Showing posts with label laptop computer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laptop computer. Show all posts
Saturday, December 13, 2014
HP 2000-210US 15.6-Inch Notebook PC - Gray Reviews
I think the "Totally Corrupted" says it all !! This company EZ Corp really sucks.........Their a Pawn Shop....They should stay out of the electronics industry!!!We purchased this laptop for my son's Christmas present last year. He has enjoyed using it. No complaints at all.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Discount ASUS - G74SX-BBK7 - Intel i7-2630QM 2.0GHz - 8GB RAM - 1TB HDD
Really interested in your Asus G74SX BBK7. Looks like a great price, almost too great. From my research, and knowledge of PCs this is a great buy. Could you tell me more about it? How old, how long have you had it, and did you do work on it (new processer, video card etc) Thanks.
-Andy
-Andy
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Review of HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
Note: since I wrote a few reviews for some very simliar DV6 models Amazon has cross posted all those reviews.
I posted a long review of the current crop of DV6-21xx series of notebooks here: HP Pavilion DV6-2170US. The models are mostly the same with different CPUs (one has a discrete graphics chip). All include the newest mobile processors from Intel which eclipse the older Core2 line in terms of performance. Those with integrated graphics include Intel's new HD graphics which are also a big improvement over Intel's old 4500HD graphics (which are still inferior to discrete graphics chips from AMD/ATI and Nvidia when it come to 3D gaming). I would suggest avoiding the older DV6 13xx and 12xx series unless you can get a really good price (which may happen as HP discontinues them).
Here is the summary of models I posted in that review:
If you're staring at the various DV6 models trying to decide which one to buy my advice is (based on the models available when I wrote this):
For home users who aren't gamers you can save about $100 if you go with the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop which combines a Core i3 with Win 7 Premium and a 6 cell battery. The performance for non-gaming software will be very close to the more expensive i5 models and you'll save money by going with Win 7 Premium and a smaller battery.
If you need good battery life, run higher end software, or like to game a bit go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US which combines the Core i5 with the 12 cell battery. The Intel graphics aren't the best but it's a big improvement over past products. This is the model I think has the best balance of features.
If gaming matters more than battery life you should probably look at other laptop lines but if you are sold on the DV6 go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2190US which has a quad CPU Core i7 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M graphics. It's only got a 6 cell battery and that CPU and graphics are going to drain it quickly. You'll pay about $200 over this model.
If you have a lot of older software consider the HP Pavilion DV6-2157SB Small Business Edition which comes with Windows 7 Pro (which can run older software on a WinXP kernel). It has a Core i3 and a 6 cell battery. It also has a different finish ("Plaid Mocha") but I haven't seen it so I can't comment on it.
My favorite features are; the jaw-dropping sharp, bright, vivid display, next generation faster memory (4GB DDR3), faster than usual 7200rpm hard drive (320GB), and the excellent integrated graphics card (with 1.6 GB memory!!) for watching smoooth on-line video (hulu etc.). I find Windows 7 to be not so different from XP. It has wireless N glad I thought ahead when I replaced my router a year ago. Lots of USB ports (3 + 1 combo actually), and a little remote control that stores in the expansion slot, though I'm not sure how useful that will be... Battery life was good (2-1/2 hrs without economizing, after running it down to 5% & recharging it a few times to break it in).
Did some research and found that this brand new i3 processor (released Jan 10, 2010) operates similar to a quad-core, so it's not too easily bogged down. Now the Norton Security Suite that I get free from my cable company runs in the background and I don't even know it's there. My old computer would sputter and fuss for 20 minutes or so just getting an update.
So far, it runs like a champ with anti-virus going, burning a dvd, multiple tabs in Firefox open, and torrent down & uploads going all at once. Also easily handles Word documents with lots of artwork, which used to be a problem for me. Took me awhile to connect to my home wi-fi because I didn't realize you first have to turn on the wireless via a touch-switch above the keyboard. Set-up wizard and on-screen prompts did not make that clear, but I figured it out before long. Wasn't crazy about the case design but it's not so bad... looks like rings left by a glass on a wood table. HP even includes a little polishing cloth to keep it shiny a nice touch.
Overall, I'm thrilled with it. Cost half of what I payed for my Gateway in 2003 and I feel like I finally have a REAL computer that I'm confident will be current for at least a few years. I highly recommend you pick one up if you have the means!
Pros:
1) Numeric keypad. The keys are a little slimmer than keypads on other notebooks (i.e. Toshiba and Sony models) but it isn't too hard to get used to. I use this a lot.
2) Good battery life. I haven't fully drained it yet, but it looks like it's at least 3 hours/.
3) Runs cool. I can use it for hours on my lap and it doesn't experience the heating issue my previous HP and Averatec laptops ran into.
4) Overall, for a budget laptop, the overall build feels like a good quality.
5) eSATA
6) Remote I never use these, but I may this time since it also has a HDMI output.
Cons:
1) The BIOS is locked. This is kind of annoying. I don't mean you can't get into it, but merely, some of the features or options aren't made available. I've never seen a BIOS this limited (and I've owned a lot of notebooks [see above] and desktop systems. This probably won't matter to most people though.
2) As odd as it sounds, HP technical support told me it won't support a SATA SSD. I've read some laptops have problems with this.. I haven't actually tried this myself but I probably will. I'm hoping HP support just doesn't know what they're talking about and just don't see it in the supported hardware list.
3) When the notebook goes into sleep mode, I get weird horizontal lines that forces me to reboot. I've tried refreshing the display, having it output to an external display, changing resolution, etc but those methods don't work. This may just be my laptop or a driver issue.
4) Easy to get fingerprints all over it (probably due to HP's finish).
5) Dust seems to be very noticeable on HP's finish
Notes/Neutral:
1) Doesn't utilize a latch on the lid to lock it in place. The lid close tightly though.
2) No USB or other I/O ports on back of laptop. It only has 3 USB ports.
3) Power cable is on the right side of the laptop towards the back.
4) Audio ports are on the front right and there are two headphone jacks. This seems fairly typical of a lot of HP notebooks but I've never had to use it. Still nice to have.
5) There is a docking station expansion port on the left. Haven't tried it yet (don't own a dock), but at least you know it's compatible with a docking station.
6) No modem. This doesn't bother me but for those of you who still use dial-up might want to know this.
7) Does come with 802.11n and works as expected.
Overall, I think this is a good notebook for a student or someone like me who doesn't do much with his notebook but tosses and abuses it a lot during travel.
UPDATE: 14 June 2010
Okay, so I bought a OCZ 60GB SSD. I didn't think it seemed right that I couldn't upgrade to it, so I figured it was a calculated risk. Anyway, the SSD works fine. There are a few issues to consider though... The recovery DVD you made will not install to a smaller drive, so you'll need something like Norton Ghost to do it. I looked into using free utilities and couldn't find any (i.e. Clonezilla, Partition Wizard, etc). Or, you need to buy a regular copy of Windows 7 and install it from scratch.
The boot times do improve significantly. I don't know if it's worth it, but my laptop now completely boots up in about 30 seconds. Applications start almost immediately. However, I would probably avoid the upgrade again only because I miss having the drive space.
Also keep in mind, if you do upgrade to a SSD to optimize it. There are a few tutorials online that tell you how to edit your registry to get the most out of it.
This also means HP tech support loses a star since they told me it wasn't possible.
While I was reloading the factory install, I did notice that there is a minimal install of the OS. It does come with some HP utilities, but a lot less. So I definitely recommend that you re-install if you don't like having too many applications preloaded. It takes about an hour.
The laptop is not heavy, very reasonable and despite the 6 cell battery, most times I'm plugged in so it's not a big deal to me. I haven't timed out the battery yet but so far as with any new laptop is seems to do just fine. I wish it came with a cover or bag of some sort until I get my laptop bag, but I guess I'll be careful.
The side connectors are well laid out, I don't see issues with too much in a spot, it all seems pretty nice. My version did not have a modem (which I hope we don't need much longer). The one thing I'm trying to determine and it may be my misunderstanding but this should have "N" network wireless ability but when I booted it up, my dual band router only showed the regular G.
The big thing I like is the touch controls of the keyboard layout, everything is touch sensor, no buttons to break. The other thing that I really like is the pc does not get hot like older laptops do. It has no "side vents" for the cpu so it's clearly a much cooler operations than its earlier laptops. I always had to make sure I powered down the laptops in the bag or they'd overheat. With this style I'd be surprised if I had an issue. It comes with a little video remote that is nice if you are watching movies on a flight or don't want to mess with the keyboard. The hdmi on the side probably would be of good use if showing videos that way.
