The X205 is Toshiba’s top shelf gaming notebook, featuring single or dual Nvidia GeForce graphics cards and an expansive 17-inch widescreen display. The SLi3 unit tested here today has dual 8600M-GT video cards with 256MB of video memory each. The focus of this review the SLI technology and how much of a difference it makes. Read the rest of this entry »

Instead of working on just another VAIO SZ review, I aimed to come up with a review which especially does not fall too short of complementary reports based on personal experience gathered from long-term use in different working environments. Even better, if existing VAIO SZ6 owners might find it useful as well.

Back in 2006, the SZ1 set the standard for power in a small package in the 13″ notebook segment. Recently (in October 2007), the Sony VAIO SZ61 was introduced in Europe – two months after it became available as the VAIO SZ6xx in the United States. As the new high end of the SZ line, the SZ6 series is packed with power features. The laptop sports an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, an upgrade to the Intel Santa Rosa platform, a 13.3″ glossy X-black widescreen display, and in Germany starts at about EUR 1,650 (incl. VAT) for the standard edition VGN-SZ61MN/B or at about EUR 2,050 (incl. VAT) for the premium models VGN-SZ61WN/C, VGN-SZ61AWN/C or VGN-SZ61VN/X. Though the competition is stronger than ever, it’s hard to find a better 13″, 4 lb./1.7 kg or under notebook of its kind. Read the rest of this entry »

The Sony VAIO NR is the latest family of stylish, colorful, consumer friendly notebooks from Sony. What makes the NR series genuinely unique for Sony is that the starting price is less than $800 … making the NR the lowest-priced notebook the company has ever produced. You can configure a VAIO NR online at SonyStyle.com in a variety of colors or buy a stock configuration from various retailers.

The VAIO NR is available in three colors (brown, white, and silver) with a full range of Intel processors (from the 1.46GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor T2310 to the 1.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450) starting at $799. The only screen offering is the 15.4″ WXGA but the notebook can take up to 4GB of RAM. Built-in wireless 802.11 a/b/g is standard. Read the rest of this entry »

The Sony Vaio G series is an exception to the trend towards widescreen notebooks and has a 12.1” XGA display.  The headline features of the G11 are the 1.13kg (2.49lb) weight and 9 hour battery life. How do these seemingly incompatible features stack up in real life? This review is of the Sony Vaio VGN-G11XN/B which is the less expensive of the two G series models current in the UK at the time of this review. The G series was launched in Europe in early 2007 and a refresh (G21) with dual core CPUs was announced while this review was being prepared. Read the rest of this entry »

The Sony TZ is the latest offering from Sony in the ultra portable market. With its small size and extreme low weight, it is a must on any business traveler’s notebook list. The Sony TZ combines a new LED backlight display, solid state drive, over-sized battery, and ultra low voltage processors from Intel to make it an all around extended battery performer. Read on to find out how the paper specs stack up in real world use. Read the rest of this entry »

Panasonic has been making fully rugged U.S. military standard 810F notebooks for a number of years, catering to those that need to take their computer into some of the most extreme environments in the world. Recently, Panasonic introduced the fully rugged Toughbook CF-30. It features a 13.3″ XGA anti-glare and anti-reflective coating screen rated at 500 Nit (candelas per square meter, which measures brightness) and an industry first and only 1000 Nit touchscreen version, both sporting a 1.66GHz L2400 Low Voltage Core Duo processor, 512MB RAM, and 80GB HDD. The entire chassis with exception to the keyboard, and screen is made from magnesium alloy and comes with fully sealed keyboard, ports and hard drive making it ready for any conditions it faces regardless if its indoors, outdoors, snow, rain, dust… you get the idea. However, the downside to all this added protection is its bulkiness and hefty weight of 8 pounds. Read the rest of this entry »

The Panasonic ToughBook T4 notebook computer is part of the semi-rugged line of Toughbooks; the line that includes the W4 recently reviewed by this site. The T4 is a fraternal twin of the W4 — the more business-oriented twin. With a 12.1″ 4:3 aspect screen (as opposed to the W4’s widescreen), no disc drive, and a claimed battery life of 9+ hours, the Panasonic Toughbook T4 is aimed squarely at serious business use. Let’s see if it delivers. Read the rest of this entry »