13-inch Apple MacBook Air

Amazing battery life -- yes, you can web-surf for more than 12 hours straight -- makes the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air tough to beat. It keeps everything good about the previous Air and drops the price tag. Experts can scarcely find anything to criticize, wholeheartedly recommending it over and over.

Breaking it down

Performance

All-day battery life. Apple says that the 13-inch Air will deliver "up to 12 hours" of Wi-Fi web surfing or movie playback, but professional reviewers regularly squeeze out even more -- nearly 16 hours in PCMag.com's trials, easily outdistancing top Windows ultraportable competitors. "While those other laptops may take you through your workday, the MacBook Air can also take you through your morning commute, your lunch hour, and your evening," Brian Westover says. The price cut helps makes the Air a good value considering its hardware lineup, including 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor (4th generation), 4 GB of memory, a 128 GB flash drive, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 5000. Upgrades are possible, but pricey, and can only be done at the time of purchase. But even in the base configuration, there's plenty of power for everyday tasks and even casual but still satisfying gaming.

Ergonomics

Travels light, feels great. Its ergonomics are largely unchanged, but critics rave about the 13-inch MacBook Air's backlit keyboard and glass trackpad, and at about less than .7 inches thick (maximum, tapering down to just .11 inches) and less than 3 pounds, you'll barely notice it when you carry it around. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities help on the road, but you'll need a separate adapter if you want an Ethernet connection. The lack of an optical drive and HDMI port annoy some reviewers, but only mildly, while the inclusion of an SDXC memory card reader -- missing on the 11-inch MacBook Air (Est. $900 and up) -- rates a thumbs up. There's no touch screen, because Mac OS X doesn't use touch. For those who run Windows 8 on this laptop, the large, responsive trackpad makes the omission less of an issue than it might seem.

Design

Same as it ever was. Almost every ultraportable on Earth takes its cues from the MacBook Air, which remains largely unchanged from previous versions. That leads some reviewers, such as CNET, to chide the MacBook Air's design as being "static," and missing some bells and whistles such as edge-to-edge glass and higher resolution screens. Indeed, the Air keeps its 13-inch screen at just 1,440 by 900 pixels, which is somewhat low-resolution compared to its rivals, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (Est. $1,300 and up). Some competitors are slightly slimmer and lighter as well, but so slightly that Westover calls the differences "almost imperceptible." Laptop magazine finds the design to still be "svelte and elegant"

Support and reliability

The gold standard. Year after year, Apple's rock-solid reliability leaves other laptop brands in the dust in PCMag.com's reader survey. Users say Apple products rarely break down, and if they do, the company's support staff is friendly and helpful. Tech support is just as outstanding. Laptop Magazine staffers hit Apple with anonymous questions and get great help via phone and web. Any Mac owner can bring a laptop in for free help at a Genius Bar with a reservation, but the one-year warranty includes just 90 days of phone help. Laptop's Mark Spoonauer calls the current edition of the Air "sturdy," then adds: "We've used another 13-inch Air for a few years in a row without so much as a dent or worn-down key."

Buy now...!!!

Nikon D3200

Best digital SLR for beginners

Bottom line

The entry-level Nikon D3200 has a few tricks up its sleeve that make it super-easy for beginners to use, plus some high-end specs like a mega-high-resolution sensor that you won't find even on some pricier cameras. It fits 24 megapixels into a compact and lightweight body, and reviewers call it a "DSLR with training wheels."

Ease of use

One of the easiest to use. "This is one of the easiest-to-use DSLRs out there," DCResource.com's Jeff Keller says, and other reviewers agree. As with any DSLR, you can simply set the D3200 to Auto and click away while the camera does the rest. But if you want to learn more, the camera's Guide Mode will teach you as you shoot, "like a DSLR with training wheels," says Dan Havlik at Imaging-Resource.com.
The camera's body weighs just 1 pound, so it's "small and light enough to carry around every day," Keller adds. Testers find it comfortable to hold, with buttons and dials located exactly where you'd expect to find them. The 3-inch LCD screen is bright and clear and you can frame your shot in Live View, but experts say autofocus is sluggish this way, so it's better to look through the optical viewfinder.

Performance

Snappy speed and pretty photos, but don't expect miracles. In reviews, the Nikon D3200's real attention-grabber is its 24.2-megapixel compact image sensor. This is a significant achievement in a budget DSLR: "For an entry-level camera, this is exciting," says Tim Coleman at Amateur Photographer. This compact-sensor camera captures outstanding detail -- as much as some pro-quality, full-frame-sensor DSLRs -- and still handles dim light up to ISO 3,200 quite well. One drawback to note: The D3200's whopping megapixels mean whopping file sizes on your computer. Its battery is rated for 540 shots on a single charge: "Good enough for a typical day of stills shooting with some video capture and image review in between."

Durability

Lightweight but sturdy. "Despite being made of plastic (err, composite materials), it still feels very solid," Keller says of the Nikon D3200 at DCResource.com. "Lightweight does not mean poor quality," agrees Amateur Photographer's Coleman. He points out that the D3200's plastic body and faux-leather hand and thumb grips are identical to the Nikon D5100 (Est. $480 (with kit lens)) , the next model up the Nikon ladder. Ken Rockwell notes that the D3200's lens mount and tripod socket are both metal: "This is perfect," he says. "It's lightweight, and the durable parts are still metal." In fact, "about the only construction weak spot is the door over the memory card slot," Keller reports.

Features

Nikon adds new extras, but still leaves a few out. The Nikon D3200 includes a few impressive features, reviews say, but omits some niceties you'll find on other cameras. There's a jack so you can add your own stereo microphone, which is ideal when shooting movies as the built-in mono mic doesn't impress. There's also manual control over video, so you can adjust things such as aperture and mic level. Optional accessories include a $20 wireless remote and a $60 USB dongle that can beam photos wirelessly to your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet. On the downside, the LCD panel is static and won't flip out or swivel. However, a movable screen lets you see what you're doing with odd-angle shots like when shooting above a crowd.

strength:

• Ultra-high-resolution, 24-megapixel sensor
• Compact and lightweight
• Shoots 1080p full HD video with manual control

weakness:

• Overall image quality no better than lower-res cameras
• Huge resolution means huge files
• Sluggish autofocus in Live View and Movie mode

buy now...!!!

Google Nexus 10

A jaw-dropping 2560-by-1600-pixel ultra-high-resolution display paired with a powerful new Samsung Exynos processor makes the Google Nexus 10 (Est. $450) the most compelling Android alternative to the fourth-generation Apple iPad . The lightweight slate is well built, but the lack of tablet-optimized Android apps hurts. The Google Nexus 10 includes the newest version of the Android operating system.

Performance

Powerful and pretty. The Samsung Exynos 5 Dual processor powering the Nexus 10 and its display provides punchy and responsive performance, although the ultra-high resolution can cause the most cutting-edge of 3D games to hiccup a bit as they struggle to fill all those pixels. Everyday performance screams along just fine, and reviewers say the audio is loud and excellent. On the downside, battery life is just average and the micro-USB charger fills the battery slowly.

