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Shopping questionnaire – why a netbook might be for you

Jenny — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:30:45 +0000

: Photo: Ed Yourdon / Flickr

The netbook vs. tablet vs. notebook discussion will only get more heated once the many incoming Android tablets hit the market. However there are still certain circumstances when buying a netbook is the best purchase decision you can make when searching for a new computer. Below is our three-part questionnaire that will give you a clue on whether a netbook is for you.

Question 1: What do you need it for?

In a perfectly rational buying world, need should dictate all your purchase decisions. Sadly, as behavioural finance shows, it does not. But for your purposes, you need to ask yourself long and hard what you need a netbook for. If you genuinely just need a device to surf the net, as well as the occasional word pressing and very rudimentary computing tasks, a ‘net’ book – as its name suggests – was designed for you. Save yourself the headache and the money of buying a ‘device’ with more bells and whistles than you will ever need, want, or use.

Question 2: What is your budget?

When buying a netbook, or any device, for that matter, price will always be a sticking point. Always let your needs dictate what you should get, and then let your financial threshold determine how powerful a computer you can afford to get. Netbooks are, incidentally cheaper than notebooks and tablets both, so you can see why tablet owners have reason to try to pin them as underpowered hunks of junk. We wrote a popular post on the three best notebooks that are available at a reasonable price that may interest you.

Question 3: Is mobility important?

Netbooks are more mobile than notebooks, but about as mobile as tablets, with the added advantage of having a keyboard. Netbooks fit into oversized women’s bags, notebooks do not. Netbooks fit into nearly any backpack size, notebooks do not. If mobility is your game, buying a netbook is a no-brainer for you, too.

Need, price and mobility

That’s really it, then. Consider your needs, consider your price, and consider how much mobility you desire. Balance those needs and boom, a netbook may just be the best purchase decision for you.

Sleek and savvy: the Toshiba Portégé R600

Alexis — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:47:09 +0000

: Photo: Toshiba

With stunning good looks and a powerful processor to back it up, the Portégé R600 from Toshiba is perfect for everyday use. It has a 12.1-inch LCD screen and is extremely light, weighing in at just over 1kg, plus it’s made from magnesium alloy making it durable and reliable during transportation. The R600 is ideal for the seasoned traveller and business person. It runs Windows XP but also offers the downgraded version if needed for work purposes.

Portable features

The Toshiba Portégé R600 boasts a matte transflective screen, which gives you the opportunity to use the notebook both inside and outside with the same bright quality. The R600 has a DVD SuperMulti drive, which plays DVDs, loads information and backs up data. The Solid State Drive takes 512GB of storage ideal for all your business files, and it’s also lightweight and uses less power, keeping your battery going for longer. The Portégé R600 has a built-in webcam for video conferencing and the HD audio format will help keep the sound clear, crisp and loud. The notebook comes with some needed extras like security, easy connectivity and a Health Monitor that keeps you updated on your computer’s battery life and virus threats. The customisation options let you change settings to suit your specific needs for smooth computing.

Powerful processor and graphics

: Photo: momentimedia / Flickr

A 1.4Ghz Core 2 Duo SU9400 for supreme performance and extra battery life powers the Portégé R600. The notebook isn’t only for business purposes, though. The Intel GMA 4500MHD brings game graphics to the R600, and while they may not be strong enough for 3D gaming, they provide some awesome displays for some fun, relaxing gaming. It features wireless connectivity and the Bluetooth option lets you connect to other notebooks and Smartphones. The Toshiba Portégé R600 has three USB ports for unlimited file downloads and versatility.

Keeping things simple

The Toshiba notebook has a standard keyboard for familiar typing purposes and also features a fingerprint reader. The R600 has a 6-cell lithium ion battery that keeps it going, but it does add to the bulkiness of the body. The Portégé R600 offers a three year international warranty providing loads of travel time with a reliable, durable notebook.

Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK): Midrange Windows 7 notebook with good specs

Wilson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:38:20 +0000

If you are searching for a high-end notebook, then you can opt for the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK). The notebook from Samsung incorporates state-of-the-art technologies and advanced features which can make your browsing experience delightful.

Windows 7 onboard

Some notable features available with the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) include Intel Pentium dual core processor, Genuine Windows 7 home premium, optimized picture quality, Intent X4500 graphics, good sound and video conferencing facility. When it comes to the cutting-edge notebooks, the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) notebook model always stands out.