I personally don't care for the "bubble" design on the black finish, it could have been left alone without that stuff but oh well. As I work with it more I'll be able to post more but it's a very nice laptop and they even have a 50 dollar rebate on some locations.
As far as gaming, I haven't tried it so far but I'd suspect in most average games this I3 should do fine. I'm sure on call of duty versions it probably will not work well but I have a home desktop pc for that kind of gaming.
Where the rubber meets the road, I was nicely impressed with how well the N-Draft wireless adapter downloaded a 311-MB printer driver software suite file ... less than 10-minutes ... and I finally get wireless service anywhere in our single story home through several walls. Hot dog, Cat5 is now dead. I have since teamed it up with a Seagate BlackArmor external backup/storage drive that promises up to 3-GB/S eSATA transfer. However, I'm using it via USB at this writing and am greatly pleased at how fast that connection works, as it is, for basic backup and off-machine file storage. I likely won't go eSATA, but can.
I'm not a 'touch-pad' fan, using it only when a wireless mouse isn't possible. This one is like any other and I find the right-side touch-scroll bar to work when I don't want it to and to not work when I do. No doubt that's a combination of me and the nature of that annoying little beasty.
The 15-inch class screen on this version is just right for these 60-year old eyes that have worn glasses since dirt was made, but I have a hit or two. First, it was dramatically bright out of the box with blacks washed out and the light-blue text so prevalent on websites very washed out and difficult to read. The good news is that the Intel graphics driver offered the needed adjustments to bring the brightness and contrasts under control and it even includes a text enhancement routine that capably took the harshness out of black text as delivered. It still displays digital photos with way too much brightness and I have not been able to get it under control. For basic multimedia / DVD movies and such the display is still serviceable with sharp imaging. Other versions of this model can be equipped with cable/satellite/off-air TV tuners and connections.
HP's bloat-ware was within reason and largely ranted on with on-line backup offers. Windows 7 Home Premium now comes with scheduled system image and data file backup routines, but one must upgrade to PRO in order to back up over a network. It will work with an attached external drive, so the on-line vendors are now relegated to those worried about fire and theft. Win 7 networking is much improved and connected to all our shared resources within our home network without complaint. However, it now comes configured with a 'Homegroup' system that has yet to make any sense to me over the "workgroup" method, which is now somewhat buried in the operating system.
HP's included MediaSmart software also doesn't make intuitive sense especially with the photo display/editing features for basic snapshots. Picasa is still hard to beat and the serious photos still go through Canon's Digital Photo Pro. I also have a problem with an HP 'Web Printing' plug-in for Internet Explorer. This piece allows for selecting a partial section of a web page screen for printing. However, an HP update for this module has fully and fatally crashed Internet Explorer 8 within a week of buying the laptop. This appears to be limited for reasons unknown since neither HP nor Microsoft has rushed to get it fixed and I didn't shed much of a tear over losing it as a bloated, boat-anchor browser in favor of Google Chrome. But, for IE8 fans, get this ... Microsoft says that IE8 is now an integrated part of the operating system and does NOT offer an IE8 download for WIN 7. As a result, it shall now stay banished.
Windows 7 also provides a relative performance rating routine for computer hardware. At this writing, it is on a scale of 1-to-7.9 with design for future updating. It rates individual hardware areas for performance and gives a score based on the single lowest scoring area ... it is NOT an average. I don't see why you can't review this score on the store shelves in order to pick a laptop that meets your individual performance needs. This HP rates 4.2 for its "Desktop Graphics" system, which speaks pretty darn well for the rest of the machine. For a gaming screamer laptop, there are different DV6 derivations that score higher, but for a good, well equipped, feature rich system I think it's fair to say that the DV-2150 is a 'mainstream' screamer that does a ton of things exceptionally well under the hyperthread Intel i3 core.
I posted a long review of the current crop of DV6-21xx series of notebooks here: HP Pavilion DV6-2170US. The models are mostly the same with different CPUs (one has a discrete graphics chip). All include the newest mobile processors from Intel which eclipse the older Core2 line in terms of performance. Those with integrated graphics include Intel's new HD graphics which are also a big improvement over Intel's old 4500HD graphics (which are still inferior to discrete graphics chips from AMD/ATI and Nvidia when it come to 3D gaming). I would suggest avoiding the older DV6 13xx and 12xx series unless you can get a really good price (which may happen as HP discontinues them).
Here is the summary of models I posted in that review:
If you're staring at the various DV6 models trying to decide which one to buy my advice is (based on the models available when I wrote this):
For home users who aren't gamers you can save about $100 if you go with the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop which combines a Core i3 with Win 7 Premium and a 6 cell battery. The performance for non-gaming software will be very close to the more expensive i5 models and you'll save money by going with Win 7 Premium and a smaller battery.
If you need good battery life, run higher end software, or like to game a bit go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US which combines the Core i5 with the 12 cell battery. The Intel graphics aren't the best but it's a big improvement over past products. This is the model I think has the best balance of features.
If gaming matters more than battery life you should probably look at other laptop lines but if you are sold on the DV6 go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2190US which has a quad CPU Core i7 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M graphics. It's only got a 6 cell battery and that CPU and graphics are going to drain it quickly. You'll pay about $200 over this model.
If you have a lot of older software consider the HP Pavilion DV6-2157SB Small Business Edition which comes with Windows 7 Pro (which can run older software on a WinXP kernel). It has a Core i3 and a 6 cell battery. It also has a different finish ("Plaid Mocha") but I haven't seen it so I can't comment on it.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Been shopping for a new computer for over a year now as I could no longer put up with my slow-as-molasses 2003 Gateway. Shoulda' tossed it long ago, except I'm on a budget. I saw this HP Pavilion DV6 1250us at a huge (nearly 20%!!) discount at one of the chain office supply stores so I jumped on it. I'm completely knocked-out by how fast this thing is runs like its hair's on fire! I timed it at 1 min 20 seconds to completely start-up, connect to wi-fi and be ready to go. My 20GB+ library of iTunes opens in about 5 seconds flat.My favorite features are; the jaw-dropping sharp, bright, vivid display, next generation faster memory (4GB DDR3), faster than usual 7200rpm hard drive (320GB), and the excellent integrated graphics card (with 1.6 GB memory!!) for watching smoooth on-line video (hulu etc.). I find Windows 7 to be not so different from XP. It has wireless N glad I thought ahead when I replaced my router a year ago. Lots of USB ports (3 + 1 combo actually), and a little remote control that stores in the expansion slot, though I'm not sure how useful that will be... Battery life was good (2-1/2 hrs without economizing, after running it down to 5% & recharging it a few times to break it in).
Did some research and found that this brand new i3 processor (released Jan 10, 2010) operates similar to a quad-core, so it's not too easily bogged down. Now the Norton Security Suite that I get free from my cable company runs in the background and I don't even know it's there. My old computer would sputter and fuss for 20 minutes or so just getting an update.
So far, it runs like a champ with anti-virus going, burning a dvd, multiple tabs in Firefox open, and torrent down & uploads going all at once. Also easily handles Word documents with lots of artwork, which used to be a problem for me. Took me awhile to connect to my home wi-fi because I didn't realize you first have to turn on the wireless via a touch-switch above the keyboard. Set-up wizard and on-screen prompts did not make that clear, but I figured it out before long. Wasn't crazy about the case design but it's not so bad... looks like rings left by a glass on a wood table. HP even includes a little polishing cloth to keep it shiny a nice touch.
Overall, I'm thrilled with it. Cost half of what I payed for my Gateway in 2003 and I feel like I finally have a REAL computer that I'm confident will be current for at least a few years. I highly recommend you pick one up if you have the means!
Best Deals for HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
I'm a big fan of HP products. I've owned 4 HP notebooks and 3 printers over the last 10 years. I've also owned a Dell, Averatec, and Toshiba laptop over the same time period.Pros:
1) Numeric keypad. The keys are a little slimmer than keypads on other notebooks (i.e. Toshiba and Sony models) but it isn't too hard to get used to. I use this a lot.
2) Good battery life. I haven't fully drained it yet, but it looks like it's at least 3 hours/.
