Acer 8920G

Last week we reviewed the 6920G, the mid-level laptop in Acer’s new Gemstone Blue range. We had come away impressed, with not only its specifications but also its impeccable finish and styling. This week let's check out the 8920G, the flagship model that's aimed at the desktop replacement market.

Keeping in mind the premium positioning of the 8920, we wish Acer had taken the trouble to at least make its flagship model distinctive. The 8920 is similar to the 6920 with regard to its build and finish. There were absolutely no changes that we could discern. The lid and area around LCD panel have the same high-gloss finish, with the Acer logo displayed on the lid.

The area around the keyboard too has remained the same. The speaker grill is present above the keyboard area and, keeping in mind the size of the laptop, has been scaled accordingly. The left side of the keyboard has the CineDash Media console, which gave us a couple of surprises (more about that in the performance section). Compared to the 6920, the keyboard has been expanded to include a numeric keypad. This is a welcome move and one we wish was adopted by more manufacturers. The touchpad is a bit larger and has the same silver finish as the 6920.

As mentioned earlier, the 8920 is a desktop replacement/media center model. For this purpose it’s been given an 18-inch LCD panel with a native resolution of 1920x1080 (16:9 resolution) and a 2x Blu-ray drive. The LCD panel in terms of its usability can be described as simply perfect. Like the panel on the 6920G, it has excellent levels of color and brightness, and actually goes beyond its younger brother by offering excellent side and top-down viewing angles. This was apparent in our gaming and multimedia tests.

The expanded keyboard shines too. Though it has a glossy finish, it has great tactile feedback with recessed keys, ensuring a very comfortable working experience.

Connectivity-wise the 8920 is very well-equipped. It offers a 5-in-1 card reader, 4 USB 2.0 ports, HMDI/ VGA slots, headphone and microphone jacks (with S/PDIF support), Ethernet, Blu-ray 2.0 support, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/bg/g/n,modem, and an ExpressCard slot. The ODD, as we already saw, is a 2x Blu-ray drive.

Sony Company Overview.....

One of the most recognized brand names in the world today, Sony Corporation, Japan, established its India operations in November 1994, focusing on the sales and marketing of Sony products in the country. In a span of 12 years Sony India has exemplified the quest for excellence in the world of digital lifestyle becoming the country’s foremost consumer electronics brand. With relentless commitment to quality, consistent dedication to customer satisfaction and unparalleled standards of service, Sony India is recognized as a benchmark for new age technology, superior quality, digital concepts and personalized service that has ensured loyal customers and nationwide acclaim in the industry.

With brands names such as BRAVIA, Xplod, Sony hi-fi, Handycam, Cyber-shot‚ WEGA, VAIO, Walkman, Memory stick‚ PlayStation an AIWA, Sony has established it self as a value leader across its various product categories of Audio/Visual Entertainment products, Information and Communications‚ Recording Media, Business and Professional products.

In India, Sony has its footprint across all major towns and cities through a distribution network comprising of over 7000 channel partners, 215 Sony World and Sony Exclusive outlets and 21 direct branch locations. Manned by customer friendly and informed sales persons, Sony’s exclusive stores ‘Sony World’ are fast becoming the most visible face of the company in India.

Sony India also has a strong service presence across the country with 21 company owned and 172 authorized service centers. A distinctive feature of Sony’s service is its highly motivated and well-trained staff that provides the kind of attentive and sensitive service that is rare today.

Sony is committed to ensuring that both the products and the marketing activities employed truly make a difference to people’s lifestyles and offer them new dimensions of enjoyment – experiences which are ‘like no other’ .

Dell Vostro 1310, 1510 and 1710 Laptops introduced

Dell just updated its Vostro Laptop line-up with more screen size options. Join the already available Dell Vostro 1200, Dell Vostro 1310 has 13.3-inch screen and has $749 starting price. For a bigger screen demand, Dell launching Dell Vostro 1510 which has 15.4-inch screen and its starting price is $599.While for gamers who need a lot bigger screen, there are Dell Vostro 1710 with its 17-inch screen

Comes in a thinner design, all new Vostro is featuring a slot loading optical drive. Don’t need to wait for the Vostro 1310 and Vostro 1510’s release date, because they’re already available today, except for America. While the Vostro 1710 will be available in Mid May.

