Finance Court: November 2007

Monday, November 19, 2007

Which $1,000 laptop should I buy?

I used to cringe when folks asked me to recommend a laptop that cost less than $1,000. Granted, there have been laptops at that price for a few years now, but they were generally chunky cases stocked with generations-old components and low-resolution screens--not exactly anything I'd feel good about recommending for use as a primary computer.

Imagine my surprise when computer manufacturers responded to my call for $1,000 laptops with some downright Crave-worthy systems. I expected to receive only 15.4-inch systems, because the larger case provides more room for engineers to work and keeps costs down; but I also found two 14.1-inch systems that didn't break our budget. I expected to receive cases stocked with previous-generation Pentium or Celeron CPUs; on the contrary, all but one of our review units included current-generation processors, graphics, and chipsets. I expected the cases to be leftovers from last year's crop of new laptops; instead, many in our roundup share the same case design as their more-expensive brethren.

One area where my expectations were met: performance. None of the laptops in this roundup sped through our performance benchmarks. But if I'm buying a $1,000 laptop, I'm not expecting to use it for gaming or video editing.

In the end, we were able to round up sub-$1,000 configurations from Fujitsu, Gateway, Lenovo, Sony, and Toshiba. Which ones did I like best? The answer is after the break.

One of the highest-scoring systems in this roundup, the $899 Gateway M-1618 was also my personal favorite. Its case--with a glossy, subtly patterned finish and brushed-metal accents--is the same as you'd find on the company's higher-end systems. Its display is simply beautiful, and the M-1618 is remarkably slim for a low-cost system. In fact, the slim form factor ultimately gave the Gateway an edge over the Sony VAIO CR120 (the other high-scoring system in this roundup). I simply loved having a broad, bright display and comfortable keyboard in such a compact case. The display could be a deal-breaker for some, however: its glossy coating is among the most reflective in this roundup. Also, the AMD Turion 64 X2 processor in the M-1618 posted some of the lowest performance scores in this roundup, though I found it adequate for Web surfing, word processing, and watching movies.

The $1,000 Sony VAIO CR120 was my other favorite. The 5.3-pound system with a 14.1-inch screen is certainly one of the most portable laptops in this roundup, and I'd venture to say it's the most expensive-looking. It has a shimmery indigo lid, silver interior, and chrome detailing, plus pulsating LED lights beneath the case (which can, of course, be turned off). Its flat-top keys required some getting used to, but typing was comfortable overall. Its glossy high-resolution display produces fewer reflections than the Gateway's, though it's still quite prone to glare. With a current-generation Core 2 Duo processor, the VAIO CR120 posted high performance scores, though it was slightly hobbled by its single gigabyte of RAM. It was also one of the most egregious offenders when it came to preinstalled crapware--which may be the reason its price is so low.

When I embarked on this roundup, I knew I had to include Lenovo. Though the Lenovo 3000 line is directed primarily at small businesses, it has long been one of the best deals going if you want to buy a laptop built on the latest Intel processors and platforms. We looked at the 14.1-inch version of the Lenovo 3000 N200 ($984) and were pleased, if not exactly blown away. It's a little chunkier than the VAIO CR120, and it lacks the media features found on the more entertainment-oriented systems in this roundup. But it was among one of the better performers and has a slew of features (fingerprint reader, Lenovo Care support utility, and so on) that will appeal to users who want a straightforward machine for the home office.

The Toshiba Satellite A215-S7437 has an awful lot in common with the Gateway M-1618: both laptops cost $899, both feature 15.4-inch displays, and both incorporate AMD Turion 64 X2 processors. However, the Toshiba is larger than the Gateway, and (worse) posted the shortest battery life of all five systems in this roundup. Its low price also seems to owe something to crapware. We will say, however, that we like the Satellite's display; Toshiba's glossy screen finish produces only slight reflections, effectively balancing the demands of image quality with the demands of onscreen reading. The speakers on the Satellite A215-S7437 are also the best laptop speakers we've heard in a long time.

Alas, someone has to come in last, and in this case it's the $999 Fujitsu LifeBook A6110. It's not that this 15.4-incher has so many flaws--though its battery life left much to desire--but that its chunky case and average performance were underwhelming, particularly relative to other systems in its price range. What the LifeBook A6110 offers above the competition are comfort, with its full-size keyboard and broad, beautiful 15.4-inch display, and flexibility, with room for lots of peripherals and multiple expansion-card choices.

If you've read this far, you're surely wondering about the elephant in the room--two elephants, in fact: HP and Dell. Unfortunately both tech giants were unable to send us review systems that cost less than $1,000 in time for our deadline. However, we did some shopping on their sites to get a sense of how they'd stack up. First, we configured an HP Pavilion dv6500t with identical components to the Fujitsu LifeBook A6110 (1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, 2GB of RAM, Intel X3100 graphics, 160GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, Webcam, and DVD burner) for $829. Though we haven't run this system through our benchmark testing, we imagine its performance would be similar to the Fujitu's--and we like the HP's case design.

