The ASUS K45 features the 3rd generation Intel Core processor and the NVIDIA GeForce 610M graphics card with Microsoft DirectX 11 to provide all the computing power users will ever need. ASUS SuperBatt Technology provides an extended battery charge-cycle lifespan that is up to 3x that of normal notebooks.

The K45 has an array of features designed to make computing easier. It features an ergonomically-designed iF Design award winning chiclet keyboard; while IceCool Technology places heat-generating components away from the palm rest, ensuring a comfortable typing experience for users even after prolonged periods of use.


image credit: Google.com

Name	Asus K45VD
Operating System	Windows 8
Processor	Intel Core i3 3110M Processor
Memory	4GB DDR3
Storage	750GB
Available Colors	Red, Black, Brown
Graphics	NVIDIA® GeForce® 610M 2GB DDR3 VRAM
Optical Drive	Blu-Ray DVD Combo (Optional) Super-Multi DVD
Display	14.0" HD/GL/LED (1366x768) LED Backlight
Dimension	34.8 x 24.2 x 2.90 ~3.30 cm (WxDxH)
Weight	2.4 kg (with 6 cell battery)
Port	1 x Microphone-in jack - 1 x Headphone-out jack  1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor 2 x USB 3.0 port(s) - 1 x USB 2.0 port(s)  1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert - 1 x HDMI 
Netowork	Integrated 802.11 b/g/n Built-in Bluetooth™ V4.0 (Optional) 10/100/1000 Base T
Battery	6Cells 4700 mAh 50 Whrs
Price	Php 27,995

Available in your favorite authorize Asus dealers stores nationwide.

Ultra mobile at just 20 mm slim and 2.1 kg, this Ultrabook still provides a full-size chiclet keyboard for speedy input, and fast file transfers via USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0.2 Pop a disc into the optical drive and savor the sound of Dolby Home Theater v4 sound.





Acer Aspire TimelineUltra M5-481PTG-53316G52Mass Specifications:

Processor	Intel Core i5-3317U processor (3MB L3 cache, 1.70 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.60GHz, DDR3 1600MHz, 17W) supporting Intel 64 architecture, Intel Smart Cache
Chipset	Mobile Intel HM77 Express Chipset
Memory	6GB (2 GB DDR3 system onboard + 4G soDIMM Module)
Display Screen	14″ HD 1366 x 768 resolution, high-brightness (200-nit) Acer CineCrystal LED-backlit Multi-touch (10-point) TFT LCD
Video Card	NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE with 1GB of Dedicated GDDR5 VRAM, supporting NVIDIA CUDA, PhysX, PureVideo HD Technology, OpenEXR High DynamicRange (HDR) technology, Shader Model 5.0, Microsoft DirextX 11, OpenGL 4.1, OpenCL 1.1
Weight	2.30kg (5.08lbs) with 3-cell (4850mAh) battery pack
Hard Disk	500GB SATA HDD
Optical Drive	8x DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
Webcam	Acer Crystal Eye HD Webcam
Operating System	Windows 8 Single Language 64 bit
Wireless LAN	Acer InviLink Nplify 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
I/O Ports	Bluetooth 4.0+HS 2-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC) 2 x 3.0 ports with one power-off charging HMDI port with HDCP support Headphone/Speaker Jack DC-in jack for AC adapter
Price:	Php49,990 (SRP)

Alienware M17x is the best competer to the Dell XPS gaming laptops. The device is manufactured by Alienware, a company branch of Dell that is known mostly for their gaming computers. Like many other such devices from the said unit, the M17x has an excellent display, great hardware, and an incredible sound system. Another feature is a boost up to Ivy Bridge, 3rd generation Core i7 processor that makes it more than capable when it comes to processing highly intensive games and applications. As for graphics, You'll be ducking for cover with hyperrealistic graphics options powered by your choice of NVIDIA® or AMD graphics. Looking for another dimension? Choose NVIDIA graphics and the 120Hz 3D panel option for an in-your-face 3D experience. Your 3D games and Blu-Ray content have never looked so real! Note: Optional Blu-Ray drive required to view Blu-Ray content.

What processor does the Alienware M17x laptop have?
Processor Intel i7-2820QM
Clock Speed 2.30 GHz
Cores 4 cores
Instruction Set 64 bit

The Alienware M17x comes in a case that measures 1.75 inches thick and on the whole, the device weighs around 10.6 pounds. Its chassis has a soft plastic coating that feels rubbery so that gripping the device is easy. Also, its texture helps in propping it up more securely on a surface.

Alienware M17x gaming laptopcomes with a 1900 x 1200 screen. The Screen is equipped with a webcam at the centre top and below the screen we have Alienware written in block letters and is LED backlighting. The Alienware M17x comes with a lot of lighting effects. The power button is a chrome Alienware Logo which blinks while the HDD activity.

The New Alienware M17x gaming laptop comes with a chrome alien logo at the top and glaring eyes once switched ON. The speaker grills are placed up front which is designed with sharp lines and have LED backlighting to add to the looks of the laptop. The Alienware M17x gaming laptop is equipped with VGA, HDMI and a Display Port, Ethernet port, two USB, Kensington lock, one mini FireWire and an ESATA/USB with power profile on the left side while the right side of the gaming edition laptop has two USB ports, slot loading Blu-ray/DVDRW ODD, memory card reader, Express Card slot, audio ports.

