Quick Specs

The OCZ Agility 3 is a 120GB SSD with a SATA 6Gbps rating. The drive stores your data on MLC NAND Flash memory and has native TRIM support. Seek times are rated at .1ms. That’s right! Not one millisecond but one tenth of a millisecond.

The drive itself even looks nice with a black case and green markings labeling it. The 2.5″ drive fits well in the MacBook Pro. I got the 120GB model, but it comes in sizes of 60GB and 240GB as well.

The rated speeds of the 120GB drive are as follows from OCZ:

• Max Read = up to 525MB/sec
• Max Write = up to 500MB/sec
• Random Write = 4KB: 50,000 IOPS (input/output operations per second)
• Maximum 4K Random Write: 85,000 IOPS (input/output operations per second)

This drive is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP. It also works with Mac OS X and Linux. The drive has RAID support as well.

Benchmarks

I used Xbench to test three drives: the stock 5400 Toshiba hard drive that came in the MacBook Pro, the Seagate Momentus XT which we upgraded to previously and the OCZ Agility 3 SSD drive. Here are the results of the overall average scores (higher being faster):

• Stock MacBook Pro Drive from Apple = 52.74
• Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid hard drive = 83.09
• OCZ Agility 3 SSD = 361.56

As you can see the OCZ kicks the other two the curb. The Seagate was a modest upgrade, but the OCZ drive was more than seven times faster.

The other two measurements we performed were boot times and times to load and move files around. Boot times with the SSD were fast, three to four times as a fast when compared to the other two drives. With the stock hard drive my MacBook Pro takes a little over a minute and a half to load. With the Seagate it takes about 45-50 seconds on average. The OCZ boots in under 18 seconds.

Moving large folders of information is also fast, although not as big an improvement. Reading files from the  drive is faster than writing files to the drive. Either way it is still fast. Copying a 2.3GB folder of documents from the SSD to an external hard drive connected via FireWire took a minute. Copying back to the SSD from the drive took nearly 90 seconds.  Both times are three times as fast as our Hybrid drive.

Video: How to Replace MacBook Pro Hard Drive

In the video below I show you how to replace a MacBook Pro hard drive. This was originally done for my review of the Seagate Momentus XT.

Battery Life With the Drive

Last night I decided to see how long it would take to drain my battery with the drive. Previously this test only took about 3 hours since I crank up the screen brightness to 100%, turn on Wi-Fi, surf for a while and watch video on the Internet. I was also writing and copying files around the drives. The result was not that much of an improvement at 3 hours 20 minutes, but it was still better. And my results may not be typical.

Previously the computer was running a hard drive and an optical disk drive, although I didn’t use the SuperDrive during the whole three hours before. The whole purpose in installing the OCZ drive was to test out an MCE Optibay unit that lets you put a second hard drive where your SuperDrive goes. Instead of a seldom-used DVD, that spot now has a fast hard drive that spins up often, since it contains my OS X home folder. As a result, it looks like the battery savings an SSD would normally offer was cancelled out by the battery being used more by the second drive instead of an optical drive.

Others have tested this drive in a typical setting (where it was either the only drive or included in a system with an optical drive) and found that it sips the battery power instead of draining it.

Below is the video I shot describing the MCE Optibay upgrade:

Conclusion and recommendation

I’m very pleased with this upgrade. The combination of the fast OCZ Agility 3 drive and a large second hard drive thanks to the MCE Optibay offers a perfect combination of speed with the space needed to house all of my files locally. For the money, this is the best upgrade I’ve performed on a laptop. Swapping hard drives on notebooks is not something for computer neophytes to tackle, but if you don’t mind cracking open a case, then go for it. Follow my video above and you can do it and it will be well worth the expense and effort.

Pros

• FAST!
• Boot times reduced by a third
• Programs launch almost instantly
• Files open instantly
• Quiet
• No moving parts means it should be more reliable in the long run than a spinning hard drive
• Longer battery life with the drive

Cons

• Limited storage capacity for the price

OCZ Agility 3 is a Screaming Fast SSD [Review] is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Dell XPS 15z angle display

Quick Specs

Inside the sleek metal frame you’ll find a 2.7GHz Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM and a 750GB 7200RPM hard drive. Our review unit is equipped with a 1080P 15.6″ glossy display, powered by a Nvidia GeForce GT525M GPU with 2GB RAM.

The XPS 15z starts at $999, but our review unit has several upgrades and a retail price of $1,499.

Who is the Dell XPS 15z For?

The Dell XPS 15z is a high-end machine that should interest media professionals and students looking for a powerful and stylish notebook at a lower than MacBook Pro price. The price puts the XPS 15z out of the reach of many buyers, but for anyone in need of a good-looking Windows notebook, the XPS 15z is worth a look.

Hands On Video

Build and Design

Dell focused heavily on the design of the XPS 15z, showing a renewed desire to deliver a sexy notebook. The looks take a lot of styling cues from the MacBook Pro, but up close you’ll notice that this is clearly not an Apple product.

Dell XPS 15z barrel hinge

We aren’t sold on the “look at me” barrel hinge, but the rest of the notebook looks great. More importantly, it feels great. The speaker grills and vents don’t look like an afterthought, but an actual design element worthy of the sound that comes out of it. The very soft plastic palmrest feels good even during extended use. The chrome keys, edges and aluminum exterior come together well, showing considerable thought on Dell’s part.

As far as build quality goes, the XPS 15z is impressive. Most consumer notebooks are nowhere near as sturdy as the 15z. We could barely flex the base of the unit and found a similarly rigid display. The build quality flowed throughout the notebook from the middle of the keyboard to touchpad buttons.

Dell XPS 15z design

Features

Design – The XPS 15z is the thinnest 15″ Windows PC (still thicker than a MacBook Pro) and a great looking notebook, especially for a Windows PC.

Performance – As a Premium notebook, performance is also a big feature. The Core i5 processor and GT 525M GPU deliver power worthy of the premium notebook status.

1080P Display – It’s amazing to see a 1080P display on a 15″ notebook, and even more amazing that this is only a $150 upgrade.

WavesMaxx Audio – The sound experience on this notebook is incredible. WavesMaxx is a software solution that maximizes the sound experience over speakers and headphones.

Display

Dell XPS 15z head on

The XPS 15z we have in for review comes with the amazing 1080P HD Display option, which is awesome. The ability to view two documents, web pages or projects side by side anywhere you go, on a notebook thin enough to be portable, is great.

The viewing angles are very good side to side, enough so that you could share a movie with two friends on your next flight without any trouble. The vertical angles drop off quicker, but didn’t get in the way during our use on a table, lap or countertop.