3) Runs cool. I can use it for hours on my lap and it doesn't experience the heating issue my previous HP and Averatec laptops ran into.
4) Overall, for a budget laptop, the overall build feels like a good quality.
5) eSATA
6) Remote I never use these, but I may this time since it also has a HDMI output.
Cons:
1) The BIOS is locked. This is kind of annoying. I don't mean you can't get into it, but merely, some of the features or options aren't made available. I've never seen a BIOS this limited (and I've owned a lot of notebooks [see above] and desktop systems. This probably won't matter to most people though.
2) As odd as it sounds, HP technical support told me it won't support a SATA SSD. I've read some laptops have problems with this.. I haven't actually tried this myself but I probably will. I'm hoping HP support just doesn't know what they're talking about and just don't see it in the supported hardware list.
3) When the notebook goes into sleep mode, I get weird horizontal lines that forces me to reboot. I've tried refreshing the display, having it output to an external display, changing resolution, etc but those methods don't work. This may just be my laptop or a driver issue.
4) Easy to get fingerprints all over it (probably due to HP's finish).
5) Dust seems to be very noticeable on HP's finish
Notes/Neutral:
1) Doesn't utilize a latch on the lid to lock it in place. The lid close tightly though.
2) No USB or other I/O ports on back of laptop. It only has 3 USB ports.
3) Power cable is on the right side of the laptop towards the back.
4) Audio ports are on the front right and there are two headphone jacks. This seems fairly typical of a lot of HP notebooks but I've never had to use it. Still nice to have.
5) There is a docking station expansion port on the left. Haven't tried it yet (don't own a dock), but at least you know it's compatible with a docking station.
6) No modem. This doesn't bother me but for those of you who still use dial-up might want to know this.
7) Does come with 802.11n and works as expected.
Overall, I think this is a good notebook for a student or someone like me who doesn't do much with his notebook but tosses and abuses it a lot during travel.
UPDATE: 14 June 2010
Okay, so I bought a OCZ 60GB SSD. I didn't think it seemed right that I couldn't upgrade to it, so I figured it was a calculated risk. Anyway, the SSD works fine. There are a few issues to consider though... The recovery DVD you made will not install to a smaller drive, so you'll need something like Norton Ghost to do it. I looked into using free utilities and couldn't find any (i.e. Clonezilla, Partition Wizard, etc). Or, you need to buy a regular copy of Windows 7 and install it from scratch.
The boot times do improve significantly. I don't know if it's worth it, but my laptop now completely boots up in about 30 seconds. Applications start almost immediately. However, I would probably avoid the upgrade again only because I miss having the drive space.
Also keep in mind, if you do upgrade to a SSD to optimize it. There are a few tutorials online that tell you how to edit your registry to get the most out of it.
This also means HP tech support loses a star since they told me it wasn't possible.
While I was reloading the factory install, I did notice that there is a minimal install of the OS. It does come with some HP utilities, but a lot less. So I definitely recommend that you re-install if you don't like having too many applications preloaded. It takes about an hour.
Honest reviews on HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
I just got this and it booted right up, the screen quality is very nice, much better than the older style of laptops with the satin finish. This high glass finish really makes the screen stand out. I've used laptops by dell, lenovo and gateway in the past so my first impressions are below.The laptop is not heavy, very reasonable and despite the 6 cell battery, most times I'm plugged in so it's not a big deal to me. I haven't timed out the battery yet but so far as with any new laptop is seems to do just fine. I wish it came with a cover or bag of some sort until I get my laptop bag, but I guess I'll be careful.
The side connectors are well laid out, I don't see issues with too much in a spot, it all seems pretty nice. My version did not have a modem (which I hope we don't need much longer). The one thing I'm trying to determine and it may be my misunderstanding but this should have "N" network wireless ability but when I booted it up, my dual band router only showed the regular G.
The big thing I like is the touch controls of the keyboard layout, everything is touch sensor, no buttons to break. The other thing that I really like is the pc does not get hot like older laptops do. It has no "side vents" for the cpu so it's clearly a much cooler operations than its earlier laptops. I always had to make sure I powered down the laptops in the bag or they'd overheat. With this style I'd be surprised if I had an issue. It comes with a little video remote that is nice if you are watching movies on a flight or don't want to mess with the keyboard. The hdmi on the side probably would be of good use if showing videos that way.
I personally don't care for the "bubble" design on the black finish, it could have been left alone without that stuff but oh well. As I work with it more I'll be able to post more but it's a very nice laptop and they even have a 50 dollar rebate on some locations.
As far as gaming, I haven't tried it so far but I'd suspect in most average games this I3 should do fine. I'm sure on call of duty versions it probably will not work well but I have a home desktop pc for that kind of gaming.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
A less expensive laptop with a more dated dual core processor would have nicely served my business needs, but when a sale price brings this puppy closer to $650 or less, it really justifies going with this HP's Intel i3 processor for the enhanced processing power, especially when dabbling in personal multi-media. It's a feature rich machine that offers some ability to grow with your needs because it is so well ported. It comes with 4-USB, an external eSATA to attach a speedy external backup/storage drive, an HDMI port and companion laptop remote control, external monitor, 5-in one card reader (ooops, not Compact Flash, regrettably), ExpressCard 54 slot, 100-mbps RJ45 and Wireless N Draft networking, Bluetooth, and capped by a double-layer DVD/CD read/write drive.Where the rubber meets the road, I was nicely impressed with how well the N-Draft wireless adapter downloaded a 311-MB printer driver software suite file ... less than 10-minutes ... and I finally get wireless service anywhere in our single story home through several walls. Hot dog, Cat5 is now dead. I have since teamed it up with a Seagate BlackArmor external backup/storage drive that promises up to 3-GB/S eSATA transfer. However, I'm using it via USB at this writing and am greatly pleased at how fast that connection works, as it is, for basic backup and off-machine file storage. I likely won't go eSATA, but can.
I'm not a 'touch-pad' fan, using it only when a wireless mouse isn't possible. This one is like any other and I find the right-side touch-scroll bar to work when I don't want it to and to not work when I do. No doubt that's a combination of me and the nature of that annoying little beasty.
The 15-inch class screen on this version is just right for these 60-year old eyes that have worn glasses since dirt was made, but I have a hit or two. First, it was dramatically bright out of the box with blacks washed out and the light-blue text so prevalent on websites very washed out and difficult to read. The good news is that the Intel graphics driver offered the needed adjustments to bring the brightness and contrasts under control and it even includes a text enhancement routine that capably took the harshness out of black text as delivered. It still displays digital photos with way too much brightness and I have not been able to get it under control. For basic multimedia / DVD movies and such the display is still serviceable with sharp imaging. Other versions of this model can be equipped with cable/satellite/off-air TV tuners and connections.
HP's bloat-ware was within reason and largely ranted on with on-line backup offers. Windows 7 Home Premium now comes with scheduled system image and data file backup routines, but one must upgrade to PRO in order to back up over a network. It will work with an attached external drive, so the on-line vendors are now relegated to those worried about fire and theft. Win 7 networking is much improved and connected to all our shared resources within our home network without complaint. However, it now comes configured with a 'Homegroup' system that has yet to make any sense to me over the "workgroup" method, which is now somewhat buried in the operating system.
HP's included MediaSmart software also doesn't make intuitive sense especially with the photo display/editing features for basic snapshots. Picasa is still hard to beat and the serious photos still go through Canon's Digital Photo Pro. I also have a problem with an HP 'Web Printing' plug-in for Internet Explorer. This piece allows for selecting a partial section of a web page screen for printing. However, an HP update for this module has fully and fatally crashed Internet Explorer 8 within a week of buying the laptop. This appears to be limited for reasons unknown since neither HP nor Microsoft has rushed to get it fixed and I didn't shed much of a tear over losing it as a bloated, boat-anchor browser in favor of Google Chrome. But, for IE8 fans, get this ... Microsoft says that IE8 is now an integrated part of the operating system and does NOT offer an IE8 download for WIN 7. As a result, it shall now stay banished.
