The Asus G73JH

By Ely | Published: April 4, 2010

The G73 is the latest gaming notebook in ASUS’ successful G-series product line. This 17.3-inch monster has a Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and the most powerful mobile video card available, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870. Read on for our take.

ASUS G73JH-A2 has the following specifications:

* 17.3-inch 1080p (1920×1080) display with LED backlighting
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel Core i7-720QM processor (1.6GHz/2.8GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB L3 cache)
* ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 1GB GDDR5 graphics card
* 8GB DDR3-1066 RAM
* Two 500GB 7200RPM hard drives (Seagate Momentus 7200.4/ST9500420AS) (Non-RAID)
* Atheros AR9285 802.11n Wireless LAN adapter
* Built-in Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
* 8X DVD Super Multi drive
* Two-year limited warranty (one year on battery pack) with one year of accidental damage protection
* 8-cell battery pack (14.8V, 5200mAh, 75Wh)
* Weight: 8.5 pounds
* Dimensions: 16.3” (W) x 12.6” (D) x 1.8” (H)
* MSRP: $1,599 (around Php 72,038)

The ASUS G73JH is available as a pre-configured notebook only, though some dealers including XoticPC offer limited customization. Those looking for Blu-ray should check out the G73JH-A1 model, which has the same specifications as our test unit plus a Blu-ray drive for $1,699. (around Php 76,600)

Build and Design
The ASUS G73 is has a “stealth” look, with non-traditional shape with angled surfaces and sharp lines  that is clearly influenced by modern stealth aircraft. . The protruding rear end is especially aggressive with its angled exhaust vents.
The physical size of the G73 is intimidating, even compared to other 17-inch notebooks. The chassis is actually angled upward 5 degrees, which gives the notebook a more assertive feel and helps with ergonomics. The notebook has a rubberized shell, which has a pleasant touch and adds a measure of durability.

The G73 has strong build quality; it feels very solid (and heavy) when being held. The notebook is constructed entirely of thick and good quality plastic. The chassis is very resistant to twisting and surfaces like the palm rests barely flex under pressure. The lid has excellent support from two large and strong display hinges. The panel itself has ample support and twists less than most 17-inch notebooks. Furthermore, no ripples appear on the display when pressure is applied from behind the screen. Overall, the G73 is impressive in both the build quality and design departments.

Screen and Speakers
The G73JH comes with a 17.3-inch LED-backlit screen with a full HD (1920×1080) resolution. The display has a glossy surface that helps make colors more vibrant, but suffers from reflections as a result. The display is, in a word, beautiful. It is very enjoyable to use for gaming and multimedia. Viewing angles are about average; there is little color shift from side to side. However, colors quickly wash out and darken from above and below.

The display has a high-resolution as well, which is appreciated. With a full HD resolution, it’s  easy to view two windows side-by-side without shrinking them too much. The higher resolution also helps bring out the finer details in games and reduces the amount of scrolling necessary while surfing the Web.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The G73 has a full-size keyboard with a separate numeric keypad. The keyboard has a “Chiclet” or island-style keyboard, where the keys are raised above the keyboard surface and have more than usual spacing. The keyboard has a soft, rubbery feel (not a bad thing) and makes typing easy. While some flex is evident when you type and the keyboard could have slightly better support, these two factors do not affect its usability. The tactile feedback is adequate, though could be improved if the keys had a longer throw.

The G73’s keyboard is backlit and looks good in the dark. We like that the keys have a rubberized non-slip finish, which adds durability and makes them more comfortable to use over extended periods of time. The keyboard’s layout around the number pad is somewhat squashed though all keys are more or less in their expected positions. Overall, we like the keyboard and do not have any major qualms with it.

The extra-large touchpad sits slightly off-center to the left of the chassis to line up with the keyboard. It has a much-appreciated matte surface, which is easy to track on regardless of whether fingers are moist or dry. The right side of the touchpad is a dedicated scroll zone however it required an unusual amount of pressure to use. Unfortunately, the touchpad buttons are subpar. While quiet, they are harder to push down than expected, and we don’t like that they are contained under a single piece of plastic.

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Samsung N150

By Elias | Published: March 27, 2010

Bestsellers Netbook today’s Review on Samsung N150 10.1-Inch Black Netbook.The new Samsung N150 features a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, the latest Intel Atom N450 processor, Windows 7 Starter operating system, and up to 7 hours of battery life. This impressive battery-powered performance is possible because overall power consumption is reduced by the energy efficient LED display, optimized processing performance and Samsung’s proprietary Enhanced Battery Life solution.This package contains the Samsung N150, 6-cell rechargeable battery, AC adapter, power cord, printed user manual.