Functional notebook

The addition of Intel Pentium dual core processor has made the Samsung laptop extremely functional. With this processor, it is possible to get the power of two processors and therefore, high-performance is guaranteed. Fast and easy computing is also feasible with the notebook and the reason is its Windows 7. It will enable users to enjoy easy navigation facility and protect all of their documents with its unique security features. The introduction of Windows 7 has made computing easier and faster and one can experience it in the laptop.

Optimised screen

The Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) laptop boasts optimized picture quality and for that, the credit goes to its 15.6” SuperBright Gloss LCD TFT screen and its 16:9 aspect ration. With the model all its users will explore the enjoyment of high definition (HD) video content as well as games. Even more, users can also use the laptop for entertainment purposes, especially when it comes to watching a HD movie in 16:9 format.

Decent graphics

With the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) laptop, a complete visual pleasure is obvious for which its feature Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500 graphics core takes credit. Allocating the system memory dynamically, this technology ensures good quality visual, the facility of fast graphic performance and various display options.

Good for business

For entertainment and business purposes, the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) model is very useful. The impeccable video conferencing facility has made the notebook everyone’s delight. The model from Samsung offers a high mega pixel camera which is coming with the digital motion facility. Be it just chatting with your friends or conducting a video conference, the Samsung laptop will never let you down.

Remaining specifications

The Samsung R519 notebook has also incorporated some cutting-edge technical specifications. These include good system memory, 2 x Slot SODIMM memory slot, 4 watts stereo speakers which will let you play your favourite music tracks in your laptop, DVD super multi dual layer, wireless LAN facility, headphone-out, Mic-in, internal Mic, 3 x USB, 3 in 1 card reader, touch pad facility, Kensington lock port, Samsung recovery solution III, just to name a few. Such a wide range of technical specifications of the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) will definitely satisfy all tech-savvy people. A new computing experience with the laptop is certain.

Good looks to match

Look matters a lot in any kind of gizmo and a laptop is no exception. Apart from technical specifications, many people also give equal importance to the design and look of a laptop. The users of the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) notebook can pride in both its looks and features. With the dimensions of 376 x 255.5 x 30.4-38.1 (W x D x H) mm and 2.56 kg weight, the notebook from Samsung boasts of its stunning look. The notebook comes with a 60 watt AC adapter and standard batteries.

Included software

If you buy the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) notebook, you can install here all kinds of software including Adobe Acrobat Reader, Easy Network Manager, Samsung Magic Doctor, Samsung Update Plus, Easy Display Manager, Easy Speed Up Manager and many more.

Availability

As far as the availability of the Samsung R519 notebook is concerned, you can find the notebook easily in the market. Some renowned online retail websites also sell the Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) product online. In addition, some of these websites also come up with various attractive offers. A bit research of all these websites will enable you to grab a better deal on the notebook. However, you should always check the brand logo before buying the Samsung notebook.

For work or entertainment

In the modern pace of lifestyle, a laptop has become a necessity. With the boom of the Internet era, computing has witnessed an overwhelming growth which has ultimately increased the use of laptops. On the other hand, the modern innovations taking place day by day have made laptops technically very sound. The Samsung R519 (NP-R519-FA02UK) notebook is an example of a high-end notebook that has arranged all kinds of specifications for work as well as entertainment purposes. The notebook indeed is a good value of money. You can try for the laptop if you are planning to buy a laptop of a renowned brand.

Sony Vaio VGN-Z51WG/B: Introducing this Elite Z Series Notebook

James — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:10:46 +0000

When it comes to choosing notebook you always go for the notebook that scores high in terms of performance as well as features. Keeping this fact in mind, Sony Corp. has come up with the highly sophisticated Sony Vaio VGN-Z51WG/B notebook. This model has taken the market by storm and in a very short span since its launch it has become one of the most sought after notebooks in the market. Its Intel core 2-duo processor is the reason behind its great speed and efficiency. The Z series notebook comes with huge hard disc memory of 400GB and it can be expanded further. This allows users to store a lot of files of different types on their notebook and has become special favourite of business class people as well executives who always need a lot of data to perform their work well.

Sony Vaio VGN-Z51WG/B is very stylishly designed and it goes well with the people’s personality. It adds glamour to your look and its fantastic colour combination will surely turn heads. Sony Vaio VGN-Z51WG/B comes with Bluetooth as well as wireless LAN networking and is highly compatible to Microsoft Windows 7 professional. It is very lightweight and weighs just 1.55 kg, which helps the users to carry it easily wherever they go. The Sony Vaio VGN-Z51WG/B has got DVD writer and 0.3-megapixel webcam, which could be hardly found in such a compact and portable notebook. The name Sony itself is the guarantee of its high quality performance and buying this notebook would surely prove to be a wise decision.

