Product At-a-Glance

On the X220, you’ll find a 12.5-inch widescreen display running at 1366×768, more than enough space for working on documents while on-the-go. The X220′s graphics are powered by the Intel integrated HD graphics chip. You have the option of getting up to an Intel Core i7-2620M processor running at 2.7GHz, up to 8GB of DDR3 1333MHz RAM and up to 320GB of storage with a hard drive or up to 160GB of storage with a factory-installed Intel solid state drive. One thing you won’t find on this model is an optical drive–to get access to a DVD burner, you’ll need to pony up the extra cash for a docking station.

Connectivity-wise, you’ll find one of three Intel Centrino Wi-Fi cards, Bluetooth 3.0, and optional 3G or 4G mobile broadband connections.

Our model was packed with the following:

• Intel Core i5-2520M Processor at 2.5GHz
• 4GB of memory
• 320GB hard drive
• 6-cell battery

If you’ve read any of our previous ThinkPad reviews, you’re familiar with the tried-and-true ThinkPad design. A matte black exterior, metal display hinges, and the signature red TrackPoint and trackpad buttons. The X220 features dual input devices, the aforementioned TrackPoint pointing stick and the traditional touchpad. Lenovo has taken a few cues from Apple, integrating the buttons into the touchpad itself, and while you may think this is a good idea, it’s surprisingly terrible. The touchpad feels cramped and the space between the front of the notebook and the button area is too small to comfortably rest your fingers. Lenovo claims it is 45% larger than the previous model, but it still needs to be reworked. The pointing stick worked flawlessly, however. The keyboard on the X220 is phenomenal, with just the right amount of tactile feedback.

In our benchmarking tests, the X220 excelled, receiving a score of 7112 PCMarks in our PCMark Vantage tests, and a score of 10597 on multi-core rendering and a score of 5121 on shading in our CINEBENCH graphics tests. The laptop was surprisingly snappy, and we can’t even imagine how fast our review unit would be if it was topped out with a solid-state drive and i7 processor.

For a six-cell battery, the X220 lasts amazingly long, almost eight hours on a single charge. The optional battery slice adds an additional seven hours of battery life. Think about it: nearly 15 hours of battery life. That’s long enough to last a flight from Taipei to Newark.

This is the ultraportable to get if you’re looking for stellar battery life and snappy performance. The Lenovo ThinkPad X220 is available starting at $1119 on Lenovo’s website.

Gateway revealed two updated lines of consumer notebooks this morning with the new ID and NV series. The ID series features a 14-inch display with edge-to-edge glass while the cheaper NV series provides a larger screen for consuming entertainment. We’ve got the specs and more photos of these new notebooks perfect for back to school after the break.

The ID47 series has a slim design available in Infinity Blue Liquid or Brushed Platinum finishes with an aluminum lid and “edgeless” trackpad that is 20 percent larger than the previous edition. Under the hood you’ll find an Intel Core i5-2410M processor (2.3GHz), 4GB of DDR3 memory, Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics, a 500GB hard drive, the usual wireless, HD webcam, 1 USB 3.0 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports and a HDMI port. All this plus a built-in dual-layer DVD drive in a tapered chasis that goes from 0.85 to 1.13 inches and weighs only 4.6 pounds.

The ID47 series starts at just $699.99. In Canada, Gateway is making available a 15.6-inch version with a souped up NVIDIA GeForce Optimus GT 540M graphics card and extra memory and hard drive space for $799 CAD.

The NV series starts out with an AMD Quad-Core A8-3500M processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory, AMD Radeon HD 6620G graphics, a 640GB hard drive, and the same ports as the ID series for only $629.99. A version with an Intel Core i3 chip will be available in Canada for $549 CAD, no word if this will be available stateside. The NV series weighs in at 5.7 pounds.

Press release with more specs and information below.

Gateway Kicks Up Chic Styling on Revamped
Gateway ID and Gateway NV Series Notebook Lines

New 14-inch ID Series Pioneers New Ultra-Compact Chassis; Stylish Designs Complement Social Media and Entertainment Features

IRVINE, Calif., July 7, 2011 – Gateway today introduces the revamped style of its two lines of Gateway notebook PCs – the Gateway ID Series and Gateway NV Series. Both updated lines feature incredibly stylish designs in the most in-demand sizes, powered by the latest in mobile technology.

The Gateway ID47 Series breaks new ground by fitting its 14-inch HD widescreen back-lit LED display with full edge-to-edge glass into a chassis typically used for smaller 13.3-inch models. The Gateway NV Series features a new sleek design with a large 15.6-inch display and instant social media connections. Both feature USB 3.0 for fast transfers and device charging.

Gateway ID Series for Creativity, Mobility with an Attitude

The fashionable look and feel of the new Gateway ID Series is the perfect complement for today’s on-the-go savvy computer user. The sculpted edges, elegant blend of finishes and sleek form factor of the ID Series will inspire creativity for digital media creation and enjoyment as well as fluid social networking. It comes in two designs – the “Infinity Blue Liquid” design resembles tranquil water; while the “Brushed Platinum” design conveys an industrial modern feel. Both designs come in an aluminum cover with a stainless steel laser-engraved logo.

The Gateway ID47 Series’ ultra slim design and 14-inch HD widescreen LED display with eye-catching sleek edge-to-edge glass delivers maximum enjoyment and usefulness in an ultra-compact design. In addition to the larger display, customers will be able to enjoy an integrated DVD drive. Customer usability was top-of-mind when designing the comfortable keyboard and wrapped edgeless touchpad, which is more than 20 percent larger than the previous generation, giving customers more room to navigate and use multi-gestures.

In addition, the Gateway ID Series gives quick access to digital media with capacitive touch media keys for easy control of features such as play, forward, pause and volume control. The Gateway ID Series boasts High-Definition audio support with Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio that delivers crisp and clear sound through its full-length mesh speaker bar. All of these capabilities fit into the ID Series’ slim chassis that measures only 12.97(W) x 8.95(D) x 0.85-1.13(H) inches, so it is comfortable to carry and fits easily into a briefcase or book bag. The notebooks are powered by second-generation Intel® Core™ processors.

