Notebooks are an expensive item to add to a holiday wishlist, but for recipients who need a laptop for school or for a small business, this can be a very practical gift. It’s perfect for gift giving from a group of family members.

This year’s gift guide includes the best notebooks, netbooks and ultrabooks we reviewed in 2011 to simplify your holiday shopping and gift giving.

Because everyone has different needs and budgets, we’ve included everything from mainstream and entertainment notebooks to business and ultraportable models, aplusnd the ultimate gaming notebook. Prices start at $269 and go up over $1,000.

You can be sure that any of these notebooks will make an amazing gift this holiday season.

Mainstream Notebooks

Mainstream notebooks will meet most of your needs, and do so with some style. They’re great gifts for users who need solid performance and a decent multimedia experience but don’t need something ultra slim or ultra powerful. With these picks you can get a better experience than the typical budget notebook without spending significantly more.

Sony VAIO SE

Big screen without the bulk.

Looking for a laptop with a decent-sized display that is still reasonably portable? Sony’s got you covered with the VAIO SE. This notebook has a beautiful 15.5-inch display yet the case is only 0.9 inches thick and weighs just 4.4 pounds.

Even though it has a slim profile, this machine still has room for a Blu-ray drive and plenty of ports, including HDMI, memory card, and USB 3.0.

The 15-inch display features a full HD resolution, rich colors, and deep blacks. Add in a full-size keyboard and number pad plus a generous touchpad and you have a great laptop for both work and entertainment.

The base price includes a powerful Intel Core i5 processor and AMD Radeon graphics. Configure it on Sony’s website for more options, including a Core i7 CPU and solid state drives with storage up to 1TB (yes, terabyte).

Pertinent Specs: 15.5-inch display, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 2.4-GHz 2nd gen Intel Core i5-2430M processor, 4GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics, 512MB VRAM, 500GB hard drive, CD/DVD drive

$999 and up @ SonyStyle.com

Gateway ID Series

Looks and power in an affordable, portable package.

The Gateway ID 47 packs a 14″ display in the frame of a 13″ notebook, giving you bigger display without filling up a backpack. While the notebook is smaller, it still includes a DVD Super Multi Drive and full complement of ports, which means you won’t need to add a stocking of adapters to your gift bag.

The Gateway ID 47 is attractively priced for students and home users who need the power to do basic student tasks as well as come video editing and photo touch ups. The battery lasts long enough to get you through a day of classes, and with a small package, you can carry the charger if you need to do some power intensive work.

Gateway sets the ID 47 apart from the rest of the Gateway fare with nice looks and good build quality, pictures don’t do this notebook justice. For $679 you get a very good looking notebook.

This notebook is a top pick for students and mobile users who care about style, but are budget conscious.

Pertinent Specs: 14-inch display, 1366 x 768 resolution, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 2nd gen processor, 500GB hard drive, webcam, Super Multi DVD drive, 4GB RAM, Intel HD 3000 graphics

Read our Gateway ID47 Hands On Review

$679 @ Amazon

Multimedia Notebooks

These laptops prioritize entertainment features such as HD displays, Blu-ray players, or amazing speaker quality. Multimedia notebooks tend to have powerful processors and graphics cards, so they can handle almost anything else users throw at them as well.

Sony VAIO E series

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

Give a notebook with an extra dash of flair this holiday. The VAIO E series features a distinctive diamond texture and comes in four colors — black, white, blue, and pink — that extend over the whole case, not just the lid. Available in 14, 15.5, and 17.3-inch sizes, there’s an E Series for every need.

Featuring bright, LED-backlit displays with colors that pop, island-style keyboards with great travel and tactile feedback, and multi-touch touchpads, the VAIO E doesn’t forgo the practical considerations for the sake of good looks. It will also last you all day on a charge — the 14-inch version promises over 8 hours, and the 17-incher has an impressive 5+ hour rating.

Inside you can choose from Intel Core i3 (for a basic user) or Core i5 (for a mainstream user) processors. If the giftee plays games or does light to medium video editing, add on Nvidia’s GeForce dedicated graphics. If they like watching movies, you can upgrade to a Blu-ray drive.

Since these aren’t the most portable laptops, they’re a good gift for people who don’t need to carry it everywhere they go. It’s great for media lovers, especially if they’ve cut the cable cord.

Pertinent Specs: 14, 15.5, or 17.3-inch displays, Intel Core i3-2330M and Core i5-2430M processors, 1366 x 768 resolution, 4-8GB of RAM, 320-750Gb hard drive,  Blu-ray drive, Intel HD Graphics 3000 or NVIDIA GeForce 410M graphics

$469 and up @ Sony.com

Dell XPS 15

The ultimate multimedia machine.

The XPS 15 is the perfect notebook for the serious multimedia lover on your list. It’s not a thin, light, or particularly good-looking machine. But the audio quality will blow you away and it’s performance chops make it a great choice for watching HD videos and playing games. And if they have a 3D TV in the house, the XPS 15 will output 3D content via HDMI.

The 6.1 pound weight and wide 15.0 x 10.4 x 1.5 inch footprint means that this laptop will likely spend most of it’s time on a desk. That’s fine, as it can serve as the media center for a small room such as a studio apartment or dorm. The JBL speakers and Waves MaxxAudio 3 sound enhancement software deliver audio quality far above anything you’ll hear on most laptops. Not only do you get good volume, but a round, layered sound whether you’re listening to R&B, rock, classical, or watching Blu-ray movies.

The only drawback on the media side is that the 15.6-inch display only has a 1366 x 768 resolution at the base price and not a full HD one. You can upgrade to a 1920×1080 panel if you really love the person…

I’d recommend this for students who’ll do most of their work in the dorm room. The keyboard is sturdy and offers good feedback, and the large touchpad makes pulling off multi-touch gestures easy. You’ll get great performance with an Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB of RAM, and dedicated Nvidia graphics, but if you’re shopping for a power user who’ll need a laptop that can handle video editing, heavy-duty calculations, or resource-intensive programs, upgrade to a quad-core Core i7 CPU.