It comes with a 17-inch 1200P CCFL screen and weighs about 5Kg. The Alienware M17x Gaming Laptop has a sharp and edgy design with a deep black matte finish and is built of anodized aluminium. The laptop is equipped with many vents and grill at the rear which allows the heavy air intake. The exhaust is also placed at the rear and this makes the rear end of the laptop become very hotter. So better you use a notebook coolingpad and Stands while using the Alienware M17x gaming laptop. Another highlighted feature while considering the design is the Alienware label and the battery status bar.

As for audio quality, the Alienware M17x offers one of the best there is in a laptop. The system offers some levels of bass that reduces distortion and allows for clear vocals alongside. Sounds from the M17x can also fill a small room at maximum volume.

Aside from the massive physical appearance, the Alienware M17x also comes with loaded hardware specification. As mentioned, the device offers support for a Core i7-3720QM processor that is quad core in nature and clocked at a speed of 2.6 GHz. It also uses a brand new 28 nm NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M graphics processor. In addition, the device comes with 500 GB worth of hard drive that works in tandem with 32 GB worth of mSATA solid-state cache. It also uses 8 GB worth of RAM.

The Alienware M17x Laptop received the following ratings:
PCworld: 4 out of 5
PCMag: 4 out of 5
Laptop: 4 out of 5

Mission Control
Control and personalize your system from the user-friendly Alienware Command Center.
AlienTouch: TouchPad Controls — Customize your touch pad's sensitivity to help prevent accidental contact and activate virtual scrolling to enable vertical and horizontal scrolling with just a simple touch.
AlienFX: Lighting Controls — Choose from an array of color and transition effects across distinct zones, including the keyboard, touch pad and more.
AlienFusion: Power Management — You decide when you need maximum performance or when to scale back for more everyday programs.

The Alienware M17x Laptop is priced at $1,499.

You may also like: Top 10 Clever Gaming Laptops

Apple has yet again released a newer version of its acclaimed super thin and light MacBook Air line up. Dubbed as the MacBook Air 2012, this ultraportable device remains at a middle ground between the thicker MacBook Pro and the thinner earlier version, the MacBook Air 2011.

The MacBook Air (mid-2012) battery as lasting “up to 7 hours”, but we’re pleased to report that Apple’s marketing is understating that number by as much as an hour and a half.

Here are various reported samplings from the 2012 MacBook Air 13″:

8:25 – screen at 40% brightness, keyboard backlighting on 50% brightness, light web browsing with Safari (no Flash plug-in installed), and text-based work in TextWrangler and Pages.
6:45 – screen at 70% brightness, otherwise same as above
5:33 – screen at 80% brightness, keyboard backlighting on full brightness, heavy app usage.
4:15 – screen at 100% brightness, keyboard backlighting on full brightness, heavy app usage with tons of apps open including Chrome (with Flash) open with about 25 browser tabs, image editing in Pixelmator, using 6GB of RAM, while driving an external 22″ display.
3:40 – screen at 80% brightness, reasonable app usage, heavy wi-fi usage downloading 16GB sustained at 1.2mb/sec.

The big change in the MacBook Air 13 is the move to the new Ivy Bridge base processor. For the base configuration, this is the Intel Core i5-3427U dual core processor. It offers a slight speed bump over the older Core i5-2557M found in last years model. Performance actually improved much more thanks to the increased speed of the 4GB of DDR3 memory up to the 1600MHz from 1333MHz.

For the 11-inch MacBook Air 2012, the base model with its Intel Core i5 central processor is clocked at 1.7 GHz but has a Turbo Boost capability of up to 2.6 GHz. For the 13 inches, the default processor with its Intel Core i5 chip measures 1.8 GHz but gives up to 2.8 GHz of performance at Turbo Boost. For storage, there are the 64 GB and 128 GB SSDs for the 11-inch model, and 128 GB and 256 GB for the 13-inch model. For the 128 GB in the 11-inch MacBook Air 2012, the drive is configurable with a 256 GB or 512 GB SSD drive. For the 256 GB model in the 13-inch MacBook Air 2012, it can be bumped up to 512 GB for an additional $500. For all versions the default RAM size is 4 GB (1,600MHz DDR3L) with an option to upgrade to 8 GB for another $100.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch Tech Specs.

Intel Core i5-3427U Dual Core Mobile Processor
4GB PC3-12800 DDR3 Memory
128GB Solid State Drive
13.3" WXA+ (1440x900) Display With 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
Intel HD Graphics 4000 Integrated Graphics
802.11a/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth
Two USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, SDXC Card Slot
12.8" x 8.9" x .7" @ 3 lbs.
Mac OS X, iLife

MacBook Air 2012 Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboards are just as comfy as ever, and though they're not quite as cushy as what you'll find on a MacBook Pro, they still offer more travel than most Ultrabook keyboards. Also unchanged: that spacious glass trackpad. Throw in the white LED backlighting, and it’s mostly a pleasure to type on. Palm rejection is excellent as well, and we enjoyed flawless tracking in both OS X and Windows 7, which we installed using Bootcamp. The built-in button, too, is quiet and easy to press.

MacBook Air 2012 Screen and Speakers
Apple was ahead of most 13in competitors with the Air’s screen resolution of 1,440 x 900. However, now we’re seeing more and more rivals offering 1,600 x 900 or even Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) at the same screen size. On top of that, while the panel Apple has used is certainly one of the better examples of TN, it’s still inferior to the IPS and PLS we’re beginning to see in premium laptops from other brands.