“Notebook PCs are a constant companion in today’s mobile savvy culture, as we transition through recreation and productivity,” said Steve Smith, senior product marketing manager, for Gateway notebooks. “The stylish new Gateway ID and Gateway NV Series deliver very useful extras for entertainment and social networking and a big boost in performance wrapped up in elegant designs. They are ideal for customers who want the latest in chic, modern style and don’t want to compromise in performance.”

NV Series Elegant Design with Cinematic Entertainment

The Gateway NV Series balances exceptional performance for everyday HD entertainment and seamless social networking with a large gorgeous 15.6-inch HD widescreen LED-backlit display for cinematic widescreen viewing of movies, games, websites and more.

The new Gateway NV Series models feature an elegant and modern design that is ideal for today’s style-conscious mobile PC users. The system features either a subtle geometric pattern or the digital wave pattern on the matte chassis lid. The interior is clean and uncluttered with a comfortable chiclet-style keyboard and corresponding pattern on the palm rest.

The new NV57 Series provides excellent mobile performance with second-generation Intel® Core™ processors with Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 128MB of dedicated system memory. The new NV55 Series provides great performance while maximizing battery-life with new AMD A-Series processors.

USB 3.0 for Speedy Transfers and Additional Connections

The new Gateway ID and Gateway NV lines both feature a USB 3.0 port, which works up to 10 times faster than the standard USB 2.0, a 25GB HD movie can be transferred in just over a minute.  The USB 3.0 port will even charge USB devices when asleep, in hibernation mode, or when turned off completely.  With the notebook acting as a charging station, consumers can leave behind a plethora of consumer electronic power adapters, such as those used to charge phones, MP3 players and digital cameras. In addition to the USB 3.0 port, both feature USB 2.0 ports.

Both the ID Series and NV Series are ideal for entertainment and productivity, providing all the ports customers need to connect to their devices such as camcorders and digital cameras, printers and more. They feature HDMI 1080p output, so customers can use a convenient single-cable connection to deliver HD video and audio to an external source. The notebooks feature media card readers that accept popular media cards.

Social Networking, Connectivity and Long Battery Life

Both the new Gateway ID and Gateway NV Series deliver instant social networking with quick-use hot keys that gives customers quick access to their social networks on Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. Pushing the button launches an integrated widget that lets customers easily make updates to their own sites by posting information, images and video, while also enjoying updated status feeds of friends, family and colleagues.

Keeping up on social networks is incredibly easy with the connectivity options in the new Gateway ID and Gateway NV Series. The notebook PCs come with integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Certified for a fast, reliable connection to hotspots and wireless networks. Plus, the integrated HD 1.3MP webcam provides top-quality audio and video recording for crisp and clear high-resolution images for online chats and capturing video and photos.

In addition to providing superb performance, PowerSmart Technology provides extra long battery uptime. The Gateway ID Series can provide up to 8 hours of battery life, while the Gateway NV Series provides up to 4 hours of battery life. In addition, customers will enjoy a long battery lifecycle of up to four years(1).

Back-up with a Single Touch

Since today’s mobile-savvy customers want to take their videos, photos and other files with them, the Gateway ID and Gateway NV Series notebooks feature MyBackup functionality. With it, customers can protect, save and migrate data, so they can keep enjoying all their important files.

Select Models in Canada Deliver Enhanced Performance with NVIDIA Optimus Graphics

In Canada, the Gateway ID Series is also available with a large 15.6-inch HD widescreen LED backlit display. In addition, select models of the new Gateway ID Series feature NVIDIA Optimus graphics technology, which intelligently balances the notebook’s use of dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GT graphics or integrated Intel HD graphics, depending on the task its performing. The notebooks will use NVIDIA GeForce GT dedicated graphics while running video, games and multimedia applications to ensure visuals are incredibly crisp and clear. Alternately, the notebook will switch to integrated Intel HD graphics when less demanding programs are being used, such as browsing websites, or working on documents and spreadsheets. As a result, the NVIDIA Optimus technology ensures that battery life is extended for longer enjoyment.(1)

Software, Pricing and Availability

The new Gateway ID and Gateway NV Series notebooks are ready to use right out of the box with Windows® Home 7 as well as useful extras including Nook for PC, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Reader, WildTangent Demo Games, Skype, Norton Online Backup, and Microsoft® Office 2010 (preloaded for online purchase).

The Gateway ID notebooks are available at retailers now in the United States and Canada at Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) starting at $699.99 US and $799.00 CAD. The Gateway NV notebooks are available at retailers now in the United States at MSRPs starting at $529.99 US and $499.00 CAD.

About Gateway

Since its founding in 1985, Irvine, Calif.-based Gateway has been a technology pioneer, offering stylish, user-friendly products and world-class customer service. Gateway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Acer Inc., the world’s second-largest PC company.(2) Through collaboration with suppliers, the company strives to design environmentally friendly products and establish a green supply chain. See www.gateway.com for more information.

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Product At-a-Glance

If you’re looking for a small, ultra-portable business laptop for taking from meeting to meeting that’s small enough to fit on an airplane tray table, you’re in luck. Today we’re taking a look at the ThinkPad X120e from Lenovo. The X120e features the AMD Fusion processor along with AMD Vision Pro graphics in a package that starts at 2.9 pounds and is only one-inch thin. Find out more about this sleek ultra-portable after the break.

The X120e has a number of options available including a Fusion E-240 (1.5GHz) or E-350 (1.6GHz) processor, up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, up to a 320GB hard drive at both 5400 and 7200RPM or a 128GB solid state drive and a 3-cell or 6-cell battery. Features that come standard include stereo speakers, digital microphone, a low-light-sensitive webcam, UltraNav with the traditional TrackPoint nib and multi-touch touchpad, and the 11.6-inch LED-backlit screen with a 1366×768 resolution. You’ll also find 802.11b/g/n wireless and Bluetooth 3.0 on this model.

Our review unit came with the faster Fusion E-350 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, Radeon HD 6310 graphics, and the 6-cell battery, which brings this model to 3.3 pounds. Port-wise, you’ll find three USB ports (including one powered port for charging devices even when the laptop is off), a HDMI port (rare for a business notebook), Gigabit Ethernet, a microphone/speaker combo jack, a 4-in-1 card reader, and a VGA port.