Great for writing e-mail and getting work done while on the go, it sports a 93 percent full-size keyboard for easy typing as well as a webcam for staying in contact via video chats. With the integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to connect to the Internet at home or at hotspots throughout town. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM, a 3-in-1 memory card reader, and three USB 2.0 ports.

Specifications:

Intel Atom N450 Processor (1.66GHz, 667MHz, 512KB L2 Cache)
Genuine Windows 7 Starter Operating System
1GB DDR2 memory
160GB SATA 5400rpm Hard Disk
10.1? WSVGA (1024 x 600) Non-Gloss LED Display
Intel GMA3150 integrated graphics, with shared graphics memory from system resources
Wi-Fi enabled (WLAN 802.11b/g/n)
Wired Ethernet LAN 10/100
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Web Camera with integrated microphone
3 watts Stereo Speakers (1.5 watts x 2) with SRS 3D Sound Effect & HD (High Definition)
3 in 1 Card Reader (SD, SDHC, MMC)
3 x USB 2.0 ports
VGA out for external display
1.24Kg
6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery enabling up to 9 hours usage

Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you’ll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

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Samsung N220 Netbook

By Ely | Published: March 25, 2010

The best and highlighted feature of this laptop is its battery life which is said to be last upto 12 hrs this *Battery life score is based on BatteryMark test scores that will vary based on configuration. The N220 is finished with an ultra-stylish, premium design which lets you express your personality and enjoy a fashionable lifestyle with a distinctive colour, ergonomic design and highest built quality. To reduce the risk of scratches, the robust, scratch-resistant Samsung durable casing is designed to prevent finger marks and is more than capable of withstanding the everyday bumps and knocks of a mobile lifestyle.

Specifications:

Intel Atom N450 processor (1.66Ghz)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 Graphics
Windows 7 Starter Edition
10.1? inch (1024×600 pixels) Display
2GB RAM
250 GB Hard Disk
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth v2.1
Memory Card Reader
Webcam with Mic
6 cell, 5900mAh battery
Up to 11.5 hours of backup
Weight: 1.5kg

If you want something for travel is a great choice thanks to its solid construction very clear and detailed 10.1 “matte display is ideal for outdoor, because it is non-reflective and long battery life.
Touch pad was also good and sensitive, however, given the small size of the natural left and right mouse clickers are a bit fiddely than full-size unit. It also includes advanced communication technologies, including wireless and 802.11bgn and 3G modem (HSPA and WiMAX * *), to provide high-speed Internet access and your data anytime and anywhere.

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Shared Laptop Experiences

By Ely | Published: March 23, 2010

From Sabukotkeamo;

MGA tol, gamit ko neo empriva540svb, 2oo8 ng binili ko to, gamit ko sa programming, grahics design at gaming, laspag na laspag na nga eh, pero ngayon laspag pa rin, haha.. dami ng pakinabang ko dito pero buhay pa rin, normal pa ang dugo,..nasa paggamit nyu lang yan, kung ayaw nyung masira, wag nyong gamitin..ikabinet nyu
oy, check nyo requirements ng mga GAMES na ilalagay nyu kung pasok sa specs ng laptop, minsan kelangan daw may dedicated na video card pero try mo ding iinstall kc nalalaro din yung iba, pwede nyu namang i-ununstall, wag kayong matakot..
payong kaibigan lang mga tol, check nyu muna yung item na binibili nyo bago nyo kunin…wala namang bayad ang testing…kapag nabili nyu na, sa store pa lang subukan nyu na yung yunit, hanapan nyu ng sira, pwede namang palitan yun ng ibang stock, wag kasi kayong excited masyado,
take your time mga tol, di napupulot basta-basta ang pera,
pinaghihirapan yan,
wala sa branding yan o mahal o mura,
mas kawawa nga kayo sa international brands, kc di lang kayo nakapila, abutin kayo ng buwan sa inip,,
kung nababagalan kayo sa service ng neo, eh di mag-APPLY kayo sa kanila para mapabilis, mas madaming service center, mas mabilis, matutulungan nyu pa kapwa nyu INSTEAD na inuudyukan na magsisi sa pagkakabili…

From guru;

Hello everyone!

I am a Neo laptop user and in fact had 2 units of the same brand. The first one was bought last year 2007 and the 2nd one was bought 2009. For the recent unit that i bought, i have already used it in creating movies caught on video camera.

