The specs, full HD resolution and optional Blu-ray drive make it a solid productivity and multimedia machine, but the sub-1 inch profile and 4.4 pound weight make it more mobile than the average 15-inch notebook.

Add to this an attractive design and good everyday performance and you have the makings of a great laptop.

However, poor battery life makes its portability less exciting.

Who is the Sony VAIO SE For?

Laptop buyers looking for a balance between power, productivity and portability will find this a compelling choice. People who find 13-inch displays too small and want high pixel density so they can look at windows side by side will appreciate the full HD resolution. Mobile professionals and students who need a full array of ports who also need the freedom of carrying their notebook with them but want to avoid back pain.

Design

The big selling point of the VAIO SE is that it’s a 15-inch notebook that aspires to ultraportable status. It’s not going to compete with ultrabooks for thinnest and lightest, but for a full and robust system it still manages a relatively thin 0.9-inch thick profile and a manageable 4.4 pound weight. The overall footprint isn’t bad, either, measuring 14.5 x 10.1 inches. This makes the VAIO SE portable enough to carry in a backpack, messenger, or briefcase without completely killing your back as long as trips aren’t too lengthy.

Even with the size and weight-saving measures Sony took to get the SE slimmed down they didn’t compromise on ports. Lining the left are three USB ports (one super speed 3.0), HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, plus SD card and MemoryStick slots. An optical drive sits on the right just forward of the headphone jack.

Right Side Ports

If you need more ports, Sony sells a port replicator compatible with this model. The connector is on the bottom so you have access to all the existing ports as well as the extras.

On the design front, the all-black chassis keeps it minimal with only a few touches of chrome at the back and in the VAIO logo. The matte finish looks great but doesn’t completely eschew finger and palm prints. I like the way the edges taper down to further minimize the laptop’s size, though the crowd of ports along the right kind of ruin the effect.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Keyboard and Touchpad

Sony’s standard island-style keyboard graces the SE alongside a full number pad. As always, the keys offer good travel, though the tactile feedback isn’t as strong as satisfying as a Lenovo keyboard. The bright backlighting is much appreciated, especially since it not only lights up the letters but also outlines the keys.

This being a larger laptop I also appreciate that Sony includes a large, wide touchpad and two fat mouse buttons underneath. The surface is responsive and accurate and responds well to two-finger multitouch gestures.

Though it’s capable of two-finger scroll, which I’m used to, the Synaptics driver would rather you employ ChiralMotion scrolling where the finger moves in a circular motion. I find this less elegant than two-finger, but the feature does work.

The driver also includes good palm check with sensitivity that can be tweaked.

Display

The 15.5-inch display’s 1920 x 1080 resolution cinches the VAIO SE’s chops as both a productivity and multimedia machine. Even the hyper-multitaskers who rock two displays will be able to get by without complaint thanks to all the screen real estate on offer.

Viewing angles are very wide – I went extreme to the left and right and didn’t see color distortion – which is welcome but unusual with matte screens. The display only goes back about 20 degrees past a right angle, but even there I was able to see video and text clearly at every useful angle.

Colors pop nice and bright and blacks are true and deep, plus the high resolution offers crisp text even when fonts are small.

Multimedia

The big, beautiful display is perfect for watching video and playing games, especially if you opt for the Blu-ray drive instead of the standard DVD when customizing the laptop on Sony’s website. Adding to the goodness is an AMD Radeon HD 6470M discrete graphics card backed by 512MB of VRAM. With these graphics you can watch full HD video without worrying about dropped frames or hitching and even play medium-intensity games at good framerates.

Integrated and Discrete Graphics Switch

For some reason Sony saddled the VAIO SE with a physical switch for the switchable graphics. In Stamina mode you can switch to Intel’s integrated graphics and save some battery life. Speed mode switches to the AMD chip for better graphics performance and less energy economy. It’s not bad as the days when you had to reboot the computer to switch — when you flip the switch the screen flickers and it takes a few seconds to complete the process — but it’s not as elegant as Nvidia’s Optimus, which handles the switch automatically and seamlessly.

Another nice aspect to the SE’s multimedia DNA is the inclusion of Intel’s Wireless Display (WiDi) technology. If the user has the $99 Netgear reviver it’s possible to wirelessly broadcast what’s on the screen to an HDTV.

The only weak link in the media chain is the SE’s speakers. They pump decent volume but the audio quality is tinny and flat. Output via the headphone jack is surprisingly round and full in comparison, so break out the external speakers for this one.

Performance and Battery Life

Bottom Without Battery

My review unit came with a 2.40GHz Intel Core i5-2430M processor capable of Turbo Boost up to 3.00GHz, 6GB of RAM (instead of the base 4GB), and a 650GB 5,400 rpm hard drive. In my time with this notebook I engaged in medium to heavy multitasking with dozens of tabs open in Chrome and Firefox, multiple images open in Paint.net, 10 PDFs on deck, plus Microsoft Office 2012 documents. The VAIO SE handled all of this speedily, opening apps in seconds, switching between tabs instantly, and performing image edits in good time.

When in Speed mode the GPU gave productivity a boost. Plus, I was able to transcode 22 minute 720p HD video clips from AVI to MPEG 4 in under 30 minutes each.

During normal use the bottom of the notebook got warm but not uncomfortably or dangerously hot.

The VAIO SE’s battery life is the machine’s other big disappointment. On Stamina mode is only lasted 3 hours and 13 minutes on the LAPTOP Magazine Battery Test (continuous surfing over Wi-Fi with brightness set to 40%). Not great, even for a larger machine like this.

