2011年10月31日星期一

HP Pavilion p6720f: A Spacious and Speedy Workhorse

HP is generous with both hard-drive room and RAM in the HP Pavilion p6720f, nonetheless it skimps about the discrete graphics card. And by "skimps," I suggest it failed to include a single. That isn't essentially a poor point, though: This price range desktop is an excellent option for staff who are simply distracted by gaming, while you will not likely have the ability to complete much of it.

Our assessment unit, priced at $600 (as of February 11, 2011), came outfitted having a 2.9GHz AMD Phenom II 840T quad-core processor, 6GB of installed RAM, and a whopping (for any finances machine) 1TB difficult generate. In addition, it packs a DVD burner, ATI Radeon Hi-def 4200 integrated graphics, and 802.11n Wi-Fi.

The Pavilion p6720f is housed in a plain-looking black HP chassis. The shiny black plastic entrance hides an extra enlargement bay that sits correct underneath the DVD burner, just in case you would prefer to add a 2nd optical drive (such as a Blu-ray player). The facility button, positioned at the leading in the chassis, is lit having a delicate ice-blue LED. The p6720f is rather slim (about seven inches wide), but or else unexceptional in appearance; the matte-black sides function the HP brand and taper out toward the front.

This desktop comes with a generic mouse-and-keyboard set. Each peripherals are wired, so there go two of the six whole USB ports. The two are pleasantly spiffy-looking: The mouse can be a black, two-button-with-scroll-wheel affair with sleek lines, and the keyboard is flat and black with silver quantity keys.

You won't uncover much incorporated software, apart from the requisite trialware along with the HP MediaSmart video and new music playback suite.

The front of the p6720f features a handful of valuable ports, including a multiformat card reader bay. Also existing are headphone and microphone jacks, in addition to two USB 2.0 ports. I would really like a USB 3.0 port, and even an eSATA port, but remember: This is a budget device, not a multimedia powerhouse. The back again is equally equipped, with 4 USB 2.0 ports, an ethernet port, an S/PDIF-out, a single DVI-out, and 1 VGA-out. Assist for 7.one encompass sound is included, way too.

Open the p6720f's circumstance, and you'll find a fairly dismal amount of enlargement place. Consider note--the inside is actually a mess. The wires are all clumped in the middle and held together with cable ties. Luckily, you cannot do all that considerably to your within, anyway. As I discussed before, the device has a single totally free 5.25-inch bay; accessible as well are two further three.5-inch bays, 1 spare RAM slot, a single PCI slot, and three PCIe x1 slots. Nicely, at least you can install that much-needed video clip card.

Now, the p6720f is actually a budget device, so its overall performance is understandably subpar in case you are employed to checking out overall performance PCs. That said, this quad-core PC's WorldBench 6 score was 114, that's just below the mark from the $780 HP Pavilion p6540f.

Naturally, should you be hoping to perform video games, you'll have to look elsewhere. The p6720f, with its built-in ATI graphics, managed only a pathetic frame fee of 3.9 frames for each 2nd on our Unreal Tournament 3 assessments (2560 by 1600 resolution, higher high quality). Reduced top quality and lower resolution failed to genuinely get us everywhere, possibly; the best we ended up with was 21.5 fps at a 1024 by 768 resolution with medium good quality configurations.

So gaming is out, however the budget-PC classification isn't truly meant to deal with hefty lifting anyway. Machines on our mainstream desktop charts really are a greater bet--the Micro Specific MicroFlex 25B, for instance, will set you back $850, but it can be much a lot more generous in total efficiency and electronic enjoyment. That said, the Pavilion p6720f offers a roomy tough drive plus a relatively speedy quad-core processor, making it perfect for productivity. It's so successful, you would be hard-pressed to have any of your interactive digital distractions running.

2011年10月28日星期五

Lenovo's ThinkPad W701ds Supplies Massive Performance and Meets Big-Budget Demands

If Paul Bunyan have been a geotechnical engineer, the Lenovo ThinkPad W701ds could be his Babe. It's barely fitting to call this huge laptop computer a desktop replacement; it really is a workstation option, in a position to consider your most demanding programs wherever. Moreover to ridiculously fast performance, this laptop delivers a built-in Wacom drawing tablet, a color-calibration instrument, and even a 2nd LCD. In the event you crunch real-time knowledge on oil rigs or in case you design and style jet engines whilst flying about the Atlantic, this might be your new Laptop. Anyone wanting one of the fastest, most tricked-out, and most expensive portables about will locate a great sidekick here.

