Samsung Chromebook Series 5 (Wi-Fi, white)

The good: The Samsung Chromebook Series 5 is a small, attractive Netbook with long battery life, true instant-on Web access, and enough computing to use the Internet.

The bad: The Series 5 is expensive for its features and abilities, and using it can be frustrating depending on your wireless signal strength.

The bottom line: Despite solid hardware, great battery life, and fast start-up, we can't recommend the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 until and unless Google improves the Chrome OS.

Review:

For anybody who loves tech and gadgets, it's not hard to see the appeal of the Samsung Chromebook Series 5. It's a small, good-looking, affordable laptop the whole purpose of which is to keep you connected to your life online. It's even more attractive to those of us who have stopped using programs like Microsoft Office in favor of Web-based apps like Google Docs and Gmail. Add in the promise of all-day battery life (all workday, that is), seamless built-in security, invisible OS and app updates, and instant-on performance and it all sounds pretty good.

Even turning ... Expand full review

For anybody who loves tech and gadgets, it's not hard to see the appeal of the Samsung Chromebook Series 5. It's a small, good-looking, affordable laptop the whole purpose of which is to keep you connected to your life online. It's even more attractive to those of us who have stopped using programs like Microsoft Office in favor of Web-based apps like Google Docs and Gmail. Add in the promise of all-day battery life (all workday, that is), seamless built-in security, invisible OS and app updates, and instant-on performance and it all sounds pretty good.

Even turning the Series 5 on for the first time is cool. Open the lid and the screen lights up. The start-up process is nearly as brief: connect to Wi-Fi, accept the OS terms, sign in to your Google account or create a new one, pick an image to associate with your account or shoot one with the Webcam, and you're done.

There's a brief touch-pad tutorial, but that's it and you're ready to start using the Web. Since everything is Web-based there is a refreshing lack of bloatware. Clicking the Home button in the browser brings you right to your collection of Chrome Web apps, which are just bookmarks to sites. The experience is actually enjoyable, especially if you already have a Google account set up. Because everything is synced, your stuff just shows up.

Price as reviewed / Starting price	$499 / $429
Processor	1.66GHz Intel Atom dual-core N570
Memory	2GB, 1,333MHz DDR3
Hard drive	16GB solid-state drive
Chipset	Intel NM10 Express
Graphics	NM10 Graphics Chipset (integrated)
Operating System	Windows 7 Home Premium
Dimensions (WD)	11.6 x 8.6 inches
Height	0.8 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	12.1 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	6.2/6.9 pounds
Category	Mainstream

And that goes for anyone who uses the Series 5. Should someone else want to use it, you just log out and that person can either work as a guest or sign in with his or her own Google account. Users can be removed as easily as they're added, too, so there's never any fear of someone else looking at your personal files or sites. 

After a little use, though, the Chromebook's shine starts to wear off. For us it started when we needed to open a ZIP file and were greeted with an unsupported file format error. That left us searching for a Web site that would open compressed files. Something that on a Windows or Mac system takes a couple of seconds to do, on a Chromebook requires finding a site, uploading the file, waiting for the file to be processed, and then downloading the file. We then needed to edit a photo, which yet again required uploading to a site, waiting for the photo to be processed, editing the photo, and downloading it from the site.

And then there's the issue of needing an Internet connection for just about everything. Yes, there are offline apps in the Chrome Web Store, but many of them are games (bad ones at that). As of right now, Google Docs is online only and other options like Zoho Writer need the now defunct and unsupported Google Gears to work offline. Google says Docs, Calendar, and Mail will all be available this summer, so that's something; we'll re-evaluate this review when this offline support rolls out. But for other tasks that require or simply work better when installed on the computer, you're out of luck. For more information on the ins and outs of using the Chrome OS, check out our full review.

So what happens if you lose your Internet connection in the middle of working in Google Docs? Well, nothing, really. As long as you don't close the tab you're on, you probably won't lose your work, and as soon as you regain a connection it will automatically save. Still, you won't be able to keep working while offline, which, if you're traveling, can lead to a lot of downtime. Verizon 3G mobile broadband service is included with the $499 Series 5 (the Wi-Fi-only version is $429), so you do have that as a backup (not very helpful if you're in a spot without coverage, though). You get 100MB a month of data service included for two years. You can also get unlimited access for $9.99 a day or 1GB for $20, 3GB for $35, or 5GB for $50 a month. There's no contract, so if you need more or less data one month to the next, you can change it or just stop all together.

	Samsung Chromebook Series 5	Average for category [Netbook]
Video	VGA	VGA
Audio	headphone/microphone jack	headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 2.0, SD card reader	2 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Expansion	None	None
Networking	802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 3G mobile broadband	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive	None	None

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HTC HD7S (AT&T) Review

The good: The HTC HD7S offers a sharper Super LCD touch screen with a built-in kickstand. The Windows Phone device ships with the NoDo update, which brings copy-and-paste and performance improvements.

The bad: There was a constant background hiss during phone calls. Camera quality could be better.

The bottom line: The HTC HD7S offers the benefit of a large touch screen with a sharp picture and fast performance, but it falls short of the smartphone competition in terms of camera and call quality.

Review:

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HTC HD7S (AT&T)

Editors' note: Portions of this review were taken from our evaluation of the HTC HD7.
Introduced at CTIA 2011, the HTC HD7S is AT&T's fourth Windows Phone 7 device, joining the Samsung Focus, HTC Surround, and LG Quantum. Like the rest, the HD7S has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 5-megapixel camera, but it most resembles a smartphone from another carrier: the HTC HD7 for T-Mobile. In fact, the two are exactly the same except that the HD7S features a sharper 4.3-inch Super LCD, which was much needed. It certainly adds
... Expand full review

Introduced at CTIA 2011, the HTC HD7S is AT&T's fourth Windows Phone 7 device, joining the Samsung Focus, HTC Surround, and LG Quantum. Like the rest, the HD7S has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 5-megapixel camera, but it most resembles a smartphone from another carrier: the HTC HD7 for T-Mobile. In fact, the two are exactly the same except that the HD7S features a sharper 4.3-inch Super LCD, which was much needed. It certainly adds to the choice of Windows Phone handsets, but is it the best option out there? That depends on what you're looking for.
Design
When we reviewed the HTC HD7, one of our only complaints about it was the outdated hardware, so it's nice to see that HTC addressed at least one aspect of that problem in the HD7S. Switching out the old TFT screen for a WVGA Super LCD brings a sharper and more vibrant picture. The pixels aren't as visible as before and colors look richer. Plus, the 4.3 inches of screen real estate is great when you're viewing Web sites and video.

