Toshiba Satellite S955D-S5374 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum)

Posted by Unknown on Thursday, July 31, 2014
Toshiba Satellite S955D-S5374 15.6-Inch LaptopI wanted a new laptop my old one is 9 years old and still going strong but the graphics were starting to lack on gaming.

This laptop was a good deal for the price. (I got it for $499 fulfilled by Amazon and now price has changed.)

Pros:

-It runs very cool I've left it on for days and the only warm spot I feel on it is near the exhaust fan.

-The built in speakers are pretty good. It comes with SRS Premium Sound which is nice with a bit of tweaking the bass default makes it sound like it's underwater.

-I have not had any issues with it dropping the wireless connection.

-No issues with it networking to other systems in the house (including 2 XP and one Win7 box)

-I've done some gaming on it and it performs well.

-Touchpad is big and responsive

Cons:

-The LED lights on the front are a bit too bright.

-The keyboard drops or repeats keystrokes despite tweaking (this seems to be a common issue with Toshiba keyboards)

-Boots very slow from a restart (well over a minute), but boots in less than 40 seconds from a shutdown.

-Came with too much bloatware (not surprising)

-When I purchased this, it listed in the description that it came with Win8 Pro which it did not, it's just Win8 basic.

-Does not come with any manuals or recovery disks. The manual is built-in and can be found online which is okay. Recovery can be obtained for 'free' from Toshiba for $40 shipping and handling.

Lots of crapware, Toshiba. Not appreciated. Why are WildTangent games "system apps" that are nearly iimpossible to uninstall (not in Add/Remove Programs! I used Revo Uninstaller to find that these "games" were "system drivers", which is tricky of you, Toshiba!). I got the WildTangent games forcibly removed (msg me to find out how), but it was an unpleasant experience. Worth the effort, though, since WIldTangent now includes whoppers like World of Warcraft!!

Warning: do not try to uninstall the Toshiba Driver for Windows Media Player, even though WMP isn't included in Win 8, because I somehow lost my wifi and got a Blue Screen of Death after doing so. I had to run System Restore and reinstall this (seemingly useless) driver to get my Wifi working again (and I still have to clear out the system dump files from all the errors and BSODs during this process). I mean, *painful* uninstall of crapware.

Otherwise, this seems like a 5-star laptop, esp for the price. It's slim and lightweight, yet still runs work applications impressively (I'm running Photoshop and Office apps simultaneously; and have compiled VC++ without lag, as well).

Packaged nicely; quick boot; and has Office pre-installed, so type in your Office key and you're up and running in short order.

I like it. Needs debloating, but even if you didn't debloat, the only thing you really *need* to remove is the PC Health Monitor (Desktop system tray; useless; monitors your battery; takes up memory). At least that's easy to remove (not tricky like WIldTangent!): Add/Remove programs. You don't need most of the Toshiba utilities, in fact, but keep the Toshiba App Installer so you can reinstall whatever you might miss.

Keep the "Desktop Assist" program around until you get used to Win 8 and the Toshiba utilities. I don't use the media apps included (iTunes and VLC freeware does fine for me), but the Keyboard and Mouse utilities, specifically for this Toshiba, are essential since the Function keys are defaulted to "media controls"... no no no. F5 should be "refresh", not "turn mouse off". But "Desktop Assist" made that easy to figure out and fix.

Don't use IE; download anything else and make it the default browser, because the Win8 version of IE has no ad blocker. (Talk about seeing the internet in a new way! UGH!) The Win8 apps will automatically use the desktop browser once you do that.

I won't trash Win 8 here: it's not bad once you get used to it, but the Win 8 apps don't share well at all with Win 7 applications. If you use One Note, the Win 8 app (not pre-installed) has a beautiful interface, but it doesn't work like One Note 2010. At all. I ended up putting my notebooks (5+ years worth) on SkyDrive so my desktop app, Win8 app, and mobile would all work together well.

Speakers are great. (And trust: use that Desk Assist program to change the Function keys back to function keys, and Fn+Function Keys to turn the volume up and down. The sound card needs the Fn 9 and Fn 10 keys to really get this laptop rocking, but the speakers are great for such a thin laptop. (If you just use the built in Windows Mixer, the speakers won't get it as loud.)

Feels like an older Protege; plays video beautifully; edits video without lag if you're not multitasking. Definitely worth twice the money imo. Win 8 is awkward, but the Toshiba Desktop Assist really helps you get acclimated. (My desktop looks like Win 7 now; everything works fine; I've gotten used to Win 8 apps, too.)

Seriously, Toshiba: get rid of the crapware. That's why this 5-star laptop has only 4 stars.

Buy Toshiba Satellite S955D-S5374 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum) Now

Toshiba has always been reliable in the PCs and this one doesn't defer from the path. It's a great PC. Windows 8 is a bit of getting used to and I don't see that all the bugs are out of it. However, that's not Toshiba... that's Windows.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba Satellite S955D-S5374 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum) Here

You can price shop as much as you want and you never find this much power for the dollar. Toshiba manufacturers their own LCDs and hard drives two of the most important and expensive parts.

The Toshi's ability to run numerous heavy applications simultaneously gives every student access to the tools to be successful.

It cleaves through Microsoft Office almost like it is angry at it !

Photoshop and Creative Suite run with ease.

Mathematica just launches and calculates with consistency, it plots smoothly and usually finishes faster than the projected calculation estimates.

An Information Technology student can use it for their lab work without being connected to the campus lab because this thing can replicate a campus lab. (see my uploaded pic) Even an inefficiently configured Windows Server simultaneously executing six virtualized servers and my foot on this things neck still couldn't crash it. That means a DBA candidate, a JAVA or C# developer and web designer doesn't have to wait in line for campus lab networks since you can host and control your own nicer and portable computer lab on tfis hucking thing ! (s e e the user uploaded p i c), be your own computing cloud.

=============== READ ON FOR RAMBLING NERDetails ===============

If you just hate Windows, I don't blame you since it is hard to tolerate unless people pay you to and Toshiba's are LINUX and Macintosh friendly. Real friendly because it is only laptop maker I've found that lends resources to the Linux developer community along with modified drivers. However, that shouldn't be confused as official Toshiba Technical Support but LINUX users are expected to be independent enough.

You can download a free Mac OSX clone, install it onto a camera card and reboot your Windows 8 into a MaC and without hassle nor risk damaging Windows fragile boot manager (see vid review / 1st appended comment for download links and pics).

Kids are gonna end up loading video games on it, thats fine since most parents I know would rather have our kids distracted playing WoW than wasting spare time playing real life strip poker with the townies, and the integrated lid camera helps you skype the kids to make sure the background image matches the dorm room you're borrowing student loan money for.

This S955 is little more expensive than the cheaper S8 and S7's because the aluminum case exudes quality and rigidity while the less expensive plastic ones feel as cheap and icky as wearing a strangers dirty underwear. The less expensive systems are just as powerful but hold them in your hands side and by side and you'll know where that extra money is going.

NOT all is perfect, the touchpad arrives out of the box designed to annoy and it has to be tuned (see the appendix) or you will end up cussing at the walls before you finally just fling the whole laptop into the floor. Toshiba has some bizarre romantic affair with Norton and it arrives jammed with Norton bloatware constantly demanding payment for ongoing protection but doesn't work any better than free Microsoft Security Center. Removing the Norton isn't as easy as you'd think because of confusing double inverted choices during the removal process "which are just so not possibly unright".

The BIOS arrives locked until you download the Toshiba Value Added Tools that seem like anything but and you risk bricking the machine when Windows fails to boot and Toshiba Telephone Support insists you access the inaccessible BIOS to receive technical support. Toshiba uhnashamedly admits your laptop may or may not include the software along with a dearth of notices or warnings anywhere in the box leaves the owner wondering if Toshi is relying on the $25+ special servicing fee to swap an unlocked drive in the mail.

The beautiful screens are also delicate, the lid closes without a latch but also with zero tolerance. I ruined an LCD after pinching an SD card between the lid and keyboard and the terrible cracking sound was just as awful as a snow skier that snaps their leg after grabbing air and dreading the pain of returning to ground. The LCD although cracked in the corner with that dreaded black moon sunspot, managed to spider across the rest of the panel by the afternoon.

Invest in a $180 damage / owner abuse protection plan since replacing a Toshi screen is about $200 not including labor.

Five+ pounds including the battery can be tiring, the wider deck requires a compatible backpack or roller case inexpensively sold by Toshi or listed as compatible and sufficiently padded, it doesn't have to be ZeroHalliburton rated for skydiving but it should specifically "be wide screen friendly" without being overly dorky enough to invite attacks from bullies. This CaseLogic, is a suitable case and will sufficiently protect a Toshi from most threats except tornado's and stupidity. Case Logic PNC-218 18-Inch Laptop Case (Black) . This isn't a system that should be shoved into a tight fitting case then squeezed further with unexpected docs printed on the campus library since you'll only have yourself to blame for a shattered screen.

