Reviews

Surprise candidate. Lenovo again ventures into the highly competitive gaming sector with the IdeaPad Y500. The UltraBay technology enables the 15-incher to be equipped with an optical drive, a second GPU, an auxiliary fan or another hard disk. A thrilling concept that lets the laptop stand out from the competition. We exhaustively tested the SLI alternative.

Ultranetbook? Thin like an Ultrabook, yet as affordable as a netbook - that must have been Asus' goal when developing this 11.6-inch subnotebook. We will need to see if the low price point of 350 Euro (~$470) allows Asus to pack enough performance into the 21.7 millimeter (0.85 inches) thick chassis.

Totally twisted. The Fujitsu LifeBook T902 is an old school convertible and tries to combine the benefits of tablets and notebooks. A new case, updated technology and a classical business orientation are connected with high expectations for the performance, quality and the features. Our in-depth review shows how well that turned out.

Colorful midrange. After Nokia has seemingly assumed a leading role in developing smartphones featuring Microsoft's latest Windows Phone 8 operating system, the Finnish manufacturer suits the action to the word through the second model following the Lumia 920. A timeless design meets a decent camera and numerous proprietary apps in the Lumia 820. The manufacturer demands 499 Euros (~$667, RRP) for its new midrange device.

Good performance. MSI's latest 14-inch laptop is to be a mobile and powerful companion. The potent Core i5 processor aside a weight of 2.4 kg underpins this statement. Our review reveals whether MSI's CR41 is compelling.

Entry-level Windows. A dual-core processor, 512 MB RAM and a 4-inch screen for 260 Euros (~$346). In cooperation with HTC Microsoft tries to pull smartphone users away from the Android and iOS camp. But is Windows Phone 8 with weaker hardware still fast enough and competitive?

Cheap and light. First of all many ultrabooks are expensive. But Toshiba use a simple plastic case for the Satellite U940 and equip the 14-inch laptop with attractive components including a Core i5 and a dedicated SSD cache.

Smartphone? Tablet? Camera? With the Galaxy Camera, Samsung puts a product on the market in a form no one's ever seen before. Just classifying the product isn't easy: From the front it looks like a camera, from the back more like a smartphone.

Gaming cost-cutter. The CX61 from MSI targets those users who are looking for an affordable multimedia notebook - but don't want to sacrifice the ability to play games. For less than 600 Euros (~$800), the notebook comes equipped with a Core i5-3210M and a dedicated Nvidia GPU - and some drawbacks as far as build quality is concerned.

Welcome to the world of tiny high-resolution screens. Acer makes a move into the premium ultrabook market with the introduction of a 11-inch ultrabook with a wonderful 1080p touchscreen that wows. This will be an evaluation of the first attempt by Acer which brings beautiful construction elements to the masses with the Aspire S7-191.

Mirror, mirror... HP's Envy m6-1101sg is a multimedia laptop equipped with Windows 8 for 800 Euros (~$1063). An eye-catcher is certainly the keyboard's backlight. However, the screen has major problems with sunlight.

Finale. Smart convertibles, surprising ultrabooks, business classics, slim gaming laptops and a crippled Power-Radeon. We complete the year 2012 with 31 assorted reviews.

Premium tablet?At least that's the segment in which Samsung places its new 750 Euro (~$980) ATIV. Windows RT, a 10.1-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, a fast 1.5 GHz SoC from Qualcomm, and the latest wireless technologies make a solid starting point.

Barefoot 3. The OCZ Vector is the latest product to challenge the Samsung 840 Pro for the title of the best performing SSD on the market. This review will throw some light on the giant strides OCZ has made in the development of the Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller, the firmware that it pins its hopes on.

Small and black. Asus designed the 14-inch P45VJ for small and medium companies. Its Core i5 processor and GeForce GPU deliver a lot of performance. Our review will show whether the laptop can convince.

Acer Iconia W510 - Convertible mit Netbook- und Tablet-Genen Keyboard tablet. Tablets together with a keyboard dock are currently the latest craze among PC manufacturers: the lightweight of a tablet without having to waive on the comfort of a hardware keyboard plus more interfaces sounds good to the customer. Acer runs in the same vein with its Iconia W5 series and we scrutinized the Iconia W510.

