10 Gigabit Ethernet still too expensive: January 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

Dell Latitude Z

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Released today, Dell's Latitude Z boasts a full 16-inch, 1,600 x 900 pixel display but is just 1.25cm thick and weighs only 2kgs.

It's also the world's first laptop with optional inductive charging and adapter such as Dell Inspiron 1370 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZR Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V13 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V130 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N301 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1012 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1012N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron M301 Ac Adapter -- that means no power cables. Instead, you have a dynamic power transfer from the Latitude's primary stand and its secondary module (I know that sounds as clear as mud, but that's all the detail available right now).

Other top features include Dell’s EdgeTouch to allow users to interact with commonly used applications and media controls through a touch interface that is on the edge of the system’s screen, a two megapixel camera featuring Dell Capture technology that allows users to scan and save business cards to Microsoft Outlook contacts and copy documents, and Dell FaceAware Lock-Out to automatically lock out other users when a user steps away from the laptop.

The Latitude Z also ships with WLAN, Bluetooth and optional 3G WWAN mobile broadband.

The laptop has a soft-touch Black Cherry finish and is available today in New Zealand starting at $3,645.

Dell XPS L501X

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Dell has been peddling its premium XPS desktops and laptops for many years now. Like most products in its line up the L501X we received this month is a good looking, solid little piece of equipment.

The thing I like the most about this laptop with adapter such as Dell XPS 1340 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS PP17S Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1318 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1330 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1350 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1470 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 14Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1570 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 15Z Ac Adapter, Dell P04F001 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZD Ac Adapter is the metal alloy casing. Not only is it attractive and sturdy, but I found it helped keep my wrists cool whereas other units with cheap plastic casing around the keyboard will sometimes cause my skin to stick to it, especially when trying to write long articles (which is painful enough in the first place).

What’s under the hood is probably more important to most people. You can customise the machine on Dell’s website when you order, however the review unit we received came loaded with a quad-core Intel Core i7 820QM processor, 6GB of RAM, Nvidia GT 435M graphics card and a 640GB 7200RPM hard drive, all working together to feed a 15-inch, 1366 x 768 LCD screen.

Whilst the CPU’s stock speed of 1.73GHz isn’t chart-topping, its maximum Turbo speed is 3.06GHz which is fairly chipper, especially for a portable machine. Being from the Core i7 series it also features HyperThreading for a total of 8 processing threads. This is great for multitasking, video editing, rendering and other core-intensive tasks.

The graphics card is also pretty good for a notebook. At medium settings, the L501X churned out an average of around 30 frames per second in Crysis 2, Bad Company 2 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R, which are playable results, plus an ultra-smooth 60 frames per second in Trackmania on high settings.

On paper, the GT 435M graphics chipset is roughly similar in terms of processing power to Nvidia’s decent-but-dated 9600GT desktop cards. Coupled with the fairly low resolution of the screen, it should be able to handle most other modern games at medium settings as well.

To round out the gaming experience you also get 2.1-channel JBL speakers with Waves Maxx Audio technology – that’s right, a laptop with a subwoofer! It’s not going to blow your windows out, but the sound quality is head and shoulders above most other laptop sound systems. In-game explosions are deep and satisfying, plus the audio setup is suited well to music and movies. Our review unit only came with a DVD drive, but a Blu-ray drive is available when customising on Dell’s website.

I liked the keyboard a lot, but hated the touchpad. For some reason it always thought I wanted to scroll up/down or left/right, when I was simply trying to move the cursor around the screen. It also had a habit of making the cursor jump around wildly when I was trying to make minor adjustments to its position.

My other qualm is the resolution of the screen. 1366 x 768 is fine for most games if that’s what you want to use the L501X for (I would even hazard a guess that the graphics card would choke quite badly at higher resolutions), but for web surfing and office applications it can be a major drag. 1680x1050 would have been much more useful.

We weren’t able to get hold of confirmed pricing for this particular configuration of the L501X (the lower-specced base model goes for $1,699). Until we can take value-for-money into consideration, we’ll be holding off a score on this one: check back here for updates.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Dell Latitude D400

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Ultra portable' is one of those ambiguous terms that no-one has ever universally defined. Depending on who you talk to, it could mean anything from an anorexic sliver slate like the Toshiba Portege R100 to a thick chunky ThinkPad X31. Even talking to the same company doesn't help - ask Dell for an ultra portable and you could end up with a gorgeous notebook like the X200 or a Latitude D400.

The D400 stretches the definition to the extreme and is perhaps only called an ultra portable because there's no integrated optical drive. This in itself is quite a disappointment, especially considering its 30mm-thick chassis. Comparatively, the IBM ThinkPad T40 is also 30mm thick yet squeezes a DVD-ROM and CD-RW combo drive into the chassis, although the T40 weighs 2.25kg against the D400's 1.8kg with adapter such as Dell XPS 1640 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS 1645 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS 1647 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1640 Ac Adapter, Dell W298C Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 11Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 10V Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1011 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1010N Ac Adapter, Dell PP19S Ac Adapter. Instead, the D400 has a USB 2 external combo drive, which might offer a fast 24x/10x/24x CD-RW and 8x DVD-ROM, but still takes up much more space in the end.

The problem for the D400 is that times have changed. Back in 2001, the Latitude C400 won our ultra-portable Labs (see issue 91, p98) with its amazing price and feature set, but this isn't enough any more. The D400's £1,125 price may be incredible for the specification and features on offer, but you can't help feeling that the design could have been improved with minimal effort.

The theme of wasted space continues when you open the D400, with a huge bezel around the 12.1in screen. There's over 20mm of plastic on each side, when the IBM ThinkPad X31 managed to squeeze the same size screen into a chassis that's 22mm less wide. Thankfully, the screen itself is pretty good, with decent image quality and reasonable brightness. The viewing angles aren't great, either horizontally or vertically, but it's still quite acceptable from head-on.

So how has Dell filled all the extra space inside? Well, fortunately the D400 has just about everything you need for work on the move. You'll notice a Centrino badge on the palmrest, which means there's Intel 802.11b WLAN inside, and if you're prepared to forego the Intel branding Dell can upgrade this to a switchable Dell TrueMobile 802.11b/g card for no extra cost.

Bluetooth is also integrated as standard, and the wireless features can be disabled just by pressing Fn and F2. This will be handy for saving battery life, particularly as the D400's longevity isn't that great. It only lasted for three hours, 33 minutes under light use, which again would have been amazing last year but is a disappointment compared to other Centrino machines. If the smaller IBM ThinkPad X31 can last for almost five hours, why can't the Dell?

The IBM also offers better build quality, particularly when it comes to the keyboard. While the X31 has a solid, high-quality keyboard that's a pleasure to type on, the D400's has a bounce in the action, especially when your typing speeds up. There's another annoyance with the layout too, as the PgUp key is right next to the right Shift key, and you often find yourself typing at the top of your document by accident.

The lid has a slightly worrying amount of flex in it compared with the IBM's too, although the Dell's matte graphite finish certainly looks the business. The Dell logo is even the right way up, so it's not upside down when the lid's open. With the exception of the lid, the D400's build quality is impressive, with a solid chassis and firm palmrests that don't flex when you're typing.

