Apple MacBook Pro MD311LL/A 17-Inch Laptop

First, Apple's service is terrific! The computer is incredibly fast, and there seems to be a big difference between the new 7200 RPM hard drive models versus the slower hard drive model that they had before the refresh came out. I won't go into lengthy detail on this laptop, as the other reviews on the 15 inch would be quite similar. Just remember there is no SD card slot, and instead you have to purchase an inexpensive ExpressCard adapter, which allows you to have quite a bit of flexibility on what you want to plug in there.

Now here's the thing: I've returned this laptop two times over a dead area on the lower right of the space bar key. Great support, and Apple had no problem exchanging the first laptop and refunding the amount on the second laptop. Note that the problem I experienced with the space bar key occurred on the two laptops I had, and I was also able to replicate the issue on the models in the Apple Store and in the Best Buy Store. This is only unique to the 17 inch model, and the space bar works perfectly fine on the 13 or 15 inch models. This is strange to me since they're supposed to all have the same keyboard.

If you're a typist that pecks, then this won't bother you. But if you are a fast typer, and one who doesn't pound down on the keys, this probably will affect you.

Here's the problem: The first morning I started typing an e-mail, and got something like this, " HelloAnn, how areyou doing?" When I pressed the space bar key, the computer didn't actually recognize my 'press.' Granted, I type lightly, but I've never had a problem with a key press not being recognized. Try this test out yourself at an Apple Store or Best Buy Store with their 17 inch models.

Lightly press the lower right edge of the space bar (very lightly, but enough so that the space bar actually goes down). Do this 20 or 30 times in a row in a text editor so you can see the cursor move as you press the space bar. Sometimes the space bar will move and sometimes it won't, like righthere where there are fewspaces. The last sentence was just an example, but that's what happens when you press the space bar but the computer acts as if you didn't press it. It drives me nuts that the space bar does not always work. Now do the same test on the 13 and 15 inch models and notice that the space bar works every time, even with the lightest press (on the lower right hand portion of the space bar key, where touch typists usually press the space bar key).

So I ended up returning the 17 inch models (after 2 times, thinking the keyboard was just defective). After the second one was still defective, and the models at the stores had the same problem, I'll have to get the 15 inch model or wait until Apple fixes the lower right hand portion of the space bar key on the 17 inch models.

I'm picky, and for many buyers they won't even notice the space bar not being recognized because they type really hard or they type in the middle of the space bar. But for touch typists, usually the space bar is pressed on the left or right sides, and a press should be a press, even if it is light. I'm probably just going to get the 15 inch model, as it doesn't have the space bar issue.

Edit December 22nd: For further information, see the Apple discussion board from multiple folks at the official Apple site where people are having similar issues with the space bar key (including the Airs and other lines). Apparently Apple is forgetting to put the rubber pads on the underneath of the space bar -there's a picture on the first page of the forum of what it looks like. If you're experiencing the same issue, I would call Apple support so hopefully they can start shipping with keyboards where the space bar actually works 100% of the time.

Since Amazon doesn't allow outside links, just go to google and type in the following search words "dead spot on space bar macbook pro" and it's the first link at the top that comes up.

Pros:

Stunning full HD display.

Very fast machine.

Great interface and touchpad is the best I have seen.

Solid, quality build.

Clean OS and fluid experience.

Cons:

-Obviously, the price. Some will find they need to take out a second mortgage to finance the credit card bill just incurred--especially if you get upgrades.

-Only 4 GIG Ram standard.

-Upgrades to default specs are expensive.

-If you are used to Windows OS, the interface takes a while to get used to.

-Did I mention it is expensive?

I use both Mac and PC windows devices. Each has their pros and cons. Some people purchase MAC on brand or OS loyatly or as a botique item, but I just decide based on needs and specs. I was shopping for a laptop, not only for portability but also to act as a dedicated replacement for a Desktop. I wanted a large high-res full 1080p HD screen and decent specs that won't be outdated in a year. I limited my searches to this crtieria. There are only a few laptops today that offer this criteria and all of the ones I sampled fall short of the Macbook on screen quality and display. You can get a higher spec machine for much less, but the quality and user experience on the MAC is what sold me. The display is just stunning. I would have opted for the 15 inch model but I was looking for the full 1080P resolution. I am mainly into multimedia and the Videos and Images are simply stunning. I have not seen a better display on any laptop out there, period.

As far as tech specs, you can get more for less money. The standard RAM is 4 GIG. Most other brands with laptops in this range start with 8. This is cheap as heck, IMO. You can get 4 GIG for $40 at cost. Basically, then, you can find other machines with equal specs for half the price. If tech specs are you main concern when purchasing, you can do better. But the machine is by no means slow and the specs will not be outdated in a year. It is a very fast machine and will outdo many of the deskptops on the market today. You will also be hard to find a display that riavls the macbook and the user experience is simply something else. IMO, of course.

Obviously, my decision was based on more than just specs. I will be using this quite a bit. Like most Apple products, the laptop itself is very high quality and solid with a sleek profile. No plasticy materials or feel. One of the reasons I disliked some other laptops is that they just felt too fragile and the materials seem cheap, as if you can snap the plastic easily. Some things you buy feel built to last and some things feel built to last a few months before something goes wrong. I sense the Macbook belongs to the latter category.

The user experience on the Macbook is also fluid and fast. The trackpad is the best I have ever come across. Pinching, swiping, selecting. Its all done with fluidity and without delays. It is a quality high-end experience and thats part of what sold me. This is a solid, well built machine. Period.

I have come across a few minor annoyances. Why are the ports on the left? When hooking up externals, I found this a bit annoying.

Overall, if you re not into graphics or multimedia, you should probably go with the 13 or 15 inch models. There is a lot of real estate on the 17 inch and the high res screen is nice but not everyone will need this. You can save some money by downgrading if multimedia is not a main priority. Also, the 17 inch is obviously not as portable. So if you travel a lot, you should consider this. You will probably find it hard to use this machine in economy coach class.