Features

Android's latest software. Aside from the stunning display, the Nexus 10's biggest claim to fame is the inclusion of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the latest build of Google's operating system. This upgrade adds a 360-degree panoramic photo mode with the 5-megapixel rear camera, multi-user login capabilities, enhanced security features, a much-improved virtual keyboard and support for the Miracast streaming wireless display standard. As a flagship Nexus device, the 10 should also receive timely operating system updates.
Reviewers' two biggest criticisms are a complete lack of expandable storage or cellular data capabilities and the poor state of the Google Play Store from a tablet perspective. Simply put, developers simply haven't created many tablet-optimized Android apps, much less any capable of admirably taking advantage of the Nexus 10's plentiful pixels. The Nexus 10's high-quality overall package makes it an enticing proposition at $450, which is less than the fourth-generation iPad. But just be sure you're happy with the Android app selection before spurning Apple's tablet.

Ease of use

A mote in the high-resolution eye. Navigation is simple most of the time, but the Retina-beating display has one weakness: poor viewing at off-center angles. Experts say the Nexus 10's lightweight and thin build makes it easy to hold for hours on end, but if you're looking for something a bit more portable, they point to the 7-inch, quad-core processor-powered Google Nexus 7 (Est. $230 and up) as an alternative. It's also available in a cellular data-equipped version (Est. $310). 
 strength :

• Highest-resolution display available
• Powerful performance
• Android 4.2 operating system
• Good build quality

weakness :

• No expandable storage or cellular options
• Limited tablet-optimized Android apps available

 Buy now...!!!

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (Est. $450) boasts powerful performance and productivity-focused features such as the touch-sensitive S Pen stylus and an efficient multitasking mode. There's even an IR remote to control home-theater electronics, along with a host of other extras. But if you don't need those bells and whistles, other tablets deliver just as much performance and nicer screens for a similar price. Performance Fast on the inside, fuzzy on the outside. Reviewers say the quad-core Exynos processor powering the Galaxy Note 10.1 screams through tasks and responds in a snap, although there's a hint of lag when you have two apps open simultaneously. The S Pen works well most of the time, but isn't 100 percent accurate. Battery life is epic, and audio rings out loud and clear. The screen's brightness outshines the competition, but experts say the 1280-by-800-pixel resolution is a disappointment in a premium Android tablet. That's the same resolution found in the 7-inch Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 (Est. $230 and up) , and less than that of the highly regarded Google Nexus 10 (Est. $350 and up) . Features Stacked with extras. The entire Galaxy Note 10.1 experience revolves around the touch-sensitive S Pen stylus; the tablet ships with several drawing and handwriting apps designed to take full advantage of the input device. Unfortunately, few Android apps aside from those support stylus functionality, although Samsung's helpful S Suggest app identifies stylus-friendly apps in the Google Play Store to which the Galaxy Note 10.1 has full access. The device includes an IR blaster paired with the Peel Remote Control app, along with Samsung's AllShare Play app that lets you stream pictures and movies to DLNA-compatible TVs on the same Wi-Fi network. Additional apps make sharing with other Samsung mobile devices seamless. Galaxy Note 10.1 owners also get a free two-year, 50 GB Dropbox cloud storage subscription, which augments the 16 GB of onboard storage that's comparatively paltry for a premium tablet. The tablet's two cameras work well, but aren't anything special. The base Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 sports only Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but 4G LTE-equipped versions are now available for AT&T and Verizon networks. Ease of use Little to complain about. This 10-inch tablet is a bit heavier than its competitors, but we see no complaints about the Galaxy Note 10.1 being too bulky. As noted, the quad-core processor proves highly responsive, although some lag occurs when two apps are open simultaneously in multitasking mode. Reflections make it difficult to see the screen if you move too far to one side, although reviewers say this shouldn't be a problem in everyday use. strength : S Pen stylus and handwriting/drawing apps IR remote functionality Side-by-side app multitasking Great performance .weakness : Relatively low-resolution display Few stylus-friendly apps available . Buy now...!!!

Sony Xperia Tablet Z

The Sony Xperia Tablet Z (Est. $500 and up) is a capable 10-inch tablet that performs well, but doesn't do any one thing particularly outstandingly. However, reviewers rave about how lightweight it is. Its unique selling point of being water-resistant to a depth of three feet for 30 minutes is useful if you plan on using your tablet around water, but otherwise you may find all the flaps covering the plug-ins for connectors and headphones a bit annoying.

Performance

OK performance. The Sony Xperia Tablet Z's performance draws neither raves nor complaints. It has a fast processor and good graphics, though its "better than full-HD" resolution isn't quite up to that of the Google Nexus 10 screen (Est. $350 and up) or that of the iPad (Est. $500 and up). Reviewers also report that the Xperia Tablet Z's speakers are passable.

Features

Ultra-stylish and thin. The design of this 10-inch tablet is the wow factor and matches the thin, sleek and smart design of the Sony Xperia smartphone. Sony claims that the Xperia Tablet Z is the thinnest 10-inch tablet in the world, being a mere 0.27 inch thick -- a pencil is 0.35 inch thick. The unique selling point of this tablet, though, is that it's waterproof, to three feet deep. Several reviewers tested this out by holding their tablets under running water for 10 minutes or more, and found this claim to be true. Unlike some other tablets, the Tablet Z has expandable storage, an HDMI connection to connect to your TV, an IR blaster to control your TV, and Near Field Communication as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

Ease of use

Water-resistant. Reviewers key in on the incredibly light weight of the Xperia Tablet Z and state that it means that you can easily hold it for extended periods of time. A reviewer reports that the soft-touch, tactile finish of the rear of the tablet is prone to fingerprints, and another calls it "the biggest fingerprint magnet we have ever seen." Because the Xperia Tablet Z is water-resistant, there are flaps covering all the ports, so you have to lift them up to access all the connections and headphone sockets. Operating system-wise, Sony has added its own tweaks to the latest version of Android, including themes and shortcut icons, to make it more user-friendly.
strength :

• Very light in weight
• Water-resistant
• Remote TV and media device control
• Expandable storage

weakness :

• Flaps cover all slots
• OK performance

Buy now...!!!

cyberpower FangBook Evo HX7-200

A gaming laptop that's a great bang for your buck, the CyberPower FangBook Evo HX7-200 packs everything you probably want and more into a sturdy boutique body for a reasonable price. You get the latest Haswell processor, powerful Nvidia graphics, Blu-ray Disc drive and more, but size suffers. Prepare to haul around more than 10 pounds of notebook to get your gaming fix.

Performance

Outpaces older gaming notebooks. The FangBook Evo HX7-200 was already one of experts' favorite gaming laptops before it got a Core i7-4700MQ Intel Haswell processor. "Our Worldbench 8.1 benchmark suite is still relatively new, so we haven't amassed a large collection of scores that we can compare to the FangBook Evo, but a Notebook Worldbench 8.1 score of 417 indicates the FangBook is clearly in a different league," PC World writes. The only way to get a better gaming laptop? Drop $3,000 to $4,000 or so on one with even more powerful graphics. That'll get you higher frame rates at max settings, but rest assured, the FangBook can handle any title you throw at it. Of course, you can always configure your Evo HX7-200 for more power when you buy it. Battery life isn't great with the last-gen processor -- just over two hours, about average for a gaming laptop -- but the energy-efficient Haswell chip should improve that (however, while the Evo has now been out a while, no expert review we could spot directly addresses that).

