Sunday, January 23, 2011

HP Pavilion dv6-2020SA Review

The HP Pavilion dv6-2020sa is a brand new notebook from the one of the leading manufacturers of laptop computers, Hewlett Packard (HP). It comes in an Espresso Imprint design and the glossy black finish with a discreet circular pattern is the most amazing highlight of the notebook. The energy-efficient, mercury-free backlight LED display gives a clear and detailed while watching any kind of movie. The HD ready display screen (1366 x 768) of the Windows 7 laptop has a size of about 15.6 inches. The highly efficient AMD Turion II M500 processor included in the HP Pavilion dv6-2020sa battery provides sufficient power to run any kind of application with the 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. Pace and smoothness is added to these applications with the 3072 MB DDR3 RAM memory which can be extended up to 8 GB. The total hard disk capacity of 320 GB is enough to save all your favourite music tracks and images.

This 15.6" HP Pavilion dv6-2020SA notebook is your mobile entertainment partner. Enjoy sophisticated elegance and the power to multitask and get the most out of your multimedia content.

With a choice of striking HP Imprint finishes, this 15.6-inch notebook is your mobile entertainment partner. Enjoy sophisticated elegance and the power to multitask and get the most out of your multimedia content. Get crisp, bright images and reduce your environmental footprint. The HP Pavilion dv6-2020SA Notebook PC features an energy-efficient, mercury-free backlit LED display. Thats good news for the planet both during and after your displays lifecycle.

The 2020sa is a media laptop so it has a wide screen. This means that watching DVD's or online video is more like watching it on a TV. Video playback is also good because of the bright and vibrant screen.

HP DV6-2020SA battery life is meant to be around 2 hours, but is no where near 2 hours when watching video or listening to music and is reduced to between 1 hour - 1.5 hours.

Powered by the 2.2 GHz AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile Processor M500, and with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium on board, this Entertainment Notebook PC from HP is the perfect partner for fun, communication and mobility. It features a full size keyboard with integrated numeric keypad and a 15.6 inch HD BrightView display, yet is portable enough to take on your travels.

Technical Details
  • Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
  • Processor: AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile Processor M500 2.2 GHz, Level 2 cache 1 MB
  • Memory: 3072 MB (1 x 1024 MB + 1 x 2048 MB), supports up to 8 GB DDR3 memory
  • Storage: 320 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm, up to 12 GB partition for system recovery
  • Lightscribe Super Multi DVD Writer (+/-R +/-RW) with Double Layer support, SATA optical drive - Create silkscreen-quality disc labels direct from your PC with LightScribe: Just burn, flip, burn
  • 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
  • Mobile entertainment: HP Pavilion Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone, VGA low-light, HP Mobile Remote Control
  • Communication: Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN 802.11 b/g WLAN, 1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
  • Display: 15.6 inch Diagonal High Definition HP LED Brightview Display
  • Display Resolution: 1366 x 768
  • Video: ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics, up to 1470 MB Total Available Graphics Memory
  • Sound: Altec Lansing speakers
  • Keyboard: Full size keyboard with integrated numeric keypad, Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad
  • Ports 4 USB 2.0 (4th shared with eSATA port), 1 HDMI connector, 1 eSata + USB connector, 1 VGA port, 1 RJ45 Ethernet connector, Expansion port 3, 2 headphones-out, 1 mic-in, consumer IR, cable docking connector
  • Power: 90 W AC Power Adapter, 6-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) Pavilion DV6-2020SA battery
  • Software: Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (60-Day Trial Version), Microsoft Internet Explorer, Windows Live Messenger, Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player, HP MediaSmart Suite, HP Total Care Setup, HP Total Care Advisor, HP ProtectSmart, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Windows Media Center, Windows Mail, HP Games Console with hours of free game play, Norton Online Backup (30-day trial)
  • Recovery partition (including possibility to recover system, applications and drivers separately), optional re-allocation of recovery partition, recovery CD/DVD creation tool
  • Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (60 days live update)
  • Notebook Help & Support
  • Additional information: P/N: VJ342EA #ABU, UPC/EAN code: 884962381106
  • Product colour: HP Imprint - Espresso
  • Weight: Out of package: 2.88 kg, Packed: 4.72 kg (Weight will vary by configuration)
  • Dimensions: Out of package: 25.8 cm (L) x 37.85 cm (W) x 3.4 cm (min H) /4.2 cm (max H), Packed: 450 x 160 x 345 mm
The 15.6 inch high-definition HP BrightView display delivers a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels and helps movies and pictures and games come alive with crisp and vibrant colours. This performance is enhanced by the ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics, which can produce incredible effects for a superb viewing experience.