Pertinent Specs: 15.6-inch display, 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080 resolution, 2nd gen Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, 500GB hard drive or 256GB SSD, webcam, Blu-ray drive, 4-8GB RAM, Nvidia GeFore GT graphics

$799 and up @ Dell.com

Ultraportables and Ultrabooks

When portability and long battery life matter, ultraportables or ultrabooks are good machines to consider. While these notebooks often carry a price premium, you get long battery life and sub 3 pound weight without giving up power. Our top picks are light enough you might have to make sure you put it in the box after you’ve wrapped it up.

Samsung Series 9

A MacBook Air challenger with flair.

Months before ultrabooks came on the scene, Samsung created an ultrathin ultraportable that is both powerful and beautiful. The Series 9 is made from black duralumin — a metal previously only used in aircraft construction — with a sweet curve at the edges to give the notebook some welcome flair.

The 13.3-inch display is super bright and offers popping colors and deep blacks, equally suited to surfing on the web, writing documents, or watching HD video. A large touchpad and comfortable island-style keyboard round out the look.

This laptop isn’t just about aesthetics, though. Inside you can choose from Intel’s powerful Core i5 or i7 processors plus speedy 128GB or 256GB solid state drives. The integrated battery should last you around 6 hours at least.

With the level of performance these configurations offer, the Series 9 is powerful enough to be your only notebook. It’s a great gift for road warriors and frequent travelers, people who need to carry their laptop everywhere, and grad students who need something light that can handle everything they throw at it.

Pertinent Specs: 13.3-inch display 1366 x 768 resolution, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD, webcam, 4GB RAM, Intel HD 3000 Graphics

$1,649 @ Samsung.com

MacBook Air

Still setting the standard for portable power and looks.

Apple’s MacBook Air notebooks start at $999 and bring the same solid design and great industrial looks that we expect. The 11 inch Macbook Air has a full size keyboard, but a smaller mouse pad than the 13″ Macbook Air.

Unlike most of the other notebooks in this gift guide, the MacBook Air notebooks bring high resolution displays. This means that the notebook can show more on the screen at once. The 11-inch model has the same screen resolution as many 14-inch and 15-inch notebooks, and the 13-inch MacBook Air has a 1440 x 900 resolution that makes side by side work easy, and even enjoyable.

One primary concern here is storage space. The entry level MacBook Air only offers 64GB of storage, so there’s not a lot of room for pictures and video. You can get up to a 256GB of storage, but it comes at a price and may only be available online.

If you are purchasing the gift for a student, don’t forget that Apple offers student discount pricing, and there will be some Black Friday Deals.

The Macbook Air is a good gift for travelers, students who need power and portability and fans of OS X.

Pertinent Specs: 11-inch or 13-inch display, 1366 x 768 and 1440 x 900 resolution, 1.6Ghz to 1.8Ghz Intel Core i5 2nd gen processor, 2-4GB RAM, 64Gb to 256GB storage, Intel HD 3000 graphics.

Read our MacBook Air 11-Inch Review

$999 and up @ Apple

Toshiba Portege z835

An ultra-light Windows Ultrabook with looks and power.

Toshiba delivers big time on this hot new notebook. Not only do you get an incredibly thin and light notebook (lighter than the MacBook Air), but you also spend $400 less than the entry level MacBook Air 13-inch.

The Toshiba z835-p330 is a Best Buy exclusive this holiday shopping season, and has all the features a a student or light traveler could want. The internals offer enough power for web and office work, but can also handle the occasional video editing and photo touchups. From an entertainment aspect, you can play some casual games and enjoy some movies and TV shows on the super thin, but quality display.

This is one of the lightest full powered notebooks you can buy for under $900, making it a great gift. As an added bonus, your recipient will never expect a computer when they unwrap the package thanks to the thin  box and light weight.

This model is aimed at consumers, so creative professionals and those doing lots of video work will enjoy the MacBook Air as a gift much more.

One concern is the robustness of the screen, which has a lot of flex in it. You can go hands on at you local Best Buy to see this yourself.

Pertinent Specs: 13-inch display, 1366 x 768 resolution, 1.4GHz Intel Core i3 2nd gen processor, 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD, Intel HD 3000 graphics

Read our Toshiba Portege Z835-P330 Review

$899 @ BestBuy this November

Netbooks and Affordable Ultraportables

Consumers looking for a lightweight laptop that offered decent performance have traditionally had to spend a large chunk of change for the privilege. Not so with netbooks and their cousins, the affordable ultraportables. Netbooks keep is small with 10-inch screens, mostly, and inexpensive processors for basic tasks. Affordable ultraportables go bigger, usually sporting 11.6-inch displays and more processor power for not much more money.

Samsung NC110

A budget netbook that’s just right for basic tasks.

Netbooks make great gifts for people who don’t need high-level performance but do need to be productive with their small, portable machine. The Samsung NC110 has a single-core Intel Atom processor inside, so it’s not going to serve well as a main computer. It can handle basic tasks, making it a great companion for writers, young students, and non-business travelers.

To go with it’s low price, the NC110 is basic, yet functional. The design is attractive though it lacks flair, the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable, and it comes with the standard array of ports. The 10-inch matte display actually works out in the sun. And audio quality is decent for a netbook.

It will last over 7 hours on a charge with normal usage, which should translate to all day for most people.

Pertinent Specs: 10.1-inch display, 1024 x 600 resolution, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N455 single-core processor, 250GB hard drive, webcam, 1GB RAM , and Intel GMA 3150 graphics

$269 @ B&H

HP Pavilion dm1

Affordable, meet ultraportable.

The HP Pavilion dm1 sports an AMD Fusion APU and a generous 4GB of RAM, making it an excellent choice for someone who puts a medium workload on their laptop. If you want anything more than basic image editing and want to play games more intense than Bejeweled Blitz, this isn’t the laptop for you. But if you need multitasking power as you switch between a browser with multiple tabs, an office program and your music player, the dm1 is the way to go.

At 3.3 pounds this notebook won’t weigh you down much. The 11.6-inch HD display is large enough to view windows side by side. The wide viewing angles and bright colors make it great for watching video.