Dynabook Ax, Tx and Cx from Toshiba

Toshiba adding three new products of its Dynabook laptop line-up called Dynabook AX,mDynabook TX and Dynabook Cx.Dynabook Ax is a 15.4-inch notebook powered by IntelCeleron 550 processor, 2 GB HDD and 160 GB HDD.The Dynabook Ax is equipped with HDMI out. Available in White, Black and Pink colors, Dynabook Ax sports a DVD Super Multi drive and has 922 EUR price.

Dynabook Tx also has 15.4-inch screen with WXGA resolutionand also packed with HDMI out. Dynabook Tx is powered by a 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB HDD and has DVD Super Multi drive too. Dynabook Tx is retailed at 1,100 EUR price.

While the Dynabook Cx is an ultra portable laptop with 13.3-inch screen capable to deliver WXGA resolution.Yep, this Dynabook has HDMI out too. Powered by Intel Core 2c Duo T8100 processor, 2 GB RAM and 160 GB HDD, Dynabook Cx has DVD super multi drive too. Its price will be 1,230m EUR.

Asus M70 has One Terabyte HDD

I know that we need a larger storage space for our machine day by day, but I never thought that someone ever need a one terabyte ( in this case 2 x 500 GB) for his/her notebook today. Just in case you’re the one in this situation, then lucky for you, Asus already have Asus M70 laptop, a 17-inch screened laptop with 2 x 500 GB HDD. Powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 clocking at 2.5 GHz and 4 GB RAM, Asus M70 sports Intel PM965 Express Chipset.

Its 17-inch screen capable to deliver WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixel) resolution. Equipped with Blu-ray drive with DVD burning capability, M70 also packed with HDMI out, Intel HD Audio chip (Azalia), and Dolby Home Theater support for your HD movie watching pleasure.Other features should include Wifi a/b/g, 1.3 MP camera, DVI out and e-SATA out. Of course those kind of features won’t come in a cheap price.

MSI Wind got its Official Specs

MSI officially announcing the specification of the MSI Wind laptop yesterday. Unsurprisingly, the official specs is almost same with the rumored specs in the air. Will be equipped with a 8.9-inch LED backlit screen for one version and a 10-inch screen for another, MSI Wind capable to give 1,024 x 600 pixel screen resolution. For storage, Wind lsptop has a 2.5-inch HDD with 80 GB space.

Will have about 1 kg weight, MSI claim packed a superior keyboard to the MSI wind. MSI announcing that currently, only XP based MSI Wind will be available, no words whatsoever about the Linux version of this MSI ultra portable laptop. The price for MSI Wind will be ranged from $470 to $1,099 but no release date is announced yet.

Acer 5920 Laptop now with Wimax

Acer updating its Aspire 5920 laptop with an integrated Wimax feature. Announcing at WiMax news conference in Taipei, according to Trisha Pan a product marketing manager at Acer, Aspire 5920 Wimax will be available through Sprint Nextel and other carriers and sold along with service packages.

Its price will be depends on the service plan and more details will be revealed at its official release date.

3K Longitude 400, Another Eee PC Follower ?

3K Longitude 400 is a new 7-inch laptop introduced by 3K Computers.We certainly can’t say that the Longitude 400 is an Eee follower, but you’ll be the judge. 3K Longitude 400 is powered by a 400 MHz processor, 512 MB RAM and 4GB flash storage. Sports a 7-inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, Longitude 400 has an ultra light weight which is under 2 lbs.
Running a Linux OS, Longitude 400 only taking 15 seconds to boot. Other features should include 3 USB ports, Wifi, Ethernetc Lan and SD/SM media card reader.
3K Longitude 400 is ready for pre-order with $399 price tag.

