Beautiful Ultrabook Toshiba Portege R930 Review

If you want the portability of an Ultrabook, but don't want to forsake features such as an optical drive and expansion ports, Toshiba's Portege R930 may just be your ticket to portable computing nirvana.

Toshiba has been a long time player in the ultraportable market with their Portege product line.ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, Once thought of as executive jewelry, the Portage has come down in price and has added features making it an ultraportable that can supplant Ultrabooks in many use cases.ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, However, Ultrabooks and Ultraportables differ in several areas, first of which being the inclusion of an optical drive, at least in Toshiba's case with the R930, which incorporates an integrated DVD-RW drive. Other differences include thickness and battery life; the R930 is thicker than the ultra-slim Ultrabooks and consumes the battery more quickly when used for high performance computing.

Throughout its history, Toshiba's Portege line has had the distinction of cramming an impressive array of computing capabilities into a diminutive package. However, the ultraportable market has become much more crowded thanks to the addition of Ultrabook computers. ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, What sets the R930 apart from typical Ultrabooks is the inclusion of advanced features such as an optical drive and a plethora of ports. In short, the 13-inch R930 fits the bill of an Ultraportable, much like a traditional notebook,ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, but scaled down in size, and should not be confused with an Ultrabook.

The R930 shares the same chassis as its predecessor, the R830. However, the R930 has been updated to work with Intel's third generation Ivy Bridge processors and incorporates the latest Intel graphics, the HD 4000 chipset,ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, which boasts performance levels that approach discrete graphics processors. All of that is crammed into a Magnesium alloy casing that weighs a little more than 3.3 pounds and measures 1.05 inches thick, 8.93 inches deep and 12.44 inches wide.

The screen is housed in a magnesium alloy lid which helps to keep it safe and is attached to the main chassis via two metal hinges that hint at durability. ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, We wouldn't call the Portege R930 as rugged as an HP Elitebook or Dell Latitude but the magnesium alloy construction should hold up to typical use and abuse around the office as long as the road warrior using it doesn't get carried away.

As previously mentioned, one of the biggest differences between an Ultrabook and a business ultrabortable like the Toshiba Portege R930 is the array of ports. First of all, you get a standard DVD-RW optical drive (something few Ultrabooks have). ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, If that isn't enough, Toshiba also includes a full-size ExpressCard/54 expansion slot (which helps make this laptop more "future proof" since you can add new ports later) as well as a dedicated docking station port located on the bottom of the notebook in case you need to use the R930 as a desktop replacement.

The 13.3-inch display is bright and sharp, but with a resolution of 1366 x 768 there is a shortage of screen real-estate.ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, The limited resolution makes it difficult to multitask with multiple document windows open at the same time.

Two small stereo speakers located at the top of the keyboard provide adequate sound, but won't win any praise from audiophiles. The R930 is whisper quiet, with only a barely perceivable hum coming from a small cooling fan located inside the unit.ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, Thanks to the SSD, there is no drive noise as well. When plugged in on AC power and performing processor intensive tasks, the bottom of the R930 gets warm, but not so warm that it is uncomfortable on your lap. ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, We used a thermometer to measure the hottest spot (near the processor heat sink) at a temperature of 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45.5 degrees Celsius).

The chiclet-style or island-style keyboard is responsive and easy to use, with good key travel and adequate spacing. Business users will be happy to see there are dedicated keys for Home, End, Page Up and Page Down all located in a row above the arrow keys. ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, You'll also find dedicated buttons for Toshiba's eco mode (for extending battery life) HP EliteBook 8560p , and switching the display output from the built-in screen to an external monitor or projector.

The touchpad on the R930 is big with a smooth, matte surface providing good traction for fingertips. ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, The two dedicated touchpad buttons have a metallic finish and a smooth texture. A dedicated touchpad on/off switch is located right above the touchpad, allowing heavy typers to shut off the touch pad so they don't move the pointer around unintentionally with their palms. ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, That touchpad switch is also handy for people who want to use an external mouse.

As configured, the R930 proved to be an excellent performer, much of that performance can be attributed to the inclusion of an Intel Core i7 processor, SSD hard disk and Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture. As tested, the R930-S9330 proved to offer some pretty decent benchmark stores.ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, Keep in mind that Toshiba offers the R930 in a number of different configurations ... including less expensive versions with weaker processors and fewer ports.

Using our older battery run-down test for Windows 7 ("Balanced" power profile,ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, 70% screen brightness, wireless active and refreshing a web page every 60 seconds), we measured a respectable 6 hours and 49 minutes of battery life from the R930. Lowering the screen brightness further and enabling the vast array of Toshiba's power saving features added another 40 minutes of usable battery life to the unit.ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, However, most users will choose to balance performance against power savings and never see the claimed 8 hours of life that Toshiba purports the R930 to have.

The Toshiba Portege R930 proves to be an excellent ultraportable computer, however many of the latest ultrabooks hitting the market offer better resolution, lighter travel weight and longer battery life. ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, That said, those very same Ultrabooks lack the performance and flexability that Toshiba has been come to known for in the company's Portege product line.

Power users may want to strongly consider what the Portege R930 has to offer, before jumping on the Ultrabook bandwagon. Toshiba's excellent three-year warranty, great build quality and powerful performance is sure to keep the ultraportable market alive for some time, ASUS K53E-B1 Ultrabook, especially for those jobs where an Ultrabook just won't do!

