Nokia E66 Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, International 3G, Wi-Fi, Media Player, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with Warranty (Gray) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this phone last week, and it has some nice features. The one I liked mostly is that you can put specific phone numbers on a black list and have the phone send a busy signal when they call you. One other thing is the calendar and to do list. Very practical. Also you can have an alarm set to wake you up only on weekdays. Cool!!
Also, what I liked about this phone is that it's a sturdy phone, it feels good in your hand. It's beautiful, but it will get smedged easily with fingerprints. However, battery life is really bad, not what I'm used of with Nokia. Also, the slide mechanism has a major problem. When you slide open the phone, it just doesn't react by unlocking the phone. You have to unlock it manually. It seems this is some kind of magnetic failure of the phone. More users have reported this same problem. You can see these on the Nokia Discussions website. I took the phone back to the store and exchanged it for the N95. But still I like the E66 best because it has some features the N95 does not have. E.g. when in sleep mode you press the selection key you see the time. And the phone is so slim it slips comfortably in your jeans pocket. Try that with the bulky N95...
I hope Nokia fixes this slide problem.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nokia E66 Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, International 3G, Wi-Fi, Media Player, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with Warranty (Gray)

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VIZIO VF552XVT 55-Inch Class XVT Series TRULED 240Hz sps LED LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)FINAL UPDATE 04/01/2010:
I have to return my Vizio due to the constant re-booting, happens a lot when I try to utilize the PIP/POP feature and just tonight when I tried to activate the CC when I was using the input for TV. VIZIO tech support has said that this is not normal and wanted to ship a replacement but I said no because:
1) Weird side panel which VIZIO now admits they will be correcting in a re-design of the exterior housing by late spring 2010 or early summer 2010
2) The very unlit remote with too few special feature buttons and poor spacing between the buttons
3) Tech support unable to say when or if the USB ports will ever be turned on!
4) Tech support also said the use of LED back lighting is the reason for the poor on-screen space utilization when the PIP/POP feature is on. Tech support said this will be resolved in the PRO series which they say will have more LED zones to allow for better on-screen space utilization when POP is activated.

I do not know what I will be getting but one room is about to have no TV soon...egad!!! I will soon have some pretty upset teenagers in my house.
Updated review 03/08/2010: Since the review below I would like to add some updates for those interested. One reviewer stated something about "stains/shadows" in the right corners but I could not find any on my unit nor the 4" shadow that from the reviewer's description would run diagonally across the screen. I am looking but nothing. I still rate the picture a 5 and the audio a solid 4 but the remote though is just too difficult to use in the dark or even in low lighting situations. Given VIZIO's design for the remote to replace your other remotes it is not useful as that due to lack of a glow button. The remote is still good but only for part of the day and again the remote still is lacking many dedicated "special" feature buttons.
My biggest concern though is the TV "locking up and re-booting" which it seems to do more frequently when I utilized the PIP/POP feature. I have a call in to VIZIO and several e-mails and they are currently researching the issue. I think for the price the TV is a great bargain and while I am no videophile/audiophile I think again for this price range the quality of the audio/video is excellent but they do need to fix certain issues. The re-booting, the missing glow and extra feature buttons on the remote, the side panel toggle switch functions, turning on all the USB ports, and the PIP/POP to better utilize the screen space and fix the audio shutting off from the main screen when you turn off the PIP/POP. The VIA apps rock and really make the TV a joy to use, I hope they add YouTube soon.
Like other reviewers, myself included: BE WARY OF THE REVIEWS ON THE VIZIO SITE.
The TV itself is great but not as slim as I expected it to be given how much slimmer my one year plus old VIZIO SV470XVT1A" LCD is. Let's start with what is good about the VIZIO 55". The remote is good and basically takes over all your other remotes and the on screen set-up of the unit is relatively straight forward as well.The wired Ethernet connection worked flawlessly but I can not speak to the wireless capabilities as I did not use that feature. The picture for me was much cleaner and brighter than my VIZIO 47" and to me needed no further adjustments. The VIA apps were easy to access, use and more are being added such as PANDORA...added 2 days after I got my TV. One of the main reasons I love VIZIO is the PIP and more specifically the Picture outside Picture (POP)capabilities of their TVs. I believe VIZIO is the only company that provides the POP to their TVs. PLEASE NOTE as of 03/01/2010: My earlier review said the volume level needed to be very high to be heard clearly but I now realize I am "deaf" lol and so to me the sound is now very good.The price for features and quality was very good to excellent and really can not be beat but...
This Vizio 55" was really put out before its time as many items are either not working or will be at a supposedly later time or the design layout was weird and needed to be corrected before being sent out. I think VIZIO skimped on the number of non-HDMI connections giving you just one each of Component and A/V inputs, if your like me you have several legacy non-HDMI components. I say skimped because VIZIO seems to be reducing inputs on its TVs compared to models from less than a year ago, the VF551XVT has 2 components and 2 AV inputs per the online manual. Yes the VF552XVT has Ethernet capability and VIA apps but I mean if they want to continue to be a standout from SAMSUNG and other high ends then they need to keep these extras as well.
What I think is the real design FLAW: the side panel controls in the manual on page 11 shows a logical layout of the controls but the actual TV itself does not look like that layout but rather: Menu and Channel Up are on the same toggle switch; The Channel Down and Volume Up are on the same toggle switch; and the Volume Down and Input are on the same toggle switch. When I called VIZIO (twice) both times they said the manual picture is generic and applies to many of their TVs and the picture is not an accurate reflection of this model but at the same time did acknowledge that the design of the side controls was non-intuitive.
The first time I used Netflix it seemed to lock up my TV and I was unable to turn it off via remote or the side panel off button. I finally unplugged it and called VIZIO who said that the TV can lock up and in the future hold the side power button down for 30 seconds or more, the issue never happened again. UPDATE 03/01/2010: Over the past few days since the NETFLIX LOCKUP the TV will on its own for no reason I can discern "reboot". I will update if it continues but it has happened now about 5 times. I think it may be because of updates to the apps but I am guessing. I have not called VIZIO yet on this batch of reboots but will if it continues. I am very happy with my VIA apps and the new addition of PANDORA but wish the other apps that already have icons were active, I am greedy lol.
I should also mention that none of the 3 side USB ports are activated as well but I saw that an earlier reviewer says they are but on my TV they are not. I called VIZIO and they said not at this time. This again is weird as the model before this has one USB port and that is active per the on screen manual. If you look at the on-screen manual for the VF551XVT it indicates in the manual the port is active and even has a corresponding button to use the port on the remote control. No such control is on the VF552XVT remote, in fact...
I think the VF552XVT has a good remote and while it does take over many of your other remotes flawlessly, the remote given its size does not have ANY dedicated buttons to call up many of the most used features of the TV. Features such as: changing the TV aspect ratio; changing the PIP size; changing the PIP input source and changing the audio from the Main screen to the PIP input; a mode button to switch between all the pre-set color settings; nor buttons to select the input source. My old VIZIO 47" remote had ALL THESE EXTRA FEATURE BUTTONS AND MORE, some were used a lot and others not so much but always better to HAVE THAN NOT HAVE. TRUST ME FROM PRIOR EXPERIENCE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE PIP INPUT SOURCE AND AUDIO AND SIZE IS FANTASTIC AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO CHANGE THE TV ASPECT RATIO AND MODE. I believe VIZIO either spent too much on the QWERTY keypad or just went giddy adding the QWERTY keypad and forgot how having these special feature buttons on the remote make using the TV much easier. Easier in that use of...
The on screen menu is fantastic but calling it up blocks out about a 25% of the left side of the screen from top to bottom which is very disconcerting especially if you are trying to make adjustments to the picture. It would have been more prudent if the menu had to be so large to then have the balance of the screen show the movie/broadcast but in "squashed" form without having that portion of the picture covered by the menu. Further the POP feature shows the two images side by side but with black bars top and bottom which reduces the overall size of the POP images by about 40-60%...no kidding. I mean you have a big screen with all this unused space when you utilized the POP feature.
I love the VIZIO TV price point with features but clearly this TV NEEDS the USB ports activated and the side panel issues addressed and many more dedicated buttons on the remote to avoid having to always call up a very distracting on-screen menu. The remote while very good is LACKING A MUCH NEEDED GLOW BUTTON and more separation between the buttons. If you buy the TV you will see what I mean by button separation. Look at the on screen manual for the VF552XVT and look at the remote page (enlarge that page about 300%) and compare it to any remotes you have at home and look at those button separation distance, in the dark you will appreciate those button separation distances especially with no glow button. In addition I think the TV is too thick given these are newer models and should be to me much slimmer. My old VIZIO (47" LCD) is about 3 1/2" at its thickest and 2" at its slimmest while the VF552XVT at its slimmest is over 4" thick and at its thickest about 5".
At this time 03/01/2010 I am think of doing more research and maybe getting another LCD brand, SAMSUNG as I like their picture quality but really would like to stay with VIZIO if they can fix the remote issues and USB activation soon. I also hate to give up my POP feature which seems to be unique to VIZIO?I RATE THE OVERALL TV A 3 BUT PICTURE IS A 5 AND SOUND IS A 4. WOULD I CONTINUE TO BUY...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: VIZIO VF552XVT 55-Inch Class XVT Series TRULED 240Hz sps LED LCD VIZIO Internet Apps HDTV

