PC Advisor Laptop News and Reviews

Samsung N510 review

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:08:00 GMT

The Samsung N510 is the first netbook to use the nVidia Ion graphics chipset - in other words, the first netbook that can really do video

Google Chrome OS: first look video

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:37:00 GMT

Will browser-based computing kill Windows?

Google's Chrome operating system has taken a big step forward with its release to the open source community. The OS is targeted at netbooks and will be faster, simpler and more secure than existing operating systems, according to Google.

Microsoft: Windows 7 trumps Google Chrome OS

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:10:00 GMT

Total reliance on web fails to impress rivals

Microsoft is, predictably, not impressed by Google's demonstration of its Chrome OS, and neither were a number of potential rivals in the Linux and instant-on operating system space.

Google Chrome OS touts speed, simplicity & security

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:51:00 GMT

New operating system expected in a year

Google has released the first details of its Chrome operating system, revealing that the platform is designed to make netbooks faster, simpler and more secure.

ARM & MIPS accelerate Google Android push

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:07:00 GMT

Google OS being used in range of gadgets

Processor makers ARM and MIPS Technologies are both aiming to simplify and accelerate the use of netbooks, MIDs (mobile internet devices), set-top boxes and picture frames that run on Google's Android software platform.

Toshiba L500-11V review

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:18:00 GMT

Toshiba's range of laptops includes full size models for under £500, such as this Toshiba L500-11V.

Mac laptops are less reliable than PCs

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:46:00 GMT

Research reveales 17% of Apple laptop fail within three years

Apple laptops are less reliable than those manufactured by Asus, Toshiba and Sony, says SquareTrade.

Moblin 2.0 review

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:50:00 GMT

Launched two years ago by Intel and now hosted by The Linux Foundation, Moblin is a Linux platform aimed at netbooks and mobile internet devices.

ASUS G60J review

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:51:00 GMT

The ASUS G60J is a powerful laptop PC with an Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor.

Nokia Booklet 3G review

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:46:00 GMT

The Nokia Booklet 3G netbook is rugged and solidly built - but some quirks make it a slightly too-pricey portable PC.

The Dell Inspiron 14z review

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:06:00 GMT

The Dell Inspiron 14z laptop makes a clear statement: you are probably a student, you want a whole lot of battery life on a Windows 7 machine, and you probably don't care much about performance.

First Lenovo 'smartbook' on show at CES

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:58:00 GMT

Qualcomm demos mini netbook in the US

Qualcomm put the spotlight on the smartbook concept at an analyst meeting in New York on Thursday, showing off a Lenovo-made device based on the Snapdragon chipset that company CEO Paul Jacobs said would be formally launched at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. The Lenovo smartbook has already secured operator backing from AT&T, which will sell the device, according to Jacobs. A smartbook is what you get when you marry a smartphone and a netbook, according to Qualcomm. It's about the size of a netbook. However, the company's Snapdragon chipset, which does not require a heat sink or a cooling fan, allows for a lower price and longer battery life than what netbooks offer, according to Qualcomm. Jacobs did not say what the Lenovo product would be called or when it would show up in stores. But the Lenovo machine sported a Linux-based user interface that consisted of six large widgets, including ones for e-mail and Facebook. The display will support HD, Jacobs said, without elaborating on the resolution. The Snapdragon chipset is based on an ARM CPU. Support for Flash, which is a rarity for ARM-based devices, was demonstrated by using YouTube. The Lenovo smartbook comes with a large battery, which is mostly used to power the screen, according to Jacobs. When the display is folded down the user gets an instant-on and internet-connected device with a very long battery life, he said. The Snapdragon chipset is becoming more common and is used on a number of recently announced smartphones, including the Acer Liquid, the HTC HD2 and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. Qualcomm has also been pushing the idea of using Snapdragon in smartbooks for about six months. Several manufacturers, including Asus and Inventec, have shown off prototypes of the devices. Qualcomm is also working on upcoming versions of the Snapdragon chipset for next-generation smartbooks. The QSD8672 Snapdragon model has a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and adds support for 1440 x 900 pixel resolution and faster mobile broadband using HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access), according to a road map from Qualcomm. Smartbooks based on the chipset should also be able to record and play back video at 1080p. The QSD8672 will start sampling by the end of the year, the document said. It can then take up to a year before products based on the chipset are launched. How successful smartbooks will be remains to be seen. It's still unclear how well they will be differentiated from existing netbooks, according to Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight. The market for devices with screens measuring between 4 and 10 inches is still in its infancy, according to Wood, who compares what's happening to a goldrush. Everybody knows there is gold to be found, but no one knows where the gold is, Wood said.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 review

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:33:00 GMT

The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 won't surprise anyone who has used a ThinkPad before - it's an excellent laptop that's oriented entirely toward no-nonsense use.

Intel Atom helps microprocessor sales hit record high

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:53:00 GMT

But netbooks mean lower revenue overall

Intel's Atom processor, which is used in netbooks, helped PC microprocessor makers sell record numbers of chips during the third quarter, although the overall value of the market fell, according to market researcher IDC.

10 must-have downloads for Windows 7

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:48:00 GMT

Improve Microsoft's new OS with these downloads

Windows 7 is faster and more efficient than its predecessor Vista. However, that doesn't mean it can't be improved upon further. We've compiled a list of 10 valuable software tools - many of them free - that can make your Win 7 experience a lot more rewarding.

5 simple ways to overclock a netbook

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:07:00 GMT

How to boost the speed of your netbook

If you think overclocking is about taking already blazing-fast gear and pushing it to its upper limits, then think again. We show you five ways to overclock a netbook.

35m netbooks to ship in 2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:09:00 GMT

Ultra-mobile devices to top 124m in 2001

Almost 35 million netbooks will be shipped by manufacturers in 2009.

Dell Inspiron 11z review

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:42:00 GMT

The Dell Inspiron 11z laptop sports an 11.6in screen and low-power processor, and hits a modest £399 price point.

Dell Inspiron 11z

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:42:00 GMT

The Dell Inspiron 11z laptop sports an 11.6in screen and low-power processor, and hits a modest £399 price point

HP says Windows 7 printer drivers coming soon

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:56:00 GMT

Many printers currently don't work with new OS

HP has revealed it expects to release Windows 7 drivers for its printers soon, as there are currently no compatible drivers.

Windows 7 use surges by 40%

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:27:00 GMT

One in every 44 PCs runs the OS

The number of PCs running Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7, surged by 40 percent in the week following its release, says Net Applications.

Faster Intel CULV laptop chips coming in Q1

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:08:00 GMT

Acer exec reveals plans for new models

Acer executives have grumbled about the performance of Intel's processors for thin and light laptops but suggested that faster chips are coming early next year.

Acer to release laptop with swivel screen

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:25:00 GMT

Touchscreen folds down into tablet PC

Acer showed off two of its newest products on Friday, and said they'd be on global markets soon.

The mobile chip battle: ARM vs Intel Atom

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:16:00 GMT

Which company will come out top?

Small, inexpensive, power-efficient new chips from Intel and ARM are enabling the new wave of mobile devices - and setting the two companies on a collision course.

The 16 most wanted fantasy Apple products

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:09:00 GMT

From an Apple Camera to a Mac toaster

Nowadays, everybody seems eager to make an Apple product. These prototypes from independent designers may never appear on shelves at the Apple Store, but they include lots of innovative ideas.