The Intel Core i7 laptop line is the latest addition to Intel’s growing number of powerful mobile processors.  Tagged as the latest in mobile processor technology, the Intel Core i7 is intended to update the company’s Core 2 brand.

All of Intel Core i7 processors are quad-cores, which means four cores are working in this notebook processor.  This type of processor has certain advantages, including its ability to tackle several applications at the same time and process heavy programs at ease.

The Intel Core i7 laptop processors are featured with Intel Turbo Boost technology and Hyper-Threading technologies.  The Turbo Boost technology allows Core i7 mobile processors to run at greater clock speed when bumping into demanding applications.  This technology automatically accelerates the processor’s performance when the user wants and needs it.  The Hyper-Threading technology, meanwhile, enables highly threaded applications to be opened in parallel.  This is great news to people who love multi-tasking.

Now, imagine placing this brand of processor into a laptop.  With this much speed and power cramped into a small space, it would surely make that box into a performance monster.  That is why, some laptop manufacturers did not think twice about loading the Intel Core i7 into their laptops.

Let us take a quick look at these Intel Core i7 laptops.

Dell Alienware M15x

A gaming laptop, the Dell Alienware M15x is featured with the Intel Core i7-820QM that runs on a speed of 1.73 GHz with Turbo Boost of 3.06 GHz.  It is supported by up to 8 GB of RAM and backed by GeForce GTX 260M dedicated graphics (1 GB VRAM).

The Dell Alienware M15x comes with a 250 GB hard drive and sports a 15-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display.

Pros

Performance-wise, the Dell Alienware M15x is a standout.  Its full HD resolution display could attract HD fanatics.

Cons

The Dell Alienware M15x sports a mediocre audio system and weighs a hefty 9.0 pounds.

Asus M60J

The Asus M60J multimedia laptop is powered by the Intel Core i7 notebook processor, with a choice between 820QM, which runs at a speed of 1.73 GHz; or 720QM, which clocks at 1.6 GHz.  It is backed by up to 4 GB RAM and a 1 GB VRAM in NVIDIA GeForce GT240M.

The Asus M60J supports dual hard-drive and could be loaded with two 500 GB disks for a 1 TB storage space.  This multimedia laptop sports a 16-inch display with 1366 x 768 native resolution.  Having a dimension of 37.5 x 26.5 x 3.43~4.06 cm, the Asus M60J weighs 3.3 kg.

Pros

The Asus M60J is an ideal laptop for multimedia needs – very powerful processor, lots of memory, dedicated graphics, HD-ready display and large file storage. The Asus M60J comes with Altec Lansing speakers for awesome audio experience.

 
Asus G60J

The 16-incher Asus G60J gaming laptop is powered by Intel’s Core i7 720QM processor, which clocks at 1.6 GHz and has Turbo Boost speed of 2.80 GHz, or the 820QM processor, which runs at a clock speed of 1.73 GHz and can be turbo boosted to 3.06 GHz.  Providing support is an army of read access memory of up to 4 GB and

the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M graphics card with 1 GB of VRAM.

The Asus G60J boasts of having up to 1 TB of storage space.

Pros

Already a powerful gaming core i7  laptop, the Asus G60J is spiced up with 1 TB of disk space and Altec Lansing speakers.

Cons

The Asus G60J’s battery stops at its tracks after less than two hours of usage.  This gaming laptop also has a unsatisfactory resolution of 1366 x 768.

 
Asus G51J

The Asus G51J gaming laptop is powered by Intel’s Core i7 720QM processor, which clocks at 1.6 GHz and has Turbo Boost speed of 2.80 GHz, or the 820QM processor, which runs at a clock speed of 1.73 GHz and can be turbo boosted to 3.06 GHz. It is backed by up to 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and 1 GB VRAM NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M graphics card.

The G51J could support two hard disks for a total storage space of up to 1 TB.

Pros

The Asus G51J is an all-around monster with the Intel Core i7 laptop processor, 4 GB memory backup, 1 GB graphics support, 1 TB large storage space, 1920 x 1200 high-resolution display and Altec Lansing speakers.

Cons

Asus G51J’s battery life is terrible at less than two hours.

Cyberpower Xplorer X6-6720

The Xplorer X6-6720 is powered by the Intel Core i7 720QM mobile processor that runs at a speed of 1.6 GHz and has a Turbo Boost of 2.80 GHz.  This 15-incher comes with a 4 GB memory back up and a 320 GB storage space.

 
Cyberpower Xplorer X5-5720
 

The Xplorer X5-5720 is powered by the Intel Core i7 720QM processor that clocks in at 1.6 GHz and can be Turbo boosted to 2.80 GHz.  This 14-incher comes with a 4 GB memory support and a 320 GB storage space.

Sager NP8682

The Sager NP8682 is powered by Intel’s Core i7 laptop processor.  Its graphics is backed by nVidia GeForce GTX 260M.  Its 15.6-inch screen sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1600 x 900 resolution.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y550P

Coming from one of the biggest names in the computer industry, there is much to be expected and looked forward to about the Lenovo IdeaPad Y550P. It has an Intel Core i7 processor with at most 8 gigabytes of RAM to back it up. It also has an Nvidia GeForce 240M with 1 GB VRAM, and a very large hard drive capacity of 500 GB. It has a 15.6-inch display screen with a 1366×768 resolution.

The Lenovo IdeaPad wows us with its impressive processor and more than adequate RAM. It also impresses with its high-end video card and a large hard drive capacity. However, there is one thing that disappoints with the Y550P and that is its resolution, which falls short of 1080p.

PROS

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550P is one of the most powerful core i7 laptops in the market, with its Core i7 processor backed up by a fat RAM bank. It is also able to accommodate a large hard disk space at 500 gigabytes.

