Product Description

The Sony VGN-T250/L helps you stay productive while on the go with lightweight, portable features - an upgraded processor, DVD burner, long battery life, integrated wireless LAN and bluetooth and a unique, compact design. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sony VAIO T250 vs T350
The T350 offers intelligent WAN, new memory configuration, and a cool redish color. But...if you don't want to log on to Cingular in the WAN offering choose the T250. While the keys are smaller than a normal keyboard, this 6'1" user finds them acceptable for fast typing. The 802.11g works great. And while I compare it to my HP at 2ghz the speed of the Sony seems just as fast. The touch-pad works well. The weight is fantastic. And the screen, while a bit small, is very very crisp. I am using 120dpi and large font size in IE. A little on the expensive side, but this little baby rocks. ... Read more

Product Description

Mac mini, PowerPC G4 1.25GHz Processor, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, 8X DVD / 24X16X24 CD-RW Combo Drive, Mac OS X Panther v10.3 ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Great computer for mom, dad, and grandparents
If you ever wanted to get a computer so that your parents and grandparents can keep in touch, get this one. The main reason why I wouldn't recommended a PC is because of all of the viruses and spyware that clog most machines today. My parents have 2 PCs in their home. A virus killed one machine. Spyware and popups slowed down the other machine to the point where web surfing is rendered useless.

Macs don't have to deal so much with viruses and spyware like PCs. Admittedly, you should double the ram. And maybe get a wireless keyboard to free up some USB ports.

Overall, this is the perfect PC replacement for mom,pop, grandpa, and grandma.

(...)

All in all, this machine is great for all the applications your parents will ever really use.

Base Configuration should have 512MB RAM
Very happy with the machine, but it should have double the RAM as part of the standard configuration.Anything more than 2 apps running at one time and it slows down noticably.

The software suite that comes with the machine is awesome.Easy to use and tightly integrated.I'm using this machine for digital photo management and for web surfing. No spyware/virus problems with my mini (so far!).

As much as I like it, this machine doesn't have the omph to run the apps I really love, namely 1st person games.My AMD Athlon 1800+ with the same graphics chip (Radeon 9200) runs Call of Duty at high res with acceptable frame rates, while the mini is choppy running a demo version of the same game at 800x600.

Oh well.That's why I'm running both my mini and my WINTEL machine with a KVM.I can always switch back and forth by tapping a few keys.

Great Mac, but you can't get it for free!
(...)

It is a well-known fact that these "programs" are run like pyramid schemes. Only the first few people to sign up actually got a Mac mini (it doesn't take a genius to see that you won't be the first sucker here). The rest just get heaps of telemarketing calls, junk faxes, and junk emails.

I ought to know--I'm one of the chumps that was foolish enough to try! Please, learn from my mistake and don't help these jokers rope in any more people.

The Mac mini is a great computer. (...)

Mac Mini Makes Sense
I have always been in love with Apple Computers. Whether its' the design, construction, or hardware, it always gets to me. When I purchased my Mac Mini, I couldn't believe it. The thing is so tiny, its' the size of my hands, and its' unbelievably light-weight. It is the perfect thing to put on your desk. Even if there is a lot of clutter on your work area, the Mac Mini fits like its' nobody's business. When I purchased my Mac Mini, I added two things that everyone needs:

1. Doubled Ram
2. Keyboard and Mouse

Why do you need both of these things? The Mac Mini performs poorly on the minimum ram. Sadly, most Mac's do. For the keyboard and the mouse, the keyboard comes with an extra USB port in the back of it strictly for the one button mouse that Apple has to offer. So, you get an extra USB port on the back of your system for a camera, printer, etc. PLUS, all Mac keyboards have an eject button, so you don't have to move to the edge of your system to get the disc out. Never the less, you can use your old keyboard and mouse without a problem. I just recomend you buy it for the Mac Mini. However, you still need the extra ram, because you are going to need it. For your monitor, most people would have to buy an adapter. The port on the system is the most different of most monitor cables. So, you have to check the wire. The Apple Store have a huge selection of adapters, so go there if you need help finding one. All monitors work well with Mac Mini.

I love my Mac Mini. But why did I give it four stars? Look back. Apple gives you nothing with the Mini. If you don't own a PC, you will have to buy a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and RAM! Although, after that, it's still cheaper than the next small priced Mac, the eMac. I recomend this computer over any PC (Dell, Gateway, WHATEVER!) because it is small, and has better applications than the other systems. In essence, the Mac Mini makes sense.

Recomended Software:

-TIGER: Mini comes with panther until April 29th 2005. It is important that you wait until then, or upgrade your Mini after. For more information on Tiger, visit the Apple Homepage.
-.Mac: Membership to a whole new experience with E-Mail, Advanced Tools, and Virus Protection.
-Microsoft Office: Excel, Powerpoint, and Word are must-haves.