This notebook is a great gift for students (high school or college), frequent travelers, writers, independent mobile workers, and anyone looking for a machine that won’t choke at the sight of 6 open tabs in Firefox.

Available on HP.com with multiple configuration options, I suggest you pay the extra $30 and upgrade to the AMD E-450 APU as well as springing for the 4GB RAM option. Both hard drives and speedy solid state drives are available.

Pertinent Specs: 11.6-inch display, 1366 x 768 resolution, AMD dual-core E-300 or E-450 APU processor, 500-640GB hard drive or 160GB SSD, webcam, 2-8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD (integrated) graphics

Read Our Hands-On With The New HP Pavilion dm1

$399 and up @ HP.com

Business Notebooks

If you are buying for a small business owner, euntrepanuer, or a user that needs a laptop that can handle a busy on-the-go life, check out these business notebooks. Built to last longer than consumer notebooks, they tend to have better construction and better built in warranties that make up for the higher cost.  These notebooks bring consumer features like backlit keys and premium audio to the mix as well.

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s

This isn’t The Man’s old ThinkPad.

The ThinkPad Edge notebook isn’t your average business notebook. Designed with small businesses and entrepreneurs in mind, the Edge e420S brings the style and features typically found in a consumer notebook together with the durability of the ThinkPad brand, and does so without a huge price premium.

This is an important distinction, because many small business owners will use this notebook for work and play. For work, there is a webcam and fingerprint reader as well as security software. For play, the notebook has Dolby Home Theater v4 audio that delivers an amazing sound for music and dialogue enhancement for movies and an improved graphics chip that will handle casual games and editing a promo video for the company website.

Unfortunately there is no matte screen option to help with outdoor viewing.

Pertinent Specs: 14-inch display with 1366 x 768 resolution, 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 2nd gen processor (capable of 2.9GHz in TurboBoost), 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive, Intel HD 3000 graphics.

Read our Thinkpad Edge E420s Review

$739 @ Lenovo

HP ProBook 5330m

Great looks and Beats Audio. Are you sure this is a business notebook?

The HP Probook 5330m changes what you think about a business notebook, and represents a best of both world’s approach.

Starting on the outside, this notebook has great looks thanks to a brushed aluminum style cover that carries over to the palmrest. The bottom of the notebook is covered in a soft touch rubber material that adds to the look and feel of the notebook.

Inside you’ll find an easy to type on backlit keyboard with an island style layout. The included fingerprint reader adds to security, but we’re sure the ability to lock and unlock with your Bluetooth phone will add a futuristic feel to securing your personal and business notebooks.

One more reason to consider the Probook 5330m is the inclusion of Beats Audio. Beats delivers a premium audio solution that takes the typical notebook sound experience and cranks it up to 11. Wether you listen on headphones or over the built in speakers you’ll get good sounding audio.

Pertinent Specs: 13.3-inch display, 1366 x 768 resolution, up to an Intel Core i5 2nd gen processor, up to 8GB RAM, 320GB hard drive, Intel HD 3000 graphics

$799 @ HP

Desktop Replacement

When it comes to power, you can’t beat a desktop replacement. These notebooks have a modicum of portability (you can carry them from room to room if you want to) but offer robust processing power, full-size keyboards, and all the ports you could ask for. They make great gaming rigs and multimedia editing stations.

Alienware M17x

No compromise power and gaming performance, for those who can afford it.

The Alienware M17x has a powerfully bold look, that houses an equally powerful set of components. This is a gaming notebook, for gamers. When your gamer opens up this notebook, be prepared for some screams of excitement, and that’s before he or she turns the settings all the way up in their favorite game.

The Alienware notebook is slimmed down for 2011, but is still quite heavy, so set this one on a desk. All of the colors you see above, from the vents to the keyboard are customizable. Gamers can even light up separate zones in different colors and set the lights to pulse.

The large 17″ display can be purchase with a 1080P HD resolution, delivering eye pleasing HD visuals and a large playing surface. This is also nice for watching movies, and comes in handy if work is needed. You can put two windows side by side to write a paper while referencing source material. When the notebook is on battery power, it can switch to integrated graphics, which deliver up to 4 hours of battery life while browsing Facebook and other sites.

If you can splurge, add the Wireless HD option when customizing the notebook. This allows you to stream HD games and movies to the big screen without any lag. Perfect for playing the latest game in the living room or media room without running wires all over.

Pertinent Specs: 17-inch display with up to 1280 x 1080 resolution, Intel Core i7 2nd gen processor, 8GB RAM and up to 1.5 TB hard drive, high end AMD and Nvidia graphics options

Read our Alienware M17x Review 

$1,499 and up @ Alienware

additional contributions by K. T. Bradford

Read All Of Our Gift Guides Over At GottaBeMobile

Notebook Gift Guide: The Best Notebooks, Netbooks and Ultrabooks to Give in 2011 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

I lost my MacBook Air this week. Fortunately, I got it back when someone turned it into the manager of the restaurant where I left it.

I was fortunate, but what if the finder decided to be a keeper? What if she also found a way to crack my system password, access my email, bank site, and other personal details that I have on the system? I’d be screwed because I did not do some very simple things. I did a few things right, but should have done more.

Make sure you learn from my failure and don’t fall prey to the dishonest people out there. I got lucky, but you might not.

Here are a few ways you can keep your MacBook, or Windows notebook, protected, and even track it down if it goes missing. Best of all, you don’t have to spend a dime to do this.

Prey Tacking Software

This summer our editor Josh Smith posted about his use of LoJack for Laptops, a laptop tracking application that helps you recover your laptop if stolen or lost. That solution will secure your computer for a price. A free alternative he mentioned comes from the folks at the Prey Project. I chose it because I’m cheap, but it also will let me add features for a decent price.

Like LoJack, Prey keeps you protected from unscrupulous people who get access to your system. Sign up for an account and install the software on your Mac, Windows, Unbuntu or other Linux system and it runs quietly in the background. In fact, you won’t even know its running. That’s a good thing since the bad guys won’t know it either. On my Mac it doesn’t have a menu bar icon or an app icon in the Applications folder.

