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 speakers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label notebook speakers. 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.
HP Pavilion G7-2223NR Notebook PC (500GB, 4GB)
This is the perfect laptop for someone who just wants wants the basics. For the money it is very well equipped. Battery life thus far seems to be a bit short at about 2 hours but is about what I've come to expect. It comes with Windows 8 and no other option so you will have to learn to like (or at least tolerate) the new OS. It gets better after further tweaking and tuning. It is rather lean on preloaded software (trial versions of Office and Norton) but if you're loading your own things that won't be a problem.Save 23% Off
Asus X55A-JH91 15.6-Inch Laptop
I needed something to run multiple apps including powerpoint and video simultaneously with no lag. This does the job. The keyboard took some getting used to, the keys do not have the dull plastic feel that I am used to with a Dell, but more of a cold metallic feel. One quirk I am trying to figure out with Windows 8 ... there seems to be an automatic swipe gesture I keep doing with the mousepad when I swipe up/to the right to move around the screen. It takes me to the start screen, which is annoying, and I would love to turn that feature off. Windows 8 on a non-touchscreen device can be a bit awkward and I wish I had windows 7. There is no start menu to access programs or quickly shutdown ... instead I control/alt/delete to shutdown or go back to the start screen by putting the mouse in the lower left screen of the computer and accessing the settings ... takes too much time. Overall, this is a good machine for the money, and I must point out that the audio/speakers are top notch. I am able to play for my entire classroom without external speakers, a first for any laptop I have ever had. Also, the battery has lasted me an average of 5 hours with the screen brightness turned way down. It is also a very quiet machine -no loud fans or processing sounds. Sometimes I forget that it' even on.Update: The annoying automatic swipe function I was talking about turns out to be something that is actually fantastic called ASUS Smart Gesture. You can turn features on/off, like using two fingers for scrolling, one finger for select, three fingers to navigate pages, etc.
Buy Asus X55A-JH91 15.6-Inch Laptop Now
This laptop can be found for under $300 and it is well worth it if you are willing to install Ubuntu Linux 12.10. If you're willing to do that, you'll end up with a laptop that feels like a MacBook Pro which last I checked was $1,500.The trackpad is little sensitive and ethernet wasn't picked-up out of the box by Ubuntu which are the only reasons I'm giving it 4 stars. Otherwise, love this for a Linux laptop.
Asus X53E-SB31-BU 15.6" Laptop notebook computer: Intel core i3-2310M, 4GB, 500GB, Windows 7 ho
I like most things about the laptop. The aluminum case seems to stay cool even after long use. The laptop came with Windows 7, which is what I wanted. (Windows 8 needs to be dumped by Microsoft ASAP!) The 3.0 USB port is very fast. It seems like I move files back and forth between the hard drive and a flash drive almost instantly. The screen is very readable. The computer came with enough RAM (4 gb) to suit my needs and a large enough hard drive. The I3 dual-core processor is way faster than my other laptop.I do not like the placement of the "mouse" pointing device -it is off-center to the left, so I constantly click the right rather than the left button. I also have trouble with gestures, which I should just turn off in order to make the pad act more like a traditional mouse. I wish that the keyboard had a numeric keypad separated from the regular keyboard.
But overall, this was an inexpensive good choice for my needs.
NEW! HP ENVY DV7T Laptop PC, Intel 3rd Gen Quad Core i7-3630QM, 1.5TB (Dual 750GB 7200RPM) Hard Dri
This notebook has everything you could possibly imagine! Hard to believe they've squeezed three hard drives into this package!The Beats audio and the HD video are exceptional. The keyboard is smooth and precise and the backlighting is so helpful late at night when I don't want to disturb my wife! It runs cool and quiet and although it does come with what some call "bloatware", I have found most of it to be very useful. It takes a bit of learning to get up to speed with Windows 8, but once you familiarize yourself with it, you will see that you can be much more productive. I must say the Eluktronics is a wonderful company to deal with. I had assumed that being an Amazon Prime member would have reduced the shipping costs, but I was wrong. Since I was an Amazon Prime "newbie", Eluktronics reduced their shipping cost, much to my delight. They shipped and delivered the notebook quickly and in perfect condition. I will certainly deal with them again!
Addendum:
It is now several weeks later and my review still stands. I will add that I have gone a bit crazy in downloading free apps! I now have around 100 free apps and can't find the time to try them all!
Getting used to Windows 8 was a slight learning curve but now that I have it down I love Windows 8.
The battery is awesome and lasts longer than any other battery I have had. The battery is curved on the back side so it holds the computer up about an inch in the back so that the fans get good circulation. The screen is nice and I love how everything I need is at the mouse and the keypad (volume, backlight, Windows key, play keys, screen size, swipe through apps, etc).
The speakers are loud and clear and I love having my laptop as my main source of music while working around the house.
The charging cord is really long (which I love) so that I can work on my stuff from across the room if needed.
The only downside is I had paid for overnighting and didn't get it in the time I had hoped, so there was a slight delay in the shipping by a couple of days. However the seller wasted no time in refunding me the money I'd paid for overnighting and was prompt in their responses to my emails and/or questions. The item came very well wrapped and safe.
All in all I am quite satisfied with this product.The materials are outstanding the screen seems to be one of the best on its kind the beats audio are amazing sound hughly loud everything on this machine are great im lovin itThis will probably be the last laptop that I will ever buy. I will use it for home and business purposes. It is very easy to set up and and is blazing fast. I will have to get used to the Windows 8, but accept that as part of the deal for getting high processor speed, all the bells and whistles, apps galore to choose from and most importantly 1.5 TB and i7, all in one package. Its' a little on the heavy side but that isn't a problem for my intended usage. The speakers are excellent quality and the screen definition is very high quality. I like the fingerprint scan technology and find that I'm quickly in and out of password required sites. All in all, I'm very happy with this purchase and feel that it was the best cost /value decision that I could have made. I was put off a little by the length of time of routine UPS delivery service. I strongly recommend this laptop for those who want a fast, technologically up to date laptop.
Panasonic Toughbook 19 Tablet PC - Centrino 2 vPro - Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 1.2GHz - 10.4" XGA - 2
This is one of the best computer but made with very bad keyboard, typing is very hard on this computer. tacchscreen is ok since it moono touched, it was much better that it was a multitouch screen instead of single touch. panasonic with these great product has the worst customers services, and worst support system. If it was not the product i could give Panasonic 1 star only of its customer services. I hope this is helpful for you
it is a rugged computer, So, these computers rarely break. But they do sometimes break.
If yours breaks, forget about it. Just go buy a new one.
I don't like worrying about my warranties, so although the computer comes with a well-written standard warranty, i purchased
the
$250.00 Protection Plus Warranty Upgrade (Years 1-3) plus i purchased the
$180.00 Toughbook Premier 3 Year Service Upgrade and i also purchased the
$175.00 3-Year On-site Service
My computer broke (i dropped it--not from Six feet, but from about the height of my bedside table...
Panasonic made me prove the warranty by sending a copy of my sales reciept before they would even talk to me about service.
Then they tried to talk me out of having the on site service, saying it would be faster and easier if i just sent them the computer.
The onsite service guy was nice, but had not been trained on how to fix the Toughbooks, so he took it home with him and sent it to Panasonic.
That was a week ago.
The onsite guy said i should leave my hard drive inside the computer.
He called later and said Panasonic would send me a new computer right away.
Then he called back and said that they would not cover accidental damage...and i should have bought one more warranty...
I pointed out that the warranty covered "non-intential damage"...their representative said that while "non intentional" seems to mean "accidental" it does not mean that "accidental" is covered!
The manager at Panasonic promised to look into my case...but never called me back.
One of my warranties included 'overnight' service.
I was later told that "overnight' means next business night, which, on a Friday, means Monday...but because Monday comes after Sunday, Monday means Tuesday...
Anyway, they have my money, and my computer....and this review.
Dell Latitude D620 Intel Core Duo 1600 MHz 40Gig Serial ATA HDD 2048mb DDR2 DVD/CDRW Wireless WI-FI
I ordered a refurbished Dell Laptop computer and was very happy with the quality of the laptop but also with the very short delivery time. It arrived in perfect condition like new with preloaded software, even more than I anticipated, in only 2 days! I wasn't expecting it before 3-5 business days. I definitely would recommend this seller and will use them myself again.