Sony VAIO SE and Slice Battery

A slice battery is available and promises up to 12 hours, though in reality it about doubles the battery life. It also adds about 0.25 inches to the bottom of the notebook and brings the overall weight up to about 5.5 pounds.

Suggested Customizations

If you buy the VAIO SE from Sony’s website you can customize it to suit your needs, including choosing a silver case instead of black.

If this is going to be your sole computer and you hope to keep it for many years, I suggest you go ahead and upgrade to the more powerful Core i7 processor ($150 extra). If you go with 4GB of RAM you can always at up to 4GB more yourself, but if you’re uncomfortable doing that I would get at least 6GB ($40 extra).

For users who intend to do graphics work, the base GPU model is fine for medium-intense editing, but upgrading to AMD Radeon HD 6630M GPU with 1GB VRAM ($50 extra) will speed up image and video editing.

The slice battery ($150 extra) is a must if you do a lot of work away from an outlet.

Multimedia hounds may be tempted by the Blu-ray drive option ($100 extra). If you don’t already have a Blu-ray player, adding this will be less than buying a good one. Plus you have a full HD screen to enjoy them on.

Solid state drives are also available from $430 to $2,730 extra.

The cost of the VAIO SE with my recommended upgrades is $1389 without the Blu-ray, $1489 with that upgrade.

The Bottom Line

For $999 the Sony VAIO SE is a good value, especially given its features and design. The low battery life is a big mark against it, though it doesn’t completely detract from the notebook’s merits. Still, if you have to carry a power brick or an extra battery to ensure you won’t run out of juice while you’re out, it counts against the SE’s portability wins.

Which is higher on your priority list, performance or portability? If the former, then this VAIO is worth your time.

Specs

• CPU: 2.40GHz Intel Core i5-2430M (with Turbo Boost)
• GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6470M (512MB VRAM)/Intel GMA 3000
• RAM: 6GB (up to 8GB)
• Hard Drive: 640GB (5400rpm)
• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Display: 15.5″ LED backlit
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Optical Drive: CD/DVD player / burner
• Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Intel Wireless Display
• Ports: 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, SD card, MemoryStick slot, headphone
• Size: 14.9 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches
• Weight: 4.4 pounds

Sony VAIO SE Gallery

Sony VAIO SE Review – Multimedia Notebook Balances Power, Productivity, Portability is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

Today Sony announced refreshed to the main lines of notebooks including, the Z series, C Series and S Series. These aren’t major design changes, but there are some nice upgrades to be found — including a number of special models.

As usual Sony pays a lot of attention to the looks of their notebooks, but the specs don’t look to shabby either. You’ll notice that there is no Ultrabook announced along with these refreshed models.

Sony VAIO Z Series

Sony adds 4G LTE to the Spring 2012 Sony VAIO Z.

First up is the VAIO Z Series which gains a Carbon Fiber white option which you see above. In addition to looking nice, this model can be configured with 4G LTE connectivity. Inside you’ll also find the latest Intel Core i family of processors including up to an INtel Core i7 with Turboboost up to 3.50GHz. This isn’t cheap, but at least Sony throws in the Power Media Dock at the starting price of $1,949.

Sony VAIO S Series

Tack on a sheet battery to your VAIO S or VAIO Z.

The new VAIO S Series still covers the same range of models, a 13 inch and a 15 inch version, but new this year is the option to add a Core i7 processor to both large and small notebooks. There are a number of graphics options including AMD Radeon HD 6470M (512MB VRAM) and AMD Radeon HD 6630M (1GB VRAM).

The big deal for me is that you can get a full HD 1080P HD IPS display on the 15.5 inch model.

You can pick up the 13 inch S Series starting at $799 and the 15.5 inch model at $979, which includes an Intel Core i5 processor and the full HD display. These will be available in February and are compatible with the extended sheet battery.

Sony VAIO C Series

The Sony VAIO C now comes in Kaleidoscope Pink.

Sony saves the flair for the affordably priced C Series. Sony shows off a new color and finish called Kaleidoscope Pink, which you can see above. Starting at $799, the C Series uses a Core i3 processor, which is enough for many home users, and USB 3.0 is tacked on for fast file transfers.

Sony Refreshes VAIO Notebooks For Springtime Fun is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Maybe your laptop is too heavy to carry around or too slow to deal with a huge novel file or all the tabs you keep open in Firefox. Is that netbook screen proving too tiny for comfortable editing? That keyboard too shitty for words?

I feel your pain. Trying to find the right computer for writing has consumed much of my writing life. Ever since I started reviewing laptops I’ve become aware of the vast choices available and been exposed to some of the best and most heinous machines in existence.

There is a good laptop for every need. Below are some of my recent favorites. If you don’t see one that fits your needs, let me know what you’re looking for in the comments. You should also check out our Notebook Gift Guide for more favorites.

Ultraportables

These very thin and light laptops fall into two basic categories: affordable ultraportables that don’t cost much and make good companion laptops and traditional ultraportables that are powerful enough to be your only computer and have hefty price tags.

Having a laptop dedicated to just writing is nice, and for that I look to the affordable models. However, if you need a new notebook and have the budget, why not go for one you can carry around everywhere on top of everything else?

HP Pavilion dm1

My top affordable ultraportable right now is the dm1. It has an AMD Fusion processor inside, which means that it performs better than a netbook but won’t be happy with too many heavy duty tasks.

