Lenovo ThinkPad T500 15.4" Laptop Review

Lenovo is the company that acquired IBM's PC/Notebook business. I think most people are aware of this now. Thinkpads are sold now with Lenovo's badge/logo on them.

Set among laptop computer design icons that consist of Dell’s Adamo or Apple’s Macbook expert 13, the Lenovo T500 appears strikingly away from place. Indeed, like a time-traveller through the 1980s shot unceremoniously into 2009, the T500’s dowdy, textured dark physique could practically be considered a museum exhibit of how laptops the instant accustomed to look.

A laptop such as the Lenovo ThinkPad can greatly increase your productivity. It is of optimum weight and will easily tag along with you wherever you go. The Lenovo ThinkPad Laptop runs on a reliable and efficient operating system. A fast processor and system memory provide you with the speed you're looking for. There is ample hard disk space to store all your data and applications. The Lenovo ThinkPad T500 battery life is also considerably good allowing you greater freedom during your outings.

The ThinkPad T500 Notebook is designed to enhance productivity and change the way you work. To begin with, it features widescreen display that helps to lower power consumption and offers brighter colors.

The stability of the case barely leaves room for critique, this being supported from a magnesium roll cage in its interior. The base unit shows itself as very buckling resistant and as long as you don't pick the notebook up in the area of the drive, you can handle the notebook without further ado. The display stability also turns out very impressive. The display lid gives in slightly at pressure but it's barely possible to provoke distortions on the activated display. Therefore the Lenovo ThinkPad T500 AC adapter can be picked up at a corner of the display without further thought. Therefore picking up the notebook at a display edge without a hesitation also remains possible on the T500. The display frame differs here, giving away considerably under pressure whereas distortions on the activated display also become obvious.

The T500 cements its credentials using a range of business-friendly features. A fingerprint reader arrives paired using a TPM 1.2 chip, and there's no shortage of connectivity either. ExpressCard/54 rubs shoulders using the more mature PC card regular – some thing which is bound to please a range of IT departments loath to throw apart more mature hardware. There's a 4-in-1 card reader, three USB ports, mini-Firewire, as well as D-SUB and DisplayPort outputs.

Specifications:
Screen: 15.4" 1680 x 1050 WSXGA+ LCD (Matte finish)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 (2.80GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)
Memory: 2GB DDR3 RAM
Storage: 160GB HDD (7200rpm)
Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW
Wireless: 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 3650 w/ 256MB (hybrid switching)
Built-in web camera
Battery: 9-cell (84Wh)
Dimensions: 14.1" x 10/10.9" x 1.8"
Weight: 6lbs 7.2oz (w/ 9 cell battery)

The keyboard and UltraNav (touchpad and TrackPoint [little red nub in the center of the keyboard]) are what draw many prospective laptop buyers to the Thinkpad family. I can confidently say that the keyboard is the best I’ve used on a laptop, with very good key pitch and great feel, with nearly no flex**. By pressing quite hard on the keyboard with one of my fingers, the only place I could get to flex slightly was the first column of keys from the Esc key down to the Tab key. I wasn’t too bothered by that, seeing as in normal typing, my fingers would not press with so much force. The spacebar, however, seemed quite a bit louder than the other keys, and a bit flimsier—I wished it were quieter. Liquid drains are present to drain the keyboard after a spill. Missing, however, is the grey color of the two rows of function keys at the top, also present in the T-series prior to the Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 battery. Overall, the keyboard feel was great, much better than my old Averatec’s—no small accomplishment on a 15” laptop, which tends to have more “empty space” in the case.

Lenovo's latest, the T500, might not be able to compete with the ultraportables when it comes to stamina and portability, but one thing it certainly isn't lacking in is power. And while it can't quite boast supermodel looks, with its business-like straight lines, sharp, pointy corners, bevelled edges and all-black cloak, its sheer practicality races to the forefront.

The red TrackPoint in the middle of the keyboard on the other hand, is still the best of its kind. One has to admit, that no other producer has ever managed to build a comparably ergonomically designed and user-friendly mouse replacement. This holds true for the TrackPoint itself, its responsiveness, and for its three buttons. Everything fits perfectly together.

Lenovo's ThinkPad T500 laptop is an update of their 15.4-inch ThinkPad T laptops. It retains the wide screen, 1680x1050 15.4-inch panel that gives it one of the highest resolution panels in its price range. It also has one of the most durable case designs on the market.

A pricier version of Lenovo’s T500 has been our second-choice A-list business laptop for some time now, and this model follows in those footsteps. It isn't stylish, but if you want a practical, comfortable business laptop that’s built to last, you won't be disappointed by the Lenovo T500.

Over a century after Hollerith submitted his series of patents for the punch card technology, IBM released the first ThinkPad computer in 1992. The ThinkPad spawned a line of products which would become one of IBMs most successful ventures in recent times.

The Lenovo Thinkpad also offers a hardware configuration which doesn’t use the switching function. If you only use office programs like Word, Excel, mail and internet, then the model with integrated Intel 4500M HD graphics would be a possibility. In this case the notebook doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card at all. The alternative would be the combination of ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 graphics card and the integrated Intel GMA 4500M HD graphics chip.

The port selection on the T500 rates slightly above average, but still shows room for improvement. The DisplayPort is nice, but with current TV's and monitors finally starting to show HDMI, it would have been a better choice as the Lenovo Thinkpad T500 adapter cant output any resolution higher than the DVI spec. Three USB ports is cutting it close for a highend 15.4" notebook, and with them grouped together, if you have any large devices you will overlap. Moving past those complaints the rest of the port selection is fine. Some may argue that the headphone and microphone located on the front will cause problems, but there was no space what-so-ever left on the sides even if Lenovo wanted to mount them there.

And, hidden beneath the black exterior, there’s another similarity. The T500 is equipped with dual-switchable graphics: an ATI Radeon Mobility HD 3650 for when it’s connected to the mains, and Intel’s lower-powered GMA X4500MHD for when you’re out and about. The former is quick too: its 61fps in our low settings 3D benchmark is good and promises improved performance in graphically intensive applications that support DirectX 10 – Photoshop CS4, for instance.

Also the recorded surface temperatures hint on that the W500 is indeed a powerful workstation. The top side of the base unit has a maximum temperature of about 32.4°C and, so, it feels only slightly warmer. Only the bottom side of the Thinkpad W500 gets with up to 42.9°C a little bit warmer. Considering that the W500 will be probably operated on hard surfaces anyway, this value can be neglected.

Many reviewers have noted that Lenovo has switched to cheaper plastic for the case. I can confirm that this is true. If you search on Youtube for reviews of the T500 you will find a video where the reviewer pushes his finger deep into the plastic of the T500, as if it were made of Jello. That video is entirely fake. The plastic bends, but not much.

Drives (SSDs), an integrated camera, DDR3 memory modules, new DisplayPort technology and a wider Touchpad for improved ergonomics. ThinkVantage® Client Security Solution with Integrated Fingerprint Reader and SmartCard support are other innovative features that give these notebooks extra protection by securing data against potential intruders.

Lenovo's T500 is a smart business laptop, and the first we've seen to have a built-in GPS receiver. The bundled software will give you a precise fix in latitude and longitude. However, its integration with Google Maps is limited to showing you a map of the area, with no precise indication of where you are.

Lenovo's ThinkPad T series of laptops has been extremely popular with corporations but they also work well for consumers. The New Lenovo Thinkpad T500 battery is an updated platform that uses the same durable case and design as previous models. Performance is superb for this platform although it is a bit more expensive. Some users will be really happy of the Windows XP downgrade included because of its corporate focus that still primarily uses the OS.

Well the display is every bit as bad as expected. It's plenty bright, and it looks great if you look at it from just the right angle, but I can't get through more than an hour of work without having to spend a few minutes fidgeting and adjusting the screen so as to make it tolerable. It's clear that Lenovo is simply going for the cheapest possible screens with the requisite specs. I can easily source better panels than the one shipped on this system -- there are a number of common TN panels that can outperform the rather crummy ones used on the T410, and given their presence in systems by other manufacturers, I can only assume that price is the limiting factor.

Set among notebook computer design icons which consists of Dell's Adamo or Apple's Macbook professional 13, the Lenovo T500 appears strikingly away from place. Indeed, like a time-traveller away from your 1980s shot unceremoniously into 2009, the T500's dowdy, textured dark physique could practically be considered a museum exhibit of how laptops when utilized to look.

An interesting feature of T500 and It's smaller cousin T400 is that they come with switchable grahic. What this means is that you can switch from dedicated ATI HD 3650 to the integrated intel graphics to extend your Lenovo Thinkpad SL500 battery life. This is no doubt a great feature but it is only useable on Vista. In XP or Linux, you have to manually set the graphic card in BIOS or the OS will just use whichever is detected first on the bus.

Conclusively you can say that the Lenovo T500 office notebook can be recommended for professional or private users, who put value on an extensive mobility but don't want to or can't completely sacrifice certain performance reserves.

Dell XPS 13 Laptop Review

Dell has a reputation, deserved or not, as being a reliable, economical and (not to put too fine a point on it) dull choice when it comes to PCs. There have been many attempts to change rectify this; the first in recent memory was coincidentally titled the XPS 13. Various incarnations of this machine and others like the Adamo line have again and again tried to break this perception, and while admirable efforts, they’ve fallen mostly on deaf ears. Enter the XPS 13 Ultrabook, which utilizes Intel’s vague set of standards to hopefully stand above the crowd.

