Amazon.com Product Description

Get your motor running and ready for the road with the highly mobile Averatec AV3225HS-01 notebook PC. This tiny laptop weighs just over 4 pounds and runs on a mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 2000+ processor with battery-saving features. It also features a 12.1-inch screen, combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and integrated 54g (802.11b) wireless connectivity. For a step up in price, the Averatec AV3255P1-01 features Windows XP Professional.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The AMD Athlon XP-M 2000+ processor is a moderately fast processor that delivers similar performance to a 2.0 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor. The "M" stands for mobile, and its PowerNow power-saving features will help extend battery life. It also offers a 266 MHz processor system bus and a 640 KB high-performance processor cache.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (DDR SDRAM) is adequate for power users, but not overpowering. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 512 MB (2 x 256 MB), which is rather small in comparison to other notebooks.
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD-RW drive has 24x write, 10x rewrite, and 24x read speeds. The DVD-ROM has an 8x playback speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook is outfitted with a standard keyboard (19mm pitch) and large Synaptics TouchPad with graphics tablet mode.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This AV3225HS-01 model has an integrated 802.11g (or 54g) wireless LAN, which is quickly becoming the most popular wireless standard and is compatible with 802.11b connections as well. The notebook is fitted with a dual 54g antenna, and it can achieve speeds 5 times faster than 802.11b and offers improved reach and added security. You get a standard range of external connections, including:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This AV3225HS-01 notebook comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with applications for playing DVDs, burning CDs, and protecting your system from viruses (titles are not noted by Averatec

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.2 x 10.9 x 9.6 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 4.2 pounds, the AV3220H1-01 is an amazingly compact and lightweight notebook that road warriors will barely notice as they shuttle from plane to taxi to hotel.

Power
The included "smart" rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers over 3 hours of battery life (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Averatec AV3225HS-01 notebook PC, rechargeable li-ion battery, AC power adapter, and printed operating instructions. The notebook PC is backed by a 1-year limited warranty; the battery is backed by a 6-month warranty. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Impressed with Averatec
First and foremost, I too was hesitant about buying this laptop given it's mixed ratings. I'm pretty tech savy, so I do my research and I make sure I'm getting a good product before I buy ANY PC. So after reading reviews, I took the plunge, and I myself became a skeptic; the one I took home from a local store had a keyboard that was messed up, typing two characters for each key (talk about weird typing).

However, since buying mine about a month ago, I've been pleased with it's results. I've given serious thought to this review, and will try and point out all the good, and the bad. In a nutshell, you really need to think about WHAT you want to do with your labtop PC before you buy this computer. First let's look at the basics.

First, if you're looking for long battery life, this isn't the one for you. In fact, if battery life is very important to you, just spend the extra cash for one with Intel's Centrino Mobile Technology (you can't beat them for battery power). Averatec's PC will give you about 2.5 hours of battery life on this model (why they say 3 is beyond me). For most people doing typing, spreadsheet work, scanning, etc that's going to be enough. You could always buy a second battery too (they aren't THAT much.) It makes a good PC for Office, Library, Class, Home, etc work. If you're looking to run DVD's all the time, or constantly stay on the Wireless network, then you're not going to get good battery life. It's the ideal PC for a student in my opinion for class; especially given it's small size. The wireless network is also great, and it's easy to cut on and off (button right on the top)... so you can save battery life easily.

The next factor is Size. This labtop is one of the best money can buy for it's size and weight. That's one of the main reasons I looked at it, and purchased it. Sony's smaller labtops cost an arm and a leg, and just aren't worth it. If you need a small, compact PC, Averatec is for you. It's a powerful little PC with a lot built in... again, just consider how much battery life you need. I use mine mostly for work at the University and Documentation stuff. I also will use it for business when I travel for photo's, etc. So to me, this is ideal.

Next thing, like others have said, the keyboard may take some getting used to. But it's a trade for the small size, so I can't complain. It hasn't been a huge annoyance for me; nothing as bad as some make it sound anyway. My main complaint was the same as another reviewer; that the Control key (Ctrl) has been replaced with the Function key and is now situated to the right of this Function key. It can be annoying at times. Other than that, no problems honestly.

Another thing is how the PC can heat up. While I don't personally care how much it heats up, if you do, then you might want to avoid the PC. I've been surprised how heated it gets. Again, if you're using this thing on a desk, no problem. If it's sitting in your lab, just use a book; otherwise avoid the PC... it can get rather warm.

The last thing that I can think about is the Speakers and Sound. This is NOT a PC for good sound quality, it just sounds flat. Again, if you're using this for an Office/Classroom PC, that's not an issue.

One thing I love about Averatec's PC is the three USB ports on the front side on the right. While the location is a bit weird, it's great having them for flash cards, scanner, a mouse, etc.

The PC can also support great monitor resolution... another perk if you're using it in an Office setting with a larger monitor.

Another downside is the fact it lacks a normal Printer cable connection. Most printers use USB now anyway, but it still would be nice to have it at times.

I'll close out with one last thing. Performance wise I'm very impressed. I really pushed my labtop hard to see how much I could get it to run at the same time, and it did very well. I used heavy photo programs, Macromedia Flash, GIS software, etc all at once to test it; not bad if I may say so myself, and I'm very picky about speed. It was one of the reasons I was hesitant to buy it, but AMD has impressed me again here. I also loved the wireless network feature... it's great and I can go anywhere in my house now and surf the net, access files on my desktop PC's, etc. It's great! A lot of University's are building these wireless networks into their campuses now, which makes it even better for the student.

Finally, here's two tips I'd offer:

Calibrate the Battery. You can find the manual for this PC on Averatec's website, or in the "My Documents" folder of your labtop. It takes a loooong time to calibrate, but it's a good way to keep your battery alive longer.

Speaking of calibration, make sure you also calibrate the fan. It's easy to do, just follow the manual as before and it'll help keep the fan quite more.

Overall, I love this PC. I wouldn't trade it back for another one and have no regrets on buying it. It's not perfect by any means, but for the price, size, weight, and performance, you really cannot beat it. It had PC Mags Editor's Choice award for a reason. I too have found it impressive.

If you buy it locally, get the extended warranty. It's always smart to do this with a PC. I did, and I think it'll be worth it if something goes wrong.

Very Pleased
I've had it for about a week now and I'm very pleased. It's small and light and best of all, half the price of a Sony! I've seen both good and bad reviews for this item so I was hesitant to buy one. The construction seems good and it feels nice and solid. The keyboard layout is a little odd, but I'll get used to it. I wish they could remove those stupid "Windows" keys and make the space bar a bit wider. I plugged it into a desktop monitor and was surprised to see it supported up to 1600 x 1200 resolution... and that was just in 32MB video mode.

Pros:
- The price.
- Small and light, a notebook that is actually the size of a notebook!
- Performance, no complaints here! 512MB RAM, 40GB HD, 64MB video, and fast enough for anything I'm likely to do with it.
- DVD+CD-RW combo.

Cons:
- The USB ports could be in a better spot. It makes using a mouse difficult at times.
- The battery life isn't is good as I'd hoped.
- A little on the noise side.
- The speakers aren't very loud, especially with DVDs.