The 11.6 inch display is big enough to fit a good amount of text on screen so both writing and editing will be comfortable. It weighs 3.3 pounds, which is just light enough to carry around all day if you pack light. It’ll last you that long as well.

One nice bonus is the inclusion of Beats Audio, so when you fire up the playlist your music will sound rich, full, and motivating.

Starts at $399 at HP.com.

Ultrabooks

Recently the Windows PC world has decided to join Apple in making super slim and light laptops called Ultrabooks. Right now we’re really liking the Toshiba Portege z835 and the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s. Both are very light and thin, weighing a little more or a little less than a netbook, depending on the configuration, but both bearing 13.3-inch displays.

The Portege has an ultra low voltage Intel Core i5 processor inside, which can handle mainstream tasks easily. If you do something very resource-intensive like edit videos or rock Photoshop for more than just cropping and minor adjustments, then you may be more comfortable with the IdeaPad and the Core i7 CPU inside. But for normal use, the Portege should be plenty of oomph.

Another hallmark of ultrabooks is long battery life. The Toshiba claims 9 hours, the Lenovo 8. We’re still testing them, but it’s been my experience that you can shave about 2 hours off the claimed battery life to calculate what you’d get under normal usage.

Both have comfortable keyboards, but the Portege has an extra that may appeal to those who don’t touch type: backlit keys.

The Toshiba Portege z835 is available for $799 at Best Buy, which is a good price for something this thin and speedy. The Lenovo IdeaPad U300s is hovering around $1,000 – $1,200 right now, but will likely come down as the holiday season gets in full swing.

Samsung Series 9

If a 13.3 inch screen is too big for you, check out this sleek little guy from Samsung. The 11.6-inch Series 9 comes with a Core i3 processor and either a 64GB or 128GB SSD. This ensures you’ll get speedy performance, though if you’re a heavy multitasker it may not be quite powerful enough for your needs.

The Series 9 is made from a strong metal called duralumin that is sturdy but light. The keyboard offers decent tactile feedback and the touchpad won’t get in your way. Due to the size you won’t get a lot of ports. You will get a nice 5 hours of battery life.

This sweet number costs quite a bit of money. However, it comes with a 3 year warranty out of the box, so it’ll be with you that long, at least. If you like the look but need more power, there’s a 13-inch version with better specs.

$1,049 and up at Samsung.com.

Business Notebooks

Don’t skip over this section just because you’re not a corporate type. So-called business laptops are often better for consumers than the stuff you’ll find on the shelf at Best Buy. They’re sturdy, have good keyboards and touchpads, come with a ton of ports, give you robust security options out of the box, and often have useful pre-loaded software.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1

If there’s one thing writers should know about Lenovo’s business laptops it’s that they have the best keyboards around. Even though it looks different from the Lenovo keyboards of old, the new style found on the ThinkPad X1 is just as easy and comfortable to type on as it is attractive. It offers strong tactile feedback, good travel, and just enough dip in the center to keep fingers on the right keys.

The X1 isn’t quite an ultraportable as it weighs 3.8 pounds. Not too heavy, but not super light. It’s also pretty thin, measuring just 0.8 inches thick.

Performance-wise, this is a workhorse machine that can handle Scrivener, MS Office, Firefox, iTunes, and way more without breaking a sweat. Well, not heavy duty games, but you’re here to write, not play WOW.

The only downside to this notebook is a short battery life: around 4 hours of real life usage. You can get an optional battery slice for $150 that will make it last twice as long. However, it adds weight and thickness.

Configurable at Lenovo.com, the ThinkPad X1 starts at $1,199.

HP Probook 5330m

HP has produced some really worthwhile business laptops lately. The ProBook 5330m looks pretty slick for a corporate type thanks to the brushed aluminum casing.

The backlit keyboard is really comfortable to type on and even has a trackpoint, so you can manipulate the mouse without having to move your hands from the keyboard. Inside you’ve got guts powerful enough for mainstream tasks and even some heavy duty stuff.

If you’re concerned about security, this laptop has some heavy-duty options for you. You can register your face for facial login, any of your fingers for one-swipe login, plus add a password. On top of that, you can set it so that not only do you need one or more of these logins, but also a registered Bluetooth device nearby, such as a phone.

It starts at $799 at HP.com.

Mainstream Notebook

Sony VAIO SE

This is another laptop that isn’t an ultraportable, but is designed with portability in mind. It has a 15-inch screen but doesn’t have a 15-inch bulk. For a laptop with this size screen it’s very thin and light, measuring just under an inch thick and weighing 4.4 pounds, making it reasonably mobile.

The screen is not only big, it also has a full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), so you can fit a lot of text on one screen or keep all the different little windows and panels in Scrivener open and still have enough room for your text. It’s also useful for looking at two different windows side by side.

The keyboard is comfortable, though doesn’t have the really strong tactile feedback of a Lenovo. Inside there’s a processor powerful to handle everything up to light video and photo editing and heavy multitasking.

Since it’s such a big system, it probably won’t last more than 5 hours on a charge. However, you can pick up a battery slice that covers and integrates with the bottom of the notebook. This adds some thickness and raises the entire notebook to 5.8 pounds. It’ll get you to 9 hours, though.

It starts at $999 at the Sony store.

MacBooks

You may have noticed a distinct lack of MacBook in any of the categories above. That’s because they deserve their own section.

Many writers swear by their MacBooks and say they can’t write without them. If you’re contemplating a new one or making the switch over from the PC, which should you pick?

