making it quite portable. The design is solid. This model sports the UltraLight screen which is about 20% brighter than the standard X series screen.
The X61s uses the low power versions of the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Despite running at half the power of other Core 2 Duo CPUs, performance is quite satisfactory. You can easily perform the daily tasks like surfing the net and using MS office.


Ports and Slots
There are 3 USB Ports, Ethernet and Modem and VGA Out. There is an SD Card Reader, an Express Card Slot and a Dock Connector.

Drives & Storage
The X61s doesn’t have an optical drive, but if you need one it is available via the UltraBase. It uses the Hitachi 100GB 7k100 hard drive. There are two memory slots. The maximum memory that can be installed on this laptop is 4 GB. The Keyboard is great. Some users might not like it, but the ThinkPad X61s only comes with a pointing stick.

Battery & AC
Three battery options are available - a slim four cell, an enhanced four cell and an eight cell battery. The battery life is excellent. If you use the 8 cell battery, you can comfortably get over 6 hours of up time.

Wireless & Networking
The X61s comes with the ThinkPad A/B/G/N wireless card. The X61s also has Bluetooth. Like All ThinkPads, the X61s comes with Lenovo's ThinkVantage tools.

Conclusion
Overall, this is a no-problem notebook ideal for people who need to travel a lot. You should have no trouble using this machine as your primary PC. The keyboard is great, performance is good and you have nearly all the connections you would use.

Pros
Build Quality is Good.
Great Performance
Long Battery life
Doesn’t weigh much
Great display
Good keyboard

Cons
Single speaker
Tends to heat up

The HP Pavilion tx2500z tablet PC has received rave reviews ever since it was launched. It comes with an AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology Processor. Up to 4096MB DDR2 System Memory can be installed on this tablet. It uses the ATI Mobile Radeon HD 3200 Graphics, and a 12.1" WXGA High-Definition HP Touch-screen/Active Digitizer Display.

You can rotate the display panel 180 degrees and then fold it flat. The tablet has a solid design and incorporates the same features as its predecessor, the tx2000. The battery technology is Lithium Ion based. The tablet is compatible with HP Pavilion tx1000 & tx2000 notebooks.

Mobile professionals often need to take notes. But unfortunately a laptop is not suitable for that. Thankfully there is a useful alternative in the form of tablet PCs. You can use both keyboard and a stylus on a tablet PC. With the keyboard you can type in data much like you do on a laptop and with the stylus you can write on the touch screen display. Both convertible and slate style tablet PCs are available.

Tablet PCs are compact making them easy to pack and carry around. It serves two purposes: it can function as a personal computer; it is also a note-taking device.
The convertible model has an integrated keyboard and display. The display can be rotated 180 degrees and then folded down over the keyboard. The slate style has a removable keyboard. The notes you take on a tablet PC can be edited and revised later. It can also be shared via email or cell phone.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet PC is powered by a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo processor. It has a solid design. It may be a tablet, but it is still a ThinkPad and does manage to live up to its name. The tablet weighs around 3.8 lbs making it perfectly portable. Most models sport an active digitizer, with the touch screen being optional. Over all the display is good. The digitizer is great and you can take notes like you write on a paper. With the 1.86 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, the X200 performs well. It boots up really fast. You can surf the net and run multiple application without any trouble.

The solid keyboard is nice to type on. Like other ThinkPad models this too has a trackpoint. The trackpoint is easy to use and accurate like a mouse. The pen too works well, and it has an eraser. There are 3 USB ports, a 5-in-1 Card Reader, PCI ExpressCard, VGA, RJ-11 and RJ-45, microphone and headphone. Other useful features include Intel Wi-Fi 5300 and WWAN.


Battery
The estimated battery life for the 8-cell battery is 10 hours. Alternatively you can use the 4-cell battery and you will still get 4 to 5 hours of battery life.

