Reviews

Hot stuff. Cooler Master brings us their own gaming mouse under the familiar "Storm" label. 49 Euro (RRP), will buy you a gaming mouse with a 4000 DPI Twin-Laser-Sensor, integrated memory and extravagant LEDs. Is it really as good a bargain as it seems, or is it just a gaming "wanna-be"?

Say cheese! There are countless webcams available on the market today and many laptops even have their own integrated versions. These are more of a compromise however and do not make much of an impression as far as picture quality is concerned. Professional users will have noticed the recent introduction of HD webcams which seem to be coming pretty close to the level of quality set by traditional video recording devices.

Entry Level. Toshiba offers a range of entry level notebooks with the C660 series. New customers are to be wooed with a wide functionality, and above all with a low price. We've taken a closer look at the Satellite C660-10E and put it through its paces.

Takin' Care of Business in Style Professionals don't want a dingy-looking, plastic-covered bulky laptop ruining their otherwise sophisticated impression at a meeting. So, can the thin Vostro V130 give you an air of style while facilitating your workflow?

iPortfolio. In the third and last review of our iPad series, we will examine a whole range of foldover cases, with and without a stand function, closely. What does the protective function for the iPad look like? And what about manufacturing quality and demanded price?

Versatility in Person? Convertibles aim to fuse every advantage of a notebook with that of a pure tablet computer in order to achieve an optimum workflow according to the application field. Fujitsu equips its current Lifebook T580 with cutting edge technology and has to prove its potential in the following review.

Family Laptop. Each laptop has its strong points but there's never one that can do it all. But the 17" Vaio is a jack of all trades, acting as everything from a home theater to a work computer. The performance, low system noise, variety of ports and the keyboard all make a good impression. But claiming this notebook's perfectly well-rounded is not altogether true.

Welcome to the third dimension. "3D" is currently one of the biggest buzz words in the entertainment industry. We decided to hop on-board this trend and take a closer look at Nvidia’s 3D Vision system. Is their 3D technology any good in practice? Find out in our review.

Display Flop. We now test the "successor" of the Envy 14-1010eg's glorious Radiance Infinity Display with quivering hands. Can the processor upgrade and the Beats Audio Sound make up for the LG screen's new "qualities"?

Professional companion. The HP ProBook 6550b is geared toward small to mid-sized businesses and therefore comes with a comprehensive package of security features. But its not only there that the notebook scores highly, but rather also impresses in terms of its build quality.

Data highway. Solid State Drives (SSDs) are becoming more popular thanks to the falling prices. The increased transfer rates and access times are noticeable in day to day use... but can we make it even faster? Is a RAID configuration a worthwhile investment that is worthy of some serious consideration? We tested the theory using an Apple MacBook Pro (13").

Bigger, faster, better? After recently looking closer at the 15 inch alternative from Dell's newest multimedia offspring, the 17 inch, XPS 17 now has to prove itself in the editorial office. Find out if the premium product of Dell's multimedia notebook range can meet the high expectations in this review.

Sophisticated entertainer. Looking for a 17-inch multimedia notebook which not only looks stunning but also has some power under the hood? Look no further than the Samsung RF710. A quad-core processor, 6 GB of RAM and a Blu-Ray DVD drive are just a few of the highlights.

Power-Up. The ultra slim Notebook Adapter 95, (abbreviated USNA 95), from Cooler Master is a very skinny universal power supply which is compatible with 10 different manufacturers and various classes of hardware. An integrated USB-Port can be used to re-charge peripheral devices. Price: 59 Euro (RRP).

Optimus Update. To increase its battery life, the Lenovo Thinkpad T510 is now equipped with Optimus GPU-switching technology from Nvidia. The details on how this new feature affects the system as a whole and whether it's worth getting the upgrade, you'll find out in the following extensive review.

iShell. After various cases and neoprene covers in the first review, we now look at a range of plastic and silicon shells that enclose the iPad like a second skin and the tablet can almost be used plain.

