The Acer Aspire AO751h,is one of the company’s first 11.6-inch net book Which is  an Upgrade over its 10-inch cousin users get an extra inch of screen real estate, a bigger roomier keyboard, amazingly and more than 7 hours of battery life infect its smaller Cousin, the AOD150, lasts about an hour less. Infect it is larger; the AO751h has a weaker processor then is counterpart competitors. As a result it is a net book that has great looks and feels great but offers less performance than other machines in its class.

Design:
We have seen the 10-inch Aspire One AOD250, and the 11.6-inch version looks familiar. It has a glossy black lid having Acer’s metallic logo impressed in the lower corner off the lid; but the lid picks up fingerprints fairly easily. Just Like the slightly more upscale Timeline series it’s having a gray palm rest and keyboard rest with a zed-black keyboard and thin bezel to match its looks it’s pretty much visible in the Picture above.

As we have seen in Timeline series, that it’s overall effects are conservative but they are not cheap-looking. The real quality about the Aspire is not the color scheme but its thinness. While its competitors i.e. the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA, can be as thick as 1.4 inches and weigh close to 3 pounds the 1005-HA weighs 2.8 the Aspire One has a minimal footprint of 11.2 x 7.8 x 1.0 inches, infect its weighs 3 pounds and 3.6 with its adapter included. It feels just bit heavier than the Toshiba mini-NB205, but that’s offset may be considered because of the thinner build.
The only glich is its six-cell battery juts out the back (bulging out), whereas some other net-books, such as the Eee PC 1005HA, have comparably sized batteries that are more applicable and sleek with the system and that’s not all they manage to deliver longer battery life too.

Keyboard and aesthetics:
Just like the Aspire Timeline AS3810T; the Aspire One A0751h has slightly raised keys with plastic having a textured feel. The layout is very close to full size keyboard and I must appreciate i.e. the right Shift key is full size and it is in proper place. In fact the touch typists will have no problem with this net-book, but I noticed that the keyboard was flexed.
In our first 15 Thumbs Typing Test, we scored 84 words per minute; our highest score on our desktop computer is 88 words per minute. Then, we immediately took the test again and scored 86 words per minute, which suggests   that you will likely acclimate quickly with its form and factor.

Touchpad and Touch Button’s:
When I reviewed the 10-inch Aspire One, then we were complaining about the tiny touchpad. But with the A0751h’s slightly wider footprint comes a wider touchpad (2.5 x 1.6 inches), which has a pleasant improvement over the AOD250’s (2.0 x 1.5-inch) touch pad. But it is still fairly short when compared to the NB205’s (3.1 x 1.6 inches) enormous touchpad.
But we have a bigger concern of the single touch button, which we found that it’s too stiff and narrow. Besides from the stiffness, we would definitely have preferred two buttons, as there are on other net-books.

Display and Sound:
The one thing unique about AO751h is that that most of its 10-inch competitors don’t is a high-resolution screen. For e.g.
1.     1005HA,
2.     NB205,
3.     10-inch Aspire
One all have displays with 1024 x 600-pixel resolution, the AO751h’s 11.6-inch display has a resolution of enormous 1366 x 768 pixels. Those extra vertical pixels, in particular, mean we don’t have to scroll down as often when we are viewing pages, which is a common inconvenience with net-books at present.
I was impressed by the screen’s bright display. After watched a Saturday Night Live sketch on Hulu.com I enjoyed pleasant colors and amazingly good viewing angles even from oblique side angles. The glossy finish limited our viewing angles from the front; infect when we lowered the lid forward slightly we were still able to make out the clip. By the time I got to a 45-degree angle, however, the screen appeared washed out.
The volume, as expect with a net-book, is weak. While watching a clip in a quiet room with the net-book right in front of us, the sound was never too loud. Music, too, sounded predictably tinny, but no worse than it does on other competitor net-books: the bass in was really Good

Ports and Webcam:
The Net-book AO751h is having a standard selection of ports i.e.
1.    three USB ports
2.     VGA output
3.    an Ethernet jack
4.     headphone
5.     mica ports,
6.     4-in-1 memory card reader.
The memory card reader, VGA, and one USB port on the right side, and the rest are located on the left.
The net-book comes with a Built in 1.3 MP webcam. While chatting with my friend I noticed minimal latency with better colors and brightness than on his Apple I-Sight camera.

Storage:
Just Like other net-books, the AO751 has a hard drive of 160GB which has 5,400 rpm. On the LAPTOP Transfer Test, I copied a 4.97GB mixed-media folder in 5 minutes and 45 seconds, which results in to a rate of 14.8 MBps. That’s just right in line with the net-book category average (14.6 MBps), but can find many significantly faster hard drives in comparably priced 10-inch net-books. The 10-inch Aspire One, Eee PC 1005HA, and NB205, are for e.g. were all faster, completing the test at rates of 16.5 MBps, 19.9 MBps, and 18.1 MBps, respectively.

Battery Life and Wi-Fi:
The Net-book AO751h has some very tough competition in its battery life I recently hailed both the 1005HA and the NB205 for lasting nearly nine hours on our battery test. But the AO751h has lasted 7 hours and 8 minutes only on the LAPTOP battery test, which is not as long as the other net-books listed, is still an impressive score; But it still beats the six-cell net-book category with average of almost 90 minutes.
Despite having 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, which we wouldn’t expect to have as strong a range as a wireless-N radio, the AO751h maintained an excellent through put of 21.0 Mbps and 20.0 Mbps at 15 and 50 feet respectively both of the results are above average for the net-book category.

Pros:
1.    Slim design
2.    Long battery life
3.    Comfortable keyboard
4.    Bright, high-resolution display
5.    Strong wireless range
6.    Better touch pad
7.    Well placed full size right shift Key
8.    Slightly raised keys with textured finish
9.    Almost a Full sized keyboard

Cons:
1.    Subpar performance scores
2.    Relatively small touchpad
3.    Stiff single touch button
4.    Week processor
5.    Dust catching finish which is difficult to maintain
6.    Bumpy battery at the base.
7.    No optical drive
8.    Less spate to increase the ram capacity
9.    Small HDD of only 160 Gb

Hardware Overview:
1.    CPU: 1.33-GHz Intel Atom Z520
2.    OS: Windows XP Home
3.    RAM/Expandable to: 1GB/2GB
4.    Hard Drive Size/Speed: 160GB/5,400 rpm
5.    Optical Drive: None
6.    Display/Resolution: 11.6 inches/1364 x 768
7.    Graphics/Video Memory: Intel GMA 500/384MB
8.    HDD 160 GB.

General Over view

The user interface
Having wide base provides  ASUS N90 plenty of room for comfortable touch-typing “chocolate” keyboard (as ASUS dubs its shape), but there is some light flex which is of more concern, however keys themselves are very much touch sensitive and  they offer plenty of travel but lack the springy feedback we prefer. In addition to this the right Shift key is oddly undersized. On the upside but  ASUS includes a full numeric keypad.
Infect on the other hand the touchpad doesn’t possess the same gloss as the rest of the lappe, the attractive pattern which extends across its surface which helping it to mesh well with the rest of the base. It is 3.3*2.0 inch; it’s  just not enough room to navigate with ease. Besides it has a large mouse button that’s loud, but gets the job done well.
At the left of the keyboard is a strip that has four neon-blue backlit buttons that let us adjust the visual settings ie (Vivid, Theater, Soft, Normal, Gamma Correction),a button to enable or disable the touchpad, switch battery modes (Quiet Office, Battery Saving, High Performance, Entertainment), and launch Express Gate, ASUS’ branded version of Splash top.
Positioned below these buttons is a jog wheel that let u control the N90’s volume, as well as mute audio by pressing a button in the wheel’s center. We preferred this jog wheel to the futuristic multimedia touch control panels as its more easey to control the volume more accurately, such as those found on the Acer Aspire 8930G-6448 or ASUS W90.