The HP Pavilion dv6-2020SA is a really nice, solid laptop and you really can’t go wrong with it. The price makes it very affordable. The unit has a nice, sleek design and good all-around performance. It also offers a solid balance of features which really makes this laptop usable as a desktop replacement aslong as it is now left unplugged for a long time

So, despite a few setbacks, you really can’t go wrong with the dv6-2020SA if you are looking for a solid, balanced home laptop without spending too much money.

Measuring 25.8cms x 37.85cms and weighing 2.88kg, the Pavilion dv6-2020SA is not necessarily the easiest laptop to carry around with you. HP Pavilion Pavilion dv6-2020SA has a 15.6 inchi widescreen with a resolution of 1366×768 which is easy on the eyes, however, I feel that a higher resolution would have helped as everything looks pretty big. On the plus side, you will certainly enjoy 720p hi-def movies on the HP dv6, especially with the Altec Lansing speakers. With HP Pavilion DV6-2020SA Battery 6 Cell battery, The HP dv6 series Notebook PC features an energy-efficient, mercury-free backlit LED display. That’s good news for the planet both during and after your display’s lifecycle. The graphics controller is powered by the Radeon 4650 graphics card with 1GB RAM which has plenty of muscle of show 720p on the native screen or 1080p through the HDMI port. HP ProtectSmart automatically detects if a notebook has been dropped and, before the notebook hits the floor, automatically stops the hard drive from spinning, helping to prevent the loss of files and data. Priced at AED 4,599 (US$1,250), the dv6-2020SA is a decently priced laptop as long as you don’t intend of moving around with it.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Lenovo ThinkPad T410s Review

At the top of Lenovo’s product heap is the ThinkPad line. The top of the ThinkPad line is the T-series. And the top of the T-series, even in Lenovo’s own estimation, is the T410s. Few laptops can be all things to all people, but the ThinkPad T410s comes dangerously close.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s has a 14" display with a resolution of 1440x900. This is higher than the standard resolution of 1366x768 found on most laptops between 11.6" and 15.6" and the extra pixels are nice to have. The display has a matte coating which, unlike the gloss coating found on most laptop displays, does not reflect light. This, combined with a bright backlight, makes the Lenovo ThinkPad T410s battery usable even in direct sunlight. The matte coating does have a negative impact on image quality, however. Movies and games have a washed-out appearance and dark scenes are difficult to view because of poor black levels.

In terms of ports, the T410s model has an ExpressCard 34 slot for expansion, eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port, 2 dedicated USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, and a DisplayPort for an external monitor. It does lack a FireWire port, but that's a minor subtraction. If you're interested in a laptop that gives you every wireless connection option on the planet, this is the computer for you. It comes with built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, internal 3G for cellular connectivity, GPS and even WiMax 4G. The GPS and WiMax connectivity do not come standard, but rather as add-ons, but still great to have nonetheless.

Lenovo ThinkPad T410s Specs:
  • Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-M520
  • Memory: 4GB RAM
  • Storage: 250GB hard drive
  • Optical Drive: DVD±RW
  • Screen: 14.1 inches (1,440x900 native resolution)
  • Graphics: Integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD
  • Weight: 3.2 pounds
  • Dimensions (HWD): 0.8x13.3x9.5 inches
  • Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
Lenovo recently celebrated the milestone of selling 60 million ThinkPad notebooks. That's a ThinkPad for every person in the United Kingdom, to put it in perspective. Moreover, the PC maker claims these things sell like electronic hotcakes, to the tune of 14 per minute. Lenovo doesn't reach these types of numbers by selling outdated hardware spruced up with brushed aluminum, and clever marketing. The company targets tech-savvy business consumers and home users who want light, durable notebooks that offer cutting edge technology. The notebook we're reviewing today is an improvement over the original T410 we took a look at earlier this year. This latest iteration offers consumers a feature that gives it an important advantage over the majority of other laptops on the market. The ThinkPad T410s battery is the first model from Lenovo to offer NVIDIA Optimus technology, which provides users with seamless switching between discrete GPU performance and the power saving benefits associated with integrated graphics.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s looks like your average T-series ThinkPad until you notice it was put on a diet. The body is much thinner--with a condensed port layout-and the screen cover is now almost half as thick. Compared to the launch of the T400s, bringing the new keyboard design to the T-series, not much has changed this time around inside the notebook. The T410 and T410s share the same newer keyboard design and textured touchpad and both models even have the same relocated indicator lights below the display. From a top view looking down the speaker design is identical on both models and the only significant difference being the fingerprint scanner which is under the direction keys on the T410s and right next to the touchpad on the T410. To the average user this notebook looks the same, just slightly smaller.