Apple Fruit cut with MacBook Air

Dell to release a pair of successors ultrabooka XPS 13 , based on processors Ivy Bridge laptops, the XPS 14 and XPS 15.

The basic version of the XPS 14 has (and how) 14-inch display with a resolution of 1600 x 900, Intel Core i5 with HD 4000 graphics, 4GB RAM and 500GB hard-coupler. The stronger the configuration inside the enclosure you will find an Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, graphics card NVIDIA GT 630M and 512GB solid state drive-coupler. In each version of the XPS 14 is installed two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and SD card slot. The whole weighs about 2 kilograms, and its average thickness not exceeding 2.1 centimeters area.


XPS 15 and it weighs 2.6 pound monster with a 15.6-inch screen (resolution 1920 × 1080) and 2.3-centimeter frame. The standard configuration features a Core i5 processor, the NVIDIA GT 630M, 6GB s RAM, 500GB at that disc and a DVD drive. The most expensive version of the Dell XPS 15 has on board a quad-core Core i7, NVIDIA graphics - GT 640M, 16GB RAM, 1TB-coupler drive (128 GB Mata) and Blu-ray.

In summary - it is very good. But, as you know, you have to pay for quality (and sometimes, perhaps often intimidating a lot). The base model of laptop Dell XPS 14 costs up to (approximately) 4700zł, and its slightly larger cousin - XPS 15 - a PLN 5200 s.

Apple has unveiled a new MacBook Pro, complete with Retina display, at its WWDC event in San Francisco. Watch below the Hands on Review video from cnet.

The new generation laptop, known simply as the MacBook Pro (or new MacBook Pro) as previously, houses the world’s highest resolution notebook display with a 2880 x 1800 pixel resolution and a pixel density of 220ppi. The size of the display is 15.4-inches and currently there are no other "Retina" models. Apple says "we can expect glare to be reduced by 75 per cent - handy for these sunny days - and it uses IPS as previous Apple displays have".

Apple is promising up to seven hours of battery life and 30 days' standby. And, best of all, it is shipping from today with prices starting at £1,799 for the 15-inch new MacBook Pro.


The new Macbook pro runs with 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA Kepler GT 650M graphics, up to a quad-core 2.7GHz Core i7 processor, a maximum 768GB of SSD storage, and seven hours of battery life with 30 days standby.  Apple removed the optical drive, so you will need an external drive if you want to play those DVDs.  Apple likewise removed the Ethernet and FireWire 800 ports.  Apple decided to replace these with two USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt inputs.  There’s also one HDMI port.  The MagSafe connector has also been changed and is now thinner.

There are plenty of options available for configuration, at various price points, with the 2.6GHz Core i7, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD version costing a cool £2,299.

Watch video here:

Lenovo recently unveils its latest laptops, the IdeaPad U310 and U410 Ultrabooks. The new Ultrabooks are powered by Intel’s new Ivy Bridge platform. Lenovo also offers users the new Ultrabooks in two avatars - Sapphire Blue and Graphite Grey. As for the new A720 all-in-one PC, it has a 27-inch display with a thickness of 25.4mm, which is pretty sleek. There’s also support for 10-point multi-touch, which means much more flexibility. Like the Ultrabooks, the IdeaCentre A720 is also powered by Intel’s Ivy Bridge.

These ultrabooks also feature ultra-fast boot up and quick resume from sleep. They also feature Lenovo’s Smart Update software allows the U310 and U410 to automatically update email, IM chats and social media messages even when in sleep mode.

Tech Specs (Lenovo IdeaPad U310)
Processor: Intel Core i5 3317U (1.7 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache)
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Basic (64 bit)
RAM: 4GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Storage: 500GB HDD + 32GB SSD
Screen: 13.3 HD-LED
Battery: 3-cell

Price:

The 13.3-inch U310 base model going for $749 and the 14-inch U410 starting at $799.

Tech Specs (Lenovo IdeaPad U410)
Processor: Intel Core i5 3317U (1.7 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache)
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Basic (64 bit)
RAM: 4GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Storage: 500GB HDD + 32Gb SSD
Screen: 14.0 HD LED Screen
Battery: 4-cell

Watch video here:

Why we want to upgrade memory? More memory gives your PC the ability to run more applications, make windows easier to use and cuts down on hard disk activity, therefore increasing battery life. Many have integrated graphics processor that reduce the RAM available to Windows, as they use main memory instead of their own dedicated RAM.

In this type of system, Windows must use the hard disk as an overflow when it runs out of memory. This is undesirable in a particular computer as it hard disk is comparatively slowing and using it intensively reduces battery life. For as little as £20 including VAT, however you could you could add 2GB to your laptop, revitalizing its performance. Because space is at a premium inside laptops, they use physically smaller memory modules than those found on Personal Computer. Desktop use DIMM modules, while notebooks use the far more compact SODIMMs. That aside, laptop memory is much like desktop memory, with the same of technologies in use.

There are two main memory types  you're likely to encounter: DDR and DDR2. These aren't compatible, so it's so essentials you understand which type of laptop uses before buying more. Notebooks built in 2002 or earlier are likely to use SDRAM memory running at 66MHz, 100MHz or 133MHz. It's now difficult to buy SDRAM SODIMMs, and you should replace the laptop rather than spend your money in upgrading it.
Laptops made between 2002 and 2004 probably use DDR memory. Such laptops require PC2100 or PC2700 DDR memory, but some high-end models may use faster PC3200 modules. Your manual or the manufacturer's website should tell you what speed to buy.