The HD7S' Super LCD touch screen provides a sharper picture and richer colors.

The touch screen also felt responsive, as we easily navigated through the various screens and menus. It is a fingerprint magnet though--more than most--and if we're comparing screens, the Samsung Focus' Super AMOLED display is still better, as it offers even more saturated colors, finer detail, and better outdoor visibility. That said, you're not going to have problems seeing what's on the HD7S' screen and we very much appreciate the improved display.
The rest of the smartphone's design is pretty much the same as the HD7's. You still get a built-in kickstand on the back, this time with some metallic gold accents. The handset is on the larger and heavier side, with HTC's solid build quality. One thing we noticed, however, is there is a slim gap between the bottom of the battery door and the rest of the phone, leaving room for dust, dirt, and other debris to get in there. We wouldn't say it's a dealbreaker, but it's definitely not something we were expecting from a company that pays so much attention to detail.

The built-in kickstand is sturdy and comes in quite handy for watching videos on the phone or when using it as a picture viewer.

For more on the smartphone's design, please check out our review of the HTC HD7. AT&T ships the HD7S with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a wired stereo headset, and reference material.
Features
The HTC HD7S ships running the Windows Phone 7 operating system with the latest NoDo update, which includes copy-and-paste support and performance improvements. As a phone, the HD7S offers quad-band world roaming, a speakerphone, call waiting, call forwarding, conference calling, voice dialing, and text and multimedia messaging. The smartphone is 3G-capable and has Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS, but Windows Phone currently doesn't support tethering capabilities.
Though customization is limited in Windows Phone 7, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and carrier partners can still put their own spin on the devices, and AT&T and HTC have done so. HTC has added its own HTC Hub (also available as a live tile) where you will find some old HTC favorites like applications and its animated clock and weather widget.
Meanwhile, AT&T has preloaded the smartphone with a number of its services, including AT&T U-verse Mobile, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Radio, and AT&T Family Map. Unlike on the carrier's other smartphones, you can actually uninstall any of the unwanted carrier apps--not just remove them from the Start menu but actually uninstall them. To do so, just select the app with a long press and choose the uninstall option. This is great news if you don't like all that bloatware tying up precious resources. Just note that if you hard-reset the phone, the apps will reinstall after the reboot.

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HTC Sensation 4G (T-Mobile) Full Review

The good: The HTC Sensation 4G boasts a sleek, high-quality design with a gorgeous 4.3-inch qHD display. The Android smartphone also features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 8-megapixel camera, and the HTC Sense user interface brings some thoughtful and useful new features.

The bad: The smartphone doesn't offer much internal memory, and the phone's speakers are pretty weak.

The bottom line: Its excellent design and user experience, coupled with its solid performance, make the HTC Sensation 4G one of the best Android phones yet and a top pick for T-Mobile customers.

Review:

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HTC Sensation 4G

HTC and T-Mobile first introduced the HTC Sensation 4G back in April, and we were instantly enamored of the Android smartphone. Not only did HTC give the phone a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 4.3-inch qHD display, but it enhanced the user experience by adding some great features to the HTC Sense user interface. We've had to wait two long months since that fateful day in April, but T-Mobile customers will finally get the chance to get their hands on the HTC Sensation 4G starting June 15 for a price of $199.99 ... Expand full review

HTC and T-Mobile first introduced the HTC Sensation 4G back in April, and we were instantly enamored of the Android smartphone. Not only did HTC give the phone a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 4.3-inch qHD display, but it enhanced the user experience by adding some great features to the HTC Sense user interface. We've had to wait two long months since that fateful day in April, but T-Mobile customers will finally get the chance to get their hands on the HTC Sensation 4G starting June 15 for a price of $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. Needless to say, we were excited to get our own hands on the Sensation again, and we're happy to say it does not disappoint.
Design
What can we say; it was love at first sight. The HTC Sensation 4G is one of the best-looking and most well-built smartphones we've seen to date, and it's not because of any flashy gimmicks, but simply a solid and sleek design. Like a number of HTC handsets, the Sensation 4G has a unibody aluminum chassis with a streamlined and high-quality construction. What's most notable about the phone, though, is how sleek it is for a 4.3-inch touch-screen device.

The HTC Sensation 4G is one beautifully crafted smartphone.

Unlike some 4.3-inch-screen smartphones, such as the HTC ThunderBolt and Samsung Droid Charge, the Sensation doesn't feel heavy or bulky. It's similar in size and weight (5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.4 inch thick, and 5.2 ounces) to the T-Mobile G2x and Samsung Galaxy S II, but even so, the Sensation has a more premium feel and its tapered edges make it more comfortable in the hand.
Part of what allows the smartphone to be so slim is the 16:9 qHD (540x960-pixel resolution) Super LCD touch screen. The display features a contour design that gives it a concave shape, making it comfortable when held against the cheek, and also prevents scratches when the phone is placed screen-side down. More importantly, it looks gorgeous. Text and images look sharp with vivid colors, and we were still able to read the screen outdoors. The iPhone's Retina display and Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus touch screen offer finer detail and better color saturation, but the Sensation's display is still no slouch, and we suspect most people will have no objections to it.
The touch screen was responsive, as we were able to easily navigate the menus and launch applications with a single tap. Scrolling through lists and using the pinch-to-zoom feature was also smooth. For text entry, you only get the choice of HTC's supplied virtual keyboards--full QWERTY, phone, or compact--but no standard Android keyboard or Swype. That said, while it's not immediately obvious, the HTC keyboard has a feature called Trace that acts very much like Swype where you can drag your finger from letter to letter. As with Swype, we found Trace to be faster and easier and even more accurate than pecking away at each key.
Below the display, you'll find touch-sensitive buttons for the home, menu, back, and search functions. The left side holds a volume rocker and a Micro-USB port, while the right side is devoid of controls. The top of the device houses a 3.5mm headphone jack and power button, and just below it, on the upper right side of the screen, is the front-facing camera. The 8-megapixel and dual LED flash are located on back.

Despite having a 4.3-inch screen, the Sensation 4G doesn't feel bulky and has a slim profile.