Windows 7 also provides a relative performance rating routine for computer hardware. At this writing, it is on a scale of 1-to-7.9 with design for future updating. It rates individual hardware areas for performance and gives a score based on the single lowest scoring area ... it is NOT an average. I don't see why you can't review this score on the store shelves in order to pick a laptop that meets your individual performance needs. This HP rates 4.2 for its "Desktop Graphics" system, which speaks pretty darn well for the rest of the machine. For a gaming screamer laptop, there are different DV6 derivations that score higher, but for a good, well equipped, feature rich system I think it's fair to say that the DV-2150 is a 'mainstream' screamer that does a ton of things exceptionally well under the hyperthread Intel i3 core.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Cheap ASUS K55N-DS81 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
List Price: $499.00
Sale Price: $415.99
Today's Bonus: 17% Off
This is a review of the Asus laptop, not Windows 8. I'm a retired computer professional and I've had over a dozen different laptops over the years, from economy models to the top-of-the-line (so I have a large frame of reference). I'm really pleased with this laptop -it's a great value and I really don't need any more power or features for what I do these days. I use it mostly for web browsing, Office apps (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint), Photoshop, iTunes management of a huge music library, and email. I'm "on my computer" over 8 hours a day. For those purposes, this laptop is serving me well at a great price. I looked at a lot of others in the same price range and decided on this one for these reasons: a good processor (I don't think I saw any faster ones in this price range), 500GB disk drive (I really don't need more space and I have larger external USB drives if I ever do), a decent integrated graphics adapter, 3 USB ports including USB 3.0, an HDMI port, VGA output for non-digital TVs and monitors (not found on many current laptops but it's still useful), DVD burner, a pretty long battery life, and a 1-year warranty on accidental drops and spills.
When I first started using the laptop, I was very impressed by the feel and the action of the keyboard and the brightness and clarity of the 15.6" screen. I was also pleased that it wasn't pre-loaded with a bunch of free-trial crap software (all I got rid of was the 30-day(?) free-trial McAfee anti-virus, which I replaced with AVG free edition). I added 4GB of Kingston memory for a total of 8GB RAM and so far I have no complaints about performance. (
Some buyers may want to know that the disk drive is formatted with C and D partitions, 186 GB and 258 GB in size, respectively. That's smart, but I wonder if non-technical users will ever even access and use the large D partition since all user files (My Documents, etc.), by default, are put on the C partition. On the D drive, I put all my music files, my thousands of digital photos, and other large data collections which I don't need to frequently access via the convenient user folders (My Documents, My Pictures, etc.). I think there's an additional recovery partition, but it doesn't appear in the file manager.
I have only a couple complaints. The left/right buttons at the bottom of the touchpad take a lot of pressure to make them click (probably intentional to avoid accidental clicking) and I don't like the feel of their action. I thought maybe I'd stop using a mouse and switch to using the touchpad only, but the feel of those buttons caused me to go back to my mouse within a few hours of use. The other complaint is that there's no LED indicator when Caps Lock or Numeric Lock is enabled on the keyboard, but that's a pretty minor issue. (UPDATE: I just discovered there *are* LEDs for Caps and Numeric lock -they are small green LEDs on the front left edge, next to some other LEDs like the disk activity LED).
So, I'm very pleased with this laptop and I think it's a tremendous value in its price range. No regrets on this purchase! Windows 8 is a different story and I'm not crazy about it, but I'm learning to adjust. I would prefer to have Windows 7 which was the best Windows OS to date. Windows 8 is not nearly as bad as many reviewers would have you believe. By creating my user account as a 'local user', ignoring the Start Screen that looks like a smart phone and only using the Windows desktop, it's very much like using Windows 7. You just have to find where they hid some things like the Start Menu (use Windows key + X combination). And so far, all the software I have (some of which is pretty old, like Office 2003), has installed without compatibility problems. I almost paid much more to get a laptop with Windows 7 instead of 8, based on all the negative comments, but I'm glad I didn't do that. The negative comments are overblown.
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I did a lot of research before finally purchasing this laptop by ASUS. The biggest selling points for me were as follows:ASUS 1 year "360 Notebook Warranty" including 1 year of Accidental Damage/Handling and a Limited 1 year manufacturer warranty.
The AMD A8 4500M APU is super speedy. If you're purchasing a laptop beware that the A6 4400 has a 1MB L2 cache while the A8 has a BIG 4MB L2 cache. While the dual core is rated at a higher frequency the quad core is capable of handling multiple data loads simultaneously much more efficiently.
The Radeon 7640G has 512mb dedicated memory and is capable to pull from the system resources. While this machine CANNOT run games at the highest settings it does an excellent job of being able to run MOST games at low-med settings with high FPS.
4gb ram upgradeable to 16gb.
Pros: Low Price point, 1 year ADH warranty, fast quad core cpu, 4mb L2 cache, fast HDD, fast boot option, instant on resume function2 second wake-up from sleep mode.
Cons: Poor viewing angles on screen, plastic shell/case,
Best Deals for ASUS K55N-DS81 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
I doubted this laptop would perform that well given its $399 price tag. Incredibly I continue to be blown away by its superb performance, it has quickly become my favorite (of six) computers to use! Even though it's comprised of plastic, it's light weight and superior performance leave me wanting little. Even with 3D games, the performance continues to astound me given the low price I paid.I bought a 16GB memory upgrade for $85 a week later and it has solidly placed this laptop at the top of my techy toys list. I am dumbfounded by the sheer performance of this low cost laptop.
Pros: low price, above average performance, memory up-gradable to 16GB and out performs my MacBook that cost $1300.
Cons: Made of plastic and does not have superman powers..
Honest reviews on ASUS K55N-DS81 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
I'm re-writing this review to include a tutorial on how to fix up the laptop without voiding the warrantee. I'm upping it to 4 stars now that I've fixed it. The hardware is great, the software can be fixed.Pros:
Great Hardware
Fast Processor
Big Video specs
Built in tutorial for windows 8
Comes with 50 GB cloud storage for 3 years
Cons:
Windows 8
The trackpad is awful (tutorial below reduces annoyance)
The wireless will drop out (tutorial below fixes)
Packed with bloatware (you can uninstall it)
Webcam sucks (mic is great though)
Small HD space
Performance expectations:
You will be able to play most games at max settings if the game was released prior to 2010. You will be able to play most new releases up to current day at reduced graphics settings. Applications will run at a reasonably high speed.
Hard Drive(s)
The laptop comes with two small 5400 RPM hard drives (C and D). The OS is installed to C, and D is empty. If you install your programs to drive D, you will get significant performance gains because your motherboard can process twin data streams at 100% capacity. YOU MUST DO THIS TO MAKE GAMES AND APPLICATIONS RUN SMOOTHLY.
Trackpad fix:
The built in drivers for the trackpad add "smoothing" effects and whatnot that make the trackpad even harder to use. They do not provide basic functions like turning off the trackpad.
Fix it:
1. Plug in a USB mouse
2. Download the Synaptics driver platform for mouse, windows 8 option.
3. Using the USB mouse, uninstall the trackpad drivers.
a. right click on the bottom left corner of desktop
b. in the context menu, select "device manager"
c. in the device manager, right click on the trackpad's controller, it is under "Mice and other pointing devices"
d. select "properties" from the drop down menu
e. select the "driver" tab
f. select "uninstall" and follow the on-screen instructions
4. Install the new synaptics drivers
5. You now have better mouse handling, and you can right-click the trackpad icon in the desktop tray, go to the "Device Settings" tab, and disable the trackpad.
6. Install touch-freeze
This will "stun" the mouse while you are typing, which will prevent accidental clicks from messing up your typing.
Wireless fix:
The built in drivers disable the wireless card on a regular basis in order to conserve power. You will need to replace the aetheros drivers with the most up-to-date drivers, and disable some features in the Realtek PCIe driver context menu.
1. Download the Aetheros drivers
download link:
site:
2. This package will install just fine. Follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Reboot.
4. Go to the device manager, select "network adapters," and right click "Qualcomm Atheros AR9485WB-EG Wireless Network Adapter"
5. Select "properties"
6. Select the "Power Management" tab
7. uncheck the box "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
8. Click "OK"
9. Go back to the device manager
10. Right click and slect properties on "Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller"
11. Go to the "advanced" tab
12. Modify the following Properties
Energy Efficient Ethernet> Disabled
Green Ethernet> Disabled
13. Go to the "Power Management" tab
14. unchcheck "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
15. click "OK"
16. Enjoy stable internet.
Windows 8 Fix:
If you miss the traditional Windows layout, you can install a third party start button. I recommend this one:
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for ASUS K55N-DS81 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
I'm using this laptop mostly for internet browsing, work, and gaming. It does it all, more than I expected after a few weeks of owning it.This laptop is fast. It's fast booting up, shutting down, loading programs, buffering videos, downloading, etc. Never had a problem. All the features: IceCool palm rests, SuperBatt Tech, InstantOn, and 5% AutoBackup work great. The InstantOn is my favorite, my other laptops and desktops are nowhere near as fast booting up and shutting off. The laptop will boot up to the start screen as long as it takes for you to sip a cup of coffee.