Temperature issues:

Earlier versions of NEO are producing high temperatures which are uncomfortable when placed on our laps. However, the newer batch and models of the NEO brand are not producing much heat and not much of the temperature due to its memory installed. Check your laptop’s memory if it is more than 1gb already and of course check if your laptop is able to accommodate 2gb of memory RAM. It helps a lot when the RAM of your laptop is maximized. It doesn’t stress out the processor when you maximize the memory since some of the tasks will be processed by the processor with a lot of help from the memory RAM. Notice also that the noise produced by the cpu fan will also lessen. It is because the processor is not being utilized fully due to the presence of the higher RAM.

memory RAM:

Any type of laptop having ddr2-types of ram are still prone to having high temperatures on the bottom portion of the laptop and also, consumes much of power. However, newer laptops with the new types of processors and are having ddr3-type have lesser tendency of generating high temperatures.

mouse/track pad pointer motion speed:

To control pointer speeds on your laptop when using either the mouse or touch pad of your laptop, go to control panel then select mouse and click on the pointer options and you will see the level bar that controls the speed of your pointer.

IF anybody here wants to have a high performing laptop,take a look at the frequency of the processor. Example is Core 2 Duo 2.0Mhz. Select the laptop with higher frequencies over 2.0 mhz and i am sure you will love the laptop and spend much time with it. Also, if the laptop includes windows 7 Operating System, that will be helpful also. Make it sure that your hard drive is also partitioned so that the boot time of your unit will also be faster. Remember the maximum memory RAM capability of your laptop and maximize it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences for other readers to know about some laptops specifications and problems. Hope more people share their experiences.

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Dell Vostro V13

By Ely | Published: January 13, 2010

Dell recently introduced a Vostro V13 touted as a business notebook, which is when we looked at the design of this laptop, just enough time with Dell Laptop Adamo 13. V13 model itself using high-quality aluminum that is designed so that the thickness of only 16.5mm and it weighs just 1.59kg.

Like 13 Adamo, Vostro is also using 13 processors with processor choices CULV, Core 2 Duo SU7300, SU3500 Core 2 Solo or Celeron 743. This laptop uses DDR3 RAM up to 4GB, graphics card and Intel GMA 4500MHD already equipped with capacity reaching 500GB 7200RPM hard drive.

Laptop Dell Vostro V13 screen size 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1366 × 768px, is also 5-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard 33mm slot and 1.3 megapixel webcam. Thislaptop has fully supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11n.
The Dell Vostro V13 laptop is now available and retails for $449.00, around P20,000 to P25,000.

Specifications:

Processors

Intel®  CoreTM 2 Duo SU7300 (1.3GHz, 3MB L2 cache) (Ultra Low Voltage)
Intel®  CoreTM 2 Solo SU3500 (1.4GHz, 3MB L2 cache) (Ultra Low Voltage)
Intel®  Celeron 743 (1.2GHz, 1MB L2 cache) (Ultra Low Voltage)

Operating System

Genuine Windows®  7 Home Basic
Genuine Windows®  7 Home Premium 32-Bit
Genuine Windows®  7 Professional 32-Bit
Genuine Windows®  7 Professional 32-Bit with Downgrade Rights Service to Windows®  XP Professional
Genuine Windows Vista®  Business 32-Bit
Genuine Windows Vista®  Home Basic 32-Bit
Ubuntu® Linux®

Memory34

DDR3 SDRAM (1066 MHz) one slot supporting 4GB3 DIMM.

Chipset

Mobile Intel®  GS45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced

Graphics4

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD

Display

13.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD (1366 x 768) Anti-glare

Primary Storage3

7200 rpm SATA up to 500GB1
7200 rpm SATA with Full Disk Encryption 250GB1
Free Fall Sensor on the motherboard Standard

Optical Drives

Optional External 8X DVD+/-RW or Blu-ray Disc

Multimedia

Speaker

Stereo headphone jack
Microphone jack and integrated microphone array
Integrated 1.3 Mega pixel webcam and Dell Webcam Central software

Power

6-cell Lithium Ion sealed

Connectivity

Optional Dell 5540 HSPA Mobile Broadband Module (requires mobile network operator service) (coming soon)
Up to 802.11n wireless module
BluetoothTM  2.1
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 NIC)

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Lenovo x200

By Ely | Published: December 19, 2009

The x200 is the smaller brother to the now infamous x300, and an upgrade to the x61 series of earlier years (best in class for ultraportable as far as were concerned). Although being smaller, and lacking an optical drive, the x200 doesnt seem too tiny nor as thin as the x300, and developing most of its hardships with the battery bay and standard tracking devices.

