While not as large as a desktop replacement

While not as large as a desktop replacement, the size and bulk of the 5745DG means it's VGP-BPS9/S not going to travel much. It tips the scales at 6.2 pounds, around the average for a 15-inch system. Its 9-cell battery protrudes out the VGP-BPS9A/B bottom towards the rear, and while it angles the system towards you--making typing more comfortable, it raises the height of the notebook to 2.3 VGP-BPS13 inches.

Heat

Having a spacious underside means that the 5745DG stayed fairly cool. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 VGP-BPS9/B minutes, the touchpad and the G and H keys reached 92 degrees, but the middle of the bottom stayed a cool 85 VGP-BPS9 degrees.



While PC makers initially targeted laptops with 3D displays and glasses at gamers, Acer is VGP-BPS10 hoping to widen their appeal to all sorts of entertainment seekers. Priced at $999, the Aspire 5745DG is the least expensive 3D notebook VGP-BPS13A/B we've tested that uses Nvidia's impressive 3D Vision technology. Powered by a Core i5 processor, this 15.6-inch system can also output 3D content to a compatible TV via its HDMI connection. So is this multimedia machine Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad T410 Battery really a bargain?

Design

There's nothing really remarkable about the vgp-bps8 5745DG's design. Its glossy black lid picks up fingerprints, but a subtle striped metallic pattern adds some visual flair. The rest of the somewhat boxy chassis is a gray plastic, and the palm rest is made to look like brushed vgp-bps13b/q aluminum.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The 5745DG uses the same FineTip keyboard that's vgp-bps13a/q become standard on all Acer notebooks. The keys are flat on top and separated from each other, and a full number pad sits to the right. We found the typing experience fairly comfortable but certainly not best vgp-bps13/b in class.

The 3.5 x 1.9-inch touchpad is comfortably large and friction-free, and we like like the discrete mouse vgp-bps13/q button beneath. However, a divot in the middle would have been appreciated.

Like most other people who live in small spaces, I rely on my laptop or smart VGP-BPS2A phone or MP3 player as my sole entertainment center instead of having a large, fixed system in the living room. This suits me just fine, as it means I’m not VGP-BPS2C confined to one room when I want to listen to music or watch a video. However, notebooks and small handhelds don’t produce the best audio in the world, nor the loudest. Thus, I have about four different speakers around my apartment — VGP-BPS2 bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom — and none of them completely satisfactory. Then Logitech sent me the wireless speaker.

Above and to the right of the keyboard is a programmable quick-launch button and VGP-BPS2B an eject button. Considering that the system is geared toward entertainment, we would have appreciated dedicated media keys, or at least pa3535u-1brs ones to control the volume

Staples has pulled the ViewSonic G Tablet from its shelves, citing manufacturing defects, according an Engadget tipster. PA3534U-1BRS Despite the fact that the tablet was featured in a recent circular and the store has no other tablets to sell to customers who want one, Staples has opted to vgp-bps21a send all of the existing stock back. Whatever management thinks is wrong with the G Tablet, it’s serious enough that they’re encouraging vgp-bps21/s employees to process product returns with “empathy and understanding”, according to an internal document. There are no details on what these defects were, but considering the long list of issues cited in our review, it could be any number vgp-bps21b of things.

Will this vote of no confidence from Staples set off similar actions by vgp-bps21 other retailers

The Z515 connects to devices wirelessly vgp-bps21a/b via Bluetooth or the included USB transmitter for PC and Mac and operates on a rechargeable battery, so you can place it anywhere in the house. Both the transmitter and the Bluetooth radio have a similar range. I’m usually able to listen to audio streamed Lenovo 3000 v100 battery from my smart phone up to 20 feet away, though the quality depends on how many thick walls are between the speaker and the Lenovo 3000 v200 battery source.

I really like that the Z515 also includes a Lenovo 3000 n100 battery transmitter for computers, since not all models come with Bluetooth. The USB dongle is about 2 inches long, so it sticks out quite a bit. I ran into a small problem of it interfering with my notebook’s Wi-Fi connectivity when it was plugged in but the Z515 was Lenovo 3000 n200 battery off. I think it was searching for a signal constantly. Pulling it out solved the problem. When not in use, the transmitter fits into a little Lenovo 3000 c200 battery notch on the back of the casing.

There’s also an audio-in jack for connecting devices Lenovo 3000 y410 battery that don’t have Bluetooth, such as MP3 players.

Even though the box, instructions, and product page on Logitech’s website mostly mention Lenovo r51e battery computer, iPhone and iPad connectivity, in reality the Z515 will connect to any device with Bluetooth. I mention this because this information is Lenovo r50e battery a bit buried in Logitech’s included materials. One would assume that a device with a Bluetooth connection would work with all Bluetooth devices, yes, but the persistence of iPhone/iPad mentions might discourage people with other kinds of phones. Lenovo x300 battery Don’t worry, it works. I tested it with an HTC Evo 4G, Samsung Epic 4G, and a Samsung Galaxy Tab

Audio quality is very good for its size, and volume is never a problem. I have never had a reason to Lenovo x200 battery turn it up all the way, even while in the shower or washing dishes. Whether listening to the news or music, voices and instruments are Lenovo thinkpad r61 battery always clear, with good bass and treble.