Cheap Notebook HP EliteBook 2560p Review

The HP EliteBook 2560p is what HP calls its "pint-sized powerhouse." This business laptop is billed as a travel companion with exceptional build quality, a slim form factor, and a weight of just 3.6 pounds. But can this 12.5-inch durable business notebook perform when you're away from the office?Dell XPS 13 notebook , Read our full review to find out more about HP's smallest and lightest EliteBook.

The 12.5-inch 2560p was designed for the traveling business professional in mind as it is the smallest and lightest in the EliteBook family of notebooks and because it's built with HP's DuraCase technology. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop ,Meaning, this notebook is supposed to hold up against bangs, scratches, bumps, and falls--and prevent things such as display cracks, broken hinges, and hard drive data loss.

The chassis has a hard magnesium alloy as a sturdy support structure and is made to protect the top and bottom of the notebook against the elements.Dell XPS 13 notebook , The display is layered in magnesium and then covered in an anodized aluminum sheet. HP points out that this construction is "50 percent stronger than magnesium alone." The palmrests are brushed with an aluminum finish that helps prevent against scratches, Dell XPS 13 notebook ,and the display's hinges are made of metal alloy with steel pin axels. HP has tested the hinges withstanding power, stating that the notebook can be opened and closed ten times every day for a total of six years or 25,000 cycles.Dell XPS 13 notebook , It's quite impressive that the notebook still weighs in at 3.68 pounds with all of this added material and layering.

When pressing down in the middle of the keyboard, the notebook does not flex under pressure; nor do the palmrests. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,The display lid is similarly firm even though the outside screen surrounds are plastic. dell xps 15 ,The entire bottom outside casing is also plastic but doesn't feel poorly constructed.

The design hasn't changed much from last year--it's still covered in black and silver accents and carries a very professional look without being bland. Simply put,Dell XPS 13 notebook , the silver against black color scheme creates a nice contrast without being too outlandish. The surfaces are also smooth and feel great.

Overall, the build is exceptional and strong and the design is pleasing to the eyes. I have confidence that it will withstand years of bumps, bruises and the occasional mishap. Speaking of mishaps, the 2560p has a shock-mounted hard drive (to help prevent data loss in the event of a drop) and the keyboard is spill resistant. Really, there isn't much at all to complain about, Dell XPS 13 notebook ,but perhaps some users would be slightly put off or concerned that the battery sticks out from the backside. But, this is surely one of the best built and attractively designed 12-inch notebook I've come across.

As we point out in our first look of the newer HP notebooks, the 2560p is the only notebook in the market with an integrated optical drive in this smaller 12.5-inch form factor. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,Our review model didn't come equipped with one, but users have the option of adding a DVD+/-RW SuperMulti or a DVD-ROM optical drive. The port selection the notebook is quite extensive. Since this is meant to be primarily a travel/business notebook, it doesn't have HDMI. It also doesn't have USB 3.0 even though given its cost, it should have. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,What it does have is three USB 2.0 ports in total (one for charging mobile devices), a Smart Card reader, ExpressCard/34, SD/MMC, DisplayPort, eSATA, and a lock slot.

The HP EliteBook 2560p has a 12.5-inch HD anti-glare 720p (1366x768) display with LED backlighting. There aren't any upgrade options for the display. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,The display is of a lower resolution, but then again not many people will be photo/video editing or extensive work where a better resolution is needed while away from the desk, so the lower resolution shouldn't be a determining factor.

Head-on at full brightness, the details of the display appear good enough for getting regular work tasks done. The horizontal viewing angles aren't that good, however, and start to distort images about 5-10 degrees off-center.Dell XPS 13 notebook , The vertical viewing angles are much better; images don't begin to distort until about 25 degrees off center.

The contrast ratio is average to low--we measured it at 196:1 with a peak luminance of 149 nits in the center.Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop , This notebook displays acceptable color contrast for what it will primarily be used for.

The 2560p has three speaker grilles, located on the front of the notebook. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop ,The audio is above average for a notebook of this size with a good range of volume at the high, middle and low levels. At a high volume the 2560p should be able to project audio out adequately for a presentation or training. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,At high levels the audio still sounds clear without sounding muffled or distorted.

Although, we had a few problems with the the location of the speakers. hp dv7 ,When the speakers are set on the front edge of the notebook instead of near the top of the keyboard, sound doesn't reach the ears as well because the audio doesn't project outward as it should. The placement also allowed me to feel the audio being played on the palmrests at higher volume levels. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,It's extremely distracting to feel the vibrations of the speakers when audio is playing; even in the middle volume range the speakers create subtle but noticeable vibrations through the palmrests.

The HP EliteBook 2560p has a Chiclet-style keyboard with extra spacing between the keys to help with key flow and travel. The keys are flat and have a textured feel to them. Key travel and throw are excellent; it's generally very easy to type with and is a quite comfortable experience. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,The support structure in the chassis prevents the keyboard from flexing under heavy typing pressure.

There are many keyboard features included with the 2560p. The first is a keyboard light located above the display; click the lightbulb button once to open it for use in dark rooms where there either isn't any light available or in situations where you don't want to bother the person next to you. Dell XPS 13 notebook ,It's small, but it is bright enough to lend a hand in dark places.Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop , Other features include a pointstick in the center of the keyboard, Wi-Fi, browser launch and mute quick keys in the upper-right, and a fingerprint reader on the bottom-right.

