Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5820T-6401 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum)

I was on a budget when shopping for my new laptop, and I did a lot of research. In the end, I went with this Acer. There were three primary aspects that sold me on this laptop, i5 CPU, slim profile brushed aluminum design, and 6000mAh rated battery.

Other features on this laptop are pretty common in the $630 price range. The screen is clear and vibrant. The actual hard drive space is 581GB with the operating system taking 30GB, so you are left with 551GB. This should be plenty more than enough for most users. These days, I almost never look at the hard drive capacity when purchasing a new computer. I think all of them have a hard drive that is big enough for me. What I care more is its clocked speed. This is not a gaming machine, so don't expect the laptop to play heavily 3D rendered games. It will play HD videos and casual games fine.

=====Battery Test=====

1). Default brightness and volume halfway, laptop gets around 4.5 hours for watching YouTube videos with no other application running in the background.

2). Default brightness and volume halfway, laptop also gets around 4.5 hours for browsing the web, chatting on an instant messenger, and playing music using Windows Media Player.

3). Brightness to its lowest but not turning off the screen and idling the laptop without any application running, it will last 10+ hours.

Overall the laptop does not achieve its claimed 8-hour limit under practical use. For most users, you will probably end up between 4 and 5 hours, but this is still better than 2-3 hours that you could get from other competitors in this price range.

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Here I'm going to list the pro's and con's of this laptop that I think are relevant in the $630 price range.

=====Pro's=====

*** 2.66GHz Intel Core i5-480M dual-core processor (hard to find an i5 CPU in this price range)

*** 640GB SATA hard drive (more than most competitors in the same price range)

*** 1.3-megapixel HD webcam (some competitors are still using non-HD webcams)

*** 6000mAh rated battery (4400mAh rated battery from almost all other competitors in the same price range)

*** One of the thinnest 15.6" laptops currently available on the market (however, it is not thinner than the MacBook Pro as pointed out by other reviewers but only a fraction thicker)

*** Multi-Gesture (a convenient feature normally doesn't exist in this price range. To use the circular-motion, you must start your finger from the top right hand corner. This can also be accomplished by sliding with two fingers vertically.)

=====Con's=====

*** 1066MHz RAM (this is nowhere to be considered slow as most competitors and last generation of MacBook Pro are using RAMs clocked at this speed also, but some have upgraded to 1333MHz RAMs such as the Dell Inspiron)

*** No Bluetooth (personally I almost never use this, but this is no longer a premium feature)

*** Keyboard (not a major issue but typing on this keyboard feels a bit awkward. If you are a fast and heavy typist, you might not like this.)

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Apple has been setting benchmark on many things. The hardware specs on their 2011 MacBook Pros will likely to set the benchmark for upcoming PCs as well. Here, I am going to compare the hardware specs between this Acer and the 2011 base 13.3" MacBook Pro priced at $1,199.

* CPU: Acer's processor is slightly faster.

>>> Acer: 2.66GHz Intel Core i5-480M dual-core processor (2.93GHz with Turbo Boost)

>>> MacBook Pro: 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M dual-core processor (2.9GHz with Turbo Boost)

* GPU: MacBook Pro has the second generation of Intel GPU whereas Acer is using the first generation of Intel GPU.

>>> Acer: Intel HD Graphics with 128MB of dedicated system memory

>>> MacBook Pro: Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of shared system memory

* RAM: Both have the same capacity, but MacBook Pro's is clocked faster.

>>> Acer: 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 RAM

>>> MacBook Pro: 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM

* Hard drive: Both are clocked at the same speed, but Acer doubled the amount of capacity.

>>> Acer: 640GB 5400-rpm SATA hard drive

>>> MacBook Pro: 320GB 5400-rpm SATA hard drive

* Battery: Acer actually has a stronger battery, but MacBook Pro has a more energy efficient OS and a smaller screen, so real life battery test can still favor the MacBook Pro.

>>> Acer: 6000mAh rated battery

>>> MacBook Pro: 5800mAh rated battery

Overall I think the Acer stacks up against the 2011 base 13.3" MacBook Pro very well in terms of hardware specs. For almost half the price, this Acer is a bargain. If you are not loyal to any brand, on a budget, and want a fast and long lasting 15" laptop, this is one of the best options out there. If you are waiting for the price drop of Intel second generation of Core processors, don't bother. There really aren't that many changes between the first and second generations of Intel Core processors. It could also take several months before we would see the price drop. I would recommend picking this up before it's gone.

I was surprised after reading the first and only review gave this machine 3 stars.... This is a five star machine. I did A LOT of homework before getting this computer. If you read the reviews of similar models that simply have smaller hard drives and slower processors, you will get the jist of just how solid this laptop is.

I am not going to go into a lot of detail, but if you go into the purchase understanding that this laptop does not have bluetooth (not an issue for me at all), then you will love it!

I got this for my daughter for an early graduation present and to take on to college next fall. She wanted a laptop that had longer battery life than MOST computers. It does! You will not find a model with these specs, for this price with longer battery life. You will have to get a smaller screen size to do that. She wanted it large enough to watch a movie or tv show via the internet from time to time (plus it has the HDMI out to hook to TV). She wanted a hard drive large enough to hold all her pics and songs. We put everything on there already (tons of pics and about 1500 songs) and it still has 528 GB left! If you need a computer with more storage, you should GET AN EXTERNAL DRIVE! Geez! You can get 2 TB drive for less than $100 at Newegg.

And I would like to add that NO hard drive is going to yeild the space that is advertised because of two main factors 1) It is measured differently by the operating system vs. the manufacturers (about 7% less)which is true of of all hard drives! Of course this disparity becomes more apparent the larger the hard drive (7% of 640 is almost 45 GB!).

2) Hey folks! There is a thing called the OPERATING SYSTEM that uses some space. And sometimes there is a separately partitioned drive (d:) that is embedded within the c: drive used for system restore. Yes, it may come to a surprise to some, but the operating system does take up some space! So no, this laptop will not have 640 GB of free hard drive space when you boot it up for the first time, but seriously, many are trashing it for this reason when they are simply ignorant of why.

Also attractive about this computer is the processora Core i5. This computer is twice as fast as my Gateway NV52 that I am typing on right now. It has twice the hard drive space of my Gateway. It has at least thrice (that means three times!) the battery life of the Gateway. Sure, you may not get 8 hours, but that was the official measurement using the MobileMark 2007 Productivity test, which is what most use by the way. Like ALL the battery life ratings out there, take it with a grain of salt because they are ALL stretching the truth.

It is also lighter than my 2 year old Gateway, however it seems more solidly built. And the Acer was just a little bit more than Gateway I bought less than two years ago. This is the nature of electronic/computers though. I got a good price on the Acer for my daughter though[..] and free shipping from B&H. I suspect more retailers will sell it for around that price for the pre-graduation sales soon.

Again, I doubt you will do any better for the price than this laptop, but more power to you if you do!

Buy Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5820T-6401 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum) Now

It's been about 6 weeks since I started this AS5820T-6401. I have conflicted opinions; on one hand for the cost of this unit, this laptop presents remarkable features that are nicely done.

I'll just mention a couple of my personal favorites:

The processor is robust and quick. Although, I am not a "gamer" and my demands are pretty minimal,so I am not a good judge of its limitations.

The optical drive is an awfully nice feature and performs well.

The keyboard has a good feel.

The inputs and outputs all fuction well, jacks etc make solid connections.

Especially nice, is the Synaptics pad; especially when adjusting "momentum" "sticky borders"etc. This is the 1st time I actually prefer the feel more than many quality "mice" that I've used.

Although, the speakers are not loud at all,the quality of sound is very good; flat throughout the audio spectrum [that's a goods thing];especially apparent when using good headphones or more particularly, when outputting into my ampified sound system.

NOW for the conflict: and the reason I'm doing this review; there is a problem that I have, and some others have also encountered, something appears to be wrong with the BIOS or some driver as best as I can tell. A number of times the boot up never completes with it just "frozen" with the fan running etc. well before loading any windows components.

Having said this, I admit to not being a technician BUT, I've reloaded the OS using the factory backup and still have this periodic problem, especially curious that it happens the 1st time I start it in the day but I can "restart" many times later that day, without problem [its warmed up?] This is not right. Digging into any Acer support site is futile so far, and it appears this is not an isolated problem and its not clear that Acer is going to do anything about it. So be careful before investing too much in personallizing your laptop. If its a BIOS problem, that's not so good.

So, CAUTION, before loading up your music, videos, and many other time consuming programs, notice any problems over a few days , no matter how painful the wait> I can testify I am not happy to have gone through the hoops I've now jumped through and still there is something wrong with startup. I don't want to now stuggle trying to find out how to replace what may be a lemon laptop that I've now had 2 weeks over Amazon's return policy......

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I'm a programmer, so I can be pretty hard on a laptop. This is my third Acer and I have not been disappointed with any of them. When comparing prices, I ended up choosing this particular model for the screen resolution, memory, processor, keyboard, and case style.

Pros:

*Value for money. Acer consistently has the best bang for the buck.

