Where does your old notebook go when it falls off the table and starts humming?  How about that 6-month-old phone that just isn’t cool anymore? Let’s face it, eBay is often a dumping grounds for unwanted and abused technology. Here are a few tried and true tips to keep you from purchasing a lemon or receiving unwanted negative feedback.

1. Refer to feedback ratings AND comments.

Perhaps one of the best things that you can do as a potential buyer is research the person selling whatever item you cannot live without. A seller’s feedback is likely the best indicator of what you can expect in terms of the items description and the overall transaction. I don’t buy from anyone with feedback less than 95 percent, and even then it has to be a great deal. Granted, we can all deal with a disgruntled customer from time-to-time, but a seller’s feedback is usually a good indicator that you’re purchasing an item from a trustworthy individual.

Don’t just examine the number, make sure to review the actual comments. Sometimes folks will still give positive feedback, but leave nuggets of information about the transaction what they thought could’ve gone better.

2. List items honestly.

The truth really will set you free and save you a lot of headache. If your selling something that did fall to the floor, make sure to provide a full disclosure. Yes, this may prevent someone from buying your item, but it will save you the hassle of dealing with eBay’s resolution center folks. There have been instances where computers and electronics have been returned because they were not appropriately described. In the same token, as a buyer, be cautious buying something that the seller states is being sold “as-is.”

3. Only bid or buy on items that show the actual picture!

This seems like common sense, but some folks fall prey to the seller’s beautiful description in writing and low price rather than seeing the item with their own eyes. Stock images are usually pictures of these items when they are brand new. Good eBay sellers will make sure to include their own name on a piece of paper beside the item, or they will explicitly state that the actual item is pictured. Do not buy it if you have not seen it.

4. Double check for a return policy.

If it doesn’t have a return policy, don’t buy purchase the item. There is always the possibility that your item might not match your expectations, and you don’t want to be stuck with something you don’t want. A good seller will offer a flexible return policy with a reasonable timeframe. Of course, you’ll likely have to pay return shipping, but it beats being stuck with something you bought on a whim. A seller that offers a fair return policy is demonstrating that they stand behind their item.

5. Use eBay Buyer Requirements.

This must be one of the coolest things that I’ve seen as of late in the world of eBay. Sellers can now prevent some buyers from bidding on items based on certain criteria. For example, you can prevent people from bidding on your item if they don’t have a PayPal account or have a history of not paying for items they won. It’s a no-brainer to include buyer requirements, and it’s free.

Remember the old saying, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”

What eBay horror stories do you have?  Leave your own wisdom in the comments.

5 Tips for Buying and Selling on eBay is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

A good alarm clock can be identified by two simple features: 1) It should be easy to use and 2) It should be easy to set up.  iHome has a winner with it’s Model iP90 iPhone/iPod Clock Radio.  The iP90 is an attractive, easy to use, excellent sounding, dock-ready clock radio.  The iP90 packs a great sound and plenty of options in a small size.

It took less than 5 minutes to fully set the time, date, and alarm out of the box.  The iP90 has some really cool features such as wake or sleep to iPhone/iPod, weekday or weekend alarm settings, programmable snooze times, audio line-in, a button to sync the clocks time with that of your iPhone/iPod, a Daylight Savings Time preset button, and backlit control buttons.

My personal clock radio, an older iHome iH5, has functioned great since I purchased it four years ago.  It serves as a good example of how iHome’s products have evolved and improved in just a few years.  The little iH5 has decent sound and supports various iPod models.  Perhaps my only complaints of the older iH5 are that it has become difficult to increase or decrease the volume with the spinning volume button, and the sound really lacks bass.  This is not the case with the excellent sounding iP90.  Truly, I was surprised at the sound clarity and volume of the newer iP90.  I was expecting it to have a similar, high treble sound, but the iP90 has a much fuller sound.  The iP90 comes with bass, treble, 3D and balance controls for the tweaking your listening experience.  Unlike the iH5, I found it quite enjoyable to have the iP90 on for extended periods of time.  According to iHome, the speaker system is specially designed by Reson8® with speaker chambers that deliver astounding clarity, depth, and power.