MacBook Pro

Don’t be fooled by the “Pro” in the name. The 13-inch model is a pretty basic mainstream laptop at this point, though it is plenty powerful enough for most people.

Thanks to the aluminum casing it’s heavy enough that you will notice it if you carry it around a lot. But it’s not so heavy as to be prohibitive.

The flat keys are well-spaced but don’t dip enough for my tastes. Still, they have a snappy return. And the touchpad is one of the best I’ve ever used, hands-down.

If portability isn’t a concern and you just want a solid, powerful laptop, consider the 15-inch model. Again, because it’s all aluminum it’s going to be on the heavy side. But you’ll get a good keyboard, and nice big screen for editing and writing, and good performance for all your other tasks.

Starts at $1,199 at Apple.com.

MacBook Air

If portability is your main concern then you’re probably eying the MacBook Air. It is wonderfully thin and light and has the same good keyboard and excellent touchpad as the Pro line. You won’t get very many ports, but you will get most of the important ones.

The 11.6-inch model makes a good, but expensive, companion computer. It’s not going to deliver stunning performance, but it’s more powerful than a netbook or even an affordable ultraportable.

The 13.3-inch model is good enough to be a primary computer as it has a good processor and at least a 128GB SSD inside.

You’re going to pay for that power, though. It’s a Mac, so you knew that.

Starts at $999 at Apple.com.

These suggestions represent some of my favorite computers, but I’d love to hear what computers my fellow NaNoWriMo writers are using to get their daily wordcount. Tell us what you love or hate about your computer. What’s your ideal writing machine?

Looking for more tech suggestions for writers? Check out the NaNoWriMo tag over on GottaBeMobile.

NaNoWriMo: Best Notebooks For Writers is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

The VAIO S ultraportable line offered HD+ displays and Blu-ray drives in a sleek and thin form factor. Formerly available only with a 13.3-inch screen, now Sony is bringing the same design sensibility to the more mainstream 15.5-inch size dubbed the VAIO SE.

Available with a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution display, a number pad, Core i5 and Core i7 CPU choices, and AMD Radeon Hybrid HD graphics, this VAIO will make multimedia-loving hearts go pitter patter.

Still less than an inch thick (by a hair), the laptop weighs around 4.4 pounds. Sony claims that the optional sheet battery, which integrates into the bottom of the laptop instead of jutting out, will double battery life.VAIO SE notebooks start at $999.

The 13-inch models have some new options as well. The VAIO SA, SB, and SE now come with second-gen Intel Core i processors. Consumers can choose from Core i3 up to i7. And if you’re feeling patriotic, you can now get a red VAIO SB in addition to white, blue, and pink.

Sony’s VAIO F Series also now comes with second gen Core i processors. Shoppers looking for a laptop to encourage creativity should also take a look at this line as now all models will come with Sony Imagination Studio software, which includes Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum, Sound Forge Audio Studio, and ACID Music Studio. Sony is banking that this suite offers a counter to Apple’s iLife for the Windows market. VAIO F laptops start at $1079.

These refreshed specs are available today in Sony’s online store.

Sony Refreshes VAIO S and F Series Laptops For The Holidays is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

In order to make the VAIO Z so thin, engineers had to change the approach to how your laptop is put together. Instead of stacking parts, like is common on most notebooks, the VAIO Z keeps things flat. This spread out design makes it possible to go thinner than before.

Sony has included a dual fan setup as well in order to keep the notebook cooler and shrink the size of the notebook.

As it turns out, heat is a major issue that prevents notebooks from going as thin as the components can go. To make the Z thinner, Sony added multiple vents, including holes in the keyboard to aid cooling.

The video is pretty interesting if you’ve ever wondered what it looks like inside an ultraportable notebook.

The VAIO Z comes with a price premium, but may show more than you expect about the future of computing. As prices come down, you too may have an ultraportable notebook with the basic power you need, that can be docked at home to power big displays and multimedia needs.

Given Intel’s push for the Ultrabook, we may start seeing more thin notebooks which will need to take advantage of similar strategies to offer a cool notebook experience. Intel’s Ultrabook fund could help make this a reality. Unlike the VAIO Z, which is $2,000, the Ultrabooks are expected to be under $1,000 when they arrive this year.

Because you shouldn’t leave something so expensive in pieces, Sony has also showed us how the VAIO Z gets assembled in this short video.

Sony VAIO Z Teardown Video Shows Tech Inside Super Thin Notebook is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Here are some recommendations for tools that might make going off to college, high school or any educational experience, more productive and fun.

Verbatim Tuff N Tiny USB Flash Drive – $9.75 for 2GB

This tough little USB flash drive made our Father’s Day gift guide too. I like it that much. I personally tried to destroy one of these for a review that ran earlier this year. The drive takes a beating and holds your files intact. This rugged drive will help you back up or transfer papers (or other content) safely. The drive starts at under $10, and a large 16GB drive only costs about $40 direct from Verbatim.

iTunes or Amazon Gift Cards

You might think I’m just getting lazy with this pick. Gift cards? Really?

Yes! Gift cards supply both future and present needs. Your college student can get that useful note taking iPad app for class or some music or videos for entertainment. If you look at a local Sam’s Club you will often find iTunes Gift Cards for a few bucks less than the face value. For example, I recently bought four $25 gift cards in a single pack for only $96. You can get iTunes Gift Cards on discount at Sam’s Club or almost anywhere you buy electronics.

Amazon sells everything, and students get free access to Amazon Prime which provides free shipping or low-cost next day shipping. They can save some money using Amazon compared to getting books at the campus store. You can buy Amazon gift cards in any amount from their site.

