Great computer! Really fast and dependable. Keyboard works great, sound quality is fantastic and the battery doesn't die as fast as other computers. Overall great computer, looking to keep this one for quite awhile.
Showing posts with label notebook software. Show all posts
Showing posts with label notebook software. Show all posts
Dell i15RN-2727BK Inspiron 15 15.6" Notebook PC - Obsidian Black
Great computer! Really fast and dependable. Keyboard works great, sound quality is fantastic and the battery doesn't die as fast as other computers. Overall great computer, looking to keep this one for quite awhile.
Gateway MT6840 15.4-inch Widscreen Notebook Computer PC
I added 1GB of RAM (to 2GB) before even booting up out of the box, which I regret now, just for curiosity reasons, but so far I am very pleased with the twin-core MT6840. I had a Gateway MX7118 before and loved the widescreen display, and I wasn't about to spend a thousand or more bucks on a high-end laptop. I realize you get what you pay for usually, but if you're budget-conscious you could do a lot worse than the MT6840. Battery life is roughly 3 hours. Streaming HD TV video from ABC is flawless on the MT6840; the same video still stops and starts on my AMD Sempron desktop with 1.5 GB RAM. And so far, Vista has been a pretty pleasant experience. Like anything else new, it takes some getting used to.
i never had any problems with it.
for the price i think its a great little laptop.
Buy Gateway MT6840 15.4-inch Widscreen Notebook Computer PC Now
What a bargain for the price..does everything I want it to. I run two businesses now when I'm on vacation, no lost business because of slow responses. Bright screen, easy keyboard, and the kids watch dvds in the car, during those long boring(?) stretches of Nevada Desert.. These are still selling elsewhere for $799 and upRead Best Reviews of Gateway MT6840 15.4-inch Widscreen Notebook Computer PC Here
This animal is older than the hills. It actually came with Windows Vista. I only bout the critter for something to use while having another system updated. The selling point was being able to see the 15 inch screen which was a good size for the time. This wireless "g" is still in the main stream today and wireless N devices also accept it.I have recently updated the ram form two .5GB to two 2GB sticks. The system recognized the update immediately. The system came with a restore partition but I never trust them and have external disks in case of a virus or anything physical. I also updated to Windows 7 and anticipate trying Windows 8.
Just a note that unless you are ept and can adjust to the exterenal wrld without help from the manufaturer this may not be the best way to go. Personally I find the challenge fun.
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I am extremely happy with this laptop so far. Perhaps my expectations weren't that high, given that I've always used 2nd hand laptops for serving music on my stereo system. But this unit delivers. Also there are occasions when you can get it with a nice rebate. The specs speak for themselves. After a couple of hours of deleting unwanted programs and modifying the system so it behaves how I want it to, I am quite pleased.
Apple MacBook Pro MD314LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
I recently made the switch from PC to Mac, and I can say that I'm not sure why I waited so long. Considering that I have only had my computer a few weeks I can't say much about the durability and longevity of the hardware, but I can say that the operating system (mine shipped with Lion) and software is top notch.I labored for a long time trying to decide whether the 13" MacBook Pro (MBP) or MacBook Air was the right choice for me. I liked the form factor, screen resolution and weight of the Air, but couldn't get comfortable with the comparatively small hard drive and the RAM fixed at 4GB. Considering these factors along with the significant price premium for an Air, I decided that the MBP was right for me.
I also thought long and hard about whether to go with the base model with the 2.4Ghz i5 processor and 500 GB HDD or the 2.8Ghz i7 processor with the 750GB HDD. after looking at reviews and benchmark tests I decided that for my uses, the less expensive model would be perfect and that the incremental added performance of the more expensive model is not worth the additional cost. When large solid state drives become more affordable I will probably switch my HDD out, but until then 500GB should provide plenty of storage.
I opted to get my computer locally, but purchased the Crucial 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 Memory Module (CT2KIT51264BC1339) from Amazon for a great price. Once I got my computer home I installed the RAM in 10 minutes, start to finish. If you are planning this upgrade just be sure that you have the right Phillips head screwdriver.
After using this computer for the past few weeks and carrying it on weekly business trips I am very pleased with my choice of computers. It handles the Microsoft office suite flawlessly, and the added ram allows me to open and view very large pdf files without any lag. I have done minor video and photo editing on this computer and it performed very well. The added weight compared to the
Air hasn't proven to be too noticeable, but I am a big guy at 6'4" and 210 pounds.
So far I am pleased with this computer and my Mac experience overall. The process of learning a new OS and overall user interface was daunting at first, but Apple has done a great job creating a system that is intuitive and easy to learn.
I would recommend this computer to anyone looking for a new laptop that they expect to have for awhile and would like to be able to customize to fit their needs.
UPDATE 5/29/12: I have been using my MBP for six months now and couldn't be happier with it. I may have been lucky enough to get a great unit, but during the time that I have owned my MBP I have NEVER needed to contact technical support. I use my Mac for my primary business computer every day and have traveled extensively with it.
Aside from its performance and reliability the feature that I like most about my Mac is the multi-touch trackpad. By using gestures on the trackpad I can be very efficient, and I'm not sure that I will ever be able to go back to a regular mouse or trackball.
One addition that I made was to get the Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter MB570Z/A to attach a second monitor when I'm at the office. This allows me to use both my MBP monitor and an external, which provides me with much more area when using Excel or other programs and also allows me to keep my mailbox visible when working on other things.
Considering how pleased I am with my Mac, I have a feeling that I will be buying a lot more Apple products in the future.
The MD314LL/A features a 2.8 GHz i7 processor, integrated Intel 3000 graphics and a 750 GB hard drive. I've never owned an Apple laptop before, so there was a little bit of a learning curve. Now that I'm getting the hang of it, I'm beginning to like OSX Lion better than Windows. Programs can be run on separate virtual desktops, and the computer never misses a beat when several programs are active. Switching between different desktops or open programs can be done by merely sliding three fingers forward on the large touchpad. Control-clicking on words or phrases in Safari brings up a context sensitive menu which allows the user to select to view a dictionary, Wikipedia, or do a Google search in a pop-up window in the browser. You can also ask the computer to speak the word or phrase, if you have any doubts about pronunciation. Safari also includes links to a library of plug-ins at extensions.apple.com, which includes a plug-in for Flash, so you can now watch free Hulu videos and other videos online. The network preferences window makes it far easier than Windows to set up a list of public DNS servers to bypass the sometimes slow, glitchy ISP servers.
This computer is completely silent. I wasn't even sure it had a cooling fan until I downloaded a utility to monitor the fan speed. This computer is super fast, and the base plate never gets more than lukewarm. The light weight, small footprint, lighted keyboard, crisp screen and speed really make this computer shine.
The attention to detail is really outstanding. The cooling vents on the back of the base are completely covered by a sliding plate when the lid is closed, keeping dust out of the innards. The power supply has flip out legs for winding the cord for storage and the prongs can be removed so it can be used as a brick type supply with the supplied AC cord. The computer also has a green LED battery status gauge built into the left side of the base, which is activated by a flush button. The lid snaps shut quietly even though there are no cheesy stick-on rubber bumpers, and it is held closed by magnets. The built in light sensor shuts off the keyboard backlighting and brightens the display in bright ambient light. The computer also has a 3 axis accelerometer to protect the hard drive from damage. The attention to detail is why Macs are more expensive than the various PC clones.
Buy Apple MacBook Pro MD314LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION) Now
I waited a month before writing this review to make sure my initial impression would hold up & it did.MacBook Pro's -
1. Track Pad (Fantastic!)
2. No Trial Software (everything installed is fully functional no more nag screens)
3. Battery Life (I get around 5 or 6 hours on a charge)
4. Incremental Backups with Time Machine (You can use almost any external HD instead Apple's expensive Time Capsule)
5. Support is Awesome (Nuff said)
6. It's Just Plain Sexy (No more Windows bricks for me...)
MacBook Con's -
1. No HDMI out
2. USB Ports too close together
3. Steve Jobs is Dead
If you're a long time Windows user; ask yourself if this story sounds familiar?
