Toshiba 15.6" Laptop 3GB 320GB | C655D-S5518

I have owned expensive computers before(ie Macbook pro) when I bought this computer I was impressed by its price and usefulness. It is very capable of doing everything other big name laptops do, the screen resolution is impressive, and it is easy to use. I enjoyed owning this computer and think it is great for casual and even intensive use(I used it to code C++ for a while). The price makes it a no brainer.

Line and double image developed in screen after only 3 months. I called Toshiba and they basically stated that all screen problems were assumed to be because of mishandeling. This computer set on a counter and was never moved anywhere. I am ordering a replacement screen,Toshiba Satellite C655D-S5515 Laptop Computer / 15.6-inch HD Display Screen / AMD Dual-Core E-300 1.3 GHz Processor / 2GB DDR3 RAM Memory / 320GB Hard Drive / Double-layer DVD±RW / 6-cell Battery / Webcam / Windows 7 Home Premium / Black but I will never buy another Toshiba product.

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HP Envy x2 11-g010nr 11.6-Inch Convertible Laptop

The Envy X2 is a sleek hybrid laptop\Tablet that runs Windows 8. This isn't a Windows RT device like the Surface, the Envy will run all your Windows desktop applications. This tablet has a dual core Atom processor which is not the speediest processor in the world but the trade off is fantastic battery life. The Envy has a battery in the tablet portion and a second battery in the keyboard base giving you around 12 hours of total run time.

The build quality of the Envy X2 is excellent and the IPS display is a pleasure to use. The tablet portion clicks solidly in to the keyboard base. I've read reviews elsewhere that had concerns with the keyboard but I have found the keyboard to work fine.

The Envy comes with 64 GB of storage but about 10 GB are devoted to a restore partition. There is a MicroSD slot on the tablet and a full SD slot in the keyboard base allowing for expansion. The Envy has 2GB of RAM with no option to increase it.

I was not expecting the Envy X2 to be a powerhouse due to it's limited specs but it runs Windows 8 and Office with no problem. Boot time and shutdown are quick. Overall for my needs the trade off for better battery life over the core i5 tablets is worthwhile. I should note that this is a secondary system that I bought to travel with and I have a Laptop with a core i7 for the heavier processing.

In terms of a tablet I still prefer my iPad 3 to this device. That isn't so much because of the hardware but rather iOS seems better suited to touch than Windows 8. If you are after a tablet that will run your Windows desktop software, though the HP Envy X2 is a great little device.

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I'd like to preface by saying my review is of the hardware, not the software. Suffice to say the Envy x2 comes with a 32-bit edition of Windows 8 pre-installed. I will not be reviewing the pros and cons of the OS, just the hardware.

INTRODUCTION:

HP's new Envy x2 hybrid is a tablet masquerading as a laptop, not the other way around. It has a tablet specs (processor, ram, storage) so don't go thinking this is a high powered laptop that will run your latest online multiplayer game. It won't. That's not to say the Envy has no entertainment value because it runs videos and casual games quite competently. I personally think the tradeoff is worthwhile because it makes the Envy light weight, highly portable, and above all, it has a long long battery life.

For the purposes of my review, I will be referring to the Envy's two distinct parts: the tablet side, and the keyboard side.

PROCESSOR, RAM, GRAPHICS:

The Envy x2 has an Intel Atom Z2760 CPU clocked at 1.80GHz and 2GB of 533MHz LPDDR2 SDRAM (not upgradable). It has Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (integrated). I find my programs and apps run really well. I'm running MS Office 2003 without a hitch (my primary use for a laptop) plus a number of casual games and apps purchased from Amazon and the Windows Store. Everything runs great.

TOUCH SCREEN:

I find it sensitive and responsive; very nice, no complaints. There is a NFC area in the upper center of the screen. I don't have any NFC devices so I can't test this. This beautiful widescreen LED backlit display runs in a native resolution 1366x 768 @60p Hz.

CONNECTIVITY:

The Envy x2 has a Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n wireless SDIO adapter for WiFi. I have a dual-band wireless-N router, and the Envy x2 is capable of connecting to either the 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz band. I use the 5Ghz band and I haven't had a problem connecting or staying connected. It is also Bluetooth compatible and (as mentioned) has a NFC area in the top center of the screen.

KEYBOARD & TOUCHPAD:

The Envy features a full size keyboard with chiclet style flat keys. They have a nice tactile feel and sound when typing. I did initially have a bit of an issue with the keyboard which has been fixed with a BIOS update from HP. I recommend this update if you have the extra space/repeated last letter keyboard issue.

The docking mechanism works really well. The tablet/screen is magnetically guided into place and so there's no fiddling around trying to find the correct position. It's super easy to pop off and re-dock.

Since my main use is writing, I also found it convenient to turn off the Synaptic touchpad by double tapping the square in the top left corner (toggle) to avoid accidentally moving my cursor when my thumbs grazed the surface. I just plug in a wireless mouse and use that instead.

STORAGE & DRIVES:

The 64GB solid state drive makes the Envy zippy. While 64GB doesn't sound like much storage, there are two additional SD slots for expansion--a micro SD slot in the tablet side, and a standard SD slot in the keyboard side. I purchased a SanDisk Ultra 64 GB MicroSDXC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card with Adapter (SDSDQU-064G-AFFP-A) (so it's usable in either slot) which I installed in the tablet side so I can undock without losing any storage. I'll purchase another for the keyboard side if and when I need it.

Roughly 10GB of the 64GB SSD is set aside as a recovery drive. You can reclaim this space once you make a recovery flash drive. HP includes the app needed to make a recovery drive; all I needed to do was supply the 16GB USB flash drive. At the end of the process, I was given a choice to reclaim the recovery partition as useable space. I recommend making the recovery drive even if you don't reclaim the partition, so that you have an independent backup of the factory default OS should you ever need it. Of course, there's an option to purchase this directly from HP, but expect to pay $$$ plus tax and shipping. Making your own, while your recovery partition is in good nick, is a much cheaper option.

There is no optical drive in the Envy, but if you have, or purchase, a USB DVD drive like the AmazonBasics USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive (Black) then you can load your older software and compatible games.

FEATURES & SLOTS:

Tablet:

1 x MicroSDXC expansion storage slot

1 x headphone/microphone (single 3mm jack)

2 x cameras (front facing and back facing) with integrated mic, 8MP, 1080p video capable

Power on/off button

Volume control button

Stereo speakers featuring BEATS audio

Keyboard:

1 x standard SDXC expansion storage slot

2 x USB 2.0 slots

1 x HDMI output

1 x headphone/microphone (single 3mm jack)

Synaptic multi-touch gesture touchpad

Power charger slot

The Envy has two batteries, which makes for an incredibly long battery life. It is also designed to drain from the keyboard side first, so if (after using it all day) you decide to undock and take the tablet, you (hopefully) don't have to recharge first. Neat idea! I find I only have to recharge every 2nd day, and that's after a full day of using Word.

OTHER:

The Envy has a really nice brushed aluminum shell, which gives it a really classy look and feel. It's also a very thin computer for in a backpack or book bag, and ultra lightweight while still maintaining a huge 11.6" screen. As mentioned, the Envy comes with a full version of Windows 8 pre-installed, meaning most of my older software will run. This is a big plus for me.

The power brick is tiny, measuring only 3.25" x 1.5" x 1" approx. This is a nice for when you need to take it with you.

IN CONCLUSION:

If you're after a laptop for high powered apps and games, then the Envy x2 probably won't fit your needs. However, if you're after something that has the convenience and portability of a tablet but the functionality of a laptop, then the Envy x2 might just fit the bill. Yes, you might get more bang for your buck by lugging around a traditional heavy i3 or i5 laptop, but for me, the lighter weight, 12+ hours of battery life, in an easily transported compact shell makes the HP Envy x2 my ideal choice.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program First things first, the HP Envy x2 11-g010nr 11.6-Inch Convertible Laptop isn't necessarily designed to replace your more sophisticated laptop or desktop computer. If you have heavy processing needs or more challenging applications, you're going to want to continue to utilize your other devices. But, that said, this portable unit does show great flexibility in its ability to adapt to the more routine tasks that you may need to perform on-the-go. As with any convertible laptop, this comes in two distinct parts. The screen contains most of the "brains" necessary to fuel regular tablet functions, so you can just unclip it and take it on the road. However if you need standard keyboard or mouse functionality, just connect it back up and you're ready for computer operations.

Windows 8: One of the successes of the HP Envy x2 11-g010nr 11.6-Inch Convertible Laptop is in its usage of Windows 8. If you are a die-hard Windows user, you know that the programs can be somewhat problematic on touch screen devices. There is, oftentimes, too much going on to be wholly effective. Most, therefore, use the less impressive Windows RT technology. So the ability to run any Windows software (unlike the pale shades of RT) is an attractive selling point.