Lenovo Ideapad U110 Available in the US, Specs and Price

Lenovo IdeaPad U110 ultra portable laptop is finally available today for the US customers.Available in Red and Black color options, IdeaPad U110 has $1,899 starting price.
Comes with a 11.1-inch screen, Lenovo Ideapad U110 has 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution managed by Intel GMA X3100 graphics set. The U110 is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 clocking at 1.6 GHz, 2 GB RAM and 120 GB HDD to runs Windows Vista Home Premium OS.
For connectivity, there are Wifi and Ethernet LAN while Bluetooth is an optional feature. Interfaces should include a 6-in-1 media card reader, FireWire / VGA sockets, three USB 2.0 ports and Express card slot.

Ideapad U110 use a n external dual-layer DVD writer for its optical drive. a 1.3 MP webcam is packed too. Using a 4-cell battery, Lenovo Ideapad U110 can be operated up to 2 hours between charges. Regarding warranty, the $1,899 price is include a 1-year warranty.

AlianWare Area-51 m17x Gaming Laptop is Available

Alienware Area-51 m17x gaming laptop is available for order. The m17x has more horse power compared to its little brother the m15x, since m17x is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Extreme processor, up to 4 GB HDD and 1 TB HDD ( 2 x 500 GB).Users can add a third HDD through its smartbay and will replace its dual-layer DVD writer or optionally Blu-ray burner
Capable to play Crysis, Area-51 m17x is equippep with dual Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTX, 8700M GT or 8600M GT dedicated graphics cards operating in SLI mode which can deliver 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution to its 17-inch display.

Other featutes should include Wifi b/g/n, Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN, ExpressCard slot, Firewite port, a 7-in-1 media card reader and four USB ports.

The Area-51 m17x laptop has $2,949 starting price, although you can order it now via oAlienare’s online store, the units actuslly will delivered at late may or maybe June.

Student Laptops from Acer Direct!

Laptops are now an essential purchase for students. Every year we put together a list of amazing low price deals just for students. We select a range of laptops which will help you keep on top of your work no matter where you are.

Laptop Benefits
Work Anywhere - Whether you're in the library, taking notes in a lecture, finishing your dissertation at home or traveling on the train you can finish off essential projects on the move.
Knowledge - With access to the internet you're only a click away from a world of information to help you with questions and queries on anything and everything.
Emails - Keep in touch with family and friends. Email plays a big part of everyone's life, it's a cheap and easy way to stay in contact with everyone you know.
Music & Films - It's not all work, work, work. Store and playback your music and film downloads. You can even use your laptop as a TV if you buy the Hauppauge TV Tuner, this gives you access to Digital Freeview channels!
Photos - An essential part of uni life is capturing the each moment as it happens. You can download photos from your digital camera or phone and store them on your laptop. You can also print them out if you get a printer.

Choosing the Perfect Cheap Laptop

Do you identify with one computer brand over another? Do you always choose the same brand because it's familiar and comfortable? Are you nervous about switching because you're not what you'll get? With the biggest shopping season upon us, we thought we'd make things a bit easier for you by assembling the most affordable laptops we've tested from each vendor. This will give you more insight into your favorite brand, as well as what other brands offer. Who knows, it might be time to make a switch. (Note: Prices and configurations were test specific; by choosing a smaller hard drive or different display, for example, price can change.)

Dell's Inspiron 6000 is a repeat favorite of ours in the cheap laptops category. With a 15.4-inch widescreen, Media Center Edition OS, strong performance, and a price tag under $1000, it's hard to go wrong with this system. No, there's no TV tuner, but having the Media Center OS (which comes with remote control) does make listening to MP3s and viewing photos much nicer.

Sony's latest budget offering, the Sony FJ series, costs $1599, which is a bargain for a Sony laptop. It comes with a personalized color scheme and features like a built-in Webcam, extra-large hard drive, and Sony's vibrant XBrite display technology.

HP's budget offering is the least attractive in the bunch, but what it lacks in style, it makes up for in punch. The HP Compaq Presario V2000Z is lightweight, has a 6-1 card reader for your digital cameras, etc., and offers a $25 extended battery, so you can easily take it with you.

Averatec is a brand that is less familiar, but with its low prices and mass market appeal, it might be a brand worth taking another look at. The AV3715-EH1 is ultra-light at just 4.2 pounds and comes with all the necessary features you should look for, including a DVD/CDRW drive and 802.11g wireless. (All our systems mentioned here come with both of these features.) If lightweight is a major criteria, this is your pick.