You've got a girlfriend/boyfriend who annoys you on a daily basis, but you stick with her/him year after year because you don't want to spend the time learning the ins & outs of a new one?
Then one day, a sleek, sexy chick/dude catches your eye & you start hanging out with her/him & pretty soon you're kicking that old broad/bum out on the street.
That's me & Microsoft.
I started; decades ago, as a DOS user with an 8088 machine & continued all the way up to Windows 7.
I've got a new girlfriend now & she blows the old one away.
The old one just blows.
Read Best Reviews of Apple MacBook Pro MD314LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION) Here
Packaging:Very impressed with the packaging. I was very impressed how well this thing was packaged. A well thought-out design protects the content and minimizes customer dissatisfaction.
First impression:
I am sure everyone who are interested to buy this product, has gone to best buy and played with it a bit. well, the new MBP right out of the box is 90% more impressive and attractive than that of the store. It is a good looking piece of machine.
It came with a charger, extension cord for the charger, instruction book, screen wipe, and nothing more that I needed. I took the cord out, and started charging it. A full charging is highly recommended before use. after a few setup screens, I am up and running.
Upgrade time:(Make sure you shut down your machine first)
I ordered this machine with a 8GB memory upgrade (DDR3-1333) from Crucial. I did not want to pay a premium for the apple upgrade. Instead, I bought a dual channel kit separately for $39.00. I highly recommended Crucial brand as they use Samsung memory chips and for one more reason I am telling you next. I will not go through how to change the memory(a lot of youtube videos available). when I took out the existing memory out of the MBP, guess what chips they use on the memory sticks? yes, guessed it right, samsung.And I also have reasons to believe that the RAMs are OEM version of crucial memory judging by physical similarities. but, that is just my opinion, not a fact.
User Experience:
After the upgrade, turned on the machine and few beeps and clunks later, it started flying. I repeat, it is flying and my machine is currently running over 600 threads without any sign of slowing down. virtual box? NO PROBLEMO! this little beauty is a little beast in performance. I have installed over 50 applications, running dozens simultaneously, 10 more browser windows open, and it just happy. I can't say enough about the multi-touch gestures. No other laptop I have ever used that had such ease of switching between applications, scrolling, searching, sliding and navigating. I have never used Mac OS before(not more than a few minutes of playing around at best buy), and I felt it was very intuitive to use and learned fairly quickly. I still don't know a lot about the OS, but it has not stopped me from doing what I need to do.
What could be better:
Not that I cared much, but the standard power cord is a little short. I bought a sleeve to keep it safe, and it does not allow room for the extension cord that comes with it(big and bulky).
It has good speakers that play nice sounding beats. But the 15" plays them better.
The outer shell is aluminium, but don't think you can't scratch it. I spent a sleepless night just cause it put a small scratch under it by accident. But, I am over it now.
Advice to the people who wants to take the plunge:
I felt like it was the best $1100 I spent on a laptop. I could not justify it before using it as I always thought that Mac is more style than performance and usefulness. I admit that I was wrong. This machine offers more features and performance per dollar than I thought. This is a well-built machine that would serve me longer than any other laptop ever has for me. I have half a dozen windows machines in my house including a 990X extreme desktop that I built 4 months ago. I love windows, but I have learned that I can like both (Macbook pro and PC).
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Steve Jobs had returned to Apple, which had been a struggling company, and it was time to align it once again with world of creative users. In 1997 an ad was run with actor Richard Dreyfuss reading the voiceover, which began with: "Here's to the Crazy Ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently." Think Different... that was the 1997 slogan and theme for Apple's comeback to the world of serious computing after the return of Steve Jobs, and perhaps it was a cynical reference to IBM's famous "Think" slogan. Whatever it was, this was the ad campaign that restored Apple's reputation under the leadership of the late Steve Jobs.Take this MacBook Pro review as one from a dedicated Windows PC user who made the switch awhile ago, with time enough to put it through its paces, to do side-by-side comparisons. I've owned a Mac before, back in the day of the Macintosh SE, and though I found it to be extremely useful for desktop publishing in the days when Aldus PageMaker reigned supreme in that area, I saw things blend as Microsoft slowly got its act together, for the most part. When it came time to upgrade back then, I stuck with the Windows PCs... until recently, when I found the need to diversify a bit.
To make this easy for those who just want to get to the facts quickly, I'll list the positive and negative points that I've personally found with the MacBook Pro first, then elaborate with details a bit further on. Please also remember that these are coming from a satisfied Windows 7 PC user, and one with multiple computers.
MacBook Pro Positives:
* Well thought-out packaging, easy out of the box setup
* Excellent build quality, unparalleled detail in workmanship
* Superb aluminum unibody chassis construction, has a good solid feel
* Sharp 13.3-Inch backlit display, first-rate 1280-by-800 Resolution
* Screen display has excellent color resolution and contrast for photos
* First class backlit keyboard, easy to use in low-light situations
* Very fast boot up even with password protection enabled
* Proven Mac OS X operating system; based on UNIX (like a server)
* Built-in SD card slot; great for transferring photos to computer
* Responsive ergonomic multi-touch trackpad; no buttons, excellent cursor control
* Well-engineered 60W power adapter with decent cable management system
* Automated incremental backups with Time Machine, works with almost any external HDD
In Between:
* Claimed 7 hour battery life; 5-6 hours is more like it, depending on the apps that you're running
Negatives:
* No built-in HDMI or VGA output, adapters must be purchased separately
* Only 2 USB 2.0 ports, and they are too close together
The Details:
We each have our reasons for the computers that we own. Mine were primarily to have a compact yet sturdy platform for word processing, accessing the Internet, and digital photo processing. That stated, there's little to not like about this MacBook Pro. The Intel Dual-Core Processor is fast and efficient, and even better than the Pentium Dual-Core 2.20GHz processor on my Windows 7 notebook PC. It's one thing to see it in the store, but when one gets it home and takes it out of the well-designed box, it's apparent that this is a better grade computer than might have been anticipated. The first thing that is noticed once it's unwrapped is the workmanship. The unibody main enclosure, constructed from a single block of aluminum, is proof of this attention to detail and it helps add to its durability.
The 13-inch backlit LCD display is sharp, and has the excellent color resolution and contrast that I need, especially when working with photos. The glossy screen actually helps to see images with their full clarity. Using both Adobe software apps and Nikon Capture NX 2, having clear and sharp resolution is an absolute necessity, and this MacBook Pro offers that. The backlit keyboard is a pleasure to use, and quite functional in low-light mobile locations. I'm also very impressed with the quick boot up, even with the password startup screen enabled, a security necessity when at some mobile locations.
It's hard to fault OS X in any way. This operating system is UNIX-based, and therein lays its strength, along with its ability to run 64-bit applications. It works right out of the box without fiddling or tweaking. It's far better than Mac OS 9 and its predecessors, and the security while on the `Net is reassuring.
The tiny built-in SD card slot has proven itself to be good for transferring photos from the digital cameras to the computer. I've also used it to transfer other media files and documents between computers in a pinch. It took awhile to get used to the trackpad, with its so-called "multi-touch gestures," but once mastered it's easy to use. Must admit that I do revert to using a mouse when using the computer at home... call it years of conditioning.
This computer really shines with the inclusion of the Time Machine application, and I was happy to find that I could use a reasonable priced off-the-shelf hard drive to do automated incremental backups. I have a Toshiba 500 GB USB Portable Hard Drive, and all I did was reformat it to HFS+ Journaled file system to use the Time Machine backup software. It works like a champ.
The external 60W power adapter is well engineered and keeps my computer running cooler than PC notebooks with internal power supplies. I appreciate the magnetic DC connector as it pops off easily if some klutz trips on the cord, necessitating a costly repair as I found out when someone did that to one of my PC notebooks. The LED in the connector head helps: amber it's charging, green it's charged; very simple and effective.
Other Notes:
The battery life being less than advertised I can live with. I would have expected HDMI and/or VGA output to be built-ins with a computer of this quality. But I have yet to buy the adapters. But to have only two built-in USB 2.0 ports is irritating, and those are too close together. Problem solved with an external 4-port ISB adapter, so that issue is closed.