Opening the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook up, this shiny metal trim is beautifully contrasted with the black interior. The display sports a glossy black screen that runs all the way to the screen's edge, giving it the impression of having no bezel. Meanwhile the keyboard surround has a lovely matt, soft-touch finish. Similar to the finish used on HP’s premium Envy line, like the HP Envy Beats Edition 14, it’s very comfortable for your hands to rest on during typing and doesn’t really show up grease marks.

The XPS 13 has a fantastic minimalist look, with a metal lid, smooth curves and a carbon-fibre main body. Despite having a 13in display the laptop is surprisingly compact, even for an ultrabook; by reducing the depth of the main chassis, Dell has managed to make the Dell XPS L322X battery look much smaller than its competitors, but it appears to have pulled it off without sacrificing rigidity.

And that's one of the bigger challenges for Dell -- to straddle the consumer and corporate markets with a single design. For those who haven't noticed, Dell is becoming more of a corporate enterprise-centric company and less of a consumer outfit. So, designs like the XPS 13 that appeal to both sets of customers are an imperative.

The Dell XPS 13’s keyboard is almost exactly similar to the Dell Adamo XPS 13, which had a very good keyboard. Likewise, the Dell XPS 13 features wide chiclet-styled backlit keys that are very well laid out and just a treat to type on. All the alphanumeric keys and frequently used keys like Space, Enter, Shift, Alt, etc, are accurately placed. Overall, we’re very impressed with the Dell XPS 13’s keyboard, it’s as great as any Lenovo ThinkPad laptop launched last year.

When you first put your hands on Dell's XPS 13, there is a surprisingly nice feeling to the overall ultrabook. Company hasn't gone for any lightweight or thinnest milestones thus giving it ample amount of space to build decent good looking and fairly sturdy device. Unlike Toshiba's Portege Z830, which we reviewed last week, XPS 13 feels comfortable in hand thanks to the rubberised deck and the carbon fibre weave on the base of the laptop.

In all honesty, though perhaps it sounds a little contradictory to our opening sentiments above, if you're looking to save a few pesos, the lower-end $999 SKU, with its 128GB SSD and Core i5-2467M dual core, is probably powerful enough and responsive enough for just about anything you could reasonably expect to do with an ultrabook. With 4GB of RAM and an SSD, Windows 7 is going to feel energetic and spry. You'll just have to keep your data collection in check and level-set your expectations in gaming. Beyond that, did you notice the real kicker? Right. Wake the kids--the Dell Studio 1440 battery has a backlit keyboard. Hello? Why can't every manufacturer make this standard? And tone down, typing ninjas; we realize actually seeing the keyboard shouldn't be a requirement for true geeks. That said, on an occasionally cramped ultralight keyboard, in front of the TV with only mood lighting going on, it comes in rather handy. No pun intended.

4 GB of RAM is standard for today's Ultrabooks, and like other manufacturers it comes in the form of unchangeable DDR3-1333 RAM. A particular highlight of the XPS 13 is also the 256 GB SSD, whose excellent performance - so much is already let on at this point - we will to look at closer later on.

The Dell XPS 13 has an aluminum lid, a black painted magnesium alloy keyboard deck and a very cool looking and feeling carbon fiber bottom. Build quality, fit and finish and even the box are top notch. It makes a mockery of the HP Folio 13 sitting beside it on our desk; an Ultabook that costs just $50 less than the Dell but uses everyday design elements and plastics and ships in your typical HP cardboard outer box with foam retainers. Of course, looks aren't everything and the box is exciting for the first 10 minutes, but material quality and durability are rather important, so Dell competes nicely with the Dell XPS L322X AC adapter and the 13" MacBook Air, its two aluminum-clad chic competitors.

With so much of the attention in mobile focused on tablets, it's easy to dismiss laptops. Yet they remain in the computing mainstream and are still the preferred choice for mobile professionals who create stuff with physical keyboards. Ultrabooks are the slim, light, quick-to-start-up-and-resume — and not especially cheap — machines that Intel has been evangelizing. These computers are supposed to deliver all-workday batteries, too, at least under the less-rugged conditions in which I ran my tests. Under those conditions, neither came close.

The LCD panel behind the glass is top-notch though. It might be only a 1366x720 panel but the colours are spot on and there's plenty of detail. We really enjoyed looking at it and movies and TV shows look superb with that high contrast - thanks in part to that glass cover.

Another major difference in design comes with the black rubbery palm rest and trackpad. I really preferred the feel of the surface to the metal on other laptops, but the trackpad itself is where the XPS begins to suffer from some usability issues. Dell has integrated the mouse buttons into the trackpad, the way Apple and several Windows laptop makers have. But the navigating experience is not as smooth as it is on Apple's laptop and can be fustrating. For example, using two fingers to scroll is jumpy, and while pointing and clicking works decently, I noticed the cursor mistakenly jumping or getting stuck at times.

One look at the XPS 13 and it's easy to see that Dell took its design inspiration from Apple. However, the aluminum laptop is one of the best-made laptops on the market, and that's not something I've said about a Dell laptop in a long time. It's got a 13-inch display, but Dell has crammed the wide display in a case that's closer in size to a 12-inch laptop by using a smaller frame around the display. It's very thin and light and the chiclet-style keyboard, which has gaps between the keys, is very comfortable. The rubberish palm rest is also comfortable.

As far as raw muscle is concerned, it's about the same as almost any other Core i5 ultrabook, as you can see in the chart above. It's certainly no less capable, though: adding a 1920 x 1200 external monitor, I went through a standard full day of work with over 30 browser tabs, a couple of push email accounts, TweetDeck, iTunes music and even some 1080p video clips without noticing any major slowdown. Thanks to the particularly speedy Samsung PM830 solid state drive, those tabs and apps loaded quickly, too, and boot times and resume times were among the quickest we've seen: only 17 seconds and a lightning-fast 1.8 seconds respectively. Just don't expect to play any graphically intensive games. The XPS 13 managed just 11.1 frames per second in our Just Cause 2 benchmark using the integrated Intel graphics.

The design and build quality are a cut above anything we've seen from Dell in a long time, and among the best we've seen in any thin-and-light laptop on the market. The base, composed of carbon fiber, has a pleasant soft-touch feel, and it hides the obnoxious service tag info under a flip-up metal plate for a cleaner look. The matte-black magnesium-alloy keyboard deck and the aluminum lid add rigidity where it's needed. The whole machine weighs 3 pounds--nearly the same as Apple's 13-inch Macbook Air. Dell's system, despite having a 13.3-inch screen, is actually shorter and narrower than Apple's, thanks to the extremely narrow bezel around the edge. Dell likes to say that it put a 13-inch screen into an 11-inch chassis, which is a bit of a stretch, but the laptop's compactness is impressive. The Dell XPS L322X adapter felt solid and dense in my hands, and it didn't flex at all.

The full-size chiclet-style keyboard is quiet with soft, well-cushioned feedback and a simple layout; the individual keys and keyboard are matte black. This finish prevents the fingerprint smudges common to laptops with glossy keyboards but you can still get some smudges from the natural oils in your skin. The keyboard support structure is good; there is little flex but when a notebook is this thin, there isn't really anywhere for the keyboard to flex. Individual key travel is good but some of our editors thought the keyboard action was a bit "mushy" compared to something like a desktop keyboard with mechanical keys.

At $999 for a 128GB SSD and Intel Core i5-2467M CPU, the XPS 13 is reasonably priced, although HP, Toshiba, and others offer similar specs for $100 or so less. Working in Dell's favor are the system's excellent build quality--the body is a mix of aluminum, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber--and its smaller footprint. It's not quite a 13-inch laptop in an 11-inch body, but it's in the ballpark.

The first thing that strikes you about the XPS 13 is how compact it is. Despite it being a 13-inch display, the 31.6 x 20.5 cm footprint is narrow and Dell makes no secret of its desire to be smaller than the 13-inch MacBook Air but with a similar screen size.

The packaging was pretty good. The XPS 13 came in a laptop briefcase-esque carton, with lots of foam padding which offers shock protection. With the foam padding, the box gives you an impression that the Ultrabook is a lot bigger than it actually is.

The little touches are nice, including a handsome keyboard backlight, a soft-touch palmrest and underside, and surprisingly beefy speakers. Touch-typing on the island keys was easier than usual thanks to a slight depression built into the top of each key. Overall, it’s a very attractive ultrabook that can almost go toe to toe with Apple in the design department.

Our XPS 13 and its six-cell, non-removable battery soldiered through our standard Dell Studio 1440 battery rundown test of videos looping endlessly for a respectable four hours and 58 minutes before succumbing to exhaustion. That's a half-hour longer than the last XPS we reviewed could manage, the XPS 15z, and a full two hours more than 2010's XPS 14. But, looking at a more direct competitor, it lags about an hour behind what HP's Folio 13 managed on the same test.

Overall, I find it to be very good, but I have also experienced accidental clicks when my right hands was going for one of the keys around the “H” key. This never happened to me with other laptops, so the sensitivity of the trackpad may need some tweaking.

The good: The Dell XPS 13 fits a glass-covered 13-inch screen into a smaller-than-expected body. The sophisticated design is eye-catching and sturdy, without driving up the price.

The bad: The limited port selection doesn't include HDMI or an SD card slot; the display should be better; and Dell XPS L322X battery life falls behind other slim laptops'.

The bottom line: Dell packs a 13-inch display into a very small footprint in the XPS 13 ultrabook, making it one of the few slim laptops that actually top the MacBook Air in some areas.

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 15.6" Review

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge series is designed for buyers who are ThinkPad series too expensive or too boring. The top series includes the E520 perimeter Lenovo ThinkPad Edge, the smaller and previously tested E420 E420 (the two should not be confused with the other). The E520 is very different from the usual B2B mobile.