Alone due to the GMA HD graphics chip integrated into the processor, we would expect a not too good 3D graphics performance. The shading in Cinebench R10 only achieves 1457 points, and lies behind other systems with the same GMA HD graphics chip. Similar results are found using the 3DMark06 test, where the CPU score is clearly appropriate for the processor, but the total score is significantly lower than that of similar devices with the same graphics chip. The same applies to the 3DMark03 and 3DMark05 scored values of 4347 points and 2834 points respectively. A later test then brought significantly better results to light. All the tests were carried out with the profile set to "Maximum Performance". From these results it is obvious that the Lenovo T410s battery has relatively big variations in graphics performance.

Lenovo also found room above the function-key row for dedicated volume, mute, and microphone-mute buttons. (The latter is especially useful for those work-from-home Voice Over IP conferences when the kids come barging in.) And above the screen, activated by the key combination Function+PageUp, is the ThinkLight: a small white LED that sheds just enough light to show off the key tops in a dark room. The solution is old-school compared with the sleek backlit keyboards found on the likes of the HP EliteBook line, but if adding a backlight would mess with the feel of the ThinkPad keyboard, we’ll stick with the ThinkLight.

The ThinkPad T410s's Windows Experience Index (WEI) of 3.9 (out of 7.9) is slightly lower than we anticipated. The overall rating was brought down by the score for Graphics (desktop performance for Windows Aero), the lowest component score corresponding to the WEI. Other subsystems all scored much better: 5.0 for Primary hard disk (Disk data transfer rate); 5.2 for Gaming Graphics (3D business and gaming graphics performance); 5.5 for RAM (Memory operations per second); and 6.5 for Processor (calculations per second).

Both the ThinkPad T410 and the T410s support up to 6 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 (4 GB 1333 MHz + 2 GB 1067 MHz), or up to 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR4 (4 GB 1333 MHz x 2) memory and Hard Drive options range from 80 to 128 GB SSD drives or 160 GB up to a 500 GB (7200 RPM) Hard Drive.

The T410s sports the same keyboard that we fell in love with on the T400s. It feature the strong tactile feel that made Lenovo famous, along with new, enlarged Esc and Delete keys.

Like most ThinkPads, the T410s features both a TrackPoint pointing stick and a touchpad. We're big fans of the TrackPoint because it's highly accurate and allows you to navigate the desktop without lifting your fingers from the home row. However, if you prefer touchpads, you'll appreciate the extremely accurate, textured surface on the touchpad. It also supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolls. Unlike some touchpads we've used, zooming in and out is smooth and accurate.

The Intel Core i5 processor drives the Lenovo ThinkPad T410s. You have two choices: the Intel Core i5-540M 2.53 GHz processor and the Intel Core i5-529M 2.4 GHz processor. Integrated in these processors is the Turbo Boost technology, which accelerates the i5 processors when it is needed. Supporting these powerful processors is a minimum of 6 GB of DDR3 read access memory. A user may load up to a maximum of 8 GB of DDR4 RAM in the Lenovo ThinkPad T410s. Therefore, the RAM/i5 processor combination promises seamless performance even when running heavy applications.

With its relatively small size, the battery pack for the ThinkPad T410s is also a smaller six-cell pack. In my DVD playback test, the system was able to run just short of three hours before going into standby mode. This isn't as high as the extremely thin but long last Apple MacBook Pro but it is better than average for a Lenovo ThinkPad T410s battery pack of this size. Expect more traditional usage to yield three and a half hours of running time.

To maximize battery life, notebook computer processors are often designed to save more energy and run cooler than desktop processors. The drawback is slower performance, but more memory can help, which it won't consume energy or radiate heat. Even better, up to 4GB of RAM can now be found in budget configurations. If you want more memory later, expansion is often a simple procedure.

The configuration we tested as configured is currently priced at $1779, though there are certainly a multitude of options to choose from or omit, which can offer a lower price point. Our model's price tag is relatively expensive as far as notebooks are concerned, but definitely in line with ultra mobile notebook models that feature similar high-end components. It's also worth mentioning that although we listed the standard warranty at 1 year, Lenovo offers up to 4 years of coverage at an additional cost.

