Dell Vostro 1310 Laptop

Rabu, 31 Juli 2013


When Dell launched their new Vostro line of computers last year the Vostros where immediately praised for meeting the needs of small businesses and budget-minded consumers alike. The Vostro 1310 is the newest and smallest addition to the Vostro family of notebooks. This compact business notebook comes with a 13.3" display, dedicated graphics option and a slot-loading optical drive, but does it still offer the right combination of features, options, and price that made the Vostro line so popular? Keep reading and you can find out.



The Dell Vostro 1310 is available with a range of Intel processors (from the 1.86GHz Celeron M M540 up to the T9500 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo). There are two 13.3" screen offerings, a 1280x800 WXGA with matte anti-glare coating and 1280x800 WXGA "TrueLife" glossy display. The notebook can take up to 4GB of RAM and Dell offers 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Professional. The system is priced starting at $749 with integrated Intel X3100 graphics at the time of this writing, but is also available with nVidia 8400M GS dedicated graphics.

Our pre-production Vostro 1310 is equipped with the following specs:

  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz)
  • Memory: 2GB - 2 DIMM (DDR2-667) (4GB max)
  • HDD: 160GB 5400RPM HDD
  • Graphics: 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
  • Display: 13.3" WXGA Antiglare
  • Optical drive: Slot-loading 8x DVD +/- RW
  • OS: Vista Business SP1 (available with XP Professional)
  • Software: 30-day security subscription anti-virus, No trail-ware
  • Wireless: Dell 1505 Wireless-N Mini Card (802.11a/g/n)
  • Battery: 6-cell battery
  • Other: Webcam and fingerprint reader
  • Services: Network assistant; 10GB of Datasafe online; Dell Support Center; PC Tune-up
  • Dimensions (HxWxD): 0.94" (front)/1.59" (back) x 12.48" x 9.57"
  • Weight: 4.45 lbs (with 4-cell battery), 4.63 lbs (with 6-cell battery)
  • Base configuration price: $749
  • Price as tested: $1,357


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Build and Design laptop

Dell received some much needed attention in 2007 with the introduction of the sleek, high performance XPS M1330 and XPS M1530 notebooks. While these more expensive notebooks in the Dell lineup were praised for their looks and low weight, the Dell Insipron and Vostro notebooks were criticized for being bulky and unattractive laptops. Dell listened closely to this criticism when they designed the new Vostro 1310. The Vostro 1310 is in fact roughly 20% smaller and lighter than the Vostro 1400.

Unfortunately, the lighter weight and thinner profile come at some cost. Namely, the plastics used in the chassis feel thin and in some areas, such as above the keyboard and on the palmrests, there is a significant degree of flex. The edges of the chassis are also sharper than what weve seen on earlier Dell notebooks and these sharp edges and thin plastics make the design of the Dell Vostro 1310 feel slightly unfinished or unrefined.

Much like last years Vostro releases, the 1310 doesnt come in multiple colors or display lid patterns. Black is your only option. However, this year Dell decided to get rid of the matte black finish in favor of a glossy black finish with just a hint of metal flake. The black paint with the fine metal flakes is inlaid with the molds so theres no risk of the glossy finish coming off.


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Although I wasnt a huge fan of the glossy black plastic lid with metal flake paint on our pre-production Vostro 1310, it does look and feel nice. Still, the new glossy lid design is a magnet for fingerprints and might not resist light scratches as well as the matte black finish on the previous generation Vostro notebooks.

Another of the new innovations for the Vostro line is the "Hyperband Multi-Antenna" housed inside the LCD lid which Dell claims "can provide excellent reception and help reduce dropped signals" for both Wi-Fi and bluetooth. Ive never had serious problems with dropped signals while using older Dell notebooks so I cant speak to whether the new internal multi-antenna actually improved wireless reception ... but I can say that I never experienced dropped Wi-Fi connections during the testing period.

The following is a short video overview of the all-new Dell Vostro 1310:

Screen laptop

Display options for the Vostro 1310 include a matte finish 13.3" Widescreen XGA (1280 x 800), and a 13.3" Widescreen XGA (1280 x 800) with TrueLife (glossy finish). Im a little disappointed that Dell isnt offering a higher resolution option at the time of this writing. However, the overwhelming majority of "average" business users and budget notebook shoppers will think the WXGA resolution looks stunning.

The screen on our pre-production unit looks flawless from straight on and the horizontal viewing angles are great. Upper vertical viewing angles are good with just a slightly washed out look, but colors did begin to invert at lower viewing angles when the screen is tilted back.


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Keyboard, Touchpad and Media Controls

The keyboard on the Vostro 1310 is quite nice with minimal flex near the center of the keyboard. The keys have a nice matte texture with proper spacing and each of the keys have excellent travel and cushion. There are dedicated page up and page down keys but the home and end keys require the use of the function key, so this might be a little frustrating for users who do a lot of coding.


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The touchpad surface utilizes the same matte texture with just a hint of metal flake that is used on the palm rest surface. The touchpad is nice and responsive but feels a little smaller than it should be. The touchpad buttons have excellent travel and cushion. Unfortunately, because of the way in which the touchpad buttons are slightly recessed and close to the edge of the chassis, the touchpad buttons are uncomfortable to use. The edge of my thumb kept hitting the edge of the chassis when I pressed the touchpad buttons and I ended up with sore thumbs after just a few minutes.


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A series of touch-sensitive media buttons with blue LED backlights are located above the keyboard similar to the buttons on the XPS notebooks. One nice feature about the media buttons is that the blue LEDs only stay lit for a fraction of a second after being pressed, so they wont distract you by staying lit all the time. The power button also features a blue LED backlight, but this light says on whenever the notebook is on.


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Ports and Features

The port selection of the 1310 is reasonably good for a notebook of this size. Heres a quick rundown of what you get:

Front profile view: LED status lights and mono speaker.