This ISV (independent software vendor)-certified notebook crushes every software it encounters. In tests with professional-level content-creation instruments, which includes 3D Studio Max 2011, Painter eleven, and Avid Media Composer, each of the applications ran smoothly. Demanding games may also deliver down lesser laptops--but whilst avid gamers is probably not this laptop's target market, on this device Battlefield: Lousy Organization 2, Crysis Warhead, and Supreme Commander two all looked wonderful at substantial resolutions and optimum settings.

The ThinkPad W701ds rocked in PCWorld's quantitative benchmarks, earning a WorldBench 6 score of 123 and an general mark of 96 out of a hundred within our total efficiency check, amid the greatest scores however. An Intel Core i7 X920 running at 2GHz powers this laptop, backed up by 8GB of RAM. The laptop computer even has an nVidia Quadro Fx 3800M graphics card packing 1GB of VRAM. To say this program is loaded could be an understatement--it's a full-on arsenal.

But there is often a catch, right? Charges for that ThinkPad W701ds start at $3299; our test configuration, which incorporates virtually each and every upgrade and extra doable, totals greater than $6000. The great factor is, you are going to get what you shell out for--if you need the greatest speed and lots of content-creation extras.

Graphics professionals will soak up the terrific 17-inch, 1920-by-1200-pixel primary screen. It shows off a bold selection of hues, contrast, and brightness. Colours pop regardless of whether you're functioning in a picture editor or you are kicking again and watching a motion picture. Visual artists will appreciate the built-in Pantone HueyPRO hardware and software package calibrator: Commence the method and near the lid, as well as the sensor visually recognizes the display's hues, perfecting their harmony.

The second LCD steals a bit concentrate from your major show. This ten.6-inch, 768-by-1280-pixel extra stashes inside of the case driving the key display; you simply push in to eject and retract the secondary screen. The moment it really is extended, you'll be able to bend it ahead, angling the display toward your deal with. The display screen would perform very best around the left side, because your hands--and the touchpad--favor the still left. Once the added display is tilted, you are able to see it evidently, nonetheless it usually seems a bit washed-out, specially following for the unwavering coloration in the major screen. The further display performs effectively in the event you use it for text and button palettes, so you keep color-sensitive perform on the principal exhibit.

Picture jockeys will also enjoy the input-device extras, especially the 12cm-by-8cm drawing tablet embedded within the wrist rest. It can be just big enough to sketch types and edit images on the go. Wacom's quality common shines right here, since the tablet incorporates 1024 amounts of stress sensitivity and includes a stylus that you can flip over for an eraser stop. When you happen to be completed, the stylus neatly tucks into the laptop's base.

The ThinkPad W701ds provides two more pointers to your combine: the traditional TrackPoint eraserhead as well as a two-button touchpad. Each experience great, as well as the buttons appear exact and responsive. You can swap amongst the input units on the whim, or personalize 1 to activate only specified functions--such as scrolling--while leaving the opposite for basic mousing.

The utilitarian keyboard complements the remainder of the notebook design. The traditional, blocky crucial shapes and restricted mechanisms sense responsive for contact typing, and also the full-size amount pad can speed data entry. Several added buttons handle the volume and start the snooze-inducing ThinkVantage computer software. Committed media buttons aren't missed; I choose their absence over an try to cram them in unnecessarily.

Amongst the laptop's weaker factors, reasonably speaking, would be the speakers, which sit guiding a grille previously mentioned the keyboard. Songs and movies sound alright, as well as the laptop can get loud without warbling distortion. Even so, the speakers favor high tones, thinning out for reduced pitches--the normal originated-on-a-laptop sound. Sadly, which means cellular audio and video producers will have to plug in speakers or headphones for most of their work.

The ThinkPad W701ds includes a bunch of ports and extras that may be valuable in numerous circumstances. The fingerprint scanner unlocks the technique with no password. Two LEDs mounted in the prime of the exhibit can cast light a little above and throughout the keyboard, allowing you to find out papers within a dark space. Expansion slots contain Convey Card, CompactFlash, as well as a five-format SD-card reader. It is loaded with other ports and connections, also, presenting audio-in and -out, one particular USB 3.0 port, four USB two.0 ports, eSATA, FireWire, gigabit ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, plus a modem. The full-size Show Port, DVI, and VGA ports can connect as much as two further shows.

