Gateway gives Intel a go with Atom N270-equipped LT2000 netbook

After giving AMD the first crack, Gateway is issuing its second bona fide netbook with an Intel Inside® sticker instead. The LT2000 is a 10.1-inch machine with a list of specifications that any avid netbook follower could spout off in their sleep. For everyone else, here goes: a 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, LED-backlit 1,024 x 600 resolution display, 1GB of DDR2 memory, 160GB 5400RPM hard drive, GMA950 graphics set, a card reader, built-in webcam, twin stereo speakers, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets, three-cell battery and a chassis that tips the scales at 2.62 pounds. Gateway's making these available as we speak for $299.99, with the LT2001u receiving a NightSky Black coating and the LT2021u arriving with a Cherry Red outfit. The full release is after the break.

Maingear's eX-L 18 grabs for "world's most powerful gaming laptop"

You know, this whole "most powerful laptop" game is pretty hilarious. Back in '05, CompAmerica's (who?) Orca 9098 held the title with a cutting-edge 3.8GHz Pentium 4, and over the years, we've watched outfit after outfit pull the award back and forth, much like those tugging games we used to play as tots. Regardless, it seems as if Maingear's down for the fun, today rolling out the planet's all new "world's most powerful gaming laptop" in the eX-L 18, which arrives with an undisclosed Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme processor, twin NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M GPUs, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to three 2.5-inch SATA or SSD drives, an optional Blu-ray drive and a screen that's probably larger than your mother's desktop LCD. And by that, we mean 18.4-inches with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. If you're down with lugging around this beast, you can get one headed your way provided you've got at least $2,999 you're willing to see off.

HP Mini 5101 Netbook

The Mini 5101, or Mini Executive as HP would have it, is now available to purchase, with prices starting at $399.99. While still a netbook at heart, the 5101 has an impressive array of accoutrements: aluminum and magnesium shell for lightweight (2.64 lbs) sturdiness, flat chiclet keyboard, 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, and at an extra cost, 128GB SSD and 1366 x 768 resolution upgrade options. The build quality and keyboard got high marks from us when we handled the machine back in June, and now a couple of online scribes have put together timely in-depth reviews of the device. They share the impression that HP has a strong business product on its hands, highlighted by a class-leading WiFi signal of 37.7 Mbps at 15 feet, though they were also concerned that neither pricing nor battery life (between 5 and 7 hours) are the best available. Hit up the read links for all the delectable details.

Acer Aspire One AO751h Laptop Review

In many ways, the Acer Aspire One AO751h, the company’s first 11.6-inch netbook, is an improvement over its recently refreshed 10-inch cousin: users get an extra inch of screen real estate, a roomier keyboard, and more than 7 hours of battery life (its smaller kin, the AOD150, lasts an hour less). But although it’s larger, the AO751h has a weaker processor. The result is a netbook that looks and feels great but offers slower performance than other machines in its class.

Design

If you’ve seen the 10-inch Aspire One AOD250, the 11.6-inch version will look familiar. It, too, has a glossy black lid with Acer’s metal logo impressed in the lower corner; the lid picks up fingerprints fairly easily. Like the slightly more upscale Timeline series, it has a gray palm rest and keyboard deck with a black keyboard and thin bezel to match.

As with the Timeline series, the overall effect is conservative, but not cheap-looking. The real cornerstone of the Aspire One’s design is not the color scheme anyway, but its thinness. Whereas its competitors, such as the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA, can be as thick as 1.4 inches and weigh close to 3 pounds (the 1005HA weighs 2.8), the Aspire One has a minimal footprint of 11.2 x 7.8 x 1.0 inches, although it weighs 3 pounds (and 3.6 with its adapter). In the hand, it feels just slightly heavier than the Toshiba mini NB205, but that’s offset somewhat by the thinner build.

The only catch: its six-cell battery juts out the back, whereas some netbooks, such as the Eee PC 1005HA, have comparably sized batteries that are more flush with the system (and manage to deliver longer battery life, to boot. More on that later).

Keyboard

Like the Aspire Timeline AS3810T, the Aspire One A0751h has raised keys, whose plastic has a slightly textured feel. The layout is close to full size, and we appreciate that the right Shift key is full size and in the proper place. Touch typists will have no problem with this netbook, but we noticed that the keyboard flexed as we pounded out responses to IMs.

On our first Ten Thumbs Typing Test, we scored 71 words per minute; our highest score on our desktop computer is 88 words per minute. Then, we immediately took the test again and scored 86 words per minute, which suggests you’ll likely acclimate quickly.

