Asus EEE PC 1000HE

The streamlined and redesigned Asus Eee PC 1000HE takes no prisoners. While the previous Asus Eee PC 1000 offered a solid netbook, Acer's Aspire One stole all the attention with its lean and incredibly affordable approach. With the latest incarnation of the Eee PC 1000, the "HE" might as well stand for "Holy Enhancement!" This model bears only a passing resemblance to last year's Eee PC, and improves upon just about everything from the keyboard to the CPU. Better yet, in addition to losing some unsightly girth, Asus also trimmed the price to $400.

Let's take a quick tour around the machine to kick this off. The first, most obvious thing you'll spot is the cut-out keyboard. Just like you'd find on an Apple MacBook Air or on Sony VAIO laptops, the keys poke through the plastic, creating a wide gap between buttons. In that respect, this feels and looks great, and is generally more usable. The trackpad is just spacious enough -- I particularly like its metal framing and the few multitouch functions incorporated into the design. However, I found the pad slightly twitchy to control. No deal-breaker, but I noticed.

You also get a couple handy shortcut buttons hovering along the top of the unit. They do everything from give the CPU a speed boost (more on that below) and user-definable shortcuts to a screen resolution adapter. That is, you can view 1024-by-768 resolutions even though the native resolution of the 1000HE is 1024 by 600 -- it's a special compression mode that Lenovo employs in the IdeaPad S10 as well, and represents a convenience given that some applications default to a 1024-by-768-pixel resolution and won't work otherwise.

This unit's 10.1-inch backlit LED display is bright and capable of good color reproduction; its glossy coating helps the image pop a little more than you usually see on netbooks. However, the highly polished bezel that keeps the screen in place can get a little distracting at times.

A number of aerodynamic nips and tucks make this 10.3-by-7.4-by-1.4-inch netbook just a hair thinner than the older, clunkier Eee PC 1000 we reviewed last year. It's also a little on the "heavy" side for a netbook, weighing 3.2 pounds. That's the price of strapping an 8700mAH battery to the bottom of this thing; Asus promises that the 1000HE will deliver 9.5 hours of performance (but we got a solid seven hours, nine minutes in our tests).In short, netbooks in this generation are finally packing the battery power required for marathon computing sessions.

Speaking of performance, the Asus Eee PC 1000HE sports Intel's 1.66-GHz Atom N280 CPU. For the sake of comparison, most of the netbooks that came out late last year used the N270 CPU, which runs at a lower frequency (1.6-GHz) and a slower frontside bus speed (533MHz as compared with 667 MHz in the N280). The difference, however, was minimal. Our test unit got a 35 in WorldBench: an average score for what you'll find in netbooks.

The Asus comes with 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard disk drive, and 802.11b/g/n /Bluetooth wireless. Around the perimeter of chassis lies a fairly standard set of three USB 2.0 inputs.

The audio, as on the Eee PC 1000, sounds surprisingly strong for its size. But it lacks a good subwoofer, so don't expect to rock a house party with this thing. Other notable features thrown into the mix: InterVideo WinDVD (which seems to be a little bit of overkill, I'd recommend you try out KMPlayer), and 18 months of 10GB of free online storage.

In the end, this is a fairly solid -- and sizable -- jump over what's come out just a few months earlier. In fact, I'd dare say that amongst the netbook pack, this is one of my current favorites and something that I'd highly recommend that you check out. Considering that its selling in some places for as little as $380, you could do worse.

Lenovo Thinkpad X200

Because it bears a lower model number, you might imagine that this a less-powerful version of the ThinkPad X300, but the X200 actually has a more recent processor. The X300 has a 13.3-inch display, however, while the X200 has a 12.1-inch screen. Ah, but what you'll see when you fire this baby up!

At just under 3 pounds with its lightest battery installed, the X200 weighs a few ounces less than the ThinkPad X61, despite offering the same 12.1-inch wide screen and a bigger keyboard. The bright little screen has an easy-to-read 1280-by-800-pixel resolution, making it quite comfortable for work on the go. And the built-in Webcam keeps you in visual touch with your colleagues.

The redesigned keyboard is as big as the ones that members of Lenovo's ThinkPad T series carry, and it has all the same amenities: spill resistance, dedicated page up and page down keys, and the all-important ThinkVantage button. The ThinkVantage application suite offers one-touch access to the onboard user manual as well as to recovery, security, and other crucial utilities. A fingerprint reader rounds out the package. What's missing: a touchpad. Many ThinkPads offer both a touchpad and aneaserhead as pointing devices, but not the X200.

The review unit Lenovo sent us came with 2GB of RAM and a 2.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400, and it notched a WorldBench 6 score of 88, putting it only 14 points behind the fastest laptop we've tested to date. As you might expect, the X200's integrated video graphics can handle only simple games. But the X200's battery life soars. Lenovo has expanded its battery line to three choices, topped by the powerful nine-cell model that our X200 carried. Though this battery extends the back of the notebook by about half an inch and brought our unit's weight to 3.7 pounds (not including power adapter), the payoff was almost nine hours of juice on a single charge.

Unless you already have a spare external USB optical drive on hand, you'll have to shell out $219 extra for Lenovo's Ultrabase docking slice to get an internal drive bay. (A Blu-ray optical drive costs even more). On the bright side, the modular bay accepts other devices like a second battery or second hard drive. But the docking slice also offers some nifty new connections, most notably a place to charge yet another battery and a DisplayPort display interface that combines high-def audio and video in a single connector.