For those familiar with the ThinkPad line, the X120e is the successor to the X100e which launched in January 2010 at CES. This ThinkPad model has a slightly different keyboard from the traditional style we’re used to seeing across some of the other model lines, but the keys have a new curved design and fit our fingers better. Both sets of left and right mouse buttons have a nice click to them and aren’t mushy-feeling. Multi-touch gestures worked but don’t seem as smooth as Apple’s implementation on the Magic Trackpad. The palm rest felt a little on the small side and unlike other ThinkPads, the model does not offer a keyboard light.

Performance wise, the E-350 processor seemed perfect for a laptop this size, keeping up with basic office tasks while we were prepping for this review. We even played a 1080p clip on Vimeo without any hiccups. In our standard PCMark Vantage tests, the X120e received a score of 2345, which makes it 1.5 times faster than the dual-core Intel Atom N550 processor. When we ran our CINEBENCH graphics benchmark, the system received a score of 2007 in the multi-core test. This translates to a pretty snappy experience for an ultra-portable.

We received about 4-5 hours of battery life on the 6-cell battery while surfing the web and opening up a few Office documents. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on how many applications you’re running and if they’re processor-intensive or not. We would have liked if there was a docking station available or a larger 9-cell battery for those who travel long-distances.

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad X120e would be a great choice for the business traveler looking for a nice ultra-portable notebook on a budget without stepping down to a sluggish netbook. The X120e starts at $399.99 and is available at Lenovo and Amazon.com.

Product At-a-Glance

I’ve always been a huge fan of Lenovo’s ThinkPad lineup, and after meeting with them at CES this past January, I had a chance to take a look at a variety of their latest desktop and notebook models. One that stood out to me immediately of the entire selection they had available was the IdeaPad U260, which starts at less than 3 lbs. and is available in two elegant colors. Find out what we thought about it after the break.

The U260 is Lenovo’s first and an industry-first 12.5-inch laptop and has a sleek design available in either Clementine Orange or Mocha Brown colors in a soft-touch finish with a palm rest textured like leather and a polished glass touchpad. Along the top of the keyboard are minimalistic LEDs indicating caps lock, num lock (no scroll lock), battery charge, hard drive access, and wireless connectivity. You won’t find the annoying glare of the glossy displays on most laptops here, since the U260 is exclusively a matte finish.

In terms of ports, on the left of the unit is a Kensington security lock port, USB port, combined audio in/out jack, and a wireless on/off switch. On the right is the second USB port, HDMI port, Ethernet port, VGA, and power.

Inside, Lenovo has given users an option of an Intel Core i3 or i5 ultra-low voltage processor, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory and up to 320GB of storage. Lenovo also built in their Lenovo Enhanced Experience, which they say boots up to 57% faster than other non-optimized systems. Our review unit came loaded with the Core i5 U470 processor running at 1.33GHz, 4GB of memory, and a 320GB hard drive.

Ever since receiving the review unit a few weeks ago, I’ve been simply amazed with the design of the notebook. Clearly the design was very important to Lenovo, and they’ve posted a design tour on YouTube explaining the process. The design is very simple and is inspired by a classic leather journal.

The touchpad is probably one of the best we’ve ever used, with its polished glass finish, your finger simply glides across. The mouse buttons below it were fairly responsive, and felt similar to those on the ThinkPad line. On the other hand, the keyboard wasn’t the ThinkPad keyboard we loved. The Shift key on the right side of the keyboard is half the size of the left Shift key and the Caps Lock and Tab keys are just as small. Lenovo integrated a breathable keyboard, making for a cooler PC while also keeping in mind spill resistance, just like some of the ThinkPads.

In our PCMark Vantage tests, the system garnered a score or 3595 PCMarks and in our CINEBENCH graphics tests, the IdeaPad received a score of 2180 in the single core test and a score of 4275 in the multiple core test. Battery life was lacking for an ultra-portable class notebook, and over our testing period, we got around 3 1/2 hours of battery life. If you think you’ll be able to extend that with an extra battery, you’re out of luck. The battery is non-removable.

So, sure the IdeaPad U260 combines style and power, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean you’re going to get stellar battery life. Since the included power adapter is smaller than normal adapters, it won’t take up too much room in your bag. So it’s safe to say bring it along just to steer clear of a dead laptop while on the go. If you won’t be near an outlet most of the time, maybe it’s a wise idea to look elsewhere.

The IdeaPad U260 is available now and starts at a reasonable $899. Dig around and find it for even cheaper on Amazon.com.

In short, the laptop functions normally, running Windows 7 with an Intel CULV processor until the 10.1-inch screen is detached from the base. At that point, the tablet starts running off its own processor and battery and functions using the Android operating system.

The LePad Slate can be purchased as a stand alone device which will cost you about $520. The IdeaPad U1 Hybrid which includes the laptop base comes in at about $1,300. While launching in China only this quarter, expect a version in the US sometime in the not too distant future.

A full press release is included below.

Best of Both Worlds: Lenovo’s Dual Mode Hybrid System New Two-in-One Mobile

Device Speaks Android and Windows

LePad multi-touch Android slate for mobility and U1 laptop PC base for full Windows 7 experience

CES 2011, Las Vegas – January 5, 2011: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the IdeaPad U1 hybrid with LePad slate, a unique two-in-one device that combines the mobility of a media-rich, high-definition slate featuring access to Android applications and a keyboard base that provides a full Windows 7 computing experience. Lenovo delivers an uncompromised mobile and computing experience to consumers through great performance and a unique Hybrid Switch dual mode capability that seamlessly switches between two different operating systems.

“Our IdeaPad U1 and LePad truly fit today’s mobile lifestyle,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president, Idea Product Group, Lenovo. “Use the light-weight slate when you’re mobile, and then simply slide it into the U1 base when you need to create and edit content. Consumers shouldn’t have to adapt their lifestyle to technology, and this product definitely delivers twice the functionality and fun in one device.”