Sony Vaio VGN-FW48E/H: Slim Mid-range 16.4 inch Notebook

James — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:55:42 +0000

Sony is a world leader in manufacturing a wide range of laptops. The Sony Vaio VGN-FW48E/H is a product of the very famous Sony Vaio AW series. It is available in a stylish silver colour that gives it a trendy and sophisticated look at the same time. The laptop is manufactured using cutting edge technology and quality assured components that ensure a hassle free long functioning life and optimum functionality. Additionally it is equipped with most of the recent features that makes it a highly demanded device all over the world.

The Sony Vaio VGN-FW48E/H is fitted with an Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 that provides amazing functioning speed. The laptop provides a clock speed of around 2100 Mhz. The Sony Vaio VGN-FW48E/H is fitted with a 16.4 inch LCD display that provides crystal clear pictures. The hard disk memory of the laptop is around 320 GB so that you can store videos, audios and various other documents. The laptop is also equipped with 3,072 MB RAM which further speeds up the functionality. Additionally it is equipped with ATI Mobility Radeon HD3470 graphics card so that you can play all sorts of PC games. The networking can be done through Bluetooth, wireless-LAN and modem.

The Sony Vaio VGN-FW48E/H is fitted with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium. The Sony laptop is also equipped with a 0.3 megapixel camera so that you can video chat without connecting any external camera device. The laptop is also fitted with an amazing rechargeable battery that provides long battery backup and maintenance free long service life.

Hewlett-Packard Pavillion dv7-2110sa (VB336EAABU): 17 inch AMD Powered Notebook with Impressive Specs

Wilson — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:28:02 +0000

Hewlett Packard is one of the leading companies engaged in manufacturing a wide range of notebooks. The Hewlett-Packard Pavillion dv7-2110sa (VB336EAABU) is of the very famous HP Pavilion dv7 series. The laptop is manufactured using cutting edge technology and quality assured components that ensure hassle free long functioning life. The laptop is available in a stylish black colour that gives it a trendy and royal look. The laptop provides amazing speed and various other multitasking features.

The Hewlett-Packard Pavillion dv7-2110sa (VB336EAABU) is fitted with an AMD Turion 64 X2 RM 74 processor that provide optimum performance to the user. The clock speed of the laptop is 2,200 Mhz. Additionally it is fitted with 4,096 MB RAM that ensures amazing functionality. The RAM can be expanded up to 8 GB. The hard disk memory of the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion dv7-2110sa laptop is about 250 GB. The memory is more than enough to store the videos, audios and other documents as well. It is fitted with a 17.3 inch display that provides amazing picture quality. The resolution of the display is about WXGA++ (1600 x 900). It is also fitted with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD4530 graphics card that enables you to play al sorts of PC game.

It is available with various connection ports such as 4 x USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 Firewire (i.Link), ExpressCard. It also has a 5 in 1 card reader and an inbuilt webcam so that you can video chat. It also has various integrated security systems such as Kensington lock support and fingerprint reader.

HP HDX X16-1280: Stylish Entertainment Notebook with a Full HD Screen

Jenny — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:30:43 +0000

Coming from the house of Hewlett Packard any notebook is supposed to be decent looking, high performing, reliable and cost effective. HP HDX X16-1280 is just another of such laptops that to a great extent meets the expectations of the users.

HP has provided the HP HDX X16-1280 with Intel Core 2 Duo P8500 processor which runs on a clock speed of 2,000MHz which is quite promising and the actual performance is quite good too. The notebook comes preloaded with Windows Vista Home Premium which though is a good operating system yet requires more than the usual configurations especially in the context of physical memory. To ensure that users can have hassle free access the notebook has been provided with 4 GB of RAM.

In case you are a great fan of movies and music and want to keep them at a single place which you can carry along also then HP HDX X16-1280 is definitely for you. Its 400 GB hard drive offers you huge storage space for your favourites. What’s even better is its 16 inch screen that has Full HD display for giving you the best movie watching experience. Not just that with its high quality DVD writer you can burn customized collections of your movies and music too.

One of the most desirable features of any laptop is the connectivity options that it features. The HP Pavilion HDX notebook has most of the latest connectivity options including 4 USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth and IEEE Firewire links. Its HDMI output helps it stays ahead of others. With a competitive price, this is a worth buying notebook.