Colors looked great and while the glossy display will kick back some reflections, it’s not the glossiest we have seen. The display has an ambient light sensor which adjust the brightness based on your surroundings. The changes can be dramatic at times, but we enjoyed the adjustments for the most part.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Dell XPS 15z backlit keyboard

The island style keyboard has good spacing (although it has relatively flat keys and an easy to hit caps lock) and overall offers a very good typing experience. The backlighting is also a welcome feature, as that allows us to work anywhere we are. The backlight can be controlled with a function button, or set to automatically light up when you need it.

Dell XPS 15z touchpad

The touchpad is large and offers precise mousing with support for 2-finger gestures and two finger scrolling. In all it performs well, but is way too close to your right palm. Even while trying to keep our palm away from the touchpad, we couldn’t get through the past 3 paragraphs without 4 to 5 misplaced words. We looked, but couldn’t find any palm rejection settings in the Cypress touchpad settings.

Processor and Performance

Thanks to the laptop’s beast of a processor, a Core i7 capable of Turboboost speeds up to 3.4GHz, we never had to wait on this notebook to catch up with what we were doing. From standard web browsing with multiple flash tabs open to editing videos on Sony Vegas the XPS 15z delivers.

For most users there will be excess power here, but for creative types the 8GB RAM and high-end GPU won’t leave you wanting for media creation or playback.

Multimedia and Gaming

Movies look great on the 1080P display and the 15z has the horsepower needed to display them in all their glory. Local 1080P trailers looked great as did the 1080P YouTube version of Dark Knight Rising.

We booted up Portal 2 to test out the gaming chops on the 15z and were impressed with the quality of our surroundings. The environment was detailed and as gloomy as Portal can be, but colors popped and the fire looked great as we moved through the crashed facility. We didn’t run into any lag or stutter while playing, and relished the chance to get another level of Portal 2 under our belt. This may not be an Alienware notebook, but it will meet the needs for many enthusiast gamers.

Audio and Speakers

Dell XPS 15z keyboard and speaker grille

The audio is one of the highlights of the XPS 15z, which was a bit of a surprise to us. The Waves MaxxAudio pushes out an incredible audio experience, even though there aren’t premium speakers tucked under the pretty speaker grilles.

This audio solution tweaks the sound so that you have a loud yet clear audio solution. The sound system can acceptably handle faux surround sound.

Highs and mids left us impressed with crisp sounds throughout the listening experience. When we cranked up the MaxxBass we even heard a hint of the low-end.

Though nothing you would confuse with the noise you get from a dedicated subwoofer, it is impressive in a mobile package. The sound system filled our one bedroom apartment with volume to spare.

Heat and Noise

The XPS 15z is one hot notebook, and not just in looks. The fan is rather quiet, but perhaps it could be louder, something we could tolerate if it meant a cooler experience. After a few hours of use the palmrest, specifically the left palm area, was warm enough to make out wrist sweat.

The base of the notebook was also quite toasty, but not until after we played 15 minutes of The Daily Show on Hulu. During normal use the heat was just enough to be annoying, but after watching video the palm area was warm enough to make us take our hands off.

Dell XPS 15z battery meter

Battery Life

We tested the XPS 15z battery, which is rated for over 8 hours, with a battery test that simulates web surfing with the display set at 40% brightness. The Dell XPS 15z was only able to eek out 5 hours of battery life under these settings.

This isn’t awful, but we expect more, especially with a battery rating over 8 hours. There were a few times we were caught without power when we took the 15z out for a quick afternoon coffee.

The battery is not user replaceable, so you will need to carry a power adapter instead of a second battery. We do like the battery meter, which makes it easy to see how much battery life you have left before running out the door.

Connectivity

The XPS 15z is a pro-sumer level machine, which carries over into the ports and connection options. Be warned that there is no VGA connection, but there are more than enough alternate connections available.

Dell XPS 15z left side ports

Left side: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0, USB 3.0, SD Card Reader, Battery Meter

Dell XPS 15z right side ports

Right side: Headphone, Mic, Slot Load DVD

Dell XPS 15z back side ports

Rear: Power, Vent, Ethernet

Webcam

Dell XPS 15z webcam

The built in webcam does OK in low light, but you won’t be able to make out colors very well. In our test of the video camera the image was above average, but there was a loss of color in low light situations. Audio via the built in microphone was clear to our caller and the audio from the call was loud and clear on our end.

Software

The XPS 15z comes with a collection of pre-installed software, some good and some bad. On the good side is the Dell Stage software which brings widgets and your media to one place for easy access from the main display, in a manner that looks great when you connect to a big screen. We liked the movie stage “app” which lets you browse new releases and buy or rent them at competitive rates. We also like the Dell Photo “app” which can connect to Facebook and Flickr for a beautiful way to look at your photos.

Sadly, there is also a trial of McAfee which pesters you to no end, asking you sign up with screens that don’t even have a close button on them. On the desktop there are also links to eBay and My Identity Protection, but those are easily deleted.

Value

The Dell XPS 15z is a higher priced notebook, but the specs, performance and style come together to offer a good value for your money, especially on a Windows notebook.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a MacBook Pro, go buy a MacBook Pro. If you are looking for a sexy looking Windows notebook with plenty of power and a beautiful 1080P HD display, then the XPS15z is the notebook for you.

Dell XPS 15z top

Pros

• 1080P Display
• Great Audio
• Power for Creation, Work and Play

Cons

• Touchpad Palm Rejection
• Battery Life

Dell XPS 15z Gallery

Dell XPS 15z Detailed Specs

Dell XPS 15z Review: Style & Power With a Beautiful Screen is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP Pavilion g6 Budget Notebook

The HP Pavilion g6 comes in a variety of models, so be sure to look at the specs as they compare to our review model, which is a HP Pavilion g6-1a69u. We expect to see the g6 available at numerous stores as a Black Friday doorbuster. The following review will apply to numerous HP Pavilion g6 models, but the performance will depend on the processor in the notebook.

Quick Specs

A 2.53GHz Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and Intel HD graphics drive the Pavilion g6 aong with a spacious 500GB hard drive for storage. This isn’t the latest Intel Core i processor, but capable enough for many home and basic student users. The notebook comes with WiFi b/g/n, a 8X DVD-RW drive, and a 6 cell battery.

The 15.6″ display has a 1366 x 768 resolution, and the notebook can power two external displays over VGA and HDMI if you turn off the notebook display.

The g6 starts at $449, though you will see it in a variety of prices both higher and lower based on the deals offered by major retailers. Our review model is priced at $544.99.

Who is the HP Pavilion g6 For?