CONS

Though it has graphics support for high definition multimedia, the Lenovo IdeaPad Y550P’s display resolution is not true 1080p at only 1366×768.

CONCLUSION

There is no doubt about it. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550P is a very powerful thinking machine to have in your arsenal. It can do anything that a desktop can do: process 3D graphics, store a lot of files, and view high-definition media. For a $1399 price tag, this laptop is a good buy.

HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition

As the computing world moves towards a new step in its evolution, Hewlett-Packard keeps up with its HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition. This $999 laptop promises a lot of good things for its users  and seems poised to deliver with its up-to-date features. Its specifications include a Core i7 notebook processor from Intel, a RAM capacity of up to 4 gigabytes and up to 640 gigabytes of hard disk space. An Nvidia GeForce graphics processor with 1GB is also part of the package for the dv6t.

PROS

The HP Pavilion Quad Edition dv6t has a very powerful processor, further complemented by the Turbo Boost technology that comes with the Core i7. The laptop also has a fat memory and hard disk capacity as well, and is capable of heavy graphics thanks to the 1 GB video card that it is equipped with.

CONS

The dv6t’s screen can only output 1366×768 that, though it is high enough for detail clarity and crispness, simply falls short of true 1080p resolution of 1920×1080.

CONCLUSION

Aside from the less-than 1080p resolution, everything about the HP Pavilion Quad Edition dv6t is worth the price you pay for it: the hard disk space, the powerful Core i7 laptop processor and the excellent graphics card. Plus it starts at only $999, much lesser than most of its competitors. All in all, good value at a good price.

Related posts:

1. Core i5 Laptop
2. Quad Core, now Core i7 laptops.
3. Quad Core Laptops

Today’s laptop technology has really improved from the 386 laptops of the prior years to the multi-core notebook technology of today. These multi-core laptops for isntance a core i5 laptop are known for their great efficiency and improved performance over the single core processors that have been the norm of yesteryears. To describe their functioning, it is best to think of one laptop processor divided into many different subprocessors. That’s what where the name came from: each subprocessor is called a “core.”

The first multi-core to arrive was the Dual Core technology, spearheaded by the Pentium Dual Core by Intel and the subsequent ones by AMD. Through time, the technology was constantly improved until the quad cores or 4-core processors came out, followed by the “i” Cores. The Core i5 laptop CPU then came in and impressed many with its power; however, it is still a notch lower than the ultimate “smart” processor: the Intel Core i7.

The Core i5 laptop will have at least 2 cores and at most 4 cores.

All that power put together results to only one thing: a fast and seamless performance that will make short work of any task that you have put together. With the Core i5 laptop’s processing capabilities, it is certainly built to accomplish whatever tasks given to it.

Laptops are everyone’s handy companions. Businessmen use them, students utilize them and even gamers make use of them for their work. Hence, since they have such a broad range of users, laptops need to be able to meet a wide array of needs. Because of its capabilities, the Core i5 notebook is the best response to such a need. Fortunately, there are already laptops available in the market that have been fitted with Core i5 processors.

MicroExpress NBL 50

One of these core i5 laptops is the Micro Express NBL 50. This one comes with a DDR3 RAM bank that is capable of supporting up to 8 gigabytes of memory. We know that powerful processors work so fast that they eat up memory quickly as well, and when they run out of memory that’s when they start to freeze up. That is how the NBL 50’s large memory bank is so useful.

The NBL 50 comes with a large hard drive capacity as well.

The Micro Express NBL 50 is estimated to be priced at about $1,200.

PROS

The Micro Express NBL 50 comes with a dedicated graphics controller. With 1GB worth of video RAM, the NBL 50 is ideal for gaming, entertainment and business.

CTL TW9

Dubbed as the “Travel Master,” the CTL TW9 is your versatile, carry-around computer. With the Core i5 mobile processor and other great features, the CTL TW9 will satisfy the needs of even the most meticulous computer user out there. It performs great in typical office tasks, business and multimedia. A little gaming can also be done on the side.

The estimated base price of the CTL TW9 is $1,099.

PROS

The CTL TW9 is fast, with a 2.53 GHz Core i5 processor operating behind the scenes. It also has enough hard disk capacity.

CONS

Compared to the other two Core i5 laptops, in this review, the CTL TW9 has a much smaller RAM capacity at 2 gigabytes. Plus, its graphics card only has 512 MB of RAM to allocate for video making it perform at a lesser capacity compared to the NBL 50 and the Acer Aspire AS5940G, which both have 1 gigabyte of VRAM to play with.

 
Acer Aspire AS5940G

In terms of performance, the Acer Aspire AS5490 is the least out of the  Core i5 laptops in this review. It has only a 1.6GHz Corei5 handling all its threads and programs. To compensate, however, the AS5490 has 4 gigabytes of RAM, twice that of the CTL TW9 and half of what Micro Express NBL 50 has. It also has a 1-gigabyte video graphics controller, the ATI Radeon HD4650.

The price for the Acer Aspire AS5940G is at the $2,200-$2,600 range.

PROS

The Aspire AS5490G has a large RAM capacity to make up for its slower processor, thus ensuring the same seamless performance that another Core i5 laptop might have. Plus, it also has a 1-gigabyte video card to handle its graphics rendering.

CONS

It has a very short battery life of 3 hours. It also has no Blu-Ray DVD support.

 
Asus X77
 

The Asus X77 is powered by the Intel Core i5-430M that runs on clock speed of 2.26 MHz and can be Turbo Boosted to 2.53 GHz.  The Core i5 in the Asus X77 is backed by up to 4 GB of RAM.  Asus also provided the Asus X77 with a dedicated graphics card in ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730.

