Design

The AW series is a monster both in performance, specs and size. The 18.4-inch widescreen display gets a full 1920 x 1080 HD LED display that also comes with Adobe Color Correction technology. The system is a desktop replacement and so it does carry a little weight weighing in at 8.8 pounds.

When the AR series was released back in 2006 it was the world’s first notebook computer with Blu-ray. Sony has followed up in that legacy with the AW series supporting not only Blu-ray playback but also recording capabilities. Take into account that the system comes with an HDMI and VGA out port and you should be glad that you won’t have a problem transferring those hi-def pictures from your laptop screen to an external one.

Sony has marketed this system not only as a desktop replacement but also a computer perfect for professional photographers and entertainment junkies. So they have included an Intel High Definition Audio with Dolby Digital Live Built-in stereo speakers + 2W subwoofer.

Sony has also built in full support for RAID technology. The HDD can go up to 1TB (500GB x2) or if you want a pricier option you can get a 628GB SSD drive. On the RAM side of things you get expansion up to 8GB of DDR2 SDRAM.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processors are standard coming with either 2.8GHz or 2.26GHz and a 1066MHz Front Side Bus Speed with 3MB – 6MB of L2 Cache.

Other features include a WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0 with integrated stereo A2DP support, Memory Stick PRO (standard/Duo, ExpressCard ¾ slot, SD memory card slot and Compact Flash card slot.

On the graphics end Sony has made use of NVIDIA’s GeForce 9600M GT GPU which comes with 512MB of dedicated video RAM as well as the Intel Mobile PM45 Express Chipset.

Performance

The performance on the VAIO AW series is grand. Thanks to the systems good processor and graphic card chips it is a breeze and pleasure to do all your multimedia tasks on the system.
The system is well suited for gaming and performs well at it. Crysis played wonderfully on the system and even when transferred to an external monitor we noticed very few hiccups.

On the other hand battery life is not anything to rave about at the least. Standard battery life is rated at 3 hours by Sony, but on our tests we got round about 1 hour and 40 minutes which is nearly an hour lower than the average for notebooks in this category. This should not be a problem though as carrying around this piece of led is out of the question for most people.

Wi-Fi signal is strong and even at 50 feet from the router you can still get 19.3Mbps.

Conclusion

Yes we love the AW series and while it does have a few shortfalls it is a solid system. We’re just not sure if it warrants spending in excess of $3,000 to max out the systems performance seeing that you can spend $1800+ and get something similar from the HP HDX 18. In the end though, it all depends on your taste and the size of your wallet.

Design

Those familiar with the Nikon line of cameras especially the D70 will easily recognize this camera. And if you’re happy with the current design of Nikons’s cameras, than you won’t find much fault with this design.

The camera features a 3.0 inch LCDdisplay that boasts 920,000 dots. This is an upgraded from the previous 2.5 inch 230,000 dot offering on the previous models.

The body is solid and although the camera is just a bit heavier than usual it still carries a solid feel. The D90 supports SanDisk 30MB/sex Extreme III SDHC. This allows the camera to capture 54 full sized JPEG’s in less than 12 seconds with an average shooting burst of 4.5fps. RAW support is also available and 9 frames can be done in 2 seconds in this format.

Performance

Since DSLR’s are all about performance and not so much looks we’ll get right into that. The CMOS has been upgraded from previous versions and THANKS TO THE 12.3 megapixels underneath the camera takes crisp photos with accurate colors that are professional quality.

The ISO has also been upgraded and can go to 3200 or as low as 200. This matches the performance of its pricier sibling the D300. Auto focusing is quick and sharp. We got an average of just under a second in low light, 0.46-0.49 second in mid light, and just 0.4 seconds in very bright light.

The camera also supports a feature called live view and can focus without blanking out the screen. Although a good step it’s still slower than using the viewfinder so for those once in a lifetime shots, you had better not use it.

The D90 was the first DSLR camera to introduce HD video shooting and this can be done at 720p with 24fps. This has probably been one of the most touted features of the D90 and from most of our tests and that of others we can safely say that it’s a great option.

The camera also supports the full range of Canon’s image stabilization lenses so even those with shaky hands can still do their video projects with out many problems.

The only drawbacks to the HD video shooting, is the space required for such video footage and the fact that the camera cannot automatically focus during video recording. This is a bit of a drawback as it requires the person to stop recording, refocus and than continue.

Conclusion

The camera retails for $999 (body only) and $1299 for the body and an 18-105mm VR lens. This of course makes the camera one of the best options for an entry level camera and while it might lack a few features that you will find on the Pro DSLR this one is fully capable of giving them a run for their money.

