According to the observed trends at the IFA in Berlin this year, 3D is the order of the day. In fact you have to look hard in the manufacturers’ product lines until you find something. In opposition to the netbook trend, or the current tablet hype, 3D apparently doesn’t really want to come to the fore in notebooks. Even if the manufacturers deny it, this observation of the current ranges speaks for itself.Sony VGP-BPS13

Subsequent to the review of the compact Asus G53JW gaming machine with a GTX 460M graphics card and HD 3D display, we now provide a review of a practically identically equipped model. It may present a more interesting alternative for Blu-Ray and gaming fans. Details about the identical case, interfaces and input devices, as well as performance can be found in our previous review of the Asus G53JW with a 3D display.Sony VGP-BPS13A/Q

We will start with the focus of this review: the Full-HD display. To be precise, it is an AU Optronics screen with the model name, AUO15ED. Beside the lack of a 3D function (120Hz), especially the considerably higher resolution of 1920×1080 pixels is a significant difference in comparison to Asus G53JW 3D alternative, which only had a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. Sony VGP-BPS13A/B
Our previous gaming test have proved that Nvidia’s GTX 460M graphics card installed in the device is well able to display current games smoothly even in higher resolutions and attractive detail level. You can find detailed information about this in our game list.Sony VGP-BPS13/B

Thus,Sony VGP-BPS13B/B the user not only can take delight in a finer resolved image in games, he will also notice the advantage of a significantly more clearly arranged desktop. Multitasking with several open windows is now possible without ado. Last but not least, even Full-HD content of Blu-Ray disks in the native resolution can be enjoyed. A razor sharp and particularly high detail image is conjured on the screen. All in all, a few weighty arguments that make taking this alternative appear very tempting. Sony VGP-BPS13B/Q

But, what do the assessed rates of the applied hardware look like?Sony VGP-BPS13A/S Our Gossen Mavo Monitor measures a maximum of 240 cd/m2 in the lower center display area. This is marginally higher than in the 3D alternative (223 cd/m2). The Full-HD alternative is also slightly more convincing than the 3D screen in terms of illumination. The brightness decreases to a maximum of 196 cd/m2. Thus, the brightness distribution is good 83% (3D: 77%). Sony VGP-BPS13/Q

The just gained bonus points are unfortunately destroyed quickly in regards to the maximum display contrast. The display only achieves a maximum contrast ratio of 166:1 in maximum brightness and relatively high black value of 1.37 cd/m2 – a rather disappointing rate. The G53JW’s 3D alternative could still bestow a satisfactory 272:1 to this ranking.Sony VGP-BPS8A

Another point for assessing the installed display’s quality is the range of the reproducible color spectrum. We don’t recognize big differences in a direct comparison of the 3D display and the Full-HD screen at hand. Sony VGP-BPS8

Although a slight deviation in the color spectrum is apparent, the high resolution display is in the same category. Nevertheless, a slightly larger color space can be covered in comparison to displays in budget entry level devices. Thus, both G53JW display alternatives come close to covering the SRGB color spectrum.Sony VGP-BPS2A

G53JW FHD vs.Sony VGP-BPS2B XPS16 RGB(t)At this point, we usually elicit a possible outdoor use of the test device. Although the G53JW would be suitable for this because of its 15 inch size, a mobile use is extremely impaired due to its high total weight of about four kilograms plus almost one kilogram for the adapter. Additionally, the reflective display surface also isn’t exactly beneficial in this regard. We could already determine unpleasant reflection indoors in bright ambient light conditions.Sony VGP-BPS2C

The Full-HD display doesn’t earn any kudos for the given stable viewing angles, either. The viewing angle stability is sufficient for stationary use. However, if you only deviate moderately from the ideal perpendicular viewing angle, image distortions turn up quickly. Overall, we would consider the given stability even below that of the 3D display.Sony VGP-BPS9

The 3D model we tested, configured with Intel’s Core i7-720QM CPU and Nvidia’s GTX 460M graphics card, proved to be equipped slightly inferior to the G53JW versions found in retail. The Intel 740QM CPU is installed in the Full-HD sample at hand. Sony VGP-BPS9A/B

It promises a performance increase of up to 10% in comparison to the 720QM predecessor in CPU dependent calculations. The advantages of the CPU refresh even turn out lower in gaming because the GPU usually develops to a limiting factor when the detail level is increased. Details about this can also be found in our special review about the Clarksfield CPU range refresh.Sony VGP-BPS9/B

