Netbooks are so formulaic as of late, it really is hard to stand out from the crowd. Samsung, within a little way, has managed that with all the $330 (cost as of May possibly 11, 2011) NC110. With only the regular netbook 10.1-inch exhibit, the typical 250GB challenging generate, and the common accoutrements, the NC110 instead makes an impression via a combination of styling, battery living, and software package. Unfortunately, additionally, it stands out as a sluggish performer.
The NC110 is amongst the better-looking netbooks to pass via our portals, many thanks largely to a modest swoop downward on the rear from the unit (at the battery), a Chiclet-style keyboard, plus a reduce deck that's sculpted back again in the edges of the ports. These features not merely boost the looks but additionally aid with ergonomics: It's less difficult to place your fingers correctly on the keyboard with gaps among keys, along with the ports are less difficult to search out by come to feel than their flush-mounted counterparts.
Stated ports will be the regular netbook array, consisting of three USB two.0 ports, microphone and headphone jacks, VGA and ethernet ports, and the strength jack. The front edge in the netbook has the standing lights, in addition the SC Card reader slot. Connectivity contains gigabit ethernet, 802.11n wireless, and Bluetooth.
Although the NC110's keyboard has a decent experience for any medium-stroke unit, the touchpad feels a little significantly less responsive than most; additionally, it delivers no visual delineation of the scroll regions, so they are a tad easy to activate accidentally.
The NC110 turned within a WorldBench 6 functionality score of 34--a point or two down below the netbook norm. Subjectively, as configured from the box, it feels even slower. That is not surprising taking into consideration that it's got a single-core Atom N455 CPU, just 1GB of memory, plus a lot of unneeded track record programs working. Even so, although the NC110 isn't a stellar performer, it has stamina in spades: The netbook lasted just three minutes shy of 8 hours within our battery testing.
Samsung bundles a great deal of software program using the NC100--some very good, some helpful, and, as described, some that simply suck up CPU cycles. You'll discover about a dozen games from Oberon Media, as well as Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, Adobe Reader, Skype, and a dozen a lot more "Easy" apps from Samsung. The Samsung apps are indeed easy to use, but you do not want plans such as Easy Exhibit Supervisor, Simple Network Manager, or Straightforward Battery Manager--Windows seven Starter has nicely integrated utilities that cover all of those features. Trials of the netbook edition of Norton Web Safety and Norton On the internet Backup can also be incorporated.
Bundled at the same time are SRS Premium, a history software that may enhance audio good quality irrespective of which player you're employing, and Samsung's Film Color Enhancer, a history app that adds richness to video.
A 50 percent hour spent getting rid of the needless software program and tweaking the startup items utilizing msconfig.exe had a much more noticeable result than utilizing Effortless Start-Up Supervisor. Most laptops and netbooks benefit from this type of pruning, however the NC110 does so more than other individuals; 720p video clip, for example, was unwatchable prior to and smooth afterward. The netbook will never ever control 1080p, but that is properly outside of the screen's 1024 by 600 resolution anyway. Alas, the Webcam is restricted to 320 by 240 video.
The Samsung NC110 is really a notch earlier mentioned the pack in equally appears and stamina. Otherwise, it's only a common netbook--and unless you're prepared to invest the time tuning the unit's software installation, you will not get respectable efficiency from it.
2011年6月18日星期六
2011年6月17日星期五
Aluratek Libre Pro E-Reader: Easy on the Eyes and the Wallet
Priced at $170 (as of March fifteen, 2010), the no-frills, lightweight Aluratek Libre Professional e-reader can be a refreshing surprise. Dismissing the Libre Pro as just an additional e-reader within a sea of clones could be straightforward, but this gadget handles greater than most--and it sports activities a bargain cost, as well.
The e-reader universe is evolving at a breakneck speed, and 1 issue that continues to be nevertheless to get decided is what defines an e-reader. While in the beginning, we found models with electronic-paper screens; now inside the combine are tablets with LCDs, in addition to dual-screen electronic-paper and LCD merchandise.
