Digital Cameras Rechargeables Battery biz

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of the Canon Digital Camera Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

Powering digital cameras and other high drain consumer electronics devices, while at the same time ratcheting up the rechargeables that help keep CE hardware on the road, is the one-two punch driving the battery business. A trend toward larger size packages rounds out key initiatives.

Whether alkaline or lithium ion (Li-Ion) types for CE products or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) for rechargeables, batteries are fast becoming one of the most tech influenced accessories categories.

"Batteries such as canon NB-1L battery, canon NB-2L battery, canon BP-511 battery, canon NB-5L battery, canon NB-4L battery, canon NB-5H battery, nikon CR-V3 battery, nikon EN-EL2 battery, Olympus FE-250 battery, Fujifilm NP-40 battery, Samsung VP-MS12 battery, Sharp VR-BL1 battery will continue to follow the growth of technology and the consumer's desire for portability and convenience," said Lou Martire, vice president-trade development at Energizer. "As the demand for power-hungry digital cameras continues to grow, and with the introduction of new toys and devices, so will the demand for batteries [climb]," he said.

This summer, St. Louis-based Energizer will begin significant media support for its Energizer e2 AA 1.5-volt lithium photo battery. Said to be one of a kind, the battery delivers five times the power of an ordinary alkaline battery in digital cameras, according to Energizer. Suggested retail for AA or AAA e2 4-packs is $4.99.

With product performance of its Energizer Max alkaline AA and AAA batteries recently improved, Energizer said these will run up to 40 percent longer than ordinary alkaline batteries in AA and AAA sizes in high drain devices. These two cell sizes make up almost 80 percent of all batteries sold and are used in many of the newest portable devices, said Energizer. Suggested retail for Max AA and AAA 4-packs is $3.99.

In addition, Energizer has begun shipping an improved AA NiMH 1700 mAh product, up from 1600 mAh.

"The popularity of nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries continues to be driven by wider acceptance of high drain devices such as PDAs and, especially, digital cameras," said Peter Brinkman, vice president for marketing at Maxell. "As we expected, this trend has accelerated in recent months because of the increase in household penetration of digital cameras and because consumers are familiar and comfortable with using rechargeable batteries," said Brinkman.

To help support the growth in rechargeables, Fair Lawn, N.J.-based Maxell is offering consumers packaging that effectively communicates battery chemistry, emphasizes recommended usage and communicates higher capacity availability.

Maxell's newest battery product is its P2001 Recharger/Battery Combination Pack at $24.99 suggested retail. The item includes a smart recharger and four AA NiMH batteries. It automatically detects the amount of charge required for each battery placed in the unit and charges accordingly. It is capable of recharging both nickel cadmium (NiCd) and NiMH batteries, and automatically recognizes either chemistry.

A second key trend shaping the battery business is the "importance of value to sales growth in the alkaline battery category, as represented by larger pack sizes," said Maxell's Brinkman. "Sales growth of the larger pack sizes is being generated by an increase in battery usage overall caused by the popularity and widespread use of battery-driven devices.

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Review

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of the Asus Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

It's easy to get confused by all the variety of netbooks on the market today. These low-cost ultraportable laptops generally have very similar features and many even look virtually identical. That said, it's never easy to overlook the latest Eee PC from ASUS. The Eee PC 1005HA Seashell is the newest netbook from ASUS that promises to deliver the perfect balance between lightweight style and functionality. Let's take a closer look.

Our ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Seashell features the following specifications:

Operating System: Genuine Windows XP

Processor: Intel Atom N280 Processor 1.66GHz (667MHz FSB)

Memory: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (667MHz)

Internal Storage: 160GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD plus 10GB Eee Online Storage

Display: 10.1-inch diagonal WSVGA (1024x600)

Graphics: Intel GMA 950

Wireless: Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR

Expansion: 4-in-1 media card slot

Ports and connectors: (3) USB 2.0 ports, VGA OUT, power connector, RJ-45/Ethernet (Gigabit), stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 1.3 megapixel webcam

Dimensions (H x W x D): 0.89-1.40 x 10.2 x 6.9 inches (including feet)

Weight: 2.8 lbs (not including weight of AC adapter).

Power: 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery (5600mAh, 63Wh) like Asus A42-A3 Battery, Asus A2000 Battery, Asus A42-A2 Battery, Asus A3000 Battery, Asus A6000 Battery, Asus A42-A4 Battery, Asus A4000 Battery, Asus L5800 Battery, Asus A42-L5 Battery, Asus L5000 Battery

Warranty: One-year standard warranty

MSRP: $389.99

The Eee PC 1005HA is a lower-cost version of the 1008HA Seashell and features a similar clamshell chassis design but is a little thicker and comes with a removable battery. Unlike the 1008HA, which had plastic covers over every port, all of the ports on the 1005HA are easily accessible so you won't have to struggle to plug in a USB flash drive. The 1005HA also isn't as thin as the 1008HA Seashell, but the 1005HA makes up for extra bulk with a high-capacity removable battery.

If you look at the top of the 1005HA it's easy to see the "Seashell" heritage, and thankfully it manages to retain some solid build quality for a budget netbook. The glossy black plastics aren't prone to flex and the keyboard is very firm ... two things you usually don't see on budget notebooks. The various parts of the chassis come together with tight build tolerances like a higher-priced laptop. This isn't the most rugged netbook we've ever seen, but ASUS gave the 1005HA a pretty solid build for less than $400.

One nice improvement on this netbook compared to the last Seashell is the return of an easy-access RAM cover. If you want to upgrade the RAM in your 1005HA all you have to do is remove one screw on the access panel on the bottom of the netbook. I would have also liked to see an easy-access panel for the hard drive, but most netbook buyers aren't going to mess with the hard drive.

The new Eee PC 1005HA Seashell uses a fairly standard LED-backlit display panel with a 1024x600 native resolution. The glossy screen looks identical to what we saw in the 1008HA: the glossy screen offers good color and contrast, but glare and reflections indoors under strong lights or outdoors under direct sunlight can be a problem. Again, although the 1024x600 resolution is pretty standard for a netbook these days, I'd much rather see a 1366x768 screen in the next Eee PC. Vertical viewing angles are average, with minimal color distortion when viewing from below and some over-exposed colors when viewed from above. Horizontal viewing angles are better with colors staying accurate at extremely wide viewing angles with just a little bit of color wash out.

Acer To Intro US Model of S3 Ultrabook

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of the Acer Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

With laptops diversifying in multiple directions, major PC vendors this week leveraged a New York City press event to trot out new models ranging from Toshiba's glasses-free 3D notebook to a small slew of ultrathin models, including the first ultrabook from Acer for the US market.

Acer will officially announce the US edition of its Aspire S3 Ultrabook Laptop in October. The US version will come in the same form factor as its European cousin, with the same height of 1.3 centimeters, or slightly over one-half inch. It will also ship with the same lightweight, high density battery such as Acer UM08A31 battery, Acer UM08A71 battery, Acer UM08A72 battery, Acer UM08B71 battery, Acer Aspire One battery, Acer SQU-410 battery, Acer TravelMate 2100 battery, Acer 1556 battery, Acer BTP-89BM battery, Acer TravelMate 4600 battery, billed as delivering seven hours of power, along with Acer Green Instant On technology, designed to preserve battery life while also providing instant resume functionality.

Acer representatives didn't say whether the US edition will incorporate the same 13.3-inch ultra-thin HD LED display, vent-free bottom, and chiclet-style keyboard as its European counterpart, although all of that seems like a fairly safe bet given the identical dimensions.

US Edition of Acer's S3 Might Be Different

Despite the similar exterior, the US ultrabook might not offer the same processor and storage options which, in the European notebook, amount to a choice of second gen Intel i3/i5/i7 processors, plus a choice of either a 240GB SSD or 320/500GB HDD. The hard drive option also includes embedded SSD to help optimize media and data storage and speed up access.

Please pardon the cliche, but the Aspire S3 felt as light as a veritable feather in my hands, weighing in at less than 1.4 kg, or 3bs. The chiclet-style keyboard was springy and comfortable to the touch. I also noticed the lack of any heat on the keyboard or palmrest areas. Acer has managed this by placing components away from these areas, and also through an airflow design that dissipates warm air in the back of the notebook to stop air from moving back in the direction of the user's hands.