We checked the performance of the device at hand with a few benchmarks. The present test system could score 12584 points in Futurmark’s 3DMark 2006 (1280×1024). This is a plus of only just 3.5 percent in comparison to the tested 3D alternative with a 720QM.Sony VGP-BPS9/S

The sample at our disposal reaches a total of 7400 points in the latest 3DMark Vantage. Even if this is trivially more than the 3D device was able to reach (7383 points), the benefit of a higher clocked CPU diminishes to an insignificant 0.23%. Toshiba PA3534U-1BAS

For this reason, we can refer to the determined benchmarks in the review of the G53JW with a 3D display and 720QM CPU, without having to expect major deviations. Further information about the Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M’s gaming performance can also be found in our our gaming list.Toshiba PA3534U-1BRS

We could however observe a clear increase in PCMark Vantage. Thus, the configuration at hand achieved a very good total score of 6715 points. The tested Asus G53JW 3D alternative could “only” score 5570 points. This represents a plus of over 20%. This performance increase can’t solely be explained by the higher clocked CPU. Therefore, we examined PCMark Vantage’s single results more closely.Toshiba PA3535U-1BAS
In fact, an above-average good result of 7655 points was noticed. This ultimately revealed the utilized Seagate Momentus XT ST95005620AS to be a hybrid drive. That is a combination of SSD (solid state drive) and a conventional magnetic disk memory. Advantage: Frequently accessed data can be supplied faster. Generally, a large total memory capacity (500 GB) can also be offered at an attractive price.Apple A1185

At a price of almost 1000 euros, the Aspire 7750G-2634G50Bnkk appears to be a fair deal. If you don’t need many interfaces and graciously disregard the unusual keyboard, you’ll get a strong system fit for the future as of April. In the meantime, the Sandy Bridge recall will cause a delivery stoppage of the 7750G. See Intel’s defective Sandy Bridge Chipsets – Status Report for more information.Sony VGP-BPL1

The SATA II controller of the HM65 could show signs of deterioration (unstable utilization up to complete failure). The entire motherboard will thus have to be replaced, according to recent info.Sony VGP-BPS1

Workhorse. Dell’s mobile workstation, Precision M4500, should especially satisfy high performance requirements and faces a simply unbeatable opponent. We’ve checked how well Core i7-940XM, Nvidia Quadro FX 1800M and FullHD support our test candidate.Sony PCGA-BP2V

We had waited a long time before we could finally greet the Dell Precision M4500 in our editorial office. We had already examined the similarly positioned competitor months ago. The HP Elitebook 8540w is even available in two different alternatives now. Sony PCGA-BP4V

The yardstick is set high. The HP 8540w led our TOP 10 for a long time. The Fujitsu Celsius H700 was impressive with an outstanding value for money ratio. The Lenovo ThinkPad W510 more than only met up to its reputation as the prestige classic. Sony VGP-BPL2

Currently, the prices for a WXGA display, Nvidia Quadro FX 880M and Core i5-560M start at of 1050 euros net. An Nvidia Quadro FX 1800M, BluRay burner, SSDs with a capacity of 128 and 256 GB, higher resolution displays or keyboard with backlight are available for a surcharge. Sony VGP-BPS2

Not really contemporary: WLAN also costs extra. Our Dell Precision M4500 represents the top model and has a Core i7-940XM CPU, 8 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD, a FullHD display and currently has a net-price of almost 3600 euros.Sony VGP-BPS2A

Elegant display lid with metal finishAccording to the spec sheet, the Precision workstation’s weight starts at 2.81 kg and thus hardly differs from the competitors. This can however quickly swell to over 3 kg, as in our candidate, depending on the configuration. Sony VGP-BPS2B

The 9 cell batteries, for example, add a weight of about 150 g in comparison to 6 cell batteries. The magnesium alloy case is fully convincing in terms of workmanship, pressure resistance and robustness. Sony VGP-BPS2C

Merely the battery has a leniency of about 0.5 to 1 mm and wobbles a bit. The display lid is an eye catcher with its very attractive metal look. We however discover the usual gray plastic inside on the work area, around the keyboard and display, which is rather intended more for functionality than chic. Sony PCGA-BP3T

