The 16″ AOC e1649Fwu Portable USB Monitor isn’t a groundbreaking technology or even the best quality external monitor you can buy for your laptop, but the mixture of value, simplicity and weight make it a decent option for anyone who wants dual displays on the road, as long as you’re very careful with it and you can overlook some significant problems.

I tote around a 13.3″ MacBook Air and occasionally a 14″ Samsung Series 3 notebook. Both computers offer decent screen real estate for simple tasks, but I miss my larger display attached to my computer at home. You can use your iPad with something like AirDisplay, but I also like to have my iPad free for other tasks while using two monitors for a total of three.

With two displays I open two or three windows research for writing, which takes about 75% of my computing time. Adding this light 16″ USB powered monitor to my computer bag makes me more productive as I’m out and about while only adding a couple of pounds.

The AOC monitor has some flaws, which I hope they will address with a refresh, like display image quality and a couple of strange hardware choices.

Display Quality

The 16″ e1649Fwu AOC Portable USB Monitor display quality won’t wow anyone. Images seem soft and text looks slightly dull. Before I updated the driver text looked washed out. Compared to my laptop displays I noticed a big drop in quality. Like nearly every other laptop and even desktop monitor the AOC uses a glossy screen. The AOC screen almost looks like a mirror in bright settings when you’re viewing dark images or interfaces. It’s more glossy than most.

You’re not going to use the monitor for Netflix or other DRM protected video because it’s not HDCP compliant. That means you’ll get the following error after you press play.

I don’t often watch DRM video on a second monitor while I’m using my laptop, so that wasn’t a problem for me. I see the AOC as a business tool. If you planned to watch video on an external display then don’t get this one.

Build Quality & Design

The AOC Portable USB Monitor is light and feels flimsy. When you carry around a product you hope it will hold up to the rigors of a mobile life. If you don’t drop it, you should be alright so long as you protect it in a padded computer bag. That’s what I did and had no problems, until my bag unexpectedly opened and it fell out display side down. The display died leaving a mess when you turn it on (see below).

I dropped the screen when my laptop bag opened unexpectedly and this was the result

I don’t fault AOC entirely for this. They didn’t drop my monitor. However, if it had some protection on the screen maybe it would have held up better. A plastic cover over it or a case around it, like a screen I’ve seen from Toshiba might have helped.

Before I dropped it, putting the screen in my bag uncovered made me nervous. I had no problems since I put it in my bag so that the screen side of the AOC faced my laptop giving it some protection. I’m careful not to put anything with sharp points in that pocket. I still wish it had a cover to protect the screen.

AOC curved the back of the display to give it a sturdy form factor so it won’t bend easily. Its thicker than my laptops. I feels like it’s probably hollow inside the curved back, which give it strength and holds the leg that props the display.

The leg flips out on the back of the display and recesses into the back so that it won’t snag as you pull it out of your bag. It flips out to prop the monitor and the leg rotates so it can hold the display in either portrait or landscape mode. The leg connects to a round disc recessed into the back of the display. It doesn’t rotate easily, a good thing while you use the display but a pain when you’re trying to turn it to move between portrait and landscape mode. You have to use some force to turn it.

AOC provided a USB cable with a mini connector on one side, which you plug in to the display unit. The other end offers full-sized dual USB connectors so you can plug it into a computer. I only need to plug in one USB connector since my MacBook provides enough juice to power the display. The secondary connector plugs into machines that don’t have enough power using one connector. If you’re laptop can’t power it using one connector and only offers one USB port per side, you’ll need an extension cable to make it work.

I hate where the mini-USB connector plugs into the back of the AOC. You flip out the leg and it plugs into the back where the leg would be when it’s not flipped out to support the monitor. I struggled to connect it in this awkward place because of the lack of space in that recessed location. I wish it connected along one of the edges that not resting on the table in either portrait or landscape mode.

To get the e1649Fwu to work in portrait mode on a Mac running Lion you need an updated driver

One thing to remember. Since your computer powers the monitor it drains the battery faster. This morning my MacBook Air drained from 100% to 40% in half the time it normally takes.

Setup

You will need driver software to run the display on most machines. Be sure to download the latest driver from DisplayLink, which makes the software. The drivers that came with the monitor don’t work properly on the latest build of Mac OS X 10.7.3 Lion or Windows 8.

In OS X 10.7, the display won’t rotate into portrait mode properly with the included drivers. For users of Windows 7 the included drivers work fine, but I’m running Windows 8 now so I had to get the update.

Once you install the alpha drivers from DisplayLink, you can plug the display into your computer and it should immediately connect in any environment. Windows handles screen rotation well. Just open the display properties in the computer’s Device Manager. To access the rotation setting in OS X Lion, hold down the COMMAND+OPTION key. Click on System Preferences and Displays while still holding the keys down. You’ll see the Rotation drop down box. Rotate 270 degrees to make it work.

Without the updated drivers, you’re Mac will show a Blue screen and the e1649Fwu display will be black. You get higher quality text with the updated drivers too.

Value and Recommendation

Despite the weaknesses, its nice to have a second display connected on the road. At only $150 you can’t expect too much. I really like the added screen space, so I willingly compromised on the display quality issues and the awkward USB connector. It’s good enough to keep your Twitter client and a chat client live as you work. You can watch a video podcast or keep your music player open and viewable. The wide-screen format makes it great for keeping a couple small windows open. I put my Bible software on it as I write my sermons.

