HP Pavilion dv6000t

We’re happy to see that while there’s a new chip on the inside, HP didn’t alter the design of the slick Pavilion dv6000t. The glossy piano-black finish and gray pinstriping outside (with that color scheme reversed inside) looks stunning. Even better, the dv6000 t has the features and performance to complement its good looks.

This six-pound notebook features a 15.4-inch widescreen LCD with a comfortable 1280 x 800-pixel native resolution. DVDs looked great on this display, and we love HP’s QuickPlay feature for launching and controlling multimedia files without booting up Windows. Viewing-angle performance was typical for this class of panel: good from side to side, but images looked washed-out when viewed from above.

The full-sized keyboard has an excellent feel, and we appreciate the touch-sensitive multimedia control buttons above the Function keys. Our only gripe: The glossy touchpad creates a lot of friction on your fingertip, making precise cursor control difficult.

Features abound, including 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, a 5-in-1 media card reader, two headphone jacks (ideal for sharing a DVD movie), and a built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam. In addition to the 2.16-GHz Core 2 Duo T7400 processor (the star attraction), our test configuration included 1GB of RAM, a 100GB hard drive, and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive.

The real draw, of course, is the performance. The Core 2 Duo processor helped the dv6000t deliver the best MobileMark 2005 score we’ve ever seen from a mainstream portable (279)--a full 50 points better than the identical machine configured with the older Core Duo CPU. Battery life was a respectable 3 hours and 39 minutes.

So for consumers and business users looking for a fast laptop, the HP Pavilion dv6000t fits the bill.

If you like this notebook, don’t miss the popular review of the HP Pavilion dv9000z.

Specifications:

CPU:  2.16-GHz Core 2 Duo T7400

RAM Included:  1GB

Hard Drive Size:  100GB

Hard Drive Type:  SATA Hard Drive

Optical Drive Type:  DVD-ROM/CD-RW

Display Size (inches):  15.4

Native Resolution:  1280x800

Wi-Fi:  802.11a/b/g

Operating System:  MS Windows XP Home

Card Slot(s):  5-1 card reader

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Dell Inspiron E1505

If you're on the hunt for a notebook that offers multimedia functionality without the usual multimedia premium, the Dell E1505 (or the 14-inch E1405) may be just what you're looking for. This notebook's dual-layer DVD burner, playback controls, and Windows XP Media Center OS make it a highly attractive, feature-rich package for students or cash-strapped professionals.

Weighing in at a relatively hefty 6.8 pounds and measuring 1.4 inches thick, the E1505 sports a roomy full-sized keyboard that makes prolonged typing comfortable. Air vents flank the left and right sides of the chassis for keeping the machine cool during extended use. The large touchpad with built-in horizontal and vertical scroll areas make navigating Web pages a breeze. Beneath the touchpad, embedded in the bezel, are DVD/CD controls that illuminate when pressed.

The 15.4-inch UltraSharp widescreen display delivered strong colors when watching DVDs, even from a variety of angles. The speakers, which are located on either side of the playback controls, produced surprisingly good sound, even though the bass was a bit weak. This configuration has an 80GB hard drive for storing your digital music collection, along with gobs of photos and videos.

Powered by a 1.66-GHz Intel Core Duo processor, the E1505 turned in a MobileMark 2005 score of 204, which is decent but a bit below average for a mainstream notebook. However, the CPU managed well under multitasking pressure; we performed two system-taxing activities-watching a DVD while running a virus scan-and the Dell breezed through our test.

The ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 graphics included in this configuration flexes more muscle than Intel's integrated graphics, but not much more. This system notched a respectable 3DMark03 score of 2,350 and managed to run F.E.A.R. at 80 fps using the autodetect settings (640 x 480-pixel resolution). However, when we bumped the resolution up to 1024 x 768, the frame rate dropped to an unplayable 7 fps.

Also included in this configuration is a nine-cell battery, which lasted a very good 5 hours and 4 minutes with Wi-Fi on and an additional three minutes with the wireless connection off. We got a healthy average throughput of 12 Mbps from 15 feet and 9.9 Mbps from 50. If you want to add mobile broadband capability, you're limited to Dell's expensive EV-DO Express Card, since this notebook doesn't have a PC Card slot.

Preinstalled software includes Corel Photo Center and Windows Digital Media Enhancements, which includes Windows Party Mode, a full-screen skin that transforms your computer into a jukebox. Dell MediaDirect allows users to access movies, music, photos, and video without needing to boot into Windows. If you want a TV tuner to complete the multimedia experience, you'll need to fork over an additional $130, which also gets you a remote control.

Connectivity options abound: four USB ports, S-Video, FireWire, a 5-in-1 media card reader, and a VGA connection are available for attaching peripherals. The E1505 also features optional Bluetooth ($49) for syncing with certain phones and for pairing a wireless headset with the notebook for making Skype calls.

Although the design is starting to show its age, the Dell E1505 is a solid investment for those looking for a dual-core system that knows how to have some fun.

Technical Specifications

CPU 1.66-GHz:  Intel Core Duo T2300 processor
RAM Included:  1GB
RAM Upgradable To:  2GB
Hard Drive Size:  80GB
Hard Drive Speed:  5,400rpm
Hard Drive Type: 
Optical Drive Type:  DVD + RDL
Optical Drive Speed:  8X
Display Size (inches):  15.4
Native Resolution:  1680*1050
Graphics Card:  ATI Mobility Radeon X1300
Video Memory:  128MB
Wi-Fi:  802.11
Bluetooth:
Mobile Broadband:
Operating System:  MS Windows XP Media Centre
Ports (excluding USB):  Ethernet;Firewire;Headphone;Microphone;Modem;S-Video;VGA
USB Ports:  4
Card Slot(s):  5-1 card reader;ExpressCard
Warranty/Support:  One year limited warranty/mail-in service, hardware warranty support
Size:  14 x 10.4 x 1.4
Weeight:  6.8 pounds

Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch)

As the first Apple laptop to be powered by an Intel dual-core processor, the Apple MacBook Pro promises much faster performance than the PowerBook. It also boasts a much brighter display than its 15-inch predecessor, one of the best webcams we've ever seen, and a slick interface for accessing your favorite pictures, movies, and music. All of this comes in a design that's still a full pound lighter than most Windows-powered mainstream laptops. Unfortunately, there's simply not enough software available that's been optimized for Intel's chip, but Apple has an ingenious but unsupported work around for that issue.

