Acer To Intro US Model of S3 Ultrabook

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With laptops diversifying in multiple directions, major PC vendors this week leveraged a New York City press event to trot out new models ranging from Toshiba's glasses-free 3D notebook to a small slew of ultrathin models, including the first ultrabook from Acer for the US market.

Acer will officially announce the US edition of its Aspire S3 Ultrabook Laptop in October. The US version will come in the same form factor as its European cousin, with the same height of 1.3 centimeters, or slightly over one-half inch. It will also ship with the same lightweight, high density battery such as Acer UM08A31 battery, Acer UM08A71 battery, Acer UM08A72 battery, Acer UM08B71 battery, Acer Aspire One battery, Acer SQU-410 battery, Acer TravelMate 2100 battery, Acer 1556 battery, Acer BTP-89BM battery, Acer TravelMate 4600 battery, billed as delivering seven hours of power, along with Acer Green Instant On technology, designed to preserve battery life while also providing instant resume functionality.

Acer representatives didn't say whether the US edition will incorporate the same 13.3-inch ultra-thin HD LED display, vent-free bottom, and chiclet-style keyboard as its European counterpart, although all of that seems like a fairly safe bet given the identical dimensions.

US Edition of Acer's S3 Might Be Different

Despite the similar exterior, the US ultrabook might not offer the same processor and storage options which, in the European notebook, amount to a choice of second gen Intel i3/i5/i7 processors, plus a choice of either a 240GB SSD or 320/500GB HDD. The hard drive option also includes embedded SSD to help optimize media and data storage and speed up access.

Please pardon the cliche, but the Aspire S3 felt as light as a veritable feather in my hands, weighing in at less than 1.4 kg, or 3bs. The chiclet-style keyboard was springy and comfortable to the touch. I also noticed the lack of any heat on the keyboard or palmrest areas. Acer has managed this by placing components away from these areas, and also through an airflow design that dissipates warm air in the back of the notebook to stop air from moving back in the direction of the user's hands.

I also checked out the two sleep modes on the S3, and Acer Instant Connect, which gave me blazing fast access to the Internet. Thanks to these sleep modes, the S3 can resume in 1.5 seconds or recover from Deep Sleep in six seconds. I didn't have time during my quick hands-on to play with the integrated Acer Crystal Eye 1.3 megapixel camera and mike -- although I saw that they're in there.

Acer's Three Ultrabook Rivals

Rival ultrabooks also set for shipment this year include the equally Apple MacBook Air-inspired Asus UX21, outfitted with a very high resolution 1600-by-900 display and 256GB SSD, the Toshiba Portege Z835; and the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s, a book-shaped model that uses fans placed under the keyboard to draw in air for cooling purposes.

Also shown at Pepcom, the 13-inch Toshiba Portege, set for release in November, is even lighter than the Acer S3 at 2.45 pounds. The difference actually seemed palpable. It is also wafer-thin, measuring just 0.51-inches -- in comparison to the 13-inch Air's 0.67 inches -- at its thickest point.

To help achieve this thinness, all four vendors have left out optical drives, although the European edition of Acer's S3 does come with an integrated 2-in-1 card reader supporting SD/MMC cards. Of course, you could always attach an optical drive through a USB port. These days, though, optical drives are falling into more and more disuse, now that just about every app can be purchased for download and streaming video and YouTube are taking the place of entertainment DVDs.

Also in the interests of thinness, the PC makers tend to place most of the ports in back. For instance, the left-hand panel of the A3 contains only the two-way reader and a couple of phone jacks.

Still, vendors are managing to pack in a lot of I/O. The Toshiba ultrathin model, for example, offers three USB ports along with HDMI, VGA and Gigabit Ethernet ports. None of the first crop of ultrathins, though, is outfitted with screens supporting 1280p resolution. To view videos in full HD, you need to hook up an HDTV through the HDMI port.

Acer TravelMate 4011WLCi Review

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The Acer TravelMate 4010 (4011WLCi) is a mid-range Intel Centrino laptop with a budget price. It sports a 15.4" widescreen WXGA LCD and weighs just under 6.2lbs.

