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Updated: Top laptops: the 20 best laptops in the world

By TechRadar, published 31-10-2011

Choosing the best laptop for youOur continually updated list of all the best laptops available today.Choosing which laptop is the best for you can be a tricky business, and the amount of choice can be overwhelming. There's no shortage of cheap laptops out there to choose from, but with new models being released and almost immediately replaced by manufacturers, the choice is no easy task. As well as reading through this feature, you can also check out our video buying guide below:brightcove : 1070855030001The lure of netbooks and the rise of the mini-laptop are also huge factors for those looking for a new notebook, but each has their downsides.That's why we've pored over our huge database of laptop reviews and picked out the best notebooks money can buy. We've picked out five of the best c...

Updated: Top laptops: the 20 best laptops in the world

By TechRadar, published 10-11-2011

Choosing the best laptop for youOur continually updated list of all the best laptops available today.Choosing which laptop is the best for you can be a tricky business, and the amount of choice can be overwhelming. There's no shortage of cheap laptops out there to choose from, but with new models being released and almost immediately replaced by manufacturers, the choice is no easy task. As well as reading through this feature, you can also check out our video buying guide below:brightcove : 1070855030001The lure of netbooks and the rise of the mini-laptop are also huge factors for those looking for a new notebook, but each has their downsides.That's why we've pored over our huge database of laptop reviews and picked out the best notebooks money can buy. We've picked out five of the best c...

New ASRock HTPCs Leak with Sandy Bridge CPUs

By MaximumPC, published 09-07-2011

The original ASRock Vision 3D is acknowledged to be one of the best small form factor HTPCs available. It was a reasonably specced machine for its time, but a page was recently discovered on the ASRock site that points to the second generation Vision with spiffy new Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs. The machine will be packing a 1GB GeForce GT540M GPU, HDMI-out, a Blu-Ray drive, USB 3.0, and of course support for Nvidia 3D Vision technology. The new unit will offer configurations with the full range of Sandy Bridge parts; Core i3, i5, and i7 will all be available. This is hardly a complete overhaul of the Vision 3D line, but the Sandy Bridge parts should give these machines a little extra speed to push all those bits around. No pricing or release date was listed on the ASRock page, but it can...

Intel Reveals 16 New Sandy Bridge Processors

By MaximumPC, published 09-06-2011

While the more leisure-loving among us were roasting weenies over Labor Day weekend, the folks at Intel were busy rolling up their sleeves and going to work. The company revealed a whopping 16 new Sandy Bridge processors over the weekend; five mobile chips and 11 desktop-ready models. That includes couple of Core i3 and i5 chips and a handful of Pentium and Celeron offerings. The big news, though, is the price. The sub-$100 cost of most of the models probably means that Intel’s well aware of the value-priced appeal of AMD’s entry level Llano chips. As if that wasn't good news enough, Tom’s Hardware reports that the updated Intel price list brings the cost down on some older low power offerings, including five Core i5 chips as well as the Core i7 2600S processor. Here’s the complet...

Review: Sony VAIO VPC-F21Z1E

By TechRadar, published 21-06-2011

Alright, fancypants. You want a laptop of luxury, but you don't want an Apple MacBook? Not even a 17-inch MacBook Pro? You want 3D but a Zalman 3D monitor isn't for you? Fancy the sort of black plastic slab that your friends can only dream of owning? You want a machine so heavy and precious that taking it out of the house is about as easy as taking a cat for a walk? You've got it in the Sony VAIO VPC-F21Z1E. You've also got an empty wallet and, as we'll discover, a vague sense of disappointment. Clearly you can't have everything.Let's set this up, though: the Sony VAIO VPC-F21Z1E, in culinary terms, is a burger with all the toppings. It's got a Blu-ray drive, it's got USB 3.0 support, it's got a light-up chiclet keyboard and, most importantly, it's got a 16-inch screen capable of stereosco...

Review: Toshiba Satellite P755-113

By TechRadar, published 21-06-2011

Things are moving fast in mobile gaming right now. For the traditional laptop to stay relevant in these tablet-filled times, it has to offer something special to offset the decreased mobility compared to its touchscreen foe. The easiest area to exploit is raw power, specifically graphics. Fruit Ninja is all well and good on an Apple iPad 2, but what if you want to play the latest DirectX 11 games on the go?Enter Toshiba's Satellite P775-113. Under the bonnet, an Nvidia GT 540M handles the pixel pushing, which spells playable frame rates in graphically demanding DX11 titles. It's the latest in a new breed of vaguely affordable gaming PCs making the most out of rapidly advancing mobile technology. And at this price point, things are starting to get crowded. Medion's Erazer X6811 has impressi...

Buying Guide: What's the best Core i7 laptop?