Yet another variant could be the display screen engineering Aluratek employs here: The organization utilizes a monochrome, non-backlit, 5-inch Toshiba LCD screen meant to realize a consequence that, like digital paper, is comfortable to study and variety towards the battery. In apply, the Libre Pro's display succeeds while in the previous but not the latter. Even though the show is little as opposed with that of a Barnes and Noble Nook or an Amazon Kindle 2, I found it very simple on my eyes for extended reading engagements. Regrettably, when I tried using the Libre Professional for the three-day weekend of mixed use and standby mode, the battery didn't final without needing a charge (Aluratek says the device will last for up to 24 hours of continuous looking at, and 30 days standby time). The exhibit features a greenish-gold coloration, a lot as monochrome screens of yesteryear had; it is not fairly as successful to the text to stand out, but it was tame adequate to keep my eyes from tiring.
I identified the Libre Pro intuitive and fast to use, and its development was noticeably smooth. It weighs just 7 ounces, which causes it to be a joy to carry in one or each fingers. All the unit's buttons are soft to the touch and finger-friendly. Which is uncommon on e-readers: A lot of, this kind of as the Interead Cool-ER, are afflicted by dreadfully stiff and hard-to-press controls.
Along the best side from the exhibit sits a vertical set of buttons that perform for cell-phone-keypad-like text and numeric input, together with for selecting which choice you would like on screen. The influence is related to--but a lot more stylish than--the kludgy scrollwheel to the unique Amazon Kindle. Along the left is an unusual slider bar for moving pages forward and back again.
Beneath the screen, to your right, can be a five-way navigation pad, neatly surrounded by four handy buttons for switching orientation, alternatives (like jumping to a distinct web page within the e-book, through the use of the amounts alongside the display), 3 options for text magnification, and return. At left would be the page-forward and page-back buttons, the previous larger than the latter. These buttons are well located for turning pages together with your left hand, should you maintain the device with your left hand or each fingers; alternatively, in the event you maintain the e-reader along its facet within your left hand, you are able to simply press the buttons with your correct hand.
The Libre Professional has an SDHC card slot and supports cards as much as 32GB. You'll be able to load a variety of file formats, including text, Adobe ePub, PDF, FB2, MOBI, PRC, and RTF. You can download textbooks manually or get books from ePub-compatible shops (Aluratek is partnered with eBooks.com and Kobo). The system includes one hundred classics preinstalled--a good method to obtain the ball rolling.
On the bottom from the Libre Pro would be the energy button (that is somewhat hard to press), the headphone jack, along with a hand-strap loop. In the best, under a rubberized flap, are the SD slot and also the mini-USB port; the flap feels durable, even though I would like it failed to cover the USB port also.
Though the Libre Pro lacks the Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity of some fancier e-readers, it retains issues fundamental and also to the point. This minor e-reader can be a satisfaction to work with, and it may be considered a affordable choice to far more costly, related e-readers.
The e-reader universe is evolving at a breakneck speed, and 1 issue that continues to be nevertheless to get decided is what defines an e-reader. While in the beginning, we found models with electronic-paper screens; now inside the combine are tablets with LCDs, in addition to dual-screen electronic-paper and LCD merchandise.
Yet another variant could be the display screen engineering Aluratek employs here: The organization utilizes a monochrome, non-backlit, 5-inch Toshiba LCD screen meant to realize a consequence that, like digital paper, is comfortable to study and variety towards the battery. In apply, the Libre Pro's display succeeds while in the previous but not the latter. Even though the show is little as opposed with that of a Barnes and Noble Nook or an Amazon Kindle 2, I found it very simple on my eyes for extended reading engagements. Regrettably, when I tried using the Libre Professional for the three-day weekend of mixed use and standby mode, the battery didn't final without needing a charge (Aluratek says the device will last for up to 24 hours of continuous looking at, and 30 days standby time). The exhibit features a greenish-gold coloration, a lot as monochrome screens of yesteryear had; it is not fairly as successful to the text to stand out, but it was tame adequate to keep my eyes from tiring.
I identified the Libre Pro intuitive and fast to use, and its development was noticeably smooth. It weighs just 7 ounces, which causes it to be a joy to carry in one or each fingers. All the unit's buttons are soft to the touch and finger-friendly. Which is uncommon on e-readers: A lot of, this kind of as the Interead Cool-ER, are afflicted by dreadfully stiff and hard-to-press controls.
Along the best side from the exhibit sits a vertical set of buttons that perform for cell-phone-keypad-like text and numeric input, together with for selecting which choice you would like on screen. The influence is related to--but a lot more stylish than--the kludgy scrollwheel to the unique Amazon Kindle. Along the left is an unusual slider bar for moving pages forward and back again.