Want Toshiba Satellite S955D-S5374 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum) Discount?

WELL I HAVE THIS LAPTOP FOR A WEEK NOW I KNOW THAT MAY NOT BE A LONG TIME TO RATE BUT I WILL ANYWAY. IT IS OPERATING AS IT SHOULD. VERY FAST. IT IS A WAY DIFFERENT FROM VISTA AND OTHER WINDOWS SO I AM STILL GETTING USE TO IT. BUT OVER I CAN SAY IT IS WORTH IT. I AM STILL TRYING TO ACTIVATE THE MICROSOFT OFFICE :( FOR THE FEATURES:

WEBCAM: SHOWS VERY CLEAR

VIDEO/SOUND: VIDEOS ARE CLEAR AND THE SOUND IS LOUD!!! (THAT'S A PLUS :D)

KEYBOARD: VERY GOOD/RESPONSIVE

KEYPAD/MOUSE/ IT IS OKAY, COULD OF BEEN MORE RESPONSIVE

SIZE: A LITTLE BIGGER THAN I EXPECT BUT AT LEAST IT IS LIGHT!!

COLOR: JUST AMAZING

BRIGHTNESS: VERY VERY BRIGHT

BASICALLY IT IS DOING A SPECTACULAR JOB....

UNTIL LATER.....

Save 5% Off

Lenovo ThinkPad 4177Q5U 14-Inch Notebook Computer

Posted by Unknown
Lenovo ThinkPad 4177Q5U 14-Inch Notebook ComputerT420 at my point of view it is a good notebook computer. when I first got it I am really agree with it. the T420 arrived in the Dec 7th 2011. after 4 days the computer screen goes fuzzy. I was shocked a first time why it happen to me because I have never had this problem before with another Notebook computer Sony and Dell. Even it wasn't a business Computer. little bit felt sad. I don't know if any one had the same problem like me before.

Hi everyone, I have been searching for a good laptop so far. I have also experienced a wide range of laptop brands. But this is the best one I have until now. Thinkpad T series are among the best series of the IBM. The Thinkpad T series in general and T420 in particular has very sleek design. Everything is so comfortable for users. The systems is awesome, it runs incredibly fast and smooth, especially it is the coolest computer compared to other computers I had, even at room temperature with full HD video loading. It is plastic cover but very durable and strong. Battery is incredible long lasting. Highly recommended with display type 1600x900.

Buy Lenovo ThinkPad 4177Q5U 14-Inch Notebook Computer Now

Dell Inspiron 14z i14z-2203sLV 14.0-Inch Ultrabook (Moon Silver)

Posted by Unknown
Dell Inspiron 14z i14z-2203sLV 14.0-Inch UltrabookI owned and loved a previous version of the Dell Inspiron 14z. Unfortunately, it didn't love me back when I got caught in a major thunderstorm and it got soaked through. When searching for a new computer, I look at other brands and models before settling on another Inspiron 14z.

First, the cosmetics. This laptop is considered an ultrabook -it's super thin (0.8") and light (4.12 pounds). For a Dell, it's remarkably chic and stylish. I love the Moon Silver finish.

The battery life on this computer is fantastic. I typically get four to five hours of moderately heavy use; if I'm consciously trying to conserve power (turning down display brightness, limiting programs running in the background, etc.) I can routinely get at least six hours. Compared to other computers I've owned, this is simply great. The Inspiron 14z also charges quickly, which is one of my favorite things about it.

It has an 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 processor (a third-generation Intel processor), which is fantastic for the price. It also comes with a 500 GB hard drive and 6 GB of RAM. The computer boots up fast and has no problem running numerous memory-intensive programs at once. The graphics quality is great, it has an HDMI port, and the webcam works wonderfully. I definitely give it 5/5 for overall performance.

As with most Dell products, it takes some initial tweaking to get the machine working the way you want. Adjust the sleep/hibernation settings right off the bet to avoid major annoyance (the default is far shorter than I prefer), change the energy-saving preferences, and alter the trackpad settings. I also uninstalled McAfee and installed Norton instead (personal preference -I've had major performance problems with McAfee in the past). It takes a few days to get used to a new trackpad and keyboard, but the transition was easy for me, as I've owned an Inspiron 14z in the past.

Overall, I highly recommend this ultrabook. It looks fabulous, is light and portable, and is lightning fast. That, combined with the excellent battery life, make this a fantastic product in my book. Enjoy!

The Dell Inspiron 14z is sold as an ultrabook. We get 2-3 hours of battery life even when we are doing simple, low energy tasks like editing a document. Reality (2-3 hours), Dell's promotional materials (5-8 hours), and their post-purchasing customer service are three entirely different things. We are very unhappy customers.

Dell's promotional material says that the Inspiron 14z (6 cell battery) gives "Power to stay productive Ultrabooks don't skimp on battery life: with 5 to 8 hours or more of running time they can keep you productive all day" (http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-14z-5423/pd) and Dell's on-line customer service chat will tell you the "Inspiron 14z's battery last for up to 7 hrs depending on operating conditions"

We bought the Inspiron because we thought we were getting a reasonable battery life. After we purchased the computer, we contacted Dell about the battery life issue, thinking that the computer was malfunctioning and could be repaired. We even sent it back to them for "repair." Still only got 2-3 hours. We talked further with customer service (many calls over many weeks). Dell's technology staff now say that with a 6 cell battery, you should only expect 2-3 hours and that the marketing material (5-8 hours) refers to time when the computer is asleep. I don't know about you, but I'm not being "productive all day" when my computer is asleep.

Dell won't stand by their product. They basically told us that we should have known that a six cell battery will only last 2-3 hours and we were out of luck. We will never buy another Dell product. Their customer service is horrible and you can't trust anything they say on their own websites or in their on-line chats.

Buy Dell Inspiron 14z i14z-2203sLV 14.0-Inch Ultrabook (Moon Silver) Now

I received my inspiron ultrabook for Christmas since then I have had multiple issues. I would have expected a company like Dell to have backed up their computer and been able to see when a computer is a lemon and replace it, but they will not. My mic port went out first they had to flash my BIOS. Then my USB port went out they updated drivers and flashed the BIOS twice and replaced the motherboard. At this time the tech they sent out told me that the computer had internal cracks and was missing screws (this is a refurbished computer I was told was guaranteed). I was very upset and felt like I provided Dell money and was given a product that was defective. The online tech guys just repeated over and over that they will not replace the computer just the parts (the parts keep breaking). Now the computer will not see its own battery charger. I get the same thing we will fix it your computer it will be fine, yes until my warranty runs out and you do not have to deal with me. It has not been fine and they will say that until the warranty runs out. I am stuck with a lemon. I asked them just to give me a credit and I would add money to it and buy a computer from them that was brand new and maybe then I would not have issue and they did not want to help me with that either. I just keep having issue after issue and no wants to see I have a lemon. No one on the chat session will point me to someone that can help me better. Today they offered me a new usb hard drive. This had nothing to do with my issue and they admitted that. They just wanted to shut me up, because I wanted a computer that worked. I went with Dell because I thought I could trust them, maybe I should fall in love with Apple.

Read Best Reviews of Dell Inspiron 14z i14z-2203sLV 14.0-Inch Ultrabook (Moon Silver) Here

it was a headache I get it and it broke down the next day I was going to send it back but I take it for a technician to fix it witch cost me $80 to fix it

Want Dell Inspiron 14z i14z-2203sLV 14.0-Inch Ultrabook (Moon Silver) Discount?

Sony VAIO VGN-FW350J/H 16.4-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB

Posted by Unknown
Sony VAIO VGN-FW350J/H 16.4-Inch Laptop GrayThese are the things that sold me on this particular VAIO:

Under $1000

Huge resolution (1600x900)

Blu-Ray

Wireless N

Amazing dolby sound

Keyboard has independently isolated keys

The fact that it is relatively light weight and looks amazing was just a bonus.

Some impressions after several days of use:

The touchpad is superior to those on dell laptops I've owned.

The speaker is huge, it spans almost the width of the entire laptop.

The media buttons, especially av mode, are slick.

Blu-ray playback is flawless.

Battery life out of the box was about 3 hours, but using heavily optimized settings (in vaio control center) I've achieved upwards of 5 hours.

Webcam+Mic+Speakers = very high quality skype calls, better than my bluetooth headset.

The location of the power button and charging plug-in is really, really slick.

Only frustration:

I have not been able to output via HDMI at 1080p, despite being hooked up to a 42" 1080P LCD. 720P works fine, but for some unknown reason 1080P is grayed out in the settings.

Hello everyone including Sony technitions.

First it's important to know that the laptop arrives with the default set at 720p and must be manually changed to 1080p when utilizing the HDMI connection.

Next is you must change the viewing to only external monitor otherwise you cannot watch a Bluray dvd. You will recieve a security problem issue which will not allow you to proceed watching the movie if both the laptop monitor and the TV are viewable at the same time.

I guess someone feels you're attempting to make a illegal copy?