By TechRadar, published 13-06-2011

Intel's Core i3 and Core i5 processors provide ample power for the price. But when it comes to getting the most power for your money, nothing comes close to Intel's high-performance Core i7 processors, especially in the latest Sandy Bridge versions. The Core i7 has finally blurred the lines between laptop and desktop PCs and, in many cases, the prices are highly affordable.What's the best Core i3 laptop?To help you choose the right machine for your needs, we've brought together four of the best Core i7-powered laptops, at prices to suit all budgets.What's the best Core i5 laptop?Offering staggering performance and features ideal for the whole family, you won't fi nd a more powerful range of consumer laptops. 1. MSI CX640-018UK - £512The combination of excellent performance, long battery l...

Review: MSI CX640-018UK

By TechRadar, published 24-05-2011

MSI manufactures everything from individual computer chips to full laptops and the CX640-018UK is a prime example of excellent components combining to form a great all round machine. Only a slight usability issue detracts from an excellent experience. Intel's Sandy Bridge appears in the form of the Intel Core i7 2410M and provides excellent performance, as with the Dell Inspiron 15R and Lenovo G570. In fact, the MSI was only narrowly beaten by the Lenovo in our benchmarking tests, and this laptop can easily handle everything you throw at it. Even when multi-tasking with several applications, there's no slowdown. A dedicated Nvidia GT 540M graphics card handles photo and video editing, and you can play the latest games if you turn down the graphical detail. BenchmarksBattery life: 333 minut...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 21-05-2011

This week's reviews include HTC's tablet as well as the new 2011 iMac lineup.The HTC Flyer was announced at Mobile World Congress when it impressed, but how does it stand up to the iPad 2 and plethora of Android 3.0 devices?The new 21.5 and 27-inch iMacs offer awesome power, but do they give you more power than you need? We've also looked at an epic 50-inch plasma TV from Panasonic and much more. Read on to find out more. HTC Flyer reviewNow that Android is a major tablet OS, with Android 3.0 appearing on the likes of the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1V, HTC is still staying separate from the crowd. The most notable change from the norm is the 7-inch screen and the touchscreen stylus, known officially as the Magic Pen. It connects wirelessly to the Flyer, and enables you to anno...

Review: Acer Aspire 5750G

By TechRadar, published 18-05-2011

We've seen Sandy Bridge laptops emerge from almost every major manufacturer since Intel unveiled its second generation processor earlier this year. While these laptops have differed wildly in look and size, from the tiny Samsung 9000S to the hulking Dell XPS 17, we've found that performance is consistently excellent.Now it's Acer's turn to join the Sandy Bridge club, with the Aspire 5750G. It looks like a typical Acer machine on the outside, with the Taiwanese giant's standard design in place, but inside it's brimming with power. Best of all, the £680 asking price is rather low considering the tight specs. If you're a student with high demands, or need a laptop that'll suit the whole family, this is a great, affordable option.With a pleasant blue finish to the lid and palmrests, the Aspir...

Review: Panasonic Lumix G3

By TechRadar, published 05-12-2011

Panasonic G3 review: OverviewThough the compact-styled GF1 proved very popular as a 'take-everywhere' camera for enthusiast photographers, its replacement - the GF2, left these users nonplussed. This was largely down to the fact that Panasonic simplified the handling, removed several of the direct control buttons (including the mode dial, drive mode switch, AEL and DOF preview buttons) and introduced touch-screen control. This may have been intended to appeal to novice photographers, but to enthusiasts it felt like dumming down. The modern-day classic reportage camera appeared to have been transformed into a happy-snappers model – albeit a very nicely built one.Panasonic's new Lumix DMC-G3, however, could be the camera that GF1 and G2 users want to upgrade to. It combines the compact cam...

Buying Guide: Best Intel Core laptops 2011

By TechRadar, published 05-09-2011

Intel may have announced its new Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3, Core, i5 and i7 processors in January. But laptops based on the platform have been slow to emerge - it's only now that we're seeing the results drip slowly into stores. So here's the best of our reviews so far - now you can choose the Sandy Bridge laptop that's right for you. 1. Packard Bell EasyNote TS13This laptop features an updated version of the Core i3-2310M CPU, which offers considerable power on a budget. With 4096MB of DDR3 memory also on board, you can comfortably multi-task with applications.The EasyNote TS13-HR-035 is a great and cheap way of enjoying and editing your media on the move. Performance is strong and the display is satisfyingly vibrant, while usability and a range of useful features are additional highligh...

How To Build a Compact 3D-Enabled HTPC For Less Than $1000

By MaximumPC, published 05-02-2011

We set out to build a Sandy Bridge box that takes up little space in our entertainment center and fulfills all our streaming needs Back in the August 2010 issue of Maximum PC I built a 3D HTPC that I was pretty damned happy with, but the times have changed. The CableCard quad tuner that was featured prominently in that machine is no longer needed, as I have joined the ranks of the Cable Cutter Movement™. So without the need for a CableCard, I wondered if I could build a rig with all the same capabilities but make it much, much smaller. Ingredients Case/PSU Silverstone Lascala LC12 w/120W PSU $180 www.silverstonetek.com Mobo Zotac H67-ITX WiFi $160 www.zotacusa.com CPU Intel Core i3-2100T $130 www.intel.com Cooler Si...

Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

By TechRadar, published 30-04-2011

This week we got our hands on the hugely impressive Samsung Galaxy S2 and the eagerly awaited BlackBerry PlayBook.We also spent some time looking through the lens of the good-looking Leica X1 and tested more Sandy Bridge chips from Intel.Read on for the most popular reviews on TechRadar this week.Samsung Galaxy S2 reviewThe Samsung Galaxy S2 is the phone the Korean firm deems a worthy successor to its best smartphone so far - with a 1.2GHz processor, super-slim chassis and feather-light innards, it's easy to see why.The phone is almost impossibly thin when you pick it up – dimensions of 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5mm mean it's one of the thinnest smartphones on the market at the moment, rivalling the likes of the iPhone 4 and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc for the title.BlackBerry PlayBook reviewWith a ...

MSI Wind Top AE2070 Looks Sexy, Groping Optional

By MaximumPC, published 29-04-2011

One thing all-in-one PCs have over most desktops is that they simply look better. We've seen a lot of ugly tower systems, but relatively few AIOs that we'd qualify as eyesores. From what we can tell by viewing MSI's press photos, the company's new Wind Top AE2070 AIO doesn't buck the trend and is another classy edition to a growing number of AIO PCs. Touching it is optional. What we mean by that is that you can configure one without a multi-touch panel, but what's the fun in that? In our opinion, AIOs are great for out-of-office environments, like a kitchen counter or living room corner, where you can mash (not smash) the screen to look up recipes, Jeopardy questions, etc. The AE2070 would fit into either space with its 20-inch LCD screen, and if you opt for the multi-touch panel, you can ...

MSI Introduces 4th Generation Smart Touch AIO

By HotHardware, published 29-04-2011

MSI announced a new touch model, the Wind Top AE2070. This 20-inch, multi-touch all in one is powered by an Intel 2nd generation Dual-core Processor G620 and Intel HD Graphics 2000. MSI also offers hardware upgrade options for the Wind Top AE2070, offing an Intel Core i3 CPU or NVIDIA GeForce GT540M high-performance graphic card. The Wind...

SSD Showdown: 4 Top Drives Reviewed

By MaximumPC, published 18-04-2011

Breaking the 250MB/s barrier with no moving parts If the automotive world progressed as fast as the computer industry, the old joke goes, we‘d all have $1,000 cars that get 400 miles to the gallon, never need maintenance, and crash catastrophic-ally every eight weeks for no reason. Ancient punch lines aside, comparing this year’s storage options to those of even half a decade ago would be like entering a Bugatti Type 35 in the Preakness Stakes. Half a decade ago, we were all still chasing the fastest mechanical hard drive. Today, solid-state drives are where the action is. And the progress made in SSDs over the past three years has been staggering. During our first SSD roundup in November 2008, the cream of the crop offered sustained-read and -write speeds on par with a mechanical dri...

Review: Fujitsu Lifebook T580

By TechRadar, published 28-02-2011

Last year, Fujitsu released the Lifebook T4410 laptop which converts into a tablet PC courtesy of a rotating screen hinge. The Lifebook T580 is another convertible ultraportable laptop which shares many of the strengths and weaknesses of the T4410. The T580 acts as a standard laptop with the screen up, but rotate the 10.1-inch display 180 degrees and fold it back over the keyboard and you have a touchscreen tablet. The hinge feels relatively sturdy, but we wouldn't want to put much pressure on it, just in case. Many tablet-like features are included, such as a built-in accelerometer that automatically rotates the desktop. A weighty stylus can be pulled from the chassis to manipulate the sharp and sensitive touchscreen, or you can use your fingers which tends to be more responsive. Unfortun...

BMW i3 and i8 launch new Earth-Friendly sub-brand

By SlashGear, published 21-02-2011

It’s obviously the day for eco-luxury cars; in Rolls Royce‘s tire tracks comes BMW i, a new sub-brand by the German car manufacturer (which, of course, actually owns the RR marque) with a pair of concept cars and the promise of “sustainable, premium mobility.” The BMW i3 and i8 may sound like Intel processors, but they’re actually expected to launch in 2013. The i3 is an all-electric vehicle intended for urban use, constructed largely from Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), and using decelerative torque to recharge the battery on braking. The motor itself is the size of two drinks crates, half the size of a traditional gas engine (though that doesn’t include the batteries). As for the BMW i8, that’s a plug-in hybrid for boosted range, and us...

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF2 Review

By SlashGear, published 02-08-2011

Panasonic’s LUMIX GF1 worked its way into the kit-bags of several on the SlashGear team, charmed by its compact size and solid picture and video quality. Now the Micro Four Thirds camera has a successor, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF2, packing the same sensor but new image processing and a refreshed touchscreen interface. Does the smaller GF2 lose some of its sibling’s charm? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut. Hardware Side by side with the GF1 and it’s clear that the new GF2 is an evolutionary design. The family resemblance is obvious, but Panasonic has also followed the trend in Micro Four Thirds cameras to shrink down the chassis: in fact, the GF2 is supposedly 19-percent smaller and 7-percent lighter, while still accommodating the 12.1-megapixel 17.3 x ...