When we decide to ignore the global recession by buying a brand new laptop, we can compare memory, screen size and battery life, but we can’t usually compare lifetime reliability.
In the days of the netbook, manufacturers have at last got a balance between portability, and functionality about right. Netbooks like the Asus Eee pc, and the Samsung NC 10 have been tempting us with their promise of long battery life, and a fully featured OS and application suite. The balance however is usually offset with the hardware, and to get that portability, you need less of it. Out go the dedicated graphics, and power hungry CPU’s, and of course the topic of today’s review, the CD drive. Of course the quick minded lot at Sandberg have the USB CD Mini Reader that should fill the gap left by the non-existent CD drive on your computer.
Samsung N510It is hard to tell the different netbooks models apart nowadays, they all seem to be the same as each other but in a different plastic case. They all mainly use the Intel Atom processor, have a 10 to 12 inch screen and poor integrated graphics. But not so with the Samsung N510, it is a netbook which stands out from the crowd. This netbook uses what is called nVidia ION technology which means it comes with great graphics for watching HD video and for playing many of todays 3D games.
Although we all knew it would happen, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Dell haven’t said much about how they will use Windows 7, I guess because it wasn’t offically out yet, but now that Windows 7 has been released OEMs are starting to move all their products over to the new version of Windows. Dell has announced that they now have 80 models of computer from the 10-inch Inspiron Mini 10 netbook to the ultra-powerful Dell Precision T7500 workstation that ship with Microsoft Windows 7 pre-installed.
So, despite the postal strikes, and the fact you have maxed out the credit card, you are now the proud owner of Windows 7. The sensible thing to do now, is rush over to the PC, open the DVD drawer, put the disk in, and restart the computer. Or is it? Well yes, because Windows 7 is pretty good. Though here are few things you might like to know before taking the plunge.
So Windows 7 is finally going to hit the shelves and perhaps you are tempted to pop down to your local computer store tomorrow and get yourself a copy. The question is can your PC run Windows 7? If you are considering upgrading Windows on your current PC, then there are two ways to check if your PC will work with Windows 7. The first is the manual way, read the system requirements and compare them to your PC, the other is the automatic way, run the Microsoft Windows 7 upgrade advisor.
Thinking of getting a new PC or laptop with Windows 7 pre-installed, then checkout PC World, they are offering up to £250 off new PCs running Windows 7. As you probably know Thursday sees the launch of Windows 7 to the general public and to mark this PC World is reducing the price of a number of Toshiba and Dell laptops by £150. The company is also offering a further £100 if you trade-in your old PC, meaning you can save up to £250 off the cost of your next laptop. If you don’t want a laptop, PC World are also offering £150 off the RRP of the Packard Bell iXtreme quad core PC desktop.
It looks like the end of October is going to be busy in the tech world. It is my guess that even the most casual technology fan knows that this week sees the release of Microsoft next version of Windows, Windows 7. Also Dell has just announced that the new super thin Adamo XPS laptop will fully revealed on the same day as the Windows launch.