Next is really important especially to all Disney Bluray DVD owners.

When you watch the previews of coming attractions everything looks and sounds great on your Sony TV from the laptop HDMI connection.

However, when the movie plays you will lose the sound. NO SOUND!

Even the Sony technitions were baffled.

Here's the reason....

The Disney soundtrack is automatically default set for 7.1 surround sound.

You cannot hear the sound at this default setting.

You must access the DVD setup menu and change the audio to ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK.

This happened with "Sleeping Beauty", "Pinochio" & Wall-E.

I only own these 3 Bluray DVD's so no one could figure out why I wasn't hearing the sound when the movie played.

Also, I might add that the movies play great on the laptop no matter which audio track you utilize.

This problem only happens with the HDMI connection to a TV such as my new Sony KDL-46XBR6.

The only other item I will mention is the volume on the laptop is really low when watching a movie so plan to use headphones or an external powered speaker when a little noise is in your enviroment.

I plan to keep this laptop because overall it performs great even with Windows Vista installed.

UPDATE:

I contacted tech support at Sony again and this time talked to someone who knew what the problem was and changed a setting on my laptop.

The result is that all Bluray DVD's will play okay with 7.1 surround sound thru the HDMI port.

Buy Sony VAIO VGN-FW350J/H 16.4-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Now

My old Sony died unexpectedly, so I needed a system that was ready to go, not one to order customized, as it shipped faster. I looked at other brands, but knowing how great the Sonys are for graphics I decided to stick with what I love.

This laptop is terrific as far as brightness and clarity of display. I've never seen brighter, and I work on friends laptops all the time. I couldn't ask for better. The 4GB of RAM and Windows 64 bit Vista are very responsive. My only complaint with the 64 bit version is I've already found a couple of common software programs that are not 64-bit compatible.

I'd highly recommend this laptop for out-of-the-box readiness to go.

Read Best Reviews of Sony VAIO VGN-FW350J/H 16.4-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Here

I was pretty happy with it until I checked the hard drive space: only 287 GB out of 320 GB AND no other partition! Where did the remaining 33 GB go? There usually is a partition that adds up to the total number of GB.

I like the color (gray) and it's a pretty good deal for the price. Bluetooth and wireless N!!

Want Sony VAIO VGN-FW350J/H 16.4-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Discount?

I purchased this product in February and after 4 months I can state that this is a great value purchase. It's hard to find a comparable product with Blu-Ray etc. from a name that is known for great products and great customer service (Sony).

Pro's: Beautiful display, Blu-Ray drive, light-weight (for the screen size), price

Con's: Limited battery life, When upgrading to Windows 7 (Evaluation Copy) the shortcut keys become disabled with no patch/fix out from Sony yet, relatively low speaker volume.

This is a dream machine for the basic PC user, just open it up, plug it in and you are good to go. Out of the box it takes about 10-15 minutes to enter your information and register the product with Sony. Once you get to getting you feel for it you will notice that the display is amazing (especially when playing a blu-ray player). If you are using this as a desktop replacement you should definitely have external speakers to use with it due to the limited volume output from the built-ins.

My only issue is if you are like me and feel the urge to upgrade to Windows 7, beware that the "short-cut/quick keys" for media playing (pause, volume up & down and the s1 button etc.) will be disabled with no fix yet from Sony.

Hope this helps!

HP Pavilion DV4-1280US 14.1-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB

Posted by Unknown
HP Pavilion DV4-1280US 14.1-Inch LaptopThis is my first laptop and I think I made a great choice. Firstly, I bought it directly from hp.com and with the rebates I had, saved two hundred dollars. Secondly, I got free 2 day shipping and it arrived on time.

The first thing I like about it is that the color is not the cheap gold look you see in the picture. I love the keyboards on HPs Entertainment and Special Edition notebooks. They do not feel cramped. There have been many cmplaints about the glare of the keyboards on this and the black and chrome models. So far, I have had no problems with the glare. Yes, I agree with the other reviewer, that the keys are hard to see in the dark. I would assume that would be the case for any laptop unless it is backlighted and this is not. It is light (wtihtout the battery), the speakers generate nice sound, it finds wireless networks instantly, and I actually like Vista. Just a note, read up on accessing the hidden administrator account if you are new to Vista. It has some serious security that will keep you from making even the most basic adjustments, including removing the bloatware.

HP has done a wonderful job in including set up tutorials and online registration processes. The size is fantastic and screen is beautiful. I have not attached any peripherals up to it yet, so I cannot really comment on that.

Cons:

The battery life is short.. maybe an hour and a half even when it in the recommended power save mode. It has a lighted HP emblem on the back of the cover that uses resources. HP could have added the backlighted keyboard instead! The verdict is still out on there telephone tech service! I have had better experience with there chat support.

The comp does sound like it is working overtime anytime I burn a CD and the vibration generating from drive is a bit too much for me to type at the same time.

This is a great laptop, esp. if you can get it for under $. It has only some bells and whistles, so if you want built in bluetooth and a blueray player, you will have to go up a model. Otherwise, no reason not to consider this one.

Performance is good, lookwise it is good and come with good features but only problem is with keyboard color...you can't see lables/alphabets on keyboard clearly (because of bronze color) specially during night time...I am good in keyboard typing so it's fine for me ..if you are not good in typing and can't type without looking into keyboard then little bit you need to strugle in finding keys in keyboard.

This laptop worth it for $700....good value for money and go for it if you are comfortable with keyboard

I am unable to edit my rating ...I will rate this laptop for 4 out of 5

Buy HP Pavilion DV4-1280US 14.1-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Now

keyboard is dark gray with black letters; virtually impossible to read except under direct bright light. I had to return the laptop.

Flawed product design; HP must redesign keybord.

Read Best Reviews of HP Pavilion DV4-1280US 14.1-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Here

This would be a nice little laptop but the contrast between the key color and the letters on the keys is not nearly enough to see what keys you are using. None of my people could use this laptop, even the touch-typers because they still needed to be able to see what the function keys do.(The function keys seem to be different on every laptop.) I have returned this as it is unusable as shipped and you can't tell by the picture how hard it is to see the keys.

Want HP Pavilion DV4-1280US 14.1-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Discount?

I've had this laptop for two days, got a great deal from a local electronics store. My previous laptop was a Asus 1000, but the 10 inch screen on the Asus was getting to me. I really wanted the HP 13.3 inch screen model but could not find a good deal. So going with the 14inch was my choice. If you are experienced with windows, you will be able to remove all the crap that HP gives you with this machine. Newegg has many Hi Tech users and 62% give this 5 stars.

PROS:

1. Much much faster than my old Asus netbook (I'm learning Vista)

2. I like the removable DVD drive to reduce weigh.

3. The lighted controls for volume and more are a nice touch, very easy to operate. (previously I would have to click on the screen and find the volume)

4. I like the mouse pad and scroll bar. Plenty of finger space.

5. HDMI output with a remote control!! I've tested the remote and it worked great. I also tested the HDMI output to my LCD TV and the picture was the best I have seen yet from a computer. (Previously I hooked my Asus to my LCD screen but had to rely on the computer sound, picture and sound blow the Asus away)

6. Great Wireless N!! Much better range than my old Asus. (Many HP laptop models have a better rating on Amazon but they don't have wireless N. This one does. With a wireless N router you can double your speed if you have a good internet connection. Moving large files in your home network etc. (I walked this to the other side of my house and still had a great connection!)

7. Sound is clear and much louder than my old laptop. Very nice!

8. Screen is clean and bright.

CONS:

1. Battery. I get two hours. (on my old machine I got 5 hrs. I'll solve this by purchasing an extra battery)

2. Keyboard markings are very dim. (This is not a problem for me, in a dim room the screen is bright enough to light the keys. I should point out that my old shiny black Asus was tough to see the keys in a very dim room)

3. No bluetooth, but it does come with the software built in. I see that Amazon has many dongles that can plug into the USB ports. I'll followup this review after purchasing one.

Finally I'd like to add that I feel I'm going to love this machine, I've used the DVD burner and its twice as fast as my old external burner. My wife's Acer laptop model 3000 can't touch this machine.

UPDATE:

I removed the negative comment on the DVD, the Drive is perfectly fine. Also found out that right above the SD card location is a slot to store the remote control that comes with this. Just snap out the dummy expansion sleeve and insert your remote. Very Cool! I also bought a Bluetooth adapter and plugged it into a USB slot and it has the best sound to my wireless bluetooth headphones that I have ever used to date.

Latest update 9-18-09:

Downloaded the evaluation version of Windows 7 from the Microsoft. It comes in a ISO file which I burned to a blank CD and inserted into my laptop and it completely wiped away Windows Vista and installed Windows 7. This machine now is the fastest laptop in my house. Windows 7 is better than Windows XP and blows away Windows Vista in too many ways to mention here. I strongly recommend everyone to upgrade when Microsoft comes out with their final version on Oct 22nd. I'm sure Amazon will be selling it.