I also checked out the two sleep modes on the S3, and Acer Instant Connect, which gave me blazing fast access to the Internet. Thanks to these sleep modes, the S3 can resume in 1.5 seconds or recover from Deep Sleep in six seconds. I didn't have time during my quick hands-on to play with the integrated Acer Crystal Eye 1.3 megapixel camera and mike -- although I saw that they're in there.

Acer's Three Ultrabook Rivals

Rival ultrabooks also set for shipment this year include the equally Apple MacBook Air-inspired Asus UX21, outfitted with a very high resolution 1600-by-900 display and 256GB SSD, the Toshiba Portege Z835; and the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s, a book-shaped model that uses fans placed under the keyboard to draw in air for cooling purposes.

Also shown at Pepcom, the 13-inch Toshiba Portege, set for release in November, is even lighter than the Acer S3 at 2.45 pounds. The difference actually seemed palpable. It is also wafer-thin, measuring just 0.51-inches -- in comparison to the 13-inch Air's 0.67 inches -- at its thickest point.

To help achieve this thinness, all four vendors have left out optical drives, although the European edition of Acer's S3 does come with an integrated 2-in-1 card reader supporting SD/MMC cards. Of course, you could always attach an optical drive through a USB port. These days, though, optical drives are falling into more and more disuse, now that just about every app can be purchased for download and streaming video and YouTube are taking the place of entertainment DVDs.

Also in the interests of thinness, the PC makers tend to place most of the ports in back. For instance, the left-hand panel of the A3 contains only the two-way reader and a couple of phone jacks.

Still, vendors are managing to pack in a lot of I/O. The Toshiba ultrathin model, for example, offers three USB ports along with HDMI, VGA and Gigabit Ethernet ports. None of the first crop of ultrathins, though, is outfitted with screens supporting 1280p resolution. To view videos in full HD, you need to hook up an HDTV through the HDMI port.

Acer TravelMate 4011WLCi Review

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of the Acer Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

The Acer TravelMate 4010 (4011WLCi) is a mid-range Intel Centrino laptop with a budget price. It sports a 15.4" widescreen WXGA LCD and weighs just under 6.2lbs.

Acer TravelMate 4010 (4011WLCi configuration):

Intel Centrino Certified

Processor: Intel Pentium M 725 (1.60GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB, Dothan core)

Chipset: Intel 855GM/GME

Wireless: Intel PRO 2200BG Chipset 802.11b/g mini-PCI

Screen: 15.4" WXGA+ (1280 x 800) CrystalClear TFT

RAM: 2x 256MB DDR333 (Hynix ICs, 2.5-3-3-7 timings)

Hard Drive: 1.8" 60GB 4200RPM 2MB Cache Hitachi

Battery: 6-Cell 30000mWh like Acer Aspire 2000 battery, Acer Aspire 2016 battery, Acer Aspire 2200 battery, Acer BATBL50L6 battery, Acer TravelMate 3000 battery, Acer BATBL50L6 battery, Acer BATCL50L battery, Acer Aspire 9500 battery, Acer TravelMate 291 battery, Acer TravelMate 290 battery

Optical Bay: DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, 24x CD-R

Audio: Conexant AMC chipset

Graphics: Intel Extreme Graphics 2 for Mobile (64MB Shared RAM)

Installed Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition

Ports and Slots: 3x USB2.0, 1x RJ45 LAN, 1x RJ11 modem, 1x PCMCIA Type II PC Card slot, 1x AC adapter, 1x VGA out, 1x Security slot, 1x Optical Bay, 1x Line In, 1x Mic In, 1x Line Out/Head Phone

Dimensions: 1.5" X 14.3" X 11.0" (H X W X D)

Weight: 6.2lbs

Warranty: 1 Year Parts and Labor; Acer International Warranty

I bought this laptop for class and general wireless use. Having a laptop in class allows me to type out all of my notes and stay connected wherever I am on campus. I needed a budget laptop, and this fit the bill quite nicely. I also wanted a laptop that I could use around the apartment so I wouldn't be tied to my desktop all the time. However, I quickly realized I began using my laptop quite a bit more than my desktop, and it eventually turned into my desktop replacement.

I take the laptop to campus everyday, and there are some shortcomings. Because the laptop has a 15.4" screen, it's relatively large. Unless you're sitting at a table, don't expect to have any room atop of your desk for anything other than your laptop.

When closed, the laptop is fairly flush. The screen turns on when the panel is raised about 20 degrees up and can open to about 190 degrees. The LCD "turn off" button is located on the upper right side between 2 of the hinges, and it is not easily accessible by the finger (although it is possible to press it down with skinny fingers).

Beneath the laptop, the end user has access to the Battery, RAM, HDD, CPU and HSF, and the mini-PCI slot.

There are 4 launch buttons above and to the right of the keyboard: E-Mail, WWW, Empowering Technology (Acer settings), and Launch Manager. All 4 launch buttons can be customized to run any application, file, or web address, along with custom OSD labels.

To the right of the launch buttons is the power button, which lights up green when the system is on. To the left of the launch buttons are 3 status LEDs. The left most is Caps Lock, the middle is Num Lock, and the right most is HDD activity.

Acer Aspire 3003LCi Review

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of the Acer Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

The Acer Aspire 3003LCi is a 15-inch screen budget laptop built by Acer, it's part of the Aspire 3000 series. The 3003LCi weighs 6.1 lbs, which can be considered a light DTR (Desktop Replacement). The specs for this particular model are:

AMD Sempron Mobile 3000+

512 MB DDR RAM (1 dimm.)

60 GB 4200 Rpm Hard Drive

15.0" XGA monitor

Windows XP Home Edition

802.11G internal WLAN

I am impressed by Acer's "folio" design. It looks professional, clean looking, and gives the laptop with battery like Acer AS07A31 Battery, Acer AS07A51 Battery, Acer Aspire 4520 Battery, Acer AS07B72 Battery, Acer Aspire 5520 Battery, Acer BTP-43D1 Battery, Acer TravelMate 220 Battery, Acer BTP-58A1 Battery, acer BTP-60A1 Battery, Acer TravelMate 240 Battery a feeling that it is worth more than it looks. It's curved lines make it seem a lot thinner than it is, even though it isn't really that thick in the first place. The case feels a little flimsy at the wrist rest areas and the screen has a little flex, but the overall build quality of the case feels solid. The case is made up of plastic with a metallic silver look, it feels smooth to the touch. The notebook weighs about 6 pounds. It feels a little heavy, but it is relatively light compared to my old 8 pound Toshiba notebook. The screen hinges feel solid. There is some rippling of the screen that occurs if you push in on the back of the lid. Overall the build quality is OK, good for everyday use, but it's not meant for taking excessive abuse or being taken into the wilderness.

The Acer comes with a 15.0" XGA screen. The screen doesn't have the reflective type coating, which can be better for doing normal tasks, since I don't really watch movies on it anyways. The screen is bright enough, but unfortunately, mine came with one dead pixel. There isn't a lot of light leakage. As far as the dead pixel goes, there was no way to obtain a replacement LCD or notebook, but since it's in the corner, I'll live with it.

The laptop takes about 49 seconds from start to hearing the Windows start-up jingle. The laptop itself feels fast and responsive while doing everyday tasks such as listening to music, surfing the web etc. due to the lack of excessive bloatware eating at the 512 MB of RAM. Having 512MB of RAM is really helpful, which makes the computer a lot more responsive. I could play the Age of Empires 3 demo on this laptop on lower settings of the game, and it runs decently.

The laptop fans run quietly when doing basic tasks, but when you watch videos the fan will sometimes kick in and get a little noisy. The Aspire 3003 isn't really suited to being used in the lap because the fan is on the bottom-right, causing that area to feel hot after a while, so it's better to use this notebook on a flat desk or table to allow for proper cooling.

Wireless:

The laptop comes with a Broadcom 802.11G Wireless Adapter. This card has good reception, and works well. There is no Bluetooth, even though there is a button for it, but it doesn't do anything at all.