The HP g6 is a budget notebook aimed at basic home and student users. The hardware is capable and the build quality decent, which is exactly what most home users need. Students may be better served by bumping up to a Pavilion dv notebook or looking at notebooks with more media chops, but the g6 will do when money is tight.

HP Pavilion g6 Hands On Video

Build and Design

HP Pavilion g6 Hinge

The g6 is well-built for a budget notebook. The very solid frame and display showed only minor flex when we stressed it. The sturdy feel goes through the entire base with a solid center of the keyboard, another common weak point in budget notebooks.

The notebook looks good and the black and charcoal colors play well together. The finish is plastic, but it has an OK feel to it, especially in the palmrest area. The glossy lid won’t catch fingerprints too easily, but  may pick up the occasional scuff. The bezel is a matte black, which we prefer over glossy bezels.

Display

HP Pavilion g6 Display

The HP g6 has a 15.6″ display with a 1366 x 768 resolution. This glossy display will show some reflections, but isn’t too bad indoors. The side to side viewing angles are good enough that you could watch a movie with a friend, if you sit close, but you can also use the HDMI port to connect to the big screen. Viewing angles drop off pretty quick horizontally, but we could find a comfortable angle on a table, desk or our lap.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The HP Pavilion g6 keyboard is OK, but not great.

The keyboard is a hybrid style, with drop spacing to give the feeling of more space between the keys. It is an OK keyboard, but we were noticeably slower on this notebook compared to an island style keyboard. The key travel is pretty good and helps with the overall typing experience. We like that the function keys are primary, so that you can easily control volume, brightness and media playback, but we don’t like the WiFi on/off switch so close to backspace. We also aren’t a fan of the rightmost row of keys which pushes Enter and backspace towards the center and requires a significant shift in muscle memory.

The HP Pavilion g6 touchpad is above average.

The touchpad is sufficiently large and offers a textured mouse surface that is precise and works well with two finger scrolling. The mousepad does a good job of palm rejection, even when we tried to get it to mess up. If you need to turn off the touchpad, a simple double tap on the upper left will turn it on and off.

Processor and Performance

The HP Pavilion g6 doesn't have the latest internals, but they pack enough power.

The Core i3 processor may not be the newest, but it’s powerful enough for many home users. The biggest hit comes in terms of graphics, but for playback and basic media creation (like photo touchup) you can use the g6 as reviewed.

We opened up several browser windows, Skype, Word and played some video on Hulu without any lag on the machine. If you need to, you could use the notebook to edit a short vacation clip for YouTube, but if you think you will be editing a lot of video you should look for a notebook with more power.

Multimedia and Gaming

The Pavilion g6 is not a gaming notebook, especially not with last year’s integrated graphics. You can play flash games and even some very low demand casual games, but any blockbuster titles that you could play on an Xbox are out of the question.

As far as media playback, we had no issue streaming a 1080P clip on YouTube or playing on locally. The image looked fine, though you are limited by the display resolution to an effective 720P resolution. While watching The Daily Show on Hulu Plus at 720P the notebook had no issues.

Audio and Speakers

HP Pavilion g6 speakers

The g6 packs in Altec Lansing speakers and SRS Premium sound, which deliver decent sound. The volume goes high enough to fill a dorm room or small office without distorting. Unfortunately the audio lacks definition, resulting in a very muddy middle at any volume for music and video. Stairway to Heaven sounded OK, but lacked the depth that really draws you in to the song. Not bad for a budget notebook, but music lovers should get a set of desktop speakers.

Heat and Noise

The Pavilion g6 handles heat well, with only a minor uptick in temperature on the left palm area after 15 minutes of watching Hulu and an hour of web surfing. The base of the unit stayed cool enough to keep the notebook on our lap for extended periods of work. The fan is loud enough to hear in a quiet room, but not loud enough to get in the way of watching TV or listening to music on the notebook.

Battery Life

HP Pavilion g6 battery

For a $500 notebook we are pleased with the battery life on the HP g6. The included 6-cell battery lasted 4 hours and 30 minutes during a simulated web browsing test that surfs to popular webpages with the display set at 40% brightness. You can’t go through the full day on this notebook, but it is respectable in the price range.

Connectivity

Budget notebooks typically come with just the basics, but the g6 does add in a HDMI port to keep up with the demands of most consumers.

HP Pavilion g6 right side ports

Right side: DVD, USB 2.0, Power, Kensington

HP Pavilion g6 left side ports

Left side: VGA. Vent, Ethernet, HDMI, USB 2.0, USB 2.0, Mic, Headphone, SD Card Reader

Webcam

HP Pavilion g6 webcam

The built in webcam isn’t anything to write home about, but it will do for calling home and chatting with friends. The image is a bit grainy and low light performance is not so hot, but if you are in good lighting colors are accurate.

Software

Aside from a Norton Internet Security trial the g6 comes relatively free of bloatware. We quickly traded Norton for Microsoft Security Essentials, and got back to work. There are numerous programs included such as Blio for ebooks, and a few shortcuts, but most of it is not going to detract from the user experience. We did like that Skype and Rhapsody were already on the computer for easy access, but not installed so that they don’t take up resources at startup.

Warranty

The HP Pavilion g6 comes with a one year warranty, but you can add-on additional years and enhanced warranty coverage when you purchase one at HP.com. Warranty prices range from $75 to $150, with the highest price warranty including 3 years of accidental coverage. Typically we pass on a manufacturer warranty, but ultimately the decision is up to you.

HP Pavilion g6

Value

The HP Pavilion g6 offers a decent value for your money. You get a capable processor, respectable battery life and good build quality for just over $500. There are cheaper notebooks, but unless they have a Core i or AMD Fusion processor you’re going to make a big sacrifice on performance.

Conclusion

The HP Pavilion g6 is a good budget notebook. While there aren’t a ton of standout features and extras, it also doesn’t have any major issues. Budget notebooks need to cut corners somewhere to come in at an affordable price and HP chose the right places to trim when they made the g6. Students and average home users in need of an affordable notebook should look at the g6, especially as part of back to school and Black Friday promotions.

Pros:

• Build Quality
• Battery
• Price

Cons:

• Key Placement
• Audio Quality

Notebook Gallery

HP Pavilion g6 Detailed Specs:

HP Pavilion g6 Review: Budget Notebook Without the Budget Feel is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

ThinkPad Edge E420s Business Notebook

Quick Specs

Forget about waiting around for your notebook to catch up when you have a 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor (capable of 2.9GHz in TurboBoost), 4GB RAM and an adequate 320GB hard drive. The portable package includes a DVD-RW slot loading drive and includes a fingerprint reader for security.

The 14″ display has a modest 1366 x 768 resolution and comes with edge to glass that leaves us with a less-than-desirable glossy display.