Mac Mini comes with iLife, so you can play around with Garageband, listen to music on iTunes, enjoy pictures with iPhoto, and watch homevideos.

worst ever
this is most suckiest computer I've ever used.I wouldn't even call it a computer other than chips with programs.You cant even upgrade the thing after you by it. ... Read more

Product Description

Satellite R15-S822 Tablet PC, Intel Pentium M Processor 725, 1.6GHz, with Centrino Technology, 512MB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive, 14.1-inch XGA TFT Display, DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, Windows XP Tablet PC 2005 ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent hybrid!!!!
I am a first time tablet buyer and thus read everything written on tablets before buying one. I am quite please with my choice.
I have owned an ECS desknote, Compaq Presario, IBM notebooks and Gateway desktop earlier. Right now, I am using the R15 along with my gateway desktop.
Several people wrote that it is probably better to go with a slate rather than a hybrid but I wasn't sure how much will I use my tablet functionality. It appears that I will use the R15 mostly as a tablet and sometimes as a notebook. So, my next purchase will be a slate.

I have such a poor handwriting that I cannot read it myself on some occasions. Thus I am surprised that R15 could read my handwriting so well. I didnt check the speech recognition function, but last time I looked at it, the technology hadn't advanced much.

Overall, R15 is a sturdy machine with good wireless card (I didn't have to set up the wireless). Battery life is good (and can stretch even more than 4 hours on some settings). The pen is very easy to use and pleasant experience. The drive makes a lot of sound but there is a silencer that can make the noise disappear (I am not sure whether it changes the perfomrance). I was quite worried about the cooling of the machine - I checked an averatec which was too hot to handle. R15 manages the heat disspiation quite well, thought it reamins warm (not hot like so many other machines).

I decided not to go with Averatec as I read too many bad reviews and my last experinece with an unknown brand was extremely bad. So, i decided to spend 350 bucks extra on a known brand.

I found the performance of the machine to be at least as good as my 2.2Ghz desktop. I simultaneuously ran word, outlook, excel and onenote and performnnce was still good.

Amazon gave a great deal (and when i bought it was the cheapest R15 around). They also shipped in just 3 days (although they said it woudl take 5-9 days). Buying at Amazon was a pleasure - as always.

The only thing I dont like about R15 is the weight. Although, as a laptop the weigth is not problem, when it is used as a slate holding it in one arm for long is difficult. But this is a trade-off I made to have a larger screen, built in optical drive, and laptop functionality. I am not disappointed with the trade-off.

Overall, I would recommend this machine to someone who doesn't know how much he/she would use it as a tablet and for first time tablet buyers. I would also recommend potential laptop buyers to take a good look at this hybrid as it has amazing features (as a tablet) that would change the way you work with your computer.

Overall it's a good machine for the price
I wrote a review of the R15 that would take too much space here.You can view at VBInk dot com.

In general, I agree with the previous reviews. I would recommend it for people new to tablets.My next one may be a slate though.I didn't think I was too mobile beofre getting the R15.A new world has opened up to me.In a couple years I'll be ready for a slate.Someone told me "If you buy a convertable, try to use it only in Tablet mode to really learn and benefit from the tablet features. Otherwise, you'll end up using the Tablet as a notebook and the purchase would have been pointless."

Excellent tablet pc - versitile - but A Monster
I agree with the previous review.I've had this machine for over about a week now and I love it...but it's a monster.Heavy and big.When converted into tablet form it is much more manageable (at least it's not so bulky then).I bought a verizon broadband card and I've been in heaven.Never have to worry about an internet connection now...I use the tablet form when in meetings and when I have to walk around.The machine itself is great.Comes with OneNote installed...great features...big screen (although that can be a pain because it makes the machine bigger; I like the big screen though)...and a very good price for what you get. If you're willing to spend over 2.5K you can get the Fujitu T4000 which is smaller and lighter and looks like a great machine....but you pay over 1K more (which I was not willing to do).The R15 is a very functional machine; it does what I need it for and although it's a bit heavy and bulky it is an excellent value.Hopefully it will stand the test of time and not fall apart on me after I write this review :)

BEST FOR THE PRICE
I wanted to buy a tablet pc for a long time but the only thing that was keeping me away from it was that the price was too high for something with very low computing power and in most cases no optical drive. For the ones with a good configuration and an optical drive the price was too high. I loved the functionality of the tablet pc so was not able to decided whether to buy a notebook or a tablet, but then this came along and I have to say it is the best for the price, I have given it 4 stars only because it is on the heavier side for a tablet pc, but then I guess you can't have everything for this price. If you want something light and can do without a CD/DVD drive and a smaller screen then you should consider the TOSHIBA M200 or the FUJITSU T4000. Except the weight this is a great machine. ... Read more

Product Description

iMac G5 Desktop, PowerPC G5 2GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, 8X DVD+/-RW SuperDrive, Built-in 17-inch LCD Monitor, Mac OS X Tiger v10.4 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

New faster iMac G5 from Apple
Apple is, quite simply, the best and most innovative computer manufacturer. A recent article in Consumer Reports identified Apple computers as the most reliable computers and PC Magazine user surveys have reached the same conclusion. Furthermore, PC Magazine regularly designates the iMac G5 as the best all around desktop computer. Now the ultra-reliable, user friendly iMac G5 has an even faster G5 processor.