Of course, ultraportable ThinkPads have always used the space they save by omitting a built-in optical drive to add lots of laptop features that are missing from same-size competition. The X200 features three USB ports, microphone and headphone ports, a VGA port, and an ethernet connection. You have your choice of a modem jack with a five-in-one memory card slot, or a less expensive configuration offering an SD Card slot but no modem.

The X200 feels tough as nails, thanks to a magnesium alloy lid and bottom. A crash-proof solid-state hard drive up to 64GB is optional (we got a standard 160GB platter-based hard drive, however). For future upgrading the X200's two memory chip slots are located in an easy-to-access bottom compartment, and the hard drive can be removed from the right side of the unit after unscrewing one bottom screw.

A full array of wireless communications options come built in: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WWAN, and even GPS. Before the end of the year Lenovo should offer WiMax, too--and a tablet version of the X200. But if all you need is the world's best travel laptop right now, you're looking at it.

ViewSonic N2201w

Designed for use in tight spaces, the ViewSonic N2201w ($430 street) is ideal for dorm room or studio apartment living, or if you simply want to add a TV to your already-cramped home office. This versatile 22-inch HDTV/monitor hybrid sports a variety of entertainment features, including a built-in DVD player and a digital TV tuner, but its dark grayscale performance is lacking.
The 1,680-by-1,050 resolution panel, housed in a black cabinet with a shiny black bezel, is perched atop a wide oval base, which gives it a good measure of stability. Unfortunately, the stand is a tilt-only model that lets you angle the panel forward but not backward beyond the 90-degree point, and it doesn't support height or swivel adjustments. If you do decide to tilt the screen, make sure you use both hands, as the mechanism is very stiff.

The 3-watt speakers embedded in the lower bezel are a cut above the usual underpowered speakers found on displays. They are loud and deliver a full range of high and midrange tones. You won't get booming bass from these speakers, but they do produce more bottom than most.

Around back are a slew of connectivity ports, including a standard VGA analog port, an HDMI port, component video and audio outputs, S-Video and composite video inputs, 2-channel audio inputs, a digital audio output, and a coaxial TV antenna/cable input. There's also a DVD video output for playing videos on an external screen. Considering the lack of a DVI port, a second HDMI port would have been nice, but this is still a good mix of ports for a 22-inch monitor. The N2201w comes with a VGA cable, but you're on your own when it comes to HDMI, S-Video, and component cables. If you still need more connection options, check out the Samsung T220HD, which is also loaded with multimedia ports and provides two HDMI ports and a DVI output, as well.

A slot-loading DVD player with five control buttons, clearly labeled with white lettering, is integrated into the left-hand side of the cabinet. Below it is a conveniently positioned headphone jack. The same white lettering is used to identify the seven buttons (including the power switch) on the right-hand side of the display, one of which is a Menu button that takes you into the on-screen display (OSD) system. The other buttons are used to change TV channels, select an input source, and raise or lower the volume. They can also be used to toggle through and select menu choices while navigating the OSD, but it's much easier to use the included full-function remote, which features the usual array of TV and DVD player controls as well as closed captioning, favorite channels, MTS/SAP, and electronic program guide buttons.

While in PC mode, you can adjust contrast, brightness, and sharpness, and toggle between four Picture modes: Standard, Dynamic, Soft, and Personal (user-defined). I'd recommend sticking with the Standard setting, as Soft was very dark and Dynamic a bit too bright. Color temperature choices include Cool, Warm, and Normal, and you can adjust horizontal and vertical positioning and clock and phase levels. The same settings are available in TV mode, where you can select a TV signal source, scan for available channels, enable closed captioning, and set parental controls as well.

I was generally impressed with the L2201w's performance as a PC monitor. It did a very good job of reproducing the lightest shades of gray on my DisplayMate 64-Step Grayscale test. Colors were bold and uniform at the high end of the scale. The panel had a difficult time displaying the darkest shades of gray, however, making the deepest reds and blues darker than they should be. There also was noticeable backlight bleeding along the bottom edge and left-hand side of the panel. Still, color representation was generally good, and text was crisp and well defined at 6 points. Smaller fonts set to 5.3 points were slightly fuzzy but still legible.

The integrated ATSC/NTAC/QAM tuner's auto-scan had no trouble finding all of my available cable channels, and they all came in cleanly. Channel changing via the remote was a tad slow, but not unbearably so, and the 5-millisecond (black-to-white) pixel-response rate provided smooth motion handling. Using the HDMI port to connect to my cable box, I watched Sunrise Earth on Discovery's HD Theater channel, which comes in at 1080i. The picture was sharp, with no apparent jaggies or artifacts, and colors were very bright without appearing oversaturated. There was some loss of detail in darker scenes, which can be attributed to the dark grayscale flaw. The integrated DVD player performed flawlessly, but on several occasions the monitor was unable to sync up when I switched back to PC mode, requiring a reboot.

Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8

A uniquely styled, energy-efficient LED-lit LCD HDTV, the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8 ($3,999.99 list) takes picture quality to new heights and sets higher standards for contrast and color reproduction. Multimedia mavens may find the set's integrated features lacking, and it's a bit higher in price than the competition. Still, this set's awe-inspiring picture quality is about as close to perfect as I've seen, so it easily snags our Editors' Choice award.
With thin, side-mounted speakers embedded in clear plastic so that they almost appear to float in midair, the KDL-46XBR8 is almost as wide as a 50-inch model. But this speaker placement is more effective than bottom-mounted configurations at producing a centrally positioned sound field. The TV's glossy black bezel features a finish on its inner edge that minimizes distracting reflections—a thoughtful detail. The baton-style universal remote control has a deep-blue backlit keypad with clearly labeled buttons that provide excellent tactile feedback and snappy performance. The dedicated Theater button makes it simple and quick to switch to Cinema display mode, which optimizes settings for viewing in dimly lit rooms.
Audio and video ports are divided between a main outward-facing panel on the back and a smaller selection on the left-hand side of the set. You get four HDMI ports, two sets of component video inputs, VGA, and an RF input, all of which are compatible with video formats up to 1080p, including 1080p at 24 frames per second (1080p24). Additional connections include Ethernet, USB, and a nine-pin serial connector. When the KDL-46XBR8 is connected to the Internet, a menu option lets you update the set's firmware—a welcome feature that I haven't seen before on an HDTV.