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Left side: USB port, FireWire, microphone in, headphone out, multi-card reader, and ExpressCard slot.


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Right side: Slot-loading optical drive, WiFi on/off, three USB ports, and power jack.


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Back profile view: Battery, VGA out, Ethernet and security lock slot.


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Perhaps the most interesting omission from the ports selection is the lack of either S-video out or HDMI. Some older video projectors still use the S-video port and most newer external monitors and high-resolution projectors use the HDMI port. The absence of both the S-video port and the HDMI port means that this notebook wont be 100 percent friendly with all external displays used for presentations. This might indeed be a serious problem for traveling business professionals who never know exactly what type of video-out port theyll need for their next business presentation.

With the addition of FireWire, four USB ports, a media card reader, a headphone jack, microphone jack, ExpressCard slot and Ethernet port youre well equipped ports wise.

I was pleasantly surprised to find four USB ports on the 1310. I was a bit let down by the fact the much larger XPS M1530 only includes three USB ports. The fact that the 1310 packs four USB ports into a reasonably thin and light 13.3" notebook is worth praise.

Audio

The speaker quality was sub par for a notebook of this size and price range. The mono speaker on the 1310 produces dreadfully shallow sound with limited range and no bass. You can get the volume reasonably loud without much distortion, but the audio coming out of this single tiny speaker sounds like a cell phone speaker inside a tin can.

This is unfortunate because many 12" and smaller notebooks (such as the HP tx2000z or HP 2133 Mini-Note) have stereo speakers that produce high quality sound with excellent range of highs, middles, and lows. The Vostro 1310 is a budget business notebook, but Im certain that Dell can do better than this.

The other negative issue is that the location of the mono speaker is on the front edge of the notebook. If youre using the 1310 as a "laptop" this means the speaker is pointed toward your crotch. The last time I checked, humans dont have ears in that area of the body ... which is why audio will tend to sound somewhat muffled when using the 1310 in your lap.

On the brighter side, the headphone out port delivered crystal clear audio to my earbuds during the test period.

Performance and Benchmarks

One thing to notice is that this relatively small 13.3" notebook is available with either integrated graphics or a dedicated graphics card option. While most business professionals only need integrated graphics, the optional Nvidia 8400M GS is great for mobile video editing and Photoshop as well as budget gaming. In fact, the Vostro 1310 actually produced a better 3DMark 06 score than the XPS M1330 that we tested last year. Still, the Vostro 1310 is meant for a more mainstream business buyer looking for good productivity features and a low price, not cutting edge 3D performance.

Our configuration of the Vostro 1310 with the 2.1GHz T8100 Intel Core 2 Duo processor performed quite well during testing and this machine will meet or exceed the performance needs of most users.

wPrime is a program that forces the processor to do recursive mathematical calculations, the advantage of this program is that it is multi-threaded and can use both processor cores at once, thereby giving more accurate benchmarking measurements than Super Pi. Lower scores indicate better performance.

Notebook / CPUwPrime 32M time
Dell Vostro 1310 (Core 2 Duo T8100 @ 2.1GHz) 37.736s
Dell Inspiron 1525 (Core 2 Duo T7250 @ 2.0GHz)
43.569s
Dell XPS M1530 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)
37.485s
Portable One SXS37 (Core 2 Duo T7250 @ 2.0GHz)
41.908s
Sony VAIO NR (Core 2 Duo T5250 @ 1.5GHz)58.233s
Toshiba Tecra A9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)38.343s
Toshiba Tecra M9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)37.299s
HP Compaq 6910p (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz)40.965s
Zepto 6024W (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz)42.385s
Lenovo T61 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)37.705s
Samsung Q70 (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2.0GHz)42.218s
Acer Travelmate 8204WLMi (Core Duo T2500 @ 2.0GHz)42.947s
Samsung X60plus (Core 2 Duo T7200 @ 2.0GHz)44.922s
Samsung Q35 (Core 2 Duo T5600 @ 1.83GHz)46.274s

3DMark06 comparison results for graphics performance (higher scores indicate better performance):

Notebook3DMark06 Score
Dell Vostro 1310 (2.1GHz Intel T8100, Nvidia 8400M GS 128MB)
1,679 3DMarks
Dell Inspiron 1525 (2.0GHz Intel T7250, Intel X3100)
545 3DMarks
Sony VAIO NR (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250, Intel X3100)
504 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1530 (2.20GHz Intel T7500, Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB)4,332 3DMarks
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT)2,905 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)1,408 3DMarks
Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU)1,069 3DMarks
Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB)2,344 3DMarks
Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB2,183 3DMarks
Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 1526 (1.66GHz Core Duo, nVidia 7600Go 256 MB)2,144 3DMarks
Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200, ATI X1700 256MB)1,831 3DMarks
Asus A6J (1.83GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 128MB)1,819 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)827 3DMarks


PCMark05 measures overall notebook performance (higher scores indicate better performance):

NotebookPCMark05 Score
Dell Vostro 1310 (2.1GHz Intel T8100, Nvidia 8400M GS 128MB)
4,813 PCMarks
Dell Inspiron 1525 (2.0GHz Intel T7250, Intel X3100) 4,149 PCMarks
Dell XPS M1530 (2.20GHz Intel T7500, Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB)5,412 PCMarks
Dell Inspiron 1520 (2.0GHz Intel T7300, NVIDIA 8600M GT)4,616 PCMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS)4,591 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)4,153 PCMarks
Lenovo 3000 V200 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)3,987 PCMarks
Lenovo T60 Widescreen (2.0GHz Intel T7200, ATI X1400 128MB)4,189 PCMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)4,234 PCMarks
Fujitsu N6410 (1.66GHz Core Duo, ATI X1400)3,487 PCMarks
Alienware M7700 (AMD Athlon FX-60, Nvidia Go 7800GTX)5,597 PCMarks
Sony VAIO SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400)3,637 PCMarks
Asus V6J (1.86GHz Core Duo T2400, Nvidia Go 7400)3,646 PCMarks