Samsung R522 (NP-R522-FA01UK): High-end Mid-sized Laptop in a Sumptuous Black

Jenny — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:16:12 +0000

With ample storage space, Samsung R522 (NP-R522-FA01UK) has a 320GB hard disk which will suffice for all your files, photos, music, documents, software and media. Its DVD Supermulti will ensure Samsung R522 FA01UK has everything you need. Its has Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition as its operating system which comes pre-installed. It also features built-in wireless networking that makes wireless communication easier. Powered by the 2GHz CPU Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the laptop is fast ans efficient and capable of multitasking and running several programmes at once and smoothly too. It also features Intel GMA X Series Video Chipset, which supports all graphical and video applications, thus allowing the user to watch the latest movies and also play games. The notebook from Samsung Electronics has an impressive 15.4 inch display screen with a resolution of 1366×768, which offers sharp and vivid images. The display screen has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and displays sharp and bright images and makes watching movies a visual delight.

The laptop has 4GB RAM and a hard disk space of 320GB and as its optical drive, it has SATA Interface. Equipped with a 3-in-1 card reader, the laptop has a glossy display screen and Intel GMA X Series as its graphics shipset. The Samsung R522 (NP-R522-FA01UK) also has 4 USB ports, an HDMi Port and a 1.3 mega pixel integrated web camera. Featuring 10/100/1000 Gigabit Internal LAN RJ-45 connector and Wireless LAN 802.11bg up to 54Mbps, the laptop comes with a warranty for one year. Designed to keep up with the latest technology and a busy, active lifestyle, the laptop’s screen is optimised for watching movies or playing games. Packed with the latest communications technology and many other features, the laptop is the perfect desktop replacement.

HP Pavilion dv6-1240sa: Excellent Combination of Style, Price and Power

Jenny — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:08:54 +0000

A perfect combination of price and performance, HP Pavilion dv6-1240sa is an elegant laptop that offers total, uncompromised entertainment in a truly portable experience. The HP laptop has a 15.6 inch widescreen which displays sharp and vivid images. A truly mobile laptop, it is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6500 that runs at a clock speed of 2.1GHz. The processor is fast and efficient and capable of running multiple programmes with ease. The laptop has Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium as its operating system, thus providing the user with a familiar working environment. The Hewlett Packard notebook has 4GB memory and a hard drive of 500GB, which offers ample space for all your files, photos, music, documents, software and media.

As its optical drive, the laptop has Lightscribe DVD RW and ATI Radeon HD 4530 as the graphics card that enable images to be displayed on the monitor. The graphics memory is 512MB and the laptop is equipped with 3D Sound Blaster Pro that allows users to have sound from the computer for games, movies and music. For enhanced connectivity, the HP Pavilion dv6-1240sa laptop has 4 USB connections that allow the computer to be connected to external devices like a modem, printer, scanner, digital camera or PDA. Wireless-enabled, the laptop has one Firewire Connection and an Infrared Port that allows the user to connect to other devices with help of Infrared. Other interfaces include Rj45 and HDMI. Running on lithium-ion battery, the laptop has a maximum battery life of two hours. Weighing 2.88kg, the laptop is lightweight and compact and extremely portable.

HP Compaq Presario CQ71-140EA: Sleek and High Powered 17.3 inch Notebook for a Reasonable Price

Jenny — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:44:37 +0000

Allowing quick and easy web access, the Hewlett Packard Compaq Presario CQ71-140EA has a range of essential features that make life easy. Ideal for home use as well as offices, the Compaq Presario CQ71 is updated with the latest technology. It combines essential features, an attractive design and high quality to ensure that the notebook is versatile and productive. Featuring a sleek and stylish design, the laptop has a large 17.3 inch BrightView display screen. The TFT screen has a resolution of 1600×900 and it displays sharp and vivid images. Also, the notebook features a unique Imprint design in a glossy black finish that elegantly blends style and function. Powered by Intel Pentium processor and 4GB RAM, the HP laptop is capable of running applications with ease. The user can also burn a DVD, download email and edit home movies all at the same time. Equipped with GMA 4500MHD graphics card, the laptop has a 250GB hard drive that allows you to store all your favourite movies and pictures.

A complete range of communication solutions in the laptop allows the user to stay in touch with friends and family and include a built-in Wireless LAN and a built-in web cam. Though the HP laptop does not have Bluetooth, it has an integrated web cam. It has Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic as its operating system that makes the notebook versatile and comfortable for the user. An easy-to-use notebook, the HP Compaq Presario CQ71-140EA allows the user to complete more tasks in less time. A full-size keyboard with numeric key pad and an LED display are other features of the notebook.