Intel-based laptops built after 2004 may use DDR2 memory, available in PC2-3200, PC2-4200, PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 speeds. Only recent AMD-based notebooks with a Turion 64 X2 proccessor use DDR2 memory. Some of very latest laptops use DDR3 memory, which85 is currently available in only PC3-8500 speed most manufacturer. Look in the documentation for the correct speed to buy.

CHOOSING LAPTOP MEMORY:

To be sure you buy compatible memory, we just recommend that you use the configuration tools available on the websites or many big memory manufacturers, as discussed in the compatibility checklist below. It is fine to install faster memory than you laptop originally had as long as it supports it, but bear in mind that you should buy memory of the same speed as any existing RAM tha you're not going to replace. This is because faster memory could make your laptop crash ore refuse to boot. It's worth checking the label on your existing memory to find out the size and type of modules that are installed. For increased performance, some laptop operate their DDR OR DDR2 memory in dual-channel mode.

INSTALLING LAPTOP MEMORY:

Latop memory should be easy to install, provided you can readily access your computer memory slots. Refer you laptop's manual or its manufacturer's website for details on how many accessible slots there are.

Watch Changing or Replacing RAM on a Laptop.


OMPATIBILITY CHECKLIST:

Memory USE → You Can get idea of Windows' memory use by pressing Ctrl-Shift-Esc to run Task Manager on XP and Vista. If you need more momory, there wil be tell-tale signs in everyday use. Long program loading times, extensive hard disk activity and slow-downs in Windows are all indications of low memory.

Memory Slots → Most laptops have one or two memory slots under the keyboard or behind a cover on the base if none is empty, you can upgrade only by swapping existing modules for higher capacity equivalents. Don't buy more memory than your computer can handle. The 32-bit version of Windows can cope with 3.3GB the 64-bit version of the OS can handle more than the maximum amount of memory supported by all current laptops.

Memory Type → Before buying your memory modules find out your computers memory type from its manual or the manufacturer's website, or use the configuration tools at a memory such as www.kingston.com or www.crucial.com. If you model isn't listed, try the System Scanner tool on Crucial's websites. If all else fails, check the information sticker on a existing module.

Photographs, along with the instruction manual the device appeared on the network because of an agreement they should be secret between the FCC (the Commission) and Sony. There are, however, date back until September last year, which is quite significant questions whether any plans for Sony, which to launch in the near (or any) of the future process of mass production and sale of Chromebook, and above all because they were not, in practice such hit, as expected.

The device, referred to in documents as the Sony VAIO FCC VCC111, was to be fully equipped with the 11.6-inch display, Chrome OS-specific hotkeys, SSD, and also in support for USB 2.0 module, HDMI and SD.


This could be an Nvidia Tegra 2 T25 ARM based processor, which would be interesting as it would make for the first Chromebook to run on a non-Intel based processor.

Sony VAIO Chromebook Specs, question mark indicates assumed or unsure:

Processor: Nvidia Tegra 250 T25 1.2GHz ARM based processor (?)
Screen: 11.6” diagonal, produced by Samsung
OS: Chrome OS
Memory: 2GB RAM (?)
Ports: two USB 2.0, SD card reader, headphone port, microphone port, HDMI
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth
Storage: SSD – 16GB (?)


Pricing on Chromebooks generally start around $299 – $400 range, so we’d expect this Sony to be about the same, based on pictures there doesn’t appear to be anything extra special Sony has done to warrant a higher price.

Here's the actions/tips you can take to make your Notebook's PC battery last longer during each charge cycle and live longer.

1. Turn out Wi-Fi and BlueTooth - Most notebooks have shortcut keys to instantly disable wireless networking.

2. Don't play computer games, music or DVD movies - Multimedia activities drain notebooks batteries.

3. Disconnect all external device like PC Card modems, Firewire, USB devices and optical drives. Use the notebook touchpad instead of an external mouse.

4. Arrange your screen brightness - Dimming your display saves battery power.

5. Tweak Windows Power Options - Choose a notebook's power scheme that turns off the notebook monitor and hard disk after 10 minutes of inactivity.

6. Minimize or mute the Notebook Speaker Volume.

7. Turn off all scheduled tasks.

8. Keep the battery contacts clean – make clean your battery’s metal contacts every couple of months with a cloth moistened with cleaning solution.

9. Keep operating temperature down - Your laptop operates more efficiently when it’s cooler.

10. Programs that are run from a CD or DVD can be copied to and run from the hard drive, which typically consumes less power than an optical drive.

11. Turn off Auto-save features in Microsoft Office and other applications.

12. Make sure to plug your notebooks charger adapter into a UPS and not directly into a power outlet or surge protector.

Dell has upgraded its premium 15-inch with Intel's second-generation Core Series processors and Nvidia GeForce GT 500 series graphics, which promise even better performance. We had a chance to test out a high-end $1,488 configuration of the XPS 15, complete with a 2-GHz quad-core Core i7, 8GB of RAM, a 1080p screen, and Nvidia GT540M graphics. These specs promise--and deliver--remarkable processing and media prowess.