A cursory glimpse at the MacBook Pro reveals that Apple hasn't changed the machine too much from its older brother—that is, until you turn it on. Apple's first 15.4-inch widescreen (1440 x 900 pixels) is remarkably sharp and bright, and when placed next to an old PowerBook, we knew that it would be tough to go back.

The included remote, which looks like an iPod Shuffle, initializes Front Row, which resembles a smoother version of Windows Media Center. This app gives users quick and easy access to iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, and iMovie. Another multimedia perk is the 640 x 480-pixel iSight camera located directly above the screen, which looks like a small black dot. This webcam offers good images and makes for smooth videoconferencing with iChat AV.

We like that Apple kept the ambient light-sensing technology, which illuminates the keys and dims the screen in a darkened environment, and the scrolling TrackPad, which allows clickless document scrolling. Apple's SuperDrive comes standard, allowing for out-of-the box DVD burning, as does the six-pin FireWire, Bluetooth 2.0, and USB 2.0 ports on either side of the notebook. Like a small handful of PC makers, Apple has ditched the PC Card slot in favor of the smaller but faster Express Card slot. This means users will have to wait for companies to catch up before they can plug in 3G cellular modems and other peripherals.

The 2.16-GHz Intel Core-Duo and 2GB of RAM make multitasking a breeze, especially with native software, or what Apple calls Universal software. (Universal versions of Final Cut Studio 1.0, Aperture, and Logic Pro 7.1 will be available by March 31.) We created a simple Web site with iWeb while burning an audio CD in iTunes, and we didn't experience a single hiccup. Battery life was respectable, at 2 hours and 33 minutes, while playing a DVD with Wi-Fi off. That means you should expect about 3.5 hours of endurance in everyday use.

Thanks to ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics and up to 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory, gaming is finally a very real possibility for Mac users. We played World of Warcraft, and the MacBook Pro easily outperformed other Apple portables. When we optimized the graphic settings to the highest level, gameplay suffered, becoming somewhat choppy. Hopefully, developers will make more titles available for the Mac OS.

The catch to buying the MacBook Pro is that some Mac OS programs haven't been optimized to take advantage of Intel's processor. In fact, some apps actually ran slower on this system than on an older PowerBook with 1GB less memory. We performed the same Photoshop filter side-by-side, and the test took 5 minutes and 16 seconds on the MacBook Pro compared with 4 minutes and 27 seconds on the PowerBook. This 49-second delta can be chalked up to the fact that the MacBook Pro requires Rosetta translation technology (which runs automatically and undetected when you start up non-native software) in order to run nonoptimized programs. Microsoft Office is another program that cannot yet run natively on the MacBook Pro.

If you want to experience these and other apps now at full speed, Apple is offering Boot Camp, a free download that runs Windows XP natively on the MacBook Pro. You'll need to reboot your system when you want to switch operating systems, and Apple does not support Windows or Boot Camp, but simply having this sort of flexibility is a win for potential switchers. Still, some may want to wait for Leopard, the next version of Mac OS X to be previewed this August, which will include Boot Camp. By then we're assuming Apple will have worked out most of the kinks.

One seemingly minor but nonetheless brilliant innovation is the MacBook Pro's MagSafe power adapter, which automatically disconnects from the notebook's side if strain is applied to the cord. This means that should you trip over the wire, it will separate from the computer instead of bringing the notebook to the floor. If the notebook senses it's falling, Apple's Sudden Motion Sensor (a 3D accelerometer) parks the hard drive.

The MacBook Pro has all the pieces in place to become the best laptop Apple has ever produced. Until the Mac software catches up, however, you may be stuck with a potentially shaky Windows alternative. Specifications

BlackBerry 8820

For many BlackBerry fans (and haters), the lack of Wi-Fi has been at the top of the proverbial pet peeve list for years. Well, the wait is over. The BlackBerry 8820 is the first cellular device in the company's stable to offer 802.11 connectivity. While the Wi-Fi was simple to set up, it wasn't exactly blazing, and we wish you could do more with it (like VoIP). This world phone/organizer/media player/GPS navigator has more than enough going for it to warrant the $299 price tag but not enough for current 8800 owners to upgrade.

Design

With the exception of a Wi-Fi logo in the top-right corner of the 2.4-inch display, the 8820 looks and feels pretty much identical to its predecessor. And that's mostly a good thing. Sure, it's heavier and larger than the 3.9-ounce Curve, but the black-and-silver 8820 retains the relatively light (4.7 ounces) and slim profile (0.6 inches) of the 8800. You also get the same tightly packed but speedy keyboard and slick trackball for navigating menus.

Simple Wi-Fi Setup

RIM did a nice job integrating 802.11a/b/g without making it complicated. You simply click on the Manage Connections icon on the bottom of the main menu, which brings up a list of options that includes Mobile Network (AT&T/EDGE), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. A built-in wizard steps you through scanning for and connecting to available networks, whether the phone is in the office, at home, or near a public hotspot. Should the network you're trying to connect to be encrypted, you can easily type in the encryption key (WEP, WPA, etc.)

We appreciated that the 8820 automatically connected to networks saved as profiles. Once we set up our office profile, the 8820 took only five seconds to latch onto our wireless network after turning Wi-Fi on. The device's range could be better, however. When we walked about 30 feet away from the router, our 8820 showed only one bar of Wi-Fi coverage (out of five), compared with the iPhone's two bars (out of three). Plus, you can't tell how strong your Wi-Fi coverage is on the 8820 while you're surfing the Web; you have to be in the Manage Connections utility.

How Fast Is It?

On our side-by-side tests, the 8820 downloaded pages over Wi-Fi noticeably faster than the BlackBerry Curve did via EDGE, but the margin wasn't very wide. On average, the 8820 started loading CNN.com and other sites a few seconds faster than the Curve, and it loaded pages completely two to seven seconds faster. The reason for these less-than-dramatic results is that no BlackBerry has a direct connection to the Internet; Wi-Fi simply queries RIM's own servers a bit faster, and those servers have always done a superb job delivering compressed Web pages in a hurry. (We downloaded Opera Mini, which offers a more desktop-like surfing experience, but it wouldn't work over Wi-Fi.)