My favorite aspect of iHome products is the ease at which they work.  The buttons are large and intuitive.  Directions are included, but once the you have the time and alarms set, you’ll likely never look at them again.  Two AA batteries can be installed on the bottom of the unit and keep backup power should the electricity go out.  A row of buttons on the back of the unit makes it easy to adjust the clock time and jump an hour ahead or behind for DST.  The included remote makes operation a breeze from across the room.  The iP90 also has several brightness settings.  Typically, I like having my clock radio on the lowest brightness so that the room stays nice and dark.  The iP90′s dimmest setting was low enough that it wasn’t distracting.

The iHome iP90 works with nearly every iPod/iPhone model made including:

• iPod mini 4/6GB
• iPod 4th Generation 20/40GB
• iPod 4th Generation Color 20/30/40/60GB
• iPod nano 1st Generation 1/2/4GB
• iPod 5th Generation Video 30/60/80GB
• iPod nano 2nd Generation 2/4/8GB
• iPod Classic 80/120/160GB
• iPod nano 3rd Generation
• iPod nano 4th Generation 8/16GB
• iPod Touch 1st & 2nd Generation 8/16/32/64GB
• iPhone/iPhone 3G/3GS
• iPod nano 5th Generation Video + Camera 8/16GB

It may be overkill, but I’d love to see a clock radio capable of supporting and docking with Apple’s iPad. Granted, the iPad can serve as a full-feature alarm clock on its own, but it would be excellent if it were teamed with an iHome clock radio.  The fact that my iPad is often used to read and surf before going to bed, the great sound of the iP90, and the benefit of having an easy charging station would make an iHome iPad docking station an automatic success.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see something such as this from the iHome folks in the future.

The iP90 can be purchased from various retailers at a MSRP of $99 USD.  You can see additional photos or learn more by visiting iHome’s site.

Check out additional pictures and a comparison of the iP90 to the iH5 below:

The iP90 on top and iH5 below.

Various iPod/iPhone dock adapters are included.

The iP90 with iPod.

iHome iP90 iPhone/iPod Clock Radio Makes Cowbell Sound Great is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

Last week my wife picked up a new Palm Pixi Plus as part of Verizon’s New Every Two upgrade plan. My wife visited the Verizon store to check out the phone offerings by herself so that I wouldn’t influence or persuade her decision. She wanted a phone that was easy to use, thin in design, included a key pad, and came with a data plan. She was tired of seeing me be the only one with Internet access on my phone.

I did offer some advice before her journey to Big Red. Despite Palm’s recent struggles to gain a strong foothold in the smartphone arena, I suggested she take a look at Verizon’s Palm Pixi Plus. A significant new selling point of the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus at Verizon is the included free mobile hotspot application. Essentially, anyone who purchases the Pre or Pixi at Verizon will also have the ability to convert their smartphone into a Wi-Fi hotspot. This is similar to Verizon’s Mi-Fi product, a wireless hotspot that taps into Verizon’s 3G network and costs $59.99 a month. Unlike the Mi-Fi, the Pixi Plus not only has the ability to share an Internet connection, it can also make phone calls. The mobile hotspot feature allows anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled device to share the smartphone’s data plan for free.

Josh Smith of Notebooks.com recently highlighted a few easy ways people can find mobile Internet for their iPad without the integrated 3G connection from AT&T. One of these ways, rooting an Android powered phone, is becoming a more common and popular method for folks to easily turn their own smartphones into mobile hotspots.

Rooting your phone essentially means that you have administrator control; it means you have the ability to execute certain commands and run programs which Verizon, Google, and other stakeholders would rather you not. There are a variety of sources available online to learn how to root your phone. A few such sites focused on Verizon’s Droid series of phones includes RootYourDroid.info, DroidMod.org, Droid-Life.com, and the numerous posts at DroidForums.net. The process does require a moderate amount of computer knowledge and there is the minimal risk of voiding your warranty and bricking your phone. Most people with the ability to follow directions can easily root and even unroot their smartphones in under 30 minutes.

The question is whether enabling Wi-Fi tethering is a violation of Verizon’s terms and what trouble you may face for rooting your smartphone and turning it into a mobile hotspot. Verizon and other carriers have stayed mum on this topic while rooting has taken off like wild fire. One reason they have remained quiet about this subject is that they lack the ability to appropriately police and control the situation. Smartphone forums are scattered with half-truth evidence of Verizon employees having the ability to tell when your phone is rooted and tethering is active. Other posts state the complete opposite, that Verizon has no ability to see when your phone is rooted or when you are tethering. Couple all of this with the fact that free applications such as PDANet, an app that shares your smartphone’s data plan via a wired connection, is available in the Android Market, and it’s easy to see how difficult it is to prevent consumers from sharing their data. Many of these apps or similar hacks are available for non-Android powered smartphones as well. Wireless carriers are losing their ability to restrict the programs that are running on consumers’ smartphones.