Design

The design of the Macbook Pro mimics that of the Macbook 13” more closely than did the previous generations. The new Pro models get the spaced keys that were loved/hated on their siblings. They also get a new unibody design which means that the entire body is manufactured out of a single sheet of aluminum. According to Apple this provides better access to components and the ability for the system to run cooler as well as more environmental friendly.

The new design also includes an edge to edge high gloss glass screen which is bound to make you wonder whether you bought a mirror or laptop. Most users will not find this a problem, but if you do a lot of outdoor work it might be good to think twice before dropping your money on this system.

Also included is the new multitouch trackpad that is currently on the Macbook Air. Since there are no buttons the entire (glass0 touchpad is one gigantic button that can be pressed and yes it does carry right and left mouse buttons unlike the previous versions.

Other design features include a backlit keyboard, and the inclusion of a new NVIDIA GPU as well as motherboard.

Performance

Performance wise the Macbook Pro 15” is an improvement over the first generation. But it still doesn’t carry all the upgrades that would make it $800 more than the Macbook 13”. For one the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 256MB Video RAM is not a mark improvement over that of the Macbook. When put through its paces it failed to outperform its younger sibling by a wide margin.

For those who are familiar with the Mac operating system you can be sure that it is very speedy and same thing with the Macbook Pro. If you’re interested in running Window’s Vista or XP on the system it also does a very good job of that. You should be warned that you may find that a few of your drives might not work as desired but other than that the Macbook Pro is one of the best notebooks for handling Microsoft’s system recourses intensive OS.

Battery life is also very good and much better than that of the previous generation Macbook Pro. The system is rated by Apple to carry a full 5 hours of battery life when wireless adapter is on, though in out tests we found that the system stayed more in the range of 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Conclusion

So here is the burning question. Is it worth it to spend $2,000 for a notebook? Well it all depends. If you are a Vista hater and want the power of computers such as the Sony VAIO FW series than by all means yes. But if you still choose to go with a Mac it might be a lot better to consider the Macbook 13” as it carries most of the features as the Macbook Pro 15”. As I said before there a re few features on this system that requires it to be $800 above the entry level Macbook.

Design

The design of the new Macbook has an entirely new design that includes the incorporation of a new uni-body manufacturing processes which allows the entire shell of the notebook (excluding the screen) to be manufactured out of a single sheet of aluminum. According to Apple, this allows better access to hardware as well as a more environmental friendly unit and better processing power.

Other features includes a new battery which allows five hours of wireless productivity (according to Apple) and edge to edge glass LED display (1280 x 800 native resolution) which is bound to cause excessive glare depending on lighting and a new WiFi adapter that includes 802.11n as well as Bluetooth (sorry no WiMax).

The keyboard remains practically the same with the exception of the materials used which feel a lot better to the touch. As for the touchpad, that has been entirely reworked to include multitouch capabilities. The single mouse button is also gone and replacing it is a touchpad that doubles as an entire button with right and left features.

Performance

Performance has been greatly improved over the previous generation Macbook’s. Most of this is partly thanks to the inclusion of a new Intel’s new Core Duo 2 CPU which is an upgrade from last generations’ model. The new Macbooks come in 2.0 and 2.4GHz flavors. Though we did find minimal performance upgrades in the 2.4GHz model it was nothing substantial that would warrant spending an extra $300 on it.

The display as mentioned earlier is edge to edge glass and yes there is going to be some glare. We did find that it was minimal though outdoor usage did bring quite a bit depending on the position we were sitting in relating to the sun. The Macbook Pro 17” does provide a $50 anti glare option but that is not currently available on the 13” models.

Battery performance was also good. Although Apple rates the battery at a full 5 hours most of our tests got 4 hours and 45 minutes when wireless was on.

Overheating was not something that should be worried much about. Thanks to the systems good ventilation it failed to run hot on extended uses of time even when the environment was above room temperature.

Conclusion

So the question remains whether or not this is a worthy upgrade? By all means yes. The new MaqBook carries some substantial feature upgrades and is worth it. The only thing is the price which might be a little steep with the new systems starting at $1299. Even though its still a good investment as this notebook can serve as both yoru Window’s machine and of course your Mac computer.

With the release of the Mini 2140 HP hopes to fix most of those problems.

Design

The design of the Mini 2140 is nearly identical to the previous version. HP has opted for an all aluminum lid with solid magnesium alloy chassis as well as a slightly redesigned keyboard. HP notes that the new design allows the netbook to be opened and closed for ten times a day for six years which is bound to outlast the netbook.

