Saturday, 17 May 2008

ASUS Eee PC 20G

ASUS Eee PC 20G (8.9" Screen, 900 MHz Intel Mobile CPU, 1 GB RAM, 20 GB Solid State Drive, Linux Preloaded) Pearl White

Asus EEE PC 20G = Perfection
I had the EEE PC 4G and once I found out the 20G 900 was coming out, back to the store it went!! If you are on the fence between this and the 4G 701 for $399, I would say the extra $150 for this one is money well spent as you get a bigger screen, which is awesome, allows you to view a web page without having to scroll left or right, 5X the storage, 20 Gigs compared to only 4 Gigs on the EEE PC 701 and twice the ram. Same form factor, and definitely is a head turner. Only caveat is Linux was just not for me, so I slapped on Windows XP very easily using the instructions provided in the user manual and the driver disk provided by ASUS.

Asus Laptops

The new Eee PC 900 offers you more options for your mobile computing needs. Incorporating a shockproof design and weighing 2.18 pounds, you will find it "Easy to learn, work and play" - making it your best outdoor companion anywhere, anytime. The large 8.9? screen size allows for more screen space - making it more comfortable on the eyes reading and editing documents when viewing a single A4 page without the need to scroll left or right. On the top of this screen is the 1.3 Megapixel Webcamera that works synchronously with the 802.11b/g wireless to provide web conferencing anywhere, anytime for easier web communications and increased work efficiency. Another great feature is the built-in 20GB Solid State Disk (SSD) which offers 15 seconds boot times that also makes for a quiet, energy saving, shock proof design, which is ideal for reporters, wildlife photographers and other like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. On the Eee PC 900L 40 applications are pre-installed such as the Linux Operating System, OpenOffice Productivity Suite, Firefox browser, media player and more. Lastly the special FingerGlide makes operating the Eee PC easy and convenient through simple finger movements on the touch pad that allows for scrolling horizontally and vertically through documents by swiping two fingers up or down across the surface of the trackpad, or zoom in or zoom out of pictures by making pinching or stretching movement with your fingers. With all of these features the Asus Eee PC makes for a fantastic purchase as a well-equipped second PC or a Web access tool, so beat the crowds, and get yours today before they sell out! Intel UMA Display Card 1.3 Megapixel Webcamera WiFi 802.11b/g Wireless 10/100Mbps LAN Hi-Definition Audio Speaker and Microphone Memory Card Slot - MultiMedia Card (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) Card, SDHC Connections - 3 x USB, VGA, Headphone, Microphone, RJ-45 (LAN) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 8.85

Tags : Asus Laptop , Laptop , Notebook

Wednesday, 14 May 2008

Toshiba Satellite A305-S6845 15.4" Laptop

Toshiba Satellite A305-S6845 15.4" Laptop (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 400 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium)

Perfect Little Machine
This is the 5th Toshiba laptop that I've purchased for our small start-up company. It's evident that Toshiba has nailed down how to develop a workhorse of a laptop. Versus the Dells and IBM's we have in house I receive no trouble calls or incidents on these machines in over a year. I can't say the same for the other computers. Slowly but surely we will be switching over to all Toshiba's.
Other then the 17 inch model I use this is one of the nicest 15.4 model out there. 3 GBs of ram and dual core AMD gold processors are rock solid. We do a lot of graphical design and web development and haven't been able to slow this machine down. When we take this machine to client meetings everyone always wants to check this unit out. The black case with its discrete styling makes even the macs look boring.

Toshiba Laptops

Sparked with good looks starting at six pounds, the 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen Satellite A305-S6845 laptop is well suited for your ambitious multitasking efforts. The latest Intel Core 2 Duo Processor and desktop-like capabilities of an ExpressCard slot and expanded USB ports, backed by larger hard drives for high end workloads, increases the systems overall functionality while providing optimal storage capacity. Securing your files in the notebook has gotten a lot easier by integrating a Fingerprint reader, just swipe your finger to access secure websites or just logging into Windows. A six CD/DVD control media keypad, and a DVD SuperMulti drive start you off on a multimedia adventure. Make the connections that you want to make the most of with the Satellite A305-S6845 affordable laptop with wireless 802.11A/B/G/N. 15.4 diagonal WXGA (1280 x 800) TruBrite TFT LCD display Built-in Webcam and Microphone ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 with 512MB DDR dedicated Graphics Memory Harman/Kardon Stereo Speakers Labelflash DVD+-R/RW Super Multi Drive with Double Layer Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 802.11A/B/G/N 10/100 Ethernet LAN 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter - MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, xD ExpressCard 54/34 Slot Fingerprint Reader 4 x USB 2.0, Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, TV-Out (S-Video), HDMI, IEEE-1394, RJ-11 (Modem), RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 14.3 (W) x 10.5 (D) x 1.52 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 6.0 pounds