Things were rockier on the Dell side, where we found a $968 (after $200 instant savings) Inspiron 1520 that included a 1.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, Nvidia 8400M GS graphics, a 250GB hard drive, 802.11g Wi-Fi, and a DVD burner--but we couldn't get more than 1GB or RAM, nor could we add a Webcam, without going over the $1,000 budget. The slightly smaller Inspiron 1420 includes nearly identical components and 2GB of RAM, but we had to sacrifice the DVD burner to keep the price at $999. Adding the DVD burner pops the price up closer to $1,100.

Overall, it would seem that the Holy Grail of laptop buying--a decent, attractively design laptop with a solid feature set for less than $1,000--is finally within reach. Even better, you can choose among several laptops that meet those criteria. Happy bargain hunting!

cheap airfare to paris|||charlotte cheap hotel rate|||cheap mexico package travel|||cheap hosting package washington web|||cheap travel insurance quote|||apartment cheap in jersey new|||best cheap cell phone plan|||michael floorwax and cheap seat|||cheap cruise florida from|||cheap long distance phone|||cheap high school textbook|||cheap black rim|||cheap motel canada|||cheap running shoes|||cheap hotel furniture|||cell phone for cheap prices|||cheap seat|||cheap insurance quote travel|||very cheap car for sale|||cheap air ticket to china|||cheap dvd for sale|||cheap adobe software|||cheap laptop with wireless internet|||cheap unique wedding favor|||cheap classic car insurance|||cheap gucci shoes|||bank cheap check personal|||cheap spanish holiday|||cheap wire rim|||cheap london motel|||cheap loan|||cheap dirt bike tire|||cheap airfare to manila|||cheap insurance student travel|||cheap rim package|||ocean city motel cheap|||cheap orlando vacation rental|||cheap air force one|||cheap mexico vacation|||cheap city gas oklahoma|||cheap ticket flight tracker|||cheap phentermine prescription|||cheap airsoft bb gun|||air cheap favicon flight ticket

Nvidia unleashes GeForce 8800M graphics

Monday Nvidia was trumpeting its two newest mobile GPUs, the GeForce 8800M GTX and GeForce 8800M GTS, as a "gamer's wishes come true." The two graphics cards are now the company's highest-end options for mobile gaming, and Nvidia claims they are the world's fastest notebook GPUs.

Key features on the GeForce 8800M series include both DirectX 10 and DirectX 9 compatibility, so you can make the most of the newest games as well as your old favorites. The graphics processors also include the company's PureVideo HD engine for playback of high-definition video and PowerMizer technology, which the company claims balances battery life and performance.

Specifications for the GeForce 8800M GTX:

* Stream Processors: 96
* Core Clock (MHz): 500
* Shader Clock (MHz): 1250
* Memory Clock (MHz): 800
* Maximum Memory: 512MB
* Memory Interface: 256-bit

The GeForce 880M GTS includes nearly identical specs, but has only 64 stream processors.

So far the 8800M Series GPUs have shown up in the just-announced Alienware Area-51 m15x and Area-51 m17x, and Nvidia promises more systems to come soon from Eurocom, Gateway, and Sager.

cheap motor car insurance quote|||cheap cigarette shop|||cheap majorca holidays|||canada cheap flower|||car cheap insurance quote woman|||montana cheap motel|||cheap one ticket way|||cheap scrubs|||cell phone prepaid plan cheap|||cheap man shoes|||cheap 20 inch tire|||cheap exotic vacation|||cheap alltel cell phone|||cheap 20 inch rim|||cheap flower girl basket|||cheap insurance online travel|||cheap big rim|||airfare deal cheap airline ticket|||cheap europe flight flight|||download ipod music cheap|||beach cheap invitation wedding|||cheap holidays to magaluf|||cheap honolulu hotel|||ipod cheap prices|||cheap invitation online wedding|||agency cheap travel|||air british cheap flight ticket|||cheap hospital scrubs|||cheap 20 inch rim and tire|||cheap discount airline ticket|||cheap short term health insurance|||cheap talk|||cheap designer dress prom|||cheap home equity loan|||cheap sports ticket|||cheap price furniture|||cruise cheap package vacation|||cheap all inclusive holidays|||cheap super swamper tire|||cheap chrome car rim|||sprint cell phone cheap prices|||cheap honeymoon vacation package|||cheap citizen watch

Alienware shows off two new laptops

Hot on the heels of the exclusive sneak peek photos we brought you last week, boutique computer maker Alienware finally let the press and public see its new creations in person Monday at a preview event. We call it that rather than a launch event, as the new Area-51 m15x and Area-51 m17x likely won't be available until the beginning of 2008.

The Skullcap and Ripley designs

We did, however, get to see these new systems in action, and as expected, both the 15- and 17-inch models will offer some hardcore hardware, including Core 2 Duo Extreme processors and the latest Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTX graphics. Part of the reason Alienware unveiled the new systems today was to coincide with Nvidia's 8800M launch (that's their latest and greatest graphics chip for laptops).

