laptop computers reviewed

As soon as Mr. Jobs pulled that MacBook Air out of the manilla envelope, gadget geeks everywhere started swooning. This ridiculously thin ultra-portable laptop has attracted an enormous amount of attention from everyone – Mac fan, or not.

But is all the fuss worth it? Here’s an overview of the basic features:

- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 1.6GHz
- 2GB DDR2 SDRAM
- 80GB 42000rpm hard drive
- 13.3” TFT widescreen (1280×800)
- Intel GMA X3100 graphics with 144MB of shared RAM
- AirPort Extreme WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
- iSight webcam
- USB 2.0 port – micro DVI
- Lithium-polymer battery
- MagSafe power adaptor

Weighing in at a hair over 3lbs., it is probably every traveler’s dream. The sleek, clean design with its rounded corners and polished surfaces is hard to resist. It seems so paper-thin and fragile, although it is supposed to be durable (too chicken to do the drop test) and it feels very much so.

The display is excellent – nice vibrant colors and great backlighting. Absolutely nothing to complain about there. The keyboard is a little funky, although relatively comfortable, it misses some of the usual keys like ‘Home’ and ‘End’ which have to be accessed through the function key.

The touchpad is huge and has the cool multi-touch capabilities of the iPhone and iPod Touch – you know, the finger pinching, spreading, circling motions for zooming and rotating items. Once a novelty, this feature is now available on the 2008 edition of the MacBook Pro and will probably become standard on every Apple computer before long.

There’s not much in the way of Ports, but what could you expect? Only one USB port, no Ethernet port, no FireWire, no Mic port, no SD card slot and no Express-Card slot. Apple is far ahead of average consumers here - they need to keep in mind that not everyone can afford WiFi enabled cameras and devices just yet.

What there is – AC power port, one USB port and a micro DVI-out port. The one (yes, one) speaker is hardly worth mentioning, but obviously not intended to be a stellar feature and frankly something most travelers don’t care about – noise-canceling headphones are the thing.

Having no optical drive is something that could be hard to get used to even though it has the ability to transfer data wirelessly - but keep in mind that you will always need to have another computer, or external device, to access.

Battery life claims as any regular laptop user knows, are all relative. You might be able to squeak 4+ hours out of it, with all the extras (Bluetooth, WiFi) off and the screen brightness decreased substantially, but who uses their laptop that way?

The fact that you cannot access the battery is a major drawback. It is sealed into the unit much like the iPod, so there’s no ability to swap out a spare battery. Personally, the battery is the one thing replaced most on just about every laptop.

Prices start at a little over $1700 – it seems a bit steep, since it realistically cannot be the sole computer for many. But if you are in the market for an ultra-portable laptop, if its looks mean everything to you, and you’ve got money to burn - this is your baby. If you take a few minutes to compare what you get for you money in either the MacBook or MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air, the novelty may wear off quickly.

Tags: Small Laptop Computers by admin
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If you are shopping around and comparing small laptop computers, take a look at Lenovo’s 3000 series. I purchased one just for travel purposes (and as an alternate/back-up).

Here’s the specs on the one I bought: Model - Lenovo 3000 V100 0763.

 It’s features include:

Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 2 GHz with Centrino Mobile Technology

Screen Size: 12.1? VibrantView TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )

Memory: 1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max)

Hard Drive: 100 GB

Optical Drive: DVD-Writer

Networking: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth

Weight: 4 lbs. (yes, I could have gone lighter if I could live without the DVD writer, but 4 lbs is pretty darn light!)

Included Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Warranty: 1 year limited

The web cam is one feature I did not choose, which I regret.Anyway, this computer is loaded with features and has been a joy to travel with, weighing in at only 4 lbs. (even the power adaptor is lightweight) and has a battery life of just over 4 hours. Although it is not much to look at, this computer’s performance more than makes up for its lackluster appearance.  The most important features to me when comparing small laptop computers was weight, battery life and wireless capability (bluetooth), as well as the most power I could get at a reasonable price. Since most of the programs I use are Windows XP based, a Mac notebook was not considered.