T-Mobile packages the HTC Sensation 4G with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a preinstalled 8GB microSD card, a wired stereo headset, and reference material.
Software and user interface
The HTC Sensation 4G ships with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and the latest version of HTC Sense. Sense has always been our favorite custom skin for Android, both for its aesthetics and useful functions, and now HTC has made it even better.
A lot of the new features of Sense can be found on the lock screen. Aside from a display of the date, time, and other vital statistics, you now get shortcuts to four of your favorite apps. By default, the shortcuts are set to phone, mail, camera, and messages, but you can change them in the phone's Personalize menu. To open a specific app, you can simply drag the icon to the ring at the bottom of the screen, instead of having to unlock the phone first.
In addition to the shortcuts, HTC also wanted the lock screen to showcase more user content, so now you can personalize the screen with your photo gallery, friend stream, favorite stocks, or weather. The content then floats by or flies by (depending on which option you choose) onscreen.
Once you unlock the phone, you'll find even more enhancements. For example, much like the HTC Flyer, the Sensation features a 3D carousel so you can more quickly flip through the seven home screens, rather than swiping through each panel. (Of course, you can also use the Leap screen function.) The pull-down notification tray has a second tab called Quick Settings where you can manage your wireless connections and access other settings. The mail app and widget now give you a preview of each message, and the photo gallery widget features a flip-board effect.
There's much more to HTC Sense, but for the sake of brevity we won't detail every new feature here. That said, we found the new functionality to be both useful and well integrated into the system, making for a great user experience on the Sensation 4G.
Features
The T-Mobile Sensation 4G offers world roaming capabilities, a speakerphone, conference calling, voice dialing, video calling via Qik, and text and multimedia messaging. Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi are all onboard, and there is support for Wi-Fi calling. T-Mobile doesn't charge extra for this feature, but be aware that the minutes are deducted from your regular voice plan.
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Dell XPS 15-L502X (Intel Core i7-2630, 2011) Review

The good: Dell's new XPS 15 offers a high-resolution screen and excellent JBL speakers. Intel's new Core i-series CPUs and Nvidia graphics are standard, but there are also plenty of configuration options.

The bad: The extremely bulky, uninspired design of the XPS 15 doesn't suit its price, and though the battery life is very good, it's not as great as Apple's MacBook Pro. Some configuration options feel like they should have been included for free.

The bottom line: Equipped with second-gen Intel Core i-series CPUs and improved Nvidia graphics, the new Dell XPS 15 performs even better than its predecessor, although it's still just as bulky. Also, keep in mind that the XPS 15 ranges greatly in price, from $799 up to $1,500.

Review: One of last year's most impressively priced high-end multimedia laptops was the ... Expand full review

One of last year's most impressively priced high-end multimedia laptops was the Dell XPS 15. Though it was certainly not svelte, the $849 entry-level model we reviewed had an excellent set of specs and some of the best-sounding speakers we've ever heard on a portable.
The new XPS 15 looks a lot like the old one--which isn't that old, really: we reviewed it back in November 2010. Still, there are a few key differences with the 2011 update. First and foremost, all XPS models now have new second-gen Intel Core i-series CPUs. The GPUs have also been revamped, incorporating newer Nvidia GeForce GT 500-series graphics. The keyboard has also been given some tweaking, which we'll go into in more detail. Finally, the built-in Intel Wireless Display is now WiDi 2.0, incorporating HD streaming up to 1080p.
The base model of the new XPS 15 is actually even cheaper than last year's, at $799. It comes with a 2.3GHz Core i5-2410M CPU, an Nvidia GeForce GT525 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB, 7,200rpm hard drive.
That's not the one we reviewed, though. Unlike last time, Dell sent us a top-of-the-line fully rigged model, the XPS15-L502X, running around $1,488 on Dell's Web site: a quad-core 2GHz Core i7-2630QM CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 750GB 7,200rpm hard drive, Nvidia GeForce GT 540M graphics, a Blu-ray drive, and a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution screen, along with a chunky but longer-life nine-cell battery.
It's a heavy beast, and expensive, too, but if you're looking for a media laptop that can blast movies, play games, and show them off on a great screen, the new XPS 15 could be just what you're looking for. But don't feel like you have to spring for all the upgrades; the base model should be more than enough for most--unless you're looking for Blu-ray and a full 1080p display.

Price as reviewed / starting price	$1,488 / $799
Processor	2.0GHz Intel Core i7-2630QM (quad-core)
Memory	8GB, 667MHz DDR3 RAM
Hard drive	750GB 7,200rpm
Chipset	Intel HM67
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GT540M + Intel GMA HD (Optimus)
Operating System	Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions (WD)	15 x 10.4 inches
Height	1.3-1.5 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	15.6 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	6.7 / 8.0 pounds
Category	Mainstream