Combining TruLED backlighting technology (Direct Type LED) with a whole new world of online content, the 55-inch VIZIO VF552XVT provides extraordinary picture quality and keeps you entertained and up-to-date on all the latest news from your favorite Internet sites with the included VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA). You can connect this VIZIO HDTV to the Internet via the built-in Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) or Ethernet port and stream movies and TV shows, listen to music and get the latest news, sports and weather. The universal Bluetooth remote includes a slide-out QWERTY keypad that makes it easy to type Internet searches as well as send a Tweet or update your Facebook status.
This HDTV features VIZIO's industry-leading TruLED backlighting with Smart Dimming technology for incredible brilliance, color and contrast. This cutting edge technology stops light leakage enabling you to achieve REAL 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio for rich, dark scenes delivering an experience that will blow you away. It also offers full 1080p high definition resolution, 240Hz motion smoothing, and SRS TruSurround HD for an excellent home theater experience.





Key Features
55-inch HDTV featuring 1920 x 1080 pixels and support for 1.06 billion colors
Full 1080P High Definition resolution gives you over 2 million pixels, making the clarity and detail of your picture razor sharp.
TruLED direct type, backlit LCD display is comprised of 640 LEDs divided into 80 control blocks and utilizes.
Smart Dimming intelligently controls these blocks--turning them on and completely off based on the content you're watching--which helps stop light leakage enabling you to achieve an amazing 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio for rich, dark scenes.
240Hz refresh rate delivers 240 scenes per second producing enhanced frame rate and delivering sharper clarity of fast action scenes for blur free images.
178-Degree horizontal viewing angle results in a crisp and clear picture that is easily visible from just about anywhere in the room
Two built-in 15-watt speakers provide room-filling sound.
SRS Audio Technologies:SRS TruVolume evens out dynamics to limit volume inconsistencies between programming. SRS TruSurround HD delivers immersive virtual high-definition surround sound out of the unit's two speakers.
Connect to the Internet via integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi or via the included Ethernet port
VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA) let you easily connect to the Internet and stream movies and TV shows, listen to music and get the latest news, sports and weather. VIA comes with Amazon Video on Demand, Flickr, Netflix, Rhapsody, Twitter, VUDU and Yahoo TV Widgets pre-loaded on the TV, ready to launch onscreen at the touch of a single button on the remote. You can continually discover and download more apps from other content and service providers by browsing our gallery of apps that is dynamically updated right on your VIZIO HDTV. (Learn more)
Customized Bluetooth remote with slide out QWERTY keypad enables you to control your TV, even type onscreen, from any spot in the room--all without having to point the remote at the TV. This universal remote also uses infrared to control all of the A/V devices connected to their HDTV, such as DVD and Blu-ray players, VCRs, audio devices, cable and satellite set-top boxes, DVRs, and other components.
ECO HD exceeds the current Energy Star Guidelines by 50 percent below Energy Star 3.0, saving you money on your utility bills while limiting the impact on our planet.
Mercury free display: The display's backlight is environmentally-friendly due to the fact that LED backlights do not utilize mercury, an environmentally harmful substance.
Warranty: One year parts and labor; free on-site repair (available for models sized 30 inches and above); free lifetime technical support

Connections

HDMI (with HDCP): 5 (1 side)
Component: 1
Composite A/V: 1
S-Video: 1
RF: 1
PC input (15-pin, D-Sub): 1
Digital audio output: 1 optical
USB: 3 (on the side; for service and future multimedia functionality)

Dimensions

TV with stand: 51.5 x 35.91 x 13.47 inches (WxHxD); 86.3 pounds
TV without stand: 51.5 x 33.89 x 4.96 inches (WxHxD); 73.8 pounds
What size TV should you get?