The dimensions are a bit greater than other 15.6 inch notebooks in width and breadth. Nevertheless, the slim-flat case of MacBooks or the Timeline range isn’t accomplished.Sony VGP-BPS3A

Interface comparisonThe connectivity is overall very good and even the port distribution is successful. Everyone will have a different opinion about the video port’s position. We would have preferred to see it on the rear, and the audio sockets would have been better placed on the front for Skype & Co. Sony PCGA-BP2V

In any case, it could get tight for the crowded USB ports because they can only be used with an extension cable, depending on the device.Sony PCGA-BP2T

We are also surprised about the lack of a USB 3.0 port that should actually belong to a workstation. This missing port can easily be retrofitted via ExpressCard34 if required. Otherwise, Dell provides a good alternative with the 115 MB/s fast eSATA. Sony VGP-BPS8

Additionally, the disappearing 4 pin FireWire port (EEE 1394a) is also installed (35.5 MB/s). USB 2.0 doesn’t work quite as fast with a max of 28.1 MB/s and is thus the first choice for printers, digicams, etc. Sony PCGA-BP2NY

Naturally, an analog VGA out for older monitors and laptop projectors shouldn’t be left out. Nor should a digital video out, in form of a display port for best signal quality, be omitted. The VGA out still supplies a good picture at a resolution of 1280×1024. Sony PCGA-BP51

The reproduction visibly gets unfocused already at resolutions of 1680×1080. The VGA port’s design could however cause problems with the one or other thicker VGA cable because it’s submerged into the case.Sony PCGA-BP51A

Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth and 3 MP webcam are standardly included. WLAN is available in 3 alternatives and inconceivably still costs extra. SmartCard reader, fingerprint scanner and TPM take care of required security not only in businesses. A variety of expansion options via the modular drive bay are also standard in this device category. Sony PCGA-BP52

Dell grants a generous 3 year warranty right from the start. However, it’s common standard for this product range. It can be upgraded with various warranty period extensions, additional services and support services.Sony PCGA-BP52A

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Attentive readers might notice that we already reviewed the Dell Studio 17 last year. However,sony vgp-bpl8 this isn’t the same Studio 17. The system we’re reviewing here is the new Studio 17 (1747) which uses a completely new chassis with 16:9 ratio widescreen display, new speakers, and support for the latest processors.

Dell Studio 17 (1747) Specifications:

• 17.3" HD+ (1600 x 900) TrueLife WLED
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel Core i7 720QM processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L3 cache)
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 1GB
• 4GB DDR3 RAM (2x 2GB)
• 320GB Western Digital Scorpio Black 7200RPM Hard Drive
• Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g
• 8X DVD burner
• Three-year limited warranty
• 9-cell battery (85Wh)
• Weight: Starting weight of 7.87 lbs
• Dimensions: 16.28 x 11.04 x 1.1-1.54"

Build and Design
The Dell Studio 17 fpcbp160 has a sleek wedge-shaped side profile that helps mask its large footprint. The sloped design reduces the thickness of the notebook, and if you don’t count the bulging 9-cell battery, it is basically as tall as my ThinkPad T60 when closed. The red screen cover looks very nice and is also available in other colors if you custom configure the notebook. The painted cover has a great rubbery texture that gives the notebook a soft feel and helps to increase grip for your fingers. The inside of the Studio 17 is glossy plastic and a flush-mount color-matched touchpad. The palmrest trim is painted with a silver metallic finish with the trim directly surrounding the keyboard being glossy painted black plastic. Both finishes appear to resist light scratches, which is a godsend for glossy notebooks that need to be wiped down constantly to look clean and smudge-free.fpcbp182

The one Dell-specific design element that really bugs me is the battery design.lifebook t4215 battery I greatly prefer the method of extended-life batteries that extend out the back of the notebook. The lower-mounted method used with the Studio 17’s battery prevents the notebook from sitting perfectly flush on your desk surface. The only problem with using a battery that extend out the back with this notebook is the hinge design which would interfere with extended batteries.