The set supports playback of JPEG images and MP3 music files from connected USB storage devices, but JPEGs are the only media format you can stream using other DLNA-compliant devices over your home network; the Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD plasma and the Samsung LN55A950 can stream music and video files as well. Optional Bravia Link modules can be connected to dedicated ports on the rear of the set to enable additional multimedia functionality, including video streaming over the Web and wireless HD streaming between A/V devices.

The set's 1080p resolution is a perfect match for today's highest-quality HD video sources, and its screen-size settings let it display every pixel from 1,080-line video without any loss of detail from overscan. 720p video input via HDMI was also overscan-free on my tests, but the same video format fed through a component connection exhibited a 6 percent loss of the picture.

While most LED LCD TVs use only white, the KDL-46XBR8 employs clusters of red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs for increased color performance. The set's range of color reproduction using its bright default picture preset is among the widest I've seen. Although this preset is too colorful for the accurate reproduction of Blu-ray movies or other HD programming, it could be used with newer HD camcorders that support wide-color-gamut recording. The Cinema preset provided the closest match to the standards used in HD video production, although its blue primary measured slightly off target (toward cyan) on the CIE chart. (Unlike the Samsung LN55A950, this set lacks user-accessible color management controls for fine-tuning.) Grayscale results were very strong in my tests—in fact, the most linear I've seen, even in the darkest detail areas where most LCD TVs turn bluish.

The average black level measurement of 0.02 candela per square meter (cd/m²) resulted in a contrast ratio calculation of 4,330:1—the best result for a dark viewing environment I've recorded from an LCD TV. Sets such as LG's 47LG90 and the LN55A950 both produced slightly brighter average black measurements (0.03 cd/m²) and slightly lower contrast ratios (3,127:1 and 3,148:1, respectively). And for brightly lit rooms, the Sony's dark, matte-screen surface is ideal for maintaining a well-contrasted picture.

Watching standard-definition DVD movies over a component video connection showed this set's exceptional ability to enhance detail while minimizing distracting artifacts. HD video was equally impressive, with the Cinema preset producing natural-looking flesh tones and superb picture detail. When I viewed the screen from the side I didn't see the washed-out images I saw on the LN55A950, although the 47LG90 remains the best LCD TV I've seen at maintaining a consistent picture at wide viewing angles.

Video resolution tests showed that enabling the KDL-46XBR8's scanning backlight allowed the set to resolve the maximum 1,080 lines of picture detail—but with a reduction in the TV's peak brightness of 37 percent. (I observed a similar trade-off in the LN55A950 when its scanning backlight was enabled.) The backlight can also be dimmed to improve contrast while at the same time reducing overall energy consumption.

Using default picture settings, I estimated an operating cost of $2.88 per month (166W average), less than for similar-size 1080p TVs I've tested, including the Toshiba Regza 46XV545U ($3.20, 183W) and the Samsung LN46A850 ($3.27, 187W), based on five hours of daily use at $0.1135 per kWh (the 2008 national average). This is enough to earn the KDL-46XBR8 our GreenTech Approved designation. Using the integratedTV Guide–based electronic programming guide resulted in an increase in standby power consumption from 0.2W to 16.1W, which is typical of many HDTVs with this feature.

The Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8's picture quality is sublime, easily the best I've seen to date in an LCD television. Yes, this TV is more expensive than the similar-size LG 47LG90 ($3,899.99) and the Samsung LN47A950 ($3,399.99), but the multicolor LED backlighting technology is worth the premium. (The only other LCD television with RGB LEDs, the disappointing Sharp Aquos Limited Edition LC-52XS1U-S, sells for a jaw-dropping $11,000.) It would be nice if the KDL-46XBR8 had more robust out-of-the-box multimedia features and improved calibration controls. But wish lists aside, the picture can't be beat.

Wacom Intuos4

Pen tablets aren't just for commercial artists anymore. For proof, look no further than the just-released Wacom Intuos4 ($230 and up, street, depending on size), a worthy addition to the toolkits of professionals, casual artists, and photography enthusiasts alike. Used with Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Corel Painter 11, the Intuos4's impressive pressure sensitivity lets you lighten or darken areas of an image with precision. Putting the tablet to work with Photoshop's dodge, burn, blur, and sharpen tools gives you the kind of personal expression that's associated with a photographic darkroom. And if you're used to drawing with traditional art materials, such as chalk or watercolors, you'll find that the combination of Intuos4 and Painter comes remarkably close to that experience. Wacom is pretty much the only game in town when it comes to pen tablets, but the impressive Intuos4 proves that the lack of competition hasn't made the company lazy.
For this review, Wacom provided me with the medium version of the Intuos4. Think of this midsized, midpriced pen tablet as the Goldilocks model—not too large, not too expensive. The active area of the 10-by-14.6-inch (HW) pad, at 5.5 by 8.8 inches, is not as high but a bit wider than the 6-by-8-inch active area of the Intuos3 6x8. With the Intuos4, the company has switched from the active-area designations associated with its now-discontinued predecessor to the generic small, medium, large, and extra large.
A rubberlike finish along the bottom half of the pen helps you keep a firm grip. But it also attracts dust and lint, so when not in use, keep the pen in the supplied holder. The tablet has a sleek, all-black appearance, as opposed to the Intuos3's institutional slate-gray styling. The eight programmable ExpressKeys are sensibly grouped to one side, rather than being split between the left- and right-hand sides, as they were on the Intuos3.