What's in the Box VIZIO HDTV, Bluetooth remote control (with batteries), power cord, safety strap, cleaning cloth, user manual, quick start guide

Technical Specifications
Screen size: 55 inches
Tuner: ATSC/Clear QAM Tuner
Native Panel Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Computer Support: 1920 x 1080, 1360 x 768, 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, 640 x 480 via VGA/HDMI
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1 w/DCR
Brightness: 500 cd/m2 (typical)
Response Time: 5ms
Picture-in-Picture (PIP): Yes
Picture-outside-Picture (POP): Yes
Zero Bright Pixel Defect Guarantee: Yes
V-Chip: Yes
3D Comb Filter: Yes
3:2 or 2:2 Reverse Pull-down: Yes
ATSC with 8VSB and QAM demodulation: Yes
ATSC with MPEG-2 decoding: Yes
NTSC Video decoding via Video: Yes
Progressive Scan Video: Yes
Color Fine Tuning: Independent Red, Green and Blue
Panel Lamp Life (typical): 50,000 hours to half the original brightness
Voltage Range: 100~240 Vac at 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 163W average, less than 1W standby
Wall mount hole pattern: 600 x 200

Learn More
VIZIO Internet Apps This VIZIO HDTV includes the VIZIO Internet Apps feature (VIA), and it comes pre-loaded with Amazon Video on Demand, Flickr, Netflix, Rhapsody, Twitter, VUDU and Yahoo TV Widgets, ready to launch onscreen at the touch of a single button on the premium Bluetooth universal remote control. A high-speed Internet connection is required to access content and receive product updates, and this model enables you to connect to the Internet via integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet.
When you press the VIA button on your remote, the Apps Dock appears along the bottom of your screen with a selection of different Apps that let you watch movies, TV shows, listen to music, or get weather and news information all on demand. In addition to the providers listed above, new partners for 2010 include:

blip.tv: Blip.tv is an online television network that hosts the best original shows on the Web; from scripted sitcoms and dramas to shows about fashion, technology, politics and more.
CBS: The CBS Widget offers easy access to CBS schedule information, program metadata, previews and clips, cast photos and bios, and more.
NBC: View NBC's show schedule, view full screen photo galleries and catch up on your favorite shows with up-to-date quick text recaps, cast bios, and more.
CNBC: The CNBC widget allows you to interact with CNBC's real-time stock quotes direct from the NYSE and NASDAQ, real-time watchlists to track favorite stocks, and other key analytics.
iMemories: Now all your old home movies, photos and slides can be watched directly on your VIZIO TV with iMemories. iMemories digitally converts and preserves all your favorite memories online, regardless of the original media format.
Roxio CinemaNow: The Roxio CinemaNow platform enables you to instantly access a broad range of high-quality digital entertainment from your favorite consumer electronic devices.
The Weather Channel: Get your weather forecast when you want it with the press of your remote. The Weather Channel Widget delivers current conditions, the 5-day forecast and more for your zip code and thousands more.



Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

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ASUS Eee PC 1015PED-PU17-BU 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought this netbook awhile ago for class (college) and I love every moment I've spent with it.
PROS:
-Battery Life,I get about 10 hours which is phenomenal...no other netbook has been closer to Asus' EEE battery life thanks to the Super Hybrid Engine.(I mainly use it for surfing web while typing text documents @ 87% right now, its reading 9 hours and 45 minutes.)
-Charging Speed, it takes only 2 hours or a little more to fully charge this netbook. That's quick in return for 10 hours of battery life!
-Keyboard, though smaller than standard desktops and laptops, is still pretty large in general. If you're a very skilled typist this keyboard will have no problems for you. (I'm typing this review at full speed on this netbook.) While the SHIFT key to the right is smaller, it's not a very significant problem for me because I always use the left SHIFT key regardless of the keyboard.
-Performance, though its specifications aren't anything to get excited about, for ordinary usage, it's surprisingly fast. Even on 1GB Ram. You should understand that netbooks are not laptop replacements. And it also means you should use lighter, less resource hogging softwares.
-Matte Screen, prevents glare indoors and outdoors. Most computers still have glossy screens that are practically mirrors, but this netbook doesn't. It saves you from annoying glare and reflections.
-Matte Shell still attracts grease but fingerprints are hardly seen. A significant improvement to previous EEE netbooks.
-Touchpad, is a significant improvement from the old dotted grid that Asus used in previous models. Its sensitivity can be customized to your liking so for me, it's just as good as any other laptop's touchpad. The right/left click buttons aren't too stiff so it's just right.
-Speakers are surprisingly loud and audio quality is decent.
-Webcam shutter is not really necessary but it's a nice thing to have. If you're webcamming someone and want to do something really quickly but privately (like fixing a wedgie or changing) you can just slip the shutter over to "off" and then shift it back over to "on" when you're done. No need to physically log off or turn off your webcam.
CONS:
-Windows 7 Starter has its limitations, but that can be changed with the provided "Windows Anytime Upgrade" which upgrades your Windows quickly.
-Webcam is only 0.3 megapixels. That's not very clear, but you shouldn't be constantly webcamming on a netbook anyway.
-Comes with unnecessary stickers boasting about it's battery life and other specs, but you can take them off if you'd like to.
-There's a bunch of secondary shortcuts (fn+F1,2,3...etc.). They're handy to have, but they're not really explained...even in the manual. But you can figure them out rather quickly after the first or second use.
So overall if you need to surf the web on the go and type up documents or even for social networking (email, IM, Skype/Oovoo, etc.) this netbook does the work quickly and perfectly.It's battery life is alone, a reason to choose this netbook over all the others on the market. Asus has perfected the art of netbooks and incorporated it into the EEE 1015ped-p.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS Eee PC 1015PED-PU17-BU 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue)

Natural Beauty – Mobility has Evolved The 10.1-inch Eee PC 1015PED-PU Seashell shines as the ideal netbook for the traveler looking for outstanding wireless connectivity and efficient on-the-go performance. Thanks to the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine, you can take this mobile phenom wherever you choose and enjoy up to an incredible 13 hours of unplugged freedom.1 The Eee PC 1015PED-PU is encased in a smooth matte-finished shell that captivates onlookers and features the Intel Atom N475 processor for efficient performance for your everyday tasks. Plus, it boasts outstanding comfort with a chiclet keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, and convenient hot keys – granting you quick access to Express Gate, the mini-operating system, and control of the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that instantly optimizes system performance for the task at hand. Throw in a generous 250GB hard drive with 500GB of ASUS WebStorage2 and you get the ability to store, share, and access your important data anytime, anywhere.

