Toshiba Satellite E105-S1402 14.1-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

The Bottom Line

Toshiba's Satellite E105-S1402 laptop does an extremely good job at providing solid performance and battery life. The stylish aluminum clad 14.1-inch laptop looks and feel better than most laptops with their plastic cases but the keyboard and cases exhibit too much flex making it feel a little less sturdy. Overall, it is a decent system for those that are concerned about performance and battery life but don't need 3D graphics performance or many peripherals.

Pros

* Good General Performance
* Long Battery Life
* Stylish Metal Case
Cons

* Integrated Graphics
* Keyboard And Case Flex Too Much
* Limited Peripheral Ports
Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2 Memory
* 320GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner with LabelFlash Support
* 14.1" WXGA (1280x800) Display with 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
* Intel GMA X4500HD Inegrated Graphics
* Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth 2.1
* Two USB 2.0, eSATA, HDMI, ExpressCard/54, Fingerprint Scanner, 5-in-1 Card Reader
* 13.4" x 9.7" x 1.2" @ 5 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, ULead DVD Factory, Norton Anti-Virus

Guide Review - Toshiba Satellite E105-S1402 14.1-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

Toshiba's Satellite E105 is going to be compared to Apple's MacBook laptop. While the system has a larger 14.1-inch screen, it has many similar features. For one, it uses an aluminum clad case design that is more stylish than traditional plastics. Unlike the MacBook though, it doesn't have a solid feel and flexes a bit too much especially in the keyboard.

In terms of performance, the Satellite E105 does very well for its price. The Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor does an excellent job of balancing performance with the power usage. The system can run for between 4 to 5 hours. This combined with 4GB of DDR2 memory lets the system run the Vista operating system and applications without any issues. The memory is slower than the DDR3 found in the MacBook but it also has a lower overall price tag.

To keep the costs of the system down, Toshiba has decided to use the new Intel GMA X4500HD integrated graphics processor for the Satellite E105. This is certainly an improvement over previous generation of Intel graphics, but it still lacks the 3D performance for the system to be used with any real types of 3D games. It does do a decent job of handling high definition video streams though.

Peripheral connectors on the Satellite E105 are a bit disappointing. It only has a total of two available USB ports and completely ignores the FireWire port used by digital camcorders. They do provide a new high speed eSATA external storage port and an HDMI for external video. Those who have a DVI or VGA monitor will need to purchase separate external adapter cables to use with the laptop.

Overall, the Satellite E105 is a good and relatively small thin and light for those looking for good performance and battery life and aren't concerned about graphics or peripherals much.

source by : Mark Kyrnin

Dell Studio XPS 16 16-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

The Bottom Line

Dell's new Studio XPS 16 introduces a new low cost luxury laptop lineup that mixes design elements from multiple product lines. The new aluminum trimmed and leather accented case gives the impression of a very expensive system. The biggest draw to the system though is its outstanding 16-inch LED backlit screen that provides some amazing color, as long as you can deal with all the reflections. Definitely a powerful system for someone looking for a great graphics display.

Pros

* Bright and Colorful LED Backlit Display
* Strong Performance Thanks to DDR3 Memory
* Luxury Design Elements

Cons

* Glossy Edge to Edge Display Design Causes Lots of Reflections and Glare
* Below Average Battery Life
* Gets Fairly Warm
Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 16" WXGA (1366x768) LED Backlit Display With 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
* ATI Radeon HD 3670 Graphics With 512MB Memory
* Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth
* Three USB 2.0, FireWire, eSATA, HDMI, DisplayPort, ExpressCard/54, 8-in-1 Card Reader
* 15.2" x 10" x 1.3" @ 6.4 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, Works, McAfee Security Center

Guide Review - Dell Studio XPS 16 16-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

While many may cite the leather and aluminum trim as the features to draw users to the Dell Studio XPS 16, the real standout feature of the laptop is the 16-inch LED backlit screen. It provides some of the best overall color and brightness available in the 15 to 16-inch laptop size range. The only downside is that the glossy edge to edge frameless design results in a highly reflective display that can be distracting in certain lighting conditions.

Performance for the Studio XPS 16 is quite strong thanks to the Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor combined with 4GB of faster PC3-8500 DDR3 memory. Most laptops in the $1100 price range still use DDR2 as a means to keep costs down but thus limiting possible performance some. When the system is used heavily for extended periods of time, the bottom of the case can get quite warm though.

