I had a PC which was not as powerful as this notebook is supposed to be, but had to leave it in my country.
I had that PC for almost 3 years, and it was working WAY better than this notebook. The notebook sometimes crushes when all I have is google chrome open with, lets say, around 15 tabs, and maybe windows media player, and when it comes back from hivernating it takes no less than 2 minutes to begin working properly.
Besides, the battery life is a joke, using wifi (just mails and maybe some web surfing, no videos or whatsoever) and excel (basic, nothing too demanding) it won't even last for 2 hours.
Showing posts with label circus ponies notebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label circus ponies notebook. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Toshiba Satellite C875-S7304 Notebook Laptop / 3rd Gen Intel Core Reviews
Toshiba c875-S7304 17.3 inch at BestBuy for $329.00 plus 10% off on all Open Box Item at Colma, Daly City CA. just looking around for LCD TV for some reason when I saw this laptop this is it. I grab it, test drive everything works Windows 8 right is a best O/S
+ Microsoft office 10 just use my old MS10 serials it works. Now I have my desktop replacement. Please look the images I upload recently.
+ Microsoft office 10 just use my old MS10 serials it works. Now I have my desktop replacement. Please look the images I upload recently.
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This laptop has a high quality screen, a rather fast processor and excellent operational software via the new Windows 8 os. It is a fast and effective laptop that has met the essential needs expected.Best Deals for Toshiba Satellite C875-S7304 Notebook Laptop / 3rd Gen Intel Core
Keyboard is very cheap, and uneven. The letter N is sticking already after two months use. Other than that problem the computer seems to be working fine.Honest reviews on Toshiba Satellite C875-S7304 Notebook Laptop / 3rd Gen Intel Core
Santa brought this for my daughter for Christmas and she loves it of course. She seems to be figuring it out fairly well. Dear ol' dad had a hard time with Windows 8 as it is not exactly self explanatory. There are still some things about the OS and the browser that I don't understand but it doesn't seem to hinder her from doing what she wants to do. She is 9 I am 43.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Toshiba Satellite C875-S7304 Notebook Laptop / 3rd Gen Intel Core
I got this laptop as a Christmas present and I love it. Windows 8 takes some getting used to but that's to be expected. I love the big screen. My mom has a Sony laptop with the same size screen but is much heavier. The webcam is a little ehhhh.....but other than that I'm happy with my gift.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Discount Lenovo ThinkPad T60 2623 15-Inch Laptop
The Thinkpad T series is IBM/Lenovo's standard business laptop, and as a college student, I have found it to be perfect. I have the T60 model with the specs listed above: T2500 (2GHz Core Duo), 1 GB Ram, 100 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive, Bluetooth, Wireless Internet, Fingerprint Reader, Windows XP SP2, 128 MB ATI Radeon x1400. The laptop is very well constructed and sturdy. The keyboard is excellent, and very responsive. The screen is slightly dim, but I usually use it at an even dimmer setting anyways to conserve battery life. I also have a dock and a 21" widescreen monitor. Recently, when my computer became infected, I merely used the backup sector (which takes away 20GB from your hard drive) to reload everything it was a lot easier than manually reformatting, installing Windows, installing the thinkpad drivers, etc. The drivers are also very good, with the exception of the Thinkpad Access Connections, which I uninstalled immediately. The embedded security chip works well, if you need to use that. I prefer to key in a password rather than use a fingerprint reader. The fingerprint reader will not work if there is moisture of your fingertip. It also needs to be recalibrated (i.e. reprogram your fingerprint) every know and then. Since getting a dock though, I've chosen to forego the fingerprint reader completely.
I purchased this thinkpad with the accidental damage protection warranty, which means I can do nearly anything to the thinkpad I want, and it will be replaced. Why would I though it's a great computer.
Battery life is pretty good the 6 cell battery is rated at 3.5 hrs and will give you a decent 2.5. You can always upgrade to a 9 cell battery and/or take out the DVD-burner and stick in an extra battery there.
Opening up the T60 is also easy, and allowable under the warranty to some extent for example, adding RAM or replacing the keyboard (replacement keyboards are shipped overnight!)
I also like the matte-ish finish off the laptop cover as well as the screen. All in all, a wonderful laptop, and with a student discount, very affordable. The newer Thinkpads have Core 2 Duo processors (marginal performance increase over the Core Duo in this laptop), and are Vista Ready. You can always upgrade. Highly recommended laptop.
Anyhow, this T60 feels a lot more "plasticky" than the T41. It just seems cheap and flimsy. I also have a lot of problems docking and undocking this machine. With the T41, I can undock the machine, run to a conference room, open the laptop and not miss a beat. The T60 has problems adjusting screen resolutions, recognizing my mouse on the dock, and crashes with the blue screen of death. I feel pretty frustrated right now...
Shipping was quick and laptop was adequately packed.
I purchased this thinkpad with the accidental damage protection warranty, which means I can do nearly anything to the thinkpad I want, and it will be replaced. Why would I though it's a great computer.
Battery life is pretty good the 6 cell battery is rated at 3.5 hrs and will give you a decent 2.5. You can always upgrade to a 9 cell battery and/or take out the DVD-burner and stick in an extra battery there.
Opening up the T60 is also easy, and allowable under the warranty to some extent for example, adding RAM or replacing the keyboard (replacement keyboards are shipped overnight!)
I also like the matte-ish finish off the laptop cover as well as the screen. All in all, a wonderful laptop, and with a student discount, very affordable. The newer Thinkpads have Core 2 Duo processors (marginal performance increase over the Core Duo in this laptop), and are Vista Ready. You can always upgrade. Highly recommended laptop.
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I've used Thinkpads as far back as the 600E. I travel a lot for work and preferred Thinkpads because of their rock solid performance. Now that I've recently upgraded from a T41 to a T60, I think Thinkpads have gone down in quality. Not sure if it has anything to do with IBM selling the business unit to Lenovo (Chinese company).Anyhow, this T60 feels a lot more "plasticky" than the T41. It just seems cheap and flimsy. I also have a lot of problems docking and undocking this machine. With the T41, I can undock the machine, run to a conference room, open the laptop and not miss a beat. The T60 has problems adjusting screen resolutions, recognizing my mouse on the dock, and crashes with the blue screen of death. I feel pretty frustrated right now...
Best Deals for Lenovo ThinkPad T60 2623 15-Inch Laptop
I was not sure about the product but as soon as I received it I was impressed. Lenovo ThinkPad works great just like advertised. It surfs the internet great and fast.Honest reviews on Lenovo ThinkPad T60 2623 15-Inch Laptop
I was a little hesitant at first buying a "used" or "refurbished" laptop. After receiving this unit I must admit it was better than anticipated. The laptop was in very good condition. Over the next two weeks I put it through the wringer testing every feature possible including battery life. I would have posted 5 stars if backup/recovery disc(s)would have been part of the package.Shipping was quick and laptop was adequately packed.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Lenovo ThinkPad T60 2623 15-Inch Laptop
I am in search of a laptop for college :) and I heard great reviews on Lenovo, so I purchased one. Turns out, its one of those old computers, that isn't for the modern student, no offence but its great for mom and dad :) but for a gamer/student, yeah not the best product ^^. The company, computerpawn, is fairly decent, although a little disappointed I had to pay for my own shipping, as I returned it.Sunday, October 5, 2014
Cheap HP G62-147NR 15.6" notbook featuring an Intel Core i5-430M
I have purchased the g62 last year. It has a dedicated graphics card ATI 4500. If youre running office and not multitasking you should be ok. Once you try to watch a movie or check your email this laptop will overheat quicker than you can say your name. Once it overheats it will shutsdown and shutdown and shutdown again. The problem is although its packed with cpu and preformance the actual case that laptop is structured in does not have enough space to allow heat to escape. Theres tons of reports from google if you dont take my word on it.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Reviews of Acer Aspire AS5742Z-4601 15.6" Black Notebook PC
I was pleasantly surprised when I got the computer considering the price I paid. This is my first laptop so I'm not the best person to review it since I have no prior experience. But this does everything I need it to do. The features are excellent. One button on/off mousepad, HDMII out, dual core processor, wireless N, dvd multidrive, nice 720 display so my shows look fantastic if I watch them on the laptop instead of with HDMI on my flatscreen. The multigesture touchpad is nice but takes some getting used to. sometimes it's a little touchy. All in all, it seems to be working great. I'm writting the review on it now. My minor complaints are, windows 7 dvd makeer is faulty, it will not let my videos burn in widescreen and I can't get any help why, I don't like where the power button is cause sometimes I pick it up and press the button on accident. Also the speaker is a bit weak but it is just a single laptop speaker, I don't know how strong you can really make them, but it's fine for what I use it for. Battery life is weak but I think it's about the average. depends on what you're doing with it. sometimes I get 3 hours, sometimes 4 hours. And the screen will have a glare cause it'ss glossy but I just move the lid/computer so it don't bother me. I would def recomend it for what I use it for. I never played any games on it other than some free internet games so I can't say how it would handle them. Def worth the money.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Compaq Black 15.6" Presario Cq57-489wm Laptop Pc with AMD E-300 Review
I also purchased this laptop at Walmart like the other poster, but my experience has actually been pretty positive. I give it 4 stars not because it can compare to a more expensive computer but because, considering the price, it's actually a good purchase for any one looking for a computer to browse the web, watch movies, listen to music, all of the normal activities. If you're looking for a computer capable of handling high-end games, video editing, or more intensive programs then you're not looking for a laptop under $300. Everyone else can get by just fine with this product.