LePad Slate – Light, Long-Lasting and Application Rich

At under two pounds and only half an inch in thickness, the extremely portable LePad, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, keeps users incredibly mobile all day with up to eight hours of battery life. LePad is available in two stylish colors – scarlet and white – and with two different textures – brown “leather” and black “leather.” The 10.1-inch widescreen, high-definition LePad slate runs in landscape and portrait modes. Users can consume content such as video, surf the Internet and access social networks from their fingertips, as well as tap out messages and email. It also has a front camera for taking pictures or for video chat.

“We are excited that Lenovo has chosen our Snapdragon processor to power the LePad slate,” said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of marketing and product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “Lenovo’s innovative 3G connected slate, powered by our Snapdragon platform, enables a high performance, always connected experience for consumers on the go.”

Built on Android 2.2., Lenovo customized the LePad slate with an optimized Android media experience for LePad’s larger screen size, starting with an attractive four-pane, easy to use interface and a distinctive Lenovo-developed push service that delivers email, news and other content in real time, eliminating the need to constantly open a browser and log in. LePad leverages the Android ecosystem that Lenovo has already established in China for the LePhone Smartphone.  LePad users, in addition to enjoying many preloaded applications, also have access to thousands of custom Android apps from China’s top content partners that are optimized uniquely for the LePad’s large screen.  Lenovo plans for LePad to support Adobe^® Flash^® Player 10.1 to provide users a more complete Web browsing experience.

IdeaPad U1 for a Complete Laptop

For users who need the full functionality of a mainstream laptop for doing content creation with Windows-based productivity applications, the LePad can slide into the U1 base.  The IdeaPad U1 hybrid laptop with a full keyboard transforms the user interface on LePad into Windows 7. The base features a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and an Intel CULV processor. With the Hybrid Switch feature, users can seamlessly change operating systems to support a continuous Web browsing experience.

Pricing and Availability¹

The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 with LePad will be available beginning in China in the first quarter of 2011. The LePad slate can be purchased separately from the U1 base. The LePad slate starts at approximately RMB 3,499 (approximately US $520).  The U1 hybrid laptop with LePad slate starts at approximately RMB 8,888 (approximately US $1,300). For detailed pricing and availability for other markets, please contact your Lenovo representative.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook. Follow Lenovo’s activities at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas at LenovoSocial.com/Live.

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.

Product At-a-Glance

We reviewed the Timeline 3810T back in October 2009, but Acer is upping the ante with the new TimelineX series. Is it a good choice if you’re looking for a thin-and-light notebook for back to school? It aims to offer 8-hour battery life and a bright LED backlit display, but does it deliver? Find out after the break.

The specs of the TimelineX 3820T we’re looking at today are as follows:

• Intel Core i3 M 350 Processor at 2.27GHz
• 4GB of DDR3 1066 RAM
• 320GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• Intel HD Graphics
• Windows 7 Home Premium

You’ll find the standard selection of ports from 3 USB ports, an HDMI port, media card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, and a VGA port. The 3820T weighs in at just over 3.9 pounds.

You won’t find an optical drive here, so if you’re looking to watch movies in your dorm room, you’re out of luck if you don’t have a TV. The notebook is largely unchanged on the exterior from the 3810T from last year, save for the brushed aluminum lid. The keyboard is the same chiclet-style like the Apple MacBook, but the keys are fairly flat unlike most keyboards which have curved keys.

The multi-gesture touchpad is nice but the single mouse button below didn’t offer much of a firm click. The glossy screen on the 13-inch screen has a nice resolution of 1366×768 but other than that, the positive aspects of it stop there. The viewing angles on the horizontal end aren’t terribly bad, but on the vertical end tilting the screen back washed it out to a yellow tint.

The 3820T is pretty snappy thanks to the i3 processor and Intel HD graphics, giving it a Windows Experience Index score of 4.7. In our PCMark Vantage tests, the system received a score of 4669 PCMarks. In our Cinebench graphics tests, the TimelineX 3820T received a score of 2480 in the single core test and a score of 5796 in the multi core test. In the OpenGL test, the system received a score of 1775. The system didn’t hesitate at all when we had streaming video going in Google Chrome, a few Office documents open and Adobe Photoshop CS4 open.

While the notebook is rated for up to 8 hours of battery life, we found in our tests that the notebook only ran for 5-6 hours (like its predecessor) depending on the task at hand. Still, great battery life for the mobile student.

If you’re the student on a budget and looking for a thin and relatively lightweight notebook, the Acer TimelineX 3820T is for you, but if you have a little more cash to spend, there are other options available with a better quality screen and keyboard. The TimelineX 3820T is selling at press time for just under $680 with free shipping at Amazon.com.

Product At-a-Glance

The tag line for the new Gateway ID series reads “Define Yourself”. The ID49C07u and the rest of the ID series (including the larger ID59) certainly manages to define itself, sporting a mysterious glowing trackpad that illuminates when you touch it. Beyond its uniqueness, does the newest offering from Gateway deserve your attention this Back to School season?

The ID49C07u has similar hardware to many other competitively priced laptops. For $679, you get a 2.26 GHz Intel Core i3-350M processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive, and integrated graphics. The now de facto 1.3 MP webcam is present, as well as four USB ports, a card reader, VGA display port, HDMI out, Gigabit Ethernet, and a DVD drive.

Overall, the construction of the ID series is quite good. Featuring a brushed aluminum lid, the ID series seems pretty durable. The ID49C07u weighs in at just over five pounds and measures a hair under an inch thick. This means bringing your notebook to class isn’t much of a chore, as it won’t take up much of your precious backpack real estate.

We quite liked that the NV series we tested had HDMI out, and we similarly like it on the ID series notebooks. Streaming the latest episode of House from Hulu and onto the new LCD in your dorm room could not be easier. While the ID49C07u we tested does not come with discrete graphics, the upgraded ID49C08u does. With either model, however, HD video will undeniably play flawlessly.

Processing performance on the ID49C07u proved quite good, fueled by the Core i3 and 4 GB of RAM under the hood. Graphics were, as expected, underpowered. Don’t expect to be gaming on the ID49C07u. If you’re looking for more power in the graphics department, don’t hesitate to look at the ID49C08u which has an NVIDIA card with Optimus switching to save power.