You can snag the Logitech Z515 for $69 at Amazon. Pop it under the tree alongside the MP3 player, tablet, or smart Lenovo thinkpad t400 battery phone you got the gadget lover on your list

There are a million iPhone cases in the world it seems. Some are beautiful, some are Lenovo thinkpad t500 battery solar-powered, and some add a kickstand, but few are actually fun. Case Mate’s new Quartet and Stacks iPhone 4 cases inject a bit Lenovo thinkpad t61 battery of fancy (as well as customization) into the market. Both cases are made up of interchangeable pieces that users can arrange how they like (for the most part), then rearrange when they want to change things up. The Quartet, as the name suggests, Lenovo thinkpad t60 battery gives users four pieces at a time to work with — each package has 6 total. The Stacks comes with 6 vertical bands that snap together. Lenovo thinkpad t60p battery Case Mate sells each in various palettes. The more you buy, the more customization options you have at your fingertips.

I’ve found several great uses for the Z515. For instance: late-night movie watching. Lenovo thinkpad r60 battery I can set it right next to the bed and the laptop on my desk across the room, then keep the volume relatively low so I didn’t disturb IBM thinkpad r60e battery my roommates.

Logitech claims that the Z515 will last up to 10 hours on a charge. I was able to play music for around 7 hours straight Lenovo thinkpad x60 battery via Bluetooth before the battery light turned orange, and even then it could have gone on for longer. It takes around an hour to charge IBM thinkpad X60S battery up completely.

Stacks cases come in three palettes — Mechanica, IBM thinkpad t40 battery Full Volume, and Passion Play; Quartet cases come in four palettes — High Contrast, Rustic Tweed, Sensuous Silk, Vintage Flanne. Both cost $34.99

Though light, the Pocket feels solid due to its silver metal case, while chrome-colored buttons on the front add a touch IBM thinkpad t42 battery of elegance. The included stylus fits snugly in a port along the right edge. Sony wisely replaced the miniUSB jack on the bottom with a (more standard) IBM thinkpad t43 battery microUSB jack. There's also no longer a separate power port for the A/C adapter; the Pocket comes with an adapter good battery for the USB cord.

Unlike the Touch and Daily Editions, the Pocket has no memory card slots or headphone jack lining the fujitsu laptop akku top and bottom edges. Users will have to settle for the 2GB of internal memory, which can hold thousands toshiba laptop akku of eBooks.

Design

Sony completely redesigned the Pocket Edition to match the look of the Touch and Daily Edition. dell laptop akku Gone is the D-pad, as well as the buttons along the right side of the 5-inch display. Now there are just five slim buttons beneath the acer notebook akku display--Page back, Page forward, Home, Zoom, and Options--and the Pocket now has a touchscreen just like its larger siblings.

At 5.7 x 4.1 x 0.33 inches, the Pocket Edition is one of the smallest eReaders on the market. Weighing just 5.5 ounces, apple notebook akku it's more than three ounces lighter than the Kindle 3G (8.7 ounces). One could fit it snugly into a rear pants pocket, though we wouldn't advise putting it ibm notebook akku there. A better place would be an inside jacket or coat pocket, or the side pocket of a purse or bag.

There's 4G. And then there's 4G LTE

There's 4G. And then there's 4G LTE. Available in 38 metro areas and 60 commercial VGP-BPS13 airports at launch, Verizon's new network raises the bar for mobile broadband with speeds that approach or beat some home Internet connections. And the VGP-BPS13A/B first device that taps into this record-breaking goodness is the LG VL600 ($99 after rebate on a two-year contract). Although Verizon expects data rates to drop once more people jump onto its network, we were amazed with the performance VGP-BPS9 of this device. In our tests, the VL600 blew the doors off of Sprint's Mobile WiMax and T-Mobile's HSPA+ networks. However, we don't love VGP-BPS9/B everything about the experience--or the pricing plans Verizon offers. Is this speedster really a good deal?

Design and Compatibility

Measuring 3.9 x 1.5 x 0.6 inches and VGP-BPS9/S weighing 1.8 ounces, the LG VL600 is pretty bulky for a USB modem. We like the sturdy flip cover and four-color LED service indicator, but the device protruded a fair amount from our ThinkPad. We actually found ourselves shifting our notebook so as not to hit a VGP-BPS9A/B fellow bus passenger's lap. Verizon also includes a handy clip and USB extension cable so you can attach this device to your monitor. The extension cord vgp-bps13b/q can also come in handy if the USB ports on your laptop are fairly close together.

We wanted to try the VL600 in a MacBook Air, but for now vgp-bps13a/q the device supports only Windows machines, and Verizon couldn't give us a firm date as to when it will fix this issue. That's a pretty big oversight given that Apple is now the third biggest seller vgp-bps13/b of PCs

in the U.S.

Coverage and Pricing

At launch Verizon Wireless says its 4G LTE network will cover 110 million people. You can get top vgp-bps13/q speeds on the VL600 in 38 major metropolitan areas (including Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco) and 60 VGP-BPS10 commercial airports. Sprint offers Mobile WiMax 4G in 68 markets, covering 103 million people now and 120 million expected by the end of the year. T-Mobile says its 4G HSPA+ network is available in 80 markets, and that it will cover VGP-BPS2A 200 million people by the end of the year. So while Verizon is off to a good start, it has some catching up to do when it comes to offering a broad VGP-BPS2C footprint.