Acer TravelMate 4010 (4011WLCi configuration):

Intel Centrino Certified

Processor: Intel Pentium M 725 (1.60GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB, Dothan core)

Chipset: Intel 855GM/GME

Wireless: Intel PRO 2200BG Chipset 802.11b/g mini-PCI

Screen: 15.4" WXGA+ (1280 x 800) CrystalClear TFT

RAM: 2x 256MB DDR333 (Hynix ICs, 2.5-3-3-7 timings)

Hard Drive: 1.8" 60GB 4200RPM 2MB Cache Hitachi

Battery: 6-Cell 30000mWh like Acer Aspire 2000 battery, Acer Aspire 2016 battery, Acer Aspire 2200 battery, Acer BATBL50L6 battery, Acer TravelMate 3000 battery, Acer BATBL50L6 battery, Acer BATCL50L battery, Acer Aspire 9500 battery, Acer TravelMate 291 battery, Acer TravelMate 290 battery

Optical Bay: DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, 24x CD-R

Audio: Conexant AMC chipset

Graphics: Intel Extreme Graphics 2 for Mobile (64MB Shared RAM)

Installed Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition

Ports and Slots: 3x USB2.0, 1x RJ45 LAN, 1x RJ11 modem, 1x PCMCIA Type II PC Card slot, 1x AC adapter, 1x VGA out, 1x Security slot, 1x Optical Bay, 1x Line In, 1x Mic In, 1x Line Out/Head Phone

Dimensions: 1.5" X 14.3" X 11.0" (H X W X D)

Weight: 6.2lbs

Warranty: 1 Year Parts and Labor; Acer International Warranty

I bought this laptop for class and general wireless use. Having a laptop in class allows me to type out all of my notes and stay connected wherever I am on campus. I needed a budget laptop, and this fit the bill quite nicely. I also wanted a laptop that I could use around the apartment so I wouldn't be tied to my desktop all the time. However, I quickly realized I began using my laptop quite a bit more than my desktop, and it eventually turned into my desktop replacement.

I take the laptop to campus everyday, and there are some shortcomings. Because the laptop has a 15.4" screen, it's relatively large. Unless you're sitting at a table, don't expect to have any room atop of your desk for anything other than your laptop.

When closed, the laptop is fairly flush. The screen turns on when the panel is raised about 20 degrees up and can open to about 190 degrees. The LCD "turn off" button is located on the upper right side between 2 of the hinges, and it is not easily accessible by the finger (although it is possible to press it down with skinny fingers).

Beneath the laptop, the end user has access to the Battery, RAM, HDD, CPU and HSF, and the mini-PCI slot.

There are 4 launch buttons above and to the right of the keyboard: E-Mail, WWW, Empowering Technology (Acer settings), and Launch Manager. All 4 launch buttons can be customized to run any application, file, or web address, along with custom OSD labels.

To the right of the launch buttons is the power button, which lights up green when the system is on. To the left of the launch buttons are 3 status LEDs. The left most is Caps Lock, the middle is Num Lock, and the right most is HDD activity.

Acer Aspire 3003LCi Review

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The Acer Aspire 3003LCi is a 15-inch screen budget laptop built by Acer, it's part of the Aspire 3000 series. The 3003LCi weighs 6.1 lbs, which can be considered a light DTR (Desktop Replacement). The specs for this particular model are:

AMD Sempron Mobile 3000+

512 MB DDR RAM (1 dimm.)

60 GB 4200 Rpm Hard Drive

15.0" XGA monitor

Windows XP Home Edition

802.11G internal WLAN

I am impressed by Acer's "folio" design. It looks professional, clean looking, and gives the laptop with battery like Acer AS07A31 Battery, Acer AS07A51 Battery, Acer Aspire 4520 Battery, Acer AS07B72 Battery, Acer Aspire 5520 Battery, Acer BTP-43D1 Battery, Acer TravelMate 220 Battery, Acer BTP-58A1 Battery, acer BTP-60A1 Battery, Acer TravelMate 240 Battery a feeling that it is worth more than it looks. It's curved lines make it seem a lot thinner than it is, even though it isn't really that thick in the first place. The case feels a little flimsy at the wrist rest areas and the screen has a little flex, but the overall build quality of the case feels solid. The case is made up of plastic with a metallic silver look, it feels smooth to the touch. The notebook weighs about 6 pounds. It feels a little heavy, but it is relatively light compared to my old 8 pound Toshiba notebook. The screen hinges feel solid. There is some rippling of the screen that occurs if you push in on the back of the lid. Overall the build quality is OK, good for everyday use, but it's not meant for taking excessive abuse or being taken into the wilderness.