Yes, most people use Windows-based PCs, but do you really want to be just another member of the PC herd -- with all of the problems and frustrations presented by Windows-based PCs (including regular virus attacks) -- or are you looking for a computer which is user friendly, seldom crashes, and is virtually impervious to viruses? If these virtues are more important to you than being one of the crowd, please seriously consider buying an Apple computer. This new iMac G5 is Apple's latest and fastest iteration of the innovative iMac series of compact, user friendly computers at reasonable prices. Like all G5-powered Apple computers this new iMac is a very fast computer -- more than twice as fast as a Pentium 4 with the same clock speed -- and has a state-of-the-art 64-bit processor. All computers will have 64-bit processors some day but very few PCs, except for Apple G5s, have them at this time. If you're looking for a fast, versatile, easy to use computer, want to stop worrying abut virus attacks, and are willing to try something off the beaten path, you'll love this elegant and now faster new iMac G5. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Bring mobile computing to your life without breaking the bank with the no-nonsense, yet powerful Compaq Presario M2010US notebook PC. It's powered by an Intel Celeron M 350 processor, which provides up to 3 hours of battery life. And you'll be able to work while on the go with the built-in 54g wi-fi LAN with 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support. This notebook features a 40 GB hard drive, 256 MB of installed RAM, 15-inch display, and combo DVD/CD-RW drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Since the focus is on affordability, the M2010US comes with just a 40 GB hard drive (4200 RPM)--small compared with other notebooks, but in line with the price of this notebook. It's still enough room for home office productivity software, storing family photos, and 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. The 1.3 GHz speed resides in the middle of the spectrum for this processor (as of March, 2005). It also features a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and large 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 installed 256 MB (266 MHz) is underpowered for today's demanding office productivity and multimedia applications and immersive 3D games. You'll want to take advantage of the 1 GB total RAM capability (2 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can read CDs at 24x, write at 24x,and rewrite at 24x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The M2010US 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 basic offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast 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) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 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 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), Norton Internet Security 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, MuVee Autoproducer, and MSN Encarta Plus.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 13.15 x 10.8 x 1.78 inches and weighs 6.27 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the M2010US 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)

HP makes bad products
HP products are horrible. After about 2 months since purchasing the laptop, something broke and I couldn't use it without the battery in it. So the battery was depleted quickly. Then the power connector on the back went loose, so I had to put up with constant interruptions because I had to always jiggle the power connector in the back for the power to get back on. After a while nothing was working. So I sent it for repair just before the warranty expired. They sent it back and they didn't do anything to fix it. I called customer service again and they told me to send it back. I also purchase a new extended warranty to keep them working on it. I wasted about a month on their incompetence and deception before they called me and said I have to pay for the motherboard because the motherboard is not under warranty. That was the first time I ever heard this. So now I am trying to get the money back for the extended warranty I paid for nothing. Customer service wasn't rude. But the company engages in deceptive practices and makes bad products. Too bad I couldn't give a 0 star.

Very Good Laptop & You Just Can't Beat The Price!
I got this at CompUSA for 500+tax AR. This was bought for my parents, so the majority of the usage will be for web surfing and e-mailing. I also have a Toshiba M35 that i paid over 1800 a year or so ago, the majority of this review will be a comparison between the two, yes i know that it is unfair to put this against that other one, but i was surprised at how this laptop can hld its own. I use the benchmark portion that is in a utility program called batteryeater to give you a reference between the two.

First off, as many people will tell you, the 256MB RAM (224MB because the video takes a minimum of 32MB and can be set up to 64MB) isn't enough, the laptop has two slots for RAM (1 is already occupied by the 256MB PC2100), so it would be a good investment to purchase another 256MB stick (~$30) or a 512MB (~$50) if you plan to do more than office work. Since i had an extra 256MB stick laying around, i did not have to spend the extra money for one, so i have 480MB or system RAM on this, whereas my M35 has 512MB of RAM because it has dedicated video ram. The score where 4012 for the 2010us and 4024 for the M35

The CPU is a 1.3GHz Celeron M 350, which has its ups and down, the up is that it has 1MB of L2 cache and 400MHz FSB, which is a bit stronger than the normal Celerons. The downside is that it does not support any type of power savings features such as SpeedStep on the Centrino line of CPU from Intel. The M35 has a 1.5GHz Centrino processor. The 2010us scored a 1470 where as the M35 had 1943 for the CPU benchmark.

The batter is a 53wHr Lithium-Ion, which lasts for a little under 2hours in the benchmark, Whereas the M35 had almost 3hrs with the speedstep on.

The LCD has a resolution of 1024x768, which is the lowest resolution for a 15" LCD by today's standards, and the LCD isn't high quality, the screen is bright...but that's only if you look at it directly on, from the side, the screen becomes dim and color reproduction is inaccurate. But considering that this is again for Office-type work this not so much a problem. my M35 a ultility that turns down the brightness of the LCD based on the amount of battery left, but i think a program of such can be found on the internet, but i just want to mention that because it would help to conserve the battery.