HDTune measures the performance of the notebooks hard drive in terms of both transfer rate (read/write speed) and access time (how long it takes to find data stored on the drive):


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Heat and Noise laptop

The Vostro 1310 does an impressive job keeping heat under control. The system fan and heatsinks in the 1310 do a great job managing heat when the system is under load ... as we discovered when we ran multiple benchmarks back to back. What we found most impressive was the fact that the bottom of the notebook (usually the hottest side) ended up being slightly cooler than the surface of the keyboard and palm rests. This is quite nice and makes for a more enjoyable "laptop" experience. Below are images with temperature readings listed in degrees Fahrenheit:


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Fortunately, noise was likewise a non-issue with the fan on the 1310. The fan moved a significant amount of hot air and the noise was exceptionally quiet. The fan was so quiet, even when running at full speed, that the air rushing past the heatsink actually made more noise than the fan itself.

Battery Life

The 6-cell 58WHr Li-Ion battery provides excellent battery life for the 1310. With Vistas power management running in "high performance" mode, screen brightness set to maximum and wireless on, the 6-cell battery delivered 3 hours and 18 minutes of battery life. The 6-cell delivered 3 hours and 52 minutes of life while browsing the web using Wi-Fi with the notebook set to "balanced" mode and the screen brightness turned down to 50 percent.

There is also an available 9-cell 87WHr Li-Ion battery for those users needing extended battery life and a 4-cell 38WHr battery for those who need a laptop to be as light as possible. Unfortunately, Dell was unable to provide us with the 4-cell and 9-cell batteries during our testing period, so we cannot provide any information on battery life with these batteries.

Conclusion

Overall, the Dell Vostro 1310 is an impressive budget notebook with clean looks and solid performance. Whether you need a simple business notebook or a budget portable laptop with modest gaming capabilities, the Vostro 1310 makes an excellent choice.

That said, the chassis isnt as nice as we hoped ... the edges are sharp and could be smoother or more rounded, the case feels more flimsy than the earlier Vostros, the touchpad button placement is bad, and the mono speaker does not provide a good audio experience. Still, none of these issues are "deal breakers."

The other huge advantage to the Vostro line is the support, lack of bloatware, and excellent return policy. Dell will let you purchase a Vostro, use it for 30 days, and if you dont like it you can send it back for a full refund without any restocking or shipping fees. Thats just amazing.

In short, the Vostro 1310 is an excellent addition to the Vostro family and gives business professionals and consumers on a budget a low-cost alternative to the Dell XPS M1330. Unfortunately, the price as configured ($1,357) places it neck-and-neck with the XPS M1330. Although the Vostro is a great system at the entry level price of just $749, once the price exceeds $1,000 most consumers (and even many business professionals) would be better off with the XPS M1330.

Pros

  • Thinner and lighter than the Vostro 1400
  • Reasonable battery life
  • Nice screen and easy-to-use media buttons
  • Good selection of ports
  • Solid performance
  • No bloatware
  • Available with Windows XP
  • Excellent return policy (NO restocking or shipping fees within 30 days!)

Cons

  • Glossy LCD lid is a magnet for fingerprints
  • Chassis plastics feel too thin and hollow
  • Mono speaker is painfully weak
  • Uncomfortable touchpad buttons
  • No S-video or HDMI port
  • Price as configured is a little expensive compared to the XPS M1330
( Source http://www.notebookreview.com )
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Toshiba Toshiba Tecra A9-S9017 - Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2 GHz - 15.4
Manufacturer: Toshiba
Model: Toshiba Tecra A9-S9017 - Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2 GHz - 15.4
Screen Size: 15.4 inches
Weight: 6.6 lbs
Processor Options: Core 2 Duo
Graphics Options: Integrated
Description: The Tecra A9 Series is the ideal combination of innovative performance, technology, and quality for desktop replacement productivity. Toshibas 3rd generation EasyGuard Technology is a series of hardware and software enhancements that addresses the most common security, reliability and connectivity demands. Powered by Intel Centrino Duo Processor Technology with the lastest Intel Core2 Duo processor , you have a level of reliability, security and performance. The brilliant 15.4" diagonal widescreen display , combined with superb graphics, provides an exceptional Windows Vista and Aero visual experience. The affordable Tecra A9 delivers a superb balance of performance, durability and reliability making the A9 a key component to your mobile strategy.
Specs: Microsoft Windows Vista Business, 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz)


Technical Specifications laptop:

  • Windows Vista Business (32-bit)
  • Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.20GHz, 4MB L2, 800MHz FSB)
  • Mobile Intel P965 Express Chipset
  • Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
  • 2GB 1GB x 2 PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (maximum capacity 4GB)
  • 160GB Fujitsu MHW2120BH
  • 8x DVD (+/-R double layer) drive
  • 15.4" diagonal widescreen TFT LCD display at 1680x1050 (WSXGA+, Matte)
  • 256MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 130M (up to 255MB additional shared)
  • Bluetooth version 2.0 plus Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
  • Type II PC-Card Slot
  • 5-in-1 media card reader
  • VGA out, Mic/Headphone connectors, IEEE-1394 (FireWire), Three USB 2.0 ports, Serial Legacy Port, 1Gb LAN, Docking Connector
  • Dimensions (WxDxH Front/H Rear): 13.2" x 11.1" x 1.43"
  • Weight: 6.3lbs w/standard battery
  • 75W (15V x 5A) 100-240V AC adapter (15oz)
  • 5100mAh Lithium Ion battery
  • 3-Year Standard Limited Warranty


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Build and Design laptop

The design of the Tecra A9 is not unlike many other business notebooks; very basic and professional looking. The display cover and keyboard are a simple matte silver color, with no sleek sloping curves, just mildly rounded edges all around. The rest of the notebook is black plastic, leading to a design that would blend in with most Thinkpads or Latitudes around the office.