Finally a light, inexpensive laptop
I was tired of lugging heavy laptops around; to work, on trips. I didn't wnat to pay $2000+ for a 512 MB laptop. The IBM is light but expensive and you don't even get an optical drive. This laptop has a DVD/CD-burner built-in. This Averatec has been a value purchase. I took it with me to Macedonia on a Northwest Medical Team mission and was able to download digital pictures and recordings then select and burn mini-cds to give to our hosts.

The battery does not last 3 1/2 hours; more like a little over 2. It's a small negative when you literally save $1000.

It works great for me!
I think that this is the best notebook for the money. If you are looking for the basics...this is it! I was a little afraid of the name brand, but it's been great! It's fast and it works great for me! The built in wireless LAN is fantastic. My only gripe is that the battery does not last 3+ hours like it says on the label. I find that it lasts on average of 2 hrs and 45 mins at best. It has to be good...my daughter snags it whenever she can...we are pretty tough critics. Save your money and buy this one.

The only one I carry now!
I bought this machine to replace my Toshiba with something a little lighter as I also carry an iBook (need Unix for work) This gem has eclipsed the iBook as well as I have it dual booting Debian linux and windows XP. The battery life is a bit short (2 hours) but more batteries are reasonable.

The keyboard is well designed, something hard to find on a low-cost small machine.

I've owned 20 notebooks and this is my second favorite (after my old Libretto). For less than $1,000 it is the best value around and even without considering the low price it is a great machine! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Averatec's uniquely designed, ultraportable AV3500T60 tablet PC delivers advanced handwriting and speech recognition technologies and a powerful computing platform at an affordable price. This 4.5-pound tablet PC is powered by the low-voltage AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ processor, which helps conserve battery power for more productivity on the road. It also features a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, integated 54g wireless networking, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive. It also offers a 12.1-inch display and TV-out connection.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 60 GB hard drive is an average size for notebook PCs--and better than average for tablet PCs. It offers enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software for road warriors.
• Processor: AMD's Athlon XP-M 2200+ is powerful enough to ably run demanding business and multimedia applications. And with AMD's low-voltage PowerNow technology, you'll experience extended battery life for more productivity when out and about. It features a 640 KB L2 cache.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 333 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The AV3500T60 features an 85-key keyboard that offers the functionality of a full-sized 101-key keyboard and a two-button touchpad pointing device.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The AV3500T60 has an integrated wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and the faster 802.11g networks. You get a limited offering of external connectivity options:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system, and it also features the following preloaded applications: Microsoft Office OneNote 2003, PowerDVD, Norton AntiVirus 2004, and Roxio Easy CD Creator 6.0.

Dimensions and Weight
This tablet PC measures 11.6 x 9.8 x 1.57 inches and (WxDxH) and weighs just 4.5 pounds.

Power
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery has an average battery life of 3 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the AV3500T60-01 tablet PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 6 months warranty for the battery. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
It was just a few years ago that true micro-notebooks were little more than glorified calculators. But times change and Sony's innovative VAIO VGN-T140P/L proves that a three lb. notebook no larger than a traditional pad of paper can indeed deliver adequate power and connectivity for the majority of typical mobile tasks. Differing from the otherwise identical VAIO VGN-T140P/L by virtue of its enhanced operating system (Windows XP Professional rather than Windows XP Home), the VAIO VGN-T140P/L isn't an ideal unit for demanding business and power users or sophisticated 3D gamers. It is, however, perfect for anyone who frequently hauls their notebook with them to remote un-plugged environments and engages in comparatively basic tasks such as word processing, data gathering, finances, contact management and email/Internet sessions. Stunningly portable, extremely battery efficient and more potent than the vast majority of past or present micro-notebooks, the not inexpensive VAIO VGN-T140P/L is a miniature dynamo.

Hard Disk
The system features a 40 GB hard disk. In a time when some notebooks offer hard drives of 100 GB and more, 40 GB may not seem overly generous. However, in the rarified, miniscule world of ultra-compact notebooks, 40 GB of storage space is indeed a sizable amount. Though you likely won't have enough room for a library of space-gobbling video files, the unit will store a typical number of mobile apps and user-created files and a few tunes too.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies.

Audio
The unit is equipped with two miniature stereo speakers, a mini microphone jack and a stereo mini headphone jack.

Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via an 83-key keyboard and standard electro-static touch pad.

Connectivity and Expansion
The VAIO VGN-T140P/L offers an assortment of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, a 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and an integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection (802.11b/g) for cord-free e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. Other key amenities include two high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and a PC Card Slot for one type I or type II card with CardBus support..

Operating System and Software
Sony will preinstall one of today's most advanced operating systems, Microsoft's Windows XP Professional Edition. Other applications include productivity and word processing software and Sony's typically ample array of music, video and digital photo utilities and editing packages.

Dimensions and Weight Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The VAIO VGN-T140P/L is exceptionally small and comfortable at a mere 3.1 lbs and just 10.1 by 8.1 by 1.0 - 1.3 inches (depending on configuration).

Power
The unit is equipped with a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers up to 5.5 hours (with standard battery) and 6.0 to 11.0 hours (with a large capacity battery). These are exceptional figures in today's notebook world. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Stylish and utterly professional, the Sony Vaio PCG-V505EX is a lightweight notebook PC--only 4.39 pounds--that's geared for business and mobility. Thanks to the Intel Centrino processor, its enhanced battery life will keep you productive even on long flights. It features a built-in wireless LAN (802.11b), a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, spacious 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a good range of pre-installed Sony digital media software. Stepping up in price, the Sony Vaio PCG-V505EXP offers a 54g wireless LAN.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage capacity for road warriors.
• Processor: The 1.5 GHz Pentium M processor is near the top of the speed range compared with other Centrino notebooks (with current speed topping out at 1.7 GHz). Because of itsdesign, the Intel Pentium M gets more done per clock tick than a Mobile Intel Pentium 4, thus providing the discrepancy in GHz measurement (i.e., 1.7 versus 3.2). The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It also has a 512 KB L2 cache and a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) speed.
• Memory: The PCG-V505EX comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 2.05 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD-RW drive has 24x write, 10x rewrite, and 24x read speeds.
• Keyboard & Mouse:

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The PCG-V505EX has an Intel Pro-Wireless 2100 integrated wireless LAN that connects using the 802.11b wireless standard, which is not exactly in step with the latest in wireless networking--54g, or 802.11g. You get a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including both high-speed USB 2.0 and FireWire:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 Memory Stick slot (Memory Stick Pro compatible)

Preloaded System and Software
The PCG-V505EX comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: PictureGear Studio (digital photo), DVgate Plus (digital video), and SonicStage (digital music). Other preloaded software includes InterVideo WinDVD and Norton Internet Security Center 7.

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.38 x 10.9 x 9.54 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 4.39 pounds, the PCG-V505EX is easily portable.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery (PCGA-BP2V) offers between 2.5 and 6.5 hours of life with typical usage.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio PCG-V505EX notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

NOT RUGGED ENOUGH TO BE PORTABLE!
I've had two of the V505 series, this one being the latest. The first one suffered from touchpad problems (clicking at random) and had to be sent out for repairs for a month right after i got it. After two months of use I noticed the case was so poorly reinforced that ripples would go across the screen if you slightly touched the back. After a few more months of carrying it around in a case purchased especially for it, it had major pixel damage. Sony's telephone representatives insisted that carrying it in a laptop case was excessive or abusive use and refused to replace it for several months. They finally replaced it with this model, and now the touchpad is starting to malfunction again.

