The HP Mini 1000 is the first consumer focused netbook from HP and enters a market that is becoming more and more crowded by the day. I recently reviewed the Acer Aspire One netbook to take a look at the feasibility of using it as a student notebook and here we are today taking a look at the 10.2″ screen HP Mini 1000 to see how it stacks up for such usage.
The Mini 1000 is a follow-up to the successful HP Mini 2133, the major difference is that the Mini 1000 is sold through the HP Home Store while the Mini-Note 2133 is sold via the HP Small Business and Education channel.
The specs for the HP Mini 1000 being reviewed are as follows:
Processor: Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
OS: Genuine Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
Screen: 10.2″ diagonal WSVGA HP LED Brightview Infinity Display (1024 x 600)
Memory: 1GB DDR2 System Memory
60GB 4200RPM PATA Hard Drive
Wireless-G Card
3 Cell Lithium Polymer HP MINI 1000 Battery
HP Mini 1000 Battery
Battery life is a key factor with portable notebooks. Unfortunately, what we’ve seen with most netbooks to date is middling battery life simply due to the fact you can only fit a small size lithium-ion hp laptop battery into this small form factor. Some netbooks have only been getting 2 hours of battery life per charge. I was able to achieve 2 hours 45 minutes of battery life under light usage, screen at medium brightness and wireless on with the Mini 1000. This is not bad at all, though not quite at the 3 hour battery life mark I’d like to see. When using the Mini 1000 to play back music and video with the screen brightness at full the battery life dropped to 2 hours and 5 minutes. The only option for the Mini 1000 at present is the included 3-cell battery, eventually a 6-cell battery should be offered by HP. If you have a class that goes for longer than 3 hours, you should look either find a power outlet to plug into during the class or take necessary measures to preserve battery. Unfortunately with the power manager settings HP includes there is no way to down clock the processor to a slower more battery friendly speed, so you’ll need to rely on dimming screen brightness and turning off wireless to conserve battery.
HP Mini 1000 Battery
A look at HP's Mini 1000 Mi netbook
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Laptop/NetBook
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Review of Dell Inspiron Mini 9
Review of Dell Inspiron Mini 9
Check back for updates as I start to use this mini computer.
I love small cars and motorcycles. Tools that can do the job with the smallest footprint for space and energy consumption.
I use Linux/Ubuntu on a Shuttle Computer Small Form-Factor system for my desktop that is about the size of a shoe box. For work, I am supplied with a robust Dell Inspiron 9400 that can handle video tasks. It's a laptop with a screen almost as large as my desktop screen, but wonderful for video editing.
A couple months ago, I resurrected a vintage Dell Inspiron 5000e with Windows 98 for my ultra mobile/higher risk needs like motorcycle trips. It was cobbled together with a pre-release version of Windows 2000. Although really slow with 128 MB of RAM, it was functional for browser functions.
In September, Dell debuted the Inspiron Mini 9, known as a UMPC (also known as a netbook. The tiny laptop measures Width: 9.13" (232mm) Height: 1.07" (27.2mm) front / 1.25" (31.7mm) back Depth: 6.77" (172mm). This computer is so tiny you could almost fit it into a pair of cargo pants with a large pocket.
I came to the conclusion that phone browsers aren't yet up to the task of doing all the tasks that I can do with a desktop/laptop. The only device that does this would be a mirror of my desktop/laptop, only smaller. The device would have a universal operating system like Windows XP, something that can easily accommodate Verizon's USB broadband and most of the mindset you have in place for working on a desktop/laptop.
The Mini 9 uses less power than a laptop and much less than a desktop. It uses Intel's smallest and lowest power consuming processor, the Atom. According to Intel, the chip is built with the world's smallest transistors.
The Mini 9 doesn't have a traditional hard drive with a motor and other moving parts. It uses chips to store permanent memory adding to it's frugal power consumption. Chips are also not subject to shock and the failures of mechanical hard drives in mobile applications.
My experience so far is 4+ hours of straight run time from a really tiny dell inspiron mini 9 battery pack. The whole computer only weighs 2.28 lbs. (1.035 kg).
