The Digit test center received ASUS's latest offering- the P5Q Deluxe motherboard based on Intel's all new P45 chipset.The boards run on the P45 chip coupled with the new ICH10R whichis a step up from the ICH9R from the P35.One of the changes is that the P45 has a 1600MHz bus speed as compared to 1333 MHz on the P35.The motherboard has a really clean layout and there is the usual profusion of heatsinks and copper heat pipes running across the board.Overclocking features as usual are built in well like the other ASUS boards we have seen.BIOS settings can be saved and loaded as you wish.We ran the same barrage of tests and observed small jumps in performance in benchmarks such as PC Mark 2005 where it scored 2 to 3 percent more than the P35's from motherboard comparison test.3D Mark 2005 scores were also marginally higher than the P35.Small changes were noted in Doom 3 running at low resolutions too.
Although performance doesn't seem to be the new P45's forte,ASUS has added some unique features to their board.One of them is called Express Gate-an operating system built into the motherboard that works without the need of an attached hard drive.The environment has Skype,pidgin-an instant messenger- and a modified version of Firefox running on a customised Linux distribution called Splashtop.Should you lose your operating system in a data crash,Express gate wil give you complete access to the Internet.There are features for copying data from hard drives as well as USB drives.The new P45 chipest doesn't really do a whole lot more for performance.There is a marginal jump but nothing substantial that would convince anyone to move from a P35 based board to a P45 one,for example people who want to buy an enthusiast level board should consider the P45 but those who are already on P35 and X38s will just have to wait.
BenQX2200W
The 22-inch BenQ X2200W is a LCD monitor targeted at gamers and movie enthusiasts-the styling on this screen is clearly indicative of that.The screen and the body both have a matte finish.The screen has a medium-sized bezel all through but it is fatter on the sides, thin on the top and thick at the bottom.There are no buttons at the bottom of the screen but there is a metallic looking dotted pattern which gives the screen a fine look.When the monitor is in idle mode,a blue light is emitted from the gap below which adds to its style.All these cosmetics make the screen look really chunky and huge.The contrast ratio is good and the darks appear a little darker than most screens.The viewing angles are good too as long as you are as the same level level as the screen.When you move up and down things go horribly wrong-the display quality is pretty bad when you look at the monitor from the top or the buttom.One of the biggest plus points is HDMI connectivity which is very rare in 22-inch screens-or any other screen for that mater.HDMI means that this monitor can be used as a display for your gaming consoles or HD players.There is a head-phone jack for audio output as well.There is no doubt that this is better than most of the screens in the market today but those screens are priced very competitively.The X2200W isn't available right now and is expected in the next few months at a price of Rs16,500 which is asking for quite a bit.At this price,one enters the entry level 24-inch LCD price bracket.If you want a cheap LCD screen for the computer that doubles as your display for your consoles then this might just be the one for you.
P5Q Deluxe motherboard
Dell and ASUS
Dell Inspiron 1525
The newer XPS 1530 is Dell's answer to the high-end desktop replacement notebooks in the 14 to 15.4-inch size category.With the same tapered body as the M
1330(although it's not as slim),the M1530 packs even more horsepower under its larger hood.Like up to a T9500 (2.6GHz) processor ,4GB of RAM and an option of a GeForce 8600GT.The same economic keypad makes it key into this one.The wide palm rest(slightly bigger than the already generous M1330) will really (ahem) rest your palms.With features like HDMI, this could also be a substitute for an HT*PC.The M1530 is available with a 15.4 inch screen,but you get to choose the resolution.Choose from 1280*800 pixels,1440*900 pixels or a whopping 1680*1050 pixels.If you want something a little more powerful than XPS M1330, then the 1530 will do the trick.It'll also give you more real estate 0n-screen.If you crave mobility,go with a smaller sibling.Prices start at Rs.49,900 and it's a superb deal overall.The stuck-on panels are a pain though.
Dell's notebook for the masses,the Inspiron series are their mainstream offerings a cut below the fancy looking,higher configuration bearing XPS noteooks.With a regular 15.4 inch screen,the Inspiron 1525 that we received had some flowery graphics on the lid-one of many designs available when you configure it online but it's got a capable configuration that can bare its teeth when required.It's also not as compact as the same screen size bearing XPS 1530,which users who want a higher configuration would prefer.The Inspiron is the proverbial 'rock'.The working man's solution ,the home desktop replacement , the jack of all trades and yet master of non stereotype.Starting at Rs.42,900 the Inspiron 1525 is a cheap way to a good configuration and is highly recommended to the home user who wants a desktop replacement.Add in a graphics card for a scant Rs.3,000 more and you've got yourself a plain-looking but effective powerhouse.