Storage is pretty typical for laptops in this models price range. The 320GB hard drive provides a good amount of space for applications. It spins up at a faster 7200rpm rate for added performance but it does draw more power than 5400rpm models. A dual layer DVD burner is standard but a Blu-ray drive is optional. Those thinking of getting the Blu-ray drive would definitely want to upgrade to the 1080p display panel.

Besides the high level of glare, the biggest drawback to the Studio XPS 16 is its below average battery life. Dell does offer a much higher capacity 9-cell battery that gives it a longer running time, but it adds a significant amount of bulk making it much less portable.

As with all Dell systems, the Studio XPS 16 has a wide range of options available for it. This includes Blu-ray, 1080p high resolution display, faster processors and larger hard drives. All of these add to the performance and capabilities, but they also quickly add up from the $1100 base price.

source by : Mark Kyrnin

MSI GT627-216US 15.4-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

The Bottom Line

PC gaming on a laptop is a touch act to balance between performance, size and price. MSI's GT627-216US does a very good job at putting together a very affordable laptop gaming platform that isn't too large yet still packs enough performance for some high quality 3D gaming. The system isn't without its quirks though. These include a keyboard with a bit too much flex, just two USB ports and speakers that don't have the same level of audio quality at the low end many would expect a gaming laptop to have.

Pros

* Faster 3D Graphics Suitable For High Performance Gaming
* Relatively Thin and Light for Gaming Focused Laptop
* Full Size Keyboard With Numeric Keypad

Cons

* Fairly Weak Speakers
* Keyboard Flexes Too Much
* Only Two USB Ports
Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Dual Core Processor
* 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) Display With 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
* NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS Graphics With 1GB Memory
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth
* Two USB 2.0, FireWire, eSATA, VGA, HDMI, ExpressCard/54, 4-in-1 Card Reader
* 14.1" x 10.2" x 1.2" @ 5.6 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium

Guide Review - MSI GT627-216US 15.4-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

One would expect a gaming laptop to put a high end processor to drive the system. The MSI GT627-216US uses a more modest Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 dual core mobile processor combined with 4GB of PC2-6400 DDR2 memory. This helps keep the $1100 price well below many other gaming centric laptops yet still provide it without enough performance to handle today's games without too much problem.

Of course, the graphics are just as important to gaming as the processor. This is where the MSI GT627-216US has the edge on many similarly priced systems. It uses the NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS graphics processor with 1GB of video memory. This can easily drive all of today's games up to the 1280x800 resolution of its 15.4-inch display without any issue. It does allow for use of high end filtering to improve the overall look of games.

Gamers might be a bit disappointed with the systems sound though. The speakers don't have the same level of volume or low level performance that one would expect. This can be compensated with external speakers or headphones.

One surprising aspect of the GT627-216US is the use of a full sized keyboard layout including a numeric keypad. This is very useful for many gamers, but there are a few compromises such as smaller function keys and a bit too much flex in the middle of the keyboard area giving it a somewhat spongy feel.

While most 15.4-inch laptops have started to increase in their overall size and weight, the GT627-216US is surprisingly thin and light for its performance. It comes

source by :Mark Kyrnin

Apple 15.4-inch MacBook Pro Notebook

The Bottom Line

Apple's new edition of the MacBook Pro has some significant changes. Externally, the system now uses a case that is built out of a block of aluminum that gives it a much more solid feel and smoother lines than the previous version. The chipset and graphics have changed giving it a hybrid graphics setup that can use integrated or dedicated graphics. This continues the MacBook Pro's dominant position in the thin and light laptops, but there are still a few things that could use improvement.

Pros
* Stylish and Durable Aluminum Case
* Strong Performance
* Excellent Graphics With Hybrid Integrated and Dedicated Processors
* New Glass Multitouch Mousepad

Cons
* Expensive
* Limited Number of USB Ports
* Glossy Display Hard To use In Certain Lighting Conditions

Description
* Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 2GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
* 250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 15.4" WXGA+ (1440x900) Wide LCD with Integrated Wedcam
* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Integrated and GeForce 9600M GT 512MB Dedicated Graphics
* Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth 2.1
* Two USB 2.0, FireWire 800, Mini-DisplayPort, ExpressCard/34
* 14.4" x 9.8" x 1.0" @ 5.5 lbs.
* Mac OS X 10.5, iLife '08

Guide Review - Apple 15.4-inch MacBook Pro Notebook

The new version of the MacBook Pro has a large number of changes. The biggest of these is the new case built out of a solid block of aluminum. This gives it a new stylish feel to an already popular design and even more durability than the previous model. It also features a new bezel free glossy display similar to what was used in the iMacs and a glass multitouch trackpad.

