Showing posts with label i7. Show all posts
Showing posts with label i7. Show all posts

Friday, February 1, 2013

ASUS G73JH-X5 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop - Black Review

ASUS G73JH-X5 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop - Black
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The professional reviews of this series are correct. The cooling system is quiet and very effective. The screen is nice, but does pick up reflections in bright light. The machine is fairly heavy and you will need to buy a bag or sleeve meant for 18" screens because the thickness of the laptop prevents it from fitting in most 17.3 bags. The battery dies fast and furious, though you can squeeze out over an hour of use if you are just web browsing and turn down the screen backlighting. I wanted an ATI powered rig, not NVIDIA, and this fit the bill. I've had a couple of the grey bars of death screens that apparently are common with this series. That has been the most disconcerting issue. Hopefully some future 5870 drivers will clear that up. I wiped the drive and installed Windows 7 Ultimate. The laptop includes a utilities installation disk.
Update 1/13 - The computer continues to function pretty well. I haven't used it for gaming recently, but I have not had any more of the "grey bars" crashes. All drivers and bios are updated.
A different issue has developed: the built-in touch pad seems to loose sensitivity and/or malfunction periodically. This is very annoying as I use the laptop in multiple locations and rely on the touch pad - I do not carry around an extra mouse with me. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, and updating the driver did not solve the issue. It goes through periods of not working, automatically resizing the window when I do not want to and other irksome issues.
Update 2/10 - Over the last several days I have been using this laptop for gaming. Nothing major - mostly "Two Worlds" on maxed settings. "Two Worlds" is a perfectly dull, buggy game I would not recommend to anyone, but it does have graphics that will push the mobile 5870 card a bit on maxed settings. When I first received the laptop (before updates) it was a game that gave me a couple of my GSODs. Anyway - no GSODs now. Updating everything seems to have worked. I haven't had a GSOD (knock on wood) since December. Now I will have to try a game that is actually worth playing! (I have a tower I have dedicated to major games - and it's hooked to a 60" Sony TV, so it is hard to use my newest stuff on the laptop for long periods when I can use the larger system instead.)
Update 4/26 - I've tried several other high demand / graphics intensive games on the laptop. It runs them very well. However, a new issue has appeared that seems to be common with this type of ASUS power supply. I discovered the jack that plugs into the laptop was bent sideways. I am very careful with my electronics - the laptop has never been banged or dropped and as far as I know the cord has never been jerked while plugged in. I can only assume the weight of the cord somehow bent the plug, or that it had a crack inside that widened at some point. Now the cord is shorting out. I did some research and it does appear that the power bricks are a wink link in for this series - both for failing or (to a lesser extent) physical issues like my bent jack. So. . .now I've been trying to get my power supply replaced by ASUS. . .and as many others have reported, dealing with them directly is no fun. I've received inconsistent replies and RMAs that initially requested I send in the entire computer. The issue is relatively new, but as of yet unresolved. At the moment I'm still giving this laptop four stars, though I would rate ASUS customer service around one and a half or two at the present time.
Update 5/11 - The power supply issue is resolved. ASUS eventually shipped me a new one, though it took a bit of wrangling with multiple customer service people before the item was sent. Once sent, it was shipped quickly. Strangly, the replacement feels lighter weight than the original - somewhat filmsier perhaps, though it is difficult to say for certain without the original here to compare (I had to send them the original - shipping at my expense). Now I'm paranoid about the plug breaking again as the other one bent with little or no provocation. Overall the customer service experience was about two stars out of five. If you have a problem, do not email them. Call them and keep calling if the RMA they send you isn't related to your issue. They also tried to get me to give them a credit card number to keep on file. I absolutely refused to divulge that information.
Overall still recommended. I would buy this again over the Toshiba gaming laptops if I had it to do over.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS G73JH-X5 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop - Black



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Friday, December 14, 2012

Sony VAIO(R) VPCF13SFX/B Signature Series 16.4" Notebook PC - Black Review

Sony VAIO(R) VPCF13SFX/B Signature Series 16.4 Notebook PC - Black
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We recently purchased this laptop to serve as a portable gaming machine. Also, was waiting for one with USB 3.0, which this one has. There is very little to complain about with this model. It's fast with a great screen display. I will list a few nit picks here. Screen in bright lights is a bit glary while gaming. It does get warm but not hot, I would recommend one of the laptop fan units to place under it. I'm not a fan of the mouse drag on any laptop so an external mouse was a must for me, as was a headset (built in speakers are a bit bright sounding and bass shy). Battery life is good unless into heavy gaming but I usually use the external power anyway. Since it is a gaming rig, all other functions run very smooth; movies, live video, favorite TV shows, etc. Oh yeah, the keyboard has one of the nicest feels of all I tried and the matt finish does not show up finger prints. I probably should have given this 5 stars but I am a bit tight on my recommendations.
Having said that, this model is highly recommended.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony VAIO(R) VPCF13SFX/B Signature Series 16.4" Notebook PC - Black



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Thursday, December 13, 2012

HP Pavilion Entertainment Notebook Intel Core i7-720QM , 6GB RAM, 1TB HARD DRIVE, 17.3" LCD, WINDOWS 7, BLU-RAY Review

HP Pavilion Entertainment Notebook Intel Core i7-720QM , 6GB RAM, 1TB HARD DRIVE, 17.3 LCD, WINDOWS 7, BLU-RAY
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Pros- I love the screen it's bright and clear, it has a blu-ray player so you can watch blu-rays, the finger touch pad makes it super secure if you need a computer with high security- that being said I haven't figured out how to turn the feature off and I don't need high security but after 3 minutes of no use it logs out and I have to log back in which is an annoyance! I only use my computer at home so I'd prefer to not have to log on every time I want to use it.
hav
Cons- The touch pad is very touchy lol and you can scroll with your finger you have to actually hold down the button to scroll which is kind of a pain
- The battery only lasts 3-4 hours if you are actually using the computer which is far less than the advertised 7 and you can't play blu-ray with the computer un-plugged
- At least for me I find that Windows 7 is not very user friendly
- It automatically and randomly updates itself and turns off this is a setting which you can not change, I find this to be the most aggravating aspect of the whole computer
- The beats audio sounds clear but doesn't get very loud, I have the computer at max volume and most of the time it's not loud enough

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion Entertainment Notebook Intel Core i7-720QM , 6GB RAM, 1TB HARD DRIVE, 17.3" LCD, WINDOWS 7, BLU-RAY



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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