Graphics/Display: The graphics and clarity are perfectly serviceable, if not somewhat better than expected with a HD, Anti-glare, LED-backlit IPS display is powered by Intel Graphics Media Accelerator technology. Once again, this is not meant to stand up to intensive gaming but is suitable for common usage including casual games and HD video.

Compatibility/Additions: The unit has two USB 2.0 ports, a built-in card reader, and a HDMI port. With these, you can customize your experience with external storage or connect to larger monitors depending on your needs. It is Bluetooth compatible and has Wireless network access. And there are headphone/microphone jacks. The unit comes with a front facing camera good for chat (HP TrueVision 1080p HD webcam) and a rear facing camera for specialized tasks (8.0MP). The audio speakers are surprisingly solid Beats.

Design: The HP Envy x2 11-g010nr 11.6-Inch Convertible Laptop comes in a lightweight Brushed Aluminum case. All together, it's about 3 pounds.

Processing Power/Storage: The device is powered by an Intel Atom Z2760 processor which is a 1.8 GHz, dual core unit. This is fairly comparable to what you'd find in other tablets. There are 2GB on on-board RAM and 64GB SSD. While this is probably more than enough for most users, there is no way to upgrade or customize the 2GB RAM with additions.

Battery: The tablet has a battery which boasts about 7 hours of usage. The base, however, also has a battery. When attached, the usage extends to about 12 hours. The double battery really makes a nice difference.

As a Windows user, I really do like the HP Envy x2 11-g010nr 11.6-Inch Convertible Laptop. If that Windows functionality is NOT of major import to you, you might find less expensive alternatives that better serve your wants and needs. But overall, I think this is an incredibly successful marriage of laptop and tablet. When I'm on the road working for any length of time, I still take my more powerful laptop as it is my LIFE. But for convenience and daily activities, I've found myself relying more on this lightweight and handy unit. KGHarris, 1/13.

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I was so excited to get this convertible laptop/netbook. If the device didn't have the following issues, I would be very happy with it. However, after 1 week I decided to return it. Here are the issues:

1) Light Bleed Around Screen: The screen had significant 'light bleed' around the edges of the screen. I was sitting in a dark room the first time I turned it on and wow, the light bleed around the edge of the screen was very annoying, especially when watching a movie. Out of curiosity I decided to compare the light bleed to that of an iPad. The iPad had NO noticeable light bleed whatsoever. The screen on this device certainly needs to be manufactured better to avoid the light bleed issue that many complain about.

2) WiFi: Unfortunately the WiFi reception is very poor. This is ultimately the reason I returned the device. I used it with various WiFi routers and could never get it to connect faster than about 30 Mbps. Most of the time it would connect around 5 Mbps. Additionally the signal reception was very poor. Even when sitting within 10 ft of the router, it would only get two bars of reception. I think HP has an antennae design flaw. My other laptops and Windows Phones get great WiFi reception in my home and office.

3) Speakers: I was hoping I could put movies on this for the kids to watch while we are in the car. However, the speakers don't put out nearly enough volume. Without supplemental speakers, it would be way too quiet for use in a car or a room with moderate background noise.

Unfortunately after doing quite a few web searches, I determined that many people have noticed the same issues with this device. Therefore these items must be a result of poor design/fabrication. Therefore, I chose to return it. Hopefully HP fixes these items in next iteration of this device. If they do, I'll be sure to buy it. Windows 8 on a touch device of this form factor would be awesome.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program

One has to imagine this sort of device is exactly what Microsoft had in mind when Win8 was in development. An interesting marriage of laptop and tablet, offering all the touch screen benefits of the latter with the power and access to mainstream software of the former, all in the body of what used to be called a netbook. Netbooks, of course, died out as a species with the popularization of tablets, the iPad and various Android offerings all but pushing those small, inexpensive, bare-boned PC offerings right out of relevant space. The HP Envy x2 isn't a rebirth of the netbook, it's really a new species entirely, and despite being a relatively early entry into a new arena, it's polished and sophisticated.

As a disclaimer, I own and love Apple products without crossing whatever line is necessary to get into unabashed fandom. I have and use an iPhone, I have and use regularly an iPad mini which replaced an old and tired (but loved) first generation iPad. You could easily replace Apple/iOS with comparable Android devices here, because my point is that I really enjoy these devices, and all the portability and ease of accessibility that they bring BUT there are areas of use that they just can't and don't address. Then there's my main laptop, 18" of desktop replacement that is technically portable, but I'd feel sorry for anyone who actually wanted to lug it around, and popping in on your lap to work away from a desk or table would be akin to having a German Shepherd as a lap dog; hot, blows a lot of air, heavy, not particularly comfortable.

As my short and silent video demonstrates, you're out of the box and running here in less than 10 minutes. The brushed aluminum body of the device is pleasing and manages to avoid major fingerprint issues. In laptop form, it weighs in at 3lb 1.4oz/1400g, when detached the tablet/screen is approximately 1lb 8.5oz/698g -compare to a 1st gen iPad which is about 862g with a stock soft cover, and what you have is more power and flexibility in a lighter device (again, compared to a 1st generation iPad).

The solid state hard drive makes for lightning quick boot ups. Those of you out there still using systems with traditional drives will marvel at power on to desktop waiting times that can be measured in the teens (seconds) or even less. My fastest of a few different tries (demonstrated on the video) was 10 seconds, that's cold to Windows ready to go, which is remarkable.

There are sacrifices, of course. Processing power is not going to be up to speed with current desktops or higher end/larger bodied laptops (though it will be superior to every tablet I'm presently aware of). Battery life isn't going to be as substantial as larger laptops with one or more substantial battery packs. Graphical power is going to be what one would expect with integrated Intel graphics, this is not a high end gaming rig but that's not what it's trying to be. But it's capable on each of these fronts, and it exceeded my expectations which, going in, were more in line with "this is going to be a tablet with a keyboard" rather than "this is going to be a capable PC with the ability to split off and be a tablet".

My iPad mini is still going to be my go to browsing and email device; but I can't work on that because of the PC-specific requirements my job requires, so the HP Envy x2 *will* be getting heavy use (assuming I can get it away from my wife who has decided it's just what she needs too) when I need to have a capable java-enabled browser and the ability to have multiple open windows. What that means is I'm untethering myself from my big laptop, and that's a great thing. Even in the comfort of home, portability and agility is king. I find the touch quick and responsive when the screen is docked to the base and when it's not. I find Win8 right at home on the device, quick to load and responsive either in the new Start menu or in the old. Office loads right up, and the machine handles a reasonably heavy `work-style' processing load efficiently. The specs are all listed in the product description and other reviews have rehashed them smartly, so what's left for me to say is that the Envy x2 exceeded (and continues to exceed) my expectations. This is a PC, not a watered down PC the way netbooks were, but a capable box that also offers touchscreen in the way Win8 was truly intended, *and* is capable of splitting off and being a powerful tablet as well. Throw in Beats sound and an HD camera, and this will be a dream machine for those who want the best of both worlds. Note that the ports (with the exception of the SD slot *and* a secondary headphone jack) are on the base of the unit and not the tablet/screen portion). But connecting them on the fly without closing or changing applications is quick and easy, as demonstrated in the video. Outstanding job, HP.

tl;dr -Outstanding `tweener' device, highly capable both as a PC and as a Windows-based tablet. Highly recommended for those who need the functionality of the former and value the portability option of the latter.

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Toshiba Portege R700-S1322 13.3" Laptop

One of the worst experience with Amazon and Galactics. The laptop is not working from the day it arrived. Why I have to go through all this if I need a return. If has to be simple at least.

I just bought this directly from Amazon and everything seems to be working well and it is ultra light. The keyboard is great and feels as good/ergonomic as a full-sized external keyboard minus numeric pad. I'll try updating this review later with a more balanced review including pros & cons.

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Overview: This is a nice little machine for a reasonable price. Thin, lightweight, and full-powered. Build quality is acceptable-better than your standard consumer-grade machine, although not up to the standards of a Thinkpad (a true Thinkpad, not one the watered-down value lines Lenovo has recently introduced), an E6XXX Latitude, or Elitebook. On the other hand, it is (again) thinner and lighter than most business machines, and packs a surprising amount of processing power considering its form factor.

Pros:

1. Thin and light-ideal for travel, especially with the small AC adapter.

2. Good battery life. 5 hours is easily achieved with the stock battery with brightness at about 70%, wifi on, and browsing/office app work. This is actually excellent when one takes into account the CPU and physical size of the machine.

3. Docking connector. If you use docks, you'll understand why this is so important. If not, try a dock (a true dock-not a USB aftermarket model) and you will never purchase another work machine that does not have a native docking connection. The Toshiba dock is not cheap, but is full-featured and integrates perfectly, with no hot-plugging issues.

