Review by Ed Fry

Sony is yet to grace the market with a VAIO mini laptop, in fact Sony has been openly reluctant to produce and sell a netbook. Sony executives have said that the cheap notebook concept doesn’t align with Sony’s “premium” corporate image. That said, I’ve seen Sony make some pretty rubbish electrics before, my TV for example, so this could be taken two ways: snobbery or a joke.

But in recent years, Sony have come out with some very genuine very up-market products that support this claim. Sony’s Bravia TV range is a market leader, they’ve continued the ‘Walkman‘ legacy against the might of the Apple iPod and iTunes and in gaming, it’s extended its PlayStation brand, replacing the best-seller PS2 with the PS3 with a staggering £425 RRP against Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii. It’s VAIO laptop line is also very good.

But have they left the netbook market altogether? Technically, yes. 

Try searching “netbook” on Sony’s VAIO mini-site - no results. Sony doesn’t and isn’t going to be associated with the cheap and cheerful image presented by Asus when it brought out the Eee PC. But they do have a VAIO laptop that is small, light and portable: the VAIO TT.

The TT is an impressive product, offering an 11.1 inch screen, up to 9 hours battery life and weighing a petite 1.3kg putting it on par with the 8.9 inch HP 2133 mini-note and lighter versions of the Asus Eee PC 1000. All of the TT models feature a strong carbon fibre chassis in a choice of two colours, ‘intense noir’ and ‘gold fever’.

Sony proclaims carbon fibre is “used in racing car or aircraft manufacturing that’s 200% stronger and 30% lighter than conventional materials used in computer chassis design. A bi-product of the larger screen is a larger keyboard which is very nearly (but not quite) comparable to that of a full size notebook. 

The keys are large and separated slightly, with the centre of each key indented marginally for better accuracy. With Sony’s TV background, the 11.1 screen comes with a lot of expertise. Viewing on its widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and 1366×768 resolution, is delightful. Also, the ability to read blu-ray discs (or any disc) gives far more flexibility. You don’t have to faff around burning DVD’s or downloading films online - and the quality is such that the viewing quality isn’t compromised either.

The huge battery life - up to 9 hours - lends itself to use whilst away on business, more than enough for a full working day. Sony has incorporated a variety of power-saving and efficiency features, such as the battery care function which prevents wear and tear on the batteries, automatic adjustment of LCD brightness according to the environment you’re working in and the use ultra-efficient Intel Centrino 2 technology.

Connectivity is certainly at the heart of the TT, with embedded 3G ’Everywair’ on several models with speeds as high as 7.2mbps. A T-Mobile sim card is incorporated on a free trial. Luckily, you can remove it and use your own sim card so you’re not bound to a new contract.

Perhaps then, Sony has very definitely entered the mini laptop market, but specifically marketing it as if they haven’t. Oh yes, the website bangs on “slim and sophisticated design” and how portable it is, but Sony is very reluctant to use the ‘n’ word. Perhaps it needs to be said for them, perhaps not.

The difference between the VAIO TT and a typical netbook like the Asus Eee PC or the Acer Aspire One is so profound. Are they in the same league? Price wise, certainly not; the VAIO TT is expected to retail at around £1,200 for entry level models, compared with a more modest £200-300 for your everyday mini laptop. It’s certainly just as portable and useable; however, it is clear Sony’s taken a different approach to portability.

Asus pioneered the netbook by starting afresh, building a small computer that could handle simple tasks processing, quick internet and making it affordable. Sony’s answer was to reduce the size and weight to make it ultraportable whilst maintaining excellent performance. The result is a very high performance laptop, that has the size and weight properties of a netbook - it is, if you like, the sophisticated mini laptop.

Homepage at http://www.mini-laptops-and-notebooks.com/index.html | The dedicated website to mini laptops and notebooks | Copyright Ed Fry 2008. All Rights Reserved

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.

Laptop travelling is becoming an essential activity for most business people, but with unexpected reclining of chairs on airlines and strange power outputs, planning is just as essential.

*****

By Celeste Yates

For business trips, travelling with a laptop is probably the most convenient idea. Whether you are going to another branch of your company or meeting up with clients, notebooks have made taking documents, e-mailing and carrying all your information easier, plus you don’t have to worry about being set up with a new computer on the other side.

With new models of laptops being made smaller, slimmer and more efficient, days of carrying around what feels like a small elephant are a thing of the past. However, travelling with them across borders unfortunately is still not easy even without the weight.

Most laptop travelling problems can generally be avoided in advance with a little planning. Batteries will have a nasty habit of dying right in the middle of the flight if there isn’t some planning involved.

Trying putting your laptop in a less obvious laptop bag. While the laptop bag is specifically made with padding for bumpy trips, adding your own padding and putting it in a backpack will make it less likely to be picked up. Choosing the right airline is just as important as picking the right seat.

There is nothing worse then just starting your work when half way through, the person in front of you decides they want to sleep and start reclining their chair. Before you know it, your delicately balanced coffee is now spilt all over your keyboard with the excess fluid being poured off the tray, straight into your lap. By this stage, it’s not so much the boiling liquid on your lap that you are concerned with, but the laptop itself that is now, with a fair amount of speed from the reclining, is just about to have a head-on collision with your ribs and there is nothing you can do about it.

Of course the person who is causing all this chaos can’t hear your yelping in horror as the chances are, they are probably listening to soothing ocean noises coming from their ipod. The good news is that business class doesn’t have this problem and for smaller airplanes, the seats by the emergency exist don’t recline.

Generally though it is a good idea when booking with an airline to also check what their requirements are for carry-on items. Certain airlines even have power inputs for laptops while in flight which might be a better option for laptop owners who forget to recharge before flying long distances.

One of the most important things is, of course, to keep an eye at all times on your laptop. Especially when going through checks at the airport. A lot of laptops get picked up when you are on one side of the metal detector, your laptop is on the other and there is armed security people busy searching random people who have set the detector off with their bling bling.

There are various programs that can be loaded about data being exploited in the chance that laptop does get stolen. These programs will encrypt your data and will also require a password to start the laptop.

Once you have arrived in another country it is a completely different ball game. Just because your country uses one type of power plug, doesn’t mean all countries do. Check beforehand when booking your accommodation, what type of power plugs do they have as well as what is available as far as Internet is concerned.

Overall when traveling, you are going to have to plan your entire journey from flights to accommodation for yourself, so you might as well do it for your laptop as well.

About the author: Celeste Yates has been writing content and has recently joined an online marketing group for My New Laptop which specializes in selling professional laptops.

Article Source: EzineArticles

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

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)

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.