But those parts will be available in many laptops--what Alienware is really selling is not the steak, but the sizzle. The company has taken lumps for not redesigning its systems enough between generations, but parts of these two new laptops represent a major (for Alienware) design overhaul.

A custom app controls the keyboard color.

Two chassis designs are available: Skullcap has the familiar ridges we've seen on systems such as the m9750, but the new Ripley design keeps just the iconic alien head, against a glossy (and very reflective), flat lid. A backlit keyboard can be programmed to run any variety of colors, similar to the vent and fan lights in Dell's XPS laptops, but the light-up keyboard makes a huge difference, as does the totally flat touch pad, demarcated only by its backlit border.

No pricing or shipping dates yet, but expect to see these available sometime in January.

cheap motel in santa barbara|||cheap house insurance|||cheap package holidays to spain|||cheap dvd hd|||cheap hosting service web|||cheap cigarette switzerland|||cheap rate on hotel in san diego|||cheap air flight in europe|||cheap mud tire|||cheap vacation getaway|||cheap dell laptop battery|||cheap gas airsoft gun|||airport car cheap rental valencia|||cheap car insurance in florida|||cheap book search|||cheap trick bike|||cheap wooden garden furniture|||cheap concert ticket tool|||cheap hawaii ticket|||cheap amd laptop|||cheap unsecured personal loan online|||cheap hotel houston|||cheap converse shoes|||cheap infant car seat|||cheap coloring book|||las vegas hotel reservation cheap|||air cheap flight flight international|||car cheap in insurance london|||cheap online car insurance uk|||cheap contemporary furniture|||cheap disney ticket|||car cheap loan new used|||order cheap phentermine|||really cheap concert ticket|||cheap eats magazine new york|||cheap air force 1s|||cheap britax car seat|||cheap dirt bike for sale|||auction car cheap used|||mexico cheap air fare|||apple cheap ipod nano|||cheap flower delivered|||cheap 205 40 17 tire|||cheap airline ticket to europe|||cheap car for sale in wisconsin|||contents insurance cheap|||a cheap hotel in las vegas nv|||cheap ipod photo

Axiom Audiobyte: The Bentley of PC speakers?

Most PC speakers are afterthoughts--the computer equivalent of those awful earbud headphones that come bundled "for free" with portable media players. But Canada's Axiom Audio is offering a high-end alternative with its new Audiobyte PC speakers. At 6.5 inches high by 5.5 inches wide by 4 inches deep, the stereo speakers aren't too much larger than standard computer audio offerings, but they're effectively miniaturized versions of high-quality bookshelf speakers, sporting two-way designs with a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter and 3-inch aluminum cone woofer.

The Audiobyte is now available in a variety of finishes and price points: silver, charcoal, black or white standard synthetic matte finish ($349); cherry or burled walnut high-gloss synthetic ($399); and lacquered real-wood burled cherry or walnut ($559). Each package includes a pair of stereo speakers and a separate amplifier module, that latter of which can also accept direct iPod connections via USB. An optional EPZero subwoofer runs $179. Those price tags aren't cheap, especially compared to most offerings from PC audio stalwarts like Logitech and Altec Lansing--and not having yet heard the Audiobytes in action, we can't make any claims as to whether or not they live up to their audiophile billing. But Axiom is betting that more refined listeners--those who might be considering the $400 Bose Companion 5 speakers, for instance--would be willing to give the Audiobytes an audition.

cheap contact lens uk|||cheap new car|||digital camera cheap new|||20 cheap domain hosting web|||cheap medical book|||greece cheap flight ticket|||cheap cigarette europe|||cheap disney world vacation package|||air airfare cheap cheap flight|||cheap dvd set|||butterfly cheap invitation wedding|||cheap usa gold cigarette|||agency cheap insurance travel|||car cheap in insurance quote uk|||cheap flight florida ticket|||cheap airline fare for student|||airplane canada cheap ticket|||cheap download mp3 player|||cheap parliament cigarette|||car cheap online used vegas|||cheap car hire uk|||cheap omega watch|||buy cheap phentermine online|||cheap secured personal loan|||car cheap local used|||cheap 17 rim|||cheap plane ticket to london|||cheap hotel room rate|||air jamaica cheap ticket

World's First PS3 Joystick: Capable but Ugly

By Charlie Sorrel

November 19, 2007 | 7:23:55 AMCategories: Peripherals

How could we not bring you news from a company named Thrustmaster? The T. Flight Stick X is claimed to be the first ever joystick for the PS3 (it'll work with a PC, too).

Ironically, given the stick's name, it won't control flight sims which exclusively use the motion sensor, but it does just about everything else, including a throttle lever, a slew of programmable buttons (including a mapping button which will let you switch functions on the fly) and a weighted base.

Settings for different games are stored internally, and it comes pre-configured for Blazing Angels on the PS3 and the imaginatively titled Flight Simulator X on the PC. It's cheap, too, at $50, although it's not exactly beautiful. When people talk about being hit with the ugly stick, this is the stick they mean.