The Asus X77 comes with a large 17.3-inch liquid crystal display that carries a 1600 x 900 resolution and a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9.  The Asus X77 could carry up to 1 TB of digital files, thanks to its dual hard drive system.  One could load the Asus X77 with two hard drives of 500 GB each, and have a very large storage space for any large file – HD movies, music and games. 

Estimates show that the Asus X77 would cost at around $1400 and up.

PROS

The Intel Core i5 embedded in this laptop surely provides the needed performance for optimum gaming experience, even on the run.  Providing support is a large amount of memory, including from the dedicated graphics in ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730. The Asus X77 could store a very large amount of files with its 1 TB hard disk.

 
Dell Alienware M15x

The present Dell Alienware M15x comes with two processor options – the Intel Core i5 and the Intel Core i7.  The Dell Alienware M15x with Intel Core i5 may contain the Intel Core i5-520M or the Intel Core i5-540M. 

The Dell Alienware M15x Core i5 laptop version is loaded with up to 4 GB of random access memory as well as 1 GB of VRAM in the Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M.  The Dell Alienware M15x Core i5 version also comes with a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Pros

The Dell Alienware M15x with Intel Core i5 is just a level down from its more powerful twin, the Dell Alienware M15x with Intel Core i7.  The Dell Alienware M15x with Intel Core i5 offers awesome graphics, full HD display and a Blu-Ray ready drive.

Cons

Dell Alienware M15x comes with an average audio system.  With nine pounds of weight, some people might find the Dell Alienware M15x too heavy.

 
HP Pavilion dv7t
 

The HP Pavilion dv7t could now be loaded with the much powerful Intel Core i5 notebook processors.  The latest upgrade of the HP Pavilion dv7t contains up to 8 GB of memory backup and either a gigabyte of NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M or 512 MB of GeForce G 105M. 

The HP Pavilion dv7t could be loaded with the dual hard drive option, transforming it into a 1.28 TB laptop.  The HP Pavilion dv7t’s liquid crystal display sports a 16:9 aspect ratio. Being a multimedia laptop, the HP Pavilion dv7t is loaded with an integrated TV tuner, Altec Lansing stereo speakers, Web cam and an array of connectivity features like USB ports and card reader.

The HP Pavilion dv7t with the Intel Core i5 is pegged to sell starting at $999.

PROS

The HP Pavilion dv7t offers awesome multimedia experience whether games, movies or music, thanks to its powerful processor, large amount of memory, hardcore graphics card, more than 1 TB of disk space and high-quality video and audio.

CONS

The powerful specs contained in the HP Pavilion dv7t’s box causes some uncomfortable warmth when subjected to prolonged usage.

 
Lenovo ThinkPad T410s
 

The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s is powered by Intel’s Core i5 laptop processor; with choices of Intel Core i5-529M 2.4 GHz or Intel Core i5-540M 2.53 GHz processor.  Backing this powerful processor is up to 6 GB of DDR3 or up to 8 GB of DDR4 RAM.

Quite a feature of the Lenovo ThinkPad T410s is its switchable graphics.  One may alternated between an Intel integrated graphics chipset and a dedicated video card in Nvidia NVS3100m discrete graphics with 512 MB of VRAM.  

The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s comes around with a price tag estimate starting at $1,399.

Pros:

The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s boasts of having an Intel Core i5 processor powering its operations as well as a vast army of RAM and a switchable dedicated graphics.  The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s could last up to 22 hours of usage if loaded with a nine-cell battery and around six hours with the six-cell battery.

Cons

The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s lacks enough VRAM to support hardcore games.

Related posts:

1. Quad Core, now Core i7 laptops.
2. Core i7 Laptops
3. Quad Core Laptops

A year ago people where asking, quad core laptop or duo core laptop. Things have moved on and the current, latest and greatest, is Core i7 laptops.  The Intel Core i7 is the successor to the Intel Core 2 brand. The current models still use 4 cores so it is still technically quad core laptops, but will soon utilize up to 6 cores, all of them hyper threaded.

The geek stuff.

The mobile version of the Core i7 has 6-8 MiB of layer 3 cache. It uses a uPGA-989 socket with minim feature size of 42 nm. The TDP is 45-55 W.

Take a look at this gaming benchmarks from the PC Games Hardware. The core i7 blasts its competition away.

Do you need a core i7 laptop?

They come at a price the Dell/Alienware M15x for starters will have a base price of $ 1 499. The core i7 will for now mostly appeal to gamers who are always looking to get an extra few FPU’s. The core i7 does have the advantage of very low power usage even while performing at incredible speeds. Who doesn’t want a laptop with long battery life? As software require an ever more powerfull laptop everybody will soon find themselves shopping for a core i7 laptop.

Quick overview of Core i7 Laptops available.

Dell/Alienware M15x: Core i7 CPU with Nvidia discrete graphics, 8GB of RAM.
Dell Studio 15 and Dell Studio 17: Core i7 CPU with Radeon 4000-series discreet graphics.
Asus M60J soon 2 more gaming laptops will be released The G60J and the G51J.
HP Pavilion DV8 18.4, the laptop features Core i7 and Geforce GT 230.
HP Envy 15 claimed by HP to be the fastest consumer laptop ever, need we say more.

We cant wait until the Core i7 laptops come out later this year with 6 cores. Until then enjoy these core i7 laptops.

Related posts:

1. Dual-core or Quad-core?
2. Quad Core Laptops
3. Core i7 Laptops

The HP Compaq Presario series is a line of business laptops that have been produced by Compaq. It is currently made up of three models: the CQ20, the CQ40 and the CQ60. For this review, let us look at the series as a whole as well as take a quick peek at what each unit has to offer the consumer.

