Toshiba Tecra M4 Notebook Tablet PC Convertible

The Toshiba Tecra M4 is a very unique computer which I would describe as a jack of all trades. It's thin, fairly light, pretty powerful, and moderately priced. It basically falls into the category of thin and light desktop replacements. However what sets it apart from the competition is a turnable screen and a stylus. That's right, the Tecra M4 is also a Tablet PC which allows you to input notes and information through the stylus or even through speech with an integrated microphone array.

Tecra M4 specs as reviewed:

Intel Pentium M 750 (1.86 Ghz)

256 MB (upgraded to 2 GB by buying memory through newegg.com)

40 GB Hard drive

SXGA+ (1400 x 1050)

Intel 802.11 b/g wireless

DVD/Cdrw combo drive

Windows XP Tablet Edition

6 cell battery

nVidia Go 6600 TE

free accesories after mail in rebate (ballistic case, epson printer, netgear wireless router)

Apple MacBook Pro

The MacBook Pro is Apple's latest notebook and their first with Intel's new attempt at notebook dominance, the Core Duo. It represents the near peak of current notebook technology in terms of power, making only a few compromises for the sake of a slim profile and a better battery life. I am a college student who has been lusting over notebooks for the past two years, but with so many choices and every promising notebook seemingly always lacking in an essential area I was paralyzed by indecision (and a lack of funds). I will be attending Law School next fall and the time has finally come when owning a notebook is no longer an option. Luckily, notebook technology is better than ever, and I finally had some notebooks to choose from that represent nearly everything I have wanted since I first got the idea in my head that I needed one. I have simple needs: gaming capable graphics card, near desktop power, low weight, bright screen, decent battery life, and sweet looks (you know, the basics).
Once I saw the Core Duo I knew the day had arrived and that any laptop I bought was going to have it. I have to have a laptop before August so that took out waiting for the 64bit Core Duo sequel that is coming out sometime later this year or early next year (Merom).

The notebooks I considered getting were the W3J, the Acer 8204, and the new MacBook Pro from Apple, all top of the line machines which had the Radeon X1600 and the new Core Duo. The Apple wasn't really an option because the Law School I am attending requires a Windows machine. The Acer just had too many complaints of a poor screen and other problems, although I know people who are enjoying the machine just fine. I actually ordered the W3J last week but was dismayed to discover that my preorder wasn't made quite soon enough and I was going to have to wait even longer if I wanted that option. My preorder was cancelled about 4 days after the announcement of Boot Camp, which was not just a hack, but the promise of an (in the future) officially supported dual boot program. I'm no fool, and I wasn't going to spit the notebook gods in the face. I had been given a sign, and 24 hours later I picked up my (educationally discounted at $2,299) brand new MacBook Pro. This is my first Apple ever, but with the safety net of Boot Camp, I figured the time to dive in was now.

Specifications of the MacBook Pro reviewed

• 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
• 667MHz frontside bus and main memory
• PCI Express architecture
• 100GB 5400 Serial ATA hard drive
• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB memory on 16-lane PCI Express
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• Dual-link DVI, VGA adapter included
• One FireWire 400 port, two USB 2.0 ports
• Optical digital and analogue audio I/O, built-in microphone and stereo speakers
• Slot-loading SuperDrive
• Illuminated keyboard, scrolling TrackPad
• Built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11g), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, and Gigabit Ethernet
• Mac OS X Tiger with iLife '06, featuring iWeb

Design and Build

The design and build of the MacBook Pro is top notch. For someone who has used and handled (although admittedly never owned) several Dells, HPs, and Compaqs (dang their University contracts) the step up in quality was very much appreciated.

Panasonic ToughBook T4

The Panasonic ToughBook T4 notebook computer is part of the semi-rugged line of Toughbooks; the line that includes the W4 recently reviewed by this site. The T4 is a fraternal twin of the W4 -- the more business-oriented twin. With a 12.1" 4:3 aspect screen (as opposed to the W4's widescreen), no disc drive, and a claimed battery life of 9+ hours, the Panasonic Toughbook T4 is aimed squarely at serious business use. Let's see if it delivers.

