Archive for January, 2010

Apple MacBook Air MC233LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop
Manufacturer: Apple Computer
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,499.00
Sale Price: $1,335.00
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description

Amazon.com has certified this product is Frustration Free. A Frustration-Free Package is easy-to-open and comes without hard plastic "clamshell" casings, plastic bindings, and wire ties. It's designed to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging during shipping. Products with Frustration-Free Packaging can frequently be shipped in their own boxes, without the need for an additional shipping box. Learn more about Frustration-Free Packaging.


With the MacBook Air, Apple has created the world's thinnest laptop--measuring an unprecedented 0.16-inches at its thinnest point (and 0.76 inches thick overall). Apple brings its vaunted multi-touch technology, found on the iPhone, to its laptops with the MacBook Air, enabling you to pinch, swipe, or rotate to zoom in on text, advance through a photo album, or adjust an image via the oversized trackpad.


And the MacBook Air embodies Apple's continuing environmental progress with its aluminum enclosure, a material highly desired by recyclers, a mercury-free LCD display with arsenic-free glass, and brominated flame retardant-free material for the majority of circuit boards as well as PVC-free internal cables.


Despite the its slender shell, the MacBook Air doesn't skimp on the specifications.


It includes a 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, full-size and backlit keyboard, and a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing.


This MacBook Air (model MC233LL/A) is powered by a custom-built 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved multitasking performance.


And it features the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, which delivers outstanding 3D game play with up to five times faster graphics performance than the previous generation.


Other features include 2 GB of RAM, a 120 GB hard disk drive, Wi-Fi connectivity via 802.11a/b/g/n standards, Mini DisplayPort video output (for DVI and VGA connections), and up to a 5-hour battery life.


It comes pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system--an operating system custom-designed for the advanced technology inside--and it also comes with the iLife '09 suite of applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes.


Design
The thinness of MacBook Air is impressive, but even more impressive is that fact that there's a full-size notebook encased in the 0.16 to 0.76 inch of sleek, sturdy anodized aluminum.


This svelte, 3-pound laptop has a vibrant, energy efficient 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, and its spacious trackpad offers multi-touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe--making it more intuitive than ever to browse and rotate photos or zoom into web pages in Safari.


It also features a full-size keyboard that's backlit, making it ideal for dimly lit environments such as airplanes, studios or conference halls.


It includes a built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as the display brightness for optimal visibility.


n to trip over a power cord, you won't send the MacBook Air flying off a table or desk--the cord simply disconnects, without damage to either the cord or the system.


Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Custom-built to fit within the compact dimensions of the laptop, the MacBook Air is powered by a 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a super-fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an enormous 6 MB of Smart Cache, an L2 cache that can be shared between the cores as needed.


(An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.


The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)


The Intel Core 2 Duo's 128-bit SSE3 vector engine handles 128-bit computations in a single clock cycle, accelerating data manipulation by simultaneously applying a single instruction to multiple data.


And its two execution cores are designed to share resources and conserve power, helping it to achieve higher levels of performance since it uses fewer watts.


And with 4MB of shared L2 cache, the MacBook Air is a multi-tasking monster.


With such substantial L2 cache, data and instructions can be kept close to the two processor cores, greatly increasing performance and allowing the entire system to work more efficiently.


And, because the processor cores share the L2 cache, either can use the entire amount if the other happens to be idle.


Video Processing & Output
Whether you're working on a Keynote presentation or watching a movie before you catch a flight, every document, video, and photo on your MacBook Air will look sharp on the glossy 13.3-inch widescreen display.


With the new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, the MacBook Air changes the game and just about everything you do with it.


The 9400M provides up to an amazing 4x performance boost over the original MacBook Air.


Photos appear in iPhoto quickly, transitions in Keynote are seamless, games play more smoothly, and movie and video playback is better than ever before.


The 9400M graphics processor shares 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM with main memory.


The MacBook Air now includes a next generation Mini DisplayPort, which delivers a pure digital signal that can drive up to a 30-inch widescreen display.