Stylish. Those who value style and design would not buy a rough-cut plastic brick to use on the desktop. Is the 15.6-inch MacBook Pro look-alike the right choice for the budget-conscious, yet style-seeking Windows user?

Ultra-slim business. Striking looks, low weight, long runtimes and first-rate connections. Sounds like the perfect business qualities. However, there are shortcomings in details. Why is the premium claim not met?

Multifaceted. A compact subnotebook with an 11.6-inch display that can be transformed into a tablet in seconds. Special 360 degree hinges, a touchscreen, and Windows RT make it possible. The ideal companion for mobile use or just a neat idea for certain individuals?

That special touch. The Samsung Series 5 540U3C is the successor to its forefather, the 530U3C. On the outside, the two notebooks look as similar as a pair of eggs; but in terms of the technological innards, Samsung has jazzed up the compact subnotebook with Windows 8 and a touchscreen -- and they've affixed an asking price of 1000 Euros (~$1320). Are the new alterations worth the steep 200 Euros (~$261) price jump?

Downsized TravelMate. After our review of the Acer TravelMate P253-M, we now turn our attention to the smaller 14-inch version of the TravelMate P Series. From a hardware standpoint, the two notebooks are almost identical - although our review model comes equipped with a slightly more powerful CPU.

Google strikes back. While the industry giant Apple and smartphone specialist HTC claimed the Best-of-Awards for themselves in November, the search engine giant dominated the tablet and smartphone field in December. But other interesting devices were also present.

Conquering the desktop. The premium HP Envy dv7-7200 makes a bid at being the go-to entertainment center. This 1200 Euro (~$1600) device is put through its paces to figure out its strengths and weaknesses. Read on to find out if it gets our recommendation.

An anorexic XPS. Dell's XPS 13 is a 13-inch ultrabook in an 11-inch casing. This is a slim, light and portable notebook which was tested for its suitability in a work environment.

Ultra(Gaming)Book. Acer equips their Ultrabook with a 20.6 millimeter (0.81 inch) thick aluminum chassis and a Kepler GT640M GPU suitable for gaming. Does this combination work and do the temperatures remain within acceptable limits? Read our review to find out.

New family member. Lenovo expands its T400 range with a mobile ultrabook that is to appeal to both business and private customers alike. Classic ThinkPad assets as well as high-performance, including a dedicated GPU, make the T430u an attractive total package.

Last chance. Nokia is one of Microsoft's most important partners for launching the Windows 8 Phone. The Lumia 920 stands out from the contenders with a unique design, good camera and additional apps. The Finnish company demands 649 Euros (~$860 RRP) for the premium model.

Couch potato. Lenovo's IdeaPad S405 comes with a Trinity quad-core and a light case and is very quiet. But, how do its dark glare-type display and its 32 Wh battery blend in with mobile ambitions?

Business on the go. Beside its 15-inch ProBook laptop, HP also offers a smaller version for business people who value mobility. The ProBook 6470B provides a full-blown Office device in a small size with Intel's dual-core processor and integrated Intel HD graphics card, a matte 14-inch HD ready screen and many useful interfaces for addons.

Nvidia GTX for a subnotebook. The first ever 14-inch Republic of Gamers has been causing quite the stir for its high-end GTX 660M GPU that automatically propels it to the head of its size class in terms of graphical power. For $999, has Asus cut any corners on their introductory G46VW model?

DTR with gaming ambition. Combine a powerful Core i7 CPU with a GeForce GPU and a 17-inch display and you'll get a general-purpose DTR for everyone. Although this sounds perfect in theory, the computer system first has to stand up to our exhaustive tests.

Hardware update. In line with the recent product releases, Asus bestows its 17-inch machine new high-end components. Owing to the modern Kepler architecture, the GeForce GTX 670MX promises more power and a longer battery runtime. We put the G75VX through its paces in this in-depth review.

Wintablet. Tablet + keyboard dock = too little for an innovation? We are testing Intel's tablet platform based on new hardware for the first time. Can the new Atom processor keep pace with a genuine 32-bit Windows 8?