Features

• Intel Pentium M Processor ULV 753:
• Processor speed 1.20GHz
• 2MB L2 cache
• 400MHz FSB
• 40 GB Hard Drive
• 512 MB Ram, expandable to 1 GB
• 12.1" 1024 x 768 XGA anti-glare TFT Active Matrix Color LCD with Touchscreen
• PC Card Type II slot
• Secure Digital (SD) Card slot
• Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG network connection 802.11a/b/g
• Lithium Ion Battery Pack (11.1V, 7.65mAh)
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Standard 3 year warranty

Dimensions:

• 1.1"/2.7" (H) x 10.6" (W) x 8.3" (D)
• 3.4 lbs.

Aesthetics

If it is important to you to have a pretty notebook, then this isn't the notebook for you. Many people who saw it during my review period thought it was cool because of its size, its battery life, its low weight, or its features, but nobody thought it was pretty. The Toughbook T4's tough construction makes it blocky, and any slim chance that remained that the T4 would be attractive was killed when they glued a beige plastic stylus holder to the lid.

AC adapter bricks aren't exactly sexy, either. This small, low-power computer comes with a small adapter that's easy to toss in your bag or even a large jacket pocket. I have to give Panasonic credit for making some attempt at cord management, supplying a Velcro strip attached to the power cord that connects to the computer. It isn't great, like the rubber straps on Dell adapters, but at least they give us SOMETHING to work with. [Hint, hint, every manufacturer out there! These little things can be pretty important!]

Build and Construction

Since this is a Toughbook, let's see how tough the T4 really is. As part of the "semi-rugged" line, you shouldn't take this computer swimming, rock climbing, or on deployment with your Special Ops squad. Civilians in normal business life will rarely put their computers in such severe situations, and the T4 is built to handle anything "normal life" could dish out... and then some.

The case is advertised as entirely made of a magnesium alloy, and that alloy is some very sturdy stuff. I did not go gently on this machine over the three weeks used for this evaluation, as will be revealed in my tests of the other "Tough" aspects of the T4, but the case received my toughest (pardon the pun) scrutiny. I repeatedly dropped the machine from a height of about 2.5 feet, my guess of the average height the computer would be from the floor when pinched in a person's hand like a paperback novel. Despite being dropped from this height twice each onto a hardwood floor, pile carpet, tile, a concrete sidewalk, rough parking lot asphalt, and once on the nasty industrial carpeting at my law school (the only accidental drop of the bunch), the T4 still works flawlessly and shows no marks. There's a small black dot on the cover that was there when I received the computer, perhaps from a previous user's carelessness with a Sharpie pen, but otherwise the computer could pass for brand new.

With all that said about dropping the T4 more often over the course of three weeks than most of us would drop our computers over a lifetime, it goes without saying that stuffing the T4 loose in a bag full of case books and other odds and ends, including the T4's pointy-plugged power brick, had no effect. What would amount to abuse with any consumer notebook doesn't shake the Toughbook at all.

Acer TravelMate 3012WTMi

The Acer Travelmate 3012WTMi is Acer's latest ultraportable notebook. According to the Acer website it is designed entirely on Acer's ambition to optimize the balance between high-performance ultraportability and superior efficiency by creating the ultimate lightweight notebook for highly-mobile professionals and dynamic businesses. Weighing just 1.5kgs, the Acer TravelMate 3010 is the first ultraportable Acer notebook to feature the latest Intel Centrino Core Duo Mobile Technology, offering maximum productivity, superior unwired freedom and ultra-connectivity to drive your business mobility into the future.

Specs for the 3012WTMi as Reviewed:

• Processor: Intel Centrino Duo T2300 (@1,66 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache)
• OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 2 installed)
• 1 GB DDR2 (Supported dual-channel)
• 12.1" WXGA TFT LCD with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, 16:10 viewing ratio, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing via Acer GridVista
• Intel 945GM integrated 3D graphics, featuring Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 and up to 224 MB of shared memory, supporting Microsoft DirectX 9.0 and PCI Express
• 1,3 Mega pixel webcam
• Bluetooth VOIP handset
• Slots: PC Card slot (type II can be used to charge the Acer Bluetooth VOIP phone), 5-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)
• Ports: 3 x USB 2.0, Fast Infrared (FIR) port, VGA port, IEEE 1394 (can be used for the external dual layer dvd-write), Modem (RJ-11), Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45), Speaker/ headphone/ line-out jack with S/PDIF support, Microphone/line-in jack, 124-pin Acer ezDockconnector, DC-in jack for AC adapter
• Battery: 53W 6-cell Li-ion battery pack and 22W 3-cell Li-ion battery pack
• Integrated Communications: Modem, Gigabit Ethernet, WLAN 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, IrDA
• Dimensions: 11.7" (297.5mm) W x 8.3" (210.0mm) D x 1.0" - 1.3" (24.5mm - 32.4mm) H
• Weight: 3.3 lb. (1.5kg) with three-cell battery and without external optical drive, 3.7 lb. (1.7kg) with six-cell battery and without external optical drive