Battery:

This is one of the major downfalls of the laptop. The battery lasts only one hour when doing normal tasks, due to the 4-cell battery. Acer should've at least included a 6-cell battery instead of a 4-cell.

Operating System and Software:

This comes preloaded with Windows XP Home, and there is a lack of bloatware (which is good). Some software programs included are: NTI CD-Maker, Acer e-manager and Acer Arcade, which is an all-in-one entertainment software which lets you watch movies, listen to music and view pictures in one handy interface.

Customer Support:

Unfortunately, I had to use the warranty service because there was a small crack on the back of the LCD. When I contacted Acer, they sent a Fed-Ex truck the next day, sent the laptop to their repair facility in Texas, and then contacted me when the laptop was repaired. I received my laptop back repaired, after 2 weeks. I was impressed by their quick service, but I haven't tested out their customer support.

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo Review

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of the Apple Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

When Apple announced its transition to Intel, there was the expectation that hardware updates would become more frequent. So it came as a surprise when Apple was slow to move to the newer, more efficient Core 2 Duo processor. Eventually, not only did Apple switch to the 64-bit processor, they also added many features that were left out of the original MacBook Pro, namely a dual-layer DVD burner and FireWire 800. They also added a larger 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, and a now unlocked 802.11n AirPort Extreme. Apple was also able to improve the cooling, which allowed them to speed up a grossly underclocked ATI Mobility X1600 and be more competitive with the competition. On paper, the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro looks more like what the Core Duo version should have been, but does that prove to be true in real world use? Let's find out!

I did not buy this MacBook Pro with battery such as Apple M8244 Battery, Apple A1079 Battery, Apple A1078 Battery, Apple A1148 Battery, Apple M6091 Battery, Apple M8956 Battery, Apple A1008 Battery, Apple A1061 Battery, Apple A1060 Battery, Apple A1022 Battery. It was another replacement in a long line of replacements dating back to June 2006. My last unit was a Core Duo that I had for about 4 months. Unfortunately, the seal on the LCD was not airtight and dirt was able to accumulate. Having had so many problems, I called Customer Relations, who were willing to replace my Core Duo machine with the new Core 2 Duo version. While I question Apple's quality control, their customer service has been second to none. It has taken very little effort on my part to get issues corrected. In the month I have had my Core 2 Duo machine, I have thankfully not noticed any build quality issues.

Not much has changed visually from the Core Duo MacBook Pro. What has changed is not initially visible. Apple abandoned the vertical vents in favor of horizontal vents, allowing more air to move freely from the case. This single change has helped to solve the heat issues that plagued many older MacBook Pros. The only other change cosmetically is the new FireWire 800 port on the right side. Other than that, Apple carries over the same aluminum case with a slot-loading DVD burner on the front, ports on the sides, and a large trackpad with a single mouse button. Apple has used this design for several iterations of the Powerbook/MacBook Pro, and while the design is beginning to age, it is still pleasing to the eye. Apple also includes a backlit keyboard and auto-dimming LCD backlight, making it easier to use in low light.

The build feels solid; however, the aluminum case will dent and scratch eventually, keeping it from being one of the more durable notebooks. The way the notebook feels is good, making it seem worth the money spent on it. Just hope you do not get a lemon.

My MacBook Pro is the base model, which comes equipped with a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 1 GB of 667MHz RAM, which I immediately upgraded to 2 GB. In day-to-day use I have not noticed a big jump in performance from my 2.0 GHz Core Duo machine. However, performance increases are present in processor intensive tasks. For instance, the Core 2 Duo showed a large performance jump in the SuperPi benchmark, coming in at 58 seconds, a 20% increase over the Core Duo. The other area that the Core 2 Duo version shines in over the Core Duo is gaming. Due to cooling problems, the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 was severely underclocked in the Core Duo MacBook. Thanks to improved cooling, Apple was able to run the X1600 at a higher clock speed. The increase in clock speed manifested itself in the 3DMark05 score, helping the Core 2 Duo post a whopping 50% increase.

In general day-to-day use, I do not think you will see much of an increase in performance, but if you game or use processor intensive applications then the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro is a significant upgrade over the Core Duo version.

Apple iBook G4 Review

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of the Compaq Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

Getting an Apple laptop was unthinkable for me at first. I felt nothing from Apple's clever "Switch" ads, and as with many fellow PC/Windows users, I thoughts Macs were for newbies, graphics designers, grannies, and others who couldn't handle more than one mouse button.

However, when I began my quest to purchase an affordable portable, I ran into many problems. The ultraportables and subnotebooks often lacked basic features I wanted such as an optical-drive, and would easily burn a hole in my wallet... several times over. Thin-and-Lights looked very appealing, so I researched that category the most. Some of my favorites include the Fujitsu S6210, IBM T40 series, and Dell 600m. Yet, even the ones I liked didn't work out because they didn't fit my budget (about $1,000).

Then I was introduced to a strange mix of the above. Apple's 12" iBook weighs in at touch under five pounds, but is in the ultraportable form factor. It's too heavy to be an ultraportable, but it's small screen means it doesn't fit with most thin-and-lights. What really caught my attention was the price tag. Other than Averatec, this is the only notebook I came across with a retail price of $999 that came in under 5 pounds. But like any consumer ready to shell out hard-earned money, I was still skeptical.

I continued to do my research and consistently heard good things about the iBook. Finally, Apple and Amazon gave me a sign. In late October, Apple included Airport Extreme (802.11g) and bumped up the base processor to 1.2Ghz. Additionally, Amazon still had a $150 rebate for Apple laptops with battery such as Apple A1175 Battery, Apple A1185 Battery, Apple M9324 Battery, Apple M8403 Battery, Apple M7318 Battery, apple PowerBook G3 Battery, Apple PowerBook G4 Battery, Apple PowerBook G4 15 inch Battery, Apple A1012 Battery, Apple M8511 Battery. It didn't take long for me to figure out that $850 + $20 shipping was a darn good deal. I placed my order on the following and paitiently waited.

Specifications

12.1" TFT XGA

1.2Ghz G4 processor w/ 512k level 2 cache

256MB PC2100 ram, 1 slot available

30 GB ATA/100 4200RPM hard drive

Slot-loading combo drive (DVD/CD-RW)

1 FireWire 400 port

2 USB 2.0 ports

VGA Out, S-Video and composite video cable optional

56K V.92 modem

10/100BASE-T Ethernet

Airport Extreme 802.11g wireless

Mac OS X 10.3 Panther

90 phone support, 1 year hardware warranty

The laptop is absolutely gorgeous. Had I not seen the price tag, I would've thought the iBook to be much pricier. The bare simplicity of the notebook is stunning. Other than the obligatory Apple logo on top (which lights up!), there's nothing but rounded edges. No bevels; No latches; No doors. When I hold it in my hands, it feels like holding a polished piece of marble. (in reality: polycarbonate plastic, and magnesium alloy)

The construction is really top grade. Pressing against the back of the reinforced LCD doesn't cause any ripples in the image, nor does flexing the screen between my hands. I'd feel safe putting this notebook in a cramped backpack. The hinge connecting the screen also looks quite beefy and doubles as an exhaust for heat. The slot loading drive is just too cool to describe. Everyone gets mesmerized by how the iBook sucks in CDs. Apple also claims to have rubber-mounted the hard drive to absorb vibrations and impacts.

HP Compaq NC6000 Notebook Review

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of the Compaq Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

The Hewlett-Packard-Compaq NC6000 has a lot going for it. Exceptional speed, ruggedness, battery life and a magnesium-composite housing that is sturdy enough to double as a blunt weapon. The keyboard is as good as any out there, and the wireless setup found connections I didn't know existed.

Unfortunately, the NC6000 I received also had a few things going wrong for it. Out of the box, the keyboard was only half-attached. The point stick seemed possessed, and the screen hinges were noticeably loose. Then after two weeks, it took multiple starts to get Windows running.

That bad experience was leavened somewhat by HP's business division, which has the best customer service I've dealt with anywhere in a long time.