HP DV6-3257CL Argento Pavilion 15.6" Notebook (Intel Core i3-370M Processor, 4 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray Disc Drive) Review

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

ASUS N43JF-A1 14-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum) Review

ASUS N43JF-A1 14-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this laptop because of the great specs. And indeed, it does have great potential but at the end of the day ASUS still doesn't get what it takes to make a premium notebook, in my opinion.
Let's start off with the PROS.
- Fast processor
- Great graphics card
- Incredible sound, it really is amazingly crisp and clear, and can get very loud with almost no distortion. The speakers were the only thing that absolutely amazed me in this notebook, at least in a good way.
- 7200RPM HDD
- Great warranty, two years + accidental damage for one year is definitely worth mentioning. Better than every other manufacturer, and a great value.
And that's basically it, all the good things I can say about this machine are from the components alone. However, stuffing a bunch of great components in a sub par enclosure, and having cheap feeling notebook is not a great solution. I personally would prefer weaker components, but a sturdier more premium feeling notebook.
So for CONS:
- Although this is meant to be a 14" portable notebook, the case is huge. It is almost the same size (Length, width and height) as my old Dell E1505 with a 15.4" screen. Personally I think this is ridiculous, basically I'm getting a smaller screen in the same form factor. Either way, it's not as portable as a 14" notebook should be.
- Not only is the case huge, but it's also very poor quality. ASUS adds gimmicky aluminum around the trackpad, but the whole rest of the keyboard is enclosed in cheap plastic (and you can tell). If you are going to use aluminum, do it right, and not as a cheap gimmick. I mean, by notebook wouldn't even sit completely flat on a desk, the bottom right corner (closest to the user) would hover about a millimeter above the ground.
- The keyboard shows an ALARMING amount of flex around the E key in particular. Although the keyboard is actually pretty responsive, and even nice to type on, it feels extremely cheap because of the huge amount of flex.
- Battery life: Again, I would like a decent amount of battery life in a 14" notebook. I wanted a smaller form factor to be more portable, unfortunately the battery doesn't even last 3 hours (but comes close). Factor in that most batteries loose capacity, and soon it will be lasting closer to 2 hours... I don't find this acceptable by today's standards.
- It's also somewhat noisy. I wouldn't call it loud, but it isn't quiet either. This is somewhat subjective, and I am pretty picky about noise, so maybe you won't notice.
So in conclusion, I feel like this laptop has great specs, and performs great, however feels flimsy and cheap, and is just not a pleasure to use. I feel like ASUS took all the newest and greatest parts, and just decided to stuff it into the first laptop they could find, without any sort of finesse. If you are looking for a great performing notebook and are willing to overlook some functional/aesthetic issues, you'll probably love the N43JF. If you were hoping for a more premium notebook feel because of the "aluminum" and ASUS' reputation for reliability, look elsewhere.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N43JF-A1 14-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)

Feel the Power. Hear the Power. Turn up the volume on the 14-inch N43Jf-A1 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring ASUS SonicMaster technology—co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower—and a unique top-mounted speaker design, this multimedia powerhouse combines hardware and audio for an unsurpassed, ear-pleasing experience. Boasting new NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology, the N43Jf-A1 excels when performing graphic-intensive tasks like video editing, DirectX 11-enabled gaming, and graphic rendering. And with ASUS VideoMagic 3-in-1 software package, you get image-enhancing programs like PowerDVD 9 with True Theatre that instantly scales DVD-quality to Full 1080p HD with smoother frame rates so you can enjoy videos and movies in the quality they deserve. Powered by the Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the N43Jf-A1 delivers the multitasking muscle and smart performance that senses the tasks at hand and dynamically boosts the processor for a stutter-free experience. Specially built into the N43Jf-A1, the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life via the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility. The N43Jf-A1 also comes with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than previous generation USB 2.0 speeds1 The N43Jf-A1 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam with security lens cover, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, new wave keyboard, and a brushed aluminum design.

Key Features
14-inch LED-backlit HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp HD visual quality (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower delivers improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and more detailed sound. (Learn more)
Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitasking that automatically senses whatyou're doing and boosts performance(Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid optimizes the system to extend battery life for the task at hand (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01(Learn more)
New wave keyboard features larger-sized keys for an enhanced typing experience
NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
Express Gate mini-operating system grants instant access to internet, music, Skype, and more in seconds

Learn More
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources2, readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS relentlessly strive to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC. We also back our commitment with the industry's most comprehensivewarranty.
1 Year ASUSGlobal Warranty3 Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars tothe price of competing laptops:
1 year global warranty
30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support

1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)3 Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.
Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24/7 toll-free phone support

What's in the Box
N43Jf-A1 Notebook
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Specifications
OperatingSystem: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 14-inch LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
Processor: Intel Core i5-460M processor (2.53 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.80 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Bluetooth v2.1
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (expandable to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD
Camera: 2.0 megapixel with security lens cover
Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 5-in-card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS-PRO/MS Duo)
Input/ Output: 1x Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x E-SATA, 1x HDMI port
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 14 x 9.6 x 1.3 ~ 1.48 (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.28 lbs (with 6 cell)
Color: Silver

© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. © 2010, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Intel® Turbo Boost Technology information: http://www.intel.com/technology/turboboost 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated number 1Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009.Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumerwarranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 3For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.


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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

ASUS N53SV-A2 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum) Review

ASUS N53SV-A2 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I am a independent repair tech and was looking for a replacement for my Dell 3 year old xps1530.
Was looking for something with all the new tech and power I could get for about $1k. The i7 powered n53sv-A2 fits the bill. Silver Aluminum looks great and the unit worked perfectly out of the box. Had to do usual removal of software that was not useful but not a big problem. Put it through 3 solid days of software loading and testing and the unit did very well. No problems noted. Everything just worked.. Unit runs very very cool. The A2 model has Blue ray,a top notch screen,usb3 and great speaker system that are all pluses. The face recognition logon software is also nice not to mention the I7 cpu gives it speed when there is a need.
Warranty info
You get 2 years warranty included in the purchase price( most are 1 year) also 1 year of no fault damage ( normally something you pay extra for). I do suggest the purchase of an additional "ASUS Offered" 1 year warranty extension($90.00) just round out the protection to a 3 year package. Lojack theft software and Norton 360 would also be nice additions .

