Is Better Than Samsung Series 9 NP900X1B-A01 11.6-Inch Laptop

Samsung Series 9 NP900X1B-A01 11.6-Inch Laptop

Code : B0056EY8NA

Category :

Rating :

SPECIAL OFFERS

* Special discount only for limited time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4904 in Personal Computers
  
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: NP900X1B-A01US
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .62" h x
  7.80" w x
  11.70" l,
  2.34 pounds
  
• CPU: Intel Core i3 1.3 GHz
• Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 0GB
• Processors: 1
• Display size: 11.6

Features

• Intel Core i3 Processor 1.3GHz
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 128GB Solid-State Hard Drive
• 11.6-Inch Screen
• Windows 7 Home Premium

Samsung Series 9 NP900X1B-A01 11.6-Inch Laptop

Product Description

Samsung series 9 - INTEL - CORE I3 - 2357M - 1.3 GHZ - DDR3 SDRAM - RAM: 4 GB -

   

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful.
Samsung Series 9 11.6 inch (NP900x1b-US01A)
By talthing
I've had this for about 5 days now. I traded in the Series 3 11.6 (Princeton) for this one.Build:I can attest to the machine's toughness. While I have yet to drop it...I haven't exactly been delicate with it either. I was able to pry off the bottom to have a look inside. No problem. The screen doesn't seem to flex as others have mentioned in their review (seems pretty solid) and I do keep leaving the sliding doors to the ports open when I threw the laptop in by pack going to work (it's just a regular pack...no padded laptop pocket and I didn't have a case or anything to put the laptop into. Doors seem to be working fine (not that I enjoy testing my luck...I just keep forgetting)Hardware:I love the keyboard and display (especially the keyboard backlighting) Wifi seems low-end for a high-end model (same chip as in the 13.3 inch Series 9 (bcm4357). I did a skype test of the in low light...it seemed ok but not great (basically I had to be right up to the camera to be seen). Speakers are pretty good (I did prefer the Samsung Series 3 which had their speakers above the keyboard instead of underneath the unit). Speakers seem to be loud enough and stereo sound (even when placing the laptop on a chair or bed). YMMV (I"m not expecting the speakers to compete with bigger laptops or external speakers). The battery life seems to be sub-par (2 1/2 to 3 hours using continuously - not even streaming video or audio - and, yes, Ubuntu has power management settings which I've configured)Popping the bottom off to look at the hardware, there is no 204 pin memory modules so it looks like replacing/upgrading the memory is difficult/impossible (I'm not brave enough to try extracting the motherboard to see if the modules are on the other side below the keyboard). I do love the fact that the SSD is PCI-E (and can be replaced..as opposed to soldered on the motherboard like macbook air.) I'm going to replace the wifi card with a Centrino 6230 (as soon as it gets here)Software:I reformatted to Ubuntu Natty 64 bit and loaded VMware player for Windows 7. I haven't had any issues with the touchpad. All the complaints about multi-touch gestures not working or limited seem to be a Windows only issue. Specifically two-finger scrolling and two-finger tap (for right-click) work flawlessly. Since the touchpad works on my Win7 install via vmware tools this functionality is still present when I'm in Windows. (win7 Pro 32 bit)...althugh I haven't played around very much on the Windows side since I use the Unity mode and just launch Outlook and IE mostly. The Broadcom chip seemed to work for me (I'm using it until my Centrino 6230 gets here) I'm on kernel 2.6.38.11 if that helps out anyone.I can't give it 5 stars because of the wifi and battery. All in all, I like the laptop very much. Other than the wifi card and the battery life...this was worth the $400 over the Samsung Series 3...while Apple offers configuration options for the Macbook Air 11 inch...the price tag is $1649 (core i7, 256 gb ssd option) + $249 or so for the applecare 2 year warranty. While I like OS X...I want to use Ubuntu as my OS (and not through vmware)If you're a windows user and want a thin and light laptop the Series 9 is the way to go.1/5/12 update - Ok, I've had my Series 9 for 4 months now. Still love it. Since the last review I've reformatted from Ubuntu to Win7 (Ultimate 64-bit). I installed the Intel Centrino 6230 card and it works flawlessly. I ended up taking the sliding port doors off.Hardware - Under Windows 7 I Installed all hardware drivers that were available from Windows update and the rest from the Samsung support site. I do think the battery has a little better performance under win7 . I use sleep mode (left it asleep at 50% battery life all night and most of the day). When I woke it up...the battery was at 49%. I used it for a bit and put it back asleep. When I got home I got back on it. Battery life now at 31% (using it for about 1/2 hour). Compared to Ubuntu I'd say I'm eeking out an extra 1/2 hour or so on windows.Software - Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit (SP1) - all updates from windows installed (except the 35 language packs...don't need those). Use the drivers from Microsoft and only install the drivers you need from Samsung. Use the battery life extender (software section) from the Samsung site. And the firmware update 1.0.0.2 (firmware section) on samsung site.In conclusion - You will need to replace the wifi card (I recommend the Intel Centrino 6230). You will want to install a fresh copy of your flavor of windows (or linux) 64 bit edition and delete the existing partitions during the OS install. Under Windows 7, when you get updates just create a new restore point...you don't need a separate recovery partition. If you are going to create an image you will definately want to do this via network. If you're just worried about your data and settings...just use Windows Easy Transfer (enable and login as administrator). I've got 2 external monitors running...one is on a USB display (UGA USB video adapter) and the other is through the mini HDMI port. Run the USB video adapter on a USB hub works great.11/17/12 1 year and 3 months...Laptop still functioning like a pro. I would recommend using the Samsung AA-AH1NAMB/US Micro HDMI To VGA Adapter. I was using an VGA > HDMI > micro HDMI and connectivity was extremely sensitive.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent portable laptop
By cemkur
Prior to this, I used Macbook Air (11 inch screen) and it was not up to challenge for the relatively simple computing tasks and it lacked so many ports. This Samsung on the other hand is very powerful, lightweight,functional with a slick design(given, not as slick as Macbook Air), I would strongly recommend anyone who is looking for a lightweight, powerful laptop.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
The best version of the 11.6 available
By David W. Roberts
The stats listed for this item are not false. This is one of the few 11.6 inch laptops that was manufactured with a 128 GB SSD drive, and 4GB of ram. I thought it was a typo, and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was exactly as was listed.The only disappointment, is that this came with the faulty wifi card that's usually associated with the Series 9. I purchased an Intel Centrino combination bluetooth and wifi card for this and replaced it right away. The wifi now works perfectly. I had a tricky time opening the laptop up due to some stubborn screws. Be very careful not to strip the tiny things or it may be permanently sealed forever.I should also mention that I'm typically someone who is very bothered when electronics are made of fingerprint prone materials. A good example would be the glass on touch screen phones. Many people say that this computer is a 'fingerprint magnet', but I actually found this to be false. While you WILL have some finger printing for every day use, it's only a 'magnet' if you're doing something like eating popcorn or a cheeseburger while using it. There is a glossy plastic frame around the screen that I would deem as a 'magnet', but you shouldn't be touching the screen with your fingers anyway.Fantastic little computer once you replace the wifi card.

