Fujitsu LifeBook S6311

Fujitsu Life Book 56311 :

This is an Ultra-Portable business notebook, it has enough oomph to run most office applications and media players. Its battery life is very healthy, you can comfortably work on it for around seven hours while you're on the move.

Features : It weighs 1.73 kg only and it was powered by Intel Core 2 Duo T2080 processor clocked at 1.73 GHz and 1 GB DDR2 memory. This makes it powerful enough to run most everyday applications without any hiccups. The 13.3 inch display with a native resolution of
1024 x 768 makes it a little bulkier than 12.1 inch ultra portables.

Ergonomics : The size of the keyboard in most ultra-portables is restricted due to the size of the notebook itself. This notebook houses a regular sized keyboard that offers good comfort while typing. A unique feature is the set of buttons on top of the keyboard that provide one touch access to the web browser, e-mail client. Most of the ports and audio jacks are placed at the side of the notebook.

Good : It has excellent battery life.

Against : Price

Fujitsu LifeBook S6311 Notebook PC Specifications :

• Intel Core Duo Mobile Processor T5600, 1.83 GHz
• Intel 945GM Express Chipset
• Intel PRO/Wireless 9345ABG / 3945BG Wi-Fi Network Connection
• 512-MB DDR2 667 MHz RAM
• 80-GB Serial-ATA Hard Disk Drive, 4200 rpm
• 13.3-inch Superfine XGA Display, 1,024 x 768 resolution
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 graphics card, 128-MB VRAM
• Dual layer DVD Super Multi Writer
• 10/100/1000 Ethernet
• 56 kbps v.92 modem/fax
• Smart Card Reader - SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro, xD
• Fingerprint Recognition Technology
• Bluetooth v2.0
• Type II PC Card slot
• Realtec ALC262 HD audio codec; 2 x speakers
• Genuine Windows XP SP2 Home/Professional
• 6-cell Lithium Ion, 15 hours backup
• Dimensions: 295 x 238.5 x 34 mm
• Weight: 1.75 Kgs

Wacom Intuos3 Graphic Tablet

The Intuos3 successfully simulates the feel of paper in a digital grab. Intelligent key placements and ergonomics play a vital role in this tablet's design. A vertically arranged touchpad serves to scroll up and down Internet pages, or to zoom in and out under Photoshop or Painter. The tablet is suited to both right and left handed use due to a symmetric arrangement of Keys. The cordless and battery-less Pen that drives the system comes with three exchangeable tips so that only one pen can be used for a wide variety of applications. The pen holder enable vertical and horizontal placement. In its design, the Wacom Intuos3 is clear and concise.

Toshiba Red Transformer

The Toshiba Red Transformer Laptop, with its 17-inch flat screen, easily transforms from the utility of a laptop computer to the fun of a flat screen home entertainment center. A unique sliding hinge attached to the back of the screen transforms the computer into entertainment mode by pushing the screen to the forefront. The screen rests on the integrated speaker panel and a removable remote control keyboard allow the computer to be controlled from afar. In work mode,the keyboard is removable for wireless use. In entertainment mode, a remote control slides out of the aluminum housing and the speaker enclosure flips up to connect flush with the screen, creating a surface with video and sound oriented directly toward the viewer.

Sony's Hottest additon Vaio L

Boasting exceptional design and innovative styling, the new Vaio L is Sony's Hottest additon to its line of multimedia PCs.

Features :

The Vaio L VGC-LA38G is based on the Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Platform, Powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 processor clocked at 1.83 GHz.The configuration is enough to fuel Windows Vista Home Premium and basic applications like Office suite, Web and E-mail clients. The glossy 15.4 inch TFT display is meager for a desktop PC. Sony could have packed this PC with a larger Display, but then it would make it bulkier. The monitor features a native resolution of 1280x800 translating into an aspect ratio of 16:10. Stereo speakers are stacked at either side of the Screen. Being a full-fledged desktop PC, Sony has thrown in every possible feature which you wouldn't want to miss out on-DVD DL Writer, memory card reader, Wi-Fi support, VGA webcam and dedicated graphics. Boasting a rich set of features, the Vaio L encircles a large application area. You can surf the net wirelessly, watch movies on wide screen, video chat online and even play games.

Battery Life :

The 6-cell battery fitted in this PC is rated at 4800 mAH. The battery was in-built rated at 4800 mAH. The battery functions more like Uninterrupted Power Supply ( UPS ), at least you won't lose work in the event of Power Failure.

Verdict :

The Sony Vaio L is clearly targeted at a lifestyle audience that is willing to pay a premium for its willing to pay a premium for its Unique Design.