What's behind PhysX, CUDA and OpenCL? A modern graphics card can do much more than control what's displayed on the screen. Thanks to modern technology like CUDA and OpenCL the card can relieve the main processor and dramatically accelerate computation. We'll explain the technology.

Rejuvenation. Samsung refreshes its Series 7 models and launches the successor to the luxurious all-rounder 700Z5A with the latest hardware. In the following review, we will take a look at how well the aluminum-cloaked 700Z5C performs in our tests.

The battle begins. The Microsoft Surface RT was the first device that introduced the world to the newest version of Windows and the first one to run on the ARM architecture. Asus is well known in the industry to make the best quality tablets other than Apple. Asus is hoping this to be another feather in their cap.

Good for business. HP delivers a stable business notebook for the entry-level segment with the ProBook 6570b. For around 1050 Euros (~$1400) the package includes an Intel dual-core processor from the Ivy Bridge generation, a dedicated AMD graphics card and a matte 15.6-inch display with HD+ resolution.

Restrained endurance machine. Are you looking for an affordable office laptop but do not want to waive on workmanship and features? Fujitsu's LifeBook S752 attempts a balancing act between low-cost hardware and genuine business quality. But can the LifeBook compete against the contenders from Lenovo, Dell and HP?

High-end meets budget. Google throws down the gauntlet and challenges Apple and Microsoft with its new offering. The Nexus 10 offers up-to-date hardware and a high-res 10.1-inch screen for a price starting of 400 Euros ($530). Is it the perfect gadget for the living room?

The good and the weird. Asus has announced the launch of the PadFone 2 for December. Exactly like its predecessor, the PadFone 2 is a combination of a smartphone and a tablet. We will be taking a look at a much more revealing form of the phone with all its secrets laid bare when compared to the last generation.

Be envious. A touchscreen, strong speakers and a 32 GB SSD cache sounds like a powerful combination. Quick, clever, and versatile - but how well does the HP Envy Touchsmart 4-1102sg Ultrabook really perform the balancing act between tablet and notebook?

Extreme system performance. Equipped with an IVB CPU, Nvidia GTX 680M GPU and 2x Crucial m4 SATA III SSDs in RAID 0, the Nomad 15 is guaranteed not to disappoint. Find out what other surprises this Maingear DTR has to offer under the hood in our full review. Is this $2599 notebook more than just an MSI shell?

A bold hardware mix. How much power does the Radeon HD 7970M still have when the high-end graphics is combined with a weak processor? MSI installs AMD's low-cost A10-4600M quad-core in its GX60 to achieve the lowest price possible. Our benchmarks reveal the sobering results.

A dreamer. Gaming for 469 Euro ( $620)? No, we are not testing an Xbox bundle. It is a 17-inch Office laptop featuring an entry-level graphics unit. Will gaming ambitions be curtailed by the Pentium processor? The details can be found in this review.

For the frugal gamer. A Pentium processor and a Radeon HD7670 GPU gives you a cheap laptop. Our review reveals whether this notebook is a good buy or not for the cost-conscious gamer.

Touch-book. Sony is affordable. A real SSD, high-end aluminum chassis and touchscreen for 885 Euros (~$1164). A premium Vaio for little money?

No fear of contact. There is a plethora of inexpensive subnotebooks on the market - but the new Asus VivoBook S200E is different: high build quality and a multi-touch-enabled display set it apart and are supposed to appeal to potential buyers. Are those attributes alone enough for us to recommend the system?

Pussyfoot. Acer's TravelMate P253-M is supposed to be a "laptop for everyone". Our review reveals whether the combination of a matte, 15.6-inch screen, Core i3 processor and Windows 8 is enough to fulfill this promise.

Off to the jungle. Ubisoft ends the 2012 gaming year with a big bang. Although it's built with open-world architecture, Far Cry 3 wants to be an intense ego-shooter with a gripping story. But notebook users have more to fear than all kinds of opponents: the Dunia 2 engine can be a menace too.

Full HD debut. Quad-core, Full HD screen, aluminum casing, docking port for a keyboard and other features are united in the MediaPad 10. Is it a successful blend of high-tech components with a good chance of high sales figures? Or is only a weak light in the masses?