The lack of screen protection worries me. I’m really interested to compare this portable USB monitor to the one I saw from Toshiba with 14-inch USB Mobile LCD Monitor with Matte Finish. It costs a little more but seems to solve a couple of the problems that I discovered with the AOC. It has a matte finish, which won’t reflect as much in bright light. It places the USB connector along the side and comes with a case to protect it. It’s also thinner.

If you can get one for close to the $100 price (Amazon has it for $114) and don’t mind the weaknesses, then I recommend you give it a try if your retailer has a good return policy. Otherwise take a look at the Toshiba mentioned previously. I hope to get one of those in for testing soon.

16″ AOC e1649Fwu Portable USB Monitor Review: Light and Cheap 2nd Screen is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition adds Beats Audio to the portable dm4 14-inch notebook frame, but that’s not all that sets this special edition apart from the average dm4.

HP packs in a flash hard drive for faster resume from sleep, a high-resolution matte display that is easy to use outdoors and a beautiful black finish.

Who is the Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition for?

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition is a good fit for students and consumers looking for a portable stylish notebook. The high-resolution display is enormously helpful in comparing several documents or working in multiple windows at the same time, and thanks to the matte finish it is perfect for working from the park. Users listening for better sound form a notebook will enjoy Beats Audio paired with a decent pair of headphones.

Design

The dm4 Beats edition has a striking black and red design looks great, and the notebook is slim enough to go to class or to the cafe without a second thought.

The black metal lid adds to the overall durability of the notebook, but it attracts fingerprints and smudges quite easily. The big red Beats Logo dominates the lid so everyone around knows your computer has Beats Audio.

The notebook exhibits little flex around the corners and on the display, thanks to the metal lid. There is some flex on the middle of the notebook and in the keyboard, but overall the dm4 Beats edition feels sturdy.

Keyboard and Touchpad

For everything HP got right, the keyboard isn’t on the list. The keyboard is incredibly mushy, especially on the left side of the notebook. Combine this with flat keys and we have the makings for many typos.

The dm4 keyboard does offer good key spacing and placement, though the split arrow keys cause some errant cursor movement. The keyboard has red backlighting that looks great and makes it easier to work in low light conditions.

The touchpad on the dm4 Beats Edition is surprisingly good. I experienced no palm movement while typing long documents like this review. Users who prefer external mice will appreciate the ability to turn off the touchpad with a double tap in the upper left.

The touchpad was accurate and the smooth finish provides an excellent mousing surface. Two finger scrolling  was smooth even in troublesome text boxes.  I wish every Windows notebook mousepad was this good.

Display

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition uses a 1600 x 900 resolution 14-inch display with a matte finish that is amazing.

It’s tough to find a high-resolution display on a 14-inch consumer notebook, let alone one with a matte finish and a $800 price.

The 1600 x 900 resolution display is perfect for working on two documents side by side or surfing the web, controlling music and chatting without switching between windows.

Thanks to the matte display the dm4 Beats Edition is easy to use outdoors, even in the bright sun. I wrote this review on my patio in direct sunlight. I would prefer a slightly brighter display but the display was easy enough to see in the sun.

Features

Beats Audio – Beats Audio delivers higher quality notebook audio with 2 speakers and a subwoofer, and shines with headphones.

HP Launch Box – HP bundles a number of commonly used apps into a single Windows 7 Taskbar shortcut box.

HP SimplePass – Easily log into websites with a swipe of a finger or fast switch between different users.

HD Webcam – The TrueVision webcam delivers better than average images for Skype and Google Hangouts.

HP Premier Experience – Like the Lenovo Enhanced Experience, the HP Premier Experience includes a number of user experience improvements, highlighted in the video below.

Performance and Graphics

HP didn’t skimp on the Beats edition of the dm4, which ships with a 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB RAM and a spacious tk hard drive that gets a boost in speed thanks to a small flash cache. This makes the notebook resume from sleep faster and provides other speed enhancements without the need for a small and expensive flash drive.

When it comes to working in multiple apps and listening to music or watching streaming video from Netflix or Hulu there was no slowing down.

The Integrated Intel graphics and 2.5GHz processor deliver enough power to use apps like Photoshop Elements and do light movie editing before sharing clips on YouTube.

The notebook uses integrated graphics, which limits the gaming potential, but doesn’t rule out gaming on the go. I wouldn’t suggest playing the latest Call of Duty games, but casual flash games and games like Portal 2 are perfectly suited for the dm4 Beats Edition.

Audio

The Beats Audio sounds good on the dm4′s speakers, but the audio really sparkles when paired with a good pair of headphones.

Listening to a bit of everything from Van Halen’s Hot for Teacher and Foster the People’s Pumped Up Kicks to Bruno Mars’ Lighters and a bit of Frank Sinatra was a delight with Beats Audio and my Nox Audio Scout headphones.

No matter which genre I’m listening to I was impressed with the clear audio. From the crisp sound of drums on Hot for Teacher to the floating piano and bass of Lighters it was clear that Beats Audio delivers a better audio experience than the average notebook and most gadgets for that matter.