Days like today, when it's hibernating every 5 to 20 minutes, I want to pitch the thing off a bridge.
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Works flawlessly. Be careful of some confusion in reading reviews online. There are a lot of Compaq CQ57 out there. This is a CQ57-489WM (big difference! This is a Dual Core, not single or CoreDuo). Granted it is not a gaming computer but for the same price as a small net-book its the way to go. It Runs HP drivers and user friendly HP updating programs (which I have on the rest of my computers and love). It comes with 2GB RAM but is upgradable to 8GB for about $40. Which I highly recommend. Never an issue in the last 4 months I have owned it, and it is used extensively daily.Best Deals for Compaq Black 15.6" Presario Cq57-489wm Laptop Pc with AMD E-300
I bought this laptop at Walmart. It's a great laptop when it works. However, it hibernates itself randomly and sometimes very frequently. I have hibernate set to never and it still does it. It hibernates plugged in and on the battery.Days like today, when it's hibernating every 5 to 20 minutes, I want to pitch the thing off a bridge.
Honest reviews on Compaq Black 15.6" Presario Cq57-489wm Laptop Pc with AMD E-300
I was on Maui with a new Toshiba laptop in the $400 price range I had bought from Best Buy. The hard drive died within a few months and so I needed a quick replacement since no Best Buy on Maui and I couldn't go grab my other laptop at home on another island. I swung into Walmart and picked up the cheapest laptop I could find, it was this model. But low and behold, the thing is reliable. Surfs the web no problem, plays my itunes collection no problem, does Word processing no problem, watch Youtube no problem, burn cds and dvds no problem. It can play old video games no problem. For more modern games thats what my high def tv and xbox 360 is for along with my ipad. Long story short, great computer for someone who doesn't need all the fancy bells and whistles (of course dvd players were once considered whistles in laptops before). Plus its old fashion. When the battery dies out, I can cheaply pop it out and get a replacement so its low maintence, unlike my Apple stuff I got to send back and pay at least a $100 to replace the battery now days. I would say if you don't know what computer you want get this one cause it will do what you need. The biggest crime in computing is always being enticed to buy a $1000+ computer when you don't use any of the functions. Unless you're making movies, playing video games, or need some super high tech program for work or your hobby, stick with what does the job unless you're into fashion, then I would advise spending it on Apple Macbook pro or Air and staying away from those Ultrabooks until they make better ones.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Compaq Black 15.6" Presario Cq57-489wm Laptop Pc with AMD E-300
This is a good laptop for the average computer user. It gets over six hours of battery life in the right computer settings. It runs minecraft pretty well (not perfect though). The sound on it is very good through headphones. The speakers are ok but you would expect that from a laptop. The reason for only four stars though is this model has the infamous Ralink 5390 802.11 b/g/n wireless adapter in it which has pretty poor connectivity I had low and intermittent connection even being ten feet from the router. I have ordered a new wireless card it is an intel I am hoping that it is compatible with this notebook. I highly recommend intel networking equipment.Sunday, June 15, 2014
Review of Apple MacBook Pro MC371LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
After having a 3 year-old Dell die on me (to be fair it was put through multiple trips to and from school in my bag, sometimes while it was still on) and a Toshiba Satellite fail after a year, I was tired of paying bargain prices and receiving a frustrating experience to go with it.
My girlfriend had talked about buying a Mac and I always balked at them as being too expensive. Well, most of the main problems with my old laptops were compatibility issues between hardware and software, often involving frustrating searches for new drivers. Knowing that Apple makes the hardware and develops the software for their computers made me think they would be able to integrate the two aspect better than PC's I have used. I still have nightmares about all the drivers I had to hunt down when I downgraded my Toshiba from Windows Vista to XP.
I had actually purchased a 13" Macbook Pro with a glossy screen from Amazon a few days before Apple did their big upgrade in April 2010. It was a beautiful looking machine and was easy to use after I became accustomed to the differences from a PC, ie; What is the "Finder"? However, the 13" screen was a little small for me. I do some photography work, and I watch movies on it as well so I decided the 15" Macbook Pro would be the way to go. Once they did their upgrade for all their machines I decided to buy directly from Apple.
I debated long and hard on the glossy vs. matte option. Going with the high-res screen (1680 X 1050 as opposed to standard 1440 X 900) was a no-brainer. After doing some online research I also chose the matte option (as opposed to the default glossy screen). I had never actually seen a matte screen as the local Best-Buy didn't have one in stock. I was a little nervous on my decision, but I called Apple tech support and easily arranged for a return on my not-yet-arrived 15" Macbook Pro should I want one with a glossy screen instead. The person I spoke with even arranged for return shipping labels paid for by Apple! I didn't upgrade the harddrive or RAM because I can do those myself, or have them done later, for a lot cheaper than Apple's pricing.
The new 15" w/ the matte screen came and I opened up some high-res You-tube videos and compared it side-by-side to the glossy. This was the middle of the day and the lone window in our living room was creating all sorts of reflections on the glossy screen while the matte was unphased. Sure the blacks on the glossy were a deeper and the colors might have "popped" a little more, but knowing I would be using my laptop in a room lit by daylight or with a bright light, the henious reflections on the glossy screen definitely made it a no-go for me. This was a window that was in front of the computer and wasn't even directly shining on the screen. I was really happy I decided to go matte.
That being said, I have loaded up Photoshop CS5 and it runs great. Way faster than my old laptop. I appreciate a lot of the little touches that Apple puts into their products that are becoming more and more noticable every day I use it. (Such as their search feature is always available with 1 click from the desktop) I plan to buy an Applecare plan towards the end of my one-year warranty period to make sure this lasts me at least 3 years. Hopefully I might be able to keep this for 4 or 5 years.
Overall, if you have the $$ I highly recommend this product.
Pros-
Unibody design is super-sturdy and slim.
Love the matte screen
The high resolution upgrade helps with multi-tasking, programming, photo-editing, web-browing, ect..
Super-fast w/Photoshop
Good side-to-side viewing angle, (better than the screen on the Windows-based laptops I have used)
Keyboard is very pleasant to use
Speakers are adequate
Touchpad is awesome! Large and easy to use with 2, 3, and 4 finger controls not found anywhere else
but on a Mac. I rarely use a mouse anymore, which works well for using it on my lap.
Quick boot up time. Opening and closing the lid for "sleep mode" waiting time is basically zero.
Good battery life
Cons
Expensive (duh)
Can get hot on the underneath towards the back where the processor is located.
Up and down viewing angle not so good (this is common w/laptops though)
Some software not available for Mac
USB 2.0 (instead of newer 3.0)
Glowing Apple logo on the back of the screen is a bit of advertising I could do without.
Sharp Edges on front (can apparently be filed down but I am wary about doing this)
No Blu-Ray drive
Update:
Maybe it is just me, but my Apple seems to have more issues with Flash and streaming internet content than I have ever had with a PC. I know Apple is at war with Adobe and has gone to great lengths to disparage the Flash format. They do not seem to have worked too hard to ensure that Flash content works flawlessly with their machines. Streaming videos will stop or fail to load alltogether. This doesn't happen often, but with a PC I never had any issues like this at all.
Update x2 (8/30/10)
So my power supply had been giving me intermittent issues (every couple of days the power would come on and go off every couple of seconds for no reason). I called Apple support and they recommended just using the shortened version (the power supply is customizable to be either longer with an additional cord, or not), and then to call them back if the problem continued. The guy I talked to thought the cord that lengthens the setup might be the issue. Well I wasn't have any more problems for a while....
Then yesterday (the day before I started a new job teaching at a university) the power supply quits working completely. I call Apple and they say contact the authorized Apple service providers in my area (neither of which were open that day since it was Sunday). The next day, Monday, I called the 2 authorized service providers in my area, one of which says I need to leave my computer there overnight for testing to determine if I am eligible for a new power supply, and the other which couldn't handle my problem when I was available to come.
Now I try to contact Apple support and all day I have been getting the most ridiculous message that says
"At this moment, the customer support team is not available for your support due to unavoidable reasons.. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.."
I suppose it is impossible for Apple to properly staff their service center, so not being available was of course, unavoidable. So I am stuck with a bogus power cord for now.
Update x3 (9/2/10)
I decided to choose the option where I call Apple about my problem, instead of them calling me. That worked much better. I received my replacement power cord in the mail today, a Thursday, after my power supply originally quit working altogether on Sunday. I have to send back the old one, which has actually started to work intermittently now. If Apple deems that I replaced a non-broken power supply they are going to charge me $80. We'll see...
I hope this video helps you make up your mind.
You will not regret buying this machine.
I already wrote a review and posted a video on the 13", so I'll spare you the pre-story. The 15" MacBook Pro (Summer 2010 version) is a step up for me. I want to go on record by saying that I did NOT opt for the high res screen, and I'll tell you why in a moment. I'm still an MCSA and an MCTS, and Microsoft is still primary in my world, but I access these resources via Apple.
First, I want to clarify why I chose to buy the 15" when I had a 13" that was sufficient. Because I run VMs a lot (I have reviews of Parallels and VMWare), the real estate of the screen was very important. The 13" handled everything I threw at it like a champ, but I needed more screen area. I also needed a stronger multitask processor to keep up with the demands I put upon it. The 2010 version of the MacBooks achieve gains in three key areas: The processor, which on the 15" and 17" models is the Core i5 and i7 models; the video cards, which again, on the 15" and 17" models are improved with newer technology; and the power management.
