Showing posts with label amd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amd. Show all posts

7/08/2012

Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD6870 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card GV-R687D5-1GD-B Review

Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD6870 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card GV-R687D5-1GD-B
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I upgraded from a GTX 460 Sonic Platinum (Palit-model) and I have really liked the improved frame rates while gaming. I remember having some slight lag with more intense games like Black Ops, Crysis, etc and this card took care of those problems. I also like the quality of the Radeon cards as they've been more smoother for me than many Geforce cards I've used over the past many years. Card of course is a bit longer, but cools fairly good. Keep in mind that some more intense games may run the card up in temps more. My card stayed between 71-74 while playing Metro 2033 for an extended period of time (manual fan speed set to 31% with MSI Afterburner). Fan also does get quite loud when above 31% in a manual configuration. Most other games I play, the card will stay between 51-53 from what I've seen. I'd recommend this card to others!
NOTICE: When installing the 10.11 drivers, for some reason they did not install properly and I was not prompted to restart once complete like I usually am. I did restart and nothing changed. I noticed that in my Device Manager it was still saying my graphics adapter was still on a standard VGA adapter. To fix this, I had to uninstall the 10.11 drivers, install the 10.10 drivers, and then from there, update with the 10.11 drivers and it worked...Rather interesting. I see that AMD just released their new 10.12 drivers. I plan to do a complete uninstall of my 10.11 drivers and will do a clean install with the 10.12 drivers...Hopefully I do not run into the same problem. Don't know if others have ran into this problem, but I am sharing this for piece of mind.
It'll be nice to see if they rebuild this card with ultra-durable VGA materials or make it part of their SOC series. I'm also waiting for Sapphire to make a Toxic version of the 6870 as I'm more a fan of Sapphire. Thus far, I like Gigabyte though.
(THIS REVIEW IS SIMILAR TO MY OTHER ONE ON NEWEGG, BUT REVISED SLIGHTLY)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD6870 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card GV-R687D5-1GD-B



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD6870 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card GV-R687D5-1GD-B

Read More...

5/14/2012

ASUS AMD 890FX/SB850 USB 3.0 and SATA 6 GB/s Extended ATX Motherboard Crosshair IV Extreme Review

ASUS AMD 890FX/SB850 USB 3.0 and SATA 6 GB/s Extended ATX Motherboard Crosshair IV Extreme
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
First off, i just want to say i have no idea what the other people are talking about in there reviews. I have no trouble putting in 16GB on memory and installing my air cooler. Second, this board has the best chip set cooling design ive ever seen. Im running a Phenom II x6 1090t CPU, 2x XFX Radeon 5870's 1GB DDR5, a cool master RR-B10-212P-G1Hyper 212 plus air cooler,Creative Audigy 2 ZS sound card and everything fits perfectly. This board has won over 30 awards and is rated the best and most advanced mother board on the market. If your building a gaming PC, this is hands down the board you want. I could go on and on about the ggreatness of this board but go to the Asus web site to read about it. A must buy for the serious gamer.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS AMD 890FX/SB850 USB 3.0 and SATA 6 GB/s Extended ATX Motherboard Crosshair IV Extreme



Buy Now

Click here for more information about ASUS AMD 890FX/SB850 USB 3.0 and SATA 6 GB/s Extended ATX Motherboard Crosshair IV Extreme

Read More...

2/18/2012

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5997 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Black Laptop - 2 Hours 25 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5997 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Black Laptop - 2 Hours 25 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
THE GOOD: is functions pretty well ,and is very fast with 4 gig memory and dual core processor.
THE BAD : The finish on the inside and out is way too glossy...just like glass...it shows every fingerprint..and need to wipe it down after every use..or it looks really dirty.
It is really heavy..if placed on lap..it would cut off circulation..wish I checked it out in store first..because it weighs a ton.
Cant get BlueTooth option to work with my Bluetooth Keyboard or my other BlueTooth enabled PC.
Called Tech support..got a guy in India who was worthless...could hardly understand or hear him ..very bad phone connection.
Given the glossy surface and heavy weight would not recommend it as a laptop.
Consumer reports did recommend alot of Toshiba laptops as being more reliable then Dell, HP etc.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Satellite L505-S5997 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Black Laptop - 2 Hours 25 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)