Featuring a soft matte black finish and reinforced with sturdy metal hinges, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 is 13 percent thinner than previous generations. And the powerful 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor, with Turbo Boost Technology, will be sure to enhance your productivity on the go. In addition, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 is optimized for both work and play.

Specifications:

• Intel Core i3-2350M 2.30GHz Processor
• 3MB Smart Cache
• 4GB DDR3 Memory
• 500GB (7200RPM) SATA Hard Drive
• 15.6" Widescreen HD (1366 x 768) LED Backlight Display
• Integrated 720HD low light-sensitive webcam
• DVD±R/RW Dual Layer
• Intel HD Graphics
• Intel 1000 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
• Bluetooth
• 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• ExpressCard /34 slot
• High Definition Audio and Stereo Speakers
• 7-in-1 Multicard Reader
• Fingerprint Reader
• Full-size Keyboard and Touchpad with multi-gesture
• Connections: 4 x USB 2.0 (one powered, 1 eSATA/USB combo), VGA, HDMI, Combo Audio/Microphone jack, RJ-45 (LAN)
• Approximate Unit Dimensions: 14.76 (W) x 9.64 (D) x 1.10 - 1.29 (H) inches
• Approximate Unit Weight: 5.2 pounds

This laptop also scored high in our graphical tests, beaten only narrowly by the Acer Aspire 5750G. We tested out some recent games and found they ran smoothly, although we occasionally had to turn down detail levels. You can also check out and play around with your photos or home movies. Of course, if you'd rather relax with a film, the Lenovo won't let you down. High-definition (HD) films play perfectly and look good on the 15.6-inch widescreen display.

The E520 has two graphic chips: the Intel GMA HD 3000 (integrated in the CPU) and the dedicated AMD Radeon HD 6630M GPU, which has a core speed of 485 MHz and 1 GB VRAM. Thanks to AMD's PowerXpress 4.0 alias "BACON" the laptop can automatically switch between graphic chips. The software still has a few kinks: some programs are not recognized which means that the user has to manually pick the desired graphic card. The hardware of the notebook is rounded off with 4 GB RAM (max. 8 GB on two slots) and a 500 GB hard disk.

It's one of the larger laptops in this month's group, but, surprisingly, it's also the lightest laptop too, weighing just 2.1kg. That, combined with its excellent Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 battery life, makes it well suited to travelling. If you're in the cheap seats when travelling, you'll be glad to know that the lid tilts back more than 180 degrees so you can always get a good view of the screen, even if you’re struggling for legroom.

You should have no trouble using peripherals or external displays – as well as an internal DVD writer, three USB2 ports, a combined USB2/eSATA port and a multi-format card reader, there’s also VGA and HDMI video outputs, a combined headphone and microphone audio jack and an ExpressCard/34 slot for future expansion. The only noticeably absent feature is a fingerprint reader, although this is available as a build-to-order option from Lenovo's online store, and system administrators will appreciate being able to disable the various ports and on-board devices in the password-protected BIOS. Finally, if there was any doubt Lenovo hadn’t designed the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 AC adapter for business, it comes with a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Professional.

On top of the features listed above, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 has much more going for it. Not only is the 15.6-inch display crisp and colorful, but there is also a 3.0MP HD webcam integrated above it, so you can enjoy face-to-face communication wherever you are. The design is more streamlined on the latest incarnation of the Dell Inspiron I1564 battery. They’re thinner and feature iPhone-like rounded corners edged with brushed aluminum. The cases are available in Heatwave Red or Midnight Black.

Keep in touch with your employees, your clients and the rest of the world with a slew of available connections: WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet, and options for WWAN, WiMAX and Bluetooth®. During Web calls and video conferences, quickly switch your microphone to "conference room mode" to enhance multiple voices from across the room, and enable keyboard noise suppression technology so that you can freely take notes. Continue to maximize your VoIP experience with our ThinkVantage® Communications Utility — a hub that allows you to control your most important business tools (like the integrated HD 720p low-light sensitive webcam) in one place. Making an important presentation? Use the HDMI out port to project your big ideas on a big screen.

The ThinkPad Edge E520 laptop catch attention with their jaw-dropping, premium design. Small details make a big difference: the stunning infinity screen, a matte finish that’s soft to the touch and real metal accents that project a cosmopolitan image. The laptops are also business performance powerhouses, featuring increased performance of Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E520 adapter and integrated graphics in the upcoming second generation Intel® Core™ processor technology, Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience 2.0 for rapid boot up and a range of wireless connectivity technologies. They also crossover for serious play with Dolby Home Theatre® audio and high definition video conferencing.

The ThinkPad's design, as ever, is functional, and it feels well built. As is usual with ThinkPads, you get a touchstick as well as a large touchpad. Both are responsive and have large buttons. Lenovo has used the full width of the case to accommodate the keyboard and, if anything, the keyboard feels too wide. The moulded keys are slightly convex, providing good tactile feedback when you strike the key, and their action is light and crisp.

Like other ThinkPads, the Edge E520 has very reserved looks. The matt black colour scheme, plastic chassis and trademark Lenovo touch stick all scream business, but that doesn’t make it any less usable in the home – we had no trouble typing on the fantastic Chiclet-style keyboard, which is full-size but still small enough to fit in an additional numerical keypad. Each key has just the right amount of tactile feedback, which meant we were typing at full speed almost instantly. The two sets of touchpad buttons weren’t as firm as we'd like, but the touchpad itself is at least a good size, with a smooth surface that creates minimal friction.

Great package, and very little inside! The supply includes a portable computer, power cord, 6-cell Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E520 battery and a few brochures. On the other hand, is an endless list of accessories such as a fee to update the list of the car, which includes a variety of products from a variety of categories. Pre-installed software is another problem. ThinkPad is the Office, Adobe Reader, and typical of a ThinkPad factory installed, but otherwise offers very little software department. The trial version of Norton Internet Security is a negative sign in the book, as the first boot, it's annoying pop-ups for different users. ThinkPad series has never been a big problem with the software.

Even under the harsh fluorescent lights of our office, we could see the 15.6in screen perfectly thanks to its matte finish. It diffused light reflections exceptionally well, although we still wouldn’t like to use it in direct sunlight. Unsurprisingly, colours aren’t as bright as they would be on a glossy display, and darker images looked slightly grey rather than deep black, but it was still well-suited for working on plain text documents. Viewing angles were only reasonable, but this shouldn’t be a huge problem as the screen has over 180 degrees of tilt.

In respect to performance the laptop leaves no stone unturned. Office and multimedia tasks can be dealt with without any problems. Additional plus points are earned thanks to the energy saving hardware which results in low power consumption while the laptop is idle, and thus good HP ProBook 5310m battery run times. There are a few major flaws, such as the loud DVD drive, the high case temperatures (while the laptop is under heavy load) and the short guarantee period of 12 months. Overall, the laptop is a good deal for 650 Euros and can be a decent alternative to some glossy plastic 15.6 inch mainstream models. However, a few aspects could have been better.

Dell Vostro 1014 Review

The Dell Vostro 1014 is powered by Intel CoreTM 2 Duo processor with Intel 45 Express chipset. It comes with up to 4GB of RAM and up to 320GB of storage space. Other features include four USB ports, a 2-megapixel camera, a digital microphone, a 5-in-1 media card reader, Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth.

The Laptop is equipped with LED Display, whereas Inspiron has LCD display. Vostro has 4usb ports whereas Inspiron has 3.Vostro has built in Dialup model where Inspiron doesn’t have. It has built in 2MP camera whereas Inspiron has 1.3MP. On the basis of sound its very poor except this Dell XPS L511X battery, it has everything else which you require in a good notebook with affordable price. It is a SMB product regardless to Home user or Business person.

Technical Specification:

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5670 (1.8 Ghz)
• Intel® 45 Express chipset
• Intel GMA X4500MHD
• 14″ inch Wide LED Display (1366 x 768 Pixels)
• 2GB DDR2 RAM 800MHz
• 250GB Hard disk
• Webcam with microphone
• 5-in-1 card reader
• 34 mm ExpressCard slot
• DVD Writer
• Wireless LAN – 802.11b/g/n
• Bluetooth
• 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery
• 65 Watt AC Adapter

This Dell Vostro Series laptop is built on Intel 45 Express chipset and runs the Intel core 2 Duo T6670 processor. The Intel processor has 2.2 GHz clock speed and 2 MB cache memory. The 2 GB RAM memory lets you work on multiple applications at a time. If you want to add more computing power to this laptop, you can extend the RAM up to 8 GB via dual memory slots.

The Dell Vostro 1014 is a budget level small business notebook powered by an Intel Celeron or Core 2 Duo processor.

Elegant in style, the Dell Vostro 1014 features 14.0 inch high definition WLED Anti-Glare screen with an outstanding display of 1366 X 768 pixel resolution. Swanking of 8 X DVD +/-RW, the picturesque laptop traits connectivity options such as wi-fi, bluetooth, and 5-in-1 card reader. Its primary storage of 5400RPM could easily be expanded up to 320 gb. Flaunting of an Integrated 2.0 MP camera, the top end note book抯 other multimedia features include a built-in speaker and speaker phone. Weighing just over a 2kg, the Dell XPS L511X AC adapter is loaded with Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500MHD. The stunning laptop is steered by Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile or Celeron and operates on Genuine Windows 7 Professional.

The notebooks include 1280×720 anti-glare LED backlight displays, Intel’s Core 2 Duo or Celeron processors, the Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 320GB of hard drive space, a DVD burner, a 6-cell Dell XPS L511X battery, optional 2MP web camera, a single speaker, 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet LAN, and 56k modem connections, four USB ports, an ExpressCard/34 slot, a 5-in-1 card reader, a VGA output, and a Firewire port.