The previous processor was the Core 2 Duo an older technology but not a slouch by any means. It was and is a very powerful processor, all things considered, and the 13" was able to deal with everything I threw at it, including multiple VMs at the same time and video encoding processes. Where the Core 2 Duo struggles is with multi-tasking speed; while it can handle multiple processes, it allocates resources towards the most intensive of what's running at the detriment of everything else. In other words, if you encode a video at a medium resolution, you would find that the machine was nearly unusable otherwise; not frozen or dirt slow, but slow enough to be annoying. The fan would come on and the heat would multiply, and you often would fear for the poor MacBook's life. Not so with the i5. It also does get hot hotter, in fact, than the Core 2 Duo but even though it's dealing with intensive processes, it never breaks stride with other applications that might be running. You could encode video, then jump over to your email and work as if nothing were going on. The laptop's fan would be going nearly full blast and the heat would be expunged at an exponential rate, but the laptop would not slow down. I consider that impressive, especially given the fact that battery life did not suffer from older years. The i7 is even more powerful than the i5; but the primary reason I could not consider that version has to do with the heat. It's so extreme it's got people online worried about cooking eggs. I know they're not exaggerating; the i5 can get quite hot, so if the i7 is as strong as I know it is, I can only imagine how hot it must get.
The video cards have been improved in the new MacBooks. They are newer versions of the NVidia cards that were released, and some of the MacBooks have the higher end Intel integrated chips. If you don't understand some of the video card technology, there are dedicated video cards and then there are integrated cards. The dedicated cards mean simply that they have their own memory and don't share the RAM of the computer. Integrated, as evident by the name, uses shared RAM to function, either in whole or in part. The integrated chips are lower cost, obviously, at the trade of a performance hit the RAM it's sharing is inaccessible to the OS and applications, and because the RAM is always a chunk of other RAM, there is an effective tug-of-war going on when using the integrated card. It's really popular in lower end laptops because of the price point if you paid less than $700 for your laptop chances are it's got an integrated card. All of the lower priced 13" Apples (MacBook, $1199 MacBook Pro, MacBook Air) have integrated chips. The Air might have gotten bumped to NVidia, not sure. In any case, Apple has mixed some models with integrated and dedicated chips, so that less intense processes use the integrated and higher processes switch automatically to dedicated, which is more powerful. Most casual users will think this a pointless feature; but it's good to have for battery life.
Speaking of which, the new MacBooks feature a newer version of the MagSafe power adapter. Due to fraying and melting issues with the previous models, Apple has seen fit to redesign this adapter to address the issue. It now holds a lot more solidly than before, and is partially cylindrical instead of rectangular (you can see images above, of course). The cylinder part is where the fraying most commonly occurred, so it makes sense why they did this change. The actual cable itself also feels more solid; kudos to Apple for improving this. It's also retroactively compatible, so if you buy a new adapter you'll probably get the newer version, and it should work fine for your model (assuming it's a MagSafe version and not the plug-in style from old times). The new 13" MacBook Pro claims a battery life of up to 10 hours due in part to the newer video card; the 15" that I'm reviewing here has already shown improved battery life over the older 13", even at maximum screen brightness. The usual activities will of course kill the battery: VMs, video encoding, audio recording, anything where there is a constant stream of data going one way or the other, basically.
One area of disappointment coming from the 13": The speakers. Because the 15" sports actual speaker grills instead of the embedded speaker of the 13", I somewhat expected at least slightly better audio quality. To my surprise and dismay, I did not receive it. I do a lot of audio records of songs and I use Sennheiser HD-280 Professional Headphones...but the problem is, a song can sound perfect in the headphones, but then I listen to it on the MacBook's speakers and the same song sounds absolutely terrible. I know it can't be the song that's bad, because the headphones are spot on with the way it should sound; but the MacBook's speakers just separate sound streams too much. It's hard to describe, but it's like the treble is cranked and I can't adjust with an equalizer or something. Movies are fine, but again, no appreciable improvement over the 13", where I would watch DVDs frequently with great effect.
So...do I recommend it? Well...it depends. I don't recommend it if you're just a casual user, even if you like the larger screen. Go for the 13" and if you absolutely have to have screens of a larger size get an external. I just can't justify the $300 premium for a larger MacBook unless you are actually going to use it for gaming, audio/video, or VMs. Then it makes sense. As far as the high resolution 1680 screen, recommended only if you're gaming, really. I would like to emphasize DO NOT get the antiglare from Apple. It's nice looking, it really is. It will shock you; it will tempt you; it will compel you to fork over the extra $50. Don't do it; the quality of that screen is not as good as the glossy, because the antiglare is not the full glass. Get one of the Green Onions Supply Anti-Glare AG2 Screen Protector for 15-Inch Aluminum Unibody Apple MacBook Pro and do it yourself. You'll thank me later.
PROS -
Trackpad --this may be the best thing about this computer. While I read the review on CNET and they said the trackpad is great, you really have to experience it to understand. It is a transformational way of communicating with the computer. After having the computer for about a week, I am already much faster on this trackpad than I ever was on a mouse. You have to experience this to understand. The size and the functionality built into the trackpad are nothing short of astonishing.
Included software --the included software on iLife is really useful. It has a rather full featured movie editing software for free, as well as iPhoto, iTunes, etc.
Not included bloatware --it is nice not to have to delete all that crap from the desktop and windows system.
Fast --very fast, especially in OSX. We got this with zero options, just the base 15" model. It is very quick with anything you throw at it.
Build quality --you can grab this laptop from any corner and carry it. There is no flex in the casing. You can really feel the difference that building these things out of a solid block of aluminum makes.
Looks --this is really a beautiful machine. You'll be as happy looking at is when it is off as when it is on.
Lighted keyboard --bright enough to see, but not too bright to be distracting. Excellent view of all the keys in any lighting.
Display --we have the base display and it is crystal clear. My brother-in-law got the resolution upgrade, and while you can tell a difference, if you don't have both the computers next to each other, you won't know what you are missing. If you do intensive graphics work, I would recommend the display resolution upgrade, otherwise, it is just bragging rights, for which I don't need to pay extra.
Battery life --basically it goes all day with light use on one charge. There are not too many 15" laptops, if any, that can do this.
Spyware and Viruses --yes there are none now, and that is good. Hopeuflly, there will be none for a long time.
Discounts and Rebates --while most people would not associate discounts and rebates with Apple, this is a pretty good time to buy a new Mac. We got $200 towards an iPod Touch (making it free) and $100 towards a wireless printer (making it free). Thus, in the end, we got a wireless printer and an iPod Touch for the cost of the tax on these products alone. Also, if you are a teacher or work for the government, Apple will knock another $100 off the price. These are some nice discounts when you buy this laptop.
NEUTRAL -
OSX --about two years ago, this would have been a tremendous positive as Vista was an unmitigated disaster. However, with Windows 7 being pretty good (and shamelessly ripping off many of OSX's features), this is less of an advantage than it sued to be. It is really a matter of taste. We happen to like OSX, especially Snow Leopard, but others may like Windows. This computer can run both.
Only two USB ports --this is at least USB port less than the competition in this price range. However, because the track pad is so good, I don't need to fill up a USB port with a mouse like all my friends do. Also, since a wireless printer is about $100 (which Apple gives you towards the price of a new printer), that frees up another USB port. Thus, I only need a USB port for the iPod or the camera. Neither of which is connected to the laptop at all times,
Only 4GB RAM --while it is plenty for now, I can see this not being enough in a few years.
No user replaceable RAM --RAM is the cheapest way to make your computer go faster. Hopefully the computer will still go fast after the warranty expires so that I can take this apart and add more RAM. But it is annoying that there is no easy way to replace the RAM.
No user replaceable battery --I don't know how long the battery will last, but if a problem develops, it would be nice to be able to change the battery.
CONS -
No Blu-Ray --this was the biggest drawback for me, as I would have liked to have a Blu-Ray player in the house. However, since I don't own any Blu-Rays, it is not that big of a drawback. Also, since you can download most movies these days, this missing player is not a deal breaker.
No HDMI output --this is another potential problem. I don't have an HDTV, so this is not a big deal, but if I get one, it is annoying to have to buy a special adapter PLUS an HDMI cable to play video from my laptop's mini-display port on my TV.
CONCLUSION -
All in all, I've liked this machine alot more than I thought I would. It feels good in the hand and great when using. The display is terrific and the machine is quite responsive. While it is tempting to look at a computer based exclusively on specifications, if you only do that, you may lose sight of what you need in a computer and how you use it. All the specifications in thw world achieve nothing if they are for features that you don't use. This computer hits a nice combination of features that people will actually use without including features and complications that they won't. For what we need, it just works.
While we looked at many laptops, we are happy we ended up with this one.
Hopefully this review helped you in your computer shopping. Best of luck.
Construction & Design:
The Macbook Pro is a unibody design that is cut from a solid piece of aluminum. This means there are not any battery compartments, memory compartments or openings as you find on most laptops. While this means you cannot change the battery on the fly, the computer is solid and doesn't buckle (or feel like it may buckle). The aluminum also helps to keep the computer cool by rapidly dissipating heat across the entire body; in fact, the metal exterior can be cool to the touch despite running for hours.
Display & Graphics:
There seems to be some debate over the glossy blacklight LED display of the Macbook Pro line, especially in terms of glare. There is a distinct reflection from the monitor if viewing something dark. Under normal conditions I did not find this to be an issue whatsoever, especially if you turn up the monitor brightness. The display does look fantastic and images have an extra "pop" as Apple spokespeople claim. Take a look at one in an Apple Store or Best Buy if you want to see it in person. As far as the high-resolution and matte upgrades, the average consumer won't gain much benefit versus a professional photographer, graphic designer or film editor.