*Battery life. On the first full discharge I got around 6 hours by using Acer's power save mode and just light internet surfing.

Cons:

*Squeaky keyboard. I bought this model specifically because of the feedback others had given the keyboard. This could be all in how I'm using this laptop (usually sitting on the couch), but a few keys squeak--just an annoyance.

*Eject button for CD/DVD drive. It's located above the keyboard and not on the drive itself. Without taking everything apart to look, that seems to be a point of failure to me--not sure how easy it would be to switch the drive out either.

Other thoughts:

*I have it dual booting Fedora 14 and Windows 7. It took me a little while to get the mouse working the way I wanted it to in Fedora because I've become so used to two-finger scrolling. Using the 64-bit version cleared that right up. The wireless card is a Broadcom (should have checked that...) which requires a kernel mod, not a big deal, just something to be aware of.

*When moving from site to site in Windows, the colors seem to be a tad off. This could be just me, but nothing noticeable for me to mark it as a con as it could just be a driver issue.

*The case has a bevel with a trench/notch cut in it that from time to time gets my arm hair caught in it. Just an FYI because that can be painful.

*Speaker quality is lacking. I know, before you say anything--it's a laptop. I have spent the last few years with an HP laptop and absolutely love their speakers. After tinkering with the settings, things are better, but still leaves me wanting more.

All in all, I would say this is a good laptop. It's not a high-end gaming machine, but for general every day use, it's great. It has performed well every time I've opened the case and worked flawlessly. I would definitely reccommend this laptop and the Acer brand.

Want Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5820T-6401 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum) Discount?

I've been shopping around and comparing models from different manufacturers, but keep coming back to this model. I was attracted to the non-assuming professional appearance and slim design. I don't care much for the shiny plastic models that seem to proliferate at the local Best Buy.

I was not disappointed with the appearance when my shipment arrived. It has a very elegant and professional look to it in my opinion. It's slim design is also very attractive.

In addition, it is a very capable machine. The I5-480M inside more than holds its own. I can run MS Word, VisualStudio.Net, MS SQL Server, and SQL Server Management Studio without any problems.

I do a lot of typing and find it very easy to type on this machine. I've read some reviews where people have complained about the placement of the track pad, which I don't quite understand. The track pad, in my opinion, is situated where it should be. Centering it would require you to lift your hand off the keyboard more than necessary.

I don't think it's fair to rate a machine for things it doesn't have, especially when it never claimed to have it in the first place, ie blue tooth, gaming graphics, ...etc. Not very helpful in my opinion.

I can understand why some reviewers are disappointed with the speakers though, it can seem on the quiet side at first. But for myself, I found it quite adequate for my purposes (general business machine). Besides, I found disabling the Dolby features in the Control Panel helped pump up the volume somewhat.

As far as bloatware is concerned, I found that it really didn't have any more than any other laptop. Besides, it was fairly easy to remove any way. In rating, I'm more concerned with things that can't be changed, like video, keyboard feel, ...etc. In my opinion, this laptop deserves high marks for design and performance.

As far as battery life is concerned, I'm actually impressed. I know that a lot of manufacturers exaggerate in the first place, so I wasn't really expecting 8 hours of battery life. I've actually been averaging 5 to 6 hours with typical use, ie web surfing, compiling code, and typing. And that's with high performance enabled. I barely got 1 hour on my older Toshiba, so I'm actually very satisfied.

I found the screen vibrant and clear. Some reviewers commented that the screen was too glossy, but I didn't find it any more glossy than Apple's PowerBook, which has a great screen by the way. Too bad Apple target its product to yuppies more concerned with status symbols, than budget conscious buyers. The comparable Apple machine was 3 times more than this Acer model.

I also tested this machine via a burn in software and it passed without any errors.

*** Review update. ***

I am soooooo disappointed. I returned my first machine, because I was experiencing startup problems. It appeared to hang either before or after loading the bios. All I knew, is that it would not even get to loading windows. Neither restoring to factory default or updating the bios resolved the problem. I was hoping that I just got a lemon and the next one would be better.

I wanted to love this machine so much because of it's aesthetic slim design, unfortunately my next one started to go bad on me too. This time with a different problem. After leaving it on all night playing music videos to run down the battery, the fan would not stop spinning, making an annoying audible sound. I thought it was due to the machine simply getting too hot, but after leaving it off the next night and starting it up cold in the morning, the fan kicked on immediately with an annoying, low droning sound (with sporadic clicking noises), kinda like my desktop pc. The sound would even travel up my headset when listening to music.

I can tolerate the noise that my desktop PC makes, because I am able to shield myself from it by placing my PC under my desk on the floor. Obviously, you can't do the same with a laptop. I was very torn between keeping it or returning it, but in the end, the noise was just too annoying to ignore and it really ruined my initial experience I had with this laptop.

For me, the elegance and quality that Acer was trying to achieve with this laptop was only to be superficial. Apparently, the components inside the machine was not given the same attention to quality as it's exterior. Its unfortunate that Acer has not quite escaped its reputation for low quality and poor reliability, at least for me.

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Lenovo SL400 Intel Core 2 P8400 2743-89U

Be aware that the product seems to have a defect with the left hinge of the screen. There are multiple complaints and it is always the left hinge. other problems are with its cooling fansin less than 1 year of owning it, I had to return it to the service center to be repaired. The laptop would get a fan error and just shut down.

See:

I bought this laptop for just $850 in 2009. Over the last 3+ years, I have taken on trips, meetings, airports, buses and just about everywhere and it still keeps ticking as reliably as ever. I've spilt ice water on it by accident, left it running in the backpack, dropped it a few times onto the floor from the table and couch. Yet, I have never once had a hardware issue, be it faulty screens, touchpad, mic, camera or speakers. I've owned Acers, Dells (ugh), HPs, Compaqs, Macbooks and Toshiba laptops over the last 12 years. This is by far the single best laptop I've owned to date.

The other reviews on the web will complain about this laptop's build quality. That is a fair point, BUT ONLY when comparing it other thinkpads or the macbook. The low price of this laptop means that it does not have the magnesium alloy roll cage and hinges which give Thinkpads their brick like hardness. But when comparing it to any other laptop on the market, the build quality is one cut above. Even with a plastic case, there is no flex on this laptop. You can try to bend it and it won't budge. Even after thousands of openings and closings, the lid hinges snap perfectly shut.

The keyboard is good enough to deserve a review of its own. Many thinkpad users have told me about the awesomeness of a Thinkpad keyboard. I thought it an exagerration until I used this laptop. I am now sold. The Thinkpad Island keyboard is arguably the best laptop keyboard I've ever used and possibly even rivals several desktop keyboards. Unfortunately, Lenovo has recently changed this famous keyboard and replaced it with a chiclet design on newer laptops. While most reviewers don't see this as a problem, Thinkpad diehards still believe that the Island keyboard of old is the best.

There is only one downside with this laptop, as with any Thinkpad. It won't die. After 3+ years, this laptop still looks and works like the day it was bought. The hardware inside has become outdated and while it runs Windows 7 without any issues, I can see it struggling to run future OSes. I have spent about $200 to perform some minor upgrades, by increasing the RAM to 4GB and replacing the hard drive with an SSD. I can see this laptop easily running for another 3 or more years, with occasional formats and OS reinstalls.

Thinkpad diehards will complain about the glossy finish and the recessed ports on this laptop, but both are frankly minor issues, if at all. Highly recommend this laptop or any Thinkpad of a similar size.

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I have owned this laptop (SL400) for around 1.5 years. All I can say is the build quality is horrible. I have three main issues with the laptop. The DC port on the laptop is loose and possibly a safety hazard. The LCD left hinge broke, so the LCD was dangling on one hinge (until I fixed it). The keyboard is acting up, some keys I have to press hard to get it to register. I treat my laptops with care and all of my previous laptops never had this many issues after 1.5 years of use. Time to try a different model or maybe even a different brand.

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Compaq Presario CQ50-210US 15.4-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz AMD Athlon X2 QL-62 Dual-Core Processor, 2 GB

This Laptop is great for the price so far no complaints. Its great for business use. The Compaq Presario CQ50-210US looks similar to the HP 6000 series but without all the flashy aesthetics, which I prefer. Put in a finger print reader and it would be good to go.

About six months ago i needed to purchase a laptop for urgent schooling reasons. At the time I knew nearly nothing about computers (buying or using)Some how i fell upon this Compaq presario and the price wasn't too unreasonable at $600 so i went for it.

The first bump in the road occured after the first month when i realized after about 25 "practice uses" for windows vista i was unable to use it anymore. In my haste i didn't bother entering my product key (located under the notebook) to make Vista official.

I also use my compaq stationary on my desk and kept it plugged in, so i never really realized the heat this thing gives off, and it DOES get HOT. So after some reading into it i bought a laptop cooler to prevent damage from overheating and whatnot. the fan can get rather loud as well(presumably from working so hard trying to keep it cool).

