So you find yourself in the market for a new laptop computer. Your last one was a complete beast and incredibly heavy to lug around. Being the savvy business man you are, you decide that this time you want something light and easy to open up just about anywhere to catch up on your email or go over the spread sheet figures from the sales meeting. Maybe you are a designer looking for a lightweight laptop to take with you so that you can show off your portfolio to potential clients or to wow a current client with your latest designs.
It’s a good thing for you that you stumbled across this list, because we’re about to show you 15 well performing highly portable netbooks and laptops that won’t break your budget.
ASUS Eee PC Need a netbook that you can pound on all day long? Look no further. The Asus Eee PC EPC1000HE will last you up to 9.5 hours, more than sufficient for just about anyone. It boots quickly, running off of an Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor with 1GB DDR2 memory, and you can add another stick of ram for even more speed. The 10” viewable widescreen and integrated Intel graphics allow you to view movies and more. While you’re not going to be playing the latest and greatest games, you can still get your game on with some of your favorite older titles.It comes standard with a 160GB hdd, as well as integrated WiFi, and Bluetooth for connectivity on the go.
Asus has been in the netbook industry for quite some time, and it really shows. The hinges are solid and will last for a very long time. With a price tag of around $389, this little buddy is rock solid and won’t hurt your budget.
MSI Wind U100 MSI is traditionally known for making motherboards, and they’ve come out swinging with their line up of netbooks. The MSI Wind is powered by Intel’s Atom N270 processor running at 1.60GHz. Combined with 1GB of ram and Intel GMA950 integrated graphics and you have yourself a nice platform for staying productive even while away from the office. The included 3 cell battery only gives this netbook a solid 2 hours of stress usage, but the availability of an optional 6 cell battery really adds value to it.It has a wider keyboard than most of the netbooks out there, and because it is a larger netbook it does drain a little more on the battery than most. It has a 10.0” LCD screen and includes an 160GB hdd. For staying connected, integrated WiFi or Bluetooth is a big bonus. Weighing in at 2.9 lbs, it is a little bit heavier than some of its competition, but the price tag of just over $320 makes this netbook nicer on your wallet when compared to some of the others.
HP Mini 1035NR With one of the brighter screens on the market, the 1035NR also gains accolades for a well done keyboard. Its 10.2” WSVGA displays a resolution of 1024×600, and the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor along with 1GB of DDR2 memory provides plenty of power for keeping up with your office productivity. As with several of it’s brethren, it relies on a hard drive instead of solid state. At 60GB and only 4200rmp, it is also has less storage and accesses information slower than a majority of the competition. Boot up time tends to be a little slower than many of the other netbooks out there because of this.It does come with integrated Bluetooth and WiFi allowing you to stay connected that much easier. The lack of a 6 cell battery might be a drawback for some, and requiring an adapter for VGA display certainly places a bit of a damper on what could be a rock solid offering from HP. With a recommended price tag of around $450, it may just be the most pricy netbook around with the least amount of features.
Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 The Aspire One netbook comes in with a $329 price tag. Standard features include an Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 ram, integrated graphics and Wifi. Everything you need to stay productive on the go is included. You’re certainly not going to be gaming or doing any serious graphic designing on this netbook, but if you’re planning on purchasing a machine with that in mind, then you’re probably not looking for a netbook anyway.It does not have integrated Bluetooth, which is something of a let down, and like most netbooks, it does not have an integrated optical drive. Getting your digital media onto this unit is a challenge, but the computer savvy person should have no issues with this.
Lenovo Ideapad S10e Always known for their quality products, Lenovo brings this netbook to the table. Integrated Bluetooth, WiFi, a netbook camera, and a 6 cell battery with up to 5 hours of operation are a great start. Add in the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 memory and a 10.1” widescreen displaying at 1024×576 resolution makes the whole deal that much sweeter.
Puzzling though is the 160GB standard HDD in lieu of a solid state drive and sole choice of Windows XP Home. A 3 cell battery places the S10e behind a few of its cousins on this list. Priced at around $350, the quality of the S10e seems to overshadow the included features. (more…)
As Apple rushes to release the next version of the iPhone, it is anticipated that they will drastically increase the CPU’s processing power. This was further confirmed by John Gruber, a veteran technology writer.
With the current 3G iPhone embracing a nifty 412 MHz CPU, the next generation model should climb to 600 MHz. That along with some architecture tweaks, shall increase the overall performance capabilities quite significantly. (more…)
Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays Capital, believes that Walmart is flirting with the idea to begin selling Apple computer products in their store in the future.