My The Dell Mini 9 came with 3 USB ports, Ethernet, built in WIFI, a port for an eternal monitor, and input/output audio jacks. An optional web cam came installed with communication software.
I purchased the Mini 9 with 16 gigs of chip hard drive space and 1 gig of RAM.
Even with all the programs Dell stuffs in there, my Mini 9 had 72% (12.5 MB) of the hard drive remaining for other applications and files. The 1 gig of RAM is adequate for Windows XP. Vista isn't offered I would assume because it's too large and memory hungry for this application.
The two operating systems offered are Windows XP and Linux/Ubuntu. I love Ubuntu on my desktop. It's less memory hungry than the windows product, doesn't need expensive virus software and is very stable. I would assume it would run very well on the Mini 9.
I went with the XP because I was looking for easy conductivity with Verizon USB broadband (I have read this is possible with Ubuntu) and I want to run a few Windows specific applications as well as insure all my VPN connection will work (doesn't on desktop Ubuntu) without having to be a computer programmer for a week.
The screen is tiny! but very sharp and bright at any good laptop. The default resolution is
1024 x 600. which on a 7 3/4" wide screen is pretty condensed. I played around with the fonts in windows to make it more readable. I find myself using Ctrl ++... Ctrl- - on the fly with browser content if i need to read for any sustained time. If you are writing a document you can keep it as one size. The tiny touch pad works well.
I passed the Mini 9 around at work to journalists who type much more than I do and there was agreement that this is a usable compact keyboard. Some of the keys, like the shift key, are super skinny but most of the keys used all the time are placed well and have good feel.
The Mini 9 runs all my applications and browser needs like any Win based desktop. I loaded GIMP an open source editing software and the Mini 9 manipulated a 2000 x 200 dpi image easily. The Mini 9 comes preloaded with Microsoft Works.
It's fast... and slow sometimes.
The chip drive in the Min 9 is silent and there is no hard drive light (only a power light) to tell you things are going on. This also means that the Mini 9 doesn't need to spool up a hard drive when coming out of hibernation.
After I took it out of the box did the initial boot up, the unit's drive was heavily fragmented. I don't recall this with other WIn boxes I've had in the past, but the initial experience was, OMG this is slow. A defragmentation and skimming off of the usual junk computer manufactures are paid to clutter up their experience and things were speeding along.
Some functions like opening up a program or a properties window seem slow at times while some things like building thumbnails seem really fast.
Once in a browser, the world moves as quick as any desktop and unlike a phone I can download the browser of my choice. I have been running Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer for the few things that don't work in the other two.
All in all, a decent mini laptop computer for those ultra mobile moments (and laying in bed with it propped on your legs) for the price of a really cheap desktop.
Oct 5
I headed out on motorcycle trip with a buddy and currently I'm sitting in Rome, New York. (about 300 miles north of York, Pa.)
I usually store all my electronics in Ziplock bags. The Dell Mini 9 fits comfortably in a gallon Ziplock bag with room to spare.
Informations from: http://www.yorkblog.com/greenmesh/2008/10/review-of-dell-inspiron-mini-9.html
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Mini-Notebook
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Laptop/NetBook
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Extended Battery 64WH
Check back for updates as I start to use this mini computer.
I love small cars and motorcycles. Tools that can do the job with the smallest footprint for space and energy consumption.
I use Linux/Ubuntu on a Shuttle Computer Small Form-Factor system for my desktop that is about the size of a shoe box. For work, I am supplied with a robust Dell Inspiron 9400 that can handle video tasks. It's a laptop with a screen almost as large as my desktop screen, but wonderful for video editing.
A couple months ago, I resurrected a vintage Dell Inspiron 5000e with Windows 98 for my ultra mobile/higher risk needs like motorcycle trips. It was cobbled together with a pre-release version of Windows 2000. Although really slow with 128 MB of RAM, it was functional for browser functions.
In September, Dell debuted the Inspiron Mini 9, known as a UMPC (also known as a netbook. The tiny laptop measures Width: 9.13" (232mm) Height: 1.07" (27.2mm) front / 1.25" (31.7mm) back Depth: 6.77" (172mm). This computer is so tiny you could almost fit it into a pair of cargo pants with a large pocket.