HP Compaq nx8220

A Reader's Digest version of the review: This review consists of two parts. The first, more belletristic, presents the experiences collected through the seven months of intensive use of the HP Compaq nx8220 (sold as the HP nc8230 in US) as a workhorse. The second, short and technical one describes the procedure of replacing the notebook display (from WXGA to WUXGA).

My general opinion about this HP notebook is very positive, and only some minor details spoil the very good overall picture of the notebook as a reliable companion. Nowadays, in the Core Duo era, its performance is not blasting anymore (but still satisfying) and hence efficiency issues are not the leitmotif of the text: I focused rather on the notebook usability, reliability, and on its design. It is very likely that the refreshed version of nx8220/nc8230 family (likely to be named nx8420/nc8430) will get a richer interior but the same appearance,' and these comments remain helpful for the potential HP buyers.

Introduction and Family Affairs:

A widescreen 15.4" notebook the HP Compaq nx8220 is offered in Poland (as well as in other European countries) by HP in a business notebook HP Essential' series (which is barely equivalent to the performance laptop'). This category has two branches in the US: the first is represented by the widescreen 17'' desktop replacement notebooks based either on Pentium 4 (elder nw9600) or on Core Duo processors (a newborn nx9420). The other branch consists of widescreen 15.4'' twins, nc8230 and nw8240 which appear to be just wealthier brothers of the nx8220 (which, as in the Grimm's fairy tale, had to go into the world and... has not been offered in US).

Configuration:

When bought (September 2005), the computer featured:

* Pentium M 730 1.6GHz, 2MB L2 cache (Dothan)
* Mobile Intel 915PM Express Chipset (Sonoma)
* Widescreen matte LCD 15.4'', WXGA (1280 x 800) with ambient light sensor
* ATI Mobility Radeon X600 with 64MB of discrete memory
* 512MB (2x 256MB DDR-333) (replaced later by 2x 512MB DDR2-533)
* 60 GB, 5400 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100 (Toshiba MK6026GAX)
* MultiBay II DVD+/-RW (Matshita UJ-822Da)
* Full-size keyboard and two button Touch Pad
* Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG and Bluetooth 1.2, FIR (Fast IrDA)
* NetXtreme Gigabit PCI Express Ethernet Controller, Agere Systems AC'97 Modem
* VGA 15-pin, TV-out, line out, built-in microphone, stereo speakers
* 3x USB 2.0, FireWire IEEE-1394
* PC Card Type II, SmartCard interface slot, SD/MMC cards slot and docking connector
* 69Wh Primary 8-cell Lithium-Ion Battery and 90W A/C adapter 110/

The nx8220 dimensions are 1.1" x 14.0" x10.2" (28mm x 355mm x 259 mm). It weighs 6.1lb (2.77kg) with DVD drive and 5.8lb (2.63kg) with the weight saver'.

Together with the computer, I purchased:

* 52Wh 8-cell Lithium-Ion Travel Battery
* HP Sport Backpack (fabricated by Samsonite)
* Extra AC cord with US plug

Reasons for Buying:

I work at a university and need a computer to write articles, develop and run numerical software, prepare tests and lectures. Fed up with carrying CD discs & pendrives back and forth from home to my university office I finally matured to a notebook. Having positive (both practically and aesthetically) experiences with a borrowed HP Compaq nx7000 (X1000 in USA) I started looking for a similar notebook for my own. I briefly considered the competitive Toshiba M70/M40 families, the mentioned (but hardly available) nx7000/nx7010 and, finally, one of the nc8230/nw8240/nx8220 triplets. At the time of purchase Lenovo had not yet offered its Z60m series notebooks, or I would have considered it. The decisive factors were:

* Build quality
* Battery life and mobility
* Price and pulchritude of the notebook.

Much cheaper than the nc8230 and nw8240*, the nx8220 enjoys the same design, accessories and build quality -- the choice was obvious.

* They were horrendously overpriced then in Poland. For instance, the nw8240 with PM 770, WUXGA WVA, 1GB, 60GB, DVD+/-RW, WLAN, and BT, used to cost astronomic 18000+PLN ("Polish zloty") with VAT, which is no less, no more but $6000! Now, it is available at the half of that price.