I had no problems connecting, and the few times it did have trouble, i shut it down, reset my wireless router and it was back up, so not the computers fault. I did notice that every so often Internet explorer will stop working(Not Responding) in the middle of use, resulting in opening task manager and closing the window. This doesn't happen an overwhelming amount, but enough to take notice.

Lastly(just a personal thing)the outside tends to get VERY smudgy. It's very slick looking when its clean, but easily leaves fingerprints.

Not a BAD computer, could be cooler, literally, and quieter, and my review probably could've been improved if i had been more knowledgable about the purchasing and the components of a good computer in the first place :P

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I really like this laptop. Performance wise it is really good much better than I expected. The HP install of additional software is minorly intrusive, but it's easy to disable or uninstall the stuff that I didn't want. I use it as a general purpose laptop for accessing the internet, reading email, and watching videos. It fits my needs well. I've been able to successfully install Ubuntu Linux on the device, with the assistance of this link: . All features work correctly.

I paid $ for it (after $ in ). So from a price/performance perspective, that's one kind of hot.

But then there's another kind of hot. The devices generates extremely high temperatures. So high that I am concerned that the device will fry itself.

I use speedfan to monitor temperatures. The GPU seems to be parked at 110C, the CPU is typically above 60C sometimes going into the 70's and 80's, and the HD is usually around 55C sometimes spiking above 60C. The GPU and HD temp seem excessive to me: especially the HD. I just purchased a laptop cooler to deal with this (not yet arrived).

I occasionally need to leave the device running overnight (e.g. in order to complete a backup). In order to do this, I have to close the screen, and lean it against a wall so that the bottom side is exposed to open air. If I do that, the temps for GPU, CPU & HD fall back into much more reasonable ranges (GPU

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Gateway NE56R31u Celeron Dual-Core B830 1.8GHz 4GB 320GB DVD±RW 15.6" LED Windows 8 Notebook

I bought this particular laptop from a different vendor (starts with W and ends with T), but overall it works great. Has more memory than I could ever need. Hasn't acted up or froze (which is a common Acer problem). Windows 8 is kind of goofy, really miss Vista, but theres a way to disable 8 and go back to Vista or 7. Intel processor super fast, use this computer to shop on amazon and run my miles (Im a truckdriver).

Gateway 15.6" Laptop 4GB 320GB | NE56R31u

When I purchased this I was looking for something with great graphics, wide keyboard, and lightweight. I must say I have all that plus a good amount of memory...

The con of this product the speakers SUCK! I have to order a portable because at the highest volume you still barely can hear, and when I am watching movies or videos I want to hear, also I love to play Sims 3 and I have to be able to enjoy my game time.

I would say this is a product I don't regret purchasing, my teenager is asking for it since day one.

Buy Gateway NE56R31u Celeron Dual-Core B830 1.8GHz 4GB 320GB DVD±RW 15.6" LED Windows 8 Notebook Now

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Toshiba Satellite® L655-S5083 15.6" widescreen Laptop

Purchased in 2010,used since then NO PROBLEMS! I use it for minor ms office works, rhapsody, amazon prime, hulu and (until recently) netflix video watching. Again, no problems at all. Just changed the battery for new one, but that I consider to be like breaks in a car maintain and preserve.

I had a poor expereince with Dell before (tried twice) and have had a good experience with Acer (my other pc). Both were inexpensive, both work just fine. Fine in my book is 5/5, god bless toshiba for making my life free of drama and forced calls to India, or other wonderful country of limited interest to me.

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Apple MacBook MC240LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop

A few months ago I purchased an iMac from Amazon, my first Mac by the way. I could have not been more pleased. I am a student learning computational science and I wanted to become familiar with all the major systems: windows, Mac and Linux. I have been a frustrated Windows user for many years and was pleased with the Mac. Recently I just purchased this Macbook for mobile computing. I spend most my time away from my apartment and wanted a Mac to work on when I am on the go. This computer is perfect, the size and weight is just right for carrying around everywhere. Compared to my Windows based laptops I get over three hours of battery life, which is perfect for me.

The power of the Macbook is perfect for daily computing and basic development. The addition of the Nividia graphics cards adds a lot to photo, video and light gaming. I am also very pleased that Apple did not increase the price when they added the faster 2.13GHz chip and expanded the hard drive space. Originally I was going to purchase one of the new aluminum Macbooks just for the better performance but the recent addition of this computer changed all that. I am going to keep this review short because I wrote a longer one for the iMac I purchased. If you need a mobile computer that is not being used for extreme gaming and extensive video editing then this computer would be perfect for you. As I mentioned it compliments my studies in programming and also allows me to work with the Adobe Web Premium bundle without a problem. Furthermore you can increase the RAM to 4 GB for about $60 from Crucial.com; they have videos to show you how, and it is not that difficult. Even though I love Amazon and usually make all my major purchases through them I will say that if you are a student you can buy this Macbook for less through Apple and receive a free ipod Touch until September, just something to keep in mind. However, if you do not need an iPod avoid paying tax and purchase through Amazon.

This is an update to my earlier review of this Macbook. I was unaware at the time I purchased this that a new less expensive Macbook Pro 13" was being released. I really wanted one of the unibody Macbooks but because of the cost I went with this computer. However, with the release of the new Macbook Pro 13" I was able to return this computer and upgrade to the unibody. My review of this Macbook still stands and I was very happy with it but with the lower price on the new Macbook Pro coupled with the student discount that deal could not be beat! If you can afford the additional cost roughly $100 for student and $200 for non-student, I would recommend the Macbook Pro 13", you will get more bang for your buck. The white Macbook is still a good investment if you need to keep your cost below $1000.

As a 2nd time owner of a MacBook (my previous MacBook Pro purchased last September) I am amazed at the huge package you get for such a little price. At the Apple Store, I was able to purchase a newly released product (3 days old) for less than Amazon (949.00 with the student or teacher discount, and they didn't even ask for proof) charges and until September 2009 it includes a free iPod Touch. (Or any iPod valued up to 229.00). I compared the specs side by side to my Pro and found it to be almost completely caught up, except for the video card and display screen size. Even the memory had a faster bus! My Pro is still working great, but my husband needed something mostly for school. The glossy display is gorgeous and the slightly smaller resolution than the Pro goes unnoticed. I have the Pro for photography and graphic design but this little MacBook can handle those as well if it really needed to, what with all the extra processing speed. (2.4 vs 2.13).

Overall a tremendous value and a power packed little computer. For an entry level, I think it is loaded with a ton of power to stay ahead for the next few years. Even the Mac "pro" at the store recommended it over some of the more expensive ones due to my husband primarily using it for Office programs and internet based with some photos and music on the side. I'm confident there isn't anything this little Macbook white couldn't do that my Pro could.

P.S. Play with all the menus in the apple icon on the LH top for the most personalized experience. This includes touch pad "gestures" letting you use finger combinations to scroll, right click, turn pages, etc; hotspots that let you make a program or app come up just by going to a deep corner of the screen; Spaces, which lets you have multiple applications running on several screens that you can hop between so your windows are more organized; and many more options. Don't be afraid to try stuff with menu options, you won't break it!

Buy Apple MacBook MC240LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Now

Had I written this review, say a half-year ago, I would have undoubtedly given the Macbook 5 stars. I took it with me to college after my previous laptop an Acer Aspire failed me horribly. My Aspire had an issue with overheating, which only presented itself after my warranty expired. The cost of repairing it was not worth it when compared to getting a new laptop that was smaller, lighter, more powerful, and more capable of multi-tasking (more RAM).

I come from a family that has been using Macs for over a decade, although I myself preferred Windows computers...up until Windows Vista came out. We had many Macs around the house growing up since my parents use Macs in their office, and I was never really impressed with the Apple Operating System, so I had doubts about the Macbook. But since the Macbook is loaded with 2GB RAM and an Intel processor, you can run BOTH Mac AND Windows operating systems with ease. I therefore figured worse comes to worst, I'll use my Macbook as a laptop to run Windows XP with. I used it very heavily in college and it served me very well. It's light weight allowed me to easily carry it from class to class, its included photo and video editing software gave me hours of productivity, and perhaps best of all, it was reliable! I really loved my Macbook and would like to give it 5 stars...but...

My sister, who was in graduate school, also got a Macbook at the same time I got mine. Her laptop fared well, up until the end of last year. For some reason, the laptop started getting buggy...it'd freeze, it would overheat, it became a major nuisance. We've reformatted several times, hoping that would solve the problems, but to no avail. I HIGHLY recommend getting the AppleCare protection plan. We regrettably didn't, and really don't feel like forking over the money to repair the Macbook since she doesn't use it much anymore anyway. But our attempt to save money by not getting the protection plan will end up costing us more money now, should we choose to repair the laptop! The experience with our second, identical Macbook, is why I have to give 3 stars instead of 5 for an otherwise strong performance product, that can run both Windows and Mac, that comes bundled with a lot of great software, and that looks really cool (especially on a college campus where almost everyone has Macs!)