Even with the volume at 60% music was loud enough to drown out any surrounding noises and deliver a great listening experience.

HP explains Beats Audio in the video below:

I’m not going to pretend to be an audiophile, but I love it when music sounds good and that’s an area where the dm4 Beats edition delivers.

Battery Life

I tested the HP Pavilion dm4 beats edition with the Laptop Magazine battery test, which simulates web browsing with the screen set at 40% and the notebook lasted 5 hours and 52 minutes.

Even under a full load, with the screen at full brightness, multiple Chrome Windows open and music at full blast the Pavilion dm4 lasted a respectable 4 hours. That’s great considering I paid no attention to activities that drain the battery.

The Bottom Line

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition delivers great sound and performance with an elegant design.

Despite the keyboard issues and integrated graphics performance the HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition offers a lot of value.

The HP software extras and great price combine to offer a wonderful package.

Gallery

Specs

HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

It’s hard to find the perfect bag or backpack, but even harder to find a bag that adjusts to carry a different set of gadgets and gear every day.

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag can do just that, slimming down when I need to carry just a notebook, and expanding when I need to carry two notebooks, two tablets and a DSLR.

For the past 6 months I’ve abused the Tom Bihn Brain Bag from Detroit to Denver and through a long week in Vegas covering CES 2012.

I’m impressed with the versatility and the durability of the Brain Bag. Because I can grow and shrink the bag to fit my needs for that day it is my go-to bag.

Tom Bihn Brain Bag

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag has room for 2 Brain Cell notebook cases. These light, but durable cases lock into the compartment to offer a higher level of protection that can easily be removed to double as a stand alone bag.

Tom Bihn sent over one Vertical Brain Cell with the Brain Bag, and it is a perfectly sized for the MacBook Air. Larger sizes are available for almost any notebook. The Vertical Brain Cell is $60.

Brain Cell inside Tom Bihn Brain Bag.

I like that this is a separate part of the bag, and that it provides protection on the base of the bag, a place where many bags skimp.

I often kept my MacBook Air in this spot, and in a pinch kept my iPad in between this and the remaining room.

Tom Bihn Freudian Slip

The next large section can hold a Brain Cell, but I used the Fredian Slip here to keep odds and ends and paper. The large pockets on the back of the Fruedian Slip proved perfect for any size tablet or a thin notebook like the Toshiba Portege z835.

When carrying two notebooks I keep one in this section behind the slip. I also keep adapters and a portable hard drive in the elastic sections at the base of the removable organizer. I used the Snake Charmer to carry my cables to CES and eventually to hold my iPhone 4S camera rig when not in use.

Tom Bihn Snake Charmer

When I arrived at CES I removed the Freudian Slip and the Snake Charmer to lighten the load without the need to do any real unpacking.

When I was in Detroit to check out how Ford is using technology to make awesome cars I had to have my notebook, iPad and a camera on hand, and the front section of the bag proved large enough to hold my Nikon D5100 DSLR without bulging.

A portion of what I carry in the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.

I really like the ability to use the four straps on the sides of the bag to tighten up the bag when I am only carrying a notebook, or let them out when I have a lot of gadgets in the bag. This versatility allows me to pack heavy for a trip and go slim when I arrive.

In addition to the two main compartments, the Tom Bihn Brain Bag includes a large top pocket that is perfect for iPhone battery cases or a MiFi. On each side there is a pocket large enough for a water bottle complete with interior pockets for pens and papers. There is a mesh pocket on the outside of the left pocket as well.

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag has plenty of pockets.

In between the pockets is a hook and latch system that can hold a water bottle, thermos or an umbrella.

The bag is water-resistant and has a water-repellent finish to keep rain and snow from damaging your gadgets and documents. The overall build of the bag is great with little wear noticeable after six months of use.

The bag is comfortable to wear even when loaded up with multiple laptops and tablets and includes a removable chest strap.

I highly recommend the Tom Bihn Brain Bag and accessories to travelers that need a durable, versatile bag. The Brain Bag is well worth the $150 price, especially considering the ability to do the job of more than one bag.

Buy the Tom Bihn Brain Bag at Tom Bihn for $150.

Tom Bihn Brain Bag Gallery

Tom Bihn Brain Bag Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Standing while you work isn’t something most office workers think about, but it’s an easy way to work healthier and be more productive.

The Ergotron WorkFit-D is the best sit-stand desk I’ve used, solving many of my complaints about the half-dozen sit-stand desk configurations I have used over the past few years.

The Ergotron WorkFit-D delivers a sit-stand experience without losing the benefits of a traditional desk, including space to put papers, coffee and accessories while sitting and standing.

Users can adjust the height of the WorkFit-D’s 23-inch by 48-inch workspace up to 20-inches in height, from  29-inches tall to 49 inches tall. Users can place monitors or notebooks right on the desk, or opt for a monitor mount that attaches to the center for an ideal experience.

I love sit-stand desks because I don’t need separate workspaces to stand and sit while working. Sitting all day can play a factor in various physical ailments and even earlier death than those who stand for a portion of the day. It also plays a role in weight gain and increase in cardiovascular troubles. Check out Sitting is Killing You for more information.

Now that I’ve scared you into standing up while you read this Ergotron WorkFit-D review, here’s what I like about the Ergotron WorkFit-D.