The dimensions of the notebook are comparable to other offerings in the market niche with the system weighing in at 3 pounds with a six cell battery and 3.4 if the adapter is added. This does make the netbook a little heavier than its rivals but still light enough to fit in a handbag or messenger bag without any major weight issues.

As we said before, HP totally nailed the design of the keyboard and has opted not to mess with that very much. That said, the keyboard is almost identical to the Mini 1000. The keys are well spaced and there is little cramp so typing is just as natural as on a regular notebook or desktop keyboard.

The screen of the Mini 2140 is 10.1 inches (diagonal) and carries a 1024 x 576 pixel display which gives the system a 16:9 aspect ratio viewing experience. The display can go high def to 1366 x 768.

Other features include a 160GB HDD or 80 GB SSD, optional optical drive via External MultiBay II, 1GB or 2GB of DDR2 SDRAM, Mobile Intel GMA 950 graphic chipset, integrated VGA camera as well as 2 USB 2.0 ports, microphone in headphone/line out, VGA out, and 1 Express Card/54 and secure digital slots.

You also get Bluetooth 2.0 as well as 802.11b/g/n WiFi technology.

Performance

The HP Mini 2140 is a netbook first and last and thus will perform like a netbook. The system can handle decent tasks. If you’re planning on doing web browsing, word processing and minor multimedia work on the Mini 2140 than you’re safe. But if you’re thinking more on the lines with Photoshop than you should probably check out the Envy 133 which is a pricier alternative but still offers the slim design of the HP Mini 2140.

WiFi performance is solid. The system can play YouTube and Hulu videos without a hiccup as well as copy 5GB folders of mixed media content in as little as 5 minutes.

As for the battery, this is going to shock you. Out of our standard tests we were able to pull a full 7 hours plus of juice out of a single charge. This of course was with the 6-cell battery. As for the 3 cell we were more along the lines of three and a half hours.

Conclusion

Thanks to a well thought out design, better than expected battery life and multiple options, the HP Mini 2140 leaves little to be desired in a netbook. This is the best netbook for the traveling professional, and thanks to its long battery life you won’t find yourself looking for a plug as often as you might have thought.

Design

The design of the HP Mini 1000 mimics that of the HP Mini-Note 2133. Starting off the feature list is a 10 inch display that gives 16:9 viewing aspect ratio. The edge to edge screen is glossy which gives the system a sophisticated look as well as a little glare. But most users won’t notice this unless the screen comes in contact with direct light.

HP nailed the design keyboard on its previous netbooks and decided to bring that to the Mini 1000. The edge to edge keyboard provides comfortable typing with few compromises. Thanks to the well placed keys it’s just as easy to type on this one as it were on a regular notebook or desktop system.

On the other hand the touchpad is a little awkward. Since most of the space is taken up by the keyboard HP had to place the left and right mouse buttons on the side of the touchpad instead of below it as is normally done. This does require a little learning curve but we much rather this than having a cramped keyboard.

Under the hood is an Atom 1.6GHz CPU with 1GB DDR2 RAM standard and the option for 2GB DDR2 RAM. There is also the option for a 3G modem and the system can be modded with GPS and such units though you should note that this will undoubtedly void the warranty.

Performance

This system is a nebook and so you should expect such performance from it. Basic tasks such as web browsing, emailing, word processing, photo viewing etc are all acceptable and certain multimedia features do such as YouTube and Hulu work fine without any system lag.

Battery performance is not that grand as the system pulled in only 2 hours and 40 minutes out of a full charge on most of our tests. That is 20 minutes below the average for this category which is 3 hours. HP does allow one to purchase a 6 cell battery that can easily pull 5 hours plus out of the battery, but be prepared to spend a little more money for that option.

The screen provides enough space for viewing web pages and internet videos. Images are crisp and the colors are not distorted. As mentioned before, the glossy screen might pose a problem for users who frequent the outdoors with their system.

As for wireless you get 802.11b/g WiFi as well as Bluetooth and the option for a 3G broadband modem. Wireless performance is good and at 50 feet away from the router we were able to maintain a steady connection to view all our favorite Hulu and YouTube videos.

Conclusion

There is little to disappoint with this system. And since it provides basic computing you shouldn’t have a problem with its performance. The only major drawback is the touchpad and the glossy screen. But if you’re able to get around those two problems you’ll have a solid little system to carry wherever you go.

Design

When the MacBook Air was first released, it became the the worlds thinnest notebook measuring only 0.76 inches thin. It didn’t take long for someone to top that though, and in June Voodoo (now owned by HP) released the Envy 133 which measures 0.70 inches. Apple still touts the MacBook Air as the thinnest notebook but that is beside the point.