Dell Inspiron 15 i15RV-10000BLK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black Matte with Textured Finish)

Posted by Unknown
Dell Inspiron 15 i15RV-10000BLK 15.6-Inch LaptopI was looking for the perfect laptop to replace my old Toshiba. This laptop works great, no complaints so far. The price for this laptop is actually a steal with how fast the processor is. My mom bought one as well (her first laptop). I will update my review later if any problems arise and/or if my mom has anything to add.

Pros: Boots super fast (like SUPER FAST), lightweight (I carry it to class with me), Windows 8 is actually very easy to use once you get the hang of it (even the most computer illiterate person could figure it out), I LOVE the number pad as well

Cons: None yet

Sound Quality: It's loud enough for a laptop. I actually find the sound pretty efficient, but don't expect any "super bass" or anything.

But once again, this would be the perfect laptop for you, especially if you don't want to go buy an expensive MacBook.

The first thing that you'll notice is that it's extremely lightweight and is very uncomplicated. This is something that my 87 year old mother-in-law would be able to use right out of the box. Since she's never used a computer before, that says a lot. Many of the everyday apps that you use on a daily basis, are preloaded into the device. It comes with things like YouTube, Gmail and other Google products, and there are literally thousands of free apps available. It starts up very quickly and according to Google, updates are installed automatically. I've found all applications to run smoothly and quickly.

Buy Dell Inspiron 15 i15RV-10000BLK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black Matte with Textured Finish) Now

love this, windows 8 is very easy to use, light weight, great for travel. the quality of this laptop was as expected,

Read Best Reviews of Dell Inspiron 15 i15RV-10000BLK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black Matte with Textured Finish) Here

i was searching for a good laptop, and then my friend told me to have a look at this one. Bought it, and after few days i fell totally in love with it. First of all its really fast, and lightweight, so i can carry it anywhere anytime. Battery lifetime is good, and the laptop has a very nice design. Anyway couldnt be more happier, no troubles so far with it and i hope there never will be.

Want Dell Inspiron 15 i15RV-10000BLK 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black Matte with Textured Finish) Discount?

The laptop arrived in 3 days in the original Dell packaging which was fairly protective of the unit being shipped.

Start up was surprisingly fast with no issues at all.

I am an avid Windows 7 user and was a bit reluctant going to Windows 8 due to the Metro UI interface.

I did a bit of reading of tutors on the net during the time the unit was in transit It was an easy transition to Windows 8 for me it does have the familiar desktop (with no start-up menu) and the Metro UI stat-up screen it's very easy to switch between the desktop and Metro screens.

All in all I had about a 30 minute learning curve before I was fairly comfortable with Version 8.

The more I use it the more I like Windows 8 coupled with this laptop.

Its fast, has no connection issues and is noticeably thin which makes it great for computing in just about any location in the home.

Battery life is excellent as well as the unit having a nice textured look. I am completely satisfied after a week of ownership.

I would highly recommend this Dell to most anyone looking for a mid priced performance packaged Laptop.

I like it!

MarvC

Save 28% Off

Acer Aspire AS7739G-6676 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black)

Posted by Unknown
Acer Aspire AS7739G-6676 17.3-Inch LaptopI use this computer as a cheap gaming computer, and it works well. It is capable of running new games with some of the highest settings. It is one of the cheapest laptops that I could find that had a good graphics card and processor. The large screen size is also great for playing games.

Overall this is a great computer, there are just a few problems that I have with it. The computer battery only lasts about 30 minuets when playing games on it. Transporting the computer makes me a little nervous because the lid does not latch down when it is closed. All of the USB ports are located on either side of the computer instead of being located on the rear, so my USB things are always sticking out of the computer and getting in the way. I love the full keypad and number pad, however, there are no lights to indicate when caps lock or number lock are on.

I gave this computer a 5 even with these "problems" because I realize that these things are more of a personal preference, and do not impact the functionality of the computer.

I love this laptop, works beautifully. It was recommended to me by a friend helping me with my selection. Great deal i think for the money, the people that have seen it can't believe how reasonable it was. Nice size screen in an age where laptops are shrinking, I think this one is Great. I would highly recommend this product.

Buy Acer Aspire AS7739G-6676 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black) Now

The Good: The screen looks great, and the speakers do the job. Even before uninstalling the bloatware, it boots very quickly. Programs load immediately and there's no slowdown when multitasking. It stays cool during normal use, and only heats up when it switches from the integrated GPU to the dedicated graphics card.

Speaking of which, this laptop performs shockingly well running games. I've been able to run all of the following at medium settings or better: Skyrim, Star Wars TOR, Fallout NV, Legend of Grimrock, Civilization 5, World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Mass Effect 3, and Diablo 3 (beta). Rift sputters a little on medium settings, and I didn't bother installing Witcher 2. NVidia does not have a driver available for the GeForce 610m yet, but the driver that comes preinstalled works just fine.

The Bad: Battery life is crazy short, and the keyboard behaves strangely when starting up certain keys just don't register when entering my Windows password. After entering the password (repeated key-presses eventually work) and starting up Windows, everything works normally. Weird, but tolerable once I figured out a workaround the "dead" keys are the same every time, so I set a password that doesn't use any of them.

Overall: Great computer for the money. A couple of quirks, but all forgivable at the sub $600 price point. I purchased it as a second computer, but it's going to end up replacing my desktop.

Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire AS7739G-6676 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black) Here

I purchased this computer on Amazon about a week ago, and I love it. I like the big screen and full keyboard with number pad. I've had no problems with overheating or lagging playing games for several hours at a time. I am extremely happy with my purchase, plus no tax and free shipping, can't beat that!

Want Acer Aspire AS7739G-6676 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black) Discount?

Bought this for a work computer, works as advertised, my only complaint would be it has no hard drive light on the unit. I'm the type that likes to know when the hard drive is being used. But other then that, this is a nice computer system that works well.

Dell Inspiron 15R Laptop IM501R-1053MRB 640GB, 15.6" - Black

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Dell Inspiron 15R Laptop IM501R-1053MRB 640GB, 15.6' - BlackThe Inspiron(tm) laptop's sleek design is not only easy on the eyes, it seamlessly travels by your side without getting in your way. Upon opening the Inspiron, your eyes will be immediately drawn to the brushed metal appearance of the smudge-proof palm rest. The keyboard's 10-key numeric keypad makes it easy to work with applications that require data entry or directional moves.

Everything You Need

Watch the Inspiron laptop's HD display come to life with smart and entertaining features.Take multi-tasking to new heights with the latest in Intel® processor technology that automatically allocates processing power when and where you need it most.Capture your life as you live it then share it with the world using the 7-in-1 media card reader that allows you to read up to seven different digital media cards.

[Dell Inspiron 15R Laptop AMD Phenom N930, 640GB, 15.6' Black]

Specifications

Processor and Memory

Processor Type: AMD Phenom(tm) II Quad-Core Mobile Processor N930

Processor Speed: 2.0GHz

Cache: 2MB

Memory (RAM): 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)

Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives

Hard Drive: 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive

Optical Drive: 8x DVD+/-RW Drive

Multimedia Card Slot: 7-in-1 Media Card Reader

Graphics and Audio

Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250

Audio: SRS Premium Sound(tm)

Display, Keyboard, Mouse and Webcam

Display Size: 15.6"

Display Type: HD WLED

Display Resolution: 1366 x 768

Webcam: Built-in 1.3MP webcam

Connectivity

Ethernet: 10/100/1000 BASE-T Ethernet

Wi-Fi: Dell Wireless 1501

Bluetooth: Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth

Modem: No

Ports/Slots

Ports: * 1 VGA

* 1 HDMI

* 3 USB

* 1 eSATA/USB

* 10/100 NIC (without LED)

* 1 microphone/stereo in

* 1 headphone/speaker out

* 7-in-1 Media Card Reader

Battery Type: 6-Cell 48Whr Lithium Ion Battery

Software

Operating System: Genuine Windows 7® Home Premium (64-bit)

Manufacturer Software: Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter preloaded (includes reduced functionality versions of Word and Excel with ads; purchase of Product Key required to activate full Office 2010 suite)

Acer 11.6" i3-330UM 1.2GHz Notebook |AS1830-33U2G25ncc

Posted by Unknown
Acer 11.6' i3-330UM 1.2GHz Notebook |AS1830-33U2G25nccAT&T also supplies this machine if one buys their laptop with a 3G data-only plan. It has an AT&T SIM built in, but can of course be used with another carrier's MiFi or USB stick. This is a quality, solid little unit and is identical to Acer's upper-market Ultrabook design, "TimelineX." In order to get this into a low price point, though, Acer has installed an Intel Core i3, 1.2 MHz rather than the TimelineXs' i5 or i7 CPU's. In Acer's defense, however, it should be pointed out that this dual-core Intel i3 CPU is INFINITELY superior to similar units which sport such processors as Intel Atom, ARM, AMD "C" or "E's," or Samsung Exynos brains. Those were primarily designed for smartphone use and, thus, have an emphasis on low power consumption rather than raw processing power. The Intel i3 is a, "Sandy Bridge" design, the latest generation of their mobile dual-core line and from the beginning was intended for use in laptops.