Aside from the touchpad not working and the wireless card not working on some LEAP enabled networks, this model works well enough and it would make an OK desktop replacement for someone who works from home and never moves their laptop more than a few inches. If you're looking for something you can haul around with you though, look for something that's built better.

Avoid Sony
Just got this Notebook for 3 days. It has problems maintaining it's wireless connection. I tried it on 2 different wireless access points (Netgear and SkyHawk) and Vaio drops the connection every 5 mins. I'm literally 4 feet from my access point, and it still drops. All my other wireless connection works fine and the Dell Notebook works fine. I called Vaio Support and they're useless. They first said that my warranty expired??? and then proceed to say that I purchased it from an unauthorized seller (Amazon). After I resolved that issue, they start to blame the wireless access point. That's a total BS, because my other wireless devices would be affected if it was the access point. Also, I used the Vaio on 2 access points! How can that happen to 2 different access points???

Aside from being small, light weight, excellent battery life, and slick design; this one sucks without the support. I will be returning mine back to Amazon and stick with Dell. They offer better support and quality. I strongly recommend another small notebook and avoid Sony!!!

Great machine, case scuffs annoying
I love this machine. The one kvetch I have is that the beautiful casing scuffed very easily, and I can't seem to remove the scuffs. Other than that--it's extremely fast, very light, keyboard size and play are great, I have no complaints.

GREAT STABLE MACHINE! SUPERB GRAPHICS/MULTIMEDIA NOTEBOOK
I HAD THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW. I AM IMPRESS WITH THE ATI RADEON GRAPHICS CARD AS IT PLAYS VARIOUS 3D GAMES. SO FAR I LOADED NEED 4 SPEED UNDERGROUND, AND FREEDOM FIGHTERS, AND IT PLAYS GREAT. BE FOREWARN; RUNNING A GAME ON CD REQUIRES LOTS OF POWER SO DONT EXPECT THE SAME PERFORMANCE ON BATTERIES.

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH ERROR MESSAGES POPPING UP REGARDING THE SONY MEDIA SERVER. TECH SUPPORT HELP CORRECT THOSE PROBLEMS

OVERALL, ITS A GREAT CENTRINO MULTIMEDIA/BUSINESS LAPTOP, ALL PROGRAMS WORK FAST AND THE SYSTEM SEEMS VERY STABLE.

SO AFTER TWO MONTHS.. NOTHINS CRASHED YET!!! GREAT LIL MACHINE.. ENOUGH KEYBOARD SPACE.. AND VERY FAST! ONLY NEGATIVE... IS THE 2 X 256MB MEMORY THAT IT COMES WITH INSTEAD OF JUST 1 512MB! THOSE SONY EXECS ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY FROM US! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The lightweight HP Pavilion dv1130us notebook PC fuses together the world of mobile computing with a portable home theater. Watch DVDs on the bright, high-definition-ready 14-inch screen, and share the experience with dual headphone jacks. You can also burn your own CDs and DVDs with the multifomat DVD+/-RW and CD-RW combo drive. The dv1130us is powered by a power-saving 1.4 GHz Celeron M processor, which provides up to a 3-hour battery life. Other features include a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, 54g wireless connectivity, and a multiformat memory card reader for easy access to pictures captured on your digital camera. For a more powerful Pentium M processor and 80 GB hard drive, see the HP dv1150us.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 60 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is an average size for notebook PCs, offering enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors. You'll also be able to store a decent-sized digital audio library.
• Processor: The Intel Celeron M processor is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. It features a Deep Sleep state, which helps enable longer battery life by minimizing the power consumption of the processor during brief periods of inactivity. The 1.4 GHz speed is near the top of the speed spectrum for this processor, and it also offers a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) speed and a 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users, though it is a little slower (266 MHz) than RAM found in other entertainment-centric laptops. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB), and you'll want to maximize the RAM within your budget to take advantage of this notebook's multimedia capabilities.
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive is compatible with a wide variety disc formats, including DVD+, DVD-, VCD, and SVCD discs. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 1x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 2x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x). For CDs, it has a 16x write/10x rewrite/40x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 101-key keyboard and two-button touchpad with on/off button and dedictated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The dv1130us has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You get a limited offering of connectivity options, but it does include super-fast USB 2.0:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 2 headphone jacks
• 1 microphone jack
• Multiformat memory card reader, compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMedia (MMC), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD cards

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Symantec Norton Antivirus 2005 (with 60 days of LiveUpdate), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD, InterVideo Home Theater, Apple iTunes and Apple iTunes Music Store, Adobe PhotoShop Album STE, Muvee autoProducer, Microsoft Money, MSN Encarta Plus, and Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition (60 Day Trial Version).

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Dimensions and Weight
At 5.33 pounds, the dv1130us is highly portable. It measures a slender 13.15 x 9.24 x 1.18 inches (LxWxH).

Power
This notebook is powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers up to 3 hours of battery life (dependent upon computing conditions).

What's in the Box
This package contains the dv1130us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 30-day free software support. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Averatec's AV5500-EA1 offers the power of a desktop without all the bulk, and is a great choice for a portable notebook for the home or for a small businessperson on the go. It features a vivid, bright 15-inch screen--great for watching videos or number-crunching spreadsheets--and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive. Other features include a battery-saving AMD Sempron 2600+ processor, 40 GB hard drive, multi-format memory card reader, Firewire port for connecting your digital camcorder, and a TV-out connection for hooking up to your TV.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The 1.83 GHz AMD Sempron 2600+ processor is good for everyday computing tasks for home and small business users. And with AMD's low-voltage PowerNow technology, you'll experience extended battery life for more productivity when out and about.
• Memory: The AV5500-EA1 is very affordable due to low amount of installed RAM--just 256 MB, which just isn't enough to fully wrangle today's memory-hungry office producivity suites. You can expand this notebook up to 1 GB of memory
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook features an 86-key keyboard that offers the functionality of a full-sized 101-key keyboard and a two-button touchpad pointing device.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
Keep yourself connected with the integrated wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and the faster 802.11g networks. You get a good offering of external connectivity options:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 Firewire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 4-in-1 memory card reader (MMC, SD, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This notebook comes with the Windows XP Home Edition, and it features Microsoft Works 7.0 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents) and PowerDVD.

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 13.1 x 10.7 x 1.4 inches and weighing 6.8 pounds, the AV5500-EA1 offers easily portable multimedia.

