Sony Joins the 3-D Laptop Arena: Can it Match Up?

It was only a matter of time before Sony released its own version of the 3-D laptop, given current technology trends. Earlier this year the tech giant hit the market with its VAIO® F Series 3D laptop. Like other offerings, the VAIO® F Series 3D is meant to deliver quality video and enhance the experience for users.

Currently, the 3D laptop is one of the hottest and newest trends in the tech world. The biggest names have scrambled to capitalize on the ‘3D without the glasses’ idea. Sony’s relatively late entry might be a good thing. It has enabled the company to tweak the already innovative offering, helping to change the face of entertainment as we know it.

That electronics companies are moving fast on 3D is hardly surprising. The format has reenergized the movie box office, with the most notable example being 2009’s Avatar. Now the makers of television sets and some handheld game systems are trying to cash in on the technology. It would seem then that Sony unveiled its latest offering at just the right time.

A Look at the Features
Reviews so far has shown that while late to the field, Sony has gotten it right for the most part. While reviews for any tech product can vary, Sony’s 3D laptop is being widely regarded as a game changer. One feature which has caught the attention of users is the convenient 3D button. This allows you to watch standard 2D movies on DVD or Blu-Ray in 3D format with one click. This is not a basic feature of most other laptops, but we can expect to see more manufacturers adding it as demand for 3D products increases.

Naturally the display is not limited to the small laptop screen for those who think 16 inches might not be enough. The new Sony offering can be connected to HDTV via its HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port. This feature, which has been around for a while allows the connection of both digital video and voice via one cable. This allows for better picture and sound quality. Another standout feature is the presence of what are known as shutter glasses which enhance the 3D experience. These have an independent power supply which is rendered inactive once there is no 3D content being viewed.

Other specs worth noting on this laptop include:
· Windows 7
· 640GB HDD
· S-Force front surround 3D system and Dolby® Home Theater v3
· A 3D compatible LED backlight
· 3D glasses with sync capabilities
· Blu-Ray player
· Bluetooth and WiFi

Gamers are expected to warm to this Sony offering as it delivers the kind of high end performance they would expect. Naturally the specs are subject to change depending on the market. Buyers may also have their own preferences when it comes to memory, operating system and hard drive size to name a few.

Some of the top 3D laptops on the market currently are:
· HP Envy
· Asus G51J
· Lenovo Ideapad Y560d
· Alienware M17xR3
· Toshiba 3D Dynabook TX/98MB

Releasing this laptop under the VAIO banner practically ensures that this product will have a ready audience. The brand is well established because of its reliability and spectacular features and most Sony Vaio reviews are positive. The VAIO F series 3D laptop is expected to retail for roughly $1,700 as its basic price. This is considerably higher than the standard price for most laptops on the market today, but it is in line with other 3D offerings. Price is not considered too big an issue when the power of these laptops is considered.

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Reader Reviews: HP Pavilion

Editors note: This HP notebook review was written by Joan Marie Warren

My current laptop is the HP Pavilion dv6; my daughter purchased two of these laptops on Black Friday in 2009, after waiting in line at Staples for hours, one for herself and one for me, as an early Christmas gift. Priced at $199.00, this was a steal for this machine and well worth the long wait in line.

This Pavilion model is top of line and looks classy with a dark bronze finish with the signature HP swirl designs. It has a 15.6 inch screen, and weighs about 6 pounds which makes it easy to take just about anywhere. The keyboard on the lap top is full size so it is very easy to type on, unlike the net book that this little prize replaced. The touchpad is the HP ClickPad with the technology to turn it on and off, which is great, because I prefer my trackball and my daughter prefers the touch pad. This laptop is also equipped with a built in web cam, a DVD drive, wireless LAN card, an onboard card reader that reads most of the external memory cards available today, built in speakers along with an earphone jack and a microphone jack. This model has four USB slots, two located on each side, which is great to connect peripheral hardware, such as my trackball or my iPod cord needed to charge my iPod and sync with iTunes. On the inside it is equipped with an Intel Core i3 processor (2.40GHz) and Windows 7 64-bit operating system, which runs any of my frequently used programs superfast. We are both college students and use Microsoft Office programs often, like Word, Excel and Power Point, along with iTunes. The video quality is great, as a long time desk top user I never knew that a lap top could provide this high quality video. I have watched DVD movies on my laptop along with many episodes of my shows from the internet.