Asus R2H ( Ultra Mobile PC )

Asus R2H Ultra Mobile PC :

The 7-inch display has 800x600 pixels natively but it can support resolutions upto 1024x768 with pixel interpolation. The display was good enough for use indoors, but isn't exactly vivid and readable out in the day sun.

The UMPC features a 900 MHz Celeron processor on a 915 chip set that really slogs out in running current day applications. The unit comes with 768 MB of RAM and 50 GB 4500 RPM hard drive. Connectivity options include Gigabit LAN, Wireless Lan b/g, Blue tooth V2, and 3 USB ports, additional ports include the mic, headphone, AV IO, and an R2H port bar that basically connects to a dock to provide S/DIF, VGA, LAN, Power, and additional USB connectors.

The unit feels a bit heavy around 830 grams, but can be held in one hand.

There are 6 buttons on the front, and a four way directional pad. There is a square button between the D-pad, which functions as Enter Key. An RF based fingerprint scanner sits above the mouse buttons and is pretty easy to reach. There is a mouse stick on the upper right hand corner of the screen and scroll buttons below it.

There is a button under them which opens a menu to set options like screen orientation, speed and battery saving modes, volume level, etc. A 1.3 MP camera is placed right above the screen.

The bundle also includes a fold able USB keyboard, a USB optical mouse, a slim external DVD writer, a power adapter and a slick case to store the precious UMPC. The keyboard is nice and tactile though the key placement is bit odd. The included DVD writer is a good bonus as it can be used with any other computer.

The mono speaker is loud enough for a laptop, but don't bother watching movies on it. The battery lasted 2 hours with general web browsing, and office work.

Conclusion : The package and the size is superb and is intended for running non-demanding applications.

For : Cheapest UMPC on the block, superb looks and build quality.

Against : Unimpressive battery life, slow performance, a tad heavy.

Lenovo 3000 Y500

Sporting a silver-metallic finish, the unit is quite sturdy. Weight is 2 kg. Ergonomic keys require light strokes and are placed close together, while the generously-sized touchpad feels smooth to work with, and has ample space for wrist support around it.

The WXGA display provides excellent picture quality; viewability from wide angles isn’t a problem. Powered by a Core Duo processor, it doesn’t lack in the performance department either, churning out 38 fps at 1024 x 768 in Call of Duty. It encoded our test DVD to AVI video in 182 seconds, which is good.

The feature set is sound: the buttons on the front can be used for battery management, there’s a 1.3 megapixel camera on top of the display, and a media centre called “Shuttle Center” which can also be controlled using the bundled remote.

The face verification feature is also quite cool: it can distinguish faces accurately, and scans your face to log you into Windows. It even logs a cam-shot of the last user who failed the verification process, though it should be noted that the verification process can be bypassed altogether just by closing the window—no real security here.

The Dolby-certified surround sound subsystem situated on the front of the unit can be turned on or off via a switch; ditto the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Battery life is just about average with a running time of 2:33 hours under stress. Thanks to the vents provided on the left and back, the Lenovo works cool. The price of the Y5000—Rs 56,000—is just right, we think, for its configuration.

Specifications
Intel Core Duo T2250 (1.73 GHz); 512 MB RAM; 80 GB 5400 rpm HDD; 15.4-inch 1280 x 800; Intel 945GM chipset; onboard graphics; slot-in DVD-RW; Intel 802.11a/b/g; Bluetooth, 10/100 Ethernet; FireWire; 1.3 MP camera; TV-Tuner, 6c Li-ion batteries; Windows XP Home

Dell XPS M1210

The good: Wide-aspect display; lengthy battery life (with high-capacity cell); comfortable keyboard; tons of ports; integrated optical drive.

The bad: High-end configs are expensive; thick case; tinny speakers; cramped touch pad.

The bottom line: Though its higher-end (and high-performance) configurations are expensive, the Dell XPS M1210 should appeal to everyday users who want a relatively light but still full-featured Media Center computer.

Notebook : Sahara NB55131-CK76 Rugged

Many professions need a rugged laptop due to their work nature. They could be architects, engineers or military personnel. In fact, military personnel are the biggest consumers for laptops with shockproof and water resistance feature. The market already has laptops for this consumer group from various companies such as Panasonic's Toughbook, ACI's Commando to name a few. They cost a lot and are justified for the amount of torture they can withstand. Sahara has one such notebook in its range of laptops. Sahara is a well known brand in India for its value for money deals in computer peripherals. Similarly, this laptop that we have with us today is perfectly priced, but can it withstand the torture levels as other brands in the market?