Overall, with a few minor annoyances, I couldn't be happier. Awesome machine. It is very expensive, but this is Apple and you know that going in. Can you do better with something else? It all depends on your needs and what you are looking for. The premium price was worth it for me. It may or may not be for you. I would suggest playing around with the macbooks and a number of laptops in the store before buying and avoid the MAC vs PC wars.

Buy Apple MacBook Pro MD311LL/A 17-Inch Laptop Now

I bought this laptop thinking of a computer with excellent graphics, performance and design, and let me just tell you, it has it all and more. I couldn't be happier with this purchase, great service from amazon btw.

I'm an architecture student, who has to run demanding softwares and create photorealistic representations, and this is the best computer you can find for such tasks. The design is flawless, I'm very happy with the improvements apple has made on this model, the extra graphics and the faster processor are not just small changes, you will definitely feel the big difference, and soon, there will be a lot of more devices to take advantage of the unique thunderbolt port.

It doesn't matter if you're looking for a home computer to have fun and search the web or if you need to run hardcore software and games, this is worth every $ you spend

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Positives:

Mac Os X is a fantastic experience

Beautiful 17" screen

Track pad is a thing of beauty. If you've never used swipe gestures (like me) prepared to be amazed

Solid aluminum construction. Most solid laptop I've ever experienced.

Great sound.

Light and sleek. In my opinion 17" is not overdoing it.

Love the magsafe charging. No more broken DC power ports.

Cons:

Keyboard takes a little getting used to.

I don't understand the arrow buttons.

4GB of ram and 5600 RPM HD are a bit underwhelming.

Glossy screen does occasionally reflect.

Expensive

I'm afraid the bottom of the laptop is going to scratch up good. Offsets are minimal

Of note, if you think you're going to swap out more ram easily, its a little bit more involved than that. I was expecting an easy open bay like most laptops. More memory means taking off the entire back plate of the laptop which involves close to 8 screws. I don't know about you but I'm a little hesitant to use a screw driver on my new 2300$ laptop. Ill get around to it eventually, but right now its not horribly pressing for normal use. Ram is SO cheap.

I was afraid 17" would be too big, but in the end I'm glad I went with the larger size. Its completely manageable and the laptop is quite light and looks great of course. Amazon shipping was as usual incredible and the presentation of the laptop inside its packaging was an apple experience, meaning I loved it.

Those are my initial post 3 days purchase thoughts. I also wanted to bootcamp the computer as well as test out a bit of light to medium weight gaming, i'll edit the review as those things come up. I might even try run skyrim on bootcamp!

I see no downside to this. Get a great laptop with overall great specs. Run Linux, OSX, Windows 7, whatever you want. Pay for a better than average screen and all aluminum body, plus a trackpad that is something else. Down the line throw in more ram, a bigger faster HD or even an SSD at the rate SSD is going.

Want Apple MacBook Pro MD311LL/A 17-Inch Laptop Discount?

Updated: June 21, 2012. Changed rating from 4 stars to 5 (4.5) stars. Changed review title.

In light of Apple's announcement that the 17-inch MBP is soon to disappear, I thought it worthwhile to update this review a bit. Bottom line, the concerns I expressed in my original review (below) remain, but I think this was a worthwhile purchase and it is a shame that the 17-inch edition will be out of the MBP line-up (I get why the Mac desktop is dying a lingering death, but this MBP...?).

Apple can certainly do what it wants and clearly (to Apple's way of thinking) the 17-inch wasn't worth the effort, cost, etc. (apparently the metric was measuring its sales as a percentage of overall MBP (or MBA) sales I've been told/reading that the 17-inch garnered less than 2% of total MBP/MBA sales). But clearly there was a niche market for the 17-inch MBP and with that in mind, I would say this edition is a "must buy" if you need a "portable desktop".

I can't help but wonder if Apple's strategy is to get you to buy a Thunderbolt monitor to go along with your next-gen MBP (or MBA) significantly raising the cost of your purchase but also giving buyers several configuration options. I get the raving over the new Retina display, but it seems to me (and I admit to speaking from a position of ignorance here I haven't seen the new Retina display yet) the Retina display is overkill (?) in the 15-inch and would have been absolutely perfect/delightful/stunning/"pick and place your adjective here" in the 17-inch. But I also understand that the additional real estate of the 17-inch screen would probably have boosted the price of a 17-inch Retina MBP to a level where both customers and Apple would think the cost prohibitive. But wait, cost never seems to have stopped Apple in the past and second, couldn't the Retina display be offered as an upgrade/option?

In the end, oh well. If someone senses there is a market for a "MBP 17-inch Retina display type" machine, they'll eventually build it and we'll see. And something better will come along at some point.

Bottom line, this (apparently) last edition of the 17-inch MBP is a very good machine (not perfect), so if a sleek 17-inch OS X desktop replacement is what you're looking for and need now, you had better buy this before they're gone. (Original review follows (below).)

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Original review:

I was looking to move from a desktop setup to a laptop setup that could function as a desktop replacement. I use multiple Operating Systems (OS) Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, but I didn't want to use virtualization (e.g., FusionWare or Parallels), nor a hacked rig, nor a dual or triple booter (been through that phase and while it is a great idea and I did it for awhile, it just wasn't working for me anymore). So, with the requirement that each have true HD display (1920x1080 minimum), I eventually settled on 3 machines: a Toshiba Qosmio X505 18.4" i7 laptop for Windows, repurposed my HP HDX16 Windows machine for Linux, and this MacBook Pro for OS X. But since you're not reading this to learn about Windows, Linux, or my preferred computer setup, let's skip all that and move on to my impressions of this MacBook Pro 17.

Well, on the plus side, I used to believe there was an outrageous "Mac tax," that is, you paid a premium for a MacBook because it was a Mac and that similar hardware (a Windows 7 machine, for example) would cost substantially less. Well, imho the "Mac tax" is still there, but it isn't nearly as high as I thought (on this machine, it's probably a chunk of change somewhere in the $500-600 range, but it is less than the $1,200 I had in mind earlier). Also, the laptop is as nice as all the numerous reviews out there state it is. But....