Apparently they are looking to fill the gap that now defunct electronics retailer Circuit City left. Walmart is working on revamping and doing a hefty makeover of their electronics section by expanding their HDTV and Blu-ray selections and expanding their smartphone line up. Walmart is also one of the select stores where you can buy the new Palm Pre in June. (more…)
If you are like some of my co-workers you are dusting off your pop-up tents and sleeping bags ready to wait in line, but where? Sprint has announced that the Palm Pre will be available at Sprint, Best Buy, Radio Shack and select Wal-Mart stores starting June 6th. That’s a good distribution starting point. And at a reasonable $199.99 (after rebate and 2 year service contract).
The Palm Pre will also provide access to exclusive content on the Sprint Now Network which include Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Live. (more…)
Meco has invented an unique, yet innovative way to attractively disguise the original and dull appearance of the personal computer. Hidden within the walls of the “what looks to be” a wooden table is a high performance home theater PC.
The specs include a whopping 8GB of RAM, 4+ Terabytes of hard drive storage, a crisp ATi Radeon HD 4850 graphics card and 7.1 surround sound with both analog and digital outputs. The Meco PC is running on a Vista-based operating system and the computer’s shell (shown as a table above) is available in a vast amount of finishes as well. (more…)
We’re living in a crazy world my friends. Do you think you have what it takes to be tough? Well, at least your gadgets can be.
Not only that, but our possessions have spanned beyond the physical and into the digital. That’s just one more thing to add to our plate. To many, applying security to the many facets of our lives is sometimes a tedious chore, and so the average consumer turns a blind eye to their security needs for themselves and their valuable data.
So why not check out these tough and secure gadgets that’ll strengthen your style and won’t bore you to death.
ioSafe Solo External Hard Drive Whoa. This is a truly incredible product. It is a fully fireproof and waterproof version of your typical external hard drive. They are available at capacities from 500 MB to 1.5 TB. Another form of security comes is the hole on the back. No, there isn’t a hole in the product, but actually a hole drilled in a metal tab, and it is a way to padlock the 15-pound hard drive enclosure to anything you see fit. On top of that, the ioSafe company has Disaster Recovery Service, which is free w/ purchase and it includes every effort possible to retrieve your hard drive and replace its enclosure in case of a water/fire disaster. That kind of data protection deserves an extraordinary applause. Check out a video of its incredibleness.
IronKey Personal USB DriveThe IronKey Personal drive will automatically encrypt all of your personal data and comes in a stylish brushed metal casing, definitely designed to impress just about anyone. And if you thought data encryption wasn’t enough, the epoxy-filled casing makes it waterproof and impossible for a hacker to extract the chip. Okay, Inspector Gadget, did I mention it can also self-destruct?!Not only has the IronKey company worked hard to keep your mobile data confidential, but it also promotes your online security by including a safer option for web surfing: a “hardened” version of Firefox, Password Manager, and online anonymity through the Tor network. This device is chock full of features, and even at the higher end of the pricing spectrum ($199 for 8GB), it provides a great value for those who know the meaning of data security.
Data Locker Portable drives have the tendency to get lost easily. That’s the price of going portable, but it doesn’t have to cost you your privacy. Even if this unique drive were to fall into the wrong hands, those fingers would have to guess your personal PIN, up to 18 digits! The removable rubber fitting protects the drive from physical impact, too.
Rugged Notebooks RNB Series
Fully- and Semi-Rugged laptops are available at RuggedNotebooks.com, as well as rugged handhelds and tablets. The RNB 230 Max is their flagship model, offering “superior performance, quality and expandability.” With a shock-mounted, hardware-encrypted hard drive, fingerprint and smartcard reader, and metal alloy chassis, this is one tough, reliable piece of equipment that won’t let you down. (more…)
When it comes to e-readers, the most common name among people is the Kindle 2 from Amazon. Well, Interead decided to change that with their “Cool-er” e-reader. It reminds me of the monochromatic iPod’s but instead of an iPod, it is an e-reader.
It comes in 8 magnificent colors and very lightweight. (more…)
The secondary panels of Logitech’s gaming keyboards, the G15 and G19, can now embrace Windows SlideShow. Download the latest firmware and you will have this feature free of charge. Windows SideShow is a feature in Vista that lets an auxiliary panel display information, such as contacts, e-mails, appointments, and images on the hard disk. Something cool about this feature is that all the information is available whether your is PC on or off. (more…)
Sling Media has launched their first SlingPlayer App for the Apple iPhone. For those of you not familiar with Sling Media, they are the creators of SlingBox, “The SlingBox™ allows you to watch and control your favorite TV source from anywhere in the world on your laptop or cell phone. So now you can watch your DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver, or DVD player wherever you see fit. With the Slingbox SOLO, you can watch your favorite TV shows and sporting events from anywhere” (slingmedia.com).