Key Features
Matte finish cover for stylish and smudge-resistant protection (Learn more)
Up to 13 hours of battery life1 for all-day, unplugged freedom (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine boosts performance and saves battery life (Learn more)
Chiclet keyboard and large, multi-touch trackpad for comfortable, intuitive navigation (Learn more)
High-speed wireless N and Bluetooth v3.0 for fast Web surfing and enhanced Bluetooth peripheral connectivity (Learn more)
ASUS WebStorage2 to easily backup and share your data anywhere you have Internet access (Learn more)
0.3 mp webcam with security lens adds additional protection (Learn more)
Express Gate starts up in seconds for quick access to the Internet, music, games, and more

Learn More
Get up to an Amazing 13 Hours of Battery Life
Enhanced Connectivity
Efficient Display. Robust Protection.
Markedly Comfortable. Perfectly Concise.
Even More Storage
Quick Recovery with Just One Key
Eee PC with Windows 7 – Life Made Easier
Customer Warranty –The Industry's Most Complete Netbook Care Package
What's in the Box
Eee PC 1015PED-PU Seashell
Power Adapter
User Manual
Warranty Card
Specifications
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Starter
Display: 10.1-inch LED-Backlit display (1024 x 600)
Intel CPU: Intel Atom N475 processor (1.83 GHz)
Chipset: Intel GMA 3150
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) & Bluetooth V3.0
LAN: 10/100 Mbps/ RJ-45
Memory: 1GB DDR3, 1 x SODIMM (up to 2GB)
Hybrid Storage: 250GB hard drive + 500GB ASUS WebStorage2
Camera: 0.3 megapixels
Audio: Stereo Speakers
Card Reader: 3-in-1 (MMC, SD, SDHC)
Input / Output: 1 x VGA port (D-sub 15 pin) , 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 1 x headphone, 1 x mic
Battery: 6 cell battery (up to 13 hours1)
Dimensions: 10.31 (W) x 7.01 (D) x 0.93 ~ 1.43 (H) inches
Weight: 2.76 lbs (with battery)
Color: Black, Blue, Red, White
© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. 1 Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. For more information, please visit http://event.asus.com/eeepc/battery/index.htm. The estimated maximum battery life in Windows 7 is measured with MobileMark 2007. 2 ASUS WebStorage is a complimentary trial service for 1 year after registration. Actual storage capacity varies by model. 3 Bluetooth v3.0 transfers files at roughly 480 megabits (60 Megabytes) per second in close proximity, and 100 megabits (12.5 Megabytes) per second at 10 meters. Actual results may vary depending on usage scenarios.

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ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this little computer about a week ago and so far it has been great. So far I have not found anything to complain about with the computer so I will list a few of the things I like:
- Even with the extended capacity battery, the computer is very light and portable
- The battery life is great! My daughter watched movies for almost 8 hours on our plane ride home without a hitch or stutter. After being in use for nearly the entire flight, it still had 35% of the battery remaining. Another note on the battery, in the earlier 1005 netbooks, the battery would stick out past the screen on the rear of the netbook. That is no longer the case, on the 1005PE it is flush with the rear of the netbook.
- The keyboard is nice and decent size. I almost bought a Toshiba solely because I did not like the keyboard on the 1005HA version of this machine. Asus changed the keyboard on this model to a chiclet keyboard which is much better. I saw one review that thought the keyboard was flimsy. As far as I can tell, the Asus has no more flexibility in the keyboard than the Acer or Toshiba netbooks I looked at.
- Windows 7 starter and Asus Utility. I saw a few reviews where people complained about Win7 Starter. Again, so far no problems with the OS, it does what it is intended to do. As far as the complaints about changing the background on the desktop, Asus was kind enough to provide a utility that makes changing the background very easy.
- WLAN - since I bought the netbook, it has been in 6 locations that have wireless internet and it has jumped on the network easily each time regardless on encryption.
A couple more thoughts on netbooks in general:
- Netbooks are not desktop replacements or miniture laptops. They are intended to provide basic computing and internet needs. If you are expecting it to fly through huge power point presentations or apps that require a lot of RAM and processing power you will be disappointed. If all you need is a computer that travels easily and will allow you to surf the web, play music and video and run office programs, netbooks can be a very good choice.
- I would recommend that anyone who buys a netbook remove as much of the installed software as they can. I was able to remove alot of pre-loaded junk and the netbook ran faster. Here are a few program that I think every netbook should have: Firefox or Google Chrome for internet, vlc (Videolan) for music and movie playback, Open Office 3 for word processing, spreadsheets, etc and Foxit Reader for opening .pdf files.
Also, I have seen several recommendations to replace the 1GB Ram with a 2GB stick. I have not done this yet and it still works great. At the moment I have a 4GB SD card installed to see if there are any performance gains using the Windows Reafyboost function. So far so good.
The bottom line is that this netbook has exceeded my expectations and is a solid little machine. I would recommend it to anyone in search of a good netbook.


Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life)

Eee PC 1005PE-P The 10.1-inch Eee PC 1005PE-P Seashell with Windows 7 Starter shines as the ideal Eee PC for the traveler looking for outstanding wireless connectivity and efficient Eee PC performance.Thanks to the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and high-density battery, you can take this mobile phenom wherever you choose and enjoy up to an incredible 14 hours of unplugged freedom.* The Eee PC 1005PE-P is encased in a smooth pearlescent shell that captivates onlookers and features the next generation Intel Atom N450 processor for extraordinary battery life.Plus, it gives you extended comfort with a chiclet keyboard, large palm-rest, and multi-touch trackpad. For more convenience, the Eee PC 1005PE has hotkeys placed above the keyboard – granting you quick access to Wi-Fi and control of the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that instantly optimizes system performance for the task at hand.Throw in a generous 250GB hard drive with 500GB of ASUS WebStorage** and you get the ability to store, share, and access your important data anytime, anywhere. ASUS worked closely to make your Windows 7 experience better with groundbreaking utilities such as FastBoot and LocalMe.With ASUS FastBoot technology, this Windows 7-enabled Eee PC starts up fast so you wait less and do more.LocalMe is a GPS-like application that when connected to the internet provides easy access to local areas and gets you where you want to be. Miles ahead of its competition, the Eee PC 1005PE-P provides unsurpassed battery life and superior portability that liberates you from wall chargers and brings you into the next generation of mobility.


Key Features

Up to 14 hours of unplugged all-day computing to go further than ever before* (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) innovatively saves battery life and boosts performance (Learn more)
Intel Atom N450 processor is now even more power efficient in combination with ASUS SHE
750GB Hybrid Storage for convenient storage on-the-go 250GB HDD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage** (Learn more)
10.1-inch LED-backlit Color-shine display uses less energy for longer use(Learn more)
92-percent full-size chiclet keyboard for a comfortable and precise typing experience (Learn more)
Multi-touch trackpad for intuitive and quick control (Learn more)
Stunning looks and convenient mobility with seashell design weighing a mere 2.8 lbs
1GB system memory (easily upgradable to 2GB)
High speed Wi-Fi networking (802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz) + Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR for wire-free mobility (Learn more)
Windows 7 Starter for the most reliable and simplest Windows operating system to date (Learn more)
Integrated webcam and digital microphone for video/voice conversations with your friends and family
F9 easy recovery for convenient and easy system reinstallation (Learn more)
Warranty: 1 year global warranty and 30-day Flawless Display Guarantee: If a single bright dot is found, a free panel replacement is guaranteed within 30 days of original purchase

Learn More
Get up to an Amazing 14 Hours of Battery Life
Get the Big Picture in a Small Frame
Strikingly Comfortable. Perfectly Concise.
Easy Connectivity
Even More Storage
Quick Recovery with Just One Key
Eee PC with Windows 7 –Life Made Easier
A Brand that Sparked a Revolution - The First Netbook
Customer Warranty –The Industry's Most Complete Netbook Care Package
1 year global warranty
6 months battery warranty
30-Day Flawless Display Guarantee: If you discover one defective bright dot within 30 days of purchase, ASUS will replace the panel at no cost
Free one-way standard shipping
24/7 tech support
What's in the Box
Eee PC 1005PE-P Seashell (Black)
Power Adapter †
User Manual
Warranty Card
Recovery DVD / Support CD
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Starter
Display: 10.1-inch LED-Backlit Display(1024 x 600) with Color Shine glossy finish
Intel CPU: IntelAtom N450
Wireless Data Network: 802.11b/g/n(@ 2.4GHz) & Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR
Memory: 1GB(upgradeable to 2GB)
Hybrid Storage: 250GBHDD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage
Camera: 0.3M Pixels
Audio: StereoSpeakers, High-Definition Audio CODEC, Built-in digital microphone
Storage Cards: 2-in-1MMC, SD(SDHC) flash card slot
Input/Output: 1 xVGA connector, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 x audio jacks: Headphone& Mic-in
Battery: Up to 14hours high-density Li-Ion battery *
Dimensions: 10.31(W) x 7.01 (D) x 1.02~1.44 (H) inches
Weight: 2.80lbs (with battery)
Color: Black * Operation lifetime subject toproduct model, normal usage conditions and configurations. For more information, pleasevisit http://eeepc.asus.com/global/computing.html. The estimated maximumbattery life in Windows 7 is measured with MobileMark 2007. **ASUSWebStorage is a complimentary trial service for 1 year after registration.Actual storage capacity varies by model. †To recharge using the AC power adapter, power plug must be fully pushed into the power socket on the Eee PC until it clicks firmly into place. Note: This Eee PC features a glossy finish chassis. Reflections in photos may vary. Color of the chassis is single-toned. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images.

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Marantz SR5004 Audio/video Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This beautiful new receiver is packed with high-end options and the sound quality is nothing short of exemplary. For a full listing of technicals and features, see the site at: [...]. As compared to Yamaha, Onkyo, Denon, and Pioneer, you'll notice a far more "natural" and "forward" sound, whereas the formers are more "punchy", "dark" or "processed". Marantz has been at the business of making receivers in this vein a long time and the 5004 is sure to please even the most discerning audiophiles. Of course, if you have $8K to spend, the Reference series is a nice upgrade. But for us common folk who still appreciate the performance and sound quality that a top-end receiver can produce, this is the one. On the "things to consider side", the SR5004 only has 3 HDMI outputs, so if you're in need of more such connections for your home theater, you might need to consider upgrading to the 6004. All in all, however, you can't beat this receiver for the money. This reviewer recommends pairing it with either Polk RTI or Bowers & Wilkins 600 series speakers.

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Yamaha RX-V565BL 630 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)There are two model numbers for this AV Receiver as disclosed on CNET. One model number is the RX-V565BL, the other is the HTR-6250BL, which I purchased. At various times, the prices of the two vary on Amazon, so I just went with the cheaper one. I coupled the receiver with the Energy Take Classic 5.1 and was able to get two satellites on Ebay to complete a 7.1 speaker system. To round out the system I have the Mitsubishi DLP 73". I also have the PS3, xbox360 and Wii hooked up.
Unlike another reviewer who had a problem with his Tivo Series 3 with RX-V565 version of the receiver, I had no problem at all. If you have a problem with the HDMI, just use the Tivo component out and digital optical out direct into the Yamaha. It works perfectly.
The biggest problem I had in hook up was my inability to connect the Wii directly through the Yamaha. I use the component video cable for the Wii. This Wii cable has two rca connectors for audio.
There are two composite inputs on the Yamaha. One has a coaxial audio and the other has digital optical audio. There is no connection for composite video plus two rca female audio inputs. I ended up connecting the Wii output video straight to the tv, without the benefit of the 1080p upscaling of the Yamaha, and the audio only to the receiver. Because of this I can only give the receiver 4 stars.
The sound from the system is very clear. I am still playing with all of its sound options and will update the review after I have more experience with the sound options.
UPDATE I found this inexpensive work around for the Wii audio hookup on Amazon: RCA DT2AD 2-Way Signal Converter DT2AD. It allows conversion of the analog audio to digital audio.