ZooGue Binder Pad iPad 2 Case – $29.99

If your student will be carrying an iPad 2 to class, the ZooGue BinderPad iPad 2 Case can help them store it in their big three-ring binder notebook for just $30. I’ve tested it out and can assure you that it protects your iPad 2 well while in a three-ring binder. The case doesn’t add much weight to the iPad. It has three holes for the binder and you slide the iPad 2 into the top of the case. A flap with velcro holds the iPad in place. ZooGue makes it from a rugged polyester material. In the past I’ve been impressed with their iPad cases.

YooBao Slim Leather Snap On Case – $29.99

Speaking of cases, the makers of my favorite iPad 2 case have a snap-on iPhone 4 case made with the same nice leather used in that iPad 2 case. The iPhone case has a nice grip and protects your iPhone without adding much bulk or weight. The YooBao Slim Leather Snap On Case is inexpensive and looks nice too. The high-grade leather comes in three colors – white, brown and black.

Booqpad iPad 2 Case and Notepad – $49.99

Booq makes great laptop and tablet cases, but one favorite is the Bookpad iPad 2 case. It protects your iPad while adding a notepad that you can use for your note taking in class. When finished marking up a sheet of paper on the tablet side, just take the iPad out of the case and shoot an image to “scan” it into your favorite note app like Note Taker HD or Evernote. Our review linked above recommended this combination for people who take a lot of notes but haven’t become acclimated to digital note taking yet. Students often fit this category since your professors and teachers won’t wait for you to finish. Many people can keep up on a tablet screen, but many, like me, cannot if the speaker talks fast.

Booq offers a number of styles and colors to choose from including a high-end brown leather that costs $99.95 or the basic model for $49.95. We just wish that they would make a hole for the iPad 2 camera to make the capture process of the notes easier.

Also check out their other cases and bags for notebooks and tablets. You won’t be disappointed with a Booq Bag.

Livescribe 2GB Echo Smartpen – $99.95

A couple of our contributors here at Notebooks.com and GottaBeMobile.com swear by this tool. Livescribe pens will do more than just put ink on paper. They record the audio of lectures or meetings. They also record the motion of your pen, which is then transcribed into editable text. On top of that, they also offer storage for your audio. Our own Adam Mills told me, “If I was still in college, I’d definitely be using one for lectures.” With the pen you get a free year of Evernote Premium, which gives you extra storage and transfer space.

The 2GB Echo is one of the lower cost options, although they have higher capacity pens. The pen connects to a computer via Micro-USB to transfer files on and off. The ink is replaceable and the pen writes on special tablets, which you buy from the company.

Our own K.T. Bradford recommends getting the headphones with the pen. She said that they have a mic in them like you get with your smartphone. The mic picks up the sound better than the built-in mic on the pen.

iHome iA17 App-Enhanced Color Changing FM Radio Alarm Clock – $99.99

I’m a big fan of iHome’s products and the new iHome iA17 dock for your iPod Touch or iPhone should be as good as the past products I’ve tested. The radio changes colors based on your chosen settings. The base of the dock is translucent so the colored lighting shines through and will fade between colors as it changes or pulse to the beat of the music. You can turn it off completely.

The base of the dock changes colors with the music

The color feature might just be a fun attention-getting gimmick, but coming from iHome you can be assured that the sound quality will be top-notch for a product in this price range.

The dock fits anywhere in your dorm room, or on a bedroom nightstand, and helps keep you on time for those early morning classes or school days. It adds an FM stereo radio to your iOS device while it is docked, so you can both play your iPod files through the speakers and listen to the radio.

Install an iHome app on your device to get more features like sleeping stats, weather, alarm clock, wake to your favorite iPod tunes and more.

Sony Xperia Play Android Powered Phone – Verizon – $99

Our reviewers at GottaBeMobile see a lot of different Android phones, but for Verizon customers there is one that stands out if you like to play games. The Xperia Play from Sony will help you waste plenty of time. Our own Josh Smith reviewed the phone for our sister site GottaBeMobile and liked it. If you hate using a touch screen to control Madden NFL or your favorite first person shooter, then the Xperia play will satisfy you. Josh said the following:

The Xperia Play is not going to blow your mind with graphics, even if they are pretty good, but it is able to deliver a fun mobile gaming experience. Thanks to the off-screen controls, you can use your whole display for viewing the game — which even touchscreen junkies will appreciate.

Watch his hands on video for more info.

Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB USB Hard Drive – $109.99

You can quickly share files with an external hard drive hooked up via USB. I wish everyone would adopt the fast Thunderbolt port on the new Macs, but at present few have other than Apple and some high end accessory makers. USB 3.0 is the next fastest hard drive interface and it works with older USB 2.0 ports as well.

This WD My Passport Essential SE 1TB USB Hard Drive, on sale right now for less than their 750GB model, will store a ton of music, movie, picture and personal files. The size means it won’t take up too much space in your backpack. The drive can be powered via USB on the majority of modern computers.

Microsoft Office Home and Student – $149.99 from Microsoft

Microsoft Office is the de facto office suite for the known world. Sure you can get other cheaper and free alternatives like OpenOffice.org or iWork’s apps on OS X, but Microsoft’s suite doesn’t cost all that much. Since the vast majority of computer users have Office, why put up with the hassle of converting your documents if you don’t have to? The suite has Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote. More expensive versions add Outlook, Access or Publisher.

Office retails for $150, but never pay that much. You can find it online for as little as $100-$120. You might even find it in your college bookstore for as low as $20.