HP Pavilion Elite m9400t

The HP Pavilion Elite m9400t ($1,109 list; $1,440 with 20-inch widescreen monitor) will look familiar to some. It's housed in the same case as the m9200t I looked at not too long ago, and it's externally identical to the m9040n I reviewed last year. Like those systems, the m9400t is built to order, and it's optimized for the multimedia enthusiast—as in the teen or adult in your family who thinks that the current family PC is "too slow" and "doesn't do enough." The m9400t has as many inputs and outputs on it as a typical A/V receiver in your home theater, and it's just as much the center of your digital life. It has a friendly $1,110 price, and it's the PC you'll want to use when you get serious about the photos you shoot, the videos you post to the Internet, and the shows you watch on TV.
The m9400t comes in a mid-tower case with an abundance of discreetly hidden input and output ports for your analog and digital sound and video. With both front doors closed, the system looks like a standard PC, albeit one with an attractive black glossy finish and silvery accents. The right door hides the Personal Media Drive bay (more on that later), and the left one hides easy-to-reach inputs for FireWire, USB, headphones, a microphone, and a full set of A/V inputs for video-in, audio L/R-in, and S-Video-in. (That's right, you can hook up your analog camcorder or VCR to the system.) On the back there's another set of A/V inputs that connect right into the TV tuner card (for set-top boxes such as cable boxes), antenna jacks for over-the-air and FM radio, more USB ports, another FireWire port, and digital audio input and output. Along with the ports, there's a digital media card reader.

The m9400t comes with a Blu-ray reader, so you can play back high-definition movies. It can burn CDs and DVDs, but not BD-R (Blu-ray) discs. This is fine, because it saves you a few hundred dollars over the Blu-ray burner model. BD-R media is still too expensive, and Blu-ray drives are rare enough to make the ability to burn Blu-ray discs not absolutely necessary. The m9400t has HDCP-compliant DVI and HDMI ports on the back of its GeForce 9500 GS card, so you can hook up a DVI monitor or an HDTV. Both formats look terrific played back on the m9400t. The system also has 802.11g Wi-Fi networking, so you don't have to set it up near your cable modem if you don't want to.

Home video files, music, and photos can take up a lot of hard drive space. The system's 500GB built-in hard drive is roomy but likely to fill up quickly. The m9400t has, in addition, slots for two different types of removable hard drives. The first is for Pocket Media drives, which come in 160GB and 320GB capacities, at $120 and $180 direct, respectively; they are notebook-class drives that can be powered via a USB cable. The other is for Personal Media drives, which come in 500GB and 1TB capacities (at $120 and $180) and are desktop-class drives—they need an external power adapter when not plugged into the m9400t. Both will give you seemingly unlimited storage, and both work with the "easy backup" button on the front of the system. You can set the button to launch an automatic backup of anything you have on the system, including your documents, digital media, and more. Especially on a media system, where you're storing all your family's memories, it's important to back up your data.

When it comes to performance, the m9400t's 3GB of memory and quad-core Q6600 processor helped the system obtain impressive benchmark test results. The m9400t finished the Windows Media Encoder test in a speedy 46 seconds, and the Photoshop CS3 test in 29 seconds. Earlier this year, high-end machines like the Gateway FX7020 performed the same tests in around a minute, but the m9400t is pretty much on a par with what we're seeing in multimedia PCs nowadays.

Even though the system has a discrete GeForce 9500 GS graphics card, it's not ideal for 3D gaming. The m9400t's World in Conflict score of 29 frames per second at a resolution of 1,280-by-1,024 indicates a mostly playable speed. On Crysis at the same resolution, however, the system's score was a jerky 20 fps. That said, it should have no problem playing more modest games like Company of Heroes or World of Warcraft. If 3D performance is important, you can swap the graphics card for something more powerful when you configure it to order, but of course that will cost more money.

If there are any drawbacks to this system, it's that it has a bunch of bloatware on it, including programs like a Microsoft Office 60-day trial, "My HP Games" by Wild Tangent, Yahoo! Toolbar, and Snapfish Picture Mover. I classify all these as bloatware because you can download them free on the Internet: They don't give you any extra utility by coming preinstalled, and three of the four programs will try to sell you something (more game time, digital photo prints, and a full version of Office, to be exact). While there may not be anything inherently malicious about any of the three, they constitute advertisements that you really don't need. Speaking of ads, there are plenty of them on the desktop and in the Vista Welcome Center (the first screen you see after you've setup your PC, and every time you turn on the PC unless you turn Welcome Center off), including ads for eBay, Juno and NetZero (dial-up Internet providers), MSN, and WeatherBug. The m9400t isn't alone in this offense (systems from eMachines and Sony are similarly burdened with bloatware), but that doesn't make it right.

HP does redeem itself a little bit by offering a 15-month subscription for Norton Internet Security. This is a vast improvement over systems from Dell and Gateway that come with measly 30-to-60-day subscriptions.

Ultimately it's the features you get for the price that earn the HP Pavilion Elite m9400t its Editors' Choice award for mainstream desktops. This is the system to buy if you want to spend around $1,000 and still enjoy multimedia-rich features and performance.