You can watch the company’s video demo for the Pro plans which do cost anywhere from $5/month for a personal account up to $399/month for enterprise users with a slew of PCs to protect. You can use the service for free if all you want is very basic tracking. Added features include installation on more computers, an active mode that keeps track of your computer all the time, not just what you report it, and a few more features which you can see on their plans page. They also have apps that work for iPhone (in beta and will be released soon) and Android.

Prey Project introduction from Carlos Yaconi on Vimeo.

iCloud Find My Mac

For Mac users, the forthcoming iCloud will offer a new service very much like the Find My Phone for iOS. It will track your computer and let you know where it was last used based on where the bad guys log onto the Internet. The feature will be ready to go for all users on October 12 when iCloud launches and offers a free version with up to 5GB of file storage and other paid versions with added storage. Use the storage to backup and sync files between Macs and iOS devices.

The key security feature finds your Mac on a map (see image above). It will also let you send a message to the computer so that you can tell the person who “found” your computer that you want it back and how they can do the right thing and turn it into you. If you need to you can lock the system down and remote wipe the user data in your Home folder.

These solutions may work great, but what if you lose it and no one finds it or what if it you, someone else or mother nature destroys it? What if the bad guys know what she’s doing and wipes the system before any of these security apps can kick in? You need to do a few things to protect your data. You should be following these best practices anyway.

Back Up Your Data

Have a regular backup plan. If I hadn’t recovered my MacBook, at least I’d still have all of my documents and files. That’s because I use SugarSync to synchronize my important files between my three computers and their cloud storage service. I also regularly keep a backup copy of all of my music, videos, and pictures. I backup the media files manually since they take up too much space for SugarSync to handle (over 200GB). Every time I download new music, create a new video or load new photos onto my computer, I back them up to my 2TB Firewire drive hooked up to my other computer.

iCloud will come in handy for Mac users because it also handles file backup/syncing. Windows users can take advantage of SugarSync, DropBox, or Windows Live Skydrive, just to name a few. Whatever you choose to use, use it! For unlimited data backup in real time, get a Carbonite account.

Password Protection

Passwords protect you only if you do the following:

• Make good passwords including random numbers, letters (both caps and lowercase) and if possible punctuation marks
• Don’t use common words, names, well known personal data like birthdays
• Use different passwords for all of your sites – don’t have one password to rule them all
• Use a password database application like Lastpass

The last suggestion can really help if you password protect your Lastpass account with a really good password. Then, you only have to remember one password. Lastpass stores your password database online in encrypted form so that not even they know what the passwords are. They also don’t know your password, so you make sure you make a good one but also remember it. View the Lastpass instruction video below:

Finally, don’t keep your passwords written down near your computer. If you have little notebook with all of your passwords in your computer bag, then you are just asking to have your bank account emptied by a criminal.

Lock It Down

Finally, remember that your computer can be taken even if you just go across the room for a refill or to the restroom for a pitstop. A good lock can help, like a Kensington lock or Griffin’s TechSafe Calbe Lock that I recently reviewed.This system doesn’t work with the MacBook Air, but if you don’t have a Kensington lock slot on your computer, this is a good solution.

With these you lock your computer to the table or some heavy object and the grab-and-go criminal will be thwarted from stealing your computer.

How to Protect Your Notebook in Case You Lose It is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

If you need a massive 34 inches of screen real estate on the go, then you need to look at the, finally available for purchase, gScreen SpaceBook. We’ve been covering this dual screen notebook since 2009, and the wait is now over.

gScreen SpaceBook dual screen notebook with 17" displays.

The gScreen SpaceBook features two slide out 17″ LCD displays, each with 1920 x 1080 resolution. The screens expand when you open the notebook to deliver a dual screen workspace on the go. The setup looks impressive, but you will need a hefty backpack to carry around this 10 pound beast.

The Windows Team Blog had a chance to go hands on with the most current model and had good things to say about the design.

The SpaceBook is unlike any laptop before it.  Rather than have a single display, it has two that slide out from the center to create and amazing panorama display.  Both panels are 17” full HD (1920 x 1080) glass, available in either a glossy or matte finish.   It’s a really amazing design that’s really functional; the panels slide open and closed very easily, and with some thoughtful design (the battery is in the front, not the back) the PC is remarkably stable when open.  You’d think that it would tip over due to the weight of the glass, but it doesn’t. Even though the model I saw was a prototype, construction was solid and the PC felt great to use.  I can only assume that the final for-sale model will be even better.

The SpaceBook looks impressive, but the specs don’t match up with the $2,395 price tag. Inside you’ll find an Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTS 250M 1GB GPU. These specs aren’t bad, but they are definitely outdated. if you are going to pay top dollar for a specialized machine you would expect to get the latest processors and graphics cards – especially if you are going to use it a a mobile editing studio.

If you can stomach the $2,395 and $2,795 price tags, you can put your money down on a SpaceBook right now. The good news is that you can pre-order with 50% down, leaving you another few months to scrape together the rest of the cash.

gScreen Dual 17″ Screen Notebook Finally For Sale is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Gateway ID line of notebooks received a back to school makeover today with a collection of improvements to performance and looks without adding to the all important bottom line. The Gateway ID47 notebook is available today with a starting price of $699.

Gateway ID47H with Edge to Edge Display

A 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor delivers enough processing power to tackle you schoolwork needs, and 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive ensure you have enough memory and storage to get you through a few year’s of college.

The Gateway ID47 has a 14″ edge to edge glass display with a 1366×768 resolution and includes a built in 1.3MP webcam  the top of the unit. The edge to edge glass allows for a smaller overall notebook and delivers a high-end look that is complemented by the exterior and large mousepad.

The mousepad on the ID47 is 20% larger than on the previous model so that you have more room for multi-touch gestures. We’ll have to wait until we go hands on with one of these notebooks to deliver a final judgement, but it is great to see a larger mousing surface on the ID47.

20% larger mousepad offers more mousing space.