With such a great product which rated “8.1 out of 10″ from CNET.com they have embraced the power of the iPhone and launched their first App called SlingPlayer. (more…)
Five years ago, when you built a computer it was all about the “bling.”All kinds of LED lights in your fans, windows in the side of the case so you could see all the components inside, and some really funky looking alien face…if you didn’t have these, the hot new computer you just built wasn’t cool enough. Their is either the option of building your own extreme custom computer case mod (which takes a lot of work) or getting one of these hot cases pre-fabbed cases below. I for one am happy to say that the new style of choice is simplistic and stylish for most cases.It is almost as if the world has gone Apple on everyone.
I now present 15 of the coolest and most unusual pre-fabricated computer cases for your hungry eyes.
Antec Skeleton
If your idea of a conversation piece is starting with your computer case, then this is a good way to go.The Skeleton is an open air, full featured case that only weighs in at 21.4 pounds without any components.The cooling system is a gigantic 250mm fan mounted on top of the case and one 92mm HDD cooling fan mounted on the front.It is capable of receiving most motherboard configurations such as Mini-ITX, MicroATX and Standard ATX.There are front ports for USB, Firewire, eSATA and Audio In and Out.
At around $150, this case seems like it could deliver a unique experience.Just make sure you have enough money left over to buy some canned air.I can imagine the dust accumulation on this case will be an issue.
ABS Canyon 695
The sleek, elegant Canyon 695 is quite unique and big.Produced by Lian Li, it is being distributed in the US and Canada by ABS.The case is very tall at 26.8 inches, and despite its size, the fully aluminum case only weighs in at 26 lbs.At first glance, one might think that there is something seriously wrong with this case; there are no optical drive slots in the front!Instead the optical drive bays are located on the right side of the case.The front of the case is an aluminum panel that can be removed to reveal a dust filter and three highly effective 140mm cooling fans.
Inside the case, there are three compartments for your components.A section for your hard drives is at the bottom, with another section in the center for the motherboard and her components.Finally at the top part of the case is the section for the PSU and optical drives.A project of passion, this case is not the basis for a quick and dirty computer build, and even comes with a screw driver to assist with securing your various components where they go.There are very few tool-free options on this case.
As far as cases go, this case is unique and stylish.Unless you’re a case connoisseur though, the $600 price tag might be a serious road block for you.
ThermalTake VF7001BNS DH101
Do you like home theater?Do you like computers?Why not put them together!?This simplistic case just screams for you to add it to your home theater setup.And why not?With so much of our entertainment content moving online, it’s easy to finally marry cyberspace to your living room.The DH101 blends in with your existing components so well, your friends might just ask you when ThermalTake started producing home theater audio video components.The built in front LCD is capable of displaying equalizers, status and different languages.
Ventilation is efficient, though you would still be wise to follow normal stereo component guidelines for keeping your equipment properly cooled.At the front is mounted a 120mm silent intake fan, at the rear you can find dual 60mm silent exhaust fans.The case supports micro ATX and standard ATX motherboards and most standard graphics cards.Larger graphics cards will likely not be able to fit in this case, but you’re not likely going to be fragging your buddies with this case set up are you?For a price tag of just over $200 USD, this case goes for just a bit more than many low end individual stereo receivers, but when paired with the right computer components, this case will be able to do so much more. See more.
Zalman FATAL1TY FC-ZE1
Created by well known professional gamer and CPL champ, FATAL1TY, the Zalman FATAL1ty FC-ZE1 case looks deadly in its own right.What is FATAL1TY’s recipe for pixelized mayhem and destruction?Start with 5mm thick aluminum paneling.Add precision laser etched graphics.Combine tool-free HDD installation with anchored spinning bars and rubber wheels.One easy to open side panel opened with a single sliding latch, red LED accent lighting and fans that when combined with other FATAL1TY branded hardware creates an evil looking them.
Lovingly add your preferred hardware components and add a heaping teaspoon of knowhow and you have yourself one sharp looking computer system.With a price tag of $359.99, this case is not for the budget minded.
XCLIO Windtunnel
The XCLIO Windtunnel is a touted as a simple case with a simple design.Two massive 250mm blue LED fans are mounted on the side of the case, with an optional fan mount on the front and rear of the case as well.Each of the large side mounted fans are intended to cool the motherboard and her components and the drive bays respectively.A speed control feature enables you to control just how much air is being delivered to your precious components from the behemoths.
Installing drives is quick and easy with clips and rails that do not require tools.For the pack rat who doesn’t delete anything or the movie enthusiast who requires massive amounts of HDD space, there are 6 available HDD trays for your storage devices.The case is capable of supporting Micro and Standard ATX form factors.For around $110 this case is a decent value for the gamer that needs to keep their components nice and cool.