Beneath the screen, to your right, can be a five-way navigation pad, neatly surrounded by four handy buttons for switching orientation, alternatives (like jumping to a distinct web page within the e-book, through the use of the amounts alongside the display), 3 options for text magnification, and return. At left would be the page-forward and page-back buttons, the previous larger than the latter. These buttons are well located for turning pages together with your left hand, should you maintain the device with your left hand or each fingers; alternatively, in the event you maintain the e-reader along its facet within your left hand, you are able to simply press the buttons with your correct hand.
The Libre Professional has an SDHC card slot and supports cards as much as 32GB. You'll be able to load a variety of file formats, including text, Adobe ePub, PDF, FB2, MOBI, PRC, and RTF. You can download textbooks manually or get books from ePub-compatible shops (Aluratek is partnered with eBooks.com and Kobo). The system includes one hundred classics preinstalled--a good method to obtain the ball rolling.
On the bottom from the Libre Pro would be the energy button (that is somewhat hard to press), the headphone jack, along with a hand-strap loop. In the best, under a rubberized flap, are the SD slot and also the mini-USB port; the flap feels durable, even though I would like it failed to cover the USB port also.
Though the Libre Pro lacks the Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity of some fancier e-readers, it retains issues fundamental and also to the point. This minor e-reader can be a satisfaction to work with, and it may be considered a affordable choice to far more costly, related e-readers.
2011年6月7日星期二
Asus O2 - UL30A notebook on O2 mobile broadband review
It is possible to get any notebook you like and add a stand-alone broadband dongle to it. So why go for the notebook and dongle deal? It's got for being a issue of better pricing, surely.
As significantly as the Asus UL30A is anxious, the sums function out as follows. On the internet, as we publish this, the notebook might be had standalone for around GBP530. Buy it from O2 for GBP39.99 and take the O2 24-month, ?¨º30 per month cellular broadband deal and, over the phrase with the contract, you will invest GBP759.99. It is possible to do the maths to operate out what the cellular broadband is costing you there, and make a decision whether it's a offer really worth making.
The notebook by itself is a fantastic one particular, though. It really is light and portable, weighing just one.6kg, and it's got a 13.3-inch one,366 x 768-pixel display that's sharp and brilliant. There's a reflective coating which may make the notebook tricky to use if vibrant light is streaming into a window behind you, but that is no more an issue than it really is with numerous other notebooks.
More frustrating will be the completely avoidable utilization of shiny black plastic for parts from the inner chassis like the wrist relaxation. This gathers fingerprints and quickly gets quite unsightly. A cleansing cloth will have to be used on a regular basis.
There's no optical generate, to ensure is something you may need to include on as a 3rd get together extra if you need to set up application from CD or save to that format. In the event you really feel the operating method, Windows Home Premium, is just not fairly that which you want, then rectifying that could be far better accomplished by buying a different notebook.
There is certainly a generous 320GB challenging generate along with the 8-cell battery is claimed to produce up to 8 several hours of daily life. We certainly identified it lasted through the greater part of the day's work for us during testing. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the two present and there is certainly a 0.3-megapixel webcam while in the chassis as well.
There exists a reasonable array of ports and connectors with a few USB 2.0 ports, VGA-out, HDMI, Ethernet, microphone, headphones and card reader slots. Most notebooks with 3G support have their SIM slot beneath the battery, but in this particular situation it really is on the right edge from the chassis. You could sense this tends to make your SIM a little susceptible, but however it is really simple to get at if you want to swap it out to utilize in other products.
The keyboard is 1 of individuals isolation style ones, and it really is truly comfortable to use. The keys depress just the proper amount for use and we really liked the feel. We had been able to form at a fantastic speed.
As significantly as the Asus UL30A is anxious, the sums function out as follows. On the internet, as we publish this, the notebook might be had standalone for around GBP530. Buy it from O2 for GBP39.99 and take the O2 24-month, ?¨º30 per month cellular broadband deal and, over the phrase with the contract, you will invest GBP759.99. It is possible to do the maths to operate out what the cellular broadband is costing you there, and make a decision whether it's a offer really worth making.
The notebook by itself is a fantastic one particular, though. It really is light and portable, weighing just one.6kg, and it's got a 13.3-inch one,366 x 768-pixel display that's sharp and brilliant. There's a reflective coating which may make the notebook tricky to use if vibrant light is streaming into a window behind you, but that is no more an issue than it really is with numerous other notebooks.