Buying an HP NC6000

This review is based on a custom-configured HP NC6000 with the following specifications:

Pentium M 735 - 1.7 GHz, 2MB L2 cache

14-inch XGA (1024x768) TFT Display

64 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600

512x1 MB RAM

80 GB, 5400 RPM hard drive

CD-RW/DVD-ROM

Intel PRO Wireless 2200BG

Bluetooth

8-cell lithium-ion battery such as Compaq 100680-001 Battery, Compaq PP2060 Battery, Compaq Presario 1400 Battery, Compaq Presario R3158 Battery, Compaq Presario 1700 Battery, Compaq Armada E500 Battery, Compaq EVO N100 battery, Compaq Evo N1020V battery, Compaq Evo N1000C battery, Compaq Evo N115 battery

Windows XP

5.75 pounds

Three-year-accidental damage warranty

This setup costs $2,281 before tax and shipping through HP's business division.

The buying process is relatively straightforward. HP offers a few pre-configured models between $1,499 and $2,000, along with the option to configure your own. There are usually sales on some models, and HP offers discounts to a variety of professional fields. Particularly notable is that employees of schools and colleges are eligible for a discount. As I understand it, this extends to all staff, not just teachers.

It's less-expensive to buy a pre-configured system than the same machine customized, but users looking for a bigger battery or better video card might save by customizing. (It's $19 to upgrade to an 8-cell battery now, versus $129 for a new battery later).

It took three weeks for HP to deliver the machine, one week longer than anticipated, but they did send an e-mail announcing the delay.

People often describe laptops as being built like a tank, rock or brick. The hyperbole is implicit -- most people wouldn't seriously expect to defend themselves with a Powerbook G4. In the case of the NC6000, however, there's no exaggeration. The machine is heavy and brutish. If a pack of zombies barged in my office right now, a closed NC6000 would make a handy bludgeon.

HP Compaq 6910p Review

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of the Compaq Laptop Battery   First post by: www.itsbattery.com

The 14.1" HP Compaq 6910p is one of the latest professional line portable business notebooks currently being offered by HP. The 6910p is much like the smaller 12.1" screen HP 2510p we recently reviewed in terms of looks, but of course this larger notebook packs more power. The 6910p starts at a reasonable price of $1,199 with a basic configuration that includes the Intel Core 2 Duo (Santa Rosa) processor.

The 6910p is squarely in the business notebook category, this means there is no sacrifice made when it comes to security and communications features you'd want to have as a business person. Our review model has integrated Verizon EV-DO and you can get 802.11n for faster wireless. There's a fingerprint reader for biometric security and it offers a TPM integrated security chip. The 6910p, being a business notebook, is designed so that it can share a common image with other HP notebooks if an IT department is standardizing on this brand. Furthermore, it offers Intel Centrino Pro so IT managers can remotely do such things as security updates to users machines.

The configuration of our review machine is as follows:

HP Compaq 6910p specs:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2.00GHz

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Business

Hard Drive: 120 GB SATA @ 5400RPM

Screen: 14.1" WXGA Widescreen (1280 x 800) (WXGA+ option available)

Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics

RAM: 2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 1GB)

Optical Drive: DVD SuperMulti drive (DVD+/-RW) w/Double Layer Support

Battery: 6-cell lithium ion, 55WHr Compaq Armada M700 Battery, Compaq EVO N400c Battery, Compaq EVO N410c Battery, Compaq EVO N600C Battery, Compaq EVO N610C Battery, Compaq EVO N620C Battery, Compaq Presario 1200 Battery, Compaq Presario 1800 Battery, Compaq Presario 700 Battery, Compaq Presario 900 Battery

Wireless: Intel PRO / Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n

Optional WWAN: Integrated HP ev2200 1xEV-DO Wireless Module

Security: Fingerprint reader, TPM hardware-based encryption

Weight: 5.2 lbs

Dimensions: 13" (Width) x 9.4" (Depth) x 1.1" (Height)

Ports/Slots: docking connector; 1 IEEE 1394 (FireWire); 3 Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0); VGA monitor out; S-video out; RJ-45 Ethernet LAN; RJ-11 modem; Type I/II PC Card Slot; SmartCard; SD card reader; headphone/speaker jack; microphone

Warranty: 3 year parts and labor

The 6910p is all business in its looks using only dark gray and black colors. It's a clean and boxy look. To keep the look clean HP even goes so far as to make the media buttons touch sensitive instead of regular push button style. While the touch sensitive buttons look nice and the lights on them are pretty, I personally prefer the protruding buttons as it's generally more user friendly to be able to "feel" a button. Thankfully the touch sensitive buttons do not beep loudly when touched like the old HP dv6000 series did, that wouldn't go over well in a business environment.

Design and Build

The overall build quality of the HP 6910p is very good. A latch is used to hold the screen down when stowed, I really like the rubber gripped latch opener because it's easy to feel and find without looking down at the notebook and easy to operate. There's no fiddling to open the screen. The screen has rubber stoppers around it to prevent the screen from slamming into the keyboard when you close it.

The lid of the notebook is constructed of a firm mag-alloy material and will endure the bumps of the road. When the back of the lid is pushed on no screen ripples appear, indicating that the protection is quite adequate. The same mag alloy material is used on the palm rests area which makes sure this area is sturdy and doesn't sink under the weight of your hands. The keyboard is also firm with absolutely no mushiness or sink to it.

One knock is that HP included a plastic dummy insert for the the PCMCIA slot, a flap is preferable as those inserts are tricky and tend to get lost eventually.

Lenovo ThinkPad W510 Full Review

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The ThinkPad W510 is Lenovo’s 15.6-inch workstation notebook offering an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics. New to this year’s model is an optional 1080P multi-touch screen with a 95% color gamut and built-in huey PRO color calibration system. In this review, we take an in-depth look at the ThinkPad W510 to gauge its performance as a mobile workstation.

Our Lenovo ThinkPad W510 Specifications:

15.6-inch multi-touch FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit 95% Gamut (matte finish)

Windows 7 Professional (64bit)

Intel Core i7-920XM (2GHz, 8MB Cache)

8GB DDR3 RAM (4GB + 4GB)

500GB Seagate 7200.4 HDD (7200rpm)

Intel 6300 802.11AGN, Bluetooth, Gobi 2000 WWAN

NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M with 1GB DDR3

94Wh 9-cell, 135W 20V AC adapter

Dimensions: 14.68" x 9.65" x 1.35-1.57"

Weight: 7.2 pounds

Retail Price: $2,059 Starting (Exact configuration price unavailable)



Build and Design

Compared to the previous generation 15-inch ThinkPad with battery such as IBM 40Y6793 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1125 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1121 Battery, Lenovo 40Y8321 Battery, Lenovo FRU 92P1216 Battery, Lenovo 3000 V200 Battery, Lenovo ASM 92P1219 Battery, Lenovo 41U5025 Battery, Lenovo N200 Battery, IBM ASM 92P1126 Battery, Lenovo has made many design tweaks with the W510. For starters, the screen hinges are the same width, whereas before the hinge on the right side was much narrower. Another change is when the ThinkPad is open; the screen itself is centered with equal width bezels on both sides. The uneven screen was found to be annoying by some ThinkPad users and it is nice to see Lenovo finally address that odd design element. As a whole, Lenovo has done a great job of keeping the newer ThinkPad models looking just like previous generations. Some changes have been made to update the touchpad, ThinkPad logo, and port layout over the years but anyone off the street would be able to instantly recognize the brand.

Build quality is very good on the Lenovo ThinkPad W510. Out of the box, this model has a stronger feel to it than most of the smaller ThinkPad models and is fairly hefty. Our model weighed in at just about 7 pounds and is built like a tank. The newer palmrest and keyboard design is solid as a rock with a strong support structure underneath the plastic. Even with a strong grip or a lot of downward force, we saw minimal flex around the palmrest and keyboard. Following with its “overbuilt” (in a good way) trend, the screen hinges are strong enough that it required two hands to open the notebook and even to tilt back the screen once the lid was opened. When fully open, the screen did not have loose wobble or other problems staying firmly positioned. Considering this model offers a multi-touch screen, we found its overbuilt quality to be essential because the entire panel might otherwise push back when pressing on the touchscreen.