Dell XPS M1330
The successor to Dell's ultra compact XPS M1210 gets a slightly larger screen and more horsepower under the bonnet.As with the other Dells,the XPS M1330 is configurable.This one came with a T7500 processor which while not the latest is quite fast.Configured with 2 GB of RAM and a GeForce 8400GS solution you realise that size doesn't compromise on processing oomph.Then you realise other subtleties-like the slim white-LED display,the nicely bevelled keypad and the slick working touchpad.While 12.1 inches seemed small for some,13.3 inches seems like the best possible compromise between size and functionality.In fact,to be honest with the M1330 there's no compromise at all.What you do get is a lot of performance in a form factor that is both great to use and easy to carry around.With a host of configurable options the M1330 proudly carries the XPS badge to greater heights.HDMI connectivity will be of interest to those looking to connect this to large screen TVs.
It's not niggle-free though.The body panels are of the snap-on-variety(which is how dell offers you color options).Unfortunately,these snap-ons aren't as firm as you'd like and you can easily detach one.While not affecting the functions,it's alarming to see the lower bezel of the monitor flap loose with couple of tugs.At a starting price of Rs.51,000 with the configuration we received priced at around Rs.8,000 more,the XPS M1330 is a true mobile warriors' weapon of choice.You might even buy it as a desktop replacement-it's that good.Although it's larger sibling may have something to say about that.
ASUS U6SG
ASUS' answer to the compact offerings around and all said-a brilliant one.It's got 
a glossy black lid that resists all but the most determined smudges and the off-white keypad and silver-grey body just exudes class.At 12.1 inches,it's compact enough to lug around just about anywhere.Ergonomics are top class and the keypad and touchpad alike exude marvellous feedback.The laptop uses an ultra thin white-LED display which besides being brilliant and crisp is very slim.This in conjunction with a slim body makes for an unbelievably slim solution.In fact,there was only one solution that was slimmer!
Compact it may be,but this little bruiser has muscle as well.How does a Core 2 Duo T8300(2.4GHz) sound?There's 2GB of memory and a latest 9 series GPU from NVIDIA(Geforce 9300) with 256 of discrete video RAM.Storage is huge too at 250 GB.We'd expect such a configuration from much larger 15.4 inch notebooks and none of those came with such specifications.With class-leading ergonomics and design and such high-end components powering it, we expected the price to be astronomical.At Rs.94,900 the little U6SG is pricey but it delivers punch unlike any ultra-compact can and even leaves many of its larger competitors chewing trail dust.The ultimate portable weapon,if you can afford it.
ASUS F5SL
The first thing that struck us when we looked at the laptop while it was closed was "compact 17-inch".Then, we opened her up and saw the bulky bezel and a 15.4-inch screen (sheep in wolf's clothing?).It's built well and the F5SL is a good looking laptop that has beautiful charcoal grey color.The nicely bevelled keys are well spaced out,great for typing and feedback is pretty decent.We also loved the touchpad's responsiveness.ASUS does cheat a bit on the configuration though.A fast,shiny new GPU, paired with an older,slower processor.Although this keeps the price down,it also keeps the F5SL from becoming a serious multimedia enthusiast's solution.Its slightly bulky from means that it's larger than your average 15.4-inch notebook and will easily replace most desktop PCs.The fact that ASUS supplies a USB mouse with a tilt wheel just goes to show their level of commitment to try and replace your desktop.At Rs.44,990 and with good hardware, the F5SL is a solution that's well worth the price.The amount of software bundled, the build quality and the usability of this notebook will be the answer to nearly all home user's prayers.
Intex,LGs,Saharanotebook
Intex M722S
A 12.1 inch notebook that wasn't as compact as we'd like and therefore finds itself in this category.
It's a little thick and rather heavy for a 12.1 inch notebook and aimed squarely at value buyers which is no excuse for such a mediocre build.Also one needs to take care when opening the notebook and extending the lid too far back as the hinge is rather flimsy.