A recent posting at DroidForums.net states Verizon employees will soon be cracking down on rooted phones if they are brought into the store for service. The post also states that Verizon will begin canceling contracts and requiring subscribers pay the early termination fee (ETF) if they are caught using wireless tether. Like most information on the Internet, this posting is to be taken with a grain of salt.

Until Verizon and other mobile carriers speak up or crack down, it appears that the ability to prevent Wi-Fi tethering from rooted smartphones is uncontrollable. Of course, Big Red and the other wireless carriers do like the fact that there is fine print detailing what can happen if you go over the limit of your unlimited data plan. Wi-Fi tethering does seem to be free on all rootable smartphones for the time being. This may be one small victory in which wireless subscribers are able to triumph in a world of overpriced smartphone data plans. Wireless carriers may soon lose their grip on charging consumers for something that should be free anyways.

What are your thoughts on rooting your phone and enabling wireless tether capabilities?  Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below.

Free Wi-Fi Tethering Available for All Verizon Smartphones? is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 15 is a beast. The 15-inch machine is large when compared to most other notebook computers in its class. Reviewed in the glossy Heatwave Red, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge series is a powerful yet affordable line of notebooks for business professionals.

Impressions

When the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge arrived, I was surprised that it felt lighter than expected. Weighing in a 5.5 lbs, the 15-inch Edge is not exactly transportation friendly. Although easily portable for such a large notebook, this is not a computer that you’ll want to transport on a daily basis. The 15-inch Edge is best suited for professionals or computer enthusiasts who only occasionally travel. The 15-inch model will be most happy sitting in a desk where it can show off its vibrant LED and HD screen.

The biggest attraction to the 15-inch Edge other than its bright glossy finish is the beautiful large screen. The maximum resolution of the screen of the unit I reviewed was 1366×768, and the Matte finish was easy on the eyes. There was no trouble viewing the screen because of glares or reflection. This is the type of notebook that is often used for viewing media, reading, creating presentations and other tasks that utilize additional screen real estate. The various ports including HDMI allow for the Edge to output presentations or videos to various sources such as an HDTV or projector.

The battery of this device is also much smaller than expected. A quick snapping into place gets the 15-inch Edge ready to go. Battery life seemed to fluctuate for a few minutes after the machine first booted. With 96 percent on the battery during my first boot, the indicator went back-and-forth between 2 hours and 50 minutes to a little over 4 hours and 30 minutes. After getting all processes started, the battery life icon showed about 4 hours and 40 minutes and then slowly decreased with standard usage. It appeared that battery life is somewhere around the stated 4.5 hours of use. The lack of battery life over 5 hours is yet another reason the 15-inch Lenovo would likely be most happy sitting on your desk and plugged into the wall.

Design

The Heatwave Red finish of the 15-inch model I reviewed was certainly vibrant and attention getting. I’m not sure it is the best suitable color for a business focused notebook, but it will definitely stand out in a crowd and provide you with a little pizazz. True to Lenovo form, the ThinkPad Edge features a large, comfortable, spill-resistant keyboard. In fact, the Lenovo keyboard is so large that it may take some practice. The keyboard has a classic feel with good key travel. The trackpad is adequate size with two additional buttons above and below the sensor. The ever popular and traditional ThinkPad pointer stick can be found in the middle of the keyboard. The multitouch trackpad offers easy and simple two finger scrolling. Unlike other notebooks I have used in the past, I experienced no problems zipping through webpages with two fingers.

The plastic shell of the notebook feels like a budget level or entry notebook. There are certain areas where the plastic would flex under moderate pressure, mostly around the built-in DVD drive. There were no structural flaws or real problems with the case design, but it didn’t feel as sturdy as other aluminum or well-built plastic notebooks.