The Gateway ID47 doesn’t stop here. You also get USB 3.0 connectivity for faster backup and file transfers to USB 3.0 hard drives. Gateway also includes Dolby Home Theater v4 in this notebook which is known for delivering amazing audio quality. Performance varies from notebook to notebook, but we have yet to be disappointed with Dolby Home Theater v4.

Gateway puts a lot of focus on looks in the ID line of notebooks, as shown in the “Infinity Blue Liquid” and Brushed Platinum” finishes. The notebooks don’t look like your typical Gateway notebook, which is a good thing at $700.

Rounding out the experience is a social media button that delivers quick access to social networks like Facebook and Flickr.

The 6 cell battery is rated for 8 hours, which will likely translate into 5-6 hours of real world use. The battery won’t last all day, but should allow you to get through class without a dead battery.

Gateway ID47H02u Gallery

Gateway ID47H02u Specs

• Intel Core i5-2410M processor 2.3GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.9GHz
• 14” HD Ultrabright LED-backlit Display
• Intel HM55 Express Chipset
• 4GB DDR3 Dual-Channel Memory
• Intel HD Graphics 3000
• 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• Digital Media Card Reader
• 8X DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
• 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam
• Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement
• Two Stereo Speakers
• 1 – USB 3.0 Port & 2 – USB 2.0 Ports
• 1 – HDMI Port
• Multi-Gesture Touchpad
• Dedicated Audio Control Keys
• Social Networks Key
• 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh) – Up to 8 hours of battery life
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Microsoft Office Starter 2010
• Dimensions: 12.97(w) x 8.95(D) x .85-1.14(h) inches
• 4.6 lbs.

Gateway ID47 Notebook Get’s Sexy Back to School Look is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

At Computex 2011 Intel announced a new plan to help usher in a new class of thin ultraportable notebooks that cost less than $1,000. Intel is calling these new notebooks “Ultrabooks” and wants to move at least 40% of the consumer notebooks to this thin form factor by the end of 2012. The new Ultrabook notebooks will measure under .8 inches thick and will come to market under $1,000 starting with the ASUS UX21 ultraportable in September and followed by other designs from major manufacturers.

What is the Ultrabook?

Intel is banking on the Ultrabook to deliver an ultraportable notebook with Intel Core i processors that breaks below the $1,000 mark into mainstream notebook pricing. These notebooks will arrive with low power Core i series processors later this year, with greater availability predicted in 2012. Future Ultrabooks will use the next generation of Intel processors, code named “Ivy Bridge” which is expected to be formally shown off at CES 2012.

Ivy Bridge uses Tri-Gate transistor design will continue the push for better visuals and a focus on power efficiency which will allow for thin and light notebooks to make fewer compromises. We anticipate that Ultrabooks will have at least one USB 3.0 port or one Thunderbolt going forward.

Why is the UltraBook Important for PC Notebooks

If Intel can drive the design of these thin and affordable notebooks, Intel stands to profit from increased sales, but there are also a number of other winners like major manufacturers and consumers.

The vision behind these new notebooks is to deliver performance and portability in an affordable package, an important combination that has been difficult for PC notebooks to hit. The current crop of ultraportable notebooks, like the Samsung 9 Series for example, meet the thin factor, but fail on pricing. The high prices of ultraportable notebooks are one of the key factors keeping them out of the hands of consumers.

Consumers will win with cheaper notebooks that bring greater power and longer battery life in a smaller package. While there are no shortage of ultraportable notebooks, most users are still stuck with larger notebooks due to their lower prices. The Ultrabook has a long road ahead to reach 40% of the consumer notebook and laptop market, but given the trend towards thinner and lighter smartphones, notebooks and tablets we expect to see consumers drawn to Ultrabooks class notebooks as the platform matures and prices come even lower than $1,000.

The Future of the Notebook and Laptop

With a desire to make the Ultrabook cover 40% of the consumer market in just 18 months, Intel has a lot of work ahead. Given the longer PC upgrade times and lack of additional Ultrabook devices currently announced it will definitely be a challenge. We expect to see additional Ultrabook class devices for the holidays of 2011, but CES 2012 will be the real showcase for the Ultrabook, and the chance for this new class to emerge and be defined by manufacturers.

As we move out into 2013, Intel tells us to expect Ultrabooks powered by a processor code named “Haswell” which Intel says will be part of, “reinventing the capabilities of the laptop.” The Haswell processors will cut the power needed by processors to half of what today’s processors use, allowing for even thinner and lighter designs.

Intel Attempts to Define Computing Future with Thin “Ultraboooks” Starting under $1,000 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

When it comes to computers and senior citizens, the two may not always mix. This is something that designer Ryan Klinger is hoping to change with his new notebooks designed for users over the age of 65. Klinger hasn’t dumbed down the computer, instead he researched the needs of aging computer users to find out what features and design elements are important. The result is a notebook concept designed to make using the computer easier in a number of ways. Important design features of a notebook for users over 65

• Elevated Handle – Allows for users to pick up the notebook easier and hang on even with dexterity problems.
• Spring Loaded Open – Touch the lid to open the notebook so there is no need to fumble with a clasp or lip.
• Larger Ergonomic Angle – With hunt and peck style typing, this design requires less neck movement
• Large Type Inverted Keyboard – The keyboard has nice large keys, a friendly layout and inverted design to help users hit the correct keys.
• Large, Raised Mousepad –  The Mousepad is raised and is larger than normal to make it easier for users to mouse.
• Illuminated Port Icons – When the correct devices are connected the port icons light up, letting users know when accessories are hooked up correctly.

These special changes are quite important and while many are trumpeting the iPad as the perfect computer for seniors, those that want to do a bit more will likely enjoy the attention to detail and needs that this concept brings to the table. I know my grandfather would appreciate the mobility of this notebook over a traditional desktop, and the usability features would make it easier to switch. Unfortunately this is only a concept right now, so you can’t buy this notebook for your grandparents, but you can get accessories to address the keyboard issue. KB Covers makes Apple keyboards with large type painted on as well as large type keyboard covers. You can also find large type keyboards for Windows. Sray tuned for more on how to make a notebook senior friendly.