Tags : Toshiba Laptop , Laptop , Notebook

Friday, 9 May 2008

HP Pavilion DV2840SE

HP Pavilion DV2840SE 14.1" Special Edition Laptop (AMD Turion 64 X 2 Dual Core TL-60 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium)
For those who want rich digital entertainment capability coupled with leading-edge mobile performance and communication features in a distinctive design, the HP Pavilion DV2840SE Notebook PC delivers! It features a high-gloss HP Verve Imprint Finish featuring rich shades of bronze and organic design elements. And AMD mobile dual-core technology with 4GBs of RAM enables use of multiple demanding applications, such as photo editing, DVD burning and playing a game, at the same time. Chat face to face or take pictures and video clips using the HP Webcam and Microphone. Listen without disturbing others with the included stereo earbud headphones, while dual headphone jacks also allow you to share your entertainment. And control content from up to 10 feet away with the HP Mobile Remote Control that can be stored in the ExpressCard slot for convenience. Create custom laser-etched disc labels right in the drive for a personal or professional finish with LightScribe Technology. This 5.25lbs light notebook exists at the intersection of computing and entertainment with its 14.1" High-Definition BrightView widescreen display, innovative entertainment features and fresh design. 14.1 diagonal WXGA (1280 x 800) BrightView Widescreen Display Built-in Webcam and Microphone NVidia Geforce Go 7150M (UMA) with up to 1071MB Shared Graphics Memory LightScribe SuperMulti 8x DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN Bluetooth 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter - MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, xD ExpressCard 54/34 Slot 3 x USB 2.0, 2 x Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, TV-Out (S-Video), IEEE-1394, RJ-11 (Modem), RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 13.15 (L) x 9.33 (W) x 1.54 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 5.25 pounds

HP Laptops

Customer service is not good
Following in the pattern of everything conceptualize in America but made in CHINA stay with SONY or TOSHIBA. Bought a computer from AMAZON, first they sent me the wrong computer second three months later the keyboard stop working, since I took my laptop to Costa Rica my WARANNTY IS NOT VALID even thought they have outsource a large part of Customer support in Costa Rica, and they have a huge service center in Costa Rica simple they wont help me out, HOW can a company this large abandonded a customer with out any resposibility. HP is a multinational with out any respest......! I am ambarassed to say come from the bay area as well as this multinational company. Both friends who work in Costa Rica and San Jose California for HP said HOW COULD I have bought HP....! I wanted to give it a try and buy ¨American(made in china¨).

Greate buy with cool looking design
I have Sony SZ110 laptop which I bought two years ago. I decide to look for a new one since the Sony seems to run very slow consider the amount of money I paid for the Sony one($1500). I have looked at HP, Dell, Gateway, and Toshiba, and then decide to go with this HP. I did a custom build this laptop on HP site and cost around $1250. When I saw at best buy discount for $799 ($100 off), I didn't wait very long. I have been a long fan of Sony due to their quality, however, this time it is HP.

Pros: 1) I like the design and the finishing - very shine and glossy. At night when you turn it on, the blue light on the laptop looks outstanding 2) The performance is very good. I have alot of software on this machine including Adobe CS3 suite and this thing shut down in 30 seconds and will boot everything up in 1 minute - fully load. 3) A great price for this kind of laptop.

Cons: 1) The volume control is slow to reponse when using the assign buttons. 2) this baby give out heat about 20-30% more than my sony. 3) The screen is not as bright as my sony (10-15% less), but if you don't have a sony before or don't care about the screen to be very bright, then it doesn't matter.

For your my normal usage, the battery last about 2.25 - 3.00 (6 cells).

Overall, this is a great buy. If I have to buy again, I would buy this one again.


Tags : HP Laptop , Laptop , HP Notebook , Notebook

Saturday, 3 May 2008

Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4" Laptop

2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3 MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
2 GB RAM (two SO-DIMM) 677 MHz DDR2 SD-RAM (PC2-5300), 200 GB 5400 rpm Serial ATA hard drive, slot load 8x Super Drive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
One FireWire 400, one FireWire 800, two USB 2.0 ports, and ExpressCard/34 slot
Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit); built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme (802.11n); built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
15.4-inch (diagonal), 1440 by 900 resolution, matte TFT LED widescreen display with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory and dual-link DVI
Apple Laptops

Great New Computer
I've been a Mac user for over 7 years and am on my fourth computer, and by far, this one is my favorite!

This MacBook Pro is the most balanced one they've come out with, and it has all of the most up-to-date features including these key ones:

1. Runs cooler than my friends' previous version MBP
2. Mulit-touch is nice but I don't use it a lot
3. Upgraded iSight camera makes for great video chatting and works perfectly with many other programs. I use it almost daily for video journaling
4. LED screen isn't "new" for this model, but it is a great feature that makes the screen look wonderful
5. More storage on the entry-level model than before

All in all, I'm very satisfied with this computer and would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid laptop that has speed but isn't huge. Also, the size difference compared to the MacBook is minimal in my opinion. Sometimes this actually seems smaller given the sleeker design.