Asus A6J

The ASUS A6J is categorized as a business laptop but in my opinion, is really a rather portable multimedia workhorse. It is a 15.4-inch widescreen notebook that comes with excellent performance and great build quality at the expense of battery life, heat and weight. The 2 year global warranty and the in-built webcam make travel a joy.
ASUS A6J Specs and Configuration Options (text in blue indicates review unit configuration when there is a choice available)


* Processor: Intel Core Duo Processor T2000 Sequence: 1.60GHz-2.16GHz (T2400, 1.83GHz), 2MB On-Die L2 Cache, 667 MHz
* Wireless: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG, Bluetooth V2.0+EDR
* OS: Windows XP Home/Pro
* Screen: 15.1" XGA/SXGA+ & 15.4" WXGA (1280*800) / WSXGA+ (1680*1050)
* RAM: 1GB DDR2 533/667MHz SDRAM, 2x SO-DIMM socket expandable to 2GB
* Hard Drive: 2.5" 9.5 mm IDE HDD with Ultra DMA100 supported
60 / 80 / 100 GB
* Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi: 5X/8X/4X/8X/4X/24X/10X/24X/8X
* Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 128MB/256MB dedicated VRAM, up to 512MB Hypermemory (shared)
* Battery: 8 cells,71Whr; 4 Cell,31.5Whr
* Ports: 4 x USB 2.0; Infrared; AC adapter; RJ-11 modem port; RJ-45 ethernet port; audio: headphone/SPDIF, mic-in, line-in; IEEE 1394 Firewire; S-Video; DVI; VGA .
* Slots: 1 x Type II PCMCIA 2.1 compliant, 1 x 4-in-1 card slot (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO)
* Dimensions: 354 x 284 x 35.2 mm (W x D x H)
* Weight: 2.85kg with 15.4" screen, 8-cell battery
* Others: Built-in 1.3megapixel webcam with mic
* Warranty: 2-year global
* ASUS A6J Product Page: http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=5&l2=24&l3=134&model=1005&modelmenu=1

Dell XPS M1710

The Dell XPS M1710 is the latest premium gaming notebook from Dell that replaces the current XPS M170. The M1710 has a 17" widescreen and comes in a choice of two colors, "formula red" or "metallic black". On the inside it houses the 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM and the icing on the cake -- the latest and greatest nVidia Go 7900 GTX graphics card with 512MB of memory. If you like to do serious gaming or simply have the fastest notebook money can buy right now, this notebook is for you!
Dell XPS M1710 Basic Specs as Reviewed:

* System: Dell XPS M1710 (Red color lid)
* Processor: Intel Core Duo T2600 (2.16 GHz)
* Memory: 2GB @ 667MHz - 2 DIMM Slots (2 x 1GB) (Max Ram 4GB)
* Hard Drive: 100GB capacity at a speed of 7200 RPM
* Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX with 512MB DDR memory
* Screen: WUXGA Truelife (1920 x 1200)
* Optical Drive: 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW/+R) with Dual-Layer
* OS: Microsoft MCE 2005
* Wireless Card: Intel 3945 (802.11b/g)
* Battery: 9-cell lithium ion recharegable battery
* Ports / Slots: 5-in-1 Memory Card Reader, DVI-D, VGA video output, S-Video, IEEE 1394 (Firewire), 6 USB 2.0, Express Card slot, Modem, Ethernet/LAN, Microphone in, Headphone out
* Integrated Subwoofer
* Price of this configuration: $4,215 (base price of black metallic M1710 starts at $2,600)
The Dell XPS M1710 design is, in a word, brazen. In daylight the striking red or metallic black lid will catch the eyes of just about anyone nearby. In the dark, if you stand far enough away this thing looks more like a UFO as the lights glow in a somewhat eery yet cool manner. I'll let the pictures of the light display the M1710 emits tell the story, the light colors are configurable with up to 16 color options for each light via a Dell included QuickSet program

Fujitsu LifeBook N3530

The Fujitsu Lifebook N3530 is marketed as a mainstream 15.4" widescreen desktop replacement and is one of the first in the Fujitsu line to carry Intel's Core Duo processor. Fujitsu is well known for its fantastic CrystalView displays and solid design. Today we'll find out if the Lifebook N3530 lives up to this reputation.
Specifications for the Lifebook N3530:

* Intel Core Duo T2300 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
* Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
* Memory: 1024MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz SDRAM (1024MBx1)
* Display: 15.4" WXGA Widescreen CrystalView (glossy) display 1200x800 native resolution, 500:1 contrast ratio, 300 nits
* Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 with 128MB Hypermemory
* Hard Drive: 80GB Fujitsu HDD (Serial ATA, 5400rpm)
* Optical drive: Dual Layer Multiformat DVD Writer
* Connectivity: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (Tri-mode 802.11a/b/g), V.90 56K Modem, Gigabit LAN
* Ports: 4 USB 2.0, 1 Firewire, 1 S-Video out, 1 VGA
* Slots: 1 TypeI/II, 1 ExpressCard (54mm/34mm), 1 MutiMedia Card (MS, MS Pro, SD, xD)
* Lithium Ion Battery (9 Cell, 10.8V, 7200mAh)
* Dimensions: 14.25" x 10.51" x 1.57" (W x H x D)
* Weight: 7.92 lbs
* Three Year International Limited Warranty

Reasons for Buying:

I purchased this notebook based on three things. One was size and quality of the display. The second was that I needed a semi-portable computing solution as I am on the road only about two to three months out of the year, so extreme portability was not really a factor. However, this may be an issue for some considering that this is quite possibly the heaviest notebook in its class and is intended to be more of a desktop replacement. Therefore it would not perhaps be ideal for carrying around campus all day should you have the need to do so. The third and last was passable dedicated graphics, a qualification which the Radeon X1400 certainly fills.

Some other notebooks I considered when making my purchase decision:

* HP DV5000Z/DV5000T
* IBM ThinkPad R52
* Asus V6V
* Gateway MX6450

All seemed to have just about what I was looking for. But based on the strength of Fujitsu's outstanding display and being one of the first to the party, along with Acer and HP, to have both the Intel Core Duo processor and dedicated graphics it was the one I ultimately chose. Some may ask why I did not consider the Asus V6J, and that is a fair question as I consider it a very comparable notebook. The simple fact is that I made my purchase decision just before it became available and the final price of the Fujitsu was about $350 less than the V6J. Had the situation been reversed, I could just as easily have purchased the V6J instead.

Where and How Purchased:

This notebook was purchased from Portable One, a long time Fujitsu dealer and service center which sadly discontinued service and sales of Fujitsu notebooks shortly after my purchase. The final cost was $1,549 after a $100 rebate. I personally consider this to be a fair price for a very well built mainstream notebook for what it included, but everyone's budget varies. Even though they no longer sell Fujitsu products, I would still highly recommend Portable One for a notebook purchase as their courtesy and support throughout the transaction was nothing short of commendable. The notebook ordered was shipped direct from Osaka, Japan and arrived double boxed and packaged very securely.

Acer Aspire 9800

The Acer 9800 is the first 20-inch screen notebook to hit the market, and quickly eclipses the new 19-inch screen notebooks that have just been introduced. The 9800 also features an HD-DVD drive. Availability is expected for May in Europe and is unknown for North America.

Below are the Specs for the Acer Aspire 9800:

• 20.1" CrystalBrite colour TFT LCD display (WSXGA+ resolution of 1680 x 1050)
• Intel Core Duo Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 graphics card with up to 256MB dedicated video memory,
• DVI-D connectivity to provide faster and higher-quality images for high-definition entertainment on external monitors
• 3-Watt speakers and a 4-Watt subwoofer and Dolby Digital Live which allows the notebook to be hooked up via a single digital connection to a Dolby Digital-equipped audio/video receiver or digital speaker system,
• Acer Media keys, seven mirror-coated keys with LEDs: Acer Arcade, volume up/down, previous, next, play/pause and stop, offering convenient, one-button control over all your multimedia entertainment.
• Hard Drive storage of up to 240GB (with second HD)
• Choose between the slot-loading DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive or an HD-DVD drive
• 5-in-1 card reader that supports the most common card formats
• Integrated hybrid TV Tuner for both analog and digital broadcasts
• VoIP Bluetooth phone included
• Acer OrbiCam, a 1.3 megapixel camera mounted at the top of the LCD panel.
• WLAN (with Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED solution, supporting Acer SignalUp wireless technology),
• Built-in Bluetooth 2.0 module
• LAN connection with Gigabit Ethernet cards and standard connectivity through the integrated 56K ITU V.92 modem.