The Acer comes with a 15.0" XGA screen. The screen doesn't have the reflective type coating, which can be better for doing normal tasks, since I don't really watch movies on it anyways. The screen is bright enough, but unfortunately, mine came with one dead pixel. There isn't a lot of light leakage. As far as the dead pixel goes, there was no way to obtain a replacement LCD or notebook, but since it's in the corner, I'll live with it.

The laptop takes about 49 seconds from start to hearing the Windows start-up jingle. The laptop itself feels fast and responsive while doing everyday tasks such as listening to music, surfing the web etc. due to the lack of excessive bloatware eating at the 512 MB of RAM. Having 512MB of RAM is really helpful, which makes the computer a lot more responsive. I could play the Age of Empires 3 demo on this laptop on lower settings of the game, and it runs decently.

The laptop fans run quietly when doing basic tasks, but when you watch videos the fan will sometimes kick in and get a little noisy. The Aspire 3003 isn't really suited to being used in the lap because the fan is on the bottom-right, causing that area to feel hot after a while, so it's better to use this notebook on a flat desk or table to allow for proper cooling.

Wireless:

The laptop comes with a Broadcom 802.11G Wireless Adapter. This card has good reception, and works well. There is no Bluetooth, even though there is a button for it, but it doesn't do anything at all.

Battery:

This is one of the major downfalls of the laptop. The battery lasts only one hour when doing normal tasks, due to the 4-cell battery. Acer should've at least included a 6-cell battery instead of a 4-cell.

Operating System and Software:

This comes preloaded with Windows XP Home, and there is a lack of bloatware (which is good). Some software programs included are: NTI CD-Maker, Acer e-manager and Acer Arcade, which is an all-in-one entertainment software which lets you watch movies, listen to music and view pictures in one handy interface.

Customer Support:

Unfortunately, I had to use the warranty service because there was a small crack on the back of the LCD. When I contacted Acer, they sent a Fed-Ex truck the next day, sent the laptop to their repair facility in Texas, and then contacted me when the laptop was repaired. I received my laptop back repaired, after 2 weeks. I was impressed by their quick service, but I haven't tested out their customer support.

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo Review

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When Apple announced its transition to Intel, there was the expectation that hardware updates would become more frequent. So it came as a surprise when Apple was slow to move to the newer, more efficient Core 2 Duo processor. Eventually, not only did Apple switch to the 64-bit processor, they also added many features that were left out of the original MacBook Pro, namely a dual-layer DVD burner and FireWire 800. They also added a larger 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, and a now unlocked 802.11n AirPort Extreme. Apple was also able to improve the cooling, which allowed them to speed up a grossly underclocked ATI Mobility X1600 and be more competitive with the competition. On paper, the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro looks more like what the Core Duo version should have been, but does that prove to be true in real world use? Let's find out!

I did not buy this MacBook Pro with battery such as Apple M8244 Battery, Apple A1079 Battery, Apple A1078 Battery, Apple A1148 Battery, Apple M6091 Battery, Apple M8956 Battery, Apple A1008 Battery, Apple A1061 Battery, Apple A1060 Battery, Apple A1022 Battery. It was another replacement in a long line of replacements dating back to June 2006. My last unit was a Core Duo that I had for about 4 months. Unfortunately, the seal on the LCD was not airtight and dirt was able to accumulate. Having had so many problems, I called Customer Relations, who were willing to replace my Core Duo machine with the new Core 2 Duo version. While I question Apple's quality control, their customer service has been second to none. It has taken very little effort on my part to get issues corrected. In the month I have had my Core 2 Duo machine, I have thankfully not noticed any build quality issues.

Not much has changed visually from the Core Duo MacBook Pro. What has changed is not initially visible. Apple abandoned the vertical vents in favor of horizontal vents, allowing more air to move freely from the case. This single change has helped to solve the heat issues that plagued many older MacBook Pros. The only other change cosmetically is the new FireWire 800 port on the right side. Other than that, Apple carries over the same aluminum case with a slot-loading DVD burner on the front, ports on the sides, and a large trackpad with a single mouse button. Apple has used this design for several iterations of the Powerbook/MacBook Pro, and while the design is beginning to age, it is still pleasing to the eye. Apple also includes a backlit keyboard and auto-dimming LCD backlight, making it easier to use in low light.