Ergonomics

"As elegant as a water buffalo." This is one of those old-school, 2-inch-thick gaming cinderblocks. It tips the scales at 8.5 pounds, plus the 2.2-pound power brick you'll haul wherever you go, and looks "about as elegant as a water buffalo," PC World says. That's not unusual for a serious gaming laptop, but the 4-pound Razer Blade (Est. $1,800 and up) , our Best Reviewed choice, is sleek by comparison. There's no touch screen and the trackpad isn't multi-touch, but gamers will probably use the keyboard and an external mouse, anyway. A full array of ports includes wired Ethernet, as well as a memory card reader and Blu-ray Disc drive, all of which the Razer jettisons in the name of skinniness.

Design

Big screen, nice speakers. Unlike the Razer Blade, which could almost pass for a MacBook, there's nothing subtle about the FangBook's design. "CyberPowerPC wants the FangBook to stop traffic," HotHardware.com says, so it's wrapped in "what looks like space-age armor." Reminiscent of RoboCop, angular black and silver panels surround a glowing red CyberPowerPC logo on the lid. Inside, the Evo HX7-200's 17.3-inch, full 1080p HD screen is perfect for gaming and watching Blu-ray movies. Even the audio sounds really good for a laptop, thanks to stereo speakers with an integrated subwoofer.

Support and reliability

Most improved (for desktops). In 2011 and 2012, PCMag.com surveyed its readers to find the most reliable computers. The first year, CyberPower desktops had "by far the worst repair rate of any company," but by 2012 it had soared to second place among all brands. At the time there weren't enough CyberPower laptop owners to make the ratings, and the brand doesn't appear at all in the 2013 survey. The FangBook comes with a standard one-year warranty, plus lifetime tech support.

Value

Do you mind buying in bulk? If you're a gamer, the FangBook Evo HX7-200 has all the features you probably want. If you're looking for the most powerful gaming laptop under $2,000, look no further. But it's gargantuan. If you can do without the Blu-ray Disc drive and a few ports, you can get competitive power from the Best Reviewed Razer Blade in a 4-pound, Ultrabook-thin package that you can actually carry around.

strength :

• Powerful gaming performance
• Big 1,080p display
• Nice speakers

weakness :

• Not very portable at 10 pounds plus
• Battery life questionable
• No touch screen

Buy now...!!!

Acer Aspire S7

Breathtakingly slim and gorgeous, the aluminum and glass Acer Aspire S7 wows testers with swift performance to match. Only a lower-resolution though still very nice display keeps it from the top of the Windows Ultrabook pack. Performance Super-fast, and the battery lasts. The newest configurations of the Acer Aspire S7 (the Acer Aspire S7-392) come with the latest Intel Core processors code-named Haswell -- choose between Core i5 and Core i7 -- 8 GB RAM instead of 4 GB and faster RAID 0 solid-state drives. The integrated graphics chip with 128 MB of dedicated system memory is fine for light gaming. Battery life is good at 8.5 hours in tests, but is bested by other Haswell-based machines and trounced by some, such as the 13-inch MacBook Air (Est. $1,050 and up) . Ergonomics One of the thinnest you can buy. The Acer S7's stellar touch screen makes navigating Windows 8 a breeze: You can pinch, tap and swipe to your heart's content. However, the display is lower resolution than some competitors. For example, the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus (Est. $1,400) boasts a QuadHD+ 3,200-by-1,800-pixel screen. At just a half-inch thick and well under 3 pounds, the Acer is even thinner and lighter than the 13-inch Air, but its svelte profile is matched by other Windows Ultraportables, including Samsung's offering, which also weighs nearly a half-pound less. If the absolute lightest laptop is a must, the 1.9-pound Sony Vaio Pro 11 (Est. $1,150 and up) blows both away, though at the expense of lower performance. Keyboard ergonomics are upgraded from earlier-generation S7's, but Laptop Magazine holds that there's still some room for improvement. Port selection is still slim, as usual for an Ultrabook; you get two USB 3.0 jacks, an HDMI port, headphone jack and memory card slot. Design Gorgeous design, with a few practical bobbles. Critics wholeheartedly agree that few laptops look as stunning as the S7. Its tapered aluminum unibody looks minimalist and clean, with a scratch-resistant white Gorilla Glass lid. CNET complains that the glass-covered lid does feel a little top-heavy, however. Laptop Magazine notes that the lid is a hair shorter than the deck, resulting in "a configuration that is interesting to look at, but makes opening the notebook a bit of a hassle." The sturdy hinge takes a little more effort to move past 100 degrees or so, but PCMag.com notes that it gives the S7 "a rock solid screen during touch operations, without the bounce you'll see in some other touch ultrabooks." Support and reliability Facebook and Twitter are best for tech support. Acer's one-year warranty is nothing special and doesn't win it a Readers' Choice award at PCMag.com, whose editors consider reliability. It does score highest among all brands for ease of setup, however, with everything almost always working perfectly right out of the box. Acer's tech support continues to improve according to this year's Laptop Magazine tech support "showdown" but scores relatively poorly in the site's rankings of best and worst laptop brands. Value The best doesn't come cheap. You can get Haswell-powered Ultrabooks for less cash, but they won't have the Acer Aspire S7's super-svelte body or gorgeous design. However, some competitors have closed the distance -- if not caught up -- by delivering systems with similar performance, similar build quality, similar profiles, but added features such as higher-resolution screens.
strength :

• Exquisite design
• 1,080p HD (or more) touch screen
• Incredibly thin, light
• Fast performance
• Improved keyboard, battery life

weakness:
Screen resolution falls short of some competitors

Buy now...!!!

Asus Zenbook UX51VZ

Inside the slim, sleek aluminum shell of the Asus Zenbook UX51VZ lays a great Windows-based multimedia laptop, experts say. But the more expensive 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (Est. $2,000 and up) is a more powerful performer. Performance "A power users' ultraportable." The Zenbook UX51VZ comes absolutely stuffed with goodies, Engadget.com says. There's a quad-core Core i7 processor, but not the latest Haswell processors as of this update; 8 GB of RAM; powerful Nvidia graphics; and blisteringly fast dual 128 GB solid-state drives. Step-up drives and processors are available. The Zenbook can play most games but runs alarmingly hot on graphics-heavy titles even with the settings turned down. It manages to web-surf or play video for four to six hours in tests, leading PCMag.com to dub it "a power users' ultraportable," though Haswell-based Ultraportables now have longer battery life. Ergonomics Comfortable, even without a touch screen. You'll navigate Windows 8 via the multi-touch clickpad, which testers say works well, and the UX51VZ's comfy keyboard helps. The Asus is just under 0.8 inch wide and light enough to commute with at 4.6 pounds, and it squeezes in more ports than most Ultrabooks. You get three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, mini VGA, a combo headphone/microphone jack, Ethernet and SD/MMC card reader. However, there's no DVD or Blu-ray Disc drive. The Zenbook UX51VZ normally runs cool but gets very hot trying to play demanding games like "Batman: Arkham City" in more than one test. Again, it's not designed for heavy gaming. Design Splendid screen, speakers, even a subwoofer. "Beautiful," Laptop Magazine calls the brushed-aluminum Zenbook case, crafted with subtle concentric circles on the lid. Inside is the 15.6-inch, 1080p HD matte display that multimedia lovers crave. It's relatively glare-free, with nice, wide viewing angles and bright, vivid colors, adjustable through Asus' Splendid Utility. It's not as high-res as the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display but is very nice nonetheless, experts say. Audio sounds equally rich thanks to the Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speakers and a tiny 3.5-inch, tube-shaped, plug-in subwoofer that makes the sound "immediately fuller," CNET says. You can fine-tune the audio through the Zenbook's built-in Waves MaxxAudio and MaxxLeveler software. Support and reliability Great warranty, but mixed reviews for tech support. Owners say Asus laptops rarely break down, and that dependability helps the brand win a Readers' Choice award at PCMag.com. The UX51VZ is backed by a one-year warranty that includes free two-way standard shipping and 24/7 tech support; one year of accidental damage coverage against drops, spills, power surges and fire damage; and a 30-day display guarantee. However, PCMag.com readers rate Asus low for tech support. Value "Worth the money." If you want a fantastically portable Windows multimedia laptop and you're willing to pay for it, the Asus Zenbook UX51VZ won't disappoint. You'll enjoy tremendous power, a big beautiful screen, rich-sounding speakers, rock-solid build and a high-end warranty. "Yes, it's pricey," CNET says. "But as a multimedia machine that can do business and casual gaming, the UX51VZ is a four-star Windows 8 laptop and worth the money."
strength :