The build quality of the laptop does not feel up to par with most other business grade laptops in the same price range. The palmrest and keyboard exhibit a lot of flex, which is pretty uncommon for this class of notebook. The display lid feels fairly cheap with its thin plastic, but it did prevent ripples from showing on the screen from all but hard presses to the cover. The bottom of the notebook features a Swiss cheese style of cutouts, which has to be the most I have ever seen on a notebook to date.


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Screen

The display found on the Tecra A9 is above average in quality. Colors were clear, but not as vibrant as you might see on a glossy texture screen. One improvement over its smaller brother the M9, it does not have the super sparkly matte texture. This made viewing whites much more pleasant, and overall easy to work with on a daily basis.

Viewing angles are also about average, not distorting until much steeper viewing angles. Steep vertical viewing angles showed the most color inversion, while steep horizontal viewing angles only became mildly washed out. For the average user this screen works just fine at its intended purpose.


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Screen brightness could have been better, as some bright rooms did start to overpower the screen. Viewing the display outside in bright sunlight would be very difficult, so find some shade if you plan to do field work with this machine.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard has very light typing feel, and is very comfortable to type on. Key texture feels perfect for a business notebook, and gives your fingers just the right amount of grip that you would expect from a high quality keyboard. Typing for long periods of time on this notebook may get to you though, as poor support structures underneath the keyboard give it an almost bouncing feel. Depending on where you type on certain parts of the notebook, you will also get an echoing sound from the keyboard.


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The keyboard is also advertised as being spill resistant, so avid coffee (or soda) drinkers should not be too afraid of shorting out their equipment from an accidental spill. This feature is appearing on many notebooks these days, and should be considered standard on any true business notebook.

The touchpad has a nice mild matte texture, and worked just as you would expect. The included drivers give you plenty of customization options for all the touch zones on the touchpad, as well as adjusting speed and sensitivity. The default settings had the sensitivity slightly low requiring a heavy pressure, which I adjusted upwards to allow a softer touch.

The pointing stick worked just as expected, and had plenty of adjustments in the control panel. The only feature that seemed missing was a center button for the pointer to allow scrolling. It was comfortable to use, but my main preference on this size of notebook is the touchpad.

Audio

The speakers included with this notebook are average for built-in speakers on business notebooks, and below average compared to most consumer machines. Bass and midrange were lacking, but upper frequency tones came through clearly. Volume levels were acceptable, but for anything over the standard Windows notification chimes, I would recommend wearing headphones for greater listening pleasure.

The headphone jack passed very clean audio, and had no hiss present. It would be perfect for hooking up to a stereo, or attaching a pair of headphones for watching a movie on a longer duration flight.

Ports and Features laptop
Starting front and center the Tecra A9 has the indicator light array, headphone/mic jacks, volume knob, and wireless on/off switch:


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The left side has a legacy serial port, two USB ports, mini firewire, PC-Card Slot, and a 5-in-1 card reader:


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The back has a Kensington lock slot, modem jack, power connector, LAN, and VGA out:


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The right side has the optical bay and one USB port:


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Performance laptop

Users should find no trouble performing common tasks on this notebook, as it has more than enough power for you average office productivity suite. Graphics performance on the other hand was lacking, even compared to its smaller brother with a lesser video card configuration. The NVS 130M on the Tecra A9 included 256MB of dedicated video memory, but scored almost 30 percent lower compared to the Tecra M9 with only 128MB on the same card. Even after installing the latest NVIDA drivers the lackluster performance continued.

Listed below are the benchmarks run on the Tecra A9 to give you an idea how it compares to other notebooks in its class:

wPrime is a program that forces the processor to do recursive mathematical calculations, the advantage of this program is that it is multi-threaded and can use both processor cores at once, thereby giving more accurate benchmarking measurements than Super Pi.

Notebook / CPUwPrime 32M time
Toshiba Tecra A9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @2.2GHz)38.343s
Toshiba Tecra M9 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @2.2GHz)37.299s
HP Compaq 6910p (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz)40.965s
Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz)76.240s
Zepto 6024W (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2GHz)42.385s
Lenovo T61 (Core 2 Duo T7500 @ 2.2GHz)37.705s
Alienware M5750 (Core 2 Duo T7600 @ 2.33GHz)38.327s
Hewlett Packard DV6000z (Turion X2 TL-60 @ 2.0GHz)38.720s
Samsung Q70 (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2.0GHz)42.218s
Acer Travelmate 8204WLMi (Core Duo T2500 @ 2.0GHz)42.947s
Samsung X60plus (Core 2 Duo T7200 @ 2.0GHz)44.922s
Zepto Znote 6224W (Core 2 Duo T7300 @ 2.0GHz)45.788s
Samsung Q35 (Core 2 Duo T5600 @ 1.83GHz)46.274s
Samsung R20 (Core Duo T2250 @ 1.73GHz)47.563s
Dell Inspiron 2650 (Pentium 4 Mobile 1.6GHz)231.714s


PCMark05 measures the overall system performance of a notebook, the A9 came out with a respectable score, though nothing spectacular:

NotebookPCMark05 Score
Toshiba Tecra A9 (2.20GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 130M 256MB)3,674 PCMarks
Toshiba Tecra M9 (2.20GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 130M 128MB)3,723 PCMarks
HP Compaq 6910p (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)3,892 PCMarks
HP Compaq 6510b (2.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, Intel X3100)4,241 PCMarks
HP Compaq 6910p (2.20GHz intel Core 2 Duo T7500, ATI X2300 128MB)4,394 PCMarks
HP Compaq 6515b (1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52, ATI x1270)2,420 PCMarks
Toshiba Satellite A135 (Core Duo T2250, Intel GMA 950)3,027 PCMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)4,234 PCMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook A6010 (1.66GHz Core 2 Duo, Intel GMA 950)2,994 PCMarks
Alienware M7700 (AMD Athlon FX-60, Nvidia Go 7800GTX)5,597 PCMarks
Sony Vaio SZ-110B in Speed Mode (Using Nvidia GeForce Go 7400)3,637 PCMarks
Toshiba Tecra M6 (1.66GHz Intel T2300E, Intel GMA 950)2,732 PCMarks
Asus V6J (1.86GHz Core Duo T2400, Nvidia Go 7400)3,646 PCMarks
Sony VAIO FE590 (1.83GHz Core Duo)3,427 PCMarks


3DMark06 comparison results:

Notebook3DMark06 Score
Toshiba Tecra A9 (2.20GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 130M 256MB)932 3DMarks
Toshiba Tecra M9 (2.20GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA Quadro NVS 130M 128MB)1,115 3DMarks
Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)122 3DMarks
LG R500 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS 256MB)2,776 3DMarks
HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)1,055 3DMarks
Dell Inspiron 1420 (2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)1,329 3DMarks
Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)532 3DMarks
Dell XPS M1330 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)1,408 3DMarks
Samsung Q70 (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 and nVidia 8400M G GPU)1,069 3DMarks
Asus F3sv-A1 (Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, Nvidia 8600M GS 256MB)2,344 3DMarks
Alienware Area 51 m5550 (2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, nVidia GeForce Go 7600 256MB2,183 3DMarks
Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi 1526 (1.66 Core Duo, nVidia 7600Go 256 MB)2,144 3DMarks
Samsung X60plus (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7200, ATI X1700 256MB)1,831 3DMarks
Asus A6J (1.83GHz Core Duo, ATI X1600 128MB)1,819 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)827 3DMarks

Software

Daily performance with the Tecra A9 went hand in hand with the included software from Toshiba. The function key dropdown menu for example brought the machine to a halt as it slid down, from either poor coding or lack of 3D acceleration. This made simple adjustments like increasing your screen brightness take 5-10 seconds for one notch, where it should take a fraction of a second. Thankfully you could uninstall this program, and still retain all adjustments, just without an onscreen notification.

Excessive bloatware on the notebook was present, but thankfully didnt put up a fight when removing it through the Vista control panel. It wasnt as bad as some notebooks we have reviewed in the past, but I would still tell users to remove most of it before they start using the computer on a regular basis.

Heat and Noise laptop

Under normal use the Tecra A9 was fairly tame in terms of noise and heat production. Fan noise was minimal even after prolonged computer use, with only minor spikes of noise under more tasking situations. Benchmarking the system for example made the system increase its fan speed over normal situations, but even then it was not bothersome.


Interesting sticker. Does this mean it shouldnt be used as a "laptop?" (view large image)

Heat was contained to very reasonable levels, never getting too hot in any "skin contact regions". The palmrest and keyboard stayed only a few degrees higher than room temperature, and the bottom was only hot near the exhaust fan outlet. Its larger size compared to the Tecra M9 looks to have helped out some, since its smaller brother was very warm in our previous testing. Below are images showing the temperatures in degrees Fahreheit while the Tecra A9 was running inside a room with an ambient temperature of 72 degrees:


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Battery Life

With screen brightness at 80 percent, wireless enabled, "balanced" profile set, and accessing web pages on occasion the system managed 2 hours and 40 minutes on its 6-cell battery. Manufacturers estimated battery life was listed as "up to 3.97hrs", which I felt was a bit high.

Conclusion laptop

Starting at such a high price point ($1,199 online at base configuration) the Toshiba Tecra A9 is priced a bit high compared to other notebooks in its class. Few parts on this notebook really stuck out in comparison to its competitors, or even models Toshiba sells in its consumer line. Graphics and gaming performance was also oddly low, even compared to the smaller Tecra M9 with a lesser card. For the given starting price and performance, its hard to recommend this notebook over other models in Toshibas own consumer line.


( From http://www.notebookreview.com )
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Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi laptop

Overview/Specifications:

Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi (view larger image)

Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi Specs:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology ML-37(1MB L2 cache, 2.0GHz)
    Radeon Xpress 200M Chipset
  • 1GB (512MB installed in each of two memory slots) DDR333 SDRAM (upgradeable to 2 GB total)
  • 100GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (5400 rpm)
  • Integrated DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
  • 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard , Secure Digital card, Memory Stick , Memory Stick PRO or xD-Picture Card
  • 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) TFT LCD, up to 16.7 million colors
  • ATI MOBILITY RADEON X700 graphics, 128MB DDR memory
  • Dimensions & Weight: 14.3" (363.0mm) W x 10.5" (265.7mm) D x 1.2" - 1.4" (30.5mm - 34.3mm) H. 6.3 lb. (2.9kg)

Reasons for buying this laptop:

Well, asides from the obvious? To give some background quickly, the Acer Ferrari 4000 series consists of the Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi and the 4002WLMi. The 4002 is not widely available yet, but it will be slightly cheaper, less powerful, and have a glossy screen.