Verizon takes a different tack than Sprint and T-Mobile when VGP-BPS2it comes to pricing its 4G service. It costs $50 per month for 10GB and $80 per month for 10GB. Overage charges are $10 per GB. The entry-level plan is actually $10 cheaper than what Verizon charges for its 3G-only modems, so VGP-BPS2B these new plans seem like a good deal.

However, Sprint's $59 3G/4G plan for modems and mobile hotspots offers unlimited pa3535u-1brs 4G and a 5GB cap that applies only to 3G data. Clear charges $55 per month for 3G/4G with unlimited 4G, too, or you can get 4G only for $45 PA3534U-1BRS per month. T-Mobile's 5GB plan for 4G modems costs only $39.99 per month right now (it's normally $49.99 but the carrier is running a promotion). You also don't get hit with overages should you go over; T-Mobile will just Lenovo 3000 v100 battery throttle your speed.

How We Tested

We tested the VL600 with a ThinkPad T410s in three different Lenovo 3000 v200 battery locations around Manhattan. First, we used Speedtest.net to measure upload and download speeds (chart below). Then we downloaded the large OpenOffice.org file (147 MB). We also downloaded three popular websites Lenovo 3000 n100 battery (NYTimes, CNN, ESPN) in each location and averaged the speed in seconds, remembering to clear the cache each time. We also uploaded a 6.5 MB file Lenovo 3000 n200 battery to our FTP server

In all of these same locations we compared the Lenovo 3000 c200 battery performance of Verizon's 4G LTE network to Sprint's 3G/4G USB Modem 250U and T-Mobile's webConnect Rocket.

Performance: Speedtest.net

On Speedtest.net, the LG VL600 ran circles around both Sprint's and T-Mobile's modems. We saw download throughput Lenovo 3000 y410 battery range from 7 Mbps all the way up to 18.6 Mbps. However, once more consumers start using its 4G LTE network, Verizon expects download Lenovo r51e battery throughput to drop to 5 to 12 Mbps, and upload speeds to drop to 2 to 5 Mbps. Still awesome.

Sprint's USB modem couldn't latch onto a 4G signal in our first Lenovo r50e battery New York location, and in other locations we saw throughput only get as high as 4 Mbps. (However, we've seen better results in other cities.) T-Mobile's webConnect rocket delivered uneven results, ranging between 1.6 and 6.4 Lenovo x300 battery Mbps, but it was consistently faster than Sprint in our second location.

The LG VL600 on Verizon's LTE network also wiped the floor with Sprint's and Lenovo x200 battery T-Mobile's modems when it came to upload speeds. Data rates ranged between 5.1 and 6.6 Mbps, which is pretty amazing. Meanwhile, Sprint's and Lenovo thinkpad r61 battery T-Mobile's modems registered around 1 Mbps and between 1.2 and 1.7 Mbps, respectively.

Real-World Downloads and Uploads

When we downloaded the large 147 MB OpenOffice.org file, the VL600 took 1 minute and 56 seconds to accomplish the task Lenovo thinkpad t400 battery in one location and an even faster 1:33 in the other location. So we're talking about sustained speeds of 10.1 to 12.72 Mbps, which is Lenovo thinkpad t500 battery faster than many home broadband connections using DSL or cable. The T-Mobile webConnect Rocket took an average of 4.7 minutes, Lenovo thinkpad t61 battery and Sprint's modem averaged over 8 minutes.

On our upload test, the VL600 took a mere 7 seconds to upload a 6.5 MB file in the Union Square area Lenovo thinkpad t60 battery of New York city, while T-Mobile's webConnect Rocket took 43 seconds and Sprint's 3G/4G modem took 53 seconds. To really put 4G LTE to the test Lenovo thinkpad t60p battery we uploaded a 5-minute MPEG-4 video; it took less than 3 minutes, which comes out to a spectacular 5.5 Mbps.

Because of this blistering throughput, 4G LTE doesn't have nearly as much latency Lenovo thinkpad r60 battery as competing 4G technologies, so you should be able to play multiplayer games without a hiccup. (We'll update this review with more test IBM thinkpad r60e battery results.)

Web Surfing

As we expected, the LG VL600 also downloaded web pages at a quicker pace than the competition, but it's edge wasn't as Lenovo thinkpad x60 battery dramatic here as in our other tests. Pages downloaded in an average of 6.2 seconds to T-Mobile's 8.8 seconds, and 10.9 for Sprint. This delta IBM thinkpad X60S battery might not sound that significant, but when you click on multiple links during a given surfing session, 4G LTE's speed advantage starts to IBM thinkpad t40 battery add up. Also keep in mind that apps like TweetDeck and Pandora that hog resources over 3G will continue to run buttery smooth in the background on 4G LTE.