Double. After we had scrutinized the GeForce GTX 680M SLI a few weeks ago, an SLI configuration of two GTX-670MX-GPUs had to face up to our benchmarks. Deviltech was the first manufacturer to deliver such a 17-inch notebook. The curtain rises on the hell machine.

Modified details. The refresh of the well-known ProBook 45X0s series wants to score with a matte screen, good application performance and two operating systems. Our test reveals whether the laptop is compelling.

Windows 8 with a twist. Lenovo’s unique ThinkPad Twist adopts the x-series’ design of a swivel-mounted screen alongside all the obligatory ThinkPad traits. But can it fulfill its intended role as a practical next-gen alternative to a conventional business notebook?

A bigger Fire. Amazon's aggressive pricing has positioned the Kindle Fire series as some of the best tablets for the buck. The larger 8.9-inch versions, however, are reaching upwards of $300 and even $500. Does the Full HD display justify the price increase?

Battle of the Titans. Microsoft launched its very first tablet onto the market in November. Apple countered with the fourth iPad generation and added a mini version on top. Nevertheless, there are also other interesting devices, such as Amazon's Kindle Fire HD or HTC's Windows Phone 8X.

Stealth reincarnation. The time-honored Hitman series boldly leaps into the year 2012. The developer IO Interactive stays true to its principles, presenting with Absolution a classic clandestine adventure that holds to its roots. We fought through the first level and investigated how hardware-hungry the game is.

Half a tablet? When it comes to the selection of hardware Huawei haven't made matters especially difficult for themselves. The main components are identical to those currently used in the Full HD tablet by the Chinese company - the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD. Merely the processor speed has been increased. But is this enough to stand out in the high-end segment?

Long live the laptop. A smart tablet instead of a heavy laptop? Do men and women only buy tablets these days? We don't think so, since the spectrum of offers available for laptops leading up to Christmas is bigger than ever: Windows 8 touchscreens, low-cost typewriters, Ultrabooks, mid-range gamers, SLI gamers and workstation juggernauts. A diversity of devices such as this has seldom been available.

Revolutionary. One device designed for all jobs. Browsing, presentations, typing, mobility and working with a partner. The simple idea of installing a dual-TFT on the front and rear is to revolutionize using a Windows PC.

Entry-level Ultrabook. Premium slim and light chassis, fast processor, and a long battery life - those are the attributes of Ultrabooks. Until now, the prices for such systems have been rather steep. HP sets out to redefine the lower end of the spectrum and introduces a model with an Intel Core i3 processor. What compromises had to be made to keep the price in check?

Business on-the-go. Lenovo blows its own horn and even speaks of a "legend" in connection with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon in which 20 years of development have been invested. Regardless of any sympathies, very interesting key specs remain: 1.3 kilograms (2.87 pounds), a bright 14-inch screen, and full business compatibility. Is that enough to become a legend?

Display Surprise. Full HD display, Blu-ray burner, 1 TB HDD, 16 GB RAM, quad-core CPU - HP packs the top model of the new Envy dv6 series to the limit. So does the great hardware add up to a great notebook? Find out in the following review.

Business by Nexoc. Nexoc launches a genuine business laptop that features a docking port, TPM and matte screen dubbed B510. Our review reveals whether the device is a match for the business models from the well-known competition.

Switch to Work. Switchable graphics are an old trick. Today, we want switchable work modes: first a mini laptop, then a Windows tablet, and all this without even switching devices. So is this new Sony model the ideal device for ambitious Windows users who cannot decide between tablets and notebooks?

Low cost by Dell. Dell presents an affordable business and office laptop called Vostro 2520. Our test report reveals whether a matte screen, Core i3 processor and long battery life make the Vostro 2520 a recommendable office laptop.

Sprightly little nipper. The Prestigio MultiPad 7.0 Prime Duo (PMP5770D) is contending against reputable names and renowned opponents among the 7-inch tablets: Apples iPad Mini, RIMs BlackBerry PlayBook, the Google Nexus 7, and the tablets Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD from Amazon. The question is whether the 7-inch tablet with a sharp IPS display and a dual-core processor for 150 Euros (~$195) is able to assert itself?