Win8 gets getting used to, many people like to complain about changes, but I have no major complaints. The only complaint I have is I was disappointed that there's no Microsoft Office installed. When I had to do work I was prompted to buy a CD key, not what I expected.
What I love the most is the gaming power of this laptop. You wouldn't expect much from an entry level priced laptop, but I'm playing Shogun 2 Total War on medium smoothly. With that being said, I'm already starting to fill up my hard drive downloading Steam games!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Discount Gateway M675 Notebook Laptop Computer
My experience with Gateway has been terrible. Here is my story. I decided to purchase a new laptop computer last month and with Lenovo buying IBM Thinkpads, I decided to try a new brand (I have owned IBM Thinkpads in the past). I ordered the $3,000 Gateway NX 860 XL before leaving for vacation in March and received it while on vacation. Upon returning home, I had a business trip scheduled and decided to open and use my new computer. Within 3 days of using the computer, my power supply failed and I was without my laptop the last 2 days out-of-town. At the same time, Gateway was proactively trying to schedule a technician visit to fix a faulty video card within this computer. At this time, I decided to return the machine because of its lack of dependability. Now it came time to deal with the customer service department. When buying the machine I was assigned a sales rep who promised to be available with any questions I might have in the future. Therefore, this was the first person I tried to contact with the problems on my new machine. Needless to say, I NEVER received an answer from him after numerous voice/emails. Next, I wrote a letter to the CEO and finally received a call back from Gateway executive offices. A gentleman in that department informed me that I was outside the 15 days return policy (by 2 days) and that instead of getting a refund, I would have to return the machine for service. The next day my machine incurred another defect the screen failed. I can hear the machine start but I get no response from the screen (I even attempted to externally connect the laptop to another video screen with no luck). This was the final straw. I called both my sales representative (no response) and my new contact (from Gateway executive offices) leaving 4 messages in 2 days with no return call. It was not until I searched through the Gateway voicemail system that I got a real person who physically delivered the message to my contact for me.
After speaking again with Gateway executive offices, I received the same conclusion no return and I would need to send it back to the company. He informed me that it would take 1-5 days to receive a box from Gateway to pack up and ship out my product. Then, it would take 2 weeks to service and if I'm lucky to have my machine back in a month. Are you kidding? I have already ordered a new machine (Lenovo). Right now, it is as good as a $3000 doorstop.
All I wanted to do was return a product that did not work. In my business, reliability is extremely important and this machine is not reliable. Also, Gateway does not show respect for their customer. They hide behind policies instead of standing behind their product and realizing a product defect on their side.
Don't buy Gateway. The computer is lousy and the customer service stinks.
The wireless, Gigabit Ethernet, CD-RW/DVD-RW drive works great, keyboard, LCD panel, front audio controls and everything else.
The only thing that I've had to buy for the system for replacement was a new battery (about $35) and a new power supply (about $45) a couple years ago. I also upgraded the RAM to the max capacity of 2GB and the hard drive to a 160GB drive.
Overall, I'd place the downfalls on this unit with the fact that it doesn't boot from USB devices, but then again, this laptop was made in 2003 and was no longer manufactured after 2005. The boot from USB requirement in the hardware simply did not exist in 2003. Why they haven't since added it, I don't know (the existing hardware technology would certainly support it).
Also, other downfalls are weight and heat. It's 8.7 lbs on my bathroom scale and the heat it generates is quite a bit...don't actually use this system on your lap, your thighs will be burning in no time. My boss felt the heat coming from the system while sitting on my desk and he actually said "Man...you can pop popcorn with that kind of heat!"
Other than those, I would place this system as a very, rock solid system. I've had more parts fail in my desktop computers than I have with this laptop (which is actually a desktop replacement system given it's got a 2.4Ghz Pentium 4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, 802.11g/b wireless, CD/DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports and a FireWire (1394) micro port, and an ATI Raideon Mobility 9600 with 64MB Video RAM). Oh...it's got a floppy drive as well, but you can obtain accessories to go into the left bay (where the floppy drive is) that will enable other functions and features.
After speaking again with Gateway executive offices, I received the same conclusion no return and I would need to send it back to the company. He informed me that it would take 1-5 days to receive a box from Gateway to pack up and ship out my product. Then, it would take 2 weeks to service and if I'm lucky to have my machine back in a month. Are you kidding? I have already ordered a new machine (Lenovo). Right now, it is as good as a $3000 doorstop.
All I wanted to do was return a product that did not work. In my business, reliability is extremely important and this machine is not reliable. Also, Gateway does not show respect for their customer. They hide behind policies instead of standing behind their product and realizing a product defect on their side.
Don't buy Gateway. The computer is lousy and the customer service stinks.
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I am an IT Professional with 7 Degrees and Certifications. In fact I am working on 3 more now. I have had the M675 since 2004. It is still going strong. I also have a Gateway M685 (2007) that has bit the dust hard. It needs a new laptop screen. And I have a Gateway NW78 (2010). Obviously I like Gateway and their full size keyboards. The M675 is as solid as can be. It has had some work done on it but it still works. I am going to upgrade it to Windows 7 in the next two weeks. It does get hot but I am sure it will be around for years. It just works. It has 4 TB of external drives attached and just has no issues at all. Wireless works great.Best Deals for Gateway M675 Notebook Laptop Computer
I've owned the Gateway M675 notebook since February of 2003. The only problem that I've had with the system was a motherboard problem, which Gateway fixed without issue. Aside from that, I've used this computer for all of eight years and while heavy, it's extremely reliable.The wireless, Gigabit Ethernet, CD-RW/DVD-RW drive works great, keyboard, LCD panel, front audio controls and everything else.
The only thing that I've had to buy for the system for replacement was a new battery (about $35) and a new power supply (about $45) a couple years ago. I also upgraded the RAM to the max capacity of 2GB and the hard drive to a 160GB drive.
Overall, I'd place the downfalls on this unit with the fact that it doesn't boot from USB devices, but then again, this laptop was made in 2003 and was no longer manufactured after 2005. The boot from USB requirement in the hardware simply did not exist in 2003. Why they haven't since added it, I don't know (the existing hardware technology would certainly support it).
Also, other downfalls are weight and heat. It's 8.7 lbs on my bathroom scale and the heat it generates is quite a bit...don't actually use this system on your lap, your thighs will be burning in no time. My boss felt the heat coming from the system while sitting on my desk and he actually said "Man...you can pop popcorn with that kind of heat!"
Other than those, I would place this system as a very, rock solid system. I've had more parts fail in my desktop computers than I have with this laptop (which is actually a desktop replacement system given it's got a 2.4Ghz Pentium 4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, 802.11g/b wireless, CD/DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports and a FireWire (1394) micro port, and an ATI Raideon Mobility 9600 with 64MB Video RAM). Oh...it's got a floppy drive as well, but you can obtain accessories to go into the left bay (where the floppy drive is) that will enable other functions and features.
Honest reviews on Gateway M675 Notebook Laptop Computer
I have had this computer for about a month now.And it is great.At first I said I would not buy a gateway when they first came out because I owned one a long time ago and it was not nice.Thats when windows 98SE was out and that was the worse operating system I have ever noticed. Ever! But now you have vista to take it's place.So I decided to go ahead after years of thinking and I bought this gateway and it is by far the best looking and the best working one I have seen today.I work on computers and I would normally by a dell are a IBM around 5 years of age because they last forever.They new model computers I don't care what model they are will last you for a year tops if you use them enough.As you can see this laptop is still around and still working! Get it ! How many can say that when they go to besy buy and buy a laptop new! How many times did you go back and if your warranty was up you were screwed! Its a great laptop with a full keyboard I mean a full keyboard like you have on a desktop.Not squeezed together like the newer model laptops! All kind of buttons for your every need.I give this laptop rave reviews and its still going and count the years when it first came out and then count the years of the newer model laptop you have and does it still work.For this laptop to still work after 8 years I am please with no problems so how about that! Cant say that for many laptops now a days.You get 1 year with all that junk in it and it will last 1 year.Now I ask you whats better a laptop working for a long time are a suped up one that last a year.I got my money worth plus and this laptop still works without a hitch.Upgraded to 2gb of memory and 100gb hardrive.And now I can add up to 500 gigs with the new IDE PATA DRIVES.Man I have no complaints take it from me it will last you for ever! And I can put any operating system on it including Windows 7. Hows that for a laptop 8 years old and still can hang better than the new laptops Haaaa! haaa!! I bet you understand me now! Good luck cause this laptop rocks!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Gateway M675 Notebook Laptop Computer
I purchased my new Gateway laptop and since I had not heard anything bad about the company, expected to have a satisfactory product. My main complaint is the exceptionally slow time it takes to install a program. The install goes along at a reasonable time frame copying the program to my hard drive from CD. But at the final install step which it states will take two minutes, instead goes on and on for hours. That was my spyware program. A few days later, I tried to install programs which came with the computer and again, two hours later when I tried to stop the install, a message came up that 'program xxx is still installing, do you want to quit?' I responded 'no' and the install contined for another two hours. I finally stopped it and have not bothered to install any other programs. My advice? Do not buy a Gateway.
