Review: Samsung Series 9 notebook

All of us who are gadget freaks always get tempted by any device that is slimmer than what we own at the moment, even though the functionalities offered by the new one might not cover all our needs.

 

About Samsung Series 9 Notebook

Samsung's new Series 9 notebook however, also has the performance to go with the looks. It comes in an all-black duralumin (an alloy used in airplane construction, twice the strength of aluminum), is lightweight (1.3kg) and durable. On the left side is a USB 2.0 port, microSD card slot, 3.5mm audio port and on the right side is a USB 3.0 port, mini HDMI and a proprietary port to connect the Ethernet adapter (the only adapter in the box). The ports are hidden under pull down covers much like the ones on the first gen Apple MacBook Air. The notebook has a 13.3-inch widescreen display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

Pros:

- Samsung's Superbright Plus technology in it makes the display stand out with vivid colors, pin-sharp clarity and super-high brightness levels which are the highest.

-  It also has a backlit chicklet-style keyboard with the function keys doubling up as keys for adjusting brightness, volume and switching between various power modes.

- It comes with keys with dual functions like the Wi-Fi /F12 key and function lock that have blue LED indicators to show that they are active, which is very helpful.

- Right below the keyboard is the touchpad with integrated mouse buttons -a responsive affair with multi-touch capability. The keyboard and touchpad are very comfortable, though the design and style is directly lifted from Apple's MacBook.

- It supports second generation Intel Core i5 1.4Ghz processor , Intel HD 3000 graphics and 4GB of RAM (up to 8GB RAM is supported).

- It does away with a standard notebook hard drive in favour of a 128GB SSD drive (for speed, spacesaving and weight saving) and comes preloaded with Windows 7 Home Premium. It scored 4.7 on the Windows Experience Index with the lowest score for graphics performance.

- Perfect for day-to-day work - browsing, working on documents, music, videos and playing online games.

- Closing the lid puts it into sleep mode where no power is consumed, thus extending battery life. Also, thanks to the SSD and Samsung's 'Fast Start' technology, it takes just about 3 seconds to be fully functional from sleep mode.

Con:

- High price

- Actual Battery life of 5.5 hours as compared to the 7 hours claim.

- Because of its slim design it doesn't have any optical drive and sports very less number of ports.

Overall verdict: A truly impressive design with good performance and functionalities. However, the high cost may keep it limited amongst the luxury users only.

Rating: 4/5

Check more details about this notebook here >>>

Read rest of entry

Preview: Motorola Atrix

The Motorla's Atrix that got showcased in CES 2011, in addition to being the most powerful of the smartphones available now, has the power to replace the desktops and laptops, when accompanied with some unique accessories.

The phone has a dual core 1Ghz Tegra 2 processor and 1GB RAM which is quite to comfortably playback (or output) 1080p full HD video. Include the optional accessories like the HD Multimedia Dock and you have Atrix working as a desktop PC that can power a large monitor and work with normal USB keyboard and USB mouse.

Apart from above unique features, the thing that makes Atrix stand out in the crowd is its Laptop Dock. The Atrix can slot a laptop dock quite neatly and can function all day for basic computing that includes multimedia, email, editing documents and web browsing. It has an amazing battery life of 8 hours. The phone is expected to be launched at initial price of $700.

Read rest of entry

Asus Dual Touchpad Notebook NX90

Notebook PC-maker, Asus has launched its new product NX90 notebook in the domestic market.  The product is designed in co-operation with technology developer Bang and Olufsen's chief designer David Lewis.With the NX90 Asus manufacturers hope to give notebooks the world over a new definition and place,


The product comes with features including 8GB DDRIII memory and 1TG (500GBx2) 7200rpm storage capacity. NX90 is 18.4-inch full high definition LED backlit display laptop.


The notebook also comes with a configuration of an Intel Core i7 processor, graphics card NVIDIA Geforce GT 335M, an amplifier and a built-in webcam of 2 megapixel.
Among other features, the laptop has a dual touchpad located on both sides of the keyboard.