Having integrated Wi-Fi is less of an advantage in terms of e-mail, mostly because RIM nailed that eons ago with its push delivery. We noticed a mere one-second speed advantage when downloading a Word attachment over Wi-Fi versus EDGE. You can use the 8820 at nearly 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots in the U.S. ($7.99 per day, $29.99 per month) and at thousands of other hotspots worldwide with which AT&T has roaming agreements. Connecting to those hotspots costs $39.99 per month.

Sorry, No VoIP Here

Unfortunately, you can't use the 8820's Wi-Fi connection for making VoIP calls. For now, at least, it's for Web surfing and e-mail only. We did get Shape Services' IM+ for Skype to work on the 8820, but it worked only when we had the device's EDGE connection turned on. We're hoping the company will add Wi-Fi support in an update to the client.

GPS Still Good, Improved Multimedia

In most other respects, the 8820 is just as good as or better than the 8800. Like its predecessor, this BlackBerry can provide turn-by-turn directions when you purchase the TeleNav GPS Navigator software ($9.99 per month unlimited). We noticed much improved route-calculation times and appreciated how close to real time our location was displayed on the device. The 8820 incorrectly identified an illegal left turn as part of one route, but in general we were impressed with the accuracy of the results and the robust local search functionality.

The 8820 has also improved on the multimedia front. It's compatible with AT&T's music offerings, including XM Radio ($8.99 per month). That service delivered decent reception, but it works only over EDGE; we'd like to see Wi-Fi support added. As with the Curve, the 8820 ships with a media player that synchronizes with supplied software from Roxio, making it a cinch to drag and drop music, photos, and videos onto the device. You also get the same great multitasking capabilities as you get with the Curve, so you can surf the Web while listening to tunes through stereo Bluetooth headphones. (You can also use the 2.5mm jack.)

Solid Phone and Battery Life

Call quality was good on our tests. We noticed a little background fuzz on our end of the line, but conversations sounded pretty clear and loud overall. Other callers said we sounded very clear and almost too loud. The speaker provided more than enough volume for calls, music, and navigation. Our only nitpick is that calls sometimes took a while to connect, a complaint we also had about the Curve.

The 8820 is rated for 5 hours of talk time and 22 days of standby time. Not surprisingly, having Wi-Fi on and being connected to a network reduces this smart phone's endurance, but as usual, RIM does a nice job with power management. Even though the 8820 uses the same 1400-mAh battery as the 8800, the device lasted nearly three days with intermittent use.

Verdict

Mobile workers who consider Wi-Fi a check-off item when shopping for a smart phone won't be disappointed by RIM's implementation, but they won't be blown away, either. We consider the 802.11 connection a good backup plan for EDGE, especially when you can't get a strong cellular signal indoors. So long as you don't need a built-in camera, the 8820's snappy overall performance, GPS navigation, and multimedia features make it a solid choice for AT&T customers. Others may want to wait and see what RIM cooks up for T-Mobile.

Nokia 6555

AT&T is aggressively pushing its 3G network, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Nokia 6555. Priced at just $49 with a rebate and two year contract, the 6555 is an attractive little clamshell that sports a decent feature set, including a 1.3-megapixel camera, AT&T Music, integrated IM clients, push-to-talk (PTT), and stereo Bluetooth.

The Nokia 6555 looks pretty nifty, if somewhat retro. The first thing you'll notice when the phone is closed is the silver racing stripe around the face and back battery panel. We appreciate the sporty look, but the stripe calls to mind an '87 Trans Am a bit too strongly. PTT is accessible from the 262,000-color, 128 x 160-pixel resolution external LCD, but that's about it. You can use the external display to take pictures and video, but you first have to initialize the camera from the keypad.

Flipping open the clamshell reveals a two-inch QVGA screen capable of displaying 16.7 million colors. The phone felt a little flimsy in our hands: The plastic casing was just a bit too easy to bend and ply. We like the tactile keypad, as well as the hot keys for jumping directly to AT&T Music, Cellular Video, and the camera function.

The Nokia 6555 uses AT&T's slower UMTS data network (not HSDPA), but we were able to surf at good speeds using the MEdia Net browser. NYTimes.com loaded in 8 seconds; CNN.com loaded in 6; and Yahoo.com, which tripped up because of browser formatting, loaded in 11 seconds. Video clips also queued up quickly. Cellular Video content from CNN and ESPN loaded in just five seconds, but we noticed some lag, and the videos looked grainy. A 200KB game of Konami's Pirate Poppers downloaded in just five seconds.

Although this phone integrates Napster and Yahoo Music, we found the experience sorely lacking. Both services offer only side-loading via your PC, and Yahoo has the added drawback of requiring login information, which you can't create from the phone. XM Radio implementation was much better; it lets you start your free trial or purchase service from the phone and gain access to XM's streams. Music ID also worked well, and we were able to identify our Coheed and Cambria tracks accurately.

We were intrigued by Billboard Mobile's "The Buzz" music portal; using The Buzz you can search artists' discographies and biographies, download ringtones, and browse tour dates, although you can't purchase concert tickers over the air.

AT&T includes integrated IM clients, which impressed us. Using the options menu, you can sign into your AIM, Windows Live, or Yahoo Messenger accounts. The implementation was very clean, and we were able to sign in easily and leave the app running in the background. We couldn't find a way to sign into multiple accounts on AOL, Windows, or Yahoo, however.

Voice quality on the 6555 was good. We didn't notice any muffling, echoes, or garbling on our calls, even though the volume seemed a bit low. Battery life is satisfactory, at a rated six hours of talk time, but we noticed that using the 3G data connection shortens that very quickly. We had to recharge the phone after just over a day of heavy data use. We were also easily able to connect the phone to our Altec Lansing T515 speaker via Bluetooth, which provided good stereo sound.

If you need an excuse to jump into 3G, the Nokia 6555 may be just what you're looking for and is a decent alternative to the Samsung Sync.

Motorola Q music 9m (Verizon Wireless)

A work-and-play device that wears its dual personalities on its sleeve, the Moto Q music 9m features a unique multimedia-centric Home Screen you can launch with the push of a button. This slick smart phone rocks Windows Mobile 6, over-the-air V CAST Music downloads, and one of the best keyboards we've used. Unfortunately, Motorola's makeover of the Q didn't extend to the processor or Web browsing experience.