A last note...I have more recently purchased the sleeker Macbook, and would like to emphasize that while its construction is nicer, and it doesn't look as cheap as this plastic one, I still think this is a good deal. If you're looking to "wow" people and can splurge, get the newer model, but if you are looking for a powerful laptop and don't care too much about having the latest build, this one is just fine. I still use my plastic one even though I have the newer (cooler-looking!) one.

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My wife purchased this great machine for me and I'm a happy camper. It is as fast wireless as hard wired and small enough to carry anywhere but big enough to still be used in comfort. Good-bye PC machines.

I can and will recommend an Apple MacBook for all the reasons all Apple users state. Be a friend to the environment and buy an Apple

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I am in love with my laptop. I love the highly intuitive nature of a mac. I never have to troubleshoot with a mac, the way i had to on a daily basis with a pc laptop. Each new laptop that comes out is faster and more fully loaded than the last. Each new laptop the comes out also seeks to correct some issues that the previous model had.

This particular model has an issue with heat. The computer gets so hot it will burn your legs if you actually use it on your lap. The excessive heat also causes hairline fractures in the encasement around the fan in the back. After the fractures have shown up, dirt is attracted, and then you have dirty looking cracks all over the back of your computer. The most annoying problem with this model is the encasement cracking and breaking off from the wrist resting area, leaving an exposed rough and sharp edge. It is difficult to get apple to replace this, as it is not a default, but wear and tear according to them. Its been a major issue among users of this model. I suggest getting a skin to protect the area, I use Moshi PalmGuard Macbook 13-inch Unibody and 13-inch Pro Palmrest Protector Silver and it has prevented my palm area from cracking this time around for over a year now.

Overall this machine is an excellent product. Once you go Mac, you wont go back.

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HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop

This review is from: HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop 5.9

Graphics 4.5

Gaming Graphics 5.4

Primary Hard Disk 5.8

I researched long and hard to find the perfect laptop for my needs and a good price... this did it for me. No regrets.

I have recommended this to my friends and I recommend it to you....you won't regret it...I don't work for HP or Amazon.

UPDATED: 1/28/2011

I bought this laptop about 4 months ago. As of right now, it has been extremely smooth and not a single crash or issue.

Pros:

The multitouch trackpad is great.

--use 3 fingers to go back and forward

--use 3 fingers to launch a specific app by tapping

--2 fingers to scroll, rotate, and zoom

--no friction like those chrome plated trackpads

--enough room to scroll, no need to buy the mouse really in my opinion

--Trackpad can be turned on/off by double tapping on the indicator light in the upper left corner of the trackpad.

--1/28/2011Scrybe is the must have app for this track pad...you can use gestures to open websites, shortcuts, copy, paste...very cool

--1/28/2011 You can use the 3 finger gesture to go back in all browsers including chrome but need to google it to make it work....i just use ie9 :)

Camera is 2MP and is fairly good with a nice suite of applications.

--HP Webcam software adds some nice additions

--Used skype to talk to one of my relatives and it was about 90% good when compared to my brothers macbook pro 13...but then again I didnt pay $1200+

Fingerprint Reader

--Extremely accurate

--Dont swipe way too fast because it gets difficult to identify for obvious reasons

--Get Internet Explorer 9/Mozilla Firefox and work like a champion

Keyboard

--Great island style keys

--Dedicated quick launch keys on the left which I use all the time (calc, internet, hp key to open webcam, etc)

CPU, Memory, and HD

--More than enough because higher specs would require more battery

--1333mhz memory

--AMD Phenom II 2.8, it is not bad at all compared to my i7 920 in Alienware (It is comparable to the core i3-330M)

--Nothing less than 500GB should do now a days

--Dedicated graphics card...I dont play games on it. Have a Alienware for that but handles HD media really well.

--DVD Drive is great (not much to talk here :)

Design

--I've never seen anything like it.

--My friend was so jealous and he has a macbook.

--Screen size is great. Anything less than a 15" is really hard to see

--This weighs lighter than my sister's 2009 macbook pro 15"

--Enough USB's and HDMI, VGA

Windows 7

--Enough said, keep in mind i already had windows 7 on my Alienware but this windows is great for laptops.

--Pinning important shortcuts, dragging windows to compare, etc.

--Just used the printer attached to the laptop in the other room through my alienware (same homegroup)

CONS:

Screen

--A little bright due to LED

--Blacks are not exactly black but tune the settings and it should be fine (UPDATE: At a certain angle like many other LED's the black is fairly black but still not like the plasma obviously)

--Resolution could have been higher

Battery

--About 3 hours when I was using MS word to type and IE for browsing. Brightness at like 30%.

--Funny thing I never unplug it...its just me...also my brother with his macbook 13 pro with 10 hours supposed battery keeps it plugged in :)

Fingerprint Reader

--Only mentioning this because I got hooked on Google chrome and IE is different but just as fast now due to IE9.

Keyboard

--No backlit (have no preference really because its distracting to me in low light)

--Screen brightness is more than enough for me.

Seriously, the price that I paid and what I got...I still cant believe it (isnt that a song? :) You will love it. Any more questions, shoot me a message and I'll try my best to reply. I love HP and Windows 7 for this product...:)

Disclaimer: I dont work for either Microsoft, HP or Apple. I mentioned my brother and sister's mac to make a point here for comparison purposes.

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When it works and once you've realized that there's an extra column of keys to the left of the keyboard then it's a good computer.

The extra keys (print, calculator, and 2 others) are useless. I'm use to the far left keys being the ctrl key, etc. These extra keys just get in the way.

However, after having it for only 2 months the hard drive died. I turned it on in the morning. It ran slow. I turned it off. When I got home that evening I turned it on. It said the "hard drive not exist" (that's the verbatim message).

Now I need to return it to get servicing. I've had other HP computers that lasted years and haven't had any problems. I don't know what's wrong with this one.

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This is just a great laptop. everything about it is wonderful and hip, from the light-up hp button on the front to the sleek design to the fast processor. This is jsut great, the speed is top notch and the laptop is nice and big and perfect for me, a student. you cant go wrong!

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I've been using it for just two days, but I must say IT IS WONDERFUL!!

Windows 7 seems to be a good OS. I like it so far.

400 and so GB in the hardrive works very well for me (Since my old laptop had just 120Gb).

Its also very fast. But what could you spect from 4Gb ram.. FAST!!

The thing I think I love the most is the HUGE touchpad, it is very big! (10.8 x 6.6 cms). You can zoom in, zoom out, move up and down with it. And you can pass your finger over the keys and move the pointer, because they will activate only if you click them.

The keys of the keyboard are very soft. So you don't have to click them too hard.

The keyboard also has some extra keys in the left column, so I'll have to get used to the new ubications of the regular keys we use to see in the left column (one column more to the right, if you can't undestand what I try to say (sorry for my bad english :S) you can watch photos on the web)

The external and internal design (Aluminium finish) is.. WOW. I love it! Looks very pretty.

The fingerprint reader is working good for me. Bad part: I mostly use Google Chrome and it doesn't work with it :S (as I know is because google chrome doesn't support it, not because of the laptop)

The speakers are very tiny, yeah I know, but music and stuff sounds very loud and clear! Love it!

The camera is alright, not a HQ camera, but it works fine for me. I also like the camera software a lot, is very funny and easy to use.

I haven't tried the microphones yet, but I think they both work fine.

The screen is big, (bigger from left to right than up to down)

The only bad thing I could think of about this laptop is: NOTHING

I guess the price was alright (got it at 674,99 from amazon, Now Its 659,99 i guess), not too expensive, but also not cheap :S.

It's been a huge changement replacing my two-year old HP compaq 6720s (120Gb hardrive, 1Gb ram) with this HP Pavilion dv6-3020us (500Gb hardrive, 4Gb ram)

As I said, I've been using it for just two days, so I hope it'll continue working as good in the future.

At the moment the only thing I could think of is: THANKS HP! and THANKS AMAZON!!

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Toshiba Satellite C655D-S5048 15.6-Inch Laptop (Trax Texture in Black)

An Office Depot special...with a price at a penny less than four Benjamins this Toshiba represented a nice offer that I couldn't pass up. No, its operational speed isn't as snappy as my i7 desktop or the MSI i5 laptop I looked at just a few spots down from the demo of the C655D at the store, but it certainly smokes the Aspire One netbook I had been relegated to using full time as a portable computer when my old 15.4" Dell notebook finally called it a life. And only $50 more than what I spent on said netbook 2 1/2 years earlier.

So far I've found that the Toshiba's performance speed is more than decent for most business apps and certainly is a fair bit better than the old Dell that I became so used to. Preloaded with Microsoft Works, the Word 9 (otherwise known as 2007) component loads quickly and operates smoothly even if it's a bit dumbed down from the full version. Other programs I've installed so far seem to be swift and lag-free, with only Photoshop showing a bit more hesitancy than what I'm normally used to seeing. As for the internet, Firefox and IE8 seem to run as smoothly and quickly as they do on our other computers and Google Chrome is as blindingly fast (relatively speaking) as always.