Hard Fact #1: When you get past the love-fest that surrounds "all things Apple," I've found that Apple's build quality isn't all that much better than numerous other manufacturers I've dealt with (frankly, Sony consistently betters Apple and I've had equal or better results from HP, Dell, and Acer). This MBP Pro is my tenth or so Mac (several MacBooks, several MBP, several Mac Minis, and an MacBook Air (I haven't included my numerous iOS devices)) and while they are nicely put together, they have had their fair share of defects (both cosmetic and functional) that far exceeds the so-called Conventional Wisdom (CW). For instance, this unit arrived with a bad "backlit keyboard" feature (the %-5 key looked as if all the light was radiating out from under it alone and all the other keys remained dim). Didn't spend almost $2,400 to have the %-5 key burn out my optic nerves, so I ordered a replacement. As usual, Amazon CS was great and I had the replacement within 1 business day (with return postage for the defective unit paid for by Amazon).

Hard Fact #2: I also find the Apple community's insistence that they own the GUI world ridiculous. I continue to hear over and over that once you own a Mac, you can mouse your way through life and you'll "never" again have to use the Command Line. Fact of the matter (at least for me) is I find myself using Terminal more in Mac OS X than I ever had to in either Windows or newer versions of Linux. The last time I used the Command Line this much was way back in my MS-DOS days.

Hard Fact #3: Apple fans (encouraged by Apple itself) want you to believe that Mac OS X is like Burger King you can have it your way. Sorry, Mac OS X remains maddeningly non-customizable. For example, we're now in Lion (10.7) and a user still can't change something as simple as the color of the mouse cursor! In the end, using a Mac is like living life in a pre-school you can have as much freedom as you want so long as it doesn't exceed what "they" want you to have. One can never can't get past the feeling that with Mac OS X it is "do it Apple's way or no way at all" (incredibly ironic given the fact that Apple pretty much launched with the 1984 Super Bowl commercial which compared IBM to "Big Brother" and Apple to "freedom").

Hard Fact #4: With the standard 4GB RAM configuration this MBP is an absolute dog (especially if you set up your machine with the security features OS X offers). With both the Firewall and the File Vault feature (which offers "on-the-fly" encryption of your hard drive) enabled, I was lucky to keep more than one application running smoothly. If I ran a multi-tab browser session and a photo editing package, the laptop would crawl to a virtual halt. BTW, initial encryption of the hard drive took more than a whopping 20 hours! In the end, I can't think of any user of this MBP model who would not need more RAM right from the get-go. Buying this laptop means buying more RAM immediately! Apple says 8GB is the max. But don't settle for 8GB as 16GB works. Crucial offers a 16GB RAM kit that turns this into a usable laptop. The 16GB kit is not cheap (almost $300 with "2-day Business shipping), but it is worth it. I received the RAM kit this a.m., installed it, the MBP recognized it, and I am now running it. Am thrilled; I now have a laptop worthy of the i7 CPU.

Final verdict? Nice machine, but it's nothing to swoon in ecstasy over (contrary to the seemingly usual reaction to Apple's offerings by the "Death to Microsoft and Other Non-OS X Companies" cult community of mags, rags, and fan-boys). Frankly, I have other machines that I think are nicer to look at, do (more) things better, and are more reasonably priced. But if you want to use OS X (and some of the programs I need to use require OS X), this is a great way to go.

3 stars for the as-shipped OEM config machine, 4 stars for the 16GB, working final setup.

Updated (June 21, 2012): 3.5 stars for the as-shipped OEM config machine, 4.5 stars for the 16GB, working final setup. So I'm going to rate the machine 5 stars.... I must admit that I'm sorry to see this edition of the MBP line go.

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Toshiba Satellite S955-S5376 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum)

Looked at a lot of different options for my son's laptop. The biggest issue was which one. I looked at Apple products and they are really cool, but the idea of spending $2,000 on a computer for a High School student put me off. Also thought about a tablet, but my son actually uses his computer for something other than texting and playing video games, sometimes.

I was very skeptical of Windows 8. Since he was most familiar with the Mac OS, I was worried. He was using it fully in 5 minutes. Since getting it his Mac has been back-benched.

The laptop is very thin and light, and still has connections for VGA and a wired Internet Connection. While WiFi is very prolific, the ability to connect to a wired connection is useful in difficult situations or dealing with old equipment often found in schools and Universities. With the bandwidth-sucking Tablets having an option could be the difference between a successful presentation and just standing there hoping the WiFi works.

The battery life is pretty good, but not awesome, about 4 or 5 hours under normal use so far. It is quiet and doesn't heat up the way laptops used to.

Special note about Windows 8. It is different. However, you can get a desktop if you prefer by hitting a button. People tend to freak out every time Windows makes a change. I remember Windows 3.1, 95, Windows 2000 (remember that fun), XP, Vista and 7. Each change generates a group of people who complain.

When Mac switched to Intel, I remember those freakouts. So don't let the fact it has a new OS freak you out. It actually is more App based and more like a Tablet. Younger users will figure it out quickly. Also, I imagine people with limited computer abilities will like it. Those of us who still know how to use the Command Prompt probably will suffer more of a learning curve.

The Bottom line is that for the price, this is an excellent laptop. It's not so expensive that I worry about it being attractive to thieves and while Apple likes to stay ahead of the curve (which is awesome for early adopters), students will still be able to hook up to the Ethernet connection at the Podium when the WiFi in the lecture hall goes out from all the people streaming Pandora during their presentation.

I give it 5 stars based on value for money. I would not recommend this for someone who plans to do a lot of Video Editing or processor intensive applications. This is a great option for someone choosing between a high-end tablet, an ultrabook or a laptop. WiFi is everywhere. When it doesn't work or there are 40 students connected in a lecture hall, I wouldn't want to depend on it when my grade was on the line or spend $100 on a dongle to connect to the VGA port in the old Conference Room.

Windows 8 takes some getting familiar with, but the laptop does everything it should. the only frustration I have with it is getting use to windows 8. To me windows 8 is not very user friendly. Toshiba makes a great product and I bought this laptop to replace another Toshiba laptop.

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Very fast computer with an elegant design. It connects to the internet in a few seconds, it loads up the desktop and all of the applications in a few seconds too. It's almost like an instant start device. I'm glad with this purchase.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba Satellite S955-S5376 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ice Blue Brushed Aluminum) Here

Love it so far. Would have been 5 stars, but read on....