Pros
1.    High-def display and Blu-ray
2.    Attractive design
3.    Huge 1TB hard drive
4.    Two-year warranty
5.    Has both touch pad and mouse buttons.
6.    Has Blue ray drive
7.    Has considerable waight of 9.4 pounds approx less then 4.5 KG
Cons
1.    Low speaker volume
2.    Fingerprint-prone design so its deficult to maintain it
3.    Mediocre graphics performance
4.    Has not so good Touch pad.

Audio and Video Performance
ASUS N90 which have the display of 1920 x 1080 full HD served up bright colors and deep blacks, which made movies and Web pages pop. The glossy display which have few reflections, but they were not  as severe as the ones we’ve experienced from other notebooks. As such, we enjoyed viewing because of its  wide viewing angles when watching We Were Soldiers. While outputting the movie to a 32-inch Samsung monitor using an HDMI cable resulted in no hiccup experiance audio and video playback.
One might think that having Altec Lansing speakers with SRS Premium Sound would probabely make movies and music sound as good as they look, but we may be wrong. While watching the Bluray version of We Were Soldiers, the clarity of the sound was a step above the run-of-the-mill notebook, but were are disappointed by the relatively low volume. The speakers also sounded weak when we played NOFX in Slacker at full volume.

Webcam
Above the display is a 1.3-megapixel webcam that enables us to video chat with friend’s video that we observed featured good color replication that, unfortunately, suffered from some motion blur when we moved around. Designed to work in conjunction with the webcam is Lifeframe 3, an application that allowed us to take snapshots at various resolutions (ranging from 160 x 120 to 1280 x 1024), shoot video 160 x 120 to 640 x 480 and implement wacky visual effects such as oversized hats, masks, and other  special but common effects.

Performance
The product has 2.66-GHz Intel Core-2-Duo T9550 processor and a 4GB of RAM which produced a PCMark Vantage score of 3,568, which is 228 points less than the desktop counterpart. Still, we were able to chat with friends in Meebo, having several tabs open in Internet Explorer 8, and stream music from Slacker without a performance hit.
We tested the N90’s performance by transcoding a 5:05 MPEG-4 clip to AVI using Handbrake. Converting the file with no other open applications running in the background took astonishing 6 minutes and 11 seconds, which was just 3 seconds slower than the mark shown by HP ProBook 4710s . Which has a slower 2.53-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 processor but the same 4GB of RAM. When we converted the file again while compressing a 4.97GB folder of mixed media using jZip, the task completion time Leaped to 13 minutes, almost 2 minutes longer than the HP ProBook 4710s.

Nvidia’s CUDA Technology
Which is designed to enable the graphics processing unit  to crunch video data, Nvidia’s CUDA technology allowed us to transcode the same 5:05 clip from MPEG-4 to AVI (using vReveal, an application designed which is designed to take advantage of this technology in just 4 minutes and 23 seconds a savings of almost 2 minutes. Transcoding it while compressing the 4.97GB folder took 11 minutes and 46 seconds which is two minutes less than when we tested with CUDA. If you’re a video enthusiast, using CUDA–enabled software is a must for speedy processing.

Graphics Performance
Nvidia Ge-Force GT 130M graphics card with 1GB of memory inside the N90 notched a 3DMark06 score of 4,944. That result is 1,400 points less than that of the average desktop replacement (remember, high-end gaming rigs populate this space), but was significantly higher than the HP Pro-Book 4710S’s which has 2,384 score. However, the N90’s 3DMark Vantage score of just 1,680 was one of the lowest we’ve seen in recent months.

Comparing 3DMark Vantage results with similar laptops
The GPU performed adequately when we tested Far Cry 2. It ran at a decent 26 frames per second in auto-detect mode Having a  (1280 x 720-pixel resolution), but dropped to an intolerable 14 frames per second when we bumped up the resolution to 1080p infact we couldn’t play at that point. By comparison, the $1,699 17-inch MSI GT725 tore through the game at 84 frames per second at 1024 x 768, and 44 frames per second at 1900 x 1200. Despite that it has less than stellar graphics scores, the GPU is solid enough in globe-trotting in Google Earth, which we used to zoom to various locations without any bumps.

Massive Storage and Slow Boot Time
As the book is meant for If we have large libraries of music, photos, and high-definition video, the N90’s 1TB of storage divided across two 500GB, 5,400-rpm hard drives  should provide with enough capacity for your storage needs. On the other hand booting the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system took a  1 minute and 27 seconds which I think is very slow. The lappe has notched a 16.9 MBps data transfer time when we copied a 4.97GB folder of mixed media using our LAPPE transfer Test, which was much slower than the 23.2 MBps category average.

Wireless Strength and Battery Life
The 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi radio showed an excellent throughput on our wireless tests. It pushed data along at a rate of 21.1 Mbps at fifteen feet away from our access point, which dipped slightly to 20.2 Mbps when we placed the notebook at fifty feet away. Both scores proved better than the 19.6 Mbps and 16.3 Mbps category averages. This allowed us to enjoy smoothly high-def Hulu content .
With many desktop replacements, the N90’s battery life isn’t the longest. In reality its  at just 1 hour and 51 minutes, it’s about 45 minutes shorter than the category average. Considering Itssize, you probably won’t stray too far from an outlet anyway.

Software/ Warranty
The Lappe is Bundled with a software package that includes standouts as Adobe Reader 8, ASUS Copy Protect to prevent some one from copying data to a removable storage drive, ASUS Data Security that is for encrypting the drives, ASUS Smart Logon face recognition with LifeScribe disc labeling and printing, it a 60day trial of Ms-Office 2007, and Win-DVD Blu-ray for ASUS. The company backs the N90 with a two-year global warranty which includes one-year of accidental damage and 30-day Zero Bright Dot to ensure that all of the pixels are functional. With a Toll-free tech support available 24/7.

Other Configurations options
To save a couple of hundred dollars, check out the ASUS N90SV-A1, which has same configuration, but reduces the drive capacity from 1TB to 500GB.

Verdict
Priced at $1,799 which is approx 89950 Rs, the ASUS N90 offers a huge high-def display for enjoying Blu-ray playback, Having a attractive design, and a huge amount of storage space. Given that this isn’t a gaming rig, we can live with the not so great graphics performance. But we think a sound system on an 18-inch notebook should offer a better volume. If pure performance is paramount, the MSI GT725 packs a 2.0-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Quad 9000 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850 graphics, Blueray, and a full HD display for $100 about 500 Rs less—if you’re willing to downgrade to a speedy, yet much smaller 320GB, 7,200-rpm hard drive  is the other option for you.