The mouse pad is an odd dimension, it is about 1.5"H x 3"W, which is a little short and wide compared to other laptops, it is made by synaptics, which makes touchpads for like 95% of the laptops out there. The one thing i didn't like is this mouse, the buttons are very slender and flushed with the palm rest and doesn't have a textured surface, so with my medium sized hand, i find it a little difficult to use without looking at it and having my finder directly on it, otherwise, i would have to use more pressure than on any other laptops because my thumb is about twice the width of the button.

Another thing that i would like to mention is that he power cord connection to the laptop seems very "fragile" it is thin and plugs into the left side, what makes is fragile is the fact that is plugs in perpendicular to the side so if you had this on your lap, and it happened to slip on the left side, i think there is a good chance that the plug would break. If it had a 90 degree plug, it would be a little better, a thicker plug, or having plugging into the back would help even more.

The hard drive is a 40GB @ 4200rpm, which is more than enough for office works, and some music and videos. The included DVD-Rom/CDRW drive is very nice addition on a budget laptop such as this, it doesn't come with a floppy drive, but all laptops today do not either. It scored a 2207 on the HDD bench, versus 3156 for the M35 which has a 60GB 5400RPM.

It has JBL pro speakers, which is better than most laptops i have used over the year and pretty much surpasses most of Dells laptop speakers. And it is placed on the front, facing you, so the sound is not pointed way out in space with some laptops. Though it is good, it cannot compare to the Harman/Kardon speakers on the M35.

This laptop has the intel extreme graphics2, with 32MB (can go upto 64MB) of ram, whereas the M35 has a 32MB GForceGo, so in the bench this only scored a 1912 whereas the M35 scored a 3441.

It does have 10/100 LAN as well as 54G wireless and 56K modem, 2 USB2.0 ports and a firewire port. These are all very nice addition with a budgets laptop such as this, the wireless get excellent reception from my wireless router, and is better than the intel 2200G that is on the Toshiba M35.

All in all, I think this is the best bang for the buck anyone can buy if you can get it for the 500 price, there just isn't anything else out there that I am aware of that can match this laptop in terms of features and price. But even at 700, it is still a very very good buy.

A Very good Budget PC
I received my computer yesterday and it was a pleasant surprise for me to open the box and take it out. Before ordering this one, I personally did not like the appearance of non-widescreen computers but this computer changed my view.

256MB RAM is a bit less and with shared video memory, XP crawls on this. Adding extra RAM is highly recommended, which I did by adding 512 module separately. After this small modification, this computer works wonderfully.

Beware of one small feature of HP's default system settings while you install the drivers. They set Clear type setting for smooth screen fonts, which make them blurred (display settings->Advanced->Effects). It took a while for me to figure that out.

In Summary, VERY happy with this purchase. Could not have expected more from a computer of this price (got it for $499.99AR from CUSA)!

Good Bang for the Buck
I got this for $599 on sale and after a rebate at Staples. It is what it is: An economy laptop with some unexpected bells and whistles.

The built in wireless internet is wonderful. The sound is terrific for a laptop. The screen is a nice size and produces a nice picture. I love having a burner and a dvd. It comes with the usual software that most preconfigured laptops come with. Has ilink/firewire hick is nice for us iPod users.

Negatives....not much to mention. I'm going to upgrade the Ram because 256 doesn't cut it nowadays. I'd like more than 2 usb ports.

If you're a gamer, buy an Alienware laptop for 4 times the price.This laptop should be more than enough for most people. The price is fantastic for a laptop that is a little more than basic. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Blending affordability with productivity power, the HP Pavilion dv4030us notebook PC is a great choice for both business road warriors and multimedia enthusiasts on the go. The 15.4-inch BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and movies and games will look clear thanks to the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (with 128 MB of shared memory). And you'll stay productive with the battery-sipping 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium M (Centrino) processor. This notebook also features a 100 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, built-in 54g wireless connectivity, dual layer DVD+/-RW drive, and multiformat memory card reader. For a step up in price, the DV4040US offers a faster Pentium M processor and 1 GB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is above average in size, and is befitting of such an entertainment-centric laptop. You'll be able to store a hefty digital audio library.
• Processor: The 1.6 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) Processor 730 is at the lower end of the speed spectrum for this processor class (March, 2005). It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. 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 large 2 MB L2 cache--which will help speed up your system's performance--and a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 512 MB of installed RAM is a good start, but you'll want to take advantage of the roomy 2 GB of total RAM capacity (2 x 1 GB)for such multimedia needs as video editing and immersive 3D gaming.
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the dv4030us multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The dv4030us has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot, which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a decent offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 4 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 port for connecting to a TV
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 ExpressCard/54 slot
• 1 Expansion Port 2 connector
• 1 IR receiver
• 6-in-1 Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Sticks, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD Picture 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), Norton Internet Security 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, Intervideo Home Theater, MuVee Autoproducer, and MSN Encarta Plus.

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
This notebook measures 14.1 x 10.16 x 1.67 inches and weighs 6.5 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the dv4030us 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

Product Description

The ultimate portable desktop.

Miraculously engineered, the ultralight 17-inch PowerBook G4 is a mere 1-inch thin and only 6.9 pounds, making it one of the planet’s thinnest, lightest, 17-inch notebooks.