See all 11 customer reviews...

Samsung Series 9 NP900X1B-A01 11.6-Inch Laptop. Reviewed by William A. Rating: 4.4

This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Read More

Buy Sony VAIO VPCEG34FX/W 14-Inch Laptop (White)

Sony VAIO VPCEG34FX/W 14-Inch Laptop (White)

Code : B006MB7CMA

Category :

Rating :

LIMITED DISCOUNT TODAY

* Special discount only for limited time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4678 in Personal Computers
  
• Color: White
• Brand: Sony
• Model: VPCEG34FX/W
• Dimensions: 1.14" h x
  13.62" w x
  9.40" l,
  5.08 pounds
  
• CPU: Core i5-2540M 2.5 GHz
• Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 640GB
• Graphics: integrated graphics
• Processors: 2
• Native resolution: 1366 x 768
• Display size: 14

Features

• Intel Core i5 2540M Processor 2.5GHz
• 4GB DIMM RAM
• 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
• 14-Inch Screen, Intel HD Graphics 3000
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Sony VAIO VPCEG34FX/W 14-Inch Laptop (White)

Product Description

The E Series laptop is built with the features and performance you need every day to stay connected and be entertained. You get smart performance and amazing picture quality all in a sleek, up-market design.

   

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Yeah, This Vaio doen't disappoint me at all
By Tim, Washington D.C.
This is Third time that I choose Vaip Laptop.Sony's Gesture recogniton camera is unique and fun.Perfomance is good. LCD screen is birght enought and color is Clear. Almost ipad's quality.Touchpad is very comfortable, keyboard feeling is more smooth than desktop's.My second vaio laptop had wireless problem, but this one has no problem.Vaio is Good and this laptop is really good.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
fast, Good looking , Cheep
By Christopher Matthews
I was skeptical at first, so I bought a Samsung i7 laptop instead. The Samsung, like most of the other laptops looked plain and outdated. The deal killer was the fact that its i7 was mystifyingly slow, so i took it back and gave the Sony a try! I was immediately impressed by the Vaio i5's speed, it is clocked at 2.5GHZ with speed boost up to 3.1GHZ so it just zipped to my tasks. The screen is bright and clear as you would expect from Sony. The battery is very good and i can go all day at school without a recharge. The diamond texture repels fingerprints, so it always looks clean. it has the Vaio Gate that livens up the windows 7 desktop. I also own a Sony Playstation 3 and this laptop features remote play so i can play PS3 games or access my PS3 from anywhere. The WIFI is fine if you update the drivers from Intel. My only complaint is the video camera isn't the best. I have looked hard after buying this computer and I cant find anything at this price that can meet all of my needs with the speed and style of this Vaio.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
Great Feel - Lousy WiFi!
By J. Laidlaw
After my Macbook Pro gave out, I really wanted another computer with great color and visual as well as the easy feel of the Mac. The Vaio was very sleek and light weight. It had an interesting diamond finish that didn't show fingerprints too much but still looked good. The keyboard was comfortable and soft to the touch - it could really use a back light at night though, very hard to see. Start-up was very easy, the computer booted extremely quickly. There wasn't too much bloatware but it was easily removed in just a few minutes.Unfortunately, the Vaio has one major drawback. The wifi is very erratic. It would find our network and then for no reason drop the network. Many times I would have to go into the network settings and cancel and resubmit the connection. Sometimes this would work, sometimes, I would wait 3-4 minutes for it to reconnect. I downloaded and installed over 28 updates from Microsoft for Windows 7, none made any substantial difference. My husband upgraded our router at the house, no difference. I contacted Sony who told me to contact Intel and I went round and round. Nothing made any difference in the performance of this computer's wireless abilities. We have many other devices at our home on the wireless, including 2 Macs, a Dell laptop, Kindle, iPods, and iPad. The only one that has ever had any issue with the wireless was the Sony Vaio. In searching the net, I found many references to this problem, many dating back up to two years ago. Until, Sony can solve this issue, I would suggest avoiding this particular model.

See all 12 customer reviews...

Sony VAIO VPCEG34FX/W 14-Inch Laptop (White). Reviewed by Robert E. Rating: 4.4

This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Read More

Cheap ASUS N55SF-DH71 Full HD 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black)

ASUS N55SF-DH71 Full HD 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black)

Code : B005PAK26C

Category :

Rating :

SPECIAL PRICE

* Special discount only for limited time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4624 in Personal Computers
  
• Color: Black
• Brand: Asus
• Model: N55SF-DH71
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.60" h x
  15.60" w x
  10.60" l,
  5.95 pounds
  
• CPU: Core i7 2.2 GHz 2.2 GHz
• Memory: 8GB DIMM
• Hard Disk: 750GB
• Graphics: GT 555M 2000MB
• Processors: 4
• Native resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Display size: 16

Features

• 2.2 GHz Intel Core-i7 2670QM Processor
• 8 GB DIMM
• 750 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
• 15.6-Inch Screen, Nvidia GT 555M 2GB
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, comes with bundled subwoofer, Blu-ray writer enabled DVD±RW/CD-RW.