I have had issues with laptop carrying bags in the past, and now carry my MacBook Pro in a ThinkTank Artificial Intelligence 15 V. 2.0 Laptop Bag. I picked this one over many others from heavy experience with photo gear, and know that Think Tank makes exceptionally good pro gear. It protects my computer from the elements quite well, holds more gear than I can explain here (I have reviewed it), and can highly recommend it to anyone who wants to protect their MacBook with the kind of case that it really deserves.
Browser note: I've used the included Safari browser, but my de-facto standard remains Google Chrome. Safari is a decent browser, but because I find it necessary to synchronize my email on the Mac, the PCs and even one older Linux-based notebook (it's a geek/support thing), Chromes just works better, and I find it faster. Your experiences may differ, so try whichever works for you.
I'm running Office for Mac 2011 and have found its interface to be even better than Microsoft Office 2010 or 2007 on the PC. Didn't know if the implementation of Outlook for Mac 2011 would be better than Entourage, which was buggy, but Outlook turned out to be excellent, and it's become my mainstay over the PC version.
Heat is an issue that I had heard of by some, yet I have not experienced. The heat level is better than my old HP, Compaq or Dell, and far better than my VAIO (which was very bad). The only one that has been better heat-wise is my current ASUS notebook running Windows 7, but not by much. Had been tempted to get a keyboard skin for general protection in the field, but heard that these interfere with the ventilation, so that idea has been tabled for the present.
Future:
I may upgrade to 8 GB of RAM, which has been recommended by a number of people if and when system performance issues arise. The RAM upgrades are quite reasonable, but I'm pleasantly surprised at how well it runs with the standard 4 GB at this point.
In Conclusion...
I could say more, but the best advice that I can offer is that if you get one, take it out of the box, plug it in and charge it. After that, turn it on and see how easy it can be... the MacBook Pro just works, as you'll see. Think Different is a reality, and this one proves it.
Gateway NV57H48u 15.6" Notebook (2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-2430M, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray
I recently retired my Gateway 7330 GZ after 6+ years of flawless service, but it was time. I had no preference on the new purchase, manufacturer-wise, but just wanted a reliable machine like my 7330GZ. After exhaustive research I wound up picking up this Gateway. Core i5, 500GB, Blu-Ray Player, LED backlit plus much more, all for under $500, which was less than I paid for the previous Gateway. I could not be more happier with this purchase.o
but was hoping all the keys would work equally as efficiently.VERY POOR PRODUCTS AND EVEN WORSE SERVICE!!
If asked by friends or family, I advise that whatever you do, DO NOT BUY GATEWAY OR ACER. This is not a relationship that you want to get into. Gateway is defined by poor quality products and ZERO customer service. ZERO. I purchased an NV Series Gateway laptop and within the first two months had my first issue, I took it back to Best Buy and it was sent back to Gateway where they had to replace a piece of faulty hardware. A couple months later the Gateway laptop failed again, and once more I took it back to Best Buy who sent it off and had a new mother board installed. A few months later, the same thing happened, failure, and ANOTHER mother board had to be installed. At this point I was requesting a new computer because it was close to the end of what I consider a short one year warranty and I had already had so many failures and spent so many weeks without my computer. Well, not long after the warranty expired, so too did the battery. The Gateway battery had a catastrophic failure, I lost data and now the battery will not charge. Since that time, my Gateway laptop has become a desk top, always having to be tethered to a wall outlet. The most recent issue is that it will not start up; it keeps freezing and will not allow me to recover to the last good configuration. I have contacted Gateways tech support but they require a $200 fee for their help. I spent just under 2 hours getting the run around by their tech support and then a supervisor. When I told them I wanted to speak with a corporate customer service rep, I was given a phone number which ultimately got me to another call center in India where they finally admitted that they were in fact tech support as well and not customer service.
What you can expect from Gateway is a shabby product that will be patched up and barely kept together until your warranty runs out and then you are on your own unless you want to cough up $200 more and spend your time to fix it yourself with tech support guiding you over the phone in a very thick Indian accent. Run Like Hell!
Lenovo Thinkpad X201 Tablet Laptop Computer
My experience with IBM Tablets started with an X60 Tablet with finger touch as well, and I paid 2K for that one in 2007. Ever since then, I have vowed never to use anything but IBMs. Sadly, with Lenovo, the quality has deteriorated, but is still the best around. This little Tablet is a steal and the only difference between this and all the other Tablets that cost as much as 3x as this is the processor and multi touch.I miss the multi touch but it is still penabled.
The speed is not as great as I would want, but at this price getting an IBM (Lenovo) Tablet, I could never even dream, they could deliver so much at these prices.
The processor limits the gaming experience (which I do not care much for) and VPN experience is less than stellar. The web surfing experience is good and windows 7 works very well.
ASUS P43E-XH31 (14.1-Inch Screen) Laptop
I bought this laptop since my brother who is a tech guy told me to get Asus. I did what he told me! And he is right, it is very fast and a good little laptop. The 14" screen is perfect for my use and makes it more portable. The i3 processor is everything that I need. I don't know how many laptops have the smart login, but I love using it. It's just a smooth, fast computer and I have no complaints. My brother told me it would have been nice to have a 3.0 USB port, but I can't say I'm missing it. I highly recommend!
Big difference in speed with the 2nd gen i3 / 'sandy bridge' ... nice.
Display is fine (it's not high-end, but it is crisp and clear, & I don't wanna pay big bux)
The multi-functional keyboard might take some getting used to.
I needed something tough, quick, & mobile ... this is it.
Buy ASUS P43E-XH31 (14.1-Inch Screen) Laptop Now
This is one of the nicest laptops in the market. don't go for other brand names.....grab this one and stay cool for at least 2 years. the build quality, components, the feel...everything is nice. little bit heavy (5 lbs) but that's okay for me. the only problem ive is with the screen quality. but that will be the same for any other 1366x768 LED display. i purchased one Gateway ID series but returned it due to display issues. now im happy.You will be happy too if you get the P43e-XH31.Read Best Reviews of ASUS P43E-XH31 (14.1-Inch Screen) Laptop Here
The laptop multi tasks very well but is slower than my 3 year old pc when it comes to simpler tasks. Start up takes far too long for a new computer. This could be an OS issue since this is my first pc using Windows 7. Battery life is just ok.09/30/12
I have to add that this computer is very good at multi tasking and is basically as advertised. I don't think it is a bad pc and have adjusted to it. I think many of the speed concerns I had initially are Windows 7 related. After a few months with the PC, I have settled on the main issue and it may seem trivial, but it is the aesthetics. The black exterior case is ok when closed. It is the key board and touch pad that are the worst. I never thought this would bother me, but in using my PC for work and in front of clients I find this machine embarrassing. This must be the cheapest, loudest, lowest quality, looking like it came from the 1990s keyboard ASUS could find. Maybe they were paid to use it, but it flat out sucks. Then the touch pad looks filthy no matter how clean your hands are or how often I clean the surface. The click from the pad is loud and hollow and signals to everyone around me that I have a POS laptop when if fact, it works quite well. It bothers me so much that I am going to try and have it replaced. I had to share this because all the reviews I read were very positive when it came to performance but none addressed how cheap these two areas look, feel and sound.
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I purchased this laptop on Amazon as a "Like-New" display model for less than $350 for my fiance to upgrade from her dinosaur of a Dell laptop from 8-10 years ago and her little 9" laptop that she also has. This one blows both of those out of the water. Take note that I do an incredible amount of research on any product that I purchase be it a $5 pair of socks or a $1000 television. I like getting a high quality product (which this laptop definitely is) at a bargain of a price.The laptop itself is very stylish with a dark black textured shell. For my fiance, it is the perfect size to give performance while also allowing for portability by not having to carry too much weight or taking up too much space in her backpack.
The screen is very bright and vivid making movie watching experience great.
It has 3 USB ports 2 on the right hand side towards the front of the laptop and 1 on the left towards the front.
This laptop also features the VGA and HDMI ports on the left side towards the front in case you would like to hook the laptop up to a different display.
