My Travel Laptop
I recently bought a laptop just for travel purposes, since I travel often and made a big mistake with the first laptop I purchased. (We will go over that one in another post.)
Here's the specs on my new laptop: Model - Lenovo 3000 V100 0763. It's features include:
Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 2 GHz with Centrino Mobile Technology
Screen Size: 12.1" VibrantView TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
Memory: 1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max)
Hard Drive: 100 GB
Optical Drive: DVD-Writer
Networking: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth
Weight: 4 lbs. (yes, I could have gone lighter if I could live without the DVD writer, but 4 lbs is pretty darn light!)
Included Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Warranty: 1 year limited
This computer is loaded with features and has been a joy to travel with, weighing in at only 4 lbs. (even the power adaptor is lightweight) and has a battery life of just over 4 hours. I had been looking for a laptop that would travel well, and I considered the most important features to be weight, battery life and wireless capability (bluetooth a plus), along with the most power I could get for a decent price. Also, since most of my work programs were windows xp based, a Mac notebook was not considered.
I had a hard time choosing between this model and the Lenovo ThinkPad X60 which weighed in at 3.5 lbs and had a battery life of up to 7 hours, and a number of other features that were nice, but features I could live without, considering the price difference of about $600.
The 3000 V100 features a 12.1 inch widescreen display and uses VibrantView technology, which displays a nice bright, sharp resolution - great for watching movies. It runs on the Intel Core Duo Processor with Centrino Duo Mobile Technology. It has an added security feature in the integrated fingerprint reader, which also lets you store passwords for easy access to MS Windows and password protected Web sites. I find that the fingerprint reader is very sensitive and will not work if your finger is dry, or overly moist. If it can't read the fingerprint as it was originally submitted, it will prompt you to enter your password manually.
The keyboard is comfortable and wide, unlike many of the other small laptops I tested, which felt cramped for space when trying to type. I have no complaints about the touch pad, although I usually use a wireless mouse. Above the keyboard are external volume controls and a button to start Lenovo's MediaNow application, along with a button for the Lenovo Care management and help utility. Along the front of the computer are two speakers, which sound tinny, weak and hollow. The speakers' short comings really do not matter to me personally, as I usually have either the sound off, or headphones on, when listening to something. There is also a Wi-Fi on/off switch on the right side of the computer, which is very handy.
The processing speed is great, even with all of the multitasking that I usually do, it has run very fast and smooth. Since purchasing the computer I have taken it on two cross-country flights and two shorter flights, along with a number of road trips. The battery had plenty of juice every time, even on the cross-country flights. Airport security checks were a breeze - taking the computer out of my bag for checks is no longer the cumbersome task it used to be. There have been no hardware issues and the performance of this little beauty has been nothing short of solid. Yes, there are lighter laptops on the market, but for the price ($1400 with all the options) it was a bargain. The purchase was a few months ago, so it is available now at a lower price, and even less, if you find that you can do with fewer options. One thing I would recommend it buying an extended warranty. The manufacturer's warranty is only one year. Please Note - These are personal reviews of computers, their related equipment and other gadgets I have purchased and have actually used for at least one month (unless stated otherwise). Again this is my personal, unbiased opininon - you don't have to like it...there's always the "next" button up there :) ** No content may be reproduced without the express written permission of the author.** See Profile.
Here's the specs on my new laptop: Model - Lenovo 3000 V100 0763. It's features include:
Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 2 GHz with Centrino Mobile Technology
Screen Size: 12.1" VibrantView TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
Memory: 1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max)
Hard Drive: 100 GB
Optical Drive: DVD-Writer
Networking: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth
Weight: 4 lbs. (yes, I could have gone lighter if I could live without the DVD writer, but 4 lbs is pretty darn light!)
Included Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Warranty: 1 year limited
This computer is loaded with features and has been a joy to travel with, weighing in at only 4 lbs. (even the power adaptor is lightweight) and has a battery life of just over 4 hours. I had been looking for a laptop that would travel well, and I considered the most important features to be weight, battery life and wireless capability (bluetooth a plus), along with the most power I could get for a decent price. Also, since most of my work programs were windows xp based, a Mac notebook was not considered.
I had a hard time choosing between this model and the Lenovo ThinkPad X60 which weighed in at 3.5 lbs and had a battery life of up to 7 hours, and a number of other features that were nice, but features I could live without, considering the price difference of about $600.
The 3000 V100 features a 12.1 inch widescreen display and uses VibrantView technology, which displays a nice bright, sharp resolution - great for watching movies. It runs on the Intel Core Duo Processor with Centrino Duo Mobile Technology. It has an added security feature in the integrated fingerprint reader, which also lets you store passwords for easy access to MS Windows and password protected Web sites. I find that the fingerprint reader is very sensitive and will not work if your finger is dry, or overly moist. If it can't read the fingerprint as it was originally submitted, it will prompt you to enter your password manually.
The keyboard is comfortable and wide, unlike many of the other small laptops I tested, which felt cramped for space when trying to type. I have no complaints about the touch pad, although I usually use a wireless mouse. Above the keyboard are external volume controls and a button to start Lenovo's MediaNow application, along with a button for the Lenovo Care management and help utility. Along the front of the computer are two speakers, which sound tinny, weak and hollow. The speakers' short comings really do not matter to me personally, as I usually have either the sound off, or headphones on, when listening to something. There is also a Wi-Fi on/off switch on the right side of the computer, which is very handy.
The processing speed is great, even with all of the multitasking that I usually do, it has run very fast and smooth. Since purchasing the computer I have taken it on two cross-country flights and two shorter flights, along with a number of road trips. The battery had plenty of juice every time, even on the cross-country flights. Airport security checks were a breeze - taking the computer out of my bag for checks is no longer the cumbersome task it used to be. There have been no hardware issues and the performance of this little beauty has been nothing short of solid. Yes, there are lighter laptops on the market, but for the price ($1400 with all the options) it was a bargain. The purchase was a few months ago, so it is available now at a lower price, and even less, if you find that you can do with fewer options. One thing I would recommend it buying an extended warranty. The manufacturer's warranty is only one year. Please Note - These are personal reviews of computers, their related equipment and other gadgets I have purchased and have actually used for at least one month (unless stated otherwise). Again this is my personal, unbiased opininon - you don't have to like it...there's always the "next" button up there :) ** No content may be reproduced without the express written permission of the author.** See Profile.
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