• Powerful performance
• Full-HD screen, speakers
• Thin, light aluminum design

weakness:

• No touch screen
• No optical drive
• Mediocre battery life

Buy now...!!!

Sony Vaio Pro 11

The lightest Ultrabook on Earth, the Sony Vaio Pro 11 catches critics' eyes with its stylish carbon-fiber shell and beautiful full-HD touch screen. Performance is on par with other Ultrabooks equipped with Intel's latest Core processor. The responsive touch screen is well liked, but the keyboard isn't. Performance Standard Ultrabook stuff. Performance compared to the current crop of Haswell-powered Ultrabooks isn't earth-shattering, but experts say you'll get peppy performance for day-to-day tasks whether you pick the Core i5 or i7 version. You can configure either one with a 128 GB or 256 GB solid-state drive. Integrated graphics mean no intense gaming, but that's standard for an Ultrabook. Battery life, however, isn't consistent in tests. In ComputerShopper.com's "grueling" video-playback test, the Sony lasts for just four hours and 20 minutes. PCMag.com gets the same numbers, but other testers get six to seven hours, even while playing video. An optional sheet battery (Est. $150) doubles the juice, but it adds about 10 ounces. Ergonomics "Impossibly light." The Sony's featherweight feel is the first thing you'll notice. "Impossibly light," says Engadget.com. "You can imagine what a convenience that is on a day-to-day basis," especially if you're a business traveler. A fantastic touch screen and mostly smooth touchpad make it easy to navigate Windows 8. The Vaio Pro 11's small keyboard feels somewhat flexy and cramped, however; some testers get used to it, but others never do. Ports are standard Ultrabook fare: two USB 3.0 jacks, an HDMI port, headphone/microphone combo jack and memory card slot. Design Rich-looking, inside and out. Sony's carbon-fiber body looks "delicious," Engadget.com says. Plus, it just feels great: "Its construction exemplifies quality," reports ComputerShopper.com. Yet both the black and silver models scratch easily in tests. The Vaio Pro 11's 11.6-inch, full 1080p HD display looks sharp and brilliant, but there's no option to upgrade to an even sharper 2,560-by-1,440-pixel screen like you can with the Acer Aspire S7 (Est. $1,330 and up) . The speakers are OK, but nothing special, reviewers say. Support and reliability Rock solid. Sony outclasses all other laptop brands, even Apple, in Laptop Magazine's tech-support test. Staffers throw anonymous questions at Sony's live chat, Twitter, Facebook and phone techs, and all prove friendly, prompt and helpful. Searching Sony's website turns up useful answers, too. PCMag.com's reader survey, which also considers reliability, ranks Sony laptops near the top for overall satisfaction. Value Lightness costs extra. Small but mighty, the Sony Vaio Pro 11 is an excellent choice if a lightweight laptop is paramount. If you can deal with an extra pound, however, you'll find bigger screens and more comfortable keyboards on the Acer Aspire S7 and 13-inch MacBook Air (Est. $1,050 and up) .
strength :

• Lightest Ultrabook you can buy
• 1,080p HD touch screen
• Award-winning Sony tech support

weakness:

• Battery life gets mixed reviews
• Cramped keyboard

Buy now...!!!

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch laptop review

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch is an excellent business laptop, experts say. By adding a touch screen and Windows 8 to the longtime favorite ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Lenovo delivers an even more effortless user experience than before. However, the newer Dell Latitude 6430u (Est. $900) now outperforms it in tests. = Performance Solid, but can't match newer rivals. The Dell Latitude 6430u blows past the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch in professional tests; startup, spreadsheets and file transfers all get done faster with the Dell. Still, the Carbon Touch can handle any task most business users will throw at it, with a third-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB solid-state drive. Battery life is just 4.5 to 5.5 hours per charge in tests while the Dell gets more than seven hours. The Carbon Touch runs hot under load, too. Keep it off your lap, advises TheVerge.com, "unless you have some leg hair you're not fond of." Ergonomics Nearly flawless, but missing some ports. A touch screen makes Windows 8 much easier and faster to navigate, experts say. The Carbon Touch's works beautifully, and it adds just a few tenths of an inch and tenths of a pound to the non-touch screen Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Est. $1,230 and up) . As usual for Lenovo laptops, most experts rave over the wonderful typing experience and big trackpad. Lenovo's signature pointing stick is present and accounted for, but ports are scarce. There's no optical drive, HDMI port or Ethernet jack, although Lenovo throws in a USB Ethernet dongle. Design "One of the best-looking laptops." All-black carbon fiber gives the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch a premium feel and slick look, "like something you'd see Jason Bourne open up in his getaway car," says David Pierce at TheVerge.com. "It's one of the best-looking laptops I've ever seen." Adding touch capability dims the matte screen a bit and makes for a slightly narrower viewing angle than with the original X1 Carbon, but it's still bright and vivid. The screen folds back flat, which can help in cramped spaces. The Carbon Touch's 1,600-by-900-pixel resolution is "the sweet spot" for 14-inch laptops, says CNET, rendering everything sharp but not too small as a full-HD screen can sometimes do. The speakers sound typically laptop-thin, but are fine for teleconferencing or playing a few tunes in your hotel room. Support and reliability A tradition of reliability. Lenovo has "been known for laptop reliability for so many years," PCMag.com says, and readers now rate it even higher. Its one-year warranty is standard among laptops, but business laptops including the Dell 6430u often get a three-year warranty. Phone support is disappointing, however, says Laptop Magazine testers after posing anonymous questions to three different Lenovo techs. Value Best business laptop with a touch screen. Experts agree that the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch is the best business laptop you can buy, if you want a touch screen. Otherwise, the newer non-touch Dell Latitude 6430u delivers faster performance and better connectivity for less. strength : Fantastic keyboard Quality build, premium finish Light weight weakness : Performance now surpassed by newer rivals Runs hot under load No optical drive or HDMI port Buy now...!!!