Downsides (so far) are few: one wouldn't think that 0.2" would seem so much more massive, but this 15.6" seem so HUGE next to the Dell. The widescreen aspect of the C655D is the likely culprit, giving the Toshiba the heft and feel seem closer to that of a 17" laptop than a 15" one. Battery charge life is anemic relatively speaking; the best charge length experienced so far is a bit over 3 hours, but several sessions have not hit the 3 hour mark before reaching critical power reserve levels. This is not wholly unexpected considering its price class, but still disappointing nonetheless. There's no built-in camera, which again is something that's usually the case at this end of the laptop market. Sound quality through the built-in speakers is atrocious, and frankly isn't even all that great through the headphone jack.

The screen display is decent enough; on AC power images look good and appropriate for this computer's price point, and the ATI display chipset seems to handle video content with competence even if it's not all that spectacular. Like most machines these days, the C655D comes with the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium. Build quality is decent for the money, but most of the plastics used definitely lean towards the bargain basement side. Heat buildup seems manageable; the left side of the computer where I believe the hard drive is located does get warm but it's not uncomfortably so. Even my netbook becomes more heated than this Toshiba.

There's some crapware loaded on the computer, but I've seen far worse in the past on other new machines. All uninstalled quickly. Norton is the preloaded security suite, a package that for me disappeared on the first day. To Norton's credit, it uninstalled cleanly and fairly painlessly and made the subsequent installation of Comodo--my security package of choice--quite easy.

It was probably too much to ask but only two USB 2.0 ports reside on this notebook, down from the four I was used to with the Dell. But at least there's a somewhat useful media card reader...even if it can't handle older CompactFlash II cards that I use with my Nikon D300. The DVD drive/burner seems to work well, although I've yet to really push its skill set. The keyboard design is passable as far as laptops go, feeling workable but personally for me it's not particularly comfortable. Perhaps it's the price one pays for going low-ball--having to put up with HUGE 'Toshiba' pronouncement on the cover--but the obnoxiously-sized logo on the back side of the LED display panel is more than a little off-putting. A date with a airbrush wand or a band-aid decal (Goodyear? Kawasaki? Budweiser? Sig Sauer? Hello Kitty?) seems like a much more preferable option.

In all I'm not doubting that this AMD-based laptop will do the job I will ask of it. It seems to pack a lot of performance for the discount price paid. For the money it's been a good, smart buy.

I paid $350 for this laptop. Whatever you do not pay more than $400.

While this laptop is nothing compared to a sony vaio or a Macintosh... for a budget laptop the performace of this laptop supercedes numerous other machines.

3gigs of ram. and 2 core processor is what you MUST have nowadays

its not that heavy, however the battery has rougly 2.5 hours of time (with normal brightness and internet use)

what i do not like about this laptop

NO WEBCAM!!! i mean it is a budget laptop, but come on webcam parts are soo cheap!!! i would have paid $10 extra for a webcam

it is pretty wide however that helps with the size and clarity of the screen.

the cd drive is pretty bad quality, sometimes if you play a cd the cd drive motor gets really loud!

other than that this laptop is great and gets the job done.

THANK YOU OFFICE DEPOT!!!

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This was a present for my parents. they really love it. the specs on it were good on my end, and definitely support everything my parents need it for and more. all in all, a very happy purchase. it did come refurbished so box packaging wasn't that great, my parents were worried it would be all banged up, but once they opened it and starting using it, there has been nothing but praises and no complaints.

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As with every other computer I've bought, this one came pre-loaded with all sorts of trial software and other junk most people would never need. You'll probably want to wipe everything and install your own operating system.

This computer doesn't come with installation disks, though users have the option of creating their own backup DVDs. All of the software included with the system is housed in a protected, hidden partition that allows you to restore the computer to its factory configuration during boot, in case the operating system becomes seriously impaired (viruses, spyware, buggy software, and so on).

Given the cost, the specifications are of course very basic, so this computer is suitable mainly for web browsing and light office work. At the time of purchase, this was the most powerful computer you could get for the price. Any less expensive notebook was significantly worse in terms of processing power, memory, or disk capacity.

I've had this computer for many years, and it still works the same as when I first purchased it. Toshiba has one of the lowest hardware failure rates in the industry (second only to Asus at the time of purchase). Dell, Acer, and HP might be the most popular brands, but in my experience they have very poor quality hardware. I wouldn't buy from them, especially when companies such as Toshiba, Asus, and Vizio offer better products at a lower cost.

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It has operated flawlessly and is fast and easy to navigate. I would recommend it to anyone that needs a laptop

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Hewlett Packard A6X08UARABA Hp Pavilion Dv7-6c27cl Intel Core I5-2450m 2.50ghz 8gb 750gb Blu-ray Wi

I had the criteria of 17" screen, high speed, and graphics abilities to develop Windows 8 Phone Apps and Windows 8 Metro Apps. This computer had it all, including 8 GB RAM and more than adequate HD space at 673 GB. All my former Windows 7 applications now run on the Windows 8 upgrade that I installed two days after my purchase of this computer. More than satisfactory!

Rec'd the laptop in excellent condition. the strange thing was the carton had the SKU blacked out, and there was a Sam's Club label visable. also visable was a Do Not Scan label, SKU intact. H/p verified that the computer had not been started before, and registered the warranty. I have used the laptop for less than five hours so far (01/03/2013) and all is good. I like the computers' features.

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Asus Eee Pc 900hd

I purchased an ASUS 900HD nine months ago and it has seen very light use. The power supply quit working about three weeks ago. I submitted a help request on their Web site and after waiting for three weeks with no reply, called them. The woman I spoke with tried to trouble shoot the problem (try a different electrical outlet duh) all of which I had already tried. Then she told me since it was nine months old, the battery (understandable) and power adaptor (not understandable) was out of warranty (six months for 'accessories'). I told her I was extremely unhappy and asked if she would like to make an unhappy customer happy for the relatively low price of a power adaptor (retail $49.99, their cost = much less). Nope. So I went online to the Web site she provided and they are out of stock. So now I have a paperweight until ASUS can restock power supplies. My question, which I will never know the true answer is: Why are they out of power adaptors? Is this a systemic problem? For the light use this adaptor has seen in nine months (actually it started giving me intermittent problems in eight months)this is a very poor product.

I have had my netbook for around a year, running often at over 100 hours at a time. In all of this time with constant use, I have come across very minor problems.

Around four months in, the A/C adapter that came with it had burned out, but I replaced it for relatively cheap with an off-brand adapter.

Aside from that, my netbook has occasionally stopped responding to its volume commands, but I found that restarting fixes it.

Overall, this netbook is very durable and can be used for extended periods of time. I have yet to overheat mine. I do suggest that you are prepared for replacing the A/C adapter, however.

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This pc looks sleek and compact but it hanged most of the time. The battery does not hold the charge good and the processor is very slow on window Xp. Lately, after I downloaded the microsoft framework files and window explorer 8 version, it did have improving the speed of the processor and I noticed it did work a little bit faster.

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The small size says it all.. great for travel. XP a little slow but usable, Linux from a usb works fine.

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I know I get what I pay for, but I didn't expect this netbook to be basically disposable. I had problems with the touchpad and click keys not responding within the first couple months. I sent it in for repair and got it back without anything seemingly having been done to it. After a few more months, add to this that the computer would intermittently behave as though the shift key was stuck (I think you can't realize how many problems this creates unless you try itvery difficult to use the computer for anything!) Since it was intermittent, and was my only computer at that point, I waited a few more months to send it in. They sent it back and it wouldn't even start up after I removed it from the packaging! They now refuse to repair it since by the time I received it back the warranty had expired (although they sent it back more broken...). It starts up now, but only runs for 20 mins max before crashing for a few hours.

It's a cute little pocket laptop, but be aware it seems to be made of the cheapest possible components (expected for price, but still frustrating). Also, be aware you can only reach support in the middle of the night (I never once got through at any time of the day, with 20-30min wait times at least). I always call after midnight; the people don't know anything about computers, but they're fairly polite.

I expected this netbook to be low-quality based on price. Low rating is mainly for refusal to repair what they broke. I suggest saving up a little longer and putting money towards a less extremely-feeble budget laptop (or for mobility, maybe a smartphone? even smaller, similar quality).

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Toshiba Portégé R835-p89 13.3-inch LED Laptop (Magnesium Blue) i5-2450M, 6GB DD3 Memory, 640GB HD

The problem with ultra portable is they dont have dvd/cd media readers. Now a days everyone has an external one. Trouble is if you want to run a disc at work or school you are up the creek. This computer is as light as a laptop should be. (I have and ASUS laptop that is top of the line but just too darn heavy to lug around.) This Toshiba is exactly what I wanted. Here are the pros:

1. Extremly light (I can carry it with one hand while it is open.)

2. Has a DVD tray (no need for an external one:)

3. Amazing Battery life 6 hours more or less while running the dvd drive continously.

4. 6gb ram for $699.99 which usually only gets you 4gb of ram.

5. HDMI connection

The cons:

1. the keyboard has a slippery feel.

2. The laptop feels like if you dropped it; it would shatter

3. Non lighted keyboard.

Considering everything I would buy it again.