Clearly, Compaq has intended this series to appeal more to the businessman or the student rather than the gamer. These people need processing power that will allow them to finish work quickly. They cannot afford lags as these are people that are always constrained by time requirements and tight deadlines. As such, they are all powered by an Intel Centrino 2 GHz P7350 Core2Duo processor. Though a little older than the next-generation Core i7 processor technology, the Core 2 Duo processor can still hold its own and is powerful enough in its own right. In other words, the HP Compaq Presario series still promises a satisfactory performance in multi-tasking and multi-threading even with memory hungry applications. This power is backed by a fat memory bank of 2 gigabytes.

The CQ laptops lack dedicated graphics card, with the exception of the CQ60 which has an Nvidia GeForce 9200 GS 256MB video processor. Otherwise, the CQ20 and the CQ40 rely on an integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD and an Intel GMA X4500 graphics card, respectively. This doesn’t matter though, because first and foremost the HP Compaq Presario is intended solely for normal computing requirements. The CQ60 does stand out with its dedicated graphics adapter, although at 256 megabytes it still cannot process heavy graphics like 3D and the newer games on the market. You would need at least 512 megabytes of video memory for that, and you would be better off looking at other models.

Since its target base requires ample disk space to store their important files in, the HP Compaq Presario laptops are equipped with 250 gigabytes worth of hard disk space. There’s more than enough room for school reports, business documents, as well as multimedia files like music and movies.

The HP Compaq Presario series laptops are all armed with the necessary connectivity features to make data sharing a bit easier. They all have USB ports, as well as connections for both infrared and Bluetooth. They even have modems for 56kbps Internet, although so few people now rely on such a connection. They are all also capable of running wireless local area networks with support for multiple LAN standards.

Lastly, all HP Compaq Presario notebooks are armed with HDMI ports that will allow you to connect them to an HDTV. You can use this to watch your favorite shows in true HD resolution. With the CQ60’s GeForce graphics card, you can even play some games in large screen.

HP Compaq Presario CQ20

The little brother of the three HP Compaq Presario laptops, the CQ20 is armed with a very small 12 inch LCD screen for its display. It is also the lightest of the three, weighing less than kilograms. This makes the CQ20 a very good traveling companion.

Price: The CQ20 falls right into the US$1000 price range, as estimated by Cnet.

PROS

It is very light. It is like carrying nothing when taking the CQ20 along on a journey. The HDMI port is also a very welcome feature, as well as the 1280×800 resolution on its display screen.

CONS

The CQ20 lacks a good graphics card that will allow it to process 3D graphics. People who’d like to play games would be sorely disappointed at the CQ20. The 12-inch LCD screen could make it difficult to use by people with vision problems.

HP Compaq Presario CQ40

The middle range laptop of the series, the CQ40 is a 14-incher sports a similar resolution as its little brother the CQ20. It shares all the features of the CQ20 as well as some of the features of the CQ60 with the exception of the dedicated graphics card. Just like the other two HP Compaq Presario notebooks in this review, the CQ40 also has an HDMI port for connection to an HDTV.

Price: for the CQ40 are estimated to start at US$700 according to Cnet figures.

PROS

The 14-inch screen is large enough, and its native resolution gives the user access to clarity and detailed displays. You can even expand it to an HDTV like the CQ20, thanks to the HDMI port in its graphics processor.

CONS

The CQ40 also lacks the capability to process heavy graphics, since it also has an integrated graphics media accelerator that shares memory with the motherboard.

HP Compaq Presario CQ60

The CQ60 has all the features of the other two CQ models. However, it is unique because of its Nvidia Geforce 256 MB 9200M GS video adapter. This gives the CQ60 the ability to process games that the CQ40 and the CQ20 cannot accommodate; however, the options are still quite limited for the gamer.

Price: The starting range for the CQ60’s price is at US$1,103.64, as estimated by Cnet.

PROS

The Nvidia Geforce graphics card boosts the performance of the CQ60, since graphics don’t have to eat away at the memory used by the computer to run programs.

CONS

Though it has a dedicated graphics card, it only has 256 megabytes of video memory so it still cannot play the heavier games common today.

Related posts:

1. Asus UX – Review

The Dell Studio series was created in part to blast misconceptions that specs of laptops are set in stone and that they have similar appearances. People clamor for personalization, which also translates to what they prefer in a computer or laptop.

Fortunately Dell has heard everyone’s clamor. The company has paid close attention to the buzz in its own forums, and other community forums frequented by computer users. Because of all the discussion about the need for a customizable laptop, Dell has developed the Studio series specifically to answer those claims.

True enough, the series has a flair for the personal melodrama that each computer user has. Dell offers these laptops in many colors. Of course, the aesthetics of each unit are not the focus.  Each Studio model is powered by a “muscled” processor from Intel, from Core2Duo to the next-generation Core i7 processor technologies. Each Studio unit may also store up to 4 gigabytes of random access memory to support the powerful features of the processor.

You could say that beyond its beautiful exterior, there lies a very powerful unit that can tackle just about any task that you can throw its way.

Storage space is not a problem with the Dell Studio series. Dell has installed at least 250 gigabytes worth of hard disk space for its Studio models. Some models even have hard disk space that totals 500 gigabytes. Downloaders, gamers and businessmen alike will appreciate the amount of space that they have at their disposal.

Its graphics capabilities are also topnotch. Most of the laptops under the Studio series are powered by a GeForce graphics accelerator. The least you can get for a graphics card would be the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 with 256-megabyte video ram.

Studio XPS Studio 13

The XPS stands for the unit’s extreme performance capabilities. Indeed, the Dell Studio 13 is armed to the hilt and ready for some heavy functioning with 2.93 GHz Intel processor options including the Core2Duo T9800, up to 8 gigabytes of RAM and powerful graphics cards.