I dont like the glossy screens in general though, and the power drop to the 4002 is significant. Before hearing about the Ferrari, I was debating between the Dell Inspiron 6000, and the HP dv4000. I loved the dv4000s media controls, but it had integrated graphics and low maximum ram (1 gb). The Dell was a great value, but the look left something to be desired in my opinion. Still, it was going to be my choice until I heard about the Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi. I had seen the previous Ferrari itterations (3000, 3200, 3400), and I loved the look; however they were a tad too flashy for me. I wanted something that could look respectable in a formal setting, but also would look and feel very nice in an informal one. I really dont think there is any question this is the best looking laptop ever made, with a possible exception of those Chameleon paint job Alienwares a while back. Everyone will comment on how nice it looks, which can be a good or a bad thing. Still, its not as theft-prone as the Ferrari 3000 series, as it doesnt immediately stand out as much. However up close it looks much better in my opinion. Getting off of the physical aspects, I also wanted a laptop that could play games somewhat well, and would last a while. The x700 graphics card is somewhat overkill for me, but you will be able to play any game you want on the highest settings for a while. The 64 bit processor will also ensure that this will work with Longhorn when that comes out. I wanted a 15.4" screen; weight wasnt a huge issue, but i didnt want something that was really bulky. Well as you can see in the specifications, this baby weighs a mere 6.3 lbs, and is both thin and light. About the Ferrari name, basically they license Acer to make a computer with their logo on it. Yah, you might pay a bit extra for it, but the computer is worth it without the logos and the look. With them, honestly its a good value.

Purchase details:

Purchased from ZipZoomFly, I got a great deal at $2,079. Price has since gone up to $2,149, but that does include free ground shipping. Took about a week, but was very easy and convenient, and it arrived in perfect condition.

Out of the box:

Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi box (view larger image)

Yah, even the box is beautiful. Comes with a ton of stuff too; mouse, a very good set of guides and easy manuals. Quick reference sheet, phone cable, LCD screen cloth, warranty information, and a several software disks for both drivers and a windows XP Pro disk.

Build & Design laptop:

I had never h

Aeard of Acer until I saw the Ferrari; however they have a great reputation as a computer maker, and that prooved true to form with this computer. I dont want to go back into the design too much, but this looks sensational. The lid is made of a carbon fiber covered in a plastic resin, and it is very sturdy in addition to looking great. The screen and laptop as a whole are a bit bendy, but the screen doesnt ripple at all if pressure is applied to the lid. This is great since if you by accidentally drop something on the top, the screen is well protected. There is no wobble on the hinges, it feels very sturdy, and gives a decisive click when you close it. Again, it bends a VERY small amount, but nothing more than any other laptop Id expect. It is a very wide screen, so that could be part of it. All the ports and slots are well placed, as there are USB ports on both sides of the computer. Headphone jack on front is nice. Design as a whole is very nice. It does get hot if you leave it on for a while, specifically the mouse pad and lft side under computer. However the rubber finish surrounding the keyboard insolates fairly well. Fans are positioned well on sides so as to not heat user. Kensington lock slot is always nice.

Acer Ferrari 4005 right side (view larger image)

Acer Ferrari 4005 left side (view larger image)

Acer Ferrari 4005 back side (view larger image)

Acer Ferrari keyboard area (view larger image)

Free mouse included! (view larger image)

...and a free cloth (view larger image)

Screen:

Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi Screen (view larger image)

No dead pixels! Resolution is 1680x1050, which looks spectacular for games and movies. No leaks or any other issues, just a great screen. Some things people might not like though is that it is a very wide screen, which is great for excel stuff but not so good for web browsing. Turning up the text size on pages makes this a fairly small problem though, as does installing Microsoft Cleartype. Also, movies will have black borders around every side, as the screen is too big I think. I personally like the matte finish better than the reflective ones, as I will use this outside quite a bit. Finally, some icons might be a little blurry, as they are not made for the high resolution. Brightness can be turned down by simple function task.

Speakers/Sound:

Integrated microphone and two speakers. Microphone/line-in and stereo headphones/speakers/line-out with SPDIF support ports. Works great, as you will see when you first turn on the computer: a roaring ferrari sound greets you once you first log on (not sure what program they use for this but its very cool). Headphone volume is very weak though, and I would recommend getting the Turtle Beach USB Audio Advantage Micro. Sound is crisp though, works very well for movies as the surround sound gives a very cool feel. Speakers are set on front of computer as well, so it is very clear.

Processor and Performance:

Honestly, I have no complaints about speed on this laptop, as would be expected. From pressing the power button, it takes 20 seconds to get to the Windows log in screen, and after putting in password, a little under 5 seconds to hear the Ferrari roaring by, signaling your computer is ready to go. Hard drive is very snappy, and I havent encounted any speed issues. Might upgrade to 2 gb ram eventually, but for now everything I run is pretty instantaneous. Very nice to work with a computer with no lag. I know this isnt a lot about performance, but I really cant see how this would fall short of anyones expectations in this department. It would give a serious challenge to even the best of the big 17" desktop replacement laptops, and blows away any of the 15" ones. Decided not to undervolt, overclock, or partition it; dont want to risk anything happening, and it runs perfectly anyways.

The processor matches the performance of the logo (view larger image)

DVD Super Multi Drive:

First the stats.

  • Read -- 24X CD-RW, 24X CD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 8X DVD+R, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD-ROM, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW, 3X DVD-RAM, 2.4X DVD+R (double-layer)
  • Write -- 24X CD-R, 8X DVD+R, 8X DVD-R, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW, 4X CD-RW, 2.4X DVD+R (double-layer), 2X DVD-RAM

Slot drive is a cool feature, if for nothing other than its novelty. Cant play mini-cds which sucks a little, but if it ever became a huge deal I could replace this or get a USB one. Burns very quickly.

Benchmarks:

The popular Super Pi benchmark for this site gives a rough approximation how the Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi stands up to other notebooks:

Notebook Time to Calculate Pi to 2 Million Digits
Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi (AMD Turion 64 ML-37, 2.0GHz) 1m 50s
Sony VAIO FS680 (1.86 GHz Alviso Pentium M) 1m 53s
IBM ThinkPad T43 (1.86 GHz Alviso Pentium M)
1m 45s
Fujitsu LifeBook N3510 (1.73 GHz Alviso Pentium M) 1m 48s
Dell Inspiron 6000D (1.6 GHz Alviso Pentium M) 1m 52s
Dell Inspiron 600M (1.6 GHz Dothan Pentium M) 2m 10s
Sony VAIO S360 (1.7 GHz Dothan Pentium M) 1m 57s
Gateway 7510GX (AMD Mobile Athlon 64 3700+ Processor, 2.4 GHz) 1m 31s
Sony VAIO S380 (1.86 GHz Alviso Pentium M) 1m 42s

3D Mark 2005 Score: 2356

Note: The games loaded VERY quickly, and watching some of them was like watching a movie.