I would have no trouble suggesting this to a student, office or a home business user.
JP

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N53SV-A2 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)

Hear the Power. Feel the Power Turn up the volume on the 15.6-inch N53Sv-A2 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring ASUS SonicMaster Technology—co-developed by the audio experts at Bang and Olufsen ICEpower—and a unique top-mounted speaker design, this multimedia powerhouse combines top of the line hardware and software for an unsurpassed, ear-pleasing experience. Powered by the 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology, the N53Sv-A2 delivers the multitasking muscle and smart performance that senses the tasks at hand and dynamically boosts the processor for a stutter-free experience. Boasting powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with NVIDIA Optimus Technology, the N53Sv-A2 excels in video editing, DirectX 11-enabled gaming, and graphic rendering while conserving battery for less-intensive tasks. Bundled with ASUS VideoMagic 3-in-1 software package, you get image-enhancing programs like PowerDVD 9 with True Theatre that instantly scales DVD-quality to Full 1080p HD with smoother frame rates so you can enjoy videos and movies in the quality they deserve. Specially built into the N53Sv-A2, the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life via the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility. The N53Sv-A2 also comes with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfers files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0.1 The N53Sv-A2 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam with security lens cover, 750GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid Technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, and a brushed aluminum design.

Key Features
15.6-inch LED-backlit HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp HD visual quality (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower delivers improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and detailed sound. (Learn more)
2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology for smart multitasking that automatically senses what you're doing and boosts performance (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming and switches to IntelHD graphics to save battery for less intensive tasks (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid optimizes the system to extend battery life for the task at hand (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01 (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
Express Gate mini-operating system grants instant access to internet, music, Skype, and more in seconds




Learn More
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources,2 readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS tirelessly strives to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC. This notebook is also backed by the industry's most comprehensive warranty.
2 Year ASUS Global Warranty2 Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops:
2 year global warranty
30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support
1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)3 Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.
Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24-hour toll-free phone support

What's in the Box
N53Sv-A2
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
OperatingSystem: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 15.6-inch HD display (1920 x 1080)
Processor: 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor (2.0 GHz)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Bluetooth 2.0
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 6GB DDR3, 2 x SODIMM Sockets (up to 8GB)
Storage: 750GB 7200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray Combo Drive
Camera: 2.0 megapixel
Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 5-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS-Pro, MS-Duo)
Input/ Output:1 x Mic-in, 1 x Headphone-out, 1 x VGAport/Mini D-Sub 15-pin for external monitor, 1 x RJ-45 LAN, 2 x USB 2.0ports, 1 x USB 3.0 ports
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 15.6 x 10.6 x 1.2 ~ 1.6 (W x D x H)
Weight: 6.4 lbs (with 6 cell battery)
Color: Silver
© 2011 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos. 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2010. Rated number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Q2 2010's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/2010-2nd-Quarter-Computer-Reliability-Report.html 3 ASUS reserves the right to exclude certain SKUs; check with your retailer to confirm coverage of specific models. Valid for notebooks purchased in the US and Canada only. Certain retailers do not participate in ADW coverage. For complete details, please visit: usa.asus.com/event/ASUS360 and adw.asus.com/.



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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Acer AS5742-7653 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black) Review

Acer AS5742-7653 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I own two of these laptops. The i5 processor is probably the best for the money. This laptop has some great features LED backlit, wireless certified N, bluetooth, and 4 GB of RAM. It has a 1.3 MP camera, most others are giving you a measley 0.3 MP camera in this class. A Multicard reader and a HDMI output port so if you want to connect it to your TV. This laptop comes with 128 MB of dedicated Video RAM. Not a huge amount but still better than nothing. Most laptops in this price range give you only the slower shared video memory which means the processor has to do extra work to get the picture output. Most reviews I have read were pretty good. No jittering or picture loss while watching TV. I used the ACER Backup manager to make all my backup DVD's. Its pretty simple to make a complete backup image of your hard drive with this software.Just follow the prompts. No need to pay $30 bucks for someone else to talk you into making them for you at the stores. If you are looking to play stereo music with this, Forget It! It only has a single MONO speaker. Good enough to listen to music or view videos while surfing. But dont expect alot. This isnt that kind of laptop. You could always listen to High fidelity sound through a pair of head phones though . And alot of people do surf that way. Not me! I have all the sound I need right in this speaker to watch videos and short clips. If you plan on watching a movie wear head phones with this laptop! The keybord layout seems pretty decent. The keys are the typical new style Chiclet flat keys. Most laptops seem to offer these now. The keys have a posative little pop to them when you press down on a key to feel the key stroke. Battery life has not been fully tested but from other reviewers it seems to be in the 3 hour plus range. It has very little nagware installed. You can easily uninstall whats there anyway. Amazon was selling these for five hundred and eighty dollars in october. I bought mine at office max for that price. The second one I paid five hundred bucks on black friday at the same place I bought the first one. A really great deal. Amazon doesnt price match and their pricing structure changes weekly depending on sales. So if the item is hot plan to pay a little more. If you can hold out awhile you might save eighty bucks by watching the price changes from week to week like I did. But I still recommend this laptop as a good buy. If you want more features in a laptop, for example, wide screen, stereo speakers, extra ports, larger keyboard, larger batteries, then maybe you should drop down to a intel core i3 for about the same money, and just deal with a little less speed and processing power. I hope this helps your decision.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer AS5742-7653 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black)


The Acer Aspire AS5742 notebook PC (model AS5742-7653) offers powerful performance, the latest connectivity technology, and rich media features for a fast, responsive PC experience. Start with a gorgeous 15.6-inch widescreen LCD display with built-in HD webcam and the smart performance of the Intel Core i5 processor, then throw in cool convenience features and the new Microsoft Office Starter 2010 and you have everything you need within reach to power through daily tasks and enjoy your media wherever you are.
Enjoy smart performance and a seamless visual experience with the Acer Aspire AS5742.

