Amazon.com Product Description

Take your entertainment center with you wherever you roam with the HP Pavilion zd8080 Media Center Notebook PC. Record your favorite TV programs and watch them on the widescreen 17-inch LCD monitor, view photoslideshows with your own soundtrack, or watch DVD movies, and control it all with the included remote. The zd8080 can also unleash your digital creativity with the multiformat DVD/CD burner and included Image Zone photo editing and management software. This multimedia notebook features a super-fast, hyper-threaded 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM, 54g wireless connectivity, multiformat memory card reader, and a powerful video/graphics card with 256 MB of dedicated RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive is one of the largest available in today's notebooks, enabling road warriors and multimedia enthusiasts more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software.
• Processor: The hyper-threaded 3.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system, helping to deliver faster transistors and increased performance. It also features a 1 MB L2 cache and a blazingly fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed, which measures how fast a processor and the main memory communicate. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (2 x 512 MB, dual channel at 400 MHz) is a very good start for this multimedia-centric notebook, but you'll want to take full advantage of the 2 GB capacity (2 x 1 GB) to maximize the multimedia.
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive is compatible with a wide variety disc formats, including DVD+, DVD-, VCD, and SVCD discs. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 1x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 2x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x). For CDs, it has a 16x write/10x rewrite/40x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard keyboard with scroll bar and integrated numeric keypad, and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The zd8080us has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. The 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support will enable it to be ready for tomorrow's 125 Mbps wireless LANs. You get a good offering of connectivity options, including super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 parallel port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 6-in-1 memory card reader (compatible with Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD Picture Cards)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. Additionally, it enables you to control your television with the included remote and record and pause programs (much like a DVR--or digital video recorder--such as Tivo or ReplayTV). Explore upcoming TV programming with the easy-to-use Electronic Program Guide, or browse through thousands of movies by movie poster, rating, actor, and more with the MovieFinder feature--all with no additional service fee. With the 250 GB hard drive, you'll be able to record and store up to 180 hours of video programming. It's compatible with cable, digital cable, satellite TV and antenna inputs, and it includes an FM tuner.

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Other preloaded software includes InterVideo WinDVD Creator and WinDVD SE player, Muvee autoProducer, Apple iTunes, Sonic RecordNow, Norton AntiVirus 2005, Microsoft Works 8.0, MSN Encarta Standard, Microsoft Money, and Quicken 2004 New User Edition.

Dimensions and Weight
At 9.4 pounds, the zd8080 isn't the most easily portable notebook. It measures 15.7 x 11.4e x 1.96 inches (L x W x H).

Power
This notebook is powered by a 12-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers an average of 3 hours of battery life (dependent upon computing conditions).

What's in the Box
This package contains the zd8080 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, HP Dual TV Tuner/PVR, mini remote control, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 30-day free software support. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This notebook does it all !!
Watch TV, record TV, surf the net, read your mail, watch a slideshow, all at the same time !! This newer version of Media Center works much better than the past and why even consider a desktop? For all the specs, convenience of size, and quality of the display, this is a great deal for the price. ... Read more

Product Description

The Portege R100 is the ultimate ultraportable, packing breathtaking performance into an ultra-thin, super-lightweight wireless notebook. Its unprecedented portability and Intel Centrino mobile technology maximize working freedom for highly mobile executives. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
A superb portable computer for businessmen on the move, the Sony VAIO PCG-K37 will crunch numbers and data faster than the vast majority of desktops yet won't break your back when you cart it from place to place. Its 3D graphics speed is not exceptional, nor is it recommended for anyone who requires extremely long battery life. Yet at this price point and with this level of raw speed, the VAIO PCG-K37 is a solid buy for the power user.

The PCG-K37 features a 15.4-inch WXGA widescreen display that is perfectly tailored to the aspect ratio favored by DVD movies.

Processor At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The VAIO PCG-K37 is on the top end of the scale, equipped with a blazing 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 538 processor. It's important to note that the overall performance of any computer is also influenced by the speed and quantity of its memory and the quality of it graphics card. And as you'll see, Sony has effectively dealt with the former but somewhat neglected the latter.

Memory Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The VAIO VAIO PCG-K37 incorporates a startling one GB of RAM. This is a massive allotment for any notebook and substantially more than that of most desktops as well. Thusly, users can expect superb multitasking and virtually no slowdowns even during ultra-complex tasks.	 
	Sony VAIO PCG-K37 3.20 GHz Pentium 4 1 GB RAM 80 GB HD	Sony VAIO PCG-K35 3.067 GHz Pentium 4 512 MB RAM 80 GB HD	Sony VAIO PCG-K33 3.20 GHz Pentium 4 512 MB RAM 60 GB HD

Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller), which in this case is an ATI Radeon IGP 345M with 64 MB of "shared" video memory. Dedicated video memory is preferable to "shared" video memory (where the graphics controller appropriates a portion of the main system memory), because it takes much more of the load from the processor and thus frees it to handle other tasks. Nevertheless, this system's processor is so powerful that the lack of a high-end video controller isn't as essential as it otherwise might be. Demanding 3D games and 3D animation may cause the graphics to bog down somewhat, but most everything else should look quite smooth.

Display
The VAIO PCG-K37's 15.4-inch WXGA display may be smaller than the 17-inch monsters found in today's top-of-the-line models, yet it's larger than that of most notebooks and even some desktops. Furthermore, its widescreen format is perfectly tailored to the aspect ratio favored by DVD movies. It's highly sophisticated too -- sporting Sony's new XBRITE Technology for better contrast and a brighter picture, and a crisp 1280 by 800 maximum resolution.

Hard Disk
At a spacious 80 GB, the enclosed hard drive is a welcome perk for those who need to operate a broad range of applications and also keep a large library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system features a DVD+R Double Layer/DVD±RW Drive, through which you can do all of the above. The drive also supports today's hot new double layer DVD format that utilizes discs with double the capacity of traditional DVDs.

Audio
The unit is equipped with high-grade speakers and a powerful audio amplifier.

Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via an 82-key keyboard and a standard electro-static touch pad.

Dimensions and Weight
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and definitely too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that are typically less powerful than their larger brethren but weigh as little as two lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. Despite its impressive power, the VAIO PCG-K37 tips the scales at just 8 pounds. It is, however, rather hefty at 14.1 by 2.2 by 10.9 inches.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-K37 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor, and 1 year of toll-free phone support. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

WOW
This computer is amazing. I first got it when my ancient Compaq finally crashed. I got it at Best Buy, and let me tell you, comparing the screen to the computers next to it is like comparing a Ford to a Porshe. I finally decided to get it since Sony has never failed me, and I love it! Even now I have trouble going from the laptop to the desktop, my eyes still expecting the amazing screen quality...only to see a normal flat screen monitor... Along with the screen, everything works great. A hobby of mine is to make some movies with my friends, and it can handle the editing process like a charm. The only problem I have ever had with it was figuring out that there is a switch on the front to turn on the wireless LAN. Trust me, waiting in line for 30 minutes to find out all I had to do was flip a switch wasn't a great experience. (And I'm one of those guys who dosn't ever read the manual). This computer is wonderful, probably the best Sony laptop they sell. I highly suggest that anyone looking for a computer get this awesome product.

Buyer beware....!!
I bought a Sony VAIO PCG laptop for £1,350 in 2003 having chosen the machine mainly for its large, high-resolution screen (16inch, 1600 x 1200) and in the belief that Sony laptops were some of the most reliable on the market. However, when the computer was just over 14 months old (not quite three months out of warranty), the keyboard failed completely, and I had to purchase an external USB keyboard to be able to continue using it. I wrote to Sony, arguing that such a major fault was unacceptable, and asked them to repair the product at their own expense. Their response was to offer me a derisory 10% discount on the cost of repairs.

Then, about a month later, the screen flickered briefly and died completely! I was left with an expensive laptop that was effectively reduced to a desktop machine that could only be used with an external keyboard and an external monitor.

So, here was a laptop that had been used carefully for about five hours a day, in a benign environment, had never suffered any kind of physical damage, and had only been taken out of the house on a handful of occasions, and yet had developed two major faults in the space of just sixteen months! Sony's response to my complaints was simply to argue that their machines "are some of the most reliable available on the market".

Not one, but two major faults in just over a year. Reliable? Judge for yourself. My advice: think very carefully before purchasing a Sony VAIO laptop - unless, that is, you intend using it as a desktop machine.

Perfection in a silver box
A flawless machine. As I sit here at Starbucks putting it through its paces I notice that playing Everquest 2 online is a very fulfilling experience. No hang-ups whatsoever. The graphics are gorgeous. The head-turning factor is also quite high. I have answered about 4 inquiries about this beautiful beast in the last 2 hours already. The Vaio is, indeed, the Cadillac of PC notebooks...and the rest of the world appears to nod as they walk by.

What a machine!
Very powerful and versatile machine with immense capacity and effortless operation. It was out of the box and working witin five minutes. All Sony-installed software works fine.You don't really need a whole gigabyte of RAM and an 80 gigabyte hard drive on a laptop-but you don't really need a Mercedes, either!

Highly recommended!

It's got it's pluses and minuses
I got this notebook today and man it is LOUD! I'm talking borderline annoying. If you walk by my office it sounds like I have a floor fan running in there. That's my biggest complaint. I could hardly beleive it. I sure hope I can get used to it. If it weren't for the loudness I would have given this notebook a 4 or maybe 5. Maybe something is wrong with mine and I just don't know it.

Also the adaptor is HUGE, but I live with that.

Otherwise a decent notebook. The screen is the best part. Eye candy - very clear and crisp. I'm sure it will work out to be a good notebook for me. But SONY should throw a pair of earplugs for those who would rather not hear the whiz of the cooling fan all day. ... Read more

Product Description

The sleek Toshiba Port�g� R200 is an ultra-thin, ultra-light notebook with all the features you need to stay productive on the go, including high-end security to protect your data.The Port�g� R200 features a low-voltage mobile processor optimized for longer battery life, helping you stay productive unplugged for up to 5 hours. The Port�g� R200 also features numerous Toshiba EasyGuard enhancements for better durability, connectivity and security. Stay connected with integrated wireless LAN and enjoy the security of both a fingerprint reader and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) embedded security chip. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Maximize your mobile performance as well as your multimedia capabilities with the Toshiba Satellite M35X-S163 notebook PC. It's ideal for both savvy professionals and students who want outstanding performance and advanced capabilities at an affordable price. It has a powerful Intel Celeron M Processor, integrated 54g wireless connectivity, a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a widescreen 15.4-inch diagonal display for a better visual experience.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 60 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is becoming the average size for notebook PCs, providing enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software.
• Processor: The Intel Celeron M Processor 360 is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. The 1.4 GHz speed resides at the top of the spectrum for this processor (as of March, 2005). It also features a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and large 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, PC2700, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: This notebook includes a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, with 24x write/read and 10x rewrite speed for CDs and 8x read speed for DVDs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The M35X-S163 has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You get a good offering of connectivity options, including both super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire options:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack
• 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), and Norton AntiVirus (with three-month subscription).