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Yamaha RX-V565BL 630 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver

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Lenovo ThinkPad T61p 6460 Notebook Review

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(More customer reviews)As an owner of 3 IBM Thinkpads in the past I have been very disappointed with the Lenovo Thinkpad T61p. It worked well enough for nine months but then the screen went out. When I returned it to Lenovo for warranty repair they said the screen was not covered and demanded $700.00. I pointed out that the machine had not suffered physical damage(not dropped or dented) but they said that "sometimes this just happens" and it is not covered under the warranty. Some warranty! Lenovo is not in the same class as IBM. I suggest you look elsewhere for a reliable machine and a reputable manufacturer that honors it warranty.

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Dual XDVDN9131 4X50 watt AM/FM/DVD with 7-Inch Touch LCD/USB/SD/BT/NAV/iPod Multimedia Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Dual DVDN9131 at Wal-mart on 1-23-10. Today is 3-6-10 and I just shipped it back to Dual to be fixed or replaced. The unit worked fine when I first installed it, but now when I try to use the blue tooth to make phone calls people cannot understand what I am saying. My voice is Garbled like I am talking under water or something. I contacted Dual customer support and they told me to ship it back for repair or replace. I don't know what to expect from here, I have never owned any Dual products before. This radio seems to be a nice unit, I just hope they take care of the problem in a timley manner.

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HP Mini 1033CL Notebook (Intel Atom Processor 1.60GHz, 10.2" LED Brightview Infinity Display, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 60GB PATA Hard Drive, Windows XP Home) Review

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(More customer reviews)It is hard to believe that HP and other netbook makers packed so many features into such a small package. This HP netbook is a little bigger than the average DVD case. It is TINY...and slim too. At 2lbs and some change, you can carry this thing all day long and not even notice the weight.
The features in the 1033CL match up with other netbooks on the market. The hard drive is a bit smaller than average - 60GB v/s 120GB. This model comes with 1GB RAM v/s 2GB RAM on most Vista-enabled netbooks. Not deal breakers by any means...but savy shoppers can get more bang for their netbook dollars.
Now, let's talk about this netbook. The keyboard is darn near full-sized which makes touch typing possible. I crank out 80wpm on a regular keyboard and can get near that speed on this netbook. There are a few compromises though. The touchpad has buttons on either side v/s on top like most netbooks and laptops. The arrow keys are smaller than regular keys. There is no dedicated home key and now requires two keys be pressed (fn-left arrow). Most people won't notice it but power users might have an issue.
The speaker sits directly above the keyboard and sounds great! Some laptops and netbooks put the speakers under the unit or in the palmrest (so your hand covers it!) but HP got it right. Volume is loud and sound is full. Not tinny.
The 1033CL has plenty of ports. Power, USB, headphone/mic, and Ethernet are on the left. Another USB port and a smartcard slot are on the right. The front has buttons for power and for turning off the wireless network card. (great for saving power)
Speaking of power, this netbook comes with a 3cell battery. It is good for quick trips but if you want long-term power, shoot for a 6 cell battery or better. The battery compartment is in the bottom of the unit for easy access. RAM can also be upgraded via the bottom of the unit.
The display is very crisp. 10.2 inches sounds small but the Windows XP resolution is 1024x600 so it's bigger than expected. Movies look great on it. The display has the a reflective coating on it (don't remember technical name).
A few minor annoyances with this netbook. The webcam requires a lot of background light just to get a half-way decent picture. There is a port for an external monitor but the dongle for it wasn't included in the box. HP charges extra for it. The touchpad includes a generous space for scrolling. Almost too generous. About 3/4 of an inch of the touchpad is reserved for scrolling down a page. Fortunately, it can be adjusted using software.
Overall, the 1033CL is a fun netbook. It isn't the fastest or packed with the most features but the crisp display, the almost full-sized keyboard, and the audio make this unit stand out among competitors. I'm happy I bought it. The portability of it is just addictive. I take it to the kitchen, the bedroom, the garage, the front porch, backyard and more.


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Yamaha YHT-790BL Home Theater in a Box (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you want HD audio and own a blu-ray player that decodes the HD audio codec's (ps3 does) this is the best home theater in a box system you can get. The speakers are a beautiful gloss black that really impressed me with the quality and connectors. This system comes with the Yamaha 6140 receiver that does accept PCM (HD audio) via HDMI. This is not a pass through system it accepts audio via HDMI unlike most home theater in a box systems. The only thing that could have made this a perfect set up would have been if it came with a larger sub but for the size of this one it does sound good but if your going for huge rumble you may want to upgrade the sub but other than that is a very nice set up. Btw you can usually find this for $650(shipped) or under if you look around.

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Cool Mobile Watch Phone With Camera Works With T-Mobile or AT&T Review

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(More customer reviews)This device will WoW you with all the features it provides. Surf the internet, play mp3 music, mp4 videos, make phone calls, view jpeg photos, use the built in organizer, calculator, alarms, world clock, and play the built in puzzle game. This is all available with the twist of your wrist. Most people agree this is one of the smallest, most feature packed devices to come along in a long time.