The x200 is a 12.1 widescreen ultraportable, in which it features the new Montevina platform, (not to be confused with actual Centrino 2 certification as it makes no claim to being certifiedyet) and runs the Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 at 2.4 GHz. It Features a 1066 MHz FSB with a 3mb cache limit and a nice low 25 TDP. Big measurements (although technical) would be the newer FSB and low TDP otherwise, marking a smaller die for the CPU and no increase in cache limit. We cant always win, but its a step in the right direction. Our pre-consumer unit came pretty loaded consulting the ordering screen from Lenovo. It did skimp us on the operating system, only touting Vista basic and WWAN feature, but did allow us an extra gigabyte of RAM, fingerprint reader, 160 GB HDD and Integrated Bluetooth.

The case is standard Lenovo x series styling there is little to no color variations, sticking with its stark black rubber like finish, branding stamped across the base of the LCD lid, which is held to the strong chassis by the now loved/hated steel hinges. There is also suitably efficient LED readouts at the top telling some simple status changes of your unit.

The x200 features the tapered front end, housing the media card reader and LCD release latch. If you seen one x series Lenovo, youve pretty much seen them all as far as styling is concerned. Although Im not flattered by it, it does hold its own for material and minimalists. It is made of the strong magnesium allowing very little flex, and this time around, features two run off points underneath the laptop for spilled liquid.

Although I didnt feel like testing this feature, its nice to note and Im sure will save some busy coffee / cola drinker one morning.

Size & Weight
The size is very nice, featuring a decently slim profile, very thin LCD housing, and weighs just under 2.95 lb with the 4 cell battery. However, our unit came packaged with the extended 9 cell battery, which extrudes out the rear pretty awfully.

Yes, you do gain that tremendous battery life, but it makes this ultraportable larger than it should, and weighs just about as heavy as a 14.1 counterpart nearing almost 3.7 pounds. Looks will deceive you if you arent prepared for this change.

Keyboard
The keyboard again is strict Lenovo X series styling and specifications, holding cues to previous models before it, featuring alphanumeric typing keys that are spaced 18.5 mm vertically and 18.2 mm horizontally, which is defined as full-sized by ISO/IEC 15412. The stroke travel is a full 2.5 mm, which is always a pleasure to type on.
But, unlike the SL series that was also released, this still features the track-point nub in the center. Although keen for space saving design, and a following crowd of aficionados, I would have much rather seen an implemented track pad, and even make it multi-touch based like the Asus series that we just reviewed, to help aid in all those cramped Fn buttons. Am I nitpicking? Of course, but lets lay that out there.

Display quality
The display is a 1280×800 widescreen 16:10 aspect ratio display. There are 15 levels of brightness offered with a max output nearing 200 nits, a 50 nit increase of the former x61, and a welcomed addition. I noticed it didnt have very great side to side viewing angles on some PDF documents, but mostly, color representation was very decent, with adequate indoor backlighting. Outdoors seemed a bit washy or mixed results, which might harbor others to look into a more transflexive notebook option if they are constantly outdoors.

Connectivity
Connectivity is pretty standard, albeit changed from its predecessor, and a bit different from its thinner, lighter, much more expensive brother the x300. First and foremost, there is no optical drive. It doesnt list as an option of ordering one, so picking up a slim USB 2.0 self powered drive (a la the one the U110 we reviewed earlier came with) would be a handy option if you plan on using this machine to view, read, burn, or transfer optical media with. This might be a deal breaker for a lot of people but foreseeing the available prices and capacities for flash drives, SD media, and wireless data banks it might not to others.

The left side houses the power jack, exhaust, 2 USB ports, monitor-out, Gigabit Ethernet, ExpressCard 54mm slot, and the wireless LAN on-off switch. This is to note that it turns off all wireless options, Bluetooth and WLAN. Im not sure about WWAN as my unit did not come configured to use this.

The front, as mentioned earlier, can contain either a 5-1 media reader, or an SD card slot. Ours totes the SD card reader slot.

The right, with our configured unit, came with another USB port, headphone out, microphone, modem port, and lock slot.

The rear houses nothing other than the obtrusive battery.

Upgrading?
Even though WWAN wasnt configured in our pre-consumer level test system, the antenna that is needed to utilize these features is installed by default, so its simply a matter of inserting the WWAN card into the bay inside the x200, call up new service, and away you go. Since I dont utilize a company or hardware to test that feature, I can only say that it is possible to upgrade to using it.
Memory can be configured a few ways, which can handle up to 3 GB of internal memory. Which, is all Windows Vista Basic would utilize anyways, so if you feel cramped, you can do a little memory management there.