Acer Aspire V3-571G-6622 15.6-Inch Laptop (Midnight Black)
I've had this computer for about 3 months and so far its been able to do everything I want it to. Runs my main game Aion between 30-40 fps on max settings (around 50-60ish on medium), has a decent battery life (4 hours) and isn't too expensive. I've also played GW2, Tera, CIV V & Anno 2070 without any problems. As the title says I have been looking for a computer for a year that is between $500-$600, has a dedicated gfx card and is 15'.Windows gives it a base score of 4.6
Processor: 7.1
Ram: 5.9
Gfx: 4.6
Gaming gfx: 6.5
HD: 5.9
A few gripes:
1. Fingerprint magnet
2. I usually carry my laptop in the space that's between the top of the keyboard and the edge of the screen for stability, the power button is too close to the edge of the laptop and I've accidently turned it off a few times.
3. I appreciate the minimalist design, but there's nothing to indicate when caps lock/ num lock is on.
Overall, I would recommend this comp to anyone who doesn't want to break the bank while still getting decent performance.
Buy Acer Aspire V3-571G-6622 15.6-Inch Laptop (Midnight Black) Now
This laptop just blew me away. I love the sleek elegant look to it. It's not too heavy so I can take it with me on the go.The downside is that it only comes with 4BG RAM and a 5200rpm hard drive. However with the 8GB RAM upgrade it is super snappy and fast, even with the 5200RPM hard drive. Also Windows 8 has fast boot times, even with this slow hard drive.
Windows 8 is really not bad at all once you "de-suck it" with one of the various programs available that let you bring back and customize the start menu and also lets you boot up to the desktop. I personally went with "startisback". It cost 3 bucks and gives you 2 licenses to use on 2 PCs.
Graphically this laptop is awesome! I can run Resident Evil 6 at max settings at 60fps as well as Deus Ex human revolution on high at 60fps. For the price you pay, it's a steal!
The battery life is decent when you set it to power saver, about 3 hours, when you're using wifi, longer without it. But if you want longer battery life get a 12-cell battery. But for me it's not an issue since I'm usually connected to the wall.
All in all, if you're looking for power, performance and decent gaming at a cheap price. This is it! you can't go wrong at this price. :)
Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire V3-571G-6622 15.6-Inch Laptop (Midnight Black) Here
This is by far the best laptop for the dollar that I could find. Very sleek looking machine. It is also very thin. Not Ultrabook thin but thin for a laptop with an I5 and a dedicated GPU. The Laptop seems to be well built, pretty sturdy. No Flex. I also added another 4 gigs of memory to the Laptop. Overall the machine is pretty fast. I was surprised how well it ran Sim City and Mass Effect 3. The only thing that I don't really care for is the track pad. It works but it seems a little sensitive to clicks. I also don't like the fact that its not in the center. But that's just me. Highly recommend this machine to anyone looking for something with a little kick but dont want to spend an arm and a leg on a good performing machine.Want Acer Aspire V3-571G-6622 15.6-Inch Laptop (Midnight Black) Discount?
To get the maximum out of this laptop you will need some expertise. Apart from a slow disk, this is a two-GPU machine which uses NVIDIA Optimus technology to switch between uses. You have relatively low control over what get used where, and often things cause errors. Updating drivers can also be painful. If you'd like to go with it anyway, here are some things to note:1. Do not set Chrome to use NVIDIA GPU but use chrome:flags to enable using the GPU. Otherwise it will either be too slow or work with errors.
2. The disk is slow; consider upgrading to SSD.
3. The screen resolution is low and you will notice that. I don't care much for it, but I know many people who do.
4. Battery life is good / satisfactory.
This is my main computer and I will be happy to answer any specific questions on this thread.
ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black)
(Re-wrote this review 12/6/09)This is an excellent budget notebook with a 15.6" screen that's only 5.8 lbs. We just bought two for my wife's parents (don't buy it for 3D games, as it has integrated graphics, but office apps and browsing are fine).
Pros:
T6600 Core 2 Duo (not the Pentium Dual Core, lower-end C2D, ULVs, or Atoms)
Relatively quiet and light (5.8 lbs)
Big hard drive (mine had a Seagate Momentus 5400.6)
Screen has relatively good viewing angles, horizontal and vertical
Pretty good fit and finish for a plastic casing (although there's a somewhat flimsy lid that is separate from the battery)
4 USB ports
VGA output is crisp (to 1280x1024, didn't try bigger)
I haven't noticed the palm rest getting warm at all ... but you're not playing 3D games are you?
You can select one language during boot up that's set forever, that is, until you restore from the recovery partition. The first time I chose Traditional Chinese. Works great. I restored (press F9 at boot) and selected English. Works great, didn't need to put in DVDs, and all the software reappeared. I even choose the option to use one C:\ drive, instead of the default 60% C:, 40% D:.
Opening the notebook casing is easy -find the "electronic hardware" version (not the "hardware" version) of the manual on Asus's web site (search for K50, then click Download, then Manuals). The hard drive is easily replaceable. Relatively clean layout so I can imagine blowing out dust bunnies will be easy.
Includes Office Home & Student 2007 (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/OneNote) pre-installed WITHOUT a product key. It asks for that so I assume you just punch one in and everything's great.
Includes a trial of Trend Micro Internet Security for antivirus protection pre-installed.
Aside from the Asus utilities, relatively little bloatware
Turned off all of Win7's eye candy. Don't need that.
1-year international warranty. Includes accident protection (register for this within 60 days on the Asus U.S. web site, and it's non-transferrable from the original owner). No paperwork on extending the warranty. We're trying our luck in case the computer breaks down in < 1 year and they give us a hassle about it being a gift and the warranty being valid.
Cons:
A bit fat
The screen has a blue tinge, just like with Asus's TN LCD displays. You get used to it though.
Glossy screen (reflections), not matte
Two-finger touchpad scrolling is too sensitive out of the box with Firefox (although it might be okay with IE). Turning it all the way down, it's fine.
The numeric keypad uses smaller keys! Difficult to use for folks with big hands.
The arrow keys don't have space around them (and actually the right arrow key is bumped into the numeric keypad section), so you need to learn where they are.
The keyboard and touchpad are on the left side of the computer because of the numeric keypad. You quickly get used to that, though, so no biggie.
The touchpad buttons require some pressure to click, but you get used to it.
4 GB maximum memory. Just 1 user-accessible memory slot which contains 2GB. No biggie.
No DVI. No port replicator option with that option.
No Bluetooth, FireWire, eSATA, ExpressCard/PCI Express slot
Integrated Intel graphics (not for 3D gaming, but great for 2D apps)
The T6600 doesn't support Windows 7's XP compatibility mode. Most of the Win7 Home Premium notebooks I've seen have a CPU which doesn't support XP mode. Only Win7 Professional and higher supports VT mode anyway. Does XP mode matter at all? I have no idea. Search the Internet for that.
It doesn't wake up when you open the lid. It does sleep when you close the lid. Yes, I checked the settings. Tip: Change the close-lid behavior to Sleep instead of Hibernate for a faster sleep, but battery will drain faster.
Edit 12/10/09:
A few cons I've noticed:
The two speakers are on the bottom of the notebook, at the front lip. You really need a hard surface to reflect the sound up to you. Definitely below average compared with other notebooks IMO.
The Page Up / Down keys are above the numeric keypad -way out of reach. It's an incredible hassle with Internet browsing.
Remember how I wrote the graphics are good enough for 2D? If you watch a Yahoo! music video in full screen mode, that sucker will tear during fast motion. It's fine at the normal zoom level and with computers with discrete graphics.
I'm always accidentally hitting the DVD eject button. Other notebooks I've used recess this button.
Editbattery life is lasting me about 4hrs and 25 mins. With basic apps running such as iTunes and internet surfing. This notebook is still the best thing I've seen around. I was lucky enough to purchase it for 599 during the black friday sale. But amazon still has a great price and more than worth the value!
Edit 12/4/09I have to disagree about the review about the keyboard. I was able to type 3 papers very efficiently and had no typos. It feels very comfortable. I don't use the number pad. I'm not an accountant and don't have a need to use the number pad like its a calculator. Some people might need it. I do not.
As for Windows 7 being a unstable system. I totally disagree. I've built all my desktops since I've gotten into PC gaming and windows 7 by far surpasses any OS i've used. XP is way to basic for my taste and Vista was a compatibility nightmare. I've ran windows updates already and it was flawless, boot up is literally half of what I'm used to on a desktop. As for upgrade options. No not really. This is a notebook not a desktop. 4gb is more than enough to do most things and as for the hard drive 500g is pretty massive. My desktop has 3TB, but thats mostly for storage.