I found this item on Amazon but bought it directly from Adorama, only because I called to be sure it was in stock and they offered me free next day shipping at the same price.

One caution: Adorama advertises this with the correct CPU clock speed 1.7 GHz; Amazon deceptively uses the "max turbo speed" of 2.6 GHz. I was a little disappointed when I went into the system properties and saw the lower number. Google "Intel Core i5 3317U" and you will see what I mean.

From Intel's site:

"What is Intel® Turbo Boost Technology?

Intel Turbo Boost Technology is a way to automatically run the processor core faster than the marked frequency. The processor must be working in the power, temperature, and specification limits of the thermal design power (TDP). This results in increased performance of both single and multi-threaded applications."

*Amazon should give standard specs on the computers they sell, or at least give a disclaimer.*

Moving on. Similar to other reviews, I have struggled a bit with Windows 8, but am realizing everything is out there, just hidden. Hit the window button (looks like a 4-pane window, lower left of keyboard), you can start typing and search for your favorite Windows programs, like task manager, control panel, calculator, etc. You can pin them to the taskbar (bottom of screen) or the initial start window that freaks everyone out.

Once you get the desktop and start window clear of all of the junk apps, it becomes a manageable environment. I am an experienced PC user and do not think I should have to work this hard to figure out a new OS version. Would it have been so hard for Microsoft to include a Win 8 tutorial?

Best thing I have found so far if you are somewhat comfortable with computers, you can schedule explorer.exe to run whenever you start Windows this bypasses the Start window and goes directly to the desktop we all know and love.

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I needed a new laptop because my hard drive went out on my last one. This connects to the internet quick, has good speed and functions great...Negative is Windows 8...it's NOT user friendly, hard to find your files, save pictures to load later, I go straight to the "desktop" portion so I can have at least some funcionality. As a general use computer its good, for a work computer, not so much with the Windows 8.

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HP 2000-299WM Notebook Computer

I've only had this for 24 hours but it seems like a really nice laptop. Was looking at buying a netbook to access internet while traveling but found this and it does that plus allow me to view dvds and download stuff. Not much on here in terms of programs only a basic word and excel. No powerpoint. Can buy the full Microsoft office for $110, no thanks. Has Windows 7, internet explorer, etc. Have been connected to wifi in rv park and I'm getting fairly fast speeds. With this large screen and keyboard and for only about $50 more than a netbook this is definately a good choice for me. Found this a Wallyworld for $298.

Needed a new laptop for school and so I went to Walmart and found this one for $298. It comes with the basic programs (Microsoft word )which you can later purchase the full program. It works really good, was very easy to set up, pretty fast with the wifi, no waiting around for the page to load, it's fairly light weight for a laptop, all in all if you need a computer and are on a budget this is a great one and you wont be disappointed.

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Put simply this laptop is excellent... The only thing that is not amazing is the Intel onboard video... which I would say is adequate... but all other aspects are surprisingly great for the price... It does play Netflix and they like perfectly fine... all components rate fairly high on the Windows User Experience rating system... except the video which is sort of in the middle of the rating... So unless you want serious games this computer is great... Long battery life with the 6-cell battery. I am blown away by the quality for the price, this laptop cannot be beat (got mine at walmart for 298!)

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My desk top died and went to Walmart to buy another desktop a friend suggested a lap top. This is the first laptop I have ever baught or used. I take it everywhere I go just about now. It was so easy to set up and use. I did not ever think I would get a lap top but I am so glad I got this one. I really really like this one. The price was under $300 I got a wireless mouse to go with it total out the door was $350 tax and all you can not beat this computer.

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This computer does a great job on basic functions. It is pretty good for multimedia and has a decent battery life. The word processing functions are great and the computer is sleek and attractive. It doesn't weigh very much and that makes in convenient to travel with. The keyboard is sturdy and well built and the touch pad for the mouse is not overly sensitive so you don't make too many mistakes by accidentally bumping it. The screen is clear and movies look great on it. The sound is loud and clear and it has just enough ports to make it convenient for all types of functions. I have enjoyed using this computer for the past year and would recommend it for anyone looking for a decent laptop at a reduced price.

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Dell XPS 13 XPS13R2-1050sLV 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Silver Anodized Aluminum)

We ordered several of these for my job and everyone loves them, they are great speedy laptops, weight almost nothing and haven't had a single issue in 3 months of ownership.

i would easily recommend this laptop to anyone.

I bought mine directly from Dell. Here are the pros--It is extremely light and compact with a large screen for its size. It feels almost like an ipad (which I have) in weight. The carbon fiber back really helps and gives it a bit of a grip on your lap. It also doesn't burn your thighs like a traditional laptop. The USB ports make this a living breathing computer and with windows installed I find myself reaching for this more than my ipad. Then again, I spend most of my time making word documents, powerpoints, spreadsheets, and stats rather than surfing the web and checking email. Although small, the chicklet keypad isn't cramped and feels smooth under your fingers.

The cons: The TN display isn't great. I prefer wider viewing angles than this. I use mine plugged in and the power cord doesn't click into the computer. Mine has a bad habit of falling out if I twitch just a little and then you end up draining your battery and not knowing it. Dell should have thought this through a bit more. An SD card port would have been nice, but that's easy enough to fix with a couple of USB ports. The mouse pad is horrible--I mean terrible. It jumps around whether you touch it or not. The keyboard feels great and the fact that it lights up is another plus, but the space bar sticks and so do several other keys. I expect that after five years of pounding on a computer. I don't expect it when it is brand new. Between the cord issues, the poor tracking on the pad, and the sticky keys, I expect better especially given what I paid for it.

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I have been using this computer for about 2 months now and i really like it. I was looking for something light weight, powerful and well build.

Here are some good points:

The computer is quiet

The battery life is really good ( 5 6h on normal use)

Its amazingly fast

Excellent keyboard

Good audio

The power brick is nice looking and small

Here are a few negative points:

The track-pad drivers need some more work

Dell, pre-installed software

Bad Dell support

The computer takes sometime to recognize that you have connected headphones and switch the speakers off.