Design
Fujitsu’s M2010 feels solidly built, and we like the ruby red color (although that’s the only option). The system’s lid is adorned with a large gray Fujitsu Infinity logo, which adds a bit of flair but may be too in-your-face for some. The red stretches  underneath the hood to its palm rest and touchpad and is offset by a black glossy bezel that is prone to picking up fingerprints.

The size and weight of the Fujitsu M2010 is standard fare for a 10-inch netbook. At 10.2 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches and 2.4 pounds, it weighs the same as the HP Mini 1000. While not as compact as the Mini 1000, it is shorter than both the MSI Wind and Samsung NC10. With a travel weight of 3.2 pounds with its AC adapter, the system felt almost nonexistent when we tossed it into a shoulder bag.

Cramped Keyboard, Comfortable Touchpad
While the keyboard on the M2010 is more spacious and comfortable than those on 8.9-inch netbooks such as the Dell Inspiron Mini 9, it is noticeably smaller than what you’ll find on such 10-inch systems as the HP Mini 1000, MSI Wind, and Samsung N110. The keys on the left edge, including the Caps Lock and Tab, are especially tiny. Given the extra space on both sides of the keyboard, we are puzzled as to why Fujitsu didn’t extend the layout all the way to the edges. The keys themselves provided sufficient bounce when typing, but the panel has a bit of flex.
While most of the keys are positioned correctly, the right Shift key is shrunken and placed to the right of the Up arrow, rather than in its usual location next to the question mark key. Though this used to be a recurring flaw in the first generation of netbooks, both Dell and ASUS addressed this issue with their current models.
The touchpad is a decent size and offered a nice, textured feel as we navigated the desktop. We appreciate the dedicated right and left mouse buttons, which are easy to press, though slightly loud.

Ports
Like many other netbooks, the Fujitsu M2010 has three USB ports, VGA, Ethernet, headphone, and a microphone jack. Additionally, a 4-in-1 card reader is on the right side.

Screen, Webcam, Audio
The Fujitsu M2010 has a 10.1-inch LCD with 1024 x 576-pixel resolution. We were impressed by the brightness of the display, and the glossy coating didn’t result in too much glare; both vertical and horizontal viewing angles were good.
With a slightly lower resolution than most 1024 x 600-pixel, 10-inch netbooks, the 16:9 aspect ratio played a DVD (using an external optical drive) without the black bars along the top and bottom of the screen. Still, the subtraction of 24 vertical pixels limits the amount of space you have vertically on the screen. In a side-by-side comparison with 1024 x 600-pixel resolution netbooks, the M2010 showed one to two less lines of text on Web pages, resulting in more scrolling.
Above the display is a 1.3-megapixel webcam, which provided jerky images in a video chat over Skype. Waving resulted in a lot of motion blur, and colors were dark.
The stereo speakers, which are hidden below the front edge of the system, emitted steady sound in our Skype call with the volume at a medium level. When we listened to Blue October’s “Hate Me,” the volume was impressive compared with other netbooks; the music was audible from more than 75 feet away.

Performance
The Fujitsu M2010 uses the same 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB, and Windows XP Home combo as its netbook rivals. The system notched a relatively high 1,515 on PCMark05, which is 158 points higher than the netbook average and just 73 points lower than the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE, which is outfitted with Intel’s slightly faster 1.66-GHz Atom N280 processor.
Our hands-on experience echoed these test results; applications loaded relatively quickly even when we had several others running in the background. We were able to listen to streaming music over Slacker, surf the Web in Firefox 3, and write a document in Microsoft Word 2007 at the same time with no hang-ups.
The M2010 took 30 minutes and 18 seconds to transcode a 114MB MPEG-4 file to AVI using Handbrake; the OCZ Neutrino, which had the same specs (but a larger 320GB hard drive), performed the same task in 28:40, and the Samsung NC20 took 30:45.

Graphics
The Fujitsu M2010’s integrated graphics scored 723 on 3DMark03 (which tests DirectX 9 performance) and 87 on 3DMark06, which is 35 and 82 points, respectively, below the category average. You shouldn’t count on using this machine for gaming, but the system did handle streaming video and DVD playback through an external drive without a hiccup.

Storage
The Fujitsu M2010’s 160GB, 5,400-rpm drive booted Windows XP in a solid 40 seconds. The LAPTOP Transfer Test (copying a 4.97GB folder of mixed media) took 5 minutes and 23 seconds, or a rate of 15.8 MBps, which is about 2 MBps faster than the average netbook speed.

Heat
During testing, the keyboard and touchpad didn’t get hot; however, the underside of the unit got a bit warm, measuring 94 degrees. The fan also became noticeably louder than most netbooks during heavy usage.
Short Endurance, Pricey Six-Cell Battery
The M2010 comes standard with a three-cell battery. On the LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi), the netbook lasted a disappointing 1 hour and 56 minutes. Not only is this almost an hour shorter than the three-cell netbook average of 2:46, but it is shorter than the $399 HP Mini 1000’s 2 hours and 56 minutes.

If you want longer endurance, users can purchase a six-cell battery, but that upgrade costs a steep $129. (Dell, for example, charges only $30 to step up to a six-cell for its Inspiron Mini 10). What’s more, many netbooks that are more competitively priced come standard with a large-capacity battery. The ASUS Eee PC 1000HE, which costs $379, lasted over 7 hours on a charge.

Wi-Fi Performance
The M2010’s 802.11b/g Wi-Fi card provided adequate performance on our tests, delivering 19.7 Mbps and 13.4 Mbps from 15 and 50 feet, respectively. While these scores are not as high as the Wind U120’s (which is also not equipped with wireless-n), the M2010 maintained a strong connection during our day-to-day Web activities; streaming music over Slacker and TV shows via Hulu was smooth.

Upgrade Options, Software, Warranty
While Fujitsu will not offer configuration options, you can upgrade the netbook’s RAM on your own to 2GB. As mentioned, Fujitsu will also sell a six-cell battery separately for $129. Our Fujitsu M2010 came preinstalled with Windows XP Home. Also bundled with the system is Google Desktop, Toolbar, Picasa, ArcSoft WebCam Companion 2 and a 60-day trial of Norton Anti-Virus and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007. Fujitsu covers the M2010 with a one-year limited warranty and 24/7 tech support.
Verdict
The Fujitsu M2010 is a case of too little, too late. While the netbook has a compact and stylish chassis and provides solid performance, its cramped keyboard and less than 2 hours of battery life hold it back. Additionally, its $449 price, which includes only a three-cell battery, is not competitive with the rest of the field. For $10 less, the Samsung N110 not only provides four times the battery life, but its keyboard is more comfortable; the same goes for the $379 ASUS Eee PC 1000HE. Until Fujitsu includes a six-cell battery standard for a lower price, we wouldn’t recommend this machine over the established netbook players.

Super-thin Design
With the lid closed, the Timeline 3810T’s matte gray, fingerprint-proof plastic lid is similar to the company’s business-oriented TravelMate series. In contrast to the $899 Aspire 3935, which, for the same price, sports a more attractive golden brown brushed-metal chassis, and an integrated optical drive. On the other hand, the 3810T is significantly lighter at 3.6 pounds (vs. 4.2 for the 3935) and marginally thinner (0.9 inches at its thinnest point vs. 1.0 inches).
This machine is no MSI X340, which weighs 2.9 pounds, but it’s still refreshingly light to carry. Overall, the matte gray-and-black color scheme is a bit conservative, but the keys’ finish and island–style layout keep it current.