With high performance and portability scores, the Lenovo ThinkPad T410s laptop battery sure sticks out like a nail among 14-inchers. One might as well get a hammer and drive it in to your cache of useful machines. The Lenovo ThinkPad T410s comes highly recommended despite its high price tag.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Dell Latitude E6410 Laptop PC

Dell has been building notebooks under the Latitude nameplate, well, forever, right? It seems that way, but the series keeps trucking on as the company continues to load the latest goods onto the platform. The E6410 and E6510 builds upon the success of the previous generation but ditches the 2009 specs for chips that are a bit more 2010.

Packing a standard dual-core Intel setup, the Dell Latitude E6410 battery specs are what you'd expect of a modern business laptop. Our particular setup came with a Core i5-520M; that CPU is no longer an option on Dell's site, though you can still find it in the FastTrack C2 version. (Our unit is closer to the FastTrack C4A, as it includes the LCD panel upgrade.) If you custom configure the E6410, you can choose between the i3-380M (2.53GHz but no Turbo), i5-460M (2.53GHz base with 2.80GHz Turbo), i5-560M (2.66GHz base with 3.2GHz Turbo), or the top-end i7-640M (2.80GHz base and 3.46GHz Turbo). Given the cost of most upgrades, typical users will be fine with the i3-380M or i5-460M. Mix in the standard options on most of the other components and you have a laptop that should perform well in most tasks that don't need a better GPU than Intel's HD Graphics.
Dell Latitude E6410 Specifications:
  • 14.1 LED-backlit WXGA+ 1440x900 Display
  • Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
  • Intel Core i7 620M processor (2.66GHz, 4MB cache)
  • NVIDIA NVS 3100M Dedicated Graphics with 512MB VRAM
  • 4GB DDR3 RAM
  • 250GB 7200RPM hard drive (Western Digital Scorpio Black)
  • Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6200AGN
  • Built-in Bluetooth v2.1+EDR
  • 8X DVD burner
  • One-year limited warranty
  • 9-cell Li-ion battery (85Wh)
  • Weight: 4.26lbs starting (5.5lbs configured)
  • Dimensions: 13.2 x 9.4 x 1-1.2-inches
  • MSRP: $960 starting ($1,865 closest configuration)
I have been using computers since the early 80's when I built a Heathkit computer. This is my first Dell. I have a Dell Latitude E6410 and I think I may have a powerhouse--i7 chip, 8 G RAM, 500 G HD. But, I believe Dell management has demonstrated extremely poor judgment by not providing a complete User's Guide in pdf format. They provide a short document that shows the computer and labels the visible parts. Not much more! Explanations and details are missing. I know Dell is capable of preparing a User's Guide because I found a very good one for their Dell Latitude ATG D630.

The Dell Latitude E6410's keyboard isn’t bad either, a traditional rather than Scrabble-tile type, feeling reasonably solid with little in the way of centre flex. It’s backlit too, with only a little white-light bleed from between the tessellated keys.

Dell integrates two input options as a mobile mouse replacement right away. For one thing, you'll find a touchpad that distinguishes itself by its especially gliding-eager surface and a very good response. For another, the Latitude also has a TrackStick, which allows navigating without readjusting and thus has a clear advantage in certain applications.

However, the TrackStick didn't completely convince us in practical use. The TrackStick's texture can't keep the finger from slipping off, which makes the aforementioned readjusting necessary here. The not quite convincing responsiveness is likely due to that, too.

The quibbles we have with the Latitude E6410 are minor. We would like to see a larger touch pad and better speakers, but that’s about it. Companies looking for a laptop platform to standardize on for years to come will find the E6410 has it all.

The new Dell Latitude E6410 battery still maintains high level of durability chassis and enclosure. The laptop is protected by Tri-Metal casing that undergo several crash tests. It also features a free-fall sensor on the motherboard that protects your system against accidental drops and it works even when the system is off.

Like other Latitudes, this one is made of a trifecta of metals: magensium alloy casing, steel reinformcements on the interior chassis, and zinc-reinforced hinges. It also adds a backlit keyboard and colored lids (red and blue are the fun options; black, the safe one) for a dash of style.

A SmartCard reader is included, however, and this lets you access your data via a SmartCard system, should your workplace support one.

Protection for your data is well taken care of in terms of the hardware. The laptop features a metal-strengthened chassis and has achieved the military-grade MIL STD 810G standard. This makes it suitable for use in a broad variety of extreme environments and climates.

As with most of Dell's business machines, the E6410 has both a pointer and a trackpad. The pointer is pleasingly responsive. Although the trackpad is small, its smooth surface feels just right under your finger. But the trackpad buttons are set too far into the chassis for our liking -- your thumb tends to rub against the edge of the laptop when you press them.