At 4.8 ounces, the 9m is heavier than the original Q (4.3 ounces), but the black-and-red paint job helps this smart phone look the part of a hip messaging device-music player hybrid. It's still only half an inch thick, and the soft-touch finish on the back makes it easy to hold while making calls. Navigating menus is simple-if not fast-thanks to the scroll wheel on the right side and the oversized D-pad. Like all Windows Mobile devices, application performance depends heavily on how many programs are open. And this Q sports the same 312-MHz processor as the old one, which doesn't help matters. (View photo gallery)

The star of the 9m's design is the completely retooled keyboard, whose tightly packed layout and excellent tactile feedback enables rapid typing. However, the Delete key is still above the keyboard; placing it with the rest of the letter keys would be far more intuitive. You'll also find two soft Menu keys nearby as well, along with the Send, End, and Home keys. They all lie flat but are large enough to press easily. We would have liked to see dedicated volume controls; simply moving the scroll wheel raises and lowers the volume when you're on a call, but when in other applications you have to press and hold the wheel first to adjust the volume.

The 9m's other most interesting feature is its dedicated multimedia interface. Pressing the Home Screen Toggle key on the bottom of the layout launches a second desktop screen just for multimedia, but takes a sluggish seven seconds to do so. At first it looks like just a skin for Windows Media Player Mobile, but this oval-shaped UI offers one-touch launch keys for V CAST Music, the camera, and your pictures, as well as playback and volume controls. A separate Library icon launches a menu with quick access to your music and videos, as well as the Shuffle mode.

On the other hand, this multimedia interface could be more intuitive. It's not always clear what option is highlighted, and in some cases you have to press the Back key to jump from one side of the oval to the other. We also don't like that you have to update your library with new media manually, whether it's videos you've shot with the 9m's mediocre 1.3-megapixel camera or music you've downloaded from the V CAST Music Store. You can download full tracks over the air-a first for a Verizon Wireless smart phone-but they're too pricey ($1.99 each) and take too long to download (about a minute). And the few Connect Errors we encountered didn't inspire much confidence.

You're better off sideloading tracks to a miniSD card; Verizon includes a measly 128MB card in the box, so we recommend you pump that capacity up to 4GB by purchasing your own card. Tunes sounded good and loud both through the 9m's stereo speakers on the back and through Bluetooth stereo headphones. We like that we could easily hear the music even when the device was lying down on its speakers. The 9m also includes a 2.5mm headphone jack on the top. One noticeable omission is V CAST Video support; with the exception of a few Reuters Top News video clips available two clicks away from the browser's default home page, you're on your own for content.

That brings us to the 9m's second annoying flaw: Web surfing. Even though this smart phone taps into Verizon Wireless' EV-DO data network, Internet Explorer Mobile was notoriously slow loading pages. CNN.com took 15 to 20 seconds to show up on the square screen, versus less than 10 seconds on the EDGE-enabled BlackBerry Curve. Downloading Opera provided better page formatting and improved speeds (about 8 seconds for CNN.com), so be sure to make that your first order of business.

As a productivity device, the 9m offers everything you would expect from Windows Mobile 6, including easily searchable e-mail, a calendar with enhanced week view, and contacts with a smart dial feature. But Motorola went the extra mile by bundling Documents to Go. That means you can view, edit, and create Microsoft Office attachments. You can also view PDFs and decompress ZIP files. And we appreciated the shortcut buttons for messaging and the speakerphone on the keyboard.

The 9m excelled as a phone on our tests in Manhattan and New Jersey. Other callers could tell we were on a cell phone, but they didn't have any complaints about volume or clarity. Calls on our end were always clear with minimal muffling, even on the noisy streets around Times Square. By including a bigger 1170 mAh battery this time around (versus 1130 for the first Moto Q), the 9m offered good endurance on our tests. With light usage, the phone lasted through a weekend without a recharge, so power users should expect to be able to get through a full day.

We would like to see how well the Sprint version of this device performs, especially considering that carrier's cheaper data plans, but overall the 9m is a good messaging and multimedia device with excellent call quality. If you demand snappier performance, want to be able to gab overseas, and don't care about a camera, spend $50 more on the BlackBerry 8830. But if you want quicker access to your media and better Office document support out of the box, you won't be disappointed with the Moto Q music 9m

Samsung Blast SGH-t729

Samsung calls the 20-key alphanumeric keyboard on its newest T-Mobile phone "QWERTY-like." But the messaging-centric Blast slider ($99.99 with a two-year contract) is an awkward compromise, even compared with SureType-enabled devices like the BlackBerry Pearl. And while the preconfigured e-mail and instant messaging clients for AOL, Windows Live, and Yahoo make the Blast attractive on paper, the experience fell short of our expectations.

The Blast's expanded keypad doesn't make it physically expansive. It's nearly the same size as the original RAZR, just a quarter-inch taller, thanks to its bright 2.1-inch screen. Below the screen is the usual navigation and control array, including a direct T-Zones Web-access key. On the right spine is the 1.3-megapixel camera activation/shutter button and the proprietary AC-headphone jack; on the left are the volume toggle and the microSD Card slot (view photo gallery).

Under the slider is the flat keypad. The red number keys highlight the white backlit numbers for dialing. Typing, however, is only marginally easier than standard multi-tap typing, and in some cases, such as proper names, typing is harder. Four input modes toggle through in sequence: T9 predictive text, regular multi-tap, numeric only, and symbols. When you move from T9 to multi-tap for proper names, you then have to toggle through numeric and symbol modes to get back to T9. You'd never use T9 for entering e-mail addresses, but you still have to toggle through it. The frequently used @ sign, easy to find by toggling through the 1 key on any standard cell, is buried in the symbols menu, as are such frequently used punctuation marks as commas and apostrophes.

Signing in on the preinstalled AOL, Gmail, and Yahoo e-mail accounts requires only your e-mail address and password, but we frequently encountered annoying "Invalid user or password" error messages even during initial usage, then intermittently while trying to download, read, or send messages. And our Yahoo e-mail messages never synched for us, even though Yahoo instant messaging worked fine. Setting up a POP3 account was anything but intuitive, and unfortunately the manual didn't help. On a brighter note, once you're signed into your AOL, Yahoo, or Gmail account, you stay signed in; you won't have to re-enter your user name or password.

