Ultimate Notebook Reviews

The new Dell XPS M2010 is a revolution: closer to a laptop than a desktop, but still unable to be fully classified into one or the other, its design is truly unique. With a fold-out 20” display which can turn 180 degrees, a detachable Bluetooth keyboard, the best components and an array of media tools such as a pop-up DVD player and built in microphone and webcam, this computer is still very expensive at a base price of $3500.

The new HP HDX, nicknamed "The Dragon", has truly been packed full with features even given its larger-than-normal size. With a 20.1" HD LCD display with a resolution of 1680 x 1050, HD DVD player, TiVo and DVD recorder, stereo, built in webcam, fingerprint reader, touch-sensitive media controls, Bluetooth and five-in-one card reader; this is one laptop which may be well worth its price tag of just over $4200.

The Toshiba Satellite X205-S9359, recently announced new gaming laptop from Toshiba features some incredible specs. Powered by a 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and PM965 chipset, both providing 800MHz front side bus, an increase from the 667MHz of older Satellite notebooks, the X205-S9359 is a true contender in the battle for the best value in a gaming laptop.

The latest in Dell’s XPS high performance gaming notebooks, the M1710, is one of the fastest notebooks money can buy. This replacement for the XPS M170 comes in two colors: “metallic black” and “formula red” and has a 17” widescreen. The inside features the 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor, a possible 4GB of RAM, and the latest NVIDIA GO 7900 GTX graphics card with 512MB of memory.

Recently released early summer of this year are the Toshiba Qosmio G40 series of notebooks, priced at around $3000 to $4000 a piece. The folks over at Toshiba have really outdone themselves this time, packing the G40 series with all the necessities and one-uppers you would expect if you were dishing out over $3000. At the heart of these notebooks are Intel Core2 Duo processors with a 2.4GHz clock speed and 800MHz front-side bus. And of course with such an ultimate notebook, you know it’s running Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.

If you are looking for highly mobile computing in terms of size, then look no further than the FlipStart (FS 1.0) by Dynamism Ultra Mobile PC. Weighing only 1.75lbs with dimensions of 5.9” x 4.5” x 1.4”, this ultra mobile PC has a form factor that rivals that of most portable DVD players. They have also managed to squeeze a 1.1GHz Intel Pentium M processor with 512MB of DDR2 RAM and a 400MHz front side bus.

As a successor to the old F3j notebook product line from Asus, the F3sv-A1 operates on a new, more efficient motherboard. And just like the old F3j’s, the F3sv-A1 has all the pieces in place for a decent gaming computer system. This notebook is powered by the versatile 2.0GHz Intel Core2 Duo T7300 processor with 4MB of L2 cache and a fast 800MHz FSB. Although the 1GB of DDR2 RAM should be sufficient, there are two memory slots available to add on another 3GB of RAM for running multiple memory-intensive programs at the same time.

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ430N/B

Here we have a Sony VAIO Notebook (model: VGN-SZ430N/B) that looks rather simplistic in charcoal black and magnesium, but has all the ingredients that are needed for a powerful notebook computer. Ergo the new saying, "don't judge a notebook by its cover". Within this 4.1 pound Sony VAIO is an Intel Core2 Duo Mobile CPU that is clocking in at a respectable 2.0GHz and 4MB of cache memory on L2.

HP Pavilion DV9260NR

If you are looking for a notebook that will blow you away in the realm of digital entertainment, then you need not look any further than the HP Pavilion DV9260NR. From the beginning of its creation, designers have been just packing this notebook with a full array of entertainment optimized parts and third party software. The only downside I can see from this notebook is its touchpad, which is slightly off centered to the left. The fact that it's slightly off centered is not the issue, but the most of us are right-handed, so getting a mouse is highly advised.

Dell XPS M1330

The first thought that comes to mind when one thinks about a Dell notebook is that it is cheap and looks ugly. In spite of all the doubters, the new Dell XPS M1330 notebook that wears a very sleek and very ultra classy Tuxedo Black casing with Microsatin finish. For those looking for a brighter look, the XPS M1330 also comes in a luscious crimson red, or a clean pearly white. Not only is the M1330 a pretty notebook – it is a durable one with strong hinges made of brushed aluminum. And at 13.3" and a mere 3.97 pounds, this is the definition of mobile computing.