Overall, the E6410 is very similar to the E6400 and uses what Dell calls “tri-metal” construction. There was not much to improve on the E6400’s design and the visible changes are relatively small. The top of the front edge of the E6410’s palm rest is slightly bevelled and a rim around the SD card slot results in a card in the slot sitting flush with the surface (suggestion to Dell: Provide an SD to micro-SD adaptor instead of the plastic filler). The display bezel has acquired two small rubber bumpers in the top corners, a very small bumper on the left side of the latch and there are two new bumpers behind the keyboard to support the bottom of the display when closed. Hopefully, these will prevent the cosmetic damage that occurred on the E6400 when the display bezel rubbed on the keyboard surround during transport. A less visible change is that the base of the E6410 contains larger air vents than provided on the Dell Latitude E6400 battery.

One thing we do have to note is that the entry-level model priced at $699 is a bit of a joke, shipping with a 160GB hard drive and only 1GB DDR3 memory. The cost to upgrade to 2x2GB DDR3 is a rather exorbitant $145, and most of the other upgrades are very expensive as well. If you get a good sale, things might be better, but count on a reasonable build costing around $900 to $1000 minimum. The one upgrade we do like is the 1440x900 LCD; sure, contrast ratio isn't great, but at least we're not stuck with a 16:9 768p glossy panel. As a whole, the C4A FastTrack (i5-540M, WXGA+, Quadro NVS 3100, 4GB DDR3, and 250GB HDD) is a good blend of performance and features, currently going for $1279, but as we mentioned we're running an IGP-only setup so we have a bit of a special case.

On the E6410, the display retains the conventional 16:10 ratio widescreen. Resolution options are similar to that of the E6400 - 1280x800 and 1440x900. However, the E6510 switches to a 16:9 ratio 15.6" widescreen. Three resolutions are available, a typical 1366x768 one, a HD+ 1600x900, and even a Full HD 1920x1080 panel. All panels on both panels are anti-glare (say no to glossy!), have LED backlighting. Display is driven either by the integrated graphics on the processor, or a discrete NVIDIA NVS 3100M 512MB solution.

Dell Latitude E6410 is a solid business laptop and its price starts at around $929 until $2048. Finally, if you are looking for a classic business laptop, look no further than this Latitude.

With their emphasis on stability, inter-compatibility, global support and business-class control, Latitude E-Family laptops can help save IT time and money within your organization.

As to the port design, Dell Latitude E6410 provides 3 USB2.0 ports and a eSATA/USB2.0 combo port,which can be equal to 4 USB ports. Meanwhile, the eSATA port can fully meet business people’s demand of high speed data transmission. Besides, Dell Latitude E6410 also has a HDMI port which facilitates job and entertainment greatly.

Features & Specifications of the new Dell Latitude E6410 laptop are: Brand: Dell Type: Laptop Model: Latitude E6410 Processor: Intel Core i7 or Intel Core i5 processor Chipset: Mobile Intel® QM57 Express Chipset Displays:14.1? inch WXGA+ Anti-Glare LED Display RAM: up to 8GB2 DDR3 Dual Channel Memory1 Hard Disk: 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive up to 500GB Optical Drives: DVD-ROM, DVD+/-RW, Blu-Ray Graphics Cards: NVIDIA NVS 3100M 512MB gDDR3/Intel HD Graphics 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet network interface adaptor Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth® 3.0 Intel® Centrino 802.11 a/b/g/n and WiMax 802.16e Fingerprint Reader Webcam,Mic.

Dell Latitude E6410 is Dell’s top of the line 14.1” business laptop. It’s design remains largely identical to the E6400 with the same magnesium alloy body but it has been updated with the latest components including Intel Core i7 and LED displays. As usual Dell offers a range of options to suit the buyer’s needs, from high performance parts such as solid state drives, high capacity (9 cell) batteries, and up to 8GB of memory, to basic options such as standard hard disk drives and Core i5 processors, the Latitude E6410 battery is suitable for basic business needs and power users looking for a portable desktop replacement.

The extensive individualization options in many areas are definitely a great advantage of the Latitude E6410. This starts with the looks (interchangeable cover) over the hardware component configuration (CPU; GPU, HDD/SSD, RAM) and the communication modules (HSPA, WiMax, etc), up to the numerous available battery solutions. All of this has its price, but allows the option of an uniquely, ideally adapted device with everyday business qualities.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Acer Aspire 5745 Review

The 15" Aspire 5745 presents animated multimedia performance with dynamic sights and sounds. A mighty Intel Core processor combines with amazing graphics and high-definition technologies to take you right where the action is. This slick notebook also features excellent wireless connectivity for staying in touch wherever you go, along with a full Dolby digital experience for endless magical moments.