The only complaint I have about the keyboard is that the page up, page down, end, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop ,and home keys are set on the up/down and left/right arrows. Users must press the function key to use them, which may be a turn-off for frequent users of them.

The Synaptics touchpad is quite small--meaning if you want to move the cursor from one end of the screen to the other, it'll take more time than it usually does (even if the pointer speed is set to very fast). Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop ,The surface of the touchpad is very smooth and creates an enjoyable experience that will still be enjoyable even when there's moisture on your fingers.Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop , The size of the touchpad is an issue, but if you turn the pointer speed up it shouldn't be a big issue. That being said, the touchpad is above average for notebooks of this size because of its texture; it improves its ease of use.

Useful Notebook HP ProBook 5330m Review

The HP ProBook line of business notebooks has always attempted the meet the needs of businesses and consumers alike. The new HP ProBook 5330m looks like the perfect solution if you want a powerful, aluminum-wrapped laptop for work and play but can't afford a MacBook Pro.Dell Latitude E5530 laptop , Is it possible to find a lust-worthy business laptop for $899 or less? Keep reading to find out.

Let's be honest. Anyone who thinks the new HP ProBook 5330m wasn't designed to directly compete with the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is likely suffering from some type of delusion. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 laptop ,The 13.3-inch ProBook 5330m combines all the aluminum-clad beauty of the MacBook Pro with the Windows-based business features of the HP Elitebook laptops.

The 5330m is less than 1-inch thin (if you don't count the rubber feet on the bottom of the notebook), Dell Latitude E5530 laptop ,features a dual-tone color scheme, brushed aluminum chassis and backlit keyboard and is HP's first business notebook to offer "Beats Audio" with Dell Latitude E5530 laptop ,software-enhanced audio playback over the built-in speakers and the earphone jack. The ProBook 5330m features a 13.3-inch anti-glare display (1366x768) and second-generation Intel Core i-series processors, including the dual-core i3 and i5 variants. It does not have an internal optical drive but weighs only 4.0 lbs.

The design is a quantum leap over most of the previous HP ProBook laptops --Dell Latitude E5530 laptop , which are mostly just low-cost alternatives to the enterprise-class HP EliteBook line. The 5330m gives you the durability of aluminum construction combined with an underside made of magnesium alloy and covered in rubberized black paint similar to what you'll find on the Lenovo ThinkPad line of business-rugged notebooks.

Overall, the build is exceptionally strong for a notebook that has a starting price of just $799. At first glance the build and design has a lot of drool-worthy elements for both IT geeks and average computer users.Dell Latitude E5530 laptop , Of course, you can't have everything on a budget.

Most notebooks designed for business have an impressive array of ports so you can connect your laptop to any number of devices. Unfortunately, HP didn't include that many ports since the ProBook 5330m was designed for budget-conscious businesses and consumers. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 laptop ,Of course, you also don't get a built-in DVD drive.Dell Latitude E5530 laptop , What you do get are two USB 2.0 ports (three if you count the eSATA/USB 2.0 port), Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, an SD card reader and a headset jack.

Gone are the days of ExpressCard expansion slots, FireWire or dedicated microphone and headphone jacks. HP decided to offer HDMI on the 5330m rather than DisplayPort since more consumers will likely connect their notebook to consumer-grade monitors or HDTVs. Dell Latitude E5530 laptop ,The only connection I'm disappointed isn't here is a USB 3.0 port. USB 3.0 is the new USB standard and we're seeing more and more external storage and accessories take advantage of the faster speeds offered by this port.Dell Latitude E5530 laptop , I understand that HP was aiming for a street price of $899 or less, but this 5330m should have come with USB 3.0.

The HP ProBook 5330m has a 13.3-inch HD anti-glare 720p (1366x768) display with LED backlighting. HP isn't offering any alternative screen options at the time of this writing.Dell Latitude E5530 laptop , Most of our editors agree that higher resolutions of 1600x900 and 1920x1080 are preferable on larger screens, but 1366x768 is probably the maximum about of resolution you want to pack onto a 13-inch screen ... assuming you actually care about reading text. Dell Latitude E5530 laptop ,Of course, you can always connect a larger, higher resolution display to the 5330m via either the VGA port or HDMI.

The biggest advantage of the anti-glare (matte) screen is that it helps reduce reflections and makes the screen usable outdoors under direct sunlight.Lenovo ThinkPad W520 laptop , I really have to praise HP for doing this. Yes, glossy screens have better contrast and usually better color saturation, but laptops are made to be mobile ... which means people sometimes use them outdoors.Lenovo ThinkPad W520 laptop , I wish more modern notebooks came with anti-glare screens as standard.

Viewing angles are pretty average: Colors and brightness appear good from straight-on or when viewing from the sides,Lenovo ThinkPad W520 laptop , but tilt the screen forward or back more than 5 degrees and you'll start to notice color distortion and inversion. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 laptop ,The contrast ratio is average to low--we measured it at 201:1 with a peak luminance of 152 nits in the center. This notebook's display is fine for working in Microsoft Office watching the occasional movie but you'll probably want to connect an external display if you're doing color-critical work.