Hard drive capacity is another relative upgrade, with Lenovos website listing solid state 64gb as an option, and all the way up to a 320gb 5400 rpm drive. As a note, were sure it could handle the newer 7200rpm drives that are 320 GB but were not 100% positive.

Features
Some excellent features on the x200 that are worth noting that are new is the spill flow keyboard, and biometric finger print reader. Also, the x200 features that handy ThinkLight, an LED near the top bezel of the LCD and offers illumination for typing in near darkness. Its handy, its welcomed, and although not as cool as a backlit keyboard, functions just as well.

Lenovo decided to implement a webcam on this model as well which will serve great for video conferencing, but unless you need proof that someone is at the office and need to see it, the benefits of video-conferencing and voice conferencing is minimal in my opinion.

Again, the x200 does feature the ability to connect to GPS WWAN services from Verizon, Vodafone, Telus or KDDI but mine didnt have this feature.
The speaker, on the x200 is pretty dismal. Great for the beeps, hums, chimes and pings from OS system sounds, but otherwise, pretty pitiful. Dont count on it for much more than a what just happened, I thought I heard something Alert status.

Conclusion
If youre looking for a stiff upgrade to your x61 series, need a widescreen, dont mind missing out on a track pad, and like the idea of no optical drive, the x200 can fit the bill, and fit it much more nicely than some other ultraportable. However, this is such a new platform still that it would be hard pressed for me to say that this is THE ultraportable to get. If it came outfitted with an external drive, a transflexive screen, a track pad option (as the x300) and a more advanced video card, I would say yesbut until then, it measures quite well, but not in the realm of unbelievable.

* Pros:
o Stark Black Design
o Decently Powerful Components
o Awesome Battery life with 9-cell
o Decent display resolution for its size
o Connectivity is adequate
* Cons:
o Huge Battery really increases weight
o No optical drive option
o Minimal Graphics Options
o Upgrade options are awkward

Bottom Line:
A healthy refresh to the older X series, now offering widescreen and beefier components, the x200 is a very decent commuter workstation. Now, we just need a slight refresh to the aesthetics, a couple of more advanced output options, and a track pad / track point option, and we might have more of a winner. Oh, and usable speaker(s) would be nice as well.

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The Acer Aspire AS5517-5086 Notebook PC

By Ely | Published: December 7, 2009

The Acer Aspire AS5517-5086 Notebook PC is an affordable, reliable platform that’s perfect for daily tasks like e-mail, exploring the web, homework, managing your finances and more. Stay connected on the go with 802.11b/g wireless. Complete resource-intensive tasks and applications with an efficient AMD Athlon 64 TF-20 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of DDR2 memory and a 160GB Hard Drive. The Acer Aspire AS5517-5086 Notebook PC is powered by Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Operating System, making the things you do every day easier than ever. With faster search, easier browsing, and simpler connectivity Windows 7 means there’s less between you and what you want to do. The Aspire AS5517-5086 Notebook PC has a 15.6-inch widescreen LCD display capable of 1366×768 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio for full cinematic playback. Combined with ATI Radeon 3200 HD Graphics and stereo speakers, this notebook PC is perfect for digital pictures, movies, multimedia and more!

Key Features:

* AMD Athlon 64 TF-20 1.6GHz processor
* 2GB DDR2 667MHz Memory
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Operating System
* 15.6-inch Widescreen 16:9 LCD Display with 1366×768 resolution
* ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics

Key Benefits:

* Quality performance and reliability deliver email, web browsing, multimedia and more at home, the office, or on the road.
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit makes the things you do every day faster and easier with fewer clicks, faster searching, easier web browsing and more.
* ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics and HD capable LCD Display puts pictures, movies and multimedia right at your fingertips.
* Connectivity options including 802.11b/g wireless, 5-in-1 media reader, a Double Layer DVD Optical Drive, multiple USB and Optical ports and more make this a versatile, portable PC platform.

The Acer Aspire AS5517-5086 Notebook PC delivers the quality performance and reliability necessary to complete daily tasks, e-mail, web browsing, documents and digital media on the go.