ThinkPad Edge 15-inch Specs

• Up to Intel Core i3 330M Processor at 2.12 GHz
• 15.6″ LED, HD Widescreen Display
• Up to 4.5 hours of battery life
• Starting weight of 5.5 lbs
• 4 USB ports, including 1 powered and 1 USB/eSATA combo
• 7-in-1 card reader
• Includes built in DVD
• Multitouch trackpad for easy scrolling
• Optional integrated fingerprint reader
• Built in webcam for video conferencing
• Windows 7 Professional

The Windows 7 Experience Index score came in at a respectable 4.0. Windows 7 provided an expected user experience and the additional tweaks such as Wi-Fi management that Lenovo provided was helpful. The fan did seem to come on somewhat often and was noticeably loud in a quiet room. Something else that was loud were the speakers. Mounted directly under the screen, the 15-inch ThinkPad Edge was able to put out a pretty loud tune for the small area it is given. Like most notebooks, there wasn’t much bass, but I was pleased with the overall volume produced from the speakers.

The 15-inch Edge is similar to other business oriented, affordable computers available on the market, but it is a solid brand that is available at a reasonable price. Coupled with Windows 7, the 15-inch Edge will meet the needs of not only business professionals, but people seeking a reliable notebook. The ThinkPad series is a respected, powerful line of notebooks with a strong reputation of being quality products. Below are a few pros and cons I discovered while using the 15-inch Edge.

Pros

• Comfortable keyboard with multitouch trackpad
• Screen size and matte finish
• Speakers produce pretty good sound considering size
• Affordable

Cons

• Weak battery life
• Flimsy plastic feel
• Glossy case attracts a lot of fingerprints
• Overall size and weight

For the price, currently on sale at Lenovo for $649 USD, the 15-inch ThinkPad Edge is an affordable, full featured notebook computer. Many may find the 15-inch model suitable as a desktop replacement with the added bonus of being portable if necessary. Look to Lenovo’s 13-inch ThinkPad Edge if you’d like a similarly designed notebook in a more portable package.

Lenovo offers the ThinkPad Edge in 13″ and 14″ models with various configurations. Check out this Notebooks.com review to learn more about the 13-inch ThinkPad Edge and how it might suit your needs.

This video teaser from Lenovo highlights the finer points of the ThinkPad Edge series.

The dot of the i in "ThinkPad" pulses when the notebook sleeps.

The Heatwave Red Edge.

Full shot of the keyboard.

Trackpad with buttons above and below.

Left side of the Edge and various ports.

The 15-inch screen is visible in the shade, outdoors.

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 15: Reviewed in Heatwave Red is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

The netbook is now officially dead— at least to me.

Since purchasing the iPad, I have used it more than any other electronic device in my home. This is a typical occurrence for folks who love technology and buy something new. Unlike the iPad, my previous netbooks were used intensely for a few days before I quickly gravitated back to my MacBook Pro for a full notebook experience. This has yet to happen with the iPad. When I want to create material, I use my notebook. I grab the iPad when I want to consume media, view entertainment, or play games.

Before the iPad was announced, there were many arguments that stated there was no need or market demand for yet another Internet connected device that does everything a computer can currently handle. This is true of most folks; most people that already have a computer do not need an iPad, a netbook, or any additional Internet-enabled device. However, after using the iPad, I do believe that a secondary tablet will have a bright future. My experience with netbooks has been that they do everything a notebook does, but they do it much worse. They are slower, have smaller screens, and even the best designed keyboards are still too tiny. As a secondary device, the netbook offers nothing new. What can it do that my notebook can’t?

The netbook evolution has been the third stage of development for the modern PC. This evolution started with the desktop, evolved into the notebook or laptop, and has morphed into the netbook. Driven largely by the One Latop Per Child’s $100 laptop initiative, the rise of netbook popularity is one of the most under appreciated big things to happen in the world of technology in the past five years. Where else could you purchase a fully functional portable computer with over four hours of battery life for under six hundred dollars? Schools, students, hobbyists, and first-time computer users are finally able to buy an ultra-portable computer thanks to the ultra-affordable netbook. The netbook boom highlights the importance of the Intel Atom processor and shows yet again how Intel continues to be a major contributor to the evolving world of computing.

You have read many other opinions that the netbook actually died a few months ago, or some die-hards disagree and continue to live, eat, breath, and sleep netbooks. The netbook’s portability certainly won’t be disappearing, but the way we understand it as an underpowered device will. Improvements in power, keyboard ergonomics, screen size and the consumer demand for HD content will put an end to the netbooks which literally shake and stutter when threatened with an HD video.