The easy access to all serviceable components might appeal to W510 users looking to upgrade. The bottom of the notebook has two covers which houses the hard drive and RAM slots three and four. Removing two screws lets you pop off the keyboard, giving you access to the wireless cards and RAM slots one and two. One point I want to make clear is even with models configured with fewer than four total sticks of memory, Lenovo still includes two open memory slots. We have seen models like the HP EliteBook 8540p that have the spots on the motherboard for two additional memory slots, but don’t solder them in place if the notebook isn’t configured with the additional memory from the factory.

Screen and Speakers

Lenovo includes a brand new multi-touch screen option on the ThinkPad W510. This panel has a resolution of 1920x1080, a high color gamut of 95%, and bright LED backlighting. We measured a peak brightness of 215cd/m2 with the backlight turned to 100%, which is more than bright enough to be fully visible in bright office conditions. Compared to past ThinkPad screens, the W510 ranks just under the X200 Tablet we reviewed in terms of panel quality. Color saturation was well above average, making this screen great for designers but unpleasant for the average user. If you are accustomed to viewing a normal LCD which has a color gamut between 70-80%, viewing this screen will look pretty strange with most colors being over saturated. This isn’t a problem with the screen itself; it’s just an attribute of a high color gamut display. Viewing angles were average with most colors starting to distort or invert when tilted 15 to 20 degrees forward or backward. The high color gamut seems to extend the viewing range slightly, but only because colors still look “normal” even though they have lost most of their potency. Horizontal viewing angles were good to about 70 degrees before the touchscreen layer started to block the light output.

The multi-touch surface was easy to use and responded to a light touch. It supported two-finger inputs like scrolling and zooming. Compared to other touchscreen surfaces, the W510 had only a slightly hazy appearance and didn’t seem to distort the LCD beneath it unless you were viewing the screen from a steep angle.

Another cool screen feature of the W510 is a huey PRO color calibration system. With the screen intended for graphic designers and image editors, one important area is the screen’s color accuracy. The color calibration software helps to correct any color shift as a result of the backlight, color changes over time, or simple screen aging. We actually found that it helped take the over-saturated edge of the screen and helped bring a sense of balance back to the system. Pre-calibration whites had a mild red tint and after calibration they had a cooler look and closer to the normal spectrum. If you opt for the nicer screen, it’s well worth an extra $70 to get the color calibrator if you’re picky about your screen’s appearance.

Speaker quality is average compared to other business notebooks but rates below mainstream consumer notebooks. While the speaker grills might suggest large speakers located under the trim they are in fact very tiny speakers. Peak volume levels are fine for filling a small to medium-size room. Bass and midrange is weak, but this is common for notebooks in this category.



Keyboard and Touchpad

The ThinkPad W510’s keyboard is comfortable to type on and easily lives up to the well-known reputation of all ThinkPad keyboards. It has excellent support showing little flex even under strong pressure. Tactile feedback is great with a precise hinge mechanism and secure key top that doesn’t exhibit any wiggle. The keyboard is the newest design seen first on the T400s and now the T410. The layout changes the position of some of the function keys and adds a row of quick-access sound keys to change the volume level, and mute the speakers and microphones. Another subtle change is a decrease in spacing between each key that supposedly reduces the chance of crumbs getting under them.

The W510 offers a spacious Synaptics touchpad with multi-touch capabilities. Compared to past models, the touchpad surface is textured to reduce friction and prevent your finger from sticking as you slide it side to side. After using the older matte plastic finish version for so long, it is hard to choose my preferred model. Each has its advantages, but only the newer model is multi-touch enabled. The touchpad buttons are easy to use since they are located right along the sloped edge of the palmrest. Feedback is great with a soft touch and a long throw.

Ports and Features

The W510 offers a wide range of ports and features. The port selection includes two SuperSpeed USB3 ports, one USB 2.0 port, one eSATA/USB combo port, FireWire 400, LAN, modem, VGA and DisplayPort-out, and a combo headphone/microphone port. The notebook also features an ExpressCard/34 slot, a SDHC-card reader, and a Blu-ray player.

Lenovo ThinkPad X61

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I’ve just spent a month playing around with Lenovo’s latest ultraportable laptop computer, the ThinkPad X61—a sturdy little powerhouse that boasts a low-voltage 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB or RAM, and a 100GB, 7200rpm hard disk. Weighing in at about 3 pounds, the ThinkPad X61 is definitely a godsend for the frequent traveler, and it’s undeniably powerful for its size. It’s about 10.5" wide, a little over 8" tall, and the case thickness varies from a bit less than an inch to a still-respectable 1.39" at its widest point. But the unit lacks certain important features, giving it an oddly old-school feel.

Let’s start with first impressions. Opening up the laptop, I was struck by its build quality. This is a well-constructed machine with a nice fit and finish. Next, I noticed that Lenovo has opted against using a widescreen (16×9) display, instead reverting to an oldschool 12.1" display with a standard 4×3 aspect ratio. I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed by this choice, having come to love the widescreen ratio on my other systems. That being said, I know some users who prefer the standard ratio for business use and save the widescreen presentation for their home media. (Anyway, the built-in speakers are nothing to crow about.) As it stands, the ThinkPad X61’s display is vivid, performing better in bright-light scenarios than other ultraportables I’ve seen.

How about the keyboard? Another first impression is that Lenovo is still using its red TrackPoint pointing stick in the center of the keyboard. Here, I must admit to another personal bias: I can’t stand pointing sticks. (The ThinkPad offers no touch pad—a far more preferable navigation device, in my mind.) Three mouse buttons underneath the keyboard provide left-click, right-click, and scroll functionality. Even after a month, I found this setup decidedly frustrating and antiquated. However, once I got past my own bias, I could see that the ThinkPad boasts nice, large keys that invite more comfortable typing than most ultraportable keyboards. Pay special attention to the ThinkVantage button just beneath the screen: Pressing it brings up the ThinkVantage Productivity Center, a terrific resource to help you with system maintenance. There’s also some new gadgetry on the ThinkPad X61 that might increase your interest: For example, a fingerprint reader just to the right of the mouse buttons lets you securely log on, and a button on the bottom lets you disable the Wi-Fi radio.

The ThinkPad X61 offers basic connectivity ports and inputs, including an expansion bus (for the UltraBase or an extended battery such as IBM FRU 92P1141 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1137 Battery, IBM 02K6651 Battery, IBM 02K6928 Battery, IBM 02K6620 Battery, IBM 02K7039 Battery, IBM ThinkPad X60 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1167 Battery, IBM ThinkPad Z60t Battery, IBM ThinkPad Z61t Battery), three USB 2.0 ports, a 1394 port, an external display adapter connector, audio and Ethernet ports, as well as the expected AC adapter plugs and RJ-11 modem port. As I stated earlier, it lacks a built-in optical drive. My test device included the optional X6 UltraBase dock, which contains a DVD/CD-RW burner, as well as a number of additional business-connectivity inputs and ports.

The ThinkPad X61 I tested ran Windows Vista Business, and I found its performance to be generally pleasing. I didn’t notice a huge speed boost with the Core Duo processor, but I found it to be a step forward in all tasks: Bootup seemed average, but Internet activity was impressive if not startling. After diving into some multitasking, I could clearly experience the benefit of the processor: There was no lag switching quickly from app to app. Probably the ThinkPad X61’s greatest competitive advantage is its dual-core performance in such a travelfriendly package.

As always, I recommend investing in the longer-life battery. My test unit came with a larger, higher-capacity battery that gave the ThinkPad X61 an impressive battery life of more than five hours, in my tests. Also as always, that larger battery increased the weight, size, and price of the laptop itself, so be aware of those tradeoffs. The bigger battery is certainly a necessary upgrade, though.

The ThinkPad X61 isn’t the smallest of lightest ultraportable available, and I found its general usability to be somewhat lacking (from my admittedly biased point of view). But I can’t deny its dualcore power or its extreme portability. This is a comfortable device for the road warrior—as long as you can get past its idiosyncrasies.

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520

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No matter what you might have heard you don’t have to spend $1000 to get a good laptop. That’s even more true if you’re a business user that requires a machine that can accomplish business tasks.