On the unit we tested, battery life was average. We managed about 7 hours with lighter usage, which is more than enough for your average day of classes. Tie this battery life together with the 500 GB hard drive, and watching a movie during class, er, on the quad is pain free.

The only problem with that plan is the screen. We’ve never been the biggest fans of Gateway displays, and sadly, the ID series is not much of an exception. While it is a 14” LED backlit screen, providing for excellent brightness and color quality, the viewing angle and black levels delivered by the screen aren’t the best we’ve seen. It is not, by any means, the worst screen we’ve seen, nor is it the worst we’ve seen from Gateway, but there is still room for improvement.

Another thing about the ID49C07u that we didn’t quite find top-of-the-line is its keyboard. The keys are chiclet style, which we like. However, they are completely flat on top, making it hard to differentiate keys, especially in the dark, where the ID series lacks a backlit keyboard to help out. This seems to be a running problem for Gateway, as their keyboards always seem to be a bit under par.

Another drawback to the ID series is one shared with all Gateway computers; the trial software. Every laptop ships with a “Best Buy Software Installer” which allows you to install all sorts of applications, albeit none that you really need. You receive 60 day demos of both Norton Antivirus and Microsoft Office. While the latter is worth purchasing, there are much better options for Antivirus on the market. Besides that, you get a copy of Microsoft Works which has become a standard for Gateway computers.

Clearly, these problems are pacified by the ID series’ parlor trick; its glowing trackpad. While it can be disabled quite easily, the trackpad glows by default when the notebook’s screen saver is running. Also, whenever you touch the left and right click areas of the trackpad, the entire trackpad lights up. We were quite amused, as it is quite interesting. However, we can imagine this will grow old after a few weeks use.

Besides the interesting light-up features, we found the trackpad to be good, although it makes a loud and heavy mechanical click when you depress it. This notebook will not be the most subtle to play games on in the middle of a lecture. To aid in your web browsing, the trackpad has multi-touch sensitivity, which is a plus that makes scrolling and navigating forward/back in a web browser a breeze.

So what do we think of the ID49C07u? While it has its minor drawbacks, the ID series seems to be an excellent choice for those looking for an affordable laptop for this back to school season. It’s powerful and will serve well as a media / productivity laptop. Gaming definitely isn’t its forte, but with it’s $679 price tag, it’s hard to complain.

Product At-a-Glance

Full Review

It may just be one of the best looking notebooks on the market today, with it’s sleek carbon fiber and aluminum body, backlit keyboard, and high-resolution screen, but does all that justify the nearly $2,000 price tag? Find out if the VAIO Z series from Sony is the right notebook for you after the break.

The Sony VAIO Z series is a 13-inch notebook that falls into the thin and light category, weighing in at just three pounds and a svelte one inch thin. Sony didn’t sacrifice weight for features however, so you’re getting a built-in Blu-Ray drive, HDMI output, ExpressCard slot, SD and Memory Stick card reader, three USB ports, and a 4-pin FireWire jack plus the standard VGA output and headphone jack. The LED backlit 13.1-inch screen comes in two resolutions, 1600×900 or 1920×1080.

Models are available in either silver or premium carbon (we’ll get to this in a bit) and loaded with up to a 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 processor, the option of two 256GB solid state drives in RAID 0 (this option costs an additional $1300), up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, as well as the standard features we see on nearly every notebook: 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, and Gigabit Ethernet. The Z series also has a backlit keyboard, biometric fingerprint sensor for security and webcam.

The model we reviewed (VPCZ116GX/S) had the following specs:

• Intel Core i5-520M 2.40GHz processor
• 4GB of DDR3 1066 RAM
• 256GB Solid State Drive
• 1600×900 resolution 13.1-inch screen
• Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System

We have to say, Sony hit it out of the park with the design of this notebook. It’s right up there with Apple’s amazing industrial design of the MacBook Pro. Both notebooks have some similarities, namely the chiclet-style backlit keyboard.

A unique feature of this model is the Hybrid Graphics System, which allows you to get the most out of your battery life when on the go, and the most out of your graphics card when playing a game or playing HD video. Sony calls these modes Stamina, Speed, and Auto. The auto mode uses the discrete NVIDIA GT330M graphics card while plugged in, and switches seamlessly to the integrated Intel GMA HD graphics card when unplugged.

When the notebook hit our doorstep, we immediately put it through a variety of benchmarks. In our standard PCMark Vantage tests, the unit performed exceptionally well scoring a whopping 9942. While testing it for battery life, we received around 4 hours of battery life, but your mileage may vary depending on the task.

While we’re certainly glad to see SSDs finally hit the mainstream and available as standard, the Sony VAIO Z series still looks like a PC. At a premium price, it simply needs more than a carbon fiber body. That doesn’t suggest you shouldn’t buy the Sony VAIO Z series however. If you’re looking for a thin and light notebook that packs performance and decent battery life, go for it.

The Sony VAIO Z series as we stated starts at $1,919.99 through the Sony Style store but you may be able to find it cheaper through other sites such as Amazon.com. It is available in a variety of finishes including black, silver, Metal Shield, Premium Carbon and Glossy Premium Carbon.

Last summer we took a look at the NV series from Gateway. We found them to be affordable, quality laptops, albeit a bit bulky. This time around, we’re taking a look at the LT2118u netbook from Gateway which was announced earlier this year at CES. Featuring Intel’s Pinetrail processors, how does the LT2118u stack up against its competition?

Starting off with the basics, the LT2118u comes with the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 10.1″ LED backlit screen, integrated Intel graphics, a card reader, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive, and b/g/n wireless capabilities. No built-in 3G support, but weighing in at a nimble 2.76 pounds, I’ll let it slip. Plus, let’s be honest, nine times out of ten you can find a WiFi hotspot not too far away.