Disk possibilities mostly meet expectations. Two hard-drive bays can accommodate RAID setups; our exam unit integrated two 320GB disks. Regrettably, this method had only a CD/DVD burner, not a Blu-ray reader or burner. Having a laptop computer of this degree, mobile subject material creators may anticipate to read--and author--Blu-ray discs.

Although Lenovo sits inside the middle of our most up-to-date laptop computer dependability survey, the ThinkPad W701ds feels solidly constructed. You will have to lug the huge 8.97-pound method among massive desks, but it can be like carrying a powerful workstation nearly anywhere. The battery lasts for approximately two hrs, ten minutes, an affordable duration for a moveable using this considerably power and speed. Considering this machine's total roster of ports and extras for content creators--including the color calibrator, the Wacom tablet surface area, along with the further LCD--this high-end notebook looks outfitted that can assist you complete any demanding work.

2011年10月27日星期四

Toshiba Satellite L755-S5258: Solid Performance, Cheap Parts

The Toshiba Satellite L755-S5258 seems like a spending budget notebook, but it really is got a decent punch under its belt. Sadly, the low cost exterior and inexpensive building (the Operate essential on our critique design failed to work) might not be ample to generate up for its or else sound overall performance.

Our review unit, priced at $690 (as of 9/27/2011), happens full of a second-generation Intel Core i5-2410M processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 640GB challenging generate (spinning at 5400 rpm). The Satellite L755 also functions built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a built-in webcam and microphone, and an HDMI port. It comes with the 64-bit model of Windows seven Property Top quality mounted.

In WorldBench six benchmark assessments, the L755-S5258 scored an appropriate 115. That score is nowhere close to the very best of the charts, especially in the all-purpose laptops category to which this model belongs, but it is still fairly good for a sub-$700 notebook, and is also only two details beneath the scores of the HP Pavilion dv6 along with the Toshiba Satellite M645-S4118X, two related, but considerably pricier, devices.

The L755 has no discrete graphics card--it relies about the integrated graphics of its Sandy Bridge processor. So graphics efficiency leaves a thing to become sought after: In Filth two, by way of example, it manages a barely playable frame fee of 19.6 frames for each second (utilizing high-quality settings along with a resolution of 1024 by 768). This really is typical for integrated graphics; as well as the aforementioned HP Pavilion dv6, that has a low-end discrete graphics card, managed only a rather far better frame price of 24.3 fps in this check.

The visual form of the Satellite's design and style is exciting, to mention the the very least. The notebook incorporates a rounded, shiny plastic cover that is mild gray using a subtle criss-cross pattern. A sizable, pale silver Toshiba emblem is printed inside the middle, along with the total cover is easy. The criss-cross pattern carries above to the keyboard deck also. The inside has rounded insets for numerous attributes, which includes the speakers and trackpad buttons. Overall, these layout particulars make the notebook appear to be a futuristic cartoon product, rather than within a great way. However it is not my type, maybe it will charm to some.

In spite of the unattractive style, the machine is tough and lighter than it seems to be. It weighs five.7 pounds, which can be common to get a fifteen.6-inch notebook, and is also just under 1.5 inches thick at its thickest point.

The Satellite does relatively effectively with its ports, specially provided its lower cost. About the still left facet can be a 10/100 ethernet port, a VGA port, an HDMI port, microphone and headphone jacks, a Kensington lock slot, as well as a USB two.0 port with Sleep and Cost engineering. The latter feature permits you to cost your USB units although the notebook is in snooze mode. The best aspect has the DVD-SuperMulti push and also two extra USB 2.0 ports (without having Snooze and Charge). A memory card reader, in addition to several standing lights, is within the front edge.

The keyboard and touchpad are first rate for any fifteen.6-inch laptop computer. The keyboard's flat, easy keys are extremely comfortable to form on. (And I really do suggest smooth--the keys are so slick that I practically desire to just operate my fingers over them.) Thankfully, this smoothness just isn't much of the hindrance to speedy typing. The keyboard also features a 10-key amount pad--a wonderful addition to a 15.6-inch notebook.