Power on Display
The first thing you’ll notice is the megawide displaythe largest ever in a notebook. This PowerBook’s stunning display gives you the same viewing area as a 19-inch CRT monitor. And as for the amount of information you can see on the screen at one time, the 17-inch PowerBook supports a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixelsan eye-popping 1.3 million pixels appearing on the screen simultaneously, with room aplenty for your menus, toolbars and palettes. Thanks to its built-in, dual-link DVI support and 128MB of graphics memory, you even have the option of connecting your PowerBook to Apple’s breathtaking flat-panel displays, including the massive 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display. Featuring a powerful 1.67GHz PowerPC G4 processor, a standard 5400-rpm 100GB hard drive, an 8x SuperDrive, up to 2GB of DDR RAM and AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR built right in, the top gun of notebook computers has it all.

As Smart as It Looks
You’ll love the high-resolution 17-inch active-matrix display with brilliant 1440 x 900 pixel resolution. And you’ll marvel at the way this supersharp display fits into such a remarkably small frame: just 15.4 inches wide, 10.2 inches deep, 1.0 inches thin and a mere 6.9 pounds. Housed in a lightweight and durable aluminum alloy enclosure, the 17-inch PowerBook G4 is resistant to stains and scratches. Flat-out, drop-dead gorgeous, this revolutionary notebook is perfectly smooth on all surfaces, with no doors, protruding latches, levers or external buttons to accidentally press or break, and no sharp edges to catch on your clothing.

Built for Speed
The 1.67GHz processor gives a tremendous performance boost with ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The best notebook out, period.
Unless you're a 100 pound weakling, stop complaining about the weight of this notebook and get it. This is the top of the line PowerBook. I was considering the 15inch since I heard the other complaints about the weight and portability of the 17" but went with my own judegement and got the 17". I'm very happy with my decision and purchase. The RAM was upgraded 2GB on my system (which is the maximum). This system outperforms my previous ThinkPad which had a similar specs. The OS is rock solid (Tiger 10.4). Essentials to have WHEN you get this are a great case (I'd recommend Timbuk2 Commute XL), Office 20004 for the Mac, Quicken 2004 for the Mac and if you're into games, Doom 3 for the Mac. My future purchases to complement this system will be the iSight and Airport Express.

If you've been considering this system for a while, take the plunge. You won't regret it.

The best value
There are, quite literally, thousands of notebooks in the market today, ranging from $500 to $3000+ in price. If you're looking through the reviews of the magnificent $2700 17-inch Powerbook, you might be wondering if the price, the upfront cost of a Macintosh, is justifiable given that one can easily purchase 5 of the $500 notebooks. I looked around myself, but it came down to these:

1. The big screen. Most 17-inch Windows notebooks try to be media centers, and they weigh a ton. This Powerbook is barely more than an inch thick.

2. Size. I don't have big hands, but I do like a comfortable writing space. The keyboard has a nice tactile feel, it's backlit in dim lighting conditions.

3. Quietness. There is hardly a sound from the computer, and unless I'm doing processor-intensive work (like watching Quicktime HD sample movies), the fan is never on. It lets me focus on my work, rather than get distracted and annoyed at the grinding noise from the fan and hard drive.

4. Ease of use. All the necessary plugs (USB, firewire, etc) are present. More importantly, OS X (I'm using 10.4) with the included iLife '05 productivity software is easy to learn, and based on my experience from Windows PCs, makes me more productive quickly.

5. Software. The OS and the bundled software (I mentioned them above) don't intrude, requiring constant attention and drivers to install when I plug in a camera for the first time. They get out of my way, and they let me produce results. It took me 30 mins to import photos, edit them, and make a DVD catalog (browseable in Safari) AND make a quicktime movie of a slideshow. I was never able to do this on my old Windows PC (3.4GHz P4).

6. Value. Macs have generally higher resale value than other PCs. It's one company, versus hundreds of companies making, generally, the same computer, and so they gravitate towards pricing as the differentiator. I sold my 6-month-old 14-inch iBook G4 at 80% of the original price I paid. That's hard to do with any other PC or notebook.

And we come to price. At $2700, it is expensive, there is no getting around it. But when I compared to a comparable Dell 17-inch notebook (very nice, I must add), and added hardware and software features, resale value, plus considering ease of use and increased productivity, the $2700 in price is a bargain. Consider with a grain of salt, make your own comparisons and judgements.

You Don't Need a Desktop Machine Anymore
I have a friend of a friend who works at an Apple store and just recenlty he let me play with all the new stuff, some old stuff too and here is my impression of the new, improved 17 inch PowerBook. First off, and I feel like shouting this, but I won't, "It's about time Apple put out a computer that had enough memory in it to actually run it!" I have an old G3, 14 inch iBook and right off the bat I had to buy more memory, bumping it up to 640 megs, so knowing this baby comes with 512 right out the door, will bring a sigh of relief to anybody thinking of buying one.