The choice came down to this model and the Lenovo ThinkPad X60 which weighed in at 3.5 lbs and had a battery life of up to 7 hours, and a number of other features that were nice, but features I could live without, considering the price difference of about $600.

The integrated fingerprint reader seems to be the only inconsistent feature in my opinion, as it seems to be very sensitive and will not work if your finger is dry, or overly moist. When it fails to read the fingerprint as it was originally submitted (after three tries), it prompts you to enter your password manually.

The keyboard is full sized and comfortable, unlike many of the other small laptops I tested, which felt cramped for space. The touch pad is okay, although I usually use a wireless mouse. Above the keyboard are external volume controls and a button to start Lenovo’s MediaNow application, along with a button for the Lenovo Care management and help utility.

The two speakers located at the front of the computer sound tinny, weak and hollow, which is not a problem for me personally, since I usually work with the sound off, or use my Bose . The Wi-Fi on/off switch on the right side of the computer is very handy.

The processing speed is great, even with all of the multitasking that I usually do, it has run very fast, smooth, cool and quiet. Since purchasing the computer I have taken it on numerous cross-country flights, several shorter commutes, along with a number of road trips. The battery had plenty of juice every time, even on the cross-country flights.

There have been no hardware issues and the performance of this small laptop has been nothing short of solid. Yes, there are lighter laptops on the market, but for the price ($1200), it was a bargain. The manufacturer’s warranty is only one year, so if you are into extended warranties – you might consider one.

Tags: Small Laptop Computers by admin
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Okay, so you’ve decided to buy a laptop because of the convenience of its portability. Keep in mind that there are many laptops on the market, and you will need to review their specs carefully in order to know if it will suit your particular needs. For instance, there are laptop desktop computers that actually take the place of the old desktop computer, because they contain everything that a normal desktop PC might have and more, however because of their weight class, they are not the practical choice for travelers. Following are a few quick tips to consider when shopping for your laptop.

If this computer will be just for traveling and as a secondary computer, you may be able to get away with less memory in consideration for other features you may need instead. This could save you money – just something to think about.

The physical size of the laptop is one of the most important things to consider if you will be traveling often. You may want to look into a laptop that is categorized as an ultra portable. Ultra portable laptops usually weigh less than 4 pounds. Remember that the heavier the laptop is, the more cumbersome it may be when traveling with other luggage. The average weight of most laptops is approximately 6 pounds, but some of the larger laptops can weigh up to 10 pounds or more, which would make traveling with them very inconvenient.

One necessity when traveling with your laptop may be Internet access. Look at laptops equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities. Many of the newer laptops are now equipped with Bluetooth capabilities.

Processing speed is a major consideration and I would suggest buying a laptop with the fastest processing speed you can afford. If you’re doing any sort of multimedia tasking, look for at least 2.0 GHz.

When checking out RAM, I would suggest a minimum of 512 MB. If you plan to store large amount of music or photos you will need more RAM, and if doing any gaming, you’ll need a video card with at least 32 MB of RAM. As far as the hard drive, most people can get by on 20 GB to 40 GB. If you work with spreadsheets, digital photo or video files, consider more.

Battery life is a very important consideration when traveling with your computer. Most laptops use lithium-ion batteries for the longest charge. Keep in mind that if you use high processing speeds and large amounts of RAM, your battery life will be affected. If it is in your budget, you may want to consider purchasing an extra battery.

While were on the subject of battery life, screen size and resolution are a factor. Screen resolutions range from 800 x 600 pixels to 1600 x 1200. You will need to remember that the larger the screen, and the higher the resolution, the quicker the juice will be drained from your battery.

CD and DVD drives are another choice you will need to make. Do you really need one installed on your computer, or will an external drive to plug-in only when necessary serve your purpose? Remember, this may add unnecessary weight to your computer.

Last, whether you plan to purchase your laptop computer through an online company, or a store, be sure to check them out in person first. Check out the display models to see if you are comfortable with such attributes as the weight, display, processing speed and keyboard size. Keyboard size can really vary on the smaller laptops and trying it out in person, can really make a difference. You will be happy with your purchase if you take the time to decide what you really need, do your research and compare prices.

Tags: Small Laptop Computers by admin
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