From original review: "One other possibly significant difference between this and the Timeline X: this model has a slot for a multi-memory card reader, but that slot is blocked off on the i3 machine." OOOPS! That is WRONG! A day after writing this, the plastic piece I thought was a blank popped off revealing a fully functional card reader! Due to manufacturers' using the same User Guide for several models, there was no indication this reader was covered and that the piece I thought was being used to cover the slot was spring-loaded. So, in short, YES! The Acer Aspire 1830-3595 does, indeed, have a multi-card reader!

SORRY!

Overall, decent performance and very nice quality for a reasonable price. Retailers are trying to get rid of now-obsolete Windows 7 models, so it pays to shop around! There are several fine deals to be had even a couple weeks before Christmas! Second benefit to buying a Windows 7 unit: if you've tried Windows 8 on a NON-touchscreen device, you KNOW you want to stick with Windows 7!!

Toshiba Satellite S955-S5166 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum)

Posted by Unknown
Toshiba Satellite S955-S5166 15.6-Inch LaptopI chose this as a very solid system (processor, memory, hard drive) for its price, not as the lightest or coolest. It fits that very well and works well as a general utility system (ie, NOT a gaming system). With all that said, it is fairly light with the downside that it FEELS light.... not sure if this would work well carrying it every day, not sure how it'd hold up. I would also like to point out that "Blue Brushed Aluminum" refers to the color and pattern. The shell is, as expected, plastic painted as "Blue Brushed Aluminum" with the "Blue Brushed Aluminum" scratching off pretty easily. Great for sitting on a disk or use around the house, but certainly doesn't live up to me expectation of durability that the Satellite line used to have.

Exactly what we were looking for. Windows 8 will take some getting used to but much faster and mor stable than previous windows versions.

Buy Toshiba Satellite S955-S5166 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum) Now

Excellent all the way around. I highly recommend this laptop. It's fast, the graphics are beautiful, I bought it for my college-bound daughter. She plays League online and loves the laptop.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba Satellite S955-S5166 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum) Here

I bought this computer 4 weeks ago and so far it has met my expectations, it is fast, the design looks great and the price was reasonable.

The speakers are decent, I think there are computers with better sound, but this one is not bad, they are clear and the volume can go up more than in Asus laptops.

Want Toshiba Satellite S955-S5166 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum) Discount?

The computer is just OK, nothing more. Dealing with Toshiba is a frustrating experience. I couldn't access their User Guide for days, so I called technical assistance. They tricked me into paying $159 before they would help me get their user guide. It turned out that their web Site was down. I had to pay $159 to find this out. I will never buy another Toshiba product.

Save 9% Off

Samsung Series 3 NP300V5A-A0EUS 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

Posted by Unknown
Samsung Series 3 NP300V5A-A0EUS 15.6-Inch LaptopI recently purchased this laptop mainly for college use and some little gaming. This is my third laptop I've owned, and overall I'm very pleased with it (my others being an HP dv6t and Sony VAIO E-series).

Pros:

Very sleek and modern

High quality island-style keyboard (My Sony VAIO felt VERY cheap)

Fast 2nd Gen. Intel Core i5 processor

6GB of RAM (rare for this price point)

Feels very light for a 15.6"

Not a lot of bloatware compared to my previous HP & VAIO laptops

Non-glossy LED screen

Cons:

The back of the screen is actually plastic, not brushed aluminum

Sound is good, but not loud in max volume

No light on the Caps, Number, and Scroll Lock buttons (it actually displays it on the screen)

The zero on the number pad is small (I'm used to using my thumb for hitting zero)

No USB 3.0 ports

Intel HD 3000 graphics (Then again, I'm not a hardcore gamer)

A bit difficult to stick something to a USB port

Overall, for $650, I'm very happy with the purchase I made, and it's a lot better than my previous laptops.

After receiving my laptop in record time..2 days after my order, I was excited to open it up and test it out. After going through the initial setup, and finally on the desktop page, my screen started filling in with a dark gray color from the bottom to the top. Slowly started getting higher and higher... until I could no longer see the lower third of the page. Went right to Samsung tech support, where the techs had me do a basic restore.. which did not fix the problem, then contacted tech support again, where I was told to do a complete restore to fix the problem. I was told this would uninstall and reinstall the video drivers. Still didn't fix it. At this time I started seeing a pink line at the bottom of the screen also, and i'm getting fed up. Third and final chat with tech ended in "you must return the laptop for service under warranty". YEAH RIGHT... it was less than an hour old and you want to service it! NO WAY.... NOT HAPPENING! sooo Amazing Amazon to the rescue. (I should mention here that I absolutely love buying things on Amazon for many reasons, including this) I contacted Amazon who was soo helpful in processing the return of the defective one, and shipping a replacement before the old one was even sent back. Now, I can say that the little amount of time I did "use" the computer, it seemed very nice. Nice crisp clicks on the keys, a very nice large trackpad, lightweight, nice design, very fast, but what good is all that when the darn thing didn't work right. Even so, I decided to give Samsung one more try when the replacement shows up. Maybe I received a lemon, but it's the first Samsung product I have purchased, and I'll try once more before I go back to Toshiba or Dell. Will update this after some time with the new one.

UPDATE***

Received a new laptop which has so far run without a hitch. After deleting all the bloatware, it is lightning fast for my needs. Still like the physical features of this thing, great keys, touchpad, display, lightweight, nice design.

Buy Samsung Series 3 NP300V5A-A0EUS 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Now

Bought this laptop about 3 months back and have been using it everyday at home. It is a nice laptop and has not given me any issues. Starts and shuts down real fast. Not giving it a 5 star because I think the touchpad could have been more responsive. The earlier Compaq laptop I had had an amazing touchpad and this really pales compared to that.Also the side scrolling on the touchpad is not present. I had to download a third part software to put that feature in this. Was not a big deal for me but someone who is not tech experienced might have difficulty. Rest other things are pretty decent. I bought it from Amazon in the $530 range which is way less than the current ~ $660 range. I did not see any deal breakers in this laptop.

Read Best Reviews of Samsung Series 3 NP300V5A-A0EUS 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Here

Purchased this item on amazon through J & R Computer World. Wow, the reason that they don't mention the finish is that it is brushed black plastic, and it just screams CHEAP. I returned it to J & R and upgraded to the ultra book which is much better. The NP300v5a looked like a black plastic brick.

Want Samsung Series 3 NP300V5A-A0EUS 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Discount?

O Asus O - Asus Eee Pc 701Sd 8G Xp - Galaxy Black

Posted by Unknown
O Asus O - Asus Eee Pc 701Sd 8G Xp - Galaxy BlackThis is a very lightweight, small netbook computer. It has received many positive reviews. The computer itself would rate 5 stars, however the high price would rate it a 1 star.

People, please compare prices. Amazon makes this very easy. If you want to spend this much money on an ASUS netbook, perhaps you should also look at the ASUS 1000-HE model.

Upgraded the ram, installed windows, and overclocked it. Able to run all my work apps. Runs Unreal tournament 2004, Morrowind, and Fable at playable framerates.

Buy O Asus O - Asus Eee Pc 701Sd 8G Xp - Galaxy Black Now

well, it wasn't BLACK, it was WHITE, which is okay, i don't really care about color.

however it WAS advertised as "REFURBIISHED". i looked up Amazon's definition of 'Refurbished', and i don't think this product met the criteria. Specifically, the cable from the power supply was twisted into a dramatic pretzel shape throughout its entire length, and the outer jacketing had begun to disintegrate, revealing the ground braid around the inner conductor. Also, there was no original packaging with the product. Other than that, i didn't find any obvious defects. "Used, Fair condition, power cable shows some wear" would have been a more honest description.

Read Best Reviews of O Asus O - Asus Eee Pc 701Sd 8G Xp - Galaxy Black Here

I have this little netbook. Its great for basics like internet,video chat,internet radio,basic gaming,and email. The ssd is very small of 8 gig. Also with Win XP Home on it from the install CD it is very slow. More ram helps,but best to install Joli OS,Leeenix,Puppeee,Android X86, or Win XP Pro from install cd. I did this and now it flies with 1 gig of ram! Cause it is small,it is kinda hard to type on unless you have small hands. I love how small it is and easy to carry.

With external combo drive,you can watch DVD or burn CD's.

I use mine in my room just for basics.

I bought mine refurbished for $129,but just bought another used one for $89.

Want O Asus O - Asus Eee Pc 701Sd 8G Xp - Galaxy Black Discount?

This was one of the first netbooks that actually worked with a trimmed down version of XP.

It was largely limited to CPU and power consumption though.

Played back upto regular DVD resolutions (720x512 pixels), or 480pix; when overclocked using EEECTL plays back some 720p video, though most is with lagging.

Qua games, most DX9 games on a low resolution can be played on it, and in a limited way Dosbox games can be played too.