Gateway DX4710-UB002A

The Gateway DX4710-UB002A ($899.99 list, $1,220 with 22-inch widescreen monitor) is a multimedia-oriented PC available at a big-box store near you. Gateway's new retail-only strategy may prove helpful in reaching the "I want it now" consumer: You can buy a DX4710 PC in the afternoon at your local big-box store, then be downloading music and converting home videos to YouTube or Facebook that night, instead of waiting for a system to be built and shipped. Overall, it's a decent multimedia system for the price, and one that will make any budding multimedia maven happy.The built-in IR blaster port is good for people who need to control a set-top box such as a satellite or cable TV tuner. You can trash the modem if you're not on dial-up and you want the PCI slot for expansion. There is space for a couple of extra SATA hard drives, but that's about it. Since the system is so chock-full of goodies, the fact that you can't shoehorn anything else into the case isn't really a drawback.

The DX4710 sits in a new chassis for Gateway, which is a relief, as the older DX minitower case was looking a bit tired. The new one is not a lot different, but its chiseled façade conveys a more powerful feel than the older curvy faceplate. Inside, you'll find a tidy interior housing a Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, 6GB of DDR2 SDRAM, 640GB hard drive, and ATI Radeon HD 3650 graphics card. There's also an ATSC/HDTV tuner, a wireless 802.11g network card, and a 56K modem.

Omitted is the Gateway multimedia hard drive bay—which I consider a good thing. I voiced my dislike for this bay in an earlier review of the GT5662. (I don't like the proprietary cable.) What you do get is an eSATA port in back. eSATA is a much faster interface than FireWire or USB 2.0, so hooking up an eSATA external hard drive to the DX4710 will allow you to back up the 640GB internal hard drive quickly, and with eSATA you won't have to crack the system's case to install a hard drive. The system also has one FireWire and six USB ports. Adding storage is as simple as plugging in to one of the three types of external ports.

The DX4710 is a quick multimedia performance PC. Its quad-core processor and 6GB of memory helped the system return a speedy 46 seconds on the Windows Media Encoder test, and 30 seconds on the Photoshop CS3 test. The system's WME score is excellent, particularly considering that video transcoding is a primary task for camcorder- and phonecam-addicted youth. Also, it's an improvement over older quad-core systems like the Gateway DX442XP, which took around a minute to complete the WME test, so it's on a par with other systems.

On 32-bit tests like Photoshop CS3 and WME, the Gateway with its 6GB of RAM, running under 64-bit Vista Home Premium, showed no advantage over comparable systems with a more standard 2GB. It remains to be seen whether 6GB will help performance when Adobe updates Photoshop to (64-bit optimized) CS4. (Find out more about 64-bit technology, and the apps it's compatible with in this ExtremeTech story.)

Crysis was basically unplayable on this system (20 frames per second at 1,280 by 1,024 and 2 fps at 1,920 by 1,200), and World in Conflict was barely playable at 28 fps at 1,280 by 1,024. This isn't a gaming box, so this isn't much of a burden. The system is certainly powerful enough for casual games (Minesweeper, Solitaire, Diner Dash). Until more games or programs are written to take advantage of 64-bit Vista, the 6GB in the DX4710 is really useful only for those people who open a lot of windows and programs, then never close them until they shut the PC down.

A drawback to the system is that it's loaded with crapware. You get the usual suspects: WildTangent's "Gateway Games," an Office 2007 60-day trial, and a miserly 60-day trial subscription to the Norton 360 Internet protection suite (including antivirus, antispam, and so on). There are also ads for eBay, Napster, and NetZero on the desktop and in the Welcome Center (one of the first screens you see after setting up your new PC). It's not as bad as, say, on the recent Sony VAIO VGC-LT29U, but you still end up with a bunch of ads cluttering your system urging you to buy more unasked-for stuff.

The DX4710 is moderately priced, with solid features and performance. It's a good fit for anyone who wants to move from a "rip and burn" PC to one that can do more in the way of multimedia.

Sony Showcases New OLED Concept

Sony has a new prototype laptop for us featuring a flexible OLED screen. After watching a video of the concept in action, we are very impressed with the potential this device has.

As a part of the new Contrast line, the OLED laptop combines a flexible bioplastic OLED screen with touch technology to create something wonderful. There is no hard keyboard, just a touch keyboard, and with the press of a button that keyboard can be whisked away and replaced with more display screen, basically doubling the size.

Flexible OLEDs are a new and extremely interesting new technology, as laptop displays are easily the bulkiest part of any laptop. (The keyboard is running a close second, and Sony has taken care of both here.) As this technology develops, we can expect more manageable displays that take up less physical space and are also more flexible and easier to move. We did say this was a prototype and not just a concept, and gizmodo has reported that it's currently being prototyped in Sony's lab. We're excited to see this laptop reach the light of day. Come on Sony, make good on this one, and we swear we'll buy it.

Hands On: Sony VAIO P Netbook

We finally got the opportunity to run our greasy fingers over Sony's amazing new P-series netbook (or whatever you want to call it) at CES, and we were quite impressed.

If you've been paying attention to the rumor mill and our news from yesterday, you already know about Sony's new netbook-like creation: the P-series VAIO. It definitely stands out in the netbook crowd, especially considering it's steep $900 price tag.

Today Laptopical was given the opportunity to take it for a short test drive, and the first impression was that this is one hell of an impressive little gadget. Personally I'm not a fan of pointing sticks, but this one was very well balanced and easy to use.