The new Dell Vostro 1014 is a good value for money. It is considered as a far better device that the previous Inspiron model. The backup battery of the laptop is rated high. However, the sound quality of the laptop is despicable and considered bad. The Dell Inspiron 14R batteryf is simply an above average laptop that offers powerful features and super outlook. Overall, it is a typical business correlated laptop that offers well mid range features.

Vostro is one of many series notebook from Dell. A notebook of Dell Vostro 1014 is packed with big technology to produce a great technology to help you keep in touch by using WiFi facility connection. The specification implanted in this notebook is Intel core TM2 Processor T5870 ( 2.0 Ghz, FSB 800, Cache 2 MB ), GDDR2 memory up to 4 GB, also harddisk Serial of ATA 5400 RPM capacity of 250GB. Not only is that, the screen used, 14” WLED screen saving energy. There are several variants of this notebook are black and red.

1.3 MP camera, digital microphone, Four USB ports, Intel® 45 Express chipset, Wireless LAN 802, Media Card Reader, DOS Operating system. Now it is available in online store. Indestructibly make to survive daily sport and slash, in typical black to go with your business method. Vostro 1014 is intended to help you stay your center on your business.

The 2 GB DDR2 RAM is built up in this model which enough for a general purpose laptop. The 250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive is compelled in this model. The monitor of this model is the 14” Wide Display HD with anti glare or True Life that guarantees you a better picture quality. The screen resolution for the display is 1366*768.

This is a laptop that let you grow your business and even broaden your budget with the simple-to-own 14" 35.6cm Dell Vostro 1014. Ranging from the boardrooms to the coffee shops to even airports and beyond, the convenient, stretchy 1014 lend a hand to be connected and make every single minute count. Outstanding Wireless Connectivity including Wireless and the Wi-Fi technology reduces the dead spots; so that you can unite anywhere your business takes you.

Powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the Dell Vostro 1014 laptop boost your computing performance. Up to 320GB hard drive of this Dell 14-inch laptop offers you ample of space for your data. The 4GB RAM of this Dell notebook PC lets you listen to music, surf the web, and work on other applications, all at once. The Intel 45 Express chipset of this Dell 14-inch laptop boost the capabilities of your laptop. Integrated with Intel graphics media accelerator graphic card, this Dell XPS L511X adapter enhances your gaming experience. The Dell Vostro 1014 laptop also has Wi-Fi 2 wireless connectivity for accessing the Internet.

Dell Vostro 1014 is a portable laptop designed to improve productivity of its users. It runs on Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 processor with an operating speed of 1.8GHz. The Intel GMA X4500 MHD improves the graphical performance of 1014 laptop. The display system of Vostro 1014 consists of a 14 inch wide LED display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The system memory of Vostro 1014 is made up of 2GB DDR2 RAM with 250 GB hard disc. An integrated webcam with a microphone enables videoconferencing facility. its wireless LAN is offered by IEEE standard 802.11b/g/n. Other connectivity options of Vostro 1014 include Bluetooth and a 5-in-1 card reader.

The Cordless Peripherals lets you connected to the wireless keyboards, headsets and mic via Bluetooth connectivity. The reasonable Vostro 1014 takes the benefit of the newest technology so that can take care of your company, no matter you are on your desk or on the road. The Intel Core 2 Duo processors offer trustworthy each day efficiency you require for the business. The Lightweight LED Screen and the energy-efficient 14" 35.6cm WLED screen for crispy viewing. It is being designed with Multiple Peripherals as you are being facilitated with four USB ports with two on each of the side for linking all the peripheral devices.

Backpacked with 6-cell battery, the Dell Vostro 1014 notebook promises backup time up to 3 hours. The extended Dell Inspiron 14R battery life lets you work unplugged for a longer time. The Kensington lock slot ensures maximum security for your laptop.

Dell Vostro 1014 brings in performance along with mobility. It can be used in home to shops to airports and beyond. Its excellent wireless support can be used to connect to Internet from wherever you want. Flexible connectivity options allow easy data transfer from almost any flash cards. Its Bluetooth connectivity enables connecting of wireless keyboard, mouse, and headphones.

This laptop is an affordable choice for businessman, student and simple work out and Internet use. It gives you what it is meant for, what else can you expect in this range. The only drawback is bad sound quality but you can add some extra speakers if you are using it at home. Overall it is a good value for money.

HP EliteBook 8740w Overview

When you edit on the road, it’s often a challenge finding the right machine to be your reliable road warrior. This is when it becomes time to bump your laptop up a notch into the mobile workstation class of machines. Mobile workstations are tough, durable and designed to be desktop replacements. As such they are larger and heavier than a small laptop or netbook, but that’s OK. They are meant to survive in challenging locations.

The HP EliteBook 8740w comes in with a hefty price tag, but for serious creative professionals, it comes with the territory. If you want the best, you have to lay down the cash for it. But I’m not making any final decisions yet. I have a long way to go before I give my final review. Come back for the second part of my review where I dive even further into the hardware and software in the HP EliteBook 8740w battery and show you it’s not all rainbows and unicorns in happy town. No, there are some donwnfalls, and maybe even some pitfalls, in this workstation. For the third part of the review, I will dive into the meat and potatoes of any motionographers life–render times. Oh, and we’ll give away one of these beasts to a lucky reader!

The Quadro 5000M card does support Premiere Pro CS5′s Mercury playback engine and hence one can expect realtime playback when working with multiple layers of native tapeless footage (eg, avchd, avcintra, xdcam, RED (R3d) , dslr etc). Even Neo3D which is a plugin for editing stereoscopic footage in Premiere Pro CS5 works quite well on this machine.

A high-end mobile workstation should offer the kind of performance speeds associated with a modest desktop computer. Or put another way, you might expect your new mobile workstation to perform much like your desktop workstation from a couple of years ago. Either description could apply to the 8740w. It’s very fast for a mobile workstation, but will likely feel somewhat slower than your recently purchased desktop workstation. On MAXON’s CineBench R10 benchmark test, the HP EliteBook 8740w AC adapter scored 10,235 points on the CPU render test and 7,380 points on the OpenGL render test. With the 3DMark Vantage benchmark, it scored a P8184 overall with 10,776 points for the CPU and 7,576 points for the GPU. If you’re not familiar with mobile workstations, don’t be put off if these scores are well below the scores for your current desktop. There are inherent design constraints that cause laptop computers to lag behind their desktop counterparts.

The HP EliteBook 8740w is a BEAST! It has a metal casing; very heavy, very well protected, very much like a tank, which is a good thing but with that said. It's also too heavy to take it on the go. The battery is also huge and heavy, like a giant brick. The combination of the laptop and the HP EliteBook 8740w battery would make it impossible to carry around all day.

I took the photos of the skull with the display in the background to test out the color settings and show how it looked in lighted conditions and at wide viewing angles. As you can see, you’ve got a nice wide viewing angle. No one works at that angle, but yeah, there is no visible darkening when moving about dodging things people are throwing at you. The light reflects on the screen, but it’s not as bright as a display with a shiny screen. It’s anti-glare, but not completely anti-glare. OK, I was going to finish the post a long time ago. I really wish you could see how these photos look on this display.

And that's not where the hefty aspect of the HP EliteBook 8740w ends - it will cost you around $3000 to get your hands on one of these, depending on configuration. But both build quality and specification are largely representative of a laptop at this price level.

The HP DreamColor LED-backlit screen is very bright and makes most graphics pop, it really is better than most desktop LCD displays which makes me very envious when I’m using my desktop computer.

If you're in the market for a mobile workstation with lots of CPU power, RAM and hard drive capacity, and most importantly, an excellent screen, the 8740W is definitely one to consider.

But that’s really not the whole story. We are talking about a mobile workstation with an NVIDIA Quadro 5000M inside. That’s quite a technology feat, especially considering that just a year ago we were going gaga over the Fermi architecture and the heat and power issues associated with it. They’ve chained the beast, so to speak, and have crammed it nicely into a quiet, tight little package that just hums along merrily while a HP EliteBook 8740w adapter nuclear blast furnace is raging inside, mere inches away from my fingers. Let’s not forget, we’re talking of a slightly less powerful version of the workstation monster that earned our coveted Golden Fedora (the only GPU to ever do so on Icrontic,) the Quadro 6000, which Bobby Miller called “the fastest workstation card alive“. My benchmarks in CAD/CAM performance are telling, and our friends over at SolidSmack also pushed the 8740W through some very specific GPU- and CPU-crushing tests.

The EliteBook 8740W is a big beast: it has a 17in screen, a base that's chock-a-block full of ports and slots, and it weighs over 3.6kg. Its LCD screen is one of HP's DreamColor panels and it's one of the best displays we've ever seen on a notebook. Colour reproduction was excellent during our tests and its viewing angles are wider than what you'll find with a typical notebook screen.

In After Effects, I had an old project with the usual solids, C4D movie files and a short list of effects that I felt would be a good starting point for a quick render test. On my old computer, the render took 5 minutes 31 seconds. On the HP 8740w, it took 13 seconds. Wow. I knew my old computer was slow, but I didn’t think it was that slow. Right away, I knew this was going to be an eye opening review. I proceded to move on to test number two.

I am getting picky here but on the outside of the machine, just under the screen, there are a whole bunch of flashing lights (volume, brightness, etc.) that I couldn’t seem to dim or turn off. They got quite distracting when working at night.