Monday, October 27, 2014
HP Pavilion dv7-3165dx 17.3" Notebook PC - AMD Turion II Ultra Review
I purchased this at "best buy" for $800 (Tax included). This is by far the best computer I've ever used. I notice some people complain about the audio, and how the speakers crackle (I haven't had this issue at all), I however don't use the speakers for sound on my laptop, but instead have it hooked up to a 2.1 system that I've had for my old PC, and it works great! Everything is smooth running and fast. would highly recommend buying this system. Only problem that I am have is finding a laptop carrying case that is big enough for it. But I do not really plan on traveling with it much anyway... hope my review is helpful for you...
On the plus side, a huge 17.3" screen, a dedicated number pad, a dual-core CPU; both rated at 2.5 GHz, along with 4GBs of installed RAM; expandable to 8GB, and wireless "N" are included. A 500 GB hard drive and accessible DVD drive that also supports BluRay! To complement this, 4 USB ports and an HDMI output are provided.
On the whole, I think I will end up being very happy with this PC, once I completely resolve the sound issues.
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I actually just bought this computer at a Best Buys for $ 779.99. I only have been exploring it for a couple of hours, but one of the first things I noticed was that the sound was below inferior. It has a touted feature called "SRS Premium", that among other features, provides a virtual, 3d sound effect; the volume being very limited. It includes many parameters, including a graphic EQ with presets, that seem to do little, if nothing to affect the sound. It includes Altec Lansing speakers, which at first glance, you'd think would indeed be superior. Quite the opposite! They crackle and break up constantly, and forget about even a hint of any real bass. I eventually ended up uninstalling this whole driver and reinstalling a basic driver, minus all the fancy features. This VASTLY improved both the volume and sound quality available.On the plus side, a huge 17.3" screen, a dedicated number pad, a dual-core CPU; both rated at 2.5 GHz, along with 4GBs of installed RAM; expandable to 8GB, and wireless "N" are included. A 500 GB hard drive and accessible DVD drive that also supports BluRay! To complement this, 4 USB ports and an HDMI output are provided.
On the whole, I think I will end up being very happy with this PC, once I completely resolve the sound issues.
Best Deals for HP Pavilion dv7-3165dx 17.3" Notebook PC - AMD Turion II Ultra
I'm in love with my laptop, it's really awesome. It's true that the sound from the speakers is bad, but who cares, when we almost don't use the speakers in a regular basis to hear its audio (sometimes I use the speakers, but I put them very low and it works fine) and also when this notebook has all these amazing features. Only few laptops in the market has all these funtions with a great price. It only cost me tax in BJ's in a month where this laptop was on sale, so imagine how happy I should be.Honest reviews on HP Pavilion dv7-3165dx 17.3" Notebook PC - AMD Turion II Ultra
Well I am disappointed that after a year the motherboard gave out so fast. I didn't do a thorough research before purchasing this laptop to have known the effects it had. As to what the other reviewer JT mentioned the heating problem ( it is certainly a major problem). I enjoyed the time I had with the laptop up until that year. I have always taken care of any product that I purchased to last for as long as it can. I read on other forums later on that a lot of people had the same issue with the motherboard crashing just after a year. This is the first HP product I bought that gave me such an issue. I even bought a separate cooling fan thinking that would help, guess what it didn't change a thing. For spending (899+ tax) on it, I felt that I was cheated thinking I would have a laptop that would last longer than a year. I never really did anything major on there except for when I needed to use Microsoft word, watch a movie, browse the internet, small projects. I honestly did enjpy the laptop when it worked but now I am wondering whether to replace the motherboard or simply trash it, since my warranty was over like 4 months before this happened (funny right). I went back to best buy's Geek squad the guy told me it would cost 700-1400 to repair, he himself told me I'm better off buying a new one rather than to spend that kind of money for repairs. So overall if you're looking to purchase this be warned and even check over the internet you'll see a lot of complaints about the motherboard giving out after a year.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for HP Pavilion dv7-3165dx 17.3" Notebook PC - AMD Turion II Ultra
I'll start off by saying it does still work and has never failed to run. However HP update never worked from the beginning and Blu-ray player has never played a single bluray. It has a hard time with normal DVDs at times. I have to use windows media center. Probably the thing that aggravates me the most being i could have paid alot less for one without a bluray drive. Overheats easily just playing movies and not even gaming. Video card is extremely complicated to get to for cleaning and you risk damaging other components (big part of the heat problem). Duster can is not strong enough to clean it so I had to use an air compressor. Frequent hard drive errors that need repair. Also just found out it uses 2x2gb of ddr2 800mhz memory which is terrible even for when i purchased it and will only except specific hp modules successfully(ddr3 greater than 2000mhz is used today and are cheap). Slow outdated dual core processor. No ability to change anything to improve computers performance via bios. msconfig allows enabling all cores on startup tho and works for all computers. Not even worth the effort to put a SSD into it. I will add that i build my own computers now and know how to update anything from software to motherboard bios to firmware updates.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Best Sony VAIO VPCEL26FX/W 15.5-Inch Laptop (Glacier White) Deals
Update to my original review: After having this computer for a few months now, I must say I'm not quite happy with it. I am always having internet connection problems and I have to go through the troupleshooting just to get a connection!? Also, realized the volume controls are controlled by having to press Alt+F4 for up and Alt+F5 for down AND with no back light keys, it's not very easy to do when in the dark. Still having trouble using the "instant" web feature. Now I'm stuck with it as my return window has expired.
This is my first Sony and just bought it a few days ago. It seems to be a good computer and and still learning and the bells and whistles. Having trouble accessing the "instant" web feature as you have to do the internet set up AGAIN after the initial set up. I gave it a 3-star because of having to duplicate the internet set up and for poor speaker sound quality (doesn't sound very loud).
so far, so good.....Great features: Bluray...HDMI...Large HDD.
This is my first Sony and just bought it a few days ago. It seems to be a good computer and and still learning and the bells and whistles. Having trouble accessing the "instant" web feature as you have to do the internet set up AGAIN after the initial set up. I gave it a 3-star because of having to duplicate the internet set up and for poor speaker sound quality (doesn't sound very loud).
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I'm very pleased with my purchase. It's so light weight compared to my last laptop. Haven't had a Sony before, it's a good choice for me.Best Deals for Sony VAIO VPCEL26FX/W 15.5-Inch Laptop (Glacier White)
I purchased the Sony because it was highly recommended by a Techie friend. I was very disappointed in the screen resolution and the sound, which even at the maximum was still very low. Sadly I will be sending it back.Honest reviews on Sony VAIO VPCEL26FX/W 15.5-Inch Laptop (Glacier White)
After a string of BAD/DEFECTIVE Sony Vaio laptops, I decided to try "one more time" ....so far, so good.....Great features: Bluray...HDMI...Large HDD.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sony VAIO VPCEL26FX/W 15.5-Inch Laptop (Glacier White)
Spent 4 hours with Sony techs (did you reboot? Did you try another browser? did you try another movie?) trying to resolve why Netflix HD content stutters and falls out of synch. Just on this computer, and justd HD content. Can't fix it back it goes.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Best TECRA M5-S5331 CD/1.83 512MB 80GB DVDRW 14.1 XPP Deals
Laptop worked one day then stopped working. I sent it back and got it back just too find out it still didn't work so instead I jus went out and bought a new toshiba laptop that doesn't dissapoint meThis makes our 3 rd Tecra Never had a bad one. Computer meets all of the things we need in one,recomend one
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop Reviews
List Price: $699.99
Sale Price: $596.88
Today's Bonus: 15% Off
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The two previous reviewers have given outstanding reviews on all the techie specs of this HP Envy Laptop. As such, I fear my average-plain-jane-user review is going to pale in comparison but hopefully it'll be helpful to those like me who use laptops but don't get into the nitty-gritty of the electronic.