I came to the conclusion that phone browsers aren't yet up to the task of doing all the tasks that I can do with a desktop/laptop. The only device that does this would be a mirror of my desktop/laptop, only smaller. The device would have a universal operating system like Windows XP, something that can easily accommodate Verizon's USB broadband and most of the mindset you have in place for working on a desktop/laptop.
The Mini 9 uses less power than a laptop and much less than a desktop. It uses Intel's smallest and lowest power consuming processor, the Atom. According to Intel, the chip is built with the world's smallest transistors.
The Mini 9 doesn't have a traditional hard drive with a motor and other moving parts. It uses chips to store permanent memory adding to it's frugal power consumption. Chips are also not subject to shock and the failures of mechanical hard drives in mobile applications.
My experience so far is 4+ hours of straight run time from a really tiny dell inspiron mini 9 battery pack. The whole computer only weighs 2.28 lbs. (1.035 kg).
My The Dell Mini 9 came with 3 USB ports, Ethernet, built in WIFI, a port for an eternal monitor, and input/output audio jacks. An optional web cam came installed with communication software.
I purchased the Mini 9 with 16 gigs of chip hard drive space and 1 gig of RAM.
Even with all the programs Dell stuffs in there, my Mini 9 had 72% (12.5 MB) of the hard drive remaining for other applications and files. The 1 gig of RAM is adequate for Windows XP. Vista isn't offered I would assume because it's too large and memory hungry for this application.
The two operating systems offered are Windows XP and Linux/Ubuntu. I love Ubuntu on my desktop. It's less memory hungry than the windows product, doesn't need expensive virus software and is very stable. I would assume it would run very well on the Mini 9.
I went with the XP because I was looking for easy conductivity with Verizon USB broadband (I have read this is possible with Ubuntu) and I want to run a few Windows specific applications as well as insure all my VPN connection will work (doesn't on desktop Ubuntu) without having to be a computer programmer for a week.
The screen is tiny! but very sharp and bright at any good laptop. The default resolution is
1024 x 600. which on a 7 3/4" wide screen is pretty condensed. I played around with the fonts in windows to make it more readable. I find myself using Ctrl ++... Ctrl- - on the fly with browser content if i need to read for any sustained time. If you are writing a document you can keep it as one size. The tiny touch pad works well.
I passed the Mini 9 around at work to journalists who type much more than I do and there was agreement that this is a usable compact keyboard. Some of the keys, like the shift key, are super skinny but most of the keys used all the time are placed well and have good feel.
The Mini 9 runs all my applications and browser needs like any Win based desktop. I loaded GIMP an open source editing software and the Mini 9 manipulated a 2000 x 200 dpi image easily. The Mini 9 comes preloaded with Microsoft Works.
It's fast... and slow sometimes.
The chip drive in the Min 9 is silent and there is no hard drive light (only a power light) to tell you things are going on. This also means that the Mini 9 doesn't need to spool up a hard drive when coming out of hibernation.
After I took it out of the box did the initial boot up, the unit's drive was heavily fragmented. I don't recall this with other WIn boxes I've had in the past, but the initial experience was, OMG this is slow. A defragmentation and skimming off of the usual junk computer manufactures are paid to clutter up their experience and things were speeding along.
Some functions like opening up a program or a properties window seem slow at times while some things like building thumbnails seem really fast.
Once in a browser, the world moves as quick as any desktop and unlike a phone I can download the browser of my choice. I have been running Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer for the few things that don't work in the other two.
All in all, a decent mini laptop computer for those ultra mobile moments (and laying in bed with it propped on your legs) for the price of a really cheap desktop.
Oct 5
I headed out on motorcycle trip with a buddy and currently I'm sitting in Rome, New York. (about 300 miles north of York, Pa.)
I usually store all my electronics in Ziplock bags. The Dell Mini 9 fits comfortably in a gallon Ziplock bag with room to spare.