Indoor Performance

Given that there is a widely held perception that LTE technology does better than Mobile WiMax the deeper you get inside IBM thinkpad t42 battery of a building, we decided to pit the VL600 against Sprint's 3G/4G USB modem in different locations inside our office. (Unfortunately, T-Mobile's IBM thinkpad t43 battery modem got stuck on EDGE so we disqualified it.) First, we sat near our front desk in the lobby, which is at least 20 feet away from the nearest window. In this spot, the dell studio 17 battery LG VL600 got 16.9 Mbps down and 5.2 Mbps. In this same location, the Sprint modem notched 2.4 Mbps down and .95 Mbps up. However, as dell studio 1737 battery we walked back toward our bathroom near the freight elevator--where wireless signals are always weak--the Spint 4G modem held strong on the download. It got 2 Mbps down, compared to 1.3 Mbps for Verizon's VL600. Still, the LTE modem dell studio 1535 battery delivered a much better upload rate in this location: 1.3 Mpbs vs. 130 Kbps. And as we noted above, Sprint's modem couldn't hold onto dell latitude e5500 battery a 4G signal in another location where we were indoors and near a window.

3G-4G Hand-offs

Because the LG VL600 integrates two separate technologies on the dell latitude e6400 battery same SIM chip--EV-DO Rev A and LTE--roaming between 3G and 4G can be tricky. When we left New York city on a bus ride to New Jersey during our first round of testing, the modem successfully stepped down to 3G data dell latitude e6500 battery without losing the connection, even as we went through the Lincoln Tunnel. However, the connection manager software still said we had a 4G signal well dell latitude e4300 battery into central New Jersey, which was an error. The following evening, we didn't encounter the same issue.

Going from 3G to 4G is much hairier. Not only do you need to stop the connection dell vostro 1510 battery and close the software, you also must detach and re-attach the modem. Most users won't know to do this, and it's pretty annoying. Verizon Dell inspiron 1545 battery Wireless says it feels our pain and will be issuing a firmware update to address this issue (though it couldn't provide a timetable).

We also encountered a bug in our testing, which may be related just to our unit. Sometimes when connecting, the VZ Access dell vostro 1310 battery software would tell us that the SIM card failed and to contact our service provider, even though the modem was Dell latitude d630 battery working fine.

Value

Since you get faster speeds with 4G LTE than with competing 4G networks, the presumption is that Dell studio 15 battery you'll use more data. And you can easily hit that cap in a hurry, depending on what you're doing. For example, if all you did was watch Hulu, you'd Dell latitude d620 battery exceed the 5GB limit in 16.5 hours. If you were watching Netflix, you'd blow through 5GB in just 7.5 hours. And that's on standard definition. The higher bitrate of HD video would have you paying an extra 10 bucks per gig in about Dell xps m1330 battery 3 hours. In other words, if you were thinking of using the LG VL600 as your Internet connection for home and on the road, you'll want to think twice. Dell inspiron 6400 battery Even if you step up to the 10GB plan, you'll want to watch your data usage, which the VZAccess Manager software makes Dell inspiron 1501 battery pretty easy.

Verdict

Verizon's speed advantage with 4G LTE is so great, this network is practically in its own league. In fact, Dell inspiron e1505 battery the LG VL600's data rates are so blazing that when you drop down to 3G it feels like dialup. This kind of throughput isn't about just Dell latitude d820 battery downloading web pages faster--though the LG VL600 does that. It's about being able to pull down huge files in a fraction of the time of Sprint's and T-Mobile's 4G networks. You can also upload documents, photos, sony akku and videos much faster. Assuming you're in an Dell vostro 1000 battery area with 4G coverage, users simply won't need to bother with flaky asus akku Wi-Fi connections, whether they're in a hotel, coffee shop, convention center, or airport.

All of these benefits could make Verizon's 5GB and 10GB plans a turn-off for heavy data users. Yes, you're paying $10 fujitsu akku less per month than what the carrier charges for 3G-only modems, but you'll have to think about what you're downloading or streaming more because you'll toshiba akku want to use the 4G LTE network more. Having to unplug the modem when roaming from 3G to 4G areas is also frustrating, though Verizon says it is aggressively acer laptop akku working to address this issue, along with adding Mac compatibility. Despite these complaints, the LG VL600 delivers fantastic speeds that put everyone else to shame, making it an excellent accessory for mobile professionals that will become apple laptop akku more valuable as Verizon's 4G network grows.

Listen Up, Carriers: 3G Tablets Need a New Pricing Menu

It’s quite the coup. Last night Samsung announced that all four major U.S. wireless Latitude 131L Battery carriers will be selling the Galaxy Tab, a sleek 7-inch Android tablet. There were just two critical pieces of information missing: the price of the device and the data plan. There’s no question that consumers will be enticed by this and other shiny slates when they walk through the door of the carrier stores. But if the pricing is anything like what carriers offer on today’s 3G netbooks, they’ll probably walk right back out without one. Unless service providers can structure data plans to be affordable and fair, the 3G tablet market will hit the same wall.

Today you can get a 3G netbook (HP Mini 1151NR) from Verizon Wireless for just 19 bucks on a two-year contract. Actually, make that $1,459—the total cost when you add in the $59 monthly fee for 5GB VGP-BPS9/B Battery of data. (It’s $960 when you opt for the 250MB plan, which no one should do.) AT&T’s plans are similar, at $60 for 5GB and $35 for 200MB. T-Mobile charges a more reasonable $39 for 5GB and $24.99 for 200MB, while Sprint doesn’t sell any subsidized netbooks directly. Overall, 3G netbooks haven’t moved in significant volumes because of that steep total cost of ownership. Who wants to pay that much for a secondary PC? Tablets are no different, which is why it’s time to offer a broader menu of pricing options.