The touch pad is skewed just to the left of the center of the laptop. This does not bother me, but my fiance complains about her left hand constantly bumping it and moving the cursor while writing papers. Another note on the keyboard is that there is not a numpad on the right hand side. This does not bother my fiance as she never uses it even if there is one; however, I prefer having one. As a 14.1" laptop I am unsure as to whether any carry a numpad, but if I were buying for myself I would jump up to a 15.4" which does have the option.
We have not had any problems with temperatures running too hot even after a few hours of constant use. Anything more than that we use cooling pads merely as a precaution so I cannot say if it will continue to stay cool after several hours of heavy use.
It has a great battery life. Depending on the settings and what you are doing, this laptop can easily run from a few to several hours on battery alone.
The 4GB of RAM is also plenty you could probably run many games on low settings without a problem. However, this is by no means a "gamer's" computer. For someone looking to buy the computer as a business/school/social media that can also play games like League of Legends or possibly even WoW on low settings, this laptop will do the trick. The 500GB hard drive is also plenty, if anything more is needed there is always the option of an external.
One of the best features that one should always take into consideration when buying an ASUS laptop is they almost always come with the 1 year global / 1 year accidental damage warranty. This feature alone is worth an additional $50 dollars or so.
For the price I paid, this laptop was a steal. However, at the normal price point of $600+/-, I would look to spend a little more and get the ASUS A73E-XA1 17.3" which will offer the larger screen, the numpad on the side of the keyboard, a faster processor (2.3GHz i5 vs 2.1GHz i3), and a larger hard drive. My fiance does not agree with that as she would prefer the still powerful but much more portable 14.1".
LATITUDE E6400 P8700 2.53G 4GB SYST250GB DVDRW WL W7 NVS1603
LATITUDE E6400 P8700 2.53G 4GB SYST250GB DVDRW WL W7 NVS1603Hi, I have a question about this product (which I attached the product link.) Is it a 32-bit operating system or 64-bit???Please let me know when you guys can!
Thanks!
Lifebook T900 - Intel - Core I5 - 520M - 2.4 Ghz - DDR3 Sdram - 2 Gb - Serial At
I am a doctor in a busy practice. I own a Fujitsu lifebook T4220 for close to 5 years. The tablet gets used > 8 hours a day over that period. I have been very satisfied with it's durability and performance. I have been looking for a tablet with a pen digitizer and a larger screen but the 13.3" is the biggest they make theses days.I believe the Fujitsus in my office have been surprisingly free of mechanical defects.
We use the tablet to sign off on documents , prescriptions etc., and they have worked quite well.
I would suggest getting a long term service contract (2-3 year upon purchasing the unit however given the fact it is costly to service.
Buy Lifebook T900 - Intel - Core I5 - 520M - 2.4 Ghz - DDR3 Sdram - 2 Gb - Serial At Now
HP Black 14" Pavilion Beats sPecial Edition dm4-3099se Laptop PC with Intel i5-2450M
this laptop is perfect... people say that the audio is no different on this laptop then any regular laptop... but that is not true. if you know how to mess with the sound settings, youll figure out that this laptop has very high quality sound. better than ive ever hear before. its super fast. love the bluetooth. i play the music from my HTC Rezound via bluetooth. sounds great. really good range as well. runs games very well. hd video looks amazing. the core i5 is awesome. no problems at all with the speed. if youre thinking about buying this... do it. i wouldnt recomend buying it from amazon though. the shipping is harsh on the laptop. i bought mine from walmart for $758
The laptop does not have a dedicated graphics card which is a bummer but the Intel HD 3000 graphics card can play all my steam games well and a couple games include: Portal 2, team fortress 2, Just cause 2, and even the new counter strike, which may say looks great! I can get about 2.5 to 3 hours of gaming on this laptop which is above average for gaming. I did not buy this laptop for gaming cause I already have a rig that can do it all.
The performance on this thing is great! I like how the machine has office and outlook starter installed cause as a high school student I don't have to worry about buying Microsoft office. Every program opens up quickly and makes my life easier.
Also I like the red backlit keyboard which adds a more value look to it and I must say the red makes it look more beautiful than a white light for the keyboard.
I get about 4 hours of watching HD movies on this machine and the beats audio makes it enjoyable!
This laptop was well worth the money I paid for and if you have any questions ask away!
Buy HP Black 14" Pavilion Beats sPecial Edition dm4-3099se Laptop PC with Intel i5-2450M Now
This is a nice looking laptop but there are some key features that are not described above.Bluetooth with WiDi (for wireless connection to HDTV)
Beats Audio with 2 speakers and a subwoofer
Full-size red (back-lit) keyboard
HP Imagepad with on/off button and precision multi-touch gesture support.
Digital media card reader for Secure Digital and Multimedia cards
2 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (new technology)
1 HDMI (for wired connection to HDTV)
I hope this helps people decide if they want this laptop.Fast & Smooth Delivery.... So Far Soo Good everything on it is excellent perfect can't wait til i try it out with my DJ equipment
Want HP Black 14" Pavilion Beats sPecial Edition dm4-3099se Laptop PC with Intel i5-2450M Discount?
I purchased this laptop for school after I had purchased a tablet. I didn't like the tablet, even though there were reviews from many saying it was perfect for college classes. I opted to buy this laptop and gave the tablet to my husband. What initially geared me to choosing this one was the backlit keyboard. I knew I wanted a keyboard that lit up because there were times I was doing homework in the dark cause the little ones were sleeping or I was in the living room while the others were watching a movie (I know I should be doing my hw in another room, but I liked the movie! haha) The fact that the keyboard lights up red was an added bonus, it's awesome, I love it. The fact that the light is not bright is a plus.I also love the fact that it has a fingerprint reader. My husband and I both have our own profiles on the laptop and with just a swipe of a fingerprint, it will switch profiles. The only thing is that sometimes the fingerprint reader will have some trouble reading the print. It will let you know that you need to swipe your finger slower, then it will need a longer swipe, then move over to the right... that did get a little frustrating, but just the fact that it has that option is cool! You can also choose what fingerprint you want it to read.
The sound it ok, it's not as loud as I had expected. I did think because it was a Beats edition, it would be loud, clear, and have some bass, but it sounded like a normal laptop to me. Would be nice if it was a little louder.
I like the look of the laptop as well. The flat black is awesome and you can't really see many fingerprints as you would on another laptop. It's sleek, fairly lightweight. I do like the fact that it has a cd/dvd player.
Overall, I think I made a good choice. It's fast enough for what I use it forschool, pictures, web surfing. I would recommend this!
Fujitsu LifeBook A6025 - Core Duo T2450 / 2 GHz - Centrino Duo - RAM 1 GB - HDD 120 GB - DVD?RW (?R
I've had my A6025 for 3 years, adding 3 extra gigs of RAM, which makes it super fast. Nothing else. No crashes, no freezes. Very secure and practical due to the biometric fingerprint reader. Dropped it a few times, no major damage other than minor scrapes. The HDD protector kicks in disabling the reader to protect the Hard drive. Bought an HP D7V, a Sony VAIO, a Toshiba, and none could even come close to the build, features and sturdiness of this laptop.
MelissaSleek, fast (upgraded to 4GB ram), water-resistant, drop-resent, stable. This has been the best laptop I've ever owned. Only problems were related to Windows Vista (grrr to Microsoft!). Overall, I've had this model for 4 years, so it's getting a little outdated, but it still does everything I need it to. I simply trust it, love it, and highly recommend it.
Acer Aspire E1 15.6" Core i3 500GB HDD Notebook
This is the best laptop available for the price. I initially bought an HP laptop for 599 and I had it for a week when I saw that Samsung had a comparable laptop on sale for 498 at Walmart, so I returned my HP and bought the Samsung. The Samsung was complete junk. I'm guessing that it had defective hardware because Samsung products are usually good. Anyway, I ended up with this Acer (based on recommendation from a friend) and I couldn't be happier. You just can't beat the specs for the price. If you are looking for a laptop in the 500 dollar range, I can't imagine getting a better deal than this Acer laptop.