Toshiba Satellite M100

The 14.1" screen Toshiba Satellite M100 is part of Toshiba's new line of notebooks equipped with Intel Core Duo processors. Armed with this processor, optional dedicated graphics in the form of an ATI X1400, and an amazing weight of around 5 lbs, this (borderline) thin and light notebook seems like it could be a heavyweight contender in the laptop arena.

Specifications for Toshiba Satellite M100 Being Reviewed:

• Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 (2.00GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB)
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
• Custom Lid Color: Peacock Blue Other options: Sunlight Copper or Mist Gray for an additional $30
• Memory: 1024MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz SDRAM (1024MBx1)
• Display: 14.1" Diagonal Widescreen XGA TruBrite (glossy) display
• Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 with 128MB DDR SDRAM
• Hard Drive: 100GB HDD (5400rpm, Serial-ATA)
• Optical Drive: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Multifunction drive
• Connectivity: Integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g), LAN, and 56k modem
• Standard speakers
• Lithium Ion Battery (6-cell, 4000mAh)
• Dimensions: 13.5" x 9.53" x 1.50" (width, depth, height)
• Weight: 5.2 lbs
• One Year Standard Limited Warranty

Samsung NP-X60

The Samsung NP-X60 (hereinafter called the X60) is a 15.4" widescreen notebook which follows on from the X50 series and includes the latest Intel mobile CPU and chipset. The X60 weighs in at about 2.5kg (5.5lb) with a 6 cell battery, which places it among the lighter notebooks with a 15.4" display. The version of the X60 reviewed here has the Core Duo T2300 CPU, the ATI X1400 GPU, a 100GB 5400rpm hard disk and a DVD burner. Other versions of the X60 are / will be available with the Intel integrated graphics or the ATI X1600 GPU and a higher resolution display.
For the past year I have been using an Asus W3A (also sold as the Z63A) with a Pentium M 750 (1.86GHz) CPU and Intel integrated graphics. Comparisons are made in this review with the Asus. The W3A is a version of the W3V with Intel integrated graphics. Overall, I have been very satisfied with the W3A once I got over the initial shock of discovering that the true weight was about 2.5kg (5.5lb) whereas it had been advertised as 2kg (4.4lb). However, this weight included a 9 cell battery with a running time under light use of over 4 hours. I wanted to upgrade to take advantage of a dual core CPU and was also keen to try a display that is one size larger. I do a reasonable amount of traveling, usually to places where good IT support may be lacking, so portability, reliability and durability are key requirements, along with reasonable battery life to get me through the power cuts.

Asus hadn't yet released a lightweight 15.4" laptop (such as a widescreen version of the V1 series) and while the Sony FE series is getting into the right weight range, it uses the Windows Media Centre operating system, which sends the wrong message to me. I have been watching the Samsung notebooks for some time and my impression has been one of good quality products although there has been a shortage of in-depth reviews. The Samsung X60 appeared to fit my requirements so I bought one from Laptops Direct UK. This supplier had stock at a reasonable price (UK £1176.95 British Pounds including VAT), offered a deal for a free 3G data card and offered a very good price on the extended warranty.
Specification of X60 as Reviewed:

• Intel Core Duo T2300 1.66GHz
• Intel 945PM chipset with 667MHz FSB
• 1GB PC4200 533MHz DDR2 RAM (2 x 512MB Infineon)
• 100GB 5400RPM SATA HD (Fujitsu MHV2100BH)
• 15.4-inch "SuperClear" glossy WXGA screen (1280 x 800)
• ATI X1400 (also called M54) GPU (128MB DDR2 RAM)
• Fixed 8X DVD multi-writer (Teac DV-W28EA)
• Intel 82573L gigabit internet
• Intel 3945 wireless abg
• SENS LT56ADW V92 modem
• Broadcom 2045 Bluetooth 2.0
• AD 1986A high definition audio with twin microphones and SRS enhanced speakers
• Synaptics touchpad
• Infrared remote control
• Ports: 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x 4 pin firewire (powered),network (RJ45), modem (RJ11), VGA, SVHS, microphone, headphone / SPDIF, 120 pin docking station (X Dock)
• 1 x PC card slot type 1 or 2 (Express ready)
• 5 in 1 media card slot (Memory stick / Pro, SD, MMC, Xd card)
• 6 cell battery (11.1V, 5200mAH, 57.72WHr)
• Dimensions: Advertised 361 x 265 x 23.9 -- 32.9mm (14.2" x 10.4" x 0.94 -- 1.30"), actual 360 x 265 x 27 -- 39mm (14.2" x 10.4" x 1.06 -- 1.54") (including feet)
• Weight: Advertised 2.48kg (5.46lbs), actual 2.54kg (5.60lbs) (according to my digital kitchen scales)
• Weight with PSU and power cables: 3.1kg (6.8lbs)
• Windows XP Pro SP2
• 1 year collect and return warranty
  See http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/mobilecomputing/dualcore/np_x60tv01suk.asp for more features of the X60 series.