Pros:

Clearly geared towards both gaming and entertainment, the Studio 13 has some of the most powerful specifications in the entire series with its graphics card options and its 2.93 GHz processor.

Cons:

Of all the Studio models, the Studio 13 has the smallest screen at 13 inches. Some gamers may find it difficult to use because of the amount of screen available to them.

Studio 14z

As its designation suggest, the Dell Studio 14z is the one with the 14-inch screen. In a way, it is similar to the Studio 15 in terms of features except for a few differences. It only has one graphics card option and that is the Nvidia GeForce 9400M, and no integrated graphics card for its default configuration. It does not have the Core i7 option as well.

Pros:

The option of having a GeForce 9400M as a default configuration is a welcome fact. The Studio 14z also features a good amount of RAM at 5 gigabytes, though slightly lower than the Studio 15.

Cons:

Though it has a good graphics card, you are still restricted to only one option. When time comes you realize that you need to upgrade, you won’t be able to do so with the Studio 15.

Studio 15

The Dell Studio 15 is the 15-incher of the Studio series. Armed with powerful options for a processor including the next generation Core i7 processor, the Studio 15 has so much in store for the buyer.

Pros:

The Studio 15’s display screen stands out by being able to reach 1080p high-definition resolutions. Plus, it can be fitted with powerful graphics processors from ATI.

Cons:

The default configuration has only an integrated graphics media accelerator. This could restrict the graphics processing that the person on a tight budget can have access to with this model.

Studio XPS 16

Another XPS model, you can expect this unit to stand up to even the most memory-hungry applications out there. With a powerful processor backed up by up to 8 gigabytes of RAM and its ATI Mobility graphics cards, you can put the Dell Studio XPS 16 through abuse and find it still standing.

Pros:

The strongest points in the Studio XPS 16 are its powerful graphic cards that complement its memory and processor. Its display screens are also capable of up to 1080p resolutions.

Cons:

Unlike its cousins, the XPS Studio 16 does not have high-definition audio speakers but instead has simple 7-watt stereo speakers with a built-in subwoofer.

Studio 17

In terms of specifications, the Dell Studio 17 is perhaps the most powerful of the 5 Studio series laptops by Dell. It is powered by a 1.6GHz Core i7 processor, which is considered a next-generation technology. It also has a 1-gigabyte ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650.

Pros:

What we like about the Studio 17 is its powerful processor and graphics card. The screen is also decently sized at 17 inches.

Cons:

Compared to the other Studio series laptops, the Studio 17 cannot output true HD resolution in its display. Accordingly, it also has only 4 gigabytes of memory to back up its processor.

Related posts:

1. Dell Vostro – Review
2. Asus UX – Review

So, the thinner the laptop is, the greater the space it can save. Asus has recognized these concerns and has come up with some of the thinnest laptops there are in the market: the Asus UX series.

Indeed, thin is the middle name of the Asus UX series. With a thickness of only 1.2 inches at most, these laptops will be ideal for your traveling needs. You can easily stuff them among clothing – nothing heavy though as this will damage the laptop – or you can use a smaller carrying case. This means that you can carry these devices around easily without a problem, as opposed to the larger and thicker laptops that you can find in the market. They also are very light as well, weighing at least 3.5 pounds depending on the configuration.

Another amazing thing about the Asus UX series is that, as opposed to its thickness, its insides are packed with powerful features that make your computer usage as enjoyable and dependable as ever. Flexibility is at its best with the Asus UX series.

Depending on which model you would want to purchase, the Asus UX series has something for gaming as well as for normal and business computing requirements.

Performance is another thing most users look for in a laptop. The Asus UX series offers more than one choice depending on the performance they want from the portable computer. The UX50V, for example, is definitely a gaming platform. It runs on an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a processing speed of 1.6GHz, and a dedicated graphics card – the GeForce G105M with a video memory of 512 megabytes. The other model, the UX30, only makes use of an integrated Intel GMA 4500 graphics card. However, it makes use of a slightly slower but still powerful Core 2 Solo processor running at 1.4 GHz.

All UX series models are packed in both random access memory and hard disk space. Asus allows a user to set up to 500 gigabytes of hard disk space, and a maximum RAM of 4 gigabytes. These make an excellent support for the equally powerful brains of the UX series laptops.

Another great feature that Asus has installed for this series is the Altec-Lansing speaker system. Altec-Lansing is known worldwide for the excellent quality of its speakers, thus buyers of both UX laptops will be delighted to know that they now have access to the rich and detailed audio that Altec-Lansing speakers can offer them.

Deserving mention is the Consumer Ultra Low Voltage feature that Intel has included in its processors for the UX series laptops. CULV processors use very low voltages or energies thus despite its high processing power the notebook generates very little heat. The CULV is solely the platform that has made ultra-thin notebooks like the UX series possible. Without it, the electronics would be fried due to insufficient space for heat and air to circulate.

Asus UX30

The less powerful of the two, the Asus UX30 is apparently designed for less strenuous processing requirements. This makes it ideal for people who want to use it for business purposes mostly, and perhaps a little gaming on the side.

PROS:

The strong points for the Asus UX30 include its fast processor which runs at 1.4 GHz, as well as the detailed resolution of its 13-inch screen at 1366×768. Another thing that we love about the UX30 is the presence of hot keys, which allow for one-touch operation for turning the laptop off, for adjusting the brightness and other routine tasks in using the UX30.

CONS:

What is disappointing about the Asus UX30 is its minimal support for gaming. Having only an integrated graphics card, it is less capable of playing the newer games in the market. However, one can still play the older and less demanding games in terms of processing power.