When purchasing netbooks, many people worry about the keyboard size. Now, I don’t think I have small hands, and the keyboard on the LT2118u is perfect. The key response is excellent, and I would take the keyboard/trackpad layout on the LT2118u over the layout on its larger cousin, the NV series, any day. Complimenting the extremely well thought out keyboard is the equally well designed trackpad. Featuring multi-touch capability out of the box, the trackpad on the LT2118u is extremely useful. Two-finger scrolling and page navigation on the trackpad is one of my favorite features on my MacBook Pro. Having those same capabilities in a netbook is fantastic. While the gestures are not quite as responsive as on a Mac, they still work and are a good addition to the LT2118u’s set of features.

The LT2118u comes with 3 USB ports, a VGA-out, 10/100 Fast Ethernet, microphone/headphone jacks (separate), and a Kensington lock slot. Obviously, there’s no DVD drive, but you can purchase a standalone drive if you wish. The LT2118u does not come with a backup disk in the box, so if you want to be able to reinstall Windows down the road, you’ll have to get an external burner or backup to a hard drive.

Included software-wise is a 60-day trial of both Norton AntiVirus and Microsoft Office Student and Home 2007. Office runs perfectly smoothly, making the netbook an excellent choice for students looking for a small laptop to take notes on, or professionals looking to edit presentations on the move. In addition, you receive a full copy of Microsoft Works; not my favorite productivity suite, but a nice gesture.

All this software runs on Windows 7 Starter Edition. For those of you who don’t know your versions of Windows, this is the least feature-rich edition. There’s a three non-system program limitation, so if you want to run more than three applications at once, you’re a bit out of luck. In addition, you can’t customize Windows at all. And I mean not at all. You can’t even change the desktop background. This didn’t bother me too much, but it does seem to be a silly limitation. For a netbook, Windows 7 Starter Edition should be enough, and if not, you can always upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium.

However, making up for any shortcomings of the LT2118u, the battery life is the netbook’s true highpoint. Gateway claims it can last up to ten hours thanks to the Pinetrail processor’s low power consumption. Even on WiFi, this claim does not seem exaggerated at all. You can literally go for days without charging the LT2118u and it will keep on going. This means its perfect for throwing in a backpack and taking with you anywhere. The fact that it’s under three pounds doesn’t hurt either.

In our benchmarks, the LT2118u scored roughly the same as its primary competitors (namely the EeePC). Graphics really crippled the scores, but I doubt you’ll be using the LT2118u for many graphics intensive applications. As a note, playing HD video on the netbook doesn’t work well, so if you’re looking for a more graphically powerful netbook, this shouldn’t be your first choice.

Ultimately, the LT2118u proves to be an excellent candidate for anyone who’s looking for a new netbook. It’s great battery life tied with its unsurpassed portability make the LT2118u a great option. Plus, at $349.99, it’s not the most expensive netbook on the market either.

Pros

• Excellent battery life (up to 10 hours)
• Portable (2.76 lbs)
• Powerful (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N450 Processor, 1 GB RAM)

Cons

• Windows 7 Starter Edition
• No reinstall disk included

The latest round of netbooks are the best yet, with faster processors, larger screens, and even better video cards for gaming. Manufacturers are now closing the gap between standard notebooks and netbooks. You’ll see why with the new HP Mini 311 netbook after the break.

HP wanted to build a netbook with mobile entertainment in mind, and they clearly achieved that with the Mini 311. The netbook has a 11.6-inch LED-backlit screen with a 1366×768 (HD 720p) resolution, the largest we’ve seen on any netbook to date. Inside you’ll find an Intel Atom N270 or N280 processor running at 1.6 or 1.66GHz respectively. What’s different compared to other netbooks is the graphics subsystem used. HP has integrated the new Nvidia Ion technology.

If you’re not familiar with Nvidia Ion, it is a platform that combines the Nvidia GeForce 9400M chipset, DDR3-1066 or DDR2-800 memory, and the Intel Atom processor, now synonymous with nettops and netbooks. For these systems, this means that you will get 10x faster graphics and video transcoding compared to the standard Intel integrated graphics found on models like the Asus Eee PC 1008HA we reviewed last month. The Ion platform also allows impressive playback of up to 1080p high-definition video with 7.1 surround sound.

Also inside the HP Mini 311 is a 320GB hard drive and a 6-cell lithium-ion battery that HP says will deliver up to 7 hours of battery life. The Mini 311 comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium.

It has a 92-percent (of full-size) keyboard with glossy slightly curved keys, which during our review period felt somewhat loose. Below that you’ll find a standard trackpad with mouse buttons located under the trackpad, not to the side like earlier HP Mini models. In our tests, the trackpad felt sluggish and the buttons were stiff and loud.

As we mentioned earlier, the Mini 311 has a 1366×768 resolution, that provides substantially more screen real estate than the standard 1024×600 resolution seen on smaller and older netbooks.

The HDMI port on the HP Mini 311.

You’ll find the standard array of ports including 3 USB, an ethernet jack, a VGA video-out port and 3-in-1 card reader. What you’ll find here that you won’t find on cheaper netbooks without the Ion technology is the HDMI port for connecting to a high-def TV. On the front edge of the netbook are Altec Lansing stereo speakers which sound remarkably better than other netbooks.

In our performance tests, the Mini 311 performed similarly to the Eee PC 1008HA we reviewed just a few weeks ago. When it came to testing the Nvidia Ion technology, we went to our favorite HD flash video website, Vimeo. We had no issues playing the 720p Flash video, however this was utilizing the latest version of Flash Player 10.1 beta, which supports GPU acceleration. Before this was installed, Flash video was choppy and stuttered often.

Battery life was fairly impressive for a netbook, even with the extra graphics power. We received around 4 hours and 30 minutes of battery life on a full charge when using it for web browsing and the occasional playback of Flash video.

When I was invited to a briefing with Kevin Wentzel, a product manager from HP, he made it clear to me that the playback of high-definition video is of huge importance to HP and one of the significant features of the Mini 311.

With the enhanced graphics, larger screen, and HDMI output, the Mini 311 is a home run for HP. And for $399.99 with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive (or $499.99 with double the RAM and more hard drive space) it won’t break the bank.

Pros

• Enhanced Nvidia graphics.
• Plays up to 1080p video.
• HDMI output.
• Large, high-resolution screen.

Cons

• Stiff trackpad buttons.
• Keys feel somewhat loose.

