iEntry 10th Anniversary
Apple Computers
Dell Computers
Sony VAIO FW Series VGN-FW463J
If you’re someone who must own everything Sony then you’re stuck with the VAIO series when it comes to computers. There’s nothing wrong with that, as you can find a solid VAIO system out there. It’s just realizing where to look. Today, we’re going to take a look at one of the latest models: Sony VAIO FW Series VGN-FW463J/T NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo P8700
Specs
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8700(2.53GHz)
RAM: 4GB DDR2
Hard Drive: 320GB
Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
USB Slots: 3
The Good: A strong performing notebook for it’s ‘Sony’ price. If you’re transporting the notebook around, you’ll enjoy the lightweight feel. As with most Sony products, this VAIO has a strong design and if you’re a fan of VAIO design you’ll feel right at home here. Has a large keyboard, that feels comfortable while not feeling too bulky. A solid monitor that produces a bright, and wide array of colors.
The Bad: As with Sony products, you’re paying much more than something of equal strength from another brand. The touchpad can’t be deactivated, and it’s not multi-touch. The VAIO applications are a bit spotty, and don’t add anything to the user experience. The three USB ports might be “enough”, but they’re placed oddly. They’re all on one side, and are packed close together.
Bottom Line: If you’re a Sony fanboy/girl then you’ll find a solid VAIO product here. It’s expensive for what you’re getting, but it’s still a solid notebook. The design is a huge plus that provides comfortable usability, starting with the keyboard.
Windows 7 a Month From Release
Depending on what sites you visit, Windows 7 is being touted as the OS that Vista ’should have been’. Reviews have stayed positive going into RTM (release to manufacturing). As always though, there are problems. Here are a few review excerpts:
“Where Vista felt like a sprawling mess, Windows 7 has patched up the holes and feels like a tight, unified mechanism. It’s hardly full of surprises, but that’s usually a good thing when it comes to operating systems. If you’ve never been a Windows person, there’s hardly anything here that will change your mind about that. However, most human beings on this planet have some sort of interaction with Windows on a regular basis, whether by choice or necessity, and Windows 7 is great news for those millions of souls.” - Engadget
“Windows XP was a great OS in its day. Windows Vista, once it found its feet several months in, was a good OS. With Windows 7, the OS is great again. It’s what people said they wanted out of Windows: Solid, more nimble and the easiest, prettiest Windows yet. There’s always a chance this won’t be a huge hit come October, given the economy and the state of the PC industry, but it’s exactly what Microsoft needs right now. Something people can grab without fear.” - Gizmodo
“Whether you’re coming from XP or Vista, Windows 7 offers a massive leap forward in usability, security, and support for new hardware and technology, especially for enthusiasts and power users. For anyone who regularly keeps many windows open at once time, the new Taskbar is worth the price of admission alone. For XP users, the security improvements are equally worthy of praise, while Vista users will be thrilled with the much improved, much less annoying UAC. Add in support for new hardware technologies, more new features, and the kernel improvements that should allow you to get more from your multi-core CPU, and Windows 7 becomes a tidy, compelling package to all Windows users.” - Maximum PC
Since we’re a month from Windows 7 releasing, I will be posting a Windows 7 post every week until then. Next week I’ll be going over each feature individually and finding out just what is improved for Windows 7 and what isn’t.
Acer Aspire AM5800-U5802A Core 2 Quad Q9400
There’s a solid group of people out there that live and die by Acer. I’ve had mixed results when going with Acer, but mostly positive results. One of the latest models from Acer is the Q9400, and it has been put through the proverbial gauntlet. 
So, how did it fair?
Specs:
Processor - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400(2.66GHz)
RAM - 8GB DDR3
Hard Drive - 750GB SATA
Video Card - NVIDIA GeForce GT230 Graphics (1.5 GB Discrete memory)
USB Ports - 8
The Good - The processor with this PC is one of the fastest you’ll find in this price range. Has a wonderful chassis design which for some isn’t a big deal, but I’ve always been a fan of aesthetics. Has great room for upgrading, as it can handle a brick of a graphics card if need be.