The Mini DisplayPort is ultra-compact at just 10 percent the size of a full DVI connector, and is compatible with Apple's 24-inch Cinema Display.


Adapters are also available for using VGA, DVI/HDMI and Dual-Link DVI displays


Hard Drive and Memory
For storage, this MacBook Air comes with a 120 GB Serial ATA hard disk drive (4200 RPM). The 2 GB of PC3-8500 DDR3 RAM (two SO-DIMMs of 1024 MB) has an industry-leading 1066 MHz speed, and it maximizes the capacity for this laptop.


Optical Drive
Because of the amazingly thin design of the MacBook Air, an optical (DVD/CD) drive was not included.


To install software from a disc, you can wirelessly use or "borrow" optical drives on remote PCs or Macs using the Remote Disk feature.


This allows you full access to an optical drive without having to haul one around. If you want to have an optical drive for burning CDs and DVDs, you can purchase the optional MacBook Air SuperDrive (sold separately).


This multi-format CD/DVD read/write drive is powered by the MacBook Air's USB port, eliminating the need to carry a separate power adapter.


Networking
The MacBook Air doesn't include wired Ethernet networking, and instead relies solely on Wi-Fi to connect to your home network as well as wireless hotspots.


The built-in 802.11n wireless networking provides up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g, but it's also backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g routers, enabling you to communicate with the a wide variety of Wi-Fi resources.


It works seamlessly with the optional AirPort Extreme base station as well as Apple's Time Capsule Wi-Fi base station/hard drive--both of which include 802.11n capabilities.


If you don't have access to a wireless network, you can use an optional USB Ethernet Adapter (sold separately)


Use the built-in Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) wireless technology to connect to your PDA or cell phone, synchronize addresses, or download pictures from your cell phone.


You can also use a wireless headset for iChat audio chats and VoIP calls as well as quickly share files with a colleague.


Video Conferencing with Built-in iSight
Artfully placed in the display bezel is an iSight camera, which enables easy video conferencing as well as allows you to snap pictures of yourself and create video podcasts.


Using the iChat AV application, video conferencing is integrated into your iChat buddy list, so initiating a video conference is a breeze.


iChat also lets you hold audio chats with up to 10 people and provides high-quality audio compression and full-duplex sound so conversation can flow naturally.


For video podcasting, you can record a short clip using the iSight camera, then use iWeb to create a video blog entry or post your GarageBand-recorded podcast.


Other Features

  • Mini DisplayPort compatible with DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI connectors (all optional)
  • Analog audio output/headphone out (minijack)
  • Built-in mono speaker and omnidirectional microphone
  • Integrated 37-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery provides up to 5 hours of battery life
  • Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted "T" arrangement), and embedded numeric keypad
  • Supported resolutions: 1280 by 800 (native), 1152 by 720, 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, 800 by 500, 720 by 480, and 640 by 480 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio


Designed with the Environment in Mind
Apple has worked hard to eliminate many of the toxins that are a common part of computer manufacturing.


Apple engineers removed the majority of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from circuit boards, internal cables, connectors, insulators, adhesives, and more in the MacBook Air.


Because Apple makes both the hardware and the software for the MacBook, they're designed to work together to produce a smarter product that uses less electricity.


For instance, to reduce energy consumption, the hard drive spins down automatically when inactive.


MacBook Air also decides which processor--CPU or GPU--is best suited to efficiently perform a task.


The processor even throttles down to save power between keystrokes as you type.


The LED-backlit display in MacBook Air is another feature that plays an important part in conserving energy, consuming 30 percent less power than conventional LCD displays. And the display is designed to dim when you enter a darkened room.


The MacBook Air meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, giving it ENERGY STAR certification. MacBook also meets the latest efficiency requirements of ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 Specification for Computers before its July 2009 effective date.


The MacBook Air has also earned the highest rating of EPEAT Gold.


The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, evaluates the environmental impact of a product based on how recyclable it is, how much energy it uses, and how it's designed and manufactured.


Pre-Loaded with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife '09


Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple's innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music.


Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.