You might be thinking: "So where is HP's individual course?" – In the accessories. Two external HP AV08 battery solutions are offered for the largest workstation in the collection (link). They can be strapped to the base unit's bottom via an own interface. There is a 12 cell battery pack with a weight of about 0.8 kilograms and a capacity of 95 Wh (about 150 euro) or a somewhat weaker option, an 8 cell battery pack with 52 Wh and 450 grams (street price of 80 euro) available. The Dell WU946 battery life they reach can extend the recorded rates accordingly (+75% up to + 140%).

The main body of the laptop is covered in the "HP DuraCase" and "HP DuraFinish" which is essentially a hard plastic and strong magnesium alloy inner shell much like its predecessor strengthened by a brushed aluminum outer shell that is scratch resistant. HP uses a darker color on the outside of the mobile workstations and a lighter silver finish on the standard EliteBook series. The outer shell of the screen casing is made of metal, but the inner screen bezel is plastic. The entire chassis from the base to the screen lid feels exceptionally strong and resistant to flex. The keyboard is the only exception to that rule since it has a tendency to "bounce" under your fingertips when you type with heavy pressure.

The EliteBook 8740w also includes QuickLook 3, which offers instant access to your cached Outlook data, even from a powered-off state. Where older iterations of QuickLook could only show you what was already in your Outlook cache, such as e-mails, contacts, calendar events and task lists, the newest version allows you to edit and update this data on the fly, with updates synching automatically upon power up.

The 8740w would be an awfully expensive notebook to bring to a LAN party—but you could and you’d be glad you did. Where it’ll be more at home, however, is in the hands of a professional designer, architect, or technician who needs the high level of color accuracy of its display. Just make sure the purchase doesn’t overdraw your checking account and be sure to eat your Wheaties before you pick it up and start carting it around.

The beauty and strength of the HP EliteBook 8740w makes it look fine, but its real power is inside. The HP EliteBook 8740w  is no run-of-the-mill computer, and the novice user would probably never realize what is inside. It would feel like a first time driver, driving down the streets in a high-speed car. The seasoned computer user will realize how powerful this computer is because it has Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB 1333 MHzDDR3 SDRAM, and NVIDIA Quadro 5000m. Additional features that can be found are a 17″ LED-backlit WXGA anti-glare HP DreamColor display, 500GB Hard drive, and a spill-resistant keyboard, that is full-sized and backlit. Other additional features are an external VGA monitor, a 2 MP built-in webcam, 4 USB ports, one eSATA port and also a Smart Card Reader, a mic, and headphones. This laptop is called the HP AV08 battery, and it does boast of elite features.

Overall, my first impressions of this machine are this machine, despite the small annoyances, are that it?s well built, quiet and way more power than I?ve ever had before. I opened up about 40 full size photos and didn?t even dent the processing or slow down the performance or responsiveness of the multiple programs running. I plan to apply a little more pressure to see just what it can handle. In the meantime, I leave you with photos of a meat skull posing with the HP EliteBook 8740W.

Pros:
Gorgeous screen
Business-rugged

Cons:
Artifacting and shimmering in high-def video
Touch buttons on top are not super-responsive

Bottom Line:
If you're looking for a business-rugged Dell WU946 battery that has all the power of a desktop and all the sexiness of a Mac, this is the notebook for you.

Dell Vostro V13 Notebook Review

An Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 CPU powers the Dell Vostro V13, and its 1.3GHz clock speed and two CPU cores help move things along swiftly. You can multitask, watch high resolution videos or create media-rich presentations without getting bogged down. Helping the CPU are 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM, a 500GB (5400rpm) hard drive and integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics.

The 13-inch Vostro V13 is essentially a business laptop in the shell of the slim and stylish Dell Adamo. It has a sturdy aluminum body, curved angular edges, and polished exterior which looks and feels very elegant and premium. The Dell Vostro V13 AC adapter twin metal hinges aren't situated on its spine (where the screen meets the rest of the chassis), but a little inside. This allows the spine to be used as a handle of sorts -- great example of thoughtful design.

For Windows 7 and a Core 2 Duo ULV, the price rises in the range of mid-to-high $600, which is still really good compared with its closest competitors, the HP Pavilion dm3 and Asus UL30A-A1. The Vostro V13 will support up to 4GB of RAM, and can be optionally upgraded with 3G mobile broadband.

The spine acts as a handle of sorts. The location of the screen gives the notebook more strength and changes its centre of gravity. It feels beautifully balanced; when the notebook is lying flat on a desk, the screen can be lifted using only one hand (it doesn't have a latch). The hinges have just the right amount of resistance to allow precise adjustments.

The Dell Vostro V13 is beautiful thin brushed aluminium laptop with a quality professional appearance for those who wish to have an attractive stylish laptop for business or personal use. The price is very good and by not resorting to glossy plastic and bright glowing lights, it gives the impression of a much more expensive laptop, being actually very reasonably priced.

The Vostro V13's Windows Experience Index (WEI) of 3.2 (out of 7.9) was brought down by the graphics subsystem. Both Graphics (desktop performance for Windows Aero) and Gaming Graphics (3D business and gaming graphics performance) scored 3.2. Processor (calculations per second) was rated at 3.9, while RAM (Memory operations per second) got 4.9. The highest score, 5.9, went to Primary hard disk (Disk data transfer rate).

In what is obviously a cost saving move, Dell hasn't extended the aluminum casing under the lid, and instead the deck is covered in black, matte plastic. The full size keyboard, while comfortable to our digits, has a bit too much bounce and flex to it. We should also mention that we happen to like the clickyness of the keys, but those that prefer a quieter typing experience may not dig the Dell 0449TX battery typing experience. Honestly though, it would be hard for a ULV laptop's keyboard to best that on the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 -- we're still madly in love with it.

Our configuration of the Vostro V13 cost $991, but its starts at $449. At that price, you get a 1.3-GHz Intel Celeron M ULV 743 processor, Ubuntu Linux version 9.04, 2GB of RAM, a 5,400 rpm, 250GB hard drive, and 802.11b/g wireless. It also lacks one-year next business day on-site service. Another preconfigured model ($619) comes with a 1.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor, Windows 7 Home Premium, 2GB of RAM, a 7,200rpm, 320GB hard drive, and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi.

In fairness, there's not a huge price difference between the top-end V13 and our review model – only $90 in fact, and we'd argue that's well worth it. For the extra cash you get the same beautiful design and build quality, plus an entire extra processor core and 4GB of RAM instead of 2GB, which gives a more practical level of Dell T1G6P battery performance for those who want a laptop that performs well in a variety of situations.

In the Battery Eater Readers test (maximum possible battery life) the Vostro achieved 326 mins away from a power socket. In the Dell Vostro V13 battery Eater Classic test (minimum possible battery life) it only survived for 114 mins, just under two hours. On the other hand, in the more realistic wireless internet surfing test, with 80% screen brightness and the W-LAN module enabled, we reached 239 minutes which is a very respectable time. And the notebook will last long enough in most cases when playing films from the hard drive, as in our test it only failed after 176 minutes, around the three-hour mark.

Power users – those who need the latest graphics processing techniques or a fast enough system for running multiple applications and maybe a compiler or two – will find that the V13 is still adequate. In our tests, running about six applications including the Ekiga softphone client and several business apps, the V13 hummed along quite nicely without choking on a paltry allotment of RAM.

The VGA port on the back is the only 'serious' disappointment - we'd have preferred an HDMI port, but those business types like VGA to hook up their presentation projectors to. The meagre external features are rounded off by a media card reader compatible with SD, MMC and Memory Stick cards, and an ExpressCard 34 slot.

Annoyingly, the 6-cell Dell T1G6P battery which powers the machine also resides under that aluminium baseplate we mentioned earlier—so there is no way to swap in a spare. Also, on test we found the Dell 0449TX battery to be no more than average in performance (3-4 hours), so if you need a laptop that can survive for a full working day in meetings or on the road this may not be the best option.

The far left empty, while the right side only a Memory Stick slot and ExpressCard/34 memory card reader and SD compatible. Sit on a plate is difficult to obtain due to the left and right edges of the inside of the slope. This provides an elegant, but prevents access. The front edge of the box is a pair of audio jacks. There is no optical drive, which can be a deal breaker for some business users.

Yet when it comes to the screen Dell have certainly not held back, the 13.3inch screen isn’t coated with the glossy coating that causes numerous reflections and annoyingly acute viewing angles and is easy to use when reading documents or watching films.

We should also note another aspect of the Dell Vostro V13: RAM. Dell specifies a maximum of four GB DDR3 (1066 MHz) RAM. The Intel GS45 chipset, which is used in the Vostro V13 only offers a single RAM slot. This Dell Vostro V13 adapter should not be obstructive, as Dell's data sheet only mentions 32-Bit operating systems so far. Two GB, should be sufficient for office applications under Windows 7 anyway. As alternatives Windows Vista or Windows XP (downgrade) or Linux Ubuntu are also supported.

The V13 incorporates a 13.3” LED backlit HD enabled display which is HD compatible. The screen is literally wafer thin and almost feels as if it’s not there at all; this can be attributed to its LED backlighting. Dell also chose to include anti-glare technology which we must admit is surprisingly effective with regards to reducing light pollution onscreen.

Ports and Webcam Port selection is average. There is a USB port, an eSATA / USB combo port, Ethernet, VGA, an ExpressCard slot, 5-in-1 memory card reader, headphone and microphone jacks. The keys are a bit noisy when pressed. The touchpad measures 3.2 x 1.7 inches and is great for a notebook of this size. The touchpad surface is slightly recessed and offers the right amount of friction.