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Sunday, September 9, 2012

ASUS N82JQ-B2 14-Inch Laptop (Dark Brown) Review

ASUS N82JQ-B2 14-Inch Laptop (Dark Brown)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This product performs just fine but developed a hairline crack at the screw in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. I thought this was a fluke until I noticed it on the three other machines i purchased as well. An obvious manufacturing defect that ASUS doesn't want to acknowledge.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N82JQ-B2 14-Inch Laptop (Dark Brown)



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Monday, August 13, 2012

ASUS N53SV-XV1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum) Review

ASUS N53SV-XV1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have been searching for the laptop of my dreams for several months, and after settling for the ASUS N53SV-XV1 I can tell you with 100% confidence that I made the right choice. This is the absolute best laptop you can buy for the money. There is simply nothing else out on the market right now for this value. The core components (processor, hard drive, screen, sound, graphics card) are unbeatable. It gives you the portability of a 15" laptop and the performance of a desktop replacement.
Pros:
- Great performance from Intel 2nd generation Sandy Bridge processor (quiet, efficient, and powerful)
- Sound is AMAZING. Loudest speakers available on a laptop (great for watching TV/movies) and built-in bass
- 1080p, 1920 x 1080 resolution screen is gorgeous and great for multitasking
- Good, but not great NVIDIA graphics
- 4 memory slots allow you to get 16 GB maximum if you upgrade
- 7200 rpm hard drive means you get the most performance possible without paying hundreds for still too expensive SSDs
- Full keyboard with number pad
- USB 3.0 (will be standard on most new laptops soon, though)
- ASUS global and accidental warranties come standard
Cons:
- Not as much RAM as you would hope for, though getting more is fairly cheap and easy to install
- Average battery life for a 15" laptop
- Keyboard is a bit funky, and takes some getting used to. Also not backlit.
*NOTE*
- The chipset is an Intel HM65, not HM55 as listed on Amazon.
- This laptop is slightly wider than most 15" laptops (about an inch), though roughly equal in other dimensions. It might have trouble fitting into bags or cases designed for the standard 15.6" size.
- When first posted, Amazon listed this laptop as having an eSATA port. It does NOT in fact have one, and it has been removed from the product description.My priorities when buying a new laptop were performance, high resolution screen, and portability. This laptop accomplishes what I need better than anything out there right now. I say right now because things may change once all of the major manufacturers get the new processors in their models and start cranking out similar setups. But who knows when that will happen, and even then it will be difficult for them to match the value of this computer.
If you are considering buying this computer, I would only recommend that you buy more RAM, since it comes with only 2 x 2 GB and there are 2 more slots that can be filled ( I bought and installed an additional 2 x 4 GB to bring the total to 12 GB). The battery life is not that great, but may be due to the fact that the battery is a standard 6-cell. If you need to be unplugged for more than 3 or 3 and a half hours I recommend investing in a larger capacity battery, as this laptop was not necessarily designed to be the ultimate in portability. There have also been some complaints about the keyboard, but it really isn't that bad and just takes some getting used to. If you don't like it, get a new one and it will take just a few minutes to replace.
If you have any questions feel free to add comments to my review and I will try to answer them as quickly as possible!

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N53SV-XV1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)

Feel the Power. Hear the Power. Turn up the volume on the 15.6-inch N53Sv-XV1 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring ASUS SonicMaster Technology—co-developed by the audio experts at Bang and Olufsen ICEpower—and a unique top-mounted speaker design, this multimedia powerhouse combines hardware and audio for an unsurpassed, ear-pleasing experience. Powered by the 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology, the N53Sv-XV1 delivers the multitasking muscle and smart performance that senses the tasks at hand and dynamically boosts the processor for a stutter-free experience. Boasting powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with NVIDIA Optimus Technology, the N53Sv-XV1 excels in video editing, DirectX 11-enabled gaming, and graphic rendering while conserving battery for less-intensive tasks. And with ASUS VideoMagic 3-in-1 software package, you get image-enhancing programs like PowerDVD 9 with True Theatre that instantly scales DVD-quality to Full 1080p HD with smoother frame rates so you can enjoy videos and movies in the quality they deserve. Specially built into the N53Sv-XV1, the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life via the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility. The N53Sv-XV1 also comes with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0.1 The N53Sv-XV1 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam with security lens cover, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid Technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, and a brushed aluminum design.

Key Features
15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp 1080p HD visual quality (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower delivers improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and more detailed sound. (Learn more)
2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology for smart multitasking that automatically senses what you're doing and boosts performance (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming and switches to Intel HD graphics to save battery for less intensive tasks (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid optimizes the system to extend battery life for the task at hand (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01 (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
Express Gate mini-operating system grants instant access to internet, music, Skype, and more in seconds


Learn More
ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better Recognized as the #1 reliable Windows-based portable PC maker by three independent sources2 and most recently in the PC Magazine 2010 Service and Reliability Report, ASUS gives you peace of mind every time you start your N53Sv-XV1 notebook. Accelerate startup speed with FastBoot Technology, a performance boost developed by a unique collaboration between ASUS and Microsoft. With Windows 7 Home Premium, it's easier than ever to create a home network and share your favorite photos, videos, and music. And thanks to the enhanced power management Windows 7 provides, you can enjoy unplugged computing longer.
Warranty
ASUS 1Year Global Warranty ASUS 360 offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing notebooks:3
1 year global warranty
30 flawless display guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support
ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Accidents happen. But when they happen to your ASUS notebook purchased in the US or Canada, you have extra protection. Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it during the first year after purchase.3
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24-hour toll-free phone support
What's in the Box
N53Sv-XV1 Notebook
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
Processor: 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor (2.0 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.9 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM65
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) , Bluetooth v2.1
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 4 x SODIMM socket (expandable to 16GB)
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD drive
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel with security lens cover
Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 8-in- card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo)
Input / Output:1x Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x HDMI port
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 15.6 x 10.6 x 1.2 ~ 1.6 (W x D x H)
Weight: 6.4 lbs (with 6 cell)
Color: Silver
© 2011 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 3For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.



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Monday, July 16, 2012

HP Pavilion dv7-4165dx AMD Phenom II Triple-Core N850(2.2GHz) 17.3" 4GB Memory 640GB Blu Ray Combo ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Mfr Refurbished Review