Offering solid performance and impressive affordability, the Toshiba Satellite L505-S5997 laptop is a great choice for handling computing essentials at home, school or work--from surfing the web and downloading video to managing household finances or studying for finals. This all-purpose, eco-smart machine features a stunning 15.6-inch display with 720p native high-definition resolution. And thanks to the built-in webcam and Toshiba Face Recognition software on this machine, you'll enjoy a more convenient way to communicate, log on or share your laptop among the family. To top it off, the L505 features a brilliant high-gloss Fusion Finish design with a Midnight Breeze pattern that's sure to turn heads.
It comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), supporting office applications and all the software programs routinely found in full-size notebooks. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to. (Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below.)
It's powered by the 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor, which boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. It also offers a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 2 MB L2 cache. Other features include a 320 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (upgradeable to 8 GB), 5-in-1 memory card reader, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n), full-size keyboard and 10-key pad, and dual-layer DVD±RW drive that burns CDs and offers Labelflash print functionality.
This Toshiba notebook is Energy Star 5.0 certified, and has received a Gold EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact. Additionally, it is RoHS-compliant, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

Key Features
15.6-inch high-definition TruBrite display for amazing color depth and clarity (Learn more)
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. (Learn more)
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
2.20 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor with 2 MB L2 cache and 800 MHz front side bus (FSB) (Learn more)
320 GB Serial ATA hard drive
4 GB of RAM (800 MHz; upgradeable to 8 GB)
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1750 MB of dynamically shared memory allocated by the system (Learn more)
8x SuperMulti DVD drive with double layer support and Labelflash printing (See speeds)
1.3 megapixel with Face Recognition capabilities for added security (Learn more)
104-key keyboard with 10-key pad
Enjoy proactive PC health--without the worry. For your peace mind, this laptop comes with an innovative PC Health Monitor that constantly keeps tabs on things like your machine's power usage, temperature and hard drive--so you won't have to.
Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for greater speed and range
Fast Ethernet (10/100)
Built-in stereo speakers
Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works SE 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work. Enjoy a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.
6-cell (4000 mAh) battery for up to 3 hours, 20 minutes of continuous use
Dimensions: 15.1 x 10.2 x 1.55 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 6 pounds
Warranty: One-year limited hardware warranty

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers). This notebook also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking.
3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Includes 1 eSATA/USB combo port

Analog video output: 1 VGA
5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
RJ-45 port for 10/100 Fast Ethernet
RJ-11 port for 56K modem

What's in the box This package contains the Toshiba Satellite L505-S5997 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.
It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009 (30-day trial), Toshiba PC Health Monitor, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Edition (60-day trial), Windows Media Player, Ulead Label@Once, Google Toolbar, WildTangent Orb Game Console
Learn More
15.6-Inch High-Definition Display This notebook has a 15.6-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, which uses shared video memory (up to 1759 MB allocated from the system memory). This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out. It's compatible with external monitor resolutions up to 1920 x 1200.

Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.

Jump Lists New in Windows 7, Jump Lists take you right to the documents, pictures, songs, or websites you turn to each day. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar. (You'll also find them on the Start menu.) What you see in a Jump List depends entirely on the program. The Jump List for Internet Explorer 8 shows frequently-viewed websites. Windows Media Player 12 lists commonly-played tunes. Your Jump List missing a favorite? You can "pin" whatever files you like there. Jump Lists don't just show shortcuts to files. Sometimes they also provide quick access to commands for things like composing new e‑mail messages or playing music.
Improved Windows Taskbar In Windows 7 you can "pin" favorite programs anywhere on the taskbar for easy access. Not crazy about the icon lineup? Now you can rearrange them any way you like by clicking and dragging. Finally, there are new ways to preview windows. Point to a taskbar icon to see a thumbnail preview of open files or programs. Then, move your mouse over a thumbnail to preview the window full-screen. You can even close windows from the thumbnail previews--a big time saver.
Snap Ever need to cut through a cluttered desktop and quickly focus on a single window? Just click a pane and give your mouse a shake. Every open window except that one instantly disappears. Jiggle again--and your windows are back.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processing Power The Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor has a 2.2 GHz processor speed, fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.

