Reviews

Affordable all-rounder or classic blowhard? 4 processor cores, two graphics chips, 8 GB of RAM and a 640 GB hard disk memory - sounds like a lot of power at a low price for a notebook of the EUR 600 category. We tested to what extent the Satellite L755D can live up to this first impression extensively.

Business as usual? Does the top model of Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 series deserve its price tag of 1800 Euros? The basic configuration of the model includes integrated UMTS, a well-sized SSD and a fast Core i7 CPU, and all of that is installed in the thinnest ThinkPad of all times. So read our following in-depth review to find out more about this revolutionary laptop.

Laptop for Students. The new Lenovo X130e is designed for students who need a reliable notebook with long battery life. ThinkPad is famous for their amazing build quality, but their models are also known to have a few weak points. So read our in-depth review to find out more about the ThinkPad X130e.

Big item. When looking at the voluminous package of the Asus K93SM-YZ085V, the first thing that springs to mind won't be a notebook. More likely than not, you might expect an HD receiver or a Blu-ray player. Nevertheless, the box contains a notebook with an 18.4 inch display - surely not a device for everyone.

With the power of two cores. An AMD quad core and a second graphics card in a crossfire configuration are to boost the performance of Samsung's multimedia entry-level machine. Why the 305E7A can't completely convince us despite the good input devices and low emissions is revealed here, in our review.

Shelf Warmer. Gigabyte is well-known for its mainboards and graphic cards. The manufacturer has even released a Windows tablet with an Atom processor. Read the following review to find out more about this Gigabyte gadget and our opinion thereof.

Stylish Beats Audio. The 14-inch Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition is the most stylish Beats Audio notebook to date.. but how does it perform in a market that is increasingly favoring similarly-priced Ultrabooks?

Modern couch surfer. The new Acer Iconia Tab A200 brings the latest technology to the private living room. In addition to a 10.1 inch screen, it features a 16 GB memory capacity, wifi module and Google's Android 4.0.3 ICS. The lack of a UMTS module won't be a decisive factor in view of a price of EUR 349, as our test report shows.

Prepare for Ivy! Schenker Notebooks, the German gaming laptop builder, releases its new gamer onto the market just in time for the launch of Intel's latest HM77 chipset. Everything is set to go for Intel's new processors, but Sandy Bridge CPUs are installed in the devices - for now.

Elegant Evolution. The successor to the Xoom is here: the Xoom 2. The new tablet looks better and performs faster thanks to its upgraded hardware. But is it fast enough to compete with the latest tablet generation? We put the Xoom 2 (16 GB with 3G) to the test.

Private business. It seems like Sony sticks to this brief motto even almost a year after the VPC-SB subnotebook range's debut. The innovations that are now found in the light 13.3" device are disclosed in our review.

Display Update. The small sister, X770-10J, with a weak HD+ display: dull colors and restricted viewing angles. Has Toshiba built in a first-class panel in the more expensive 3D model?

Ultimate workstation with old shortcomings? Sony refreshes its Z range and now offers its new EUR 3000 flagship with a non-glare, 13.1 inch Full HD screen under the product name VPCZ23N9E/B. Can the external graphics solution convince this time around?

Stylish & Affordable. HP promotes its ProBook B series with these words. In the following in-depth review, we test the smallest member of the ProBook B family, the 13 inch 6360b, to see what it has to offer.

Travel-Office A 3G/UMTS module and a long battery runtime make this laptop to a true traveler. Moreover, security features such as a fingerprint sensor or a SmartCard reader qualify the TravelMate as a business notebook. Does the solid computer have hidden weaknesses?

Bread and butter. After the Tegra 3 quad-core, focus was placed on low and mid-priced mainstream devices. One highlight: The Radeon HD 7670M for less than EUR 500. Also, the first 3D notebook with an AMD graphics, the HP Envy 17 3D. Here, an overview of all Notebookcheck reviews in February.

Touch me. Windows 8 comes with a few profound modifications compared to its precursor. The operating system has been particularly optimized for touch inputs as Microsoft also wants a significant say in tablets in future. We will take a look at what's new in this regard by means of a consumer preview.