The size and shape of the Dell XPS 15 is best described as beefy and bulky, with a flat, wide silver profile that looks like plastic but is actually metal. A thick, slightly tapered base and wide, flat, brushed-aluminum lid look, at first glance, like they belong on a budget laptop. Especially with the extra riser added by the nine-cell battery option, the overall effect is one of the thickest laptops we've seen on the market. The XPS has undeniably throwback looks, and not in a good way.
The hinge-forward design on the XPS mirrors other recent Dell laptops, such as the Inspiron R and Mini 10, pushing the screen forward a little in relation to the keyboard but giving the rear end significant chunk. The XPS uses that back lip for a handful of rear-facing ports, including HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, the power jack, and one of its two USB 3.0 ports. It nearly acts like a dock, giving this XPS a very desktop-friendly feel for keeping wires out of the way, but making access a little tough for lap use.
The thick chassis has some noticeable flex on the sides, giving an impression of being not quite as solidly built as other high-end laptops such as the MacBook Pro and HP Envy. However, this is a laptop that gets a lot better once you actually start using it. A wide, generous palm rest and keyboard deck is covered in more brushed metal, with a raised chiclet-style keyboard centered right in the middle between two speaker grilles.
The keyboard is new, a shift from the flat keyboard with raised key surfaces seen on many of last year's Dell laptops. It's a nicer look, but it doesn't add up to anything significantly more ergonomic than the previous XPS. Typing feels very comfortable, although there could have been room for a number pad in the wide chassis.
We do have a few gripes: the backlit keyboard is now a $40 upgrade instead of an included feature on the entry-level model. And, though last year's XPS had function-reversed volume and media control keys, they've flipped back to requiring pressing the function key in this year's model. It's a bit of a drag. We're not huge fans of the column of page up/down buttons lining the right side of the keyboard, relegating the Enter/Shift keys to inner positions that aren't instantly touch-intuitive, but it's a trend that's growing for laptop keyboards everywhere.
A few backlit touch controls lie on the upper-right side above the keyboard, to the left of a slightly off-from-center power button. A settings button launches a pop-up of useful controls, ranging from Bluetooth to battery mode; we wish more laptops had such a hot key. Another button can be customized to instantly launch any program, and a third brings up fine-tuning controls for the Waves MaxxAudio system that runs through the JBL speakers.
Dell's onscreen dock, much like the icon dock in Mac OS X, provides an instant-access strip for commonly used programs, augmenting Windows 7 nicely. It's not new or unique, but we appreciated it once again on the XPS 15.
A large multitouch touch pad is nearly the size of the MacBook Pro's, and it controls better than many touch pads we've seen. Simple wide buttons beneath do their job without fanfare, but reliably.
Like last year's XPS, the included 5.1-speaker/subwoofer array is one of the best we've ever heard in a laptop. Music and movies play with crisp pop, punch, and separation, and gaming shows off the surround-simulating effects. They're so good, they're going to be one of primary features you'll show off to friends and family, and they'll probably make you skip using headphones--to the chagrin of neighbors or roommates.
The 15.6-inch LED-backlit glossy 16:9 display in our high-end XPS 15 configuration has a 1,920x1,080-pixel full-HD display, which costs an extra $150 on Dell's Web site to customize. Based on our experience, it's worth the upgrade: colors popped, images were extremely vivid, and movies and games looked spectacular. Combined with the XPS' powerful sound, it adds up to one of the best portable home-theater offerings in any recent laptop we've seen. The Blu-ray drive--an extra $100, or $175/$275 for two different speeds of BD-write capable drives--makes sense in a laptop with media features this strong.
An HD Webcam records video at resolutions up to 1,600x1,200 pixels, or at 1,280x720 pixels in HD H.264 format. Though frame rates are choppy using normal settings, the HD recording mode produces smooth, very watchable clips. The Webcam is also compatible with SkypeHD for HD streaming, a pleasant bonus. A noise-canceling microphone adds to the chat package, pushing its chat capabilities closer to that of a business laptop.

	Dell XPS 15-L502X (Core i7, Sandy Bridge)	Average for category [Mainstream]
Video	HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, TV tuner	VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo 2.1 speaker/subwoofer, 2 headphone jacks (one S/P DIF), 1 microphone jack	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0/eSATA combo, SD card reader	4 USB 2.0, SD card reader, eSATA
Expansion	None	ExpressCard/54
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, optional mobile broadband/WiMAX	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Optical drive	Blu-ray drive	DVD burner

The new Dell XPS has the same set of ports we saw in the XPS back in November, and that's OK, since those ports already were pretty up-to-date. Though the XPS lacks an ExpressCard slot, it comes with two USB 3.0 ports, an optional TV tuner (included on our config), and HDMI 1.4 with Nvidia 3DTV Play, allowing playback of 3D games or Blu-ray content onto a 3D HDTV via an HMDI cable. You'll need a 3D TV to even take advantage of this feature, of course, and we doubt many people will.
Configurations for the Dell XPS 15 vary across a tremendous spectrum, starting at $799 and climbing into the $1,500 range. Like many Dell laptops, the number of customizable extras can seem daunting: nearly every feature has an upgrade. That HD Webcam, confusingly, has two options, one of which adds facial recognition for $20, a feature most would assume comes as a standard software feature; there are WiMax and Bluetooth options; the keyboard comes in standard or backlit (an extra $40); and the JBL speaker system has a completely confusing and unnecessary $20 upgrade option on Dell's Web site. You get the picture.

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Apple MacBook Air Fall 2010 (Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz, 128GB SSD, 13.3-inch) Review

The good: Apple's MacBook Air is thin and powerful enough to use as a mainstream laptop. It has an excellent battery and includes an SD card slot.

The bad: The Air has limited connections compared with other 13-inch laptops, and its keyboard isn't backlit. It's outclassed by the new MacBook Pro line.

The bottom line: The second generation of Apple's MacBook Air fixes many of our issues with the ambitious original, adding more USB ports, an SD card slot, and a more powerful processor.

Review: Apple's original ultrathin MacBook Air was the very definition of a specialty laptop: its alluring design was offset by a limited number of connections and an underpowered CPU, making it truly useful for only a small fraction of users. The second generation of the 13-inch MacBook Air addresses most of our issues with the Air, adding a second USB port, an SD card slot, a higher-resolution display, and better CPUs.
To maximize battery life, this new MacBook Air moves to an SSD-only hard drive, and like the 11-inch version we reviewed last year, the system starts up in a ... Expand full review

Apple's original ultrathin MacBook Air was the very definition of a specialty laptop: its alluring design was offset by a limited number of connections and an underpowered CPU, making it truly useful for only a small fraction of users. The second generation of the 13-inch MacBook Air addresses most of our issues with the Air, adding a second USB port, an SD card slot, a higher-resolution display, and better CPUs.
To maximize battery life, this new MacBook Air moves to an SSD-only hard drive, and like the 11-inch version we reviewed last year, the system starts up in a flash and wakes up from its sleep state even faster.
All these improvements don't come cheap, however. At $1,299 (and up), this is a premium-priced laptop, and it feels even more so when you consider that the 11-inch Air and standard white MacBook are available for $999 (to say nothing of the $499 iPad).
If you can survive without a built-in optical drive, and don't need more than the two USB ports provided, we'd be tempted to say we'd grab this 13-inch MacBook Air over the more powerful 13-inch MacBook Pro, because its slim, lightweight design makes it a lot easier to carry around, but keep in mind that the newly refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro (with Intel's latest Core i-series CPUs) both is much more powerful and has better battery life.

