Windows 7 will drain your netbook battery faster than XP

When Microsoft released Windows 7, one of their big selling points was the extra battery life it provided over Vista. The guys at LaptopMag.com found that it was indeed true, but only on full-sized notebooks. When it came to netbooks, it was a completely different story. The batteries of the netbooks actually drained faster than with XP.

They tested three netbooks, Toshiba mini NB205, ASUS Eee PC 1008HA, and the HP Mini 311, all with Windows 7 OS. They tested them with the "laptop battery test", continuous web surfing over wi-fi, and found that each of them got a lot less battery time.





The results:               Win XP Battery Life         Win 7 Battery Life

Toshiba mini NB205             9:24                                       8:51


ASUS Eee PC 1008HA           5:40                                       4:43


HP Mini 311                         5:43                                       4:52



According to the tests, the netbooks average about 40 minutes less battery time with Windows 7, which is a big chunk of time. If you're looking for the longest possible battery time on your netbook, it may not be wise to upgrade your XP system just yet.

Prepaid Wireless Internet from Verizon

On Thursday, Verizon Wireless announced that they will now be offering an on-the-go prepaid wireless broadband Internet service. The package will include the new Verizon Wireless USB760 to allow customers to access their Internet whenever and wherever. Users will be able to use this service on any laptop with a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system.

There will be three different plans that Verizon will allow customers to choose from. They offer a daily, weekly, and monthly plan. The daily plan will cost $15 and will allow users to utilize 75 megabytes of data. This allows the user to send or receive 25,600 e-mails, download 500 Web pages, and send or receive 150 digital pictures. With the monthly plan, which Verizon will offer for $30, customers will be able to transfer 250 megabytes of data. This accounts for the sending or receipt of 85,300 e-mails, the viewing of 1,700 Web pages, and sending or receipt of 500 pictures. Finally with the monthly plan, users will be able use 500 megabytes of data usage for only $50. This will allow them to send or receive 170,000 emails, view 3,400 Web pages, and send or receive 1,000 digital pictures.

Before releasing this new prepaid plan, Verizon offered a contract wireless broadband service that is still available. Customers could choose between the $60 plan that allows users to utilize up to 5 gigabytes of data or a $40 plan that allows up to 250 megabytes of usage.

The new prepaid wireless modem will be available for purchase on November 16th at many Verizon Wireless Communications stores and Best Buy locations. If you’re looking for a reliable on-the-go wireless Internet service, I don’t know where better to look than Verizon Wireless.

A Deal You Can't Overlook: The ASUS UL80Vt-A1

So while I was checking out the newest laptops, there was one that immediately caught my eye. The ASUS UL80Vt-A1 cannot help but be noticed. The optical drive, 14-inch widescreen, and new switchable graphics technology jumped off the page at me. I couldn’t help but investigate further.

The UL80Vt features a modest yet luxurious design. The lid is constructed of brushed black metal, and the overall feel of the laptop is strong and secure. Although the UL80Vt is not as thin as its predecessor, the UL30A, it still manages to remain thin and up-to-date measuring 13.4 x 9.7 x 1inches (HWD). The reason that the UL80Vt is not thinner is because of the awesome internal optical drive that it contains. The laptop comes in weighing 4.7 pounds. No, this is the lightest of laptops, but I feel that the features it has make the bit of added weight entirely unnoticeable. The 14-inch screen on the UL80Vt features 1,366 x 768 resolution and average brightness. The keys on the keyboard are all raised and isolated from one another, and the touchpad has built-in multi-touch gestures that can be very helpful at times.

One of the features that makes the UL80Vt stand out from its predecessors is its built-in dual-layer DVD drive. Other more common features would include the laptop’s three USB ports, VGA-Out, a multi-media card reader, and an Ethernet port. Also included is an HDMI-Out which allows you to display videos or slideshows on your television. The laptop contains 320 GB of hard drive which is pretty average, but it comes with an remarkable 2-year global warranty that definitely impressed me.

Once we get inside the UL80Vt, we discover a 1.3-GHz Intel Core Duo SU7300 CULV processor. No, its not the most outstanding processor available right now, but it still has great performance and is energy efficient. Now one thing that was definitely able to catch my attention about the UL80Vt is its switchable graphic technology. This means that you are able to view your laptop screen like any normal laptop, but you can also switch it over to 3D mode. This gives you the ability to now play any 3D intensive game and even view pictures and some video in 3D. Another huge advantage with this laptop is its amazing battery life. The UL80Vt comes standard with a huge 84Wh battery and can work off the battery for an average of 10 hours 10 minutes.

You can purchase this feature filled laptop for around $820, so this is an incredible deal. To add to the bargain, Amazon.com is offering a $100 gift card to those that purchase the ASUS UL80Vt-A1 through their website before December 15, 2009 (or while supplies last.) With the chic appearance, optical drive, switchable graphics, and incredible battery life what more could you want for such a reasonable price? I would recommend definitely moving this towards the top of your list if your shopping for a laptop.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL510

Last week, Lenovo introduced three new laptops, just in time for the release of Windows 7. Among the new laptops is the SL510, a 15-inch ThinkPad that performs extremely well and is made with small to medium-business budgets in mind.

Specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 Dual Core Mobile Processor
• 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
• 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
• 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
• 15.6" WXGA (1366x768) LED Backlit Display With 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
• Intel GMA 4500MHD Integrated Graphics
• Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n Wireless
• Four USB 2.0, eSATA, HDMI, VGA, ExpressCard/34, 4-in-1 Card Reader
• 15" x 9.7" x 1.4"
• 5.7 lbs
• Windows 7 Professional, Office 2007, Norton Internet Security

The ThinkPad SL510 isn't exactly new. It's an updated version of Lenovo's original 15-inch business class laptop. The new version is not the prettiest laptop on the market - it's very plain and boxy, with a 1.4 inch frame, but it performs well and at a $500 starting price, it's a great deal for businesses and individuals on a budget.