The Radiance Notebook. What makes this high-end multimedia laptop so great? For starters, how about its bright 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display? In this review, we scrutinize the latest HP 2012 Envy 15 and explain how it managed to miss an even more spectacular rating.

Kepler's Debut. "Ultrabook XL" is one way of describing the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 as the notebook doesn't exactly check in gracefully in its 15-inch case. However, with the new GeForce GT 640M graphics card, Acer offers a worthwhile treat that promises gaming on the go.

Saved in the wrong places? The main thing is cheap – if you don't have any special requirements on a basic Office notebook, you'll find a wide range of offers for around EUR 400. Whether the TravelMate 5744Z from Acer should be put on the shortlist is clarified in this review.

Fashionably late? Dell's first Ultrabook seems late but impressive. The manufacturer drafts in high-end materials and fast components to convince those still reluctant to make a purchase. Should the mainstream competition from Apple, Samsung and Co. be scared of the new competitor on the block?

Improved? The launch of the new iPad 3 is probably one of the highlights of 2012 - at least when it comes to the general interest displayed by the media. There have been innumerable rumors about the improvements-to-come before the device even launched, but the moment of truth has finally arrived – will the added changes be worthwhile for existing iPad 2 users?

Ultra-cheap? A fast flash memory and a big HDD are paired in the new ultrabook 530U3B from Samsung. The slim notebook comes with a bright and matt 13.3 inch screen. At a street price of below EUR 800, it belongs to the cheaper representatives of the new notebook category. Where do cutbacks have to be made?

Handled laptop. Robust laptops are called for on the construction site or terrain. The semi-rugged Latitude is off-road capable without looking like a tank. Will it become the multipurpose weapon for the technician on the move?

Work time. The ProBook 6465B-LJ489UT shares the model name of the ProBook 6465-LY433EA, and it's largely the same situation on the inside. HP's latest business notebook features entry-level specifications, but a competitive price tag.

Tablet + Notebook = Slate PC? Samsung aims to unite the best of the notebook and tablet worlds with its new Series 7 tablet. To this end the Windows Tablet gets a docking station and keyboard and runs some touchscreen-optimised programs. Is this enough to convince professional users to part with 1300 Euro?

Refreshed. HP has improved its multimedia laptop, the Pavilion dv7, by adding a graphic card from the new AMD Radeon HD 7000M series. This high-performance desktop replacement (DTR) laptop has a few weaknesses, but its great price-to-performance ratio is guaranteed to entice buyers.

Money pinching. Asus primarily focuses on the price in the X54HR-SO060V. Great equipment or high performance isn't possible for just under EUR 480. Is the 15 inch multimedia notebook, equipped with AMD's newest Radeon HD 7470M, nevertheless a good alternative for smart savers?

Budget performance. Dell's affordable Inspiron family has always been popular with everyday users, but does this 2011 14-inch Inspiron have the bang for the buck needed to continue the lineup's appeal?

The new entry level. Acer doesn't dare making any extensive experiments on the Aspire 5750G. Rather than installing a GeForce GT 520M or GT 540M, a GeForce 610M, respectively GT 630M is now found under the hood. Will the time-proven 15 inch case nevertheless still be attractive in 2012?

Eye candy. The Lenovo IdeaPad U400 features one of the better-looking exteriors we've seen on a mid-range notebook, but can its internal components match up?

AMD ThinkPad. With the ThinkPad Edge E520, Lenovo already had a 15.6-inch notebook with Intel processor in its portfolio. Now with the ThinkPad Edge E525 it has an AMD processor variant.

Thin, Thinner, AT200. "Ultra thin and ultra stylish" - Toshiba hasn't got that wrong. At only 7.7 mm the device really is thin. Whether it's everyone's cup of tea or even 'ultra stylish' depends on the user. Just like in life, it's not just what's on the outside that counts, but also what's on the inside!!

The price is hot. Asus proves with the K53SK-SX021V that you don't have to spend more than 600 Euros for good performance. Alongside the metal palm rest, the brand new Radeon HD 7610M catches your eye. Can the 15-inch all-rounder stand against the tough competition?