Overall VERY good computer. I was debating between switching to a mac or staying PC and I was just not ready to make the change. I am a PC lover! This computer is packed FULL of RAM and memory. the only two downfalls.... screen is a little glary. Hard to use outside. And the mouse keys are a but clunky when pressed. Louder than my netbook. BUT overall I love this computer!

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I pretty much like this Machine, BUT

I have recently upgraded from a Fujitsu Lifebook lh531 to this brand-spanking new Toshiba Portege machine.

I installed a Corsair GT240 ssd on the Fujitsu and saw my ATTO Disk Benchmark go from roughly 80K R/W (roughly!) to roughly 525K. What a screamer!!

Imagine my SHOCK then when I did the same to the Portege and saw it go from 80K to ONLY 225K.

I also copied roughly 42gb from c: to d:. It took ~5 mins wall clock time on the Fujitsu and ~12 mins on the Portege.

Does anyone have any idea as to how I might rectify this? Or am I hosed (eh)?

This pretty MAJOR!

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I had bought three computers for our Small Business. We were drawn to this model because of its power, size, and still had a cd/DVD rom included. The computer is really light weight and fast. It works great for all of our needs. I would recommend this product.

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Few days after purchasing a Toshiba laptop (Portege R835-P89) I got a blue screen. According to Toshiba their 1 year warranty only covers the hardware issue. And they say this is a software issue (I am pretty sure it is not). Toshiba charge $99 to diagnose and fix the issue for one time.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Z500 15.6-Inch Laptop (Dark Chocolate)

Seems good (you know, as long as you ignore the Windows 8 start menu), but I've had problems with the laptop since I first got it 2 months ago. There are battery problems... which Lenovo knows about considering there is a firmware upgrade on the web site... but this did not fix my problems. My laptop won't boot unless it's plugged in. The battery is fine; I can unplug it after start-up and run on battery for a normal period. I guess the computer just isn't reading the battery correctly (tried a battery reset too which didn't fix it). Annoying, to say the least. I am currently in customer service purgatory (I just want a replacement, not a fix), so we'll see how that goes. My last two laptops I bought old refurbished Dells which ran wonderfully. Last time I buy a new one! Grumble grumble

Lenovo (formally IBM) tends to make pretty good laptops. I use mine for business and it does the job. Can't complain.

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The computer is ok but I could be in the middle of something important and the settings menu comes on the screen and then it goes to the desktop. Very irritating.

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I actually bought this laptop off newegg a couple weeks ago, it has a decent feel and a solid build for the price. Things start getting annoying when i see it has UEFI with secure boot, add in the fact that you have to unassemble the whole thing to reach the hard drive and memory for and upgrade and you can start to feel they really don't care about the customer. But its not until you call customer service that you really notice it, i called after upgrading to an ssd to get my Windows 8 product key which they did no provide even though you're being charged for that license in the price. They kept insisting i had to buy a new license, which is completely unacceptable when they have already charged you for one. On another attempt the catch for a sale was a Recovery Disk which they sell at an exorbitant price, was never included with the purchase and its far from what i want on my machine, I wanted a clean windows install not a bloatware fest.

Its a case where the customer service is so bad i dont' think i'll ever buy another lenovo product.

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Lenovo ThinkPad T530 2359 - 15.6" - Core i5 3210M

Already had one LENOVA THINK PAD...needed to replace a very old desktop unit so I went to LENOVA againgreat machinehas been very fast and easy to operate. The one I have already had is a tiny bit slower and has never had a blue screen in its life...LOVE IT

No major failures yet but the shortcomings of this model (T530 2359, Win 7, 320GB 7200rpm) are almost too numerous to list. Based on my 15+ years of PC user experience, I find the laptop somewhat missing both in hardware design and in performance. Lenovo's bloatware and customer service are also far from flawless for instance, important limitations of the model and manufacturer's international warranty do not appear even in "small print" but rather require extensive searching in dedicated forums, etc.

I ordered the T530 from Lenovo USA mainly because of the optional HD matte display (1600x900 or full HD). If that is not a must, you would probably find a better deal from brands like ASUS or at least another series by Lenovo.

N.B.For all practical purposes the optional discrete graphics card in T530 is useless.

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very nice computer a little bit big but very fast and pretty

next time i will buy the 14" not 15.6"

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HP Pavilion dm4-1160us 14-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 6.25 Hours of Battery Life (Argento)

This laptop really lives up to its description: ultra portability without sacrificing performance. I'm posting this review after a week of ownership.

PROS: Awesome aluminum design, bright display, bluetooth, good webcam, 7200rpm HD, fast processor, runs cool, great WiFi range, good battery life, lightweight (4.41 lbs), fingerprint reader, sturdy, WiDi, HP QuickWeb

CONS: Touchpad gestures, keyboard stiffness, mediocre audio, dvd eject button

* MY PERSONAL NEEDS:

My focus while searching for a new laptop was for portable productivity including office and business applications, software development kits (I'm a programmer), and presentations. I was looking for something with decent processing power to handle multiple applications. What I was not looking for was a gaming machine. The graphics card was therefore somewhat irrelevant. This dm4-1160us by HP stood out because it offered a great processor, Bluetooth, a good webcam, and decent battery life in a light and perfectly manageable package.

* FIRST IMPRESSIONS UPON OPENING:

From the start I knew this was the laptop for me. The aluminum finish, including the design that complements it, is truly a work of art in terms of both aesthetics and practicality. Most modern laptops have a glossy finish that attract fingerprints seemingly even when you're not touching it. This is the complete opposite offering a sleek and professional look without constantly having to wipe it down. During the first few hours of personalization I noticed no hint of heat nor slow down of any kind. It has been quick from the start. Boot up times are average, but perfectly reasonable and even quicker if you take advantage of HP's QuickWeb feature that lets you use some common applications without booting into Windows. The screen is plenty bright and has a very nice and crisp picture. It is better than my Samsung r480 and older Toshiba Satellite, and on par with my older Core 2 Due HP model. If anything the screen on this one is just a bit less reflective than the one on my older HP, which is a good thing.

* PERFORMANCE:

This is my first experience in personally dealing with Intel's new i3/5/7 series processors, and I have to say it exceeded my expectations. In the past couple years the only machines I built were made for gaming, and AMD processors are perfect for affordable gaming machines. While I still believe that AMD is better than Intel cost/value speaking for gaming, I always stick with Intel when building a machine for true intensive multitasking. Even with running multiple applications including some processor heavy development kits, Adobe CS, and other software simultaneously, the laptop runs without a glitch and without producing any noticeable heat nor noise. The Core i5 is definitely a step up from the Core 2 Duo series, and a significant one from the previous dual core T-series that can still be commonly found on the market today.

4GB of memory has become the standard in the laptop market, and there isn't much to say about that other than it works. However what isn't common is a 7200 RPM hard drive in a laptop (especially one with a good battery life). If you don't do much in terms of file transfers you probably won't really benefit nor notice, but it is definitely a plus for me where I'm constantly transferring files for projects back and forth.

The integrated graphics certainly isn't a selling point, but it gets the job done unless you're planning to use it for modern full screen gaming. It will play most games, but you'll have to scale back the settings. If I want to play a graphics intensive game I'm going to do it on a desktop with a larger monitor anyway, so this wasn't a selling point one way or the other. Something I found odd was that the Windows Rating System gave the graphics a higher rating for gaming than it did for Aero (desktop and productivity), but in my experience so far it has managed everything just fine including Adobe, movies, and a couple simple games that I tried out to test the display. I will say that most of the laptops I've owned/used have had integrated graphics, and even so this laptop still feels quite a bit quicker in all aspects. If it were compared to another version of itself with a dedicated card then you would notice a difference, but it is not underpowered by any means.

* TOUCHPAD:

Many people are commenting about how the touchpad is finicky and hard to use, especially when keeping a finger on the mouse button. I don't personally have the same issues and am able to use the touchpad easily. In fact I purposefully attempted to duplicate the problem myself and was unable to see why there's so much trouble over it. And I rather like the textured feel of it and prevents fingerprinting and makes it easy to keep track of. However I really don't like the gestures. Macs do a way better job of handling the two finger slide scrolling and pinch to zoom features. I didn't even think of this option when buying, but since they are there they are tempting and they don't work quite right. The mouse buttons themselves are a bit harder than average to press down but I prefer the tap method anyway.

To comment on some of the other reviews, I don't think it is fair to expect a touchpad to be great while playing games. I've never seen someone successfully play a first person shooter with a touch pad nor would I use it for longer periods of time in CAD or other design software. For simple adjustments in Adobe I find it to work fine, not really better or worse than other laptops.

* KEYBOARD:

Here is where I am having some trouble. The keyboard layout for me is perfect and I like the gap in between the keys. But just as the touchpad buttons are a bit harder than average to press down, I found that the keyboard keys are a bit stronger than average and take a slightly more aggressive press. If you're a heavy typer you probably won't notice. When I get going pretty good my typing speeds are in the 80-90+ WPM range. I am more of a light typer though and have gotten very used to only pressing down as far/hard as necessary and nothing more. Since I am so accustomed to using laptops with keys that are easy to press, this will take me some more time to get used to. I almost wonder if it is just the one I have and it isn't supposed to be that way.