ASUS N55SF-DH71 Full HD 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black)

Product Description

Asus N55SF-DH71 15.6" LED Notebook - Intel Core i7 i7-2670QM 2.20 GHz - Black N55SF-DH71 Laptops & Notebooks

   

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Great computer with minor flaws
By M. Walton
Overall I have to say that this is one of the best laptops I have ever seen. It is as good, if not better than the Alienware m14x. The 1920x1080 resolution looks awesome and the battery lasts around 4 hours when using the internet in a power saving mode. Not bad considering that there is an i7 in this thing. The included subwoofer is not really that good though, it sounds really muffled so I just use my Logitech Z-4 speakers and they sound great. The touchpad works great but it is a little big and close to the keyboard so when I type I sometimes move the cursor but I have not yet clicked anything so it doesn't deserve 1 less star.I have played some games on here like Company of Heroes and World of Warcraft and they work very well on medium to high settings. I play around the medium settings because I'd rather have it look a little worse with no skipping than looking great with skipping. The sound is superb, it is as good as Asus makes it out to be but of course you will find better when you buy stand alone speakers. If some of you are worrying about the keyboard layout, I say it's as good as any keyboard is going to get for a laptop. It works very well and I have not even missed a key yet so if you want a good keyboard that doesn't mess you up then choose this laptop.With the battery life for this spec of a laptop, the great keyboard, the power for games, I have to say that this is a great multimedia gaming computer. The Blu-Ray drive does play Blu-Rays but you still have to purchase software to actually play the Blu-Rays. I just got PowerDVD 11 and used the HDMI output onto my LED TV and it looks just awesome. The USB 3.0 slots and power port are on the left side which is a good thing since I put my mouse on the right. The ethernet port is also on the left side. Would I recommend this? Of course, I was able to get it for $1200 here on amazon along with a $75 amazon gift card.I will update this when I install my new 512gb SSD tomorrow. I will confirm if this computer supports Sata iii or not. It should support it...**UPDATE**Man oh man is this computer fast with the SSD. From turning on the laptop to opening files or running games, everything loads fast and quiet. I was able to do some hard drive tests and I was constantly able to get 440 MB/s for the read so I would say that this laptop does support Sata iii. The SSD I have installed Crucial M4 CT512M4SSD2. The Windows score for the hard drive is 7.9.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Great laptop with the exception of a few lows
By JA
I'm going to keep this review short as most of the high points of the laptop have already been discussed.Pro's:-Sound and picture are excellent-Battery life is great considering it's a larger laptop-weight of the laptop is light considering its size-start up is quick-no lag when running hefty programsCon's:-no backlight on the keyboard-the eject button for the cd/dvd/br tray is not well-designed. Found it difficult to quickly open.-no eject button on the keyboard for disc tray. If there is one, can someone tell me where?-mousepad is large and close to keyboard, causing accidental movement on the mouse while typing

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Completely satisfied!
By M. Axford
While I've used ASUS components before, this is my first time buying an ASUS laptop and so I was a little concerned that I might wind up regretting this purchase. But after two weeks of use, I can say that this laptop, while not perfect, has exceeded all of my expectations.I know that this is advertised as being a "great-sounding laptop," but I was blown away by the sound quality. Trust me when I say that you have NEVER heard built-in laptop speakers like these. Sure, the external sub-woofer is a little awkward (and the cable for it is way too short), but the sound quality is so good that I now use my laptop instead of my Bose SoundDock for listening to music. I'm not necessarily saying it sounds better than the SoundDock, but it sounds good enough that the increased controls and overall flexibility that come with listening to music on a laptop (as opposed to listening through an iPod) make it a superior listening experience, in my opinion.PROs: AMAZING sound; great components for the price; super fast -- plays all the latest games; beautiful anti-glare screen; 2-year warranty with 1-year accident protection; aesthetically appealing; great typing experience.CONs: Cable for sub-woofer is too short; AC adapter is bigger than average; touch pad can be erratic at times; weight and battery life not ideal for the frequent traveler; would have been nice if it came with a remote; keyboard is not back-lit.

See all 24 customer reviews...

ASUS N55SF-DH71 Full HD 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black). Reviewed by Jake B. Rating: 4.5

This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Read More

Who Sells Sheap Dell Inspiron i17R-6121DBK 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)

Dell Inspiron i17R-6121DBK 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)

Code : B004XZMBEG

Category :

Rating :

SPECIAL OFFERS

* Special discount only for limited time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4588 in Personal Computers
  
• Color: Diamond Black
• Brand: Dell
• Model: i17R-6121DBK
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.23" h x
  16.50" w x
  11.30" l,
  7.14 pounds
  
• CPU: Intel Core i5 2.3 GHz
• Memory: 6GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 640GB
• Graphics: HD Graphics 3000
• Processors: 1
• Display size: 17.3

Features

• Intel Core i5 Processor 2.3GHz
• 6GB DDR3 RAM
• 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
• 17.3-Inch Screen, Intel HD Graphics 3000
• Windows 7 Home Premium

Dell Inspiron i17R-6121DBK 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black)

Product Description

The Inspiron 17R laptop's features and software simplify photo sharing, vacation planning and much more. Bring life closer with a newly designed 17.3-inch, wide-screen high-definition display. Brighten your world with a premium-brushed finish and vibrant colors.

   