Premium Hipflask. HP arrives late to the party with the Folio 13, its own interpretation of the ultrabook, and faces up to the ultraportable competition. The following review shows how well HP's little one performs in a comprehensive hardware test.

Cheap is rarely the best option. This was confirmed by the office, subnotebook and multimedia test devices in January. No matter if it was a ProBook for EUR 430, a Compaq Presario for EUR 350 or an Aspire with dual core graphics for EUR 600 - none of the devices were really awe-inspiring.

X53 aka K53. As if it wasn't already difficult enough to keep a clear mind amidst the dozens of almost incomprehensible model numbers, Asus has given us another one. There's obviously the same device behind the model numbers X53 and K53. In this review, we've scrutinized the X53SK multimedia notebook.

Afraid of the dark? Around nine months after the Xbox 360 version, Remedy releases the mystery thriller Alan Wake once more, this time for the PC. We have tested whether the technology can keep up with the competition and how demanding the game is on hardware.

Is a little more OK? The Samsung 300E5A wants to stand out with high mobility at a low price, despite the lack of ULV hardware. Even the odd game isn't a problem for the Office notebook thanks to the switchable Nvidia GPU.

1015PX = R051PX? Asus unleashes another netbook onto the market with the proven seashell case. The 1015PX admittedly seems to be of identical construction to the R051PX.

The Style in SonyStyle. Sony refreshes its budget 14-inch Vaio E lineup for the New Year with WiDi, Blu-Ray and standard voltage Sandy Bridge Core i5 CPUs. But, has the Japanese giant cut any corners to reach that sub $500 starting price? Find out in this review what the new Vaio E does right – and ultimately what still needs to be done.

Saved Money at the Wrong End? Tablets are the craze. Coby tries to take a piece of the cake with its new, relatively low-priced tablet. Does the Kyros 7022 have what it takes to attract buyers?

A test of patience. With the Slate 2, the manufacture HP targets business customers who even in the realm of tablets are forced to stick with Windows. These people have to reach deep in their pockets and still be content with a slow Atom Processor. Can the extensive list of features compensate for that?

The final chapter. The plot-heavy Mass Effect trilogy is slowly but surely coming to an end. We used the free demo version to test one of the hottest tracks of 2012 on several notebook graphics cards. Find out how much hardware power this game needs.

Elegant entertainment machine. HP has just updated its premium notebook lineup by reintroducing the 15.6-inch Envy 15 in an all-new design, and the 17.3-inch Envy 17 has been given the same makeover. The latter is also available in a 3D edition, which is the model that we will be taking a close look at today.

Weak corporate. Dell has a 10.1 inch tablet with Windows 7 in its range called Latitude ST. It is to address companies that want to completely integrate their tablets into the existing IT network. In contrast to the Android devices, the Latitude ST runs on an Atom processor from Intel. Is it strong enough for Windows 7?

Good and cheap? The Pavilion g6-1352eg is particularly striking due to its attractive price. HP manufactures a 15 inch multimedia device for EUR 500 that has two graphics cards (CrossFire) in addition to a dual core CPU right away. Is the AMD hardware a match for the Intel and Nvidia competition?

For smart savers. HP designs the Pavilion g7-1353eg according to the motto "plenty of hardware for a small price". The inexpensive multimedia notebook, price-tagged at just under EUR 500, not only has a quad core processor and two graphics chips, it also has a 750 GB HDD and a six GB DDR3 RAM. Who can resist such a bargain?

From Marvell to SandForce. The new high-end Intel SSD comes without an Intel controller. This SATA 3 SSD uses the fast SandForce SF-2281 and aspires to be the king of the hill.

Quad core tablet. The new Asus tablet with a keyboard dock is one of the first products with Nvidia's quad core processor, Tegra 3. Just in time for our review, Asus also upgraded to Android 4.0. We examined how the hybrid with the brand new chip and latest software fares in comparison to the precursor and the competition.

Super small. The Renice X5 promises write speeds and read speeds of up to 160MB/s and 240MB/s, respectively, all in a package about half the size of a business card. Find out here just how well the mSATA drive performs and if it's worth an upgrade.