Build and Design
The Dell Studio 17 has a sleek wedge-shaped side profile that helps mask its large footprint.sony vgp-bps8a The sloped design reduces the thickness of the notebook, and if you don’t count the bulging 9-cell battery, it is basically as tall as my ThinkPad T60 when closed. The red screen cover looks very nice and is also available in other colors if you custom configure the notebook. The painted cover has a great rubbery texture that gives the notebook a soft feel and helps to increase grip for your fingers. The inside of the Studio 17 is glossy plastic and a flush-mount color-matched touchpad. The palmrest trim is painted with a silver metallic finish with the trim directly surrounding the keyboard being glossy painted black plastic. Both finishes appear to resist light scratches,vgp-bps8b which is a godsend for glossy notebooks that need to be wiped down constantly to look clean and smudge-free.

The one Dell-specific design element that really bugs me is the battery design. I greatly prefer the method of extended-life batteries that extend out the back of the notebook.sony vgp-bpl8a The lower-mounted method used with the Studio 17’s battery prevents the notebook from sitting perfectly flush on your desk surface. The only problem with using a battery that extend out the back with this notebook is the hinge design which would interfere with extended batteries.

Screen and Speakers
The 17.3-inch display on the Studio 17 looks above average with good color saturation and excellent contrast.vgp-bps2a Dell picked an in-between resolution of 1600×900 in this model, which is better than WXGA but still less than the 1080P displays that are standard on almost all competing models. With that said Dell does offer RGB-LED display upgrade options for this model where none of the competing models offer similar displays.

The standard display has good vertical viewing angles where colors don’t start to invert significantly until the screen is tilted 15-20 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles are better with colors staying true to roughly 80 degrees in each direction. Backlight levels are pretty good in terms of even brightness and peak brightness. With the screen displaying an all-black background there is minimal bleed around the edges at normal brightness levels.vgp-bps2b As you increase past 80% the black levels start to appear washed out, but that is normal for bright panels. The backlight is strong enough to comfortable view the display in bright office conditions or outdoors if you find a spot of shade.

The Dell Studio 17 includes JBL stereo speakers with a bottom-firing subwoofer.vgp-bps2c The primary drivers are top-firing through the corners of the palmrest which is much preferred over lap-firing speakers which can sound muffled. In our tests the Studio 17 speakers rated well above average when playing both movies and music. Midrange and high notes came through clearly and the subwoofer added some bass which is usually lacking from many notebooks. Peak volume levels were above average and more than capable for filling a small or medium sized room with sound.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard on the Studio 17 is very nice and very comfortable to type on with such a massive palmrest.dell inspiron 6400 battery hp dv2000 With the notebook sitting on the edge of a desk or on your lap your wrists are fully supported to your forearms. The soft rounded edge of the front of the notebook doesn’t seem to cause any pressure points, which can be a problem with some notebooks. The keyboard layout takes full advantage of the massive surface area of the Studio 17. The keyboard is full-size with no condensed keys and it includes a four-key wide numberpad. The layout is Dell-standard with the function keys being secondary and the access keys being primary. To give you an example you can adjust the brightness directly by pressing F4 and F5, but to refresh a webpage you would need to click FN+F5. You can notice some flex of the keyboard under strong pressure but under normal typing it isn’t that apparent. Individual key action is smooth with a very soft click emitted when each key is fully pressed. The configuration we reviewed doesn’t offer a backlit but it can be included as a $25 option. After using the Studio 17 a few nights in front of my TV I really found myself wishing that the backlight came standard.hp compaq 6510b battery

The touchpad is a very large Synaptics model with some multitouch support.fujitsu t5010 battery Advanced gestures include two-finger scrolling, rotating, pinch zoom, and a three-fingered flick. Sensitivity is excellent with the touchpad picking up even the slightest touch without a problem. This did cause some problems if you barely brush your palm against the touchpad while moving the cursor towards a target. The touchpad would detect the second input and make the cursor freeze until you let off. No amount of adjusting the settings corrected this but with enough practice you learn to move your hand farther away from the touchpad boundaries. Touchpad speed is great with no discernable lag noticed even during quick movements. The surface texture is a light matte finish and very easy to slide your finger across dry or moist. The touchpad buttons are also very nice with a deep throw and a soft click when pressed. laptop battery

Ports and Features
Port selection is very good even with no ports or slots added to the front or rear edge of the notebook. Dell included two USB ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, VGA, HDMI, and Displayport-out, LAN, two headphone jacks, audio-in, LAN, and finally a FireWire-400 port. Expansion slots include an ExpressCard/34 slot and SDHC-card reader. One additional port that wasn’t used in our configuration is the antenna jack that connects to an internal TV-tuner. We did have one problem with the USB port layout; the right side has spacing far enough apart from each other to prevent you from using some dual-pronged cords.sony laptop battery