Informations from: http://www.yorkblog.com/greenmesh/2008/10/review-of-dell-inspiron-mini-9.html
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Mini-Notebook
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Laptop/NetBook
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Extended Battery 64WH
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Mini-Notebook
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Mini-Notebook Review
At first glance, the Inspiron Mini 9, Dell's entry into the mini-notebook category, looks like what you might get if you left a notebook from Dell's full-size Studio line of laptops in the dryer too long. But the sub-$500 Mini 9 carries a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a solid-state drive, making it a good starter machine for basic computing at a reasonable price.
Our test configuration, priced at $474, included Windows XP Home and an 8GB solid-state drive; a 4GB version of the Mini 9 ships with Linux Ubuntu 8.04. The 8GB drive doesn't leave you much open space once the operating system and the preinstalled software (which includes Microsoft Works) are accommodated. For $40 more, you can upgrade to a 16GB drive, but then you've crossed the magic $500 threshold. One feature that is missing here--but is present in the Acer Aspire One--is an additional SD slot to allow users to insert a second SD Card, format it, and use it as another hard disk.
Working without two SD Card slots, we found that our WorldBench 6 test suite required more space than the Inspiron Mini 9's drive could spare. Since we couldn't run our benchmark tests on the Mini 9, we can't directly compare its performance with that of competing mini-notebooks like the MSI Wind NB U100. We do know that the Mini 9 loads Windows in about 30 seconds and fires up Microsoft Works in 8 seconds. Also, it can copy more than an album's worth of music (77MB) in about 7 seconds. In short, it falls in line with what we've seen from other mini-notebooks packing an Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and Windows. We'll update this review when we obtain more-precise performance results.
The Mini 9 performed well in our laptop battery life tests. Its four-cell dell inspiron mini 9 battery ran for about 3 hours, 34 minutes--far better the three-cell battery of the MSI Wind U100, which lasted just 2 hours, 24 minutes.
As its name suggests, the Inspiron Mini 9 is tiny. It measures 1.07 by 9.13 by 6.77 inches--barely enough room to accommodate the 8.9-inch screen--and weighs about 2.28 pounds.
The glossy 1024-by-600-resolution display looks reasonably sharp and reproduces color extremely well. Unfortunately, if you don't view it from precisely the right angle, the screen looks a little dim. You can adjust the angle, but you may still find yourself contorting into ergonomic stress positions in order to get an optimal view.
All of the alphanumeric keys on the Mini 9's keyboard are large enough to make cranking out a document easy. But everything else either gets scrunched (as the Tab, Shift, and Caps Lock keys do) or assigned to an unfamiliar location. For instance, the apostrophe key slides down to a spot by the space bar, and the function keys disappear altogether, replaced by combos. An empty bit of real estate lies between the keyboard and the edge nearest the display, but Dell chose not to fill it with shortcut keys. That said, if you can retrain your brain to know where a couple of wayward buttons are positioned, you'll find that the keyboard is quite good. Similarly, the mousepad is set to just the right sensitivity, and the buttons are firmly in place.
The front-mounted speaker, located just below the display, came across as a little hollow. In this department, the Mini 9 falls behind Asus's $650 Eee 1000H 80G XP.
The Mini 9 is otherwise packed with the usual arsenal of current mini-notebook specs: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA out, an ethernet jack, an SD Card slot, and headphone and mic jacks. Our test model had Bluetooth and a 1.3-megapixel Webcam; both are extra-cost options.
The Mini 9 includes two handy additions that make it stand above the competition. First, accessible through the Start menu, is Dell's Support Center--a one-stop app for system information and performance tweaking. When you're online the Support Center also serves as a glorified link hub to different parts of Dell's support site for manuals, patches, and quick fixes. Second is a free, base-level account (good for 2GB of storage) with Box.Net's online file storage service.
Dell has crafted a solid mini-laptop that's good for kids and has plenty to offer anyone looking for an on-the-go system. The Inspiron Mini 9 isn't perfect, but it does offer a terrific design and a good price. I would have a tough time choosing this over Acer's Aspire One, but Dell's first venture into the world of mini-notebooks has produced a worthy competitor.
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Extended Battery 64WH
At first glance, the Inspiron Mini 9, Dell's entry into the mini-notebook category, looks like what you might get if you left a notebook from Dell's full-size Studio line of laptops in the dryer too long. But the sub-$500 Mini 9 carries a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a solid-state drive, making it a good starter machine for basic computing at a reasonable price.