Power
The 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery has an average battery life of 3 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the AV5500-EA1 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 6 months warranty for the battery. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The perfect blend of mobility, style, and performance, the HP dv1040us will become the center of your digital entertainment universe, whether at home, at school, or on the road. It features a 1.6 GHz Intel Centrino processor, which offers energy saving battery efficiency. It also has a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, 54g Wi-Fi connectivity, a 14-inch display, and a DVD+R/RW and CD-R/RW combo drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors.
• Processor: The 1.6 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) processor is at the high end of the spectrum and will be fast enough for gaming and multimedia applications. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. The dv1040us has a large 2 MB L2 cache and a 400 MHz front-side bus.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 266 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB)--a must for taking full advantage of this notebook's multimedia capabilities.
• CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo DVD+/-RW and CD-RW drive. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 1x write/rewrite speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 2x write/rewrite speed (DVDs are read at 5x). For CDs, it has a 16x write/8x rewrite/24x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This dv1040us model has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). You get a decent--but not overpowering--offering of connectivity options, including FireWire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 6-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia or xD-Picture cards

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 60-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Encarta Plus, HP Image Zone Plus, InterVideo WinDVD Creator and Home Theater, Muvee autoProducer, Sonic RecordNow, and Apple iTunes.

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Dimensions and Weight
At just 5.33 pounds, the dv1040us notebook can can go anywhere without weighing you down. It measures 13.15 x 9.24 x 1.18 inches (L x W x H)

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides an average of battery life of around 2 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Pavilion dv1040us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Get your motor running and ready for the road with the highly mobile Averatec AV3220H1-01 notebook PC. This tiny laptop weighs just over 4 pounds and runs on a mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 2000+ processor with battery-saving features. It also features a 12.1-inch screen, combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, 40 GB hard drive, 256 MB of installed RAM, and integrated 54g (802.11b) wireless connectivity. For a step up in price, the Averatec AV3225HS-01 features 512 MB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The AMD Athlon XP-M 2000+ processor is a moderately fast processor that delivers similar performance to a 2.0 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor. The "M" stands for mobile, and its PowerNow power-saving features will help extend battery life. It also offers a 266 MHz processor system bus and a 640 KB high-performance processor cache.
• Memory: This notebook has 256 MB of pre-installed memory (DDR SDRAM), which is calling out for more power right out of the gate. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 512 MB (2 x 256 MB), which is rather small in comparison to other notebooks.
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD-RW drive has 24x write, 10x rewrite, and 24x read speeds. The DVD-ROM has an 8x playback speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook is outfitted with a standard keyboard (19mm pitch) and large Synaptics TouchPad with graphics tablet mode.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This AV3220H1-01 model has an integrated 802.11g (or 54g) wireless LAN, which is quickly becoming the most popular wireless standard and is compatible with 802.11b connections as well. The notebook is fitted with a dual 54g antenna, and it can achieve speeds 5 times faster than 802.11b and offers improved reach and added security. You get a standard range of external connections, including:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This AV3220H1-01 notebook comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). It also is loaded with applications for playing DVDs, burning CDs, and protecting your system from viruses (titles are not noted by Averatec

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 1.2 x 10.9 x 9.6 inches (H x W x D) and weighing just 4.2 pounds, the AV3220H1-01 is an amazingly compact and lightweight notebook that road warriors will barely notice as they shuttle from plane to taxi to hotel.

Power
The included "smart" rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers over 3 hours of battery life (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Averatec AV3220H1-01 notebook PC, rechargeable li-ion battery, AC power adapter, and printed operating instructions. The notebook PC is backed by a 1-year limited warranty; the battery is backed by a 6-month warranty. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Value
I've had this laptop for a little over a month. I thought the 256 mb of ram was more than adequate, but bought another stick of 512 and sold the 256 anyway. I honestly didn't see a big improvement in my day to day programs, but there might be benefits to getting the 3225 or 3255.

I've used my laptop at simple lan parties, playing CS and UT and it works pretty decently, playable.

When on battery, I typically leave my power settings to Max battery, and can usually manage just under 3 hours, I think if I turned off the wireless, I'd be able to hit the 3 hour mark. Max Battery usually leaves the computer running at about 400 mhz, but that's been more than enough for my typical web browsing.

My sister has a Dell and for the price, I don't think I ended up too badly, it feels like the Averatec is very solidly built, but maybe because it's only a month old.

The wireless works very well also, my friend has a Dell D400, very nice and small, but more expensive. At some places, I could connect to wireless accesspoints he couldn't even see.

One night, we got our new accesspoint, one with WPA and I couldn't get it to work with the Broadcom software. I called around 4:00 am local (eastern) and got a personal customer service person to answer my question immediatly.

One gripe I had was the LCD. It seems somewhat washed out, especially next to a desktop LCD. It's also difficult to read at an angle (compared to other laptops I've seen), but that wasn't a problem at all, since I'm really the only one that needs to see it.

Overall, the laptop had been great, especially for the price paid. 3 USB ports, no unnecessary Parallel, Serial or PS2 ports.

Modest but mighty midget
Strengths:
Amazing value for money without compromising on features. Built in wifi, CDRW, DVD, compact and light all in a beautiful Sony-like case

Weaknesses:
Could do with more memory as standard and longer battery life - about 3 hours real world.

Summary:
I didn't want a desktop replacement; I wanted a small, wireless laptop to use around the house which was powerful enough to do a little image editing on vacation and could be used as a portable DVD player when I was occasionally marooned in a hotel room. I would have liked the Sony 10" sub-notebook but my pocketbook didn't stretch that far. (...)

At this bargain price, I was expecting to be disappointed with build quality and design but it compares favorably with the alloy cased Sonys. Compared to my old laptop, the Averatec weighs half as much and is much more compact; that said, the keyboard and screen are both still very usable. The 12" screen is just big enough when I'm away from my desktop. When I want to do some serious work I go back to my 21", color balanced CRT and desktop.

The AMD processor seems to have enough horses to get things done and I've even played some of my older PC games on the machine, though it's modest graphics capabilities would probably struggle with the latest releases. The design sensibly omits com, midi, mouse, keyboard and printer ports in favor of 3 USB2 ports. If this were a desktop replacement this would be a disappointment but in an ultra-portable it makes sense.

Battery life is reasonable but not astounding. A nice feature of the design is that it incorporates a switch to turn off the wireless transceiver on the fly when you want to save power. Another nice feature is that it is not only the machine that is scaled down but it's power brick too allowing you to travel much lighter.

Overall I highly recommend this machine especially if you are lusting after a sub-notebook or ultra-portable but don't want to pay the usual premium for a diminutive laptop. All my geek friends who I have shown this PC to can't believe how much machine you get for your money in such a neat package.

Amazing Slim Laptop for Amazing Price
Averatec (formally known as Sotec) surely knows how to enter "slim notebook" market. - the price ^^ this laptop is a excellet buy for it's price tag. similar slim note book for Sony or Fujisu cost almost double.

After did some research, i'vd decided to try this laptop.(i had Dell Inspiron before). It has been about 2 months, and here are Pros and Cons.

Pros.
1. Price - cant find any cheaper one with this price tag.
2. Portability- Previous dell was okay but this one is only 4.3Lb. Here is a laptop that you can lift with one hand ^^
3. Performance - With AMD 2000 Mobile processor with Power Saving Mode. -- not bad for games, internet, also for some video editing
4. Adjustable Video Memory - at CMOs, you can set you video memory vary from 8 - 64Mb. It is kind of cool .
5. Wireless Lan - I've been using it for a while, and the reception is excellent .Also it is Wireless G (which is much faster than Wireless B)
6. Look for Rebates ( I purchased mine at Bestbuy with $200 Rebate, overall cost was $750, not bad huh?)
okay Here is some Cons

1. Keyboard- this is my most dislike about this laptop . It has been improved from previous one 3150 seris but still don't like the touchy feeling when i type my report.