Access to T-Mobile's EDGE network in New York City was spotty. In locales where AT&T's EDGE network had five bars of coverage, T-Mobile gave us two bars. Unfortunately, there's no icon to indicate EDGE or GPRS modes. When we had access, WAP Web service was surprisingly smooth and swift. The main T-Zones menu page loaded in less than ten seconds, and subsequent news and information pages such as ABC News, CNN, and ESPN loaded in three to eight seconds.

The Blast includes an MP3/AAC music player, but there's no direct music button; it takes three clicks to get to the player from the menu. Unlike other musical cells, the phone offers true random play, where a different song starts each time you activate the player. We like that you can access paired stereo Bluetooth headphones directly through the music player rather than via a separate menu.

The 1.3-MP camera took bright, clean, pictures up to 1280 x 1024 pixels, as long as you hold the phone steady; QCIF videos (176 x 144 pixels) are too tiny and pixelated to recognizably render anything but large objects in bright light.

Voice and ringer volume were loud enough at their upper levels, but the choice of ringtones lacks imagination. Voice quality never rose above mediocre on our tests. Other callers sounded hollow and thick, as if they were conversing through a tube. Battery performance was exemplary, however; we got 10 to 15 minutes more than the rated five hours of talk time, and standby time is rated at 8.3 days.

If your T-Mobile priorities lean more toward messaging, the Sidekick ID is a better choice for your money, even though we're not big fans of that device, either. On the other hand, the Sidekick isn't as svelte as the Blast, and it lacks the Blast's MP3 capabilities. If talking, listening and shooting pictures are as important to you as e-mail and messaging, we'd recommend spending $50 more for the BlackBerry Pearl.

Motorola RAZR2 V9 (AT&T)

Among the three new RAZR2s, the V9 model from AT&T stands out for its superb voice quality (especially in noisy environments) and speedy surfing using a full HTML browser. We also like that you can do just about anything while listening to music. It's not perfect, but the V9 is the best clamshell the carrier offers.

The V9 is close to the same size as the V9m for Sprint and Verizon Wireless but just a tad thicker (0.52 inches versus 0.46) and a little heavier (4.4 ounces versus 4.13). It also sports a shiny Mahogany finish and the same slick but sturdy design as the other models, complete with vacuum-metalized finish, chemically hardened glass, and a chrome hinge. But that's not what you notice first when you pick up the Motorola RAZR2 V9; it's the gorgeous two-inch external display. Like the V9m's screen, it sports 320 x 240-pixel resolution but more colors (262,000 versus 65,000).

The large external screen lets users open and scroll through their music libraries, as well as launch the camera for taking self-portraits. The display is also used for picture caller ID. Using the buttons on the left side of the phone, we were able to scroll through playlists, songs, and albums and alter the volume, as well as fast-forward, skip, play, and pause tracks with the haptic controls. Motorola wisely lets you lock the external keys to prevent accidental presses.

Flipping open the phone reveals an equally gorgeous and even larger (2.2-inch) internal display with the same resolution and colors. Besides the standard cell phone buttons, the RAZR2 V9 features a dedicated Opera browser key for quickly accessing the Web, and another that takes you directly to Cellular Video, which contains tons of clips from Comedy Central, ESPN, HBO Mobile, and other media outlets. The D-pad is smaller than the ones found on the Sprint and Verizon V9m, but we still found it easy to use.

The Daily Show segments loaded in just under 15 seconds on AT&T's high-speed HSDPA network, and for the most part featured decent video and sound. Although video quality on this model wasn't nearly as crisp as on Sprint's version of the RAZR2 V9m, AT&T's offering lets you pause playback and watch clips in full-screen mode (features that Sprint's V9m lacks). Verizon's V9m also offers full-screen viewing and the ability to pause playback, but the video quality wasn't as good.

When we accessed YouTube Mobile, it performed like a champ in both normal and full-screen modes. Unlike Sprint's V9m, however, you can't watch video on the external display when the flip is closed. Diversion-seekers can also tune into XM Radio Mobile ($8.99 per month) or MobiRadio ($8.99 per month), as well as access MySpace Mobile ($2.99), although MySpace wasn't yet available during our testing. Oddly, this multimedia dynamo lacks AT&T's new Video Share feature.

With the plethora of features crammed into cell phones these days, it's easy to forget what a mobile is first and foremost designed to do: make calls. AT&T's version of the RAZR2 V9 features CrystalTalk, which utilizes noise-canceling technology to improve voice quality. Even on a loud, bustling midtown Manhattan street, friends and colleagues reported exceptional call quality with only a hint of background noise. The V9 bested both the Sprint and Verizon Wireless V9m in this test.

Multitaskers will love the RAZR2 V9's ability to play their favorite tunes while surfing the Web, sending instant messages, and even using the two-megapixel camera--something you can't do with the Sprint and Verizon versions. You can sideload songs by synching the phone with Windows Media Player or using a microSD Card. Unlike other AT&T handsets, this one doesn't support over-the-air music downloads via eMusic. We say skip the proprietary USB/audio jack for listening, and use a stereo Bluetooth headset instead.

Surfing the Web on the RAZR V9 is a joy, thanks to the included Opera Web browser, which loaded HTML Web pages quickly. When we visited CNN.com, text loaded within 6 seconds, with photos loading about 15 seconds later. Page formatting wasn't perfect, but sites were relatively easy to navigate. Assuming you'll be in coverage areas with HSDPA data, the RAZR2 V9 is rated at 3 hours and 25 minutes of talk time. That's not very long, but it's on par with other 3G phones on AT&T's network.

Although the Motorola RAZR2 V9 is pricey, its excellent voice quality, smooth Web-surfing, loads of multimedia content, and beautiful design make it one of best mobiles that Motorola has ever produced and one of the best with AT&T, period.

Motorola RAZR2 V9m (Sprint)

Each of the new RAZR2s boasts a huge two-inch external display, but Sprint's pearl-gray version stands out from the crowd because it takes advantage of that screen for watching everything from The Daily Show clips to full episodes of Ugly Betty. More important, this RAZR2, which sports the same sleek and sturdy design as the models from AT&T and Verizon Wireless, costs $50 less. Other unique perks include access to NFL Mobile and 99-cent over-the-air music downloads. Add in good call quality and you have a satisfying, though far from revolutionary, sequel for style-conscious multimedia hounds.