Con: The speakers sound great. However, when the laptop is on your lap the sound isn't as clear, but this is to be expected. If the laptop is on a desk or whatever it sounds great. Altec Landsing speakers are pretty amazing.
The touch pad took a few moments to get used too, but besides that great product.
TO the supposed "THE REAL REVIEW Only 100% Truthful Reviews"
"My ASUS was DOA and it was a rather bad experience.....AMZN saved the day. Feel free to read my review on my ASUS that is now dead and buried and sent back after 15 hours of ownership and that 15 hours was a NIGHTMARE!" November 16th 2009.
"The unit seemed very cheaply made...dvd drive was dead....power cord was sparking when plugged in...lousy viewing angles....no backlit keyboard makes this BLACK keyboard impossible to see.....got a zillion error messages..one after another after another..Customer support was a joke...14 hours on the phone with these guys and all I can say if if they are the best, I dont want to experience the worst..... I am very sorry I rolled the dice with ASUS but very thankful I bought from AMZN as they do a great job of resolving things for customers which is why I will continue to give AMZN my business...." December 4th 2009.
Are you kidding me man? Stop writing reviews to hear yourself speak. At least show a shimmer of intelligence in what you say. Yes, I'm sure the laptop that you just purchased actually through off sparks lol. Bottom line is this laptop is excellent for the price you pay and people don't need to see your crap reviews that obviously are bias and EXTREMELY EXAGGERATED!
Edit: 12/5/09I had mentioned previously that the touchpad was a little difficult to get used to initially. But asus has a excellent option for configuring it as you desire. I just turned down the sensitivity and it really has helped with scrolling and web surfing. ALSO for those who are picky about fingerprints this machine does attract very well. There are many options for skins out there that fit this laptop perfectly. Just an option! I've continued to fool around with the new options within Windows 7 and it is really amazing the amount of custom-ability that is possible. There thousands of options for display and such and the laptop handles the shading/pixels/ and resolutions like a champ!
Buy ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black) Now
Most people before have said it all so I'll keep this basic and easy to read.1) ASUS is a top notch maker of motherboards etc. So it's no wonder that recent statistics on laptop reliability yielded ASUS as being the most reliable laptop maker based on number of returns or repairs. ASUS also offers a fantastic warranty on this product.
2) You get a great laptop for the money. I had initially purchased a Dell Inspiron model laptop at Walmart but for the same money I got a better processor, an LED screen, a number pad, better warranty and the ASUS Ice Cool feature. The better processor is what I was really after and the LED screen.
I highly recommend this laptop to anyone who doesn't want to spend a fortune. This laptop is a solid performer and a good bang for the buck. It's fast, runs smooth and looks good if cosmetics are important.
Read Best Reviews of ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black) Here
I received this laptop yesterday. Amazon is quite good with its two-day shipping. It shipped via Fedex and arrived here on time. The packaging wasn't done well though, and the outer box was partly opened, which at first made me worry that the box of the laptop itself might have been damaged. Thankfully that wasn't the case. I'll be updating this review as I continue to use the unit. I bought it as a replacement for my 17" HP (Core2Duo) that I thought was too bulky. So far this one's working alright.Some of the things I like about the ASUS K501J: (1) inexpensive ($ 649 with a $ 100 rebate = $ 549, not a bad deal at all, (2) Core2Duo processor, (3) 500 GB hard drive, (4) 4 GB memory, (5) crystal clear screen, (6) laptop doesn't get hot like my old toshiba, (7) no bloatware, (8) quite light (less than 6 lbs I believe), (9) 4 usb ports.
Now for the things I don't like (initially at least): (1) the laptop feels "fat" as one reviewer here says; it isn't sleek or stylish at all, feels a tad bulky, but that's ok I guess, (2) fingerprint magnet (though not as bad as my HP,(3) no HDMI port(but given the price, I'm not complaining),(4) plastic feels a bit cheap (but again, for $500+ that's nothing to complain about, (5) the product description says 30 seconds boot up, I think it's a tad longer than that (but again, negligible).
I like the laptop so far. I wanted something smaller than my 17" and given the specs, it's a decent little thing considering the price.
UPDATE: NEED HELP HERE!!! I hooked up this laptop to my 22" monitor using only the VGA port that's available on it. I used to be able to get to the recommended resolution for my monitor (with my HP laptop). With this ASUS unit I can't seem to get the resolution beyond 1024 x 769, leaving me with a screen that's not as sharp but is in fact a tad blurry. I tried using a VGA/DVI converter, but that didn't work. Can anybody please help me out here with suggestions as to how I can get a better resolution for my monitor. It's a 22" Sceptre LCD. I'd very much appreciate the help. THANKS!
UPDATE: Received the $ 100 rebate early March. I must say it was rather quick as I had expected to receive it in 8 weeks. Turned out much less than that. Still disappointed though that I couldn't get my 22" monitor resolution higher than 1024 x 769 when I attach it to the laptop's VGA port. Tech support was pretty useless. The support personnel on the other line didn't know exactly what to do, and was not very knowledgeable about the ASUS models and the components. I guess for a $500+ laptop with its specs, the low resolution on my external monitor is really a minor thing, especially since the monitor of the laptop itself is pretty sharp and clear.
Want ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black) Discount?
This is my first laptop. I did a lot of research before purchasing it. I spent hours at Best Buy and Costco talking with the sales people and trying out the display laptops; and researched many on-line retailers and pc review websites checking prices and reviews for different laptops. I chose this one because the t6600 dual core processor was rated well amongst the lower priced laptop processors. I also liked that it has 4gb memory and a 500gb hard drive which is more than most of the lower priced laptops. I wanted windows 7 since I am coming from XP on my old tower pc and have heard Vista is not well liked. It comes with a really good warranty 2 years plus 1 yr accidental for free, and they pay the shipping if you need to send it in. While doing my research most of the sales people and reviews said that ASUS is top quality and have the best customer service. Amazon.com had a great price on this item. I got it for $599. I was a taking a bit of a chance buying it from Amazon because I couldn't see it and try it out before I bought it, and no one had reviewed it yet since it was a new model. I am glad I took a chance on it.I am very happy with this laptop. It is really comfortable to type on. A nice size small enough to carry and big enough to easily read the screen and type. I like the number pad on the keyboard. I really like the cool smooth plastic hand rest. It is quiet, comfortable, and cool. It was easy to set up right out of the box, and I am not a techie. It walked me through everything I needed to get up and running. I called ASUS tech support twice once to ask if I should charge the battery for a specific length of time before using it (they said yes, the first battery charge should be 8 hours), and also a question about getting rid of some of the software that was preloaded that I didn't want. They were very friendly and helpful. They have 24/7 tech support which is really nice. I had to wait a little while on hold when I called in the evening but my daytime call was answered fairly fast. I appreciate that even though I was asking very basic questions and I know they are busy, they were friendly and happy to help me.
I haven't tried it out on the internet or watched any videos as I am still adding and removing programs and setting it up, but so far I really like this laptop. I'll report more once I've had a chance to really see how it handles. At this point I am very happy with it!
Toshiba Satellite T215D-S1140RD 11.6-Inch Notebook PC - Gemini Red
Personally, I love this product. The company had done a great job at getting my order to me in a timely fashion. In fact, it came sooner than I thought. The unit itself, works great, as it booted right up. I do like the fact that the computer is light, and that you can use a USB key to create a system restore disk. Moreover, I did end up buying more ram for it, while 2gb did not seem to be enough for now. I now have total of 4gb installed which in due time, I am planning on upgrading again. However, I did not want to max out the machine at this time, so maybe in a few months I will purchase additional ram, thus taking it up to 8gb. Nonetheless, the company is fast in term of shipping. I did not have any problems and would recommend buying this product from this company, as well as this model. In fact, my friend had been looking for one of these and could not find one in the stores. He did purchase his from the store, but his is black whereas mine is Red. I liked the red color since it was something new. Again I recommend this product, and getting it from this company. It arrived just days after I ordered it, which again was a good thing.Excellent service, delivery time, and great product!! The only problem is that it does not come with blue-tooth built in. But, I have one that plugs into the USB, so it is not that big of deal. Moreover, I do have an external DVD drive, so the unit is lighter. More or less, I really do not use DVD drives that much, while I commonly use USB or external hard drives for most of my work. So if you are looking for a light weight unit that has a solid design I recommend this product. And again, delivery time was quick and painless from this company.