System Configuration
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz L9400 processor
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Disk Drive: 160GB hard drive, 7200 rpm (Solid State Drive optional)
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500 graphics
Display: 12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) display with active digitizer, touch screen optional
Operating System: Windows Vista Business


Pros
It has good battery life
Solid design
Good pen
Nice and crisp display

Cons
Could have used more features

A very convenient feature of this tablet is that the biometric fingerprint reader and hot keys are located on the display frame and not the keyboard area. This is particularly helpful when you use the PC in the tablet mode. Another useful feature is that the display can be turned left or right. The keyboard is slightly small. The stylus is easy to use and has an eraser tip.

The 4-cell battery provides up to 4 hours of up time. Overall, the E-155C Tablet PC is well designed and suitable to anyone who needs the dual functionality of a tablet and notebook.

System Configuration
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo ULV Processor U7500 (1.06GHz)
Hard Disk Drive: 60GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Optical Drive: 24x/24x/24x CD R/W and 8x DVD-ROM combo drive
Memory: 2-512MB modules - 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Battery: 4-cell Lithium Ion
Display: 12.1" WXGA TFT Active Matrix with touchscreen and bi-directional hinge tablet function.
Connectivity: V.92 56K Modem, Bluetooth, Intel 10/100/1000 Ethernet Adapter, Intel 3945 802.11a/b/g WiFi.


Pros:

The display is scratch resistant.
Weighs just 4.5 pounds
Display can be turned left or right.

Cons:

If you need to make presentations, you will need to connect to external display
The keyboard isn’t quite suitable for those with large hands

Laptop batteries come with finite life spans. For instance, the Li-Ion battery will need to be replaced after for 2-4 years under normal working conditions. How can you extend the life of your battery? Is removing the battery and running from a power source a good idea?

The battery ages even if you don’t use it. So, you can’t probably extend its lifespan by simply removing it and running the laptop from a power source. You can, nevertheless, prolong its life by not using it every now and then. Keep the battery in a cool place. Don’t keep the battery in a fully charged or discharged state. The Li-Ion battery should preferably be stored at 40% charge levels. Most battery manufacturers keep them at 15°C and at 40 percent charge. Use your battery at least once in a month. Discharge it completely and then recharge it. Not using the battery for a prolonged period of time may reduce its life.

If you are a frequent traveler, you will need a laptop with a good battery life. Follow these simple tips to extend the battery life.

Take care of your battery so that it will work properly when you need it the most. Keep the battery clean.

Smaller Is Better
Small laptops consume less power because they have smaller displays. Similarly hard drives running at 4200rpm use less power than a hard drive running at 5400 rpm. So if extended battery life is your concern, consider an ultraportable or thin and light laptop.

Adjust the power settings
Adjust your laptop settings so that it uses as little power as possible. Set adjustments so that the laptop will go inactive after a specified amount of time. You can also reduce the display brightness to lessen the power consumption.

Charge your battery
Whenever you have access to a power outlet, charge the battery. Fully charge the batteries before you go on a trip.

Get Another Battery
You can use two batteries on some laptops. If you can’t check to see if high capacity batteries are available. With some laptops you can also use external batteries.

Drain the Battery
Let the battery be fully discharged the first time you use the laptop with battery power. Don’t recharge the battery when it is half discharged.

Turn It Off
Close programs that you aren’t using. Remove PC cards and turn off Wi-Fi software. And as far as possible avoid watching movies or playing games when you run the laptop on battery power.

Mobile professionals need a laptop with a commendable battery life. There are a few simple steps you can take to protect and extend your laptop’s battery life.

Only use the adaptor and power cord that came with your laptop. If the power cord is lost or damaged, you should find an authorized replacement.

Don’t leave the battery in direct sunlight or in other areas where it will be exposed to extreme temperatures.

Your laptop comes with some power management features. Don’t forget to enable them when you run the system on battery. When you enable the power management features, the system will run at lower processor speeds. It will also go into ‘sleep’ mode faster when you leave it inactive.

Buy a battery based on the Li-Ion technology. These batteries have internal processors. If your laptop has a non Li-Ion battery, you will need to discharge it fully and then recharge every 2-3 weeks.