The build feels solid; however, the aluminum case will dent and scratch eventually, keeping it from being one of the more durable notebooks. The way the notebook feels is good, making it seem worth the money spent on it. Just hope you do not get a lemon.

My MacBook Pro is the base model, which comes equipped with a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 1 GB of 667MHz RAM, which I immediately upgraded to 2 GB. In day-to-day use I have not noticed a big jump in performance from my 2.0 GHz Core Duo machine. However, performance increases are present in processor intensive tasks. For instance, the Core 2 Duo showed a large performance jump in the SuperPi benchmark, coming in at 58 seconds, a 20% increase over the Core Duo. The other area that the Core 2 Duo version shines in over the Core Duo is gaming. Due to cooling problems, the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 was severely underclocked in the Core Duo MacBook. Thanks to improved cooling, Apple was able to run the X1600 at a higher clock speed. The increase in clock speed manifested itself in the 3DMark05 score, helping the Core 2 Duo post a whopping 50% increase.

In general day-to-day use, I do not think you will see much of an increase in performance, but if you game or use processor intensive applications then the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro is a significant upgrade over the Core Duo version.

Apple iBook G4 Review

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Getting an Apple laptop was unthinkable for me at first. I felt nothing from Apple's clever "Switch" ads, and as with many fellow PC/Windows users, I thoughts Macs were for newbies, graphics designers, grannies, and others who couldn't handle more than one mouse button.

However, when I began my quest to purchase an affordable portable, I ran into many problems. The ultraportables and subnotebooks often lacked basic features I wanted such as an optical-drive, and would easily burn a hole in my wallet... several times over. Thin-and-Lights looked very appealing, so I researched that category the most. Some of my favorites include the Fujitsu S6210, IBM T40 series, and Dell 600m. Yet, even the ones I liked didn't work out because they didn't fit my budget (about $1,000).

Then I was introduced to a strange mix of the above. Apple's 12" iBook weighs in at touch under five pounds, but is in the ultraportable form factor. It's too heavy to be an ultraportable, but it's small screen means it doesn't fit with most thin-and-lights. What really caught my attention was the price tag. Other than Averatec, this is the only notebook I came across with a retail price of $999 that came in under 5 pounds. But like any consumer ready to shell out hard-earned money, I was still skeptical.

I continued to do my research and consistently heard good things about the iBook. Finally, Apple and Amazon gave me a sign. In late October, Apple included Airport Extreme (802.11g) and bumped up the base processor to 1.2Ghz. Additionally, Amazon still had a $150 rebate for Apple laptops with battery such as Apple A1175 Battery, Apple A1185 Battery, Apple M9324 Battery, Apple M8403 Battery, Apple M7318 Battery, apple PowerBook G3 Battery, Apple PowerBook G4 Battery, Apple PowerBook G4 15 inch Battery, Apple A1012 Battery, Apple M8511 Battery. It didn't take long for me to figure out that $850 + $20 shipping was a darn good deal. I placed my order on the following and paitiently waited.

Specifications

12.1" TFT XGA

1.2Ghz G4 processor w/ 512k level 2 cache

256MB PC2100 ram, 1 slot available

30 GB ATA/100 4200RPM hard drive

Slot-loading combo drive (DVD/CD-RW)

1 FireWire 400 port

2 USB 2.0 ports

VGA Out, S-Video and composite video cable optional

56K V.92 modem

10/100BASE-T Ethernet

Airport Extreme 802.11g wireless

Mac OS X 10.3 Panther

90 phone support, 1 year hardware warranty

The laptop is absolutely gorgeous. Had I not seen the price tag, I would've thought the iBook to be much pricier. The bare simplicity of the notebook is stunning. Other than the obligatory Apple logo on top (which lights up!), there's nothing but rounded edges. No bevels; No latches; No doors. When I hold it in my hands, it feels like holding a polished piece of marble. (in reality: polycarbonate plastic, and magnesium alloy)

The construction is really top grade. Pressing against the back of the reinforced LCD doesn't cause any ripples in the image, nor does flexing the screen between my hands. I'd feel safe putting this notebook in a cramped backpack. The hinge connecting the screen also looks quite beefy and doubles as an exhaust for heat. The slot loading drive is just too cool to describe. Everyone gets mesmerized by how the iBook sucks in CDs. Apple also claims to have rubber-mounted the hard drive to absorb vibrations and impacts.