Installed software

  • Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
  • iLife '09 (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD)


What's in the Box
MacBook Air, 45W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, Apple USB Ethernet Adapter, cleaning/polishing cloth, install/restore DVDs, printed documentation

Product Details

  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
  • 1.86 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
  • 120 GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (4200RPM), 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Integrated Graphics, 13.3 inch LED Display
  • Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

Very nice, but not perfect
 
Review Date: December 11, 2009
Reviewer: Christopher Tran, LA,California
I'm a PC, but I'm also a Mac. A Macbook Air (MBA) to be exact. I'm very much into design so it just made sense. I first considered something like the Dell Adamo, Latitude Z or the HP ENVY13, But the Dells were heavily under-powered processor-wise. The HP was crazy powerful, but heftier than I would have liked. The Latitude's Euro design gave the MBA's design a run for it money, but it starts at over two grand and you'll easily knock on $2500 with the bells and whistles, Yikes! The HP ENVY 13 is very powerful and the only ultra-portable with the i7 processor. But for what I'll be using this for, the mobility and price is more important to me. The Adamo seemed to match the price and features of the Macbook Air best, but finding that the design, feature and price pretty much a draw (I personally thought the MBA had a very small edge on Design), I settled on the MBA because of the fact that I can run Windows 7 as well as Mac OS X(which I also use for different purposes)and the better build quality. I have to say, the unibody design really makes the thing feel as if it was carved from one piece of aluminum. There's minimal flex to speak of. Closed, it just feels so nice in your hands.

The 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor is a lot better than the 1.2 and 1.4 that are available in the Dells; more than enough for my usage. This might have been a bit meek had I not already had an Intel Core 2 Quad Desktop computer at home. This also made HP ENVY pointless.

The screen is more than adequate and much better than a netbook. Since it's so light, it really can go anywhere a netbook can. The nice Keyboard and trackpad was also refreshing.

The Solid State Drive is also nice, but after some usage, I really don't find them all that different from a standard HD, perhaps a bit faster, but not that noticeable. It certainly is cooler and less noisy. Some users have complained about it getting a bit warm, but I'm thinking they've got an HD instead of an SSD.

And now for the few CONs:

No optical drive - since I won't be needing this too often it's not a big deal. I already have an external Blu-Ray Drive that I used to install everything. Once that was done, I can only image using it for an occasion Blu-Ray/DVD movie, but even this will be rare, unless I'm in a hotel room somewhere and bore out of my mind.

Connectivity:
No Ethernet, big deal! It's all about wireless!

Weird Mini Display port - also not a big deal since I don't imaging connecting an external monitor to this much.

Only one USB - This one, I admit, is pretty significant. It was a bit of hassle to swap USB devices a bit, but again, I only use multiple devices a handful of times (mainly a USB DJ Console Mixer and an external USB HD containing the music I want to mix). I got a little griffin USB "Splitter" which was nothing more than a very tiny USB Hub, but it did have some trouble getting enough power to the HD from this one USB port, so I did have to add a USB power cable to the mix (the audio was clipping heavily during mixing and transition). So keep that in mind if you're planning to daisy-chain three hard drives, a soda cooler and a reading light to the USB port- just don't. It works fine with the majority of other (low powered) USB devices.
RAM - Here's the other big CON! While 2GB of RAM will probably be ok for now, but I would have loved having the option of adding more. I have 8GB on my desktop and I actually use it (photo and video editing, media center functions, terminal services, etc.)! While I'm not doing much of that (maybe a little Photoshoping) on this thing, all it takes is that killer application that requires at least 4GB of RAM that I can't use that will drive me nuts!

I have a first generation Macbook Pro from work and I always loved the design of it. This takes things to the next level. I'm primarily a Windows user, and this seems to work a bit more seamlessly with Windows than the Macbook Pro(although with the latest drivers and software updates for bootcamp from apple, it got better). It's kinda odd that I went with an Mac to run Windows, but it was a calculated choice. Had I been looking for a full-function laptop, it would have likely been an HP or Dell.
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HP Pavilion DV4-2160US 14.1-Inch Laptop (Black)
Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,035.00
Sale Price: $768.54
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
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Product Description

For those who want an all-in-one performance notebook with rich multimedia features, the HP Pavilion dv4 Entertainment series delivers mobile performance that looks as great as it runs.