AT&T and Apple were wise to go a different route than 3G netbooks for the hot-selling iPad. In exchange for shelling out $629 for the Wi-Fi + 3G device—$130 more than the entry-level Wi-Fi-only iPad—you pay just $25 per month for 2GB of data (or $14.99 for 200 MB). Total cost over VGP-BPS9A/B Battery two years is $1,229, $230 less than that “$19” netbook. Yes, you’re getting fewer bytes than if you opted for a subsidized mini notebook, but we suspect most users won’t go beyond that 2GB ceiling in a given month.

The best part about the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G is that there’s no monthly contract. You just activate (or de-activate) the mobile broadband when you feel like it. iSuppli estimates that as many as a third of iPads sold have 3G connectivity, which is pretty impressive. But that’s VGP-BPS9 battery the iPad. Consumers have consistently shown that they’re willing to pay a premium for Apple’s hardware. In fact, Best Buy’s CEO said this week that he estimates the iPad alone is cannibalizing sales of laptops to the tune of 50 percent.

So where does that leave the rest of the field? Scrambling to offer plans that are affordable and flexible, paired with device pricing that meets or beats the iPad’s. If I were Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, I would experiment VGP-BPS9/S battery with multiple pricing models, including the following. For each scenario I’ll provide the proposed price of the Galaxy Tab and where applicable a high-end smart phone ($199).

The New 3G Tablet Pricing Menu

Subsidized Tablet with Affordable Data: There’s no way that a Samsung Galaxy Tab shopper is going to pay $59 per month for data Vostro 1510 Battery , especially for something that’s not a full PC. Something like $40 per month sounds more reasonable for those willing to sign a two-year contract. That may still sound steep, but some may find tablets so versatile that they ditch their smart phone in favor of a cheap voice-only phone.

Tablet Price: $299 ($100 more than a smart phone seems reasonable), plus $40 per month for data.

Two-Year Total: $1,259

Shared Data Plans with Smart Phones: For those who prefer to pay less up front, carriers Inspiron 1545 battery should offer an option to buy a smart phone with a data plan and then share that bucket of bytes with a tablet—provided you sign up for a two-year contract. In this case you would have to pay more for the device than you would if went the traditional subsidized route, plus $5 more per month for data than you normally would (kind of like a service charge for an extra cable box/DVR in the home).

Tablet Price: $399, plus $35 per month for data

Two-Year Total: $1,239

Mobile Hotspot Bundles: Now that you can buy smart phones with built-in mobile hotspot apps, you could easily share that data with a tablet. Sprint charges $30 per month for this feature for unlimited data (which includes 4G), while Verizon Wireless’ plan is $20 for 2GB. AT&T and T-Mobile do not yet offer phones with this capability. (Tethering via USB is sometimes an option, but it’s inconvenient.) I think carriers E6400 Battery should sell these smart phones and tablets as a bundle. You would get the slate at a discount but would still need to pay the separate hotspot data fee. Another option could be pairing a dedicated mobile hotspot device like the MiFi or Sprint Overdrive with a tablet, though the higher cost of data ($59 per month) would mean carriers would charge less for the device bundle.

Hotspot Phone + Tablet: $499, plus $30 for data

Two-Year Total: $1,219

Mobile Hotspot Device + Tablet: $349, plus $35 for data

Two-Year Total: $1,189

No-Contract Pricing, Including Session-Priced Data: One of the options should mirror AT&T’s, where the customer can pay more for the device but less for data per month—no contract required. This is something that T-Mobile already does with its battery phones. AT&T’s going rate of $25 per month for 2GB seems fair. And you shouldn’t be limited to signing up for a whole 30 days at a time. Session-based pricing could cost anywhere from $3 to $5 per day.

Price of Tablet: $599, plus $25 per month for data

Two-Year Total: $1,199

Of course, I don’t expect all of the big four carriers to provide every option—it could very well get confusing—but I do hope that consumers are offered at least two of these menu options. Samsung and others will be selling good battery Wi-Fi-only versions of their tablets, but built-in mobile broadband makes these devices a lot more useful on the go, whether it’s for surfing the web, streaming video, or downloading apps. The tablet revolution is here, but unless service providers get more nimble with their plans the vast majority of consumers will stick with Wi-Fi.

HP Mini 210 HD Review

The Mini 210 HD is the latest netbook from HP, Latitude 131L Battery offering a full 720P-compatible 1366x768 resolution on a compact 10.1-inch display. This model includes the 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor standard-with the faster 1.83GHz N475 for $25 more-as well as Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics. In this review we see how well this netbook holds up against the competition and if you should consider this over a slightly more powerful CULV notebook.

Build and Design

The new design of the HP Mini really helps to enhance its looks and raise the expectation that this netbook isn't a toy but rather a full-fledged designer notebook. The new Mini uses painted panels for the screen cover sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery and bottom cover, adding a touch of color to each model. Compared to normal designs that leave the bottom with bland, unfinished black plastic, this really helps in the looks department. The interior was also given a facelift, featuring a flush-mount Synaptics touchpad with integrated buttons. It also makes use of a redesigned Chiclet keyboard with integrated function-key lights to show when certain features are activated. The new look is nothing short of astonishing.