Netbooks are becoming all the rage these days, with slimmer designs and higher resolution screens. The latest of the slim bunch is the Asus Eee PC 1008HA Seashell. Does slimmer always mean better? Find out after the break.

Like most netbooks, you’ll find a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor, a 10.1-inch 1024×600 resolution LED-backlit display, 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 160GB hard drive, and a 6 hour li-polymer battery. All this in a package weighing 2.43 pounds and just 1.01 inches thin.

The Seashell name comes from the tapered design similar to Apple’s MacBook Air ultra-portable notebook computer. The smooth outer design continues to the sides of the unit, with ports covered by a flip-down rubber hinge. The design is certainly one of the best we’ve seen when it comes to netbooks, unlike the chunkier Asus models from years past. One unique thing about the design is a miniature VGA connection that connects to a larger removable dongle on the bottom of the netbook. This design decision was obviously to keep the design even slimmer.

Another unique feature of the 1008HA Seashell netbook is the multi-touch trackpad. The surface has a perforated design instead of smooth “indented” design seen on standard notebook computers. The trackpad buttons were not stiff and clicked with ease.

A potential downside to the slim design is the non-removable battery, which means you aren’t able to pop in a spare for extended battery life. In our tests, we received an average of four hours of battery life using the standard performance setting. There are also “high” and “super high” performance settings that are installed with the Asus Super Hybrid Engine feature to tweak power consumption for that last bit of battery life.

Performance was generally good and the Atom processor is enough to handle basic web tasks like email, reading news websites, streaming video, and listening to internet radio. The 92 percent keyboard is relatively comfortable to type on and keys have a nice tactile feel to them.

The Asus Eee PC 1008HA doesn’t have the new Intel Pinetrail platform with enhanced graphics and processor speed, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good buy. You’ll be able to find the 1008HA Seashell at Amazon.com for around $400. We expect the price to drop as newer models are released.

Pros

• Slim design.
• Hidden ports and connections.
• Bright LED-backlit display.

Cons

• Non-removable battery.
• Mini VGA to VGA dongle can be lost easily.

Thin and lights have always been a great choice for the road-warrior, weighing in around three to four pounds, but most of them have had their flaws such as a reduced keyboard or small display. Acer recently introduced the new Timeline series of notebooks, ranging in size from 11- to 15-inch models. How do they perform? We’ll give you the low-down on one of the models after the break.

The 13-inch model we received comes with a 1.4GHz ultra low-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, and a huge 500GB hard drive. You’ll also find the usual USB ports, HDMI port, a card reader and last, but not least, the ubiquitous webcam now found on nearly every notebook. The 3810T model weighs in at just 3.7 pounds, but the trade-off is the lack of an optical drive (and Bluetooth for that matter). So no DVD playing on those long-haul flights or connecting a portable mouse.

The Timeline’s keyboard reminded us of the beloved Apple MacBook chiclet-style keyboard, so it was worth a comparison between the two. Typing was just as comfortable and the keys are similar in size. However, the single trackpad button was stiff and while the trackpad does pack in multi-touch gestures, they weren’t as great as the ones Apple includes.

Now you may be wondering about that ultra low-voltage (ULV) processor we mentioned. While it isn’t exactly a speed demon, it’s perfect for web browsing, email, and the occasional movie.

The series gets its namesake from the battery life, of which Acer claims at least 8 hours. In our tests, we received around 5-6 hours of battery life, but your mileage may vary. Turn off the WiFi, lower the display brightness, and solely work in Microsoft Word and just then you might have your 8 hours.

The Acer Aspire Timeline series is surely a perfect notebook for the frequent traveler, and it won’t break the bank either. The Timeline 3810T we reviewed here only costs $899 (or lower), a steal for a laptop at this size and weight.

Pros

• Thin and light enclosure.
• Long battery life.
• Decent performance for its class.

Cons

• Bluetooth is not standard.
• Trackpad button is stiff.

Have you been looking for a solution to make your MacBook or MacBook Pro notebook more rugged and protected at all times without use of a sleeve? Speck is coming to the rescue with the line of SeeThru cases. How much protection does it offer and is it worth the extra cost? We’ll see how it works after the break.The SeeThru cases come in four different varieties: one for the white plastic 13-inch MacBook, and three others for the three sizes of the unibody MacBook Pro line. The line also comes in a satin version for the unibody models with a soft-touch finish. We’ll be testing the 13-inch unibody version for purposes of this review but all of them offer similar functionality and protection.

You may be wondering, “What’s the purpose of these cases if the notebook is already made of sturdy aluminum?” Well, the SeeThru case offers protection from scrapes and scratches that can permanently ruin the finish of the MacBook exterior and the case also adds a little personality with its seven different color choices. The design of the case offers full access to all ports and the SuperDrive slot and lets you open or close your MacBook completely, unlike other cases on the market.

The case easily snaps on to the top lid and the bottom, however, dust and small particles do tend to accumulate over prolonged use between the top lid piece and the lid of the MacBook itself, so periodic cleaning is a good idea.

Overall, the SeeThru is a worthwhile investment for any MacBook or MacBook Pro user, and the entire line of cases is available at Amazon.com for prices ranging from $30 to $40.

FTC disclosure: The product sample used for testing for this review was provided by Speck Products.

Pros

• Adds style and personality to your MacBook.
• Protects aluminum finish from scratches and scrapes.
• Full access to ports and SuperDrive.

Cons

• Dust may accumulate over time.

As part of our Back to School coverage this year, we’ll be taking a look at a few laptops that would make perfect companions for any student. Today we’re taking a look at the Gateway NV series. More specifically, the 15.6″ Intel-powered Gateway NV5807u.

Let’s start with the basic specs. With the 5807u, you get a 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo backed by 4 GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard drive. In addition, the system comes with a dual layer DVD burner, Gigabit ethernet, and b/g/n WiFi. This packed feature set lays the groundwork for a great laptop. However, most laptops in its price range come with similar specifications. Is the new Gateway laptop worth its $599 price tag? In a word, yes.

