Notebook Trends

Many of you have seen the ads promising a chance to get super free laptop. Before you think of getting involved with one of these programs, however, there are a couple of things you need to know.

It is human nature to think that there is no such thing as a free lunch and for the most part this is indeed true, however, the good news is that is it possible to obtain a super free laptop if you understand how the program works and what to look for in some of the programs that try to scam you.

So what is a Super Free Laptop Program Anyway?

Many corporations are eager to find markets for the products that they sell. By providing a chance for you to get something absolutely free, these companies are inviting you to sample their products; in return for you taking a “test spin,” they give you points or credits.

Once you accumulate a certain number of credits for trying out the company’s products, you can receive a super free laptop virtually for free or for substantially much less than if you purchased it outright.

Things You Should Know Before Signing Up

* Above all, read the Terms of Service: Be sure you have read the terms of service before you make any commitment to the program. The terms of service should be easily understood, and fairly straightforward. They should provide a detailed explanation of exactly what you are required to complete before you get the points or credits toward your super free laptop.

Reading the terms is important since you will need to participate in a specified number of offers some of which require a credit card number and ultimately a purchase. If you are not careful, you could end up spending more than if you purchased a laptop outright.

* Read the Disclaimer, Contact Information, and Privacy Policy: Be sure you understand the disclaimer and the privacy policy before you give them any of your personal data. It is also recommended that you verify the contact details.

* Redemption Instructions and Gift Rules: A reputable super free laptop program will provide in detail the instructions for redeeming your credits and the rules for receiving your free laptop. The redemption instructions and gift rules should be worded so that the information is readable and easily understandable and not written in endless legal jargon that not even a lawyer could understand.

There are many consumers out there that are unable to afford the entire price of a high-end laptop, especially in the current economic climate. A super free laptop program can be a great way to obtain a high end laptop for substantially less money.

As with any program that promises you something for nothing, you should always do your due diligence along with visiting any of the forums or blogs that are talking about these kinds of programs. In general, a first-rate super free laptop program supplies you with all the essential information without concealing any details.

Sony makes some of the sleekest and highly rated laptops on the market. Like all things made by Sony, there’s a high standard of workmanship and quality. Sony Notebooks are no exceptions.

One of Sony’s newer models, the Ultra-Portable VAIO VGN-T350P, has the world’s first ‘Built-in Cellular Modem’. You can use your cell phone to connect to the Internet. This may be a great advantage since finding a ‘Hot Spot’ in some parts of the world can still be difficult.

It’s the next logical step in wireless networking, and can only be welcomed by those who want to be always connected.

However, this connection does come with a high price tag. At the time of this writing (the price may have come down since) the monthly charge was around $80. So consider yourself  warned if you purchase the VAIO T350P for its Cellular Modem.

You can pick one up on the Sony Web site, or at dozens of online resellers, and at local computer stores. The VAIO T350P is sold in preconfigured versions only.

Customer ratings by Amazon buyers have been very favorable for this Sony Product. Some times it’s the actual customer/users comments that’s the deciding factor in whether you buy product A or product B.  Very logical, Mr. Spock.

For  more information on the New Sony VAIO VGN T350P, click here.

When it comes to mobile computing, my main concern is portability and size does matter. In my book, small is the new big.

I’ve been ‘lugging’ around my 14-inch display Acer notebook for a while but in my mind, I’ve decided to grab myself a mini-notebook or what we now call the netbook.

I was first attracted by the MSI Wind, the Acer Aspire One and the Lenovo S10 because I need a lightweight thingy to write and browse the Internet when I’m on the move. But somehow I held back because of the uncomfortable keyboard and the short battery life.

So I waited and, presto, along came the new Asus Eee PC 1000HE with a 10.2″ wide-screen display offering a 1,024×600 native resolution, an improved flat-topped keyboard, a newer, faster version of Intel’s Atom processor (N280) and the ‘clincher’ that got me to part with my money — 9.5 hours of unplugged battery life!

Okay, Asus puts a sticker on that says “One-Day Computing” and pledges 9.5 hours of battery life. Actually, on a charge, my new white Asus 1000HE managed to last more than 7 hours unplugged. That’s about the time you spent in the office and I have no issue with that.

This little companion weighs in at 3.2lbs which is relatively heftier than many competing netbooks but that’s not a problem when you carry it.

This baby runs on Windows XP with a 160GB hard drive and 1GB of Ram which I upgraded to 2GB. Some other netbooks are not that upgrade-friendly.

I picked the white colour because I noticed the black model easily catches fingerprints on its glossy finish. But that shouldn’t put you off if you’re not that fussy because this little machine represents Asus’ best ever efforts to evolve the Eee PC line of netbooks with enough tweaks to attract the attention of netbook buffs.

There’s also 10GB of Web storage via its Eee Storage which allows you to share videos, photos and other stuff on the World Wide Web. Cool!

On the right side, the 1000HE houses a 4-in-1 memory card reader, two USB ports and a VGA port for connecting it to an external display. On the left side, there’s a third USB port, a headphone and mic jack, an Ethernet port and a Kensington lock slot.

The Asus Eee PC 1000HE looks more streamlined and gone is the bulge on the bottom of the system in the previous model with the six-cell battery fitting in nicely at the back. Obviously, the 1000HE is an extended version of the earlier 1000H but the refinements make it an attractive buy.

The Specs:

* Intel Atom N280 Processor @ 1.66GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB

* 1GB of DDR2 Memory

* 10.2 inch LED-backlit LCD (1024 x 600 resolution)

* Intel Mobile 945GSE Chipset

* 160GB Seagate Momentus 5400.5 Hard Drive

* 10GB Online Eee Storage (free for 18 months)

* 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi

* Bluetooth 2.0

* 1.3 megapixel webcam with Digital Array Microphone

* 4-in-1 Card Reader (SD, SDHC, Memory Stick and MS-PRO)

* VGA Output

* USB 2.0 x 3

* RJ-45 (Ethernet 10/100)

* Headphone / Mic Input Jacks

* 3.2 Pounds (with Battery Installed)

* 6 Cell Li-ion High Density 8700mAh Battery (Up To 9.5 Hours of        Computing)

* Windows XP Home Edition

* Color Options: Pearl White, Black, Blue, Golden