Price as reviewed	$1,299
Processor	1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory	2GB, 1,066MHz DDR3
Hard drive	128GB SSD
Chipset	MCP89
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce 320M
Operating system	OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard
Dimensions (WD)	12.8x8.9 inches
Height	0.11-0.68 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	2.3/2.7 pounds
Category	thin and light

This second-generation MacBook Air looks and feels a lot like the original at first glance. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the Air have the same thickness, ranging from 0.11 inch to 0.68 inch, but spread over the larger footprint of the 13-inch chassis, this model seems especially thin.
At the same time, the rigid aluminum construction makes the Air feel sturdy enough to just throw in a bag and carry along with you. The trade-off there is that the 13-inch Air feels a bit heavier than its thin body would lead you to expect, especially compared with its 11-inch cousin or an iPad.
The large island-style keyboard and trackpad (which is the same glass version found on other MacBooks) both work very well, although the function keys at the very top are small. The F5 key is the only function key missing an alternate function; on other MacBooks (including the original MacBook Air), it's for the keyboard backlight. It's a shame it's missing here, as we've become used to it in Apple laptops, and it's genuinely useful for couch-based computing at night.
Despite the move by other laptop makers to larger clickpad-style touch pads, we have yet to find a touch pad that comes close to the MacBook's, especially as Apple provides for useful three- and four-finger gestures. The pad is hinged at the top, allowing the entire pad to click down, but we prefer traditional tapping (which is off by default and must be activated in the Preferences menu).
While the original MacBook Air has a then-standard 1,280x800-pixel screen resolution, this new version bumps that up to 1,440x900 pixels, although, unlike the 11-inch MacBook Air, this is not a 16:9 display. The screen area lacks the edge-to-edge glass over a black bezel found in other MacBooks; instead the screen is surrounded by a thick silver bezel, which is one of the only aesthetic issues we had with the system. Interestingly, the newer 13-inch MacBook Pro keeps the lower 1,280x800 resolution, making this the highest-res 13-inch laptop Apple makes.

	Apple MacBook Air	Average for category [thin and light]
Video	Mini-DisplayPort	VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone jack	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 2.0, SD card reader	3 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Expansion	None	None
Networking	Ethernet (via USB dongle), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Optical drive	None	DVD burner

Doubling the USB ports over the original Air from one to two is a welcome gesture, as is adding an SD card slot (but the smaller 11-inch version lacks that). Those additions take the MacBook Air from being a narrow-audience speciality system to a laptop that's useful enough for almost anyone.
That said, there are still some missing features that will rule the MacBook Air out for you if you absolutely need them; dedicated VGA or HDMI outputs are no-shows (you'll need an aftermarket adapter for the Mini-DisplayPort jack), as is onboard Ethernet (available via a $29 USB adaptor) or a built-in 3G wireless antenna. An external optical drive is available for an extra $79, but there's no Blu-ray option for MacBooks.
The base configuration of the 13-inch MacBook Air includes a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (not the current Core i-series), 2GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. You can add another 2GB of RAM for $100, or trade up to a package that includes a faster 2.13GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for $1,799.
The Core 2 Duo/Nvidia 320M combo is similar to what you'd find in the current $999 white MacBook (although this is a ULV version of the Core 2 Duo in this case). Though it's not as fast as a non-ULV laptop, the MacBook Air is zippy enough for everyday use, and feels much closer to mainstream performance than the original Air.

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Toshiba Portege R835-P56X Full Review

The good: With a new Intel Core i5 CPU, sharp design, and nearly all-day battery life, the Toshiba Portege R835 is a smartly priced alternative to the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The bad: Intel's integrated graphics are better than they used to be, but still not gamer-friendly, and features such as Bluetooth and mobile broadband are missing from some configs.

The bottom line: With three more hours of battery life over last year's model, Toshiba's new R800 series of Portege laptops are hard to beat, even in the highly competitive 13-inch laptop category.

Review: Editors' note: It's worth noting that, as it did with last year's Portege R705, retailer Best Buy is selling one of the Portege R835 models at a steep discount. The Portege R835-P50X, with an Intel Core i3 CPU, Wireless Display, and WiMax, is available for $749, while its original list price is $899.
Any laptop reviewer has a handful of go-to systems ready to recommend at a moment's notice. Recent favorites include Apple's latest MacBook Pros and HP's AMD-powered Pavilion dm1. One of our favorites from last year was Toshiba's Portege R700 series. At ... Expand full review

Editors' note: It's worth noting that, as it did with last year's Portege R705, retailer Best Buy is selling one of the Portege R835 models at a steep discount. The Portege R835-P50X, with an Intel Core i3 CPU, Wireless Display, and WiMax, is available for $749, while its original list price is $899.
Any laptop reviewer has a handful of go-to systems ready to recommend at a moment's notice. Recent favorites include Apple's latest MacBook Pros and HP's AMD-powered Pavilion dm1. One of our favorites from last year was Toshiba's Portege R700 series. At the time we said, "The quest for the perfect laptop is ultimately fruitless....That said, the new Toshiba Portege R705 comes about as close as anything we've seen this year, offering a great mix of price, design, features, and performance."
Over time, however, the R705 lost some of its luster, as newer laptops moved to Intel's second generation of Core i-series CPUs, which promised better performance and longer battery life. Fortunately, Toshiba is ready with a new Portege series, this time called the R800. Nearly physically identical to the R700, the new models (we've got the $929 Toshiba Portege R835-P56X) add current-gen Intel CPUs, along with USB 3.0, while keeping the same magnesium alloy chassis and thin, lightweight design. The biggest surprise is the vastly improved battery life, topping 7 hours, and beating even the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
A few different configurations include or exclude Bluetooth or Intel's Wireless Display technology, or drop to a slower Core i3 processor, so check the features list carefully, especially as the price difference between most configs is only about $30.