The NV5807u takes advantage of the Intel T6500 processor which, while not Intel’s most powerful creation, is a very good processor for the price range that the 5807 falls into. At 2.1 GHz with 2 MB L2 cache, the processor is a perfect fit for media-loving college students. However, one drawback to the T6500 processor is that it runs relatively warm compared to other Intel processors. Ultimately, the T6500 offers a good mix of performance and battery life. On average, we clocked between 3.5 and 4 hours of typical usage and while there are laptops with better battery life, 4 hours is definitely respectable.

One of the most appealing aspects of the NV5807u is the beautiful 15.6″ LED backlit screen. The 16:9 aspect ratio makes the laptop perfect for watching widescreen movies, supporting a resolution up to 1366×768 (1080i). The screen is bright and responsive, and because it is LED backlit, power efficient. While the 5807 doesn’t have a DVI output, it does have both VGA and HDMI outputs, making streaming videos from your laptop to your TV a breeze.

Throughout our testing, our one major complaint lies in the keyboard on the NV5807u. While it does have a full numpad which is not very common, the keys are entirely flat and the spacing between keys is minimal. As the keyboard is not backlit, typing in the dark becomes a nightmare at times. In addition, the trackpad is relatively small and does not support any multi-touch commands and, because of the numpad, it is not located in the middle of the laptop. Instead, it is offset about an inch and a half to the left to match up with the middle of the typing keyboard. This is also disorienting when using the laptop in the dark. However, given a few days use, using the keyboard becomes a more natural experience.

Above the keyboard lies a row of function keys. You have a button to enable energy saving mode (dims the screen), screen brightness, sound, WiFi, trackpad toggle, and one that takes you to MyBackup. Gateway did a good job making this software incredibly easy to use, allowing you to add automatic backups of anything on your hard drive to removable storage or the local disk. In addition to simply selecting folders to backup, MyBackup will also search for categories of files to backup, including multimedia, internet favorites, e-mail, and office files. All of these categories seem very pertinent to the student population, so I applaud Gateway for their inclusion of this nice tool. Whether or not people actually use it is a whole other story.

The NV5807u comes with plenty of USB ports (4), standalone microphone and headphone jacks, a 5-in-1 card reader, and a telephone jack. It seems a bit odd to even include modem compatibility in recent laptops, as WiFi is virtually everywhere and external USB modems are always available if absolutely necessary. At any rate, you also get a standard notebook lock port to protect your collection of saved term papers, ripped DVDs, and ever-important passwords.

Another nice college-oriented feature is the included 1.3 MP webcam. While the quality is decent, we’ve seen better in other laptops. However, it’s a nice addition to an inexpensive laptop that allows students to easily video chat with their parents back home. I’m not sure if anyone actually does that, but it’s a nice concept in theory.

In our PCMark Vantage tests, the notebook received a score of 2949, a moderate score for a budget laptop, but not too bad overall. In our CINEBENCH graphics tests, the NV5807u received a score of 4761 using both cores and a score of 2455 using a single core.

Bundled with the laptop is a 60 day trial of Microsoft Office and Norton Internet Security. My suggestion is to ditch Norton, as it is possibly the most frustrating anti-virus software I’ve come across (stick with AVG instead). You also get a “sponsored” copy of Microsoft Works which has irremovable advertisements on the right hand side of every document you’re working on. Just buy a copy of Microsoft Office, or if you’re cheap, download OpenOffice. You also get copies of NetZero and some Gateway sponsored game pack, both of which should be uninstalled the second you get the computer. Save that hard drive space for something useful, such as the latest season of Lost or a copy of The Hangover.

All in all, the $599 Gateway NV5807u is a great option for students looking for a powerful yet affordable laptop to head back to school with. Weighing 5.84 pounds, the NV5807u’s weight is pretty typical for 15″ laptops (Apple’s 15″ MacBook Pro comes in at 5.5 pounds, a mere .34 pound difference). This portability, tied in with the expansive feature set and brilliant display makes the NV5807u a great addition to Gateway’s product line and ultimately a great choice for students returning to school this fall.

Pros

• Beautiful 15.6″ 16:9 widescreen display
• Good performance and battery life
• Built-in webcam
• MyBackup solution works well

Cons

• Keyboard is difficult to use, especially in the dark
• Trackpad relatively small and sometimes insensitive
• Relatively thick (1.5″ tall while closed)

Gateway has long been a budget staple in the computer industry for notebooks and desktops, and introduced their first 13.3-inch notebook at CES in January. At only $800, it’s affordable in this economy but is it worth it?

The UC7807u manages to pack in a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 3GB of DDR2 memory, a 250GB hard drive, and a dual layer DVD burner, plus all the bells and whistles like a 1.3 megapixel webcam, a 4-in-1 card reader, and HDMI out. HDMI out with a standard-definition DVD player? No Blu-Ray?

One downside it also manages to pack in is 5.3 pounds worth of heft, the 13.3-inch Apple MacBook only weighs 4.5 pounds and the smallest HP Pavilion notebook weighs 4.3 pounds.

Productivity performance wasn’t an issue, thanks to the fast Intel processor, but gaming didn’t fair too well, blame that on the GMA 4500MHD graphics card. We tried running Spore on the system, and it was excruciating looking at the choppy graphics.

The notebook has a sexy aluminum finish which can’t be found on any so-called “budget” notebook we’ve seen, but the circular trackpad is where Gateway dropped the ball on design and the mouse buttons were quite stiff.

We were anxious to see how the UC7807u performed in our lab tests but they weren’t the greatest results we’ve seen for a budget model. In our PCMark Vantage tests, the UC7807u received a score of 2754 and in our CINEBENCH R10 tests, returned a score of 4019. You’ll want to be near a power outlet at all times when traveling, since we only managed to squeeze out 3 hours and 10 minutes of battery life.

If you’re only doing web surfing, email, and other basic computing tasks, the Gateway UC7807u should do just fine. You can grab the notebook from Amazon.com for just under $700 bucks, a recession-friendly deal that won’t break the bank.

Pros

• Sleek aluminum finish and design.
• Super affordable.
• HDMI out.

Cons

• Heavy for a 13.3-inch notebook.
• Small trackpad and mouse buttons.
• Middle-of-the-road performance and battery life.
• No Blu-Ray option available.