Powered by the latest processor and graphics technologies, it delivers optimal mobile performance to support your lifestyle.

Product Details

  • Intel Core i5-430M processor (2.26GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.53 GHz)
  • 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 DIMM) (expandable to 8 GB)
  • 320GB (7200RPM) Hard Drive (SATA), LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
  • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, * Up to 4.25 Hours of Battery Life
  • 14.1" Diagonal WXGA HD HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800), Intel HD Graphics with up to 1696MB Total Available Graphics Memory

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

DV4-2170us - Nice little laptop
 
Review Date: February 6, 2010
Reviewer: jsday12, USA
I looked for like a month before I bought this laptop (not sure what the difference is from the laptop on this page other than the color scheme).

Pros:
14" screen.
It has an impressive amount of features, including the intel i5-430 processor. I've had it less than a week, so we'll see how it holds up.
Fast
No problems with stuck-on pixels.
Nice keyboard. The DV4 has a full sized keyboard with full sized arrow keys. It actually has LEDs next to the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys. The num lock feature almost made me re-install the OS because I didn't realize it was on, and I couldn't log in. I had just used the windows easy transfer, and rebooted, and I was unable to log in. Lessons learned here: make sure you make a password reset disk, and make sure you make a second account just in case your first one gets locked out for some reason. Also burn your DVDs for system restore.
LED backlight for battery conservation.
Looks cool. The volume control and WiFi on/off switch above the keyboard are more of a proximity sensor, and are cool.
Comes with windows 7 home premium.
Wireless works well.

Cons:
The far right corner is dim, about a square centimeter area right in the corner. If I move my head to look directly at it, it's not very dim. You might not even notice unless you move the task bar like I do.
The screen is glossy. All laptops have glossy screens except for a few Dell business laptops. HP might have one too that you can special order.
The hard drive is a little noisy (but I believe any noise is too much), and a little warm. The fan spins constantly, but you can turn it off in the BIOS (it still cycles when it needs to).

Other:
The touchpad seems like it has a lot of friction at first, but it got better, and if I use the tip of my finger with light pressure it glides just fine. The touchpad screen scroll feature works well. Has a button to turn off the touchpad if you don't want to use it.
Great Laptop
 
Review Date: March 10, 2010
Reviewer: Nicholas Lucarelli,
Great Laptop, especially for the price. It runs fast, and has a good wireless connection. Speakers are solid, nothing great but put out good sound. And the keyboard feels great. Love this laptop.
I like this laptop!
 
Review Date: February 7, 2010
Reviewer: Happy Customer, Chicago
I have had this laptop for 1 week and have had no problems. I don't find it to be any hotter than my Toshiba Satellite. The Toshiba fan vents on the side, but the battery compartment was hot from the start. The Hp vents on the bottom left rear corner, but the battery area stays relatively cool - so all in all it is about the same as the Toshiba for heat levels. My CPU usage stays in the 3% to 19% for all of the activities I have done so far (I use the "gadget" that came with the Desktop features to monitor the CPU usage). The keyboard has a nice firm touch to it and the touchpad is fine, just different - it is a smooth metal surface. The one thing that I have discovered (which is why I only gave it 4 stars) is that the internal wireless adapter - Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter - caps out at a speed of 150 Mbps. I went online to the Atheros website and read the specs, because I thought something was wrong with it initially - I was expecting a higher speed than that. I had purchased an inexpensive wireless N adapter from Amazon, for the Toshiba, that caps @ 270 Mbps and runs perfectly. I am thinking of using it with this HP, even though it is bulky, because I can see a download speed difference with large graphics. The speakers sound fine, far better than my Toshiba that stuttered everytime the fan turned on. I wish it had come with a longer life battery and a USB port in the rear. I am planning on replacing the battery with a 12 cell. I use a vendor on Ebay and have had good luck with their batteries - prices are great. The DVD drive is a little noisy so that's a minus. I really like the dedicated scroll "bar" on the side of the touchpad. I did not realize when I was first configuring the Hp that there is a button to turn on the touchpad. Mine arrived with the touchpad turned off as the default and it took me several minutes to figure out why I could not manipulate the touchpad. Operator error clearly. So far, so good. I got this laptop for $649 after the $50 rebate that is not eligible through Amazon, unfortunately. So for $649, I am very pleased.
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HP Pavilion DV7-3160US 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black)
Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,100.00
Sale Price: $869.99
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
This is cool.