The Thinkpad Edge E420s we have retails for $1,504 direct from Lenovo, but right now it is on sale as a web special for $699. This price is for a limited time, but is not uncommon during sales and promotions.

The E420s Delivers a stylish look, perfect for business.

Who is the ThinkPad Edge E420s For?

The Edge E420s is designed for small business users in need of a powerful machine that doesn’t look like a dull corporate black box. The internals and features won’t leave you wanting, and the extras and looks won’t leave you looking stuffy in the middle of a pitch.

As always the Edge line is also a great fit for students. The business features will help it survive four years of college while and the long battery life, keyboard and premium audio rounds out the package.

Hands On Video

Build and Design

When you first pick up the Edge E420s you’ll notice the soft matte finish. This finish doesn’t pick up fingerprints as much as a glossy finish, but isn’t fingerprint resistant. Tasteful chrome accents the matte black finish along the edges of the notebook. The subtle style combines for an elegant look and feel, much nicer than you would expect for $699.

The E420s has a solid set of hinges that allow the notebook to open all the way.

Like the smaller E220s, the build quality of the E420s impressed is. We find many of the same features, including sturdy hinges, a strong frame and firm feel throughout the notebook. The body offers very little flex and stands up to heavy typing very well. A spill resistant keyboard joins the ThinkPad durability components to provide a full package for small business users.

Features:

ThinkPad Edge E420s Palmrest

The ThinkPad Edge E220s includes a collection of features that come together to make a better notebook. Our favorite features include:

Low Light Webcam With Enhanced VOIP Controls – No need to find a mic to keep background noise out of your Skype conversations, the built in VOIP controls make it easy to tune out background conversations, or bring the entire room into the conversation if you need a speakerphone. The choice is yours, and easy to access, thanks to the function row.

Spill Resistant, Semi Lit Keyboard – Avoid disaster with the spill resistant keyboard and keep working in the dark with the ThinkPad keyboard light.

Dolby Home Theater v4 – The E420s delivers audio loud and clear enough to handle the boardroom and rich enough to help you relax with your favorite music or movies at the end of the day.

Fingerprint Reader – Avoid entering long, complicated passwords: just swipe your finger on the built in fingerprint reader instead.

Display

The 14″ display includes edge-to-edge infinity glass for a higher end look, but this look will cost you in bright light. The Infinity Glass delivers a glossy display, which is hard to use outdoors thanks to the reflective surface. The hinge, which allows you to open the display completely flat, will help you find a viewing angle that works in most situations, but the lack of an anti-glare option is painful.

The glossy display makes it difficult to see in harsh lighting.

The E420s display offers a 1366 x 768 resolution, which is standard fare in this price and size range. It would be nice to see higher resolution options, but there have to be a few concessions when you get a business capable notebook in this price range. Viewing angles are good. The E420s delivers wide side-to-side viewing angles which allow you to share the screen with a coworker quite easily. The vertical viewing angles falter to washed out rather quickly, but the ability to adjust the display counters this in almost all situations.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Edge notebooks continue to come with a wonderful Lenovo keyboard. The keyboard is not the traditional ThinkPad model, nor is it as good as the ThinkPad X1, but it does offer a very good typing experience. Key travel is good and spacing is plentiful thanks to the island style layout. If we could make two changes we would ask for more curvature of the keys and backlighting. The E420s has a light built into the display, but it is nowhere near as good as traditional keyboard backlighting.

The Edge E420s keyboard delivers an above average typing experience.

Initially we had issues with the large clickpad registering our left and right clicks correctly, but after a driver update we had a solid mousing experience. The large clickpad supports multitouch gestures which perform OK, but not amazingly. Two finger scrolling works well, which is the gesture we use most often. Our favorite feature on these new Synaptics clickpads is the ability to set two finger and three finger clicks. We rely on the two finger click to do a right click, but you can choose from many different settings.

Edge E420s TouchPad and Pointer

The notebook also includes a UltraNav Pointerstick located between the G, H and B keys. The Pointerstick is very precise and easy to access thanks to the recessed keys around it. The Pointerstick has three buttons at the top of the touchpad for fast access to left, right and middle click functions. Unlike the smaller E220s, the E420s has a decent size touchpad despite the extra space these buttons take up.

Processor and Performance

It’s not surprising that the E420s is able to handle pretty much anything you throw at it. We put the E420s’ Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor to the test with a collection of business tasks including running common office apps, web browsing and video playback. Despite running multiple applications and dozens of Chrome tabs, we didn’t notice any lag while working.

The processor and integrated Intel 3000 HD graphics provide enough power to watch HD video without any issues. We could also edit clips in Windows Live Movie Maker without issue, though professional creatives will appreciate a notebook with more power. You can play some games, like Portal 2, but the E420s is far from a gaming notebook.

Audio and Speakers

The audio experience on the E420s is better than you would expect for a business notebook thanks to the Dolby Home Theater v4 software and the up top speaker positioning.

Dolby Home Theater v4 settings

You shouldn’t expect to be blown away with bass, but with Dolby Home Theater enabled you get a system loud enough to fill our small apartment and annoy those sitting near us on an outdoor coffee shop patio.

Sound quality is quite good for a notebook, though you may notice some tinniness at times and there is no real bass. One really great feature is the ability to turn on dialogue enhancement while watching movies. This tool brings talk to the front of noisy scenes so you can hear what characters are saying without cranking up the volume.

Heat and Noise

During our use the E420s remained quite cool. Even when we watched online video at Hulu for 30 minutes and taxed the processor with flash-heavy websites. Even under heavy load the palm area and the base of the notebook remained cool to the touch and comfortable for use on one’s lap.

Battery Life

The Thinkpad Edge E420 delivered an impressive 7 hours and 14 minutes of battery life while web browsing with the built-in Battery Saver profile. This profile is accessible to all users by clicking on the power options. It turns off power to un-needed components and disables Windows Aero in order to use less battery life. We tested the battery using the Laptop Mag battery testing tool, which browses a collection of websites with the display set at 40% brightness.

During normal use, with the screen brightness higher and the standard battery profile activated, we achieved between 5 and 6 hours of battery life, depending on our usage. This battery life is respectable on a business notebook, offering nearly 2 hours more than the smaller ThinkPad Edge E220s. The battery is not user replaceable.

Connectivity

Business users will enjoy the included ports and connections available on the E420s. While we do miss a USB 3.0 port and some users will need to pass due to the lack of an Expresscard slot, the slim notebook includes many of the ports modern business users need.