Dell XPS 12

Reviewers say the Dell XPS 12 is a very good Windows 8 convertible laptop, packed with blisteringly fast hardware and a bright, crisp 1080p display that proves very responsive to multi-touch controls. Rotating the screen and closing the lid transform the Ultrabook into a 12.5-inch slate, but experts say some other convertible laptops surpass its performance and value. Performance Are you sure this is a tablet? The third generation Core i5 processor, 128 GB solid-state drive and 4 GB of RAM are last generation compared with better Ultrabook models, but it's relatively potent for a tablet. Reviewers say the system blazes through tasks while the 1080p display looks crisp and clear, with exceptionally wide viewing angles. Battery life lasts between 5.5 and eight hours, which is great for a laptop but just OK for a tablet. The sound gets loud but is a bit muddled, critics report. Features Split personality. The Dell XPS 12's calling card is its swiveling screen, which allows it to switch between a large-screen tablet and a full-fledged Windows 8 Ultrabook. As a Windows 8 device, the XPS 12 can run both traditional desktop Windows programs as well as the tablet-friendly apps found in the Windows Store. The Windows App Store's selection remains fairly skimpy, however, limiting the number of touch-optimized programs available. A front-facing webcam helps with video chatting but doesn't take especially good pictures, reviewers say, and others wish the laptop had an SD card slot. Ergonomics Great input tools, iffy interface. Testers say the Dell XPS 12's keyboard, touchpad and touch screen all feel comfortable and responsive, while the powerful internals eliminate lag entirely. The display sports wide viewing angles and a light sensor that automatically adjusts the screen brightness to match the environment. The biggest stumbling block will likely be Windows 8 itself, but Dell includes several video tutorials to help new users get around the touch-oriented operating system. Design A laptop first, a tablet second. As a laptop the 3.35-pound Ultrabook weighs remarkably little, but that heft and the 12.5-inch screen make the XPS 12 bulky as a tablet. Experts say it works better if you consider it a top-notch laptop with the ability to transform into a tablet when needed, rather than the other way around. Support and reliability Improved overall. Dell's customer service and technical support has come in for some knocks in recent years. The brand took the worst knocks in last year's tech support survey by Laptop Magazine but has rebounded nicely by dropping some questionable phone practices. Dell scores below average compared to other top laptop makers in annual satisfaction surveys at PCMag.com, although that, too, represents a step forward from rankings in previous years. The XPS 12 is backed by a one-year warranty that includes one year of on-site service following remote diagnosis and one year of phone support, so that's a plus. Value All in how you look at it. If you want a single device that serves as both a functional and powerful laptop as well as a functional and powerful tablet, experts call the Dell XPS 12 a good option among Windows 8 hybrids. However, we've seen more positive feedback for the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 (Est. $850 and up) . A bigger screen and niftier folding mechanism make that convertible laptop a better value overall

strength :

• Great performance
• Bright 1,080p display
• Responsive multi-touch screen, touchpad
• Excellent build quality

weakness:

• Better laptop than tablet
• Heavy, expensive

Buy now....!!!

Dell Latitude 6430u

The Dell Latitude 6430u's snappy performance and business-centric extras earn it the title of Best Reviewed business laptop, but it's a slim victory. Dell's tech support is improved, but the lack of a touch screen is a major flaw in some critics' eyes. Performance Class-leading speed. Simply put, the Dell 6430u will help you burn through your to-do list faster than other business-class laptops. Experts test an upgraded version (Est. $1,300) with a third-gen Intel Core i5 processor -- the new Haswell processors still haven't hit the 6430u as of this update -- 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB solid-state drive. It boots, transfers files and races through spreadsheets faster than other business laptops, and even edits photos and videos with respectable speed. Battery life is impressive at more than seven hours of web surfing or video playback. Rare for Ultrabooks, the Latitude's battery is removable so you can swap in a fresh one if needed. Ergonomics Great keyboard, but no touch screen. Business users demand excellent keyboards, and the Dell's spill-proof, backlit version doesn't disappoint. It's generously sized, with springy, contoured keys, and testers say it feels great to type on. There's also a responsive touchpad and eraser-head pointing stick. Yet even without a touch screen or optical drive -- although you can add an external DVD burner for $75 -- critics say the Dell's 3.7 pounds and 0.82-inch thickness is on the large side for a 14-inch Ultrabook. You do get Ethernet and VGA ports that rivals have ditched, and they're lifesavers "when faced with older projectors or an office with spotty Wi-Fi," Laptop Magazine points out. Design Flawless finish, but screen could be better. Testers can't stop caressing the Dell's soft-touch black finish. "It virtually eliminates fingerprints and makes gripping the notebook a cinch," says Laptop Magazine. PC World calls it "a tactile joy to use." However, the 14-inch matte display that's double-sealed against spills gets mixed reviews. There's little distracting glare and some testers like it just fine, but others say it's much less bright than other Ultrabooks and colors look washed out. There's no full-HD option; you get just 1,366 by 768 pixels, or 1,600 by 900 for an extra $50. The speakers sound decent but not spectacular and are surprisingly loud. Support and reliability Strong warranty, improved phone support. Dell backs the Latitude 6430u with a three-year warranty. All but the base model get on-site service after remote diagnosis of a warranty-covered problem; the base model must be mailed in for repair unless you purchase the beefier warranty. Dell's tech support had fared very poorly in past tests by Laptop Magazine, but the most recent go-around found things have taken a marked turn for the better. Value Best all-around business package. The Dell Latitude 6430u is flat-out faster than similar business laptops in tests, and experts appreciate its business-friendly features. But there is that missing touch screen. You can get that in other business laptops, such as Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch (Est. $1,300 and up) , but be prepared to either pay more or to accept slower performance...Buy now..!!!