4. Horsepower. Powerful CPU, good enough on the graphics front for business and dual monitors, plenty of RAM support, and the stock HDD is good (throw in an SSD to make the machine really fly).

5. Matte screen. It's not glossy. Enough said. Brightness is good enough for indoors work, but not quite there in the sun.

6. Trackpad off button. Very handy for typing, to prevent random cursor movement and clicks.

7. Fingerprint reader that actually works well.

Cons:

1. Heat and noise. There is no way around this, really. Cram a high-power CPU and an optical drive into a thin machine, and this is the price. Fan revs up really quickly, even under light load, and the constant ramping up and slowing down can be annoying. The machine also gets toasty under load, enough to be a bit uncomfortable.

2. No touchpoint/trackpoint. If I used this machine as an actual laptop most of the time, as opposed to keeping it docked, this would be a deal-breaker. But, if you are not a trackpoint fan, this should not bother you at all.

3. Gaudy chrome accents on the trackpad buttons and hinges. Yes, this is nitpicky, but if accents must be used, at least make them real metal.

Other:

1. As mentioned, build quality is OK. Don't expect this machine to survive abuse like a full-fledged business machine.

2. Built-in camera and mic work perfectly well for videoconferencing, although the native speakers do not get terribly loud.

3. The screen is a typical TN panel, but not horrible. It is usable with decent viewing angles (for a TN) and a serviceable resolution.

4. Not sure how cluttered the machine is on the factory image; I have read reports that it is quite cluttered, so users should be aware that a clean install may be called for.

5. Screen hinge seems quite tight. Again, not Thinkpad heavy-duty, but the screen is very thin and light, so I don't anticipate they will be problematic.

6. Keyboard is island-style and OK. It's a bit difficult to describe-if you press the keys individually, they seem quite stiff and unimpressive. However, in actual use, it is actually quite decent. I would not hate my life if I had to use this keyboard extensively.

7. There is an optical drive. Big plus if you need one, but these days, it's not quite a deal maker or breaker.

Conclusion: No big surprises here. Price is ultimately going to be the deciding factor, unless some of the other features (especially the weight and slim profile) are selling points. In the $1K range, there is pretty stiff competition from the Thinkpad X2XX and Elitebook 2XXX series. The newer version (R800 series) reportedly improves on what I perceive to be the biggest issue with this model-heat (and subsequently noise). The latest version of the i5 (Sandy Bridge) uses a 32nm process for the GPU and almost certainly has some additional power optimizations.

12/21/2011 update

Having used this notebook for a few months, here are some additional observations:

1. The CPU really needs an SSD to stretch its legs. A G2 80GB Intel makes a noticeable difference, and is well-worth the cost. Swapping the drive out is a simple matter, and Intel provides free migration software for easy cloning. This performance boost should not have come as a surprise, but the difference never fails to impress me. I expect slightly longer batter life as well, but have not tested yet.

2. The speakers are seriously weak and lacking. An external speaker is a requirement if using this to share content/give presentations.

3. The palm rest area is a bit too flexible. The mag-alloy is solid enough, but there does not appear to be a rigid underlayer. Picking the system up by the left side causes the fan to compress a bit and results in a slightly disturbing grinding noise.

4. Battery life is quite good, but a spare is highly recommended if you use this for CPU-intensive work. Nonetheless, a full charge will only drain ~45-55% in the course of 2 hours of a media-rich presentation streaming over WebEx.

5. Noise/heat remain weak points. The fan has a very steep ramp-up curve, and this can get quite annoying during meetings. I'd wager that the fan noise alone would be enough to give away the fact that you are watching videos/playing games instead of paying attention. Even at idle, the fan is noisy enough such that the system is never silent. With an SSD, my ThinkPads have been essentially noise-free at equal workloads; the Toshiba is quiet most of the time for emails, light Office app work, etc, but you know it's there.

6. Fingerprint reader works quite well. Much less picky than previous generations, and is actually useful enough to be a viable alternative to inputting passwords with the KB.

7. Keyboard becomes squeaky and annoying over time, even with light use. I amend my previous comment about it-I actually would hate my life if I had to use it exclusively.

Conclusion: Not sure why anyone would be considering this particular model for personal use, but if your company purchased one for you, do whatever it takes to convince your IT department to upgrade you to a good SSD.

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I'm very happy with this machine. I got tired of lugging my 8 pound multimedia "laptop". It was a fine machine and still in use, but I really needed to downsize the machine to save my back and shoulders. This is a fine PC, good LCD, good keyboard with a nice "feel" to it, decent speed, etc. I'm quite content with the machine and it's a very welcome addition to my road warrior kit. Other reviews complained about how noisy and hot it is. HUH? I have not found either to be an issue.

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I got a good deal on this product. The merchant told me that "Amazon screwed it up" . I never got this product. Got a mail to write a review abt the product from Amazon!!

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HP Pavilion g7-1365dx Laptop - AMD Quad-Core A6-3420M Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon HD 6520

I bought this laptop several weeks ago, right after it came out on the market, as a replacement for my old, obsolete Lenovo Thinkpad R61e (and as a backup for one of my desktop computers that, at nearly 7 years, is really showing its age). I was attracted by the balance of price and features, and so far I haven't regretted this purchase for a single moment (though I did get a wistful moment when I saw a similar HP model at a local computer shop that had a Blu-Ray drive :) )!

The g7-1365dx is one of HP's latest entrants in its highly successful Pavilion series of notebook/laptop PC's, with a slightly less capable twin in the g7-1355dx model which came out about a week after this model did (the only difference is that the 1355dx has a 500GB hard drive as opposed to the 1365dx's 640GB hard drive). With a quad-core AMD A603420M CPU, Radeon HD 6520G graphics, 640GB hard drive, 17.3" display (bigger across than some desktop LCD monitors!) and 4GB of DDR3 memory installed, we have here a suite of features that's comparable or superior to a great many more expensive laptops, so much so that one hesitates to call this machine a "budget" laptop for fear of unjustly labeling it a cheap or corner-cutting machine, neither of which it manifestly is.

I strongly recommend adding another 4GB of RAM to this computer, a cheap upgrade which I performed within an hour of purchase. This simple upgrade will significantly boost the power and speed of a machine that is already highly capable. The Windows 7 Home Premium system starts up and shuts down quite speedily. The graphics unit is rated as "A6" by AMD, the second-highest rating on its scale, which means that this computer is at least theoretically capable of playing Blu-Ray discs with the appropriate hardware. You will need to buy an external Blu-Ray drive, however, and probably a HDMI cable to connect the drive to the available HDMI port (the computer also has a traditional monitor port for connection to an external monitor). The hard drive has more capacity than the internal hard drives on any of my other computers, but depending on how much data you have to store, you may want to purchase a compact external HD to take along. The machine is very elegant in design, with an attractive black/silver-pewter color scheme, and has a satisfyingly hefty, solid feel. While it weighs 6+ pounds, when stored in its laptop bag along with the peripherals I've purchased for it, the whole package actually seems to weigh less than my old Thinkpad!

Some users feel that the built-in speakers are a bit puny, but it's my experience that speakers on notebook PC's tend to be comparatively undersized/underpowered affairs due to the constraints of the design, so I'm not really bothered by that (plus which, since I'm hearing-impaired, the sound system is less important to me anyway than the graphics quality). And speaking of which, the LCD monitor delivers beautiful, crisp, clear pictures. Fans of cutting-edge FPS games might need to step down the graphics level to play their favorite games on this machine (notebook PC's, again, tend to have less powerful graphics than desktop PC's so are usually not the best options for playing highly graphics-intensive games in any case) but other genres of games (e.g., strategy games like the Civilization series) should play without any issues. I got Cyberlink PowerDVD, my preferred movie-playing software, installed it on this machine, and it works like a charm very important since playing video away from home is one of the more frequent uses to which I intend to put this machine. (At the time of this writing, I haven't experimented yet with the built-in webcam.) Take note, also, that the hard drive is actually _larger_ than its marketed size of 640GB; the usable partition shows up as 678GB in all reporting software, along with two smaller recovery partitions, totaling some 700GB (which makes me wonder if HP actually installed a 750GB HD in this model remember that usable formatted sizes on a hard drive are always smaller than the size on the label but decided to market it as a smaller one).

No computer is ever perfect, though, and I do have a few quibbles with it. The battery life is advertised as being "up to 5 hours, 30 minutes", but that's marketing talk; as it comes from the factory, battery life is probably going to be closer to 2 hours and you'll need to do some work with the power scheme to stretch out the battery (and be sure to buy a spare battery once they become available for this model). There are only 3 USB ports, a common limitation on laptops, but if you have several USB devices to run, you'll need to buy a USB port hub. The media card reader only accepts SD and MMC cards, so I had to buy a USB card reader that accepts xD picture cards (the type that goes with my camera). The arrow keys are fairly small, which can lead to some awkwardness with certain games and applications that require lots of arrow-key manipulation; a USB keypad with full-sized arrow keys might be in order here.