You won’t find any multimedia controls, touch-sensitive or otherwise, on this notebook—just a strip of LED lights above the keyboard indicating Wi-Fi connectivity, BackUp Manager, battery power, and hard drive. A small button next to the touchpad deactivates it (a feature more commonly found on business notebooks, which have both a touchpad and a trackball in the center of the keyboard).

Keyboard and Touchpad
The arrangement of the 3810T’s keys is unusual: they’re closer together than a typical island layout (think Apple’s MacBook line or any Sony VAIO notebook), but there’s still enough space between them that they look, at first glance, like a more traditional keyboard. Nevertheless, our hands settled comfortably on the soft keys, and we made few typing errors as we surfed the Web, and responded to e-mail. We also warmed to the keys’ low pitch, and their minimal sound.
Hands down, our least favorite feature is the 3810T’s stiff single mouse button. We would have preferred two separate buttons. That said, the touchpad was large enough, and provided just the right amount of friction.

Display and Sound
The LED-backlit 13.3 display was exceptionally bright when we bumped the brightness to its maximum settings. Although the screen was washed out when we pushed the lid forward, we were able to comfortably watch from the sides, despite the glossy finish. The 1366 x 768 screen resolution (standard for a 16:9 13-inch notebook) was sufficient to watch a Saturday Night Live clip on Hulu at full screen.

Not surprisingly, given the notebook’s size and price, the speakers were weak. When we watched clips online and streamed music from Slacker, the music and dialogue sounded distant, and never very loud. With music, in particular, bass and percussions in everything from MGMT to The White Stripes got lost in the tinny shuffle.

Ports and Webcam
Unlike most 13-inch notebooks, the Timeline 3810T has no optical drive. While it’s true that you can download movies and software from the Web (instead of using DVDs or CD-ROMs), some users may prefer a DVD drive. We’re of the opinion that you don’t need one, unless you like to burn movies or back up to DVDs. Plus, the lack of an optical drive helps this notebook achieve its slim profile and light weight.

Otherwise, the 3810T has all the ports you could need: three USB ports, HDMI and VGA output, an Ethernet jack, headphone and mic ports, and a Kensington lock slot. It also has a 5-in-1 memory card reader. All of these openings are divided evenly between the two sides; none are on the back or the front.
The 720p webcam is one of the best we’ve tested on a notebook recently. While some laptops’ 1.3-MP cameras struggle to produce smooth video at even VGA resolution, the 3810T’s high-def video looked fluid, with little, if any, lag. Likewise, our still photos showed lots of detail. Our only gripes: the lighting was dim, and both our photos and videos had a subtle yellow cast to them.

Performance
Our Timeline 3810T configuration packed a 1.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U9400 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit). This combination produced a score of 2,678 in PCMark Vantage, which measures application performance in Vista. That result is less than 100 points short of the ultraportable category average but nearly 200 points less than the Aspire 3935, which is equipped with a more powerful 2.0-GHz Core 2 Duo T7350 CPU.

The 500GB, 5,400-rpm drive on this notebook is fast: it transferred a 4.97GB mixed-media folder at a rate of 24.8 MBps. The average notebook in this weight class completes the same test at a rate of 19.7 MBps. The notebook took one minute to boot up, which is standard for a Vista machine.

While the 3810T’s slow clock speed doesn’t make much difference for everyday computing, intensive multimedia chores will prove challenging. For example, it took 22 minutes and 18 seconds to transcode a 5-minute-and-5-second MP4 clip to AVI using Handbrake. The average ultraportable, meanwhile, takes 16:41 seconds to complete the same task. Even the $899 MSI X340, which has a 1.4-GHz Intel Penryn Core 2 Solo SU3500 ULV processor and 2GB of RAM, took 18:12; and the Aspire 3935 took a brisk 7:56.

Graphics
When it comes to performance, graphics power is the 3810T’s only glaring weakness. Its score of 698 on 3DMark06 falls short of the still-weak category average of 862, but is right in line with the X340’s score of 643, which means you can forget about playing graphically demanding games. On Far Cry 2, this notebook managed just 3 frames per second with the resolution set to 1024 x 768, and 1 frame per second with the resolution cranked to its highest setting, 1366 x 768.

Despite its shortcomings, this machine comes with demo versions of 19 casual games (such as Puzzle Express and Parking Dash by Oberon Media) that are fun and easy to play. And we flew from the United States to Japan’s Yokohama Beach in Google Earth with barely an onscreen blip.
Heat

In addition to long battery life, and its thin yet affordable design, the Timeline series promises to run cool, thanks to Acer’s new Laminar Wall Jet technology. The result of a collaboration between Acer and Intel, this technology redirects air along the bottom of the notebook. We tested the heat while performing the same transcoding test described in the performance section.

While the temperatures ranged from cool to warm toward the beginning of this test, they rose from warm to hot by its end. The keyboard, touchpad, and bottom of the notebook were all 88 degrees to start (the bottom of the notebook got as cool as 82 degrees). Any temperature below 90 degrees is fine. But as time went on, the temperature in these three places rose to between 92 and 93 degrees (the bottom of the notebook even got as hot as 100 degrees). Despite these temperatures, though, both the keyboard and bottom felt more warm than hot.

Battery Life and Wi-Fi
The Timeline 3810T’s extra-long battery life is one of the best reasons to buy it. The six-cell battery lasted an incredible 8 hours and 5 minutes on the LAPTOP battery test, whereas the average ultraportable lasts five hours and nine minutes, to be exact). And it streamrolls the X340, which lasted three hours and thirty-eight minutes. The Timeline also offers nearly double the endurance of the Aspire 3935.
Its Intel WiFi Link 5100 wireless-N radio delivered throughput of 20.0 Mbps and 17.5 Mbps at 15 and 50 feet, respectively. Again, that bests the category averages of 18.6 Mbps and 15.6 Mbps, respectively.

Configurations
In addition to our $899 configuration, the 3810T, you can also buy the 3810TZ, which costs just $599. But, the $300 dollar price drop comes with some pretty big compromises in terms of specs and performance. The 3810TZ has a 1.33-GHz Intel Pentium SU2700 CPU, a 320GB hard drive (by Hitachi, not Toshiba), and an Atheros wireless-G radio. It, too, however, has 4GB of RAM, and even claims a few more minutes of battery life than the $899 3810T.

Software and Warranty
The 3810T’s bundled software and trialware include many of the usual suspects: Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (60-day trial) with a PowerPoint 2007 viewer, and the Compatibility Pack; Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer; McAfee Security Center; Windows Live Essentials; and Yahoo Toolbar.

We do welcome one piece of bundled software: Acer’s BackUp Manager, which lets users designate a device (say, a portable hard drive) as their backup location, and allows them to schedule backups. Its neat UI lets users check boxes to back up videos, photos, music, pictures, browser favorites, e-mail, and Office files.
This system comes with a one-year limited parts-and-labor warranty, including 24/7, toll-free phone support.

The Verdict
As long as you don’t need an optical drive, we highly recommend the Timeline 3810T. In an increasingly crowded 13-inch notebook category, the Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T stands out, thanks to the combination of its low $899 price tag and astounding eight-plus hours of battery life. We like it even more than the $899 MSI X340, which, while lighter, doesn’t perform as well and has a less sturdy keyboard.