More frustrating will be the completely avoidable utilization of shiny black plastic for parts from the inner chassis like the wrist relaxation. This gathers fingerprints and quickly gets quite unsightly. A cleansing cloth will have to be used on a regular basis.
There's no optical generate, to ensure is something you may need to include on as a 3rd get together extra if you need to set up application from CD or save to that format. In the event you really feel the operating method, Windows Home Premium, is just not fairly that which you want, then rectifying that could be far better accomplished by buying a different notebook.
There is certainly a generous 320GB challenging generate along with the 8-cell battery is claimed to produce up to 8 several hours of daily life. We certainly identified it lasted through the greater part of the day's work for us during testing. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the two present and there is certainly a 0.3-megapixel webcam while in the chassis as well.
There exists a reasonable array of ports and connectors with a few USB 2.0 ports, VGA-out, HDMI, Ethernet, microphone, headphones and card reader slots. Most notebooks with 3G support have their SIM slot beneath the battery, but in this particular situation it really is on the right edge from the chassis. You could sense this tends to make your SIM a little susceptible, but however it is really simple to get at if you want to swap it out to utilize in other products.
The keyboard is 1 of individuals isolation style ones, and it really is truly comfortable to use. The keys depress just the proper amount for use and we really liked the feel. We had been able to form at a fantastic speed.
2011年6月3日星期五
Fujitsu Lifebook MH380: Stylish and Sexy, but Performance Is Mediocre
There is no denying that the Fujitsu LifeBook MH380 ($449 as of March 24, 2010) is actually a trendy small devil. Dressed in deep red and black, furthermore, it incorporates a significantly far more pronounced curvature to its front edges than your common netbook. And if you open the program, it looks--okay, I actually are not able to come up which has a much better word than fashionable. Regrettably, the MH380 is just a good performer, and its 7-hour, 22-minute battery life--while excellent for any 1GB netbook with a 250GB challenging drive--falls brief from the greatest of its rivals. Also, though the 1366-by-768-pixel, ten.1-inch exhibit is impressive to start with, it produces some ergonomic and functionality troubles.
The LifeBook MH380's larger display screen resolution theoretically tends to make for sharper video clip. But in attempting to generate the 1366-by-768 show, the system's Intel N450/3150 CPU/GPU combo functions like a mule burdened by one particular sack a lot of. Dragging windows leaves trails, and I used to be unable to get 720p video to play smoothly--even the QuickTime edition of Microsoft's WMV Hd Fighter Pilot video, which will usually play good, stuttered. In addition, customers with vision problems may well have to increase the text size ahead of they are comfy with it.
An additional minimal ergonomic problem will be the keyboard. Apparently the designers at Fujitsu spend much more time with the scroll keys than typing, as they lower down the oft-used comma and time period keys to about two-thirds their normal width to accommodate the cursor keys. That may sound trivial, but consider touch-typing about the unit before you purchase it (or just before your return time period has expired).
The touchpad around the LifeBook MH380 can be a bit around the modest aspect, however the response is good. A big circular dimple to its proper serves as an unusual but successful scroll wheel. Two separate buttons sit immediately under the touchpad; nonetheless, whilst they function okay, both appear to flex once you press only one, which is a tad worrisome. This habits is occasionally indicative of a low cost mechanism along with a failure position.
The LifeBook MH380 has 3 USB ports: two within the left aspect in the vicinity of the front and one particular within the correct near the front. Not like numerous netbooks, the MH380 has its audio input/output jacks mounted in front next for the SDHC slot, by far the handiest area for all a few. The AC, ethernet, and VGA ports are within the left facet of the machine, though for some purpose the previous port is upside down. Providing the complete unit an ergonomic typing angle could be the battery, which hangs down approximately three-quarters of an inch through the back from the unit. Naturally, mentioned obtrusive battery helps make sliding the netbook into a bag or backpack somewhat more challenging, and may well create an uncomfortable lump also.
Tipping the scales at just below 3 lbs, the LifeBook MH380 is somewhat heavier compared to regular netbook, partly because of the battery and partly owing to the rugged building. Besides the touchpad buttons, the unit does possess a strong experience.
