Top-Notch Media Machine Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV690

Toshiba has added a faster processor and digital-cable capabilities to its top-of-the-line multimedia-notebook bundle. The Qosmio G45-AV690 is pricey, but as the hub of your digital existence, it doesn't get much better than this. Read our full review for more info

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Hands-on with the MacBook Air

First Impressions

It's really, really thin. Like nano thin. And yet the Macbook AIr packs in a full size keyboard and one of the biggest and most versatile touchpads we've ever used. We spent a few minutes with the thinnest notebook on earth and came away mighty impressed with its design and snappy performance. You do make a few trade-offs for the size, but we imagine most prospective buyers won't care.

The MacBook Air is Lighter Than
The aluminum body feels rock solid and yet super light. there's a lot of computer inside this 3-pound chassis. And the keyboard has plenty of depth despite the system's 0.76-inch profile.

Vibrant Display
The13.3- inch LED display is positively brilliant. The viewing angles were superb, and photos looked very crisp. Another nice touch is the ambient light sensor, which adjust the backlight both on the keyboard and the display .Air 5.

MacBook Air Specifications
In terms of specs, the Macbook Air is certainly no slouch. The base $1,799 model ships with a 1.6-GHz processor. 2GB of RAM. and a 1.8-inch 80GB hard drive. The 64GB solid drive is $999 just by itself, so you'll want to think twice before plunking down the extra cash. We'll be asking Apple if its 5-hour battery life claim is for the SSD model only or the hard drive model, too.

The top-of-the-line configuration features a 1.8-GHz processor and the 64GB SSD. That brings the total to a whopping $3,098. That's basically executives-only territory, but certainly in line with other lightweight machines with similar specs.

price: $1,799
info: www.apple.com

Sony VAIO VGN-FZ240E/B Notebook

(2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T7250, 2GB DDR2, 250GB, DVD+RW DL, Windows Vista Home Premium, 15.4" LCD - MPN: VGNFZ240EB)

Price Range: $945.99 - $1,400.99 from 14 Sellers

Description: The Sony VAIO VGN-FZ240E/B is mid-size laptop, with above average processing power and everything most people need for basic computing, entertainment and online communication. This model features a powerful dual-core processor as well as premium features such as a built-in webcam and Windows Vista Home Premium.

Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet

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What are they?
Tablets come in two types. Slates are machine without a physical keyboard, with all the guts of the PC residing behind a screen. Convertibles look like a traditional laptop, but the screen can be swiveled and folded flat against the keyboard, essentially turning the machine into a slate form factor. A convertible model gives mainstream users the best of both worlds (a keyboard when you need it, a slate when you don't), while slate tablets give users a full-fledge PC and large screen in an exceedingly light package.
Who are they for?
Tablets appeal to a wide spectrum of users. Among consumers buyers, a convertible tablet is ideal for a student who might prefer to jot handwritten digital notes in class, rather than type. Typical home laptop buyers, too, might prefer the flexibility of a tablet when surfing the Web on the couch. In business, a convertible can serve creative professionals who need to turn ideas into sketches, as well as workers in the medical profession, warehouse personnel, and field employees that need to fill in digital forms.

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Gaming Notebooks

What are they?

A gaming notebook puts 3D graphics performance above all else. That means a powerful GPU (or two) and top-of-the-line CPU, of course, but also fast memory and hard-drive subsystems. A large LCD with fast response times and good grayscale performance (to better render shadow detail) in also a must, and a good audios system doesn't hurt.

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Who are they for?

Truth be told, the fastest desktop PC will always outpace the fastest laptop when it comes to 3D frame rates. So if you're stationary, get a desktop, but for those who need the convenience of a portable form factor-be it to take to LAN parties or from room to room-several "boutique" PC makers have portables designed just for you.

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