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 14.4 x 10.8 x 1.48 inches and weighs 6 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 4-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 2 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the M35X-S163 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great price, great features: great everything
Okay, this computer is just awesome! I only wanted to spend 1000 dollers, get at least a 40 gb hard drive, and at least 256 mb of memory/ram. Toshiba gave me a ton more then that! I got a 15.4 inch widescreen display, which makes watching movies a pleasure. I love the win-DVD software that comes with it which is a lot better then windows media player. My favorite about that is basically the fact that even on normal movies, you can make it widescreen without the annoying bars on the top and bottom of the screen. There is 512 mb of memory/ram, which helps the computer so that I can have several programs open at once. There is a dvd rom-cd-rw drive. This allows me to watch dvd's and burn cd's. most computers under 1000 dollers would not include that feature of burning cd's. It has a 60 gb hard drive, so I'll never have to worry about filling up this hard drive, its massive. There is one last feature which really helped this computer's rating. It's the integrated wireless. Right out of the box, this computer has wireless internet. In our families beach house, we have no internet access, so when I brought my laptop, I was suprised to see that yes, we do have internet access. I had no idea what wireless internet was. But it's really easy to use, and it's a great feature. I remember back in the day when to get wireless internet, you had to pay an extra 300 or even 500 dollers. Now, it's free, and I couldn't be happier! Lastly, this computer has an 100 rebate, so it only costs 900 dollers after the rebate, which is an amazing price for all these features.

This is the best budget laptop out on the market right now, and it will be for quite a while. It's even better then some 1,200 doller laptops. If you want an affordable laptop, but you do not want to sacrefice features, this is for you. ... Read more

Product Description

High-end mobile computing at a value price

The Satellite® M35X-S114 is a great value for those who are trying a notebook for the first time, with features not usually offered at such a great price. It features a 15.0" diagonal display, integrated 802.11bg wireless and an IEEE 1394 port in a small, light chassis. You don’t have to sacrifice performance for price, either, as its Intel® Celeron® M Processor is designed specifically for notebooks, maximizing mobile performance and battery life. The Satellite® M35X-S114 is a great way to experience for yourself the advanced engineering and innovations that Toshiba is known for pioneering.

Notes:

• This model features an integrated Wireless 802.11b/g LAN connection.
• This model is pre-loaded with Service Pack 2 for the Microsoft Windows XP Operating System.
• A 1.44MB Internal 3.5-inch Floppy Disk Drive is not included. An optional 1.44MB External 3.5-inch USB Floppy Disk Drive is available.

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
If portability is paramount but you need enough power for the majority of typical mobile computing tasks, the Averatec AV3250H1-01 12.1" Notebook PC represents a sensible solution. As the most affordable member of Averatec’s 3200 Series lineup, the unit certainly isn’t built to be the fastest notebook in town or a high-end gaming rig, and its smallish 12.1-inch viewing screen and lack of DVD burning may be a detraction to some. Nonetheless, the extremely compact and definitely cost-effective Averatec AV3250H1-01 features several impressive and forward-looking amenities and capabilities such as CD burning, wireless connectivity and a large hard drive, and is thusly a great match for frequent travelers on a budget.

Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPUs on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Averatec AV3250H1-01 features a Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ processor running at 1.66 GHz. Sporting AMD’s latest PowerNow and 3Dnow Professional technologies, this notebook-specific CPU conserves power and maximizes battery longevity while offering enough raw power for standard mobile situations.

Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Averatec AV3250H1-01 incorporates 512 megabytes of RAM, a solid allotment for an ultra-compact notebook and certainly enough to permit satisfactory multitasking.

Video
CPUs are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output, particularly 3D graphics, to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A graphics controller with "dedicated" built-in video memory is preferable to one with "shared" video memory wherein the graphics controller borrows a portion of the all-important main system memory. The Averatec AV3250H1-01 utilizes an S3 Unichrome graphics controller with up to 32 MB of shared video memory. Though satisfactory for 2D applications such as word processing and Internet surfing and some 3D apps, this graphics controller is definitely not ideal for anyone who deals with visually taxing applications such as the latest 3D games or 3D graphics design.

Display
At 12.1 inches, the system’s XGA TFT display is smaller than that of a standard-size notebook but equal to that of other ultra-compacts. The maximum resolution of 1024 by 768 is average for notebooks in this price range.

Hard Disk
Considering the system’s compact size and comparatively low price point, its 60 GB hard drive is surprisingly generous. You’ll have more than enough room for a broad range of applications and also a small library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD burning, so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can record home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Most drives support several of these functions. This system boasts a DVD/CD-RW drive through which you can do all of the above but burn DVDs.

Audio
The Averatec AV3250H1-01 offers adequate mobile sound via a standard AC ’97 sound card and built-in stereo speakers.

Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via a standard size keyboard and a large touch pad.

Connectivity and Expansion
The Averatec AV3250H1-01 doesn’t brandish ultra-upscale technologies such as Bluetooth or Infrared, both of which provide wireless interaction with other high-tech devices and peripherals. Nor is it equipped with a FireWire port (typically used for data uploads from digital camcorders) or a memory card reader. However, the unit does feature a 56K data/fax modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, a 10/100 Mbit LAN for high-speed wired network and Internet communication, and 802.11g wireless technology for super-fast cord-free communication in public hot spots or other wireless networked locations. Other key amenities include three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an audio-out and microphone-in port, and one Type II PC Card slot.

Operating System and Software
Averatec will pre-install a copy of Microsoft's Windows Home Edition operating system and a small assortment of useful applications including Microsoft's Works productivity package and CyberLink’s PowerDVD XP 5.0 DVD software player.

Dimensions and Weight
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and too cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Averatec AV3250H1-01 is very small and exceedingly portable at a mere 4.5 lbs (with standard battery) and just 10.9 by 9.6 by 1 inches.

Power
The system sports a smart Lithium-Ion battery capable of three-plus hours between charges. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

get the centrino
I've had this computer for 3 months now, and while the size is perfect for bringing everywhere, it's bad when you want to go wireless. I've been in many places with free wifi and my connection signals have always been poor. I've sat besides other people with their Centrino powered computers, and their signals were so much stronger. In some places, I could not even get a decent signal while others were surfing comfortably. The batteries are clearly inferior, so if I were you get a different brand. If not, go for the Centrino powered. Believe me you'll be grateful you did.

Everything Great...Except Battery Life STINKS
I purchased an Averatec 3250 at the end of 2004 to lug with me on a 3-month around-the-world trip, primarily to stay in touch via email, do my personal expenses/pay bills, download and upload digital photos, create my travel website and maybe watch a movie from time to time.As such, I wanted something light and something inexpensive (due to risk of loss and/or damage).Well, I didn't lose or damage it, but the lightness was certainly appreciated!!!Wireless was anywhere from fair to excellent, but it's hard to tell if it's due to the computer or just crappy networks in all these other countries.I didn't have another laptop for comparison.Fortunately, most of the international flights have power ports, so for the times I wanted to use the laptop on the plane, I didn't have to worry much about how long the battery would last.

Now that I'm back in the states, I've taken some mid- to longer-range flights on aircraft without powerports, and BOY OH BOY is the battery life bad.Watching a movie via Tivo-2-Go (basically a stored MPG), the battery gave out after ONE HOUR.If I were watching a DVD it would probably have been shorter.Doing basic wordprocessing, the battery gave out after about 80 MINUTES, not much better.Fortunately I have an extra battery, but that cost $100.Still, my only real complaint about this product is poor, poor battery life.If you can deal with that, then this is an EXCELLENT choice.

Great Deal on a laptop
This laptop is superb for the price.Screen gets about a 7/10 due to low contrast but this is a sub $1,000 unit.Don't get me wrong the screen is nice but you can get better on a $2500 laptop.Comes loaded with only the basics that you need- not abunch of AOL/MSN crap etc.

80 GB HD + DVD RW + fast processor and an excellent form factor equate to the best deal I have seen.

Also the wireless has been FLAWLESS.This laptop never gets turned off only into sleep or hibernate mode and come out of these modes perfecectly every time AND finds the correct wireless network etc.

I never had a laptop that did all of what it was supposed to in these regards.

My model is actaully the 3250HX = 80 GG drive but the same base model.

The Best Laptop Ever
I love this laptop. I was diagnosed with a Degenerative Disc disease. The doctor said that carrying too much weight will cause more pain in my back. After buying this laptop the pain vanished thanks to this lightweight notebook pc. Weight plays a negative factor when it come to notebook pc's. If anyone want to undue the increased back pain get this laptop and you'll see the difference. However, the hardware and software are excellent as well. I am a member of the U.S. Air Force and I travel a lot. My Averatec laptop go everywhere I go with no problems as far as connectivity. Most of all my back feel terrific. It's really pleasing for a consumer to enjoy the pleasure of his/her product without any uncomforting expectations. I've told all my friends and co-workers, they love this laptop too.

Excellent Performance & Customer Service
Pros:
This is a very light laptop, with all the extras you will need, for just under $1000. DVD-RW, 80 GB HD, Athlon 2200, wireless. Fast and reliable.

Cons:
Battery life and initial wireless drivers. Once you update the drivers, the wireless works great.

[...] ... Read more

Product Description

The Sony VAIO A190 notebook seamlessly unites power and functionality with a fully loaded entertainment center and performance that will rival any desktop computer. Plug into AV media dock and watch and record live TV! The lasest in LCD technology provides unprecedented 17" wide WUXGA (1920x1200) display and incredible image quality. Combined with a DVD burner and the latest computing components, the A190 is prepared for any computing task, at home or on the go. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Nice notebook. A bit on the heavy side, but I don't care.
I purchased this notebook for 1999.98 USD which included the docking station and speakers.

The Centrino CPU auto steps when on battery to less than 700 MHz, but while plugged into it's AC power supply runs at 1700 MHz which is close to the performance of a 2500 MHz Pentium 4.