There's a good range of ports for an ultra portable too, which includes two USB 2 ports (one on the side and one on the back), a four-pin FireWire port and a serial port that you won't find on the IBM. Plus, there's the added bonus of a smart card security reader and a single Type II PC Card slot. Considering that Bluetooth, WLAN, Gigabit Ethernet and a V.92 modem are already included, you're unlikely to need more.

Dell Inspiron One 23

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With Windows 8 pushing touch into the spotlight, the market for touchscreen laptops, tablets and all-in-ones is set to skyrocket in the coming months. Dell has mobilised an entire range of new hardware in readiness for Microsoft’s new operating system, and we’ve caught an exclusive first review of its redesigned and rather gorgeous touchscreen all-in-one, the Inspiron One 23 with adapter like Dell XPS 1340 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS PP17S Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1318 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1330 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1350 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1470 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 14Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1570 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 15Z Ac Adapter, Dell P04F001 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZD Ac Adapter.

The first moments with Dell’s latest all-in-one will be spent huffing and puffing after hauling it from its box. The Inspiron One 23 is hardly giant-sized, but the chassis feels incredibly hefty, more so than its 11.6kg weight might suggest. That weight is backed up by a rock-solid build, without a hint of flex or give in the plastic and metal body.

The combination of a crisp, unfussy design, subtle curves and a monochromatic palette of silver, grey and gloss black makes for a stylish, classy all-in-one PC.

Spend a little while with the Dell’s 23in capacitive touchscreen and, initially at least, there’s little to criticise. Flicking in a finger from the screen’s edges to activate the Charms bar or scroll through web pages soon becomes second nature, and the Core i5 CPU makes sure that Windows 8 responds to the slightest flick and stroke of a finger.

There’s no skimping on the more practical aspects, either. The burly stand keeps the Inspiron One 23 planted firmly on the desk, with no hint of wobble, and provides a good degree of forwards and backwards tilt. There’s no means of adjusting the height, but since the stand fixes to the back of the unit by a traditional 100 x 100mm VESA mount, it’s possible to bolt the Inspiron One 23 onto a wall mount for a cleaner look.

In fact, if it weren’t for the tell-tale Windows 8 and Intel stickers adorning the Dell’s front, it would be easy to mistake the Dell for a high-end 23in monitor. The glossy front is dominated by the 23in, 1,920 x 1,080 pixel touchscreen and, handily enough, Dell has equipped the Inspiron One 23 with D-SUB, HDMI and composite video inputs so you can use its display in tandem with other devices.

Examine the chassis more closely, and you’ll see the Inspiron One 23 is simply bursting with connectivity. There’s a D-SUB output for running a secondary display, an aerial input for the integrated DVB-T Freeview TV tuner, two USB 3 ports, two USB 2 ports (one of which is taken up by a USB dongle for the wireless keyboard and mouse), Gigabit Ethernet, optical S/PDIF, and a 3.5mm audio out.

A trio of buttons on the right adjust screen brightness and switch between the various video inputs, while a further two USB ports, an SD card reader and a pair of audio sockets are positioned on the left. There’s also a basic 1-megapixel webcam in the display’s upper bezel, which can be tilted up and down using a wheel on the Dell’s top edge.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Dell Latitude D600

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A business wouldn't last long if it didn't keep a tight hold on the purse strings, and Dell's new Latitude D600 could become a huge deciding factor in IT budgeting. Rather than kitting out your mobile workers with both a PC and a notebook, why not just give them a D600? Because Dell's new Latitude will do everything. With a 1.6GHz Pentium-M, it's more than fast enough, and the new docking options bridge the desktop gap even further.

Take the new £63 D/View notebook stand (see issue 104, p36), which elevates the D600's screen to the usual height of a desktop monitor - just plug in an external keyboard and mouse and, hey presto, one desktop PC. All that could stop you now is expandability, but Dell has provided a solution with its £127 D/Port docking station. This includes a full-size PCI slot, space for another optical drive, five USB 2 ports, two PS/2 ports and an S/PDIF output.

All you're missing out on is an AGP slot, but the supplied 32MB ATi Radeon Mobility 9000 graphics chip will be enough for current 3D games. Besides, this is a business notebook, and it's also the fastest one we've ever seen in 2D. The overall benchmark score of 1.47 shows exceptional speed for a laptop - all thanks to Intel's new 1.6GHz Pentium-M.

You'll also be pleased to know that the D600 comes with all the bits needed to get the Centrino badge, so you've got an Intel 855PM motherboard chipset and the appropriate Intel WLAN adaptor like Dell Inspiron 1370 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZR Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V13 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V130 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N301 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1012 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1012N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron M301 Ac Adapter. Dell is thoughtfully offering a no-cost upgrade to 802.11b/g too, so you've got the best of both worlds.

Of course, Centrino isn't just about performance - it also has a dramatic impact on battery life. And while the Dell's 230-minute rundown under light use isn't the best we've seen, it's still very good.

Another important part of any notebook's design is build quality. We were particularly interested in this after the Dell Inspiron 8500's disappointing debut (see issue 104, p55), but, thankfully, the D600 has a vastly superior design, which takes advantage of Dell's new Tri-Metal chassis, comprising aluminium, steel and magnesium alloy.

The internal frame is made from magnesium alloy, while the bulk of the exterior is made from painted ABS plastic. It adds up to a sturdy unit, with my only concern being slightly too much flexibility on the screen, which is protected by an aluminium backplate.

The keyboard is certainly solid enough, with the keys sensibly sized so you can type quickly and accurately. It dips slightly if you start to hammer them, but it's fine in general use. Also, unlike the Sony VAIO PCG-Z1SP (see issue 104, p61), the D600 democratically comes with both a touchpad and trackpoint, so you've got a pointing device for whichever way you prefer working.

With its semi-metallic grey finish, the D600 even looks great. And with a relatively slimline height of 33mm and respectable weight of 2.45kg, it's also viable to carry it around with you, especially when you factor in the nylon carry case that's included as standard.

In fact, the only slight disappointment with the D600 is the screen, which has notably poor viewing angles, and it proved very difficult - almost impossible, in fact - to achieve an even contrast across the screen. The 14.1in diagonal is also slightly too small for the SXGA+ resolution to be comfortable, and there's unfortunately no option to downgrade it to an XGA screen unless you downgrade the processor.

But that's the only criticism of what's otherwise a great notebook, particularly if you buy the docking station, which provides a lot of expandability for minimal extra cost. You could leave the five USB 2 ports permanently connected, and maybe add a FireWire adaptor through the PCI slot. With this in mind, the D600's standard two USB 2 ports and lack of FireWire doesn't seem an issue. It's not as if you're really going to use them on the move; you'd be far more likely to use Bluetooth, which is also handily integrated.

Dell Inspiron 8600

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Never one to rest on its laurels, Dell has sprinkled its Centrino fairy dust on the Inspiron 8500 with adapter such as Dell XPS 1340 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS PP17S Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1318 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1330 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1350 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1470 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 14Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1570 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 15Z Ac Adapter, Dell P04F001 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZD Ac Adapter and produced the Inspiron 8600. Gone is the old-fashioned 2.4GHz Pentium 4-M; in its place is a brand-new 1.7GHz Pentium-M.