Specifications
Intel" Pentium" M Processor 740 Intel Centrino Mobile Technology 1.73 GHz (2MB L2 cache)
512 MB DDR2 RAM (533 MHz FSB)
35.8 cm (14.1) TFT Non-Glare Type
Intel 915GM Chipset
80 GB Hard drive
Dual Layer DVD-RW Optical Drive
Realtek HD Sound Effect Manager 16 bit AC'97
Two speakers with chamber
WLAN: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG WLAN

IO Ports
External display (VGA) port VGA
USB 2.0 Ports (2)
Headphones/speaker/line-out jack
MIC/Line-in jack
LAN: Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
Serial Port
Modem: Internal 56K Fax Modem
Kensington lock

Dimensions
Length: 31.5 cm
Width: 26 cm
Height/Thickness: 4 cm
Weight: 2.67 kg

Performance
The Sahara CK76 is a great performer, throw it from table height or spill a glass of water purposely and it will withstand it what would otherwise be torture to any other laptop. We dropped the laptop a number of times while the laptop was ON and with applications running in the background and we still didn't face any problem. We even dropped the laptop when the lid was open and it survived the fall without any problem. That should summarize the shockproof feature of the laptop. We might just upload the video showing the same in a day or two. Watch this space again next week. As for the waterproof feature, we spilt a glass of water on the laptop and all we had to do was tilt the laptop and all the water just drained out. I think that explains well that the laptop is water and shock proof.

This rugged laptop has a 1.73 GHz processor, these days only the low end entry level laptops include this sort of a configuration. Even though this laptop's concept revolves around ruggedness, it still requires bundling performance under its hood. The performance of this laptop is just average for the configuration and very low for the price. You will be able to work with standard word-processing and a few more applications. This laptop can't be taxed with demanding games or demanding applications. The video memory is shared from the 512 MB stick and with the Intel 915 GM chipset so it's never going to work wonders. That said and done, it will do all the basics in whichever environment you literally throw it into.

Battery Life
The battery bundled along with the laptop is a 9 cell Li-Ion. The battery claims to deliver 5 hours of backup time. The laptop with its low processing power kept the juices of the battery flowing for 4 hours easily. This was a result under standard test conditions. The battery does a good job and being 9-cell with just that much of processing power it was expected.

What is a Tablet PC?

Many find typewriting in Computers very tedious. If only the computer can listen to someone speaking and then automatically convert speech to text. Yes, it is possible. Speech Recognition software are plenty in the market.

What if the computer can convert natural writing to text instead of typing? This too is possible using the 'Character Recognition' and 'Transcriber' technologies used in PDAs and Tablet PCs.

What is a Tablet PC?

Tablet is a computer. It is smaller in size than a notebook and bigger than a PDA. Therefore you can carry Tablet PCs easily.

A special feature in Tablet PC is the 'Slate'. Students can use this feature just like a slate. It comes with a special pen, using which you can write on the slate and the computer will read and convert it into text.

The slate in Tablet PC is nothing but a special monitor and 'Stylus' is the special pen used to write on the slate.

The Operating System in a Tablet is either Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows CE.

Many Tablet PCs comes with a keyboard. Therefore those who want to type can use this keyboard. And those who do not like to type can use the stylus and the slate.

Just like desktop PCs, Tablets also can be equipped with MS Word, Exel, PowerPoint, Email, Browser etc.

Notebook Vs Tablet

Most of the Tablet manufacturers make their Tablet PCs to be able to be used as a notebook too. For example, Acer and Toshiba Tablets can also be used as a notebook. If the monitor of the Tablet is turned 180 degrees and faced other side it becomes a notebook.

Some brands in addition to slates also provide keyboards. So if you insert the keyboard it will become a notebook and if you take out it becomes a Tablet. HP makes this type of Tablets.

Some brands just come with the slate. ViewSonic makes this type of Tablet PCs.

Who Needs a Tablet PC?

Those who don't know typing, or those who know but do not like to type or those who type very slow are some of the people who can buy a Tablet PC.

Doctors who would like to store the details of the patients faster, Lawyers who want to record the details of a case also can use Tablet PC.

Students, Teachers, Press reporters, Stenos also can use Tablet PCs.

Do you need training to use Tablet PCs?

Yes. You need to train the Tablet PCs. Because the Slate has to recognize your handwriting style. If your hand writing is very legible and clear then you don't have to worry. Tablet will easily recognize your hand writing.

Configuration of Tablet PCs.

Generally Pentium III M or Crusoe chips are used at a speed ranging from 800 MHz to 1.5 GHz.

The screen ranges from 10.4" to 12.1" with a resolution of 1024x768.

The weight of the Tablet usually ranges from 1.4Kg to 1.8 Kg, so it can be easily carried around.

The price ranges from $3500 to $6000