Internally, performance has received a boost from the use of a newer Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 dual core processor that is teamed up with faster DDR3 memory. This gives it an edge over many other laptops that have elected to use the newer Core 2 Duo processors but still use the DDR2 memory technology.

Graphics are another major change from previous models. Now the system uses a hybrid graphics solution that features an integrated GeForce 9400M processor in the chipset and a dedicated GeForce 9600M GT with 512MB. This allows uses to select which processor they would like to use to either conserve on battery life or give their graphics a boost. Unfortunately, Apple's OS currently can't handle dynamically switching between the two with users required to log out in order to switch between them.

One of the biggest issues with Apple's laptops continues to be peripheral ports. While the MacBook Pro isn't as bad as the Air or MacBook, there is still some room for improvement. Two USB 2.0 ports is below average for a laptop of this size. The choice to use a newer mini-DisplayPort for their new LED Cinema Display makes things challenging as they don't include the DVI or VGA adapters for use with their older displays.

Overall, the new MacBook Pro 15-inch is certainly a nice upgrade and one of the best thin and light laptops on the market, provided you are willing to pay the high price tag.

source by : Mark Kyrnin

HP Pavilion dv5-1250us 15.4-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

The latest version of HP's Pavilion dv5 series moves away from the Intel based processors to the more affordable AMD Turion X2 processors. This does decrease the performance somewhat compared to man other 15.4-inch laptops, but the lower $850 price rage will attract many. The bronze color scheme may attract some and detract others but they really should have reconsidered the keyboard to be easier to see.

Pros

* Above Average Sized Hard Drive
* Relatively Light for 15-inch Laptop
* Media Remote That Stores Inside ExpressCard Slot

Cons

* Glossy Bronze Color Keyboard Difficult to Read
* Display Highly Reflective Causing Excess Glare
* Fair Amount of Trialware

Description

* AMD Turion X2 ZM-80 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 400GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner With LightScribe
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) Display With 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
* ATI Radeon HD 3450 Graphics With 512MB Memory
* v.92 56kbps Modem, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless
* Four USB 2.0, FireWire, eSATA, VGA, HDMI, ExpressCard/54, 5-in-1 Card Reader
* 14.1" x 10.2" x 1.7" @ 5.8 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium 64-bit, Works, MediaSmart, autoProducer, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - HP Pavilion dv5-1250us 15.4-inch Thin and Light Laptop PC

The HP Pavilion dv5-1250us uses the bronze color scheme (not in picture). This is either going to be a love it or hate it deal with consumers. One thing that users should be aware of is this same glossy color scheme is also used in the keyboard. With the black lettering on the bronze keys, it can be difficult to read the letters for those that aren't trained in touch typing.

Powering the Pavilion dv5-1250us is the AMD Turion X2 RM-80 dual core mobile processor. This is a switch away from the Intel CPUs used in previous dv5 quick ship version. Performance is not quite up to the level of the Intel Core 2 Duo's found in most competing systems but for some this may not be a huge issue. The switch though allows it to cut the cost of the system several hundred dollars compared to many similarly equipped 15.4-inch laptops.

One bonus of the Pavilion dv5-1250us is the slightly larger 400GB hard drive. This provides roughly 25% more storage space over the more commonly used 320GB hard drives. A standard dual layer DVD burner is included but it also supports burning labels directly to LightScribe compatible CDs and DVDs.

The Pavilion dv5-1250us continues to use the glossy 15.4-inch display that produces a highly reflective surface that is difficult to use in certain lightning condition. The ATI Radeon HD 3450 isn't the fastest of graphics processors on the market, but it should be able to handle many games up to the panels 1280x800 resolution without much affects and at medium detail levels.

Many 15.4-inch laptops on the market these days typically weight above 6 pounds. It is nice to see that HP has kept the weight down to around 5.8 pounds. This makes the dv5-1250us one of the lighting models on the market that is easier to carry for extended periods of time.

source by : Mark Kyrnin