Another plus that came with this laptop is the LightScribe technology that allows you to label a DVD or CD by etching the title you select or create yourself right on to the disc, a special LightScribe disc is required to take advantage of this feature. My only complaint with this laptop is the battery life and the AC adapter. The battery is a standard 6-Cell 55WHr Lithium-Ion Battery but it never lasts for more than two hours tops and the AC adapter connections appear to wear over time, sometimes it takes three or four tries to get the AC Adapter to show that is charging the battery, it appears to be a problem with the connection to the computer itself or between the box that joins the two cords. We are in the process of looking into getting the battery in mine replaced or the AC adapter, whatever the charging problem results to be.

Overall a great machine and well worth the money! I would recommend this to anyone.

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Reader Reviews: MacBook Pro

Today we’re introducing a new feature called Reader Reviews. We’ve invited some of our readers to share reviews of their current laptop and we’ll post them here as they come in. If you’re interested in participating, please use the contact form.

I own a 15 inch MacBook Pro with an Intel i7 processor and 8 Gigabytes of RAM. It was purchased in December of this year. I have always loved Apple’s computers, however, even I was surprised at how much I love the MacBook pro. I am somewhat of computer collector and this is the most impressive and powerful machine I have ever owned.

One of my favorite things about this machine is the keyboard. The keys are very well spaced and it feels great to type on. Also, it is back lit, which may not seem like a big deal—but once you have it, you will never want to go without it again.

The next thing that I would point out is the over-sized multi-touch track pad. Once again, I love Apple but I did not understand the level of usability that this track pad brings to the laptop. The best feature by far is the ability to scroll by dragging two fingers up and down on the track pad. Apple implements their “inertia” technology, used on the iPhone and their other touch devices, which gives scrolling a “flick” feeling. You can also move forward and back in your web browser by swiping three fingers across the track pad. Pinch to zoom also a fantastic feature. Finally, using four fingers down will show you all your open windows or up to move them out of the way to reveal your desktop.

The new uni-body case on the laptop is also a very nice plus. Most laptops have plastic bezels and will flex and eventually crack and break. The case on the MacBook Pro is machined from a solid block of aluminum.

Another plus specific to the 15 and 17 inch models is the speakers. Located on either side of the keyboard these speakers sound fantastic for on-board laptop speakers. They really bump.

In my opinion, one of the most impressive exterior hardware innovations is the MagSafe charging port. Apple really addressed a serious problem with this. The idea is that if someone trips over the power cord, it will not pull your laptop off a surface to meet its fate on the floor. It works as advertised and has already saved my laptop.

The last specification that I chose when customizing this laptop is my favorite. Most MacBook Pros feature a glossy glass cover over the LCD screen. However, I opted for the Hi-Res anti-glare screen. The screen is just like any other laptop used to be. These new glossy screens may make the laptops more aesthetically pleasing, however, they are not practical. If you are outside or just near a window, you will experience a crippling glare on your screen. I am very glad I went with the anti-glare screen.

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A Look Ahead: Google Chrome, Acer Aspire, Asus

Every year we see a surge in new devices and technological advances, the year coming will be no different. Consumers are always looking for sleeker and faster laptops. This past year showed us the netbook. A smaller, more portable version of a laptop with just as much memory, but was it really functional with its 10” screen? The price was not much cheaper than the laptop, but teenagers seem to love it more than adults. 2011 will see a resurgence of laptop notebooks that will bring the speed and memory we desire in a light weight sleeker design.

The Google Chrome OS Cr-48 Notebook is in the testing phase. This laptop is similar to the Apple Macbook, but it is a little bit heavier than is expected. The clickpad is set up differently than the usual laptop set up. A one finger tap will be recognized as a left click, whereas a two finger tap is recognized as a right click. The scroll is activated with two fingers. There are no function keys or Caps Lock keys. There is only one USB port on the side, no either net port, so you will have to surf the net with a Wi-Fi connection only. It does have Cloud capabilities so you will never have to worry about losing the important documents. The Google notebook is in the very early stages of its development.