Specifications of Other Versions (Other existing or future versions of the Samsung X60 may contain other configurations including)

• Different versions of the Core Duo or Core Solo CPUs
• Different capacity hard disks
• 15.4" WSXGA+ display (1680 x 1050)
• Different optical drives including a Lightscribe version
• Trusted Platform module
• Terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) receiver (Korea only)

Compaq Presario B2800

The model being reviewed is the Compaq Presario B2800. This model is the first of its kind and is the result of a manufacturing agreement between Hewlett-Packard Compaq and Asus, where the latter will produce some of the notebooks under the Compaq brand for the Asia-Pacific market. This deal was revealed in the Taiwanese newspaper Taipei Times (Saturday, Dec 03, 2005, Page 10).

The Compaq B2800 is a 14''screen laptop with an overall weight, including the 6 cell battery, of around 2.2 kg (just over 4.8 lb, for those readers not use to the Metric System). This, together with its slim profile, clearly puts in the Thin and Light' category.

My exact configuration is as follows:

• Pentium M 740 at 1.73 GHz.
• Intel 915PM Express chipset.
• 14" screen with a resolution of 1024 x 728 with Brightview (that is a glossy coating, according to HP-Compaq branding name)
• 512 DDR2 SDRAM 533 MHz. This module is welded to the Motherboard
• HD Hitachi Travelstar 80 Giga 100 ATA at 5400 rpm.
• ATI X600 SE with 128 discrete memory and 128 mega of Hypermemory (shared with the RAM). This brings it up to a theoretical total of 256 megs
• SoundMAX HD Audio.
• Integrated Intel WiFi b/g, Intel Pro/Wireless 2200BG
• Integrated Bluetooth
• Matsushita DVD-RAM UJ841 S. Super-Multi Dual Layer DVD RW/ R.

I know that there are some other configurations available, for example in Malaysia they offer the exact same model but with a Pentium M 760 running at 2 GHz. Apart from CPU speed and price I have seen no real variations in this model that doesn't seem to be that widely available and is not configurable.

Reasons for purchase

I had been searching for a laptop to replace my aging HP nx9010 for around 2 months prior Christmas 2005/6 but hadn't decided on anything. After coming back from holidays at the beggining of February I had made my mind up and purchased the Compaq B2800.

The old nx9010 was too uncomfortable to carry around due to its bulkiness and weight. Its performance was also lacking and didn't allow me to play the newer 3D Real Time Strategy Games (RTS) or RPG.

I had a budget of A$2000 to A$3000 (that is Australian dollars). Preferably I wanted it to be closer to 2000 than to 3000.

There were 4 main criteria, apart from price, that influenced my buying decision:

• Build: First and formost was the build quality. My previous notebook was definitely not stellar in this aspect.
• Design: The design of my old notebook was simply quite poor.
• Performance: By no means is it the fastest notebook, but it is quite well balanced and no single component lags behind the rest.
• Weight: If I wanted to use the notebook at work I needed it to be lighter than 3 kg otherwise it was too much of a hassle to carry it from home to work and back home.

My newly purchased B2800 notebook does all of that perfectly and even proves very good in some of the other areas, especially in build quality and design.

The alternatives I had been considering before Christmas were many as I had looked at innumerable models by many manufacturers and brands. I nearly bought a NEC P1800 but it didn't seem very nicely designed and it was a bit heavy closer to the 3 kg mark than to the 2 kg. I nearly bought a Sony S series but it was a little to small for every day use and slightly outside my budget.

Where and from whom it was purchased

The Compaq B2800 was purchased at Harvey Norman (an Australian electronics retailer), in Central Melbourne. I chose to purchase at Harvey Norman because I didn't consider that saving A$100, if purchased online on the HP Shop, was worthwhile. Especially when you're already spending over A$2000, you want to make sure your investment turns out fine so buying it at Harvey Norman provided me with that confidence. In total, with GST (value added tax), it was just under A$2500.