Ergotron WorkFit-D Review Video

Check out a tour of the WorkFit-D, including where the desk shines and what needs improvement.

Where the WorkFit-D is Great

The height adjustments fit me better than the previous models I have tried, and the WorkFit-D is much sturdier than the WorkFit-C, a sit-stand desk that shook some when I was typing heavily. There is still some movement on the WorkFit-D, but not nearly as much.

The WorkFit-D includes a large work area for my tablet, phone and other desk accessories, and the optional keyboard tray is large enough to hold a keyboard and a mouse, in my case the magic trackpad from Apple, but it is large enough for a traditional mouse.

I paired the WorkFit-D with the LX Dual Side-by-Side Arm monitor mount from Ergotron that slots into an opening in the middle of the desk. This mount is available for around $250 on Amazon. This allows me to move the monitors to the perfect positions. If I had it to do over, I would buy the Stacking Arm version.

Where the WorkFit-D Needs Improvement

The Ergotron WorkFit-D is almost perfect, but it could improve in a few areas.

The desk or the keyboard tray needs a few more inches of height. If I stand straight, the keyboard try is a little too low for comfortable use. I often use a wider stance to hit the correct height.

The WorkFit-D needs an optional powerstrip and built in cord, hidden inside the back-end. Combined with a small basket to hold wires, this would make for a nicer looking unit and solve the problem of wires catching when moving the desk up and down.

Why I Love the WorkFit-D

I’ve used the WorkFit-D for 5 months, as my main desk. This is the best sit-stand desk I have used. I love standing while I work, because it helps me stay focused, avoid afternoon lulls in productivity and the many health benefits mentioned earlier.

Using the Nike Fuelband to monitor my activity level, I found that I am 20-30% more active when I incorporate standing into my workday, even for just an hour or two of standing. This is thanks to the small movements I take while standing and moving to music.

Is the WorkFit-D Worth It?

The WorkFit D retails for $900 without the keyboard tray or monitor mount, but is for sale at around $800 on Amazon.

This is an expensive sit-stand desk, but it is well worth the price for users that want to sit and stand during the day without the need for separate workstations or loss of a desk to place their office clutter.

Read: Ergotron WorkFit-S Review

If the price is too much, I recommend the WorkFit-S, a sit-stand desk that clamps onto almost any existing desk, converting it into a sit-stand desk for around $360-$380.

Sit-Stand Desk Guide: Measurements, Examples and Benefits

If you are new to sit-stand desks, you can turn any desk into a standing desk with a bit of work. With a few measurements and office scraps, you can turn your desk into a standing desk. It won’t look as pretty as the WorkFit-D, but it’s a great way to try a standing desk.

Ergotron WorkFit-D Review: Nearly Perfect Sit-Stand Desk is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Acer’s new Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 is the first ultrabook to hit the US with discrete graphics on board. Acer and NVIDIA tout it as the first “true ultrabook” thanks to the power under the hood. But with a 15.6-inch display, will most consumers really place it in that category?

The screen size coupled with the inclusion of an optical drive means that most will compare this laptop with other mainstream machines. And with an expected price of around $999, buyers on a budget will want a notebook that can do more than just the basics.

Can the Ultra M3 live up to those expectations? Read our full review to find out.

Who is the Timeline Ultra M3 for?

Consumers who like the ultrabook form factor but need a larger screen size will appreciate the real-estate that 15.6-inches offers. Users who need a machine that can handle resource-intense tasks — such as master multitasking or editing images and video — with speed and efficiency can count on the power of discrete graphics. Shoppers looking for a machine that can handle most popular games but don’t want or need a rig exclusively for that purpose will be impressed by the power of Nvidia’s newest GPU. Students who need a laptop they can carry to class and get them through both finals and downtime. Anyone who needs a laptop that is portable and powerful in equal measure.

Design

The Ultra M3 definitely earns the ultrabook moniker with its slim frame and light weight. Though saying “it’s light for a 15-inch laptop” may seem like faint praise, it’s a pretty big deal for users who just can’t get real work done on 13-inch machines yet don’t want to give up on portability. At 4.5 pounds this Ultra M3 is the same weight as the 13-inch MacBook Pro and just slightly heavier than the 4.4 pound, 14-inch HP Pavilion dm4.

Many ultrabooks are razor thin for the sake of razor thinness and in the process sacrifice important ports. The Ultra M3 is only 0.78 inches thin with a 14.75 x 10.0 inch footprint. This size allows for an optical drive, found on the left, as well as an SD card slot, three USB ports (one of them USB 3.0), HDMI and Ethernet.

My only complaint is that everything except the optical drive and the card slot are on the back of the laptop, so they’re less convenient to get at when plugging in flash drives, peripherals and the like.

Aesthetically, this notebook is simple but well-designed and attractive in a black tie kind of way. Acer kept it basic with an all-black paint job with the exception of slate grey around the keys.

The power button is on the front edge and slightly wkward to press

Keyboard and Touchpad

Like most ultrabooks the M3 sports an island-style keyboar with flat keys. Since it’s a 15-inch rig users also get a full-size number pad on the right. The keys have decent travel but are a little small, which is odd since there’s plenty of room for more surface area. Due to this and the minimal travel I often missed letters when typing, especially when going fast.