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

89 of 90 people found the following review helpful.
Recommended; but not for FPS games
By The Irish Patient
[Note: I've edited my review on 10/17/2011. The problem is that this laptop is no longer offered directly by Amazon. The price varies and shipping isn't always free. Therefore, it's up to you to make sure you're getting a good deal.]This listing is for the 2011 model Inspiron 17R, while most of the other listings are for last year's product. I purchased a Dell Inspiron 17R similar to this one for my sister during May 2011. It's quite impressive as compared to my Asus laptop from less than three years ago. I would definitely recommend one these to a friend.CASE: The 17R is surprisingly thin considering that it isn't advertised as a thin laptop. The Diamond Black finish is very attractive. [Note: the listings that mention the Mars Black finish are for last year's model.] The hinge operates smoothly and appears to be durable.LCD: The quality of a laptop's screen is particularly important to me. This one is better than most. It's somewhat glossy but, fortunately, not nearly as glossy as was common a couple of years ago. Text is a lot easier to read than it was on the ultra-glossy screens. There appears to be some anti-reflective treatment but it is not overdone. Viewing angles are quite good horizontally, and are adequate vertically. You won't need to clamp your head in a vise to use this laptop. Vertical resolution is 900 pixels, which is as good as it gets without spending twice as much. Movies and photographs look very good on this widescreen display.SPEAKERS: Typical mediocre laptop speakers. They are perfectly intelligible, but you'll want to use headphones for movies or music.WIRELESS: There is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Bluetooth is included, so you won't need any wireless dongles to use a wireless mouse or keyboard. Also, this current model Inspiron 17R supports the new version of Intel Wireless Display technology [WiDi], allowing you to display your desktop wirelessly to your television at full 1920x1080 resolution. Of course, you have to buy a second-generation (1080p) WiDi adapter for your television before you can use WiDi. Suitable second-generation WiDi adapters are available from Belkin and Netgear. [Note: last year's Inspiron 17R with the Mars Black finish is permanently limited to the first-generation, 720P version of WiDi. There are some credible reports that even second-generation, 1080i WiDi technology is not quite ready for prime time due to problems with playing DRM protected content. You need to investigate this for yourself.]The bad news in the wireless category is that there is no support whatsoever for the 5GHz wireless band! Look up the Wireless-N 1030 adapter on Intel's web site. Bummer if you live in a crowded neighborhood!PORTS: This current 17R includes a combo eSATA + USB 2.0 port, plus two USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI 1.4 port. That's a good reason not to buy the last year's 17R without at least a one-third discount. The last year's 17r is limited to HDMI 1.3 (translation: will never play a 3-D blu-ray disk in 3-D over HDMI) and doesn't have any of the new, ultra-fast USB 3.0 ports.BATTERY LIFE: Too soon to tell, but there appears to be at least 3.5 hours available for basic web surfing and watching movies over Netflix. Battery life could be better than that, but I don't know the limits yet. In any event, battery life will be significantly better than it was on last year's 17R due to the second-generation i5 CPU. More on the CPU later in this review.RAM: Six gigabytes of RAM are included, a nice upgrade from the usual four GB. It's unlikely that you'll need to bother to upgrade the memory during the laptop's lifetime.VALUE: There's always a deal at Dell, but the deal changes faster than you can follow. Dell is throwing in a free Blu-ray combo disk with this particular version of the Inspiron 17R. My sister's 17R did not include Blu-ray, but it did come with a full copy of Microsoft Office for free, while this 17R only includes the crummy starter edition. Deals at Dell are a lot like the weather here in New England: if you don't like it, wait a minute.Conversely, I would suggest you jump on this model if the Blu-ray upgrade is what works for you. It's easy to buy and install a full copy of Microsoft Office at a later date, whereas upgrading the optical drive in a laptop is too expensive and too difficult for the average consumer.CPU: In case you haven't heard, Intel made a major overhaul of its processor architecture for this Spring. The new CPUs are code named Sandy Bridge. For the i3, i5 and i7 lines, Sandy Bridge CPUs are identified by having four digit model numbers versus three digits for discontinued CPUs.This Inspiron 17R uses an Intel i5-2410m processor, identifying it as a new Sandy Bridge CPU. There are lots of other 17 inch Inspirons available here on Amazon that use last year's models, such as the i5-580m. Personally, I would not recommend buying a laptop with a discontinued Intel CPU unless there is a discount of at least one-third. The Sandy Bridge CPUs are significantly more powerful (for an equal GHz rating) while consuming significantly less battery power than their predecessors.In case you were wondering why I said that last year's 17R with the Mars Black finish was limited to the original 720p version of WiDi, now you have your answer: second-generation WiDi only works on computers with Sandy Bridge processors. Remember, any i3, i5 or i7 processor with a three digit model number is NOT a Sandy Bridge CPU.The i5-2410m is sold only to manufacturers, so a little less information is available than for Intel's retail CPUs. Retail i5 processors have four physical cores without hyperthreading, but the i5-2410m has only two physical cores with hyperthreading, making it more like an i3. Calling this CPU an i5 is a bit deceiving. However, unlike the comparable i3 CPU, turboboost technology is included, allowing the i5-2410m to throttle up to 2.9 GHz when operating on only one physical core. VT-x virtualization support is included but VT-d is not. If none of this means anything to you, the bottom line is that the i5-2410m is as good as you need it to be.CONCLUSION: I probably should have taken one star off for the lack of support for the 5GHz wireless band. That was a very odd choice by Dell, in my opinion. Otherwise, this is a very nice laptop that I would recommend to anyone who isn't preoccupied with first person shooter ["FPS"] games. Game players should read my own comment to this review, regarding AMD's next-generation processor ["Llano"] that will be reaching the marketplace soon.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
Dell Inspiron Laptop
By Richard L. Finegan
I've had the Dell Inspiron laptop for about a month now, and I'm wondering how I could possibly have lived "BDI" (Before Dell Inspiron). The 17" screen has amazing color and resolution and seems as large as a football field, I'm in the "I'LL Never Have Another Desktop" crowd. I am still discovering all of the bells and whistles, it's lightning fast(I have high speed DSL), more memory than an elephant, and has a built-in web cam. I also purchased the Microsoft Office software and it loaded flawlessly. Couldn't be happier with this purchase. I took advantage of the 6 months no interest offer, which is a great bonus. Shipping was quick and safe. Get one and be happy!

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
do not like its touchpad
By ETH
First of all, 17" is too big to carry around, but I mostly use it at home. I like the keyboard but I hate the touchpad. The touchpad is so big and so sensitive. When I type with keyboard, the touchpad often move cursor to another place. Very annoying.Other thoughts, There is no way to open the bottom so it wont let you update memory or hard drive in the future. do not like this.The battery, I saw some information saying the battery can last 2 hours. It can only last 1 hour. I did charge the battery for more than 12 hours before I turn on laptop.

See all 13 customer reviews...

Dell Inspiron i17R-6121DBK 17.3-Inch Laptop (Diamond Black). Reviewed by Milner O. Rating: 5.0

This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Read More

Get Cheap DELL Inspiron iM101z-3980BK Notebook Intel Core i3 330UM(1.20GHz) 11.6" 2GB Memory DDR3 1333 250GB HDD 5400rpm Intel HD Graphics

DELL Inspiron iM101z-3980BK Notebook Intel Core i3 330UM(1.20GHz) 11.6" 2GB Memory DDR3 1333 250GB HDD 5400rpm Intel HD Graphics

Code : B007ZD735U

Category :

Rating :

SPECIAL PRICE

* Special discount only for limited time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4562 in Personal Computers
  
• Brand: Dell
• Model: Inspiron
• Dimensions: 11.50" h x
  .95" w x
  8.07" l,
  3.44 pounds
  
• CPU: Intel Core Duo
• Memory: 2GB

Features

• Intel Core i3-330UM 1.2GHz;2GB DDR3;250GB;Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
• 11.6", Wide Screen Support, Resolution 1366 x 768, HDMI
• Intel 6250 Wireless-N w/ WiMax, with SIM Card slot
• 1 x VGA, 3 x USB, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Microphone jack; 1 x Headphone jack
• 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery (56 WHr)

DELL Inspiron iM101z-3980BK Notebook Intel Core i3 330UM(1.20GHz) 11.6" 2GB Memory DDR3 1333 250GB HDD 5400rpm Intel HD Graphics