Mobile Office. Handy, mobile and good performance. Sony's 13.3 incher does without superfluous ballast, such as dedicated graphics card and invests in a DVD drive, docking port and HSDPA. Find out why this just doesn't work, despite high mobility.

Matt Multimedian. Multimedia performance with Core i5-460M & GeForce GT 330M, paired with office qualities like a matt display, low emissions and good input devices. The perfect 15.6 incher for the consumer bearing ambitions?

Two for one. Innovations don't even stop before the T410s. In this review, we'll devote ourselves to the Optimus upgrade and report about its impact in detail. Can the slim 14 incher benefit from the dual GPU solution?

Business Class. HP refreshes the Mini 5103 and installs the latest Intel Atom N550 chip. Highlights are the solid case available in "Espresso", a 10.1 inch touchscreen, UMTS and the generous island style keyboard. At a steep price beyond 500 euro, you still have to live without USB 3.0 and ExpressCard34.

Highlights 11/2010. It might be hard to believe that a whopping 29 notebooks and netbooks had to pass through the obstacle course of our test lab and through the hands of our exacting inspectors in the month of November. In the following article we've yet again placed the leading devices in each class side by side and compared them so as to aid in seeing the big picture.

Optimization. After the T510, we also look at the up-to-date ThinkPad T410 alternative more closely. Thanks to the incorporated Nvidia Optimus technology, the 14 incher promises longer runtimes including low emissions and yet good performance.

iPackaging. Looking for a Christmas present for an iPad user? A chic case can't only protect the sacred piece from the rough world. It also presents an opportunity for individualization. Leather, textile, neoprene, available in a vast range of colors, adds style and protection to the trendy tablet.

Two-Nine-Nine. These three numbers add up to the most attractive laptop price that you can currently find on the market. Stay clear of short life, cheap plastic books? In the following detailed review, you can find out if you can trust this bargain.

Travel in Style Business clients who are looking for a stylish mobile accessory will find they have something a little special when they receive their 13.3” Vostro. The performance of the Core i5 is held in check by a new cooling system.

Foldaway. The wireless Arc Touch Notebook mouse can impress thanks to its innovative folding concept, and the new touch scroll function. The normally very accurate BlueTrack sensor does seem to have been trimmed down a little though. For who this mobile mouse is therefore the most suited, can be discovered in the following review.

DVB-T to go. Watching TV with iPad & Co. The Equinux makes it possible with the external tizi box over WLAN. Whats special: the receiver unit can also be used in a mobile fashion thanks to its battery. How well this works has been tested by us.

Shopping Tips. We present recommendable multimedia books, super quiet office devices, light subnotebooks and mobile netbooks for spontaneous notebook buyers and "Santa Clauses". But even fans of powerful gaming laptops (DTR) won't come too short.

Tool for Professionals. The air at the summit of notebooks is exceptionally thin. Only very few manufacturers accomplish positioning selected models there permanently. The American manufacturer, Hewlett Packard, pilots the Elitebook 8740w to this position. It includes latest quad core CPUs, high-performance graphics cards and last, but not least, a promise of best rates in many fields due to its Dreamcolor display.

Compact but Packs a Wallop This Samsung 13" netbook fuses the power of a Core i5 460M with a 4.5 hour battery life and impressive efficiency. Even the DVD drive doesn't get left out on account of a modern cooling system.

Retro Office. A good office companion doesn't have to have an Intel Core Processor. The HP 620 with the old Pentium generation represents traditional values, such as a matt TFT, good ergonomics and many interfaces. Nevertheless, the 440 euro colleague isn't perfect.

A second chance. Not every computer has an internal optical drive these days. Those who cannot live without such a device, will not be able to avoid finding an "external" solution. We had a look to see how well Firstcom’s external USB 2.0 housing could meet our expectations.

Plastic book. Many shortcomings and few genuine good points, is how we would sum up this cut-price laptop for €370. Before we can get too pleased about its excellent range of ports, our hands slip over the case’s glassy surface. Read on to find out more about this laptop and its AMD V series V120 processor.