Price as reviewed / starting price	$929 / $899
Processor	2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M
Memory	4GB, 1,333MHz DDR3
Hard drive	640GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Intel HM65
Graphics	Intel HD 3000
Operating System	Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions (WD)	12.4 x 8.9 inches
Height	0.7 - 1.1 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	3.2/3.9 pounds
Category	13-inch

Much like last year's R700 series, the R835 has a subtle dark blue tint to its brushed-metal magnesium alloy chassis. The body feels sturdy despite its light weight, but this is not nearly as thin as Samsung's Series 9 or the MacBook Air--both of which are much more expensive. Sadly, this new version keeps the one visual element we disliked last time: the overly chromed screen hinges, which just look cheap.
The keyboard, like most current consumer laptop keyboards, uses flat, widely spaced island-style keys, except these keys are slightly more rectangular than most, which may throw off touch typists. This does, however, leave more room for the oversize touch pad, which is close to what you'd see on a MacBook, except with a pair of large standalone left and right mouse buttons.
Toshiba's keyboards typically have a vertical row of dedicated page-up, page-down, home, and end keys along the right side. This makes them easy to find, but at the same time pushes the Enter and Right Shift keys in from where you'd instinctively expect them to be. Media control buttons, volume, mute, etc., can also be hard to find, relegated to alternate F-key assignments and indicated on dark gray on black keys. Like the R705, the R835 lacks a backlit keyboard; for $900 it should be a standard feature. Despite these flaws, the R835 still offers an excellent overall typing and touch pad experience.
Returning for the second year is a handful of custom Toshiba software utilities. ReelTime displays recent documents and Web pages in thumbnail form along the bottom of the screen, and Bulletin Board combines photos and notes in a single workspace. Both are slick, usable programs, but they're proprietary and require a time investment in learning them, which you may not want to bother with unless you're dedicated to using only Toshiba computers.
The 13.3-inch LED display has a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels--roughly comparable with the MacBook's 1,280x800 pixels, but less than the 1,440x900-pixel 13-inch display found in the 13-inch MacBook Air. Though bright, the off-axis viewing angles on the R835 weren't great, and we've never been impressed with the onboard audio in the Portege laptops.

	Toshiba Portege R835-P56X
Average for category [13-inch]	n/a	n/a
Video	VGA plus HDMI	VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0/eSATA, SD card reader	3 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Expansion	None	None
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Optical drive	DVD burner	DVD burner

Our configuration of the R835 included a fast Intel Core i5 processor; other configurations trade down to a Core i3, but also include Bluetooth, WiMax, and Intel's Wireless Display, for beaming video signals to an eternal display (via a sold-separately HDMI receiver). It can be confusing to mix and match among them, so make sure the model you're looking at has the features and components you want.
With a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M, 4GB of RAM,and a 640GB 5,400rpm hard drive, our Portege R835 ran slightly behind the newest Sandy Bridge Core i5 MacBook Pro, by a small amount in single-app tests, but by a larger margin in our multitasking test. Both outperformed Samsung's 9 Series 13-inch, which also has a new Intel CPU, but of the low-voltage variety. While the Series 9 is thinner and all-around sexier, the Portege R835 was much faster than the Samsung in all of our tests. It's also worth noting that you could almost buy two Portege R835 laptops for the cost of a single Samsung Series 9.
The latest Intel integrated graphics are better than those from last year, but that still won't make this a great option as a dedicated gaming machine. In our older Unreal Tournament III test, the game ran at 63.9 frames per second at 1,366x768 pixels, which is respectable. But in a newer game, Street Fighter IV, we got 27 frames per second at the same resolution, just short of playable.

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Apple MacBook Pro Winter 2011 (2.7GHz Core i7, 13-inch) Full Reviews

The good: CPU updates offer big leaps in performance; phenomenal battery life; excellent ergonomics, keyboard, and large, smooth, multitouch clickpad are still among the best available; 720p HD Webcam.

The bad: Graphics performance is slightly worse than last year's 13-inch Pro; 13-inch screen resolution still low compared with the MacBook Air; Thunderbolt port still an unknown until accessories become available; limited upgrade options; expensive; no HDMI or Blu-ray.

The bottom line: Despite retaining the same price and look as last year's model, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro's significant CPU updates and fantastic battery life make it one of the top laptops we've reviewed, provided you can live with passable integrated graphics.

Review: The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the most affordable of Apple's high-end laptops. With the admittedly supercharged 15-inch version starting at a princely $1,799, the 13-inch model's starting price of $1,199 is the one many consumers will likely consider first. Its size is also ideal, and in fact, we've long considered 13 inches to be the sweet spot in laptops for usability and portability. The question is: does the smaller Pro deliver the processing punch that last year's lacked?
In short, unequivocally yes. This year's 13-inch Pro gets a cutting-edge processor upgrade that many ... Expand full review

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the most affordable of Apple's high-end laptops. With the admittedly supercharged 15-inch version starting at a princely $1,799, the 13-inch model's starting price of $1,199 is the one many consumers will likely consider first. Its size is also ideal, and in fact, we've long considered 13 inches to be the sweet spot in laptops for usability and portability. The question is: does the smaller Pro deliver the processing punch that last year's lacked?
In short, unequivocally yes. This year's 13-inch Pro gets a cutting-edge processor upgrade that many were waiting for--including us. That upgrade comes in the form of next-generation Intel Core i-series CPUs. The 2011 MacBook Pros are the first laptops we've reviewed at CNET with these processors; the entry-level 13-inch model features a second-generation 2.3GHz Core i5 processor, and the $1,499 configuration has a 2.7GHz dual-core Core i7.
However, despite the processor improvements, the use of Intel's HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics is a step backward from the integrated Nvidia graphics found in the 2010 13-inch Pro. It's not a huge backslide, though, and for many it's a survivable loss. Plus, it does come with the much talked about high-speed data/video port, Thunderbolt.
Thunderbolt is envisioned as a sort of future unified successor to USB, FireWire, and DisplayPort, allowing peripherals to carry data and video at 10Gbps. We don't know when Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals will be available (although Apple says the first ones should show up in the spring of 2011), how much they'll cost, or if Apple will be adding the technology to future displays or iOS devices. For now, it's a wait-and-see gamble on a future technology, but at least the port is backward-compatible with Mini-DisplayPort and can support HDMI out with the purchase of a cable. The 13-inch MacBook Pro also keeps its FireWire 800 port, so Thunderbolt is more of an added feature than a risk Apple's making you buy into.
In the end, the 2011 13-inch Pro is a big step up in processing performance for the same price as its predecessor. To put it in perspective, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is about as powerful CPU-wise as last year's $2,199 15-inch Core i7 model. And while its integrated Intel graphics are a bit less capable than the previous model's Nvidia 320M GPU, the payoff comes with another big leap in battery life.
Lastly, if you're on the fence between the $1,499 13-inch and the $1,799 15-inch Pros, that $300 buys you a lot more computer. On the other hand, we'd argue that most people won't see or don't need the extra performance and it is a larger, heavier laptop.