Like its siblings, the MacBook Air is enclosed in an all aluminum casing. The metal work is very detailed and extremely efficient. This however raises weight concerns causing the notebook to weigh in at 3.0 pounds, not making it the world’s lightest system.

Although the system is running on an Intel Core 2 Duo build, Apple worked with Intel to cut down the size of the processor to about half. The system comes in either 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz flavors. Laptop memory is upgradable to 2GB of DDR3 RAM (which equals close to 4GB of DDR2) and as for storage flavors you can either get a 120GB HDD or a 128 SSD.

The system is also fitted with a 13.3 inch LED display that gets you 1280 x 800 native resolutions. Apple opted for the Led display for better battery life and more vibrant colors. Rounding in all the features is the multitouch track pad which first debuted on the first generation Air models and has made its way to the rest of the MacBook line as well as the new MacBook Air.

Since design was the obvious choice of functionality, Apple opted for only three ports on the MacBook Air. You have your standard USB 2.0 drive as well as an audio out 3.5mm jack and your Mini DisplayPort. It should be noted that like the first generation MacBook Air, the USB port is a little tight and for most flash drives and other equipment will require an extender to make them fit.

Performance

Performance on the MacBook Air was efficient. Completing every day tasks such as web browsing, multimedia (video, photos, music) and such were all a snap. Unlike netbooks which are built for basic computing needs the MacBook can still handle programs such as Photoshop, GarageBand and all your other media intense programs.

It should be noted though that such programs are best run by themselves because although the system can support them with little lag, once other programs are running the systems performance is greatly affected and you will notice lag.

Battery life is comparable and the system gets 4-4.5 hours of battery juice with the wireless switch on. This of course decreases over time and will eventually require that the battery be replaced since (like the first generation Air models) does not carry a removable battery.

Conclusion

So how do we rank the MacBook Air? As we said before, the MacBook Air is mainly about looks and secondly performance. That does not mean that Apple compromised too much in that respect as the Air does give solid performance marks in most areas. The only thing is that we could not justify spending $1799 on a notebook that does not include an optical drive, removable battery or a better assortment of port flavors.

The EOS 5D Mark II is no exception, as it is the upgrade to the EOS 5D.

Design

For those familiar with the original EOS 5D, it will be easy to note that the Mark II does not differ much in design. Except for the 3.0 920,000 dots LCD (upgraded from 2.5 320,000 dots) and the deleted button that has been moved to the bottom left of the screen to accommodate the bigger screen size, little else has changed.

The viewfinder is great and now supports live view. Canon notes that the accuracy is 98% (which is true) and beats the D700’s 95% (from Nikon).

The life expectancy of the shutter has been upped from the previous 100,000 cycles to 150,000. Not only that but Canon has made not of the possibility of dust or sand getting into the sensor and has integrated a self cleaning system that shakes the sensor each time the camera is started. Dust and sand fall below and is picked up by a sticky surface below the shutter. As if that weren’t enough, you also have the option to create a dust map that can in turn be downloaded to your computer and once the pictures are uploaded, you can use Canon’s software to remove dust from the photos that were affected.

The only major drawback to the systems design is the exclusion of a popup flash which Canon seems not to be interested in. That said, Canon did in turn upgrade the hot-shoe to a more rugged design, so it makes the loss a little more palatable.

Performance

You’d think that photos were just great on the 5D Mark II, but they are more than great, they’re awesome. Canon has completed this task by upgrading the ISO which now offers a low of 50 and a high of 25,600. The megapixels have also been bumped up to 21.1 which gives crystal clear images.

When Nikon announced that they would be the first to offer video shooting capabilities on a DSLR you know that Canon would have to top that. And of course they did. The 5D Mark II supports full 1080p 30fps video shooting which totally trumps the 720p 30fps offering of the Nikon D90.

Video quality on the camera is superb and is equal to broadcast quality. There are a few drawbacks though. During video shooting the aperture is locked meaning you have to manually refocus. Secondly due to the CF card, you will be limited to only short video clips of around 12 minutes. Last but not least to download videos onto your computer for editing you will have to use Canon’s proprietary software to convert them.

Conclusion

If you’re not aware of the price you’re probably thinking that this system is going to cost some major greens. You’re right. For the body alone you’ll have to shell out $2700. But if your pocket is deep enough to handle it you will not find a better DSLR camera anywhere else. So if you’ve been hearing photo enthusiasts and professionals alike touting this as the greatest DSLR camera ever….they’re right.