I love the screen, the resolution and briteness of this screen is far greater than any notebook I have ever seen before. Someone else made a reference to the screen being "HDTV" but going to Sony's web site I could not find reference to HDTV quality graphics anywhere in their product specs for this notebook. Still, it has increadible resolution and fine line capability.

The graphics processor built into this notebook uses the ATI 9700 GPU which isn't bad for a notebook computer, in fact, I believe it is the best you can get right now for anyone notebook and will allow playing 9.0 DirectX games with wonderful graphics. It isn't powerful enough to play DOOM3 without lags on the lowest gameplay resolution, but DOOM3 is an increadibly demanding game for graphics processors and CPU's. Still, this notebook is plenty powerful enough to play most of this years OpenGL games. I have been playing UT 2004 and most of the time the game flows like liquid, but there are occasional lags when things get super busy on the screen, so this notebook isn't a replacement for a PC gaming yet, but it isn't far off for most games.

This baby is heavy, close to eight pounds and the battery life at full screen brightness is only an hour and a half, but I can live with that because I can always turn the screen briteness down when on battery which will allow several more hours of operation. Of course, when on battery it isn't good for gaming with the CPU stepped down to below 700 MHz, but is fast enough for most anything else on battery.

Sony had a problem with previous versions of their notebooks because the keypad lettering could be scratched off in normal use and the plastic housings finish rubbed off through use, something I really disliked, but this version doesn't appear to suffer from the poor design of previous versions. The USB connector is not accessible except at the back of the notebook, something I wish had been moved to either the right or left side of the notebook. Also, this notebook does not have a serial port which is required in my line of work to communicate with devices so that is a very big mistake on Sony's part, but for most people that won't matter.

Sony has improved lots of things with this machine, they moved the CDROM eject button to a place you won't accidentally hit when trying to close the CDROM tray, so they finally figured that out.

All Sony needs to do is increase the clock speed of the CPU another 500 MHz above their current 1.7 GHz offering and you will have the hottest notebook on the market, as is, its a great solid replacement for a home PC used with everything but gaming. However, notebooks will always be behind the capability of any PC when it comes to games because graphic processor manufacturers always lag at least a year behind for their mobile offerings.

buyers watchout for these cheaters
Buyers watch out for private sellers
There are a lot of private sellers trying to rip you off .prices look cheap when you send the money you wont get the product or your money back.

Look for the specific items that scammers try to do:

1. Look at the seller's id they look like some what irrelevant. Example (amazon_cheap)(Sony_Amazon)
2. Look at the sellers rating it says just launched because the sellers like to create many e mails as they can.
3. In the sellers comments they will say like "please contact me before buying. Otherwise I won't send you the item".
4. When you send the e mail to them they will say "we are a small company in Romania or UK or Spain trying to evolve to sell outside the country". They will say send money through western union. When I get the money you will get the notebooks with in 2 business days.
5. They will send detailed sellers address where to send the money western union (Spain). I said "I know the address in Spain can I come and pay to that address" he said "I will do only through online" this is cheater.


When you send money through western union you won't get your money back.

Escrow and Amazon secure payment are the trusted payment.

I got an e mail from a seller he said "I will get transaction only through Amazon secure payment. I thought he was good seller. Next e mail he wrote "tell me your complete address I will forward the address to Amazon" I gave him my address .

With in 1 day I got a e mail from "Amazon secure payment" from address looked like it was from Amazon, but when I clicked on reply the to address said "(something@yahoo.com) it was not a e mail from Amazon in that message it said Amazon wants you to make payment through western union. I wrote the email to Amazon they said we will not allow any one to pay through Amazon these are fake e mails trying to rip peoples money.

the HDTV screen laptop... wow
I purchased a thinkpad last year for work (programming), but when I saw this Vaio I lost it and whipped out the credit card. Was a true impulse buy. The screen is breathtaking: bright and 19xx pixels across. That is a lot of pixels. Watching DVDs on this system is like watching a high end TV. The wide screen gives you a movie image size that's about what you'd get on a 25" conventional TV.

The thinkpad (T30) screen was just barely bright enough, but this screen is so bright I actually turned it down a few notches. You can use it in bright sunlight, which would be impossible with a lot of laptops out there. I now no longer need an external display. The keyboard is comfortably large.

Cool tip: go to display settings control panel. Set your desktop resolution to 120DPI to make the font size comfortably large. Change your icon size to 48 pixels. Tweak font and window sizes to your preference and you'll have the crispest looking desktop out there. Even your friends with powerbooks will do a doubletake.

The ONLY reason I gave the laptop 4 stars is because this thing weighs almost 10 pounds! Get a good case and don't drop it! ... Read more

Product Description

The Averatec 6200 series is the only one of its kind. This unique machine operates as a fully functional notebook and as a personal DVD player. Innovative technology allowsfor users to watch DVD movies, listen to audio CDs or MP3 files all without having to start up the computer! Easily power-on the DVD with the wireless remote, insert a CD,press play and watch up to 3 DVD movies on a single battery charge. The Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 processor is designed for premium thin and light notebooks that deliver true-to-life entertainment. Work More, Play More. Enjoy extended battery life withAMD PowerNow!™ Technology. Get The Peformance of Tomorrow, Today!

Optical Drive Speeds:
This model features one optical drive:

• a DVD+/-RW drive
  • Create a DVD-R at a maximum 2X Write speed or a maximum 2X Rewrite speed
  • Create a DVD+R at a maximum 4X Write speed or a maximum 2.4X Rewrite speed
  • Play a DVD at a maximum 8X Read speed
  • Create a CD-Rom at a maximum 16X Write speed
  • Create a CD-RW at a maximum 10X Rewrite speed
  • Play a CD-Rom at a maximum 24X Read speed

Product Description

The VAIO A-Series includes both consumer and professional models, but all share the highly distinctive design, which underpins the A-Series' unique style. The A-Series' aesthetic advantages are built on solid foundations. All models are performance-boosted by Intel's Pentium M processors, and both consumer and professional ranges will feature machines based on the new Pentium M 735/745 engineered to deliver the best mobile performance yet. What's more, every A-Series notebook bears the Intel Centrino certification. This means the latest mobile-optimized technology, yielding more power and longer battery life. Users can also rely on the fact that the wireless networking built into Centrino systems has been tested for compatibility with wireless networks all over the world. All A-Series notebooks support the new, high-speed wireless standard which operates up to five times faster than the original while remaining fully backwardly compatible with existing networks (802.11g). ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great laptop!
I purchased this laptop about 6 months ago and it has been awesome!I have been very happy with the performance and the battery life.Fortunately I have not had any problems with it as some of the other comments mentioned.

Very bad
Much like the other people reviewing here I had problems with the harddrive.Well my GF did since I bought this laptop for her.At first it made a lot of clicking sounds.Really annoying.Then it went dead.Bought it from compusa and took it back.They gave me another one.Same crap.The dvd burner did not work in either of them as well.Same problem in both.They should do a recal and give people their money back.Very poor for such a high rated company.I have a Sony FS now, and it gives kind of the same clicking sounds every few min.Never had this problem or noise with any other laptop besides sony.By far the best laptops made in my opinion are HP.Shame on you Sony for putting crappy harddrives in your laptops.

Defective Hard Drive
I purchased the model of this computer with a 60G drive July, and on December 5th the hard drive broke. It will not mount and makes grinding and clattering noises. I have lost data. This is not a quality product. I am now returning it to Sony (event#E26545346). I thought Sony made quality products and I paid a premium for their notebook compared to other notebooks and look at what I get. I am very unhappy. I wonder if this is more than just an isolated incident. I will never buy a Sony product again and do everything I can to stop others from buying Sony's products.
So if you like your hard drive unexpectingly crashing and like to lose data then go ahead and roll the dice and buy this computer.

A $2000 piece of junk
I purchased this computer in September and have already had numerous problems with it.After owning it for a few weeks, it started acting up.Everytime I turned it own, it would go into a loop and just keep rebooting itself.I called support (the person was very rude) and he told me it sounded like I had a virus - even though I have Norton Anti-virus and Zone Alarm Pro for a firewall.After spending an hour with the rude support person, we managed to get it to start acting right again. He then proceeded to scold me about how I have to be careful about downloading software off the internet (which I never do) and how I need to be better about updated my software.

A couple of weeks later, I try to turn on the computer, and it won't turn on.Well, the indicator lights on the front of the computer would turn on, but the screen wouldn't turn on.Called support again and after another hour or so, he decided that the computer had to be shipped to California for repair.When I complained that I really needed this computer for my business, the support guy said, "Well that's why I have two computers, in case one goes out."So I guess Sony computers are so awful that you have to buy two of them?

Anyway, they sent a fedex box and it was shipped and returned in a couple of days.They apparently had to replace the entire motherboard.I turned it on, and another error popped up on the screen.Called support again, they helped me fix that one.

Another couple of weeks later, turn on the computer and this time I get another error message - basically the computer can't find my hard drive.Called support again, and right now, it's in California being "repaired."

Aside from the one rude support person, the service has been fine.I have not paid for any of the repairs or shipments, but I use this computer for my business and it needs to be just a little bit more reliable.

I've owned this computer for a little over 2 months and have already had all these problems.I'm never buying another Sony again!

Good Laptop
Good laptop.... Screen is nice.. Wish it had a SD card slot instead of a sony mediastick.Either way, machine is pretty nice.. Lighter than I thought it would be and battery life which isnt too bad.also -- No infrared on this thing.Either way, compared to what else is out thre, This looks pretty nice... also it doesnt come with a built in MIC.Come on people... that should be the first thing they include... sheesh. ... Read more

Product Description

Stay productive in the office, at home or on the road with the T140P/L. Designed with convenient features for people on the go, the slim profile and lightweight design make this notebook the perfect mobile companion. Intel Centrino Mobile technology enables longer battery life, and the integrated wireless LAN support lets you connect to thousands of Hotspots across the country. The integrated optical drive allows you to view and share presentations or pictures, while the 10.6" widescreen LCD display with XBRITE Technology offers exceptional clarity and sharp images. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

DO NOT BUY A SONY.
(...)


I purchased a Sony pcg-grz630 laptop which started freezing every few minutes around 2 years after purchase. This is a manufacturing issue, wherein the memory slot seems to be loosened with time, as hundreds of people over the internet have reported this same issue. Sony's customer service is a total fortress, which you cannot access if you're not willing to pay for each call !!

Design faults, poor warranty/support
I received this device and thought it was fantastic...to begin with.