8x DVD-SuperMulti Drive This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It offers the following read/write speeds:
Write: 24x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 6x DVD-R DL (double-layer), 6x DVD+R DL (double-layer), 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+RW, 5x DVD-RAM

With the Labelflash functionality, you can burn high-resolution, high-contrast pictures on the label side of DVD discs using the same laser used for data recording. Enjoy transparency and high-quality not found in traditional printable media. All you need is a Labelflash DVD disc to start labeling without a printer.

Integrated Webcam with Face Recognition Capabilities A 1.3 megapixel digital web camera built into the LCD's bezel lets you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats. The integrated webcam does more than just video chats. It includes Toshiba Face Recognition capabilities--the ultimate hands-free, hassle-free way to log onto your laptop. Just show your face to the webcam--no keeping track of hard-to-remember passwords and no unnecessary typing. And if you're using one laptop for several users--say for the whole family or for a small business--Toshiba Face Recognition lets you switch profiles with one simple look.


Buy Now

Click here for more information about Toshiba Satellite L505-S5997 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Black Laptop - 2 Hours 25 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)

Read More...

2/11/2012

Acer AS1551-4650 11.6-Inch Notebook Review

Acer AS1551-4650 11.6-Inch Notebook
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We have been using this netbook for just over a month now and we are very happy with our purchase. We had a Gateway before and it was good but it died on us so I did a tonne of research before we bought this one.
This one had everything we wanted; HDMI, dual processor, full Windows 7 etc. We think it works very fast, especially compared to our old laptop which we thought was pretty fast. The size of this one is perfect too. I wasn't keen on the 10.1 inch ones because I thought they were too small and our last one was a 15.6 inch which was a little too big to be portable.
We love the HDMI output, we hook it up to our TV to watch stuff from Hulu and Netflix. I also like how it seems to auto-adjust when you plug in the HDMI cable, we always had to fiddle with the settings on our Gateway to get it to display correctly on our TV. All in all I am glad we went with this one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer AS1551-4650 11.6-Inch Notebook



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Acer AS1551-4650 11.6-Inch Notebook

Read More...

1/24/2012

HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop Review

HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have been using this laptop for one month and I am absolutely amazed. It is sleek and stylish and much lighter than I expected of a 15". What can I tell you? The keyboard is nice and spacious for typing. Before I got it I was a little concerned about the function of the touch pad but this baby is second to none, it is very accurate and has tons of functions...2 finger scroll, 3 finger scroll the list goes on.
I use this laptop extensively and I have had no problem with heat. Be careful not to block the vents at the side, I guess if it's blocked it would become hot.
Cons (if any)
1. The battery runs for approximately 2 1/2 hours on hp recommended power setting and this is while downloading, playing videos, games, browsing and organizing photos and files.
2. The Keyboard, while awesome, is not back lit. This would have been a nice addition for me.
3. The viewing angle is not great but then again it's not like I am laying down to use it.
Pros (there are many)
1. WiFi easily connects
2. Bluetooth - superb, picked up and paired my devices immediately.
3. Speed - the laptop boots up super fast, there is the option to start with the hp quick start or windows 7.
4. Finger print reader - very accurate and convenient, it works with I.E and Firefox.
5. Webcam - I really could not ask for more and the software has quite a bit of editing options.
6. The sound on this is much better than I expected. I have a dell latitude and my kids are not able to watch movies on it without the use of an headset. This requires no headset unless you need privacy.
7. DVD drive - While I've only used it twice to burn a set of recovery disk and another project, the drive it very quiet and fast. While I'm not a fan of Light scribe, I tried it and it works great.
8. I love HP Media Smart
9. Windows 7 - I am impressed, it really makes life easier.
I was worried buying a laptop with an AMD processor but it's fast and cool, no overheating here.
Ratings on the Windows Experience Index (scale of 1.0 to 7.9) is 4.5, this is based on the lowest score.
Processor - 6.3
Memory (Ram)- 5.9
Graphics - 4.5
Gaming Graphics - 5.4
Primary Hard Disk - 5.8
I researched long and hard to find the perfect laptop for my needs and a good price... this did it for me. No regrets.
I have recommended this to my friends and I recommend it to you....you won't regret it...I don't work for HP or Amazon.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop

Now there's a notebook PC made for the way you play. In fact, the HP Pavilion dv6 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 dv6 Entertainment series notebook delivers power and performance to match your fast-paced lifestyle. Exclusive HP MediaSmart software gives you instant access to the music and movies you love. Immerse yourself in videos, games and 3D graphics on the high-definition 15.6" diagonal HP BrightView LED display. Look your best in any light with the HP TrueVision Webcam and sound great with integrated dual-array digital microphones for improved noise reduction.

Buy NowGet 1% OFF

Click here for more information about HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop

Read More...

11/28/2011

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

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

(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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion dv7-4170us 17.3-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 7.5 Hours of Battery Life (Argento)

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.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about HP Pavilion dv7-4170us 17.3-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 7.5 Hours of Battery Life (Argento)

Read More...

11/15/2011

Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5076 LED TruBrite 15.6-Inch Laptop (Grey/Black) Review

Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5076 LED TruBrite 15.6-Inch Laptop (Grey/Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Worth every penny when it comes to looks, performance and display.
I've owned a Dell Inspiron 6400 before this, so my entire review is influenced by my personal experience with that machine.
The Dell I owned was a highly customized laptop with some of the best specs available to me 3 years ago. But the battery sucked. (Only time will tell how good the battery is on this TOSHIBA)
The one thing I miss in my Toshiba is Bluetooth, since I'm used to transferring pictures and taking back up from my phone all the time, over bluetooth. A conenience definitely, but its absence in Toshiba is definitely not a Limitation.
Pros:
- The Display is brilliant. At its highest setting, the screen looks bright enough to be able to read even in bright sunlight in a park (not that I do it, but its just an example to give you an idea of how bright it is)
- The Multi-touch fingerpad is quite useful once you get used to it. You can tweak its settings from the properties, and I have my 'Right Mouse Button', 'Middle Mouse Button', two finger scrolling, pinch zoom, picture rotation, all set on my fingerpad. I barely have to use the buttons under the finger pad. A lot of other settings enable me to control my mouse pointer like a well seasoned chef playing with a chef's knife!
- The processor, albeit a tad noisy, does perform the way it is supposed to. I mean hey, its a Quad core, and so I tested it out by having Firefox and Chrome with 4-5 tabs each open while I played Left 4 Dead. I could never do this on my Inspiron (Core 2 Duo with a 2 GB RAM, but here on TOSHIBA it was a breeze!!! (Touchwood!)
- The battery lasts me a good 2.5 - 3 hours with lots of applications running, some videos, and gaming (all of this at 50% screen brightness) which I think is pretty decent.
- I like the little button above the fingerpad which lets me lock/unlock my fingerpad; so if I'm merely typing something, I can avoid mouse interference when my wrist or palm brushes over it mistakenly, by simply pressing that button and locking the mousepad.
Cons:
- The fingerpad is placed on the left half of the computer, so using it with my right hand is a little inconvenient. I am ambidextrous so it isn't too big a deal for me, but still I wish it was a little more to the center.
- There's no depression or demarcation of the fingerpad from the rest of the body (except that it gets a little rough textured) so my fingers tend to run out of the fingerpad when using it to scroll or do fancy stuff.
- A little noisy at times. The fan starts running and doesn't give up... It doesn't happen all the time, and its not a big problem to me, but its just something I noticed. (Considering the fact that there are 4 processors at work here, I think high fan work is expected)
- Definitely a finger print magnet.
- The keyboard and mousepad buttons seem a little delicate and too plastic-ey!
-Lack of Bluetooth!
- Loads of useless software comes pre-installed, but you can always remove it, so its not a major problem to me.
Summary:
Overall, I think this is a very good machine, perfect for someone who is not into extreme computing or super rich!
Good price, more than a decent performance, and good battery life.
I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to buy a nice processor at a nice price!
The reason I've given it 5 stars despite a not too short list of cons is because none of those cons are a deal breaker to me, nor do they even remotely outweigh the pros of this product.
UPDATE (6/4/2011):
The battery life is not so great as i expected initially. It lasts me exactly 2 hours, when using on power saver setting or eco mode. This is not too good specially considering how I don't use a lot of applications at the same time, but mostly browsing. All in all, I say if you don't mind plugging your laptop for charging every now and then, this is a good choice considering its performance. but if portability is even the remotest concerns you have, this one's not the best choice. Would I still buy it, probably not, since there are other laptops with almost as good a performance, but a better battery life at a close enough price.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5076 LED TruBrite 15.6-Inch Laptop (Grey/Black)


