Notebooks Reviews

Samsung Q40 review

Review This is a nicely designed ultraportable with integrated 3G/HSDPA connectivity and a high-quality 12.1in. wide-aspect screen. It comes with two batteries and has an easily accessible SIM card slot, but the optical drive is an external unit and the system only has two on-board USB ports.

Toshiba Portégé M400 3G143 review

Review We're not convinced that the Portégé M400 is the ideal combination of size, weight and functionality for a convertible Tablet PC, and would have liked to see the same features in a rather lighter notebook.

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ4XWN/C review

Review The VAIO VGN-SZ4XWN/C commands a premium price, but despite Windows Vista, dual graphics subsystems, integrated HSDPA, a fingerprint scanner and a 120GB hard drive, it lacks one or two finishing touches that would make it a must-have purchase for business users with the budget to match.

Vulcan FlipStart review

Review The most notebook-like UMPC we've seen to date, the clamshell-format Vulcan FlipStart offers welcome features including a touchpad, but it's still not the practical ultramobile system we've been waiting for.

Medion UMPC RIM 1000: a first look

Preview Medion has launched a second-generation Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) featuring a neat slide-out keyboard.

Acer TravelMate 6463WLMi review

Review The TravelMate 6463WLMi is a large and well-specified Core 2 Duo notebook with an excellent high-resolution 15.4in. screen. It should perform admirably as a largely desk-bound business system, but you won't want to carry it far.

Motion Computing C5: the first Mobile Clinical Assistant

Preview Motion Computing’s C5 is a Tablet PC designed specifically with clinicians in mind. We made an appointment with it at CeBIT 2007.

Photos: 2nd generation UMPCs at CeBIT

Photos Will the second generation of Ultra Mobile PCs address the criticism that was levelled at the original crop of 'Origami' devices? We take a look at Samsung's latest Q1 system, and some of its competition.

HP Compaq tc4400 review

Review The HP Compaq tc4400 is a convertible Tablet PC offering decent battery life, although we recommend adding more RAM to boost performance — especially if you intend to upgrade to Windows Vista.

Panasonic Toughbook CF-W5 review

Review Panasonic's Toughbook CF-W5 is an ultraportable with a 'semi-rugged' construction that should help it to withstand the rigours of life on the road better than the average sub-2kg system.

Dell Latitude ATG D620 review

Review Dell has given a popular mainstream notebook, the Latitude D620, a rugged makeover in the shape of the ATG (All-Terrain Grade) model.

Apple MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz, 17in.) review

Review Apple's Core 2 Duo-based 17in. MacBook Pro is especially thin and light for a desktop replacement, making it an attractive choice for mobile multimedia users.

Itronix GoBook XR-1 review

Review Itronix's GoBook XR-1 is designed to handle extremes of temperature, dust and humidity, and should survive being dropped and otherwise physically abused. It's as functional as any regular portable, but you'll have to pay a premium for that ruggedness.

HP Compaq nx9420 review

Review If require a 17in. wide-screen notebook with corporate-calibre security, power and battery life, then the HP Compaq nx9420 is pretty much your only choice.

Alienware Area-51 m5550 review

Review The Core 2 Duo-based Alienware Area-51 m5550 can perform as well as larger and more expensive systems, but its moderate battery life means you won't be all that mobile.