Then I began to notice the design problems. There is no LCD catch! So the LCD has some free play against the keyboard allowing things in your bag to fall between the keyboard and the display. The display is very week in order to save weight (no glass etc). So combined it is a disaster waiting to happen. Other laptops made it around the world with me, whereas this laptop did not make it off the local metro without the LCD going because of the design fault.

A key came loose, and since the screen had not catch it lodged between the keyboard and screen until it smashed the screen.

Sony intended to charge me in full for this, but later settled to 70%. Yet I still do not have the machine back as Sony fail to deliver it. Originally they also had many failed pick ups. I've been waiting nearly 2months to get it back.

A further warning to others regarding the Vaio range. If the LCD hinge/s crack you would expect this to be covered by the warranty. It is not the case. Sony will tell you that the hinges must have been too tight and that you failed to inform them. So if buying this product contact www.vaio-link.com and report that you wish for your hinges to be checked otherwise you will be liable if they crack.

Powerful little road warrior
I have owned this laptop for two months now, and I am exceptionally pleased with it so far.It packs a surprising amount of power into an astonishingly small and light package.It is really best used as a versatile companion to a primary desktop computer and is not a good choice as a standalone productivity machine.However, if a balance of features favoring endurance and mobility is what you are after, this is a nearly ideal machine.

The machine looks good and feels solid.It starts up fairly quickly and performs most basic computing tasks briskly.It has an onboard CD-RW/DVD and good connectivity including USB 2.0 and FireWire (iLink).Ports are distributed on both sides except for the power port on the back corner.The battery quite obviously sticks out from its bay on the back.

Pros: All-around good performance, even on a battery.The large cache is a definite plus here.The hard drive is fairly spacious too, given the notebook's size, especially if you nix the recovery partition.The T140P will serve for many different tasks, with the caveat that the screen size makes document-related work a bit of a chore.

- Monster battery life.I have used this machine for an entire day of work with intermittent use of the wireless networking and optical drive without losing power.This machine has incredible longevity even if you do not pay attention to power management, and if you do...this is a huge upside.

- Serious mobility.I am one of those people who hates to lug large laptops around; this machine actually replaced a VAIO Z505.It's even lighter, and I hardly notice it on the road even in comparison with its very light predecessor.Particularly because I rarely have to bring the AC adapter along.

- Keyboard.It has a great feel for a machine this size.The layout is good and most people should have no trouble adjusting from a full size.

- Screen quality.The XBrite screen really looks superb.DVD playback is awesome.I didn't think it could be that great until I checked it out in a retail store before buying.

- Aesthetics.It not only travels well, it also looks sharp.People will marvel at its size and appearance.

Plus/Minus: Documentation and software CDs.Some people loathe the recovery partition and the absence of software CDs and printed documentation.I'm one of those who doesn't mind.I figure, unless I realy need the space, save the paper, the media, and a few bucks.I'm perfectly happy having those things in electronic form.If you disagree, you probably won't buy a Sony anyway.

- Service.I have had consistently positive encounters with Sony customer support, but I also have heard credible, howling complaints about their quality and responsiveness.No company can guarantee a good service interaction, but there are others who traditionally do much better than Sony.Something to think about.

- The battery sticking out of the back thing.Doesn't bother me, certainly doesn't detract from the machine's looks in my mind, and I'll take that long battery life any day.Others will disagree.Look at the notebook in person if you can before you buy it if you're concernced.

Cons: Screen.It's small for office work.It's a tradeoff for size and lightness, but if you need to spend hours every day reading or writing documents, the screen is not ideal.I have taken to displaying PDFs and Office documents at 125-150% to compensate.It's also a dust magnet, and be careful cleaning it; although mine remains undamaged, popular wisdom has it that these screens are easy to mar.

- No dedicated video card.Perhaps a wise choice given considerations of battery life, but the lack of a separate video adapter means you won't be doing (or playing) anything requiring 3D rendering.It was a downside for me and will be for others.

- Lots of useless proprietary Sony software.You will spend some time cleaning up the hard drive to get rid of it.God forbid the system ever crashes, because if you have to use the recovery software, you get all those worthless programs back and have to spend the time removing them once again.Sony needs to include separate provision for OS recovery without automatically including their worthless multimedia software.This is a flaw common to all Sony computers, though.

In summary, the VGN-T140P has a lot of power and versatility for such a small notebook.Its mobility, endurance, and aesthetics far outweigh its drawbacks.If your requirements for a notebook emphasize these features, this one deserves serious consideration.

Stylish and media-savvy, but not perfect
Sony's new T-series VAIO ultraportable laptops replace the camera-included TR series, which has been discontinued.There are currently four models in the T-series: T140, T150, T160, and T170.All sport the same casing (no surprise), same weight (3.1 lb. incl. piggy-back battery but excl. AC adapter), same processor (the new Intel ultra-low-voltage Pentium M 733 (based on the Centrino, not Pentium IV, running at 1.1Ghz but with an amazing 2MB level-2 cache!), same screen, and same hard drive (slow-ish 4800rpm 40GB shock resistant drive).

The differences among the models are as follows:

- The 140 and 160 come with a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, so you can't burn DVDs.
- The 150 and 170 come with dual-format DVD burner/CD-RW drive, so you can burn both the plus and minus formats of DVDs.
- The 140 and 150 come with 512MB of RAM.
- The 160 and 170 come with 1GB of RAM (max the T-series can take).
- If there's a "P" after the model number (e.g., VGN-T150P/L), it means the computer comes with WinXP Professional installed.The absence of "P" means you get WinXP Home.
- The "L" after the model number signifies the color scheme.Most of the T's come in what Sony calls "midnight blue," a stylish color that gives an understated emphasis to the exterior.On Sony's website (sonystyle.com) you can special-order a T150P/T that has a burgundy exterior, which looks really "hot."

All the T-series VAIOs are designed with two primary goals in mind: ultra portability, reflected mainly in the travel weight; and multimedia capabilities.In fact, VAIO buffs will recall that VAIO stands for Video Audio Integrated Operation, which (I presume) in Japanese means a multimedia-centric computer.

All the T models are equipped with an optical drive.Only a year ago, the only ultraportable with a built-in optical drive was the 2.8lb. Panasonic ToughBook W2 (which, as you'll see, is still my favorite ultraportable, for lighter weight and bigger screen).I personally recommend a 150 or 170 with the dual-format (not dual-layer) DVD burner.These days, whether you burn personal videos or backup files, a DVD burner really comes in handy.Of course, if you plan to use the VAIO T as a secondary computer for Starbucks or Barnes & Noble or flying, you can save yourself $150 by skipping the DVD burner.(You still get a CD burner with the 140 and 160.)

The VAIO T's are very stylish.Except for the protruding battery which seems like an afterthought, the notebook is well designed and well built.You get both 802.11b+g wi-fi and Bluetooth built-in, as well as an i.Link port and a MemoryStick slot.(Too bad Sony still refuses to support the much more popular Secure Digital format in their laptops.)

The T's screen is amazing.Well, it's both amazingly small (only 10.6" vs. the Panasonic W2's 12.1") and amazingly bright, easily viewable outdoors.The widescreen resolution is 1280x768, great for watching DVDs but a pain in the eye for doing your everyday work.(You may want to turn on Windows' built-in font-magnification function, via the Accessibility control panel.Also turn off font smoothing.)I get eye strains from reading e-mails and surfing the Internet.Panasonic W2's 12.1" screen seems so much bigger.Like most ultraportables, the T uses shared memory for video, so don't expect to play Doom 3 on this.

The keyboard on the T is shrunk to accommodate the small footprint of the ultraportable.I had the 2.7lb. VAIO N505VE before so I got used to the small keyboard quickly.If you are a touch typist who's never used a 90%-sized keyboard, you might be unhappy with the size, at least in the beginning.

Performance is snappy on this laptop despite the many plug-ins it comes with; the new processor with its enormous L2 cache and the generous amount of RAM surely help.When you get the 1GB versions, the performance is simply great for a laptop this size.

Sony should be lauded for getting some amazing battery life on this machine, but spanked for making the battery stick out in the T's rear.I watched a 3-hour DVD movie (with wi-fi intentionally left on) as I sat in a B&N cafe.After the boring movie ended, the T still had plenty of juice left.Just amazing.

So, in short, for about two thousand big ones, you get a multimedia road warrior that will turn heads in cafes and on the Amtrak (and might even invite a mugging or two if you are in the wrong neighborhood).The small screen is amazingly bright, and the stick of a battery powers this laptop for good hours.If you want an ultraportable, I still recommend you look at the Panasonic W-2, which is even more stylish (I just love its circular, under-the-keyboard DVD loading), has a bigger screen and weighs less.But if you want an ultraportable with a built-in DVD burner, the T is probably the best you can get right now.

(I also like Fujitsu laptops, so you might want to consider the Fujitsu Lifebook P7010 ultraportable as well: cheaper, 80GB hard drive, fingerprint sensor, SD/CF/MemoryStick slot, up to 10.5 hours of battery life!)

I hope my quick review helps you.Feel free to e-mail me at hotmail with your questions.

Excellent laptop!
I bought this as a replacement for a Dell Latitude X200 and have not been disappointed.

Pros:
- long battery life (>4hrs)
- lightweight and physically compact
- no-compromise feature set including WiFi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0, PC Card slot, etc.
- built in DVD/CDRW (unlike the Dell X200/X300 where it was an external device)
- great keyboard layout and ergonomic design
- bright, sharp onboard display; VGA port can drive my 1600x1200 monitor without a problem

Cons:
- no printed manuals
- no recovery CDs
- includes a limited set of software (Office 2003 "trial")

Sony has obviously saved a few bucks by putting the recovery installers on a separate hard disk partition instead of on CDs.The software will happily burn CDs for you -- invest in a 10-pack of CD-Rs for this.Look at this as an opportunity to test the CDRW drive.

By booting up the recovery CDs you can easily rebuild the system without the 5GB recovery partition.This is the first thing I did once I received the laptop.
... Read more

Product Description

Averatec (AV3225HS-01) xAMD Athlon XP-M 2000+/512MB ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Known defects on this model: 3300 series may be better
I thought so much of this computer after buying it in May 2004 that I recommended that my college-student daughter get one in September and bought my wife a 3250 earlier this year.

Some complain about the keyboard's small keys and slightly different layout; the latter annoyed me occasionally, but it's not a big deal.

Everyone complains about the poor battery life. It's true. This wasn't a big deal for me either, but if you travel a lot and expect to work on battery power a lot, beware of buying this model unless you get an extra battery to lug along.