Product Description

Learn more about the DELL iM101z-3980BK

Model
Brand
DELL
Series
Inspiron
Model
iM101z-3980BK
General
Color
Black
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
CPU Type
Intel Core i3-330UM 1.2GHz
Screen
11.6"
Memory Size
2GB DDR3
Hard Disk
250GB
Graphics Card
Intel HD Graphics
Video Memory
Shared memory
Dimensions
11.5" x 8.07" x 0.95"
Weight
3.44 lbs.
CPU
CPU Type
Intel Core i3
CPU Speed
330UM(1.20GHz)
CPU Support
3MB L3 Cache
Chipset
Chipset
Intel HM57
Display
Screen Size
11.6"
Wide Screen Support
Yes
Resolution
1366 x 768
Operating Systems
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Graphics
GPU/VPU
Intel HD Graphics
Video Memory
Shared system memory
Graphic Type
Integrated Card
Hard Drive
HDD
250GB
HDD RPM
5400rpm
HDD Interface
SATA
Memory
Memory
2GB
Memory Speed
DDR3 1333
Communications
WLAN
Intel 6250 Wireless-N w/ WiMax
Ports
Card Slot
SIM card slot
USB
3
Video Port
1 x VGA
HDMI
1 x HDMI
Audio Ports
1 x Microphone jack; 1 x Headphone jack
Supplemental Drive
Webcam
Yes
Power
Battery
6-cell Lithium Ion Battery (56 WHr)
Physical Specifications
Dimensions
11.5" x 8.07" x 0.95"
Weight
3.44 lbs.

   

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Superb little notebook
By Comp Expert
If you're looking for something to use while traveling or just need a secondary computing device for lounging on the couch or sitting on the deck outside, this unit will definitely satisfy your needs. On the other hand, if you're looking for a desktop replacement or primary computing device, thinking of gaming, or expect to type 10,000 word documents day in day out, then this unit probably wont meet your needs.In my case, I just wanted something to use while I was in the middle of a move, whereby my primary equipment was being hauled away. Although I have a decent smartphone, nothing truly substitutes the full windows7 experience with a full keyboard. I can say that I'm quite pleased as all my expectations have been met - I'm able to watch 1080p youtube streams, silverlight (netflix) streams, navigate web pages without any problems, and use IM easily.With 2gb of memory, one should seriously consider adding another 2gb stick (2 slots, only 1 is occupied) which can be had for less than 20 buckaroos. That gives you 4gb which is sufficient for heavy web / streaming video tasks. There is a true 250gb harddrive which many are replacing with an SSD for faster access and longer battery life. I am thinking of upgrading to an SSD but really, since this is a secondary device I don't really see a pressing need at this point in time.Note that this unit has a built-in wimax chip which means you can subscribe to wireless 4g plans with sprint or clear. The plans aren't really cheap (35 is the cheapest) but they also don't require any contract so this might be attractive to those who just need to buy a months worth of access while on a trip, for example. It's simply nice to have this option built in without the need for any additional hardware to buy or stick out from your machine.Quality - the finish is pretty good for a Dell and doesnt have any cheap feel to it. Screen is glossy, which I would have preferred a matte type but those are few and far between today. Keyboard fortunately is very tacticle feel to it, responsive, and rates 8/10 for me.Overall, not much else to say. This is a true notebook with an i3 chip that smokes Atom or E450 AMD chips. In no way is this the fastest notebook out there but the pricetag also doesn't suggest that it should.Edit: Been using this machine several months now and what do I think of it? LOVE IT! It's hands down the best portable computing device I've ever bought. I've taken this on trips, use it outdoors, and have it in my bedroom for web surfing just before going to bed. It's never failed me and I love the portable size yet its full feature windows in awesome because I never have to comprimise with an Android system that lacks so much. I have zero desire to get a tablet, that's how great this device is.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Perfect combination of size and performance
By Dave
I've had my Dell 11.6" iM101z for over a year now and purchased it elsewhere, but wanted to share the excellent experience I have had with this notebook PC. First off, the size is perfect. It is small enough (and light enough) to easily travel with, or use in bed; at the same time, the full-size keyboard makes it easy to use. Anyone who calls this a netbook is entirely wrong -- it is an ultraportable notebook. The difference between this and a netbook are many -- the screen resolution is 1366x768 (720p HD), it has a powerful Intel Core i3 processor, and it can be upgraded to hold 8GB of RAM. Speaking of upgrades, I did add more RAM (maxed it out at 8GB) and I replaced the stock hard drive with a Crucial SSD. It was not slow before these upgrades, but afterwards it is downright fast. As I said, I've had this notebook for about 16 months and it has held up great. Everything still works great, but I did manage to get a scuff on the lid (my fault). Overall, for the price paid (including the upgrades) and the performance/size combination I am highly satisfied. If you're in the market for a small, light notebook, and want full-sized performance, get this!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
What I wanted
By Alex J
I bought this computer to replace my old sony vaio laptop. It was smaller than I expected so i am getting use to typing but on everything else it is a winner. Its fast, super light and so far the battery is lasting around 4 hrs of continuous use.Theres no cd drive but now a days there really isn't a need for one. Along with this computer I also purcahsed the Corsair XMS3 4 GB 1333MHz PC3-10666 240-pin DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD CMX4GX3M1A1333C9. It was a breeze to install, just unscrew the bottom and snap it in. Now the computer runs super fast and it still cheaper than just about any other computer you will find out there. I was going to buy a new ultrabook but I decided that I could save myself $500 and get this computer instead.

See all 10 customer reviews...

DELL Inspiron iM101z-3980BK Notebook Intel Core i3 330UM(1.20GHz) 11.6" 2GB Memory DDR3 1333 250GB HDD 5400rpm Intel HD Graphics. Reviewed by Rocky C. Rating: 4.2

This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Read More

Under (Add Your Price Ranges) HP Envy 14-1110nr 14.5-Inch Relic Laptop PC - Up to 3.45 Hours of Battery Life (Carbon)

HP Envy 14-1110nr 14.5-Inch Relic Laptop PC - Up to 3.45 Hours of Battery Life (Carbon)

Code : B00400OSP4

Category :

Rating :

HOT OFFERS

* Special discount only for limited time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4501 in Personal Computers
  
• Color: Carbon
• Brand: HP
• Model: XG978UA#ABA
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.09" h x
  14.01" w x
  9.33" l,
  5.20 pounds
  
• CPU: Intel Core i5 2.53 GHz
• Memory: 4GB SODIMM
• Hard Disk: 640GB
• Graphics: Radeon
• Processors: 2
• Native resolution: 1366 x 768
• Display size: 14.5

Features

• Intel Core i5-460M Processor (2.53GHz); 4GB DDR3 SDRAM memory (2 x 2GB) (expandable to 8GB); 640GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive; Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 14.5 Inch diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768), ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 switchable graphics with 1GB dedicated DDR3 memory up to 2714MB total graphics memory
• External Ports: 2-in-1 memory card reader; 3 USB 2.0 (3rd port shared with eSATA); 1 HDMI; 1 Headphone-out/Microphone-in combo jack (compatible with 3.5mm 4-conductor jack with stereo audio and mono mic)
• Slot-Loading SuperMulti DVD Burner; Beats Audio; Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN; Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n WLAN & Bluetooth
• Laser-etched aluminum finish in carbon relic; Full-size backlit island-style keyboard; HP Clickpad with On/Off button; HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated microphone