Fujitsu ships the MH380 with Microsoft Works, the My Recovery backup imaging method, and CyberLink's YouCam application. The very first provides you with the capability to execute fundamental office duties, and the very last is type of cool in the event you want to muck about while you're Skype-ing. YouCam enables you to utilize quite a few results to the video, this kind of as cartoon bubbles, embossing, and particle effects. Regrettably, CyberLink is merciless about getting you to register the software--only editing the Registry will eliminate the nag.
Even though the LifeBook MH380 earned an above-average mark of 36 on our common WorldBench 6 exams, it didn't impress us with its video functionality, as noted above. And though no netbook feels especially snappy with Windows 7 Starter as its running method, this unit appeared especially sluggish in my hands-on tests.
Audio was a combined bag. With the speakers, volume was greater than adequate but endured a unique spike within the midrange, which speedily grew irritating. Nearly all of this disappeared by way of headphones--but you could desire to play together with the EQ on your own playback software program somewhat to avoid ear tiredness.
Inside the stop, Fujitsu is perhaps a tad guilty of placing specs above real-world issues with all the LifeBook MH380--the Intel N450/3150 combination merely does not hold the horsepower to generate higher-resolution displays satisfactorily. You may desire to go for some thing with fewer pixels and snappier performance
The LifeBook MH380's larger display screen resolution theoretically tends to make for sharper video clip. But in attempting to generate the 1366-by-768 show, the system's Intel N450/3150 CPU/GPU combo functions like a mule burdened by one particular sack a lot of. Dragging windows leaves trails, and I used to be unable to get 720p video to play smoothly--even the QuickTime edition of Microsoft's WMV Hd Fighter Pilot video, which will usually play good, stuttered. In addition, customers with vision problems may well have to increase the text size ahead of they are comfy with it.
An additional minimal ergonomic problem will be the keyboard. Apparently the designers at Fujitsu spend much more time with the scroll keys than typing, as they lower down the oft-used comma and time period keys to about two-thirds their normal width to accommodate the cursor keys. That may sound trivial, but consider touch-typing about the unit before you purchase it (or just before your return time period has expired).
The touchpad around the LifeBook MH380 can be a bit around the modest aspect, however the response is good. A big circular dimple to its proper serves as an unusual but successful scroll wheel. Two separate buttons sit immediately under the touchpad; nonetheless, whilst they function okay, both appear to flex once you press only one, which is a tad worrisome. This habits is occasionally indicative of a low cost mechanism along with a failure position.
The LifeBook MH380 has 3 USB ports: two within the left aspect in the vicinity of the front and one particular within the correct near the front. Not like numerous netbooks, the MH380 has its audio input/output jacks mounted in front next for the SDHC slot, by far the handiest area for all a few. The AC, ethernet, and VGA ports are within the left facet of the machine, though for some purpose the previous port is upside down. Providing the complete unit an ergonomic typing angle could be the battery, which hangs down approximately three-quarters of an inch through the back from the unit. Naturally, mentioned obtrusive battery helps make sliding the netbook into a bag or backpack somewhat more challenging, and may well create an uncomfortable lump also.
Tipping the scales at just below 3 lbs, the LifeBook MH380 is somewhat heavier compared to regular netbook, partly because of the battery and partly owing to the rugged building. Besides the touchpad buttons, the unit does possess a strong experience.
Fujitsu ships the MH380 with Microsoft Works, the My Recovery backup imaging method, and CyberLink's YouCam application. The very first provides you with the capability to execute fundamental office duties, and the very last is type of cool in the event you want to muck about while you're Skype-ing. YouCam enables you to utilize quite a few results to the video, this kind of as cartoon bubbles, embossing, and particle effects. Regrettably, CyberLink is merciless about getting you to register the software--only editing the Registry will eliminate the nag.
Even though the LifeBook MH380 earned an above-average mark of 36 on our common WorldBench 6 exams, it didn't impress us with its video functionality, as noted above. And though no netbook feels especially snappy with Windows 7 Starter as its running method, this unit appeared especially sluggish in my hands-on tests.
Audio was a combined bag. With the speakers, volume was greater than adequate but endured a unique spike within the midrange, which speedily grew irritating. Nearly all of this disappeared by way of headphones--but you could desire to play together with the EQ on your own playback software program somewhat to avoid ear tiredness.
Inside the stop, Fujitsu is perhaps a tad guilty of placing specs above real-world issues with all the LifeBook MH380--the Intel N450/3150 combination merely does not hold the horsepower to generate higher-resolution displays satisfactorily. You may desire to go for some thing with fewer pixels and snappier performance
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