Read rest of entry

Top Ten Android tablets

The technology and competition in the world of computers has grown many folds. The year 2009 was a year of netbooks, when many computer giants manufactured and launched their netbooks successfully in the market. However, going by the trend, if we have a look at the range of tablet PCs today, there won't be any doubt in calling year 2010 to be the year of tablet PCs. The trend got initiated by Apple iPad, and then began the frenzy amoungst various technology manufacturers, who took no time in plunging into the pool of tablet PC manufacturing business.

Right from the companies like Sony to Samsung, from Acer to HP, and from Asus to LG - all have readied themselves to challenge the iPad. We can see the same trend amoungst smartphones as well. Google's Android has emerged as a successful and well known operating system for the tablets. This operating system is the platform for many tablet PCs , wishing to get their taste of success like iPad.
Here's over to the hot new breed of Android tablets.


1) Cisco Cius

Cisco jumped on the tablet bandwagon with Cius. Targeted at business users, the detachable tablet weighns 0.52 kg, features a 7-inch touchscreen with a front-facing 720p HD camera for real-time video conferencing and supports 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G. It also has a 5-megapixel rear camera, Bluetooth and Micro-USB port and 8 hours of battery life.


There are no pricing details as yet. However, a Cisco official said that said it will cost less than $1000. Cisco Cius is expected to ship in early 2011.


2) Dell Streak:

Just two days before the Apple iPad gets set for a global launch, world's second-largest PC maker Dell has unveiled its Tablet PC called Streak. Sporting a 5-inch (12.5-centimeter) WVGA screen, Dell Streak features a multi-touch display. However, Streak is smaller than Apple iPad which has a 9.7-inch (24.6-centimeter) diagonal LED-backlit glossy widescreen multi-touch display.
According to Dell, Streak will launch with Android 1.6. The Tablet will get the latest Android 2.2 update when it will be available. The tablet will run on 1GHz Snapdragon ARM-based mobile processor from Qualcomm.
Streak will come with 2GB of internal storage. But the memory can be expanded upto 32GB via MicroSD card. According to Dell, the extended capacity can support upto 42 movies, 32,000 photos, or 16,000 songs. The Dell Tablet will come with a high-resolution 5 megapixel autofocus camera. Streak also has a front-facing camera which can be used for video chatting. It also has a dual LED flash.
As for the pricing, Dell hasn't revealed it yet. However, it is speculated that the device will be cheaper than the iPad.
Check more about Dell Streak here>>>


3) Acer tablet

Acer is too all set to join the PC tablet bandwagon. According to reports, the Taiwanese hardware-giant will be launching two Android-based tablets by the end of 2010. The 7-inch and 10-inch tablet PCs will run on latest Android release, 2.2 FroYo, powered by an ARM processor and integrate multimedia entertainment capabilities and feature support for Adobe Flash.
Though there are no details on pricing, reports suggest that Acer will be working with mobile telecom carriers to market the 3G capable product. Acer already offers a pair of coloured eBook readers


4) Asus Eee Pad EP101TC

Asus too is readying an Android tablet for 2011 launch. Interestingly, the Taiwanese tech giant initially named Windows Embedded Compact 7 as the operating system for its 10-inch touchscreen tablet. However, according to reports, the company decided to switch to Android later. Other available information suggests that Eee Pad EP101TC boasts of a 10-inch touchscreen, a thickness of 12.2 mm and a weight of 675 grams.


It reportedly will cost between $400 and $500. 
Check more about Asus Eee tablets here>>> 


5) LG tablet

Korean giant LG, which already has a smartphone lineup running Google Andorid, too is set to launch an Android tablet. LG's Android tablet will be branded along with the company's Optimus Series of Android smartphones. The company said that the unnamed tablet would launch by the end of the year. The company unveiled a Windows 7-based tablet earlier this year.