HP Envy 14-1110nr 14.5-Inch Relic Laptop PC - Up to 3.45 Hours of Battery Life (Carbon)

Product Description

Get the perfect balance of performance and mobility. Play music the way it's meant to be heard using the slim, lightweight HP ENVY 14-1110NR notebook with Beats Audio. Enjoy crystal-clear, studio-quality sound with the push of two buttons and rock out with a pair of Beats headphones (sold separately). This stylish HP laptop has a laser-etched aluminum finish in carbon relic and a full-size backlit keyboard that's easy to use in the dark. Watch music videos and DVDs, plus view slideshows effortlessly on the 14.5-inch diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView Infinity LED Display. The HP ENVY 14-1110NR seamlessly fuses design and technology. It has a fast Intel processor and a large hard drive for your music library, videos and more. Stay unplugged for up to 3.75 hours with the standard battery and get up to 8.25 more hours using an optional HP ENVY Slim Fit Extended-Life battery (sold separately).

   

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful.
Non radiance screen review
By Kevin S McKinney
Amazon appears to be the only place that has user reviews for the envy 14 WITHOUT the 1600x 900 radiance display, which is no long available. I searched and read every blog talking about this before I bought, here's the bottom line. I was so hesitant and hemmed and hawed about buying this after reading all the blogs- why? Because I'm like a lot of buyers out there, it really bugs me to get something new without having the best of everything installed on it, especially when it comes to computers because of the rapidness in which your brand new technology becomes 2nd best, and then nearly obsolete. The blogs were filled with people who got the radiance screen bragging profusely and potential buyers refusing to pull the trigger on this laptop unless the radiance display comes back...mixed with all the technical jargon about 1366x768 vs 1600x900 for this or that application, etc etc.I bought it anyway, why? It truly is the perfect size for the perfect balance between portability and performance. Amazon had an awesome price of less than 1000 bucks for not the lowest speed processor or smallest hard drive, a very nice build of 640 gb, 7200 rpm drive and the 3rd fastest available core i5. It also just plain looks sexy compared to any other windows based laptop being produced! It truly is a strong competitor for the MacBook pro, being made to look like it, but just different enough with some extra flair to set it apart.Now the display- it is sad that HP lost the radiance display, that display is what in my opinion would have made the envy 14 laptop the absolute best laptop produced in 2010, and would have outdone the 15 inch and higher MacBook pro in every single category. As it stands now, I believe it outdoes the 13 inch MacBook pro, and for 300 bucks less! As far as windows based laptops in the same size and class, like I said, it's the best balance of price, performance, and portability, and best looking. The 1366x 768 edge to edge glass display is still nice, it honestly is- iTunes movies at 720p look great, text is crystal clear, colors are brilliant, honestly, even if you are a power user, I don't see why you would be disappointed with the quality of the display, and remember the radeon 5650 card can do anything you need it to do more than what the laptop display provides when you hook it up to an HDTV or external LCD HD monitor. So, be angry at hp if you must, and refuse to buy this laptop without the better display, but if you can get over it, you will not be disappointed with this laptop if you do buy it...

55 of 61 people found the following review helpful.
GOOD SPEC, BAD TRACKPAD!
By Howard C. Tien
For background: I get a new laptop every 6 months or so aand have owned over 20+ so I understand what is normal and what is not.This Envy is fabulous in terms of speed, heat management and fan noise is low relative to other HP laptops. However still higher than Sony, Dell and Asus, but not too bothersome.Video card handles StarCraft 2 perfectly and is ATI 5650 is right up there with Nvidia GTS 360M, will handle upcoming call of duty black ops just fine.You are here because you know all the good part, now Ill get to the bad.Trackpad:-Very jumpy, even moving your palm near it while typing cause cursor to jump all over, i nearly lost half of my note in class due to this.-Poor construction, google HP ENVY 14 TRACKPAD NOISE, OR TRACKPAD PROBLEM, you will find pages and pages and pages of people (i'm one of them) with trackpad making loose clicky noises, or stuck or make loud clunky noises while being pressed upon. A comparable feeling would be driving a brand new Lexus with a loose and vibrating steering wheel. There's no way to self repair, you have to RMA or send it in for repair. As for software for the trackpad, there is an update that helps some but 2 finger scroll and the jumpiness still very much apparent. This trackpad cost it 2 stars and me to RMA the laptop.-Wirless ON, display dimmed to lowest, no flash web site, only MS word taking note and stuff, power saving mode, real life battery under this condition is approximate 4 hours. U can squeeze 30 more probably with wireless Off.PS: I have done extensive research online and went to see actual demo in store, trackpad degraded the experience of this laptop exponentially, otherwise if you will only be using a wireless mouse with it, this is a marvelous computer.UPDATE as of November 13, 2010. Kudo's to Amazon, I returned the Envy 14 with defective trackpad, and received FULL refund plus shipping and got a replacement ENVY 14. Trackpad is a NONE issue now. Clicking is gone, while it's still a bit jumpy, but I just went to the synaptic trackpad setting and lowered the sensitiveness slightly and now it's perfect. Fan noise still low, display is gorgeous and all game can be played at max level e.g. Starcraft 2 and Black Ops. By the way, as a pleasant surprise, I just found out All ENVY series laptop are covered under 2 years warranty! This is the best laptop I have EVER owned, don't hesitate to buy it!UPDATE as of January 8, 2011. After a software update for trackpad from HP last month, the trackpad works fabulously. 2 finger scroll and all other functions work as advertised. The laptop continue to provide 4 hours of battery life with power saver mode, screen dimmed to lowest,video card turned off and wireless ON, with a few office program running. This continue to deliver highest detail with no lag on Starcraft 2. I updated to the latest ATI Catalyst from AMD web site with no problem. Still runs quiet and cool. By quiet I mean I can sleep with it on overnight 1 foot beside me. BUY IT!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
Best laptop I have ever had!
By jessestond
Finally upgraded from my 4 year old Dell inspiron e1505 and I will never look back. Easily the highest quality laptop I have ever owned. Was able to get an i7 core processor with 6 gbs of memory and 500gb 7200 RPM harddrive for under $1000 with a coupon (watch gotapex.com, they pop up rarely).pros:-beautiful! The laser etched aluminum frame and cover are unique and gorgeous. Yes it is vaguely reminiscent of the macbook but they really did make it unique.-heat management. I am aware the the envy 13 and 17 series had overheating issues but mine (even with the i7 core) runs nice and cool. The fan never even has to kick it into high gear.-excellent backlit keyboard. The nicest feeilng and most responsive keyboard I've used on a PC. Period.-weight/size. My last laptop was 15.6 inches which was nice but very inconvenient. Myw ife's 13" macbook seemed just a bit too small. The Envy 14 (which is really 14.5inches) filled the gap idealy. Also manages to keep the weight off and be only 1.1" thick.-mouse pad. You will read a LOT of negative reviews about this but I am very pleased with it. Note that there have been several driver updates since the initial reviews. I am absolutely thrilled with it.-slot loading drive. Looks classy.-beats audio. You should know beats audio does NOT mean that the laptop has special or unique speakers. It doesn't. Beats is a software driven optimization which provides clear, interference-free, crisp audio via the audio out ports. Makes a distinct difference when listening via external speakers or headphones. Can toggle on and off to hear the difference, definitely enjoyable.-speed. I opted for the 1.6Ghz four core i7 processor and this computer is BLAZING FAST. Even if you don't play games the responsiveness of the operating system is truely remarkable.-screen brightness/quality. The 1080p radiance display remains unavailable when I purchased this laptop. I have the lower resolution birghtview display (720p) which has it's plusses and minuses. The picture is VERY bright and crisp. Has much more liveliness when compared to my Dell. It WOULD be nice to have a slightly higher resolution but this in no way significantly detracts from the overall experience. Even if the radiance display was available I would not have spent the extra $200-300 to upgrade. Part of the appeal of the laptop is that it can be had for under $1000. UPDATE: was on phone with customer service and inquired about the radiance display. HP says it is PERMANENTLY discontinued from the HP envy 14 line.-useful software/minimal bloatware: I only had to remove the Bing toolbar and that ended my bloatware removal. Also it comes with Adobe photoshop elements (which I had just bought seperately!) and adobe premier. Very usefull tools to apply that processing power!-Build quality. This laptop is one of the only laptops in the sub-$1000 range with a metal frame. It is SOLID.-comes with a TWO year warranty rather than the standard one year with other HP productscons:-battery life. I will admit that my poor battery life is mostly my fault for getting the i7. You should know that even though the graphics processor can be turned off (to switch to the integrated graphics) this feature is unavailable on the i7. Therefor I get to enjoy full processing power all the time, at the expense of battery life. I would say that using everything (bluetooth, wireless, full brightness, ect) I can get 2-2.5 hours of use out of it. I chose this because it is VERY rare that I use my laptop away from an outlet. I have a netbook for that purpose.To sum things up I am happier with my envy than I have been witha ny computer before it. If you decide to buy you will not regret it.UPDATE: Six months later I'm still extremely pleased with the laptop. I would happily purchase it again in a heartbeat!