Edge E420s Review Right Side

Right Side: USB 2.0 Sleep and Charge, USB 2.0, HDMI, Mic/Headphone Jack, Vent, Kensington

Edge E420s Review Left Side

Left Side: Power, Slot Load DVD, SD Card reader

Edge E420s Review Back

Rear: Ethernet, eSATA/USB 2.0, VGA

Webcam

Low light webcam and keyboard light

Much like the rest of the current ThinkPad line of notebooks the Edge E420s delivers a solid VOIP and video communication experience. The webcam performs admirably in low light conditions, but really shines when you have good lighting on hand. The audio is the real showstopper though. Thanks to some wizardry behind the scenes you don’t need a headset to keep the surrounding conversations from interfering with your video conference.

While you are using the built in microphone you can quickly toggle between private and conference mode. When in private mode, the computer only listens to the person directly in front of the screen. If you need to bring in a group, toggle to the conference mode so that everyone around the table can be heard. This feature works well and is quite amazing to try out. Best of all, the settings are easy to access and easy to understand.

Software

VOIP Settings on the ThinkPad E420s

Like most business notebooks we review, the E42os remains true to the ThinkPad roots with no crapware from the factory.

Instead we get a collection of ThinkPad software like ThinkVantage toolbox, Webcam software and other system tools. Included is a battery life tool which makes it easy, and understandable, for end users to tweak battery life without spending half an hour trying to figure out what settings to select.

Warranty

Businesses and IT managers will appreciate the numerous warranty options which range from the included 1 year warranty to a 3 year warranty with accidental ThinkPad protection and On site service. The warranty options are available at checkout and range from $29.99 to $279.99.

Value

There’s no question that the ThinkPad Edge E420s offers an amazing value to businesses small and large. Routinely available for below $800, with a great feature set, this business notebook is definitely worth adding to your short list.

ThinkPad Edge Open Rear Angle

Conclusion

Once you get past the glossy display and lack of a backlit keyboard it’s hard to find things not to like about the Edge E420s. The keyboard offers an amazing typing experience, the battery lasts long enough to get most users through the day and the processor isn’t a slouch. Combine this with the ThinkPad build quality and matte black finish, and you have a business notebook that can take on higher priced competitors.

Pros:

• Priced competitively.
• Long battery life
• Great keyboard
• Good looks and build quality

Cons:

• No backlit keyboard.
• Infinity Glass display is very reflective.

Notebook Gallery

Notebook Detailed Specs:

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

We found a video on YouTube that solves this problem in a very simple and elegant way. It involves adding a special shell command to Dragon Dictate’s recognized list of commands. The new command is called “purge Ram.”

Here is the video that shows you how to add the new command along with the steps below it.

As the producer of the video says, Dragon Dictate’s memory leak sucks up all of your RAM. I have 8GB of RAM on my MacBook Pro and Dictate always eats up to 6 or 7 GB of it. This simple solution clears that out and fixes the problem. In long dictation sessions, just use the “purge RAM” command every ten minutes.

Create a new global shell script command called purge ram to solve memory leak

The steps are as follows:

1. First open Dragon Dictate
2. From the file men choose New Command
3. In the Command Name box type the words “purge RAM”
4. Give the command a description if you want
5. From the Context drop-down menu choose Global
6. In the Type Context menu choose Shell Script
7. In the large empty box below the drop-down menus insert the words “purge Ram”
8. Now save the command

Whenever you notice Dragon Dictate slowing down, just say the phrase “purge RAM”. The whole system will pause for about 10 to 20 seconds. Once finished you should notice Dragon Dictate working much more smoothly.

This won’t solve some of the other problems we found with Dragon Dictate 2.0 for Mac in our review. But this solves the biggest issue and makes the program usable for those who cannot type, or cannot type faster than they can dictate with the program.

How to Speed Up Dragon Dictate 2.0 for Mac When It Slows Down is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Tri-Metal case resists scratches, but likes fingerprints.

Quick Specs

A 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive power the Dell Latitude E6520 in for our review. A wonderfully high 1920 x 1080 resolution display spans the 15.6″ anti-glare display. A backlit keyboard, light sensitive webcam, microphone and a full collection of business-required ports rounds up the rest of the feature list.

As configured the Latitude E6520 is priced at $1,906. The base model starts at $1,334 and Dell has been known to offer discounts on the Latitude E Family of notebooks.

Who is the Dell Latitude E6520 For?

The Dell Latitude E6520 is a business notebook that is designed for road warriors that need a business rugged notebook that can handle the abuses of traveling from customer to customer. The E6520 is not the most portable notebook, but the Core i7 processor and 1080P HD display combine to deliver a mobile powerhouse that will be worth the tradeoff in portability to certain users. For a smaller, more affordable option, the Dell Latitude E5420 is a less rugged option.

Dell Latitude E6520 Hands On Video

Build and Design

The E6520 has a collection of features which add to the overall durability of the notebook. From a Tri-Metal casing and a powder coated base to the anodized aluminum display case and 360 degree LCD bumper the E6520 is prepared to handle the road life of business users. The notebook isn’t the sexiest business kit out there, but it does offer some sleek curves and an orange accent to class things up a bit more than your typical black box business notebook.

Solid hinges add to the build quality of the E6520.

One of our favorite things about the notebook is the build quality. The metal hinges deliver sturdy display placement and the entire body feels very solid. Even the center of the keyboard is stiff enough to withstand heavy typing and pressure without buckling. The entire case had a similar solid feel to it.

Features

MIL-STD 810G Rated – The business ready E6520 is MIL-SPEC 810G rated for temperature, vibration, dust and high altitudes.

Quick Access Door – IT managers will enjoy the easy to access internals which are easily accessible through one large panel on the base of the notebook.

Latitude E Family Compatibility – Another plus for IT Managers is the ability to use the same batteries, docks and chargers across the entire Latitude E Family of notebooks.

Display

While reviewing the E6520 we had the good fortunate to enjoy some wonderful weather, which allowed us to see how the 15.6″ anti-glare display handled the outdoors. Much to our enjoyment, we were able to spend an afternoon working outside a local coffee shop without losing site of our work.

While the display isn’t one we would pick to use outside everyday it is certainly up for the occasional outdoor work session and the harsh overhead lights of many offices. The display also opens to 180 degrees, which allows you to find a good angle to work from.

The 15.6" 1080P anti-glare display is gorgeous.

Another standout option on the E6520 review unit we have in for testing is the 1080P HD display. We could care less about watching a movie in 1080P on this 15.6″ screen, but absolutely love the extra space to compare documents side by side without losing half the document.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard on the Latitude E6520 isn’t the chiclet or island style which is becoming more common on business notebooks, but rather a hybrid style which has a dropoff along the edges. Combined with the curved keyface, the keyboard is nice, though we typed slightly slower than on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 keyboard.

The hybrid style keys allow for decent typing speeds.