Hot stuff. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 is now available with a high-resolution IPS display, a slimmer chassis, and new ports. The newcomer demands a price premium of 500 Euros (~$650) above the cost of the time-tested standard model. Do the changes really warrant the lofty starting price of 1750 Euros (~$2275)?

Behemoth. Schenker's XMG U702 is definitely not an ordinary laptop. Featuring a desktop processor, two high-end graphics cards and three hard drives, the 17-inch giant outperforms most gaming PCs. We took a closer look at the whopper. Can the U702 also score in other things than pure performance?

A new era. In November, Ubisoft releases two candidates for the game of the year at once. Alongside the open-world shooter Far Cry 3, the action-adventure game Assassin's Creed III seeks to lure the affection of the PC community. This article is primarily devoted to the technology involved and the hardware requirements for the Assassin fable.

Silent. It is beyond question that a mobile workstation has to be powerful and Dell's Precision M6700 fulfills this very well. Another feature of our test laptop is that it enables a virtually silent operation in many work situations. We extensively tested when this is the case and what else you can expect.

An extra helping. Acer's Aspire E1-531 promises a big 15.6-inch screen for little money. With an Intel Pentium processor and 6 GB of working memory, the elegant giant wants to prove that it can be more than just a workplace or a portable home cinema. It might just be a real bargain considering a purchase price of merely 300 Euros (~$389).

Fast Business. The Latitude E6430s offers nearly the same dimensions and weight as the 13.3-inch E6330 but with a 14-inch display. Has system performance and battery life suffered as a result from incorporating the larger display?

Affordable quality? Samsung tries to address both overall value and the quality of the hardware and offers the NP350V5C at an attractive price point - but equipped with a quad-core processor, middle-class AMD GPU, and 8 GB of RAM. How does the contender from South Korea fare in the race for the best multimedia notebook?

Power bundle. Fujitsu's 17-inch workstation Celsius H920 offers high-performance equipment which is to ensure a swift workflow particularly in the professional field. We scrutinized whether it fulfills the target group's needs and whether its other qualities are compelling.

Windows 8 Book. The VivoBook S400CA provides the ideal symbiosis for Windows 8: Conventional notebook and touchscreen combined. This allows traditional programs and apps in the tiled layout to both be used as they were intended. The question is whether this makes the VivoBook a well-rounded package?

Inexpensive 17-inch office notebook. A matte 17.3-inch display, a Core i3 processor and enough hard drive space - is this an ideal notebook for the office? Our review reveals whether that's true or not.

Stagnation. It is hard to believe, but Black Ops 2 is the ninth installment of the successful Call of Duty series. The current spin-off wants to score points with its contemporary setting, immersing story, and freedom of play. Read here why the shooter series has not moved forward despite the innovations.

Bulk'o'media. A large, glare-free screen fused with solid workmanship and good application performance plus a midrange graphics card from AMD for the occasional game and business-ambitioned input devices. Will the ProBook accomplish the balancing act between business and multimedia?

PC? Tablet? A Different Approach. Microsoft calls its long-awaited tablet Surface a PC: the first PC from Redmond. We extensively tested the tablet and Windows 8 RT and found that this device truly is a PC, and a very exciting one at that.

Zen Master. Upscale looks, slim build, and extremely powerful: until now, it was Apple's MacBook series which has managed best to combine these characteristics. With the UX51VZ (IPS display, quad-core CPU, SSD RAID, and a host of other high-end features), Asus sets out to dethrone the master.

The calm before the storm? October was a rather quiet month in the realm of smartphones and tablets. There were very few big releases, with the exception of the Samsung Galaxy Note II, that captured the attention of the technology press. It feels that everybody was waiting for the release of the new product from Microsoft.

Windows evolution or revolution? The newest smartphone from HTC is the acid test for Microsoft. A new smartphone featuring interesting looks and hardware fused with the latest Windows Phone 8 operating system. An exciting combination with a lot of potential.

The new number one? Apple has now introduced a smaller tablet featuring a 7.9-inch IPS screen called iPad Mini besides its iPad 4. The older Apple A5 dual-core SoC and a lower screen resolution reduce costs. But will this also have an impact on performance and quality?

Dull? A lot of multimedia notebook for a small price - that is what the Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW wants to be and abstains from expensive high-end hardware and luxury materials. We clarify whether the 17-inch notebook is a true price cutter or just hides a lot of painful economies.