Build quality is very good even with the bottom panel that snaps into place. When completely closed the HP Mini 210 has a sturdy feel and doesn't show much flex under pressure. The screen cover does a good job of protecting the LCD and the bottom cover doesn't creak or feel loose when properly reinstalled. On the inside the Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery keyboard feels solid in its tray with very little flex or movement. The palmrest also holds up well, although if you have adult-sized hands your palms are hanging over the notebook and almost resting on the desk surface. In short, it is a pretty solid netbook with all things considered.

The HP Mini 210 has one of the most DIY-upgrade friendly designs we have ever seen in the NotebookReview offices. You can access all internal components without ever using a screwdriver ... and the same can't be said about other notebooks. HP designed the Mini 210 with sony VGP-BPS9 battery a bottom panel that comes off using old-fashion finger power. With the bottom panel off users have access to the Wi-Fi card, open mini-PCIe slot for a Broadcom HD or WWAN card, system memory and hard drive. Any upgrade can be performed in seconds, and is much less intimidating for even the most basic of users.

Screen and Speakers

The display on the HP Mini 210 HD is unlike most other netbooks. It has a higher WXGA (1366x768) resolution instead of the usual 1024x600 panel found on other models. This is useful in a number of ways, including properly sony VGP-BPS9/S battery displaying menu windows and reducing excessive horizontal or vertical scrolling. Another added benefit is being able to watch 720P video, although it also relies on you having a Broadcom CrystalHD decoder card configured with the system. Without that card the system would be unable to play the content, let alone display it on the higher resolution panel at reasonable framerates.

The panel itself is easy to read--at least with my eyes--and text doesn't appear to be that small compared to other mobile devices. If you can read VGP-BPS13/B small text on a mobile phone, you should be able to view the screen without any problems. Color and contrast are very nice, although at times I felt reflections off the all-glass surface seemed to obscure part of the panel. Backlight levels were great for viewing the screen in bright office conditions, but outdoor viewing was out of the question. Viewing angles were average compared to other notebooks, with colors starting to invert or distort when the screen was tilted about 15 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles were better, but the reflections seemed to obscure the panel past 45 to 50 degrees.

The small speakers on the HP Mini 210 HD are located on the front edge of the palmrest, PA3534U-1BRS angled downward towards your lap. On a flat desktop they easily filled up a small room with music but once you placed the netbook in your lap they became muffled and easily blocked by clothing. Sound quality was average compared to other similarly sized netbooks, with weak bass and midrange.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The HP Mini 210 HD features a 93% fullsize Chiclet keyboard. For short term use the keyboard is comfortable to type on and feels as strong as typing on a regular notebook. The size though can feel slightly cramped depending on if you Dell GD761 Battery are used to typing on a larger notebook. For short term travel or light usage in the home for web browsing you probably won't have any problem. If you intended to use this as your primary system, you might want to consider moving up to the 11.6" ultraportable form-factor which is closer to standard full-size while still being very portable.

Function keys on the keyboard are direct access, meaning you don't need to press the "Fn" button to adjust the screen brightness Dell Vostro 1510 Battery or enable Wi-Fi. Another feature is built-in indicator lights for the mute and wireless on/off buttons. While there is no performance different between this and side mounted lights, it helps in the aesthetics department.

The touchpad on the Mini 210 HD is a button-less Synaptics ClickPad with multitouch support. Compared to the twitchy variant found on the HP ProBook recently reviewed, we found no such problems on this particular version. Unlike the earlier version, if your finger was resting good battery on a pre-defined left/right button box, any movement on the main touchpad section would activate pinch-zoom. Now those areas are dead zones, preventing a lot of frustration we previously had. The touchpad surface was very smooth and almost glossy in texture. Sensitivity was excellent without any adjustment needed and acceleration on both axes was equal. It's hard to say if the touchpad has reached the same ease of use level of the one found on the MacBooks', but it is getting very close.

Ports and Features

The HP Mini 210 HD features three USB 2.0 ports, VGA-out, one audio headset jack, and Ethernet. The system also includes a SDHC card slot. Optional battery features include GPS, WWAN, and a Broadcom CrystalHD card for HD video decoding.

Sony’s Alpha NEX-3 and NEX-5 Are The Company’s First Interchangeable Lens Cameras

You know a category’s going mainstream when Sony jumps on board. That’s how Akku Sony VGP-BPS8 we felt when the company debuted its first, er, netbook the original Vaio P, and it’s how we feel now about interchangeable lens digital cameras. These cameras have the guts of a point-and-shoot, but take removable lenses, just like a DSLR. Olympus and Panasonic pioneered this hybrid style of camera, and Samsung recently jumped on the bandwagon, but now that Sony has released the Alpha NEX-3 and NEX-5, the category seems to be picking up momentum.

And having spent a little time with the Akku Sony VGP-BPS8a NEX-3 (pictured) and NEX-5, we can tell you these aren’t just me-too cameras. They’re by far the smallest and lightest cameras in this class, so people looking for DSLR quality but not DSLR heft might actually find the right combination of photo quality and camera size. While both are small, the NEX-5 has a bigger hand grip, while the NEX-3 has a more rounded design, reminiscent of a point-and-shoot.