It's got a very basic configuration but if you are looking for something extremely portable for office use and something that can be lugged home with minimal fuss or energy consumption then the Core 2 Duo T2450(2.o GHz) with 1GB of RAM will suffice.The clincher for Intex is the price at Rs.30,900, the M722S is one of the cheapest compacts that money can buy and makes sense for someone looking for frugal mobility.
LG XNote R405
LG's value offering something for the person who wants quality and a good price sans hassles.All XNote's are very well built and the R405 looks like on of those notebooks that will outlast your desire to hold on to it.The color combination on the lid is attractive,white flecks on a smooth black background.The inside is finishe
d in matter antiseptic white that looks well.. a little too clean.It's a rather thick notebook however and not at all compact as you'd expect a 14.1 inch notebook to be.The keypad is well laid out with good spacing between keys and although not bevelled in anyway , it has very responsive feedback.LG has done a decent job of shortcut keys, no complaints with either the WLAN switch or any of the multimedia keys.
The configuration is a common Core 2 Duo T5550(1.83 GHz) which is coupled with 1GB of RAM and a Radeon Xpress 1250 solution.For Rs.40,000, the R405 is well built and rugged and offers a solid portable computing experience sans some of the performance.It's not a high end configuration or even a fast configuration so, demanding mobile warriors will give this a miss.
LG XNote E300
LG's answer for the discerning masses,the E300 is a good looking notebook with a charcoal-grey finish.It's solidly built and the body and finish feels durable enough to last through
a couple of years of abuse with relative ease.The keys are well laid out,bevelled and exude a nice,positive,firm feedback which makes using this a pleasure but it's not compact as other 13.3-inches in the market which is why it isn't doing a one-on-one with the XPS M1330 which features in our "ultra compact" category.At 2.04 kg,it's not the lightest of the 13.3-inch notebooks.On a different note, this notebook's left palm rest gets quite hot, presumably because of the fact that LG uses the body of their notebooks as heatsinks.
Still,the heat dissipation should be restricted to the undercarriage of the notebook and working on this for around an hour warmed up our palms quite a bit which is good for winter but isn't appreciated in the month of May.A decent configuration-T7300,2.0 GHz,2GB of RAM, a Radeon Xpress 1250 and a screen size of 13.3 inches-mean the XNote is a good notebook for road warriors and desktop oriented users alike.Although the Radeon chipest won't do gaming or even serious HD playback(at least not without the inevitable skip), the E300 features an HDMI out.
At Rs.52,000,the E300 is an attractive looking solution that finds itself in the wrong category and at the wrong end of a performance war.In this category, the cheaper Dell XPS 1530 easily wins all accolades over this while in the compact category the Dell XPS M1330 easily won.So,it's caught between a rock and a potentially hard place which is why we aren't recommending the E300 to anyone.
LG XNote R200
The XNote 200 is a compact laptop with a 12.1 inch screen and is a good looker.The matter white finish on the inside is eyecatching if not attractive.The R200 feels very well built with excellent fit and finish and the sligh
tly thicker screen holds another small LCD display built into the outer lid.This little LCD has a menu of its own and you are informed of new mails and get important updates on it without even opening the lid.We really like the feel of LG's keyboard;the keys exude a solid feeling of feedback and a keypress feels like your finger is working against a stiff little rubber spring behind each key.The keypad is well laid out too.LG drops in a surprisingly good configuration- a Core 2 Duo T7300(2.0GHz), 2 GB of RAM and a Radeon HD2400 graphics solution with 128 MB of dedicated video memory.The R200 should be good as a desktop replacement except that it's got a small screen and will serve portability nuts well.
At Rs.62,000 the XNote R200 is a well-priced notebook for its configuration and compact size.It's not as compact as the slimmer Dell XPS M1330 which also manages a better configuration.The M1330 also kills it in the pricing department.If you don't mind the stubby profile and like the extra screen as much as to shell out Rs.10,000 more for it then buy this by all means.
Sahara Imagebook 8WS
Sahara's imagebook is a really compact notebook with a huge monitor bezel for some inexplicable reason making it bulky for just an eight inch screen.The first issue is with the build
quallity which isn't very appealing neither is the finish a plain steel grey.The second major issue was with the battery retention which leaves some room for play so your battery will move around slightly.While battery contact isn't affected it isn't comforting to have a loose battery.