ASUS UX50V

The big brother of the UX30, it is apparent that the Asus UX50 is the more powerful of the two. Unlike its sibling, the UX50V allows one to perform more functions because of its more powerful features and processor.

PROS:

The UX50V is raw power. From its processors to its graphics card, the UX50V gives one a lot more options when it comes to usage. You can play games here, thanks to its 512MB video card that is capable of more demanding usage as compared to the UX30.

Just like the UX30, the UX50V has hot keys for one-touch operation.

CONS:

Its price. The UX50V has a very high price tag that can discourage people and let them turn their back almost immediately.

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A netbook retains certain laptop features like Internet connectivity and basic mobile computing.  It fits the needs of a travel-hungry computer user just as well as it fits in a small luggage.  More importantly, most netbooks come at prices below $400, which can easily fit anyone’s budget.

With netbooks dominating the mobile PC market despite the worldwide economic downturn, computer manufacturers have started venturing into creating faster and bigger capacity small thinking machines.

Aside from the absence of an optical drive, a prevalent disadvantage of a netbook is its lack of storage space.  It is understandable that netbooks’ disk space is only a fraction of laptops and notebooks since bulky data download and large file storage are usually done not on the run.  The general public would rather have cheap but very portable PCs that contain the essentials rather than bring expensive laptops that serve as desktop replacement or gaming machines or graphic editors.

Below are five must have netbooks that we think have topped the small thinking machine category in 2009.

5. Dell Inspiron Mini 10

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is one of the netbooks that fall in the upper price range of more than $500.  It may be priced higher than the other dell laptops but the extra hardware explains the additional cost – it comes with a TV antenna and tuner that allows its users to watch shows while traveling.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 comes with a Z-series Intel Atom processor, which features a chipset that supports better video playback.  This netbook is run by an Intel Atom Z530 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz.  This processing power is supported by an installed memory of 1 GB DDR-800.

Weighing 3.4 lbs, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 has dimensions of 10.3 inches x 7.2 inches x 2 inches.  Despite its size, this netbook has a small and light layout that makes it stylish.  The Dell Inspiron has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, higher than most netbooks’ 1024 x 600 pixels.

4. Acer Aspire One AO751h

While most netbooks have 10.1 inches of display, the Acer Aspire One AO751h is bigger by an inch-and-a-half at 11.6 inches.  This beefs up the resolution size to 1366 x 768 pixels, which is slightly larger than its competition. It is also a bit more expensive than other netbooks in the market.  The Acer Aspire One AO751h has full dimensions of 11.2 inches x 8.5 inches x 1.3 inches. It weighs 3.6 lbs.

Due its larger size, the Acer Aspire One AO751h features more media slots than other netbooks at three.

The Acer Aspire One AO751h is powered by an Intel Atom Z520 processor that runs at a speed of 1.3 GHz.  It is  backed by 1 GB of DDR2-667 SDRAM.

3. Asus Eee PC 1005HA

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA can pass off as the twin of the slightly older Asus Eee PC 1008HA.  The Asus Eee PC 1005HA contains almost the same technical specs, namely: a processor of Intel Atom N280 clocking 1.6 GHz, a memory of 1 GB of DDR2-800, a display size of 10.1 inches and a maximum resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.  Both also have the capacity to store 160 GB of digital files.

The difference comes in size and price.  The Asus Eee PC 1005HA is slightly bigger at dimensions of 10.3 inches x 7 inches x 1.5 inches.  The reason for this is the location of the VGA port – the older Eee PC has it on a space-saving dongle while this version has it grafted on the side.  This is why the Asus Eee PC 1005HA is designed to be slightly bigger than the Asus Eee PC 1008HA, and why it’s cheaper too.

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA comes with a Bluetooth, 802.11n, a three-cell battery, and two USB ports.

2. Asus Eee PC 1008HA

Like its predecessors, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA comes in a sleek, stylish and fairly solid design.  It is powered by an Intel Atom N280 that clocks at 1.6 GHz and is supported by 1 GB of DDR2-800 SDRAM.

With a display measuring 10.1 inches, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA offers a maximum resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.  The Asus Eee PC 1008HA weighs just around 2.9 lbs, thanks to its sleek dimension of 10.3 inches x 7 inches x 1.1 inches.

However, unlike its small-capacity ancestors, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA comes with a higher disk space of 160 GB, which is more than enough for storage for typical office files as well as a moderate amount of multimedia files.

The Asus Eee PC 1008HA also comes with a Bluetooth, 802.11n, and a three-cell battery that has a life of four hours. This makes it ideal for people who frequently  travel with their mobile PCs.

1. HP Mini 5101

The HP Mini 5101 is a netbook that almost feels like a laptop to most users. Aside from being powered by an Intel Atom N280 that clocks at 1.6 GHz, this netbook’s 1 GB DDR2-800 SDRAM support could be upgraded to 2 GB, giving it a faster performance when switching between applications.  That speed is relatively good for a netbook, and is actually not that much different from a laptop in that aspect.  Other netbooks offer only 1 GB of memory.

Another feature that makes the HP Mini 5101 comparable to a laptop are its layout and design.  It has a sleek aluminum-magnesium alloy frame with a box measure of 10.3 inches x 7.1 inches x 1.5 inches.  With a weight of 3.6 lbs., the HP Mini 5101 also offers a near-full size keyboard, and neatly positioned mouse buttons.

The HP Mini 5101 comes with a 10.1-inch anti-glare display and a 1366 x 768 pixel resolution.  It has a storage space of 160 GB.  All these features and its similarities to a laptop are what makes the HP Mini 5101 number 1 in our list.