Input devices:

88-key Acer FineTouch keyboard with five-degree curve, inverted T cursor layout, 2.5mm minimum key travel, international language support. Web browser, e-mail, user-programmable easy-launch buttons; Empowering Key; front-access wireless LED and Bluetooth buttons. Touchpad with four-way integrated scroll button. Gloss-black optical mouse. Keyboard is very well built, although the curved layout takes a bit to get used to. Not sure if I like it more than a regular one, but it isnt horrible. Touchpad is very nice, although it gets hot, but its large to accomidate widescreen. The function buttons are good, and volume/brightness are especially easy to change. Screen doesnt flex at all. Programable buttons at top are nice; you can change all of them to do whatever you want very easilly through launch manager; however initially they are set for Outlook (email button), Internet Explorer (world button), Acer Emanager (e button), and Launch Manager (P button). The latter lets you change the buttons, but I like to use it for Microsoft Word. Very nice feature. Bluetooth and Lan buttons are nice, but not sure why they are on front. Still they glow nicely when on. Definately could use some media controls, thats a fairly large negative imo, as only thing you can control is the volume. The mouse has gotten some flack for being fluky, but I had no issues with it. It is very easy to connect, and recharges via USB (although you can still use it when its plugged in). Looks nice, and has a good feel. Not a great mouse per say, but it looks good and is functional. On a quirky sidenote, has a Euro key and Dollar key right next to the arrows. Not sure this is really necessary, but not a negative.The touchpad comes with a very cool software, Synaptics touchpad 5.9. Basically it lets you customize the touchpad completely, including sensitivity, layout, and a really cool button feature. Basically, you can set the four corners of the touchpad to do different functions when tapped. For example, I have the upper left set as "Back", the upper right as "Forward", the bottom left as "Goto start menu" and the bottom right as "Refresh". The buttons give a good click, and the four way scroll is a very cool feature. If you want the four buttons here are also reprogramable, a general theme of this notebook.

Input and Output Ports:

VGA, DVI-D (digital visual interface-digital) and S-video TV-out ports. Support for simultaneous display on notebook LCD and external monitor. Intel AC97 compliant, Interface Ports, DC-in, RJ-11 modem, RJ-45 LAN, VGA, DVI-D (digital visual interface-digital), S-video TV-out, Microphone/line-in, Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out with SPDIF support, FireWire (IEEE 1394), FIR (fast infrared), Four USB 2.0, Connector for optional ezDock docking station. Type II PC Card slot, 32-bit PC CardBus architecture, Zoomed Video support. Easilly accessible USB and ethernet ones. 5-in-1 is in front and easy to use.

Wireless:

Acer InviLink 802.11b/g wireless LAN, Acer SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency, WI-FI CERTIFIED . Bluetooth wireless PAN. Acer SignalUp is great, and bluetooth is very good. Controls are accessible as previously mentioned, but a little annoying as you can accidentally turn them off depending on how you type. No complaints.

Battery/AC Adapter:

90-watt AC adapter, which is actually not too big. Eight-cell lithium ion battery; up to 3.0 hours life depending on configuration and usage; 2.5 hours recharge time with system off, 3.5 hours with system in use. Very easy to put in, as it just fits in the back. Doesnt stick out, but if you dont have it in there is a gaping hole that you can see

Operating System and Software:

Installed software: Acer eManager, Acer GridVista Acer Launch Manager, Adobe Acrobat Reader, CyberLink PowerDVD *, Norton AntiVirus *, NTI CD-Maker *, on CD shipped with system: Acer System Recovery. All very easy to use, and convenient. I reinstalled drivers upon getting it, figured why not. Software is very nice though, especially the Launch manager. Nothing amazing, but a nice touch. Comes with XP Pro, with SP2 already installed. User and administrator BIOS passwords are easilly set up through EManager.

Customer Support/Warranty:

Havent talked to anyone at Acer, because honestly I dont really need to. It was simple to set up, and registration consisted of me looking at the bottom of my computer and typing in numbers. After that, the warranty was set; however I bought a 3 year total protection plan for $280, as it seems worth it for a computer this beautiful.

Pros (will try to limit to 5, although I think its fairly obvious I could go on for a while!):

  • Ferrari (its so pretty.....)
  • Performance (works perfectly and is insanely fast)
  • Easilly customizable
  • 64 bit procesor (ensures future viability)
  • Included extras are a very nice touch

Cons (seriously, this is all of them, not including that EVERYONE will notice your laptop):

  • Bluetooth/wireless controls on front (vs being near keyboard)
  • Lack of media controls
  • Keyboard/mousepad heat
  • Headphone volume
  • Screen/carbon fiber top tend to smudge, although the cleaning cloth gets rid of those quickly

Conclusion:

Great laptop, which will last you a while. Definately get the USB sound drive and the total protection warranty extension. At around $2,200 from most retailers, it is a tad pricey; however it really is worth it if you want a great performing laptop. The sensational design is the icing


(from http://www.notebookreview.com)
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The Ideal Laptop for You


One of these 10 laptops will fit your needs and budget just right

With more and more consumers going mobile, its no wonder computer vendors are expanding their laptop lines. Laptop makers are pushing a dizzying array of models to meet most any need, whether youre a budget-minded home user, a frequent flier, a media addict, or a hard-core gamer. The real challenge is zeroing in on the right one for you.
We can help. In this guide, we boil down the laptop field to five categories: mainstream machines, ultraportables, entertainment-oriented models, thin-and-lights, and desktop replacements. While everyone has his or her own particular requirements, were betting one of these classes of notebook has the qualities to suit your needs. Besides telling you what to expect and what to look for in each category, we also present a hands-on review of our top pick in each class as well as a worthy runner-up. We selected our choices based on how well they fit each category, taking into consideration price, weight, features, and performance.