Strong Business Partner. Asus doesn't yet have much to offer in the business field. That's why we are even more curious about how the P43JC at hand will score. The notebook attracts attention with a very good manufacturing, high-end materials and not least with good performance and a useable battery life.

Simply Office. Simple mainstream notebooks with a 15.6 inch display and low entry prices are very popular. Plain design, glossy display and AMD hardware promise a good value for money ratio. Convincing office device or second choice?

Extreme Gaming? The XMG P500 Pro from Schenker wants to impress with strong gaming performance by means of a Core i7 640M CPU and Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M graphics card. You won't only find out more about its performance, but also if it can meet our test criteria in the other categories, in our detailed review.

Office friend. Those who don't need graphics-, Bluetooth- or Core i3-performance for surfing have here an office comrad with excellent ergonomics, fast input devices and a resilient finish starting at 439 Euros.

Ambitious Glossy-Screened Gamer. Finally, the XPS 15 has gotten a chance to go through our obstacle course. This configuration of a powerful quad-core CPU and Nvidia GeForce GT 435M GPU on an optimized full HD RGB LED screen shows promise not only in terms of application and graphics performance but also as a multimedia device.

Chic multi-talent. Packard Bell is skilled at offering notebooks with an excellent price-performance ratio. The 17" EasyNote LX98 represents the best proof of that; after all, it's not every day that you find a Radeon HD 5850 and a Blue-ray burner for just 1000 Euros.

Elite Gaming. Schenker has a desktop replacement uncompromisingly made for performance in its product line called XMG U700 ULTRA. A strong Core i7 processor and two GeForce GTX 489M graphics cards are to teach the gaming competitors the meaning of fear.

3D? No thanks. Asus' latest G series bids gaming in 17 and 15 inch formats. Complementary to the previously reviewed G53 with a 3D display, we now add a review for the alternately available Full-HD display.

The Second Try. In the Eee PC 1215T, Asus releases a new AMD netbook with a 12 inch display onto the market that allegedly bids more performance than its predecessor. You regrettably wait in vain for a matt HD display. We've put the newest Eee sprout through its paces.

Fresh Air. The new version of the 13-inch MacBook Air has been refreshed from top to bottom, but still has its old Core 2 Duo processor. Find out in our review whether the package as a whole is convincing and whether it is worth the high price tag.

Mac-Netbook? The 11.6" MacBook Air may compete in the Netbook league with its size and weight - case, display, and performance, however, are clearly a class higher. Whether the price of at least two Netbooks is justified, and how the Air fairs in our tests, can be discovered in the following review.

USB 3.0 storage "mirror" External USB 3.0 units in 2,5" format don’t always have to be expensive. With the Nobility NH-01, ADATA offers an attractive entry level unit in the world of mass storage add-ons. Let’s see how it performs in our test.

Robust mobility. Extra strong external hard drives really make sense on the road and provide an additional level of security. 500 GB capacity and a fast USB 3.0 interface is what this StoreJet has to offer. It has to prove its worth in our test.

Elegant Entertainer. The HP Pavilion dv6 sparkles with its elegant design, high-end materials and strong configuration with a quad core CPU and HD 5650 graphics. Will this sparkle withstand closer examination? We take the test.

Audio Expert. We are sending the strong 17.3 incher into the race with a loud drum roll. Balanced midranges and trebles make you forget the taciturn basses. Will the quad CPU add the icing in terms of performance?

AMD vs. Intel. We recently tested the Intel version of the Edge 11. Find out here how the variant equipped with AMD Athlon II Neo K325 CPU and ATI Radeon 4225 fares in a direct comparison and whether the savings potential is worth it in our detailed review.

Super-compact, high-performance and environmentally sound that is what the Edge 11 should be according to Lenovo. The buyer can choose between AMD and Intel internals. We first examined the top model with an Intel Core i3 U380 CPU.

Mobile phone in netbook size. ...or is it a netbook with mobile phone technology? Toshiba calls its AC100 a "mobile internet device" and equips it with Nvidia's ARM processor, Tegra 250, and Google's Android 2.1 operating system. We checked where this combination will place itself among netbooks and smartphones.

