Laptop and Computer Reviews

Toshiba’s Qosmio line is known for high-end home-theater features (and high prices), and the massive Qosmio G45 is one of our favorite desktop replacements for movie and media consumption. The latest edition, the G45-AV690, tweaks the previous model, the G45-AV680, by adding Intel’s new Penryn processors and a third GB of RAM, but it already looks dated thanks to its mandatory HD DVD drive (our review unit was built shortly before Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD, but the writing was clearly already on the wall).
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Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 for the first time. Breaking from its staid corporate offerings, Lenovo’s first consumer notebook sports a new, albeit polarizing, look compared with the ThinkPad line and has plenty of compelling features, including Dolby 5.1 Home Theater speakers, a one-touch energy-saving/recovery mode, and facial-recognition software. Although we’re not fans of the finicky multimedia controls, the IdeaPad Y510 is one of the better 15.4-inch systems under $1,000.
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The LifeBook P8010 is the latest model in long line of terrific ultraportables from Fujitsu. Its predecessor, the P7230, was very popular and the P8010 looks to continue that success by way of some cutting-edge technology. The first major improvement is the screen, which has grown to 12.1″ (1280×800) and is now backlit with LEDs (which reduce power consumption, cut weight, extend display life).The second major change is the inclusion of Intel’s newest mobile processor, the SL7100 Core 2 Duo, running at 1.2GHz. That might not sound too impressive, but given the 800MHz front-side bus, 4MB of Level 2 cache, and GS965 chipset with integrated X3100 graphics [Read the rest of this entry…]

This is one desktop replacement that might actually find itself leaving the house from time to time. The Enpower ENP780 is the thinnest and lightest 17-inch laptop we’ve laid hands on to date. Where most laptops in this class hover around the 9-pound mark (and Dell’s XPS M1730 breaks the scale at 11.1 pounds) the ENP780 comes in at a trim 7.5 pounds. And measuring 1.4 inches thick, it’s about a half-inch thinner than other desktop replacements that typically measure just above or below the 2-inch mark. Despite its relatively svelte dimensions, it still feels sturdy and able to withstand daily abuse. Inside, our $1,789 ENP780 review unit serves up a good mix of components for the price, including a Core 2 Duo chip that sits toward the high-end of Intel’s line and a midrange Nvidia GeForce graphics card.
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Toshiba Satellite L350 series notebook is a new addition to the 17″ desktop replacement lineup from Toshiba. For a starting price of $749, Toshiba gives customers a TruBrite screen, webcam, integrated ATI Radeon graphics, a dual core AMD processor, and a DVD SuperMulti drive. This notebook is aimed at consumers who want a bit more notebook out of a budget price range, and seems to hit the mark perfectly. Read on to see how well the Toshiba L350 holds up in our testing, and if it is a notebook worth checking out.
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The Pavilion dv9700t is a desktop-replacement-level entertainment powerhouse featuring the powerful Intel Core Duo and 64-bit New Core 2 Duo processors. The 17″ WXGA high-definition widescreen with BrightView is standard as is the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS graphics card with 512MB of dedicated video memory. [Read the rest of this entry…]

The gaming desktop-rivaling P-6860FX wears the badge of our powerful FX lineup. That means that this system comes equipped with the key performance features you need to run demanding processor- and memory-hungry games and 3D applications. Discrete graphics, dual-core processing, vibrant HD widescreen and sleek jet-black case give this notebook a great blend of looks and punch for the price.The Gateway P-6860FX offers GeForce 8800 gaming muscle and plenty of memory in a midprice laptop, making it a great choice for gamers who fall just short of hard-core.
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Acer has always been a global powerhouse, but the company has had a relatively anemic presence in the United States. Now that it has merged with Gateway (the two brands are still being treated as separate), we are seeing some inroads from Acer in this country, starting with a particularly bold move, the launch of the first laptop we’ve seen with an 18.4-inch display. The display has the same native resolution as a 1080p HDTV, and coupled with a Blu-ray drive and a unique set of touch-sensitive media controls, it’s an impressive package for moviewatchers.
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Acer has always been a global powerhouse, but the company has had a relatively anemic presence in the United States. Now that it has merged with Gateway (the two brands are still being treated as separate), we are seeing some inroads from Acer in this country, starting with a particularly bold move, the launch of the first laptop we’ve seen with an 18.4-inch display. The display has the same native resolution as a 1080p HDTV, and coupled with a Blu-ray drive and a unique set of touch-sensitive media controls, it’s an impressive package for moviewatchers.
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The Gateway M-1626 is a fixed configuration version of the manufacturer’s midsize M series and is currently available through Office Depot. As with the M-1618 we reviewed last summer, we like the design of the Gateway M1626, which combines a lovely display and a comfortable keyboard inside of a relatively sleek and stylish case. We like the laptop’s price tag even more: at $850, the M-1626 undercuts similarly configured Toshiba Satellite A305D ($999), Dell Inspiron 1525 ($949), and HP Pavilion dv6700z ($915) models. As with any low-cost laptop, you will have to make concessions; in the case of the Gateway M-1626,
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