Display size : 15.6 inches 1366 x 768
Display type : Glossy LCD with LED Backlight
Processor class Intel Core i5 2410M 2300 MHz
Number of Cores : 2
Cache size : 3 MB
Integrated Graphics Chipset : Intel HD Core i5
Discreet Graphics Chipset : Nvidia GeForce GT 525M
Graphics Memory : 1024 MB
Installed memory : 4 GB Upto 8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
Total HD Size : 500 GB 7200 RPM
Ethernet Type : 10/100/1000 Mbps 802.11 n/b/g
Weight (min) : 6.2 pounds
Weight (with accessories) : 7.6 lbs
Width: 15 inches
Depth : 10 inches
Height : 1.5 inches
Operating system : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

The CPU is a 2.3GHz i5-2410M heading above the CPU, 2.3 GHz Core i7-2820QM, costs $ 500 extra. RAM can be upgraded to 8 GB of the base of 4 GB for $ 120. A choice of 256 GB SSD is available for $ 600. GPU options are limited: either the Nvidia GeForce GT 525 million, or GT 540M, with double the memory, for an extra $ 100. TV tuner will cost $ 50.

The Dell XPS L502X is a well-balanced desktop replacement laptop that will happily deal with everyday tasks and keep the family entertained.

The Dell XPS L502X 2-megapixel integrated webcam, however, is quite nice as is, with Dell’s Webcam Center software offering easy and intuitive controls (setup with the preinstalled Skype software was a breeze). The audio system consists of two 4-watt JBL speakers and a 12-watt subwoofer, plus Waves MaxxAudio 3 audio-enhancement technology. You also get two headphone jacks (unusual in a notebook), one of which supports SPDIF (direct digital) output, alongside the microphone-in jack. I wasn’t able to try out the notebook’s support for 3D content, but Dell says that if you get the Dell XPS 15 L502X optional Blu-ray drive, it can stream a 3D movie to a 3D-enabled HDTV (over an HDMI connection).

Each Laptop, Personal PC are filled with useless software installed by the manufacturer. Let's see which programs you must get rid of and how to do it.

Buy a laptop with an installed operating system. In most cases, it is now Windows 7 While this is good and fast system, software installed on your computer by the manufacturer (so called crapware) can make the new computer will not function optimally, and its use may prove to be a chore.

Let's see where unnecessary programs, we can get rid of (and how), and which applications are worth attention.

Are all applications are useless?

Utility functions can check yourself by running them and devoting the time to test them. If the software will fall to us to taste, you should leave the program and use it.

Google Chromebook Now Available for $299.

Acer descend the price of their AC700 Chromebook (Wi-Fi) to $299. The product listing on both Amazon.com and Acer.com still mention the old $349 price but once you add the Chromebook to your shopping cart, it uses the reduced price.

Acer AC700-1099 features an 11.6" screen, Intel Atom N570 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB SSD hard drive and runs on Google Chrome OS.

Amazon won’t ship these to India but there are strong hints that Google could officially launch Chromebooks in India in early 2012. Samsung had earlier dropped the price of all their Chromebook models by almost 10%.


Let’s see the nice review of Google Chromebook around top blog site:

Joshua Goldman of CNET writes:

The Series 5 works as promised and looks good doing it. However, for its price you can buy a more capable Windows Netbook or laptop - even if you just want something for couch use. You can do a lot of things with one of those (or a smartphone, an Android tablet, or iPad for that matter). Right now, though, there are just a lot of things you can't do with a Chromebook.

Dana Wollman of Engadget writes:

We had no problem juggling a dozen open tabs, a list that included Gmail, Google Calendar, several news stories, Scoutmob, and the content management system we use to compose posts. Only when we pushed the system to take on a ludicrously unrealistic workload did it start to falter. And by ludicrous, we mean opening the same YouTube clip in two windows, with half a dozen tabs apiece. By the fourth tab of the first window, we noticed the pages were slower to load, and formed something of a queue. The sixth outright crashed. But somehow, we're guessing that's not what you'll be doing with your Chromebook.

Adrian Covert of Gizmodo writes:

The hardware isn't powerful enough to handle the more exciting aspects of the web. Despite the dual-core processor, the Samsung Chromebook struggles with Flash video. Standard definition video functions well enough, but when you start watching HD quality web videos, you'll notice choppiness. Same goes for 3D web games.

Sherri Smith of LaptopMag writes:

The Series 5 is great for watching video, playing casual games, and doing light tasks such as creating spreadsheets and documents, but it really can't handle much more heavy lifting.

A fast boot time and bookmarks masquerading as apps can't make up for the fact that we can't use Google Docs offline, we have to hunt around for our local files, or that the Series 5 can only deal with one peripheral at a time.

Jason Cross of PCWorld writes:

You can find plenty of Windows-based laptops in the $430-to-$500 range that may not have the sleek look of a Series 5 Chromebook, and may not boot up as quickly, but offer such vastly superior functionality that I can't imagine recommending a Chromebook instead. For now, laptops based on Chrome OS feel like a novelty for tech enthusiasts. Even Android 3.0 tablets feel more powerful, flexible, and useful.

The HP ProBook 4420s, Hewlett-Packard’s latest 14-inch business-class notebook, is now available. The laptop starts at around 5 pounds and runs Windows 7, but there’s also SUSE Linux operating system option.

HP Probook 4420s Laptop is powered with Intel Core i7-620M 2.6 Ghz Processor, 500 GB Hard drive, 4GB RAM and DVD Writer. It supports a 14 Inch screen with Intel HD Graphics, High definition Audio, Integrated webcam, microphone, fingerprint reader, connectivity options like Bluetooth, Wi-fi, 3 USB Ports, 6 Cell battery and Windows 7 Operating system.