Of course, the only drawback is the price, but over the life of the computer, I think it will be well worth it. Finally, it is a Mac and it has the best operating system available (Mac OS 10.5) whether you're a newbie or computer aficionado!

From PC: Macbook Pro blew past my expectations
Coming from PC, I never thought I'd dish out the extra bucks for a Mac. The new Macbook Pro is by far the best laptop I've ever used. I absolutely love the Leopard OS, build quality, and speed of this machine! Noise is a BIG issue for me as I planned to use it in bed and it is not silent as my iPhone of course but as far as laptops go I don't think there is anything quieter on the market now except perhaps the Macbook Air which I almost bought. The functionality of the OS and bleeding edge technology packed into this thing far exceed anything I thought was possible with a portable computing platform. I plan to dual boot Windows XP to be able to use all of my Windows software on this aluminum beauty. Absolutely loving it.

Saturday, 19 April 2008

Toshiba Satellite A205-S5812 15.4" Laptop

Toshiba Satellite A205-S5812 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)
Good laptop for the price
I bought this toshiba satellite a205-s5804 at bestbuy for $450 a couple of months ago. After making several research, this laptop seems to be the best for tis price. I upgraded the ram to 2 GB , I bought kingston 1gb kvr667d2s5/1g from Newegg for $18.99/each, I installed it with no problem. This is my second laptop after my IBM R40, i guess it makes sense to buy a new laptop than to repair the old one. So far, I have no problem. I disabled all the startup program except the sidebar, and my computer opens fast. The only problem I had was, I was not aware that you have to turn on the wireless internet connection by switching on a button that is on the front edge of the notebook, it lights up once you have it on. I have to use a cordless mouse because the tab on the mouse pad is not soft to touch and you will hear a loud tapping sound everytime you press on it. I have a black laptop, with a white keyboard. I never realize that it is easier to read the letters on the keyboard when it is white. Keyboard is soft to touch and wide enough for people with big fingers.The sound is good, after my experience with the IBM's lousy sound. I like the wheel on the front edge of the notebook to adjust the sound.
Toshiba Laptops

The stylish Satellite A205-S5812 Notebook PC is must have for everyday computing with a 15.4" diagonal widescreen. Intel mobile technology offers powerful processing capabilities along with large capacity hard drives and memory. Stay in touch with the built-in 802.11b/g wireless Wi-Fi. A robust, yet lightweight design starting at 6.0 pounds, this notebook is perfect for watching DVDs and since it comes with 2GB RAM you get the freedom to work with multi-window viewing of several applications at a time. With 160GB Hard Drive capacity, store music, photos, videos and office files. Use the ExpressCard slot and USB ports for your peripheral devices. If you're looking for inexpensive basic notebook to work with e-mailing, typing up reports, or just surfing the web this notebook is the right choice for you. 15.4 diagonal WXGA (1280 x 800) TruBrite TFT LCD display Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with up to 358MB shared graphics memory DVD+-R/RW Super Multi Drive with Double Layer Realtek 802.11B/G Wireless 10/100 Ethernet 1 ExpressCard Slot (34/54 Slot) 2 USB 2.0, 1 Headphone out, 1 VGA, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 14.3 (W) x 10.5 (D) x 1.55 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 6.0lbs

Sunday, 13 April 2008

Sony VAIO VGN-NR240E/S 15.4" Laptop

Sony VAIO VGN-NR240E/S 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)

sony
While I am satisfied with my lightweight, easy to tote along,Sony Vaio 15.4" laptop, I am very disapointed with the product delivery. The battery was not enclosed, nor was the mouse. Amazon gave me the number to reach Sony customer service and after 43 minutes of run around and being placed on hold several times, I gave up. I have been away from home since then and have not yet repeated my efforts. I ended up purchasing a battery locally in order to use the laptop on this trip. The missing mouse is not a problem as I have a blue tooth wireless mouse that I will be using instead. I expected more from Sony. Unless I get satisfaction soon this will be the last Sony product that I will purchase. (Forget the new HD large screen TV-if they won't take care of something this small, I won't consider a large purchase.
Sony Laptops