But don't be fooled by the lower numbers - it scored a scorching 1.65 in our 2D benchmarks, making this the fastest notebook we've seen in 2D. Not only that, but the less power-hungry processor increased the battery life to 255 minutes under light use, which is a significant improvement. That said; don't get any big ideas about carrying this notebook around, as the 3.4kg weight will put a stop to that.

This is still slightly lighter than the 8500, though, and the 8600 has retained its predecessor's excellent 15.4in widescreen TFT too, which runs at 1,920 x 1,200. The 3D performance was just as impressive, with 3DMark2001 SE returning an unprecedented (for a notebook) 9,931 in 32-bit XGA. This is thanks to the super-fast 128MB GeForce FX Go5650, which, with DirectX 9 support, will look after your future 3D needs too.

Storage has had a thorough upgrade as well. The 8600 now includes a cavernous 80GB hard disk and a handy DVD+RW drive, which will write and re-write at 2.4x.

Unfortunately, one area that hasn't been improved is the disappointing build quality that let down the 8500. Although the hard disk and screen both enjoy reasonable protection, the chassis has an uninspiring flimsiness, particularly around the keyboard. The keyboard itself suffers too and, despite a good layout, springs under the lightest touch. It's a shame when this is otherwise such a well-featured machine.

On the plus side, there's both a touchpad and a trackpoint, plus you get both parallel and serial ports, as well as two USB 2 ports, FireWire, infrared, 10/100 Ethernet and a V.92 modem. The bad news is that the Centrino branding means you lose the 8500's 802.11g WLAN, although Dell can supply a suitable 802.11b/g card for £30.

With its superior performance and battery life, the Inspiron 8600 is certainly an improvement on its predecessor, and the screen is fantastic too. There may already be widescreen competition from the likes of Hi-Grade (see opposite) and HP (see p59), but neither can compete with the Dell's feature set. While the build quality needs to improve before we can wholeheartedly recommend the Inspiron 8600, it's still worth a look if you're after fast performance and a vast set of features. Use E-Value code 200-i08REV to order.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Decades That Invented

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Today's leading-edge technology is headed straight for tomorrow's junk pile, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. Everyone loves the latest and greatest.

Sometimes, though, something truly revolutionary cuts through the clutter and fundamentally changes the game. And with that in mind, Wired is looking back over 12 decades to highlight the 12 most innovative people, places and things of their day. From the first transatlantic radio transmissions to cellphones, from vacuum tubes to microprocessors, we'll run down the most important advancements in technology, science, sports and more.

We'll tackle a different decade each week, starting with the turn of the century – the last century. Our first installment takes you back to 1900-1910, when a German-born physicist named Albert with battery such as Apple A1021 Ac Adapter, Apple ACD55 Ac Adapter, Apple M4402 Ac Adapter, Apple M4896 Ac Adapter, Apple M5937 Ac Adapter, Apple M7332 Ac Adapter, Apple M8482 Ac Adapter, Apple iBook G4 14 inch Ac Adapter, Apple iBook G4 14.1 inch M9165LL/A Ac Adapter, Apple PowerBook G4 1.33GHz 12.1-inch DVI FW800 M9184LL/A Ac Adapter, Apple PowerBook G4 1.33GHz 17-inch DVI WideScreen FW800 M9110LL/A Ac Adapter, Apple PowerBook G4 12.1-inch M8760S/A Ac Adapter Einstein started changing our perspective of space and time, attorney general Charles Bonaparte established what would become the FBI and the invention of the forward pass saved football from extinction.

We don't expect you to agree with all of our picks, or even some of them. That's fine. Tell us what you think we've missed and we'll publish your list later.

E = mc2. The most famous equation in physics history. It states that matter and energy are interconvertible – that is, one is essentially just another form of the other – and their equivalence is tied to a fundamental constant of the universe: the speed of light.

Appearing for the first time in November of 1905, this renowned equation was just the latest in a series of cosmos-shattering discoveries from a plucky 26-year-old scientist named Albert Einstein. In a single year, this geek demigod published four papers that upended a thousand years of human thinking on space, time, light, and the subatomic world.

After E = mc2, Einstein’s most well-known contribution to screwing with people’s minds is his theory of Special Relativity. The theory enshrines the speed of light as a universal constant while making all other measurements relative to the motion of their observers. So two scientists zipping by one another in hyperfast spaceships will disagree on nearly everything: the amount of time that passes, the mass of each scientist, and even the length of their ships.

Einstein also published work on Brownian motion, observing that a tiny crumb floating in a hot liquid like tea is jiggled around chaotically. The crumb is being pushed by energetic and invisible particles, thereby establishing evidence for the existence of atoms, which were still theoretical constructs in 1905. He also discovered the photoelectric effect, which is the basis of solar power and won Einstein the Nobel Prize years later. Taken all together, this miraculous year vaulted Einstein to international recognition and certified his place forever in the geek hall of fame.

Aspire 4820TG represents

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Poor old Sony. Last year everything seemed to go wrong for them. Not enough PS3s, Rootkits and an uncountable number of exploding batteries. If they thought things were starting to look up, they were wrong.

Acer is the latest in the Who’s Who list of laptop makers to recall Sony manufactured batteries, joining Apple, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sharp, Gateway (deep breath), Hitachi and Fujitsu.

So, if you have a Travelmate (and if you live in Europe, chances are you do) head to the exchange program page and check the numbers.

Anyone who knows anything about computers inevitably has the conversation with a friend who’s nervous about buying a new laptop. He knows nothing about computers and is worried to death about getting ripped off. He’s scoured the web for reviews but now he’s shopping around for a good deal. Eventually the question is put to you, “What about Acer?”

Formerly a rock-bottom budget brand, Acer has been clawing its way into the second tier of PC vendors, and with high-quality hits like the Ferrari line, it’s done an admirable job of getting there. And more impressively, Acer has also done good work in keeping costs down, often undercutting the competition so effectively that buyers have to wonder if they’re getting rooked.

Acer’s mainstream Aspire 4820TG represents a solid rung on its quest for upmarket glory, though the computer lacks anything so remarkable to merit overly special notice. A 14-inch (1366 x 768) wide screen with backlit LED is plenty bright, and the 4 GB of RAM and 500-GB hard drive are state of the art for the category. On the other hand, the 2.4-GHz Core i5 CPU turned in the lowest benchmark numbers we’ve seen for computers using the chip — though not by much — while the switchable ATI Radeon 5650 graphics (the system drops down to integrated when you need to save power) were almost exactly on par with other 5650-based computers we’ve tested. The three hours of battery life is good but not exceptional, considering the low-power mode that kicks in when you unplug.

Where does this leave the 4820TG? At $700 this notebook would have been a must-buy, but at $900 (which it actually costs), it flirts dangerously with the premium category, a world where lazy performance and uninteresting, lower-end build quality ensure it can’t compete. The Aspire ultimately lands in an area of no-man’s land where it doesn’t do quite enough to justify its price. Nice little machine otherwise, though.

WIRED Bright screen, though clarity is a bit muddy. Lightweight for its category. Good for gaming.