Highly recommend if you looking to replace your netbook, or want a small laptop with the capability to dock it when at home!
A decent computer that is everything that I expected. I deducted one star for a sticky F8 key and the fact that Toshiba couldn't be bothered to set up the display colors properly. As delivered the display is badly washed out. Adjusting brightness, contrast and gamma makes a huge improvement. Adjustments are obscurely hidden in Catalyst Control Center/Advanced.
After about two weeks the hot keys stopped working. Pressing the FN key produces a drop down menu that allows settings to be changed. No hot keys means that I can't turn on the WiFi or the touchpad. Toshiba's tech support suggested doing a full recovery. The recovery discs that I made and which showed as being verified after burning did not work. Several files could not be read and the recovery program terminated. This left no operable operating system. It also apparently overwrote the system image stored on the hard disk.
Toshiba suggested factory recovery discs. The discs are free! Shipping and handling are $25!! I needed them what could I do? Toshiba would not sell them to me. My credit card is billed in the US Virgin Islands and could not be accepted. You have to live in one of the 50 "real" states and not a territory. The Toshiba web site list their coverage area as Canada, US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central and South America and parts of the Caribbean. The drop down menu when you try to order only accepts Canada, the 50 States and Argentina.
I eventually got my operating system working again from a Windows backup on a USB hard drive. The hot keys still don't work and I guess never will.
So 4 stars for the computer but if you need support from Toshiba you will wish you had bought something else. I do.
Buy Toshiba Satellite T215D-S1140RD 11.6-Inch Notebook PC - Gemini Red Now
Acer Aspire AS5733-6426 15.6-Inch Laptop (Gray)
well, i picked my Acer AS5733 up at my local wally world a little over a week ago. after cleaning up the junk apps and getting all of the updates, it's a great little machine. Also to be noted, and I'm not the only one to get this, there appears to be an unlisted update with the processor; it's an Intel i5 560M which has the turbo boost. Very nice little surprise indeed. The display is bright and vibrant with no dead pixels. Speakers are about average for a notebook; good enough for watching a movie in a quiet room. Cooling fan is dynamic and is very quiet. Only 2 USB ports and no hard drive activity light (funny how I miss something once it's gone). Unless you clean the software up first, it takes 4 DVD disks to make the factory restore disks. Haven't tried the camera yet so I cannot comment. All in all a very good buy.
Buy Acer Aspire AS5733-6426 15.6-Inch Laptop (Gray) Now
The laptop has a really beautiful screen, great color. The speed is also fine, and the price was good. However, after 7 months, my first problem with it is the keyboard. Perhaps it's because the number keys are on the right, so the rest are smaller, but I regularly hit the wrong keys. If I always had, no big thing, but not so. Also the touch is difficult, sometimes having to go back and press hard really slows me down. Second, the sound has problems, scratchy when changing screens, then clears up. I'm looking into plugging in another keyboard to remedy my worst problem. I can live with the rest but won't buy another Acer.Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire AS5733-6426 15.6-Inch Laptop (Gray) Here
My new Acer laptop is much upon my satisfaction and I believe it will bring me satisfaction for quite a time to come. It is my second Acer computer and the quality, ease of use, and speed are all well worth the money I spent on both. Thank you.Want Acer Aspire AS5733-6426 15.6-Inch Laptop (Gray) Discount?
Acer Computer AOA110-1722 Aspire One 8.9-Inch Notebook PC
UPDATE 08/29/2008: Received my new Acer Aspire One today. Wow, one day shipping from J&R rocks! The blue AAO with Win XP looks just like the Linux version: there is the SD "Storage Expansion" slot on the left side and a multi-format card reader on the right, 3 USB ports, etc. It boots up pretty fast and runs the so familiar WIN XP OS. I liked the Linux graphics, but to be honest, as a Windows user, I felt lost. So far, I haven't had any problems with the wireless (knock on wood) that I have experienced when I used the Linux version. Yes, you can hear the fan, as some of the reviewers have mentioned, BUT, it is not nearly as annoying as they claim. I can live with that. The Hard Drive is listed as 120GB, however, it shows up as 105 GB. The windows XP version comes with a 60-day trial of MS Office 2007 and McAfee Security Suite. Curiously, it also comes with InterVideo WinDVD, although, as you are aware, there is no DVD drive. Other programs included are: MS Works, Adober Reader 8, IE, MSN, Windows Media Player, Windows Messenger, Windows Movie Maker, Acer eRecovery Manager. I installed Firefox without a glitch. So far, I am very pleased with the laptop. It's not a $2,000 Sony or Mac, but it's a great value. It does what it is supposed to do. I am glad I returned the Linux and ordered the Windows. It works better for my needs.UPDATE 8/28/2008: So, Amazon dropped the price on Acer Aspire One with Linux OS. However, the Win XP version continues to be overpriced compared to other online retailers. I've decided to order the blue Win XP machine directly from J&R for $369.99 and will get an additional 15% off via Live Search Cashback (total price after cashback excluding shipping: $314.41). I decided to go back to the familiar XP configuration simply because I believe that learning Linux will involve too much effort to justify the cost. In addition, the Linux version of Acer Aspire One appears to have more wireless bugs than Windows. We'll see how the Win XP netbook performs.
UPDATE 8/25/2008. So far I haven't seen any price reductions by online retailers. I think they are waiting to purge their inventory. Best Buy, however, does have the blue Acer Aspire One with 1gb Ram, 120 gb HD and Win XP Home for $349.99. So far they are the first ones to jump on the Acer price drop bandwagon.
UPDATE 8/20/08. Acer just (4 hrs ago) made the announcement on Market Watch that it will slash the prices for Acer Aspire One to $349 for Win XP and $329 for Linux. I miss my Acer One and will order one again as soon as retailers update their prices. I thought it was a great deal for $379 but for $50 less it's an absolute bargain. I do hope that I won't have anymore wireless problems with this one.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I had purchased this laptop from J&R in blue with Linux and it was in my hands the very next day. I really liked Acer Aspire One from the moment I pulled it out of the box. It's very compact, light, elegant, boots in no time (20 sec). I am a first-time Linux user and was actually pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use. I followed the instructions from one of the Amazon reviews here to unlock the full OS and was able to add Skype (Fedora version) without a problem. OpenOffice is very straightforward and easy to use, email setup was a breeze. I plugged it into my cable modem and loved the very fast web page loading times. All in all, it's a great little laptop alternative, the screen is easy to read, the keyboard size is adequate for error-free typing, the trackpad took some getting used to but it was fine within a couple of hours.
Now to the negatives:
-the surface is very prone to fingerprint smudges
-the screen is very glossy and reflective, but the brightness compensated for the fact that I could always see my reflection on the screen
-the left and right mouse buttons are oddly positioned on either side of the keyboard, so that takes some getting used to
-now last but not least wireless connectivity problems. I've had the Acer Aspire One for over a week and have tried every single approach out there to get the wireless connection on it. the wireless networks would show up on the connection manager, but when I would attempt to connect to a particular network I would get an error message saying connection was terminated. One of the networks I tried to connect to was my own home wireless network which successfully worked for all of my other laptops. I tried the WEP protocol no success, I changed the router settings to WPA tried to connect no success, I changed it to the open network no success although I am sure my neighbors appreciated the open net access they could steal from me in the interim. I've searched the web for a solution and found out that this wireless problem seems to be an issue for a number of Acer Aspire One users out there. Some were able to fix it by running Live Update on a wired connection (I did it, but it didn't fix the problem), some played with sleep modes, reboots, etc. None of that worked for me. I tried to look up this issue on the Acer website, but their customer support is not very user friendly. So, I gave up, called customer service for an RMA# and am returning the Acer Aspire One today. I wish it had worked as I liked it so much, but it's no use to me without wireless connections and I believe that if I purchase a brand new item, it has to be fully operational straight out of the box. So, goodbye my dear sapphire blue Acer Aspire One, you will be missed, I hope your maker solves the wireless problem and I will buy you again when that happens. I would recommend this product without reservation if only the wireless problem is resolved.
Pros-
1. Small and light. Really light. I also have the eee pc 1000h. The difference is dramatic.
2. Given it's size, keyboard is ok.
3. On a purely personal note, the blue color is great.
4. Cheap, cheap, cheap. I picked mine up for $309. Other comparable netbooks seem to be up over $400.
5. I really like the Linux operating system. Its more like a PDA's. Lots of apps are included. Upgrading to latest versions looks easy.