Price as reviewed / starting price	$1,499 / $1,199
Processor	2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 (dual-core)
Memory	4GB, 1,333MHz DDR3 RAM
Hard drive	500GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Intel H67
Graphics	Intel HD 3000
Operating System	OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard
Dimensions (WD)	12.8 x 8.9 inches
Height	0.95 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	4.5/5 pounds
Category	Mainstream

There's nothing different design-wise about the new MacBook Pro. Walk up to the 2011 version and you'd have no idea that you were looking at a "new" Mac. The iconic design and unibody construction has remained intact, even identical, to last year's 2010 model, even down to the port layout. Ports line the left side, and the side-connecting MagSafe charging cable plugs toward the rear, staying out of the way. The slot-loading drive lines the right side. A wide expanse of aluminum and Apple's simple but excellently constructed keyboard feel like tech minimalism in a world of overwrought and overdesigned laptops, and the large multitouch clickpad is still--even nearly three years later--one of the largest we've seen. Construction quality is, as always, rock-solid: compared with other flexy laptops, the seamless metal body of the Pro feels like modern art.
That being said, we wouldn't mind some design improvements in the future, especially when it comes to thickness and weight. The 13-inch Pro is compact and thin, but compared to wafer-thin Apple products like the iPad and MacBook Air, it ends up feeling heavier. Then again, if thickness matters that much, you can always buy an Air.
A backlit keyboard still comes standard, even on the entry-level $1,199 MacBook Pro. It's useful for typing in low-light conditions, and the ambient light sensors control screen brightness and keyboard lighting in perfect balance. The ergonomics work excellently, and the MacBook Pro also has some of the largest, deepest palm-rest zones in a 13-incher.
Edge-to-edge glass still frames the Pro's 13.3-inch screen, and, yes, there still isn't a matte screen option--although on the larger 15-inch line, antiglare is offered. The display has excellent brightness, color, and contrast, and the screen's viewing angles are generous, but the 1,280x800 native pixel resolution is identical to the 2010 model's. Oddly, the MacBook Pro might be the last laptop that hasn't switched to a 16:9 1,366x768-pixel display. Even more oddly, the 13-inch MacBook Air actually has a higher resolution than the current 13-inch Pros, at 1,400x900 pixels. We're surprised that there wasn't a resolution upgrade in the higher-end $1,499 configuration.
Speaker volume is adequate, and both music and movies sound good on the integrated stereo speakers. The MacBook Pro doesn't have audio that reaches out and grabs you, unless you're wearing headphones; then again, on a 13-incher this slim, it does better than equivalent competition.
A new HD Webcam offers 720p wide-screen Web chats via the new FaceTime app, which comes preinstalled. FaceTime, which has been available as a beta release for a while, allows calls to both Mac users and iPhone 4 owners. iPhone 4 calls come in at a fuzzier resolution, but Mac-to-Mac calls looked relatively crisp over Wi-Fi. Swapping between portrait and landscape mode can be triggered with a single button-click.

	Apple MacBook Pro Winter 2011 (Core i7, 13-inch)	Average for category [Mainstream]
Video	Thunderbolt (Mini-DisplayPort)	VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone combo jack	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 2.0, FireWire 800, SDXC card reader, Thunderbolt	3 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Expansion	None	None
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Optical drive	DVD burner	DVD burner

While most ports on the 13-inch MacBook Pro remain carbon-copy identical to those on last year's model, there are a few notable additions. The SD card slot now accepts SDXC cards. More importantly, the Mini-DisplayPort has subtly been transformed into the aforementioned Thunderbolt port. The Intel-developed data and audio/video port has extremely fast throughput at a maximum of 10Gbps, and compatible hard drives will be able to send files with blazing speeds. The tiny Thunderbolt port is powered, and will be able to daisy chain up to six connected devices, be they hard drives or even monitors. It's backward-compatible with old Mini DisplayPort monitors or cables, and like with last year's Pros, it can output audio and video over HDMI with a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter.
Thunderbolt may be a rival to USB 3.0, but devices that can use the port won't even be available until spring. Most people will simply use the USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 ports on the 2011 MacBook Pro and be completely satisfied. Still, it's comforting to know that future port support is there. Is it necessary right now? No. In two years, however, it could be indispensable. Consider it future tech on your MacBook Pro--a perk, rather than a necessity.
Apple's laptops have always had limited upgrade and configuration options; the new Pros are no different. The 13-inch MacBook Pro comes in $1,199 and $1,499 configurations, with 2.3GHz Core i5 and 2.7GHz Core i7 dual-core CPUs, respectively. Our high-end $1,499 Pro comes with a 500GB hard drive and 4GB of DDR3 RAM. RAM can be expanded up to 8GB for an extra $200; the hard drive can be expanded up to a 5,400rpm 750GB drive for $100 or a solid-state drive at 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB. Those aren't cheap: the 128GB upgrade costs $200, whereas the 512GB costs a whopping $1,200.
That's it as far as configurations go. The 1,280x800-pixel glossy screen can't be upgraded, unlike on the 15-inch Pro. There's no option to add discrete graphics, either. It's an odd disconnect: even the 13-inch MacBook Air has a higher-resolution screen, and the lack of higher-end graphics feels cheap for such an expensive laptop.
The new second-generation Sandy Bridge Intel Core i7 CPU is a huge improvement on last year's 13-inch Pro. Benchmark tests show that this model is nearly twice as fast in multitasking and the iTunes test. Start-up boot time is also zippy, although nowhere near as fast as on the MacBook Air. This is the processor upgrade we were hoping for last year, and then some. Though you should obviously keep in mind that the 15-inch Pro is even faster, for the price and the size, it's hard to beat what the 13-inch offers. Until other next-gen Intel Core i-series laptops arrive, aside from the new 15-inch quad-core MacBook Pro, this is the second-fastest Apple laptop we've ever reviewed. Though the 15-inch 2011 MacBook Pro has an edge in multitasking, the 13-inch Pro more than held its own at single-task benchmarks--in fact, it was nearly the equal of its more expensive sibling.

