My first laptop – Acer Aspire 4530.  This laptop was bought more than six months ago and until today, I can say I’m still happy with this 14-in screen black machine running on Windows Vista. It has a 160GB hard disk and it has given me good service and, touch wood, I have not faced any major problem with it. 

  
My trusty Acer
 

In fact, I have got so used to this blogging ‘pal’ of mine and I’m now wondering what to do with my desktop PC. So, should I hand the PC down to somebody or continue to keep it as a backup machine? Give me more time to think about it.

In the beginning, I’d always think that my desktop PC was the only machine for me. Then, I wasn’t so keen on acquiring a laptop. Maybe, I consider them too expensive but in the last couple of years we have seen new laptops or notebooks coming into the market at prices that are more affordable for most people.

This is the trend and now we are seeing mini-notebooks or netbooks hitting the marketplace. Mobile computing has never been more exciting than now. 

Yes, all of a sudden, I’m beginning to realize that a laptop is very handy without taking up too much space in your room. Perhaps, the bulky desktop PC is heading towards the twilight zone.

I’m sure a lot of people who are planning to get a computer will be asking themselves: Should I go for a laptop or a PC? Let prolific internet marketing writer Titus Hoskins give you the lowdown on what to get in this article…

Laptop Or PC – What Should Your Next Computer Be?

By Titus Hoskins 

Before you can even decide what make of computer you want, whether it is a Dell, Mac or Hewlett Packard…you need to answer this burning question. Will your next computer be a laptop or a desktop PC?

In order to answer this question you need to do your research. You need to familiarize yourself with both laptops and PCs. The reason that I say this is because as with all purchasing decisions there are pros and cons to whatever decision you make. In order to make the most informed decision as to which choice will be your next computer, you need to not only look into the advantages and disadvantages of each of them but you also need to make sure that you apply these pros and cons to your individual circumstances.

So what exactly are these pros and cons?

If you are looking into desktop PCs you will see that they are usually cheaper than laptops and for the money that you are paying you will get a lot more hardware/software. You get a faster computer at a lower price. That’s the main reason many gamers tend to opt for desktop PCs over laptops as they are more suited to gaming and audio/video applications. However, recent developments have meant that there are now laptops coming out that have been primarily designed for gamers. The performance gap is narrowing swiftly.

While laptop prices are falling, they are generally more expensive than PCs because of their design aspect but mainly because they haven’t been around as long as PCs. Generally over time, electronic goods such as TVs, DVD players, computers… usually come down in price as makers recoup their initial manufacturing costs.

Another plus point for a PC comes in the fact that they are easily upgradable. If you want to upgrade the graphics card to a more powerful one you can. If you want to change or add another hard drive then go right ahead. With a laptop however, they may require professional installation and in many cases you are unable to upgrade or add to the technology that appears within it. They are a lot more troublesome to deal with when it comes to modifying or repairing them.

Despite these advantages that the PC holds over the laptop hasn’t stop the popularity of laptops from growing and expanding. There are in fact now more laptops being brought than desktops and this is a trend that is set to increase.

One of the main advantages that exist with laptops is the fact that they are portable. Many people now need a laptop in order to stay more productive. They allow you to access files and data at anytime and from any location, which is a necessity for many people due to our fast paced and on the go society. Also thanks to Wi-Fi wireless networks the connectivity of laptops are amazing. You are able to gain easy access to the Internet while you remain mobile.

Another pro to having a laptop as your next computer as oppose to a desktop PC is the fact that with a laptop you have low power consumption. The reason for this is that laptops are several times more power-efficient than desktops. A typical laptop uses 20-90 W, compared to 100-800 W for desktops. I feel that this is an important feature, especially for businesses that run hundreds of personal computers as it could ensure that you have a multitude of potential savings. It is also helpful to homes where there is a computer running 24/7 such as a home media server or print server.

Nor should you ignore the aesthetic appeal of the laptop. They have great style and design which makes them attractive to potential buyers. Gaming laptops are especially decked out with flashy decor and pizazz; while you should never buy a computer for its looks, many people do just that!

These are just a few examples of the pros and cons that are associated with laptops and desktop PCs. There are good and bad points for each option, so depending on what you need your computer for you may opt for a laptop or you may opt for a PC. The most important thing is that you make your choice based on your needs to ensure that you get the most out of your computer. Satisfy your own needs first and you won’t be disappointed with your final choice.