The lack of backlighting is disappointing, especially for a premium laptop, but not a dealbreaker for everyone.

The large clickpad is problematic, but what else is new with PC clickpads? On the Ultra M3 I most noticed issues when trying to perform tasks that took precision, such as selecting text.

The touchpad also doesn’t deal well with one finger resting on the surface while the other moves around. The bottom corners are stiff, which won’t be a problem for people trained to tap to click and will annoy people who prefer mouse buttons.

Display

The 15.6-inch display impressed me with bright, rich colors and deep blacks. Since the surface is glossy it doesn’t do well in the sun, but the viewing angles are good. At extreme angles you’ll encounter color distortion, but within a normal range things look as they should.

The disappointment comes in the resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels. While you might be able to convince me that this res is acceptable for a 13-inch display, on a 15-inch one it borders on sad. A screen this size should be at least 1400 x 900, even if this is just an ultrabook.

Performance and Battery Life

Acer packed the Ultra M3 with speedy components, so it’s no surprise that it performs well. A 1.7-GHZ Intel Core i7-2637M processor drives this ultrabook, backed by 4GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). And, as I mentioned before, Nvidia’s GeForce GT 640M graphics card backed by 1GB of dedicated VRAM. Though the Intel processor is an ultra-low voltage model, most users will get the same performance out of this as mainstream laptops with Core i5 CPUs.

In my time with the Ultra M3 I multitasked like mad, regularly switching between up to 40 tabs each in FireFox and Chrome with Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Word, Skype and Digsby running as well. Normally the massive FireFox tabbing is enough to make a computer groan since the browser is such a resource hog, but this ultrabook didn’t sweat.

The SSD is also very fast, which helps when copying files, opening programs (usually less than 5 seconds), and booting or resuming from sleep. Acer’s Instant Connect promises to get you on the Internet in 2.5 seconds after waking, and in my experience that rang true whenever connecting to known networks.

With Wi-Fi on and the screen brightness set to 40%, I ran the LAPTOP Magazine Battery Test, which surfs constantly until the battery dies. The Ultra M3 lasted 7 hours and 20 minutes under these conditions, which is 40 minutes shy of the promised 8 hours. In my time using this machine I was able to get up to 10 hours out of it with Wi-Fi on for between 4 and 5 hours and the screen set at 25% brightness.

This impressive battery life is possible even with discrete graphics because the ultrabook has Nvidia’s Optimus technology inside which switches to the graphics card automatically only when needed, allowing the integrated graphics to take over and save power.

Bottom line: you can leave the A/C adapter at home most of the time, which means less weight in your bag.

Graphics, Gaming and Multimedia Performance

The Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics card inside is built on the company’s Kepler architecture, which means that it’s powerful, but efficient. The efficiency is key to the Ultra M3′s good battery life, the power is important for consumers who want an ultrabook that can do everything.

The graphics card not only makes playing resource-intensive games like Battlefield 3 and Batman: Arkham City possible, but also means that users can edit images with a program like Photoshop and video with a program like Premiere or PowerDirector without having to wait for the computer to catch up. When exporting a 720p 30fps 5 minute video to MPEG 4, Adobe Premiere Elements completed the export in under 5 minutes with quality set high. While using Photoshop Elements I noted that I was able to crunch, add filters and do edits on even large image files in just a few seconds instead of having to wait.

Though hardcore gamers won’t find the Ultra M3 suitable for their everyday needs, this ultrabook does have great gaming chops. Players will see well over 100fps on average-intensity games like World of Warcraft and between 50 and 70fps on more graphics-intense games like Battlefield 3. Even super resource hogging games are playable, though with those you’re getting into needing a gaming rig, anyway.

With all this power, playing HD videos well is a given. Thanks to the Dolby speakers and the large display, watching movies is a great experience. Just as with games, I didn’t note any pixilation, hitching or anything to mar my enjoyment.

Price and Availability

Acer hasn’t announced the final US price for the Ultra M3, though it should be available on Amazon.com and NewEgg.com within the next two weeks. Without knowing the price, it’s hard to determine whether this ultrabook is worth buying. Since it’s an ultrabook, most predict a price around $999.

The Bottom Line

The Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 may not fit into most people’s pre-conceptions about what an ultrabook is (or isn’t). But even if you think of it as a thin and light mainstream laptop, it still holds up pretty well when compared to systems like the Sony VAIO SE, Dell XPS 14z and the HP Envy 15. You get enough power for both typical usage and more intense, specialized tasks in a package light enough to carry around everywhere, should you need to.

The disappointing resolution is a big drawback for multimedia lovers and hard core gamers and the sub-par touchpad is a downer for everyone. But neither of these issues is enough to put me off the Ultra M3 completely.

While most ultrabooks make great companion laptops but won’t do as primary computers for power users, the Ultra M3 is good enough to be the only notebook you’ll need. However, until Acer finally releases the price, it’s hard to know if the whole package represents a good value.

Gallery

Specs

Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 Review – The First True Ultrabook? is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

DragonDrop helps Mac users move their files around in finder with a creative tool that sits in your Menu Bar and activates when you need it. It acts like a temporary shelf to store your files so you can find the new folder to drop them. Let me show you how it works.

Open a Finder folder and select the file or files your want to move. Now either drag them to the icon in the Menu bar or shake your mouse until the DragonDrop box opens. It has a flared pattern that rotates.