For most business users today they need a laptop computer that has good processing power, a spacious storage drive, a wealth of ports and slots, a 720p HD webcam, an optical drive that writes and reads CD’s and DVD’s, and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit which includes Windows XP Mode for access older business applications built solely for Windows XP. A $500 laptop from Lenovo features each of those things.

An affordable laptop with a Intel Core i3, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and Windows 7 Professional.

That $500 laptop is the 15.6″ Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520. With the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 you get a 2.30 GHz Intel Core i3-2350M dual-core processor that is matched with Intel HD 3000 Graphics to provide you a solid performing computer that doesn’t consume too much power. Also included with the E520 for performance is 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 320GB 7200RPM HDD, both of which are class standards for capacity and speed when laptops are considered.

Other features offered by Lenovo in their E520 laptop include a 15.6″ HD (1366×768) LED backlight display, a full-sized keyboard and touchpad with TrackPoint, four USB 2.0 ports (one being an eSATA combo port and another being a powered USB port), HDMI output, VGA output, a dual-layer DVD/CD reader and writer, a 7-in-1 card reader, an ExpressCard /34 slot, a 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery like IBM ThinkPad X61 battery, IBM ThinkPad T61 battery, IBM ThinkPad X41 battery, IBM ThinkPad X40 battery, IBM ThinkPad X20 battery, IBM ThinkPad R60 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T60 Battery, IBM 40Y6797 Battery, IBM 40Y6799 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1139 Battery, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet, and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit OS which includes Windows XP mode.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 offers discreet styling.

Each specification offered with the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 can be utilized by a business user to some capacity. And the beauty of the E520 is that you don’t have to spend a small fortune to own it.

You can get the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 from Amazon.com today for $499.99 + $11.96 for shipping and handling.

Lenovo Adds Smarter Classmate

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Lenovo announced today its second generation Classmate+ laptops - in both traditional clamshell and convertible laptop form factors - based on the Intel Learning Series. These new laptops offer students, teachers and IT administrators more ruggedness with new durability features like greater spill resistance, affordability, battery life up to 10 hours and enhanced usability with Intel Learning Series software suite for using the e-reader, web camera and digital writing features.

"As the world's #1 PC maker in education, we're committed to enhancing learning via our platform of PC solutions designed for students," said Michael Schmedlen, director, worldwide education, Lenovo. "By joining with Intel to create the new Lenovo Classmate+ Clamshell and Classmate+ Convertible laptops, we're demonstrating how mobile computing fits into any learning environment, no matter the location or budget."

Head of the Class

Designed to handle the rough treatment students on-the-go can inflict upon technology, the laptops are even more rugged than the previous Lenovo Classmate+ laptop. They feature a keyboard with enhanced water resistance, a tougher corner design, reinforced steel hinge and strengthened DC jack. They come with a 10.1-inch anti-glare screen with touch capability on the convertible as well as optional high-brightness or high-definition on both or a capacitive touch screen with a pen on the convertible.

The laptops are equipped with the tools students need to do basic work and learning - an Intel Atom N2600 processor, up to 2 GB DDR3 memory and up to 320 GB hard drive or up to 32 GB solid state drive storage. With a 6-cell battery like IBM 08K8193 Battery, IBM 08K8192 Battery, IBM 92P1101 Battery, IBM 92P1089 Battery, IBM 92P1087 Battery, IBM 08K8196 Battery, IBM 92P1102 Battery, IBM 92P1077 Battery, IBM 92P1073 Battery, IBM 08K8199 Battery, students can use the laptops all day - up to 10 hours. The laptops feature three USB ports, VGA and an optional HDMI port for transferring data and displaying standard and high definition video to a monitor or TV. They also come with a web camera in resolutions up to 2 megapixels. While the Classmate+ laptops come in a standard Grey color, customs colors are available with a minimum quantity order.

"The latest Classmate laptops equipped with Intel Atom processor technology up the level of computing power and performance for students without sacrificing long battery life," said Dr. Wayne Grant, EMPG's Director of Research and Planning at Intel Corporation. "We are thrilled that Lenovo will be expanding their presence in our Intel Learning Series Alliance and that schools around the world can take advantage of this purpose-built technology for 1:1 e-learning."

Additionally, the Lenovo Classmate+ Convertible has an exclusive rotating hinge strengthened and designed to last tens of thousands of cycles. It also has a built-in hardware button to make scrolling through ebooks simple and an optional Trusted Platform Module to protect data like passwords and digital certificates from external software attacks and physical theft.

As part of the Intel(R) Learning Series the Classmate PCs offer an enhanced student experience, increased ruggedness and up to 10 hours of battery life. Intel's Intel Learning Series thus far has had more than 6 million Intel-powered classmate PCs shipped globally since its launch in 2007. More than 500 members in 70 countries are developing applications, peripherals and services optimized for the Learning Series.

Pricing and Availability

The Lenovo Classmate+ laptop and Convertible laptop will be available starting in January to qualified education and government customers through Lenovo sales representatives and business partners. The price of the Lenovo Classmate+ laptop and Convertible laptop will vary in each market based on regional taxes, tariffs and configuration options.

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Lenovo unveils Ivy Bridge Thinkpad ultrabook

Lenovo unveils Ivy Bridge Thinkpad ultrabook

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Lenovo has set fears to rest that Intel Ivy Bridge ultrabooks would not be making an appearance at the CES show next week by cheekily pre-announcing the ThinkPad T430u ultrabook.

Jumping the gun on CES isn't unusual as some manufacturers seek to gain a bit of limelight before the news crush of CES show but this announcement shows that at least one manufacturer is also happy to announce an ultrabook based on Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge chipset.

The ThinkPad T430u is the latest addition to Lenovo's IBM-acquired business brand of beefy looking ThinkPads and far from unveiling a standard integrated graphics chipset, the T430u bundles a dedicated Nvidia graphics chip.

The 14-inch ultrabook will offer a choice of storage and SSD drives with six hours of battery such as IBM ThinkPad T40 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T41 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T42 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T43 Battery, IBM ThinkPad R50 Battery, IBM ThinkPad R51 Battery, IBM FRU 08K8193 Battery, IBM 92P1060 Battery, IBM 08K8214 Battery, IBM 08K8195 Battery life and, of course, a choice of processor from the upcoming Ivy Bridge range. Lenovo said that it'll start at around $850, we reckon an SSD model with a higher processor will be well over the $1,000 mark.

Of course the problem with the ThinkPad T430u and other Ivy Bridge notebooks is that they will not appear until much later in the year. The T430u is scheduled for some time in the third quarter. Naturally, given the time frame, Lenovo described the laptop as 'Windows 8 ready'.

So if you're not shipping for nine months, what's a few extra days for a nice paper launch?

Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook P7230 review

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There are certain variables that always have to be weighed up when purchasing a laptop. It's almost like getting a rescue cat.

You could go for the feisty looking one, with shining eyes and claws to match, knowing you'll never be able to let it out of your house because it'll bring countless bleeding rodents indoors. This is the desktop replacement cat, if you hadn't quite caught our metaphor.

Just as appealing an option, if you're after an easier but less exciting life, is a tiny kitten, easily pocketable for transportation but without the skill set of a full-sized cat.

Fujitsu Siemens' latest machine fits the kitten metaphor quite well. It's undeniably small, it's easy to carry around, and the Core Solo inside means its muscularity, as it were, is limited. Heck, the P7230 even has an inexplicable furry underside, so you can stroke it if you're feeling lonely.

Size matters

But animal comparisons don't quite show the whole beauty of this little machine. For a start, and we know there are those that will argue, this is simply the correct size, and the weight is spot-on too. A notebook PC is meant for movement, despite what desktop replacement sales may be telling you.

A notebook should have enough resilience to be flung into a bag with reckless abandon, and enough juice to work for an hour when pulled out in an emergency. And, ideally, a notebook will have heart-stopping style to go with it.

The Lifebook has ticked most of the above boxes. It's relatively sturdy, although there's some definite give when pressing the case firmly with thumbs. It's definitely diminutive, although the optical drive crammed into the machine's right side has no doubt pushed the thickness up by a couple of millimetres. And it's competent at handling battery power like Fujitsu LifeBook N6420 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook N6110 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook N6470 battery, Fujitsu FPCBP161AP battery, Fujitsu FPCBP104 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook N6460 battery, Fujitsu FM-41 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook C6200 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook C2000 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook A3040 battery, too, charging quickly and lasting well over three hours in our tests.