6. Quiet
7. Very fast boot
8. Second SD slot that adds to drive size is a cool idea. Now if 16 or 32gb SD card prices would just come down, things would be great. I have lots of media files on SD's for other devices, I can plug them in and still have one free.
9. After seeing the 7" screens, I think the 8.9" is as small as you can go and still have it useful
10. Total travel package is really light. Small, light power brick and cord.
Negs-
1. Battery life is good, but would be amazing with a 6-cell
2. Shinyget used to lots of fingerprints. Would have been much better matte.
3. Included sleeve will protect from scratches, but not much else. No padding, no zipperjust basically a plastic pocket. I'm looking for an aftermarket sleeve.
Because of it's specs its more of a net appliance than notebook. But if you're looking for a cheap way to use hotspots and apps that don't require lots of resources, this is great.
Buy Acer Computer AOA110-1722 Aspire One 8.9-Inch Notebook PC Now
I bought the Blue Acer Aspire One (XP version with 120 gigabyte HD) just as soon as one was available. Did not buy it from Amazon because the price was higher than a local retailer (Micro Center). Micro Center has dropped the price to the Acer suggested retail price of $349 (XP). I did see the Linux Version at Circuit City for $307. So far no real complaints except that the touch pad is difficult to work with and it is not very precise. Actually the buttons are awkward to use and it often "double-clicks" seemingly on it's own. I use a mouse now. So far I have not needed a DVD player since I usually rip my DVDs "for my own use" and load them via the USB port on a Jump Drive or use my card reader. I purchased a home version of MS Office and simply entered the code. No need for the DVD just the code and it worked seamlessly. As noted the exterior is very prone to smudges and I find myself cleaning the unit regularly. I did note that the fan noise is a little loud when used in a quiet room but at coffee shops and other WIFI hotspots it is not noticeable. Again no real gripes and for the price it does what I was hoping for, a small websurfer with the capability of performing more complex tasks if needed. I purchased it for the price of a good PDA and it surfs the web better than my iPod Touch. Its a winner in my book...Read Best Reviews of Acer Computer AOA110-1722 Aspire One 8.9-Inch Notebook PC Here
It comes with Linux, but it's packed with everything you need while traveling! I was looking for a small alternative to my heavy 17" MacBook Pro for surfing the Internet while traveling, and this was the right device! Not only does it find wireless connectivity easily with its built-in wifi, it comes with two media slots (actually, one is a SDHC-specific slot for adding more memory space). All you have to do is plug in a HDSC card and it does everything for you.It's also pre-installed with OpenOffice, which is a great and free alternative to Microsoft's Office. It's compatible with MS Office's applications, too (just in case you're wondering). Boots very fast since it's running on Linux and uses a solid-state disk. If you are looking for a stylish, affordable, small laptop for surfing the net and office applications, this is for you! It's very light and comes with a nice faux-leather sleeve. If you have never used Linux before, the learning curve is very easy since this version of Linux uses a similiar windows-based GUI application, and no commands are needed.
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Beside the lesser time at booting up, the software seems really easy to operate with, which is Linux. After a little hack for installing more things, then I just added a bag of the kind that are used with portable dvd players, and extra 4 gig SD memory and a tiny retractable trip mouse (because my fingers are simply too big for any touchpad), and was amazed at how fast everything stuck together. It connects fast to the wifi network, so I have no complaints there, it browse really well. No moving parts gives the battery a long run for the money, and the screen really looks right. The camera is awesome, mics are ok, don't expect too much from the speakers of course. And it runs everything really fast, suspiciously fast I might say. No more than 3 process at a time... just in case. I took a long trip by airplanes, three legs. In every plane was able to use it for about an hour. For that price, I better start getting addons. 325$!!! wow!
Sony - VAIO VPCEH25FM/B Laptop PC - Intel i3-2330M 2.2GHz, 15.5" Display, 4GB Memory, 640GB Hard Dr
I was looking for a laptop with Intel Core processor (I3 or I5 series), The design and the performance of this laptop is great, considering the price it has been a very good decision to buy it.One more thing, it doesn't heat almost nothing, you can work with it over your legs for long time without feeling the anoying heat sensation.
As usual, Sony laptops leave my customers feeling happy and satisfied.I've been using this laptop for a few months for work. So far its been great. Battery life is pretty good and performance is above what I expected. I took away one star for all the bloatware that's difficult and time consuming to remove. Able to run multiple excel spreadsheets, photoshop, dreamweaver, and multiple chrome tabs all at the same time with no problem. This laptop is a little pricey for its specs, but then again, its got a good mix of RAM and HDD space on top of the i3 processor.
Apple iBook G4 800mhz, 384mb, 30gb, CDROM, Wireless, Leopard
I bought this laptop for my son to use while he was looking for a job, figuring that if it held up for 6 months I'd have gotten my money's worth out of it. There were a few small problems at the beginning, but the company that sold it to me stands behind their products and the problems were resolved rather quickly. It's still working just fine! My son is getting more use out of it than we expected. I've "borrowed" it for a few weeks while my Air Book was in the shop. It's a good little laptop.
Buy Apple iBook G4 800mhz, 384mb, 30gb, CDROM, Wireless, Leopard Now
Asus ZENBOOK Prime UX32A-DH31-CA Ultrabook (13.3-inch, I3-3217U, 4GB-DDR3, 500GB HDD+24GB SSD, Wind
In had a user who's not supposed to lift heavy things, and was shlepping around a Dell Latitude that was ~7lbs or so, not counting the laughably large power supply, and it was not working out well. There is a Microsoft Store in the area, so I figured I could go there and see a variety of Ultrabooks from various makers and compare build quality. I got there and found that the Microsoft stores now only carry systems with Windows 8 (barf) and are all touchscreens (because of the Windows 8 requirement no doubt). I am amazed that there is nothing at all in the Microsoft Store that was even a little bit "business friendly." Being the only non-employee in the place, I was free to ask the idle employees about this development, and they agreed that it was dumb. They previously HAD been carrying Windows 7/non-touchscreen systems, but had to pull them. One fellow told me that the Asus Zenbook had the best build quality of those they carried. At that point I left and came to Amazon and bought one sight-unseen. Additionally, it was pre-loaded with Windows 8, so I had to make sure there were Windows 7 drivers available (there are), because no way am I asking anyone to live with that mess.There are three things I was looking for specifically, and none were related to performance. The first is a decent hinge. Macbooks have this one nailedyou can lift the lid of a Macbook and the bottom doesn't lift up off the desk/your lap. That is, the hinge doesn't require more force to open than the weight of the bottom part. PC makers regularly fail on this point, but this Asus was pretty good. Not Macbook good, but better than most. The next is screen/lid integrity. When the laptop is open grab the top corners of the lid and push on and pull the other a little, in such a way that the screen is twisted (GENTLYdon't snap your screen and yell at me) I look for as little wobble as possible, and usually this is a deal-breaker too, but the Asus was better than most. The last item is a good touchpad. The Macbooks have some kind of glass surface that wears like nails, but most PC makers use something that feels like a shower curtain liner in short order. I don't know how the Asus will fare on this point, but the initial tactile experience was decent.
The Zenbook has two disksone 24GB SSD and one ~500GB SATA. They have a utility that is meant to use the 24GB SSD as a cache, and I struggled to decide how to handle the reloading. Did I want to recreate this shared arrangement or what? 24GB isn't quite enough to load Win 7, Office, and other sundry things a user needs, and given that the intended recipient is a remote worker, I decided to just load everything on the 500GB and ignore the small SSD. What? You now think I'm nuts? Okay, but here's my angleif I'd setup the sharing arrangement and something went sideways, what are the odds that I could support it well? In my mind, it's negligible. Beyond that, there is the matter of default disk formatting. The Windows 8 models (not sure about the others) have the disks formatted in GUID mode, not the conventional MBR formatting. Does it matter? Not a ton, but if you want to do whole disk encryption (as I do), Truecrypt won't fly. It needs MBR disks, as do most other encryption utilities. If you use Windows 7 Ultimate, you can use BitLocker, and that's what I did. Yes, that's a performance hit, but in this case the user who'll have it is not power hungry. In the configuration I'm describing, the performance is ordinary.