Ok, so here goes -
I've always like the style and sleekness of HP laptops so it's no surprise that I love this one as well. It's beautifully designed with a smooth black surface that's fingerprint resistant which I love with children in the house!
Relatively lightweight, although still a bit hefty if compared to the ultrabooks or the like.
The colors exhibited in this model are just OUTSTANDING! So bright, crisp, and clear. Absolutely fan-flippin'-tastic for photos, videos, and graphics. Even Skype is more vivid with this laptop!
But then comes the Windows 8...
Allow me to confess right up front that I am not a fan of change, especially if something is working just fine, so I will be a bit jaded in this area. But, in my opinion, Windows 8 is basically a laptop with apps. While I love apps, ON MY PHONE or IPAD, I care nada for them on my computer. Not yet anyway. I spent hours trying to familiarize myself with the app system here and came to the conclusion that I do not like Windows 8. Give me my regular old windows button in the lower left screen that pops up all my programs by name and I'm happy. Hunting for them under an "organized" app system, no way!
In all fairness, however, my 20 year-old college son, thinks it's awesome. He says he loves the apps and thinks it organizes and simplifies things for users. So, maybe I'm just that old dog that can't learn new tricks. :)
If this computer had come with Windows 7, I would have given 5 stars easily. The laptop itself is FABULOUS! But the Windows 8 just wasn't for me.
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This laptop arrived extremely fast which was great and it didn't take long to get up and running. There are some features I lovethe finger print reader is one of them, I appreciate the added security and it's easier than typing in a password. And the computer itself seems to be greatit's everything we were looking for. However, at this point I am completely unhappy with it and I think I have to blame Windows. Even in the desk top mode I struggle to find anything I need, then when I find it I have trouble using the program and often times can't even minimize or escape out of what I'm in. I think this software would be great if I were using it on a tablet, but I'm not and don't want to feel like I am, I have a tablet and iPhone for thatthis is supposed to be my computer and I want it to run like one. I'm trying hard to get used to it and learn it, but I'm frustrated now. I'll update my review if any progress is made, positive or negative, but since I find myself avoid this laptop we might be at a standstill.However, if you're familiar and comfortable with this software I really think the laptop itself is solid. It looks great and has more bells and whistles than I need (if I could only use them!)
Best Deals for HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop
This is a great computer for business just because of one feature alone, the finger print reader. I like this alot, you can have it "read" any one of your 10 fingers. I suggest at least two, one on each hand in case you can't use one of the hands.That said this is a nice laptop. The keys are easy to press and quiet. Mine luckily came with Windows 7, I had reviewed Windows 8 (W8) at a large retailer with the initials B.B. I was not impressed with W8. W8 is meant for tablets, if you aren't using a tablet or a touch screen then it's a pointless O.S. It can revert to the old W7 mode.
Right out of the box this computer looked for my Home Network Wi-Fi. Found it and set up to use it.
I own a number of laptops, I replace them fairly quickly because I don't like them for whatever reason. This one I got for business, I was unaware it contained a finger print reader for added security which is a definate plus. I got it for a new business I am starting and wanted a laptop different than the others I have. This is my second HP Laptop. I definately remind you to make a rescue/recovery CD a soon as you get it.
The sound by BEATS Audio is suberb for a laptop and of the 10 others I have this beats them all hands down. It even sounds better on the same Sharper Image headphones I was using on my Sony vaio.
I couldn't be happier with this laptop.
Honest reviews on HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop
Ok, first off, I want to say that upon receiving the package, this laptop is extraordinarily light. When I opened up the package, I was holding a very, very elegant looking machine. It is beautiful; the brush midnight finish is one of the few laptop design cover that isn't a finger print magnet; it is awesome. So, now, lets get down to review:The dv6 is a mediocre looking machine for specs on paper; don't let that fool you.This is a capable gaming laptop. This game runs COD4 on midsettings at 50 FPS, which is really nice, and plays Planetside 2 in midsettings at 45 FPS.
I removed a couple bloat (Such as Norton and some weird game program), and freed up startups and services on the msconfiguration via run command, and it is running very smoothly. The fingerprint scanner works flawlessly; I scanned all ten fingers and it works 18 out of 20 trials. Very nice piece of security. The screen is not bad, but I do kind of wished they had it up to like 1600 x 900 like the spec identical HP Envy dv7-7230us. The Beats audio is not bad, though I was disappointed at how quiet it is. At max volume, my phone (Droid Razr Maxx) is still louder, but the quality is fine. Now, as for Windows 8: I honestly have no idea why it is criticized so much. It is not so bad; just give 5 minutes to learn. That's all; as a matter of fact, Windows 8 is more like Windows 7.75; You can still access the original Windows 7 desktop by going to the "Desktop" tile/icon on the metro app starting screen. And if you need to access the settings, control panel, power, etc., then all you need to do point the mouse to the upper or lower right corner of the screen, and it will give you those options. I believe the reason why Windows 8 is so heavily criticized is because many, many people don't realize this, and chose to run choppy emulators online. I honestly love this laptop; if you are on a budget of less than $600, than this is a MUST buy! While there are more expensive relatives to this, this is actually pretty great for the money. Value > price. If you have any questions, please, feel free to ask them on the comments below!
UPDATE: Just want to point out that I was really wrong on the framerates... On Planetside 2 it actually runs around 20-30 FPS, but the others are around right. And also, the "midnight brush" material isn't the strongest.. It is very easily scratchable, and I wish they had some kind of case available for the top. Overall the laptop is still running very well! No complaints yet other than the really scratchable material on the top!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I selected this laptop through an Amazon Vine offer thinking what is not to love about this laptop, but let me tell you it has beaten all my expectations. WOW! is what I kept saying after I took it out of the box and began getting to know this HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop up close and personal. Before even turning it on, anyone would notice how lightweight and gorgeous it is. The finish is brushed aluminum in Midnight Black and it is absolutely perfect as it looks great and feels sensual to my touch. All the hardware is placed perfectly for maximum enjoyment and ease of use. I've purchased other members of the HP Envy line but I must say this HP Laptop is first I would say all the other laptops must ENVY this HP dv6-7210us!The next feature I am most impressed with is the LED screen which has amazing depth to it. I love viewing photos and videos as they look even better on this HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop than on my HDTV! This in itself is amazing as my 52" HDTV is always commented on by the different cable carriers of how my tv makes their feed look the BEST they have ever seen! Well this laptop adds even more depth and crispness to the photos and videos than that with its AMD Radeon HD 7640G Discrete-Class graphics and up to 3053MB total graphics memory! Amazing! This laptop has Beats Audio with the speakers the length of the laptop on both sides of the hinge and sound very good for any portable electronic device. Underneath the speaker screens is Beats Audio quad speakers and a subwoofer. Webcam also delivers a great video chat experience. The touchpad as well feels great to touch and use and includes the normal mouse moves including double tap, 2finger scroll, pinch or stretch to zoom, top-edge swipe to display app commands, right-edge swipe to display the charms (search, share, start, devices, and settings) and left edge swipe to switch between open apps. You can quickly return to the start screen by pressing the windows logo key on the keyboard.
HP SimplePass is a plus for me and I believe the scanner on this HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop is more durable than previous models I have owned. I set up this laptop so that when I scan my right index finger, it launches my favorite website which is Amazon! I like that I can use my fingerprints as my passwords which I believe makes my laptop more secure from prying eyes and stealing hands and just makes access easier and faster for me.
This is my first introduction to Windows 8 and of course there is a learning curve but so far I like it. I like that it is linked to my Microsoft account which means that every time I sign into a Windows 8 device, my settings and custom tweaks will come with me and be applied. Because Microsoft accounts are linked to SkyDrive storage, Office 2013 will back up automatically uploading to the cloud. Windows Media Center will not be included for free in Windows 8 but right now through January 31, 2013, you can request a free product key for it at the microsoft windows website.