HP borrowed the Beats Audio processing from its consumer notebooks and put it into the new ProBook 5330m to give this laptop better sound. Indeed, the stereo speakers on the 5330m do sound a little better than the typical micro-sized speakers found on notebooks designed for small and medium businesses. HP Pavilion g6 notebook ,However, there's only so much that Beats Audio can do with two speakers that are smaller than the size of a dime.

The biggest problem we have with the audio performance is the location of the speakers. Both speakers are located on the bottom front edge of the notebook instead of near the top of the keyboard or next to the screen.HP Pavilion g6 notebook , As a result, sound isn't directed up and toward the user. In fact, if you're using the 5330m as a "laptop" then the sound is muffled against your legs. HP Pavilion g6 notebook ,Similarly, if you decide to use the notebook on your bed then the sound will likewise be suppressed. That said, if you use the 5330m on a desk the audio will "bounce" off the hard surface of the desk and you'll be able to hear it fine.

The HP ProBook 5330m has a Chiclet-style keyboard with extra spacing between the keys to help prevent typos on a physically smaller laptop like a 13-inch notebook. HP Pavilion g6 notebook ,The keys are flat and have a textured feel to them. Key travel and throw are excellent; it's generally very easy to type with and is a quite comfortable experience.HP Pavilion g6 notebook , The support structure in the chassis prevents the keyboard from flexing under heavy typing pressure. Thankfully, HP included dedicated page up, page down, end, and home keys on the right hand side of the keyboard.

As you can see in the images above, HP gave the 5330m a backlit keyboard to make typing easier in dark environments like a meeting room during a PowerPoint presentation or when you're on an evening flight. HP Pavilion g6 notebook ,My only complaint about the backlit keyboard is that there is a significant amount of light "bleed" around each key. This helps with overall visibility in dark rooms, HP Pavilion g6 notebook ,but it can also be disruptive at times. I wish HP either deduced the adjusted the edges of the keys to block excess light or made the keyboard backlighting adjustable. As it is now, you can only turn the keyboard backlight on or off (you can't tweak the brightness to your liking).

Considering that the 5330m is obviously "inspired" by the Apple MacBook Pro,HP Pavilion g6 notebook , I am a little surprised that the Synaptics touchpad is so small. It's larger than the touchpad on the HP EliteBook 2560p, but it's not large enough to be as "convenient" as the touchpad on the MacBook Pro. HP Pavilion g6 notebook ,The surface of the touchpad is very smooth and easy to use even if your fingertips are moist from holding a beverage. The dedicated left and right touchpad buttons are fine with soft, cushioned clicks.

Great Notebook Dell Latitude E6420 Review

The Dell Latitude E6420 offers an impressive array of options from discrete graphics and backlit keyboard to multitouch display and a 256GB SSD.Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook ,Just be prepared to pay for all of the best options if you want a real powerhouse.

The Dell Latitude E6420 is a good-performing 14-inch business notebook with stellar build quality and a lot of neat options. Users can configure the notebook to have a multitouch display, a fast Intel quad-core processor, discrete-class (higher-end) graphics, Dell Vostro V131 laptop ,up to 4GB of memory, and a 256GB capacity solid state drive.

The Dell Latitude E6420 is encased in Dell's business-rugged, MIL-STD 810G-tested Tri-Metal casing just like the E6420's little sister, the Latitude E6320. The "tri-metal" comes from a anodized aluminum display lid, reinforced steel in the hinges, and magnesium alloy in the chassis and frame Dell Vostro V131 laptop , The notebook also has a zinc alloy latch, a spill resistant keyboard, and an LCD seal to help prevent scratches and bumps.

All of that extra metal and thought the designers put into its construction indeed makes it very durable.HP EliteBook 8770w laptop , When we pressed down on the chassis and around the palm rest, it didn't budge. When we bent the lid of the display around the thick screen bezel, it did budge just a bit - but it was barely noticeable, and wasn't noticeable enough to create any ripples across the display. Dell Vostro V131 laptop , The reinforced steel hinges are also very sturdy; we don't suppose they'll give users any problems whatsoever. The Dell Latitude E6420 is very durable for its class.

The notebook is a looker, too - it appears very professional and stylish. It has smooth matte surfaces brushed with what Dell calls a "360 bumper" for extra protection against scratches. Dell Vostro V131 laptop , When we tried to scratch the surface, it chipped away a little bit, but no scratch marks showed up. The lid looks pretty neat, too; with Dell's signature logo across the middle.

The E6420 can be upgraded slightly. After removing seven screws, you can remove the base cover and gain access to the hard drive, memory, Bluetooth card, and network cards. It can be upgraded with up to 8GB of memory. Dell Vostro V131 laptop ,We mentioned in our Latitude E6320 review that the screws were particularly hard to remove; they weren't as difficult to remove in the E6420.

The Latitude E6420 has a good port selection, and is really only notably lacking a USB 3.0 port on our unit. There is a USB 3.0 module option, but you'd have to pay a little extra to include it. Other than that, the notebook comes equipped with HDMI and VGA connectors, 5-in-1 card reader, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, ExpressCard, and a SmartCard Reader (optional). The notebook is equipped with an 8X DVD optical drive at no extra cost, but the 8X DVD+/-RW costs $50 more. Dell Vostro V13 1 laptop , There's also a dock connector at the bottom so users can have access to even more ports and features if they purchase a dock.

