Isn’t it amazing that Lenovo had some ultra thin notebook coming, just as Apple had one coming? Unlike the Apple, the Lenovo doesn’t sacrifice any features to do what it does (other then looks). Now it is out and about and a bunch of people have reviewed it.
The all over feel of the reviews is that they really liked it. Most of them directly compared it to the Air, which it truly is aimed at it, and feel that the slight fatness was better then losing features. They liked the keyboard layout, they like the screen, they like the cooling and they like the sound system among other things.
They didn’t like the price and lack of HDD space, but considering the Air is around the same price, you don’t really have a choice. The biggest choice you really have to make between the notebooks is, do you want MacOSX or Windows (XP or Vista)?
Now for my rant (sorry). I think both notebooks are a good step forward in technology, but that Lenovo doesn’t challenge anything. It just makes things as small as possible, which Sony and a bunch of other manufactures will be doing right now.
Sony’s challenge with the TR1 was a ultra small 10-inch notebook. Asus challenge was the EeeCP with a 7-inch with Linux and SSD. Apples challenge was with the Air’s feature sacrifice for size. The Lenovo is an attractive package, but it isn’t anything particularly different.
Unfortunately for Lenovo other companies will soon release products that are similar and possibly cheaper or more attractive (looks and features). I would enjoy the spotlight while I had it Lenovo.
To read the complete reviews, go to PCMag, CNET, CMP Channel, Notebook Review and Walt Mossberg.
Thank you Gizmodo for doing the hard work.
I know it isn’t the Macbook Air, but it is still a pretty cool looking device. The guys over at Crave have made time to review the Cowon Q5W. They liked it but only gave it a 7 out of 10, saying “complicated to use and too expensive compared with the competition.” Looks like it needs a price drop and a new user interface Cowon.
For the review, go over to Crave.
It has started and isn’t likely to stop for a long while yet. What I’m talking about is Macbook Air reviews. I will only do a round-up, seeing there are way to many to go to deeply in each of them (would end up being a 50 page article). Currently the reviews are from Gizmodo, USA Today, Newsweek and Wall Street Journal.
What do they think? The theme of the review’s are based around limitation, which Apple does so very well. They all like the size, it is life shattering sleek, but they don’t like what you lose. Apple have created a niche product, and unfortunately for Apple, it doesn’t seem to be the next iPod.
That all I have to say about the reviews, it is just as easy for you to click a link and read it yourself. I would like to say a few side notes though.
Gizmodo, as well as doing a nice review, have benchmarked the device. It is the slowest available Macbook, but considering it is not meant to be a notebook replacement, you can let that one slide.
The remote drive ability of the device is super limited. It won’t let you play HD movies, CD’s, install Windows and numerous other things. It will be a deal breaker for a lot of people.
The available external drive for the Air doesn’t work on any other Apple. That is something that will probably be fixed by patch, so don’t take to much notice. Also it seems that battery replacement by the user is possible, though it will probably void the warranty, and isn’t something you will want to do on the road.
All in all, I will parse on this device. The taste it leaves in my mouth, while nice, isn’t irresistible. If may need a little salt and pepper, but the meal has already been served.
It wasn’t long ago, in the scheme of things, that ATI released their HD 2000 series of video cards that brought in a budget DirectX 10 era, and now that have pushed a new product to the budget buyer, the HD 3800 series.
The series will come in 2 flavors, the HD 3850 and 3870, which main difference’s are DDR3 on the 3850 and DDR4 on the 3870. Otherwise, both cards support full 10.1, are built on the - world’s first - 55nm manufacture process, 666 million transistors, run on PCI Express 2.0 and the list just goes on. There is a million things to read about it, and there is no better place to read it then at the Reg Hardware Website.
Now to what the rest of us are after, the benchmarks. It is hard to say currently (different on every site), even though it is no limit to the amount of reviews already found around the net, but currently it sits around the HD 2900 series mark. Not bad when you consider the cards are going to sell for around the $US150-200 range.
It seems that AMDATI have gone all out on this offering, and it looks like it could do well. We will have to wait and see what NVidia have lying in wait before we give it the crown, but I personally have to say that this would be the next video card I put in my system.
For more info, click over to the Engadget Blog, or for a list of reviews, go to the DailyTech Website.