What does the iPad offer that the netbook cannot? The answer is in the it’s design. I have been using my iPad all over the place. It has followed me from room to room, sitting on the kitchen counter, on the couch, the bed, and even the bathroom. Sure, a netbook can do this too, but the iPad simply does it better. The screen is bright and crisp, the sound is better than any netbook I’ve used, and I have yet the get the battery below 20 percent. There is never an annoying fan sound, it doesn’t get hot, and the slate design fits my hands like a book.

I do agree that there is an argument to be had between what can be accomplished and created with and iPad versus a netbook, but the iPad wins as a secondary or complementary device. It also wins as a media consumption device. Perhaps I have fallen victim to the Jobsian philosophy that the netbook is a vile, under-powered computer with no place in existence. Spend a few hours with an iPad and you will likely adopt that philosophy as well.

Follow all of our iPad coverage here at Notebooks.com and our sister site, GottaBeMobile.com.

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iPad vs. Netbook is an Easy Answer is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

I had no concrete plans of purchasing an iPad until I spent a few minutes playing with one. It literally took just a few minutes of touching Apple’s new tablet computer before I gave in to temptation and asked the Best Buy employee how many were left in stock. The quick, beautiful interface and responsive touchscreen keyboard helped seal the deal.

I managed to snag my iPad from the Best Buy in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The store didn’t open until 10:00 a.m. and I expected they would quickly sell out. I arrived near noon, and to my surprise the Best Buy associate informed me he had a few of each model in stock, but they were going fast. The receipt checker who stands by the door said there had been a steady flow of people coming in throughout the morning to purchase iPads. After playing with the iPad for a full day, here are the answers to a few questions I had before buying.

How good is the touchscreen keyboard?

I had serious doubts about how well Apple could design a workable, touchscreen keyboard. You won’t want to use the iPad to type a graduate school thesis, but it works for plugging in a URL, pounding out a quick email, or doing a little social networking. The iPad’s keyboard is large enough that I can pretty comfortably type with two fingers on each hand. It will definitely get some taking used to, and you will be better equipped to type on the iPad’s keyboard if you’ve had experience typing on an iPhone or similar smartphone screen. I’m finding it best to thumb-type in portrait mode, and use two fingers when in landscape. With fairly large hands, I’m able to use the device without too much complaint.

How is the speaker/audio output?

Another surprise with the iPad that the speaker is louder and clearer than I expected. I was picturing something dull and high-pitched. While watching an episode of ABC’s Modern Family last night with my wife, we were both happy with the volume and sound produced by the iPad’s speaker. You shouldn’t expect it to be your main sound system, but the speaker isn’t bad for watching a video or listening to a few songs.

How is the screen/overall design?

The screen is plenty big for the device. I was worried that the black bezel would distract from the picture, or make the screen seem smaller. In fact, the black area surrounding the iPad’s screen provides the perfect non-touch area to hold the iPad with your fingers. Like most Apple products, the screen is bright and colors are vivid.

The iPad does become heavy over an extended period of time. The sharp edges are not helpful when holding the device. I eventually plan to purchase the iPad case which also allows the tablet to be conveniently propped up.

What about battery life?

I’ve used the iPad for a few days and been very satisfied with battery life. The stated 10 hour battery life is completely believable.  Yesterday I viewed a full episode of a television show, surfed for a few hours, and wasn’t able to get the iPad’s battery life to under 50 percent.  The iPad was in my bag all day while I was at work and remained at 100 percent when I pulled it out to use.  Thus far, I have been not been disappointed with the iPad’s battery life.

The true success of the iPad will come when people unfamiliar or uncomfortable with technology get an iPad in their hands. For example, my 90 year old grandmother had her first enjoyable iPad experience. My grandmother has never used a computer and knows very little about the Internet. She was puzzled at how I had gotten pictures on the iPad after only owning it for a day. Her interactions were limited, but she was taken back at how speedily pictures appeared and how it was possible to zoom in and show detail. The iPad is a device which will invite a new generation of folks to computing and the Internet.

You may not be an Apple fan, you may be holding out for an alternative tablet computer, or you may think there isn’t a need for yet another electronic device in your repertoire. Despite whatever you think, one thing is certain. The iPad will change how all people interact with and touch technology in the future.

Follow all of our iPad coverage here at Notebooks.com and our sister site, GottaBeMobile.com.