Our E6420 review unit has a 14-inch 720p (1366x768) glossy LED display with an added bonus of a two-finger multitouch touchscreen. The multitouch screen is optional and can be added for an extra $99. Dell Vostro V131 laptop ,It could be a handy option for users who need to do some light drawing on their displays or want the convenience of touching the screen to select items or drag them around. Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook ,We found that the multitouch works well and is quite responsive.

The display reaches a peak of 200 NIT brightness, which means it's about average - not too bright and not incredibly dark. We measured the contrast ratio and found that it's on the low side, at about 138:1. Since the multitouch option was enabled on our notebook, the display is glossy; which means that it will be harder to use while in bright-lit office conditions because of the screen being so reflective. HP EliteBook 8770w laptop ,When we moved the display, back images got blurred pretty quickly at around 5-10 degrees off center, and when we move it forward it inverts at about the same distance off center. When moved to the right or left, images invert about 40 degrees off center. HP EliteBook 8770w laptop ,Three or so people will be able to view the notebook fine if seated next to one another, but it'll be harder to see the display if you're standing up or bending it back at all.

The notebook has amazing audio...I am thoroughly impressed.Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook , While the audio on business notebooks usually gets overlooked, the IDT high-def sound on this notebook did not. It gets extremely loud at 100 percent and reaches great highs and lows without sounding distorted or muffled. Users will definitely be able to use the notebook for presentations in a decently sized presentation room. Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook ,The only reason you'd need to buy external speakers is if you need to broadcast the sound across a very large room.

The keyboard is a mix between a Chiclet and a traditional-styled keyboard. The keys are flatter but are raised a bit and curved for an easier typing experience. Personally, the keyboard on the E6420 is one of my favorites so far.HP EliteBook 8770w laptop , It's extremely comfortable to use, provides great feedback (typos should be at an all-time minimum), and the keys don't make much noise at all when pressed. Moreover, it looks really nice too - the soft black keys and orange outline around it add a nice touch. The only complaint we have is due to the surface,HP EliteBook 8770w laptop , if there's any oil on your hands you might end up leaving a trace of grease after using it. There is also a backlit keyboard option.

The multi-touch Alps Electric touchpad is also very nice. It's just the right size and has a responsive matte surface area. Even with moisture on your fingers, the touchpad works just fine. Moreover, the four physical click buttons make only a slight noise that isn't at all annoying.HP EliteBook 8770w laptop ,Dell also designed its own software to enable, disable or change multitouch gestures and button options.

HP Pavilion dm4 laptop Review

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition is a multimedia notebook with a slim form factor. HPdm4 is marketing the dm4 with a Beats Audio theme and with an emphasis on its affordability and ability to offer decent performance.

The first thing you'll notice about the 14-inch HP Pavilion dm4 is its Beats Audio theme, because you can't miss it.Sony VAIO S , The display cover sports the familiar red and black "b" that's designed to look like an earbud, the keys on the keyboard are oddly covered in red, and the rest of the notebook is a deep shade of black. Sony VAIO S ,The design is attractive, but the matte surfaces will pick up finger prints and dust very easily - keep a microfiber cloth handy because you'll be cleaning it often. HP Pavilion dm4 ,The form factor is slim and lightweight at 13.30 x 8.85 x 0.96~1.27 inches and 4.33 pounds.

Build quality is questionable in some places and decent in others. The display bends easily at the corners; in fact, the alloys it was constructed with bends so easily that it's very worrisome. Sony VAIO S ,If you press down on the display cover, though, it doesn't budge much. The entire chassis is built thick and solid - it doesn't budge at all even when we press down heavily.Sony VAIO S , The surfaces are also nice and soft to the touch, but despite that, they have a scratch-resistant sealant and won't mark up even after extensive use.

Getting the bottom panels off of this notebook proved to be tricky.Sony VAIO T , All of the screws are under another panel (as in, none of

them are on the outside). For example, you must remove the battery to have access to the screws to get to the wireless card and memory,Sony VAIO S , and under that panel you must remove the screws there to get to the hard drive. If you didn't consult a manual you might just figure it's impossible to upgrade the notebook. Anyhow, the wireless card, RAM and hard drive can all be replaced.Sony VAIO S , The notebook fits up to 16GB-1333 DDR3 memory.

The HP Pavilion dm4 has a decent port selection. Included is a 6-in-1 memory card reader (MS, MSP, MMC, SD, SDHC, xD), HDMI and VGA ports for hooking it up to an HDTV or external monitor,Sony VAIO S , and two SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports. Even though there are two USB 3.0 ports, there are still on three USB ports altogether - whereas at least four is the norm for mainstream notebooks.



Our review unit has a 14.0-inch, HD+ anti-glare display with LED backlighting and a screen resolution of 1600 x 900. The display is available in another resolution as well, 720p (1366 x 768). It currently costs about $100 more to customize the dm4 with the 900p display.Sony VAIO S , The display has its ups and downs. For one, the resolution on our review unit is good and the clarity and LED backlighting is bright and clear. However, the contrast ratio is quite low - we measured it at 164:1 - so colors will appear washed out. Sony VAIO S ,When you view the display from above or below the viewing angles are very narrow and images begin to invert only a couple of degrees off-center. Sony VAIO T ,Colors and images don't invert as easily when you view the notebook from the left or right of it, though - they're actually really decent. Even at about 50 degrees you can still easily see the picture.