Product Description

For those who want an all-in-one performance notebook with rich multimedia features, the HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment series delivers desktop-replacement performance that looks as great as it runs.


Powered by the latest processor and graphics technologies, it delivers optimal mobile performance to support your lifestyle.

Product Details

  • AMD Turion¿ II Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor M620 (2.5 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache)
  • 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 DIMM) (expandable to 8 GB)
  • 500GB (7200RPM) Hard Drive (SATA), LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
  • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, * Up to 3.25 Hours of Battery Life
  • 17.3¿ Diagonal HD+ LED HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1600 x 900), ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4530 Graphics with up to 2302MB total available graphics memory with 512MB dedicated

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

NICE
 
Review Date: February 21, 2010
Reviewer: A. Chiccarello,
Anyone unhappy with this unit is nuts or spoiled as hell. Can't really find a complaint. Fast. Been using for over a month now problem free. Took it out of the box, turned it on, set it up, and started working, and remember saying out loud "I can't beleive I own this". Most computer hardware wise for the money I could find. Solid. Only thing that disappointed was that the HP Media Bundle has issues but the Windows programs are reliable. I like to install my own media software anyway so I still give this machine 5 stars.
Review of HP laptop
 
Review Date: March 11, 2010
Reviewer: Mike, Lakeside,Ca.
This is a great machine for anyone looking for an entertainment machine,or desktop replacement. The price was great and windows 7 is pretty easy to deal with. A backlit keyboard would be nice though, but not that big of a deal.
Great product with some glitches
 
Review Date: March 3, 2010
Reviewer: Shawn P. Reeves,
I know that for the price your paying for this computer it isen't that bad. It only has one fluck that I have experenced and that is that the dislay drive stops responding and immediantly recovers after the screen gos black for a few seconds. It has something to do with the kernel drive 184.66 and I can't fix it because hp and nvidia haven't come up with a solution too the problem yet and yes I did a system recovery several times also uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. Other than that I really can't complain other then that little problem with the display drive. I really dont like the fact that they took out the 500GB (7200RPM) hard drive and replaced it with a 640GB (5400RPM). Overall I give this computer a 4 out of 5.
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HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,007.00
Sale Price: $729.99
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
This is cool.

Product Description

For those who want an all-in-one performance notebook with rich multimedia features, the HP Pavilion dv6 Entertainment series delivers excellent mobile performance that looks as great as it runs.


Powered by the latest processor and graphics technologies, it delivers the features you need to support your digital lifestyle.

Product Details

  • Intel Core i3-330M Processor (2.13 GHz, 3 MB L3 Cache)
  • 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 DIMM) (expandable to 8 GB)
  • 320GB (7200RPM) Hard Drive (SATA), LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
  • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, * Up to 4.25 Hours of Battery Life
  • 15.6" Diagonal High-Definition LED HP BrightView Display (1366x768), Intel HD Graphics with up to 1696MB Total Available Graphics Memory

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

New DV6 model with new CPU and graphics
 
Review Date: January 20, 2010
Reviewer: Dave, Portland
If you are looking at the DV6 line of notebooks you may have noticed that there are several new models out with model numbers like "DV6-21xx". These are basically the same notebook as the previous models with a new CPU/graphics combo that greatly improves performance. Like the previous DV6 generation it is well constructed with a metallic toned black exterior (HP also offers versions in white). Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone. I bought mine for my mother-in-law and she definitely appreciated having something a little more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven't noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who love to "help" grandma with her computer.