* SOUND:

The sound is not bad. There were more than a few reviewers throughout my search that complained about the sound quality in this laptop. I have used many different laptops and I don't think the sound from this laptop is any worse than the average laptop. Laptops don't produce good sound. That is just how it is, especially when they only weight 4.41 pounds. It does state that there are Altec Lansing speakers on the laptop, but that doesn't mean anything. The only laptops I have used that had decent sound are the bigger ones that have more room for bigger speakers. The speakers on this 14" are still good enough to enjoy a show or have some background music going while you work. For those of you who are still looking around, I would note that HP's higher models with "Beats Audio" aren't anything spectacular either.

* BATTERY LIFE:

Depending on where you look, the battery life on this laptop is rated between 6 and 6.5 hours. With wifi and bluetooth off and just using normal productivity software I think that is a fair assessment, which I think is how they rate it anyways. I haven't had enough time to truly test the battery life in real scenarios, but it seems like I can get a solid 4-6 hours of use while running my presentation software and at least Bluetooth (I use my phone as a remote controller).

* CONCLUSION:

If you are looking for a productivity laptop that is ultra portable and a great value, get this one. There aren't many features missing unless you're after a built in Wi-Max card or want a Blu-Ray player, and it is definitely feature rich for the price range. The finish both inside and out is brilliant and it is pleasing both through its looks and performance.

I would not recommend this laptop if you want a gaming laptop. There are plenty of options from HP and other brands that have dedicated graphics cards with moderate to good battery life. It does not have a dedicated graphics card, wimax, blu-ray, nor numpad, in case you're looking for those features.

I won't bother telling you how powerful, quiet, and lightweight this machine is. People seem to just want to focus on the touchpad. Maybe early runs of it had problems, but mine works perfectly. The only quirk is that if you have two fingers on the touchpad at the same time, and try to move the mouse, you get this fricking 4-headed arrow that has crazy effects (in chrome, it increases and decreases the font size). Just make sure that one finger stays on the mouse button, and another finger can move the mouse. The problem arises because there is no tactile border between the mouse buttons and the touchpad, so if you are careless, you can end up with two fingers on the touchpad, and.....chaos. It took me about 7 minutes to figure out that if you keep your index finger on the lower half of the mouse button (which you *can* feel) then it's easy to move the mouse with another finger and have no problems. I actually find the touchpad quite responsive.

I love this machine, and think it is a steal for not much more than $700. Maybe it's not for everybody, but don't let rumors of touchpad issues dissuade you.

Buy HP Pavilion dm4-1160us 14-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 6.25 Hours of Battery Life (Argento) Now

(paid $700) Bought this guy about a week ago. It has excellent styling and feels very solid. The keyboard is awesome, but the touchpad can be a bit finnicky. Although it's nothing a few days of getting used to wouldn't fix. I use my laptop for school and Photoshop CS5. It has an awesome battery life which has already given me four and a half hours of youtube/browsing use. The battery life keeps getting better, so I wouldn't be surprised if it gets close to the promised six. It stays very cool, and mostly quiet. Even when the processor kicks into high gear it is barely discernible. It feels very snappy and handles photoshop quite nicely for a laptop. For most of your editing, including assembling HDR and using photomerge it does just fine. To give you an idea, I merged 22 raw files the other day with a fairly complex background, it did it in about a minute. The sore spot is the lack of dedicated graphics. Many game's are still playable, but you'll have to scale back the settings. Civ V runs super smooth on low and is completely playable on medium. SC2 runs great on low. However the snappy performance in other tasks and the great battery life more then make up for the poor graphical performance.

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This sleek, thin, powerful laptop is everything I wanted but never had the time to buy before. I'm a software engineer that works on computers practically every day. Prior to now, I've just assembled my own desktops for home use and used my work laptop for mobile personal computing. IN my hopes to finally transfer all of my personal computing to my own personal machines, I decided to get myself the least bulky, but most powerful laptop I could for as far under $1000 as I could get it.

This laptop is awesome. It's thin, light, and does everything I want it to do. For those who wish to compare their typical personal computing activities to mine, mine consist of:

1) General internet browsing (paying bills, checking email, shopping, Facebook, etc.)

2) Streaming video/music over the internet (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, iTunes, etc.)

3) Watching DVD movies

4) Playing not-too-complex computer games (nothing needing major graphics power just yet)

5) Creating/editing MS Word or Excel document (journals, budgets, etc.)

6) Downloading digital pictures from cameras & uploading them to the internet (with mild editing in between)

7) Backing up my files to an external USB hard drive (I don't like holding all of my eggs in one basket)

This computer does all of this with ease and is actually attractive to look at. The system also has built-in microphone and camera, which I'd love to use but haven't gotten around to it yet.

HP's site has these exact same systems for their "quick ship" options (systems that are already assembled as supposed to the ones they have to 'build' and then ship to you), but Amazon had this one for less PLUS I was able to take advantage of my Amazon Prime free 2-day shipping! All in all, getting this machine was a great choice and I'm loving every minute of it.

NOTE: The fingerprint swiper can be a bit sensitive, so you may have to 'swipe' your finger numerous times for it to get it. I recommend programming more than just one fingerprint into the system so that you have multiple ones to choose from.

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I was looking for a 14 inch laptop to replace my 5yr old HP DV1000 laptop. I wanted something that is light and with an i5 processor. I came across the dm4-1160us and found that it has all that I was looking for. The listed price on amazon.com was $829.99 at the time. My previous laptop was still working fine and I was not in a hurry to get the new one. So I thought I would wait till thanksgiving to see if I could get a better a better deal on it. A couple of weeks later the laptop was listed on sale @ staples for $700.00 with rebates. I went and got the laptop the same day.

I read a lot of reviews on this laptop and the greatest concern for me was that some people were complaining that it looked pink. So when I went to the store the first thing I checked out was the color and I was disappointed in that it looked pink. But the sales associate told me that it is due to the lighting in the store and the true color of the laptop is a tint of bronze. So I bought the laptop thinking that i would try it out and return it if I didnot like it. I am so glad that I bought the laptop. When I opened the box at home, the laptop did not look anywhere near pink in color. All my friends liked the color and design of the laptop.

I had the laptop for almost a month now and I am very pleased with it. It was the best deal I could have gotten for such a good performing laptop. I would recommend this laptop who wants a good performing light weight laptop.

The only cons that I have with this laptop is with the fingerprint reader and the multitouch functions of the trackpad. You could setup the fingerprint reader to log you into any website. I do not wish to use this setting and have not set it up. So each time I go to a webpage that needs login a pop-up appears asking me if I want to enroll in the automatic log-in. I just find that annoying, I'm pretty sure I can disable it, but haven't got around to it yet. Also, the multi-functioning on the trackpad is not as good as on a macbook. But these are not major concerns to me.........and I think this is the best laptop for the price in the market now.

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Dell Latitude D630 14.1" Notebook (Core 2 Duo T7500 2.0GHz 2GB 60GB CDRW/DVDRW)

I bought this laptop a little over 2 months, and it's been a pleasure working with it. I bought it used in very good condition. I was a little scared about buying it used, but so far it hasn't giving me any trouble. I'm very pleased with my purchase and would recommend this laptop to anyone that is on a tight budget.

We bought this computer for my sons birthday. Product was exactly as described. Very happy with our new computer. However, the box it was shipped in was way too big. it was not packaged right at all. It was bumped around alot in the delivery process. It was delivered in a timely fashion and it made it here unscathed. Proper packaging should be a priority in future mailings. But other than that, this was a great buy and the rest of the service we received was awesome:)

*within one week of purchasing this product, the screen malfunctioned. We took the computer to geek squad and also a personal friend who fixes computers and we were told it would cost over 300 dollars to fix the screen. I contacted the seller several times before the 30 days was up and they NEVER got back to me. We now have a broken computer that the seller wont exchange or refund. Total waste of money. The refurbished parts were so old geek squad couldn't help fix it and told me I had to contact dell to see if they even had the parts. This computer is JUNK. I lost my money on this computer.

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Have not had a problem with it since I bought it... In fact it's been running non-stop Great price for a good product..

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I really enjoyed this computer and under the price range helps. I paid under $200 Of course it is a refurbrished computer. But it works like a brand new computer. My son will get one as well.

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This works great... BUT I really wanted one that plays DVD's as well and it won't. Even after phone calls it STILL won't. They had no suggestions.

My beef is that I decided to use these people again to purchase another computer later. The computer worked really well, but had a few little niggles that needed to be fixed (how it shuts down; and once it is, the inability for it to start back up again). I could not get any response from them... they didn't answer phone calls, they never once replied to my emails no matter how much I pleaded. Finally one day I had a stroke of luck they answered the phone but by that time the screen had gone funny and I needed their help big time. They told me to pack it up and send it back (at my expense).