Buy Acer Aspire E1 15.6" Core i3 500GB HDD Notebook Now
Solid computer. Does the job pretty well. Other than that word limit word limit word limit this is absolutely ridiculous.Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire E1 15.6" Core i3 500GB HDD Notebook Here
MSI Mainstream A6200-248US 15.6" Notebook (Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor P6000, 3 GB RAM, 320 G
Purchased this at Fry's Electronics for $399. There is a rebate associated with it for $50. I live in Illinois so I had to pay sales tax. Still under $400 out the door after the rebate (been told it takes 3 months or so) but that's no big deal.Quick start up guide suggested I make an msi recovery disc set upon 1st boot, so I did (easy but slow 8x is the highest speed on the included optical drive). Removed all the bloatware (not much actually came pre-installed) with PCDecrapifier. Black pinstripe finish is different (highly susceptible to fingerprints & smudges). Battery is good for about 3 hours (maybe a little less) with light use (msi's WIND series can go for 15 hours WOW).
Bonus warranty: Upon receipt of my mail in registration form, msi extends their manufacturer's warranty to 3 years! Pretty sweet! (If you get this make sure you get at least 3 rebate receipts or make copies for all the forms you have to send in).
Fry's customer service is pretty lousy I placed the order online & went in to pick it up with a hard copy of my receipt in hand. They had no record of the order and I had to wait a 1/2 hour for them to figure that out & then another 1/2 hour to take me over to the returns desk to place & process a new order. Took forever and they weren't that busy. They did NOTHING to make it up to me. Also, BE AWARE, Fry's charges a 15% restocking fee on laptops no exceptions. That is $60 out of your pocket on this A6200-428US if something goes wrong or if you change your mind after you open it.
How does it work? Boots fast. Runs cool & quiet. Nice display. A lot of connectivity (USB 2.0 x 3, Express Card, Video Port: VGA (15-pin, D-Sub), HDMI, Audio Ports: Mic-in, Headphone output,). I really like the msi "chiclet" keyboard and number pad. Thin and light, easy to carry but the display doesn't lock when you close the laptop just something to be aware of. Wireless LAN found my home network right away. I bought this to use for school and it is overkill for the typical "student" requirements.
Cons: Power button has a bright blue LED. It is just under the screen located at the top right side of the keyboard distracting when reading the screen (nothing a piece of tape can't fix). Due to the short battery life I want to buy another battery just in case. Overall, this is pretty hard deal to beat.
Includes:
Windows 7, 64 bit
Fast Intel® Pentium® Dual Core Processor P6000 with a 1066MHz FSB & a 2MB cache
320 GB 5400 RPM SATA HD is partioned into 2 halves (or close to it)
3GB 1066MHz DDR3 SO DIMM(upgradable to 8 gigs (2 slots))
4-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/XD)
LAN Ethernet LAN 10/100
WLAN Built-in 802.11b/g/n WLAN Card
Stereo speakers (not bad for a laptop)
1.3MP Web cam with microphone (not great but works ok)
Optical Drive Type: DVD Super Multi (slow)
*UPDATE* I am now at the 4 month point of ownership and felt like updating my review.
After all the constant updates for Windows the computer is using 50% of the RAM all the time just to run the machine. Makes running other programs difficult. I had McAfee installed and that bogged it down even more. Uninstalled McAfee and installed Kaspersky. Kaspersky seems to be working better.
About two months ago a friend of mine got an HP 15.6" Pavilion dv6-3122us Turion II Entertainment 4GB Laptop 500GB Notebook PC and it blows away the msi for only $100 more at the times of respective purchase. The display, software suite, webcam, audio, storage, graphics, and speed are all superior on the hp. Even the finish on the outside is superior in that it doesn't show fingerprints everywhere like the msi.
I just got the rebate from msi last week. My friend got their rebates from hp before I got mine from msi and they sent them in 2 months after I did.
The webcam has been problematic. I try to skype with other students but they cannot hear me unless I call them on my cell. I've checked all the settings and everything is supposed to be working fine but the msi warns that the connection isn't strong enough to support this service. I have a desktop in the same room, farther away from the wireless gateway and it handles web conferences just fine. Has to be the msi. The audio is really quiet. All the way up I can hardly hear professors & fellow students.
I've ordered more RAM for the msi hoping this will speed it back up. If I plug in headphones I can hear others during conferences. They can't hear me but there is a spot where I can "chat". I use sticky keys when zi type and the msi is very slow to recognize or doesn't recognize at all the keys being pressed. When writing an essay it misses the first couple of key strokes when it's running slow. There is no bloatware on my pc and there are very few programs installed. Not many applications or processes running in the background either. So I have no idea why the msi is running as slow as it is these days.
It seemed really good at first. basic. simple. just enough to get the job done. I'd lower it to 2 stars if I could and I would have bought the hp instead seeing as I just shelled out $80 to upgrade the RAM to full capacity on it. The msi is / feels heavier than the hp too.
My gripes the speakers are absolutely terrible. They're on the bottom of the computer and underpowered you're better off using headphones or external speakers. The webcam is pretty lousy, but functional. The glossy case shows dust and fingerprints like nobody's business
If you know your way around a PC and can tolerate the terrible speakers, this is a solid entry level machine. It handles Netflix and Hulu surprisingly well, and the onboard HDMI output is nice too. I opened it up just to see what kind of hardware was in it, and the motherboard is made by the same company that provides motherboards for a good chunk of major name laptops (surprised MSI didn't make it to be honest). Battery life, if you run it in ECO Saver Mode, is excellent for a full size laptop, I regularly get about 4 hours. It seems to be pretty durable too, it's in a backpack 5 days a week being tossed in and out of my car, logged around to classes, libraries, restaurants, etc.
Yeah, it's not fast, it's not high end at all, but for what I use it for (college level schoolwork, hulu and netflix, web browsing), it works just fine. It even handles Counterstrike at a decent frame rate, something I did not expect from the integrated Intel video.I've had lots of laptops and this is the worst I've had. It is just not a finished product. The first glaring problem is the buttons for the touchpad, very hard to click and extremely annoying. Second major problem is the webcam... always gives people a blue tinted skin, not just a little blue, but BLUE. I think its a software problem, since when the webcam first starts the colors are fine, but after 1-2 seconds the skin turns blue. Other problems: Cheap cheap keyboard... I realize this is an "economy" priced laptop, but I've had plenty of bottom line laptops, and keyboard is the worst ever. Now, about support:::: HA HA. MSI has 3 main web sites, () the one that deals with this computer is .... The other websites don't have ANY information about this computer, nor do they tell you that the msimobile web site is the one you must use. If you are lucky enough to get to the correct website they have a nifty-sounding update are that is supposed to update everything in one click... Sounds great eh? except it doesn't work. Click on the GO link and you get a "Loading" message that never stops. Oh, and the websites (all of them) are the most confusing and poorly laid out I've ever seen. They have the usual "search" box for the websites, but it always seems to return "search item not found" even when I put in their own computer model number. This computer also has an annoying, easily lost cover for the SD slot and I find it difficult to orient my hands, the center of the qwerty part of the keyboard and the touchpad are to the left of the screen center. I suppose this has to be done to accommodate the number pad, but even so, I find it disorienting. Don't buy this computer, you will be sorry. Why did I give it 2 stars? For the price it has a fast CPU and a very nice LED display. Well, I guess if you never use the webcam and you always use a mouse rather than the touchpad you might be happier, especially if you never need support.I've had the laptop for a month and have been really happy with it.
While I haven't pushed the computer or disconnected it from a power outlet much, the power seems sufficient for a laptop of this price caliber. Wireless is strong after a driver upgrade (I kept dropping wireless connection until I downloaded the most recent driver). I love the chicklet keyboard, though the unibrow mouse button take a lot of force to press.
I love how the laptop comes with very little crapware installed...they even ask before installing most of it. On previous laptops it has taken me hours to get the laptop set up the way I like it...not this one.
Love the connectivity...3 usb, 1 hdmi (hdmi at this price? nice!) and analog monitor output.
It also comes pre-partitioned with a data drive, making it easy to reformat.