Watch DragonDrop in action in the video below.

Drop the files on the box and then find the new spot where you plan to place the file or files. Drag the file or files from the DragonDrop box to the new folder and the box disappears. DragonDrop copies the files to the new place.

It works with any kind of file you can store on your hard drive and it works with websites. Just drag the website’s address bar icon to the DragonDrop box just as you would a file. Then, open a new browser and drag the site to that browser window’s address bar. You might need to test a site in more than one browser. This offers an easier way to do that than typing a long site’s URL each time.

I love this utility. It costs $4.99 in the Mac App Store, which seems a bit steep. It feels more like a $2 app. I wish the feature would show up in a future release of OS X.

If you want a free taste, go to the app’s website and get the free trial version. If you like it buy it in the App store.

I had one difficulty, which you can see in the above video. If you drag the files, shake the mouse cursor and them move the cursor too far after the DragonDrop box appears, then it goes away. If you’re dragging a bunch of files, the files icons can mask the box making it hard to see that the box appeared. Aside from the cost, that’s my only complaint. I recommend it to OS X users who do a lot of dragging and dropping of files. I installed it on all of my systems.

You can set DragonDrop to start at login, which you’ll want to do. You can turn off the shake feature and only use the Menu Bar if you want. Or you can turn off the Menu Bar icon and only use the shake feature.

DragonDrop Review: Simplify Moving Files in OS X is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 has the distinction of having the longest laptop name ever and of being the first ultrabook to come to market with discrete graphics. Okay, maybe the name isn’t the longest ever, but the discrete graphics thing is no joke.

Intel’s integrated graphics are good enough for mainstream tasks and usage, but for intense tasks and power users, they don’t quite cut it. NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 640M GPU provides extra power, boosts performance, and promises to do so efficiently.

If you’re addicted to power the Ultra M3 probably looks really tempting. An ultrabook that’s as powerful as it is thin? Yes, please. I’m putting it to the test for our full review, but thought I’d let you in on my initial impressions.

Starting outside, the Ultra M3′s design is very simple, yet attractive. Acer is good at this. The all-black, matte chassis feels sturdy. I don’t have any worries about this bad boy coming apart or getting messed up by a few bumps.

This rig is bigger than your average ultrabook since it sports a 15.6-inch display. And for a notebooks of this size, the 4.5 pound weight is pretty impressive. Still, if you’re an ultimate mobility type you might eye the whole thing with suspicion. It’s fair to say that the Ultra M3 feels lighter than it looks and is impressive for a notebook with this display size.

To keep things skinny (the M3 tops out at 0.73 inches thick) Acer moved most ports to the back. The slim optical drive being the exception.

Once again we’re given a large clickpad that sent me running for an external mouse right away. I’m in the process of tweaking the settings now, but the more I use the touchpad the more angry I am at whoever is behind it.

The large 15-inch display offers a wide canvas for such activities, but it’s disappointing that you still only get a 1366 x 768 resolution.

On the performance side, I’ve only taxed the Ultra M3 with medium load programs so far to get a sense of how it runs for everyday tasks. So far I’m impressed with the notebook’s speed and battery life.

I used it off and on for 12 hours before needing to plug it in. All together it was probably about 7 hours put together. We’ll see how it does on our formal battery test.

My next step is to runs some batch processes via Photoshop, edit some videos with Premiere, then play Batman: Arkham City for several hours. For science.

What other tasks should I do to test the Aspire Timeline Ultra M3?

Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 Review: First Impressions is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

The ThinkPad X130e takes the lessons Lenovo learned in the business market and pulls them together into a rugged mini notebook designed for students.

Lenovo built on the small frame of the ThinkPad X130e, adding features to help the X130e stand up to the abuses of K-12 classrooms. While there is a major focus on the iPad in classrooms, the X130e is better suited for young users who are more likely to drop the notebook or spill something on it.

The red Lenovo X130e is only available in the education market, but individual users can buy the black ThinkPad X130e direct from Lenovo.

Lenovo designed the ThinkPad X130e for education.

Who is the ThinkPad X130e for?

The ThinkPad X130e is primarily a notebook for students, but it also offers an attractive set of features for business users looking for a small, rugged second notebook with a great keyboard.

Design

Lenovo has created an incredibly well-built notebook. The X130e is bulkier than the X120e and competing 11-inch notebooks, but this is thanks to the military spec ruggedness that defines the notebook.

Lenovo ditches the square corners of the ThinkPad line, opting for more kid-friendly corners that complement the rounded design style.

Even under pressure, the lid and the base of the X130e remained solid under pressure. Lenovo includes a rubber bumper to prevent screen damage from the display pressing on keys and prevents random items in students’ bags from slipping in between the display and keyboard.

The notebook is MIL-SPEC rated for ruggedness, which is why the bezel is much thicker. Lenovo designed the hinges to last 30,000 cycles, to accommodate students opening and closing the notebook again and again.

The design carries over to the recessed and strengthened ports to prevent damage from students pulling on cords without properly removing them.

The ThinkPad X130e has 3 USB 2.0 ports, including one that can charge gadgets. The notebook also has Ethernet, VGA, HDMI ports as well as a combo mic/headphone jack and an SD card reader.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The ThinkPad X130e has a great keyboard for such a small notebook. The keys have near perfect travel and a slight curve that guides fingers to the middle of the key for faster, error-free touch typing.