Notebook Designed for Seniors and Aging Population is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Working outside of your office or home can be a nice change if pace and can free you from distractions of your coworkers and home work. Unfortunately, if you don’t prepare, working from the cafe or restaurant can be a frustrating, unproductive experience. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to create a great mobile office. A few free services, accessories you are likely to have and a few tips and you’ll be working like a mobile pro.

How do we know about these tips and tools for getting work done at the coffee shop or mobile office? Our team is extremely mobile and I’ve spent the last 5 months camped out at the same coffee shop at least three days a week. In short, I live in coffee shops, which means I know how to get things done in a mobile office and turn distractions into incentives.

10 Tips To Getting Things Done While Working at a Coffee Shop

A Good Notebook – The first thing you need to get work done on the go is a notebook that is designed for mobile work. If you can choose your own notebook then you are at an advantage, but if work provides you with a notebook we recommend making friends with your IT guy so that you aren’t stuck with a desktop replacement that has poor battery life, a crappy keyboard and a weighs a ton.

If you can choose, look for something like the ThinkPad X1, one of the ThinkPad Edge notebooks, a new Dell Latitude E5420 or on the Mac side of things a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. You don’t need one of these notebooks, but the battery life and nice keyboards will make your mobile office time much more productive.

Good Headphones – Unless you like hearing the same music on repeat every 45 minutes and being interrupted by loud talkers and teens, get a good pair of headphones. We use a pair of Nox Scout in ear headphones which don’t block out all the noise, but you might prefer some noise cancelling headphones that go over your ears. These headphones are often more comfortable for long stretches and help give off a, “I’m working, don’t bother me!” vibe. If you can find a pair that includes a microphone you can be prepared for an unplanned conference call.

Google Docs – If you are working on a shared document, Google Docs is one of our favorite tools. Rather than try to figure out which email has the most recent version or calling four other workers to find out who is working on the document you can use Google Docs to always have the most recent version at your fingertips. You can even work on the document at the same time, which is perfect for working from a mobile office.

Find the Right Place – It may take a few visits, but it is worth looking for the right place. We have found independent coffee shops are usually more welcoming. Look for places with free WiFi, no time limits and seats near power outlets. Another thing we like about the independent coffee shops is the lack of WiFi login landing pages and systems which in our experience go down more often and interfere with our favorite screen sharing apps.

Cloud Storage – If you don’t have a Dropbox or SugarSync account, get one now. These tools will automatically sync files and folders to the cloud so that you have access to your files wherever you are. No more calling the office to ask someone to email you an important file you forgot to put on your thumbdrive.

Via hamron on Flickr

Find the Right Seat - This one will be a bit of personal preference, but we like finding a table near the action. By avoiding a corner, we are putting ourselves on display which makes us more aware of what we are doing — and less likely to goof off. Ideally this will be a two person table near a power outlet if you plan to stay for more than a few hours. Be warned, if you are too close to the door or the action you’ll become a prime target for chit chat from other regulars.

iPad + Screen Sharing App – Working on the go can be freeing, but you also may give up your great dual monitor setup. But, if you are on a local WiFi network or your own hotspot you can use an app like MaxiVista or Air Display to turn your iPad into a second monitor which is great for keeping team communication tools, TweetDeck, music or a reference page at hand while you work. These apps are even more useful if you are using an ultraportable with a small screen. You can get MaxiVista or Air Display for $9.99 in the App Store. MaxiVista is Windows only, while Air Display works on Mac and Windows.

Verizon 4G LTE MiFi

MiFi or Hotspot Smartphone App – Most of the time you can get connected on the coffee shop’s WiFi, but sometimes that fails or you want to work from a picnic table at the park. While writing this post the Panera WiFi wouldn’t allow us to connect and unlike at the local coffee shop we love, we couldn’t ask the staff to reset a router for us so we turned to the built in hotspot app on the Droid X2 to connect. This also allowed us to use the MaxiVista app, which won’t work on WiFi setups like Panera. You can add a hotspot package to your smartphone for around $20 a month or pick up a MiFi device from major carriers for reasonable rates.

Remote Connectivity – If you aren’t working from your main office computer while on the go, you need to have a VPN or LogMeIn installed. This will allow you to remotely connect to your main computer to retrieve files or to use applications and software tools you don’t have access to on your notebook. In most cases your IT department can get you setup for a VPN or can approve use of LogMeIn or a similar tool.

Via Marcin Wichary on Flickr

Tip Well & Be Considerate – If you want to work undisturbed and remain welcome for long stretches, don’t just get a coffee and fill a chair for 6 hours. Make sure you tip the barista and order something to eat if you plan to work for more than a few hours. If you pick a regular spot and tip well you’ll stand out and earn friendship from the employees. This is also helpful if you need to use the restroom and don’t want to completely pack up your mobile office. In general, if you are using a coffee shop as your mobile office treat the employees and other patrons with the same, or greater, respect that you would at the office.

Did we miss a tip for a productive mobile workspace? Let us know your favorite ways to stay motivated and productive on the go in the comments below.

10 Tips To Getting Things Done While Working at a Coffee Shop is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Dell XPS 15z is a new notebook that’s being marketed as the “Thinnest 15″ PC on the planet.” Measuring in at just under an inch thick, the Dell XPS 15z can easily be mistaken for a 15″ MacBook Pro, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Dell’s latest creation looks and feels great, especially when compared to the bulky plastic-clad notebooks that are found at most electronics retailers.

It’s impossible to ignore the similarities between the MacBook Pro ant the XPS 15z. But before you begin examining the similarities and differences between the two notebooks too closely, it’s much more important to figure out if having Apple’s OSX or Microsoft’s Windows 7 on your machine. If you’re a Mac fan, there’s nothing about the XPS 15z that’ll hasten a switch over to Windows. But if you’re looking for a solid 15″ notebook that looks a lot like a Mac, the XPS 15z might be for you.

Starting at $999, the Dell XPS 15z is $800 cheaper than the base 15″ MacBook Pro. The XPS 15z’s $999 starting price is on par with the price of the HP Envy 14, another stylish all-metal notebook.