Acer Aspire S7-191-6640 11.6-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook
I've been waiting for a thin, light windows subnotebook that was powerful enough to run modern software. My needs were: small footprint, light weight, >WXGA+ screen, intel core processor, backlit keyboard, USB 3.0. I've owned Vaio Ps, Vaio Us, Viliv N5, Vaio X (this machine sort of replaces that model for me), Toshiba Libretto, Fujitsu U820, Thinkpad 240x, Thinkpad X61. After looking at the various crop of 2nd-gen ultrabooks (Asus UX21a would have been a contender but cannot find it anywhere) I was excited when the 11.6" S7-191 finally showed up on Amazon. This machine is almost perfect. First things first:LIKES
1. It's gorgeous. 12mm thick. Under 2.3 lb. 1080p touchscreen. Two USB 3.0 ports and microSD slot. First laptop that doesn't completely ape the offerings from the fruit company. I'd say aesthetically it is one of the most original and stunning designs of any PC laptop in the last few years. Fairly restrained, clean design with minimal branding. It feels solid and doesn't flex. Hinge has nice resistance. Build quality is very good. Kudos to Acer.
2. Screen is incredible. I've waited a long time for a high-res screen on an ultraportable and this screen does not disappoint. Fantastic viewing angles. Sharp and bright. Almost too bright (I keep it around 50% most of the time). Photos and videos look amazing. I'd venture to say this is the best screen on any laptop that i've owned. My only nit is I wish it were matte instead of glossy...I'll have to see if there is a screen protector that can solve this. Touch and swipe are accurate and snappy.
3. Keyboard is great for what it is. I'm typing this review on the S7 and although the key travel is a little shallow it's reasonable considering the 12mm thickness of the laptop. There is just enough travel to register the keystroke. It takes a little getting used to but the keyboard has gotten very comfortable to type on i'd say it's as comfortable to type on as my macbook pro. The electroluminescent backlighting is a really nice, soft light blue. Keystrokes register pretty accurately (thankfully, I haven't had any issues with super sensitive keystrokes as reported by some users although i'm sure it affects some keyboards) and the keys themselves are relatively quiet.
4. Performance has been surprisingly good. Cold bootup and shutdown takes seconds. I've run Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, Acrobat 11, Outlook, Sketchup, all perform without a hitch so far. Windows 8 requires a learning curve but it's not bad, coming from Win7. I've also noticed that it seems like the fan barely runs and when it does it's barely audible and the laptop stays cool...barely even gets warm (I can't hear it running as I type this review).
5. Accessories...It's barely mentioned but this configuration includes the following in the beautifully packaged box:
a vinyl/pleather carrying sleeve. It works and i'm glad it's included. Doubles as a nice mousepad.
an extra battery! I'm not sure why it's barely mentioned. It's a little cumbersome to attach and remove, but i'm glad it's an option. The battery can be recharged on it's own, and it seems that when it is attached to the laptop, the laptop will draw the power from the external battery first and then from the internal battery second. There is a battery indicator light that can be pressed on the external battery to indicate the amount of charge left
USB 3.0 to VGA cable
USB 3.0 to ethernet
screen wipe/keyboard cloth
Bluetooth mouse with batteries. I haven't used it yet but i'm glad it's included
DISLIKES
I wish there were more than 4GB of ram. It's been adequate so far but I would have paid extra for 8GB. Also the 128GB SSD seems a little small capacity nowadays. Again, I would have paid extra for at least 256GB. Like the other reviewer, I too bought a 64GB class 10 microSD SanDisk Ultra 64 GB microSDXC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card 30MB/s with Adapter SDSDQUA-064G-U46A and it lives permanently in the microSD slot. I also would have liked the i7 option as I know it exists (i've seen it in many videos and i'm pretty sure it's available in other regions, just not in the US). Acer's website is lacking of any information. Keyboard has some odd placements (delete key, tilde, missing function key row so F1-F12 must be accessed using the Fn+ key) but this wasn't a dealbreaker.
What WAS nearly a dealbreaker was the flaky wifi issue that showed up early on. Wifi would disconnect from sleep and would indicate it was connected but websites wouldn't load. After reboots would temporarily fix the problem it'd show up again upon wakeup from sleep or have erratic connections after a few minutes (wifi would show as connected but "limited"). After scouring the internet for solutions, I read about a setting for the Atheros wireless (always on, don't allow computer to disconnect from sleep) and a power setting for wireless (placed on maximum while on battery and while plugged) and I haven't had the flaky wireless issues since (crossing my fingers). Battery life doesn't seem to have taken that much of a hit in this new setting.
So the S7 has met all of my expectations, It's currently the best combination of portability, power and usability for my needs (all specs being equal to most ultrabooks, that 1080p IPS touchscreen plus microSD slot really is what sets it apart from most comparable 11.6" ultrabooks).
I've now been using this machine for a while now and my opinions havent changed all that much except with respect to the battery life. It's really pretty horrible. The secondary external battery is included and doubles the time but are you really going to carry that thing around everywhere? And its somewhat hokey plugging it in. So while I still am impressed with this machine, I really am dissappointed that they would release it with a battery life this short.
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So I've been waiting for an ultrabook like this to come to market. My requirements were size (wanted something smaller than standard 13.3), weight (under 2.5 lbs), touchscreen, and higher res than typical 1368x768
This is a tiny and super lightweight (2.2 lbs) laptop. Very impressive craftmanship and packaging. Almost apple-like. Also included is an external extended battery and a nice faux leather portfolio that perfectly fits the laptop (although not the charger).
Here's what I really like about this machine.
1. Amazing screen resolution 1080p which you would think is almost pointless on an 11.6 inch screen. It's actually pretty awesome. Video looks great. Text is CRYSTAL clear albeit super small. I opted to leave res at 1080p but increased font to 125% (under display settings). That's the perfect setting for me.
2. Touch screen is responsive and pretty accurate not as perfect as an ipad but very respectable. Unfortunately i dont yet find myself taking full advantage of the touch screen since I'm pretty picky about fingerprints. And you def see them after a session of touching the screen. The touch screen has come in handy so far for swiping to diff screens and for scrolling. It's almost like a hybrid experience at this point, like using the best of touch and the best of keyboard/mouse. I hope that moving forward I'll find myself using the touch screen more often since thats what Windows 8 was designed for. Call me an old school PC'er for now but i'm progressing.
3. Screen hinge is very cool. Easy to open to a certain point and then gets rigid after that. Useful since you dont want the screen to push backward while touching it. I will say though that initially opening the screen is a bit difficult since there's very little to get your finger under to lift it up (due to super thin top and botton and how they are flush to each other when closed).
4. The performance is impressive for such a small and lightweight machine. Super fast bootup (obviously due to i5 and SSD drive) and resumes from hibernation (not sleep) in just a few seconds. (Sleep is almost instantaneous)
5. The keyboard is small but actually very usable. Much more so than any other undersized laptop that I've ever owned or used. Its responsive, the keys are solid with great feedback, and they light up automatically when its dark. Literally a bright spot I wasnt expecting.
6. Battery life seems pretty good, but honestly I cant make any judgements about it since I havent really put it through its paces yet. From what I've seen so far, it's on par with what you would expect from today's ultrabooks. Likely somewhere in the middle of the road. The nice thing though is that if I'm in a situation where my battery is running low, I can plug in the little external battery for more juice. I have no idea how long that additional battery is supposed to last but I assume you can get those specs from Acer if you're interested.
Here's what I dont like.
1. SSD is only 128GB. I can live with that but only because I'm forced to. I picked up a 64GB micro SD and that will now permanantly stay in the machine to raise the storage up. I'll be looking forward to higher capacity micro SD's but they dont exist yet as far as I know. I'm told in the spring some time they'll be available. I would have really liked for this machine to include 256GB but it is what it is.
2. There are 2 usb 3.0 ports which is fine but there is a mini hdmi, a micro SD (instead of standard SD), and no ethernet port. They include an adapter for ethernet however. I suppose on a machine this small, thin, and light, you have to sacrifice some ports. Would be nice if I didnt have to though.
3. Edge of the palm rest is a bit sharp. Once in a while I find myself having to adjust my hands so the edge isnt digging into my palm. They prob could have slightly rounded off the edges although understandably that would take away from aesthetics. Still an oversight on Acer's part.
4. The trackpad is great (big, smooth, and responsive) although every once in a while it fails to respond for about a second or so. Hasnt really bothered me yet but that could change over time. Hopefully a driver update will address this.