HP claims that the dm4 will deliver higher quality audio out of your earbuds/headphones than most other notebooks.Sony VAIO S , That was the main marketing point of the dm4. We tested this claim out by playing the same three songs (using the same music program and the same earbuds) Sony VAIO S ,on the dm4 and then on an older Dell Latitude E6410 business notebook.

And boy, was there a difference in quality. Using the earbuds on my Latitude E6420 ,feels subpar compared to the dm4; the little nuances and sound effects that earbuds usually don't pick up on are most definitely heard with the dm4. The HP Pavilion dm4 may very well single-handedly make that $200 pair of headphones you bought null and void. Before hearing how great the dm4's audio was, I personally would have cringed at a statement that bold. Sony VAIO S ,We also noticed that while using the earbuds with the Dell Latitude there was faint humming noise close to the sound of static, but while using them with the dm4 that same humming isn't present. It looks like HP really was telling the truth about the dm4's audio quality. Sony VAIO S ,We're very impressed.

The dm4 has a full-sized Chiclet-style keyboard. The keys are flat, square, and spaced apart to help with key throw. The first thing you'll notice about the keyboard, though, won't be that it's Chiclet-style;Sony VAIO S , it'll be that the keys are all a deep red color to match the Beats audio theme. Even though it might look nice, that might have been a bad move by the HP dm4 design team. Unless you plan on configuring your dm4 with a backlit keyboard, you won't be able to see the keys very well.

For those who can type without looking down that's probably not a huge issue, but most of us still need to look down to see the FN keys, the home/page up/page down keys, and etcetera. Something about the keyboard being this dark red color really doesn't sit right with me.Sony VAIO S , We did notice that if you're sitting in the dark and the keyboard backlight is turned off, you can't see the keyboard at all. If you're seriously considering purchasing the dm4, we highly suggest paying a little extra to configure it with a keyboard backlight. Latitude E6420 ,Using it all the time will drain battery life quicker, though. The keyboard backlight can be turned on and off easily by pressing the f5 key. Sony VAIO S ,The red backlighting on our review unit was good - it's bright, and actually lights up both the letters and the keys (underneath the keyboard).

Besides that, typing on the dm4 is very pleasant.Sony VAIO S , The keys are soft and sensitive, Latitude E6420 ,which makes for a comfortable typing experience. It has decent key throw too; we didn't make many typos. Typing isn't very noisy, either, which is nice.

The Synaptics touchpad is pretty standard. We like the matte surface of it, which allows for the most important thing - excellent usability. It has great cursor movement and it's a decent size, too.Sony VAIO S , There are two dedicated left and right click buttons.

Our review unit has a really good set of hardware for this price point. The Intel Core i5-2450M dual-core processor just came out in Q1 of this year and can clock 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost (2.5GHz without).Sony VAIO S , And, it has hyper-threading technology to ensure that multi-tasking can be done with ease. HP also regularly runs deals such as "upgrade to 6GB of memory at no extra cost" and hard drive capacity upgrades. With the hardware in our review unit, you'll be able to watch HD video content, multi-task very easily,Sony VAIO S , and have almost the full multimedia experience. One thing you won't be able to do is play many of the latest games with the integrated Intel HD graphics card with no DirectX 11 support - but there is a 1GB AMD Radeon HD 7470M GDDR5 discrete graphics card available if you customize the dm4, which will work a lot better for gaming. The 500GB hard drive included in our setup only has a 5400rpm spin speed but was still able to clock 113.9 MB/s, which isn't so bad. All in all, our review unit provided a "smooth sailing" multimedia experience.

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Toshiba Satellite S875 laptop Review

The Satellite S875 is a solid "traditional" PC but it falls short in terms of the Windows 8 experience.Our first review of a notebook with Windows 8 already installed is here. Is a traditional 17-inch Toshiba Satellite laptop still a good choice with Windows 8?

The Satellite line of notebooks represents the core of Toshiba's consumer PC sales worldwide. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,You can find a Satellite to meet just about any need ranging from budget-priced laptops that are sure to be a common sight in Black Friday sale promotions, to high-performance configurations aimed at users who want powerful processors and graphics at a fair price. The Satellite S875 (and its build-to-order cousin, the Satellite S870) is a 17-inch laptop targeted at consumers who want a big screen without paying big bucks.

On the surface there is little to separate the design of the Satellite S875 from the previous generation of 17-inch Satellite notebooks. The Toshiba design team has "flattened" the screen lid and chassis to help this massive 17-inch notebook look thinner than last year's more rounded Satellite laptops,Lenovo ThinkPad W520 , but overall this PC still has a very traditional look.

The entire machine is constructed of relatively thick plastics and thin plates of aluminum alloy with flat edges and rounded corners. HP EliteBook 8560p ,The screen lid and palm rests are covered in brushed aluminum with an "Ice Blue" finish.Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,However, the quality of the aluminum and finish make it easy to mistakenly identify the material as plastic.

The bottom of the chassis is covered in matte black plastic that is reasonably thick and should provide adequate protection in the event of a fall, Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,but the keyboard surround and the screen bezel are covered in glossy black plastic that acts like a magnet for fingerprints and dust. In other words,HP EliteBook 8560p , your new laptop won't look clean for very long.