Don’t keep the battery charged if you don’t intend to use the laptop for a period of time. Discharge it fully and then recharge before use.

Before you buy a laptop you need to evaluate the tasks you perform and compare them with the features offered by the laptop to make sure that you get the right machine. So what are the factors you need to take into account?

Size and Weight
Mobile workers need a laptop that is thin and portable. Best choices are ultraportable and thin and light laptops. Desktop replacement laptops provide many features useful to mobile professionals, but they are too heavy.

Connectivity
Mobile workers need a laptop that provides multiple connection options. So the laptop you choose should have the necessary networking capabilities.

Batteries
If you travel a lot, you will need a laptop that has a long battery life. Some laptops will also allow you to add an extra battery. You may also want to consider how long does it take to recharge your laptop batteries.

Security Features
Laptops are a prime target for theft when you travel. Many higher-end laptops come with sophisticated security options. They may be costlier than conventional laptops, but the additional security options will save you both money and trouble.

Specifications
Don’t buy a laptop just looking at the size or price tag. You may have bought the thinnest laptop possible, but if it doesn’t have sufficient processor speed or RAM you will not be able to carry out your job. The size of the keyboards and monitors are also important.


Upgrades
Technology is constantly changing. You should be able to upgrade your laptop when you want to. Avoid buying laptops that have onboard components: You will probably not be able to upgrade them.

The X-Slim X340 is a 13.4 inch super thin ultraportable laptop from MSI. It is powered by the new Intel Ultra Low Voltage SU3500 processor. Prices start at $899.

MSI X-Slim X340 Specifications:
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor: Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 CULV (1.4GHz, 800MHz FSB, 3MB cache)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 SDRAM (800MHz)
Hard Disk Drive: 320GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Display: 13.4-inch diagonal WXGA (glossy, 1366x768)
Graphics: Intel X4500M Integrated

Build and Design
The X340 is super thin. In many aspects the design is similar to that found on the Apple MacBook Air. Build quality is good. The display is satisfactory with the glossy screen surface offering reasonable color saturation and good contrast levels. Speaker performance isn’t very good. If you want to listen to music on this laptop you will have to use headphones.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is comfortable to type on and the layout is nice. The missing driver support for the touchpad prevents it from having many standard features. For instance, scrolling isn’t possible using the touchpad.

There are two USB ports and an SD card slot. With the SD card slot you can expand the internal storage or transfer images from your digital camera wirelessly. Additional ports include VGA, HDMI, headphone and mic. There is also a LAN connection.

Performance
Despite using an Intel Core 2 Solo processor, the X340 isn’t very fast. Performance isn’t much better than the netbooks using Intel Atom processor. But since this notebook comes with the powerful Intel X4500 integrated graphics, it can play even 720p HD video without much trouble.
The notebook comes with a 4-cell 32Wh battery. The battery life is average at above 3 hours. An optional 8-cell is offered.
Pros:

Super thin and lightweight
Nice display

Cons:

The doesn’t doesn’t have any driver support
Keyboard isn’t very good
Not as fast as MacBook Air or HP dv2z

An entire line of revamped MacBook laptops are waiting to be launched. They are feature-rich, but still lack in some areas. Here are a few features we would like to see in MacBooks.

Matte screens
Most laptop buyers love matte, non-glossy screens, but Apple MacBooks don’t have them. The MacBook Pro do offer a matte option, but that is in the form of an anti-glare coating add-on costing $50.

Blu-ray drives
Many notebooks in the price range of MacBook include Blu-ray by default, but MacBooks don’t have them. Since MacBook is multi-media friendly adding a Blu-ray drive will only add to its value.

Mobile broadband options
More and more people prefer to have a mobile broadband account connected to their laptop. The HP Mini 1151nr Netbook, for instance, comes with a built-in Verizon 3G. MacBooks don’t give this option.

HDMI outputs
Apple MacBook does come with a video connection of its choice – the Mini DisplayPort. It also offers some helpful adapters for other video connections like DVI and VGA. But still it is not possible to connect a new MacBook to an HDMI-equipped TV.