Computer majors might want to consider going with a TechNet subscription which allows downloading of full versions of Office and Windows for just a little more than the retail cost of Office Home and Student.

If you use a Mac, you can get Office for Mac 2011 for the same retail price or cheaper online. Microsoft offers it through TechNet as well. The Mac version is not a clone of the Windows version, but instead incorporates some of the OS X interface to make it more Mac-like. I’ve used the iWork apps like Pages, Keynote and Numbers. I prefer Word by far to Pages because it just has more to offer, while being more compatible in the dual-OS environments you find in most schools and universities. Keynote may be a little better than PowerPoint due to more attractive themes and transitions, but not enough to choose iWork and Pages over Office with Word if you have a lot of Office users around.

SuperTooth Disco Battery Powered Bluetooth Stereo Speakers – $149

I called this set of speakers the “21st century boom box” at GottaBeMobile.com. The SuperTooth Disco has bluetooth connectivity so you can hook them up to your smart phone or laptop to blast those beats. The sound quality beats most mobile speakers we’ve tested, and the long battery life means the music keeps pumping for hours out in the campus quad after classes, or just in your room.

I’ve used the system to show an outdoor movie to a few dozen people in my backyard and to play music at the beach on vacation this summer. They worked great. I also play music in my office with them.

The speaker system comes in a nice carrying case and has an auxiliary line input to connect a non-bluetooth enabled audio device. The speakers cost $149 directly from SuperTooth.

Canon Powershot SD1400IS Point and Shoot Camera – $199.99

Why would we include a camera when so many smart phones have great cameras these days? Not everyone owns one of those great smart phones with a nice camera. A lot of people still have a cheap feature phone or an early smartphone, and many are still locked into a 2-year contract. Also, a dedicated camera is still the best option for taking a lot of snap shots of special events, or when you are traveling. I’ve missed a lot of great moments because my smart phone camera took three or four taps to get started when a pocket camera would have been ready after the push of one button.

I love my Canon SD 1300IS. The only camera I would rather shoot with is my DSLR, or if I could justify it, the Canon SD1400IS. The optics on these inexpensive little cameras are surprisingly good for still shots or bright outdoor photographs. They are simple to use and just work! Many of the product shots I take for my reviews are taken with the older brother of this camera. Below is a sample of a shot my wife took at Ft. Myers Beach, FL this summer of some palm trees early in the morning outside our hotel room.

Muzetto Laptop Case from Waterfield Designs – $259

A traditional gift for a recent college graduate heading off to graduate schools is a high-quality briefcase. While I would appreciate the thought, I’d much rather have a premium laptop case. Based on our experience with Waterfield Designs cases a great option is their Muzetto line of cases that fit anything from a 10″ tablet for $199 up to a 15″ laptop for $259. The vertical orientation bag has a leather flap to cover the computer.

The leather case has colored accents and a nice strap to carry over your shoulder. Inside are compartments for you computer, a phone, sunglasses and more. A computer in a protective sleeve or pouch would fit, giving you double the protection and the versatility of just pulling out the computer and taking it alone down the hall to a friend’s dorm for a study session.

I love Waterfield Designs products and think you will be pleased with one of these bags. You might want to look at the Racer-X if you want to go with a mid-range price. At the lower end is their Sleeve Case for the MacBook Air, which I reviewed and still love.

Slingbox and Mobile Apps – $299 + $29.99

A Slingbox hooks up to your TV and video source, like a cable box or Satellite, and streams the video from those sources to other TVs or the mobile app. This setup rocks for a student going off to college. Have the box connected to your home cable system, or satellite dish, and then you can load the iPad or another mobile app and watch content anywhere your mobile device has Internet access. It also supports watching through an Internet browser on a Mac of PC as well.

I live in North Carolina, grew up in Wisconsin and went to college in Kentucky. Before the days of DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket I only watched my beloved Green Bay Packers when the national game of the week featured them. I can afford the NFL Sunday Ticket, but a lot of college kids never could. And even if they could they would not be able to instal it in most dorm rooms because you need a DirecTV satellite dish. Slingbox and the mobile app gives them access to their home team, local news broadcasts and any other TV content without paying the cable or satellite man for a feed in the dorm or their apartment.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer – $399

Everyone knows about the iPad, so recommending it is too easy. Not many people know about the excellent ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, which I really like. It is cheaper than the iPad by about $100 and can do a little more. First, the optional keyboard dock connects to the tablet and turns it into a fully functional Android netbook and doubles the battery life thanks to the keyboard dock’s battery. I’ve used it to type for long periods of time and, while I would not give up my MacBook Air or Pro, the keyboard was good enough to use without getting frustrated or feeling cramped.

The tablet comes with Honeycomb. A 3.2 update makes it one of the earlier 3.2 tablets. The update is not earth–shattering, but it is nice to have. I love the bright crisp display, the responsive interface and the feel and weight. A forthcoming review will give more details, but for now I recommend this as the best Android tablet available because of the screen and the added functionality the keyboard dock with extended battery gives you. Take notes by day with the tablet in all of your classes and then use it as a netbook all evening long to write papers.

Now if only Android had as great a choice for tablet apps as the iPad we’d be set.