Specifications:
Display Type:              HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LCD Display
Screen Size:              15.6”
Maximum Resolution:          1366 x 768
Memory Type:              DDR2
Memory Size:              2GB
Memory Speed:              DDR2 667
Maximum Memory Supported:      4GB
Capacity:              160GB
HDD/SSD Drives Included:      1x 160GB
Drive Types:              Hard Drive
Hard Drive Speed:          5400 RPM
Operating Systems:          Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Startup Operating System:      Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Platform:              Notebook PC
Processor Brand:          AMD
Processor Class:          Athlon 64
Processor Type:          Single-Core
Processor Speed:          1.6GHz
Processor Number:          TF-20
Processor FSB:          667MHz
Processor Cache:          512KB L2 Cache
Graphics Description:          Dedicated Graphics
GPU/VPU:              ATI Radeon™ HD 3200
Video Memory:              up to 1919MB of HyperMemory™ (256MB dedicated and 1663MB shared system memory)
Video Interface:          VGA
Optical Drive Type:          DVD Super-Multi Dual Layer
upplemental Drive Type:      Media Reader
Capacity:              5-in-1
Media Types:              Memory Stick
xD-Picture Card
Memory Stick PRO
Multi Media Card
Secure Digital
Audio Description:          Integrated Audio
Audio Chipset:          Hi-Definition (HD) Audio Support
Audio Channels:          Built-in Stereo Speakers
Audio Input:              1- Microphone input port
Audio Output:              1 – Headphone output port
Communications Description:      Integrated LAN,Integrated Wireless LAN
Interface Type:          RJ-45 Ethernet Connector
Acer InviLink and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
Data Transfer Rate:          54 Mbps,10/100Mbps Network
Protocols:              WIFI, 802.11b, 802.11g
Width:              14.4″
Height:              1.1″ – 1.5″
Depth:              10.8″
Weight:              6 lbs
Mouse Type:              Touch Pad
Battery Type:              6-Cell Lithium-ion
Battery Life:              Up to 2.5 hours
Biometrics:              Kensington Security Lock Slot
Integrated Webcam:          No
Software Included:          Acer® eRecovery Management
Acer® Launch Manager

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Sharing Laptop Experiences

By Ely | Published: October 2, 2009

From Ondoy;

mag 1 year na laptop ko sa nov 4.. wla pa nmn cra except sa adapter nya heh.khit langaw dko pinapa dapo..nsa pag gamit lng yan..

From Richard Salvador;

I’ve been using this laptop since March, 2009 and i have not yet encountered any problems with regards to the hardware. Specs are very good for the price and it meets most of my requirements especially photo editing and net surfing.

From thorrific;

hei, hindi naman lahat ng neo laptops ganun… i guess nasa pangangalaga lang yan ng tao, mula nung binili ku ung laptop ko last july 2009, never ko pa naexperience ung mag-hang ung laptop ko… and i guess masuwerte ako dahil walang hidden damage yung nabili kong laptop… ^_^

Yes, well said its how you take care of your laptops. But like i have said before some people push their laptops to their limits to see how sturdy or durable the laptop in means of usage, and some use it gradually to make its life longer. Some units that go out on the market have defects that we don’t realize until it reaches a certain limit or when we use them carefully some of these defects still show. Have you guys read the other shared experiences of people who even take care of their laptops still get problems? or about a month of usage a problem shows up and yet it is under warranty but you still get to pay for your laptop to get fixed? and some others that still have their laptop s after 3 to 4 years and not having a single problem on their units? And like thorrific said “i guess masuwerte ako dahil walang hidden damage yung nabili kong laptop”. There are people who are blessed to get laptops that dosen’t have defects and there are some that have.  Well we are just sharing our experiences here and we all thank you to have shared yours, I hope in the near future we get more positive than negative comments about laptops. And I thank the people who help out others in the forums.

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MSI X-Slim X600 Notebook

By Ely | Published: September 21, 2009

X600 Specifications
• The Latest Intel® Core™ 2 Solo Processor
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
• 15.6″ 16:9 Wide Screen Display
• ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4300 Graphics
• 320GB HD with 4GB Memory (V-RAM)
• HDMI Output + 2 in 1 Card Reader
• Built-In 1.3M Pixels Webcam
• 802.11 b/g/n WLAN with Bluetooth
• 6-cell battery with up to 4 .5 hours battery life
• Advanced Power Saving Technology
• 17.97” x 12.84” x 6.07”

* Available in Sleek Silver & Empire Black

The machine comes with a hard drive with capacities of 250, 320 or 500 GB. Some solid-state device is not among the choices, but 500 GB in normal form should satisfy the market, the device is aimed at. The machine is based on the Culver-platform, with an Intel Core 2 Solo U3500 1.4 GHz processor in the heart. It all comes also with 4 GB of internal memory and an ATI Radeon HD 4330 graphics adapter.

Furthermore, we mention that the machine comes with a memory card reader, battery of six or nine cells and a camera of 1.3 MP. The whole thing is wrapped in a will as the smallest battery weigh less than 2.1 kg.