Thanks to the larger notebook body we are able to gain a dedicated number pad and a fully backlit keyboard with four levels of backlighting to accommodate many work environments. Though we couldn’t test this option, the keyboard is also spill resistant, which is a musty have for business travelers who will often have a coffee or soda near the notebook.

A small mousepad is flanked by good buttons.

The mousepad on the E6520 is quite responsive and supports two finger gestures for scrolling and customizable multi-finger gestures, but it is ultimately small for a 15 notebook. The primary limitation in size is the inclusion of a pointerstick and accompanying three mouse buttons. The pointerstick offer precise pointing, but it is too flush to the keys for our tastes. Even with these limitations you can get the cursor across the high resolution display pretty quickly.

Processor and Performance

Over the course of our review we made the Latitude E6520 our primary machine, working in Excel and Word while using multiple browser instances and miscellaneous utilities like many business users would. During our testing the Core i7 processor and integrated graphics delivered enough power to keep us at work. Unlike some other notebooks we were able to continue working without a slowdown when we attached two 1080P 23″ monitors to the E6520.

The integrated graphics proved capable enough while using Windows Live Movie Maker, but professional creatives will want to upgrade to one of the higher end NVIDIA graphics option. When it comes down to it, the Core i7 processor on our review unit had more than enough power, even dealing with heavy flash content in multiple windows without slowing down.

Multimedia, Audio and Gaming

While this is primarily a business notebook, it will handle on the road entertainment rather well. The notebook can display 1080P content without stuttering if you want to watch a downloaded movie. We tested out the notebook with a variety of online streaming video services including Hulu and Netflix during our month with the notebook and never had an issue.

If you want to listen to music, the built in speakers will suffice on the road, but you’ll definitely want a good pair of external speakers when you get back to your office. The volume maxes out far to early and the sound was quite muddy in the mid-range; bass was nowhere to be found.

You can get by with some casual gaming, thanks to Intel’s improved integrated graphics. We could play Portal 2 with playable frame rates, but true to the business roots this is not a gaming machine.

Heat and Noise

The E6520 runs fairly quiet even under a heavy load. After playing a Hulu video for 20 minutes the palmrest did not get noticeably warm, nor did the base of the unit. While the fan was running during much of our use it was not loud enough to distract form what we were working on our to interfere with music or movies.

Battery Life

The 9-cell battery delivers all day battery life.

There are numerous battery options for the Latitude E6520 and Latitude E family of notebooks which meet the needs of various users. Our review unit came with the 9 cell 97 Whr battery, which has what it takes to last all day long. Using the Laptop Mag battery testing tool we were able to achieve 7 hours and 58 minutes of battery life with the screen at 40% while the notebook underwent a simulated surfing test.

To test the battery we chose the standard Dell power saver battery option which tweaks the power use to deliver longer battery life. This includes switching to the Windows basic theme and turning off power to un-needed ports and peripherals. All of these tweaks can be enabled by choosing this built in power plan.

Connectivity

As a business notebook we expect a number of connectivity options not found in consumer notebooks and the E6520 delivers in most areas. Notably, there is no fingerprint reader on our model.

Right Side: ExpressCard, WiFi Switch, DVD Drive, Firewire, USB, USB eSATA combo, HDMI,

Left Side: VGA, USB 2.0, Vent, SmartCard

Back Side: USB 2.0, Power, Kensington Slot, Ethernet

Front Side: Latch, SD card slot

Webcam

The low light webcam on the E6520 performed well, though our recipients did report some grainy-ness while chatting in a dimly lit area. When we moved to a brighter location image quality improved. The webcam is capable of recording in 1080P, and when you are able to find the right balance of light and bandwidth you will enjoy good video quality.

The webcam performs admirably, though gets grainy in low light.

The Digital Array microphone provided decent sounding audio for a quick chat, though the caller could tell that we were on a speakerphone rather than a standard mic. Unlike the advanced audio controls found on the new Lenovo notebooks, we could not limit the listening to personal mode if we wanted to tune out those nearby.

Software & Warranty

Like many business notebooks, the Latitude E6520 will arrive with a basic Windows 7 installation, so that IT managers can load up their preferred software tools and packages without the need to remove crapware.

The notebook shipped with a standard array of Windows Live tools, Microsoft Office 2010 Starter and various Dell tools for mouse and webcam settings as well as a backup program. Overall a very clean system, which allowed us to get right to work.

When it comes to business notebooks, the cost of a warranty is often built into the purchase price. The E6520 comes with various warranty configurations that last as long as 5 years. Most businesses will opt for a 3 year option with next business day on site service to ensure a smooth return to service if the notebook fails.

Value

The E6520 is a pricey notebook as configured, but given all of the included features it lives up to the price tag. The notebook delivers enough power to handle most office tasks, long battery life and a plethora of affordable warranty options to help businesses stretch this purchase out over a number of years.

Conclusion

Despite a smaller than desired mousepad and the decision to stick with a hybrid style keyboard it is hard to find things we would change on the Latitude E6520. It is great to see a 1080P anti-glare display available as a $130 upgrade for users who need loads of screen real estate while working on the go. While not as sexy as the ThinkPad X1 or as affordable as the Latitude E5420, the E6520 delivers in all the ways a business class notebook should.

Pros:

• Incredibly Sturdy and MIL-SPEC Rated
• Beautiful and Affordable 1080P Anti-glare Display
• IT Friendly Access and Compatibility

Cons:

• Small MousePad and Recessed Pointerstick
• Low Speaker Volume

Notebook Gallery

Latitude E6520 Detailed Specs

Dell Latitude E6520 Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Some of the biggest improvements available include 64-bit architecture,sound editing and color enhancement tools. The 64-bit architecture allows users to harness the power of new hardware during content creation. The sound and color tools used to be separate applications, but are now included, adding to the value of Final Cut Pro X, especially when compared the the entire whole suite that costs $1000.

Other Final Cut Studio Apps Now Sold Separately

Two other apps that were in the former suite are being sold separately as well – Motion 5 and Compressor which are each $49.99. Motion is designed to help you create animations, professional looking titles and other things to add that professional look to your videos. Compressor is a post processing tool that lets you export videos into a various formats or codecs so your video can be played in different environments. When added to the cost of Final Cut Pro X, these various tools still are $600 less than the cost of Final Cut Studio. They also are sold in the Mac App Store, so you can download them to any of your Macs that use the same Apple account.

New Timeline Features

The new timeline is what Apple calls a “magnetic timeline” and it allows you to put two clips into the new timeline and they will snap together to easily eliminate blanks space between the clips. The new ”clip connections” feature will keep your clip, sound, titles and other elements together when you move them around the timeline.