Despite its business-oriented facade, we can see the Vostro being used by students or as a replacement for a netbook, though its non-removable Dell Vostro V13 battery and low battery life may limit its attractiveness. Dell's Vostro V13 is an enjoyable, well constructed machine. Its port options are limited, as is its performance, but for the asking price it fits the bill nicely.

HP EliteBook 2540p Overview

In last year’s ultraportable notebook roundup (August 2009), HP’s EliteBook 2530p put in a strong showing, wowing us with its good looks, sturdy construction, and strong performance. Its successor, the EliteBook 2540p, is strikingly similar in many regards but has the advantage of new and improved components and a lower price.

The other benefit of using a low-voltage processor is superb HP EliteBook 2540p battery life. Managing just over seven hours in our light-use test, the laptop should be able to last a full day's work on a single charge.

Like the EliteBook 8440p we looked at back in April, the 2540p adopts a look somewhere between boardroom and livingroom – a working man’s laptop that’s not afraid to show some class. All the functional parts including the keyboard, base and bezel get a rubbery matte black dressing that makes them disappear, but brushed aluminum plates on the palm rest and lid supply a literal dose of cool (as in, chilly wrists in the winter cool).

It’s worth noting that because Ultra-Low Voltage systems like this one have a 1.8-inch hard drive (standard-voltage systems have a 2.5-inch drive), this version of the 2540p has room for three USB ports in addition to an optical drive. The standard-voltage version of this notebook does not have room for an optical drive, and has just two USB ports.

Graphically this isn't the case, however, and the integrated graphics card only allows light photo editing or entry-level gaming. If you need power for high definition (HD) video editing, for example, the MacBook Air or Sony VAIO is the better option.

Despite its size, the 2540p is jam-packed with features. It's one of the last remaining 12-inch systems that come with an internal DVD burner, though this feature is only available with a low-voltage processor. Standard voltage processors require bigger cooling methods, and thus, there isn't enough room for one. It has three USB ports, VGA-Out, an Ethernet port, ExpressCard, and SD slot. Unlike the Lenovo X201, the 2540p managed to squeeze in a DisplayPort and a Firewire port.

With all this rugged durability built into the design, you have to expect a trade-off, which in this case is weight. Some 12-inch business class notebooks tip the scale at 3 pounds or less. The EliteBook 2540p has a starting weight of 3.38 pounds with a 6-cell HP HSTNN-DB22 battery, but the added durability more than makes up for a minor weight increase.

The big win for travelers is the EliteBook’s aircraft-inspired construction. The aforementioned magnesium/aluminum alloy exterior means this things is tough. Extremely tough. It’s purpose built with resistance to general wear, spills, vibration, temperature, dust, drops, and scratching. While we didn’t actually throw our review sample in the microwave or take it scuba diving, HP backs up its claims with a pretty strong warranty should any of these become an issue.

This laptop is comfortable to carry around during a busy day, with all your information within reach. Though there are lighter notebooks available and the extra weight in your bag will be noticeable, it will yet not be exhausting, even when you pack the charger. The weight of this laptop will not be a problem for most users, even those not used to carry around heavy weights.

Closer inspection shows that the HP 2540p is made by Foxcomm (the same company that makes the Apple iPhone and iPad), and Foxcomm is known for their quality hardware but also for their high suicide rates and low worker equality.

Such is the case of HP’s EliteBook 2540p, a 12-inch rugged-but-portable notebook with a low-voltage Intel Core i7 processor, six-cell battery, Windows 7 Professional, and a weight of four pounds. Other features include a 250GB hard drive, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n), Bluetooth, webcam, fingerprint reader, DVD burner, and a three year warranty.

The EliteBook has a 2.3GHx Intel Core i7-640LM and 4GB RAM to give it the speed it needs to feel powerful enough to handle Web browsing, Office apps and pretty much any software on the planet at the time with zippy speeds. Without a dedicated graphics processor however, it scores poorly in any benchmark test for gaming and 3D software. This HP EliteBook 2540p AC adapter is designed for business users though, and most will not find this a downfall as they may never touch the gaming aspect of this notebook in their entire time owning it.

In our Blender 3D rendering and iTunes MP3 encoding tests, the HP EliteBook 2540p's CPU proved that, despite being an ultra-low-voltage model, it can still be used for relatively taxing tasks. It completed the Blender and iTunes tests in 61sec and 62sec respectively, and this represents an improvement of approximately 30sec over the 2530p's Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400 CPU. In the 3DMark06 tests, the 2540p scored 1515, which means its graphics HP EliteBook 2540p adapter is over twice as fast as the 2530p's. It took 1hr 10min to encode a DVD to an Xvid file, and this is on par with what the much bigger Dell Inspiron 15R N5010 achieved in the same test with its 2.4GHz Core i5-520M CPU.

A nice thing about the EliteBook 2540p (and, indeed, most of HP's computers) is the customization options -- you can add a DVD writer in the upgrade bay, add a fingerprint sensor for extra security, use a docking station or add a second hard drive, preinstall a mobile broadband module, and more.

The $1629 Smart Buy (tested) will bump the system up to 4GB of RAM and Intel’s Core i7 640LM, a 2.13GHz low-voltage processor. This system gets better HP EliteBook 2540p battery life than the standard voltage one and has the optical drive. It has the 2540p’s standard a/b/g/n WiFi and then also Bluetooth 2.1. One thing to keep in mind is that the system uses a 1.8-inch hard drive in some builds and a 2.5-inch one in others, which means some users might want to keep storage options in mind. An 80GB SSD is available for $100 over the 160GB 5400RPM disk and a 7200RPM is available as well, though hard drives selection is dependent up on the processor you choose. The standard voltage models get the 2.5-inch equipment and the low-voltage (with optical drive) get the 1.8-inch gear.

The 2540p is fitted with a 62 Wh HP HSTNN-DB22 battery (5,225 mAh). This keeps the notebook on its feet for four and a half hours (275 minutes) while surfing the web. When you consider the increased processor performance compared to the Core 2 Duo SP9400, for example, the battery life seems appropriate. The Dell Latitude E4300 with SP9400 achieved a marginally longer battery life (290 minutes).

HP has done an impressive job with the EliteBook 2540p, delivering just about everything a business user could want while keeping the weight down. If you’ve stayed away from an ultraportable because you hate the thought of an external optical drive, it’s time to take another look.

Pros:
Zippy processor can handle any office task
Small but still fits full keys and big features

Cons:
Screen colors and contrast look muted
Weak gaming and 3D software performance

Bottom Line:
Small enough to travel anywhere, the EliteBook 2540p breezes through business tasks.

Dell Inspiron 3800 14.1" Laptop Review

Dell Inspiron 3800 can be considered as the most excellent computer for the business and home environments. Dell Inspiron 3800 laptop comes with Intel celeron processor with a speed of 600 MHz that provides enormous speed. The laptop is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98 Operating System. This notebook has got 12.1 inch display with tremendous clarity. The memory of this laptop is 32 MB SDRAM and it can be upgraded to run a greatest of 512 MB RAM. The Dell Inspiron 3800 laptop consists of ports such as 9-pin connector port, S-Video connector and 25-hole connector parallel port. Dell Inspiron 3800 laptop comes with 1 W channel stereo internal speakers. The graphic processor used in this notebook is ATI Mobility M1 graphics accelerator that offers advanced graphical experience.

The system we reviewed -- which we tested under both Windows ME and 2000 Professional -- was a high-end configuration featuring an 850MHz SpeedStep Pentium III processor, 128MB of RAM and a 20GB hard drive. However, the key difference between the Dell Inspiron N4020 AC adapter and other desktop replacement systems is that it uses a desktop chipset, the Intel 815E, that significantly boosts the system's performance in key areas such as hard disk throughput. In our benchmark tests, the Inspiron 8000 was impressive, returning an overall Business Winstone 99 score of 37.2 under Windows 2000. The 815E chipset and the powerful 32MB ATi Mobility M4 graphics controller also ensured healthy component benchmarks. We did run into one performance problem with the Inspiron 8000. Incompatibilities between the 815E chipset, the system BIOS and Windows ME meant that our BatteryMark 4.0 test failed to complete. Unfortunately, this isn't just a technical glitch: it's also an inconvenience for users because the power-saving SpeedStep applet is not loaded.

Dell has roving promos all the time from free S+H to free components and upgrade. Each promo lasts for about 2 weeks, so if you don't care for what they are offering, you can wait a couple of weeks and see what they're offering next time. I ordered my notebook with a free 2nd battery for the 2nd modular bay, which doubles the time I can use the notebook on Dell Inspiron N4020 battery.

The Inspiron 3800 delivers style and affordability in a lightweight design. Choose from a wide range of options and colors to create the computer that is just right for you.

The 12GB IBM TravelStar hard disk is removable, and the memory sockets are readily accessible beneath a panel in the base, but we did notice that the 128MB supplied occupied both sockets, so if you need to upgrade you will lose a 64MB module. The existing memory count should be sufficient for most users, though.

The low price, user-friendly features, and excellent documentation and support of the Dell Inspiron 3800 make it worth a look. The Inspiron, available in your choice of forest green, dark blue, maroon, or midnight gray, comes with both a pointing stick and a touch pad. Our 6.7-pound test model came with a CD-ROM drive; we recommend you opt for the DVD-ROM drive, a $149 upgrade. Also note that Dell may be offering this model with a Celeron/500 or Celeron/600 by the time you read this, not the Celeron/550 we tested. As a multimedia player, the Inspiron is adequate but not specially provisioned. You cannot play an audio CD without turning on the computer, for example, and there are no separate hardware media controls. Performance and Dell 0M4RNN battery life (2:48) were solidly midpack.