Our test configuration, priced at $474, included Windows XP Home and an 8GB solid-state drive; a 4GB version of the Mini 9 ships with Linux Ubuntu 8.04. The 8GB drive doesn't leave you much open space once the operating system and the preinstalled software (which includes Microsoft Works) are accommodated. For $40 more, you can upgrade to a 16GB drive, but then you've crossed the magic $500 threshold. One feature that is missing here--but is present in the Acer Aspire One--is an additional SD slot to allow users to insert a second SD Card, format it, and use it as another hard disk.
Working without two SD Card slots, we found that our WorldBench 6 test suite required more space than the Inspiron Mini 9's drive could spare. Since we couldn't run our benchmark tests on the Mini 9, we can't directly compare its performance with that of competing mini-notebooks like the MSI Wind NB U100. We do know that the Mini 9 loads Windows in about 30 seconds and fires up Microsoft Works in 8 seconds. Also, it can copy more than an album's worth of music (77MB) in about 7 seconds. In short, it falls in line with what we've seen from other mini-notebooks packing an Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and Windows. We'll update this review when we obtain more-precise performance results.
The Mini 9 performed well in our laptop battery life tests. Its four-cell dell inspiron mini 9 battery ran for about 3 hours, 34 minutes--far better the three-cell battery of the MSI Wind U100, which lasted just 2 hours, 24 minutes.
As its name suggests, the Inspiron Mini 9 is tiny. It measures 1.07 by 9.13 by 6.77 inches--barely enough room to accommodate the 8.9-inch screen--and weighs about 2.28 pounds.
The glossy 1024-by-600-resolution display looks reasonably sharp and reproduces color extremely well. Unfortunately, if you don't view it from precisely the right angle, the screen looks a little dim. You can adjust the angle, but you may still find yourself contorting into ergonomic stress positions in order to get an optimal view.
All of the alphanumeric keys on the Mini 9's keyboard are large enough to make cranking out a document easy. But everything else either gets scrunched (as the Tab, Shift, and Caps Lock keys do) or assigned to an unfamiliar location. For instance, the apostrophe key slides down to a spot by the space bar, and the function keys disappear altogether, replaced by combos. An empty bit of real estate lies between the keyboard and the edge nearest the display, but Dell chose not to fill it with shortcut keys. That said, if you can retrain your brain to know where a couple of wayward buttons are positioned, you'll find that the keyboard is quite good. Similarly, the mousepad is set to just the right sensitivity, and the buttons are firmly in place.
The front-mounted speaker, located just below the display, came across as a little hollow. In this department, the Mini 9 falls behind Asus's $650 Eee 1000H 80G XP.
The Mini 9 is otherwise packed with the usual arsenal of current mini-notebook specs: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA out, an ethernet jack, an SD Card slot, and headphone and mic jacks. Our test model had Bluetooth and a 1.3-megapixel Webcam; both are extra-cost options.
The Mini 9 includes two handy additions that make it stand above the competition. First, accessible through the Start menu, is Dell's Support Center--a one-stop app for system information and performance tweaking. When you're online the Support Center also serves as a glorified link hub to different parts of Dell's support site for manuals, patches, and quick fixes. Second is a free, base-level account (good for 2GB of storage) with Box.Net's online file storage service.
Dell has crafted a solid mini-laptop that's good for kids and has plenty to offer anyone looking for an on-the-go system. The Inspiron Mini 9 isn't perfect, but it does offer a terrific design and a good price. I would have a tough time choosing this over Acer's Aspire One, but Dell's first venture into the world of mini-notebooks has produced a worthy competitor.
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Extended Battery 64WH
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch Review
Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch Review
The 17-inch MacBook Pro was the last of the Apple notebook range to get a unibody update, but for those looking for superlative media editing and general processing grunt it more than delivers. Apple shipped over the new MacBook Pro just after it launched, and we’ve been spending the last few weeks getting to grips with the new notebook and putting it through its paces. After the cut, anti-glare screens, NVIDIA’s GeForce 9600M and portability from the thinnest, lightest 17-incher around.