Our review product did have one problem: the Function key refused to operate, even soon after keyboard motorists had been reinstalled. Plenty of keys are supposed to operate using the Fn important on this computer, therefore the indisputable fact that it's not functioning is surely an issue.

The touchpad is a tiny less impressive, however it's easy to use and responsive. This is a little, raised sq., just slightly rougher compared to bordering wristpad. Two big, discrete buttons are under it, equally simple to press. The sole difficulty I had using the touchpad, aside from its aesthetics (I dislike textured squares as opposed to properly denoted pads), is always that it really is modest. The Satellite L755-S5258 includes a great deal of wristpad real-estate, so it really is disappointing that Toshiba did not utilize it successfully. By way of example, the buttons under the touchpad are very big and consider up a lot far more space than necessary. The trackpad does assistance multitouch gestures, but you barely have sufficient place to execute them.

The Satellite's glossy fifteen.6-inch LCD display screen incorporates a native resolution of 1366 by 768. The display is wonderful to look at, but it is not excellent. It is generally a little dimmer than I usually like, and colours are inclined to search washed out. Multimedia playback is clean, however you will see some blockiness and noise, specifically in darkish scenes. Speakers are standard notebook quality--very delicate for this dimension of device. On the as well as facet, the sound coming out of the speakers--what tiny it is possible to hear of it--is crisp.

Will not let the Toshiba Satellite L755-S5258's lower price fool you: This lapdop is actually a solid performer. Sadly, the rest of the layout is not as solid--the notebook looks and feels cheap, the Purpose key, at least on our check unit, wouldn't function, along with the trackpad is incredibly modest. All Toshiba needs to do is ensure its areas are operating and enlarge the trackpad (which should be easy--they had enough area to get a range pad, right after all), as well as the Satellite L755-S5258 would be a great spending budget machine.

2011年10月24日星期一

Acer Veriton L4610G: Great Steps Forward, but a Few Steps Back

Corporations looking for small, swift desktop PCs would do properly to check out Acer's Veriton line. The Acer Veriton L4610G is really a slim, reasonably effective machine that can fit anywhere and do almost something that your enterprise may possibly need. Nevertheless, last year's Acer Veriton X498G looks like a greater deal.

Our review product, priced at $699 (as of June three, 2011), packs a two.5GHz Core i5-2400S processor, 4GB of RAM (upgradable to 8GB), and 320GB of hard-drive area. The technique also features a tray-loading DVD slot, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, and runs the 64-bit version of Windows seven Skilled.

The Veriton L4610G is housed within a matte black-and-gray plastic chassis. The chassis is small--much smaller compared to towers of most mainstream desktop PCs--measuring nine.84 inches tall by eight.07 inches extended by 2.44 inches thick. It is possible to orient the machine upright on the incorporated stand, or lay it on its aspect (the proper side in the machine has 4 rubber ft).

The Veriton L4610G's design and style just isn't nearly anything particular, although Acer naturally tried to mix it up somewhat: The front with the machine is split into 3 parts--one gray, 1 silver, and a single black. The Veriton L4610G has some angular touches, as well, such as a slim, octagonal stand. The front in the device holds a electricity button as well as a few convenience ports--headphone/microphone jacks and 4 USB 2.0 ports.

The remaining ports--four further USB ports, a VGA port, a DVI port, a gigabit ethernet port, an LPT printer port, as well as a COM1 serial port--occupy the back again of the machine, which also accommodates a Kensington lock port, input/ouput jacks, and one more microphone jack.

The Veriton L4610G ships that has a three-button optical mouse along with a keyboard. Each are basic, Acer-branded, USB-wired peripherals without having special touches. The keyboard has vast, flat keys and offers tiny suggestions, even though it does have edicated buttons for quantity controls (mute/up/down) as well as a snooze button.

In PCWorld Labs' WorldBench six benchmark tests, the Veriton L4610G acquired a score of 125--not terribly high for the mainstream desktop Pc, but satisfactory contemplating the unit's compact dimensions. By comparison, the consumer-oriented HP Pavilion Elite HPE -235f earned a WorldBench 6 score of 114. The Acer Veriton X498G, alternatively, collected a WorldBench six score of 129.