The new Acer Aspire 5745 is a 15.6-inch HD display laptop powered by the latest Intel processor and pre-loaded with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.

Specifications :
  • Operating System : Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium/Basic
  • Processor & Chipset : Intel Core i5/Intel Core i3 processor , supporting Intel 64 architecture, Intel Smart Cache
  • Memory : Up to 4 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, upgradeable to 8 GB
  • Optical media drive : 8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
  • Hard Disk : 320/500 hard disk drive
  • Multi-in-1 card reader
  • Display : 15.6-inch HD 1366×768 pixel resolution,Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD, 16:9 aspect ratio
  • Graphics : Intel HD Graphics with 128 MB of dedicated system memory, supporting Microsoft DirectX 10
  • Built-in microphone
  • Acer Crystal Eye high-definition webcam
  • Wireless-N 1000 b/g/n Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR
  • LAN: Gigabit Ethernet, Wake-on-LAN ready
  • 4x USB 2.0 ports
  • HDMI port with HDCP support
  • 4400 mAh 6-cell Li-ion battery pack
  • Estimated Acer laptop battery life: Up to 3.5 hours
  • Weight : 2.6 kg with 6-cell battery
In the fall of last year I started an online business. I was working from a desktop computer and after complaining enough about not having the versatility of taking my work with me my husband gave me my Acer Aspire 5745 as my Christmas gift. I love this laptop. It is so lightweight and the design makes it so easy to carry with me. The screen is a wonderful size and shows great colors. I do a lot of work in the car while waiting for the kids to get out of school and the sun never effects my ability to seen the screen. One of my favorite things is the number keypad on the right side of the keyboard. This is the first laptop I have ever worked on that had one and it is so convenient. This Acer Aspire 5745 battery also has great volume to it that is easily adjusted. My kids love the DVD player. They have used it many times to watch movies and again the screen size and volume are perfect for this. The computer comes with all the basic programs that are needed, I have only had to add the one I use for my business. After working on other laptops this is by far my favorite and I highly recommend it.
The 15.6" high-definition wide display, powerful graphics, optimized third-generation Dolby® Home Theater® audio enhancement combine for a full-on portable-theater experience. The HDMI™ interface conveniently connects you to today's hottest high-definition entertainment systems via a clean, single-cable link.

The Intel® Core™ processor offers all the power you need. DDR3 memory keeps the system moving swiftly for efficient media performance and multitasking. You also have a large hard disk drive for storage plus a 5-in-1 card reader.

The laptop comes with 15.6 inches widescreen HD display. The display is LED backlit screen with 1366*768 megapixel resolution. With black glossy exterior and textile pattern provide the Acer AS5745-3428 an elegant look.

If you want to play games, the all new Acer Aspire 5745 battery allow you to play 3D games but some power demanding games can run only at low settings. Actually the graphics, the machine incorporates is Intel Integrated HD graphics comes with Intel core processors. The graphics was allocated with 128MB system memory. So memory hungry games will run with lower frame rates as there is no dedicated graphics with independent memory card.

With a 15.6" widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and high resolution screen, the Aspire 5745 provides breathtaking visuals in high definition for the ultimate cinematic entertainment experience. The Aspire 5745 also includes amazing multi channel surround sound and high definition movie effect with true-to-master precision for fabulous entertainment. The Aspire 5745 also features 3rd generation Dolby ®-optimized surround sound system with True5.1-channel output trumpets vibrant audio for awesome movie enjoyment. The HDMI interface also means that you can support exceptional high definition viewing to a full range of other peripherals. Why not connect your notebook to your TV for even better HD viewing!

Cutting corners to allow for a lower price point in budget laptops usually starts with the feature set. Acer, however, took a pleasant step in the opposite direction. The Aspire 5745 battery comes with a 640GB hard drive, eclipsing the capacities found in the Lenovo Z560 (500GB), Acer AS5741Z (320GB), and HP dv6-3023cl (500GB). A total of 4 USB ports is more than enough to support all your external peripherals, and an HDMI port, another feature that Acer could have easily omitted, can be found on the left side of the system. A dual-layer DVD drive is included, as well as all the usual slots and ports—VGA, Ethernet, audio jacks, and a 5-in-1 card reader.

Customers who buy this system from Staples can avail themselves of several services the retailer offers. This includes setting the new system up, data transfer from your old PC to your new one, software installation, and tech support and protection plans that range in price from $14.99 to $169.99.

Networking is fast thanks to 802.11n Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, as with all but the HP Pavilion dv7-2045ea, and a full range of ports including a 5-in-1 memory card reader are available. There's also four USB ports for attaching peripherals, although three of them are very close together.