All of the ProBook models will be available in March. The ProBook 4530s and 4720s start at $760, while the ProBook 4320s and 4420s will start at $869.

HP ProBook 4420s Specifications, Drivers:

• Intel Core i7-620LM, i5-520M, i5-430M, i3-350M, or i3-330M CPU
• Intel HD integrated graphics
• up to 8GB of DDR3 memory
• up to 500GB of hard drive space
• DVD burner or Blu-Ray Combo optical drive
• 14-inch LED-backlit display has a resolution of 1366 x 7680 pixels
• spill-resistant keyboard an optional 2MP web cam
• stereo speakers and microphone
• 802.11a/b/g/n wireless
• Gigabit Ethernet LAN port
• Bluetooth, optional 56k modem
• VGA and HDMI outputs
• three USB ports and a combo eSATA/USB port
• ExpressCard slot
• media card reader
• optional fingerprint sensor

The ProBook 4420s is a 14" notebook laptop from HP. The differences between the different models in the ProBook line lie mostly in screen size and processor power, and the 4420s lies somewhere in the middle of the line.

As for under the hood, the 4420s are available with Core i7, i5 or Core i3 processors, support up 8 GB of memory and come with up to 500 GB of storage. You can go with integrated Intel graphics, or discrete with ATI Radeon 4350 graphics with 512 MB of video RAM. The latter isn’t going to blaze through the latest games (or even older games for that matter), but it should make watching HD video much more enjoyable. The included ArcSoft Total Media software should also make watching, creating and editing video (as well as audio) files a snap. To round out the multimedia experience, all the new 4000 series ProBooks can take an optional BD-ROM drive.

The design of the laptop is flawed with a touch pad which lies to the right side and mouse buttons to the left. So it just gets hard to find one smooth surface. The ports are not positioned rightly all the USB ports are placed at the front so when we fix an external keyboard it becomes difficult to use it as it will be far away from the laptop.

HP ProBook 4430s features 14 inch Diagonal LED-Backlit HD Anti-Glare Screen Display supported with Intel HD Graphics 3000 Card and 6-cell Lithium HP ProBook 4420s battery. It is equipped with 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 320 GB 7200rpm SATA II HDD with SuperMulti DL Light-Scribe DVD+/-RW Optical Drive support, HD Web Camera, 10/100/1000 NIC, Integrated Stereo Speakers, Atheros 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 with HS Combo option, 1 Media Card Reader. It is power-driven by Intel Core i3-2310M Processor with Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset and runs with Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium of 64-bit Operating System.

Core™ i3-380M 2.53GHz 320GB 2048MB 14" LED (1366x768) DVD-RW BT W7 Pro Webcam 14.0": 14 inch display size is a mixture between the small formats of subnotebooks and the 15 inch standard display. The reason why so many people like displays with medium size is, that this size is not exhausting for the eyes, does not need too much energy and the laptops can be kept quite compact.

This highly mobile notebook has a 14-inch diagonal HD display, a spill-resistant keyboard, and wireless connectivity options for everyday use in or out of the office. Image by Google

Dell unveiled its XPS 14z laptop, the thinnest fully featured 14-inch laptop featuring an internal optical drive and discrete graphics option. The latest in a series of thin-and-powerful solutions from Dell that include thin laptops, desktops and accessories, the XPS 14z delivers performance that impresses and design that inspires. Professionals now can power through their day at work and kick back at night to take advantage of the system’s HD screen to watch movies or video.

Dell XPS 14z Detailed Specification:

• Thin laptop PC (0.9”/23mm) with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium; anodized aluminum and magnesium alloy palmrest in dark gray
• 2nd-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Dual Core processor choices
• Standard HD (720p) WLED with TrueLife and edge-to-edge glass (1366x768)
• Fast NVIDIA graphics option including NVIDIA Optimus technology:
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M with 1GB graphics memory
• 6GB dual channel DDR3 up to 8GB DDR3 1333Mhz memory options
• Fast 7200RPM hard disk storage, from 500GB up to 750GB; 256GB SSD drive option[v]
• Built-in Slot load DVD +/- RW (reads & writes to CD/DVD)
• Backlit, spill-resistant Chiclet keyboard
• Built-in Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 802.11 A/G/N and Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity
• Intel Wireless Display-ready
• Up to 6 hours, 42 minutes of battery life with 8-cell battery
• USB 3.0 (1), USB 2.0 (1), HDMI 1.4 (1), RJ-45 (1), Mini Display-Port and microphone/audio connectors
• Built-in 1.3MP HD Webcam with dual array digital microphones and stereo speakers
• Next generation Dell Stage software for fast, easy access to content like music, videos and photos
• Dimensions: Height: 0.9” (23mm) / Width: 13.19” (335mm) / Depth 9.21” (234mm); Weight: starting at 4.36lbs (1.98 kg)

Dell XPS 14z Availability and Pricing:

The XPS 14z laptop will be available Nov. 1 in the United States and Canada, priced from $999 through www.Dell.com, and in select retail stores nationwide. The thin laptop will be available in select geographies worldwide starting Nov. 15. Have a second on very nice overview video below.

Have a Look at the Video:

ASUS says their new ZENBOOK was designed for elegance and power, guided by four key principles:

Incredible Beauty - ASUS ZENBOOK achieves a unique combination of artistic craftsmanship and advanced technology. It arises from the efforts of a dedicated team of designers and engineers, working hard to deliver a portable PC that’s eminently cool, stylish and powerful, gifted with a harmony of great looks and potent features.