The screen is not very clear and accounting for the lack of display size this is a double whammy.Sahara could easily have provided an 11-inch screen with such a body size.This was the only notebook to feature an AMD processor, the new power saving Geode LX clocked at 800MHz.What we also couldn't figure out was the lack of memory -the imagebook comes with a paltry 256MB.You can forget about running anything more than Windows XP on this notebook-and that too at a snail's pace.The price is a bit of a life saver though-at Rs14,999 the imagebook 8WS is very,very cheap,shockingly so for a notebook.If you must have a notebook for an unbelievably low price,this has got to be it.
Fujitsu stuffs and acer travelmate 6292
Fujitsu P8010
An attractive notebook with a glossy lid,that's strangely and not unattractively -liveried in dull orange.It's extremely light even for a compact 12.1 inch notebook.The screen is crisp.Fujitsu does have this tradition of soft keys and frankly this is a trend we hope discontinues.Why?Not 
enough tactile feedback.It's aimed at business users and the P8010 is all business.With a battery backup time of more than two hours with video playback , the P8010 will satisfy the corporate exec on the go.2GB of RAM makes Vista snappy , if not blazingly fast and this would be enough for most corporate users.At Rs.1,05,100, however, the P8010 doesn't do anything radically different to justify such a price tag.We figure at this price you would be better served by the HP Compaq 2710P which adds a utilitarian touchscreen to the package.
Fujitsu S6410
Built around slim lines, the S6410 is an ultra portable 13.3-inch laptop oriented towards the discerning businessman who travels a lot.It's very light at 1.7 kg and built well enough to cart around.The industrial grade charcaol grey finish is attractive but in a suave non-intrusive sort of way.It's not a strong configuration that will pull it through most situations like a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo T7500 AND 2GB of RAM.There's also a host of software options available for business users and MS Office 2007 is part of the package as well.What we really liked about the screen is its crispness and brightness, second only to Sony displays.The only issue is the viewing angle which isn't good.It seems like a TN LCD panel doing duty under the hood.The keypad is well laid out and conductive to some fast typing but the feedback is a little soggier than we'd like.At Rs.74,000, the S6410 brings with it a solid computing experience and a well built compact machine capable of most business oriented tasks.The three year warranty that Fujitsu provides makes this a very attractive laptop for those who don't want to splurge on the costlier P8010.
Fujitsu Esprimo U9200
Fujitsu's series of notebooks are meant to denote 'ultra' portability and they're aimed squarely at the business class which is w
hy this notebook finds itself in this category and not in the ultra portable category.It's simpler than both its similar looking siblings- the S6510 and S6410.Unfortunately for an ultra-portable it's a little too thick.Compare it to Sony's ultra-sleek Vaio VGN-TZ37GN/R and you'll get the feeling of a water buffalo standing next to a panther.
The looks notwithstanding, the U9200 has a powerful processor(T7500,2.2 GHz) but only 1 GB of RAM.Although it'll be snappy enough for most regular business class tasks, we really feel that with Windows Vista,2GB of memory should be made an industry standard for vendors.The standout here is the superb price.At Rs.43,500 the U9200 slugs other business computer laptops where it hurts and as a frugal tycoon ,you know it's worth every penny of its price.A three-year warranty included for the price makes this a great deal.We'd say the only possible detractions are the very plain looks and the thickness which is unwarranted for a compact 12.1-inch notebook.
Fujitsu S6510
The bigger brother to the S6510(14.1 inches),it's heavier as well but by a mere 200
grams.Lookwise they're both identical except of course for the slightly larger footprint.Once again the build quality of hinges and such is good.The S6510 should stand the rigours of travel quite well.We found the keypad spacing even better on this model.However the soft soggy feedback isn't as much fun.Another great software bundle,image editing software,antivirus suite and MS Office 2007 along with some nifty Fujitsu utilities that save battery, optimise performance,etc make the $6510 a fully loaded solution.
It's got the same configuration as its little brother which isn't a bad thing at all.For Rs80,000 however it's a touch costly since its more compact brother is lighter and smaller.If you're looking for a business solution,you may want to check out the S6410 instead.
Fujitsu U1010
Born out of desire to be petite,the U1010 is a tiny but not pocket compatible notebook.A laptop this is not,especially with a screen size of 5.6 inches.It's 3.5G ready and support HSDPA1,(acronym for High Speed Downlink Packet Access 1, a fast 3G mobile communications protocol),ready.While this m
ay sound good to most people,it's mostly useless in India and is strictly advertising jargon as of now.Build quality is sadly mediocre and the swivel has a lot of play, the keypad besides being(obviously) cramped doesn't impart too intuitive a feel.The buttons and little interface objects(shortcut keys,biometric login,WiFi switch,etc) are also weirdly placed and it'll take time to get used to using this.