And don't let the outside fool you. The computer performs great with its Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 mobile processor combined with its 4GB of DDR3 memory, allowing it to zip through almost any application without compromising battery life.

Usability is also a plus. The keyboard, in traditional Lenovo fashion, is solid and easy to use. It also has a multitouch trackpad or the trackpoint if you'd prefer not to use the trackpad.

Choose a Laptop with Microsoft's Windows PC Scout

Microsoft has launched a new website - Microsoft.com/Windows/PC-Scout. The website features a flash audio guided tour, which is meant to help you find a new laptop. It takes you through three segments, including Laptop 101, Recommendation, and Selection. Respectively, in each segment, you'll learn everything you need to know about laptops in general, answer questions about what you need in a new laptop and get a few recommendations, and then you have the opportunity to make a final choice and purchase your laptop. The tour is not mandatory and you can skip any part or pause it if you need to come back to it later. Looking for a desktop? Check back later. Or says the male voice behind the website. Either way, you're out of luck right now.

If you already know what kind of laptop you're looking for, you can skip the first two sections and get straight to the selection part to choose your laptop based on a number of different categories. They are: price ($400 - $2600), screen size (8 - 19"), processor (1 GHz - 3GHz), RAM (1GB - 5GB), storage (50GB - 550GB), and weight (2lbs - 10lbs). You can also select whether or not you need an all around, mobile studio, movies on the go, power gaming, or work from anywhere laptop.

Microsoft claims the selection of laptops comes from a compiled list from Windows experts and the final selection has nothing to do with any sort of paid advertising. Right now, the website contains 46 various laptops, but more are likely to follow in the weeks ahead, especially with the release of Windows 7. The website isn't too detailed - your average computer user should feel comfortable with it, and the most tech-savvy folks probably won't see the need for it.

Another Reason Not to Travel with Your Laptop

Troy Davis, a former officer with the Transportation Security Administration, has admitted to authorities that he stole laptops and video game systems from passengers' checked luggage. Davis used to work as an airport screener at Philadelphia International Airport.

A baggage handler spotted Davis taking a laptop from a suitcase and hiding it behind an explosive-detection machine earlier this year. The witness notified supervisors who later discovered four laptops and a game console in the same area.

The 36-year-old Davis pleaded guilty yesterday to the charges and will be sentenced by a federal court in January.

It seems as though nothing is safe these days, especially when you are traveling. Once your luggage leaves your hands, you can never be exactly sure where it'll end up or whose hands it will fall into. Could a devious airport employee like Troy Davis be waiting for the bag, containing your laptop, to pass through security? Could your entire suitcase get lost and end up in a city 2,000 miles away from where you are going?

These are certainly things to consider when packing, whether it be for a business or personal trip, but these incidents are avoidable. Whether you're traveling to a business meeting or just taking your laptop along on the family vacation, so you can keep up with your business, you should always consider a quality Laptop Rental, instead.

There are so many different ways to save your data and most of them are compatible with almost any computer. Worried about the cost? A rental fee is a small price to pay compared to the potential thousands of dollars, not to mention the sentiment from personal files, you could lose when traveling. Instead of risking theft, loss, or damage to your personal computer, consider having a rental meet you at your destination.

Sony VAIO X Series Ultra Thin Laptops

It seems, in the computer world, that thin is the way to go theses days. When the MacBook Air was released by Apple, many of us thought that we couldn't get any thinner. well we were wrong. Sony's VAIO X Series of laptops has proved to be smaller, thinner and lighter than the MacBook Air. While looking at this laptop, you may notice the Intel Atom processor and compare it to be the same as other netbooks. However, this machine is something different completely.

How is this netbook so thin you may ask? Well for starters, the motherboard has all of its components soldiered onto one side of it. In addition to that, all the components are stuffed into the back of the motherboard leaving the front half to house the battery. This interesting choice of design has resulted in the thinnest machine on the market coming in at 16mm throughout. If you want to plug in an Ethernet cord, then you are going to have to the drop-down legs at the back of the netbook because the Ethernet connection is thicker than the actual laptop.

The keyboard has nice spacing, allowing you to easily type at speed. However, the keys only move a fraction when under pressure and don't have much space for travel which will not suit all users. The touchpad is tiny but responsive allowing precise control and the accompanying buttons are somewhat big and do not offer much movement. The X Series comes with an 11.1inch display which is expected for a mid-range laptop although this is better than nearly any one currently on the market. It has amazing color reproduction and comes with a 1366x768 pixel resolution.

Just like the VAIO P Series, the X Series has an Intel Atom Processor and came in at 2GHz offering enough power for most of your office tasks. It also comes with a 256GB solid state drive but only only has 2GB of memory. The X Series chassis is made out of carbon fiber which helps keep it light at a 775g. But this light weight comes at a price. The body flexes heavily under light pressure. But the carbon finish and glossy lid makes the device feel like a premium product.

The X Series is limited on ports having only two USB ports located on the left side of the device and one VGA and one Ethernet on the right side. Support for SD cards can be accessed on the front as well as a place for Sony's memory stick formats. The X Series has 802.11n Wi-Fi as well as Gigabit Ethernet and range topping models get 3G/HSDPA with the SIM card sliding in behind the battery. As soon as you see this thing your first reaction is going to be "whoa". It literally is that small. If you are a business man who values tiny dimensions as well as the lowest weight possible then the VAIO X Series is the exact laptop for you.