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HP Pavilion dv7-4170us 17.3-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 7.5 Hours of Battery Life (Argento) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was almost sad to see it go as I dropped it off at UPS today for a refund. After about a week of troubleshooting with HP about why it would lock-up after two hours or so, they reported that it must have had defective hardware.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS (FINISH, HEAT, QUIETNESS)
When I first took it out of the box and powered it on, I loved it! The aluminum finish was the biggest plus for me. After an hour or so setting it up and installing (and uninstalling) software, the entire unit (save for the plastic heat outlet) was still cool to the touch. And it was incredibly quiet, too. I don't think I ever heard the fans wind up in the week that I had it. The low setting that they were on was hardly audible.
SCREEN
The screen was brilliant, though vertical viewing angles were unimpressive. Colors were great out of the box. I chose not to play with the ATI display settings. The 1600x900 resolution is a good choice for this screen size. I wouldn't go any lower, and while I would still go higher, that is only to satisfy my greed.
KEYBOARD
The keyboard had a generally positive feel to it. I didn't have time to get accustomed to the keyboard layout. I'm used to my HP dv4 which does not have a numberpad. And the fact that I used my dv4 for trouble-shooting purposes for the better part of the week didn't help. One of my favorite features, though, was the integrated action keys like you find on Macs. The function keys up top are, out of the box, primarily used for functions such as play/pause, volume up/down, brightness up/down etc. You don't need to press the fn key to access the functions. If this is undesirable, there is a toggle in the bios setup.
TOUCHPAD
The touchpad is a serious design problem for me, though I knew what I was getting into when I ordered it. I am pretty readily adaptable to keyboards and touchpads, so I figured it wouldn't be a problem. Truth be told, I wouldn't have a problem if I kept it. It was just an annoyance. Let me clarify: When I'm using the touchpad, I like to keep my index finger on the mouse button while my middle finger does the tracking. Since the touchpad is an entire unit, with the buttons integrated beneath the sensitive track pad, any movement of my index finger would send the cursor in a frenzy across the screen. It wouldn't take terribly long to get used to, though. And tapping the top-left corner twice disables or enables the touchpad, so accidentally moving the cursor when typing isn't a worry.
AUDIO
Sound quality was a big factor in choosing this laptop. It had a brand-name moniker (apparently well respected, so I'm told), so I figured it must have been something special.
Let me be clear up front: If you are looking for sound quality, YOU WILL NOT FIND IT HERE. The laptop speakers themselves sound good, with the built-in subwoofer carrying some of the lower frequencies you don't typically find in a notebook. But this does not mean the unit sounds good. There is some filter applied, which I could not find for the life of me, that was heavily COMPRESSING the sound (boosting the quiet sounds while ruthlessly drawing-back the loud sounds). It made listening to music with the on-board speakers literally painful at times (play a song by Atreyu with lots of cymbals and it will sound like you're underneath a helicopter from the dramatic volume cuts with each hit of a cymbal). I searched all over, and even reinstalled Windows and updated drivers, and nothing would fix the problem. On the other hand, sound through the minijack was great. The output was strong, though it seems the low-mids were boosted a little as compared to my dv4 with IDT HD audio.
This whole Beats thing though is a complete gimick. Out of the box, the bass and treble controls in Windows are set to full boost, which sounds like crap. By toggling the "Beats" feature (fn+b), it simply turns the bass all the way up (on), or all the way down (off). Not intuitive at all! Also, the control panel is the exact same as my dv4's IDT control panel, but with the Beats logo stamped in some places. I am much more pleased with the Altec Lansing setup on my HP dv4.
PERFORMANCE
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to test the performance of the laptop. I did have pretty high expectations, though, as I'm coming from (actually, currently typing on) an older AMD laptop with integrated graphics. I used to be pretty interested in computers and could tell you how certain components would perform, but over the years I lost touch with that side of me. Now days, I don't know how the AMD phenom stacks up. My understanding (confirmed by a few searches) is that AMD has gotten increasingly closer to Intel's competing processors, but is still a little behind in most regards. I'm guessing that ATI graphics processor is in the midrange as far as GPUs go. With its stay on my desk, it never felt underpowered, though I admittedly did nothing to truly exercise it. When purchasing, I felt that this laptop had an outstanding price-spec ratio, which helped me pull the trigger.
BATTERY LIFE
Another thing I never got to try. If it can live up to its claim of 7.5 hours, then that is very impressive for a laptop of this size (in my opinion). More time than I would ever need in one sitting. Truthfully, I don't doubt that number can be seen if settings are kept low and activity is kept reasonable.PROS
stunning aluminum finish, nice screen, runs very cool and quiet, good featureset for the price
CONS
touchpad can be finicky, pathetic Beats audio, disc drive eject button can be challenging to pressI'll miss most the sleek and stylish aluminum finish. I'll forget the somewhat quirky touchpad. I'm glad to be away from the terrible Beats audio.
...
I know I didn't delve into as much as some would like, but due to my unit being defective, I spent most of my time focusing on getting it working rather than putting it through its paces. I hope my review can be of at least some value to most.
*Note: My dv7 being defective has no effect on my rating. All manufacturers have duds, and I'm still in a positive relationship with HP.

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Now there's a notebook PC made for the way you play. In fact, the HP Pavilion dv7 comes with software that lets you start playing right out of the box. With amazing graphics, audio, and video, plus a wide array of options, the HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment series notebook delivers power and performance to match your fast-paced lifestyle.

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ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1016P-BU17-BK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just recently purchased this little Asus for my wife to use. It came pre-loaded with Windows 7 and because the 1016P-BU17-BK is new from Asus, it came loaded with lots of goodies, like 3.0 usb, a faster and more reliable processor, standard with 2 mg ram and Win 7. I also own a Asus PC 1000 I've used for three years and this new netbook has a much better look and the keyboard is much more solid than what I have on my 1000. The 1016 seems thinner and lighter and although it is lacking the SSD like my 1000, it boots up just as fast and shuts down fast also. The wireless seems to work much better than my 1000 also, because it does not lose its connection like my 1000 does.
I rate this little netbook 5-Stars.

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ASUS N71JQ-X1 17.3-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown) Review

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(More customer reviews)ASUS N71JQ-X1 17.3-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown)
The reviews prior to this one say what a great laptop this is but that it lacked a Blu-Ray player. The description must have been off when most people first ordered this, and I would be upset if I had thought I was getting blu-ray player, but didn't. That being said, and I knew what I was getting. Let me be clear; this is an AMAZING value for what you're getting...even without Blu-Ray. Think about it; you're getting an Intel Core i7 laptop, with a 1GB ATI discrete graphics card, 17 inch, high def screen, and a 500GB hard-drive...oh and 4GB of Kingston RAM...all for under $1200 (as of this writing)? Are you kidding me?
I love this laptop, and I was a lifelong HP guy, until my screen died after 2 years of use...the build quality on this is incredible, the screen is beautiful, and as for Blu-Ray...meh. Everything's going disc-less digital anyway. A few years from now, and everything will be download only anyway.
Don't let the other reviews fool you, this is THE value in laptops, from one of the most well-decorated manufacturers of the last few years. Check out some sites on the net, do your research, and I'm sure you'll come to the same conclusion I did...this is the laptop to own.
Good luck and happy hunting.
ADDITIONAL INFO (Posted 3/22/2010) after using this laptop for the past few days, I can safely say that this was a great bargain. It's faster and more responsive than my previous HP that cost 3x as much. Also, it came with DDR3 1333 RAM instead of the advertised 1066. Nice little bonus. Point being, if you buy this laptop, I doubt you'd ever regret it.