With Windows Vista Home Premium, a touch screen and a fully functional(albeit horibly cramped keypad), this tiny notebook could be easily mistaken for a large PDA.With an Intel A110(codenamed Stealey), 800 MHz CPU and 1GB of RAM this little notebook is all set to ride in your cargo pockets.And herein lies one of its biggest advantages and drawbacks.People craving performance with mobility will look for an 11.1 inch solution but the U1010 straddles a chasm best left unabridged for the route is rife with problems.If you want something nearly pocket-able, then this may be for you.If you want a 'portable' notebook look somewhere else.At Rs.72,000 it's very nice and if you're looking for something like this, the price shouldn't deter you.
Acer TravelMate6292
Acer's answer to the corporate executive's prayers, the TravelMate series are typically business notebooks and a single glance at them and their stable mates,the Aspire series,will tell you why.Industrial grade finishes and a magnesium/aluminium alloy on the lid that is both lightweight and durable makes the TravelMate worthy of its name.Inside, the 12.1 inch screen is crisp with good colors.You also get a good configuration -a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 processor and 2 GB of RAM.Acer is admittedly shy on the software bundle side 
of things,but all the essentialslike an office suite and firewall program have been provided.The keypad is nicely sculpted and feels good to use.However,once again the layout is a bit of an issue with keys seeming too close together for people with larger fingers.Feedback is right on the sweet spot though.At Rs.52,999, the Travelmate 6292 is a good break from all the costlier business class notebooks.It's small footprint (12.1inches) is only let down by a slightly bulky body.Although it's well built it lacks that attractive feel that makes people go "ooh" when they see one.
HCL notebooks and conclusions
HCL G28 CP computer notebook
At Rs.22,490 the G28 CP is positioned as an entry level solution, and for this price we wouldn't expect much.However,it'
s got a solid,robust,(if bulky),feel.Thanks to a total lack of design attention, it also feels very clunky.The good thing about it is that if you're ever going to get caught in an alley by a mugger, then this is the computer notebook you would probably wish you had.The keypad isn't too bad, and the keys, although lacking any kind of comfort contouring, are rather well laid out, with acceptable levels of feedback.
An entry level Core 2 Duo does duty here(T2310).In fact,these processors are little more than dual core Celerons, so don't expect much performance from this notebook.The 1 GB of RAM is decent enough for the target audience who will mostly by using this at office or home for very basic tasks.Even if you are remotely interested in multimedia or a fancy notebook ,or even a powerful desktop replacement, then you'd do well to steer clear of this.For someone looking for a entry level notebook,however, this one may be worth considering.
HCL P28 PDC
HCL next offering and basically identical to the cosh-like G28 CP,which isn't bad if you intend to be sitting at your desk with your notebook for most of the time.This one is jus
t as heavy, and shares the same keys and feedback.We didn't like the very hard-to-press shortcut buttons on the front bezel.Other convenience issues were the lack of any type of buttons for activating and deactivating WLAN connectivity.Incidentally,Bluetooth is lacking(also on the G28CP).Powered by a Core 2 Duo T2330,and 2GB of RAM, along with a 160GB of hard drive,this has marginally better configuration,though battery life is down at an abysmal 81 minutes.For Rs28,990 this computer notebook will have takers only from the lot who want a notebook and are graduating there from a desktop.Probability freaks,performance users and aficionados will give this a miss.
HCL B30 C2D
Sporting an identical look to both the earlier HCLs in this category, the B30 C2D offers nothing different to the earlier two expect in terms of configuration.This notebook comes with freeDOS, so do remember that genuine copies of Windows will add to your purchase price.Also no software is bundled, expect for an HCl backup-restore suite. The 2GB of RAM and Core 2 Duo T5550 do make the B30 C2D a little faster, and this notebook will handle some multimedia content,(remember we said so
me).The 80GB HDD is a backward step and considering the minimal difference in price of 80 and 160 GB notebook HDDs this is a travesty.For Rs.32,990 the B30 C2D is a decent solution for price conscious buyers, though to be honest, if all you need is access to the internet and basic office use , both the G28 and the P28 from HCL's own stables would do the trick.You save pretty penny too!