2. Battery Life - Avertatec claims it last up to 3 hours but i think it is more like 2 house or less. But it is still good compare to other laptops.

3. Here comes the tricky part - the Power Setting for AMD process is rather wieird.
Here is my recommandation for Power Setting
* When you use your laptop with AC power, set it to "Laptop/notebook"
* When you use your laptop without AC power set it to "Desktop/office" mode
(find this from Power Option in Control Pannel in Windows)
By doing this you can save battery life by minimizing CPU voltage use and FAN use.

I tried other setting and it uses battery faster. (talking about battery it cost only $99 to purchase extra one - other brand clost alomost double the price)

Here is my conclusion.
I would recommand this notebook for anyone who is interested to purchase "slim Laptop".

Ah one more thing, their Customer Service is "Quick" when you call them they pick up less than 3 mins.
However, here is what i found after talking to several of them, most of them don't have enough knowledge to help you out, even the simplest knowedge.

Best laptop for the price
I always wanted a thin n slim laptop but Ive never seen one which fits my budget. But now, here it is.. After doing a lot of research I bought this laptop. Averatec rocks. It is so COOL. Its been more than a month and I never had a single problem. Here are some pros and cons:

Pros:
- slim, lightweight and cool looking
- nice keyboard layout (better than 3150)
- touchpad has vertical and horizontal scroll option
- quiet
- 3 usb ports
- lan, modem, wireless
- 802.11g broadcom with very good reception
- linux runs very well on this hardware.
- cheap
- every1 at school just cant take their eyes off this laptop

Cons:
- max ram is 512 mb. (amazon description says it has 2 ram slots but it has only one)
- low battery life. mine runs for 2.5-3 hrs on continuous use. (you can always buy an extra battery for less than a 100$)

If youre looking for a slim notebook, I would strongly recommend this laptop unless you wanna get ripped by sony and intel. Go for averatec and go for AMD.

Great Laptop for the Price!
After dealing with Dell for many years, I decided to take a chance on the Averatec AV3220H1. I have to say I'm really surprised at this little laptop. It's fast, built very well, and has had no problems so far. The built-in wireless, 12" screen, and 40-gig hard drive were all perfect for an ultra-compact laptop. It's also very fast. It's NOT a gaming laptop, but it is a great little workhorse. The price makes it an exceptional bargain. Note that the reviewer below doesn't even have the model being reviewed here. That's a totally useless review. I'd say, give this model a chance. Try it out from a place like Staples. It you aren't happy, just return it. If you DO like it, get an extended warranty. The total is still WAY cheaper than a Dell or other big name brand. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
Brandishing top level accoutrements, awesome power and all the connectivity you'll need for the hottest electronic gadgetry, the Sony VAIO VGC-RA828G Desktop PC is the brightest star in the entire Sony computer lineup and one of the most capable desktop PCs available. Designed to efficiently handle anything you can throw at it, the system is a superb hub for a business, personal, home office, entertainment or gaming environment. It even features an innovative liquid heat pipe cooling system to squelch excess heat and minimize noise, but that's just one of many impressive innovations you'll find in this stunning example of high-tech wizardry.

Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. The VAIO VGC-RA828G incorporates one of the fastest CPUs currently in existence, an Intel Pentium 4 560. New for 2004, this is an upgraded version -- nicknamed "Prescott" -- of the venerable Pentium 4 chip, featuring one full MB of Level 2 cache and a more generous data "pipeline" than prior models. Operating at an astounding 3.6 GHz and of course sporting Intel's Hyper-Threading technology (Hyper-Threading allows a single CPU system to behave at times as a dual CPU system, thus adding substantially more speed to some high-end applications), this pricey but ultra-potent CPU delivers more than enough power for any environment or situation.

Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. For the VAIO VGC-RA828G, Sony has installed a whopping 1024 MB (1 GB) of fast PC3200 400 MHz DDR SDRAM memory. This is a ton of memory even for a high-end machine, and its rated speed is comparatively quick. As such, it is easily sufficient for any multitasking situation or complex application. Moreover, the system's mainboard is constructed to support RAM upgrades to a whopping 2 GB.

Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A graphics controller with "dedicated" video memory is preferable to a controller that's integrated on the mainboard and "shares" the system's main memory, as it will better handle complex procedures.

One of the problems with many high-end PCs is that they simply aren't equipped with a graphics card on par with the rest of the system. Not so with the VAIO VGC-RA828G, which features an ATI Radeon X600 XT with 256 MB of video memory. Not only will this card efficiently operate all your 2D and 3D apps (including the vast majority of demanding 3D games), but it also includes a television tuner and a Giga Pocket MPEG2 Realtime Encoder/Decoder to pause, rewind and replay live TV. Furthermore, Sony will package the system with a handy remote control to make TV and movie viewing even easier.

Display:
Sony has not included a display screen, thus allowing you to continue using your current monitor or select from today's many alternatives.

Sound
The VAIO VGC-RA828G produces stereo and surround sound via an Intel High Definition Audio chipset that supports for five distinct audio channels and a dedicated subwoofer. Sony will also enclose a 2.1 speaker system featuring two desktop satellites for clean middle and high frequencies and a subwoofer for added bass support.

Hard Drive
With an incredible storage capacity of 400 GB, the unit's internal hard drive is one of the largest ever manufactured and double the size of the hard drives found in many high-end PCs. It is thusly roomy enough for a massive allotment of files and applications and a comprehensive music, video/photo and multimedia library too. Indeed, even the most avid collectors of digital data will have a tough time filling this hard drive. Furthermore, it's exceptionally quick -- sporting a fast 7200-RPM speed, an 8 MB buffer, and a futuristic Serial ATA connection. These are all comparatively recent innovations, each increasing the overall speed and performance of the system.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing world. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can enjoy all of the above plus watch the same big budget DVD movies you watch on your home entertainment system. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can also "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of CDs).

This unit features two optical drives -- a DVD-ROM drive for playing music and data CDs and DVD movies, and a DVD +/- RW Double Layer Multi-Format drive through which you can not only do everything above but also take advantage of new double layer DVDs (twice the capacity of traditional DVDs and capable of four hours of DVD-quality video). Moreover, this two-drive setup allows you to make extremely fast CD or DVD copies.

Connectivity and Expansion
With no less than seven high-speed USB 2.0 ports, you'll have lots of room for plug and play gadgets such as joysticks and printers. Sony has also installed two IEEE 1394 "FireWire" ports (often used for fast data transfer from digital camcorders), an S/PDIF jack for crystal clear digital audio, two S-Video inputs for lossless digital video, a DVI monitor port for the highest quality flat-panel display images, and a memory card reader for reading today's most popular memory cards from devices such as digital cameras, PDAs and more. Communication options include an integrated Gigabit Ethernet LAN interface for substantially faster network and Internet access than traditional 100Mbps and 10Mbps Ethernet, and a 56K data/fax modem for low-speed dial-up connections

Operating System and Software
The VAIO VGC-RA828G features a software package clearly aimed at fans of multimedia. Headed by Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition 2005 operating system and Microsoft's Works 8.0 productivity pack, the bundle also features Adobe's Photoshop Elements 2.0 photo editing suite, Adobe's Premier Standard video editing solution, and a half dozen of Sony's respected audio, video and photo utilites.