Need a netbook that you can pound on all day long? Look no further. The Asus Eee PC EPC1000HE will last you up to 9.5 hours, more than sufficient for just about anyone. It boots quickly, running off of an Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor with 1GB DDR2 memory, and you can add another stick of ram for even more speed. The 10” viewable widescreen and integrated Intel graphics allow you to view movies and more. While you’re not going to be playing the latest and greatest games, you can still get your game on with some of your favorite older titles.It comes standard with a 160GB hdd, as well as integrated WiFi, and Bluetooth for connectivity on the go.
MSI is traditionally known for making motherboards, and they’ve come out swinging with their line up of netbooks. The MSI Wind is powered by Intel’s Atom N270 processor running at 1.60GHz. Combined with 1GB of ram and Intel GMA950 integrated graphics and you have yourself a nice platform for staying productive even while away from the office. The included 3 cell battery only gives this netbook a solid 2 hours of stress usage, but the availability of an optional 6 cell battery really adds value to it.It has a wider keyboard than most of the netbooks out there, and because it is a larger netbook it does drain a little more on the battery than most. It has a 10.0” LCD screen and includes an 160GB hdd. For staying connected, integrated WiFi or Bluetooth is a big bonus. Weighing in at 2.9 lbs, it is a little bit heavier than some of its competition, but the price tag of just over $320 makes this netbook nicer on your wallet when compared to some of the others.
With one of the brighter screens on the market, the 1035NR also gains accolades for a well done keyboard. Its 10.2” WSVGA displays a resolution of 1024×600, and the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor along with 1GB of DDR2 memory provides plenty of power for keeping up with your office productivity. As with several of it’s brethren, it relies on a hard drive instead of solid state. At 60GB and only 4200rmp, it is also has less storage and accesses information slower than a majority of the competition. Boot up time tends to be a little slower than many of the other netbooks out there because of this.It does come with integrated Bluetooth and WiFi allowing you to stay connected that much easier. The lack of a 6 cell battery might be a drawback for some, and requiring an adapter for VGA display certainly places a bit of a damper on what could be a rock solid offering from HP. With a recommended price tag of around $450, it may just be the most pricy netbook around with the least amount of features.
The Aspire One netbook comes in with a $329 price tag. Standard features include an Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 ram, integrated graphics and Wifi. Everything you need to stay productive on the go is included. You’re certainly not going to be gaming or doing any serious graphic designing on this netbook, but if you’re planning on purchasing a machine with that in mind, then you’re probably not looking for a netbook anyway.It does not have integrated Bluetooth, which is something of a let down, and like most netbooks, it does not have an integrated optical drive. Getting your digital media onto this unit is a challenge, but the computer savvy person should have no issues with this.
Always known for their quality products, Lenovo brings this netbook to the table. Integrated Bluetooth, WiFi, a netbook camera, and a 6 cell battery with up to 5 hours of operation are a great start. Add in the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 memory and a 10.1” widescreen displaying at 1024×576 resolution makes the whole deal that much sweeter.
Whoa. This is a truly incredible product. It is a fully fireproof and waterproof version of your typical external hard drive. They are available at capacities from 500 MB to 1.5 TB. Another form of security comes is the hole on the back. No, there isn’t a hole in the product, but actually a hole drilled in a metal tab, and it is a way to padlock the 15-pound hard drive enclosure to anything you see fit. On top of that, the ioSafe company has Disaster Recovery Service, which is free w/ purchase and it includes every effort possible to retrieve your hard drive and replace its enclosure in case of a water/fire disaster. That kind of data protection deserves an extraordinary applause. Check out a video of its incredibleness.
The IronKey Personal drive will automatically encrypt all of your personal data and comes in a stylish brushed metal casing, definitely designed to impress just about anyone. And if you thought data encryption wasn’t enough, the epoxy-filled casing makes it waterproof and impossible for a hacker to extract the chip. Okay, Inspector Gadget, did I mention it can also self-destruct?!Not only has the IronKey company worked hard to keep your mobile data confidential, but it also promotes your online security by including a safer option for web surfing: a “hardened” version of Firefox, Password Manager, and online anonymity through the Tor network. This device is chock full of features, and even at the higher end of the pricing spectrum ($199 for 8GB), it provides a great value for those who know the meaning of data security.
Portable drives have the tendency to get lost easily. That’s the price of going portable, but it doesn’t have to cost you your privacy. Even if this unique drive were to fall into the wrong hands, those fingers would have to guess your personal PIN, up to 18 digits! The removable rubber fitting protects the drive from physical impact, too.