The Dell Studio 17 includes an accelerometer to protect the hard drive in the event of a physical system crash. If it detects the notebook is dropped it will rapidly park the hard drive to help minimize damage. This is common in many business notebooks, but unlike every other implementation we have seen, this one was the first to cause problems. If you tilt the notebook too far in any direction it will directly alter the direction movement on the screen. We first noticed this during our testing phase when the notebook was resting on an elevated stand. If the Studio 17 is tilted forward dialog box selection will randomly switch back and forth. If you tilt the notebook to one side it will start moving the selection box up and down. To only way to correct this is to uninstall the ST Micro ScreenDection driver. This problem is also reported on the Dell Community forum.dell laptop battery

Performance and Benchmarks

The Dell Studio 17 is no slouch with its Intel Core i7 720QM processor and ATI Mobility Radeon 4650 graphics. While playing Left 4 Dead at 1600×900 resolution with high settings we saw an average framerate of 60FPS, a max of 87FPS, and low of 38FPS. Even with hordes of zombies around the main characters the notebook never dropped below 30FPS. Although this system is more than capable of playing Left 4 Dead at high settings, it still fell behind the ASUS G51J and Acer 8940G which included better graphics cards. Since the Studio 17 is a notebook more focused on all around multimedia performance we didn’t have a huge problem with this. The downside is users need to upgrade to the Alienware M17x or switch to the Studio XPS 16 to get better graphics cards options from Dell. Both alternatives have a much higher starting price – around $1,600- that could be hard to swallow if you are working on a smaller budget. HD video was not a problem for the Studio 17 with the 1.6GHz Core i7. The CPU never broke a sweat playing 720p and 1080p video with plenty of overhead room left for other activities.hp laptop battery

Our Acer Aspire 8940G Specifications:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHzGHz, 1333MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)
• 18.4" WUXGA FHD LCD display at 1920×1080
• NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M with 1GB GDDR3 memory
• Intel 5100AGN Wireless, Broadcom Gigabit LAN
• 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM (2GB x 2)
• 500GB Western Digital 5400RPM Hard Drive
• Blu-ray/DVD SuperMulti
• Webcam, Acer CineSurround speakers, backlit keyboard
• 120W (19V x 6.32A) 100-240V AC Adapter
• 8-cell 71Wh 14.8v 4800mAh Lithium Ion battery
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 17.34 x 11.62 x 1.22-1.73"
• Weight: 9lbs 5.5oz
• 1-year warranty

Build and Design
Acer shares the same overall look and feel throughout many of their notebook lines.sony vgp-bpl8 The Acer Aspire 8940G shows quite a bit of resemblance to the Acer Aspire One … keeping the same hinge shape and position as well as the protruding rear-edge of the main body that you can see when the lid is closed. The side profile of the 8940G doesn’t look much thicker than a smaller 15" or 17" notebook. The sloped front and rear edge do a great job of masking thickness even further while also making it more comfortable to carry. Inside you have a completely flat surface containing the keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and multimedia keys. The keyboard is even recessed just enough so the flat keys lay flush with the outer bezel. Acer did an excellent job of making this laptop look user friendly and organized by keeping so many controls within a finger’s reach.

Notebook fpcbp160 manufacturers face a difficult task when it comes to making large notebooks that feel sturdy but aren’t overweight. Wider panels require more bracing to reduce flex and heavier notebooks require stronger panels so they don’t flex under their own weight. The Aspire 8940G feels very well built with a solid frame and only minimal flex on the screen cover when the notebook is shut. The palrmest feels durable and shows no signs of flex even under strong pressure. The same applies to the keyboard and upper bezel, which show only minimal signs of flex under heavy pressure. The one complaint I have with the build quality of the notebook is the use of glossy plastics which scratch and smudge easily.fpcbp182 If you are a neat freak then those smudge-prone glossy surfaces might get on your nerves over time.