Dell’s XPS line offers a bump in power over typical consumers notebooks, but like most 15″ consumer notebooks they are too bulky to tote around all day comfortably. The standard XPS 15 measures up to 1.5″ thick, while the XPS 15z measures just .97″.  The XPS 15z is about half a pound lighter than the standard XPS (non ‘z’ series) model.

The Dell XPS 15z is available starting today for $999 from Dell.com. We’re hoping that Best Buy and other retailers will sell the XPS 15z in stores so consumers will get a chance to touch and feel the XPS 15z themselves.

Dell XPS z-Series

The new Dell XPS 15z, isn’t alone, Dell tells us that the XPS 15z is just the first of several notebooks which will be a part of the XPS z series. According to Dell, the XPS z-series will be defined by “blending precision, craftsmanship and quality in elegantly thin design.”

Like the rest of the XPS line, the z-series has much beefier guts than the average consumer notebook. Those interested in enjoying their multimedia collections, editing video and playing video games will appreciate the XPS 15z.

We’ve been told that the future of the XPS line looks a lot more like the XPS 15z series than what Dell currently offers.

Dell XPS 15z Quick Specs

This new notebook is packing 2nd Gen Core 2.30GHz Core i5 and 2.7oGHz Core i7 processors (dual core only) and NVIDIA GT525M GPU options with 1GB or 2GB of Video RAM, 4 to 8GB DDR3 RAM and up to a 750GB hard drive. There is a slot load DVD +/-RW Drive and a 1.3MP Webcam with dual array digital microphones.

Unfortunately, the thin design doesn’t allow for a Blu-ray Disc drive.

The ports and connectivity are one area where Dell outshines Apple. Rather than copying and pasting the ports from the MacBook Pro, Dell has added 2 USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 3.0 and a USB 2.0/eSATA port.

Dell XPS 15z Design

In keeping with the XPS z-Series ethos, the XPS 15z has a clean look thanks to its anodized aluminum exterior and rounded edges and corners. A magnesium alloy palmrest and backlit keyboard finish off the XPS 15z’s polished appearance.

The Dell XPS 15z is .97″ thick and starts at 5.54 pounds, which if you are measuring is .02 thicker than the MacBook Pro, which is why Dell isn’t claiming the thinnest 15″ notebook on the planet. Still, it is an impressively thin notebook that is able to deliver on design without also adding an inflated cost.

Like the 15″ MacBook Pro, the XPS 15z has a battery meter made up of a series of LED on the edge with the ports.

Dell XPS 15z Keyboard and Touchpad

Dell is including a spill resistant backlit island style keyboard standard on the XPS 15z. The XPS15z has a multitouch touchpad that supports gestures and has two dedicated mouse buttons. The inclusion of physical buttons is probably a wise one since many PC notebooks haven’t been able to integrate clickable touchpads as well as Apple notebooks.

Dell XPS 15z Display

The Dell XPS 15z has a 15.6″ display which will have a 1366 x 768 resolution and 200 nit brightness as standard, but users can upgrade to a full HD 1920 x 1080 display with a 300 nit brightness rating. The Full HD 300 nit display option will run an extra $100, but is well worth it for the higher resolution and increased brightness which will make it easier to use outdoors even though it isn’t an anti-glare display.

Dell XPS 15z Graphics

On the graphics side, the XPS 15z comes with a NVIDIA GT525M GPU which can be configured with either 1GB or 2GB of video RAM depending on your needs. The XPS 15z supports NVIDIA Optimus which will automatically switch to the Integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics when less power is needed in order to save battery power. The XPS 15z also supports Intel Wireless Display 2.0, which means users can wirelessly stream HD content to HDTVs with an with an optional $99 adapter.

Another nice feature tucked into the XPS 15z’s graphics toolkit is support for NVIDIA 3DTV Play which allows users to connect to compatible 3D TVs to display 3d photos, videos and games.

Dell XPS 15z Audio

The Dell XPS15z isn’t just looks, Dell has included Waves MaxxAudio 3, which we heard in person back at CES and were impressed with the software’s ability to really give audio a boost. If you connect to a stereo, you can get 5.1 surround sound.

The slimmer design means you won’t find premium speakers, such as the JBL speakers built into some Dell models, built in however.

Dell XPS 15z  Battery Life

Being thin means that Dell needs to work to get a decent size battery in the XPS 15z. Dell has put an 8-cell 64WhR battery in the XPS 15z that is rated to last 8 hours and 22 minutes. However, like other PC manufacturers, Dell is using a synthetic benchmark that’s know to overstate battery life. In the real world, we expect the XPS 15z to delver somewhere between five and six hours of Web surfing on a single charge.

The battery is not user replaceable, a trade-off that’s increasingly common on thin notebooks. While this allows for a thinner design, it means that you can’t lug around a backup battery or extended battery for a long day away from your home or office.

Dell XPS 15z Gallery

Dell XPS 15z Detailed Specs

Dell XPS 15z: Thinnest 15″ PC on the Planet, Takes on MacBook Pro is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Apps, Apps, Apps. IT seems all the cool devices these days have apps. While tablets and smartphones may be getting the most attention, you can add apps to your netbook and notebook with the Intel AppUp store. The Intel AppUp store has a collection of popular apps and works on Windows notebooks and netbooks running Windows XP and Windows 7.

How to Install Apps like Angry Birds on Windows

1. Your first step is to install the Intel AppUp Center which is available for free from Intel and runs on anything from an Intel Atom powered netbook to a Core i7 notebook. Unfortunately, you can’t use it on MacBooks.

2. After you Install the App Up Center, you can browse the games like Angry Birds, Flight Control, Fruit Ninja and more as well as apps for education, business, productivity and more. Basically, you have access to a wide range of software in one location, just like the app stores you are used to on your phone. The Intel AppUp store has an added bonus of being chock full of apps that will work on low power netbooks.

3. When you find an app you want, you just click install and the app will download and install so that you can play it or use it whenever you want to.