Control
Apart from the aforementioned remote control, the system includes a convenient VAIO Keyboard and a no hassle PS/2 optical mouse. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Early Adopters Pick: December 2002. First true tablet-format PC supporting the Tablet PC operating system.

ViewSonic's Tablet PC V1100 may be a portable computing solution, but its similarity to a conventional notebook ends there. Unlike a notebook, the Tablet PC V1100 dispenses with a traditional keyboard in favor of a stylus-activated tablet that allows users to enter data and run applications via handwritten input. And, at just 9.9 by 11.3 by 1.1 inches and a mere 3.4 lbs., the unit is substantially less cumbersome than a conventional mobile computer.

When compared to other portable computers in its price range, the Tablet PC V1100 is not particularly powerful. The system is equipped with an 866 MHz Mobile Intel Pentium III processor, 256 MB SDRAM, and an embedded 4X AGP video chip, which certainly won't be enough horsepower to drive high-end games or graphic design packages. It is, however, suitable for most day-to-day notebook purposes and business applications.

In fact, the Tablet PC V1100 is best used to enter, store, and share notes, ideas, and concepts that might otherwise be kept in a paper format. Sporting solid handwriting recognition capabilities and useful software such as Microsoft's Office XP Pack and Windows XP Tablet PC edition, the featherweight Tablet PC V1100 instantly improves coworker collaboration, from airport to boardroom.

The unit features a surprisingly large 20 GB hard drive, a high-luminance XGA 10.4-inch TFT LCD viewing screen, and dual display orientations (portrait and landscape). With integrated support for wireless and wired networking, connectivity to the Internet, LANs, and e-mail is ensured under any circumstance. Other features include a PC Card slot, a 56K modem, two USB ports, and a single FireWire connection for outboard peripherals such as CD drives and digital cameras and camcorders. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awesome, Intuitive, and Indispensible
This thing ROCKS! I've had it 9 months and use it every day. It was easy to use right out of the box. The handwriting recognition is surprisingly accurate, the virtual notepad is incredibly useful, and the form factor is great. And it is robust. I've dropped it and carted everywhere without problems. (Onto carpet. But still.)

It's not good for high end games, but it runs turn-based strategy games. (Sims, CivIII.) I recommend an extra battery and a spare stylus for emergencies.

Awesome
I've experienced a demo of this very machine, and I must say that I'm impressed. I was skeptical, until I held it for myself. The handwriting function to create documents does take some getting used to, but a sneaky use of it is to put notes on standard documents for later review.

The best use at home is to remotely connect to my MP3s and MPEG videos across my wireless network. I do that with a laptop computer now, but the tablet form would be so much easier. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
It was just a few years ago that true micro-notebooks were little more than glorified calculators. But times change and Sony's innovative VAIO VGN-T150/L proves that a three lb. notebook no larger than a traditional pad of paper can indeed deliver adequate power for the majority of typical mobile tasks. Granted, this is not an ideal unit for demanding business and power users or sophisticated 3D gamers. It is, however, perfect for anyone who frequently hauls their notebook with them to remote un-plugged environments and engages in comparatively basic tasks such as word processing, data gathering, finances, contact management and email/Internet sessions. Stunningly portable, extremely battery efficient and more potent than the vast majority of past or present micro-notebooks, the not inexpensive VAIO VGN-T150/L is a miniature dynamo.

Hard Disk
The system features a 40 GB hard disk. In a time when some notebooks offer hard drives of 100 GB and more, 40 GB may not seem overly generous. However, in the rarified, miniscule world of ultra-compact notebooks, 40 GB of storage space is indeed a sizable amount. Though you likely won't have enough room for a library of space-gobbling video files, the unit will store a typical number of mobile apps and user-created files and a few tunes too.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system features a DVD+RW/-RW drive through which you can do all of the above.

Audio
The unit is equipped with two miniature stereo speakers, a mini microphone jack and a stereo mini headphone jack.

Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via an 83-key keyboard and standard electro-static touch pad.

Connectivity and Expansion
The VAIO VGN-T150/L offers an assortment of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, a 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and an integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection (802.11b/g) for cord-free e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. Other key amenities include two high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and a PC Card Slot for one type I or type II card with CardBus support..

Operating System and Software
Sony will preinstall today's most accepted operating system, Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition. Other applications include productivity and word processing software and Sony's typically ample array of music, video and digital photo utilities and editing packages.

Dimensions and Weight Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two or three lbs. and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The VAIO VGN-T150/L is exceptionally small and comfortable at a mere 3.1 lbs and just 10.1 by 8.1 by 1.0 - 1.3 inches (depending on configuration).

Power
The unit is equipped with a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers up to 5.5 hours (with standard battery) and 6.0 to 11.0 hours (with a large capacity battery). These are exceptional figures in today's notebook world. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazingly lightweight and tremendously speedy, the 5-pound Toshiba Tecra M2-310 was created for on-the-go road warriors who demand outstanding performance from an ultra-portable notebook PC. Designed with sleek, slimming angular lines, the Tecra M2-310 incorporates Intel Centrino mobile technology (with a 1.5 GHz Pentium-M processor), providing advanced power, battery optimization (up to 6 hours of battery life with optional second battery), and 54g wireless connectivity. Other features include a 14.1-inch display, 40 GB hard drive, 256 MB of installed RAM, and a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB Enhanced IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The 1.5 Ghz Pentium M processor is considered at the middle of speed range compared with other Centrino notebooks (with current speed topping out at 1.7 GHz). Because of itsdesign, the Intel Pentium M gets more done per clock tick than a Mobile Intel Pentium 4, thus providing the discrepency in GHz measurement (i.e., 1.7 versus 3.2). The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It has a front-side bus (FSB) of 400 MHz and a 1 MB L2 cache.
• Memory: This notebook has 256 MB of pre-installed memory (DDR SDRAM), which is calling out for more power right out of the gate. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD-RW drive has 16x write, 10x rewrite, and 40x read speeds. The DVD-ROM has an 8x playback speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook is outfitted with a standard 85-key keboard with 12 function keys and a two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This Tecra M2 model has an integrated 802.11g (or 54g) wireless LAN, which is quickly becoming the most popular wireless standard and is compatible with 802.11b connections as well. It also features Toshiba's SlimSelect bay that enables you to use an optional hot-swappable device, such as a second battery or another optical drive. Other external connectivity options include:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 parallel port
• 1 infrared port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The Tecra M2-310 notebook comes with the Windows XP Professional operating system (which adds Microsoft's IIS Web server, back-up and recovery utilities, Remote Desktop, and other enhanced business features), and it features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software titles include Adobe Acrobat Reader and Norton AntiVirus.

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 10.1 x 12.3 x 1.4 inches (L x W x H) and weighing just 4.9 pounds, the Tecra M2-310 notebook will be a joy to travel with.