I'm now waiting to see how long it takes them to either send back my computer fixed, or email me with an idea of what is wrong with it... actually I'm just waiting for a response.................... I shouldn't complain I suppose, it HAS only been two weeks! And in the meantime I'm using my kids computer.

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Acer - Aspire V5-571P-6648 Touch-Screen 15.6" Laptop - 4GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive - Silky Silver

I am learning to love the windows 8 and having the touch screen is fun. I had an older acer and was quite happy with it and for the price of this one could not pass it up. Was worried at first about the windows 8 but playing around with it and discovering how it all works is really fun and easy. Different for sure but in a good way. Loving the back lit keyboard! Having trouble getting my old office program on it though, still trying to figure that out, it only gives the option to load the Office 2010 and I have an older version that it is not recognizing. There is supposed to be a way to get it on but have not figured that out yet. I love the light weight, sleek design with the larger screen than my others were. Not happy about the battery life. It claims to get 4-5 hrs on the battery but I have not been able to get more than 2. This is disappointing because one of the selling points for me was the longer battery life which it does not have! Other than that overall I am very pleased with this computer, the price is great for what you get. I added more memory to bring it to 8GB and response is really good, fast and touch is instant. Got the last one available before they discontinued it and got a great sale price, $200 cheaper than the upgraded version, so very happy about that. So other than the 2 hr battery life, I am very happy with this laptop and would recommended it.

The bad is that 1: you will be on one page, and another page, from another app, just flies open on top of it, or knocks you out of what you were doing entirely. This happens constantly, and I've read the same thing from other reviewers. But does this have something to do with Windows 8, or is it the computer, I don't know. I read you can do "command" plus "tab" to get the page back. I am, however, beginning to think, from reading other reviews, that this flipping around of pages is due to your wrists hitting the touchpad. 2: Another big problem for me, which is extremely annoying, but that I'm beginning to think might also be caused by wrists hitting the touchpad, is that the cursor constantly flies to the left, about the length of 8 characters, while I'm typing. And not only does it fly to the left, but when I'm typing into a field, it will fly to another field entirely. 3: The backspace key, which you need to delete with, barely works. In fact, the Comcast guy, who came to my house, said he'd return the computer for that reason alone. 4: The computer does not hold the wifi internet connection. It was constantly bumping me out of the internet to the point where this computer was useless to me. Comcast told me I needed to buy a new wireless router, which I did. But I now realize, from reading reviews on other sites, that this is a common problem with this computer; so, the wireless router had nothing whatsoever to do with it. Strangely, however, I solved this problem, by going into "settings" and clicking on my next door neighbor's name. Now I'm always connected to the internet through his connection! Like I said, I know nothing about computers, so don't ask me to explain that (nor could Comcast). 5: The audio, though quite loud compared to my ASUS, has a kind of lousy tinny sound. So, though I could not hear my ASUS without using headphones, the ASUS had beautiful sound quality, just the opposite of this, go figure. Now the good. 1: Quite fast 2: backlit keyboard really nice 3: Easy to type on, and I THINK I just solved the problem of the flying cursor, by keeping my wrists elevated. 4: sleek, attractive, light weight design. To end, due to the fast speed of the thing, I would say, yes, I'd recommend this. I actually do like it.

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I bought this particular laptop as a refurbished item from the Acer store on Ebay at a price of

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Sony VAIO E Series SVE14116FXB 14-Inch Laptop (Sharkskin Black)

I was kind of nervous about buying a laptop online, but I researched the model I was considering and went into Best Buy to check it out in person. I LOVE this laptop. It's very fast & smooth and fortunately I haven't had any issues with the keyboard as the previous reviewer mentioned. I love how the keys light up and you can set the backlighting to always on, only when plugged in or always off. It comes preloaded with some great Sony software that you can choose to keep or remove. I removed some of it, but kept most of the Imagination Suite, which includes Sony ACID & Vegas. It has very nice features, light weight and has really good battery life. After charging it in the morning I can go almost all day without needing to recharge it. This is doing regular tasks on it like browsing the internet, checking email, watching videos on YouTube, etc. Overall I am loving this laptop and very happy with my purchase. If you have any questions leave it in the comments below and I will try to answer your question. I hgihly recommend this laptop! If you were on the fence about getting it, I say GET IT!

With almost 750GB of space, there is plenty of room to store an entire music collection, photos, videos and documents.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I found this laptop to be light, responsive to commands, fast, with a good display. Typing and launching applications is quick. Even while using processor-heavy applications like Handbrake doesn't seem to slow other functions down much. I had to play with the settings of the trackpad to make it work the way I am used to, but now it is responsive and easy to use.

The drawback is the keyboard, which feels a bit cheap and flimsy. I don't like its "bounce" and feedback, though after a week's use, I am getting used to it. The lighting of the keyboard also doesn't actually help in darker environments.

Sony includes some useful applications, like Vegas Movie Studio, but like many PCs, much of what is included can be removed.

Still, for the size, weight and specs I feel like I've made a good purchase.

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I was worried after reading the other review's about this computer, but after seeing it a store I decided to order it anyways. I so far love everything about. I love the light up keyboard and it also seems to move very fast. I am very happy with my decision to get this computer.

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First this laptop was purchased for my spouse not me, so I will skip the review on the color. She likes it and that's that. ;)

Now, on to business. Sony VAIO systems have had their ups and downs over the years. However, I can mostly say that Sony has come back with its new line of laptops. They seem to be built better and don't contain as much bloatware as they used it. Why computer companies still insist of packing every piece of horrible software onto their system is beyond me (yes, it could lower the price a bit, but then customers are bombarded with horrible software and blame you for installing it on their system). Anyway, I digress...

What Sony did install on this system that is fairly helpful for the average user, is a "smart" suite that basically checks the system for you and ensures you are running the latest and greatest software and have the right patches to keep your system safe. This suite isn't perfect, however it will at least keep the system cleaner than most suites I've seen from other companies that simply just try to sell you more of their products right from your own desktop (really, commercials on my computer...no, thanks). Additionally, this suite is a teaching tool. Sony takes the time to answer the hottest questions currently floating around the web pertaining to laptops. Need to learn how to hook up that new printer you just purchased to your network or laptop for use? Sony will tell you. Need to figure out if upgrading your laptop to Windows 8 is possible? Sony has you covered (it is btw). Want to know how to fix that annoying little issue that seems to be plaguing you (and likely other Sony customers)? Yep, you guessed it...Sony will post the answer in plain English right on your desktop software suite and even provide you steps to fix it. Not bad Sony, not bad at all.

Now on to the actual system. Let me first give the biggest con of them all. The trackpad is absolutely a nightmare on this system. Seriously I am not able to figure out if I'm clicking or scrolling or simply shaking my mouse pointer back and forth. They decided to incorporate the mouse buttons right into the trackpad, so you don't have separate things to touch but for these burly hands, I am unable to master it. My spouse...no complaints (I think she secretly hates it, but doesn't want to agree with me...*sigh*). If you like those "one surface does it all" type track/touchpads, then this will not bother you and you can ignore the previous portion of this review. The rest of the system is fairly nicely laid out. Keyboard is the newer "chiclet keyboard", which basically means each key is independent on the board instead of a single large mesh for food and other junk to fall into. I like that idea and believe it should become standard on all laptops. The keys, themselves, light up when used, so great for surfing in a dark room during movie night. Most of the function keys are nicely labeled, so you can figure out what two keys you have to hit to replicate the same feature that a normal 108+ keyboard has. Want to page up/down? FN+up-arrow/down-arrow takes care of you (I dislike not having dedicated page-up/down keys, but understand the use due to limited space). The ports (USB, HDMI, card reader, etc) are all nicely placed and easily accessible without looking cheap. There is a powered USB port on one side of the laptop to allow you to charge your USB device, even if you lose the laptop for storage (excellent feature and should be standard, as it is silly that I have to keep a laptop open to charge an iDevice while on the road). The built-in camera and mic work great (Skype tested and approved by family/friends). The powercord and brick are standard and seem solid enough to not cause concern that they'll break within a year (so many manufacturers seem to send crappy powerbricks, so you have to buy their replacement one for $80+ after the original breaks).

So, overall, this system is fairly well built, has a good amount of useful software pre-installed (yes a little bloatware, but nothing worth complaining about), and seems fairly sturdy. If this changes over the next year of use we'll be sure to update this review. As an HP laptop user for work (I know, stop laughing, it is what we have), I can honestly say I am impressed with how Sony turned around and revitalized their consumer line of laptops (their enterprise line was always well-respected and trusted).

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I foolishly ignored the reviews about this laptop, blinded by the light up keyboard and intel 5 processor. It IS a lot faster than my old netbook, and I really enjoy the light-up keyboard. However, as other people mentioned, the mouse pad is very annoying and hard to use. Luckily I already had a nice wireless mouse that is connected via a small USB chip. If you are going to buy this, I would suggest buying a mouse as well. I would also recommend getting a warranty, I have recently started having problems with my laptop just randomly shutting off and then not turning back on for awhile. It's very strange. I like it, but I think I probably could have gotten something better for what I paid.

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