Toshiba Satellite L655D: Fashionable, Affordable and Portable with 15.6-Inch Screen
Offering a redesigned chassis with a sleeker body, the nicely affordable Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5076 notebook PC makes it easy to handle computing essentials at home, school or work--from surfing the web and downloading video to managing household finances or studying for finals. And its high-gloss Fusion Finish in Helios Gray will be sure to raise a few eyebrows while you're on the go.

You'll be able to burn through the hottest new digital media, content creation and advanced 3D gaming thanks to the quad-core AMD Phenom II Mobile Processor P920 and the installed 4 GB of DDR3 RAM.

This all-purpose, eco-smart machine features a stunning 15.6-inch LED-backlit display with 720p native high-definition resolution. Thanks to the built-in webcam and Toshiba Face Recognition software on this machine, you'll enjoy a more convenient way to communicate, log on or share your laptop among the family. Other high-tech features include a power-saving Eco Utility to help reduce power consumption based on your needs and one USB/eSATA combo port.

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



Key Features
15.6-inch widescreen HD TruBrite LED-Backlit display not only renders stunning visuals, but it's more environmentally friendly as it uses less power (1366 x 768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio).


1.6 GHz AMD Phenom II P920 quad-core processor (with AMD M880G Chipset and 2 MB L2 cache) lets you enjoy movies, music and games like you never have before, with amazing detail, clarity and color. Plus, you can experience Microsoft Windows 7 the way it was intended. All this with the freedom to do more on the go with long battery life rating.


320 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)


4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (800 MHz; expandable to 4 GB)


ATI Radeon HD 4250 graphics card provides exceptional features, performance and power-efficiencies that enrich what you see and do (256 MB - 1917 MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory).


8x SuperMulti DVD drive with double layer support and Labelflash printing, which enables you to personalize your discs and keep them looking attractive and organized with direct-to-disc laser printing.


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



Built-in stereo speakers with Dolby Advanced Audio blends a suite of technologies to deliver a stunning audio experience from headphones or your laptop speakers. It analyzes audio signals and restores tones often lost in encoding, mimicking the same optimization techniques that go into tuning movie theaters and mixing rooms, resulting in brighter highs and deep, thumping bass tones. It also expands stereo signals to 6.1- or 7.1-channel playback for a listening experience that will have you talking long after the performance.


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



Included Toshiba Utilities:
Toshiba eco Utility makes it easy to go green as you go mobile. Hit the Eco Button and you'll launch the Toshiba Eco Utility, which puts all sorts of easy-to-read information on your screen, and gives you the ability to adjust the power settings on your laptop. It also activates a light showing you're in the Eco Mode. The Toshiba Eco Utility lets you pick the optimal power plan for your situation. Choose High-Performance when you need every watt you can get, Power Saver for the least energy consumption, or Balanced as a perfect blend of the two.



Up to 4 hours of battery life (6-cell battery; 48 Wh)


Dimensions & Weight: 14.96 x 9.84 x 1.49 inches (WxDxH); 6.4 pounds



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

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



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

Learn more about Toshiba's environmental commitment.