Favorite Intel AppUp Apps for Notebooks and Netbooks

• Angry Birds for Windows – $4.99 – Need we say more?
• Fruit Ninja for Windows – $4.99 – Slice and Dice fruit before it falls off the screen.
• Flight Control HD for Windows – $4.99 – Free for a limited time – Land planes in this fun and crazy game
• Alchemy Classic – Free – Fun game has you match elements to form new elements
• Boxee – Free – The entertainment of Boxee on your netbook.

These are just the tip of the iceberg, the Intel App Up Store has a large number of fun games and apps as well as business and productivity tools to keep you productive on your netbook or notebook.  If you have a favorite, let us know.

How to Get Apps On Your Notebook and Netbook (Angry Birds, Flight Control, Fruit Ninja & More) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

It’s been a whirlwind week for smartphones and tablets. In case you missed the news and reviews, we have a collection of the hottest news of the week. We also have our top picks for notebook news and reviews to give you some afternoon reading.

Smartphone and Tablet News for the week of May 6th

• The Best Android Smartphones – Coming Summer 2011
  A look at the hottest Android smartphones coming this summer.
• The 5 Best Android Smartphones [May, 2011]
  The hottest Android smartphones available right now.
• How My iPad Made Me Hate Paper and Helped Me Save Over $15,000
  Kevin saves a load of money by using his iPad ad ditching paper.
• Kevin Saves the Dough by Going Paperless, I’m Not So Lucky
  Warner still has trouble going paperless, note for lack of trying though.
• RIM Demos Android Apps on BlackBerry PlayBook, Again (Video)
  RIM has posted another video of the tablet showing off its ability to run applications of the Android variety with more details.
• Verizon to Target Female Demographics with HTC Bliss Android Smartphone, Droidette?
  Verizon is rumored to be coming out with an Android phone geared towards women. With a glowing charm accessory.
• HTC EVO 3D Details, Review & Hands-On Video Roundup
  Everything you need to know about the HTC EVO 3D before it launches this summer.
• Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 Tablet PC Slate Launching Today
  Sumocat delivers his thoughts on the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 slate Tablet PC.
• LG Revolution Details, Review & Hands-On Video Roundup
  What we know so far about the LG Revolution, likely the 3rd 4G LTE device to come to Verizon.
• RIM Announces BlackBerry 7, Says Current BlackBerry Phones Won’t Get It
  RIM also introduced its latest and greatest operating system, BlackBerry 7, which will launch on the new BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 aka BlackBerry Bold Touch at some point this year.
• RIM Announces BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 (BlackBerry Bold Touch)
  RIM introduced the BlackBerry Bold Touch at its BlackBerry World conference. The device, which had been expected for quite some time, will officially be known as the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and the BlackBerry Bold 9930
• Finger Nose Stylus for Stall Surfers Might Be Carrying Things a Bit Far
  A strap on nose stylus lets you stall surf and tub surf with ease.
• Prepaid Smartphone Showdown: Virgin Mobile, Metro PCS, Verizon, T-Mobile & More
  A look at the prepaid smartphone options from national carriers like Virgin Mobile, Verizon and T-Mobile as well as smaller carriers like US Cellular, Metro PCS and Boost Mobile

Smartphone and Accessory Reviews for May 2011

• Review: Sprint MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot (Video)
  Check out our thoughts on the Sprint MiFi 3G/4G hotspot.
• SugarSync Review: Back Up and Sync With Multiple Computers – Better Than Dropbox
  SugarSync stole Kevin away from Dropbox. Find out why he switched.
• Verizon Droid Charge Review (Video)
  The Droid Charge is the newest 4G LTE phone to land on Verizon, check out our review before the Charge arrives in store.
• BooqPad iPad 2 Folio Review: The iPad Case for Note Takers
  The BooqPad + Evernote makes for a great inking experience.
• Casio G’zOne Commando Rugged Android Smartphone Hands On and First Impressions (Video)
  The Casio G’zOne Commando is a rugged Android smartphone that looks intimidating, but loves a good soak.
• Droid Incredible 2 Hands On and First Impressions (Video)
  The Droid Incredible 2 is a slim but powerful 3G smartphone. Check out our first impressions.

Notebook News for the Week of May 6th

MacBook Air Running Windows 7

• Mac Owners Targeted with Fake Antivirus App
  Malware programmers are after Mac Owners with a new fake Antivirus app that tries to get your money and your credit card information.
• USB Modems Preferred 3 to 1 over Personal Hotspots. Why?
  Users prefer USB modems over mobile hotspots. We don’t know why either.
• Is the MacBook Air a Good Windows 7 Notebook?
  A look at how Windows 7 runs as a full time OS on teh MacBook Air. Also, how to set this up for yourself.
• Is Apple dumping Intel for ARM?
  Rumors point to Apple ditching Intel for ARM powered notebooks and desktops. Find out our take.
• Standing Desk Guide: Measurements, Examples and Benefits
  Everything you need to know to get started with a standup desk.
• Two Reasons the Mac OS X Lion Update Will Come On a Disc
  Two reasons why OS X Lion will come on a disk or drive when it arrives this summer.

Notebook Reviews for May 2011

• Samsung RV511 Review: Great Features on a $500 Notebook
  The feature packed RV511 earns high marks for value thanks to looks and a collection of features typical of higher priced notebooks.
• Acer Aspire 7552G-6436 Review [Video]
  Check out this Quad Core Desktop replacement. It’s not perfect, but it might be right for you.
• Ergotron WorkFit S Review: Standing Desk With Hinged Dual LCD Mount (Video)
  Review of our favorite Sit stand desk from Ergotron with a cool new hinged monitor mount.
• ASUS Eee PC 1215B with AMD Fusion Hands On (Video)
  Hands on video of the AMD Fusion powered ASUS Eee PC 1215B

How To Guides for May

• How To Make Windows 7 Look and Act Like Windows XP
  Make Windows 7 look and act like Windows XP if you can’t bear to change. Even if it is for the better.
• 9 Tips for Troubleshooting Internet Explorer 9
  How to handle common Internet Explorer 9 issues.

Weekly Wrapup: Notebook, Tablet and Smartphone News (May 6th) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.