Trackpad & Keyboard:
The Macbook trackpad is phenomenal and is truly sets apart the Macbook line from PCs. The trackpad utilizes multi-touch allowing the user to scroll through pages using only two fingers. Swipe back and forth to quickly navigate webpages or pinch and pull to adjust text size or zoom functions. The trackpad itself is massive allowing for a great deal of hand movement compared to most laptops. Still, you'll probably want to invest in a regular mouse, especially if you are Windows inclined for right click features. The keyboard has backlighting which means the keys light up in dark conditions, but I find this to be more of a novelty feature that I never use. The keys have a soft plastic feel and they are easy to type on even for hours at a time.
Power & Performance:
The battery life of the Macbook is unbelievable. Then again, I came from a laptop that could only hold two hours of battery life, this Macbook averages 8 to 9. Not quite the levels advertised, but far beyond what I need for a typical day. With the i5 chip, I find that everything is snappy and responsive. Startup takes less than 30 seconds. The only downside is the default hard drive installed, it runs at only 5400 RPM. This is noticeable to the point that the processor easily outperforms the hard drive to the point of creating a bottleneck. But there's always the option to upgrade the hard drive to 7200 RPM or an SSD.
Cons:
Relatively slow hard drive compared to processor speed & price of the machine
Two USB ports placed very close to one another, one can be easily blocked and inaccessible
Overall:
The Macbook Pro 2010 is a five star product. As a dominant Windows user, I found the OS to be highly intuitive and easy to use from the beginning. Even activating the Apple one year limited warranty was a breeze given most PC manufacturers. The only downside I see with the machine is the hard drive as I touched on above; it is a shame that such an expensive and well-built machine is limited by the speed of the HDD to the point that the user can notice the problem. Aside from this and the minor USB issue, the computer is a fantastic purchase that is well worth the extra dollars. If you're concerned about buying from Amazon or Apple directly, Amazon sells only the base units and only Apple can officially customize the machine. That said, the base unit is more than enough for most users and only a few will seek 8GB of RAM, high-resolution matte display or iWork pre-installed. If you're in search of a laptop, the Macbook Pro is a great option.
My girlfriend had talked about buying a Mac and I always balked at them as being too expensive. Well, most of the main problems with my old laptops were compatibility issues between hardware and software, often involving frustrating searches for new drivers. Knowing that Apple makes the hardware and develops the software for their computers made me think they would be able to integrate the two aspect better than PC's I have used. I still have nightmares about all the drivers I had to hunt down when I downgraded my Toshiba from Windows Vista to XP.
I had actually purchased a 13" Macbook Pro with a glossy screen from Amazon a few days before Apple did their big upgrade in April 2010. It was a beautiful looking machine and was easy to use after I became accustomed to the differences from a PC, ie; What is the "Finder"? However, the 13" screen was a little small for me. I do some photography work, and I watch movies on it as well so I decided the 15" Macbook Pro would be the way to go. Once they did their upgrade for all their machines I decided to buy directly from Apple.
I debated long and hard on the glossy vs. matte option. Going with the high-res screen (1680 X 1050 as opposed to standard 1440 X 900) was a no-brainer. After doing some online research I also chose the matte option (as opposed to the default glossy screen). I had never actually seen a matte screen as the local Best-Buy didn't have one in stock. I was a little nervous on my decision, but I called Apple tech support and easily arranged for a return on my not-yet-arrived 15" Macbook Pro should I want one with a glossy screen instead. The person I spoke with even arranged for return shipping labels paid for by Apple! I didn't upgrade the harddrive or RAM because I can do those myself, or have them done later, for a lot cheaper than Apple's pricing.
The new 15" w/ the matte screen came and I opened up some high-res You-tube videos and compared it side-by-side to the glossy. This was the middle of the day and the lone window in our living room was creating all sorts of reflections on the glossy screen while the matte was unphased. Sure the blacks on the glossy were a deeper and the colors might have "popped" a little more, but knowing I would be using my laptop in a room lit by daylight or with a bright light, the henious reflections on the glossy screen definitely made it a no-go for me. This was a window that was in front of the computer and wasn't even directly shining on the screen. I was really happy I decided to go matte.
That being said, I have loaded up Photoshop CS5 and it runs great. Way faster than my old laptop. I appreciate a lot of the little touches that Apple puts into their products that are becoming more and more noticable every day I use it. (Such as their search feature is always available with 1 click from the desktop) I plan to buy an Applecare plan towards the end of my one-year warranty period to make sure this lasts me at least 3 years. Hopefully I might be able to keep this for 4 or 5 years.
Overall, if you have the $$ I highly recommend this product.
Pros-
Unibody design is super-sturdy and slim.
Love the matte screen
The high resolution upgrade helps with multi-tasking, programming, photo-editing, web-browing, ect..
Super-fast w/Photoshop
Good side-to-side viewing angle, (better than the screen on the Windows-based laptops I have used)
Keyboard is very pleasant to use
Speakers are adequate
Touchpad is awesome! Large and easy to use with 2, 3, and 4 finger controls not found anywhere else
but on a Mac. I rarely use a mouse anymore, which works well for using it on my lap.
Quick boot up time. Opening and closing the lid for "sleep mode" waiting time is basically zero.
Good battery life
Cons
Expensive (duh)
Can get hot on the underneath towards the back where the processor is located.
Up and down viewing angle not so good (this is common w/laptops though)
Some software not available for Mac
USB 2.0 (instead of newer 3.0)
Glowing Apple logo on the back of the screen is a bit of advertising I could do without.
Sharp Edges on front (can apparently be filed down but I am wary about doing this)
No Blu-Ray drive
Update:
Maybe it is just me, but my Apple seems to have more issues with Flash and streaming internet content than I have ever had with a PC. I know Apple is at war with Adobe and has gone to great lengths to disparage the Flash format. They do not seem to have worked too hard to ensure that Flash content works flawlessly with their machines. Streaming videos will stop or fail to load alltogether. This doesn't happen often, but with a PC I never had any issues like this at all.
Update x2 (8/30/10)
So my power supply had been giving me intermittent issues (every couple of days the power would come on and go off every couple of seconds for no reason). I called Apple support and they recommended just using the shortened version (the power supply is customizable to be either longer with an additional cord, or not), and then to call them back if the problem continued. The guy I talked to thought the cord that lengthens the setup might be the issue. Well I wasn't have any more problems for a while....
Then yesterday (the day before I started a new job teaching at a university) the power supply quits working completely. I call Apple and they say contact the authorized Apple service providers in my area (neither of which were open that day since it was Sunday). The next day, Monday, I called the 2 authorized service providers in my area, one of which says I need to leave my computer there overnight for testing to determine if I am eligible for a new power supply, and the other which couldn't handle my problem when I was available to come.
Now I try to contact Apple support and all day I have been getting the most ridiculous message that says
"At this moment, the customer support team is not available for your support due to unavoidable reasons.. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.."
I suppose it is impossible for Apple to properly staff their service center, so not being available was of course, unavoidable. So I am stuck with a bogus power cord for now.
Update x3 (9/2/10)
I decided to choose the option where I call Apple about my problem, instead of them calling me. That worked much better. I received my replacement power cord in the mail today, a Thursday, after my power supply originally quit working altogether on Sunday. I have to send back the old one, which has actually started to work intermittently now. If Apple deems that I replaced a non-broken power supply they are going to charge me $80. We'll see...
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I hope this video helps you make up your mind.
You will not regret buying this machine.
Best Deals for Apple MacBook Pro MC371LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
For summary skip to the bottom. Video to come soon...I already wrote a review and posted a video on the 13", so I'll spare you the pre-story. The 15" MacBook Pro (Summer 2010 version) is a step up for me. I want to go on record by saying that I did NOT opt for the high res screen, and I'll tell you why in a moment. I'm still an MCSA and an MCTS, and Microsoft is still primary in my world, but I access these resources via Apple.
First, I want to clarify why I chose to buy the 15" when I had a 13" that was sufficient. Because I run VMs a lot (I have reviews of Parallels and VMWare), the real estate of the screen was very important. The 13" handled everything I threw at it like a champ, but I needed more screen area. I also needed a stronger multitask processor to keep up with the demands I put upon it. The 2010 version of the MacBooks achieve gains in three key areas: The processor, which on the 15" and 17" models is the Core i5 and i7 models; the video cards, which again, on the 15" and 17" models are improved with newer technology; and the power management.
The previous processor was the Core 2 Duo an older technology but not a slouch by any means. It was and is a very powerful processor, all things considered, and the 13" was able to deal with everything I threw at it, including multiple VMs at the same time and video encoding processes. Where the Core 2 Duo struggles is with multi-tasking speed; while it can handle multiple processes, it allocates resources towards the most intensive of what's running at the detriment of everything else. In other words, if you encode a video at a medium resolution, you would find that the machine was nearly unusable otherwise; not frozen or dirt slow, but slow enough to be annoying. The fan would come on and the heat would multiply, and you often would fear for the poor MacBook's life. Not so with the i5. It also does get hot hotter, in fact, than the Core 2 Duo but even though it's dealing with intensive processes, it never breaks stride with other applications that might be running. You could encode video, then jump over to your email and work as if nothing were going on. The laptop's fan would be going nearly full blast and the heat would be expunged at an exponential rate, but the laptop would not slow down. I consider that impressive, especially given the fact that battery life did not suffer from older years. The i7 is even more powerful than the i5; but the primary reason I could not consider that version has to do with the heat. It's so extreme it's got people online worried about cooking eggs. I know they're not exaggerating; the i5 can get quite hot, so if the i7 is as strong as I know it is, I can only imagine how hot it must get.