In use

The machine does not come with a wealth of small additional features such as fingerprint reader, drip channels and multimedia keys. X600 is completely clean, you get only what you’re after, even if some of these features had been handsome. Apart from the keyboard and touchpad, includes not using the side of the machine any more than a button for starting the engine.

The ability to connect to a docking station is not present. It is perhaps not surprising; the majority of such contacts would likely have gone through the keyboard on the X600. Moreover, we point out that the machine has a lot of air holes on the underside of the machine. Are you with your computer in bed, the couch, on the thighs or other soft surface, these become clogged well again. Since the holes on the bottom constitute a large portion of the total air holes, we believe that these holes will affect the machine’s temperature significantly.

The machine is relatively broad, so a full keyboard has been placed. The buttons sit right, but most have “normal” size. Right shift is somewhat small, while his twin brother on the left side has full size. Any abnormalities that we see are that more of the function buttons, which is activated via the FN key, is located around the arrow keys. They often only as an option on the F-keys, but here are the words moved a little. The keys are shaped in a more ergonomic way compared with conventional keyboards. The buttons are curved slightly towards the user, and the “trough” is not in the center of the keys. According to MSI, this key is as follows fingertips, and thus reducing the stress in the outer joints.

Touchpad consists of exactly the same material as the rest of the machine’s surface. It feels as if you take on the same material, but the point surface is a small depressed area. Surface supports the use of two fingers. You can enlarge everything navigating by dragging two fingers, respectively, to and from each other. By drawing half circle turn.

Connectivity

On the computer’s right side, we find a small card reader. This takes respectively formats SD, SDHC and MMC. Moreover, we find a mic and a headset port. Two of the computer’s USB connector is located here. We have previously commented that the contacts on the right side of notebook computers is often a disadvantage, because the cables sticking out here often comes into conflict with the remote mouse pointers. This is also the case for MSI, but how large this practical problem is completely up to you to consider.

On the platform’s left side, we find a handy, but rarely Port: eSATA. More and more hard drives that can be used externally are now offering this technology as a data transfer. At the same time also works exactly the same port as a USB connection. HDMI is also in place, along with D-Sub. A network connection shows their presence, whether it’s built 802.11n network would not keep for you.

The remaining side of the machine has no contacts. Front page contains only a series of indication light. All of the computer’s side edges, as well as the back of the computer and monitor, have received a number of air holes. The other pages have no contacts, just a vent. We will say that MSI has been joined by the need of the connections on the machine. If it is something we would have wanted us so it must be DVI. HDMI is correct in place, so missed is not very large.

At the top of the screen we find a small web camera. This has a resolution of 1.3 megapixels. An integrated microphone is also in place.

Screen

The screen that sits in the X-slim X600 has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels on its 15.6-inch wide screen. The format is 16:6, and the whole thing is lit by LEDs.

Under normal use the experience we do not display as particularly bright, but for us it is not a problem. The contrasts are good, and color fill not good enough. A little more firepower at maximum brightness had not done anything, so could the users themselves rather have this crude down afterwards.

Conclusion

At the end of the road we do not know quite where to place the MSI X-slim X600. It is not unique small; it’s just a bit thin. It is also not particularly quick to be a machine in this class. Throw you something extra hundred grams, you can get a machine with better performance, an optical device at the same price.

The performance itself, we are happy with, but we’re not impressed. Culver platform is best suited for machines with 12, 13 and 14″, not for the layer that X600 is in.

As is very well, is battery life. With the brightness set to the maximum, working machine in Mobile Mark 2007 in just a little more than 3 hours. Lowering the brightness to the minimum, you’ll go 4.5 hours of use. During temperature testing machine comes out well, but it does however not seem that it can handle larger loads especially well.

MSI X-Slim X600 is priced at approximately Rs. 43,810. We will review the price as completely acceptable, but we are not satisfied. As we have said about performance, you will definitely get more performance for your money by buying a slightly thicker and heavier machine. Then you also have the option to make an optical device, and perhaps a little sharp screen. Although the noise level and the temperature may go up slightly, we do not particularly much unique about this machine compared to some 13″- as well as a much wider screen.