HCL Z24C2D
This is HCL's first good notebook solution that we reviewed.A 14.1-inch computer laptops is so much better than a 15.4 inch,especially whwn you need to heft in around, and when HCL design their notebooks to be heavy duty.At Rs.38,490 the Z24C2D is good value for the money.It's reasonably powerful, compact and reasonably functional.For the value conscious home user who wants some mobility,this is a good option.To our delight,the Z24 C2D isn't as bulky as most of its siblings, although it isn't compact compared to the 14.1 inch models from other vendors.At 2.31 kg it's heavy for a 14.1 inch notebook, but the dimensions seem good.The keypad has been reworked from other HCL models, now imparting crisper feedback and a nice springy feel from the keys.The screen is quite good.We weren't expecting such a sharp display from HCL.
A good configuration under the hood(Core 2 Duo T7250,2 GHz), a whopping 3 GB of RAM,a nd a colossal 320GB HDD make the costlier avatar of the Z24C2D(there's a cheaper version with the same model number in our sub-40,000 category)a killer.Although a discrete graphics solution would have made this an even better notebook for multimedia aficionados,this wasn't to be.At Rs.57,740, the Z24C2D is a powerful solution .But if you compare specifications, the Dell XPS 1530 and the Sony Vaio VGN-FZ35GN knock it into orbit in nearly every benchmark.And they are priced very close as well, which makes it a notebook which due to no fault of its own,we cannot recommend.
HCL Z29 C2D-This is HCL's compact offering and while it doesn't claim to be in the same league as the ones before it,the Z29C2D is a Core 2 Duo T5550(1.83GHz) based 12.1 notebook.We couldn't figure out why HCL added the diamond cut patterns on the lid this brings back unpleasant memories of Nokia's prism.It is well built and except for its lid , which seems flimsy and doesn't tilt back, we couldn't find much to complain about.Oh!-Wait a minute, there was the issue with the keypad where the function key is placed to the extreme left where the {ctrl} key should be which causes lot of inconvenience when using the ctrl key for the purpose, especially shortcuts.It's also little too thick for a 12.1 inch.
HCL MiLeap MVO2
The name not withstanding, the MiLeap MV02 is a very large PDA or a compact notebook depending solely on how you look at it.It's for those who want something small,with touch screen functionality but cannot afford the price,size or both of a tablet PC.This is built sturdier than the Fujitsu U1010 but we wonder about the piano black finish which imparts the look of a designer handbag,rather than a notebook/giant PDA.The chrome buttons add some much unwanted garishness to an already non-acoustically loud device.
It's got an Intel A110 CPU running at a nominal 800 MHz and 1GB of RAM coupled with 80Gb of storage.The fact that it's significantly larger than the U1010 means that its keypad is more usable too.Keypad feedback is not good however and for the most(unless typing out a letter or something similar)you'll pretty want to stick to the touch screen/stylus duo.For someone who's really looking for the additional functionality of a touch screen and the portability of a tiny notebook the Mileap MVO2 is a decent soulution, with a killer price tag-Rs.34,900
Conclusion about notebooks use
Notebooks should ideally be oriented towards portability and performance/functionalilty in somewhat equal proportions.Bridging this set of requirements can be tricky, though not possible.Dell manages this with their XPSM1330 rather well. ASUS does an excellent job their U6SG-these notebooks well and truly bridge the divide.Just how bulky or powerful a notebook you want,or how important compactness is to you depends on your usage,and ultimately which parameter you are willing to compromise on more.Afterall you just can't get a fast processor ,4GB of RAM,320 GB hard drive an d a 256 MB graphics solution on a small screen, not yet anyways.Technology has shrunk enough.however,that tiny marvels like the Vaio VGN-TZ37GN/R exist, and thrive.However at 11.1 inches, it may be a bit too compact for most even on those on go.
A 15.4-inch form factor is too large a footprint for a portable machine.A screen size of 13.3 inches is more like what is acceptable,but we're not giving up an ounce of processing power, or functionality.For those who desire something even more mobile we recommend a 12.1 inch notebook.With new 'green' hard drives that run cooler,faster and more efficient,CPU's from Intel and AMD,and very watt-skimpy graphics solution from ATI and NVIDIA, the whole shrink in screen size is a revolution that has arrived now and not a distant vista we can drool over.
Acer Aspire computer notebooks
If you thought 17-inch notebooks were nicknamed "lap busters",we wonder what name would be apt for this humongous freak.At 18.4 inches,the 8920G is the largest notebook we've seen,or held.