HP Pavilion dv7-4165dx AMD Phenom II Triple-Core N850(2.2GHz) 17.3 4GB Memory 640GB Blu Ray Combo ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Mfr Refurbished
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I got this from another vendor as 'refurbished' for a similar price to amazon's.
Screen: huge, glossy, lovely. 1600x900 17.3"
Keyboard: interestingly different than most. I don't know the name of what this tech is called. The keys are not butted up against each other but separated, flatter, straight/individual. I like it a lot and I bet it's great for people with big fingers (or poor typing) who might normally hit more than one key. I'm not fond of the arrow key approach (it shrinks up/down to fit together between left/right) but I'll adapt. Has number pad. Bummer though, the numlock key has no light on it nor on the dash so you have no idea if it's on or not. However, the wireless and the 'mute' alt-function buttons have tiny lights as does the left caps lock. Black keys, typical of nearly all laptops nowdays, which since I use my laptop at night in the dark--and use a diff keyboard during my job hours so my brain-patterns are always 'adapting'--drives me crazy. There are little glow in the dark stickers you can get for keyboards to help with this.
Dash controls: nothing but power button and touch pad, however, media controls are built into function keys with ALT usage.
Touch pad: upside: large, smooth, defined edge. downside: pain in the butt to try and click. Not reasonable for constant use. The alternate 'tap' function so far is incredibly inconsistent. I may need more time/practice. A whole lot of it apparently. That is quite bothersome. Previous reviews I read elsewhere griped about this also. I don't think it's enough to weigh against the merits of the machine which are many--I'd still buy it--but if you don't mind mice (USB) because you mostly use it on a flat surface, you might want to get one. Definitely be sure you go into control panel and mess with your settings. It does have the various options for scroll, zoom in, zoom out, and 3-finger launch which is neat.
Ports: all the standards, USB on both sides, multi-option media card reader. Power cord on right side, sticks out the normal amount for laptops (alas). Standard wireless for this day and age. 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Guts: has a pretty decent processor, 4G RAM (the main reason I got this). If you do advanced gaming or 3D animation you'd want something with a lot more speed and RAM, but I do basic graphics and database work and it's fine for all that. Hard drive is large (640G). Go get 'minitool partition wizard' from cnet (free) and you can split it into a few drive letters for more practical storage/scanning/searching/defragging. (Note: if MPW it won't let you create a partition due to 'no MBR keys', change the non-C 'primary' drives this HP has in place to 'logical' (right-click to do that), then it will.)
Peripherals: has mic, internal speakers, webcam. These don't seem special to me but I'm no expert on that. The optical drive is CD/DVD, Blue-Ray and Light-Scribe which is about as much as you can ask.
The case is actually lovely, metallic silver with fine lines of engraving. The back of the lid has the round HP logo that is lit up. I guess so either you can tell it's on when it's closed or just because it looks neat.
Power: typical AC plus a battery said to be much longer life than normal -- and this despite the huge bright screen. I have not yet had cause to test this to verify it though. 9-Cell 93WHr Lithium-Ion Battery
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.
Other software: well it's a typical fairly low-end laptop. So you mostly have a bunch of crappy bloatware that wants registration and you should uninstall it and use quality open source based software instead, if clicking a link to uninstall (control panel is where you do that) or install something (once you download an install file to your hard drive) doesn't seem too challenging. Use MS IE to go get free Firefox and Chrome then close IE. Use one of those to go to CNet and get free Avast (an Anti Viral program). Reboot. Uninstall the junk you don't want. Install all the windows updates critically needed. Install the various free software you might want. (I recommend: OpenOffice suite for all the microsoft-like programs, free. 7Zip or WinZip utility. Music Monkey or Jet Audio free jukebox. FileZilla free FTP. When possible stick to download dotcom and cnet dotcom for s/w because they will make sure it is 'clean'.) Textpad is not a free editor but is 'nagware' and is a good customizable colorcode editor if you write code or do much in text. This PC does however come with some decent software free such as two Corel graphic/video programs and Roxio. (I prefer PhotoShop but I can't afford it so I only have it if I steal it. PSP is a good program though. I haven't seen the photo version but the graphics version actually has a photoshop-style interface option.) The microsoft office stuff this machine says it comes with is just to suck you into $. So try OpenOffice which is just as good. Or just use google docs if you're not too demanding and like the idea of being able to get to your stuff from any computer anywhere.
Warranty: mine came with 90 days and I bought an extra year, I'm not sure what amazon's options are.
I think this is a really good computer for the price. I have had every brand of basic laptop (the

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Sunday, July 15, 2012

ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black) Review

ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
First things first. This is the REVISED version of the Sandy Bridge chip-set. For all of you who are worried about the recall you don't have to worry when buying this laptop.
I purchased this laptop as a replacement for my old HP G60. I have been wanting to buy a new computer for some time now but had never looked too deeply into it. I originally wanted to build a custom pc and never thought that a laptop could keep up with a desktop. That is until I saw this computer. This computer is an amazing piece of hardware which manages to stay cool to the touch after hours of operation. Never would I have thought that I could find a laptop this powerful, let alone for under $1800.
PROS:
It has the new i7 Sandy Bridge which can tear through any task you throw at it.
The nvidia GTX 460M with 1.5 GB of DDR5. Windows tells me this card has 4GB total memory
Great speakers for a laptop. Never have I heard such sound come from a laptop.
The screen which as far as I can tell has about the same contrast as my 40 inch LED TV.
Can output 3D onto a 3DTV through HDMI
The keyboard has a great feel and the back light looks great every time I see it
The finish feels great to touch and does not show fingerprints.
This computer has BY FAR the best cooling I have seen on a laptop. It stays cooler than my old G60 which would power off if left sitting on a flat surface and would burn my hands.
CONS:
Honestly I dont have any cons that I can find. Just some problems that I am sure most people wont experience. After I installed virpe antivirus i got a BSOD and had to do a system restore to fix. However after the system restore I had to uninstall the drivers for the back lit keyboard and re-install them so they would work again. That and this computer came with Google chrome pre-installed. It would not open or uninstall. I had to install a new copy of chrome for it to work and now on my add/remove programs i have 2 copies of Google chrome.
Overall this laptop far exceeds my expectations for what a laptop can do. Most desktops will have a hard time keeping up with it. If you are in the market for a desktop replacement I honestly cant think of a much better way to spend $1800.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black)