But as for style, well, it's a personal thing, but we were always of the opinion that the quicker companies stop aping IBM's impersonal Thinkpad design, the better.

The angular appearance of this Lifebook doesn't exactly redress the balance - it's like a Thinkpad Lite - but it does raise certain stylistic points. Number one is that black has swiped away all that silvery competition, and regained its place as 'most stylish PC colour'.

Even a case as chunky as this one, when presented in gorgeous matt black, exudes much more value and class than a cheap silvery equivalent. Point two is that any PC, when shrunk down to airplane tray-table size, becomes brilliant by default.

Shrunken brilliance

There are plenty of neat touches stashed away in the Lifebook P7230 too. The PCMCIA slot is ejected by pushing a small slide switch on the front of the machine, neatly avoiding the eminently snappable buttons which usually grace laptops.

A tiny improvement perhaps, but one which speaks directly to our unfortunate habit of breaking such things. There are only a couple of USB ports, but they've been separated, with one on each side of the machine. Clever. And the paranoid amongst you will be more than grateful for the inclusion of a fingerprint reader between the buttons of the touchpad.

Portability is further enhanced by a built-in SIM slot, allowing new-fangled 3G communication while on the move. This will only work if you have a subscription with a conducive supplier, but it's a nice touch nonetheless. There's even an accelerometer in there, MacBook style, so that your hard drive can be saved if you drop the machine.

If you've read this far, you know what we're about to say. The performance of the P7230 isn't really up to scratch, but the level of performance you can expect from such a miniature system isn't high. If you compare this to systems from a similar size bracket, it doesn't fare too badly.

It's furlongs ahead of UMPCs and, with the exception of certain machines from Sony and Samsung, pretty high up the list of ultra-portables. It has its issues, though. It gets remarkably hot when switched on, because airflow is so restricted by the amount of components inside.

That minimal space also tightens up airflow, meaning a consistently warm and all-too-audible blast emits from the exhaust port on the left.

But if you're in the market for a notebook, and this happens to hit your price point, it's a perfectly sound little PC. It even manages a passable - if sluggish - stab at running Vista.

But if you can stump up a sliver more cash, then look at Sony and Samsung's line of ultra-portables: they're the cute fluffy kitten to Fujitsu Siemens' scraggly scrapper, and you'll love them just that little bit more.

Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Xi 3650 review

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Vast, boat-sized laptops seem to be gaining favour with the masses, as the traditional big-box desktop PC slides out.

The gargantuan Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Xi 3650 18.4-inch laptop is clearly aimed at the entertainment end of the market and manages to show all the correct tell-tale signs: Blu-ray reader, NVIDIA 9600M GT graphics, shiny black chassis, large 320GB hard drive and a set of thumping stereo speakers.

All of this packaged for just over £800.

The attractive price is largely as Fujitsu has done a good balancing act with the system, the 18.4-inch screen offers a 1680x945 resolution, surpassing desktop resolutions of this size.

A more expensive model does jump this to a Full HD resolutions of 1920x1080, but we're perfectly happy with the lesser option. The screen itself is good, a dual-lamp offers consistent brightness across the screen and the viewing angle is acceptable, though polarisation kicks in at more extreme angles.

Similarly the Core 2 Duo P7350 is again a step down from the higher model's P8400 but at 2.0GHz with a 3MB cache happily makes mincemeat of 1080p content.

Even so this "cheaper" option still comes with 4GB of memory – so is running the 64-bit of Windows Vista – and a large 320GB hard drive. Also key is the Blu-ray combo drive that offers Blu-ray disc reading and DVD rewriter in one.

The GeForce 9600M GT graphics fit the bill perfectly, while it'll struggle powering with the native resolution Crysis was perfectly playable at 1280x720 at High settings but don't expect to be using any antialiasing, which is a stretch too far for those mobile graphics.

As an entertainment centre the Amilo is something of a dream it runs on the whole whisper quiet, there is in fact a whisper mode as well.

The battery such as Fujitsu FPCBP118AP battery, Fujitsu FPCBP107 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook S2110 battery, Fujitsu LifeBook S6240 battery, Fujitsu FMVNBP128 battery, Fujitsu Stylistic ST5032 battery, Fujitsu FPCBP67 battery, Fujitsu FPCBP97 battery, Fujitsu ST5021 battery, Fujitsu FMVTBBP101 battery, Fujitsu FMVTBBP101 battery life can be extended with a user selected low-power mode that forces the NVIDIA graphics to run at their lowest speed. If you're crazy enough to take it on the move we managed to get just over 140minutes from the battery with it playing 1080p content, enough time for most films.

We also fully appreciate the solid built-in speaker that pump out a lot of sound with no distortion or crackles and even a touch of bass.

With HDMI output, firewire a sleek touch sensitive media control bar and Intel Centrino 2 technology – so you get Wireless-N and also Bluetooth – the Amilo is perfect for anyone wanting big entertainment on a sensible budget.

Fujitsu LifeBook s7211 Is Nicely Priced

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For $899, the Fujitsu LifeBook S7211 is a reliable machine that manages to pack a few high-end features into its 5.2-pound chassis. However, it scrimps in one important place—system memory.

The dual-core Intel Pentium-powered system—which offers a widescreen display, CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive and integrated Webcam—could serve well for mainstream business computing. However, it provides only 1GB of RAM—a problem, considering that the system also ships with Windows Vista Business Edition (although Windows XP is also available), and that its graphics adapter shares some of the system RAM. In comparison, the Toshiba Satellite Pro A210 I recently reviewed manages to provide 2GB of RAM while still remaining under $1,000. The S7211 does have two memory slots that allow it to scale up to 4GB.

The LifeBook also comes with a plug-in module media bay, a feature often found in high-end notebooks but is becoming more common in sub-$1,000 notebooks. Hewlett-Packard's HP Compaq Business Notebook nc600, Dell's Latitude DC 630 and Lenovo's ThinkPad T40 are all sub-$1,000 notebooks with plug-in modular media bays.

A digital status indicator panel, embedded in the LifeBook's body, indicates how various components of the notebook are operating (such as power, battery levels, number lock and caps lock).

Also embedded in the notebook's body is a security/application panel, which administrators can use to implement a numeric password for gaining access to the log-on password screen. Both an administrator and user password can be installed. During tests, when I punched in the password correctly, I was given access to user log-in prompted by the operating system. If I entered the numeric password incorrectly, my machine did not complete power-up. I could also customize the panel to launch certain applications.

The S7211 comes equipped with an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator x3100 graphics card, a 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN adapter and a 120GB hard drive that spins at 5,400 rpm.

The LifeBook S7211 might be better suited to be a mobile workstation than the Toshiba Satellite Pro. The LifeBook has a spill-resistant keyboard and more workable dimensions, measuring 13.15 by 9.53 by 1.22 inches, while the Satellite Pro measures 14.3 by 10.5 by 1.32/1.55 inches. That said, I would recommend the Fujitsu's LifeBook S7211 more as a desktop PC replacement, mostly because of its weight: At 5.2 pounds, the machine is on the heavy side, and that's without the extended battery such as Fujitsu FPCBP80 Battery, Fujitsu FPCBP77 Battery, Fujitsu FPCBP68 Battery, Fujitsu FPCBP63 Battery, Fujitsu FPCBP95 Battery, Fujitsu LifeBook C1320 battery, Fujitsu FPCBP115 Battery, Fujitsu LifeBook C1321 battery, Fujitsu FPCBP152 battery, Fujitsu FPCBP130 battery.

The S7211 boasts a 14.1-inch glossy screen with a maximum resolution of 1,280 by 800. Though the display dimensions for a widescreen are on the smaller end of the scale, I found the picture quality to be better than average. And, unlike a lot of glossy screens that purport to have anti-glare capabilities, the S7211's screen had minimal glare, even when viewed at a variety of angles and under different lighting.