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- HP Pavilion dv4-2045dx Notebook PC (White) - AMD Turion II Dual-Core M500 2.2GHz / 14.1" WXGA / 4GB DDR2 / 320GB HD / DVD±RW/CD-RW / Built-in webcam / Windows 7 Home Premium Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this explicitly for using as a budget HTPC. I didn't need Blu-Ray or long battery life because I intended to park it on my components and plug it into my big screen via HDMI. I did need a computer with good graphics and a pc that was powerful enough to run flash and HD video without hiccuping. Picked this up yesterday and by the time I had the OS decrappified of all of the junk software they add to these budget computers I was up and running and connected to my entertainment center and watching youtube on the big screen in no time.
I'll leave some updates later but here are a few important things to keep in mind.
1. There is a little button above the touchpad that turns it on and off. Make sure it's on before you freak out.
2. You have to touch the wireless icon in order to turn on the wireless card. It glows red and changes color to blue when it's on and it's touch sensitive.
Both points aren't made clear in the manual.

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HP Pavilion dv7-4280us 17.3-Inch Entertainment Notebook PC (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using this computer for about 3 weeks now, and am quite happy with its performance and battery life. It has switchable graphics and automatically (unless disabled) switches between built-in graphics when battery powered and dedicated graphics (ATI HD6550) when wall cube powered. I don't use this computer for gaming, but the HD6550 is a fairly respectable card. Battery life is listed at 7.75 hours. I was originally seeing around 6 hours in my typical usage scenario (see note re change below). I am also pleased with its thermal management. When working hard it gets warm - but not hot. Air exhaust is on the left, toward the back of the case, which is an acceptable location. Since it is billed as an "entertainment" laptop, there is a goodly amount of HP software installed for managing audio, video, photos, etc. I thought I would remove most of this, but found it to be relatively inoffensive and even useful at times. The hard drive is a generous 750 GB, so I wasn't too concerned about needing to free up space. I did disable the built-in backup management software in favor of adding a second 750 GB hard drive (this required purchasing an HP4000 series drive caddy and cable). I made the new drive (7200 RPM) the primary drive and relegated the slower 5400 RPM drive that came with the 4280 to backup. Having two hard drives did, of course, reduce battery life somewhat, but I still get around 5.5 hours - not bad at all. I can now do backups in-situ via partition imaging, plus daily backups to an external USB drive. Regarding that - the HP4280 has a powered eSATA port (combo USB and eSATA), which I use with a Seagate GoFlex Pro 750 GB drive with eSATA interface - and it is fast (GoFlex pro uses 7200 RPM drive which matches the one I swapped in and made my boot drive).
There is also a fingerprint scanner which can be used to log in (password entry is still available as alternative). You have to spend a few minutes registering your fingerprint (plus one alternative print) - but after that, you can log in by just swiping your finger over the scanner. It took some getting used to, but I now log in this way almost exclusively. One little trick I found - place your finger over the scanner, then hesitate for just a bit (about 1/4 to 1/2 second) before swiping and it will read much more reliably. At least that's the case for me - maybe I "trained" it that way. ;-)
My only real complaint is that the touch pad implementation is - well, just awful. As has been noted by others, it's almost impossible to position the cursor and click to select without moving the cursor off target, and if you touch the case near the touch pad - that moves the cursor. Really annoying. I added a Logitech M705 mouse which uses their tiny unifying receiver (I leave it plugged in all the time), and it works quite well, even with the receiver on the opposite side of the computer (that location works best for my carry case).
One last note - this beasty has a blue ray player and Beats audio - very nice combo for watching HD movies.
Overall, I am very happy with this computer. It lost one star for the schizoid touch pad and the slow hard drive.
Update 2011-05-10. Recently updated Synaptic Pointing Device drivers, and there were definite improvements in touch pad operation.

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Watch Blu-ray DVDs at home and on the go. It's simple with the Blu-ray player and large 17.3-inch diagonal High-Definition LED display on the HP Pavilion dv7-4280us Entertainment Notebook PC. Plus, play music the way it's meant to be heard with integrated Beats Audio and count on fast data entry using the numeric keypad. You can also manage your passwords effortlessly on this HP laptop using the integrated fingerprint reader. Keep your digital library on the large hard drive and help prevent data loss with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection. With ATI Mobility Radeon HD video graphics and lots of memory, image-intensive programs and games run smoothly. The HP Pavilion dv7-4280us Entertainment Notebook PC has everything you want, including style and substance. It looks great thanks to a brushed aluminum finish with the stream design in argento. Video chat in low-light environments using the integrated HP webcam, burn custom labels onto CDs and DVDs using LightScribe Technology and transfer photos from a digital camera to your HP laptop using the digital media reader. Browse the Web from any room using built-in Wi-Fi, plus wirelessly sync your HP laptop to a printer or smartphone using integrated Bluetooth.

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Dell Inspiron iM501R-2272MRB 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mars Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The laptop works but it came with a bad AC/CD adapter so I could not charge it until I bought a new one. I decided it was too difficult to go through tech support because I could simply purchase a new charger on amazon for $10, but I guess if I was willing to spend an hour on line with Tech Support they would have sent me a new one.
I also don't care for some of the pre-loaded software that tries to sell me stuff I don't need.
Otherwise it works as advertised and came quickly. Amazon is great, dell not so much.

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Meet the Inspiron 501R--a 15.6-Inch laptop computer for your everyday needs. With an attractive, stylish design and mobile technology, this laptop features everything you want for everyday computing. The Inspiron 15R offers a modern black palmrest, AMD processor, a 1.3MP webcam, media card reader, HDMI output, and plenty more. Solid performance at a solid price.


Extraordinary design. Everyday value.

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