TIRED A little pricey for an Acer. Acceptable yet uninspired performance. System likes to override Windows power settings without asking. Keyboard travel too short.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Aspire S7 and W700

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While Acer's other Windows 8 systems, such as the Aspire S7 and W700, have impressed, the W510 is held back by a couple of factors. First, it's powered by a direct descendant of the Atom processors behind the Netbook, a nearly extinct laptop subcompact category that was hugely popular for a year or so before low-cost ultraportables and the iPad overshadowed it. The new Atoms are faster than their predecessors, while maintaining long battery like Apple M8592T/A Ac Adapter, Apple M8858J/A Ac Adapter, Apple M8858Y/A Ac Adapter, Apple M8859J/A Ac Adapter, Apple M8859S/A Ac Adapter, Apple M8943LL/A Ac Adapter, Apple M9689B/A Ac Adapter, Apple M9689F/A Ac Adapter, Apple M9970X/A Ac Adapter, Apple M8858LL/A Ac Adapter, Apple PowerBook G4 800MHz 15.2-inch DVI Ivory TiBook Titanium M8592LL/ Ac Adapter, Apple PowerBook G4 667MHz 15.2-inch Gigabit Onyx TiBook Titanium M8623 Ac Adapter life and power efficiency, but that may not be enough to satisfy laptop shoppers used to finding Intel Core i3, i5, and even i7 chips in the thinnest of ultrabooks.

The other psychological hurdle here is price. Atom-powered laptops from a few years ago cost $299 or so. The Iconia W510 is $749 (or $599 for the tablet/screen only without the keyboard dock). There are a lot of impressive laptops you can buy for $750 that are more powerful, have better features, and are easier to use than this one. To be fair, there are many Atom-powered Windows 8 tablets and hybrids that cost around the same or more -- but they don't make the most compelling case, either.

The idea of a touch-screen slate running a full Windows operating system that can instantly transform into a working laptop is an appealing one. In practice, the slate part of the W510 is well-built and responsive, and the hinge that connects the two halves is easy to use and secure.

But, the keyboard half (which contains an additional battery) is too light, making the entire thing top-heavy and prone to tipping over. Adding to my usability concerns, $750 only gets you a 64GB SSD hard drive (with about half that space free after OS and software overhead), and the tablet half has connections -- Micro-HDMI, microSD, and Micro-USB -- that are only useful if you walk around with a pocketful of adapters.

Hybrids such as this need to be priced appropriately (especially ones with Atom processors), and offer great design and usability in order to be a compelling alternative to other computing products in the same price range. As much as the Acer Aspire S7 touch-screen ultrabook was an excellent advertisement for Windows 8, the Iconia W510 feels like an advertisement for the iPad, or any of the $700 to $800 ultrabooks that offer slim, portable computing at a reasonable price.

There are small differences in color, button placement, and overall visual ID, but Windows 8 hybrid laptop/tablets I've seen from Samsung, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and others generally look the same. None is particularly streamlined, as all require beefed-up hinge assemblies to keep the screen securely tethered.

W510 looks very professional

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The screen part of the W510 looks very professional, like a slightly smaller, squatter iPad, virtually indistinguishable from other Windows or Android 10-inch tablets with edge-to-edge glass and a gently curved back panel. It's solidly built, but not overly heavy.

In tablet mode, the Windows 8 UI moves smoothly, and the screen rotation in tablet mode feels faster and smoother than in the preproduction version of this system we tried several months ago. There's a rotation lock button on the top edge of the screen if you don't want the screen to reorient with every move.

The keyboard dock it plugs into is somewhat less upscale-looking than the tablet. It's bulky, but contains an additional battery such as Asus ADP-65DB Ac Adapter, Asus A6 Ac Adapter, Asus A7 Ac Adapter, Asus A8 Ac Adapter, Asus F9 Ac Adapter, Asus U5 Ac Adapter, Asus A6JA Ac Adapter, Asus A7J Ac Adapter, Asus A8Js Ac Adapter, Asus Z91 Ac Adapter, Asus W3V Ac Adapter, Asus Z61a Ac Adapter, so connecting the two parts helps with battery life. The keyboard features white island-style keys against a light silver keyboard tray, with a small clickpad below.

The keys, as noted previously, are on the small side, and reminded me of typing on a tiny Netbook keyboard years ago. Keystrokes were definitely more accurate on this final version than on the earlier sample hardware, but I occasionally ran into a double input, where a keystroke would register twice.

The clickpad-style touch pad (which means it has the left and right mouse buttons built into the pad itself, instead of separate buttons) is functional, but feels cramped. As noted with the Acer Aspire S7, the Windows 8 interface doesn't work especially well with a touch pad, so you'll find yourself using a combination of pad and screen for navigation.

When combined, the screen and keyboard form something that looks and feels a lot like a traditional clamshell laptop. The hinge holds very securely, and the entire hinge assembly can also fold open to nearly 180 degrees.

The 13-inch 1,366x768-pixel display is clear and bright, and suffers no visual degradation from having touch incorporated into it. Despite my Atom-centric concerns, touch response is immediate and quick, and off-axis viewing (important for a tablet) was excellent from any angle.

If you look at the W510 as a tablet, its ports and connections are decent. If you look at it as a laptop, it's potentially frustrating. As mentioned, the display has Micro-USB, Micro-HDMI, and a microSD card slot. The keyboard base adds a full-size USB port, but available USB ports are of the older 2.0 variety (something to look out for when getting an Atom over a Core i-series Intel chip)

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Rising tech firm Asus

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Last year, Asus introduced VivoBook an 11.6-inch laptop with a touch display, with prices starting at 499. For the same price as Microsoft’s Surface tablet, “You get a real PC and a real (processor),” Yang of Barclays says. He estimates Asus will occupy about 20% of the global market share for touch notebooks by the end of this year.

Last week, Asus announced its VivoTab series, a line of 10-inch tablets that will come with a faster processor ideal for viewing HD movies, an optional keyboard and running on Windows 8 and Windows RT, a new Microsoft operating system for mobile devices. “(U.S.) retailers’ shelf-space is limited. Product differentiation plays a very important role,” says Steve Chang, president of Asus North America. “You can’t have many me-too products.”

Competition, of course, will remain stiff. The Android market with battery like Asus V1 Ac Adapter, Asus V6V Ac Adapter, Asus W1N Ac Adapter, Asus W2 Ac Adapter, Asus W3 Ac Adapter, Asus W5 Ac Adapter, Asus W5F Ac Adapter, Asus Z32 Ac Adapter, Asus Z33 Ac Adapter, Asus W3N Ac Adapter, Asus W2J Ac Adapter, Asus W2Pc Ac Adapter is already facing a glut. And tablets will not prove to be a lasting source for profit, NPD’s Baker says. As popular as Nexus 7 is, it barely makes money for Asus given its prices that start at $199, he says.

“Tablets with a keyboard — that’s a good way to go. But it’s not unique for them,” Baker says. “(Other than for) Apple and Amazon, there’s not much breathing room. This is not an indictment on them. But no one’s been able to compete with them.”

Smartphones are another area of expansion in the works for the U.S. market. Asus is in talks with U.S. carriers to launch its PadFone, a smartphone that can be docked to a tablet. That, too, could be an uphill battle, given the stringent terms U.S. wireless carriers’ demand from phone makers. “Who’s going to buy an Asus phone in the U.S.?” asks Barclays’ Yang. “It’s too competitive in the U.S.”