The iPad and Grandma is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

Seeing the cow inspired Gateway box outside my front door took me back because I hadn’t had much hands on time with any Gateway models for a few years.  The last Gateway machine to grace my presence was an older Gateway M350 with a Pentium 4 processor and 512 MB Ram.  It was a solid computer but found its way to eBay when the LCD backlight went out because of a slight bump.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Gateway as their reputation has suffered quite a bit in the past few years.  Would this be another dull, uninspiring copy-cat notebook, or would they deliver something fresh and invigorating?  What I have found in the EC1437u is something in between, but certainly a breath of fresh air from the Gateway folks.  Since being acquired by Acer, Gateway has been producing quality products at reasonable prices.

The EC1437u is a nice compromise machine.  Spend a few hundred more and you’re into the premium notebook market, spend a few hundred less and you’re floating among the budget friendly yet limited netbooks.  This Gateway offers a few premium features in a better than average netbook design.

Gateway EC1437u Specifications

• Intel® Pentium® Processor SU4100 (1.3GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit Packaging and Documentation
• 11.6″ HD Widescreen Ultrabrightâ„¢ LED-backlit Display
• Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 3072MB DDR2 667MHz Memory
• 6-Cell Li-Ion (5600mAh) Battery
• 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive AC Power Adapter
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader AC Power Cord
• Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIEDâ„¢
• 3 – USB 2.0 Ports Setup Poster
• 1 – HDMIâ„¢ Port Getting Started Guide
• Integrated Webcam Non-Microsoft® EULA
• Dolby Sound Room® Audio Enhancement 3
• Two Built-in Stereo Speakers COA Label for Microsoft® Installed software
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad Norton Internet Securityâ„¢ 2009 Trial
• Full-Size Keyboard
• 6-Cell Li-Ion (5600mAh) Battery; up to 7-hour battery life
• 3.08 pounds
• Cherry Red chassis
• MSRP: $549.99

The EC1437 is an attractive notebook.  I was surprised by its good looks when I pulled it from the box.  The bright, cherry finish pops and the overall form factor is light yet does not compromise on function.  The first thing I noticed about this notebook was it’s sharp keyboard.  The keyboard reminds me of a MacBook although the keys are a little closer together.  Unlike a smaller netbook, there have been no compromises made with the keyboard.  Spending a lot of time typing on this machine would be comfortable and not make you wish for a larger keyboard.

The multi-gesture trackpad is sunken into the palm rest and works well, but it is too small.  There are two individual buttons below the trackpad rather than one button or a rocker.  A small LED indicator panel sits on the left palm rest and shows typical things such as Wi-Fi status, hard drive activity, and power .

The premium features that set this Gateway notebook apart from its netbook kin are that it comes with 3 GB of DDR2 installed memory, 64 Bit Windows 7 Premium, a large 320 GB HDD, Draft-N Wireless capabilities, and larger 11.6 LCD screen.  These options along with the thin design and good battery life make the Gateway EC1437u an excellent mobile companion.

Performance of this notebook was good, but it did sometimes seem a bit overwhelmed when watching HD media.  The Windows Experience Index test resulted with a base score of 3.2.  The Windows Experience Index provides scores for the different components of a computer on a scale of 1.0 to 7.9.  The highest individual score was the hard disk drive transfer rate which earned a 5.8, and the lowest score was a tie between graphics desktop performance and graphics gaming at 3.2.  The average user won’t notice any issues viewing media, but you will not want this notebook to serve as your primary gaming or multimedia machine.

Pro

• Great keyboard
• Screen size is excellent (currently 1366×768)
• Stated 8 hour battery life
• Small form-factor/design
• HDMI and VGA ports

Con

• Trackpad could be a tad larger
• No optical drive (may impact novice users)
• Glossy screen and case attract fingerprints/glares
• Pricing may tempt consumers to pay more for high-end notebook

The Gateway EC1437u is a solid mobile notebook.  For the price, it delivers moderate performance in a sleek package.  The complaints I found were really rather small and plaque most notebooks.  Due to the video out options (VGA & HDMI), this would be a great notebook for mobile professionals or students that often have many presentations.  It’s nice to see Gateway producing such an attractive product at a reasonable price.