New graphics card in an old garment. Packard Bell freshens its 17-inch EasyNote LS11 series with the latest components. Particularly interesting among them is the "brand new" Radeon HD 7670M from AMD. For a scarce 700 Euros, is this multimedia device going to be a cost/performance king?

A week at the CES. After publishing the comprehensive review of the German Core i5 version in December, we can now test the smaller Core i3 version thanks to Intel. In addition to numerous benchmarks, the inexpensive ultrabook also had to show how it fares in practical use at the CES 2012.

Compact performance. With the 14.5-inch Envy 14, HP has managed to squeeze some powerful components into a slim and stylish chassis--particularly if you opt for a model like this one, with a quad-core, 2nd-generation Intel Core i7 processor. It is also equipped with a midrange graphics card from AMD, which is switchable to integrated graphics when longer battery life is required. So, is this the perfect traveling companion? Not entirely. Keep reading to find out why.

Run notebook, run! The motto: Small and mobile is no longer only to apply to ultrabooks. Asus promises that the U56E is a high performance, enduring runner that will stir up the office field properly. Is this enough to justify a purchase price of over €700?

Budget business. We are reviewing the latest 13 inch model of HP's ProBook S series called ProBook 4330s. A metal case with business qualities and UMTS in a subnotebook for less than €500? Read how this is accomplished in this review.

Affordable versatile performer. Acer uses mainly on components from AMD in the Aspire 7560G. A quad core Fusion processor and two graphics chips in CrossFire mode are available in only few devices. And best of all: The interesting hardware combination only costs €600. Is it an alternative to the established Intel/Nvidia notebooks?

Well-rounded ultrabook. Long battery runtimes, a matt screen and high performance - it almost looks as if Samsung has made the dream of a perfect mobile companion come true. But is the notebook for over €1000 really as perfect as it seems?

Step in. Lenovo has built a good reputation with its ThinkPad series. These high-quality business notebooks deliver cutting-edge technology to customers all over the world. Lenovo also manufactures other notebooks, such as, the Lenovo B-series, which, unlike the ThinkPad series, are aimed at buyers looking for the "essentials"; the series is advertised as: "ideal, cheap notebooks for home and office use". Find out more about the B-series in the following review.

Red All-round Package. The new red EasyNote TR13HR is equipped with an Intel i5-2450M and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce 630M graphics card, both of which should provide sufficient performance and battery runtime alike. On top of this Packard Bell also supplies an abundant software package for the notebook. A thorough success or rather a bad compromise?

Good and cheap? How much power does a notebook need to cope with everyday tasks? HP believes not much and equips the 15.6 inch Presario CQ57 with an energy-efficient E-450 APU. In return, the price of not even €330 is tempting.

Hızlı ufaklık. Yeni notebook modelleri artna bir şekilde mSata arayüzü ile gelmekte. Bu arayüz sayesinde alışılageldik sabit disk kapasitesi ister arttırılabilir, istenirse tamamen değiştirilebilir. Biz 120GB OCZ Nocti'nin konvensiyonel sabit sürücülere karşı performansına kısaca değindik.

Solid entry-level tablet? The new Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet A1 was announced a long time ago but it was first available at the beginning of December. The A1 is a 7 inch entry-level tablet and is currently sold for €199 RRP. Is it just an oversized smartphone (without phone functions) or an undersized tablet? How Lenovo's new "penny pincher" fares will be rated based on our conclusive test criteria in the following review.

Multimedia headquarters. The Pavilion dv7-6b02eg has everything that can be expected from a well-equipped multimedia notebook. In addition to a quad core processor and a top of the range, DirectX 11 graphics card, a solid state drive and a BluRay burner are under the hood. Another highlight is the matt Full HD screen. Is the price of €1300 justified?

Small is beautiful. In December the focus was on small subnotebooks and multimedia laptops and not on big power computers. Surprise: It was easier to select the winners than we thought: Dell, HP, and Apple win the cups.

SSD is everything. This ProBook is definitely aimed at professionals with its HD+ screen, DisplayPort and docking station. But the notebook only has a weak AMD quad core.

