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This post was written by Maureen Jones
MSI Wind NB sports a minimalist white design (also available in black and pink) with rounded edges. At 3.4 pounds with the AC adapter (2.6 without), this notebook was hardly noticeable. The system booted in a quick 34 seconds and packs plenty more space than a solid state drive would for files and applications. The Wind NB notched a 72 on MobileMark 2007, which is better than the score of 39 that the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 notched.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
Toshiba’s Portégé M750 runs Intel’s 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo P8400 processor. For wireless connectivity, there’s Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g, Draft-N) and Bluetooth. Wired communication is catered for by Gigabit Ethernet and a 56Kbps modem. The Portégé M750’s Windows Experience Index (WEI) rating of 3.4 (out of 5.9) is disappointing. Reviewers liked the dual-mode (stylus/finger) touch-screen and a number of other design elements. However, it’s cumbersome to use in tablet mode, while graphics performance and battery life are disappointing. Overall it’s a pretty average offering.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
Fujitsu Siemens’ Esprimo Mobile U range of notebooks is designed for business users who need both portability and power. Esprimo Mobile U9210 is a solidly built ultraportable that should cope well with life on the road. This is a well constructed notebook with a chassis that’s solid to the point of being over-chunky. The spill-proof keyboard has a fair amount of flex, which will be more noticeable to heavy-handed typists than those with a lighter touch. It posted an overall Windows Experience Index rating of 3.7, which is on the low side.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
Fujitsu Siemens LifeBook S6420 has a pretty potent CPU, so it’s no surprise that it scored 5,045 in our PCMark 2005 benchmark. It’s a lightweight laptop that tips the scales at 1.75Kg and measures 314mm wide by 234mm high by 22mm deep. It’s not as small as a netbook, but it’s still portable enough to carry around all day. Reviewers like the S6420 for its solid build quality, performance, security and mobile broadband capability. It’s a little pricey, but if you require a laptop with its substantial security capabilities, it’s well worth a look.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 is attractively priced, solidly built and a good performer. Reviewers are particularly impressed with the high-resolution 15.4in. screen. However, its inward-sloping edges can make it difficult to locate ports and expansion slots, the webcam is basic and battery life could be longer. The highest-scoring subsystem was Primary hard disk with 5.3. In between came RAM (Memory operations per second with 4.7), Processor (calculations per second with 4.9) and Gaming Graphics with 5.1). Taking all these scores into account, the SL500 can be judged an above-average all-round performer.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
Toshiba’s ‘thin-and-light’ Tecra M10 range is aimed squarely at the small business market. The Tecra M10 won’t win any design prizes, but it does look reassuringly solid. At 2.4kg the Tecra M10 falls into the ‘thin-and-light’ category, although it’s probably not a system a mobile professional would want to carry day in, day out. The keyboard is a highlight, being both well constructed and spill-resistant. The keys are large and give good feeback, clicking nicely when pressed. The Tecra M10-10I is attractively priced, and offers a strong range of security and data protection features.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
The Q210 is an ordinary clamshell notebook, but Samsung has given it a refreshingly different black and red livery. If you can live with its unusual design and relatively heavy weight (for a 12.1in. notebook), Samsung’s Q210 could be a good choice, particularly for small businesses. It’s an excellent performer and LightScribe drive could come in handy if you pass a lot of optical media to clients. The webcam could be better featured, although it performs well enough for basic video conferencing.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
Panasonic’s Toughbooks aren’t exactly known for their good looks, so to say that the CF-W8 isn’t the most stylish laptop around isn’t much of a surprise. While the CF-W8 has many good points, then – its durability, excellent battery life and competent specification among them – reviewers are unable to give it a whole-hearted recommendation when it’s so uncomfortable to use. The mediocre screen, oddly-shaped keyboard and circular trackpad are certainly an acquired taste, but they’re slightly too awkward for reviewers.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
Dell Latitude E4200 eschews the wedge shaped chassis design so popular of late for a more slab-like appearance. Taking a look around the machine, Dell has managed to squeeze on most of the connectivity a business user is likely to need when on the move. It’s a shame there’s no option for a higher resolution, but we’ve yet to see a 12.1in that offers this and all told it garners little complaint. So long as you don’t need an optical drive, the E4200 is an ideal option for the serious businessperson on the move.
This post was written by Maureen Jones
In terms of look and feel, Dell’s Inspiron Mini 9 is a convincing effort. It weighs a very reasonable 1.08kg, with the compact charger only adding another 200g to the figure. The 8.9in screen means that the Mini 9 is a similar size to Asus’ Eee PC 901. Crucially for a netbook that’s going to spend most of its life rattling around in the none-too padded confines of a commuter’s bag, the build is reassuringly sturdy. In fact it’s particularly robust by netbook standards, with a solid lid and a flex-free chassis.