Of course, we’d never hesitate to recommend the $999 entry-level MacBook (whose specs have just been refreshed), which will surely offer more power; however, that machine is heavier, and it won’t match the Timeline’s endurance. In fact, we think the Timeline’s biggest competition is the $899 Aspire 3935, which sports an optical drive, and a more luxurious design, but has only a little more than 4 hours of battery life. Either way, you can’t lose.

Design
Compared with the pricier VAIO Z series—a 3.4-pound notebook that sports an all-aluminum keyboard and carbon fiber housing for its LCD panel—the VAIO SR seems fairly basic, but we generally like this machine’s design given its price point. The SR features a magnesium alloy chassis that weighs a relatively light 4.2 pounds and measures 12.4 x 9.2 x 1.3 inches, making it a good travel companion. In fact, this system is one of the lighter 13-inch notebooks in its price range. Certainly, the SR felt lighter in our hands than the 4.5-pound 13-inch Apple MacBook, although that aluminum unibody machine has a slimmer 1-inch profile. The similarly priced Dell Studio XPS 13 has a more luxurious wedge-shape design, complete with leather accents, but is even heavier at 4.8 pounds.

While the lid is smooth, the sides and bottom have a rough, sandpapery feel. The version we tested comes in standard black, but you can opt for Glossy Pink, Platinum Silver, and Titanium Gray in the configure-to-order model.

Multiple Personalities
The seven buttons on the circular hinge area above the keyboard are unique to the SR’s design. The switch mode button (furthest to the left), lets you switch among three desktop environments (Home, Office, or On The Go). Depending on which environment is selected, the five buttons in the center activate various applications, which appear as icons in the lower center of the screen.

In Office mode, for example, the icons are Mute, Lock Computer, Computer, Presentation Support, and Windows Meeting Space. Home mode has icons for VAIO MusicBox, Movie Story, ArcSoft Webcam Companion, Burn Disc, and Internet Explorer. All of these buttons can be mapped for different applications using the Setting button on the right.

Keyboard and Touchpad
While other notebook makers have just begun to adopt the island-style keyboard, Sony has been doing it for years—and at this point, the company has it down pat. The keyboard, in a recessed area of the deck, provided good feedback and no flex, and was comfortable to type on for extended periods.

The large touchpad has a gray-and-white spotted pattern that distinguished it from the rest of the deck. Although the pattern looks textured, it’s actually as smooth as the rest of the chassis. It, too, was very comfortable and had low friction. The two mouse buttons, separated by a fingerprint reader, provide strong tactile feedback, but are a bit noisy.

Ports and Webcam
On the left side are VGA, HDMI, and FireWire ports, along with an ExpressCard/34 slot. On the front are an SD Card slot and a Memory Stick Pro slot, which features Sony’s proprietary MagicGate encryption technology.

The right side houses the 8X DVD+/-RW drive, two USB ports, and Ethernet and modem jacks behind a removable flap. The power button, built into the right side of the hinge, glows green when the system is powered on.

Although the colors were pleasant, the 1.3-megapixel webcam took dim, not-very-sharp still photos. Our VGA video, too, was dim and soft, but at least all of the movement looked fluid, and the picture stayed in focus as we moved closer to the lens.

The ArcSoft WebCam Companion software’s white-and-blue interface isn’t the sleekest, but its task-oriented main screen makes it easy to navigate. When you finish snapping or recording a capture, you’ll see a thumbnail in a pane to the left. A separate dashboard allows you to adjust the lighting, contrast, and saturation settings (among others) on a sliding scale, as well as apply fun filters, begin face tracking, and insert 2D frames.

Display and Audio
sonyvaiosr-general_sh2.jpgThe glossy 13.3-inch LED-backlit display has a resolution of 1280 x 800, and, somewhat surprisingly, given how notebook screens are trending, does not have a 16:9 ratio. Regardless, it had excellent viewing angles both vertically and horizontally. Even at full screen, the latest installment of SNL’s Celebrity Jeopardy looked fluid on Hulu, and we could make out details on Tom Hank’s dry cleaning bag.

The speakers on the VAIO SR are located between the top of the keyboard and the switch mode buttons. They didn’t get terribly loud when we streamed Coldplay’s “Speed of Sound” on Slacker and The La’s’ “There She Goes” at max volume, but the sound was pretty clean.

Performance
The 2.0-GHz, Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor and 4GB of RAM powered the VAIO SR to a PCMark Vantage Score of 3,174, which is more than 300 points above average for the thin-and-light category. But, the almost identically priced $1,354 Dell Studio XPS 13, a consumer-oriented thin-and-light, scored even better (3,961).

The VAIO SR’s 320GB 5,400 rpm hard drive transferred a 4.97GB mixed-media folder at a rate of 16.6 MBps, which falls just shy of the category average of 17.6 MBps. Likewise, the 62-second boot time is just what you’d expect for a Vista machine.

In our hands-on tests we found that the SR could handle multitasking about as well as the average thin-and-light. When we transcoded a 5-minute-and-5-second MP4 clip to AVI using Handbrake, the SR took 7:42, which is just behind the category average of 7:12. That time rose to 14:02 when we did the transcoding while zipping our 4.97GB mixed-media folder in the background. Again, that’s less than a minute off the category average (in this case, it’s 13:25).

Graphics
The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 provided good power. In 3DMark06, the VAIO SR scored 2,450. That’s about 1,000 points above the category average, but not as good as the Dell Studio XPS 13, whose Nvidia GPU notched a score of 3,530.

While not a gaming notebook, the VAIO SR could handle Far Cry 2 at 1024 x 768 resolution, a feat most thin-and-lights can’t pull off. At that resolution, the machine managed 29 frames per second. At 1280 x 800 pixels, the frame rate slowed to a crawl: 11 fps. Interestingly, while the Studio XPS 13 streamrolled the SR in 3DMark06, it didn’t deliver similarly high frame rates in Far Cry 2: it managed 26 frames per second at 1024 x 768 resolution, and 10 frames per second at 1280 x 800.

Battery Life and Wi-Fi
sonyvaiosr-general_sh2.jpgThe SR’s 6-cell battery lasted 4 hours and 26 minutes on the LAPTOP Battery Test, about 20 minutes longer than the average thin-and-light, and 1:40 longer than the Studio XPS 13.

Likewise, the VAIO SR’s Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN wireless-N radio delivered better-than-average throughput: 20.9 Mbps and 16.8 Mbps at 15 and 50 feet, respectively (the category averages are 18.9 Mbps and 15.4 Mbps).

Security, Software, and Warranty
The VAIO is outfitted with TPM circuitry, and a 3D accelerometer protects the hard drive when it senses the computer has been dropped. Unlike some other business machines, however, the keyboard is not spill resistant.

As a notebook that can be optimized for both work and play, the SR comes with more software and trialware than other small business notebooks, including Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 (as well as the Compatibility Pack, Activation Assistant, Microsoft Office 2003 Web components, Microsoft Office Small Business Connectivity Components, and PowerPoint Viewer 2007), QuickBooks Simple Start 2009, Roxio Easy Media Creator 10 LJ, Windows Live One Care, WinDVD for VAIO, and Yahoo Toolbar.