The two 14.2-MP cameras use in-lens image stabilization (right now, there are three options: an 18-55mm, 18-200mm, Sony VGP-BPS8 Battery and a 16mm wide angle lens). For $200, Sony is selling an adapter that will allow Sony’s Alpha DSLR lenses to work with these cameras. The company will also sell ultra-wide and fish-eye converters for $139 each. Both cameras also have 3-inch LCDs with a high resolution of 921,000 pixels.

Both cameras have a user interface that’s designed to be novice-friendly; instead VGP-BPS9/B of cramming in lots of buttons, Sony added soft keys, like the kind you’d find on a phone, whose functions vary depending on the menu you’re in. In our brief hands-on, we especially liked a mode that lets you use the scroll wheel on the back to adjust the sharpness of the background. We think achieving that depth-of-field effect is the number one “artsy” thing amateurs want to pull off, and Sony makes it foolproof.

Finally, both cameras record HD video, VGP-BPS9A/B Battery except that while the NEX-5 records 1080p video using the advanced AVCHD codec, the NEX-3 records 720p video using the simpler MP4 codec. These specs more closely match what you’d find in a pocket camcorder.

Oddly, you’ll pay a premium for an 18-55mm lens, the standard size that comes with any DSLR kit. The NEX-3 starts t $549 VGP-BPS9/S battery with a 16mm lens and costs $599 with an 18-55mm. The NEX-5 starts at $649 with a 16mm lens and costs $699 with an 18-55mm lens. Look for them in July.

McAfee Total Protection 2010

This security suite makes your PC run faster, but it's not as effective Akku Sony VGP-BPS8 as competitors in staving off attacks.

Most people have heard of McAfee: it's a ubiquitous security company whose software already comes preinstalled on scads of PCs. Since the last time we reviewed McAfee's Total Protection suite, the company has beefed up its PC tune-up utility, which slashed our PC's boot time this time around. This software makes it easy to back up key files and folders online, and in a way that doesn't slow down your computer. While the interface isn't Akku Sony VGP-BPS8a our favorite, and it doesn't emphasize parental controls the way other suites do, it's a winner when it comes to speed. But is it as effective as the competition?

Setup and User Interface

When installing Total Protection, the program forces you to manually remove conflicting security software (Symantec Norton 360 Sony VGP-BPS8 Battery does this automatically), and only shows you one piece of conflicting software at a time, which further slows down the process.

Like other programs, the main screen uses familiar green-and-red banners to indicate if your system VGP-BPS9/B is secure or if something is amiss. Beneath a color-coded banner, you'll see, in list form, whether your firewall and scanning are on, if your updates are current, and if your subscription is active. Below that is a list called Features, under which you'll find collapsible fields such as Parental Controls, PC Optimization, Web and Email Protection, and Virus and Spyware Protection. All in all, it's easy enough to tell at a glance if your computer is secure, but the user interface doesn't feel quite as streamlined as Symantec Norton VGP-BPS9A/B 360's, which divides the main screen into just four clickable areas that pertain to backup, identity protection, PC tune-up, and security.

PC Tune-Up and Performance

According to several third-party testers, Total Protection is one of the least effective suites in stopping viruses. On Anti-Virus Comparative's tests, VGP-BPS9/S it only blocked about 38 percent, almost half that of Kaspersky (59 percent). Dennis Publishing gave it a combined protection score of just 43, well below Norton 360 (80), Kaspersky Internet Security (76), and even BitDefender (68). However, it redeemed itself slightly with AV-Test.org, picking up 87.2 percent of malware. That's by no means good--Kaspersky and Norton both detected about 98 percent--but it did beat out BitDefender by 3 percent.

Although McAfee's PC optimization package shortened our boot time, its toolset is less comprehensive Dell Studio 17 Battery than what competitors offer. Its QuickClean tool erases unnecessary files, while the Defragmenter actually just activates the same Disk Defragmenter program that you can find in the Control Panel of any Windows machine. There's also a file shredder, which oddly makes a distinction between (but never explains) basic, safe, comprehensive, and complete shredding. These extra choices make shredding seem more intimidating and confusing.

While Total Protection's interface isn't our favorite, the performance Dell Studio 1737 Battery impact was at least minimal. Firefox opened in 1 second by default, and 2 with a full scan running. And after we ran optimization processes, the boot time dropped to 54 seconds from 1:17.

Backup

Interestingly, when you purchase a subscription to Total Protection, you'll receive three licenses to the software, but six licenses for online backup, Dell Studio 1535 Battery including three that have 2GB of storage and three with 1GB of online storage space

. When creating a backup set, you use check boxes to select files and folders in an interface that looks like what you would see if you chose to open a file from any program in Windows. The setup wizard tells you your upload speed, depending on your connection (ours was 574.6 kbps over Wi-Fi) and how much you could upload in 24 hours (in our case, between 1GB and 4.3GB).

You can toggle between having faster computer performance and faster VGP-BPS13B/Q backups (the quicker your backup, the more likely it is to slow down your PC). You can see the estimated time to back up the initial set, the size of the set, and the number of files (ours was about 45 minutes for 78 files totaling 39.7MB). Later, you can choose to start backing up immediately, wait until the PC is idle, or customize settings further: for instance, you can tell the program not to back up unless you've been idle for a certain number of minutes or if the CPU reaches a certain percentage of activity. These detailed backup settings are a standout feature for Total Protection.