HP Compaq NC6000 Notebook Review

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The Hewlett-Packard-Compaq NC6000 has a lot going for it. Exceptional speed, ruggedness, battery life and a magnesium-composite housing that is sturdy enough to double as a blunt weapon. The keyboard is as good as any out there, and the wireless setup found connections I didn't know existed.

Unfortunately, the NC6000 I received also had a few things going wrong for it. Out of the box, the keyboard was only half-attached. The point stick seemed possessed, and the screen hinges were noticeably loose. Then after two weeks, it took multiple starts to get Windows running.

That bad experience was leavened somewhat by HP's business division, which has the best customer service I've dealt with anywhere in a long time.

Buying an HP NC6000

This review is based on a custom-configured HP NC6000 with the following specifications:

Pentium M 735 - 1.7 GHz, 2MB L2 cache

14-inch XGA (1024x768) TFT Display

64 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600

512x1 MB RAM

80 GB, 5400 RPM hard drive

CD-RW/DVD-ROM

Intel PRO Wireless 2200BG

Bluetooth

8-cell lithium-ion battery such as Compaq 100680-001 Battery, Compaq PP2060 Battery, Compaq Presario 1400 Battery, Compaq Presario R3158 Battery, Compaq Presario 1700 Battery, Compaq Armada E500 Battery, Compaq EVO N100 battery, Compaq Evo N1020V battery, Compaq Evo N1000C battery, Compaq Evo N115 battery

Windows XP

5.75 pounds

Three-year-accidental damage warranty

This setup costs $2,281 before tax and shipping through HP's business division.

The buying process is relatively straightforward. HP offers a few pre-configured models between $1,499 and $2,000, along with the option to configure your own. There are usually sales on some models, and HP offers discounts to a variety of professional fields. Particularly notable is that employees of schools and colleges are eligible for a discount. As I understand it, this extends to all staff, not just teachers.

It's less-expensive to buy a pre-configured system than the same machine customized, but users looking for a bigger battery or better video card might save by customizing. (It's $19 to upgrade to an 8-cell battery now, versus $129 for a new battery later).

It took three weeks for HP to deliver the machine, one week longer than anticipated, but they did send an e-mail announcing the delay.

People often describe laptops as being built like a tank, rock or brick. The hyperbole is implicit -- most people wouldn't seriously expect to defend themselves with a Powerbook G4. In the case of the NC6000, however, there's no exaggeration. The machine is heavy and brutish. If a pack of zombies barged in my office right now, a closed NC6000 would make a handy bludgeon.

HP Compaq 6910p Review

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The 14.1" HP Compaq 6910p is one of the latest professional line portable business notebooks currently being offered by HP. The 6910p is much like the smaller 12.1" screen HP 2510p we recently reviewed in terms of looks, but of course this larger notebook packs more power. The 6910p starts at a reasonable price of $1,199 with a basic configuration that includes the Intel Core 2 Duo (Santa Rosa) processor.

The 6910p is squarely in the business notebook category, this means there is no sacrifice made when it comes to security and communications features you'd want to have as a business person. Our review model has integrated Verizon EV-DO and you can get 802.11n for faster wireless. There's a fingerprint reader for biometric security and it offers a TPM integrated security chip. The 6910p, being a business notebook, is designed so that it can share a common image with other HP notebooks if an IT department is standardizing on this brand. Furthermore, it offers Intel Centrino Pro so IT managers can remotely do such things as security updates to users machines.

The configuration of our review machine is as follows:

HP Compaq 6910p specs:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2.00GHz

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Business

Hard Drive: 120 GB SATA @ 5400RPM

Screen: 14.1" WXGA Widescreen (1280 x 800) (WXGA+ option available)

Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics

RAM: 2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 1GB)

Optical Drive: DVD SuperMulti drive (DVD+/-RW) w/Double Layer Support

Battery: 6-cell lithium ion, 55WHr Compaq Armada M700 Battery, Compaq EVO N400c Battery, Compaq EVO N410c Battery, Compaq EVO N600C Battery, Compaq EVO N610C Battery, Compaq EVO N620C Battery, Compaq Presario 1200 Battery, Compaq Presario 1800 Battery, Compaq Presario 700 Battery, Compaq Presario 900 Battery