The box was well packed and protected and the contents were few, but all useful. Apart from the computer it came with the recovery CD, Windows XP Home, Microsoft Works, a short manual and some various warning papers. It also came with a travel power A/C power adaptor.

It also came with its own custom white optical mouse. This mouse works OK but is slightly small, even for my liking, but is fine for everything except gaming. It has two LEDs, one red one at the back and a central LED that constantly changes colour. As any mouse nowadays it has two buttons and a central wheel.

Sony Vaio SZ-110/B

Configure the SZ notebook to create your own perfect blend of functionality, portability and style. The ultra-slim VAIO SZ notebook delivers an uncompromising blend of intelligent mobile design, cutting-edge performance and contemporary style. The 13.3" widescreen display with XBRITE LCD technology, razor-thin LCD panel, long battery life, Intel Core Duo processor, 5400rpm SATA hard drive, advanced DDR2 memory and sleek charcoal black casing, come together in a package designed to let you work faster and play longer. Value added features, such as the built-in camera and microphone for convenient and fun communication or biometiric fingerprint sensor for premium security without the added hassle, round out this incredible package and equip you with a powerful tool for both work and play.

SZ-110B Specs as Reviewed

* Dimensions: 12.5" (W) x 1.0" -1.5" (H) x 9.3" (D)
* Weight: 4.07 lbs. with standard battery
* CPU: Intel Core Duo Processor T2400 1.83GHz
* Memory: 1GB DDR2 PC2-4200 533MHz (upgradable to 2GB)
* Hard Drive: 100GB 5400rpm SATA drive with G-Sensor Shock Protection
* Optical Drive: Dual-layer, dual-format DVD RW DL internal drive with max 8x read speed and 4x write speed
* Display: 13.3" WXGA 1280x800 XBRITE widescreen glossy LCD
* Graphics 1: (A built-in switch toggles between the two graphics cards) Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 128MB Shared Memory
* Graphics 2: (A built-in switch toggles between the two graphics cards) NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 with 128MB Dedicated Memory
* Audio: Sony Sound Reality Audio Enhancer
* Wireless LAN (WiFi): Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g)
* Bluetooth: Integrated Toshiba Bluetooth technology
* Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2 (the CD is not included)
* Battery: Standard-capacity lithium-ion battery with estimated life of 2.5 to 5.5 hours (inaccurate, see Battery section below)
* Power Requirement: 105W+10%
* Keyboard: 86-key full-size keyboard with 3mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch
* Pointing Device: Electro-static touchpad with two buttons and vertical & horizontal scroll areas
* Webcam: Built-in webcam and microphone
* Security: Fingerprint scanner
* Ports:
o 1x Memory Stick Duo Pro MagicGate
o 1x PC Card (PCMCIA Type II)
o 1x VGA output
o 1x iLink/FireWire/IEEE 1394
o 1x headphone output
o 1x microphone input
o 1x V.90 Modem (RJ-11)
o 1x 10/100 Fast Ethernet (RJ-45) (no Gigabit Ethernet)
o 2x USB 2.0
o 1x ExpressCard/34
o 1x DC-in (for power)
o 1x Port Replicator Connector
* Card Reader: 4-in-1 xD/SD/MMC/MS Pro flash media reader card that uses the ExpressCard/34 slot.
* Service & Support: 1-year Limited Warranty, 1-year toll-free 24/7 telephone support
* Installed Software: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with SP2, America Online 180-Day Trial - New Users Only, Norton Internet Security 60-Day Subscription, TrendMicro Anti-Spyware 30-Day Trial, VAIO Security Center, VAIO Update software, VAIO Recovery Wizard software, VAIO Support Central, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intuit Quicken 2006 New User Edition (previous Quicken users may require additional upgrade), InterVideo WinDVD, Microsoft Works 8.5 60-Day Trial Version of Microsoft Office 2003 (Student/Teacher Edition), Roxio DigitalMedia SE, Click to DVD - DVD Creation, DVgate Plus - Digital Video, SonicStage Mastering Studio - Audio Mastering and Remastering, SonicStage - Digital Music, VAIO Media - Network File Sharing, Image Converter - PSP Transfer, 60-minute Trial Version of Wheel of Fortune, 60-minute Trial Version of Jeopardy