Asus also must contend with the declining market for PCs, which deliver bigger profit margins than tablets and have been its cash cow for several years. Global PC shipments fell 8.6% in the third quarter of 2012, and the decline is expected to continue for the next few years. While Asus grew 45% in the U.S. in 2012 by grabbing rivals’ business, “The market shift is not going to last forever,” Yang says.

“It may be good for (Asus) for two or three years,” Yang says. “It’s an easy way to grow. They’ll have to grow other businesses — ones with recurring revenues, like cloud computing, software, storage and (enterprise) services. They need some longer vision and to take even more risk.”

seeks to improve U.S. brand

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TAIPEI, Taiwan — For the sake of non-disclosure agreements and keeping up a promising partnership, Asus Chairman Jonney Shih is hesitant to elaborate on the birth of his highest-profile product yet.

Nexus 7, a tablet jointly developed with Google, became the best-selling Android tablet worldwide last year. Lacking Google’s marketing muscle, Asus, a Taiwan-based computer maker, was content to take the back seat as it was decidedly marketed as a product of the software giant.

But Shih is quick to assert that their partnership was hardly the here’s-the-blueprint-now-go-assemble-it type that often goes on between U.S. tech companies and Asian manufacturers. Google provided the software prowess, while Asus’ hardware expertise — jamming in greater processing power, making the battery such as Dell Inspiron 1370 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZR Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V13 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro V130 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N301 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220 Ac Adapter, Dell Vostro 1220N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1012 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1012N Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron M301 Ac Adapter last longer and thinning the display — came in handy.

“Google actually felt that it was the best collaboration they’ve ever had,” Shih says. “We felt the same way. We had top-notch engineers working.”

“We sent as many as 50 engineers to Mountain View (Calif., where Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley),” Shih says, before clamming up about the deal.

Still, their collaboration — that it needed Google’s marketing and software know-how — reflects the inchoate state in Asus’ ambition to transform from a regional manufacturer to a global tech player celebrated for design and aesthetics.

With a staff of 3,800 engineers and a team of international designers, Asus — derived from the word “Pegasus” — has pioneered some of the most-cutting-edge computing products in recent years: The first 7-inch netbook, a 10-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard (Transformer), a dual-screen tablet/laptop (Taichi) and a phone that can dock to a tablet (PadFone). “They’re a very innovative company willing to take a lot of risk,” says Bob O’Donnell, a tech analyst at research firm IDC.

But as others quickly followed with competing models, Asus has not been able to cash in on its first-mover advantage to separate itself from a pack of vaguely-sounds-familiar Asian tech brands, particularly in the U.S. “People in the U.S. are still not familiar with our products,” says Jonathan Tsang, Asus’ vice chairman. An internal survey showed “few know Asus. To become familiar with the brand, you need to see it on average seven times. So more is one key. And a good product image.”

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Acer went with a keyboard

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Worse, though: think of all the pieces you'll need to carry with you if you decide to take the W700 on the road. We've already mentioned three: the tablet, cradle and kickstand. But if you're going to be using this with the cradle, you'll probably also want the Bluetooth keyboard, which comes in the box. That's four. If you're using this in desktop mode, you'll also want some sort of wireless mouse or trackpad (not included in the box, sadly). That's five pieces. The AC adapter is six. Then there's the bundled faux-leather case, which fits the tablet only. Take that and you're up to seven. It's a lot to remember, and some of the pieces (the cradle, kickstand) don't lie flat, so they'll take up more space in your bag than a device with a regular ol' keyboard dock. And really, there wouldn't have been much of a downside if Acer went with that form factor instead: you'd get the cradle and keyboard in one piece, along with a built-in battery like Dell XPS 1340 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS PP17S Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1318 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1330 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1350 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1470 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 14Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1570 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 15Z Ac Adapter, Dell P04F001 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13ZD Ac Adapter and a smattering of ports. The only thing you wouldn't be able to do is dock the tablet in portrait mode, which is fine by us.

Fortunately, at least, the case can be folded in such a way that you can prop the tablet up (in landscape mode). That'll save you some baggage, though you won't get any additional ports, as you would on the cradle or any competitors' keyboard docks.

The Bluetooth keyboard is similar to the one that comes built into the W510's keyboard dock, in that it has white plastic keys against a gray frame. Here, though, the keys aren't squished into a keyboard dock meant to fit a 10-inch tablet; it's more expansive, with no shrunken or undersized keys. It shouldn't take you long before you're typing at your usual brisk pace. What's more, we appreciate that the keyboard has an on / off switch, which takes any potential confusion out of the pairing process (i.e., there's no need to hold down a button or anything like that).

If anything, as we said, we just wish Acer went with a keyboard dock instead of a separate cradle that you have to assemble every time you set up shop somewhere. Maybe a slightly larger (read: less cramped) version of the one that comes with the W510. We know you can do it, Acer. Maybe next time.

We feel compelled to add, too, that it would've been nice if Acer threw in a mouse, particularly since there's no trackpad area on the keyboard (hybrids with traditional keyboard docks often have a small touchpad built in). Heck, we would've been happy to have a mouse instead of a carrying case, though that leathery folio is admittedly nice to have. Seriously, though, what is one supposed to do with the tablet in desktop mode with 1080p resolution and no pointing device? Particularly on such a dense screen, it is very difficult to get around the traditional Windows desktop using your fingers. As it happens, we had Logitech's Rechargeable Trackpad lying around, though most of you will need to go out and buy something, especially if you want to pull off certain Windows 8-specific gestures, like swiping in from the left to toggle through open apps. Fortunately, at least, there's a growing body of options, so assuming you're willing to shell out an extra $50 or $60, you should be fine.

doesn't skimp on battery life

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Acer's Aspire S7 already holds claim to one of our favorite laptop displays, so we weren't terribly surprised to find that the W700 also has a high-quality panel. This, too, is a 1080p IPS screen (this time coated in Gorilla Glass), though that resolution looks especially crisp on the smaller 11-inch screen (versus a 13-inch laptop, that is). It's the sort of thing you'll notice in desktop mode, when framing photos or even flicking through the Start Menu. With the brightness cranked all the way up to 350 nits we had no problem previewing photos we took using the stock camera app. That bodes well for indoor viewing angles as well, though it's a bummer that you can't adjust the screen angle, thanks to the fixed cradle and all. The ability to fiddle with the precise angle might come in handy if you're sitting a few feet away watching a movie, or trying to thwart glare from the overheard lights in your office. With the brightness at its max setting with battery such as Dell XPS 1640 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS 1645 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS 1647 Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1640 Ac Adapter, Dell W298C Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 11Z Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 10V Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1011 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 1010N Ac Adapter, Dell PP19S Ac Adapter, we could indeed still see some reflections, but only when we bothered to look: the screen isn't so glossy that it ever distracted us from getting work done.

As you've probably gathered by now, we're not normally fans of tablet cameras, but we actually managed to get some usable shots from the W700. The autofocusing, 5-megapixel camera seems to home in on subjects a bit faster than other tablets we've used recently, such as the Samsung ATIV Smart PC. Colors were usually pleasing, and we even had a little bit of luck in harshly lit situations. We deliberately chose to lead with the above photo because it's a telling one: we were able to preserve the blueness of the sky (albeit, in an oversaturated way) even though the stock camera app doesn't have any sort of HDR mode. Poke around in the gallery, though, and you'll still find some pictures with washed-out backgrounds, so whatever magic at work here won't necessarily save every shot you take.