The Acer Aspire 5745 is an excellent all-rounder and a worthy group winner. Portability may be a weak point, but the solid build quality, power and usability more than compensate.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

HP ProBook 6450b Review

Hewlett-Packard is a multinational company based in America. The company is concentrates in the field of information technology. It is one among the largest and leading information technology companies in the world. HP is involved in the development and manufacturing of the computing products, data storage devices and networking related hardware. It also involves in software designing and services. The ProBook 6450b is the new notebook that is added to the business laptops line up of HP. It is a good choice among the business laptops and it is available for an affordable cost.

On top of these convenient features the ProBook 6450B includes a magnesium alloy support structure to provide a durable notebook and HP DuraFinish to prevent the keys from wearing quickly. Additionally the 6450B has hard drive protection to lock the drive in case of a fall and a spill resistant keyboard that drains out small amounts of liquid to prevent damage to the notebook. These features combine to offer compelling value and durability for business users. For mobile users HP also includes the HP Power Assistant which conserves power and helps stretch HP ProBook 6450b battery life.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- Intel Core i5-520M (2.4 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)
- 2048-MB, 1333-MHz DDR3 1DIMM RAM
- 320-GB 7200-rpm Sata 2.5 Hard Disk
- 14.0-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD anti-glare Screen
- Integrated 2MP Webcam
- Intel HD Graphics
- DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe Drive
- WLAN 802.11 b/g/n
- Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32-Bit license
(with Win7 Pro and XP Pro recovery DVDs included)
- Fingerprint reader
- ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 540v discrete graphics or integrated Intel® HD Graphics
- ExpressCard/54 slot or Media Card Reader
- 56K V.92 modem
- 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA/external monitor connector, stereo microphone in, stereo headphone/line out, 1394a port, RJ-11/modem, RJ-45/ethernet, docking
connector, secondary battery connector
- Supports SD (Secure Digital), HC-SD (High Capacity Secure Digital), MMC (MultiMedia Card), HS-MMC (MultiMedia Card Plus), Sony Memory Stick, Sony Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo*, xD-Picture card
- 6-cell (47 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery, up to 5 hours
- 1.33 in (at front) x 13.35 in x 9.3 inches
- Starting at 5.31 lb (2.39 kg)

The ProBook 6450b replaces the 6440b in HP's small business line. It inherits similar styling to the high-end EliteBook line but it lacks the magnesium alloy chassis and anodised aluminum lid. The 6450b is largely the same as the 6440b with the dimensions and weight unchanged; the only physical differences is the replacement of a USB2.0 port by a eSATA/USB combo port.

The keyboard of the 6450b is quite large with flat keys. The layout of the keys is pretty good. It is a spill resistant keyboard along with a drain. The keys have a soft texture and hard tip and hence this aspect of the design may not be pleasing to all the users. The directional keys are separate. There is no dedicated number pad in a laptop of 14 inches. The touch pad is of excellent sensitivity and the fingers can be glided smoothly without any issues. The mouse buttons are too noisy and they need time to get accustomed to.

The ProBook has an integrated GMA graphics card which limits the notebook in terms of three dimensional graphics. The Notebook has i5 Intel processors with 2.66Ghz Turbo Mode. It has a 4GB support of DDR3 memory from Samsung. It has a hard drive of 500GB by Hitachi. The speed of the ProBook is 7200 rotations per minute with a transfer rate of 82.4 MB/s.

The HP ProBook 6450b battery replaces the 6440b in HP’s small business line. It inherits similar styling to the high-end EliteBook line but it lacks the magnesium alloy chassis and anodised aluminum lid. The 6450b is largely the same as the 6440b with the dimensions and weight unchanged; the only physical differences is the replacement of a USB2.0 port by a eSATA/USB combo port.

Laptops or Notebooks are the effectuation of activity the work. Notebook is today a direct responsibility for humans because of every the activities today order these facilities. the precise activity of notebooks module be healthy to support the work. The mass is a beatific notebook products.

As processors are the Intel Core processors with integrated graphics core to use. Only the 15-inch model has an extra graphics card, namely the Radeon 540V. The matte displays have resolutions of 1,366 x 768 or 1600 x 900 pixels and are in 16:9 format.

HP ProBook 6450B offer flexible options for your business needs and budget. You’ll stay productive on the go with a 14.0-inch diagonal HD LED display, security features and wireless connectivity. Access e-mail without fully booting up using HP QuickLook 3 and get online in seconds with HP QuickWeb. The HP ProBook 6450b laptop automatically protects hard-drive data from drops and sudden impacts with HP 3D DriveGuard.