FAST! FAST! FAST! Using a 2nd Gen AMD Quad-Core A8-4500M Accelerated Processor with 6GB installed memory on 750GB 5400RPM hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection in Windows 8 really creates a fast machine. I have the fastest boot-up experience I've ever had on a laptop or desktop. Set-up was the fastest and most intuitive I've ever had. 3 of its 4 USB ports are 3.0! USB 3.0 is capable of transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps (gigabits per second); that's a little over 10 times faster than USB 2.0's 480Mbps (1,000Mbps equals 1Gbps).
The Amazon listing currently says 2GB RAMM in one place and 6GB RAMM in another place; 6GB is how much The laptop shows in the View Basic Information About Your Computer Screen.
Every place you look on this laptop is faster and better than before. Don't let the technology advances leave you in the dust.........
Stay cutting edge with the HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop.
For a bluetooth-enabled version with a red soft-touch bottom, check out HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black).
If I wasn't the luckiest girl in the world to receive this HP Envy dv6 laptop through Vine, it might very well be the one I would select for myself to purchase this holiday season as I am very particular about selecting the best quality at the best price and even at the full $699MSRP, this HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop delivers more in the fast, sleek, and sexy experience than previous laptops. I've had it only a couple of days and already it has given me more than $700USD of enjoyment, fun, and pleasure.
Thank you HP and Amazon Vine.
Friday, January 17, 2014
HP ENVY Ultrabook 4-1038nr Review
The HP Envy is a nice ultrabook. It is light, fast, has nice features, audio is good. My only real complaints are the glare from the computer screen in all kinds of natural light and the smudging that occurs everywhere on the ultrabook. In any natural light, even indoors there is a glare on the screen causing it to be difficult to read. I am looking into an anti-glare screen protector to prevent this. As for the smudging there isnt a whole lot you can do. Just use a rag to clean off all the oils from your hands.
Also, when I called for technical assistance, they had to pass me along to about 3 or 4 different technicians because the laptop is a specialty model and needed further assistance. I got the information I needed but took a bit of time to receive it.
Also, when I called for technical assistance, they had to pass me along to about 3 or 4 different technicians because the laptop is a specialty model and needed further assistance. I got the information I needed but took a bit of time to receive it.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
When I got this computer I was impressed by much of it. it was light, sleek, and fast. It's backlit keys were a big plus, much like on the MacBook. The trackpad worked fine. My biggest drawback, and it's not inconsequential, is the quality of the screen. The resolution is only so-so and you could easily be looking at a screen on a computer from many years ago, it just doesn't compare well to newer laptops in resolution or color purity. That said, it's also much less expensive than the laptops I'm referring to, namely MacBooks. So if you're looking for a good, solid, lightweight Ultrabook with excellent battery life at a righteous price ($650-$700 range) you could be very happy with this machine.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Reviews of Used iBook G4/1.07 GHz, 768 MB of RAM, 60 GB internal drive
This is my first Mac, And I love it. It took about 30 mins. To learn everything about it, I've been a Windows man ever since I was 12. But Mac OS-X is not hard to learn at all and has some nice features too. It may only be a G3 800MHz but it runs faster than my 2.4GHz destop. I will definitly be buying another Mac sometime this year, Probably a desktop. It is worth the $500 hands down.The product is slow, bad for gaming, the spacebar doesn't always work and the software isn't compatible with many online sites
Dell Inspiron 14z i14z-3003sLV i5-3317/6GB/500GBHD +32GB SSD Reviews
List Price: $749.99
Sale Price: $688.99
Today's Bonus: 8% Off
I liked a lot this laptop, its a bit heavy for a ultrabook, but on the other hand you got a DVD drive. It is slim enough for me, nice keyboard. I recommend if you want a good performance, cheap price and less weight and size! Good choice!
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I ordered dell inspiron new piece but they delivered me a refurbished one and that too doesn't work properly. It just displays dell logo when I start my laptop and nothing else works.Best Deals for Dell Inspiron 14z i14z-3003sLV i5-3317/6GB/500GBHD +32GB SSD
I looked long for the inexpensive and convenient laptop. I am not so professionavlny user. But this laptop meets all my requirements.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Buy Samsung Series 5 NP550P7C-T01US 17.3-Inch Laptop (Titan Silver)
List Price: $999.99
Sale Price: $975.77
Today's Bonus: 2% Off
This is the first laptop I've ever had. I needed something that would be able to handle massive amounts of video footage (video editing is a hobby of mine,) and be able to handle some heavy MMORPG action.
This thing goes through high-graphics games and video-editing like a hot knife through butter.
On that note, while playing games,it gets VERY VERY hot. The battery stays cool, but the left side of the computer (I assume where the graphics card is,) gets almost too hot to touch, so I had to invest in a fan-pad.
Other than that I'm completely happy with this computer.
17.3 inches is probably the largest I'd ever want a laptop to be. At a little over 6 pounds its not heavy at all.
The screen is HUGE, great for movies and editing. Touchpad is great, keys are easy to find, and its got 4 USB slots!
I don't know too much techno-lingo, but this is a BEAST.
Very happy with my purchase, the price was more than reasonable!
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Writing this review on it right now. Great shipping, keys are easy to find. Fast, responsive, easy to see from any angle..great viewing angle.Best Deals for Samsung Series 5 NP550P7C-T01US 17.3-Inch Laptop (Titan Silver)
This computer broke down twice within the first four months. Samsung ships your computer to a third party vendor for repair and it can take a month or more to get it back each time. The second time I sent it in, it was returned unrepaired. Thankfully the retailer allowed me to exchange it for a different brand. I understand that any manufacturer can turn out a computer that breaks down, but how this company handles its warranty service is terrible. I don't recommend anyone buy a computer from this company, but if you do and anything breaks down, don't send it in for warranty service if you can return it.Honest reviews on Samsung Series 5 NP550P7C-T01US 17.3-Inch Laptop (Titan Silver)
Everything I expected and then some. Speed, reliability, styling, layout, affordability. Samsung products have never let me down, always professional!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Samsung Series 5 NP550P7C-T01US 17.3-Inch Laptop (Titan Silver)
Love it. My first time with Windows 8 so still "settling in." Have problems with the "touchiness" of the keypad mouse changing the size of the text on screen, changing screens, etc., but I am sure it's just something I need to toggle in Windows 8.I chose this laptop because of the features I need in what I do with a computer as well as the size of the screen and that the keyboard contains a separate number keypad. I was not disappointed. Our massive database of family histories along with digitizing our lives, scanning absolutely everything, necessitated the large hard drive. Again, not disappointed.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Reviews of Acer Aspire V3-771G-9823 17.3-Inch Laptop (Nightfall Gray)
So far this has been all most everything I have wanted in a Laptop. The only down side that it does not have a Blu-ray player and came with Windows 8.(hence the four stars) These will not an issue for long. I have played Sky Rim, Fall Out3, Sims, ect and have yet had an issue. Great for watching movies too. I did wipe the HD and install Win7 no issues. One of the best laptop I have purchased.
-Good Specs.
***Running Windows 7, the lowest score on windows experience index is 4.8 on Graphics (out of 7.9). Gaming Graphics hits a 6.3, and everything else clocks in at 7.6-7.9. So very good overall.
-Very large screen.
-Good audio quality.
-Weighs on the lighter end for its dimensions (still less mobile compared to smaller models of course though).
-Sports an SSD, so lightning fast bootup.
-Dual drive bay setup
Cons:
-Windows 8
-Removing Win8 can be a potential headache (for various reasons)
-Price point is high
-SSD is only 120gb
-Equivalent model without additional preinstalled drive can be had for cheaper, even after adding an SSD of upto 256gb if at current sale prices.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Pros:-Good Specs.
***Running Windows 7, the lowest score on windows experience index is 4.8 on Graphics (out of 7.9). Gaming Graphics hits a 6.3, and everything else clocks in at 7.6-7.9. So very good overall.
-Very large screen.
-Good audio quality.
-Weighs on the lighter end for its dimensions (still less mobile compared to smaller models of course though).
-Sports an SSD, so lightning fast bootup.
-Dual drive bay setup
Cons:
-Windows 8
-Removing Win8 can be a potential headache (for various reasons)
-Price point is high
-SSD is only 120gb
-Equivalent model without additional preinstalled drive can be had for cheaper, even after adding an SSD of upto 256gb if at current sale prices.
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