The upgradability factor of this notebook lifebook t4215 battery looks great thanks to a single access panel on the bottom of the chassis. Simply remove the panel and you have access to the dual hard drive bays (one of which is unused in this configuration), two system memory slots, two mini-PCIe slots, and a partial view of the processor socket. I saw no "warranty void if removed" stickers anywhere, including the screws holding the heatsink onto the processor. If you want to add a second hard drive you will need to purchase a spare retention bracket, which mounts to the back of the drive, to prevent it from sliding out of place.sony vgp-bps8a The open mini-PCIe slot appears to be intended for an onboard TV-tuner, and as such doesn’t have WWAN-antennas pre-installed.

Screen and Speakers
The 18.4" screen on the Aspire 8940G is an "all-glass" style with a protective layer covering the actual display panel. This gives the notebook a very clean and polished look, but also increases glare and reflections.vgp-bps8b With the notebook turned off the screen surface resembles a mirror and reflects the entire room around you. These reflections are reduced when the screen is on and displaying bright colors. In terms of overall quality the screen looks very nice with good color reproduction and above average contrast. The screen really draws you in while watching movies or viewing pictures … as if you were viewing that place in person. Black levels look great and the only noticeable areas of light bleed are near the edges of the screen and only visible with the brightness set to 100%. Vertical viewing angles look good until you pivot the screen forward or back roughly 15 to 20 degrees. Horizontal viewing angles look nice right up until reflections off the screen start to overpower the image being displayed. At peak brightness the screen is still easily visible in bright office conditions as well as sitting near a window with the sun casting over the notebook.sony vgp-bpl8a

Acer includes a 5.1 Cinematic Surround system on the Aspire 8940G that seems to sound a step above most notebooks.vgp-bps2a The audio system features five speakers, including a Tuba CineBass Booster to increase low-frequency sound. In practice the speakers produced a great surround experience, but I felt the peak volume levels were lacking. Even with the system volume set to 100%, the speakers were nowhere near being over-driven. This causes some trouble if you expect to use the system to watch a movie in your bedroom with it sitting on a dresser rather than on your lap. This can be avoided though if you use external speakers or a home theater system connected to the notebook.

Keyboard and Touchpad
Even though many notebooks are switching to Chiclet-style keyboards these days,vgp-bps2b Acer still uses a traditional design with thin flat-top keys instead. The design resembles lily patties sitting on a pond with a very thin top and the support structure tucked neatly out of view. The keyboard also offers a backlit which gives you great key visibility in dark settings. The underlying light elements are adequately shielded, preventing "light bleed" unless you view the keyboard at an angle shallower than 45 degrees. The backlight is non-adjustable in brightness, but you can turn it off completely.dell laptop battery

The keyboard is very comfortable for typing thanks to properly sized keys and good spacing.vgp-bps2c The large 18.4" footprint allows Acer to incorporate a full-size keyboard as well as a full number pad. There is almost no "wiggle" or lateral key travel when you move your hand around the keyboard despite the thin looking keys. The keys are easy to trigger with roughly average pressure required and when pressed give off a very small click sound. The broad palmrest works very well for cradling your hands and wrists. Typing for hours at the notebook isn’t a problem unless it is on your lap … in which case your legs might not enjoy the weight.

The touchpad is a very large Synaptics model that rates very high on my list of best touchpads.hp dv2000 It is quick to respond to fast movements, showing no discernable lag at any time. The surface texture is a soft matte finish that makes it easy to slide your finger across whether completely dry or slightly damp from sweat. The only significant complaint I have is the size. This touchpad is so much larger than most of the touchpads that I use that I end up clicking the bottom edge of the touchpad instead of the actual buttons. If you like big touchpads you will love the touchpad on the Aspire 8940G. The touchpad buttons are the same width as the touchpad surface and have a very short throw. Each button gives off a higher pitched clicking sound when you press down. Acer also includes a button to disable the touchpad to prevent accidental movement when using an external mouse. This button is located to the right side of the touchpad and lights up when activated.dell inspiron 6400 battery

Ports and Features
The port selection on the Acer Aspire 8940G is phenomenal. Acer gives you four dedicated USB ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, Firewire 400, VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, LAN, and audio jacks including digital audio out. To load pictures from a digital camera, there is a flush-mount SDHC-card slot on the front side of the notebook.hp compaq 6510b battery