6) Samsung tablet

The first Android tablet to hit the market is expected to be Samsung Electronics. The company plans to introduce tablet computers this quarter, joining the growing list of companies seeking to challenge Apple's popular iPad. Samsung, the world's No.2 handset maker after Nokia, said its tablet PC will have a 7-inch display, smaller than the 9.7-inch screen on the iPad, which has sold more than 3 million units since its April launch. The company did not provide further details.
Check more about Samsung Galaxy tab here >>>


7) MSI WindPad 110

Taiwan-based MSI too unveiled its Android-based laptop at this year's Computex. MSI WindPad 110 is powered by Android 2.1 and Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset. The tablet sports a 10 inch capacitive touchscreen display and comes with a USB port for peripheral access, and video-out capability.
Other features include a Webcam, two USB 2.0 ports, Wi-Fi and 3G wireless and HDMI high-definition video output.


8) Notion Ink Adam

Our very own tablet Notion Ink Adam too will be run on Android platform. Lately, there have been speculations that the tablet will launch with Gingerbread 3.0. However, the company has clarified that Adam will be launching with Google Android 2.2. The tablet will see a quick OS upgrade a few months after the release.
Notion Ink Adam will run on Nvidia Tegra Chipset and is reported to have two types of screens, one LCD and one Dual Mode Pixel QI. The UI will be customized and will have full HD compliance, as well as an HDMI Port. Other features include 180 degree Swivel Camera, 1080p Full HD video playback and integrated Wi-Fi Bluetooth and UMTS/HSDPA.


9) Archos 5 Internet tablet

Here's an Android tablet that is already there in the market, Archos 5 Internet Tablet. The tablet comes with solid-state 60GB storage and is powered by 800Mhz processor. The tablet's 4.8-inch touchscreen is 800-pixels wide -- the native width of regular internet pages. Other features include 3.5mm socket, Bluetooth, dock, micro USB, Wi-Fi. The tablet's battery supports 22 hours audio and 7 hours video.
Check more about Archos 5 Tablet here >>>


10) Archos 9 PC Tablet

Archos has been leading the whole range of tablet PCs in its innovation, manufacturing and technology. The ARCHOS 9 PC tablet merges the performance of a high end netbook with amazing aesthetics, quite advanced ergonomics and a tactile interface on a superb screen.The look and feel of the tablet is extremely elegant and user friendly, making it apt for regular usage. 
The product is just 1.8 pounds in weight, and equipped with daily software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, LiveTM Messenger or Skype with Windows 7 and 1.3 MP camera. 
Check more about Archos 9 tablet here >>>


Have you used any of the above top android tablets? Share your experience in comments. Thank you!

Read rest of entry

Asus EEE PC 101

The makers of the original EEE PC, Taiwan-based Asus has launched another version, Asus EEE PC 101. This is the company’s first EEE PC version with an nVidia ION LE chipset.
The 12-inch gadget runs on Intel’s Atom N270 processor, has 1GB RAM and a 160GB hard disk drive. The Netbook plays 1080p video well and has an HDMI out.

Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth and a 0.3 MP webcam. The Asus EEE PC 1201Nl runs on Windows XP and has not migrated to Windows 7 yet. 

Read rest of entry

HP Mini 210-1030NR 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9.75 Hours of Battery Life

Technology giant HP recently refreshed its Netbook range with the addition of HP Mini 210 HD.

Targeted at SMBs and home users, HP Mini 210 HD is a 10.1 inch HD display Netbook which weighs just 1.22 kilograms. Equipped to handle HD (720p) content, it has an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB RAM, which can be expanded to 2GB by the user with a solid 160 GB hard disk, and 3 USB ports to plug your removable devices.

Being a Netbook, it is also loaded with Web content apps. You will, however, need to plug an external optical drive to burn your CDs and DVDs. Additional features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 memory card reader and integrated webcam. Click here to know more>>>

Read rest of entry