If you're looking to lug your notebook in anything less spacious than a limousine, then we suggest you forget owning this.With a piano black finish, and a rounded,curvy posterior with a bright screen that does 1920*1080 pixels, this laptop isn't unattractive at all.With 3-GB of RAM, a snappy 2.2GHz dual-core processor and a spanking new GeForce 9500GS graphics solution, the 8920G seems to be strong contender to replace your ageing laptop (actually,it would give any desktop a good run for its buck).For those looking for something to use as a home-entertainment system, o
r a laptop for the entire family, you get 320GB of HDD space , and an HDMI port to connect to your large screen TV.Blu-ray optical drive was liked ,but all we got was a 20*DVD burner.
With a quirky keypad, and touch buttons that look better than they work, the 8920G is still a formidable desktop replacement solution, and it'll offer some portability to those who are muscular enough to heft its bulk around.If it loses out to the Vaio AR69GU in terms of features like a built in TV tuner,S-video connect and Blu-ray drive,it also wins big time in terms of price.At Rs79,999, it's half the price of the less bulky Sony VGN-AR69GU.Although it's not as well built and doesn't sport the same designer tag, we reckon it's a saner choice,unless you really want your notebook to grab all the attention.
Acer Aspire 6920
The smaller brother to the Aspire 8920G(by 2.4 screen inches,to be exact)looks identical to its larger,faster and costlier sibling.The quirky touch-type multimedia keys remain unchanged from its older brother.However,it's a lot more portable,although these aren't the type of notebooks anyone would want to cart around.It's as well built as its sibling but makes do without any discrete graphics powering its video subsystem.Once again 3GB of system memory 
makes the 6920 snappy.Both acers have a CPU in common.A large,powerful notebook simply requires a graphics card and an X3100 video solution just doesn't cut it for viewing HD content,or any kind of serous multimedia usage.And that's the kind of user who will buy such a laptop-a person who wants a powerful notebook to replace his main desktop solution.
At Rs.49,999, the 6920 is a sturdy, large notebook meant to be plonked on to a desk and for the most part,kept there.We really wish for a discrete graphics solution on this one but if wishes were Acers, this one would be an unavoidable recommendation. As it stands, if you're looking for a powerful desktop replacement notebook and you're on a budget,it doesn't get stingier than this.
Acer Aspire 5290
Acer reminisces with the lego toys of yesteryear with a return to plastic with their aspire 5290.
The finish although cheap looking, and off white in color,(the worst color for 
dirt prone touch pads),does seem to be of good quality,especially after a week of regular use.It's the larger twin of the Aspire 2920, and for a 15.4-inch notebook , its heavy too(3kg).The configuration is a Core 2Duo T555O(1.83GHz) coupled with 2GB of RAM is good enough for office work and the internet on the window vista.A shame then, that Acer chose to bundle Linux with this notebook, although frankly we were interested to see the difference this made in the pricing.At Rs.39,139 the Aspire 5290 aspires to be something it is not.Do not aspire to own this, you will find better options among the other contenders.
Acer Aspire 2920
One look at the Aspire 2920 had us thinking cheap,tacky and plasticy.However,once you use the notebook, you realise the simple plastic beige bezel is misleading-it's clearly a cost-cutting move rather than a cheap tactic to rake in bigger profit percentages on sales.The notebook has this tacky looking cover, and a cheap looking (but not so) inner bezel.What is annoying is the large footprint(for a12.1-inch notebook) courtesy a larger,rounded body.It's heavier than your average 12.1 inch too at 2.04 kg.It's for this reason that the Aspire2920 finds itself in this category than the 'ultra compact' category, which is more suited to notebooks bearing similar screen sizes.The keypad is surprisingly good, and very usable.The configuration is fine for the home or office-a 1.83 GHz Core 2Duo,2GB of RAM, and a 160GB HDD.Linux is the OS of choice, another cost-cutting move.With such capers being cut, we expected the price to be really superb.At Rs.41,199 the Aspire 2920 isn't exorbitant, but it's much costlier than the Fujitsu S7211, which is a better notebook(albeit with 1GB less memory).For this reason as well as the quality of the materials and finish on this product, you gotta stay away from this.
computer laptops today and sony vaio
For many, a computer laptops is something to show off-flash an expensive one at an airport or at the odd boardroom discussion and you are bound to get attention.Such people belong to a soon-to-be extinct species.Most people who own a laptop today will be the first to tell you that it was functionality ,utility and convenience that made them go for a notebook,rather than style,panache or even sex appeal.The most obvious class of people to benefit from notebooks are,o f course, the business class. As an owner of a company,you have to be constantly be informed of changes both within and outside your organization.