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MSI's All New G Series World's fastest laptop awes them at CES 2011

Starting in 2011, the MSI G Series of notebook computers, the weapons of world champion gaming team Fnatic.MSI, will all feature the latest 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor. The MSI G Series' record-shattering performance is wowing crowds at the CES 2011 venue in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA—Only "truly" high performance notebook computers can meet the needs of demanding gamers. MSI is displaying its G Series of gaming laptops, including the 17.3-inch GT780 as well as the 15.6-inch GT680, GE620, at CES 2011. They all come equipped with the latest 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad core processor and top-end discrete graphics cards. Some models also pack MSI's own turbo boost. What's more, the top models feature accelerated dual solid state drive (SSD) architecture for incredible computing performance that is impressing visitors at CES 2011.

Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, noted that a laptop capable of computing at "F1 racecar" speeds is no longer a far-off dream. MSI will be rolling out the GT680 at CES, the planet's fastest notebook. When tested with PCMark Vantage tools, it attained 18,162 points. Not only did it obtain the highest score ever for any laptop platform, it performs on average three times faster than other high-end gaming laptops currently on the market.

Kuo added that G Series notebooks were created by MSI's design team after many years of design and development. The team worked closely with world-class gamers to ensure that everything from hardware specs, ergonomics, and the user interface to the heat dissipation design and multimedia truly meet gamer needs. It's no wonder that they come highly recommended by European gaming champions Fnatic.msi and Evil Geniuses, the US team that snatched the gold in the American CS games last year. G Series laptops have become their weapons of choice as they slash and shoot their way to victory after victory.

 

MSI GT680

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Crowd-awing performance
2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor: The MSI GT680, GT780, GR620, and GE620 notebook computers feature the latest 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad core processor. The GT780 and GT680 also come with top-end nVidia GeForce GTX Series discrete graphics cards, while the GE620 come equipped with nVidia GeForce GT Series discrete graphics cards. Gamers can now go into battle knowing that they are packing the most powerful hardware available.

New generation Turbo Boost 2.0 technology: The latest generation of G Series NBs all feature 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad core processor which offers better performance, while the new generation Turbo Boost 2.0 technology greatly boosts the computing capabilities of all cores, while the Quick Sync Video technology enhances multimedia file computing performance during conversion, synchronization, and compilation.

Advanced Cooler Boost technology: G Series notebooks aren't just powerful, they're cool. They all come with Cooler Boost cooling technology, so just one touch of the luminescent hot key above the keyboard turns on the powerful cooling function which also shows current core temperatures and fan RPMs. Now, NB systems can stay cool even under when working for long periods in hot conditions. Latest USB3.0 ports: MSI G Series laptops come with new USB3.0 ports which boast transfer speeds of 4.8Gbps—10 times faster than USB2.0, and 80% higher power transmission, providing vastly higher data transfer rates and charging speeds for external hard drives, flash drives, and other handheld electronic devices.

New experience
MSI Premium Sound: So you think laptops just can't offer a decent sound experience? Think again! The MSI G Series will completely shatter this stereotype. As a result of its masterful craftsmanship and driven by uncompromising standards for sound quality, MSI has created MSI Premium Sound, allowing you to experience unprecedented sound fidelity. MSI worked closely with world renowned sound system designer Dynaudio to carry out vast amounts of study and countless calculations on the GT680 notebook computers to determine ideal locations to install speakers to obtain obstruction-free sound transmission.

THX TruStudio Pro: The MSI GT680, GT780, GR620, and GE620 laptops shown at CES are equipped with THX TruStudio Pro wrap around sound, heretofore found only in cinemas. The sound is pumped out of top-end internal speakers, so that G Series laptops are able to reproduce any music type or frequency faithfully.

Cinema Pro technology: G Series laptops feature powerful multimedia processing and MSI’s own Cinema Pro technology for the best possible graphics. A touch of the Cinema Pro hotkey instantly switches to film mode for higher resolution and richer colors to bring you the same great audio experience found in live performances, films, and recording studios. MSI's all new G Series notebook computers are not only the best choice for serious gamers, they are powerful digital multimedia centers.

Multiple HD hardware: The MSI G Series is equipped with a wide cinema-class 16:9 ratio LED display. Not only are colors rich and crisp, you don't have those pesky black bars at the top and bottom or your screen when viewing HD films. Images are true-to-life and the HD720p webcam allows you to enjoy fast, smooth, and bright high fidelity web calls with friends and family. If you want more than a high definition computer screen to view films, the MSI G Series also comes with an HDMI port, so any type of high-fidelity, high-definition video can be played on your NB, but viewed via a cable on a large-screen LCD television screen.

World's fastest NB shines at CES
Latest and best hardware: The MSI GT680, the top performing laptop on the planet, comes equipped with the 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad core processor and the powerful high-end nVidia GeForce GTX460M discrete graphics cards. In the past, MSI would design high-end gaming NBs with a maximum of three memory slots, but to enhance the GT680’s computing capabilities, MSI gave it four DDR3 memory slots, boosting memory capacity to 16GB to give it performance to write home about.

Accelerated dual SSD architecture: The GT680 also features accelerated dual solid state drive (SSD) architecture. The read-write speed of just one dual solid state drive alone is three times faster than traditional hard discs. Coupled with the RAID 0 accelerated dual (SSD) architecture not only doubles the GT680's hard drive memory capacity, it enhances read-write speeds by some 70%. TDE technology: The GT680 uses MSI's own TDE (Turbo Drive Engine) technology which allows the system speed to throttle up. The GT680 smashed speed records in PCMark Vantage tests with 18,162 points, making it the fastest notebook computer on the planet.

Mobile workstation

MSI GT780

Leader in high tech sophistication and fashion: MSI's design team crafted the GT780—a notebook computer ahead of its time, incorporating chic concepts and elements from high-end car series into the design of the MSI GT780, causing this high performance gaming laptop to exude sophistication and fashion. The center of the MSI GT780's cover is graced with a luminescent white MSI logo to set off the brushed metal aluminum-magnesium case, giving it a high tech feeling common with great cars. This gaming laptop brings together fashion and sophistication.

The ultimate mobile professional workstation: In addition to meeting the needs of gamers, the GT780 is ideal for others who require superior computing capabilities, like digital content creators and engineers. The 17.3-inch MSI GT780 is also a powerful mobile workstation, packing the latest 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad core processor and the impressive nVidia GeForce GTX series discrete graphics card, accelerated dual solid state drive (SSD) architecture, and a maximum of 16GB memory capacity. With the powerful performance and productivity of the GT780, you no longer have to be "shackled" to an office desk. Now, you can work anytime, anywhere.

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