Editing is Faster

The import tool is enhanced with automatic background rendering. Rendering helps you make a segment of video editable in the program in real-time so that you don’t have to wait for it be rendered. This speeds up video editing. Normally you have to “optimize” or render the video before you can do certain things, like add a slow motion effect. With this improvement the rendering happens in the background so that you won’t spend as much time waiting to add effects.

The Auditions feature lets you put several possible clips into a single spot and see how your video would look with each clip in place. It is a fast way to test multiple edits in a single spot.

Organizing media is also enhanced with Smart Collections which let you search using metadata and then group the results for future use. The program will also analyze your media and you can create Smart Collections automatically with Auto-analysis.

Should the Average User Get Final Cut Pro X?

Even though Final Cut Pro X is much cheaper than its predecessor, should you drop $300 on this package?

That depends on your needs. Final Cut Pro X is not a simple program to use. There is a steep learning curve and if you don’t have the patience for learning a complex tool like this, stick with an app like iMovie. If you don’t think you will ever need all the powerful new features, then also stick with iMovie. Most people just want to splice together some clips of video, add music or narration and put simple titles on the clips. If that is you, don’t get this app.

Final Cut Pro X is for people with very powerful needs (or those who just like to blow money on stuff they don’t need). If you find yourself bristling at the limitations of iMovie, then Final Cut Pro X is a powerful option, but unless you are a prosumer, you probably won’t need the power of Final Cut Pro X.

We hoped that a new cheaper Final Cut Express would show up with some of the new Final Cut Pro X features, but so far there is no sign of a Final Cut Express app. Final Cut Express is an intermediate level video editor which provides a step up from iMovie without all the power and the high price of Final Cut Pro.

Unfortunately, the link to Final Cut Express at Apple (http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress) sends you to the Final Cut Pro X page, which is a sign that Apple sees the cheaper Final Cut Pro X as a replacement for the mid-level movie editor.

Final Cut Pro X Available in Mac App Store, May Replace Express is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The ThinkPad Edge E220s is available from Lenovo as reviewed for $805 on sale or $949 with a Core i7 processor. These prices reflect instant savings and discounts, but are representative of the average price for a ThinkPad Edge E220s.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Quick Specs

The ThinkPad Edge E220s we have in for review comes with a 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The E220s uses the integrated Intel 3000 graphics which deliver enough graphical power for most business uses and includes the ability to use Wireless Display 2.0 to stream HD to your HDTV with a $99 WiDi 2.0 adapter.

Who is the ThinkPad Edge E220s For?

The ThinkPad Edge E220s is designed with the business user in mind, especially business users who want a notebook powerful enough to handle tasks in the office and small enough to travel anywhere they go. The E220s will fit in particularly well for small businesses where costs are especially important, as well as in the corporate environment as a cheaper portable option.

Students would also do well to check out the E220s which can easily fit in a backpack to go to class or on a roadtrip.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Hands On Video

ThinkPad Edge E220s Build and Design

The edge E220s looks and feels more expensive than it really is. The lid is covered in a soft rubber that carries over to the palmrest and the base of the unit. Chrome edges accent the black finish, giving the notebook a higher end look that is complimented by edge to edge Infinity glass that covers the display. Unfortunately both the black finish on the exterior and the Infinity glass are fingerprint magnets.

From a durability standpoint, the E220s lives up to the ThinkPad name with a very solid feel throughout and a sturdy build that carries through the center of the keyboard, an area that flexes on many consumer notebooks.

Metal hinges complement the chrome accents and keep the screen in the position you open it to. One downside is the limited angle at which you can open the display. This limits your ability to find the perfect viewing angle while working on the go, especially when you have the notebook on your lap.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Features

Optimized VOIP Controls – Dial in the microphones to only listen to you, or open up the conversation to the entire room with the easy to use VOIP controls on the Edge E220s.

Spill Resistant Keyboard – The keyboard can handle a small spill without frying the notebook. Especially important on a small notebook like the E220s, which begs to be used at the coffee shop or while eating dinner on a business trip.

Dolby Home Theater v4 – Get better than average sound, even over the built in speakers. Plug in a good pair of headphones to really appreciate this feature.

Fingerprint Reader – If you need to keep your notebook secure, tie your login to the built in fingerprint reader.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Display

The display on the E220s is 12.5″ like the X220 and IdeaPad U260 notebooks and it has the same 1366 x 768 resolution. The edge to edge Infinity glass may help the notebook look high-end, but it is a glossy fingerprint magnet which limits viewing angles and your choice of workplace.

Both side to side and vertical viewing angles suffer drastically when you get outside of the head on experience. On a 12″ ultraportable this is not a deal breaker, but if you commonly need to share a screen you will be disappointed.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Keyboard and Touchpad

The Edge E220s delivers a stellar typing experience thanks to good travel, key spacing and feel. The keyboard on the Edge notebooks isn’t quite the same as the ThinkPad workhorse lineup, but it is still one of the best available. Despite the small size you still get a full keyboard with a top function row that is defaulted to common actions. The keyboard is not backlit, but the Edge E220s does have the traditional ThinkPad light built in which will partially light up your keyboard. It’s also worth noting that this keyboard is spill resistant, which is a nice feature for anyone who drinks near their notebook.

The only issue we have with the keyboard is the inclusion of the PgUp and PgDn keys which are crammed in near the arrow keys causing a number of errant paging up and paging down. It would be nice to see a style similar to the ThinkPad X1, where these keys are recessed, or to see them removed.

The E220s has a touchpad and a TrackPoint pointing stick, allowing users to choose their preferred pointing method. The TrackPoint system delivers precise mousing and works just as you would expect a ThinkPad pointing stick to.

The touchpad on the E220s is a clickable touchpad that is able to overcome many of the complaints we have with this style of touchpad on Windows notebooks. Unlike other clickable touchpads we have used, there were no errant clicks from due to picky left and right click zones. We also like that you can set up two and three finger click gestures. This is the first clickable touchpad on a Windows notebook that just works the way you would expect it to.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Processor and Performance

When it comes to power and performance the 2nd gen core i5 Intel processor is able to handle all of the business tasks we threw at it from large excel sheets and multiple numerous tabbed Chrome windows to editing videos and touching up photos with the included Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows Live Photo Gallery.

This is definitely an ultraportable system which has enough pep to let you get work done without waiting for a program to load or your actions to register on-screen. We pushed the ThinkPad Edge E220s as hard as we would a full size notebook and it held its own when it came to business tasks.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Multimedia and Gaming

When it comes to multimedia playback, the E220s was able to handle a 1080P HD clip from Wall-E without any stuttering or playback issues. While you can’t play a DVD, due to the lack of an optical drive, the E220s can serve as your multimedia hub while on the go. The included HDMI port will allow you to connect to a hotel HDTV while traveling.