About the author: The author runs a handy online Laptop Guide featuring the latest top gaming laptops: Best Gaming Notebooks.  To learn more about laptop computers try here: Laptop Buying Guide.

Sony enters netbook market Not resting on its laurels after launching the impressive and petite Sony VAIO TT, an 11.1 inch screen mini laptop with a battery life of 9 hours, Sony has jumped into the netbook market with its 8-inch VAIO Lifestyle PC.

Obviously, Sony must have felt that it’s high time it keeps pace with the rest of the gang by jumping onto the netbook market bandwagon which has seen competitors such as ASUS, Lenovo, HP, MSI, Acer and others entered the fray much earlier.

Like their ad says – Better Sony Than Be Sorry.

This week Sony unveiled their VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC at CES and thanks to WebProNews which was there to get a first-hand glance of the new Sony mini ‘wonder’ with this video clip.

Boasted as “the world’s lightest 8-inch notebook,” the device is less than 1-inch thick, weighs in at 1.4 pounds, and is small enough to fit inside a jacket pocket.

In this video, the Product Manager for VAIO Product Marketing explains how this notebook can truly change your life.

Xavier Lauwaert first stresses the portability of the laptop. As mentioned above, the device is small enough to fit into your pocket but not so small that the keyboard is inconvenient. The product could have actually been smaller, but Sony wanted the keyboard to be easy to use.

The second area the VAIO Lifestyle PC will change your life is its “ubiquitous connectivity.” Equipped with the latest and fastest version of Wi-Fi and built-in Bluetooth, GPS, and Verizon-powered mobile broadband – this laptop is sure to keep you connected. The notebook also runs Windows Vista operating system.

The device includes a 1,600×768 pixel display on an 8-inch LED backlit screen. The battery life is said to last four hours, but there is an option to purchase a higher-capacity battery that would last eight hours.

Pricing starts at US$900 for 60GB of storage and goes up to US$1,500 for 128GB of storage. Pre-orders are available online at www.sony.com/pr/pseries and will be shipped around the first of February.

It looks like mini-laptops are going to be the next ‘big’ thing. Since the introduction of the “tiny” and low-cost ASUS Eee PC 700 series last year which many thought were cute little wonders, 2008 looks like the year these little ‘uns are coming of age.

ASUS themselves have recently launched a second generation of mini-laptops or now popularly known as netbooks that are more in tune with the need for performance, usability and mobility.

Not to be outdone, other major players such as Dell, HP, Acer, MSI and others are jumping on the mini-laptop bandwagon, too.

Thanks to the release of the Atom processor by Intel which is designed specifically for such laptops, the floodgate is open to inundate the mini-laptop market segment.

MSI jumped into the fray in August with the Wind U100, being the first to incorporate the new Intel chip. Weighing in at 1.18kg, it’s a delightful little machine that your girlfriend can drop into her handbag while she’s on the move.

The Wind U100 comes with a 10″ Super-TFT screen and with a good-size keyboard you’ll be quite at home with your fingers. Running on Windows XP with a state-of-the-art Intel Atom N270 processor @ 1.6GHz, along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Ethernet, and an 80GB hard disk to boot, this little wonder may not be a powerhouse portable, but for basic computing, it’s a great deal.

A buddy of mine, who likes to hang out at some cafes to do his surfing and writing, bought one — a black 9″ screen version — recently. It goes without saying that he was pleased with the Wind netbook. So far, no complaint.

Right now, I’m using a fairly new Acer Aspire 4530 that comes with a 14″ screen, but I’d think I may want to get an MSI netbook, too, with a 10″ screen which I can lugged about wherever I go. I like the “weightless” feel of it.

However, there is one snag at the moment. I was told MSI are only bringing in the white-coloured version when I checked at my favourite computer store. I’d rather prefer a black one. So I have to wait.

Enter the ultra-portable Lenovo

Now, the good news is that Lenovo are moving into the mini-laptop segment, too. They have just made available in Malaysia the IdeaPad S10 netbook which is priced at RM1,999.

This is a 10-inch netbook running the 1.6GHz Intel Atom chipset, same as the MSI Wind or ASUS Eee PC 1000H and it is preloaded with Microsoft Windows XP.