The one time I tried to use the CD burner, I couldn't get the included software to work. My daughter has had problems reading some CDs and she can't get the DVD player to work. Averatec was willing to fix the problem, but their tech support is reputed to routinely wipe hard drives on machines returned for repair, and my daughter didn't want to risk that. I've advised her to get an external harddrive and do a full system backup, then return her 3225 to Averatec. It's a hassle any way you cut it: Averatec repairs are also reputed to take a long time, with no effort to explain delays on simple repairs (like replacing a CD/DVD unit).

Anyone thinking of buying Averatec should first visit the unofficial support forums: http://www.averatecforums.com/

Someone there recently posted a complicated fix for several problems; it involves downloading and installing three programs to take over power management of the computer. I have noticed that the power management software on my 3225 doesn't work well;in the default setting, the fan comes on more than necessary, slowing down the computer. To fix that I set the PM to minimal, which helped; I also bought a Targus Chiller Pad to keep the computer cooler; it overheats, and its bottom vent fan isn't adequate; with the chiller pad, it works much better.

The biggest problem I've encountered with the 3225 happened over the past week. The power connector would not make a solid connection, meaning the battery would not charge consistently and would sometimes overheat. It turns out that this is a defect in the AC/DC power connector circuit board inside the computer. I learned about the problem on the unofficial forums. A good PC technician can fix the problem in an hour with a screwdriver and a soldering iron, but you don't dare go that route if you have the warranty from Averatec in effect, or an extended warranty. In that case, you have to resign yourself to returning the computer for repair -- and being without it for 2 to 3 weeks.

All in all, then, after a year of owning the 3225, I feel as though I would probably have been better off paying the extra money for a Sony Vaio thin-and-light or maybe one of the sub-5-pound Dell laptops.

However, I'll keep my eye on the Averatec unofficial forums to see how the newer thin-and-light models do. Maybe Averatec is learning from its design mistakes with the 3200 series.

Do NOT Buy Averatec
We bought two Averatec Computers.Both have had to go in for service.Their service department is a nightmare.Expect three to four weeks for a simple repair and do not expect to get a straight answer about the status of your RMA repair.

A great laptop at an amazing price
I don't get it.Averatec makes a great laptop but you never see them reviewed in publications such as PC World, PC Magazine, or Consumer Reports.I really wanted a smallish laptop that was easy to travel with, easy to move around the house, and easy on the wallet.After looking at everything available on the market, I had to chose between the $900 Averatec and a $1500 Fujitsu.Both were similarly equiped, but the Fujitsu had a nicer, slightly larger screen.But when it came down to it, I was able to buy the Averatec and a new cheap desktop computer for the price of the Fujitsu.So I bought the Averatec and have been very happy ever since.The screen is fine, the keyboard is good, and it is built very well.It is much easier to tote around than my old 8-pound IBM Thinkpad.I do have two complaints, however.First of all, the battery doesn't last very long.I can't even get through a DVD movie when unplugged.Perhaps I got a bad battery, but I think its probably just a weak design.The second problem is that the audio is too quiet, whether I use the built in speakers or headphones.This makes it a bit hard to use for movie watching in a noisy place (such as an airplane or laundrymat).Those problems are minor, though, and I really bought it for use as a computer and not as a DVD player.When I want to buy another laptop, I would seriously consider buying another Averatec...I just hope they are still in business!

TechGeek's Review
Bought the Averatec AV3225HS in November 2004
*love the slim & light profile
*AMD processor is a better product than the Intel chips, but the average user cannot tell, but will feel good about not caving into the Intel monopoly (my desktop PC is also an AMD processor :) )
*DC adapter is designed well and not bulky and does not take up space on your wall outlet
*came with XP software and will automatically update
*have installed several home-user software (MS Office, Quicken, etc) without issues
*battery life is about 3hrs, about 2 with wireless modem on all the time
*Wireless modem works very well, as does the builtin ethernet connection
*dvd player/cd burner works well.
*if you're looking for a great laptop that works straight out of the box..this is it!!!!I recommend this brand over Dell's and HPs for the price and form factor

Touch pad marks on screen!
I don't know if it's just me, but every time I pack my notebook and take it out again,

I have a half imprint of the touch pad square on my screen.

It wipes away, but I'm concerned it might eventually cause permanent damage, and it's really annoying to open to a nasty marking in the middle of the screen.

All in all, it's a great buy though.My first notebook...
Every other pro & con has been stated in other reviews. ... Read more

Product Description

Averatec (AV6240-EH1) Athlon 64 2700+ - RAM 512 MB - ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Toshiba Satellite P35-S609 is the ultimate gaming machine, loaded with the latest sight and sound technology plus a 17" diagonal Wide-screen display for the best in graphics. The sleek, ultra-cool chassis contains an extra-large 80 GB hard drive that has plenty of room for your applications and files. The P35-S609 also features a hyper-threaded 3.20 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of installed RAM, a Super Multi-Drive that can burn CD, DVD-, and DVD+ discs, and an integrated 54g wireless LAN

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The spacious 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage for both your work and home files as well as a multimedia library.
• Processor: The Mobile Intel Pentium 4 538 processor features a fast 3.20 GHz speed. It also offers Hyper-Threading technology, which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking. It is also well suited for professional-quality image, audio, and video editing. Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when its not needed, thus conserving battery life. It also has A 1 MB L2 cache and an 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (1 DIMM, PC-2700 DDR333) is a good start for power users. It can be expanded to a toal of 1.5 GB.
• CD/DVD Drive: The DVD Super-Multi drive is compatible with both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW discs (as well as DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM). It offers a 4x DVD read speed, and writes at 2.4x for DVD+R/RW and 2x for DVD-R/RW. You can also burn CDs at 16x and read them at 24x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The P35-S609 offers a good range of expansion and connectivity options, including a PCMCIA slot for one Type II PC card and the following:

• 3 USB 1.1 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcordrs and other peripherals
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 TV-out (S-Video)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The P35-S609 comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also includes Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 90 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken New User Edition, Napster online digital service (30-day trial), Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD (for playing DVD movies), ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD, and Sonic Solutions RecordNow Basic.

Dimensions and Weight
At 9.5 pounds, the P35-S609 is weightier than most notebooks used by business professionals, but is on par with other notebooks in this gaming class. It measures 1.6 x 16.5 x 11.5 inches (H x W x D).

Power
The included 12-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery has an approximate 2-hour battery life (during normal use). It also comes with a 120W AC adapter.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Toshiba P35-S609 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Product
I loved this product not only did I get a great deal as the 15" screen was only $80 cheaper, the built on this is great. The DVD/CD drive is a little slow for me but when watching DVD it doesn't lag that much. The built-in wireless card was great, I just bought a wireless router, plugin and play. I love the screen as it lets me watch widescreen movie. Running multiple program now isn't as much as a problem as there's room on the side to compare notes. Great when I'm researching something and need the info on the side to compare. As a gaming machine might not be perfect, but for the price I got it for, it's more than what I expected. A little on the heavy side to me through.

Overall: I loved it...

Nice machine, but don't be misled by the "free" software
The processor runs my tax software surprisingly fast.The monitor is awesome, good for watching DVD's.The only drawback I've encountered is that Microsoft's Office expired after a few months.
Unless I'm doing something wrong, the Office software that comes with this machine is a "trial" version.The keycode that came with the machine does not unlock it permanently.Still a nice machine for the money.

AWESOME..THE BEST THERE IS
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS LAPTOP. RESEARCHED FOR 2 MONTHS BEFORE SETTLING FOR THIS, AND IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. VERY POWERFUL, GREAT SCREEN, LESS FAN NOISE......JUST LOVE IT.

incredible buy for the money
I'm a computer scientist getting a PhD in computational neuro-science and bought this to bring to school, work, and home.
By settling for the 3.2 gigaherts instead of the 3.3 I saved close to $500 and the machine still performs really well.

The screen is incredible (great for gaming).
The speakers are incredible (never heard a laptop sound like that).
THe components are just incredible, fast wireless card, DVD burner, etc.

I did a personal benchmark and out of 130,000 operations and disk reads it outperformed my desktop (1.6 gigahertz with 5200 RPM disk) by 30,000 operations.Oh, and when I called and complained about the lack of an OS installation CD (see cons) they took note and a higher up actually called me back the next day.That blew me away, since usually I know more than anyone I can get a hold of, if I can get a hold of anyone.

dvd/cd drive is slow
Battery time is pathetic, but that's what you get for the power.Be sure the keyboard placement is good for how you type because this is a big machine so the placement is different than smaller ones.
On white backgrounds if you're not looking at an image the screen has an apparent mesh - however this is common to laptops and flat screens in general.I'm just a bit paranoid about everything being perfect.However, during games or when I'm looking at pictures the screen is absolutely incredible.The one other thing was that there is no real installation CD for the OS, there's only a disk image.Through trial and error I found that if I partitioned the disk however I wanted, the recovery CD would allow the image to be written to the first partition rather than overwriting the entire disk.Still, it was a pain in the ass to figure that out, and I'm also kind of tired of Microsoft billion dollar empire coordinating with hardware manufacturers to squeeze a little more blood from people - even when it limits their ability to use the software THEY ALREADY PAID FOR!

Good desktop substitute
Pro:
17" screen, free backpack offered by Toshiba is excellent, well built, lots of features

Con:
Heavy, short battery life especially when wi-fi antenna is on, shared video RAM, no printed manual

I bought the P35-S602 in early December.Toshiba currently offers a $50 cash rebate, but in lieu of cash, the buyer could opt for a backpack which I did.Got the backpack today and it is very nice, with lots of pockets, still small enough to carry it on to commercial airliners.The backpack makes the computer much more transportable.

The 17" screen is nice, but most software really couldn't take advantage of it except electronic spreadsheets which utilizes the entire screen, very nice.Most other software however use only part of the screen with the right side being blank.I may have to change the screen setting.While the screen is nice, my 19" Samsung 191T LCD TFT screen with a Matrox adapter is much nicer.

I was pleasantly surprised the 512 MB RAM that came with the computer was on a single strip using up just one slot.Toshiba suggests using Kingston RAM, but when I opened up the computer to add another 512 MB of RAM, I found out that the existing RAM was made by Samsung.So I now have two different brands of SODIMM in my computer.They work fine together.Adding RAM is extremely easy.

Someone commented that it's not a gaming machine.If shared RAM bothers you, a discount warehouse based in Kirkland, WA sells a model with 64 MB of discrete RAM for $100 more than I paid for my machine.So I figure I save the money by putting an additional 512 MB of RAM.