Pure Design - Art melds seamlessly with technology upon viewing the ASUS ZENBOOK. The silver exterior panel features a concentric circle design that refracts a halo of light that excites the senses. With a thickness of 0.11" at the front and 0.35" at the rear, the ZENBOOK's exterior lines are sleek, making it the thinnest Ultrabook on the market and perfect for users constantly on-the-go or in the classroom.

Unrivalled Performance - The ZENBOOK is designed with an instant-on feature that resumes the system in about 2 seconds and features incredible standby times up to 2 weeks, which is four times more than the industry standard. Although svelte and sleek, the ZENBOOK packs an impressive and uncompromising list of technological breakthroughs. It uses the latest Intel 2nd generation Core processors (optimized for mobile use), SATA Revision 3.0 solid state storage (SSD), Bluetooth V4.0 and USB 3.0. ASUS has also added USB Charger+ technology, which uses the powered USB 3.0 port to recharge portable devices in a fraction of the time it would normally take. To accommodate all of these technologies, ASUS engineers designed custom cooling technology using a V-shaped channel with a unique copper fin design for improved airflow and cooling. When battery life dips below 5 percent, the ZENBOOK will automatically save files in progress to prevent data loss.

Incredibly Green - The ZENBOOK provides its users a peace of mind in knowing that they are consuming less energy. It utilizes ASUS' patented Super Hybrid Engine II technology, which intelligently conserves battery life and allows the ZENBOOK to have up to 25% more battery life than other Ultrabook designs.

Transcending Audio - Recognizing that an ultrabook is not only a tool for work, but also for entertainment, each ZENBOOK is equipped with ASUS SonicMaster technology, an optimized fusion of hardware and software developed by the ASUS Golden Ear team and Bang & Olufsen ICEpower. SonicMaster provides a wide sonic spectrum surround sound that can fill a room with smooth jazz or the tranquil sound of a mountain stream.

Price and Availability

The ZENBOOK will be available for order in North America with prices starting at $999.

ASUS ZENBOOK Product Feature Specification Sheet:

Model	UX21	UX31
Z-height	3mm at the front; 9mm at the rear	3mm at the front; 9mm at the rear
Screen	11.6 (16:9)	13.3 (16:9)
CPU	Intel Core i3-2367 / i5-2467 / i7-2677	Intel Core i5-2557 / i7-2677
Backlight/Resolution	450 nits HD 1366x768	450 nits HD 1600X900
Instant on	Always resume in 2 seconds	Always resume in 2 seconds
USB charger+	Y	Y
I/O port	6 (USB2.0 / USB3.0 / audio jack / DC jack / microHDMI / miniVGA)	7 (USB2.0 / USB3.0 / audio jack / DC jack / microHDMI / miniVGA / SD card reader)
USB3.0	1 Port	1 Port
SSD Generation	SATAIII SSD (64G/128G/256G)	SATAIII SSD (128G/256G)
Second	Row	Row
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0
Battery	35W (5+ hrs)	50W (7+hrs)
Mic	MEMS MIC (Digital MIC)	MEMS MIC (Digital MIC)
Keyboard	268 Chiclit KB	268 Chiclit KB
Camera	0.3M	0.3M
Audio	Bang & Olufsen ICEpower® SonicMaster	Bang & Olufsen ICEpower® SonicMaster

The ASUS ZENBOOK - Design Concept


The ASUS ZENBOOK - Incredible Speed & Performance


via: Asus Image: Asus

The Dell Inspiron N5040 laptop offers great storage for all your media, high performance processing power and a bright HD 15.6-inch display to enjoy great web content and crisp DVD movies on.

One feature that is pretty much consistent among all the Inspiron N5040 models is the 15.6-inch display. This display uses an LED backlit that gives the screen a much wider color gamut than most budget laptops. The screen does have a glossy coating that is becoming common but this tends to increase the amount of glare on the screen in certain lighting conditions.

The graphics are driven by the Intel GMA 4500MHD that prevents it from really being used for 3D gaming but is sufficient for HD video.


Dell Inspiron N5040 Key benefits:

• The 2.53GHz Intel Core i3-380M processor will speed through everyday tasks and with 4GB of RAM, you'll have plenty of memory for working with larger files and multi-tasking.
• An impressive 640GB hard drive will give you plenty of room for your music and film libraries, as well storing all your photos and videos in one place, just one click away.
• A 15.6-inch LED-backlit HD screen will delight you with its bright, crisp display, bringing the most out of games, movies and the web.
• Play and burn CDs and DVDs and create personalised music compilations and watch the latest blockbuster movies.
• Share your digital camera or camcorder memories with the world thanks to an 7-in-1 card reader. Simply slot your memory card into your laptop and you’ll be able to upload your snaps directly onto your hard drive.
• 3 USB ports will enable you to transfer files quickly and easily, as well as plug in peripheral devices such as external memory storage, printers and a mouse.
• If you don’t want to be confined to your laptop screen, connect to your HD TV via an optional HDMI cable and sit back and enjoy your favourite media in style.