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This seems to be a fine laptop, I've been traveling with it for a couple of months now. It seems a bit finicky with internet (WIFI) connections, but that may just be due to the quality of available connections. However, the track pad is just awful. Sometimes when I don't even touch the touch pad, the mouse pointer jumps around. I don't like the feel of the pad surface, and it's not smooth so it's hard for me to make subtle gestures consistently. I've turned off all the bells and whistles (i.e., two finger gestures) and turned down sensitivity in the hopes it will respond only to deliberate touches on the pad, but it's still overly finicky sometimes and not very responsive other times. I had heard about this problem before buying, and usually use a mouse anyway, but it's still a problem.

The keyboard is a bit stiff for me. I've had many Dells and, in this size category, Dell has done better with both the keyboard and the touch pad.

The startup speed is awesome.

Win8 is a mess...right in line with the usual in-between operating systems (Win ME, Vista, etc.) that Microsoft puts out in alternating cycles. I expect the next OS will be great. There may be benefits 'under the hood' in terms of speed and security, so I'm keeping W8, but I have installed third party software to suppress the Win8 experience, and that's acceptable, but still a step back from Win7 usability.

Overall, I like the laptop for what it does well and tolerate it for what it doesn't.

For the price, I rate it 3. In terms of functionality and performacne, I would rate it a 4. I can't get to five based on the horrible touch pad. The Win8 issue is not Dell's fault.

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Incredible laptop. I nuked the OS when I received it and installed Linux Mint and have not one bad thing to say about it. It's incredibly fast, light and durable. It feels very well made yet has some features I wish Apple would consider for their own laptops. For instance, I love aluminum cased laptops, but better for heat dissipation, looks great and durability. However when working with an all aluminum laptop it can get VERY hot and tends to be a bit slippery if on your clothed lap. This XPS is designed perfectly with a textured rubber of sorts on the bottom so it doesn't slide yet maintains the aluminum cover and frame.

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Acer LX.PY902.035 7741z-4643 Intel Pentium Dual-core 2.0ghz 3gb 250gb Dvd/rw 17.3 Windows7

The design and huge screen of this Acer laptop is fantastic. However, there was a major flaw in the process by which Acer installed software on this laptop model that causes it to randomly freeze--at least that is the cause that I read online at some point in researching this laptop's glitches. Sometimes a couple of weeks will go by with no mishap, other times the laptop will freeze 3 times in one day. I have wasted countless hours online looking for a solution (working with the battery removed, flashing the BIOS with an update) and nothing has worked. It's an attractive machine but if Acer can't even get software installation right to avoid its products having such a fatal flaw, then I'm afraid this is the first and only Acer product I will buy. The mousepad is also infuriatingly hard to control, worse than any laptop mousepad I've ever used. Sometimes the mouse will get stuck on the right side of the screen for a couple of minutes and no movement whatsoever will free it until it just fixes itself after a minute or two. Avoid.

This product was not new. It had some issues out of the box, which has been resolved, one of the keys has already came off and looks as if it has been glued on before. After the tech issues were resolved the computer its self is great.

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Gigabyte Laptop P2542G-CF2 15.6-Inch Laptop

Loving it so far. Came with windows 8, so I had to remove that nonsense. Added a 500gb ssd (samsung 840) and this thing flies. Now if I only can find a proper skin for it.

Had been looking for a laptop that fit my needs for a while, this happened to be it. Windows 8 is a bit lame but it's functional and doesn't really need to be changed.

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I use it for 3d work, and it has all what I want, it came with msata and second SATA can hold normal sata HDD.

also it came with GT 640/2GB. no brand has all this spec in such light weight.

the only thing I didn't like is the body made from cheap plastic.

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Sony VAIO Pro SVP13213CXS 13.3-Inch Core i5 Touchscreen Ultrabook (Carbon Silver)

I will be flying with this (and for the first time, without an additional tablet) soon and will update it after that experience.

In this review:

(1) In the box

(2) PROs (+)

(3) CONs/Quirks (-)

(4) Windows Experience Index Ratings, Battery Life, and Performance Observations

(5) Extended sheet battery thoughts

(6) Thoughts on travel/portability/business use

(7) General Thoughts and Thoughts on tablet replacement

(1) In the box: power cord and adapter with neat USB port in transformer, brief setup pamphlet, VGA Adapter.

I thought I would include this section because there was some confusion as to whether the USB-powered Ethernet wireless router that attaches to the power adapter was included. Sadly, it is not. It is also not listed as available for sale (as of this date) in the US. If you need the part number (since it's hard to find), it's VGP-WAR100 and is available on Sony Asia's website (http://www.sony-asia.com/product/vgp-war100)

(2) PROs

Great battery life (later)

Super thin AND great battery life!

full-size spacing on keys

Tight integration between hardware and Windows 8 (even some 8.1 features done Sony-style on Windows 8.0)

Screen lifts for the most part with one hand (better than I could have expected)

brightness is decent

Carbon fiber build seems flimsy (because it bends) but actually feels and appears to be durable (if that makes sense)

Really light.

Did I mention that it's really thin and light?

(3) CONs/Quirks (not all are really terrible and I've overcome some as described)

Yes, there is a known WiFi issue. Supposedly, Sony is working on a fix though not all their stores and call centers are familiar with it. However, that being said, I did not experience any major issues. Just in case, I have a WiFi adapter I can use if needed.

For me: lack of Thunderbolt port is a disappointment but I understand that Sony had to sacrifice some things for such a thin laptop. I would have preferred Thunderbolt over HDMI but that is just me and the market supports the decision to stick with HDMI right now.

Lack of Gb Ethernet. Really wished it had this but a lot of ultrabooks are forgoing this option these days. To overcome this, I purchased a nifty Asus USB router (see below under travel)

The large amount of flex in the build makes using the touchscreen difficult to use or at least not as "seamless" as it could be. The screen vibrates back and forth a lot with each press making for a slightly uncomfortable but bearable experience. It certainly does not replace a tablet feel (nor is it meant to so no stars deducted). It's just that it feels like the touchscreen could have been left out altogether but I must admit I still use it extensively over the touchpad (but maybe not over a travel mouse).