There are some very useful utilities added on by Toshiba.An example is to set up a LAN with the Ethernet port and a Wi-Fi network.But see below for disadvantages of some other Toshiba utilities.

The computer comes only with an electronic owner's manual in a PDF file which is far from comprehensive, for example, there is nothing to show you how to burn a CD. I have to use Windows XP Help to find that out.I still don't know how to burn a DVD-RAM disc.I am also surprised it only comes pre installed with Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5 since version 6 has been out for quite sometime.

A fully charged battery lasts about 2 hours, but half that when the wi-fi antenna is switched on(FYI, I couldn't surf the Internet until I upgraded my Linksys WRT54G firmware, apparently, there was a conflict between Windows XP SP2 and the Linksys firmware that I upgraded in May 2004, I also have to assign an alternate IP address.The Toshiba does not default to 192.168.1.xxx).

Toshiba added several features to Windows XP.As a result, you must use the Toshiba utilities.As an example, managing power usage must be made with the Toshiba utilities and not in the XP utilities.So you must know the idiosyncracies of the computer.

The built in flash reader does not support CompactFlash, which is used by most professional digital cameras.

It is a nice computer but does not appear to be any faster than my P4 2.4 GHz desktop.It is, however, definitely fast enough for what I use the machine for.It should be a good workhorse for a few years. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Marginally larger than the Portege 3500 Tablet PC it replaces, Toshiba's Portege M205-S810 Tablet PC is also more adaptable, more battery efficient and substantially more powerful. Though substantially costlier than comparable non-tablet portable computers, the unit nevertheless blends the speed of a midrange notebook with the convenience of stylus-based, handwritten input and subcompact portability. Few tablet PCs pack this much power into a profile this petite.

The Portege M205-S810 is most at home when used to enter, store and share notes and concepts that might otherwise be entered in handwritten format. In fact, measuring just 11.6 by 9.8 by 1.3/1.5 inches and tipping the scales at a scant 4.5 pounds, the system is not significantly more bulky than some conventional paper-based notepads. Users input data in one of two ways -- either by sketching directly on the swiveling, double-duty 12.1-inch poly-silicon SXGA+ TFT color LCD display screen (maximum resolution 1400x1050) or via the system's 84-key keyboard.

Sporting an Intel Centrino-based processor (1 MB Level 2 cache) running at 1.5 GHz, a whopping 512 MB RAM memory and an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 graphics processor with 32 MB of dedicated DDR video memory, the Portege M205-S810 will easily handle most day-to-day mobile computing tasks and the majority of today's most popular 3-D apps, with the exception of ultra-complex 3-D games and graphic design packages.

The unit features today's most desirable connectivity options, including an integrated 56K modem for low-speed e-communications, a 10 Base-T//100 Base-TX Ethernet connection for fast LAN and Internet access, and Wi-Fi compliant wireless LAN technology for those times when you can't plug in. The system also sports a surprisingly large 60 GB hard disk and facilities for an external CD and/or DVD drive, a pair of ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals such as scanners and digital cameras, an integrated TouchPad, a speaker and microphone and full 16-bit stereo sound. Battery life is estimated at an impressive 4.34 hours.

... Read more

Reviews (6)

FLAWED PRODUCT DO NOT BUY. TOSHIBA WILL NOT SUPPORT
I simply picked it up by the corner and the screen shattered. Instead of acknowledging that one should be able to move a tablet without breaking it, Toshiba doesn't want to hear that the corners are obvously not well enough enforced with zero-cost spacers to prevent the stress. As 'physical damage', Best Buy and Toshiba refuse any consideration. Terrible design and non-existent support. I've owned Satellites, too. That's why I expected so much better.Apparently the constant mental overhead of fear of fragility is part of Toshiba's daring new mobile vision.

Good as a Toy
If you have about $2500 to blow for a really cool toy then this is a great buy. However if you want to do anything useful with it don't buy it. I have had this computer about a a year now and for about the first month it was great. Now it's a P.O.S. I have already had to send it back to Toshiba because the motherboard fried and when I got it back they did not even finish connecting all the fans or even the wireless card.

Now it's not even two months later after they fixed it and it is worse than ever. The cd-rom/dvd burner fails to burn dvds and the gyroscope no longer works. Now I have to call tech support yet again and wait another two weeks before I can get the computer back. Did I mention when I tried to reformat, the computer wouldn't even recognize its own external dvdrom drive. This problem has persisted even after the first time i sent it to get serviced. I use this computer for webdevelopment and even upgraded to the 2 gig of ram and it still doesn't operate like when it was brand new.

Save yourself some money and get a palm pilot and a laptop instead. It will cost less in the end and work out better.

A Tool for the Cortroom
I am a trial lawyer. I already have a great Toshiba laptop already, the Satellite M35-S359, which has power, speed and convenience. I truly love it.

So why did I go out and buy this PC Tablet? The answer lies in its weight and its swivel screen. When I first took my laptop to trial, I found that Microsoft Office OneNote program functions as an incredible litigation support tool. Easily modifiable I had my entire case from voir dire to closing argument at my fingertips.

But even a great laptop and superb support program have limitations. We lawyers ask questions and make arguments on our feet. You cannot hold a laptop in on hand and refer to it during direct or cross examination. The tablet solves that problem. Lightweight and locked in the tablet configuration, it's no more intrusive than a legal pad.

It is also a full featured laptop, with built-in WiFi. The screen size is some disappointing, but nothing is perfect. The four stars I give it instead of a five, is really a 4 1/2.

This is a very important advance in integrating computers into courtroom practice.

The standard in tablets, if you need a tablet Pc.
Toshiba has competition in Fujitsu on performance and features, Visoneer and Acer on price.Taken as a whole, the Toshiba Portege tablets have no equal.

Use of the 1.5Ghz Pentium 4M CPU makes this more powerful than other tablets in the field, putting it in the same class as most pure laptops.As with any laptop, you have limitations on hard drive size, memory, and add-on peripherals.As a laptop, this is average, as more feature-rich and economical options exist.I would *not* recommend this machine to anyone looking for a pure laptop solution.

However, I'm a firm believer in tablets as the future.I've seen how much suffering people endure with folios of printouts and papers, almost solely because they need to markup the paper and have access to multiple sheets as they work.While this doesn't purport to expand the screen size to 36"x48" (which would be AWESOME... someday), it does allow most people to finally start editing documents by hand, and cut down on the paper waste.

Also, as a forms tool, tablets are unmatched.The user experience in Windows XP for tablets is much closer to the long-enjoyed PDA functionality of Palm and PocketPC users everywhere... without the annoying syncronization problems.And One Note from Microsoft is probably the best utility going for tablet users.

As a tablet PC, this delivers.I can't speak to the MP3/DVD problems, but the tablet does have the necessary horsepower to do either or both, so I would tend to think the problem is configuration, not intrinsic problems.

If you have the cash, buy one for your group as an evaluation item.Once people start using it, your next problem will be to find the budget room to buy more.

Fred

painful for travel and hiccups playing DVDs
This is my first notebook computer with an external DVD/CD-writer drive.As it turns out whenever I travel I like to be able to burn a CD-ROM backup of my digital photos and watch DVDs in a hotel room.The DVD drive supplied by Toshiba cannot run from USB power so you end up carting around (1) the notebook, (2) the notebook power supply, (3) the notebook power supply's AC cord, (4) the DVD/CD drive, (5) the DVD/CD drive's external power supply, (6) the DVD/CD drive's external power supply's AC cord.In addition to being cumbersome the external drive was flimsy.The face plate jammed a few times and then fell off altogether.It was definitely not as well protected as the internal DVD/CD drive in my 4-year-old Thinkpad.

The speaker on this notebook can't play loud enough to listen to music or a movie soundtrack.So if you don't like headphones add a 1 lb. battery-powered travel speaker system to your list of stuff to lug around.It would be easier and maybe more compact to get one of those 7 lb. full-size notebooks.

Some combination of operating system and hardware is unequal to the task of playing MP3s or DVDs.Every 5 minutes or so there will be a brief pause in the music or the movie.This is kind of irritating.Anyway if you want to listen to background music budget cost and weight for a separate MP3 player.

Otherwise... no problems!The machine works fine as a notebook and the tablet features are sort of cool for impressing people who've never seen Tablet PC.On the other hand I've never actually managed to do anything useful with the stylus (this is my first Tablet PC).

I'll probably give this away or sell it on eBay as soon as I can get an IBM ThinkPad with a 160 GB hard drive.I prefer the IBM keyboard and the TrackPoint pointing device to the trackpad of the Toshiba. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
An excellent example of the rapidly improving price vs. performance ratio of notebook computers, the new HP Pavilion zv6005us 15.4" Notebook PC is a surprisingly affordable yet nicely equipped package that's geared for the future. The system differs from many similarly priced notebooks for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its comparatively powerful 3D graphics card. But that's not the only unexpected perk. The Pavilion zv6005us also features a 64-bit processor, double layer DVD support, state-of-the-art connectivity, and wireless communication. It's a bit heavier and bulkier than some of today's ultra-portable models and therefore isn't the best choice for anyone who needs to carry their notebook with them wherever they go, but the Pavilion zv6005us is otherwise a very capable machine that delivers superb bang for the buck.

Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Pavilion zv6005us is quite distinctive in that it features a 64-bit processor, the AMD Athlon 64 3200+. What will a 64-bit CPU do for you that a far more typical 32-bit CPU won't? Not that much if you're using 32-bit applications (the vast majority of today's software). But, the truth of the matter is that computers are simply unable to run much faster or generate better graphics than we're currently experiencing as long as they remain within the venerable 32-bit architecture. A 64-bit CPU, then, assures you of some degree of compatibility with the brave new 64-bit world that 's purportedly just around the corner.

That said, the AMD Athlon 64 3200+ is also quite adequate for 32-bit applications. AMD processors work a bit differently than Intel processors, so the fact that this particular chip is rated at "just" 2 GHz while some of Intel's notebook Pentium chips are rated at 3 GHz or more, means very little. Suffice to say this CPU is fast enough for all common notebook tasks. Moreover, it features AMD's Cool'N'Quiet technology to reduce noise and heat and increase battery longevity.

Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Pavilion zv6005us incorporates 512 megabytes of RAM, a satisfactory amount for this level of notebook and certainly enough to permit satisfactory multitasking. Moreover, the unit supports memory upgrades to a whopping two gigabytes -- more than you'll ever need.

Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output, particularly 3D graphics, to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A graphics controller with "dedicated" built-in video memory is preferable to one with "shared" video memory wherein the graphics controller borrows a portion of the all-important main system memory. The ATI Radeon Xpress 200M IGP installed inside the Pavilion zv6005us is a solid notebook 3D graphics card, featuring 128 MB of dedicated memory. Though the unit won't satisfy hardcore gamers who absolutely must see their games with the best possible detail and at the highest possible resolutions, it's far ahead of most notebooks in this respect and should be quite agreeable to those who often deal with 3D graphics and games.

Display
Featuring a DVD-friendly widescreen format and supporting crystal clear 1280 by 768 resolution, the system's 15.4-inch display is slightly larger than average.

Hard Disk
The Pavilion zv6005us features an 80 GB hard disk. This is a generous amount of storage space for a notebook in this price range and easily enough for a broad range of applications and also a library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Most drives support several of these operations. This system boasts a versatile Double Layer DVD±R/RW and CD-RW Combo Drive that not only handles all of the above but also supports new double layer DVDs (twice the capacity of standard DVDs).

Audio
The Pavilion zv6005us offers microphone-in and headphone-out jacks and two integrated speakers.

Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via a 101 key-compatible keyboard, a Touch Pad with an on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad, and several one-touch hotkeys.

Connectivity and Expansion
The Pavilion zv6005us is well connected. The unit features a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and 802.11b/g wireless technology for cord-free communication. Other key amenities include four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), an S-Video TV-out and a 6-in-1 card reader for reading and transferring files to and from popular memory cards.

Operating System and Software
HP will pre-install a copy of Microsoft's Windows Home Edition operating system and an assortment of applications that includes Microsoft's Money financial suite, Microsoft's Works productivity pack, and HP's own Image Zone photo and video software.

Dimensions and Weight
Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and too cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. At 8 lbs and 14.25 by 11.18 by 1.9, the Pavilion zv6005us is a bit larger than today's norm.

Power
The Pavilion zv6005us sports an 8-cell Lithium-Ion battery. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great notebook
Great cpu with the Athlon 64 3200....the brightview screen is outstanding and can be run at less than 100% brightness in the battery mode without a problem. My former laptop was a Presario 2500 and the screen wasn't bright enough without having it maxed out which reduces battery time.Good keyboard ,sound is very good, only negative is the cpu fan runs constantly but not real loud. Also the coolest running notebook I have owned. My machine came with 15.4 brightview screen ,512 ram,128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M video, double layer DVD drive, built in wireless, 80 GB HD. Note there is only one ram slot so if you want to go to 1GB of memory 2 512's won't work. Great value for the money. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

IBM delivers a top-of-the-line notebook PC--the T42SMB--for mobile business professional at a price that's easy on the bottom line. The T42SMB is highly portable, weighing in at just under 6 pounds, and has an average battery life of up to 4.4 hours. It features a fast 1.7 GHz Intel Centrino processor, 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a CD-RW/.DVD-ROM combo drive, 54g wi-fi connectivity, and a bright 14.1-inch screen.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB EIDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The 1.7 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) processor sits near the top of the currently available speed spectrum and will be fast enough for gaming and multimedia applications. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. The T42 has a large 2 MB L2 cache and a 400 MHz front-side bus.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 333 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has an ergonomic keyboard with palm rest, IBM ThinkPad UltraNav multipointing system, Internet scroll bar, and volume control.

  This IBM ThinkPad T42SMB notebook also features Embedded Security Subsystem, which allows users to authenticate with unique fingerprints instead of passwords with an optional fingerprint reader (sold separately).

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This T42SMB model has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You get a limited offering of connectivity options, but it does include super-fast USB 2.0:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This notebook comes with the Windows XP Professional operating system (which adds Microsoft's IIS Web server, back-up and recovery utilities, Remote Desktop, and other enhanced business features), and it includes other software applications such as Norton AntiVirus 2004 (with 90 days of free updates), InterVideo WinDVD and Sonic RecordNow.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 13 x 10.6 x 1.4 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 5.7 pounds.

Power
This T42SMB notebook comes with a standard 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an average battery life of 4.5 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the ThinkPad T42SMB (model 2378FZU) notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a three-year limiited hardware warranty and one-year warranty for the battery. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Top Notch - Better Than HP, Dell, SONY
Research can get you a long way.I am an IT purchaser, software developer, and home user.For company use I purchase Dell only - usually.I am real happy I made an exception this time.

This laptop has many features that put it over the top.The only modification I have made is to install an additional 512k memory (total now of 1MB).The memory install was pretty simple in the empty memory slot.The slot has metal tabs to separate that are a little more than tough on the fingers.Note to IBM, make the next model use plastic.

Some of the features that have impressed me:

1.) It has built in 802.11b/g card that works real well.I get great reception due to the two antennas built in.They are those strange rubber tabs on the outside edge of the screen.

2.) Great keyboard feel.They keys are full size!The tactile feel is one of the best I've felt on a laptop.I'd like to see the Function (Fn) key placed somewhere different than the bottom left where I always go for the Ctrl and Alt keys.Suggestion to IBM, move the Fn key between the Ctrl and Alt keys like standard Windows keyboards have the Windows Start key.Extra keys include a forward and backward button that works well in IE, separate volume/mute keys, and ability to save power by turning off the wireless card when not in use.

3.) Speaking of saving power.The average actual battery life I have experienced is 4 - 5 hours!That includes using the wireless card and having the brightness contrast at a decent level.Average settings get above average battery life.

3.) Lightweight and very slim.I bought an IBM bag and the laptop only takes about a third of the available space.There may be lighter laptops but this seems light for a 15" screen.

4.) Hard Drive Airbag!Yes I said air bag.Ever considered what could happen if you drop your laptop?I don't know of anyone else that has this.

5.) Night Light!Yes another innovative feature.A light shines down from the top of the monitor with the click of two keys.The light is wonderful when you are working with presentations with the lights out, traveling overnight, or at home while working.

6.) IBM Software does a decent job monitor the system for you.The battery indicator they add is much better than the standard XP one.

Overall I love this laptop compared to the Dell, HP Sony, Toshiba and WinBook laptops I have seen and used.

Hopefully this research will help make your decision easier.The items I listed above were things I did not realize when I did my research and I though I did a thorough job researching this product.

Great job IBM.If IBM could only compete price and service with Dell desktops we would finally have a computer hardware war.

Thinkpad T42 model: 2378FZU
Some things to note about the description that Amazon has provided for this laptop: this model (2378FZU - Ibm's designation for this notebook) has a 15" screen, not a 14.1"; cdrw rewrite speed is 24x, not 10x; it has one-year manufacturer's warranty, not a three-year; the wifi only works with b and g networks, not a networks; and to clarify, this model does not have the built-in fingerprint reader.I suggest you visit the IBM website to ascertain all of the details yourself.I highly recommend this model.I bought it to replace my Dell Inspiron 5000e which was over 4 years old and broke down on me.Having spent nearly $2700 on the Dell, I can now say that because of my experience with this notebook, I am a Thinkpad convert.

Perfect untill now
I got this laptop 1 month ago. It still work well. I believe the IBM laptop is well known as its system balance and adjustment, not for its awesome hardware. I've used a SONY laptop before; it's a disaster.

I have to say IBM laptop is way too better than SONY.

By the way, this one is really light and thin that shocked me when I open the box. It destroyed the common sense of IBM laptop at all. People who bought this one must know what I'm talking about, right? : )

There are two cons I should mention. First, the screen is not good. I suppose the screen is the only thing that SONY should be proud of. I have to adjust the T42's XGA 15' to certain angle to watch it clearly, which will never happen on SONY laptop. However, hell with that, the money I paid was not for a beautiful display. Second, the bluetooth build-in doesn't work for Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse (Operating system of this laptop is XP Professional SP2). I don't know why and I'm looking into it.

Anyway, IBM is definitely a good choice. You will see if you take this babe home.

Good job, IBM.

PS: I took it from IBM express; they do not accept payment from international credit card. Thus, I suppose the people who want this one and do not have US issued credit card better take it here, and I saw a rebate. You will see the cost/benefit ratio.

A terrific laptop, but go with a custom configuration
My T42 is the third ThinkPad I've owned. ThinkPads are a bit more expensive than most other brands (except Sony), but well worth it. They have excellent build quality, the most comfortable keyboards of any laptop, and excellent customer support (the few times I've needed support, it was easy to get through to a real human on the phone who could help me, and the one time a part wasn't working perfectly, they overnighted a replacement to me).

Before purchasing this T42, I purchased an S- series Sony VAIO comparably configured, which cost $300 more than the T42. The VAIO had a brighter display than the ThinkPad, and was even smaller and lighter. It was also more stylish. But the VAIO's display had a narrower viewing angle, meaning if you tilt the screen or turn the laptop even just a little bit, the display gets much harder to read. The VAIO's keyboard was not as comfortable as the ThinkPad's. And the VAIO's fan was noisy and always on, whereas the ThinkPad's fan is whisper quiet. So I returned the VAIO.

If you want to buy a T42, I suggest you not limit yourself to this particular configuration. Instead, decide what you want the T42 to have, and then look for the configuration that comes closest to what you want.

The first thing you'll need to decide is whether to get a T42 with a 14" or 15" display. The tradeoff is that the 15" is nicer, but makes the laptop about 1 pound heavier (though still lighter than similarly equipped laptops from Dell, Gateway, etc).

Most people understand the role of processor speed, RAM, and size of hard drive. But you may not know that the speed of the hard drive is an important variable that should factor into your decision.

Most desktop hard drives spin at 7200 RPM. In contrast, most laptop hard drives spin at 4300 RPM. This is one reason why laptops feel more sluggish than desktop computers. You can get laptops with hard drives that spin at 5400 RPM, and this makes a noticeable difference. The T42 can be purchased with a 60gb drive that spins at 7200 RPM - same as a desktop computer. I *URGE* you to get a hard drive that's rated AT LEAST at 5400 RPM. Of course, this costs a bit more, but on a limited budget, you can make up for this by choosing a slightly slower processor. Even the slower processors are faster than most of us need for most of the things we use computers for, so you're not likely to notice having a slightly slower processor, but you will definitely appreciate having a faster hard drive.

Another thing you should get on your T42 (or whatever laptop you end up choosing) is built-in WiFi. Even if you don't have a wireless network in your home, chances are you're a short drive from half a dozen coffee shops or libraries that have wireless internet access, and this will only increase in the future. Getting WiFi on a notebook adds about $100 to the cost, and it's DEFINITELY worth it. Once you use it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it, and you'll want to get a wireless network in your home (and they are not very expensive or hard to install - I did it, and I don't know much about networking at all!)