The video cards have been improved in the new MacBooks. They are newer versions of the NVidia cards that were released, and some of the MacBooks have the higher end Intel integrated chips. If you don't understand some of the video card technology, there are dedicated video cards and then there are integrated cards. The dedicated cards mean simply that they have their own memory and don't share the RAM of the computer. Integrated, as evident by the name, uses shared RAM to function, either in whole or in part. The integrated chips are lower cost, obviously, at the trade of a performance hit the RAM it's sharing is inaccessible to the OS and applications, and because the RAM is always a chunk of other RAM, there is an effective tug-of-war going on when using the integrated card. It's really popular in lower end laptops because of the price point if you paid less than $700 for your laptop chances are it's got an integrated card. All of the lower priced 13" Apples (MacBook, $1199 MacBook Pro, MacBook Air) have integrated chips. The Air might have gotten bumped to NVidia, not sure. In any case, Apple has mixed some models with integrated and dedicated chips, so that less intense processes use the integrated and higher processes switch automatically to dedicated, which is more powerful. Most casual users will think this a pointless feature; but it's good to have for battery life.
Speaking of which, the new MacBooks feature a newer version of the MagSafe power adapter. Due to fraying and melting issues with the previous models, Apple has seen fit to redesign this adapter to address the issue. It now holds a lot more solidly than before, and is partially cylindrical instead of rectangular (you can see images above, of course). The cylinder part is where the fraying most commonly occurred, so it makes sense why they did this change. The actual cable itself also feels more solid; kudos to Apple for improving this. It's also retroactively compatible, so if you buy a new adapter you'll probably get the newer version, and it should work fine for your model (assuming it's a MagSafe version and not the plug-in style from old times). The new 13" MacBook Pro claims a battery life of up to 10 hours due in part to the newer video card; the 15" that I'm reviewing here has already shown improved battery life over the older 13", even at maximum screen brightness. The usual activities will of course kill the battery: VMs, video encoding, audio recording, anything where there is a constant stream of data going one way or the other, basically.
One area of disappointment coming from the 13": The speakers. Because the 15" sports actual speaker grills instead of the embedded speaker of the 13", I somewhat expected at least slightly better audio quality. To my surprise and dismay, I did not receive it. I do a lot of audio records of songs and I use Sennheiser HD-280 Professional Headphones...but the problem is, a song can sound perfect in the headphones, but then I listen to it on the MacBook's speakers and the same song sounds absolutely terrible. I know it can't be the song that's bad, because the headphones are spot on with the way it should sound; but the MacBook's speakers just separate sound streams too much. It's hard to describe, but it's like the treble is cranked and I can't adjust with an equalizer or something. Movies are fine, but again, no appreciable improvement over the 13", where I would watch DVDs frequently with great effect.
So...do I recommend it? Well...it depends. I don't recommend it if you're just a casual user, even if you like the larger screen. Go for the 13" and if you absolutely have to have screens of a larger size get an external. I just can't justify the $300 premium for a larger MacBook unless you are actually going to use it for gaming, audio/video, or VMs. Then it makes sense. As far as the high resolution 1680 screen, recommended only if you're gaming, really. I would like to emphasize DO NOT get the antiglare from Apple. It's nice looking, it really is. It will shock you; it will tempt you; it will compel you to fork over the extra $50. Don't do it; the quality of that screen is not as good as the glossy, because the antiglare is not the full glass. Get one of the Green Onions Supply Anti-Glare AG2 Screen Protector for 15-Inch Aluminum Unibody Apple MacBook Pro and do it yourself. You'll thank me later.
Honest reviews on Apple MacBook Pro MC371LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
Have been using computers for nearly two decades and have owned both PCs and Macs. Use a PC laptop for work, which is great for that. But this is my first Mac laptop and I have to say, while I was grumbling at the price, you get what you pay for. Here are my thoughts.PROS -
Trackpad --this may be the best thing about this computer. While I read the review on CNET and they said the trackpad is great, you really have to experience it to understand. It is a transformational way of communicating with the computer. After having the computer for about a week, I am already much faster on this trackpad than I ever was on a mouse. You have to experience this to understand. The size and the functionality built into the trackpad are nothing short of astonishing.
Included software --the included software on iLife is really useful. It has a rather full featured movie editing software for free, as well as iPhoto, iTunes, etc.
Not included bloatware --it is nice not to have to delete all that crap from the desktop and windows system.
Fast --very fast, especially in OSX. We got this with zero options, just the base 15" model. It is very quick with anything you throw at it.
Build quality --you can grab this laptop from any corner and carry it. There is no flex in the casing. You can really feel the difference that building these things out of a solid block of aluminum makes.
Looks --this is really a beautiful machine. You'll be as happy looking at is when it is off as when it is on.
Lighted keyboard --bright enough to see, but not too bright to be distracting. Excellent view of all the keys in any lighting.
Display --we have the base display and it is crystal clear. My brother-in-law got the resolution upgrade, and while you can tell a difference, if you don't have both the computers next to each other, you won't know what you are missing. If you do intensive graphics work, I would recommend the display resolution upgrade, otherwise, it is just bragging rights, for which I don't need to pay extra.
Battery life --basically it goes all day with light use on one charge. There are not too many 15" laptops, if any, that can do this.
Spyware and Viruses --yes there are none now, and that is good. Hopeuflly, there will be none for a long time.
Discounts and Rebates --while most people would not associate discounts and rebates with Apple, this is a pretty good time to buy a new Mac. We got $200 towards an iPod Touch (making it free) and $100 towards a wireless printer (making it free). Thus, in the end, we got a wireless printer and an iPod Touch for the cost of the tax on these products alone. Also, if you are a teacher or work for the government, Apple will knock another $100 off the price. These are some nice discounts when you buy this laptop.
NEUTRAL -
OSX --about two years ago, this would have been a tremendous positive as Vista was an unmitigated disaster. However, with Windows 7 being pretty good (and shamelessly ripping off many of OSX's features), this is less of an advantage than it sued to be. It is really a matter of taste. We happen to like OSX, especially Snow Leopard, but others may like Windows. This computer can run both.
Only two USB ports --this is at least USB port less than the competition in this price range. However, because the track pad is so good, I don't need to fill up a USB port with a mouse like all my friends do. Also, since a wireless printer is about $100 (which Apple gives you towards the price of a new printer), that frees up another USB port. Thus, I only need a USB port for the iPod or the camera. Neither of which is connected to the laptop at all times,
Only 4GB RAM --while it is plenty for now, I can see this not being enough in a few years.
No user replaceable RAM --RAM is the cheapest way to make your computer go faster. Hopefully the computer will still go fast after the warranty expires so that I can take this apart and add more RAM. But it is annoying that there is no easy way to replace the RAM.
No user replaceable battery --I don't know how long the battery will last, but if a problem develops, it would be nice to be able to change the battery.
CONS -
No Blu-Ray --this was the biggest drawback for me, as I would have liked to have a Blu-Ray player in the house. However, since I don't own any Blu-Rays, it is not that big of a drawback. Also, since you can download most movies these days, this missing player is not a deal breaker.
No HDMI output --this is another potential problem. I don't have an HDTV, so this is not a big deal, but if I get one, it is annoying to have to buy a special adapter PLUS an HDMI cable to play video from my laptop's mini-display port on my TV.
CONCLUSION -
All in all, I've liked this machine alot more than I thought I would. It feels good in the hand and great when using. The display is terrific and the machine is quite responsive. While it is tempting to look at a computer based exclusively on specifications, if you only do that, you may lose sight of what you need in a computer and how you use it. All the specifications in thw world achieve nothing if they are for features that you don't use. This computer hits a nice combination of features that people will actually use without including features and complications that they won't. For what we need, it just works.
While we looked at many laptops, we are happy we ended up with this one.
Hopefully this review helped you in your computer shopping. Best of luck.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Apple MacBook Pro MC371LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)
I recently purchased the Macbook Pro 15" 2.4GHz i5 2010 edition to replace an aged 2006 Sony VAIO. I had previously owned a Macintosh around 15 years ago, so I had a working knowledge of what I was getting into. Above all, the Macbook Pro sold me on its unibody aluminum design, long-lasting battery life and a change from the Windows operating system. I have owned the Macbook Pro for about a month and it is truly one of the most fantastic computers I have owned (and I've owned many in past years, all Windows). I've broken down some aspects of the computer below:Construction & Design:
The Macbook Pro is a unibody design that is cut from a solid piece of aluminum. This means there are not any battery compartments, memory compartments or openings as you find on most laptops. While this means you cannot change the battery on the fly, the computer is solid and doesn't buckle (or feel like it may buckle). The aluminum also helps to keep the computer cool by rapidly dissipating heat across the entire body; in fact, the metal exterior can be cool to the touch despite running for hours.
Display & Graphics:
There seems to be some debate over the glossy blacklight LED display of the Macbook Pro line, especially in terms of glare. There is a distinct reflection from the monitor if viewing something dark. Under normal conditions I did not find this to be an issue whatsoever, especially if you turn up the monitor brightness. The display does look fantastic and images have an extra "pop" as Apple spokespeople claim. Take a look at one in an Apple Store or Best Buy if you want to see it in person. As far as the high-resolution and matte upgrades, the average consumer won't gain much benefit versus a professional photographer, graphic designer or film editor.