Sony covers the VAIO SR with a one-year limted warranty, including 24/7, toll-free phone support.

Configuration Options
While our preconfigured SR model costs $1,359, Sony offers a configure-to-order option starting at $1,049. That price gets you a 2.16-GHz Intel Pentium T3400 processor, or you can go all the way up to a 2.93-GHz Core 2 Duo T9800 CPU for $500. Jumping from the base 2GB to 4GB will set you back another $50, and going from the 160GB hard drive to a 400GB drive will cost another $110. Users can also upgrade from the integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics to an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 for $50. Finally, you can also add a Blu-ray drive for $500.

Verdict
Thanks to its good performance and battery life, the $1,359 Sony VAIO VGN-SR390NAB is one of the best 13-inch notebooks you can get at this price. The Dell Studio XPS 13 has even faster graphics for about the same price, and has a more striking design. But, at least for business travelers, we prefer the VAIO SR for its more manageable portability and better endurance.

Design
In many ways, the Acer Aspire One AOD250 resembles the AOD150: It has the same keyboard, the same glossy black bezel surrounding a glossy 10.1-inch screen, and it’s even a similar shade of blue on the lid and the keyboard deck. It doesn’t have the metallic flecks of the AOD150, and the blue is more purple in tone, just enough for a noticeable difference. This netbook will also be available in black, white, and red.

At 10.2 x 7.2 x 1 inches and 2.2 pounds, it’s 0.8 inches narrower, 0.3 inches thinner, and more than half a pound lighter than the AOD150. In fact, with its charger, the AOD250 weighs just 2.8 pounds, the same as the AOD150 alone. Remarkably, it’s almost identical in thickness and weight to the ASUS Eee PC 1008HA, but, because it doesn’t have tapered sides, it looks larger at first glance.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The AOD250’s keyboard, unchanged from the AOD150, is firm and easy to type on; we had no problems typing this review in Microsoft Word. But there’s still a quarter inch of chassis on either side of the keyboard; a missed opportunity for Acer to install a larger, edge-to-edge keyboard, along the lines of the HP Mini 110 or Eee PC 1008HA.

The touchpad is comfortable to use, and offers very little friction, but at 2.0 x 1.5 inches, could be a little wider. The mouse button below is a single bar, lacking a divot to separate the two sides. Still, its action was crisp and not too stiff.

Display and Audio
As with the AOD150, the 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen on the AOD250 has a resolution of 1024 x 600. We’re glad that Acer didn’t skimp on the 24 vertical pixels in the name of boasting a 16:9 display. Even though it’s a spacious 10 inches, at this size, every pixel counts. The glossy screen was crisp and displayed colors superbly; watching episodes of Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons on Hulu at full screen, we were impressed with how brightly it rendered colors. While horizontal viewing angles were excellent, tilting the screen forward almost immediately results in a distorted image.

The speakers on the AOD250 were about what we expect from a netbook; not all that powerful, and a little tinny—but they get the job done. Listening to Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” through Pandora, we felt the bass was on the thin side. The speakers would sound a lot better if they were placed on the keyboard deck, rather than on the underside of the front edge of the chassis; when we tilted the netbook backwards, songs not only sounded louder, but more detailed, too.

Ports and Webcam
Despite its slimmed-down physique, the AOD250 still manages to accommodate three USB ports, VGA, Ethernet, a 4-in-1 memory card slot, and headphone and mic ports. But the card slot is now on the right side (instead of the left), and the VGA, USB, and audio jacks have been moved further forward on the left side.

A 0.3-megapixel webcam above the display provided decent images when videoconferencing with a friend over Skype, but the image was a bit darker than that provided by the MSI Wind U120’s 1.3-megapixel webcam. The microphone, located to the left of the webcam, allowed our caller to hear us loud and clear without our having to speak up.

Performance
Since its internal components are identical to the AOD150, we weren’t surprised that the AOD250 garnered nearly the exact same scores in every department as its predecessor. Like every other netbook with a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, the AOD250 provided fairly decent performance. Its PCMark05 score of 1,492 is about 100 points higher than the netbook average, but not quite as robust as the ASUS Eee PC 1008HA (1,584), which has the slightly zippier 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N280 processor. Similarly, when we transcoded a 114MB video file from MPG4 to AVI using Handbrake, the AOD250 took 28:51 to complete the task, which is about 30 seconds faster than the netbook average and on a par with the HP Mini 110, but about 90 seconds slower than the Eee PC 1008HA.

The 160GB, 5,400-rpm hard drive booted Windows XP Home in a decent 49 seconds, almost the same time as the AOD150. On the LAPTOP Transfer Test (duplicating a 4.97GB folder of mixed media), however, the drive was marginally slower, taking 5 minutes 9 seconds to complete, at a rate of 16.5 MBps. That’s about 2 MBps faster than the netbook average, but about 1 MBps slower than the AOD150.

The AOD250 was capable when it came to our graphics benchmarks, however. The Intel GMA 945 GPU notched a score of 741 in 3DMark03, more than 100 points above average, and its score of 123 in 3DMark06 was about 30 points above average. We had no problems streaming videos and playing movies off the hard drive. While it took a few seconds to render the Grand Canyon in Google Earth, we were able to fly around the southwest U.S. fairly smoothly. Still, zooming in and out of lower Manhattan with 3D buildings enabled proved choppy.

Wi-Fi and Battery Life
The AOD250’s 802.11b/g Wi-Fi card performed well, achieving a throughput of 20.1 Mbps and 16.9 Mbps at 15 and 50 feet from our access point, respectively (whereas 18.9 Mbps and 15.7 Mbps are the netbook averages at those distances).

The 3-cell battery achieved a runtime of 3 hours and 4 minutes, which is about 15 minutes longer than the average 3-cell netbook battery. Acer will also offer a 6-cell battery which, if the battery on the AOD150’s past performance is any indication, should provide about 6 hours of battery life. Unlike the 6-cell battery on the AOD150 (4400 mAh), the 6-cell battery being offered with the AOD250 will be a 5200-mAh, which should provide even more runtime. We will update this review once we’ve tested it.

Software
The Acer Aspire One AOD250 comes preloaded with a fair amount of software, including a 30-day trial of Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Works (which seems a bit redundant), Acer GameZone, Google Desktop, Carbonite Online Backup, and a 60-day trial of McAfee Security Center. It also comes with the Acer eRecovery Management application.

Configuration Options
Our configuration of the AOD250 (with a 3-cell battery) will set you back $298; the AOD250 with a 6-cell battery will cost $349 when it’s released in June. Considering the extra runtime involved, we think it’s worth spending the extra $50. Acer makes it easy for users to upgrade the hard drive and RAM on the AOD250, both of which are accessible via removable panels on the system’s underside.

Verdict
Overall, we’re very impressed with the Acer Aspire One AOD250. It performs very well, and at $298 ($349 with a 6-cell battery), it’s competitively priced compared to both the ASUS Eee PC 1008HA ($429) and the MSI Wind U123 ($379), which, while $80 and $30 more expensive, respectively, have faster processors and long battery life. Still, we’re at a loss as to why Acer felt it needed a nearly identical system in terms of price and performance, albeit one that’s marginally thinner and lighter. We would much rather give up that extra 0.3 inches of thickness for a wider keyboard and touchpad. But, as far as netbooks go, the Acer Aspire One AOD250 is every bit as good as its predecessor, in an even smaller package.