After you come up with your dream configuration for the T42, visit thinkpad.com to find the specific model number of the T42 that comes closest to your configuration, then come back to Amazon and search on that model number to see Amazon's competitive price.

Also, you can call IBM. Whatever price they quote for that specific model, tell them you found a comparably equipped Dell for $300 less and is there any way they can lower their price. In my experience, they will offer you a lower price.

You should also consider the new T43, which will have a faster bus speed and other small incremental improvements over the T42 (but of course it's more expensive).

Good luck with your purchase decision, and enjoy whatever laptop you end up choosing!

The coolest laptop ever
I've been using Dell laptops for more than 7 years. Then I thought recently why not go for a change. I read almost all the reviews about the T42 and did my home work. I have the T42 now for more than 3 month and never had to call IBM Support or needed their help. Very friendly, easy to use notebook. Bright screen. I liked the Access IBM button which helps you keep your system updated. There are lots of nice stuff on this laptop that you wouldn't find in other laptops. That's beside its very very light weight which makes it the traveller delight. I think I am a happy owner and lucky that I purchased this laptop. It's sold now at IBM.com for $1399. I guess it's a great deal for an IBM laptop. ... Read more

Product Description

IBM ThinkPad T42 Notebook PC Take the next step in the evolution of the ThinkPad with the T40 series. With an energy-efficient Pentium M processor and a full suite of features, this is one notebook that will help you make short work of large projects and keep you productive while out of the office. This Centrino model is configured with a 1.7GHz Pentium M 735 processor, a 2MB L2 cache, a 60GB hard drive and 512MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM, expandable to 2GB. In addition to the 400MHz front bus speed and one Type III/two Type I/II PC Card slot(s), it offers a 24x24x24x8 (max. speeds) CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive. For your communications needs, it features a Gigabit Ethernet card and Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG. The embedded security chip helps keep your online transactions and messages private. The 15.0" TFT FlexView display with wide viewing angle and high density supports internal resolutions up to 1400 x 1050 and external resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 in 16 million colors with ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 graphics and 64MB DDR SDRAM. The SoundMAX audio with built-in speakers provides great sound. It comes with a rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack, an AC adapter, a keyboard with light and an UltraNav pointer. Windows XP Professional is pre-installed. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Bring together the worlds of entertainment and information technology with the factory reconditioned HP Media Center m1080n desktop PC. This powerful digital entertainment hub enables you to watch and record your favorite TV programs, easily edit digital video, andcreate your own CDs and DVDs. It also offers a variety of HP multimedia features, including LightScribe direct disc labeling, Image Zone photo editing and management software, and HP camera dock holder. The m1270n features a gargantuan 250 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, 3.2 GHz hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor, and multiformat memory card reader. This model has been factory refurbished to perform as if it were new. It includes an HP 90-day warranty.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The massive 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video.
• Processor: The hyper-threaded Intel Pentium 4 540 processor (3.2 GHz) allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system, helping to deliver faster transistors and increased performance. It also features a 1 MB L2 cache and a blazingly fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed, which measures how fast a processor and the main memory communicate. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 512 MB of installed RAM (PC2700) is a little underwhelming for this multimedia-centric desktop PC, so you'll want to take advantage of the ultra-roomy 4 GB of total RAM capacity (2 x 2 GB)for such multimedia needs as video editing and immersive 3D gaming.
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive is compatible with a wide variety disc formats, including DVD+, DVD-, VCD, and SVCD discs. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 4x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 8x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x). For CDs, it has a 24x write/10x rewrite/40x read speed. This desktop also comes with a second optical drive--a DVD-ROM for reading DVD and CD discs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This desktop comes with an HP two-button, scrolling optical mouse and HP Media Center keyboard with full multimedia control. It also includes a remote control with IR (infrared) receiver.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The m1080n has three PCI expansion slots (all occupied), two external 5.25 drive bays (occupied), 1 internal 3.5 drive bay (occupied), one PCI x16 Express port (occupied) and the following external ports:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (4 in rear, 3 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 front and 1 back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 serial port
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• Composite video, S-Video, and audio inputs
• 9-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, and XD Picture Card

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. Additionally, it enables you to control your television with the included remote and record and pause programs (much like a DVR--or digital video recorder--such as Tivo or ReplayTV). With the 250 GB hard drive, you'll be able to record and store up to 180 hours of video programming. It's compatible with cable, digital cable, satellite TV and antenna inputs, and it includes an FM tuner.

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Other preloaded software includes InterVideo WinDVD Creator and WinDVD SE player, Apple iTunes, Sonic RecordNow, Norton AntiVirus 2005 and Personal Firewall 2004 (with 60 days of live updates), Microsoft Works 8.0, MSN Encarta Standard, Microsoft Money, and Quicken 2004 New User Edition.

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop measures 15.5 x 7.5 x 16 inches (HxWxD).

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Media Center m1080n desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, remote control, and power cord. It is backed by a 1-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The perfect blend of mobility, style, and performance, the HP dv1040us will become the center of your digital entertainment universe, whether at home, at school, or on the road. It features a 1.6 GHz Intel Centrino processor, which offers energy saving battery efficiency. It also has a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, 54g Wi-Fi connectivity, a 14-inch display, and a DVD+R/RW and CD-R/RW combo drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors.
• Processor: The 1.6 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) processor is at the high end of the spectrum and will be fast enough for gaming and multimedia applications. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. The dv1040us has a large 2 MB L2 cache and a 400 MHz front-side bus.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 266 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB)--a must for taking full advantage of this notebook's multimedia capabilities.
• CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 1x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 2x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x). For CDs, it has a 16x write/8x rewrite/24x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This dv1040us model has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). You get a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including FireWire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 6-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia or xD-Picture cards

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 60-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Encarta Plus, HP Image Zone Plus, InterVideo WinDVD Creator and Home Theater, Muvee autoProducer, Sonic RecordNow, and Apple iTunes.

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Dimensions and Weight
At just 5.33 pounds, the dv1040us notebook can can go anywhere without weighing you down. It measures 13.15 x 9.24 x 1.18 inches (L x W x H)

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides an average of battery life of around 2 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Pavilion dv1040us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Buy
When I was in the market for a new laptop I was actually leaning towards buying a Mac instead of a PC. This laptop convinced me not too. Here's why:

* Optimum size- small enough to be very portable, yet large enough to easily be used as you primary computer.

* This is an entertainment machine. Both CD and DVD players work without the laptop actually on, saving battery-life. Remote control fits snuggly into its storage slot and works flawlessly.

* The whole computer, particularly the HD widescreen is beautiful to look at, and keyboard has a very nice feel.

* The 3 2.0 USB ports are conveniently located on the sides of the laptop instead of in the back. A digital media card slot is also located on the side of the laptop.

* Thus far the computer has worked absolutely flawlessly, is pretty fast, and doesn't get too hot after hours of use. I haven't tested the battery to its limits yet, but I ran them on full power for 3 hours and still had plenty of life left. It's also fairly light and slim.

* I'm a bit clutzy, and fortunately, HP offers an Accidental Damage extended warrenty which covers drops and spills, among other things. It's a little steep, but worth it if you should ever need something major replaced (like the HD screen) due to a fall.

This having been said, the HP DV1040us does not come without its flaws...
* The wide screen is a little hard to fit wallpaper on, as it tends to stretch the image. It fortunately does not do this to DVDs, but a 16:9 DVD format is ideal.

* While I like the USB ports on the side of the computer, and they wisely left the powercord in the back of the computer, all the other ports and jacks are located on the side. While this isn't a major inconvenience, and may even be a plus depending on personal preference, I personally would prefer them in the back.

Even with these flaws, I still think that this computer is a great buy for the money. This laptop offers many features that are not currently available on any other laptop on the market, and I am very satisfied with my purchase.

Good performance with mediocre case design
This laptop would work really well for someone who never takes it anywhere.The main problem with this unit it its case.After 2 weeks, the case noticeable creaks.From my experience as a network administrator, I can tell you that this is a bad sign.My PowerBook G4 does NOT have the creaky-case problem, in contrast.

Other than this obvious design flaw, I have found it to be powerful and feature-rich.I ordered mine with Bluetooth and WiFi, which have performed admirably with many access points, cell phones and the occational bluetooth headset.The on-off trackpad button is very convenient for frequent writers.The keyboard is VERY comfortable to use, with a convenient layout andeasy-to-find arrow keys and dedicated navigation keys (home, end, pgup, pgdown).Wireless signal strength is very good, much better than my powerbook at finding local networks.

Battery life appears to be over 2 hours with standard battery and over 4 hours with the extended life battery.

One final note -- the scrolling feature of the trackpad does not work very well at all.

Size, not power
Well first off a centrino with a battery life of 2-3 hrs is horrible.Centrino laptops usually last atleast 5 hrs if not more.I just got this laptop and am not sure of my purchase.The DVD+R is a nice way of HP promoting a format that they are the #1 promoter of.The DDR2100 ram is slow compared to DDR2700 and the Harddrive is way slow too at 4200 RPM.All in all if your looking for something small and light this is a good laptop.If your looking for something powerful and with a long battery life, get something else.

Best featured laptop available
To start off with the specs on this laptop: This laptop is the lowest priced Centrino processor system I could find. The small form factor is great and doesn't cause a lack in the computer. It comes with a BrightView screen, 60GB Hard Drive, and a DVD burner which is unheard of at this price. The BrightView screen is crisp and beautiful. Even for it's size, the laptop comes with a 60GB hard drive. The fun feature of this laptop is the QuickPlay system. This provides a DVD player and music player outside of the Windows operating system. Since RAM and processor are barely used, this boosts battery life by quite a bit. The remote that the system comes with is very well made and works in both Windows and QuickPlay. The only complaint I have about the remote is that the location (PCMIA slot) where it is to be located is too tight for the remote and keeps it from being easily removed. The average battery life for this laptop is around 3 hours with recharging taking around the same time.

Pros:
Good battery life
Sleek design
Good construction
QuickPlay system
Small form with full features

Cons:
Remote control's location

Great all purpose laptop
Got this laptop to replace my 3 year old Toshiba. This is a great laptop. Runs very fast, has a great display, and the keyboard is comfortable. I got mine with the 12 cell battery, and I get 6 hours on it. If you are looking for a lightweight laptop with great battery life, then this is a great laptop for you. The only tradeoff is there is no dedicated GPU, but I have been running Warcraft 3 on this system, and it works great, so as long as you are not planning to play Doom 3 on it you will be fine gamewise. ... Read more