Dell Inspiron 3800 comes with 12.1 inch display and it is an integrated graphics multimedia Laptop. This Laptop is available at reasonable price and it uses Intel celeron processor for the superior performance. Dell Inspiron 3800 laptop is totally customizable and it comes with wonderful keyboard and perfect structure. Dell Inspiron 3800 laptop uses video-out port for watching video on a TV.

The left bay takes batteries only, while the right can be used for options like a CD-RW, Zip, LS-120 drive, a second hard disk or a second Dell Inspiron N4020 battery pack. There's a software utility that allows you to hot-swap drives, excepting a hard disk of course, and the floppy module can be run externally from the parallel port if the main bay is already in use.

All the requisite connectors are here, including a pair of USB ports, S-Video, and -- in a first for a Dell notebook -- IEEE 1394. A mini-PCI slot lets you choose between a 56Kbit/s modem only or a combo card that adds a 10/100 Ethernet Dell Inspiron N4020 adapter. SpeedStep problems under Windows ME aside, the Dell Inspiron 8000 is one of the fastest and most capable desktop replacement notebooks available.

The Inspiron 3800 laptop by Dell contains specifications that work well both in the office and at home. Dell Inspiron 3800 Laptop is primarily designed for small and average business class users and home users. Dell Inspiron 3800 Laptop is appropriate for the users to complete their needs. Dell Inspiron 3800 Laptop is very powerful and it helps to finish the tasks speedily.

The Dell machine offers a good keyboard, good Dell 0M4RNN battery life and plenty of power and features for an attractive price. The only downside is the construction of the case, which we'd like to see toughened up a bit.

Specifications:
Intel Celeron 500 MHz (100MHz bus)
32KB L1 cache, 128KB on-die cache
14.1" TFT XGA Active-Matrix Display
8MB ATI Rage Mobility M1 2X AGP video
32MB SDRAM memory
Dual Pointing: Point Stick & Touchpad
6GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive, .5MM
Modular 24X CD-ROM drive
Modular Floppy Drive
Internal Modem V.90 56K Modem (ordered)
Xircom v.90 56 model PC card (received)
Windows 98SE w/ WinME upgrade
Microsoft Works Suite 2000
Norton Antivirus 2001
9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery, 53WHR
2nd battery (Free promo)

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s Notebook Review

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s delivers a more affordable ThinkPad experience to small business users without cutting corners on reliability and looks. On the contrary, this luscious looking business notebook combines chrome accents with extras like Dolby Home Theater v4 to deliver a notebook worth asking for by name.

Specifications:

• 14-inch "edge to edge" glossy display (1366x768 resolution)
• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• Intel Core i5-2410M dual-core processor (2.3~2.9GHz Turbo Boost, 3MB cache, 35W TDP)
• Intel HM65 chipset
• Integrated Intel HD graphics
• 4GB DDR3-1333 RAM (1x 4GB, supports up to 8GB - 2x 4GB)
• 320GB 7200RPM Seagate hard drive (ST320LT000, 7mm height)
• Intel WiFi Link 1000 BGN wireless network adapter
• No internal Bluetooth
• Integrated 720p webcam
• Slot-load DVD burner (HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GS30N)
• Integrated biometric fingerprint reader
• Internal non-removable Li-polymer 48.8Whr battery
• Weight: 4.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 13.7 x 9.3 x 0.9~1.2 inches

Lenovo Thinkpad E420S price is mid-ranged. Given the set of specs, the Lenovo Thinkpad price in India is placed at attractive point. The Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E420s adapter have been suggesting that it is a business laptop. Both stylish and subtle, it is capable of eliciting screen without being obnoxious about it. The Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E420S review tells that this sophisticated styled device is a perfect piece for small business.

Advanced technology and built-in conveniences boost your productivity and streamline your workday. The Edge Series offers innovative solutions and productivity-enhancing technology in a versatile, reliable, easy-to-use laptop.

The ThinkPad Edge E420s features a spill-resistant, island-style keyboard that provides the same legendary quality and responsiveness we've come to expect from Lenovo business notebooks. With curved, "smile-shaped" keys that make it easy to avoid adjacent-key errors, a comfy rubberized palm rest that cradles your wrists, and a heavy dose of tactile feedback, the Edge E420s allowed us to achieve a high rate of 86 words per minute on the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, 8 percent above our typical score. Too bad the keyboard isn't backlit, like the new HP ProBook 5330m.

You will find 4GB of RAM and 320GB of hard drive space included on this laptop computer. We were surprised to see such a large amount of memory and storage space for this basic computer; you'll have plenty of room for storing all your important data.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420 is priced at Rs 38,725. You can easily get a better spec’d laptop at this price, but this one does not want to beat the competition in terms of specs; it wants to beat them in terms of functionality and durability. At this price, the Edge E420 is targeted more towards SMBs and professionals wanting a laptop with all their business functionality preloaded onto it. If you’re a professional wanting the experience of a ThinkPad and you have a limited budget, then the Edge E420 is a good buy.

You should expect a battery life of about five hours for average daily use, which is very good for a 14-inch laptop. It should also be noticed that the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s battery is integrated in the housing, people from Lenovo resorting to this trick to reduce the size and weight of the laptop. This mean that the battery will not be easy to change, and those who tend to remove the battery from the notebook when using it plugged cannot do so.

The Edge E420s may be slim, but it doesn't skimp on power. It's equipped with a second-generation Intel Core processor, the 2.3GHz Core i5-2410M, and 4GB of RAM. If this setup doesn't make the laptop as powerful as a mobile workstation, it has plenty of power for most business software. In PCMark Vantage, our general-performance benchmark test, the Edge E420s scored 6,688 points; this puts it ahead of SMB laptops with previous-iteration CPUs, such as the Asus B43J-A1B ($700 street, 3.5 stars), which scored 6,310 points with its Core i5-560M. And though the E420s is fast in regular use, it's a hair slower than our previous (and still-available) Editors' Choice, the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 ($1,299 direct, 4 stars): In our CineBench R11.5 processor test the Edge E420s scored 2.5 to the X220's 2.82.

The E420's soft-touch black lid, with gently rounded corners and a silver-colored edge, adds a subtly classy note to the traditional ThinkPad aesthetics. With the lid open, you can see that the soft-touch finish repeats on the surface below the keyboard, which (as usual) is one of the best reasons to consider any ThinkPad. Here, the keys are gently curved, contoured, and separated, making touch typing a delight.

We read out the minimum Dell WHXY3 battery life with the tool, BatteryEater Classic Test. Among other things, an Open GL calculation is executed and the maximum display brightness, the WLAN module and the dedicated AMD graphics are enabled. The whole capacity is used up after short 72 minutes and a power outlet shouldn't be too far away. The contrasting assessment, with minimum display brightness, disabled WLAN and enabled processor graphics, is given by the Reader's Test of our benchmark program. The runtime of 7 hours and 42 minutes is acceptable, whereas a lot more would be possible with the new Sandy Bridge CPUs.

There's a time and place to act a fool, like at a Ludacris concert for example, or when entertaining your in-laws during a holiday function in which you're trying to encourage a hasty departure. Likewise, there are situations where showboating simply isn't appropriate. Wondering what this has to do with a laptop review? Well, the same concept applies to PCs. Think about it -- if your main goal is to pack as much horsepower underneath the hood as humanly possible, regardless of weight or battery life, then you're looking for a desktop replacement. And the flashier, the better, presumably because you'll be toting it around to LAN parties in between trips to the chiropractor. On the other hand, if you spend most of your time in board rooms and pitching PowerPoint presentations to co-workers and clients, a flashy system with an LED light show sends the wrong message. This is where the ThinkPad Edge 420s comes in.

The ThinkPad Edge E420s’ keyboard is easily one of the best in the business with chiclet style keys. The keys are slightly concave which makes typing a much nicer affair. The tactile feedback is extremely good; there was zero flex from the keyboard deck while typing. The plush palmrest further enhances the typing experience on the device. This Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s like its predecessors is a remarkable device to type on.

The ThinkPad Edge E420s’ keyboard is easily one of the best in the business with chiclet style keys. The keys are slightly concave which makes typing a much nicer affair. The tactile feedback is extremely good; there was zero flex from the keyboard deck while typing. The plush palmrest further enhances the typing experience on the device. This Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s like its predecessors is a remarkable device to type on.

Considering the fact that that isn’t the widest chassis on analyze typing on the keyboard is comparatively comfy, yet you have to learn to avoid unintentionally knocking the particular trackpoint if you don’t want your cursor scooting off with annoying times.

Our review unit had a second-generation 2.30Ghz Intel Core i5, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Intel HD3000 graphics, 320GB of storage and Windows 7 Professional. With this, the notebook scored a 3.8 in the Windows Experience Index, a score mainly because of integrated graphics. For a business machine, the integrated graphics are more than enough, however Lenovo has made the provision for those who want a more powerful machine with optional AMD Radeon HD6630M graphics. Lenovo's RapidDrive technology is also present using which boot and shutdown times have been drastically cut to about 15 seconds.

This laptop was rated by reviewers as rather noisy. In quiet environments such as libraries, lecture halls and the like, the laptop will make itself noticed. The noise of this laptop will challenge noise sensitive users, particularly in quiet environments.

Given that it isn’t the widest chassis on test typing on the keyboard is relatively comfortable, but you need to learn to avoid accidentally knocking the trackpoint if you don’t want your cursor scooting off at inconvenient moments.

The 14.0” 1366 x 768 Edge E420 screen is definitely not going to provide any wow factor, it’s very average. Average level brightness, average viewing angles, average screen resolution and average color depth. This is what you expect in this price range laptop. The good thing is that the screen is matte instead of glossy, I personally find glossy screens a strain on the eyes after several hours of viewing. The Edge E420s has an infinity screen that is a somewhat glossy finish, so if you really hate screen reflection the cheaper Edge E420 might actually be preferable for you.