Getting back to the screen lid for a moment, the display has a strong backing which prevents any distortion from showing on the screen when pressure is applied to the lid. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,Unfortunately, the hinges either have slightly too much tension or not enough because the screen "wobbles" for several seconds every time you move the screen forward or back.HP EliteBook 8560p , It's not uncommon for most laptop screens to wobble slightly after you move the screen but this particular screen lid seemed to do it more than others.

On a more happy note, the Satellite S875 is simple to upgrade thanks to a single access panel on the bottom of the chassis. Remove one screw and you can replace the RAM, hard drive, or wireless card with very little effort.

The S875 includes a reasonable number of ports but doesn't take advantage of the extra space provided by a 17-inch screen size. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,This notebook includes two USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports, and one additional USB 2.0 port,Lenovo ThinkPad W520 , but that's the same number of USB ports you'll find on a 13-inch or 14-inch laptop. The S875 also includes HDMI and VGA out as well as a memory card reader for editing the images from your digital camera. This basic configuration comes with a DVD drive but more expensive configurations are available with a Blu-ray drive. All image descriptions are listed from left to right.



The Satellite S875's 17.3-inch HD+ (1600 x 900) display looks pretty average and in this case first impressions are pretty accurate.The glossy surface helps deliver good contrast and color saturation but also creates reflections/glare from nearby lights or bright sunlight. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,The LED backlight is reasonably bright; it's certainly good enough for indoor use but not quite bright enough to overpower reflections from the sun when you use the laptop Lenovo ThinkPad SL410 , outdoors on a bright day.

Viewing angles are narrow as expected for a TN-type panel like this one; Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,colors wash out quickly when viewed from above and appear inverted when viewed from below.

A bigger issue with this particular notebook is that Windows 8 practically SCREAMS for a touchscreen interface and this notebook uses a standard screen. Granted, you can use the gesture-enabled touchpad or an external USB touchpad if you want to use various gestures to control Windows 8 ... it's just that unless you can actually touch the tiles on then screen the Windows 8 interface just feels "a bit" out of place. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,Our attitudes might change after a few more months using Windows 8 on production-level machines, but right now we prefer Windows 8 on touchscreen PCs.

The two stereo speakers located above the keyboard and beneath the hinges deliver loud and clear sound and are better than what you get with most laptop speakers. There is little bass since the S875 doesn't have a built-in subwoofer,Lenovo ThinkPad W520 , but the frequency range is still good. We're glad that Toshiba puts the speakers on the top deck of the chassis so that sound is directed up and toward the user ... HP EliteBook 8560p , most notebook manufacturers put speakers in the bottom front edge of the chassis which creates muffled audio when the notebook is used as a "laptop."

The S875 has a nice full-size keyboard with separate numeric keypad.Lenovo ThinkPad W520 , This keyboard is a "Chiclet" or island-style keyboard which has added space between each key to help prevent typos. The keys are completely flat and have a matte surface which doesn't show fingerprintsor dust like the glossy plastic which surrounds the keys.Lenovo ThinkPad W520 , The keys have a light cushioned feel with quiet key action and key travel (the distance between pressed and un-pressed positions) is very good. The support frame under the keyboard is very firm and there is minimal flex under heavy typing pressure.

The S875's touchpad is big with a smooth, matte surface providing good traction for fingertips.Lenovo ThinkPad W520 , The two dedicated touchpad buttons have a metalic finish and a texture with a pattern similar to the pattern printer on the touchpad surface. The buttons produce a faint "Ca-Chunk" sound when you press them but it isn't as loud as some of the touchpad buttons on older Toshiba laptops. Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ,There is no dedicated touchpad on/off button located directly above the touchpad but the F5 key is setup to function as a touchpad on/off key if you want to use an external mouse or multitouch touchpad.

ASUS ZENBOOK UX32VD laptop Review

The ZENBOOK UX32 offers great looks and great performance that only suffer from a few issues.It might look like a MacBook Air from a distance, but the ASUS ZENBOOK UX32VD is a 13-inch Ultrabook running Windows 7 and packed with NVIDIA graphics for some surprising power.

In much the same way that ASUS was the first company to release a netbook -- the original Eee PC -- this Taiwanese-based PC giant was one of the first laptop manufacturers to announce a premium Ultrabook in the form of the ASUS ZENBOOK series last year. While the original ZENBOOK UX21 and UX31 were loaded with 11-inch and 13-inch screens respectively, HP ENVY dv7 ,both were criticized for not offering enough in the way of premium performance or features other than the thin-and-light metal construction.

ASUS promises to exceed expectations with the ZENBOOK UX32VD; a more powerful Ultrabook with a 13-inch display featuring a 1080p resolution and powered by both an Intel Core i7-3517U dual-core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M discrete graphics.

The ZENBOOK series of Ultrabooks places an emphasis on premium design and aesthetics and it shows. Constructed almost entirely of aluminum, the UX32 is solid and durable without being too heavy.HP ENVY dv7 , You can't get the chassis to flex no matter how hard you try to twist it and the lid is almost as strong. While we're on the subject of the lid, the spiral etched design is surprisingly cool.HP ENVY dv7 , It made our editors think of the ripples in a pond or the grooves on a vinyl record.

The edges of the notebook are tapered to give the impression the notebook is even thinner than it actually is. HP ENVY dv7 ,All corners and edges of the notebook are smoothed and rounded ... very much like the MacBook Air.