Guess I’m having some ‘evil’ thoughts about ditching the idea of getting a Wind and, instead, go for the Lenovo IdeaPad S10. It comes in three colours – white, black and red (or pink?).

Here’s the press release info on the IdeaPad S10:

• Integrated 1.3M Camera
• 2 stereo speakers
• Multi-touch Pad & near full size Keyboard (85% full size)
• Integrated Wireless 802.11 b/g,10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth
• Express card slot for WWAN expansion
• Up to 2-GB Memory
• 4in1 Multi-card Reader
• Form factor: 250.2 x 183 x 22-27.5mm, lightest configuration of 1.1 kg
• Large Panel 10.2” wide, LED backlight 1024×600 WSVGA
• Intel Integrated Graphics GMA 950
• Intel N270 CPU 1.6 GHz & Intel 945GSE Chipset
• Large HDD capacity 160G 9.5mm 2.5” SATA HDD (5400 rpm)
• Battery up to 3 hours with 3-cell battery, and up to 6 hours with 6-cell battery

And enjoy these two video takes about the S10:

For under $1000, the thin-and-light 14-inch widescreen Fujitsu LifeBook S7211 is one real sweet deal of a notebook that you would love to get your hands on. In the notebook/laptop field, Japanese computer maker Fujitsu has been coming out with some nifty products that exude quality, and the beautiful LifeBook S7211 is no exception.

For a product with some great features, the price is reasonable. If you have a close eye on budget, the LifeBook S7211 offers cost-conscious small and medium size businesses an easy way to stay on budget without compromising on performance or reliability.

Pricing starts at $899 and ranges up to around $1100 depending on options, according to Fujitsu.

There’s a 120GB hard drive, support for up to 4 GB of RAM (base configs have 1 GB), combo drives or dual-layer DVD writers, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, gigabit Ethernet, a 1.3 megapixel Webcam, three USB 2,.0 ports, an ExpressCard slot, and a media card slot.

What’s more, the dual-layer burner sits in a modular expansion bay, which allows it to be removed and replaced with either an additional battery or an empty shell to reduce weight.

An integrated webcam centered above the display and stereo microphones provide quality videoconferencing for distance learning or training. Connectivity is superior with the Atheros Super AG(R) 802.11a/b/g WLAN offering up to 108 Mbps transfer rate when connected with Super AG-routers or gateways.

The notebook’s 14-inch display offers a 1,280 by 800 -pixel resolution, and the system supports simultaneous display on an external monitor at resolutions up to 1,600 by 1,200 pixels.

The LifeBook S7211 notebook can be configured with either a 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2330 or a 1.5 GHz Intel Core 2 T5250 processors, and offers Intel’s GMA X3100 graphics.

(Special note: If you’re residing in Malaysia, the LifeBook S7211 has a version that comes with the cheaper Intel Pentium dual-core processor T2330. It costs RM2,999 but is now on special offer at RM2,599. The upper end version which costs RM3,499 is now selling for RM3,199).

The systems are available with either Windows Vista Business or XP Professional.

Fujitsu has established itself as the clear Wintel laptop leader for reliability and customer satisfaction, according to PC Magazine’s 20th annual Reader Satisfaction Survey.

photo credit: forestpaw

By Mimi Merontos

In our world today, having a laptop notebook computer provides men and women especially college students, frequent travellers and businessmen benefits with ease of work because of its mobility and portability. The laptop notebook computer is one of the greatest technological advances to come along and you will probably find it difficult to live your life without it. Be it work or play.

If you are planning to purchase a notebook computer, then here are 5 things you need to consider before hitting that buy button. Doing this will help you save a lot of time in doing your searches in deciding what you really need.

1. PURPOSE
Determine the purpose with which you need it – for internet browsing, gaming, saving files, downloading music and videos, graphic design, programming or business work. Think of what you need and stick to it.

2. FEATURES
Decide on what features you will require. You may want a wider screen, larger hard drives, small and ultralight, with built in wireless technology or with longer battery life. Make notes of your preferred features and research on it. This will greatly help you save time on your searches.

3. WARRANTY
Ask questions like specific inclusion or exclusion of certain hardware components, duration of the included warranty coverage and know the cost for an extended warranty.