For this particular MacBook Pro review unit we opted for the anti-glare LCD display. According to Apple the anti-glare treatment process is almost exactly the same as the standard glossy screen: the coating is applied instead of the final, high-gloss glass panel. Our experience suggests that it completely eliminates glare, and is well worth the $50 upgrade cost.
The quality of the display is already making us wonder how we’ll live without it once Apple demand the review unit back. It’s the only MacBook around on which you can natively edit 1080p high-definition video, and our tests show that the processor and graphics readily keep up their side of the bargain. The basic model comes with a 2.66Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (2.93GHz is a $300 option), 4GB of DDR3 RAM (8GB is $1,000), a 320GB 5,400rpm hard-drive (7,200rpm or up to 256GB SSDs are options) and an 8x SuperDrive DVD burner, plus switchable NVIDIA graphics.
It’s also one of the most attractive large-screen notebooks we’ve come across. In the metal, the unibody chassis and broad widescreen display are gorgeous, and it manages to rank as the lightest and thinnest 17-inch notebook around. “Light” is a relative term, obviously; at 6.68lbs we’ve happily taken it to press events like CTIA, where the Pro crunched through 12+ videos a day on-site without coming up for air, but running around town the 13-inch MacBook (at two-thirds the weight) is more likely to find its way into our bag.
The keyboard, trackpad and overall design are the same as the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which means backlit keys, multitouch and gesture support, and sleek unibody design respectively. We’d point you back at our review of the 15-incher for full details. Where the 17-inch version differs most significantly is in the screen, the processor/graphics grunt, and the battery, and that’s what we’ll be concentrating on here.
Based on our experience with this anti-glare display, we wish Apple would backtrack and offer it as an option on the rest of the MacBook Pro range. It really does make a huge difference in terms of usability. Where we might start splitting hairs is in viewing angles; 140/120 degree angles are standard for most notebook displays, but the HP DreamColor 8730w notebook - also a graphics powerhouse - manages 160/120 degrees and the 17-inch panel on the Pro makes the difference more noticeable than on the smaller machines in the range.
As for power, we loaded up Photoshop CS4 and tested the 17-inch Pro against its 15-inch counterpart (2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB 5,400rpm HDD); in a Retouch Artist speed test the larger notebook finished in 38.9s while the smaller took 53.9s. The Intel Core 2 Duo 2.94GHz T9800 plus 8GB of RAM of our review unit is obviously faster than anything the 15-inch MacBook Pro could manage.
We also pit the 17-inch Pro against a Windows heavyweight, the HP HDX 18. Another desktop replacement (this time with an 18-inch display and roughly 9lb weight), the HDX 18 has an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor running at 2.27GHz, with 4GB of RAM . In Geekbench 64-bit the HP scored 3297 overall, compared to the Apple machines’ overall score of 4401; in fact, it lapsed behind in all categories bar memory bandwidth performance (the HP scored 2152, the Apple 1822), with the MacBook Pro notching up almost double the processor floating point performance (6293 versus 3362).
It’s worth noting that, when in the midst of heavy image and video processing, the Pro gets noticeably hot (though never to the point of system instability); the rest of the time it feels no different to the 15-inch version. Overall, this is a dual-core notebook that really lives up to its “desktop replacement” billing.
As for laptop battery life, let’s just say we were dubious about Apple’s runtime claims when the 17-inch MacBook Pro was announced. This 17-inch Apple MacBook Pro Battery life is quoted at up to 8hrs with wireless switched on and performing basic tasks with a custom Apple script (50-percent brightness, WiFi web browsing, text editing). Then expect that figure to halve if you’re watching a DVD at 50-percent brightness. Switching from the low-power GPU to the higher-performance 9600M GT (which requires you to log out and then back in again, closing whatever apps are running) will cut total time down to 7hrs, go the claims.