As for the dimensions/weight, it's a close approximation of a 13" Macbook Air. The screen is slightly different geometry, but you'll need to set it next to a Macbook Air to notice. In other respects, it's Air-like. The closed profile is about the same, the materials are similar, but the Zenbook feels a little bit heavier. Don't get me wrongmy lift-limited user is delighted with the change. It's around three pounds, and the power cord is a small block much like the Macbook Air one. It doesn't come with a USB to Ethernet adapter, which I thought was a rotten of Asus to exclude. Hell, even Apple gives you a Thuderbolt to Ethernet adapter when you buy a Macbook Air. As long as I keep comparing this to the Macbook Air, I'll mention that the battery life on the Zenbook is maybe a bit less, but certainly in league. In my usage, it would get close to 5 hours on a charge.
Verdict? If you really want Windows (over say Linux, Mac OS X, etc.) and don't want Apple hardware, this is a good choice. I suppose the cost is another significant factor. As of this writing, the Zenbook is $768 and a Macbook Air is $1200not twice as much, but close. My preference would have been to get the Macbook Air, and load Windows natively. I find the Air to be a better made item (and I'm betting the trackpad on the Zenbook won't stand the test of time well), but the user in this case didn't want any more changes than necessary, and I'm not upset by saving money. I didn't have time to try making a "hackbook" with this, and have no idea if OS X will run well on this model.
Lenovo ThinkPad X130e 062223U 11.6-Inch LED Notebook - Dual-Core Fusion E-450 1.65GHz 320GB HDD 4GB
I write this review as someone who has experience with a 1st generation ACER and a 3rd generation ASUS...The Acer lasted 2 years of heavy usage... the 5400rpm hard drive eventually started dragging, and I wiped Windows XP for Google Chrome... It is still functional, I no longer use it.
The Asus replaced the Acer, lasted 2 years... but it really was even cheaper made than the ACER... and the 5400 RPM hard drive eventually started dragging, and I wiped Windows 7 for Google Chrome.. It is still functional, but I no longer use.
The Lenovo replace the asus, and so far... it has been absolutely fantastic.
1) The extra 1.5 inches makes a much more pleasant viewing experience.
2) It's rock solid -much stronger build... appears to be more durable.
3) Screen is built for NO GLARE... So much better for using when you are driving along the high way.
4) Built in Bluetooth -works perfectly with PDA.net, Verizon 4g, and PDA.net.
5) The size is perfect for my usage... I want a computer that can do EVERYTHING short of high fps gaming... and I don't want any of the limitations of a notebook... this was perfect for me.
The only complaint I can even muster, is that the laptop needs to be heavily cleaned from the manufacturer, because of all the bloatware... Once you clean it, it works beautifully! The only two non-core drivers I would even recommend keeping is the lenovo thinkvantage backup software and the lenovo thinkvantage airbag software. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON VIRUS SCANS, please download Microsoft Security Essentials, it's the best and it's FREE.
You can drop 300-400 on a Asus/Acer and have a computer than will last 2-years with heavy use... or spend a little more and get a well built rock.. that will last you 5+ years.
-Great battery life (6+ hours regularly)
-Great matte screen
-Rubberized outside and matte body means it keeps looking new
-Lots of ports (including HDMI, VGA, USBx3)
-Love the touchpoint
-Skype works well with built-in camera, mic, and speakers.
Cons:
-Because it is extra-durable, it is also larger and heavier than most 11.6" laptops. It is closer in size and weight to a 13" or 14" machine.
-Combo headphone port. The mic and speakers are in a single combo port. You either have to use a special headset or use an adapter.I needed to replace my laptop and this Lenovo has been perfect for my needs. I have had it for several months now and I have had no problems. It even survived a drop to a tile floor. It is very well-made and responsive. I have a few minor quibbles that have been mentioned before such as the speakers being located on the bottom making it very hard to hear and I prefer a mousepad that clicks on the bottom and not the top of the pad. However, I rarely need speakers and I used a wireless mouse most of the time. For the money, I highly recommend this unit.Ive used it as my primary home computer for about a year. Beyond the junk-ware installed by default(which didn't bother me as a GNU/Linux user), it was a nice machine. Costly but well built. However, the other day I went to upgrade the wifi card. Evidentially, all Thinkpads lock down their bios to only a few wifi card so you cannot replace it even though it uses a standard connection/size. That alone caused me to write this review and take off two stars. And to make matters worse, you cannot even get a copy of the "approved" ( aka white-listed ) wifi cards for a given Thinkpad model! Shame on Lenovo!I am a writer and needed certain things. they say the netbook is going away but for writing, we can't use a tablet without a real keyboard. this is the answer for many of us.
to start, I own the x130e which has the lesser 1.3ghz processor and only comes with 2 gig or ram. otherwise, the two laptops are identical. reason I am also posting this review here.
1. battery longer than 3 or 4 hours. This one is 6 1/2 without a horribly dimmed monitor. btw, the only way to get the 8.5 stated is to have the monitor so dim it's almost black. stupid for them to even begin to count that! but 6 is good for writing anywhere there is no plug. I'm NOT limited to certain coffee shops etc.
2. Has windows 7 pro64 which I found amazing. Most have windows starter a real stripped down version of windows. Wanted 7 because 8 seems to be a nightmare. More work to learn a system to do the same thing in the end. (without a touch screen, windows 8 might as well not exist.)
3. runs on the amd equivalent of the intel i3. Many run on ATOM (stay clear!), the new ones run on chrome which means you can't run your own programs (like celtx, photoshop, indesign etc.) You can only run google apps and they all get stored on the cloud instead of in your personal computer. NOT ok for writers or anyone who wants the document on their OWN computer. no better than a tablet without a real hard drive. This one had only 1.3ghz rather than the newer version which has 1.66 but for about $300 less, i'm good with the slower processor. I'm not intending to run the world from here! :)
3. 320 gig and NOT a 5400 hard drive. For those who don't know, the faster hard drive is quite amazing! it's rare to find such a fast hard drive in such a small device. Lenovo seems to mostly use faster hard drives which is a very pleasant surprise and speaks a lot to me of the company. (doesn't just stick in the least expensive parts even if you have no idea what a fast hard drive is.)
4. upgradable to 8 gigs of RAM/memory! most gateway 10in netbooks have 1 gig and difficulty upgradable to 2 max. This one has two ram slots and can be good enough to run all adobe products you want to run in a small screen.
5. speaking of which, an 11.6 inch screen rather than the traditional 10.1. great.
6. AMD dual core is the semi equivalent of the i3 intel. same system I have on my "real" laptop and it works fast enough for me (a graphic designer). good enough sometimes is financially good enough right?
8. this is a "built tough" netbook which I frankly didn't know when I bought it. (got it from woot.com for $300 + $5 shipping on special.) it's almost 4 pounds because the plastic on the computer casing is much higher quality than any other I looked at. it's not flimsy. there is a rubber rim all around the monitor which encases all the edges when it is closed. Less chance to bump and dent and have a "mild" drop and have it no longer work it seems. The keyboard is spill proof or resistant. forget which. it's made specially for grades 1-12 which doesn't turn me off at all since the plus is "tough built". works for me, an adult wanting my netbook tougher and the extra 3/4 pound is ok with me.
***there are two problems I have already seen in 3 days. One is that the mouse track pad is really bad out of the box. you put the mouse somewhere and it slides away. a real PIA and enough to make me want to return it. You can't put the mouse between letters and next thing you know, you are typing elsewhere. NOT ok.
I googled the issue and found that on December 18th, they came out with an update to the drivers for the ultranav system on thinkpads. I installed it and bam, problem fixed. yeah.
the other thing that matters to me and may not to the casual user, is the placement of the fn key. I am used to the control key being at the end of the lower row of the keyboard. I use "control A" "control C" and "control v" tons. Its not working for me since I find myself always pushing the fn key instead. that will take adjustment is all. I wish they had put the function key closer to the space bar like it is on many laptops like my viao. bad design decision in my mind but I will adjust. also, i find myself hitting the cap locks instead of the shift. time will fix that as well.
otherwise, and with the ultranav update, this seems like it will be perfect for me. the ultranav update is on the lenovo website. don't have the link handy.
hope this helps.
Toshiba Tecra R840-S8420 14" Notebook PC
I have several different laptops I use for various purposes, including HP, Lenovo and Asus. Unfortunately, I got this Toshiba Tecra foisted on me by my employer. Otherwise, I'd have returned it to the store with all haste. It totally sucks. The keyboard is so unresponsive that you have to literally bang on the keys in order to type. The keys are very flat and slick, making it even more difficult to type with any accuracy. The pointing stick button is so tiny and covered with such a course material that it makes your finger sore to use it for any length of time. The mouse buttons are extremely stiff, it's impossible to just tap like I do with the HP and Lenovo (takes two fingers and press HARD). The touch pad is so squirrely, even after adjustment, that it's difficult to use with any accuracy. Hopefully, sound isn't a requirement for you because the sound on this thing is reminiscent of transistor radio. Don't get me started on the graphics. The only thing positive I can say about this laptop is that it's wicked fast. Starts up in seconds. Performs tasks quickly. I wonder if my employer would believe the dog at my laptop... I'd buy a dog just to get rid of this thing.