Wireless: Intel PRO / Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n

Optional WWAN: Integrated HP ev2200 1xEV-DO Wireless Module

Security: Fingerprint reader, TPM hardware-based encryption

Weight: 5.2 lbs

Dimensions: 13" (Width) x 9.4" (Depth) x 1.1" (Height)

Ports/Slots: docking connector; 1 IEEE 1394 (FireWire); 3 Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0); VGA monitor out; S-video out; RJ-45 Ethernet LAN; RJ-11 modem; Type I/II PC Card Slot; SmartCard; SD card reader; headphone/speaker jack; microphone

Warranty: 3 year parts and labor

The 6910p is all business in its looks using only dark gray and black colors. It's a clean and boxy look. To keep the look clean HP even goes so far as to make the media buttons touch sensitive instead of regular push button style. While the touch sensitive buttons look nice and the lights on them are pretty, I personally prefer the protruding buttons as it's generally more user friendly to be able to "feel" a button. Thankfully the touch sensitive buttons do not beep loudly when touched like the old HP dv6000 series did, that wouldn't go over well in a business environment.

Design and Build

The overall build quality of the HP 6910p is very good. A latch is used to hold the screen down when stowed, I really like the rubber gripped latch opener because it's easy to feel and find without looking down at the notebook and easy to operate. There's no fiddling to open the screen. The screen has rubber stoppers around it to prevent the screen from slamming into the keyboard when you close it.

The lid of the notebook is constructed of a firm mag-alloy material and will endure the bumps of the road. When the back of the lid is pushed on no screen ripples appear, indicating that the protection is quite adequate. The same mag alloy material is used on the palm rests area which makes sure this area is sturdy and doesn't sink under the weight of your hands. The keyboard is also firm with absolutely no mushiness or sink to it.

One knock is that HP included a plastic dummy insert for the the PCMCIA slot, a flap is preferable as those inserts are tricky and tend to get lost eventually.

Lenovo ThinkPad W510 Full Review

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The ThinkPad W510 is Lenovo’s 15.6-inch workstation notebook offering an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics. New to this year’s model is an optional 1080P multi-touch screen with a 95% color gamut and built-in huey PRO color calibration system. In this review, we take an in-depth look at the ThinkPad W510 to gauge its performance as a mobile workstation.

Our Lenovo ThinkPad W510 Specifications:

15.6-inch multi-touch FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit 95% Gamut (matte finish)

Windows 7 Professional (64bit)

Intel Core i7-920XM (2GHz, 8MB Cache)

8GB DDR3 RAM (4GB + 4GB)

500GB Seagate 7200.4 HDD (7200rpm)

Intel 6300 802.11AGN, Bluetooth, Gobi 2000 WWAN

NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M with 1GB DDR3

94Wh 9-cell, 135W 20V AC adapter

Dimensions: 14.68" x 9.65" x 1.35-1.57"

Weight: 7.2 pounds

Retail Price: $2,059 Starting (Exact configuration price unavailable)



Build and Design

Compared to the previous generation 15-inch ThinkPad with battery such as IBM 40Y6793 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1125 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1121 Battery, Lenovo 40Y8321 Battery, Lenovo FRU 92P1216 Battery, Lenovo 3000 V200 Battery, Lenovo ASM 92P1219 Battery, Lenovo 41U5025 Battery, Lenovo N200 Battery, IBM ASM 92P1126 Battery, Lenovo has made many design tweaks with the W510. For starters, the screen hinges are the same width, whereas before the hinge on the right side was much narrower. Another change is when the ThinkPad is open; the screen itself is centered with equal width bezels on both sides. The uneven screen was found to be annoying by some ThinkPad users and it is nice to see Lenovo finally address that odd design element. As a whole, Lenovo has done a great job of keeping the newer ThinkPad models looking just like previous generations. Some changes have been made to update the touchpad, ThinkPad logo, and port layout over the years but anyone off the street would be able to instantly recognize the brand.