Dell Inspiron N5040 Specifications:

• Intel core i3-380M 2.53GHz Processor. Whether playing latest 3D games or compressing large HD Video size, the new Inspiron N5040 computer has an efficient processor that accelerates CPU processing power when needed most.
• 15.6 inch HD Display panel. Experience true High Definition images 720p on a LED powered screen featuring Truelife technology.
• 640GB SATA hard drive. I must admit; Dell Inspiron N5040 has the largest hard drive capacity in its category operating at 5400RPM.
• 6 cell lithium ion battery
• 802.11 b/g/n (2.4G) wireless technology
• Genuine windows 7 Home premium
• 4GB Single channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz

A generous set of ports are spaced around the edges of the chassis. There are two USB 3.0 ports, one on the right and one on the rear of the machine. On the left you'll find a standalone USB 2.0 port and a combined USB/eSATA connector. There's also a HDMI port on the left, next to a SD card reader. The back also has an Ethernet connector and a VGA port, while there's a DVD writer on the right together with sockets for headphones and a microphone. There's nothing on the front, apart from a set of indicator lights and a pair of speaker grilles. If you prefer connecting wirelessly there's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support (b/g/n) and wireless display.

Many of the features available on this product are ideal for college students and those who would enjoy the basic multimedia features. This laptop computer is designed by Dell to provide the features you need to accomplish your tasks and save you time while doing it.

ASUS has finally offered a clue as to when we might be able to get our hands on the long-awaited UX21 Ultrabook it first unveiled at the Computex tradeshow in Taipei earlier this year.

In a teaser page on the new Asus UX-series sub-site, the company is running a countdown to an event in New York on the 11th of October which, it is believed, will mark the official launch of its UX series of Ultrabook products.

The Asus UX21 Specs Features a 11.6 inches display screen size with a sloping design that is 7mm at the back and tapers to 3mm at the front. Weight of the UX21 is only around 2.2lb.

The Asus UX21 runs on Intel Core i5-2557M (1.7GHz) processor (up to Core i7). Another feature that is owned by The Asus UX21 are two USB ports USB 3.0, mini-DisplayPort, mini-HDMI port, a storage capacity of 64GB or 128GB, a glass touchpad and metal chiclet keys. Another advantage possessed by the Asus UX21 is the ability to wake up after idle in just 2 seconds.


As for price, the new laptops have apparently been priced in France: the UX21's starting price is said to be €799 (about $1100), with the UX31 starting at €999 (about $1350). This is roughly in line with what Apple and others are charging for machines in this form factor, though we'll have to wait to see what the official prices are in all territories.

Image by Asus

As many best-branded laptops coming into market, I’ve taken a look at some gaming laptops to help you for a better idea. And with prices starting under $800.00, there are options for every budget as well

With blindingly fast graphics cards, stunning high resolution displays and cutting edge processors, these gaming laptops will keep you in the game at home and on the go.

Let us know in the comments your Top 10 Clever Gaming Laptops.

1. Razer Blade Laptop
Pure, unadulterated gaming business, but business nonetheless. It packs a 1080p, LED-backlit 17.3-inch display, 2.8GHz Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GT 555M video card with 2GB of dedicated memory, a whopping 60Wh battery, a 320GB HDD, More..  Cost: $2799.99

2. Alienware M17X (Sandy Bridge)
Best looking gaming laptop. Solidly-made chassis. Outstanding game-play and gaming scores. 1080p screen resolution. Great keyboard. Impressive lighting effects. Soft mouse buttons. HDMI-In is a rare laptop find. Cost: $2,254.00

3. Asus G74SX-A2
Quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GTX 560M GPU makes for a powerful component combination. Wide-set, backlit keyboard is one of the best available to gamers. Asus' cooling system keeps temperatures low without being noisy. 1080p display and Blu-ray drive are a match made in heaven. External mouse included. Cost: $2,000.00

4. Acer Aspire AS8950G-9839
Glorious 18.4-inch screen with 1080p resolution. Well designed aluminum frame. Huge battery and impressive battery life. Top-notched performance scores. Very good graphics chip. Blu-ray drive included. Excellent speaker quality. FireWire port. Cost: $1,499.99

5. Asus G74SX-BBK7
Excelled in gaming with its Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M graphics chip. Powerful Core i7 processor. Backlit keyboard. Great typing and mouse experience. WiMAX. USB 3.0. Huge 1TB of hard drive space. Cost: $1,199.99

6. Dell Inspiron 17R (N7110)
Huge battery, long battery life. Nice design. WiDi2. Minimal bloatware. Some 3D graphics performance. Automatic graphics switching technology. Bluetooth.USB 3.0. SWITCH lids. Cost $1,039.98

7. Alienware M11xr3
Nvidia's Optimus graphics switching technology. Great battery life. Backlighting looks cool. USB 3.0, DisplayPort, and HDMI. Inexpensive. WiMax and WiDi. No bloatware. Cost: $1,099.00

8. Dell XPS 15z (Microsoft)
Strong performance, battery life. Aggressively priced. Thin, lightweight profile. Gorgeous design. The XPS 15z (Microsoft) is available from Microsoft's Store and every bit as luxurious as the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch, but it won't cost you nearly as much. Cost: $999.00

9. Asus K53SV-B1
Quad-core Intel Core i7-2630QM processor. Nvidia GeForce GT 540M graphics card with Optimus switching technology. Luxurious aluminum palm rest stays cool to the touch. Wide-keyed, dust repelling keyboard. Generous warranty. Cost: $990.00

10. Asus K53SV-B1
Trendy, rugged aluminum design. Powerful Core i5 processor. Switchable graphics with a midrange Nvidia chip. Wireless Display 2.0 and WiMAX. Excellent battery life. Cost: $799.99
Image courtesy of pcmag.com