The sheet battery is not flush to the device (more on that below under the "extended battery" section).

The keyboard is a little awkward for me, but to be fair, I'm accustomed to a 12.1" netbook keyboard. The keys for me are spaced too far apart but I can still type pretty fast and it doesn't seem like it will take a lot of getting used to.

The lights for the backlit keyboard are visible from underneath the keys when you are looking at the device. It's kind of annoying and I wish it were just the letters that were lit instead of an outline of the keys.

Silly dedicated "assist" button launches Sony's troubleshooting and repair/recovery apps. I'd rather be able to customize a dedicated hardware button (and maybe I can?)

(4) Windows Experience Index, battery life, and other performance measures

Overall: 6.3 (internal HD4000 graphics being the limiting factor)

CPU: 7.1 (NOTE: This is for a Core i7 model, the rest of this review is relevant to this model)

RAM: 7.6

Graphics: 6.3

Gaming Graphics: 6.3

HDD: 8.6

It isn't meant to be a super high-end gaming machine. The idea here is thin and light...but seriously, it does a pretty darn good job at everything else while it's at it. Data transfer rates are extremely good. If I get a chance, I'll post some samples.

Battery Life is really really good. I use Battery Bar and it varies it's estimate based on use but going from a full charge on just the main battery without the extended sheet battery, it varies between 7-8.5 hours, way over Sony's 6.5 hours estimate. To be fair, I have only been installing software and not anything otherwise intensive. With the extended battery which is almost double capacity, I would easily believe Sony's 13-14 hour claim and then some. Time will tell and I will update if this changes.

Performance is pretty snappy and I haven't noticed any major hiccups but to be fair, I haven't done a whole lot other than web browsing and software installation. I'll update as time goes on if it changes.

(5) Extended Sheet battery thoughts:

Honestly, I have mixed feelings. Since there are really no pictures for this model, I thought I would post this so you have a good idea of what it is like. I will post a picture soon as well. For starters, it does NOT sit flush with the laptop. In other words, it adds a significant amount of depth (almost double) but at least it is a smaller footprint and not the whole side of the laptop. It serves as a stand while it is attached. One thing I do wish: the cover for the connector for the extended battery can be difficult to remove form the laptop (it has a spot to reattach to the extended batteyr to hold it in place but even that is a pain to do in a hurry. If I have to switch batteries in a hurry or switch to the extended, it can be irritating. A sliding cover would have been more practical (but I'm not sure if it's feasible space-wise)

(6) Travel and portability thoughts:

For me, extended batteries are almost a necessity and I'm so used to just ordering them that I ordered it with the device. As I am using this, I am actually thinking I wouldn't need it if I were just replacing my netbook/laptop. Since the sheet battery adds such significant battery life, I might use it to replace what I normally defer to my Asus TF300T tablet for (notes, travel, work on airplanes/trains, etc.).

I will update this review soon--I have ordered two different MacBook Air cases and will see how they fare.

I also ordered the Asus WL-300NUL pocket WiFi router (ASUS Multi-Mode Pocket Router (WL-330NUL). This can be used in much the same way as the Sony part I mentioned above with the added benefit that it can also be used as a USB ethernet adapter and standard WiFi adapter as well.

For travel, I also ordered a USB combo mini outlet surge protector Satechi Compact USB Surge Protector for Charging MP3 Players, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, and Windows Mobile Phones and an inline surge protector TRC 90510-10 Lap Top Surge Protector 3-Wire which should arrive soon.

(7) General Thoughts and Thoughts on Tablet replacement:

I was really hoping for a Haswell ultrabook convertible that would double as my desktop via a nice Thunderbolt dock for two monitors, GbE, USB 3.0 drives, etc. I was hoping for said ultrabook to also double as a tablet and take advantage of Window 8 handwriting recognition with a digitizer (this does not have a digitizer). In the end, while this may have been a purchase out of frustration in waiting or the "perfect" device to come along, I think I am happy with it. The near-instant on feature is nice so that certainly helps in pushing the case to replace my tablet. I can still think of a need for a decent tablet with digitizer (perhaps a future "mini" Windows 8 tablet with Bay Trail?). I thought about the Sony Duo 13 as well but the limited one angle kind of was a dealbreaker for me. In retrospect, it might be more of what I was looking for. The trackpad is becoming more and more of an after-thought for me as I use the touchscreen more so the fact that it is much smaller on the Duo may not be bad. At least it isn't behind the keyboard like on the recently announced Samsung device. The Asus Transformer Book Trio is probably the closest to what I wanted but it may not be released until much later this year. For now, I would say I'm very happy with the purchase and will continue to evaluate my needs as I go on in terms of living without a tablet.

I do hope that Thunderbolt becomes more common and is standard in the near future. Partly due to cost and partly due to ignorance, I think people are missing out on something great that might be too early for it's own good. It's almost like the "Apple Newton" was way ahead of its time and didn't succeed because of ignorance and cost until Palm released their version of the PDA when the market was "ready" for it. I'm hoping this is the time for TB.

Bought the laptop in a Sony store after falling in love the moment I saw it. It is simply stunning. There is no going back to my Ideapad now. This is the kind of technology that Sony stopped producing in the last decade. Boot up in 3-5 seconds. Shuts down in 5. Applications start instantaneously, excellent wifi range. Killer display. Responsive touch(on internet explorer, Firefox unfortunately isn't optimized for Win 8)

Seven hours battery .

The body is a bit flexy-but I think that was the intention, to keep it flexible so it can stand the rigors of being handled around, and at 1 kilogram-it WILL be handled around.

Track pad misses some tapsbut it is by far one of the best non-apple trackpads.

I went to the Apple store to see if I let my heart rule over the mind (the supposed 12 hour battery life of the new Air), and I simply came back, clenching my Vaio closer to me. Drab heavy silver slabs. No innovationimagine my frustration when the chunky screen didn't respond to my gentle prods.

Believe me-this is the new Z.

Sony, welcome back.