15-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display review

Critics fell in love with the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display the day it launched, showering it with more accolades and Editors' Choice awards than any other Apple product. Experts say the latest version is even better, delivering faster performance and longer battery life. Performance All the computer that most will ever need. Even in its base configuration, the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display handles everyday computing needs without breaking a sweat thanks to its fourth-generation Core i7 (Haswell) processor. The rest of the base configuration includes a super-fast 256 GB PCIe flash drive and 8 GB of memory. Some are disappointed that the base version only allows for integrated graphics, but testing shows that the integrated Iris Pro solution is capable enough for anything short of high-end gaming. The step-up version (Est. $2,600 and up) adds discrete Nvidia's GeForce GT 750M graphics with 2 GB of graphics memory, along with a faster Core i7 and double the storage and system memory. That makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display a competent though not exceptional gaming rig, but perhaps overkill for anything else, at least in the eyes of some reviewers. Depending on the tester and the task, battery life now stretches to near nine hours, or beyond -- a nice boost to the MacBook's already impressive performance in that regard. The speakers are very high quality for a notebook. The Retina display continues to impress, even though its 2,880-by-1,800 screen is now out-pixeled by some Windows competitors, such as the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus (Est. $1,400) and its Quad HD+ (3,200 by 1,800) display. The MacBook's display is also not touch-enabled, but that's not a big concern as neither is most Mac software. Ergonomics Smooth as glass. Apple products have long been praised for their backlit keyboards and responsive glass trackpads, and the latest 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display is no exception. The notebook packs in Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi radios, but there's no way to make a wired connection unless you pick up a separate Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display sports an HDMI connection, and it also includes two speedy USB 3.0 ports and two even quicker Thunderbolt 2 ports. Design It's one attractive laptop. Despite its heavy-duty components, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display's all-aluminum body has been shrunk down to almost MacBook Air-like proportions. Cramming the MacBook Pro's heavy firepower into such a compact case requires some compromises, however. One is that very little is user repairable or replaceable -- even less-so than previous models, says iFixit. Its report grouses that everything right down to the headphone jack is now soldered in place. In short, it remains impossible for the average person to replace the RAM, hard drive or battery of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. Support and reliability Apple's build quality and customer service is unsurpassed, but you pay for it. Apple's superb engineering and friendly customer support leaves users raving. As a result, Apple has landed at the top of PCMag.com's Readers' Choice awards several years running and rates highly in Laptop Magazine's test of tech-support quality. Anybody can bring their notebook to a Genius Bar for expert assistance; the service is free, though you'll need to make an appointment. There's a one-year parts and labor warranty, though technical support over the phone is only provided for 90 days, which is far less than the industry norm, especially for a high-end provider. You can opt to purchase extended Apple Care plans, however, but they are relatively expensive. Value A premium laptop at a not-as-premium price. This latest refresh brought more power to the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display, but also a $200 price cut (in the base model). That's certainly moving things in the right direction. Experts won't say that this laptop is a bargain, but many do say that you do get what you pay for with pricing that's largely in line with what competing high-end Windows laptops command. If you want something that's a little more portable and a little less expensive, the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display (Est. $1,300) is a great alternative. You do give up a little on the performance front, but only a little, and experts say that what it can deliver is more than enough to meet the needs of most users...Buy now...!!!

Razer Blade laptop

The Razer Blade is a menacing gaming beast in an Ultrabook's body. Since other gaming laptops tend to be 10-pound slabs, the lithe Blade has become a top choice among critics. Performance Powerful gamer and everyday laptop. "The Blade will play any and all modern games at high settings" at its native less-than-HD resolution, reports AnandTech.com after throwing seven tough titles at it. However, playing demanding titles at full HD on an external 1080p monitor can get a little dicey. Day-to-day tasks pose no problem, and experts actually recommend the Razer Blade as a capable alternative to a MacBook Pro (though that's largely before Apple's recent upgrade). Battery life is very good -- about seven hours if you're not gaming -- thanks to a fuel-sipping Intel Core i7 Haswell processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M GPU, which switches to integrated Intel graphics when not needed. Ergonomics Super-svelte, but skimpy connections. The Razer Blade's sleek frame simply amazes experts. It's a hair slimmer than the 13-inch MacBook Air (Est. $1,050 and up) at its thickest point and weighs just 4 pounds and change -- definitely Ultrabook territory. Testers love the comfy anti-ghosting keyboard and big, silky multi-touchpad, although the latter stalls several times in David Pierce's test for TheVerge.com. There's also no optical drive, Ethernet port or touch screen here; Pierce reckons it would gobble up too much space. The Blade runs really hot when gaming, making it too hot to hold on your lap. Design MacBook Pro meets street racer. Compared to most gaming laptops, the Razer Blade looks practically buttoned down. Cleanly fashioned with a matte-black aluminum shell, only the glowing green tri-snake logo on the lid and keyboard backlight imply that it's hiding serious muscle under the hood. "It looks a little like the rebellious, street-racing sibling of the MacBook Pro with Retina Display," says Pierce at TheVerge.com. It "would be equally at home in an arcade or a boardroom." Reviewers appreciate the Razer's clear, booming speakers, but its 14-inch screen disappoints. The 1,600-by-900-pixel resolution is fine even though it's not full HD, but poor viewing angles frustrate testers. Support and reliability Hit and miss. The company has a poor customer service reputation, but its products typically hold up well; tales of Blade defects are few and far between. The Razer comes with a one-year warranty, with a two-year option available at an additional cost. Value Not cheap, but it's worth it. The world's first gaming Ultrabook, the Razer Blade makes a lot of financial sense. It can realistically do double-duty as your gamer plus your everyday carry-around laptop...Buy now....!!!!

Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus

With a screen that PCMag.com calls "jaw dropping," construction quality and materials that scream "high end," long battery life and enough power to tackle anything but competitive gaming, the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus has rocketed to the top of the charts in reviews. It's a little pricey, critics say, but most admit that you get every bit of the laptop that you pay for, and then some.

Performance

A high-performance Ultrabook. Driven by a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 (Haswell) processor, the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus performs similarly to other like-priced premium Windows Ultrabooks, such as the also well-regarded Acer Aspire S7 (Est. $1,330 and up) . Outfitted with a fast 128 GB SSD, integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 and 4 GB of RAM (all also typical of this class), the Book 9 Plus is certainly not a high-end gaming laptop, but it can handle just about anything else you throw at it with ease. The eight-hour battery life isn't class-leading in tests, but at between eight and nine hours, it well exceeds what the average Ultrabook can deliver. For those who want or need even more power, a Core i7 version (Est. $1,800) has been announced but has not started shipping at the time of this update.

Ergonomics

The display is the difference. While the Book 9 Plus stands on equal terms with other premium Windows Ultrabooks in terms of raw performance, its screen leaves most competitors in the dust. It's a QuadHD+ touch screen with a Retina display demolishing resolution of 3,200 by 1,800 pixels. "Jaw dropping" says PCMag.com. It's also 10-point touch sensitive, so you can get the most out of Windows 8 touch features. One drawback to all the extra pixels, CNET says, is that not all that many Windows 8 apps can take advantage of them, so you'll likely be dialing things back to a more normal 1080p resolution much of the time. The hinge swivels 180 degrees, so the display can lay flat on the table, but not flip around or detach for use as a slate. We found different opinions regarding the keyboard. TrustedReviews.com calls it "a near-perfectly executed keyboard, restricted only by the size demands of the Ultrabook class." Laptop Magazine and Engadget.com complain that key travel is a little shallow, which can lead to dropped letters for some typists.

Design

Thin, light and beautiful. The Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus should quickly become a business traveler's best friend. The touch screen adds a little bit of weight and girth to its predecessor, but not very much. Its footprint is smaller than a 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (Est. $1,050 and up) , CNET says, though at 3.06 pounds it does weigh just a skosh more than the 2.96-pound Air. Speaking of the Air, the Book 9 Plus also uses aluminum unibody construction, though here it is painted a grey-blue. Laptop Magazine calls the package "quietly gorgeous, serving up a bevy of clean lines and soft, rounded curves."

Support and reliability

Solid construction, solid support. Samsung has developed a solid reputation among laptop users. It takes home a Readers' Choice award at PCMag.com for overall customer satisfaction. Ben Gottesman adds that Samsung has also become one of the most reliable laptop brands; a lower percentage of Samsung laptops needed repair over the year before the survey than any other brand. Should problems arise, Samsung also fares relatively well in Laptop Magazine's ratings of technical support, finishing in third place behind Sony and Apple.

Value

A premium product at a premium price. Cutting right to the chase, the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus is a pricey Ultrabook. However, even experts who complain about the cost admit -- however begrudgingly -- that for what you get, the price is justified. Build quality, company reputation, computing performance and that super-high-res screen all combine to create one appealing package....Buy now......!!!!!