See all 41 customer reviews...

HP Envy 14-1110nr 14.5-Inch Relic Laptop PC - Up to 3.45 Hours of Battery Life (Carbon). Reviewed by Perry S. Rating: 4.6

This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Read More

Compareand ASUS A52F-XA1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black)

ASUS A52F-XA1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black)

Code : B0046HAO2C

Category :

Rating :

RECOMMENDED TODAY

* Special discount only for limited time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4487 in Personal Computers
  
• Color: Black
• Brand: Asus
• Model: A52F-XA1
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.40" h x
  10.20" w x
  15.20" l,
  5.80 pounds
  
• CPU: Pentium 2.3 GHz
• Memory: 4GB
• Hard Disk: 320GB
• Graphics: HD Graphics
• Processors: 1
• Native resolution: 1366 x 768
• Display size: 15.6

Features

• Intel Pentium Dual Core P6100; 2GB of DDR3 1066MHz DRAM, 2 slots, 4GB Max
• 320GB Hard Drive (5400 RPM); Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) Operating System
• Intel HD Graphics; Super Multi Optical Disk Drive; Wireless 802.11bgn
• 15.6-Inch HD Display (1366x768); 0.3MP Webcam; HDMI Port; Bluetooth
• 1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty and 1 Year Standard Warranty Included

ASUS A52F-XA1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black)

Product Description

15.6" HD (1366 x768)/Intel P6100/4G DDR3/Intel HD Graphics/320G 5400/Super Multi ODD/W7HP (64bit)/802.11BGN/0.3M Pixel/Bluetooth/6-cell battery/HDMI out/1yr warranty/1yr ADW

   