On the outside, the HP Mini 110 looks very similar to the Mini 1000, but is slightly heavier (2.6 pounds versus 2.4 pounds) and thicker (1.3 inches versus 1.0 inches). In addition to the Black Swirl Imprint lid design, HP will make White Swirl and Pink Chic finishes available in July. And, unlike the ASUS Eee PC S101 or the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, its pattern hid our fingerprints. Plus, the glowing blue wireless status lights for the power and wireless on/off switch project a futuristic look.

We quickly noticed that the latest version of this model sits a little higher in back when placed on a desk, thanks to slightly taller rubber feet. We’re assuming this was done to dissipate heat, as the Mini 1000 ran warm.

Keyboard and Touchpad

When we opened the lid, we also noticed that the finish didn’t have the same look and feel as the Mini 1000. This time, HP opted for a different resin for the plastic deck surrounding the excellent 92-percent keyboard, which results in a slightly grittier feel, and a somewhat cheaper look. The right Shift key is full size and placed directly under the Enter key. Additionally, there is a complete row of dedicated function keys. The only keyboard that can hold a candle to HP’s is that of  the Samsung NC10. Some of its keys aren’t as large as those of the Mini 110, but many users may prefer their chunkier feel.

The 2.4 x 1.1-inch touchpad is vertically narrow, resulting in a lot of backtracking. Also, still present are the awkward right and left mouse buttons, which straddle the pad vertically. Nevertheless, because we adjusted to the layout in a few hours, we don’t think the touchpad is a deal breaker.

Ports and Webcam

The Mini 110 eschews the annoying VGA adapter port in favor of a full-size VGA port on the right, bringing this machine in line with most other netbooks. We also appreciate the new third USB port (two on the right, one on the left); the 5-in-1 memory card reader and the Ethernet port are on the right side.

The integrated 0.3-megapixel webcam on our review unit provided decent images in a video call over Skype; our caller could see our face clearly. The microphone, located to the left of the webcam, picked up some background noise, but our caller could hear us just fine without our needing to speak up.

Display and Audio

HP has nixed the edge-to-edge glass display in favor of a traditional bezel (we’re assuming to save on cost). On the plus side, many users will appreciate that this 10.1-inch (1024 x 576) LCD is an antiglare widescreen. The picture was bright and colorful when we streamed an episode of Family Guy, over Hulu. HP will offer a high-def display option (1366 x 768 pixels) for $30 on July 8.

The silver speaker bar on the original Mini 1000 has been replaced with a speaker panel that’s integrated into an area beneath the screen. When we streamed music over Slacker, we were impressed with the volume this tiny netbook pumped out.

Performance

Although our configuration of the Mini 110 has the same 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor and 1GB of RAM as the Mini 1000, the 160GB hard drive is a vast improvement. Not only is it more than twice the size of its predecessor, it spins at a much faster 5,400 rpm, vs. 4,200 rpm.

This translated to a faster boot time (45 vs. 64 seconds when compared to the HP Mini 1151NR) and a better PCMark05 score (1,587 vs. 1,370). We also saw a much higher score in the LAPTOP Transfer Test (copying a 4.97GB folder of mixed media). With the Mini 1000 it took a sluggish 9 minutes and 21 seconds, which is a rate of 9.1 MBps; the Mini 110 notched a rate of 14.6 MBps, just above the netbook average. When we transcoded a 5-minute-and-5-second MPG4 movie to AVI using Handbrake, the Mini 110 took 28:55; that’s just four seconds longer than the Acer Aspire One AOD250, and about 30 seconds shorter than the netbook average.
Heat

We found that the HP Mini 1151NR we recently reviewed ran very hot, measuring temperatures exceeding 110 degrees. The Mini 110, however, was relatively cool, measuring only 82 degrees between the G and H keys on the keyboard. The warmest part of the system was to the left of the touchpad, but that area never exceeded 90 degrees.

New Sync Software

HP ships the Mini 110 with Syncables software, which was designed to enable automatic synchronization of music, pictures, videos, and other files between this netbook and a primary PC. The software works over a local wireless network. We were unable to get Syncables working on a second PC, so we will update this review when we’re able to troubleshoot.

1080P Video Playback Coming Soon

Broadcom is mostly known for its wireless cards, but the company will be providing a jolt to the Mini 110’s video playback capabilities come July. That’s when HP will offer a $30 optional Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator, which will enable users to enjoy 1080p content when the netbook is connected to an external display.

That may be a compelling feature for some, but we think it would be more compelling if the Mini 110 had an HDMI port. And, unlike Nvidia’s Ion graphics, which will find a home inside the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 in August, this video accelerator won’t help you transcode video faster or play mainstream 3D games.

Battery Life and Wireless

The Mini 110’s 802.11b/g radio delivered fast throughput in our preliminary tests, notching 21.2 Mbps at 15 feet from our access point. That’s nearly 3 Mbps faster than the category average, and on a par with the Mini 1000. At 50 feet, the Mini 110 had a throughput of 14.4 Mbps, about 1 Mbps below average.

The HP Mini 110 comes with a standard 3-cell battery that delivered 2:45 of battery life—the average for 3-cell netbooks—on the LAPTOP Battery Test (Web surfing via Wi-Fi).

UPDATE: After receiving the 6-cell battery (which will be available to consumers on June 10), we ran the LAPTOP Battery Test, and found that it lasted for 5:36, just a few minutes short of the 6-cell netbook average. Considering that the 6-cell battery costs $40—bringing the starting price of $329 up to a still-reasonable $369—it’s worth springing for the extra endurance.

Configurations

Like many other netbooks, the Mini 110 comes with Windows XP Home Basic preinstalled; a lower-priced configuration with a 32GB SSD will also be available, as will a mobile broadband option for $125. HP will also offer the Mini 110 with its tailored version of Ubuntu Linux (called Mobile Internet Experience). This version of the Mini 110 (starting at $279) will be able to accommodate up to 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. HP is also releasing a Mini 1101 model, which is aimed at business users. The Mini 1101 starts at $329 and will have more business friendly software and hard drive options up to 250GB.

Software and Warranty

In addition to the Syncables Mobile desktop, the Mini 110 comes preloaded with a bunch of applications, including Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009, Back On Track Recover software, LifeLock identity protection, HP Games (from Wild Tangent), Pandora, Snapfish, Skype, and AOL Instant Messenger. The system is backed by a one-year warranty and one year of 24/7 toll-free technical support.

Verdict

Assuming the 6-cell battery on the Mini 110 gets close to the 6-hour runtime claim, the Mini 110 will be one of the better netbook bargains at $369. We’re still not fans of the vertical touchpad buttons, but HP has made several welcome improvements while still delivering one of the best netbook keyboards around. It’s up to you to decide if the Mini 110’s slightly heavier and bulkier design–and less striking display–is worth having a VGA port, an extra USB port, and a cooler-running system.

Design
One of the first things you’ll notice about dv4t is its slick, eye-catching HP Imprint 2 design. Our model was Express Black; it is also available in Moonlight White. The onyx and chrome “liquid metal” finish (highlighted on the lid and base with subtle stripes) has stylish swirls and circles that give the notebook extra pop. Its mesh design, which surrounds the keyboard and extends upward toward the hinges, blends well with the system’s overall look.