The Acer Aspire AS7741Z-4643 is an inexpensive laptop. It has a 17-inch screen, which is a bigger screen than most laptops come with. This laptop boasts a 3GB memory with 250GB hard drive all while operating the Windows 7 Home Premium edition. It weighs in between 6.4 and 7.2 pounds and could function as a desktop replacement model. The key board features island style keys with tight hinges and a sturdy frame. The clickpad is larger than most laptops. You have an option to use a mouse and turn the clickpad off. This laptop is priced below $500.

The Asus N53SV Notebook is perfect for the gamers. IT has 8192MB and a 500GB Hard Drive with a 14 inch screen. This case has a smudge proof coating, which keeps it clean looking. This laptop has plenty of ports for your use and even a blue ray disc drive. There is an Ethernet adapter, a wireless network adapter, and even a Bluetooth connection. The keyboard is crammed, but there is a number keypad, which can be useful when you are attempting to enter information into spreadsheets. The clickpad is submerged, so you can easily distinguish it from the rest of the surface area. This laptop has a better sound quality than you will have on most Asus laptops. The battery life is almost 4 1/2hours in idle mode, 2 hours and 40 minutes when you are surfing, and 2 hours and 20 minutes when you are watching a DVD. Overall, this is a good laptop for the price tag.

This coming year will show us more technology for less money. The more value the consumer can get for less money the more likely the consumer will purchase the product. Some of the new laptops coming out will show us better connectivity with more ports and a longer battery life for everyday use. Consumers are always looking for a longer battery life, better connectivity, faster speed, a larger screen, and a lighter, more portable weight. The easier a laptop is to carry around the more likely the consumer will take it everywhere. The more ports available on the sides of the laptop, the more likely a consumer will purchase it.

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Buying A Laptop For Your Teen

Well, it’s that time of year again. Ads and emails are whirling around, all promising the best laptops for sale online. Shiny new netbooks are lining the store shelves, and your teenage child is begging for a laptop of his or her own. So now the question is: which laptop to buy?

With some careful shopping you can find one that suits your child’s needs, fits within your budget, and has the power to run all the newest applications. The first place you want to go are the online consumer reports sites - they will provide general feedback from consumers like you on trustworthy brands and models. Unfortunately, for the most part, the models listed on those sites will be a generation older than the current models. This is due to the fact that those sites rely on consumer feedback, and there is very little consumer feedback for the cutting edge technology that is emerging. However, they are a good place to start to get a general understanding of brands to look for and brands to avoid.

The next thing you want to do is weigh the options for the best type of laptop. From the most portable to least portable they are – netbook (such as Acer Aspire One) compact laptop (Apple AirBook, or Sony Z series), balanced laptop (Apple MacBook or HP G62t) or the “desk-top replacement” model (Apple MacBook Pro or HP Pavilion DV6z).

If the primary purpose of the laptop will be internet use I would suggest a netbook, however they are very limited when it comes to upgradability, and you will need an external DVD player since because of the size of the device it is impossible to put on in the netbook. You can get a good deal if you find one of these small laptops for sale. If the primary purpose will be some internet, some word processing and maybe some light gaming then the compact or so called “balanced” laptops are the way to go. The compact and the balanced models are slightly less powerful than the “desktop replacement” but they provide enough power to get most things done, usually all ship with a DVD burner and have relatively good upgradability. If the laptop is going to be used for graphic manipulation, video editing, gaming or other data intense projects then go with the “Desk top replacement” these laptops tend to be larger, but pack a big punch when it comes to what they can do, most have cutting edge processors as well as powerful graphics chips and great upgradability. A look at some gaming laptop reviews can get you started.

Now that you have decided which kind to buy, go to your local electronics store and play with them. Ignore most things the clerks tell you, nine times out of ten the people working at the stores will have a mandate to sell a certain model and that may not be the model you want to buy. Ask questions, look for their big sales on laptops, don’t be afraid to really test one of the floor models, and let you child play with it too. A thourough laptop comparison will save you money and time. Remember this is going to be a computer that travels with your child, make sure it feels sturdy, and has a good warranty. Most of all, make sure you like it, there is no sense in spending money on a laptop that may do everything you want, but you dislike the screen or feel of the keyboard. Have fun!

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