A six-cell lithium-ion battery comes with the unit, and, according to the spec sheet, provides about 4.25 hours of life before needing a recharge; the Toshiba Satellite Pro A210, in contrast, offers only 2.5 hours of battery life. Fujitsu also offers a nine-cell extended-life modular bay battery that will add an estimated 2.5 hours of life to the system. So, users are getting a lot of power for a well-priced piece of hardware.

Given the low-cost compromises sub-$1,000 notebooks typically make, I was impressed with the LifeBook's integrated Web camera and ArcSoft WebCam Companion 2 software. The picture quality was adequate, though grainy, and the color quality was average but got the job done. This is great for companies thinking about initiating a unified communications platform that might include a video component.

I did find sound quality to be on the relatively poor side, with the volume really low. Still, this was a pretty neat application to be able to tool around with, and, again, given the S7211's price tag, a definite perk. Road warriors needing to capture or create video presentations on the road will find the tool handy, as will desktop users needing to create quick presentations or demonstrations.

The laptop sports a full-size keyboard and a touch-pad pointing device, which offers two left-click and two right-click buttons—one set is located at the top of the mouse and the second set is at the bottom, with a scroll button in between. I especially appreciated the touch-pad mouse, which has a slightly grainy surface that makes controlling the cursor a cinch. Similarly, the right- and left-click buttons offered great response, with only light pressure needed to obtain a response. Usually, I opt for an external keyboard with my notebook PCs, but, with this system, I wouldn't mind forgoing an external keyboard or mouse.

The system's built-in speakers provided great volume and sound quality, surpassing those of the Toshiba Satellite Pro A210, but the volume of my IBM ThinkPad, a longtime eWEEK Labs favorite, was still superior. The unit doesn't include any external keys or dials for volume control; instead, volume levels are adjusted via an applet found in the tray on the bottom right-hand side of the display.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the S7211 offers an RJ-11 modem and an Atheros 802.11 a/b/g WLAN (wireless LAN) module. Bluetooth is available only as a separate option. I was able to switch off the WLAN radio with a hardware switch at the front of the unit.

I found the assortment of expansion ports on the S7211 sufficient, with three USB 2.0 ports, microphone import and headphone export jacks, and an external video port.

The notebook also includes a multiformat memory card slot that supports memory stick, Secure Digital and multimedia cards, giving users plenty of flexibility to work with a variety of devices and formats. This will be especially important if the S7211 is used to replace a standard desktop PC.

The S7211 comes with a one- or three-year warranty, with the option of purchasing extended service plans and 24/7 technical support.

Toshiba Satellite Notebooks Recalled for Overheating

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Technology giant Toshiba, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, announced a voluntary recall of its Satellite T135, Satellite T135D and Satellite ProT130 notebooks due to overheating that could cause damage to the notebooks and burn the users.

It is estimated that there are 41,000 of these units worldwide. The commission said consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed, and noted it is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. The recalled products were sold between August 2009 and August 2010.

According to the commission's Website, the notebook computers can overheat at the notebook's plug-in to the AC adapter, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Toshiba has received 129 reports of the notebook computers overheating and deforming the plastic casing area around the AC adapter plug, including two reports of minor burn injuries that did not require medical attention and two reports of minor property damage.

Consumers who might be affected can find the model name and number printed on a label on the bottom of the notebook computers. The CPSC recommends that consumers immediately download the latest version of Toshiba's BIOS computer program to their notebook computer via Toshiba's Website. "This new computer program will detect whether the notebook computer with battery like Toshiba PA3250U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3356U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3291U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3591U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3641U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3641U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PABAS123 Battery, Toshiba PA3727U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PA3534U-1BRS Battery, Toshiba PA3535U-1BRS Battery is overheating, and if so, disable the notebook computer's external power and display a message directing the consumer to contact Toshiba for a free repair," said a CPSC official statement. "Consumers who do not have Internet access should contact Toshiba to arrange for installation of the updated BIOS."

Should the BIOS determine that a harness failure is occurring, external power will immediately be disabled, eliminating the possibility of the notebook overheating. Users will then need to contact the Toshiba call center to set up a warranty repair. According to the company's support page, if the harness failure is detected while the system is operating, users will receive a system message indicating that the failure has occurred and that external power has been disabled.

The company said users may continue to use the system, without risk of overheating, using the remaining battery charge, but recommends that users immediately close all open files and applications to avoid any data loss. Once the data has been saved, the system should be properly shut down. It will not be possible to recharge the battery within the system until it has been repaired, according to Toshiba.

On Toshiba's consumer support site, the company explained certain Satellite T135, T135D and Satellite Pro T130 laptop computers have been manufactured with a potentially faulty DC-In harness. These computers will have model/part numbers beginning with PST3AU, PST3BU or PST3LU. "The defective harness may, in some circumstances, overheat to the point of melting the computer's base at the location where the AC adapter plugs into the unit," the company said. "To date there have been no reports of serious injury, but the temperature is sufficient to pose a burn hazard if specific parts of the DC-In Jack or plug are touched when they are overheated."

Toshiba is just the latest in a series of notebook manufacturers issuing recalls for overheating computers. In 2010, there have been at least three other companies that have issued recalls because of overheating concerns. In January, Acer issued a recall on certain notebooks for heating issues. In May, HP recalled 54,000 laptop batteries that were overheating. Sony followed in June with a recall of Vaio notebooks that were also overheating.

Toshiba Offers 128GB SSD with New Notebook

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Toshiba is looking to push the envelope in the ultraportable PC market with a new Portege laptop that offers a 128GB solid state drive that comes standard, a 12.1-inch display and weighs 2.4 pounds.

The Toshiba Portege R500-S5007V is the latest in a series of high-end, ultraportable notebooks from the company that are geared toward the enterprise market and especially for company executives.

With this new Portege, Toshiba, the world’s fifth-largest computer maker, expanded the SSD from the 64GB it offered with another R500 model in 2007, to 128GB with this latest laptop. At the same time, the company kept the starting price at $2,999 as well as some of the same features, such as an ultralow volt Intel Core 2 Duo U7700 processor with a 1.33GHz clock speed, 2MB of L2 cache and a 533MHz front side bus.

The latest Toshiba Portege, which measures 0.77 inches, joins a growing list of slim, light, high-end laptops that have entered the market in just the past few months. Earlier this year, Lenovo and Apple each introduced laptops that placed a good deal of emphasis on design and portability and made significant use of SSDs.

However, with 13.3-inch displays, the ThinkPad X300 and the MacBook Air created a new category of notebooks that fell somewhere between ultraportable laptops and standard notebooks. The Portege, on the other hand, fits within the ultraportable category, which IDC defines as a laptop weighing less than 4 pounds and with a 12-inch display or smaller.

Right now, IDC estimates that ultraportables make up between 8 and 10 percent of the worldwide PC market, but the entry of notebooks such as the X300 and the MacBook Air are slowly starting to change this market.

Richard Shim, an IDC analyst, said that commercial buyers could expect to see more of these light and thin laptops by the end of year. However, with SSDs and other technologies, most of these notebooks will come with a hefty price tag.

“In the notebook market, portability equals a premium because when you shrink more and more parts to fit into a certain package, the costs go up,” Shim said.

However, the fact that Toshiba was able to offer a 128GB SSD for the same price as the previous model with only a 64GB drive shows that the prices for NAND flash memory continue to drop. For now, a 128GB SSD will still add about $700 or $800 to the base cost of a notebook.

Other PC vendors, notably Dell, offer SSDs with much smaller capacities only as options with their notebooks. Lenovo offers a 64GB SSD with its ThinkPad X300.

While SSDs are supposed to offer better battery like Toshiba PA3107U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3383U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3384U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3285U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3191U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3166U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3331U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3098U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3084U-1BAS Battery, Toshiba PA3399U-1BAS Battery life and more stability than traditional hard disk drives, Shim said that for now, there’s no accurate way to measure whether solid state drives improve performance and add to the laptop’s overall battery life.

In addition to the SSD, the Toshiba Portege offers an Intel 915GM express chip set, 2GB of RAM, three USB ports, a 7-millimeter DVD drive and 802.11 a/b/g wireless technologies.