All things considered, this is probably the best, most powerful laptop PC I've ever owned, and right now it's the single most powerful PC I do own! I strongly recommend this machine to anyone who's looking for a notebook that delivers a sound balance of features, power and price.

EDIT: (February 25, 2012): Grab this machine while you can. It's *already* (!!!) being superseded by the dv7-6c95dx, whose main differences seem to be that the latter system boasts Beats Audio, a redesigned keyboard and 4G capability. However, the dv7-6c95dx appears to cost up to $350 more, which makes it a very poor cost-to-value choice for the relatively minor improvements. Also, watch for another model called the g7-1355dx, which is identical in all respects to the 1365dx except that the 1355dx carries a 500GB hard drive as opposed to the 640GB hard drive of this model (this is very likely due to the ongoing hard drive shortage which may have restricted supplies of the 640GB hard drive used in the 1365dx).

UPDATE (March 21, 2012): The hard drive advertised as being 640GB in this laptop is actually 750GB! I found this out this morning when I installed the PC analyzer program HWInfo64 onto my own machine (I recommend it, by the way). That explains why the primary partition is listed as 676GB, nearly 40GB more than the stated/marketed capacity of the HD in advertising, and why there are two additional smaller partitions available for recovery and maintenance. This is a GOOD thing it means that you're getting even more of a bargain when you buy this machine, because you're going to get a hard drive that's bigger than anything found on anything except high-end laptops. I have no idea why HP chose to advertise this drive as being so much smaller than its actual size; perhaps they were concerned that people might see the actual formatted size of the drive and, not being aware that formatted capacities of hard drives are always smaller than the unformatted capacity, complain mistakenly about malfunctioning parts or even false advertising.

This computer is a pretty decent upgrade from my old 2.4 Dual-Core with Intel Extreme Graphics. My old Laptop was over four years old, and you could tell it had seen it's days.

So I decided to purchase the: HP Pavilion G7 1365DX.

How do I remember the name by heart? Naieve one you are, 'tis the fact that this computer is brand new off the lines, and has virtually no developer support for it as of yet. I've scoured thousands of Google pages looking for everything and anything about this laptop, but alas, to no avail.

I will give the Laptop a good year to mature, before I can port Mac OS and Linux onto the device.

My review:

-Stock: 7.2/10

-Upgraded: 8.6/10

Stock Hardware Review:

6 Hard Drive Speed

8 Performance

8 Battery Life

5 RAM Speed

9 Graphics

----------------------

36 / 5 = 7.2 Rating

Pros:

-At these speeds, the Laptop was quite fast. Blazing actually.

-Plenty of Hard drive room, very slow access speeds.

-RAM is sufficient for everyday users.

Cons:

-The multi-tasking just isn't as good with only the original 4GB of RAM. (This is especially true if you set Windows to utilize all four cores simultaneously.)

-Power users will notice slow RAM access speeds, and will want to upgrade to faster/larger sized RAM.

-Normal/Slow HDD read/write speeds will cause slow down on games, and higher Graphically-based programs or Processor heavy programs will feel that wait time.

After Upgraded RAM and HDD Review:

9 Hard Drive Speed (Increased to Caviar-Black 1.0TB

9 Performance

7 Battery Life

8 RAM Speed

9 Graphics

----------------------

42 / 5 = 8.4 Rating

Pros:

--The Laptop will set your house on fire by how Blazing fast it actually is.

-A Mushkin SSD sped Windows 7 up to Jesus speeds.

-RAM is sufficient for heavy multitaking, and RAM intensive programs.

Cons:

-Installation can be problematic for a novice user.

-Can be pricey for replacement parts.

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I bought this in early February. I spent $450 on it, which is a great bargain. I previously owned an HP dv5-1235dx for $679, and due to a few viruses, I got credit for a brand new laptop with warranty, and bought this one. This laptop is twice as good as that one, which was very strong for me and I loved it and still love it, and its $230 less. Part of that is that computers become more bargains as the years pass, and the same price gets you abetter laptop year after year.

The 640GB hard drive is more than enough for me. Currently I have 498 GB free, and roughly 120 used GB memory. When this computer was purchased, HP had put about 30GB on it of its own software and windows 7 and etc... What I do is download 20 movies, watch them, and erase. So I do not foresee myself every getting half of this Hard Drive used up. Even if your someone that stores lots of data, 640GD(roughly 600 able to use) is still plenty. The graphics card is said to be very good but not optimal. In my opinion from what I can tell, it is very strong and impressive. The visuals are as good and better than my last laptop, and barring HD TV blu-ray quality, this wil suffice for most users.

The 4 core processors allow very high multi-tasking. I have had about 6-8 programs in the foreground running, and probably 4 or 5 in the background running with VERY minimal slow-down effect.

The audio and speakers sound great and pretty powerful for tiny laptop speakers. The dvd-drive is great, the 3 USB ports are enough for me, the battery life tends to be about 3 to 3.5 hours on average battery power savings(50% screen brightness, etc..). The webcam is as good as any built-in webcam usually comes. It has 6months of internet security on it. The best buy warranty is $270 for 3 years of the full, "black tie", broken, damaged, water damage, vitrus, full warranty that covers literally anything at all.

The many HP programs include so many that I wont list them all, there are about 12 or more off the top of my head. Some are new that I have never seen and still exploring them. The 17.3 inch screen size is larger than my last 15.6 and the difference is visually much better. It technically is 1.7inches but it feels like 2" or more difference. I love it. I have downloaded 5 or 6 games that are racing, golf, etc and they all play fantastically. Graphics are great even when there is alot of action on-screen.

The mouse pad is my first of this kind. Instead of the smooth pad, its bumpy and rough in order to detect motion better. You can only tell this in person, so try it out when you are in-store. I love the design.

The hard drive acceleration allows the processer to speed up when necessary. When it's not using accelerated mode, the copmuter is fast enough. When it comes on, there are no issues that it can't handle, seemingly(of course the biggest games and movies and everything playing all at once would be tough, but for any standard use it is great. I have absolutely no regrets with this computer and I will enjoy having it for the full 3 years of the warranty. I love this computer so much. Im nota HUGE computer guy, but I love my computers if you know what I mean. I think this computer is A) reliable, B) powerful, C)smooth and sleek. If your budget is $500 or less, I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this. You can not be dissatisfied unless you expect $900 range while paying $500. Other than that, satisfied is what you wil be. Goodluck computer shoppers and I hope I madeyour decision easy..HP is a very reliable product and above all easily my favorite..

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I am very happy with this laptop. It runs quickly and smoothly. Downloading items from the internet sometimes takes a matter of seconds where with my last computer is took several minutes. The biggest problem I had was that this laptop is so big at 17.3" that I had a hard time finding a good computer bag that would fit it!

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This is my first HP and let me tell You I am very impressed with this performance. The Graphics are great. The speed is phenomenal, and just overall a great purchase. It was out of this computer, Samsung, or Toshiba. All had similar specs, but what sold me on this computer was better options for the price. I would recommend this computer to anyone.

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Dell Studio 1535 Core 2 Duo T8100 2.10GHz 4GB 320GB DVD±RW 15.4" Vista Home Premium w/Webcam (Red)

First, let me explain my needs for this laptop. I am a Photographer, on a budget, as I've invested most of my money on having high quality glass & gear. Having already spent quite a bit on Windows based software (hello, Photoshop!), as well, it simply wasn't practical for me to attempt switching over to Apple, the usual choice for Creative Professionals. So, I began my quest for a reasonably priced PC notebook that would meet my needs: Fast processor for Photoshop use, quality & decent sized screen for work (preferably WUXGA), while maintaining portablility. This led me to the Dell Studio Line, the XPS line & the Sony Vaio.

On Cyber Monday, I managed to snag a SWEET deal on a Studio 15 customized with these specs PLUS an upgraded wireless N card, 1920 x 1200 WUXGA screen (need that screen real estate), as well as bluetooth internal (to sync my smart phone) and a 3 year warranty. Bonuses aside, so as to give a true review of the product listed, this thing is much better than I'd even hoped for! It blazes through Photoshop (CNET gave good reviews for this model in this area), the screen is bright & beautiful, it doesn't get very hot at all & the fan is very quick & very quiet. I really like being able to utilize the lit keyboard at night and the multimedia buttons at the top are a nice touch.