Having a bigger screen involves a couple of tradeoffs (view photo gallery). The RAZR2 V9m is noticeably heavier than the original RAZR V3m (4.2 ounces versus 3.5). It's also 0.2 inches taller, although some may prefer that extra length when making calls. One thing is for sure: This clamshell feels practically indestructible compared with designs from LG and Samsung, thanks to the V9m's stainless-steel internal frame and hinge. And at 0.47 inches, this RAZR is slightly thinner than its predecessor. The large dialpad was easy to use and has improved tactile feedback compared with previous RAZRs, but people with smaller thumbs may find themselves straining a bit to reach across the wide layout. Navigating menus with the oversized D-pad was a breeze.

So what's the point of putting a big display on the outside of a clamshell--other than providing additional eye candy? In the case of the V9m for Sprint, you get one-touch access to Sprint TV, the Sprint Music Player, and the camera, using three touch controls with their own icons. Pressing and holding each button, complete with haptic feedback, launched TV in 15 seconds, music in 10 seconds, and the camera in 3 seconds. Once in the TV menu, you can navigate the program guide and select a video to watch. The music player simply starts playing the songs you've downloaded or sideloaded, and you see large album art along with touch controls for Play and Rewind/Fast-Forward. Firing up the camera lets you use the external display for taking self-portraits.

The external display, which sports 320 x 240-pixel resolution and 65,000 colors, looked very crisp on our tests but picked up fingerprints quickly. The internal screen offers the same resolution and number of colors but a larger 2.2-inch viewing area. We found Sprint's menu system the most dynamic and modern-looking, thanks in part to an animated Sprint logo in the background. The main screen includes shortcuts to SMS, Sprint Music, Sprint TV, and My Content (including games, IM & E-mail, and Applications). Once you enter the main menu, you can toggle from a tabbed view to a grid view. You can also use a list view, but it's just too long and confusing. The left side of the phone houses the volume controls and Voice Command button, and on the right side there's a launch key for the Pictures menu.

The RAZR2 offers all of the features you would expect from a multimedia phone, including stereo Bluetooth, a two-megapixel camera, and up to 2GB of memory using a microSD Card slot. (Annoyingly, it's behind the battery.) Those looking for turn-by-turn directions can spring for Sprint Navigation powered by TeleNav, whose technology also powers the navigation application for the AT&T RAZR2 V9. Sprint Navigation was not yet available for the RAZR2 V9m during our testing.

True Sprint-specific features start with Sprint TV. On our tests, the picture quality was decent. Navigating the program guide, even on the external display, was simple. However, there were several occasions where an image remained on the screen for a few moments as the stream continued. Also, we wish that you could view videos on the internal display in full-screen mode.

Another cool application unique to Sprint is NFL Mobile. Using an interface similar to that of ESPN MVP from Verizon, a left navigation area littered with icons makes checking the latest stats and scores easy. You can personalize that menu by adding your favorite team, so we could easily access the latest news on the NY Giants, for example. Clicking on Fantasy brought up a Coming Soon screen that promised exclusive analysis and team-management features. You can also check the latest video highlights and set team and player alerts. Our only complaints with this: The text size was too small (due to the RAZR2's high-res screen), and on one occasion the app wouldn't open until we rebooted the phone.

As a music player, Sprint's RAZR2 V9m offers faster and cheaper downloads than the Verizon Wireless version. Our 99-cent tracks from The Bravery, Fall Out Boy, and The Killers downloaded in just 10 to 15 seconds, compared with 40 seconds to a minute for Verizon. Sound quality through both the RAZR2's speaker and through Motorola stereo Bluetooth headphones was excellent with plenty of volume. Just don't expect to multitask; Unlike the LG Muziq, you can't send or receive text messages or do anything else while you're rocking out--except shop for more tracks. Being able to control the music from the external display is convenient, but there's no way to manually lock the touch-sensitive buttons to prevent accidental presses while your tunes are playing. (They automatically lock after 15 seconds). The music player refused to launch on one occasion, forcing us to reset the device once more.

Surfing the Web was quite fast on this V9m's Obigo browser, at least when using sites optimized for mobile viewing. Loading the WAP version of CNN.com took only four seconds. The browser can handle HTML pages, but loading the full version of CNN.com took more than 30 seconds, and even then scrolling was sluggish. For when you need a quick info hit, use the bundled Handmark On Demand service, which features a simple tiled interface; it loaded top news stories, weather, and more in just three seconds.

The two-megapixel camera was poor in low light but produced decent images indoors with a fair amount of ambient light. Outdoor shots had good detail, and shutter speed in general was good. We found the 320 x 240-pixel videos captured by the camcorder function to be above average, with not nearly as much warping or artifacts present when we panned with the V9m.

In general, call quality on the V9m was very good compared with other print phones. Other callers said we sounded clear, and we noticed little fuzziness on our end of the line. However, Sprint's V9m performed the worst in our background-noise test compared with the AT&T and Verizon RAZR2, where we left voice messages on a landline from all three handsets while standing behind an ice cream truck in midtown Manhattan. Several words were clipped, and the background noise was more apparent than with the other phones. The rated talk time is about 3.3 hours, and with regular use we found ourselves having to charge every day.

Assuming Sprint works out some of the software bugs, we highly recommend the RAZR2 V9m. It makes premium Sprint phones like the $129 Sanyo Katana DLX look downright dowdy, and its zippy processor helps the V9m run circles around previous RAZRs. The RAZR2 V9m from Verizon offers better coverage but a weaker user interface and more expensive music downloads. AT&T's V9 offers CrystalTalk and a more robust browser but no over-the-air music downloads, and it’s not yet compatible with the carrier’s Video Share service. Sprint's edition isn’t perfect, but the carrier makes the most of the RAZR2's big external display, and it does so at a more affordable price.

Pantech C3b

The Pantech C3b might have you rethinking the whole "bigger is better" thing. With surprisingly good voice quality, this tiny 2.5-ounce clamshell phone from AT&T (which is only $19.99 with a two-year contract if you buy online) is the smallest flip phone on the market. It's like the phone from Zoolander-except this one works. It even comes with Bluetooth, but you'd be lucky to find a headset much smaller than this cell.

About the size of a pack of gum, the 2.7 x 1.7 x 0.8-inch phone not only leaves you with more than enough room in your pocket for your wallet but is also bound to have you digging around to find the little guy. With a boxy shape and silver-matte finish, the Pantech C3b's style is simple, though you can easily snap off the textured cover and replace it with the included blue faceplate. (Accessory packs with multicolor faceplates are available for $14.99 through AT&T). The phone's overall build is quite sturdy; the hinge felt solid but requires only one finger to flip it open.