Touchpad and Touch Button

When we reviewed the latest 10-inch Aspire One, we complained about the tiny touchpad. With the A0751h’s slightly wider footprint, however, comes a wider touchpad (2.5 x 1.6 inches), which was a pleasant improvement over the AOD250’s 2.0 x 1.5-inch pad. It’s still fairly short, though, especially compared to the NB205’s (3.1 x 1.6 inches) enormous touchpad.

We have a bigger concern the single touch button, which we found too stiff and narrow. Aside from the stiffness, we would have preferred two buttons, as there are on the NB205 and other netbooks.

Display and Sound

One thing the AO751h offers that most of its 10-inch competitors don’t is a high-res screen. Whereas the 1005HA, NB205, and 10-inch Apsire One all have displays with 1024 x 600-pixel resolution, the AO751h’s 11.6-inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768. Those extra vertical pixels, in particular, mean you won’t have to scroll down as often when you’re viewing pages, a common inconvenience with netbooks.

We were immediately impressed by the screen’s brightness. When we watched a Saturday Night Live sketch on Hulu.com we enjoyed pleasant colors and, moreover, good viewing angles even from oblique side angles. The glossy finish limited our viewing angles from the front, however, when we dipped the lid forward slightly we were still able to make out the clip. By the time we got to a 45-degree angle, however, the screen appeared washed out.

The volume, as you would expect with a netbook, is weak. Watching a clip in a quiet room with the netbook right in front of us, the sound was never too loud. Music, too, sounded predictably tinny, but no worse than it does on other netbooks: the bass in “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, for instance, was distant.
Ports and Webcam

The AO751h has a standard selection of ports: three USB ports, VGA output, an Ethernet jack, headphone and mic ports, and a 4-in-1 memory card reader. The memory card reader, VGA, and one USB port on the right side, and the rest on the left.

The netbook comes with an embedded 1.3-MP webcam. In a Skype chat, our friend reported minimal latency with better colors and brightness than on his Apple iSight camera.

New Laptop HP Mini 5101 First Look

HP just unveiled its top-of-the-line netbook, the HP Mini 5101 companion PC. This latest Mini features a rugged anodized aluminum display enclosure with a black, brushed metal finish and a magnesium alloy chassis. We recently spent some hands-on time with the newest addition to HP's family of Mini PCs. Continue reading to find out our first impressions and to get a closer look at this impressive little laptop.

Build and Design

The design of the Mini 5101 is an obvious departure from the rest of HP's Mini line, and at first glance the new Mini looks more like a pint-sized HP ProBook than a typical netbook. Starting at just 2.6 pounds, the durable little HP Mini 5101 features a 10.1-inch diagonal LED display available in either WSVGA or high-definition resolutions. Customers can also choose either the four-cell battery for lighter weight or six-cell battery for longer battery life. When configured with the optional six-cell battery, HP claims the Mini 5101 delivers up to eight hours of battery life.

As previously mentioned, the Mini 5101 features a rugged anodized aluminum display enclosure with a black, brushed metal finish and a magnesium alloy chassis. The metal construction really gives the Mini 5101 the feeling of being a premium ultraportable notebook rather than a typical netbook. HP even offers a matching external optical drive for those road warriors who can't live without CDs and DVDs.

Speaking of durable build quality, the HP Mini 5101 also features HP 3D DriveGuard, which offers a three-axis digital accelerometer chip that sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock. The HP Panel Protection System also includes a scratch-resistant acrylic LCD cover and magnesium hinge bracket for added durability.

Continuing with the HP ProBook design elements, the HP Mini 5101 has a newly designed, spill-resistant keyboard that is 95 percent of a full-size QWERTY keyboard. The keys are nice and large with significant spacing in between each key to prevent typos. The individual keys have "HP DuraKeys" coating which HP claims makes the keyboard 50 times more resistant to visible wear than keyboards without it. In addition, the mouse buttons are located in the traditional space below the touchpad, making for a familiar user experience. Thank goodness! Someone at HP must have noticed the fact that EVERY review of the previous HP Mini netbooks complained about the location of the touchpad buttons. The touchpad was actually quite nice in the pre-production unit I tested.

Performance and Features

We didn't have an opportunity to benchmark the pre-production unit of the Mini 5101, but it's safe to assume that the performance of the Mini 5101 will be in line with other netbooks equipped with the Intel Atom processor and Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics. That being said, one advantage to the HP Mini 5101 is that HP will include a fast-performing 7,200 RPM hard drive standard with the unit. Alternatively, an optional Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in either 80GB or 128GB capacities.