On the left and right side of the keyboard there are touch-sensitive control keys.fujitsu t5010 battery The left side has three buttons including one for Wi-Fi On/Off, one for Bluetooth On/Off, and another to access the Acer Backup Manager. The right side offers media quick-access keys including a Media Center button, hold button, skip, play/pause, stop, and fast forward controls, and a switch to enable or disable the touch sensitive buttons. The volume control is a metal rotating dial that gives a slightly more precise method to adjust the volume than a touch-sensitive slider.laptop battery

Performance and Benchmarks

The Asipre 8940G performs very well in games as well as playing high-definition video.sony laptop battery The Intel Core i7 processor didn’t even work up a sweat while we pushed 720P and 1080P video its way. While it is pretty sure this system would have no problem playing Blu-ray movies, we were unable to test playback since Acer didn’t include software to decode Blu-ray movies. PowerDVD or another equivalent software package is usually included with systems that offer Blu-ray drives as an option, but we guess Acer wanted to save on the cost of licensing fees and left this up to the customer. The NVIDIA GTS 250M graphics handled Left 4 Dead at 1920×1080 resolution with high detail settings very well. Playing with multiple zombies on the screen framerates still stayed above 30FPS with the average being in the lower 40s. If the detail settings were tweaked slightly or the resolution was lowered to 1280×768, I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t get framerates above 60FPS.hp laptop battery

Our review unit of the HP ProBook vgp-bps8 5310m features the following configuration:

• Intel Core 2 Duo P9300 Processor (2.26GHz, 6MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB)
• Microsoft Genuine Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)
• 13.3-inch LED-backlit anti-glare HD display (1366 x 768)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 2GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM
• 320GB 7200RPM HDD
• WiFi (802.11a/b/g/draft-n), Ethernet, Modem, and Bluetooth Connectivity
• 4-Cell 41WHr Battery (14.8V)
• Limited 1-year standard parts and labor warranty
• Dimensions: 12.9 x 8.7 x 0.93 inches
• Weight: 3.81lbs

Build and Design

For those people who aren’t already familiar with HP’s ProBook laptops,sony vgp-bpl8 the formula is very simple: Take HP’s popular EliteBook line of durable business-grade notebooks and make them more affordable so small and medium businesses can buy them. This is where the new ProBook 5310m comes to the table … and it’s why this is the first laptop with the "ProBook" name on it that we really, really like.

The previous generation of ProBooks sony vgp-bps8a all tried to deliver a good balance of features and security at a low price. Unfortunately, those notebooks sacrificed build quality and design (two of the hallmarks of HP’s EliteBooks) in order to create a low-cost business laptop. The new ProBook 5310m is the first ProBook that lets you have your cake and eat it too. The 5310m succeeds where previous ProBooks vgp-bps8b failed by offering a thin-yet-solid magnesium alloy chassis with durable rubberized paint, aluminum display enclosure and a design that looks like a premium business notebook rather than a budget laptop. Sure, like the rest of the ProBook line, the 5310m has a square, industrial-looking exterior, but that’s part of the "all business" look that made the EliteBook line such a success.

So how did HP go from an all-plastic ProBook sony vgp-bpl8a to this new-and-improved design and still make it thinner and lighter than previous models? The answer will probably get a mixed reception among our readers: HP got rid of the optical drive. That’s right. There’s no built-in DVD or Blu-ray drive with this laptop. Honestly, as someone who frequently travels for business, I can tell you I never use my notebook’s vgp-bps2a optical drive. However, there are still plenty of business travelers who like to watch DVDs during flights, so the lack of a DVD drive might bother some business buyers.

The outer shell of the screen casing, as previously mentioned, is made of aluminum. This is significantly more solid than the plastic-covered screen on older ProBooks,vgp-bps2b and along with the magnesium alloy bottom chassis the 5310m should survive anything a typical business traveler will throw at it. While I wouldn’t recommend standing on this notebook, you could easily stack a dozen or so heavy books on top of the 5310m without any concern for the safety of the laptop.

Tthe 5310m also features the now standard hard drive shock protection in the form of HP 3D DriveGuard which will help to protect your hard drive in the event the laptop gets dropped or violently bumped.vgp-bps2c HP also includes HP ProtectTools with drive encryption, Device Access Manager, HP Spare Key (a program that helps employees access their computer in case they forget their password), HP Disk Sanitizer, File Sanitizer, and McAfee Security Solution for those small businesses that need reliability and ease of use but don’t have the resources of a dedicated IT department.