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One of the commonalities shared by the entire Travelmate line is the use of integrated graphics cards. These cards seriously hamper the performance of the notebooks in the graphics section, making these business laptops  and not heavy gaming. One cannot expect these notebooks to fare well especially with games that use 3D graphics because the Travelmates simply cannot process that.

The Travelmate notebooks are also fitted with fingerprint readers. This is important for data security, since some companies have sensitive proprietary data that must not be leaked to the public. These computers also have the proprietary Disk Anti-Shock Protection: this feature senses if the notebook is on free fall, and automatically shuts down the disks. This is to prevent or minimize data loss, a feature that businesses would surely value.

For this review, we will be pointing the spotlight at the members of the big Travelmate family featured on the company website. We will present to you the specifications, pros and cons, as well as a general overview of each Acer Travelmate notebook.

Travelmate 5530

One of the Travelmate series notebooks to use a non-Intel processor, the Acer Travelmate 5530 is powered by processors produced by AMD. One can choose between the Turion and the Athlon dual-core processors; all of these promise an impressive performance especially when multi-tasking.

One of the downsides of the 5530, however, is its relatively short battery life: only 2.5 hours in optimal settings.

Travelmate 6593

One of the newest offerings from the Travelmate series, the Acer Travelmate 6593 is regarded to be promising with its powerful P800 Core2Duo processor. There is sufficient room for memory as well, with up to 4GB worth of RAM in its capacity. It may not work well with some games, however, because it only has an integrated 4500MHD Intel graphics media accelerator.

Travelmate 6493

The Acer Travelmate 6493 is the closest to the 6593 in terms of specifications, but with one crucial difference: the display screen. It has a smaller screen, only 14.1 inches, but its resolution is more than enough to make up for its screen size. Just like the 6593, the 6493 produces an output of up to 1280×800 pixels so it could be easy for the businessperson to stack up or tile windows side by side when multi-tasking.

Travelmate 6293

Boasting a robust battery life of seven hours, the Acer Travelmate 6293 seems up to the task of fulfilling the requirements of the traveling businessperson. Since the 6293 weighs only 4.7 pounds, it will be easy to carry around on a trip. The 6293 also has a webcam installed, so video conferences can be held with just a few clicks of the button. Its powerful Core2Duo processor and large memory capacity, coupled with its hard drive capacity, promise a smooth performance that will help the user accomplish tasks faster.

The 6293 has a very small screen – 12.1 inches – which may make it difficult for some users to make out the graphics on the screen.

Travelmate 5730

Fitted with wireless and wired connectivity options, the Acer Travelmate 5730 makes it easy for business people and office executives to share information and important data within or outside the office. Acer has seen it fit to give it a dock, which makes the notebook compatible and connectible with important office peripherals like the printer.

Other Travelmate models

Here are some of the older models that belong to the Travelmate series:

* Acer TravelMate 2300 Model

* Acer TravelMate 2350 Model

* Acer TravelMate 2400 Model

* Acer TravelMate 2420 Model

* Acer TravelMate 3000 Model

* Acer TravelMate 3020 Model

* Acer TravelMate 3210 Model

* Acer TravelMate 5720 Model

* Acer TravelMate 4200 Model

* Acer TravelMate 4600 Model

* Acer TravelMate 5500 Model

* Acer TravelMate 5510 Model

* Acer TravelMate 8100 Model

* Acer TravelMate 8200 Model

* Acer TravelMate 8210 Model

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Dell is working on the principle that business isn’t only done in the office and as a result, this series has features that protect the laptop from falls, spills, and moisture. Its Free Fall Sensor detects if the laptop is in a state of free fall and shuts off the hard drive to prevent data loss. Compared to most laptops, the Dell Vostro Series laptops are slimmer and lighter. They have long-range wireless capability and come with security options that will be invaluable for protecting critical information. Display size ranges from 13.3” to 17” while processors being offered range from AMD to Intel Core 2 Duo.

The choice of the laptop to purchase is quite subjective since it will have to be based on the buyer’s requirements. Any of the laptops from the Dell Vostro Series can be upgraded so if you don’t like the performance or if your needs have changed, it wouldn’t be much of a problem.

Because of these features, the Dell Vostro series has frequently appeared on top of the list of most businesspersons and working professionals. The needs of entrepreneurs are not as basic as those of most consumers but they’re also not as advanced as those of large corporations. Dell determined there was a need and set about filling the need for laptops meant for small business entrepreneurs.

The laptops are simple and sturdy. They’re certainly not for those who are flamboyant but they have their own subtle, classy style. Because they’re meant for business, they have a better built. The series does give a good performance but as with any laptop that doesn’t have mediocre specs, its battery life is shortened.

The current notebooks in the Dell Vostro Series include the models: the 1220, 1320, 1520, 1720, and budget models: the A90 and A860. The Vostro 1220 was released online on July 1, 2009, while the Vostro 1320, 1520 and 1720 were released on April 2, 2009. On the other hand, the Vostro A860 was released on Nov. 13, 2008, and the Vostro A90 went on sale on April 15, 2009.

Vostro 1220

This is an extremely portable laptop at 12.1”, which makes it slightly larger than a netbook. However, the Vostro 1220 performs better than a netbook and is superior when it comes to battery life. Office applications can be accomplished with no glitches or delays although the screen size is too small for multimedia or editing tasks. Battery life exceeds 3 hours when used heavily. We have issues with the uncomfortable keyboard and the chassis but it is not unexpected considering its low price.

Vostro 1320

With a 13.3” display screen, the Dell Vostro 1320 is a good size for a businessperson to bring around while traveling. It has a solid built and although trivial, we appreciate that it broke away from the usual black and has a striking burgundy-colored lid and black base. Aside from having the capacity to do regular office tasks, the Vostro 1320 gives a sufficient performance when it comes to multitasking and even photo editing. Its battery life of 2 hours is a turn-off and its keyboard needs improvement.