The best about this netbook is it's blazing fast SSD,

The worst is it's small sized 8GB SSD.

This netbook needs an SSD and RAM upgrade.

A 2GB 667Mhz DDR2 SODIMM ram stick works fine, Some 800Mhz SoDimm sticks I tried do hang up on them though (meaning freeze or crash)..

Aside from that, it still works great as a home theatre projector driver for standard DVD-quality video's and TV shows (at 800x600pix).

Also as bittorrent client, or personal webserver; or even as a basic midi router/samplebox!

But the device is largely outdated, and you constantly need to struggle with harddisk and ram space issues.

ASUS A55A-AH31-RD 15.6-Inch LED Laptop ( Red )

Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, July 29, 2014
ASUS A55A-AH31-RD 15.6-Inch LED LaptopI'm a computer technician and I was just looking for a cheap machine that I could use for learning Windows 8, taking with me while I travel, some coding, web browsing, and movies. I wanted to stay in the $400 range, but seeing that this laptop comes with a Core i3-3110M, I decided to spring the extra cash for a far superior processor than the ASUS F55A with the Intel B890 CPU. I'm very glad that I did. The only thing that slows this machine down is the 5400RPM hard drive. When booting the machine in to Windows 8, startup programs simply take a while to load. Do yourself a favor and remove any unnecessary bloatware like McAfee and download any recent updates that ASUS provides. I'm really looking forward to getting a nice SSD drive for this thing one day because it will soar like an eagle. The keyboard has a decent feel to it as well. I spent a good few hours customizing everything the way I want. I even slicked it up with the Start8 program which gives you a classic Windows 7 start menu with tons of customization options. The webcam has a little LED light on it that makes your picture easy to see when you're Skyping in a dark room. I couldn't be happier for the money I spent on this machine.

This laptop is beautiful, the white is definitely an eye catcher, very classy looking. It's also chic, lightweight but durable, I love how the keys are flat and don't make noise when I type. On this computer, windows 8 is annoying at first, If your finger goes on the left side of the mouse pad, windows 8 will automatically popup, it took me a while to figure out why that kept happening, I'm sure that function can be disabled but I just haven't taken the time to figure it out, so I just found a temporary way around it, by staying on the right side of the mouse pad which is larger than most mouse pads. The major thing that I dislike about this computer is....the speaker is on the bottom of the computer, which makes the sound low at times or makes the sound muffled a little. It's not unbearable because it does have a decent volume level unlike some of the other brands I looked at. I had another speaker which also happens to be white so they make a perfect pair. I use to be a Dell junkie but I was disappointed in the way that the face plate/trimming around the screen breaks off and hinges in Dell laptops break easy. My Dell laptop and everyone that I know, that owns a Dell laptop, complains about the same thing. The hinges break and they have to hold or prop up the screen portion in order to look at it. I reviewed a lot of laptops and I shopped around for a little over 3 months before I decided on this one. For the most part, I really enjoy this laptop, and would recommend it.

Buy ASUS A55A-AH31-RD 15.6-Inch LED Laptop ( Red ) Now

For a new computer running Windows 8 this laptop says one thing: Speed. Its quick, beautiful, and easy to use for any average Joe, business man, or tech enthusiast. Feeling a bit sluggish? Upgrade the hard drive! Any laptop that uses a 5400RPM hard drive will run slowly even new. Slower hard drives mean slower boots, file access, and multi-tasking is limited. Throw in a super fast Solid State Drive or a 7200RPM SATA 3 hard drive and watch this thing be the computer you always dreamed of!

Read Best Reviews of ASUS A55A-AH31-RD 15.6-Inch LED Laptop ( Red ) Here

I love the layout and performance of the asus only complaints about the actual laptop are 1) the bloatware that comes pre-loaded on the machine 2) would be nice if you could turn off mousepad or at least have it deactivate when external mouse is plugged in. Biggest complaint Windows 8...grrr. It's incredibly not user friendly for a laptop for a touchscreen it's probably fine. I wish I could have gotten the laptop with Windows 7 pro as OS, but c'est la vie! Anyway, my biggest complaints about W8 no start button and can't get the charms bar to not pop up randomly without downloading some app. It's taken me nearly a month to acclimate to the OS, and I still don't know it completely. My advice if you're fairly computer literate like me you're search engine is your best friend when it comes to learning Windows 8.

Want ASUS A55A-AH31-RD 15.6-Inch LED Laptop ( Red ) Discount?

The computer itself is amazing! Only thing I found I did not like with the computer was that sometimes on the internet browser it will zoom while using the touchpad. Once I changed the setting everything was GREAT! Best laptop I have owned in my life. The Windows 8 version, I hated at first, but after 6 hours of exploring and getting used to it, I started to like it more and more. Great computer, Windows 8 is a great operating software. The price of this computer should have been at least $800.00 minimum, it's great!

Save $0.99 Off

Gateway NV52L08u 15.6 Notebook PC - AMD A6-4400M Accelerated Processor 2.6GHz

Posted by Unknown
Gateway NV52L08u 15.6 Notebook PC - AMD A6-4400M Accelerated Processor 2.6GHzI had a Gateway NV52 and it was a great machine while it lasted. After 3 years both mine and my sister-in-laws (same model) died of the same problem a bad motherboard. A common problem and replacement parts are too expensive.

Sad because other brand laptops (HP, Dell) have lasted way longer and the Gateway wasn't treated rough or anything.

Bought this laptop for my daughter and she is thrilled with it. It is a very pretty laptop which Gateway is known for, however, it operates as good as it looks. The fan is not loud, good speed with clear picture. I would like to find one for myself in white, but so far they have been sold out everywhere. Highly recommended.

Buy Gateway NV52L08u 15.6 Notebook PC - AMD A6-4400M Accelerated Processor 2.6GHz Now

HP Pavilion dv7-4280us 17.3-Inch Entertainment Notebook PC (Silver)

Posted by Unknown
HP Pavilion dv7-4280us 17.3-Inch Entertainment Notebook PCI've been using this computer for about 3 weeks now, and am quite happy with its performance and battery life. It has switchable graphics and automatically (unless disabled) switches between built-in graphics when battery powered and dedicated graphics (ATI HD6550) when wall cube powered. I don't use this computer for gaming, but the HD6550 is a fairly respectable card. Battery life is listed at 7.75 hours. I was originally seeing around 6 hours in my typical usage scenario (see note re change below). I am also pleased with its thermal management. When working hard it gets warm but not hot. Air exhaust is on the left, toward the back of the case, which is an acceptable location. Since it is billed as an "entertainment" laptop, there is a goodly amount of HP software installed for managing audio, video, photos, etc. I thought I would remove most of this, but found it to be relatively inoffensive and even useful at times. The hard drive is a generous 750 GB, so I wasn't too concerned about needing to free up space. I did disable the built-in backup management software in favor of adding a second 750 GB hard drive (this required purchasing an HP4000 series drive caddy and cable). I made the new drive (7200 RPM) the primary drive and relegated the slower 5400 RPM drive that came with the 4280 to backup. Having two hard drives did, of course, reduce battery life somewhat, but I still get around 5.5 hours not bad at all. I can now do backups in-situ via partition imaging, plus daily backups to an external USB drive. Regarding that the HP4280 has a powered eSATA port (combo USB and eSATA), which I use with a Seagate GoFlex Pro 750 GB drive with eSATA interface and it is fast (GoFlex pro uses 7200 RPM drive which matches the one I swapped in and made my boot drive).

There is also a fingerprint scanner which can be used to log in (password entry is still available as alternative). You have to spend a few minutes registering your fingerprint (plus one alternative print) but after that, you can log in by just swiping your finger over the scanner. It took some getting used to, but I now log in this way almost exclusively. One little trick I found place your finger over the scanner, then hesitate for just a bit (about 1/4 to 1/2 second) before swiping and it will read much more reliably. At least that's the case for me maybe I "trained" it that way. ;-)

My only real complaint is that the touch pad implementation is well, just awful. As has been noted by others, it's almost impossible to position the cursor and click to select without moving the cursor off target, and if you touch the case near the touch pad that moves the cursor. Really annoying. I added a Logitech M705 mouse which uses their tiny unifying receiver (I leave it plugged in all the time), and it works quite well, even with the receiver on the opposite side of the computer (that location works best for my carry case).

One last note this beasty has a blue ray player and Beats audio very nice combo for watching HD movies.

Overall, I am very happy with this computer. It lost one star for the schizoid touch pad and the slow hard drive.

Update 2011-05-10. Recently updated Synaptic Pointing Device drivers, and there were definite improvements in touch pad operation.