Build quality is very good on the Lenovo ThinkPad W510. Out of the box, this model has a stronger feel to it than most of the smaller ThinkPad models and is fairly hefty. Our model weighed in at just about 7 pounds and is built like a tank. The newer palmrest and keyboard design is solid as a rock with a strong support structure underneath the plastic. Even with a strong grip or a lot of downward force, we saw minimal flex around the palmrest and keyboard. Following with its “overbuilt” (in a good way) trend, the screen hinges are strong enough that it required two hands to open the notebook and even to tilt back the screen once the lid was opened. When fully open, the screen did not have loose wobble or other problems staying firmly positioned. Considering this model offers a multi-touch screen, we found its overbuilt quality to be essential because the entire panel might otherwise push back when pressing on the touchscreen.



The easy access to all serviceable components might appeal to W510 users looking to upgrade. The bottom of the notebook has two covers which houses the hard drive and RAM slots three and four. Removing two screws lets you pop off the keyboard, giving you access to the wireless cards and RAM slots one and two. One point I want to make clear is even with models configured with fewer than four total sticks of memory, Lenovo still includes two open memory slots. We have seen models like the HP EliteBook 8540p that have the spots on the motherboard for two additional memory slots, but don’t solder them in place if the notebook isn’t configured with the additional memory from the factory.

Screen and Speakers

Lenovo includes a brand new multi-touch screen option on the ThinkPad W510. This panel has a resolution of 1920x1080, a high color gamut of 95%, and bright LED backlighting. We measured a peak brightness of 215cd/m2 with the backlight turned to 100%, which is more than bright enough to be fully visible in bright office conditions. Compared to past ThinkPad screens, the W510 ranks just under the X200 Tablet we reviewed in terms of panel quality. Color saturation was well above average, making this screen great for designers but unpleasant for the average user. If you are accustomed to viewing a normal LCD which has a color gamut between 70-80%, viewing this screen will look pretty strange with most colors being over saturated. This isn’t a problem with the screen itself; it’s just an attribute of a high color gamut display. Viewing angles were average with most colors starting to distort or invert when tilted 15 to 20 degrees forward or backward. The high color gamut seems to extend the viewing range slightly, but only because colors still look “normal” even though they have lost most of their potency. Horizontal viewing angles were good to about 70 degrees before the touchscreen layer started to block the light output.

The multi-touch surface was easy to use and responded to a light touch. It supported two-finger inputs like scrolling and zooming. Compared to other touchscreen surfaces, the W510 had only a slightly hazy appearance and didn’t seem to distort the LCD beneath it unless you were viewing the screen from a steep angle.

Another cool screen feature of the W510 is a huey PRO color calibration system. With the screen intended for graphic designers and image editors, one important area is the screen’s color accuracy. The color calibration software helps to correct any color shift as a result of the backlight, color changes over time, or simple screen aging. We actually found that it helped take the over-saturated edge of the screen and helped bring a sense of balance back to the system. Pre-calibration whites had a mild red tint and after calibration they had a cooler look and closer to the normal spectrum. If you opt for the nicer screen, it’s well worth an extra $70 to get the color calibrator if you’re picky about your screen’s appearance.

Speaker quality is average compared to other business notebooks but rates below mainstream consumer notebooks. While the speaker grills might suggest large speakers located under the trim they are in fact very tiny speakers. Peak volume levels are fine for filling a small to medium-size room. Bass and midrange is weak, but this is common for notebooks in this category.



Keyboard and Touchpad

The ThinkPad W510’s keyboard is comfortable to type on and easily lives up to the well-known reputation of all ThinkPad keyboards. It has excellent support showing little flex even under strong pressure. Tactile feedback is great with a precise hinge mechanism and secure key top that doesn’t exhibit any wiggle. The keyboard is the newest design seen first on the T400s and now the T410. The layout changes the position of some of the function keys and adds a row of quick-access sound keys to change the volume level, and mute the speakers and microphones. Another subtle change is a decrease in spacing between each key that supposedly reduces the chance of crumbs getting under them.

The W510 offers a spacious Synaptics touchpad with multi-touch capabilities. Compared to past models, the touchpad surface is textured to reduce friction and prevent your finger from sticking as you slide it side to side. After using the older matte plastic finish version for so long, it is hard to choose my preferred model. Each has its advantages, but only the newer model is multi-touch enabled. The touchpad buttons are easy to use since they are located right along the sloped edge of the palmrest. Feedback is great with a soft touch and a long throw.