An optional, integrated Gobi-powered HP Mobile Broadband module allows users to access the Internet around the world ... assuming you have network coverage. Other wireless technologies include integrated Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth 2.0. An integrated 2-megapixel webcam allows for still-image capture, web-conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging.

HP QuickSync software, planned to be available as a web download in September, allows quick synchronization of the HP Mini with notebooks or desktops so users can avoid maintaining multiple documents, media files and email. Information also can sync to portable storage devices.

One exceptionally nice little feature on the new Mini 5101 is the use of a tool-free RAM cover. Basically, all you have to do to access the RAM is remove the battery and slide a little switch over to release the cover for the RAM module. Very nice.

New accessories designed for use with the HP Mini include a USB 2.0 port replicator that adds a variety of audio, networking and USB ports when you're working at your desk. Other accessories available for the HP Mini include a USB 2.0 docking station, external optical drive and USB-powered external speakers. The docking station is pretty neat because you can rotate the top of the dock to have some of the ports pointed forward and the rest pointed backward. Likewise, you can also mount the dock vertically or horizontally on your desk. Finally, a lightweight messenger bag designed specifically for the HP Mini or a neoprene slip case offer added protection for road warriors while on the go.

Pricing and Availability:
The HP Mini 5101 starts at $449 and is expected to be available in late July.

Source: http://www.notebookreview.com/

New Laptop Fujitsu M2010 Review

The M2010 is a new netbook to hit the market from Fujitsu, which is their first Atom-based model to date. Offering good looks and good build quality it is marketed as a "Mini-Notebook" aimed at casual users who want a small platform to surf the web or check email. In this review we take a look at all aspects of the M2010, to help you find out if this netbook is right for you.

Fujitsu M2010 features the following specifications:

* Operating System: Windows XP Home
* Processor: Intel Atom N270 Processor 1.60GHz (533MHz FSB, 512K Cache)
* Memory: 1GB DDR2 PC2-6400 SDRAM
* Internal Storage: 160GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
* Display: 10.1-inch diagonal LED-backlit WSVGA (1024x576)
* Graphics: Intel GMA 950
* Wireless: Atheros 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
* Expansion: 4-in-1 media card slot
* Ports and connectors: (3) USB 2.0 ports, VGA OUT, power connector, RJ-45/Ethernet, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 1.3 megapixel webcam
* Dimensions (H x W x D): 10.2" x 7.4" x 1.3"
* Weight: 2 lbs 8.8oz (3lbs 5.2oz with adapter).
* Power: 3-cell Lithium-Ion battery (10.8V, 2.4Ah, 26Wh)
* Warranty: One-year international warranty
* MSRP: $449


Build and Design

From the start Fujitsu made a great looking netbook. The M2010 has an excellent glossy metallic red paint job inside and out with glossy piano black plastic surrounding the top of the keyboard and around the screen. I really think Fujitsu took a step back and thought before they came up with a netbook to launch into a saturated market ... and found some interesting ways to make it stand out. Whatever approach they took it worked.

Build quality is excellent with no squeaks and creaks around the chassis, and only minor flex from larger plastic surfaces. Even the screen hinges feel great with good tension when pivoting the screen and a very smooth action when in motion. On the bottom of the notebook we find the standard "Fujitsu Felt" underneath the processor location, which helps limit the amount of heat that can transfer into your legs when you are using it on your lap. This is standard across every Fujitsu notebook I have ever seen.

Screen and Speakers
The glossy display on the M2010 looks great, which is the case with many LED-backlit netbook displays. Colors are rich and vibrant, with deep contrast and excellent black levels. Peak brightness levels were great for viewing in bright office conditions, with my preferred setting right at the 50% mark. Viewing angles rate average, with colors starting to invert 20 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles were much better, extending until the screen bezel and reflection started to obstruct the view of the panel.



The speakers rate average compared to netbooks, and below average compared to most notebooks. Peak volume levels were fine for listening in a small room, but didn't have much power to fill a larger room. Bass and midrange were not present, with only higher frequencies coming through. Headphones would be preferred for really enjoying music or a movie.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard is the primary area that I feel Fujitsu should have spent more time developing. Compared to almost every netbook on the market right now, it has one of the smallest keyboard layouts, which feels really cramped. While HP set the trend for one of the best netbook keyboards, manufacturers such as ASUS have been following a similar path, expanding the keyboard to make it as wide as the chassis allows. Fujitsu keeps a wide border around the keyboard, which looks good with the glossy red finish, but doesn't allow as large of a typing surface. Despite the small size the keyboard itself feels very good. Support is excellent, with barely a hint of flex under heavy typing pressure. Individual key action is smooth, with very little key wobble when you try to move the top of the key around. Noise is minimal while typing, with a muted high-pitch click when each key is pressed.