The Bad - The placement of the front four USBs is a bit odd, they’re on the top of the machine. Lack of wireless N is an option that many wireless users will find a nuisance with. Acer has a reputation for having annoying pre-installed programs, and it shows here. The hard drive is broken into two separate locations. So if you’re going to be using extensive amounts of space, be forewarned.
Bottom Line - This model of Acer is definitely a solid product that I can recommend. I know it looks like I wrote more bad than good, but most of the things wrong with this model pale in comparison to everything that is done right. Get yourself a bit more power from the video card department and you have a beast of a machine for a decent price.
iBUYPOWER Gamer Supreme 928i Intel Core i7 920
If you consider yourself a PC gamer you probably spend more money than just about any fanboy. Having to sit and listen to PS3 and Xbox 360 owners whine about how much money they have to spend probably drives you up a wall. Because heavy investing is all in the PC arena.
It’s not just the amount of money you spend on a computer, it’s the frequency of which you have to buy a PC or upgrade it’s components. The money can rack up pretty quick.
Today, we’re going to look at one of the more powerful PC’s on the market (iBUYPOWER Gamer Supreme 928i Intel Core i7 920) and one which hopefully should last a couple of years. But who knows, right?
Processor - Intel Core i7 920(2.66GHz)
RAM - 6GB DDR3
Hard Drive - 1TB
Video Card - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 1 GB
USB Ports - 2 (Front) 6 (Back)
2 DVI Ports
The Good - Amazing video card, you’ll be able to turn on all the bells and whistles just about any game our there. For the hardware you’re receiving it’s a great price. Massive amount of room in case for later upgrades. Well organized innards.
The Bad - While it’s a good deal, the price might throw some off ($1,189 at time of sale), There have been reported problems with the standard heat sink, so you might want to look into purchasing one. More money of course.
Bottom Line - If you have the money, then you can’t get much better than this setup. With the video card power, the CPU are all primed for some gaming. Just be sure that extensive memory applications are the primary focus of the machine, or it would be a waste.
[via: NewEgg]
Back To School Deals
This is the time of year that schools are coming back into session. It’s not too late to upgrade your child’s, or family’s laptop. There are some deals out there for you to take advantage of, you just have to know where to look.
Best Buy
Free Shipping For Dell Laptops and Notebooks
Best Deal - Dell - Inspiron Laptop Black
Price: $429.99
Specs:
Processor Speed - 2.0GHz
RAM - 2GB
Hard Drive Size - 160 GB
Circuit City
Best Deal - HP 550 Notebook PC KS158UT
Price: $349.99 (down from $499.99)
Specs:
Processor Speed - 2.0GHz (single core)
RAM - 1GB
Hard Drive Size - 160GB
NewEgg
Best Deal - Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810TZ-4880 NoteBook Intel Pentium
Price: $599.99 (down from $699.99)
Specs:
Processor Speed - 1.30GHz
RAM - 4GB
Hard Drive Size - 320GB
MSI EX630-034US NoteBook
It is almost time to go back to school, and with it a slew of supplies are being bought. One item that has been trending lately is the laptop. Some schools are using them on a regular basis, and at home they’re replacing the desktop for homework use. The trick is to find a notebook that is powerful enough to utilize all the functions needed for school, but also be a good bargain. 
The MSI EX630 is a place to start, and might be a notebook you want to look at for going back to school.
Processor - AMD Turion X2 RM-70(2.00GHz)
Screen - 16″ WXGA
RAM - 3GB
Hard Drive - 250 GB
Graphics Card - NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS
Video Memory - 256MB DDR3
The Good - While not the cheapest laptop available, the MSI EX630 is a notebook that’s a bargain for what you get. There are a wide array of ports available with it - SD card reader, wired/wireless internet options, fingerprint scanner, HDMI port. The LCD screen has a nice, crisp display. For those who like a full number pad this notebook has one.