By most metrics, the W700 is a fast device. Our particular test configuration has 4GB of RAM, a 128GB Toshiba-made SSD and a Core i5-3317U processor with integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, the same chip you'll find on most Win 8 Ultrabooks. Despite packing similar components as competing devices, it mostly bests them in PCMark 7, and nearly matches the rest. In the disk benchmark, its read / write speeds (542 MB/s and 534 MB/s) were trumped only by the Acer Aspire S7, which has dual SSDs arranged in a speedy RAID 0 configuration (and is therefore going to be faster than anything else we test). Boot-up takes just 12 seconds, which is on par with some other Windows 8 systems we've reviewed. Also encouraging: those big honking fans on the tablet's top edge do a good job of dissipating heat, so that the device always feels cool or, at worst, lukewarm to the touch.

If anything, its Achilles' heel seems to be graphics performance, which to be fair was never a strong point for Ultrabooks and laptop / tablet hybrids. Its score of 3,548 in 3DMark06 falls far short of other Windows 8 systems, even those with the same integrated graphics solution. Even if you remove the high resolution as a variable and only compare it to other 1080p machines, it still ranks at the bottom of the list: the Aspire S7 and Dell XPS 12 both scored better on the same test despite having 1,920 x 1,080 panels of their own.

The W700 starts at $800

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The W700 starts at $800 with a 1.8GHz Core i3 processor and a 64GB SSD, though other specs, including the graphics solution and 1080p display, remain the same. The $900 configuration steps up to a Core i5 CPU, but still has 64GB of storage. The $999 model, the one we tested, combines an i5 chip with a larger 128GB solid-state drive. There's also a $1,149 one with the same specs, except it has Windows 8 Pro installed and has a warranty that lasts for two years instead of one.

Whichever you choose, the cradle and Bluetooth keyboard are both included. Pretty impressive when you remember that other companies, like Samsung and Microsoft, are still selling the keyboard separately for some or all of their configurations. So kudos to Acer for just tossing it in, and at a lower starting price, to boot.

We get what Acer was going for here and really, it's an intriguing proposition: a hybrid that can be used as a standalone tablet, but is powerful enough to be your next laptop. As we said, it's fast and offers awesomely long battery such as Asus A32-1015 Battery, Asus Eee PC 1015 Battery, Asus Eee PC VX6 Battery, Asus Eee PC 1215 Battery, Asus AL31-1005 Battery, Asus Eee PC 1005 Battery, Asus Eee PC 1001HA Battery, Asus A32-F5 Battery, Asus X59 Battery, Asus AP32-1008P Battery, Asus AP31-1008P Battery, Asus Eee PC 1008P Battery life, but we suspect you'd feel more comfortable researching a few similar options before shelling out a thousand bucks.

We mentioned the Surface Pro, though it doesn't even go on sale until next month. At that point, it will start at $900 for the 64GB model, with the fantastic Touch Cover keyboard sold separately. As with the Surface RT, we expect we'll enjoy the Surface Pro's sturdy kickstand and comfy typing experience. Not to mention, it's comprised of fewer pieces than the W700, and supports pen input, which the W700 doesn't. Still, it's rated for shorter battery life (but we already told you about that). The ASUS TAICHI, a convertible Ultrabook with dual 1080p screens, is also tempting but we haven't seen it creep into retail just yet. Certainly, we haven't had the chance to review one, so we can't vouch for its performance or overall quality right now.

The W700 succeeds in being powerful while still lasting seven-plus hours on a charge. Most other Core i5 tablets don't have that going for them.One option that is available now is the Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro, aka the Series 7 Slate, which retails for $1,200 and up. This, too, has a Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD and an 11-inch 1080p display. The difference, though, is that the tablet supports both pen and finger input, and comes loaded with the same S Pen apps you'll find on the Galaxy Note 10.1. Also, the keyboard dock has a built-in touchpad, so you don't have to use a standalone mouse in desktop mode.

Suppose you only occasionally need to use your PC in tablet mode. Why not get a more traditional-looking touchscreen Ultrabook that can morph into a slate when you need it to? If you go that route, we suggest the Dell XPS 12 ($1,200 and up), which is only slightly bigger than the Acer Iconia W700, but still adds a 1080p screen and a fantastic keyboard.

Core i5 CPU and 64

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If it were us shopping, we'd avoid sliders altogether. In general, the propped-up display eats into the usable keyboard space, which means you're stuck with a cramped keyboard. Also, who wants their PC's display to be exposed all the time? In particular, we found the 11-inch Toshiba Satellite U925t has poor build quality (on top of all those other issues), along with short battery life and loud fan noise. And though we're still wrapping up our review of the Sony VAIO Duo 11, we'll tell you now that many of these complaints apply there, too.

After unboxing the W700 and putting the cradle dock together, we didn't think we were going to like it very much. As it turns out, we like it quite a bit, and we think you might too, but you'll have to get past some surface flaws in order to truly appreciate it. The W700 is thick and heavy, even for a tablet with a Core i5 processor, and though it's solidly built, it has a boxy look that can be off-putting. The good news is that it's fast, even among Windows 8 PCs, and offers surprisingly long runtime.

If we're honest, we never expected Core i5 tablets to be very longevous, and meanwhile touchscreen Ultrabooks have been consistently disappointing on the battery like Asus AP21-1002HA Battery, Asus Eee PC S101H Battery, Asus AP22-U1001 Battery, Asus Eee PC S101 Battery, Asus A32-R1 Battery, Asus 90-NGA1B3000 Battery, Asus C22-R2 Battery, Asus C21-R2 Battery, Asus N20A Battery, Asus A32-U6 Battery, Asus A33-U6 Battery, Asus U6S Battery life front, so it's impressive that the W700 succeeds in being powerful while still lasting seven-plus hours on a charge. Most other Core i5 tablets don't have that going for them.

Finally, let's not forget the cost: even the $800 model comes with a cradle and dock, which is pretty aggressive pricing for a product in this class. For $900, in particular, you can get one with a Core i5 CPU and 64 gigs of storage. Compare that to the Surface Pro, which will start at $900 with the same CPU and no keyboard included. Granted, we prefer the Surface's lightweight, connectable keyboard, but that's beside the point: Microsoft could take a cue from Acer on pricing here.

The problem, though, is that the W700's cradle design doesn't make much sense. A dock with a built-in keyboard (and perhaps a touchpad and spare battery) would have been a simpler, more compact solution, and you wouldn't have had to give up much in the way of extra ports. It would have been more versatile too -- the sort of thing you could use in the office or on the road, in a hotel room.

Ultimately, you could pack up the tablet and keyboard separately, but it's not ideal: it's a bit of a pain, and the components will take up more space in your bag. We suggest you use the case as a stand instead, but with the understanding that you'll have just one USB port: the one on the tablet itself. So, the quirky design doesn't rise to the level of a dealbreaker, but we do hope that Acer reconsiders the keyboard dock as it designs the inevitable follow-up product. After all, for a portable device like this, less would almost certainly be more.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Get an Ivy Bridge Boost

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Dell is revamping its business lineup with a complete refresh of the Latitude line of business laptops and the OptiPlex line of business desktops, outfitting the new models with the latest Intel processors, and upgrading designs and feature sets across mobile and desk-bound enterprise solutions.