The good: The computer has a long life SONY VGP-BPS22A battery, and the configuration is very good for business needs and budget.

The bad: Look at the body, it looks like a little depressing and heavy.

The ProBook 6450b scores 4969, 1922 and 3371 in the 3D Mark 03, 3D Mark 06 and 3D Mark 05 tests respectively. The fan produces little noise when compared with the ones used in the predecessor model. It is however loud enough to be heard. The thermal performance is however under control. The 55 Wh, 6 cell battery has a life of about 3 hours and 55 minutes. The other two ProBook 6450b battery packs offer still more extended life. This itself is however impressive. The main downside if this notebook is the image contrast. There are certain other minor issues that are not of much concern.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Review of Dell Latitude E6520

Dell has been a bit inactive, to say, in launching new products when compared to its completion. But now, we hear of reports that suggest some fresh activity in the Dell house. Reportedly, Dell is readying two new products, namely the Latitude E6520 and Latitude 6420 business laptops, for launch very soon.

 
Talking of the Dell Latitude E6520, the newbie replaces the existing E6510 model while entering the market. The E6520 has a 15.6-inch screen and boasts of being propelled by the latest and upcoming Intel Core “Sandy Bridge” processors, including dual and quad core chips. That apart, this model will also feature an optional touchscreen, LED display backlight, and a 3.2MP web camera.

 
Dell Latitude E6520 Laptop Specifications:
  • 15.6-inch White-LED LCD with optional touchscreen display
  • Sandy Bridge Intel Core processor (Core i3/i5/i7)
  • Built-in Ericsson F5521gw or Dell DW5550 mobile broadband module
  • .2 megapixel web camera
  • Dual and quad core chips
  • Intel ATT 3.0 anti-theft technology
  • 5.7Mbps upload speed
  • USB 3.0 port
  • 9-cell battery
The Dell Latitude E6520 Laptop has 9-cell Dell LATITUDE E6520 battery with a capacity to working hour. There is no information about the Dell Latitude E6520 laptop release date, and price. Stay tuned for more update information about this laptop.

 
There’s no info on CPUs in the 14-inch Latitude E6420 replacing the E6410, but from the past we’ve learned that it should use the same CPU family as its larger sibling. Eric G. says the E6420 will include a new 9-cell battery with a capacity of 97Whr. For comparison, the 9-cell battery for the current E6410 is rated at 90Whr. Other features include a built-in Ericsson F5521gw (Dell DW5550) mobile broadband module with 21Mbps download and 5.7Mbps upload speed, USB 3.0, Intel ATT 3.0 anti-theft technology, and also a 3.2MP webcam.

 
Latitude E6520 is reportedly selling point is the Dell Latitude E6520 battery. The package will reach nine-cell 97 Watt hour or maybe over 10 hours and help attract Dell for business users who focus on battery life above all else. This laptop will have a single USB 3.0 port along with the usual USB 2.0 ports and an optional 21Mbps HSPA + 3G modems from Ericsson. Both the E6420 and E6520 will have a 3.2-megapixel webcam.

 
Dell is working on two novel laptops one is Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop while extra one is Dell Latitude E6520 Laptop. This information is come from the Software engineer , Eric G who said that Dell is preparation toward launch two new latitude Laptops that will be alive featured with features 2n Generation Intel Core processors codenamed “Sandy Bridge” and we already recognize about two new laptops of Lenovo IdeaPad Y460p plus Y560p that are quipped with the same processors. These laptops are designed by considering the requirements of business professionals.

 
The 14-inch Dell Latitude E6420 will include a new nine-cell LATITUDE E6520 battery with a capacity of 97Whr, USB 3.0 port, 3.2MP camera, and Ericsson F5521gw Mobile Broadband WWAN mini-card which supports up to 21Mbps download and 5.7Mbps upload.

 
Other Laptop Leaks from Eric’s blog includes the Precision M6600 and M4600 mobile workstations, updating the recently released Dell XPS L701X 17 – the L702X and new details about the upcoming Dell Alienware M17x gaming notebook.

 
The availability of Dell Latitude E6520 and E6420 is expected in early 2011. We recall that Dell is also preparing to launch two workstations Precision M4600 and M6600 and the Alienware M11x gaming netbook (R2). The new Precision models incorporate the latest Intel processors to combine high performance with significant efficiency. These reports confirm the desire of producers to use the new Intel Sandy Bridge architecture for their systems, a powerful solution that can reduce consumption and, therefore, suitable for devices dedicated to mobility.