In summary, there arent a lot of options (in fact I actually dont know of any other than this machine) that meet the criteria for the laptop I was looking for. I assume though that more will be popping up in the coming months (i.e. Surface Pro). This might be the first laptop of its kind but it certainly doesnt disappoint. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that it will be tough for any competitor to top it. It's an amazing technological achievement and I'm very happy with my purchase. Hope this is helpful to anyone considering to pull the trigger but couldnt yet make a decision.
Buy Acer Aspire S7-191-6640 11.6-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook Now
I've been waiting for a 1080p LCD in a 11-12" form factor and the Acer Aspire S7 does not disappoint. The IPS screen is bright and the colors and angles are excellent. Yes the font is very tiny but I have perfect vision and the fonts can be adjusted in any case. It's the best LCD screen I've ever owned in a laptop. As the other reviews have noted I'm disappointed in the max amount of memory (4 GB). I would've liked to have seen 8 GB but the difference in everyday use for me is negligible. The laptop is plenty fast with the SSD and Windows 8 boots up very quickly although I would have preferred Windows 7. The built-in battery lasts about 3 hours but I haven't tried the add-on battery. The keyboard is ok. Keys are a little flat but the backlight is nice.The touchpad could be better but I'm sure future drivers will take care of that. Nonetheless it is very usable as is the supplied Bluetooth mouse which included 2 x AAA batteries and connected right away. Lastly, the audio sounds awesome for a machine this small. You'll get a nice velvety sleeve to protect your computer. Overall a well worth it machine that I highly recommend.Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire S7-191-6640 11.6-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook Here
This is a revised review of the acer s7 191 11.3 inch model.Have had this laptop for over a month now. Can definitely say it is the most asked about laptop I have ever had. While take it out of it's provided acer suede grey envelope sleeve, many people do a double take and many have come right up to me and ask where did I get it from. Many asked if it was a new MacBook pro or MacBook Air. After I tell them about it they are amazed at the brilliance in the screen and the thinnest and solid build and pure simplicity of the design.
The ultrabook is light, very light. The design is much more stunning then the MacBook air, im not just saying this, many of my friends that have a MacBook air admire the design and are envious of the touch capabilities, micro hdmi on the rear (missing on the MacBook air 11 inch), 2 USB 3.0 ports and a provided micro SD card slot (also missing on the MacBook air 11 inch). With the provided VGA adapter and usb Network Adapter (not included with a macbook air) it is an all in one design that just works. Amazing design. Throw in the touch screen and full HD 1080p display and I could not say no. The 128GB storage space may sound small but If you grab a 64GB Micro SD card and have it live inside the MicroSD slot, it is a huge help, also another add-in solution (although it does take up a usb slot) is a nano micro sd adapter that () can help add more storage.
These solutions above do require the purchase of extra cards but save the write loads to the HD and will save it some life over time. A 64GB micro SD card was on sale for 49$ on sale and is very reasonable for use as a download hard drive and file storage. The micro sd usb adapter only accepts 32GB cards but 32 GB cards are extremely cheap now and can be purchased for not more than 15$ on eBay. Again both solutions save the SSD from extra writes and give it more life over time.
Some things I would like to mention, the fan on this laptop will turn on, although it is in no way loud, its something to note, the fan exhausts and intakes from the back so make sure it is not blocked.
It also has a flaky Bluetooth Mouse that has a problem connecting.
There were reports that the wireless adapter drops signals, this was true until they released a newer wifi adapter driver that fixed the issue. Make sure you get it, as long as you have the latest one you should be good.
Secure Boot cannot be disabled on this system, it uses EFI system and uses two 64GB LG SSDs setup in raid 0. The reason why I mentioned that secure boot cannot be disabled is for those who are looking to install Windows 7 and dual boot. Unfortunately, until Acer releases a new bios update that allows the secure boot feature to be disabled, you will not be able to install Linux or Windows 7. This is also true about the 13 inch (391) model.
The brightness, as pointed out earlier uses intel's adaptive brightness feature which is glitchy and will reduce your true brightness, and prevent you from getting to true 100% brightness until you turn off the feature in Control Panel>Power Options>Click on any power option and select "change plan settings" then click "change advanced power settings" from here expand the "Display" category and you should see "Enable adaptive brightness" Turn both settings to "OFF". Do this for all three power profiles, High Performance, Balanced, and Power Saver.
Also something else to mention, the screen, because it is a touch screen, and a beautiful and useful one at that, is prone to attracting dust. Make sure you keep one handy as it collects lint and dust very easily. The screen is made from Gorilla Glass and does not scratch easily but I wouldn't want to test it either.
The keyboard on this ultrabook is very nice. Very simple and clean. As mentioned by others, the F keys are accessible only while pushing the Fn key and the corresponding key. You can turn off the touch pad, mute, put the computer to sleep, rotate the screen, turn off wifi, increase or decrease and also turn off the backlit keyboard as well. One nice feature. Delete key is placed between the space bar and arrow keys, beside the option key.
The sound is amazing on this laptop, the down fire-ring design really immerses you in the sound. You can really tell that it is stereo and with the provided dolby digital home theater software enable, it is not just more immersive, it is noticeably louder and music sounds much more high quality. It is literally amazing and not gimmicky like the older Sound Blaster software found on older PCs. One tip I will add is to disable "volume leveler" and "dialogue enhancer" and enable and "intelligent equalizer" and "surround virtualizer". The sound is amazing and you can adjust three different profiles for quick switching.
Other than that, the battery is not the greatest, I get about 2.5 hours on high performance and 3.5 on power saver and somewhere in between on balanced. The extra battery is kind of cumbersome to use first time, but make sure you take the time to look at how it attaches as doing it wrong could be painful and break or snap the battery if your not careful, it is not flimsy but just a bit cumbersome. It can be charged independently of the laptop which is very nice and also has a visual meter to tell you how much life is left in it. It does pretty good adding an extra 3-4 hours on modest use.
The speed of the ultrabook is also fast and snappy with the provided ssd and is much quicker then my 2009 MacBook air T9800 Dual core 2.6 Ghz Intel Processor. 1080p playback is flawless, looks amazing and clarity and color is great.
The touchpad is multi gesture capable as well and comes with the elan software to configure it.
Other than that, like others have stated, it is a great true laptop, perfect for on the go use. I can carry it one handed without fear of fatigue and is very portable. I thought the 1080p screen would be hard on my eyes but it has really worked out beautifully. Make sure you pick up a nice HD wallpaper from interfacelift.com to really show it off.
I think this laptop, if secure boot could be turned off would get 5 stars no problem, but because it does not allow me to install any other OS's, I will with hold it, but considering not too many people will care it truly is an ultimate portable laptop, the size of the iPad but with much more full capabilities.
Amazingly light, beautifully designed, wonderfully full featured and 100% worth it. Nothing on the market at the moment compares at this form factor and all of its features. Extremely happy with the purchase and have been recommending it to everyone that asks.
I am work for a large technology company at a corporate office and everyone here has been looking to get one as well upon my recommendation.
Thank you amazon and acer! Great Job.
Want Acer Aspire S7-191-6640 11.6-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook Discount?
I've had this laptop 4 days now. First off, I knew the battery life wasn't going to be great, but it's awful! Max of 2.5 hours when web surfing and word processing. It also takes a full 2-2.5 hours to charge it. The advertised life is grossly exaggerated.The external battery back is not very seamless and looks ugly. I'll add some photos of it. The battery pack doesn't show up as an extra battery in Windows so you can't see the life on it without pressing a little button on the side of the battery. It's also cumbersome to attach. It was definitely an afterthought.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/permalink/mo3UQFB8H829JIG/B009H2CL8Q/ref=cm_ciu_images_pl_link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/permalink/mo39OIVHVVWYO4W/B009H2CL8Q/ref=cm_ciu_images_pl_link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/permalink/moBOGEJ4KDTHBG/B009H2CL8Q/ref=cm_ciu_images_pl_link
The wireless issue that others have talked about is certainly a problem. I randomly have my wireless connection stop working about once every 2 hours of use requiring me to turn airplane mode on and off.