The screen on this baby is gorgeous and really, really huge, stunning, no reading glasses for me here. This machine is svelte and sleek, but a bit to big to be taken on the road in my opinion. It comes with Airport Extreme built in. Has all the usual ports, plus FireWire 800 and it's crowning jewel, in my humble opinion, is the backlit keyboard. Apple claims it's ten times brighter than the old model. I can attest to the fact that it's brighter, but ten times, I don't know, I didn't see it. However, it's plenty bright enough to work in the dark. This 1.67 GHz model comes with a Superdrive and a scrolling trackpad (which I didn't mention in my other reviews). I found the trackpad scrolling business to be a little annoying, but no matter you can turn it off in System Prefs if you want. However, I imagine once you get used to it, one might find it darned handy.

In a way this baby is like having two computers in one, because you won't need a desktop anymore, not with all this screen real estate. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Apple really got it right this time.

Jack Priest, Sailor home from the Sea

Portability not such an issue
First of all, let me state that while I have used this machine, I am the current owner of an older model - the first generation 17" with a 1GHz processor and a 60GB hard drive.

One of the biggest questions I always hear is "Isn't that too big to carry around?" My answer is no. I carry it for a 20 minute walk to my college campus daily and have no problems with it. I keep it in a Brenthaven bag specifically designed for it, and while it is a little unwieldy, it took me very little time to get used to it. The weight is definitely not an issue. For anyone thinking about getting this, I would weigh any bag that you carry with you on a day to day basis - seven pounds really isn't so much to deal with.

I use my Powerbook as my primary machine. At any given time, I am usually running Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, as well as a few native applications (Mail and iCal are always open, usually iTunes as well). The programs that come with the computer are well integrated into the operating system. I use mine for about 15 hours a day, and I put it to sleep rather than shutting it down. Even with all of the work that I do on it, a year and a half after purchasing my model it still stays on for two to three weeks with no need to shut it down.

The backlit keyboard is a feature that I never thought I would need, but now that I have it I'm not sure how I ever lived without it. Light sensors automatically adjust your screen brightness and keyboard lighting, although these can be adjusted manually. It makes working a breeze. Even though I don't look at the keyboard very much when I'm typing, it's nice to be able to see when I need to use keys I don't access very often (function keys, etc.). Since the keyboard lighting controls take up extra function keys, the "one-key" Expose features in OSX require one more step with pressing function before hitting F9-F11, but if it poses a real problem you can always set screen corners or change the hot key.

My biggest issue with this computer is the battery life. With the brightness turned all the way down (which can make the screen very difficult to see depending on your lighting conditions) and AirPort turned off, it can get around 3.5-4 hours of battery life. If you need full brightness and a wireless internet connection, you're realistically looking at about 2-2.5 hours of battery life.

Overall, I am a large supporter of this computer. I would recommend it to anyone that has a need for a Macintosh with maximum screen size and portability.

Best PowerBook Yet
Apple's latest update to their aluminum PowerBook series warrants a close look by current PowerBook users and anyone on the fence. The 17" screen is stunning, even keeping in mind that other makers have copied the idea (Apple's overall presentation simply outclasses the copycats' efforts), and the design and construction are first class.
I purchased the new 17" PowerBook to replace the previous 15" model. The increase in processor speed is noticeable, and I love the new trackpad which incorporates vertical and horizontal scrolling simply by touching the pad with two fingers instead of one. It is immediately easy to use--no extra buttons to manipulate or odd procedures to learn. The screen seems brighter than the previous one, and the new keyboard backlighting is beautiful.
I also like the fact that, besides increasing the base amount of memory, Apple now ships the machines with one memory slot open. That is, a standard 512MB machine has one 512MB strip on board, with one slot open. I simply took the "extra" 512MB strip out of my previous machine and put it in the new one, giving me a full 1GB of memory (upgradable to 2GB for those planning missions beyond the galaxy or whatever).
Buyers of the new 17" PowerBook should also check out the Apple/Brenthaven shoulder bag and backpack. I opted for the backpack this time. It is beautifully crafted; easily worth the slight additional cost over the standard fare, especially since the computer sleeve is made specifically for this computer.
In sum, this is not an "intermediate" tweak; it is a serious upgrade of an already-great product. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Fulfill all your digital needs without breaking the bank with the HP Pavilion ZE2015US notebook PC, perfect for students, home office professionals, and families on the go. It features a large 15-inch display, which can easily tackle both spreadsheets and DVD movies, and a built-in 54g wireless connectivity. This notbook weighs just over 6 pounds and also offers a battery-friendly Intel Celeron M processor (helping to provide a battery life of up to three hours), a 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 60 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is becoming the average size for notebook PCs, providing enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software.
• 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. The 1.3 GHz speed resides in the middle of the spectrum for this processor (as of March, 2005). It also features a 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and large 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, 266 MHz) 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), which is limited compared to more powerful notbooks, but keeps this in line with other budget notebooks.
• CD/DVD Drive: This notebook includes a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, with 24x write/read and 10x rewrite speed for CDs and 8x read speed for DVDs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The ZE2015US has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. You get a basic offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast 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) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 notebook expansion port

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), Norton Internet Security 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, Intervideo Home Theater, MuVee Autoproducer, and MSN Encarta Plus.