Mini Tablet. After Apple set off the tablet craze with the iPad, all the big names in laptop manufacturing have followed suit with their own models in various sizes. Word is currently going around that the Samsung Galaxy Tab is the iPad's fiercest competitor for control of the market and threatens to knock Apple off its throne. We've thoroughly reviewed the Android 2.2 device including comparisons to the Apple iPad and the Dell Streak.

A second chance. Reconditioned ThinkPads and Dell Latitudes are sometimes significantly cheaper than their new counterparts. It may be yesterdays technology, but matt, high resolution displays, business (heavy usage) keyboards, or SmartCard readers will be provided at bargain prices.

Shark-Design. If mini, then at least with style. The swinging forms are conspicuous, the case is grippy in the hand, and the matte HD Ready display gives good oversight of the desktop. Does the Dual-Core shark also impress in terms of battery life?

Structured. Simplicity is convincing. The mainstream 15.6" all-rounder goes without aluminum and high-gloss (mostly). The non-slip surfaces are pleasant, but they are no good for boasting. We'll clarify which office and multimedia qualities the 5552G has.

Price conscious all-rounder. Fujitsu tries to prove that strong multimedia notebooks don't have to cost around 1000 euro right away, with the Lifebook AH530. A new Intel dual core CPU and a mysterious ATI Radeon HD 550v GPU are the ingredients for this purpose.

Power Pack. Asus launches yet another offshoot of the successful series with the Eee PC 1015PN. The highlights are a new Intel Atom N550, a dedicated Nvidia ION 2 graphics unit and a HDMI out. This configuration could represent the perfect blend of performance, mobility and functionality.

Entertainer with quad-core power. The 16.4" Sony Vaio VPC-F13Z1/E with an Intel Core i7 740QM CPU and a Nvidia Geforce GT 425M graphic card promises strong performance. Find out how it performs in our row of tests and what this has to do with display spotting and whistling noises in our comprehensive review.

Powerful Gamer. MSI is offering the new GX660R, a powerful gaming notebook with a swanky design. The hardware in place here will get the heart of any gamer to pound with excitement. Whether the MSI GX660R doesn't just look good on paper but actually lives up to its specs, you'll find out in the following review.

Dual high-flyer. Dual core is moving into Netbooks. That the battery run times don't shorten as a result, and instead increase is shown by our tested device. Why the mobility nevertheless casts a shadow can be discovered in this review.

14 + 4. Quad core power in 14 inches, combined with a strong Nvidia GT 335M and USB 3.0. Will power users find the perfect desktop replacement with this? Find out why the high-end 14 incher only achieves 83% in our review.

Extremely Versatile. What happens when you combine a 15.6 inch case with a matt display, a gaming capable DirectX 11 graphics card and Nvidia's Optimus? The mySn XMG A500 from Schenker Notebooks.

Worker Bee. Reaching a rating of almost 93%, the HP Worksation leads our overall rankings board. This is reason enough to take a closer look at some of the other available configurations of this notebook. In this review, our featured model comes with Intel i5-520M CPU, ATI FirePro M5800 GPU and 1600x900 TFT display.

Full-HD Entertainer. Sony puts a strong color sRGB screen with Full HD resolution into the case. Can the expectations of ambitioned gamers or screen workers be satisfied? A matt work surface and many interfaces are a good start.

Performance in abundance. Modern games require a large amount of graphics power to use high resolutions and maximum detail levels. Demanding users will therefore show a keen interest in dual-GPU notebooks such as the HellMachine by DevilTech, which is equipped with two Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards.

Highlights 10/2010. We tormented a total of 22 notebooks and netbooks on our test parcours last month. The single category winners and editor's recommendations are summarized here. Who will be lauded as the Month's Champion?

Lamborghini. The name exudes power and exclusivity. A dual-core Atom puts this netbook well out in front of its single-core rivals, while Ion 2 gives it a (small-scale) boost for HD entertainment. Surprisingly, the engine is quiet and the temperature gain low. Could this be an eco-friendly racing car with long battery life?