What about the average BE or MBA student, who attends lectures during the day,studies during the night ,and works on projects in between?You'll need something to take down quick notes,quick access to the internet to verify the facts and do some research.You'll also probably want to unwind to a movie,or listen to a music while you work on your project,during lunch hour.For all of the above ,a notebook would be necessity.Like caffeine,something that is needed to jump start one's day,or at the least see them through it.So a luxury no more a notebook has given gone so far as replacing a desktop in some homes,simply because, the family would be more flexible , an d nobody has accused desktops of being that..
Traditionally notebooks have lacked two things -usability which is important to everyone and performance-which is so as well.These comparisons are made with respect to a desktop pc,which is in general more powerful,more general and economic an d ca perform few tasks beyond most laptops.While this chasm of short-comings between notebooks and desktops still exists ,computer laptops today are more powerful processing machines than their predecessors that are just a year old.
Sony Vaio VGN-AR69GU
This 17-inch behemoth is definitely not meant to keep you on your lap,unless you have a very large lap indeed,or need to keep it warm! What this is,however is a desktop replacement and a powerful and good-looking one at that. While the built,fit and finish are excellent, the AR-69GU feels solid to hold,you get the feeling that a device so large defeats the purpose of be
ing a notebook.The screen is gorgeous and crisp, and the keypad wonderfully spaced out-a pity though,that the multimedia buttons are very clicky and tacky. The touch-pad is also sensitive and imparts just the right amount of feedback.With 3GB of system memory and a 256MB GeForce 8600GT under the hood, you can expect this giant to be no slouch.
There's a fully functional windows MCE remote bundled with this thing, and Sony also provides S-video and TV antenna jacks,in addition to HDMI port. Incidentally the 17-Inch screen does 1920*1200 pixels, so native 1080p should be a wonderful experience.This notebook's entertainment genes are wonderfully evident even before switching it on.You'll find the shortcut keys very utilitarian our only gripe being the typically soft Vaio keypads, which lack key feedback -they're too soft.With two 250GB hard drives on board and DVD writer-cum Blu-ray drive this notebook has a configuration that should stand the test of t at least for another couple of years.
We really enjoyed this notebook as far as home entertainment is concerned, it's not for the discerning gamer, but it does most tasks with ease, while retaining functionality as a fully remote-control-lable desktop replacement.At Rs.1,69,900 the largest Vaio in this test is very expensive.Bu that's in keeping with its premium specifications,premium performance,premium features and its premium heritage.It's for those looking for an HTPC-cum-PC-cum-powerful notebook that is connectable to a large screen TV as well,but crave the mobile flexibility of a notebook and do not want to waste space on a desktop.
Sony Vaio VGN-FZ35GN
This 15.4 inch laptop is a beauty to behold with a slim design well complemented by quality materials and a silver base colour with the palm rest trimmed in dark grey.Although it feels a little heavy this notebook is built like a tank and sculpted like a sports car.The keypad is well laid out as its tiny 11.1 inch sibling.Sony has dropped in an amazing screen,its br
ight,brilliant,brilliant colors and text is very very easy to read.After working with mediocre displays, this is much needed respite.A killer configuration-Core 2 Duo T8100(2.1GHz),2GB of RAM,200 GB 7200 rp HDD and a Geforce 8400GT mean that this Vaio is ready to tackle nearly any obstacle thrown in its path.It's the epitome of what 15.4 inch notebooks are all about power,performance, looks,build quality with just a tantalising hint of portability.
The only place Sony slipped up in our opinion was with the rather lifeless and clicky multimedia keys.These exude no feedback whatsoever and they feel tacky as well(although we're sure they aren't ).With HDMI and S-Video connectivity the VGN-FZ35GN can substitute as a decent HTPC solution for those who have large screen TVs and wish to hook them up to a computer.
At Rs59,000, the Vaio VGN-FZ35GN offers a superb configuration and a colossal software bundle as well, making this Vaio really worth its price for those looking for a superbly refined 15.4-inch notebook that can double as a desktop for most tasks.