The specs for this model are set well above what the average home owner needs today which (in my mind) future proofs it nicely. If you are on a tight budget you can get what you need for less (look at the HP Pavilion G60 line). If you have a little bit more to spend and you want some headroom to handle your computing needs for the next few years this is a great choice.

CPU - This is one of the first models from HP that sports Intel's new "Core i5" line of CPUs. The short version is that it outperforms the older "Core2" chips and is slightly better than the (also) new "Core i3" chips. As noted in the description it's 2.26GHz part that can "Turbo Boost" up to 2.53GHz. What isn't mentioned is that this is a dual core part with 3MB of cache. That may sound a lot like the old Core2 chips but don't be fooled: this chip will outperform the old Core2 by 20%-50%. If you are trying to decide between the "Core i5" and "Core i3" I would recommend the Core i5 to gamers and people who run high end applications (like CAD software) and the Core i3 for people running business applications (like MS Office) and web browsing. If you want to know more read on. If nerd stuff bores you then just trust me, this is a great chip to have in your laptop.

Okay here is why the Core i5 is a big deal: The Core i5 (and Core i3) have Intel's newest, fastest and smallest CPU core (also known as the "Westmere" core) which is two generations newer than the "Penryn" core used in the Core2 line. Because with each generation the parts get smaller they get cheaper to make. Also with the Westmere core Intel has bundled the chipset and a new graphics chip onto one package which also reduces cost (and allows Intel to do some new and cool performance tricks). One thing the Core i3 and i5 have that Core2 does not is "hyperthreading." Hyperthreading is a feature that makes two CPUs act like four. To do this Intel has enabled each CPU core to act on two software threads at once. So the two CPU Core i5 is almost as good as a four CPU part for a lot less money and requiring a lot less power (there are a few four core mobile CPUs out there but the battery life is terrible and I don't recommend them). Hyperthreading is something that every user can benefit from: no more watching your computer slow to a crawl because your anti-virus kicked in. Windows 7 just dumps that off on a new thread and you keep humming along surfing the web or playing a game. The main difference between the Core i3 and i5 is that the Core i5 has "Turboboost" (which can speed up your CPU or the graphics chip as needed) and the Core i3 does not. If you aren't stressing the CPU or the graphics chip then the Turboboost found in the i5 isn't going to do a lot for you.

RAM - 4GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1066MHz is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provide more than enough memory for pretty much any application you can think of outside of extremely high end gaming. Note that most older notebooks come with "DDR2" and this one has "DDR3". The main difference is that "DDR3" uses about 20% less power "DDR2" which of course equals slightly better battery life.

HDD - The 500GB drive is far more space than most users need (few people will use more than 100GB). HP also offers 320GB and 640GB drives in some models. This one runs at 7200RPM but HP has version that run at 5400RPM. The 7200RPM drive offers better performance but the failure rate is slightly higher than the slower 5400RPM drives. I have a slight preference for the slower drive just because I hate HDD failures but honestly the 7200RPM drives have improved to the point where there's not much difference in failure rates anymore.

Graphics - This model is using uses Intel's new "HD" graphics which is vastly superior to their old "4500MHD" chip. You can actually do a some 3D gaming on this notebook though newer high-end 3D games will need to run at reduced settings. Online games like World of Warcraft will run best at reduced settings. It can do 1080p HD graphics but notice this model doesn't have a Blu-ray drive so I'm not sure it matters that much (the only DV6's I know of with Blu-ray are custom models ordered direct from HP).

Display - I don't like that about a year ago HP switched the DV6 from a full 16" display to the slightly smaller 15.6". Still the 1366 x 768 widescreen LED Brightview display on this model doesn't disappoint. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). Outdoors you'll have some issues with glare but it's better than a lot of competitors. I like that the screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between the 15.6" and a 14" is surprising (go compare them in a store if you haven't had a chance).

Sound - Surprisingly good sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a good range. I've heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.

Battery - HP bundles 12 cell Lithium-Ion battery on this model but most DV6 models have a 6 cell. If you are on the road a lot the 12 cell is nice. Home users who plan to plug in a lot probably won't care. Personally I prefer the 12 cell. The 6 cell will give you 2-4 hours of real use and the 12 cell will give you 3-6 hours (HP claims "up to seven hours" on their website but that's only if you do everything possible to conserve power). The 12 cell will bulge out a little in the back and adds about 1/5 of a pound to the weight.