Lenovo U400 099329U 14.0-Inch Laptop (Graphite Grey)
~~~1 year Update~~~I have downgraded the score from 5/5 to 4/5. This laptop is, for the most part, great. However it has several very serious flaws including: Terrible trackpad, bad monitor, and bad sound.
-Performance3/5 [Average]
Very powerful specs. This laptop may not be a gaming laptop, but will play most things you throw at it very well. Including AutoCAD, SAP2000, light games, and Movies.
-Build5/5 [Excellent]
All in all, its built very well. The exterior, as you can see, is beautiful.
-Keyboard4/5 [Good]
The keyboard looks and feels very nice. The keyboard is slightly narrower than usual, which makes it feel a little awkward. But I haven't had any problems typing.
-Trackpad1/5 [Terrible]
This trackpad is a piece of junk, after using it for a year, I've learned to use the "F6" -turn off trackpad buttonmore than 90% of the time.
I have also disabled "tap to click" and "multi-finger gestures." Left/Right clicking is a nightmare.
-Monitor2/5 [Bad]
The monitor is 1366x768. Which is pretty disappointing but it the norm for 14in laptops and even 15in laptops. The colors are a bit washed out, and I really notice it when I have my laptop next to my desktop monitor. There is definitely a sweet spot for using the monitor, and its pretty small. The hinges don't let it bend back all the way. I'd say, you get about 135 degrees of motion on the hinges. This laptop also has terrible viewing angles.
-Sound2/5 [Bad]
The speakers on this laptop just don't push enough. They are useless in most enviroments that have ambient noise. The quality of the sound itself is pretty average.
-Weight5/5 [Excellent]
It's pretty light weight. I can easily move/carry the laptop around with one hand. I have fallen in love with the ultra light weight. This is truly a mobile laptop.
-Temperature4/5 [Good]
The exterior stays pretty cool. However, inside temperature gets really high. Under 100% load, the cpu easily hits 85C.
The outside occasionally gets pretty hot, but in general, it keeps to a very comfortable temperature.
-Battery Life4/5 [Good]
I get about 2+ hours when running this laptop with 9/10 brightness + with everything on + none of that power saving stuff, with pidgin+firefox+thunderbird+Movie.
-Wifi3/5 [Average]
I have not had any problems with the wifi, but I spend most of my time on a landline. And I haven't had any connection issues on campus, or at my friend's homes.
-Boot Time[NA]
Stock Boot Time 55s to 70s.
Stock Resume Time 1s to 3s.
Boot Time with SSD 15s to 22s
Other:
-Minor Design Flaw!
The majority of the ports are on the right side including the power, hdmi, 2x USB. This makes it a bit hard to use your mouse when you have alot of stuff connected to your laptop power, mouse, external harddrive. Unless you are left handed and have your mouse on the left side of the computer.
Also this laptop does not come with a system recovery disk.
*********************************************
Now if you want to add your own SSD to this laptop Or increase the amount of RAM.
Any hardware modification to this laptop will void it's warranty.
If you go to the Lenovo Forums and to this page: /t5/IdeaPad-Y-U-V-and-Z-series/New-U400-General/td-p/580903
There is a thread on hardware modding this laptop and on page 2, there is a link to a Lenovo website with videos on how to take this laptop apart. Note that Taking this laptop apart is VERY difficult and much harder than it seems in the video.
***Note The hard drive bay in the Lenovo U400 can not fit a traditional SSD and can only fit HDD. This is because a USB port intrudes upon the space for the Hard Drive and the traditional hard drive has a small space above the SATA and Power connectors where there isn't anything to obstruct The SSD unfortunately has a lip.
In order to fit a SSD You pretty much only have three choices 1. disassemble your SSD and tape it into to laptop. 2. disassemble your SSD and cut off a corner of it's case with a power tool. 3. Purchase a mSATA SSD and install that alongside your HDD. [I went with option 2] 4. Purchase a height 7mm SSD ex. samsung 830 (will still need to tape ssd).
***Doing a clean install of Windows 7 did not work for me Installing drivers became a nightmare. Recovery Disk can be used Unfortunately your laptop doesn't come with one.
***Upgrading RAM
You only have easy access to one of two Memory Slots. The second slot requires some serious hardware disassembly included the removal of the entire motherboard.
Luckily, the 2GB Memory Chip is on the side that is easy to access. However, having two separate memory chips from different companies on the same system may cause instability and occasional crashes. Which happened when I upgraded the stock 2GB Samsung to a 4GB Corsair.
I would suggest purchasing a single 4GB Samsung stick of the same model as the one in the computer. It'll make your life easier.
***
How to take apart the laptop:
Watch the Lenovo Support Videos.
1. Take off two rubber feet The ones in the back next to the monitor hinge. I used a flat head screwdriver with its head covered with a microfiber cloth (to prevent scratches) to pry the feet off.
2. Unscrew two screws under the rubber feet.
3. Pull the bottom cover towards the back of the laptop (back = where the monitor hinge is). You only need to pull it about 2mm. Gently lift the back of the bottom plate while pulling towards you. The back should pop out of the clips with some patience. Be careful not bend the part of the back of the bottom cover that bends up along side the monitor hinge.
After releasing the back and side clips. While pulling the cover to slide it off, also lift the front of the back cover gently.
-This part is the most difficult and I enlisted the help of a friend. I had my friend gently tap the front of the bottom cover with a hammer on top of the back of a screw driver that was covered with some gauze pads.. While he was tapping, I gently pulled the front of the bottom cover away from the laptop.
4. Once the cover is removed the rest is self explanatory.
5. Putting the cover back on. Put the cover back on with the front first. The rest of the clips should click into place as you push down. Afterwards, slide the bottom cover towards the front of the laptop. While pulling, screw the two screws back in. This part was easy and I was able to do it without enlisting help.
-If you have trouble lining up the two screw holes you may have bent the back of the bottom cover, you will have to bend them back into place with your hands or pry them back into place with a flat head screw driver.
***
Random Stuff:
It took me about 4 hours to finish my hardware modifications the first time. I also made alot of mistakes and ended up with a few chips. My second and third time opening up the computer took me about 10 minutes each.
Attempting to get the computer to work and install all the drivers with a clean OS install took me 8 hours and ultimately failed.
Attempting to figure out how to clone the drive and after much google and tech forum searches as well as many failed clone attempts took me about 10 hours. Cloning ultimately was successful.
I experienced some hard drive hangs with the Corsair GT. I was able to fix this by updating the firmware on my SSD.
Tools I used: Philips Screw Driver, Flat Screw Driver, Cloth (micro-weave cloth and a towel), Gauze pads, Hammer, Bench Grinder (Powertool).
Extra Purchases: Acronis True Image Home 2012 $50, Corsair 120GB GT SSD $155, 1x DVD-R $-
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Original Review
I had this laptop for about a few weeks now. I've been waiting for it to be available since it was announced. I'm sure a lot of buyers will want this laptop because it's basically a Window Macbook. And that is exactly what you get. I am also a mac owner, the quality is on par with Macbooks. This is a very pretty laptop and spec are pretty decent. On the pictures, the shade of silver looks very similar to the macbooks, but it actually a dark slate gray.
Pros -
-Laptop stays cool. It vents from the side, I've had it on for 14 hours once and it was stayed very cool.
-Chiclet keyboard feels really nice.
-Glass trackpad is on par with macbooks.
-Battery last around 6-7 hours.
-Light weight.
Cons -
-Don't really have any beside that I would had preferred an SSD option and Lenovo should make accessories for this laptop already! And I really wanted the Black/Clementine Orange color, but it's only available for the U300s.
So basically if your looking for a nice looking laptop with decent spec, great battery life, light weight and stay cool, this is the laptop for you. Especially if your looking for a Macbook alternative.