In our own tests, using the GeForce 9400M GPU and performing basic tasks like browsing over WiFi, watching video and tinkering with photos netted us close to 4 hours 45 minutes of runtime. Switching to the 9600M and going about the same tasks saw that cut down to around 4 hours. The latter result is a little misleading, however; if you’re really making the most of the higher-performance GeForce GPU - i.e. some serious video editing and processing - you should expect to see that figure hammered down. Nonetheless, given the specifications and the MacBook Pro’s capabilities, these are impressive runtime figures, even if they fall well short of what you might be led to believe from Apple’s marketing hyperbole.
Apple are particularly proud of their eco-credentials with the unibody MacBook Pro; the battery is supposedly good for 1,000 full recharge cycles - equivalent to five years of service - and it requires just 95W to run. Since it’s non-user-replaceable that 1,000 cycles figure will be an important one: taking it in to your local Apple store for a switch out will cost $179. We missed being able to slot in a second pack for on-the-go use while at CTIA, as we were able to with our 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the overall runtime and reduction in size were perhaps more welcome when facing a day full of carrying the laptop.
For day to day use, even though the 17-inch MacBook Pro may be the lightest and thinnest laptop in its segment, it’s still tough to sport around tradeshows and between coffee shops. It’s definitely a desktop replacement, more suited to occasional travel to visit clients, or make short trips. Those who travel frequently would be better served by 15-inch model, unless they really do need to perform heavy-duty HD video editing on the move.
If you are just such a user, though, and you’re hungry for the extra screen size (and the non-glare option), the 17-inch MacBook Pro is unlikely to disappoint. Time will tell whether Apple’s battery predictions pan out, and - starting from $2,799 and, when maxed out with a 256GB SSD, hitting $4,899 - the price certainly won’t be confused for a budget option, but it’s an incredible workstation with the power to back up its promises. We’re just hoping Apple hear the positive feedback and roll the non-glare display coating option down to the smaller models in the range.
Informations from: http://www.slashgear.com/apple-macbook-pro-17-inch-review-0840533/
17-Inch MacBook Pro Battery Is Actually Removable
Apple Powerbook G4 Battery 15 inch
Apple M9324 Battery for Apple 12 Laptop
The 17-inch MacBook Pro was the last of the Apple notebook range to get a unibody update, but for those looking for superlative media editing and general processing grunt it more than delivers. Apple shipped over the new MacBook Pro just after it launched, and we’ve been spending the last few weeks getting to grips with the new notebook and putting it through its paces. After the cut, anti-glare screens, NVIDIA’s GeForce 9600M and portability from the thinnest, lightest 17-incher around.
For this particular MacBook Pro review unit we opted for the anti-glare LCD display. According to Apple the anti-glare treatment process is almost exactly the same as the standard glossy screen: the coating is applied instead of the final, high-gloss glass panel. Our experience suggests that it completely eliminates glare, and is well worth the $50 upgrade cost.
The quality of the display is already making us wonder how we’ll live without it once Apple demand the review unit back. It’s the only MacBook around on which you can natively edit 1080p high-definition video, and our tests show that the processor and graphics readily keep up their side of the bargain. The basic model comes with a 2.66Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (2.93GHz is a $300 option), 4GB of DDR3 RAM (8GB is $1,000), a 320GB 5,400rpm hard-drive (7,200rpm or up to 256GB SSDs are options) and an 8x SuperDrive DVD burner, plus switchable NVIDIA graphics.
It’s also one of the most attractive large-screen notebooks we’ve come across. In the metal, the unibody chassis and broad widescreen display are gorgeous, and it manages to rank as the lightest and thinnest 17-inch notebook around. “Light” is a relative term, obviously; at 6.68lbs we’ve happily taken it to press events like CTIA, where the Pro crunched through 12+ videos a day on-site without coming up for air, but running around town the 13-inch MacBook (at two-thirds the weight) is more likely to find its way into our bag.
The keyboard, trackpad and overall design are the same as the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which means backlit keys, multitouch and gesture support, and sleek unibody design respectively. We’d point you back at our review of the 15-incher for full details. Where the 17-inch version differs most significantly is in the screen, the processor/graphics grunt, and the battery, and that’s what we’ll be concentrating on here.