Power
The 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides a 4-hour battery life, and up to 6 hours when using a second battery inserted into the SlimSelect bay.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Tosiba Tecra M2-310 notebook PC, AC power adapter, and printed operating instructions. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Marginally larger than the Portege 3500 Tablet PC it replaces, Toshiba's Portege M205-S810 Tablet PC is also more adaptable, more battery efficient and substantially more powerful. Though substantially costlier than comparable non-tablet portable computers, the unit nevertheless blends the speed of a midrange notebook with the convenience of stylus-based, handwritten input and subcompact portability. Few tablet PCs pack this much power into a profile this petite.

The Portege M205-S810 is most at home when used to enter, store and share notes and concepts that might otherwise be entered in handwritten format. In fact, measuring just 11.6 by 9.8 by 1.3/1.5 inches and tipping the scales at a scant 4.5 pounds, the system is not significantly more bulky than some conventional paper-based notepads. Users input data in one of two ways -- either by sketching directly on the swiveling, double-duty 12.1-inch poly-silicon SXGA+ TFT color LCD display screen (maximum resolution 1400x1050) or via the system's 84-key keyboard.

Sporting an Intel Centrino-based processor (1 MB Level 2 cache) running at 1.5 GHz, a whopping 512 MB RAM memory and an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 graphics processor with 32 MB of dedicated DDR video memory, the Portege M205-S810 will easily handle most day-to-day mobile computing tasks and the majority of today's most popular 3-D apps, with the exception of ultra-complex 3-D games and graphic design packages.

The unit features today's most desirable connectivity options, including an integrated 56K modem for low-speed e-communications, a 10 Base-T//100 Base-TX Ethernet connection for fast LAN and Internet access, and Wi-Fi compliant wireless LAN technology for those times when you can't plug in. The system also sports a surprisingly large 60 GB hard disk and facilities for an external CD and/or DVD drive, a pair of ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals such as scanners and digital cameras, an integrated TouchPad, a speaker and microphone and full 16-bit stereo sound. Battery life is estimated at an impressive 4.34 hours.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

The standard in tablets, if you need a tablet Pc.
Toshiba has competition in Fujitsu on performance and features, Visoneer and Acer on price. Taken as a whole, the Toshiba Portege tablets have no equal.

Use of the 1.5Ghz Pentium 4M CPU makes this more powerful than other tablets in the field, putting it in the same class as most pure laptops. As with any laptop, you have limitations on hard drive size, memory, and add-on peripherals. As a laptop, this is average, as more feature-rich and economical options exist. I would *not* recommend this machine to anyone looking for a pure laptop solution.

However, I'm a firm believer in tablets as the future. I've seen how much suffering people endure with folios of printouts and papers, almost solely because they need to markup the paper and have access to multiple sheets as they work. While this doesn't purport to expand the screen size to 36"x48" (which would be AWESOME... someday), it does allow most people to finally start editing documents by hand, and cut down on the paper waste.

Also, as a forms tool, tablets are unmatched. The user experience in Windows XP for tablets is much closer to the long-enjoyed PDA functionality of Palm and PocketPC users everywhere... without the annoying syncronization problems. And One Note from Microsoft is probably the best utility going for tablet users.

As a tablet PC, this delivers. I can't speak to the MP3/DVD problems, but the tablet does have the necessary horsepower to do either or both, so I would tend to think the problem is configuration, not intrinsic problems.

If you have the cash, buy one for your group as an evaluation item. Once people start using it, your next problem will be to find the budget room to buy more.

Fred

painful for travel and hiccups playing DVDs
This is my first notebook computer with an external DVD/CD-writer drive. As it turns out whenever I travel I like to be able to burn a CD-ROM backup of my digital photos and watch DVDs in a hotel room. The DVD drive supplied by Toshiba cannot run from USB power so you end up carting around (1) the notebook, (2) the notebook power supply, (3) the notebook power supply's AC cord, (4) the DVD/CD drive, (5) the DVD/CD drive's external power supply, (6) the DVD/CD drive's external power supply's AC cord. In addition to being cumbersome the external drive was flimsy. The face plate jammed a few times and then fell off altogether. It was definitely not as well protected as the internal DVD/CD drive in my 4-year-old Thinkpad.

The speaker on this notebook can't play loud enough to listen to music or a movie soundtrack. So if you don't like headphones add a 1 lb. battery-powered travel speaker system to your list of stuff to lug around. It would be easier and maybe more compact to get one of those 7 lb. full-size notebooks.

Some combination of operating system and hardware is unequal to the task of playing MP3s or DVDs. Every 5 minutes or so there will be a brief pause in the music or the movie. This is kind of irritating. Anyway if you want to listen to background music budget cost and weight for a separate MP3 player.

Otherwise... no problems! The machine works fine as a notebook and the tablet features are sort of cool for impressing people who've never seen Tablet PC. On the other hand I've never actually managed to do anything useful with the stylus (this is my first Tablet PC).

I'll probably give this away or sell it on eBay as soon as I can get an IBM ThinkPad with a 160 GB hard drive. I prefer the IBM keyboard and the TrackPoint pointing device to the trackpad of the Toshiba.

The BEST Tablet PC!
This is my second Tablet PC. Since I wrote the book on Tablet PCs (Absolute Beginner's Guide to Tablet PCs), I was able to evaluate most of the ones available. This Toshiba M-200 has the processing speed and 1400x1050 screen to get some serious work done.

Paired with a second LCD display, you have some serious screen real estate. I do a lot of graphics, processing-intensive work, and wireless computing, and this is a terrific machine to do just about anything.

Add some software like OneNote, Corel Painter 8, and FranklinCovey TabletPlanner, and you have a great tool for meetings and ultimate portability.

My prior Tablet PC was the Toshiba Portege 3500, which is also a capable machine. The M200 is more powerful and has better video capabilities, allowing you to run 32-bit color on the built-in display.

The new cross-functional button (more like a joystick) and the four side launch pen buttons are a welcome addition. I do miss the CF Card reader, but it's not that big a deal.

Because this machine is a convertible, there's no learning curve for new Tablet PC users. The screen swivels and folds flat to create a slate that you can write on. I found that because of the faster processor, handwriting and speech recognition is faster.

The only other machine I can recommend is the Panasonic Toughbook CF-18, which is a ruggedized Tablet PC. The Panasonic is not for mainstream users, but if you're contantly out in adverse conditions, the ToughBook has a double-bright screen, small size, sealed ports (Panasonic says to actually run the machine under warm water if you spill coffee on it), and great battery life. But the keyboard is small, so you really do need to have a burning desire for a ruggedized machine. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoy freedom of mobility with the lightweight Compaq Presario V2010US notebook PC, which weighs just 5.2 pounds and measures only 1.3 inches high. It features a built-in 54g wi-fi connection with SpeedBooster support of next-generation 125 Mbps wireless LANs. Other features include a 1.4 GHz Intel Celeron M processor, 512 MB of installed RAM, a 60 GB hard drive, 3 USB 2.0 and 1 Firewire port, 14-inch screen, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 60 GB hard drive is becoming the average size for notebook PCs, and it's a good size for storing a decent sized digital audio library as well as an office productivity suite.
• Processor: The younger sibling to Intel's Centrino processor, the Celeron M processor is also closely related to its desktop and Mobile Celeron predecessors. The 1.4 GHz speed measurement is similar to the 2.0 GHz Mobile Celeron processor, which puts it in the middle of the speed spectrum for this processor class. It will aby execute tasks from productivity and multimedia applications, but it's not recommended for high-end video needs. Its M classification denotes its built-in power-saving technologies, so you'll get good battery performance while on the road.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 266 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is becoming standard on notebooks and it's a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 16x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 101-key keyboard and two-button touchpad with on/off button and dedictated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The V2010US has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. The 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support will enable it to be ready for tomorrow's 125 Mbps wireless LANs. You get a good offering of connectivity options, including super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 parallel port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money, Quicken New User Edition, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 60-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Encarta Plus, HP Image Zone Plus, InterVideo WinDVD Creator,Sonic RecordNow, and Apple iTunes.