Compact and quick? The smallest model in the Samsung Series 4 is equipped with a 12.5 inch matte display, and is powered by an Intel Core i5 2520M dual-core processor with a clock speed of 2.5 GHz. A UMTS module is also included. Is this notebook able to stand out from the competition due to its special features, or will it blend in with the mass of other notebooks on the market?

Smartphone or tablet? "It's all in the screen size" - Samsung advertises with this slogan for its currently biggest smartphone, aka "smartlet", in Germany. If everyday use meets up to the slogan and if it's possible to work and handle the behemoth reasonably can be read in our review.

Duracase 2.0. Samsung promises perfect reliability with its business notebook, 600B5B. The 15.6 inch laptop offers a lot of security features and a bright, non-glare screen. Intel's Core i5-2520M (2.5 GHz) and Nvidia's NVS 4200M are responsible for the power. Is the notebook worth its steep price of €1100?

Business for tight budgets. The case and screen both come with matt looks. Is that enough to call it "business"? Asus thinks so and even prints AsusPro on the minimalistic computer. How much "professional" is possible for €450?

Enduring worker. Samsung has equipped its cheap E3520 with a powerful Core i5-2410M and therewith attracts the attention of price conscious buyers. Together with a matte 15.6 inch display and a long battery life this gives an attractive office notebook.

Complete Amazon experience. Amazon caught the tablet world by storm when the retailer announced its first multimedia tablet for just $199 USD. Is the performance and hardware reflective of the budget price? or is the Kindle Fire greater than the sum of its parts?

Runtime whopper. Acer puts great value on mobility in the TravelMate 8481TG: A slim and light case, strong battery, energy efficient components. Read in this review if the diet has had a very negative effect on performance and emissions.

Long breath. Surfing on the Internet for 8:30 hours and sitting out in the sun in front of a matt screen - Samsung fulfills this scenario for the summer perfectly with its smallest Series 3 model. Find out why it doesn't achieve "Very Good" anyway.

A true traveler? As one of the most well-known and widespread manufacturers in the notebook sector, the company Acer really doesn't need an introduction. The popular TravelMate series is continuously being updated with the newest technologies in order to always present the customer with attractive value for money offers. How the present TravelMate offshoot, with a strong graphics card, fares in practical use will be examined in the following review.

All-rounder with GeForce GT 630M. Acer is one of the first manufacturers to build in the brand new GeForce 600 series from Nvidia. The battery life of the Aspire 5755G isn't to be neglected either, despite the installed quad core CPU and midrange GPU: The Optimus technology makes it possible. The stylish design and attractive price are other selling points.

Bargain silver plate? Hewlett Packard releases an Office notebook for less than €500 in a just as elegant as solid aluminum case called ProBook 4535s. There's no lack of equipment despite the low price. An AMD A4-3300M APU is installed here. How will the notebook fare in comparison to colleagues with an Intel processor?

Multimedia Nexus. Desktop replacement notebooks are a dime a dozen, and Lenovo has tossed its hat into the ring with its introduction of the IdeaPad Y570, a strange hybrid between a media center and a portable business notebook. While the last part could be a little doubtful, the Y570’s style, fit, finish, and power-saving features make it an attractive pick for the shopper interested in a multimedia center with no compromises.

Elegant, more elegant, EliteBook. Are you looking for a robust, well-equipped and strong workstation? If you are, you might like the EliteBook 8560w. HP builds a top rate workhorse that can live up to almost all challenges at a premium price.

Tough and Adaptable. The Latitude E6320 joins the new 2011 revamp of the E-Series with multiple configurations, lots of room for expansion and a sturdy new look. We find out in this review if the 13.3-inch Dell is worthy of a spot on the everyday business user’s desk.

Pioneer. The OCZ Octane is the first SSD featuring the new Indilinx Everest Controller. The 6 GBps drive promises a high performance at a cheap price. We test the high-end model with 512GB capacity.

A Turn for the Worse? Notebooks can be very expensive. Buyers who need a high-performance laptop can configure models online by adding high-end hardware components to the notebook. This usually raises the price exponentially. HP offers an alternative to this trend with its 600 series - well-priced and equipped with good hardware.