The Bad - Has a pretty low battery life, but it’s to be expected with a notebook this size. The software that comes standard with the notebook has very little documentation, so some technical know how is required.
Bottom Line - The MSI EX630 is a laptop that you really can’t go wrong with. The large screen might sway people from it, but if you like a big screen then it’s fine. The price tag again is larger than other notebooks out there, but you’re getting much stronger components as a result. With back to school, your kids are going to probably be using more extensive programs on it than you might realize.
Gateway DX4800-05e
With the way that hardware keeps upgrading in this current market, I find more and more people are looking to buy pre-built PCs. Many times you can find a better deal than when you build. Unless you really want to build a beast of a machine with nothing but standard components. Then you should definitely build, but just think of how short a time it will be before what you have isn’t standard anymore. 
For those looking to get a system with some good horsepower at a great price, this deal on NewEgg is great. It’s a Gateway DX4800, and it has these specs.
Processor - Intel Pentium dual-core E5200(2.50GHz)
Memory - 6GB DDR2
Hard Drive - 640GB SATA 7200RPM
Video Card - Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9200
The Good: This is one of the most powerful PCs that you’ll find in this price range. Ordering from NewEgg is the real deal breaker. 6GB of memory, and a GeForce 9200 for $400? That’s a steal. The PC seems to integrate well with Vista, many of the problems you hear about the OS will be obsolete with this PC.
The Bad: Gateway can at times provide questionable customer service. Some odd accessory inclusions, a unique keyboard you’ll either love or hate. As with all pre-packaged PCs, there’s a lot of unnecessary software included on the system.
Bottom Line: Honestly there’s not much wrong I can say about this PC for the price it sells for. You’re not going to find a better deal for this kind of PC anywhere else. Just be sure you know that you’ll have a lot of crap software pre-installed, and have fun dealing with Gateway if something goes wrong.
Sprint: One Buck for One Netbook
After the recent report of a free netbook from Linux, Sprint is trying to one-up it: a one dollar netbook. The notebook subsidizing trend is not a novel idea, by any means. Familiar friends like AT&T have been doing it, along with Verizon. However, Sprint’s venture into the subsidizing field is a bold one, with $1 leaving a large chunk of change for the company to bite off.
The deal from Sprint is brokered through Best Buy. Best Buy provides the computer, which is a nifty little Compaq Mini from HP. Some reviewers hail it as “the most attractive netbook going these days.” Its feature-enhanced design make it a popular choice for netbook customers who like the power of the notebook with the portability of the netbook. The 10.1 inch display, combined with a camera, Bluetooth, and a none-too-shabby speed, make it a pricy, although popular option, for the AT&T subsidy. Asking price without the big-time subsidy is close to $400. 
Sprint provides the data plan, which is a two-year contract that gives users complete web access via their 3G network. There may be a 5GB limit per month, however. The price of the contract is where Sprint makes their money. Since the data plan has a price tag of about sixty dollars per month, the contract lifetime total is at $1,440. Add to that the customary mysterious fees that providers always throw in, and you’re watching the price sail well above the $1,500 mark. No, Sprint is not losing money on the deal.
Netbook subsidizing is the same thing that cell phone producers have been doing for years. In fact, you probably bought your phone through a subsidy, whether you realized it or not. In the netbook subsidy worl, you buy a netbook at a ridiculously low price, but buy in to a long-term data plan. The company that provides the data plan pays for the rest of the computer. You, in essence, pay the service provider back through the long-term data plan.
It’s a good time for Sprint to join the subsidy party, even though some say that they are late to the game. Netbooks are in. Even though desktop computer purchasing has all but bit the dust, and notebook computer market is taking a downward slide of its own, netbook sales are in a boom right now. Lower prices and the wanderlust of computer users needing anywhere-connectivity combine to form a powerful sales force that mobile providers can leverage to significant monetary advantage. Sprint is hoping to do just that.