Dimensions and Weight
It measures 13.15 x 9.1 x 1.29 inches (L x W x H) and weighs just 5.2 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides an average of battery life of around 1.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Compaq Presario V2010US US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Take your computing life with you wherever you roam with the Compaq Presario V2110US, designed for the budget-minded mobile professional. Featuring a cool, modern metallic design, the V2110US weighs only 5.25 pounds and is as thin as 1.29 inches. It's powered by a power-saving 1.3 GHz Intel Celeron M processor, and also offers a 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a 14-inch LCD, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, and 54g wireless connectivity. For a more powerful Pentium M processor, 60 GB hard drive, DVD+/-RW burner, and Firewire capability, see the Compaq V2140US.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The Intel Celeron M processor is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. It features a Deep Sleep state, which helps enable longer battery life by minimizing the power consumption of the processor during brief periods of inactivity. The 1.3 GHz speed is at the middle of the speed spectrum for this processor, and it also offers a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) speed and a 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users, though it is a little slower (266 MHz) than RAM found in comparable laptops. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB), and you'll want to maximize the RAM within your budget to take advantage of today's memory-intensive business productivity software.
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can read CDs at 40x, write at 16x,and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a full-sized 101-key keyboard and touchpad with four-way scroll zone on/off button and dedictated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The V2110US has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You get a limited offering of connectivity options, but it does include super-fast USB 2.0:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack
• 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Symantec Norton Antivirus 2005 (with 60 days of LiveUpdate), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD, InterVideo Home Theater, Apple iTunes and Apple iTunes Music Store, Adobe PhotoShop Album STE, Muvee autoProducer, Microsoft Money, MSN Encarta Plus, and Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition (60 Day Trial Version).

Dimensions and Weight
This lightweight notebook is easily portable at just 5.25 pounds. It measures 13.15 x 9.1 x 1.29 inches (LxWxH)Power
This notebook is powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers up to 3 hours of battery life (dependent upon computing conditions).

What's in the Box
This package contains the V2110US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 30-day free software support. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The most exceptional computer I've ever owned!
The most exceptional computer I've ever owned! And that's saying a lot. I've been running an advertising agency for many years and I've owned Mac's and PCs back to their origins. We now have nearly 100 computers from IBM laptops to G5s and I've used Mac laptops since I bought the ill-fated "Portable." However, this is by far the best. If you're not doing graphics every day, the 12" version is nice because it's so easy to use on a plane or in a Starbucks. All applications, including PhotoShop and InDesign run great and the Microsoft Office is seamlessly compatible with PC versions. The keys feel great and the wireless Airport is astonishing. Just open your Mac in hotels, airports, coffee shops, and office buildings and you're likely to find an available network. (You can even sit outside of a hotel in a pinch.)

I've owned this for 9 months and you couldn't take it away without violence.

For Those Wanting Something A Little Different...
The days are long gone of Apple's hardware supremacy, and with Microsoft's Windows XP Pro, Apple's software supremacy is also threatened.

But that doesn't stop them from producing the sexiest hardware in town. If you're the kind of person who wants something a little niftier, or more exotic, in a laptop than Joe, the Apple 12" PowerBook is just the thing for you.

It has power, functionality, and form. While it doesn't boast the processor speed of the G5 workstation, or even its 17" brother, it has enough power for you to run whatever applications you'll need. Be it games, movies, music, or good old fashioned productivity software, odds are this little number will perform as needed.

The problem with the 12" PowerBook, and Apple products in general, is price. If you need something special, you're going to be willing to put the money down on such an attractive piece of equipment. But if you're looking only for performance and value, never mind the curvaceous exterior, you're better of grabbing a Windows XP Pro-based laptop instead.

This unit is great for students and writers.

I am madly in love!
To keep it simple, my last notebook was an hp. I had that one for five years and compared to what computers have today, that one had nothing. To this day its runing pretty good. But now i decided to go with a Mac. I am beyond extactic. I love it. No computer is perfect, nor is this one, because my one and only complaint is that the speakers don't go as high as I would like. But whatever, because everything else is simple and elegant and smooth and I could go on and on. Oh and get this. My last notebook or actually it was a laptop weighed 10 lbs., this one weights less than half that at 4.6 lbs. My shoulders are screaming joy.

Loving it
As a freshman-to-be in college, I needed a new, lighter laptop, and this being my first Apple, I was a bit hesitant but dying for a change from the boring Windows XP systems I have been using. I love everything about this unit, from the style to the size to the DVD burner to Apple's iLife (GarageBand+loops is great); I have never used a browser faster than Safari, and I love using Apple's Mail program configured to AOL IMAP. The DVD burner works flawlessly (if you want to copy movies, I recommend purchasing DVD2ONE, which copies a full commercial DVD w/ features to one single DVD-R...the program is a bit expensive at 39 euros, but it is worth it...it works perfectly with U.S.-encoded NTSC DVDs). iMovie and iDVD are perfect for my needs, and Final Cut Express (student pricing: $150) is perfect for the high-powered video I need. Office 2004 for the Mac is a great bundle and truthfully better than its Windows counterpart. Battery life is impressive at about 4 hours; in fact I got through 2 hours and 55 minutes of a 3 hour movie before the battery died (screen at 50% brightness). Internal wireless is the best performance I have used (in the past I have owned a HP Pavilion zt3010us as well as a Compaq TC1000 Tablet). Performance is great unless you are looking to run extremely intense programs/games (go for an Apple G5 Desktop then...). Games run well, however...I only have tried two: X-Plane (the excellent flight simulator...beats Microsoft's easily), and SimCity 4...both run flawlessly without any changes in rendering (X-Plane slows down when scenery gets extremely complex).

(...). I run my system at 768MB and find performance to be perfect.

Some fun apps to install (search Google or versiontracker.com): iComic (downloads web-based comics to your computer, like FoxTrot, Garfield, Cathy, etc), WeatherPop (displays local weather in the top toolbar), Synergy (allows you to control iTunes from the toolbar, and shows album art for 4 seconds as a translucent pop-up), Watson (beefed up Sherlock program...basically a do-all web-interface for movie tickets, weather, recipes, eBay tracking, etc. without a web browser), DVD2One (www.dvd2one.com), VLC Media Player (plays any video file imagineable...free program), and Roxio Toast 6 (awesome CD/DVD Burner...costs $79).

All in all, I love this machine and give it a perfect 5 stars. ... Read more