To address the negative reviews of others -No, the speakers aren't great. However, I use my home stereo or my Ipod for music, and my TV/DVD for movies, so this doesn't bother me. I did watch an episode of House that I'd missed on Hulu, and the sound was just fine for my tastes. As for the graphics, I wouldn't really know as I'm not a gamer. I do know that the XPS line is supposed to be the Gamer line for Dell, as well as Alienware. Most of the review sites do not recommend the Studio line for gaming due to the graphics card. For general work use, however, particularly in Photoshop, this thing fits the bill! I love my Studio 15!

Each person has their own experience using this laptop. I bought this laptop little while ago, and so far I am very satisfied with performance of this laptop. I had experience with Dell laptop previously since I owned Dell Inspiron 1425; and it worked just fine. I need a faster laptop for my works, and I think this laptop will suit to my needs. I like the design and its back-lit keyboard.

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I ordered this laptop, new, a while back. The laptop came in and upon loading, I realized it was slower than it was supposed to be. Checking the specs, I noticed that it only had 1GB of RAM. Also, the sound drivers were in bad condition, resulting in shoddy speakers and headphone jacks.

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At first I was doubt about this laptop. For these specs, the price is so low. But I tried. If something happen I will return it back to Dell. Now, it has been a little while and everything is working perfectly. For me, this laptop is adorable.

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[.................]what can you expect right?

Vista is horrible. This computer overheats on me constantly, even though I do not leave it on a bed or pillow. The optical drive is currently not working. I've had this computer for 3 months, so I am pretty disappointed. I'm shipping it back to dell to see if they can fix any of the problems, but I doubt it. Once a sub-par computer, always a sub-par computer.

I recommend you steer clear of this laptop.

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DELL Inspiron iM101z-3980BK Notebook Intel Core i3 330UM(1.20GHz) 11.6" 2GB Memory DDR3 1333 250GB

If you're looking for something to use while traveling or just need a secondary computing device for lounging on the couch or sitting on the deck outside, this unit will definitely satisfy your needs. On the other hand, if you're looking for a desktop replacement or primary computing device, thinking of gaming, or expect to type 10,000 word documents day in day out, then this unit probably wont meet your needs.

In my case, I just wanted something to use while I was in the middle of a move, whereby my primary equipment was being hauled away. Although I have a decent smartphone, nothing truly substitutes the full windows7 experience with a full keyboard. I can say that I'm quite pleased as all my expectations have been met I'm able to watch 1080p youtube streams, silverlight (netflix) streams, navigate web pages without any problems, and use IM easily.

With 2gb of memory, one should seriously consider adding another 2gb stick (2 slots, only 1 is occupied) which can be had for less than 20 buckaroos. That gives you 4gb which is sufficient for heavy web / streaming video tasks. There is a true 250gb harddrive which many are replacing with an SSD for faster access and longer battery life. I am thinking of upgrading to an SSD but really, since this is a secondary device I don't really see a pressing need at this point in time.

Note that this unit has a built-in wimax chip which means you can subscribe to wireless 4g plans with sprint or clear. The plans aren't really cheap (35 is the cheapest) but they also don't require any contract so this might be attractive to those who just need to buy a months worth of access while on a trip, for example. It's simply nice to have this option built in without the need for any additional hardware to buy or stick out from your machine.

Quality the finish is pretty good for a Dell and doesnt have any cheap feel to it. Screen is glossy, which I would have preferred a matte type but those are few and far between today. Keyboard fortunately is very tacticle feel to it, responsive, and rates 8/10 for me.

Overall, not much else to say. This is a true notebook with an i3 chip that smokes Atom or E450 AMD chips. In no way is this the fastest notebook out there but the pricetag also doesn't suggest that it should.

Edit: Been using this machine several months now and what do I think of it? LOVE IT! It's hands down the best portable computing device I've ever bought. I've taken this on trips, use it outdoors, and have it in my bedroom for web surfing just before going to bed. It's never failed me and I love the portable size yet its full feature windows in awesome because I never have to comprimise with an Android system that lacks so much. I have zero desire to get a tablet, that's how great this device is.

I've had my Dell 11.6" iM101z for over a year now and purchased it elsewhere, but wanted to share the excellent experience I have had with this notebook PC. First off, the size is perfect. It is small enough (and light enough) to easily travel with, or use in bed; at the same time, the full-size keyboard makes it easy to use. Anyone who calls this a netbook is entirely wrong -it is an ultraportable notebook. The difference between this and a netbook are many -the screen resolution is 1366x768 (720p HD), it has a powerful Intel Core i3 processor, and it can be upgraded to hold 8GB of RAM. Speaking of upgrades, I did add more RAM (maxed it out at 8GB) and I replaced the stock hard drive with a Crucial SSD. It was not slow before these upgrades, but afterwards it is downright fast. As I said, I've had this notebook for about 16 months and it has held up great. Everything still works great, but I did manage to get a scuff on the lid (my fault). Overall, for the price paid (including the upgrades) and the performance/size combination I am highly satisfied. If you're in the market for a small, light notebook, and want full-sized performance, get this!

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I bought this computer to replace my old sony vaio laptop. It was smaller than I expected so i am getting use to typing but on everything else it is a winner. Its fast, super light and so far the battery is lasting around 4 hrs of continuous use.

Theres no cd drive but now a days there really isn't a need for one. Along with this computer I also purcahsed the Corsair XMS3 4 GB 1333MHz PC3-10666 240-pin DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD CMX4GX3M1A1333C9. It was a breeze to install, just unscrew the bottom and snap it in. Now the computer runs super fast and it still cheaper than just about any other computer you will find out there. I was going to buy a new ultrabook but I decided that I could save myself $500 and get this computer instead.

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The Dell Inspiron 11Z may not be the best netbook/laptop computer in its class, but it comes close. It is a solidly constructed, well designed computer, whose performance compares favorably with other, more expensive, Dell computers I have used, such as several of the early Dell XPS models (M1210, M1330). It may be all a casual user needs in a compact netbook/laptop computer, especially with regards with internet surfing; however, users may want to upgrade the available RAM from 2 GB to 4 GB just for allowing it to have faster internet access, though I have found that when I have used the computer connected to the Internet from a high speed connection, I have had little or no problems with internet surfing. I am delighted that it is relatively light weight, and haven't hesitated carrying it with me, and using it to surf the internet at venues like an East Village (New York, NY) bar or the Metropolitan Museum of Art cafeteria. Aside from internet surfing, I have been able to use the limited versions of MS WORD and MS EXCEL that comprise the MS Office Starter software that was bundled with this computer. (For a substantially higher sum, users can acquire an activation key and have MS OFFICE 2010 working, since it comes installed though not working too.) I highly recommend this computer to anyone thinking of using it primarily as an internet access netbook, or as a backup to another, more feature-laded, laptop or desktop computer.

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It is very nice product with respect to its price but the battery part of device is thicker than other parts which makes it thicker and a little bit heavy than other models in this size. It is mainly because of old model of battery. But other things work well and I am satisfied in overall.

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Toshiba Satellite A105-s2141

• CD-RW/DVD-ROM
• 4x USB
• 4 Cell Battery
• PCMCIA
• 15.4"1200x800 Screen

I've had my Toshiba a105 for about 4 years now. I haven't had any issues with it. It initially came with Windows Vista, but I upgraded it to Windows 7 professional with no problem. I haven't had any problems with my DVD drive. Never had a blue screen or any sort of malfunction. I like to do a lot of customization so I have rainmeter running on it, rocketdock and a host of other application that run at startup and my toshiba hums along with no issues. I like that I can log in to my computer just by scanning any finger with the Biometric scanner on the lower right side of the keyboard area.

It has 4 USB ports which is great. I'm using them all simultaneously right now without a hiccup. I use an additional monitor connected through a VGA port, but it also has a Svideo port and I've hooked it up to my tv, several times. The wifi on it is great. My router is in the office, one floor up and I've never had a problem connecting or losing signal.

I have a desktop that I hardly use because this laptop does a great job. Even though I haven't, putting more memory in would make this laptop perfect. It comes with 1GB of RAM, running at 1.73Ghz (Faster than some laptops currently produced).

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'm stingy. I might have given it five stars if it had an HDMI port, but when this computer was produced, very few laptops would have come with a HDMI port. I can't say enough about this laptop. Very tempted to make it 5 stars... Toshiba made a winner here!

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on old (over 6 years) toshiba's the disk drive stops working (this happened to my friend also). I'm thinking of not reinvesting in toshiba laptops for this reason. also my version does not come with a dvd capability. this model is really inconvenient and I don't have money to buy a new one. the model I had before this one ( also a toshiba lap top but a higher grade) worked for 5 years until it was accidentally damaged. but make sure you buy one better than this model.