I am no stranger to laptops, this is my 6th. I've owned Dell, Toshiba and Asus laptops, this is my first HP. It is replacing my Toshiba x205-s9349 which at 3 1/2 years old has become sluggish and a couple of times shut off by itself signaling the end might be near. I spend all day (and night) on my laptop and use it for surfing, photography, watching streaming movies, updating my iPod and iPhone and watching Blu-ray movies. I also use it to watch streaming live events on ESPN3 such as ALMS racing and college football which on my old laptop I connected to my TV via 25FT HDMI TO HDMI Cable. After checking reviews and features, I found this model had great reviews and most of the features I wanted. It also was a few hundred dollars less then other computers with the same features (6gb ram, 750gb hd, Blu-ray reader, 17" display, HDMI out, 802.11n, Bluetooth). The only thing I was weary of was the Windows 7 64bit OS and running older programs. To date, I have had no issues and Windows 7 is similar to Vista, so not hard to figure out.

Pros

Blazing fast, high end processor

High end graphics with excellent LED screen

Blu-ray player

17"

Aluminum casing

Long battery life

Price

Finger scanner

Cons

No Firewire or any type of expansion card slot to add it

The converter part on the power cord gets pretty hot

Neutral

Sound, even though it has the Dr Dre Beats Audio, it still sounds about the same as my old Toshibia (although that system also had a highly touted Harman Kardon speaker/subwoofer system). Obviously sound is limited to the small size/speakers limitation of laptops.

HP Laptop reliability reputation. There was a report out a couple years back showing HP to have the worse reliability, in the upper 20% after 3 years. It was also noted that it makes the most laptops and that the smaller laptop makers, like Toshibia, had lower failure rates. To me, that study sounds flawed in that if there are so many more HP laptops, many more are going to need repair so I am not sure about the methodology of the study or if HP quality (or anyone else's) has changed since its been out.

UPDATE: I have had the computer for 9 months. 2 problems arose and were quickly fixed by HP. First, the A/C adapter stopped working. They shipped one no charge. For some reason Fed Ex shipped the part from SC to Atlanta and instead of going to the local distribution center here in metro Atlanta, it was sent to TX. So that delayed the part, not HP's fault though. I did not have to send the bad part back.

The second thing that happened, according to the H.P. Support Assistance software and third party S.M.A.R.T. software, I had some bad sectors on my hard drive, the kind that a Windows scan and fix can't help. So I contacted support, gave them the error code. They told me I needed a new hard drive and would have a supervisor call within 2 business days. The supervisor called the next day, Friday. He told me I would ship it out and I had 15 days to ship the bad one back. They take your credit card number and will charge it if they don't get the broken part back in the time allowed. It was stressed that if I sent it back after 15 days, they still won't refund the money. I got the feeling if I wasn't comfortable doing the swap, they would have me send the entire laptop in. They paid shipping of the part both ways. So, again, the distribution center is in SC and I am in Atlanta. The part arrived on Saturday, the next day. I bought an external USB drive, partitioned it so it was slightly smaller than the HD on the laptop. I followed the Windows 7 directions to make a mirror image which includes making a boot disc. It took a few hours to make the mirrors of c: and d: which was under 300GB total. d: is HP's backup partition. I swapped out the drives, and used the Windows boot disc with the external USB HD connected that had the mirror image and in a couple of hours, my computer was exactly like I had it before. HP sent discs, but I didn't need them by using Windows Backup. Once I made sure everything was right, I swapped back to the old disc and did a boot and nuke, erasing all content. One more swap and everything is great.

So, HP support has been great.

Buy HP Pavilion dv7-4280us 17.3-Inch Entertainment Notebook PC (Silver) Now

I bought this computer after researching on Consumer Reports for a laptop to replace our home computer (a Dell desktop). Once I narrowed down my choices to this computer and a Toshiba Satellite, I read the Amazon reviews for this computer and was convinced (espectially, when someone said that they bought it to replace their iMac). At first I was thinking of switching to an iMac, but after doing my research I found this computer to be the best rated for my specific needs. I have a shop on Etsy and need a computer with a lot of memory and the ability to run multiple programs at once. I have to say that I am VERY pleased with my decision! This computer is beautiful (much better looking than the pictures), fast, lightweight, and incredibly easy to set-up. I took it out of the box, plugged it in, and within 10 minutes was ready to go! No software to load, no confusing user's manual, and very user-friendly. I was able to set-up my wireless internet connection and wireless printer in minutes with no complications. Windows 7 is an absolute pleasure to work with and I love the entire set-up of the computer. Also, the screen for this computer is huge and makes you feel like you're using a desktop :)

I've never purchased an HP product before, but I will definitely be a repeat customer in the future!

Read Best Reviews of HP Pavilion dv7-4280us 17.3-Inch Entertainment Notebook PC (Silver) Here

I read the reviews about thet touch pad and thought, "How bad could it be?" I did not realize how much I do use the touch pad until I got this computer. It's practically impossible to use. I bought a mouse and am trying to get used to that. Otherwise I really like it. I use it to play SL which is a huge test of a graphics test and it performs very well. If you buy it go ahead and get a mouse, don't try to beat the touch pad, you'll end up with sore fingers.

Want HP Pavilion dv7-4280us 17.3-Inch Entertainment Notebook PC (Silver) Discount?

I've had this computer for about two months now. It was easy to set-up, had a fast processor, good graphics and screen quality, an enormous amount of memory, and a nice feel to the keyboard (although the tracking pad is useless). Unfortunately, I went to turn on this laptop recently and it failed to boot and emitted loud beeping sounds for several minutes. After three hours with an HP tech support person who had me open up the computer and reset a few hardware items and software, I ended up at the "please send your laptop to us for service." Yes, it's under warranty but I don't have my computer for 2 weeks and of course am missing deadlines. After I complained that a brand new laptop should work for longer than 2 months, the tech support person replied, "electronics are not guaranteed." Hm. Anyhow, I've been buying and using computers for 20+ years and have never encountered a new machine that has failed in two months.

UPDATE, September 5, 2011: In mid-August, HP fixed the keyboard and updated the BIOS so the computer worked for a few weeks more. Sadly, when I turned on the laptop today it proceeded to beep, had problems booting, and demonstrated keyboard failure again. If you buy this machine, make sure you back up your files daily. You'll need them.

Toshiba Satellite A305-S6858 Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz 4GB 320GB DVD±RW 15.4" Vista Home Premium (SP

Posted by Unknown
Toshiba Satellite A305-S6858 Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz 4GB 320GB DVD±RW 15.4' Vista Home Premium WiFi w/Webcam, face recognition softwareEven thought this is my first laptop and I'm known in the house to "kill" anything that is eletronic. I find this computer exteremly reliable.

It did crash on me but that was my fault. Went on the wrong sites had to many virus and malware and it blinked out. I sent the laptop back to Toshiba and they fixed it within 2 weeks.

But I like the speakers they supply a decent sound, the mouse pad will get hot in long duration, due to the design and the finish you will be able to see your fingerprints (but thats something stupid to complain about), very fast on the internet no matter what (DSL, Cabel), a lot of storage space, and the software is very user friendly and I've never had a problem with Vista. It works like a breeze.

Acer TimelineU M5-581T-6807 15.6-Inch Ultrabook (Silver)

Posted by Unknown
Acer TimelineU M5-581T-6807 15.6-Inch UltrabookFor the price, this laptop is hard to beat. Check out the features: 500GB Hybrid HD (30GB SSD), 8 GB RAM, excellent screen with edge to edge brightness; aluminum case with plastic bottom; 10 numeric keypad.

It's an i5, so it's going to have some fan noise, but it's minor. The only thing it needs but doesn't have is discrete graphics. Other than that its a great little computer.

By the way, this laptop has wonderful audio imaging! Stereo channel separation is better on this laptop than any I've ever heard. The speakers are a little lacking but put on your favorite track and listen... you'll be able to hear information coming from both channels; very, very enjoyable. One suggestion however.... when listening to music use the laptop on a table as the speakers are on the bottom of the unit and would otherwise fire into your knees and muffle output otherwise. Other than that, a very nice little laptop.

I bought this unit refurbished a little over 3 months ago. Seemed like a great value until the warranty period expired. I first started having connectivity issues, now it won't even power on. The Acer support site says a power reset may solve the problem, but the instructions state to remove the battery. Alas, the battery is not removable. No other support is offered because it is out of warranty! I'm now left to scour the internets for possible DIY fixes. Other than that, it performs quite nicely.

Buy Acer TimelineU M5-581T-6807 15.6-Inch Ultrabook (Silver) Now

That is the only thing I don't like about this system. Microsoft needs to put the start button back now

Read Best Reviews of Acer TimelineU M5-581T-6807 15.6-Inch Ultrabook (Silver) Here

Very satisfied with the performance of the laptop. Very asthetically pleasing and super thin. It doesnt start up as fast as I though it would but that is no biggy. For the use I put into this laptop, it is over powered.

Want Acer TimelineU M5-581T-6807 15.6-Inch Ultrabook (Silver) Discount?

I received this laptop in good condition with a slight dent on the front but outside of that it's in good condition being that it's refurbished. I do sometimes have to re-boot it when the circles don't appear but outside of that I'm happy with the unit. I wish I could revise this review and bring it down to 3 stars instead of 4 since I've returned this unit for a third generation one since the re-boots sometimes took up to 4 plus error messages like this computer needs repair. So far this new generation unit is much better and starts up with no fuss.