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S - 59385438 review

The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S - 59385438, available only from Best Buy, overcomes critics' main complaint about the original Yoga 11S: that it was outdated before it debuted. This configuration has the great ergonomics and flexibility of the original but with more power and far longer battery life courtesy of its fourth-generation Core processor.

Performance

Haswell-powered. The 11.6-inch IdeaPad Yoga 11S has been extensively reviewed and well received on all but one point. When it debuted, Lenovo burdened it with third-generation Core processors rather than the already available fourth-generation Haswell design, which offers moderately better performance and tremendously better battery life. Lenovo has now introduced a Haswell-powered version, the Lenovo Yoga 11S - 59385438, but in only one configuration for the U.S. market and through only one vendor, Best Buy, at the time of this report.
No professionals have evaluated the Lenovo Yoga 11S - 59385438, but user reviews say that this cheap convertible laptop delivers all of what Haswell technology is capable of, including a battery that "lasts forever" along with plenty of power for everyday productivity and more. The hardware lineup includes a fourth-generation Intel Core i5-4210Y processor, an 11.6-inch multitouch display with a 1,366 by 768 resolution, integrated Intel HD Graphics 4200, 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. In addition, versions of the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S with third-generation Core processors (Est. $750 and up) remain available.

Ergonomics

The hinge is the thing. The Lenovo 11S sports the Yoga hinge that leaves most critics impressed. "Of all the different ways to create a hybrid, Lenovo's Yoga method is arguably the best, especially if you're interested in a no-compromise laptop experience," CNET says. The Yoga hinge can bend back 360 degrees, giving the convertible laptop four user modes: notebook, stand, tent and tablet.
Notebook and tablet modes are self-explanatory, but it's worth noting that unlike some convertibles, the back of the keyboard and display are flush in tablet mode, leaving the keyboard exposed yet deactivated. Stand mode uses the keyboard as a stand for the touch display, which is "ideal in tight spaces such as on airline tray tables," says Laptop Magazine. Tent mode lets you position the laptop as an inverted "V," which is useful for watching movies, among other things, PCWorld says. Impressions regarding the keyboard vary by reviewer, but most comments are positive. The touchpad is even better liked, and the touch screen is bright and responsive.

Design

Slim and light. The IdeaPad Yoga 11S falls into the Ultrabook category, so portability is first rate. The case has a finish that's cool to the touch and resists fingerprints, Laptop Magazine reports. Connectivity is typical and not overly abundant, but includes USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and HDMI ports.

Support and reliability

So-so in surveys. Lenovo is neither the best nor the worst when it comes to tech and customer support surveys. One troubling finding is a downward trend in recent years in Laptop Magazine's tech support testing, although Lenovo claims to be taking steps to turn that around. User satisfaction with the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S - 59385438 runs high at BestBuy.com.

Value

Many birds, one stone. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S - 59385438 isn't the cheapest cheap laptop out there, nor is it the cheapest Ultrabook or Windows 8 tablet or convertible. But you would be hard pressed to find a better combination of power and versatility at this price point. The move to Haswell technology is the icing on the cake, and it puts the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S - 59385438 head and shoulders above other Yoga 11S versions, at least for now.
buy now....!!!

Asus Transformer Book T100TA-C1-GR laptop review

The Asus Transformer Book T100 just looks like a netbook. Under the hood, a drastically enhanced Atom processor runs rings around its predecessor and provides plenty of power for real everyday productivity. Detach the display and you have a great 10-inch Windows 8 tablet that sells for a fraction of the price of the Microsoft Surface Pro 2.

Performance

The Atom gets serious. Built around the latest quad-core Bay Trail Intel Atom processor, the Asus Transformer Book T100 is "powerful enough to handle just about any productivity task," Laptop Magazine reports, and other reviewers unanimously concur. Some, like ComputerShopper.com -- which bestows an Editors' Choice award on the device -- go so far as to say that it "makes Windows 8.1 feel snappy." With its limited-power integrated graphics, high-end gaming won't be in the cards, but casual games of the type found in the Windows App Store will run perfectly fine and watching videos won't raise a sweat.
Two versions are available. The cheaper Asus Transformer Book T100TA-B1-GR (Est. $340) has just 32 GB of flash storage, and things can get tight once Windows 8 and Microsoft Office Home and Student edition (included free) are installed. Even though there's a microSD card reader, most reviewers recommend opting for the Asus Transformer Book T100TA-C1-GR (Est. $400) instead, which has 64 GB of storage. Both Asus Windows tablets include 2 GB of RAM.

Ergonomics

Tight spaces. While the Asus Transformer Book T100 is powerful enough to be an everyday computer, ergonomic concerns mean it's not the best choice for one. The netbook form factor keeps the keyboard small and cramped, and the touchpad gets roundly booed for being unresponsive.
There are no such complaints regarding the touch-screen display, even though it supports only five-point touch. It is low-resolution (1,366 by 768 pixels) by current Apple and Android tablet standards, yet most reviewers don't seem to mind. "Because of the Transformer Book T100TA's price and other features, the lower resolution is forgivable," says PCMag.com, adding that only those with "eagle's eyes" will miss the missing pixels. The docking hinge works surely and securely, most experts say, but some users find challenges or shortfalls with it. Once the display is detached, it looks and acts just like any other 10-inch Windows tablet, most agree. Although it's light for the size, holding this Windows 8 tablet too long can get a little tiring, and one-handed operation isn't really practical.

Design

Looks are in line with the price. Considering the price tag, that's not really great news. Lots and lots of black and gray plastic, all of it prone to fingerprints and smudges, reviews say. Laptop Magazine sums up the consensus when it says, "The Transformer Book T100 has a design that's functional, but not particularly attractive."

Support and reliability

Good, and getting better. Asus still faces challenges when it comes to providing the best technical support, but that doesn't keep it from earning a Reader's Choice award from PCMag.com. Its tech support rating there is still poor, but markedly better than what the company had received in the past. That's also reflected at Laptop Magazine, whose editors note, "The company has made some recent improvements that point in the right direction." Customer ratings are mediocre. Most are very happy with the Asus T100, but a significant minority runs into issues, though not all speak to problems with the tablet itself. At one user review site, an Asus rep responds to negative posts with suggestions and contact information for additional help.

Value

Nearly unbeatable. That's what most reviewers say. Despite obvious flaws, especially when used as a laptop, the Asus T100 simply floors experts with its value proposition. It sells for less than the Microsoft Surface 2 (Est. $450 and up) , which runs the limited Windows RT operating system rather than the full version of Windows, as is the case with this Windows 8 tablet hybrid. So great is this tablet's value that it virtually sold out during the 2013 holidays; although stock has again started reaching stores, back orders and sold out situations remained common at the time this report was written. Don't scrimp further, however, most say. Opt for the pricier Asus Transformer Book T100TA-C1-GR and its more generous built-in memory.

 Buy now......!!!