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HP Mini 110

By Ely | Published: September 11, 2009

It’s not perfect, but the new HP Mini 110 ($329 as configured) is definitely the company’s best netbook for consumers yet. HP has addressed our biggest complaints with the earlier Mini 1000 (no VGA port, small and slow hard drive), and has added more style to the mix with new color options. On the other hand, the attractive edge-to-edge glass display is gone, and the Mini 110 is thicker and heavier than its predecessor, not to mention that HP still includes awkward vertical touchpad buttons. The HP Mini 110 is a good value, but there are better 10-inch netbooks for the money.
Design

On the outside, the HP Mini 110 looks very similar to the Mini 1000, but is slightly heavier (2.6 pounds versus 2.4 pounds) and thicker (1.3 inches versus 1.0 inches). In addition to the Black Swirl Imprint lid design, HP will make White Swirl and Pink Chic finishes available in July. And, unlike the ASUS Eee PC S101 or the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, its pattern hid our fingerprints. Plus, the glowing blue wireless status lights for the power and wireless on/off switch project a futuristic look.

We quickly noticed that the latest version of this model sits a little higher in back when placed on a desk, thanks to slightly taller rubber feet. We’re assuming this was done to dissipate heat, as the Mini 1000 ran warm.
Keyboard and Touchpad

When we opened the lid, we also noticed that the finish didn’t have the same look and feel as the Mini 1000. This time, HP opted for a different resin for the plastic deck surrounding the excellent 92-percent keyboard, which results in a slightly grittier feel, and a somewhat cheaper look. The right Shift key is full size and placed directly under the Enter key. Additionally, there is a complete row of dedicated function keys. The only keyboard that can hold a candle to HP’s is that of  the Samsung NC10. Some of its keys aren’t as large as those of the Mini 110, but many users may prefer their chunkier feel.

Specifications are as follows :
Weight         1.06 kgs (lightest in the HP Mini line)
Thickness     Just over 1 inch
Display
(For XP)     10.1-inch Diagonal SD LED Antiglare
Widescreen Display
(1024×576)
OR
10.1-inch Diagonal HD LED Anti-glare
Widescreen Display
(1366×768)
(For Mi)     10.1-inch Diagonal SD LED Antiglare
Widescreen Display
(1024×576)
Processor     Intel® Atom™ N270 1.60 GHz or Intel® Atom™ N280 1.66 GHz
Chipset     Intel® 945 GSE Chipset
Graphics     Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (Shared)
OS         Microsoft Windows XP or HP Mini 110 Mobile Internet Edition (MIE)
Internal Storage
(For XP)     16GB/32GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module) OR 160GB –5400 RPM Hard Drive
(For MIE)     8GB/64GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module) OR 250GB–5400 RPM Hard Drive
Memory
(For XP)     1024MB DDR2 System Memory,
Supports up to 1 GB
(For MIE)     1024 MB/2048 MB DDR2 System Memory
Supports up to 2GB
Ports         5-in-1 digital media slot
3x USB Ports
VGA Connector
Camera         Webcam with Integrated Microphone
Communications     Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
802.11 b/g WLAN, HP un2400 EV-DO/HSPA Mobile Broadband (Configurable)
External Bluetooth Nano Dongle (Configurable)
Keyboard     92% Full-Size Keyboard
Power         3 or 6-Cell Lithium-ion (28Whr, 55Whr), 30W AC Adapter
Special     Features     Syncables – Sync effortlessly
Broadcom® Crystal HD Enhanced Video accelerator (Configurable)

This specs sheet was taken and modified slightly from Nicholas Aaron Khoo’s blog, whom I attended the HP Touch The Future Now event in Beijing with.

The 2.4 x 1.1-inch touchpad is vertically narrow, resulting in a lot of backtracking. Also, still present are the awkward right and left mouse buttons, which straddle the pad vertically. Nevertheless, because we adjusted to the layout in a few hours, we don’t think the touchpad is a deal breaker.
Ports and Webcam

The Mini 110 eschews the annoying VGA adapter port in favor of a full-size VGA port on the right, bringing this machine in line with most other netbooks. We also appreciate the new third USB port (two on the right, one on the left); the 5-in-1 memory card reader and the Ethernet port are on the right side.

The integrated 0.3-megapixel webcam on our review unit provided decent images in a video call over Skype; our caller could see our face clearly. The microphone, located to the left of the webcam, picked up some background noise, but our caller could hear us just fine without our needing to speak up.
Display and Audio

HP has nixed the edge-to-edge glass display in favor of a traditional bezel (we’re assuming to save on cost). On the plus side, many users will appreciate that this 10.1-inch (1024 x 576) LCD is an antiglare widescreen. The picture was bright and colorful when we streamed an episode of Family Guy, over Hulu. HP will offer a high-def display option (1366 x 768 pixels) for $30 on July 8.

The silver speaker bar on the original Mini 1000 has been replaced with a speaker panel that’s integrated into an area beneath the screen. When we streamed music over Slacker, we were impressed with the volume this tiny netbook pumped out.

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