Trackpad & Keyboard:
The Macbook trackpad is phenomenal and is truly sets apart the Macbook line from PCs. The trackpad utilizes multi-touch allowing the user to scroll through pages using only two fingers. Swipe back and forth to quickly navigate webpages or pinch and pull to adjust text size or zoom functions. The trackpad itself is massive allowing for a great deal of hand movement compared to most laptops. Still, you'll probably want to invest in a regular mouse, especially if you are Windows inclined for right click features. The keyboard has backlighting which means the keys light up in dark conditions, but I find this to be more of a novelty feature that I never use. The keys have a soft plastic feel and they are easy to type on even for hours at a time.
Power & Performance:
The battery life of the Macbook is unbelievable. Then again, I came from a laptop that could only hold two hours of battery life, this Macbook averages 8 to 9. Not quite the levels advertised, but far beyond what I need for a typical day. With the i5 chip, I find that everything is snappy and responsive. Startup takes less than 30 seconds. The only downside is the default hard drive installed, it runs at only 5400 RPM. This is noticeable to the point that the processor easily outperforms the hard drive to the point of creating a bottleneck. But there's always the option to upgrade the hard drive to 7200 RPM or an SSD.
Cons:
Relatively slow hard drive compared to processor speed & price of the machine
Two USB ports placed very close to one another, one can be easily blocked and inaccessible
Overall:
The Macbook Pro 2010 is a five star product. As a dominant Windows user, I found the OS to be highly intuitive and easy to use from the beginning. Even activating the Apple one year limited warranty was a breeze given most PC manufacturers. The only downside I see with the machine is the hard drive as I touched on above; it is a shame that such an expensive and well-built machine is limited by the speed of the HDD to the point that the user can notice the problem. Aside from this and the minor USB issue, the computer is a fantastic purchase that is well worth the extra dollars. If you're concerned about buying from Amazon or Apple directly, Amazon sells only the base units and only Apple can officially customize the machine. That said, the base unit is more than enough for most users and only a few will seek 8GB of RAM, high-resolution matte display or iWork pre-installed. If you're in search of a laptop, the Macbook Pro is a great option.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Cheap Gateway NV55S13u 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ebony Black)
The huge amount of memory, the quad-core processing, and the separate video card all do their jobs really really well. For example, it runs Skyrim on video quality High, and it runs beautifully.
The negative for me is the monitor the resolution, despite the monitor seeming huge, can only get to 1366x768. Video (like the sample Blu-Ray disc of trailers they include), and the aforementioned gaming, looks great on it, but I just wish my day-to-day activities on the desktop could be displayed at a higher resolution. Not a super big deal but it may be to you. It seems like the even the most basic of windows takes up such a huge amount of space.
The factory speaker on the laptop is really weak. You'll want some external computer speakers as well to hook into your headphone jack for anything louder than the most cursory of windows alert noises. However, there is a volume control on the keyboard.
In fact, the entire keyboard is set up in what I'll call an expanded-Mac style. The keys are definitely mac-style (though not back-lit) in their flatness and shape and the functionality of the keyboard is really high. You can adjust monitor brightness, audio volume, aspect ratio, projector mode, turn off the touch pad in case you're spending a lot of time typing or have an external usb mouse to plug in, as well as a host of other functions, all from the keyboard. It takes a bit to get used to the "smoothness" of the keyboard, but the keys are really not too small and the number pad is WONDERFUL to have on a laptop. The real estate, always limited on a laptop, seems to be very well utilized.
I don't need the Blu-Ray player (at this point) but it is quite nice that it's included, and can still do DVD-RW. Very intelligent to include that.
Oh and it's pretty great that it includes an HDMI port, though I can't attest to needing that just yet, though when I will I'm sure it will be very handy.
For security, I'm using Windows Security Essentials at and it is extremely non-invasive, free, and works wonderfully. Not relevant to the laptop but highly recommended from this user.
All in all, a great computer that has been very easy for a Windows XP user to learn how to use effectively.
Pros:
Blu-ray
A8-3500m is a great processor
Hd6620g is a decent "integrated" video (can play skyrim on high)
does not get hot very easily which is nice
battery life is about 3-4hrs normal use with the brightness turned all the way down. I can get about 6 hours if i underclock the processor. message me if you need help with this.
boot up is fast for a 5400rpm HDD
Nice screen
Cons:
You will have to deal with Acer if you have any problems
No dedicated video like the description says
Bloatware out the ass on this thing. took a while to get it all off.
Single bar track pad keys are horrible and annoying (i keep my hand centered so you have to press very hard the closer you get to the middle) i prefer one key for right and one for left)
HDD is only 5400rpm but this is interchangeable.
webcam sucks
sound is not loud at all and for the size of the speaker bar this is disappointing
No USB 3.0 ( i really wish this had at least one)
No Bluetooth
its a little heavy for being a somewhat low featured laptop.
thats all i have for now but ill update if anything else comes up
thanks for reading
MC
The negative for me is the monitor the resolution, despite the monitor seeming huge, can only get to 1366x768. Video (like the sample Blu-Ray disc of trailers they include), and the aforementioned gaming, looks great on it, but I just wish my day-to-day activities on the desktop could be displayed at a higher resolution. Not a super big deal but it may be to you. It seems like the even the most basic of windows takes up such a huge amount of space.
The factory speaker on the laptop is really weak. You'll want some external computer speakers as well to hook into your headphone jack for anything louder than the most cursory of windows alert noises. However, there is a volume control on the keyboard.
In fact, the entire keyboard is set up in what I'll call an expanded-Mac style. The keys are definitely mac-style (though not back-lit) in their flatness and shape and the functionality of the keyboard is really high. You can adjust monitor brightness, audio volume, aspect ratio, projector mode, turn off the touch pad in case you're spending a lot of time typing or have an external usb mouse to plug in, as well as a host of other functions, all from the keyboard. It takes a bit to get used to the "smoothness" of the keyboard, but the keys are really not too small and the number pad is WONDERFUL to have on a laptop. The real estate, always limited on a laptop, seems to be very well utilized.
I don't need the Blu-Ray player (at this point) but it is quite nice that it's included, and can still do DVD-RW. Very intelligent to include that.
Oh and it's pretty great that it includes an HDMI port, though I can't attest to needing that just yet, though when I will I'm sure it will be very handy.
For security, I'm using Windows Security Essentials at and it is extremely non-invasive, free, and works wonderfully. Not relevant to the laptop but highly recommended from this user.
All in all, a great computer that has been very easy for a Windows XP user to learn how to use effectively.
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This laptop was purchased for a teenager and really fit the bill nicely. The inclusion of a Blu-ray disc player as well as capable graphics and a good quad-core CPU make this laptop an ideal machine for entertainment, productivity, and educational use. This laptop was everything I expected.Best Deals for Gateway NV55S13u 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ebony Black)
This computer is a fast one, and takes care of all of my needs. The display is large, and it plays Blu-rays! What more do you need!?Honest reviews on Gateway NV55S13u 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ebony Black)
So this Laptop (nv55s13u) is actually a re branded Acer. all warranty's are handled by Acer and not gateway which is actually a negative because if you have heard anything about Acer its that their customer service sucks. I mainly bought this because it listed the hd 6620 as dedicated but this is actually the integrated video graphics. so if your expecting switchable graphics like I was then look elsewhere.Pros:
Blu-ray
A8-3500m is a great processor
Hd6620g is a decent "integrated" video (can play skyrim on high)
does not get hot very easily which is nice
battery life is about 3-4hrs normal use with the brightness turned all the way down. I can get about 6 hours if i underclock the processor. message me if you need help with this.
boot up is fast for a 5400rpm HDD
Nice screen
Cons:
You will have to deal with Acer if you have any problems
No dedicated video like the description says
Bloatware out the ass on this thing. took a while to get it all off.
Single bar track pad keys are horrible and annoying (i keep my hand centered so you have to press very hard the closer you get to the middle) i prefer one key for right and one for left)
HDD is only 5400rpm but this is interchangeable.
webcam sucks
sound is not loud at all and for the size of the speaker bar this is disappointing
No USB 3.0 ( i really wish this had at least one)
No Bluetooth
its a little heavy for being a somewhat low featured laptop.
thats all i have for now but ill update if anything else comes up
thanks for reading
MC
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Gateway NV55S13u 15.6-Inch Laptop (Ebony Black)
I think this was a great buy for the price. Only had it 3 weeks but so far it is great. It's a very fast computer and it is perfect for all my needs. The only thing I don't like are the keyboard buttons. I am a fast typer (140 wpm). The buttons are too big and soft and I prefer the other "thicker" buttons so I can really feel the letters as I type. Also the mouse pad is too close to the space bar which gets in the way sometimes when typing. If it weren't for the keyboard design I would give this 5 stars.Thursday, March 27, 2014
Buy Thinkpad T410 2537 - Intel - Core I5 - 520M - 2.4 Ghz - DDR3 Sdram
List Price: $1,594.00
Sale Price: $1,335.05
Today's Bonus: 16% Off
I have friends with newer computers that do not compare to the speed this computer offers. Awesome price on one of the best laptops ever produced. Love my laptop!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
HP Pavilion 15-b150us 15.6-Inch Ultra Thin TouchSmart Sleekbook Reviews
List Price: $749.99
Sale Price: $519.99
Today's Bonus: 31% Off
This laptop packs a lot of features into an incredible price. For your everyday email, browsing, spreadsheets, etc. this machine with its quad-core processor handles everything with ease. I was most impressed as I tried out some more entertaining apps (games) as well as streaming videos nice and smooth and the system doesn't get hot or every feel like its working hard. For its features, I love the full size keyboard as well as number pad, and there is plenty of memory and hard drive size for what I need.