While some Ultrabooks are thin without being particularly attractive, ASUS has figured out how to combine the better elements of a thin-and-light design with premium materials and finish.

We won't spend forever and a day discussing the lack of accessibility on the bottom of the UX32. The unfortunate fact of life with most Ultrabooks is that there are no easy-access panels for upgrading the RAM,HP ENVY dv7 , hard drive or servicing the Wi-Fi card. The reason for that is most manufacturers have to use non-standard connectors on the motherboard (or even solder the RAM into place) in order to make components fit inside the razor-thin chassis. Just understand that you aren't expected to upgrade this PC.

Another casualty of being so thin is a lack of ports; all of the side ports reside near the back of the UX32 because the chassis is too thin at the front to support even a SD card slot. The old UX31 lacked a standard HDMI port, but ASUS was smart enough to include one on the new UX32. All picture descriptions are left to right.

ASUS includes two port adapters to offset the lack of ports on the sides of the UX32: a USB-to-Ethernet and mini-VGA-to-VGA adapter. Both of these adapter "dongles" are relatively small and won't take up much space in a briefcase or school backpack. ASUS is even kind enough to include a small carrying case for the adapters. That being said, these dongles are probably the first thing you're going to lose. HP ENVY dv7 ,While I would only cry about the loss of VGA if I needed to connect to an old projector, my productivity on the road would be seriously impacted if my laptop didn't have Ethernet; not every hotel has reliable Wi-Fi.

The new 13.3-inch ASUS ZENBOOK UX32VD features the best screen option of any ZENBOOK to date; an IPS display with 1920 x 1080 resolution and a glossy screen surface.HP ENVY dv7 , Although the screen is a "glossy" screen it lacks the terrible second glossy layer that many notebooks have over the screen itself. That second glossy layer always adds reflections and glare under bright lights ... so we're very happy that the glossy screen isn't "too glossy" on the UX32VD.

However, be aware that the lower-priced ZENBOOK UX32A features a 13.3-inch display with a mediocre 1366 x 768 resolution. The 1080p screen on the UX32VD means less scrolling is necessary on web pages and documents since more content is viewable on the screen at one time. ASUS S400CA ,A high resolution is a must for maximum productivity.

Viewing angles on the display are excellent thanks to the fact that this is an IPS-type panel; colors won't distort if you tilt the screen forward or back slightly. If you haven't already figured it out, this is a phenominal display. ASUS S400CA ,Since the screen is just 13.3 inches in size the 1080p resolution means the pixel density is very good. Granted, it isn't quite as impressive as the Retina Display on the newest Apple MacBook Pro ... but it isn't that far behind.

When it comes to audio, ASUS once again partnered with well-known audio company Bang & Olufsen to engineer a sound system that makes the most of the limited space inside this Ultrabook. ASUS S400CA ,The speakers are actually located on the left and right sides of the chassis right underneath the palm rest area.

The sound is therefor pushed down rather up toward the user.ASUS S400CA , This is fine if you're working on a desk because the audio quite literally "bounces" off the desk and creates an almost surround sound effect. Unfortunately, if you're using the UX32V as a "laptop" then the sound is largely muffled by your lap.

As long as you're working on a hard surface the design works well and the speakers don't suffer from the "tinniness" that is characteristic of small notebook speakers.ASUS S400CA , There is a hint of bass and the speakers get loud without too much distortion. In short, the built-in speakers are fine for listening to music or streaming video in a quiet room. Any similarly sized Ultrabook would have a hard time delivering better audio from speakers this small.

As with the previous UX31, the keyboard on the UX32 makes a noble effort to deliver a premium keyboard experience but it falls a bit short ... quite literally. While this Chiclet-style keyboard has full-sized keys with a wonderfully smooth yet grippy surface,UX32 the bad new is the keys themselves lack tactile feedback (the difference you feel between a pressed versus an unpressed key).ASUS S400CA , Of course, the shallow depth of each key press is the result of the UX32 being so thin. On the brighter side, the thin chassis also helps keep the keyboard surface firm so the UX32 doesn't suffer from keyboard flex under heavy typing pressure.

Additonally, the UX32 features LED backlighting behind the keyboard to help you see what you're typing in a dark room or on a dimmly lit flight. The keyborad backlight is indeed a nice feature,ASUS S400CA , but we would have been even happier if there was one brighter setting than the current maximum brightness.

The oversized touchpad has a smooth surface. This is a multitouch clickpad; press down anywhere to produce a click. As with many ASUS-branded notebooks we've reviewed, the touchpad on the UX32 was pretty bad out of the box. Sensitivity was lacking, some of the multitouch gestures wouldn't work and sometimes even the left and right mouse clicks didn't register.ASUS S400CA , Thankfully, all of these problems were corrected soon after we received our review unit thanks to a touchpad driver update that was sent via the preinstalled ASUS Live Update software.

Speaking of which,HP ENVY dv7 , the Live Update software is setup to automatically download and install updates as soon as the notebook is connected to a network. Unfortunately, most of these updates require multiple restarts and you cannot stop the update once the process begins.ASUS S400CA , If you want more control over the updates then you'll need to open the Live Update control panel and turn off the automatic updates. Just be aware that the touchpad driver is one update you REALLY want to install.