Additional Photos

Size comparison against MacBook Pro 13"

Glossy case reflects and attracts fingerprints

VGA, Power, HDMI, and USB Ports

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Gateway EC1437u Review: Solid Mobile Companion is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

I’ve owned my current MacBook Pro 13″ since July and still have little to complain about.  My previous review provided a nice, general overview of the popular notebook.  In the few short months that I’ve owned my MacBook Pro my only issue thus far would be with the fading keys.

When I say that the keys are fading I must be clear in stating that the key lettering is not at fault.  In fact, it appears that the keys are colored from behind so that light from the illuminated keyboard can clearly identify the individual keys.  The issue is with the glossy texture changes which quickly appear on frequently used keys.  This is a very small complaint in a world of poorly designed and manufactured notebooks, but a computer that costs over $1000 should have keys which retain their newness for more than three months of use.

The images below clearly show my MacBook Pro’s frequently used spacebar and the glossy sheen it has developed on the left side, where my thumb often makes contact.  I am a particularly clean person, I don’t type with dirty or greasy hands, and I seldom even eat food while at the computer.  I usually go above and beyond to procure that my gadgets retain their like-new look.

The same glossy wear can be found in the pictures of my wife’s MacBook Core 2 Duo below.  Although the keys are white, they still suffer from the same buffed appearance.  The brightness of the light is captured in the gloss.

Anyone else dealing with the gloss monster on your MacBook products?

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MacBook Pro Complaint: The Gloss Monster is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

You don’t have to wait for the rumored Apple Tablet to have your very own inkable Mac.  About a year ago, I ran across a stylus created for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch called the Pogo Stylus from Ten One Designs.  The device was a simple stylus with a special tip that enabled it to work with the iPhone/iTouch’s capacitive touch screen.  Now they’re back with an upgraded and improved Pogo Sketch stylus.

When I first heard of a stylus for the iPhone, I thought it was a joke.  Little did I know that the folks from Ten One Design weren’t comedians.  I was impressed with the Pogo Stylus and found it to be a truly useful product.

The Pogo Sketch is overall the same in basic design and functionality.  The stylus is a pen-like, aluminum shaft with what appears to be the same special tip as the original.  The Pogo Sketch is longer than the original Pogo Stylus and easily rests in your hand as though it is a real ink pen.

The Pogo Sketch does have a learning curve and it’s not as flawless as using a true Tablet PC device.  It’s perfect for obtaining signatures or small notes, but don’t expect to use it for penning your next novel.  Depending on your trackpad settings, some may have to slant the Pogo Sketch a tad more upright than their used to writing with a traditional stylus or pen.  After tweaking my trackpad sensitivity and settings, I was able to become comfortable using the Pogo Sketch to edit a few photos.

MacBook Pro owners that have the multi-touch enabled trackpads are able to use the Pogo Sketch as a writing instrument.  The MacBook Pro’s larger trackpad with no button allows users to go from corner to corner, edit images with detail, take notes, and electronically sign documents all for a mere $14.95 USD.  Watch my review of the Pogo Sketch below or check out my first encounter with the Pogo Stylus.

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MacBook Pro is the Apple Tablet: Pogo Sketch Review is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.

I’ve got a confession.  A little over a month after I swore off netbooks for one computer, my MacBook Pro, I found a rare deal that couldn’t be passed.

I happened to hear a little bird on Twitter, the Dell Factory Outlet, who regularly sends out coupons for many of their numerous refurbished, scratch and dent, and previously ordered products.  As I have written before, the advantages of buying factory refurbished items can often save you hundreds of dollars.  I rarely purchase an electronic item from a major manufacturer that isn’t refurbished.  Refurbished products are factory inspected, fully tested, and come with equal warranties to new products.

The 15% off coupon that was released on Twitter was for the Dell Mini 10/10v series netbooks.  After doing a little research, I found that the 15% off coupon dropped the regularly priced $249 Mini 10v to a ridiculously priced $211.  The unit I purchased is cast from the traditional netbook mold.

Dell Mini 10v Specs:

• 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor
• 160 GB Hard Disk
• 1 GB RAM
• 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
• 10.1″ LED backlit glossy screen
• 92% full size keyboard
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi capabilities
• Multi-card Reader

The Good

Keyboard:

The keyboard of this netbook is one of the best I’ve used.  I can easily and quickly touch-type.  It simply does not feel like typing on a stereotypical netbook keyboard.  Unlike some netbooks, the keys are appropriately placed for my hands.  The flex of the keyboard is minimal, although some might feel that the keys have a longer travel than a similar Asus Eee PC 1000H series netbook.  The keys are wider than those found on the chiclet-styled Asus netbooks.