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Saturday, July 14, 2012

HP Envy 17-1190NR Laptop (Gray) Review

HP Envy 17-1190NR Laptop (Gray)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
First off, let me point out that this is the HP Envy 17 3D series laptop, the best that HP makes. One pair of 3D glasses are included, and the 3D demos included with this Laptop are amazing. I haven't had a chance to fully test this thing out, just got it about a half an hour or so ago, but so far, I'm very impressed. The audio is the best, by far, that I've ever heard in a mobile platform (this coming from my previous gaming laptop: Gateway p7811fx). I have not tested any games with it yet, but will follow up when I've tried a few out. The 120hz screen is stunning, that's the only way I know how to put it. The touchpad is finicky, but its something I will try to get used to in the coming days, if not, Ill include that in my follow up. Did I mention the sound quality yet? Another plus to this laptop is the layout of the keyboard. I have large hands and the amount of spacing between the keys makes it more comfortable to type than any other laptop I've used.
To sum it up:
+screen image is amazing
+audio is the best I've heard in a laptop
+excellent keyboard
+3D
+Super Fast!!!!!
The only con I can think of is getting used to the touchpad, I'm sure it wont be much of a con with time.
Ps. The photos don't do this laptop justice.EDIT-----------------------------------
December/31/2010
I have installed and played a few games so far. Farcry 2 runs great in 3D on high settings, and looks breathtaking, it's hard to describe but it's a definite must see. The touchpad no longer bothers me as I was able to turn down the sensitivity in windows. In addition, I was able to return the F keys to their original function in the BIOS screen, so no big deal there.
In addition, I have been able to play Farcry 2 for hours without experiencing any overheating, the bottom left area gets slightly warm, but no where near uncomfortable.
A few things to point out:
The two 500gb hard drives are not in raid from factory
The photos on Amazon are the wrong laptop, they look similar, however this one says ENVY 17 3D in the top right corner.
The 3D glasses work great, however I have discovered they will not work properly if you are facing a TV that is turned on (I assume IR interference)
Overall I am very impressed with this laptop and feel that it is worth investing in.
EDIT-----------------------------------
April 3 2011
This laptop just up and died on me while playing a game. The screen started to flicker like an old black and white tv. I attempted to restart it, however it will no longer boot on. I contacted HP for an RMA, so far the staff has been very nice and helpful. However, paying this much for a laptop, there is no excuse for it to fail after 3 or 4 months of casual usage.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Envy 17-1190NR Laptop (Gray)

The next dimension starts here. Enjoy 3D Blu-ray DVDs at home and on the go using the HP ENVY 17-1190NR with included 3D glasses. This notebook has a large 17.3-inch diagonal Full HD display that delivers crisp, clear picture quality in 2D and 3D. Play music the way it's meant to be heard using Beats™ Audio and experience fast gaming with a powerful Intel processor and ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD video graphics. Plus, keep your HP laptop powered for hours using the two batteries included in the box.The HP ENVY 17-1190NR is a work of art with a durable, stylish laser-etched aluminum finish in carbon relic. See and feel the difference of the backlit keyboard, plus enter data quickly using the numeric keypad. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth help you connect and sync your HP laptop to a printer, MP3 player or smartphone without using cables. You can also video chat in low-light environments using the integrated webcam and transfer photos directly from a memory card to your notebook PC. With two hard drives and 6GB of memory, this HP ENVY makes productivity simple.

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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Sony VAIO VPCF136FM/B 16.4" Notebook (1.73 GHz Intel Core i7 - 740QM Processor, 6 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray) Review

Sony VAIO VPCF136FM/B 16.4 Notebook (1.73 GHz Intel Core i7 - 740QM Processor, 6 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray)
Average Reviews:

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I did quite a bit of research for a new laptop. This Sony Vaio is excellent for the price. I wanted to make my own laptop on dell and sony website and everything was way above this price with all these features. For excellent performance and added features I didnt mind spending this much. I play games with no problem and multi task with amazing speed. The fan noise is a little loud at times of long gaming but I expected that. Overall I recommend this laptop.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q888 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Laptop (Black/Red) Review

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q888 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Laptop (Black/Red)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I just recieved this laptop today. Didn't know that this laptop would be so big. I've been researching which laptop to purchase and I came across this one. I've had previous laptops from alienware, dell, apple, ibm thinkpad, etc. This laptop is by far one of the best, jaw droppingly beautiful, extremely fast, laptops ever.
The design of this laptop is superb with black and red all over the place. The illuminated keyboard makes everything clearly visible and not to mention super fast with 4 gigs of ram. Upon first boot, it gave me some errors about lan ethernet not being connected by it was easily fixed when i jumped into system bios and change the setting.
The weight of this laptop needs some getting used to because it is 11 lbs. It is a bit on the heavy side. Also, I was a little hesistant because it came with only 500gigz of hdd space but after feeling the speed and seeing the size of the 18" 1080p HD display, I'd say it was worth it.
The Harmon Kardon speakers are super crisp sounding and the touch music buttons on the left side of the keyboard makes playing media easy. The best thing about this laptop is that it comes with a numeric keypad that most laptops do not come with to save space. I use the numeric keypad alot daily. This is a key reason I chose this beast, for speed and the keyboard layout. All the extras that it comes with made my decision clear.
If your looking to replace a desktop but want a big display with superb quality and decent size with a numeric keypad, this is definately one of the laptops you should consider.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q888 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Laptop (Black/Red)


Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q888: Hard-core Gaming, Brilliant Graphics
Amplify your 3D gaming and video editing with incredibly fast frame rates with the Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q888 gaming laptop, which features a stunning 18.4-inch display--with true 1080p high-def resolution--and the Intel Core i7 processor with four cores of intelligent processing power. Additionally, it offers ultra-fast DDR3 system memory and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M graphics with 1 GB of GDDR5 video memory. Together, this pairing of high-performance technologies allow you to rip through the latest 3D games at lightning-fast frame-rates or create high-definition video and audio faster and more efficiently with smooth rendering and encoding.

The Qosmio X505 features Toshiba's striking Fusion Finish in Omega Black with stylish red chrome accents and a comfortable full keyboard with LED Backlighting and numeric 10-key pad. An intuitive touchpad with multi-touch control enables greater flexibility to browse and control what's happening on-screen with gesture-commands--including two-finger pinch, swipe, rotate and scroll.

It also includes a 1.3 megapixel webcam with Face Recognition capabilities for added security. And if you're using one laptop for several users--say for the whole family or for a small business--Toshiba Face Recognition lets you switch profiles with one simple look.

This Qosmio comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version).



Key Features
18.4-inch high-definition TruBrite display with 1920 x 1080 resolution for amazing color depth and clarity and native 1080p support.


1.73 GHz Intel Core i7-740QM processor (with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.93 GHz) delivers maximum processing power in response to peak demands. Intel's Turbo Boost technology maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload--providing more performance when you need it the most. It also comes equipped with Intel HD Graphics--an advanced video engine that delivers smooth, high-quality HD video playback, and advanced 3D capabilities, providing an ideal graphics solution for everyday computing.


500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM)


4 GB of DDR3 RAM (upgradeable to 8 GB) gives you the bandwidth you need to get the most of today's popular software, multitask all day long and run applications without a glitch.


NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M with 1 GB GDDR5 discrete graphics memory offers what gamers want most--hyper-realistic action with intense 3D visuals, plus vibrant, lifelike scenes and dynamic character effects--thanks to NVIDIA's PhysX technology. It goes beyond everyday gaming with built-in CUDA technology to speed demanding system tasks, like video playback and HD movie editing. You'll also enjoy up to a 50 percent improvement over previous generation mobile graphics processors, and a more rewarding Windows 7 experience with accelerated video and image processing (2298 MB total available graphics memory).