Dynamic. Samsung scores with design, but misses a sprighty configuration and good display. Low waste heat and system noise are convincing, four hours of battery life grant mobility. However, you should handle the case with care.

The Third Dimension. Next to the Asus G51J and the Asus G53JW, the Acer Aspire 5745DG is among the first notebooks with a 120 Hz display and Nvidia's 3D Vision technology. But can the GeForce GT 425M stand the test of demanding 3D-picture rendering? You'll find out in the following review.

Master of transformation. HP is already releasing the third generation of its professional convertible notebooks onto the market with the Elitebook 2740p. Apart from the update to internal components with current Core i5 CPUs, a considerable effort to completely remove all its previous weaknesses has also been made. How well this has been accomplished has been tested by us.

Average level periphery. The Buffalos Ministation Lite USB 3.0 offers a 500 GB capacity and a shiny casing. Laptops without USB 3.0 can be retrofitted using the ExpressCard/34 interface. We tried both options and placed an emphasis on testing the real world application and its relative position to its competitors.

Gaming pro. The Roccat Kone gaming mouse [+] is a full-fledged gaming mouse with a feature-rich Windows driver and a variety of functions. The following article will reveal what kind of impression the mouse and its 6000dpi sensor leave us with.

13.3 inch All-Rounder. Lenovo reinforces its z Series with a representative in the 13 inch division with the Z360. The IdeaPad Z360 is small and light enough to be taken along everywhere with a weight of a bit over two kilos. Find out if it's really worth buying in the following review.

AMD Netbook. Asus now offers AMD hardware in the well-known chassis. The Asus Eee PC 1015T works with an AMD V105 processor (1.2 GHz, single core) and an ATI Radeon HD 4250. Is it the perfect Intel Killer in 10 inches or a power hungry netbook without much more performance?

Pocket memory with USB 3.0. Memory sticks pose a good compromise between size and capacity. ADATA offers the Nobility N005, a model with up-to-date USB-3.0 interface, which also wants to convince in terms of performance. We checked how successful.

3D/2. With the laurels from the G73 series, Asus has managed to hit the bullseye for many gamers. Cool stealth-design with matte surfaces, quiet operating noise, and first class graphics power are definitely priorities. Now Asus is trying to follow in the footsteps of the success of its bigger brother, with a more compact 15 inch model.

Up to the challenge? The IdeaPad S10-3t Convertible from Lenovo is a combination of netbook and tablet which could be described stylishly as a "netvertible”. The older Intel Atom N450 single core processor and a flood of tablet novelties didn’t make things easy for our tester.

Strutter. Lenovo beefs up an IdeaPad consumer with a few volatile business features. Is it the perfect line-up for office bargain hunters who don't want to give up boasting with aluminum? Find out more about the benefits and drawbacks of the pseudo-business book.

Dual Cooling. With a powerful ATI graphics card and an i5 processor, this 13.3-inch notebook is just as good for gaming as a full size one. But, is the exhaust fan going to be the downfall of this model oder will this little guy get the distinction of the perfect and inexpensive mini gamer of the year?

Surfer Boy. Sony wants to prove that netbooks don't always have to be made of small, unsightly cases with the VAIO W21C7E netbook designed by Billabong. We'll find out if the netbook's price is justified, or if you're only paying for the name in our review.

Pentium Business. An office book for little money? This TravelMate comes in question. How good is the Pentium P6000? Will even fastidious office fans be thrilled about the antiglare 15.6 incher? All answers can be found in this detailed review.

The colossus under the subnotebooks . This machine will allow you to work 5 hours straight, to the point where you have smoke coming out of your ears. With this 35Watt Core i3 System, Acer manages to extract a level of battery performance which most low voltage subnotebooks can only dream of. Read on to find out how it was done.

Untiring business professional. Toshiba promises up to 12 hours of battery life on its homepage. On top of that one can expect good application performance based on its specifications which include Core i7-620M CPU and 128GB SSD. Our comprehensive review reveals what kind of punch this business professional is packing in a test of strength.