Acer C720 review

With its low price and mammoth Haswell battery life, the Acer C720 is one of the best Chromebooks you can get for the money. While it might be robbed of flagship status by the cute styling of HP's effort, and it lacks the dense display of the MacBook Pro-style Chromebook Pixel, the C720 nicely exhibits everything you can, and cannot, do on a Chromebook.The C720 features an Intel Celeron 2955U CPU running at 1.40 GHz. Using the Haswell micro-architecture and built on a 22 nm process, this 64-bit CPU features two cores and 2 MB of cache. Acer has coupled it with 2 GB of DDR3L SDRAM. It also features Intel HD Graphics running at a 200 MHz base frequency and 1 GHz max dynamic frequency. That is more than enough processing power for anything the Chromebook is designed to do. It might even be a bit of overkill for the very light-on-its-feet Chrome OS.Your standard benchmarks don't have much relevancy to the Chromebook user since these machines aren't designed to run traditional applications. Look elsewhere if you want to use Photoshop filters, do video editing, or play 3D games. Chrome OS is designed for simple office tasks and Web-based applications.
For these low-intensity uses, the system is more than powerful enough. It's extremely responsive, and since the operating system is so streamlined, it often will do these tasks even faster than a souped-up Windows PC loaded down with the extra baggage typical of many installs. Ever done a fresh install of Windows on an old PC and seen how much faster your PC ran? Think of Chrome OS as a PC that's always running a fresh install.
Using Chrome OS takes some getting used to both conceptually and practically. Pretty much, a Chromebook is a laptop that runs only one thing: the Chrome web browser. There's a beautiful simplicity there, especially since the web browser monopolizes so much of what most people do day-to-day on their PC.
That simplicity has some great benefits. Boot up is extremely fast. It takes as much time to type in your password as it does for the system to boot up. It feels more like sleep/awake than a true shutdown and bootup process. This is impressive compared to other notebooks, but of course, Chromebooks aren't the only Internet appliance which can offer this feature. Tablets offer similar speed-of-access.
Chrome OS is also tightly connected with a Google account. There is a guest mode, but to make full use of the system, you need a Google account. This personalizes the experience and lets you have a similar experience across platforms. For instance, your bookmarks travel with you, as do the files available on your Google Drive.....Buy now!!!!

dell-inspiron-i3531-1200bk-15-6-inch-laptop-review

Dell Inspiron i3531-1200BK is the lowest cost 15.6 inch laptop PC with still decent features and specs that enable it to perform well and be a good helper in daily tasks. It is light, slim and portable, has a spill-resistant keyboard with 10-key numpad, a good quality
Truelife LED backlit display, sufficient RAM and hard drive and comes with the latest Windows 8.1 pre-installed.

Dell Inspiron i3531 has the Intel Celeron N2830 (1M Cache) processor at 2.16 GHz up to 2.41 GHz Processor with burst, 4GB Single Channel DDR3 memory at 1600MHz (1x4GB) to do problem-free multitasking, 500GB at 5400rpm hard drive plus 20GB of free DropBox space for 12 months and Windows 8.1 operating system.. The budget dual core Celeron N2830 processor is designed for day-to-day things and works faster than processors like N2850- budget Intel Atom processor. 

Don’t expect to play modern day games or to use complex multimedia or engineering programs on it but internet surfing, word processing, spreadsheets, light games and other daily things are fine. Both the storage space and system memory are more than adequate- even quite generous for a laptop at the price level. Then you have the Windows 8.1 with its even better features than the Windows 8, after a small learning curve you’re a lot likely to like it more than even the older Windows 7 or XP. Beautiful 15.6 inch LED backlit display with high contrast Truelife and HD resolution with a maximum of 1366 x 768 pixel resolution and Intel HD graphics with base frequency of 313-750MHz.  

There is no optical drive on this model, no Ethernet connectivity and no Bluetooth but 802.11 bin wireless, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, 4-in-1 Media Card Reader that supports SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro formats and a security slot. Modern Dell Inspiron with textured lid and palm rest weighs 4.67 lbs (well under 5 lbs so quite light for a 15.6 inch laptop as it doesn’t have a DVD drive) with dimensions of 0.98 x 15 x 10.2 inches. Its 4-cell lithium ion battery should give you around 6 to 6.5 hours of battery life. It comes with a full-size keyboard with 10-key numpad for easy data entry and that is spill-resistant. You also have a touchpad that supports multiple gestures and allows integrated scrolling. 

Conclusion: The first thing that we noticed with the Dell Inspiron i3531-1200BK is its price tag as it has to be the one of the cheapest computers we’ve reviewed so far and started wondering how they can offer a well-functioning computer at this price. Well, we were pleasantly surprised with what it’s all about and its features such as the spill-resistant keyboard for when you spill your coffee into the keys, 10-key numpad, long long battery life, great quality WLED screen, generous amounts of RAM and SATA hard drive and Intel Celeron processor that is well capable of performing daily tasks. Sure it doesn’t have a DVD drive but when was the last time you needed one? No Bluetooth and a USB dongle costs a few bucks online, feel free to order with your purchase of this computer....Buy now!!!!!!

hp-15-g070nr-15-6-inch-laptop-review

The HP 15-g070nr is a cheap laptop that is targeted towards light users. You get a decent spec with this laptop and does not fall below standard even though it fits in a budget. Is this the budget laptop you are looking for? Read our review to find out now.

You are not given an ugly laptop just because it is priced very less. The design is pretty neat and classy. The matte finish lid is a good touch and there is a glossy finish in the areas surrounding the keyboard and the touch pad. The keys are well spaced and there is a dedicated num pad for working out any calculations easily.

Like the title mentions, this one has a 15.6 inch screen with a high definition resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. This is a good screen for a budget device like this one. You can enjoy movies in high quality and play nice games with a good resolution. Media consumption is one of the main targets of this laptop and it does prove to be true.

The processor that gets the work done in the HP 15-g070nr is an AMD E1 6010 processor. This is not a great processor but can help the light users get their job done. You can work on office documents, play music and browse the web without any hiccups. You might have some problems when trying to some system intensive applications but this laptop was never made to do that.

There is a 4GB RAM in the memory area and it is a DDDR3. This is a good amount of RAM and the users can make good use of it during multi tasking a.k.a. running many applications at the same time. This RAM can run almost all the applications as this will easily meet the minimum required memory. Together the processor and the RAM offer a lag free performance to the light users.

here is a 500GB hard drive for storage purposes. You can store your office data, favorite movies and also your songs collections. It will take a good time for you to fill this space up. This hard drive comes with Windows 8.1 as the operating system which does take up some space.

The AMD Radeon R2 graphics card comes as a compliment to the processor and does a decent job with the graphics. You can run most of the modern day games with this GPU. High end games are not the best option in this laptop. If you are a gaming freak you can check this one out.

The battery pack consists of lithium ion batteries and they claim that the battery will stay alive for about 6 hours. This depends on the usage, if you are going to use if hard and continuously you can expect lesser life and if you usage is going to be touch and go more than 6 hours is easily possible.

There are 2 USB 3.0 ports and a single USB 2.0 port. You get 25GB of box cloud storage for a lifetime which is a pretty cool thing. There is also a 30 day McAfee protection. You also get toll free support and a limited warranty for one year.

Pros

• Great price
• USB 3.0

Cons

• Average processor

Summary

The HP 15-g070nr review has come to an end. This is decent device that comes in a very affordable price tag. If you are a light user who needs to check mail, browse the web and do everyday tasks without a problem, then this is the cheap and best option out there......buy now!!!!