Watch Blu-ray Disc movies in crystal clear resolution with the read-only Blu-ray drive; also supports reading/writing of CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, and DVD-RAM The drive also offers Labelflash printing, which enables you to personalize your discs and keep them looking attractive and organized with direct-to-disc laser printing.


Wireless Connectivity
With its integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers.
With integrated Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize wirelessly with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as printers and cell phones.



Harman Kardon stereo speakers bring an added dimension to music, movies and gaming with rich, immersive virtual surround sound.
Dolby Home Theater suite of technologies delivers virtual surround sound from stereo speakers or any pair of headphones.


Included Toshiba Software:
Toshiba Media Controller offers simplified media sharing. Using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, it lets you share videos, music and pictures from the media library on your laptop with compatible devices in your home entertainment network, or with other compatible laptops and devices, like an Xbox 360 game console. And you can do it all without moving equipment, burning discs or fumbling with cables.
Toshiba Bulletin Board is an easy-to-use organizational and productivity app that lets you build your own personalized space on your desktop. With Toshiba Bulletin Board, you can quickly and easily manage your to-do lists and calendars, plus create your own custom work area by pinning your favorite photos, documents, links and more.
Toshiba ReelTime helps you cut down the time it takes to search for files. The easy-to-use app takes traditional text-based file structures one step further to help you find what you're looking for more quickly. Accessible from your taskbar, it shows you a visual timeline of your recently accessed files--using graphical thumbnails--so you can easily identify and get to your files faster.



Included Toshiba Utilities:
Toshiba eco Utility makes it easy to go green as you go mobile. Hit the Eco Button and you'll launch the Toshiba Eco Utility, which puts all sorts of easy-to-read information on your screen, and gives you the ability to adjust the power settings on your laptop. It also activates a light showing you're in the Eco Mode. The Toshiba Eco Utility lets you pick the optimal power plan for your situation. Choose High-Performance when you need every watt you can get, Power Saver for the least energy consumption, or Balanced as a perfect blend of the two.
USB Sleep and Charge offers a great way to keep your portable electronics powered up without requiring your laptop to be on. With this laptop's Sleep and Charge USB port, you'll be able to charge your smart phone, MP3 player, and other portable electronics--all without having to keep your laptop awake.
Hard Drive Impact Sensor takes the worry out of taking your most important files and multimedia on the go. Able to detect sudden movement along three different dimensions, the impact sensor (a complex system of hardware and software) helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement. And it works faster than you can blink to help protect your laptop and all-important data.



Up to 3.75 hours of battery life (12-cell battery; 87 Wh)


Dimensions & Weight: 17.4 x 11.6 x .63 inches (WxDxH); 9.7 pounds



Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

And with Windows Anytime Upgrade, you'll be able to add new features to your PC in as little as 10 minutes. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process, it requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings



What's in the box
This package contains the Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q888 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

It also comes with the following software:
Norton Internet Security 2010 (30-day trial); Microsoft Works 9; Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Edition (60-day trial); Google Toolbar; Microsoft Windows Media Player 12; Microsoft Silverlight; Toshiba PC Health Monitor; Toshiba Online Backup (30-day trial)
This laptop is backed by a 1-year limited hardware warranty.

Environmental Specifications
Energy Star 5.0 certified
Gold EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact.
RoHS compliant effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances

Learn more about Toshiba's environmental commitment.

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25th Anniversary of Toshiba Laptops
This year, Toshiba celebrates its 25th anniversary of innovations and quality in the notebook PC business. Beginning with the launch of the Toshiba T1100, the world's first clamshell-type, fully functional laptop PC, Toshiba has led the with such innovations as the first laptop with a color monitor in 1991 and a laptop with integrated CD-ROM drive in 1995 (followed by the addition of a DVD drive in 1998). And in 2009, Toshiba unveiled the world's first ultraportable laptop with 512GB solid state drive.

Today, Toshiba continues to be a leader in eco-friendly manufacturing, with virtually all of its consumer laptops earning EPEAT Gold status for meeting standards that help reduce overall environmental impact.


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Click here for more information about Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q888 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Laptop (Black/Red)

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

ASUS N82JQ-X1 14-Inch Laptop (Dark Brown) Review

ASUS N82JQ-X1 14-Inch Laptop (Dark Brown)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Had the laptop for two weeks and it started to blue screen, shutdown, and pixelate on a clean factory system. The wife called and ASUS tech support asked her to run a virus scan. She told them a full scan ran the previous night and nothing was detected. They told her to call back when the crashes occur again. What?
When it crashed for a four time I ran some diagnostics (memtest, SMART, SpeedFan, and windbg for the dump log) and found the issue was related to video (but more likely an overall heating issue). Found that the 720QM is a hot little puppy and hard to cool in a laptop. Sent the laptop to ASUS and they had it for 2 weeks. No customer contact or update on their RMA status check for the entire duration. After we got the laptop back (now with a new motherboard) it still runs very hot (cannot have this on your lap and the left side of the palm rest gets to 115F after 15 minutes of watching a show on Hulu). Oh, I forgot to mention that the first boot after since RMA return we had to call ASUS back. Since the motherboard was replaced our Windows 7 product code was no longer valid. I called ASUS and they wanted us to ship the laptop back. I instead called MS following the activation suggestions and MS got me back on track without a hassle. I also decided to burn the five recovery DVDs to make sure I have a recovery option. Well, the second DVD write fails on several types of DVD brands. Don't rely on ASUS for recovery media. Use Ghost, Windows Backup, and/or Clonezilla for your recovery options.
Overall: the laptop is fast, the graphics are good (not great) for newer games, the heat is a serious issue, and tech support is not very helpful. I would recommend an Core i5 that comes with optimus technology instead of a model with Core i7.