Too often small notebooks have lackluster keyboards with poor key placement, but this is not the case. The X 130 has a full size keyboard and all the keys appropriately sized and placed.

The touchpad is incredibly small, even for the small hands of students. Lenovo includes the Thinkpad Trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard for precise pointing.

The touchpad is too small for multi-touch gestures, but supports two finger clicks. There are no mouse buttons on the bottom of the trackpad, but the mousepad is clickable.

ThinkPad X130e users should plan on using the accurate Trackpoint or an external mouse for long sessions.

Display

The 11.6″ display on the ThinkPad X130e has a 1366 x 768 resolution, which is quite good for a notebook of this size. Students won’t live comparing documents side by side, but the resolution is better suited for the classroom than those found on netbooks.

The matte display is usable outdoors and in harsh lighting, but some users will find the display a little dim even at the brightest setting.

While watching the trailer for The Avengers colors looked good, though blacks could have been blacker. Viewing angles are prefect for a notebook of this size, wide enough to allow three students to share the screen if needed.

Features

Lenovo includes many features in the ThinkPad X130 to meet the needs of the classroom and school administers.

• Rubber Bumper to absorb impact.
• 33% stronger corners to prevent damage form drops.
• 1.2mm thicker bezel for additional display protection.
• Active Protection System to stop hard drive in the event of a drop.
• Stronger hinges and Ethernet port to prevent damage during use.
• Security features including security features including TPM and Intel Anti-Theft

Performance and Graphics

The 1.3GHzAMD E 300 powers the ThinkPad X130e with integrated graphics, The X130e is configurable with up to 8GB of RAM, but my review unit came with 2GB of RAM. The notebook comes with 320GB or 500GB storage options.

This base configuration proved powerful enough to handle the needs of students. The AMD E 300 processor did not stutter when working in multiple programs including Microsoft Word and the web browser.

Watching videos on YouTube or accessing educational flash websites and games did not stress the system. The ThinkPad X130e has plenty of power to meet the needs of students.

The speakers are note impressive in quality, but are definitely loud enough for an educational setting.

The webcam is OK, with a VGA resolution, but won’t blow users away. Considering the use in classrooms and for Skype collaboration by students at home, it is sufficient. The webcam does well in low light conditions.

Battery Life

Lenovo rates the ThinkPad X130e for all day use in the classroom and battery testing proves that the X130e lives up to this claim. Using het Laptop Mag Battery Test, that simulates web browsing with the screen set at 40% brightness the ThinkPad X130e lasted 7 hours and 22 minutes. Long enough to last through a full day of school.

The Bottom Line

The ThinkPad X130e delivers everything Lenovo promises for the classroom. The features and rugged design are essential for unforgiving classroom environments. The processor offers limited power, but is more than adequate for the needs of K-12 students. Administrators will appreciate the included security features.

The iPad is a hot topic for schools, but the ThinkPad X130e offers a more durable learning tool geared at productivity and learning.

Gallery

Specs

ThinkPad X130e Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse connects to Windows notebooks over Wi-Fi, so users can leave dongles and adapters at home without giving up a good mousing experience.

Until HP introduced the Wi-Fi Mouse users had two options for wireless mice – connect via USB dongle or Bluetooth. I prefer Bluetooth, but using both a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios diminish battery life. USB dongles take up ports and drain battery life as well.

I haven’t found a Windows notebook with a touchpad I want to use full-time because they all stink, so I always carry an extra mouse. For the past few weeks that mouse has been the HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse.

Wi-Fi Connection

Because HP uses your computer’s Wi-Fi radio to connect, you have to install their proprietary software. That means two things. First, you can’t just connect this mouse to any computer. Second, you can’t connect it to any Mac.

I installed the software and the mouse connected without a hitch using the configuration steps. It also reconnects quickly after you shot down or put your computer to sleep. Reconnecting is faster than my Bluetooth mice connect to the Samsung notebook used for testing.

I didn’t notice any interference between the mouse and my network connection. It just works like you’d expect your mouse to work. You will notice a new Wi-Fi connection listed in Windows. In fact I could see the Wi-Fi as a network on my iPad and MacBook too, but it won’t let anything other than the mouse connect to the network.

Comfort and Design

The concept of the X7000 screams for mobility. You don’t need a USB dongle and you can turn off your Bluetooth, both of which preserve battery life. Unfortunately, the mouse is huge. I have big hands, so I like the size. But it takes up a  lot of room in your computer bag. HP offers the HP WiFi Mobile Mouse for about $20 less. The X7000 works better as a desktop mouse for people with big hands. If you use a spacious computer bag, you may have room for the X7000. If you don’t, or if you have small hands the Mobile Mouse is a better fit.

The mouse has four buttons – the typical right and left click buttons and a thumb button. There’s also a smaller button on the top left corner next to the primary button. You can customize the buttons to perform many functions using the included driver software.

The “touch” part of the Wi-Fi Touch Mouse comes from a strip between the two main buttons replacing the typical scroll wheel. It performs the same function without the moving parts. You can slide your finger up or down to scroll or zoom. You can even tap on the strip to use it as another button.