The M2010 offers a smaller Synaptics touchpad with a smooth matte finish. During our tests it was easy to operate with no discernable lag (after some settings adjustment). Initially we found the touchpad to coast after you brought your finger off the surface, which felt very similar to a laggy touchpad. We found a Synaptics feature called "Momentum" was enabled, and once turned off made the touchpad motion feel much nicer. The touchpad also offers some multi-touch functionality, including Flick, Pinch, and ChiralRotate, used to rotate a selected object 90 degrees. No option for two fingered scrolling was found. The touchpad buttons are setup with a seesaw button which is flexible enough that both buttons can be pressed at the same time. Feedback when pressed is minimal, with a loud click when engaged.

Ports and Features

Port selection on the M2010 is average compared to most netbooks on the market, with three USB ports, VGA out, headphone/mic, and SDHC multi-card reader, and LAN connection. Fujitsu also includes a Kensington lock slot if you feel the need to securely attach the netbook while it is unattended.



Performance and Benchmarks

Initially system performance of the Fujitsu M2010 was well below average compared to similarly configured netbooks. wPrime, which tests just the processor was giving results in the range of 180 seconds, whereas it should be around 120 seconds. Other benchmarks were also giving results that were much slower than expected. After updating drivers across the board with little success, we hopped into the BIOS to see if there were any odd settings. As it turns out the BIOS allows you to switch HyperThreading on or off, with the default setting being off. Once this was turned back on the M2010 sped up and was performing in line with other netbooks. We don't know if this is a preproduction issue or not, but if you purchase this netbook checking the BIOS option should be the first thing you do after taking it out of the box.

With optimal performance settings the M2010 performs quite well in day-to-day tasks that you might expect from a netbook. HD video decoding and gaming aside, netbooks are great for web browsing, editing photos, typing documents, and just about anything you might want to do while traveling abroad or even to your couch. Boot and shutdown times once the OS had settled from the initial boot were very good, although this is with the AV software removed.


HDTune measuring hard drive performance:



Heat and Noise

Compared to other netbooks the M2010 runs a bit on the warm and loud side of things. Under normal use temperatures settle in the mid 80's around the top surface, and after it has warmed up the fan likes to stay on. Under any heavier load the fan noise is considerably louder than most notebook fans. This can be common on some netbooks, since the fans are so small they have to spin very fast to move any measureable amount of air.



Battery

The M2010 didn't impress us with its performance in our battery tests. The standard battery Fujitsu includes with this model is a small 3-cell 25Wh battery which doesn't compare well to 6-cell batteries you would get in this price range from other manufacturers. Another problem we ran into was the default BIOS settings relating to HyperThreading being disabled. With it disabled, during our battery test with the backlight set to 50% and wireless active the M2010 managed 2 hours and 17 minutes. With it turned on, power consumption dropped by 1 to 1.5watts at idle, increasing our results to 3 hours and 12 minutes. With a larger battery the system could have easily competed with newer netbooks, but with the 3-cell limitation results were less than stellar.

HP intros new Slimline, Pavilion, Elite, and Compaq Presario Desktop PCs

HP launches four new series of desktop PCs for back-to-school shoppers, including HP Slimline, HP Pavilion, HP Elite and Compaq Presario. All these desktop PCs can be equipped with either AMD or Intel’s processor platform.

The HP Pavilion Slimline s5000 series is powered by AMD Athlon Single Core LE1660 or Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 processor and gets 2GB to 4GB of memory, 320GB or 500GB hard drive. The price starts at $289.99.

The Pavilion p6000 series everyday-computing desktop PC packs AMD Sempron LE1300 or Intel’s Pentium Dual Core E5200/E5300 processor. p6000 series starts at $269.99. Then the Pavilion Elite e9000 series, designed for entertainment, gets AMD Phenom II X2 545 or Intel processor from Core 2 Quad to Core i7 processors as well as dedicated graphics card. The Elite starts at $599.99.

Lastly, the Compaq Presario CQ5000 series (CQ5110F to be exact) is boosted by AMD Athlon X2 7750 Dual-Core processor, 3GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Graphics. The price is $379.99.