4. PERFORMANCE
Notebooks provide very close performance in comparison with traditional desktop computers, and should handle all computer related tasks with great ease. Notebook performance is directly related with cpu clock, ram memory and hard disk space.

5. PRICE
Compare prices. You can go from inexpensive notebooks to luxury models. However, do not sacrifice performance for a special price, make sure that the notebook computer you are buying has all the desired qualities: portability, performance, battery life, connectivity, security and style, — all the features you want in your notebook computer.

Buying influence usually goes with preference. Some consider quality as top factor in their decision to make a purchase and others are really going into prices, searching for the best deal at much cheaper cost.

Your better consideration is to first determine the feature you like most in relation to the purpose you intend it to use. Then stick to your budget. If you can have all that you want for your laptop because your purchasing power will not suffice, make sure to buy one with upgrade option so you can maximize your investment in the future.

About the author: Mimi Merontos writes topic about laptop to help people decide in buying one or merely provides information to those who need it. Because of the wide selection a store can offer it is really hard to just pinpoint what you like. To view more widely known laptop brands, Please visit Smart Laptop Choice

Just imagine having a “superduper” notebook that’s simply huge on storage capacity. Is there such a machine? You bet, Taiwanese computer maker Asus will be coming out with a notebook that’s got two 500GB hard drives. Combined, the fully configured Asus M70 notebook will boast a terabyte of storage. They are using the hard drives from Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.

So what else is there in this new notebook? Well, it’s capable of storing 1,000 hours of video, or more than 350 feature length movies. And, of course, 250,000 four-minute songs. You’ll be so enchanted by the awesome power of this notebook, wonder whether you’ll have time for your breakfast, lunch and dinner!

How much is terabyte? You can say it holds about the same amount of data that could be stored on paper from 50,000 trees.

But if this power-packed notebook is just a bit too much for you, you can always settle for less – Asus will also release notebooks that come with a single 500GB drive.

The SONY VAIO VGN-CR220E comes with power and beauty. It features a stunning 14.1″ widescreen LCD2 with XBRITE-ECO LCD technology. This portable VAIO CR notebook is an astonishing sight to behold. Powerwise, it’s backed by the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system and Intel Centrino Duo processor technology with Intel Core 2 Duo processor.
This beauty is a lightning-fast, power-packed mobile notebook – slim, lightweight, and packed with entertainment and design extras. It has a built-in web cam and AV controls to its unique paint colors and comfy, easy-to-clean keyboard. Man, this machine is top-notch.

If you are hard-pressed for dough and looking for a reasonable priced laptop, the Acer Aspire 4710-2013 can be yours for USD600 and you won’t have much to complain about this baby.

It’s got a nice design and is enough connectivity options and features. The speakers sound good and the interior design is reminiscent of Acer’s more expensive models.

Okay, it’s technology is basically last year’s and battery life is only 2 hours and change.

Specifications:

• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Storage Capacity: 120 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11g
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Processor Speed: 1.73 GHz
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
• Processor Name: Intel Core Duo T2080
• RAM: 1 GB
• Screen Size: 14.1 inches
• Weight: 5.5 lb

This is a true broadband machine. The Dell Vostro 1000 is an end-to-end solution that provides the services, software and hardware that small business users want. The Vostro 1000 notebook delivers wireless performance so you can stay connected on the go.

It features optional next-generation Wireless-N Wi-Fi for up to 5x faster throughput and up to 2x the range when used with a Wireless-N router. This allows you to connect to wireless networks and stay productive wherever a wireless signal is available.

Specifications:

• Type: Small Business
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
• Processor Name: AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52
• Weight: 6.26 lb
• Screen Size: 15.4 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon XPRESS 1150
• Storage Capacity: 2 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11g, 802.11a/g
• Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW (Plus Minus)

Hewlett Packard has unveiled an update of the HP Pavilion tx1000 - the tx2000 – which is not much of a change from the 2007 model. By and large, there are a few minor tweaks and nothing radically new.

HP also unveiled a slightly revamped version of the HP Pavilion HDX which also has some updated parts but not much else to shout about.

The tx2000 is a convertible tablet laptop which looks almost identical to the tx1000 from the outside, and inside it offers AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core CPUs, 802.11n Wi-Fi and adds Wacom digitizer support to the finger-sensitive 12.1-inch touch screen which the tx1000 model did not possess.