Dell's Latitude line of business laptops is getting a full makeover, complete with third-generation Intel Core processors, Intel's improved integrated graphics technology, an optional 128GB solid-state drive (SSD), and a wealth of durability features. Additions like Dell's StrikeZone shock absorber, a free-fall sensor, and rubber-cushioned hard drive isolation protects data when a laptop gets dropped or bumped. Battery life also gets a boost, with an optional 9-cell battery like Dell XPS L401X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L701X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L501X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L502X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS L702X Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M2010 Ac Adapter, Dell C9891 Ac Adapter, Dell J70W7 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1464 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1564 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1764 Ac Adapter, Dell 9JJGJ Ac Adapter, a second external slice, plus an expansion bay battery. Dell promises up to 32.7 hours of battery life when fully laden.

An array of business-centered tools add convenience and security, like Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for enhanced security, Intel vPro system management, which includes Dell's own vPro extensions for remote BIOS management and remote hard drive wiping, and encryption software with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 security certification for security and data protection. The Latitude line is also getting USB 3.0 on all models, Bluetooth 4.0, and optional 4G mobile broadband.

The Latitude E6430s offers mobile productivity, with a 14-inch display packed into a trim 13-inch chassis. Available with 3- and 6-cell batteries, the Latitude E6430s also features ExpressCharge, which lets you charge the battery to 80 percent capacity in an hour. Optional features include a backlit keyboard and HD webcam.

The Latitude E6230, E6330, E6430, and E6530 laptops offer durability for on-the-go productivity, backed up with long battery life and several connectivity options, and are available with 12.5-inch, 13.3-inch, 14-inch, and 15.6-inch displays. In the mainstream and desktop replacement space are the Latitude E5430 and E5530 laptops, which offer 14- and 15.6-inch displays, respectively.

The Latitude E6430 ATG takes all of the business-friendly features of the Latitude 6430, but beefs up the rugged aspects to provide a business tool that can withstand the harshest conditions. Designed to withstand extreme temperatures and altitude, dust and grime, shocks and spills, this 14-inch laptop keeps ticking no matter what's thrown at it. A convenient carrying handle makes transporting it that much easier.

On the desktop side is the Dell OptiPlex lineup, a family of business desktops. Designed for daily business productivity, the OptiPlex line is made to offer security, easy integration into existing IT structures, and simple troubleshooting.

Dell offers three primary models in the OptiPlex line: the OptiPlex 3010, aimed at businesses large and small, offering energy efficiency and ease of maintenance for use in networked environments; the OptiPlex 7010, built for mainstream productivity with security and management in mind; and the OptiPlex 9010 and 9010 XL, a premium business solution designed to be seamlessly integrated into corporate IT networks and be set-up and managed easily. The OptiPlex 9010 XL is made to experience fewer component changes over the life of the product, and Dell ProSupport for OEM provides advanced support notifications and managed end-of-life for hardware transitions with minimal fuss.

The new OptiPlex models are outfitted with microphone and headphone jacks for use with voice-over-IP (VoIP) and are certified for Microsoft Unified Communications. Multi-monitor support is standard, with OptiPlex desktops made to run up to three monitors, while front and side USB ports are available for peripherals.

Get an Ivy Bridge Boost

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AMD Radeon HD 7730M

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A 1TB 5,400rpm hard drive provides plenty of storage for all of your media files and the 32GB mSATA drive provides speedy access to frequently used data. Windows 7 Home Premium, Dell Stage media software, and Dell DataSafe backup software are preinstalled along with a few useful apps such as Dell Webcam and Skype. Unfortunately you also get a few not so useful apps in the form of trailware and gameware.

The Inspiron 15R Special Edition serves up impressive productivity and multimedia performance, thanks to a potent combination of components including Intel's third generation Core i7-3612QM processor (2.10 GHz), 8GB of system memory, and the aforementioned mSATA drive. Its PCMark7 score of 3658 eclipsed the IdeaPad Y580 by more than 750 points and the HP Envy 17 (2012)$1,489.50 at Amazon Marketplace by almost 1600 points. The 15R's with battery such as Dell Inspiron M501 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 17R Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 15R Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 14R Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 13R Ac Adapter, Dell 9T48V Ac Adapter, Dell XPS M1730 Ac Adapter, Dell PP06XA Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude 2100 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1320 Ac Adapter, Dell R893R Ac Adapter, Dell J024N Ac Adapter lofty PCMark7 comes by way of the mSATA drive, which is known to improve performance on this particular test.

Scores from the Cinebench R11.5 benchmark test are not as skewed; the Inspiron 15R Special Edition's score of 5.56 lagged the Lenovo Y580 (6.22) and the Dell 17R Special Edition (6.15) but trounced the second generation Core i5-based Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170$1,199.95 at Journey Ed(2.70).

The 15R Special Edition's Photoshop CS5 (3:34) and Handbrake (1:24) encoding scores are evidence that it can handle your multimedia tasks with relative ease and are right in line with the Y580 and the 17R Special Edition.

Switchable graphics are supplied by a discrete AMD Radeon HD 7730M GPU and the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 circuitry. The Radeon engine produced solid 3DMark06 scores of 11,185 (1,024-by-768) and 7,897 (1,920-by-1,080) but could not match the Y580's scores of 15,486 (1,024-by-768) and 12,720 (1,920-by-1,080). Results were similar on our Lost Planet 2 DX9 and Crysis DX10 gaming tests; neither laptop hit the 30 fps mark on the high quality tests but the Y580 produced much higher frame rates on the medium quality tests.

The Inspiron 15R Special Edition had trouble completing the MobileMark 2007 battery benchmark test, so we used our comparable 10-hour DVD rundown test to test the 48WHr battery. It lasted 3 hours 10 minutes, which is almost an hour longer than the 2:20 of the Dell Inspiron 17R Special Edition$1,099.99 at Dell using the same anecdotal test.

The Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition has a lot going for it. For a little over $1K you get impressive productivity performance, switchable graphics, and a first rate HD display. The addition of a Blu-ray drive sweetens the deal. Its battery life isn't newsworthy but it isn't terrible either, and you can always delete the preinstalled bloatware if it bothers you. That said, as good as the Inspiron 15R's graphics performance is, it can't match the overall graphics power of our reigning Editors' Choice, the Lenovo IdeaPad Y580.

ATG may not have

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By Brian Westover The Dell Latitude E6430 ATG$1,219.00 at Dell Small Business is the latest in a long line of rugged and semi-rugged laptops from Dell. The company gotten very good at taking some of the rugged tech used in the tank-like Dell Latitude E6420 XFR$1,459.00 at Dell Small Business and applying it to the semi-rugged E6430 ATG. Think business in work boots and blue jeans. This is the pick-up truck of laptops, designed to do business where the usual suit-and-tie-laptop risks being damaged. Sturdy construction is joined by a long-lasting battery like Asus AL23-901 Battery, Asus AP23-901 Battery, Asus Eee PC 1000 Battery, Asus Eee PC 901 Battery, Asus A22-700 Battery, Asus P22-900 Battery, Asus Eee PC 701 Battery, Asus Eee PC 900 Battery, Asus A32-W5F Battery, Asus Z35F Battery, Asus A31-W5F Battery, Asus W5F Battery, speedy solid-state drive, and Intel Core i7 processor, delivering solid performance in a wide range of circumstances. It's enough to earn our Editors' Choice for ruggedized laptops.