New HP Mini 5101
Now that netbooks have crashed the mobile computing party, every major computer company (and a host of wannabe major computer companies) have come out with their own versions of the netbook. The latest addition to the party is the HP Mini 5101 Netbook, one which HP hopes will appeal to the business community. It’s being called, by HP’s Senior VP Ted Clark, “a work of art,” and something that is designed for the “trend-savvy mobile professional who needs functionally, durability and style.” Since any business professional would like being stroked as a “trend-savvy mobile professional,” the marketing segment is clear, though students are a second-tier option of potential customers.
So far, netbooks are not a business professional’s choice tool. Whether for lackluster style, low-class price, or diminished power, most executives are not toting netbooks…yet. With the introduction of HP’s Mini 5101, the tune may change.
It seems HP had two goals in mind when creating the netbook: 1) beauty, and 2) power. At least that’s where this netbook seems to shine. Rather than a mobile accessory to a traditional notebook or desktop, this machine can essentially replace both of them due to its muscle-stuffed innards. At the same time, the handsome design of the 5101 earns it a few second glances.
From a spec perspective, the Mini 5101 lacks little. At its heart is the somewhat-standard Intel Atom N280 and Mobile 945GSE. Beyond that, it speeds past most other netbooks. The screaming-fast 7200 RPM hard drive, coupled with a 2GB DDR2 SDRAM make for catch-free computing by anyone’s standard. And, if storage is a concern, you can get it loaded with a (max) 320 GB hard drive.
Fun stuff like a 2 MP webcam, Bluetooth, new trackpad configuration, spacious keyboard, a shocking 8-hour battery option, spillproof keyboard, 3 USB ports, and 10.1-inc display all join forces in recommending this as a full-powered computer in the body of a netbook.
And it’s the body of this netbook that gives it that final touch of appeal for high-end users. Like the MacBook Pro’s popular aluminum unibody, HP also utilizes the brushed aluminum look, in a sophisticated black hue, as the device’s main tone. The magnesium touches add a helpful flourish. A touchy-feely tracking device makes it enjoyable to keep one’s hands on the keyboard. Although a bit boxy, the overall design is suitable eye candy.
The price will appeal to the high-end netbook user, too. While the average netbook price slides (thank you, crummy economy) this one appeals to a different breed. So, hopefully, the $450 base package won’t be a deterrent for them. $450 is just a start, though. Any of the add-ons pile on additional cash, meaning that a fully juiced up Mini 5101 could fetch north of $1,000. But you may soon see this netbook on the lap of an executive sitting in first class.
HP Mini 1000 Mi series
I’m sure you’ve seen the commercial sometime in the past week. It’s rather annoying; there’s a guy on a bench using his HP Mini. A girl then approaches him, and begins asking him about the netbook. He finishes all of her sentences, and well it’s pretty much annoying from beginning to end. A tip to HP, don’t make a commercial based on someone finishing someone’s sentences, not really that endearing. Luckily, there’s a pretty solid product behind the advertisement.
Specs
Processor: Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N270 (1.60GHz)
Memory: 512MB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm), upgradeable to 2GB
Hard Drive: 8 GB, upgradeable to 80 GB
Video Card: Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Wireless-G card
Integrated webcam & microphone
The Good - It is definitely a netbook, and the abilities the system has with the size it is — is quite remarkable. Along with the system capabilities, the keyboard is sized perfect. For those who use Linux and know of its greatness, this netbook utilizes it really well.
The Bad - Linux might be great for some, for others it might be a deterrent. To receive the best experience, you’ll want the 10.1″ size screen. Any size less and it becomes too small. Also, with the Linux version of the netbook, there is some compatibility issues with the integrated options (webcam, mic). Speaking of those features, they are all laid out very weird. This is probably due to the lack of space, but it’s still a noticeable flaw.
Bottom Line - If you’re looking for a solid netbook with some cool features, at a good price, you can’t go very wrong with the Mini. Just make sure that you like Linux, or don’t mind learning some of the ins-and-outs of the OS.