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Expect an Encore Turn up the performance on the 14-inch N82Jq notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB of DDR3 VRAM, the N82Jq delivers turbo-charged graphics that brings pristine HD quality for your videos, movies, and games. And with ASUS VideoMagic software, you get a premium software package to instantly take your standard definition media to an up-scaled HD experience with smoother frame rates and sharper images, so you can enjoy your favorite DVDs – new and old – in the quality they deserve. The N82Jq also comes with the Intel Core i7-720QM processor that delivers the multitasking muscle to take on several tasks at once. Plus, with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, this multimedia powerhouse automatically senses what you're doing and boosts processor performance to optimize your task at hand. Switch on the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and seamlessly optimize the system for increased battery savings. The N82Jq also gives you the latest in connectivity with Super Speed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly, and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than previous generation USB 2.0 speeds.1

Key Features
14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp HD visual quality (Learn more)
Intel Core i7-720QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitaskingthat automatically boosts performance for the task at hand(Learn more)
Super Speed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01 (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine boosts system performance and saves battery life with selectable power profiles (Learn more)
High-speed wireless N and Bluetooth v3.0 for fast Internet speed and enhanced Bluetooth connectivity(Learn more)

Learn More
Mesmerizing Visuals
Ingenious Multitasking
Enhanced Connectivity
Striking Style and Intelligent Control
ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better
ASUS 360 – 1 Year Global Warranty
ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty
What's in the Box The entire ASUS N82Jq-X1 package contains a warranty information card, AC Adapter, ASUS N82Jq-X1 notebook, and 6-cell battery pack.
ASUS N82Jq-X1 notebook
AC Adapter
6-cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
CPU: Intel Core i7-720QM processor (1.6 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) , Bluetooth v3.0
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066 DRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (up to 8GB)
Storage: 320GB 7,200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel
Audio: Altec Lansing speakers with SRS Premium Sound, ALC269 High Definition Codec with Embedded Class D Speaker Amplifier
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 8-in- card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo)
Input/ Output: 1x Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x E-SATA, 1x HDMI port
Battery Pack: 6 cell
Dimensions: 13.8 x 9.7 x 1.3 ~ 1.4 (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.06 lbs
Color: Brown
© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. ASUS shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. 1 Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2 Actual speed depends on device and system status. 3 Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 4 For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.


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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Samsung RF510-S02 15.6-Inch HD LED Laptop (Graphite Radiant Burst) Review

Samsung RF510-S02 15.6-Inch HD LED Laptop (Graphite Radiant Burst)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
So far I am very impressed by this laptop. For the price, the included hardware, specifically the processor, RAM, and video card are quite impressive--these are the things that made my decision to purchase this laptop. I am not going to list either pro or con for the battery, this machine is a powerhouse, so of course it's going to suck a lot of power. If you want a business travel machine or ultra-portable this isn't for you. This laptop is intended for someone who needs desktop power that has the *option* of being mobile when necessary. This fits fine with my lifestyle. I should mention that I am coming to this laptop as an owner of 3 Apple laptops. I made the switch because the hardware on this *far* exceeds the Apple version of the same price point. Or even that of double this price point. My purchase of this item was at $849.99. This is $100-200 less than any other online retailer at the time I purchased, so a great deal with Amazon.
I'm going to review a few points not well-covered in the product description or other reviews:
Pros:
-There is a feature to turn off the LED backlight (function+F5). This reminds me a bit of the Pixel Qi display panels, but more rudimentary since it isn't an eInk technology, just simple LCD panel. However, if outdoors in bright sunlight, the screen is very easy to see and battery savings are significant. Otherwise, you will want to keep the backlight on, unless you put a bright lamp directly behind you.
-Already mentioned, but the feel of the keyboard is the best I've found in a laptop. Amazing. Very slightly rubberized keys with a soft but not completely weightless action. This is excellent for a fast typist, but isn't so ultra-sensitive that it causes accidental letter repeats.
-The touchpad is great. The ELAN Smart-Pad driver has a lot of extra options. My previous laptop is a macbook and I am accustomed to gesture touchpads (swiping, 2-finger scrolling vertically and horizontally and more). I needed to configure a few options, but in the end am able to mimic all touchpad options I utilized on my macbook. This is very valuable.
-The palmrest is a metal material, which surprised me. It looks as though it should wear well, I've had laptops where the friction from use and oils from hands discolored or rubbed away paint/tint in the plastic.
-There are 4 USB ports (two 2.0 (left side) and two 3.0 (right side). This is great, because I have a few USB devices that are wider than typical and prevent use of the adjacent USB port. With two ports on either side, I can keep a bulky device on one side and still use the other two, or use two bulky ones at the same time.
-I've been using the CPU monitoring widget for Win7. So far it seems that the laptop only kicks in use of additional processor cores when absolutely necessary, battery life seems to be a bit better than I expected. With casual browsing and IM going I get about 2.3-2.5 hours on one charge. This is with settings for longer battery life enabled.
Cons:
-Fast Start is quoted as a 3 second or less duration in waking from 'sleep.' So far this is more in the 4-8 second range for me. Not a dealbreaker, but slightly annoying that it is advertised as "within 3 seconds."
-The webcam is (I believe) 0.5 MP. It has poor detail and is honestly just crummy. Just what I'd expect with that. Not a feature I plan on using, but it's surprising that this piece of hardware is so far behind the curve of the rest, especially given that these cameras are relatively inexpensive, especially for a 1 or 2 MP. I knew the low MP going into the purchase so had no expectations of quality. It doesn't affect my rating but I figure it worth mentioning for someone who needs higher quality. Honestly, it's still such a great machine, if that's a big deal, I'd get a clip-on external cam for when you need one.
-One minor issue with keyboard layout. There's a 10-key layout on the right side of the keyboard, the zero key is the same width as the other numbers, directly below the 2 key which is not ergonomically sound for use by your thumb when doing significant number entry. This nearly defeats the inclusion of the 10-key section. I rarely do much of this type of work, but for someone who intends to utilize this, you may wish to consider another system or remap the right arrow key to function as a zero.
As you can see, the cons are fairly minor when considering the system and pros. I've only had the laptop for a week so will update this review if I notice anything different. Feel free to comment if you have any specific questions about this review or laptop.
For more reviews and at about $120 or so cheaper, check out the Samsung RF510-S01 15.6-Inch HD LED Laptop (Graphite Radiant Burst). The only difference is a slightly slower processor (Intel Core i5, you'd only notice a difference if doing very system-intensive work like video editing, 3D gameplay) and smaller hard drive (500 GB). If you just intend on using the laptop for web browsing and office applications, save yourself the cash.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung RF510-S02 15.6-Inch HD LED Laptop (Graphite Radiant Burst)



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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

HP Pavilion dv7t Quad Edition Laptop, 2nd Gen Intel(R) Quad Core(TM) i7-2630QM (2.0 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) w/Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz, 1GB GDDR5 Radeon(TM) HD 6490M Graphics , 8GB DDR3 System Memory, 750GB 5400RPM Hard Drive, 17.3" HD+ HP BrightView LED Display, Blu-ray player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner, HP TrueVision HD Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone and HP SimplePass Fingerprint Reader, Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) Review

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