While the E6430 ATG may not have the boxy look or tank-like survive-it-all ruggedness of the Dell XFR or the Panasonic Toughbook CF-31%displayPrice% at %seller%, it's still a good deal more rugged than your average business laptop. MIL-STD-810G testing is used to certify that the E6430 ATG will withstand unusual amounts of abuse: shock, drops, temperature, and altitude. It's also certified IP5x, a rating that requires meeting stringent requirements for withstanding dust and moisture, which do the most damage by working their way into a system's insides and wreaking havoc.

The E6430 ATG is hardened from the outside in, starting with an aluminum lid, steel hinges, and magnesium alloy frame. Sturdy rubber port covers keep out dirt and dust. A layer of textured plastic armor—similar to the spray-on liner in truck beds—covers the edges of the closed laptop, and rubber bumpers on the corners add a bit more protection from drops and bumps. All this armor, however, adds both thickness and weight; thus, the E6430 ATG measures 2.6 by 14.5 by 10.5 inches (HWD) and weighs a hefty 6.3 pounds.

The 14-inch 1366-by-768 display has an anti-glare coating and an extra-bright backlight for superb outdoor visibility, and 180-degree visibility ensures clarity at any angle. The backlit keyboard is also spill resistant, and has a pointing stick to join the multitouch touchpad, similar to that seen on the HP EliteBook 8460p$549.99 at Amazon Marketplace.

Rubber port covers may be spurious on premium systems that won't ever venture outdoors, but on the E6430 ATG, they are a necessity for keeping out unwanted moisture and grime. One cover protects a USB/eSATA combination port , one USB 2.0 port, and a USB 3.0 port while the other safeguards a USB 2.0 port (with power), VGA output, and a headset jack. On the back of the system, you'll find a covered Ethernet port, covered HDMI port, an open power connector and case lock slot. On the front of the laptop is an integrated SD card reader. An ExpressCard slot, SmartCard reader and Intel vPro are available for use with specialized equipment and security. Multiple 3G and 4G Gobi wireless broadband solutions are also available.

Spinning hard drives

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The physical keyboard is superb. The chiclet keys have the same soft-touch, matte-finish coating used on the rest of the palmrest. There's also more spring to them than are usually found on ultrabooks, and the result is an excellent typing feel. The onscreen keyboard is no better or worse than those on other tablets, but you'll definitely benefit from having the physical keyboard should you want to write anything longer than a tweet. The touchpad also features the soft-touch coating, making the touchpad fairly comfortable. It's a clickpad, with right and left buttons integrated into the surface of the pad.

Despite the limitations imposed by the narrow confines of the convertible ultrabook form-factor, Dell has included a fair selection of ports and connectivity options into the XPS 12. On the right edge of the tablet are two USB 3.0 ports (one with Sleep and Charge), a power connector, and a button that lets you check the battery such as canon NB-1L battery, canon NB-2L battery, canon BP-511 battery, canon NB-5L battery, canon NB-4L battery, canon NB-5H battery, nikon CR-V3 battery, nikon EN-EL2 battery, Olympus FE-250 battery, Fujifilm NP-40 battery, Samsung VP-MS12 battery, Sharp VR-BL1 battery power level on an adjacent indicator. On the left, you'll find a headset jack, volume up and down buttons, a screen rotation lock button, and a sliding power switch.

Notably absent, however, is an Ethernet port, meaning that the 802.11n WLAN connection is your only option for getting online, and Bluetooth 3.0 adding wireless pairing for peripherals. You'll also be missing any ports for video output. Without any sort of VGA or HDMI output, the only ways to get your content onto a TV is through either a mini DisplayPort (which requires an adapter for HDMI) or via Wi-Di, which will require either a Wi-Di equipped TV or adapter, like the Netgear Push2TV. This model is aimed at consumers, but an enterprise-focused configuration will be available with Windows 8 Professional and will include BitLocker Encryption with Trusted-Platform Module (TPM).

The XPS 12 is also outfitted with a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). As of now, 256GB is probably the highest capacity SSD you'll see offered in consumer systems, so it's hard to complain. Spinning hard drives offer larger capacity, but are prone to damage when dealing with vibration and movement, both of which are abundant when using a tablet. The XPS 12 has no optical drive, but in this form-factor, it won't be missed.

Along with the inclusion of Windows 8, and the accompanying default tiles found on the Start Screen, Dell has added a few of its own, such as a direct link to the Amazon Store, Amazon's Kindle app, a preview of Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft Live Essentials 2012 (Photo Gallery & Movie Maker), and the new Windows 8 Skype app. Dell also includes some resources for users, like the "Getting Started with Windows 8" app, Dell Shop, My Dell Support Center, Dell Backup & Recovery. Anti-virus protection comes in two forms: the default, Microsoft's Security Essentials, as well as a 30-day trial of McAfee's Windows 8 security app. Dell covers the XPS 12 with a one-year warranty, which includes parts and labor, accidental damage service, and a year of premium telephone support.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Lenovo's new line

Welcome to a laptop battery specialist of the Dell Ac Adapter

print Armando RodriguezAssistant Editor, PCWorld Armando is an Android nerd, covering both apps and phones, and a former programmer. He is also a world-class heckler on Twitter.

LAS VEGAS?Lenovo might not the first company you think of when it comes to smartphones, but the company's new line of Android handsets drew the biggest crowd at Sunday night's CES Unveiled.

Prices for the Lenovo Android phones range from entry-level to high-end. The phones are slated for release next year in emerging markets like Russia, India, and Indonesia.

This not-so-sleek phone may not look all that impressive on the outside, but it comes packing a massive 3500mAh battery like Dell Latitude E4300 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4400 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4310 Ac Adapter, Dell 8N884 Ac Adapter, Dell G800H Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4320 Ac Adapter, Dell Latitude E4200 Ac Adapter, Dell Y085C Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N7010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N5010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N4010 Ac Adapter, Dell Inspiron N3010 Ac Adapter and ships running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).

Lenovo claims that the P770's large battery will keep the phone going for more than 12 hours, a claim we?re likely to believe given the fact that Motorola's Droid Razr Maxx HD currently tops our battery life lab tests with a smaller 3300mAh battery. It will need that battery to power its large 4.5-inch qHD IPS display.

For those of you out there who want more than just superior battery life, the IdeaPhone S890 should be on your radar. The phone features a vibrant and sharp 5-inch IPS display, making the screen roughly the same size as the one on the original Samsung Galaxy Note. Aside from the eye-catching display, the S890 also has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and Android 4.1 with a custom Lenovo skin running on top. I found the phone to be a bit too plasticky for my taste, but it performed well in spite of having only a dual-core chipset.

Finally there's the IdeaPhone S720, Lenovo's entry level smartphone running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The phone has the same 4.5-inch qHD IPS display found on the P770, and is positioned as more of multimedia device. The phone sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 8-megapixel camera, and ships pre-loaded with Dolby's audio software for an enhanced listening experience. These types of specs are atypical of budget handsets, many of which are still sold running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).