Vostro 1520

With a 2.5kg weight and measurements of 357 x 258mm x 38mm, Dell was able to create a laptop that scores high on portability while still having a screen size that’s acceptable to many small business entrepreneurs. It has an anti-glare screen too, which ups its value a bit. It doesn’t have much of a style to speak of but it does meet the demands of small to mid-sized companies.

Vostro 1720

The 17″ business laptop is intended to be a desktop replacement. It has enough power to accomplish office and internet tasks as well as editing and design work. The screen size and its resolution of 1920×1200 allows for a very comfortable experience especially when your task requires you to put documents side by side. Its keyboard is one of the best we’ve found with its soft and responsive buttons. It has an adequate battery life and as long as you keep within the business-related tasks, it shouldn’t pose any problems.

Vostro A90

Vostro A90 is Dell’s 8.9″ business netbook and is actually the rebadged Inspiron Mini 9. If you have a thing for mini-laptops that’s affordable but can be used for business, then this is for you. However, it has its limitations when it comes to processing speed. It’s easily upgradeable too. Despite the cramped screen, it shows sharp images.

Vostro A860

The 15.6″ Vostro A860 is a budget laptop; therefore, it is understandable that it has nothing fancy to offer. Its appearance is typical for a low-end model. The keyboard is uncomfortable and it uses too much plastic. Business people would probably need more than 2 ports that are offered by the Vostro A860. When manufacturers place the usb port on the left, it inconveniences right-handed mouse-users. The nice thing about this laptop is the brightness and illumination it offers to the viewer. It doesn’t have a fast processor but it does the tasks of browsing and office work well.

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The laptop has to have fast processing speed and it has to allow for intense multitasking. Graphics capability doesn’t have to be at a gaming or video editing level. Ensuring that your laptop has sufficient connectivity features saves you from a lot of hassle later on. As a rule, a business laptop should have Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth and there should be a minimum of 3 USB ports.

Here are the laptops that would be perfect for those with a limited budget. These may not have all the features the user could possibly desire but they possess everything your business requires at a price that’s less than $1,500.

5. HP ProBook 4510s (FM848UT)

The HP ProBook 4510s has a 15.6-inch widescreen, a glossy finish, and a box-like frame. It appears to target users who have small businesses due to its security software. While storing log-on information, the HP Protect Tools have encryption that prevents anyone from tinkering with your hard drive. We like it because it is lightweight and possesses a bright screen and high resolution. We like the feel of the keyboard and it has a numeric keypad that might not be a big deal to most but it’s a huge treat for people in business. It has numerous features that include four USB ports, a 5-in-1 card reader, a dual-layer DVD burner, and a 2-megapixel webcam. The laptop has a 250GB, 5,400-rpm hard drive, which the business user would surely appreciate.

4. Toshiba Satellite A305D-S6831

The Toshiba Satellite A305D-S6831 is very versatile and any businessperson who has serious computing requirements will be glad to have this device. The 15.4-inch widescreen TruBrite high-def display allows for an easy time when working with spreadsheets or when multitasking. The 2.2 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 dual-core processor and 250 GB storage capacity are ideal for most tasks. Furthermore, if you are a champion of green technology, you would be glad to know that Toshiba has restricted the use of mercury, lead, and other hazardous materials in making this. We like that it’s stylish without being gaudy. Chatting, backing up data, participating in conferences, and sharing data are just a few of the tasks that are made easier with this laptop. It also has face-recognition software for added security.

3. Dell Inspiron 1525

When it comes to business, you would want to keep things simple but powerful. That’s what Dell Inspiron 1525 offers. Its keyboard is above average, its design is elegant, and it has superior securityfeatures. It may be quite bulky and is not meant for gaming or watching videos since the sound it produces isn’t of the highest quality. But when you look into what it can offer to a business, it is impressive. Working on various applications is a breeze and typing on it is surprisingly comfortable. Features are generous. There is no obvious scrimping here but its battery life is strictly average.

2. Fujitsu LifeBook E8410

The  Fujitsu Lifebook E8410 appears to have been designed solely for the business user. Emphasis was on connectivity, judging by the quality and number of ports and slots it has. Performance is comparable to other business laptops. It has security features that are estimable. Its design is seemingly inspired by the corporate world. Its built appears solid enough to withstand daily use. It’s also actually quite light despite its midsize level. The fact that it doesn’t have any external media controls is a downside. If you’re obsessed with security, then we recommend this for you. It has a fingerprint reader, a smart card slot, and an internal Trusted Platform Module. It has a configuration that’s enviable and some might choose it merely for that advantage.

1. Lenovo Thinkpad T400

Lenovo’s Thinkpad T400 is sturdy and has a long battery life, practical features, and tasteful design. Performance is topnotch. The laptop is capable of simultaneously opening several applications quickly and its 14.1-inch screen is sufficient for multitasking. It has a resolution of 1440 by 900 pixels that’s acceptable for business users. We can say nothing bad about the keyboard. Typing for long periods is tolerable and a person on the go would be ecstatic with the shortcut keys. It has all the essential features and new security features to boot. The three USB slots are located strategically. Users would be smart to use the ThinkVantage application suite, which makes various resources readily accessible. The purpose of the suite is for unmatched efficiency. If you’re running low on battery and want to stretch the power as long as possible, the laptop has a Battery Stretch feature that allows you to do so. An awesome feature that we love is the Active Protection System, which protects the hard drive when there’s vibration or when you’ve accidentally dropped it. With this laptop, we believe Lenovo found an ideal blend of practicality, manageability, and portability. With its reasonable price and incredible features, it’s almost a steal.

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