Its WorldBench 6 score notwithstanding, the Veriton L4610G turned inside a barely playable frame price of 39.four frames for each second on our Unreal Tournament 3 sport test at medium-quality options as well as a display resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. Although we do not give gaming specs a lot fat in appraising company devices, the reduced frame fee signifies that this isn't a superb machine for graphics-intensive function.

The Veriton L4610G's included software program is fairly basic. The optional 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional lets you use all 4GB of one's installed RAM. You also get Acer's utility suite, which includes a backup supervisor, an "eRecovery" manager, an updater, along with a 38-page consumer guidebook.

The Acer Veriton L4610G is little, inexpensive, and well-connected; but it really is somewhat slower than last year's Veriton X498G, has fewer USB ports, and offers significantly less storage. The L4610G trumps the X498G by offering a newer Sandy Bridge processor, but the distinction in clock speeds finally leads to marginally slower basic performance. That stated, finding a new Veriton X498G for sale isn't easy.

Like most other types in Acer's Veriton line, the L4610 ought to meet the requirements of most company customers just fine. If you're looking for a little more (and are willing to buy it), check out the remainder of our organization desktop PCs lineup.

2011年10月21日星期五

HP Pavilion Slimline s5-1060: Slim Desktop PC Packs a Few Surprises

The slender HP Pavilion Slimline s5-1060 desktop Personal computer boasts solid computing and some fancy capabilities, this kind of like a Blu-ray disc player. However it's got a discrete graphics card, you will not have the opportunity to use it for gaming, but if you're searching for a fundamental residence and enjoyment device, this device packs a decent punch to get a rather very good price tag.

Our review design, priced at $830 (as of July twenty five, 2011), arrived preloaded with the Intel Core i5-2310 processor operating at 2.9GHz, 6GB of set up RAM (upgradable to 16GB), a 1TB harddrive, an AMD Radeon High definition 6450 graphics card, Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity, a Blu-ray disc player, plus a 64-bit model of Windows 7 Residence Premium.

In PCWorld's WorldBench 6 benchmark checks, the Slimline s5-1060 racked up a score of 145, putting it while in the center of our leading 10 list of mainstream desktop PCs. On that record, our fifth-ranked Pc, the Dell Studio XPS 7100, earned a mark of 120 on WorldBench six, while our fourth-ranked Laptop, the Micro Express MicroFlex 25B, roared to a score of 188.

In our Unreal Tournament three graphics exams, the Slimline s5-1060 managed an acceptable--but not stellar--frame charge of 47.four frames per 2nd (at large good quality settings and 1024-by-768-pixel resolution). The program performs back again Hd video and Blu-ray discs with no hitch.

The Slimline s5-1060's chassis is simply 6.two inches broad by fifteen.five inches prolonged by twelve.3 inches substantial, and is composed of matte black aluminum, having a marginally convex, shiny black plastic confront. On the front in the device are two USB ports, a headphone jack, as well as a multiformat card reader.

The remainder from the system's ports are located on its back again: 4 far more USB ports (to get a total of 6), gigabit ethernet, optical audio-out, S-Video-in, a Tv tuner, and help for seven.one surround audio. Additionally you get a DVI port and an HDMI port around the graphics card, and the system can help a total of two monitors.

The Slimline s5-1060's compact dimensions leaves relatively limits inner enlargement, however , you can perform a little tinkering as soon as you get inside the technique (just one flat-head/star-shaped screw secures the facet panel; even so, even together with the screw eliminated, the panel is hard to yank off). The interior is fairly messy, and you may should eliminate a considerable enthusiast to obtain at a number of the slots. Nonetheless, HP offers two open up PCIe x1 slots and two open up RAM slots for the upgrading pleasure.

The Slimline includes a mouse and a keyboard, each of which are USB-wired. The comfy, quiet keyboard has flat keys. Even though it's fundamental, it does have focused volume-control buttons (up, down, and mute). The three-button optical mouse is lightweight, but I identified it somewhat also large for my (admittedly modest) hands.

If you're looking for a svelte tower that performs well, the HP Pavilion Slimline s5-1060 isn't a bad bet--as prolonged as you might be not organizing on undertaking anything at all fancy. But be forewarned: There's no Bluetooth connectivity, USB 3.0, FireWire, or e-SATA. On the optimistic side, its Blu-ray disc player, Wi-Fi, and Television tuner are all valuable extra attributes.