It swivels. And it flies. The Pantech UML290 ($99 after mail-in rebate) VGP-BPS22A is the second USB modem that rides on Verizon Wireless' blazing new 4G LTE network, and it offers comparable performance to the LG VL600 in a VGP-BPS22 design that takes up less room. With service available in 38 metro areas and 60 commercial airports, this device downloads sites almost as fast as you can blink and can upload large files faster than many home and office Internet connections. So how does this modem VGP-BPS9/S stack up to the LG?
Verizon says its 4G LTE network is 10 times faster than 3G, but what does VGP-BPS13 that feel like? In our tests in New York City, websites such as The New York Times, CNN.com, and ESPN.com loaded in 3 to 4.5 seconds,VGP-BPS2B which is pretty amazing. And even though Verizon promises download throughput of between 5 to 12 MBps, the UML290 averaged 17.7 MBps on the downlink using Speedtest.net. That score beats the 14.7 MBps average turned in by the LG VL600. The lowest VGP-BPS9 throughput was 3.9 MBps, and that was near our freight elevator, where we can't a signal with AT&T.
We then downloaded the large Openoffice.org program (a 147MB file), which took just 1 VGP-BPS9A/B minute and 32 seconds. That's good for a data rate of 12.8 MBps, which is just about as fast as the LG VL600 in the same location VGP-BPS9/B (12.7 MBps).
Design and Setup
Since it crams both a CDMA EV-DO radio and a SIM Card slot into a single device, the Pantech UML290 is larger VGP-BPS13A/B than most USB modems. Measuring 3.5 x 1.4 x 0.6 inches and weighing 1.8 ounces, this device is about the same weight as the LG VL600 4G LTE VGP-BPS13A/S modem we recently reviewed for Verizon.
The big difference is that the Pantech features a 180-degree VGP-BPS8A rotating USB connector that folds away when not in use. Plus, because the hinged design allows you to flip the modem up when attached to your notebook, it doesn't jut out nearly as far as the LG. In case you need it, Verizon bundles a USB extension cord VGP-BPS8 and clip holster that can attach to your monitor or windshield for optimized performance.
Just as with the LG VL600, setting up the UML290 requires that users install the bundled VGP-BPS2 CD-ROM software, which just seems antiquated. You can also download the VZAccess Manager software from the web, but it should just be pre-loaded VGP-BPS2A on the USB drive. Otherwise, getting up and running was pretty easy. The software detected the UML290 quickly and we were able to connect within 15 VGP-BPS2C seconds.
Upload speeds were just as impressive. The UML290 averaged 5.5 MBps on Speedtest.net, which is just a bit behind the VGP-BPS21A/B LG VL600 (6.0 MBps). We also uploaded a 119MB video to an FTP server in just 2 minutes and 43 seconds. That works out to 5.6 MBps, VGP-BPS21/S which is fantastic for those who need to upload large files.
The Android-powered Sidekick 4G for T-Mobile just VGP-BPS21 got real, as in photographed-in-the-wild real. TmoNews.com received pictures of the reborn smart phone that, just years ago, was known for its flip-happy display, full QWERTY keyboard, teen-friendly design, message-based OS, and cloud storage VGP-BPS21A capability. When it is released at some unknown date, the new Sidekick will add a 4G radio and Android 2.3 to some of those VGP-BPS21B features.
At 3.8 pounds, the U36JC is quite a bit lighter than the previous generation U33Jc (4.4 pounds), good battery but a little heavier than the Toshiba Portege R700 (3.2 pounds) and the Lenovo IdeaPad U260 (3 pounds). With dimensions of 12.9 x 9.28 x dell akku 0.76 inches, this laptop is also slightly larger than the U260 (12.5 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches) and R700 (12.4 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches).
While the top surface of the ASUS U36Jc stayed relatively cool throughout our testing, its underside reached uncomfortably acer akku high temperatures. After playing a full-screen video for 15 minutes, we measured the touchpad at a pleasant 85 degrees and the G and H keys at an apple akku acceptable 95 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the bottom measured a warm 105 degrees and, while playing World of Warcraft, it reached 110 ibm akku degrees.
We consider temperatures below 95 degrees acceptable on the top surface of a notebook and temperatures of 100 degrees hp akku and below unpleasant but common for the bottom. However, this type of underside heat would make us think twice about placing the U36Jc on sony akku our lap while gaming.
Save a pink Shift button, the Sidekick doesn’t seem to asus akku be as youth-minded as its predecessor. Though it has the same form-factor as Sidekicks of yore, the jet black chassis is very generic and not very peppy. The rubber-looking grips on the top and bottom of the phone’s backside look cool and practical, though. Also fujitsu akku of note is a front-facing camera, a laser’ed Samsung logo on the back, and one helluva awkward layout of Android hardware buttons. Oh, and the toshiba akku pictured device is running Android 2.2 though T-Mobile says the final version will have Gingerbread. Check out more pictures at the link acer laptop akku below.
ASUS's U30 series of 13-inch ultraportable notebooks has long provided a strong mix of portability and power, from the original apple laptop akku U30Jc with its 7 hours of endurance to the snazzy bamboo U33Jc. The ASUS U36Jc ups the ante with a slick 3.8-pound frame, imb laptop akku snazzy aluminum-magnesium alloy lid, speedy 2.53-GHz Core i5 CPU, and Nvidia's Optimus switchable graphics. But are its strong specs good enough hp laptop akku to justify its price--$1,000--and beat out its competitors?