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
This notebook measures 13.15 x 10.8 x 1.63 inches and weighs 6.27 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the ZE2015US 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

Features

• Notebook Compartment Compatible with Notebooks with Up to 15.4¿ Screens
• Unique and Convenient Exterior Gear Flap with Buckle and Bungee Closure for Carrying Jacket and More
• Removable Cell Phone Pocket On Shoulder Strap
• Soft Rack Helps Distribute Weight of Books or Binders for a Healthier Back
• Contoured Ergonomic Shoulder Straps with 3D Air-Mesh Padding

Reviews (2)

Great so far
Two months with this bag an it's still getting me to school. I haven't had any reliability issues.
The good:
1) It'll hold everything. I carry so many books to school I used to carry a backpack and a laptop case. Now I just have this bag.
2) Big straps to hold the load.
3) Lots of compartments to help devide up and secure the stuff.
4) Padded back
The Bad:
1) Laptop sits between your back and your load. It's padded, but this doesn't stop the weight of the load from resting on your computer. It should be a hard case.
2) Big straps that are too wide to leave much room for flexibility in the arms.
3) Useless little mesh pockets.
4) Deviders aren't flexible.

Thanks for reading

Too bulky
Though this backpack has ample room for what I needed to put in it, it's construction is stiff and it is huge, no matter how much stuff you have in it - it's like carrying a small child wherever you go. Also, the zippers are not the best quality - one is already totally broken and another on its way after only one year. The only plus is the separate laptop compartment - that is handy as I have a relatively large computer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Roam where you want to with the Toshiba Satellite M35X-S161, built for today's demanding mobile professional. It features a fast 1.30 GHz Intel Centrino processor, known for its smart, power-saving battery for long life on the road and built-in 54g Wi-Fi connectivity. It also offers a large 15.4-inch screen, 60 GB hard drive, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, and 512 MB of installed RAM (with expansion up to 2 GB).

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 60 GB hard drive is larger than the average notebook's, enabling road warriors more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software.
• Processor: The 1.30 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) processor approaches the higher end of speed for this processor class. It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. 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 2 MB L2 cache and 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory is becoming the standard for notebooks, and the M35X-S161 can be expanded to 2 GB of memory--necessary for running complex spreadsheets and multimedia applications.
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive has 40x read, 16x write, and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This M35X-S161 has an Integrated Atheros 802.11g wireless LAN supporting Atheros SuperG technology (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). You get a basic offering of connectivity options, which 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 Firewire (IEEE 1394) for connecting digital camcorders and external hard drives
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot
• 1 TV out (S-Video)
• 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 Quicken New User Edition, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 90-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD, and Sonic Solutions RecordNow.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 14.4 x 10.8 x 1.48 inches and weight 6.81 pounds--slightly heavier than other Centrino laptops.

Power
It is powered by an 8-cell lithium-ion battery that has an average battery life of 3.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Toshiba Satellite M35X-S161 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited warranty for parts and labor. ... Read more

Product Description

Mac mini, PowerPC G4 1.42GHz Processor, 256MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, 8X DVD / 24X16X24 CD-RW Combo Drive, Mac OS X Panther v10.3 ... Read more

Reviews (41)

The worst computer experience i have ever had.
I had decided to try switching from PCs to macs recently, and thought the mac mini would make a good first mac computer.

I ordered my first mini with all the extras and when i got it, i tried importing all my cds to itunes. The optical drive was malfunctioning whenever i put in a cd with the slightest scratch on it. It would freeze up, making an awful skipping sound, and i would have to force quit itunes and sometimes shut down the computer and turn it back on just to get the sound to stop and get my cd out.

I called tech support, and the first man said there was nothing wrong with the drive, it was my cds that were at fault. Their solution was to take my scratched cd to my PC, burn it and take it back to my mac mini and then try to import it.

I said, ok, so my cds should work on other computers, but not the mini? and he kept saying how it was my cds and not the mini. I asked him if i could return my mini and he said no because i had bought extras like more ram and bluetooth. so i got off the phone with him and called back again.

The next tech support "help" also told me there was nothing wrong with the computer but i could return it (but not exchange it because there was nothing wrong with it). He transferred me to someone who told me i could exchange it, which i did.

Now, my next mini comes in the mail, without my bluetooth and airport extreme options. "Oops, sorry", they say, "we can return it and we'll send you another mini." I took it to my local store and they very nicely installed them for free in 45 minutes. So, now with less enthusiasm for my new purchase, i took my mini home, and tried out the optical drive again, which again had troubles. Now i should mention I took the same cd's that wouldnt work on my mini, and they worked on my PC and on my friend's mac.

I called back the apple store and all they would give me for compensation was a return for my mini (not the $60 keyboard i can no longer return at the store) and $100 credit for my next apple purchase. I said sorry, that's not enough for the hassle that i will probably go through again.

Never, never again will I buy an apple product. This whole hassle lasted for most of a month, and it is still not over yet. Time for me to buy another reasonably priced PC. My mac friends are all about their mac's, but first impressions are lasting, aren't they?

No free anything
Clicking your way past this barrage of come-ons finally gets you to the meat of the matter. Incentive Reward Center says you have to sign up for at least two offers from participating firms to get your hands on that free iPod.