Based on our experience with this anti-glare display, we wish Apple would backtrack and offer it as an option on the rest of the MacBook Pro range. It really does make a huge difference in terms of usability. Where we might start splitting hairs is in viewing angles; 140/120 degree angles are standard for most notebook displays, but the HP DreamColor 8730w notebook - also a graphics powerhouse - manages 160/120 degrees and the 17-inch panel on the Pro makes the difference more noticeable than on the smaller machines in the range.
As for power, we loaded up Photoshop CS4 and tested the 17-inch Pro against its 15-inch counterpart (2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB 5,400rpm HDD); in a Retouch Artist speed test the larger notebook finished in 38.9s while the smaller took 53.9s. The Intel Core 2 Duo 2.94GHz T9800 plus 8GB of RAM of our review unit is obviously faster than anything the 15-inch MacBook Pro could manage.
We also pit the 17-inch Pro against a Windows heavyweight, the HP HDX 18. Another desktop replacement (this time with an 18-inch display and roughly 9lb weight), the HDX 18 has an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor running at 2.27GHz, with 4GB of RAM . In Geekbench 64-bit the HP scored 3297 overall, compared to the Apple machines’ overall score of 4401; in fact, it lapsed behind in all categories bar memory bandwidth performance (the HP scored 2152, the Apple 1822), with the MacBook Pro notching up almost double the processor floating point performance (6293 versus 3362).
It’s worth noting that, when in the midst of heavy image and video processing, the Pro gets noticeably hot (though never to the point of system instability); the rest of the time it feels no different to the 15-inch version. Overall, this is a dual-core notebook that really lives up to its “desktop replacement” billing.
As for laptop battery life, let’s just say we were dubious about Apple’s runtime claims when the 17-inch MacBook Pro was announced. This 17-inch Apple MacBook Pro Battery life is quoted at up to 8hrs with wireless switched on and performing basic tasks with a custom Apple script (50-percent brightness, WiFi web browsing, text editing). Then expect that figure to halve if you’re watching a DVD at 50-percent brightness. Switching from the low-power GPU to the higher-performance 9600M GT (which requires you to log out and then back in again, closing whatever apps are running) will cut total time down to 7hrs, go the claims.
In our own tests, using the GeForce 9400M GPU and performing basic tasks like browsing over WiFi, watching video and tinkering with photos netted us close to 4 hours 45 minutes of runtime. Switching to the 9600M and going about the same tasks saw that cut down to around 4 hours. The latter result is a little misleading, however; if you’re really making the most of the higher-performance GeForce GPU - i.e. some serious video editing and processing - you should expect to see that figure hammered down. Nonetheless, given the specifications and the MacBook Pro’s capabilities, these are impressive runtime figures, even if they fall well short of what you might be led to believe from Apple’s marketing hyperbole.
Apple are particularly proud of their eco-credentials with the unibody MacBook Pro; the battery is supposedly good for 1,000 full recharge cycles - equivalent to five years of service - and it requires just 95W to run. Since it’s non-user-replaceable that 1,000 cycles figure will be an important one: taking it in to your local Apple store for a switch out will cost $179. We missed being able to slot in a second pack for on-the-go use while at CTIA, as we were able to with our 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the overall runtime and reduction in size were perhaps more welcome when facing a day full of carrying the laptop.
For day to day use, even though the 17-inch MacBook Pro may be the lightest and thinnest laptop in its segment, it’s still tough to sport around tradeshows and between coffee shops. It’s definitely a desktop replacement, more suited to occasional travel to visit clients, or make short trips. Those who travel frequently would be better served by 15-inch model, unless they really do need to perform heavy-duty HD video editing on the move.
If you are just such a user, though, and you’re hungry for the extra screen size (and the non-glare option), the 17-inch MacBook Pro is unlikely to disappoint. Time will tell whether Apple’s battery predictions pan out, and - starting from $2,799 and, when maxed out with a 256GB SSD, hitting $4,899 - the price certainly won’t be confused for a budget option, but it’s an incredible workstation with the power to back up its promises. We’re just hoping Apple hear the positive feedback and roll the non-glare display coating option down to the smaller models in the range.
Informations from: http://www.slashgear.com/apple-macbook-pro-17-inch-review-0840533/
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