Buying Guide: Media Center Laptops

In addition to being capable PCs, Media Center notebooks are extremely talented multimedia hubs that are great for organizing and storing your photos, music, movies, and home videos. You can even use this new breed of portable to watch and record live television. Part of the magic is done through Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (MCE 2005), the OS running on these machines, but there are more features to examine.

Of course, you'll need to settle on a price you can live with. A good example of a high-end Media Center laptop is the Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV600 ($2,399.99 list), our Editors' Choice winner. On the value-priced side is the Dell M170, which can be had for as little as $749.

When shopping for a Media Center laptop, several elements should factor into your decision. First, choose one with a bright, high-contrast screen, also known as a transflective, or glossy, display. Companies have proprietary names for this screen technology: Sony's XBrite, Dell's UltraSharp, and Acer's CrystalBrite. Designed with TV and movie viewing in mind, these screens tend to generate a greater amount of glare than standard TFT displays. While this is not a problem when catching the latest DVD, it could be potentially annoying if you're ­using your computer outdoors or under bright fluorescent lights. As for screen size, you want something with a widescreen, and 15.4 inches (measured diagonally) is a good starting size. Keep in mind that big widescreen displays tend to make notebooks heavy—usually 7 to 10 pounds. That's quite hefty compared with ultraportables, which usually weigh in at 4 pounds or less.

Video and photo files tend to fill up your hard drive quickly, so get a notebook with plenty of storage space. A 100GB hard drive is the largest I've seen so far. When selecting your optical drives, choose a dual-layer DVD burner capable of recording twice as much as a single-layer DVD burner.

Most Media Center PCs have various video and audio connections. At some point, you may want to attach a cable box, home theater system, or even an Xbox 360 to your laptop. Look for composite-in ports, such as A/V (red, yellow, white) or S-Video-in ports for video. The advanced Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV600 even has component-out ports, which will let you display content from your notebook to a larger flat screen, such as a plasma TV or a Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector. To pump high-quality audio directly to home theater and surround-sound receivers, some Media Center laptops come equipped with S/PDIF digital audio-out ports as well.

Many Media Center laptops also let you quickly access and play DVDs, CDs, and audio files stored on the hard drive without booting Windows (though some non-MCE machines can do this as well).

And what's a media laptop without a TV tuner? Some machines have built-in TV tuners, but these systems tend to cost more than $2,000. A less expensive option is to buy an ExpressCard TV tuner upgrade, which works well but can be bulky. Remember that not all Media Center laptops (or desktops for that matter) come with a TV tuner, as they once did. So make sure you investigate the features before you buy any laptop.

How to choose a laptop?

Laptops in these days are way more powerful than a desktop computer. Why buy a laptop? Laptop is lighter and much more stylish than a big box computer. Many people tend to ignore desktop computers and move on to use a laptop for computing. In these days it has become a trend to move around with a laptop. Its the new trend to bring your stylish laptop and other cool gadgets together such as Ipod and Iphone.

Do you want to know how to choose or buy a new laptop?

If yes, please do check out our shopping tips. I bet you will not regret.

What kind of laptop to look for?

Basically it depends on the user itself. But below is an important checklist:

• Price
  
• Shape
• Size
  
• Weight
• Keyboard
• Pointing device
• Temperature (No overheat issue)
  
• Screen Size and Resolution
• USB 2.0, FireWire, Bluetooth connections
• Network Connectivity: LAN, Wireless networking
• DVD-RW player
• WebCam
  
• Antitheft device for security purpose.
• Warranty
• Compatibility with other hardware
• Faster CPU
• Better battery life
  
• Hard Disk (SATA)
  
• Memory
  
• 3D Graphic card
  

Below is a list of the most frequent asked questions on choosing the right laptop.


Frequent Asked Question (FAQ)

What kind of specs do I need for my laptop?

Where can I find the best laptop deal?

How do I actually test a laptop if its good or bad?


I will update will the answer soon, please bookmark and link to us.

Thank you.