One of the coolest new features, which took me some time to get used to, is the ability to use the touch screen. Once I got used to Windows8 and the touch interface, I've found that if I use anyone else's notebook I wind up touching their screen and am surprised when nothing happens. Its great for quickly browsing through photos, scrolling through web pages and getting around the new Windows8 interface.
My only criticism would be that it needs a higher definition screen (which of course would make it more expensive) so its a qualified criticism.
If you are ready to ditch your old notebook and jump into the world of touch with a full featured notebook at price that can't be beat, this is the machine for you.
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Don't let the price fool you, this laptop has lots of power and compared to my old Intel unit, is at least 3x's as powerful when it comes to graphics. I'm a digital animator, I budget on excel, and do just about anything you can imagine on my computer, so if this baby can handle everything I throw at it, it'll handle everything you can throw at it too.Best Deals for HP Pavilion 15-b150us 15.6-Inch Ultra Thin TouchSmart Sleekbook
After doing some research on laptops, I came across this specific model and was impressed with the specifications. I had read many people dislike Windows 8, so I was a bit skeptical. However, since I bought it, I can't seem to stop bragging about it! The laptop is thin, sleek, and fast! The screen size is perfect and clear. I LOVE the touchscreen! It makes everything so much easier and faster! I use on a daily basis to access my email, view documents, etc.. and it works marvelous! Love it!Honest reviews on HP Pavilion 15-b150us 15.6-Inch Ultra Thin TouchSmart Sleekbook
Pros: Starts quickly, handles even memory-intensive programs quite well, responsive touchscreen.Cons: Touchpad over-sensitive, right and left buttons are very loud and annoying.
Without a good touchscreen, Windows 8 is a real irritation, since the interface for starting and managing programs was optimized for a touchscreen. However, this Pavilion has a very responsive one that also does a decent job of resisting smudges, even if it does need a good cleaning easily once a week.
My big concern for this computer was power. I use Photoshop quite a bit and wasn't at all sure that it would handle it. Those concerns cleared up right away. Programs open up very quickly, including some of the typically slow ones like Libre Office and Photoshop.
The touchpad is very sensitive, so much so that you'll very likely want to disable the swipe function (just Google disable swipe on Windows 8). You'll also probably want to set Chrome to Desktop Mode or it will swoop open and closed without your wanting it to.
The thing that most annoys me now that I have those settings is just how noisy the trackpad buttons are. In a quiet room, they're irritatingly audible, the kind of thing that would drive a highly-strung roommate quite insane, I suspect.
So for the price, it's quite a decent deal. As the specs suggest, it's a bit heavy for a "carry it around all the time" tablet, but if I were traveling and didn't want to be limited to a mini, it's still easily portable.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for HP Pavilion 15-b150us 15.6-Inch Ultra Thin TouchSmart Sleekbook
I've had the laptop for about a month and I can still say that I made a good investment! The option of having a touchscreen and a regular keyboard is cool; the touchscreen and the keyboard works flawlessly! The image quality is great; the colors on the screen are very vibrant. The speed of the laptop is great, even when I multi-task and have several windows open. The design of the laptop is nice too! In my opinion, this laptop works just as great as a MAC laptop (I have a MAC laptop that I use at work) and it is MUCH cheaper, which is a HUGE PLUS!!! I highly recommended this laptop to my family and friends!Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Cheap Dell Latitude D830 Core 2 Duo Laptop
We bought our Dell Latitude D830 in April of 2008 and have never had any sort of problem with it. It has always done the job required of it without any difficulties at all and worked perfectly right out of the box.
Admittedly we have not been a heavy user of the D830 and mostly use it around the house when we need some freedom to do our work somewhere other than our home offices. It has not been exposed to extremes of temperature and has not been dropped or otherwise subjected to abuse.
It has wireless access to our Ethernet network and provides the flexibility we desired when we bought it. When taken out of the house for some special projects it did its job properly.
This is one of two Dells we have along with an HP desktop and has probably needed less attention to keep it working right than any other computer we have.
Intel Centrino Processor, NVidia Quadro NVS 135M Video, Wired / Wireless Ethernet, 4 GB Memory, 160 GB HD, CD/DVD RW.
I've been using it about 3 4 years now. With a 3 year warranty, the only problem I ever had (to be expected) was the hard drive going bad. I replaced it for free near the end of my warranty.
I'm running dual boot:
Windows XP / Linux Mint 9 LXDE
I spend more time in Linux Mint 9 LXDE than I do in Windows.
When I'm not in Linux Mint 9 LXDE, I'm either test booting Linux Distros from CD / DVD, using Sun VirtualBox to boot test downloaded ISOs, or creating or booting from Linux USB.
I've run just about every version of Ubuntu from version 9 up to / through version 10, Linux Mint (HIGHLY recommended light on resources, user friendly): CrunchBang, Knoppix, Fedora 14, Puppy Linux, GeexBox, ZorinOS, Back-Box (Network Diagnostics, Network Security Toolkit also run without a hitch.
It has problems with Gnome 3.0 / Unity, and the latest versions (11.*) of Ubuntu as well as running 3D graphics or for that matter HD video.
But, for my purposes: Internet Connectiity, Basic Application access (Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Graphics, Audio / Video) LibreOffice, VLC, Audacity, Gnome MediaPlayer, ImageViewer, Feh, FSLint (for cleanup), Ubuntu Tweak, BleachBit (Cleanup / Config tools). TSClient for remote connectivity, It does what I want, need it to do with a minimum of fuss.
Ocasionally, I drop over into Windows when I absolutely can't get it done in Linux.
But, ever since switching over to Linux a majority of my Windows (Virus / Trojan) problems and the attendant performance hits went away.
I print to an HP LJ1300 from Linux. I use Document Viewer (built in) for PDFs. I've ported basic documents / spreadsheets to / from Office 2007.
The only thing it doesn't do well (if at all) is Flash Development. There, Windows (specifically Adobe / Macromedia) Flash has an edge. Haven't played with it much at all, but, for 3D develpment, there's Blender.
Not intended to be a Linux Promo. Just to let you know how my Latitude D830 is setup, what I use it for, and how it runs.
I do tech support for a living and support Windows based systems primarily.
If you're not married to Windows, this is a fine system for running Linux (besides the added advantage of it being FREE or Open Source.
Now for gaming. Important-------> THIS COMPUTER WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO WATCH SD VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND WONT BE ABLE TO PLAY MOST GAMES! But this does support windows 7 areo 64bit or 32bit but wont suport vista areo for some reason.
This is a great laptop for work or normal internet browsing like on Facebook.
Proud owner of a Dell.
Admittedly we have not been a heavy user of the D830 and mostly use it around the house when we need some freedom to do our work somewhere other than our home offices. It has not been exposed to extremes of temperature and has not been dropped or otherwise subjected to abuse.
It has wireless access to our Ethernet network and provides the flexibility we desired when we bought it. When taken out of the house for some special projects it did its job properly.
This is one of two Dells we have along with an HP desktop and has probably needed less attention to keep it working right than any other computer we have.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
My configuration is:Intel Centrino Processor, NVidia Quadro NVS 135M Video, Wired / Wireless Ethernet, 4 GB Memory, 160 GB HD, CD/DVD RW.
I've been using it about 3 4 years now. With a 3 year warranty, the only problem I ever had (to be expected) was the hard drive going bad. I replaced it for free near the end of my warranty.
I'm running dual boot:
Windows XP / Linux Mint 9 LXDE
I spend more time in Linux Mint 9 LXDE than I do in Windows.
When I'm not in Linux Mint 9 LXDE, I'm either test booting Linux Distros from CD / DVD, using Sun VirtualBox to boot test downloaded ISOs, or creating or booting from Linux USB.
I've run just about every version of Ubuntu from version 9 up to / through version 10, Linux Mint (HIGHLY recommended light on resources, user friendly): CrunchBang, Knoppix, Fedora 14, Puppy Linux, GeexBox, ZorinOS, Back-Box (Network Diagnostics, Network Security Toolkit also run without a hitch.
It has problems with Gnome 3.0 / Unity, and the latest versions (11.*) of Ubuntu as well as running 3D graphics or for that matter HD video.
But, for my purposes: Internet Connectiity, Basic Application access (Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Graphics, Audio / Video) LibreOffice, VLC, Audacity, Gnome MediaPlayer, ImageViewer, Feh, FSLint (for cleanup), Ubuntu Tweak, BleachBit (Cleanup / Config tools). TSClient for remote connectivity, It does what I want, need it to do with a minimum of fuss.
Ocasionally, I drop over into Windows when I absolutely can't get it done in Linux.
But, ever since switching over to Linux a majority of my Windows (Virus / Trojan) problems and the attendant performance hits went away.
I print to an HP LJ1300 from Linux. I use Document Viewer (built in) for PDFs. I've ported basic documents / spreadsheets to / from Office 2007.
The only thing it doesn't do well (if at all) is Flash Development. There, Windows (specifically Adobe / Macromedia) Flash has an edge. Haven't played with it much at all, but, for 3D develpment, there's Blender.
Not intended to be a Linux Promo. Just to let you know how my Latitude D830 is setup, what I use it for, and how it runs.
I do tech support for a living and support Windows based systems primarily.
If you're not married to Windows, this is a fine system for running Linux (besides the added advantage of it being FREE or Open Source.
Best Deals for Dell Latitude D830 Core 2 Duo Laptop
This laptop has been so reliable for 2-3 years now. I got this lap top from my step dad when his work upgraded their laptops (they still use dell) and i had some issues at first but it was just windows. The processor could be a little faster but its still good.Now for gaming. Important-------> THIS COMPUTER WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO WATCH SD VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND WONT BE ABLE TO PLAY MOST GAMES! But this does support windows 7 areo 64bit or 32bit but wont suport vista areo for some reason.