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Asus S56CA-XH71 15.6" Ultrabook Computer, Intel Core i7-3517U 1.9 GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB 5400 rpm

I ordered for the S56CA after working with a lower version; the UX31A I refer to as the Asus i5. The lower version could compete very well with the MacBook Air I bought at the same time. So when we needed a new computer in the office I naturally went for the higher version. The speed is fine but I was surprised with how basic the S56CA is. To start with since I joined the Mac family I had got used to back lit key boards and since the Asus i5 had it, I assumed that the i7 will have it. No it does not come with it. To make matters worse, the CAPS Lock does not light up when you are using it. Imagine checking every time you use it to make sure that you are in caps. I knew that there are still makes that miss out on such features but they do not cost this much. My story ends rather badly. The colleague who would have used the i7 rejected it on the basis of the absence of a backlit key board. So I gave away my more user friendly i5. Of course, if I was living in the States, I would have traded back the i7 for the i5 just to enjoy a lighting key board and keys.

Save 5% Off

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HP Pavilion DV6700T Entertainment 15.4" Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8300 at 2.4GHz, 3

This is not even close to what I paid for. I paid for 3Gb of RAM and Nvidia Gforce video card. You send 1Gb of RAM and Intel video card. I'm not even close to happy I'm returning this right away.

Pro:

Price

Processor is ok

NVIDIA graphics

Con:

Battery goes bad quickly

Various software bugs crash computer often

This an affordable option if you don't mind buying a battery. I ended up giving this to my son who seems happy with his experience (16yrs). The processor is fast enough to run the internet and other mass software packages. Multitasking isn't painful with the 3gb of ram. If you are storing lots of pictures and stuff like that, then pass for something that has a larger hard drive.

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Ive had this laptop for little over a year and used it for two semesters in college, it fits the bill perfectly haven't had a single problem with it. The remote feature is HP's gift to college students because i can be across my dorm, turn it on and select music and videos from netflix from my bed.

Pros:

Light Weight

Media Remote

Extra headphone port

Card reader

Cons:

Haven't Noticed any yet

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I've had this laptop for a little over a year and I wish I had saved my $1500. I've never written a review on Amazon, but after it finally croaked completely I felt obligated to.

When I first received this computer, it didn't work. I had to contact HP to order recovery disks. After running the disks the computer did run.

About a month ago, the screen would begin to go black and freeze periodically. Again, this laptop is a little over a year old. The screen issue began to be more frequent. I took it to an HP service provider. He told me the hard drive may need to be replaced ($200 parts & labor) or the mother-board would need to be replaced (approx $800 parts & labor). I went the cheaper route and guess what it didn't fix the issue. So, since I am not forking over another $800, the laptop is junked.

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING

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BUENAS TARDES, PUES LE COMENTO QUE AUN NO HE RECIBIDO MI PRODUCTO.... ASI QUE NECESITO INFORMACION EN CUANTO A ESTE GRAVE PROBLEMA

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Toshiba Satellite U845-S406 14.0-Inch Ultrabook (Sky Silver)

This computer is not the fastest out there, nor does it have the most advanced features. But it's great if you need a very portable laptop and you don't have the budget to buy a macbook air. Though you can buy cheaper laptops, at similar specs, this laptop falls into the 'ultrabook' category as defined by Intel. The benefits to an ultrabook is the thin size, light weight, and long battery life. This is not even the best ultrabook out there, but it is one of the cheapest of those. The majority of the ultrabooks seem to be 900 and up, making this sort of a 'budget' ultrabook, if not a budget laptop.

I ordered this for my dad, who needed a new laptop for his work. Some notable points about it.

Design:

The laptop looks sleek, with a great finish that doesn't seem to make fingerprints too noticeable. The keyboard is a chiclet style -similar to the macbook air that this category of laptops attempts to follow Which means it is more shallow than the usual keyboard. I do find it easy to type with, though it does take a bit of getting used to. It looks very nice, in a subdued sort of way. I wish the screen was a higher definition, but oh well.

Portability:

One of the main reasons my dad chose this laptop. It is not as thin as some of the better ultrabooks, but it's thinner than the standard laptops, and -muchlighter.

Usability:

As the other reviewer said, the boot time is slower than I expected from an SSD/HDD hybrid. Yet, it certainly boots faster than the 5 year old laptop it is replacing! Once on, it runs smoothly and quickly for office tasks, and streaming videos. The fans seem quiet, though I haven't tried to task them with anything pushing the computer's limits. It's not a computer for gaming, and I'm not even attempting it. It seems fine for daily use / buisness/ school etc. The Battery lasts about 5 to 6 hours of streaming video and web surfing, etc.

I don't use trackpads if I can avoid it, usually with a wireless mouse, so I can't really say whether that is bad or good. My dad says he preferred the old trackpad he used, but that this one is good enough.

Overall:

I would recommend this laptop to someone who wants all the portability advantages of an ultrabook, but doesn't necessarily need something with super high performance. It's really a pretty decent little laptop. Comparatively, you might also like the Zenbook prime UX32a from ASUS, which is a similarly priced ultrabook that also has an HDD/SSD hybrid.

This is a good Ultrabook, but not excellent. HD makes noise sometimes (including some "clicks", which makes me wonder about its health; that I'll figure out just with time), more than the standard for most laptops. Touchpad sometimes fails on recognizing taps on some areas (it can be adjusted on its settings to make it work smoother, yet this is not among the best touchpads you'll find around). Battery life is fair good (does not last as long as the brand says), not excellent but not bad. Backlighting is a great feature that many Ultrabooks miss, makes it a plus for this one. It's not the lightest Ultrabook, but is light enough, easy to carry. It doesn't heat up much, what is very good. Its case is awesome. For about 650 dollars, it's a good deal.

Update (Jan 23rd 2013): The hard disk stopped making noise, whatever's the reason. It's been working good so far. SSD drive really makes a difference, this Ultrabook boots very quickly. Touchpad (even after updating its driver) still has issues, it freaks out sometimes, requiring me to restart the machine.

Someone has written in a review that this ultrabook actually doesn't have backlight as announced by Amazon. I confirm what's announced on the page here, it DOES have backlight, and it works very well (it's a smart backlight, after sometime without using the keyboard, the light turns off automatically).

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I research as well prior to purchasing good Laptop/netbook and found the Toshiba was the right price /ratings. After using it for a month now it is a great product light weight screen jumps out at you easy to use and the 32 GB boot up is fast. One thing I found out when I upgraded to Windows 8 is the PC locked up we had to reset the PC I guess like most laptops with the battery inside there is a small hole under the back you have to hold in to rest. It wasn't the PC but Window 8 ...when you shut down Windows 8 you have to hold down the Shift Key as you shut down the reason is an app is running in background. This I hope an update will fix. JJJ Tech Pioneer(the supplier) was very helpful and would buy from them again thru Amazon...

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i was kind of skeptical about this laptop because the price was pretty low for an ultrabook with features such as the toshiba u845-s406. i must say i was pretty surprised by its performance so far. it's very sleek and fast pretty light, and has good speakers. the only downside so far is it gets a little warm, and make some sound but still nothing to serious. although allot of people scared me with the non responding keyboard i found no problems with the keyboard but on the other hand the touchpad buttons can get frustrating. other than that the backlit keyboard is awesome-best feature if u ask me.

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When buying this I sought a light laptop still running Windows 7 that would compare with an Asus UL30 I bought a couple of years ago. I bought the Toshiba because it appeared a good value and of comparable quality. I disregarded several luke-warm reviews in computer magazine websites. That was a mistake.

I will say the Toshiba is attractive, has a bright and sharp screen, and boots and closes down quickly.

The keyboard does not have a positive feel for a touch typist, and I was annoyed to find that in order to get a function key to operate in the expected way--say F8, I had to hold down the key and then hit F8. This (mis)behavior can be corrected in the BIOS, but should not be the default. Also the proper names of the keys F1, F2 ... are dimmed out and hard to see. I use function keys a lot, and resent this stupid system.

The trackpad works well enough, but the mouse keys are integral with it, and this makes them much less easy to use and one is never certain they have "taken".

Most laptops have a removable battery. Not this one. If the battery fails, you will have to return to machine to Toshiba. The power supply brick lacks a pilot light.

Most laptops have a hatch on the bottom giving access to the RAM storage area, so you can add memory when necessary. Not this one. You must remove the whole bottom, at the minimum, finding screws hidden under feet and labels.

It's not unique to Toshiba, but this machine comes loaded with crapware. The hard drive has only a C: partition, not an optimal setup for a drive of this size.

But yes, it works, but if I kept it, I would be chronically annoyed at myself for buying this. Instead, I am buying an Asus U36SG-DS51, which I believe more suited to my needs.