Workstation lite. HP expands its mobile workstation range with a 14-inch alternative and rounds off its product portfolio. We extensively examined whether this is really a competitive, small-sized workhorse or whether we will only discover a hidden business laptop.

Sensible productivity. Toshiba’s well-rounded Tecra line of business notebooks pursues ergonomic luxury with an understated appearance. Can the R940, with the help of its Ivy Bridge chipset, continue to impress?

Split Personality. With full 360-degree hinges and touchscreen capabilities, the Yoga series is perhaps Lenovo’s most ambitious addition to the IdeaPad family to date. Its launch and hardware were designed to coincide with the release of Windows 8, generating even more word-of-mouth. Is this $999 hybrid Ultrabook a one trick pony? Or is it a novel concept with a promising future?

A good deal. Shortly after the release of the GeForce GTX 670MX and GTX 675MX, Nvidia is unleashing another Kepler graphics card into the race. Contrary to its high-end brothers, the GeForce GT 645M is intended for serving the high turnover mid-range. The 15-inch Nexoc M507II is one of the first devices based on this fresh 28 nm GPU.

The contender. The EliteBook 8570w is a premium notebook designed to compete in the high-performance realm of professional workstations. Our review model doesn't feature top-of-the-line components, however - it's equipped with an Intel Core i5 CPU, Nvidia Quadro K1000M GPU, and a HD+ display. Can this less powerful version of the series stand up to its competition?

Apple's new iPad: 3+1 = Retina. Apple presents two new iPads. The Mini is small and the 4th version of the iPad is named "iPad with Retina display". Got it? The question is: do the A6X chip, a better front camera and Lightning interface justify a new name?

Price champion? The 15.6-inch Samsung 300E5C should appeal to price-conscious customers. With its matte screen it is mostly suitable for long-term private or professional use. In terms of performance we have a Core i3-2310M CPU, an integrated Graphics 3000 chip, four gigabytes of RAM, and a conventional 5400 RPM hard drive.

Mainstream ultrabook. Asus now wants to conquer the wide ultrabook consumer market with its new S56CM beside its premium Zenbook range. A strong graphics unit, an elegant aluminum finish and a low price might lure some potential buyers. Read in the following review whether the S56CM lives up to its promise.

Business On-the-Go. The AsusPro is a declaration of war upon the business middle-class. Docking interface, DisplayPort, eSATA and ExpressCard accompanied by comfortable input devices. Business at its Best?

Multimedia ultrabook. The elegant purists are slowly mutating to versatile multimedia machines. Samsung's new ultrabook sports a GeForce graphics card and DVD burner at a reasonable price. Is it an all-rounder or a bad compromise?

Budget all-rounder. Lenovo sends its 15-inch notebook off to the race, this time with the AMD Vision processor and dual GPU. The AMD-only combination seems quite unique, since most competitors rely either on Intel and Nvidia or Intel and AMD.

Two in one. And yet another device in the midrange sector that sports unremarkable hardware. However, there is one feature which is being installed in an increasing number of smartphones: "Dual SIM" are the keywords for the Samsung Galaxy S DUOS' most striking attribute.

What a rush. About seven years after the original, the publisher EA is now taking the plunge by releasing a new version of the popular Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The game was no longer produced by the initial developers, but instead by the Burnout creators Criterion. Is the new iteration able to live up to the lofty expectations?

Wasted potential. Lenovo releases a multimedia laptop for just under 770 Euros (~$982) dubbed IdeaPad G780 (M843MGE). The case is the same as in the prior G770 range. Theoretically, the G780 sports strong components but practically, the potent hardware has been cropped ex-factory.

Revamped phablet. The sleeves are too short or it tweaks at the waist - a clear case for a half-size. This was likely what Samsung thought when designing the Galaxy Note. The second edition just cannot be pigeonholed into a standard size. It is now even a bit bigger - and extremely fast.

Office laptop for tight budgets. Lenovo introduces the Edge E335 from its well-known ThinkPad range for particularly tight budgets. The following review will clarify whether the entry-level business machine, priced at a low 459 Euros (~$589), is also compelling.