It looks like there might be some freebies here, but most of the offers are for DVD and music services, credit cards and other such strings-attached programs.

according to sfgate.com

Amazing little machine
i'm really impressed at how fast this thing goes. it was ready to go out of the box after a 3 minute setup, it's really fast for only having 256mb of ram, i love the combo drive, tiger is great. it's practically silent unless the combo drive is running. and it's super easy to use. it also has a lot of programs for 600 bucks, i think it's great and highly reccomend it.

Don't make my mistake!
I made a big mistake by trying those "get a Mac Mini free" offers. Only 1 day after signing up, I was bombarded with over 500 junk emails and 15 telemarketing calls. Ugh!

I hope everybody here can learn from my misfortune--I guess it really is true that it is impossible to get something for nothing!

The Mac Mini is a great computer. It's too bad sleazy "marketers" are using them as bait for their fraudulent schemes.

Best Thing I Ever Got
my dad bought me this computer for my 12th birthday and i love it i will admit this im a spoiled brat.and i have tooo much crap in my room. but when i saw it im thinking what the heck is that because its soooo small. and it fits perfectly in my room. and the little sucker has a CD burner on it i couldnt believe that and a DVD Player! but over all this is the coolest thing in the world apple has done a great job with this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Take your entertainment center with you wherever you roam with the HP Pavilion ZD8110US Media Center Notebook PC. Record your favorite TV programs and watch them on the widescreen 17-inch LCD monitor, view photoslideshows with your own soundtrack, or watch DVD movies, and control it all with the included remote. The ZD8110US can also unleash your digital creativity with the multiformat, dual-layer DVD/CD burner and included Image Zone photo editing and management software. This multimedia notebook features a super-fast, hyper-threaded 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM, 54g wireless connectivity, multiformat memory card reader, and a powerful video/graphics card with 128 MB of dedicated RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive is one of the largest available in today's notebooks, enabling road warriors and multimedia enthusiasts more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software.
• Processor: "The hyper-threaded 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 630 processor allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system, helping to deliver faster transistors and increased performance. It also features a large 2 MB L2 cache and a blazingly fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed, which measures how fast a processor and the main memory communicate. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking."

• Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (2 x 512 MB, dual channel at 400 MHz) is a very good start for this multimedia-centric notebook, but you'll want to take full advantage of the 2 GB capacity (2 x 1 GB) to maximize the multimedia.
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the ZD8110US multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard keyboard with scroll bar and integrated numeric keypad, and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The ZD8110US 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:

• 4 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
• 1 IR (infrared) port
• 1 Expansion Port 2 connector
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 6-in-1 memory card reader (compatible with Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD Picture Cards)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. Additionally, it enables you to control your television with the included remote and record and pause programs (much like a DVR--or digital video recorder--such as Tivo or ReplayTV). With the 250 GB hard drive, you'll be able to record and store up to 180 hours of video programming. It's compatible with cable, digital cable, satellite TV and antenna inputs, and it includes an FM tuner.

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.

Other preloaded software includes InterVideo WinDVD Creator and WinDVD SE player, Muvee autoProducer, Apple iTunes, Sonic RecordNow, Norton AntiVirus 2005, Microsoft Works 8.0, MSN Encarta Standard, Microsoft Money, and Quicken 2004 New User Edition.

Dimensions and Weight
At 9.4 pounds, the ZD8110US isn't the most easily portable notebook. It measures 15.7 x 11.4 x 1.96 inches (L x W x H).

Power
This notebook is powered by a 12-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers an average of 3 hours of battery life (dependent upon computing conditions).

What's in the Box
This package contains the ZD8110US 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

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

Blending affordability with productivity power, the HP Pavilion dv4040us notebook PC is a great choice for both business road warriors and multimedia enthusiasts on the go. The 15.4-inch BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and movies and games will look clear thanks to the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (with 128 MB of shared memory). And you'll stay productive with the battery-sipping 1.73 GHz Intel Pentium M (Centrino) processor. This notebook also features a 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM, built-in 54g wireless connectivity, dual layer DVD+/-RW drive, and multiformat memory card reader.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is above average in size, and is befitting of such an entertainment-centric laptop. You'll be able to store a hefty digital audio library.
• Processor: The 1.73 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) Processor 740 is in the middle of the speed spectrum for this processor class (March, 2005). It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. 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 large 2 MB L2 cache--which will help speed up your system's performance--and a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 1024 MB (1 GB) of installed RAM is a great start, providing enough power for today's demanding multimedia and business productivity software. For immersive gaming and video editing, you'll want to take advantage of the roomy 2 GB of total RAM capacity (2 x 1 GB) .
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the dv4030us multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The dv4040us has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot, which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a decent offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 4 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 port for connecting to a TV
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 1 ExpressCard/54 slot
• 1 Expansion Port 2 connector
• 1 IR receiver
• 6-in-1 Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Sticks, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, and XD Picture 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), Norton Internet Security 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, Intervideo Home Theater, MuVee Autoproducer, and MSN Encarta Plus.

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
This notebook measures 14.1 x 10.16 x 1.67 inches and weighs 6.5 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the dv4040us 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