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ThinkPad T61 Notebook 2GHz Core 2 Duo 14.1" Wide

first i want to be very clear...i am reviewing the machine not the operating system. sooooo many problems with these machines have to do with the o.s. and have nothing to do with the machine.

when i get a machine, i take out the h.d. and put in my own with linux. maybe i'll dual boot with windows but thats rare.

i have owned the old ibm t-pads and the lenovos and i think they are great machines and this one is no exception. for such an outdated cpu (t7300), its very snappy and does the normal surfy, streamy things just dandy.

i put a solid state h.d. in mine and i recommend them for a little more speed.

excellent keyboard and decent display and right now the cpu cores are running at...35c and 39c and the fan isn't even running. thats nice and cool.

there was a problem with the hinges loosening on these, but i took mine apart and checked them. they were tight but there is that typical slight wobble that you get with older machines (and most new ones). they will be fine.these things are built like tanks. if you saw the insides of one you would understand.

i dont really know what else to say. every port and plug is fine and the machine always works.

i wrote this because these old machines are great for extra machines or beginner (kids) machines and i thought some input would help.

why get a cheap netbook when these are so much better and cheaper?

i hope i helped.

I love the T61. It is bullet-proof and everything was good about this unit except the battery life. Only an hour and a half, so I bought a new 9-cell for $26. Now it is as good as new. The seller makes sure the screen and unit are in perfect condition. I'm willing to pay a little extra for that.

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I bought a top-of-the-line version of this for my son for med but it turned out to be completely unreliable. And 9 of the 10 others in his class who had Lenovo's had the exact same experience. Only 1 was satisfied. What's worse, when we had a disagreement with Lenovo over whether we should pay for a repair that did not fix the problem, the head of Lenovo's customer service department told me -and this is an exact quote -"I don't care what's good for the customer, I care what's good for Lenovo. BEWARE!

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March 28, 2013

Thank you Computer Thirst. The laptop is very good, fast smooth windows 7 is very good.

Professor Sanders

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Unit arrived with a battery that was dead on arrival and showed major faults. Battery is unable to be charged and recommendation was to replace. Bummer!

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CompuLab fit-PC3 Pro Diskless

Don't let its size fool you, this computer is very powerful. My husband didn't do much to the system except add a laptop hard drive to it; I am sure if he adds more RAM to it, the computer would run much faster but it is already fast. We don't really need this computer to do much because it is mainly used by the kids to play chess and do ear training and some other educational software. As a parent, I got this computer mainly because it is low in EMF. Since the kids use the computer a couple hours a day, I'd like them to be exposed to as little EMF as possible. Also, it doesn't hurt that this little machine uses very little energy as compared to a regular computer.

I owned a Fit-PC2 for a few years, and recently sold it on eBay and replaced it with a Fit-PC3 Pro (diskless). These computers are fantastic tech; the build quality is amazing, and they run relatively cool and using very little power. I threw a Samsung 840 Pro SSD in the PC3, installed Windows 8 x64, plugged in three 2GB external drives and it's the best torrent box ever. The PC2 worked fine in the same capacity, but the PC3 (with four times the amount of RAM as the PC2 and more than twice the processing power) runs quite a bit more smoothly. A great purchase.

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HP ENVY 13-2150nr Spectre XT 13.3" Ultrabook (Silver)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is my first experience with Ultrabooks. Up to this point I have worked with laptops that are designed to be desktop replacement systems or family entertainment systems, so the journey into the land of Ultrabooks is a new one for me. So far, I have mixed feelings about this system, mostly due to HP's recovery media creation tool, but my overall impression is a good one so far.

In terms of size, this is a very thin and dainty notebook computer, roughly the size of a fat magazine. This gives it a very small footprint and it is relatively lightweight, making it good for stuffing in a briefcase or carry-on bag (though there are better cases for this kind of thing). I set it up on the kitchen table and as soon as my wife saw it she exclaimed "It's so cute!" Indeed, it's an attractive machine.

One of the things that caught my attention when reading the specifications on this machine is that there was no mention at all of a DVD drive. The packing materials even state "no optical drive". Sure enough, there is none so loading up software will require a USB DVD drive or a properly loaded thumb drive. This is not a huge deal but it is something that must be kept in mind not everyone will appreciate having to get an additional drive just to load up software. I am not sure if HP offers a DVD R/W drive as an accessory kit.

There are exactly two USB ports on this notebook one USB 2.0 port and one USB 3.0 port. For the traveler working on a plane or a student taking notes in a class, this does not matter. However, when working at a desk and getting synchronized with the office computer having only two USB ports may be problematic. This can be overcome by using a hub, but again this requires extra hardware. It all depends on the usage two ports may be plenty. In my case and for my purposes, two is usually sufficient.

There is also an HDMI port, an Ethernet jack and an audio output jack. As is typical with most laptops, this one has an SD card reader. What this notebook does not have, though, is a VGA or DVI output. This is not necessarily a problem as this is a notebook made for someone on the go, but it does mean that connecting to a projector requires using another method.

This notebook is Bluetooth capable. This is a good thing for a lot of people. For me, though, it is less important as I have no Bluetooth accessories. I do appreciate the availability though so that I can connect accessories to it in the future.

Screen type is important to many people glossy, matte, anti-glare... This particular system has a very bright and clear glossy screen which is fine for me but may disagree with others who dislike the reflections that occur and the glare from lights. Keep this in mind.

Pleasantly, there is not a huge amount of "bloatware" on this system. Looking through the list of installed software, HP has not overly cluttered the drive with extra stuff that you won't need (though there is some stuff that I know I will never, ever use). MS Office is preloaded as is Norton Internet Security these are simple to uninstall if there is no need for them. That said, HP and Symantec have arranged a two-year license on Norton Internet Security which is outstanding for a new system right out of the box every system I have seen up to this point came with only 60-90 days of updates for the bundled internet security suite.

My first order of business when I brought the system up was to launch the recovery media creation tool. I plugged in my DVD drive, kicked off the process, and burned 9 DVDs on the way to making a set of 5 recovery DVDs. The process errored out repeatedly, complaining of errors though the DVD media I have has been reliable. I am not sure if there is a weakness in the creation tool, the DVD drive or the platters, but the process took a lot longer than it should have taken. Regardless, there is something else about the process that is even more troublesome HP allows you to make ONE and only one copy of the recovery media. If one of the five DVDs goes bad, then it's all over. This is specific to HP Sony and Asus both allow you to make multiple copies, and my other HP laptop enforced the same limit of one copy.

I dug into the performance measurement tool and the system reports a Windows Experience number of 5.6, driven by the graphics chipset (and it was the desktop graphics, not the gaming graphics, that was low). The highest number was actually the SS hard drive at 8.1, even outscoring the CPU and memory! This is a snappy little system and while it's not built for heavy gaming it has enough horsepower to handle many games.

Relating to performance because of the solid-state drive, power-on to operational time is less than 10 seconds. I absolutely love how fast this machine boots up!

I am no fan of touchpads and to be honest I find the touchpad on this notebook worse than average. It is raised which makes it too easy to inadvertently tap it while typing, and because of the way it is raised it's too easy to get stuff in the crevices around it.

As far as traveling with this notebook, it should be said that there are smaller, more portable machines out there. This one has a 13.3" screen but I have seen much smaller systems. Then again, these smaller systems usually have less power and are less capable. It comes down to whether you prefer more compactness at the expense of power or more power at the expense of compactness.

This system comes preloaded with Windows 8. In a nutshell I find it to resemble a cross between Windows 7 and MS Zune. I am not going to go into a full review of Windows 8 but I will very briefly summarize though it's best suited for tablets, it actually works nicely on this notebook and though there is a learning curve it's not bad.

Finally, I should mention the speaker system. My very first HP laptop came with Altec Lansing speakers built in to the unit. This system comes with Beats audio, and I have found them to be roughly equivalent. Sound quality is very good, especially coming from such a small machine.

HP has put together a very nice system in this Ultrabook. It is small, fast and powerful. I do not like the way it builds recovery media (and restricts you to a single copy), and I am a little bit concerned by not having more than 2 USB ports, but when considering that this machine is built for the traveler or student, this is a very nice system that's worth a look.

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program ...consider this first.

This is my first experience with an ultrabook, and many of my friends will tell you that their first experience with an ultrabook is me coming up to them and saying, "check out this amazing new ultrabook"! The HP Envy Spectre XT is an outstanding choice for your SECOND computer. It is sleek, light, easy to work with, and really fast.

As I said, this is a great choice for your second computer. If you are looking for a primary computer, this is probably not going to work for you. I hate to start describing this wonderful little PC with its drawbacks, but here are the limitations. First, there is no optical drive. No CDs, DVDs, BluRay, etc. If you want to watch the occasional movie on disk, this isn't for you. Second, the hard drive is tiny. How tiny? Well at 128 GB, it is only twice the size of the largest iPhone for storage. While most iOS apps are designed to be under 1GB in size, most PC programs aren't. The OS and pre-installed software leaves you with about 90GB of usable space. That is really small. Again, not a solution for your primary PC. Finally, the GPU is not very powerful, so while the i5 processor is very speedy, the graphics aren't sufficient for most gaming. This is why I compared this to a tablet.