One of our primary criticisms about the older ProBook hp dv2000 4510s and 4710s was the fact that it was too difficult to make upgrades to those notebooks. Thankfully, HP engineers made it quite easy to access the RAM, hard drive, and wireless cards inside the 5310m. RAM and the hard drive are located on the bottom of the notebook beneath the palmrest area and the WWAN card is easily accessed after removing the battery. Speaking of the complexity of making upgrades, it’s also worth mentioning that buying a pre-configured model is still the only way we can recommend purchasing the 5310m (or any ProBook) at a reasonable price. This configuration of the ProBook 5310m is available for only $899 on the HP website as a pre-configured system, but if you attempted to customize a 5310m with identical specs it would cost you more than $1,100! That’s a painfully overpriced premium to charge for custom orders.dell inspiron 6400 battery

Screen and Speakers

The ProBook hp compaq 6510b battery 5310m comes equipped with a 13.3" anti-glare display with a 16:9 widescreen ratio. At 1366 x 768 pixels, this 720p high-definition display is perfectly usable and features good color and contrast. The LED-backlit panel offers excellent brightness and we typically left the brightness set to between 50% and 70% when using the notebook indoors. We know many people are concerned about the transition from 16:10 to 16:9 ratio screens (because this means less vertical resolution) but the difference between 1366 x 768 and 1280 x 800 is pretty minimal.

Horizontal viewing angles are pretty good and you only start to notice some color shift after you get 75 degrees off center.fujitsu t5010 battery Vertical viewing angles are only average as the screen begins to wash out from above and colors begin to invert from below after about 45 degrees in either direction.

HP generally impresses our editorial staff with the quality of the speakers used in their notebooks.laptop battery Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with the ProBook line. The speakers in the 5310m are good enough for watching a webcast or hearing system sounds, but the built-in speakers sound tinny and lack a good range of highs, middles, and lows. The highest volume settings are loud enough to fill an office with sound for a presentation, but the audio sounds distorted at the highest volumes.

The combo headphone/microphone jack on the 5310m works well with the two different brands of earphones I used during the test. No static or other noise was noticed through the jack besides imperfections in the audio source itself.laptop battery

Keyboard and Touchpad

The full-size keyboard on the 5310m is a chiclet style design and provides fantastic spacing between keys for typing. Each key is relatively flat with a nice matte texture and the keys sit above a glossy black support frame. The support frame surrounding the keys is quite firm thanks to the design of the chassis which adds additional support for the keyboard.laptop battery On the larger ProBook 4510s and 4710s we noticed some flex in the keyboard above the optical drive, but the keyboard on the 5310m is quite firm and a joy to use.

The individual key presses are quiet without loud clicking sounds as you type. The depth of each key press is excellent, though some people may dislike the flat, chiclet-style keys. Overall the keyboard layout is extremely nice for a budget 13-inch laptop.laptop battery

The touchpad is very responsive to my touch with a scroll zone on the right side that works exactly as it should. The glossy touchpad texture is okay, but the low-cost material used is sure to develop wear over time and use. The plastic touchpad buttons are about the right size and have the correct amount of depth or throw when pressed. We would have also liked to see a dedicated touchpad disable button (like the ones HP uses on their consumer notebooks) laptop battery so that you can disable the touchpad if you’re using an external mouse … but that’s a minor complaint for what is otherwise a great keyboard and touchpad.

Performance and Benchmarks
Our ProBook 5310m came with the Intel Core 2 Duo P9300 processor, clocking in at 2.26GHz, and Intel integrated graphics. This gives the ProBook a fanstic level of performance without losing too much in the way of battery life. If battery life is a concern, you can also purchase the ProBook 5310m with the Intel Celeron CULV Processor SU2300 which will give you more tie on battery hp laptop battery at the expense of speed thanks to the 1.2GHz low-voltage processor. A 320GB 7200RPM hard drive was also included, which helped applications load without much lag. This notebook didn’t really exceed our expectations in terms of performance, but the 5310m sits near the top of the pack in its class and has more than enough power to handle Microsoft Office or even very basic video work.dell laptop battery

The obvious bottleneck in terms of performance here is the use of Intel graphics, but considering the small and medium business buyers interested in this notebook don’t care about the ability to play video games or edit HD video, this isn’t a major concern.sony laptop battery