Learn More


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

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


Buy NowGet 17% OFF

Click here for more information about Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5076 LED TruBrite 15.6-Inch Laptop (Grey/Black)

Read More...

10/28/2011

HP Pavilion dv6-3130us 15.6-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 4.45 Hours of Battery Life (Argento) Review

HP Pavilion dv6-3130us 15.6-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 4.45 Hours of Battery Life (Argento)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Very Happy with this computer. Keyboard has a nice feel to it, not mushy like some. Monitor is very clear and sharp. Fingerprint reader seems to be very accurate. Lots of hard drive space (620GB)and 4GB RAM. Fast enough for work, versatile enough for play. Good price for what you are getting.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion dv6-3130us 15.6-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 4.45 Hours of Battery Life (Argento)

Now there's a notebook PC made for the way you play. In fact, the HP Pavilion dv6 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 dv6 Entertainment series notebook delivers power and performance to match your fast-paced lifestyle. Exclusive HP MediaSmart software gives you instant access to the music and movies you love. Immerse yourself in videos, games and 3D graphics on the high-definition 15.6" diagonal HP BrightView LED display. Look your best in any light with the HP TrueVision Webcam and sound great with integrated dual-array digital microphones for improved noise reduction. With the large hard drive, you can store volumes of data, movies, and music.15.6 Diagonal High-Definition BrightView LED Display (1366x768) HP TrueVision Webcam and Digital Microphone ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Graphics with 128MB DDR3 memory Lightscribe SuperMulti 8x DVD+-R/RW Double Layer Drive Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n WLAN Bluetooth 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector) 5-in-1 Digital Media Reader MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, xD HP SimplePass with integrated fingerprint reader Dolby Advanced Audio with Altec Lansing speakers Brushed aluminum finish with the stream design in argento Connections -4 x USB 2.0 (4th port shared with eSATA), Headphone out, Microphone-in, VGA, HDMI, RJ-45 (LAN) Approximate Unit Dimensions -14.88 (W) x 9.56 (D) x 1.21-1.37 (H) inches Approximate Unit Weight -5.46 pounds

Buy Now

Click here for more information about HP Pavilion dv6-3130us 15.6-Inch Laptop PC - Up to 4.45 Hours of Battery Life (Argento)

Read More...

9/26/2011

HP Pavilion dv6-3010us 15.6-Inch Laptop Review

HP Pavilion dv6-3010us 15.6-Inch Laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I saw this model at one of the Office Superstores (it was WAAAY cheaper)...not sure if I am able to say the name but it's the one that sponsors the arena where the Lakers play. Overall, this is a great computer. I purchased it as a replacement to a 5 year old Dell XPS notebook. I already own a quad-core version of this notebook (HP DV6) and was so impressed with the performance, quietness, and coolness, I bought this one too! (It's not for me.) The aspects of this computer that I like the most: it's thin, light, quiet, doesn't get too hot, the graphics, the LCD screen (LED backlit), and the 7200rpm hard drive. My only gripe with this model is that the touchpad is picky. I had to go into the touchpad properties and turn on/off a few features.
Oh, and another plus, press F11 when the system starts up and do a "minimal" system restore. It wipes out a huge majority of HP bloatware! After I did that, the computer beat my expectations! I highly recommend this to any user who is looking for a good, mid-range laptop that is good for HD-quality video, light gaming, and powerful with productivity applications. (ex. MS Office, Adobe, iTunes, etc.)
The battery issue in a previous post didn't happen to me. However, I will say that two of the USB ports are very tight...but I have yet to break anything...
I've owned HP computers in the past and this is my first one since 2002. I'm glad I switched back.


Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion dv6-3010us 15.6-Inch Laptop

Now there's a notebook PC made for the way you play. In fact, the HP Pavilion dv6 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 dv6 Entertainment series notebook delivers power and performance to match your fast-paced lifestyle. Exclusive HP MediaSmart software gives you instant access to the music and movies you love. Immerse yourself in videos, games and 3D graphics on the high-definition 15.6" diagonal HP BrightView LED display. Look your best in any light with the HP TrueVision Webcam and sound great with integrated dual-array digital microphones for improved noise reduction. With the large hard drive, you can store volumes of data, movies, and music.

