LAPTOP Reloaded

Laptop ReLoaded March 8 – 13: Next-Gen USB and Mobile Broadband, iPad Pre-Orders, Cooling A Hot Laptop, and More

March 14th, 2010 by K. T. Bradford

Reviews & Hands-On

Acer Aspire 5740G (6979) [4 Stars] — This 15.6-inch notebook provides powerful graphics, zippy Core i5 performance, and strong audio for less than the competition.
HP EliteBook 2540p [4 Stars] — This good-looking and durable business ultraportable offers a great combination of speed and battery life.
Dell Adamo XPS [3.5 Stars] — The thinnest notebook ever made is also one of the most stylish, but it has more to offer than just great looks.
Dell Inspiron Mini 10 with Broadcom Crystal HD [3.5 Stars] — This version of Dell’s netbook offers improved video playback and an HD screen with relatively few compromises.
Dell Vostro V13 [3 Stars] — Dell’s sturdy and stylish small business notebook trades battery life for its thin profile.
Motorola Backflip [2.5 Stars] — AT&T’s first Android phone bends over backwards to impress, but winds up feeling awkward and loaded with superfluous features.
Archos 9 PCTablet [1.5 Stars] — This slow and touch-unfriendly tablet doesn’t hold a candle to the iPad.
Roundup: 10 Best Travel Apps — There are apps you use to kill time when you travel, such as games and social networking programs, and then there are apps you use to make your journey better. Here are the best we’ve found for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and more.
Springing to Life with Women in Business Bags — Sporting distinct, classy names, Women in Business’ spring line of laptop bags are professional and pragmatic.

LAPTOP University: Tips & How-Tos

5 Questions to Answer Before You Buy a Laptop — In many ways your laptop is at the center of everything you do, so you want to make sure that you invest in the right machine. Say goodbye to buyer’s remorse with these handy questions.

News & Views

Heat Week — Did you curl up with your laptop this winter for warmth? Does it sometimes feel like you can fry an egg on the bottom of your netbook? (We don’t suggest you try.) We hear you. This week we examined some of the reasons why laptops get so hot, what effect this can have on your machine, and put together 5 tips to keep them cool. Want to know if the laptop you’re eying is a furnace before you buy? Check out list of the top hottest and coolest notebooks.
The iPad Cometh — Pre-orders for the iPad began this week, but already there’s talk of shortages in-store. No doubt because the Oscar broadcast commercial got everyone drooling. Right? Then again, there’s still no Flash support, something Microsoft and HP have taken to reminding people about every chance they get.
Mobile Money Matters — The next generation of mobile broadband is upon us and it’s fast enough to eventually tempt users away from the cable or DSL wire. However, the associated costs could either bankrupt us all or (hopefully) signal a change from the carriers.
Next Gen USB — Speaking of speed, USB 3.0 is now a reality. Is it as speedy as the claims say? Is it worth it to upgrade your existing system or just buy something with the integrated ports. We put USB 3.0 to the test to find out.
Legalese — Mobile patent lawsuits are coming down like rain, and with the tangled web of functions, technologies, software and ideas being fought over it looks like it’s not likely to be sorted out anytime soon.