The screen, like most other Sony laptop screens, looks fantastic, but the extremely high resolution (1600 x 768) will probably put some strain on your eyes if you use it for any longer periods.

Thanks to its next-gen Atom CPU and the two gigs of RAM, it seems to handle Vista well enough, and the emblematic VAIO-style keyboard felt perfect to the touch. Sony is already taking preorders on the P series - too bad the thing is so painfully expensive.

Asus Eee PC 1000HE

Asus started the netbook craze with its tiny, 7-inch Eee PC. Shortly thereafter, every notebook manufacturer except Apple produced at least one tiny and inexpensive laptop just like it. Nowadays, netbooks are not that tiny anymore - little by little they have increased in size from 7" via 9" and now the standard screen size of a netbook is 10 inches. Even a couple of 12-inch models have been released.

Hardware

What they all have in common is the hardware - with a few deviations it consists of an Intel Atom CPU at 1.6GHz, 1GB or RAM, a 160GB hard drive and integrated GMA950 graphics. The Eee PC, however, has been upgraded with an ever so slightly faster 1.66GHz Atom processor and a higher 667MHz FSB speed instead of earlier models which had 533MHz.

The speed increase is not big enough to be noticeable, but you might feel better purchasing an upgraded model. Asus' main selling point with the 1000HE is the battery life. According to the manufacturer, you should be able to keep it alive for 9.5 hours without resorting to an outlet. To achieve this formidable battery life, you need to use aggressive power-saving schemes, no Wi-Fi and turn the brightness all the way down. In our general usage test it still delivered more than 7 hours, which is still more than acceptable.

Design

As far as the design goes, the Eee PC 1000 HE stays with the concept we've seen in previous Eee netbooks. The keyboard is almost full size (92%) and the trackpad buttons are slightly tilted in the front. The entire casing of the netbook is glossy, which enhances the overall look but also attracts fingerprints easily.

On the whole, the design of the 1000HE focuses on usability; it's not spectacularly thin like some of its siblings, such as Asus S101 netbook, but it certainly gets the job done with flying colors. Besides, keeping the design simple also helps keep the price to a minimum, which is often the deciding factor for a netbook buyer.

Connectivity and Features

The ports have been placed on the left- and right-hand sides of the laptop - none at the back. On the right is a memory card reader, 2 USB and VGA and on the left is another USB port, Ethernet, and audio line in/out.

Summary

While there are better looking netbooks on the market, the Eee PC 1000HE comes at a very attractive price point and offers excellent battery life. It's also very easy to use thanks to the large keyboard, and has all the features that the competition offer plus a little extra. Combine these aspects and you have one of the best netbooks currently available.

Asus Eee PC 1000HE Technical Specifications

• Processor Atom N280 1.66GHz
• Memory 1GB DDR2
• Harddrive 160GB
• OS Windows XP Home
• Weight 3lbs
• Screen 10 inches
• Screen resolution 1024x600
• Graphic Card Intel GMA 950
• Battery Life 7.5 hours

Acer Officially Announces 10 inch Aspire One

It's been talked about for a while in the form of leaks and rumors, but the 10.1" Acer Aspire One is finally here. The new netbook will be similar to the 8.9" flagship Aspire One in many ways, but there are a few new plusses, most notably the battery life. Acer's 8.9" model was already good enough to catapult Acer to the top of the netbook world, so we're not surprised they didn't change that much of it. Obvious changes include a larger screen size (with 1024x600 resolution) and presumably a larger keyboard, although nobody seems to be talking about that (maybe since the 8.9" keyboard was surprisingly usable?). You'll also be pleased to know this netbook comes marketed with a bold battery life claim:

"With incredibly low idle power consumption, the Aspire One guarantees up to 7 hours battery life for maximum fun."

Kensington Ci70 Titanium Wireless Optical Mouse

Whether you are left or right-handed, the Kensington Wireless Optical Mouse will work for you. Unlike other mice that work primarliy with a right-handed person, this mouse is optimized for both, and includes optical laser precision as well as a great response time.

With some cordless mice, the wireless technology can cause a lag in response time. But this is one area where the Kensington Ci70 shines. The ease with which the pointer moves across your screen makes any task easier, and it is especially nice for those who spend a lot of on their computers, because the charge does last an impressive amount of time.

The response time makes using the Kensington mouse easy, and the sleek design ensures that it matches any computer design, not to mention the fact that the wireless technology takes away the need for more cables running across your desk.

The main drawback of the mouse, however, is that it doesn't come with rechargeable batteries, and instead requires AAs. But with the money you save paying a mere $35 for the mouse, you can afford to replace the batteries. And, ironically, using fresh batteries every time results in a longer lasting charge. But prepare to switch to another mouse if it runs out, as you can't recharge it while you use it.

Overall, the quality of the mouse is great, especially for the price range.

USB CMOS Webcam

USB CMOS WebcamUSBC-001-4 USB CMOS Webcam with 300K Pixels Resolution, Fixed Vacuum Suction Underpan

KEY SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

• CMOS sensor: 300K pixels (optional)


• High-speed USB 2.0 interface


• Five-layer glass lens


• Frame rate: 30fps


• Focus range: 3cm to infinity


• White balance: automatic


• Flicker control: 50Hz


• Innovative and fixed vacuum suction underpan: easily fixed and absorbed in any smooth surface for enhancing stability


• High image quality and zero lag time: video resolution up to 5.0-megapixel interpolated image


• USB 2.0 high-speed transmission


• Flexible pivoting tube: capture any view at any angle to hold the preferred position for capturing image


• Plug-and-play (driver-free on Windows XP or later)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Dell Studio XPS 13

The Dell Studio XPS 13 packs high performance features and impressive style in an extremely mobile 13-inch laptop. The metal and leather accents on the Studio XPS 13 will certainly make a statement in your next business meeting or class. Hybrid SLI graphics from Nvidia gives you extended battery life when you need it or offers extreme graphics performance if you want to play games. Will the Studio XPS 13 turn out to be as impressive as the larger Studio XPS 16? Keep reading to find out.