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful.
cheap and reliable, fast enough for everyday usage
By Geek4Life
After a few charge/discharge cycles to get things started, the battery lasts about 3-4 hours under normal circumstances with normal settings (e.g., LED screen is on medium brightness). It will last fewer hours if you play movies or something because it takes more power to spin the DVD disc. It's annoying how Amazon listed everything EXCEPT that vital stat, huh? I hope they fix that soon.This is a good laptop for normal usage like websurfing, MS Word, Excel, light gaming (Plants v Zombies, etc.), and playing movies/watching Youtube/etc.. The P6100 is basically a 2-GHz Core i3 without hyperthreading (but hyperthreading is only useful when you are doing very heavy multitasking or using a highly threaded program). It's even made on the same process/fabs as the Core i3. Thanks to the P6100's integrated memory controller and other efficiencies inherent in the Core i3-style design, it's about as fast as a 2.5-GHz Core 2 Duo. In fact, if you look at PassMark's CPU benchmark list, you can see that the P6100 CPU is in-between a Core 2 Duo E5200 2.50GHz and a Core i3-2312M 2.10GHz. Thus it's well-balanced with a reasonably fast processor and competent GPU (graphics processing unit) that can handle 1080p playback very smoothly in my experience.The weakest part of this laptop is the relatively slow hard drive, a WD Scorpio Blue at 5400 rpm, which is pretty good for a laptop, but not up to par with a good desktop 7200rpm or SSD. (NOTE: The WD Scorpio Blue's clicking noise is apparently normal and a result of the drive head parking or moving around or something, probably as an energy-saving feature. It's louder than what I've experienced with Thinkpads, but it's not defective just because it's loud.) By the way, if you think ASUS's reliability is bad, wait till you get a load of other companies' "reliability." ASUS is tops in Squaretrade's reliability index (they keep track of which laptops need the fewest repairs), and laptop magazines sometimes run reliability articles where ASUS usually places first or second. Laptop parts can and do fail, so I wouldn't read into one or two bad apples as meaning the entire batch is bad.This laptop will ask you to make recovery DVDs when you first boot up, though you don't have to make the backups there and then and can delay the backup indefinitely. Backup takes 5 DVD-Rs and several hours. Use quality DVD-Rs if you are getting readback errors. Don't skimp; this is your BACKUP COPY we are talking about here! I recommend Verbatim and especially Taiyo Yuden discs sold by rima.com. The higher-end Kodaks are fine but probably excessive; you don't need the archival-grade gold stuff. Sony DVD-Rs are okay. RITEK is hit or miss, depending on the variant. I dunno about the rest, but chances are that a no-name brand won't last long. If you buy a DVD movie at the store, it is stamped. There is no ink and thus the DVD will last for decades. Stampers are extremely expensive (more expensive than many people's houses, so only big companies own them). Most home users use DVD burners to make DVD-Rs, like this laptop does. The problem is that burned DVD-Rs may last mere months if they use cheap, unstable dyes or have poor bonding (DVD-Rs are made like sandwiches, unlike CD-Rs which are asymmetric and basically a slab of plastic with some dye and lacquer; this is why it's almost impossible to find a "bad" CD-R but much easier to find a "bad" DVD-R).The laptop doesn't get that hot, so feel free to put it on your lap without fear of sterilizing yourself.Edited to add: I ran some benchmarks and it seems that there is probably a mediocre RAID controller in the laptop's motherboard, so average sequential read is around 150 MB/s with my Sandforce-powered Vertex 2 SSD, which is laughably slow compared to the >250 MB/s that a Vertex 2 ought to be getting. So feel free to get a slower SSD for this laptop, since it can't max out the faster SSDs on the market anyway. At least you retain the other benefits, like low random access times and shockproof data storage.The rest of this review is just my general recommendation beyond this laptop:In my opinion, it's not worth getting a A52F variant with a faster CPU. If you pile on the CPU speed it's still hamstrung by the video so there's no point in getting the faster versions--what are you going to do with a much faster CPU and the exact same GPU? The only times it would matter would be if you were doing something highly threaded that required little to no video, and how many of us do heavy, multi-threaded number-crunching tasks on a laptop? If you want a gaming rig, look elsewhere because the video card here won't be good enough for new games, with maybe a few exceptions here and there. Ditto if you transcode tons of video: get a laptop with a higher-end GPU for that, or get a desktop to pair with the laptop.By contrast, the difference between a laptop with HDD and with SSD is night and day, so you may want to skimp on the CPU and pour the saved money into an SSD instead. Switching to an SSD is painless: just remove the backplate of the laptop, remove the 2.5" drive carriage, swap drives, and put it back together again, all while touching something grounded or a big piece of metal or something like that, to ensure that your static electricity doesn't kill the drives. It literally took me five minutes to switch to an SSD. You can either use data migration software like Acronis to clone your hard drive onto the SSD (as long as the SSD is large enough to handle the data on the hard drive), or you can install via a spare copy of an OS, which is problematic because this laptop doesn't come with a Windows install disc, and using the recovery DVDs may not work right if you don't install it back onto the original 320GB hard drive. (Note: You can probably use any regular Windows 7 64-bit install disc and use the product key that comes with this laptop [it's on the bottom of the laptop on a sticker]. The product key is the thing that tells the Windows installation DVD which version of Windows to install.) Then use the DVD that ASUS includes with the laptop to install the proprietary drivers.

34 of 44 people found the following review helpful.
Luck of the draw...
By P. Kikuta
Seems like these laptops are hit or miss in terms of reliability. Previously, there was a one-star post that got deleted. The reviewer said that he got the blue screen of death the first time he booted up the laptop. One other person on slickdeals also reported a blue screen the first time the laptop was booted up. Also, many have reported an intermittent clicking noise coming from the hard drive. I can confirm that this is true. Another issue reported is that when creating recovery discs, it keeps on failing when it tries to verify the discs. There are 5 recovery discs in all. I had disc #2 fail, but it was ok on my second try.I also have an issue with the battery not charging correctly. I cannot power on the laptop from the battery. I must use the AC adapter. If I disconnect the AC adapter, the laptop will shut off. The battery indicator icon says that the battery is charging, but it has been stuck at 46% for the past couple of hours. Researching this issue on the internet, it seems that Windows 7 might be causing this. I guess I could blow the HD away and install XP, but I only have the 32-bit version and would waste 1 gig of memory. Not worth the headache.Unfortunately I have already opened the laptop, so instead of returning it and only getting back 85% of the purchase price. I will take my chances and exchange it for another one. Hopefully the odds will be stacked in my favor the next time around...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
Good value. Does the job. Recovery DVD burning tips.
By Just_Another_Brick
The Asus A52F-XA1 is essentially the same machine as the Asus K52F-BBR5 with the latter having 1GB less memory.It's a nice overall package without breaking the bank. HDMI, Bluetooth, and separate numeric keys are nice additions you don't usually find at this price point. Not a gaming machine (not expecting it) but does the job for everyday use. Programs, startups, shutdowns are pretty fast. It even runs iTunes (64-bit) without much noticeable lag. Battery lasts about three hours if the screen is dimmed and put in battery saving mode. Good for home use or desktop replacement and the occasionally hookup to a flat-screen TV with HDMI connection. This model also comes with a one-year accidental damage coverage, on top of the standard one-year warranty.The little things matter. The built-in media card reader comes in very handy for downloading pictures from a digital camera (no need for a USB cable). The touchpad can be turned off by simply hitting the FN + F9 keys or you can tell the software to turn it off when an external mouse is plugged in, good for avoiding that jumping cursor during typing when the palm is accidentally brushed against the touchpad.In case anyone encounters errors during the recovery DVDs burning process, you don't have to start over -- the process takes hours to complete. You can retrieve the ISO images of the recovery discs in this folder: c:\users\username\my documents\recovery_tmp\ , provided you don't exit out of the recovery disc burning software (AI Recovery Burner). You need to copy and save these ISO images to a different folder and burn the DVDs at a later time. Be aware that the \recovery_tmp\ folder will be automatically deleted once you exit the AI Recovery Burner program.If the \recovery_tmp\ folder is hidden, you can unhide it by going through the Explorer menu: Organize > Folder and search options > Hidden files and folders > Show hidden files, folders, and drives.All five DVD images (ISO files) are ready for copying when the first disc is being burned. The ISO files are named CD1, CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD5. These ISO files are not available prior to the actual (physical) burning of the first DVD disc.Overall, it's a good value.

See all 13 customer reviews...

ASUS A52F-XA1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black). Reviewed by William A. Rating: 4.2

This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Read More