Ports and Features

The W510 offers a wide range of ports and features. The port selection includes two SuperSpeed USB3 ports, one USB 2.0 port, one eSATA/USB combo port, FireWire 400, LAN, modem, VGA and DisplayPort-out, and a combo headphone/microphone port. The notebook also features an ExpressCard/34 slot, a SDHC-card reader, and a Blu-ray player.

Lenovo ThinkPad X61

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I’ve just spent a month playing around with Lenovo’s latest ultraportable laptop computer, the ThinkPad X61—a sturdy little powerhouse that boasts a low-voltage 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB or RAM, and a 100GB, 7200rpm hard disk. Weighing in at about 3 pounds, the ThinkPad X61 is definitely a godsend for the frequent traveler, and it’s undeniably powerful for its size. It’s about 10.5" wide, a little over 8" tall, and the case thickness varies from a bit less than an inch to a still-respectable 1.39" at its widest point. But the unit lacks certain important features, giving it an oddly old-school feel.

Let’s start with first impressions. Opening up the laptop, I was struck by its build quality. This is a well-constructed machine with a nice fit and finish. Next, I noticed that Lenovo has opted against using a widescreen (16×9) display, instead reverting to an oldschool 12.1" display with a standard 4×3 aspect ratio. I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed by this choice, having come to love the widescreen ratio on my other systems. That being said, I know some users who prefer the standard ratio for business use and save the widescreen presentation for their home media. (Anyway, the built-in speakers are nothing to crow about.) As it stands, the ThinkPad X61’s display is vivid, performing better in bright-light scenarios than other ultraportables I’ve seen.

How about the keyboard? Another first impression is that Lenovo is still using its red TrackPoint pointing stick in the center of the keyboard. Here, I must admit to another personal bias: I can’t stand pointing sticks. (The ThinkPad offers no touch pad—a far more preferable navigation device, in my mind.) Three mouse buttons underneath the keyboard provide left-click, right-click, and scroll functionality. Even after a month, I found this setup decidedly frustrating and antiquated. However, once I got past my own bias, I could see that the ThinkPad boasts nice, large keys that invite more comfortable typing than most ultraportable keyboards. Pay special attention to the ThinkVantage button just beneath the screen: Pressing it brings up the ThinkVantage Productivity Center, a terrific resource to help you with system maintenance. There’s also some new gadgetry on the ThinkPad X61 that might increase your interest: For example, a fingerprint reader just to the right of the mouse buttons lets you securely log on, and a button on the bottom lets you disable the Wi-Fi radio.

The ThinkPad X61 offers basic connectivity ports and inputs, including an expansion bus (for the UltraBase or an extended battery such as IBM FRU 92P1141 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1137 Battery, IBM 02K6651 Battery, IBM 02K6928 Battery, IBM 02K6620 Battery, IBM 02K7039 Battery, IBM ThinkPad X60 Battery, IBM FRU 92P1167 Battery, IBM ThinkPad Z60t Battery, IBM ThinkPad Z61t Battery), three USB 2.0 ports, a 1394 port, an external display adapter connector, audio and Ethernet ports, as well as the expected AC adapter plugs and RJ-11 modem port. As I stated earlier, it lacks a built-in optical drive. My test device included the optional X6 UltraBase dock, which contains a DVD/CD-RW burner, as well as a number of additional business-connectivity inputs and ports.

The ThinkPad X61 I tested ran Windows Vista Business, and I found its performance to be generally pleasing. I didn’t notice a huge speed boost with the Core Duo processor, but I found it to be a step forward in all tasks: Bootup seemed average, but Internet activity was impressive if not startling. After diving into some multitasking, I could clearly experience the benefit of the processor: There was no lag switching quickly from app to app. Probably the ThinkPad X61’s greatest competitive advantage is its dual-core performance in such a travelfriendly package.

As always, I recommend investing in the longer-life battery. My test unit came with a larger, higher-capacity battery that gave the ThinkPad X61 an impressive battery life of more than five hours, in my tests. Also as always, that larger battery increased the weight, size, and price of the laptop itself, so be aware of those tradeoffs. The bigger battery is certainly a necessary upgrade, though.

The ThinkPad X61 isn’t the smallest of lightest ultraportable available, and I found its general usability to be somewhat lacking (from my admittedly biased point of view). But I can’t deny its dualcore power or its extreme portability. This is a comfortable device for the road warrior—as long as you can get past its idiosyncrasies.