Middle-of-the-Road Machine

If your computing needs are confined to DVD-watching and basic productivity work such as Web surfing and e-mail, consider a mainstream notebook. At $1,000 or less, these laptops are less expensive than most thin-and-light models, though also heavier (usually between 5 and 7 pounds) because of their roomy wide-screen displays.
What to expect: An entry-level configuration typically includes a low-power Intel Celeron M CPU, or an AMD Athlon or Sempron CPU; 512MB or 1GB of RAM; integrated graphics; a 60GB or 80GB hard drive; and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive or a DVD burner. These specs won’t satisfy power users, but for basic office and multimedia tasks, they’ll suffice.
What to look for: If you can afford a little more processing power, set your sights on a dual-core CPU, such as Intels Core Duo or Core 2 Duo, or the AMD Turion 64 X2. Also, don’t skimp on RAM. While 512MB is the minimum requirement for running Windows Vista Home Basic, we wouldn’t settle for less than 1GB.
Top Pick: HP Pavilion DV6000z
Runner Up: Dell Inspiron 1501

Petite Portable

For true road warriors, compact size and light weight are must-have features in a notebook. At less than 4 pounds, an ultraportable will lighten your load and keep you humming along for hours with its extra-long battery life. Naturally, these featherweight systems demand some compromises, such as small screens (usually between 8.6 and 12.1 inches), cramped keyboards, and few extra features. Portability also comes at a price—these tiny machines start at around $1,400.
What to expect: To maintain their slim profiles, ultraportables often dont include built-in optical drives, though youll find some models with an internal DVD burner or DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive. A few feature modular bays that allow you to swap out the optical drive for an extra battery or a weight-saver module.
What to look for: Intels Low Voltage (LV) and Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Pentium M and Core Solo CPUs both offer solid performance and enable long battery life, though youll get faster performance from an ultraportable fitted with a Core Duo or Core 2 Duo processor. Built-in wireless networking is a standard feature, but those who need constant connectivity should also look for integrated Bluetooth and a wireless wide-area-network (WWAN) radio for Internet access via high-speed cellular data services.
Top Pick: Sony VAIO VGN-TXN15P
Runner Up: Asus S6F Leather Edition

Mobile Media Center

Instead of leaving your music, movies, and digital photos locked up in a desktop hard drive, you can take your files anywhere you go with an entertainment laptop. Granted, you wont want to travel far with one of these behemoths strapped to your back, since they feature huge wide-screen displays and cases as heavy as 15 pounds. And all that multimedia prowess doesnt come cheap--units with moderate specs start at $1,200.
What to expect: While a few entertainment laptops come with screens as big as 20 inches, the sweet spot is a 17-inch wide-screen LCD, which is big enough for home-theater-style viewing without adding too much heft. Because of the power-hungry components these notebooks pack, dont expect long battery life. These fire-breathing machines also tend to run hot, so its best to keep them off your lap.
What to look for: If viewing high-definition content is a must, go for a laptop with a built-in HD DVD or Blu-ray optical drive. (The latter also lets you burn nearly 50GB of data to a double-layer Blu-ray disc.) To connect other media devices, check for multiple ports and slots, including a built-in flash-card reader and video jacks such as Digital Visual Interface (DVI) or High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), which let you output content to an external monitor or big-screen television.
Top Pick: Gateway NX860XL
Runner Up: HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC

Trim Traveler

Offering the best of both worlds, a thin-and-light laptop is powerful enough to handle most tasks, yet light enough to take on the road. As a rule, these notebooks weigh between 4 and 6 pounds and measure an inch to an inch-and-a-half thick. They’re fairly affordable—about $1,000 to start—and can include some premium features, such as DVD burners and big hard drives.
What to expect: The norm is a 12.1-, 13.3-, or 14.1-inch wide-screen LCD, a roomy keyboard, and good overall functionality. Batteries can last up to (and in rare cases beyond) four hours for these machines.
What to look for: Like mainstream notebooks, thin-and-lights can start with some fairly weak specs. On the other hand, most vendors let you configure these notebooks to be nearly as powerful as hefty desktop replacements, but you’ll pay a premium for that performance. Standard components such as a midrange Core 2 Duo CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 100GB hard drive, and built-in Wi-Fi will offer plenty of power for most users.
Top Pick: Apple MacBook
Runner Up: HP Pavilion DV2500t

Power Player

These days, almost every powerful part you can get in a desktop tower is also available in a desktop-replacement notebook. Of course, any laptop that squeezes in that many high-end components will not only be extremely potent, but also massive, hot-running, and short on battery life. And performance, as always, comes at a cost. Prices start around $1,700 and can soar above $4,000 with upgrades.
What to expect: Like entertainment notebooks, desktop replacements generally feature big, high-resolution displays and an extensive assortment of ports. For graphics power, these notebooks use dedicated mobile graphics solutions from ATI or nVidia with 256MB or 512MB of video memory. Some laptops are even available with nVidias dual-card Scalable Link Interface (SLI) technology.
What to look for: If you’re playing games, editing videos or images, or doing heavy graphics work, your system specs should read like those of a desktop PC, with a fast dual-core CPU from AMD or Intel, at least 2GB of RAM, and 100GB or more of hard drive space. Those who want to access data quickly should consider desktop-caliber drives spinning at 7,200 rpm.
Top Pick: Dell XPS M1710 (Blu-ray Edition)
Runner Up: Toshiba Satellite P100-ST9772
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