The external color screen displays the time, date, battery status, signal strength, and incoming-call information. Just below that display sits the phone's VGA camera lens and flash. The volume rocker lies on the left edge just below the sealed headset port.

Open the C3b and you find a bright but small 1.5-inch color display and a cramped keypad with a D pad, two soft keys, and Send and End buttons. The screen is understandably small, and if you're far-sighted, this phone will feel like you're reading an eye chart. Though the menu was easy to navigate and we didn't have to squint when text messaging, the tiny screen made having more than two Yahoo Messenger chats at the same time impossible.

The tight keypad didn't make chatting any easier, and even more frustrating is that the top can't flip open as fully as other clamshell phones. Though this seems like a minor issue, it's our biggest complaint, as we couldn't get the phone to fit comfortably to our ear.

On the plus side, we were blown away by the C3b's call quality. We could hear our callers with absolutely no echo, which is surprising for such a small phone; don't bother with the tinny speakerphone, though. Surfing the Web delivered quick response times over GPRS (that's right, you don't even get EDGE), but this fashion phone wasn't designed for data hounds. We see most users at most downloading ringtones or wallpapers.

The device's VGA camera was good enough for sharing pics via MMS, and the flash even let us take some decent pictures at night. We also had fun with the C3b's multishot mode, which lets you take four, six, or nine quick frames of a moving image. We like that you can use the phone as a flashlight by holding down the external volume button. Other features include an internal stopwatch and a measurement converter.

Our tests proved that Pantech's reported three hours of talk time and ten days of standby time weren't generous enough, as we chatted for about 4.5 hours before the C3b's battery drained. With that kind of endurance, you don't have to worry too much about using the Bluetooth connection. Pairing the C3b with our Kyocera Bluetooth headset was easy.

Even though the Pantech C3b looks like a gag gift, it performs well given its small size. However, if comfort is important to you, and you're a heavy texter, you would be better off buying a slightly bigger phone with a wider keypad and larger screen.

Gateway T-6836

Most budget-friendly midsize laptops feature 15.4-inch screens that, while good for watching movies, can be a burden to schlep around campus. For the truly mobile student, a system with a 14.1-inch screen will be slightly more portable but is still big enough to use as a primary computer. The 14.1-inch Gateway T-6836, available in a fixed configuration at Best Buy, is one of our favorite budget-friendly midsize systems for the back-to-school season. Its sleek, colorful case design looks more expensive than its $799 price tag, and it comes stocked with components that helped it outperform similarly priced systems on CNET Labs' tests. Our complaints about the T-6836 are minor: its key travel feels a bit shallow, and its speakers produce tinny sound. Those quibbles aside, the Gateway T-6836 represents an excellent value proposition for students headed to campus this fall.

The laptops in Gateway's T series come in multiple colors, depending on where they're sold. Our Gateway T-6836, currently available at Best Buy, features a gray-blue lid and wrist rest (Gateway calls it "Pacific Blue") with a black display bezel and silver keyboard. The color is subdued, but it also provides a distinctive look that will stand out among a sea of black systems. Our only criticism is that the glossy case finish is particularly prone to fingerprints; after handling the laptop a few times the lovely lid was marred with plenty of smudges.

Aesthetics aside, the T-6836 feels sturdy, and we like that the lid attaches to the base via two extra-wide hinges. Its case is also a hair smaller than similar systems, such as the Dell Inspiron 1420-123B and the HP Pavilion dv2915nr. The Gateway T-6836's 14.1-inch screen also gives you a weight advantage over such 15.4-inch mainstream models as the Dell Inspiron 1525-122b and HP Pavilion dv6915nr. In exchange for sacrificing an inch (but no pixels) of screen size with the Gateway T-6836, you'll save a half-pound of weight.

We really like the displays on Gateway's budget systems, and the T-6836's 14.1-inch screen is no exception. It features a typical 1,280x800-pixel native resolution, and it displays such rich colors that movies and photos look great. The slightly glossy finish strikes a great balance between making colors pop and keeping reflections to a minimum. (Because this is a fixed configuration for sale in retail stores, there is not a matte-screen finish option.) It all adds up to a better media experience than we'd usually expect from a laptop that costs $799.

We're slightly less enthusiastic about the keyboard on the Gateway T-6836. It is full-size, and we were able to type without errors, but the key travel was a bit too shallow for our tastes. Typing comfort can be subjective, so we strongly suggest giving the keyboard a try before deciding to buy the T-6836. The keyboard is framed in brushed aluminum; above the keyboard are a button to launch Windows Media Center, a row of keys to control disc playback that are cut into the brushed aluminum, and a touch-sensitive slider to control volume. Handy but unobtrusive port labels on the keyboard deck let you know where to plug in peripherals.

Gateway keeps things simple with the T-6836, offering just the basics when it comes to ports and connections. Some users might miss the mini FireWire port we've come to expect on laptops of this size, but there is a multiformat memory-card reader for transferring photos and video. Unsurprising for a laptop at this price level, the T-6836's built-in speakers produce grating, tinny sound.

The retail-only Gateway T-6836's fixed configuration is built around a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 CPU, which is typical for a mainstream budget system (and also found in the Dell Inspiron 1420-123B). What's not typical for a mainstream budget system is the Gateway's 4GB of 667MHz RAM, plus the 64-bit version of Vista to take advantage of the full RAM allotment. Those features were enough to carry the Gateway T-6836 to the head of the class on all of CNET Labs' performance benchmarks, making it the highest performer among back-to-school laptops in the $730 to $800 price range.

The Gateway T-6836's included six-cell battery ran for 2 hours and 58 minutes on our video playback battery drain test. That's an impressive score for a mainstream system, especially one priced this low. Among similar back-to-school laptops you'll find at Best Buy this season, only the Dell Inspiron 1420-123B outlasted the Gateway, while the rest of the systems failed to make it past the 2.5-hour mark. Our battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and office use.