The keyboard has extremely low travel. My Microsoft Surface Type keyboard has more movement in the key press. I'm willing to sacrifice that for size, but some may not. I'm a fast touch typist and it hasn't really bothered me. Warning, if you buy this laptop in Canada, you will end up with the french keyboard which has split up the shift and enter keys (not recommended).
The touchscreen is amazing. It works better than I could have hoped for and using a combination of mouse and touch is very efficient on this device. Text can be a little small at times especially for those web browsers (Chrome) and applications that don't scale fonts. This is my first glossy screen laptop and I haven't found it to be annoying yet. In certain light you can see your fingerprints though.
The touchpad is one of the best ones I've used. It's roomy and I like it just as much as the one on my Macbook Air. It responds great, the gestures work, and it clicks nicely. There is no separate right click button, but clicking in the bottom right area will result in a right click.
There are plenty of accessories with this too. A bluetooth mouse, a high quality sleeve, micro(?)-hdmi to VGA and a USB ethernet adapter come with it. The bluetooth mouse it comes with works great for me. It has a notched wheel which I prefer and the wheel is also great as a middle mouse button. See the url below for a photo of the accessories. The slip case also exposes the AC input while stored and will accommodate the external battery too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/permalink/mo3HVK8EZD8KOI4/B009H2CL8Q/ref=cm_ciu_images_pl_link
The aluminum finish is awesome
The system is very quick, even with only 4gb RAM. My main workstation has an i5 @4.5ghz, 32gb RAM and a high end SSD, but this isn't much slower.
I can't think of any alternative notebooks to this if you want something of similar weight and size with a high res touch-screen display. The Zenbook prime would be a good candidate if they ever come out with the touch-screen version they promised. However, this thing will probably go back to the store for its awful battery life.
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Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Business and Gaming Laptop
I purchased this laptop in the last quarter of 2009 and it has done an excellent job as both a desktop replacement and portable laptop for travel. It has always been reliable and I've never had any software or hardware issues over the past 3 years.
Acer - Aspire V5-571P-6648 Touch-Screen 15.6" Laptop - 4GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive - Silky Silver
I am learning to love the windows 8 and having the touch screen is fun. I had an older acer and was quite happy with it and for the price of this one could not pass it up. Was worried at first about the windows 8 but playing around with it and discovering how it all works is really fun and easy. Different for sure but in a good way. Loving the back lit keyboard! Having trouble getting my old office program on it though, still trying to figure that out, it only gives the option to load the Office 2010 and I have an older version that it is not recognizing. There is supposed to be a way to get it on but have not figured that out yet. I love the light weight, sleek design with the larger screen than my others were. Not happy about the battery life. It claims to get 4-5 hrs on the battery but I have not been able to get more than 2. This is disappointing because one of the selling points for me was the longer battery life which it does not have! Other than that overall I am very pleased with this computer, the price is great for what you get. I added more memory to bring it to 8GB and response is really good, fast and touch is instant. Got the last one available before they discontinued it and got a great sale price, $200 cheaper than the upgraded version, so very happy about that. So other than the 2 hr battery life, I am very happy with this laptop and would recommended it.
Acer Aspire V3-571G-9686 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
The last few reviews have touched on this but I want to make certain people understand, this is an outstanding gaming laptop. The processor and GPU are light years beyond what you'd get in this price range and it shows in high demand gaming environments. The hard drive is a bit slow on load times but once you're in, you're absolutely golden. I spent a good bit of time attempting to find a cheap laptop I could take to and from places and still be a functional gamer, and this exceeds expectations.Keep in mind, though, that you're sacrificing elsewhere. The screen is bad, the keyboard isn't great, the trackpad is just abysmal. It isn't nearly as sleek as a new ultrabook from whoever else might be out there. But I personally didn't buy it for any of those reasons. However, if you can spell "aestetically pleasing", look elsewhere. It's a $750 laptop with one of the most powerful laptop processors out there, and a pretty nice mobile GPU to boot. You're losing some polish.
Now, I bought this laptop because it crushes similarly priced laptops with the might of a herd of bison. It does this all day, every day, and if you're looking for either a ridiculously powerful laptop for some sort of work or a gaming laptop under a grand, this is it. The niche for this laptop is small, but if you're in it, you'll be exceptionally happy.
A note: it's easier to set up the screen gamma, etc. to be slightly off axis as you're viewing it. The optimal viewing angle is so small it's actually easier to adjust it to being off axis than on, since if you adjust it for being on axis you're looking at not being able to even think about moving your head. Oh and don't even pretend to be able to game with the trackpad, you need a USB mouse.
*The driver to fix the WiFi connectivity can be found on the Acer V3 drivers page (google acer v3 drivers) and is called the Wireless LAN Driver (new) by vendor Atheros.
Buy Acer Aspire V3-571G-9686 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Now
I bought this computer to replace my aging high-end gaming machine. I will note that upon arriving, I immediately upgraded the memory to 8GB from the 6GB it came with. I've played LA Noire, The Secret World and Skyrim along with a variety of other games to test its capabilities. It plays everything at High to Ultra with no slowdown or significant drop in FPS.One thing it has which makes a big difference is the presence of the NVidia "Optimus" technology. The laptop does not simply have the GeForce 640M GPU in it, but also an Intel Integrated HD 4000 processor; the system dynamically switches between the two processors as needed, and at time takes on load-balancing so that if you play a borderless windowed game, your game is covered by the GPU and the desktop is done by the Integrated HD processor. This makes for seamless Alt-Tabbing when needed.
The body is mostly plastic, but the overall build quality for a product of that construction doesn't feel that weak. While some may gripe about the weight, my last gaming laptop weighed in at about 10 pounds with its oversized battery, so this is no problem for me. For the price, this machine simply cannot be beat!
Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire V3-571G-9686 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Here
Did a lot of research before I decided to go with the V3 571g 9686 but I'm glad I did. This laptop looks sleek and performs very well. I noticed some of the comments saying things about windows 8 being junk and having a ton of "bloatware" or commercially installed applications that are unnecassary. They were easy to unistall either using the normal add/remove or downloading CCleaner or another program to unistall applications. Windows is a bit different but you still having access to your normal desktop, new features include swiping from the left or right of your mousepad. Swipe left to switch between open windows, slide right open the start menu. I would suggest upgrading your ram to max out at 8gb. Fortunetly the ram is set up with 2 slots and one 4gb stick and one 2gb stick and not forcing you to spend a ton on a whole kit. They were nice enough to include kingston ram but just the 2gb stick so it doesn't matter. The overall build I feel is very sturdy. Keyboard feels nice and precise, not built out of one big keyboard but the keys are seperated by a nice looking silver housing. Mousepad is nice but feels rather senstive, I've adjusted settings but dragging and dropping is a pain. Its also off center and more towards the left, which is not a compaint but just interferes with typing. Numerical pad is a nice feature and doesn't feel like its addition is crowding the keyboard. A youtube review had mentioned that running the windows index test to see how your machine performs overall is low. Which is wrong, heres why. The laptop doesn't come with just one graphcis card but two. The Intel HD 4000 is interegrated into the motherboard, and the Nvidia Geforce GT 640M. If you adjust your nvidia settings your can change it to automatically switch between graphics cards when the load is necassary. However you can also set it to only use the Nvidia card. I ran the test with the intel and came out at a 5.4 becuase of the graphics card. Ran it again with the Nvidia and my graphics came out to 7.7! However the HDD is at 5400 rpm so its overall score became 5.5. You could updgrade the HDD but since everyone is complaining about the battery power a 5400 rpm HDD is going to use less power than a 7200 rpm HDD. Yes the battery life is short because of all the nicer hardware which is the tradeoff. Overal i'm very satisfied with this laptop.Want Acer Aspire V3-571G-9686 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Discount?
I've only had the laptop for a week, but so far so good. Feels solid and well built. Gamers will be pleased too with the dedicated GPU and 2GB RAM; I've seen no lag playing SWTOR. The only thing I wish this laptop had is a backlit keyboard. Even without the backlit keyboard, this laptop is a great deal and gets 5 stars unless it starts to have issues. I'll update this review if it takes a turn for the worse.