The 15.4" VAIO(R) NR notebook with XBRITE-ECO LCD technology exemplifies contemporary style in a mobile PC ideal for everyday productivity and entertainment. Boasting an aesthetic yet functional design, it will turn heads with its unpretentious charm. Enjoy superior performance with an available Intel Pentium Dual Core processor. Connect to wireless networks, such as your home network or public hotspots at cafés and airports, with wireless LAN technology. And build your own media library with the built-in CD/DVD burner. With its good looks and tools like these, the VAIO(R) NR is a great PC for all your day-to-day computing endeavors. 15.4 WXGA (1280 x 800) XBRITE-ECO Display Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with up to 251MB Video Memory DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer Atheros 802.11B/G Wireless 10/100 Ethernet Card Reader - Memory Stick, Secure Digital (SD) 1 ExpressCard Slot (34 Slot) 4 USB 2.0, 1 Headphone out; 1 Microphone-in, 1 VGA, 1 IEEE 1394, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 14.2 (W) x 10.6 (D) x 1.5 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 6.2lbs

Tags : Sony Laptop , Laptop , Sony VAIO

Saturday, 5 April 2008

HP Pavilion DV6770SE 15.4" Entertainment Laptop

HP Pavilion DV6770SE 15.4" Entertainment Laptop (AMD Turion 64 X 2 Dual Core TL-62 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)
For those who want advanced digital entertainment capability coupled with leading-edge mobile performance and communication features in a distinctive design, the HP Pavilion dv6700 series Special Edition Notebook PC delivers! It features a subtle HP-exclusive Radiance pattern that is a mixture of ripples on a sea of radial lines. And AMD mobile dual-core technology enables use of multiple demanding applications, such as photo editing, DVD burning and playing a game, at the same time. Chat face to face or take pictures and video clips using the HP Webcam and Microphone. Listen without disturbing others with the included stereo earbud headphones. And control content from up to 10 feet away with the HP Mobile Remote Control that can be stored in the ExpressCard slot for convenience. This 6.06lbs light notebook exists at the intersection of computing and entertainment with its 15.4" High-Definition BrightView widescreen display, innovative entertainment features and fresh design. 15.4 diagonal WXGA (1280 x 800) BrightView Widescreen display NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS with up to 1535MB graphics memory with 256MB dedicated Built-in Webcam and microphone SuperMulti 8x DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer 802.11B/G Wireless 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter - MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, xD 1 ExpressCard Slot (34/54 Slot) 3 USB 2.0, 2 Headphone out; 1 Microphone-in, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 TV-Out (S-Video), 1 IEEE-1394, 1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 14.05 (W) x 10.12 (D) x 1.56 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 6.06lbs
HP Laptop

Good value for money
This particular laptop model is a good value for your money (March 2008 when I purchased it). I spent some time shopping around for a laptop to replace my desktop at a reasonable price, and this model was the winner. It has a faster AMD dual core processor than comparable models (TL-62 at 2.1 GHz). Similar priced laptops most likely give you the AMD model below (the slower TL-60). If you prefer Intel processors, you'll pay a premium as most laptops at this price range give you an Intel Duo Core T5450 which runs at a slower 1.7 GHz. If you want a 2.0 GHz processor, you have to upgrade to the T7250 or T8100 processor which costs $150+ more.

This laptop gives you a generous 3 GB of RAM which is a big plus. 250 GB hard drive is the standard size for less-than-$1000 laptops. For me, the biggest feature is the 256 MB nVidia GeForce 8400M GS discrete graphics card. The discrete graphics card allows you to run video games much more smoothly than an integrated graphics card found on cheaper laptops. 256 MB is very good for a laptop at this price. I play Battlefield 2142 and it runs smoothly on the laptop. I'm sure it will struggle with the newest, more graphics-intensive games that will be released later in 2008, but then you'll need to buy a very expensive gaming laptop or just go with a desktop... I definitely didn't want to spend $2,000+ on a laptop.

As for the negatives, they are minor:
1) QuickPlay is a complete joke. I thought you could play a DVD movie without loading up Windows. Nope... If you press the QuickPlay button, the laptop still loads Windows but takes you directly to the QuickPlay interface. Not much benefit in this...

Here's a blurb from Wikipedia if you search on "QuickPlay":

"As of 2008, QuickPlay versions 3.0 and newer included in notebooks shipping with Windows Vista, do not provide users with instant access to the software, as the "Direct" function no longer exists due to unresolved compatibilty issues. Users must first boot into Windows and access their user accounts before the software can run. It is currently unknown if or when HP plans to release newer versions of Quickplay, with a direct boot function."

2) The specs on the laptop battery that's included with the package shows battery life at 2 hours. Not very long. It probably can't last through a whole movie. If you plan to work a lot without power (e.g. Working during a airplane flight), buy an extra higher-capacity battery.
3) You get no CD/DVD in the box. As you'll read in the instructions, you'll need to burn a few DVD/CD's to create recovery discs the first time you boot up the laptop.

There are faster and more graphics-intensive laptops. But if you're looking to replace a desktop computer with a laptop without spending a lot (under $1,000), I recommend this laptop model.

Tags : HP Laptop , Laptop , HP Notebook , Notebook