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NotebookReview posted a user review of the Toshiba Portege R500-11C laptop. The tested Portege R500-11C features an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.2GHz ULV CPU, 2GB of memory, a 160GB HDD and integrated GMA950 video card.

The laptop supports WiFI, Bluetooth connectivity and has a SD/SDHC/MMC media card reader and 3 USB ports.

Verdicsts:

Overall, the R500 is a good example of how light a notebook can be made without losing serious functionality or battery life. The excessive fan noise when the CPU is under load is probably the biggest drawback. The lightweight construction may give cause for concern about durability and I would not intentionally mistreat this notebook. The display is slightly flexible while the magnesium alloy back gives protection against impact. The chassis is surprisingly rigid given the thin materials.

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HP Pavilion dv7 is a desktop replacement with a stylish design. It has been reviewed by LaptopMag. The reviewed unit of dv7 is equipped with a Core 2 Duo T9400 2.53GHz CPU, 3GB of RAM, 400GB hard drive and nVidia GeForce 9600M GT graphic card. dv7 comes with also a two 200GB hard drive, a Blu-ray/DVD+/-RW DL combo drive, WiFi 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth and 5-in-1 card reader. The desktop replacement offers the number pad.

LatpopMag has the following verdict and comments:

The HP Pavilion dv7 is the way to go for shoppers who want speed, lots of features, and a good-looking design. It trounces the Dell Studio 17 in both design and performance. The 16.4-inch Sony VAIO VGN-FW198U/H may be more portable, but it’s $200 more and lacks the dv7’s graphics muscle. If portability isn’t as big an issue, but multimedia is, you’ll be happy with this big-screen machine.

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NotebookReview posted a review on the Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 laptop PC. The SL400 being tested is equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz CPU, 2GB (max 4GB) of RAM, a nVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS 256MB graphic card and 160GB hard drive. The ThinkPad SL400 comes with also a Dual layer DVD wrtiter and support for 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth.

NotebookReview’s comments:

Overall, there is a lot we can say in favor of the ThinkPad SL400. Lenovo is offering a solid budget ThinkPad for only $799……. like most notebooks in the small business class, the SL400 suffers from cheap plastics used in the chassis construction, weak built-in speakers, and an overall build that is slightly thicker and heaver than needed…As it stands now, there are a number of reasons you might want to pick up an SL400 rather than a similar notebook from the Dell Vostro lineup or Toshiba Satellite Pro line. That said, diehard ThinkPad owners might criticize the glossy lid, lack of lid latch, and the type of plastics used in some places. The performance of our test configuration suggests the SL400 packs enough raw power to satisfy most small business owners, but it’s clear that the new SL series isn’t the same ThinkPad we’ve seen before.

Pros:

Affordable price
ThinkPad quality keyboard and trackpoint
Good screen (matte option is great)
Solid performance
Nice pre-configured options
Stays cool and quiet

Cons:

Thick and boxy overall
Weak speakers
Glossy lid is a magnet for fingerprints and dirt
Plastics are thin and weak in some places
Weak hinge tension on display lid

NotebookReview posted a review on the Dell Studio 15 laptop PC. The Studio 15 S1535-113P features an Intel Core 2 Duo Y5750 2GHz processor, 3GB of RAM,, a 250GB hard drive and the integrated X3100 graphics. It offers also WiFi 802.11b/g, 2 megapixel webcam, and a slot-loading DVD Multi burner.

Comments from NotebookReivew:

Bottom line, if you’re in the market for a 15-inch desktop replacement notebook with nice multi-media options then the Dell Studio 15 deserves serious consideration. Although the budget configuration we reviewed is far from being a multi-media powerhouse, it still makes an excellent laptop for average use.

Pros

* Beautiful design
* Solid selection of available configurations
* Reasonable battery life
* Nice keyboard, touchpad and media buttons
* Great component layout makes for easy upgrades/repair
* Good value for the price

Cons

* No lugs/screw posts for VGA cable and no docking station connector
* All-in-one access cover on the bottom of the notebook is either great or frustrating
* HDMI with integrated Intel graphics … bad move
* No option for better graphics than ATI Radeon HD 3450 at this time

Panasonic’s new ToughBook CF-U1 rugged UMPC has been reviewed by TrustedReviews. The ToughBook U1 features an Intel Atom Z520 1.33GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, 16/32GB SSD, 5.6-inch touchscreen LCD, WiFi 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth, integrated 3G, GPS and a 2 megapixel camera.

TrustedReviews‘ Verdict

If you’re a field worker that needs a fully rugged machine, but doesn’t need a fully featured notebook, the CF-U1 will make a perfect companion…. The fully configurable nature also means that you can spec the CF-U1 with exactly what you need to get the job done. Ultimately, if you’ve been put off rolling out fully rugged ToughBooks to your team because of the high cost and heavy, bulky form factor, the CF-U1 is what you’ve been waiting for.

Design: 10/10
Features: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Overall: 9/10