Buy NowGet 11% OFF

Click here for more information about HP Pavilion dv6-3010us 15.6-Inch Laptop

Read More...

9/12/2011

Acer AS5552G-7632 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black) Review

Acer AS5552G-7632 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've owned many laptops over the years, but this one is definitely my top favorite. I had a netbook that I carried around with me all the time before purchasing this because it was small enough to fit in my purse and it did everything I wanted it to do while I was traveling. Then, I decided that I wanted a laptop with some power that allowed me to work with power hungry programs while allowing me to play games that required some decent specs. And I didn't want to have to spend a small fortune to get what I wanted.
At first, I thought about looking at just gaming laptops. I knew if they could play powerful games, they would also be able to handle whatever demanding software I would install on it. I went to the typical sources (Alienware, Sager, etc.), but in the end, they all wanted much more than I was willing to pay, especially after customizing. I'm not sure how I found this laptop. I think I was browsing either eBay or Newegg when I saw this one. Most, if not all, the reviews praised it, and I liked the specs. So, I bought it. Best purchase ever.
It was bigger than I thought it would be, but I think I thought that only because I'd gotten used to carrying around a small netbook. It didn't take me long to readjust to carrying something bigger. Also, I liked that this has a full keyboard with a numerical pad on the side. And so far, it's handled everything that I've thrown at it with ease. I play City of Heroes on this machine with the Ultra settings pretty high with no trouble. It also runs The Sims 3 smoothly. I haven't tried any other high demand games on it yet, but those are the main two I wanted to be able to run. Needless to say, it runs my non-gaming software like a champ. It also manages its heat pretty well without being loud, but I still use a Targus cooler with it. That combination works so well together that I'm not paranoid that I'm overheating my laptop even when gaming.
Of course, a few things can be pointed out:
This doesn't have a Blu-ray drive or have Bluetooth, but neither of these were a big enough factor to make me deduct a star since I already have an plug-in USB Bluetooth dongle, and it wouldn't be a problem to buy portable Blu-ray player, if I'm that hard up for it. I wish there were some dedicated keys for some functions rather than having to use Fn+[key], but again, not a huge hassle to me. There are times when the screen seems to be not clear--or rather, kinda grainy, but this isn't super annoying to me. It doesn't happen all the time, and it seems to have more to do with my screen's angle at the time. The battery life is short. I think it lasts only two hours. Also, this laptop doesn't ship with recovery disks, but you are prompted to make a copy by the system, which I would recommend.
This is definitely a great laptop to consider if you're looking for power without having to sacrifice a lot of money.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer AS5552G-7632 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black)


Sporting a classy design along with everything you need to fit your mobile lifestyle, Acer Aspire 5552G notebook PC (model AS5552G-7632) meets your daily computing needs with excellent processor performance and impressive graphics--perfect for e-mailing, surfing the web, enjoying HD video playback, and more. With the 15.6-inch high-def display, you'll have ample space for opening multiple windows and digital entertainment, while an HDMI port enables you to connect to HDTVs and projectors for awesome, big-screen entertainment.
The Acer Aspire Acer AS5552G with uniquemesh-patterned exterior in black.

Buy NowGet 13% OFF

Click here for more information about Acer AS5552G-7632 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black)

Read More...