We throw a glance at the two new high-end desktop CPUs from Intel called Core i7-2700K (Sandy Bridge Quad-Core) and Core i7-3960X (Sandy Bridge Extreme Six-Core) in our short review

Swiss pocketknife. Just like the pocketknife can conjure up a nail file, saw and Allen key, the Slider can transform itself into a kind of all-in-one tablet with a real keyboard. More work efficiency under Android?

Beginner's Tablet Guide. The sudden inundation of tablets this year has certainly got at least some readers scratching their heads. In this handy guide, we provide a concise overview of tablet history, its current market trends and even some suggestions for the hottest items this Holiday season.

Thick and thin. November presented both worlds: Gigantic gaming behemoths with incredible speed met super slim ultrabooks with low weight. Which are our favorites from all device categories?

Plain average. Toshiba brings a 15.6 inch notebook for €700 onto the market called Satellite L750. The multimedia notebook is to especially attract customers with average requirements and who want to occasionally play a little game besides Office tasks, pictures and movies.

Fast Mite. New notebook models increasingly often offer an mSata-interface. Thus, the usual internal mass memory can be enlarged or even replaced. We checked, whether the 120 GB Nocti from OCZ is able to outperform conventional hard drives.

Crème de la crème. We are now listing the editorial office's current top devices from every category here for spontaneous buyers or those who are already waiting for After-Holiday-Sales. No matter if you are looking for a slim notebook, a tablet PC, an affordable office laptop or even a high performance gamer, you'll find the right one here.

Light as a feather. The power of a big notebook, but as light as a netbook. The Z830, as Toshiba's first ultrabook, presents itself with good battery runtimes and outdoor suitability. Where is the device positioned in comparison to the ultrabook competition from Asus, Acer, Lenovo and co.? Find all details here in this review.

Silver Arrow. Buyers looking for a compact, reasonably priced, yet attractive multimedia notebook will find the U46SV to their liking. Asus combines a 14 inch case with balanced middle-class hardware. So the question is: do the powerful battery and the graphics switching technology deliver a long battery life?

A fresh wind. A netbook is actually a contradiction in itself. A device category has been therewith created that is to offer a long battery runtime for low-power tasks, such as surfing or office applications, with energy-efficient hardware. But now, a performance arms race can be observed here.

Twiggy. Following Acer and Asus, Lenovo now appears in the ring of UltraBooks with the next candidate. Low configuration and ULV hardware in an attractive packaging - is the IdeaPad U300s only to tempt us with its design or can it convince at second glance?

Business class. The ThinkPad T420s is mainly to convince business customers of its advantages as a powerful and yet portable companion. Equipped with a Core i7-2640M and a fast SSD from Intel as well as built-in UMTS, Lenovo has created good prerequisites for this venture.

Monster Subnotebook. Who exactly needs 17 millimeter thin Ultrabooks? Samsung piles on a bit of plastic, and replaces the Low Voltage Processor with a standard Core i5. A two-kilo-book for mobile ruffians?

More Bang for the Buck. In a Late 2011 Refresh the MacBook Pro 15 Series was equipped with new processors and the graphics was updated. We check the performance of the currently most powerful model with 2.4 GHz quad core CPU and new Radeon HD 6770M graphics card.

Compact office. The Fujitsu Lifebook SH531 would like to make points as a subnotebook for consumers and, above all, impress office users who have requirements on mobility. But the Lifebook has difficulties in sticking out of the mass of similar notebooks.

Gaming powerhouse. MSI sends another gaming notebook into the race with its GT780DX. The 17 inch laptop has an anti-reflective screen and manages a Full HD resolution. The Intel quad core processor i7-2670QM and GTX 570M graphics card from Nvidia are to supply the user with the desired performance. Can the gaming notebook let gamers' hearts beat faster?

Professional gamer? Blackberry touts its tablet as a symbiosis of entertainment and work. Is the BlackBerry Tablet OS worth being tied to? After all, that excludes the large selection of apps on the Android Market.

Like A Rock. Toshiba’s Qosmio X775-Q7272 might epitomize everything that comes with its 17.3-inch form factor, but solid build quality and impressive specifications make the laptop capable of handling virtually anything.