Screen Size:

I believe that anything less than a 10.1″ screen is a deal breaker when it comes to a netbook.  My first Eee PC was the 701 which featured a miniscule 7″ screen.  There is plenty of screen real estate to work with Microsoft Office documents, watching videos, or even creating a small PowerPoint presentation.  Going from the Mini to my MacBook Pro at the end of the day does feel as though I’m working with a 32″ monitor, but the Mini 10v has enough size to get the job done.

Battery Life:

I am easily able to get 6 hours out of a full charge with the Mini 10v’s 6-cell battery.  I prefer the 6-cell battery not only for its longer provided computing time, but because it slants the keyboard at a comfortable angle as well.  It also makes a nice handle when moving it around from desk to desk.  While the Mini 10v is fan-less and this may slightly promote increased battery life, it definitely makes for a very quiet computing experience.

Power Adapter:

The power adapter of the Mini 10v is one unit; there is no brick between two wires.  I love the design as it’s easy to grab and go.  It conserves space in my bag and is easy to wrap if I’m in a hurry.  The adapter is a little on the large size when compared to a cell phone power adapter, but the over all portability makes it perfect for a netbook.

Video Out: VGA

One of the major differences between the Dell Mini 10 and the Mini 10v is that the 10v has a VGA out, while the Dell Mini 10 has an HDMI port.  The VGA port is more functional for what I will be using the Mini 10v for, primarily for classroom presentations.  Most LCD projectors still rely on VGA as the default video connection.  My HDTV also contains VGA in so I’m still able to connect it to my HDTV to watch videos.

The Bad

Trackpad:

The trackpad on the Dell Mini 10/10v is goofy to say the least.  The entire trackpad mimics that of the new MacBook Pro in that the entire pad is touch sensitive, including the buttons.  The Mini 10v does have two specific regions for the left and right click, but even they are touch-sensitive.  Problems sometime arise when trying to click as the cursor can jump off target.  It takes some getting used to, but it continues to be slightly annoying.

Glossy Screen & Case:

The 1024×600 screen of the Dell Mini 10v doesn’t seem as crisp as other devices that I’ve used.  Again, it’s certainly no deal breaker, but the colors don’t pop as I’ve experienced with the Asus 1000HE.  I imagine that the color settings can be modified, but the default setup feels a little bland.

I’m also not a huge fan of glossy screens, especially since these devices often find themselves being used outdoors.  The screen is very reflective as seen in the pictures.  I often have to move the screen up or down so that there isn’t a huge glare.

The case itself is very glossy.  The top of the lid can be a fingerprint magnet, although it does not seem as bad as the Asus Eee PC 1000HE.  A simple swipe with a cleaning cloth and the problem is resolved.

It’s a Netbook:

Keep in mind that the Dell Mini 10v is not a full-fledged, powerhouse notebook.  It has the same limitations in processing power and functionality as other netbooks, but it’s perfect for basic tasks.  You’re not going to be doing any video editing, heavy Photoshop creating, or intense gaming, but the 10v will easily handle a few YouTube videos, Hulu, and your social networking.  My parents were so impressed with my Mini 10v that they purchased one a week later without the 15% coupon.  A netbook such as this meets all of their computer needs and doesn’t put a dent in the wallet.  Their 3-cell version was around $259.

Of the several netbooks I’ve owned, I am most satisfied with the Dell Mini 10v.  Perhaps the only thing missing on this netbook that I’d like to have is Bluetooth, but at $211 the lack of Bluetooth wasn’t enough to prevent me from purchasing.  Unlike the others that found their way to eBay, I’m certain that the 10v will have a long life in my household for years to come.  I don’t rescind my previous argument that the MacBook Pro is all I need.  Netbooks are still underpowered, largely overpriced, and quickly obsolete, but who wouldn’t grab one of these for $211?

Additional Pictures:

The 6-cell battery makes a nice handle.

The Dell Mini 10v

The right side of the 10v has VGA out, audio in/out, USB 2.0, and ethernet.

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Dell Mini 10v Review: I Believe in Netbooks Again is a post by Matthew Dillon from Notebooks.com.