Design
Super sleek, the 0.76-inch thick ASUS U36Jc's lid is built from a lightweight, raven black aluminum-magnesium alloy, while its sony laptop akku matching palm rest is covered in a soft matte material that ASUS describes as "nanometer" coating. Unfortunately, the area near the screen doesn't asus laptop akku have the same premium look as the palm rest and lid; its glossy plastic hinges drag down the aesthetic a bit, as does the gap between the fujitsu laptop akku screen and the deck.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The U36Jc's island-style black keyboard has the same look and layout as those on a number of Eee PC netbooks, from the 10-inch Eee toshiba laptop akku PC 1015PN to the 12-inch Eee PC VX6. There's no flex at all, but the keys do feel a little stiff, which led us to a make a few more errors dell laptop akku than usual while typing. We also wish the right Shift key were larger.
The 3 x 2-inch touchpad has a pleasant matte surface acer notebook akku that matches the palm rest and allowed us to navigate around the desktop with ease. It also supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom. Though we would have preferred two discrete buttons, the single mouse bar provided good tactile feedback apple notebook akku and was not too stiff.Lenovo didn't skimp when it came to the notebook's base, either. Not only does the smooth chassis material extend all the ibm notebook akku way around the notebook, but the rubber stands on the bottom of the system give the U260 a slightly elevated and sloped footprint. hp notebook akku Plus, the bottom air vents, cut in a fresh mosaic serpentine pattern, add some pizazz.
The 3.2 x 1.7-inch glass touchpad was silky smooth when moving the cursors, as well as when using the touch scroll and tap-to-select sony notebook akku options. However, multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom felt somewhat sluggish. The two discrete chrome mouse buttons were asus notebook akku very responsive.
Ports and Webcam
Along the left edge, the U260 has a miniPCIe and fujitsu notebook akku USB ports, along with a dual headphone-and-microphone jack, Wi-Fi on/off switch, and a spare slot for a card reader (not included). The front and back edges of the device are clean, and on the right side are the remaining ports, VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, toshiba notebook akku and another USB slot.
The 0.3-megapixel webcam didn't perform well. When we used it in our brightly lit office, dell notebook akku the camera failed to pick up enough light to show our face. The webcam performed better when the light shone from a source in front of us, acer battery but in other cases, we couldn't even get Lenovo's facial recognition software to recognize the portrait we'd shot using the same camera just half an hour earlier.
Heat
Lenovo's Breathable Keyboard gives the U260 air to let out heat. That, along with Intel Advanced Cooling technology, helped keep apple battery temperatures around the touchpad and keyboard to a respective 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The middle of the base registered a somewhat ibm battery uncomfortable 95 degrees, but the real hot spot is the back vents just beneath the display hinge, where the temperature reached a hp battery sweaty 107.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The U260's chiclet keyboard sits in a slight basin that made typing comfortable, with plenty of space and travel. While some sony battery of the keys on the right side, such as Shift and Backspace, are smaller than what you'll find on a full-size layout, we still found them easy to find by asus battery feel. The keyboard is also water-resistant.
HP is once again targeting the education market fujitsu battery with its new Mini 1103 netbook. Unlike the kid-focused Mini 100e, this netbook looks and acts like a consumer model, but keeps the price low for cash-strapped schools and other institutions. Though not the flashiest system on the block, the $299 Mini toshiba battery 1103 combines very long battery life with decent performance for $50 to $100 less than many competitors.
Design
The HP Mini 1103's design is basic yet attractive. The overall aesthetic is closer to the dell battery Pavilion dm1 and dm3 rather than high-end business netbooks such as the Mini 5103. The glossy black lid and display bezel pick up smudges, but acer laptop battery thankfully the rest of the netbook features matte plastic. As with the Pavilion dm1 and the Mini 210, the bottom of the unit is a smooth line with just one panel to remove. This makes it easier to upgrade or repair internal components, such as the apple laptop battery RAM or hard drive.
The 3.1 x 1.25-inch touchpad on the Mini 1103 has a fairly small surface ibm laptop battey when compared to other recent netbooks and even other HP models. This is due to the system having separate mouse buttons instead of integrated sony laptop battery ones, as with a clickpad. The buttons are fairly large as well. Users who prefer physical buttons will likely not mind sacrificing some of the touch surface.
Design
The IdeaPad U260 has the kind of flair we wish ThinkPads had. The lid comes in Clementine orange (our version) saus laptop battery or Mocha brown, and the design is made from a single piece of magnesium-aluminum alloy that lends the notebook a sense of smooth, minimal fujitsu laptop battery professionalism. Measuring just 0.7 inches thin and weighing one-tenth of a pound more than the most recent 2.9-pound Apple MacBook Air, toshiba laptop battery the U260 slips so nicely into bags and backpacks, it's easy to forget the machine is there.
When the notebook is open, your eyes are quickly drawn to the LED status icons that are traced in illuminating dots, dell laptop battery and your hands are drawn to the soft, leather-textured palm rest. The U260's left, right, and front sides, as well as the bezel around the display, acer notebook battery are lined in a smart-looking, polished black plastic.
For the target market, the non-descript yet apple notebook battery functional design of the Mini 1103 is just right. You won't find the same flair as other HP models, but it's not as toy-looking as the Mini 100e, which is geared toward younger students. However, the Toshiba mini NB505 offers bright color options and ibm notebook battey a more eye-catching design.
Heat
The top of the Mini 1103 stayed pretty cool, with the touchpad measuring only 85 sony notebook battery degrees after playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes. The space between the G and H keys was about the same: 86 degrees. The underside saus notebook battery of the netbook got up to 92 degrees, which is within our acceptable range.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Mini 1103 doesn't have the modern chiclet-style layout of the Mini 210. However, the keys are well sized and placed, fujitsu notebook battery and we like the terraced treatment, which provides a better grip. We like that the media and system controls are one touch away, while the toshiba notebook battery Function keys are secondary.