8/12/2011

Sony VAIO VPCYB15KXP 11.6" Pink Notebook Review

Sony VAIO VPCYB15KXP 11.6 Pink Notebook
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Bought this from Fry's electronics about a month ago for my 14 year old daughter - she got straight A's so off to get her a new laptop. Hunting around and saw this beautiful laptop and she fell in love with it. The unit is perfect for her - light, small (she can bring it to school easily), sufficiently long battery life of around 5 hours and good keyboard. Most importantly, it is PINK!!! The dual core 1.6GHz AMD E350 CPU run rings around the Atom while consuming very little power, and provide pretty decent gaming performance.
Pros:
1. Size and weight, perfect for travel
2. Good battery life, easily 4-5 hours, sometimes more
3. Snappy performance - comes with Windows 7 32-bit home premium, and Aero flies on this guy
4. BIG 500GB hard drive - enough for all her digital media
5. 4G RAM - good enough for whatever you want to run
6. HDMI port - for under $500?? Wow.
7. PINK!!! Perfect for a 14 year old girl.
Some minor issues:
1. The touch pad is small, but if you have small hands, it would be fine. Not recommended if you have big hands/long fingers
2. It would not play some 1080p files initially without stuttering, installed KMplayer, tweak it a bit and it is mostly ok now, but still has occasional glitch
3. The first unit we got had BSoD errors right out of the box, showing a blue screen and start dumping RAM onto the hard drive!!! It would crash and core dump every few hours. Returned and got another unit and works fine now. If you get one, make sure you run lots of programs and give it a good workout, make sure it does not Blue Screen on you. Seems like Sony has some QA issues.
4. Speaker volume a bit weak, but it is expected for such a low cost and compact unit.
We also got the matching Case Logic carrying case for this unit, again PINK. Available at Sonystle web site.
Overall we are very happy with this unit. Highly recommended.
6/6 update -
We bought the keyboard skin and the sony pink headphones with interchangeable ear buds - this is now the perfect PC for my daughter. Couldn't be happier!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony VAIO VPCYB15KXP 11.6" Pink Notebook



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Sony VAIO VPCYB15KXP 11.6" Pink Notebook

Read More...

7/11/2011

HP ProBook 4525s XT950UT 15.6" LED Notebook (2.2 GHz AMD Athlon II Dual-Core Processor P340, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe, Windows 7 Professional 32-bit) Review

HP ProBook 4525s XT950UT 15.6 LED Notebook (2.2 GHz AMD Athlon II Dual-Core Processor P340, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe, Windows 7 Professional 32-bit)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you're looking for a inexpensive laptop of this size then this is a perfect choice.
Initial Impressions:
-----------------------------
I've only had the laptop for a few days, but am quite happy with it. The number pad is great, island keys look nice and feel good. The track pad has a ton of settings and options so with a little fiddling you should be able to find the settings that work for you. The display is definitely widescreen but looks great. There wasn't too much bloatware installed - mainly just a bunch of HP programs, but they were easily disabled/removed. Comes with McAffe 60 day trial which I uninstalled. Also comes with Office 2010 starter which provides Word & Excel limited versions. I love that this has a 7200 RPM harddrive as most laptops skimp with slower 5400 RPM options. Webcam works great and has a built-in light/flash. HP & Windows 7 even have face recognition for logging in, although that doesn't always work. The top has a matte finish with what I can best describe as a fine wood grain look that's somewhat grey/brown.
Update: one of the main reasons I bought this laptop was for the HDMI output so I could connect to my receiver and HD TV then play videos, Hulu, etc. from the laptop to the TV. After a little tweaking of the audio playback device both audio and video worked great over HDMI! I should note that the audio signal is not surround, but 'just' digital stereo.
Regarding Memory:
-----------------------------
I ordered another 2GB of RAM and after removing 7 screws I got to the memory location under the keyboard and the additional memory looked to be exactly the same as what I ordered. You can google to find the instructions for removing the keyboard on HP's website. However, I don't know that 4GB is absolutely necessary for this laptop. It depends on how many programs you'll have open at a time and how you plan to use it. Many people probably don't know that 4GB is the maximum amount that a 32 bit Operating System can reference.
Overall:
-----------------------------
Circuit City (owned by the same company as Tiger Direct) via Amazon had the best price for this laptop (400), even better than Newegg (420). I was surprised that shipping took only 3 days!

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP ProBook 4525s XT950UT 15.6" LED Notebook (2.2 GHz AMD Athlon II Dual-Core Processor P340, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe, Windows 7 Professional 32-bit)



Buy NowGet 26% OFF

Click here for more information about HP ProBook 4525s XT950UT 15.6" LED Notebook (2.2 GHz AMD Athlon II Dual-Core Processor P340, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe, Windows 7 Professional 32-bit)

Read More...