When it comes to gaming, you’re better off looking for a more capable notebook, but the new Intel integrated graphics can handle some casual gameplay from less demanding games, but don’t expect to play the latest and greatest.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Audio and Speakers

The E220s includes the same Dolby Home Theater v4 sound technology found on the ThinkPad X1, which provides a better than average sound experience. The sound quality wasn’t as good as we experienced on the X1, but it is still much better than we have heard on many business notebooks.

Plugging in a decent pair of headphones allows you to get an additional bump in sound quality and further enjoy the numerous Dolby Home Theater v4 settings like surround sound and dialogue enhancement, which makes it easier to hear actors talking in movies with lots of background noise.

You’re not going to replace your home stereo, but the Edge E220s is able to deliver a good audio experience in a small package.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Heat and Noise

Heat can be a big issue on small notebooks, but the E220s handles it well. After watching a half hour of video on Hulu the palmrest was still cool and the bottom of the notebook was only slightly warmer than during normal use; not enough to cause concern with the notebook on your lap.

The fan was quiet and went unnoticed for our time with the E220s.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Battery Life

The ThinkPad Edge E220s has a sealed battery which is able to deliver an adequate 5 hours and 10 minutes of battery life using the Laptop Mag Battery Test which simulates web browsing with the display set at 40% brightness.

The battery won’t get you through a full day, so you will need to make sure you can find a power outlet in the afternoon.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Connectivity

From a connectivity standpoint the E220s has a good collection of ports. Notably, Lenovo had to leave an optical drive out of the Edge E220s in order to deliver a smaller form factor, but was able to keep the rest of the ports you would expect on a portable business notebook.

Left: Power, SD Card, Ethernet, VGA, USB Sleep and Charge, Headphone Mic Combo jack

Right: USB 2.0, USB 2.0/eSATA, HDMI, Vent, Kensington

ThinkPad Edge E220s Webcam

The Edge E220s has a low light webcam that performed well in most situations. You can see a sample image taken with the webcam below. It’s no replacement for a higher quality webcam, but for a notebook of this size it performs as well enough you can see my stubble.

The real magic comes from the built in VOIP software which allows you to focus the microphone on yourself, ignoring background noise, or to listen to the entire room and act as a speakerphone. We’ve seen this in action on the X220 and the X1, but it is still impressive to have a conversation over the built in Mic without the person on the other end of the call hearing coworkers and background noise.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Software

We like the fact that the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s sticks to business with a lack of extra software installed from the factory. Our review model came with the ThinkVantage toolbox, which you’ll find on most ThinkPad notebooks, but not much else. This toolbox includes the VOIP optimization software we mentioned above as well as other system tools for controlling security, battery life and backup and restore options.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Warranty

Like most notebooks the ThinkPad Edge E220s comes with a standard one year warranty, but businesses will appreciate the ability to add an extended warranty up to three years, and opt for extras like accidental damage protection and on site repair service. Warranty pricing varies with coverage, but runs up to $279 for a three-year depot warranty.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Value

There’s no question that the $800 Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s offers a great value to business users and students. The compact size, hearty performance and wonderful keyboard come together in a package that makes us wonder how Lenovo can offer it all for this price.

ThinkPad Edge E220s Conclusion

The ThinkPad Edge E220s isn’t the thinnest or lightest business notebook, but the whole package comes together very nicely. We definitely wish that the display wasn’t glossy and that the battery lasted longer than 5 hours, but the great keyboard and sexy looks compensate well. If you want an ultraportable that won’t break your budget, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s is one of our top picks.

Pros:

• Nice looks and build quality
• Great keyboard
• Sound and VOIP software
• Price

Cons:

• Glossy display with poor viewing angles
• Only 5 hour battery life

ThinkPad Edge E220s Gallery:

ThinkPad Edge E220s Detailed Specs:

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The updated Toughbook 31 gains the latest 2^nd Gen Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processors higher RAM and hard drive capacities, ATI Radeon HD 6750 GPU options as well as a brighter screen which is easier to read in sunlight. The new Toughbook 31 also packs in the ability to last 20 hours with a media bay battery.

The Toughbook 31 has a 13.1” touchscreen display which is rated for 1200 nit brightness all the way down to 2 nits. This huge range of brightness is important for use in bright sun as well as the ability to use the display without exposing yourself at night, which Panasonic notes is important for military and public safety uses. There is a stylus tucked into the handle, allowing for better touch input.

Toughbook 31 Standout Features

• Meets 19 MIL-STD 810G ratings for shock, drop, vibration, extreme temperature and high altitude.
• Protection from Water and Dust – IP65 Rating for exposure to dust and water.
• High Vibration Environments – Tested for use in high vibration environments.
• Panasonic CircuLumin Screen Technology – Allows for brightness up to 1200 nit or down to 2 nit.
• Security Options – Smart Card and Fingerprint reader options
• 3G and 4G Connectivity – Connectivity on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless (4G arriving later this year)

The Toughbook 31 is able to handle quite a bit of abuse. In the video below, you can see the previous generation Toughbook 31 go for a ride behind an ATV on a dirt track in Japan.

The Panasonic Toughbook 31 will be available in June, starting at $3,299.

Panasonic Toughbook 31 Gallery

Panasonic Toughbook 31 Continues to Set Benchmark for Rugged Notebooks is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The first two options, SRS and Dolby Home Theater v4 are available on notebooks from numerous manufacturers, while Beats Audio is exclusive to HP notebooks and netbooks. All of these options offer a better sound experience than you will find on a low end notebook, but will often add to the cost. In addition to these three options, there are other audio solutions like Dynaudio found on MSI notebooks, but if you walk into Best Buy or order from the major manufacturers these are your options.

HP Beats Audio vs. Dolby Home Theater v4 vs. SRS

As the video explains, the three audio solutions serve different needs, but we would be remiss not to recommend looking for a notebook with at least Dolby Home Theater v4 audio. The ThinkPad X1 has Dolby Home Theater v4 as do the Edge E220s and Edge E420s and they all sound amazing over the built in speakers or headphones. HP Beats Audio is coming to more notebooks, and even the HP Mini 210, which means you will be able to get a better audio experience without the need to buy a high end notebook like the Envy 14.

If you want to experience these audio solutions, you should take a pair of good headphones with you to Best Buy where you should be able to find a range of these sound options. Unfortunately, while you will find Beats headphones, most of the HP notebooks at Best Buy as of this article do not have Beats audio.

What’s the Difference Between HP Beats Audio, Dolby Home Theater v4 and SRS (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.