Parental Controls

Unlike Norton 360, which compels users to download an additional piece dell Latitude E5500 Battery of parental control software, Total Protection's parental controls are baked into the security suite. Unfortunately, the interface is less intuitive, and the features skimpier.

McAfee's wizard interface means that you have to proceed through a sequence of screens to adjust the settings you want (Norton 360's tabbed interface lets you jump around, battery skipping categories that aren't of interest to you). You can set a web browsing schedule, as well as select from one of five age ranges (under 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 18). Each age range has a default set of categories, such as websites with profane language, E6400 Battery that are either approved or forbidden (there are 18 categories in total, not including the amorphous "other" label). While it's convenient that you can block or allow certain sites, it's a bummer that you can only create one profile (Norton 360 lets you create a profile for each of your children).

Also missing from these parental controls are power over social networks and instant messaging accounts, the ability toshiba PA3534U-1BRS Battery to monitor (and not just block) kids' activity, and the option to prevent children from disseminating personal information, such as addresses and phone numbers.

Verdict

People who know their way around their computer and don't require the good battery simplest interface are likely the same people who will appreciate McAfee Total Protection 2010's low performance impact and speed. However, we're not enamored with its poor performance among third-party testing services. Plus, the UI isn't particularly attractive, and its parental controls are relatively weak. While it will store your files safe in the cloud and make your notebook run faster, we suggest saving $10 and picking up Symantec battery Norton 360.

Will Facebook Places Make Us More Human or Just Marketing Pawns?

For years critics of Facebook have blamed the social networking service VGP-BPS8 for making its users less, well, social. Why go out when you can just sit at home and tend to a virtual farm, muse on someone else’s wall, or try to break your high score on Bejeweled Blitz? Facebook Places has the potential to silence those naysayers. It’s a new service (available in the updated iPhone app and via a mobile site) that encourages VGP-BPS9/B users to check in at bars, coffee shops, concerts, restaurants, and other locations where we interact with flesh-and-blood—and not just virtual—friends.

According to Facebook, the goal of this new feature is to keep the Third Place alive. That’s what sociologist Ray Oldenberg VGP-BPS9/S calls the vital public spaces that exist between home and work, where we share our stories and ideas. During the launch event, vice president of product Chris Cox, who referenced Oldenberg, argued that Facebook Places would encourage its members not just to gawk at friends’ photos, but participate in the real world. However, what will we sacrifice by popping our protective bubbles?

Like Foursquare and Gowalla, Facebook Places lets you check in to various Dell Studio 17 Battery businesses and locations, but this service isn’t a game with badges or mayorships. Facebook says it’s really about sharing stories and “staying connected” to the friends around you. And yet Facebook Places will integrate with both Foursquare and Gowalla, leveraging Facebook’s API. So if you use either of those apps, you’ll be able to share those check-ins on your Facebook feed. The popular user-review service Yelp will also leverage Facebook’s platform. As you might expect, marketers want to be your friend, too.

Every time you check in to a location, you can Dell Studio 1737 Battery see what other Facebook members are nearby (People Here Now), and an update will get posted to your Facebook page. Your check-ins will also appear on that location’s Facebook Places page, whether it’s a park, restaurant, or store. Unfortunately, according to one early review, you can’t block merchants from posting your check-in notices. So is Facebook Places really a do-good initiative or is it just another way for companies to hawk their wares based on your Dell Studio 1535 Battery whereabouts?

A how-to guide distributed to marketers by Facebook says that “these check-in stories VGP-BPS9A/B can generate powerful, organic impressions in friends’ News Feeds, extending your brand’s reach to new customers.” As TechCruch noted, while businesses cannot target people who check-in to places, they can target those who Like a business’ Places page. Facebook says that users of this new service won’t be bombarded with location-based offers at the start, but there’s no way the company can ignore an ad market that’s expected to ring up $4.1 billion in sales by 2015.

The good news is that Facebook has made a concerted Sony VGP-BPS13 Battery effort to give Places’ users more control over their privacy settings. For example, by default the service will share your location only with friends. You can then narrow this group to only the people you specify, or open it up to friends of friends, or even everyone. When you check in to a place, you can remove yourself from the People Here Now feature if you prefer not to be discovered (though, in this case, it’s all or nothing). Another Facebook Places feature is tagging, so you can notify friends when you’ve arrived at a location. If you grant permission, friends can even check you into a location.

And that’s where Places really gets tricky. As Facebook opens up its service to third parties, the company says “your friends Sony VGP-BPS13A/B Battery will be able to share your check-ins with the applications they use to help create new social experiences.” If Facebook doesn’t have the right safeguards in place, however, some of these experiences could be harmful. This week thousands of members enticed by good battery an offer to download a Dislike button app were duped into adding $5 per month to their cell phone bills. Location adds yet another layer of potential danger.

So, yes, in a way Facebook Places does put the “social” back in social networking. And the sheer Dell GD761 Battery number of people expected to use this service could enrich our lives as conversations get more local. But all of those drop pins falling from the sky could really sting unless Facebook deftly balances its desire to help us share stories with the temptation to line marketers’ pockets using our coordinates.

Editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer directs LAPTOP’s online and print editorial Sony Laptop Battery content and has been covering mobile and wireless technology for over a decade. Each week Mark’s SpoonFed column provides his insights and analysis of the biggest mobile trends and news. You can also follow him on Twitter.