Design

The design of the new MacBook Pro 17-inch has been completely reworked. Thanks to Apple’s new Brick manufacturing technology the entire shell is composed of a single sheet of aluminum, thus the need for screws and bolts to hold the pieces together is nonexistent. This allows better access to components and a more environmental friendly system according to Apple.

The new shell is only 0.95 of an inch thick making it the thinnest 17-inch system to date. As for weight, the MacBook Pro weighs in at 5.5 pounds.

As the name suggests the notebook is fitted with a 17-inch screen that carries an edge to edge glass LED display that gives a 700:1 aspect ratio. There is a little problem with glare though due to the glossy display. But Apple has a non-glossy screen option which will set you back $50.

Hard drive options and SSD options include: 320GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA along with an optional 320GB 7200-rpm ATA HDD and or 128GB ot 256GB SSD. 4GB of DDR3 RAM comes standard with the option to go up to 8GB which is about equal to 16GB of DDR2.

The multi touch trackpad that first debuted on the MacBook Air earlier last year is also available on this system. Multitouch support is available as well as two, three and four finger jesters.

The only major drawback to the design is the integrated battery that is only good for 1000 recharges before needing to be replaced. The battery is rated at 7-8 hours on a single charge but real world tests reveled that it was 30-45 minutes below the Apple’s PR release.

Performance

Performance is good and Apple has really nailed down some solid performance marks. Thanks to the integrated NVIDIA graphics option as well as the discrete, the system earns high marks for video and photo editing as well as average gaming abilities.

The system does require that a user logs off and on again to change from integrated to discrete graphics (and vise versa) which is a little odd seeing that Sony’s Z series can perform the same task with a switch of a button.

WiFi was a charm and we were able to pick up some pretty strong numbers even when we were more than 50 feet away from the router. The system supports 802.11b/g/n so you won’t have to worry about those next generation routers that have been popping up lately. Bluetooth 2.0 is also supported so the need for wired headphones becomes less apparent.

Conclusion

The newly redesigned MacBook Pro 17-inch is a solid offering. It carries some great features and thanks to such refinements as glass mutitouch trackpad as well as backlit a keyboard, its hard to find fault with the system. Our only major concern with the system was the integrated battery which is going to be a hard sell to non-Mac fans and the steep price. Our test system clocked in at $2,900 and there are still a few options that we left out. But if you have the money to afford it, you will not be disappointed.

The Design

The design of the Blackberry Storm is one that doesn’t stray too far from the current form factor of today’s touch screen phones. Yet it has some distinguished features that makes it…well a Blackberry.

The phone has a nice 3.5 inch touch screen that is actually “clicky.” There is a simple way to describe the technology behind the click screen though; RIM has placed a spring behind the screen that allows it to be pressed so it gives a more natural feel than the iPhone. While this is good it does require a little learning curve. I found it hard to remember that I had to actually click the screen to make a selection although this did not last too long and within minutes I was happily typing away a dummy email on the screen.

The Blackberry has dropped the famous trackball that is found in every other Blackberry phone. While it is understandable why this has been done, it leaves a little to be desired as the Blackberry OS is not optimized for touch screen and most users will find that many of the applications that they have come to like from third party venders will be a little harder to use on the new screen (classic example is Opera Mini).

The processor is another part of the phone that has been updated from most of the other Blackberry phones. While the upgrade is much needed, it should be pointed out that it still does not match the processing power of the iPhone. Scrolling on web pages can be choppy depending on the graphics and sometimes the phone can be a little none responsive although most of these issues have been cleared up with the latest updates to the phones OS.

Performance

If you are familiar with the Blackberry OS than I’m glad to say that you won’t find yourself struggling to learn this phone. While this OS has a few tweaks to accommodate the touch screen, the OS has still remained true to what we have come to love from Blackberry. The email support is strong and multimedia on the phone is a cast improvement from that of the Curve or Pearl although it still leaves a little to be desired.

Cal quality is good though there were a few problems especially when using the phone in areas where digital service was either weak or unavailable. 3G speeds are also good and are a lot better than that of the iPhone 3G which has been plagued with such problems.

The phones battery also performed very well and was a little better than that found in the iPhone. Best of all it is removable unlike that in the iPhone.

Conclusion

So you might be wondering if you should decide to sign yourself to a contract to this phone. Well if you’re bent on getting a Blackberry and want something that has a touch screen than this phone is for you. On the other hand if your Blackberry is primarily for work and you find yourself writing 3,000 word emails or documents on your Blackberry than it would be a better idea for you to leave all touch screen phones alone and go with the Blackberry Bold which carries everything the Storm carries minus the touch screen.