Just know this. ASUS will be probably release the Transformer 2 sometime this fall with a faster Tegra 3 processor, so you might want to hold off until then. If that doesn’t matter, the Eee Pad Transformer’s versatility makes it a great choice right now. Below is my first look:

Mili Pico Projector 2 HP-A10 – $449.95

Our friends at XenGadget sent one of these units over for review and it is cool. I’m testing the Mili Pico Projector (HP-A1) V2 out now, but based on limited experience I wanted to include this in our roundup for those Friday night movie nights in the dorm, or for an overnight at a friend’s house. The little projector is about the size of two stacked iPhones and has a dock port for an iPhone. Plug it in and the video will be projected through the tiny lens. The projector works best in dark rooms, but isn’t that how you want to watch a movie? The LED light projects the image. You won’t get HD, but remember, you are carrying your projector in your pocket.

The device has a battery so you don’t need to plug it into the wall outlet while watching your movies. You could do presentations from your phone, iPod touch, iPad or computer if needed. The latter can be done through a VGA input. The projector casts up to 70″ from corner to corner, although 40-50″ will look the best.

As you can see from the image, the device has a kickstand that folds out of the back. Connect it to external speakers or use the ones built into the projector. They might disappoint, so I’d suggest external speakers.

The device comes in either black or white for about $450. There is a nice carrying case and remote in the package too.

Gateway ID47H02u 14″ Laptop – $699

We look at a lot of notebooks, but the Gateway ID7Ho2u made our editor Josh Smith “do a double take” when he opened the box the first time. The screen offers an edge-to-edge display, meaning you get a nice width without a lot of bulk. The ID series of notebooks from Gateway have a little more style and performance than others from the budget manufacturers. Josh said it was “worth a closer look” for buyers who want something with some power at an affordable price.

Here are some of the basic specs:

• Intel Core i5 2nd Gen Processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 500GB Hard Drive
• Intel HD 3000 Graphics
• DVD Super Multi-Drive
• USB 3.0 that will charge while it sleeps
• VGA, HDMI out
• SD card reader
• Dolby Home Theater v.4 Audio
• Full size keyboard but no number pad
• Over sized mousepad

Apple MacBook Air – $999 for 11″

If money is no object, the one computer I would recommend to all students is the Apple MacBook Air. It is fast, light and looks cool. You can perform any basic educational task with it. It is under-powered for intense uses like gaming or creative content creation, but you can do limited video and photo editing with the included iPhoto and iMovie. I’ve played a few of the games available in the Mac App Store on my 2010 version. The 2011 MacBook Air has a faster processor and faster SSD too.

The 11″ travels perfectly for those taking it to class or for pulling it out on a public transportation commute or carpool. If you need more screen real estate, go with the 13″ model. I would also recommend adding 2GB of RAM and getting at least 128GB of storage, making the cost a few hundred dollars more than the base model. It will be worth it.

Check out our own Xavier Lanier’s posts about the out of the box experience and the battery life of the newer 2011 MacBook Air. You can also read about his first impressions. Below you can watch his unboxing video.

Back to School Gadget Buying Guide: 18 Fun and Productive Suggestions is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Though these notebooks will come in four colors — midnight blue, glacier white, and charcoal black — only blush pink was on display. It’s definitely the color most likely to attract attention of the four, though I’d be interested in seeing how the facets created by the geometric cut look in a darker color like black or blue.

Beyond the look of it, I found the texture nice on the tactile front as well. While trying out the keyboard I didn’t find the palm rest distracting or annoying. It actually feels pretty good under the hands. Long-term typing might prove me wrong on this front, so I’m looking forward to using it for a longer stretch in the full review.

I’m not a big fan of the rubber keyboard covers Sony has available for their VAIO laptops even though they do allow for more customization of color. Once I stripped it away I found the typing experience about the same as other VAIO models — good but not great tactile feedback, decent return.

Overall, the system felt snappy to me, though the models on display didn’t appear to be final production as far as OS and software.

The weight on the 14-inch model is a nice balance, sliding it into thin and light territory, but not ultraportable. This series also comes in 15.5 and 17.3-inch versions. Sony offers customers the choice of second-gen Core i5 and i7 processors from Intel or, in the case of the 15-inch model, an AMD E-350 APU.

So far, the Sony VAIO E Series looks like it will make for a nice mainstream multimedia machine. The notebooks start out at $549 and are available now at the SonyStore. We’ll have a full review of the Sony VAIO E Series for you soon.

Sony VAIO E Series: Hands-On With Sony’s Multi-Faceted Multimedia Machine is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

The Sony Vaio Z connects to the Power Media Dock to power up to 4 Displays.

Sony has crammed a collection of great specs into the thin and light frame of the VAIO Z starting with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor capable of TurboBoost speeds of 3.4GHz, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. The 13″ display comes standard with a 1600 x 900 resolution, but if you can’t settle for anything less than 1080P Sony also has you covered with an upgraded display option. A backlit keyboard, optional 3G, 1.3MP webcam and HDMI out round out the internal specs. Sony claims 7 hours of battery life with the built in battery, but offers a sheet battery which will stretch your computing time out to the 14 hour mark.

The Sony Vaio Z Power Media Dock delivers more power when you are at home.

At first glance the VAIO Z looks like another MacBook Air competitor trying to out-spec Apple’s most popular notebook, but when you take a look at the dock you’ll see why Sony thinks you’ll choose the VAIO Z over the competition. When you return home from your road trip, where thin and light are most important, you can plug the VAIO Z external dock into the Light Peak (Thunderbolt) port on your VAIO Z to gain access to a Blu-Ray Player, AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics with 1GB RAM and a slew of connections including HDMI, VGA, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

The dock can power 4 monitors at once including the notebook display, which is a big deal for power users. Sadly the Light Peak connection uses a Sony specific connector so you won’t be able to enjoy the new Thunderbolt accessories, whenever they make it to market.