The touch strip works fine, but I prefer a wheel. It will likely last longer than a wheel with moving parts, but I haven’t had trouble with the scroll wheels breaking on any of my mice. Give me a wheel, like the smaller version has, and I’d be happier.

The shape of the mouse fits right handers only. I’m okay with that, but if you’re a lefty move along. Nothing to see here.

Value and Recommendation

HP charges $59.99 for the X7000. That’s not too pricey for a large mouse with the unique features included in this mouse. The technology works so well, that I suspect this will catch on and become the primary method of connecting a wireless mouse. If it does, the price will drop.

Since the mouse feels comfortable and connects so well, I recommend the HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse without too many reservations. As I said above, I wish it had a wheel like the cheaper mobile version that fits better in a computer bag. I also hope Apple adds support to OS X because I’d love to use this mouse full-time when my MacBook Pro sits on my desk at home.

The Wi-Fi connection may be a cool feature, but alone it won’t make me buy a mouse. The HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse works so well so you won’t have to compromise to get the cool new feature.

You can get the X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse from HP directly or at Amazon for only $37.95.

HP X7000 Wi-Fi Touch Mouse Review: Go Wireless, No Dongle or Bluetooth is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

iTwin promises to give you “limitless” USB-based file synchronization with simplicity and security through a set of USB keys that you plug into two or more computers anywhere in the world.

Cloud synchronization is all the rage these days with great services like DropBox, SugarSync and even personal cloud syncing devices like the PogoPlug.

If  you need a secure, encrypted file syncing solution that doesn’t depend on a third-party cloud service, or need to sync more files than cloud companies offer, iTwin might be a good solution for you.

How it Works

With iTwin you get a pair of USB keys that connect together. Plug them both into the first computer while the two keys are still connected to each other. Each key has a USB connector and a proprietary connector that joins the two. Once installed, the app resides in your Menu bar on OS X or in the system tray in Windows 7.

After plugging the keys into my Mac, a window popped up asking me to name my device. Type the name and hit next and enter your email address. iTwin sends you a special code. More on that in a bit. After running the setup wizard, you will see an Explorer or Finder window like the one above.

I dragged a file and two folders into the window from my hard drive. I then disconnected the part of the iTwin not plugged into my Mac and plugged it into my Windows computer and went through a similar installation process. Soon after, I saw the window above, with the files on my MacBook Pro. The small orange circle indicates that these files are not on my Windows computer, but accessible through the Internet.

You can open files and folders as if they reside locally on the computer. I experienced very little lag time when opening the file or exploring the folders. Working with files is just like they were stored on your local computer.

Security

If you lose one of your iTwin USB keys, you can prevent access to your files by removing the iTwin from your other computer and revoking access for the other key. Remember when I entered my email address above? I received a message from iTwin with a special code and a link to their revocation website. Enter your iTwin code and the other key becomes useless to would be file thieves.

To get the iTwin USB keys working again, you go through the setup process. Since all the files actually reside on your hard drives, not on the USB keys, you lose nothing and any bad guys who find the keys have nothing. If you left a key plugged in when you revoked access, then you will see the following error.

If you’re worried about the files being transmitted through the Internet, don’t. iTwin uses AES 256-bit end-to-end encryption, which means they jumble the files up as you transmit them through the Net and then iTwin unscrambles them when on other computer. iTwin doesn’t store the files, so you don’t have to worry about hackers gaining access to your files through iTwin’s servers.

Evaluation

iTwin impressed me with the simplicity and speed of device. I did have to refresh my folders on the Windows PC to see when I added a new file on my Mac. Other than that, it worked well.

If you delete a file from a folder on computer, iTwin won’t delete the file on the other computer. That’s a good thing saving you from losing files if the person with whom you’ve shared your iTwin starts deleting files.

Also, if you have a file that both users open and edit, you can’t overwrite the other’s changes. I tried by opening an image on both machines. I added a few squiggles in Paint on the Windows machine and added an arrow on the Mac using Preview. When I tried to save the file at about the same time, it saved on the Windows machine, but on the Mac I got the following error:

The hardware is simple and works. I didn’t put it under any stress tests, but they two keys seem sturdy and the connectors used to join them fit nicely.

I like that iTwin offers unlimited file sharing. If you have a 2TB drive you can share 2TB of data. iTwin’s speed and simplicity impressed me. Finally, I appreciate that they offer both Mac and Windows software.

iTwin falls short in several areas. First, if you want to share files with more than two computers at a time you can’t. Sure, you can move the iTwin to another computer, but you’re always limited to two computers at a time.

If you only need to sync 2 -5GB of data between computers, you’ll get a better value from DropBox or SugarSync, and you’ll be able to access them from the web without a thumbdrive.

Finally, if you lose your Internet connection, then you also lose access to the files from the other computer. This doesn’t happen with services like DropBox or SugarSync. The files are never stored on the second machine. The iTwin just points to the files on the other machine. You will have to manually move them from the iTwin’s folder to another folder for real synchronization.

If you need to sync large amounts of data between two computers (more than you get with free services like DropBox, SugarSync or Box.com, or just appreciate the ability to keep your files off a company’s servers, iTwin is a good option.

iTwin Review: USB Secure Cloud Syncing Without a Cloud Service is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.