This is a great laptop for work or normal internet browsing like on Facebook.
Proud owner of a Dell.
Honest reviews on Dell Latitude D830 Core 2 Duo Laptop
I ordered the Dell refurbished D830 and it was just as advertised! Product was in great shape with quick shipping. Plenty of software loaded to get started and runs all of my older software with no issues.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dell Latitude D830 Core 2 Duo Laptop
>> UPDATE Nov 2012Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Dell M5040 Inspiron Laptop 15.6" HD Display 4GB RAM 500GB HDD Reviews
I have been looking for a new laptop for some time and finally settled on this model for a sweet price. The shipping was efficient and although the computer was dusty upon arrival, this has been by far one of my favourite purchases on amazon. I love the quality of this pc! This is especially true of the key board, it's easy to type on and easy to keep crumbs out of. I'd like to thank the seller for this steal!Used this pc for everyday computing. I never had a problem with it. You may need to expand its memory but I just used it for surfing the web and google drive. Amazing value for a great computer.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Buy Dell Inspiron I15RV-477B Notebook Laptop / Intel Celeron processor
I do not like windows 8. But the general functions works fine. And it is thin so it is portable.
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I recently bought one of these at best buy a few weeks ago, and so far have loved it! I am really happy with the bluetooth and dvd/cd drive that came with it! I also am enjoying the new windows 8 interface, most people ive heard from have had negative comments about windows 8 being unintuitive, but there are so many articles, videos, and books on it, it is hardly true. I play minecraft on distance far+ and run a screen recording system with no noticeable lag on it, so it has fairly good processing speed. heck, i'm typying this review on it and have no negative comments!Best Deals for Dell Inspiron I15RV-477B Notebook Laptop / Intel Celeron processor
ok yes it has a plastic body...but its tuff.....also texture of lid and mouse pad fingerprint/smuge prone....though you can buy a clear protector similar to a cell phone screen protector and face plate for lid...yes you can get diifer color/desighs....i mean a 15.6 inch 720p hd screen and 1 meg hd web cam with flash resolution like a 3 meg cell cam....dont listen to guy left comment bad cam ...no pc has spectacular cam....pics are clear and you can see all detail in faces no wavey....also with 4 gig memory on board with expandable to 8 gig...and a 320 gig hdd with 1007u duel core intel ceron processor with accelorator bridge maxx audio equalizer and presets best your sound for music/movies and games...this a good pc for everyday task work/play....good time start up within 5 sec .....5-10 sec shutdown.....mulltytask adaquate speed...ohh pc does not get hott....heads up bestbuy has same laptop for $280.....Honest reviews on Dell Inspiron I15RV-477B Notebook Laptop / Intel Celeron processor
Bought this to upgrade my last laptop and totally love this one does all I need and so much moreFind helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dell Inspiron I15RV-477B Notebook Laptop / Intel Celeron processor
IT WAS PURCHASED TO REPLACE HER DELL 1525 WHICH HAS SERVED HER WELL FOR 5~6 YEARS AND SHE LOVES IT. THANKS A LOT.Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Discount eMachines E627-5583 AMD Athlon 64 TF-20, 15.6" 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM
Nice inexpensive laptop. I've only had it for a few days, so my comments are on functionality, not on quality or durability.
First, annoyances.
It has a webcam, but doesn't have a built-in microphone. I guess, it's a way to shave a few pennies off the cost, but quite annoying.
It has a DVD drive, but without Lightscribe. Obviously, less common feature than microphone but I tried to label my system backup disks, and couldn't do it.
It has a multi-card reader. I had no problems with SD card and Memory Stick, but when I tried to put a Memory Stick Pro duo (which is shorter that regular MS) it got stuck inside. To short to "click". Couldn't get it out without tweezers.
And, of course, there are no Windows disks. So, if I decide to re-partition the drive I don't know if I can still install Windows.
Last among little annoyances only two USB ports. Given that one is always taken by a mouse (I hate touchpads) only one is left. Oh well there is always a USB router.
Keyboard layout takes a little getting used to there is a numeric pad and Ins, Del keys are duplicated but no Home, End, PgUp or PgDn. Again, hard to find a word other than weird.
Once you get used to all these idiosyncrasies, it's actually a very nice machine. I like the keyboard responsiveness, webcam video is great quality, I haven't seen a 15.6" screen under $400, and it's not heavy.
OS came with a bunch of trial versions (Norton, Office, games); so if you are like me, you spend the first evening uninstalling all the junk. But, I guess, that's how manufacturers keep Windows price low (if not $0) so I don't mind.
My wife said that it "looks cheap"; but (a) I have no idea what it means in relation to a laptop, and (b) it *is* cheap.
Overall, I got what I wanted an inexpensive laptop to surf the net and play music. But that's 2 years ago before iPad and tablets came out.
First, annoyances.
It has a webcam, but doesn't have a built-in microphone. I guess, it's a way to shave a few pennies off the cost, but quite annoying.
It has a DVD drive, but without Lightscribe. Obviously, less common feature than microphone but I tried to label my system backup disks, and couldn't do it.
It has a multi-card reader. I had no problems with SD card and Memory Stick, but when I tried to put a Memory Stick Pro duo (which is shorter that regular MS) it got stuck inside. To short to "click". Couldn't get it out without tweezers.
And, of course, there are no Windows disks. So, if I decide to re-partition the drive I don't know if I can still install Windows.
Last among little annoyances only two USB ports. Given that one is always taken by a mouse (I hate touchpads) only one is left. Oh well there is always a USB router.
Keyboard layout takes a little getting used to there is a numeric pad and Ins, Del keys are duplicated but no Home, End, PgUp or PgDn. Again, hard to find a word other than weird.
Once you get used to all these idiosyncrasies, it's actually a very nice machine. I like the keyboard responsiveness, webcam video is great quality, I haven't seen a 15.6" screen under $400, and it's not heavy.
OS came with a bunch of trial versions (Norton, Office, games); so if you are like me, you spend the first evening uninstalling all the junk. But, I guess, that's how manufacturers keep Windows price low (if not $0) so I don't mind.
My wife said that it "looks cheap"; but (a) I have no idea what it means in relation to a laptop, and (b) it *is* cheap.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I purchased this about 2 years ago on a Black Friday deal. It's still working the same today as day 1. I bought this because it was super cheap, under $300. I didn't really research the specs since I thought I'm not going to play highly intensive video games. What I didn't know was that music files demand a lot of processing power too. Every single time I open Microsoft's Media Player, it crashes in 3 minutes. I haven't even opened the DVD drive for over 1 year now. But I did find an alternative player, called Songbird, which doesn't crash if I disable all advanced features and plugins.Overall, I got what I wanted an inexpensive laptop to surf the net and play music. But that's 2 years ago before iPad and tablets came out.
Best Deals for eMachines E627-5583 AMD Athlon 64 TF-20, 15.6" 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM
Product was really good at the best of it's price available anywhere, shipment was as promised in the description. Bad things were that there was no information available about the product & the communication level of seller was not greatest, if you are patient then I think it's a good idea to deal with this seller. Product was good, seller not so good.Honest reviews on eMachines E627-5583 AMD Athlon 64 TF-20, 15.6" 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM
I purchased the emachines E627 notebook several months ago for $299. My initial impression was fine. I was disappointed about a month later when one of the USB ports stopped working. Of the 20 or so laptops we've had in our family of 5 over the past 15 years I've never had a USB port stop working. We made do with a USB hub. A couple of months later the second USB port broke. Now we were stuck with a poorly-performing touchpad, since we could no longer plug in a USB mouse. Since it was still under warranty I contacted the manufacturer. They informed me that the repair would not be covered and that it would cost almost $200 to repair. At this point I would not pay $200 for a brand new one.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for eMachines E627-5583 AMD Athlon 64 TF-20, 15.6" 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM
I received this laptop June 15, 2010. I didn't buy it, but it was a high school graduation gift from my mother's boss. When I first set it up, it was working well. Then, about maybe a month or less later, without warning, the webcam just stopped working. I didn't care because I didn't have the need of a webcam anyway, but it just annoyed me that it stopped working. The following year, my laptop began to slow down. So, like any other computer, I did PC cleanups to speed it up. I also switched it from "Balanced" to "High Performance". It was improving, even up to last year. However, earlier this year, the "Wireless Network Connection" started to mess up. I would have to uninstall the wireless driver (by Control Panel) restart the computer back and forth until it worked. Sometimes, I would re-install the driver and wait hours until I turned the laptop back on and lo and behold the wireless connection was working again. But, if I restarted my laptop while the wireless network was working or if I put the screen down to put it in sleep mode, then open it back up, the Wireless LAN light would disappear and the wireless connection would once again be lost. I would click and click the Wireless LAN button, but to no avail. Sometimes, I'd wait a couple days and a certain time before I turned my laptop back on and the connection worked again. I tried troubleshooting and that didn't work either. Apparently, the troubleshooting could only detect the "Wired Connection". I use my laptop in my room; my router is all the way in the living room. That's why I relied on the wireless connection. So, after a few months of this annoyance, I erased my hard drive (nothing was on my laptop that I really needed), took it and the memory rams out of the laptop, put the laptop in its original box and through it down the chute. I am currently waiting for my customized Toshiba laptop which I know will take forever to get. In closing, my advice is that this is more of a business laptop than it is an entertainment one. If you want to do more with your laptop than just paperwork and internet search, look elsewhere. If you really want this laptop, I suggest you research before you buy. Thank God I didn't buy this laptop.
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