If you're still reading, I'll assume you have another desktop or laptop to use for your main PC, and that you are in the market for a super portable workhorse. If that's the case, look no further!

The HP Envy Spectre XT boots up faster than any other computer I have ever used. About 10 seconds! Nevertheless, you won't be booting this up often, since as an ultrabook with Windows 8, you never have to re-boot. That means it is always ready for you. You hit the power button and it is ready to work in moments. Just like an iPad, but a second or two longer. It is able to do this because Windows 8, combined with a SSD (the "hard drive" is actually flash RAM) allows it to stay suspended using almost zero power, but still be ready to go in no time. Programs load so quickly you don't even notice them loading. I keep comparing this to iOS devices, but this really isn't like any other computer you've ever used.

Once open, you are faced with the Windows 8 Metro screen. This isn't intended to be a Windows 8 review, but some parts of Windows 8 are integral to the ultrabook. For example, the glide pad, with multi-touch, makes navigating Windows 8 so easy. Another nice aspect is that you don't really have to "close" programs like you have done with previous versions of Windows. All you do is hit the Windows key and you're back to Metro. I have had every program on this PC "running" at the same time, and there was zero lag. Apparently, Windows 8 handles app switching much like iOS does. Less for the user to think about, more just getting to work.

As for getting to work, in Windows 8 you have the "App Store," just like you do with iOS. This means that the fact that you do not have an optical drive isn't a huge deal. Many of the programs you will use, you can just download from the Windows store. Netflix, Office, Angry Birds, etc. are all available as downloads. There is a great deal of XBOX integration here too, and XBOX Glass is a cool interface. For comparison (and simply because it is one of my favorite games) I downloaded Zen Pinball FX2. I then re-purchased all the Marvel themed tables. This way, I could compare them with their counterparts on my iPhone and on the XBOX 360. The tables looked exactly like their XBOX counterparts, but this is where the GPU showed its weakness. The ball movement visibly lags here, where it is fluid on the XBOX and iPhone 4S. Nevertheless, the game is very playable and well worth the purchase. Despite the integration of the Windows 8 Store, you can sideload software, but it takes a little know-how. I am able to copy the installation files from my software to another of my PCs, then I can install the software to the ultrabook. Finally, in the case of games, many require the DVD to be inserted whenever you play. Obviously, this is impossible here, but if you can find a "NOCD" patch for you game, you will be up and running. For most people, this won't be an issue, however, because you just don't have the drive space or GPU for the typical game that would require this type of work-around.

On the topic of user interface, the HP Envy Spectre shines. The keyboard is backlit for non-optimal room lighting situations, yet it doesn't appear to hit the battery life too badly for the feature. The glidepad is as good as a glidepad gets, but they are all difficult at best. The surface of the glidepad is smooth and responsive. There aren't separate buttons for right and left click. Instead, the whole glidepad responds to touch and to press. Windows 8 uses these touches differently, so it is a required feature of the glidepad. Unfortunately, due to the nature of a touch/click glidepad, I often find my cursor jumping up or down (mostly up) a half inch when I try to click. It takes a little getting used to, but it is worth it.

Finally, the ultrabook stays cool on your lap. Gone is the exhaust fan and the feeling that your pants are going to catch fire after a half hour of working. There is no need for a lap-desk to use with this ultrabook.

Small, fast, sleek, and light (I know it lists as 3 pounds, but it feels lighter), this is just the solution for portable work. As I began, if you are thinking about a tablet, you should consider this as an alternative. You get full Windows 8, full Microsoft Office (separate purchase), full printing capabilities, full Internet Explorer (or whatever other browser you like), and a full keyboard. The battery life is extraordinary, but still not what you get from an iPad. So, if you just want to surf the web and check your email, get a Chromebook. If you want a large iPhone, get an iPad. If you want a workhorse, get the HP Envy Spectre XT. You won't regret it!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Actually they have been here for a while, but I get the feeling that this is both a transition away from the desktop and a response to the tablet. The HP Spectre XT 13-2150nr 13.3-Inch Laptop (Black), is my first foray into the world of the ultrabook and I have to say I'm impressed and a little apprehensive at the same time.

I have been using a desktop computer since the Commodore days of the mid 80s. Over the decades I have built up a pretty set collection of procedures for getting things done. The hardware and software change over the years, but the basic idea stays pretty much the same. The Ultrabook, in combination with Windows 8 asks you to change some pretty basic assumptions about computing. If you're ready for the change, you're going to love it. If you're not ready to take that next step, this probably isn't the machine you're looking for.

The Spectre XT comes in a box so small that would not comfortably hold some of the power adaptors for notebook computers I've owned over the years. There is precious little in the box either. The package includes a relatively small power adaptor and the machine itself, along with a few obligatory sheets of "Quick Start" type documentation.

The computer comes in a satin-like sleeve. The documentation says it weighs just a whisper over three pounds, but I swear it feels light as a feather to me. The computer is very sleek looking. It is brushed aluminum with black plastic highlights and a black bezel around the screen. If I were judging it on design style alone, it would get an unqualified thumbs up. It is a good looking, very compact, and light as it could be.

As you face the open machine, you will find the audio, HDMI, SD card, and power ports on the right. The USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and network ports are on the left. The power switch is on the left side of the lower body just above the keyboard. One thing you won't find is an optical drive. There is no DVD or BluRay in this machine.

The screen is glossy, which could create problems for anyone sensitive to reflections. The output is clear and very sharp. I normally work with a large format laptop. My current machine has a 17" screen. So I was a little concerned about how I would adjust to a 13" display. I was very impressed. The output was so crisp the smaller text and graphics were no problem.

The keyboard is very nicely backlit and has a nice responsive feel to it. The "Beats Audio" and four built-in speakers provide sound that is well above average for a notebook. The built-in Web Cam is nicely designed and works well. Battery life is so-so at an estimated five hours per charge.

It takes this machine all of 10 seconds to boot up....amazing! You open onto the Windows 8 Metro screen. If you own an ipod touch, ipad or iphone it will look and act very familiar. The glidepad allows for the same types of manipulation as the Apple IOS.

As you will soon discover, booting will pretty much be a thing of the past. Windows 8 along with the Spectre XT just goes to sleep between sessions. With basically no moving parts, standby power consumption is nearly zero, as is your wait time. Just hit the power button and you are nearly instantly ready to get to work. Loading programs feels more like switching between open applications, it is just that quick.

How you plan to use this machine will, in large part, determine how satisfied you are with it. The Spectre XT 13-2150nr and it's Windows 8 operating system want you to think of them as a mobile device. The tiny hard drive(less than 100GB of usable space) and the lack of an optical drive, mean you will be downloading "apps" from an app store in order to work. The system comes with MS Office 2010 installed, but you will have to buy a license in order to use it. The designers of the computer and Windows 8 obviously intend you to keep most of your storage in the "cloud" and stream most media.

This is not going to work as a desktop replacement for many applications. No video or high detail photo editing. No serious design or coding work. This machine is designed for on-the-go communication, writing, streaming and playing. If that sounds like what you're looking for this little machine is slick, sleek and lightning fast.

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I received this lovely ultrabook by UPS today and the track pad worked well enough for me to register my ultrabook and add my Microsoft Student Teacher with speed and ease I might add; I was a bit scared because I read the mumbo jumbo previous people left about this laptop and I started to second guess my decision. I am just a regular student that owned a previous HP but the hard drive broke and my IT guy at worked told me it would be better just to upgrade my situation. He started to tell me about the SSD hard drive and how this was the new technology that I needed to be up to date in computer technology. So I shopped around and found this one this one with all the features I needed on Amazon. I am in my class now writing this review and I love the touch of the keys the backlighting (although my IT says that its just cosmetic, not a necessity!! But HEY, he's a guy!! lol) It comes with this suede like holder it will not get scratched or smeared. OH and the beats By Dre, the idiot at Best Buy said there is no difference unless I plug it into output speakers, but let me tell you, when you play Pandora, it is just like the headphones, and I say this because you can actually hear words that you can not hear on your phone. WONDERUL!! If you are not from the GEEK Squad, you will be pleased with this purchased and as far as the fan, I do not have that problem but I hope you know you are not suppose to have this on your comforter on your bed, it needs to be on a flat surface like a desk or a portable one. I'm sure the computer geeks were aware but just in case some of us civilians were not!! Happy hunting, this one is a winner winner... you know the rest

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This laptop has a quick run and startup speed. But the win 8 system and apps take up too much storage spaces. We only have 60 GB storage space. it is not enough to store our daily data and apps

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