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**UPDATE**

The temps on this laptop can get very hot if you don't watch them. I got to 73C today just watching Netflix. I even wiped the drive and reinstalled from the recovery partition and it still does it.

And to comment on other people saying the screen is glossy, I actually don't find it glossy at all. Its actually a weird middle between glossy and matte. I don't know what Sony did. Its nice though.

**OLD REVIEW**

Just as a intro, I didn't buy this laptop on Amazon, so it wont say verified purchase, but I did buy this laptop and still have it with me, so you can be assured that this is a real review. I absolutely love this laptop. Everything is amazingly fast and snappy, the trackpad is smooth and gestures handle very well, almost as well as a Mac.

The keyboard is also pretty great. It feels like I'm typing on a desktop keyboard because of how much travel the keys actually have. I think this is the most I've ever seen in an ultrabook. Now for the best thing about this laptop.

The weight. Its incredible. When I took the laptop home with me, I was actually worried that the box didn't have the laptop in it! (It did). This thing feels as light as my tablet.

Now for the screen, its a full 1080p screen, the clarity is good, and so are the viewing angles. Surprisingly, they're not as good as an IPS screen, but more than acceptable. The touch is also responsive. The one thing that I did have to do is when I got it, the screen was really sticky and I couldn't slide my finger on it. I cleaned it with some rubbing alcohol and now its as smooth as anything else.

But, there is one major (to me) issue. The fan noise is horrific. Even when I'm just browsing the internet, the fans are on at ~4000-5000 RPM according to Core Temp. And the weird thing, is that they SHOULD be on at the temps I'm getting. On idle, its around 50C. I've used many other ultrabooks and I know that's not normal. In fact, I unplugged the fan of a Lenovo Yoga (It was also loud) and it never exceeded 55C even when watching movies. This can't be fixed with an update because the laptop actually DOES run hot, so the fans are needed. I checked for any CPU hogging apps, but the CPU is never over 10% utilization in Task Manager. I know I don't have a defective unit, because I already took it back and replaced it once. Oh, and the SONY Vaio Control Center fan options don't do anything to control the fan.

I think other than that, this laptop is amazing. If you never use your laptop in a Library, Classroom, or another quiet place, It would be 5 stars for you. But Its just way too loud for me.

I feel that to deserve 5 stars, it need to be perfect, and this laptop comes close, but isn't. If anyone/Sony somehow releases an update to quiet those fans, I'll change my review. It would be 5 stars, but the fan and the flex on the body knock off one star for me.

To sum up:

PROS:

Amazing Screen

Roomy and comfortable keyboard

Smooth trackpad

VERY light

Looks great

No bloatware at all (since I bought it from the Microsoft Store)

CONS:

Fan noise is terrible

Some amount of flex in the body makes it feel weak

Read Best Reviews of Sony VAIO Pro SVP13213CXS 13.3-Inch Core i5 Touchscreen Ultrabook (Carbon Silver) Here

This touchscreen notebook is the lightest I've ever used among Windows computers. Keyboard backlight works fine, screen is bright and glares not that much. Touchpad is great, I read some reviews about it being too hard to operate or something and I think those reviewers were lying. Touchscreen works great too. I think this notebook is too cheap given its quality. Also some reviewers noticed too much flex in its body but I didn't notice any. Probably those reviewers prefer heavyweight Apple notebooks, but I don't like heavy machines, given that amount of flex is roughly equal between this machine and MacBook Air. In any case, I found all the drawbacks stated in reviews to be fake, those reviewers just needed to pick on something. There's only advantages and no drawbacks in this beautiful machine, given it's low price (it's low considering what you'd get for it). Also looks much better than any MacBook.

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I have only owned the Sony VAIO Pro for 24 hours but I have been glued to it! I love it! Have to get used to Windows 8 and that is probably my biggest adjustment but this laptop fits me like a well-sized glove! I am not a tablet person have the Ipad and it has never worked for me but I didn't like my clunky Dell laptop anymore so this lightweight "as a feather" , easy to use laptop so far has met my expectations and some. I read complaints about the fan noise but so far haven't picked any of that up. I am not a sophisticated user, just a regular user so it definitely meets my needs. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Oh and the touchscreen is to die for!!! I love it. (Btw I am still a Blackberry user and need a keyboard -this laptop (like my BB Q10) gives me the best of both worlds!) Love it!

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Dell Inspiron 15z i15z-1400sLV 15.6-Inch Ultrabook (Moon Silver)

I bought this directly from Dell about a month ago. The performance and battery life seem fine, but I had a recurring issue where the laptop would hang at start-up. I would force a shutdown and most times it would restart properly after the recovery steps, but sometimes it took more than once.

Checking the web I found some folks thought it was the video driver which I downloaded from the Dell site, but I also found the current BIOS level was A03 and my unit was only A01. So I upgraded that too and have had zero problems with start-up. Good news for folks who are comfortable going to the website and downloading software upgrades, not so good if you expect Dell support.

Another issue on the horizon is the battery which is now inside the laptop. Here is a youtube instructional video on how to do it . Not a big deal if you are comfortable opening the laptop up, big deal if you are going to have to go to someone down the line (probably 3-4 years). Not sure other ultrabooks are any better, but I wish it was simpler. There are settings to extend the life of the battery under the power settings controls and I suggest you use them.

Otherwise, as I noted at the top, laptop works well. My first time with a touch screen and it works well too.

I like the back-lit keyboard. However I miss my number pad. Now to see how it works Processor wise. Fine

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Toshiba Satellite C875-S7132NR 17.3-Inch Laptop (Fusion Finish in Mercury Silver)

When I purchased the laptop, it worked perfectly. It has Windows 8 preloaded, which is only ok. Within 30 days of purchase, the computer would suddenly shut down a few seconds after it was powered on. It was somewhat difficult to make arrangements with Toshiba repair, and it cost 24.99 to ship it back for repairs. So "warranty" is a subjective term. Other than the fact that the computer wouldn't power up for more than a few seconds, its a great buy.

The computer itself is alright but the speakers ruin the experience. To say they are bad is an understatement. At full blast I can barely hear sound played making watching shows and movies and listening to music a chore. I have to turn on captions for shows even if my house is silent. I replaced an older Satellite with this one and there was no sound problem on that one.