Buy Lenovo U400 099329U 14.0-Inch Laptop (Graphite Grey) Now
This thing is pretty amazing!I needed a new laptop after having my previous one for 4 years. I love windows (not that I have anything against Mac OS, just don't prefer it), but I wanted something with the build quality of a mac book pro but a lower price tag. I was really considering getting a mbp, until I saw this laptop. If you are in the same boat as me, then this is the perfect laptop for you. All aluminum body, extremely sturdy look and feel, very sleek design, I would say it matches up perfectly with the mbp but at $300 less.
The thing runs extremely fast. The 2nd generation mobile i series is catching up to the power of the desktop versions. I really don't notice a difference between this laptop and my i5 desktop tower as far as responsiveness. Trust me, performance is not an issue for this laptop. It can handle anything that you can throw at it (obviously that's an exaggeration, but anything reasonable that you can throw at a laptop it can do). It also runs very cool. mbps get hot, especially when setting them on your lap or on a cushioned surface. The cooling out the side and through the keyboard of this laptop makes it stay cool and keeps the bottom of the laptop from becoming a personal heater (which may not be a good thing if are use to using your laptop as one).
The one area I would say the mbp beats this thing hands down is the screen. The screen on the u400 is 1200 x 768 and doesn't look as sharp and clear as the mbp's screen. I like running my screens at really high resolutions even though it's probably not great for my eyes. But it is only a 14 in screen and a higher resolution probably wouldn't make sense. Another small flaw that seems to be common is the screen not closing perfectly flush around the entire edge of the laptop. On the front right corner of mine there is about a 1 mm gap. I can see how this might bother someone. I am one of those people that has to have everything in mint condition and if I know somethings wrong, it bugs me. But for some reason, this doesn't bother me at all. Another aspect that brings up a lot of debate is the glass mouse pad. The u400s pad feels exactly like the mbp's. The only downfall is Windows. It doesn't have the nice soft, smooth scrolling and zooming, or the friction-less gliding scrolling that Mac OS does. It is a little choppier on Windows, but I can live with that (I also believe that Windows 8 does this better).
Another problem for some people might be the amount of I/O it has. It has 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, and HDMI, and an optical drive. Laptops are moving away from having PCI buses available and VGA outputs. Not having some of these things can be painful (I am a college student and not having a VGA out can be annoying since all my classes have VGA projectors. But this just requires me to get an HDMI to VGA converter, which is basically what mac users have to do). For me, the USBs are enough.
In summary, if you want something that is sleek and powerful, regardless of your price range, then this is it. I really believe that spending more to get a mbp or one of the top sony vaios is not buying you a better laptop. I don't think anyone will regret owning this thing.
Read Best Reviews of Lenovo U400 099329U 14.0-Inch Laptop (Graphite Grey) Here
The laptop looks nice. It is still not ready for prime time.Nice.
1. Looks. It is a looker. Layout is mostly nice, keyboard has a good touch. Screen is large, clear, bright. Not a bright as I would have hoped. The colors are a little washed out.
2. A lot of features USB, LAN, Slot DVD works with double sided DVD. Have not tried blue ray and will assume it does not work.
3. Cool. It does stay cool and the breadthable keyboard is a nice feature.
4. Weight. For what it has it is nice.
Not so nice.
To fit the bill of being at the top, when a feature is included, it is very well built and works with ease and wonder. This not so with this laptop. Which the concept is good, the features are plenty, they all fall short and make you wish you purchased a different laptop. So here goes my grips. I had a Sony Vaio before and an Acer Aspire. Also played with some Apple, original IBM, Dell so have some comparision to those.
1. The DVD slot is slick but so noisy with loading the CD that it sounds like a cheap DVD player. Some CD's are very noise in their rotation and there is nothing you can do about it but listen to the high whine of the noise. Most CD's play well but that noisy ones number about 10%.
2. You cannot purchase a replacement or extra AC power adaptor. So you are stuck with one. Calling Lenovo will get you redirected to IBM parts which does not have any part by this number. I tried this several times and emailed them, always getting the same push around and ending up in IBM parts. This is the most disappointing of the support and warrants the 1 star. If I lose my AC power adaptor, I am stuck unless I go with a different make/model or 3rd party.
3. The touch pad mouse keys are part of the touch pad so everytime you go to right click and left click you are moving the cursor around. You have to be very accurate and only use a tiny portion of your fingers on the clickers or you will be clicking on something else. The touch pad is smooth and nice but ultra sensitive. This makes for unwanted touches when you want and no moves when you want because the palm or something is close.
4. The build quality seems solid but it is marred, at least on mine. The frame was bent and scratched on the inside. It is small enough that I am just keeping it.
5. There arent enough indicators. You cannot tell when the disk or CD is being used. There are only 2 indicator lights on the front Battery charging/use and on/off. It would be nice to show the disk in use. When booting up and running program, you cannot tell if the laptop is hung or the program is working on the drive, or just slow because of drive access.
5. The right Shift key is so short and it is next to the up arrow so a miss will move you to some other place on the screen when you are typing. This is really annoying if you are used to using the shift key with both hands.
6. The CPU is really fast but the disk is really slow 5400rpm. So it slows the whole computer down. I could not find any options to get the Solid state drive installed. The service manuals show a space and install/removal of an additional solid state drive but this is not the normal solid state drive. It looks like solid state flash memory card with no casing. Because of the disk, you can only tell how fast the CPU is when doing CPU intensive programs.
7. The battery life is only 1 hour when used normally from 1st install. You have to go in and turn off a lot or turn down a lot to get it up to 4 hours.
If you really cripple it, you could possibly get up to 7 hours. This is quite a stretch in their advertising. The battery is internal so you would have to take it to a service center or open it up yourself to get this serviced in the future.
8. The WIfi is probably the worst of the whole laptop. They put the antenna on the bottom of the screen and it is unidirectional. I was stilling next to a person with 5 bars and I could barely hold 1 bar until I turned the laptop a specific direction, even then I only got a sparadoic 3 bars. Comparing this to same locations with the Sony Vaio, I could easily get much better reception on my Vaio in the same locations. The only remedy to this is to get an external Wifi connection. What a dissapointment.
Overall this is not worth a $1,000 (or $800 if you get it from the right place), laptop. I would suggest you wait until Lenovo is ready for prime time before paying this much money for a laptop that has some very bad basic functions wifi, Shift key, buttons on mouse pad, AC Power adaptor (This is the most ridiculouse item in my opinion). Lenovo is still growing up and given a year from now, I am sure the next gen will have all these bugs fixed.
Update.
Found another change which does not work well. The Function keys are not accessible directly and require holding down a function Shift key as well as the function key. Hence F2 in excell requires more keys to get to it then a direct hit. While it is not such a big deal, it is a shift from prior keyboards. Unfortunately I use the Function keys a lot more then the system keys which are the directly level. system keys are volume, brightness, screen selection.
I started using a small external Wifi purchased for $15. This has dramatically improved the Wifi connectability and strength.
I did consider selling this and purchasing something else but it was not it is nice enough to keep and hard to find a replacement with the majority of features I like.
Want Lenovo U400 099329U 14.0-Inch Laptop (Graphite Grey) Discount?
Lenovo really hit the nail on the head here. Finally, they made a well-rounded and full powered laptop in an extremely stylish package. It is solid aluminum so I'm hoping it's very durable as well, but I've only had it for two days so far. It's very fast, has great, really great speakers for a laptop (not much bass though), never gets hot except right around the fan area on the left hand side, even running flash 1080p videos on youtube. It has a dvd burner, an i5 processor, and the biggest selling point for me was that it has no vents on the bottom, so you can lay it on your bed and never worry about it overheating (which happened to my last laptop and crashed my hard drive.) The trackpad is phenomenal, although I did bump up the sensitivity a bit because the gesture features (which any apple user will tell you are lifechanging and really an ultimate feature of mac laptops' huge glass trackpads) are a bit wonky on windows 7. This trackpad is absolutely beautiful. It's huge, made of glass and has enough sensitivity that makes using gestures on a windows laptop almost as good as on a mac. I'm not sure if its a driver or windows software, but its just not as perfect and effortless as macs, but as good as anyone has ever come on a windows machine. Everything about this laptop oozes style and functionality, but I'm still waiting to see how durable and quality the build is. My last laptop, a Sony Vaio VGN-S480 lasted me 7 years, and would still work if I would pay 100 dollars and install a new fan, but it's time to move on and enjoy all the great features developed for laptops since then, and this laptop embodies the best of what laptops have to offer right now. If you wait for the i7 SSD version, I'm sure you will be even more satisfied, but this build has everything I need or want at a great price, and I'll upgrade to an SSD in two years when they are dirt cheap.