Measuring 13.2 x 9.5 x 1.6 inches and weighing 5.2 pounds, the dv4t is slightly thicker and about half a pound heavier than competing 14-inch notebooks, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Y450, but it’s a shade lighter and about the same size as the  Gateway TC Series. This notebook isn’t tailor-made for travelers, but students and home users shouldn’t have much difficulty carrying it around.

Keyboard, Touchpad, and Ports
The dv4t’s keys feature a glossy coating that matches the rest of the notebook’s aesthetic, but some may find its slickness problematic. The keyboard itself is sturdy (with only a hint of flex), and we experienced adequate feedback when typing e-mails and URLs. Above the keyboard are touch-sensitive multimedia keys, and a Wi-Fi on/off switch that reacted swiftly to our finger inputs. To the left of these controls is HP’s touch-sensitive MediaSmart key, which let us quickly access our photos, music, and video content.

At 3.0 x 1.4 inches, the dv4t’s touchpad is wide, but we felt as though it would have benefited from additional vertical space. And, as with most Pavilion notebooks, the touchpad’s mirrorlike surface requires too much effort to make fine cursor movements. Otherwise, it’s pretty smooth, if a bit fast. Positioned above this area is a button to deactivate the touchpad when you’re using an external mouse. A pair of mouse buttons provide adequate feedback, but we would’ve liked more responsiveness.

The perimeter of the system is packed with ports. On the right side, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports, a power jack, and the DVD burner. Up front are two headphone jacks, a mic jack, and an infrared window (does anyone use this any more?). The  left side of the dv4t houses a Kensington lock slot, VGA, HDMI, an USB/eSATA combo port, 5-in-1 memory card reader, ExpressCard/54, and an expansion port for HP’s optional docking station.

Display, Webcam, and Audio
Our There Will Be Blood DVD looked great on the 14.1-inch, 1280 x 800-pixel resolution display, provided that we stayed directly in front of the system. The dv4t’s viewing angles were extremely tight: the glossy display kicked back heavy reflection as we moved left or right of center. We didn’t particularly mind the screen’s resolution, but for an extra $20, the IdeaPad Y450 offers a 1366 x 768-pixel display.

Above the display, the 0.3-megapixel webcam served up solid skin-tone replication when we video chatted with friends and colleagues using Meebo. We saw only minimal motion blur and stuttering when they made quick movements. People on thDe other end reported that we looked fairly good, even in low-light situations.

Twin Altec Lansing speakers provided very loud, room-filling sound when watching DVDs and listening to music. While streaming tunes from Slacker, songs with strong bass lines (such as Brick’s “Dusic”) packed a satisfying amount of thump.

Performance
The dv4t’s aging 2.0-GHz dual-core Intel Pentium T4200 CPU and 3GB of RAM (configurable up to 4GB) contributed hp_dv4t_verdict_shto decent benchmark performance. It notched a PCMark Vantage score of 2,804, which was just 57 points below the category average, but more than 300 points higher than the Gateway TC7804u (2,471), a $699 system with a 2.0-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor and 4GB of RAM. It also outperformed the IdeaPad Y450 by 75 points.

To test the CPU’s multitasking mettle, we transcoded a 5-minute-and-5-second 640 x 480-pixel resolution video file from MPEG-4 to AVI using Handbrake. This task took 8 minutes and 22 seconds by itself, and 17:11 while compressing a 4.97GB mixed- media folder in the background using jZip. Both of these times were longer than the Gateway UC7807u’s marks of 7:53 and 15:11, respectively, which makes it quite apparent that this low-end CPU won’t cut it for the most demanding jobs. Still, we were able to go about our daily activities—listening to Internet radio, checking e-mail, writing documents, surfing the Web with multiple browser tabs open—without a performance hit.
GPU Performance
As expected, the dv4t’s Intel GMA 4500MHD GPU delivered less-than-stellar performance when we ran our benchmarks. On 3DMark06, it achieved a score of 776, which is nearly half the 1,435 category average (but on a par with such similarly configured machines as the Fujitsu LifeBook S7220). Despite its low performance score, we were able to zoom around the streets of New York City using Google Earth without ill consequence; we didn’t experience any sluggishness or choppiness, even when swooping into Street View in the congested Times Square area. When we fired up Spore Creature Creator, we were able to construct an odd-looking quadruped that animated fluidly, without any polygon breakups or clipping as it leapt through the environment.

Hard Drive Performance
The 320GB, 5,400-rpm hard drive booted the 32-bit Windows Vista Home Premium operating system in 59 seconds, which is 2 seconds better than the category average. On our LAPTOP File Transfer Test (in which we copy 4.97GB of mixed-media data from one folder to another on the hard drive), the speed of 17.1 MBps was on a par with the 17.7 MBps thin-and-light average—but below the IdeaPad Y450’s blazing 23.0 MBps speed. Unfortunately, HP doesn’t offer a 7,200-rpm drive for even faster performance on this notebook.

Wi-Fi and Battery Life
The 802.11b/g Wi-Fi radio enabled the dv4t to push data at a rate of 22.0 Mbps when 15 feet away from our access point, and 18.2 Mbps at 50 feet. These rates were significantly swifter than the 18.8 and 15.3 Mbps thin-and-light averages, and allowed us to stream full-screen Saturday Night Live clips without any hiccups.

The system demonstrated subpar battery life. On our LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous surfing over Wi-Fi), it lasted just 3 hours and 8 minutes on a charge, which was exactly one hour shorter than the average thin-and-light system. Or, you can opt for a 12-cell battery ($49), which the company says will provide nearly 7 hours of endurance.

Software and Warranty
Preinstalled on the dv4t are Adobe Reader 9, HP Games Console by Wild Tangent, HP Total Care Advisor (for easy access to system information and troubleshooting tools), LightScribe (for etching images onto compatible optical discs), Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (60-day trial), Microsoft Works 9.0, Norton Internet Security (60-day trial), and Sling Player. HP covers this notebook with a one-year warranty and 24/7 tech support.

Configurations
You can outfit the dv4t with a host of other specs, including Core 2 Duo processors ranging from 2.2-GHz ($75) to 2.66-GHz ($325), an Nvidia GeForce G 105M GPU ($135), Blu-ray ($110), frameless glass display ($30), LED backlit displays ($60), an optional fingerprint reader ($25), Vista Business ($100) and 64-bit Vista Ultimate ($120) operating systems, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ($50), and integrated mobile broadband ($125). If you go nuts and pick top-of-the-line specs (a 2.66-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9550 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, discrete graphics, fingerprint reader, 802.11n wireless and Bluetooth, and an LED-backlit screen), the dv4t will cost you $1,294.

Verdict
The performance of our $599 configuration of the HP Pavilion dv4t won’t blow you away. But the casual user, who wants a basic machine with satisfying sound, adequate performance, and plenty of style, will find much to like here. Others might find it worthwhile to spend an extra $20 for the Lenovo IdeaPad Y450, which has a higher-resolution display, nearly an additional hour of battery life, and a lighter chassis. All in all, the dv4t notched slightly better scores on some of our benchmark tests, making this HP a solid system for those on a budget.