Turbo lag? Mobile, external hard drives add storage space to notebooks and can be used on-the-move and stationary. Buffalo's Ministation offers a conventional USB-2.0 interface and a robust case. Its TurboUSB should allow an acceleration. We checked its effects.

Unconventional Spirit. "cutting edge, expedient, reliable - and inexpensive." This is how Lenovo tags the ThinkPad Edge Series for small businesses. We've checked if this has been successful and if even private users will find an attractive office alternative.

Slim and Robust? A robust, mobile subnotebook with adequate performance and which isn't too expensive, either. That would be a good option for all those who are frequently on the move. Find out if the Satellite R630 can score with this in our detailed review.

Remunerative Surcharge? For a surcharge, e.g., Dell and Schenker offer some of their notebooks with built-in Samsung PM800 Solid State Drive. In this test we check the performance of the 256 GB version and show how it can compete with other current high-end SSDs.

Power-Netbook. Even the first generation of Ion Netbooks proved that they could shine in many application areas with appealing graphics performance. Ion 2 builds on this achievement, and even provides a dual-core Atom processor to assist the Eee PC 1215N. What can be expected has been tested by us.

A Bargain Buy. If you're looking for an inexpensive multimedia notebook, you'll usually have to be content with a weak graphics card. Not so with Toshiba's Satellite L650D-10H, which can show off with a Radeon HD 5650 at a price of around 600 euro.

Gaming Ferret. The Ferret is an inexpensive mouse that is especially suitable for on the go due to its compact size. It is supposed to satisfy gamers with its 3200 dpi sensor. Find out what impression it made in the test in following review.

„Ecotainment“. The Asus U33JC from the "Bamboo Collection" attempts to straddle both multimedia performance and environmental friendliness paired with a longer battery life. Will it manage to succeed or is the netbook just a nice lifestyle accessory in 13.3 inches?

Basic office. Just €500 can get you access to the world of the 2010 Intel Core processors. A Core i3 in a basic laptop makes it possible. But is it a convincing lighter option, or just another bargain basement laptop? Delete Free-DOS and you’re ready to go.

Touching allowed. The Touch notebook can’t decide if it’s for entertainment or technology enthusiasts. An ATI Hybrid Graphics, strong Core i5, 7200 rpm HDD are all oriented toward performance. The hand input function rounds out the whole package.

Frugal Gamer. A good HD 5650 graphics, perfect performance with an Arrandale refresh CPU, low power consumption and presentable slim design. The Timeline X is suitable for many tasks: eSATA and sunbath-surfing remains to be taboo.

Subtle Progress. Intel's rate of CPU development is about as steady as the ticking of a Swiss watch. At the beginning of the year, Intel presented the new Arrandale chips. Now, they're following up with the expected update in the form of subtle improvements.

SSD+HDD=Win? After the unsuccessful attempts to combine hard drives with flash memory in 2007, Seagate is now trying again with the Momentus XT series. This time, a substantially larger and faster memory in combination with its own controller should help the concept make a breakthrough. Whether and in what ways the XT is appealing, you'll find out in the following review.

The usual Sandstorm. In comparison to the recently reviewed OCZ Vertex 2, the Runcore V Pro uses the unmodified SF1200 controller. Whether it can still match up to other high-end SSDs, you will find out in the following review.

Energy waster. GPU Boost with ATI HD 545V, eSATA and rear interfaces allow this affordable 15.6 inch notebook to raise the interest of several buyers. Will occasional gamers also be satisfied? Do the hybrid-graphics extend the battery life?

No experimenting. It’s best to head straight for the Z series. This is Lenovo’s advice, but we can’t follow it without some reservations. Weak battery life and poor screen contrast are combined with a high-quality aluminium finish and an excellent keyboard.

Nuclear Fission. In the Eee PC 1015PEM, Asus presents its first netbook with Intel's new Atom N55 dual core processor. More power for a surcharge of only 20 euro? We've put the new components and the netbook through its paces.