Gateway backs the T-6836 with an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty, with 24-7 phone support during the warranty period. The company's Web site includes the expected driver downloads and FAQs, as well as the opportunity to send e-mail to a technician. Every T series laptop also comes preloaded with Gateway's BigFix diagnostic software

HP Pavilion tx2622nr Entertainment

Specifications

• Manufacturer:HP
• Part Number:ZY116UA#ABA

General

• Recommended Use Home use
• Built-in Devices Stereo speakers , Wireless LAN antenna
• Embedded Security Fingerprint reader
• Width 12 in
• Depth 8.8 in
• Height 1.5 in
• Weight 4.6 lbs
• Localization English / United States
• Notebook type Thin-and-light (4-6 lbs.), Budget
• Screen type High-gloss/Anti-glare screen , Touch-screen , Wide-screen
• Wireless capabilities 802.11g, 802.11b

Processor

• Processor AMD Turion X2 mobile processor RM-70 / 2 GHz
• Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
• 64-bit processor Yes

Cache Memory

• Type L2 cache
• Cache size 1 MB

RAM

• Installed Size 3 GB / 4 GB (max)
• Technology DDR2 SDRAM
• RAM form factor SO DIMM 200-pin
• RAM configuration features 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB

Storage Controller

• Storage controller type Serial ATA
• Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-150

Storage

• Floppy Drive None
• Hard Drive 250 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
• Storage Removable None
• Hard drive type Portable

Optical Storage

• Type DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM
• Disc Labeling Technology LightScribe Technology

Optical Storage (2nd)

• 2nd optical storage type None

Card Reader

• Card reader type 5 in 1 card reader
• Supported flash memory cards Memory Stick , MultiMediaCard , SD Memory Card , XD-Picture Card , Memory Stick Pro

Display

• Display Type 12.1 in TFT active matrix
• Max Resolution 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
• Widescreen Display Yes
• Features BrightView

Video

• Graphics Processor / Vendor ATI Radeon HD 3200
• Video Memory GDDR2 SDRAM - 64 MB
• Total Available Graphics Memory 1470 MB

Audio

• Audio output type Sound card
• Audio Output Features Altec Lansing speakers

Notebook Camera

• Camera Type Integrated

Multimedia Functionality

• TV Tuner Type None

Input Device(s)

• Input device type Keyboard , Touchpad , Digitizer , QuickPlay , Touch-screen

Telecom

• Modem Fax / modem
• Max transfer rate 56 Kbps

Networking

• Networking Network adapter
• Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
• Data link protocol Ethernet , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g , Fast Ethernet , Gigabit Ethernet
• Networking standards IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g

Expansion / Connectivity

• Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 200-pin , 1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/34
• Interfaces 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A , 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm , 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm , 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) , 1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11 , 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 , 1 x Remote control - Infrared , 1 x Docking / port replicator , 2 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm

Miscellaneous

• Included Accessories Remote control

Power

• Power device form factor External

Battery

• Technology 6-cell Lithium ion
• Installed Qty 1

Operating System / Software

• OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Software Microsoft Works , Muvee autoProducer , CyberLink DVD Suite , Adobe Acrobat Reader , AOL Instant Messenger , HP QuickPlay Software , HP Smart Web Printing , HP Total Care Advisor , HP Photosmart Essential , Microsoft Office OneNote , HP Help and Support Center , Microsoft Internet Explorer , Norton Internet Security 2008 (60 days subscription) , Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60 days trial)

Manufacturer Warranty

• Service & Support 1 year warranty
• Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year

HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition

Specifications

• Manufacturer:HP
• Part Number:NF753AV

General

• Notebook type Budget

Processor

• Processor 1.60 GHz

RAM

• Installed Size 1 GB

Storage

• Hard Drive 16 GB

Operating System / Software

• OS Provided Windows XPGet things done, stay connected, and enjoy entertainment in a protected environment

Sager NP4780 Review

It makes more sense to think of Sager's NP4780 as a desktop PC that's easy to transport between offices than as a truly portable notebook. For several reasons, it doesn't quite fit the bill as a system you would want to use while you walk around the office or sit on an airplane. The handsome silver-and-gray slab weighs a shoulder-straining, knee-crunching 9.4 pounds (or 11.3 with its AC power supply). At 15.5 inches wide by 10.75 inches deep, it won't fit on a standard airplane foldout tray nor on many hotel sideboards. Moreover, its battery lasts less than 90 minutes and requires a screwdriver to swap. Still, we think the Sager NP4780 offers enough muscle and features for you to consider trading in a desktop for this computer, which is small enough to lock away inside your desk.

The NP4780's strength is that it offers all the comforts and capabilities of a desktop computer in a notebook. For one thing, the keyboard has a separate numeric keypad instead of a patch of letter keys assigned to perform dual functions. The springy, quiet keyboard is also very comfortable for typing. A bright, crisp, 17-inch (diagonal) screen displays a movie-friendly 1,440x900 WXGA resolution, and the standalone ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro 3D graphics controller with 128MB of memory plays movies with no hesitation or jitter. A Pentium 4 running Windows XP Pro at 3.2GHz and backed up by 1GB of 400MHz memory and a 60GB drive spinning at 7,200rpm lets you zip through ordinary computing tasks. (For an extra $530, you can even upgrade the memory to 2GB, but those modules run at a slower 333MHz, which may ultimately result in decreased performance.)

Sager loaded the NP4780 with enough features to make the $2,510 price tag look like a square deal. The list includes a Gigabit Ethernet adapter, an integrated 802.11b wireless networking adapter, a DVD-RW drive, a FireWire port, and a Type II PC Card slot. More exotic features include a four-slot flash-memory reader that can handle six common formats: CompactFlash, Microdrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Secure Digital, and MultiMediaCard; plus a Camtel video camera built into the lid (although like most pinhole cameras, it tends to capture a delayed, blurry stream), and a television tuner with a handheld remote control (a port on the side can attach to a cable television feed or an antenna). For movie watchers and game players, the subwoofer built into the bottom of the notebook is a good complement to the four clear-sounding and reasonably loud stereo speakers placed next to the keyboard on the front edge. You can also use the NP4780's S/PDIF port to divert audio to an external 5.1 surround-sound setup.

Sager provides a toll-free telephone number for free lifetime tech support, available weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT. However, the warranty runs only one year, which seems inadequate considering the NP4780's price tag. You can extend it to three years for $210 or four years for $260. You also get a thorough user manual, which provides extensive information on the configuration, power management, graphics controller, BIOS, and other important details about the NP4780.

Specifications