Pros:
- Simple & beautiful appearance
- Excellent keyboard feedback
- Powerful enough for most tasks
- More durable than most consumer laptops (however, not as durable as traditional ThinkPad)
- Solid build quality
- Up to 5 hours on 'balanced

Cons:
- Weight above 2 kg (E220s or E420s recommended for mobile users)
- Missing roll cage (feature of traditional ThinkPad)

The given Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E420s battery runtimes can be understood with a look at the consumption rates. The system consumes between 6.4 and 10.9 watts without load and is thus on a very efficient level. The consumption during load is also acceptable with a maximum of 50.3 watts and is within limits. There aren't any problems seen in the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s AC adapter facility because it can provide a capacity of 90 watts and therefore still has reserves.

The 14-inch display is covered with edge-to-edge glass, and the 1,366-by-768 resolution gives you the ability to watch videos in crisp 720p HD. Set in the bezel just above the screen is a high-definition webcam (also 720p), which features low-light sensitivity so you can Skype without turning on all the lights.

The E420s has an ample array of ports including HDMI v1.4, a USB/eSATA combo port, and a slot-load DVD burner. The inclusion of a DVD burner is notable given the thinness of the chassis; many notebooks are coming without them these days. The E420s lacks USB 3.0, a docking station port, and an ExpressCard slot. Something strange about this notebook is the lack of status lights; at the very least, a hard drive status light should have been included. All picture descriptions are left to right.

For lack of a better term, we'll resort to calling the E420s a 'sleek and sexy' laptop, an oft-used phrase to describe just about any black notebook that catches the eye. Lenovo modernized the design by avoiding plastic on everything but the buttons and speaker grill. One thing we're not as keen on as Lenovo is the 14-inch infinity glass display. We don't have any problem with the 1366x768 (16:9) native resolution for a laptop this size, but the thick bezel, while certainly replicating the TV-screen aesthetic that Lenovo touts, looks a bit odd on a laptop and results in wasted real-estate.

Once you get past the glossy display and lack of a backlit keyboard it’s hard to find things not to like about the Edge E420s. The keyboard offers an amazing typing experience, the Dell WHXY3 battery lasts long enough to get most users through the day and the processor isn’t a slouch. Combine this with the ThinkPad build quality and matte black finish, and you have a business notebook that can take on higher priced competitors.

All in all, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420 shapes up as an attractive general-use laptop if gaming and processor-intensive tasks--or superlong battery life--aren't of major concern. It's good looking, easy to type on, and equipped with a useful array of features and software. None of its minor flaws should be deal-breakers for its intended audience of budget-minded users.

Hewlett Packard ProBook 4430s Laptop Review

HP’s ProBook 4430s is the latest in the company’s line of affordable, well-equipped, not-terribly-exciting small business notebooks. It was designed to handle non-enterprise business tasks while having some media capabilities. Most business laptops see at least some personal use these days and the smaller the company the more likely the HP ProBook 4430s AC adapter will serve both purposes.

HP ProBook 4430s Specs:

• Model Number XU013UT
• Operating System – Windows® 7 Professional 64
• Processor – Intel® Core™ i3-2310M (2.10 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)
• Graphics – Intel® HD Graphics 3000
• Display – 14″ diagonal LED-backlit HD anti-glare (1366 x 768)
• Hard Drive – 320 GB 7200 rpm SATA II
• Optical Drive – DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe*
• Memory – 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
• WLAN – 802.11b/g/n WiFi
• Webcam Module – 720p HD Webcam
• Bluetooth module – Bluetooth 3.0 HS Combo
• Fingerprint Reader – Yes
• Battery – 6-cell 47 WHr
• Adapter – 65W Smart AC adapter

If the brushed-aluminum-and-black, 4.5-pound 4430s were a bit thinner, it might turn even more heads. But going with the stocky profile enabled HP to include a DVD-RW drive. The rest of our $579 test unit's components were capable, though unspectacular: an Intel Core i3-2310M, 4GB of system memory, and a 7200-rpm, 320GB hard drive. The display is a 1366-by-768-resolution, 14-inch widescreen with exceptionally even backlighting.

For consumers, laptops such as the HP ProBook 4430s are a perfect example of this dilemma. Touting a 14-inch display and a starting price of $579 USD, the ProBook 4430s has its sights set towards budget-conscious business users who don’t want to be shortchanged on features or aesthetics. Can it pass the test? Read on to find out.

The biggest issue is the bloatware. You're going to want to do a reinstall right away (bcoz lots of HP unwanted software's)the other thing it has HDD with 4 Primary Partitions (Boot, C:drive, HP Recovery & HP Tools)means you are not able to shrink your C to create more logical partition and if you need more partitions you needs to reinstall and by using HP's restore partition you'll just end up right where you started. Going to contact HP support for getting installation media to reinstall my machine according as per my wish with Hard disk Partitions. Except this this HP HSTNN-LB2R battery is really fast and great.

The LED backlit display is very nice and bright. The system ships with a USB 3.0 port which we quickly put to use connecting a WD Portable 2TB Hard Drive.

You can find HP ProBook 4430s for about 570 USD for "beginners" set with 14" screen (1366X768) and Intel Core i3 processor (more expensive sets comes with i5 and i7 processors) "Beginners"set comes with integrated graphic card. You will find useful the HP ProtectTools security suite (works with fingerprint reader hard drive encryption). Also HD webcam of HP ProBook 4430s power adapter will help you vlog and make video calls with your business partners while listening music with SRS premium sound from Card Reader. After that you can connect your notepad to HD TV trough HDMI (also VGA port is included) port and watch some movie (you can find ProBook 4430s with BD-Rom or DVD-Rom, depends on price).

Although the ProBook 4430s has a few minor flaws, it's excellent considering the price. Remember, we're talking about a laptop with a second-gen Intel Core i3 processor that starts at just $579. Many consumer laptops at this same price have cheap plastic bodies with terrible glossy displays. This laptop is an entirely different and more refined beast.

In terms of connectivity, HP includes four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, VGA-out, audio out/in ports and an SD memory card slot. Noticeably absent were both HDMI and USB 3.0 ports, which is a major disappointment as USB 3.0 is rapidly becoming the standard for new computers and HDMI is already standard. There is also Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity built-in. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional is the operating system that HP chooses for this computer, which again speaks to the business users but doesn't completely leave out the home users either.

This device is powered with 2.1GHz dual core Intel Core i3-2310M processor and 4GB RAM which make this device has a powerful productivity to handle your business tasks. By using Intel’s integrated Graphics, the ProBook is still good enough to handle most of any business application graphics and if you often work on multimedia presentations then you don’t have to be worried anymore because this ProBook 4330s handles those multimedia as well. We can say that this device graphics performance maybe not too good for professional graphics designers but you can still happy to know that this ProBook handle pretty good your business multimedia works. For power, the laptop using a 6 cell 47Wh HP ProBook 4430s battery and it lasted for 3 hours 31 minutes.

A score of 99 on WorldBench 6 is nothing to shout about--in either anguish or joy. It’s sufficent to get the job done but not much more--though subjectively the 4430s feels lively enough. Still, it's not for gamers: Frame rates in our tests reached the high 20s in frames per second--teasingly close to playable, but not really there. Video playback at any resolution is smooth. The sound is loud and clear, but it emphasizes the midrange when played through the laptop's speakers. We measured the HP HSTNN-LB2R battery life at 4 hours, 46 minutes, which isn't the best we've seen, but does beat several comparable units such as the Toshiba Satellite L755-S5258.

This laptop really lives up to its description: ultra portability without sacrificing performance. I'm posting this review after a two week of ownership. Good bright display, Awesome aluminum design, bluetooth and keyboard. Excellent hinges. Decent webcam and audio. Great HP EliteBook 8560w Mobile Workstation battery life (able to get backup upto 5 hours). Fast Sandy Bridge processor. USB 3.0 port removes the USB bottle neck from external devices. Great for external hard drives. 4 USB ports, more than usual in this form factor. Windows 7 Pro 64bit. The fan is quiet, and it won't set your lap on fire. Sturdy construction. Light and easy to manipulate with one hand. The biggest issue is the bloatware. You're going to want to do a reinstall right away (bcoz lots of HP unwanted software's)the other thing it has HDD with 4 Primary Partitions (Boot, C:drive, HP Recovery and HP Tools)means you are not able to shrink your C to create more logical partition.

In terms of security, HP included an interesting new feature in HP ProtectTools. Adding to the built-in encryption functions and biometric fingerprint scanner—turning a user’s fingerprint into a key to unlock the notebook—the ProBook 4430s also has a new facial recognition feature.

Work, meet, play. Create, stream, watch, listen and do more. This versatile, secure and stylish HP ProBook with a 14.0-inch diagonal HD display makes an impression in and out of the office.

The 4430s comes equipped with a 6-cell 47Wh battery. In our MobileMark 2011 battery-life test it lasted 3 hours 31 minutes. This actually beats out the Lenovo X1, which managed only 3:10 with its 40Wh HP ProBook 4430s battery, but other systems are better equipped for the road, like the Dell Vostro (9:37, 80Wh), which offers a battery twice as large and lasts three times as long.

The HP ProBook 4430s is a beautiful machine that has the build quality to back up the look and feel of the device. HP did a great job at making its lower end machines not feel like second class citizens. There are a few areas of improvement, notably the resolution, but overall, for the price of $649.00, this an excellent machine for business or even personal use.