The VAIO Z is thinner than the MacBook Air, but just barely with a thickness of 16.65mm compared to the MacBook Air’s 17mm body. The VAIO Z is also lighter, weighing in at 2.64 pounds compared to 2.91 on the MacBook Air 13″.

Hands on with the Vaio Z and Power Media Dock

We expect to see the Sony VAIO Z go on sale in July in the U.S. Currently UK readers can pre-order the VAIO Z, which is available for roughly $1,835 and an additional $500 for the dock. If you want the higher end 1080P model prepare to sacrifice your car down payment to come up with the $3,000 estimated price, but at least that includes the dock.

Sony Vaio Z: Thinner Than MacBook Air, External Dock with Powerful GPU is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Sony VAIO E Series

The Sony VAIO E Series update includes new processor options, allowing users to pick between the latest Intel 2nd Gen Core i3 or Core i5 Intel processors and the AMD Fusion E-350 dual-core fusion processors which pack in a very capable AMD Mobility Radeon HD6130 GPU to handle graphics. You can pick up a VAIO C notebook in 14″, 15.5″ or 17.3″ sizes to fit your needs. The color options include midnight blue, glacier white, charcoal black and blush pink, but the 17.3″ VAIO C will only be available in black or white.

The cases of these computers have an interesting geometric pattern on the lid and wrist rest that grabs attention, which Sony says will make the notebooks fingerprint resistant.

In addition to color enhancements the E Series now have keyboards that span edge to edge, with the larger models packing a dedicated number pad. Sony describes the touchpad as dimpled,  meaning it is recessed into the wrist rest with two buttons in front of the pad.

Three hardware buttons on the E Series will engage WEB, VAIO and ASSIST functions. They three functions do the following:

• WEB – access to the Internet without having to boot into Windows
• VAIO – loads the Sony Media Gallery software which plays various kinds of media
• ASSIST – takes you to the VAIO Care support system

Sony is aiming these notebooks at the average user who wants to do basic tasks , with the ability to also deliver on the entertainment experience. The computers can be connected to an HD TV for 1080p HD movies via a HDMI cable. There will be an option for Remote Keyboard function that interfaces with Sony branded TVs, Blu-ray players to control them and there will be Remote Play for connecting to a Sony PlayStation 3 so that you can access the multimedia content on your PS3 using the notebook through the Internet while away from the gaming system.

Other features include:

• LED backlit LCD
• Built-in mic
• Web camera with face tracking

Pricing and Availability

These VAIO E Series computers will start at around $550. You can pre-order one starting on June 19 at Sony’s Website. Sony Stores and other major retailers will be carrying them in the next month.

Sony VAIO C Series

For users that want a more portable solution, with the ability to add a Blu-Ray drive, Sony offers the refreshed VAIO C notebooks which come in 14″ and 15.5″ sizes. Along with new spec options, which include Intel Core i3 and Core i5 Sandy Bridge processors, the VAIO C notebooks can now by purchased  in Neon Red and Thunder Blue.

Graphics will be powered by the AMD Radeon HD 6630M 1GB Hybrid GPU on higher end models. This graphics processor will give you pretty good performance and thanks to the hybrid system decent battery life when you don’t need the horsepower. Sony promises up to nine hours of battery life on the smaller 14 inch system, while the larger 15.5 inch C Series will give you up to eight hours. Even if we discount the battery ratings to two-thirds, the promised battery life is still quite good.

On certain “Signature Collection” models Sony will include their Imagination Studio Suite 2 VAIO Edition which is optimized to handle multimedia editing  for users who want to get creative with pictures, audio and video.

If you get the Intel WiDi adapter along with your C Series laptop, you will enjoy wireless HD video streamed to your HD TV set. The computers also sport the following:

• Backlit keyboard, with a number pad on larger models
• HD web camera with Exmore sensor technology
• The same three shortcut buttons for WEB, VAIO and ASSIST mentioned above

Pricing and Availability

Like the E Series, you can pre-order The VAIO C notebook in Thunder Blue at Sony.com on June 19 starting at $730. This Thunder Blue model will also arrive at many retail locations in June.

The Neon Red VAIO C will come out later this summer, with availability at the following stores:

• ABT Electronics
• B&H Photo
• Fry’s Electronics
• J&R Electronics
• MicroCenter
• Nebraska Furniture Mart
• Sony Stores

Sony VAIO E and VAIO C Notebooks Gain Faster Processors, Brighter Colors is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The new VAIO F series are packing Quad Core Sandy bridge processors and NVIDIA GeForce GT540M and GT 520M GPUS to deliver the power needed to push multimedia and games to the 1920×1080 Full HD 16.4” display.

AS far as enjoying your movie, music and game audio Sony has you covered with S-Force Front Surround sound technology and Dolby Home Theater v3. This is a drop down from the Dolby Home theater v4 found on many new notebooks, but a noticeable boost over standard notebook audio.

Like the just announced VAIO S, the VAIO F series should handle well in low light thanks to a backlit keyboard and an Exmor sensor in the webcam.

Other features include the ability to connect to the PS3 and other Sony devices, USB 3.0 ports and quick access to the Internet with a push of the Web button. The Web button loads a web browser that allows you to check email and websites faster than booting into Windows.

The new Sony VAIO F notebooks are available now online and from select retailers starting around $1,100.

Sony Vaio F Notebooks Arrive Packing a Multimedia Punch is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.