Sony Open Box VAIO(R) SVS13127PXB 13.3" Notebook PC - Black

Posted by Unknown
Sony Open Box VAIO(R) SVS13127PXB 13.3' Notebook PC - BlackPros: fast startup and resume from sleep, crisp screen, great keyboard, 8GB Ram, included Sony Creative software is actually very good, lightweight, decent battery life

Cons: i7 is only dual core (4 threads, though), built in speakers are terrible (although my Logitech external speakers sound fine when I hook them up), supposedly made of mag alloy but lid and bottom feel like plastic, trackpad is annoying

Bottom Line: if you can good a price on it and want a relatively powerful and portable 13" notebook, this makes an adequate choice. But, consider finding a quad core i7 if you can afford it the difference is noticeable if you are using processor intensive applications. Also, plan on using an external mouse the trackpad on this laptop is difficult to use.

UPDATE: After using the trackpad for the last few months, I have grown to like it. I needed to tweak a few of the sensitivity adjustments, but now it feels much better than other trackpads I've used. Also, the computer has been rock solid with no crashes or freeze ups since I've had it. Rating changed to 4 stars.

I thought it had silver color but it is black.

However, the machine is super nice and speed! I recommend.

Buy Sony Open Box VAIO(R) SVS13127PXB 13.3" Notebook PC - Black Now

MSI Computer Corp. GX60 1AC-021US;9S7-16FK11-021 15.6-Inch Laptop

Posted by Unknown
MSI Computer Corp. GX60 1AC-021US;9S7-16FK11-021 15.6-Inch LaptopSummary of a dozen or more professional reviews: mediocre processor, amazing video card. This thing chews up everything I throw at it, Ultra settings on BF3 and Skyrim at 1080P no problem. Under heavy multitasking with office work (Windows Updates plus several utilities running while I set it up) it does feel a tad slow, the poor AMD CPU just can't keep up like i5's and i7's.

Screen is great, one of the better laptop screens I've gotten. Tiny bit of bleeding and uneven backlight, but you get that with most screens unless you pay a LOT more...

Really though, the next cheapest laptop you can get with a 7970 vid card in it starts around 1500, so if you're on a budget and want gaming, this thing is fantastic. The nVidia alternatives don't quite pack the punch of the 7970, except for the 680, but those are again a whole price range up from this machine. Everything else around 1200 dollar mark carries 670's, 675's, and they'll all be a bit slower, especially at 1080P.

For the price, it's really impressive what this laptop can do. I have it hooked up to 2 23" inch Asus VS238, with the MSI in the middle witha coolermaster cooling pad. It is perfect for all of my desktop needs. Throwing in some gaming as well! The CPU is more than enough to play games. Some people seem to have an issue with the AMD CPU. Maybe if you need really CPU intensive software like video coding and whatnot, this CPU is not for you. But for what I do, it is seriously overkill. Microsoft office, displaying graphs, browsing on the internet and editing some images. Some gaming too, say I run a few CPU statistics while playing. Playing Skyrim at max settings, the CPU has a load of around 60-70% most of the time. While the 7970m goes 90-100%. The key is multitasking. If you plan on gaming with this, there will be NO multitasking. Apart from that, the Eyefinity feature works flawlessly. My 2 external monitors are considerably bigger than the 15.6 display, so eyefinity is kind of Awkward. But it runs it like a champ in games that support it natively like Sniper Elite V2. I don't really see an impact on performance, if any at all, I'm sure it can be compensated by diminishing the draw distances.

The keyboard is a pleasure to type, the speakers are great. And the screen is OK. The touchpad is below average. I don't like the finish of the button, and also that it is not 2 separate buttons, also that there are no gestures and the such. I mostly use it with a mouse, but keep in mind that the touchpad is generally bad. Also, the construction of the screen housing looks and feels rather cheap around the edges. I also don't like the finish on the outer shell of the lid. It looks like it'll scratch easily, and since they added those curved lines, adding something like carbon fiber is somewhat difficult. I might just do it anyway. But I'd rather have a brushed metal finish or at least a smooth and level finish to cover with carbon fiber. There are plenty of USB ports, but they are most likely never enough.

Windows 8 Boots in about 20 seconds. So, I don't see the need for an SSD anyway. The RAM is not my favorite.. 11 CAS latency, I wish they put in 9 CAS latency. Upgrading to that will cost you ripping the "Warranty Void" sticker and 40 bucks. Or you could go with a 16 Gb 10 CAS latency for 80 bucks. No real need for it, but it would be nice to have.

Overall, I like it very much. A huge bang for your buck. Can't complain as this much money will get you a mediocre Alienware or Vaio or Macbook. Great for a desktop replacement. Can run up to 4 screens, including the main monitor. As for the durability, the construction seems ok. Except the lid. We'll see how well it holds up.

Buy MSI Computer Corp. GX60 1AC-021US;9S7-16FK11-021 15.6-Inch Laptop Now

This GX60 is by far better than what I expected at the $1200 range for an entry level gametop (I just made that up... copy right)

As others have said, this is an entry level gamer's laptop and it doesn't disappoint there. Most new games, it does not get 60+ FPS on 1080P and ultra settings, but it will get 60+ FPS on 1080P and high settings. You will have to play around with the games video settings to get it perfect, but expect it to be somewhere between high and ultra/highest.

At this price, you will sacrifice some raw CPU power for more GPU. But the biggest thing that is holding back this laptop is the 7200 RPM Hard drive. Upgrade that first and you will get a little better performance.

This is made for more of a gamer than a desktop power user. A lot of heavy processes will slow down this laptop (like playing iTunes while converting old lost-but-recently-found CDs, browsing the internet, downloading and installing updates, moving files from another PC and photo-shopping while you are waiting for a 20+ GB zip file to extract (yup that was how my first hour went). Again when looking at the performance, the hard drive is just too slow at 100% usage while everything else is below.

I have also notice that this laptop has some of the best WiFi connection speeds I have seen. On my home internet, it is a 6 Mbps speed and I get 6 Mbps consistently for hours (days?). At work I have seen over 32 Mbps. Other desktops and laptops on my same network will not get that good of speeds even if they are on the network by itself.

Pros

1. Great mobile gaming for price

2. great GPU

3. eyefinity (great multi-display)

4. Additional HD bay

5. WiFi connection is rock solid (its good enough that it makes me too lazy to plug in the network cord... apparently it has a Killer NIC for lower than normal latency)

6. Sound ports for at least 5.1 speakers (sorry that's all I have; it could do better)

7. Makes games look better than the console versions aka Skyrim, Fallout, etc...

8. HDMI port

9. On board speakers are better than expect (obviously not better than external, but you get my point)

Cons

1. HD speed is really holding this laptop back(but you can always upgrade to SSD :) )

2. Windows 8

3. Touch pad (its not horrible, it's ok when you don't want to use a mouse)

4. on board camera (I personally don' care, but it's really not that great of a picture)

5. battery life (again I personally don't care because mine is always plugged in to something)

Other Stuff Worth Saying

A couple things if you decide to buy this laptop:

When you first get it, you need to do a GPU drivers update (update the graphics card, silly). The first drivers that came with this laptop did not work that well at all. Some games didn't let the laptop use its full power (this laptop has two GPU processors in it. The simple explanation is that one chip is for saving battery life and another chip for gaming). With out the new drivers, some games only recognize the chip for saving the battery life. Because of this, a lot of early bench marks rated this GPU/laptop a little(alot-ish? that's a word, right?) lower than it deserves.

Another thing is when you have updated, change the power settings to use full power when plugged in. This will also help the system choose the right GPU settings for you (but everyone should really update all drivers anyway when buying a new computer).

People have said that you can't overclock the CPU. I have not even looked at the BIOS but that is the rumor (I mean, the internet wouldn't lie to me, the internet said so).

Also my biggest complaint about this laptop has nothing to do with MSi or any thing like that.

It is...

wait for it...

Windows 8.

I do overall like it after making some... personal... upgrades to windows 8, but somethings could have been designed or planed better, like: Laptop comes with Blue Ray and DVD player (yay!), windows 8 does not have software for either (boo!). You have to buy it. Or part of it. From third parties (read it will cost you more money and they will send you annoying spam emails).

What I mean is that this laptop does come with PowerDVD, and that will let you play DVDs (make sure you up date this software from the GSi website. Chances are you have a version that gives you an error message and won't let you use it. DO NOT REMOVE THE SOFTWARE, just update it or you might not be able to install the working version update).

You can always upgrade your PowerDVD for like $50+ but still, I believe no one should have to do that. Not GSi's fault, but Windows 8 and the movie industries fault (or PowerDVD for charging money).

Also Windows 8 loves to install updates when I am gaming and sometimes causes the game to crash!! :(

Read Best Reviews of MSI Computer Corp. GX60 1AC-021US;9S7-16FK11-021 15.6-Inch Laptop Here