Operating System - This model the "Premium" version of Windows 7. The "SB" (small business) models have the Win 7 "Professional" version. Win 7 premium is fine for most users but the Pro version lets you back up over a network and better support for older software (it can basically run Windows XP in the background for your older programs). Most homes users will be fine with Win 7 Premium but if you have a lot of old software you may consider getting a notebook with Win 7 Pro (which will add a little to the cost of the notebook).

Optical Drive: The standard HP DVD/CD RW Drive with Lightscribe. If you haven't used Lightscribe it basically allows you to burn black text or images onto LightScribe compatible CD or DVD media. A typical image burn takes 20 minutes or so. It's nice to have but be aware the images are a little dull. I've noticed mine fade over but I mostly burn copies of CDs for my kids and they are rough on them.

I don't have any serious "cons" for this computer. The "Touch Media Controls" for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a little odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up. I also don't find the included remote to be that useful but anyone planning to hook this up to their TV might like it. I suspect most people will just put in a drawer and forget about it.

If you're staring at the various DV6 models trying to decide which one to buy my advice is (based on the models available when I wrote this):

- For home users who aren't gamers you can save about $100 if you go with the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop which combines a Core i3 with Win 7 Premium and a 6 cell battery. The performance for non-gaming software will be very close to the more expensive i5 models and you'll save money by going with Win 7 Premium and a smaller battery.

- If you need good battery life, run higher end software, or like to game a bit go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US which combines the Core i5 with the 12 cell battery. The Intel graphics aren't the best but it's a big improvement over past products. This is the model I think has the best balance of features.

- If gaming matters more than battery life you should probably look at other laptop lines but if you are sold on the DV6 go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2190US which has a quad CPU Core i7 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M graphics. It's only got a 6 cell battery and that CPU and graphics are going to drain it quickly. On the plus side it's the only model in this group with gigabit ethernet (most home users will be fine with 10/100 ethernet [which is more than enough for several computers surfing the web] but if you want or need 10/100/1000 ethernet only the higher end DV6 models have it).

- If you have a lot of older software consider the HP Pavilion DV6-2157SB Small Business Editionwhich comes with Windows 7 Pro (which can run older software in a WinXP kernel). It has a Core i3 and a 6 cell battery. It also has a different finish ("Plaid Mocha") but I haven't seen it so I can't comment on it.

To wrap it all up: you can always buy more features for more money but if you are looking for a laptop with some higher-end features and upscale build quality this is an excellent choice. HP spent money in the right places and has created a high-end laptop at a mid-tier price. I think the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop is one of the better values out there today but I prefer the features offered in the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US. If you are a student you may want to check out HPs "Academy" program which offers student discounts (it can be hard to find on HP's web site - just search for "HP Academy").
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Toshiba Satellite T135-S1310 TruBrite 13.3-Inch Ultrathin Black Laptop - 9 Hours 22 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)
Manufacturer: Toshiba
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $699.99
Sale Price: $579.99
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description

Built for your everyday life on the go, the affordable Toshiba T135 laptop (model T135-S1310) with 13.3-inch screen is Toshiba's thinnest and lightest Satellite model yet, offering the performance, flexibility and functionality you expect in a standard-sized laptop but in a highly portable and efficient package.


Featuring a power-efficient Intel ultra-low voltage processor and Windows 7, the T135 powers up quickly from standby mode and provides energy saving enhancements that deliver up to 9 hours of battery life.


It's also been given a number of comfort-driven, eco-focused design elements that are capped by the stunningly stylish Fusion finish in Nova Black.




Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below.


Weighing just 3.9 pounds, the ultrathin Toshiba Satellite T135 features a 13.3-inch LED backlit screen and up to 9 hours of battery life (see larger image).


The stunning Fusion finish in Nova Black (see larger image).


The full-sized keyboard makes it comfortable for extended on-the-go typing (see larger image).


It comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), supporting office applications and all the software programs routinely found in full-size notebooks.


Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks.


Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to. (Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below.)

The Satellite T135 is engineered to feature the comfort and convenience of a standard laptop yet in an ultra-thin package.


It features a full-sized keyboard and full-sized touchpad with multi-touch capabilities, enabling greater flexibility to browse and control what's happening on-screen with gesture commands--including two-finger pinch, swipe, rotate and scroll.


It's also been designed to be environmentally conscious with a power-efficient, mercury-free LED backlit display that also provides brilliantly colorful imagery for photos and video thanks to the native HD TrueBrite screen.


Thanks to the built-in webcam and Toshiba Face Recognition software on this machine, you'll enjoy a more convenient way to communicate, log on or share your laptop among the family.


Other Toshiba innovations include a hard drive impact sensor that protects your data and a USB Sleep and Charge port that enables you to charge electronics peripherals--like your cell phone or MP3 player--even when the laptop is turned off.


It's powered by the dual-core Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Intel Pentium SU4100 processor for advanced energy efficiency.


Other features include a 320 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (8 GB maximum), Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth connectivity (including stereo music streaming), integrated Intel GMA 4500M graphics (for up to 1750 MB of shared video memory), HDMI audio/video output, and multi-format memory card reader. Because of its size, the T135 does not include an optical DVD/CD drive, but an optional external drive can be connected via one of the three USB ports.


This Toshiba notebook is Energy Star 5.0 certified, and has received a Gold EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact.


Additionally, it is RoHS-compliant, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.


Key Features

  • 13.3-inch high-definition, LED-backlit TruBrite display for amazing color depth and clarity (Learn more)
  • Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. (Learn more)
  • Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
  • Energy efficient, dual-core 1.3 GHz Intel Pentium SU4100 processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life (Learn more)
  • 320 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) with an impact sensor that helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement. (Learn more)
  • 4 GB of RAM (DDR3; upgradeable to 8 GB)
  • Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M with up to 1750 MB of dynamically shared memory allocated by the system (Learn more)
  • 1.3 megapixel with Face Recognition capabilities for added security (Learn more)
  • Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for greater speed and range
  • Fast Ethernet (10/100)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity enables you to communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones as well as enjoy wireless stereo music streaming (thanks to its embedded A2DP profile).
  • Three USB ports with one Sleep and Charge port on the left side, allowing you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
  • HDMI-CEC audio/video output lets you control additional media players with just a single remote.
  • Built-in stereo speakers
  • Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works SE 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work. Enjoy a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.
  • Full-sized 85-key keyboard with 10-key pad
  • Enjoy proactive PC health--without the worry. For your peace mind, this laptop comes with an innovative PC Health Monitor that constantly keeps tabs on things like your machine's power usage, temperature and hard drive--so you won't have to.
  • Up to 9 hours of battery life with 6-cell (5600 mAh) battery
  • Dimensions: 12.7 x 8.78 x 1.35 inches (WxDxH)
  • Weight: 3.9 pounds
  • Warranty: 1 year warranty with international limited warranty coverage


Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks.


It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers).


It's also outfitted with Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1 + EDR), which enables you to communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and mobile phones.


You'll also be able to stream music to compatible Bluetooth-enabled headphones and speakers thanks to the embedded A2DP profile.


This notebook also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking.

  • 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
    • Includes 1 eSATA/USB combo port with USB Sleep and Charge
  • 1 HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable
  • Analog video output: 1 VGA
  • 5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card
  • 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
  • RJ-45 port for 10/100 Fast Ethernet
  • RJ-11 port for 56K modem


The T135's ports (see larger image).


What's in the box
This package contains the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1310 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.


It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009 (30-day trial), Toshiba PC Health Monitor, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Edition (60-day trial), Windows Media Player, Google Toolbar, WildTangent Orb Game Console

Product Details

  • 1.3GHz Intel Pentium Ultra Low Voltage SU4100 Processor
  • 4GB Memory
  • 320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
  • 13.3" LED-Backlit Display
  • Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, *9 Hours 22 Minutes of Battery Life

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Customer Reviews

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