An easier to fix problem is Windows 8 is the most annoying O/S I have ever used but that is easy to replace unlike the useless sound on this thing.

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Great computer. Does everything that I need it to do. Still getting used to the key board sensitivity. Good investment!

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it is super fast and i love it! totally worth the money!!! great graphics too! you should choose this one! i think this is the best laptop on amazon!

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Acer eMachines E525-2200 Notebook PC - 15.6" LCD / Intel Celeron 900 2.2GHz / 3GB DDR2 / 250GB HD /

I was looking for a fairly inexpensive laptop and came across this one. Originally I had seen it on ebay, but it was more expensive, so I checked Amazon. The laptop has an older processor, but I don't see any difference in the speed compared to a much more expensive and newer laptop that my husband just bought that has the newest processor out. The only con to this laptop is that there is no built in webcam, but its an easy fix. Just would have been nice if it was built in. Other than that, I love it. It works great and the design is awesome. I would highly recommend this to any person looking to purchase it for enjoyment. (I.E. surfing the web, downloading music, print pictures, etc.)

I purchased this computer a couple of weeks ago and I have to honestly say that I love the hell out of this thing ! It was a great deal, perfect size ( larger than your normal notebooks) and has everything you need on it ! I also purchased a nice router to go along with it. It is fast, clear, nice size screen, great resolution, battery life is about five hours.. I am very, very pleased with this computer !!!

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Not a ton of features, but has a fast enough processor for web surfing and MS Office. Goes to sleep and comes back to life quickly with Windows 7. Good alternative to a netbook that has a micro-sized screen. I also have the Acer version (straight Acer brand, not Acer eMachines) and it is almost identical to this laptop, but has an AMD processor. I think this processor feels a little faster. Just wish the processor was a dual-core. Also beware that the screen resolution only has a height of 768, which by today's standards is a little short. But for the money, you can't beat it.

Read Best Reviews of Acer eMachines E525-2200 Notebook PC - 15.6" LCD / Intel Celeron 900 2.2GHz / 3GB DDR2 / 250GB HD / Here

I bought mine for about $300 and so far its been a great laptop. My 4 year old watches DVDs on it and cartoons off youtube and its great for surfing the web. It has done everything I have asked it to do and is actually faster than my desktop with a dual core processor. Ive pretty much put away the desktop. It starts right up and shuts down in the blink of an eye as well. My only problem is with the touch pad which seems finicky but I hear theres a fix for that...Im just too lazy to try. This was an excellent value, it does more than a netbook will and at about the same cost. If you just need a basic setup then this is it.

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Just got this today. As a test for the processor and ram I downloaded Wow. It runs at about 23 fps. Which is better than the desktop I had that had an AMD processor. It is a new experience working on Windows 7. It is pretty nice, but will take a little bit to get used too. Over all very satified at the moment.

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Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro (with Retina display) quad-core Intel Core i7 2.3GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB flash

My wife has a 2010 Macbook pro and this one is LIGHT YEARS ahead of it. MUCH faster. Better graphics. Speakers are awesome. So much lighter. Doesn't run as hot in your lap. Go ahead and get the extra RAM because you can't add it later on the retina model... things run much better with the extra ram... I can have photoshop, after effects, premiere(EDITING IN FULL 1080p HD) and Aperture all open and running with no lags. It seems to run faster than my Mac Pro with 8 cores.

Out of the six Mac's that I have owned-

This is the best.

*. Power

*. Weight

*. Display

*. Low Heat

I edit HD Video-FCP X with it.

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I really like this so far. Easy migration from a PC, and so far I'm happy I made the migration to MacOS. I'm not going to review the OS or other ancillary products that are sold otherwise, but I do appreciate the memory upgrade to bring it to 16 GB, without necessarily paying for costly and (to me) unnecessary upgrades in CPU speed and solid-state storage. This certainly appears to be powerful enough to be my main computer for years to come.

I particularly enjoy integrating this with Apple TV to mirror the screen to my 61" HDTV, and use that as my "monitor" -which is particularly useful for content that is only enabled on computers (espn3.com, Hulu, youtube & other content not allowed to stream to PS3, Apple TV directly, iPads, etc.). I haven't used the HDMI to output to the TV yet; I suspect the quality would be higher, but the streaming with Apple TV has been sufficient so far. I'm even able to use bluetooth keyboard & trackpad to keep my MacBook in the other room and drive from my TV in my living room!

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Everything they said it would be. Looking forward to buying more items with this company again! Even during the holiday season they were able to stick to their word.

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Got here in 4 days! LOOKS FANTASTIC! Just bought a case to go with it! Screen is amazing and worth every penny!

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Dell Inspiron mini 9 - BLACK, Intel® Atom Processor® N270 1.6 Ghz , 1 GB DDR2 at 533MHz, 8GB Soli

Before searching do a simple search on 'netbooks' and buy anything else. Over $600 for a 1Gb, Linux 9" netbook? My goodness, I can find the same specs for around $250. I guess fools with money will always find a way to flow their wad...I guess this would be one way.

I purchased a Mini 9, black obsidian color, with 1.6 Ghz Atom processor, 16 GB solid state drive, 1 GB memory, external portable CD/DVD-RW, integrated webcam, GMA 950, wireless 802.11g, and Windows XP. This netbook boots up Windows XP very swiftly, plays NetFlix movies via wireless/DSL without a single screen blip or stutter, sound is quite good (headphones best when watching a movie or listing to music, very good stereo sound, and the built in speakers are adequate for regular browsing). DVDs and other media play excellently as well. My Firefox browser can be viewed full screen, and screen quality is good and easy on the eyes (very crisp and clear, good color). With a 4 GB Sandisk card I have 20 GB of disk space in total, which is more than enough for portability on vacation, to school, to the beach, the airport or on a plane, wherever I just need connection but don't need all the major attributes of a desktop system or bulky heavy 15 inch laptop. The battery lasts me 3 hours with my screen brightness down to mid level before my battery-low alarm sounds, and the battery charges very swiftly. The power cord is very lightweight and not bulky. I'm glad I made this purchase.

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