Our review unit of the Dell Studio XPS 13 features the following configuration:

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 (2.4GHz)
• Memory: 4GB - 2DIMM DDR3
• HDD: 320GB 7200rpm
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 9500M GE 256MB
• Display: 13.3" WXGA UltraSharp LCD with TrueLife WLED
• Optical Drive: Slot Load DVD+/- RW with Dual Layer DVD+R write capacity
• OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64 bit)
• Wireless: Dell Wireless 1510 802.11n and Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1+EDR)
• Battery: 6-cell battery
• Dimensions: 0.9-1.4 x 12.6 x 9.3 inches
• Weight: 4.93 lbs with 6-cell battery
• Price as configured: $1,444 (Starting price: $1,099)

Build and Design
The Dell XPS M1330 was a major success in late 2007 and revitalized the Dell brand name in the eyes of consumers. It's no big surprise then that Dell's all new Studio XPS 13 is a multimedia notebook that combines the latest technology with much of what made the M1330 a success.

Samsung Syncmaster T220

Samsung T220 LCD 22" Display

Not all monitors are created equally. The Samsung T220 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor fuses a sleek and colorful look with cutting-edge technology for a result that is bound to impress multimedia fanatics and knock the socks off power gamers. After you try the Samsung T220 you’ll never settle for subpar image or video again.

Standout Features

• 20,000:1 contrast ratio
• 2ms response time
• 1680 x 1050 max resolution
• MagicBright preconfigured settings control panel

Features

Let’s set performance aside for a moment. The Samsung T220 22-inch LCD Monitor is one of the most hands-down aesthetically pleasing displays we’ve seen. A single sheet of crystalline glass runs across the display surface of the Samsung T220 where it terminates at the edges in a reddish brown. The monitor is supported by a simple black stand with an oval base that blends well with any workspace.

The sheet of glass protecting the surface of the monitor manages to reduce direct glare and reflections fantastically. After all, what good are stunning features if glare ruins the experience? Happily, it doesn’t, and the Samsung T220 offers truly exceptional performance due to some smart engineering.

The Samsung T220 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor displays blacks, whites and all the grays in between beautifully thanks to a 20,000:1 contrast ratio. On the Samsung T220, colors look truer and hues are dead on accurate. Double color fidelity with a 2ms response time and actions sequences in movies and games will be completely unaffected by blurring. Dark Knight on Blu-ray and Fallout 3 will be pushed to entirely new levels of realism and detail on the Samsung T220 LCD Monitor.

The Samsung T220 is a highly versatile display. With a 1680 x 1050 HD video, TV, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 games will look spectacular. And at 22-inches, the Samsung T220 produces images that are highly visible from across the room. Go ahead and use it as a TV in a pinch. The integrated USB hub and HDMI uplink make interfacing with other hardware a breeze.

One of our favorite features is the MagicBright 3 presets on the Samsung T220. There’s a row of buttons that control seven presets that affect brightness, contrast and sharpness according to what you’re doing on your computer. You can automatically adjust the monitor’s settings for gaming, browsing, movies or plain text at the touch of a button. It’s a small touch, but we appreciate the added convenience. A small, discreet bar of buttons is infinitely preferable to manually adjusting settings by trial and error.

5 Wireless Mice for Under $50

The Gear Head laser wireless rechargeable mouse is an affordable mouse that offers precision pointing, laser tracking and scores of personalization options that will satisfy the needs of most users. With five programmable buttons, dual-way scrolling action, and a rechargeable battery system (two AA batteries and a desktop charging pad), the Gear Head cordless mouse offers much more for less than $50 than most mice in its class.
The erogonomic design makes your hand feel like the mouse was made just for you. It is that same design, however, that does tend to make the mouse seem bulky, which may bother those who move the mouse around quickly or frequently -- or, obviously, those with a very cluttered desktop or a small working space.

Performance

With five-buttons, the Gear Head may seem more like what a gamer needs, but it still offers great qualities for the everyday user. The scroll allows you to move both up and down and side to side. Using laser sensing technology, the mouse moves around the screen easily. But the factory default sensitivity for this can actually be overly sensitive, which may be a problem for those who need quick precision from their mouse.

Additionally, the mouse comes with two rechargeable batteries and a desktop charging pad. It should be noted, however, that the charger will only work when the computer is on.

Sony XBR9 Bravia Series

New for 2009, Sony will be releasing the Bravia XBR9 series of LCD televisions. While LED backlighting is all the rage at CES 2009, the XBR9 TVs won't be using it. It does feature a 1080p, 240Hz panel (120Hz in the 32" model) and is available in 52", 46", 40" and 32" sizes.

The XBR9 series will also feature internet connectivity for Yahoo Widgets, 4 HDMI Inputs, an improved XMB interface, media streaming from networked PCs, PC input and compatibilty with Sony's Bravia Link Service.

Acer Aspire M3641-ED7200A Budget Desktop PC

Apr 21 2009 - Acer's Aspire M3641-ED7200A is a fairly powerful budget desktop PC thanks to the inclusion of a powerful Core 2 Duo E7200 dual core desktop processor over the much more common Pentium Dual-Core's found in similarly priced systems. This combined with the 4GB of PC2-6400 DDR2 allows the system to run applications in the 64-bit Vista Home Premium OS without any real issues. While it may not have quite the performance of quad-core in certain applications, overall it is quite good.

Storage is pretty typical of the budget desktop market. The 500GB hard drive provides sufficient space for applications and data, but it isn't really anything that can't be found in other PCs. At least Acer used a full sized desktop case that provides space internally for more drives for those that want more space later. The dual layer DVD burner handles all playback and recording of CDs and DVDs. A 15-in-1 card reader does come with the system that is being dropped by many manufacturers to save a little money.

The integrated graphics on the Aspire M3641 use the NVIDIA GeForce 7150. This is a bit better than the Intel GMA X4500 in that it can handle some basic low resolution, low detail PC gaming. Stil, anyone serious about using the system for PC gaming would want a dedicated graphics card. While there is a PCI-Express x16 graphics slot, the 250W power supply in the system will prevent the use of many newer higher performance graphics cards. This makes the system less than ideal for someone looking for a low cost system to upgrade for gaming.

One nice feature of the Aspire M3641 case is the inclusion of a small angled block on the top that features two USB 2.0 and audio jacks. This allows for easy peripheral attachment when the system is below the level of the desktop.

HP w2207 LCD monitor.

HP's new 22-inch LCD, the w2207, is a striking update in design and functionality to its mainstream line of computer LCDs. Borrowing visual cues from its new TouchSmart PC and Pavilion desktops, this sleek, black, wide-screen monitor will aid the overall look of any room you put it in. Considering its performance and its overall features, its $380 price tag also seems reasonable, compared with other 22-inch LCDs that cost a little less but don't deliver quite as much. Traditional TVs still have the advantage in high-definition movie watching; we found a few minor software issues. And HP's support lags behind other display vendors, but on balance, this monitor is one of the best in its class.

Design
In addition to the attractive black bezel, the sturdy base of the display gives you a decent range of tilt and height adjustment options. It has no swivel capability, but you can rotate the display 90 degrees to portrait mode. The stand also gives you room to slide your keyboard underneath the monitor, a handy feature that helps keep your desk area tidy. Two sleeves on either side of the neck of the display corral the power and signal cables, although when you go into portrait mode from landscape, be sure to leave yourself enough slack or the cables will yank out of their sockets.

The w2270's onscreen display gives you most of the options you'd expect to find on a modern LCD. One feature we like in particular is that both within the menu and via two dedicated buttons on the display itself, you can scroll through four preset settings schemes for gaming, watching movies, viewing photos, and typing. You can also set your own custom scheme. If there's anything we'd change about the menu it's that as soon as you back out of an option, the default selection brings you instantly to the menu exit button. It's annoying to have to backtrack to another option when you want to adjust more than one setting.

Amazon Sells Samsung NC10-14GW Netbook For $478.99 Shipped

Amazon offers NC10-14GW netbook from samsung for $478.99 from $500 at the original price. This netbook comes with a Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, Intel’s integrated graphics, 160GB of storage, a SuperBright 10.2-inch LCD, 1.3-megapixel web camera, 802.11b/g wireless, Bluetooth, an Etnernet LAN connector, three USB ports, 3-in-1 media card reader, and a VGA output, and with up to 8 hours of battery life. You can save up to $20 if you buy this at amazon free with Super Saver Shipping.

BenQ’s featherweight Joybook Lite U101 is Atom powered

BenQ has been off the hook for a while now, but they have finally collected themselves well in time for the CES, entering the laptop fray with their latest Joybook Lite U101. Weighing at about 1 kg, the U101 is aimed as a second notebook for the vivid user. It packs a 10.1” 16:9 WSVGA LED backlit screen supporting 1024 x 600 resolutions. This not so big notebook is powered by a 1.6GHz Atom processor for higher energy efficiency and extended battery life which is made possible with SSD-driven, three-cell battery. Joybook Lite U101 is expected to be made available by the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2009, with either Linux® or Windows® OS, 1.3MP webcam, WiFi and optional 3.75G HSUPA and Bluetooth.

AG Neovo H-W22.

The H-W22 excelled at rendering Word documents and Excel spreadsheets with a consistent sharpness throughout. Whether the text background was white or black, jury members rated readability as very high overall. The monitor also produced pleasing graphics. Close-up pictures of fruit showed good texture, with natural-looking colors on blueberries and strawberries, and well-balanced saturation on reds, yellows, and blues.

A screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl showed the AG Neovo H-W22 to be a capable movie display. Blues and greens in scenes with water looked refreshing, and characters' skin tones were warm and natural, though at times a bit powdery, as if some faces had too much makeup on them. Light skin tones looked realistic, without the pinkish tones produced by some displays. The pirate Jack Sparrow's dark skin tones contrasted nicely with the soldiers' lighter skin tones. Uniforms in various reds and blues seemed well saturated, and the monitor revealed good background detail even in darker clothes and scenery.

The H-W22's design is very simple, with clean, uncomplicated lines. Its nicely integrated speakers avoid adding visual bulk to the thin-looking cabinet, but they sound tinny even at maximum loudness. Voices and dialogue often were so low that the characters were virtually inaudible.

Five simple, tactile buttons let you navigate the on-screen display (OSD) menu. Situating the power button in the middle of this otherwise useful group of buttons seems like a mistake, because it makes accidentally turning the monitor off when you're fiddling with the settings too easy.

With its simple lines, the H-W22 will fit nicely on the desk of anyone who prefers an understated monitor that offers consistently robust performance.